In the Congress of the United States
119th Congress — 1st Session
Apollo Lunar Landing Legacy Act
Questionable
Congressional Research Service Summary
The Apollo Lunar Landing Legacy Act proposed establishing the Apollo 11 landing site at Tranquility Base as a National Historical Park managed under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior. The bill would also seek to have the site designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bill Details
The bill aimed to protect the Apollo landing sites from future disturbance, including by commercial lunar operations. It acknowledged the Outer Space Treaty’s prohibition on national sovereignty claims over celestial bodies but argued that protecting historic artifacts (the flag, footprints, equipment) did not constitute a territorial claim.
The legislation raised fascinating legal and practical questions: Can you have a National Park with no rangers, no visitors center, and no atmosphere? How do you enforce “stay on the trail” policies 238,900 miles away? Despite these challenges, the underlying goal of preserving humanity’s first steps on another world has genuine merit. The bill never advanced past committee.
Source: This is a real bill introduced in the 113th Congress. View on Congress.gov.
Disclaimer: The absurdity score and editorial commentary above represent this site’s opinion. Bill details should be verified at Congress.gov.
Note: This page contains editorial commentary. Bill data is sourced from public congressional records and may not be fully current. Absurdity scores are subjective editorial ratings. Verify at Congress.gov →