William Atkins
Tuesday, 02 February 2010 01:43
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 4
According to California, it has designated numerous objects left on the Moon in the 1960s and 70s as a state historical resource. Since it looks like U.S. astronauts won’t be going to the Moon any time in the near future, articles left on the Moon will at least be protected from commercialism.
The January 30, 2010 San Francisco Chronicle article “
History on the Moon” states that
“California laid a historical claim to over 100 objects left behind on the moon Friday when the eight-member California State Historical Resources Commission voted unanimously to name the objects an official State historical resource.”This action was taken based on California’s active part is assuring that 12 U.S. astronauts landed and walked on the Moon in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
It expects that other actively-participating states in the U.S. manned lunar expeditions, such as Texas, Florida, New Mexico, and Alabama will do likewise in order to preserve the historical importance and significance of these items left on the Moon.
U.S. historian Jay Correia (California Historical Resources Commission, stated,
"By international treaty, no one can lay claim to the moon ...” however such objects of world significance need to be protected
“… so they won't be brought back by somebody and put on the Internet for sale ….“ He added,
“At some point, we have to protect these artifacts." [San Francisco Chronicle]
Some of the stuff left on the Moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, for instance, was a seismic detector, U.S. flag, commemorative plaque, arm rests from their cockpit seats, hammer, cameras, tethers, antennas, food containers, and bags of human waste.
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