It definitely looks like it came off of one negative. What was done in camera was a first-class job, and I think most people would accept it as a legit shot. I just cant reconcile the angle on the flag and the angle of the Saturn as being shot from the same location, or at the same zoom factor.
Thanks for the link and the additional info.
“I just cant reconcile the angle on the flag and the angle of the Saturn as being shot from the same location, or at the same zoom factor.”
Wouldn’t need to be. If I were planning on doing some such thing, first thing I’d do is shoot a roll or two of each element intended to combine, or possibly just the hard one, like the rocket, if the flag was nearby and handy.
For that matter, grainy as the pic is, it could easily have been produced with a slide copying attachement. I used to have one, but I didn’t have the projector needed to make it work, but I was aware of the theory, at least. It would have cost a few rolls and some processing to figure out how to do it, but would have been worth while. As I said, it’s been a long time since I did that sort of work.