Lunar mission stirs controversy. Human ashes and DNA set for a journey to the moon

The mission is being launched from the Kennedy Space Force Base and is planned for January 8. The United Launch Alliance rocket aims to deliver the Astrobotic Technology's Peregrine lander to the moon. The payload includes items from Celestis, featuring human DNA and ashes samples.

The services Celestis provides are often mistakenly linked to the funeral industry. This company offers a new form of commemoration that could be for a deceased or a living person. To do this, they send small quantities of human ashes and DNA samples to the moon, an idea that is not entirely new.

Human ashes have previously been sent to the moon, with NASA transporting the remains of geologist Eugene Shoemaker there in the mid-90s. Now, the moon is expected to receive the ashes of several former U.S. presidents and creators of iconic SciFi works in the same way. Also included are the DNA samples of the CEO of United Launch Alliance and several people associated with the planned launch.

However, not everyone has been supportive of this event. Some representatives of the Navajo tribe, for example, have protested the mission. Like many indigenous cultures, they view the moon as sacred and believe that depositing human remains there is a form of blasphemy.

Despite attempts by the Navajo tribe to halt the mission, NASA proved inflexible. Maintaining specific standards for commercial space missions, the space agency confirmed that the payload with biological material will remain on board. They also expressed that they do not intend to interfere with the contents of future private space flights.

Accordingly, the ashes will continue their journey to the moon, and the launch will proceed as scheduled. Nevertheless, the Navajo tribe's objections led to an important, though non-binding, declaration by officials: private space missions may travel to space for any purpose and transport anything they wish. This stands in contrast to traditional aircraft transport, which does not hold such a degree of autonomy.