Simulating space in the Ardennes in the Belgian Ardennes, the Euro Space Center provides hands-on astronaut training experiences.%%CITE_1%% A central attraction is the multi-axis chair, a device that simulates the disorientation an astronaut might feel if their spacecraft loses control of its rotation.%%CITE_2%%%%CITE_3%% This trainer, also known as an aerotrim, is a three-axis gimbal large enough to hold a person, designed for balance training for pilots and astronauts.%%CITE_4%% Riders are strapped into the seat and spun simultaneously on three different axes, an intense experience meant to prepare them for the sensory challenges of spaceflight.%%CITE_3%%
The center offers other advanced simulations. The "Moonwalk XP" and "Marswalk XP" simulators use a spring-assisted chair to reduce a person's weight, simulating the gravitational pull on the Moon (one-sixth of Earth's) or Mars (one-third of Earth's). The Space Rotor is a centrifuge that tests resistance to gravitational forces. The Zero-Gravity Wall is an 8-meter high by 10-meter long metal structure with a hydraulic counterweight system that allows trainees to move up, down, and sideways to practice repairing a satellite in a simulated weightless environment. For a briefer sensation of weightlessness, the center has a 7-meter tall free-fall slide.
From rockets to Mars rovers
Opened on June 19, 1991, the Euro Space Center's goal is to make space science accessible. On its grounds is Europe's only full-scale replica of a U.S. Space Shuttle, named "Amicitia". This life-size model allows visitors to enter the crew's living quarters and sit in the commander's seat on the flight deck. Nearby, an actual, decommissioned Europa 2 rocket stands.
The facility also includes a Mars Village, where visitors can remotely operate a rover model and learn about current research into the possibility of life on the planet. The planetarium, which opened in 2011, has a 6-meter dome and seats 35 people. The center's audio-guided "Space Tour" walks through the history of space exploration, from early rocketry to modern missions. The center honors Belgium's own space history, with shows dedicated to Dirk Frimout, the first Belgian in space (1992), and Frank De Winne, the first Belgian to command a space mission (2009).