ROOM is an open forum for comment and opinion - and actively encourages contributions. To promote debate, discussion and inspiration we regularly publish commentaries and opinions by space leaders and those involved directly or indirectly in aerospace and space exploration. Here, Michelle Hanlon, co-founder and Roy Balleste, member of the Advisory Council of For All Moonkind, Inc, suggest there should be a way of preserving relics left on the Moon after the Apollo missions for the benefit of future generations.
Buzz Aldrin described the surface of Earth’s Moon as “magnificent desolation”. On this surface, battered by sharp and jagged lunar dust lie many oddities, including a golden olive branch, two medals and a mission patch honouring two Soviet cosmonauts and three American astronauts who advanced humankind’s quest to explore space but perished before the first Moon landing was achieved.
There is also a piece of silicon. A disc, just over 30 mm in diameter filled with photos of messages from the leaders of 74 nations at the time. They are congratulatory and optimistic. Some speak with hope. Some speak with respect of the great inventors and thinkers, like Galileo Galilei who formed the foundation upon which modern science was developed. Many speak with pride, recognising the world’s first humans to step on the lunar surface - Neil Armstrong and Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin - as true envoys of almost all humankind. And all speak fervently of peace.
Read more about the preservation of Apollo's lunar legacy in the full version of the article, available now to our subscribers.
