# Craters of the Moon National Monuument

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craters-of-the-moon-national-monuument/501950>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [July 5, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craters-of-the-moon-national-monuument/501950 "2009-07-05T02:34:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wtwilson3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/49beb7/32.png) [@wtwilson3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wtwilson3)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craters-of-the-moon-national-monuument/501950/1 "2009-07-05T02:34:38Z")

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What i want to know is if the astronauts ever really trained at Craters of the Moon National Monument?

> **[Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve (U.S. National Park...](https://www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm)**
>
> Craters of the Moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. We invite you to explore this "weird and scenic landscape" where yesterday's volcanic events are likely to continue tomorrow.

Been there, it’s wild.

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craters-of-the-moon-national-monuument/501950/2 "2009-07-05T09:47:46Z")

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Welcome to the SDMB, wtwilson3.

A link to the column you’re commenting on is appreciated. This is the one: [Did astronauts train in ecological wastelands on earth to get used to the barren moon? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2876/did-astronauts-train-in-ecological-wastelands-on-earth-to-get-used-to-the-barren-moon)

The National Park Service has some information on astronaut training at Craters of the Moon here: [http://www.nps.gov/archive/crmo/astronauts.htm](http://www.nps.gov/archive/crmo/astronauts.htm)

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craters-of-the-moon-national-monuument/501950/3 "2009-07-05T14:19:36Z")

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Yes, they were there for geology training. There is an information board in the visitor’s center that has a photo and some information. Yes, it’s certainly a wild place.