Misinformation about the validity of space exploration has circulated for decades. USA TODAY has debunked several claims surrounding space, from the misrepresentation of Buzz Aldrin's footprint to the false claim that the moon landing was a hoax.
In another iteration of this claim, an Instagram post compares launch sites on the Earth and the moon as supposed evidence that space exploration isn't real. The picture of a rocket launch site on Earth shows a fiery, explosive scene, while the one on the moon shows a robotic-like capsule on a barren moonscape with no visible smoke or fire.
"Outer Space is a HOAX," reads the caption of the post, which has received over 900 likes since May. A similar claim on Instagram and received over 200 likes in a week.
The photos are real, and the launch sites are noticeably different – but there are several reasons for this, experts say. Space travel is real, and humans have been exploring space for decades, as detailed in an array of observations, data, photos and videos and material retrieved on space missions.
USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment.
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The moon and the Earth are fundamentally different. Some of these differences are why their launch sites are so distinct, experts say.
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