The Moon Landing Trivia Questions

This is a common myth. The moon landing was real, and the footage was captured by cameras on the lunar surface. No studio could have recreated the physics of low gravity so convincingly.

This is a fabricated conspiracy. No such threats exist in declassified records. The moon landing was a public, celebrated achievement with thousands of witnesses.

This is a persistent conspiracy theory. The Apollo missions were real, with thousands of independent verifications, including lunar rock samples and retroreflectors.

The flag had a horizontal metal rod to keep it extended because the moon has no atmosphere, so no breeze exists to make it wave naturally.

All moonwalks occurred during Apollo missions 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 (1969–1972). No woman or non-American has set foot on the lunar surface. This fact surprises many people.

The flag had a horizontal rod to keep it outstretched, but it doesn't 'wave'—it holds its shape. Moon landing hoax theorists often misuse footage of the flag rippling from astronaut movement as 'proof.'

The flag is only about 4 feet wide, far too small to resolve with any Earth-based telescope, which can only see objects larger than about half a mile across on the moon.

Apollo astronauts reported that moon dust, when brought into the lander and exposed to oxygen, smelled like gunpowder or burnt charcoal. The odor likely stemmed from reactions with oxidized minerals.

Buzz Aldrin observed the flag blown over by exhaust when Apollo 11's lunar module lifted off. Later Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images confirmed its absence, while other Apollo flags remain standing.

He intended to say 'for a man,' but the 'a' was barely audible. Armstrong confirmed his words, and NASA transcripts include the 'a'. The quote begins with 'That's'.

The bright lunar surface and unfiltered sunlight caused astronauts' pupils to constrict, adapting their eyes to daylight conditions. As a result, stars were too faint to see clearly with the naked eye.

Due to a software glitch and boulder field, Armstrong had to manually fly past the target, leaving just 30 seconds of fuel before the 'bingo' call forced an abort.

Collins orbited the moon solo in the command module. When the spacecraft was on the far side, he was completely cut off from radio contact with Earth for about 48 minutes each orbit.

Armstrong confirmed he thought of the phrase after landing, but he'd rehearsed similar lines earlier. The exact wording was spontaneous, though he later said he didn't notice the missing 'a' before 'man.'

Armstrong confirmed he thought of the line beforehand. He wrote it on a piece of paper and rehearsed it, though he denied some later embellished versions.

Neil Armstrong's first words from the lunar surface were indeed this calm status report, not the famous 'one small step' line, which came later.

The flag had a horizontal wire to hold it out, but it wasn't designed to 'fly'—there's no wind on the moon, so it just hangs stiffly.

The Apollo guidance computer had less power than a modern calculator, but it was reliable and specially designed for the task. It never threatened cancellation.

Armstrong thought of the line after landing, before stepping out, not spontaneously. He intended to say 'one small step for a man,' indicating prior planning.

Apollo 11 astronauts filled out customs forms declaring 'moon rock and moon dust samples' as cargo, complete with a departure point of 'Moon.'

The Saturn V generated over 200 decibels, and its low-frequency sound waves created vibrations that were felt by observers up to 50 miles from the launch site.

Lunar regolith is sharp and abrasive, and its static cling caused it to work into suit joints and seals, leading to mobility issues and potential oxygen leaks during Apollo missions.

Buzz Aldrin, an elder at his church, privately took communion using a kit provided by his pastor. He asked for radio silence to avoid controversy.

Many TV networks initially hesitated to cover it, expecting a failure or boring footage. The broadcast happened largely due to public pressure and the Cold War stakes.

Astronauts reported that lunar regolith had a distinct metallic, gunpowder-like odor. It also irritated their lungs and stuck to everything.

Astronauts reported that lunar dust smelled like gunpowder or burnt charcoal when they returned to the lander and removed their helmets. The smell was strong and distinct.

The Apollo 11 moon landing was broadcast live in black and white, not color. The camera was indeed a slow-scan system, but the broadcast was monochrome.

After splashdown, the astronauts filled out customs forms in Honolulu, listing 'moon rocks' and 'lunar dust' as cargo. It was a lighthearted moment, but technically required by U.S. law.

Aldrin relieved himself into a collection bag inside his suit shortly after stepping onto the lunar surface, making him the first to pee on the moon.

Aldrin, an elder at his church, privately took bread and wine from a kit. NASA didn't broadcast it due to a lawsuit over separation of church and state.

No dangerous solar flare occurred during Apollo 11. Solar activity was monitored closely. This myth stems from a misunderstanding of solar weather data from that period.