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From the High Desert

A Cultural History of Art Bell

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Thumbnail for October 23, 2009: Lunar-Landing Hoax Theory - Stephen Rorke | Research of Ralph Rene

October 23, 2009: Lunar-Landing Hoax Theory - Stephen Rorke | Research of Ralph Rene

Oct 23, 2009
2h 35m
Stephen RorkeRalph Rene
0:00 / 0:00
Art Bell welcomes Stephen Rorke for an examination of the lunar landing hoax theory, drawing heavily on the research of the late Ralph Rene, author of NASA Mooned America. Rorke presents a dispassionate analysis of anomalies in the Apollo record, emphasizing that Rene sourced his claims directly from NASA documents, press conferences, and official records.

The discussion covers troubling questions surrounding the Apollo missions, including lethal radiation levels in the Van Allen belts, the paper-thin walls of the Lunar Excursion Module, and the puzzling absence of stars in astronaut testimony. A striking audio clip from the Apollo 11 post-flight press conference reveals Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins unable to recall seeing stars from the lunar surface, despite Collins later writing about observing them in his own book.

Rorke also presents expert analysis from physicist David Groves, who identified converging shadows and anomalous lighting in Apollo photographs suggesting artificial light sources. Art reflects on his own conversation with an Apollo astronaut who could not recall how it felt to walk on the moon. The program raises pointed questions about radiation exposure, photographic evidence, and the mixed messages NASA has offered over the decades.

Key Moments

  1. Why didn't the Soviets cry foul?: Art presses the obvious counter to the hoax claim - Soviet scientists would have screamed bloody murder if Apollo were faked. Rorke counters with Rene's mutual-stalemate theory: the US knew Soviet spacewalks were also faked, so neither side could expose the other.

  2. The Apollo 11 moon rock was petrified wood: A rock the Apollo 11 astronauts personally gave to Dutch Prime Minister Willem Drees was tested in 2009 and turned out to be petrified wood - and NASA, Rorke says, has offered no explanation.

  3. Edgar Mitchell - I don't remember much of it: Art recounts a private interview where moonwalker Edgar Mitchell, asked what walking on the lunar surface felt like, paused and replied that he doesn't remember much of how he felt - leaving Art expecting an emotional cascade and getting silence.

  4. Armstrong - I don't remember seeing any stars: In a 1969 post-flight press clip Rorke plays, Sir Patrick Moore asks if the astronauts could see stars from the lunar surface; Armstrong says they were never able to see them by eye in daylight, and Collins says he doesn't remember seeing any.