Ever since the first moon landing took place back in 1969, conspiracy theories in regard to whether they did actually happen, or were faked on a set in a Hollywood studio, have abounded around the world.
Surface area of the Moon Author: Project Apollo Archive CC BY 2.0
The Space Race, which was essentially a competition between the two rivals of the Cold War, the USA and USSR, began in 1955 following the USSR’s announcement of its intention to launch a satellite into the Earth’s orbit.
Buzz Aldrin salutes the first American flag erected on the Moon, July 21st, 1969 Author: Project Apollo Archive CC BY 2.0
The USA’s Apollo program was launched by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and ensure that the nation stayed ahead of the USSR in the Space Race. The program was run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It was John F. Kennedy, President Eisenhower’s successor, who gave the Apollo program its real direction and purpose.
Earth from the Moon Author: Project Apollo Archive CC BY 2.0
After all, the USA lost out on reaching two space milestones first. The USSR launched its first Earth-orbit satellite in 1957, and they also sent the first man into space, Yuri Gagarin, in 1961. There was no beating the USA to the first moon landing, however, and that was achieved in 1969, with Neil Armstrong becoming the first man to step on it.
Astronauts driving on the Moon Author: Project Apollo Archive CC BY 2.0
Over the course of the next three years, there were a total of 12 lunar missions that took to the heavens bound for the moon, with half of those landing on it. Despite the sheer amount of proof that exists of the lunar landings genuinely taking place, conspiracy theorists haven’t been deterred in their drive to prove that they actually didn’t.
Astronauts driving on the Moon Author: Project Apollo Archive CC BY 2.0
There were hundreds of photos taken of the first lunar landing, and President Nixon even called astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin when they were up there. They spent two-and-a-half hours on the lunar surface, and a total of 21 hours on the moon.
The first photograph was taken by Neil Armstrong on the surface of the Moon, 1969 Author: Project Apollo Archive CC BY 2.0
They astronauts returned home to huge fanfare, with many a parade held for them and many an award bestowed upon them. Nevertheless, the conspiracy theories began to proliferate. One of the most notable is that the lunar landings were filmed in Hollywood, with the backing of Walt Disney and the direction of Stanley Kubrick. A script for the lunar landings was allegedly written by Arthur C. Clarke.
Neil Armstrong photographs the Moon Author: Project Apollo Archive CC BY 2.0
NASA has put up with the conspiracy theories for the better part of 40 years. They still persist, in spite of the fact that a mission to the moon in 2012 showed the tracks that the first astronauts left on its surface back in 1969. The flags that were planted back then were also shown.
Neil Armstrong put his left foot on the rocky Moon Author: Project Apollo Archive CC BY 2.0
Sick and tired of all the naysayers looking to detract from its achievement, NASA flooded the internet with more than 10,000 photos of the first lunar landing back in 2016 via its official Flickr account. They are sorted according to the roll of film they were taken on, and all have a resolution of 1,800 dots per inch. By doing this, it looks like NASA has finally debunked the conspiracy theories, and honored the heroes that risked life and limb for the sake of humanity and science.
First Moon LandingAuthor: Project Apollo Archive CC BY 2.0
