Astronaut Pam: Countdown to Commander

Pam “Pambo” Melroy always dreamed of becoming an astronaut, which she not only achieved but also became the commander for the October 23, 2007 flight of the space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station. Filmmakers Renee Sotile and Mary Jo Godges' Astronaut Pam: Countdown to Commander documents that particular 15-day mission (notable for having two female commanders in orbit together, as the ISS was also headed by a woman at the time), interweaving extensive NASA footage with interviews of Melroy about her training, duties, and experiences. While the editing could have been a bit tighter at times, the footage of the crew in zero gravity, performing maintenance on the ISS, or even training on Earth in a giant pool is consistently interesting. Whether examining the human element of space exploration or explaining what a “payload” is, Astronaut Pam offers an inspiring look at an exciting job that has captured the imaginations of youngsters for over half a century. DVD extras include 20-plus minutes of bonus footage. Recommended. Aud: I, J, P. (E. Gieschen)