#triviatuesday - What mammals were “used to check for germs” which the astronauts may have brought back to Earth?

Tomorrow, July 31, is the final day of our Summer Reading Program. In keeping with its theme, “A Universe of Stories,” we ask today’s Space-related TriviaTuesday question:  

On July 24, 1969, following their successful first-man-on-the-Moon mission, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins splashed down in the Pacific Ocean southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii. They were retrieved by the crew of the USS Hornet aircraft carrier, where then-President Richard Nixon welcomed them home. Ultimately the astronauts were taken to a special location to undergo decontamination procedures to prevent any “Moon germs” infecting Earth. They passed the test.  

Today’s question: What mammals were “used to check for germs” which the astronauts may have brought back to Earth? 

 A: In “Flying to the Moon...” Michael Collins, the sole surviving Apollo 11 astronaut, recalls that he, first-man-on-the-Moon Neil Armstrong and #2 Moonwalker Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin were taken to a facility designed to “subject us and our Moon rocks to every possible test to make sure we had not brought any germs back from the Moon...” 

“In addition to physical examinations for us and microscopic checks of the rocks, there was a colony of white mice that was used to check for germs. These mice had been born in the laboratory and for all their lives they had been kept free of external germs.  

“The idea was to expose the mice to the Moon rocks. If the mice stayed healthy, then the Moon rocks must be safe and we were free to rejoin our families without fear of infecting anyone. 

“As the days passed and the mice stayed healthy, our spirits rose, and finally, on August 10, 1969, the flight of Apollo 11 ended and we were released to the world...” 

Source of information for Trivia question and answer:  

“Flying to the Moon – An Astronaut’s Story” by Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins. “Revised and updated edition for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing.” Features an introduction by Captain Scott Kelly, former commander of the International Space Station. Available for checkout at MidPointe Library.  

Recovery and post-flight photos are from NASA.gov’s “Apollo 11 Image Library.” Images include, but are not limited to, splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, astronauts heading to isolation aboard the USS Hornet, relaxing during isolation (including Neil Armstrong celebrating his 39th birthday and the trio being greeted by U.S. President Richard Nixon), as well as later images of the three astronauts examining an Apollo 11 lunar sample and appearing in a New York City parade. They can be viewed at:

https://history.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/images11.html#Post 

 If you love all-things-Space, then rocket over to MidPointe Library tomorrow, July 31, for the last day of our popular Summer Reading Program for all ages!   

For more information about the program go to: 

www.midpointelibrary.org > Services > Summer Reading 

A complete calendar of all MidPointe events is available at: 

www.midpointelibrary.org > Events 

You’ll find lots of “Space” at MidPointe Library, on-shelf and online: 

www.midpointelibrary.org > Catalog Search > Outer Space 

www.midpointelibrary.org > eLibrary 

Finally, a big thanks to all who visited our “Universe of Stories” during Summer Reading! It was the perfect way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first steps upon the Moon by Ohioan Neil Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin, with transportation provided by Michael Collins. Collins is the only surviving astronaut from the Apollo 11 mission.  

See you tomorrow for our final 2019 Summer Reading adventure! Here’s hoping we meet again next year!