Roadmap
MOONBOX – TERRESTRIAL TESTS – JAN 2012
After thermal, mechanical, and optical simulations carried by Dassault Systèmes, technical and scientific tests have been conducted to enable the opening and the closing of VITAE in the MoonBox (heating cabinet).
STRATOSPHERE / Edge of space- OCT 2012
The first flight of a VITAE miniature was launched from Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, where stands another well-known artwork from Anilore Banon, Les Braves, the official sculpture of the 60th anniversary commemoration of the World War II D-Day.
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) – FEB 2017
Aboard SpaceX-10 Falcon 9 historical flight, a first prototype of VITAE reaches the International Space Station (ISS) to be tested in micro-gravity environment. The deployment test ran by ESA French Astronaut Thomas Pesquet was a success.
THE VI-TAL PARCHMENT ON ITS WAY TO THE MOON
The Vi-Tal Parchment carries the essence of Vitae, its original drawings and blueprint: a magical alliance between art and science. This symbol of memory and eternity announces the future installation of the VITAE sculpture on the moon. A state-of-the art laser engraving has been performed on a 0.14mm thick mylar sheet. To ensure its safe journey to the Moon, this engraved parchment is preserved in a titanium case designed by the artist and made by the CERN laboratory in Geneva. The Vi-Tal parchment is on board the first Astrobotic’s mission to the moon, announced to take off first quarter of 2023.