In July 1969, the world held its breath as three brave astronauts embarked on a journey to the Moon aboard the Apollo 11 spacecraft. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins were tasked with a historic mission that would forever change the course of human history.
However, what many may not know is that these fearless explorers did not have life insurance coverage for their perilous voyage into the unknown.
The decision to forgo life insurance for the Apollo 11 mission was not made lightly. Life insurance companies deemed the mission too risky to underwrite, citing the unprecedented challenges and potential dangers of space travel. The astronauts themselves were acutely aware of the hazards involved in their journey, from the intense forces of launch to the uncertainties of spaceflight and lunar landing.
Despite the lack of life insurance, the Apollo 11 astronauts remained steadfast in their commitment to explore the final frontier. NASA didn’t used to offer insurance to employees in the early days and reports say private insurance were multiple times higher than astronauts’ salaries.
ALSO SEE: Apollo 11 Moon Landing Videotapes Sell At Auction For Whopping $1.8 Million
Deprived of life insurance policies, the astronauts took alternative measures to provide for their families in the event of a tragic accident. Before departing for their historic mission, Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins signed hundreds of autographs while in pre-launch quarantine, which they entrusted to their loved ones as a form of financial security. The idea sprouted from the fact that the trio was enjoying stardom ever since they were announced as Apollo 11 astronauts.
These autographs, often referred to as “insurance covers,” were postmarked on the day of the Apollo 11 launch and could be sold in the event of the astronauts’ untimely demise.
Thankfully, the autographs were never used the way they were originally intended too. After Apollo 11, ten more men went on to walk on the Moon until 1972.
