ST PETERSBURG — A Russian astronomer has proposed establishing a repository on the Moon to store human DNA and key achievements of civilization, local media reported on Friday.
Vladimir Surdin, a senior researcher at the State Astronomical Institute named after P K Shternberg, made the remarks at Darwin’s Week held at the Novosibirsk State University.
The proposed archive would include digital records of human history and culture, as well as human DNA, from which people could theoretically be reconstructed from cells.
He noted that the Earth already hosts similar preservation efforts, citing seed vaults such as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. However, he warned that climate change is reducing the long-term reliability of such facilities.
From a technical standpoint, Surdin said the project could be realized with existing technology.