American History

Soph0571

(9,685 posts) Tue Jul 16, 2019, 05:28 AM Jul 2019

Apollo 11 U.S. Customs form after first moon landing by astronauts, 50 years ago

Link to tweet

50 years ago today they took off

The astronauts of Apollo 11 filled out a Customs declaration form upon their return.

Departure from: MOON
Arrival at: HONOLULU HAWAII USA
CARGO: MOON ROCK AND MOON DUST SAMPLES

How cool is that?

4 replies

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Apollo 11 U.S. Customs form after first moon landing by astronauts, 50 years ago (Original Post) Soph0571 Jul 2019 OP

The bureaucracy must be fed. nt tblue37 Jul 2019 #1

Although it was a joke at the time, astronauts do have to go through customs now. Pacifist Patriot Jul 2019 #2

Thank You! Very nice post .... reminders of our awesomeness and not awfulness. n/t MFGsunny Jul 2019 #3

Just try that today DFW Jul 2019 #4

tblue37

(66,035 posts)

1. The bureaucracy must be fed. nt

Reply to Soph0571 (Original post)

Tue Jul 16, 2019, 05:43 AM

Jul 2019

Pacifist Patriot

(24,903 posts)

2. Although it was a joke at the time, astronauts do have to go through customs now.

Reply to Soph0571 (Original post)

Tue Jul 16, 2019, 06:25 AM

Jul 2019

MFGsunny

(2,356 posts)

3. Thank You! Very nice post .... reminders of our awesomeness and not awfulness. n/t

Reply to Soph0571 (Original post)

Tue Jul 16, 2019, 08:01 AM

Jul 2019

DFW

(56,565 posts)

4. Just try that today

Reply to Soph0571 (Original post)

Tue Jul 16, 2019, 08:05 AM

Jul 2019

These days, everything has a code number that a computer has to be able to read. Each country has a code number (USA is 400, for example), and every object imaginable has some impossibly long article number that tells the customs officials on both importing end and exporting end exactly what it is in their local language. If the Moon hasn't been assigned a country number, and extra-terrestrial rocks haven't been assigned an article number, the form can't be completed, and the "offending" declarer can be fined or even arrested for making a false or incomplete declaration, and their goods confiscated.

Imagine Nixon being shoved aside by unsmiling customs officers, telling him he has to wait for his TV spot until they are through with their official formalities.....

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