Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Stunning visuals in short docu about modern space program.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Journey to Space
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Patrick Stewart's resonant voice narrates JOURNEY TO SPACE, which details the accomplishments of NASA's Space Shuttle Project (which ended in 2011), the International Space Station (in full operational mode with 15 countries working together), and the aspirations of men and women currently involved in new explorations of Mars and beyond. Both male and female astronauts enthusiastically describe their tasks and their experiences. The film introduces three specific missions and the machines that will enable them. Orion is a spacecraft designed to take humans into deep space and bring them back again. It's projected that a trip to Mars on Orion will take two and a half years. Olympus is an inflatable transport carrier that will house astronauts for long periods of time. The Space Launch System is a giant rocket that will transport both Orion and Olympus to deep space. Lofty goals and a wondrous vision of an enhanced future guide the movie and the program itself.
Is It Any Good?
What was the stuff of science fiction only decades ago, and is now in the realm of possibility, is enthusiastically shared by astronauts and scientists in this short, visually inspiring film. In the 21st century, controversy about funding the U.S. Space Program in light of pressing national and international needs has forced the program into the background. This film is an effort to renew interest in and excitement about the possibilities of space exploration, especially for kids. Given the well-established need for more women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), it's significant that female astronauts Lindsay Aitchison and Serena Aunon are featured here. Due to the preponderance of technological information delivered, the film is most accessible for middle grades and up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about different aims of documentary films: to entertain, to inform, and/or to persuade. How does this film capture each of the three intentions? Which category(s) does it fit best?
Have you ever thought about how space exploration might affect our planet's future? List some possible positive outcomes that may result.
How did movies such as the Star Wars and Star Trek adventures, imagined by creators who were not professional scientists or engineers, anticipate what has become real in Journey to Space? What does that tell you about the human capacity to imagine?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 13, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : June 7, 2016
- Cast : Patrick Stewart
- Director : Mark Krenzien
- Studio : Shout! Factory
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : STEM
- Run time : 45 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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