Evidence that NASA did land on the Moon
It is difficult to summarize the evidence in support of the landings because there is so much of it. However the following points cover the main bodies of evidence:
Moon Rocks
The most compelling evidence is the 382 kilograms of Moon rocks brought back to Earth by the Apollo missions. These samples have been independently analyzed by geologists from all over the world. The conclusion is unanimous—these rocks could not have originated on Earth and must have come from the Moon.
Perhaps these rocks were brought back by robotic missions? Not possible—the technology was not available at the time, and wouldn't be for many decades after the original landings.
Could the rocks actually be meteorites from the Moon found on Earth? Scientists have found Moon rocks in Antarctica and other places. However, finding 382 kilograms of diverse rocks—exactly the kind geologists would have chosen to study—is implausible. In any case, meteorites have clear evidence of their journey through our atmosphere, whereas the Apollo Moon rocks do not.
Film and Photographs
There is a massive repository of film and photographic evidence. Although many of the hoax theories attempt to discredit this evidence, none succeed. In any case the sheer volume of photographic evidence is staggering.
Witnesses
At the peak of the Apollo program, nearly half a million people were directly involved. Although most were far from mission control, it seems highly unlikely that a hoax could have been kept secret from them all.
Laser Reflector
The Apollo 11 mission left a laser reflector at its landing site. This reflector has been used ever since to measure things such as the precise distance to the Moon. Anyone with the correct equipment can use it. There's no way that this reflector could have been accurately placed by an uncrewed mission in 1969.
Russia
The Russians were watching the USA space program like hawks and analyzing everything the Americans did. If there was the slightest suggestion that a hoax was happening, the Russians would have been falling over themselves to tell the world about it.
Future Plans
In January 2004 President Bush announced a new initiative to return to the Moon, and called on other nations to become involved in the project. Why would he do this (especially the part about inviting other countries to participate) if the landings had been faked?
Motive
Finally, did NASA actually have a motive to attempt a hoax? If not, the rest of the argument is irrelevant.
Next Page: A Question of Motive
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Author: Dave Owen.