Buzz Aldrin Clips Resurface Fueling Moon Landing Conspiracy Theories

Resurfaced clips of Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin from interviews in 2000 and 2015 have reignited conspiracy theories claiming the 1969 moon landing was faked. In a 2000 appearance on the Conan O'Brien Show, Aldrin told O'Brien that he did not actually watch the moon landing on television but rather an animation, a statement that has been widely misinterpreted by skeptics. Similarly, a 2015 clip where Aldrin appeared to say "Because we didn't go there" in response to a question about why no one has returned to the moon was also taken out of context. NASA and fact-checking agencies have clarified that Aldrin was referring to the animations used by TV networks during the original broadcast and that the 2015 clip was edited to omit Aldrin's full explanation about the technical risks of the mission. Despite decades of conspiracy theories fueled by public mistrust, NASA supports the authenticity of the Apollo 11 mission with telemetry data, lunar samples, and extensive testimony from thousands involved in the program. Aldrin remains the last surviving Apollo 11 crew member, and the anniversary of the mission continues to prompt both celebration and renewed debate about the historic lunar landing.