Occasionally, proponents of conspiracy theories presume they possess a pivotal revelation that dismantles an entire idea – disregarding the reality that even a rudimentary search disproves their claims. Recently, we discussed the introduction of the new spacesuit designed for astronauts returning to the Moon in a few years. Following that article, someone commented: “If the Moon landing was genuine, why haven’t we returned?” This was perplexing initially… since we returned five additional times.

The Apollo program was a monumental achievement, though it was exceptionally costly and laden with hazards. Yet, it succeeded in landing 12 individuals on the Moon’s surface. The first were, of course, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin with Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969. Let’s shine a light on the subsequent missions.

Apollo 12

A mere four months after Apollo 11, its follow-up mission landed in the Ocean of Storms – Oceanus Procellarum. Charles "Pete" Conrad and Alan Bean set foot on the Moon on November 19, 1969. This endeavor positioned them within walking distance of the robotic Surveyor 3. Remarkably, Conrad and Bean brought parts of Surveyor 3 back to Earth. On a lighter note, Apollo 12 marked the first recorded use of hammocks on an extraterrestrial world, enabling the duo to sleep more comfortably.

Apollo 14

Apollo 13 faced a critical malfunction en route to the Moon, forcing the cancellation of its landing. Humanity’s third successful lunar visit occurred on February 5, 1971. Alan Shepard – the first American to travel into space – and Edgar Mitchell became the fifth and sixth people to traverse the Moon. Apollo 14 also encountered some malfunctions, but none severe enough to jeopardize the mission. A second failure might have terminated the Apollo program. Instead, its highlight was Shepard hitting two golf balls on the Moon. At 47, Shepard remains the oldest person to visit the Moon.

Apollo 15

David Scott and James Irwin arrived on the Moon on July 30, 1971. With budget reductions looming, NASA optimized the mission, which featured the inaugural deployment of the Lunar Roving Vehicle – humanity's first off-Earth automobile. Scott also performed the renowned Galileo experiment, dropping a feather and a hammer to demonstrate that objects fall at the same rate regardless of mass in a vacuum.

Additionally, Alfred Worden conducted an EVA (extravehicular activity) to recover film cassettes from Moon-mapping cameras mounted on the module, a feat accomplished 321,869 kilometers (200,000 miles) from Earth. This mission held the record for the greatest number of individuals exposed to space’s vacuum simultaneously until last month’s Polaris Dawn mission.

Apollo 16

John Young and Charles Duke landed on April 21, 1972, spending almost three days on the lunar surface. Among their collection was Big Muley, the largest rock returned from the Moon by Apollo missions, weighing 11.7 kilograms (25.8 pounds). Their lunar module was named Orion after one of the sky’s brightest constellations. Command module pilot Thomas Mattingly humorously chose the name Casper for the command and service module, citing the mission’s serious nature and desiring a lighthearted moniker.

Apollo 17

Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt were the final humans – for now – to walk on the Moon, landing on December 11, 1972. Determined to conclude the Apollo program on a high note, NASA ensured Apollo 17 was the longest crewed lunar mission, featuring extended excursions, the farthest travels from the spacecraft, and the largest haul of lunar samples. Schmitt, the first scientist on the Moon, also holds the distinction of being the first individual allergic to Moon dust. Despite these achievements, public interest waned, and the mission received scant television coverage as lunar landings became routine.

What’s Next?

It’s implausible to believe the Moon landings were fabricated. Or perhaps we should entertain the jest that Stanley Kubrick directed them but was such a perfectionist he insisted on filming on location.

Doubtless, conspiracy theorists will critique the Artemis program, but for those passionate about facts and space exploration, thrilling times lie ahead. The Artemis program aims to return humanity to the Moon, heralding the first woman, the first person of color, and the first non-American to step on its surface. Artemis III, projected for 2026 (pending delays), is set to inaugurate a series of lunar landings.