Dear Tiffany,
April 14, 2025 at 9:30 Eastern time, Blue Origin launched an all-female crew from Van Horn, Texas, for an 11-minute rocket ride. Although the event was not the first flight for New Shepard, its 31st mission marked another milestone in commercializing the product: a vessel of crystallized human invention and anthropoid aesthetics.
There were 6 crew members in the New Shepard 31st flight: Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez. Their radiant smiles and form-fitting spacesuits were all over the press; I was almost mistaken their press photo for a shampoo commercial.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, you argued. You told me you were focusing on the rocket and not really paying attention to the crews. On the other hand, it is also true that human beings always consider well-proportioned objects beautiful, whether it's David under Michelangelo’s carving, Madonna and Child at Bellini’s brush, or even Modulor man under Le Corbusier's sketch. Ever since Pythagoras, that well-proportion is not a random accident; it is a numerical harmony encompassed in the mind of our creator, a principle led by numeric “wisdom”.
My impression of their launch made me wonder what kind of technology could make such intense broadcasting two thousand years ago? Would the architectural facade function as an advertisement in ancient times? — to exalt our creator, highlight our competence, and fill us with awe.
As this week was the Holy Week leading up to Easter, I thought drawing the façade of Basilica di S. Giovanni Laterano could be a mindful way to practice self-control, so that I can turn my eyes away from social media for at least the rest of Lent. At the same time, I am very curious and trying to figure out what the secret formula of “being beautiful” is, both in men and the divine.
Thomas Aquinas once said in his Summa Theologiae, “Three qualities are required for beauty. In the first place, integrity or perfection, since I'm an incomplete thing, precisely because they are such, and deformed. Due proportion or harmony among the parts is also required. Finally, clarity or splendor. In fact, we desire things whose colors are clear and brilliant as beautiful.”
History of Basilica
Basilica di S. Giovanni Laterano experienced major fire damage during the 14th century. Over the following 400 years, the basilica underwent numerous renovations and reconstructions. Its current facade was designed by architect Alessandro Galilei and completed in 1735 under Pope Clement XII. Trying to figure out what was in the past, I traced over an old basilica facade (presumably during the Middle Ages), then overlaid the current one to see what has been “reconstructed”. I was amazed by the scale and skill that have been improved during a period of 400 years. The height of the facade increased almost twice (1.7 times to be more “precise”). The sophistication of craftsmanship also advanced immeasurably.
I don't mean to attribute Basilica's beauty solely to its scale and proportion. I agree with Thomas Aquinas that Beauty is constituted by all three components. On the other hand, its "due proportioned" facade has established an impeccable precedent for architects. Ever since ancient Greece, artists have found the golden ratio. Da Vinci's anatomical study drawings influenced how people see spaces and the human body. As our eyes are used to those specific proportions, we continuously apply similar principles to design our spaces and buildings to this day.
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels
Many modern architects follow the math and ratio and apply on the elevation they designed, but only with a theatrical scale can we form our sense of transcendence. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in Los Angeles by Rafael Moneo is an example. The Cathedral was completed in 2002, is a premier example of utilizing massive theatrical scale and asymmetrical geometry to create a sense of transcendence and spiritual journey. Although the massing was asymmetrical, it has a harmonious floor plan and splendid light and ambience, which we could talk more about next time we meet.
Anyway, after laying out Blue Origin's New Shepherd booster next to the Basilica, seeing how tiny the street lamp and bollard were, a transidental feeling arose in me. On this Holy Saturday, a day of anticipation, reflection, and preparation, I am sending you this traced facade drawing and hope you share my peace and joy.
P.S. 1. The smaller one in the image is Blue Origin’s new Shepherd booster; the one on its right is Blue Origin’s new Glenn booster. Source via Mark Nowlin/the Seattle Times.
P.S.2. Due to my limited resources, the sketch consisted of a lot of guesswork and I would not boast about that's what have precisely constructed.