The Great Moon Hoax
Exposed by Srila Prabhupada from numerous angles
Compiled by Vidura Mahatma das
The Point
“Apart from this discussion, the point is that a living entity has immense and unlimited desires for material enjoyment, and he has to transmigrate from one gross body to another until these desires are exhausted.” (SB 4.29.69 purport)

“Even you go to the Moon planet… This is Bhāgavata. Before going to your Moon planet here is the information: “Anywhere you go rascal these things will follow, janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi [Bg. 13.9] and inconveniences. You’ll have to suffer.” So one’s who’s, one who is intelligent, then: “Where shall I find real happiness?” That is Kṛṣṇa. Therefore one requires to be very, very intelligent to become Kṛṣṇa conscious.” (Room Conversation — November 1, 1973, New Delhi)
Can’t travel 95,000,000 miles in four days at 18,000 mph.
“My challenge is that moon is beyond the sun. First planet is sun, and then moon. So if the sun is 93,000,000 miles and moon is above the sun 1,600,000, then how they can go to the moon planet in four days? It requires seven and a half months. That is my challenge.” (Room Conversation — January 30, 1977, Bhuvanesvara)
“We have already discussed this point in many places. The sun is first, then the moon, then Mars, Jupiter and so on. The sun is supposed to be 93,000,000 miles above the surface of the earth, and from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we understand that the moon is 1,600,000 miles above the sun. Therefore the distance between the earth and the moon would be about 95,000,000 miles. So if a space capsule were traveling at the speed of 18,000 miles per hour, how could it reach the moon in four days? At that speed, going to the moon would take at least seven months. That a space capsule on a moon excursion has reached the moon in four days is therefore impossible.” (SB 8.10.38 purport)
“So far we understand from Vedic literature, the moon is the second planet. The sun is the first planet. If we consider like that, then moon is beyond the sun planet. The estimation is there in the Srimad-Bhag avatam: 1,600,000 miles above the sun the moon is situated. Now, if we take consideration of the sun planet situated 93,000,000 miles from earth, then add 1,600,000 miles again, it comes to 15,000,000…, 95,000,000’s miles away from the earthly planet. And how you can reach there in four days, 95,000,000 miles away? If we apply our common sense, then it appears they have never gone to the moon planet. It is all bogus propaganda. It is not possible.”
Devotee: Did they actually land on the moon, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: No, they cannot go there. What is the question of landing? They cannot go there. It is far, far away. What you calculated? 1,600,000 miles away, up the sun planet. 1,600,000 miles above the sun. According to your calculation, the sun is away from this planet by 93,000,000 miles. And above that, 1,600,000 miles. Then you go to the moon. How it is possible? (Morning Walk — May 27, 1975, Honolulu)
Not going to the moon but to the planet Rahu.
“The failure of modern moon excursionists may be due to the Rahu planet. In other words, those who are supposed to be going to the moon may actually be going to this invisible planet Rahu. Actually, they are not going to the moon but to the planet Rahu, and after reaching this planet, they come back. Apart from this discussion, the point is that a living entity has immense and unlimited desires for material enjoyment, and he has to transmigrate from one gross body to another until these desires are exhausted.” (SB 4.29.69 purport)
If they went there, they wouldn’t want to come back.
Prabhupāda: …it is a common sense affair that if somebody takes the trouble of doing so many things for the last ten or twenty years and go there and touch the moon planet, come back, it is successful. So it may be complacence for him, but I don’t think it is success. Why should I take so much trouble to touch the moon planet, come back? (chuckling) I have no useless time for that thing.
Reporter: Well, I think that what you’re saying, that it is also not strictly impossible for someone to go there and be able to come back, that many conditions would have to change for them to do that, but you wouldn’t rule out as impossible. Is that right?
Prabhupāda: No. Actually, if anyone goes there, he’ll not like to come back. …Otherwise, he will give false information, that “I went there and touched it and came back.” (Interview with LA Times Reporter About Moon Trip — December 26, 1968, Los Angeles)
As simple as the days of the week
“Among the planets, the first is Surya, the sun, not the moon. Therefore, according to the Vedic version, the modern astronomer’s proposition that the moon is nearest to the earth should not be accepted. The chronological order in which people all over the world refer to the days of the week–Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday–corresponds to the Vedic order of the planets and thus circumstantiates the Vedic version.” (SB 8.18.5 purport)