Thread: Moon landing anniversary.

It's the fourth of July and coming up this month is the 50th anniversary of the moon landings.
While most Americans believe everything reported to have happened actually did happen, it seems people elsewhere in the world are more inclined to doubt.
I can't decide, but I remember watching it all in black and white on TV in 1969, but as the years go by I am ever more likely to have doubts.

To have achieved it in just a few years since President Kennedy's speech in 1962 was some feat even during the Cold War and the golden age of science fiction.
Without going into detail as to whether the astronauts actually set foot on the moon or the footage was faked, what do you think - all true, partly true, or never happened at all?

Originally Posted by ox

I can't decide, but I remember watching it all in black and white on TV in 1969, but as the years go by I am ever more likely to have doubts.

I wonder if your doubts are due to some sort dementia?

While it might have been possible for the US to "fake" a Moon landing well enough to fool a good percentage of the general populace, they wouldn't have been able to do it well enough to fool the global scientific community. The Soviet Union in particular would have been scouring everything looking for even the slightest clue that it was faked and would have screamed it from the mountain tops if they had found anything that could have even cast a doubt on the validity of the Moon landings. And the damage that being caught faking it would have done t the USA's credibility on the world stage far outweighed any prestige gained by getting away with it. The odds of being caught out and the downside of being caught just wouldn't have worth trying to fake it.

If we had faked it, the Soviets would have figured it out and called us out for it.

Edit: Ninja'ed by Janus

what do you think - all true, partly true, or never happened at all?

I fail to see how a moon landing could be "partly true". All the evidence is that it really happened.

Anything subsequent to a hoax would also need to be faked including satellite photos of landing sites.

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/L...llo-sites.html

Maybe it's my eyesight or dementia, but I don't see any astronaut footpaths in those images.
What would be useful are the missing tapes. Did they have something to hide?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11_missing_tapes

It's impressive that Apollo 11 went by without a hitch and with a lunar module that must have been overloaded with equipment, especially given its size. I saw a replica of it in the Science Museum earlier this week. How long would it take for America to go back to the moon? With all the latest technology it should take less time than before, and that was under 7 years.

Lets be open and honest.

Are you suggesting "MASSIVE GLOBAL CONSPIRACY!!!" Ox? Because that is exactly what you are insinuating with your weasel worded post.

Originally Posted by ox

Maybe it's my eyesight or dementia, but I don't see any astronaut footpaths in those images.
What would be useful are the missing tapes. Did they have something to hide?

Sounds like it's not an eyesight issue.

It's impressive that Apollo 11 went by without a hitch and with a lunar module that must have been overloaded with equipment, especially given its size.
[/quote]Hardly without a hitch. The originally chosen landing site turned out to be to rocky and uneven for a safe landing. Armstrong had to abort and continue on hovering in an attempt to find a suitable spot. He was close to running out of reserve fuel when they finally found one. It came very close to their having to cut loose the descent stage and returning the the CM without ever touching down.

I saw a replica of it in the Science Museum earlier this week. How long would it take for America to go back to the moon? With all the latest technology it should take less time than before, and that was under 7 years.

The latest technology doesn't change the physics involved in the orbital mechanics. You still need a huge rocket to get a significant mass to the Moon. Such a new launch system would have to be developed and built. Could it be done? Sure. However during the Apollo program, the US was investing significant resources to it, and I don't see that type of commitment happening now (even the initial Apollo program was almost cut short by 2 missions due to flagging support).

In addition, just repeating with Apollo type missions would be a bit pointless. As impressive as they were, they were pretty bare-bones. Their intended purpose was to land astronauts on the Moon and return them home in as short as soon as possible. If we return to the Moon, it should be as part of more long term plans of an extended presence, and that takes more time and planning than a "go there and come back" mission.

Originally Posted by Janus

In addition, just repeating with Apollo type missions would be a bit pointless. As impressive as they were, they were pretty bare-bones.

Yes, apart from bringing back a few rocks to try and prove the moon was created by a massive impact, then what did the Apollo missions achieve?
It was one big step for mankind, but more importantly a bigger step for America over Russia. Russia might have been planning a nuclear base on the moon!

Apart from the missing tapes which nobody has commented on, then what about the missing 2 minutes of radio contact? Again, what have they to hide?
As some conspiracy theories suggest, Armstrong found aliens there.

If Russia beats America to Mars then wouldn't you think the US would seriously investigate their claim.
It depends on what side you are on.

You in full on woo mode right now, arent you.


The landings arent faked ox, put your big boy pants on and accept that.

Today's the day.
If you were around, do you remember where you were?
I was in Davos, Switzerland watching on TV.
Amazingly, someone commented it was boring.

If they had anticipated threads along these lines,the will to achieve would have been sucked out of them and they might have been asphyxiated with incredulity.

Armstrong's final 30 seconds to find a landing site sure made me gasp in awe(It was the professionalism that helped,I guess)

Relooking at that lift off from the Moon I still physically doubt whether it will go to plan.


Newspapers were primed for that eventuallity ,eg "Marooned on the Moon"

And William Safire composed this speech to be delivered in case the astronauts had to be left to their fates

"Man's search will not be denied," the never-delivered speech concluded. "But these men were first, and they will remain foremost in our hearts. For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another work.

https://www.pulitzer.org/article/wil...ollo-11-eulogy

Apparently, Armstrong told his sons the mission only had a 50% chance of success.

Originally Posted by ox

Today's the day.
If you were around, do you remember where you were?

I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was 10, almost 11, and the mission coincided with our family vacation. We left from Minn, by car, to the west coast just a bit after the launch. We were in Eastern WA, at a place called Soap lake. It was hot, so my sister and I talked Dad into stopping to let us take a swim. After, on the way back to the car we passed a man laying on a beach blanket listening to the radio. He suddenly jumped up and yelled " They did it, they landed on the Moon."
My parents had some firends in western WA, that we were on the way to visit. Dad drove as fast as he could, but we got there just after they finished their Moon walk, so I missed seeing it.

I was so disappointed, that when Apollo 12 landed, Mom actually let me stay home from school to watch. Unfortunately, early on, Bean accidentally pointed their TV camera at the Sun, which destroyed it, so I once again missed seeing people walking on the Moon live. Apollo 13 never landed, so...

Originally Posted by Janus

I was so disappointed, that when Apollo 12 landed, Mom actually let me stay home from school to watch. Unfortunately, early on, Bean accidentally pointed their TV camera at the Sun, which destroyed it, so I once again missed seeing people walking on the Moon live. Apollo 13 never landed, so...

Conspiracy ?

Yeah!

And anyway, what about the white Fiat Uno? And Roswell?

Destroyed the Sun? Now I know it was a hoax.

And what was Mr Bean doing there at all?

I guess it's the right time for this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4meFC1ee7Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59zLZ6PpeSA

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6MOnehCOUw

Originally Posted by geordief

Destroyed the Sun? Now I know it was a hoax.

And what was Mr Bean doing there at all?

LOL.

Originally Posted by tk421

I guess it's the right time for this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4meFC1ee7Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59zLZ6PpeSA

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6MOnehCOUw

I actually didn't know these existed, but...spot-on!

I didn't quite get this done in time for the anniversary (partly because I was out of town for most of last week), but here is my homage to the landing in 3D model form:

Let's not forget the first woman.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/s...ppy-northcutt/

Originally Posted by Janus

I didn't quite get this done in time for the anniversary (partly because I was out of town for most of last week), but here is my homage to the landing in 3D model form:

Very nicely done, Janus. I envy your skill. All of my drawings end up looking like something coughed up by a Dead Parrot.

That's cool, Janus ^^


I don't believe in this conspiracy theory...that would mean a LOT of people involved with it, would have to go along with a colossal lie. Doesn't seem plausible.