A 7-metre astronaut statue is touching down in Perth: here’s everything to know about Boonji Spaceman

Perth’s Space Story – how we became the City of Light

On 20 February 1962, NASA Astronaut John Glenn became the first American to ever orbit the Earth. He spent close to 5 hours in flight, orbiting Earth 3 times before descending and landing in Florida. This early space mission paved the way to the Gemini and Apollo programs, leading NASA to land men on the moon. It was also a huge milestone for the Muchea Tracking Station in Chittering as it was the first time an Australian technician spoke to a space traveller.

This event captured the imaginations of the people of Perth who turned on their lights to see if our City would be visible from space. Perth residents and businesses left on their lights, shone torches to the sky, lit lanterns and made makeshift lights by hanging gas burners, globes and white sheets over their Hills Hoists to generate as much light as possible.  
 
The plan worked – during his first orbit, Glenn commented on the brightness from Space as he approached the Western Coast of Australia. Ground control let him know that the people of Perth knew John would be passing over our City that night and turned on their lights, transforming our City into a shining beacon clearly visible from space and earning Perth the title ‘City of Light’.
Boonji Spaceman pays homage to our City of Light origin story. 
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Where to see Perth’s Boonji Spaceman

The 7-metre-tall sculpture will touch down in Stirling Gardens on 23 May, where it will stay for 12 months so locals and visitors to the City can enjoy this impressive piece.

It will then be moved to another location within the City. Watch this space. 

Resources

Remembering John Glenn and the City of Lights

How the world’s most isolated city became the City of Light