Apollo 11: Neil Armstrong addresses conspiracy theories about moon landing in 2011 interview

Neil Armstrong made history as the first man to set foot on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. However, despite the historic event and years since it happened, conspiracy theorists believe that the moon landing was staged and filmed on set. In a 2011 interview, Armstrong addressed the conspiracy theories, partly to put the theories to rest.

In a 2011 interview of Armstrong by Certified Practicing Accountants Organization CEO Alex Malley, Armstrong addressed the popular conspiracy theory surrounding the moon landing, decades after the historic mission. Malley recalled a previous meeting with the famed astronaut during the interview, who was 81 years old at the time. Malley asked Armstrong what his response to the conspiracy theories surrounding the Apollo 11 mission. The legendary astronaut explained that he was not particularly concerned about the fact that there are people who cast doubt on the mission.

“I don’t recall what I said, but people love conspiracy theories. I mean they are very attractive. But it was never a concern to me because I know that one day somebody is going to go fly back up there and pick up the camera I left. So they will be sure then,” explained Armstrong.

Malley then recalled another part of their previous conversation to which Armstrong also later agreed upon remembering. “It was about the fact that 800,000 staff at NASA couldn’t possibly keep a secret and knowing how people work I think is so compelling,” said Malley.

The technology used by scientists and engineers in ensuring the success of the Apollo 11 mission was in large part, thanks to the man who would later create the most famous spy in modern literary and film history, James Bond. The book, titled Ian Fleming’s Inspiration, written by Edward Abel Smith, details how Fleming, during World War II, came to retrieve the designs of the V1 and V2 rockets made by Nazi scientist Wernher von Braun.

Smith explained that Fleming’s involvement in what would later contribute to the success of the Apollo 11 mission was accidental. The author assembled his own commando unit called the 30 Assault Unit whose goal was to get their hands on the designs of the V1 and V2 rockets. According to Smith, there was another reason why Fleming wanted to get the designs of the rockets as his then-girlfriend Muriel Wright was killed by shrapnel from a V1 bomb.