The popular Discovery Channel program “Mythbusters” debunked allegations that the U.S. Moon landings were faked, in an August 27 episode.
It pointed out that Apollo astronauts left several retro-reflectors on the Moon, which have been “pinged” with powerful lasers from Earth, sending a signal back. Apollo missions 11, 14, and 15 left reflectors where they landed – clear evidence they traveled to the Moon.
The mythbusters conducted elaborate experiments to debunk popular claims by hoax believers. Some examples:
Films of a flag flapping on the Moon mean there must have been wind blowing, but there’s no atmosphere on the Moon.
The mythbusters placed a replica American flag in a vacuum chamber, to test if a flag could flap in an environment with no atmosphere. They found that moving the flag’s staff, as the astronauts did when they planted it in lunar soil, caused the flag to flap vigorously, as if it were being blown by a breeze.
You can’t make a clear footprint in lunar soil because it contains no moisture.
Because the Moon lacks water and an atmosphere, lunar soil particles are not smoothed by erosion. Their sharp edges make them able to hold a well-defined footprint. The mythbusters used a spacesuit boot to make a footprint in dry material that the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) uses to simulate lunar soil. When done in a vacuum chamber, this left a footprint very similar to ones made on the Moon.
Why are no stars visible in the sky in many photographs taken on the Moon?
The program called attention to a web site that explains this puzzle. The light hitting the Moon’s surface from the sun is so bright that it “washes out” the relatively dim light from stars in the background in photographs, just as bright city lights make it hard to see stars at night.
Todd Leventhal is the Department’s expert on conspiracy theories and misinformation—stories that are untrue, but widely believed. He enjoys reading obituaries, which tell the personal stories of people who have shaped the fabric of American life.
Todd became interested in international affairs after a four-month trip to the Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India in 1972. He worked for Voice of America for seven years and bikes to work year-round.
Comments (3)
G Taylor
30 December 2008 at 10:15 EST
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Another thing for consideration by those that love a conspiracy theory:
there were I think 12 men that according to the orthodox view walked on the moon. Most are probably still alive but are living in obscurity. Any one of them could make a fortune by “confessing” that the landings never happened, and selling the story to the papers. Why do they not do this?
Dr.
20 January 2009 at 14:35 EST
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Thanks for your brilliant deductive reasoning “G Taylor”…
Say someone named “Gordon” was an astronaut in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Of course Gordon would have been a Freemason, as would his father, with all the oaths taken very seriously. Gordon would also have been a military man, with all his oaths, chain of command, secrecy and signed National Security contracts taken VERY SERIOUSLY indeed. Gordon would be paid very handsomely, well above and beyond his published “official” NASA salary. Gordon would have had a friend named Gus who, with 2 others, burned to a horrible death after trying to expose aspects of the truth. Gordon would realise quite quickly, things are not as they seem, but one must carry on as a patriot and do what must be done. Gordon essentially becomes an actor in an international drama, but despite all his technical training, doesn’t receive any acting lessons, which really shows in his post mission press conference. Gordon, despite being one of the most famous men on Earth, becomes a hermit and refuses to give any interviews, which gets him labelled as depressed, shy, and even unstable. Gordon knows some secrets, some of which may be true, and realises the extent of the conspiracy of which he is a central actor. He remembers Gus. He remembers his oaths and contracts. He needs his bi-weekly checks to get by. He is affraid for his family every day. He is sick of being monitored and has thought of many escapes, including suicide, but they won’t let that happen…..
But, you’re right “G Taylor”, Gordon can always call Time magazine, or Dan Rather, or The NY Times, or Playboy, or the local Boy Scouts and confess his “little story” for millions and millions and become famous all over again and everything will be peachy!!!! Almost a Trillion USD stolen by NASA over the years and very close ties with military and intelligence circles, and you think they would allow this to happen??? Maybe Gordon is actually proud of his accomplishments, for all we know.
Can no one actually use their minds anymore?
The Gnome
5 October 2009 at 02:20 EDT
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Ok try this. The Russians would have shown use to be frauds. A good telescope would do that. I know it might seem to fantastic but we did go and we did land there.