New Yorkers can now go to space without leaving Midtown. Space Explorers: The ISS Experience, a free-roaming virtual reality exhibit that recreates day-to-day life aboard the International Space Station, opened last Tuesday at Eclipso NYC on West 57th Street. The roughly 40-minute production pairs a walkable, life-size ISS replica with 3D 360° footage filmed aboard the real station, pulling visitors nearly 250 miles above Earth through a VR headset. Adapted from an Emmy-winning series by Felix & Paul Studios, the show drops guests into astronauts’ routines, spacewalks and the much-talked-about “overview effect.”
Shot In Space, Assembled For Manhattan
The 3D 360° footage was captured using custom-engineered cameras sent to the ISS, recording both interior life and the first-ever cinematic spacewalks over a multi-year shoot. Creators describe the project as the largest cinematic production ever filmed in space, with hundreds of hours of high-end VR material distilled into a free-roaming, walk-through installation tailored to Eclipso’s footprint, as outlined by Felix & Paul Studios.
Where It Lives And How Long
The New York edition is staged at Eclipso NYC, 555 West 57th Street, and began its run last Tuesday. Sessions last about 40 minutes, and the venue operates Tuesday through Sunday. Bookings and timed entry are handled through Fever, and the experience lists a minimum age of 8, with children aged 8 to 12 required to attend with someone 14 or older. Tickets for the New York residency start at $56 for adults and $42 for children, according to Fever.
A Touring Hit, Now In Midtown
Organizers say this free-roaming New York edition is part of a larger touring production that has welcomed more than half a million visitors worldwide since its international premiere in 2021, with stops in cities including London, Shanghai and Houston. That scale is one reason producers and venues are pitching the Midtown run as a rare way to approximate life in orbit without a launch vehicle. By comparison, fewer than 300 people have actually traveled to the real ISS over the past two decades, which helps explain why a ground-based, immersive version still feels novel for most audiences, according to NASA.
Who Should Go
The experience involves walking and occasional crouching through a dark, tech-heavy environment, so visitors should be comfortable staying on their feet for about 40 minutes. Organizers note that a small number of guests may experience dizziness or nausea. Headsets and accessories are disinfected between sessions, and staff remain on hand throughout each visit. Practical booking information, safety notes and group or family packages are available via Space Explorers.
For New Yorkers short on time but curious about life in orbit, the Eclipso run offers a relatively quick, tech-forward taste of something most people will never do in person. “The journey has the power to inspire wonder in everyone who takes part,” Eclipso’s founder told Time Out, and producers say the show is built to combine hard science storytelling with an emotional, perspective-shifting moment.
