Moon Landing Conspiracy Theories

• Took place July 16, 1969 (Apollo 11)• conspiracy theorists say that the moon landings were hoaxed by the US

government to ensure their victory in the space race over Russia• idea that has grown strongly in popularity over time

The Big Idea

• Conspiracy theorists have pointed out that when the first moon landing was shown on live television, people could clearly see the American flag waving as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted it

• Pictures also show what may be a breeze and a fold in the flag• However, there's no air in the Moon's atmosphere. no air, no wind!

The Waving Flag

• No crater is visible under the lunar module to mark its landing

Lack of Impact?

• Sun is only strong light source on the Moon• most pictures from the moon landing clearly show that shadows fall in

different directions• theorists think it is possible that multiple light sources were present,

saying the pictures were taken on a film set

Light Sources

• to reach the moon astronauts had to pass through what is known as the Van Allen radiation belt

• held in place by Earth's magnetic field• sheer levels of radiation would have cooked the astronauts on their way to

the moon

The Van Allen Radiation Belt

• odd spotlight-like object in the reflection of an astronaut's helmet from the Apollo 12 mission

• appears to be hanging from a rope• overhead spotlight typically found in film studios

The Mysterious Object

• apparent low-gravity conditions• if you take the moon landing footage and increase its speed x2.5, the

astronauts move in Earth's gravity• astronauts were carried by thin wires and filmed jumping around

Slow Motion and Wires

• total lack of stars in any of the photographic and video evidence from the moon landings

• no clouds on the moon, so stars are always visible and very much brighter than what we normally see as stars

• did photographers make a huge mistake and forget to "turn on the stars"?

No Stars!

• one of the most famous pictures from the moon landing• a rock with the letter "C" engraved into it• it has been suggested that the rock is just a prop, with the "C" used as a

marker from "film crew"

The "C" Rock

• two photos from the Apollo 15 mission clearly have identical backdrops, despite being listed by NASA as having been taken miles away

The Duplicate Backdrop

• Do you believe the conspiracy theories are true?

• In your opinion, of the evidence just presented, what part seems the most suspicious?

• If the theories were true, how do you think the government would keep the people involved in them from talking?

Discussion Questions

"Flags Wave." National Geographic Daily News. National Geographic Society, 2013. Web. 14 May 2013.

<http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/098/cache/flag-waving-moon-

landing_9803_600x450.jpg>.

Fox, Josh. "10 Reasons the Moon Landings Could Be a Hoax." Listverse. Listverse, 2013. Web. 14 May 2013.

<http://listverse.com/2012/12/28/10-reasons-the-moon-landings-could-be-a-hoax/>.

Fuller, John. "Why Do Some People Believe the Moon Landings Were a Hoax?" How Stuff Works. HowStuffWorks, 2013. Web.

14 May 2013. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/moon-landing-hoax1.htm>.

"Moon Hoax." ISKCON Desire Tree - Devotee Network. ISKCON Desire Tree Network, 2013. Web. 14 May 2013.

<http://api.ning.com/files/xhdwouILHAvrmci9R99mjor1Kc3g8*LtSpTTImTCXjDyNL7K3HeAPwFqTQAncQK51eek9gw7UMRs

z-fNxDhuen6o4l2Jmtgg/flag_waving3.jpeg>.

"No Stars." How Stuff Works. HowStuffWorks, 2013. Web. 14 May 2013. <http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/moon-landing-hoax-

2.jpg>.

Works Cited