[imagesource:space.com]

If you’re a fellow space-geek, the four-part Netflix docuseries Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine should be entering your personal orbit.

Last year, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) made history with the collection and public release of crystal clear images of parts of our universe. Director and journalist Shai Gal’s new four-part documentary that premiered last week breaks down the groundbreaking telescope, celebrating the ingenuity of the science behind the data, while also what he calls “a journey to our roots”.

In celebration of the release of the show’s last instalment, Gal opened up in an exclusive interview with Space.com. It’s clear when hearing what the filmmaker has to say that this is more than just another science doccie to him.

While the series unpacks a lot of the technical information surrounding the creation of the telescope, Gal is adamant on giving a spotlight to the amazing humans who made the journey possible:

“It was emotional to see people devoting their life to a single project on a mission they knew would change the course of history in our knowledge.”

The JWST cost the equivalent of almost R180 million to build and is a gift that keeps on giving. Since it’s creation, the telescope has continuously provided netizens with mind-boggling footage, including rare pictures of a dying star’s last moments. 

Gal takes the story of the JWST, as well as our vast universe, to even greater depths. The director’s passion for how we as humans interact with the stars is almost as clear as the JWST’s snapshots.

Check out the trailer for just a taste of the brain-bending visuals:

Not all filmmakers can say they’ve worked with NASA, but far from being boastful, Gal shared that he is a changed man after the experience:

“Documentaries always charge you. They make you wiser, smarter, and they make me love people more. That team at NASA, it’s easy to love them and admire their spirit. I was so lucky to be a part of the crew that was there. This is documenting real history that’s going to be so meaningful for the world. Look at what we’re already seeing a year after the first photo.”

When planet earth gets a bit much, Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine may be the best way to step out of our own heads and stratosphere and embrace the beauty of our connections to the universe.

[source:space.com]