An ESPI contribution is set to travel to the lunar surface as part of Moon Bound, a unique collection bringing together art, writing and perspectives on our relationship with the Moon.
Space is often discussed through the lenses of science, technology and policy. Yet the ways we explore and use space are also shaped by the ideas, stories and cultural perspectives we bring with us. Moon Bound is a micro-sized, hand-bound anthology bringing together 49 contributions from artists, photographers, poets and writers across seven languages. Each contribution responds in some way to a simple question: how does the Moon see Earth?
Developed by the Moon Gallery Foundation, a Netherlands-based non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering cultural and artistic perspectives within the space sector, Moon Bound explores how creative expression can accompany humanity’s expanding presence beyond Earth. The project forms part of a broader effort by the Foundation to bring cultural and human-centred perspectives into conversations about the future of space exploration.
For ESPI, contributing to Moon Bound offered a chance to explore this creative dimension of space and to put a small piece of the Institute on a journey beyond Earth. The book is due to travel to the lunar South Pole aboard Astrolab’s FLIP rover, carried by Astrobotic’s Griffin lander. The mission is scheduled to land in the Nobile Crater region, an area of particular interest for future lunar exploration.
Contributing to the project created an opportunity for ESPI colleagues to approach the Moon from a different perspective: not only as a place we explore and govern, but also as a source of inspiration, reflection and creativity.
The Institute opened the contribution process to the entire team, inviting colleagues to submit ideas inspired by the anthology’s theme. Following the internal selection process, a poem by ESPI’s Representative in Brussels, Bianca Santi, was chosen to represent ESPI as part of the collection.
"The poem reimagines the Moon as a kind of benevolent Dyson sphere, inhabited by an advanced civilisation that observes Earth not with the intention of interfering, but of understanding and preserving its story. In that sense, the Moon becomes both an observer and an archive – quietly gathering the light, energy and traces of our civilisation. I liked the idea that something we have looked at for thousands of years might, in turn, have been watching and remembering us."
Bringing other perspectives into space
The idea behind Moon Bound reflects a broader conversation about how our relationship with space is changing. As the Moon becomes a growing focus for exploration, science, business and policy, questions about what we take there – and what kind of future we want to create there – become increasingly relevant.
“The contributors are aware of and investigating these cross currents of hope and justice and curiosity in the context of space exploration, a context that inevitably involves businesses. There are no easy answers but we all agree on the need to extend culture to space in ways that represent all of us. The book is on the leading edge of this effort.”
“In an era of increasing focus on the Moon – because it has water ice – we need perspectives that go beyond technology, science and commerce. We think Moon Bound provides a start to that necessary reflection.”
Being part of Moon Bound gives ESPI a small but tangible way to contribute to that wider reflection. A contribution developed through an exercise in creative thinking will soon leave Earth, travelling alongside technologies and instruments designed to support the next chapter of lunar exploration.
And when FLIP reaches the lunar surface, a little piece of ESPI will be there too.
ESPI and Moon Gallery Foundation
ESPI’s collaboration with the Moon Gallery Foundation will continue at the European Space Agency’s Space for Inspiration Conference, taking place on 1-2 September 2026 in Copenhagen, where Moon Gallery Foundation has been invited to present a curated exhibition exploring the relationship between culture and space exploration.
As part of the event, ESPI and Moon Gallery Foundation will jointly host a debate session examining the cultural, ethical and policy dimensions of humanity’s expanding presence beyond Earth. The discussion will bring together perspectives from across the space ecosystem to explore how cultural values, creative expression and societal priorities can help inform the future of space activities.
Through initiatives such as Moon Bound and collaborative discussions at events like Space for Inspiration, ESPI and Moon Gallery Foundation seek to encourage a broader conversation about the human dimension of space exploration. One that connects policy, innovation, creativity and culture.
Project Team:
Anna Sitnikova, Elizaveta Glukhova (Art Direction)
Barbara Brownie (Author, Editor)
Christopher Cokinos (Author, Editor)
Annegien Schilling, Joanne van der Wal (Graphic Design)
Evan Lorenzen (Book Development & Creation)
Luis Bernardo Guzmán (Curation)
More information on Moon Bound is available from the Moon Gallery Foundation.
