Man on a Mission: Richard Garriott's Road to the Stars

Just saw this last night in Austin. An amazing story that you should watch with your kids. The brief intro on how Richard used his skills to start his own fortune and how he has spent his money on experiences. Knowing that he couldn't become an astronaut because of his eyesight, how he forged the path to private space travel and fulfilled his destiny was really inspiring to see. For a little doc, there is a lot going on here, with great editing (the reentry scene had me on the edge of my seat, though I obviously knew they were going to be fine) and the story about the father and son relationship had me in tears. Really beautiful little movie.

The title is most fitting "Man on a Mission" as it's the real life story of a man's (Richard Garriott) trip to space. Being a forefather of computer gaming afforded him the opportunity to invest in his life-long dream of going to space. This documentary takes you on a personalized tour of a civilian astronaut's journey, streaming previously unrecorded and unshared training and space footage. It's inside view makes space travel seem accessible. It is an inspiring story of international partnership and the future of space travel.

It was my privilege to see this as part of SXSW where Richard also did a Q&A. I have a video of my 4 year old son on day the last space shuttle launched. Unprompted, my son said he was sad because he wouldn't be able to go to space. When I told Richard about this, it really connected with him and the realization of his own dream. He wrote on a poster, "You WILL be able to go to space!" Before seeing the movie, I was skeptical of the future of space travel. Richard is now a forefather of civilian space travel and this movie is a historical record of his efforts to make space travel available not just for himself, but also to a future generation of space travel dreamers.

The story of Richard Garriott is an inspirational one. It's a story about realizing a dream. A story about fulfilling a childhood fantasy. It's a story about persistence, adventure, and man's desire to explore the outer reaches of space. It is Man on a Mission.

Richard Garriott is the son of scientist and NASA astronaut Owen K. Garriott. Growing up in an environment where your father has actually gone into space only fuels the desire to follow in his footsteps. If nothing else, it helps promote the reality of most young boy's dreams of becoming an astronaut.

Richard himself was a little bit of ad oddball. He was a computer geek who in his late teens created a game called Ultima – a 3D adventure game – that sold 30,000 copies. Richard would parlay the financial success of the game into various ventures and adventures, not the least was in an organization that looked to develop a transportation method to bring civilians on space travel missions. Putting himself through college, Richard continued to create video games and the increased success of each game in the Ultima franchise would soon net him tens of millions of dollars.

Richard's dream of ever following his father into space was hampered by his near-sightedness. His sight deficiency would not allow NASA to consider him as a potential candidate to ever venture on their crafts towards the heavens. And as he grew older, he continually met resistance in fulfilling his dream no matter how much money he was willing to throw at potential space programs.

Then in 2008, Richard Garriott got his break. Already having successful laser eye surgery in Canada, Richard was able to use his influence and money to pioneer a private space travel journey from a facility in Russia. He would undergo vigorous training – everything from experiencing the pressure forces of 8G's of force to learning Russian so that he could communicate with his fellow Kosmonaut.

Man on a Mission follows Richard through his childhood dream, his training and to the launch of the Russian craft The Soyuz which launched in October 2008 and docked with the International Space Station before returning to earth some 10 days later. It is a fascinating and engrossing adventure of a persistent man with a dream and the funds to help realize them. Some of the training scenes that Richard has had filmed are some of the more interesting and detailed seen in any educational film about space travel preparation. We get a chance to watch everything from Richard being outfitted for a chair (did you know that your spinal cord expands in space) to the continuous training for emergency landings that might happen at sea or on land.

Director Mike Woolf has the privilege of bringing to a wider audience an interesting story focusing on an even more interesting character (thank The King of Kong's Steve Wiebe in space). Richard is weird and extravagant in ideas but not showboating or flamboyant that might be expected by a computer geek with his financial means.

Much of the story details his relationship with his father. Richard and Owen Garriott would become the first American generational family to fly into space and his father provides the necessary support to Richard's ambition and is in Russia for both the launch and the capsule's return.

Man on a Mission has played on the festival circuit including the SXSW where it was the Audience Award winner in 2010. It is finally getting a theatrical release starting with a limited run in New York in January 2012 and should be considered as valued entertainment despite its documentary genre and educational status.

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For 50 years all the people that have left the bonds of earth to float in the microgravity of low earth orbit (and the handful that have broken even those bonds and ventured to the moon) have been civil servants. Only recently have private individuals - albeit with colossal amounts of cash - been able to join them. But the fact that they can at all is largely due to the determination of Richard Garriott. But for a few commercial difficulties he would have been the first private individual in space, as it happens he was the sixth. Man on a Mission is the documentary that follows him on the training and through the flight. If you are interested in space exploration and the life of the astronaut, then this is very mush a film not to be missed. Marred only by poor sound in some places (but hey, they couldn't take a full production crew up to the ISS!), it is well structured, inspiring and entertaining. I can't wait for his next mission.

Saw this film last night and found it to be an extraordinary story and journey captured on film. Richard was very articulate, and specific about space traveling through out the film. The film is inspiring, informative, and full on full hearted humor. The film was educational but never dry. I have also enjoyed the amazing story about two generations that share the same interests and pride in pursuing their dreams and goals. Richard's determination and persistence captured my imagination.

Overall, this is an amazing film that you can watch with your children. It's educational, inspiring, and heartwarming.

Great job. I cannot wait to watch it again on the second screening and meet Richard in person.