The Right Stuff (1983) – Filming Locations
Drama / History / Adventure · Directed by Philip Kaufman · Starring Sam Shepard, Barbara Hershey
At the dawn of the Space Race, seven test pilots set out to become the first American astronauts to enter space. However, the road to making history brings momentous challenges.
Where was The Right Stuff filmed?
- Edwards Air Force Base, California, United States, Edwards – Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier and early test flight sequences. The legendary test pilot facility provided authentic settings for the X-1 and hypersonic flight testing sequences that open the film
- Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States, Cape Canaveral – Mercury-Redstone rocket launches and astronaut training sequences. The actual NASA launch facility was used for the historically accurate depiction of the early space program and astronaut selection
- Mojave, California, United States, Mojave – Chuck Yeager's ranch and desert sequences showing test pilot culture. The stark desert landscape establishes the rugged individualism and frontier spirit of the early test pilot era
- Wilmington, North Carolina, United States, Wilmington – Mercury Seven astronauts' hometown sequences and Americana vignettes. Used as a stand-in for various American small towns to depict the astronauts' roots and the public celebration of the space program
- Washington, D.C., United States, Washington – Presidential reception and political sequences involving government support for the space program. Federal landmarks provide authentic backdrop for scenes depicting political oversight and public relations surrounding the Mercury space program