Virtual reality show brings Montrealers aboard the International Space Station

MONTREAL – When Amazon billionaire founder Jeff Bezos took an all-civilian crew into space, it awakened the inner astronaut of many dreamers.

Now, a Montreal team wants to make this dream come true.

A virtual reality, that is to say.

“Our goal is to bring space to the public,” said Felix Lajeunesse, Creative Director of Felix and Paul Studios, one of the teams behind THE INFINITE – a virtual reality experience that allows viewers to explore the International Space Station (ISS).

The studio worked with NASA to develop virtual reality cameras that could operate in zero gravity.

In 2019, they sent the technology to the ISS, where Quebec-born astronaut David Saint-Jacques would operate, along with other space workers.

“We would work synergistically with them from earth to space,” said Lajeunesse.

“Sometimes astronauts even took creative liberties,” he said, “like filming shots on their own.”

The result is a day in the life of an astronaut with all its pleasures and challenges.

While production details are under wraps, those who saw the show said it was out of this world.

“There is a place where they play football,” a CTV News participant said. “I dodged because I didn’t want to be touched by football. It was very, very interesting “

Some have described it as an almost religious experience, adding that they may never see the world the same way.

We have a beautiful planet and we have to take care of it, honestly, ”said another viewer.

“Space is the ultimate mystery, you know, it’s the search for our origins,” said Lajeunesse. “It’s about understanding our place in the universe.”

“Obviously, we will become an interplanetary species at some point in the future. “

Until then, he says, the goal is to give those who aren’t billionaires a chance to see what happens.

You can see THE INFINITE at the Arsenal contemporary art center in Saint-Henri until November 7th.