The Sky Commodified

The local complexities of constructing a spatial industry site around an astronomical observatory located in the Atacama Desert, Chile. Weaving together the perspectives of the local residents, animal species, native and foreigners, the film addresses the concept of presence and progress, with a focus on social implications. Introduced by science writer Govert Schilling, the narrative is developed on three interrelated levels: the observatory’s physical structure and architecture; the growth of tourism to the area; the sky conceived of as a data mine and astronomy as a global industry at the forefront of technological advances.