The moon is more than a barren rock floating in the endless
void of space. It is our only companion in the heavens. It is not just a silent orb in the night sky but also a vast
canvas holding the eternal and tangible legacy of human achievement. It is the only celestial canvas where mankind was able to etch their literal footprint. When our
brave astronauts first set foot on it’s surface, they unknowingly imprinted a
testament to exploration that will likely endure for millions of years. The moon is the perfect heavenly body to leave our history outside of our own planet. In an
environment devoid of atmosphere where water, weather and wind are
non-existent, those footprints are destined to become an everlasting symbol of
humanity’s adventurous spirit. They are going to outlive us all into the far future. Scientific studies, geological insights and even
a dash of humour tell us that unless a colossal asteroid strike or a dramatic moonquake
occurs, these traces of exploration will remain as a testament to our quest for
the unknown. We are extremely fortunate.
When Neil Armstrong declared his ‘one small step’ in 1969, he wasn’t just making history. He was doing something extraordinary in the bigger picture. He was etching it into the moon’s surface like a cosmic tattoo. It is going to be a tattoo that will disappear slower than imaginable. Over half a century later, those iconic footprints, alongside 100+ others from Apollo missions, remain frozen in time. They still fresh as if they were made when you were looking at them. Let’s unpack why the moon is the ultimate museum curator and why future lunar tourists might need a ‘Don’t Touch’ sign. Here we go.
Table of contents
Weather? Never heard of her
During the Apollo missions, footprints were left behind on
the lunar regolith which is a fine dust that, in the absence of atmospheric
interference, remains undisturbed for eons. They are in a way permanent if let alone by the universe. Unlike Earth, where natural forces
erase the marks of our steps, the moon’s surface preserves every detail as if
time itself had paused. There almost minimal to no disturbances on the surface of the mon. In the absence of weathering agents, the footprints
left by the Apollo astronauts remain almost as fresh as the moment they were
made. The moon has such incredible physics. The lack of rain and wind means that the tracks of our space travellers
may persist even in the face of occasional asteroid strikes, micrometeorite
impacts or moonquakes. But you do not have to worry because they might not happen. These events are relatively rare and unlikely to
completely erase these historic imprints. That's a relief to know.
The moon doesn’t do drama. It is articulate in maintaining important history. No atmosphere? Check. No microbes, rain or wind to erode surfaces? Doublecheck. Excellent! So, now the first footprints of our astronauts are safe. The following will explain why nothing fades on our moon. It will give you a clear insight.
The regolith revelation – It is a soil like no earthly mud. It is totally different out there. Lunar regolith isn’t your average dirt. With no agents acting on it, except radiation, the soil there is unlike the Earth's. Born from 4.5 billion years of asteroid pummelling, it’s a jagged glassy powder devoid of organic matter. Although the moon was formed from Earth, it has undergone different conditions from us. When compressed by an astronaut’s boot, it’s sharp particles interlock like Velcro and ends up creating a stable imprint. It is difficult to break them apart naturally but not impossible. Lunar regolith is the moon’s ‘soil’. An absolutely interesting kind of soil. It is a prickly staticky dust made of shattered glass and minerals. It could hurt to handle with bare hands. The regolith’s unique composition combined with the absence of erosive elements, creates a natural time capsule. That will be how the footprints on the moon is going to stay for millions of years.
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| Regolith sample brought back from the moon |
Composition – 43% oxygen, 20% silicon and traces of aluminium, calcium and iron with microscopic glass beads from meteoroid impacts. How glass is formed on the moon you ask? When meteoroids impact the moon, it generates unbelievable levels of heat to turn the sand into glass. Although they are microscopic, they are still literal glass.
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| This particular lunar sample 10017,37 from Mare Tranquillitatis at the Apollo 11 landing site is on display at the Armstrong Museum, Wapekoneta (Ohio). The display says it's 40% pyroxene, 40% plagioclase, 15% ilmenite and 5% mesostasis which is 4.011 billion years old. |
Electrostatic cling – Solar UV radiation charges regolith particles and makes them ‘stick’ to surfaces (and spacesuits). Static electricity causes particles to bond to one another in space. This same static helps preserve footprints by preventing particle migration. Only some external force can split apart the particles bonded by static electricity.
No atmosphere? No problem (unless you are breathing) – Earth’s weather systems are the ultimate sculptors but the moon’s airless environment is a preservationist’s dream. With an ignorable and almost undetected layer of atmosphere on the moon, wind is absent which helps in particles on the moon to stay put. With nothing to scatter even dust on the moon, the footprints are safe.
Almost zero erosion – There is no humidity, rain or wind to blur edges. Without a weather system on the moon, anything that falls on the moon becomes stationary and cannot move. Micrometeorites bombard the moon but it’s a leisurely assault. They are too small to cause any major changes. Estimates suggest that there may be a 1 mm of erosion every million years. That's a laughable rate. Armstrong’s 1 cm deep prints? Ohh, that's a mountain for time to degrade. So, they’ve got plenty of time. This is good news for mankind.
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| Lunar regolith under a stereomicroscope |
Thermal cycling – While temperatures swing from -173°C to 127°C, the absence of water prevents freeze-thaw erosion. There may be ice or water hidden in deep crevices of the moon where sunlight has never reached but on the surface, there is zero moisture. The regolith contracts and expands minimally…only about 0.1% over 300°C which leaves prints intact. What perfect conditions to preserve anything eternally! Swinging from -173°C to 127°C might sound brutal but without moisture to crack and expand surfaces, footprints stay crisp. Moisture is a deal-breaker but fortunately, they are absent on our moon.
No weathering – Forget erosion or rust. Although the moon is all sand, there is no weathering. The only ‘storm’ here is the occasional solar wind which acts more like a gentle sandblaster over millennia. By the time they hit the moon, their power would have degraded very substantially.
Impact – Even though micrometeorite bombardment and sporadic moonquakes do occur but their impact is far too gentle or infrequent to erase the well‐defined footprints left by Apollo astronauts. Don't let the word meteor in micrometeors scare you. Micrometeors are microscopic and only visible under our instruments. You couldn't even tell if it were one or just lunar regolith. When it comes to moonquakes, they aren't devastating like earthquakes. The moon is very small compared to the Earth whereas the Earth is huge and it's quakes can cause unimaginable destruction on the surface. The moon is very calm when it comes to quakes. Researchers even suggest that these delicate impressions could outlast any other human artefact left on Earth. Conditions like these are very crucial in their preservation.
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| S71-43052 (August 1971) --- A close-up view of a container full of green-colored lunar soil in the Non-Sterile Nitrogen Processing Line (NNPL) in the Lunar Receiving Laboratory (LRL) at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC). |
“The moon’s basically that friend who never cleans their room. Toss a footprint in there and it’ll stay until the sun becomes a red giant or until Elon Musk starts a lunar car park”.
Dr. Simeon Barber who is a planetary scientist at the Open
University explains…
“Imagine baking a biscuit in an oven then freezing it. On Earth, it’d crumble. On the moon? It just sits there stubbornly unchanged. The regolith’s a master of passive aggression”.
Quote from Dr. Sarah Russell, the lunar geologist…
“The moon’s like that friend who still uses a Nokia 3310. It doesn’t do updates. What you see is what you get — for millennia”.
With no weather to cause erosion and minimal geological activity, the footprints will remain intact until something very catastrophic occurs. Say, an asteroid impact directly onto the footprints or something like that. One leading space scientist recently jested that the moon seems to have the finest natural archival system in the cosmos. This isn't wrong and it is also nice in the way it was put out. As one space scientist quipped during a recent interview…
“It is as if the moon’s surface has been gifted a state-of-the-art archival system that only the cosmos could dream of!”
Scientists believe that unless the moon experiences a massive asteroid collision or significant seismic events, these marks will endure. They also tell that the chances of something like that happening is way too minimal.
Universe’s priciest glitter – Lunar regolith
The lunar regolith is a geological marvel in itself. It is the most unique substance available on the moon. What’s lunar regolith?In layman terms, moon's soil. Moon ’soil’ isn’t a soil. It comes in a composition unlike the Earth's silica. It’s a jagged glassy confetti forged by 4.5 billion years of asteroid strikes. Ever since the moon came to be, it has been a victim of asteroid impacts. The moon is pockmarked in asteroid impacts from billions of years. Formed through countless collisions with cosmic debris, it is composed of crushed rock, dust and fragments of older meteorites. The moon cleared out all the debris around the Earth in it's primeval times too. Hence, the soil is composed of pulverised dust and rock that has been churned by countless collisions with cosmic debris. Besides, anything that came in the vicinity of it's gravity soon became a part of it's surface. This constant pummelling has created a surface that (paradoxically) protects these delicate imprints. Yes, it now has the right conditions to preserve any print on it's surface.
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| Detail of beta cloth with lunar Dust. Original artifact of Apollo 16 mission | Pic credit - Meteoriten Deutschland |
Research shows that while the lunar regolith is everchanging on a microscopic level, it’s broader geological features remain undisturbed for eons. The microscopic alterations isn't powerful at all but almost unnoticeable. In this sense, the footprints are more than just marks in the dust. Humanity's signature is what got embedded into the lunar surface. They are frozen in time. They will never change if left undisturbed. Think of the lunar regolith as the universe’s most aggressive exfoliant. Also, the lunar regolith has it's own unique fragrance. Lunar dust smells like gunpowder (according to Apollo astronauts). It is dangerous to inhale the lunar regolith if you love the smell of gunpowder. The soil is literally microscopic glass. NASA’s 2024 study suggests that the fragrance is due to solar wind altering the mineral’s chemistry. The wind would've died down upon reaching the moon but the heavy radiation coming with is still travelling at the speed of light into space until being stopped.
Threats from the cosmic playground
The moon isn’t entirely a serene time capsule. It is rather a victim of uncalled cosmic attacks. There are villains that could scuff our cosmic graffiti from existence. The bad news is always looming overhead.
Asteroid strikes – The moon’s pockmarked face is proof that it’s a cosmic punching bag. It has even taken all the hits meant for Earth. While rare and seemingly impossible, a direct hit could vapourise a footprint site. It is the accuracy and power necessary to accomplish the job of erasing our achievements. The moon’s 3300+ craters (>1km wide) testify to it’s violent past. These are really heavy impacts with major ramifications on the lunar surface. The 2023 ‘Lunar New Year Impact’ saw a fridge-sized asteroid slam into the moon’s far side and created a 20m crater. Whatever was on the area of impact was scattered all around. Luckily, this happened on a spot far from the Apollo landing zones. Every news of lunar impacts brings nothing but worry. Had it hit Mare Tranquillitatis, Armstrong’s prints might’ve been toast. It's not that there are no other footprints but Neil's footprints were the first step of humans planted on the moon's surface. A car-sized asteroid buzzed the moon’s far side in January 2024. Panic levels were off the charts. Had it hit Mare Tranquillitatis, Armstrong’s prints would’ve been yeeted into oblivion. There was no saving the prints. A 2024 risk assessment from a University of Arizona study calculated that there is a 1 in 300 chance of a 10m-wide asteroid striking the Apollo 11 site in the next 1,000 years. Though we won't around and we don't know if it may or may not happen, just the possibility of such a thing is still a heartbreaking news.
Moonquakes – Yes, they’re real. The internals of the moon just like our Earth's. Data from Apollo-era seismometers revealed quakes up to 5.5 magnitude which are caused by the moon’s shrinking core and gravitational tugs from the Earth. The interplay of such events enable moonquakes to happen. As the moon’s core cools, it shrinks while crumpling the crust like a raisin. Also, our planet's gravity reaches way beyond the moon. So, Earth’s gravity stresses the moon’s interiors. While the moon causes tides on Earth with it's gravity, we cause moonquakes with our powerful gravity. A 2023 study in ‘Nature’ found these quakes could trigger landslides in the moon’s polar regions. Good thing, nobody except India has managed to land anything in the polar regions of the moon. Thankfully, the Apollo sites (near the equator) are safer for now. They are far far away from the moon's poles. A 2024 discovery reveals that NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) found fresh fault scarps near the south pole that hint at recent quakes. It shows how there can be powerful moonquakes too. Thankfully, the good news is that Apollo sites are equatorial which are far from the grumpiest quakes. Seismic activities are very little around the moon's equator. The equatorial region of the moon are less seismically active for now but it is not assured. Nature has a bad habit of throwing curveballs when we are least expecting.
Human threats – With NASA’s Artemis III (2026), China’s Chang’e7 (2026) and SpaceX’s lunar tourism ambitions, footprints face new risks. It involves threats from both human and technical errors. A 2023 study in Planetary Science Journal warned that lunar landers’ exhaust or rocket plumes could blast regolith at 1km/s and sandblasting nearby artifacts. That is good enough to wipe out Neil's footprints. Future moon tourists could sandblast history with their parking skills. There is no assurance that they would be civil or less reckless than us today. In 2022, a Japanese startup proposed projecting or spraying lunar soil with ads. As ridiculour as it sounds, it was met with strong resistance. Public outcry ensued over ‘space vandalism’. People hated it instantly. The backlash was swift with…
“Keep your logos off my nostalgia!”
Micrometeorites – They are tiny but mighty. They might be microscopic but they still tour the solar system in blinding speeds. These rice-sized space bullets hit at 20 km/s and keeps eroding the moon’s surface 1mm every million years. Impacts become worse if they are travelling at ridiculous speeds. Neil’s 1 cm deep prints? They’ve got 10 million years to go. However, a rain of non-stop micrometeorite shower is enough to cut that life short.
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| An assortment of melted micrometeorites: Light microscope images of stony cosmic spherules. Largest spherule is about 300µm in diameter | Pic credit - Shaw Street |
Solar wind – A stream of charged particles from the sun blasts the moon with 1000 tonnes of material annually. They carry all sorts of matter with them spiced with radiation. Upon reaching the moon, the wind would have lost all it's aggression. But this gentle abrasion would take eons to smooth out a 1-cm deep print. Therefore, it is still a threat and will wipe out the footprints by millions of years.
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| The sun constantly sending solar winds into space while a comet passes by |
Humour in the face of immortality
There is a certain humour in imagining the footprints as the
ultimate permanent tattoo on our nearest celestial neighbour. We weren't able to do that any other heavenly object. Imagine a future
generation of lunar tourists (perhaps with no knowledge of their origin) marvelling
at these ancient steps and speculating on the origins of the clumsy yet
courageous first impressions left by early explorers. They are unable to comprehend how human footprints were duplicated before their arrival. A group of space tourists
without any knowledge of the historic Apollo missions, speculating on why a set
of strangely humanlike footprints exists on an alien landscape. They go on to create conspiracy theories about aliens and history. It is as though
the moon has become a giant art gallery showcasing a moment in time when
mankind reached out and touched the heavens. Of course, it's all in good jest.
It is a cosmic inside joke that has even found it’s way into popular culture with several satirical articles poking fun at the idea of lunar graffiti. Humour is the only way we can get to flex about our achievements. The irony is not lost on those who study the moon. We have nobody else in the cosmos except each other to flex our own achievements at. Just a thought that even in the vast silence of space, our impact is enduring and profound. Imagine this, that no other billions of species on Earth had ever left it even for once on their own.
Capitalism, conspiracies, cosmic law and space vandalism
The enduring nature of the lunar footprints has also played a part in controversies and debates. They stem from the United States itself which had landed humans on the moon first. Some skeptics who have long questioned the authenticity of the Apollo missions, have found the longevity of these impressions to be a compelling piece of evidence. They are unable to dispute the astronauts who made them. In a world where misinformation can spread like wildfire, the survival of these prints serves as a tangible marker of our real and remarkable achievement in space exploration. It will remain as a noble cause even after our passing.
Moon-landing deniers still at it! – Over the decades, some conspiracy theorists have questioned the veracity of the Apollo missions by claiming that the longevity of these prints is part of a larger hoax. They somehow believe that the lunar regolith can be replicated on Earth with technology and those prints made for archiving in photography.
“If the footprints are there, why can’t Hubble see them?”
…demands the YouTube skeptic DaveFromOhio42. He claims the landings were doctored in a studio and fake. The YouTube channel seems to exist no more. Of course, spreading misinformation can be rewarding in the forms of permanent bans or deleting it by uploaders themselves due to shame. The response to Dave by NASA was…
“For the same reason you can’t see your keys without glasses. It’s called resolution, mate”.
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| Pic credit - PC Mag |
Moon-landing deniers always have a never-ending saga. They love keeping the gullible engaged in controversies. Another classic claim is…
“If footprints exist, why can’t telescopes see them?”
Then there is the ‘Conspiracy Theory 2024 Edition’
with…
“If footprints are real, why can’t my iPhone 15 zoom in on them?”
A 2024 fact check revealed that the Hubble’s 10m resolution can’t spot 30cm-wide prints. The scope wasn't built to observe the moon. It was engineered solely for observing into the light years. However, NASA’s LRO captured footprints on the moon in the year 2009. But deniers still dismiss it as ‘CGI’ and ‘Space Photoshop’. I think even if you took them to the moon and make them create their own footprints, they'd still reject that moon travel was impossible.
While controversy often surrounds historical events, the scientific consensus remains robust. They have work to do rather than be held back in child play. Scientific consensus backed by detailed studies and extensive geological analysis, supports the reality that the moon’s conditions naturally preserve any marks. It needn't be footprints alone. If even if made a sand castle on the moon, it will remain so for millions of years. Moon’s conditions ensure that these footprints will continue to exist as long as the lunar surface remains undisturbed. The undisturbed part is very important.
Lunar heritage wars – Should Apollo sites be UNESCO-protected? Afterall, it is the most important sites in our collective human civilization. In 2020, the US passed the One Small Step Act to shield them. Well, it didn't go well. Critics argued with 'You can’t own the moon!' Elon Musk jumped in with a counter-tweet - 'Fine, but Tesla’s first showroom there will have a ‘Historic Footprint Viewing Gallery’”. It got absorbed into the legislation and is still in force. It hasn't been amended or withdrawn yet.
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| Source - lunarlandsales.com |
Lunar real-estate scams – Who owns the moon? Can anyone claim real estate on the moon? Firms like Lunar Land sells 1-acre plots for £25. Such companies claim to own properties on the moon which are let out for sale if you want to buy. They literally sell 'lunar deeds'. With paperworks, they appear legally legit. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans national ownership of the moon but allows private use. It also prohibits testing and use of weapons on the moon. Lunar deeds are not legally binding but that doesn’t stop Elon Musk from eyeing lunar timeshares. So, if you want to be scammed, go for a lunar property.
Elon v/s heritage – When NASA proposed protecting Apollo
sites, Musk tweeted…
“Preservation is stagnation. Mars won’t care about our footprints”.
Archaeologists fired back with…
“Tell that to future historians”.
The fallen astronaut statue – Secret art…Apollo 15 left a 3-inch aluminium statue honouring astronauts who died. Yes, all of our space missions have come at cost of human life both on ground and in the atmosphere. It’s still there and remains untouched unless some curious rover pokes it. It is a tiny statue.
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| That 3-inch aluminium statue |
Contemporary news and life on the lunar frontier
In recent years, renewed interest in lunar exploration has brought attention back to these historic sites. Talks of manned mission to the moon is doing the rounds lately. With various international space agencies planning new missions to the moon, there is a growing conversation about preserving these landmarks. It is important that we do not vandalize our past achievements on the moon. Discussions now centre on protecting the Apollo landing sites from potential contamination or damage by future visitors. While professionals take care of them, the same cannot be said for ordinary civilians touring the moon. They are like tourists everywhere on Earth. The idea of space tourism is both exhilarating and really worrisome. How to work around rogue tourist behaviour is in the plans. Space tourism is exciting since in it is the promise of a new era of exploration yet fraught with challenges when it comes to safeguarding our shared heritage. It is not going to be easy, I presume. The conversation is lively in scientific circles and among enthusiasts who call for internationally agreed protocols to ensure that these relics remain untouched for future generations. Enforcing these protocols or expecting tourists to abide by them will be needing meticulous efforts.
Artemis and footprint FOMO – NASA’s 2026 crewed Artemis III mission aims to land near the lunar south pole while avoiding Apollo sites. A manned mission to the moon by then was being worked on since years now. Although exciting, it has sparked debates. Should new missions avoid Apollo sites to preserve them? Do we take a long journey from the landing site to reach the Apollo sites? Why not land near them but just far enough to keep them safe from sandblasting while landing?
“It’s like building a Starbucks next to the Pyramids!”
…argues space archaeologist Dr. Beth O’Leary.
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| The crewed module of Artemis III which will house the astronauts |
China’s Chang’e7 – Set for 2026, this mission will study moonquakes and might accidentally photograph Apollo 11’s footprints. China is going to perform this lunar mission. Chang’e7’s seismic study could inadvertently image Apollo 11’s site with it’s 0.5m resolution camera. We haven't got any recent photos of the site since decades now. Cue conspiracy theorists’ meltdowns. They see it as a glorious opportunity to downplay NASA's work. Conspiracy theorists, meanwhile, claim it’s a ploy to ‘debunk NASA myths’. They say that the lunar photographs from Chinese missions will show that there were never any footprints on the moon because Apollo missions were fake.
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| Pic credit - actual source unknown |
Viral tweet of 2023 – Astronaut Chris Hadfield joked…
“My grandkids’ grandkids could still trip over Neil’s footprints. Meanwhile, my Earthside garden path washes away every spring”.
Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Lander – Plans to deliver cargo anywhere on the moon — including historic zones. By 2025, a lot of private players have got into the space game. They are soon gunning for the moon. Private ventures aren’t so cautious. They are just as bad tourists who vandalize without care.
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| Pic credit - Free Malaysia Today |
A 2024 UN Resolution – drafted to designate Apollo sites as ‘human heritage zones’ but got vetoed by China and the US. It would have been good. Discussions are nevertheless still on-going to establish designated ‘heritage zones’ that remain untouched by future landings. Only we can conserve and preserve important human heritages from ourselves.
As fresh missions to the moon gain momentum, scientific communities are buzzing with excitement. A lot of traction is happening. There are proposals for robotic monitors to document changes in the lunar regolith. The use of AI and robotics will make things convenient in monitoring activities. Recent updates from space research institutes have underscored the importance of these measures by emphasising that while the footprints may endure millions of years, the sites themselves are vulnerable to accidental or even intentional human interference. So, we need better insights on the object itself in order to keeps things kosher. This new wave of interest is transforming how we view the moon as not merely a destination but as a vast museum of human history. Our goal of keeping all our lunar works absolutely spotless for generations is strengthening.
TikTokification of the moon
Gen Z’s lunar obsession is real. If you thought that they have no appeal to important things, you might be wrong.
Moon-Footprint-Challenge – A 2023 viral trend where users recreate Armstrong’s print in cake icing, sand and snow. Truly a fine tribute to the first man who stepped onto the lunar surface.
NASA’s 2024 social campaign – NASA’s ‘Adopt a Crater’ lets users name lunar features for £15. The aim was to instill curiousity for our celestial neighbour. Over 2 million signed up that ended up crashing the site. NASA would have never anticipated to be overwhelmed like that.
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| Pic credit - collectspace.com |
Space heritage matters…
In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on the preservation of lunar sites. Organisations and people are constantly pushing for it. Recent articles in respected space journals and updates from organisations dedicated to space heritage have reignited debates on how best to protect these footprints. It is easy to preserve anything here on Earth but space is a violent cauldron. In interviews with leading space historians, there is a consensus that preserving the moon’s pristine record is paramount. The quicker, the better. The video below shows how much dust gets kicked off during a landing on the moon. It is unbelievable how easily space marks can be wiped out this way.
International space agencies and heritage groups are now discussing measures to protect these invaluable remnants of the Apollo era. They are sketching out key plans in order to move forward real fast. With a surge in burgeoning space tourism and commercial lunar missions, there is a lively debate about how best to safeguard these sites. Lunar tourism doesn't look that far away. Some critics argue that increased human activity on the moon could risk contamination while others see it as an opportunity to study the moon’s unique geological record firsthand. It would be as educational as visiting a museum or planetarium.
Regardless of the perspective, the consensus is clear that our lunar heritage must be carefully preserved for future generations. Not everyone of us will reach the moon in our lifetime but down the decades, they surely will. If we don't preserve Apollo sites now, they will never see evidence of what we did in our past. The excitement around potential new landing sites is tempered by the responsibility to conserve the legacy of past achievements. Yes, so do you see how serious this is? It is a delicate balance between advancing human exploration and protecting the artefacts that chronicle our journey beyond Earth. Our first dive into deep space began with the moon.
Will our great-grandkids moonwalk over Neil’s steps?
With lunar tourism looming (ahem, Blue Origin and SpaceX),
the ethics of preservation are murky. Things are moving fast but not the wheels of lunar preservation. Imagine influencers taking selfies with
Armstrong’s prints such as #OneSmallStepForFilters. They always have something goofy to create. Meanwhile, scientists dream
of studying these sites to understand long-term lunar geology. Referring to the past and then making new discoveries are our standards. There is a million-year
forecast for the footprints on the moon. By the way things are right now, they will survive unaltered for that long. Barring a direct asteroid hit, climate
models suggest that…
1,000 years – The prints remain pristine.
1 million years – Erosion may shallow prints to 0.5cm depth.
10 million years – Likely erased by accumulated micrometeorite strikes.
Then there is this goofy forecast for kicks.
5.3-million-year forecast…
1,000 AD v/s 3024 AD – Pyramids eroded, TikTok servers fried but moon prints still fresh.
Alien archaeologists – “Why did they leave so many boots?”
Jokes aside, there are companies that are working on trying to
protect the footprints of astronauts left on the moon. It is going to be extremely expensive but their passion is undaunted. Some of the methods which
they have schemed up are as follows.
Digital preservation – The Arch Mission Foundation’s 2024 project aims to laser-map Apollo sites for VR by employing 3D scans. They aim to create something like Google Earth but of the moon. By creating 3D Time Capsules, groups like the Arch Mission Foundation use lasers to scan Apollo sites. They will remain forever in our digital space even if the moonprints get wiped out. Soon, you’ll take VR moonwalks from your sofa. How exciting that'd be! Other startups are minting NFT footprints and storing data on decentralised servers. This might become soon publicly available for a price. They are building blockchain backups too. Because, of course, someone’s selling them. However, the prints on the moon would be available as it is...or was, just in case.
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| Source - Arch Mission Foundation |
Lunar tourism’s ethics and dilemma – A ‘Leave No Trace’ ethics is in consideration. You don't want 100s of footprints anywhere near Armstrong and the other moonwalkers' footprints. Should visitors be banned from walking near Apollo sites? I think yes. Another proposed tech is employing augmented reality tours or hovering drones to minimise physical impact. They don't cause much sandblasting because there is no atmosphere on the moon to cause substantial winds. One of the proposed rules is to strictly stay 1-km from Apollo sites, no hoverboards and absolutely no hashtagging YOLO on Armstrong’s prints. Rules like these ensure that space tourism won't affect our lunar relics.
Cosmic ironies, humour and lunar oddities that you cannot unknow
The numbers game – Each Apollo mission left ~1,000
footprints. Of course, there were several manned journeys to the moon. Total lunar steps is about ~6,000. Ohh, that's a lot of walking. The average depth? 12cms! Didn't know the lunar regolith sinks you a bit huh? But it is still deeper
than your commitment to New Year’s resolutions.
Flaggate – While the nylon US flags have likely bleached into oblivion (thanks to UV rays), the footprints endure. The flags couldn't be saved but the colourless footprints can be saved. Irony alert because the flags were made by a New Jersey flag company for $5.50 each. Actually, nobody knew that the flags would lose colour on the moon.
Space boots 101 – Apollo boots had silicone soles for insulation. It made the shoes durable and safer. NASA almost used wool insulation until engineers realised regolith would cling to it like cat hair. That would make the shoes bulky and inefficient eventually. The tread pattern was unique to avoid tracking muddy lunar regolith into the lunar module. The design ensured the lunar soil would spill away. It was a chevron design to maximise grip and minimise regolith clumping. It was very important to walk comfortably. Also, those silicone soles were designed to insulate against extreme temperatures (100°C to -150°C). The day time on the moon is extremely hot and the night time on the moon is extremely cold. The grooves and tread patterns weren’t just for grip. Their function was to tackle the moon's soil. They prevented moon dust from clumping and short-circuiting the equipment. You don't want free floating sand particles inside your craft while travelling to Earth in the void of space. The post-mission fate happened that 12 pairs of boots remain on the moon. They remain as our garbage left on the moon among others. Collectors once bid $80,000 for a replica.
Lunar golf – Apollo 14 mission’s Alan Shepard smuggled a golf club head and hit two balls miles and miles in the low gravity. Well, not literally but metaphorically when compared to the golfing reach on Earth. One travelled 36 metres (thanks, low gravity!). A small hit sent it away so far. In 2023, imaging sleuths found one ball 36m from the landing site. It was an incredible find! Researchers spotted another ball using AI-enhanced orbital images. Alan would have never imagined someone would discover them decades later from the Earth.
Did you know that the lunar dust is as abrasive as a fine sandpaper? Yeah, they are corrosive to surfaces if you rub them on. This means that while the dust itself is constantly bombarded by tiny meteorites, it helps lock the footprints in place rather than erasing them. Being rough, they bind to each other strongly and are difficult to separate.
The footprints are expected to outlast all human monuments on Earth - Even if our terrestrial landmarks crumble over time, these marks on the moon will remain and serve as a silent testament to a bold chapter in human history. It will be our only signature unless we can come up with something else substantial to leave on another celestial object.
Apollo’s abandoned ‘junk’ – 96 bags of poo. All the moon missions marked that as achievements too. Yes, astronauts left their waste behind on the moon. What'd have happened to the cargo by now? Dehydrated, radiation-blasted and possibly still pungent. Hope we don't get to hear anything of that sort from future missions.
Family photos – Apollo 16 mission’s astronaut Charlie Duke left a framed family portrait on the surface. That photo is the only photo of any kind on the moon. It is now totally sun-bleached but the aluminium frame remains. Unless we go back and see, we will never know how badly it would have degraded by now.
A legacy stamped on dust
The story of the moon’s footprints is a blend of geological marvel, human endeavour and with a touch of poetic irony. It was a journey like no other in the animal kingdom. In a world where so much is transcient, the marks left on the lunar surface stand as an enduring monument to the curiosity and perseverance of our species. The story of the apes that looked up at the stars. They remind us that when we take a step into the unknown, we are not just marking our path but also inscribing our history on the fabric of the cosmos. The legacy of our species is written in the skies.
Long after Shakespeare’s quill has crumbled and the Eiffel Tower has rusted, those silent lunar footprints will endure. They will remain mute evidence of our existence. Long after the Pyramids have dissolved into dust and the internet’s servers have crumbled, those silent lunar footprints will endure. When lunar preservation materializes, they will carry on our names into eternity. It’s not just a celestial neighbour. Oh no, it is much more beyond that. It’s an archive, a museum and perhaps one day, a pilgrimage site for future generations. The moon is the only cosmic body that welcomed us into it's abode in person. Let us celebrate these timeless tracks as more than mere impressions. We will never have another any time soon. They are a vibrant legacy of our desire to reach out, to discover and to leave our mark on the universe. As we gear up for lunar condos and Mars colonies, let’s not trample the one place that’s kept our legacy safe…even if it’s just a bunch of toe marks in space glitter. Yes, it is that important, thank you.
#moon #astronaut #neilarmstrong #footprints #moonprints #cosmology #astronomy #science #physics #fact
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