An increasing number of space agencies and private companies are considering intentionally crashing spacecraft into the Moon as a way to dispose of used satellites and rocket stages. This practice, known as a controlled crash, involves deorbiting a vehicle so it impacts the lunar surface instead of remaining in orbit or drifting into space. However, experts have raised concerns that such impacts could permanently damage historic sites on the Moon, which holds a unique cultural and scientific heritage. These include the landing of the Soviet probe Luna 9 in 1966 and the twelve astronaut footprints left during the Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972. A recent international committee of experts on aerospace heritage met in Italy to discuss how to preserve these lunar traces, which are highly vulnerable to damage. In August, the second stage of a Falcon 9 rocket collided with the Moon, an event closely studied by NASA to understand the effects of such impacts. This was not an isolated incident. According to archaeologist Alice Gorman, cited by Space.com, the Moon has already suffered 51 such impacts, including nine rocket stages and nineteen orbiters. However, the long-term effects of these collisions remain poorly understood. Luca Forassiepi, who attended the meeting, noted that current knowledge relies heavily on simulations, which are necessarily simplified compared to real-world conditions. He recalled that the famous Apollo 11 Eagle module could eventually erode so much that it would turn to dust. Future lunar habitats and mining operations would also be at risk. According to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, states are responsible for damages caused by their equipment to the property of other states. In this context, a country could potentially claim compensation if a rocket stage damaged its cultural heritage on the Moon. However, rules regarding such scenarios are still being developed. The experts are addressing a critical gap in knowledge: the "post-mission void," which refers to the management of sites and objects left on the Moon in the decades following their deployment. First, it is necessary to understand how to protect these remnants. Justin Holcomb, a researcher at the Kansas Geological Survey, uses a field called planetary geoarchaeology, which studies natural and human factors that threaten relics and identifies the best places for their preservation. The committee plans to open discussions with space agencies, scientists, private companies, heritage experts, and communities for whom the Moon holds social or religious significance. The goal is to develop shared guidelines, which will be presented in 2027 to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. These guidelines could eventually become international standards. Beth O'Leary, a specialist in cultural anthropology and archaeology, emphasizes that "The Moon is part of Earth's cultural landscape." Whether the rapid pace of lunar activity will allow all parties to reach an agreement remains uncertain. Controlled crashes create craters, eject lunar regolith (dust and surface debris), and scatter particles at high speeds. On the Moon, the lack of atmosphere means there is no air resistance to slow the impact or erode the damage. Mechanical impacts, vibrations, and debris projections can damage nearby objects, such as probes, flags, and instruments. The exact consequences depend on the mass, speed, angle of impact, and the nature of the lunar surface, which is why simulations and limited observations are both valuable and limited. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty sets a key principle: states are responsible for all national space activities, even those conducted by private companies. If a space object associated with a state causes damage, the issue of responsibility and potential repair can be addressed in an international context. This applies to damage on celestial bodies, even though there is no formal "space police" and enforcement depends on diplomatic and legal processes. The sensitive issue is determining the type of damage—degradation of a historic site, damage to equipment, or disruption of another country’s activities. Planetary geoarchaeology combines geological techniques (such as studying terrain, materials, and surface dynamics) with archaeology to examine the preservation and degradation of human traces on celestial bodies. It helps identify both natural threats (like micrometeorites and extreme temperature changes) and human-caused threats (such as landings, engine plumes, and rover movement). The goal is to map risk zones, estimate safe distances around historical sites, and develop practices to minimize regolith projections or vibrations. These findings can inform shared guidelines, which may eventually become international standards.