Opt for Earthly Resting Places: Reasons to Ponder Before Moon Ash Launch
In the modern age of commercialization and privatization, the Moon is no longer just a celestial body for NASA missions. It's a playground for businesses, with one such company, Astrobotic, taking the lead. Their Peregrine lander, the size of a small automobile, was supposed to embark on a lunar expedition last January, but fuel issues cut its journey short.
The payload carried more than just scientific instruments from six countries; it also held "vanity canisters," a result of a partnership with global freight company DHL. This innovative deal lets anyone send a compact package, smaller than a stick of deodorant, to the lunar surface for under $500. But with great power comes great responsibility; sending a piece of yourself to the Moon might sound exciting, but where does responsibility lie?
Peregrine, despite its issues, could have marked the first commercial lunar burial, as it carried human ashes, including those of famed science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke. However, this move sparked outrage among the Native American Navajo community, who see the Moon as sacred and oppose using it as a memorial site, much like many other indigenous cultures. While NASA promised consultation in the future, they asserted they had no control over the contents of the Peregrine, highlighting the legal grey areas between commercial enterprise and international space law.
The legality of this practice becomes murkier when considering national laws. For instance, in Germany, ashes must be buried in a cemetery. With the accelerating pace of space privatization, these ethical and legal dilemmas are becoming increasingly complex. The Outer Space Treaty, which declares space the "province of all humankind," fails to address the actions of private companies and individuals, while the Artemis Accords offer limited protection for historical lunar sites.
The recent failure of the Peregrine mission underscores the uncharted territory we are venturing into. As we race towards mining asteroids and colonizing space, we must pause and address the legal and ethical infrastructure required to support these ventures responsibly. The fusion of commercial activities with space exploration presents both opportunities and challenges, and it's essential that we strike the right balance.
Carol Oliver, a professor in science communication and astrobiology at UNSW Sydney, discusses these issues in an article republished from The Conversation. The article points to the potential environmental impact, questions on property rights, and historical and cultural significance of sending personal items to the Moon. As we embark on this new lunar era, it's crucial that we tread carefully to ensure sustainable and ethically sound practices.
- The worth of privatization in space exploration, such as with Astrobotic's Peregrine lander, lies not only in commercial gain but also in the opportunities it provides for scientific collaboration and global participation.
- The issue of launching personal items, like human ashes, to the Moon raises questions about ethical and legal boundaries, particularly in light of cultural sensitivities towards sacred sites, as demonstrated by the Navajo community's opposition to lunar memorials.
- National laws, like Germany's cemetery burial requirements, come into play as we explore the complexities of private space activities, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive legal infrastructure to govern commercial space ventures responsibly.
- As we contemplate mining asteroids and colonizing space, it becomes crucial to establish a solid legal and ethical foundation that balances the benefits of commercial activities with responsible exploration, ensuring sustainable and culturally sensitive practices in our new lunar era.
