Sculpture: Fallen Astronaut

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

In 1971, the crew of Apollo 15 placed a small sculpture on the lunar surface along with a metal plaque propped up beside it. This tiny sculpture—a little over 3″ long—became the first (and to date only) art installation on the Moon.

Prior to the Apollo 15 mission, astronaut David Scott met Belgian artist Paul Van Hoeydonck at a dinner party. Scott commissioned Van Hoeydonck to create a small statuette to commemorate the astronauts and cosmonauts that had lost their lives in furthering humanity’s space exploration efforts. The result of the commission was Fallen Astronaut, a small aluminum figure of simple design that, per Scott’s instructions, is not identifiable as male, female, or any particular ethnic group, but simply as human.

After getting permission from top NASA management prior to the mission, Scott and his fellow astronauts smuggled the statuette aboard the Apollo 15 launch and covertly placed, and photographed, the memorial on the surface of the Moon. Only after returning to Earth did they publicly disclose it at a post-mission press conference.

After the disclosure, the National Air and Space Museum requested that a replica be made for public display, which was given to the Smithsonian Institution the following year. It is now on display with a replica of the plaque in the Museum’s National Mall Building in the Space Race Wing, Gallery 114.

 

 

[Pat Riot]

Curious, why would they smuggle it aboard if they had permission?

 

That was a very nice gesture. Thanks Marshal. 

[Subdeacon Joe]

1 hour ago, Pat Riot, SASS #13748 said:

Curious, why would they smuggle it aboard if they had permission?

 

That was a very nice gesture. Thanks Marshal. 

 

To keep it from the press.

[Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172]

16 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

To keep it from the press.

That would classify as A SMART MOVE. 

[Sixgun Sheridan]

Sadly we need to add a few more names to that plaque.