SpaceCamp

This article is about the 1986 film. See U.S. Space Camp for the article about the camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

SpaceCamp
1986 theaterical poster
Directed by	Harry Winer
Produced by	Patrick Bailey Walter Coblenz Leonard Goldberg (executive) David Salven (associate)
Written by	Story: Patrick Bailey Larry B. Williams Screenplay: Clifford Green Casey T. Mitchell
Starring	Kate Capshaw Lea Thompson Kelly Preston Larry B. Scott Leaf Phoenix introducing Tate Donovan and Tom Skerritt as 'Zach' Barry Primus Terry O'Quinn
Music by	John Williams
Cinematography	William A. Fraker
Editing by	Tim Board John W. Wheeler
Distributed by	Theatrical distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Co-distributor: ABC Motion Pictures Original VHS: Vestron Video 1990 VHS: Video Treasures 1998 VHS: Anchor Bay Entertainment 2004 DVD: MGM Home Entertainment Edited version: Feature Films for Families
Release date(s)	June 6, 1986
Running time	107 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$20,000,000
Box office	$9,697,739 (USA)

Unreleased November 1985 theatrical poster

SpaceCamp is a 1986 American film based on a book by Patrick Bailey and Larry B. Williams and inspired by the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Directed by Harry Winer from a screenplay by Clifford Green (as W. W. Wicket) and Casey T. Mitchell, the film stars Kate Capshaw, Kelly Preston, Larry B. Scott, Lea Thompson, Tate Donovan and Joaquin Phoenix.

The movie was panned by critics and is famous for being a "marketing nightmare," as it was released less than five months after the Challenger accident of January 28, 1986, that killed all seven on board. The film performed poorly at the box office, grossing less than $10 million in the US. A rewrite of the book, released to coincide with the movie, mentioned the Challenger disaster.

Plot

Four teenagers and a 12-year-old boy have gone to space camp for three weeks during the summer to learn about the NASA space program and mimic astronaut training. There they meet their instructor Andie Bergstrom, a NASA trained astronaut who is frustrated that she has not yet been assigned to a shuttle mission. Her bitterness is compounded by the fact that her husband - the camp director - Zach Bergstrom is also not only an astronaut, but one who has walked on the moon.

Max befriends a sentient robot named Jinx, which was deemed unsuitable for space work, as it overheated and was unable to be anything other than literal. Max and the robot declare themselves to be "friends forever", while Kevin pursues Kathryn, and she begins to warm to him. Rudy explains that he wishes to open the first fast food franchise on the moon, and Tish reveals that despite appearing to be a Valley girl she is in fact a genius with a photographic memory.

One night Kathryn and Kevin sneak away for some romance near the launch pad, but Jinx unintentionally gives them away when Andie and Zach discover that they are missing. During a confrontation between Andie and Kathryn, Andie explains that she believes Kathryn has what it takes to accomplish her ambition, and understanding the necessity of the harsh treatment Andie is giving her she vows to improve her conduct and performance. However, Zach's conversation with Kevin is not nearly as inspiring.

Kevin takes out his anger on Max, and while upset Max states that "...I wish I were in outer space..." Taking things literally, Jinx secretly enters NASA's computer room and prepares a "thermal curtain failure" on the Space Shuttle Atlantis while the group are on board. This causes one of the boosters to ignite during the engine test. Launch Control is forced to ignite the second booster and launch the shuttle in order to avoid a crash - thus sending Max into space.

The shuttle is not flight ready however, and not only has no long range radio, but is critically low on oxygen, and does not have enough air to last to the re-entry window to land at Edwards Air Force Base. Andie takes the shuttle to the partially constructed Space Station "Daedalus" to retrieve oxygen stored there. Meanwhile, realizing that while they have no voice communications with NASA they do have telemetry, Tish begins using a switch to send a Morse code signal to NASA, but it is not noticed by ground control.

Andie is slightly too big to reach the oxygen cylinders embedded in the structure of the station, so Max suits up for an EVA to try to slip through and retrieve the containers. During a critical moment, Max begins to panic, until Kevin, knowing that Max is a fan of Star Wars, begins calling him "Luke", and tells him to "use the Force," which encourages him enough to complete the mission. Max and Andie retrieve the containers and bring them back to the shuttle.

In the shuttle Rudy attempts to decipher the technical diagram to work out how to feed the oxygen in to the shuttle's tanks. His lack of confidence frustrates Kathryn who tries to read the diagram herself and gives Andie conflicting instructions to Rudy. Andie follows Rudy's instructions, which are correct. Kathryn's self confidence is shaken as she realises her interference nearly caused disaster.

The second oxygen container malfunctions and violently depressurizes, injuring Andie. Unaware of this, Ground Control begins the autopilot sequence to land the shuttle - closing the bay doors stranding Andie outside. Andie regains consciousness and urges them to leave her and take the re-entry window as the shuttle does not have enough oxygen to make the next Edwards window. Kathryn is unable to make a decision, but Kevin finally shows himself to be the shuttle Commander and overrides the autopilot. Max goes out again and retrieves Andie. Having missed the Edwards re-entry window the crew come up with a plan to land at White Sands, New Mexico. Armed with this news, Tish then uses morse code to signal NASA to let them try for a landing there.

In Ground Control, Jinx brings the morse code signal to Zach's attention, and they also begin preparations for the White Sands landing. With Andie still injured, Kathryn has to fulfil her role as pilot, but begins to fret and doubt her abilities - however Kevin both cajoles and teases her into successfully landing the shuttle.

Characters

• Andie Bergstrom (Kate Capshaw) is a camp instructor and astronaut.

• Zach Bergstrom (Tom Skerritt), the camp director and Andie's husband.

• Kathryn Fairly (Lea Thompson) is ambitious, idolizes Andie and wants to be the first woman shuttle commander - but is assigned the pilot role instead.

• Kevin Donaldson (Tate Donovan), initially arrogant and selfish, Andie assigns him the role of Commander to teach him some responsibility, much to Kathryn's dismay.

• Rudy Tyler (Larry B. Scott) loves science, but admits he is sometimes not very good at it.

• Tish Ambrosé (Kelly Preston) a typical teenager despite being a genius displays several Valley girl traits.

• Max Graham (Joaquin Phoenix, then credited as Leaf Phoenix), an eager 12-year-old who has been to Junior Camp several times - Andie finally allows him to stay at the main camp.

• Jinx, a sentient robot, who becomes Max's friend. It facilitates the group's launch into space, then helps rescue them by discovering Tish's telemetry Morse code. Voiced by Frank Welker.

Production notes

The exteriors of the spacecraft launch were from STS-51-C. The landing footage was from STS-8.

Reception

SpaceCamp received mixed to negative reviews with only 40% of critics giving it positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Critic Roger Ebert gave it a one and half star rating and saying that "Our thoughts about the space shuttle will never be the same again, and our memories are so painful that SpaceCamp is doomed even before it begins." Variety says that "SpaceCamp never successfully integrates summer camp hijinks with outer space idealism to come up with a dramatically compelling story", while James Sanford of the Kalamazoo Gazette responds "Not exactly out of this world". Website At-A-Glance gave the film an even worse review, "It's tough to accept this movie's premise. A bunch of kids are given a tour of the Space Shuttle as NASA is testing its engines. An accident happens, and they, along with their guide, are launched into space. Once up there, can they be talked back down? Add an annoying, seemingly sentient robot into the mix. Add the standard "two dimensional character development" arc, where each member of the cast overcomes his or her single character trait/flaw by the end of the story. Add gobs of sap, gushiness, and boredom. Mix well, and you've got a first-class mess."

Box Office

SpaceCamp had a long history of problems during production. It was originally planned to be released in November 1985, then pushed into early 1986, but was pushed back months later after the Challenger disintegrated during launch. When the film was finally released on June 6, 1986, it was a box office failure, earning only $9,697,739 in the US alone against its $20 million budget.

External links

• SpaceCamp at the Internet Movie Database
• Spacecamp at Rotten Tomatoes
• SpaceCamp at Allmovie