Electronics Weekly
Based on the payload service contract, the “Memory Disc V3” will be installed on a lunar micro-rover developed by the company.
This rover will be deployed to the lunar surface from the “APEX 1.0″ lander, which is heading for Schrodinger Crater on the south pole of the moon. This is all part of iSpace Mission 3, which is currently scheduled to launch no earlier than 2027.
Note that iSpace EUROPE is a subsidiary of the Japanese ispace. And ispace-US, another subsidiary, will be leading the mission.
“As humanity explores space, it is essential that we carry not just our technology, but also our stories, values, and heritage,” said Julien Lamamy, CEO of ispace Europe.
“Through collaboration with governments, cultural institutions, and private partners, ispace is helping to establish a framework for preserving human history beyond our planet—ensuring that the legacy of Earth travels with us as we explore new frontiers.”
Memory Disc V3
The nickel disc has a diameter of 19mm, a thickness of 1.2 mm, and a weight of only 1.7 g.
Using Nano Fiche technology, the disc contains 4GB of information equivalent to modern hieroglyphics, says iSpace. The data is engraved at ultra-high resolution (130,000 DPI) on the surface of the nickel material. The engraving is with the precision of 420x the width of human hair, says iSpace.
Nickel can withstand the harsh environment of space, involving radiation and extreme temperature changes. Unlike paper or terrestrial digital media, the disc will undergo minimal physical deterioration. In theory, the data will be stored for millions of years.
Dubbed a modern-day Rosetta Stone, you can read more about the Memory Disc V3.
According to the organisations involved, the disc is “engineered to safeguard humanity’s cultural and linguistic heritage for millions of years”.
UNESCO
“Languages carry the knowledge, identity, and worldviews of peoples,” said Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant-Director General for Communication and Information at UNESCO.
“Through our work on multilingualism and the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, UNESCO strives to ensure that no language – and no culture – is left behind in this inspiring project.”
The disc was designed by UNESCO and Barrelhand, an American information and technology company.
Images: Barrelhand
See also: ispace cooperating with Swedish Space Corporation for Mission 3
