Space Tourists examines the current, near future, and distant future of space tourism, as well as the consequences of increased space tourism in Russia. This documentary reveals four stories that revolve around the future of space tourism.
Anousheh Ansari, an Iranian-American businesswoman and engineer explains her passion for space growing up. The $20 million price tag included a round-trip flight from Russia to the International Space Station (ISS). Each space flight leaving from Russia drops space debris such as rockets which can land anywhere, possibly damaging homes, farms and crops. A group of scavengers camp and hunt for this space debris to sell as scrap metal.
Charles Simonyi, who oversaw Microsoft’s Word and Excel programs is training for his future space flight. Taste testing space food and gravity tests in the deep winter. Last, Space Tourists follows a creative X-Prize attempt for affordable space tourism.
Director Christian Frei creates a distance between the viewer and the topic of space tourism and never offers a consistent narrative. This distance offers an objective examination of the topic allowing viewers to leave with their own impression. This distance may also deter some viewers from enjoying the true benefit and perspective that Space Tourists offers. Frei weaves four narratives to give us a sense that there are a variety of issues and consequences, positive and negative, when it comes to space tourism.
The passion found within Ansari, Simmoyi, and the X-Prize competitor whose name this reviewer has forgotten is understated in terms of editing and story. Instead, the images and footage display the passion, a virtue of cinema.
Space Tourists is truly a gem that give us an insight of what we can expect in the future for space tourism. Footage aboard the ISS is captivating, such as Ansari having to catch water droplets and smush them into her hair. For an objective look at space tourism that is eloquent and gorgeous, Space Tourists is an excellent cinematic journey.