Humans first reached the moon in 1959 when the Soviet Union launched Luna 2. Since then, dozens of other spacecraft have landed on the moon's surface, sometimes successfully and sometimes crashing. The most famous of these were NASA's "Apollo" units that brought people to the moon. However, planned projects in the coming years could change the face of the moon.
Scientists in a new study published in Nature Geoscience suggest recognizing that humans have become the dominant force in shaping the lunar environment and declaring a new geological epoch for the moon—the lunar Anthropocene. Anthropologists and geologists at the University of Kansas stated that space missions have ushered the moon into a new era of human intervention.
The lead author of the study, Justin Holcomb, explained that, "The idea is very similar to discussions about the Anthropocene on Earth—studying how humans have impacted our planet." "We claim that the lunar Anthropocene has already begun," he told the Telegraph. Holcomb hoped that the concept of the lunar Anthropocene would help dispel the myth that the moon is a stable environment that is largely unaffected by humanity.
He noted that "cultural processes are beginning to surpass natural geological processes on the moon," and these processes are linked to sedimentary rock movements, usually involving meteorite impacts and mass movements.
Estimates suggest that humans have left 500,000 pounds of human-made artifacts on the moon's surface, including six American flags, television equipment, and a sculpture made of aluminum called the Fallen Astronaut. There are also golf balls from the moment Alan Shepard attempted to exploit the low gravity, while Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke left a framed picture of his family.
NASA's Artemis mission is set to return humans to the surface again by 2025. In this regard, Holcomb said, "When we think about the impact of rovers, landers, and human movement, they significantly disturb the regolith."
Scientists indicate that in the context of the new space race, the lunar landscape will look completely different in 50 years. "Our goal is to dispel the myth of the static moon and emphasize the importance of our impact not just in the past, but in the present and future as well. We want to start discussions about our impact on the moon's surface before it's too late."
