Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the Moon, was a Scout with Troop 25 in Sandusky, Ohio. He went on to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor in the U.S. Scouting program. To honor the Scouting movement, he took a World Membership Badge to the Moon.
Among the 12 astronauts who set foot on the Moon, 11 were involved in scouting, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin of Apollo 11.
Scouting was integral to Armstrong’s life, which is evident in the many Scout-related aspects of his lunar and space adventures.
When the Boy Scouts of America introduced the Eagle Scout award in 1911, they named it after a bird symbolizing freedom, courage, strength, bravery, promise, spiritual vitality, the triumph of good over evil, and ultimate success.
The Eagle Scout and Commander of Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong
Eagle Scout and Commander of Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong, honorably named the Lunar Module “Eagle,” which would bring him and Buzz Aldrin to the Moon’s surface.
Neil Armstrong, born on August 5, 1930, and passing on August 25, 2012, became the first man on the Moon. He earned his Eagle Scout award in 1947 with Troop 14 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. That same year, before attending Purdue University, he began studying aerospace engineering.
Neil Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin, both Eagle Scouts, made history as the first humans to walk on the Moon.
At 15, Armstrong started taking flying lessons. On the way back from the Shawnee Council’s camp, Armstrong, a fellow Scout, and their Scoutmaster encountered a plane crash involving his flight instructor and a student pilot. They quickly sought help and administered first aid, but only the flight instructor survived.
Fellow Scouts at Farragut State Park in Idaho
During the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon, Neil Armstrong greeted the National Jamboree, saying:
“Hello to all my fellow Scouts at Farragut State Park in Idaho. Apollo 11 sends its best wishes.”
As an adult, Armstrong received the Silver Buffalo Award and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. The Ketchikeniqua Lodge of the Shawnee Council in Lima, Ohio, also inducted him into the Order of the Arrow.
Astronauts Who Embodied BSA Values During Their Youth
Many astronauts who were members of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in their youth have gone on to accomplish extraordinary feats. Notably, 11 of the 12 men who walked on the Moon were involved in scouting. Some distinguished examples include Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, who were both Eagle Scouts. Their scouting experiences likely instilled in them the values of perseverance, leadership, and adventure, which were crucial during their space missions. The BSA’s focus on character development and skills training provided these astronauts with a strong foundation for their achievements.
Many former Scouts have experienced what could be seen as the pinnacle of high adventure. Approximately two-thirds of NASA’s career astronauts were Scouts, leading to most of NASA’s human space missions involving at least one former Scout. Remarkably, 20 of the 24 men who traveled to the Moon between 1968 and 1972 on Apollo 8 and Apollo 10 to 17 were Scouts, including 11 of the 12 men who walked on its surface.
Eagle Scouts have made significant contributions as NASA’s career astronauts. Notably, 41 of these astronauts have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Some have become legends, like Neil Armstrong, who was the first person to land a spacecraft on another celestial body, and Jim Lovell, the commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, who safely guided his crew back to Earth. This proud tradition continues, with Eagle Scouts now serving as crew members and commanders of the International Space Station (ISS). Raja Chari and Kjell Lindgren, both Eagle Scouts, were chosen as commanders of SpaceX Crew-3 and Crew-4 missions, respectively.
Given the many astronauts who were Scouts, the following list focuses on Eagle Scouts selected as career astronauts. Their status and spaceflight missions are provided, with “STS” referring to the Space Transportation System, commonly known as the space shuttle, and “Expedition” (or “Exp.”) referring to missions on the ISS.
Eagle Scout Astronauts: Status and Spaceflight Missions
- Adamson, James C.: Former; STS-28, STS-43
- Armstrong, Neil A.: Deceased; Gemini 8, Apollo 11
- Bagian, James P.: Former; STS-29, STS-40
- Bluford, Guion S.: Former; STS-8, STS 61-A, STS-39, STS-53
- Bowersox, Kenneth D.: Management; STS-50, STS-61, STS-73, STS-82, Exp. 6 (↑STS-113, ↓Soyuz)
- Brady, Charles E.: Deceased; STS-78
- Carr, Gerald P.: Deceased; Skylab 4
- Carter, Manley L.: Deceased; STS-33
- Chaffee, Roger B.: Deceased; Apollo 1 (died in a pre-launch test)
- Chamitoff, Gregory E.: Former; Expedition 17/18 (↑STS-124, ↓STS-126), STS-134
- Chari, Raja: Active; Expedition 66 (↑↓SpaceX Crew-3)
- Covey, Richard O.: Former; STS-51-I, STS-26, STS-38, STS-61
- Creighton, John O.: Former; STS-51-G, STS-36, STS-48
- Duke, Charles M.: Former; Apollo 16
- Eisele, Donn F.: Deceased; Apollo 7
- Forrester, Patrick G.: Management; STS-105, STS-117, STS 128
- Fossum, Michael E.: Former; STS-121, STS-124, Expedition 28/29 (↑↓Soyuz)
- Fullerton, C. Gordon: Deceased; STS-3, STS-51-F
- Gregory, William G.: Former; STS-67
- Griggs, S. David: Deceased; died in a plane crash before spaceflight
- Hathaway, Jack: Active; awaiting spaceflight assignment
- Hoffman, Jeffrey A.: Former; STS-51-D, STS-35, STS-46, STS-61, STS-75
- Johnson, Gregory H.: Former; STS-123, STS-134
- Jones, Thomas D.: Former; STS-59, STS-68, STS-80, STS-98
- Lee, Mark C.: Former; STS-30, STS-47, STS-64, STS-82
- Lind, Don L.: Former; STS-51-B
- Lindgren, Kjell N.: Active; Expedition 44/45 (↑↓Soyuz), Exp. 67 (↑↓SpaceX Crew-4)
- Lindsey, Steven W.: Former; STS-95, STS-104, STS-121, STS-133
- Lovell, James A.: Former; Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, Apollo 13
- McCool, William C.: Deceased; STS-107 (shuttle destroyed on reentry)
- McCulley, Michael J.: Former; STS-34
- O’Leary, Brian T.: Deceased; resigned in 1968 after Mars mission cancellation
- Onizuka, Ellison S.: Deceased; STS-51-C, STS-51-L (shuttle destroyed at launch)
- Oswald, Stephen S.: Former; STS-42, STS-56, STS-67
- Parazynski, Scott E.: Former; STS-66, STS-86, STS-95, STS-100, STS-120
- Pettit, Donald R.: Active; Exp. 6 (↑STS-113, ↓Soyuz), STS-126, Exp. 30/31 (↑↓Soyuz)
- Reightler, Kenneth S.: Former; STS-48, STS-60
- Searfoss, Richard A.: Deceased; STS-58, STS-76, STS-90
- See, Elliot M.: Deceased; died in a plane crash before spaceflight
- Tanner, Joseph R.: Former; STS-66, STS-82, STS-97, STS-115
- Truly, Richard H.: Deceased; STS-2, STS-8
- Walker, David M.: Deceased; STS-51-A, STS-30, STS-53, STS-69
- Williams, Christopher L.: Active; awaiting spaceflight assignment
Eagle Scouts’ Stellar Achievements in Space Exploration
As we reflect on the remarkable contributions of Eagle Scouts to NASA’s space exploration missions, it’s clear that scouting played a significant role in shaping their character and guiding them to extraordinary heights. Their achievements underscore the values instilled through scouting, showcasing a legacy of courage, leadership, and perseverance that continues to inspire future generations.
