ASU creates interactive moon colony exhibit

TEMPE, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Ever imagined what it might be like to live on the moon? People can now find that out, without ever having to leave Earth!

Arizona State University is creating an interactive experience that will transport visitors to a futuristic moon colony. The exhibit is called "Luna City: 2175", and the project's inspiration came from a book called Aurora, which raises questions like how can people survive and live off of Earth. That is a question a group of ASU students wanted to explore further, and months later, their imagination led them to create the exhibit.

"A lot of facts in our space is built on real science," said Creative Director Phil Weaver-Stoesz. "Shackleton Crater, where Luna City exists, is a real crater. The measurements we created are the actual measurements of the crater. It's probably the best place where humans will live, if they would start a settlement on the moon."

In the exhibit, while is life on the moon, and humans are living and thriving, not everything is similar to Earth. For example, smartphones and cars are not all that popular in Luna City.

"In Luna City, there is a greater understanding of what human community needs to look like," said Weaver-Stoesz. "People aren't huddled in the corner of their habitats, just scrolling through Facebook or scrolling through Twitter."

Weaver-Stoesz says the goal is to live a healthy lifestyle on the moon. The small colony features a cafe, meditation room, and a Hyperloop to travel from point A to Point B. For those coming to imagine the experience, they are able to walk through, and learn more about the neighborhood.

"In the experience, we're building out in the lobby. There is a space port where people will be coming in and seeing all these different characters in the space port, there might be some black market deals going down," said Weaver-Stoesz.

Artist Ken Eklund has spent months with the team, bringing the imagination to life.

"It's going to be really immersive, and that's a key work for what we are doing here, is to really get people to really think about the future," said Eklund.

The event will be held this weekend at the Galvin Playhouse, located on ASU's Tempe campus. While the event is free, reservations are required.

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