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On 26 September 2026, we held a space evening for children at Palazzo Ducale in Presicce-Acquarica, the town where I grew up.
I’d built the Hera Space Companion from here, through Impact AI and with Markus Mooslechner of Terra Mater Studios and the wider team. Bringing it into an evening in town meant something different: asking around, borrowing equipment and getting back in touch with people.
An evening to try things
We put the companion alongside the separate Planetary Defence Game I’d created and an activity making asteroids from clay and stones. The game ran on laptops borrowed from the local school. Teachers helped at the stations; I gave hints and kept things moving.
The children brought their own plans, questions and energy. I’d prepared the activities, but the exchanges between them became a large part of the evening.
The image above is a frame from the event film: the clay table before everyone arrived.
Part of the town again
Working on an international project from home was one part of the story. Doing something here, with other people, made me feel part of the town again.
Thank you to the teachers, everyone who lent equipment and the people who helped bring the evening together.