11 Craziest Things About Living In Space
2. They Can't Get Life Insurance...
Space travel can be a dangerous business. Even though only three people have ever actually died in space, the astronauts aboard the Soyuz 11 mission when a breathing ventilation valve failed, it's the getting there and back that is the issue. As of 2014, 18 astronauts have died whilst in transit to or from space.
It was this risk that meant the crew of the Apollo missions were not covered by life insurance. As with any situation that would make a payout likely, the insurance companies thought that the men were too likely to die for them to cover them.
In order to look after their families in the event of a catastrophe, Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins signed photographs of themselves so that they could be sold for enough money to provide for their families after they died. These were sent to the families by a friend on the start date of the mission, July 16th 1969, but luckily they weren't needed.