Lunar Biological and Social Archive
- Paper number
IAC-07-E5.3.06
- Author
Mr. James Burke, The Planetary Society, United States
- Coauthor
Students of the 2007 Summer Session, International Space University , United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Modern civilization is vulnerable to the loss of its information, material and energy flows due to any of several possible global catasrophes: an asteroid impact, a climate upset causing a deadly shift in ocean chemistry, a pandemic of untreatable disease. Because no such cataclysm has occurred during human history, recovery planning is almost non-existent. Yet prudent measures are beginning to be seen as necessary, as shown by the establishment of a seed bank at Svalbard. This paper represents the work of a multi-national, interdisciplinary student team at the 2007 summer session of the International Space University, charged with the tasks of (a) designing a robust, retrieveable archive with storage in both Moon and Earth, and (b) defining archive contents essential for both immediate survival and longer-term recovery. This will be the first professional treatment of a problem that has up to now been addressed mainly in speculative fiction. The team's report is intended to be an influential contribution to planning for the rescue and rebuilding of society.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-E5.3.06.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.