Navajo Nation Protests Moon Burial of Historical Figures' Remains
The Navajo Nation has raised objections to a private space mission that plans to deposit human remains on the moon, citing the celestial body's sacred status in Indigenous cultures. Despite their concerns, the mission, which is not directly run by NASA but includes scientific instruments for NASA's Artemis program, is set to proceed. The payload will also contain time capsules and DNA from notable individuals. NASA has stated it lacks the authority to regulate private mission payloads, and the US government has not commented but is reviewing the objections. The CEO of Celestis, a company involved in the memorial spaceflights, argues that accommodating the beliefs of all religions would make space missions impossible.
