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Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., pilot of the first lunar mission lunar module pilot, posing for a photo next to the deployed United States flags through the Apollo 11 extracted activity (EVA) on the lunar surface in 1969. July 20 | Credit: NASA
Many groups and individuals say the moon history needs to be protected before it’s too late.
The World Monument Foundation published its 2025. The “viewing list” in which the moon lists as a “risky” historical site. It is expected to protect selected lunar zones from damage or even to the abliance and exploitation of future lunar tourists. But it can be heavenly pain, depending on how much attention the moon is focused and how much lunar missions have been planned in both public and private sectors.
Experts say lessons learned from attempts to preserve more complex, international historical sites on Earth show that global cooperation and policy systems are now in great direction – before irreversible damage.
Active policy
Lunar inclusion in 2025 The watch is reflected in the belief of the World Monuments Fund (WMF) that “proactive policy is necessary to protect humanity’s common heritage – on earth or beyond,” said Jonathan Bell, Vice President of WMF programs.
“Like Antarctic contracts aimed at protecting historical sites in an emergency, we believe that similar politics can and must be applied to the lunar cultural and scientific heritage, and the early descents of the lunar landing are key examples,” Bell said.
Total value, long -term goals
Inclusion of the Moon in 2025 The clock was well adopted, marked by Bell, conducted by international stakeholders, including the multinational members of the International Monument and Places Council and its International Scientific Committee relating to the Aviation and Space Heritage Committee.
“The WMF and the Committee are now aiming to reconcile partners for common values and long-term goals to manage aviation and space heritage,” Bell added.
As for what happens next, the WMF’s follow -up is currently in progress and more plans are intensified, Bell said. “The interdisciplinary approach is to build a lunar exploration history, cultural resource management and even more experts will help form a detailed and cooperation basis for protecting heritage on the moon,” concluded.
Traces of the environment
Justin Holcombas is the assistant of the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS), the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Lawrence, Kansas, Research Division.
Holcombas and the anthropologists and geologists at the University of Kansas, the University of Kansas, say it is time to recognize that people have left their environment on the moon by declaring it to the Moon Anthropocene.
The idea is almost the same as Anthropocene’s discussion on Earth. It explores how many people have affected our planet, Holcomb emphasizes.
“The consensus is that on Earth Anthropocene began at a certain moment of the past, whether hundreds of thousands or in the 1960s. Similarly, on the moon, we claim that the moon’s anthropocene has already begun,” Holcomb feels.
Close view of the footprint of the Apollo 11 lunar module when it rested on the lunar surface in 1969. July 20 | Credit: NASA
New archaeological places
Holcomb told Space.com that he is enjoying new archaeological (landing) locations on the moon, created by Firefly Blue Ghost Lunar Lander, the Landers of intuitive machines inverted with the upcoming Japanese ISPace potential to join the lunar landing.
“But most importantly, missions such as Blue Ghost generate new data on the lunar surface conditions,” Holcomb said. After all, all activities are just more evidence that the moon entered its anthropocene, “he said,” and I imagine we will see shoes by 2030. “
This is the attitude of Rolfe Mandel, KGS Senior Scientist and University, a professor at the Department of Anthropology, although human migration from Africa could have taken place 150,000 years ago, “Space trips are the latest phase of that journey.”
“We believe that all the materials currently located on extraterrestrial surfaces are space heritage and worth protection,” Holcomb said. The very first footprints on the Moon at the Tranquility Base in 1969. Or NASA’s Viking 1 Mars Lander in the 1970s “reflects a trace of material long migration history,” he said.
National legislation
The focus is on the protection of cultural heritage in space are Michelle Hanlon, founder and CEO of All Moonkind, and a longtime defender of historic lunar landing sites.
“It is very nice to see more and more organizations and countries support this idea,” Hanlon told Space.com.
For everyone, Moonkind worked with senator Gary Peters for the first national laws recognizing the presence of human heritage in space, Hanlon said in 2020. Signed by President Trump. The organization also contributed to the inclusion in the Artemis Agreement, which is now signed by 55 national units, which were recognized as to preserve this heritage.
Examples of archaeological artifacts and properties on the moon. | Credit: All Moonkind
Activities provided by hope
“As a permanent observer of the United Nations Peaceful Space Committee, we are in favor of protecting cultural heritage in space from 2018 and now we are starting to notice a very hopeful activity,” Hanlon said.
This UN Committee “Copua” briefly has recently set up a Lunar Action Consultation (Atlac) Action Team, emphasized Hanlon to promote dialogue between nations, space agencies and stakeholders to ensure that the lunar activity is sustainable and engaging.
“It is noteworthy that three countries – Poland, the United Kingdom and Armenia – suggested that cultural heritage must be the main part of the ATLAC consultation,” Hanlon said. “This is a powerful recognition that the historical places of the moon are not only national achievements, but also the stages of universal value.”
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The working group of space resources, including the “Copuos”, increased the conversation further by incorporating the language, albeit brackets, about cultural heritage, in the initial project of recommended space resources.
“This language, in negotiation, shows that the importance of protecting cultural heritage in space,” Hanlon advised. “We hope that the Copuos Task Force, which is related to the long -term sustainability of space activity, will also be aimed at cultural heritage, given that it is considering its other actions and recently submitted an advisory document for this purpose.”
It is important to remember, Hanlon said: “We have to present the protection of cultural heritage into the right legal context.”
The Opera Space Treaty requires all states to be free to access anything The site on the moon is a breach of the contract, Hanlon said. – However, we believe that non -existent members can work under this system of contract to design access protocols that will protect our history.