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  • Initial Steps Toward a Lunar Archive of Emergency Information

    Paper number

    IAC-13,E5,5,6,x19617

    Author

    Dr. James Burke, The Planetary Society, United States

    Coauthor

    Ms. Angela Peura, Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, United States

    Coauthor

    Ms. Laura Burns, General Dynamics C4 Systems, United States

    Year

    2013

    Abstract
    Placing on the Moon a retrievable store of critical information for recovery after a global catastrophe on Earth is technically feasible but not now the subject of any serious planning. In this paper we examine ways to get started on a small robotic scale, with the intent both to build credibility for the concept and to implant an actual store of data that could be retrieved by future visitors, either robotic or human. The idea of a lunar backup for the vital elements of Earth's civilization has been examined in various studies including the Phoenix project of the International Space University at its 2007 session in Beijing. With burial about a meter below the surface, a data capsule will be protected from most ionizing radiation and impacts and will be in a cold and constant thermal environment. An interesting problem is how to assure that Earth's survivors can find and use cached emergency supplies and the systems needed to call back down the stored lunar data to enable the restart of robust agriculture and other vital functions. Previous space missions, both robotic and human, have demonstrated some necessary capacities; here we explore and advocate some next logical steps.
    Abstract document

    IAC-13,E5,5,6,x19617.brief.pdf

    Manuscript document

    IAC-13,E5,5,6,x19617.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

    To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.