Humanity is set to return to the Moon, with the USA targeting a 2026 mission and China aiming for 2030. As astronauts encounter around a thousand artifacts from past missions, debates arise over their preservation versus reuse. Key historical items, including Apollo 11’s footprints and remnants of Soviet missions like Luna 9, highlight the challenges of protecting lunar heritage under the Outer Space Treaty. Discussions about preventing lunar litter and respecting cultural values are increasingly important amid these developments.
In this decade, humanity is gearing up to return to the Moon, with the USA planning an ambitious mission for September 2026 and China aiming for a lunar landing by 2030. As astronauts set foot on the Moon’s surface, they will come across remnants from previous missions, with approximately a thousand artifacts left behind. These historic items are found at various significant locations:
Apollo 11: A Historic Footprint
The most iconic legacy of the Apollo 11 mission is undoubtedly the footprints imprinted by Neil Armstrong on July 21, 1969, in the fine lunar dust. As he made his historic descent from the lunar module Eagle, he famously declared, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” marking the first time a human ever walked on another celestial body. Remarkably, these footprints remain pristine, untouched by wind or erosion, alongside the still-standing legs of the Eagle module.
In addition to the footprints, numerous objects, both large and small, dot the lunar landscape. From debris of space probes and lunar rovers to functioning robots, the Moon holds remnants of experiments involving tiny creatures, as well as unusual items like golf balls and dollar bills. Even an urn containing human ashes has found its resting place on the lunar surface. In total, it’s estimated that over 200 tons of material lies there. This raises questions about how these artifacts came to be and what their fate will be upon humanity’s return to the Moon.
Pragmatists like Harrison Schmitt, the last astronaut to walk on the Moon, view these remnants as valuable resources for future missions, emphasizing the importance of reusing materials rather than incurring the high costs of creating new ones.
Conversely, advocates like Michelle Hanlon, a space law professor at the University of Mississippi, believe in preserving the Moon’s cultural heritage through her organization “For All Moonkind.” She argues that certain artifacts are so significant to humanity that they must be safeguarded.
The Outer Space Treaty, established in the 1960s, grants all nations involved in space exploration free access to the Moon. However, it also requires that any activities must avoid causing harmful disturbances. Hanlon raises crucial questions about the legal implications of this treaty, noting that the Apollo 11 landing site lacks the protection it requires, leaving Armstrong’s footprints vulnerable to destruction.
Luna 9: A Remarkable Achievement
“For All Moonkind” has made strides in advocating for lunar heritage protection. A bill prepared by the organization was passed by the US Congress in December 2020, mandating that companies collaborating with NASA observe the preservation of American landing sites on the Moon. This is a requirement shared by all nations that have signed the Artemis Accords, a collaborative framework for the current US lunar program. Switzerland, along with 47 other countries, endorsed this agreement recently.
Despite this progress, Hanlon emphasizes that the law is just a preliminary measure, offering protection only for American mission artifacts. The significance of Soviet missions like Luna 2 and Luna 9 cannot be overlooked. Luna 2 was the first man-made object to impact a celestial body, crashing into the Moon at high speed on September 13, 1959, which likely left little behind.
In contrast, Luna 9 accomplished the remarkable feat of achieving a soft landing on the Moon on February 3, 1966. Upon landing, its segments opened like flower petals, stabilizing the 99-kilogram lander. A few hours later, it captured nine images of the lunar surface, which were transmitted back to Earth. Today, the capsule remains on a flat region known as the Sea of Storms. Hanlon asserts that a more robust agreement is essential to protect such historically significant artifacts.
Apollo 14: The Debate Over Preservation
For a protective treaty to be effective, participation from all major space-faring nations, including Russia and China, is crucial. Hanlon remains optimistic and has been advocating for this cause at the United Nations for several years, noting that no nation has dismissed the idea. Every country has ratified the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, which preserves cultural and natural sites on Earth.
However, Hanlon acknowledges the challenges in determining what deserves protection. For instance, what about the Bible or the two-dollar bills left by Apollo 14 astronauts in February 1971, intended as Moon souvenirs? They were forgotten after the mission’s completion.
Additionally, during the same mission, astronaut Alan Shepard famously hit two golf balls into the lunar landscape using a modified golf club. While he claimed the balls traveled “miles,” subsequent analyses revealed they only went about 40 meters. These balls are now considered collector’s items, valued at a minimum of $10 million each. Hanlon believes they should remain on the Moon and not be auctioned off on Earth, though the sentiments of others may differ.
The Issue of Lunar Litter
It’s important to recognize that not everything humans send to the Moon is welcomed, as highlighted by legal experts. “We need to engage in discussions about preventing litter on the Moon,” they assert. Current laws allow individuals to leave whatever they choose on the lunar surface.
A planned private mission in January 2024 aimed to deliver 60 micro-urns containing human ashes to the Moon, but faced strong opposition from the indigenous Navajo people, who viewed this as a desecration of their sacred land. The mission ultimately failed when the spacecraft experienced a fuel leak and crashed back to Earth, burning up in the atmosphere.
This would not have been the first lunar burial; in 1999, NASA intentionally crashed the Lunar Prospector probe, which contained the remains of geologist and astronomer Eugene Shoemaker, who had tragically died in a car accident. The Navajo community protested then as well, emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue surrounding lunar preservation and respect for cultural values.