Is The Last Days of the Space Age based on a true story?

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Is The Last Days of the Space Age based on a true story?

As a seasoned gamer and space enthusiast with a penchant for historical fiction, I can’t help but be intrigued by the upcoming series, “The Last Days of the Space Age.” Being a child of the ’80s, I remember the fascination and fear that surrounded the real-life event that this show is based on.

Instead of wearing a firefighter’s outfit, Jesse Spencer will don a style reminiscent of the late 1970s. He’ll take on a role in the show The Last Days of the Space Age, which is set in Perth, Australia, during the year 1979.

When discussing a historical fiction series, a common query arises: Is the narrative factual or fictional? This becomes crucial, particularly in instances where events might plausibly have occurred – for example, scenarios that could theoretically terminate the era of space exploration as it was understood at the time.

The Last Days of the Space Age is based on true events

Indeed, the series you’re referring to is actually inspired by real-life events. If these events hadn’t occurred and received widespread attention, they could just as well have served as a lesson or warning in the form of a fictional narrative.

In the summer of 1979, the largest spacecraft ever made re-entered Earth. The issue was that while NASA knew the spacecraft was returning, they couldn’t predict exactly where or when it would touch down. NASA underestimated the time left before impact, causing widespread fear worldwide. Some people even placed bets on where and when it would land.

In February of 1974, Skylab was launched into orbit. NASA planned for another team to eventually replace them, with the goal of enhancing the capabilities of their shuttles to send Skylab deeper into space for additional experiments. The 1974 crew used an Apollo command capsule to move Skylab a bit farther away before departing, leaving behind supplies for the incoming team.

Instead, things didn’t go as planned for NASA when it came to Skylab. Contrary to their initial calculations, which suggested nine years before they would need to address it, events took a different course. The sun’s influence disrupted NASA’s estimates, causing Skylab to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere prematurely due to the gravitational pull exerted by our planet.

NASA tried to fix its mistake

As an ardent space enthusiast, I must admit that NASA made some less-than-perfect attempts to rectify the situation, but unfortunately, we couldn’t manage to launch a crew in time to save Skylab from its plunge back to Earth. Instead, we had to improvise and remotely connect to the computers on board the space station. Our goal was to set Skylab on a trajectory that would minimize the damage it caused upon re-entry. Our aim was Cape Town, South Africa.

Instead, contrary to expectations, Skylab did not disintegrate as planned. Eventually, it made a landing in the Indian Ocean, located near the western coast of Australia and specifically during the time when Perth was hosting the Miss Universe beauty pageant.

In “The Last Days of the Space Age,” we’ll follow the narrative from the perspectives of three different families. Although the family dramas are a work of fiction, they are inspired by an incredibly real and authentic underlying story.

The Last Days of the Space Age will arrive on Hulu on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

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2024-09-17 21:37