A writer from New Brunswick will soon see 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 project, an initiative under NASA’s Artemis program that archives cultural pieces from various regions globally.
Shelby expressed her excitement, mentioning how gazing at the moon now brings her a sense of joy. The physical book will not be merely left on the moon’s surface but will be etched into a metal medium, similar to microfilm but more durable and microscopic, ensuring longevity.
The brainchild behind this fusion of art and science is Samuel Peralta, a Canadian physicist and author who established the Lunar Codex six years ago. Peralta aims to uplift artists impacted by the pandemic by offering them an avenue to preserve their work in a unique manner.
The Lunar Codex collection encompasses contributions from 264 countries and territories, including 156 Indigenous nations, illustrating its diverse and inclusive nature. Private entities can purchase space on lunar missions to place items on the moon, with the cost of one kilogram being $1 million. The choice of nickel as the storage material is both cost-effective and durable, ensuring the artwork’s preservation for billions of years.
Currently, the Lunar Codex has completed five missions out of its planned ten, with the next launch scheduled for the upcoming winter, featuring Shelby’s literary pieces. For Shelby, seeing her work immortalized in the Lunar Codex is akin to witnessing one of her fantastical stories coming to life. Her writing, described as modern-day fairytales, has been featured in various publications and collections.
Despite having had time to process the idea, Shelby remains awe-inspired by the prospect of her work journeying to the moon. Living in Riverside-Albert, near the Bay of Fundy, an area renowned for its dark skies, gazing at the moon continues to evoke a sense of wonder within her.
Already contemplating a story inspired by this remarkable experience, Shelby reminisces about a 2019 news article detailing a moon landing mishap that inadvertently released tardigrades, microscopic creatures, on the lunar surface. She muses about the possibility of these beings evolving and one day engaging with human stories.