Houston, we have a reminder: ISS virtual reality experience “The Infinite” returns

— What do you do as a reminder after virtually transporting thousands of Houstonians to the International Space Station?

If you are Felix & Paul Studios, you invite them to fly to the moon again.

“Space Explorers: THE INFINITE,” which made its U.S. premiere three years ago in Houston, is now returning to Space City for a second limited run. The interactive and immersive experience once again invites the public to explore a life-size virtual replica of the International Space Station (ISS), allowing them to almost feel what it means to be an astronaut.

A spin-off of “Space Explorers: The ISS Experience,” an Emmy Award-winning series produced by Felix & Paul in collaboration with TIME Studios, “THE INFINITE” combines footage from the largest production ever filmed in space – more of 200 hours of 3D 360 virtual reality cinematic footage shot over a period of nearly three years – as well as a virtual model of the space station that encourages visitors to physically walk through the layout of the orbital outpost while exploring 360-degree vignettes in many of its modules.

“Everyone I’ve met has told me, I can’t wait to see it again, because every time I come here it’s a different experience,” Félix Lajeunesse, co-founder and creative director of Studios Félix & Paul and creative director of “Space Explorers: THE INFINITE”, said in an interview with collectSPACE.

“There are 60 virtual reality scenes that you can activate when you visit the space station, both inside and outside the ISS. Typically with just one visit, you have time to see them all. see twelve. So that means when you come back a second time or the third time or the fourth time or even the fifth time, it will be a different experience,” he said.

In its first incarnation, “THE INFINITE” concluded the virtual reality portion of the experience with the ability to exit the space station and observe the astronauts during a spacewalk. This spectacular scene was made possible by the first-ever use of a VR camera outside the ISS, mounted on the station’s main robotic arm.

This was followed by a multi-room art installation by visual and sound artist Ryoji Ikeda, focusing on the aesthetics of mathematical formulas.

Now, visitors are going even further into space by reliving the 2022 launch of NASA’s Artemis I mission to the Moon. The spacewalk and some of Ikeda’s work remain, but the experience ends with the maiden liftoff of the Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket, which was a major step toward the astronauts’ return of NASA on the lunar surface, including the landing of the first woman, first person of color and first non-American astronaut to the Moon’s south pole.

Felix and Paul filmed the launch of Artemis I and, initially, streamed it live in 360 degrees to full-dome theaters, planetariums and personal VR headsets. The same footage, captured by cameras positioned near the launch pad at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, was adapted as the finale of “THE INFINITE,” providing an unprecedented second broadcast.

Since its premiere in Montreal and then Houston, “THE INFINITE” has been staged in Tacoma, Washington; Richmond, California; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Denver, Colorado. Back in Houston, “THE INFINITE” is expected to run through at least the end of June. Upcoming cities include West Palm Beach, Florida, opening June 4, and Charlotte, North Carolina, starting September 20.

“Of all the places we’ve been, Houston is the one that we think is the most natural choice for this show,” Lajeunesse said. “It took two and a half years to capture all the content in space, working with hundreds of people based here in Houston at the Johnson Space Center. And the astronauts, obviously, who were involved in creating the show were also based here and their families were here.

“So when we bring the experience here to Houston, we feel like we’re bringing the experience home,” he told collectSPACE.

“Space Explorers: THE INFINITE” is open Thursday through Sunday at Silver Street Studios at Sawyer Yards in Houston. Tickets are $35 for adults, with discounts available for children, seniors, students and military. Group and family rates are also available.