Edson Pavoni
Orbital
Orbital
Temple
site specific / 2022
Who shall ascend to heaven?
Orbital Temple is the first artistic orbital satellite from the Global South. Its mission is to question the symbolic colonization of heaven as paradise; the origin of the rules that open or close its gateways; and the influence those beliefs have on the decisions we make every day.
Orbital Temple is the first artistic orbital satellite from the Global South. Its mission is to question the symbolic colonization of heaven as paradise; the origin of the rules that open or close its gateways; and the influence those beliefs have on the decisions we make every day.
Orbital Temple video introduction, 1 min.
The artwork has three co-dependent elements: a satellite
especially designed to store billions of names; a public
space sculpture on Earth that is capable of exchanging
information with the satellite; and a website through which
participants can send the name of someone that has passed
away — to heaven.
As a multidisciplinary endeavor, Orbital Temple can be considered a site-specific installation in outer space, a public space sculpture and also an ArtSat project.
In 2022 the satellite was exhibited at the 13th Mercosul Biennial in Porto Alegre, at the IX International Biennale of Contemporary Art in Tashkent, and at the NTU Global Digital Art Prize exhibition in Singapore.
As a multidisciplinary endeavor, Orbital Temple can be considered a site-specific installation in outer space, a public space sculpture and also an ArtSat project.
In 2022 the satellite was exhibited at the 13th Mercosul Biennial in Porto Alegre, at the IX International Biennale of Contemporary Art in Tashkent, and at the NTU Global Digital Art Prize exhibition in Singapore.
Orbital Temple in space.
3D rendering by RiseNY&Partners.
3D rendering by RiseNY&Partners.
How does it work?
Through the website, anyone can submit the name of the person they wish to send to heaven, at no cost.
Once the satellite is in orbit and then the next alignment between it and the antenna occurs, the names will be transmitted.
The satellite will store it in its memory and it will respond with a message confirming that they are registered in the temple. Whoever submitted the name will receive an email with a message such as the following:
Today, September 28, 2022, at 11:56pm
the name Kalpana Chawla ascended to heaven and there it remains.
Through the website, anyone can submit the name of the person they wish to send to heaven, at no cost.
Once the satellite is in orbit and then the next alignment between it and the antenna occurs, the names will be transmitted.
The satellite will store it in its memory and it will respond with a message confirming that they are registered in the temple. Whoever submitted the name will receive an email with a message such as the following:
Today, September 28, 2022, at 11:56pm
the name Kalpana Chawla ascended to heaven and there it remains.
And why?
For two reasons.
One symbolic — another political.
For two reasons.
One symbolic — another political.
Orbital Temple in space.
3D rendering by RiseNY&Partners.
3D rendering by RiseNY&Partners.
How does the idea of heaven interfere with our perceptions
about sex, abortion, euthanasia, State, family, mental
health, and human rights?
What if technology made it possible for us to experiment with an inclusive imaginary of heaven?
Most cultures and religions that abide by some idea of heaven and hell set precise guidelines about who belongs to each afterlife destiny. These guidelines can often be strict and exclusionary.
The Orbital Temple mission questions those ideas. What if we could imagine an alternative paradise in which all sentient beings could have a place?
Participants of this project are given the chance — and the power — to use technology as a means to bring those that may not conventionally be set to rest in a "higher place" to inhabit a temple in Earth's orbit.
What if technology made it possible for us to experiment with an inclusive imaginary of heaven?
Most cultures and religions that abide by some idea of heaven and hell set precise guidelines about who belongs to each afterlife destiny. These guidelines can often be strict and exclusionary.
The Orbital Temple mission questions those ideas. What if we could imagine an alternative paradise in which all sentient beings could have a place?
Participants of this project are given the chance — and the power — to use technology as a means to bring those that may not conventionally be set to rest in a "higher place" to inhabit a temple in Earth's orbit.
Orbital Temple installation
at the Mercosul Biennial,
in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Photo by Clara Marques.
in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Photo by Clara Marques.
At the same time, Orbital Temple is also an artistic attempt
to bridge a long established unequal access to space
technology. Space has been notoriously restricted to
industrialized countries, which not only control but profit
from monopolizing its access. By holding valuable and
privileged information from developing countries,
industrialized nations gain political, economic and military
advantages.
As the first orbital artistic satellite from the Global South, Orbital Temple hopes to further discussions on how this access gap relates to the perpetuation of poverty (1) in developing countries and to the global climate crisis, challenging oppressive space regimes established and reproduced by the developed world.
As the first orbital artistic satellite from the Global South, Orbital Temple hopes to further discussions on how this access gap relates to the perpetuation of poverty (1) in developing countries and to the global climate crisis, challenging oppressive space regimes established and reproduced by the developed world.
Orbital Temple in space.
3D rendering by RiseNY&Partners.
3D rendering by RiseNY&Partners.
As a key element of our geopolitical dynamics, outer space
has a fundamental role in shaping our 21st century everyday
lives.
Satellites are used to help us navigate around the globe, be
it in our cars, boats or planes, they provide us with
essential information about forest fires and other natural
phenomena, and they help nations develop more precise
agricultural systems through high quality data on the
weather.
Present at military, economic, political and social levels, space technology, however, can go mostly unnoticed.
Present at military, economic, political and social levels, space technology, however, can go mostly unnoticed.
"Understanding and questioning power structures that
regulate space exploration, both literally and
metaphorically, is crucial for those committed to
constructing a more just and sustainable tomorrow. Orbital
Temple seeks not only to participate in the symbolic
discussion about our collective understanding of life, and
life after death, but to expand the debate on how space
technologies can be tools for boosting economies, improving
people's quality of life and preserving the world that we do
have. It is also a reminder that technology will alter not
only how we live but also how we die."
- Edson Pavoni
- Edson Pavoni
Open source technology for future generations from the
Global South
All technology developed for the Orbital Temple mission will be open source and available online, fostering the advancement of space exploration in the Global South. New missions and projects can use Orbital Temple as a foundation for their own artistic or scientific experiments.
A DIY Satellite workshop will accompany the mission. Directed at Global South teens, being offered in Portuguese, Spanish and English, it will be a hands-on opportunity to learn about satellite technology and put it into practice. Anyone above the age of 16 will be able to build their own satellite, learning about the history of art in space, fundamental concepts of electronics, mechanics and space science, including how to finance the projects and how to build an antenna to communicate with the satellite in orbit.
All technology developed for the Orbital Temple mission will be open source and available online, fostering the advancement of space exploration in the Global South. New missions and projects can use Orbital Temple as a foundation for their own artistic or scientific experiments.
A DIY Satellite workshop will accompany the mission. Directed at Global South teens, being offered in Portuguese, Spanish and English, it will be a hands-on opportunity to learn about satellite technology and put it into practice. Anyone above the age of 16 will be able to build their own satellite, learning about the history of art in space, fundamental concepts of electronics, mechanics and space science, including how to finance the projects and how to build an antenna to communicate with the satellite in orbit.
Want to be a part of this mission? Become our sponsor
through a
tax-deductible donation
and bring it to life.
Sustainability and space debris
All carbon emissions will be neutralized, including the launch and fabrication of the satellite.
The satellite has a reentry plan of 10 years, leaving no debris in outer space.
All carbon emissions will be neutralized, including the launch and fabrication of the satellite.
The satellite has a reentry plan of 10 years, leaving no debris in outer space.
Details of the Orbital Temple satellite.
Photo by Clara Marques.
Photo by Clara Marques.
Details of the Orbital Temple satellite.
3D rendering by RiseNY&Partners.
3D rendering by RiseNY&Partners.
Exhibitions
2022
13th Mercosul Biennial
Porto Alegre, Brazil
IX International Biennale of Contemporary Art
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
NTU Global Digital Art Prize
Singapore, Singapore
2022
13th Mercosul Biennial
Porto Alegre, Brazil
IX International Biennale of Contemporary Art
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
NTU Global Digital Art Prize
Singapore, Singapore
Awards
2022
Lumen Prize - Longlist Futures Award
NTU Global Digital Art Prize - Finalist
2021
CubeDesign Prize, promoted by INPE - Winner ArtSat Category
2022
Lumen Prize - Longlist Futures Award
NTU Global Digital Art Prize - Finalist
2021
CubeDesign Prize, promoted by INPE - Winner ArtSat Category
Further reading
Tyler A. Way. Space Gap, Unequal Access to Technology, and the Perpetuation of Poverty. International Research Scape Journal, 2018.
Global Future Council. Six ways space technologies benefit life on Earth. Briefing Papers, September 2020.
Eduardo Kac. The Satellite and the Work of Art in the Telecommunications Age. 1986.
Maria Popova. Trees, Whales, and Our Digital Future: George Dyson on Nature, Human Nature, and the Relationship Between Our Minds and Our Machines. 2021.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Exploring space technologies for sustainable development. September, 2021.
Tyler A. Way. Space Gap, Unequal Access to Technology, and the Perpetuation of Poverty. International Research Scape Journal, 2018.
Global Future Council. Six ways space technologies benefit life on Earth. Briefing Papers, September 2020.
Eduardo Kac. The Satellite and the Work of Art in the Telecommunications Age. 1986.
Maria Popova. Trees, Whales, and Our Digital Future: George Dyson on Nature, Human Nature, and the Relationship Between Our Minds and Our Machines. 2021.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Exploring space technologies for sustainable development. September, 2021.
Technical information
Satellite
Dimensions: 50x58x64 mm
1P PocketQube
Weight: 245 gr
Materials: aluminum, gold, fiberglass, and electronic components.
Orbit: Altitude 525 ± 25 km; inclination: SSO 97.6 ± 0.1°
Antenna/Sculpture
Dimensions: 6 m (diameter) e 1.2m (height)
Weight: 46 kg
Materials: aluminum, epoxy mirrored board, golden aluminum dome suspended through a scaffolding structure.
Radio Specs NASA-Catalog:
TBD Downlink: 437 MHzCall:
TBD Status: SCHEDULE FOR 2023
Satellite
Dimensions: 50x58x64 mm
1P PocketQube
Weight: 245 gr
Materials: aluminum, gold, fiberglass, and electronic components.
Orbit: Altitude 525 ± 25 km; inclination: SSO 97.6 ± 0.1°
Antenna/Sculpture
Dimensions: 6 m (diameter) e 1.2m (height)
Weight: 46 kg
Materials: aluminum, epoxy mirrored board, golden aluminum dome suspended through a scaffolding structure.
Radio Specs NASA-Catalog:
TBD Downlink: 437 MHzCall:
TBD Status: SCHEDULE FOR 2023
Credits
Edson Pavoni, artist
Aerospace & Systems Engineering
Pedro Kaled, João Pedro Polito, Victor Baptista & João Victor Alves
Electronic Engineering
André Biagioni, João Pedro Polito & VK
Software
Jonathan Querubina
Design and Architecture
Guilherme Bullejos
3D Printing
Solid Concepts, under the leadership of Eduardo Dias
3D Rendering
Guilherme Bullejos & RiseNy&Partners
Research
Roberta Savian Rosa & Clara Marques
Exhibition Production, Photography & Content Creation
Clara Marques
Exhibition's Silk Screening
Daphne Alves
Educational Project
IdeaSpace
Sponsors
Pearmill Special Thanks
Anne Valls, Marcello Dantas & Matias Campos Abad
Edson Pavoni, artist
Aerospace & Systems Engineering
Pedro Kaled, João Pedro Polito, Victor Baptista & João Victor Alves
Electronic Engineering
André Biagioni, João Pedro Polito & VK
Software
Jonathan Querubina
Design and Architecture
Guilherme Bullejos
3D Printing
Solid Concepts, under the leadership of Eduardo Dias
3D Rendering
Guilherme Bullejos & RiseNy&Partners
Research
Roberta Savian Rosa & Clara Marques
Exhibition Production, Photography & Content Creation
Clara Marques
Exhibition's Silk Screening
Daphne Alves
Educational Project
IdeaSpace
Sponsors
Pearmill Special Thanks
Anne Valls, Marcello Dantas & Matias Campos Abad