Author: Anna Shaposhnik

Date: April 28 2025

Abstract#

A group of MoonDAO citizens–led by SheepiAnna (Anna Shaposhnik) with Phil (Philip Linden), EngiBob (Bob Barnum), and Eliza Maria–are currently writing a paper titled: “Art and Technology Collaboration in the Space Industry 1960s-2000s”, which was accepted to IAC 2026 in session 3 on October 1 2025 - Contemporary Arts Practice and Outer Space: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach. Paper ID Nr: IAC-25,E5,3,2,x97856

Problem#

The problem the paper aims to address is the divisions between engineering and artistic disciplines (both within individuals and within teams), by offering historical context into how they were viewed in the past and the resurgence in collaborations between artists and engineers in aerospace, communications, and space industries during the 1960s-2000s with a focus on the Cold War era. The paper aims to show evidence that including artists in technical teams or vice-versa created a direct effect on the innovative output of the team.

Anna Shaposhnik, the paper’s primary author, needs funds to be able to attend the International Astronautical Congress 2026 (IAC) in Sydney to present the paper. Anna can dually represent MoonDAO as a citizen and Orbital Entertainment Supply, a registered Moon DAO Team which will be conducting business development at IAC.

Solution#

Additional research will be conducted and the IAC paper, presentation, and the accompanying essay website (https://scalar.usc.edu/works/art--engineering-in-the-space-industry/ - in progress) will be created. The research work will build upon what has been partially prepared during Anna Shaposhnik’s university classwork on the same topic.

The paper and presentation will examine the rhetorical backdrop of disciplinary division during the Cold War era, and how it promoted a resurgence in collaborations between artists and engineers in aerospace, communications, and space industries. It compares and contrasts the mindset and process of engineers to artists, and particularly investigates the role of "systems thinking." The paper also compares a "collaborating experts" approach to training individuals in both the arts and engineering. Finally, it investigates the management environments where such collaboration thrives, with examples of resulting innovations, and offers actionable advice for today's organizations.

Specific examples discussed will include: C.P. Snow's Two Cultures lecture, reactionary attitudes from American Society for Engineering Education, Bell Lab's Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T) division, Raymon Lowey's right for the Skylab window, Frank Malina's journey from engineer to artist and the Leonardo magazine, space artists Chesley Bonestell Frederick Eversley, Disney Imagineering, Apple, and more.

We will be leveraging the Huntington Library Archives, as well as interviews with author-historians Patrick McCray and Peter Westwick. Additionally, we will conduct analysis on job data, word appearance, and map a timeline of relevant cultural touchstones. You will learn that just as going to space helps us expand our mindset to tackle even bigger problems that lead to benefits on Earth, a fertile environment for collaboration between artists and engineers expands the playground for novel ideas. In general, a scientific or artistic mindset sets the realm of the possible, and the engineering mindset makes it happen. Together, they create an inspiring future that supports our humanity.

Benefits#

The paper benefits MoonDAO as a collaborative project jointly created by a group of MoonDAO citizens, advancing their writing and project management skills and advancing MoonDAOs presence at IAC. We plan to list MoonDAO and include the logo in our presentation as a supporter of the paper and sponsor of Anna’s attendance.

The paper will also serve as a publicly accessible resource, and the team would be happy to additionally give a presentation about it to the MoonDAO community so that everyone may benefit from its teachable anecdotes and conclusions. The paper hopes to offer actionable advice on how to successfully foster a collaborative environment between artists and engineers, which is exactly the kind of mix of talents we find within the MoonDAO community itself. This paper will also advance literature published on the blockchain, as we plan to publish it on DeSci.

Risks#

There may be risks in interpersonal collaboration in writing a research project and coordinating ideas, as well as typical travel risk going to Sydney such as delayed or canceled flights, late arrival, or illness preventing attendance to the conference.

Objectives

You can write as many OKRs as you think are needed. One focused goal is preferred instead of many. OKRs should use SMART principles (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound).

Objective #1: Write and publish the paper and prepare the accompanying presentation (paper due Sep 12th, presentation due Sep 20th), and present at the International Astronautical Congress conference in Sydney (early-bird registration June 30th, on-site conference Sep 29th to Oct 3rd).

Key Results for Objective #1: A resource for the community is created, pulling together a variety of examples and offering actionable advice. Metrics: We hope to reach 25 or more attendees at the conference presentation session, and give them one-page handouts as well about the paper that can feature the MoonDAO logo as a sponsor of our project.

Objective #2: Publish the paper on DeSci

Key Results for Objective #2: As a supporter of blockchain technologies, it is important to use to publish on DeSci as well as with traditional means of obtaining a doi number. Choosing to publish on DeSci would help create interest in blockchain technologies for research papers.

Objective #3: Publish on Social Media about the paper insights and the conference presentation Result: to get more readers and attendees.

Key Results for Objective #3: Targeting 500 impressions and 50 likes total across all our Linked In posts highlighting the presentation date/time at IAC. And 800 impressions and 80 likes total on each LinkedIn post highlighting the conclusions of the paper once completed. We plan on posting around 2-3 highlight posts at the end of October breaking down parts of the paper into social media snippets for Linked In primarily.

Objective #4: Include the voices and talents of the participating MooDAO citizens in its creation

Key Results for Objective #4: The paper becomes a valuable learning opportunity for all participants, strengthening their research, project management, and writing skills, and being a good example for a collaborative research effort within MoonDAO. For example, with one of our teammates still being a student, this project and mentorship from the rest of the group is a great supplement to their studies and interests.Metric: subjective evaluation of learning over the course of the project, being listed as a co-author for a paper at the space industry’s largest international gathering.

Objective #5: Gain more interest and citizenship pipeline from IAC

Key Results for Objective #4: Anna Shaposhnik will walk around IAC and introduce at least 10 people to MoonDAO, to convert at least 3 person to join the MoonDAO discord, and at least 1 to go on the path to becoming a citizen.

Member(s) responsible for OKR and their role:

• Objective 1: All
• Objective 2: Anna, EngiBob
• Objective 3: All
• Objective 4: All
• Objective 5: Anna

Team (Table A)#

Timeline (Table B)#

(Bi-weekly meetings)

Costs: International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) - 14 Darling Drive, Sydney, NSW 2000

1. Travel LA <> Sydney, September 29 arrive morning - leave October 4th evening Non-Refundable/Changeable Delta tickets: $1,400 USD

AirBnB~1.5 mi away from conference Housing: $592.69 for 5 nights (cheaper than comparable hotel in the area) - LINK

Per Diem Requested: (transportation, food, incidentals, (well under $372 max per day as per U.S gov per diem rates for Sydney) $60/day, 6 days = $360, per diem will also be used for any MoonDAO IAC paper team dinners for those who also come to IAC. Per diem will also be used as contingency in case of any price increases

Conference Pass for young professionals: $644.88 (570 euros)

1,400+592.69+300+644.88= Total: 2937.57 USDC

Deadline for the project: End of Q3 (September 30th)

Transactions (Table C)#

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