A Lunar Backup Record of Humanity

TL;DR

This paper proposes establishing a lunar data backup system using advanced laser communications and storage to preserve human civilization's records and history in case of catastrophic Earth events.

Contribution

It introduces a feasible design for a lunar backup data storage system leveraging recent technological advances to safeguard civilization's knowledge.

Findings

Lunar backup system can store extensive human records.

Laser communication enables high data transfer rates.

System can aid civilization recovery after disasters.

Abstract

The risk of a catastrophic or existential disaster for our civilization is increasing this century. A significant motivation for a near-term space settlement is the opportunity to safeguard civilization in the event of a planetary-scale disaster. A catastrophic event could destroy the significant cultural, scientific, and technological progress on Earth. However, early space settlements can preserve records of human activity by maintaining a backup data storage system. The backup can also store information about the events leading up to the disaster. The system would improve the ability of early space settlers to recover our civilization after collapse. We show that advances in laser communications and data storage enable the development of a data storage system on the lunar surface with a sufficient uplink data rate and storage capacity to preserve valuable information about the achievements of our civilization and the chronology of the disaster.