MOSI’s Florida Hospital IMAX® DOME Theatre Unveils New Era of Deep Space Exploration in Journey to Space
Tampa, Fla. (PRWEB) May 19, 2015 -- Journey to Space opens at MOSI’s Florida Hospital IMAX® DOME Theatre on May 22, 2015. Portrayed through visually stunning imagery, and in collaboration with leading space experts, Journey to Space highlights the exciting plans NASA and the space community are working toward and the challenges they must overcome to carry out missions, 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.
“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 describes how the shuttle took many of the big steps that helped us understand how to live and operate in space.
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 missions 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.
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About MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry)
MOSI is a not-for-profit, community-based institution and educational resource dedicated to advancing public interest, knowledge, and understanding of science, technology, engineering, art and math (S.T.E.A.M.) and is home to the Florida Hospital IMAX® DOME Theatre, the only IMAX dome theater in the state of Florida. MOSI's core ideology is to make a difference in people's lives by making science real for people of all ages and backgrounds. MOSI gives away more than $3 million in free memberships each year, $250,000 in free tickets annually, and approximately 400 scholarships each year for children to attend MOSI Summer Science Camps. Additionally, MOSI’s education staff works closely with area teachers offering free training and support for area science educators. With a total size of more than 400,000 square feet, MOSI is the largest science center in the southeastern United States. Learn through play inside Kids In Charge! the largest Children’s Science Center in the nation or The Amazing You—a 13,000-square-foot exhibition on health and wellness. Conquer your fears on MOSI’s Sky Trail® Ropes Course and Zip Line. Budding inventors can engineer anything imaginable and hold it in the palm of their hand in MOSI’s technology playground and inventor’s studio, Idea Zone; and aspiring astronauts can travel to the moon to operate a lunar colony in Mission: Moonbase, funded in part by NASA. MOSI is the proud winner of the 2009 National Medal for Museums by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the nation’s highest honor for museums. For more information on MOSI, visit http://www.mosi.org.
About K2 Films
Recognized as leaders in Giant Screen documentary cinema, K2 Films, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of K2 Communications (K2), brings a wealth of success and experience in all aspects of production, global distribution and marketing. Additionally, K2’s distribution arm counts more than 65 large screen format films in its library for non-theatrical distribution, plus more than 25 films for digital and large format theater distribution.
K2 also operates the only comprehensive Giant Screen consumer/fan website, BigMovieZone.com. For more information, consult http://www.k2communications.com.
About Giant Screen Films
Since 1997, Giant Screen Films (GSF) has established itself as a pioneer in the large-format industry, producing and distributing films that push the boundaries of the medium. Through the magic of immersive sight and sound technologies, GSF’s productions challenge the imaginations of children and adults, offering an inspiring perspective on the world and an unforgettable theater experience. Meaningful educational collaborations and partnerships extend each film’s impact far beyond the theater. The company is recognized as one of the world’s leading and most active large-format producers and is based in Evanston, Ill. For additional information, visit http://www.gsfilms.com.
Megan Haskins, Museum of Science & Industry, http://www.mosi.org, +1 (813) 842-7788, [email protected]
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