DROPPED

ABOUT

After sixty years of space flight, space debris is an increasing hazard to space travel and satellite systems. The Kessler Syndrome, a runaway chain reaction of collisions, could exponentially increase the amount of debris, affect polar-orbiting bands and destroy satellites, rendering earth orbit impassable. Space environmentalism is a growing movement and concerns are increasing over the future pollution of the moon and other celestial bodies.

Existing taxonomies of space debris have focused on the sizes, shapes and orbits of these objects. More recently, researchers have focused on the measurement, mitigation and potential removal of space debris.

 ‘Dropped’,  seeks to open up the world of space debris for new audiences through exploring the problem of space debris by focusing on the human dimension, and on the stories of the objects that have been accidentally dropped or deliberately placed in space by the 533 individuals who have travelled there.

This project explores and extends a unique archive created of objects that were accidentally dropped during space flight. Each dropped object has been recreated through photography, sculpture and film for further study or research and to enable the growing problem of space debris to be brought to the public’s attention in new and engaging ways.

Through analysis of initial research undertaken at Kingston University since May 2015, and by using historical records, first-person accounts, mission films and observations from earth telescopes, Nixon has (to date) identified and collated a ‘pictorial’ archive of 49 dropped objects. These objects collectively tell a visual and cultural history of space flight and space debris through a human-centred taxonomy. The archive offers intriguing insights into the personal stories of the astronauts themselves and of the history of spaceflight through these objects and provides a unique visualisation of the problem of space debris and the psychology of littering in space. 

Each object is recreated through photographs, 3D printable files and film and presented on this web platform to make these objects widely accessible for further research and study.

Additional objects will continue to be added.  

About the Artist.

Louis Nixon studied painting at Chelsea School of Art and Sculpture at the Slade School of Fine Art London. His practice encompasses painting, sculpture, installation and experimental film, often presented as multi-media installations in galleries and public spaces. Nixon co-founded the collective Space Explorations in 1990 and, as artist, director and curator, participated in large-scale interventions in response to specific sites. Since 2001 he has worked independently and exhibited widely in the U.K, Europe, Australia, Chile and China. www.louisnixon.art. 

This project was funded through a General Research Fund grant from the Hong Kong Research Council. Thanks to the artist and researcher Tap Chan, and The Hong Kong Observatory for invaluable help and assistance. 

For further information please email info@dropped.space   *