Great article about the Apollo astronauts trying to sleep on the Moon.

[davidm]

Noises, lights, cramped quarters, fear, and excitement all interfered with their ability to sleep in the LM on the surface of the Moon.

Sleeping On Alien Shores: The Unquiet Slumbers of the Apollo Moonwalkers -...

I especially liked this part about Al Shepard and Ed Mitchell on Apollo 14.

At other times, both men were awakened from their light slumber by the mild groaning of Antares’ systems, the rustling of its paper-thin walls and the gentle hiss of its life-sustaining machinery. One conversation between them is particularly comical:

“Ed? Did you hear that?” Shepard whispered.

“Hell, yes, I heard that.”

“What the hell was that?”

“I don’t know.”

A few seconds passed. Then:

“Ed?”

“What?”

“Why the hell are we whispering?”

[Machine_Elf]

Great find, thanks for sharing.

[Leaffan]

A very nice read. Thanks. I’ve often wondered about that. Hell, I have problems sleeping on Earth most nights.

[panache45]

I’d think that occasional noises, even unexplained ones, wouldn’t be nearly as creepy as the absolute silence of being totally alone.

[Ranger_Jeff]

That’s probably the one thing they didn’t try out in the LM simulator.

[Leaffan]

@Ranger_Jeff

That’s probably the one thing they didn’t try out in the LM simulator.

What, sleeping? In the article it says they did try it out in the simulator.

During training in the LM simulator at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), he and Irwin had experienced a “lousy” night’s sleep, but on the Moon—and aided by the lightness of one-sixth terrestrial gravity—the hammocks felt much softer.

[G0sp3l]

@panache45

I’d think that occasional noises, even unexplained ones, wouldn’t be nearly as creepy as the absolute silence of being totally alone.

I would expect the opposite. I’m totally fine with being alone, what would get me would be, every unexplained noise could mean the reaper has come.

[Honey]

@G0sp3l

I would expect the opposite. I’m totally fine with being alone, what would get me would be, every unexplained noise could mean the reaper has come.

That’s nothing to fear.

[Frank]

I think an explained noise might be worse.

“Yep, that was definitely a knock on the door.”

[ralph124c]

President Nixon had a prepared speech, in case the astronauts were trapped on the Moon…it reads, “they (the astronauts) will sleep in peace on the Moon”.
Kinda ironic.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

@ralph124c

President Nixon had a prepared speech, in case the astronauts were trapped on the Moon…it reads, “they (the astronauts) will sleep in peace on the Moon”…

Almost: http://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/events/centennials/nixon/images/exhibit/rn100-6-1-2.pdf

[Kenm]

NASA should have secretly installed a radio-controlled doorbell.

[kaylasdad99]

Good thing that none of them had that quirk where they can only sleep with the window open…

[Half_Man_Half_Wit]

I’d probably be kept awake by the meta-excitement of being the first insomniac on the moon alone…

[billfish678]

@kaylasdad99

Good thing that none of them had that quirk where they can only sleep with the window open…

Well, at least they weren’t some of those asian types that think a fan running while you sleep will kill you.

Yes, that’s is a thing.

And, I’m sure there were some fans somewhere in the LEM.

And I have to laugh. If ANYTHING might keep me awake sleeping in the LEM on the freaking moon, it would be a HISSING sound. And that’s not because I have a phobia about moon snakes.

[swampspruce]

It’s not the moon snakes, it’s the mutated spiders quietly crawling into your suit that would get me…

[Kenm]

I’d have left a McDonald’s wrapper on the moon, and not tell anyone.

[davidm]

@Kenm

I’d have left a McDonald’s wrapper on the moon, and not tell anyone.

They did leave trash on the Moon (but I’m sure there were no McDonald’s wrappers).

[billfish678]

@Kenm

I’d have left a McDonald’s wrapper on the moon, and not tell anyone.

I’ve always envisioned some astronaut writing out Nixon/Ford/Carter/Regean/Bush/Clinton/Bush/Obama/whoever SUCKS! on the surface of the moon/mars/wherever one day.

And telling everyone when they got back (with pics one would hope).

And we know that scratching on the “soil” will last for millions, if not billions of years. And whoever was the victim (being an egotistical ass) not being able to do damn thing about it. And everybody knowing about it.

And it.

Just.

Bugging.

The.

Shit.

Out.

Of.

Them.

Till.

The.

Day.

They.

Died.