Saturday, April 1, 2017

A is for Apollo 11

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong climbed down Apollo 11's ladder onto the moon's surface, broadcasting the immortal phrase, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.

Image: tonynetone

(Neil Armstrong and Mankind, who reportedly leapt extra high for bacon.)

You see what happens when you forget to capitalize proper names. Chaos, people!

Why film the moon landing in a studio to fool the world? The U.S. was losing the space race to the Russians and, apparently, the first country to plant their flag on the moon would be declared winner of the cold war AND get their astronauts featured on a Wheaties box (or at least the yellow pages phone book as evidenced in this photo, circa 1962):

Image: darwin Bell

(Um, what's the deal with that robot's face? I hope they didn't cram a person in that thing.)

How did people figure out the moon landing was fake?

The photos! The astronauts' cameras were capable of taking about two shots per second. So, obviously, NASA would release the ones containing stage props (such as rocks with the letter C stamped on them), reflections of stage lights, or just, you know, pictures in which they totally forget to put any stars in the inky, black sky. D'oh!  (See debunking of these complaints here.)

And the flag! It was waving! That proves they were not on the moon because there is no atmosphere, and therefore, no wind. NASA claims the flag might have moved "a little" while the astronaut adjusted the pole and, because of the wrinkles, it merely "appeared" to be moving. 

Image: By NASA (NASA) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons


Wait a minute. Are you telling me, that in 1969, NASA couldn't find some sort of polyester that wouldn't wrinkle on the trip?! Seriously? Dacron was advertising wrinkle-free pants in 1962:


(Maybe flying to the moon is just too strenuous. Must be in the fine print.)

Want to know my favorite part of this conspiracy? Not only did Stanley Kubrick direct the fake footage, but he felt so terrible about it, he snuck a subliminal confession into his 1980 hit, The Shining. (Read all about it here.)

Do you believe we walked on the moon?


49 comments:

  1. The movie Capricorn One was about the fake moon walk I believe.
    Yeah, we've been to the moon. I do believe that.

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  2. Yeah, I believe it too! But I believed in love once, and I was wrong on that! :)

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  3. Funny! Of course you guys walked on the moon - I mean Neil Armstrong did...still smiling at the leaping extra high for bacon...great start to the A-Z here, and for me it came at just the right moment...came here from some super serious blogposts - human rights, mental health issues,...so enjoyed it all the more, thanks.

    Best wishes,
    Madly-in-Verse
    Theme : Arabiana

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  4. Is it odd that the main thing I focus on in this post is that the woman in the advertisement appears to be eating that guy's knee? A fun first post - Louise

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  5. I believe we been there and have fond memories as a kid before the tv set, watching the landing. But it makes a good conspiracy

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  6. This was an enjoyable read. I can't get rid of the excitement of the moon landing that I remember as a child. I want to believe it happened. Love the dog :)
    Anger #Lexicon of Leaving

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  7. I'm a believer in conspiracy theories if they involve dogs on the moon and wrinkles in anything. I'm such a pushover. You're off to a wonderful journey to Z. Yay for you!

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  8. There was a comedy movie with the guy who played Ron Weasly about this conspiracy. I think it was called Moonwalkers and it was pretty funny.

    ~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

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  9. Ha! This is my favorite crazy conspiracy theory. Favorite as in, if someone really believes it, I know immediately to stop talking to them.

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  10. Hmm...I do believe they did walk on the moon. Interesting read Tamara!

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  11. There are so many theories about the moon landings, such a juicy topic for conspiracy theorists, but, having met Buzz Aldrin, I have to say, yeah, I believe in the moon landings.
    Great start :)
    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - Dragon Diaries

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  12. Now that I know who Mankind is... everything becomes clearer.

    -----
    Name: Eva
    Blog: Mail Adventures
    #AtoZ Challenge Theme: Postcards
    Letter A: Adventurers. Because any postcard is a little adventure, isn't it?

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  13. True or not, I love the idea. And admit it: Going to the Moon just isn't all that hard, is it?

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  14. no definitely believe was true. My geology prof had a moon rock and it was pretty convincing. conspiracy theories are fun though and there are a lot of them. fun post!

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  15. Getting to the moon was not a hard thing to do but it was rather expensive. NASA have done many things since that are seriously clever. I think the problem with the moon landings was it was like driving to what looks like a really great beach and then when you get there you find the tide is out the beach is covered in sharp shingle and the entire place is closed. How if there had been aliens or monsters folk would be keen to send more food (sorry astronauts).

    Thanks for the visit the new A to Z format has Zapped my brain a bit I am going to wait for visitors . . .
    Rob Z Tobor

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    1. I suppose it was a case of "because it's there!" It was the closest they could get to visiting another planet. Most of which, I suspect, are no better.

      But you're right. And Michael Collins, when asked if he'd go to the moon now if offered, said no, but he'd sign up for Mars in a flash.

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  16. I used to believe we walked on the moon, but that dog. Hmmmm. Because when I walked on the moon, I didn't see any dog prints. So now I'm wondering ... where was I?

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  17. I love conspiracy theories like this, but I like to think that man has in fact visited the moon.

    Cait @ Click's Clan

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  18. I believe it was real. Thousands of people worked on that project -- someone would have spilled the truth.

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    1. Oh Lori, Lori. How can I find you with just a first name and no other info or link! Thank you for commenting though.

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  19. Tamara, I believe we walked on the moon, too. The whole staged moon walk is really weird, though. I didn't know this actually happened but had heard such roamers and thought it was a hoax. I will have to read your linked article a little later. I'm intrigued now! Thanks for visiting #AprilA2Z Art Sketching Through the Alpahabet Letter "A" +#BoTB where I featured angels as my subject. Have a good weekend, my friend!

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  20. I sometimes, enjoy a good conspiracy theory. I believe it was REAL because I was sitting with my mom and dad - in the living room, watching it on the TV. I saw it happen! Plus Walter Cronkite said it was real! :-D

    My theme this year, is about Baby boomers and the baby boom years we grew up in. Grab some cookies and milk, and come on over. Atomic Bombs

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  21. I used to put my own spin on this conspiracy with "Well, I'm not saying we haven't been there since, but we couldn't beat the Russians so they had to soundstage it initially because Yay patriotism!" ;-) Great start to AtoZ 2017!
    Jamie Lyn Weigt | Writing Dragons Blog | #AtoZ 2017 - Dragons in Our Fandoms

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  22. I listened to a podcast about all the conspiracy theories attached to The Shining and I was shocked to hear the moon landing connection. I'd never even heard that part of things before! Definitely interesting, but I still believe the moon landing was real!

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  23. One of my close friends has some newspapers with the moon landing headlines. She is a big fan of the moon landing. I'd say we got there.

    WeekendsInMaine

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  24. My husband designed the propulsion system for the rocket that got us there, so I say 'Yeah, we made it.' I recently blogged about folks who believe dinosaurs are a hoax. One of the reasons cited is because dinosaurs are not mentioned in the bible.
    @msdeniseh553
    Denise at My Life in Retirement Atlantic Wall

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  25. I wasn't born yet when they (supposedly) landed on the moon, and what I haven't seen with my very own eyes, I don't believe, haha!
    I heard the one about the flag on several occasions, and it doesn't really add up, doesn't it?

    There is a joke about that American / Russian competition, here goes:

    As the Americans landed on the moon, they were shocked to discover the Russians had beat them to it, and were there first. To add insult to injury the also painted the moon all in red.
    The astronauts asked Houston what they were supposed to do.
    "You guys brought any white paint? Good - go ahead and write COCA-COLA!!!" 😂

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  26. Lol, the sarcasm... :D I love it how the Moon is still such a mystical miracle for a lot of people that they could not fathom a moon landing was possible. There have to be some ancient subconscious beliefs involved...

    The Multicolored Diary: WTF - Weird Things in Folktales

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  27. I love this conspiracy theory - did you see the Mythbusters where they debunked every one of the "why its fake" theories? It was awesome. I had not heard about The Shining - I shall have to take a peek at that. :)
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings - Shapeshifters and Werewolves

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  28. I so agree with you. Punctuation is every thing. I'm always telling people that.
    On a serious note, I heard about this controversy and I was initially very disappointed. A part of me wanted the whole romance of space travel to be true. But the debunking of Nasa's claims certainly make sense. Thanks for starting with this controversy.
    Age-Otori and Ahiki

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  29. So awesome! I knew it!!!
    Great start!

    Heather
    Co-Host, 2017 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge
    https://hmgardner.blogspot.com/

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  30. LOL. I think we did. This was fun. Can't wait to read your upcoming posts.

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  31. I love reading about conspiracy theories! And yes, this one took the cake :)

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  32. Of course it happened! It was that stupid pseudo-documentary that started the whole business and that movie Capricorn 1 didn't help. I have had this conspiracy theory repeated to me by the kids at my library umpteen times and had to tell them it was just that - a conspiracy theory.

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  33. I'm not much of a believer in conspiracy theories. (Spend any time around middle schoolers and you'll be so over the Illuminati.) But I'll enjoy your posts. (Yes, I do believe man has been to the moon. We have witnesses.)

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  34. The moon landing was very real to me, as I sat watching it in my grandmother's kitchen in Germany. The conspiracy theories about it seem ludicrous, but I do believe in some, like the Kennedy assassination and the death of Marilyn Monroe. Interesting theme!
    Debbie @ THE DOGLADY'S DEN

    Latest Post: BORN TO BE WILD: From Teenybopper to Rockchick

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  35. Conspiracy theories are a favorite of mine. I love reading and watching videos on them.

    The moon landing was for sure real though. Space race for the win!

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  36. I like your theme! While I do believe Americans landed on the moon, I still like to read the conspiracy theories!

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  37. Conspiracy theories drive me nuts. But your explanation of Armstrong's statement is great :) Yes, "we" really did go to the moon.
    The Ninja Librarian’s Favorite Characters

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  38. I believe the moon landing was real. But, would it surprise me if definitive proof surfaced showing it was a hoax? Not really. Stranger things have happened!

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  39. Yeah, we went to the moon. Case closed.

    I'm more interested in the conspiracy of what happened to Mankind. Did they leave him there? Did he have too much bacon, get gassy and float off? Did he start the hoax rumors??

    Inquiring minds want to know!

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I will do everything in my power to visit commenter's blogs unless I've been abducted by aliens or my children get sick. (If my children get abducted by aliens, I will be very busy, of course, catching up on my sleep.)