Any current revision of Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space is intrinsically incomplete, as Netflix’s five-part docuseries aim to debut in real time alongside the event it represents: the September 15 release of SpaceX’s Inspiration4, which will be the first flight totally civilian orbiting the Earth. We will achieve this three times during its three-day journey, at speeds of 1,750 mph and at an altitude higher than that of the International Space Station. Consequently, the only episodes available to the press at this time are his first two installments of prologues (released on September 6); chapters three and four will arrive on the broadcast service on September 13 and a long-running finale (detailing the actual mission) will be established in late September, shortly after Inspiration4 hits Earth again.
These final segments will no doubt deliver close-up, personal images from the Inspiration4 Crew Dragon capsule that will house its four amateur astronauts, who will be launched into space using a previously used Falcon 9 rocket. In its opening passages, however, Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space is basically a long promotional video designed to provoke enthusiasm — and provide justifications — for the effort, which almost everyone presents as a history project that will help us get closer to answering the deeper questions about ‘existence. the first step in humanity’s quest to become a multi-planetary species. It’s an aggressive sales presentation that masquerades as a typical Netflix non-fiction company, run by Jason Hehir of The Last Dance with all the dew-eyed melodrama, inflated music and exciting head shots that can contain a 45-minute episode.
Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space he insistently pushes his message from the first moment. In accordance with TimeChief scientific editor Jeffrey Kluger, Inspiration4 is “a central point in history and will open the doors to space for the rest of us.” This is because by sending non-professional astronauts into space, the company will pave the way for more commercial flights, as well as the goal of getting deeper into the cosmos, where one day we could colonize distant worlds. This is a goal of dubious value, but it is what Hehir’s docuseries defend with a chin-holding confidence. At the same time, Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, has also addressed the main criticisms of Inspiration4 and other similar flights recently led by Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, namely that these are tricks of joy designed to feed the ego of billionaires.
“I think we should spend the vast majority of our resources solving problems on Earth. In the same way, 99% more of our economy should be dedicated to solving problems on Earth, ”says Musk in one of his few mandatory screen appearances. “But I think maybe something like 1 percent, or less than 1 percent, could be applied to life beyond Earth.” His motivation is to colonize Mars and the “exciting and inspiring future” of multi-planetary housing. After all, he proclaims, “If life only has problems, what’s the point of living?” In this context, Inspiration4 is not just an expensive lark; is the next great pioneering phase in the evolution of humanity and therefore deserving of the private investment needed to make it Jetsons-the style dreams of a reality.
Musk’s brief comments aside, however, Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space very recently to take a critical look at this company. At least in its initial pair of installments, the docuseria plays as a public relations product, projecting everything in brilliant terms, including portraits of the four astronauts on the mission. This group is led by Jared Isaacman, a billionaire whose history of entrepreneurship, risk-taking and fighter jet piloting made him the ideal engine for Inspiration4. Isaacman is a kind and eloquent guy, all comments are tailored to address a specific point of discussion and, he explains, a guiding motivation behind his relationship SpaceX was an initiative he developed with the Children’s Research Hospital St. Jude to raise $ 200 million. for cancer research. Putting his money in his mouth, he has already given a separate, $ 100 million donation to the organization.
St. Jude also provided Inspiration4 with two of its passengers: Hayley Arceneaux, a pediatric cancer survivor and current St. John’s physician assistant. Jude, and Christopher Sembroki, who won his trip by participating in a raffle promoted by the SpaceX Super Bowl commercial. The fourth member of the crew is Sian Proctor, a 51-year-old businesswoman (who had previously trained for space flight) who won her spot through a viral video competition. Together, as Isaacman explains, they represent the “four pillars” of the Inspiration4 mission: Leadership (Isaacman), Hope (Arceneaux), Generosity (Sembroki), and Prosperity (Proctor). This is as cheesy as it sounds, like something produced for a marketing brochure and a press release. And while these four people seem really delighted with their opportunity, the vignette vignettes of their background stories are as manipulated as the scenes in which they announce to friends (in person and via Zoom) that they will be going into space. . moments that uncomfortably provoke surprise and euphoria.
“This is as cheesy as it sounds, like something produced for a marketing brochure and a press release.”
You can imagine Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Spacemore timely later episodes that provide greater suspense. However, in its infancy — which involves repeatedly emphasizing SpaceX’s connection to the history and ethics of the American space program — the whole affair is considered pre-packaged corporate advertising. Some real emotions are heard from time to time, as is the case with a brief snapshot of Sembroki’s wife breaking down in nervous tears as she visited SpaceX’s Cape Canaveral headquarters to watch the flight of crew-2 take off. April 2021. However, even the program’s discussion of the dangers of space travel, full of recaps of the 1986 and 2003 space shuttle disasters, seems less interested in tackling the cost / benefit of space travel. ‘these missions that to increase the dramatic suspense bets of the procedures.
These dangers are, of course, real and will no doubt be central, as Inspiration4 goes from the planning phases to the launcher. The idea that Netflix viewers will get a front row seat for this trip (either a win or a failure) remains an intriguing prospect. However, it is expected that as its subjects enter orbit, Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space it calms its own importance and lets its action speak for itself.