Astronaut Mike Massimino Tells Us About The Imax Hubble 3D Film

NASA, Imax and Warner Bros. have teamed up to produce "Imax Hubble 3D,” a visually dazzling, educational and entertaining film. If you have a child with an emerging interest in science and space, this 40-minute, G-rated film looks to be a fun family outing. 

Mom Central had a chance to speak with Astronaut Mike Massimino, mission specialist on the STS -125 Atlantis, the fifth and final mission that serviced the Hubble Telescope and extended the lifespan of the telescope to at least 2014.

 “There’s so much we don’t understand about our universe,” Mike noted. “Hubble opened up more questions than we’ve answered. But we are advancing our knowledge of what we can do to take care of our planet. There’s a tremendous future for kids who have an interest in science.” 

We asked him what surprised him the most about this experience and what he’d want to share with our audience of Moms and families. “We trained for two years practicing every day. We’d practice the specific tasks we were going to accomplish on the mission, over and over,” said Mike. “There is a part in the film which shows how I had to rip off a hand rail during a space walk, and it was a struggle. There was a moment, just a moment when I wondered if we could do it. To me it was unthinkable that I could fail. This was my dream. So, to kids, I would say: never give up.”

The film is now showing at an Imax theater near you. See the trailer, find a theater, and have your child create her own Space Mission Badge here.

If the film sparks an interest in learning more about NASA, space exploration or the many contributions the space program has brought to our every day lives, check out NASA’s site and NASA’s kids site. But watch out, it’s addicting!

Sarah Montague is Vice President, Marketing for Mom Central Consulting. She is a self-described “space nut” and received absolutely nothing for this post other than the remarkable opportunity to talk with Astronaut Mike Massimino.