# Great article about the Apollo astronauts trying to sleep on the Moon. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716 "2015-07-20T19:45:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/1 "2015-07-20T19:45:10Z")
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 -...](https://www.americaspace.com/2015/07/20/apollo-11-anniversary-week-sleeping-on-the-moon-part-1/)** > > More than four decades ago, humanity first made landfall on the Moon and Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot (LMP) Buzz Aldrin left their footprints on the dusty regolith of the Sea of Tranquility. Over the span of those... 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?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/2 "2015-07-20T20:24:41Z")
Great find, thanks for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/3 "2015-07-20T23:43:43Z")
A very nice read. Thanks. I’ve often wondered about that. Hell, I have problems sleeping on Earth most nights. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/4 "2015-07-21T04:16:53Z")
I’d think that occasional noises, even unexplained ones, wouldn’t be nearly as creepy as the absolute silence of being totally alone. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/5 "2015-07-21T05:48:42Z")
That’s probably the one thing they didn’t try out in the LM simulator. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/6 "2015-07-21T06:37:05Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/7 "2015-07-21T14:47:56Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/8 "2015-07-21T17:20:27Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/9 "2015-07-21T17:22:01Z")
I think an explained noise might be worse. “Yep, that was definitely a knock on the door.” ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/10 "2015-07-21T17:43:26Z")
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. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/11 "2015-07-26T00:36:45Z")
> [@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](http://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/events/centennials/nixon/images/exhibit/rn100-6-1-2.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2015, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/12 "2015-07-26T00:59:36Z")
NASA should have secretly installed a radio-controlled doorbell. ---
**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:** [July 27, 2015, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/13 "2015-07-27T14:30:56Z")
Good thing that none of them had that quirk where they can only sleep with the window open… ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/14 "2015-07-27T15:56:18Z")
I’d probably be kept awake by the meta-excitement of being the first insomniac on the moon alone… ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/15 "2015-07-27T16:32:25Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/16 "2015-07-27T16:38:17Z")
It’s not the moon snakes, it’s the mutated spiders quietly crawling into your suit that would get me… ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/17 "2015-07-27T16:56:16Z")
I’d have left a McDonald’s wrapper on the moon, and not tell anyone. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/18 "2015-07-27T17:40:09Z")
> [@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). ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-article-about-the-apollo-astronauts-trying-to-sleep-on-the-moon/725716/19 "2015-07-27T17:52:17Z")
> [@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.