THE ONLY HUMAN TO BE "BURIED" ON THE MOON

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13 March 2024

Humans are planning to colonise the Moon in coming decades, which means people will not only live but also be buried on the planet


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Space burial firm Celestial is taking human remains to the Moon for burial


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But this is not the first such commercial mission to the lunar surface; there are already human remains "buried" on the Moon


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They belong to Eugene Shoemaker, a renowned geologist and pioneer of astrogeology


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He is the first and, to this day, the only human whose ashes were interred on the Moon


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His lifelong dedication to understanding our celestial neighbour earned him this unique honour


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Shoemaker's legacy extends far beyond Earth, as his work paved the way for our understanding of planetary geology and cratering processes


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After Shoemaker died in a car accident in 1994, a colleague asked NASA if her former boss could be sent to the after his cremation


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Carolyn C Porco said it was legend in the planetary science community that Gene had always wanted to go to the Moon and study it


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As we gaze upon the Moon, we are reminded of Shoemaker's indelible mark on lunar exploration and the universe at large


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