Why Is Apollo 12 USA flag drooping but the other missions flags aren't?

Elsewhere on this site I have read that the reason the flags appear to be waving on the later Apollo missionsm is because wires were inserted into the flags structure, but on Apolllo 12 the flag drooped .

If it was because the Apollo flag had no wires , why wouldn't the NASA engineers have realised it would look a bit sad the USA flag drooped in a vacumm?

Sorry this has probably been brought up many times, but couldn't find the relevant page.



Follow this to a brilliant link if you are not already using itwww.panoramas.dk...

Kind of looks like the wires to hold it broke or something.

False flag?

I dunno.....

I'd guess the support cross bar/rod [whatever] was missing or not installed properly like it was for all the other missions...

Originally posted by Dr Expired
, but on Apolllo 12 the flag drooped .

The latching mechanism failed

www.hq.nasa.gov...

[Conrad - "You've got a great memory, man. I don't remember anything about the flagpole, other than the fact that the thing (the crossbar that holds the flag out straight) broke. It never would latch."]

[Bean - "It never did. And it was broken, probably, when it was made."]

[Conrad - "Yeah, it just never did work."]

[The problem was the locking hinge at the top of the staff that was supposed to hold the crossbar out perpendicular to the staff. The hinge and lock were redesigned for Apollo 13.]

www.hq.nasa.gov...

@ "false" flag?

that is strange they would forget to position it properly, did they ever go back to fix it?

Originally posted by minnow
that is strange they would forget to position it properly,

What makes you think they forgot to position it properly? Read the links.

reply to post by minnow


Why, and how would they go back to fix it?

It's kind of an expensive trip you know.

Originally posted by N3k9Ni
Kind of looks like the wires to hold it broke or something.

Close. It's not wires that broke, but the crossbar that broke.

Here is an enlarged excerpt of an image of the flag from Apollo 17 that had a crossbar that was NOT broken. You can easily see the crossbar running horizontally along the top edge, and sticking out a bit at the end of the flag. The crossbar holds the flag erect. Without this crossbar, the flag would simply stay drooped forever in the airless vacuum of the Moon (as seen in the OP's Apollo 12 panorama):



Full image here:

why would they even need wires or bars to hold it, if their is no gravity wouldnt the flag float up in the air above the flag pole rather than droop down?

reply to post by Tardacus

There is gravity....everywhere.

reply to post by Tardacus


1/6th gravity is not "no gravity". It's not even close.

Originally posted by spoor

Originally posted by Dr Expired
, but on Apolllo 12 the flag drooped .

The latching mechanism failed

www.hq.nasa.gov...

Thanks on two fronts, one for the answer to the question and second for the introduction to an excellent website.

Like many I am a newcomer to many things, yes it is a constant revelation to me , how much of this wondrous universe , can be known if one studies or asks, those who have gone before.
Cheers.

Originally posted by Tardacus
why would they even need wires or bars to hold it, if their is no gravity wouldnt the flag float up in the air above the flag pole rather than droop down?

Earth=atmosphere
moon=none

Air lol come on tardacus how many times have people got to explain it to you sir..?

There is no gravity on the moon so the flag should not be drooping like that.

yep, everything has gravity.....check this.....the cherios in a bowl of milk....as a lad of three, I saw gravity pull them into groups.even a cherios bit has gravity,huh!!

Originally posted by wlasikiewicz
There is no gravity on the moon so the flag should not be drooping like that.

Your joking right...?

Originally posted by wlasikiewicz
There is no gravity on the moon so the flag should not be drooping like that.

Are you sure you mean gravity? The moon has gravity. Lower gravity than Earth of course but, still it has it or else everything and everybody would have floated away.

The moon has 1/6 of the earths gravity moon hoaxers please do some research get off your backsides
people a child even knows this come on...

If the moon has no gravity, then I guess tides are a hoax, too.