The Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft were launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in 1977. They were sent on a mission to investigate the solar system and beyond. Each had a “golden record,” a copper phonograph disc that had pictures, sounds from the natural world, and music to give any intelligent species the craft might come into contact with a glimpse of life on Earth. These were the initial pictures that were sent into space.
Artists are starting to investigate what they can do outside of Earth as the Voyagers move into interstellar space right now. A work by philanthropist and artist Sacha Jafri, who is based in Dubai, is scheduled to touch down on the moon in March. We Rise Together — By the Light of the Moon, a piece of art by Jafri, is slated to launch into space aboard a United Launch Alliance rocket using engines made by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. The Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida, will host the launch during the first week of March.
A guy and female figure are shown in the engraving, which is surrounded by 88 hearts. “This lovely heart motif was used in the original artwork. Two individuals are intertwined and reuniting, while the environment around them is in blossom,” said Jafri. In his design, he claims he aimed to express “the union of humanity through love and empathy.”
For his canvas, a gold alloy was developed over two years to withstand the extreme environment on the lunar surface whilst keeping the artwork intact. But the piece isn’t intended only for extraterrestrial art lovers. “When we land the physical work of art on the moon, a little beep sounds in the control room,” said Jafri. On that signal, 88 NFTs will be released for sale back on Earth.
Jafri plans to donate all proceeds to humanitarian charities. “I’m hoping to raise a huge amount of money for the four main charitable concerns of our world — health, education, sustainability, and equality,” he said. The project will be launched to the moon by Spacebit and NASA Commercial Payload Services. Spacebit is a UK-based company that creates tools for data analytics and space robotics (CLPS). The introduction of the NFTs will be facilitated by the UAE-based company Selenian Network, which specializes in blockchain technologies.
A lunar lander will place the work in a crater known as Lacus Mortis (the Lake of Death) where it will remain “for eternity.” According to Jafri, the mission will take between five days and two weeks to reach the moon, depending on conditions.