There have been many bibles in space. Buzz Aldrin took communion wine and bread to the moon. However, there’s never been an actual church or temple in space. That could change soon when a group of Buddhist monks in Japan launches a temple into space, with a space Buddha onboard to bring happiness and peace and allow people on Earth to “connect with each other through outer space.” Have they figured out a way to burn incense without fire or oxygen?
“In the past, people had a temple in their neighborhood where they could go regularly. However, with many people relocating to other places, as well as the coronavirus pandemic, that has become difficult. We wanted to build a temple people can easily turn to.”
Feb 5, 2021
A “space temple” is planned for the inside of a private satellite to be launched in 2023, and the holy place will be reachable from Earth, organizers said Friday.
Kyoto’s Daigoji Temple and Terra Space inc., a satellite developer, have teamed up to launch an ultrasmall satellite the size of a jewelry box that will orbit around Earth. The temple, named Jotenin Gounji Temple, will be placed inside the satellite along with a small Buddha statue and mandala paintings, Terra Space said.
“In the past, people had a temple in their neighborhood where they could go regularly. However, with many people relocating to other places, as well as the coronavirus pandemic, that has become difficult,” said a Terra Space official. “We wanted to build a temple people can easily turn to.”
Japanese monks preparing space temple with IoT connectivity
Chris Burns - Feb 5, 2021, 2:43pm CST
In the near future, Japan will launch a prayer temple called Jotenin Gounji into low orbit around our planet. Over the past few years, Kyoto Japan-based UNESCO World Heritage site Daigoji Temple planned a new structure that is one-part IoT satellite, one part prayer temple. In collaboration with the folks at Terra Space, Daigoji Temple and partners intend for this craft to be launched within the next two years.
Terra Space is a satellite research and development company also based in Kyoto. Together with Daigoji Temple, the space temple (浄天院劫蘊寺) will be sent into orbit around our planet with a planned launch date inside the year 2023. Unlike some unexpected objects launched into space in recent years, this temple will not be forgotten to time (or a nearby star).