France’s aviation capital, Toulouse, is looking skyward once more, with its Cité de l’Espace offering a new visitor experience – a trip to the moon.
Cité de l’Espace is a scientific discovery centre themed around spaceflight, first opened in 1997. It holds full scale models of space modules, such as the Ariane 5, as well as a mocked-up control room, and even a Martian meteorite. It also houses a 280-seat planetarium and a 300-seat IMAX theatre.
As realistic as possible
The newest addition is the “Lune Xplorer”. The experience is in fact a rocket simulator that perfectly emulates a moon voyage and landing, using centrifugal pressure. It is intended to be as realistic as possible, from details such as the number of passengers per capsule (four) to the 2G stresses and strains put on the body on launch.
“What’s amazing is that the accelerations and decelerations we put you through are real. It’s like being in a real rocket,” NASA veteran Jean-François Clervo, told visitors at the space centre. He is part of a team of real astronauts, European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA staff who provide first hand answers to visitor questions at the attraction.
The ”trip” has three parts. The “preparation” phase takes place in a discovery hall, where visitors learn about the Apollo moon missions and the new Artemis missions preparing to land humans on the moon again. A “briefing” happens next, during which you’ll be gathered with your three other crew members and given instructions from ESA astronauts. Then the mission itself, when you’ll be tested on your ability to perform tasks under the influence of 2G forces. At the end of the experience, a certificate to show you’ve completed the adventure is provided.
Over 30,000 new visitors
The attraction was added to the Cité’s portfolio at a cost of 11.8 million euros, financed 40% by Toulouse Metropole, 40% by European funding, and 20% by the Occitan region. “Studies suggest it will bring in 30,000 to 40,000 additional visitors,” said the centre’s director, Jean-Baptiste Desbois.
Excitement about the moon as a human destination is building again, as NASA has announced it is targeting 2026 for our species’ return to the moon’s surface. The simulator is even designed to resemble capsules that will be deployed on that programme.
A one-day full priced adult entry to the Cité de l’Espace costs 26 euros, and children get in for 19.5 euros. Children under five go free.
