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NASA Flight STS-40

Video Installation: projected video and hand dyed chiffon

2023

Flight STS-40 is a poetic exploration of a historical scientific experiment. This installation creates a queer commentary on animal human relationships, morality, and knowledge production. In 1991 NASA sent 2,000 infant jellyfish into outer space. The jellyfish spent two weeks orbiting the earth, enough time for them to fully develop. Jellyfish navigate using similar crystals to those we have in our ears that give us a sense of orientation and balance. Scientists believed if jellyfish could develop their sense of direction in zero gravity one day infant humans could too. The study determined that Jellyfish cannot grow-up in outer space. When they came back to gravity many of them could not swim straight. Among other things, this study concluded that we should not raise children in zero gravity.

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