# Orbital Reflector

> 2018 sculpture by Trevor Paglen

**Wikidata**: [Q53761314](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53761314)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_Reflector)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/orbital-reflector

## Summary
Orbital Reflector was a 2018 sculpture by artist Trevor Paglen, launched as a temporary artificial satellite. It was a diamond-shaped balloon made of reflective polyethylene intended to be visible from Earth with the naked eye. The project was sponsored by the Nevada Museum of Art and launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket.

## Key Facts
- Launched on December 3, 2018, at 18:34:05 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East
- COSPAR ID: 2018-099P, NSSDCA ID: 2018-099P
- Part of the SSO-A: SmallSat Express mission
- Funded through crowdfunding via Kickstarter
- Classified as both a work of art and an artificial satellite
- Wikipedia available in English, German, and Portuguese
- Project website: https://www.orbitalreflector.com/ (English)
- Creator: Trevor Paglen
- Sponsor: Nevada Museum of Art

## FAQs
### Q: What was Orbital Reflector?
A: Orbital Reflector was a 2018 sculpture by Trevor Paglen, launched as a temporary artificial satellite. It was a reflective, diamond-shaped balloon designed to be visible from Earth with the naked eye.

### Q: When and how was Orbital Reflector launched?
A: Orbital Reflector launched on December 3, 2018, at 18:34:05 UTC aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East as part of the SSO-A: SmallSat Express mission.

### Q: What happened to Orbital Reflector?
A: Orbital Reflector experienced technical difficulties and was unable to deploy as planned. The project was ultimately unsuccessful due to a combination of factors including the 2018-2019 US federal government shutdown and satellite degradation.

## Why It Matters
Orbital Reflector represented a groundbreaking intersection of contemporary art and space technology, challenging traditional boundaries between artistic expression and scientific achievement. As one of the first purely artistic objects launched into space without military, commercial, or scientific purpose, it questioned the commercialization and militarization of space while making the cosmos more accessible to the public imagination. The project highlighted the democratization of space access through crowdfunding and private launch services, while also exposing the vulnerabilities of artistic projects in highly regulated and technical domains. Its failure became a commentary on institutional bureaucracy and the fragility of ambitious interdisciplinary projects, making it a significant case study in the challenges of art-science collaboration.

## Notable For
- First purely artistic satellite launched without military, commercial, or scientific purpose
- Successfully crowdfunded space art project through Kickstarter
- Created by Trevor Paglen, known for exposing government surveillance infrastructure
- Attempted to make space visible and accessible to the general public through naked-eye observation
- Highlighted the impact of government bureaucracy on artistic projects in space

## Body
### Technical Specifications
Orbital Reflector was a 100-foot-long diamond-shaped balloon constructed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) coated with titanium dioxide. The sculpture was designed to inflate in orbit, creating a reflective surface that would catch sunlight and be visible from Earth without telescopes.

### Launch Details
The sculpture launched on December 3, 2018, aboard Spaceflight Industries' SSO-A: SmallSat Express mission, which carried 64 satellites on a single Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket (B1046.3). The launch vehicle was the current version of SpaceX's Falcon 9 orbital launch vehicle at that time.

### Project Development
The Nevada Museum of Art served as the primary sponsor and organizer of the project. Funding was secured through a Kickstarter campaign, making it one of the first crowdfunded art projects to reach space. The project required coordination with multiple government agencies and space industry partners.

### Challenges and Outcome
The sculpture encountered significant obstacles after launch. The 2018-2019 United States federal government shutdown delayed necessary communications and approvals. Additionally, the satellite experienced degradation issues that prevented successful deployment. A news release on May 1, 2019, confirmed the project's failure to achieve its intended artistic manifestation.

### Cultural Context
Trevor Paglen, the creator, is known for his work exposing government surveillance and military infrastructure. Orbital Reflector extended this practice into space, questioning who controls access to orbital space and what purposes it serves. The project existed at the intersection of conceptual art, aerospace engineering, and institutional critique.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://www.orbitalreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Orbital-Reflector-May-1-2019-news-release.pdf)