Scientists have finally confirmed that the American flags left on the moon during the Apollo space missions are still standing.
The flags were planted into the soil on our nearest neighbour during each one of the six manned Apollo space missions between 1969 and 1972. As the moon has very little atmosphere (bad place to put on a concert then), it essentially has no weather, and it had long been suspected that the flags should have remained intact. However, it has not been possible to prove this until now.
Photos taken by the Lunar Reconaissance Orbiter (LRO) show that the flags are casting shadows, and by comparing photos taken at different times of the day, they have observed the shadows moving around them. The chief scientist for the LROC, Professor Mark Robinson, has stated that "it is now certain that the American flags are still standing and casting shadows at all of the sites, except Apollo 11."
Apollo 11 was, of course, the first manned mission to the moon, and Buzz Aldrin had believed that the flag was knocked over by the exhaust as it lifted off to begin its return to Earth; the evidence seems to support this event happening.
They really should have been more careful with their driving.
Further details from the LROC blog can be found here
Images: Rex/LROC
