NASA is launching a groundbreaking program called “The Library,” which will give scientists around the world unprecedented access to samples of extraterrestrial matter — not as physical materials, but as detailed digital “fingerprints.”
The project involves a thorough analysis of lunar soil, Martian dust and meteorites using state-of-the-art spectrometers and microscopes to create extensive databases of their chemical, mineralogical and isotopic composition. These digital libraries will be accessible to the general public, allowing researchers to conduct virtual experiments, compare samples and make discoveries without waiting for the rare opportunity to obtain physical material. This is especially important for preparing future missions and studying potential resources for space colonies.
The program, jokingly called the “space debris library” because of its work with regolith and dust, can significantly change astromaterials, accelerate the pace of research and open a new stage in the study of the Solar System.
