NASA Makes Magic: Harry Potter Goes to Space

It seems that a certain boy wizard has a high flying fan. NASA astronaut and International Space Station Commander Bill McArthur was unhappy at the prospect of missing "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," the newest movie in the Harry Potter series. As part of NASA's regular assistance to crew members on long-duration space flights, NASA contacted the maker of the Harry Potter movies, Warner Bros. Pictures, in the hopes that they might work some magic and help McArthur see the film while in space. Together they worked to send the film to McArthur.

Life aboard the International Space Station can be stressful and crew members have busy work schedules, but NASA also programs a little "down time" into the day. Over the 5 plus years the station has been in orbit, they have compiled a DVD movie library, along with books, magazines, CDs, and other materials to help the astronauts relax. NASA also does what it can, including one very special wakeup call.

On Sunday Nov. 13 Paul McCartney sent the Expedition 12 crew a live musical wakeup call. McCartney performed "Good Day Sunshine" and "English Tea," during his "US" Tour performance at the Anaheim, CA, Arrowhead Pond. It was broadcast live on NASA TV. “I can't believe that we're actually transmitting to space!” McCartney said. “This is sensational. I love it.”

With the permission of Warner Brothers, NASA beamed "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" to the International Space Station for its space premiere on Tuesday November 22, 2005. The new blockbuster movie, based on the series of books by J.K. Rowling, was apparently a big hit in space as well as on Earth. We're unsure whether popcorn was available.

McArthur and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev make up the 12th crew of the station, a unique testbed for longer-duration to the moon and to Mars.