Fact check: Moon landing conspiracy theory misrepresents lunar footprint

The claim: A mismatch between a space boot and the lunar footprint proves the moon landing was fake
In July 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin stepped onto the moon.

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," Armstrong famously declared.

For half a century since, conspiracy theorists have argued it wasn't.

A Sept. 16 Instagram post compares images of the famous moon footprint and the smooth sole and heel of Armstong's space boot. The caption claims the mismatched footprint and boot tread prove the moon landing was “fake.”

The post garnered more than 1,800 likes in one day. The user who made the post, @sawasmemes, told USA TODAY they intended it to be taken as a joke, but the comments indicate many are taking it as a factual assertion.

"Lad u do know u could just Google this to get the answer right," one skeptic wrote.

"Bruh they had a boot sleeve as protection and warmth on the outside of their normal shoes," another commented.

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Those commenters are correct.

This healless footprint matches the tread on the lunar overshoes that Armstrong and Aldrin wore to walk on the moon.

Several fact checkers have debunked posts that made similar claims about images of the footprint. <snip>

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