Neil Armstrong's Secret Moon Artifacts Discovered by Wife After 45 Years
Following the passing of legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong in 2012, his wife made an extraordinary discovery two years later in 2014. While cleaning their bedroom closet, she uncovered a hidden stash of moon-landing artifacts that Armstrong had secretly brought back from the historic Apollo 11 mission. This remarkable collection, now known as the 'McDivitt Purse,' remained completely unknown to NASA and the public for an astonishing 45 years.
The Hidden Collection That Changed Space History
While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin officially returned approximately 21.5 kilograms of moon rocks and soil for scientific study, Armstrong kept as a private collection many disposable items he was supposed to discard on the Moon to conserve weight. These recovered items are now being added to historical collections as invaluable links to mankind's first steps on another world and as a bridge between official science and personal history.
Armstrong's Most Significant Possession
Armstrong's most notable possession was definitely the 16mm Data Acquisition Camera (DAC) with a 10mm lens attached. According to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, this camera was installed in the window of the Lunar Module Eagle and took the famous footage of the descent to the surface of the Moon, the landing at Tranquillity Base, and Armstrong's historic first steps. The museum considers this camera one of the most significant pieces of space hardware ever discovered.
The Discovery of the 'McDivitt Purse'
The artifacts were located in a Temporary Stowage Bag (TSB) known as the McDivitt Purse, named after Apollo 9 Commander James McDivitt. Mrs. Armstrong found the bag in her husband's closet while cleaning. It was a white fabric bag that contained what looked like flight hardware. In mission transcripts, Armstrong himself referred to the bag as 'a bunch of trash we took back with us, parts of the LM, miscellaneous things.'
Contents of the Historic Bag
According to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, there were 18 items in total within the bag, including:
- A waist tether used by Armstrong to support his feet during rest periods
- Utility lights with their extension cords
- A utility light bracket
- An emergency wrench (Tool B)
Although these items were considered 'trash' meant to stay behind to reduce the mass of the ascent stage, their preservation provides a unique glimpse into the functioning tools utilized during humanity's first lunar landing.
Official Lunar Samples and Scientific Legacy
Beyond the secret bag, both Armstrong and Aldrin officially collected and returned 21.5 kilograms of lunar material. Of this total, approximately 1 kilogram was collected as a 'contingency sample' to ensure that some lunar material would return to Earth, while the bulk of these samples was subsequently gathered. According to the Apollo 11 Preliminary Science Report, these were the first geological samples ever manually collected from another celestial body, providing the foundation for modern lunar science.
Complete Inventory of the Recovery Bag
According to the NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Surface Journal, the complete contents found in the bag included:
- 16mm Data Acquisition Camera (Maurer)
- 10mm Lens
- 16mm Film Magazines (2)
- Waist Tether
- Utility Lights (2) with power cables
- EVA Light
- Emergency Wrench (Tool B)
- COAS (Crewman Optical Alignment Sight) Mount
- Right-Angle Brackets (2)
- Filter
- Spare Bulb
- Power Cables
- Eye Guard
- Utility Brackets
This extraordinary discovery reveals how Armstrong preserved pieces of history that were meant to be left behind on the lunar surface, creating a personal connection to one of humanity's greatest achievements that remained hidden for nearly half a century.
