Posts: 1260 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
posted 02-17-2016 07:44 PM
quote:Originally posted by RichieB16: I have often wondered how many of these hoax conspiracy theories were originally inspired by the movie "Capricorn One."
I have wondered that as well. I don't remember reading of any of those theories before that movie.
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 5322 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-30-2017 12:45 PM
How Apollo 11's crew reacted to lunar conspiracy theories.
"It would have been harder to fake it than to do it," astronaut Neil Armstrong once said.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3685 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 11-30-2017 04:58 PM
It's basically a failure of imagination, an inability to process evidence, and a failure to understand what past generations were capable of.
What I can't understand is how anybody could look at the Egyptian pyramids and still have difficulty understanding that human beings in 1969 were capable of building a Moon-rocket and flying to the Moon.
You could write a million words on why Apollo really happened, on the evidence proving indisputably that 12 Americans walked on the Moon between 1969 - 1972, but I think what it boils down to is this: if you show these people the numerous Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images of the Apollo landing sites (including the dark smudges that show Armstrong's trek to Little West crater) and they are reduced to arguing that LRO is all a fake, then there is nothing you could say to these people. They are beyond reasoning and beyond logic.
Kite Member
Posts: 1117 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
posted 11-04-2018 08:37 AM
This last week former England Ashes winning cricket captain Freddie Flintoff appeared twice on television, publicising his new book, casting his doubts to the moon landings.
On the BBC "One Show" however he was soon put in his place by a scientist who had been describing the satellite clean up project using a harpoon type method. She said to him that she doesn't believe England ever won the Ashes! The look on his face was one of bewilderment.
The next day he was on ITV's lunch time programme "Loose Women" repeating himself (must excuse myself but I am recuperating after an operation and watching too much day time television). The alarming thing for me is how three of the panelists, all women and fawning over him, I couldn't see the fourth member, were whole heartedly agreeing with him. The mindset of these so called celebrities just confounds me.
He apparently approached Professor Brian Cox and Tim Peake recently stating that the world is flat and admitted that their attitude was "who is this muppet?" I believe this instance was just a wind up but he readily admits to being intrigued by conspiracy theories. The trouble is that many people are influenced by celebs like him. Very sad.
moonguyron Member
Posts: 191 From: Trinity, FL USA Registered: Jan 2011
posted 11-04-2018 12:44 PM
One of the best responses was from Apollo 16 moonwalker Charlie Duke. He said if we faked it then why did we do it six times? Good question...
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4562 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 11-04-2018 02:20 PM
Charlie has also been quoted as saying "I don't know where they sent those other guys, but they sent ME to the moon."
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3685 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 11-04-2018 04:25 PM
quote:Originally posted by Kite: I believe this instance was just a wind up but he readily admits to being intrigued by conspiracy theories.
No! It wasn't a wind-up. He has stated previously that he believes the world to be flat. I don't really mind if he goes around telling people that nobody has been to the moon and the world is flat. That crucial second argument will tell his audiences exactly what to make of his support for the first.
oly Member
Posts: 1464 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 11-04-2018 07:39 PM
quote:Originally posted by Kite: Freddie Flintoff appeared twice on television, publicising his new book.
Perhaps this was his plan to get his name on people's lips and push his book sales. By giving people like this recognition it breathes air into the hoax theories.
One Big Monkey Member
Posts: 182 From: West Yorkshire, UK Registered: Jul 2012
posted 11-05-2018 02:18 AM
I heard him on Radio 4's "Loose Ends" and his response to the moon landing hoax question was along the lines of "We went 50 years ago and haven't been back so..."
ea757grrl Member
Posts: 805 From: South Carolina Registered: Jul 2006
posted 11-05-2018 04:48 AM
We do live in a time when a small but significant number of people will eagerly take dubious medical and health advice from movie stars (and will gladly pay hundreds of dollars to attend those stars' health and lifestyle conferences and purchase their exclusive products). Meanwhile, they'll say the credentialed and experienced doctors and scientists are trying to mislead you (while those same doctors and scientists are using their actual knowledge to warn people of the dangers of those products and methods — which, of course, only feeds the celebrities' argument that said doctors and physicians are trying to shut down those who disagree).
Given all that, I can't say I'm surprised Flintoff would feel he could say this and get some traction from it. It's yet another case of "a celebrity said it so it must have merit," and it's something to which our world is sadly susceptible.
Kite Member
Posts: 1117 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
posted 11-05-2018 07:43 AM
Flintoff has recently been appointed to co-host the BBC's Top Gear programme. In the past, presenters have always been enthusiastic about flying and space, in particular James May who did a very interesting programme when he was taken up in a U2 spy plane to, as he put it "to the edge of space."
A strange choice, considering his views, to take over such a legacy.
Ian Limbrey Member
Posts: 187 From: England Registered: Nov 2012
posted 11-07-2018 01:55 AM
No doubt his publicist suggested this to get publicity for his book in the media. I think we should send Buzz Aldrin round to him!
Conspiracy theories were once deadly serious. On the internet, skepticism about the moon landing shows how the mood has shifted.
...the internet's biggest stars are using irony and nonchalance to refurbish old conspiracies for new audiences, recycling them into new forms that help them persist in the cultural imagination. Along the way, these vloggers are unlocking a new, casual mode of experiencing paranoia. They are mutating our relationship to belief itself: It's less about having convictions than it is about having fun.
AstroCasey Member
Posts: 85 From: Registered: Feb 2019
posted 07-02-2019 10:19 PM
Over the last few days, a 2006 Red Bull commercial mentioning the hoax theory has aired a couple times. I haven't seen this in years.
ManInSpace Member
Posts: 303 From: Brooklin, Ontario Canada Registered: Feb 2018
posted 07-02-2019 10:30 PM
I had not seen this, until now.
Thank you.
Ian Limbrey Member
Posts: 187 From: England Registered: Nov 2012
posted 07-03-2019 07:48 AM
I know I have mentioned this a couple of times before in different posts but I am a witness to a moon landing. On Thursday 29th July 1971 (the night before the landing) I saw a sharp point of reflected sunlight as Apollo 15 came round from the dark side of the Moon via my 3 inch refractor telescope focused around Mare Crisium It was an amazing sight for me.
dom Member
Posts: 1067 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 07-03-2019 10:20 AM
I find it bizarre that although there's more evidence for the moon landing than the existence of God, some people will believe in one but not the other...
Ian Limbrey Member
Posts: 187 From: England Registered: Nov 2012
posted 07-03-2019 11:46 AM
Dom, I think you are taking this too seriously.
Everybody knows the moon landings actually happened but there are always going to be idiots out there who want to be negative about everything in life.
moorouge Member
Posts: 2486 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
posted 07-06-2019 01:59 AM
Why do people believe that the moon landings were a hoax? Very simple answer - there's money to be made.
NJ CO Member
Posts: 23 From: Greenwich, NJ, US Registered: Mar 2008
posted 07-08-2019 06:55 PM
I always boil it down to this: If we faked it all, wouldn't the Russians call us out on it?
collocation Member
Posts: 387 From: McLean, VA Registered: Feb 2004
posted 07-09-2019 01:10 PM
As Pete Conrad stated, "Why did we go six times if we faked it?"
jklier Member
Posts: 91 From: Austin, Texas Registered: Aug 2007
posted 07-09-2019 02:11 PM
quote:Originally posted by NJ CO: ...wouldn't the Russians call us out on it?
Yes! This is one that is often overlooked. The Russians would have the most to gain from proving it was faked. I'm sure they were listening to the transmissions and they could easily tell where those transmissions were coming from.
Jonnyed Member
Posts: 617 From: Dumfries, VA, USA Registered: Aug 2014
posted 07-09-2019 08:14 PM
Well, and how would the whole Apollo 13 catastrophe fit into the conspiracy? What, after two successful "fake" landings we decide to fake a serious explosion on the way to the moon just to have a little pranking fun? Ridiculous logic.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3685 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 07-10-2019 09:46 AM
quote:Originally posted by Jonnyed: Ridiculous logic.
And there you have it. There is NO logic to the arguments usually advanced, because if those who lazily pass on their scepticism actually examine the evidence, logic dictates that they would have to concede that there is no merit in the arguments.
dom Member
Posts: 1067 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 07-10-2019 01:18 PM
Excellent analysis of the 'Moon Hoax' meme in today's Guardian.
"The reality is, the internet has made it possible for people to say whatever the hell they like to a broader number of people than ever before," sighs Roger Launius, a former chief historian of Nasa. "And the truth is, Americans love conspiracy theories. Every time something big happens, somebody has a counter-explanation."
Space Cadet Carl Member
Posts: 305 From: Lake Orion, MI Registered: Feb 2006
posted 07-11-2019 08:53 AM
Cynicism and conspiracy in the U.S. really took off after the JFK assassination, right through Vietnam and Watergate. The internet and social media has just thrown additional gas on the fire.