By Michael Balderston
Christopher Nolan’s latest film “Interstellar,” opening in theaters Friday, explores the final frontier of space. NoVA residents will have the chance to experience space themselves with a special, world-exclusive, “Interstellar” exhibition at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
The exhibit features the actual Ranger model, the spacecraft featured in “Interstellar,” used for filming. Nolan is known for using practical effects in his films and the Ranger is an impressive piece both in scale and detail—down to the safety signs that would appear on the craft. This is one of the only times the Ranger will be available to the public, as it will be returned to Paramount Studios in Los Angeles after the exhibition’s tour.
The exhibit also features an Oculus Rift DK2 experience. This virtual ride allows you to explore the inside of the space station from the film, “Endurance,” and simulates the experience of weightlessness. Guests under 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or have parental permission. Guests must be 8 or older.
The Udvar-Hazy Center also is the one of two locations in the entire region screening “Interstellar” in 70mm IMAX; the other being the National Air and Space Museum’s Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater on the National Mall. Experience this incredible journey through space on a six-story screen with a 1500 Watt sound system. 70mm film offers the best resolution to see the film; it is 10X the resolution of 35mm and 100X of an HDTV.
“Everyone loves to be ecstatic about digital,” says Zarth Bertsch, director of theater at the Udvar-Hazy Center, “but in terms of quality … it hasn’t surpassed film.”
The “Interstellar” exhibit opened on Nov. 6 and runs through Nov. 20, going from 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Admission is free, with $15 parking charge before 4 p.m.
