More Faked Chinese Moon Mission Photos?

By Ted Twietmeyer
4-30-14

Recently on a national radio show, Richard Hoagland revealed that his dome on the Moon has been vindicated in a photograph by China's Moon mission. It was claimed that vertical panels of the dome appeared when China's Moon lander image was “equalized.” A photo from China's Moon rover website was used as the source image. Image used copied from a Chinese military website[1] which handles the Chinese Moon mission. Image also uses JPEG image compression. I will not engage in a critique about whether or not a dome is present.

Image sharpening (equalization) is a tricky process. Image scientists will tell you that manipulating JPEG images with sharpening or enhancement software tools can easily introduce artifacts. For live motion images, scientists use non-compression bit-map recording with formats like AVI.

For still images scientists use bit map images, not JPEG. Even though there is supposedly a “loss-less” level of JPEG compression, most scientists refuse to use it whenever possible

Few alterations can be performed on a JPEG image without creating unwanted artifacts.

Several months ago I examined photos released by China's Moon mission control and found something unexpected. Chinese Moon mission photos did *not * even remotely pass tests for authenticity. In fact, photos clearly appear to photographed on a stage somewhere on Earth. It was at this time China's space agency announced those photos would be the final Moon mission photos released to the public. No reason was been given for secrecy at the time.

Below is a unaltered image of China's Moon rover from China's military website [1]:

Fig. 1 ­ Unaltered image of China's rover on the Moon? Footprint-like dark marks appear to be present all around the rover.

Fig. 2 - Original unaltered image from the Chinese Moon mission military website. This is China's Moon Lander, which supposedly deployed their rover onto the surface of the Moon. No ramps for deploying the rover are visible here. Soil is undisturbed. If real, only China's rover could possibly take this photo away from the lander. Scene is very similar to Apollo Lunar Lander on public display in the Smithsonian. Lander design is nearly identical to the Apollo Lunar lander.

Fig. 3 - Bit-map enlargement of Fig. 2. Only enlargement, brightness and contrast were changed by the author to improve visibility of the shadows and engines under the lander. No image sharpening or equalization was performed. Image cropped to fit page.

Yellow arrows ­ Landing engine thrusters pointing straight down.

Red circles ­ Areas where downward thrust gases should have disturbed soil and created small craters. It appears soil in the above location must be loose and granular. This is visible around the outside edges of the lander pad (near foreground green arrow.)

Green arrows - No soil or dust appears to be present on top of pads. Top of pads appear to be completely free of soil and dust. Under the center of the vehicle is the outline of a large circular thruster. No crater or displaced soil is visible under that engine bell.

What can we conclude from this photo? This lander sits on a stage or set, perhaps put there using a crane or winch. This is clearly not on the Moon. Lunar surface soil is completely undisturbed under and around the lander, except where landing pads contact the surface. Why would China go to such great lengths to release staged lander and rover images?

Here are some possible reasons:

• China's lander did not successfully reach the Moon, and China wants to protect their image

• Something, someone or a being was found in the area where the real lander is on the Moon and they do not want the world to see what they have found

• China's lander crashed on the Moon ending in disaster

• Something may have damaged electronics causing video distortion or loss of video from the Moon

• Moon rover failed to work, which would embarrass China

Perhaps one or more of the above reasons is why China's military is running this Moon mission ­ to keep sensitive, embarrassing disasters a secret.

Ted Twietmeyer

[]1] Image sources: http://chn.chinamil.com.cn/jwjj/2013-12/22/content_5701132.htm