A Swedish Moonhouse has been launched into space from Cape Canaveral in Florida. The mission to the Moon is labelled an art project and is a cooperation between Sweden, the US and Japan. The original idea came from the Swedish artist Mikael Genberg.
The launch was broadcast live, allowing the space enthusiast community to follow the Moonhouse ascent from Earth’s surface. The event showcases the collaborative efforts between local authorities, space agencies, and private corporations.
The Swedish state-owned channel SVT.se provided live coverage of the launch, including expert commentary on its significance.
The project has garnered significant attention for its novelty and the technological and engineering feats required to adapt a miniature aluminium moon house depicting a traditional Swedish cottage for space travel and moon landing.
The house has undergone extensive modifications to withstand the rigours of space travel, including protection against extreme temperatures, vacuum conditions, and cosmic radiation.
Officials from the Swedish municipality in Vasteras expressed their excitement:
”To see the Moonhouse, a symbol of our community, reach for the stars is not only a testament to human ingenuity but also an inspiration for our youth”.
Space experts have noted that while the primary goal is to celebrate local culture and innovation, the data collected from the journey could contribute to future architectural designs specifically for space habitats.
Japan was significantly involved in the Swedish project through the Japanese private space company Ispace. The company provided both a lunar lander and a micro rover that will carry the Moonhouse on the Moon’s surface.
The rover will photograph the house from three angles. Mikael Genberg tells SVT that he hopes one of the pictures will show the Earth in the background. Landing will not take place until May 2025. SpaceX launched the moon house, but Elon Musk has not yet commented on the development.
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