The question of whether a person is buried on the Moon is one of the most intriguing pieces of trivia in the history of space exploration. The idea of human remains existing outside of Earth’s atmosphere is a powerful concept that intertwines the finality of death with the pursuit of scientific understanding. While not a traditional burial, the answer confirms that a piece of humanity does reside on the lunar surface. The story behind this unique memorial is a testament to one scientist’s profound dedication to the study of the cosmos.
The Definitive Answer: Cremated Remains, Not a Burial
A man is not “buried” in the sense of a full body interred in the lunar soil. Instead, the Moon holds the cremated remains of a single individual. This distinction is important because the act was not a traditional interment but a highly symbolic, intentional impact carried out by a robotic spacecraft. The remains consist of approximately one ounce of ashes.
The ashes were contained within a small polycarbonate capsule, sealed against the vacuum of space. The capsule was carried aboard a NASA probe for the duration of its mission. The physical disposition was the result of a scientific mission’s planned conclusion, transforming the research vehicle into a permanent memorial.
The Identity and Legacy of Eugene Shoemaker
The individual whose remains rest on the Moon is Dr. Eugene Shoemaker, a pioneering American geologist and a founder of the field of astrogeology. Shoemaker dedicated his career to the study of impact craters, proving that formations like Arizona’s Meteor Crater were caused by asteroid strikes. He established the Astrogeology Research Program for the U.S. Geological Survey.
A medical condition prevented him from realizing his lifelong dream of becoming an Apollo astronaut and walking on the Moon. Despite this setback, he played a fundamental role in the Apollo program, training astronauts in lunar geology and teaching them how to recognize and collect scientifically valuable rock samples.
Shoemaker’s scientific contributions extended beyond the Moon, most famously through his co-discovery of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. This comet provided the first direct observation of a planetary collision when its fragments impacted Jupiter in 1994. Sending his ashes to the Moon fulfilled a lifelong ambition for a scientist who considered not going to the Moon his greatest disappointment.
The Lunar Prospector Mission and Final Resting Place
The unique memorial was realized through the NASA mission, Lunar Prospector, which launched in January 1998. The polycarbonate capsule containing Shoemaker’s ashes was wrapped in brass foil that served as a commemorative plaque. This foil was laser-etched with images and text summarizing his life and work.
The inscription included a depiction of Comet Hale-Bopp and an image of the Meteor Crater where he trained the Apollo astronauts. A quotation from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was also included: “And, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine, that all the world will be in love with night.”
After successfully completing its 18-month mission of mapping the Moon’s surface, the Lunar Prospector was intentionally crashed. On July 31, 1999, the spacecraft impacted a crater near the Moon’s South Pole. The controlled collision served to conclude the mission and permanently deposit Shoemaker’s remains on the lunar surface.
Beyond Ashes: Other Human Artifacts and Memorials
Shoemaker’s ashes are the only known human biological remains on the Moon, but the lunar surface holds many other artifacts marking human presence. The Apollo 11 mission left a plaque on the descent stage of the Lunar Module, which includes a message of peace and the signatures of the crew and the President of the United States. This plaque serves as a permanent record of humanity’s first landing on another celestial body.
The crew of Apollo 15 left a small aluminum sculpture called the Fallen Astronaut. It rests alongside a plaque bearing the names of 14 deceased American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts. This quiet tribute honors those who lost their lives in the advancement of space exploration.
These artifacts collectively ensure that the Moon remains a silent memorial site reflecting the history of human endeavors in space.