Just as the outlines of an Iron Age hut or the remains of a Roman sword spark excitement today, archaeologists of the future might brush the Martian dust off the metal and marvel at one of the NASA rovers.
The researchers said that such instruments, as well as other forms of human activity on Marchincluding landing sites and debris, must be preserved as part of the archaeological record of space exploration.
“All of this material, including tracks and even abandoned pieces of this equipment, represents the material record of our species’ first steps through our solar system,” said Dr. Justin Holcomb, of the University of Kansas.
Written in the journal Nature AstronomyHolcomb and his colleagues say natural weathering, meteorite impacts, unplanned accidents, flybys or landings near the site endanger this “space heritage” – adding that any future accidental destruction would be permanent.
“We don’t need specific missions aimed at preservation, but simply design missions that consider limiting any damage to previous missions,” Holcomb said, while suggesting that in some cases, such as on Earth, projects could continue once documentation is established.
Although the team says further investigations should be conducted into concerns that human material on the Red Planet is “space waste” that could pose a risk to both the Martian environment and future missions, she maintains that these objects should be protected “because they record the legacy of space exploration by our species.”
It wouldn’t be the first time that the waste of one era has become the treasure of another: today’s archaeologists often excavate dumps, piles of garbage created by our ancestors.
Holcomb said: “Just as our species left Africa, we are now beginning the process of leaving Earth.
“Each dispersal event represents key moments in the long migration history of our species. Materials left behind, whether axes in Tanzania or rovers on Mars, represent material imprints that bear witness to our history. We believe preservation efforts ensure history is accurately documented for future generations.
Holcomb and colleagues add that while a United Nations registry keeps track of objects sent into space, there is no systematic approach to recording and mapping space heritage on Mars.
But the team’s concerns extend beyond the Red Planet, noting that space heritage includes Apollo 11’s Tranquility Base, where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took the first human steps on the Moon in 1969, and the Soviet Venera 7 mission to Venus in 1970, the first time a spacecraft successfully landed on another planet.
They are not alone: in 2019, Professor Jan Wörner, then head of the European Space Agencyrequested that the Tranquility base be given special heritage status. “We must preserve milestones in all human domains, including space,” he said.
Professor Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, agreed that it was important to preserve and protect such sites, adding that robotic vehicles already on Mars would remain there and should be protected.
“There may be replicas in museums, but the real objects are special,” he said.
But Rees suggested not everything needs to be preserved.
“I am not keen on making efforts to collect debris spilled on the surface – although it is important to avoid increasing the amount of debris, to avoid pollution,” he said. -he declared.
Dr Jon Wade, associate professor of planetary materials at the University of Oxford, said that unlike missions sent to Venus, many objects on the Moon and Mars will outlast humanity.
But, he noted, the lack of witnesses means it will be difficult to know whether a space heritage site has been damaged by future activity when, as on Earth, economic reasons may still be cited for some projects – such as open-cast mining of extraterrestrial heritage. site.
“I would argue that science does not have a view on whether and how we should preserve these sites, but rather a broader cultural issue that one group should not assume they know best,” he declared.
“On the other hand, things on Mars aren’t really in danger of being overrun by tourists in the immediate future. Frankly, Mars is like the worst pub in the solar system: empty, cold, dry and lacking atmosphere, so I for one am in no rush to visit it.