“Journey to Space: Exhibition and 3D Film” at California Science Center

The California Science Center will will be opening a new exhibit/film combination: Journey to Space: The Exhibition and Journey to Space 3D beginning October 29th, 2015.

I will be attending a Media review event this coming week, so stay tuned for the review!

Here is more info about the film:

Through visually stunning imagery, and in collaboration with leading space experts, Journey To Space showcases the exciting plans NASA and the space community are working on and the challenges they must overcome to carry out missions, once considered science fiction, and now science fact, such as landing astronauts on Mars. The film calls attention to the reality that the space program did not die with the end of the Shuttle Program in 2011. It is instead, vibrantly alive.

Through brilliant narration by film and television legend Sir Patrick Stewart and extensive interviews with NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson and Serena Aunon, the film captures the spirit of human exploration and describes how it is at the core of our own DNA. The new Giant Screen Format Film will start playing on October 29th at The California Science Center.. Journey To Space will also be released in additional IMAX(R), Giant Screen and other specialty theaters in 2D and 3D throughout the U.S. and worldwide (primarily via science centers and museums) in the coming months.

“No longer science fiction, a human mission to Mars is in the planning stages, and major steps are being taken to make it a reality within a generation,” said Bob Kresser, CEO of K2 Films “Our goal in making this film was to tie together the actual hardware being built with the tremendous planning under way that will make the next steps in space exploration the most far-reaching in our history.”

The names of the new machines that will carry out these missions will soon enter our lexicon.

• “Orion” is NASA’s first spacecraft designed to carry humans on long-duration deep space exploration missions. Orion will take humans to interplanetary destinations beyond low Earth orbit and return them safely back home. For instance, a round-trip to Mars via Orion will take two-and-a-half years as compared to the Apollo trips to the moon, which took 12 days.

“Olympus,” an inflatable transportation habitat, is an early concept 45- or 50-feet diameter module that would provide astronauts the work area and living space necessary for long-duration missions. Smaller versions have already flown in space, and a full-scale version is shown undergoing ground testing. The Space Launch System, or “SLS,” is the giant rocket that will carry both of the previously mentioned spacecraft and provides the enormous lift necessary to send them on many historic missions. SLS will also carry the needed Mars landers and ascent vehicles to get astronauts to the surface of Mars and back up to the Orion mothership for their return trip to Earth. SLS will generate over nine million pounds of thrust and can launch hardware into orbit equivalent to the weight of 22 elephants.

Journey To Space also gives a fitting tribute to the Space Shuttle Program and the 355 astronauts who flew on the 135 Shuttle missions. This historical chapter in the film is in the first one-third of the movie and describes how the Shuttle took many of the big steps that helped us understand how to live and operate in space. In fact, it’s the lessons learned during those many steps that have enabled the future missions covered in the film.

The film also gives a strong overview of the Shuttle’s last major project – the launch and assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS is a joint collaboration of 15 nations and is operating 24/7 providing a true home and science lab in space like no other. ISS crews’ tours of duty have averaged six months, and NASA will begin one-year duration missions starting in 2015. Researchers expect the one-year mission to yield beneficial knowledge on the medical, psychological and biomedical challenges explorers may face as they venture to an asteroid, Mars and beyond.

Overall, Journey To Space provides a timely review of how NASA has been transitioning from the end of the Space Shuttle Era to a much more ambitious future that will forever change how we live and operate in space as a species.

Sounds pretty amazing to me! I can’t wait to see it next week!

We have teamed up for a Giveaway! One winner will win a Family 4-Pack of tickets to the Exhibition and the Film! To enter, tell us your child’s favorite Space fact or favorite planet! Deadline to enter is October 29th, 2015 at noon PST. One winner will randomly be selected via Random.org.

Self Disclosure: No compensation was provided to post. I will be attending a media event to feature this event and to see the film.