Belfast Artist Gets 44 Women to Walk on the Moon at Home

Betty Campbell celebrated her 90th birthday in a spacesuit and moon boots, taking her first steps on the lunar surface without leaving Belfast.

She walked on a real piece of the moon in her neighbor's living room. Artist Deby McKnight created the experience after buying a fragment of lunar meteorite called Bechar 003 and realizing that despite 12 astronauts walking on the moon between 1969 and 1972, none were women.

"I was just looking at it and going: 'Oh my goodness, women have never walked on the Moon,'" Deby said. "And then it suddenly occurred to me: 'But they will in my living room.'"

Deby transformed her small terraced home into a recreation of the 1969 moon landing, complete with a lunar lander made from her wallpaper-stripping stepladder and foil blankets. The meteorite piece sits at the bottom of the ladder, touching each woman's foot as she descends.

She enlisted her niece Jane McKnight to design and make authentic-looking spacesuits and boots. Jane will become the 100th woman to complete the mission.

So far, 44 women have taken the giant step. Dawn Watson, one of the moonwalkers, described the experience as "wild and bold" and deeply moving to participate in something that hasn't been done before.

Why This Inspires

The project does more than let women experience space exploration. Betty described how it lifts spirits during difficult times: "In the present moment we're a bit down with world things, but this is what we need to lift us out of ourselves."

The mission celebrates imagination and community connection. Women gather in the moment together, sharing an experience that feels much bigger than a Belfast living room.

"I thought I was going to have a quiet birthday but little did I know what a lovely thing was planned," Betty said. "It was just so wonderful to be given the opportunity at my age. I almost feel 21 again."

Deby has set up a website for others who want to join the mission and become one of the 100 women to walk on the moon.