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00:00In the year 20
00:052021, a 21-year-old man named Francis Borg
00:10rose to fame by doing something remarkably simple.
00:15Filming his love of trains.
00:19Francis...
00:20A trainspotter by trade and a dreamer by design.
00:25Did not set out to become famous.
00:28In fact, it was entirely...
00:30...accidental.
00:31I'm here at Dilton Marsh Stadium...
00:33...on the west coast main bed at 4...
00:35...4.30 this morning.
00:3659 come through with some absolutely brilliant honks.
00:38I cannot wait.
00:39Arm...
00:40...with little more than a GoPro...
00:42...and an infectious enthusiasm for diesel locomotion.
00:45He captured the hearts of millions...
00:48...who, quite frankly...
00:50...who weren't expecting to fall in love...
00:52...with a trainspotter.
00:55However, Francis' life wasn't always about trains.
01:00Alongside falling for the railway...
01:04...young Francis...
01:05...had another love.
01:10...the infinite unknowable vastness of space.
01:14Once upon...
01:15...only governments' global space agencies...
01:18...held the keys.
01:20...to the stars.
01:21Their astronauts were military men...
01:24...trained for years...
01:25...to overcome impossible obstacles.
01:27But something extraordinary is now happening.
01:30We are at the dawn of a new space race.
01:34We are...
01:35...entering an era...
01:36...where visiting...
01:37...working...
01:38...and even living in space...
01:39...is...
01:40...now a realistic possibility...
01:42...for an entire generation.
01:44Which...
01:45...what Francis is thinking...
01:46...could he...
01:47...take the passion...
01:48...curiosity...
01:49...and...
01:50...engineering know-how...
01:51...he'd built on Earth...
01:52...and aim it towards the heavens.
01:55So...
01:56...with humanity once again...
01:58...reaching for the stars...
01:59...from...
02:00...and Francis...
02:01...found himself...
02:02...facing the question...
02:03...that had quietly followed him...
02:04...since...
02:05...a question...
02:06...full of hope...
02:07...fear...
02:08...and impossibility.
02:10Can a Trainspotter...
02:11...become an astronaut?
02:15Whoa!
02:16Whoa!
02:18Whoa!
02:20Whoa!
02:21Whoa!
02:22Whoa!
02:23Whoa!
02:24Whoa!
02:25The journey to answering that question...
02:26...began in London...
02:27...in a flat I share with my girlfriend...
02:30...Amy.
02:31What I want people to know...
02:32...is that...
02:33...I love engineering...
02:34...like I'm a McCam...
02:35...technical engineer...
02:36...I love the thought of going to space...
02:38...you know...
02:39...it's a childhood dream...
02:40...and a childhood love...
02:41...and I want to...
02:42...you know...
02:43...prove to myself...
02:44...and the people around...
02:45...with me...
02:46...that I have what it takes...
02:47...it seems so far-fetched...
02:48...but...
02:49...you know...
02:50...I have my degree...
02:52...there are so many things going on...
02:54...with like...
02:55...the next space race...
02:57...I don't think it's...
02:58...kind of out of the question...
02:59...for me to...
03:00...kind of apply...
03:01...my engineering knowledge...
03:02...apply my passion...
03:03...and...
03:04...my childhood desire...
03:05...to...
03:07...you know...
03:08...not only become...
03:09...an astronaut...
03:10...but...
03:11...to actually become...
03:12...an engineer...
03:13...in space...
03:14...the reason I'm so...
03:15...invested...
03:16...is because there's never been...
03:17...a better time...
03:18...to have this dream...
03:19...all over the world...
03:20...more rockets...
03:21...are taking off...
03:22...than ever before...
03:23...powered by private companies...
03:24...all...
03:25...all designing...
03:26...a future...
03:27...where humanity...
03:28...can spread its wings...
03:29...and head for a new life...
03:30...and the stars...
03:31...it really is...
03:32...a new dawn...
03:33...and as a mechanical engineer...
03:34...I want...
03:35...I wondered...
03:36...whether I was good enough...
03:37...to get a little slice...
03:38...of this cosmic pie...
03:39...he has...
03:40...such a joyous...
03:41...view of the world...
03:42...and finds...
03:43...such appreciation...
03:44...and things...
03:45...that lots of people...
03:46...would just overlook...
03:47...he's obsessed...
03:48...with engineering...
03:49...he's...
03:50...loves switches...
03:51...he'll stop...
03:52...and like...
03:53...be doing...
03:54...and throwing switches...
03:55...for...
03:56...several, several times...
03:57...and I'll just sort of...
03:58...sit there patiently...
03:59...waiting...
04:00...as he's...
04:00...fascinated...
04:01...by the mechanism...
04:02...I think it just makes him...
04:03...really special...
04:04...that he can...
04:05...view the world...
04:05...through this...
04:06...particular way...
04:07...I hate the feeling...
04:08...of regret...
04:09...you know...
04:10...I don't...
04:11...every time I look...
04:12...at the Saturn V rocket...
04:13...I don't want to...
04:14...suddenly feel...
04:15...a pang of like...
04:15...could have...
04:16...could have almost been...
04:17...Amy...
04:18...what's your thoughts...
04:19...on Francis's plans?
04:20...it's something...
04:21...that I'll support him...
04:22...in doing...
04:23...and I know...
04:24...he has the capability...
04:25...of doing...
04:25...mentally...
04:26...but it's the physical...
04:27...challenges I think...
04:28...will be...
04:30...the toughest...
04:31...I know his mum's...
04:32...very worried about it...
04:35...um...
04:36...you know...
04:37...getting messages from her...
04:38...saying...
04:39...oh is he really...
04:40...is this...
04:40...you know...
04:41...potential...
04:42...potential thing...
04:45...becoming an astronaut...
04:46...seemed like...
04:47...such a daunting task...
04:49...I was an outsider...
04:50...trying to get in...
04:51...on a world...
04:52...I had no contacts in...
04:53...and I didn't...
04:54...want to spend my...
04:55...life wondering...
04:56...what if...
04:57...so I fell back on...
04:58...what I'm most familiar with...
04:59...and decided...
05:00...to make a TikTok...
05:01...asking for help...
05:02...and this is me...
05:03...doing it now...
05:04...okay let's do one here...
05:05...with the dish...
05:06...in the background...
05:07Can a trine spotter...
05:08...become an astronaut?
05:10...this isn't a joke...
05:13...I genuinely want to take the...
05:15...steps towards...
05:16...becoming an astronaut...
05:17...I wasn't sure...
05:18...how my video...
05:19...would go down...
05:20...I'm not the traditional...
05:21...macho image...
05:22...of an old school...
05:23...astronaut...
05:24...and I didn't know if...
05:25...people would take me...
05:26...seriously...
05:27...any help...
05:28...or recommendations...
05:29...would be...
05:30...greatly appreciated...
05:31...thank you...
05:32...but the response...
05:33...and support...
05:34...was amazing...
05:35...and amongst...
05:36...all the likes...
05:37...hearts...
05:38...and some...
05:39...scepticism...
05:40...there was one comment...
05:41...that caught my eye...
05:44...I couldn't believe...
05:45...it...
05:46...a comment from...
05:47...major Tim Peake...
05:48...Tim is the epitome...
05:50...of what you'd expect...
05:51...an astronaut to be...
05:52...he started out...
05:53...as an Apache helicopter...
05:55...pilot in the army...
05:56...became a test pilot...
05:57...and then incredibly...
05:58...made it...
05:59...all the way...
06:00...to the International Space Station...
06:02...I knew I was going...
06:03...to need a mentor...
06:04...and some help...
06:05...so I tentatively...
06:06...sent him a follow request...
06:08...and then he sent me this...
06:09...hi-
06:10...Francis...
06:11...I heard that you're thinking...
06:12...of swapping out your trains...
06:13...for rockets...
06:14...and I know a thing or two...
06:15...about rockets...
06:16...so...
06:17...give me a shout...
06:18...I've...
06:19...received...
06:20...a deal...
06:20...a deal...
06:21...and...
06:22...the...
06:23...legendary...
06:24...British...
06:25...astronaut...
06:25...and I expressed to him...
06:26...that I want to...
06:27...go through...
06:28...the actual training processes...
06:30...and...
06:31...and yet...
06:32...just...
06:33...I'm talking with an astronaut...
06:35...at this stage...
06:37...being an astronaut...
06:38...might look like...
06:39...lots of floating around...
06:40...but going from zero...
06:41...to one thousand...
06:42...miles per hour...
06:43...in one minute...
06:44...puts a huge...
06:45...strain on the body...
06:46...so Tim's plan...
06:47...was to test me...
06:48...here on Earth...
06:49...in something called...
06:50...centrifuge...
06:51So...
06:53...you're being spun round like this...
06:55...in kind of...
06:56...this axis...
06:58...what that can simulate...
07:00...is a rocket launch...
07:01...or flying around...
07:02...in a jet fighter...
07:03...so Tim's invited me there...
07:05...um...
07:06...just to...
07:07...just to get started...
07:08...in my training...
07:09...you'll be fine...
07:10...and if you're not fine...
07:11...it'll be over before you know it...
07:12...yeah...
07:13...okay...
07:14...well...
07:15...I'll see...
07:15...for dinner...
07:16...I was excited...
07:18...but in truth...
07:19...I was also...
07:20...quite apprehensive...
07:21...I had no idea...
07:22...if I had what it took...
07:23...to survive the centrifuge...
07:25...but there was only one way...
07:26...to find out...
07:27...I jumped on board...
07:29...91...
07:30...109...
07:31...Sir Bobby Robson...
07:32...from King's Cross...
07:33...to Grantham...
07:34...full of...
07:35...enthusiasm...
07:36...and an avocado...
07:37...and egg baguette...
07:38...Tim had invited me...
07:40...to the RAF Centre...
07:41...of Aerospace Medicine...
07:43...home of the elite...
07:44...flight training...
07:45...school...
07:46...and a 39-tonne centrifuge...
07:48...my stomach was...
07:50...in knots...
07:51...and I could feel...
07:52...my confidence...
07:53...draining away...
07:55...I'm slightly worried...
07:56...about my...
07:57...kind of...
07:58...stature...
07:59...potentially being an issue...
08:00...you're quite tall...
08:01...yes...
08:02...are there...
08:03...tall astronauts?
08:04There are tall astronauts...
08:05...yes...
08:05...oh okay...
08:06...sometimes taller people...
08:07...struggle a bit more...
08:08...with G-tolerance...
08:09...something you...
08:10...you have to build up...
08:11...and that's just...
08:12...a physiological...
08:13...fact...
08:14...sometimes when I go...
08:15...from lying...
08:15...down to standing up...
08:16...really quickly...
08:17...I can lose my vision...
08:18...slightly...
08:20...Tim accompanied me...
08:21...to the mission...
08:22...briefing room...
08:23...to meet Wing Commander...
08:24...Joe Britton...
08:25...for a detailed...
08:26...technical explanation...
08:27...on G-force...
08:28...and how astronauts...
08:30...can combat...
08:31...the negative effects...
08:32When we talk about G-force...
08:33...what we're really talking about...
08:34...is acceleration...
08:35...but relative to Earth's gravity...
08:37...so one G is just...
08:38...Earth's gravity...
08:39...City...
08:40...it's acting from...
08:41...our head to our toe...
08:42...that's what we call G-Z...
08:43...in the Z-axis...
08:44...well our century...
08:45...is go all the way up to 12...
08:47...but don't worry...
08:48...we're not going to take you...
08:49...that far today...
08:50...sorry...
08:52...can I just check...
08:53...how much I should be taking off...
08:54...you're at nine...
08:55...everything weighs nine times more...
08:56...so your blood then...
08:57...wants to go down to your feet...
08:58...where we don't want it...
08:59...and away from...
09:00...where you really do want it...
09:01...like do I do trousers...
09:02...with suit or...
09:03...suit and no trousers?
09:05...so it can get a bit warmer there...
09:06...the main risk is...
09:07...that you don't get enough oxygen...
09:08...being delivered to your brain...
09:09...and you can lose consciousness...
09:10...something we call G-Lock...
09:11...or G-induced loss of consciousness...
09:12...okay...
09:13...okay...
09:14...
09:15...not really much for the G-Suit...
09:17...to constrict on really...
09:20...I was looking fantastic...
09:21...and ready to go...
09:22...and take a look at the centrifuge...
09:24...look fan...
09:25...just come on through...
09:26...to our centrifuge...
09:27...and look at the centrifuge...
09:28...just come on through...
09:29...to our centrifuge...
09:30...so this is the machine...
09:32...you'll be spending...
09:33...the afternoon in?
09:34Wow!
09:35Whoa!
09:36Oh!
09:37There's a weird acoustics thing there!
09:39Yeah!
09:40Ooh!
09:41Ooh!
09:42Ooh!
09:43Good luck, Francis!
09:44We'll be following on...
09:45...in mission control!
09:46Thank you!
09:47Good luck!
09:48Thank you!
09:49Have a good launch!
09:50Thank you!
09:51I was trying to give off the impression...
09:53...that I was comfortable...
09:54...but in...
09:55...in reality...
09:56...I was anything but!
09:57It hit me just after they locked the hatch!
10:00...that this wasn't hypothetical anymore!
10:02This was actual astronaut stuff!
10:05Only a week ago...
10:06...I was watching a Class 56...
10:08...down at Preston Docks...
10:10...and now I was going to experience...
10:12...the G-forces needed to push a 10-tonne space...
10:15...plane to the edge of the atmosphere!
10:17My journey had started...
10:19...and I was...
10:20...about to find out...
10:21...if an ordinary person...
10:22...could become an astronaut!
10:24Okay, so...
10:25...I have the lead...
10:26...and we're doing sub-orbital...
10:28...profiles class!
10:29Are you ready?
10:30Ready!
10:30Ready!
10:31Tim, are you ready?
10:32Ready!
10:33Ready!
10:34Excellent!
10:35...enabled drives!
10:36Time's enabled!
10:37The centrifuge had to be brought up to speed...
10:39...before the real...
10:40...and the test could start!
10:41Okay, Francis...
10:42...we're about to spin up...
10:43...to that baseline of 1.2 Gs!
10:45Okay, I'm ready!
10:47Launching in...
10:48...5...
10:49...4...
10:50...3...
10:50...2...
10:51...1...
10:52...now!
10:55...1...
10:56...1...
10:57...1...
10:58...1...
10:59...1...
11:00...1...
11:01...1...
11:02...1...
11:03...1...
11:04...1...
11:05...1...
11:06...1...
11:07...1...
11:08...1...
11:09...1...
11:10...1...
11:11...1...
11:12...1...
11:13...1...
11:14...1...
11:15...1...
11:16...1...
11:17...1...
11:18...1...
11:19...1...
11:20...1...
11:21...1...
11:22...1...
11:23...1...
11:24kind of need to burn a bit pardon me
11:29taste a bit of avocado then
11:34okay i'm ready the centrifuge
11:39was going to simulate a real space plane launch
11:42i'd spent my whole life
11:44wondering if i had what it took to reach the stars and now with one of
11:49my childhood heroes watching
11:51i was about to find out what i was really made of
11:54i wasn't a fighter pilot i wasn't neil armstrong
11:57i was just a train
11:59spotter with a love of engineering and a dream
12:04four three two one now
12:09wow
12:14okay okay
12:19maximum gd
12:21okay i can't tell
12:24okay
12:29Cut there, we need to stop.
12:32Francis, can you hear us?
12:34Francis?
12:39Francis, can you hear us?
12:44Francis?
12:46Francis?
12:47Sorry, I think I might have dribbled on the mic.
12:50Are you back with us?
12:51Yeah.
12:52OK, well we did say we...
12:54We weren't expecting to take you anywhere near losing consciousness today.
12:58But it looks like we might have...
12:59Oh, I didn't expect...
13:03Sorry.
13:04I just very quickly lost vision.
13:09I'd just been physically tested for the first time.
13:14And I'd failed to make it to 4G without passing out.
13:17If this had been a real law...
13:19I'd have quite literally fallen asleep at the wheel.
13:23Hey Francis, how you doing?
13:24I feel rather pathetic.
13:26Yeah.
13:28Oh!
13:29Yeah.
13:30It's quite a fast onset, isn't it?
13:32Yeah.
13:33Yeah.
13:35Just take your deep breaths.
13:38It's made me realise that...
13:39There's a lot that I'd need to do in order to get ready...
13:42To experience something like that.
13:44...that for real.
13:45In a launch.
13:47So...
13:48Yeah.
13:49I think, you know, like Tim said, probably a bit of experience.
13:54You know, maybe more clenching, yeah.
13:59So, I think, you know.
14:04Hello. Hi, darling. Hi. How did it go today?
14:08Er...
14:09Not great.
14:11No.
14:12I just feel like I've gone into this...
14:14...with quite an unrealistic expectation of what I might be able to achieve.
14:18That even...
14:19...I posted the clip of me passing out to my social media.
14:22Okay, I can't share...
14:24I thought people would be shocked by seeing my face so distorted by G-force.
14:28And I didn't know...
14:29...what the overall response would be.
14:31However, messages poured in from strangers all over the world...
14:34...telling me to keep going.
14:35So, encouraged by this, I decided to continue.
14:39Over the course of the next week, I wrote to astronauts, engineers, start-ups...
14:44...even launch pad maintenance crews.
14:47If you were vaguely space-adjacent...
14:49...chances are you got a message from me that week.
14:52Most didn't reply.
14:53Some...
14:54Some...
14:55...sent polite nose.
14:56But then...
14:57...one came back...
14:58...from Houston...
14:59Hi, Francis.
15:00Uh, transmission received.
15:02If you want to...
15:03If you want to...
15:04...learn what it takes to become an astronaut, there's no better place...
15:07...than to come visit Axioms.
15:09Please come by and visit.
15:10We'd love to host you and show you around.
15:12I had received a message...
15:14...from Matt Ondela, the Chief Strategy Officer at Axiom Space.
15:18Found...
15:19Founded in 2016, and already backed by NASA, they were one of the bold...
15:24...of new players reshaping the industry from the ground up.
15:27It's a very slick video.
15:29So, Axiom...
15:31...uh...
15:32...at the forefront...
15:33...of...
15:34...kind of...
15:35...commercial space exploration.
15:37They're creating...
15:38...the space...
15:39...that's going to take over from the International Space Station.
15:43This is going to lead...
15:44...to...
15:45...kind of...
15:46...some pretty significant...
15:47...uh...
15:48...advances in...
15:49...manufacturing in space, too.
15:51They are also training the next generation...
15:54...of astronauts.
15:55They weren't bound by the old rules, and that meant maybe...
15:59...just maybe...
16:00...someone like me had a way in.
16:05This is like the new era of space.
16:07Matt is one of the figureheads...
16:09...in this video.
16:10And he...
16:11...he's reached out to me directly.
16:13Like...
16:14...the power of social media is baffling...
16:17...but obviously...
16:18...that can only...
16:19...take one so far.
16:20And I feel like I...
16:21...I need to carry my...
16:22...kind of...
16:23...engineering expertise.
16:24...through to this meeting.
16:29I couldn't believe...
16:31...I'd been invited to meet with Axiom.
16:33I...
16:34...over the next few days...
16:35...I watched their video countless times.
16:37I booked myself...
16:38...on the next...
16:39...flight to Texas...
16:40...and packed the essentials...
16:41...passport...
16:42...toothbrush...
16:43...and my...
16:44...the Alton TSR 9 Plus bicycle...
16:46...in powder pink.
16:47Which was actually designed...
16:49...by my great-great-uncle.
16:50Nice use of the old span.
16:53Going...
16:54...through the packing and everything...
16:55...it's...
16:56...felt a bit weird...
16:57...knowing that I'm leaving you...
16:58...but...
16:59...it's...
17:00...it's a journey...
17:01...for me...
17:02...in my passion...
17:03...and kind of...
17:04...lifelog interest.
17:06And...
17:07...I will come out the other side.
17:09Probably a bit more brave...
17:10...and more knowledgeable...
17:11...and...
17:12...and with...
17:13...21 pairs of dirty...
17:14...pants.
17:17I've got something to give you...
17:18...before you...
17:19...to go.
17:20Yeah, it's just in the car.
17:21Is the car open?
17:22Yeah.
17:23Okay.
17:24Aw.
17:25It's just a little something...
17:26Aw, darling.
17:27...for you to open...
17:28...on our anniversary.
17:29Aw.
17:30Do you like the...
17:31...spacey...
17:32...themed wrapping?
17:33Yes.
17:34Saying goodbye to Amy...
17:36...and receiving a gift...
17:37...that I wasn't allowed...
17:38...to open yet...
17:39...suddenly made...
17:40...everything feel...
17:41...overwhelmingly real.
17:42Love you so much.
17:43Off you go!
17:44Love you, darling.
17:45Love you too.
17:46Bye!
17:47I wanted to try and relax my...
17:49...self.
17:50So I headed to the runway...
17:51...observation deck...
17:52...for some plane spotting.
17:54...to open...
17:55...to open...
17:56...to open...
17:57...to open...
17:58...to open...
17:59...to open...
18:00...to open...
18:01...to open...
18:02...to open...
18:03...to open...
18:04...to open...
18:05...to open...
18:06...to open...
18:07...to open...
18:08...to open...
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17:59I'm trying to remember why more modern engines have so...
18:04...durated engine cowlings. I'm pretty sure it's to do with noise emissions.
18:09Do you think they'll let me off?
18:14Ask the pilot about the serrated cowlings.
18:17I noticed on some of the more...
18:19...more modern aircraft.
18:20They have the serrated engine cowlings around the edge.
18:24It's more of my airplane than I do.
18:26I've got to go back to school.
18:29I'm in my elements here.
18:31What do you look at?
18:32Whoa, whoa, whoa.
18:33Terrain of...
18:34...awareness, test, start.
18:36I've got goosebumps on my arms.
18:39As I cruised across the...
18:44...atlantic.
18:45I couldn't quite believe I was about to land in America.
18:48This wasn't just...
18:49...a new country.
18:50It was a whole new chapter.
18:52I was going to the home of mission...
18:54...in control, where all the walls echo with voices of Apollo...
18:57...and the streets aligned with...
18:59...people who have helped shape the future of humanity.
19:02I imagined landing in...
19:04...in Texas to blue skies.
19:10Instead, I was greeted by torrential rain.
19:13But I didn't...
19:14...in mind.
19:15I was in Houston...
19:16...about to try and prove to one of the most cutting-edge spaces...
19:19...companies on Earth...
19:20...that I could qualify as one of their astronauts.
19:24...inита could...
19:25... chÆ°a
19:50on display this is very very cool in the
19:55reception area they had a scale model of the space station they are currently building
20:00i suppose it would be going about this fast i thought i might one day find myself docking
20:05through this very hatch i started to imagine
20:10myself actually living in space floating between the modules doing vital
20:15scientific research and drifting off to sleep in zero gravity so would i
20:20actually sleep in here yeah right okay sleeping bag on the right and then you would strap your
20:25self in so you don't float away my usual style of sleeping is kind of on my
20:30side and it actually has been kind of counterproductive for my posture
20:35so perhaps microgravity sleeping could really be quite correct
20:40active yeah thank you i was confident i would
20:45i was making a good impression as i was introduced to one of axiom's astronaut trainers
20:50and operational leaders hey hello lovely to meet you lovely to meet you as well
21:05you
20:55hello wow and welcome to our mission control center i'm in charge of the timeline operation
21:00so when crew goes on board they have a schedule to follow every day i even get
21:05to plan their like lunches and snack times so what they're having for lunch or when they're having
21:10lunch no no when they're having lunch okay you're having chili con carne today
21:23you
21:15we seemed to have a really strong professional rapport and the work
21:20place banter was off the charts so i thought it was the right time to inquire about getting my
21:25self a job how long is the training program if you're referring to our astronaut training program absolutely
21:30absolutely so it's actually we've achieved it in under a year at this point really yes it's quite
21:35quite a year but yes interesting who is kind of a legend
21:40so it's quite simple for the um training programs um really anyone
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27:07um
27:09we don't really have an application process i think we do have a you know a place on our website
27:14that you can apply there is a pathway for individuals to be part of human space flight
27:27and my mission here had come to a stop
27:32i suppose in the back of my head i was thinking if i could demonstrate my
27:37you know excitement and engineering expertise that maybe though i could
27:42there could be an open door there but
27:44there could be an open door there but
27:46they need people
27:47there could be an open door there but they need people
27:49there could be an open door there but they need people
27:51there could be an open door there but they need people
27:53there could be an open door there but they need people
27:55there could be an open door there but they need people
27:57there could be an open door there but they need people
27:59there could be an open door there but they need people
28:01there could be an open door there but they need people
28:03there could be an open door there but they need people
28:07there could be an open door there but they need people
28:09there could be an open door there but they need people
28:11there could be an open door there but they need people
28:11there could be an open door there but they need people there could be an open door there but they need people
28:11In the UK, the centrifuge had hit me hard and exposed my limits.
28:16My body needed to be stronger and my mind sharper, especially to conquer the...
28:21fear of something going wrong.
28:23So I dug into the science and found out that all potential...
28:26astronauts need to learn to spot the signs of hypoxia, which, similar to the centrifuge...
28:31is a lack of oxygen to the brain.
28:34OK, here we go.
28:36Can you see?
28:39So everyone has their oxygen masks on.
28:41So I got in touch with a facility in Florida who specialise in this aspect of...
28:46astronaut training, and they agreed to put me through my paces.
28:51So it's basically a metal tube where they suck out the oxygen.
28:56And monitor you whilst your critical functions shut down.
29:00That sounds awful.
29:01Just think of the ice chai latte you can have once you're done.
29:05OK, love you.
29:06See you, bye.
29:08Welcome to our facility.
29:10I am the president of the American...
29:11College of Hyperbaric Medicine.
29:13I am so excited that you're here to experience what it's like to experience hypoxia.
29:16or what it's like to become an astronaut.
29:19What is hypoxia and kind of what does...
29:21what does it mean for the body?
29:23So hypoxia is where the brain doesn't have enough oxygen to function.
29:26And so...
29:26basically to preserve itself, it starts shutting down.
29:29Now you are going to be the one without an...
29:31oxygen mask, which means you have usable consciousness of only three to five minutes.
29:35Right.
29:36And we're going to...
29:36see if you have what it takes to not pass out.
29:39OK.
29:41Nervous?
29:41Uh, yes.
29:43Dr. Tyler explained that a hyperbaric chamber...
29:46wasn't just a cylindrical metal anxiety tube.
29:50It was designed to slowly...
29:51suck out all the oxygen inside to simulate conditions astronauts might expect...
29:56to experience if there was a sudden loss of pressure in their spacecraft, denying them...
30:01vital oxygen and potentially leading to disaster.
30:06But as I...
30:06stepped inside, I quickly realised this wasn't just another test.
30:11It was...
30:11as a return to the feeling I feared the most, losing control of a situation and...
30:16passing out.
30:18As the door sealed, my mind drifted back to the...
30:21spin, and the blackout, and the silence that followed.
30:24Two...
30:25One...
30:26One...
30:28This was supposed to be a new challenge.
30:31But it opened up an old world.
30:36Sorry, do you mind if I just have a moment?
30:41I just need to...
30:43Need a moment?
30:44Yeah, if that's okay.
30:45Open the door for me.
30:46Sorry, it's just a bit overwhelming.
30:51I love you.
30:56If you don't want to do this, that is absolutely fine, we want to make sure you're totally
31:01happy.
31:02Yeah.
31:03Sorry.
31:04Don't be sorry.
31:06I'll be totally honest, I find the capsule quite overwhelming in a way.
31:11I'm just being locked in.
31:12Absolutely.
31:13But I suppose in this scenario, I'm really-
31:16I'm really seeing the usefulness of how pushing past the boundaries of my cum-
31:21foot zone will give me a tool.
31:24I get it.
31:25You are trusting-
31:26You are trusting us to take care of you.
31:27And just know that's the highest honor.
31:29Okay.
31:30Um.
31:31And-
31:32Okay.
31:33And-
31:34Okay.
31:36I'm gonna do it.
31:37Alright?
31:38If I was really going to become an astronaut, I knew I'd have-
31:41to push through these difficult moments.
31:43As the camera crew and Dr. Tyler put on their-
31:46oxygen masks, I became acutely aware that I was the only one in the chamber.
31:51You're talking the atmosphere.
31:52Can you hear Alyssa?
31:53Hello, Alyssa?
31:54Can you hear me?
31:55Can you hear me?
31:56I can indeed.
31:57If at any point during the flight you start feeling any symptoms, just call them out.
32:01Okay?
32:02Okay.
32:03The test involved removing the oxygen, which was the equivalent of being-
32:06at 24,000 feet above sea level, an altitude where I'd almost certainly passed-
32:11focus out.
32:12Oh.
32:13Okay.
32:14Calm down.
32:15Focus on the numbers.
32:16Okay.
32:17And the chamber is approaching 15,000 feet.
32:20I can feel my-
32:21My lips are starting to get a little bit cold.
32:23Okay.
32:24I had to call out my symptoms-
32:26my symptoms as I felt them.
32:27So in the future, if I was to experience a lack of oxygen in-
32:31a spacecraft, I'd be able to recognise what was happening and take emergency measures.
32:36before disaster struck.
32:37We're going to take the chamber up just a little bit higher.
32:39I've noticed my feet are-
32:40We're going to take the chamber up just a little bit higher.
32:41I've noticed my feet are-
32:42Your feet as well?
32:43Yeah.
32:44We're going up to 22,000 feet now.
32:47Um, I'm feeling slightly woozy.
32:50Woozy?
32:51Okay.
32:52It feels like there's a bit of, kind of, pressure in a way in my stomach.
32:56Apologies.
32:57If I'm introducing a new gas to this scenario.
33:00So I'd say-
33:02My-
33:03My vision is going slightly speckly.
33:05Do you want to continue or would you like to go-
33:07back to service?
33:08Um, I'm-
33:09I'm happy to proceed a bit-
33:11bit longer.
33:12Gary, go ahead and go to 24,000 feet.
33:15I'm feeling like my mouth slightly-
33:17it's tricky to find its position and it's kind of almost little
33:22like pinpricks in my chest in a way. The symptoms were subtle at first
33:27slowed coordination delayed speech but Dr. Tyler had seen them all before
33:32hypoxia was setting in and I was minutes away from blacking out again
33:37to make out minutes I'm now feeling slightly woozy
33:41okay
33:42and my head's feeling slightly wobbly
33:47alright go ahead and put your mask on
33:51go ahead and put your mask on
33:52put your mask on
33:54what?
33:55put your mask on
33:56okay
33:57yeah I can tell you're starting to feel it
34:02okay
34:03yep put your mask on
34:07wait
34:08wait
34:09wait
34:10wait
34:11wait
34:12wait
34:13wait
34:14wait
34:15wait
34:16wait
34:17wait
34:18wait
34:19wait
34:20wait
34:21wait
34:22wait
34:23wait
34:24wait
34:25wait
34:26wait
34:27wait
34:27wait
34:28wait
34:29wait
34:30wait
34:31wait
34:32wait
34:32wait
34:34wait
34:35wait
34:36wait
34:37wait
34:38just
34:37my symptoms of hypoxia.
34:39It's kind of like I've added a tool to my inventory.
34:42I'd faced my fear of blacking out.
34:45But now it was time to push things further.
34:47I want...
34:47I wanted to feel physically what astronauts experience when they leave Earth's grip.
34:52So I...
34:52I booked a seat on a specially modified plane that simulates zero gravity through parabolic
34:57flights.
34:57It's one thing operating on solid ground, but what does it take to function...
35:02Mentally and physically when gravity disappears.
35:05And to see if I could do something comp...
35:07I contacted SpaceForge, a UK company...
35:12developing re-entry heat shields for satellites.
35:15I asked if they had anything I could test...
35:17mid-flight.
35:18And to my surprise, they said yes.
35:22So, SpaceForge, they've sent me a package.
35:27I wonder if this has come all the way from Wales?
35:32Socks!
35:33This looks like some kind of prototype.
35:36I...
35:37In this box...
35:39is a small model of our origami base...
35:42heat shield. Can you try and film it opening or deploying on a parabolic
35:47flight? Good luck, Space Forge team. We've got, uh...
35:52An hour and 20, so I'll get this down me and then I'll focus on the origami.
35:57I could even, um, do some egg origami.
36:02Call me.
36:07That ended up concertina-ing in my mouth in a similar way to the heat shield.
36:12I had nailed breakfast and now it was time for me to nail my mission.
36:17As an ambassador for a bona fide space engineering company, I couldn't help but
36:22feel a sense of pride as I prepared for launch, especially as I was going to be
36:27joined on the flight by astronaut Danny Olivas, which only added to the significant
36:32significance of what I was about to do.
36:34Well, looking forward to seeing you on board.
36:36All right.
36:37I stowed my heat shield safely in my flight suit pocket, and as the
36:42nerves slowly built, I looked to the fish in their own zero-gravity world for
36:47reassurance.
36:48Wow.
36:51I'm not...
36:52feeling so nervous anymore.
36:53The feeling of excitement is more kind of at the forefront now.
36:57I'm really, really looking forward to this.
37:02As I strapped my GoPro to my head, I couldn't help but wonder if this was how
37:07astronauts felt as they were about to leave the Earth.
37:10This is very bizarre.
37:12This is very bizarre.
37:13This is very bizarre.
37:14I knew for you guys that in my heart, I was working in my life.
37:16Well, you will have a tough time for a year and I really
37:17feel like you got a lot of time.
37:18You will have a tough time going.
37:19You will have to be a tough time, according to my heart, but it will be a tough time for
37:22you.
37:23I'm первый to stay the day, but I thank you so much.
37:25You'll be a tough time.
37:26I need to be in the season with my heart and my heart.
37:28You will be a tough time.
37:29I can't wait for you to go through my heart.
37:32I'm getting me so full of my heart.
37:33I can't wait for you.
37:34I want to hang my heart and lift off my heart as well.
37:37I can't wait for you.
37:38Just do it.
37:39And now I was about to experience something wonderful.
37:43Something unique.
37:44Tied me to astronauts, past and present, slowly, gently.
37:49The weight of the world began to lift.
37:54Whoa!
37:55Whoa!
37:57Whoa!
37:58Whoa!
37:59Whoa!
38:01Whoa!
38:02Whoa!
38:03Whoa!
38:04Whoa!
38:05Whoa!
38:06Whee!
38:07Whee!
38:08Whee!
38:09Whee!
38:10Oh!
38:11Sorry!
38:12I knew I had one!
38:13I knew I had one!
38:14I knew I had a lot of work to do.
38:15But first I wanted to float and let my body truly feel...
38:19my childhood dream. I was actually weightless. Nothing in my life
38:24had felt quite like this.
38:29I cannot believe what I'm experiencing. It just conf-
38:34completely defies everything that you've ever learned about moving your body.
38:39I can't believe what I was experiencing. I can't believe what I was experiencing.
38:56Hang on, I'm feeling a bit sick.
38:58Yeah, I need a bag.
38:59Go, go.
39:01Go, go.
39:03Go, go.
39:05Go, go.
39:07Go, go.
39:09Go, go.
39:11Go, go.
39:13Go, go.
39:15Go, go.
39:17Go, go.
39:19Go, go.
39:21Go, go.
39:23Go, go.
39:25Go, go.
39:27Go, go.
39:29Go, go.
39:31Go, go.
39:33Go, go.
39:35Go, go.
39:37Go, go.
39:39Go, go.
39:41Go, go.
39:43Go, go.
39:45Go, go.
39:47Go, go.
39:49Go, go.
39:51Go, go.
39:53Go, go.
39:55Go, go.
39:57Go, go.
39:59Go, go.
40:01the most horrendous experience of my life.
40:06Around Parabola 12, I started considering what I...
40:11needed to do with the prototype, and then I was...
40:16overcome with nausea, my face was covered in it because it was...
40:21zero G, and it was coming out of the bag back up...
40:24back on my face.
40:26I'm afraid Space Forge, you know, I especially failed.
40:31I mean, at least... at least they've...
40:36their prototype isn't tainted with my stomach acid.
40:41It never made it out of the pocket.
40:42It didn't get it out of my pocket.
40:46Are we eight... are we eight hours behind?
40:51Yeah.
40:56Hang on.
41:01I just realised it's mine and Amy's anniversary, and I haven't...
41:06spoken to her today.
41:07And it's... now... what...
41:11four... four thirty... like...
41:13quarter past midnight.
41:16I couldn't get a hold of Amy.
41:21But back at the hotel, I remembered the present she'd given me before I left.
41:26A reminder that I will always be by your side.
41:31Down on earth or up in space.
41:34Happy anniversary.
41:35I love you to...
41:36the moon and back, Amy.
41:37To the moon and back, Amy.
41:41To the moon the moon.
41:42Around the moon that remains.
41:44I never forget about the moon from the moon.
41:45Shit.
41:46It must be the bay.
41:47So when I was thinking...
41:48第二ostradio plays a speech over the summit.
41:49Fuck it to me.
41:50And I was thinking...
41:51Tell me oh my god I may that..."
41:52I went pop in.
41:53It would be.
41:54Chant.
41:55You over guy.
41:56ерão Oh but I'm réflged with H로.
41:57What was it?
41:58It was a big problem.
41:59He's been talking...
42:01From the moon to me.
42:03And it's through our heads,
42:04how…
42:05It was a big light hit.
42:06It was it's very hot,
42:07It's going to...
42:08Great happy heart...
42:09future. You know they train astronauts for vacuum exposure.
42:14System failure, even re-entry burn, but no one really tells you what to do when you're
42:19just missing someone. I'm not feeling my shiniest self.
42:24There's a karaoke bar down the road which I'm going to check out, and I'll call you when
42:29you wake up.
42:29Love you.
42:34I'm not feeling my shiniest self.
42:39Can I have a fudge in Mary, please?
42:44Yeah.
42:44Absolutely.
42:45Can I have a bit more...
42:49Can you post us your sauce?
42:50Oh yeah, of course.
42:51Is that good?
42:52Yeah.
42:54Yeah.
42:55You can leave the bottle.
42:56Thanks.
42:57Is that bad, huh?
42:59I've been trying to see if I can become an astronaut.
43:04And it isn't quite what I thought it would be in a way.
43:07And, like...
43:09I'm missing home.
43:10I'm missing my girlfriend on a special day.
43:13I really...
43:14I think you should get up there and sing a song.
43:15I think it would make you feel better.
43:17And...
43:18What song?
43:20I'll put it in for you.
43:21Go on up there.
43:22You sure?
43:23Yeah, absolutely.
43:24Sure.
43:25Francis's emotions were in pieces.
43:29And now a stranger behind a bar had just told him to sing.
43:34There was no helmet or mission brief.
43:36Just a microphone and a room full of tips.
43:39Americans.
43:40But here's the thing about training to become an astronaut.
43:44It's not just about surviving the tests.
43:47It's about holding your...
43:49your orbit when gravity pulls you sideways and facing the light.
43:54when the instinct is to shut your eyes.
43:59Francis didn't know how the crowd would react.
44:02He didn't even know what note he'd be...
44:04starting on.
44:05But in a way, that's what made this the purest part of his life.
44:09his training so far.
44:10She packed my bags last night...
44:14in bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright bright
44:19Zero hour, nine a.m.
44:24And I'm gonna be home.
44:29As a kite by then.
44:34Yeah!
44:39And I think it's gonna be a long, long time to touch.
44:44Now brings me right to Dubai.
44:47I'm not a bad living guy.
44:49I'm not a bad living guy.
44:51I'm not a bad living guy.
44:53I'm not a bad living guy.
44:54I'm not a bad living guy.
44:56I'm not a bad living guy.
44:58I'm not a bad living guy.
44:59I'm not a bad living guy.
45:03Yeah!
45:04Yeah!
45:05Yeah!
45:06Go Brooklyn!
45:09And I think it's gonna be a long, long time to touch.
45:12Now brings me right to Dubai.
45:14I'm not a bad living guy.
45:15I'm not a bad living guy.
45:16I think I am at home.
45:17I'm not a bad living guy.
45:18I'm not a bad living guy.
45:19Go, go, go, go to the park of Rock and Dance.
45:24Rocket Man!
45:29When he sang his heart out, Francis realized that before you can escape...
45:34...the Earth's gravity, you have to learn how to carry your own.
45:39He wasn't ready to give up because Francis' path to the stars was never...
45:44...want to be a straight line.
45:47A special guest from the UK...
45:49...Francois Bourgeois.
45:51He's not talking. Are you okay?
45:52He's not talking.
45:53Our spirits are...
45:54...at the moment are just dancing together.
45:55I feel like I'm making a decision that is having an impact on someone who I love.
45:59I'm totally overwhelmed.
46:02Oh my goodness.
46:05That's one of my new favourite noises.
46:07Alongside the Paxman Ruston 16 Arcade...
46:09...the UK3CTs.
46:14The UK3CTs.
46:15The UK3CTs.
46:16The UK3CTs.
46:17The UK3CTs.
46:19The UK3CTs.
46:20The UK3CTs.
46:21The UK3CTs.
46:22The UK3CTs.
46:23The UK3CTs.
46:24The UK3CTs.
46:25The UK3CTs.
46:26The UK3CTs.
46:27The UK3CTs.
46:28The UK3CTs.
46:29The UK3CTs.
46:30The UK3CTs.
46:31The UK3CTs.
46:32The UK3CTs.
46:33The UK3CTs.
46:34The UK3CTs.
46:35The UK3CTs.
46:36The UK3CTs.
46:37The UK3CTs.
46:38The UK3CTs.
46:39The UK3CTs.
46:40The UK3CTs.
46:41The UK3CTs.
46:42The UK3CTs.
46:43The UK3CTs.
46:44The UK3CTs.
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