Lunar Time Capsule & Treasure Chest
Donation protected
I'm sending a time capsule and treasure chest to the surface of the Moon. Actually.
How?
Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based company is sending a spacecraft to the lunar surface in 2019. They're offering a service called MoonBox, which costs $460 to send a small payload (about the size of two stacked dimes) to the Moon.
What will be sent?
I'm able to fit 4 small washers within the size limits. Using metal stamps, I can emboss 8 letters on each washer for a total of 64 letters. These 64 letters will be a secret encryption key, known as a private key in cryptography.
How does it work?
This relies on public-key encryption if you'd like to know more. Basically, it means that anyone can lock (encrypt) information in a way that can only be unlocked (decrypted) using the private key. In our case, the private key will be on the Moon.
This means that whatever anyone encrypts will be stuck that way until the Moon key is retrieved. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin can also be added, effectively making this a treasure chest in addition to a time capsule. I'll keep record of all the encrypted data and make it available for anyone to download.
Why do this?
Right now, I would be humbled just to reach my funding goal. However, this project has loftier ambitions. The exact same time capsule can be used on a global scale, allowing anyone on Earth to donate money and data, incentivizing humanity's return to the Moon.
Imagine companies, musicians, and YouTube creators contributing exclusive content to the time capsule. If it doesn't directly incentivize an expedition to the lunar surface, it will at least inspire a greater public interest in space exploration.
Lith Labs is my larger project, incentivizing adventure and space exploration.
Who are you?
My name is Paul Gemperlein and I'm an undergraduate student at Purdue University. I've been planning this project for several months now and I greatly appreciate any support you can offer.
If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me in the comments, through email, or on twitter:
[email redacted]
Twitter: @TheRiverPaul
How?
Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based company is sending a spacecraft to the lunar surface in 2019. They're offering a service called MoonBox, which costs $460 to send a small payload (about the size of two stacked dimes) to the Moon.
What will be sent?
I'm able to fit 4 small washers within the size limits. Using metal stamps, I can emboss 8 letters on each washer for a total of 64 letters. These 64 letters will be a secret encryption key, known as a private key in cryptography.
How does it work?
This relies on public-key encryption if you'd like to know more. Basically, it means that anyone can lock (encrypt) information in a way that can only be unlocked (decrypted) using the private key. In our case, the private key will be on the Moon.
This means that whatever anyone encrypts will be stuck that way until the Moon key is retrieved. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin can also be added, effectively making this a treasure chest in addition to a time capsule. I'll keep record of all the encrypted data and make it available for anyone to download.
Why do this?
Right now, I would be humbled just to reach my funding goal. However, this project has loftier ambitions. The exact same time capsule can be used on a global scale, allowing anyone on Earth to donate money and data, incentivizing humanity's return to the Moon.
Imagine companies, musicians, and YouTube creators contributing exclusive content to the time capsule. If it doesn't directly incentivize an expedition to the lunar surface, it will at least inspire a greater public interest in space exploration.
Lith Labs is my larger project, incentivizing adventure and space exploration.
Who are you?
My name is Paul Gemperlein and I'm an undergraduate student at Purdue University. I've been planning this project for several months now and I greatly appreciate any support you can offer.
If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me in the comments, through email, or on twitter:
[email redacted]
Twitter: @TheRiverPaul
Organizer
Paul Gemperlein
Organizer
Tarentum, PA
