Space: Boldly Go

Posted by Kelly Whitt Jun 26, 2007

My family went to visit Discovery World in downtown Milwaukee recently. We happened to visit on a day in which any and all movies at the museum were free. We checked the movie schedule and found one that sounded right up our alley: Space: Boldly Go.

Overall the movie was decent. We all prefer the movies that talk about astronomy versus rocketry and space travel, but it was still interesting. The movie was narrated by Sam Neill. It talks a little about the history and present conditions of space travel, but focuses more on what kinds of space travel will be possible in the future.

Commentary by former astronaut Story Musgrave was the most interesting part of the show. He gaves a very honest description of what it is like to ride into space on a rocket. Basically, it's not pleasant. The ride is rough and cramped and jostling and you are not sure how it will end up. But it's something that must be endured to get into outer space. Orbiting in zero gravity does sound like an enjoyable ride.

Some of the other options for future space travel are ion propulsion engines, such as on Deep Space 1, solar sails, and wormholes. The technology for ion propulsion engines and solar sails are touched on only very briefly. The data behind creating worm holes to take us across space is even more vague. But the graphics are somewhat enjoyable and the show only lasts 30 minutes.

Although Discovery World is not a space-themed museum, it has a lot of interesting scientific and technological exhibits along with a great aquarium. And you can sneak in a movie about space too.