NASA Seeks to Preserve Apollo Landing Sites on the Moon (ContributorNetwork)

NASA is setting forth to create guidelines that will cordon off the Apollo landing sites on the lunar surface, as well as certain other areas of historical importance, for anyone whose presence might disturb the pristine nature of the sites.

Why are the Apollo Landing Sites of Such Historical Value?

The Apollo missions to the moon were the first instances of human beings traveling from Earth to the surface of another world. Starting with Apollo 11, six successful expeditions were mounted to the lunar surface from 1969 to 1972. Because the moon has no atmosphere and hence no weather as it is generally understood, the footprints of the astronauts and the tracks of their lunar rovers have been preserved. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter recently imaged many of the landing sites, picking up those tracks and foot prints.

Why is NASA Implementing These Guidelines Now?

Because of the Google Lunar X Prize, private robotic expeditions to the moon may occur in the near future. In addition, national space agencies, including that of China, have plans of returning astronauts to the moon sometime in the future. While American plans to return to the moon were canceled by President Barack Obama, it is recognized at NASA that this was not a popular decision and may well be reserved by a future president.

What is NASA Afraid Might Happen?

The tracks of lunar rovers might, if they venture onto the Apollo sites, destroy the pristine and historic nature of the sites. In addition the rocket engines of either landing craft or "hoppers" designed to fly from one point of the moon to another may damage the sites.

Are There Any Sites of Historical Importance Besides the Apollo Sites?

A number of unmanned spacecraft have landed on the moon. These include American Surveyor spacecraft, which preceded Apollo, and Soviet Lunokhod rovers and Luna landing probes.

How Might NASA Enforce These Guidelines?

Absent an international agreement or a governing body on the moon, there is not a lot NASA could do if some other entity were to venture onto an Apollo landing site. Because of the Outer Space Treaty, NASA has no sovereign rights to any lunar territory. It is possible NASA may have basis for a legal action if material, such as astronauts' tools, experiments, or the flags were damaged or removed.

The Outer Space Treaty does provide for ownership of space hardware by countries. There is no specific law governing space salvage rights. There is the precedence of entrepreneur Richard Garriott's purchase of ownership of a Lunokhod and a Luna at auction. It could be construed that Garriott, should he or a representative go to the moon, could claim his property and do with it as he wishes.

Mark R. Whittington is the author of Children of Apollo and The Last Moonwalker. He has written on space subjects for a variety of periodicals, including The Houston Chronicle, The Washington Post, USA Today, the L.A. Times and The Weekly Standard.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/space/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111022/us_ac/10265117_nasa_seeks_to_preserve_apollo_landing_sites_on_the_moon

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