Russia to shoot the world’s first real space movie
Mission aboard ISS aims to get in first before a Hollywood project involving actor Tom Cruise with NASA and SpaceX
05 October 2021 - 12:25
byOlzhas Auyezov
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying Nasa astronauts lifts off heading towards the International Space Station on May 30 2020. Picture: REUTERS/JOE SKIPPER
Moscow — A Russian crew of two cosmonauts, a movie director and an actress is poised to take off for the International Space Station (ISS) later on Tuesday to shoot the first movie in space, the latest twist in decades of Russia-US space rivalry.
The four were scheduled to be launched on a Soyuz MS-19 craft at 8.55am GMT and dock hours later at the station, which orbits Earth at an altitude of about 354km.
Russian state media have been providing constant coverage of the event in the run-up, with a countdown clock running on Channel One and news anchors framing the development as a significant breakthrough by Russia that the rest of the world is watching closely.
The fanfare contrasts with the mixed fortunes of Russia’s own space industry which has in recent years been dogged by delays, accidents and corruption scandals as US-based private firms backed by rich businesspeople have developed new spacecraft.
The 12-day Russian mission follows the launch of the first all-civilian crew aboard a rocket and capsule developed by SpaceX, which was founded by Elon Musk.
The Russian mission is designed to get in first before a Hollywood project announced earlier this year by actor Tom Cruise with NASA and SpaceX.
Russia, first as the Soviet Union, and the US have competed fiercely to reach various space exploration milestones: Russia launched the first satellite and put the first man and woman in space, but NASA beat it to the Moon landing.
The Russian movie titled The Challenge is the story of a doctor, portrayed by actress Yulia Peresild, who is asked to travel to the space station to save a cosmonaut’s life. Cosmonaut crew members on the ISS are also set to appear in the film.
Director Klim Shipenko, whose height of 1.9m (6 feet 2 inches) makes the flight in a small capsule especially challenging, has already said he was looking forward to a Mars-based sequel.
Reflecting the Soviet roots of Russia’s space industry, the crew will be launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in the steppes of Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia. Russia leases the cosmodrome.
Russia’s own, newer Vostochny cosmodrome is years away from serving manned aircraft, officials say.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Russia to shoot the world’s first real space movie
Mission aboard ISS aims to get in first before a Hollywood project involving actor Tom Cruise with NASA and SpaceX
Moscow — A Russian crew of two cosmonauts, a movie director and an actress is poised to take off for the International Space Station (ISS) later on Tuesday to shoot the first movie in space, the latest twist in decades of Russia-US space rivalry.
The four were scheduled to be launched on a Soyuz MS-19 craft at 8.55am GMT and dock hours later at the station, which orbits Earth at an altitude of about 354km.
Russian state media have been providing constant coverage of the event in the run-up, with a countdown clock running on Channel One and news anchors framing the development as a significant breakthrough by Russia that the rest of the world is watching closely.
The fanfare contrasts with the mixed fortunes of Russia’s own space industry which has in recent years been dogged by delays, accidents and corruption scandals as US-based private firms backed by rich businesspeople have developed new spacecraft.
The 12-day Russian mission follows the launch of the first all-civilian crew aboard a rocket and capsule developed by SpaceX, which was founded by Elon Musk.
The Russian mission is designed to get in first before a Hollywood project announced earlier this year by actor Tom Cruise with NASA and SpaceX.
Russia, first as the Soviet Union, and the US have competed fiercely to reach various space exploration milestones: Russia launched the first satellite and put the first man and woman in space, but NASA beat it to the Moon landing.
The Russian movie titled The Challenge is the story of a doctor, portrayed by actress Yulia Peresild, who is asked to travel to the space station to save a cosmonaut’s life. Cosmonaut crew members on the ISS are also set to appear in the film.
Director Klim Shipenko, whose height of 1.9m (6 feet 2 inches) makes the flight in a small capsule especially challenging, has already said he was looking forward to a Mars-based sequel.
Reflecting the Soviet roots of Russia’s space industry, the crew will be launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in the steppes of Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia. Russia leases the cosmodrome.
Russia’s own, newer Vostochny cosmodrome is years away from serving manned aircraft, officials say.
Reuters
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