(Photo: REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier)
Not a lot of people know, but when astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins arrived on Earth from the first human mission to the moon in the 1960s, NASA had to put them in quarantine. So yes, Aldrin is no stranger to being in lockdown, so naturally, he has something to say about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Upon the Apollo 11's return to Earth, NASA was worried that the astronauts might have contracted diseases or carried germs from the moon and brought them on the planet. To prevent the possibility of unleashing a lunar plague, the crew were transported to Houston, Texas where they were made to wear anti-contamination suits. All three astronauts were in lockdown for three weeks in a facility called the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF).
In a recent interview, the famed astronaut was asked about the measures he was undertaking to protect himself from the virus. According to Aldrin, he was "lying on my ass and locking the door," which technically, is the only proper way to survive these days.
Aldrin is already 90 years old, which places him in a group most vulnerable to the coronavirus disease. He shared his experiences while on quarantine and encouraged people to stay in their homes and only go out when it's extremely needed.
NASA's MQF had an air filtration system, as well as sleeping and living quarters. The astronauts had to find ways to entertain themselves and Aldrin also made fun of the mishaps while being in the facility.
"Well, Mike Collins and I used to exercise and jog a little bit around the hallway," Aldrin said. "We looked at this one crack in the floor, and there were ants crawling in and out."
The MQF didn't last long -- NASA had to close it down two years after Apollo 11 when it realized the moon had no signs of life, including pathogens.
Meanwhile, the spread of the coronavirus has progressed at an alarming pace. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a pandemic on March 11, admitting that the number of deaths and cases will even go up. However, the WHO was quick to reassure people that governments and health organizations are working hard to control the spread of the virus.
Many companies across the globe are encouraging their workers to work from home as countless industries have been hit by supply chain issues. For the latest data on COVID-19, visit the WHO website.
