I am at peace with the idea that I will not visit space in my lifetime. The cost of space tourism is out of reach for me and the vast majority of Americans. However, a recent Saturday afternoon, thanks to a mixture of virtual reality and old-fashioned theaters, I am on the moon.
Looking at my left, I see strange and abstract light blue lights emerging from the landscape of the gray and rocky moon. Plunging, I can spot the stars and reconstruct various constellations. In front, I look at the vehicle in which I stand – technically a shipping container – move to the craters on a monorail.
It is “Lunar light: discovery», VR EXPERIENCE PART, PART MINI-ESCAPE Room, Part Science Experiment and Part Play. Virtual reality, for example – and the actors will direct, guide and offer moon pieces, all with a little campsite inspired by improvisation.
Part of “Lunar Light: Discovery” is in virtual reality, when guests can look at digital windows to see space views. Above, a screenshot of the interior of the helmet.
(Gracieuse of Lunar Light: Discovery)
“Lunar Light” takes place in 2055, when humanity established a small community on the moon. A mysterious mineral of the blue shade landed on the natural satellite of the earth, and this causes strange reactions – the emotions of people are comic, and power and lighting seem unpredictable. Even a tiny robot – DG -33, a kind of cute rotation on a trash compactor – has developed whims, namely a sassy southern accent.
And yet, “Lunar Light” has an underlying mission. The project, which mixes in real science, is led by Danielle Roosa, an actor-writer who has become a space defender. Roosa's interest in the cosmos is in her blood because she is the granddaughter of the end of Apollo 14 Stuart Roosa. And one of her first concerts was on an internship in the NASA offices in Washington, DC, where she worked in the New and multimedia room.
“I think the space unites people,” explains Danielle Roosa, who directed the creation of “The Lunar Light: Discovery”.
(Catherine Dzilenski / For time)
“I realized that many of my classmates (collegials) did not know what NASA did even,” explains Roosa, 32. “A person said,” I thought NASA was bankrupt. “The seed was really planted there.
Or awake, rather.
“There is always this conversation,” why spatial exploration? ” “Said Roosa. “I think that understanding our place in the solar system helps us to better protect our house. This helps us understand what could happen, perhaps the different ways of living life, go there and find different habits. All of this is for better land. Even when my grandfather went to the moon, people were like: “Why do we do that?” I was not there, but people also say that it was the last time that America was really united. I think the space unites people.
“Lunar Light” is the first major project of the company of Roosa Back to Space. It has great ambitions – opening an immersive large -scale installation to house “Lunar Light” and other programs, and take the experience on the road to various museums. She perfected her business sense after a fortuitous meeting on a plane with Jim Keyes, a former 7-Eleven and successful executive, who became a mentor and investor.
The installation of Santa Monica is the second pop-up of “Lunar Light”, having had a race in Dallas in 2024. She considers that it is proof of concept, the first step in her ultimate goal of building a “experience of 10,000 square feet which resembles the Disneyland of space exploration”. Investors were interested but encouraged her, at least at first, to reduce his vision.
“Okay, very good,” said Roosa, recalling these conversations. “We therefore built it from shipping containers.”
“The Lunar Light: Discovery” is built towards a mini puzzle similar to a escape room.
(Catherine Dzilenski / For time)
The experience of Santa Monica, just over an hour, is only in VR for a fraction of this period. After a short swing on the moon and a small play activity in which we explain virtual minerals, we find ourselves in a laboratory where we will play with various crystals. There is a Tesla coil, and we will test various reactions of electrical energy. The atmosphere, however, is not that of a classroom, because the actor who manages the laboratory plays the scene for laughter – all this electrical energy wreaked havoc in his mind.
Roosa, whose father was a military pilot, often moved throughout her childhood, and she says that she escaped by improvisation shows like “What Line is it anyway?” Who informed the light atmosphere of “lunar” and after having lived various immersive theater shows based on the actorLike that inspired by the Netflix series “Bridgerton”, she knew that she did not want her spatial exploration experience to be based solely on technology.
“I think human contact is the only thing that will save us in the world,” says Roosa. “Obviously, I like virtual reality, but I think that human connection is what experiences.”
“The discovery of lunar light”
The “lunar light” tries to use virtual reality to facilitate connection. While in helmets, we can see our participating colleagues. Sometimes we are invited to the Hautes five.
“Let's say there are three different groups,” said Roosa, describing how foreigners could be gathered for experience. “They are all shy.” I don't know you. You put the VR helmet, and all of a sudden, they have risen and jump from top to bottom.
The puzzles of “The Lunar Light: Discovery” are designed by thinking of collaboration.
(Catherine Dzilenski / For time)
In the end, “Lunar Light” accumulates to a mini escape room puzzle. But don't expect something too difficult. Those who know slightly the challenges of the escape room should be able to finish it without too many stories. Roosa did not want participants to remain stuck, because its ultimate objective is to create an excitement in space by demystifying it.
Roosa says that many spatial experiences are “very serious”. She then briefly adopted an exaggerated and deeply male voice. “It is:” We are scientists “. And I have always noticed, there is room for fun.
Danielle Roosa, second on the left, rear row, and Georgia Warner, Adam Kitchen, Derek Strasynski and Landon Gorton with guests: Soren Mcvay, Max Cazier, Leanna Turner, Hannah May Howard, James Cerini and Eteka Huckaby during “The Lunar Light: Discovery”.
(Catherine Dzilenski / For time)
