“I’m going to create a reason for you to look up at the sky and to think about what it is that you’re looking at.”—Trevor Paglen
Today’s video, the second in our Art in Space! mini-series, is dedicated to Trevor Paglen’s Orbital Reflector, the first reflective, non-functional satellite to be sent into space for artistic purposes.
The satellite, a collaboration with the Nevada Museum of Art, was successfully launched into space aboard a rocket on December 3, 2018, and is currently in a low Earth orbit around 350 miles above our planet’s surface. Sunlight reflecting off its mylar-like material will make the work visible to the naked eye for stargazers around the world.
Look out for the Orbital Reflector while you can! In around three months, the satellite will immolate upon reentry into the atmosphere. Visit Orbitalreflector.com for project updates.