Science

Watch the First Sci-Fi Film Actually Shot in Space

NASA Delaying Apogee of Fear Sci Fi Film Shot in Space

Richard Garriott, a video game developer and space tourist, released a documentary film — “Man on a Mission” – this past weekend of his $30 million out-of-pocket trip to the International Space Station, but it’s not the only movie Garriott made that has people talking.

“Apogee of Fear,” a second film that is considered the first sci-fi movie actually shot in space, is ready to go public Garriott says, but NASA is holding it up, according to Space.com. Space.com reports that the film has “underground status” and has not been given the necessary “go-ahead” by NASA. Several sources are reporting off Space.com’s story about the film and not including any footage but a quick Google search reveals a version of it was filmed at a screening at Dragon Con 2011, a fantasy/sci-fi convention.

Watch the video that was uploaded to YouTube in September 2011:

Why doesn’t NASA want it to go public? Garriott can only speculate:

“It’s too playful,” he told SPACE.com. “It’s just not their message.”

He doesn’t think the space agency actively dislikes “Apogee of Fear” or wishes to suppress it. Rather, he believes NASA simply sees no reason to support it.

“It’s just that the default answer is no,” Garriott said.

Space.com reports that “Apogee of Fear,” an eight minute film, shows the more light-hearted side of astronauts and life on the ISS. The film begins, according to Space.com, with astronauts Mike Fincke and Greg Chamitoff looking out the window as Garriott makes his journey back toward Earth, much to their relief. After a few days, the astronauts begin to miss Garriott, who broke up everyday life on the space station, until a mystery ensues: higher than normal oxygen use. Clearly, they decide, it’s an alien on board. The astronauts begin to search for the alien with a couple unexpected twists.

NASA Delaying Apogee of Fear Sci Fi Film Shot in Space

NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Greg Chamitoff are main characters in the "Apogee of Fear".

Garriott told Space.com that he sees “Apogee of Fear” as an educational tool and that the Smithsonian has expressed interested in having a copy for historical record. Garriott says that since the film features NASA astronauts on the ISS that the agency has control of if and when to allow release of the footage.

Here’s the trailer for “Man on a Mission”:

Comments (21)

  • sundance_sp
    Posted on January 17, 2012 at 3:58am

    Very cute. Some director with too much money in his pocket buys his way into the ISS. Ok, good for him. Seeing the clip. It’s obviously not a serious movie. It was made for his own, and personal friends’ entertainment. Any suggestion that NASA is withholding it,, is obviously a joke, on us. But still, I thought it was cute. Obviously,,, his mother was the “alien”,,, which was not only funny, but nice. I respect a man that honors his mother.

    Report Post »  
    • TROONORTH
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:45am

      What? No pointy ears!? It can’t be the final frontier without pointy ears.

      Report Post » TROONORTH  
  • deano24
    Posted on January 16, 2012 at 10:04pm

    I can’t believe how old “Lord British” has aged, of course the last time I saw a picture of Richard Garriott was back in the 80′s. Three of my favorite games were made by Origin: Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar for the Commodore 64, Privateer & Privateer 2:The Darkening for the PC. Richard Garriott & Sid Meir have been my favorite game designers back in the 80′s.

    Report Post » deano24  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on January 16, 2012 at 11:22pm

      Sid Meir has taken so many hours from my family — it’s downright uncivilized.

      Report Post »  
    • RejectFalseIcons
      Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:37pm

      I am a huge fan of Richard Garriott, Sid Meier and Will Wright’s work. They are all pioneers.

      One of my fondest memories of my father center around our total cut-throat competition to finish best in Sid Meier’s Railroad Tycoon. We didn’t really have much in common, but that was one game that we really bonded around. I still play it once in a while when I’m thinking of him, usually around his birthday or the anniversary of his death.

      Report Post » RejectFalseIcons  
  • freelancer91
    Posted on January 16, 2012 at 9:40pm

    He’s not even a very good game developer……just sayin’…..

    Report Post »  
  • vtxphantom
    Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:24pm

    CGI is nothing like reality.

    Report Post »  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:32pm

      Given NASA‘s new mission to seek out and explore Al Gore’s lower intestine, soon it will be science fiction to even think of the prospect of actually seeing a US astronaut in space.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
  • lukerw
    Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:12pm

    Nice… “special effects”!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on January 16, 2012 at 8:10pm

    What they haven’t said is there is a surprise ending. They find out what is actually sucking the oxygen out of the Space Station is…….“Valeri Jarrett” She can suck the oxygen out of any room.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • LambdaCore
    Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:55pm

    Lord British in Space! Woo!

    Report Post » LambdaCore  
  • dfree
    Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:52pm

    Interesting, the funniest part is hearing all the people laugh at nothing? Guess trying to impress the author, director?

    Report Post » dfree  
  • 1TrueOne55
    Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:52pm

    Hey Content not created by NASA and it is a surprise that they want to suppress it? It might show some interesting items that are in space that might compromise National Security, mainly they play video games in space with the Grey Aliens vs the Gould… LoL

    Report Post » 1TrueOne55  
  • Tower7_TRUTH
    Posted on January 16, 2012 at 7:43pm

    anything but the NDAA right ?

    Report Post » Tower7_TRUTH  

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