Reality TV "Astronauts" Lift Off

RJG writes "In the latest reality show on British TV, three British "space tourists" last night succesfully blasted off on a five day mission and are currently orbiting the earth 200 miles up. Or so they think. And to forestall the first question. They aren't experiencing weightlessness due to a combination of being in a low orbit (rather than outer space where the weightlessness is) and a few under-floor gravity generators."

Comments

Re:Dramatic Final Episode

[vague disclaimer]

You are of course labouring under the illusion that the whole thing isn't a hoax on the viewer.

Re:Dramatic Final Episode

[hobbit]

And then... the final twist.

Re:The "Casting Call" episodes must be the best

[Spudley]

The only had one "casting call" episode, and yes, it was entertaining. They also didn't tell the applicants what they were applying for until the end of the selection process, so these people were doing all sorts of wacky things without any clue as to why.

I agree with you that it's a horribly cruel trick to be playing. But it does make for cringeingly funny viewing.

On the other hand, as long as they don't work out the ruse, the participants will be awarded with a trip to the real Russian space training centre, and an experience of weightlessness in the vomit comet, so if they can stay stupid for another five days, they'll at least get the chance to do some of it for real.

One thing I will place a bet on is that this show will be very quick to make the jump over the Atlantic. ;-)

One final note -- there are some rumours flying around that all the contestants are actually actors, and that the whole thing is actually a hoax on the viewers. But frankly, the viewing is entertaining enough that it doesn't matter to me one way or the other. hehehe.