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Close-Up Photo Analysis 'Suggests' NASA's Apollo 17 Mission Was Faked

Close-Up Photo Analysis 'Suggests' NASA's Apollo 17 Mission Was Faked

A stock photo from the landing, posted by a user on YouTube, appears to show a man walking around the 'moon' without a space suit.

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden

"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Almost fifty years may have passed since Neil Armstrong spoke those iconic words but some out still believe that the first moon landings were faked.

Now close-up analysis of one NASA photograph has led people to believe that the Apollo 17 mission three years later was also staged.

A stock photo from the landing, posted by a user on YouTube, appears to show a man walking around the 'moon' without a space suit during the mission. He must have been a bit chilly, if true.


Americans have always claimed that they put the first men on the moon when NASA beamed live video footage of Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin supposedly taking their first steps there in 1969.

However, NASA have never quite shaken off the accusation that all its moon missions were faked so the US could claim to have beaten Russia in the Space Race during the Cold War.

Apollo 17 was the sixth and final mission of NASA's Apollo program in December 1972, conducted by a three man crew led by astronaut Eugene Cerman.

According to NASA's official report of the mission - said to be the most recent manned moon landing - the crew touched down on the satellite and spent three days walking its surface.

However, a YouTuber user called Streetcap1 has posted footage looking at one image from the expedition to imply that the whole thing was filmed on a Hollywood film set.

In the video, during a zoom in on the reflection of one of the astronaut's visors, a figure standing around in a "waistcoast" appears to be visible, the YouTuber user suggests.

Streetcap1 suggests that the figure is a man with long hair, fitting the 'long-hair-don't-care' hairstyle for men in the 1970s when the Apollo 17 mission supposedly took place.

Credit: NASA/YouTube

"This is from a moon photograph, a reflection from one of the astronaut's face visor, so I thought it looked a bit strange, so I took a picture of it using my software," the user said, discussing the photo, the source of which has not been verified.

"What we appear to have here is a figure of a human, not wearing a space suit, circa early 70s. An Apollo 17 photograph. It looks like a man. Back in the early 70s. Long hair. Wearing some sort of waistcoat type thing.

"There was a lot of debate over whether these photographs were faked," the user added. "There's been a lot of debate, certainly this week on Facebook."

"[People] say we never made it to the moon, but I think we did. But this is starting to make me think, maybe not. Because, where's the guy's spacesuit?"

As you'd expect, other YouTube users are split as to whether the photo actually shows what Streetcap1 suggests.

"Someone definitely there," said the user Adrian Lee. "Looks like they're wearing high top sneakers and a jacket with a hood."

"Holy crap, good eye!" said Lesley Valerio.

However, others weren't convinced: "Looks like another astronaut," Clint Steel wrote.

Andy Cowley said: "How about a reflection of the other astronaut you know the one taking the photo!"

Well, yeah, I guess that would make sense.

Whether you believe Streetcap1's suggestion or think it's a load of rubbish, the conspiracy theorists will surel make a leap onto this one. A giant one.

Featured Image Credit: NASA

Topics: Viral, Science, Nasa, Technology, Community, Conspiracy Theory, YouTube