The country's largest indigenous tribe is concerned about plans to place human remains on the moon.
The Navajo Nation voiced its anger at NASA at a press conference Friday, lamenting the planned Jan. 8 launch of Vulcan Centaur, which will deposit about 250 ash capsules on the moon's surface.
“The burial of human remains on the moon is a grave desecration of the celestial body that our people revere,” Navajo Nation President Boo Nygren said in a statement Thursday, addressing the launch.
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Media relations take a photo of ULA's new rocket, Vulcan Centaur, carrying the Hayabusa lunar module to Space Launch Complex 41(R) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, January 5, 2024. person. It made its maiden flight on January 8, 2024 with a payload that included a civilian lunar lander. The mission, called Cert-1, will also bring on board the bodies of several people associated with the original Star Trek series, including creator Gene Rodenberry and cast member Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura. Rodenberry's ashes have been launched into orbit before. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)
He continued, “This legislation ignores past agreements and commitments of respect and consultation between NASA and the Navajo Nation, particularly after the 1998 moon mission.”
The Navajo Nation originally submitted a letter to NASA and the Department of Transportation on Dec. 21 expressing dissatisfaction with the deposit of human remains by memorial service companies Celestis and Elysium Space.
Navajo leaders say the space launch violates NASA's promise to consult with tribal leaders when considering memorial flights that could potentially scatter ashes on sacred land. He claims to have directed it.
The launch will be carried out by a private company with support and oversight from NASA.
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The country claims that the moon is associated with the same cultural and spiritual interests as the Earth.
Those whose ashes will be taken to the moon include Star Trek actors Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelley and James Doohan, as well as series creator Gene Roddenberry and his wife Majel Barrett.
“I have continued to follow up calling for an immediate postponement of the launch and the initiation of consultations to address this issue,” Nygren said Friday of the launch.
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He continued, “My position is that both NASA and the USDOT should have consulted with Native American tribes before issuing contracts and certificates of loading for missions involving the transport of human remains to the Moon.'' I support it,” he added.
