LUNAR LITTER or Things we left on the moon

I have posted this work before but because of obvious reasons I am posting it again. Putting aside all fascination with spaceflight and outer space, we are currently transferring the problems we have on Earth into space unfortunately on every level. So far, without solutions that actually work and in an area where there are hardly any laws at all.

Garbage bag, inspired by the so-called “jettison bags” used in space travel. I had two of these bags produced and embroidered with the lettering “lunar litter only.” On May 23, 2023, one bag was sent to the HQ of NASA with the request that it be taken to the moon as part of the Artemis II mission, planned for 2025 (which has now just happenend), to retrieve some of the 190 tons of material left behind by NASA during the Apollo missions.

You find all the objects that were left behind on the moon listed in the "Catalogue of Manmade Material on the Moon" by NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration here: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/final-catalogue-of-manmade-material-on-the-moon.pdf

I realized the work with the help of my wonderful assistant Joana Bacelar.
Installation view of my exhibition "Instant Paradise" at Villa Dessauer Bamberg (Museen der Stadt Bamberg) in 2023.

[Swaantje Güntzel, Lunar Litter (Jettison Bag), 2023, polyester, embroidery thread, plastic, galvanized metal, 50 x 53 x 98 cm]

Foto: Tobias Hübel

#art #conceptualart #contemporaryart #kunst #konzeptkunst #zeitgenössischekunst #installation #nasa #esa #spacedebris #orbitaldebris #artemisII #moon #mond #lunarlitter #jettisonbags #apollo #apollomissions #weltraumschrott #artistinscience #exhibition #villadessauer #bamberg #exhibition #instantparadise #swaantjeguentzel #swaantjegüntzel #ausstellung #lunarlitteronly #space #spacetravel #raumfahrt
Un million de satellites ? La nouvelle ruée vers l’orbite inquiète scientifiques et juristes

L’essor des mégaconstellations promet une révolution technologique – mais aussi une transformation irréversible du ciel nocturne.

The Conversation

They. Vent. The Urine. Into. Space.

Think about that for a moment. I could entertain myself thinking about it all day. It gives new meaning to the term "Golden Showers." #ArtemisII #Space #Toilet #SpaceDebris #Satellite

https://defector.com/artemis-boldly-goes-where-no-toilet-has-gone-before

Artemis Boldly Goes Where No Toilet Has Gone Before | Defector

It was about 65 minutes after liftoff, the Integrity spacecraft 800 miles above the Indian Ocean and moving at about 16,000 miles per hour, when the historic words were spoken: “Integrity, Houston, toilet is powered.”  It was a spaceflight milestone. Artemis II, which launched from Florida Wednesday evening, will put four humans around the Moon for…

‘This Feels Fragile’ - How A Satellite-Smashing Chain Reaction Could Spiral Out Of Control [space junk]
--
Today, the space around Earth can no longer be considered empty. More than 30,000 objects are in orbit, and that figure is rising exponentially
--
https://www.theguardian.com/science/ng-interactive/2026/mar/31/this-feels-fragile-how-a-satellite-smashing-chain-reaction-could-spiral-out-of-control <-- shared interactive technical/media article, with outstanding visualisations
--
https://www.space-track.org/ | https://celestrak.org/ | https://planet4589.org/space/stats/ <-- various satellite tracking efforts
--
#spacejunk #spacedebris #visualisation #spatialanalysis #orbit #spatiotemporal #satellite #fragments #history #Sputnik #risk #hazard #mitigation #deorbiting #reentry #orbitallanes #military #communication #weather #remotesensing #astronomy #earthobservation #lightpollution #orbitaltraffic #collision #debris #usecase #logistics #crowded #coordination #planning #tracking #technology
@TheGuardian
Starlink perd (encore) un satellite en orbite, qui se dirige vers la Terre : décidément c'est pas super au point.
https://www.presse-citron.net/starlink-perd-le-controle-dun-autre-satellite-dans-lespace-direction-la-terre/
#Space #Innovation #Satellite #Astrophysics #OrbitalSafety #SpaceDebris
Starlink perd le contrôle d’un autre satellite dans l’espace : direction la Terre ?

Après l'incident du mois de décembre, Starlink a encore perdu la communication avec l'un de ses satellites en orbite terrestre basse.

Presse-citron

Cosmic Debris Rains Down: Houston Home Pierced as Sky Booms

A suspected meteorite crashed through a Houston home's roof on Saturday after a loud boom was heard across the city. Find out what happened and if more debris fell.

#HoustonMeteorite, #SpaceDebris, #SherrieJames, #MeteorImpact, #HoustonBoom

https://newsletter.tf/houston-home-hit-by-meteorite-after-boom/

A suspected meteorite, described as football-sized, crashed through a Houston home's roof on Saturday, leaving a large hole. This follows widespread reports of a loud boom across the city.

#HoustonMeteorite, #SpaceDebris, #SherrieJames, #MeteorImpact, #HoustonBoom
https://newsletter.tf/houston-home-hit-by-meteorite-after-boom/

Houston Home Hit by Suspected Meteorite Saturday After Loud Boom

A suspected meteorite crashed through a Houston home's roof on Saturday after a loud boom was heard across the city. Find out what happened and if more debris fell.

NewsletterTF

"The surge in orbital activity has created a significant collision risk. ... The big fear is that future collisions will cause a domino effect where Earth’s orbit becomes cluttered with tiny, high-speed bits of metal. That could create a near-impenetrable layer of debris that would make space launches so dangerous it would essentially trap humans on Earth."

https://www.theguardian.com/science/ng-interactive/2026/mar/31/this-feels-fragile-how-a-satellite-smashing-chain-reaction-could-spiral-out-of-control

#Space #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceDebris

‘This feels fragile’: how a satellite-smashing chain reaction could spiral out of control

Today, the space around Earth can no longer be considered empty. More than 30,000 objects are in orbit, and that figure is rising exponentially

The Guardian

"The big fear is that future collisions will cause a domino effect where Earth’s orbit becomes cluttered with tiny, high-speed bits of metal. That could create a near-impenetrable layer of debris that would make space launches so dangerous it would essentially trap humans on Earth."

What if the real intention is to trap humans on Earth?

#science #technology #satellite #space #orbit #spacedebris

https://www.theguardian.com/science/ng-interactive/2026/mar/31/this-feels-fragile-how-a-satellite-smashing-chain-reaction-could-spiral-out-of-control

‘This feels fragile’: how a satellite-smashing chain reaction could spiral out of control

Today, the space around Earth can no longer be considered empty. More than 30,000 objects are in orbit, and that figure is rising exponentially

The Guardian