The Allure of Space and the Reality of Space Travel in "When the Stars Gossip"
The K-drama "When the Stars Gossip" captivates audiences with its unique premise: a romance blossoming amidst the backdrop of space travel. The series follows Gong Ryong, a wealthy OB-GYN, and Eve Kim, a Korean-American astronaut, as their paths intertwine on a space tourism mission. While the drama focuses on their developing relationship, it also delves into the intricacies and challenges of space exploration, raising numerous questions about the realities of astronaut life and the scientific possibilities beyond Earth. The show’s depiction of space travel, while fictionalized, incorporates actual scientific concepts and historical events, sparking curiosity about the accuracy of its portrayal.
One of the initial questions the series prompts is South Korea’s involvement in space exploration. The drama correctly highlights Dr. Yi So-yeon as the country’s first and only astronaut, who journeyed to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2008. Her experience, including the dramatic crash landing upon return, underscores the inherent risks of space travel. The show also addresses the exorbitant cost of space tourism, a plot point central to Ryong’s participation in the mission. While the drama cites a price of $48 million, real-life costs vary significantly depending on the provider and the duration of the trip. Companies like Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and SpaceX offer vastly different experiences, ranging from brief suborbital flights to extended stays on the ISS, with prices reflecting the complexity and duration of the journey.
"When the Stars Gossip" incorporates realistic scenarios, such as the possibility of a rocket being struck by lightning during liftoff. While rare, this has occurred historically, notably during the Apollo 12 mission. The drama also touches upon the intriguing question of weapons in space, revealing that while American spacecraft have never carried guns, Russian cosmonauts historically carried firearms as part of their emergency kits for potential encounters with wildlife upon landing in remote locations. The communication aspect of space travel is also addressed, clarifying that while cell phones lack traditional service in space, astronauts utilize specialized communication satellites and ground antennas for internet access, enabling email communication and video calls.
The drama introduces the concept of a SuitSat, a discarded spacesuit equipped with a radio transmitter, which Ryong initially mistakes for a deceased astronaut. This fictional encounter highlights the reality that while there are no known human remains floating in space, various objects, including defunct satellites and debris, orbit the Earth. The series also showcases the long history of animals in space, from fruit flies in 1947 to a diverse range of creatures used in scientific experiments to understand the effects of space travel on living organisms. A key plot point in "When the Stars Gossip" revolves around the potential for human reproduction in space, with Ryong bringing human egg cells aboard for an experimental intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure. While the drama takes creative liberties, it mirrors real-life research into the impact of microgravity on reproductive cells, with studies involving frozen human sperm sent to the ISS.
The physiological effects of space travel are another area explored in the drama. The show accurately depicts the known effects of microgravity on the spine, resulting in increased height, and also mentions the potential for wrinkle reduction due to fluid shifts towards the head. However, the drama also acknowledges the detrimental effects of microgravity on skin health, including decreased elasticity and increased dryness. The question of telomere lengthening in space, as observed in astronaut Scott Kelly, is also raised, but the drama accurately reflects the current scientific understanding that this phenomenon is likely linked to oxidative stress rather than microgravity itself. Another dramatic scenario involves a spacesuit puncture during a spacewalk, illustrating the potential dangers of depressurization and the rapid onset of oxygen deprivation in such a situation. The drama emphasizes the importance of decompression procedures before spacewalks to prevent decompression sickness, highlighting the meticulous protocols astronauts must follow to mitigate the risks associated with pressure changes.
Finally, the seemingly trivial question of ice cream consumption in space is addressed. The drama reveals that ice cream is, in fact, a suitable space treat due to the stable temperature within a space station and the effects of surface tension and microgravity preventing melting and dripping. This detail, while seemingly insignificant, adds a touch of realism to the portrayal of astronaut life, contrasting with the misconception that astronauts consume freeze-dried ice cream. Overall, "When the Stars Gossip," while primarily a romantic drama, provides viewers with a glimpse into the fascinating world of space travel, blending fictional narratives with real-world scientific concepts and historical events to create an engaging and thought-provoking storyline.
