Monday, April 18, 2022

#AtoZChallenge2022: O is for Outer Space

The A to Z of Conspiracy Theories O
The A to Z of Conspiracy Theories: O is for Outer Space

This is a catch-all for various things I wanted to talk about but didn't have enough on their own.

They do all have at least one thing in common.  A serious distrust of NASA.

Moon Landings Faked

This is a big one really. There are some people out there who think the moon landings were faked.  We have a word for these people.

Idiots.

But it does give me a chance to use one of my favorite movie jokes.  

"NASA went to Stanely Kubrick to convince him to film their fake moon landing, but Kubrick was such a perfectionist he demanded the film it on location."

It is the same distrust of NASA that gives us the Flat Earthers

The Planet Nibriu 

Nibriu has tried to kill us not just once, but twice. There has been some version of this for decades.

Some questionable literature

Face on Mars / Pyramids on Mars

Back in 1979 the Viking I mission to Mars took orbital photos of what appeared to be a face on the planet Mars.  Later the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Mars Global Surveyor in 1998 and 2001 took better pictures and showed that the "Face" was a trick of the light and pareidolia.  Humans are programmed to recognize faces.  Great when you are a newborn baby looking to get fed, bad when trying to separate signal from noise.  

Mars in general has fascinated us since we started looking up to the skies and noticed this one reddish-looking point of light was a bit different than the others.   I suppose it is hard to let go of some ideas after they have been ingrained for so long, even with the best data out there.

Of course, all the data in the solar system won't change the minds of those that feel that NASA is lying to them. 

Area 51

I talked a bit about this in "Night Companion: A Sourcebook for Night Shift: VSW" in my "Weirdly World News."  Area 51 is neat and all, but it is likely nothing there save for advanced aircraft. Advanced, sure, but not alien.   Besides, I have my own ideas for Area 51.

For NIGHT SHIFT

Nothing in particular that I have not mentioned already.  Save I want to do some more sci-fi style games with NIGHT SHIFT.  Come back in two week when May starts off Sci-Fi month here at the Other Side!

The NIGHT SHIFT RPG is available from the Elf Lair Games website (hardcover) and from DriveThruRPG (PDF).

9 comments:

PT Dilloway said...

I think I watched a Myth Busters once that debunked all the various conspiracy theories about the moon landing being faked. But I'd love to go to Area 51 and see what cool stuff they've got there. I don't mean aliens but I'm sure they've got some neat planes there.

Dino said...

I enjoyed this one, especially your word for those that believe the moon landings were faked.

Facing The Mountain

Lisa said...

I love how you call them "idiots!" Anything secret always brings out the nutters, like Area 51. I would expect governments to have some secret facilities, to know things the general public shouldn't know! Why shouldn't we know? We'd blab to the wrong people!

_Goblinist_ said...

I've worked with satellite map data of Mars, and there's at least one crater that looks like a smiley face. Whenever you have random inputs (like asteroid impacts) creating an image, sooner or later you're going to get something that looks like an intentionally created picture.

Arlee Bird said...

I admire some of the creative lengths those fake moon landing people will go to in order to prove their point. I'd say just accept the easiest explanation that it did happen.

The thing about space that intrigues me is "what does outer space smell like?" If I ever go to space I'll stick my head out the window to find out. I'm sure that will work.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

Afshan Shaik said...

I also know about a documentary that covers entire moon landing as fake. May be its not true!

What is the red spot on Mars to be actually??

Your posts are quite extensive, well explained and interesting. Apologies though as I couldnt be regular due to lack of time. Hope to read u more post the challenge!
Foolowing u

Dropping by from a to z "The Pensive"

Afshan Shaik said...

Did u get my comment ?

Timothy S. Brannan said...

@Arlee, certainly Occam's razor here. The easiest, most likely solution is that we went to the moon. Simple as that.

@Afshan Shaik, Thanks for the follow and I am glad you are enjoying this series. I have comment moderation turned on to stop all the Spam I get.

@_Goblinist_, that is really cool. Not the smiley face (that is bound to happen) but the fact that you worked on the satellite map data.

Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Tasha Duncan-Drake said...

My fav ep of Mythbusters was when they debunked all the Moon Landing conspiracy theories. 😂 I had not heard that joke.
The face on mars has spawned at least one decent movie - well I enjoyed it anyway.
So many conspiracy theories to choose from 😂
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings: YouTube - What They Don't Tell You (and free fiction)