Orbital Museum

[XiXLLAMAXiX]

Alright, so I'm just going to throw out an idea which is probably going to be the most far fetched of them all, but you know what? that's ok.

Idea: Put the station in orbit around Jupiter.

Now I know what you're saying, "But that completely goes against the ease of access part of op's question!" I know, but this is where the far fetched part comes in. The station is less of a station, an more of a support network of ships orbiting Jupiter with one central station with all of the physical samples on it. This station, in addition to its other functions, can build these support ships, which in turn go off and recover materials to repair or refuel themselves or the station. Every once in a while (100-1000 years or so...?), the station manufactures a craft which is sent to land on Earth. This craft contains etchings with basic information (math, science, rocket technology, etc.) to jump start any society that can find and decode them, some select parts of info about our culture (if the station sends these out periodically, then each individual one does not need to have all of the information), as well as information about the location of the main station around Jupiter, so that the "original copy" can be recovered once society has advanced to the point where it is capable of doing so.

Advantages:

-Less likely to be accidentally destroyed by humans who find it

-People are more likely to stumble upon the messenger craft that come to earth b/c they probably would have seen them falling from the sky and landing

-potential for self replication of any information stored

-capable of self-maintenance

Disadvantage:

-If station loses ability to produce messenger craft for any reason, station will be extremely hard to find / will no longer be able to "jump start" society

-Might be impossible if it turns out that you can't manufacture spacecraft in space

-computer failure could result in station not being able to build anything/build things incorrectly, at which point station will be extremely hard to find / will no longer be able to "jump start" society

-computer failure could also result in station accidentally maneuvering to de-orbit itself.

Thoughts?