Director Alfonso Cuarón's epic space film Gravity [1] may have taken seven golden statues home at the Oscars last night, but the ultimate winner is space exploration.
Gravity, which stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, is about a fictional NASA mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, and it's much more than just a cinematic marvel. During the Academy Awards, NASA took to Twitter to thank the film for "igniting our minds to keep exploring" and used the hashtag #RealGravity to remind the public of the amazing Oscar-worthy work real-life astronauts do every day.
Congrats to all involved with #Gravity [2] for all the Oscar wins! Thanks for igniting our minds to keep exploring. http://t.co/tXCsYEKAVF [3]
— NASA (@NASA) March 3, 2014 [4]
While many were skeptical of the not-entirely-accurate liberties the movie took, including astrophysicist/Twitter extraordinaire Neil deGrasse Tyson [5], there's no doubt that Gravity helps bring space exploration back into the public consciousness.
NASA was very involved in the making of the film and shared that Sandra was advised by astronaut Cady Coleman [6] before shooting began.
#Gravity [7] fact: Sandra Bullock called @Astro_Cady [8] Coleman to learn about #ISS [9] life http://t.co/HI0zoABDQq [10] #Oscars2014 [11] pic.twitter.com/cTGtRc5TaT [12]
— NASA (@NASA) March 2, 2014 [13]
Scroll down for some amazing #RealGravity shots, then check out the insane behind-the-scenes footage [14] from the making of the film.
Congrats to #Gravity [15] for another win at the #Oscars2014 [16] for best director! Here's a #RealGravity [17] look at sunset pic.twitter.com/Innj6UAlAC [18]
— NASA (@NASA) March 3, 2014 [19]
More #RealGravity [20] as #Gravity [21] is up for #Oscars2014 [22] awards: Astro. Chris Cassidy preps to get the shot from the #ISS [23] pic.twitter.com/k7EMp4oFK4 [24]
— NASA (@NASA) March 3, 2014 [25]
Another #RealGravity [26] pic as #Gravity [27] picks up awards tonight at #Oscars2014 [28]: Earth as seen from #ISS [29] in 2013 pic.twitter.com/D30MsMLSfx [30]
— NASA (@NASA) March 3, 2014 [31]
More #RealGravity [32] as #Gravity [33] is up for awards at #Oscars2014 [34]: @Astro_Suni [35] is seen during an #ISS [36] spacewalk in 2007 pic.twitter.com/fYeS0vwjBl [37]
— NASA (@NASA) March 3, 2014 [38]
More #RealGravity [39]: Just what is orbital debris? http://t.co/4UMv6zDnUr [40] Here's more answers: http://t.co/QbhKFG8n84 [41] pic.twitter.com/Ebw2P68u02 [42]
— NASA (@NASA) March 3, 2014 [43]
More #RealGravity [44] as #Gravity [45] is up for #Oscars2014 [46] awards: @SciAstro [47] services the Hubble Space Telescope in 2009 pic.twitter.com/kfABOk9cb4 [48]
— NASA (@NASA) March 3, 2014 [49]