Astronauts

Director Martin Nabelek’s CGI short film is short on story, but big on atmosphere, as we are left to ponder just what this space explorer is doing, and what the universe has in store for him. Be sure to check out the equally compelling VFX breakdown reel.

David Ariew, Derrick Borte, and Michael Marquat of A Bad Think collaborated on this haunting music video about an astronaut’s journey through the cosmos. The song reminds us more than a little bit of Pink Floyd, and we mean that as the highest of compliments.

The latest wearable tech for astronauts, this custom-fit spacesuit weighs just 20 pounds, and is made from modern materials which improve mobility and comfort. The suit was designed for use on Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which is expected to transport a crew to the ISS in 2018.

MB&F and Caran D’Ache teamed up to create this incredible limited-edition writing instrument, which looks like a tiny rocketship. It has retractable landing gear, and comes with a tiny magnetic astronaut and a display/storage box that looks like a launch pad.

ISS astronaut Scott Kelly demos a pair of special teflon-coated paddles which allow him to bounce a blob of water between them just like a ping pong ball. We’re guessing the slow motion movement through microgravity would make for some really long rallies.

Filmmaker Tom Kucy put together this soul-stirring short film using a mix of elements from NASA’s Apollo Archive, using a subtle technique called parallaxing to bring life to these serene scenes of space exploration. (Thanks Greg!)

Adam Savage loves to attend the San Diego Comic-Con in full costume. This year he went as a 2001: A Space Odyssey astronaut with a very special guest: retired astronaut Chris Hadfield. Skip to 9:50 for their “spacewalk.”

For the BBC’s Richard Hammond Builds a Universe, the Hamster gets the rare privilege of wearing a real pressurized NASA spacesuit, designed for the harsh conditions on Mars. He does look a bit like Buzz Lightyear in that thing.

Ever wanted to float in space like an astronaut? It turns out that it’s less like floating, and more like a free-fall in orbit around the Earth. Watch and learn in this short TedEd lesson from Matt J. Carlson, animated by Josh Harris.

Yes, we know we just posted a clip of Chris Hadfield earlier today, but we couldn’t resist posting this emotional clip sung by the Canadian astronaut on his final day on the International Space Station before returning to Earth.

Whether you’re a kid, or just a kid at heart, looking up at this satin nickel ceiling fixture will remind you of your dreams of being an astronaut. And just think, someday you really might live on Mars.

Australian painter Jeremy Geddes often uses space travelers in urban environments as a motif in his hyperreal/surreal work. The results are amazing dreamlike images like these.