How Many Times Have Humans Been to the Moon? A Complete History of the Apollo Missions and the Moon Landing Debate
Between 1969 and 1972, humans landed on the Moon six times — all during NASA’s Apollo program. These missions represented the height of space exploration and Cold War competition between the United States and the Soviet Union.
All Six Apollo Moon Landings
- Apollo 11 (July 1969) – Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (the first moon landing)
- Apollo 12 (November 1969) – Charles Conrad and Alan Bean
- Apollo 14 (February 1971) – Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell
- Apollo 15 (July 1971) – David Scott and James Irwin
- Apollo 16 (April 1972) – John Young and Charles Duke
- Apollo 17 (December 1972) – Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt (the last humans to walk on the Moon)
Since Apollo 17, no human has returned to the lunar surface, though several nations and private companies have sent robotic probes. NASA’s upcoming Artemis program aims to change that, with a crewed return to the Moon expected around 2026.
Are the Moon Landings Real or Staged?
As a Christian, I believe in truth above all else — and if you’re asking whether I think the Moon landings were faked, my answer is simple: it wouldn’t surprise me if they were.
To understand why people question it, we have to remember the political climate between 1969 and 1972. The Cold War was at its peak, and America was desperate to showcase its technological and industrial power against the Soviet Union.
The Moon landing offered the perfect opportunity to shift public attention, inspire national pride, and demonstrate superiority. From that perspective, it’s easy to imagine how — at least in theory — a government might stage a media event to maintain an image of dominance.
That said, it’s still hard to believe NASA’s astronauts and engineers could all participate in such a massive cover-up. The scale of that deception would be unprecedented.
Who Is Still Alive Today (as of 2025)?
Out of the twelve men who walked on the Moon, only four are still alive today:
- Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11)
- David Scott (Apollo 15)
- Charles Duke (Apollo 16)
- Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17)
Each of them remains a living link to one of humanity’s most extraordinary chapters.
Buzz Aldrin’s Remark on the “Animation”
Part of the confusion about the Moon landing’s authenticity comes from Buzz Aldrin’s 2000s interview with Conan O’Brien, where Aldrin made an intriguing comment.
During the discussion, Conan recalled watching the Moon landing on television as a child, to which Aldrin replied:
“No, you didn’t. Because there wasn’t any television. You watched animation… You heard me talking about how many feet we were going left and right, and then I said, ‘Contact light, engine stop.’”
This brief exchange led many to believe Aldrin was confirming the Moon landing footage was faked. But in reality, Aldrin was clarifying that what people saw on TV wasn’t live video, but an animated simulation aired to help audiences visualize what was happening in real time.
Back in 1969, live transmission from the lunar surface wasn’t technically possible during the descent. The animation was meant to inform and entertain — not deceive — but many viewers didn’t realize that what they saw was a reconstruction, not a live broadcast.
In hindsight, it’s easy to see how this misunderstanding gave rise to decades of conspiracy theories.
Faith, Truth, and Perspective
Whether the Moon landing was real or not, one truth remains constant — governments can deceive, and humans can be misled. I’ve seen enough government manipulation and public conditioning in my lifetime to know that skepticism is healthy.
But as a follower of Jesus Christ, my foundation is not in science, politics, or government narratives — it’s in truth. Christ is the only unshakable truth.
So while I’ll take NASA at its word for now, it wouldn’t shock me if one day we discovered that parts of the story weren’t as they seemed. Until then, I remain focused on what truly matters:
“Consider making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today.”
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