Apollo 20 Secret Lunar Mission

Record	OBS-0253
Category	Space/Moon Landing
Status	DEBUNKED
Summary	The Apollo 20 hoax claims that a secret joint US-Soviet mission flew to the Moon in 1976 to investigate an alien spacecraft and retrieve artifacts, including a hibernating female alien. Proponents say the mission was hidden from the public and that NASA's official history is a cover-up. The story originated in a series of YouTube videos and an alleged interview with a purported astronaut.
Origin	The hoax began in April 2007 with YouTube videos under the username retiredafb, followed by an alleged interview with 'William Rutledge' in May 2007. French artist Thierry Speth claimed responsibility in July 2007.
Claimed	A secret Apollo 20 mission was launched in August 1976 from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The mission was a joint US-Soviet operation with crew including William Rutledge, Leona Snyder, and Aleksei Leonov. The crew discovered an ancient alien spacecraft and city near Delporte crater on the far side of the Moon. They recovered a hibernating female alien, nicknamed 'Mona Lisa', and other artifacts. NASA and governments have covered up this mission and its findings.
Evidence / consensus	NASA's official records show Apollo 20 was cancelled in January 1970 due to budget cuts, and no such mission ever flew. The videos have been debunked as hoaxes, and the alleged perpetrator admitted to fabricating the story. No credible evidence supports the claims.

> OBSERVER NOTE:
A textbook example of a modern internet-era hoax. The admission by the creator and the absence of any corroborating evidence place this firmly in the debunked category. The persistence of belief despite the confession is noted.

Sources

Sources are external and provided for verification. Listing does not imply the Observer endorses their claims.