Part 11/16:
The lunar surface is littered with debris from past moon missions—leftover lunar landers, scientific instruments like retroreflectors, and even human waste. The Apollo astronauts’ footprints remain preserved in the moon’s regalith, untouched by wind or water erosion, essentially serving as a time capsule.
However, this layer of lunar trash underscores the need for sustainable exploration practices. The question of managing space debris on extraterrestrial bodies is a frontier in space law and ethics.