The largest ever interactive outer space exhibit is in Tacoma for the duration of the summer. Known as “The Infinite,” the virtual reality exhibit is in Washington until Sept. 5, following a tour in Houston and Montreal.
Located at the Tacoma Armory, guests are first directed to a waiting room with audio interviews from past astronauts describing the excitement and anticipation of leaving the familiar and beginning their trip to space.
The staff is concerned with making sure visitors are comfortable and prepared to move through the experience, though there is an air of mystery to some degree. Once exiting the waiting room, several staffers assist guests with understanding and putting on their VR headsets.
After a short tutorial, guests are released into the vastness and wonder of the International Space Station replica. Here, one can identify the figures of others in their group by looking out for yellow silhouettes, identify strangers who have a blue silhouette, and recognize staff members who reflect a bright green light.
Perhaps most unique is that depending on where one goes, and subsequently what videos they select, each person will have a different experience as they are shown different content. Though you can move about the space station with someone in your group, there will be nuances which differ, and the staff recommends visitors move independently to get a personalized tour.
Videos — which play when a visitor taps on an orb of light shown in front of them — incorporate lifelike video and audio. The videos transition from practical topics to more abstract ones, such as astronaut Jessica Meir demonstrating how to get in and out of bed in a zero-gravity environment, versus an interview with Kansas born-and-raised astronaut Nick Hague describing how he views space exploration as an opportunity to improve the way humans interact with natural environments.
One hour in length, The Infinite’s virtual reality portion concludes with the first-ever VR spacewalk. Ushered into chairs, guests relax and watch as footage captured by astronauts floats by and everything — from the earth below to the galaxy above — immerses visitors in an environment most will never see.
After this brief movie-like portion, guests return their headsets to a futuristic neon conveyor belt and exit through a digital art installation which experiments with light and reflection. Pictures are allowed in this exhibit, and although it is enchanting, it is not recommended for those with light sensitivity or epilepsy.
Also important to consider is motion sickness and acrophobia, which should not present an issue unless extremely severe, since any sensation of movement glides by gently and is not sudden. The feeling of being “up above” the earth can be disorienting at first, but quickly becomes part of the magic.
The Infinite is a must-see experience. My recommendations? Wear contacts if you normally wear glasses, forego makeup, dress coolly, and leave the high heels at home. Ticket prices range between $16.50 to $31.20 and can be bought at theinfiniteseattle.com.