Mission

Fondly remembering a childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, Producer Matthew Cimone was inspired to reconnect with his passion for space by the announcement of the space shuttle’s retirement. July 2011 would mark the Shuttle’s last launch with the flight of Shuttle Atlantis. Matthew was joined by Director and long-time friend Paul Muzzin of Riptide Studios whose filmmaking skills would enable the duo to explore the public’s love of space and science fiction in what becomes a personal journey of connecting with a community of space and sci-fi enthusiasts including those who have actually ventured into the final frontier.

Beginning in July of 2011 as a road-trip, Matthew and Paul were joined by three other friends, including photographer Melanie Godecki, and traveled from Toronto to Florida to see the final shuttle launch. Each of the travelers recognized shuttle as iconic and remembered the tragedies of Challenger during grade school and more recently Columbia as adults. As the shuttle era closed, the team knew it had to bear witness as Atlantis lifted from Earth one final time.

Since Atlantis’ final flight, Chasing Atlantis has grown into four subsequent journeys to the Kennedy Space Center, close encounters with the remainder of the shuttle fleet and expanded to include a diverse range of interviews and interactions with the wider space as well as science fiction communities. Those interviewed share why they take risks, dream, create, and dedicate careers to the wonder of space exploration, and how that pursuit influences us as a civilization. The team also encounter the pioneers of “New Space”; those who have taken up the torch to innovate space technology in a post-shuttle era and continually remind society of the need to continue making “giant leaps” to Mars and beyond.

We hope you will join us on this journey starting from one childhood dream of space to a collision with the Space Shuttle, the future of space and the community of those who look up and dream of what may be.