Space-bound artwork makes German debut

African-artists-ASAP - African artists' evocative creation to adorn launcher taking weather satellite into space Yes, you read that right. A unique piece of contemporary African art, which will decorate the rocket launching a weather satellite into space later this year, was unveiled in Darmstadt today. Why Darmstadt? Why African art? And why is it going to space? "This is a great story with its genesis in international cooperation," EUMETSAT Director-General Phil Evans said from the organisation's headquarters in Darmstadt today. African-artists-ASAP - "Our meteorological satellites in geostationary orbit, 36,000km above the Earth, have a continuous view of Europe and Africa," Evans said. "For many years, EUMETSAT has provided the data from these satellites to weather and climate experts in Africa. "In November, we will launch the first of the next generation of these satellites, Meteosat Third Generation. "Meteosat Third Generation will provide a very significant advancement in terms of the weather and climate data it sends back to Earth.