The recent crash of a discarded booster from a SpaceX rocket on the Moon has become unexpectedly beneficial for planetary science. This incident provides a chance to study the consequences of high-speed impacts on the lunar surface. While this marks another instance of human-made objects reaching the Moon, concerns arise regarding our perception and interaction with extraterrestrial environments.
The terminology used in space exploration mirrors the justification behind the appropriation of Indigenous lands on Earth, known as settler colonialism. This concept involves the idea of terra nullius—land perceived as owned by no one and thus open for exploitation. Similarly, space and the Moon are often treated as unclaimed frontiers. In practice, they become dumping grounds for state and corporate actors, leaving various remnants like flags, sensors, or discarded rocket parts.
With space exploration shifting from government agencies to individuals like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, outer space is increasingly becoming a domain for wealthy entrepreneurs. Unrestricted by governance constraints that apply to state entities, private firms treat the cosmos as a place for experimentation, where rules are often disregarded. The absence of life on the Moon does not exempt us from ethical conduct in space. As an Ojibwe scholar of environmental governance, I view the Moon not as an empty rock but as a significant relational entity—a perspective shared by many Indigenous groups globally.
Indigenous communities consistently oppose unethical space engagements, such as commercial lunar burials and using the Moon as a hazardous waste site. Their argument is that space should not be seen as a blank canvas for human use but rather treated with respect, akin to a relative. Dismissing Indigenous opposition by labeling it “anti-science” is misleading. Collaborations, such as between NASA and the Navajo Nation, show that scientific exploration and relational ethics can coexist effectively. The main concern is stewardship, not space exploration itself.
The impact of an old rocket booster on the Moon offers no insights beyond those naturally provided by meteorite impacts on the lunar surface. In a world grappling with environmental crises due to human actions, thoughtful space interaction is essential. Extending our environmental failings to the Moon is not progress but the amplification of ecological degradation to another domain.
Space exploration requires global accountability and ethical management. Corporate elites should not dictate the rules of cosmic governance. Real advancement depends on the inclusion of marginalized voices, such as Indigenous peoples and the Global South, ensuring collective stewardship of space for everyone.
Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles, an incoming Assistant Professor of Indigenous Studies at Bemidji State University in Minnesota, contributes this perspective. A member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, their research focuses on Indigenous viewpoints on human-environment relations, political ecology, Indigenous geographies of space, and community-focused scholarship. They have published several works on colonialism and space, including a 2020 essay in Society+Space and a chapter in the Routledge Handbook of Outer Space Studies. The opinions expressed in this article are theirs exclusively.