Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy has responded to reality television star Kim Kardashian‘s skepticism regarding the authenticity of the 1969 moon landing. During an episode of her Hulu show, Kardashian expressed doubts about the historical event, prompting Duffy to reaffirm NASA’s achievements and outline the agency’s future plans.
In a post on social media platform X, Duffy directly addressed Kardashian’s statements, affirming, “Yes, @KimKardashian, we’ve been to the Moon before… six times!” He referred to the six successful manned missions conducted by NASA from 1969 to 1972 as part of the Apollo program. This series of missions culminated in the historic Apollo 11 flight, during which Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface.
Duffy also highlighted the upcoming Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon. “And even better, @NASAArtemis is going back under the leadership of @POTUS,” he noted, referring to President Biden’s administration. The Artemis II mission, tentatively scheduled for April 2026, will send four astronauts on a ten-day lunar flyby, marking the first time humans have ventured beyond Earth’s orbit since the Apollo program.
Kardashian’s remarks sparked significant attention, particularly as she discussed conspiracy theories surrounding the moon landing with actress Sarah Paulson. During the conversation, Kardashian referred to her viewing of interviews with Buzz Aldrin, where she quoted him saying, “There was no scary moment, cause it didn’t happen.” This led Kardashian to express her belief that the moon landing was fabricated.
Conspiracy theories surrounding the moon landing have persisted for decades, with proponents suggesting that the event was staged. Some theorists claim that filmmaker Stanley Kubrick was involved in creating a hoax, referencing elements in his film “The Shining” as supposed evidence. For example, they point out that the child in the film wears a sweater with “Apollo 11” written on it while walking toward room 237, a number that coincidentally aligns with the approximate distance from the Earth to the moon in thousands of miles.
Despite the enduring nature of these theories, Duffy’s statements reaffirm NASA’s commitment to transparency and the pursuit of space exploration. He emphasized the importance of factual information in the face of misconceptions, highlighting NASA’s prestigious history in space exploration.
The Apollo missions represented a pivotal moment in the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, establishing the American achievement of landing on the moon. As NASA prepares for its next steps in lunar exploration, the agency continues to engage with the public, seeking to dispel myths and inspire future generations of space enthusiasts.
As the conversation around the moon landing continues to evolve, it remains clear that NASA’s legacy is built on verified accomplishments. The agency is poised to further its exploration goals with the Artemis program, aiming not only to return to the moon but also to pave the way for human missions to Mars and beyond.
