Fallen Astronaut

A Secret Mission

In 1971, during the Apollo 15 mission, astronaut David Scott placed a small aluminum sculpture on the lunar surface. This 8.5-centimeter figure, created by Paul van Hoeydonck, was not part of the official mission manifest. It was a clandestine act of artistic expression, carried out in the vast silence of the Moon.

The sculpture was accompanied by a plaque listing the names of 14 astronauts and cosmonauts who had died in the pursuit of space exploration. Together, they formed a memorial unlike any other—one that would endure in the airless environment of the Moon for millennia to come.

The Artist's Vision

Paul van Hoeydonck designed the Fallen Astronaut to be deliberately ambiguous. The figure's prone position could represent death, but also rest, contemplation, or even a moment of reverence. Its gender and nationality are intentionally unclear, making it a universal symbol of human exploration and sacrifice.

The choice of aluminum was both practical and symbolic. The material would withstand the extreme conditions of space while maintaining its form. Like the human spirit it represents, the sculpture was designed to endure against impossible odds.

THE FALLEN ASTRONAUT - Documentary

The Fallen Astronaut depicts the compelling story of one of the most extraordinary achievements of the Space Age, a sculpture on the moon dedicated to all the astronauts and cosmonauts who died during the Race to the moon. For the first time after almost fifty years the artist has consented to participate in a documentary about the fascinating history of one of the most intriguing achievements of the space programme: placing the first and only work of art on the moon, by the Apollo 15 mission in 1971.

Since 1961, Paul Van Hoeydonck explored the possibilities of a synergy between man and technology. His interest in Space was - and still is - expressed in an engaging body of work in which he profiles himself as an 'archeologist of the future'. This long overdue documentary renders homage to the artist's genius and his undeniable contribution to 20th Century art history.

Documentary film by Frank Herrebout

This documentary was co-produced by Adrian Mibus and An Jo Fermon

The Sculpture on the Moon

Scandals and conflicts obscured one of the most extraordinary achievements of the Space Age. By Corey S. Powell and Laurie Gwen Shapiro One crisp March morning in 1969, artist Paul van Hoeydonck was visiting his Manhattan gallery when he stumbled into the middle of a startling conversation. Louise Tolliver Deutschman, the gallery's director, was making an energetic pitch to Dick Waddell, the owner. "Why don't we put a sculpture of Paul's on the moon," she insisted. Before Waddell could reply, van Hoeydonck inserted himself into the exchange: "Are you completely nuts? How would we even do it?" Deutschman stood her ground. "I don't know," she replied, "but I'll figure out a way." She did.

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