To recap: Back in the day, I watched the first moon landing on TV. If I gave a thought to moon landings after that, it was when someone used the phrase, "If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we ____?" (Fill in the simple chore 'we' can't seem to do.)
Fast-forward 20 years. I took a 'project management' class. The class project was to "put a man on the moon and bring him back safely." We were to define project milestones, the critical path, that sort of thing. In our class there were 2 people from Europe, looking skeptical. They said people outside of the US felt the moon landings had been faked. I was stunned. How could they think that?
Maybe the instructor should have changed their project to 'faking the moon landing' so they'd see how impossibe that was. Upon reflection, I realized it could probably be done. It might be a better project management exercise than the one assigned. How would you fake it?
I would start by doing nothing. There was a big budget and bigger talent. Why not see how far they go? Save the smoke and mirrors for the places where the team falls short. The project could proceed right up to the end, and then do any necessary fiddling. The fewer fiddlers the better. A decent conspiracy has as few conspirators as possible.
So was the first moon landing 'real' or 'fake?'
On the side of 'fake' is psychology and motivation. Uncle Sam needed a big win against his cold-war rival. Failure was not an option. Our scientists had to be smarter than theirs, we had to show the world the superiority of the American Way. Buy-in was needed for Viet Nam, so we could stop those awful Commies. It was time for some flag-wavin'.
Next, where did everything go? NASA lost its tapes? Really? The capsule in the Smithsonian isn't the actual one? Where are the schematics for the awesome capsule that brought the astronauts back safely? If they can keep the dress every first lady wore to the inaugural ball, couldn't someone save stuff from the most memorable accomplishment in... ever?
Last, why can't we repeat the performance? Interest and money disappeared in the 70s, but we had a 'star wars technology' spending spree in the 80s. The 90s were the time for robotics, Mars, and space exploration in general. With better technology, we could have dusted off the old plans and given some new astronauts a chance at the big prize.
Speaking of astronauts, they're 'Exhibit A' for the 'real' side of the fence. How could you trust all 12 of these dudes to stick to the same lie forever? That's way too many co-conspirators. If drugs or hypnosis was used successfully to convince these guys they were on the moon I want some of that stuff. I'd love a fake memory to cherish... perhaps a world tour with the Dalai Lama? He sounds cool.
Being older and wiser, I do see that my life is no different whether men did or didn't set foot on the moon. I've learned that you don't always have to take a side. My spot on the fence is comfy, with a better view than people can get from the ground on either side.
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