On May 22, 1993, an artwork that was conceived, realized and launched as a declared, authorized and scientifically-reasoned "space art project," lifted off for its flight to the Russian Mir space station on a Soyuz launcher. A few days later this artwork called the Cosmic Dancer became a part of the living space of the cosmonauts aboard the Mir space station in Earth orbit.
In September 1992, a proposal to launch a Cosmic Dancer to the Russian Mir space station was submitted to NPO Energia via their partner Kayser-Threde GmbH located in Munich, Germany. In November of that year, a "Letter of Intent" was signed and negotiations for the launch date, the price and the determination of the technical specifications commenced.
In December, 1992, a contract with Kayser-Threde GmbH was signed to launch the artwork to the Mir space station on a Progress supply vehicle with launch opportunities in March or May of 1993.
The Cosmic Dancer sculpture is a painted geometric form made out of welded aluminum tubing measuring approximately 35 x 35 x 40 centimeters and weighing exactly one kilogram. These dimensions were prescribed by the parameters of the Mir space station environment as were the acrylic paints which were tested and certified for their suitability in the orbital habitat.
The purpose of the project was to investigate the properties of sculpture in zero gravity and to examine the integration of art into a space habitat environment.
