theories are always fun to think about, but why do Americans actually believe their government would or could pull this off? An article from the Smithsonian tries to offer some answers. They suggest that it is mainly young people who believe the conspiracy theory because they were not around during the time of Apollo. Another factor that make young people the most skeptical are the plethora of websites sites throwing out the conspiracies, that young people can access easier than ever before.

The most convincing point the article makes however, and the one that I relate to the most, is the growing distrust of the government. After government scandals like Watergate and the Lewinsky Scandal, we have become so distrusting of government and politicians that I for one think the government is capable of almost anything. This distrust in my generation has led to theories like the idea that 9/11 was an inside job and maybe has caused a rise in belief in theories like the moon landing hoax.

How do those involved in the landing respond to the claims? Well, Buzz Aldrin punched a conspiracy theorist in the face. NASA published a fact sheet in 1977 listing why the moon landing was not a hoax and said that the discussion and argument is “an insult to the thousands who worked for years to accomplish the most amazing feats of exploration in history. And it certainly is an insult to the memory of those who have given their lives for the exploration of space.”

For rebuttal, NASA and other government officials have attempted to explain some of the inconstancies pointed out by conspiracy theorists, but a NASA spokesmen said that replying to all of the claims would be unnecessary and a waste of time. One of their explanations is that the reason that the flag looked like it was blowing in the wind is because the inertia from placing the flag in the ground kept it moving. As for the lack of stars, officials say that since the moon reflects sunlight, and glare from the sunlight would have made it almost impossible for the astronauts or the cameras to see the stars. They also say the exposure settings on the camera help explain why no stars can be seen.  In response to the lack of a crater caused by the