Space travel hoax

[[File:17pen.jpg|right|thumb|165px|Fake!]]
{{conspiracynav}}
The '''Space Travel Hoax''' is a type of [[denialism]] based on the belief that both human beings as well as unmanned spacecraft have never truly travelled into space. All the scientific and photographic/video documentation of space travel, thus, must have been fabricated under an enormous conspiracy. In short, imagine the [[Moon landing hoax]] if it took steroids (and [[Cocaine|various other substances]]).
As to the ''why'' for such a large conspiracy, some of the 'space travel denialists' suggest that it is part of an even larger, unified [[conspiracy theory]] tied to the [[Freemasons]], [[New World Order]], [[Illuminati]], etc. Others suggest space travel is impossible because [[Flat Earth|of a dome over us, covering a Flat Earth]].

Despite the enormous claims suggesting one of the greatest general achievements of the human race is all a fabricated lie, the evidence provided by these 'space travel denialists' is subpar at best and often reveals more [[Dunning–Kruger effect|about their level of expertise]] than any conspiracy, often including [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] arguments, such as claiming that cosmic and solar radiation prevents humans from voyaging into space (A lot of the radiation from space isn't too harmful for humans and can be shielded) or that the extreme temperatures in the Thermosphere would cause instant death (There aren't enough particles in the Thermosphere for any type of heat transfer)<ref>https://www.weather.gov/jetstream/layers</ref>. Some denialists claim that [[PIDOOMA|rockets must push against air, so they cannot work in vacuum]].<ref group=Note>How ejecting combustion products one way without pushing the rocket in the other satisfies conservation of momentum is beyond explanation (simple answer: it doesn't). Seriously, Isaac Newton had this worked out in the 17th century.</ref>

== Examples ==
===== Anders Björkman =====

{{cquote|''Human'' and ''robot'' space travel outside Earth orbits are scientific, engineering FRAUD 1957-2018. All is ''invented fantasies!'' Like the US [[Nuclear weapon hoax|atomic bomb 1945-2018 scare!]]|||Anders Björkman, The Human Space Travel Show<ref>[http://heiwaco.tripod.com/moontravel.htm The Human Space Travel Show.]</ref>}}
Anders Björkman, who claims to be a "naval architect" and "marine engineer,"<ref>[http://heiwaco.tripod.com/cv.htm Anders Björkman CV.]</ref> is a conspiracist and [[crank]] who believes that human space travel is a hoax, fraud, and conspiracy invented and perpetuated by the United States Government. He also believes in various [[9/11|9/11 conspiracy theories]], claims nuclear weapons cannot work, and backs his claims up with thousands of pages of pseudoscientific gibberish.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010220013730/http://heiwaco.tripod.com/index.html Heiwa Co., European Agency for Safety at Sea.] A marvelous textbook example of a nutty website, complete with excessive formatting approaching [[Time Cube]] style and obligatory home on tripod.</ref>

===== William Cooper =====

{{cquote|All of the names, missions, landing sites, and events in the Apollo Space Program echoed the occult metaphors, rituals, and symbology of the Illuminati's secret religion...|||NASA faked it, and the [[Freemasons]] are in on it!<ref>[https://archive.ph/X6ORY NASA Masonic Conspiracy, Apollo Mission's Masonic Symbols.] Archived from the original at theforbiddenknowledge.com.</ref>}}
Some conspiracy theorists believe that space travel is a hoax that is somehow wrapped up in a giant conspiracy theory involving [[Freemasons|Freemasonry]]. This belief was popularized by [[William Cooper]], the conspiracy theorist other conspiracy theorists wish they could be. The grand masonic conspiracy can be proved, according to Cooper, because "the head of NASA at the time of the Apollo Space Program, is now the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Council of the 33rd Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19990220053016/http://biblebelievers.org.au/masonapo.htm NASA Masonic Conpsiracy.]{{sic}} at biblebelievers.org.au.</ref>

===== Charles K. Johnson =====

{{cquote|You can't orbit a flat earth...The Space Shuttle is a joke—and a very ludicrous joke.|||Charles K. Johnson, president of the International Flat Earth Research Society<ref>[https://archive.ph/kiyE The Flat-out Truth: Earth Orbits? Moon Landings? A Fraud! Says This Prophet], a profile of Johnson in ''Science Digest'', July 1980 (mirror copy by Donald Simanek)</ref>}}
Charles K. Johnson, president of the International Flat Earth Research Society, believed that space travel was impossible because the earth is flat. His beliefs were firmly based on [[Biblical prophecies]], backed up by a healthy dose of conspiracy theories. For example, he believed that the moon landings were faked by Hollywood studios and that the script was written by science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke. He also claimed that the American Revolution was caused by a dispute between the Church of England, who proclaimed that the earth is a ball, and George Washington, who believed the earth was flat.
===== Internet =====
{{cquote|There[']s so much evidence that points to the fact that we never even went to the moon,i wont bother getting into all of those well known details...|||Anonymous poster on [[Above Top Secret]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120331093955/http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread824158/pg1 Our Entire Space Program Is A Hoax And A Massive Deception.] abovetopsecret.com, 27 March 2012.</ref>}}

{{cquote|After seeing the evidence of fakery in NASA pictures and videos in this forum I decided to investigate the theoretical basis of rockets in space. [[Do your own research|What I found on the Internet]] were mainly tricks, frauds and sleights of hand, name-calling and attacks used to confuse the issue and hide the facts. Bypassing all of that and doing original research I have come to the conclusion that rockets cannot function in space according the descriptions/formulas used by NASA and related parties.|||Anonymous poster on cluesforum.info<ref>[http://www.cluesforum.info/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1632 Does Rocketry Work beyond Earth's atmosphere?] cluesforum.info, 25 May 2013.</ref>}}

The vast [[internet]] [[clogosphere]] provides many outlets for space travel denialists, who regurgitate their favorite take on the topic, usually mixing together several of the standard false claims.

==See also==
*[[Moon landing hoax]]
*[[Mars landing hoax]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|90%}}
[[Category:Conspiracy theories]]
[[Category:Denialism]]
[[Category:Spaceflight and space exploration]]

Categories: Conspiracy theories, Denialism, Spaceflight and space exploration