STOCKHOLM โ An artist from Sweden is on the brink of realizing an extraordinary dream: the launch of a miniature red house he constructed is scheduled for outer space this week, with plans to place it on the moonโs surface.
The tiny building, known as the Moonhouse and comparable in size to a large hand, is set to accompany a lunar lander crafted by the Japanese firm ispace. The launch is slated to occur on SpaceXโs Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral at 1:11 a.m. (0611 GMT) Wednesday.
Mikael Genberg, the mind behind the concept, has aspired to position his typically Swedish-styled miniature house on the lunar landscape for 25 long years.
โThis idea appeared to be wild, perhaps foolish, but to me, it was deeply poetic to envision a red house with white trim sitting on the moonโs surface,โ remarked Genberg in a video shared on social media. โAnd now, this dream is finally coming to fruition.โ
Genberg continued, emphasizing the significance of art, stating, โWhatโs the purpose? Itโs art.โ Currently in Florida to witness the launch firsthand, he expressed immense enthusiasm as the moment draws near for his house to be propelled into space.
โOn Earth, it may be small, but up there on the moon, it will be monumentalโthereโs nothing like it in the cosmos,โ he shared during a phone interview.
The Moonhouse is constructed from aluminum and painted with a specialized, space-grade coating. Its dimensions measure 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) in length, 8 cm (3.1 inches) in width, and 10 cm (3.9 inches) in height.
Over the years, this distinctive art project has embarked on various global journeys. The Moonhouse has been showcased in trees, submerged underwater, journeyed to the Great Wall of China, and even visited the International Space Station, orbiting 400 kilometers (248 miles) above Earth as a partner to Swedenโs inaugural astronaut, Christer Fuglesang.
While Genberg is the visionary behind the moon-landing initiative, around 70 contributors supported the project financially, collectively donating between 7 million to 10 million Swedish kronor (approximately $620,000 to $888,000), which covers the projectโs expenses, including the launch.
โThe artworkโs vision aligns with our own; aiming to broaden the horizons of our planet and future while expanding the human presence into space,โ said Julien-Alexandre Lamamy, the CEO of ispace Europe, in a public statement.
Should the launch proceed successfully, Genberg noted that once the rover touches down on the lunar surface in approximately four months, it will release the house, capture some photographs, and then simply leave it there to remain undisturbed for thousands, if not millions of years.