Space Travel

Space symbolizes aspiration, transcendence, and the pursuit of something greater, but it also represents isolation. For Joan and Vanessa, becoming astronauts is a lifelong dream and a way to escape the confines of Earth-bound gender roles. Yet once in space, Joan feels disconnected and physically ill, suggesting that her true fulfillment lies not in escape, but in rootedness: love, care, and human connection. Thus, space becomes a metaphor for the limits of ambition when divorced from emotional grounding, challenging the idea that success is always upward or external.

CAPCOM

Joan serving as CAPCOM (the communication link between Mission Control and the astronauts in space) is symbolic of the enforced limitations surrounding Joan and Vanesa’s emotional connection. CAPCOM should be a voice of clarity and reassurance, but in their case, it becomes a barrier. Joan must speak to Vanessa not as a lover but as...