Tetrastar Spaceport launches at National Space Centre, UK

25 Oct 2022

Published in: Member News

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Simworx sets new National Space Centre experience into motion. The firm’s specialty expertise adds to the space immersive storytelling experience.

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Simworx, the dynamic media attractions specialist, has detailed its work for a top museum in Leicester, UK.

The city’s National Space Centre has launched a new permanent experience, immersing visitors in a unique astronomical adventure.

Whilst preparing to launch on a low Earth orbit cruise at ‘Tetrastar Spaceport’, guests accidentally discover they have boarded a rescue mission to Mars. Visitors must work together to conduct crucial research, survive a potential disaster and safely return back to Earth.

The Tetrastar Spaceport experience combines immersive theatre and storytelling with realistic set design, projection mapping, spatial audio, real-time interactive content, motion seats and hands-on interactives.

A technological feat

The 300 square metre adventure plays out across four main zones with ten additional themed spaces, allowing for four simultaneous activities each with 20-person groups. Made possible with state-of-the-art technology, the new installation comprises 11 projectors, 47 screens, 45 speakers, 50 media servers and computers.

15,000 mapped RGBW LED pixels have been skillfully blended into the complex set work and woven together to create a family-friendly space-themed narrative.

The interactive mission is supported by pre-recorded characters, real-world performers and ADA, the artificial intelligence system. Following the major ride moment, visitors participate in an escape room-style experience where they have to retrieve valuable specimens and power up with enough energy to get back to Earth in an escape pod.

Immersive mission

Able to achieve a throughput of up to 1,400 people each day, Simworx reports that Tetrastar Spaceport was receiving top-mark reviews over the summer holidays from families enjoying the 20-minute immersive experience. Schools will be able to enjoy an enhanced one-hour version of the attraction before the end of the year.

Tetrastar Spaceport is included in the National Scape Centre admission price to the centre and is suitable for visitors aged over five, although other restrictions also apply.

Simworx provided twenty motion seats including interactive buttons and a Control Master API which enabled NSC Creative to create a real-time interactive launch experience application, enhanced with dynamic motion and narrative ride content.

“Having the opportunity to integrate our class-leading motion seats into a highly themed environment where the wrap-around screen disappears and you the audience just believe that they are on a spaceship flying through canyons on Mars was a real pleasure,” says Simworx CEO Terry Monkton. “The innovation with the real-time content and branching paths adds another standout feature to the experience.”

ABC AV led the design of AV, lighting and show control systems and integration of the media-rich experience, whilst Meticulous supplied development design, fabrication, installation and theming.

NSC Creative project director Paul Mowbray adds: “By selecting the best people in their fields we were able to put together a crack team of specialists all working to the goal of suspending the visitors’ belief and transporting them to Mars and back on a wild space mission.”