Episode #92 – Why Deny the Moon Landings? (Part II)

The foundational text for all moon landing conspiracy theories is a humble little book called We Never Went To The Moon. It was self-published by the author, Bill Kaysing, in 1976 and soon became the de-facto bible of moon landing deniers. In this book Kaysing collects a handful of anomalous photographs, suggestive quotes, and common sense arguments that help him build a case against the reality of the moon landings. How well does Kaysing’s “evidence” stand-up to scrutiny in 2019? Tune in and find out how suicidal astronauts, Watergate, and joy of RVing all play a role in the story.

The infamous shot cited by Bill Kaysing demonstrating two sources of light. This can be explained by the angle that sun is hitting his helmet and the reflective nature of the light grey lunar dust.

The underside of the lunar lander, with only the subtlest hint of blast crater.

The International Space Station photographed with a fast shudder speed. Notice the lack of stars in the sky.

One shot of Aldrin that really shows the unique parallel shadow effect you get on the moon.

The iconic shot Aldrin on the Moon with Armstrong in his visor.

Works Cited

Brzezinski, Matthew. Red Moon Rising: Sputnik and the Rivalries That Ignited the Space Age. Bloomsbury, 2008.

Das, Saswato R. “The Moon Landing through Soviet Eyes: A Q&A with Sergei Khrushchev, Son of Former Premier Nikita Khrushchev.” Scientific American, 16 July 2009, www.scientificamerican.com/article/apollo-moon-khrushchev/.

Donovan, Jim. Shoot for the Moon: The Space Race and the Extraordinary Voyage of Apollo 11. Little Brown and Co, 2019.

Hardesty, Von, et al. Epic Rivalry: The Inside Story of the Soviet and American Space Race. National Geographic, 2007.

Kaysing, Bill. We Never Went to the Moon: America’s Thirty Billion Dollar Swindle. New Saucerian Press, 2017.

Little, Becky. “The Soviet Response to the Moon Landing? Denial There Was a Moon Race at All.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 11 July 2019, www.history.com/news/space-race-soviet-union-moon-landing-denial.

Plait, Philip C. Bad Astronomy: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Astrology to the Moon Landing ‘Hoax’. Wiley, 2002.

Scudder, Jillian. “Why Aren’t The Van Allen Belts A Barrier To Spaceflight?” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 16 June 2017, www.forbes.com/sites/jillianscudder/2017/06/16/astroquizzical-van-allen-belts-barrier-spaceflight/#172606336f8d.

Smith, Andrew. Moondust: in Search of the Men Who Fell to Earth. Bloomsbury, 2019.Waxman, Olivia B. “The History of Neil Armstrong’s One Small Step for Man Quote.” Time, Time, 15 July 2019, time.com/5621999/neil-armstrong-quote/.

Waxman, Olivia B. “The History of Neil Armstrong’s One Small Step for Man Quote.” Time, Time, 15 July 2019, time.com/5621999/neil-armstrong-quote/.