Local astronaut suits up for red carpet

AUSTIN (KXAN) - There are dozens of world premieres at South by Southwest Film Festival, but only one is out of this world Sunday.

Game-developer-turned-amateur-astronaut Richard Garriott donned his space suit for a red carpet event at the Paramount Theater.

The movie "Man on a Mission" documents Garriott's journey to the International Space Station.

"For me, anyway to really get a chance to share this story with everyone, with a film I got to preview myself about a week ago, I think it's a fantastic film," said Garriott. "But to do it here at South by Southwest and here at the historic Paramount, what a better opportunity. I can't imagine, especially as a longtime Austinite, I'm pretty thrilled about it."

Garriott is the first son of an astronaut to go into space. His dad flew on both Skylab and the Space Shuttle.

"Man on a Mission" has a second screening on Thursday afternoon, also at the Paramount.