Brian May reveals Neil Armstrong’s unexpected reaction

Queen guitarist Sir Brian May has recalled a nerve-racking experience from 2011 when he questioned humanity’s ambitions to explore space in front of some of the most celebrated astronauts in history, including the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong.

During his speech, May challenged the idea of sending humans beyond Earth while the planet itself continues to face serious environmental and humanitarian problems. He questioned whether humanity was ready to expand into space after causing so much damage to its own home.

The legendary musician admitted that he was terrified of delivering those remarks in front of six Apollo moonwalkers, including Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Charlie Duke and Harrison Schmitt. May feared his comments might offend the astronauts who had dedicated their lives to space exploration.

However, Armstrong’s reaction was quite the opposite of what he had anticipated. After May finished speaking, the Apollo 11 astronaut approached him and reassured him that he had made the right point.

Reflecting on the incident, May said he was relieved by Armstrong’s response, which gave him unexpected support from one of the pioneers of lunar exploration.

Beyond his music career with Queen, May is also an accomplished astrophysicist who earned his doctorate from Imperial College London in 2007, having resumed his academic studies after putting them on hold to pursue music.

During a recent conversation at the Starmus festival in Spain’s Canary Islands, May also expressed disappointment with wealthy billionaires, saying many appear more focused on personal ambitions than addressing the world’s growing challenges. He argued that tackling suffering and protecting the planet should take priority over ambitious space projects.

May has also recently hinted that Queen may be approaching the end of its touring journey after five decades, as he hopes to devote more time to his family and scientific interests.