“Defying Gravity" 13-episode ABC sci-fi astronaut space series

[Lindley]

I'm interested in this series, but I'm wondering how they'll explain away the gravity issue.

It really depends on the drive system. If you're using a simple rocket, then you have to stick to short burns and no "gravity" simply due to limitations on available reaction mass.

However, anyone planning a nontrivial trip around the system may have figured out a better system. And if you have the endurance to do extended burns, then the most reasonable course of action would be to accelerate continuously (at 1 gravity) for the first half of the trip, then flip around and decelerate (again at 1 gravity) for the second half. This leaves you with only a brief null-grav period.

Well, at least that would make sense in deep space. In an orbital system, you'd be much more biased towards acceleration for moving "outward", and much more biased towards deceleration for moving "inward".

 

[Christopher]

Re: “Defying Gravity" 13-episode ABC sci-fi astronaut space series

However, anyone planning a nontrivial trip around the system may have figured out a better system. And if you have the endurance to do extended burns, then the most reasonable course of action would be to accelerate continuously (at 1 gravity) for the first half of the trip, then flip around and decelerate (again at 1 gravity) for the second half. This leaves you with only a brief null-grav period.

Accelerations at a full gee or anywhere near it are unrealistic to ask for over an extended period. The fuel demands would be ridiculous, and you'd need really advanced technology to keep the engine from melting under the kind of sustained heat you'd need.

It also doesn't fit the series description. This is supposed to be a 6-year tour of the Solar System. With the capacity for sustained 1g acceleration, a tour of the Solar System would take only a month or two. In fact, I gather that the entire first season is about a trip to Venus. At a sustained 1g thrust with turnaround, such a trip would take only a day or two.

The best option would be to do the same thing Virtuality did and include a rotating "carousel" habitat.

 

[Scout101]

Any idea when this might come out? Saw my first commercial on tv tonight for it, and it just said "coming soon"

 

[Lindley]

Accelerations at a full gee or anywhere near it are unrealistic to ask for over an extended period. The fuel demands would be ridiculous, and you'd need really advanced technology to keep the engine from melting under the kind of sustained heat you'd need.

Maybe I've just been reading too much David Weber lately....still, the same basic effect could be applied to get moon-like gravity, which would still be easier to film than zero-G.

The best option would be to do the same thing Virtuality did and include a rotating "carousel" habitat.

There is that option as well, although it presents its own challenges.

 

[Christopher]

Re: “Defying Gravity" 13-episode ABC sci-fi astronaut space series

Maybe I've just been reading too much David Weber lately....still, the same basic effect could be applied to get moon-like gravity, which would still be easier to film than zero-G.

Actually I think it would be harder. Simulating free fall is pretty easy; you just hang people on wires. Correctly simulating the way bodies move and fall in low gravity as opposed to microgravity is much harder to do, as the Mythbusters demonstrated when they tested the myth that the Moon landings were faked. I've seen filmic simulations of microgravity that were reasonably convincing (I think The Black Hole did a surprisingly good job, for one), but simulations of lunar or Martian gravity, when they're attempted at all, just look like obvious slow motion.

 

[Kelso]

Any idea when this might come out? Saw my first commercial on tv tonight for it, and it just said "coming soon"

Facebook says end of July.

 

[USS Kongo]

First time I've even heard of this series. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Sean

 

[watermelony2k]

eh there's a promo of it on youtube, and well... from the producer of grey's anatomy. i don't think this is going to be as heady as ron moore's virtuality.

 

[Dream]

eh there's a promo of it on youtube, and well... from the producer of grey's anatomy. i don't think this is going to be as heady as ron moore's virtuality.

I figure that promo would put off many scifi fans. It's not even worth mentioning.

 

[firehawk12]

I'm watching Space Odyssey now, and while it seems somewhat silly that they'd design a single mission that would explore every planet in the solar system, I quite enjoy the concept of the series.

That said, the trailer just shows a lot of... well, screwing, to use a PG13 euphemism. Which I suppose is what you do when you throw Grey's Anatomy (and curiously not Ugly Betty, since that's what the producer did after GA) in the teaser. Still, I hope that it's a minority.

The reason why I found Virtuality a bit silly is that it seems unlikely that you'd have married couples who are world experts in two different fields. But the idea that single people would suddenly start bumping uglies in zero-G is about as preposterous. Yeah, it's 5 years... but how long have Russians stayed up on the ISS? Oh well.

 

[Skywalker]

Eh...producer of Grey's aside, I'm willing to give this series a shot. Hopefully it goes well.

 

[Christopher]

Re: “Defying Gravity" 13-episode ABC sci-fi astronaut space series

The reason why I found Virtuality a bit silly is that it seems unlikely that you'd have married couples who are world experts in two different fields. But the idea that single people would suddenly start bumping uglies in zero-G is about as preposterous. Yeah, it's 5 years... but how long have Russians stayed up on the ISS? Oh well.

Not having seen the trailer, I don't know what you mean. DO you find it preposterous that they would have sex? Because they undoubtedly would. There has surely been sex in space already; the space agencies just don't like to talk about it. Or are you saying that the trailer suggests it's never happened before? That would be preposterous.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Hey, we have a firm date for the debut! Aug 2 on ABC.

"Gravity" will have a two-hour premiere, then settle into its 10 p.m. time period.

Man, did they leave the announcement till the last minute, they'll have to scramble for the marketing and given that it's summer doldrums, they better not have high hopes for this thing.

ABC announced a premiere date for its acquired "sexy, provocative space thriller" "Defying Gravity." The series starring Ron Livingston and Laura Harris debuts Sunday, Aug. 2, with a two-hour opener. ... (One rep says there is indeed zero-gravity sex in the series, but they might be pulling my chain).

"Sexy" and "Gray's Anatomy" in a sci fi series. Gulp.

Regardless, Ron Livingston will keep my finger away from the remote, as long as humanly possible! Argh, I just realized, that's my vacation week! Well the VCR will do its duty and I hope this show isn't cancelled by the time I get back.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Hey, we have a firm date for the debut! Aug 2 on ABC.

"Gravity" will have a two-hour premiere, then settle into its 10 p.m. time period.

Man, did they leave the announcement till the last minute, they'll have to scramble for the marketing and given that it's summer doldrums, they better not have high hopes for this thing.

ABC announced a premiere date for its acquired "sexy, provocative space thriller" "Defying Gravity." The series starring Ron Livingston and Laura Harris debuts Sunday, Aug. 2, with a two-hour opener. ... (One rep says there is indeed zero-gravity sex in the series, but they might be pulling my chain).

"Sexy" and "Gray's Anatomy" in a sci fi series. Gulp.

Regardless, Ron Livingston will keep my finger away from the remote, as long as humanly possible! Argh, I just realized, that's my vacation week! Well the VCR will do its duty and I hope this show isn't cancelled by the time I get back.

Not that last minute, BBC usually wait for the week before to give a solid air date.

I wish they would give a date for this, it was listed in their Spring/Summer season press pack, but nothing since.

 

[firehawk12]

So I actually finished Space Odyssey and as long as they don't jack up the sex content, I think it could work well. I just hope it doesn't become too self-indulgent. The miniseries didn't have the time to start getting fancy, but 13 40 minute episodes... ick.

 

[Starbreaker]

Ummm... I don't know how I feel about this.

 

[Dream]

Gray's Anatomy in space? No thanks.

I'd rather watch porn actors trying to act in a movie without sex.

 

[Sakrysta]

LOL - all I can hear when I see the show title is Idina Menzel's singing in Wicked.

I give every space show a shot. But really, "Grey's Anatomy in space" is not a tagline to pique my interest.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

They could just use the regular excuse: that 99% of the viewers don't know any different, so what justifies even the miniscule additional cost of getting the science right?

Basic professionalism justifies it. You just shouldn't do sloppy work when you're capable of doing better.

That depends on if it's economically viable. If it takes 20% of the budget to get that 1% of realism, it's not viable and (in most cases) shouldn't be done.

 

[Jack Bauer]

Re: “Defying Gravity" 13-episode ABC sci-fi astronaut space series

LOL - all I can hear when I see the show title is Idina Menzel's singing in Wicked.

I give every space show a shot. But really, "Grey's Anatomy in space" is not a tagline to pique my interest.

I think the tag line is more to get Grey's Anatomy viewers to tune into a sci-fi show instead of trying to get sci-fi viewers into seeing it. It really does nothing for me either. But the show may not really fit that description too much.