A historic mission linked to the Tampa Bay region is poised to achieve a significant milestone as the inaugural lunar data center is slated to touch down on the moon.

The pioneering initiative, spearheaded by Lonestar, a company based in St. Petersburg, seeks to protect vital information from Earth by creating a backup in space, as stated in a recent news release from the company.

A temporary mission control has been established in downtown St. Pete, where Lonestar’s team is actively tracking the progress of its Freedom Data Center. This data center was launched on February 26 aboard a SpaceX rocket and is currently making its way to the moon. It is connected to Intuitive Machines’ Athena lunar lander, which is anticipated to land on the moon’s surface on Thursday, March 6.

Why Transmit Data to the Moon?

Explore further: As stated by Lonestar, the objective is to establish a secure, extraterrestrial backup for essential information, safeguarding it against natural disasters, cyber threats, and various risks present on Earth. The 8-terabyte data center is designed to house government records, corporate data, and cultural artifacts, ensuring their preservation for future generations.

“Our core mission is saving Earth’s data, one byte at a time,” said Chris Stott, CEO of Lonestar, in the news release. “But we also want to inspire—this project is a blend of technology and art that will last for a thousand years.”

The data center is housed within a 3D-printed exterior crafted by the acclaimed architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). This structure is engineered to withstand the extreme conditions of the lunar environment for more than a thousand years, as stated by the company.

During the moon’s sunrise and sunset, the shell will project two unique shadows, creating the outlines of Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke and spacewalking artist Nicole Stott—representing the history and future of lunar exploration, as noted in the announcement.

More Than Simple Data Storage

In addition to serving as a data repository, this initiative will also evaluate innovative technologies and functionalities, including:

• Space-oriented communication and radiation detection technologies
• A music video by Imagine Dragons, streamed from space in collaboration with the video game Starfield
• The inaugural digital post office on the moon is set to launch, issuing a digital stamp in partnership with the Isle of Man Post Office, as announced by the company
• Florida has emerged as one of the initial clients, utilizing the mission to investigate secure, space-based data storage solutions, as reported by Lonestar.

What Lies Ahead for Lonestar?

Lonestar is no stranger to lunar exploration. In the previous year, the company conducted a successful test of a smaller data center during an earlier lunar mission. This upcoming mission is more extensive and ambitious, paving the way for future storage solutions in space, as stated in the news release.

Lonestar aims to broaden its lunar infrastructure if successful, offering off-world data backup solutions for corporations, governmental entities, and prospective space missions. This initiative signifies a significant advancement toward a future in which data security transcends global boundaries and reaches interplanetary levels.