Women in Space

Talk of the earth moving beneath one's feet takes on a whole different dimension when it comes from an astronaut. In this video, some of the finest women astronauts in NASA's space program recount their experiences (such as Kathryn Sullivan's space walk--actually more of a low-G hand stand--in which she saw the islands of the Caribbean gliding beneath her boots, and Anna Fisher's description of thunderstorms spanning hundreds of miles across the African continent) and discuss their jobs as women in space. Interspersed with interviews featuring famed women astronauts such as Sally Ride, Rhea Seddon, Mary Cleave, Shannon Lucid, and Bonnie Dunbar, is footage from shuttle missions, featuring spectacular views of the earth and candid moments aboard, and a reflection on the risks involved (including a poignant segment on the explosion of the Challenger shuttle). While most of the interviews are static, sometimes poorly-lit two-shots of the host and astronaut, and some of the questions are a little on the "lite" side, this video is worth seeing for the thoughtful (and thought-provoking) comments from the women astronauts, whose passion for excellence comes through clearly. Girls interested in the sciences need all the encouragement they can get, and are sure to find inspiration in these personal stories that transcend the production's drawbacks. Recommended, with reservations. Aud: J, H, P. (C. Block)