New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has questioned whether humans really landed on the Moon, prompting a pointed response from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
The exchange followed a radio interview in which the 24-year-old said he was unsure whether the United States had achieved the historic feat, despite the extensive evidence supporting the Apollo missions.
'I quite literally have the receipts,' Isaacman wrote on X after Maye's remarks attracted attention online. The brief response brought NASA's administrator into a discussion that began during a light-hearted segment about conspiracy theories, rather than a formal debate about space exploration.
Maye made the comments during his regular appearance on Boston sports radio station WEEI on Monday, 5 October. Asked by a caller which conspiracy theory he secretly believed, the Patriots quarterback brought up the Moon landings and described himself as 'a little bit skeptical'.
He also recalled studying conspiracy theories while attending the University of North Carolina, citing claims about Adolf Hitler surviving the Second World War and the satirical 'birds aren't real' theory.
NASA's Apollo Moon Landing Evidence Goes Beyond Historical Footage
The first crewed Moon landing took place on 20 July 1969, when Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the lunar surface while Michael Collins remained in orbit.
Five further Apollo missions successfully landed astronauts on the Moon, with the final landing taking place during Apollo 17 in December 1972. In total, 12 astronauts walked on the lunar surface.
The evidence extends well beyond photographs and recordings. Apollo astronauts brought lunar rocks and soil back to Earth for scientific examination, allowing researchers to study material collected directly from the Moon.
The missions also deployed scientific instruments, including seismometers that transmitted data about lunar activity and the Moon's internal structure.
Another enduring piece of evidence is the laser-ranging equipment left on the lunar surface. Reflector arrays deployed during Apollo missions allow observatories to measure the distance between Earth and the Moon by directing laser pulses at them and measuring the returning signal.
Scientists continue to use lunar laser-ranging measurements to study the Earth-Moon system, including the Moon's orbit and rotation.
NASA has also published research on laser-ranging measurements involving reflector arrays associated with Apollo 11 and Apollo 14, alongside newer equipment delivered by other lunar missions.
These measurements provide information about the reflectors and lunar properties, adding to the scientific record, although they should not be treated as standalone proof of every aspect of the crewed missions.
Conspiracy claims about the landings have circulated for decades, often focusing on photographs, shadows or the apparent behaviour of objects in lunar images. However, individual claims need to be assessed against the available evidence.
A Reuters fact-check, for example, explained that the Apollo lunar rover was designed to fold and fit into the lunar module, addressing a recurring online claim that its size made the missions impossible.
NASA's Artemis Programme Targets a Return to the Moon in 2028
NASA's next phase of lunar exploration is being developed through the Artemis programme, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and establish the capabilities needed for future missions. The programme is also intended to support longer-term exploration beyond Earth's orbit.
NASA's updated schedule places Artemis III in 2027 as a crewed test mission in low Earth orbit. The flight is intended to test rendezvous and docking operations involving Orion and commercial lunar lander systems developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin.
NASA is targeting Artemis IV for the first crewed lunar landing under the revised mission plan in early 2028. These dates remain dependent on spacecraft development and mission readiness.
The revised schedule matters because the next landing will require several complex systems to work together. Orion must transport astronauts, while the landers need to demonstrate that they can support the journey to and from the lunar surface.
NASA and its commercial partners still have technical milestones to complete before those operations can take place.
The Apollo programme's historical records, scientific publications and lunar research remain available for public scrutiny. Maye's comments should be understood as an expression of personal uncertainty during a radio conversation, not as evidence that the Apollo missions were staged.
