NASA - Alan BeanApollo 12, November 19, 1969. Charles Conrad holding the American flag unfurled on the lunar surface. Chromogenic test on paper "This Paper Manufactured by Kodak". Image: 19. 5 x 23.5 cm Leaf: 20.5 x 24 cm The astronaut holds the American flag because the rod designed to support it in the absence of wind on the Moon's surface has broken. That is why the other tests of the mission representing the flag show it collapsed on itself.