Around 1919 the owner of the land tried to mine for Iron. He got 200 feet down and the water table ruined his attempt. Thats what that is. They gated it off in 1977 or so (around that) because people dumped wrecked airplane parts down in it after a salvage operation. Its 100ftx100ft. The astronaut I dunno about. I DO know NASA used the crater for moon landing training and intends to again.