Even though no human has ever set foot on Mars, our presence is undeniable. Since 1971, when the Soviet Mars 2 spacecraft crash-landed on the planet’s surface, debris from various missions has accumulated, transforming Mars into a celestial museum of exploration. Scattered across the Martian landscape are broken parts of rovers, discarded parachutes, and even remnants of Earth’s bacteria inadvertently carried on spacecraft.
While this might sound like littering on a cosmic scale, researchers argue that these artifacts are far from worthless trash—they hold significant historical value.
Preserving the First Traces of Humanity on Another World
A team of anthropologists led by Justin Holcomb from the University of Kansas is pushing for the creation of a detailed catalog documenting every human-made object left on Mars. They propose using existing models like the United Nations’ Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space as a framework. According to Holcomb, preserving these items is critical before Mars’ harsh conditions, including dust storms and radiation, obliterate them.
“These aren’t just pieces of junk—they’re heritage,” Holcomb explains. “Trash can be removed, but heritage needs to be protected for future generations.”
Why Mars Junk Is Different From Earth’s Space Debris
On Earth, space junk typically refers to the growing cloud of orbital debris that threatens satellites and manned missions. The U.S. Department of Defense tracks over 27,000 sizable objects orbiting Earth, but there are countless smaller fragments moving at speeds of up to 15,700 mph. Even something as small as a screw can become a dangerous projectile in space.
Mars, however, presents a different scenario. The artifacts scattered on its surface aren’t just debris—they’re a timeline of human exploration. NASA created a similar inventory for the moon back in 2012, listing about 800 items, including tools, cameras, scientific instruments, and even bags of astronaut waste. Though this catalog wasn’t intended to manage waste, it aimed to preserve a record of humanity’s early ventures into space.
How Mars’ Environment Threatens Its Artifacts
Unlike the moon, Mars poses unique threats to these artifacts. Its surface is constantly reshaped by powerful dust storms, extreme cold, and radiation. One striking example is a 12-mile-high dust devil captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. While these dust devils can occasionally clean surfaces, they’re more likely to coat objects in even more dust.
NASA’s InSight lander, which ceased operations in 2022 due to dust accumulation on its solar panels, is now barely visible under a thick layer of Martian soil. Similarly, a broken rotor blade from the Ingenuity helicopter, which malfunctioned earlier this year, is already blending into the landscape.
Holcomb warns that time is running out for some of these early artifacts. “The Spirit Rover, for instance, is near a growing field of sand dunes that will eventually bury it entirely. Once it’s covered, locating it again will be incredibly difficult,” he says.
What’s Next for Mars Artifact Preservation?
Currently, NASA has no official plans to centralize an inventory of Mars mission remnants. However, each mission team maintains a detailed log of its hardware, meaning that combining these records into a comprehensive catalog could be feasible. Holcomb believes this step is essential, as these objects represent the earliest stages of human expansion into space.
“These artifacts are like ancient tools found on Earth—they symbolize the beginnings of a new era,” Holcomb concludes. “If we don’t act soon, we risk losing a crucial part of our history on another world.”
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