An Expert Review of the 1983 Historical Drama The right thing praises the realism of the space epic. Directed by Philip Kaufman and adapted from Tom Wolfe’s 1979 book, the film chronicles the lives of Navy, Marine and Air Force test pilots involved in pioneering aeronautical research, as well as the Mercury Seven – the first astronauts chosen for the first human space flight by the US The film stars Dennis Quaid, Sam Shepard, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Fred Ward and Barbara Hershey, and won four of its eight nominations at the 56th Academy Awards.
In a specialized video with Insiderretired NASA astronaut Nicole Stott awarded the film a perfect 10 for its portrayal of preparation for space travel. Stott particularly praised the scenes showing John Glenn’s (Ed Harris) experiences with intense gravitational forces and reentry, noting the precision with which the film captured these challenges. Read the full quote here:
I think about this today, where we almost take the ability to orbit a spacecraft for granted. John Glenn was, you know, the first American astronaut to do this, and it was amazing to think about. We had done these suborbital flights where we went up and down immediately. But now we would be in space for a long period of time. You had to accumulate a little more energy to actually keep falling around the Earth and stay in orbit and then predict where you would re-enter and return safely to Earth. And that’s what we were seeing with John Glenn in this scene. And he’s a little tense. You know, I think he’s responding to the force on his body during reentry.
[I] I’m very grateful because as astronauts we don’t have to do [these] more tests. You know, all of this was in the first seven days of Mercury. This test and some of the others that they show in the film, which are based on, you know, real types of medical and physical activities that they put these astronauts through, was because there was so much unknown. How the human body would react in space. You know, the microgravity environment in the launch and reentry environment for getting to and from space. They were really, I think, trying to assess the limits, the extremes of what humans could endure right here on Earth. And understanding that they could have a better idea of ​​what the astronaut can tolerate when traveling to space.
What The Right Stuff’s expert analysis means
A Real Astronaut Review Highlights Film’s Commitment to Authenticity
Stott’s praise for The right thingthe portrayal of early space exploration validates the film’s commitment to authenticity in depicting the journey of the Mercury Seven. Their classification highlights the physical and psychological obstacles faced by NASA’s first astronauts, whose involvement paved the way for modern space travel. By getting a perfect accuracy score from an expert with first-hand experience, The right thing is a cinematic tribute to the risks and unknowns that the first astronauts encountered.
Stott’s observations illuminate the degree of physical resilience required for these missions. Some of the film’s best scenes, like Glenn facing intense gravitational pull, reveal the harsh conditions that were essential to these early experiments. According to Stott, the training depicted in the film accurately reflects NASA’s rigorous testing that aims to prepare astronauts to tolerate the extremes of space, from microgravity environments to the violent process of reentry.
Our Take on Right Thing Expert Analysis
It’s a lasting tribute to America’s first astronauts
Several decades after its launch, a retired NASA astronaut’s perfect score for The right thing adds new weight to the film’s legacy. Kaufman’s historical drama is more than just a fun space epic; is a carefully crafted depiction of the physical and emotional demands faced by America’s first astronauts. Stott’s analysis offers a powerful reminder of the courage and resilience of the Mercury Seven and, by extension, all astronauts who venture into space. The right thing is a tribute to those who dared to face the unknown, and Stott’s praise affirms its place as a classic in the history of cinema and space.
Source: Insider