It's a
story that should be familiar to any space exploration enthusiast.
In spite of
the obstacles, including the laws of physics, political pressure and a limiting
budget, a small but spirited group launches their dreams. It's the
story behind the current New Space movement.
It's the story behind NASA's past and
future.
It's the
story of "The Astronaut Farmer." [IMAGES:
View scenes from the film.]
A man,
his horse and his rocket
Charles
Farmer -- portrayed with just the right mix of quirkiness and sentimentality by
actor Billy Bob Thornton [image]
-- was well on his way to being an astronaut
when he gave up on his dream of flying in space to return to his family's Texas
ranch [image].
Years later, he is married to a supportive and beautiful wife (Virginia Madsen)
and together they have three children.
Farmer's
fascination with space is far from a distant memory, though. His first born, a
son, is named Shepard after the nation's
first astronaut. Farmer has acquired his own vintage spacesuit, which he is
happy to wear for a visit to his daughter's classroom.
And oh yes,
he's built a rocket in his barn [image].
Not a model
rocket, of the type many astronaut-hopefuls build and launch from cardboard
tubes and balsa wood fins, but a towering, faithful and hopefully working
replica of NASA's first man-rated orbital booster, the Mercury-Atlas.
It is here
that we, the audience, join Farmer as "The Astronaut Farmer" begins. We don't
know how he built the rocket, though we learn it was at a great expense. And if
his financial troubles aren't enough of a challenge, Farmer has just drawn the
attention of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which doesn't quite
know what to make of the ex-astronaut turned cattle rancher, but is adamant
about dashing any dreams of Farmer's rocket ever leaving the ground.
NewSpace
vs. NASA vs. the nation
Farmer's
plight could easily be interpreted as analogous to the NewSpace movement.
Privately funded rocket developers seeking to launch private payloads and space
tourists know all too well the struggles presented by tightening budgets and
political regulation. It was only within the past several years that the
industry and government have come to agreements that allow forward movement on
the development of private space-bound rockets.
"Farmer's" FAA is far less forgiving, though
those in the industry may find familiarity with actor J.K. Simmons' portrayal
of agency chief Jacobson.
A stronger
parallel between the film and real life is far subtler.
Farmer's
success or failure is based on his belief in a dream. As he passionately
defends his flight plan, Farmer says, "If we don't have our dreams, we
have nothing."
Beyond any
of the justifications given for NASA's present and future programs is the hope
of a better future for humankind. Like Farmer, NASA faces the challenges of
engineering new designs based its prior successes, a shrinking budget and a
government that seems pre-occupied with deconstructing the past rather than
exploring the future.
Farmer's
family, who dreams with and for him, is not unlike NASA's workforce and its
supporters. They understand the dream, even if those around them -- Farmer's
neighbors and the media who flock to his ranch -- do not.
"Somewhere
along the line, we stopped believing that we can do anything," says
Farmer. So, could be argued, has the nation, if not the world. We went to the Moon in 1969 because we didn't know we
couldn't do so. Today, politicians and the public are too quick to assume that
if a dream seems impossible, then it likely is.
Whether
filmmakers Michael and Mark Polish had NewSpace or NASA in mind while crafting
their story is unknown, though there are hints for the latter. The use of the
iconic Atlas
rocket and Mercury silver spacesuit elicits the glory of NASA's past,
nearly 50 years ago. If "The Astronaut Farmer" were a NewSpace parable, one
would expect a rocket design that derives little from government influence.
Said Mark
Polish in Warner Brothers' production notes, "The story was sparked by our
interest in space exploration, but beyond that, it's about a need to dream of
adventures, whether it's Neil Armstrong or Lewis and Clark. I think that, as a
society, we've stopped dreaming about exploration."
The
dream is alive
Even if you
ignore the potential metaphors presented by the film, it is difficult while
watching "The Astronaut Farmer" to not start dreaming alongside Farmer and his
family.
With its inspirational
cinematography, which transforms the southwestern desert into as foreign and
yet, at the same time, familiar setting as the lunar surface, the film's
greatest strength is its strong cast of characters -- characters with whom
anyone who has dreamt of achieving the impossible can relate. Thornton and
Madsen deliver in their roles, as does the two young girls who play the
incurably sweet Farmer daughters.
"The
Astronaut Farmer" is an engaging fantasy that draws upon the American spirit
for exploration: a spirit that was once strong within the nation's support for
NASA and could be again, today.
Enter to win an official "The Astronaut Farmer" movie
poster and Mercury-Atlas memorabilia in collectSPACE and Warner Bros. Pictures'
contest. (Contest
entry deadline: 11:59 p.m. CST Friday, February 23.)
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