The star of the upcoming science-fiction epic Ad Astra, Brad Pitt got the opportunity to discuss what it’s like to live and work in space with astronaut Nick Hague who is stationed aboard the International Space Station.
Aired live on NASA Television on Monday, September 16, Pitt and Hague discussed a variety of subjects during the 15-minutes Earth-to-space call. Topics discussed included how astronauts aboard the station manage wake/sleep cycles, the science experiments Hague has been involved with, and how long-term missions aboard the station affects astronauts mentally.
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The conversation was part of the publicity drive for Pitt’s latest film Ad Astra, in which he plays an astronaut. In the film, Pitt plays the protagonist Roy McBride who is tasked with traveling to the edge of our Solar System to find his missing father, who is played by Tommy Lee Jones. It is hoped that McBride’s father will help unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of the human race on Earth.
NASA is not featured in any way in the plot of Ad Astra however, NASA was invaluable in the production of the film supplying images and footage of the Moon and Mars.
“We reviewed a script of Ad Astra early in production,” said Bert Ulrich, NASA’s liaison for film and TV collaborations. “Although there was no NASA storyline, we provided some of the exciting images and footage for the film, especially of the Moon and Mars. Sci-fi films like Ad Astra, the Martian, Interstellar, and Gravity take movie audiences out of this world incorporating some of NASA’s most inspirational photography and footage.”
In a September 15 press release, NASA officials expressed how important a part Hollywood plays in inspiring a new generation of scientists, engineers, and astronauts. It is hoped that through initiatives like this and others, the US will ensure a future in which the United States remains a dominant player in the exploration of space.
