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The Navajo Nation, the largest Native American tribe in the United States, has voiced concerns about the presence of human ashes on the lander and called the moon mission an "insult" to a sacred symbol in Native American culture, AFP reported on January 5.

On January 8, the Peregrine lander, built by the private company Astrobotic (headquartered in Pennsylvania), is scheduled to be launched to the moon by the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket. This is the first journey by a private lander under the commercial partnership program aimed at reducing the cost of US space exploration activities.

Scientific instruments on the Peregrine lander will study radiation levels on the lunar surface, allowing NASA to better prepare for a human mission to Earth's natural satellite under the Artemis program.

The problem, however, is that the lander also carries a capsule containing human ashes and DNA from two companies, Elysium Space and Celestis, which have faced opposition from Native Americans.

While Elysium has not provided any information, Celestis says that a total of 69 "individuals" will have their ashes and DNA permanently deposited on the moon.

Customers must pay from $12,995 or more to have their loved one's ashes included on this trip.

In a letter to NASA and the US Department of Transportation, "President" of the "Navajo Nation" Buu Nygren expressed deep concern and great disappointment that the US government allowed the sending of human ashes to the moon. He asked NASA to postpone the launch.

"The moon holds a sacred place in Native American culture, including ours," Nygren wrote, adding that this was an act of desecration of the moon.

NASA has apologized and pledged to consult with Native American tribal communities for future missions. For the January 8 mission, NASA sent representatives to work with the Navajo Nation.