1. Build a Biodiversity Archive on Earth
Our first step will be to build a carefully documented collection of
biological samples. We will bring together conservation and research
partners to decide what to preserve and how to keep it useful for
future generations.
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Choose samples with a clear purpose. We will
prioritize species with conservation needs and samples that can be
preserved reliably, and explain how those choices are made.
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Build a shared collection. We will work with
biobanks, zoos, aquaria, seed banks, and museums to develop pilot
collections and preservation methods.
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Keep every sample traceable. We will record each
sample’s origin, storage history, and quality so researchers can
understand what it contains and how it may be used.
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Prepare for spaceflight. We will test how samples
respond to vibration, radiation, and temperature changes before
selecting a collection for an orbital demonstration.
What this will make possible: a traceable pilot archive,
shared preservation methods, and a foundation for our first space
experiment.
2. Test Preservation in Orbit
Next, we will test whether selected samples can travel to space, remain
protected in storage, and return in a condition suitable for research.
These missions will help us understand what works before we plan
longer stays beyond Earth.
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Develop protective storage. We will design compact
storage systems suited to each sample type, with temperature control
and protection appropriate for the mission.
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Follow the full journey. We will track samples
through launch, orbital storage, and return, while monitoring the
conditions they experience along the way.
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Compare with samples on Earth. We will keep
matching samples in an Earth-based archive to help assess how
spaceflight affects their quality.
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Share what we learn. We will publish methods and
findings, including limitations, so future missions can build on the
evidence.
What this will make possible: evidence to guide the design of
future space-based archives and the choice of samples they can support.
3. Explore Long-Term Storage Beyond Earth
As the evidence grows, we will explore how archives on Earth and in
space could work together to protect a wider range of biodiversity.
Each next step will depend on demonstrated sample quality and reliable
storage.
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Preserve more forms of life. We will evaluate
additional sample types, including reproductive cells, spores, and
microbial communities, as suitable preservation methods are validated.
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Plan for longer storage. We will investigate how
shielding, temperature control, and ongoing monitoring could protect
samples over longer periods.
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Assess options around and on the Moon. We will
study potential storage locations and their practical limits before
proposing a lunar demonstration.
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Keep the archive useful. We will develop ways for
researchers and conservation teams to use the collections and their
data for research, education, and potential future conservation work.
Our long-term goal: a network of biodiversity archives on Earth
and beyond that preserves options for future generations.
How We Will Validate the Science
At every stage, we will use research and testing to decide what comes
next. We will draw on biobanking and spaceflight research, then evaluate
the methods for the samples and missions we plan to support.
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Start with established methods. We will use
published research and relevant biobanking standards to guide sample
collection, documentation, and storage.
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Test the conditions samples will face. We will
evaluate the effects of radiation, temperature changes, and
microgravity, alongside measures to limit contamination.
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Measure what remains usable. We will check sample
quality before and after each experiment, including whether living
material remains viable where that is the aim.
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Make the evidence reviewable. We will document
methods, results, and uncertainties so others can assess our findings
and help improve future work.
Progress will be guided by what the evidence supports at each stage.
How We Will Care for a Shared Resource
Preserving biodiversity comes with responsibilities to the people and
places it comes from. We will build clear rules for how samples are
collected, cared for, and accessed, with input from contributing
communities and partners.
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Respect origins and rights. We will establish
permissions and agreements for each contribution, respect Indigenous
communities’ authority over their data, and protect sensitive
information.
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Make access clear and fair. We will publish how
researchers can request samples and data, how decisions are made,
and how benefits will be shared with contributing partners and
communities.
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Care for samples responsibly. We will define
responsibilities for long-term storage, quality checks, and the
handling or disposal of samples under agreed terms.
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Stay accountable. We will share non-sensitive
collection information and quality reports, invite independent
review, and refine our policies with community input.
Interested in contributing expertise, collections, or a research
partnership? Contact us to explore
how we could work together.
