What was Neil Armstrong's last meal? A Look at the Apollo 11 Astronaut's Food

January 12, 2026 •

2 min read

Before the Apollo 11 launch, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins shared steak and eggs. This meal was chosen to provide high protein and limit fiber.

Quick Summary

Neil Armstrong's pre-flight meal was steak and eggs before the Apollo 11 launch. This meal was a NASA tradition. Details of his last meal before his death are private.

Key Points

Pre-Flight Breakfast: Neil Armstrong's 'last meal' was steak and eggs before the Apollo 11 mission.
Nutritional Strategy: The menu was chosen for high protein and low fiber.
First Moon Meal: Armstrong and Aldrin ate dehydrated bacon squares, peaches, and cookies on the moon.
Actual Last Meal: The details of Neil Armstrong's final meal before his death are not known.
Cause of Death: Armstrong died from heart surgery complications at 82.
Space Food Evolution: Space cuisine has evolved and become more advanced.

The Pre-Flight Meal: Steak and Eggs Before the Moon

The most well-known 'last meal' for Neil Armstrong was the pre-flight breakfast with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins on July 16, 1969. They ate hours before boarding the Saturn V rocket. The breakfast included steak, scrambled eggs, toast, coffee, and orange juice. It was a NASA tradition designed to help the astronauts.

Why This Meal?

This meal was selected for nutritional benefits during space travel.

Low Fiber: This limited the chance of discomfort during the mission.
High Protein: Steak and eggs offered sustained energy and kept the astronauts feeling full.
Tradition: It provided a sense of calm and camaraderie.

First Meal on the Moon

The first meal on the moon for Armstrong and Aldrin, eaten from freeze-dried packets on July 20, 1969, included:

Bacon squares
Sugar cookie cubes
Peaches
Pineapple-grapefruit drink
Coffee

This meal showed NASA's advancements in space food. Hot water was available for this mission to rehydrate items.

Comparing Meals


Feature	Last Meal on Earth (July 16, 1969)	First Meal on the Moon (July 20, 1969)
Purpose	Tradition, nutrition, and morale.	Sustenance in zero-gravity.
Menu Items	Steak, eggs, toast, coffee, juice.	Bacon squares, cookies, peaches, drink, coffee.
Preparation	Prepared by cooks at Kennedy Space Center.	Packaged, dehydrated, rehydrated with hot water.
Setting	Dining area at Kennedy Space Center.	Inside the Apollo 11 Lunar Module.
Significance	Calm before a historic mission.	First food on another celestial body.

Neil Armstrong's Final Days

Details of Neil Armstrong's actual last meal before his death are private, unlike his pre-flight meal. Armstrong passed away on August 25, 2012, at 82, from heart surgery complications. He valued his privacy. The public often confuses the pre-flight meal with his final meal.

Evolution of Space Food

The food Armstrong consumed was a part of the evolution of space cuisine. NASA has continued to improve astronaut food since the early days. Flour tortillas became a favorite because they do not create crumbs in space. Modern astronauts on the International Space Station have more options, including frozen meals and ice cream. The same principles of nutrition, ease of consumption, and storage remain key. For more, see the NASA Space Food factsheet at https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/167750main_fs_spacefood508c.pdf.

Conclusion: A Lasting Memory

The story of Neil Armstrong's last meal is a mix of history, science, and public interest. While his final meal as an astronaut was a breakfast of steak and eggs, his last meal before his passing is not public. The public interest shows how small details of a public figure's life become part of a larger historical narrative. The pre-flight breakfast reminds us of the preparation before one of humanity's greatest achievements.

Frequently Asked Questions

He ate a pre-flight breakfast of steak, eggs, toast, and coffee.

This meal is high in protein and low in fiber to prevent any issues during the flight.

No, the steak and eggs were eaten on Earth before the launch. The first meal on the moon included bacon squares, sugar cookie cubes, and peaches.

This information is not public. He died from complications after heart surgery.

Yes, the whole Apollo 11 crew shared the pre-flight breakfast: Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins.

The breakfast was a private event with the crew members.

The moon meal was specially prepared for space travel with dehydrated food, while the pre-flight meal was freshly cooked.