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The only historical liberties Hanks and Cowen took in their 40-min. moon ride were small ones. The curators of the lunar vehicles wanted to keep the machines free of dust, so the interior of the module stays clean--far different from the gunpowder-scented, soil-covered surfaces the astronauts describe. Hanks also had the actor astronauts lift their gold-colored visors more often than their real-life counterparts did, revealing the clear faceplates--and faces--underneath. "We wanted to remind audiences that those were human beings up there," he says.
Hanks can't say if he has still more space yarns in him after this. He may try science fiction--a historically high-stakes genre in which filmmakers either succeed brilliantly or flame out spectacularly. But in an era of shrunken space programs peddling small-bore dreams, there's something to be said for keeping the torch burning.
"I'll probably be 136 the day we finally land on Mars," Hanks says. "They'll wheel me out and say, 'Remember that actor? We thought he'd like to see this.'" If so, they might also offer him a small word of thanks.