The Launch Centre

Venue

Main building - Ground floor

Accessibility

Accessible to people with disabilities

3, 2, 1, 0, blast off! With the Launch Centre, watch rockets take off from several space centres, understand how a satellite is placed in orbit or admire a real Vulcain engine of Ariane 5.

DANGERS AND CHALLENGES OF SPACE

Reaching space is difficult, staying there also! You will be surprised to see how a single grain of sand up there can, by its speed, damage or destroy a satellite.

In a new space dedicated to exploring current space issues, including space debris, discover an interactive experience: “Orbital Dance”, where you control a satellite to avoid space debris.

Also browse the new Innovations Gallery which allows you to understand the creative process of engineers in the space world.

DID YOU KNOW ? THE ORIGIN OF THE COUNTDOWN

We owe the famous backward count to the German filmmaker Fritz Lang. In 1929, he made Frau im Mond (The Woman on the Moon), a black and white science fiction silent film that tells of a mission to our natural satellite. To heighten the dramatic tension during the take-off scene, he imagines the countdown (which appears as text cards), relying on the fact that the public knows that the take-off will occur once the number zero has been reached.
Discover the launchers that have gone into space and test how gravity works

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Ma Cité de l'espace

"Ma Cité de l'espace" is your companion for your visit to conquer space! Find the schedules of events and shows, the exhibitions to visit, the site map, suggestions for visits and practical information.

And also ...

The News Corner

Exhibitions

With its control centre look and feel, the Carré de l'Actu connects you live with the daily life of the International Space Station (ISS) and the future lunar missions of the Artemis programme.

The Solar System Quay

Exhibitions

We often imagine that the Solar System is made up of eight planets that revolve around the sun, which is true, but it's also much more. From this dock, embark on a journey across the expanse of the Solar System. Dive into the clouds and the moon of Saturn: Titan, discover celestial bodies and understand the waltz of comets.

The Observatory of the Universe

Exhibitions

Under a starry vault, take a new look at the Universe and explore the sky above our heads. If you enjoy astronomy, the observatory is an essential place.

The Weather Hub

Exhibitions

What will the weather be like tomorrow and in the coming days? A simple question which has also mobilised space since the first weather satellite in 1959 (the American Vanguard 2).

Spaceship Earth

Exhibitions

What is the favourite destination of spacecraft? Mars or the Moon? In fact, it is the Earth, or more exactly the Earth's orbit! But what do we mean by spacecraft? Well , we are talking about satellites in particular.

Moon – Episode II, We’re Going back !

Exhibitions

Fifty years after the Apollo feat and our first steps on the Moon, our natural satellite, Mankind has decided to return there. But this time the challenge is even crazier since it is a question of settling there. And that changes everything!

All the exhibitions All the shows All the presentations

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