The controversial spaceflight by Virgin Galactic has successfully completed its mission, carrying fossils of a Southern Ape species and an ancient human relative from the genus Homo.
This bold plan is a collaboration between the American private aerospace company Virgin Galactic and the University of Witwatersrand (South Africa).
According to Ancient Origins, the two fossils that have departed Earth belong to Australopithecus sediba (a species of Southern Ape) and Homo naledi, a close relative of modern humans.
Australopithecus sediba (left) and Homo naledi – (Photo: ANCIENT ORIGINS).
Australopithecus sediba lived in Southern Africa approximately 2 million years ago, while Homo naledi dates back around 250,000 years.
“The journey of these fossils into space represents humanity’s appreciation for the contributions of our ancestors and ancient relatives” – stated Professor Lee Berger, Director of the Center for the Exploration of Human Journey at the University of Witwatersrand.
The fossils are merely fragmented bones, as locating intact specimens from these ancient species is nearly impossible due to their age.
The largest fossil fragment is a clavicle of a young Australopithecus sediba, discovered by Professor Berger’s son when he was just 9 years old during a fossil-hunting trip with his father.
Before being sent into space, these fossils had already contributed to many valuable scientific studies.
The special spacecraft launched by Virgin Galactic departed from Spaceport America in New Mexico on September 8-9 and successfully ascended to an orbital altitude of 88.5 kilometers above the Earth. The spacecraft has now safely returned.
These ancient fossils are referred to as the oldest astronauts; the mission also serves as a test in Virgin Galactic’s plan to open space tourism services.
However, this action has sparked considerable controversy within the anthropological community.
Notably, renowned anthropologist Alessio Venenziano, co-organizer of the AHEAD conference that gathers leading scientists in the field, criticized the flight as lacking scientific basis, raising ethical concerns about respecting human ancestral remains and their usage, as well as misrepresenting anthropology.
Some other scientists have expressed concerns that if the flight encounters issues, these extremely rare specimens could be lost forever, according to Live Science.
