Astronaut Monument
Monument honoring Apollo geology trainees in Húsavík, Iceland.
Last updated
via Wikipedia: Astronaut Monument · see source
In Húsavík, Iceland, the Astronaut Monument honors 32 Apollo astronauts who trained there for lunar missions in 1965 and 1967. Located outside the Exploration Museum, it lists their names.
Of these trainees, 14 later traveled to the Moon, and seven performed geological work on its surface. The monument includes the American and Icelandic flags, the Apollo program insignia, and two steel globes on top of two basalt columns representing Earth and the Moon. It was unveiled on July 15, 2015, by the grandchildren of Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Outside the Exploration Museum, Húsavík, Iceland
- Number of astronauts listed
- 32
- Unveiling date
- July 15, 2015
- Unveiled by
- Grandchildren of Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong
- Features
- Names of the astronauts
- American and Icelandic flags
- Apollo program insignia
Facts from the source article.
Background
The monument commemorates geology training that Apollo astronauts underwent in northern Iceland in 1965 and 1967. The 32 astronauts listed include names like Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin's crewmate, and others who later made history.
Fourteen of these trainees flew to the Moon, and seven—Armstrong, Bean, Cernan, Duke, Mitchell, Schmitt, and Scott—actually conducted geology work and collected samples on the lunar surface. Seven more flew to the Moon but did not land: Anders, Evans, Haise, Mattingly, Roosa, Swigert, and Worden. The monument's design features two steel globes on basalt columns, symbolizing Earth and the Moon, alongside the flags and Apollo insignia.
Did You Know?
- Of the 32 Apollo astronauts listed, 14 later flew to the Moon and seven conducted geology work on the lunar surface.
- The training in Iceland took place in 1965 and 1967, preparing astronauts for lunar geology work.
More in Apollo Program
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Astronaut Monument (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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