As of 2024, how many American flags have been placed on the moon?

Between 1969 and 1972, the Apollo program landed humans on the moon six times. An American flag was planted during each landing. Leaders wanted to make it clear that the United States was marking a historic achievement, not marking any territorial claims or taking possession of the moon. A plaque was also placed, stating, "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind."

A specially designed kit, the LFA (Lunar Flag Assembly) was designed, featuring telescoping vertical staffs and horizontal bars. The flags themselves were made of nylon. The first five flags measured 3 feet by 5 feet and were ordered from a government supply catalog. The last one was a 6-foot wide flag that had hung in the Apollo Mission Operations Control Room throughout the previous Apollo landings. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin of the Apollo 11 crew (first mission to land on the moon) reported that it appeared that the flag was blown over by the blast of the rocket exhaust during takeoff. Care was taken in later landings to place the flag farther from the Lunar Module. The nylon fabric became brittle in lunar conditions and some may have disintegrated. Photos taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter confirmed in 2012 that the flags placed during the Apollo 12, 16, and 17 missions were still standing.