Magnets are so useful on Earth that it’s not surprising many science fiction writers find ways for their characters to use them in space. While magnets have the potential to be used in several ways in space, they most often appear as boots. Magnetic boots are useful for space travel where gravity isn’t always there to orient everything. The boots employ large magnets that attract to the metal floor or hulls of a spacecraft allowing the wearer to remain upright in zero gravity. Here are two notable moments in science fiction film and TV where magnetic boots played a prominent role:

1. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

In the 1991 science fiction film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country magnetic boots are used by two Starfleet imposters to infiltrate a Klingon ship. The boots give them the advantage because the artificial gravity on the Klingon vessel was disabled by torpedos. Later in the film, the crew of the Enterprise must find the missing Starfleet uniforms and magnetic boots in order to figure out who was responsible for the attack and prove their innocence.

2. The Expanse

In the TV show The Expanse, which premiered in December 2015, the characters frequently use magnetic boots to walk around various spacecrafts in zero gravity. In the fourth episode of season one magnetic boots were used to anchor two of the main characters, Holden and Naomi, during a shoot-out. While running away from their attackers to an escape ship, the two characters suddenly find themselves floating in 0g because the ship stopped accelerating. Holden attaches a tether to Naomi before pushing her away and accelerating back towards the floor. He then turns on his magnetic boots and reels her back to the ground where she can also anchor herself with magnets so they can escape the fire-fight. While magnetic boots play crucial roles in science fiction plots, real-life astronauts don’t use magnetic boots in space. The strong magnets required for the boots to be effective could interfere with communication and navigation systems in real space flight. But that hasn’t stopped innovative individuals from creating their own versions of magnetic boots! What other magnetic devices do your favorite science fiction characters use?   Image by Purple Slog