While an artist in residence with Planet Labs, a private satellite company, in 2016, my artwork was CNC etched on one of their cubesat satellites. I created graphite drawings of cloud coverage above protected lands from Planet’s satellite images. The satellite was sent into space the following year to circle the globe at low earth orbit until the end of its lifespan—a handful of years—when it will return to Earth and disintegrate upon reentry. These satellites are Earth observation satellites, scanning the planet daily to provide up-to-date information relevant to climate, crop yield prediction, urban planning, and disaster response, oil ventures, migrations and more.

Above is a rendering of the satellite in Space. Soon, if not already, it will be making its way back to Earth, having sent more data than any one set of eyes is able to see.