# Did the Apollo 11 astronauts carry weapons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 8, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086 "2004-02-08T04:47:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![SmithCommaJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@SmithCommaJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmithCommaJohn)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/61 "2010-09-03T16:06:53Z")
> [@herman\_and\_bill](#): > > [QUOTE=Soup] > There WAS? In 1969? > So while Buzz Aldrin is grappling with a moon monster, he calls in his coordinates to Mission Control in Houston, and they fire a laser across the void like an interplanetary gunslinger and pick off the alien punk? Nice shootin’, Tex! 😃 > > Upon further thought, I’m guessing that the astronaut’s defense plan (if any existed) involved running back to the lunar module and blasting off for home. Hey Neil, watch this! I should of put a [cite](http://www.lpi.usra.edu/expmoon/Apollo11/A11_Experiments_LRRR.html) in my post. I don’t think they could just blast off, they had to wait till the mother ship was coming around so they could meet up. [/QUOTE] Are you being serious? Yes, the astronauts placed reflectors on the moon that could be used by a laser rangefinder to calculate the distance from the earth to the moon with unprecedented accuracy…but what makes you think that it could possibly be used as a weapon? ---
**Author:** ![ChickenLegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/62 "2010-09-03T16:13:10Z")
The Russians carried these: > **[TP-82 : Russian space pistol / shotgun / carbine / flare gun no longer being...](http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2007/10/13/tp-82-russian-space-pistol-shotgun-carbine-flare-gun-no-longer-being-carried-into-space/)** > > Until today, since 1986, Soviet/Russian cosmonauts have carried an interesting three barreled pistol / carbine / shotgun into space! The Toz TP-82 has two side by side smoothbore barrels which fire 12.5mm shot shells and flares. The lower rifled... ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/63 "2010-09-03T16:13:55Z")
n/m ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/64 "2010-09-03T16:16:29Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > In Tom Hanks’ serial From the Earth to the Moon, there was a possibly-invented scene of the astronauts chatting with Armstrong about his first words. My favorite suggestion was “If you had any balls, you’d say ‘My God, what \*is \* that thing?’, scream, and cut your mike”. Eddie Izzard has a similar [bit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vITJdaJ4xxM#t=1m15s). ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/65 "2010-09-03T16:18:34Z")
As all space flight equipment is, at best, state of the art when it is designed, usually several years before it flies, the most likely choice of weapon on AS-11 would have been: 1920s-style death rays, WWII surplus models ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/66 "2010-09-03T16:50:02Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > > > In Tom Hanks’ serial From the Earth to the Moon, there was a possibly-invented scene of the astronauts chatting with Armstrong about his first words. My favorite suggestion was “If you had any balls, you’d say ‘My God, what \*is \* that thing?’, scream, and cut your mike”. > > Eddie Izzard has a similar [bit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vITJdaJ4xxM#t=1m15s). I’m weak. If I’d been Armstrong, I’d have said “Coca-Cola - It’s the real thing.” That’s what you call guaranteed retirement income. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/67 "2010-09-03T17:38:18Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Well, what’s the point of going into space at all if not to find aliens and kill them? From Clerks 2. > [@](#): > > Jay: You know, sometimes I wish I did a little more with my life instead of hanging out in front of places selling weed and shit. Like, maybe be an animal doctor… Or maybe an astronaut. Yeah. Like, be the first motherfucker to see a new galaxy, or find a new alien lifeform… and fuck it. And people’d be like, “There he goes. Homeboy fucked a Martian once.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/68 "2010-09-03T18:31:34Z")
> [@epl442](#): > > THis is why we didnt go to the moon,the average american wont go to the offy without a pistol in hios pants+a 12 bore on the back seat.You really think theyd send the worlds best tech all that way with no weaps? That was a special case. They had already taken delivery of the Lunar Module when they realized that it didn’t have a rear window to mount a gun rack in… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/69 "2010-09-03T18:43:43Z")
> [@Humble\_Servant](#): > > Would ordinary earth guns even work in the Lunar atmosphere? What would happen if you tried to fire an unmodified shotgun on the moon? What modifications would be required? > > (I can remember the return of the first astronauts from the moon. There was real concern over the danger of hostile aliens–microbes, I mean–and there was indeed a nerve-wracking quarantine period.) The chemicals in gunpowder (potassium nitrate in black powder) provide the oxygen needed for the reaction in the bullets/shells. So a gun firing in a hard vacuum isn’t a problem. And after that, the bullet would fly truer since there wouldn’t be any effects from air resistance. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/70 "2010-09-03T18:45:59Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > > [@epl442](#): > > > > THis is why we didnt go to the moon… > > So you have thoroughly researched this subject? From his inside knowledge of classified information, I think we must assume epl442 is actually former astronaut John Glenn. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/71 "2010-09-03T18:51:05Z")
They had Buzz Aldrin’s hands of death to defend them. They didn’t need no stinking firearms. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/72 "2010-09-03T19:21:07Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > They had Buzz Aldrin’s hands of death to defend them. They didn’t need no stinking firearms. As I understand the relevant footage, Buzz Aldrin is better described as having hands of pain & shame. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/73 "2010-09-03T19:29:28Z")
Stephen Ambrose, in his book _Undaunted Courage_, pointed out that Lewis and Clark knew less about the region to which they were traveling than did the Apollo astronauts about the Moon. (President Jefferson gave completely straight-faced orders that Lewis and Clark investigate claims of woolly mammoth sightings on their way to the Pacific, for instance). So NASA knew the astronauts wouldn’t need no steenkin’ guns. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/74 "2010-09-03T20:26:59Z")
Maybe they needed to defend themselves from the Russkies. [tinfoil hat][They did try to attack us during the Apollo 11 mission](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_15)[/tinfoil hat] ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/75 "2010-09-03T20:36:28Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Maybe they needed to defend themselves from the Russkies. Or the damn dirty apes. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/76 "2010-09-03T20:54:09Z")
> [@epl442](#): > > The space shuttle on the other hand does have classified weapons.it carrys a diamond laser,a maser cannon & is rumoured to be testing the plasma cannon in conjunction with the new aurora -the replacement for strealth & capable of sub orbital flight. The space shuttle also has 3 hardpoints where heavy bolters can be fitted for 12 points each, or 1-3 heavy flamers if you get it from the Deathwatch army list. It works really well with the Blessing of the Machine Spirit equipment card. (WTF is a maser anyway ?) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/77 "2010-09-03T21:01:03Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > > [@epl442](#): > > > > The space shuttle on the other hand does have classified weapons.it carrys a diamond laser,a maser cannon & is rumoured to be testing the plasma cannon in conjunction with the new aurora -the replacement for strealth & capable of sub orbital flight. > > The space shuttle also has 3 hardpoints where heavy bolters can be fitted for 12 points each, or 1-3 heavy flamers if you get it from the Deathwatch army list. It works really well with the Blessing of the Machine Spirit equipment card. > > (WTF is a maser anyway ?) It’s not a maser, it’s a MASER - Microwaves Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. MASERS were the forerunners of LASERs. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/78 "2010-09-03T23:04:03Z")
I recall hearing about that too. IIRC quarantine was standard for the returning crews. > [@Humble\_Servant](#): > > Would ordinary earth guns even work in the Lunar atmosphere? What would happen if you tried to fire an unmodified shotgun on the moon? What modifications would be required? > > (I can remember the return of the first astronauts from the moon. There was real concern over the danger of hostile aliens–microbes, I mean–and there was indeed a nerve-wracking quarantine period.) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/79 "2010-09-03T23:19:03Z")
How long has it been since we had a moon conspiracy guy around? Oughta be more fun than the truthers or the tax evaders. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086/80 "2010-09-04T00:32:06Z")
> [@Soup](#): > > But don’t you think that during some NASA brainstorming session that the possiblilty that SOMETHING might be up there came up? Hey, it’s an alien world, maybe there WAS some silicone-based “rock monster” life up there. Nope. Hortas bore tunnels underground, so they wouldn’t be detected easily from the lunar surface. Besides, as long as you leave their eggs alone, they won’t bother you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-apollo-11-astronauts-carry-weapons/228086.md?page=5)