Intamin, a creator of record-breaking amusement rides, has shared details of its immersive ride experience, LuneXplorer, which opened at Cité de l’espace, France, on 14 November 2023.
This one-of-a-kind immersive ride, the second of its kind in Europe, enables guests to experience a simulated take-off and journey to the Moon, complete with physical sensations.
Scientific experience
The ride is designed using a centrifuge concept. The rotation speed produces acceleration on the passengers, who are seated comfortably within ride cabins meant to simulate the environment of a rocket launch module.
LuneXplorer is more than just a visitor attraction; it’s also a scientific experiment. The primary purpose is to engage passengers in the astronaut experience while clearly explaining the principles of forces.
The experience is divided into four 10-minute sections that begin in the lobby of a rebuilt 1,500-square-meter facility dedicated to lunar missions. Guests must be at least 1.30 metres tall to board one of the cabins and experience up to 3G pressure lift-off.
The ride comprises:
- Preparation. In this stage, guests will discover and contrast the Apollo lunar missions with the latest Artemis lunar missions, which involve the European Space Agency (ESA) in addition to NASA.
- The briefing. Guests will assemble a crew of no more than four people per cabin, with a total of 10 cabins for each launch. The passengers will receive training for the mission from ESA astronauts.
- The mission to the moon. Guests will take a seat in their cabin and feel the accelerations and decelerations of a journey similar to that of astronauts on a mission.
- Debriefing. The experience ends with a debriefing tailored to the flight’s settings and provides passengers with information on upcoming projects and insights into the return to the moon.
A spokesperson for the firm says: “Intamin is proud to have collaborated with the Cité de l’espace to merge entertainment and knowledge, contributing to their success. We extend our gratitude to the entire team for their exceptional cooperation.”
Intamin recently won a Brass Ring Award at IAAPA Expo 2023 in Orlando. The firm was honoured for the Dome Ride Theatre at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, in the category of Major Ride/Attraction Class A: Product Cost of More Than US $3 Million.
