If humanity were to suddenly vanish, the diverse languages and their rich cultural significance would vanish with us. Yet, there’s a chance to save our linguistic heritage beyond Earth. UNESCO is joining forces with a Japanese moon exploration enterprise for this purpose.

A report from space.com indicates that the Japanese company ispace is striving to establish a human footprint in space and on the moon. Together with UNESCO, ispace aims to transport 275 languages and various cultural items to the moon.

The method involves a ‘Memory Disk,’ akin to the time capsules we use to store our memories. These disks, carrying languages and cultural items, will be part of ispace’s forthcoming Hakuto-R Mission 2 to the moon.

Hakuto-R Mission 2 Details

This mission will dispatch a robotic lander to the moon’s surface. It will carry a memory disk designed to preserve aspects of humanity, should Earth face a catastrophic threat.

UNESCO’s commitment to protecting linguistic diversity against any potential crisis is strong, and safeguarding it on the moon is one strategy. As stated by ispace, the memory disk will include the UNESCO Constitution’s Preamble in 275 languages, highlighting the significance of maintaining global unity and cultural diversity.

The Hakuto-R Mission 2 is planned for launch to the moon in 2024, assuming no changes in the schedule.