Apr. 07, 2022|United States|128 Min.|n/A
Genre: Documentary;Drama;History;Science;Fiction
Description: In May 2020, SpaceX achieved a historic milestone by launching two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station using a privately developed rocket and spacecraft. This significant event marked the resumption of American space missions from U.S. soil after nearly a decade of relying on Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The story of this groundbreaking mission is now the subject of a Netflix documentary titled *Return to Space*, released on April 7, 2022.
The documentary, directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, focuses on SpaceX’s Demo-2 mission for NASA. This mission sent astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on a four-month journey to the International Space Station aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, which they named Endeavour. It was the first time NASA astronauts were launched into orbit on a commercial spacecraft.
*Return to Space* provides an in-depth look at the collaboration between SpaceX founder Elon Musk and NASA to restore crewed spaceflight capabilities from Florida, which had been dormant since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011. The film offers viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the engineers and astronauts involved in this historic mission, including the emotional experiences of Hurley, Behnken, and their families as they prepared for the launch. The documentary also captures the thrilling journey to the International Space Station and the dramatic splashdown return to Earth.
In the film’s trailer, Musk reflects on the importance of space exploration, stating, “Earth is the cradle of humanity, but we can’t stay in the cradle forever.” *Return to Space* is a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of exploration beyond our planet.
Cast director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Cast actor: Elon Musk
Original name: Return to Space