What was it?

[Astro Dave]

Prior to the first moon landing in 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin were under instruction from NASA top brass to do something specific as soon as they left their capsule to walk on the moon.

What was it they were under instruction to do above all else??

[Robert TG]

Well, I know Armstrong had to put his foot down and then photograph the print but I doubt you mean this. Reaching the moon was pushed by politics so that the planting of the flag, and saluting it would have been top on the minds of the "Top Brass". After all it was a race wasn't it? LOL

[Radar]

Hmm? Plant the flag? :hmm:

[gyro]

Plant the United Nations Flag, 'cept they forgot to pack it !!

[Astro Dave]

Mmmmm, nah, nobody is even close.

[gyro]

You say when "they" left the capsule, was it,
Turn on the external TV camera fastened to the lander leg, after that Aldrin did some Kangaroo jumps and Armstrong took photos of the lander legs.

OR, Look for Ruskies !!

[Astro Dave]

Look for Ruskies!!!!! What!! Look for Ruskies!!! Egad man, that's a left over baby boomer thang isn't it?

Kinda fits in with " Groovy Man" or "Way Out" ... well you get the drift baby.

Ruskies, Yes - What if they were there filming 'the boys' as they stretched their legs after the flight. (No on-board tea and bikkies then). Wouldn't that have been cool?

As for your answer: Sorry, wrong. Good try though.

It was a top priority instruction from NASA that they do something on the Moon as soon as possible. And it wasn't take a leak - so don't post that.Think about it.

[Robert TG]

They were to grab a small sample of the moon soil so that if they had to leave early they would have some with them.

[gyro]

Hang on a min' here Dave, the FIRST thing Armstrong did was activate a external instrument package fastened to a lander leg which included a TV camera. However the first pics' were only available to NASA. The public footage came later. SO, is the answer on public archive ?

Anything to do with mineral rights ?

[Astro Dave]

Good work to all concerned.

Gyro, you're thinking well but the two frozen chooks go to Robert for his correct assumption about the lunar soil.

It was in fact, a top level instruction to the two astronauts to pick up a sample of moon rock to bring home as soon as they got on the surface. This was requested first in case something went wrong with the mission early in the piece and they had to abort.

Here's another trivia question for you two 'lunatics': What was the first meal the boys ate on Luna?

[Mick]

Bacon squares, sugar biscuits, fruit juice and coffee?

[Astro Dave]

Hey Mick, by the sound of your answer you've got just as big a gut as me and Radar (or, is it 'Radar' and I .. does anyone care?)

By the way, if Radar ever offers to send you one of his autographed pics SAY NO!! I didn't and paid the penalty! It's awful. Arrrgh!

AS FOR YOUR ANSWER - No, the real answer is amazing though .. you won't believe the crap they had for lunch!!

[Mick]

Yes I like my food Dave. I don't know if you can call some of the first space tucker, food. :hmm:

[gyro]

Hey Dave, this sounds pretty good to me but I suppose it is a matter of taste.

http://china.tyfo.com/int/art/festival/middle-autumn/mid-cake.htm

I found the same info' as Mick [meal A]. there was one alterative, meal B, if you discount the 'puree gunge' they could eat inside their suits, in case of cabin depressurization.

[Astro Dave]

Gyro and Mick - you are obviously men after my own heart. Lovers of fine food and all other associated culinary delights.

Big Tip: The meal they had is, by today's standards, considered 'junk food'.

[Radar]

Moon Cake? Yum!

Did they have soft drinks on the apollo mission?

[gyro]

I keep coming up with meals A & B.
These guys didn,t sneak some Hershy bars on board. ??

[Astro Dave]

Moon cakes? Hershey bars? Errr, Nup!

Think of the crookest feed you ever got at a footy match.

[Mick]

How about Hot dogs and meal A?

[Astrokid]

Meat Pies?

[Astro Dave]

Astrokid had what you would think was the most obvious answer except for one thing - the typical American wouldn't know what a meat pie was! Lol

Now Mick was the big winner here. Yes, according to my sources (many and varied) the boys chewed on a couple of good ol' American hot dogs 'up there' in '69.

By the way, I know there's a lot of interest in trivia from the moon days, so try these one on:

1. There is more computing power in your home PC than there was on the entire flight of Apollo-11.

2. They left a plaque on the moon that's still there - it said, "Here, men from the planet Earth first set foot on the Moon July 20, 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind."