Media Room

The Fascinating Story of the Apollo 11 Moon Mission Covers

1969 was a year of crowning achievements, growing movements, and the music revolution. But the impending Apollo 11 Mission topped them all as the moment that man would take his first step on the Moon. It was the climax of the space race, as the United States looked to become the first nation to successfully reach the moon, and to place a citizen on its surface.

As the July 16^th launch drew closer, everyone was captivated by the historic achievement waiting to be made a reality. It was science fiction coming to life amidst the shock and awe of people everywhere.

However, for the astronauts, there was a problem: Securing the future of their loved ones should something go wrong.

For everyone knew that there was a very real chance that Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" E. Aldrin, Jr. would not be coming home. They knew it, their families knew it, and more importantly, the life insurance companies knew it.

As a result, they could not obtain life insurance. They were denied cover when they needed it the most. This is when the men came up with an inventive way to create their own form of life insurance.

Postal covers.

You see, the astronauts were looked at as celebrities. Their autographs were worth big money. Life saving money. The money that could be made selling autographed postal covers could not only help their families with day-to-day living expenses, but it could pay for college tuition for their children, as well.

The astronauts spent weeks signing these postal covers. They then had a friend go to the post office and have them postmarked on two important dates; the day of the launch and the day the astronauts landed on the moon. The covers were then given to the astronauts’ families. In the event the men did not return home, they could be sold.

On July 20^th, 1969, Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon’s surface, an event best described by his own famous words “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Fortunately, the astronauts did make it home. However, had it not been for their celebrity status and the postal covers idea, their families would have been left with nothing had the mission gone wrong.

The moral of the story is, don’t get caught without life insurance. Everybody needs one, even astronauts. You never know what life is going to hit you with, and you need to be prepared for the sake of your loved ones. Don’t leave them stranded with nothing while you take a step into the great unknown that is life. You owe it to them to give them the security they deserve.