Additional Coverage:
- Buzz Aldrin says ‘we didn’t go there’ in moon landing interview as fake claims resurface (themirror.com)
Montclair Native Buzz Aldrin’s Moon Landing Comments Spark Renewed Conspiracy Theories
With the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission approaching, recent online attention on interviews with Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, has reignited conspiracy theories about the historic event. Aldrin, now 95, has spoken extensively about the mission over the years, but two particular interviews have become focal points for skeptics who question the moon landing’s authenticity.
One interview, from a 2000 appearance on the Conan O’Brien Show, features Aldrin seemingly stating that O’Brien didn’t watch the moon landing as a child because “there wasn’t any television.” This comment, taken out of context, has fueled speculation.
A second interview, from the 2015 National Book Festival, shows Aldrin telling a young girl “we didn’t go there,” when asked why no one has returned to the moon in decades. This clip, also truncated and shared widely online, further contributes to the conspiracy narrative.
However, both interviews have been clarified. Aldrin’s comment to O’Brien referred to the use of animations by broadcasters alongside actual footage to explain the mission’s complexities.
His statement to the young girl, when viewed in its entirety, addresses the budgetary constraints and shifting priorities that halted lunar missions after 1972. He later emphasized the need for resources and new equipment to sustain space exploration.
Despite persistent conspiracy theories, NASA maintains the Apollo 11 mission’s validity, citing moon rocks, telemetry data, and the testimonies of countless engineers and scientists involved in the project. The historic moon landing, witnessed by an estimated 600 million people worldwide, remains a landmark achievement, though its authenticity continues to be debated by some.