Abstract: An apparatus which includes one or more optical disk memory systems, one or more magnetic disk memory systems, and one semiconductor memory system, to store large amounts of data while operating under potentially severe environmental conditions. The preferred storage media for the apparatus is the optical disk memory system, but when environmental conditions do not permit successful operation of the optical disk memory, the apparatus switches storage of data to an alternate storage media such as magnetic disk memory or semiconductor memory until the severe environmental conditions subside. When environmental conditions subside, the optical disk memory is updated with the data stored on magnetic disk memory and semiconductor memory. Monitoring of environmental conditions is performed by the storage media systems, not by environmental sensors external to the system.