Apollo 11 Facts – by the Numbers isn’t your typical space story. We’re diving deep into the digits that made this moon mission a monumental moment in history. We’re rewinding time to see how we turned the impossible into reality, one number at a time. This quick read is our tribute to the epic moon mission that changed everything. So, let’s take a number-crunching journey back to that giant leap for mankind! 🌔🚀🌟
By the Numbers to the Moon
2,207
These are the number of words from President John Kennedy’s famed “We choose to go to the moon” speech at Rice University, September 12, 1962.
363
The height of the Saturn V rocket, which was used to launch Apollo 11 into space, is in feet. This towering rocket was taller than the Statue of Liberty.
2,196
The total weight in pounds of the lunar module Eagle, which landed on the Moon. This module carried astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the lunar surface.
4
The number of days it took Apollo 11 to reach the Moon after launch. This journey began on July 16, 1969, and the lunar landing occurred on July 20, 1969.
240,000
The average distance in miles from Earth to the Moon. Apollo 11 traveled this distance to make the first manned lunar landing.
21.5
Hours spent on the lunar surface by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, including their rest time inside the lunar module.
8
The number of days of the entire Apollo 11 mission, from launch to splashdown back on Earth.
17,500
The speed in miles per hour of the Apollo 11 spacecraft when it re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere. This high speed required a heat shield to protect the capsule from burning up.
3
The number of astronauts aboard Apollo 11: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins.
141
The total number of minutes Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin spent walking on the Moon during their historic extravehicular activity (EVA).
0.16
The gravity on the Moon is a fraction of Earth’s gravity. This lower gravity allowed the astronauts to experience a “lighter” feeling and jump higher on the lunar surface.
6.5
The number of hours of sleep per night is recommended for the astronauts during the mission. Despite this recommendation, many reports suggest they got significantly less due to excitement and the challenging environment.
7.5
The amount of kilograms of waste (approx. 16.5 pounds) left on the Moon by the Apollo 11 crew. This includes packaging, towels, and other disposables.
5.9
The number of hours spent by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in the Lunar Module after landing on the Moon before stepping outside. This time was used for preparation and rest.
1202
The code for the first alarm triggered during the lunar landing, indicating the computer’s overload but ultimately deemed not mission-critical.
$355 million
The cost of the Saturn V rocket in 1969, which, in today’s dollars, would be much higher due to inflation.
20:17
The time (in UTC) when the Lunar Module touched down on the Moon’s surface.
0.67
The percentage of the Moon’s gravity compared to Earth’s affects how the astronauts move on the lunar surface.
15,000
The number of NASA employees and contractors estimated to have worked on the Apollo project at its peak.
4
The number of minutes of fuel left in the Lunar Module when it finally landed on the Moon highlights the precision and risk of the mission.
30
The approximate number of seconds that Neil Armstrong spent on the ladder of the Lunar Module before setting foot on the Moon.
3
The number of presidents who served during that time.
6
Years (plus ten months and nine days) it took from JFK’s speech to the moment Armstrong informed “Houston” (aka Mission Control) that the Eagle had landed on July 20, 1969.
20
Spaceflights before Apollo 11 (6 for Mercury, 10 for Gemini, and 4 for Apollo).
$25.4 billion
The Apollo program cost about approximately $192.72 billion when adjusted for 2024 inflation values.
9
Astronaut deaths before Apollo 11, with three occurring during an Apollo 1 practice drill.
400,000+
The peak number of NASA employees contributed to the Apollo 11 mission at one time, many based in Space City, supported by 20,000 industrial firms and universities.
$100 million+
Cost of constructing Mission Control at Houston’s state-of-the-art Manned Space Center, later renamed the Johnson Space Center.
6.2 million
Weight, in pounds, of the Saturn V rocket, which launched Apollo 11, generating 34.5 million pounds of thrust.
3,500
The number of journalists covering the Apollo 11 launch on July 16, 1969, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, hailed from the U.S. and 55 other countries.
4
Satellite stations are required to catch the transmission of lunar video footage and beam it back to Houston for broadcast to the world—one in California, one in Spain, and two in Australia.
3
Commander Neil Armstrong, Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin, and Command Module Pilot Michael Collins are astronauts onboard.
2
Speeches President Richard Nixon’s staff prepared—one if the astronauts succeeded, another if they, well, didn’t.
600 million
Viewers of Armstrong’s Moonwalk.
50
The number of items Apollo 11 astronauts left on the moon, including an Apollo 1 patch, Cosmonaut medals, a gold olive branch pin, TV cables, a camera, and human-waste collection devices. (Littering wasn’t a faux pas then, even on the moon.)
195
Mission duration, in hours (plus 18 minutes, 35 seconds).
50
Total pounds of moon rocks the astronauts brought back to Earth.
953,054
Total round-trip distance traveled in miles.
1
The parade that the Apollo 11 crew endured in mid-August Houston was enough.
Well, that’s it. I hope you enjoyed this short article. For a comprehensive understanding of the Apollo Program, dive into our complete guide, available here.
