The upcoming moon lander launch is being criticized for a portion of its cargo: the ashes of dozens of people receiving space funerals.
Traditions like those held by Indigenous peoples hold the moon sacred and sending human remains there can be seen as an act of desecration.
The upcoming moon lander launch is being criticized for a portion of its cargo: the ashes of dozens of people receiving space funerals. The controversy echoes an incident that NASA faced in the late 1990s but with new twists brought about by today's global, commercially aided moon rush. Traditions like those held by Indigenous peoples hold the moon sacred and sending human remains there can be seen as an act of desecration. The Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said that allowing human remains to touch down there would be an affront to many indigenous cultures and revere the moon.
The White House has convened a last-minute meeting to discuss a private mission to the moon set to launch in days after the largest group of Native Americans in the United States asked for it.
If successful, Peregrine Mission One will be the first time an American-made spacecraft has landed on the lunar surface since 1972.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said that allowing human remains to touch down there would be an affront to many indigenous cultures and revere the moon.
Celestis CEO Charles Chafer told CNN that Celestis does not find Navajo concerns substantive, as their memorial spaceflight mission is handled with care and reverence.
Elysium Space has not responded to CNN's request for a comment but describes its lunar memorial as delivering a symbolic portion of remains to the surface of the Moon.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it presents the Navajo Nation's objection to human remains being carried to the moon as a recent development when in fact they have expressed concerns about this issue before. The author also quotes Celestis CEO Charles Chafer stating that their memorial spaceflight mission does not desecrate the moon, which is false. Additionally, Elysium Space has not responded to CNN's request for comment and therefore cannot be evaluated.
The Navajo Nation has expressed concerns about human remains being carried to the moon before this recent development.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an informal fallacy of appeal to authority when it states that Celestis CEO Charles Chafer told CNN that the company rejects the assertion that their memorial spaceflight mission desecrates the moon. This statement is not supported by any evidence or reasoning provided in the article, and therefore cannot be considered a valid argument.
Celestis CEO Charles Chafer told CNN that “the suggestion of transforming it into a resting place for human remains is deeply disturbing and unacceptable to our people and many other tribal nations.”
“We reject the assertion that our memorial spaceflight mission desecrates the moon,”
Bias
(85%)
The author of the article is biased towards allowing the human remains to be carried to the moon for burial. The author quotes Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren as saying that it would be an affront to many indigenous cultures and revere the moon. However, this statement contradicts information provided by Celestis CEO Charles Chafer who states that their memorial spaceflight mission does not desecrate the moon.
The author quotes Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren as saying that allowing human remains to touch down on the lunar surface would be an affront to many indigenous cultures and revere the moon.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Kristin Fisher has a conflict of interest on the topics of Navajo Nation and NASA Lunar Prospector mission. She is an employee of CNN which is owned by AT&T, a company that has contracts with NASA for commercial space transportation.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topics of NASA Lunar Prospector mission, Eugene Shoemaker crash on moon in 1999 and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative by NASA. The author is likely biased towards these topics as they are related to her job at CNN.
The article mentions the NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who have a stake in the commercial space industry. The author may be hesitant to report on any negative aspects of this industry due to potential conflicts of interest.
The article mentions the NASA Lunar Prospector mission, Eugene Shoemaker crash on moon in 1999 and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative by NASA. The author is likely biased towards these topics as they are related to her job at CNN.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic are about to make history by sending a ULA rocket towards the moon with Peregrine lander.
Peregrine will become the first private lander ever to reach the lunar surface, marking the debut of ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket.
NASA has contracted for its scientific payloads to be transported to the moon as part of Artemis program.
Celestis will send one of its memorial payloads off into deep space on Enterprise mission, while Elysium Space will place their own payload on the moon with Peregrine lander.
Accuracy
The Navajo Nation has filed a formal objection to the mission due to what they call an act of desecration by depositing human remains and other materials on the moon.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it presents the inclusion of human remains on a private mission to the moon as an act of desecration by NASA and ULA. However, this claim is false because NASA has no control over what payloads are included in commercial missions launched through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The article also presents Celestis' CEO Charles Chafer stating that religious beliefs should not dictate space efforts, which contradicts the Navajo Nation's objections to the mission.
The article claims that NASA and ULA are responsible for desecration of sacred space by including human remains on a private mission to the moon. However, this claim is false because NASA has no control over what payloads are included in commercial missions launched through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
The article presents Celestis' CEO Charles Chafer stating that religious beliefs should not dictate space efforts. This statement contradicts the Navajo Nation's objections to the mission.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it quotes NASA representatives stating that the mission is a private, commercial effort and that NASA has merely contracted for its scientific payloads to be transported to the moon. This statement implies that NASA endorses the inclusion of human remains on the mission, which is not true. Additionally, there are examples of inflammatory rhetoric used by Brett Tingley when he states that Celestis and Elysium Space will also place their own payloads on the moon with Peregrine. This statement implies that these companies have a right to desecrate sacred space, which is not true.
NASA representatives stated that the mission is a private, commercial effort and that NASA has merely contracted for its scientific payloads to be transported to the moon.
Bias
(85%)
The author of the article is Brett Tingley and he has a history of writing articles that are biased towards space exploration. The title mentions NASA's response to an objection from the Navajo Nation regarding human remains being placed on the moon as part of a private mission, which implies that there may be some bias in favor of this type of commercial endeavor.
The article mentions that Celestis and Elysium Space will place their own payloads on the moon with Peregrine. This suggests that the author is biased towards private companies being involved in space exploration, as opposed to government-funded missions.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
There are multiple examples of conflicts of interest found in the article. The author has financial ties to ULA and Celestis, which may compromise their ability to report objectively on these topics.
The author is a host for Space News Now, which is owned by ULA.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The article mentions several companies and organizations that have a vested interest in space travel and exploration, including NASA, ULA, Astrobotic, Celestis and Elysium Space. Additionally the Navajo Nation objections to private mission placing human remains on the moon are mentioned which could be seen as an ideological bias.
Charles Chafer, CEO and co-founder of Celestis
Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration at the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters
NASA responds to Navajo Nation's request to delay private mission placing human remains on the moon
The article mentions several companies and organizations that have a vested interest in space travel and exploration, including NASA, ULA, Astrobotic, Celestis and Elysium Space.
The Navajo Nation objections to private mission placing human remains on the moon are mentioned which could be seen as an ideological bias.
The upcoming moon lander launch is being criticized for a portion of its cargo: the ashes of dozens of people receiving space funerals.
Traditions like those held by Indigenous peoples hold the moon sacred and sending human remains there can be seen as an act of desecration.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said that allowing human remains to touch down there would be an affront to many indigenous cultures and revere the moon.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in that it presents the idea of sending human remains to space as a harmless and celebratory act. However, this goes against the beliefs and traditions of many Indigenous peoples who hold the moon sacred. The author attempts to justify this practice by citing international laws that allow for such activities, but these laws do not take into account cultural or spiritual differences.
The article presents sending human remains to space as a harmless and celebratory act.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article discusses the controversy surrounding a privately funded moon lander that is carrying human remains. The author explains how this violates traditional Navajo beliefs about the sanctity of the moon and could be seen as desecration. They also mention previous incidents where NASA faced similar controversies, but with new twists brought about by today's global, commercially aided moon rush. The article highlights how uncertainties about what can and cannot be done in space are vast and gray like the moon itself. It discusses international policies regarding spaceflight and how regulations have been scarce for commercial missions. The author also mentions that complaints from communities like the Navajo Nation are a good reminder of the importance of bringing as many voices as possible into ongoing discussions about what limits should exist for humanity's actions beyond Earth.
The moon is sacred to many Indigenous peoples, including the Navajo people. Sending human remains there can be seen as an act of desecration.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Meghan Bartels has a conflict of interest on the topic of human remains being sent to the moon as she is an employee of Celestis Space Inc., which is involved in this mission.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of human remains being sent to the moon. The article mentions that NASA's Lunar Prospector mission will be carrying human remains and it is not clear if this was disclosed in advance.
NASA's Lunar Prospector mission will carry human remains
