Artemis II Returns From the Moon as Old Conspiracies Find New Life Online

9 April 2026

Paul Francis

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A Mission in Motion, Not Preparation

Artemis II is no longer a promise or a plan. It is a live, unfolding mission.

Having successfully travelled beyond low Earth orbit and looped around the Moon, the crew are now on their return journey to Earth. In doing so, they have already secured their place in history as the first humans in more than half a century to venture into deep space. The mission itself has been widely followed, not just through official NASA channels but across social media, where images, clips and astronaut updates have circulated in near real time.

Among the most striking moments so far have been the views of Earth from lunar distance. These are not abstract renderings or archival references. They are current, high-resolution visuals captured by a crew physically present in deep space. For many, it has been a powerful reminder of both scale and perspective, reinforcing the reality of human spaceflight beyond Earth orbit.

Yet as these images spread, something else has travelled with them.

Earthrise over the Moon's horizon, showing Earth partially lit against the blackness of space. The Moon's surface is grey and textured.

The Return of a Familiar Narrative

Alongside the excitement and global attention, Flat Earth narratives have begun to reappear with renewed visibility. As with previous milestones in space exploration, the mission has acted as a catalyst rather than a cause.

Footage from Artemis II, particularly anything showing Earth as a curved, distant sphere, has been picked apart across various platforms. Claims of digital manipulation, lens distortion and staged environments have resurfaced, often attached to short clips or isolated frames removed from their original context.

This is not evidence of a growing movement in terms of numbers. It is, however, a clear increase in visibility. The scale of Artemis II has pulled these conversations back into mainstream timelines, where they sit alongside genuine public interest and scientific engagement.

Real-Time Content, Real-Time Reaction

What distinguishes Artemis II from earlier missions is the immediacy of its coverage. This is not a mission filtered through delayed broadcasts or carefully edited highlights. It is being experienced as it happens.

That immediacy has a double edge. On one hand, it allows for unprecedented access and transparency. On the other, it provides a constant stream of material that can be reinterpreted, clipped and redistributed without context.

A reflection in a window, a momentary visual artefact in a video feed, or even the way lighting behaves inside the spacecraft can quickly be reframed as suspicious. Once those clips are detached from their technical explanations, they take on a life of their own within certain online communities.

The speed at which this happens is key. Reaction no longer follows the event. It unfolds alongside it.

Scepticism in the Age of Algorithms

Flat Earth content does not exist in isolation. It is sustained by a broader culture of scepticism towards institutions, particularly those associated with government and large-scale scientific endeavour.

NASA, as both a symbol of authority and a source of complex, hard-to-verify information, naturally becomes a focal point. Artemis II, with its deep space trajectory and high visibility, fits neatly into that framework.

Social media platforms then amplify the effect. Content that challenges, contradicts or provokes tends to perform well, regardless of its factual basis. As a result, posts questioning the mission often gain traction not because they are persuasive, but because they are engaging.

This creates a distorted sense of scale. What is, in reality, a fringe viewpoint can appear far more prominent than it actually is.

The Broader Public Perspective

Outside of these pockets of scepticism, the response to Artemis II has been largely one of fascination and admiration. The mission has reignited interest in human spaceflight, particularly among audiences who have never experienced a live crewed journey beyond Earth orbit.

There is also a noticeable difference in tone compared to previous eras. The Apollo missions were moments of collective attention, where a single narrative dominated public consciousness. Artemis II exists in a far more fragmented environment, where multiple conversations unfold simultaneously.

In that landscape, it is entirely possible for celebration, curiosity and conspiracy to coexist without directly intersecting.

A Reflection of the Modern Media Landscape

The re-emergence of Flat Earth narratives during Artemis II is not an anomaly. It is part of a broader pattern that defines how major events are now experienced.

Every significant moment generates its own parallel discourse. One is grounded in reality, driven by science, engineering and exploration. The other is shaped by interpretation, scepticism and the mechanics of online engagement.

Artemis II, currently making its way back to Earth, sits at the centre of both.

The mission itself is a clear demonstration of human capability and technological progress. The conversation around it, however, reveals something different. It highlights how information is processed, challenged and reshaped in real time.

In that sense, Artemis II is not just a journey through space. It is a case study in how modern audiences navigate truth, trust and visibility in an increasingly complex digital world.

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WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event – A Retro Throwback with a Modern Problem

Paul Francis
Jul 15, 2025
3 min read

WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event returned on 12th July 2025 with all the nostalgic bells and whistles, neon lighting, synth-heavy intro music, and classic-style graphics reminiscent of the 80s and 90s. Originally launched in 1985 as a network TV alternative to Saturday Night Live, the show was once a crown jewel of primetime wrestling, showcasing megastars like Hogan, Savage and The Rockers. In its modern form, it has taken on a part-retro, part-premium live event style, but this time, it came with one major problem: actually watching it.

As someone who couldn’t tune in live, catching up was more of a test of endurance than enjoyment. Between YouTube’s constant interruptions (not a Premium user here), a full WWE ad reel baked into the show, and then even more ads from YouTube right after skipping... at one point, I watched 30 seconds of wrestling sandwiched between two minutes of adverts. For a show rooted in nostalgia, that’s one modern update I could have done without.

Still, when the show got going, it did offer a few standout moments, even if not everything landed.

Solo Sikoa (c) vs. Jimmy Uso – United States Championship

This one felt more like a placeholder than a PLE-worthy match. Solo retained the title in a relatively short and uneventful bout, with the usual interference from the “MFTs” (Most Feared Tongans, now routinely backing Solo). While the storytelling of the fractured Bloodline brothers once had weight, the formula now feels tired. Predictability and repetition took the edge off, and it’s hard to get invested when you can already guess the ending three minutes in.

Verdict: Forgettable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7baPlhmUsDE

Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre – Singles Match

This match had real heavyweight energy. Orton and McIntyre brought intensity, physicality, and crowd investment from the first bell. It had all the makings of a top-tier match — until the interference.

Jelly Roll, whom I’d genuinely never heard of before Friday’s SmackDown, played the distraction role, and while I understand WWE’s crossover marketing, it felt jarring. To make it worse, Logan Paul — a man who’s gone toe-to-toe with Roman Reigns — backed off from Jelly Roll like he’d just seen Brock Lesnar reincarnated. The wrestlers were excellent, but the booking took a slight shine off what could have been a match-of-the-night contender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR5CINK-veA

LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins

This one started well. LA Knight was over with the crowd and brought that electric charisma he's quickly become known for. Seth Rollins, while technically sound, isn’t everyone's cup of tea and personally, I think others on the roster outshine him both on the mic and in the ring.

Midway through the match, things took a nasty turn. Rollins attempted a springboard knee and landed awkwardly. He immediately collapsed and clutched his knee, unable to continue. LA Knight improvised the finish, landing his Blunt Force Trauma finisher for the win. There was genuine concern from the audience, and even Knight toned down the celebration.

Not the way anyone wanted this to end, and while I’m not Rollins’ biggest fan, no one wants to see an injury derail a career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmrf5xRhMoM

Gunther (c) vs. Goldberg – World Heavyweight Championship

Say what you want about Goldberg, but there’s still something special about seeing him make that entrance, smoke, sparks, and a sea of chants. Gunther played the perfect opponent: cold, calculating, and punishing.

This was no technical masterpiece. Goldberg struggled throughout, visibly gassed by the second act of the match. Gunther targeted his knee early on and wore him down with brutal precision. Gage Goldberg attempted to get involved, only to be restrained, and after one final powerbomb, Gunther put the Hall of Famer away.

Goldberg gave a post-match farewell, briefly thanking the crowd, but unfortunately, NBC cut the broadcast before his full speech aired. A frustrating end to what could have been a sentimental moment.

This wasn’t about five-star ratings; it was about closure. Goldberg clearly didn’t have much left, but the match was structured to protect that, and the fans got a decent nostalgia hit without things going off the rails.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnHklPAhd7M

Saturday Night’s Main Event Overall Thoughts

Saturday Night’s Main Event was a mixed bag. The retro presentation was a welcome throwback, but it clashed with the frustrating reality of modern streaming. Gunther vs. Goldberg offered closure, and LA Knight continues to rise. But predictable interference and an over-reliance on faction storytelling dragged some matches down.

Match of the Night: Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre (despite the interference)

Moment of the Night: LA Knight’s improvised win after Rollins’ injury

Most Forgettable: Solo Sikoa’s title defence

Next up: Evolution — where the women delivered a very different kind of show.