Space Junk 3D Crashes onto Screens

Just as the crippled Russian satellite, Phobos-Grunt, threatens to fall from our sky, the film Space Junk 3D opened in Imax and other giant screen theaters in both 2D and 3D this week. The movie, directed by Melissa Butts, is the first to explore the exponentially expanding ring of manmade debris that threatens the safety of our planet's orbits, 22,000 miles above earth.

"After half a century of space exploration we're now suddenly faced with what has long been a staple of science fiction—an orbiting junkyard of cast-off space debris," says Academy Award nominee Tom Wilkinson, who narrates the film.

On-screen, Don Kessler, retired head of NASA's Orbital Debris Office and the Father of Space Junk, reaches back to the beginning of our solar system for understanding and guides us through the challenges we face in protecting our orbits for the future. "It isn't a coincidence that media headlines of falling debris are growing just as we launch this film," says Kessler. "As we started researching this story we found that most scientists agree we've reached this tipping point where orbital debris will continue to grow exponentially if we don't address the problem."

At risk is the future of space exploration and the safety of the extensive satellite network that powers our modern day communication systems. This visually explosive journey of discovery weighs the solutions aimed at restoring Earth's orbits. Fueling this story are stunning time lapse sequences and dynamic images that transport the viewer by wrapping us in star fields and allowing us to witness massive collisions in space—both natural and man-made.

"We set out to tell this story with scientific accuracy utilizing mind-blowing immersive space visualizations," says Butts. To accomplish this her team worked with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications to create breathtaking, 3D visualizations from scientific data. Butts also consulted with NASA's Orbital Debris Program on content for the film, which will be shown in science centers around the world.

The film had its Washington D.C. debut at the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital, where it will be screened in the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum for Natural History, this coming March.

Space Junk 3D is presented by Melrae Pictures, in association with Red Barn Productions. Produced by Melissa Butts and Kimberly Rowe. Written by Shane Colton and Michael Benson. Lead Visual Effects by Luke Ployhar. Original music by Tom Hambleton, CAS. Director of Photography: Reed Smoot, ASC. Distributed globally by K2 Communications, the 38-minute film is available in both 3D and 2D, for Giant Screen and Digital Theaters.

View the trailer and check theater locations: http://www.spacejunk3d.com

View the Behind the Scenes Mini Doc: http://www.spacejunk3d.com/makingvideo.html