# The Moon Landing **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2000, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-moon-landing/26398 "2000-07-21T22:23:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Threll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Threll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threll)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-moon-landing/26398/1 "2000-07-21T22:23:41Z")
I remember hearing that there was a dispute between NASA and the Apollo 11 landing crew as to who would be the first on the moon. Then I saw a show the other day that showed a clip of an interview with Neil Armstrong, apparently he did not like how the argument turned out. My question is what was the dispute and why was Armstrong so touchy about talking about it? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-moon-landing/26398/2 "2000-07-21T22:45:53Z")
There was dispute over which one should be the First Man on the Moon. Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, as pilot of the Lunar Module, thought he should go first. Besides, he thought he was better at public relations than Armstrong. Neil Armstrong was the Commander of the mission. As such, the honour was his. I believe it was in _Moonshot_ that the official version came out. Neil was the commander and that was that. Also, because of the construction of the LM, Armstrong was closer to the door. The documentary mentioned that there wasn’t _really_ an argument, but that Aldrin wanted to be first (these guys were _military test pilots_ who think that 2nd place is 1st loser) and that the other astronauts thought he was foolish to ask for the honour in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-moon-landing/26398/3 "2000-07-21T23:10:33Z")
Armstrong has always shunned publicity and interviews. Aldrin is the complete opposite and apparently has a good sense of humor about being second man on the moon, even commenting about it when he was a voice on the Simpsons. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2000, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-moon-landing/26398/4 "2000-07-22T01:52:51Z")
I wish we’d get on with more exploring and adventure. 2001 is only months away, and look at the pitiful little space station we don’t even have yet! I think we should have Clarke’s wheel up there! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2000, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-moon-landing/26398/5 "2000-07-22T05:06:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > **(these guys were _military test pilots_ who think that 2nd place is 1st loser)** Buzz was one of the few early astronauts who wasn’t a test pilot. He was a former fighter pilot with a PhD in orbital mechanics. And, sure he wanted to be first. On all the other missions with EVA, the commander stayed on board while the other guy went out. (For the mission’s first EVA anyway) When they landed on the moon that was changed, and Buzz was none too happy. However, the point was moot because, as mentioned earlier, Neil was closer to the door. It wasn’t worth the trouble to have them switch around. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2000, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-moon-landing/26398/6 "2000-07-22T15:12:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Buzz was one of the few early astronauts who wasn’t a test pilot. He was a former fighter pilot with a PhD in orbital mechanics. I stand corrected. Buzz was not a test pilot. But military pilots in general don’t like to be “number two”. I wonder if Buzz would have blown his line? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2000, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-moon-landing/26398/7 "2000-07-22T17:08:43Z")
Didn’t the fact that Armstrong wasn’t in the military also factor into the decision? ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2000, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-moon-landing/26398/8 "2000-07-23T01:10:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padeye \* > **Aldrin is the complete opposite and apparently has a good sense of humor about being second man on the moon, even commenting about it when he was a voice on the Simpsons.** Up until a few years ago, this was not the case. I distinctly remember him being a little bitter when he talked about this in interviews. IIRC, this preyed on his mind and he began abusing alcohol. Finally he was able to deal with his problems and his outlook improved.