NASA turned this Oregon volcano into a moon simulator for Apollo 11

Armstrong and Aldrin’s Moon Training at Newberry Volcano

Before Neil Armstrong took his giant leap, he first had to walk on lava in Oregon. Thanks to Hollis Dole, NASA picked Newberry Volcano in 1963 as the perfect Moon stand-in.

Future Apollo heroes like Armstrong, Aldrin, and Irwin spent time there learning to spot volcanic features in bulky spacesuits.

The training wasn’t perfect, though.

Walter Cunningham fell hard when his faceplate fogged up, which led to better suit designs. Later, a small piece of Oregon lava even made the journey to the lunar surface with James Irwin on Apollo 15.

The volcanic landscape that helped America reach the Moon still waits for visitors at Newberry National Monument today.

Oregon Geologist Got NASA to Train Astronauts on Lava Fields

In 1963, Hollis Dole, who ran Oregon’s Department of Geology, made a bold pitch to NASA. He pointed out that Central Oregon’s rough lava fields looked a lot like the moon’s surface.

NASA folks listened right away. They needed good training spots as they raced to beat the Russians to the moon. Dole’s sharp eye put Oregon on NASA’s map at just the right time.

Moon Country Popped Up in Central Oregon’s Backyard

NASA checked out Central Oregon and liked what they saw. The volcanic areas had very little erosion, making them similar to the moon.

They found a mix of rough, sharp lava and smoother, wavy lava fields. The dry weather meant training could happen without rain delays.

Plus, Klamath Falls airfield was close by for easy travel. By 1964, locals called the area “moon country” as NASA teams became a common sight.

Future Moonwalkers Learned About Volcanic Rocks

NASA sent its first group of Apollo astronauts to Oregon in October 1964.

They picked spots like McKenzie Pass, Newberry Crater, Hole in the Ground, and Fort Rock for training. Over two years, at least 46 astronauts learned to spot volcanic features in these strange places.

The group included Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Edgar Mitchell, James Irwin, and Charlie Duke – all men who later walked on the moon.

Walter Cunningham Fell Hard While Testing Early Spacesuit

Training hit a snag in August 1964 at McKenzie Pass when astronaut Walter Cunningham fell onto sharp lava rocks.

He wore an early spacesuit that made him look like a “human sausage” according to people watching. The suit’s small face window fogged up, blocking his view. When he tripped, the rocks tore his suit.

Luckily, Cunningham only sprained his thumb. The accident made front-page news across America, bringing attention to NASA’s Oregon program.

NASA Fixed Spacesuits After Oregon Tests Showed Problems

After Cunningham’s fall, NASA quickly changed their spacesuit design.

Engineers made a new “moon suit” with a bigger face window so astronauts could see their feet. They also made stronger gloves and improved ankle movement for walking on rough ground.

The Oregon tests found serious design flaws in a safe place rather than on the moon. These changes likely stopped accidents during the real moon missions years later.

Astronauts Learned All About Volcanic Rocks

NASA packed a lot of science into the Oregon training. Astronauts got geology lessons equal to a master’s degree in a short time.

Famous geologist Aaron Waters taught many field classes, showing space travelers how to spot cinder cones, pumice, lava tubes, and obsidian.

Scientists still argued about whether the moon’s surface came from volcanoes or meteor hits, so astronauts prepared for both.

This knowledge helped them pick good rocks to bring back from the moon.

Scientists From All Over Came to Bend Meeting

The Lunar Geological Field Conference brought world attention to Central Oregon in August 1965. Moon scientists from many countries met in Bend for a week of field trips and lively talks.

Oregon’s governor joined the event, showing the state’s pride in helping prepare for the moon trips. The meeting made Central Oregon the top lunar training ground on Earth.

Scientists who couldn’t go on Apollo missions still helped by sharing what they knew during these field trips.

NASA Came Back With More People for Second Training

NASA returned to Oregon in July 1966 with a bigger group of 35 people, including 22 astronauts. This time, they paired astronauts with local officials as guides.

Astronaut James Irwin worked with Bend building inspector Floyd Watson during field trips. The program helped astronauts connect with regular Americans while learning about rocks.

NASA’s return showed how much they valued Oregon’s volcanic areas for training their moon explorers.

Astronaut and Local Guide Became Friends

Floyd Watson and James Irwin got along well during their 1966 field trips across Oregon’s lava fields.

When Watson heard Irwin would fly on the Apollo 15 mission in 1971, he had a special idea. He broke off a small bit of lava rock from Devil’s Lake near Bend.

Watson mailed this tiny piece to Irwin with an unusual request – could the astronaut take this bit of Oregon to the moon?

Oregon Lava Made the Journey to the Lunar Surface

James Irwin remembered his promise to Watson during the Apollo 15 mission in July 1971. Despite strict weight limits and tight schedules, he carried the small piece of Oregon lava all the way to the moon.

During one of his moonwalks, Irwin placed the volcanic fragment on the lunar surface. The gesture showed how meaningful those Oregon training days had been to the astronauts.

NASA officials raised eyebrows at this unofficial addition to the mission, as every ounce of payload faced intense scrutiny.

Proof of the Lunar Delivery Arrived in Bend

Watson got confirmation of his rock’s cosmic journey on September 30, 1971. Irwin sent him a letter stating plainly: “I did carry your sliver of lava to the moon and left it there. ”

The astronaut included a signed photo showing the tiny Oregon rock sitting on the lunar surface. Irwin had drawn an arrow pointing to it with a handwritten note: “Oregon lava on the moon!”

Watson shared the amazing story with his five grandchildren, creating a family legacy that connected their hometown to humanity’s greatest adventure.

Visiting Newberry Volcanic National Monument, Oregon

Newberry Volcanic National Monument is 11 miles south of Bend at 58201 US-97, where NASA trained Apollo astronauts like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin from 1964-1966.

You need a Northwest Forest Pass ($5 daily or $30 annual).

The Lava Lands Visitor Center opens May through early October with shuttles to Lava Butte summit running every 20 minutes. Walk the Trail of Molten Land through the same lava fields where astronauts practiced for moon missions.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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