By Epic Infinite News Desk | Source: NASA, Scientific American, The Guardian
Since the dawn of space exploration, humanity has made remarkable strides—from the first moon landing to planning future lunar bases. However, along with progress, astronauts and space agencies have also left behind a legacy of waste on the Moon. According to NASA and recent scientific studies, humans have dumped more than 200 tonnes of gear, debris, and spacecraft parts on the lunar surface, which could take up to 100 million years to naturally degrade due to the Moon’s extreme environment.
A Century of Trash on the Moon
From the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s to more recent robotic landers, every lunar visit has contributed to the growing pile of lunar litter. This includes everything from used boots, shovels, tools, backpacks, camera gear, and science instruments to lunar landers, rovers, and crashed probes from the US, Russia, China, India, and other spacefaring nations. Even personal mementos like family photos and flags have been left behind.
NASA has documented nearly 100 different items left on the Moon during the Apollo missions alone. When you include failed missions and satellites that have crash-landed on the lunar surface, the total waste is estimated to be over 200 tonnes.
Why the Moon Can’t Clean Itself
Unlike Earth, the Moon has no atmosphere, wind, or water to naturally break down or erode the materials. That means everything left there remains almost perfectly preserved. Scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) and research published in Scientific American suggest that the harsh cosmic radiation, micro-meteoroid impacts, and extreme temperature shifts—ranging from -173°C at night to 127°C during the day—can eventually degrade materials. However, the process is incredibly slow.
“It could take up to 100 million years for some of this waste to decompose or break down,” said Dr. Alice Gorman, a space archaeologist at Flinders University, Australia. “The Moon is like a time capsule. Nothing rots, rusts, or disappears easily there.”
A New Race, A New Responsibility
With a new wave of lunar exploration underway—including NASA’s Artemis program, China’s Chang’e missions, and India’s Chandrayaan series—concerns are mounting over how this next phase of moon missions will handle waste. Artemis III, which plans to return astronauts to the Moon by 2026, could contribute even more materials if sustainable policies aren’t put in place.
To address this, space agencies and scientists are now exploring how to clean up the Moon or recycle old equipment. NASA and the European Space Agency have already launched initiatives and design competitions to find solutions.
In 2022, ESA hosted a challenge inviting scientists and startups to develop “in-situ resource utilization” (ISRU) technologies that can turn lunar trash into usable materials. Ideas range from converting old aluminum parts into building materials for moon bases, to using 3D printing to repurpose old gear into tools or solar panels.
“We can’t keep treating the Moon like a dumping ground,” said ESA engineer Jorge Vago. “Every kilogram we bring back or reuse is a step toward a more sustainable space future.”
International Space Law and Lunar Ethics
Currently, there is no binding international treaty that specifically governs waste disposal on celestial bodies. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty only broadly states that space activities must not cause “harmful contamination” of celestial environments. However, experts argue it’s time for clearer rules.
“The Moon is humanity’s shared heritage,” said Michelle Hanlon, co-director of the Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi. “We need to start treating it with the same environmental respect we’re learning to give Earth.”
Conclusion
As space agencies ramp up missions to the Moon, the spotlight is now on space sustainability. The over 200 tonnes of human-made debris on the Moon serve as a stark reminder of our impact—even beyond Earth. If current missions succeed in turning lunar waste into usable resources, it could redefine the future of space exploration and set the standard for cleaner cosmic journeys.
Sources:
- NASA Lunar Artifact Archive
- Scientific American: “What Happens to Trash on the Moon?”
- The Guardian: “There’s 200 Tonnes of Trash on the Moon—and It’ll Be There a Long Time”
- ESA: In-Situ Resource Utilization Program
