National Park On Moon Proposed By Legislators

National parks are quite abundant here on Earth. They're full of wildlife, plants, trees, mountains, lakes, and pretty much anything else you can think of that deals with nature. However, lawmakers are looking to take the national park movement to the Moon in order preserve the Apollo equipment that still remains on the surface.

The bill is called the Apollo Lunar Landing Legacy Act, and it states that "it is necessary to protect the Apollo lunar landing sites for posterity." Plus, a national park on the moon "will expand and enhance the protection and preservation of the Apollo lunar landing sites, and provide for greater recognition and public understanding of this singular achievement in American history."

Here's where it gets a little complicated, however. The national park won't actually consist of the Moon, but rather only the Apollo equipment and artifacts left on the surface of the Moon. This is because no one can own the Moon, and it's "not subject to national appropriation of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means," according to the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.

Things that would be preserved in the national park would be Apollo landing gear left behind, as well as even footprints of the astronauts that set foot on the moon over 40 years ago. The bill also calls for the Moon's national park to be submitted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which would set beside other historical landmarks on Earth, such as the Roman Colosseum, Serengeti National Park, and the Sydney Opera House.

As for whether or not this bill will pass, we're surprisingly pessimistic. We're sure that Congress has more important bills to look over, and while preserving history is important, the artifacts on the Moon will still be there when we need them — they won't be blowing away anytime soon, unless the aliens get to it first.

VIA: Parade