A Swedish dream: Model house embarks on a journey to the Moon
The rocket launch, aimed at delivering two rovers to the Moon, was successful. Notably, one of these rovers includes a unique item. "It symbolizes the eternal struggle of life for survival and development," indicates PAP.
On Wednesday morning Eastern Time, a rocket was launched from Florida, carrying, among other payloads, two rovers that will explore the Moon. According to the Polish Press Agency, one of the rovers carries a model of a red Swedish house. This artistic vision is the creation of Mikael Genberg from Västerås, a city near Stockholm.
Genberg conceived the idea in 1999. The initial plan was to send an object the size of a child's playhouse to the Moon, but due to the high costs of the project, the artist opted for a miniature version.
The Polish Press Agency reports that the creator himself said that "it symbolizes the eternal struggle of life for survival and development and allows reflection on the existence of humans on Earth."
The house, situated in the rover's cargo, will spend four months in space before landing on the Moon. The project was made possible through the support of hundreds of private investors from varied fields, including art, the space industry, and sports. The total cost of the project amounted to 576 million kronor, which corresponds to approximately 74 million Canadian dollars.
Technical challenges
The project faced many difficulties during its execution. These were not only financial problems. An equally significant challenge was creating a house model resistant to the shocks and vibrations of the rocket launch.
The launch of the rocket with the house became a reason for celebration in Västerås, where local authorities expressed pride in Genberg's achievement. The Japanese company Ispace is responsible for the rocket launch. The project has garnered wide attention and interest worldwide.
