First Women 'Walk on Moon' After Purchasing Lunar Rock for Lounge Display

A Unique Art Project Recreates the Moon Landing in a Domestic Setting

An artist from Belfast has created a groundbreaking art project that allows women to experience the thrill of walking on the moon, all within the comfort of her living room. This unique initiative, titled “Women Moon Living Room,” has captured the imagination of people from all walks of life.

Deby McKnight, 55, transformed her terraced house into a lunar landscape, complete with a replica of the 1969 Moon Landing. The project features a moon lander, mission plans, and even small pieces of the moon itself, which she purchased for under £200. The idea was sparked by a geologist friend who introduced her to the possibility of owning a piece of lunar meteorite Bechar 003.

This piece of moon rock became the catalyst for Deby’s vision. She wanted to create an experience where women could step onto the moon, not just in theory but in reality. Her goal is to help 100 women “walk on the Moon” in her living room, and so far, 52 women have taken part.

The Inspiration Behind the Project

Deby explained that the idea came to her suddenly after acquiring the moon rock. “I just really wanted to recreate that Buzz Aldrin coming down the ladder and Neil Armstrong taking the photograph,” she said. “I knew I’d be able to recreate it once I got my piece of the moon.”

She emphasized that the project was inspired by the desire to challenge traditional gender roles. “Women so often have been relegated to the domestic sphere,” she said. “I thought right, let’s do this in a domestic setting.”

The moon fragment used in the project comes from the Bechar 003 meteorite, discovered in Algeria in March 2022. It closely matches the composition of samples brought back during the Apollo missions. The piece is a polished end cut weighing 3.41g, with some unpolished areas showing brown desert dust in the crevices.

Creating the Lunar Experience

To recreate the moonwalking experience, Deby used a stepladder to strip wallpaper and turned it into a makeshift lunar lander. She also used foil blankets and gold soil to simulate the lunar surface. The moon rock sits at the bottom of the ladder, and participants step on it as they get off.

Deby described the process: “If somebody says to you ‘what do you want?’ and you say ‘I want the moon on a stick,’ you want something completely outrageous that you can’t get.” She added, “I thought, ‘I have a piece of the moon and I have a stick and could attach the moon to the end of a stick.’”

Involving Family and Community

Deby worked with her niece, Jane McKnight, to design and make spacesuits and boots for participants. Jane will also be the 100th woman to take part in the project. “She is very creative and she can look at something and know how to construct it,” Deby said.

The project has attracted interest from various age groups, including children and neighbors. Deby shared the story of a seven-year-old and a three-year-old who were fascinated by the experience. “They have really connected with it somehow,” she said. “It’s tapping into the relaxing, having fun, people pretending to moonwalk around my living room.”

A Heartwarming Moment with a 90-Year-Old Neighbor

One of the most touching moments involved Deby’s 90-year-old neighbor, Betty. After a chance visit, Betty joined the project and was delighted to wear the spacesuit for a photo. “She ran back in to her house to show me the ‘Boarding Pass’ she got for the Artemis II mission, which NASA issue,” Deby said. “We were both brought to tears watching the Artemis II crew lift off.”

Future Plans and Legacy

Once Deby reaches 100 participants, she plans to attach all the photographs onto a globe light bought from a charity shop. “Then I will turn the light on,” she said. She also intends to mount the moon fragment on the wall and light it with spotlights. “Then I will take the moon on a stick and attach it to the wall in my living room,” she added.

“So when I switch them on, I will always have moonlight in my living room,” she said. “We haven’t been there as women but we will get there eventually, so this is the closest we’ve got.”

Deby’s project is more than just an art installation; it is a celebration of female empowerment and a reminder that dreams are possible, no matter how outlandish they may seem. By bringing the moon into her living room, she has created a space where women can imagine themselves stepping onto the lunar surface and embracing their potential.