From lab to launch: UF documentary captures Rob Ferl’s 2024 spaceflight journey

What does it feel like to leave Earth behind while carrying the weight of years of research into orbit? A new documentary airing on PBS brings viewers closer than ever to that question through the story of one University of Florida scientist.

Produced by UF, the video follows space biologist Rob Ferl, Ph.D., during his 2024 flight to space aboard a Blue Origin rocket. While the mission itself drew widespread attention, the documentary focuses on what the public rarely sees, including years of research, coordination and preparation leading up to launch.

“The public often sees the front facing part, the ride to space,” Ferl said. “But there is so little appreciation for the years of work it takes to get there.”

The film highlights the scientific process behind the mission, including the preparation of samples in the laboratory. It features Research Professor and ICBR Director Anna-Lisa Paul, Ph.D., and Jordan Callaham, assistant director of the Astraeus Space Institute and former lab manager of the Space Plants Lab, who coordinated logistics across teams both inside and outside traditional research settings. It also emphasizes the human side of spaceflight, including the emotional and logistical preparation required in the days leading up to launch.

“There is a deeper meaning to all of this,” Ferl said. “The human element, what it takes psychologically and emotionally to make something like this happen, is a story we do not often get to tell.”

“We do not want this to be one and done. More scientists should have the opportunity to fly. In a few years, this should become a regular part of doing science,” he added.

The documentary is set to air on PBS on May 6.

Looking ahead, Ferl and Paul are continuing to build on the mission’s success. They are working toward future flights, including planned research aboard the International Space Station, with the goal of expanding access for more scientists.