Annie Walton Doyle
A shocking clip of Buzz Aldrin punching a conspiracy theorist has gone viral.
The first Moon landing, on July 20, 1969, remains one of humanity’s greatest achievements.
Although evidence supports the event, conspiracy theories persist with the idea that the Moon landing was a hoax.
One such theorist expressed their beliefs to Aldrin, leading to a heated interaction.
People have reacted to the viral clip online, with one viewer writing: “I can watch this all day! High five Buzz.”
Another person remarks: “This is how studs handle these idiots that have nothing else to do.”
“One small punch for Buzz, one big punch for mankind,” laughs a third.
As part of NASA’s Apollo 11 mission, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface.
The historical event was broadcast worldwide to millions of views and became an iconic moment in the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Shortly after the event, conspiracy theories regarding the Moon landing emerged.
One of the earliest and most influential proponents was Bill Kaysing, a former employee of Rocketdyne, a company involved in the Apollo program.
In his 1976 self-published book ‘We Never Went to the Moon: America’s Thirty Billion Dollar Swindle,’ Kaysing alleged that NASA faked the Moon landing to assert U.S. dominance in space without the risk and expense of actual space travel.
Kaysing’s claims, although lacking credible evidence, laid the groundwork for a variety of Moon landing conspiracy theories.
Over time, the Moon landing theories have evolved, especially with the emergence of the internet, allowing for the rapid spread of misinformation.
Conspiracy theorists often point to perceived anomalies in photographic and video footage of the Moon landing.
One commonly cited example is the appearance of the American flag, which seemingly flutters as if in a breeze, despite the lack of atmosphere on the Moon.
According to the National Space Center, the flag isn’t flapping and its appearance is down to the astronauts twisting the pole into the ground, causing the flag to be disturbed. It kept the bent shape due to the lack of strong gravity on the Moon.
Another frequent argument is the absence of stars in the photographs.
Skeptics claim the sky should have been filled with stars when in reality, they’re there – it’s just the camera struggles to capture such a contract.
Conspiracy theorists also question the shadows in the Moon landing photos, as they seemingly point in multiple directions despite the Sun being the only light source.
Experts have attributed the shadow anomalies to the rough, uneven terrain on the Moon, which can cause shadows to appear at different angles.
The popular science-based television program MythBusters tackled the Moon landing controversy in 2008, per Space.com.
Using a scale model with uneven terrain, miniature astronauts, and simulated sunlight, they demonstrated that non-parallel shadows could naturally occur on the Moon’s surface.
This experiment countered claims by skeptics that such shadows in NASA’s photos proved the use of artificial lighting in a studio setting.
The scientific community also overwhelmingly rejects the Moon landing conspiracy theories, citing extensive evidence that the Moon landing did occur.
Former NASA employees, engineers, and astronauts have all consistently affirmed the authenticity of the Moon landings.
Even the Soviets, who closely monitored the U.S. space program during the Cold War, never disputed the event’s authenticity.
Given the intense rivalry between the two, it’s unlikely they would have remained silent if the event had been fabricated.
The persistence of Moon landing conspiracy theories can partly be explained by the psychological mechanisms that drive belief in conspiracies.
As explained by Scientific American, conspiracy theories can provide a sense of control and understanding in a complex and uncertain world.
For one Moon landing conspiracy theorist, their belief led to a bizarre confrontation with Aldrin outside a Beverly Hills hotel.
On September 9, 2002, Bart Sibrel, one of the most vocal Moon landing hoax conspiracy theorists, approached the celebrated astronaut.
With a film crew in tow, the theorist asked the 72-year-old to swear on a Bible that he had walked on the Moon.
Uncomfortable with the situation, Aldrin repeatedly asked Sibrel to leave him alone.
However, the theorist persisted and continued to make accusations.
As tensions escalated, Sibrel called Aldrin a ‘coward’ and ‘liar,’ leading the astronaut to lose his cool.
The former astronaut was recorded swinging his fist and landing a solid punch to Sibrel’s jaw. Stunned, Sibrel stumbled backward.
The incident made headlines worldwide, with many expressing sympathy towards Aldrin for his actions given the circumstances.
According to History.com, Beverly Hills police investigated the altercation but ultimately decided not to press charges against Aldrin, with Sibrel being called the instigator.
In the years since the ‘punch heard around the world,’ Aldrin has continued to be a tireless advocate for space exploration and scientific education.
In 2019, amid the Moon landing’s 50th-anniversary celebrations, Fox News asked the astronaut what he thinks about those who doubt the historical event.
Aldrin replied: “I don’t pay any attention to them, really. They’re out for themselves to make a name.”
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