Space technology has been making significant strides over the past few years. Its influence permeates numerous sectors and industries, with media and entertainment being no exception. This article reviews the relationship of space technology to the media and entertainment industry.
Space Technology as a Media Distribution Channel
Satellite technology, a significant subset of space technology, has been the backbone of global communication systems for decades. With the advent of satellite television and radio broadcasting, media can be relayed across the world in real time, revolutionizing the way we consume news, sports, and entertainment.
Satellite video broadcasting supports the transmission of high-quality video facilitating the delivery of high-definition (HD) and ultra-high-definition (UHD) broadcasts.
Satellite radio is a type of digital radio signal that is broadcast by communication satellites, which covers a much larger geographical range than traditional terrestrial radio signals. Satellite radio offers a number of advantages over conventional radio, including a wider variety of channels, clearer sound quality, and coverage that spans continents. Satellite radio is popular in car, home, and portable radios, where traditional FM/AM reception may be poor or unavailable.
Space Events as Entertainment
The significance of space technology to entertainment extends to the live-streaming of space events, including rocket launches, spacewalks, and views of Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). These live streams not only provide educational content but also offer a unique form of entertainment, attracting audiences worldwide.
The advent of private space companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic has increased public interest in space events. These companies use social media platforms to live-stream their launches and other activities, engaging the public in a way that was not previously possible.
Space as a Media Production Location
Space technology has also opened up new avenues for filming and photography. For example, Earth-observing satellites capture high-resolution images and videos of our planet, providing stunning visuals that can be used in documentaries, movies, and other forms of media.
Moreover, there is a growing interest in filming in space itself. Films like “A Beautiful Planet” and “Space Station 3D” were shot aboard the ISS, offering viewers a unique perspective on life in space.
Russian filmmakers released a film called “Vyzov” (“The Challenge”) in 2021 that was entirely shot aboard the ISS. This movie was about a surgeon who had to go to the International Space Station to perform heart surgery on a cosmonaut who could not return to Earth.
In July 2020, Tom Cruise, director Doug Liman, and writer Christopher McQuarrie teamed up with Universal to make the first narrative film to be shot in space. The plan is to use SpaceX’s Crew Dragon to transport Cruise to NASA’s International Space Station. Axiom Space and Space Entertainment Enterprise intend to add new ISS modules, including a space station movie studio, by December 2024. However, the plot details and cast have not yet been announced.
As space travel becomes more accessible, we can expect to see more such projects in the future.
Summary
Space technology has significantly influenced the media and entertainment industry, from enabling global satellite broadcasting to offering unique filming opportunities. As advancements continue, we can expect even more transformative changes. In the world of media and entertainment, the sky is no longer the limit – space is the new frontier.
