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Space pioneer Edwin E. Aldreen Junior, the lunar unit pilot in the first lunar landing mission, introduces an image next to the US flag spread during the activity of Apollo 11 Extravehicular (EVA) on the moon on July 20, 1969. Credit: NASA
A number of groups and individuals say that there is a need to protect the history of the moon before it is too late.
The World Monuments Fund has released the 2025 monitoring list, which lists the moon as a historical location “in danger.” Hope is the protection of the select areas of the moon from damage, or even from looting and exploitative visit by the lunar tourists in the future. But this may be a painful, heavenly point, given the amount of interest the moon He receives the number of lunar missions that have been planned in both the public and private sectors.
Experts say the lessons learned from attempts to preserve international historical sites are more challenging land It appears that there is an urgent need to call for global cooperation and politics now – before irreversible damage.
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Jonathan Bell, Vice President of Programs at WMF, said that the inclusion of the moon in the 2025 watch reflects the World Champions Fund’s belief (WMF) that “pre -emptive policies are necessary to protect common humanitarian heritage – both on Earth or outside.”
“Like the Antarctica Treaty, which aims to protect historical sites in harsh environments, we believe that similar policies can be applied and must be applied to the legacy of the cultural and scientific moon, with early lunar landing sites as major examples.”
Common values, long -term goals
Bell indicated by international stakeholders, including multinational members of the International Council for Antiquities, Systems and the International Scientific Committee for Space Heritage.
“WMF and the committee are now align the partners on common values and long -term targets to manage air space heritage,” Bell added.
Bell said that for the following, WMF follow -up is currently being developed, with more in the event of strengthening plans. He concluded by saying: “The approach through disciplines-the gathering of experts in the history of lunar exploration, the management of cultural resources, and more-will help form a comprehensive and cooperative framework to protect heritage on the moon.”
Environmental footprint
Justin Holkumb, Assistant Professor of Geological Survey in Kansas (KGS), a research unit at Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas.
Holcomb, anthropologists and geologists at Kansas University says it is time to admit that humans have left an environmental imprint on the moon, declaring that, “Anthroposin moon“
The idea is the same as the Anthroposin discussion land. This is to explore the extent of humans on our planet, as Holcomb notes.
“The consensus is that on Earth, anthroposin began at some point in the past, whether it is hundreds of thousands of years or in the 1950s. Likewise, on the surface of the moon, we argue that lunar anthroposin has already begun,” Holkumb senses.
A close view of a meeting from the unit of the APOLLO 11, where it settled on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969. Credit: NASA
New archaeological sites
Holcomb Space.com was told that it is excited about the new archaeological sites (landing) on the surface of the moon that was created by Lander Blue Ghost in FireflyRowing to landing from Landers intuitive machinesBesides the next capabilities in favor of Japanese ISPace to join the moon’s crowd.
“But it is important that tasks like Blue Ghost create new data about the lunar surface conditions,” said Holkumpe. He said: “Especially the Reagole of the Reagole description which will provide important data on how to influence the reader of the moon on space heritage. In the end, all this activity is just evidence that the moon entered its anthroposin,” he said, and I imagine that we will see shoes on the surface by 2030. “
It is the view of Rolf Mandel, one of the great scientists in KGS and a distinguished university professor in the Anthropology Department, that although human migration outside Africa has occurred 150,000 years ago, “space travel represents the last stage of that trip.”
“We feel that all the materials currently on the surfaces outside the planet are the heritage of space and deserves protection,” said Holkumpe. He said that the first feet effect on the surface of the moon at the Tranquility Base in 1969 or NASA Viking 1 of Mars in the 1970s “represents the physical imprint of a long history of migration.”
National legislation
Encouraged by focusing on protecting cultural heritage in outer space is Michelle Hanlon, co -founder and CEO of the company For all MontcomCalling for a long time for attention Historical lunar landing sites.
“It is very fun to see more and more organizations and countries express their support for this idea,” Hanlon told Space.com.
Hanlon, who was signed by President Trump in 2020, said that all of them worked all over Montend with Senator Gary Peters in the first national legislation ever recognized the existence of human heritage in outer space, and the organization also contributed to the inclusion of these clarity in the Artemis Agreement, which is now 55 countries, from a section that realizes the need to preserve this inheritance.
Examples of artifacts and features on the moon. | Credit
Hope activity
“As a permanent observer of the United Nations Committee on the peaceful uses of outer space, we have been calling for the protection of cultural heritage in outer space since 2018. Now we are starting to see some of the very desired activities,” Hanlon said.
Hanlon noted that the United Nations Committee, Copuos for Short, was recently established a team on consulting lunar activities (ATLAC), which is designed to enhance dialogue between countries, space agencies and stakeholders to ensure sustainable and comprehensive moon activities.
“In particular, three countries – Poland, the United Kingdom and Armenia – have suggested that cultural heritage be an essential element in ATLAC consultations.” “This is a strong recognition that the historical sites of the moon are not just national achievements but rather the features of global value.”
Watch your language!
Related stories:
– The moon was chosen as a site for historical memorization to protect the moon’s heritage
– What happened to the flags of Apollo’s astronauts on the moon?
The work group on space resources activities, also, under COPUOS, increased conversation by including language, albeit an arc, on cultural heritage in its initial project of the recommended principles of space resources activities.
“This language, although it is still under negotiation, indicates an increasing recognition of the importance of protecting cultural heritage in outer space,” Hanlon advised. “We hope that the COPUOS working group will deal with long -term sustainability of external space activities cultural heritage because it considers its next steps and has recently presented a consulting paper to achieve this goal.”
“It is important to remember,” we have to put the protection of cultural heritage in the appropriate legal context. “
The external space treaty requires that all countries have free access to all areas of the moon and other heavenly bodies. any Hanlon said: “The site on the surface of the moon represents a violation of the treaty, but we believe that the UNCOPUOS member states can work within the framework of this treaty to design access protocols that will protect our history,” Hanlon said.
