The International Space Orchestra – will be coming together to perform with American Singer BECK on 20th May 2013. Blending space science, planet-poking and bluegrass-playing spacecraft operators, the world’s first orchestra composed of space scientists –is about to  lift off  from San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall!

Come and join us for a very special performance, as part of the special ‘Song Reader’ Issue by POP-UP MAGAZINE and MC SWEENEY’S! 2,700 seats available and going on sale on 24th April HERE , be fast tickets sale start at noon.

The International Space Orchestra (ISO) is a team of space scientists from the NASA Ames Research Center, Singularity University, International Space University and the SETI Institute. In the summer of 2012 in California, ISO performed Ground Control: An Opera in Space composed by a team including DAMON ALBARN (frontman of Blur and Gorillaz), BOBBY WOMACK, ARTHUR JEFFES from PENGUIN CAFE, MAYWA DENK, and two-time Grammy award winner EVAN PRICE, with a libretto by science- fiction author BRUCE STERLING. Amongst the members of ISO were a NASA Flight Controller conducting arias, a Payload Officer playing a baritone saxophone, a Capsule Communicator playing the triangle, a NASA center Deputy Director playing the gong and an astronaut playing percussion.

ISO’s first performance of Ground Control: An Opera in Space  took place in front of the world’s largest wind-tunnel at the  NASA Ames Research Center and its second in downtown San José as part of the ZERO1 Biennial, North America’s most significant showcase of work at the nexus of art and technology. In addition, Ground Control: An Opera in Space was recorded at Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas’ studio and in January 2013, the International Space Orchestra feature film (66 minutes) had its world premiere at the prestigious Rotterdam International Film Festival.

The International Space Orchestra acts as  an experiential and hybrid research laboratory, where space scientists have been invited to implement, deconstruct, perform, sing, mix, modify, and design musical acts in scientifically built environment such as control rooms. It is a provocation to action: a call to imagine and disrupt future human relations to science; to adapt science to our creative needs.

The International Space Orchestra is directed, created and co-produced by Nelly Ben Hayoun Studio

ISO Musical Director is Evan Price

ISO Choir Conductor is Jimmy Kansau

ISO logo and Patch design by David Benqué

co-presented by V2_ the Institute for Unstable Media

See teaser on the International Space Orchestra Vimeo

World Premiere screening:  Friday Jan 25 in Schouwburg Kleine Zaal at 18:15

Additional screenings:

Saturday Jan 26th in CINERAMA 7 at 14:45

Tuesday Jan 29th in Lantaren Venster at 16:45

Please visit the International Film Festival Rotterdam website.

Join the International Space Orchestra – an assembly of star-spangled space scientists from NASA Ames, Singularity University, International Space University and the SETI Institute- as they perform a unique drama of non-terrestrial communication and the techno-wonders of mission control rooms.  In this tangential reality, your Flight Controller conducts arias and the Payload Officer works a baritone sax, while the Capsule Communicator is on the triangle. Merging science, technology, design and opera, this film captures the behind-the-scenes action during the creation of the International Space Orchestra.

Directed by NELLY BEN HAYOUN, featuring music written by Blur and Gorillaz frontman DAMON ALBARN with BOBBY WOMACK; MAYWA DENKI and PENGUIN CAFE‘s ARTHUR JEFFES. With lyrics by BRUCE STERLING & JASMINA TESANOVIC. Musical director: Two time Grammy-Award winner EVAN PRICE.

‘Music washes from the soul the dust of everyday life. Much as science washes away the fallacies of how the world was formed and sustains itself… Good luck in your cosmic endeavours and may you truly make the music of the spheres.’

John W Boyd Senior Advisor to the Center Director of NASA Ames, the Senior Advisor for History and the Center Ombuds, letter to Nelly Ben Hayoun, August 13^th, 2012

‘Music, like the science of space, is a universal language written in the stars and shared by global hearts united in passion for song!’

Yvonne Cagle, M.D., NASA Astronaut, and International Space Orchestra percussionist, August 2012

Music and Art are expressions of the human existence and food for the soul. The next generation must understand that it isn’t a matter of having to choose between being creative in music and or art and pursuing the science and technology that will take us to the next jump in exploration. But rather, understanding the critical and elemental requirement to embrace both, because music and art are what will enable us to endure and thrive on the journey into space, and to thrive there and beyond.

Karen Bradford, Chief of Staff NASA Ames Research Center, and International Space Orchestra choir leader, August 2012

After a triumphant world premiere performance at  ZERO1 Biennial on 13th September 2012, the International Space Orchestra is BACK!

The International Space Orchestra feature film (57 min) will premiere on Friday 25th January 2013 at the prestigious  Rotterdam International Film Festival , The Netherlands

See teaser on the International Space Orchestra Vimeo

World Premiere screening:  Friday Jan 25 in De Doelen at 18:15

Additional screenings:

Saturday Jan 26th in CINERAMA 7 at 14:45

Tuesday Jan 29th in Lantaren Venster at 16:45

Please visit the International Film Festival Rotterdam website.

Join the International Space Orchestra – an assembly of star-spangled space scientists from NASA Ames, Singularity University, International Space University and the SETI Institute- as they perform a unique drama of non-terrestrial communication and the techno-wonders of mission control rooms.  In this tangential reality, your Flight Controller conducts arias and the Payload Officer works a baritone sax, while the Capsule Communicator is on the triangle. Merging science, technology, design and opera, this film captures the behind-the-scenes action and participants filmed on location at NASA Ames  during the creation of the International Space Orchestra.

Directed by NELLY BEN HAYOUN, featuring music written by Blur and Gorillaz frontman DAMON ALBARN with BOBBY WOMACK; MAYWA DENKI and PENGUIN CAFE‘s ARTHUR JEFFES. With lyrics by BRUCE STERLING & JASMINA TESANOVIC. Musical director: Two time Grammy-Award winner EVAN PRICE.

‘Music washes from the soul the dust of everyday life. Much as science washes away the fallacies of how the world was formed and sustains itself… Good luck in your cosmic endeavours and may you truly make the music of the spheres.’

John W Boyd Senior Advisor to the Center Director of NASA Ames, the Senior Advisor for History and the Center Ombuds, letter to Nelly Ben Hayoun, August 13^th, 2012

‘Music, like the science of space, is a universal language written in the stars and shared by global hearts united in passion for song!’

Yvonne Cagle, M.D., NASA Astronaut, and International Space Orchestra percussionist, August 2012

Music and Art are expressions of the human existence and food for the soul. The next generation must understand that it isn’t a matter of having to choose between being creative in music and or art and pursuing the science and technology that will take us to the next jump in exploration. But rather, understanding the critical and elemental requirement to embrace both, because music and art are what will enable us to endure and thrive on the journey into space, and to thrive there and beyond.

Karen Bradford, Chief of Staff NASA Ames Research Center, and International Space Orchestra choir leader, August 2012

On his 49^th birthday, Rusty was the NASA Flight Director when the LCROSS team hit the Moon’s South Pole and found buckets and tons of ice in the permanently shadowed Cabeaus crater, re-writing science textbooks and forever changing our understanding of the Moon. In previous days he was Chief Engineer at the NFAC (The World’s Largest Wind Tunnel) and did research on biologically inspired computer algorithms to control flapping flying robots.

Rusty’s musical career spans decades, playing with the 129 Army Band, the Ames Jazz Band, Sinister Dexter, and the Leland Stanford Junior <pause>  University Marching Band.

In a parallel life, Commander Rusty Hunt recently retired from the US Navy Reserve, after 32 years of training robot operators, riding ships, running reactors and driving submarines.

At home Rusty enjoys building things and fixing things.

He is married to his lovely bride Tamra, a former fashion model and  The One in a Million Girl, with their beautiful and brilliant daughter Emma who is eight years old and quite the artist.

A Graduate of Leeds College of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, Mike has for many years, toured, recorded, arranged and orchestrated for Damon Albarn. He is Musical Director for Gorillaz ‘Live’ and is an original member of the live band including the award winning  Goriilaz 2010 world tour. As a freelance saxophonist in London he has been a busy session musician and was in-house arranger and horn-player for many bands on the Acid Jazz label in the early 1990s, which led to recording and touring with the Brand New Heavies and Jamiroquai among others.

He plays keyboards in The Good, The Bad and The Queen and Blur. He has been Musical Director on many shows at The Barbican Hall in London, including Honest John’s Chop-up in 2008 and 2011, A Tropical Tribute to the Clash and Songs in the Key of London curated by Chris Difford from Squeeze.

He is a regular composer for TV and film, and is a partner in Electric Wave Bureau; who have recently scored their first big UK feature film for Rufus Norris called ‘Broken’.

SEE MORE ON MIKE ON HIS WEBSITE

Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, VP, Operations, Singularity University

Emeline has degrees in Physics, and Earth and Space Science, and attended the ISU summer program as a student in Strasbourg, France. She has been involved with the International Space University for 20 years serving as full time and volunteer staff for nine ISU summer programs around the world in different operations and academic capacities.

Previously, Emeline has worked as the Director of Program Development and Research and Director of Operations for Space Adventures Ltd, a space tourism company sending private citizens to the International Space Station. She has also worked as a space consultant working on proposal management and research for government and private space and aerospace companies. Emeline is co-author of the book Realizing Tomorrow: The Path to Private Space Flight for the Outward Odyssey Book Series, University of Nebraska Press.

Tim Gagnon was born and raised in East Hartford, Connecticut. A fascination with space exploration came early as did an interest in art. Like many others of his generation Tim remembers watching the missions of his childhood heroes on a small black and white television with “rabbit ears” that could receive few broadcast stations. For his 16^th birthday gift in 1972 his parents arranged for Tim and his father to attend the launch of Apollo 17 as invited guests of NASA.
In 1983 while serving on the East Harford Bicentennial Commission, Tim painted a portrait of Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert. Swigert had lived in East Hartford while working as a pilot for Pratt and Whitney and serving in the Connecticut Air National Guard prior to joining the space program in 1966. The painting is currently on display at the CT Air National Guard Headquarters in East Granby, CT. Also in 1983 Tim represented East Hartford as a guest of NASA at the launch of STS-7 when the Bicentennial Medallion was flown aboard the space shuttle Challenger.
In 1985 Tim started creating scrapbooks of female astronauts for his daughter and niece. The first response  for contributions to the scrapbooks arrived on Saturday, January 25, 1986. The package contained a hand written note, an autographed photo as well as other photos. The note read in part…”you can do anything you want if you get a good education.” It was signed “Judy Resnik NASA Astronaut.” Three days later Judy Resnik was dead. Stunned by the Challenger tragedy, Tim decided that the message in that letter should not die with her. He began a volunteer career with the Young Astronaut Program. He served as Connecticut Coordinator from 1986 until 1991 when he moved his family to Florida. He currently serves as Brevard County Coordinator for the program.
In 1996 while involved in the effort to support the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, Tim helped to organize the “Reach for the Stars” event at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The event was held on the tenth anniversary of the Challenger accident. Later that year he painted “On the Shoulders of Giants” a 4’ x 8’ acrylic on board that depicted all 12 moonwalkers together on the lunar surface honoring all of  the people who helped get them there as well as the ones who were lost along the way. The painting was unveiled at the Center for Space Education during a dinner observing the 30^th Anniversary of the Apollo 1 tragedy in January, 1997 and is on display there to this day.

In April of 1998 when Hugh Harris retired as NASA Public Affairs Officer at the Kennedy Space Center Tim painted his portrait and was invited to present it to Mr. Harris at his retirement party.

In 1999 inspired by Eileen Collins becoming the first woman to command a spaceflight Tim painted “One Small Step…for a Woman.” The painting, which is on display in the City Hall of Elmira, New York (Collins hometown), depicts her in front of other famous astronauts from space program history. A print is also displayed in the Titusville, FL City Hall

From 1999 to 2005 Tim was the director of the Young Astronaut Program at Divine Mercy Catholic School in Merritt Island, FL. He introduced the Young Astronaut Program to the school and started a club. The first event in the fall of 1999 was to host a “friendship gathering” with a group of 60 Young Astronauts visiting from Japan. During the exchange of gifts, Tim presented “Friends in Exploration” a portrait of Japanese astronauts to the Director of the Young Astronauts Club of Japan. It is on display in their office in Tokyo. Each year the Young Astronaut Club (YAC) would host a Space Day event which would involve the entire faculty and student body, many aerospace companies and a guest lecturer. On January 31, 2003 Astronaut Brian Duffy spoke to those attending and said that the astronauts they honored would say, “Don’t cry for me because I was doing something I loved. In fact there are ten astronauts in space right now continuing their mission – and seven of them will land here tomorrow in the shuttle Columbia.” The next day those students had to learn first hand about the risks of space flight when the Columbia was lost during re-entry.

On October 28, 2003. The US National Monument for Fallen Astronauts, known as the “Space Mirror” at the Kennedy Space Center was rededicated in honor of the Columbia crew of mission STS-107. The Divine Mercy Young Astronauts served as ushers and family escorts for the ceremony.

In 2005 Tim was inspired by the incredible effort to return the shuttle to flight and painted “Return to Flight” a multi-media piece depicting the shuttle stack launching into space along with portraits of the STS-114 crew. It was presented to NASA and was displayed in the IMAX Theater at the KSC Visitor Complex during the mission.

In 2006 at the request of and with the cooperation of Mrs. Kennedy, Tim painted a portrait of KSC Director Jim Kennedy on his motorcycle. He presented the portrait to Jim on the occasion of his retirement.

Ever since reading about the design of the Skylab 1 patch in an article written by the artist Frank Kelly Freas in 1973, Tim dreamed about creating a patch for a flight crew, to actually use his artistic talent to contribute to the space program.  He came close in 1985 when Bob Crippen invited him to submit designs for the first shuttle mission scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, STS-62A.  That mission was canceled after the Challenger accident.

In 2004 his dream finally came true when astronaut John Phillips selected Tim to design the emblem for the Expedition 11  mission to the International Space Station.  In 2006 he was invited by mission Commander Pam Melroy to submit draft designs for the STS-120 patch. The competition was strong and Tim placed second.  In 2007 Tim was selected by astronaut Eric Boe to design the STS-126  mission emblem. Knowing how much it meant to participate, Tim invited his pen pal Dr. Jorge Cartes of Madrid Spain to join him on this project.  The STS-126 crew was so happy with the result that they recommended Tim and Jorge to the STS-127 crew. In 2008 together with astronaut Tom Marshburn they designed the crew emblem for STS-127. Then later that year Tim and Jorge were asked by astronaut TJ Creamer to design the Expedition 22 and 23 increment mission emblems.

In 2007 to raise funds for the Apollo Program Monument the Space Walk of Fame Foundation conducted an online auction. To support this effort Tim donated the creation of an 18” x 24” painting. The winning bidder challenged Tim to create a piece that would illustrate the entire 50 year history of space exploration. They soon realized that the scope of the painting required a larger canvas. After researching the idea it was decided that it could be done on a 48” x 24” canvas. The painting became “Past Is Prologue” - Celebrating 50 Years of America in Space.  It was unveiled on Space Day, May 2, 2008 in front of the Apollo Monument in downtown Titusville, FL. The painting will remain on display at the Space Walk of Fame Museum for one year and then be returned to its owner.

In 2008 keeping with his dedication to support activities that can promote space science education for children, Tim designed a souvenir “mission patch” for the team launching Steve Eves 1:10 scale model of an Apollo/ Saturn V rocket to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of Apollo 11.

Tim has also designed a ten-part series of patches to “Celebrate 50 years of America in Space.” The first patch which is the 50th anniversary patch has been shown on the NBC Television Series: “Law & Order SVU” and has also flown in space. The designs which range in size from 4″ to 12″ cover the range of human exploration from Project Mercury to the International Space Station. While not widely distributed they have been well received by all who have seen them.

see more on Timothy’s patches here

In 1989, Dr Welch was one of the final 20 candidates to fly to the Mir space station on the UK-USSR Juno mission, which continues to fuel his passion for human spaceflight and space education and outreach. He is former chair of the UK’s Space Education Council and is Vice Chair (formerly Chair) of the International Astronautical Federation Space and Education and Outreach Committee. He is a Council Member of the British Interplanetary Society, is a subject editor for its journal, JBIS and is also on the board of the World Space Week Association, and a trustee of the Spacelink Learning Foundation and the Arts Catalyst. In 2007 he was Scientist in Residence at National Museum of Childhood in London, in 2009 he won the Sir Arthur Clarke Award for Achievement in Space Education and in 2011 he chaired YuriGagarin50 in the UK.

He is a frequent commentator on space and astronautics, has made more than 300 television and radio broadcasts and has also advised on a number of space-related television programs and films. When not being an engineer, he takes idiosyncratic photographs, tries to write poetry and has authored what he believes to be the first-ever paper on extraterrestrial garden design.

From early on as a small child, Peter loved space and its great mystery.
It began as a little boy watching grainy black and white television images of astronauts walking and hopping around on the moon.
It was followed by many sleepless nights pondering the illogic of an infinite universe.
When Voyager spacecraft pictures from Jupiter came back with the red eye looking at him, he asked “how did they get the film back?”
When the Viking lander took pictures of the setting sun with the red rocks all around,
he felt the loneliness of the lander about to spend a winter on Mars.

From early on as a small child Peter also loved the arts including poetry, photography and music.
He began playing bassoon in 7th grade when the music teacher said that there are too many clarinets
and no bassoons. The bassoon always provides the conductor with an instrument that can either be extremely serious
or also be a joke. It very nature has always provide Peter guidance that has continued to this day.

The opportunity to play music with the International Space Orchestra, to play
some low bassoon notes deep into space is an honor! Emily Dickinson has a quote:
“Nature is a haunted house–but Art–is a house that tries to be haunted”
The opportunity is to integrate the nature of outer space with music is truly a gift.
Let the haunting begin!

Knowles is a former faculty member of the Claremont Colleges, a lifelong learner from the University of California, Harvard, and Cornell, a faculty member and Design Track Chair at Singularity University, a regular participant at TED, and the curator and organizer of TEDxLosGatos.

Knowles is regularly invited to deliver advisory briefings to Fortune Global 500 senior executives, government leaders, and tier-one academics around the world concerning the future of technology and its societal implications. As a primary spokesperson for Autodesk, Knowles is a popular speaker at enterprise, government, education, press, and analyst events focusing on making the complex understandable. He has also been a featured speaker at conferences throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Prior to joining Autodesk, Knowles held senior strategy and management positions at Adobe and Apple.

Professional Memberships

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology
American Institute of Architects
Design Chair, Singularity University
Fellow, Institute for Molecular Manufacturing
American Council of Engineering Companies Fellow,
Royal Geographic Society with the Institute of British Geographers
Geospatial Information and Technology Association
Cartography and Geographical Information Society
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association
National Defense Industrial Association
National Military Intelligence Association