James Ferren, Founder and Executive Director of SpaceArc, initiated this program in 1972 based on a 10th grade English assignment. Charged with the creative challenge of conceptualizing an international cultural exchange program, Jim envisioned a time capsule of writings, drawings, poems, music and photographs from people around the world that would be placed in geostationary orbit to ensure its safe keeping for millions of years.

Central to his vision was public access to copies of the archival contents in order to share in these personal expressions, encouraging a cultural exchange.

Fueled by his determination and imagination, Jim pursued the implementation execution of this cultural exchange throughout his teens and into adulthood. With the ideas in place, he forged relationships with astronauts, government agencies, aerospace industry leaders, educators, scientists, engineers and media contacts. Closely following the evolution of relevant technologies, Jim enlisted the support of 12 international partners that includes, among others, NASA, Hughes, SpaceSystems Loral, Lockheed Martin and Imperial Chemical Industries. With the advent of appropriate information storage capabilities, ICI optical tape, all the components were in place for a successful mission.

The SpaceArc program received White House Commendations from the Bush Sr. and later the Clinton Administrations. In October of 1990, Jim held a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. with partners NASA, SpaceSystems Loral and Educational Testing Services to unveil the SpaceArc program and invite public participation the world over. During the succeeding 24 months, SpaceArc enjoyed in excess of 2,000 international media exposures. Nearly 50,000 people representing 52 countries submitted their personal pages of history for inclusion in the SpaceArc archive.

On August 3rd of 1994, the SpaceArc capsule was successfully launched into space onboard the DirecTV2 satellite carried by an Atlas Centaur launch vehicle. On that day Jim realized two lifelong goals; the culmination of an international change program and achieving the distinction of becoming the worlds first and only individual to have a payload launched into geostationary orbit.

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