WMF and CyArk Unveil Lunar Heritage Tapestry Backed by ICOMOS ISCoAH Expertise
The ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Aerospace Heritage (ISCoAH) worked closely with CyArk to develop a digital platform that replicates some of the most iconic elements of lunar exploration. This collaboration sought to ensure that the remains of lunar exploration are understood not only as technological artefacts but also as cultural heritage of global importance.
What is the link between the Lunar Heritage Tapestry and ISCoAH?
This initiative is part of the space heritage work ISCoAH has undertaken over the past three years under the ICOMOS umbrella. Committee members have contributed their expertise, insights, and voices to enrich the platform.
The platform is expected to strengthen advocacy and framework-setting work currently being developed by the committee. It will also serve as an excellent educational resource for students and specialists, enabling them to learn about humanity’s heritage on another celestial body. This is part of the wide-ranging activities that ISCoAH is undertaking, and the launch of the CyArk’s Tapestry experience coincides with the Committee’s upcoming conference that will take place in the USA in mid-November 2025.
The moon is an extraordinary place. It is owned by no one and by everyone. It is a place where memories, both cultural and physical, are stored. It belongs to humanity from the earliest humans looking at it in the night sky to the latest spacecraft which impact it. There are many significant places there that deserve to be preserved for generations to come. If we honor international law the moon serves for the benefit of humankind.
ISCOAH members input
ISCoAH members and scholars Beth O’Leary and Gai Jorayev played a pivotal role in advising CyArk extensively on the history and cultural meaning of lunar exploration, as well as the enduring value of space exploration remains scattered across the lunar surface. They actively supported the initiative by conducting additional research and supplying essential materials that enriched the project’s depth and accuracy.
Furthermore, Gai Jorayev and Beth O’Leary contributed their voices to the platform to articulate key aspects of lunar heritage, helping to convey its broader cultural and historical context to a global audience. These insights were captured in short video recordings, which now form an integral part of the immersive Tapestry experience presented by CyArk. This multimedia display not only celebrates the achievements of space exploration but also frames them within the narrative of humanity’s shared heritage, ensuring that the Moon’s cultural legacy is preserved and appreciated for generations to come.