Sussex, England (June 24, 2013) –– On Wednesday, June 26, NASA’s newest mission, the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), will launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This exciting launch will be broadcast live inside the Global Immersion digital theater at the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, to a VIP audience. Supporting the event, international digital theater specialists, Global Immersion, will be in attendance and providing on-site technical supervision and direction.
Global Immersion designed and integrated the digital reality center at the NASA Ames Research Center in California. The theater, a part of the NASA Ames Visitor Center, features a 14-ft/4.2 meter tall by 36-ft/11-meter wide spherical screen and high resolution multi-channel display. The theater is used to take visiting members of the public on a journey through Mars missions, simulated flights through the Universe and science contributions of scientists at the NASA Ames Research Center.
On Wednesday, the theater will be used as the host location for a VIP delegation including members of the United States Government, media, and Senior Executives from technology companies, to experience a live NASA TV broadcast feed of the IRIS mission launch on the big screen. The event will also feature special keynote speakers and commentary with Ames’ IRIS mission personnel.
Global Immersion will be supporting the event, working with the on-site team to deliver the digital experience.
Speaking about this prestigious event, Martin Howe, Vice President of Global Immersion said, “We are thrilled to be supporting the NASA Ames Research Center on such a special occasion. The theater has offered many thousands of visitors a unique insight into the work of NASA scientists and will now serve as a digital viewing portal for the latest NASA research mission. We are proud to be working with, and supporting, the team in California.”
Two hundred and fifty miles away, the launch itself will be taking place at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. IRIS will take flight using a Pegasus XL rocket, carried aloft by an Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft.
The launch of the IRIS spacecraft is scheduled for 7:27 p.m. PDT on Wednesday June 26, 2013.