NASA: The Question of a Flat Earth

We have ‘known’ for over 2,000 years that the Earth is round. However, there has recently been conflict against this so-called fact. In a recent study, 84% of those asked were confident that the Earth is round, and only 66% of 18-24-year-olds were confident that the Earth is round. When looking at a large survey, these numbers are fairly drastic. So, who’s right and who’s wrong? Perhaps there will be no definitive answer. In this essay, we are going to explore the possibility of both conspiracies to try and resolve this ongoing debate.

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) studies our home planet, Earth, to learn how our planet changes over time and what we can do to help it. Today, scientists use geodesy to help study the planet, this is the science of measuring Earth’s shape, gravity, and rotation. From these studies, we know that Earth was formed around 4.5 billion years ago and has a diameter of approximately 8,000 miles. Earth is the third closest planet to the sun and is an average of 93 million miles away from our central star. We first found out that Earth is round when the Greeks measured shadows during the summer solstice and then calculated the Earth’s circumference. Pictures from satellites and other space photographic equipment show pictures of a spherical Earth. NASA also has a constant live stream that anyone can watch at any time. Why would NASA, a multi-billion dollar company, fake hundreds of different photos of a round Earth? Why would NASA fake a live stream of the Earth? And why would NASA fake a whole space program? This is what Flat Earthers think NASA is doing!

The Flat Earth Society’s leadership says that since 2009, the Flat Earth Society has grown by approximately 200 people per annum. Although Flat Earth may seem a fairly recent innovation, it was, in fact, popularised in the 19th and 20th centuries by biblical literalism. Christian Flat Earthers consider the conspiracy to be Satanic, this may be due to biblical literalism but either way it still links back to religion. Charles and Marjory Johnson, who were prominent Flat Earth Advocates in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s claimed “The space program is a scientific plot to hoodwink the public.” Flat Earthers state that the Earth “looks and feels flat” and that a “Round Earth conspiracy” is orchestrated by NASA. B.o.B, an American rapper, and singer-songwriter questioned, “How can a 16-mile distance between two points in a picture look flat? Where is the curve? Please explain.” B.o.B also claims that all NASA imagery is faked. Flat Earthers believe the NASA photos are photoshopped because to fake a space program it would logically cost less than having a real one. Their interpretation of Planet Earth is a disc surrounded by a 150ft wall of ice (Antarctica). This is to stop people from falling off the edge and that the Arctic Circle is in the center of the Earth. They believe this due to the fact that no one has a land claim to Antarctica so that must mean something.

It has been said that Flat Earther always uses the argument, “it’s an optical illusion,” to try and prove a point in arguments. However, Flat Earthers have their own explanation of how our home planet works. When it comes to the sun, moon, stars, and gravity, Flat Earthers have an explanation for that too. Flat Earthers explain that the sun and the moon are spheres that measure 32 miles in diameter and they act like spotlights, illuminating the Earth at different times by moving in circles 3,000 miles above the planet. This brings us to the question of eclipses. They believe that there is an anti-moon that blocks out the sun every now and then which explains the lunar and solar eclipses. Flat Earthers also claim that there is no such thing as gravity, but how do they explain that? Flat Earthers say that gravity is an illusion and objects do not accelerate downwards, instead, the earth is accelerating upwards at 9.8m/s² and is driven by a mysterious matter called dark energy. Due to these beliefs, you may think that Flat Earthers do not believe in any sort of science. This is not true. Michael Wilmore and the Society’s president both agree that the evidence for global warming is overwhelming, despite the fact that most of this evidence comes from satellite images. Michael Wilmore states that his own convictions are a result of philosophical introspection and a considerable body of data that he has personally observed and which he is still compiling.

Perhaps you think that these arguments are quite plausible. However, there are arguments against these claims. Let’s take the statement “the Earth looks and feels flat.” This seems a fairly logical claim but there are experiments that go against it. When a ship comes over the horizon what do you see first? The mast. If the Earth is flat you would be able to see the front of the whole ship at the same time. One way to prove this is to take a flat surface, a round surface, and something to take the place of the boat. Standing at the end of the flat surface with the object at the other end you should be able to see the front of this object. When you place the object on your round surface and slowly bring it over the top you should see the top of your object first. This is why the bridge and lookouts on boats are at the highest point. When looking at the stars NASA has helped show that the same stars aren’t in both hemispheres at the same time. If the Earth is flat and follows the structure of the Arctic Circle in the center of it wouldn’t everyone see the same stars at the same time? Aristotle (a famous Greek philosopher) once said, “Again, our observations of the stars make it evident, not only that the Earth is circular, but also that it is a circle of no great size.” This brings our attention to the fact that Greeks observed Earth’s round shadow on the moon during the lunar eclipses. If Flat Earther’s arguments are true then how does one explain a lunar or solar eclipse?

So is Earth round or flat? Perhaps we will never find out. Perhaps we will. We have looked at the evidence supporting both cases of the Earth’s design and this may have helped you come to your own conclusion. However, it might have confused you even more! There are plausible arguments for both Flat Earth and Round Earth conspiracy theories. Is the Earth flat or is the Earth round? What do you think?