Ever wondered who were the unsung heroes behind the historic Apollo 11 mission? It wasn’t just Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins who etched their names in history; there was a dedicated team working tirelessly behind the scenes. In this deep dive, we’ll shine a light on the Apollo 11 backup crew and support crew, the vital cogs in the machine that propelled humanity to the Moon. Their stories, often overshadowed by the astronauts who walked on the lunar surface, are equally fascinating and crucial to the success of the mission. Join us as we explore the roles, challenges, and triumphs of these remarkable individuals who played a pivotal part in one of humankind’s greatest achievements.
The Apollo program was a groundbreaking era in space exploration, with many significant achievements and contributions to the world of science and technology. Deciding who would fly on each mission fell to Deke Slayton, one of the original Mercury astronauts. Slayton was removed from the flight rotation after doctors detected atrial fibrillation, but instead of being forced out of NASA, he was assigned as the head of the astronaut office.
| Position | Astronaut |
|---|---|
| Commander | James A. Lovell Jr. |
| Command Module Pilot | William A. Anders |
| Lunar Module Pilot | Fred W. Haise Jr. |
In his new role, Slayton developed a rotation schedule that ensured each prime crew had a backup crew, who would then be in line to serve as prime crew three missions later.
This meant that the backup crew for Apollo 1, for example, would be the prime crew for Apollo 4. Each Apollo mission has appointed a letter indicating their type, with the following letters being more complex missions leading up to the Moon landing.
The Mission Types of the Apollo Program: From Unmanned to Landing on the Moon
During the Apollo program, each mission was assigned a letter to indicate its type, with subsequent letters indicating increasingly complex objectives leading up to the ultimate goal of landing on the moon. Here are the mission types and their corresponding letters:
A mission: An unmanned flight of the Command Service Module (CSM) only. B mission: An unmanned flight of the Lunar Module (LM) only. C mission: A manned flight of the Command Service Module only. D mission: A manned flight of both the Command Service Module and Lunar Module. E mission: A high earth orbit flight of both the Command Service Module and Lunar Module to test reentry at simulated lunar speeds. F mission: A dress rehearsal for a lunar landing. G mission: The first attempt at landing on the moon.
It’s important to note that NASA planned as many missions of each type as necessary before attempting the crucial G mission, which meant that there was no guarantee that the seventh flight would be the one to make the historic first landing.
NASA was planning as many of each mission type as needed before trying the important G mission. Therefore, there was no guarantee that the seventh flight would mean the first landing.
The Backup Crew for Apollo 11
- Commander: James A. Lovell, Jr.
- Command Module Pilot: William A. Anders
- Lunar Module Pilot: Fred W. Haise Jr.
The backup crew for Apollo 11 consisted of astronaut James A. Lovell as the Commander, William Anders as the Command Module Pilot, and Fred W. Haise Jr. as the Lunar Module Pilot.
Anders had flown with Lovell on the Apollo 8 mission and accepted a job with the National Aeronautics and Space Council at the beginning of 1969, retiring as an astronaut in August of that year.
Astronaut Ken Mattingly was transferred from the support crew to parallel training with William Anders as the backup CMP in case Apollo 11 was held past its planned July launch date.
Astronaut William A. Anders had flown with James Lovell on the Apollo 8 mission.
At the beginning of 1969, he accepted a job with the National Aeronautics and Space Council, active in August 1969, and declared he would retire as an astronaut at that time.
And astronaut Ken Mattingly was transferred from the support crew into parallel training with William Anders as the backup CMP or Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was held past its planned July launch date. At that point, William Anders would be unavailable.
James Lovell, Fred Haise, and Ken Mattingly were later assigned as the prime crew of the famous Apollo 13 mission.
Apollo 11 Support Crew
| Name |
|---|
| Ken Mattingly |
| Ronald Evans |
| Bill Pogue |
In addition to the backup crew, there was also a support crew for every Apollo mission. For Apollo 11, the support crew consisted of Ken Mattingly, Ronald Evans, and Bill Pogue. The support crew was responsible for keeping the flight plan, mission ground rules, and checklists and ensuring the prime and backup teams were notified of any changes.
They developed methods, particularly those for emergencies, so these were ready for when the prime and backup crews came to practice in the simulators, enabling them to focus on practicing and mastering them.
The Apollo program was an incredible feat of human achievement, and the backup and support crews played a crucial role in its success. Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out the book on Amazon, ‘How We Got to the Moon,’ which will reveal a stunning look at the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon.
Apollo 11 and It’s Backup Astronauts
Apollo 11 marks a monumental achievement in space exploration history, being the first successful crewed mission to land on the Moon. This historic journey, undertaken by NASA, involved a team of highly skilled astronauts, each playing a crucial role in the mission’s success. Below is an overview of the key astronauts associated with Apollo 11 and subsequent Apollo missions:
Neil Alden Armstrong
- Role in Apollo 11: Mission Commander
- Notable Achievement: First human to step on the lunar surface.
- Background: A former naval aviator and test pilot, Armstrong’s “one small step” quote became iconic, symbolizing humanity’s leap into a new era of space exploration.
Michael Collins
- Role in Apollo 11: Command Module Pilot
- Notable Achievement: Piloted the command module “Columbia” alone in lunar orbit during Armstrong and Aldrin’s moonwalk.
- Background: An experienced test pilot, Collins played a critical role in the success of the Apollo 11 mission, though he did not walk on the Moon.
Edwin Eugene “Buzz” Aldrin
- Role in Apollo 11: Lunar Module Pilot
- Notable Achievement: Second human to walk on the Moon.
- Background: A former Air Force pilot, Aldrin’s contributions were vital to the mission’s success, and he is known for his passionate advocacy for space exploration.
Other Notable Apollo Astronauts
- James Arthur Lovell Jr.: Commanded the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, which, despite a critical service module failure, managed to return safely to Earth.
- William Alison Anders: Served as Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 8, the first mission to orbit the Moon.
- Fred Wallace Haise, Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 13, played a key role alongside Lovell in managing the mission crisis.
- Ronald Ellwin Evans: Command Module Pilot for Apollo 17, the final Apollo lunar mission.
- Thomas Kenneth Mattingly: Initially slated for Apollo 13 but replaced due to exposure to German measles; later flew on Apollo 16.
- John Leonard Swigert: Replaced Mattingly on Apollo 13; instrumental in handling the in-flight emergency.
- William Reid Pogue: Flew on the Skylab 4 mission, setting a long-duration spaceflight record at the time.
These astronauts, with their remarkable skills and bravery, not only made history but also laid the foundation for future space exploration. Their legacies continue to inspire generations and underscore the human spirit’s boundless curiosity and determination.
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