Spending a day or two at Cité de l’espace means discovering a new world

Cité de l’Espace is offering a new fun and participatory workshop “How does ESA Recruit Astronauts?” to help visitors understand the profiles on which European astronauts are selected. Because to hope to participate in future space missions to the International Space Station (ISS), the Moon or even Mars, many skills are essential: memory, logic, physical fitness, spatial awareness, collaboration, team spirit, self-control, communication skills…

Lasting 40 minutes, this presentation invites the general public to participate in an astronaut selection game by trying out, solo or in a team, a few tests and scenarios inspired by the real selection process. This workshop takes place in parallel with the current selection of future European astronauts from ESA (European Space Agency). This animation was developed with the help of astronauts and engineers from ESA and CNES and is included in the entry ticket. Presentation which takes place during holidays and weekends included in the entrance ticket. To find out about the workshop on video: here

With the exhibition “MOON, Episode 2,” young and old discover the scientific challenges on which the space agencies are currently working: the return of astronauts to the Moon with the aim of staying there and carrying out ambitious scientific exploration. The goal is to train for living off our planet before going further, later: to Mars. In this exhibition, visitors are immersed in a 100% lunar village to understand all the challenges to be met to (stay a)live on this heavenly body. Can we find resources there, despite its apparent desolation? How to manage these precious resources (solar energy, dust, water)? Are there effective ways to protect ourselves against this hostile environment? How should we equip ourselves? How will we manage to work, stay, sleep, eat, communicate, live on the Moon? What are the current projects and Missions for returning to and landing on the Moon? Exhibition included in the entrance ticket . Further information: here

At the heart of a Martian crater that can accommodate up to 250 visitors at a time, Martian exploration is staged by Cité de l’Espace ‘s scientific presenters through a daily 25-minute presentation as close as possible to the reality of current space exploration. In the form of a Martian crater of 900 m2, where the red planet’s special soil and rocks are faithfully reproduced, the Martian Terrain, a new scientific mediation venue, focuses on the most explored planet of the solar system: MARS and the robots that are exploring it.

Martian Terrain “The Rovers Take the Stage!” was designed for all audiences. In the heart of the central zone of the Martian crater, the life-size and fully automated replicas of the Perseverance (NASA- USA) and Zhurong (CNSA- China) rovers – both currently exploring the planet Mars – are operated by Cité de l’espace’s scientific presenters to show in an authentic way how these mobile robots move on the red planet and the missions that are entrusted to them. Presentation included in the entrance ticket .

This equipment was designed and developed in collaboration with scientific experts from the French space agency (CNES) and the Institute for Astrophysics and Planetology Research IRAP, in order to best reproduce the most realistic Martian landscape possible (colours, textures, reliefs, etc.). Further information: here

Cité de l’espace invites young and old to discover its film “Asteroid Hunters 3D” in its Imax® cinema. By immersing themselves in the film, the public finds out about the research of scientists who work, day after day, to protect our planet and humanity from possible asteroid impacts. Thanks to a total immersion in the daily life of these “asteroid hunters,” spectators find out about the advanced tools and techniques used to detect and track asteroids close to the Earth. Show included in the entrance ticket. Further information: here

Cité de l’Espace gives pride of place to children from 4 to 8 years old.

Cité des Petits was designed to meet the expectations of the youngest. Thanks to 100% immersive presentations and facilities and sets on the youngest children’s scale, Cité des petits is a suitable answer for families looking for cultural places to go with children who are not readers or just learning to read on two subjects of their dreams: rockets and astronauts . Presentation included in the entrance ticket.

Further information: here

“Beyond the Stars” is a programme that takes viewers aboard the Planetarium, this “vessel” that takes them on a journey through the solar system, then much further into the Universe. Visitors, thanks to new interactive show technology and individual voting boxes, will take on the role of co-pilot and will be able to engage with a presenter in the Planetarium to go through the various stages of the journey and take their exploration further. Duration: 40 minutes. Show included in the entrance ticket. Further information: here