Science Museum, London Set To Release An Extraordinary Virtual Reality Journey In: Space Descent VR With Tim Peake

SCIENCE MUSEUM, LONDON SET TO RELEASE AN EXTRAORDINARY VIRTUAL REALITY JOURNEY IN: SPACE DESCENT VR WITH TIM PEAKE CREATED BY ALCHEMY VR

From 24 March visitors to London’s Science Museum will be able to join the UK’s first ESA astronaut Tim Peake in a virtual reality descent from the International Space Station to the steppes of Kazakhstan, in the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft. Created and produced by Alchemy VR, the experience has been especially commissioned to accompany the Science Museums’ landmark acquisition of the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft for exhibition.

In this 12-minute 360 degree 3D state-of-the-art virtual reality experience, visitors will be transported inside one of the most enduring spacecraft of the modern age. Using the very latest in VR technology, viewers will experience what it feels like to sit inside the Soyuz’s descent module as it takes its journey back to earth, travelling at speeds of over 27,000kph and reaching temperatures of around 1600 degrees c.

Anthony Geffen, Founder of Alchemy VR and CEO of Atlantic Productions says “We are delighted to be collaborating with the Science Museum on this pioneering experience, which takes visitors on a journey no other technology could achieve. It builds on Alchemy VR’s track record in creating location based virtual reality experiences and using this medium to connect visitors with Museum objects in powerful and immersive ways.”

Ian Blatchford, Director of the Science Museum says “It’s an honour to unveil Soyuz TMA-19M today and extend the space fever sparked all around the nation by Tim Peake’s Principia mission. We’re thrilled to be marking this landmark acquisition for the Science Museum Group by collaboration with one of the world’s leading Virtual Reality studios on a dramatic and immersive 360 3D experience for our visitors.”

The creative team behind the experience includes Mike Davis, Steve Gomez and Anthony Geffen.

Space Descent VR with Tim Peake will by running at London’s Science Museum from March 24.

About Alchemy VR
Alchemy VR builds on the world class story-telling and technical innovation of Atlantic Productions to create some of the most compelling virtual reality experiences in the world. Alchemy VR’s combination of storytelling and pioneering use of new technologies has created unique and breath taking experiences including David Attenborough's First Life VR and David Attenborough's Great Barrier Reef Dive VR. Alchemy VR’s experiences have shown in some of the world’s most prestigious cultural institutions and will be amongst the first virtual reality documentaries to launch on PlayStation VR. VR projects soon to be released by the studio include experiences that take you deep into the Amazon Jungle, across the sands of the Arabian Desert, and into the heart of Dubai. http://www.alchemyvr.com/
Atlantic Productions was founded in 1992 and in this time has won many of the most prestigious awards in television, including the coveted BAFTA award for best specialist factual twice in the last four years (2014 & 2011), eleven Emmy awards, two RTS awards and the best 3D award at Jackson Hole and Wildscreen.

Recent productions include INSIDE THE COMMONS (BBC), and DAVID ATTENBOROUGH’S GREAT BARRIER REEF (BBC).

About the Science Museum
As the home of human ingenuity, the Science Museum’s world-class collection forms an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical achievements from across the globe. Welcoming over 3 million visitors a year, the Museum aims to make sense of the science that shapes our lives, inspiring visitors with iconic objects, award-winning exhibitions and incredible stories of scientific achievement.

About Soyuz TMA-19M descent module
• Soyuz TMA-19M carried astronauts Yuri Malenchenko (Commander, Russia), Tim Kopra (Flight Engineer, USA) and Tim Peake (Flight Engineer, UK) to the International Space Station on 15 December 2015 and returned the same crew to Earth on 18 June 2016.

• The crew was part of Expeditions 46 and 47 to the International Space Station.

• The outer surfaces have been charred by temperatures of around 1,500 degrees Celsius experienced during atmospheric re-entry.

• The module weighs approximately 1.5 tonnes.