What club did astronaut Alan Shepard use to make his famous golf shot on the moon?
Asked on: Sep 15, 2023 06:07 AM
Alright, let's dive into a bit of space history mixed with a dash of golf. Alan Shepard, an American astronaut and the second person to walk on the moon, decided to add a bit of fun to his Apollo 14 mission. He brought along a modified six-iron golf club head which he attached to a piece of lunar equipment known as the 'contingency sample return device'. In simpler terms, it's like he turned a moon dirt scooper into his very own cosmic golf club!
Now, this wasn't your average day at the golf course. Wearing a bulky spacesuit and standing in one-sixth Earth's gravity, Shepard took two one-handed swings (as the suit didn't allow for two-handed swings). The first ball didn't travel far but the second... oh boy! Shepard claimed it went "miles and miles" but in reality, it probably travelled around 200-400 yards. Still impressive for an interstellar golfer!
So next time you're struggling with your swing at the local golf course, remember Alan Shepard: He managed to make par while literally being over the moon.
Reference: NASA
