Navajo Nation Protests Lunar Burial of Human Remains
The Navajo Nation has voiced opposition to the planned depositing of human cremated remains on the Moon by a private company's lunar lander, which they consider a desecration of a sacred space. The remains are part of a payload on Astrobotic's Peregrine lander, set to launch with NASA's commercial partnership. Despite previous promises to consult with Native Americans after similar concerns were raised in 1998, NASA states it has no control over private payloads but is taking the concerns seriously and will continue discussions with the Navajo Nation. The company involved, Celestis, defends its mission, stating that the remains will stay aboard the lander, not on the Moon's surface.