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Space Cadets

Space CadetsI’ve been following this show since I heard the original premise, and hand on heart the practical joker in me has been thinking that it was a ‘pretty neat idea’ (tm Douglas Adams). Take nine people, control their environment, and make the final chosen three believe they are in a ‘Shuttle’ in low earth orbit. With actors in the mix to make sure that they beleive and don’t question anything.

Getting the right people was always going to happen – I do a lot of close up magic (specifically with playing cards) and even in s small group of three or four people I can pick out which of them will be best for each trick. After about ten minutes with a group of people I can point to a pint glass with the ace of spades inside it, say “that pint glass is empty” and everyone in the group agrees. Then I can make them see the ace of spades slowly appear and ‘materialise’ in the glass… So taking the most malleable people into a controlled environment for three weeks? Yes you could make them believe anything.

My problem was in last night’s show, when the cockpit window shutters were open and they saw the ‘Imax’ screen and it’s render of the Earth. Just those few minutes where they felt that they were seeing the world, a sight less than 500 people have seen with their own eyes, was powerful, moving, and it struck me then that the fall they’re going to experience is just way too much.

I hope there’s a sting in the tail here and they’re all actors hoaxing us…

December 15, 2005; Daily Links;

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Comments

One Response to “Space Cadets”

  1. TANKERx on December 17th, 2005 19:11

    Pretty much my sentiments. Maybe Ellie felt something of this when she returned from ’surfing with Daddy’ in Contact and everybody told her that she hadn’t (except that she had).

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