American artist Jeff Koons watched a SpaceX rocket depart from Florida's Kennedy Space Center early Thursday morning carrying 125 of his miniature moon sculptures and other cargo.
SpaceX estimates that the lunar lander, designed by Intuitive Machines and separated from the rocket after liftoff, will reach the moon in about a week if all goes according to plan. The lander houses Koons' artwork and NASA equipment, including stereo cameras and radio receivers.
“I grew up hearing President Kennedy talk about going to the moon,” Coons said in an interview before takeoff. “It gave our community the vision and drive to believe in ourselves and achieve things.”
Koons thought his stainless steel sculpture would reach space by the end of 2022, but the project has made several stops and starts, including a setback this week. Scientists have postponed the launch of the Falcon 9 rocket after discovering problems with its methane propellant.
“It happened at the last minute,” Koons said. As methane was loaded onto the spacecraft, “the temperature was a little higher than they wanted.”
The artist said the project was inspired by his son Sean Koons. Sean Koons saw a proposal to send art to the moon and approached him with the idea. The project involved digital art and technology company NF Moon and space exploration company 4Space, and included support from Pace Gallery.
Koons is one of America's most famous artists, and his sentimental sculptures have enthralled and outraged critics. However, the art market has consistently supported his efforts. In 2019, his silver rabbit sculpture was sold at Christie's for more than $91 million. The 1986 sculpture, created to look like a balloon rabbit, has become one of the contemporary artist's best-selling works.
The artist said releasing his miniature moon was just step one. The other two components of the project will remain on Earth. A larger version of each sculpture encased in glass and a corresponding NFT showing the moon landing installation is available for collectors to take home.
The months are named after inspirational historical figures. “Leonardo da Vinci, Ada Lovelace, Plato, Billie Holiday,” Koons said, listing examples.
Other artists have attempted to conquer space, but their works have been lost in its vastness. Trevor Paglen partnered with the Nevada Museum of Art in 2018 to launch a $1.5 million satellite called “Orbital Reflector.” But the project soon fell victim to a government shutdown that prevented engineers from maintaining contact with the satellite.
If the lunar module carrying the Koons sculpture arrives at its destination, it will be the first authorized work of art on the moon. Koons believes it will forever remain a cultural heritage site under the Artemis Accords, which protects historically significant sites and space artifacts.