Even if they missed J.J. Abrams’ theatrical reboot of the franchise last summer, audiences now have another opportunity for a star trek on the big screen — the really big screen.
“Hubble 3D” premieres today at the Imax Theater as part of the film’s national release. The 43-minute documentary chronicles STS-151, the final journey to the Hubble space telescope before the shuttle fleet’s scheduled retirement this year.
Completing repairs and upgrades to Hubble’s instrumentation required 11 days and five space walks for space shuttle Atlantis’ seven-man crew, according to a NASA mission overview.
The crew worked with intricate instrumentation while 350 miles above the Earth’s surface and traveling at more than 17,000 miles an hour.
“Anybody who’s worked on a home-improvement project and has skinned their knuckles working on a lawnmower or changing the oil in their pickup truck, can appreciate what these men and women were able to do in space while working on this very delicate instrument,” said Tennessee Aquarium communications manager Thom Benson.
Before launch, Atlantis’ crew members were given instruction in cinematography and carried a proliferation of cameras on board. The resulting 45-minute film — narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio — combines digital fly-throughs of deep-space phenomenon photographed by Hubble with nail-biting scenes of the repair process.
Benson said even the film’s trailer was enough to set him back on his heels when he watched it on the theater’s six-story screen.
“When the astronauts are doing the space walk with Hubble in the background, you almost want to hold you breath,” Benson said, laughing. “The Imax 3D space films that I’ve seen in the past give you a sensation that most of us will never have.
“Seeing it on the six-story screen, you really have that sensation of being out in space.”
IF YOU GO
* What: Debut of “Hubble 3D” Imax film.
* When: First showing today at noon. Friday-Saturday — 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Sunday-Thursday — 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Showtimes subject to change after April 22.
* Where: Tennessee Aquarium’s Imax Theater, 201 Chestnut St.
* Admission: $8.50 adults, $6 ages 3-12.
* Phone: 266-42249.
* Venue Web site: www.tnaqua.com.