Is There Poop On The Moon?

Is there poop on the moon? Everyone always talks about the wonders of space: its vastness, its complexity, and how exploring it is stretching the limits of human endeavor. Oddly, nobody ever talks about what astronauts do with their poop. When Neil Armstrong first took that one small step onto the moon, he left behind more than just a footprint. Among the many items still sitting in the Bay of Tranquility are Neil Armstrong’s boots, a gold replica of an olive branch, a hammer, an insulating blanket, and four defecation collection devices. Yes, Neil Armstrong’s poop is on the Moon.

Is The Moon Poop Being Conserved?

While bags of frozen astronaut poop may sound unimportant, even a little gross, some “extreme heritage” conservationists are very concerned about their protection–as well as the other detritus left behind by humanity’s first moonwalkers. From the Lunar Legacy Site:

“Unfortunately, at the present time both NASA and the Federal Government are not willing to pursue preserving these properties on the moon…The Apollo 11 Lunar Landing Site is not simply a significant site for Americans, it was a significant event for all of humanity. The steps on the moon were a step for mankind. Over 600 million people watched the moon landing. The site belongs to the world.”

For now, Tranquility Base is still tranquil (there is no wind or rain up there to damage things), but preservationists worry that private space enterprises will one day endanger the Apollo landing site, as well as other important landmarks on the moon.

What Do Astronauts Do With Their Poop?

Fortunately, Minute Physics and Smarter Every Day aren’t afraid to tackle such questions. In this video, they explore problems you probably never thought existed: how ejecting urine from a spaceship changes its trajectory, and how astronauts preferred to leave poop on the moon in order to bring back more rock samples. You’re welcome.