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Why NASAs latest rocket launch may cause offense to Native Americans, again
- The ULA Vulcan rocket contains cremated human ashes to be spread on the moon
- Many Native Americans consider the moon to be sacred, and missions to be desecration
- The same thing happened in 1998 when NASA crashed human ashes into the moon
The United Launch Alliance, in association with NASA and Astrobotic, has just seen its next-generation Vulcan rocket take to the skies in the first American mission to the moons surface in decades. While millions of space enthusiasts are celebrating the successful launch, why did the mission cause major offense to members of the Native American community?
Why Vulcan rocket launch causes offense to Native Americans
The Vulcan rocket not only carries specialized equipment that will expand our scientific understanding of the universe, it also contains human cremated ashes and DNA samples that are set to be scattered on the moons surface.
This includes the ashes of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, as well as several members of the original TV series cast such as iconic Nichelle Nichols, who passed away in July 2023 at the age of 89.
While Star Trek and science fiction enthusiasts are celebrating this touching tribute, members of the Native American community have called the idea of spreading human remains on the moon tantamount to desecration.
Specifically, the Navajo Nation (one of the largest communities of indigenous groups in the country) holds the moon as sacred, with its president Buu Nygren sharing in a statement:
The sacredness of the moon is deeply embedded in the spirituality and heritage of many Indigenous cultures, including our own. The placement of human remains on the moon is a profound desecration of this celestial body revered by our people.
Nygren explained how As stewards of our culture and traditions, it is our responsibility to voice our grievances when actions are taken that could desecrate sacred spaces and disregard deeply held cultural beliefs.
Nygren added that the Navajo Nation is not opposed to scientific progress or space exploration and that they acknowledge the excitement and progress that the Vulcan launch brings.
However, the moon holds a sacred place in Navajo cosmology” and the nature of transforming it into a resting place for human remains is both “deeply disturbing and unacceptable to our people and many tribal nations.”
Its not the first time NASA and Native Americans have argued
This isnt the first time that NASA has clashed with the Native American community about the potential desecration of the moon with human remains.�
In 1998, NASA included the ashes of former geologist and planetary scientist Eugene Shoemaker as part of the Lunar Prospector mission.
Shoemakers ashes were spread on the moon when NASA intentionally crashed the spacecraft into the lunar surface.
At the time, the Navajo Nation objected to the scattering of Shoemakers ashes, with NASA themselves promising to consult tribe officials before launching any future human remains.
This was a major part of Nygrens complaints about the recent Vulcan launch, stating This act disregards past agreements and promises of respect and consultation between NASA and the Navajo Nation, notably following the Lunar Prospector mission in 1998.
The Navajo Nation insists on meaningful consultation and dialogue to address the non-NASA missions that impact our cultural and spiritual beliefs&We stand firm in our position: the moon is not a place for human remains. We call upon NASA to act accordingly and to work with us to protect our sacred sites and cultural heritage, not just on Earth, but in all realms that our traditions hold dear.
The Vulcan rocket launched in the early hours of January 8.
