Science progresses through its inherent tendency to question existing knowledge and humanity’s quest to uncover new theories by proving established science incomplete or incorrect. It is, therefore, inevitable that questions about the authenticity of certain “quantum leaps of humankind” will arise from time to time.
I would like to delve into a few such layperson’s questions about NASA’s Apollo 11 and later crewed (gender-neutral) missions to the Moon. I am addressing this issue due to its sudden traction following the return of the Artemis II crew.
The questions and my answers are:
Where was the ‘launch pad’ on the Moon for the launch of the spaceship from the lunar surface?
A launch pad is not something that pushes or catapults the rocket or spaceship. It is merely a structure that allows the rocket or spaceship to stand erect. A soft-landed spaceship already stands upright and does not require such support.
So, can Dispur Secretariat also become a launch pad for a spaceship?
Yes. However, the launch of a rocket or spaceship releases a huge amount of extremely hot gas. A launch from the Secretariat would irreparably damage the entire campus. The AT Road in front of it might also be destroyed if a GSLV or PSLV were launched from there.
How could the Apollo 11 spacecraft generate enough thrust to escape the Moon’s gravity for a safe return to Earth?
The Apollo 11 lunar module carried engines, fuel, and oxygen for combustion. The same engines were used for soft landing (similar to Chandrayaan-3) and later for take-off. Using Newton’s third law (action and reaction), the lander module was pushed upward by exhaust gases expelled downward.
How can the physics be so simple? Will there be sufficient thrust?
Albert Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Rocket physics is conceptually simple, although the technology is highly complex.
There is sufficient thrust because the Moon’s gravity is one-sixth that of Earth’s. The escape velocity on the Moon is about 2.38 km/s, compared to 11.2 km/s on Earth. As an additional fact, the Vikram Lander of Chandrayaan-3 also performed a controlled hop before being put to sleep.
Rockets launched from Earth are sleek and aerodynamic. The Apollo 11 lander did not look like a rocket. How did it fly from the Moon’s surface?
The Moon has an extremely thin atmosphere, almost non-existent. Therefore, a spacecraft does not require an aerodynamic design for launch, as there is no air resistance or viscous drag. On Earth, dense atmospheric resistance necessitates aerodynamic structures.
We hardly had telephones in 1969. How did Apollo 11 communicate with Earth?
The answer is radio wave communication. Radio technology has been in use since the 1920s. Even today, spacecraft communication relies on radio-frequency electromagnetic waves. Contrary to popular belief, lasers are not typically used for satellite communication. Chandrayaan-3 also used GHz-range electromagnetic waves. Commercial cellular devices became available in the 1970s.
In Apollo 11 victory photos, the American flag appears to wave despite the Moon’s lack of atmosphere. How is this possible?
A horizontal rod attached at a right angle to the flagpole supported the flag. The fabric was crumpled, giving the appearance of movement. It was not waving in the wind but appeared so due to its structure and folds.
How did the astronauts survive the deadly Van Allen radiation belts?
There are two main approaches. First, spacecraft trajectories are planned to pass through regions where radiation is less intense. Second, shielding—such as aluminium layers—helps protect astronauts from harmful radiation and high-energy particles.
We landed a probe on the Moon in 2023. How did the United States land humans there in 1969?
The United States declared independence in 1776 and took nearly 200 years to land a human on the Moon. In comparison, India’s space programme has advanced significantly within 75 years of independence. However, the US benefited from global talent inflows, which strengthened its scientific and technological capabilities.
The purpose of this write-up is not to prove anything about the Apollo 11 landing but to address and dispel conspiracy theories rooted in questions such as these.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect EastMojo’s stance on this or any other issue. The author is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi.
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