(MENAFN) Dmitry Rogozin, a former chief of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, has expressed skepticism about the authenticity of the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing. In a statement on Telegram on Sunday, Rogozin revealed that about 10 years ago, during his government service, he had sent an official request to Roscosmos for documentary evidence of the Americans' stay on the moon. His doubts are based on the return of Soviet cosmonauts from space expeditions barely able to stand on their feet and undergoing long recoveries, in contrast to US astronauts who, according to Rogozin, crawled out of their lunar ships "like cucumbers from the garden."
Rogozin continued his search for evidence while working at Roscosmos but said he could not find anything other than the "angry accusations" of some academics who claimed that he undermined Russia's "sacred cooperation with NASA." He also received a call from a high-ranking official accusing him of "aggravating the international situation" with his doubts about the Apollo 11 landing. However, Rogozin maintains that his only intention was to establish the true state of affairs in the issue of the exploration of the Moon by the United States.
Rogozin's skepticism is not new. In 2019, during an interview with a Russian news agency, he questioned the authenticity of the Apollo Moon landing, suggesting that the US government may have faked it to win the space race against the Soviet Union. He also criticized NASA's plans to return to the Moon, saying that it was a waste of resources.
Despite Rogozin's doubts, the authenticity of the Apollo 11 Moon landing has been verified by NASA and other space agencies, as well as by independent experts. The mission was a significant achievement for the US space program and marked a major milestone in human history. However, Rogozin's comments highlight the ongoing international competition and mistrust in the space exploration industry, which has implications for future missions and collaborations.
MENAFN09052023000045014146ID1106207230
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.