Left behind on themoon

Fifty years ago, Apollo 14 landed on the moon. Astronaut Alan Shepard marked his visit there by hitting golf balls! But he wasn’t the first astronaut to walk on the moon or even the first one to do something fun there.

How it started

Apollo 11 was the first manned mission to the moon. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people ever to walk on the moon. The footprints from the steps they took are still there today, as are many other objects like the American flag Armstrong planted and some of the equipment they got rid of because they didn’t want the extra weight for their trip home. They also left a golden olive branch, which is a symbol of peace.

Armstrong and Aldrin were almost left on the moon themselves. The switch that was supposed to start the engine that allowed them to lift off from the moon’s surface broke off. Luckily, they were able to find a way to get it started without the switch and return back to Earth.

What’s up there right now

There are three cars on the moon — sort of. Astronauts left three “moon buggies,” vehicles they use to get around on the moon’s surface. There are also several descent and ascent stages, which helped astronauts land on the moon (descent stages) and get back to the commanding craft (ascent stages).

There are some meaningful and personal items too. In 1972, Charlie Duke left a picture of his family on the moon, but light has probably ruined the print by now. David Scott left an aluminum sculpture as a memorial to space travelers who have died.

Astronauts also have left their own waste on the moon (pee and poop), which might seem a little gross, but if it’s ever studied, it could give scientists some clues about what happens to people who spend time in space.