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Out of this World: Issues of Managing Tourism and Humanity’s Heritage on the Moon

2006; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 12; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/13527250600726911

1470-3610

Dirk Spennemann,

Space exploration and regulation

Abstract Space tourism has become a reality and is bound to become ever more affordable. It is now time to spend serious thought on how humanity is going to manage the human material culture and heritage sites on the surface of the Moon. After all, the Apollo XI mission is of global human significance inasmuch as it was the first time a human being set foot on another celestial body. Environmental conditions on the Moon are such that what is considered low‐impact visitation on Earth would have devastating consequences for the heritage on the lunar surface. This paper highlights a range of issues, not the least of these being management in an environment without territorial control, neither physically nor legally. The multinational management of Antarctica is proposed as a model for the lunar surface. Keywords: Heritage PolicyHeritage TourismWorld HeritageSpace HeritageSpace Exploration Acknowledgements I am indebted to Linda Kosmer (Melbourne) who collaborated on earlier work on the topic. The images have been sourced as follows: Figure 1. Base map source: http://www.nasm.edu/apollo/FIGURES/LandingSitesMap.jpg Figure 2. Source: NSSDC, http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/news/image/conrad_19990709_c.jpg. Figure 3. Source: Robert Christy, http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/Luna/Luna2.htm Notes [1] Sarkissian, ‘On Eagle’s Wings’. [2] Cockell and Horneck, ‘A Planetary Park System for Mars’; Williamson, ‘Space Ethics and Protection of the Space Environment’. [3] Rogers, ‘Safeguarding Tranquility Base’. [4] Spennemann, ‘The Ethics of Treading on Neil Armstrong’s Footsteps’. [5] Barclay and Brooks, ‘In situ Preservation of Historic Spacecraft’; Gorman, ‘Cultural Heritage Management in Orbit’. [6] Campbell, ‘Assessing and Managing Human Space Heritage in the Solar System’. [7] Cf. Butowsky, Man in Space. [8] Spennemann and Kosmer, ‘Heritage Sites of the US Space Program in Australia’; L. Kosmer, ‘Issues in Significance and Heritage Management of Project Apollo’. Bachelor of Applied Science Honours diss., School of Environmental and Information Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, 2003. [9] Spennemann, ‘The Naval Heritage of Project Apollo’. [10] NASA argued that it endangered the rest of the crew to have an untrained space traveller on board a mission. Jeff Hecht, ‘Tito Arrives’, New Scientist (online), 30 April 2001, http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns9999682 (accessed 26 February 2004); Laura Spinney and Jeff Hecht, ‘Tito Explores’, New Scientist (online), 2 May 2001, http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns9999691 (accessed 26 February 2004). [11] Will Knight, ‘Russia Plans Space Tourist Outpost’, New Scientist (online), 4 September 2001, http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991235 (accessed 26 February 2004); Will Knight, ‘Two New Space Tourist Deals Lift Off’, New Scientist (online), 5 December 2001, http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991653 (accessed 26 February 2004); Will Knight, ‘Space Tourist Vehicle Unveiled in Russia’, New Scientist (online), 15 March 2002, http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992049 (accessed 26 February 2004). [12] Duncan Graham‐Rowe, ‘Space Certificates’, New Scientist (online), 2 May 2001, http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns9999689 (accessed 26 February 2004); Will Knight, ‘House Rules for Space Tourist Agreed’, New Scientist (online), 1 February 2002, http://www.newscientist.com?news/news.jsp?id=ns99991874 (accessed 26 February 2004). [13] G. Cordorette, ‘News Release—Lance Boss Cleared for Russian Space Flight’ New Scientist (online), 2 June 2002, http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/article/1109582 (accessed 12 August 2002). [14] Chien, ‘Saturn Revisited’. [15] Harris, ‘A Case for Permanent Lunar Development and Investment’. [16] ‘President Bush Announces New Vision for Space Exploration Program’, Press Release, Office of the Press Secretary, the White House, Washington, DC, 2004. [17] Will Knight, ‘Second “Space Tourist” Begins Voyage’, New Scientist (online), 25 April 2002, http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992216 (accessed 26 February 2004); Will Knight, ‘“Space Tourist” Insists on Pioneering Role’, New Scientist (online), 20 April 2002, http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992190 (accessed 26 February 2004). [18] Mellberg, Moon Missions. [19] M. DeCotis, ‘Returning to the Moon: Retrieving Lunar Resources’, 13 January 1998 (online), http://www.flatoday.com/space/explore/stories/1998/011398d.htm (accessed 11 March 2003); J. Carlton, ‘Should the UN Make the Moon Off Limits for Development?’, 24 May 2002 (online), http://www.mindfully.org/Heritage/Make-Moon-Off-LimitsWSJ24may02.htm (accessed 26 February 2004). [20] Reichert, ‘The Future of Human Spaceflight, 495–522. [21] Will Knight, ‘Commercial Moon Mission Sets Launch Date’, New Scientist (online), 28 November 2002 http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993123 (accessed 26 February 2004); Will Knight, ‘Moon Mission Will “Talk” to Web Surfers’, New Scientist (online), 3 February 2004, http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994633 (accessed 26 February 2004). [22] Ian Sample, ‘Space Tourism Viable at $15,000 a Seat’, New Scientist (online), 31 October 2002, http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992983 (accessed 26 February 2004). [23] Ibid.; Govert Shilling, ‘Shoot for the Moon’, New Scientist (online), 6 June 2001, http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns9999839 (accessed 26 February 2004). [24] Eberhard Jurgalski, Compiler and Editor of http://www.AdventureStats.com., pers. comm., e‐mail, 27 February 2004. [25] Ballard, ‘How We Found the Titanic’; Ballard, ‘A Long Last Look at the Titanic’. [26] Ballard, ‘The Bismarck Found’; Ballard, The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal; Allen, ‘Return to the Battle of Midway’. [27] During diving operations as early as 1987, with successive salvages in 1994, 1996, 1998, 1993 and 2000: Ballard with McConnell, Explorations, 380–81; McInnes, ‘Tragedy in Three Dimensions’; RMS Titanic Inc. Corporate Profile, 2001 (online), http://www.titanic-online.com/rmst/rms_corp.htm (accessed 24 February 2004); Shire, ‘Titanic Pillage’; Sinclair, ‘Titanic’s No Treasure Chest’; Elia, ‘Fate of the Titanic’; Clyne, ‘Titanic’s No Treasure Chest’; Schuster, ‘Rape of Titanic’. [28] Helen O’Neill, ‘Down to the Titanic. Are Tourists Desecrating Graves or Honoring the Memories of Victims?’, New Standard (The Standard Times, New Bedford, MA), 18 October 1998, http://www.s-t.com/daily/10-98/10-18-98/a02wn009.htm (accessed 12 June 2003). [29] An American company advertised trips aboard the Russian vessel Akademik Keldysh, including visits in the vessel’s submersibles to the Bismarck, or to the Titanic, both priced between US$35,000 and US$37,000. Zegrahm Expeditions Undersea Adventures, ‘Explore Famous Shipwrecks and Sinkings. First‐ever Manned Submersible Dives to Bismarck’, 2000 (online), http://www.airhighways.com/marine_adventures.htm (accessed 26 February 2004). [30] Midgley, Spennemann and Johnstone, ‘The Impact of Visitors on Aboriginal Sites in Mungo National Park’. [31] National Space Science Data Centre. NSSDC Master Catalog: Spacecraft. Surveyor 3. NSSDC ID: 1967–035A (online), http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=1967-035A (accessed 24 February 2004). [32] NASA, Apollo XII Surveyor 3 Analysis, 2003 (online), http://www./pi.usra.edu/expmoon/Apollo12/A12_Experiments_III.html (accessed 24 February 2004); NASA, Experiments: Operations during Apollo EVA’s, 2002 (online), http://www.ares.jsc.nasa.gov/HumanExplore/Exploration/EXLibrary/docs/ (accessed 6 June 2003). [33] Cf. Roe, Take only Photographs, Leave only Footprints. [34] Worboys, Lockwood and DeLacy, Protected Area Management. [35] ‘Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies’ of 18 December 1979 (online), http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/SpaceLaw/moontxt.html (accessed 24 February 2004). [36] Triggs, International Law and Australian Sovereignty in Antarctica. [37] United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, ‘Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies’ of 27 January 1967 (online), http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/SpaceLaw/liability.html (accessed 24 February 2004), esp. Article 8. [38] United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, ‘Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects’ of 29 March 1972 (online), http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/SpaceLaw/liability.html (accessed 24 February 2004). [39] De Moor, Shaw‐Taylor and Warde, The Management of Common Land. [40] Hardin, ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’. [41] Cf. Shiell and Chapman, ‘The Inertia of Self‐regulation’; Litman, ‘Information Privacy/Information Property’; Jernigan et al., ‘Sex Differences in Adolescent Exposure to Alcohol Advertising in Magazines’. [42] Catchpole, ‘In Commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the Last Apollo Lunar Mission’. [43] For the interrelation of treasure trove and abandoned property with government property, see, for example, Spennemann, ‘Is Unexploded World War II Ammunition Abandoned Property?’ [44] UNESCO, ‘Convention on the Means of Prohibiting the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property’, 1970. [45] Cf. Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 (Commonwealth of Australia). [46] It came into force on 23 June 1961. British Antarctic Survey, text available from: http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/About_Antarctica/Treaty [47] Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, Campaigns: Antarctica Tourism, 2001 (online), http://www.asoc.org/what_tourism.htm (accessed 26 February 2004). [48] International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, A Timeline of Human Activity in Antarctica: Some Selected Highlights, 2001, http://www.iaato.org/overal_history.doc (accessed 26 February 2004). [49] This raises issues of overuse and increases the threat of impact on natural and cultural heritage. In recent years we have seen a move from organised tour groups visiting the area to individuals ‘pushing the envelope’, such as people skiing across the continent, climbing as yet unclimbed mountains or attempting solo flights in single‐engine aircraft. International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, Overview of Antarctic Tourism, 2000 http://www.iaato.org/xxii_iaato_over2000.html (accessed 26 February 2004); International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, ‘Adventure Tourism in Antarctica’, Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting ATCM XXVI Agenda Item 10, 2003, http://www.iaato.org/reports/AdventureTourism.doc (accessed 26 February 2004); International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, A Timeline of Human Activity in Antarctica: Some Selected Highlights, 2001 http://www.iaato.org/overal_history.doc (accessed 26 February 2004); ‘Stuck Antarctic Pilot Refused Fuel for Flight Home’, Sydney Morning Herald, 11 December 2003; Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, ASOC’S Antarctic Tourism Campaign (online), http://www.asoc.org/what_tourism.htm (accessed 10 November 2005).