Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun (1993)

Overview

Life in space. Beam-ins. Intergalactic war. What about getting a driver's license or doing the laundry? This one-hour special features dozens of space professionals---from astronauts and life systems engineers to space suit designers, interior decorators and the "Lunar Lettuce Man." A moving story concerning Jaime Escalante and one of his students (Raymond Cruz) is interwoven with imaginative vignettes that explore the humor and drama of day-to-day life away from Earth. A documentary AND fantasy. Shot on video and on film. Guest stars include Kathy Bates, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Pat Morita, Esai Morales, and Billy Bob Thornton.