National Geographic goes to space with Disney and Pixar's Lightyear

TL;DR

Actor Chris Evans, who plays Buzz Lightyear in the movie Lightyear, interviews astronaut Tom Marshburn about his experiences in space, including the absence of atmosphere, difficulties in movement, and the challenges of space sickness.

Transcript

(heroic music) I'm Nadia Drake with National Geographic. Today, we're at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory with Chris Evans, who plays Buzz Lightyear in the new Disney and Pixar movie Lightyear. Hanging out with the intrepid freshly returned from orbit, astronaut Tom Marshburn. I have been completely fascinated with space travel, all things NASA sin... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 Looking at Earth from space brings a renewed appreciation for its beauty, with each continent offering incredible sights.
• ✴️ The absence of atmosphere in space means that stars appear mesmerizing without twinkling, and the daytime sky is pitch black.
• 🎭 Moving and performing scientific experiments in microgravity is challenging due to the absence of friction and the constant floating of objects.
• 👨‍🚀 Astronauts rely on each other and AI robots for support and assistance in space.
• 👨‍🚀 Space sickness, experienced by a majority of astronauts, is caused by the lack of reference points for orientation and the sensation of the stomach floating.
• 🤙 Astronauts train extensively in a giant pool called the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory to prepare for spacewalks.
• 😀 Traveling to the International Space Station involves reaching a speed of 17,500 miles per hour within eight and a half minutes.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some differences astronauts experience when looking at stars in space compared to Earth?

In space, stars appear stunningly beautiful but don't twinkle due to the lack of atmosphere. During the day, the sky is completely black, which is captivating and different from the Earth's daytime sky.

Q: What are some difficulties astronauts face while moving around in space?

Moving around in microgravity is challenging since there is no friction or gravity to provide control. Astronauts require assistance to stop and can't simply anchor themselves. The constant floating of objects also makes it difficult to perform scientific tasks.

Q: How do astronauts cope with isolation and loneliness in space?

Astronauts have each other for support, along with mission control. They also have AI robots in space that help with various tasks, such as taking pictures and providing illumination.

Q: Do astronauts experience space sickness, and what causes it?

Approximately three out of five astronauts experience some form of nausea in space. The lack of a sense of up, down, left, or right in microgravity leads to a spinning sensation. The sensation of the stomach floating can also be disorienting.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Actor Chris Evans interviews astronaut Tom Marshburn about life in space and gathers insights for his role as Buzz Lightyear in the movie Lightyear.

• Tom Marshburn shares that looking into space from Earth is mesmerizing and reveals the beauty of each continent. The absence of atmosphere causes stars to appear without twinkling, and the daytime sky in space is pitch black.

• Marshburn discusses the challenges of moving around and conducting scientific experiments in space due to lack of control and the constant floating of objects.