Space: from infinite dreams to recurring nightmares
A satellite event from the BATTLE OF IDEAS.
Friday 23 October, 8.00pm until 10.00pm, Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London
Venue: Royal Observatory, Flamstead House, Greenwich Park, London, SE10 9NF
Tickets: This event is part of the SCI-FI-UNIVERSE evening. To attend any of the events you must purchase a Planetarium ticket - click here to book online
Early in the 20th century the potential of manned flight and spaceflight appeared limitless. These dreams were expressed in early science fiction movies and series where almost anything was possible, confined only by the limits of our imagination. In 1969 these collective dreams were achieved when mankind set foot on the moon. This new reality gave birth to a new generation of sci-fi films and the groundbreaking series, Star Trek. Boldly going beyond the limits of known engineering with its multiracial crew, it expressed the optimism of its time.
But as the century drew to a close the space programme was increasingly confined by budget limits, and handcuffed by America’s commitment to the shuttle. Science fiction too began to retreat into a narrower vision of space exploration. Now, science fiction is dominated by remakes and reboots of classic films and series, as the major studios avoid risky new projects and opt for known brands. And international space exploration seems tied to its own re-run, a remake of the 1960s classic Race to the Moon, only with different actors and better visuals.
Are space research and science fiction trading on nostalgia, asking us to part with our money for glossy sanitised remakes? Is it time to show more imagination both on screen and in real space exploration?
Our esteemed panel are:
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, space scientist, Astrium; science communicator, UCL; managing director, Science Innovation
Paul Cornell writer, science fiction prose (British Summertime), television (Doctor Who) and comics (Captain Britain and MI-13) 
Dr Simon Foster science teacher, Wentworth College; runner-up, NESTA FameLab 2009 
Jon Chase associate lecturer and researcher, Science Communication, University of Glamorgan 
Chair: Timandra Harkness, journalist and film maker; previews editor, BBC Focus magazine.
Please note: This event is basically free and tickets are on a first come-first served basis. Tickets for this event are included as part of the SCI-FI-UNIVERSE show at the ROG:Planetarium which cost £10.00. They are available via the ROG website at www.nmm.ac.uk
If this event becomes full, there are other talks and workshops on the evening which you can attend, or you may just visit the Observatory's galleries.
There is limited availability for tickets for all events, please book early.
