Lost in Space

Humans generate a lot of junk here on Earth, it’s true. But in space — the final frontier — the junk is spinning out of control, so much so that it could endanger the future of space travel. The hazards generated by colliding space junk — dead satellites bashing into...

By Susan Froyd

February 7, 2013

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Humans generate a lot of junk here on Earth, it’s true. But in space — the final frontier — the junk is spinning out of control, so much so that it could endanger the future of space travel. The hazards generated by colliding space junk — dead satellites bashing into each other to create tinier and tinier particles — fascinated Don Kessler, aka “the father of space junk” and the now-retired director of NASA’s Orbital Debris Program. His so-called Kessler Syndrome theory pioneered the idea that the expanding ring of debris clouds orbiting the earth might eventually become impassable, and inspired the new IMAX blockbuster Space Junk 3D. “It left you wanting to know more, and it’s also incredibly visual, yet there were no visuals to really see with this,” says producer Kimberly Rowe.

For Space Junk 3D, Melrae Pictures had to start from scratch. And the result is not only award-winning — Space Junk 3D recently won the coveted Dimension 3 Festival Grand Prize — but it’s spectacularly fun to watch. You’ll get your chance when the larger-than-life flick debuts at 8 p.m. tonight in the IMAX 3D Theater at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, with Kessler on board. The evening includes a space-junk panel discussion after the film; admission is $8 to $12.

Screenings will continue through at least October at the museum, 2001 Colorado Boulevard; regular IMAX admission is $7 to $10, and combined museum admission packages are also available. For information, visit the DMNS website at www.dmns.org or call 303-370-6000.
July 13-Feb. 14, 2012

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Susan Froyd started writing for Westword as the "Thrills" editor in 1992 and never quite left the fold. These days she still freelances for the paper in addition to walking her dogs, enjoying cheap ethnic food and reading voraciously. Sometimes she writes poetry.

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