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Astronaut Chris Hadfield Breaks Down Space Movies | Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair・34 minutes read

Chris Hadfield discusses the accuracy of various space movies, critiquing the portrayal of astronaut behavior and scientific details, while also highlighting the visual impact and realism of some films. Additionally, he mentions the challenges of problem-solving and collaboration in space missions, emphasizing the importance of accurate science and realistic depictions in movies about space exploration.

Insights

  • Chris Hadfield provides insightful critiques of various space-themed movies, highlighting inaccuracies in astronaut behavior and scientific depictions, while also commending films like "The Martian" for their scientific accuracy and problem-solving portrayals.
  • The text showcases the meticulous attention to detail and problem-solving ethos prevalent in space missions, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, constant reinvention, and addressing technical challenges like the carbon dioxide scrubbing system in the lunar lander, as seen in the movie "Apollo 13."

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Recent questions

  • What did Chris Hadfield critique about the movie "Gravity"?

    In the movie "Gravity," Chris Hadfield pointed out inaccuracies in the speed of satellites, astronaut behavior, and Sandra Bullock's character portrayal.

  • How did Chris Hadfield analyze the movie "The Martian"?

    Chris Hadfield analyzed "The Martian," highlighting inaccuracies in Mars' atmosphere, gravity, and the process of growing food on the planet.

  • What did Chris Hadfield commend about the movie "Apollo 13"?

    Chris Hadfield commended "Apollo 13" for its realism in depicting the actual events of the explosion on the way to the moon and the iconic phrase "Houston, we have a problem."

  • How did Chris Hadfield criticize the movie "Armageddon"?

    Chris Hadfield criticized "Armageddon" for its unrealistic depiction of space missions, including real-time communication with Mission Control and lack of scientific accuracy.

  • What did Chris Hadfield praise about the movie "Interstellar"?

    Chris Hadfield praised "Interstellar" for delving into the complexities of black holes and highlighting the immense forces involved in space.

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Summary

00:00

Astronaut critiques space movies for inaccuracies.

  • Chris Hadfield, a colonel in the Air Force and astronaut, shared how his cover of a David Bowie tune on the International Space Station influenced the lighting of Matt McConaughey's face in "Interstellar."
  • Hadfield critiques the movie "Gravity," pointing out inaccuracies like the speed of satellites, the behavior of astronauts, and the portrayal of Sandra Bullock's character.
  • Hadfield praises the visual impact of the movie "Gravity" for its depiction of a spacewalk but highlights the inaccuracies in astronaut behavior and dialogue.
  • In the movie "Passengers," Hadfield discusses the concept of creating artificial gravity on a spaceship using centrifugal force and critiques the portrayal of zero gravity scenes.
  • Hadfield criticizes the movie "Armageddon" for its unrealistic depiction of space missions, including real-time communication with Mission Control and the lack of scientific accuracy.
  • Hadfield analyzes the movie "The Martian," pointing out inaccuracies in the portrayal of Mars' atmosphere, gravity, and the process of growing food on the planet.
  • Hadfield praises "The Martian" for its scientific accuracy, derived from the book by Andy Weir, and the realistic portrayal of an astronaut's problem-solving skills.
  • Hadfield commends the movie "Apollo 13" for its realism in depicting the actual events of the explosion on the way to the moon and the iconic phrase "Houston, we have a problem."

14:48

Space Mission Problem-Solving and Innovation

  • On a spaceship, carbon dioxide is removed from the air using scrubbing equipment.
  • The lunar lander had its own carbon dioxide scrubbing system, but parts were not interchangeable due to being built by different companies.
  • Engineers recognized the issue and presented it to the flight director, Gene Krantz.
  • Problem-solving in Mission Control involves constant reinvention and collaboration to overcome challenges.
  • The movie "Apollo 13" accurately portrays the problem-solving process in space missions.
  • "Interstellar" delves into the complexities of black holes, highlighting the immense forces involved.
  • Time travel in "Interstellar" is depicted through the distortion of time due to gravitational forces.
  • "First Man" narrates Neil Armstrong's journey to becoming the first human on the moon.
  • "Hidden Figures" showcases the pivotal role of human computers in early space missions.
  • In "Ad Astra," a chase scene on the moon involves the use of guns, which would function in a vacuum due to internal mechanisms.

29:14

Space Movies Showcase Realistic Space Travel Experiences

  • "2001: A Space Odyssey" is hailed as one of the greatest space movies, accurately depicting space travel experiences like the view of Earth from a spaceship and the docking process with a Space Station.
  • The movie "Wall-E" showcases orbital mechanics creatively, with the character using a fire extinguisher for propulsion in space, emphasizing the importance of positioning the nozzle at the center of mass for stability.
  • The first American spacewalk utilized a handheld squirter for movement, later deemed impractical compared to handholds or jetpacks, highlighting the evolution of spacewalking tools.
  • In the movie "Sunshine," the crew witnesses Mercury passing in front of the Sun, resembling a miniature eclipse, although the brightness of the Sun would typically overpower the view unless special filters are used, emphasizing the wonder and awe of space exploration experiences.
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