Daily Archives: May 13, 2017

Matt Damon plays fictional NASA astronaut Mark Watney in the 2015 sci-fi blockbuster film "The Martian."

Though Hollywood doesn't get everything about space exploration right, entertainment is an important way to get space-related messages out to the public, a panel of experts said this week at the 2017 Human to Mars Summit in Washington, D.C.

"For me, when I'm writing papers about whatever scientific project I'm doing, there's often a very long background piece very dry, and not interesting to the general public," Peggy Wu, a human-machine interaction engineer at United Technologies, a conglomerate whose portfolio includes aerospace products said Tuesday (May 9) at the summit.

"Usually, I don't have a fun time reading it, and I don't think the general public does," Wu added during the panel discussion, which was webcast live. "Media helps make that more accessible and more exciting." [Learning From 'The Martian': Matt Damon Talks Movies As Teaching Tools (Video)]

Even many movies without a direct space connection some in the Marvel comic book universe, for example tend to use space technology, said writer and producer Tamara Krinsky. Her credits include the 1996 film "Star Trek: First Contact," and she is a part of The Scientific Research and Education Network, which aims to increase science literacy in youth.

Krinsky noted that Marvel uses science as a core for a creative concept. The 2015 film "Ant-Man," for example, mentioned the multiverse and nanotech. While such scientific concepts are starting points for inspiration, she said, "You're not getting an education in nanotech technology, and you're not expecting an education in nanotech technology."

The panelists agreed that it's OK for a sci-fi film to get some of the science wrong, for storytelling purposes. Wu, however, cautioned that there is a spectrum between "just plain wrong" and "it could be misleading."

She said the best way for artists to avoid misleading work is to lean on programs such as the National Academy of Science's Science and Entertainment Exchange, which aims to increase public knowledge of science through entertainment.

Recent forays into Mars storytelling include the blockbuster 2015 film "The Martian," which saw a fictional astronaut stranded on Mars, and this year's "Life," in which an International Space Station crew uncovers what could be evidence of life on the Red Planet.

Depending on whether a film aligns with NASA's priorities, the space agency may allow its logo to be used in Hollywood films. NASA did grant permission for "The Martian," which featured a quasi-scientific look at how a stranded astronaut could stay alive by himself on Mars, and eventually end up coming home to Earth.

"Life," by contrast, used an alternate NASA logo. That's because the space agency didn't want its logo to be used in a horror film, said Bert Ulrich, NASA's multimedia liaison for film and TV collaborations.

"We do a script review on fictional projects; we review to see if the meatball [logo] comes through or not," Ulrich said during the panel. He added that in some cases, such as Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar," directors may choose not to work with NASA for artistic-freedom purposes. ("Interstellar" also used an alternate NASA logo.)

NASA benefits from entertainment as well, Ulrich said. Last year's "Hidden Figures," which followed the story of black women who worked for the space program in its early days, helped NASA's goal to inspire new generations, he said. And movies such as "The Martian" can plant "an important seed" in the public's mind that Martian exploration is possible, which aligns with NASA's desires to send humans to Mars in the 2030s, Ulrich added. [Images: 'Hidden Figures' Movie Probes Little-Known Heroes of 1960s NASA]

He said NASA faced a public-perception problem after the space shuttle program ended in 2011, making American astronauts dependent on Russian Soyuz spacecraft for rides to and from orbit. As a result, many people thought NASA was dying or dead.

NASA's recent resurgence is in part due to entertainment, Ulrich said. The August 2012 landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars inspired more discussion about the Red Planet than the agency had anticipated, he said, which eventually bled into movies such as "The Martian."

Further, the popular TV series "The Big Bang Theory" had one of its characters go to the International Space Station with real-life astronaut Mike Massimino, specifically because co-creator Bill Prady wanted to give support to NASA, Ulrich said.

"These little things, they help," Ulrich said. "It gets people interested, and then, before you know it, we had films like 'Gravity' and 'Interstellar.' Everything was building up."

Follow Elizabeth Howell @howellspace, or Space.com @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.

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From 'The Martian' to Mars: How Hollywood Aids Space Exploration - Space.com

If you go

What: Visit and lecture by retired NASA astronaut Vance Brand

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 17

Where: Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road, Longmont

Cost: $12 general, $10 museum members

More info: 303-651-8374 or longmontmuseum.org

The first hint of looming cosmic journeys and eventual space exploration came to Vance Brand when he was a lifeguard and gatekeeper at the Boulder Reservoir.

It was 1957, and Brand was working his way through college at the University of Colorado. He was making his rounds at the reservoir when someone approached with earth-shattering news. The United States' Cold War adversary had a made a move that would have permanent and profound consequences for the human race.

"They informed me that the Russians had just launched a satellite called Sputnik into space," Brand recalled from his home in the Sierra Madre Mountains north of Los Angeles. "That was my introduction, my first glimmerings of the space program."

In the late 1950s, the prospect of humans sending a functioning satellite into space was the stuff of science fiction and fantasy for Brand, who'd grown up in the largely rural, farm-based community of Longmont. Less than 20 years later, however, in 1975, the Longmont High School graduate would journey into space as a command module pilot on the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission. That would be the first of four space flights for Brand, who logged nearly 45 hours in spacecraft over the course of his impressive career.

Brand will reflect on his deep ties to the formative days of the U.S. space program during a visit to his hometown this week. The former naval officer, aviator, aeronautical engineer, test pilot and NASA astronaut will lead a presentation at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, at the Longmont Museum. Brand will sign copies of his new autobiography, "Flying Higher and Faster," which will be available to buy in the museum's gift shop.

For a community that's long held Brand as a local legend, the visit will be a chance to consider the evolution of technology, aviation and exploration in the 20th century. On a more essential level, it'll be a chance to catch up with a hometown hero.

"Given how extraordinary his accomplishments are, he is such a humble person. It's not about him. He wants it to be about the broader issues of space exploration and what one person can do," said Erik Mason, curator of research at the Longmont Museum. "I think that's such a refreshing attitude in our celebrity-driven culture. It's so amazing to hear someone who's had such an incredible series of adventures."

For Brand, the adventures that included journeys to the cosmos had simple roots. During his early days as a Marine Corps recruit in North Carolina, he couldn't stop himself from gazing at the jets that took off every morning. The roar of the engines and the sight of the crafts in flight proved irresistible to Brand, who quickly saw flight as a professional and personal goal.

"It was an emotional decision," Brand said. "I thought that was about the coolest thing I'd ever seen, seeing the jets take off at Cherry Point. I immediately applied for naval flight training program."

That was the first step on a road that would lead to space exploration. Brand became a naval aviator for the Marine Corps, and he worked as a test pilot for the Lockheed Corporation in the early 1960s. He built up an impressive resume that eventually earned him a spot as one of 19 pilot astronauts recruited by NASA in 1966.

"I just wanted to be a pilot and fly airplanes. Once the space program did start, I thought, well, this is just a natural evolution," Brand said. "I went from military to pilot to test pilot. I wanted to fly higher and faster. I decided to apply for the space program."

Brand had to wait until 1975 for his first mission to space the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission saw Brand and his fellow crew members meeting Soviet cosmonauts in space. It was the ceremonial end of the space race, which had kicked off with the launch of Sputnik. That mission offered different levels of context for Brand and his fellow crew members.

"When you can go around the earth in 90 minutes, when you can look out at the stars and galaxies ... You come to realize that it's a small place in the big scheme of things, and that you're also a very small entity in the big scheme of things," Brand said. "It was interesting and a bit humbling to look down on the earth. You do realize that people on earth are one big family."

The literal global view of humanity had echoes in Brand's work with Russian cosmonauts. The boundaries of nationalities and countries disappeared outside earth's bounds. In the height of the Cold War, Brand and his fellow crew members found a way to relate to their Russian counterparts in a simple and direct way.

"It all worked out very well. We didn't have any fistfights or anything as a matter of fact, we trained together for some time before the flight," Brand said. "We got to be good friends and comrades in space flight at that time."

Subsequent space missions would follow in 1984 and 1990, journeys that saw Brand deploying communications satellites and conducting complex astronomical research. Still, Brand remains humble when he speaks about his career. After decades of pushing the boundaries of flight and the limits of human exploration, Brand is now happy to travel and explore the stretches of nature near his California home. He has confidence that the next generation of explorers will make even greater strides, and he has confidence in Longmont's coming crop of eager astronauts.

"This field does take preparation, doing well in school, math and sciences. I'm sure there are a lot smarter kids in Longmont High School than me," Brand said. "I've found as an ordinary person that I could get into this field and that it was very exciting," he concluded simply.

Originally posted here:

Vance Brand tells tales of space exploration at museum - Longmont ... - Longmont Times-Call

Those who enjoy games set in space have had plenty of titles to enjoy lately, including the controversial No Mans Sky and the promising Astroneer. If these games havent quenched your thirst for space exploration, you will soon be able to enjoy The Long Journey Home, the space exploration RPG developed by Daedalic

The Long Journey Home, which will see players uncover the mysteries of the universe, will launch on Steam on May 30th for the price of $39.99

Real Flying: Flying in space is a bit complicatedreally, we looked it up. The Long Journey Home provides a flying experience with actual planetary gravity, which can be difficult to master but can also be used to your advantage. Flying in Long Journey Home is a bit different than in many other space games. Be careful not to be sucked into a black hole or outmaneuvered by an alien warship!

Lost in Translation: Meet and try and befriend fifteen strange alien races four empires out of eight, plus assorted smaller civilisations in every game. Will they appreciate you approaching with raised shields as a sign of respect, or see it as an aggressive display? Can you win their respect, and with it, their assistance? With over two novels worth of dialogue, youll feel part of a living universe full of memorable characters and big decisions.

Weigh Your Options: Players have to land on planets in order to gather resources. By doing so, you always risk damaging the landing unit or even losing a crew member. Be sure to carefully consider the risks involved in every reward.

Procedural, not Random: Although most of the game is procedurally generated, there are no random aspects in it. For example, dialogues with aliens may vary in different playthroughs but the lore behind each race is very much consistent. Quests or reactions might change, but their core attitude and character always stays the same.

Same Game, Different Journey: Thanks to the variety of the key elements of the game, the experience can be very different with every new run. Players can expect to see about 20% of the possible content in one run which should only take about 6 8 hours.

The Long Journey Home launches on PC on May 30th.

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Space Exploration RPG The Long Journey Home To Release On ... - Wccftech