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The flag on the Moon represents an important event in vexillological history. This article examines the political and technical aspects of placing a flag on the Moon, focusing on the first Moon landing.
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The flag on the Moon represents an important event in vexillological history. This paper examines the political and technical aspects of placing a flag on the Moon, focusing on the first Moon landing. During their historic extravehicular activity, the Apollo 11 crew planted the flag of the United States on the lunar surface. This flag-raising was strictly a symbolic activity, as the United Nations Treaty on Outer Space precluded any territorial claim. Nevertheless, there were domestic and international debates over the appropriateness of the event. Congress amended the agency’s appropriations bill to prevent the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from placing flags of other nations, or those of international associations, on the Moon during missions funded solely by the United States. Like any activity in space exploration, the Apollo flag-raising also provided NASA engineers with an interesting technical challenge. They designed a flagpole with a horizontal bar allowing the flag to “fly” without the benefit of wind to overcome the effects of the Moon’s lack of an atmosphere. Other factors considered in the design were weight, heat resistance, and ease of assembly by astronauts whose space suits restricted their range of movement and ability to grasp items. As NASA plans a return to the Moon and an expedition to Mars, we will likely see flags continue to go “where no flag has gone before.”
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One of the most memorable images from the Apollo missions to the moon is the picture of the astronaut standing next to the U.S. flag. Throughout the history of America’s space program flags have been prevalent symbols on space suits, spacecraft, and mission patches. Since the early days of manned space flight “flown” flags have been used as mementos to commemorate important flights and to recognize the contributions of individuals to the success of the program. Other symbols besides flags also have played an important role as the program has evolved. This paper will discuss some of the ways that flags have been used in the manned space program, unique flags that have been used to represent the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and its programs, and other symbols unique to NASA.
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According to historians, twelve American astronauts explored the surface of the Moon between 1969 and 1972. During their time on the lunar surface each Apollo crew deployed a special flag pole, leaving a total of six American flags on the surface of the Moon. Or did they? Since the 1970s conspiracy theories have emerged which claim that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) faked the moon landings. Much of the evidence used by the conspiracy theorists consists of photographs and films released by NASA during the Apollo Program. Not surprisingly, the flags have played a major role in the argument that the moon landings were an elaborate hoax. This paper will examine the claims of the conspiracy theorists, especially those related to flags, and will provide explanations in support of the historical reality of the Apollo missions.
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Part 1 of a discussion of flags and flag symbolism on NASA mission patches. This article introduces the tradition of NASA mission emblems and their use in Project Gemini and the Apollo Program. Continued in Flag Research Quarterly, issue #6.
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How, exactly, did the Apollo 11 astronauts come to deploy a U.S. flag on the lunar surface? This paper, exploring the technical aspects and international considerations surrounding that $5.50 flag, won the Driver Award for the author in 1992.
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Discusses flag displays that might occur during the Apollo 11 moonlanding. Makes a recommendation for a monument that could be placed on the lunar surface.
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- Apollo Program
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