| Balloon-Borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope | ||
| Blast! | ||
|
||
| Review by Ross Anthony | ||
|
It costs millions of dollars to put scientific instruments in space. So for those on a shoestring budget, a slow floating ascent can replace an expensive launch. Blast follows a band of hard-headed students and teachers who set out to build an infrared telescope, then elevate it to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere on the precarious riggings of a balloon. Wind direction and location play essential roles in the plan causing the lead scientist (Mark Devlin, PhD) to endure separations from his wife and kids while he braves Antarctic nights (and other extreme locations) on the underbelly of the world. Fraught with major setbacks, Blast is a challenge demanding determination, patience and brains from this band of starry-eyed pioneers. There’s no need to be a scientist yourself as the film emphasizes the human struggles inherent in such personal “high” goal setting. The film also offers graphic explanation and “intro to astronomy” segments to bring you up to speed. The documentary (filmed by Mark’s brother) is just as endearingly rickety as the Blast mission. |
||
|
||
|
Grade..........................B+ (2.5/4) |
||
|
|
||
|
||
|
Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186.
Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow. |
