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(NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University)
An enduring question ever since the manned moon landings of the 1960s has been: Are the flags planted by the astronauts still standing?
Now, lunar scientists say the verdict is in from the latest photos of the moon taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC): Most do, in fact, still stand.
"From the LROC images it is now certain that the American flags are still standing and casting shadows at all of the sites, except Apollo 11," LROC principal investigator Mark Robinson wrote in a blog post today (July 27). "Astronaut Buzz Aldrin reported that the flag was blown over by the exhaust from the ascent engine during liftoff of Apollo 11, and it looks like he was correct!"
Each of the six manned Apollo missions that landed on the moon planted an American flag in the lunar dirt.
Related at Space.com: Photos: New Views of Apollo Moon Landing Sites
Scientists have examined images of the Apollo landing sites before for signs of the flags, and seen hints of what might be shadows cast by the flags. However, this wasn't considered strong evidence that the flags were still standing. Now, researchers have examined photos taken of the same spots at various points in the day, and observed shadows circling the point where the flag is thought to be. [Video: Moon Photos Prove Apollo Flags Still Stand]
Robinson calls these photos "convincing."
"Personally I was a bit surprised that theflags survived the harsh ultraviolet light and temperatures of the lunar surface, but they did," Robinson wrote. "What they look like is another question (badly faded?)."
Related at Space.com: Driving on the Moon: Photos of NASA's Lunar Cars
Most scientists had assumed the flags hadn't survived more than four decades of harsh conditions on the moon.
"Intuitively, experts mostly think it highly unlikely the Apollo flags could have endured the 42 years of exposure to vacuum, about 500 temperature swings from 242 F during the day to -280 F during the night, micrometeorites, radiation and ultraviolet light, some thinking the flags have all but disintegrated under such an assault of the environment," scientist James Fincannon, of the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, wrote in the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal.
Related at Space.com: NASA's 17 Apollo Moon Missions in Pictures
In recent years, photos from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have also shown other unprecedented details of the Apollo landing sites, such as views of the lunar landers, rovers, scientific instruments left behind on the surface, and even the astronauts' boot prints. These details are visible in photos snapped by the probe while it was skimming just 15 miles (24 kilometers) above the moon's surface.
LRO launched in June 2009, and first captured close-up images of the Apollo landing sites in July of that year. The $504 million car-size spacecraft is currently on an extended mission through at least September 2012.
Follow Clara Moskowitz on Twitter @ClaraMoskowitz or SPACE.com @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook & Google+.
Copyright 2012 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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4 Comments
I agree with frank they should be able to get better picture than this, I think they no one day we all will no we did not land on moon
July 28 2012 at 3:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWe have pictures of galaxies 1000's of light years away that are clearer than this. How is it that we can do THAT, and can't get a clear picture of a planet SOOOO much closer to us. Grainy like a surveillance camera in a 7-Eleven.......I LAUGH OUT LOUD at this image...No proof of anything........Show me a picture like we see from spy satellites able to look INTO your home from MILES above the earth.
July 28 2012 at 10:32 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply"Officer sexy" Really??? You sure think alot of yourself and little of NASA. I wonder what you could really do! If NASA can see areas on Mars don't you think they can see areas on the moon? It is a little closer. I do agree a space station on the moon is a great idea. Were you around in 1969 to watch the first moon landing? Well I was and it was one of the greatest moments of my life. We do need to go back and build that space station and spend more money to rebuild our space program....It may be the answer to our future.
July 28 2012 at 4:38 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyReally ??? That's your proof that the flag is still there, "If it ever were" I would like to beleive men landed on the moon back in the 60s however I would need something a little more than this unsubstantiated photo of a black dot.. Hell that could be anything. The smartest thing we could have done was to build a space station on the moon instead of NASA wasting billions of dollars over the years with little to show for it. We could have had a small city with plant life and indoor oxygen by now. NASA need to hire me to take our future in space to a new level and create new jobs to boot.
July 27 2012 at 8:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyOfficer MD Martin. Linden NC