Space Option Star
Humanity is facing an imminent Energy Dilemma in that the limited proven reserves of fossil fuels could reach exhaustion levels at mid-century and none of the current alternative terrestrial energy options – nuclear – wind - ground solar (PV) – can be sufficiently scaled to achieve the goal of divesting from fossil fuels by the year 2050 as is being called for by the United Nations, many governments and numerous organizations to address the Climate Emergency. Energy from space is the only near term technically feasible and scalable alternative currently available to humanity to divest from fossil fuels while meeting [...]
Enabling Peace off, with, and on Earth
The biggest obstacles to space development and to civilisation in general, are the wars over energy and other resources we are currently witnessing. The current period of shared prosperity, built upon and supported by a reliable global supply of fossil fuels is coming to an end. Today, more than two-thirds of the world’s traded fossil fuels comes from countries affected by war, sanctions, or blockades. This has made fossil fuel supplies increasingly limited and fragile, with a constant risk of further disruption. At the same time, easily available oil and mineral reserves are being depleted, economies are weak, debt is [...]
The Space Option
The Space Option is about humanity making the right choice at the right time. Space visionaries and pioneers long ago quietly and consequently developed both the scientific rationale and the technological concepts to open the space frontier. Upon these works is the development of a concept called The Space Option and, because this option offers humanity the most “optimistic” pathway to sustainability and prosperity, it is a choice humanity will most likely make in order to maintain its well-being and insure its ultimate survival. The Space Option concept has a dual origin. It follows from the search for humane solutions [...]
Greater Earth
A New And Transformational Perception of Our Planet Since the beginning of human history the perception of its home planet Earth has always influenced the way humanity has formulated its beliefs and conducted its affairs. When Earth was perceived of as the entire universe it gave rise to myths and religions that permeate and influence society into the present time. Space exploration has provided humanity a perception of the “Whole Earth” – a blue sphere defined by its atmosphere floating in the vast expanses of the cosmos. This perception has catalyzed the globalization of its cultures and defines many [...]
Space Option Star in ELEO
Developing solar power satellites (SPS) as a major energy source for Earth will involve multiple orbital demonstrators. Satellites in low Earth orbits (LEO) will have far lower costs than demonstrators in geostationary orbit (GEO) or High Elliptical Orbits (HEO), but they have the major disadvantage that they can deliver power to a receiving and rectifying antenna (rectenna) for only a few minutes, and only once every few days. However, Equatorial Low Earth Orbits (ELEO) offers the unique advantage to effectively deliver power to the same rectennas about 10 times every day. The Space Option Star in Equatorial [...]
EarthSeeds
EarthSeeds – Humanity’s Ultimate Purpose in the Evolution of Life The EarthSeeds art intervention by Arthur Woods is an open source, open space, open community astronautical art intervention. The EarthSeeds art intervention is designed to send the “Seeds of Earth” to other places in the solar system to help insure that Life will survive elsewhere if the conditions for its survival on Earth become inhospitable. It is based on the knowledge that in nature, the perpetuation and survival of all forms of life are maintained through the process of reproduction. The propagation of a species is the best way for it to survive [...]
Ars Ad Astra – The 1st Art Exhibition in Earth Orbit
The Orbiting Unification Ring Satellite and the OUR-Space Peace Sculpture projects were the beginnings of my “private space program” which began to unfold and develop in other and sometimes in parallel directions. Below is the history and details of the spaceflight of the Ars Ad Astra: The 1st Art Exhibition in Earth Orbit that was realized on the Mir space station in 1995. Ars Ad Astra: Mir Space Station 1995 Involving other artists in space has always been one of my goals. In my negotiations with the Russian space company NPO Energia in 1990, the idea to organize an art [...]
The Cosmic Dancer Sculpture on the Mir Space Station
On May 22, 1993, my sculpture called the Cosmic Dancer was launched to the Russian Mir space station on a Progress rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Cosmic Dancer – a painted geometric form made out of welded aluminum tubing measuring approximately 35 x 35 x 40 centimeters and weighing exactly one kilogram – was the first three-dimensional artwork to be specifically conceived for and officially realized in a space habitat. The purpose of the project was to investigate the properties of sculpture in weightlessness and to evaluate the integration of art into the human space program. After its arrival [...]
The OUR-Space Peace Sculpture Project
Introducing a Cultural Dimension into the Space Environment Arthur R. Woods – Artist, Founder and President of the OURS Project. Member: I.A.A.A., I.S.A.S.T. Marco C. Bernasconi – OURS Vice President – Technical, Member: FBIS, A.I.A.A. Paper IAA-89-673 Presented at the 40th Congress of the International Astronautical Federation October 7-13, 1989 / Torremolinos, Spain Abstract Recent developments concerning the commercial use of outer space have made it possible for cultural events to take place in the space environment which can be seen and experienced by much of the world’s population. The opportunity to communicate to the global audience as well as [...]
The OURS Projects
The OURS Projects In the 1970’s my art had become inspired by scientific information about the nature of the universe which was reflected in my primary mode of expression, which at this time was mostly painting. In 1975, my wife and I moved to Zurich which exposed me to a thriving contemporary art scene. Four years later we moved to the US and, after a year and a half, we decided that Switzerland was the better choice for our circumstances and we returned to Switzerland in 1980. Signs & Symbols Acrylic on Canvas, 70 x 70 cm Back in Switzerland, [...]
Humanity is facing an imminent Energy Dilemma in that the limited proven reserves of fossil fuels could reach exhaustion levels at mid-century and none of the current alternative terrestrial energy [...]
The biggest obstacles to space development and to civilisation in general, are the wars over energy and other resources we are currently witnessing. The current period of shared prosperity, built [...]
The Space Option is about humanity making the right choice at the right time. Space visionaries and pioneers long ago quietly and consequently developed both the scientific rationale and the [...]
A New And Transformational Perception of Our Planet Since the beginning of human history the perception of its home planet Earth has always influenced the way humanity has formulated [...]
Developing solar power satellites (SPS) as a major energy source for Earth will involve multiple orbital demonstrators. Satellites in low Earth orbits (LEO) will have far lower [...]
EarthSeeds – Humanity’s Ultimate Purpose in the Evolution of Life The EarthSeeds art intervention by Arthur Woods is an open source, open space, open community astronautical art intervention. The EarthSeeds art intervention is [...]
The Orbiting Unification Ring Satellite and the OUR-Space Peace Sculpture projects were the beginnings of my “private space program” which began to unfold and develop in other and sometimes in [...]
On May 22, 1993, my sculpture called the Cosmic Dancer was launched to the Russian Mir space station on a Progress rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Cosmic Dancer – [...]
Introducing a Cultural Dimension into the Space Environment Arthur R. Woods – Artist, Founder and President of the OURS Project. Member: I.A.A.A., I.S.A.S.T. Marco C. Bernasconi – OURS Vice President [...]
The OURS Projects In the 1970’s my art had become inspired by scientific information about the nature of the universe which was reflected in my primary mode of expression, which [...]
