Moon Burial Dilemma: Navajo Nation Protests Last-Minute Lunar Launch of Cremated Remains

In a surprising turn of events, the White House has hastily organized a meeting to address a controversial lunar mission, scheduled to launch in a matter of days. The mission, named Peregrine Mission One, has garnered attention due to its unique payload: cremated human remains set for a lunar burial. This has sparked significant opposition from the largest group of Native Americans in the United States, urging the administration to postpone the launch.

If successful, Peregrine Mission One will mark the first American-made spacecraft landing on the moon since the conclusion of the Apollo program in 1972. However, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren strongly objects to the idea of using the moon as a final resting place for human remains, emphasizing the moon's sacred significance in Navajo cosmology.

The private companies facilitating lunar burials, Celestis and Elysium Space, are among several customers joining the mission aboard Astrobotic Technology’s Peregrine lunar lander. Celestis, with its Tranquility Flight payload, includes 66 memorial capsules containing cremated remains and DNA, intended as a permanent tribute to those who pursued the stars. Despite concerns raised by President Nygren, Celestis CEO Charles Chafer dismisses them, asserting that the memorial on the moon is a celebration, not a desecration.

Elysium Space, another participant, has not yet responded to inquiries. However, their website describes the Lunar Memorial as delivering a symbolic portion of remains to create a quintessential commemoration on the moon's surface.

John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic Technology, expressed disappointment that the concerns arose late in the planning stages. He emphasizes the company's efforts to engage in a constructive dialogue with Navajo Nation and find an amicable solution.

Navajo Nation has previously voiced objections to lunar burials, referencing NASA's Lunar Prospector mission in 1999. Despite NASA being the primary customer on this mission, Sandra Connelly, deputy associate administrator of NASA’s science mission directorate, clarifies that non-NASA commercial payloads are not government missions and may raise concerns within communities.

Peregrine Mission One initiates NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, representing the dawn of the lunar economy. Dr. Joel Kearns, NASA deputy associate administrator for exploration, acknowledges the concerns expressed by Navajo Nation and underscores the evolving nature of rules within this nascent industry.

The debate brings attention to the oversight and regulation of non-NASA commercial payloads carrying human remains. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has limited authority, focusing on public health, safety, property, and national security. Navajo Nation argues that this oversight gap is concerning, potentially allowing the moon to become a graveyard without adequate safeguards.

As the White House convenes a meeting with representatives from NASA, the FAA, the US Department of Transportation, and the Department of Commerce, the Navajo Nation remains skeptical about halting Monday's launch. Despite their reservations, the launch seems imminent, highlighting a broader discussion about the ethical and cultural implications of human activities on the moon as we enter a new era of lunar exploration.