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<\/p>\nNASA\u2019s Artemis II mission is set to launch as early as February 8, putting human spaceflight to the moon back in the spotlight after a 50-plus year hiatus.<\/p>\n
In celebration of our IRL return to the drama and wonder of space, we asked 11 astronauts to share their favorite space films that capture the thrill of leaving Earth behind. Did your favorite make it?<\/p>\n
\u2018The Martian\u2019: Survival, science and teamwork on the Red Planet<\/p>\n
“The Martian” follows an astronaut. played by Matt Damon, stranded on Mars as NASA races to save him. – Giles Keyte\/20th Century Fox\/Genre Films\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n
Directed by Ridley Scott and adapted from a book by Andy Weir, \u201cThe Martian\u201d is at turns funny and perilous. Matt Damon, in the title character, portrays a stranded astronaut, alone on the Red Planet. He uses his botany and mechanical engineering skills to survive, but also the collective brain trust and courage of NASA and his fellow mission astronauts.<\/p>\n
For Clayton C. Anderson, who spent five months aboard the International Space Station in 2007, the depiction of teamwork in \u201cThe Martian,\u201d which also starred Jessica Chastain, hit close to home. \u201cIt shows the dedication of NASA\u2019s workforce, working together, sometimes at huge personal sacrifice, to get the job done,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Having completed a 152-day tour of duty in orbit, Anderson knows how essential that collaboration is. \u201cThat job starts with protecting the crew, the vehicle and mission objectives, with all three defining mission success,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Kate Rubins, who logged nearly 300 days in space and became the first person to sequence DNA beyond Earth, praised the Oscar-nominated film for its scientific realism. \u201cIt does a great job of showing how biology and chemistry can be used to make what you need from what you have on hand,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Scenes in which Damon\u2019s character must grow his own food felt especially authentic. For astronauts, resourcefulness isn\u2019t cinematic flair \u2014 it\u2019s mission-critical. Having to utilize what you are given is \u201ccritical during space missions, like growing food or making essential materials, instead of relying upon resupply from Earth,\u201d Rubins added.<\/p>\n
\u2018Apollo 13\u2019: A true story of ingenuity and NASA\u2019s finest hour![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/5698b05be0e05fe971cb6c6494bcdbfc.jpeg\"\/)
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A real life NASA mission to the moon turns into a dramatic struggle for survival in 1995’s “Apollo 13,” with Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon and Tom Hanks. – Moviestore\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n
That same spirit of ingenuity and teamwork is at the heart of another astronaut favorite: \u201cApollo 13,\u201d the true story of the nearly ill-fated moon mission, starring Ed Harris, Bill Paxton and Tom Hanks as the mission\u2019s commander Jim Lovell.<\/p>\n
Four retired astronauts praised its realism, emotional impact and tribute to NASA\u2019s professional collaborations.<\/p>\n
Nicole Stott, who flew two space shuttle missions and spent more than 100 days aboard the International Space Station, said the best picture nominee embodied lessons she learned early in her career as a NASA engineer. \u201cTo really make things happen, we have to adopt a \u2018here\u2019s how we can, not why we can\u2019t\u2019 approach to everything,\u201d she wrote via email.<\/p>\n
The film\u2019s attention to detail left a lasting impression on Michael Massimino, who flew multiple shuttle missions and performed spacewalks to service the Hubble Space Telescope. He said the movie, which was inducted into the Library of Congress National Film Registry<\/a> in 2023, \u201cpaid well deserved tribute to the dedicated men and women of Mission Control.\u201d<\/p>\n Others pointed to how accurately the film captured the true high stakes peril of spaceflight. \u201cRon Howard directed it to be as close to reality as he could, even using the real dialogue between the wounded Apollo capsule and Mission Control,\u201d said Chris Hadfield, who commanded the ISS in 2013. \u201cIt intensely dramatizes the urgent, high-stakes, life-or-death reality of spaceflight.\u201d<\/p>\n Howard \u201cdid an incredible job reflecting the real tension that both the crew and Mission Control felt during an extremely challenging scenario,\u201d said Scott Altman who was the commander of the final two missions to the Hubble Space Telescope.<\/p>\n Even knowing how the story ends, Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger<\/a>, another retired astronaut and educator who emphasizes STEM outreach, said, \u201cit still makes me hold my breath every time I watch it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Galaxy Quest\u2019: Finding humor and humanity in space adventure In “Galaxy Quest,” a space TV show’s actors — played by Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tim Allen and Tony Shalhoub — become real heroes to save aliens from a warlord. – Moviestore\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Not every astronaut\u2019s favorite film is grounded in realism. \u201cGalaxy Quest,\u201d staring Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman and Tim Allenigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman and Tim Allen, earns its place in space-lovers\u2019 hearts by capturing camaraderie, humor and the joy of exploration \u2014 even while poking fun at sci-fi tropes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt might not have the verisimilitude of \u2018Apollo 13,\u2019 the gold standard for technical accuracy in a space movie, but it captures the wonder of space exploration \u2026 and it\u2019s very funny,\u201d Garrett Reisman, a retired astronaut who flew on Space Shuttles Endeavour, Discovery and Atlantis, said.<\/p>\n Stott also said she gravitates toward films that focus on relationships over physics. \u201cThe human interaction between the characters, which felt so familiar to me,\u201d she said of 1999\u2019s \u201cGalaxy Quest\u201d and another favorite of hers, 1997\u2019s \u201cRocketMan,\u201d starring Harland Williams.<\/p>\n \u2018The Right Stuff\u2019: A tribute to the pioneers who started it all “The Right Stuff” follows the origin of US space program and the missions of original astronauts of the Mercury program. – Allstar Picture Library Limited\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n Few films capture the daring spirit of the early space program quite like the 1983 film \u201cThe Right Stuff,\u201d adapted from Tom Wolfe\u2019s best-selling book of the same title. Following the journey of the original Mercury 7 astronauts, the movie \u2014 which starred \u201cApollo 13\u2019s\u201d Harris, as well as Sam Shepard and Scott Glenn \u2014 resonates with those who know what it means to push the limits.<\/p>\n The movie is not only Massimo\u2019s favorite but also a turning point in his career. After seeing it as a senior in college, it \u201crekindled my dream of becoming an astronaut,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Warner Brothers, which distributed \u201cThe Right Stuff\u201d and \u201cInterstellar,\u201d is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN.<\/p>\n \u20182001: A Space Odyssey\u2019: A classic that still amazes In “2001: A Space Odyssey,” a crew travels to Jupiter after discovering a mysterious lunar artifact. – Moviestore\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n For some astronauts, cinematic ambition matters as much as story. Leroy Chiao, who spent more than 6 months in space and commanded Expedition 10 aboard the ISS, points to Stanley Kubrick\u2019s \u201c2001: A Space Odyssey\u201d for the visuals that were considered groundbreaking when it was released in 1968. \u201cThe way that Kubrick was able to film real-looking space scenes back then was fantastic,\u201d said Chiao, the author of the memoir \u201cDinner with an Astronaut<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n He recommends reading the book, by Arthur C. Clarke, before watching the film, noting it can be difficult to follow otherwise. The payoff is worth it. \u201cOnce you understand it, wow!\u201d he wrote in an email.<\/p>\n \u2018Interstellar\u2019: A journey through space, time and family In “Interstellar,” a former pilot, played by Matthew McConaughey, leads a team to find a new home for humanity. – Paramount\/Warner Brothers\/Kobal\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Christopher Nolan\u2019s 2014 \u201cIntersteller\u201d dramatizes a dystopian scenario where the climate crisis has dwindled Earth\u2019s food supply, necessitating a mission to find a habitable Planet B.<\/p>\n The movie, starring Matthew McConaughey and \u201cMartian\u201d star Chastain, nails both the science and emotional depth, according to Josh Cassada, who flew to the ISS aboard SpaceX\u2019s Crew-5 mission in 2022.<\/p>\n Dr. Sylvain Costes, a scientist at NASA Ames research center, lauded the film for showing how, in deep space, \u201ctime becomes a resource more precious than fuel.\u201d The film, she added, \u201cmasterfully transforms the cold equations of General Relativity into a visceral human tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n Others emphasized the film\u2019s broader message. Michael Wong, who studies planetary atmospheres and habitability, said his brain was filled with \u201cthe grandeur of space exploration \u2014 a collective human endeavor both extremely difficult and uniquely fulfilling.\u201d The film, he said, balanced \u201cfurthering science and art, at once.\u201d<\/p>\n Caltech astro-visualizer Robert Hurt called \u201cInterstellar\u201d the \u201c2001: A Space Odyssey\u201d of our time, saying \u201cit\u2019s ultimately about humanity taking charge of its own future.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Apollo 11\u2019: Reliving the thrill of the moon landing CNN\u2019s “Apollo 11” reveals rare footage of the historic moon landing. – NASA\/Hulton Archive\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Of course, not all great space films need to rely on fiction. Terry Virts, a retired NASA astronaut, singled out the CNN documentary \u201cApollo 11\u201d as a must-see.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has amazing newly discovered IMAX-quality footage, a great soundtrack, and when they showed the launch sequence,\u201d Virts said, \u201cmy heart was racing faster than when I actually launched into space.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0e980aae683074990a9ae2a231589fc5.jpeg\"\/)
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