Imagine stepping onto a plane, believing you’re on your way to a top-secret Russian space training camp. You undergo intense astronaut training, compete for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go to space, and then… you launch into orbit.
Or at least, that’s what you think is happening.
In 2005, the UK reality TV show Space Cadets pulled off one of the greatest hoaxes in television history. A group of contestants were led to believe they had spent five days in space when, in reality, they never left the ground.
The Premise: A Fake Space Mission
Space Cadets was a reality TV experiment designed to test just how much people would believe if everyone around them played along. The contestants were told they had been selected for an adventure show but didn’t learn the full details until they arrived.
The producers claimed the group would compete in astronaut training, and the top three participants would go to space. In truth, the entire setup was fake. A Hollywood-style soundstage, an elaborate simulator, and even actors planted among the contestants worked together to make the lie as convincing as possible.
Building the Illusion
To sell the illusion, the production team took extreme measures. They:
- Flew contestants around for six hours to make them believe they had landed in Russia.
- Built a $5 million spaceship simulator that mimicked a real space shuttle’s sights, sounds, and even movements.
- Hired actors to pose as fellow contestants and space pilots.
- Changed electrical outlets and cigarettes to Russian versions so contestants wouldn’t notice inconsistencies.
- Created a fake history of space travel, including a made-up Russian space dog whose “ashes” were honored in a memorial ceremony.
The goal? See if they could convince regular people that they had left Earth.
Did the Contestants Believe It?
Surprisingly, yes.
After rigorous training, they “launched” into what they believed was low Earth orbit. The contestants peered out of their ship’s windows to see Earth’s curvature—a high-tech screen displaying pre-recorded footage.
Their emotional reactions showed just how deep the illusion ran. Some described feeling overwhelmed with awe, believing they had just seen Earth from space.
Then came the reveal.
When the simulator “landed,” the doors opened—not to the Russian wilderness, but to a live studio audience. The contestants were shocked. Everything they had believed for the past few days was a lie.
The Aftermath
The show ended with a mix of emotions. Some contestants laughed it off, while others felt humiliated. To soften the blow, each participant was awarded a cash prize—$25,000 for those who “went to space” and $5,000 for the others. They also received a real zero-gravity flight experience as a consolation prize.
Despite the elaborate setup, Space Cadets only lasted one season. It was impossible to replicate, as the secret was out. Still, it remains one of the most bizarre and ambitious reality TV experiments ever.
Could You Fall for It?
The success of Space Cadets proves how powerful groupthink and a controlled environment can be. When surrounded by people who believe something—especially authority figures—it’s easy to accept even the most outlandish lies.
Reality TV has produced some wild concepts over the years, but few have gone as far as tricking people into thinking they left Earth.
Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning and laughing a lot while you do, you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode right now!
Sources
Space Cadets (TV Series) – Wikipedia
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