[Shelley_c]

Originally Posted by lasto

and the final question is : what did we gain by spending millions on sending a man to the moon ????

Nothing

Look at the bigger picture lasto. Space travel is the future and having you eggs located in one basket is pure silliness. Although you think nothing was gained the science that was gained is invaluable.

And it was billions that the Americans spent during the mercury/apollo era.

With regards to the moon landings, I personally don't think they were faked. The conspiracy theorists have nothing better to do with their time but to create tales and capture the public's imagination in a negative way.

Reflectors (to determine whether the moon was spinning away from the earth) was placed on the moon and lasers setup on earth to confirm this. 4 vehicles are still present on the moon. They didn't get there themselves esp the reflectors.

Personally, I don't think they were faked. Nasa should have already been setting moon bases and taking advantage of the moon (think of the fuel saved) Costs are said to be a quarter of what the take off costs are. I believe when the americans said by the end of the decade they would land a man on the moon and return him safely they did just that.