Discarded Apollo 11 items left on the moon get California historical status
More than 100 items left behind on the moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts were named a California historical resource by a state preservation panel today.
The move by the California State Historical Resources Commission is part of a larger effort by scientists to protect what they say are valuable cultural artifacts at Tranquility Base, where man first set foot on the moon July 20, 1969.
Similar efforts are in the works in other states with close ties to the Apollo program in the hopes of building momentum to have the items named a United Nations World Heritage Site. International treaties prohibit nations claiming sovereignty to the moon – but not to man-made objects that were left there.
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin jettisoned scientific equipment, tools, empty containers and waste products to lighten the load of the Eagle lunar module for take-off and to account for the weight of moon rocks and soil samples.
-- Mike Anton in Orange County
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Astronaut waste products now have historical status? Might want to re-think that
Posted by: Jim H | January 29, 2010 at 04:17 PM
LOL!!!! THIS IS HYSTERICAL!!! Since Obama just put the moon on forever hold, how are they going to put up their bronze placque? I'm sure those Apollo 11 parts, and for that matter the MOON, really cares about this stupid, idiotic, so called news item.
Posted by: My opinon means nothing | January 29, 2010 at 05:07 PM
Wow... I didn't know the moon was part of California. This is just another example in the very long line of examples of our state government agencies wasting their time and our tax dollars. Why do we pay these people anyway? This is pure stupidity.
Posted by: West Valley Dave | January 29, 2010 at 05:49 PM
You have to be kidding me! In this state we have massive debt, unemployment, reduced government services and we seem stuck on a neverending fire/flood cycle in LA, and the taxpayers of this state are PAYING these morons in Sacremento to PROTECT JUNK ON THE MOON!
Good Lord - can we fire these clowns to save money? Now? Please?
Posted by: Bob Spelled Backwards is Bob | January 30, 2010 at 11:26 AM
Ever heard of "hike out your trash"?!
Posted by: Tara | January 30, 2010 at 10:27 PM