The answer to whether someone is buried on the Moon is yes, though the reality is more complex than a traditional burial. Human remains have been successfully delivered to the lunar surface and its orbit through both government-backed scientific missions and commercial ventures. This practice of extraterrestrial memorialization intersects space exploration, private enterprise, and international policy. The placement of human remains on a celestial body raises unique questions involving scientific legacy, ethical considerations, and the developing framework of space law.
The Pioneer of Lunar Memorials
The first individual whose remains reached the Moon was the celebrated astrogeologist Dr. Eugene Shoemaker. Shoemaker was a founder of the field of planetary geology and trained the Apollo astronauts. A medical condition prevented him from fulfilling his personal dream of walking on the lunar surface. In a tribute to his lifelong dedication, a close colleague proposed sending a portion of his ashes on a scientific mission.
In 1998, a small sample of approximately one ounce of his cremated remains was placed aboard NASA’s Lunar Prospector spacecraft. The remains were sealed within a polycarbonate capsule wrapped in brass foil, etched with an image of a comet, the Arizona Meteor Crater, and a quote from Shakespeare. The spacecraft was intentionally crashed into a crater near the lunar south pole in 1999 upon completion of its mission, depositing the remains on the Moon’s surface. Shoemaker remains the only person whose remains were delivered to the Moon via a United States government space mission.
Commercial Lunar Memorial Flights
The practice of sending remains to the Moon has since transitioned from a singular scientific tribute to a commercially available service. Private companies now offer lunar memorial flights for paying customers, often utilizing space as a secondary payload on robotic lunar landers. These missions carry small capsules containing the remains or DNA of dozens of individuals. The shift to commercial flights allows a broader range of people to have their remains sent to the Moon, including other noted figures in science and entertainment. For instance, remains of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, his wife Majel Barrett Roddenberry, and actor James Doohan have been part of these commercial payloads. These companies offer various destinations, including the lunar surface or a deep space trajectory beyond the Earth-Moon system.
Addressing the Terminology: Burial vs. Deposition
The common term “burial” does not accurately describe the process of placing remains on the Moon. A burial implies digging a grave and interring a body or urn into the soil, but this is not what occurs on the lunar surface. Instead, the process is correctly referred to as “deposition” or “memorial placement.” The remains consist of a small symbolic portion of cremated ashes, typically one to seven grams, encapsulated within a durable flight capsule. These containers are securely affixed to a lunar lander or spacecraft. The remains are thus deposited on the surface with the lander or impacted along with the spacecraft, rather than being buried beneath the lunar regolith.
Legal Status of Extraterrestrial Memorials
The placement of human remains on the Moon operates within a relatively undefined legal framework. The foundational piece of international space law is the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which governs the activities of nations in space. This treaty does not specifically prohibit the placement of remains on celestial bodies. However, Article IX of the treaty mandates that activities in space must be conducted so as to avoid “harmful contamination” and “adverse changes” to the environment of celestial bodies. Critics argue that commercial memorialization violates the spirit of this provision and commodifies a shared human heritage. The concept is also highly sensitive to some cultural groups, such as the Navajo Nation, who view the Moon as a sacred entity and have formally objected to the practice as a form of desecration.