Skip to main content

Watch ISS astronaut’s awesome tribute to 2001: A Space Odyssey

During the final days of her six-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), European Space Agency astronaut C has paid tribute to 2001: A Space Odyssey by recreating one of the many memorable moments from the classic 1968 movie.

In a clip shared on social media on Saturday (below), Cristoforetti is seen walking with 2001: A Space Odyssey “grip shoes” inside a part of the space station.

Recommended Videos

“2022 A Space Odyssey,” Cristoforetti wrote in a tweet that included the video. “Turns out, yes, you can walk with Velcro shoes. Slowly, very very slowly.”

And as a bonus, the footage begins with the rare sight of a spacecraft approaching the ISS before docking. It seems likely that it was filmed from the Crew Dragon spacecraft that brought SpaceX’s Crew-5 astronauts to the orbital outpost last week. The approach is actually very slow, but the video you see here is sped up.

2022 A Space Odyssey. Turns out, yes, you can walk with Velcro shoes. Slowly, very very slowly 😉#ASpaceOdyssey #MissionMinerva @esa @esaspaceflight @Space_Station pic.twitter.com/WI69RXmObE

— Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) October 8, 2022

And here’s the Space Odyssey scene that Cristoforetti recreated:

2001 A Space Odyssey (1968).mp4

This isn’t the first time the Italian astronaut has drawn on Hollywood hits for inspiration to entertain her 1 million Twitter followers.

Earlier this year she struck a pose that replicated a moment from the 2013 space movie Gravity where Dr. Stone, played by Sandra Bullock, makes her way through the ISS.

Cristoforetti clearly has an eye for detail, doing an impressive job of copying both scenes.

Hey, Dr. Stone! Quick question for you. How did you get your hair to stay put? #AskingForAFriend pic.twitter.com/qztSWnKSfu

— Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) June 19, 2022

When not recreating scenes from famous movies, Cristoforetti has spent the last half year on the ISS working on numerous science experiments in microgravity conditions. She also performed a spacewalk in July, and shared some amazing views of Earth while also showing how the sun sometimes never appears to set for those on the space station.

Cristoforetti and her three fellow Crew-4 astronauts will return to Earth this week.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Astronaut’s video shows aurora burst into life over Earth
An aurora over Earth, as seen from the space station.

In case it's escaped your attention, there’s been a surge of interest in aurora just recently after a powerful geomagnetic storm -- caused by a huge blast from the sun -- reached Earth at the beginning of this month.

Aurora occur when charged particles from the solar wind interact with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere, leading to the formation of spectacular ribbons of light in the upper atmosphere. The best place to view aurora are from locations within or close to the Arctic Circle, with parts of Norway, Sweden, and Canada particularly famous for offering stunning views.

Read more
NASA to shut Spot the Station site. Here’s how you can still track the ISS
The International Space Station.

Did you know that on a clear night, it’s possible to see the International Space Station (ISS) when it passes overhead? Sunlight reflecting off the habitable satellite causes it to shine brightly as it orbits Earth some 250 miles up, making it easy to spot.

For many years now, NASA has operated a service that lets you sign up for text message and email notifications that are sent out shortly before the ISS passes within sight of your registered location. Depending on its path across the sky, the station could remain visible for as long as six minutes, giving you plenty of time to gaze upward and marvel at the fact that humans are living and working aboard the distant, orbital outpost.

Read more
The ISS just dodged part of a 20-year-old Chinese rocket
The International Space Station.

The International Space Station (ISS) had to raise its orbit on Wednesday to reduce the risk of being struck by a piece of space junk.

The maneuver was carried out at 6:10 p.m. ET by firing the thrusters on the docked Progress 91 spacecraft for 3 minutes and 33 seconds, NASA said in a post on its website.

Read more