journey to outer space

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Journey to Space

An unveiling of a new era of unprecedented deep space exploration in dramatic giant screen film format. An unveiling of a new era of unprecedented deep space exploration in dramatic giant screen film format. An unveiling of a new era of unprecedented deep space exploration in dramatic giant screen film format.

• Mark Krenzien
• Lindsay Aitchison
• Serena Aunon-Chancellor
• Chris Ferguson
• 6 User reviews
• 6 Critic reviews

• (as Serena Aunon)

• Featured Tourist
• (uncredited)
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• deloudelouvain
• Sep 3, 2020
• How long is Journey to Space? Powered by Alexa
• March 26, 2015 (Denmark)
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• Viaje al espacio. Próxima parada: Marte
• Giant Screen Films
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• Runtime 45 minutes
• Dolby Atmos

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• Space Travel + Astronomy

13 Things Tourists Should Know Before Traveling to Space, According to Astronauts

We asked the pros for their best tips on handling a first trip to space.

For most of human spaceflight history, those lucky enough to reach the stars were professional astronauts hired and trained by government agencies around the world. But since the early 2000s, when seven intrepid travelers paid millions to spend a few days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), space tourism has begun to take off. We're now on the cusp of a new era of space exploration, with commercial companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin launching spacecraft capable of taking paying travelers beyond the Earth's surface.

We spoke with former NASA astronauts Leroy Chiao and Scott Parazynski to get their tips for first-time spaceflight participants. During his 15 years with NASA, Chiao participated in four missions — three aboard the space shuttle and one to the ISS, in which he served as commander. Parazynski worked at NASA for 17 years, flying five shuttle missions throughout his career. Read on to discover what they think aspiring space tourists need to know.

Your only job on the flight will be to kick back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

If you're taking a suborbital flight, which is what companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin have offered, your ride will be a quick up-and-down to reach space, rather than a full orbit of the Earth. The short journey is relatively easy compared to what professional astronauts experience. For starters, you won't need to worry about flying your spacecraft. That's all up to the spaceflight provider. "You won't have any responsibility other than to enjoy the experience — and not kick anyone else in the head," says Parazynski. "Their obligations on the flight are pretty straightforward."

As such, the training programs for suborbital space tourist experiences are relatively minimal, perhaps only a few days in length at most. "The downside of not having a lot of training is that you don't have the confidence that comes from lots of training," says Parazynski. "Contrast that with the training I had on the space shuttle, where we trained for hundreds and hundreds of hours for launching in space. If something were to go awry, we would know exactly what to do and our hearts wouldn't skip a beat."

So, other than learning to place your complete trust in your spaceflight provider, Parazynski recommends talking to people who have flown before in order to ease any nervousness. Chiao agrees: "The best advice I can give on launch — and it's easy to say, harder to do — is to try to relax and enjoy the whole process," he says. "Pay attention during your training, talk to other people who've been there if you can. And actually, you might be surprised — it's quite calm!"

Make sure you’re physically and mentally fit.

"I think people should treat this as their Olympics or Super Bowl. This is a really big life experience, and though you don't need to be an Olympic athlete or a Super Bowl champion to fly in space, it helps to be fit," says Parazynski. After all, your body will be experiencing quite a range of new sensations during your spaceflight."

But it's not just about physical fitness — mental fitness is key, too. "I think through fitness comes mental acuity as well," says Parazynski. "The more you can be engaged in the experience, the more you'll remember of it — it'll be more impactful to you."

The G-forces experienced on launch and reentry are not as intense as you might expect.

If you've ever watched a livestream of an astronaut launch, caught any Hollywood flick about space travel, or ridden Mission: Space at Walt Disney World's Epcot theme park, you know that during launch, astronauts get crushed back into their seats. (And, actually, during reentry, too!) They're experiencing strong G-forces, or a sensation of weight felt during acceleration. It's the same feeling you get when you speed up quickly in a car or zoom through a loop or a sharp curve on a roller coaster, but during a rocket launch, those forces are stronger and more sustained. While the experience might seem a little terrifying, the pros say it's quite manageable.

"The G-forces aren't nearly as bad as they show in the movies," says Chiao. "If you're good enough to be given medical approval to go on a trip like this, you're not going to have any problems handling the G-forces." He also notes that you'll likely go through centrifugal runs during your training to prep for the sensation — you'll be strapped into a spinning machine that lets you experience strong G-forces, just like that spinning amusement park ride where you're pressed against the wall and the floor drops.

But to make launch and reentry as comfortable on your body as possible, you'll want to physically relax your muscles so you don't fight against the G-forces. "If you relax and let your body sink into the launch couch, you're going to tolerate it much better," says Chiao. "If you're rigid, that's where you might hurt yourself. And make sure your limbs and arms are inside of the couch."

To prep for weightlessness, you should book a zero-gravity flight.

While it takes quite a bit of effort (and time and money) to get into space to experience weightlessness, you can actually experience the sensation right here on Earth — or rather, just slightly above it. All you need to do is book a zero-gravity flight , where a plane flies in a series of parabolas (or arch-like shapes) during which passengers experience simulated weightlessness through free fall.

It's physically the same as skydiving or even riding a roller coaster, but in those two instances, your senses tell you you're actually falling. "When you're in a zero-G airplane, the airplane is falling at the same rate you are, so you're floating inside the airplane," says Chiao. "That's what it's like in a spacecraft when you get up into space and the engines cut off."

Through commercial companies like the Zero Gravity Corporation , anyone who can spare the cost of a ticket can experience weightlessness — and anyone who's planning on making a trip to space should definitely give it a go. "If they have the means, they should get on a zero-G flight before they go on a suborbital flight," says Parazynski. "It would take some of the mystery out of 'what am I going to feel like?' and 'how do I move?'"

Learning how to scuba dive is good weightlessness training, too.

While being underwater isn't exactly like floating in space, it's a pretty good way to practice moving around in a weightless environment. In fact, NASA even has a life-sized replica of the ISS set inside a giant pool, so astronauts can train for spacewalks underwater.

"Moving in weightlessness comes to you very quickly when you spend some time underwater," says Parazynski. "Get neutrally buoyant underwater and very gently try and move yourself along the ocean floor or bottom of your pool. It doesn't take a lot of force, but it does take a lot of thought."

Come up with a game plan for your few minutes in space.

On suborbital flights, you're only going to have a few minutes in weightlessness, so you should plan exactly how you want to spend your time up there. Figure out if you'd like to bring a memento like a family photo or college pennant for a fun picture. (U.S. Naval Academy graduates and former astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford famously put a "Beat Army" sign in the window of their Gemini VI spacecraft, so there's a long tradition of this.) Decide in advance if you want to attempt what spaceflight veterans call "stupid astronaut tricks," like flips or spins. But most importantly, budget time to look out the window.

"The most important thing I would tell future astronauts is to savor the view out the window," says Parazynski. "It's, for lack of a better term, a God's-eye view, and so few people have ever had a chance to see it. It's really a beautiful thing to be hovering in space and looking down at your planet."

Don’t worry about taking your own photos.

"As far as taking photographs, I don't know that I would recommend it," says Chiao. "You're not going to be very good at it, first of all, because it takes a little bit of practice to get used to zero-G. Don't waste that time taking photos. Get your memories, look out those windows, and enjoy the whole experience of being weightless." Plus, given the price tag of these spaceflights, we're pretty sure that your operator will provide you with photos and videos of your journey anyway.

When you get into zero gravity, you might feel a little dizzy.

The body functions a bit differently when you remove gravity from the equation for a sustained period of time, and side effects may include dizziness and nausea. "You're going to feel full-headed because there's no longer gravity pulling fluid down into your legs," says Chiao. "And so all that fluid comes up into your torso, and you can feel it right away. It feels kind of like you're standing on your head."

But the good news is, on suborbital flights you might be able to avoid the worst of it. "The adrenaline and excitement are going to make you do OK at first, and by the time you might start feeling bad, it's time to strap back in and come back down," says Chiao.

If you’re spending a few days in space, be prepared for some bumps and bruises.

On a suborbital flight, you won't have a ton of time in space, so you won't really have to worry about acclimating to zero gravity. However, some private spaceflight companies are looking to send their clients up into orbit for longer stays and there are even talks of a space hotel within Voyager Station . If you're going to spend a few days or even a few weeks up in space, you're probably going to bump your head more than once, no matter how much you've trained for the experience.

"It's really funny watching rookie astronauts the first day or two up on a mission," says Parazynski. "We called them the bull in a china shop. They push off with full force and they crack their skull or bang their knee."

You’re also going to make a mess.

Doing routine tasks like brushing your teeth (you can't just spit your toothpaste into a sink), clipping your fingernails (you don't want them floating off into your space station), and going to the bathroom (have you ever thought about how to use a toilet without gravity?) are all very different experiences in weightlessness. Inevitably, you might have a few mishaps early on in your trip.

"Just sitting down for a meal, you put your fork down, and it's gone in 30 seconds," says Parazynski. "You may find it two days later in the cabin air cleaner because that's where the air currents have taken it." Luckily, a lost fork is an easy mess to clean up — and the situation can be prevented by tethering it down. Other messes are a different story.

"As far as using the restroom, that's what you need to pay attention to during your training. The toilet is not particularly simple and you have to be careful," says Chiao. (In case you were wondering, space toilets use airflow to guide things where they're supposed to go.) "But be prepared to make some messes," says Chiao. "And everybody has to clean up their own mess."

If you’re going to do a spacewalk, the stakes are much higher for you and your crew.

If you want to zip around space with a jetpack like George Clooney in "Gravity," sorry, but chances are that's not going to happen any time soon. Most private astronauts will be safely tucked inside their craft for the duration of their flight.

Unlike suborbital flights, future orbital flights with a spacewalk will require extensive training, given that spacewalks are inherently more dangerous than simply riding in a vessel. "If you're careless with your tethers and you float off into the void, there's not a whole lot anyone can come do for you," says Parazynski. It's possible that a crewmate may be able to head out to rescue you, but then you're endangering their life as well. "It's paramount for a spacewalker to think not just about their own health and well-being and their experience, but also that of their crewmates," he says.

If you’re in a capsule, be prepared for a bumpy landing.

While the only way up to space is by rocket, there are two ways to come back down: via a winged vehicle, like the space shuttle or Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, or a capsule, like Apollo, Soyuz, and Blue Origin's New Shepard. The experiences are quite different, as winged vehicles land like an airplane on a runway, whereas capsules descend beneath parachutes onto land or water. While both experience a range of G-forces during reentry, capsules have a bit of a rougher ride, particularly at the very end.

"When the parachute comes out, you can expect to get jostled around a fair amount, so that can be disorienting," says Chiao. "Then, whether you're hitting the water or the ground, you're gonna get a good bump. There are shock-absorbing mechanisms, of course, that make it not too big a deal. But on Soyuz, you smack the ground pretty darn hard. It was kind of surprising!"

It’ll be worth every penny.

Sure, it's going to cost a small fortune to go into space as a tourist — for now, that's somewhere in the ballpark of several hundred thousand dollars for a suborbital flight and millions of dollars for longer-duration orbital stays. But ask any astronaut, and they're sure to tell you it'll be worth the investment.

"What I would tell prospective astronauts is that it's going to change their lives forever," says Parazynski. "It's a perspective that can't be captured in emotion on film. Even in 3D IMAX, there's no way to capture the way it's going to make you feel, the connectedness you feel to planet Earth, and the awe you have when you look out into the universe."

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15 Documentaries About Outer Space That Are Cosmic Triumphs

The vast majority of people won’t have a chance to travel to space - at least for now - but there’s another way the public can glimpse the wonders of the cosmos: through documentaries.

These out-of-this-world films are so interesting that even people who aren't dedicated space nerds can enjoy them. They feature some of the brightest minds, most compelling stories, and most mind-blowing footage of outer space. They explore virtually every aspect of discovery, including space camps, the everyday work of scientists, highly powerful space tech, and missions that required years - if not decades - of prep work.

Which space documentary is the most impressive? Vote up those with the most stellar stories!

Cosmos: A Personal Voyage (1980-81)

Premise: Celebrated astronomer Carl Sagan (who passed in 1996) wrote and presented this classic 13-part series that explores the science of the universe - and humankind's place in it.

Why It’s Out Of This World: First released on PBS in 1980, Cosmos attracted 600 million viewers and remains one of the most beloved and widely watched science documentaries of all time.

Part of its appeal is that it breathtakingly ties together the cosmos and human history. Although it's clear that humans are just a small speck in the vast universe, Sagan nonetheless puts humanity at the heart of his story, reminding viewers that human bodies share the same organic material as other parts of the universe.

As an expert science communicator, he also takes a poetic stance when considering the wonders of the universe, noting, “It makes good sense to revere the sun and the stars because we are their children .”

Journey to the Edge of the Universe (2008)

Premise: Released in 2008, the entire documentary is a kind of visual thought experiment: What would it be like to travel to the edge of the universe?

Why It’s Out Of This World: Humans haven't traveled into deep space, but that doesn't mean we haven't wondered what it would be like. Fortunately, we have images from tools like super-powered telescopes to show glimpses of the universe beyond our little corner.

Journey to the Edge of the Universe uses this information to craft a simulated trip past what they may recognize - such as the moon and our solar system's planets - to faraway galaxies.

It's important to note that scientists still have more questions than answers about the universe. The edge of it may not have some physical boundary ; rather, it's possible that it's only the limit of what humans can observe.

Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking (2010)

Premise: Written by the late physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking, this three-part series examines some of the most intriguing questions about the universe: Is time travel possible? Is there extraterrestrial life? And how exactly did the universe form?

Why It’s Out Of This World: Ask anyone to name a cosmologist, and chances are pretty good they'd mention Hawking. As a scientist who appeared in the public eye for much of his career, he helped non-experts understand the complex intricacies of the universe.

No question is too small for Hawking. On whether or not aliens exist , he accepts the probability that they do. At the same time, he cautions, “If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans.”

For All Mankind (1989)

Premise: NASA's Apollo program - which sent astronauts to the moon - ended in 1972. Yet it lives on in this documentary, which uses original, archival footage from all of the Apollo missions between 1968 and 1972.

Why It’s Out Of This World: For All Mankind tells the story of the Apollo missions from the 24 astronauts who lived them. Director Al Reinert accessed a treasure trove of photographs and video footage - 6 million feet of film - that the astronauts made while on the moon. He also conducted 80 hours of interviews with them to learn their stories and get context when necessary.

Expedition Mars (2016)

Premise: Humans have never been to Mars - but robots have. Expedition Mars follows two NASA rovers that landed on Mars and explored the enigmatic terrain.

Why It’s Out Of This World: In 2004, NASA launched twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity on a 90-day mission to Mars. They collected information that has given scientists incredible insight into what the Red Planet is actually like. Among the discoveries: Mars was wet at one time and could have potentially supported life.

Alas, the rovers would never get a hero's homecoming. NASA left both of them on the planet, and they continued to communicate with Earth over the course of several years. Spirit went silent in 2010, while Opportunity kept going until 2018.

Journey to Space (2015)

Premise: Journey to Space , narrated by Patrick Stewart of Star Trek: The Next Generation , provides updates about the present and future of space exploration. It pays special attention to how scientists are discovering new details about deep space - far beyond the limits of where humans can currently go.

Why It’s Out Of This World: A huge selling point of Journey to Space is the images. Presented theatrically in IMAX 3D, it utilized restored, high-definition footage of some of NASA's most significant launches. But that's not to say that the story itself isn't compelling. As Justin Chang wrote in Variety :

The appeal of Journey to Space … is as much a matter of information as presentation. The image of space - a closeup of sun flares, a shot of a nebula - are impressive as advertised but never feel like the main attraction, and the film overall would be not much less absorbing in 2D, or on a smaller screen.

The innovations that have thus far propelled space travel, and the people who developed them, are the real stars of the show.

The Search for Life in Space (2016)

Premise: The documentary explores scientists' quest for signs of life that may exist elsewhere in the universe.

Why It’s Out Of This World: The idea that earthlings may not be alone in the universe is nothing new. The film even shows how Carl Sagan, the eminently respected astronomer behind the classic PBS show Cosmos , helped develop a “Golden Record” of music and language to send into space for extraterrestrials to discover.

The Search for Life in Space was an IMAX feature that incorporates high-definition images from space telescopes.

The Mars Generation (2017)

Premise: Humans reached the moon in 1969. Many people believe the next frontier is a planet: Mars. This documentary considers how soon we might expect to reach the red planet.

Why It’s Out Of This World: Though the documentary features celebrities in the science world - like Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye - the real subjects are ordinary people: teenagers participating in Space Camp, an educational program focused on innovation. These young adults are the titular “Mars Generation,” as the film suggests they will be the first generation to travel to Earth's neighbor.

What makes this documentary especially interesting is that it isn't just focused on outer space; it also focuses on very real human concerns, hopes, and dreams. As Kayla Cobb wrote in Decider , “Michael Barnett's documentary presents a bubble where kids passionately pursuing their academic interests is something to be praised.”

Apollo 11 (2019)

Premise: The film sheds light on NASA's Apollo 11 mission - the first manned human expedition to the moon. On July 16, 1969, one of its three astronauts, Neil Armstrong, famously did his moon walk. 

Why It’s Out Of This World: There's good reason why Apollo 11 received heaps of accolades after its 2019 release. What makes the documentary work so well is its use of archival footage to tell the mission's story. Its sources include photographs, audio, and 70mm film that, since it was never catalogued , had nearly been forgotten over time.

Director Todd Douglas Miller opted to forego a traditional voice-over narration and instead let the footage speak for itself. Filmmakers restored the photographs and newly discovered film, ensuring the images were “as vivid and fresh as the day they were taken,” according to NPR's Monica Castillo . 

The Hunt for Planet B (2021)

Premise: The world has tremendous tools at its disposal to explore the universe, including the James Webb Space Telescope. Launched in 2021, it offers a more detailed, far-reaching lens into the universe to probe questions about the beginnings of the galaxy. The documentary explores how the telescope could be used to discover “Planet B,” a hypothetical planet similar to Earth that may exist somewhere in the universe.

Why It’s Out Of This World: The possibility of finding life on other planets sounds like the stuff of science fiction. But The Hunt for Planet B demonstrates it's a serious question that scientists - including those at NASA - ponder.

Although the film focuses on celestial exploration, it's a fascinating platform for the humans at the heart of the project. According to IndieWire's Eric Kohn , it “treasures the humanity of its characters above all.”

Black Holes: The Edge of All We Know (2020)

Premise: What exactly are black holes? That's the question at the heart of Black Holes: The Edge of All We Know , a documentary that explores what scientists have discovered about the phenomena.

Why It’s Out Of This World: The film isn't only about the quest to understand black holes. It also includes the story of the first photograph scientists were able to take of a black hole in 2019, the result of a massive undertaking . 

Black Holes: The Edge of All We Know also features the late Stephen Hawking and shows him at work with other scientists. The depiction of science as a team sport was important to director Peter Galison. As he explained to The Guardian :

I wanted to show how central, how vital, how productive collaborations could be, whether it was the small collaboration on the theory side or the much bigger one on the observational side, and to see the human complementarity that made it possible to find out new things when people work together.

A Trip to Infinity (2022)

Premise: What does “infinity” mean - and what does it look like? Those questions are at the heart of this Netflix documentary that features experts around the world mulling these and other mind-boggling issues.

Why It’s Out Of This World: No one ever said studying space was easy, but A Trip to Infinity takes it to a whole new level. Mathematics are at the core of space study, as is the concept of infinity. Does it exist? And if so, is the universe infinite?

Although the documentary breaks down these highly complex concepts, many viewers have nonetheless struggled with them, earning the film a reputation for being a little too out-of-this-world. 

Woman in Motion (2019)

Premise: Actor Nichelle Nichols was perhaps best known for her groundbreaking portrayal of Nyota Uhura on the TV series Star Trek during its original run in the 1960s. Yet she didn't just play a space-exploring officer; she also was an important, real-life ally of NASA and young women interested in science.

Why It’s Out Of This World: Woman in Motion captures how Nichols used her fame for good. Disappointed by the lack of diversity in NASA, she pledged herself to helping the organization attract women and people of color after Star Trek completed its three-season run. Her work helped NASA's recruitment program grow from 1,500 applicants to 8,000 .

The documentary benefits from Nichols' own words. In addition to featuring an interview with her, it also shared from the 400-page report she wrote for NASA about her recruitment efforts. Director Todd Thompson told Space.com :

Luckily, when Nichols finished her mission [for NASA], she had to produce a final report, which turned out to be about 400 pages long that we were able to get our hands on. It was almost like having the world's encyclopedia in your hands because everything was incorporated into this document. That was very much our guide for not just which topics to cover, but who she was with and where she went - along with what she did when she was there. It really helped guide us, with not only our story but then you know who we were going to reach out and talk to.

Challenger: The Final Flight (2020)

Premise: On January 28, 1986, NASA launched the space shuttle Challenger . Just 73 seconds after takeoff, an explosion tore it apart, killing everyone on board. This four-part documentary miniseries, produced by JJ Abrams, explores the Challenger 's story from beginning to fiery end.

Why It’s Out Of This World: The disaster remains one of the darkest days in NASA's history. What makes this documentary stand out is its human focus, which includes interviews with the families of the seven crew members who lost their lives. As producer Glen Zipper told The Guardian :

There have been plenty of other Challenger documentaries and books and scripted versions of the story, but no one ever told the story from the astronauts' perspective. No one had ever told the story from the families' perspective.

Return to Space (2022)

Premise: In 2020, SpaceX launched its manned spacecraft Falcon 1. Return to Space recounts the challenges engineers faced in constructing it, and what Falcon 1 hoped to accomplish.

Why It’s Out Of This World: What's so special about Falcon 1? According to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, the rocket is reusable, an innovation that might open up the possibility of more space travel in humankind's future.

At the same time, some have criticized the documentary for being what IndieWire called “ an exasperating two-hour commercial for Elon Musk.” The film has also received criticism for downplaying the role NASA had in launching Falcon 1, as well as legitimate concerns over SpaceX's environmental footprint.

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Lists about the gazillions of things spinning around the whole infinite universe.

The best space documentaries to watch in 2021

The best space documentaries let you travel to the furthest reaches of the universe without ever leaving your sofa. Discover the wonders of the cosmos with these mind-blowing films

Are you the kind of person who has always dreamed of going to space? Or maybe you just want to learn more about the wonders of the universe? Either way, we have a selection of interstellar space documentaries just for you. 

Watching sci-fi movies and TV shows based in and around space can be fun, but what if you crave something more realistic? Something that educates as well as entertains? Enter space documentaries. 

Space documentaries are movies or miniseries based on true stories and discoveries made in space. Sometimes these films examine the deepest mysteries of the cosmos revealed through science, while others focus on famous missions to space, like the Apollo missions.

Whatever your interests are - black holes, mars missions, moon landings, planetary orbits, the search for extraterrestrial life - there’s a documentary for you. But with so many options available, you may wonder where to start. 

Worry not, as we’ve compiled a list of the 8 best space documentaries you can enjoy watching in 2021.

• Release date : 2019
• Watch it on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video  

If you’re a fan of watching archival footage of man's journey into space, then Apollo 11 is a great place to start. This award-winning documentary features original recordings and photographs of the astronauts and the NASA team behind the Apollo mission. 

There’s no narrator, no interviews, no external commentary - you get to hear the story straight from Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and the dozens of experts who made the mission possible. 

Journey to the Edge of the Universe

• Release date : 2008
• Watch it on DVD and Amazon Prime Video  

Journey to the Edge of the Universe is a classic Nat Geo documentary narrated by Alec Baldwin (for the US Version) and Sean Pertwee (for the British version). You can enjoy a simulated journey into the cosmos created by building on images taken from the Hubble telescope. It offers a vivid, breath-taking glimpse of what the universe out there looks like.

Black Holes: The Edge Of All We Know

• Release date : 2020
• Watch it on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video

Looking to understand the mysteries of black holes? Watch this latest documentary, released just last year. Scientists saw the first-ever picture of a black hole in 2019, and it woke a voracious curiosity amongst the public curious to finally know what black holes looks like, how the images were captured, and what it means for our advancement in space exploration. 

To satiate that curiosity, this documentary explores the black hole paradox, following the narrative of two teams deeply involved in studying black holes. It’s packed full of information and philosophical musings to keep you thinking long after the video ends. 

IMAX: Hubble

• Release date : 2010
• Watch it on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV

Interested in spacewalks and observing how astronauts navigate in space? Watch this IMAX documentary narrated by an Oscar-winning actor. Fans of spacewalks and Leonardo DiCaprio will thoroughly enjoy this short yet informative documentary following the efforts of seven astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis as they attempt to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. 

Narrated by DiCaprio, it’s an engaging masterpiece highlighting the importance of the Hubble telescope, how it’s maintained, and the efforts that go into working - and 'walking' - in space. 

A Beautiful Planet

• Release date : 2016
• Watch it on Hulu or buy it on Blu-Ray

There are dozens of documentaries featuring other planets. But what if you want to watch something closer to home (literally)? Enter 'A Beautiful Planet'.

It’s a visual treat featuring stunning views of our planet as seen from the International Space Station. Add Jennifer Lawrence’s narration and an engrossing soundtrack to the mix, and you have a breathtaking experience to remember for years to come. The best part? The documentary goes beyond just pretty pictures and shows the daily life of astronauts in the ISS and offers a closer look at the effects of global warming. 

The Last Man on the Moon

• Release date : 2014
• Watch it on Amazon Prime Video

Keen to learn more about the world of astronauts beyond their discoveries? Then you’ll love this biography-style documentary. 

With rare archive material and eye-catching visual effects, this fascinating film explores the iconic history of Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan, who is currently the last man to have walked on the moon. 

You can enjoy a deeper dive into Cernan’s life including his time in the space program, his missions, and his rare experience as an astronaut. 

In the Shadow of the Moon

• Release date : 2007

Say you’ve watched all the Apollo space mission documentaries, but you still want more. Then consider this multiple award-winning documentary, featuring real interviews with all surviving Apollo team members who were a part of space missions from 1968 to 1972.

To make things more interesting, like other Apollo documentaries, it also features archival footage to offer a closer look into the life of astronauts and their famous missions. 

The Farthest - Voyager in Space

• Release date : 2017
• Watch it on Amazon Prime Video and Google Play

Interested in learning more about NASA’s Voyager mission? Watch PBS’s The Farthest - Voyager in Space which chronicles the journey of Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.  

This is another award-winning documentary offering a deeper dive into one of the most ambitious space missions undertaken by NASA in the US. You get to hear the story of Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 through real accounts straight from the experts who worked on these missions. The documentary also features old footage and images so you can experience what it was like to be a part of such huge space operations. 

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This Day In History : April 12

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Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space

On April 12, 1961, aboard the spacecraft Vostok 1, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin becomes the first human being to travel into space . During the flight, the 27-year-old test pilot and industrial technician also became the first man to orbit the planet, a feat accomplished by his space capsule in 89 minutes. Vostok 1 orbited Earth at a maximum altitude of 187 miles and was guided entirely by an automatic control system. The only statement attributed to Gagarin during his one hour and 48 minutes in space was, “Flight is proceeding normally; I am well.”

After his historic feat was announced, the attractive and unassuming Gagarin became an instant worldwide celebrity. He was awarded the Order of Lenin and given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union . Monuments were raised to him across the Soviet Union and streets renamed in his honor.

The triumph of the Soviet space program in putting the first man into space was a great blow to the United States, which had scheduled its first space flight for May 1961. Moreover, Gagarin had orbited Earth, a feat that eluded the U.S. space program until February 1962, when astronaut John Glenn made three orbits in Friendship 7 . By that time, the Soviet Union had already made another leap ahead in the “space race” with the August 1961 flight of cosmonaut Gherman Titov in Vostok 2 . Titov made 17 orbits and spent more than 25 hours in space.

To Soviet propagandists, the Soviet conquest of space was evidence of the supremacy of communism over capitalism. However, to those who worked on the Vostok program and earlier on Sputnik (which launched the first satellite into space in 1957), the successes were attributable chiefly to the brilliance of one man: Sergei Pavlovich Korolev. Because of his controversial past, Chief Designer Korolev was unknown in the West and to all but insiders in the USSR until his death in 1966.

Born in the Ukraine in 1906, Korolev was part of a scientific team that launched the first Soviet liquid-fueled rocket in 1933. In 1938, his military sponsor fell prey to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin’s purges, and Korolev and his colleagues were also put on trial. Convicted of treason and sabotage, Korolev was sentenced to 10 years in a labor camp. The Soviet authorities came to fear German rocket advances, however, and after only a year Korolev was put in charge of a prison design bureau and ordered to continue his rocketry work.

In 1945, Korolev was sent to Germany to learn about the V-2 rocket, which had been used to devastating effect by the Nazis against the British. The Americans had captured the rocket’s designer, Wernher von Braun, who later became head of the U.S. space program, but the Soviets acquired a fair amount of V-2 resources, including rockets, launch facilities, blueprints, and a few German V-2 technicians. By employing this technology and his own considerable engineering talents, by 1954 Korolev had built a rocket that could carry a five-ton nuclear warhead and in 1957 launched the first intercontinental ballistic missile.

That year, Korolev’s plan to launch a satellite into space was approved, and on October 4, 1957, Sputnik 1 was fired into Earth’s orbit. It was the first Soviet victory of the space race, and Korolev, still technically a prisoner, was officially rehabilitated. The Soviet space program under Korolev would go on to numerous space firsts in the late 1950s and early ’60s: first animal in orbit, first large scientific satellite, first man, first woman, first three men, first space walk, first spacecraft to impact the moon, first to orbit the moon, first to impact Venus, and first craft to soft-land on the moon. Throughout this time, Korolev remained anonymous, known only as the “Chief Designer.” His dream of sending cosmonauts to the moon eventually ended in failure, primarily because the Soviet lunar program received just one-tenth the funding allocated to America’s successful Apollo lunar landing program.

Korolev died in 1966. Upon his death, his identity was finally revealed to the world, and he was awarded a burial in the Kremlin wall as a hero of the Soviet Union. Yuri Gagarin was killed in a routine jet-aircraft test flight in 1968. His ashes were also placed in the Kremlin wall.

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golden record

Where are they now.

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Mission Overview

The twin Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft are exploring where nothing from Earth has flown before. Continuing on their more-than-40-year journey since their 1977 launches, they each are much farther away from Earth and the sun than Pluto. In August 2012, Voyager 1 made the historic entry into interstellar space, the region between stars, filled with material ejected by the death of nearby stars millions of years ago. Voyager 2 entered interstellar space on November 5, 2018 and scientists hope to learn more about this region. Both spacecraft are still sending scientific information about their surroundings through the Deep Space Network, or DSN.

The primary mission was the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn. After making a string of discoveries there — such as active volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io and intricacies of Saturn's rings — the mission was extended. Voyager 2 went on to explore Uranus and Neptune, and is still the only spacecraft to have visited those outer planets. The adventurers' current mission, the Voyager Interstellar Mission (VIM), will explore the outermost edge of the Sun's domain. And beyond.

Interstellar Mission

The mission objective of the Voyager Interstellar Mission (VIM) is to extend the NASA exploration of the solar system beyond the neighborhood of the outer planets to the outer limits of the Sun's sphere of influence, and possibly beyond.

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Planetary Voyage

The twin spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were launched by NASA in separate months in the summer of 1977 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. As originally designed, the Voyagers were to conduct closeup studies of Jupiter and Saturn, Saturn's rings, and the larger moons of the two planets.

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Launch: Voyager 2 launched on August 20, 1977, from Cape Canaveral, Florida aboard a Titan-Centaur rocket. On September 5, Voyager 1 launched, also from Cape Canaveral aboard a Titan-Centaur rocket.

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45 years ago: voyager 1 begins its epic journey to the outer planets and beyond, johnson space center.

Forty-five years ago, the Voyager 1 spacecraft began an epic journey that continues to this day. The second of a pair of spacecraft, Voyager 1 lifted off on Sept. 5, 1977, 16 days after its twin left on a similar voyage. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, managed the two spacecraft on their missions to explore the outer planets. Taking advantage of a rare planetary alignment to use the gravity of one planet to redirect the spacecraft to the next, the Voyagers planned to use Jupiter’s gravity to send them on to explore Saturn and its large moon Titan. They carried sophisticated instruments to conduct their in-depth explorations of the giant planets. Both spacecraft continue to return data as they make their way out of our solar system and enter interstellar space.

In the 1960s, mission designers at JPL noted that the next occurrence of a once-every-175-year alignment of the outer planets would happen in the late 1970s. A spacecraft could take advantage of this opportunity to fly by Jupiter and use its gravity to bend its trajectory to visit Saturn, and repeat the process to also visit Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Launching several missions to visit each planet individually would take much longer and cost much more. The original plan to send two pairs of Thermoelectric Outer Planet Spacecraft on these Grand Tours proved too costly leading to its cancellation in 1971. The next year, NASA approved a scaled-down version of the project to send a pair of Mariner-class spacecraft in 1977 to explore just Jupiter and Saturn, with an expected five-year operational life. On March 7, 1977, NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher announced the renaming of these Mariner Jupiter/Saturn 1977 spacecraft as Voyager 1 and 2. Scientists held out hope that one of them could ultimately visit Uranus and Neptune, thereby fulfilling most of the original Grand Tour’s objectives – Pluto would have to wait several decades for its first visit.

Each Voyager carried a suite of 11 instruments to study the planets during each encounter and to learn more about interplanetary space in the outer reaches of the solar system, including: 

• An imaging science system consisting of narrow-angle and wide-angle cameras to photograph the planet and its satellites.
• A radio science system to determine the planet’s physical properties.
• An infrared interferometer spectrometer to investigate local and global energy balance and atmospheric composition.
• An ultraviolet spectrometer to measure atmospheric properties.
• A magnetometer to analyze the planet’s magnetic field and interaction with the solar wind.
• A plasma spectrometer to investigate microscopic properties of plasma ions.
• A low-energy charged particle device to measure fluxes and distributions of ions.
• A cosmic ray detection system to determine the origin and behavior of cosmic radiation.
• A planetary radio astronomy investigation to study radio emissions from Jupiter.
• A photopolarimeter to measure the planet’s surface composition.
• A plasma wave system to study the planet’s magnetosphere.

Voyager 1 lifted off on Sept. 5, 1977, atop a Titan IIIE-Centaur rocket from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, now Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in Florida. Two weeks after its launch, from a distance of 7.25 million miles, Voyager 1 turned its camera back toward its home planet and took the first single-frame image of the Earth-Moon system. The spacecraft successfully crossed the asteroid belt between Dec. 10, 1977, and Sept. 8, 1978.

Although Voyager 1 launched two weeks after its twin, it traveled on a faster trajectory and arrived at Jupiter four months earlier. Voyager 1 conducted its observations of Jupiter between Jan. 6 and April 13, 1979, making its closest approach of 216,837 miles from the planet’s center on March 5. The spacecraft returned 19,000 images of the giant planet, many of Jupiter’s satellites, and confirmed the presence of a thin ring encircling it. Its other instruments returned information about Jupiter’s atmosphere and magnetic field. Jupiter’s massive gravity field bent the spacecraft’s trajectory and accelerated it toward Saturn.

Voyager 1 began its long-range observations of Saturn on Aug. 22, 1980, passed within 114,500 miles of the planet’s center on Nov. 12, and concluded its studies on Dec. 14. Because of its interest to scientists, mission planners chose the spacecraft’s trajectory to make a close flyby of Saturn’s largest moon Titan – the only planetary satellite with a dense atmosphere – just before the closest approach to the planet itself. This trajectory, passing over Saturn’s south pole and bending north over the plane of the ecliptic, precluded Voyager 1 from making any additional planetary encounters. The spacecraft flew 4,033 miles from Titan’s center, returning images of its unbroken orange atmosphere and high-altitude blue haze layer. During the encounter, Voyager 1 returned 16,000 photographs, imaging Saturn, its rings, many of its known satellites and discovering several new ones, while its instruments returned data about Saturn’s atmosphere and magnetic field.

On Feb. 14, 1990, more than 12 years after it began its journey from Earth and shortly before controllers  permanently turned off its cameras to conserve power, Voyager 1 spun around and pointed them back into the solar system. In a mosaic of 60 images, it captured a “family portrait” of six of the solar system’s planets, including a pale blue dot called Earth more than 3.7 billion miles away. Fittingly, these were the last pictures returned from either Voyager spacecraft. On Feb. 17, 1998, Voyager 1 became the most distant human-made object, overtaking the Pioneer 10 spacecraft on their way out of the solar system. In February 2020, to commemorate the photograph’s 30th anniversary, NASA released a remastered version of the image of Earth as Pale Blue Dot Revisited .

On New Year’s Day 1990, both spacecraft officially began the Voyager Interstellar Mission as they inexorably made their escape from our solar system. On Aug. 25, 2012, Voyager 1 passed beyond the heliopause, the boundary between the heliosphere, the bubble-like region of space created by the Sun, and the interstellar medium. Its twin followed suit six years later. Today , 45 years after its launch and 14.6 billion miles from Earth, four of Voyager 1’s 11 instruments continue to return useful data, having now spent 10 years in interstellar space. Signals from the spacecraft take nearly 22 hours to reach Earth, and 22 hours for Earth-based signals to reach the spacecraft. Engineers expect that the spacecraft will continue to return data from interstellar space until about 2025 when it will no longer be able to power its systems. And just in case an alien intelligence finds it one day, Voyager 1 like its twin carries a gold-plated record that contains information about its home planet, including recordings of terrestrial sounds, music, and greetings in 55 languages. Engineers at NASA thoughtfully included Instructions on how to play the record.

The voyage continues…

Local News | Retired NASA astronaut visits Orange, recounts…

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Local News | Retired NASA astronaut visits Orange, recounts his journey from farm fields to outer space

José hernández recounts his journey.

By Larry Urish, contributing writer

A source of many life-affirming benefits, a quality education can inspire students to succeed, providing them with a clear sense of purpose. As German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said: “If you give a man a ‘why,’ he’ll always figure out a ‘how.’ ”

One starry night in 1972, 10-year-old José Hernández found his “why.” And all he had to do was gaze toward the heavens.

Throughout his childhood, young José traveled with his migrant farm-worker family throughout Central California, performing backbreaking labor. However, through decades of hard work, focus and persistence, the dirt-poor farm laborer became a space traveler. Today, retired NASA astronaut José Hernández ’s main purpose in life is simple: “To inspire, to help people reach their maximum potential in whatever they do.”

José Hernández gives a talk March 27 at Santiago Canyon College about his path to the stars. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, contributing photographer)

Hundreds turned out to Santiago Canyon College on March 27 to see former NASA astronaut José Hernández. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, contributing photographer)

Jose Hernández’s visit to Santiago Canyon College on March 27 included a screening of “A Million Miles Away,” the feature film based on Hernández ’s life, as well as his evening talk about his journey from the farm fields into outer space.

Santiago Canyon College President Jeannie Kim introduces former NASA astronaut José Hernández to the audience on March 27, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, contributing photographer)

Hernández ’s visit to Santiago Canyon College on March 27, presented by SCC’s STEM Success Team and its College Assistance Migrant Program, included a screening of “A Million Miles Away,” the feature film based on Hernández ’s life, as well as his evening talk about his journey from the farm fields into outer space.

Along with his stargazing, Hernández was originally inspired by his love of “Star Trek” and his fascination with NASA’s 1972 Apollo 17 lunar mission. However, twinkling stars, Captain Kirk and moon milestones could take a poor farm worker only so far. Reaching his lofty goal was a daunting task. “I didn’t do this alone,” Hernández continually emphasized. “It involved a lot of people. … My mother taught (my siblings and me) good work ethics and study habits, and my father made us realize that school was a priority. He’d often gesture to the fields and say, ‘This is your future unless you get an education.””

His father, Salvador, also provided the Hernández children with his five-step “recipe to success”: “Define your purpose in life,” José Hernández related. “Recognize how far you are from that purpose. Draw yourself a road map from where you are to where you want to go. Prepare yourself according to the challenge. And develop a work ethic that’s second to none.”

Hernández earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of the Pacific and later garnered a master’s in signals and systems engineering from UC Santa Barbara. Hernández worked for 15 years at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, starting in 1987. During his tenure there, he helped develop the X-ray laser technology used in President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, nicknamed “Star Wars.” He and a colleague later applied this technology for use in the early detection of breast cancer, which has saved many lives.

“That is my proudest professional moment,” Hernández said of the digital mammography technology. “It’s a greater accomplishment than even going into space.”

Going into space, however, remained an elusive dream. Hernández applied to NASA’s Astronaut Candidate program on 11 occasions — and was rejected each time — before he was finally accepted in May 2004. “The 12th time was a charm,” he quipped.

This persistence points to his own sixth “ingredient,” added to his father’s five-step recipe to success: “Persevere. Never give up on yourself.”

Again emphasizing how his success wasn’t a solo effort, Hernández explained how one day he crumpled up his sixth NASA rejection letter and tossed it toward a wastebasket. “My wife found the crumpled letter, because I missed the garbage can, and she encouraged me to persist,” Hernández said.

Had the tossed rejection letter made it into the wastebasket, he said, “She would’ve thrown the letter out, and I would’ve given up. … My wife was critical. She was a cheerleader throughout the whole process.”

After years of rigorous training, Hernández’s lifelong dream was realized on Aug. 28, 2009, when he and his STS-128 crewmates aboard Space Shuttle Discovery blasted into orbit and docked with the International Space Station.

Blasted, indeed. “We went from zero to 17,500 miles per hour in 8½ minutes,” Hernández told his Santiago Canyon College audience. Over the course of 14 days, he and his NASA compatriots transferred 7 tons of new equipment to the ISS and orbited Earth 217 times, traveling more than 5.7 million miles.

Although he retired from NASA in January 2011, Hernández is anything but the retiring type. He noted that, in addition to being a governor-appointed member of the University of California Board of Regents, he’s the founder and CEO of Tierra Luna Engineering, author of three books — including his 2012 memoir, “Reaching for the Stars” —  and owner of Tierra Luna Cellars vineyard and winery. And, as hundreds at his SCC visit last month will attest, he’s also a supremely effective motivational speaker.

“It’s OK to dream big,” Hernández stressed to the audience as he wrapped up his talk. “With education and hard work, you can reach the stars. I’m living proof of that.”

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There is a place for all in outer space: ‘It’s not just for the geeks and the nerds’

UN News: Madam Director, technological development makes space exploration an even more promising vista than ever before, but at the same time, outer space is no longer just a matter for individual states or some interstates projects. It's being increasingly commercialized. What is the UN doing to make sure that his competition remains peaceful and fair?

Aarti Holla-Maini:   I wouldn't characterize anything as a competition. I think we must move away from the notion that there is still a race for space that was very much a Cold War situation at the time. We have moved on from there. Now we are really looking at space science and space exploration and looking for the most innovative and pragmatic approaches to that. That's why we see more commercial companies getting involved. If space agencies on their own run large space missions, they risk taking a lot longer and being a lot more expensive. 

The private sector allows a space agency, for example, NASA, to invite companies to make their proposals, and then selecting companies to engage in various missions to the Moon. If NASA was to do that on its own, it would cost a whole lot more money. This way, they spread their risk by funding multiple missions over a given period of time. They increase the chances for success. 

And at the United Nations, we have the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), that's the birthplace of all of the treaties and the resolutions and principles and guidelines which underpin everything that we see happening in the space economy today. And it's our job to make sure that we maintain transparency and an open dialogue. 

Around all the innovations that are happening, even if they involve companies, the industry can contribute to a to better, more informed decisions taken by policymakers. So, we're looking also for new ways to include industry in the dialogue but preserving the decision-making power of the Member States themselves: we don't want to move to a ‘pay-to-play’ model. That's not what the UN is about. 

UN News: Ever since the space age began, the Moon has been seen as a possible launchpad for deep space exploration, where research liboratories could be built or precious minerals excavated, whatnot. What does the UN have to say about the Moon exploration and development? As it's becoming a popular topic, are there any new initiatives in this area when it comes to legal matters or any other body of law for that? 

Aarti Holla-Maini:  We are the Secretariate at the COPUOS, and the Committee also has two subcommittees. One is the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and another is the Legal Subcommittee. We have lunar activities being covered by both and that's two separate strands.

In the legal subcommittee the discussion on space resources takes place, and by resources we mean the whole discussion on what should be done with resources that can be found on other celestial bodies, including the Moon. What can we do with lunar regolith? What should we do if we mine asteroids? Can those resources be brought back to the Earth, commercially appropriated, and so on and so forth. All of these questions are difficult questions because they actually shine a spotlight on some of the fundamental principles in the Outer Space Treaty, which says that space is for all humankind. 

So, the commercial angle is not obvious there, and that's a difficult discussion. And COPUOS is looking at potentially making some guidelines around that. Similarly, in the scientific and Technical Subcommittee, we received a proposal to start a consultative mechanism on sustainable lunar activities, and we hope that it will be signed off eventually in June at the plenary meeting, and that perhaps it might result establishing an action team to look at the more practical aspects of safety and sustainability. 

Even if we have a large space faring country going to the Moon or we have other smaller nations sending their missions to the Moon, neither of them wants to interfere with the other or crash into the other. It's very important that we don't have just bilateral engagements between individual countries, but that there is a global convening dialogue. And that's where we as UNOOSA leverage our unique convening power of the United Nations to keep everybody at the table and make sure that we continue to have these discussions – even if they are difficult – to hopefully advance on them. 

We have taken the initiative to organize a United Nations conference – the first one – on sustainable lunar activities. When we discuss important matters where you are debating on what the right answer should be, what are the critical issues are by specific caused by innovative activities like lunar activities , it’s important that they are discussed in Vienna. Because Vienna is where the decision makers on precisely these matters convene. At that conference, we hope to just explore what can we do to enhance the global dialogue at a multilateral level through the UN. 

UN News: Speaking about the use of the outer space, it's fair to say that there is now a major pollution problem. What is space debris? Why is it dangerous and what is being done to minimize its risks? So what's the UN angle here? 

Aarti Holla-Maini:  When we talk about pollution in space, there's different angles that you can come at it from. One of them is, of course space debris, and there are different issues around space debris. One is, there are so many pieces or objects out there of all different sizes. And we do not necessarily have a comprehensive understanding of where they all are, at what time, and so on.

So, it's very important that we collaborate to pool knowledge and capabilities around this area here to enhance space safety for all actors: whether we think of satellite communications or imagery, which we rely on for climate change and climate monitoring, or whether we think of space science and the complex telescopes and instruments which are being placed into space. Debris is an issue for all of them. 

It's also a very important issue for human spaceflight. So, what are we doing? We have the ongoing discussions on long term sustainability guidelines, the COPUOS Member States are reflecting on what new guidelines could be potentially added to those which there and at UNOOSA level. We will be convening later on this year, a United Nations Space Bridge around space situational awareness, which is created to bring different pockets of actors and different systems and providers who are out there together to see how can we facilitate coordination. How can we potentially imagine a ‘system of systems’ approach? 

We don't know what format it will ultimately take. And UNOOSA is not on a mission to turn the UN into some kind of a global space agency or have an operational activity here. Our job is to convene, to lead by convening, and we hope that we can facilitate progress through the dialogues that we that we help create. 

And if I can also just bring your attention to something else which is more of an emerging problem. It is around the topic of atmospheric ablation, a relatively new science. You know that there are many more launches happening into space than there were ten years ago. The question is what impact do the launch fumes have on the atmosphere? But also we have a lot more debris and old satellites which are being burned up in the atmosphere on re-entry. A lot, significantly more than there were some years ago. And so that also has an impact. 

We were approached by UNEP , the United Nations environmental program. And so, we are looking into that together and informing and educating ourselves around this emerging science. It may well be that we find that we're already in an urgent situation. We don't know, we don't know at this point. 

UN News: This brings me to the question about the Space4Climate Action initiative. What is it and why is it important? 

Aarti Holla-Maini:  We run a program called UN-SPIDER that is space-based information for disaster and emergency response. We all know that the number of severe weather events, natural disasters and everything which is happening as. Result of climate change and global warming are increasing year on year. Multiple national disaster management centres. They are working with spider in order to do early warning, monitoring, mitigation and so on. Whether it's for floods, drought on the one hand, all the way to forest fires, mosquito borne diseases, locusts devouring a crop and causing famine in particular country, right, all the way across. 

No one apart from UNOOSA has as mission and priority to facilitate the access of satellite data, and to make sure how to use it. So, whereas for other entities and agencies, space is an enabler for their diverse missions, for us it is our mission. It is our priority in itself. We want to make sure that every Member State who needs it is empowered and equipped with the tools: the data and the know-how, the capacity that they need to be resilient in the face of all the global shocks that are coming, and particularly those which are linked to climate. That's the work we do there and that's going to grow. 

UN News: Speaking of being properly equipped, it comes with the human factor. Do you see enough enthusiasm on behalf of the young generation in space science? 

Aarti Holla-Maini:  Yes, there is a Space Generation Advisory Council which convenes youths from all over the world, and they are very active. They are very concerned with the issues that are confronting us. Whether it's enabling space to deliver on the sustainable development goals like global healthcare, education for all, climate change and so on, or whether it's to do with space sustainability, we do see a lot of engagement with them. One of the programs that we run is Space for Women and we try to motivate the younger generation – girls and women – to get into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). 

We do have examples of great women who are breaking the glass ceiling: they're in leadership position across different parts of the space ecosystem. But there's not enough to pick from in the engineering schools and so on. So, it starts with the youth, and I think we probably need to do a lot more to encourage young women to look into getting into the STEM fields, but also simply to think that it doesn't matter whether you are technical and mathematical and scientific in terms of your skill set. I'm not. I'm certainly not. My skills are softer skills, it's languages, it's interpersonal communication skills. You know, I did a degree in law with German law and then I did an MBA. 

There is room for a very diverse skill set from the youth and we just need to raise awareness of all the different avenues and possibilities that exist within the space sector to show that this is not just for the geeks and the nerds who like engineering. It's really not about that. There's room for musicians, lawyers, artists – anything you can think of – to be part of this very dynamic and innovative sector, which is so exciting today. 

Technological advances have transformed space exploration, making it more accessible but also more commercially driven, a senior official with the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has been telling UN News, ahead of the international day that marks the first manned space flight by Yuri Gagarin in 1961. 

Thanks to private capital, missions to study the Moon have surged, accompanied by a significant rise in space launches over the past decade. 

But these developments raise questions about the regulations governing space, increasing space pollution and diversity within space agencies, UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini , tells Anton Uspensky.

Watch CBS News

Most distant spacecraft from Earth sends data to NASA for first time in 5 months

By Kerry Breen

Updated on: April 23, 2024 / 8:45 PM EDT / CBS News

The most distant spacecraft from Earth has resumed sending data after a five-month gap, NASA said Monday. 

NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft was launched in 1977, about two weeks after the launch of its twin, Voyager 2. The spacecraft has spent over 45 years studying the outer solar system and has made flybys of Jupiter and Saturn and traveled more than 46,000,000,000 miles . 

In November 2023, the spacecraft stopped sending "readable science and engineering data," NASA said in a news release . Mission controllers were able to determine that Voyager 1 was still receiving commands from Earth and operating normally, but the science data could not be read and researchers did not know the status of the craft's onboard engineering systems. 

Last month, the craft's engineering team was able to confirm that the issue was related to one of the three onboard computers that make up Voyager 1's flight data subsystem. That system is what packages science and engineering data into a readable format before sending it to Earth. The team determined that "a single chip responsible for storing a portion of the (system's) memory," including some computer software code, wasn't working. 

The chip couldn't be repaired and the code was too large to place in one new location, NASA said, so the team worked to relocate the affected code into multiple sections of the flight data subsystem. It took weeks to repackage the code, NASA said, and last Thursday, the new location was communicated to Voyager 1. 

It takes about 22 and a half hours for a radio signal to reach Voyager 1 in interstellar space , or the space between stars, NASA said. On Saturday, the spacecraft's mission team received a response, confirming that the code modification had worked. 

Engineers celebrated receiving new data for the first time in almost half a year, but the work isn't done yet. NASA said that in the coming weeks, the mission team will "relocate and adjust the other affected portions" of the software, including portions that will start returning science data. Meanwhile, Voyager 2 continues to operate with no issues, and both craft will continue to report back on the distant reaches of the solar system. 

Kerry Breen is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.

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31 Outer Space Drawing Ideas

Home » DIY » Drawing » 31 Outer Space Drawing Ideas

Are you looking to add some otherworldly ideas to add to your sketchbooks? This post of outer space drawing ideas is a perfect place for those readers.

Today, I have thirty-one outer space drawing ideas that are super stellar. From silly little asteroids to full rocket ships taking off, there are many discoveries to make today.

For those interested, I always like to share a handful of useful items for the specific craft. What’s listed below are some regular items and tools I use to create.

These pencils are great for sketching, this eraser works well to erase, and these art pens are great for accenting and outlining.

For specific mediums, I like this watercolor set , these colored pencils , these colorful markers , these pastels , and these crayons for younger ones.

1. Satellite

Satellites are where we’ll start today. It is, of course, pretty boring compared to some of the other ideas we’ll cover, but we’re starting small.

Make a singular oversized satellite or have a few competing for the main space in your composition. You could add a UFO or alien for an extra touch of interest.

2. Smiling Asteroid

If asteroids actually did smile, it’d be a little grim, wouldn’t it? It’s a humorous thought and elevates the idea tenfold–it evokes an emotion and a conversation.

If your work can draw on both of those ideas, you’re in a pretty good position with your work.

3. Smiling Stars and Planets

The gang is all here. Even though it’s not a full solar system image, it’s a gathering of major parts of our universe, and it makes for a fun doodle.

Swap in or out any array of planetary or celestial characters here to customize the idea. Adding some color, too, would really make this party pop.

4. Bottle of Stars

If you’ve been here a while, you know I love a drawing framed within an unexpected frame. This bottle of stars is no exception to its uniqueness.

Feel free to play around with the size of the jar depending on how much space you have or want to commit to.

5. Extraterrestrial Friends

We all knew there’d be extraterrestrials on this post, and I think they’re just darling. The best part about this, too, is that the shapes of their heads are all different.

This idea gives you the liberty to play with the shapes of their faces, making for a more interesting composition overall.

Pair this drawing with the smiling stars and planets for a fully rounded-out idea.

6. Earth, Sun, and Moon

The sun, moon, and Earth are the essential trio for all of us here on Earth. There’s no better way to acknowledge our thankfulness than through a fun drawing of the things that sustain us.

Give this idea a fun twist by changing up the colors! It’ll add a fun and lively touch to the classic trio.

Check out these other moon drawing ideas !

7. Colorful Rings

Another way to add whimsy to your planet drawings is to add colorful rings to any given planet or moon.

A simple addition like rings immediately draws the eye into the composition of a classically typical drawing.

Add some stars or clouds within the space to lean into a more whimsical vibe of this easy drawing idea . Both items are easily identified in that way.

8. String of Planets

A string of planets makes the idea of drawing them more exciting.

Normally, planets are in a single row, unattached; these are all being led by a rocket and helps excite the eye to move naturally throughout.

9. Outer Space Snow Globe

Another great framed image in an unexpected place! This outer space snow globe holds a notoriously large space in a tiny one (in comparison to its normal space in the universe).

This idea is begging for color! I think that something bright and even textural would make this snow globe stand out amongst the rest.

10. Planet Mobile

A planet mobile is another great way to condense such a large subject into a more segmented space.

Make a small or large one with all the same hanging objects or pattern them in a way that makes sense.

11. Saturn with Sunglasses

Personifying planets or any other non-human item always makes for a super simple and easy drawing idea for anyone.

The type of sunglasses is totally up to you, too–whatever you can draw is fair game.

I could obviously see some star sunglasses on this planet, but an unexpected image like a clover could also be fun.

12. Dinosaur in Space

To be clear, any animal or creature with a space helmet is probably a great idea. This dinosaur is an unexpected option that adds to the fun of the composition.

Add some dino friends, or let him have a solo mission to start with this doodle.

There was no way we’d be getting through the list without a UFO! It’s a staple image for outer space and, therefore, solidly in the middle of the list.

If you want to switch the driver up, I think anyone could be a fun replacement from George Washington to your pet.

14. Planet with Hanging Stars

A more natural-looking mobile is opting for a planet with hanging stars off of it. It’s a great combination of two classic space items in a less traditional way.

Feel free to swap the stars out for other items, whatever you choose.

15. Astronaut

The other drawing idea that couldn’t not be added to the list today. An astronaut in space is the only reason why we definitively know what we know about space.

Add a fun friend or UFO to liven up the iconic image.

16. Hearts and Stars

For those romantics who always have their heads in the clouds, this scene of heart and stars seems fitting for you all!

Add as many or as little amount of stars and smaller hearts as you’d like for this image–I think more would be fun.

17. Asteroid

For those who felt troubled by the emoting asteroid, here’s a traditional falling space rock. The key to really portraying this asteroid is the movement lines and maybe the star.

Add a couple to fill out the idea on the page, or the sun, moon, or any other space-related item.

18. Simple Planets

If you’re looking for simple planetary outer space doodles, this idea is perfect for you. Pick and choose your favorites and space them out on the page accordingly.

Add more or take out a few, whatever you’d like for your sketchbook.

19. Space Cat

As I mentioned, any animal with a space helmet on makes for a good subject, and this cat is no exception. To spice up the picture, add something to the space that is interacting with the cat.

I think a whole family or grouping of cats floating through space doing different things or emoting in different ways makes for an excellent idea.

This cat drawing could even turn into a cute wall print or card.

20. Planetary Bouquet

Arrangements of unexpected items in different scenarios make for excellent content.

This bouquet is a great example–these types of images always seem to become popular depending on the outcome of the image.

21. Telescope

Our direct connection as civilians without any special connections, a telescope is a sensible drawing idea for this particular list.

Design your telescope to your interests and add in all the special extras you’d like to see within the scene.

22. Universe in a Jar

A jar as an unexpected frame is one of the easiest and most surefire ways to add interest to your drawings.

Stay simple like mine above, or go incredibly detailed and add some color to give it even more dimension.

23. Alien Abduction

I feel like we all used to fear this more in the 90s from all the various movies out there about aliens.

Whether or not it’s a real happening, this image is completely identifiable to us all and, therefore, a shoo-in for the post today.

24. “Out of This World” Hair

This cute drawing idea is one of my favorites on the post today, and it’s whimsical, cute, and easy!

This image is another image begging for some nice bright colors–whether they’re royal or pastel hues, they’ll work on this space queen’s hair.

25.  Hot Air Balloon Planet

Similarly shaped images replacing common parts of objects are great fun–i.e., this hot air balloon with a planet as its balloon! 

Pick your favorite planet or draw a simple one like the one above.

26. Constellation

Another space item we can see earthside are constellations. Draw a simple, easy one like mine, or, if you are familiar with constellations, try your hand at an actual one!

This fun doodle is a great option to practice something more serious in a matter in a fun way.

27. Stairway to Space

Instead of Stairway To Heaven, how about space? One of the most creative items on the list today, you can’t help but want to draw it!

The door is similar in fashion to the unexpected spaces framing an image, but it’s opening up another opportunity for the artist and admirer to ponder more.

28. Jet Pack Cat

If you were thinking of leveling up the cat in the space helmet, here’s the perfect addition! Make a super heavy-duty one, or keep it simple like this one.

29. Seeing Stars

Drawing some parts of the solar system in the eye is a great option for those still thinking about those spaces beyond spaces.

The space is small, so it’s a relatively quick project, perfect for anyone.

30. UFO’s Above City

Another influence of all of those alien movies–space invasions! Have fun with these and make the cityscape your own.

31. Rocketship

Finally, we have our rocket ship blasting off, ready to go sightseeing and see all the things we’ve talked about today! For a fun twist, add an animal in the cockpit with the pilot.

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Voyager 1 transmitting data again after Nasa remotely fixes 46-year-old probe

Engineers spent months working to repair link with Earth’s most distant spacecraft, says space agency

Earth’s most distant spacecraft, Voyager 1, has started communicating properly again with Nasa after engineers worked for months to remotely fix the 46-year-old probe.

Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which makes and operates the agency’s robotic spacecraft, said in December that the probe – more than 15bn miles (24bn kilometres) away – was sending gibberish code back to Earth.

In an update released on Monday , JPL announced the mission team had managed “after some inventive sleuthing” to receive usable data about the health and status of Voyager 1’s engineering systems. “The next step is to enable the spacecraft to begin returning science data again,” JPL said. Despite the fault, Voyager 1 had operated normally throughout, it added.

Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 was designed with the primary goal of conducting close-up studies of Jupiter and Saturn in a five-year mission. However, its journey continued and the spacecraft is now approaching a half-century in operation.

Voyager 1 crossed into interstellar space in August 2012, making it the first human-made object to venture out of the solar system. It is currently travelling at 37,800mph (60,821km/h).

Hi, it's me. - V1 https://t.co/jgGFBfxIOe — NASA Voyager (@NASAVoyager) April 22, 2024

The recent problem was related to one of the spacecraft’s three onboard computers, which are responsible for packaging the science and engineering data before it is sent to Earth. Unable to repair a broken chip, the JPL team decided to move the corrupted code elsewhere, a tricky job considering the old technology.

The computers on Voyager 1 and its sister probe, Voyager 2, have less than 70 kilobytes of memory in total – the equivalent of a low-resolution computer image. They use old-fashioned digital tape to record data.

The fix was transmitted from Earth on 18 April but it took two days to assess if it had been successful as a radio signal takes about 22 and a half hours to reach Voyager 1 and another 22 and a half hours for a response to come back to Earth. “When the mission flight team heard back from the spacecraft on 20 April, they saw that the modification worked,” JPL said.

Alongside its announcement, JPL posted a photo of members of the Voyager flight team cheering and clapping in a conference room after receiving usable data again, with laptops, notebooks and doughnuts on the table in front of them.

The Retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who flew two space shuttle missions and acted as commander of the International Space Station, compared the JPL mission to long-distance maintenance on a vintage car.

“Imagine a computer chip fails in your 1977 vehicle. Now imagine it’s in interstellar space, 15bn miles away,” Hadfield wrote on X . “Nasa’s Voyager probe just got fixed by this team of brilliant software mechanics.

Voyager 1 and 2 have made numerous scientific discoveries , including taking detailed recordings of Saturn and revealing that Jupiter also has rings, as well as active volcanism on one of its moons, Io. The probes later discovered 23 new moons around the outer planets.

As their trajectory takes them so far from the sun, the Voyager probes are unable to use solar panels, instead converting the heat produced from the natural radioactive decay of plutonium into electricity to power the spacecraft’s systems.

Nasa hopes to continue to collect data from the two Voyager spacecraft for several more years but engineers expect the probes will be too far out of range to communicate in about a decade, depending on how much power they can generate. Voyager 2 is slightly behind its twin and is moving slightly slower.

In roughly 40,000 years, the probes will pass relatively close, in astronomical terms, to two stars. Voyager 1 will come within 1.7 light years of a star in the constellation Ursa Minor, while Voyager 2 will come within a similar distance of a star called Ross 248 in the constellation of Andromeda.

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Embark on a transformative journey with Cynda Collins Arsenault, the philanthropic mind behind Secure World Foundation and Our Secure Future, as she shares her inspiring vision for a world where outer space serves as a conduit for global peace. This episode traverses Cynda's voyage from activism to entrepreneurship, revealing how she meshes the pursuit of personal success with the quest for societal betterment.   We also delve into the critical challenges of space debris management, the development of anti-satellite test regulations, and the exhilarating prospect of the Secure World Foundation's Space Sustainability Summit, which fosters groundbreaking dialogue and collaboration among space industry stakeholders. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Building a peaceful future through collaboration Shifting mindsets in the space sector Empowering women in leadership roles Empowering women for a better future Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Secure World Foundation - www.swfound.org  Our Secure Future - Women Make the Difference - www.oursecurefuture.org Alcorn Immigration Law: Subscribe to the monthly Alcorn newsletter Sophie Alcorn Podcast: Episode 162: From Earth to Orbit: A Dialogue on Startups, Export Control, and Space Law with Bailey Reichelt Episode 168: Into the Cosmos: Space Startups, Regulatory Hurdles, and Pioneering Tomorrow with Bryce Kennedy Episode 154: The Deep Tech Investment: Inner Space, Outer Space, and Startup Investing with Danny Crichton Immigration Options for Talent, Investors, and Founders Immigration Law for Tech Startups eBook Alcorn Academy course for best practices for securing the O-1A visa, EB-1A green card, or the EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) green card—the top options for startup founders. Use promotion code ILTS for 20% off the enrollment fee.

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