Nothing, Something, Everything

Photo: Sojourner 2020 loaded with all artists work and integrated for operation. Credit: Xin Liu, MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative

 
 

Sojourner 2020

A 1.5U-sized unit (100mm x 100mm x 152.4mm), designed and engineered by artist and engineer Xin Liu, features a three-layer telescoping structure that simulates three different levels of gravity: zero gravity, lunar gravity, and Martian gravity. Each layer rotates independently — the top layer remains stationary in microgravity, while the middle and bottom layers spin at different speeds to generate centripetal acceleration, simulating the gravitational forces of the Moon and Mars, respectively. Each layer contains six pockets designed to carry experimental or artistic payloads.

Xin Liu also served as the curator of the project.

 

Xin Liu (Space Exploration Initiative, MIT Media Lab) loading artist projects to the payload pocket and assembling the telescoping motors (No sound, 00:51) Courtesy of Janet Biggs

Houston Final Integration, Sojourner Payload inside RISDES (No sound, 00:47) Courtesy of Xin Liu, MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative

 

Contributing Artists to the Sojourner 2020 Art Payload

 

Space Exploration Initiative (MIT Media Lab) payload RISDES completing its acoustic test. Courtesy of Ariel Ekblaw, MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative

  • Janet Biggs (USA)

  • Levi Cai & Andrea Ling (USA & Canada)

  • Erin Genia (American Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate)

  • Luis Guzman (Chile)

  • Adriana Knouf (USA)

  • Kat Kohl (USA)

  • Xin Liu & Lucia Monge (China & Peru)

  • Masahito Ono (Japan)

  • Henry Tan (Thai)