You are here:

Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow

Name: Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow
Director: Rory Kennedy
Released: 2018
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

6.3/10

Good

2018

Director

Rory Kennedy

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Rory Kennedy’s documentary serves as a historical survey of NASA’s evolution. Its primary value lies in documenting the actual integration of diverse demographics into a historically rigid scientific hierarchy. The film captures the transition from a monolithic institution to a more multifaceted landscape. However, the work prioritizes institutional history over broader social critiques. It functions as a celebratory chronicle of a major Western ability to act, avoiding deconstructive themes that would address larger social structures.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on professional achievements and scientific milestones without addressing non-binary or transgender identities. It does not include stories about same-sex relationships or intimacy.

How does Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow portray gender?

Good

The documentary highlights the shift in power dynamics within NASA. It shows the transition from a male-dominated workforce to the inclusion of female astronauts and engineers.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow?

Good

Archival footage traces the historical progression of racial integration. The film provides visibility to Black astronauts and engineers, documenting their contributions to a once-exclusionary field.

How does Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative celebrates American scientific achievement and government-led exploration. It emphasizes Western scientific progress without challenging traditional institutional structures.

Does Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow include disability representation?

Fair

The film does not center narratives about neurodivergence or chronic illness. Physical limitations are discussed in the context of the physiological challenges of space travel rather than disability empowerment.

Present on Screen

Effectively documents the historical shift in gendered power dynamics within NASA.
Highlights the contributions of Black astronauts and engineers through archival footage.
Maintains historical accuracy by showing the actual process of institutional inclusion.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation or narratives about LGBTQ+ identities and same-sex relationships.
Does not explore neurodivergence or disability empowerment beyond the physical challenges of space travel.
Adheres to a traditional Western framework without deconstructing institutional or capitalist structures.

Official Synopsis

Examine the remarkable role NASA plays both in our country and for our planet. Covering sixty years and beyond, the film celebrates past accomplishments, investigates current initiatives, and surveys future plans. Follows NASA to the moon, to the surface of Mars, to the outer reaches of our solar system and, above all, back to our home base: Earth.

How are these scores produced? →