![At right, a man in a blue flight suit with patches on it takes a selfie with his cell phone. He is in the photo, as well as panel members and the large audience. They are in an auditorium. In the far background, there is a NASA \"meatball\" insignia and the letters \"JPL\" on the wall.](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/06-dg01304.jpg?w=2000\")
<\/a><\/figure>Real-life space exploration and big-screen science fiction will converge on Friday. As NASA prepares to launch Artemis II<\/a>, the first crewed mission under the agency\u2019s Artemis program and another step toward sending the first astronauts \u2013 Americans \u2013 to Mars, the fictional film \u201cProject Hail Mary\u201d premiere will take audiences on a journey into deep space.<\/p>\n The agency provided guidance throughout filming, and also is participating in activities related to the release of the film to connect the agency\u2019s missions, innovations, and discoveries to the public through pop culture.<\/p>\n \u201cSpace exploration captures the public\u2019s imagination, and collaboration between science and storytelling brings that sense of discovery to a wider audience,\u201d said Will Boyington, associate administrator for the Office of Communications at NASA Headquarters in Washington. \u201cInspiring the next generation, whether through rocket launches or sci-fi movies, helps build the talent and support that underpin American leadership in space.\u201d<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s communications personnel provided informal consultation about human spaceflight and science during the making of the movie, and experts from the agency in astrobiology<\/a>\u00a0and astrophysics<\/a>, which are major themes in \u201cProject Hail Mary,\u201d answered questions about these topics during the making of the film. Agency advisors are listed in the credits.<\/p>\n On the movie set, the agency provided an in-person consultation between NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren<\/a>\u00a0and actor Ryan Gosling, who plays an astronaut in the movie. NASA also facilitated brand use guidance and clearance for the agency\u2019s \u201cmeatball\u201d and \u201cworm\u201d logos featured in the film.\u00a0<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s activities related to the movie even reached beyond Earth. In between conducting research and demonstrating new technologies, Expedition 74<\/a>\u00a0crew members living and working aboard the International Space Station, including NASA astronauts Chris Williams, Jessica Meir, and Jack Hathaway, screened \u201cProject Hail Mary\u201d while in orbit.<\/p>\n Artemis II crew members, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who will help make what once was science fiction a reality through their upcoming deep space launch, are expected to have an opportunity to view \u201cProject Hail Mary\u201d while in quarantine. They are preparing to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.<\/p>\n Learn more about the agency\u2019s missions on NASA\u2019s website: <\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nasa.gov<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n