A writer from New Brunswick is set to have her literary work showcased on the moon. Jennifer Shelby’s compilation of short stories, titled “Borrowed Wings and other stories,” has been selected to be part of the Lunar Codex, an initiative under NASA’s Artemis program that archives cultural creations worldwide.
Shelby expressed her excitement about the opportunity, noting the special feeling she gets when gazing at the moon. However, rather than physically placing the book on the lunar surface, the content will be stored in a unique manner. Imagine texts like the Bible or book trilogies inscribed on materials like quartz or nickel in a microscopic format.
The technology used is akin to microfilm but with a metal base, blending art and physics in a distinctive way. Samuel Peralta, a Canadian physicist and author, conceived the NanoFiche technology and founded the Lunar Codex with the intent of uplifting artists amidst the pandemic.
Peralta highlighted the diverse representation in the Lunar Codex, encompassing contributions from 264 countries, territories, and 156 Indigenous nations. Companies specializing in lunar landings offer space for private individuals to place items on the moon, with the cost set at $1 million per kilogram. The durability of nickel over billions of years on the moon makes it an ideal medium for preserving artworks.
The Lunar Codex has conducted ten missions so far, with five already launched. The upcoming mission, scheduled for the winter season, will incorporate Shelby’s work. For Shelby, the prospect of her stories being immortalized in the Lunar Codex mirrors the magical essence of her narratives, which she describes as modern-day fairytales.
After a four-year wait and some delays, Shelby’s story is finally slated for inclusion in the Lunar Codex this winter. Despite having time to acclimate to the idea, she remains awestruck by the thought. Living near the Bay of Fundy, renowned for its dark skies, Shelby finds the contemplation of her work on the moon surreal, sparking a sense of wonder within her.
Reflecting on potential future scenarios, Shelby drew inspiration from a past incident involving tardigrades inadvertently released on the moon. She humorously mused about the possibility of these microscopic creatures evolving to read human stories someday.