The Space Chronometer: An Orbiting Clock for Humanity

The authors’ proposal for an orbiting space chronometer, as an entry for the recent Eiffel Tower in Space Competition, has created an opportunity to widen the debate surrounding the future exploitation of space. Some astronomers have shown strong opposition to symbolic artifacts in space visible to the earth’s populations. In a preface to their proposals, Chris Coles explains his point of view and offers the “Space Chronometer” as a means to communicate the need for a change of attitude among parties opposed to art in space and to create income to support the further development of space through the medium of an international space foundation.