A writer from New Brunswick is set to have her literary work showcased on the lunar surface. Jennifer Shelby’s compilation of short stories, “Borrowed Wings and other stories,” will be part of the Lunar Codex project, an assortment of cultural pieces from various regions worldwide, initiated through NASA’s Artemis program.
Rather than simply landing on the moon’s surface, the physical book will be integrated into a unique metal-based technology akin to microfilm. This innovative approach intertwines art and physics, conceived by Samuel Peralta, a Canadian physicist and author who devised NanoFiche technology and established the Lunar Codex to uplift artists affected by the pandemic.
Peralta highlighted the global inclusivity of the Lunar Codex, encompassing contributions from 264 countries and territories, along with 156 Indigenous nations. The initiative collaborates with lunar landing companies that offer space to private individuals interested in lunar placements, with a cost of $1 million per kilogram. The durability of nickel for billions of years on the moon makes it an ideal material for preserving the artworks.
Shelby, known for crafting modern fairytales, expressed her excitement at the prospect of her work being immortalized in the Lunar Codex. Her imaginative storytelling, featured in various publications, resonates with a sense of wonder and creativity.
After a four-year wait and some delays, Shelby’s narrative is poised for inclusion in the upcoming Lunar Codex mission this winter. The anticipation of her work joining this celestial archive has left her in awe, especially gazing at the moon from her Riverside-Albert residence near the Bay of Fundy, renowned for its pristine dark skies.
Reflecting on the potential impact of her lunar-bound story, Shelby mused about the evolution of tardigrades, microscopic creatures accidentally released on the moon in a past incident. Contemplating a future where these resilient organisms might encounter human stories, she harbors a sense of curiosity and inspiration for her next literary endeavor.
