Blast off with Nat Geo!
For the premiere of "One Strange Rock," National Geographic has created a new kind of virtual reality experience that lets users look and feel like an astronaut with a "Space Projection Helmet."
On the morning of the world premiere on March 14, Nat Geo debuted the new VR device for a small group of journalists at the Whitby Hotel in New York City. In this slideshow, we'll show you what the experience was like.
HERE: Attendees started out by suiting up in a flight jacket complete with Nat Geo and "One Strange Rock" patches.
NEXT: The harness assembly
The harness assembly
Once we were suited up in our slick flight jackets, we were given special harnesses. Each harness assembly has shoulder pads, a built-in speaker and a magnetic locking collar that allows you to easily place the helmet on top.
NEXT: Astro-journalists!
Astro-journalists
Nat Geo representatives helped members of the press get situated in the harness assemblies. Two seatbelt-like straps situated below the arms help keep the assemblies stable. (And, if you were to wear one of these in zero-gravity, those straps would totally keep your harness and helmet from floating off of your head!)
NEXT: A tight squeeze
A tight squeeze
Depending on the size and shape of your head, you might need to turn your head to the side to squeeze through the hole in the harness assembly. Both my nose and my eyeglasses got in the way on the first try.
All aboard!
After everyone was suited up in their harnesses and flight jackets, the "astronauts" headed into the theater to begin the VR experience.
NEXT: Helmets on!
Helmet helpers arrive
Nat Geo representatives placed the Space Projection Helmets on our heads. The magnetic locking collar allows the helmet to snap right into place without any hassle.
NEXT: A space adventure
Traveling in space
Inside the Space Projection Helmet, a small laser projector beams a view of Earth from space onto the inside of the visor, while built-in speakers play accompanying audio.
NEXT: Cool visualizations
Stunning visualizations
In addition to real views of Earth from space, the VR show included several computer-animated visualizations of the early solar system and the history of Earth's formation.
NEXT: A show both inside and out
A show both inside and out
Because the helmet visors are translucent, anyone observing your VR experience can follow along from outside the helmet - but the image does appear backwards. While this is obviously nothing like the real deal, at least observers can follow along with their helmet-cladded comrades.
NEXT: Zooming in on Earth
Zooming in on Earth
Cool views from the International Space Station weren't all these helmets had to offer. After seeing Earth from afar, the helmets took us back down to the planet's surface to explore its beauty up close. Here, a flower blooms inside the space projection helmet.
NEXT: Astronaut-approved
Astronaut-approved
Chris Hadfield, a retired astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency, tried on one of the Space Projection Helmets after speaking with journalists. Hadfield, who famously recorded a music video of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" at the International Space Station, leads two episodes of "One Strange Rock."
NEXT: The rest of the crew
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