Space mission: photographer Benedict Redgrove shoots for the stars with NASA

Nose of the Orion spacecraft captures at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, from NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.

(Image credit: Benedict Redgrove)

By Jonathan Bell

last updated 21 October 2022

We’d always suspected photographer Benedict Redgrove had a bit of a space fetish. One of Wallpaper’s favourite lensmen, he rarely passes up a chance to bring an otherworldly quality to everything from cars, architecture and interiors. Unsurprisingly, Redgrove has a long-running personal project that explores this interest in much more detail and with exactly the right subject matter. For the past seven years, the photographer has been working closely with NASA on documenting the space agency’s ongoing work on the Orion spacecraft project. Orion is the next generation of manned space vehicles, the groundwork for exploration missions that will, ultimately, lead to a Mars mission.

Together with the Space Launch System, a heavy lifting modular rocket system that will be the backbone of supplying and assembling these kinds of long-distance programme. This is heady stuff, the multi-billion dollar bleeding edge of aeronautics. Fittingly, Redgrove is undertaking the project with the Swiss-made ALPA camera, an ultra high-definition digital camera, maxing out the detail of objects that are as meticulously crafted as a piece of fine jewellery. Recently exhibited at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (opens in new tab) (29 June – 2 July), the gallery will ultimately form a book, due to launch at around the same time as the first SLS boosters power through the stratosphere on the way to frontiers unknown.

Saturn V back, from *NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.*

Rover, from NASA — Rover, from *NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.*

Suit, from NASA — Suit, from *NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.*

Helmet, from NASA — Helmet, from *NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.*

Robo Rover Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV), from NASA — Robo Rover Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV), from *NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.*

Rover R2 hand, from NASA — Rover R2 hand, from *NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.*

Rover R1, from NASA — Rover R1, from *NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.*

Orion, from NASA — Orion, from *NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.*

Boeing CST-100 Starliner, from NASA — Boeing CST-100 Starliner, from *NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future*

Valkyrie, the first walking humanoid, from NASA — Valkyrie, the first walking humanoid, from *NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.*

Robonaut 2 (R2), from NASA — Robonaut 2 (R2), from *NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.*

Apollo 11, from NASA — Apollo 11, from *NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.*

Profile of the Saturn V tail, from NASA

Profile of the Saturn V tail, from NASA – Past and Present Dreams of the Future.

(Image credit: Benedict Redgrove)

INFORMATION
For more information, visit Benedict Redgrove’s website (opens in new tab)

Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.