A global initiative seeks to store Earth's knowledge in a lunar library as part of the Sanctuary on the Moon project, led by engineer Benoit Faiveley and supported by the French government, NASA, and UNESCO.
The article discusses an ambitious international effort dubbed the Sanctuary on the Moon project, which aims to preserve human knowledge for future generations by storing it on the Moon. Spearheaded by engineer Benoit Faiveley and supported by organizations such as UNESCO and NASA, the project plans to record various domains of knowledge on 24 sapphire discs, utilizing microscopic engraving. These discs will be placed in a lunar crater during one of the Artemis missions planned for 2029.
To curate this knowledge effectively, interdisciplinary workshops are being held around the world, where experts from different fields exchange views and discuss what knowledge is essential for preservation. The workshops focus on themes such as life, time, and society, allowing a diverse range of participants, including a Brazilian anthropologist who took part in a workshop in France to reflect on which aspects of knowledge should be immortalized. The initiative represents a significant step toward safeguarding human heritage and stimulates global collaboration among scientists, artists, and researchers.
This project not only serves as a physical archive of human knowledge but also raises questions about what constitutes essential knowledge and who gets to decide this. As humanity faces various challenges, the Sanctuary on the Moon highlights the importance of foresight and global cooperation in preserving our understanding for future generations, potentially benefiting humanity and future extraterrestrial explorers alike.
