This is ground control to Major Tom , '' sang David Bowie about a fictional astronaut lost in orbit in 1969 . Duncan Jones aka sci-fi wrote and directed debut feature , `` Alien '' Film made for only $ 5 million , stars Sam Rockwell and Duncan Jones . Film 's retro look borrows heavily from Zowie Bowie classics like Ridley Scott 's `` Moon '' Sci-fi thriller was screened at NASA for scientists researching Helium-3 mining .
Duncan Jones aka sci-fi wrote and directed debut feature , `` Alien '' Film made for only $ 5 million , stars Sam Rockwell and Duncan Jones . Film 's retro look borrows heavily from Zowie Bowie classics like Ridley Scott 's `` Moon '' Sci-fi thriller was screened at NASA for scientists researching Helium-3 mining .