Humans Have Left Over 200 Tons of Trash on the Moon — Including Vomit, Old Boots and Bags of Urine

Some people, up to this day, question whether humans have really landed on the moon or if it is all just made up. Those conspiracy theories will always be around; meanwhile, scientists have already estimated that we have left over 200 tons of trash on the moon.

From the Apollo missions to other countries’ own space programs, the almost 200,000 kg of waste includes vomit, old boots, bags of urine, and dozens of other bio-waste bags. Now you might be asking why we are not cleaning them up, or if they ever will dissolve and decay by themselves, just like here on Earth. To answer these reasonable questions, let’s dive deeper.

A Lunar Junkyard Grows

200 tons is a lot of trash, and some people will think that it is not real. However, this estimate includes the rockets, space ships, rovers, and other heavy space machinery and tools. But beyond that, humanity has also left 96 bags of human waste, including urine, feces, and even vomit, all of which can still be observed on the surface of the moon.

The majority are from the USA’s Apollo missions, but other countries like Russia, China, and India have contributed to the lunar mess as well. Those junk items that they left were actually necessary to lighten the spacecraft so they could return to Earth. However, this does not remove the fact that we left all that trash that will probably remain intact for millions of years.

Read more: The Guardian

Waste That Won’t Decompose

How Much Trash Is on the Moon?

The 200 tons of trash we left on the moon will not decompose. Whether it is the equipment or debris from spacecraft, or the human waste, they will all likely stay there for millions of years if left alone. This is simply because of the Moon’s harsh conditions that do not allow the process of decomposition.

Decomposition refers to the natural breakdown of organic matter, which could be by bacteria or fungi. The presence of water, oxygen, atmosphere, wind, and bacteria are some of the necessary conditions for something to decay; however, the moon does not have any of those.

NASA estimates the trash we left on the moon could linger for tens of millions of years, essentially becoming frozen in time. So, scientists are trying their best to make it all worth it by studying whether the microbes trapped within those junks are capable of surviving the Moon’s harsh radiation and vacuum.

Science of Lunar Waste

The bio-waste bags left behind will naturally contain microbes because they are organic waste from humans, such as urine, feces, and vomit. Those microbial lives are now considered unintentional experiments in the field of microbiology.

The moon is harsh; it does not have any atmosphere, water, oxygen, or other essential conditions for life to survive, which are all present here on Earth. So, if lifeforms still persisted, by the time the astronauts came to pick some of the trash up, it could shift our understanding of microbial resilience and open up some new pathways on how to start life on other planets.

Read more: Vox

What It Means for Future Missions

Currently, there is an ongoing debate in the scientific community about whether to try and clean up the mess we have made on the moon or let it be to serve as a part of our history.

Many believe that all of those 200 tons of lunar waste are significant markers of humanity’s first steps on other space bodies. A collective human achievement that should be preserved for future generations to observe.

However, some scientists argue that the trash could be harmful to future missions, making a case for its removal. But it will also be very expensive to try to launch a cleanup mission.

In our opinion, the best way to deal with it is to combine the two arguments. We have to develop a way so that it does not happen again, such as compact, sealed toilets and proper disposal protocols. But, at the same time, preserve our own history, and consider the places where Apollo missions happened a protected space museum archive.

Astronauts left poop on the moon. We should go get it.

Author's Final Thoughts

Some people still believe that we have not yet landed on the moon; however, more individuals are already thinking of dealing with the problems that occurred from landing on it.

No matter what you believe in, it is a fact that we have left nearly 200 tons of lunar waste, which will not decay over time. We have to learn from this experience, but also come to appreciate the collective human achievement, and preserve our own shared space history.

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