Every once in a while, it's nice to step away from politics and do something fun or interesting. Space and NASA certainly qualify
And with the recent passing of Apollo 13 Astronaut Jim Lovell, there are only five Apollo-era astronauts still living.
So here's a walk down memory lane, detailing what the Apollo 11 crew endured after returning to earth:
On this day in 1969, multiple parades are held in honor of the Apollo 11 astronauts. They’d just been released from quarantine. Many people remember Neil Armstrong’s historic first step on the moon. But how many remember the quarantine that followed?
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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If you saw the 'Apollo 13' movie, you'll probably remember the astronauts greeting people immediately after landing. The Apollo 11 astronauts did not do that.
The entire crew was isolated for almost three weeks after they’d returned from that historic trip.
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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That's a long time. They were also quarantined before the trip.
After all, no one knew for sure what the astronauts would bring home from the moon. What if they were exposed to a deadly lunar pathogen? Everyone needed to be sure that the astronauts were healthy before they came into contact with the general public again.
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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A smart decision, given the unknown they'd just flown into.
Those astronauts were pioneers, doing what pioneers do. They’d endured the rigors of training. They’d assumed the dangers inherent in their unprecedented voyage, knowing that they could die in a crash or find themselves lost in space. Yet there was another, lesser-known risk that…
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
The post concludes:
Yet there was another, lesser-known risk that they undertook: It was the risk that they could complete their mission successfully, only to die of a deadly disease in quarantine back on Earth.
Very true. They knew the risks of space flight. Apollo 1 astronauts Virgil 'Gus' Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee died in 1967 when their command module caught fire during pre-flight training.
Naturally, these risks weren’t going to stop Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins from doing what they had to do. They were part of a long line of American pioneers exhibiting the perseverance, bravery, and determination that have always made America great.
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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They were undeterred and determined, and that's what makes America great.
When Apollo 11’s command module splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, the quarantine immediately went into effect. It looked a bit like something you might see in an Ebola scare today.
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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This writer didn't know this.
The crew was met by a receiving party from the USS Hornet. The three men immediately donned special biological containment suits, which they wore until they were safely inside a Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) aboard the ship.
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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NASA wasn't playing around.
The helicopter crew sent to retrieve them as they bobbed in the Pacific wore the same suits, too. Just in case.
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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Better safe than sorry.
USS Hornet transported the men back to Hawaii where a ceremony was held in their honor. Apollo’s crew attended that ceremony in their trailer-like MQF, of course. 😉
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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Of course.
In a humorous twist, the NASA crew even filed customs forms after they arrived in Hawaii. They declared their “moon rock and moon dust samples” so they could get back into the country.
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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Fun fact: you have to fill out a customs-like form when traveling to Hawaii from anywhere.
Their stay in Hawaii didn’t last long. The MQF was soon loaded onto a plane and flown back to Houston. Once there, the astronauts greeted their wives through windows. Surely such a reunion was fairly unsatisfying after all the pent-up nerves of the past few weeks?! Yet it was…
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
Imagine flying on a plane in a mobile quarantine unit.
There are some today who maintain that the quarantine had a political component, too. What if an astronaut became sick after his return to Earth—even if that sickness was merely a common cold? Could the sickness push people into a panic? The quarantine might have had scientific…
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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Could the sickness push people into a panic? The quarantine might have had scientific reasons, but it provided cover from this type of situation also.
That was wise. Americans were very proud of the moon landing, but illness could've turned public sentiment on a dime.
The astronauts were finally released from quarantine on August 10. Three days later, they were riding down the streets of New York in a ticker-tape parade. In the weeks and months that followed, it was just the first of many such events held in their honor.
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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They deserved it all.
The risk that they’d taken had been huge. And now they—and America—would reap the benefits.
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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You'll see the photo at the end of the thread.
P.S. The photo is of the Apollo 11 crew in the MQF aboard USS Hornet. Richard Nixon had come to greet them. From left to right, the astronauts are Neil A. Armstrong (commander), Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin.
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
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Here's the pic:
Standard disclaimer: If you enjoyed this story, I'd appreciate a retweet of the first tweet in this string.
— Tara Ross (@TaraRoss) August 13, 2025
Gentle reminder: History stories are copyright © 2013-2025 by Tara Ross. /16 of 16
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Here's hoping we can return to exploring space again, and soon.