The Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, has introduced an exhilarating new attraction, the Blue Origin New Shepard simulator, giving visitors a taste of space travel. This innovative simulator replicates the experience of a space journey aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space tourism rocket, providing a unique opportunity for space enthusiasts to engage with the cosmos.
Barret Schlegelmilch, Blue Origin’s Crew Member 7, who is responsible for training passengers for the 10-minute space journey, played a pivotal role in demonstrating how the life-size simulator operates. The simulator, nestled within KSC’s Gateway attraction, offers an array of exhibits from major aerospace players like SpaceX, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and now, Blue Origin.
Visitors to the Kennedy Space Center, with paid admission, can access this feature and experience a condensed, four-minute virtual reality ride mimicking the New Shepard’s journey. The ride, although not leaving the Earth’s atmosphere, allows users to virtually escape Earth’s bounds, experiencing weightlessness and viewing the Earth’s curvature through VR headsets.
The attraction also includes Blue Origin’s Postcards to Space program, where visitors can send postcards on future New Shepard flights, which are returned to them after the journey.
The simulator itself boasts an authentic design, mirroring the actual flight seats and cabin interiors of the New Shepard. While the real journey takes passengers past the Karman line for a brief period of weightlessness, the simulator keeps guests seated but engages them with digital zero-gravity indicators. These indicators, ranging from Lego bricks to tennis balls, float in the virtual cabin, simulating the zero-gravity environment of space.
This setup makes it easy for participants to be engrossed in the virtual experience and potentially forget to enjoy the simulated view of space outside their window. The VR content is derived from 360-degree camera footage from past New Shepard flights, offering a realistic glimpse into space travel.
The New Shepard simulator at Kennedy Space Center marks a significant step in making space experiences more accessible to the public. While space travel remains a privilege for the wealthy, this simulator allows a broader audience to get a taste of what it’s like to journey into space, albeit virtually. It’s a forward step in space tourism, bridging the gap between dream and reality for many aspiring space explorers.
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