(Above) Feel the force of a rocket launch at the Science Museum's Force Field experience. Picture courtesy Jennie Hills, Science Museum
News: the Science Museum celebrates 40th anniversary of the moon landings with its new Force Field experience and Legend of Apollo 3D animation film.
Colonel David Scott, former NASA Apollo astronaut, gave his seal of approval to the Science Museum's new Force Field motion theatre and Legend of Apollo film on Monday 22 June 2009.
"I'm often asked what it’s like to be on the moon," said Scott, endorsing Legend of Apollo. "Words are difficult but the sounds, motion and imagery you'll experience with Legend of Apollo can really give you the feel."
(Above) Colonel David Scott, former NASA Apollo astronaut, at the Science Centre. Picture courtesy Jennie Hills, Science Museum
Legend of Apollo is a 3D animation celebrating the 40th anniversary of the moon landings. It will be screened in the Museum's new motion simulation theatre, Force Field.
(Above) An audience enjoying the multi-sensory experience of Force Field. Picture courtesy of Jennie Hills, Science Museum
The film takes the audience on a multisensory journey with the Apollo astronauts, from blast-off with Saturn V, to moon landing, exploration and then back down to earth with a bump.
In what the Science Museum believe to be a world-first, the audience can feel the impact of the rocket take-off and experience a bumpy ride on the Lunar Rover buggy courtesy of the dynamic seat motion in the theatre.
There is more to come as once the audience has "landed" on the moon, the smell of space, akin to explosives, hits the auditorium. There is even a final, watery surprise when the shuttle lands on the ocean at the end of the astronauts' journey.
This space-age ride is guaranteed to be a thrill, but adventurers are warned not to eat or drink beforehand.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission (July 16 1969) and first moon landing (July 20 1969).
Colonel David Scott flew on two Apollo missions and was Commander of Apollo 15, the craft which carried out the first extended exploration of the moon.
"We were stretching our capabilities to the limit but it wasn't scary because we were trained for the mission and were able supported by the team back at Mission Control," he said.
He noted that the 3D animation would bring the story of the moon landings alive for those too young to remember the actual missions.
Picture above courtesy Science Museum
Legend of Apollo will feature prominently in the Science Museum's space season, which starts on July 20 2009. There will be special space-themed family and adult events taking place at the Museum throughout the Summer holidays.
For further information, visit the Science Museum online.
The actual Command Module from the Apollo 10 Mission is now on permanent display in the Making the Modern World Gallery.
The Science Museum launches its new exhibition, Cosmos and Culture: How Astronomy Shaped our World, on July 23 2009.
