An Expert Astronaut Reviews Hollywood Astronaut Scenes – Accuracy, Communication and Challenges

Summary

Retired astronaut Nicole Stott reviews Hollywood movie scenes featuring astronauts and discusses their accuracy. She counters that AI is not yet utilized in space missions, and though we track and study asteroids, we have not yet flown through an asteroid belt. Stott appreciates the realism of the G-force training seen in Space Cowboys and the camaraderie portrayed in the movie. Finally, she discusses the ability to communicate with loved ones from space as if on a normal phone call. The article travels through various aspects of space exploration such as orbital mechanics and design of spaceships to the experience of launch and landing.

Table of Contents

• How accurate are Hollywood’s astronaut scenes?
• What technologies do astronauts use to stay in touch?
• What is the process of re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere like?
• The functionality of various vehicles and equipment used in space travel
• Inspiration from Science Fiction

Introduction

Watching movies about astronauts and space travel can make us all wonder how much of what we see is scientifically accurate. Are the scenes of zero-gravity, launching into space, and communicating with people back on Earth based on fact or just Hollywood’s imagination? These are the questions that retired astronaut Nicole Stott addresses while reviewing various space movies. In this article, we delve into some of the insights and explanations she has provided about space travel from her perspective as an expert.

Q&A

How accurate are Hollywood’s astronaut scenes?

Hollywood movies tend to exaggerate the drama and action surrounding space travel, but some scenes are surprisingly realistic. For example, the blackout period during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere is a real phenomenon caused by the plasma surrounding the spaceship, which disrupts communication. The movie ‘Gravity’ accurately portrayed this issue. Stott also mentions that some movies take creative liberties when it comes to depicting things like asteroid belts and artificial intelligence in space, which are not yet utilized in actual space missions.

What technologies do astronauts use to stay in touch?

Communication is an essential aspect of space exploration, and astronauts use specialized equipment to stay in touch with people on Earth. They use video conferencing technology to communicate with their friends and family. The connection quality is determined by the satellite’s orbital path, and the delay can last up to 45 seconds. Additionally, mission control is in constant contact with the astronauts for critical communication during takeoff and landing.

What is the process of re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere like?

Re-entry is a critical part of any space mission, and it involves a process that takes around an hour from firing the retro thrusters to touching down. The process involves carefully controlling the spacecraft’s orientation, speed, and angle of descent to ensure a safe landing on Earth. The speaker explains that movies like Apollo 13 and Space Cowboys have done an accurate job of depicting this process, including the use of technical terms like RC (reaction control system). Finally, the re-entry blackout happens as the plasma surrounding the spacecraft forms a shield against communication from the spacecraft to Earth.

The functionality of various vehicles and equipment used in space travel

When it comes to space travel, the design and functionality of various vehicles and equipment are critical for safety and efficiency. For example, the lunar rover used in the moon landing mission had to be lightweight enough to be transported by the lunar module and yet strong enough to traverse the rocky terrain of the moon. Similarly, the crew access arm of the space shuttle had to be sturdy and reliable to ferry the astronauts to and from the shuttle safely.

Additionally, the gold visors in the spacesuits protect the astronaut’s eyes from the harmful effects of solar radiation. While they do not use all-gold spacesuits as seen in some movies, they do use gold visors.

Stott also mentions that cleaning the space station is a regular task, and trash is disposed of by loading it onto cargo vehicles that burn up in the atmosphere.

Inspiration from Science Fiction

Science fiction has historically inspired many technological advancements, especially in space travel. We would not have developed things like airlocks, space suits, or even spacecraft without the inspiration provided by works like Jules Verne’s ‘From the Earth to the Moon’ or H.G. Wells’ ‘The War of the Worlds.’ Science fiction has always been about imagining what something could be if technological advancements were possible, and this has led to much of the technology we now take for granted.

Conclusion

Space exploration is an exciting and challenging field, and Hollywood’s movie scenes offer a unique perspective on what it’s like to be an astronaut. While many of the scenes are fantastical, some have surprising elements of realism. The importance of communication, safety, and accuracy in space missions cannot be overstated, and the insights provided by retired astronaut Nicole Stott offer a valuable perspective on what it takes to succeed in space exploration. Ultimately, we can look to the inspiration provided by science fiction and strive to make those visions a reality.