Mythbusters: Moon Landing Hoax

Candall · Thu 04/09/2008 16:52:21

I'm a week late with this, but I was wondering if anybody caught (or will catch when it's on in your region) the Mythbusters moon landing episode.

If so, what are your thoughts? I'll withhold mine for now so as not to color the discussion right away.

TerranRich · Thu 04/09/2008 17:02:56

They actually covered this? I think it's pretty much settled that the moon landing mission was in fact real.

All of the "evidence" of it being a conspiracy can be explained by science (much like many other conspiracy theories).

Candall · Thu 04/09/2008 17:16:58

That was their statement from the very beginning of the episode. While it's not really "correct" to say that they proved that it wasn't a hoax, their mission was to take several of the most popular claims and show that they're flawed... that a flag can flap about for a moment in a vaccuum, for instance.

MrColossal · Thu 04/09/2008 18:05:50

I have not seen it but I am very interested. I mean I'm a rational human being so obviously the human race landed on the moon but still, I like Mythbusters when they bust myths and this is something that is important. More people will watch their show than visit the badastronomy blog so hooray!

TerranRich · Thu 04/09/2008 18:26:43

Agreed, Mythbusters is an awesome show. I wonder... will they ever tackle the 9/11 conspiracies? I bet they could fill an entire season with just that subject material, LOL.

But yeah, this is an important issue to address. I wish I remembered to add Mythbusters to my TiVo recording list, otherwise I wouldn't have missed this.

There are a few videos on YouTube, however. Dunno if those were part of the episode in question. Just search for "mythbusters moon".

Candall · Thu 04/09/2008 19:33:41

Here are the claims that they tackled. I left their resolution of the subject hidden in case you get the chance to check it out and want it to be fresh.

1. The photo of the lunar lander with some rocks in the foreground was obviously faked because the shadows of the rocks and the lander are not parallel. This is impossible since there's only one light source on the moon.

Spoiler

All they had to do was build a scale replica of the scene in the photo. At first, the theorists' claims appeared true. All they had to do was change the landscape a bit. They put a tiny hill of dirt that obscured the lander's actual shadow, proving that the discrepancy could have been the result of basic topography.

[close]

2. The photo of Neil Armstrong descending from the lunar lander was obviously faked because although he was standing in a dark shadow, he was well lit.

Spoiler

Space suits and the surface of the moon are both reflective. Enough said. They built a scale model to prove the point once again.

[close]

3. The video of the flag being planted was obviously faked because you can see it flapping even though there's no air on the moon.

Spoiler

Well, they manipulated an identical flag in a vacuum chamber. Not only can a flag flap in a vaccuum, it can do so better than it can outside of one. The movement of the flag was the result of momentum, not wind. If there's no air, there is less force to stop the object in motion... it's all about Newton, but not in the way that the theorists thought.

[close]

4. The images of the bootprint on the surface of the moon cannot be real; there isn't any moisture on the moon, therefore there's no binding agent to keep the print in such a clean shape.

Spoiler

Well, when you use a moondust analogue, it works fine even in a vacuum chamber. Turns out that the moon is not covered in sand. Who'd have figured, right?

[close]

5. The moonwalk videos could have been easily faked by filming at a higher speed, which would result in a video with slower footage

Spoiler

Well, they could have been, sure. But when you film someone at a higher speed and then let the same person walk in a low-to-no-G environment (filmed at regular speed), there is very little room for comparison between the two. The astronauts were definitely walking in low-G.

[close]

MrColossal · Thu 04/09/2008 19:39:04

Did they happen to have Phil Plait on that episode at all?

Candall · Thu 04/09/2008 19:50:00

I don't recall him actually appearing, but he was contacted a long time ago by the producers and asked if there's anything in particular he'd like to contribute.

lo_res_man · Thu 04/09/2008 20:12:20

Yes, the awesome, was awesome. I don't have cable, but I do have access to the Internet, so I watched a streaming video version. "Take that, conspiracy theorists!"

(Actually, I don't have access to the Internet, I just have a Morse code tapper hooked up to the cable lines.)

R4L · Thu 04/09/2008 20:15:31

I caught this episode too. I still think it was a hoax. The flag waving around didn't seem realistic to me, but then again:

Spoiler

The shadow test they did with the little moon setup is real...

[close]

jetxl · Thu 04/09/2008 21:27:32

Falcon Punch!

Lionmonkey · Thu 04/09/2008 21:47:22

I think, this thread covered all of this pretty enough.l

Candall · Thu 04/09/2008 22:05:39

Quote from: Lionmonkey on Thu 04/09/2008 21:47:22
I think, this thread covered all of this pretty enough.l

But there were no mustachioed men in berets whatsoever in that thread.

lo_res_man · Thu 04/09/2008 22:30:36

Quote from: R4L on Thu 04/09/2008 20:15:31
I caught this episode too. I still think it was a hoax. The flag waving around didn't seem realistic to me, but then again:

Spoiler
The shadow test they did with the little moon setup is real...
[close]

Well, do not forget, there was difference between the waving flag they tested in the vacuum chamber, and the natural, vacuum where Apollo did it. Namely, it was on the moon. Where things have the same mass, but less weight. From what I understand, this would have an effect. As well, the vacuum was much harder on the moon. It also didn't seem realistic, because your mind is used to how things are on earth, with 15 psi atmosphere, and 1 g gravity. One needs to look at evidence, not ones preconceived notions and biases. I am sorry I can't explain better, the flag waving isn't one of my 'expert areas' though I know a little. ANy further questions I am more then happy to try and answer.
Check out Clavius Moon Base Phil Plait's Bad Astronomy and Svector's Youtube Channel for some really enlightening pieces of evidence that should answer many of your questions. And do some research of your own, few things are more satisfying then finding the truth for yourself.

Cheers.

Domino · Thu 04/09/2008 23:50:22

I bet Adam and Jamie could devise a nice rocket with BUSTER inside and send it to the Moon.

Mythbusters seem to always have a marathon on weekends, so i will have to look for that episode.

Layabout · Thu 04/09/2008 23:59:29

We are on the Fucking Moon! Jesus H Christ. Holy Fuck!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoU33OQ8BPI

TerranRich · Fri 05/09/2008 03:20:50

It's amazing that after scientific shows like Mythbusters, as well as other shows that have already proved conspiracy theories about the moon landings wrong, there are still people who desperately cling to their notions that if they agree with what the mainstream media says, that somehow they are sheep and following blindly.

Sometimes a cigar... is just a cigar. Why NOT take things at face value? Is it really so hard to believe that we landed on the moon? God, with the technology and accomplishments that we've had over the past few decades, is it really that hard to believe?

The only "evidence" given against the moon landings being real have already been proven inaccurate or ill-conceived. Everything can be explained scientifically and realistically. Just because one doesn't understand the physics and science fully does not mean the science is wrong.

If one doesn't know about the speed of light being the physical speed limit for all matter, does that mean that person is correct in saying that it is a conspiracy and a lie that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light? No, it just means they are ill-informed, uneducated, and misled.

For some reason, devout conspiracy theorists get mad when you agree with mainstream media. What next, the sun isn't really a big star in space? It's really just a big light in the sky that the government rotates around the Earth? Jesus H. Christ, conspiracy theorists need to get a grip on reality and try to stop being warriors.

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens · Fri 05/09/2008 04:41:32

Buzz really punched that dude good. And you know what? He deserved every knuckle.

Sam. · Fri 05/09/2008 13:12:14

Watched this mythbusters on-line.

I have always known NASA went to the moon, mythbusters just proved that it wasn't faked. Particularly when they proved that the running/jumping bit had to be in 1/6 gravity. It would be pretty hard to deny their evidence too, as they are the guys that would have been doing the fakery!

Bravo Busters!

Darth Mandarb · Fri 05/09/2008 14:48:19

Bill Clinton can't get a blow-job without the world knowing about it.

And people honestly think a secret this big could be kept for 40 years?

Hi, I'm reality ... have we met??