Theme Weekend at the new Ars Electronica Center
THU July 11, 2019: 7 p.m. – 9p.m.; FRI July 12, 2019: 9 a.m. – midnight; SAT July 13 & 14, 2019: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
press release as PDF
interview on the moon landing / Ars Electronica Blog
(Linz, July 8, 2019) It was only a small step for a man, but a great leap for mankind: On July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon. Millions of people around the world were spellbound by this groundbreaking event, which fired the hopes for the future of an entire generation. In the run-up to the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, the new Ars Electronica Center is dedicating an entire weekend to this great moment in the history of science and asks what is going on with today’s visions of the future.
Already on Thursday, the last Deep Space LIVE before the summer break will cover a wide range from Austria’s role in space travel to the future vision of a permanent settlement on the moon. Furthermore, moon meteorites can be observed under the microscope. If the weather is fine, there will be a chance to take a close look at the moon through various telescopes in front of the Ars Electronica Center on Friday, while the lunar surface will be inspected in 3D in Deep Space 8K. In addition, visitors to the theme weekend will receive interesting information on the current state of lunar research, including high-resolution panoramic images, and learn how cells from freshwater polyps could help to stop human physical decay in the future.
THU July 11 – SUN July 14, 2019
Picture Gallery: Moon Landing (level 0)
It is well known that a picture says more than 1000 words. This was all the more true for images of regions that have never been entered by humans before, such as the moon. ZEISS developed special camera lenses for space that enabled astronauts to capture images of the moon’s surface.
THU July 11, 2019: 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing- the Reinvention of the Future
50 years ago, Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon. A highlight of manned space travel – with consequences to this day. Reason enough to look at the event from different angles half a century later.
THU July 11, 2019: 7 p.m. – 7:20 p.m.
Lecture: From Daring Ideas to Elegant Solutions: Austria and Space
Very few people are aware that almost a hundred years ago, some Austrians were the main contributors to the then “forthcoming/future” space flight? Some of these concepts have been realized in the meantime while others are still waiting to be. Over the last fifty years, Austria has developed into a reliable partner of various space organisations, including the Institute for Space Research in Graz, and provides both technical instruments and scientific know-how for many space missions. With Dr. Bruno P. Besser from the Space Research Institute Austrian Academy of Sciences.
THU July 11, 2019: 7:20 p.m. – 7:40 p.m.
Lecture: Race to the Moon – The Fantastic World of Science Fiction
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, the Karikaturmuseum Krems shows the exhibition “Race to the Moon! The Fantastic World of Science Fiction”. The exhibition is dedicated to the race into space by means of historical caricatures, cartoons and documentaries. With Gottfried Gusenbauer, curator of the Karikaturmuseum Krems.
THU July 11, 2019: 7:40 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Lecture: NASA, Apollo and the Women
Between 1968 and 1972, 25 men, but not a single woman, flew to the moon. There were enough suitable candidates, but according to a decision of the then President Lyndon B. Johnson, women were not allowed to become astronauts in the USA for fear that African Americans, Hispanics and other “minorities” might also come up with the idea of applying. It was not until 1983 that Sally Ride became the first American to fly into space. A lecture by Dr. Christian Klösch from the Technical Museum Vienna.
THU July 11, 2019: 8 p.m. – 8:20 p.m.
Lecture: Outside is Inside – Indoor Living on the Moon
The extreme conditions with which humans and materials are confronted in the context of space travel pose great challenges to science, architecture and engineering. René Waclavicek of LIQUIFER Systems Group reports on future visions around life in Moon Village, a permanent settlement with infrastructure on the moon, which is to be built in international cooperation.
THU July 11, 2019: 8:20 p.m. – 8:40 p.m.
Lecture: When the Unimaginable is Transformed into Inspiration – The Fascinating Images of the Apollo Programme
In July 1969 a dream of mankind became reality: A man on the moon. ZEISS became part of the ambitious goal, because cameras and lenses – specially modified for space – made it possible to record the astronauts’ important steps. Judith Walter and Michael Rottler report on the special role of photography during the moon missions and the moon landing.
FRI July 12, 2019: 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Workshop: To the Moon and Back
Rockets are irreplaceable for space exploration. But what does a rocket need in order to fly? In the space station of the Kids’ Research Laboratory, rockets are built that can be tested on a self-made launch pad.
FRI July 12, 2019: 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Moon Observation (level 0)
At the entrance to the Ars Electronica Center, the moon is observed in good weather using mobile telescopes from the Kepler Observatory in Linz. In addition, there is the rare opportunity to observe moon meteorites under the microscope. And on the Nibelungen Bridge, panels provide information about Saturn V rocket.
FRI July 12, 2019: 8 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Lecture: The Moon in 3D (plane 0)
Rolf Hempel from the German Aerospace Center invites you to take a moon walk in 3D. Thanks to a special recording technique, the moon mountains and large craters appear within reach in the Deep Space of the Ars Electronica Center. In addition, the visitor will visit the place where Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon. Virtual flights also lead to several landing sites where the traces of the astronauts can still be seen today.
FRI July 12, 2019: 9 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.; SAT July 13, 2019: 11 a.m. – 12 noon; SUN July 14, 2019: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Lecture: Saturn V for the MoonLlanding – Ariane 6 for Europe’s Access to Space (Level 0)
110 meters high, ten meters wide, weighing 2,800 tons. With its impressive size and high-performance engines, the Saturn V rocket was specially developed for moon landing. The rocket’s construction in the 1960s is still exemplary and can be seen as a model for the European Rocket Development Programme. Prof. Dr. Stefan Schlechtriem, Director of the Institute of Space Propulsion, reports on the impressive rocket.
FRI July 12, 2019: 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
FridaysforFuture – The Reinvention of the Future (Level 0)
Fridays for Future is a global movement of pupils and students committed to climate protection. The movement was initiated by the Swedish student and climate activist Greta Thunberg. The school strikes call for compliance with the climate targets of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015. Representatives of FridaysforFuture Austria will give an insight into the topic of climate change.
FRI July 12, 2019: 7 p.m. – midnight
FridaysforFuture @ CitizenLab (Level -1)
The CitizenLab of the new Ars Electronica Center is permanently dedicated to the wishes and demands of the FridaysforFuture movement. On this evening, visitors will have the opportunity to discuss with activists and learn more about their motivations, goals and demands.
Lecture: The Moon, our Neighbour in Space (Level 0)
SAT July 13, 2019: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.; SUN July 14, 2019: 11 a.m. – 12 noon
High-resolution panoramic images show the moon in an incredible wealth of detail. Visitors can expect to see crater-covered highlands, mighty mountain ranges and large. Results from lunar research give an impression of the eventful history of our cosmic neighbour. Afterwards, the moon moves within reach by means of special recording technology and 3D.
SAT July 13, 2019: 4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Lecture: The Secret of Immortality (Level 0)
Cells from freshwater polyps, which can divide infinitely, are regarded as a hope in the fight against disease. In contrast to humans, polyps are able to stop their physical decay. Frank Edenhofer, stem cell researcher at the University of Innsbruck, is on the trail of these special animals.
Visual reading: From Earth to Moon – Jules Verne flies Apollo
SAT July 13, 2019: 4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Exactly 185 years ago, Jules Verne was born in Nantes, France, who is now regarded as one of the founders of science fiction literature. In the book “From the Earth to the Moon”, he described a journey to the Earth’s satellite with amazing precision 100 years before the moon landed. A reading from the book is supplemented by special visualizations in Deep Space 8K.
Photo:
Der Mond / Fotocredit: Ars Electronica / Printversion
Photo:
Der Mond / Fotocredit: Ars Electronica – Robert Bauernhansl / Printversion
