1 Small Disc, 1 Giant Message

A tiny disc carrying messages of peace from world leaders has been lying in a small pouch on the moon since 1969, reports Space.com. Space historian Tahir Rahman's new book We Came In Peace For All Mankind tells the story of how the disc came to be there—and how the Apollo 11 astronauts almost forgot to leave it behind.

Before the first mission to the moon, NASA contacted 116 countries asking for messages of peace. Seventy-three of them responded in time. The messages were etched onto a silicon disc and given to the astronauts. They only remembered the package as they were boarding the lander for the journey home. Buzz Aldrin tossed it onto the moon's surface, where it still lies today. (More NASA stories.)