--- title: "The Apollo 11 crew had to clear customs after the moon landing" date: "2020-04-29" modified: "2020-10-30" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/apollo-11-crew-cleared-customs/" categories: - "History" --- # The Apollo 11 crew had to clear customs after the moon landing ![]() When re-entering the United States, it's necessary for every traveler to go through U.S. customs first. And it doesn't matter who you are or where you're coming from – even if you came from the Moon. That's what the three members of the Apollo 11 crew found out when NASA declared its moon rock and moon dust samples it brought back to Earth. --- ![]() The Apollo 11 customs declaration. The idea of going through customs makes one think of carrying luggage through a conveyor, meeting with an immigration official who stares at your passport and asks you where you went on your travels. That, of course, is not what happened to Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, or even Michael Collins after they safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. They were too busy being hailed as heroes for living in space for eight days, spending 21 hours on the Moon, and then coming home. Besides, if you look at their customs declaration, it appears there's no airport code for "Sea of Tranquility" or "Kennedy Space Center." And "Saturn V Rocket" is definitely not on the list of possible aircraft you can take from anywhere to anywhere – unless you're Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, or Michael Collins. ![]() Don't forget to sign for your cargo, you bums. The funny part about the Apollo 11 customs declaration is that the form lists the departure area as simply "moon." In all likelihood, this is a pencil-whipped form, done because it's supposed to be done and because United States airspace ends after a dozen or so miles above the Earth's surface, and the Apollo team definitely went 238,900 miles away. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()