Bryanna Reynolds.

A new Australian documentary is set to take audiences on a journey from the remote landscapes of Australia to the edge of space, exploring one of humanity’s biggest challenges: can we overcome the limits of our bodies to become a spacefaring species?

Outback to Orbit follows astronaut-in-training Celene Shimmen as she undertakes groundbreaking research into how the human body adapts to spaceflight and recovers after returning to Earth. 

Through parabolic flight training, scientific discovery and a uniquely Australian perspective, the film examines the physical realities of living and working in space.

The documentary is the latest project from Australian filmmaker and producer Bryanna Reynolds, whose career has spanned more than 200 episodes of television across Australia and North America. Known for telling stories that combine science, exploration and the human experience, Reynolds brings a deeply personal connection to the project.

The origins of Outback to Orbit can be traced back to Reynolds’ own family history. Following the disappearance of her father, the only connection he left behind was a collection of original newspaper clippings from the Apollo moon landing. Those clippings became a lasting symbol of curiosity, ambition and humanity’s desire to push beyond its limits.

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Inspired by that legacy, Reynolds has dedicated her work to exploring how people find meaning in the unknown and how absence can shape identity. In Outback to Orbit, those themes are woven into a larger story about exploration, discovery and the future of humanity.

Moving between the Australian outback and the frontier of space research, the film asks a profound question: are humans truly ready to become a species that lives beyond Earth?

While the documentary is still in development, Reynolds is already building the team that will help bring the ambitious project to life.

“My aim is to put together a majority female-led crew for the film, currently in development with filming slated for November 2026,” Reynolds tells Cinema Australia.

She is encouraging women with an interest in science, history and space exploration to become involved in the production.

“We’re on the lookout for women to join the team. People who are especially interested in, but not limited to, science, space travel and history,” she said.

Combining cutting-edge science with a personal story of loss, Outback to Orbit promises to be an inspiring exploration of memory, resilience and humanity’s enduring fascination with what lies beyond the horizon.

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