“We choose to go to the moon, we choose to go to the moon in this decade and do other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard” (Wall). On July 20th, 1969, the first man, Neil Armstrong, landed on the moon (Dunbar). Neil Armstrong was accompanied by Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins (Dunbar). Since the broadcast of the moon landing, several conspiracy theories have surfaced.
- Was the Moon Landing faked or real?
- Was the moon landing faked to install the belief that the earth is round (Schadewald 1)?
- Is it possible that the moon landing was faked to deceive the world the U.S was ahead in the space race?
Let’s explore Neil Armstrong and the conspiracy theories surrounding the moon landing.
Neil Armstrong was determined but quiet. Kehoe reported high school friends remember Neil being “a person of few words.” He “thought before he spoke” (“Neil Armstrong: A Man Out of Time” 1). His determination enabled him to achieve many things throughout his life. Dunbar noted that “He served his nation proudly, as a navy fighter pilot, test piolet, and an astronaut. He also found success back home in his native Ohio in business and academia and became a community leader in Cincinnati (“Family Statement Regarding the Death of Neil Armstrong” 1).” The several career fields that he pursued and excelled in would not have been possible without determination.
He always had a humble demeanor. Although he was determined in everything he pursued he wasn’t arrogant. Dunbar reported, “Neil carried himself with a grace and humility that was an example to us all (“Neil Armstrong: “We have lost a humble giant, but his legacy is forever”” 1).” Dunbar stated, “Neil Armstrong was also a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job” (“Family Statement Regarding the Death of Neil Armstrong” 1). A humble person doesn’t boast about themselves. The fact that he showed grace and humility indicated he wasn’t arrogant but humble.
Neil was an intelligent man. His intelligence can be recognized through his education and accomplishments. Kehoe states Neil attended Purdue University on two occasions (“Neil Armstrong: A Man Out of Time” 1). The first was in 1947, but because he couldn’t afford the tuition he had to enlist in the navy causing his time there to fall short (1). Once he had returned from his duty in the Korean war in 1952 he returned to the university to finish his bachelors in aeronautical engineering (1). He later continued his education at Southern California University for a Master of Aerospace Engineering (“Biographical Data” 1). Dunbar said, Neil then studied and designed airplanes with a group of people just before becoming an astronaut for NASA (“Who was Neil Armstrong?” 1). That same study group also became a part of NASA (1). In the United States obtaining a master’s degree is seen as a prestigious accomplishment in education. To be able to earn a Master of Aerospace Engineering, it takes not only determination but intelligence as well.
Neil was an intelligent man. His intelligence can be recognized through his education and accomplishments. Kehoe states Neil attended Purdue University on two occasions (“Neil Armstrong: A Man Out of Time” 1). The first was in 1947, but because he couldn’t afford the tuition he had to enlist in the navy causing his time there to fall short (1). Once he had returned from his duty in the Korean war in 1952 he returned to the university to finish his bachelors in aeronautical engineering (1). He later continued his education at Southern California University for a Master of Aerospace Engineering (“Biographical Data” 1). Dunbar said, Neil then studied and designed airplanes with a group of people just before becoming an astronaut for NASA (“Who was Neil Armstrong?” 1). That same study group also became a part of NASA (1). In the United States obtaining a master’s degree is seen as a prestigious accomplishment in education. To be able to earn a Master of Aerospace Engineering, it takes not only determination but intelligence as well.
There are several conspiracies surrounding the moon landing and Neil Armstrong. One theory claims it is a hoax, and the other two theories focus on why it was faked. None of these three conspiracies are practical.
The first conspiracy revolves around images of the moon landing. A recent survey from the College of the Mainland shows that 11 out of 20 believe the Apollo mission was real. The other 9 believe it was faked because of the following photographs. One image from the moon landing captures the American flag planted into the moon’s surface (“Moon Landing Hoax” 1). In the photo, the flag appears to be waving in the wind, but there is no wind in space (1). NASA claims it only appears to be waving because it had been crushed up from the trip (1). In another photograph, you can see that the terrain repeats itself even though NASA claims the locations they explored are miles apart (1). “NASA swears that these photos were taken in different locations” (1). Also, All the photographs taken on the Apollo 11 mission have no stars. In space, the stars should be visible. There aren’t lights to keep them from sight (1). “The stars aren't visible because they are too faint. The astronauts in their white spacesuits appear quite bright, so they must use short shutter speeds and large f/stops to not overexpose the pictures. With those camera settings, though, the stars don't show up” (“Why We Can’t See Stars” 1). Another suspicious photograph makes the lunar module seem like it was placed into position (“Moon Landing Hoax” 1). The dust on the moon is extremely fine so when the module landed it should have left a print just like the astronaut’s footprints (1). Rockets behave differently in space than on earth (“Space Vehicles” 1). “As the rocket climbs higher and higher, the exhaust plume spreads out. Because the surrounding air gets thinner as the rocket climbs, there is less air pressure to impede the dispersal of the exhaust gasses” (1). All these suspicious photographs have led people to believe that the moon landing was staged in a studio.
Which leads us to the second conspiracy where The International Flat Earth Research Society believes the moon landing was faked to install a myth that the earth is round (Schadewald 1). Transcription from the Schadewald interview records, ‘“The facts are simple,’ says Charles K. Johnson, president of the International Flat Earth Research Society ‘The earth is flat”’ (1). Charles K. Johnson states, “You can’t orbit a flat earth. The Space shuttle is a joke –and a very ludicrous joke” (1). Schadewald recorded, “The whole point of the Copernican theory is to get rid of Jesus by saying there is no up and no down,” declares Johnson. “The spinning ball thing just makes the whole bible a big joke” (1). Johnson and the Flat Earth Society firmly believe that the moon landing was faked in a Hollywood studio. Early documentation by sea explorers proves the earth was round and the history of space travel by the United States and other countries around the world makes this theory unsupportable.
The third theory claims the moon landing was faked to deceive people into believing the U.S was ahead in the space race. Wall stated, “Kennedy viewed winning the space race as key to keeping the United States ahead of the Soviet Union technologically and militarily” (“Moon Speech” 1). President Kennedy stated, “Yet the vows of this nation can only be fulfilled if we in this nation are first, and, therefore, we intend to be first" (1). Taking from this portion of Kennedy’s speech we can conclude that the government was willing to do anything to be the first on the moon. They would even create a fake set to convince the world the United States was the first to successfully land on the moon. However, a small excerpt from a speech does not provide enough evidence to say the landing is a hoax. Only examining parts of the speech instead of the speeches full meaning is taking it out of context.
“We choose to go to the moon, we choose to go to the moon in this decade and do other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard” (Wall). On July 20th, 1969, the first man, Neil Armstrong, landed on the moon (Dunbar). Neil Armstrong was accompanied by Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins (Dunbar). Since the broadcast of the moon landing, several conspiracy theories have surfaced.
• Was the Moon Landing faked or real?
• Was the Moon landing faked to install the belief that the earth is round?
• Is it possible that the moon landing was faked to deceive the world the U.S was ahead in the space race?
After examining each of these conspiracy theories surrounding the moon landing, the evidence points to them being false.
Works Cited
“Biographical Data.” NASA, Aug. 2012, www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/armstrong-na.html
“Moon Landing Hoax.” Enki-Village, 24 July 2015, www.enkivillage.org/moon-landing-hoax.html.
“Space Vehicles.” Clavius, www.clavius.org/techcrater.html.
“Why Can't We See Stars in the Pictures of Spacewalking or Moonwalking Astronauts?” Star Date, stardate.org/astro-guide/faqs/why-cant-we-see-stars-pictures-spacewalking-or-moonwalking-astronauts.
Dunbar, Brian. “Family Statement Regarding the Death of Neil Armstrong.” NASA, 6 June 2013, www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/aug/HQ_12_600_armstrong_family.html#.WrpfdkxFzIU
Dunbar, Brian. “July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind.” NASA, NASA, 19 Feb. 2015, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html.
Dunbar, Brian. “Neil Armstrong: 'We Have Lost a Humble Giant, but His Legacy Is Forever'.”NASA, 6 June 2013, www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/neil_armstrong_passing.html
Dunbar, Brian. “Who Was Neil Armstrong?” NASA, 12 May 2015, www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/who-was-neil-armstrong-k4.html
Kehoe, Robert. “Neil Armstrong: A Man Out of Time.” Vision, 20 July 2009, www.vision.org/visionmedia/biography-neil-armstrong/17450.aspx
Schadewald, Robert J. “Earth Orbits? Moon Landings? A Fraud! Says This Prophet.” The Flat-out Truth, web.archive.org/web/20130128101904/http:/www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/fe-scidi.htm.
Wall, Mike. “JFK's 'Moon Speech' Still Resonates 50 Years Later.” Space.com, Space.com, 12 Sept. 2012, www.space.com/17547-jfk-moon-speech-50years-anniversary.ht
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