Unique Collaboration Between Visualization Center C and the Hasselblad Foundation Takes Us Back to the Moon

The Hasselblad Foundation is awarding a grant to Once Upon the Moon, a 3D dome-format production created by Visualiseringscenter C in Norrköping. The dome show takes audiences on a journey back to the Moon landings, using authentic photographs and film footage from the Apollo astronauts to allow viewers to relive humanity’s greatest adventure.

By supporting this project, the Hasselblad Foundation continues its work to promote research and education in the natural sciences and photography. The Foundation has a long tradition of supporting initiatives that unite science and image-making, and Once Upon the Moon is a clear example of this. With the help of the visualization tool OpenSpace and authentic archival imagery, historic space exploration is connected with today’s technological advances.

“We are very pleased to be part of this unique project together with Visualiseringscenter C. That the images from the Moon, taken with the Hasselblad camera, play such a central and meaningful role in the storytelling is fantastic. At a time when it is more important than ever to spread knowledge grounded in science, we see this as a powerful opportunity to reach both new and experienced space enthusiasts — driven by credibility, technology, and imagination,” says Kalle Sanner, CEO of the Hasselblad Foundation.

When astronauts traveled to the Moon during the Apollo program in the 1960s and 70s, Hasselblad played a central role in their missions. The cameras that captured some of humanity’s most iconic images were designed and developed by Victor Hasselblad’s team. Together with the astronauts, they made it possible for more people to experience the Moon landing up close. This is where Once Upon the Moon continues, with the same goal: to allow more people to experience more.

At the same time, we are facing a new era of space exploration. NASA’s Artemis program plans to send astronauts back to the Moon. Through Once Upon the Moon, audiences can learn what we discovered during the Apollo missions and understand why we need to return.

“With the help of the OpenSpace software, which is developed here at Visualiseringscenter C, we can digitally visualize all the data that exists about the Moon. It is incredibly exciting that the Hasselblad Foundation wants to join us on this journey, which we hope will inspire both longtime and new space enthusiasts,” says producer Anna Öst.

Apollo astronauts Charlie Duke and Harrison Schmitt, who carried out the expeditions and are interviewed in Once Upon the Moon, have themselves virtually relived their lunar journeys through the production and visualization tool. In addition to them, astronauts Christina Koch and Marcus Wandt are also interviewed, as well as Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.

The director of Once Upon the Moon, Carter Emmart, came to Visualiseringscenter C and Linköping University as a guest professor within the framework of the Peter Wallenberg Guest Professorship in Visual Science Communication, with a vision of bringing more people back to the Moon. Through his guest professorship and in close collaboration with Anders Ynnerman, Professor of Scientific Visualization at Linköping University and Consortium Director of Visualiseringscenter C, this idea has now been realized.

“Fifty years ago, humanity explored the surface of the Moon for the first time. By combining archival material and interviews with those who were there with data visualization and immersive technology, we can today allow audiences to experience the Apollo journeys in an entirely new way. This film bridges the generations between those who traveled to the Moon then and those who are working to take us there again,” says director Carter Emmart.

Once Upon the Moon premieres in early 2026 at Wisdome Gothenburg.