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Roger D. LauniusRoger D. LauniusNational Air and Space MuseumNational Air and Space Museum

Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Institution

America and the Cult of ConspiracyAmerica and the Cult of Conspiracy

Conspiracy theories abound in American history.Conspiracy theories abound in American history. Plays to innermost fears of malevolent group Plays to innermost fears of malevolent group

seeking to rob “us” of something.seeking to rob “us” of something. Organizes often disparate facts into theories ever Organizes often disparate facts into theories ever

more complex and menacing.more complex and menacing. ““The Paranoid Style in American Politics,” Richard The Paranoid Style in American Politics,” Richard

Hofstadter.Hofstadter. Conspiracy theories built on four key elements: 1) Conspiracy theories built on four key elements: 1)

Dualism; 2) Scapegoating; 3) Demonization; and 4) Dualism; 2) Scapegoating; 3) Demonization; and 4) Apocalyptic Aggression.Apocalyptic Aggression.

Did Anyone Disbelieve in 1969?Did Anyone Disbelieve in 1969? 1969 opinion poll said 1969 opinion poll said

5% “doubted the moon 5% “doubted the moon voyage had taken voyage had taken place.”place.”

Bill Anders thought live Bill Anders thought live TV would convince TV would convince skeptics—watching skeptics—watching “three men floating “three men floating inside a spaceship was inside a spaceship was as close to proof as they as close to proof as they might get.”might get.”

Jeff Launius’s denial.Jeff Launius’s denial.

Early ResponsesEarly Responses In 1969 Knight newspapers claimed that the numbers In 1969 Knight newspapers claimed that the numbers

questioning Apollo in Detroit, Miami, and Akron averaged questioning Apollo in Detroit, Miami, and Akron averaged less than 5 percent.less than 5 percent.

Among African Americans in such places as Washington, Among African Americans in such places as Washington, D.C., a whopping 54 percent “doubted the moon voyage had D.C., a whopping 54 percent “doubted the moon voyage had taken place.” taken place.”

““Many skeptics feel moon explorer Neil Armstrong took his Many skeptics feel moon explorer Neil Armstrong took his ‘giant step for mankind’ somewhere in Arizona.”‘giant step for mankind’ somewhere in Arizona.”

Those polled were asked, “Do you really, completely believe Those polled were asked, “Do you really, completely believe that the United States has actually landed men on the moon that the United States has actually landed men on the moon and returned them to earth again?” and returned them to earth again?”

NewsweekNewsweek quoted one skeptic in 1970, “It’s all a deliberate quoted one skeptic in 1970, “It’s all a deliberate effort to mask problems at home, the people are unhappy—effort to mask problems at home, the people are unhappy—and this takes their minds off their problems.”and this takes their minds off their problems.”

Common Conspiracy ScenariosCommon Conspiracy Scenarios

Entire Moon landing program a sham, Entire Moon landing program a sham, manufactured for public consumption by an manufactured for public consumption by an evil political establishment.evil political establishment.

Robotic missions to the Moon were real, but Robotic missions to the Moon were real, but human landings were faked.human landings were faked.

Humans landed on the Moon with either the Humans landed on the Moon with either the assistance of extraterrestrial visitors or Apollo assistance of extraterrestrial visitors or Apollo astronauts discovered extraterrestrial life astronauts discovered extraterrestrial life there.there.

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Concocting a Lasting Concocting a Lasting Conspiracy ThesisConspiracy Thesis

We Never Went to the We Never Went to the Moon: America's Thirty Moon: America's Thirty Billion Dollar Swindle Billion Dollar Swindle (1974), Bill Kaysing.(1974), Bill Kaysing.

NASA Mooned America:NASA Mooned America: Did Did man Ever land on the man Ever land on the Moon? Moon? (1994), Ralph René.(1994), Ralph René.

Three degrees of Moon landing deniers: Naïve doubters. Willful charlatans. Tinfoil hat brigade.Ralph René

Bill Kaysing

Bart SibrelBart Sibrel

..

““it’s ‘an absolute fact’ the astronauts didn’t go it’s ‘an absolute fact’ the astronauts didn’t go to the moon.”—Bart Sibrelto the moon.”—Bart Sibrel

Asserted Apollo crews faked missions, used Asserted Apollo crews faked missions, used trick photography—accepts the Earth orbital trick photography—accepts the Earth orbital missions.missions.

Claims astronauts could not go to the Moon Claims astronauts could not go to the Moon because going beyond the Van Allen Radiation because going beyond the Van Allen Radiation Belts irradiate them.Belts irradiate them.

Several films:Several films: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Moon A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Moon

(2001) (2001) Astronauts Gone WildAstronauts Gone Wild (2004) (2004) Apollo 11 Monkey BusinessApollo 11 Monkey Business (2004) (2004)

Accosts astronauts demanding they swear on Accosts astronauts demanding they swear on the Bible that they walked on the Moon.the Bible that they walked on the Moon.

September 9, 2002, Sibrel confronted Buzz September 9, 2002, Sibrel confronted Buzz Aldrin, then 72 years old, who in turn hit Sibrel Aldrin, then 72 years old, who in turn hit Sibrel with a hook that sent him to his knees.with a hook that sent him to his knees.

Major ClaimsMajor ClaimsPhotographic Photographic

AnomaliesAnomaliesRadiation Radiation

SurvivabilitySurvivabilityLack of TechnologyLack of TechnologyFake Lunar RocksFake Lunar RocksAnomalies in Anomalies in

Historical RecordHistorical RecordVan Allen Radiation Belts

Flag Seems to Wave

Moon Hoax and Modern MediaMoon Hoax and Modern Media Conspiracy Theory: Did We Conspiracy Theory: Did We

Land on the Moon?Land on the Moon? (Fox, (Fox, 2001) changed debate2001) changed debate..

Afterward Moon hoax Afterward Moon hoax exploded on Internet.exploded on Internet.

Internet a haven for Internet a haven for conspiracy theorists; with conspiracy theorists; with barrier for entry on-line so low barrier for entry on-line so low anyone can post anything. anyone can post anything.

1,440,000 sites returned on 1,440,000 sites returned on recent Google search.recent Google search.

““Conspiracy Theorist Convinces Neil Armstrong Conspiracy Theorist Convinces Neil Armstrong Moon Landing Was Faked”—August 31, 2009 Moon Landing Was Faked”—August 31, 2009

A periodical known for outrageous humor, this story A periodical known for outrageous humor, this story was picked up as truth in several newspapers around was picked up as truth in several newspapers around the world. the world.

It is bad enough when conspiracy theorists state such It is bad enough when conspiracy theorists state such things without foundation; when legitimate news things without foundation; when legitimate news organizations do so it is much more disturbing. organizations do so it is much more disturbing.

““We thought it was true so we printed it without We thought it was true so we printed it without checking.”checking.”

Moon Hoax at FortyMoon Hoax at Forty Moon hoax continues to resonate among the public.Moon hoax continues to resonate among the public. Journalistic attention in 2009 brought on by competition Journalistic attention in 2009 brought on by competition

for new angles.for new angles. 2004 poll showed that 6 percent of public questioned 2004 poll showed that 6 percent of public questioned

Moon landings but among Americans 18-24 “27% Moon landings but among Americans 18-24 “27% expressed doubts that NASA went to the Moon.”expressed doubts that NASA went to the Moon.”

Younger Americans have no personal recollection of Younger Americans have no personal recollection of Apollo and for others it is receding into background Apollo and for others it is receding into background quickly.quickly.

Three spheres of memory:Three spheres of memory: Personal Experience.Personal Experience. Related Experience.Related Experience. Detached Experience.Detached Experience.

So What?So What? U.S. human spaceflight, especially Apollo Moon landings, U.S. human spaceflight, especially Apollo Moon landings,

serves as powerful trope:serves as powerful trope: Exceptionalism.Exceptionalism. Modernity.Modernity. State power and authority.State power and authority.

Moon hoax attractive to those disbelieving authority of Moon hoax attractive to those disbelieving authority of experts—governmental or not.experts—governmental or not.

Vicarious nature of Moon landings increases susceptibility to Vicarious nature of Moon landings increases susceptibility to hoax claims.hoax claims.

Postmodernism: fundamental philosophical thrust of modern Postmodernism: fundamental philosophical thrust of modern society blurs line between fact/fiction.society blurs line between fact/fiction.

Acceptance of claims shows remarkable misunderstanding Acceptance of claims shows remarkable misunderstanding of S&T even as society is ever more technological.of S&T even as society is ever more technological.