Space is considered the last frontier for a reason. And despite decades of studying the unknown beyond our planet, there is still very little we know. What we do know, however, is that the risk of human debris polluting space and other planets is something we want to avoid as much as possible. That’s why the recent discovery of human waste on Perseverance Mars has created so much conversation.
Why people are worried that Perseverance will find human waste on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars. Image source: NASA
It may seem silly to look at one of Perseverance’s most recent photos and be annoyed that Mars is already full of human waste. After all, it’s not like we’re piling tons of garbage on Mars. And while this is technically true, the discovery of a thermal blanket from the Perseverance landing has raised some questions.
On the one hand, there will always be concerns about climate change that many believe humanity is pushing forward. There are obviously many reasons behind the ongoing changes in our global climate, and humanity certainly has a role to play in all of this. This role that we play has also raised some concerns about how our exploration of space could cause it to be filled with human garbage as well.
These are not invalid concerns in any way. In fact, in 1966, many countries signed the Outer Space Treaty. This agreement essentially agreed that the exploration of the space would be carried out for the benefit of all. He also said that we would avoid “harmful pollution of space and celestial bodies. Obviously, this includes not letting a lot of human debris build up on Mars.
But many argue that this treaty does not say enough. And with the recent discovery by Perseverance, that could be true. Every spaceship we put on Mars or any other planet will leave some kind of garbage behind. It just can’t be avoided. However, there are steps we can take to limit the amount of rubbish we allow to accumulate.
What did Perseverance find anyway?
This piece of glossy paper is part of a thermal blanket, a material used to control temperatures. It’s a surprise to find it here: my descent stage crashed about 2km. Did this piece land here after that, or was it carried by the wind? pic.twitter.com/uVx3VdYfi8
– NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) June 15, 2022
Which brings us back to the rubbish that Perseverance found on Mars. The silver piece of material was embedded in a rock formation on the Martian surface. Although the exact nature of the debris is unknown, NASA believes it is a thermal blanket from the rover’s descent stage.
Thermal blankets are used to control the temperature of spacecraft. The most amazing thing about the location of this piece of rubbish, however, is that it is more than 2 km (about 1.24 miles) from where the Perseverance descent stage crashed. It is not a crazy distance in any case. But it makes you wonder if he landed there or if the wind put him there.
Either way, finding human debris on Mars is a cause for concern, even if the buildup is not yet drastic. As NASA and other space agencies prepare for manned missions to the planet and to other planets, it will be important to find sustainable materials that will deteriorate without creating much additional debris.