Jesús Calleja is set to become the first non-astronaut Spanish citizen to travel to space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket, marking a historic moment for Spain. Scheduled for February 25 at 16:30 hours, Calleja's adventure will be broadcast live on Telecinco, offering viewers unprecedented access to this groundbreaking mission.
The excitement around Calleja's upcoming flight is palpable. '¡Qué nervios tengo, Carlos, de poder ver esto! O sea, ¿sabes lo que supone para mí estar delante del módulo que va a ir a la Luna? No me lo puedo creer,' expressed Calleja during his visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Here, he interacted with Carlos García Galán, who works on the Orion spacecraft, which is part of the Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the Moon.
Calleja's tour of the space center included exclusive access to the Orion capsule, the crew module for the Artemis missions. 'Aquí traemos a los astronautas con todos los trajes espaciales y aprenden a cómo entrar y cómo sacárselos,' García explained, providing insights about astronaut training and preparation.
The launch of the New Shepard, which will take off from Blue Origin's facility located in West Texas, promises to be thrilling. The flight is expected to last about 11 minutes, crossing the Kármán line—set at 100 km above sea level—where the crew will experience several minutes of weightlessness. 'Cuando empieza a interaccionar con la atmósfera, está como a 25.000 millas por hora,' García described, detailing the speed at which the capsule will re-enter Earth's atmosphere.
Viewers can expect extensive coverage on Telecinco, beginning 45 minutes before the takeoff, with hosts Carlos Franganillo and María Casado leading the broadcast. They will be joined by astronaut Pedro Duque, among other experts who will provide commentary and analysis of the flight.
The live program will also feature real-time communications from various locations, including García's insights from the launch site and messages from family and celebrities supporting Calleja. The prelude to the launch will highlight the significance of this mission for the future of Spanish space exploration and media coverage of such events.
Upon successfully landing back on Earth, Calleja will share his first impressions with the audience. Following his return, he plans to conduct a more extensive interview to discuss the experience and emotions associated with his extraordinary adventure. This personal touch offers viewers not just the thrill of space travel but also the human element of Calleja's story.
Calleja's mission is not just significant for the adventurer himself but also for Spanish media, illustrating the growing interest and capabilities within the nation’s space endeavors. The coverage serves as both entertainment and educational opportunity, potentially inspiring future generations to explore the vast universe beyond our planet. This is more than just another television spectacle; it’s the beginning of what could be Spain's active involvement in the modern space race.
With such significant participants and expert involvement, Jesús Calleja's space flight coverage is poised to be one for the history books, bridging excitement and education for audiences worldwide. Tune in to Telecinco for this one-of-a-kind event as Spain prepares to mark its place among nations venturing beyond the stars.