Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission To Space
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Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission To Space
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission To Space is a docuseries that followed the Inspiration4 Mission, which launched an all-civilian crew into orbit, as it unfolded. There's some occasional cursing, and some celebratory drinking is visible. Occasionally consumer logos (like The North Face) are visible on flight uniforms, and the logo St. Jude's Cancer Research organization is prominently displayed. There are brief conversations about things that can go wrong during space flights, and conversations about, and archive footage of, the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters are featured. But the overall series, while a promotional vehicle for Space X and the Inspiration4 Mission, also highlights the passion and commitment the folks involved in the project have for space exploration and travel.
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What's the Story?
COUNTDOWN: INSPIRATION4 MISSION TO SPACE is a documentary series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation and launch of four civilians into space. When pilot and Shift4 CEO Jason Isaacman purchased four seats in the Space X Dragon capsule to raise money for cancer research, he became the commander of the Inspiration4 Space Mission, the world's first all-civilian orbital flight. The documentary follows the mission from the start of the astronaut recruitment process, which required the selection of participants that represented the mission's pillars of Leadership, Hope. Prosperity and Generosity. After childhood cancer survivor and physician's assistant Hayley Arcenaux, geoscientist Dr. Sian Proctor, and former U.S. Air Force member and aeronautics expert Chris Sembroski were chosen, cameras followed as the team prepared and trained for the September 16, 2021, launch. Scenes from inside the space capsule during the three-day voyage reveal what their experience was like, while interviews throughout the series with the astronauts, their family members, and people involved with the project, including Space X founder Elon Musk, describe their hopes, dreams, and concerns about the mission.
Is It Any Good?
The interesting and heartfelt docuseries, which was a real-time production that followed the Inspiration4 project from the time it unfolded until its successful end, underscores the idea that the U.S. is going through a momentous period in space aviation. Referred to as "Space Race 2.0," it highlights the attempts of private citizens to launch their own space journeys, and the efforts of Space X and other private companies to develop the necessary technology and programs designed to support space tourism. But while Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission To Space is focused on the process by which it all came together, at the heart of it are the personal stories of the astronauts, their families, and those who play a role in the success of the launch and preserving the safety of its crew. It's a natural for space fans, but anyone can appreciate the positive and emotional impact Inspiration4 had on the people who were involved in it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the state of space travel today. Why are private citizens competing against each other to get into space first? Will today's privately financed space missions lead to space tourism in the future? If so, how far out in the future?
Why was it important for the producers of Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to follow the mission as it happened? Did it make the series more interesting? What can viewers learn from watching the process from beginning to end?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 6, 2021
- Cast: Jason Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor, Chris Sembroski
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Great Girl Role Models, Space and Aliens
- Character Strengths: Communication, Courage, Curiosity, Gratitude, Perseverance, Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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