A 99-minute film combines new footage from the International Space Station with original audio from Yuri Gagarin's historic 1961 space flight.
Synopsis
A 99-minute film combines new footage from the International Space Station with original audio from Yuri Gagarin's historic 1961 space flight.
People
Synopsis
Christopher Riley films from the International Space Station’s cupola. He matches its orbit to that of Vostok 1, the spacecraft that Yuri Gagarin used for the first human space flight in 1961. Riley collaborates with astronaut Paolo Nespoli and German engineer Gerald Ziegler to replicate Gagarin's trajectory. The film incorporates Gagarin's original audio recordings from the Russian State Archive. Released in 2011, it has been translated into 30 languages and shown in over 1,600 locations worldwide.
Deep Dive
Why Watch
- See Yuri Gagarin's original view from space
- Meet astronaut Paolo Nespoli on the ISS
- Find out how they matched Gagarin's flight path
Did You Know
- The ISS covers a similar ground track to Vostok 1 once a week.
- Filming opportunities for the exact trajectory occurred every six weeks.
- The film premiered online and opened on over 1600 screens in 130 countries.
- The producers launched a campaign that resulted in translations into 30 languages.
Perfect For
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed the documentary First Orbit?
First Orbit was directed by Christopher Riley.
What was the main challenge in filming First Orbit?
The main challenge was to film at the exact time of day that Yuri Gagarin made his flight, which only occurred every six weeks.
How many languages was First Orbit translated into?
First Orbit was translated into 30 new languages as part of a translation campaign.
Awards & Festivals
What are people saying?
Play More Like This
Where else to watch
Browse more like this
Related Films
Is this your film?
If you made this film or hold the rights to it, we'd like to talk. We can license it and pay you a share of what it earns.
Comments