When astronauts from the Apollo missions planted American flags on the moon, they weren’t just marking territory — they were making history. But more than 50 years later, many still wonder: do those flags still stand? Or have they collapsed in the moon’s harsh environment?

It’s one of space exploration’s most enduring questions — and one that sparks real curiosity:

• How many flags are on the moon? 
• Who made the first?
• And what do they look like today?

There are six flags up there, planted between 1969 and 1972. Five are still standing. But time has taken its toll. Most experts agree those once-bright flags have likely turned white after decades of unfiltered ultraviolet light.

As for who made the very first lunar flag? The debate is still ongoing, with two great American manufacturers — Annin and Valley Forge — both in the running.

Want to dig into the full story of these space-bound symbols? Keep reading. We’ll walk you through the legacy left behind on the lunar surface.

The History of Planting Flags on the Moon

Most people are familiar with the quote: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” This is from the Apollo 11 moon landing — an event that Americans will never forget. When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin placed the American flag on the lunar surface 50 years ago in July 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission, it was a testament to American resilience and hard work.

According to Annie Platoff, a librarian at the University of California, Santa Barbara Library and an expert on the Apollo program's flag placements on the moon, the flag's placement signifies the complexity of space exploration. She explains that while it may seem simple at, the flags on the moon symbolize overcoming challenges set by the harsh lunar environment.

As for the flag manufacturer, historians remain unsure. Some say NASA purchased the flags from a government catalog that carried Valley Forge flags. Others claim they were bought at Sears during a lunch break, which would make them Annin flags. What is certain is that these weren’t specially made for space—they were standard 3’ x 5’ nylon flags, the same kind you can find at Carrot-Top or major retailers.

The History of the Lunar Flagpole

Due to the lack of atmosphere and wind on the moon, flags don't wave like they do on Earth. Engineers had to redesign flagpoles so that they could function on the moon. On Earth, flags are attached from the top and bottom to a pole, either through a sleeve or by grommets. However, lunar flags are only anchored at the bottom and held in place by a horizontal crossbar at the top.

A lunar flagpole has two vertical sections and a hinged horizontal crossbar at the top. To set up the flag during the Apollo 11 mission, one astronaut pounded the lower vertical section into the ground while the other extended and raised the crossbar to secure it. However, due to the astronauts' reduced dexterity in their bulky spacesuits and gloves, they were unable to fully extend the crossbar. This caused wrinkles in the flag, which created the illusion of it waving.

What is the Current Condition of the Six Flags on the Moon?

Including the Apollo 11 flag, which is thought to be missing or destroyed, flags were placed during the Apollo 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 missions. Pictures taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter at different times of the day show shadows where five of the flags were put, suggesting they're still there.

However, these flags might not appear as clear and colorful as we remember them from photos, standing boldly against the dark space background. In the same manner that a flag displayed outside throughout the summer starts to lose its color, the extreme conditions on the moon — like strong UV light and drastic temperature changes — would likely have damaged these flags.

Experts are still debating what happened to the flags planted during the Apollo missions on the moon. Tony Reichhardt, writing for Air and Space in 2008, thought that the flag from Apollo 11 might have been destroyed by the rocket blast as the astronauts left the landing site, causing its nylon material to quickly turn white under the sun's rays. Dennis Lacarrubba, who made the flag, believed it probably has not survived after so many years in space.

Denise Chow's 2011 article on Space.com raised similar concerns, with Dr. Mark Robinson expressing doubt about the flags lasting in the extreme lunar environment. Robert Pearlman mentioned that the flags weren't built to last forever since they were just standard nylon flags modified for the mission.

Historian Anne Platoff had a theory that the flags from Apollo 11 and 12 likely didn't make it through the moon liftoff's gasses. Platoff emphasized that the flags were not made to endure long-term exposure but were meant for the moon landing and takeoff moments.

In a blog post from 2011, Lunar Scientist Paul Spudis discussed the harsh conditions on the moon, like extreme temperatures and strong UV radiation, that could have damaged the flags. Spudis suggested that the flags might have faded, disintegrated, or been physically harmed over time.

Admittedly, it’s unreasonably optimistic to assume that the flags on the moon still look the same as they did several decades ago. As previously mentioned, the Apollo lunar module flags weren’t made to endure the conditions on the moon — they simply serve as symbols of American achievement for landing on the moon.

What Else Have Astronauts Left on the Moon?

Unlike the other spots where Apollo missions landed, you won’t see an American flag standing in the first spot where humans touched the moon's surface on July 20th, several decades ago. Not anymore, that is.

When Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong took off in their spacecraft after planting the flag, Aldrin thought he saw the exhaust blow the flag away. This was later proven to be true when NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera took pictures of the moon’s surface more than 40 years later.

When people return to the moon in the future, they probably won't see the famous flag that represents the nation's achievement and sacrifice. Instead, they might find relatively random items left behind — like lunar landers, moon rovers, camera equipment, backpacks, a few faded flags, and oddly enough, golf balls.

The Israeli lander Beresheet crashed into the moon’s surface in April, so that astronauts might come across that as well. However, the Apollo missions left behind the most stuff — around 400,000 pounds of spacecraft parts and symbolic items. At this point, the moon is basically like a graveyard of objects that were never meant to stay there so long.

If you happen to be an astronaut, here’s what you might find on the moon’s surface in 2024:

• The American flags (or what’s left of them). As we mentioned before, these flags have probably deteriorated quite a bit over time. They’ve probably also been bleached white, for the most part.
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• A falcon feather (dropped by Commander David Scott)
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• An astronaut family photo (This one is especially interesting. At the age of 36, Charles Duke became the youngest person to walk on the moon during the Apollo 16 mission. He was married to Dorothy Meade Claiborne and had two sons, Charles Duke III, who was 7 years old, and Thomas Duke, who was 5. He promised to put a family photo of them on the moon and upheld that promise. The photo is still there today — though, who knows what sort of condition it’s in.)
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• Golf balls (this was part of an experiment done by Alan Shepard, who wanted to see how far he could hit a golf ball on the moon).
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Explore More About American Flags With Carrot-Top Industries

The story of the lunar flags is more than just space history — it’s a testament to American grit, ingenuity, and the bold spirit of exploration. At Carrot-Top Industries, we’re proud to carry on that legacy by offering outdoor American flags made by the very same American manufacturers — Annin Flagmakers and Valley Forge Flags — who supplied the flags that once flew on the moon.

When you raise a flag on your front porch or in your yard, you're participating in a tradition that reaches all the way to the lunar surface. Our outdoor American flags are built to withstand the elements and serve as powerful daily reminders of what we can accomplish as a nation.

Explore our best-selling In-Ground Mounting Flagpole Kit and plant your flag with pride — just like the pioneers of the Apollo missions. Because honoring the past starts with taking action today.

Let your flag tell a story of resilience, legacy, and unshakable American spirit.