Afro Astra

Over 300 years ago, African American slaves encoded secret maps to freedom within intricate designs in their cornrows.

Today, as humanity stands at the threshold of becoming an interplanetary species, how might we reimagine Black hair in space?

In 2030, NASA plans to return to the Moon for the third time. This visionary AI short film and multimedia installation asks – what infrastructure and design would enable Black culture, beauty, and identity to thrive amongst the stars?

This immersive installation follows a scientist aboard the Gateway—NASA's first lunar space station, inspired by the Artemis V mission scheduled for 2030.

This project demonstrates how storytelling can animate scientific research—what I call "speculative science" rather than science fiction. By visualizing culturally-informed space infrastructure, we create provocations that aerospace engineers and designers can actually use.

AFRO ASTRA advocates for a future where all people, no matter their background, can express themselves fully among the stars.