Anthropologists are urging NASA and other space agencies to keep a record of so-called human trash left behind on Mars, according to a report on Saturday, Dec. 21. Researchers argue it’s not trash at all; it’s history.
University of Kansas Professor Justin Holcomb is leading the research.
“It’s not trash; it’s actually really important,” Holcomb said. “The solution to trash is removal, but the solution to heritage is preservation. There’s a big difference.”
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Since 1971 when the Soviet Union first crash landed a spacecraft on the planet, human artifacts have reportedly been left behind on the red surface. The Mars trash includes spacecraft, debris, parachutes and, unintentionally, Earthly bacteria.
Holcomb, along with a group of scientists, wants the man-made wreckage to be preserved through a living inventory before the Red Planet’s harsh environment leaves these items forever buried in dirt and dust.
The idea of an inventory in space isn’t particularly new. NASA reportedly published an inventory of around 800 items left behind or installed on the Moon in 2012, from human waste, cameras, shoes, rovers and $2 bills.
Archeologists also said researching how different planetary environments impact Earthly objects may be helpful for future exploration.
In the wake of NASA’s Ingenuity Helicopter’s discovery of human wreckage across Mars, scientists also note that it’s an opportunity to think about the environmental impact humans have on other planets. Scientists said it could eventually provide a blueprint for more sustainable missions and how to balance preservation with exploration.
[JACK AYLMER]
WE’VE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS TO GET TO MARS – BUT DID WE EVER ONCE CONSIDER HOW MESSY IT WILL BE WHEN WE FINALLY GET THERE?
NOW THERE’S A GROWING EFFORT TO PRESERVE SOME OF THE DEBRIS LEFT BY EXPEDITIONS TO THE RED PLANET – WITH SOME ARGUING – IT’S NOT TRASH AT ALL.
IN FACT, ANTHROPOLOGISTS SAY ITS A RECORD OF HUMAN HISTORY.
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PROFESSOR, JUSTIN HOLCOMB, A LEAD RESEARCHER ON THE SUBJECT, SAYS:
“THE SOLUTION TO TRASH IS REMOVAL, BUT THE SOLUTION TO HERITAGE IS PRESERVATION. THERE’S A BIG DIFFERENCE.”
HOLCOMB NOTES, SINCE 1971 WHEN THE SOVIET UNION FIRST CRASH LANDED ON MARS, COUNTLESS HUMAN ARTIFACTS HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND ON THE RED SURFACE.
FROM SPACECRAFT TO DEBRIS TO PARACHUTES, AND UNINTENTIONAL, EARTHLY BACTERIA.
HOLCOMB ALONG WITH A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS WANT THE MAN-MADE WRECKAGE TO BE PRESERVED THROUGH A LIVING INVENTORY BEFORE THE RED PLANET’S HARSH ENVIRONMENT LEAVES THESE ITEMS FOREVER BURIED IN DIRT AND DUST.
THE IDEA ISN’T PARTICULARLY NEW.
NASA PUBLISHED AN INVENTORY OF AROUND 800 ITEMS LEFT BEHIND OR INSTALLED ON THE MOON IN 2012.
FROM HUMAN WASTE, CAMERAS, SHOES, ROVERS, AND TWO DOLLAR BILLS.
ARCHEOGOLOGISTS ALSO SAY RESEARCHING HOW DIFFERENT PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS IMPACT EARTHLY OBJECTS MAY BE HELPFUL FOR FUTURE EXPLORATION.
THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TO THE SURFACE OF MARS GOT EXTRA ATTENTION ON THE HEELS OF REPEATED FLIGHTS OF NASA’S INGENUITY HELICOPTER.
THE EYE IN THE SKY REVEALING JUST HOW MUCH MANKIND HAS LEFT BEHIND.
SCIENTISTS NOTE, IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT HUMANS HAVE ON OTHER PLANETS.
PERHAPS, PROVIDING A BLUEPRINT FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE MISSIONS AND HOW TO BALANCE PRESERVATION WITH EXPLORATION.
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M JACK AYLMER.
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