The U.S was the first country to land on the moon. As such, they had to exhibit it someway, and what a better way than placing flags all over the moon surface.
They had to leave evidence that they’d been there, some intentional and some necessary. The most iconic of these were six American flags, all of which were thought to have been destroyed by the harsh conditions on the lunar service or at least knocked over by now. All but one, are still standing!
They each cost only $5.50 in the 1960s and have all turned white from bleaching by sunlight, which hits the flags for as long as 14 days at a time without any sort of atmosphere to filter it's rays.
This was in fact a success for the U.S because the flags weren’t expected to stay that long, however, it seems that someone will have to go soon to change the flags for some new sun protected flags. They might have to pay a little more, but it’s just the cost for History.