Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Free Space
  Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: Kate Upton in zero-G

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: Kate Upton in zero-G
Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-18-2014 09:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Zero Gravity Corporation release
Kate Upton Defies Gravity While Flying With ZERO-G For Sports Illustrated's 50th Swimsuit Issue

Kate Upton and Sports Illustrated (SI) have taken swimsuit modeling where it's never gone before. Flying with Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G), Upton flipped, floated and modeled in true weightlessness – as if in outer space – for SI's 50th anniversary Swimsuit issue.

SI's landmark Swimsuit Production hit newsstands today, complete with a major package, Upton, floating in zero gravity. For Upton, who appeared on SI's swimsuit covers in 2012 and 2013, her weightless shoot was a way to bring modeling to new heights.

The shoot took place on March 18, 2013; Upton and ZERO-G flew out of Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville, Florida. A specially modified Boeing-727, known as G-FORCE ONE, performed a series of 17 parabolas – 13 zero gravity and four replicating lunar gravity – as Upton bounced and soared through the plane for the cameras. Upton's weightless experience was not simulated; ZERO-G is the first and only FAA-approved provider of commercial weightless airline flights for the public.

"The ZERO-G experience was really exhilarating for everyone involved," said MJ Day, editor of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. "We have been almost everywhere in the past 50 years with SI Swimsuit, but we have never done anything like this. It was certainly the most out-of-the-box shoot. Once again, Kate surprised us all with how she handled modeling in weightlessness.

Visit swimsuit.si.com for behind-the-scenes video and photos of Kate Upton's zero gravity shoot.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-18-2014 09:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This brings to mind Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins daydream while orbiting the moon alone as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin explored the surface below (as recounted in Collins' 1974 book, "Carrying the Fire"):
Still... the possibilities of weightlessness are there for the ingenious to exploit. No need to carry bras into space, that's for sure. Imagine a spacecraft of the future, with a crew of a thousand ladies, off to Alpha Centauri, with two thousand breasts bobbing beautifully and quivering delightfully in response to their every weightless movement... and I am the commander of the craft, and it is Saturday morning and time for inspection, naturally...

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 02-18-2014 09:41 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
"The ZERO-G experience was really exhilarating for everyone involved," said MJ Day, editor of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
Especially for the guy adjusting Ms. Upton's swimsuit at the beginning (was touching her breasts THAT necessary?)...

By the way, where was the pool?

Anyway, if you want to boost investment in "space tourism" (and no, I will not go where you'd like me to go), that's the way to do it! (again!)

And on a far, far less joyful note, the quote from Mr. Collins reminds me of why some "humans" blow themselves up for their "causes" in some regions of the world (or on 9/11).

It's sexist. Sorry in another lifetime I probably was a woman. Or whatever.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-18-2014 10:08 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In defense of Collins, he was describing a personal daydream he had while aboard Apollo 11. It is not sexist to have fantasies — everyone (male and female) does.

Comparing his account and terrorist acts is taking it a bit too far, I think. Maybe I have done a disservice to Collins by excerpting his quote, as in its context within the book it is just one thought among a string of events.

stsmithva
Member

Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 02-18-2014 11:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for stsmithva   Click Here to Email stsmithva     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
"Some kind of celestial event. No... no words. No words to describe it. Poetry! They should have sent a poet. So beautiful. So beautiful... I had no idea."

music_space
Member

Posts: 1179
From: Canada
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 02-18-2014 11:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for music_space   Click Here to Email music_space     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I had to look it up, stsmithva: the quote is from the movie "Contact"!

This video demonstrate what I have suspected for a long time: one can't just take a bra adjusted for one-g and expect the result to be as esthetic in zero-g. I wish that the editors of Sport Illustrated had seized the opportunity to entrust a swimsuit designer to engineer — and adjust in flight — a special bra.

MrSpace86
Member

Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 02-18-2014 11:53 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for MrSpace86   Click Here to Email MrSpace86     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
For the record, I love the photoshoot. It's classy, not over the top, and creative. They chose someone that pulled off the shoot quite well and I actually thought this was done more because of the popularity of the movie 'Gravity' (but the shoot was done back in March 2013).

Sexist? I don't think it is. They usually pick really exotic and "out there" ideas for their shoots. Too bad it wasn't with any actual spacecraft.

Tykeanaut
Member

Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008

posted 02-18-2014 12:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tykeanaut   Click Here to Email Tykeanaut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If there was ever just one day for me to experience Zero G that was it!

Kevmac
Member

Posts: 267
From: College Station, TX
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 02-18-2014 01:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kevmac   Click Here to Email Kevmac     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In the words of one of our astronaut heroes:

Zero-G and I feel fine!

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 02-18-2014 01:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Comparing his account and terrorist acts is taking it a bit too far, I think. Maybe I have done a disservice to Collins by excerpting his quote, as in its context within the book it is just one thought among a string of events.
You need to look beyond the act and see that the fantasies are the same. I never intended or wanted to imply that Mr. Collins' daydream and a terrorist act are the same.

dabolton
Member

Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009

posted 02-18-2014 02:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dabolton     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm kinda surprised it took this long for someone to use a vomit comet for ad space. Its the perfect medium for free expression.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-18-2014 02:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This may be the first swimsuit shoot, but its not a first for advertising in zero-g. As Zero-G flight director Loretta Whitesides recounts in her article about the SI flight:
In the past the plane has been used to film footage for the Biggest Loser, Rebel Billionaire, The Apprentice, The Martha Stewart Show, Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live and most notably to offer famed physicist and gravity expert Stephen Hawking a once in a lifetime chance to float free of his wheelchair. Lenovo and 7 UP have also used footage from the plane in advertising campaigns. (There are just the shoots I can remember off the top of my head).

lunardreamer
Member

Posts: 86
From: Royal Oak, Michigan USA
Registered: Nov 2013

posted 02-18-2014 04:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lunardreamer   Click Here to Email lunardreamer     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Wow. " Magnificent Breastilation" ..... uh, pardon me I meant "Desolation". Childish comment, I know. I couldn't resist. Thank you, Robert for sharing that beautiful picture of Ms. Upton with us.

Blackarrow
Member

Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 02-18-2014 07:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Blackarrow     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
First time my glasses have steamed up while browsing collectSPACE...

Rocketman!
Member

Posts: 121
From: Redmond, Washington, USA
Registered: Dec 2007

posted 02-18-2014 08:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rocketman!   Click Here to Email Rocketman!     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
"Roger. Zero-g and I feel fine. Capsule is turning around. ... Oh, that view is tremendous!" (obligatory)

OLDIE
Member

Posts: 267
From: Portsmouth, England
Registered: Sep 2004

posted 02-19-2014 12:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for OLDIE     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for sharing the video Robert. It's brightened up the very stormy weather and floods we've been having across the pond.

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement