Do you know that How Many Golf Balls Are on the Moon? We are all aware that many astronauts have travelled to the moon, but did you realize that many people have left behind their artefacts? Everything that goes up does not have to come down!
Alan Shepard has the record for being the first person to hit a golf ball on the Moon in 1971.
How many golf balls are on the moon? 2 golf balls have been placed on the moon by Alan Shepard, in 1971, he was a NASA astronaut on the Apollo 14 mission.
Not necessarily the kinds of things that come to mind when you think about the moon. Several astronauts, though, have left small Earth mementoes on the moon. Continue reading to learn more about the golfer-turned-astronaut who made his mark on the moon.
Souvenirs from the Moon
Astronauts have been known to leave mementoes on the moon as a memory of their mission.
Some people have left flags and other objects that indicate their country of origin. Others leave copies of family photos as a tribute to their loved ones.
Alan Shepard brought one of his hobbies “GOLF” with him on the Apollo 14 mission in 1971.
On The Moon Golfing
Alan Shepard is the only person who has ever played golf on the moon.
Alan Shepard brought two golf balls and a 6-iron clubhead with him for the Apollo 14 mission. Shepard attached a modified 6-iron clubhead to collection equipment used for collecting lunar dust samples during his time on the moon.
Shepard took a few swings on the moon with his Frankenstein golf club and became the first person to play golf on the moon. It appears that golfing on the moon necessitates some acclimatization, as his first stroke was not in the best of shape.
Shepard later calculated that his second stroke carried the ball 200 yards. because the moon’s gravity is one-sixth that of the Earth’s.
Andy Saunders, an imaging specialist, was able to determine the true distance travelled by the golf ball on Shepard’s second shot using satellite images in February 2021.
Saunders determined the distance to be 40 yards, rather than Shepard’s previously claimed 200 yards, indicating that Shepard’s estimate was inflated.
How Did He Do It?
According to legend, Shepard’s gambit was not one that NASA approved. Alan Shepard had to smuggle the balls and the 6-iron clubhead into the space shuttle as a result of this. He was able to get the two golf balls onto the plane by stuffing them into a sock.
It was a different story with the clubhead. The golf ball and a club were not allowed on the Apollo 14 mission due to NASA’s refusal. Shepard had to make some changes to the 6-iron clubhead.
Due to their small size, transporting golf balls unnoticed is not difficult; but, bringing a whole golf club is a different problem.
Shepard had to adapt the head to fit and attach to the collection tool during his modifications. He then put the newly adjusted clubhead inside his suit after making the necessary adjustments.
Some argue that this is mere mythology and that Shepard had approval from director Bob Gilruth. He would not have needed to sneak the materials if this were the case, but the clubhead changes and foresight were still present!
Three or two golf balls are on the Moon ?
Another story about the golf balls on the moon is the number of them. Some argue that while Alan Shepard only released two balls, a third ball was buried beneath the moon’s surface.
The theory of three golf balls on the moon is not supported by any evidence. Furthermore, NASA has catalogued the foreign objects found on the moon as a result of US and international missions.
The two golf balls are included in that list, so it’s quite official. On the moon, there are just two golf balls.
What is their current location?
The golf balls are obviously still on the moon, but the clubhead is now a celebrity on our planet.
The lunar golf club, which was donated by Alen Shepard, is on display at the USGA Golf Museum in Far Hills, New Jersey.
In addition, a duplicate of the club is on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. in honour of this one-of-a-kind aeronautical sports equipment.
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