The announcement of the selection of the Ars Ad Astra art work to stay on the Mir was
communicated during a live transmission from orbit organized by ESA which
took place as the Mir passed over the Euro Space Center in Transinne,
Belgium on November 30, 1995.
This "link-up" event was attended by most of
the 20 artists.
"While civilization is more than a high material living standard it is nevertheless based on material abundance. It does not thrive on abject poverty or in an atmosphere of resignation and hopelessness. Therefore, the end objectives of solar system exploration are social objectives, in the sense that they relate to or are dictated by present and future human needs."
Krafft Ehricke