The Moon Landings: A Hoax or an Amazing Feat?
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I have always been interested in space travel, this is written as a simple explanation to some of the crazy theories.
Image via Wikipedia
On the 40th anniversary of the Apollo missions there are many who believe it to be a hoax. Conspiracy theories have always been popular and this is one of the biggest.
The landings become even more incredible as we look back at their technological limitations, with computers far less powerful than the mobile phones we have today.
Yet with 9 missions to the moon and six successful landings that would be incredibly over done lie. These are the main ideas are broken down into sections.
Image via Wikipedia
They couldn’t reach the Moon
The idea that the moon was unreachable stands little scrutiny. The Gemini missions had already extended the time humans could spend in space. The Russians had also sent a probe which reached the moon, indeed it crashed into it after taking a few close up pictures. This was in 1959. Having led the space race for years, the USSR would have been the first to say what NASA did was impossible. As the Cold War was a prime motivator in the space race, the Soviets could have won a great moral victory in uncovering a hoax.
The development of the Saturn V rocket which allowed men to reach the moon from Apollo 8 onwards would also have been a huge waste of money for a hoax. This money could have gone into developing reusable spacecraft such as the Space Shuttle far sooner. This is why the Apollo missions were cancelled in the end, to ensure future space faring exploration.
Missions were unmanned
Some believe the missions were automated by robots because of the radiation astronauts would be exposed to in space. This doesn’t fit well alongside the idea that technology wasn’t advanced enough. NASA has been open about the trouble Apollo 11 had landing, missing its target and almost running out of fuel. Skilled pilots were needed.
Other ideas are even wackier in saying that extraterrestrial technology had to be involved hence the fake photos. It seems one way to make a conspiracy theory plausible, is to stick a crazier one on top.
Fake Pictures
Not many people have had chances to take a photo on the Moon, but many believe they’re experts in the field. Professional independent groups who have studied the photos agree the photos fit what might be expected in those conditions. With the lack of atmosphere and extra light reflected from earth, objects and shadows are likely to look different.
Landings were shot on a set
The landing videos show how lunar dust that was kicked up went high due to the low gravity and settled immediately due to a lack of air. On earth they would have formed momentary dust clouds. Videos also show that the flag was still, not moving as pictures might suggest. The ripple in the fabric is a result of its folding during transport. A rod held the flag in place for visual purposes.
Apollo 13
A near disaster when an explosion almost killed three astronauts during flight. Both Jim Lovell and Fred Hayes would have had to be willing to let their wives and kids believe that they were likely going to die. Children don’t make good conspirators, but any of the people in on the conspiracy would have had to have lied to their families and not shown the strain. Having to pretend for the rest of their lives to be proud of a fake accomplishment.
The greatest evidence against a conspiracy is the sheer number of participants who would have to have been involved. An estimated 400,000 people helped to get man on the moon. That would require a lot of bribes and a lot of trust in people’s dishonesty. Not many people could imagine taking such a lie to their death. For example Jack Swaggert on the near fatal Apollo 13 mission, died later of cancer, making no great revelation.
Of course the great success and real purpose of such conspiracy writing is the money it generates. Yet how so many people prefer to believe mankind failed and lied, rather than achieved a great thing is perhaps the greatest mystery of all.
http://cinemaroll.com/cinemarolling/more-incredible-than-fiction-films-based-on-true-stories/
For more of my work go to www.triond.com/users/Nathan+Grace
12 Comments
Interesting article.
Personally, I believe that the moon landings were true and not a hoax purely because I’ve been brought up with that notion. Also, the way I look at it, if man can reach planets such as Mars through infrastructure etc. which are further away than the moon, then surely the moon is quite achievable.
Thought provoking article!
Our space program has an amazing history, it would be a real shame if it is all a hoax. I hopeful that it is the real deal. Nice post.
Genuine in my opinion!! Nice debate issue though as they’re plenty who don not believe!
If moon landing was not true,Elvis Presley ,Hitler,Michael Jackson are alive.
I think the moon landing was a hoax. One of the bad analogies written in this article is that Space Odyssey wouldn’t fool a child. Space Odyssey is a beautiful film and not something a “child” would watch. A child would think Space Odyssey is real even if they did watch it.
Also, there a people with B.A and PHD’s criticising the NASA pictures as genuine, Even the chief engineer of the camera, Lundberg, is surprised of the quality and volume of the pictures, considering there were just two astronauts with cameras strapped to their body without a viewfinder!!!!!. Astronauts are not trained as amazingly skilled & brilliant photographers. Even the sound as the LEM is descending is crystal clear, without the artifact of thunderous rockets underneath.
The reason why 400,000 were fooled is just the same as in World War 2. Does everyone in the USA know what happens in the CIA.??No. The secrets the government hides is for only a few people. I could go on but don’t want to spend too much time on this issue. It is a no-brainer. The Moon landing was a hoax committed by the USA.
With space odyssey i was referrring to the special effects. You should do more research Andrew. There is no realistic ways the moon landings can be a hoax try googling some other sites this is just a brief simple breakdown on what experts say.
Some very interesting observations there Nathan
Interesting and well researched article. The stories about a ‘fake’ moon landing must rate right up there with the greatest conspiracy theories of all time.
Interesting article.
It was well written, very easy to understand.
I was quite upset when all this kicked off. I want to believe they did go so I won’t have to. Great article.
Recently the newly fixed Hubble telescope (with its increased ability) has been able to see the debris left by former moon missions…..left right there on the moon.