A Swedish artist is preparing for an exciting moment: his small red model house is set to be launched into space this week and is aimed for the moon’s surface. Known as the Moonhouse, this miniature creation will travel on a lunar lander operated by the Japanese company ispace, using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. The launch is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:11 a.m. (0611 GMT).
The creative mind behind this project, Mikael Genberg, has had a dream of sending his distinctly Swedish model house to the moon for 25 years. “It was a crazy, maybe idiotic thought, but really poetic in my mind,” Genberg shared in a Facebook video. “And now it’s going to happen.” He emphasizes that the purpose of this endeavor is art.
Currently in Florida to witness the launch, Genberg expressed enthusiasm about seeing his creation take flight. “It’s small on this planet, but it will be big on the moon — there’s nothing like that in space,” he told a reporter.
The Moonhouse is crafted from aluminum and coated with a special paint that is certified for space travel. It measures 12 centimeters (about 4.7 inches) in length and 10 centimeters (around 3.9 inches) in height.
Genberg’s unique project has seen various adventures worldwide. The Moonhouse has been displayed in trees, submerged underwater, and transported to notable locations such as the Great Wall of China. It even accompanied Sweden’s first astronaut, Christer Fuglesang, on a mission to the International Space Station.
While Genberg conceived the idea of placing the house on the moon aided by a lunar rover, he received support from about 70 donors who contributed roughly 7 to 10 million Swedish kronor, equating to between $620,000 and $888,000, to help bring the vision to life.
Julien-Alexandre Lamamy, CEO of ispace Europe, stated, “The vision of the artwork merges with our own; to expand our planet and future, and to extend the sphere of human life into space.” If all goes well with the launch, Genberg envisions that when the rover reaches the moon in about four months, it will unfold the house, capture some photos, and then leave it in its place for ages to come.
