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A new space expedition is launching from right here in New York City: a virtual one, that is. Starting Tuesday, June 30, the leading virtual reality company Eclipso will host the New York premiere of Space Explorers: The ISS Experience at its Manhattan location on West 57th Street (which also hosts Titanic and Colosseum VR experiences). This limited-time residency is your chance to travel to space without ever leaving the ground.
Fewer than 300 people have actually traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) over the past two decades. But through this internationally-acclaimed production—co-created by Felix & Paul Studios and PHI Studio, and presented in partnership with Infinity Experiences—you can experience space travel and what it's like to be on board the ISS. More than 500,000 visitors have experienced Space Explorers in cities like London, Shanghai and San Francisco, and now it's landing here.
Rooted in real-life missions conducted alongside NASA and other international space agencies, the production utilized custom-engineered cameras designed to capture life both inside and outside the station. Using cutting-edge, free-roaming VR technology, the installation blends a highly detailed 3D model of the ISS with actual cinematic footage.
Strap on a VR headset and you'll be transported nearly 250 miles above Earth, where you can walk alongside real astronauts in stunning 3D 360-degree views. During the approximately 40-minute session, you'll get intimate access to astronaut interviews, witness thrilling spacewalks and experience the "overview effect"—the profound, awe-inspiring sensation astronauts describe when gazing down at Earth from low orbit. Antoine Lieutaud, Founder and CEO of Eclipso, notes that the journey has "the power to inspire wonder in everyone who takes part," while Infinity Experiences CEO Eric Albert adds that audiences become active participants in a deeply human experience.
If you've ever dreamed about going to space, or want to be inspired by the ultimate journey, the out-of-this-world simulation is a cosmic experience you won't want to miss.
Located at 555 West 57th Street, the roughly 40-minute immersive showtime is open Tuesdays through Sundays, with tickets priced at $56.00 for adults and $42.00 for children (minimum age of 8). Family and group bundles are also available for $52.00 per person.
What: Space Explorers: The ISS Experience
Where: 55 West 57th Street
When: Tuesdays to Sundays starting June 30
Tickets: $56 for adults, $42 for children (minimum age of 8)