A writer from New Brunswick will soon see her literary work showcased on the moon. Jennifer Shelby’s collection of short stories, titled “Borrowed Wings and other stories,” has been selected to be included in the Lunar Codex project. This initiative, part of NASA’s Artemis program, aims to create an archive of cultural works representing diverse global voices.
Rather than simply placing physical books on the lunar surface, the Lunar Codex uses a unique approach where texts are engraved on durable materials like quartz and nickel, making them readable only under a microscope. This innovative technology, similar to microfilm but metal-based, was conceived by Samuel Peralta, a physicist and author from Canada. Peralta founded the Lunar Codex six years ago to uplift artists affected by the pandemic.
The Lunar Codex boasts a diverse collection of art from 264 countries and territories, including works from 156 Indigenous nations. Private entities can purchase space on lunar missions to showcase their creations, with the cost amounting to $1 million per kilogram due to the challenges of sending materials to the moon. Nickel was chosen for its longevity, capable of preserving artworks for billions of years in the lunar environment.
Shelby, known for crafting modern fairytales, expressed her excitement at the prospect of her stories being immortalized in the Lunar Codex. Her imaginative storytelling, which has been featured in various publications, resonates with themes of wonder and magic. Peralta initially contacted Shelby in 2022 seeking permission to include her book in the lunar archive. After a few years of preparation, Shelby’s work is set to join the Lunar Codex on an upcoming mission this winter.
Living in Riverside-Albert near the Bay of Fundy, Shelby finds gazing at the moon from her dark sky corridor home to be a surreal experience. The thought of her stories traveling to the moon fills her with a sense of awe and inspiration. She envisions future possibilities, musing about the potential evolution of tardigrades on the moon interacting with human narratives one day.
The Lunar Codex project continues to embark on missions, with Shelby eagerly anticipating the moment her literary creations journey to the moon, marking a significant milestone in her writing career.
