Moon Day Spotlight: Historic Leap or Cosmic Hoax?

Today (Sunday, July 20), marks International Moon Day.

This day was officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2021. July 20 was chosen because it was on this day in 1969 that NASA’s Apollo 11 mission successfully landed on the Moon. Neil Armstrong and his fellow astronaut famously set foot on the lunar surface.

But has humankind really landed on the Moon?

Decades after this historic achievement, some people still cast doubt on whether humans ever made it to the Moon.

Their skepticism is based on several claims, such as:

– The photographs appear to be “fake”

– Why haven’t humans returned to the Moon since 1972?

– The flag appears to move, despite the Moon having no atmosphere

However, scientists, physicists, and space experts have addressed and rejected all these doubts. For example, the flag moved because it was in motion while being planted, and with no air resistance on the Moon, it continued to flutter slightly.

NASA also asserts that full videos and radio communications from the mission exist, and it claims that astronauts brought back nearly 380 kilograms of Moon rocks.

Even Russian space agencies at the time acknowledged the mission’s success.

According to the United Nations, International Moon Day is marked by events around the world, including sky observation, educational outreach, and science competitions — all aimed at increasing public interest, especially among youth, in space exploration.