To the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond, Pixar's new film "Lightyear" will not only hit the cinema screens but will also beam up to orbit for ISS astronauts to watch!
What could the better movie be screened at the ISS other than an animated film about a space ranger? Lightyear is definitely on-brand for NASA!
NASA-Pixar Collaboration
The space agency appeals to a wide range of people, not just scientists, engineers, and experts but also people from the film and television industry.
NASA noted in a press release on June 18 that the agency's assets have been used in a variety of ways, such as providing photos and several video assets, filming at NASA locations across the country, and offering technical knowledge for films and TV series.
Pixar's Lightyear is the newest collaboration of the space agency to the entertainment field.
Buzz Lightyear, the legendary space ranger toy from the Toy Story franchise, gets his own movie as he travels on an interstellar journey with Izzy, Mo, Darby, and his robot sidekick, Sox. The film features the motley band teaming up to escape the villainous Zurg and his robot army.
Lightyear's animators and artists used almost 3,000 photos and footage materials to help build the cinematic universe of the entire film, according to Bert Ulrich, NASA's Hollywood liaison at the space agency's headquarters in Washington.
"They also received an up-close and personal view of space through the eyes of a NASA astronaut who served as a technical consultant on the film," Ulrich said in a statement with the agency.
Film Screening at the ISS
Lightyear will be launched to the ISS, where crew members living and working in the station will have to chance to watch the film during their spare time. NASA noted that films beamed up to the ISS are usually the ones they collaborated with.
Further, NASA will organize a space-to-ground communication between the crew and celebrities and participate in red carpet events.
NASA's astronaut Tom Marshburn was involved in the production because he was of the consultations, and as such, he will participate in outreach activities.
It is worth reminding that he recently landed back on Earth after joining NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 mission, where they conducted several science experiments that could aid future exploration of the solar system.
Marshburn said this recent collaboration "helps NASA inspire the Artemis Generation" as they look forward to exploring the Moon and Mars.
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla