It’s a miracle that we are here—that we are curious beings who want to learn and expand possibilities for ourselves, for the ones around us, for the world, and for the universe.”

– Ana Melikian

People have wondered at the vastness of space for generations, theorizing what could be out there, who could be out there, and what that would mean for us. Exploration runs thick in our waters. Today, we look at a company that’s taking those questions seriously.

I discuss: 

• LifeShip’s mission to launch DNA to the moon
• Why send our DNA to the moon?
• The message I’d want to send out to the universe

LifeShip’s mission to launch DNA to the moon

LifeShip, a company passionate about space and exploration, has launched two successful missions into space, delivering human DNA to the moon. Their mission is as follows: 

“At LifeShip, we believe that humanity has an important part to play in continuing the cycle of life in the Universe and expanding life outwards from our planet.

We believe in preserving the genetic blueprint of Earth’s incredible biodiversity as it is today for future generations.

We believe in furthering the human story into the cosmos so that we leave a legacy and are never forgotten.

We believe that we can achieve this by taking small steps towards seeding life beyond Earth and extending humanity to the stars.

We believe in making space accessible to everyone. After all, exploration is in our DNA!”

I was moved to action when I heard Ben Haldeman speaking about this project and signed on for the next launch. 

Why send our DNA to the moon?

For me, participating in this mission was more of a “Why not?” than a “Why?” But beyond that, it feels like sending a message in a bottle down the river as a child. I remember the feeling of writing it out, slipping it into the bottle, corking it, and sending it on its way for someone who I’d most likely never meet to read.

That got me thinking about what such a message would look like if it was going to the moon instead of downstream. What would I want future generations to know? 

We are naturally curious beings, and that curiosity carries into space. I am dedicated to expanding possibilities for myself and others, through my work and life, in everything I do. 

That truth shaped what I would want these future generations to know about our civilization as it is today. 

The message I’d want to send out to the universe

After considering many different possibilities and who could be reading it in the future—future humans or other intelligent life—I determined my message would be this: 

Yes, we are these amazing beings that can do incredible things via technology, space exploration, and even exploring our own DNA—all these advancements we make to try and understand the universe and how the world works. However, as we put so much curiosity outward, we must also turn that curiosity inwards. I truly believe that inwards, in ourselves, there is also a universe with huge potential that we must explore.

I am all about technology development and progress, but let’s also do that in an internal journey. To know ourselves. To expand our possibilities. To unlock our human potential. 

I believe this practice is essential to enjoy life, to savor life, without being in an “either/or” situation. We can have both internal and external exploration.  

That is my invitation, the message I want to leave in the bottle. 

I dare each of you to ask yourself the same question: What message would you send to the moon and beyond to future generations? 

Feel free to listen to my whole episode about LifeShip!