tour space game

Universe Sandbox

Explore the Solar System to your heart’s content.

Solar System Sandbox

Hint: Add objects by using the Search bar in the simulation. There are approx. 1 Million objects available

*This Interactive 3D Simulation is built on data provided by NASA JPL HORIZONS database for solar system objects and International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center. Distances and speeds are estimates based on this data. Photo Credit and other: NASA, ESO/S. Brunier, NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI, NASA/JPL-Caltech, JAXA, University of Tokyo & collaborators, UH/IA, Solar System Scope/INOVE CC BY 4.0, Wikipedia/Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, icons8.com, Péter Eke , NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Roman Tkachenko, Wikimedia Commons, Hayabusa 2 Arrival illustration by Akihiro Ikeshita (permission granted), oNline Web Fonts , Font Awesome , Galaxy vector created by stories – www.freepik.com

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Universe simulator

SpaceEngine is a realistic virtual Universe you can explore on your computer. You can travel from star to star, from galaxy to galaxy, landing on any planet, moon, or asteroid with the ability to explore its alien landscape. You can alter the speed of time and observe any celestial phenomena you please. All transitions are completely seamless, and this virtual universe has a size of billions of light-years across and contains trillions upon trillions of planetary systems. The procedural generation is based on real scientific knowledge, so SpaceEngine depicts the universe the way it is thought to be by modern science. Real celestial objects are also present if you want to visit them, including the planets and moons of our Solar system, thousands of nearby stars with newly discovered exoplanets, and thousands of galaxies that are currently known.

Cosmographic's Second Anniversary

Author: Alexander T. Long, CEO Yesterday we celebrated our second year as a studio! A lot has happened in the last year, and we have plans for even mo...

Update 0.990.46.2000: Catalog Update and Bug Fixes

Author: Dr. Megan Tannock Today’s update includes several smaller updates to several SpaceEngine features. The first is a major exoplanet catalog ex...

Update 0.990.46.1990: Climate Model Update Full Release

Recently, we announced the addition of a Climate Model to SpaceEngine, which introduced global temperature maps, local pressures, local densities, win...

All types of celestial objects

represented

Galaxies, nebulae, stars and star clusters, planets and moons, comets and asteroids

Thousands of known

celestial objects

Known galaxies, stars, planets, asteroids, nebulae are represented using catalogs: HIPPARCOS, NGC/IC, Messier, MPC, NASA Exoplanet Archive and many others

procedural generation

for uncharted regions

Uncharted regions of space feature procedurally generated objects: galaxies, stars, star clusters, nebulae and planetary systems

Incredibly huge

and realistic Universe

Trillions of galaxies with billions of star systems in each, everything is realistically scaled

free to move

around the universe

Seamless transition from the surface of a planet to the most distant galaxies, and free game-like movement with the WASD keys

Easy navigation

many useful tools

Click on any visible object with the mouse and hit the 'G' key to fly directly to it. Search for objects by name, search by parameters within a certain radius, browse an interactive map of the surrounding space and view a map of the current planetary system

Save locations

and name objects

Save a favorite point in space and time and share it with friend. Give a name to any discovered planet, star or galaxy, and write a description for it.

Observe the Universe

Accelerate, decelerate, or reverse the flow of time to see the orbital motion of planets and moons, and watch sunsets and eclipses

Tools to learn

how the Universe works

Read detailed physical and astronomical data of any celestial body using the built-in Wiki system. Look at the orbital path lines of planets and moons, and compare their size side-by-side

3D landscapes on planets

volumetric galaxies and nebulae

Solar System bodies have real terrain models obtained by space probes; realistic hi-detail terrain on procedural planets

Photorealistic

Photorealistic lighting and atmospheric model

Space ships

with realistic orbital mechanics

Pilot star ships with realistic orbital mechanics, Alcubierre warp drives, and aerodynamics in planetary atmospheres

Multilanguage

Localization in 20 languages, with a simple system for creating new translations

Huge modding

Import space ship models, planetary surface textures and terrain, astronomical catalogs, and more

And much more

Movement made possible with free, spacecraft or aircraft mode

``Select and fly`` autopilot to automatically go directly to the object

Automatic binding of the observer to moving objects

Automatic selection of optimum flight speed

Built-in wiki system with descriptions and ability to extend

Ability to import user addons: models, textures, catalogs

3D models of galaxies and nebulae with interstellar dust clouds

Accurate planetary atmosphere models

Controllable space ships

Original music with context-dependent track switching

Localization in many languages, with the ability to add new ones

• CPU: Intel Core i3-3220T, AMD FX-4100
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, AMD Radeon RX 460; 3+ GB dedicated video memory (VRAM)
• OS: Windows 10

Recommended

• CPU: Intel Core i5-4430, AMD FX-8350
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, AMD Radeon RX 480; 5+ GB dedicated video memory (VRAM)
• OS: Windows 10/11

If you like SpaceEngine, buy the latest version on Steam , and receive free updates as we make improvements and add new features!

At the moment, we are no longer accepting donations via PayPal. If you want to support SpaceEngine beyond purchasing it for yourself, consider buying a copy for a friend or simply tell your friends and family about SpaceEngine and why you love it. No matter what you do, we deeply appreciate your support!

Welcome space explorer!

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Online Version

Desktop version, mobile version, merchandise, recent releases.

2018 December - App Release

Added Messier Objects Explorer

Improved Night Sky view

Added Milky Way Galaxy

Added More Objects to the Search List

Added Distance Meter

Added More Options

Added Fluent Movement through Cosmos

Added Manual Search for objects

2018 June - Web Release

2018 March - Web Release

2018 February - Web Release

2018 January - Web Release

2017 December - App Release

Added manual search

Added nav menu

Paper Planets!

Astronomy places, major app update.

We've created SolarLab to share ideas and inspiration.

You can vote here for the best ideas, find all news, releases, as well as things we're currently working on.

The Nine Planets

Solar System Tour

Solar System Scope is an incredibly accurate solar system tour, allowing you to explore the solar system, the night sky and outer space in real-time.

All of the objects on the tour are accurately positioned based on where they are right this very second, and the tour contains interesting facts and information about the many objects in space.

Every now and then, don’t you wish you could just pack your bags and jet off on an exciting, awe-inspiring journey across our breathtaking solar system? Ever wondered what it’d be like to skim past the gas giants or marvel at the icy rings of Saturn up close? Well, while Elon Musk is still working on making that a reality, I’ll be your virtual guide on a one-of-a-kind solar system tour – an enlightening adventure, without the risk of being lost in space!

Our journey starts right here, on our very own life-logged planet, Earth. As we embark on this space voyage, we’ll traverse through the neighboring rocky planets, glide past the incredible asteroid belt, and sweep across the majestic giants, their icy rings and numerous satellites. Towards the end, we’ll be gracefully riding the gravitational waves, leaving the outer edges of our solar system, where you’ll get a rare glimpse of the enigmatic region populated by icy objects known as the Kuiper Belt.

But before we start our engines and head for the inky vastness of space, it’s important to remember that although space explorations have given us a fair idea about these celestial bodies, there’s still an ocean of mysteries waiting to be unfolded. The real beauty of our cosmic neighborhood lies in its sheer vastness, diversity and the endless scope of discovery that it harbors. From the scorching heat of Mercury to the frigid reaches Pluto and beyond, brace yourself for an  out-of-this-world experience !

The Exciting Experience of a Solar System Tour

Imagine the prospect of a real-life  solar system tour . It’s akin to a child’s joy on their first trip to a theme park. A hands-on space exploration that goes beyond the textbooks, casting a mesmerizing spell on minds open to the wonders of the universe.

Propelling past Earth’s atmosphere, you’d first mark a date with our closest celestial neighbor—the Moon. The Apollo astronauts traversed its dusty plains more than five decades ago. Yet for us, it would still be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Next on the itinerary is our scorched twin, Venus. Here’s a fun fact,  Venus  is the only planet in our solar system that spins opposite to Earth.

Then we arrive at the pièce de résistance: our bloodline, the Sun. During the visit, you could learn more about its billion-year lifespan and its constant solar storms. The solar system tour would not be complete without a stopover at Mars. Known as the Red Planet, it’s been the subject of numerous  space missions , most notably the Mars Rover mission seeking evidence of life.

Here’s a quick tabular overview:

From the asteroid belt to Jupiter’s turbulent storms, every celestial body sits ready to unfold its story. With the tour continuing to the outer reaches of the universe, you’d experience the icy solitude of the outer planets like Neptune and Uranus.

However, we shouldn’t forget about an often overlooked, yet significant part of our solar system. Those are the  comets  and asteroids, remnants from the formation of our system almost 4.6 billion years ago.

Being part of a solar system tour , you wouldn’t just be observing the cosmos. Instead, you’d immerse yourself in a cosmic ocean, each wave presenting a new revelation about the universe. It’s not merely an experience; it’s the chance to physically connect with the vast expanse of space that usually only feels a speck away in the night sky. This would indeed be a ticket to the greatest show in the cosmos.

Traveling through the Solar System: What to Expect

Imagine blasting off into the cosmos on a spaceship designed for a thrilling expedition! As we set off on our  solar system tour , the things we’ll perceive are extraordinarily vast and stunningly diverse. This voyage will give us a newfound respect for the majesty of the cosmic neighborhood we inhabit.

Our first stop will be  Mercury , the closest planet to the sun. It’s a small, bare, and intensely heated planet. We shouldn’t forget the sunscreen as daytime temperatures can soar up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit!

Next, we’ll swing by  Venus  – the hot, hurricane-ridden planet awaits us with an unbelievably corrosive atmosphere. It’s interesting to note that Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets, including Earth.

Continuing our journey, we’ll visit  Mars . Mars has the tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, three times the height of Mount Everest. And don’t forget about the giant canyon, Valles Marineris, which would stretch from New York to Los Angeles if it was on Earth!

Yet, our extraordinary adventure won’t be all about planets. We’ll have a chance to marvel at the  Asteroid Belt , a ring composed of millions of rocky bodies. This celestial obstacle course lies between Mars and Jupiter.

Of course, we’ll also encounter the majestic giants of our solar system. The gas giants,  Saturn  and  Jupiter , as well as the icy giants,  Uranus  and  Neptune , will present captivating sights. We’ll see Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, an anticyclonic storm larger than Earth, and Saturn’s intricate ring system. Uranus and Neptune, on the other hand, will dazzle us with their stunning cool-blue hues.

Admittedly, going further to behold the beauty of  Pluto , once a planet, now a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, caps off this unique expedition. The journey end will leave us with an understanding of the infinite yet harmonious chaos that forms our solar system.

So buckle up, folks. The adventure through our heavenly bodies is par for the cosmic course. Our solar system, with its varied and breathtaking celestial bodies, offers a journey like no other. It’s going to be a wild ride! Just remember, despite the vastness of space, we’re never too far away from our home planet, Earth.

Conclusion: Reflecting on Our Intergalactic Journey

Wraping up, we’ve journeyed past planets and stars, across cosmic fields, and brushed alongside cosmic neighbors throughout our solar system tour.  Isn’t it just incredible that we live in such an expansive universe that holds so many unseen wonders?

Throughout our intergalactic expedition, we’ll forever remember the unique characteristics of each celestial body. Let’s just take a quick review again:

• Mercury,  with its sweltering days and frigid nights,
• Venus,  stunningly bright yet shrouded in clouds,
• Mars,  our red neighbor that pique our curiosity about extraterrestrial life,
• Jupiter’s  giant gas storms,
• Saturn’s  enchanting rings,
• Uranus  and  Neptune’s  icy allure,
• And let’s not forget about our little cosmic sibling, the dwarf planet  Pluto .

Something important stood out during our journey, invoking a sense of interconnectivity. Each exists in symbiosis, drawing and relying upon the sun’s energy. Just like how everything on Earth is connected, so are we connected to our cosmic counterparts.

So, what’s the takeaway? Should we plan to pack our bags and ship off to Mars? I’ll leave that up to you. What I will stress, though, is the importance of space exploration. It’s not just a testament to human curiosity, it’s a driver of scientific breakthroughs and a reminder of the vast unexplored universe that lies ahead of us.

It might seem frightening, or perhaps intriguing. Yet isn’t that the essence of exploration? Stepping into the unknown, learning new things, using that newfound knowledge to improve and innovate. And in doing so, perhaps we’ll find more about ourselves along the way.

To sum it up, our universe offers infinite mysteries and wonders for us to discover. As we move forward, let’s keep looking up and fueling our curiosity. Remember, no question is a bad question and our solar system tour just has begun. As we continue to explore the stars, who knows what we’ll uncover? The only thing for sure is that the stars await, ready to share their secrets with us.

Due to errors in the way the solar system model works embedded on this page, we now link directly to Solar System Scope.

Welcome to ViewSpace

Hero interactive.

Explore the Universe with Interactives and Videos

About ViewSpace

What is viewspace.

ViewSpace is a free, web-based collection of digital interactives and videos highlighting the latest developments in astronomy and Earth science.

ViewSpace gives you the opportunity to explore our planet, solar system, galaxy, and universe. Provided free with the support of NASA, ViewSpace is developed by a team of scientists, educators, and communication specialists who collaborate to ensure that content is accurate, up-to-date, engaging, relevant, and accessible to a wide audience.

Interactives

ViewSpace interactives allow you to explore objects and materials from different perspectives, discovering how we can combine information to better understand the universe.

Different forms of light: Explore visible and invisible wavelengths of light that help us understand features like the dusty brim of the Sombrero Galaxy roughly 30 million light-years away.

Hidden objects: Unveil invisible light to reveal hidden objects like the stars forming inside Mystic Mountain, a pillar of gas and dust 7,500 light-years from Earth.

ViewSpace videos tell the stories of the planets, stars, galaxies, and universe, giving viewers the opportunity to experience space and Earth as seen with satellites and telescopes.

Astronomy: Explore the sky with stories told through spectacular imagery from space telescopes.

Earth science: Gain new perspectives on our home planet based on data gathered by Earth-orbiting satellites.

ViewSpace is produced by the Office of Public Outreach at the Space Telescope Science Institute , in partnership with the NASA's Universe of Learning project and NASA's Earth Observing System, Hubble Space Telescope Project, and James Webb Space Telescope Project.

ViewSpace has been exhibited in museums, planetariums, and science centers across the country since 2000.

What Will You Explore?

The Latest Discoveries in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Recent Natural Events and Satellite Views of Earth

In-depth Stories of How Science and the Universe Work

Stunning Imagery and Accessible Explanations

Sample Images from ViewSpace

What objects and materials make up the universe, and how do we study the invisible as well as the visible?

Data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-Ray Observatory are used to create a map of dark matter (blue) in galaxy cluster MACS J0717.5+3745.

What are galaxies; how do they vary; and how do they form, interact, and change over time?

The Penguin and the Egg (Arp 142) is a pair of galaxies that are being distorted by their mutual gravitational attraction.

How do the Sun, planets, moons, comets, and asteroids interact as a system?

Saturn’s moon Titan casts a shadow as it passes between the planet and the Sun.

How do telescopes help us better understand the objects and materials that light up the sky?

With telescopes, we can see details of the Milky Way, including glowing clouds of dust and gas like the Lobster Nebula.

How fast is the universe expanding and what does this tell us about its past and future?

Over time, space expands, stretching the wavelenghts of light and causing the distant galaxies seen in the Ultra Deep Field image from the Hubble Space Telescope to look redder than the closer galaxies.

How do we detect and study planets orbiting other stars?

Changes in the brightness of starlight, measured by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, indicates the presence of a planet orbiting the star.

What happens to stars at the end of their lives, and how do stellar explosions affect the space around them?

Visible, infrared, and X-ray light from supernova remnant Cassiopeia A reveal remains of an exploded star.

How can we use interactions between light and matter to probe the deep universe?

The enormous mass of galaxy cluster Abell 370 bends the space around it, magnifying and distorting the light from more distant galaxies into arc-like streaks.

How are astronomers combining data from space and ground-based telescopes, particle detectors, and gravitational wave detectors to understand cosmic objects, processes, and events?

An artist’s illustration depicts the detection of neutrino particles and gamma rays emitted by a supermassive black hole at the center of a distant galaxy.

How and where do stars form, and how do they shape their surroundings?

Pillars of gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula are sculpted and illuminated by stellar winds and high-energy radiation of bright stars.

How can we use satellites to map, study, and monitor Earth’s land surface, oceans, and atmosphere?

An image captured by the Landsat 8 satellite in May 2018 shows active lava flows from Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.

What evidence supports our theories of how the universe formed and how it has evolved over time?

A map of the sky from the Planck Space Telescope highlights variations in the cosmic microwave background radiation—energy left over from the big bang some 13.8 billion years ago.

What tools and methods do scientists use to study Earth and space?

NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite (SMAP) helps scientists monitor droughts, predict floods, and improve farm productivity.

Is Earth unique? Are we alone?

Observations from space telescopes have revealed thousands of exoplanets of different of sizes, compositions, temperatures, and atmospheres, including seven rocky Earth-sized planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system, 40 light-years from Earth (artist’s illustration).

Where Is ViewSpace?

ViewSpace videos are on exhibit at museums, science centers, and planetariums across the country.

ViewSpace interactives are available online.

Use the map to find a ViewSpace video location near you.

Location Spotlight

Worcester, Massachusetts

Westcave Preserve

Round Mountain, Texas

Lowell Observatory

Flagstaff, Arizona

Maryland Science Center

Baltimore, Maryland

Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University

Glassboro, New Jersey

Clark Planetarium

Salt Lake City, Utah

Becoming a ViewSpace Venue

ViewSpace provides informal learning sites with engaging, accurate, relevant, and up-to-date astronomy and Earth science content. Access to ViewSpace is free, requiring only registration, a computer or Smart TV, and persistent internet access. ViewSpace content is self-updating and videos can be set to play automatically, requiring minimal staff effort to maintain.

Join hundreds of others in featuring ViewSpace as part of your exhibits.

Who Produces and Supports ViewSpace?

ViewSpace is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, and is provided free of charge through financial support and subject matter expertise from the NASA’s Universe of Learning project, NASA’s Earth Observing System Project Science Office, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Project, and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Project.

Funded by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, NASA’s Universe of Learning is an integrated astrophysics STEM learning and literacy project developed through a partnership between the Space Telescope Science Institute, Caltech/IPAC, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and Sonoma State University.

NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) is a coordinated series of satellites designed to observe Earth’s land, atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere. As part of the Earth Science Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, the EOS Project Science Office (EOSPSO) is committed to sharing information with both researchers and the general public.

The Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope are two of NASA’s flagship missions designed to explore and advance our understanding of the universe. The missions’ communications programs are dedicated to sharing scientific advances and making the world’s astronomical information accessible to all.

Online Activities

Expand your cosmic horizons and get to know the telescope behind some of astronomy’s most groundbreaking discoveries. Explore our videos, interactive activities, e-books, imagery, and more.

Interactives

Find out what image Hubble took on your birthday. Interact with a virtual Hubble spacecraft. Explore the night sky by zooming in on a cosmic object and see Hubble's view. Have fun with these and other interactive features and games!

What Did Hubble See on Your Birthday?

Get a Hubble image for any date.

Name that Nebula!

What do you see in the cosmic clouds? Play this game to match nebulae with their names.

Roam the night sky and zoom in to get a Hubble's-eye-view of cosmic objects

Interactive Orbiting Hubble

Interact with a satellite's-eye-view of an orbiting Hubble.

What is Hubble Observing?

See the area of sky Hubble is currently investigating or explore its upcoming and past targets.

Interactive Timelines

Follow the story of how Hubble came to be, how astronauts kept it going, and its major discoveries with this interactive timeline.

Explore Light

See how cosmic objects transform when viewed at different wavelengths of light.

Learn fun trivia about the Hubble astronauts and see if you know some of Hubble's more interesting facts.

Hubble Astronaut Fun Facts

How well do you know Hubble astronauts? Play this astronaut trivia game and test your knowledge!

Quiz Challenge

Test your knowledge of Hubble science and technology. Hear the answers from the scientists and engineers behind the telescope.

360-Degree Tours

Take a 360 degree virtual tour of Hubble in space and of the Hubble control center that keeps Hubble working.

Hubble Spacecraft 360 Degree Tour

Visit Hubble in orbit and investigate how it works in the 360-degree virtual tour.

Control Center 360-Degree Tour

Go behind the scenes at the heart of Hubble operations with this 360-degree virtual tour.

Download your game documents and embark on an exciting quest to unlock more knowledge about our universe. 

The Lost Universe

Download NASA's tabletop role-playing game adventure

NASA's Universe of Learning

NASA's Universe of Learning brings together scientists, engineers, and educators to provide a range of ready-to-go programming to add to your events and activities. It also connects you to scientists and engineers who actively support NASA’s Astrophysics missions.

More Hubble Activities and Links

Calling Future Explorers

Start with a 360-degree video and discover the unique paths that led people to careers with the Hubble Space Telescope.

Explore the Night Sky

Using our Skymap, find astronomical objects with a backyard telescope, or binoculars, then compare your view to Hubble's images of the object.

Hubble Albums

Flip through Hubble's Flickr albums and see astronauts at work in space, behind the scenes of mission operations, and images from nebulae to gravitational lens.

Hubble E-books

Investigate the mysteries of the universe, or dive into Hubble's history with our free, downloadable e-books.

Hubble Podcasts

Hear about Hubble's mission, discoveries, and images.

Hubble Videos

From science to history, from servicing mission to technology, and from documentaries to human interest stories, NASA had produced a library of informative and interesting videos on the Hubble Space Telescope.

Discover More Topics From NASA

James Webb Space Telescope

Perseverance Rover

Parker Solar Probe

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Play International Space Station Tour VR

About this game, system requirements.

• OS *: Windows 8
• Processor: Intel i5-4590 equivalent or greater
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 290 or greater
• Storage: 2 GB available space
• VR Support: SteamVR

This experience is created by The House of Fables. ESA is not an author of the application. ESA holds all rights for photos and videos used.

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Snap it! An Eclipse Photo Adventure

Help the Traveler snap photos of an eclipse!

Relay: A Laser-Based Space Communications Game

Learn about laser-based space communications in this game!

Color Your Universe: Find the Hidden Objects

Can you find all the NASA and space-themed hidden objects?

Explore Mars: A Mars Rover Game

Drive around the Red Planet and gather information in this fun coding game!

Play Helios: A Game About How the Sun Makes Energy!

Where does the Sun's energy come from? Play Helios to find out!

Space Volcanoes!

Explore the many volcanoes in our solar system using the Space Volcano Explorer.

Go With the Flow: An Ocean Currents Game

In this ocean currents game, use heat and salt to float your sub to the treasure!

Write your own zany adventure story!

Play Solar System Switch-a-Roo!

Put clues together to find the planets and moons.

DSN Uplink-Downlink: A DSN Game

Help the big antennas gather data from the spacecraft.

NASA Space Voyagers: The Game

In this strategy card game, build a spacecraft that can explore destinations throughout our solar system. This link takes you away from NASA Space Place.

Roman Space Observer

Catch as many astrophysical objects and phenomena as possible in this game! This link takes you away from NASA Space Place.

CubeSat Builder: Build a NASA Spacecraft!

Build a NASA Spacecraft in this game! This link takes you away from NASA Space Place.

Scope It Out!

Scope It Out! includes an introduction to telescopes and two matching games. This link takes you away from NASA Space Place.

Explore the universe with interactives and videos. This link takes you away from NASA Space Place.

Mars Photo Booth

Put yourself in mission control, or on Mars, next to the rover. This link takes you away from NASA Space Place.

Space Forensics Game

Stars exploding? Who would do such a thing? Join Detective Eagle Quark on his investigation of this mystery in this Space Forensics interactive game. This link takes you away from NASA Space Place.

Climate Time Machine

See into the past and ahead to the future with the Climate Time Machine. This link takes you away from NASA Space Place.

Coral Bleaching

See what happens to the coral reef depending on the various conditions you choose. This link takes you away from NASA Space Place.

Mars Rover Game

Mars Rover drivers wanted! Search for water as your game rover climbs up and down hills to explore Mars. This link takes you away from NASA Space Place.

NASA Home and City

Trace space back to you! This link takes you away from NASA Space Place.

Download SpacePlace iPhone Games!

Join the SpacePlace Community!

The best space games on PC

All the best space games you can play right now on PC.

• Singleplayer
• Multiplayer
• Cool space games

The best space games on PC squeeze all the stars and planets into little worlds for us to visit, explore, or save. Anime fans might like how Honkai: Star Rail zooms in on individual planets for comedic stories and slick combat, and strategy-minded players could lose track of time as they build an empire in Stellaris. And if you have a group of friends who can stomach absurdist horror, Lethal Company should be your next destination. Space games have been around for as long as PCs have been around, so there's a ton of games to choose from. The ones below are playable on most modern systems and aren't a pain to track down. You can find many of them on Steam, and often at a discounted price. Not every game treats space the same way. Some of them are made to be explored with a group of friends, while others are best played alone. We've broken every space game into categories to help you decide which one to dive into.

The best space games

PC Gamer's got your back Our experienced team dedicates many hours to every review, to really get to the heart of what matters most to you. Find out more about how we evaluate games and hardware.

The best singleplayer space games

Release date: 2023 | Developer: Bethesda Softworks | Steam

Starfield opens, like many Bethesda RPGs, in a small location that eventually gives way to a massive open world. But this time, its a whole galaxy. Mountains of loot await you in this sci-fi world full of hundreds of unique quests and characters. Grab a companion and go exploring planets for resources and spots to construct a base in, or build your own space ship. Starfield might not be our favorite Bethesda game, but as far as space RPGs go, it's one of the most expansive ones out there.

Read more: Starfield review

Outer Wilds

Release date: 2019 | Developer: Mobius Digital | Steam

A first-person open world game about exploring a small solar system full of weird planets and odd cosmic phenomena. The catch? You're trapped in a time loop, giving you just 20 minutes to explore at a time. Outer Wilds is reminiscent of games such as Her Story and Obra Dinn in the way you piece a puzzle together by discovering and connecting small, often seemingly unrelated details.

Read more: Outer Wilds review

Honkai: Star Rail

Release date: 2023 | Developer: HoYoverse | Epic

The turn-based sci-fi RPG from the developers behind Genshin Impact has no business being so good. As a male or female Trailblazer, you join a crew of explorers who travel to different planets to save them from being doomed by the universe's gods. It doesn't have a fully open world like Genshin, but each planet has cities and locations to explore and an expansive storyline that can be both surprisingly comedic and heroic—like any good space opera.

Read more: Honkai: Star Rail review

The Outer Worlds

Release date: 2019 | Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Steam

Not to be confused with Outer Wilds, which is also a space adventure and also on this list, Obsidian's interplanetary RPG is a comedic action RPG that hearkens back to the studio's days working on Fallout. You and your companions will hop around a solar system full of literally colorful environments and figuratively colorful characters. Corporations are the big bads of the retro space future where you'll shoot up aliens, choose dialogue, and generally make a mess of every planet you show up on if it suits your fancy. 

Read more: Outer Worlds review

Hardspace: Shipbreaker

Release date: 2022 | Developer: Blackbird Interactive | Steam

Hardspace: Shipbreaker is a game set in the future where cutting apart ships pays the bills, but not much else. This first-person destruction simulator has you learning the craft, taking jobs, and refining your skills so that eventually you can pay off your crippling pile of debt. It's creative and monotonous in a way that blue collar jobs often can be. And it uses that to underline the vital role of undervalued and overworked labor in a world run by billion dollar people and billion dollar corporations.

Read more: Hardspace: Shipbreaker review

Observation

Release date: 2019 | Developer: No Code | Steam The space station Observation has broken away from its Earth orbit and is drifting somewhere near Saturn. Its systems are malfunctioning, a fire has broken out, and the on-board artificial intelligence, SAM, is acting strangely. Things are not looking good for Dr. Emma Fisher, the reluctant hero of this sci-fi thriller from the studio behind Stories Untold. But what's interesting about Observation is that you don't play as Fisher. Instead, you play as the AI. Read more: Observation review

Release date: 2017 | Developer: Fullbright | Steam The crew has mysteriously abandoned the Tacoma lunar transfer station, and you’ve been sent to investigate and recover its precious AI, Odin. This atmospheric sci-fi mystery from the makers of Gone Home is wonderfully written, with a cast of rich, nuanced characters telling a compelling story through interactive AR recordings. Exploring the hyper-detailed station is a delight thanks to the game’s extraordinary attention to detail, and the more you learn about Tacoma, the deeper the mystery gets. Read more: Tacoma review

Alien: Isolation

Release date: 2014 | Developer Creative Assembly | Steam Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen, is hunted through a dilapidated space station by a xenomorph in this incredible survival horror. Taking its cues from Ridley Scott's original 1979 film, it's a masterpiece of slow-burning tension. And the station itself, Sevastopol, is a great example of lo-fi sci-fi, with chunky retro-futuristic tech and eerie flickering lights. One of the most faithful movie adaptations ever, and a great horror game in its own right. Read more: What Alien: Isolation gets right that Alien: Covenant gets wrong

Dead Space (2023)

Release date: 2023 | Developer: Motive | Steam

Isaac Clarke is an extremely unlucky guy. He's sent to repair a ship, the USG Ishimura, but very quickly finds out that it's stuffed with horrifying alien monsters. Dead Space blends the industrialized horror of Alien and tasks you (in third-person) with chopping up every monster that stumbles toward you. The 2023 remake cleans the game's visuals up, gives Clarke a makeover, and embraces what made the original so atmospheric and suspenseful. 

Read more: Dead Space review 

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Release date: 2021 | Developer: BioWare | Steam If you’ve ever fantasised about being Captain Picard, in command of your own starship, exploring the galaxy, meeting weird aliens, being confronted with cosmic dilemmas, then the Mass Effect series (especially 2) is that in game form. It’s part Star Wars space opera, part brilliant Star Trek episode, and one of the best sci-fi series on PC. It doesn’t have the freedom of open-ended games like Elite: Dangerous and is largely a linear experience, but it takes you on an unforgettable journey around the galaxy, visiting bizarre planets and getting involved in the lives of the aliens who live on them. We love the whole series, which have been modernized in the Legendary Edition, but we all agree that Mass Effect 2 is our favourite. Unfortunately, the original PC version of Mass Effect 2 isn't great, so you're best option is to pick up the Legendary Edition.

Read more: The Mass Effect games ranked from worst to best

Release date: 2013 | Developer: Chucklefish Games | Steam Terraria-esque survival with a science fiction twist. Hop between randomly generated planets on a starship, hunt alien creatures for food, build colonies and underground bases, and try not to die in the process. A brilliant sci-fi sandbox with a charming art style. Playable races include robots, beings made of solar energy, ape-like creatures, and colourful wingless birds. Read more: Starbound review

Release date: 2017 | Developer: Rockfish Games | Steam When you die in roguelike Everspace, you’re dead. But money earned carries over and can be spent on upgrades, which means you’ll be more powerful for your next run through the cosmic gauntlet. And these perks keep adding up, allowing you to travel deeper into space, and more boldly, with every successive attempt. It’s a compelling loop, and when you die you're never frustrated: just excited to start again, wondering how far you'll make it this time. Read more: Death is the road to glory in Everspace

Elite Dangerous

Release date: 2014 | Developer Frontier Developments | Steam An entire galaxy is your playground in this space sim. Starting with a basic ship and a handful of credits, you shape your own destiny. Do you become a fearsome pirate? A master trader? An explorer? The beauty of Elite is being able to play in a way that suits you. From thrilling dogfights to gentle exploration, there’s something for everyone. And its ships are all an absolute dream to fly, whether it's a nimble fighter or a heavy duty cargo hauler. Read more: Visiting NASA's latest discovery in Elite Dangerous

Heat Signature

Release date: 2017 | Developer Suspicious Developments | Steam In this top-down sci-fi action game you board spaceships and use an array of weapons and gadgets to take out the crew. The genius lies in how much creativity you're given to play your own way, inspired by the best immersive sims. And how you react to the chaos that erupts when your presence on the ship becomes known makes Heat Signature a powerful anecdote generator. Things might not always go to plan, but that's just part of the fun. Read more: 8 sadistic ways to take out guards in Heat Signature

Release date: 2016 | Developer: Ocelot Society | Steam Stranded alone somewhere near Jupiter on an old luxury starship, your only hope of returning home is an AI that has serious emotional problems. You interact with Kaizen using your keyboard, and sometimes it'll be willing to help you. But then it'll change its mind and decide the best thing to do is close the airlock and trap you outside the ship until you run out of air. A clever adventure with the understated mood of a '70s sci-fi film. Read more: Event[0] review

Star Wars: TIE Fighter

Release date: 1994 | Developer: Totally Games | GOG A rare opportunity to be the bad guy in George Lucas’s beloved space opera. With a variety of Empire-themed missions—dogfights, escorts, attacking capital ships—and a story to follow, it’s one of the best Star Wars games LucasArts ever published. Of course, you can replace this entry with Star Wars: X-Wing if you’d prefer to play as the boring old Rebel Alliance. Read more: The best Star Wars games on PC

FTL: Faster Than Light

Release date: 2012 | Developer: Subset Games | Steam FTL mixes turn-based and real-time strategy together to capture the experience of captaining a Star Trek-style spacecraft. It’s a strong roguelike, too, with a backdrop of a familiar yet fun sci-fi universe that comes with its own semi-humorous lore and a neat set of narrative beats that make the journey to its finale endlessly exciting. Being able to name your ship and crew makes it all the more heartbreaking when they die together in enemy space. Read more: The writing in FTL

Release date: 2016 | Developer: Misfits Attic | Steam Despite being viewed entirely through a retro-futuristic computer interface, Duskers is one of the scariest, most tense sci-fi horror games on PC. In it you pilot a fleet of drones searching derelict spaceships for fuel, upgrades, and clues about why the galaxy is so mysteriously devoid of life. The ships you board are crawling with strange creatures, which makes looking for clues in those narrow, dark corridors an especially nerve-wracking experience. Read more: Duskers review

Release date: 1995 | Developer: LucasArts | GOG A mission to divert an asteroid heading for Earth goes awry, sending a group of astronauts to a distant, seemingly abandoned world. Some of the puzzles are maddeningly obscure, even for a LucasArts point-and-click adventure, but the colourful, bizarre planet feels genuinely alien. Great voice acting too, with X-Files star Robert Patrick playing the lead character. Read more: Reinstall: The Dig

Wing Commander: Privateer

Release date: 1993 | Developer: Origin Systems | GOG Fans of the series will argue endlessly about which Wing Commander is the best, but we love Privateer’s darker feel. It’s a rich sandbox in which you can be a mercenary, a pirate, a merchant, or a mix of all three. You jump between systems looking for bounties to hunt and ships to rob, and the first-person dogfights are a thrill. There’s a linear story, but the real joy lies in doing your own thing and carving your own path through the stars.

Take On Mars

Release date: 2013 | Developer: Bohemia Interactive | Steam If you like your space games a little more grounded, try Arma developer Bohemia’s Take On Mars. It’s a space exploration and colonisation simulator largely based on real astro-science. You can build a Curiosity-style rover and explore the surface of the red planet or construct your own Martian colony. A game for folk who want the sci without too much of the fi. Read more: Building a mighty space base in Take On Mars

Objects in Space

Release date: 2019 | Developer: Flat Earth Games | Steam

This unique twist on the space sim shares the trading and exploration elements of games such as Elite Dangerous, but feels more like commanding a submarine. You don't see space itself; just a series of utilitarian rooms full of screens and machinery. There's a lot to manage, and you play several roles at once: pilot, engineer, comms officer. But despite the limited view of your surroundings, you still feel like you're hurtling through space in a starship.

Read more Objects in Space is a very different kind of space sim

The best strategy space games

Battlefleet gothic: armada 2.

Release date: 2019 | Developer: Tindalos Interactive | Steam

A real-time tactics game about giant spaceships clashing in the Warhammer 40,0000 universe. Battles take place on a 2D plane populated by capture points and asteroid fields, and the ships handle like giant, deadly cruise liners. You can unleash fighter and bomber squadrons, launch torpedo barrages and laser attacks, and board other ships. The space battles are involving and spectacular and the campaign is satisfying—especially for 40K fans.

Read more: Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 review 

Endless Space 2

Release date: 2017 | Developer: Amplitude Studios | Steam

A stylish game of galactic conquest. Not the broadest or deepest 4X strategy game on PC, but an atmospheric afternoon-killer that blends strategic decision making with a beautiful presentation. Set in a vivid sci-fi universe, the game lets you explore mysterious star systems, discover the secrets of ancient races, build colonies on distant planets, and encounter aliens to meet and conquer.

Read more: Endless Space 2 review

Release date: 2016 | Developer: Paradox | Steam Developed by Paradox, of Crusader Kings and Europa Universalis fame, this sci-fi epic puts the ‘grand’ in grand strategy. Explore the universe, form alliances with alien factions, and engage in the odd large-scale space battle. The multitude of systems makes Stellaris a powerful story generator, and you never know what strange beings you’ll meet among the stars. Read more: Stellaris: Utopia review

Sins of a Solar Empire

Release date: 2008 | Developer: Ironclad Games | Steam Mixing real-time strategy with 4X elements, Sins is a game of galactic conquest. Choose a faction, gather resources and become a mighty space-lord. Commanding its real-time wars is thrilling, but combat isn’t always the answer: you can use diplomacy to conquer systems too. A refreshingly slow-paced RTS with some truly massive space battles to stare slack-jawed at.

Homeworld Remastered Collection

Release date: 2015 | Developer: Relic/Gearbox Software | Steam One of the best singleplayer RTS campaigns ever made, and beautifully remastered by Gearbox. The sight of thousands of your ships streaking across the game’s vividly colourful space-scapes is hugely dramatic. And battles are tense and tactical, with many types of ship to command, including colossal battleships. The Remastered Collection looks great on modern PCs and comes complete with the original Homeworld and its sequel. Read more Homeworld Remastered Collection review

Surviving Mars

Read more Objects in Space is a very different kind of space sim 

The best multiplayer space games

Lethal company.

Release date: 2023 | Developer: Zeekerss | Steam

Lethal Company has a simple premise: You and a group of orange-jumpsuited friends take on jobs to scavenge derelict space stations filled with unfathomable horrors. This first-person survival horror game is as terrifying as it is ripe for comedy as everyone stumbles around looking for treasure. Proximity voice chat and planets riddled with hazards make for one of the most chaotic multiplayer playgrounds available. The vacuum of space is the least of your worries when you've got three other greedy astronauts waddling beside you. Read more: Lethal Company is a viral hit in no small part thanks to all the intense shouting

Space Engineers

Release date: 2013 | Developer: Keen Software House | Steam

Harvest asteroids for building materials then craft them into floating bases, flyable spaceships, and more besides. You can hover around the map with a jetpack or build a gravity generator to walk safely on the surface of bigger asteroids. One of the best co-op build-’em-ups on PC. Read more: An erratic journey to the Moon in Space Engineers

Release date: 2003 | Developer: CCP Games | Steam Live another life—in space! There’s nothing else like EVE Online on PC, a massively multiplayer RPG where everything is controlled by players. It’s a living galaxy in which thousands of capsuleers fight, trade, mine, and explore together. Break away from the relative safety of your police-patrolled starting system and you’ll find a ruthless, cosmic Wild West, where piracy, espionage and scamming are rife. Whether you’re fighting in a massive space war, where thousands of real-world dollars hang in the balance, or just exploring New Eden on your own, EVE is an unforgettable experience. Read more: EVE Online's most notorious scam took 16 months of commitment

Release date: 2017 | Developer: Bungie | Steam Bungie's addictive FPS/MMO hybrid features some of the prettiest alien landscapes on PC. From the forested ruins of Earth and the frigid barrens of Europa, to the cosmic beauty of The Dreaming City, every location is a pleasure to loot-and-shoot in. Although Bungie has removed a few planets to the recycle bin, the game continues to layer more lore and story with each new expansion, as well as smart reworks to its signature classes and gear. Read more: Destiny 2: The Witch Queen review

No Man's Sky

Release date: 2016 | Developer: Hello Games | Steam This is one of the most dazzlingly colourful sci-fi universes on PC, and being able to seamlessly transition from space to the surface of a planet is an impressive technical feat. The addition of features like base-building, missions, and actual multiplayer in its continuous stream of updates give you a lot more to actually do when you touch down on these worlds, and the procedural generation algorithm has been tweaked to make for weirder, prettier planet surfaces. Read more: The best No Man's Sky mods

The best simulation space games

Kerbal space program.

Release date: 2015 | Developer: Squad | Steam Wrestle with gravity and the laws of physics as you build your own spacecraft and attempt to explore the cosmos. A robust, compelling sandbox of possibilities that’s as funny as it is clever. Escaping Kerbin’s atmosphere and landing on the Mun (without exploding) for the first time with a ship you’ve built yourself is about as satisfying as PC gaming gets. Read more: Kerbal Space Program: Making History review

Universe Sandbox

Release date: 2014 | Developer Giant Army | Steam This space simulator lets you become an all-powerful cosmic deity, manipulating replicas of real galaxies and solar systems and witnessing the (often catastrophic) results of your meddling. Increase the mass of Jupiter and you’ll see the rest of our solar system being sucked into it, or delete the Sun and watch Earth and the other planets drift away confused. Read more Universe Sandbox review

Just really cool space games

Spaceengine.

Release date: 2010 | Developer Vladimir Romanyuk | Steam Do you like feeling small and insignificant? Then play SpaceEngine, which features, incredibly, the entire universe. Or at least the bit we know about. Focus on Earth, then pull back at top speed, and you suddenly become aware of how you’re on a tiny speck of dust hurtling through an endless void. The tech is remarkable, allowing you to travel effortlessly between galaxies and land on planets. But besides exploring, there isn’t much else to it.

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Tyler has covered games, games culture, and hardware for over a decade before joining PC Gamer as Associate Editor. He's done in-depth reporting on communities and games as well as criticism for sites like Polygon, Wired, and Waypoint. He's interested in the weird and the fascinating when it comes to games, spending time probing for stories and talking to the people involved. Tyler loves sinking into games like Final Fantasy 14, Overwatch, and Dark Souls to see what makes them tick and pluck out the parts worth talking about. His goal is to talk about games the way they are: broken, beautiful, and bizarre.

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Voyager: Grand Tour is a physics puzzle game inspired by one of the most successful scientific missions in human history. For more than 35 years, the Voyager space probes have been on an incredible quest to explore the Solar System, uncovering amazing details about the outer planets and beyond. This game enables players to experience that legacy, marrying detailed 3D graphics and realistic rocket science with a casual-friendly controls and approachable design. The result is a game for people who love space travel, and space travel for people who love games!

-Try to achieve the perfect planetary flyby by aiming your launch to slingshot around planets, avoid real hazards, and discover authentic rocket science techniques

-Includes dozens of challenging missions set in every corner of the Solar System: soar over barren Mercury, through the majestic rings of Saturn, or into the distant, icy realm of Pluto

-After a successful mission, experience your flyby from Voyager’s point of view with a first-person replay, and save your favorites in the Gallery to show your friends

-Free to play, with optional in-app purchases for more content, including the “Deep Space Network Mission Pack” (extra-challenging levels for true rocket scientists) and the “Probe Variety Pack” (additional probe skins, including fan-favorites Cassini-Huygens and New Horizons)

Screenshots of Voyager: Grand Tour

Melanie Stegman I am a biochemist, making games to teach the invisible bits of cell biology.

I really like this game. It is simple to start playing, tough to master, and rewarding when you succeed. It demonstrates to the player what kinds of considerations a rocket scientist has to think about when launching a a space probe.

Fun rating: 5 out of 5

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Welcome to the International Space Station (ISS), Astronaut. In Station Spacewalk Game you'll experience the thrill of conducting NASA repair work on the International Space Station. After negotiating your way through the airlock, you, the astronaut, will be tasked with jobs critical to help power up the space station so it can continue to operate. First take your time to explore the station, but then it's time to get to work. You'll have to move quickly and carefully, with a limited quantity of oxygen you must complete your Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) and get back into the airlock before your air supply runs out.

This video game features simulations of actual EVAs conducted by NASA astronauts on missions to provide power to the space station. The graphics used in this game are based on real NASA missions and incorporate 3D graphics used by the Agency.

Mission Objectives

• Explore the ISS. Before you get started with your EVAs, feel free to explore the ISS. Enjoy your self-guided tour.
• Install the S6 Truss. You are tasked with installing the fourth starboard Integrated Truss Segment (S6). Trusses are essential to the continuation of the International Space Station because they form the backbone of the station.
• Unfurl the S6 Solar Arrays. The space station's main source of energy comes from three of the four large photovoltaic arrays currently on the station, sometimes referred to as the Solar Array Wings (SAW). Can you assemble the fourth set of solar arrays to the station?
• Ride the Robotic Arm. There's a tear in the solar array! Can you ride the robotic arm then use the clamps to fix the tear?
• Retrieve Your Tools. You have used a lot of tools to do your repair work. Now many of them are scattered in space. How many of them can you retrieve before heading back to the airlock?
• Conduct SPHERES experiments. SPHERES are tiny satellites being tested by NASA on the ISS. Someday they'll help astronauts study space and possibly even assist with in-orbit construction projects. But first they must learn to fly in formation. Can you help the SPHERES navigate their way through the hoops in NASA's experiment?
• Restore Space-to-Ground Communications. The ISS has lost voice and data contact with mission control. Take a space walk to bring communications back on line by powering an auxiliary antenna.

Play the Game!

You can play the game in the browser, or download it for the Windows and Mac platforms.

To play the game in your browser, follow the link below or click on the button at the top of the page. If you're trying Station Spacewalk Game for the first time, you'll see a link to download and install the necessary plug-in for your browser. Be patient, it may take a minute or two. Once the plug-in is installed, you're ready for your trip to the International Space Station!

~ Play the Game ~

To download a stand-alone version of the software, click the appropriate download link at the right. On Windows, simply unzip the download and double click on the resulting installer to install the game. On OS X, double click the downloaded zip file to unarchive it, then double click the resulting application to play the game.

Alternatively, there is a text description of the game.

Would you like to create your own video game? Visit http://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov to download free 3D models from NASA.

The Best Virtual Reality Games Set In Space

VR is gradually progressing, and some of the experiences so far are fantastic - here are a few that will take you to the stars.

Everyone has a fantasy of visiting space. However, it goes without saying that many of our wildest science-fiction scenarios will only be possible in the far future. Luckily, video games allow you to travel through space, visit unique planets, and pilot spaceships.

RELATED: The Best VR Games Of 2022

There are lots of space-themed video games , but only a handful of virtual reality games that take place in space; however, the VR games that have a space setting are some of the most unique titles in the entire genre. Here are the best virtual reality games set in space.

Updated on January 30, 2023 by Michael Caruso: There are so many games based in or themed around the universe and everything mysterious within it. From alien planets to spaceship dogfighting, there's something for everyone when it comes to space games. The universe comes to life in a whole new way in virtual reality, a medium where you can experience things more vividly than ever before. Here are a few more games set in space that you can play inside of your virtual reality headset.

20 TItans Of Space Plus

Titans Of Space fulfills all of your otherworldly childhood dreams by allowing you to take a realistic tour of the solar system. You can cruise around the known planets in glorious virtual reality to experience the whole system up close, which is something that wouldn't be possible without the power of VR.

In addition to touring the solar system and other celestial bodies, you can also take a stroll in space via a VR space walk. Zero gravity is a rare mechanic in virtual reality, so Titans Of Space is sure to stratch that itch. You can play Titans Of Space on PCVR Headsets and the Oculus Quest.

19 House Of The Dying Sun

House Of The Dying Sun is one of the more complex VR games you'll find that's set in space. It's a space shooter first and foremost, offering unique gameplay that requires strategy. You can experience the combat of space up close and personal in the cockpit or give orders to the other vessels under your command.

With the diversity of gameplay and 14 different campaign scenarios, House Of The Dying Sun is worth a try for any space enthusiast. Additionally, you can purchase ship upgrades, so there's also a clear line of progression throughout your gameplay. You can play House Of The Dying Sun on PCVR Headsets.

18 Space Ops VR: Reloaded

There's a lack of engaging VR shooters set in space, so Space Ops VR: Reloaded is a refreshing breath of air for virtual reality enthusiasts everywhere. You'll jump straight into a space recruit training program, where the best of the best soldiers are trained to fight against alien enemies.

If you like to play solo, then that's an option, but you can also compete against your friends, or rather fellow recruits. You can jump into your training on PCVR Headsets.

17 Interkosmos 2000

If you've always wanted to explore and pilot a space capsule, then Interkosmos 2000 is just what you're looking for. In this game, you'll get to have the pleasure of guiding a capsule from lift off, all within the realm of virtual reality.

Controlling the systems within your space capsule is a fun experience. However, it's also a lot of hard work and involves lots of problem solving, which you'll get to experience full force in Interkosmos's story mode. You'll even get to fly around asteroids to avoid near destruction, which is an exhilarating feeling. If this sounds like your cup of tea, then you can experience Interkosmos 2000 on PCVR Headsets and the Oculus Quest.

16 Failspace VR

Failspace VR revolves around quite a unique concept, allowing you to take control of your own spaceship and solve the mundane problems that come along with it. Command your crew to help solve each scenario as they come up, such as putting out a dangerous fire aboard your space fairing home.

RELATED: The Funniest VR Games

​​​​​​You can play completely alone or invite up to three of your most reliable friends to come sail through space with you. Additionally, you can complete cargo missions, practically making you a trucker of the cosmos. With such a surprisingly fun concept, you'll never get bored of Failspace, which you can enjoy on PCVR Headsets.

15 Star Wars Battlefront Rogue One: VR Mission

Star Wars Battlefront Rogue One: VR Mission is a free game on the PSVR. The mission is short compared to other VR games, but it's a worthwhile experience if you like Star Wars .

You'll get to search for a ship that needs aid in the middle of space while riding in an X-Wing. There are lots of great VR games that exist in the Star Wars universe, but not many are free like this one. If you've always wanted to immerse yourself in a Star Wars movie, then Star Wars Battlefront Rogue One: VR Mission is a must-play.

14 Trover Saves The Universe

Trover Saves The Universe is one of the most unique games you can play on any VR platform. It's set in a separate universe full of creatures that are a little too strange for real life. Written by the co-creator of Rick And Morty, Trover Saves The Universe has similar humor, and it's certain to remind you of the hit adult cartoon.

Even if you aren't a fan of Rick And Morty, Trover Saves The Universe stands strong on its own merits by allowing you to explore a colorful universe with an exciting art style and a fantastic script. Trover Saves The Universe is available in virtual reality on the PSVR, PCVR Headsets, and the Oculus Quest. Exploring a new universe has never been this much fun.

13 Discovering Space 2

If you're fascinated by our Solar System, then Discovering Space 2 is the game for you. Although many space games focus on unique adventures and feature fantasy plots, Discovering Space 2 throws that all out the window for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the planets surrounding Earth.

RELATED: The Best VR Games For Parties

You can meet aliens and participate in starship battles in so many games, but sometimes it's nice to kick back and travel the solar system inside your headset. Discovering Space 2 is the perfect VR experience for players that prefer comfort to action. You can explore the universe in Discovering Space 2 on PCVR Headsets.

12 Space Explore VR

Space Explore VR is similar to Discovering Space 2 in that you aren't fighting any aliens, but you will get to see space outside Earth in a relaxing way. You can explore a space station and partake in a virtual space-walk in Space Explore VR.

​​​​​​You can play Space Explore VR on the PSVR and PCVR Headsets, so it's a great game available across multiple platforms. If you don't want to travel too far away from Earth but still want to see what space has to offer, then you should consider playing Space Explore VR.

11 Star Wars: Tales From The Galaxy's Edge

Another Star Wars adventure in virtual reality, Star Wars: Tales From The Galaxy's Edge, is an Oculus Quest game with a lot to offer Star Wars fans. You'll get to meet beloved characters such as R2-D2 up-close and interact with the Star Wars universe in ways you've only dreamed of.

If you like Star Wars and the lore surrounding it, then Star Wars: Tales From The Galaxy's Edge is one of the best experiences you can have in a VR Headset. Additionally, it's a fantastic game if you love going on adventures in space, so even people who aren't Star Wars fans can enjoy it.

10 Shuttle Commander

Shuttle Commander is a realistic video game that allows you to control a space shuttle in virtual reality. Real physics exist in Shuttle Commander, so you truly feel as if you're in control while trying to land it in various spots.

Shuttle Commander recreates the Hubble Space Telescope missions, which is an experience unlike anything else you can find in your virtual reality library. Shuttle Commander is available on PSVR, many PCVR Headsets , and the Oculus Quest.

9 No Man's Sky

One of the most expansive space exploration games to ever exist, No Man's Sky has a Universe full of billions of planets to discover, so no two experiences are the same. You can build bases on planets and find new alien species.

RELATED: Best Multiplayer VR Games

No Man's Sky has a virtual reality mode; however, VR isn't a requirement, which means that you can also play with your friends that don't use the VR settings. You can experience No Man's Sky in virtual reality on the PSVR and PCVR Headsets.

8 Apollo 11 VR

Apollo 11 VR is more of an experience than a game; however, it's an experience that you shouldn't miss out on. In Apollo 11 VR, you can experience the events of Apollo 11 in virtual reality, which makes it the closest you can currently get to reliving the historic event for yourself.

Historical moments are one of the best uses for VR, whether they take place in space or on Earth. If you have an interest in space travel, then Apollo 11 VR is available on the PSVR, PCVR Headsets, and the Oculus Quest.

7 Echo Arena

There are a lot of sports games available for VR headsets; however, Echo Arena is a frisbee game that expands upon the original sport by adding space into the mix. In Echo Arena, you compete in a zero-gravity environment, and you can use the floating objects inside the arena to move around the map.

Echo Arena is an amazing VR experience because it expands upon an already popular sport by adding a unique mechanic. Echo Arena is available on PC Oculus Headsets and the Oculus Quest.

6 Star Trek: Bridge Crew

Many VR games have an origin in a long-standing franchise, such as Star Wars. Star Trek: Bridge Crew is the Star Trek version of this concept. If you're a fan of Star Trek, then you don't want to miss out on this experience.

Set in the U.S.S. Aegis, you can immerse yourself into the Star Trek Universe and complete missions while exploring space in virtual reality. You can play Star Trek: Bridge Crew on PSVR, PCVR Headsets, and the Oculus Quest.

5 Elite Dangerous

Elite Dangerous is a complex space exploration game, similar to No Man's Sky. You can fly a spaceship around the Galaxy, completing various tasks to earn money. Elite Dangerous is a multiplayer game, so you'll meet other adventurers throughout the Galaxy while you explore space.

You can also customize your spaceship, which adds even more freedom to the experience. Elite Dangerous is available on PCVR Headsets, and it's one of the best space exploration games with VR support.

4 Lone Echo

Similar to Echo Arena in functionality, Lone Echo features a unique movement system where you can grab objects and surfaces to push yourself through space. This system is very realistic, and it gives you the impression of floating in a zero-gravity environment.

Lone Echo features a main story with exploration elements, as well as puzzles you have to solve to progress through the game. Many of the other VR games set in space don't have a particularly interesting story; however, the plot in Lone Echo is one of its strong points. Lone Echo is available on PC Oculus Headsets.

3 Space Pirate Trainer

Space Pirate Trainer is one of the earliest popular VR games, but it's still one of the most fun virtual reality experiences to this day. You can fight waves of robots in Space Pirate Trainer, using a variety of weapons ranging from guns to a sword. There are many other games with similar mechanics, but Space Pirate Trainer is unique because it's in space.

Space Pirate Trainer may not be the most expansive VR game, but it's one of the earliest space VR games, and it's still an enjoyable experience. You can play Space Pirate Trainer on the PSVR, PCVR Headsets, and the Oculus Quest .

2 End Space

Command a spaceship in End Space, and blast your enemies with missiles to defeat them and finish your mission. End Space is another space combat game. However, the twist is that it's in virtual reality, so you feel as though you really are the pilot flying a spaceship among the stars.

You can unlock new weapons as you progress through the main story, so there's a lot of content to play through in End Space, and the combat doesn't disappoint. End Space is available on the PSVR, PCVR Headsets, and the Oculus Quest.

1 Star Wars Squadrons

If you enjoy Star Wars games , then you will probably fall in love with Star Wars Squadrons , especially if you play it in virtual reality. Star Wars Squadrons is a game that focuses on space combat, and you can control four separate types of Starfighters to defeat enemies in the Star Wars Universe.

Star Wars Squadrons is a first-person experience, which is perfect if you like realism. Even if you aren't a Star Wars fan, you'll still enjoy Star Wars Squadrons because of its incredibly fun gameplay. You can play Star Wars Squadrons on the PSVR and PCVR Headsets.

NEXT: The Best Educational VR Games

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Coming to Xbox Game Pass: LEGO 2K Drive, EA Sports PGA Tour, Harold Halibut, and More

• Megan Spurr, Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass

My favorite part about “coming soon” to Game Pass is that it quickly turns into “available today” messaging. From driving to golfing to tomb raiding, there’s plenty here that’s going to be available sooner rather than later. Let’s take a look at the games that are mere moments away from your download queue!

Available Today

Superhot: Mind Control Delete (Cloud, Console, and PC) Returning to the Game Pass library today, Superhot: Mind Control Delete gives you more insight into the signature power fantasy world of Superhot with more story, more signature gameplay, more action, more guns. Keep dancing the slow-motion ballet of destruction for much longer than ever before.

Coming Soon

LEGO 2K Drive (Cloud and Console) – April 3 Welcome to Bricklandia, home of a massive open-world LEGO driving adventure. Race anywhere, play with anyone, build your dream rides, and defeat a cast of wild racing rivals for the coveted Sky Trophy!

Lil Gator Game (Cloud, Console, and PC) – April 4 Who wouldn’t want to be an adorable Lil Gator? Embark on a cute “lil” quest, discovering new friends, and uncovering everything its island has to offer. Climb, swim, glide, and slide your way into the hearts of the many different characters you meet along the way in this adorable open-world adventure!

EA Sports PGA Tour (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) EA Play – April 4 EA Sports PGA Tour is coming to The Play List with PC Game Pass and Ultimate via EA Play. Become a Major champion, tee off on the Par 3 Course at Augusta National, along with three new 2024 Major host courses.

Kona (Cloud and Console) – April 9 Another game is making a return to the Game Pass library! A strange blizzard ravages Atamipek Lake. Step into the shoes of a detective to explore the eerie village, investigate surreal events, and battle the elements to survive in this chilly, interactive tale you won’t soon forget.

Botany Manor (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – April 9 Available on day one with Game Pass! Explore the historic manor home of retired botanist Arabella Greene, who has amassed a collection of rare, long-forgotten flora that require special conditions to help them bloom. Unlock new seeds, look for clues in the items scattered around the residence, and solve each gardening puzzle to revive these plants.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) – April 11 Experience the final chapter of Lara’s origin as she is forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be. Combining the base game, all seven DLC challenge tombs, as well as all downloadable weapons, outfits, and skills, Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition is the ultimate way to experience Lara’s defining moment.

Harold Halibut (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – April 16 Available on day one with Game Pass! Harold Halibut is a handmade narrative game about friendship and life on a city-sized spaceship submerged in an alien ocean. Join Harold as he explores a vibrant retro-future world in his quest to find the true meaning of ‘home’. You can learn more about Harold Halibut in Xbox Wire’s recent hands-on preview here .

DLC / Game Updates

No Man’s Sky Orbital Update – Available now Dock your fully customized starship in the sleek new space stations of update 4.6, Orbital! Space stations have been completely overhauled internally and externally; new starships can be constructed from salvaged parts; frigate fleets can reach out for guidance with interstellar expeditions; standing and guilds have been improved, trading and system economies have been deepened – and much more! Learn more about No Man’s Sky ’s Orbital update here on Xbox Wire .

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Final Fantasy XIV Online: Starter Edition – Available now Join over 30 million adventures worldwide in the critically acclaimed online RPG.  From now through April 19, the Final Fantasy XIV Online – Starter Edition base game is now free for a limited time – including a 30-day free play period for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. Terms apply. You can also learn how to build your Warrior of Light in Final Fantasy XIV Online here on Xbox Wire .

YouTube Premium 3 Month Trial – Available now Watch your favorite YouTube creators without ads, offline, and in the background. Plus, stream the latest songs from your favorite artists with uninterrupted access to YouTube Music. New users only. Monthly subscription fee starts at the end of trial. Cancel anytime. Not available in all regions. Terms apply .

Battlefield 2042 : Season 7 Field Kit – Available now In the iconic all-out warfare first-person shooter of Battlefield 2042 , Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play members can get the Battlefield 2042 Season 7 Field Kit containing a Ride’em Crab Boy Weapon Charm, Rising Tide AM40 Weapon Skin, and Dustproof Specialist Headgear.   Check out the other EA Play member rewards and Perks here on Xbox Wire .

Leaving April 15

Make sure you give the following games a proper farewell before they leave the Game Pass library. As always, you can save up to 20% off your purchase to keep them in your library.

• Amnesia Collection (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Amnesia: Rebirth (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Back 4 Blood (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Phantom Abyss (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Research and Destroy (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Soma (Cloud, Console, and PC)

That wraps us up! Let us know which game you’re planning on playing first over at @Xbox ,  @XboxGamePass or @XboxGamePassPC . Catch you next time!

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Go On a Tour of One of the Greatest Sets in Star Trek History

Grab a jumja stick and let quark himself take you through one of the most important locations in star trek : deep space nine's promenade..

What’s the most important set on a Star Trek show? Depending on the series, it might differ—for the most part, it’s going to be the bridge of a starship . But “the bridge of a starship” isn’t really the answer to that question: it’s the place that feels most like home . And while it’s definitely not a starship, Deep Space Nine ’s promenade is exactly that, perhaps more than any other iconic locale in the franchise.

Today as part of a series of updates to its virtual tour offerings on the Apple Vision Pro, the Roddenberry Archive and OTOY announced a raft of new virtual reality set tours , taking fans inside the world of Star Trek . To celebrate this week’s return of Star Trek: Discovery , the bridge of the legendary vessel is now available for virtual visitation, as are the first virtual tours inside the fleets of the Klingon Empire —specifically the I.K.S. Amar , the K’t’inga battle cruiser from the opening of The Motion Picture . But perhaps the most fascinating addition is a further exploration of Deep Space Nine ’s titular station, and the most important place of all among its rings and pylons : the thoroughfare of the Promenade.

The Promenade was already part of the archive, but now audiences can explore further aspects of the set—one of the biggest ever built for Star Trek , the biggest outright at the time of filming—but the real highlight is a new, accompanying documentary about the design history of the set and its legacy, narrated by the perfect tour guide for such a locale: Armin Shimmerman, the man behind the lobes of the Promenade’s premiere businessman, Quark.

It’s a great little piece, looking at the set’s design process, how its scale was captured on screen, as well as Shimmerman relishing in giving little in-universe guides to everything that the Promenade had to offer. It’s a reminder of not just what an impressive set it was, but how its design language informed the very heart of what Deep Space Nine was doing with Star Trek . In the Promenade, we have a primary set that is unlike anything we’ve ever seen on the show before: this is not Federation design, or Starfleet ship corridors, but the brutalist angles of Cardassian aesthetic clashing with the pops of color from the flags hung by the Bajorans and other alien cultures steadily in the process of reclaiming what was once a grim shadow over the oppressions of Bajor. Few Star Trek sets are exactly comforting, but this heady mix of sharp angles and cool metallics against the vibrancy of shop lights and flags brings the Promenade a sense of homeliness that few other regular Trek sets could match.

But one thing this tour can’t capture about the Promenade that made it so compelling in the first place is the people milling about the place: the life that made it feel like home more than anything else. Sure, every Trek set has had some flavor of walk and talk on it before, the bustle of crew milling about and looking at monitors, but the Promenade was life itself made manifest. The culture clash of the design language was echoed in the people —so many people, more people than we would often see in one place on Trek outside of big crowd sequences or social hubs like canteens and bars. You had Starfleet crew, sticking out in their black and division-colored uniforms, you had the browns and beiges of Odo and his local security officers, you had Bajoran priests, you had civilians of all species and stripes, from visitors passing through to vendors hocking food and trinkets—and, of course, the myriad patrons of myriad scruples flocking in and out of Quark’s bar. The Promenade was defined by background vibrancy, a social and communal space that was far more important to Deep Space Nine than the cramped battle bridge of the Defiant , or the command crew’s home in operations.

That life made the Promenade sing—sometimes literally, in the case of the Klingon restaurateur playing his accordion and roaring traditional Klingon ballads at diners—and it made it the heart of Deep Space Nine , a sacred space for the viewer that the show could then violate at a moment’s notice to amplify any given threat. The Promenade has been home to firefights, assassination attempts, it’s been besieged , it’s been captured by our heroes’ worst enemies, but it’s also a place of love, adventure, and fun, the sight of some of the best moments in the entirety of DS9 . It is, after all, where the show’s heart is—and that is where home resides.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel , Star Wars , and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV , and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who .

Everything you need to know about space tourism

Posted: October 12, 2023 | Last updated: October 12, 2023

Between floating in weightlessness, witnessing 16 sunrises a day and gazing into the infinite void, space travel sure sounds like an out-of-this-world experience. And now, it’s no longer a thing of the future.

That’s right, soon interstellar awe will be open to (almost) anyone, as billionaires Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk are pushing the space tourism industry to a higher orbit.

What is space tourism?

Well, it’s almost like regular tourism: travel for recreational and leisure purposes… but in outer space. Some organizations like the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and the Citizens in Space project prefer to use the terms “personal spaceflight” or “citizen space exploration,” though.

In a nutshell, it’s space travel for non-astronauts.

Who can travel to space?

Anyone ! Well, that is, anyone with enough money. No need to have any previous science qualifications or NASA training, especially since a trained crew will escort tourists on their galactic journey.

According to Virgin Galactic, future space tourists will be between 10 and 90 years old, and come from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds.

The only thing you need? The desire to explore the universe!

What is orbital travel?

The main difference between orbital and suborbital flights lies in the trajectory and speed of the vessels.

To go into orbit, a rocket or spaceship needs to follow a path that goes around the Earth at the very fast minimum speed of 7.7 kilometres (4.8 miles) per second, in order to keep circling and never fall back down.

It allows astronauts and travellers to stay in space for extended periods of time, hence it is for now the preferred type of flight.

What is suborbital travel?

A suborbital flight , which is what Branson and Bezos did, “just” requires enough energy to blast off to space and then naturally fall back to Earth, making a huge arc.

It requires less energy and is less costly than orbital flights, thus opening doors for relatively affordable space tourism in the future.

Passengers would experience up to six minutes of weightlessness and a grandiose view.

How do you prepare?

Although Virgin Galactic doesn’t explicitly list its physical requirements, they did say astronauts would have to pass certain medical checkups and training programs. Blue Origin, on the other hand, has said that training for suborbital trips will only take a day.

And of course, any space tourist will also have to pass a series of thorough tests to determine whether they’re fit to fly up there.

Once in space, you may have to perform small bouts of exercise to prevent muscle wasting , which takes place after just seven days.

What is lunar tourism?

As its name hints, lunar tourism is the project of sending paying travellers to the moon. The first one could happen as soon as 2023, and would consist of a loop flight.

But three types of lunar tourism could be available in the near future: circumlunar trajectory, lunar orbit, and even lunar landing.

How cool would it be to say to someone, upon returning from a lunar vacation, “I’ve literally loved you to the moon and back”?

Where does space tourism take place?

Admittedly, space is a vast place. So where exactly would tourists go ?

First, any space travel begins with the Kármán line , which lies at 100 kilometres (62 miles) above sea level and is commonly accepted as the limit between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.

Then, there are several options: orbital, suborbital, and lunar space tourism.

Have touristic space travels already occurred?

Yes! From 2001 to 2009, the Russian space agency and the U.S.-based space tourism company Space Adventures took seven (very wealthy) members of the public for several orbital space travels to the International Space Station.

The flights took place aboard the famous spacecraft Soyuz but stopped in 2010, since the crew of actual astronauts grew bigger and left no more seats available for paying space tourists.

Who were the first space tourists?

The American businessman Dennis Tito became officially the first space tourist in April 2001, when he stayed for seven days on the International Space Station.

He was followed by six multimillionaire fellows from various countries: South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth, American scientist Gregory Olsen, Iranian engineer Anousheh Ansari (the first female space tourist), Hungarian-American computer programmer Charles Simonyi, British video game mogul Richard Garriott, and Canadian businessman Guy Laliberté.

On July 11, 2021, billionaire Richard Branson, along with three Virgin Galactic employees and two pilots, reached an altitude of 85 kilometres (53 miles) above Earth aboard his Virgin Galactic rocket plane, the Unity. Less than 10 days later, on July 20, the world’s richest man, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, briefly entered space on Blue Origin , his private space company’s reusable rocket. He was joined by his younger brother Mark, Dutch teenager Oliver Daemen, and Wally Funk, who, at 82 years old, became the oldest astronaut.

Who would be the space tourism “agencies”?

Unlike past tourism experiments, which took place aboard vessels sent off for scientific purposes, future travels will happen on private companies’ flights set up solely for space tourism.

Those pioneering aerospace companies are Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic ; SpaceX, founded by Tesla co-founder Elon Musk ; and Blue Origin , created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

When will space tourism happen?

Sooner than you think. According to Forbes , Virgin Galactic’s successful trip means the company could start sending civilians up into space as soon as early 2022. Likewise, Blue Origin, which has a Federal Aviation Administration licence for human space travel through August 2021, could officially enter the space tourism game by early 2022.

How much will it cost?

It’s not exactly clear at the moment, but there have been some indications. For example, Virgin Galactic began selling ticket reservations for US$250,000 and sold roughly 600, before a test crash in 2014 brought sales to a halt. They’re expected to start selling tickets again in 2022, but at a much higher price.

It was reported in 2018 that seats on Bezos’s Blue Origin would also cost in the ballpark of US$200,000 to US$300,000, but that could change given how high demand is. At a recent auction, the winning bid for a seat aboard the company’s first spaceflight was a whopping US$28 million .

The bottom line is, those hoping to take a trip around the stars will either need to know someone or have hundreds of thousands (likely even millions) of dollars to spare.

How do we get there?

The development of space tourism vehicles is still an ongoing project.

But a few options already exist, like Virgin Galactic’s spaceplanes that can carry up to eight people, or SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft , launched by the Falcon Heavy rocket.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard looks more like a regular rocket that takes off and lands vertically, but also claims to offer the biggest windows of any spacecraft—a good selling point. It comfortably sits six people and is fully autonomous, meaning no pilot onboard.

What does it feel like?

Needless to say, travelling to space is no walk in the park.

You’re eager to experience the joys of floating in microgravity? You better also get prepared to endure several physical discomforts: nausea and sea sickness, dizziness, headache, disorientation, puffy face, and bloodshot eyes.

But astronauts and previous space tourists agree that the body adjusts fairly quickly, getting used to its spatial environment in about three days.

Is it safe?

Safety is a reasonable concern , considering the many hazards involved in space travel: the probability of a crash, exposure to cosmic radiation, and even unknown dangers that could emerge with this new industry. But here is the real question for any adventurer: is the thrill worth the risk?

What is the food like?

For many tourists, food is a crucial criterion for a successful vacation. But outer space is no place for gourmets, at least not yet. Interstellar tourists can expect to enjoy mostly canned, modified, and pre-packaged meals (such as space burritos and freeze-dried ice cream). But soon, thanks to NASA’s veggie farm , space tourists might be able to savour space-grown salads.

What about the accommodations?

Orbital space travel allows you to stay up there for a few days or even weeks. At that point, you might want to stretch your legs outside of the spacecraft, right? Well, in the future, space stations could be used as hotels: the Genesis inflatable habitats by Bigelow Aerospace and the Space Island Project are existing examples. Make sure to book a room with a view of planet Earth!

How to pack a space suitcase?

Packing a suitcase for a trip through the cosmos is actually less of a headache than doing so for a weekend vacation on Earth. Just keep in mind that it’s impossible to do laundry in space, so pack clothes accordingly : stock up on underwear, light clothing (space station temperature is controlled at about 22 degrees Celsius, or 72 degrees Fahrenheit), and exercise outfits. Outerwear will be provided: an orange suit for takeoff and re-entry, and a white one for potential space strolls.

Is it eco-friendly?

With ecotourism being a growing trend and concern over the last few years, the question is legitimate. Well, bad news: space travel could have a negative impact by accelerating global warming . This would be caused by the black carbon released into the stratosphere after suborbital launches. But of course, entrepreneurs in the industry claim that the carbon footprint of space tourism would be minimal. The truth is, rockets emit 50 to 100 times more CO₂ per passenger than a regular flight. Considering that Virgin Galactic plans to do 400 trips per year, that’s a lot of CO₂ entering the atmosphere.

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Screen Rant

Star trek quark actor armin shimerman leads ds9 virtual tour.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine comes to life in a stunning digital recreation that fans can explore with Quark actor Armin Shimerman narrating.

• Take a virtual tour of DS9 with Armin Shimerman as your guide for behind-the-scenes tidbits on the Promenade.
• Explore the history of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and its characters in a digital recreation of the station.
• Watch The Roddenberry Archive video narrated by Shimerman as Quark, highlighting the world of DS9.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's eponymous space station comes to virtual life with Quark actor Armin Shimerman as fans' guide to DS9's history and Promenade. Thanks to the Roddenberry Archive and OTOY, a digital recreation of the famed space station commanded by Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) can now be toured by fans . Deep Space Nine's tour in the Roddenberry Archive is now live.

OTOY's YouTube uploaded a new video titled The Roddenberry Archive... Deep Space Nine... The World According to Quark . Narrated by Armin Shimerman as his loveable Ferengi entrepreneur, the video delves into the history of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine TV series and takes viewers on an informative journey throughout the space station's famed Promenade , with lots of behind-the-scenes tidbits. Watch the video below:

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cast & Character Guide

What happened to deep space nine after the star trek tv show ended, ds9 continued to be a hub of commerce and enterprise after the dominion war.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ended in 1999 after 7 seasons, with Captain Sisko ascending to become one with the Prophets of Bajor after leading the United Federation of Planets to victory in the Dominion War. Although Sisko hasn't returned in Star Trek canon, the Deep Space Nine space station endured for years after the Dominion War ended. Under the command of Colonel Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), DS9 remained a center of commerce and enterprise as it guarded the wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant.

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 visited Deep Space Nine and caught audiences up with Colonel Kira and Quark.

Star Trek: Lower Decks not only brought back Colonel Kira and Quark, but Lower Decks season 5 also visited Ferenginar so that Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodenchik) and his wife, Leeta (Chase Masterson), opened the door for the Ferengi to join the Federation . Of course, what DS9 fans want most is a revival of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , be it in an animated series or in live-action. Although DS9 wasn't seen in Star Trek: Picard season 3, it's implied that the station is still out there in the final frontier . Thankfully, Roddenberry Archives and OTOY's virtual recreation lets fans come back home to Deep Space Nine.

Source: YouTube

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is streaming on Paramount+

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The 5 top-played games on Ubisoft+ Classics

Ubisoft+ Classics is always adding new games and content – don’t miss what’s new, and check out some of the most popular games on the platform.

Ubisoft+ Classics is a curated catalog of Ubisoft games for players to explore, inviting them on adventures to explore the ancient worlds of England, Greece, and Egypt; test their tactical prowess; race across the wilderness; and more. With a library of over 50 standard edition titles, Ubisoft+ Classics adds new content monthly. Subscribers can expect The Crew 2 and OddBallers in April, The Settlers: New Allies and Watch Dogs in May, and Anno 1800 in June.

Most recently, For Honor’s new season, Forged in War, came to Ubisoft+ Classics. For Honor immerses players in an age-old war featuring three of the most notorious fighting factions in history: Knights, Vikings, and Samurai, and the new year is bringing even more to the shores of Heathmoor. Forged in War focuses on the weapons For Honor’s Heroes wield in battle to achieve victory.

In addition to For Honor, check out five of the most popular games on Ubisoft+ Classics:

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

English shores await raiding Vikings. As Eivor, players will fight Saxons, forge alliances, and build up their Ravensthorpe settlement. Eivor will also meet Hidden Ones who task Eivor with eliminating members of the powerful Order of the Ancients who have infiltrated all levels of society. As players roam thick forests, purple heaths, and ancient cities, they’ll uncover plenty of mysteries and side stories, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla also gives players a chance to experience stories from Norse mythology – albeit with an Assassin’s Creed twist.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint

A military survival game, Ghost Recon Breakpoint will test players in their ability to survive almost as much as their prowess in open combat and stealth. Players take on the role of a Ghost special agent, sent to the Aurora Archipelago to hunt down traitorous Wolves. Aurora is a diverse environment, ranging from frigid mountains to dry deserts to futuristic cities, and each biome has unique advantages and disadvantages. Taking this into account will be crucial to survival – and taking out the enemy before they’re even aware they’re in danger.

Antón Castillo is Yara’s brutal dictator whose relentless drive to produce Viviro – a purported miracle cancer treatment – leaves countless destroyed lives in his wake. Dani Rojas didn’t plan on joining the rebellion, but after an attempt to flee Yara goes horribly wrong, they fall in with the Libertad guerrillas and their fight to free Yara. As players explore Yara’s diverse regions, Dani will meet many Yaran citizens as well as animal companions that will fight by their side like Chorizo the dog, Guapo the crocodile, and Chicharron the fighting rooster.

Watch Dogs: Legion

London’s falling in the dystopian near-future. Underground hacker organization DedSec has been framed for a bombing, and now work to clear its name, take back London, and protect its citizens from police and organized crime alike. The twist is that anyone can be in DedSec, thanks to Watch Dogs: Legion’s unique play-as-anyone feature, meaning players can recruit and play as any NPC they meet in the open world – yes, even the “bad” ones. Each character has their own backstory and skill set, as well as technological tools and weapons, so choose your team carefully when planning how to execute a mission.

Riders Republic

US National Parks have been transformed into an extreme sports playground in Riders Republic. Snowboard or ski down the slopes of Mammoth Mountain; BMX through Zion; wingsuit across Bryce Canyon; and so much more. Players can also take part in multiplayer Mass Races, which pit them against 64 other players to see who can finish the course first.

Check out the full list of games included in a Ubisoft+ Classics subscription at PlayStation.com .

Ubisoft+ Classics is available as a standalone subscription for $7.99 USD per month, and is included for PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra members.

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Best VR space games

Strap in and prepare to launch yourself into the best VR space games in the galaxy.

As the years advance, virtual reality technology is evolving at a rapid pace and paving the way for the best VR space games. From the humble beginnings with home consoles such as the Virtual Boy, with it’s red line graphics failing to fulfil consumer expectations, developers have now created experiences with unparalleled immersion. There are games so flawless in execution, players have often forgotten that they are in-game, as they trip over their beloved pets and straight into their TVs.

Fear of destruction aside, the complete immersion that the best VR headsets such as the Oculus Quest 2 can now offer, particularly when powered by a powerful gaming PC, lends itself perfectly to exploring the unexplorable. If you need to upgrade your rig, check out our guide on how to build a PC for VR .

Console lovers are also benefiting from the backwards compatibility of the current PSVR with a plethora of the best PSVR space games available on the hardware (and we're expecting a PSVR 2 in the not too distant future). While the likes of Jeff Bezos finds the stars within reach, for the majority of us VR is the closest we will ever get to the great beyond. 

So, for those looking to expand their horizons beyond the horizon, from shooters to platformers, puzzles, rhythm, and racing, we have collected together the ten best VR space games for you to enjoy. And if you're looking to pick up a new VR headset, check out our VR headset deals hub for the best offers.

1. No Man’s Sky

• Release date: August 8, 2016
• Developer: Hello Games

While you may be questioning the inclusion of some of the games in this list which is ostentatiously supposed to contain only space-themed experiences, No Man’s Sky is so unashamed in its complete consistency to the genre that all other eccentricities can be overlooked and accepted. In this survival game you explore planets, encounter new life forms, and collect materials to repair, rebuild, and discover the path back home, or roam the outer wilds endlessly. It is all up to you. Simply, No Man’s Sky is the game you imagine when picturing interplanetary travel, which puts it high up on our best VR space games list.

While players were outraged at No Man’s Sky’s initial outing and all the features promised and silently left out, Hello Games has more than made up for their release day foibles by consistently and competently updating their galactic adventure. They achieved their original promises of multi-player, unique world-building, and character designs, and extended their reach far beyond, dramatically expanding the universe and all you observe within it.

• Release date: October 10, 2016
• Developer: Drool

When it comes to rail-based, neon-paletted, violence rhythm games in VR, people often let their minds drift to Beat Saber. While smashing through blocks with lightsabers is undoubtedly a fun time, Thumper preceded its release, and questionably defined the genre. Focused more on the journey than specifically on the songs, failing the rhythm elements does not give you a game over, instead you relive the moment in a never-ending cycle. 

Everything about Thumper is designed to draw you in, and immerse you in an endless landscape of color and sound. Blending the line between traditional platformer and rhythm with its end of stage boss fights, the immersion of VR transports you to another place entirely. It may not be the best known VR experience, but it could be argued to be one of the most hypnotic as hours turn into seconds when trapped in this world. A world where you’re a beetle… and you kill aliens with perfect timing.

• Buy Thumper via Steam

3. Doom VFR

• Release date: December 1, 2017
• Developer: id Software

It is not easy to port huge AAA releases into VR. When releasing any game for virtual reality, let alone one of the best VR space games, you must take into account the motion sickness of the player. Ensuring they are not moving about endlessly in game, swinging their view wildly, and giving the sensation that there is no ground below them.

Doom was initially developed with fast-paced action in mind, getting up close and personal with demons, tearing them limb from limb to get your health back, before moving on to do it all again. While this style of gameplay is completely incompatible with VR, the all new Doom VFR just works. Giving you spots in which you can battle, it plants you firmly on Martian soil while giving you the gut-ripping action you so readily want. Not only is this one of the best VR space games, it’s simply one of the best games out there. Rip and tear.

4. WipEout Omega Collection

• Release date: June 6, 2017
• Developer: XDev, Clever Beans, Creative Vault Studios

WipEout has been the go-to series for space-themed racers since its humble beginnings on PlayStation 1 back in 1995. While Nintendo’s F-Zero series entered development purgatory after 2004, WipEout held strong, now with more than ten titles to the franchise’s name. While currently exclusive to PlayStation VR , the WipEout Omega Collection contains two remastered versions of Wipeout titles and their DLC; 2008’s WipEout HD was initially released for PlayStation 3, and WipEout 2048 was formerly confined to the PlayStation Vita and widely considered one of the best games in the gravity-defying series. 

VR gives the titles a whole new feel as you are enveloped by the futuristic landscape and captivated by the techno beats soundtrack. WipEout Omega Collection blends the vanilla and kart-racing genres as you use weapons to take out the competition, in what can be deceptively difficult high-stakes races. Also, your ship can fly and that is pretty cool.

5. Astro Bot Rescue Mission

• Release date: October 2, 2018
• Developer: Japan Studio (Team ASOBI)

As predictably as day follows night, and the sun sets in the west, so does Astro Bot Rescue Mission inevitably find its way onto every single list outlining the best VR space games. There is a reason for that though. It's honestly just that good. 

When thinking of gaming genres that lend themselves to the virtual reality space, third-person platformers are certainly not the first which come to mind. However, Astro Bot Rescue Mission works by not putting you in the position of the titular celestial robot, but instead as its omnipresent, omnipotent, human companion, ever watching over its adorable antics. 

Astro Bot knows when you are looking at him. He looks at you and cheers you on. It takes you through underwater worlds and lush jungles, and the whole time acts as though it is beyond ecstatic to have you by its side. The bond you make with your mechanical mate cannot be underestimated in an experience which is, simply put, pure, immersive joy.

6. Rez Infinite

• Release date: October 13, 2016
• Developer: Enhance Games, Resonair, Monstars

At its core, Rez Infinite was released in 2001. However, like how Space Channel 5, another astral rhythm game developed by United Game Artists in that same era, has translated beautifully into the world of virtual reality, so has our darling shoot-em-up Rez. The two games entered wholly different arenas in gaming history. Space Channel 5 with its campy, light-hearted style, and Rez Infinite in its perfectly crafted, single line simplicity. They fill completely separate yet related holes. 

While Tetris Effect, another VR upgrade on an old school puzzle game, receives all the love in the history books, it is Rez Infinite which earns its place on this list of best VR space games for skillfully combining rhythm, space shooter, puzzle, and action genres beautifully as you fly through the endless void taking down the bosses at the end of each level. When it comes to accepting your new life as a stickman shooting lasers and flying through tunnels, there is no comparable experience.

• Buy Rez Infinite via Steam or PlayStation Store

• Release date: February 14, 2020
• Developer: Media Molecule

In many ways it feels like cheating to include a game on this list of best VR space games which can be anything and everything all at once. However, Dreams is such a cultural phenomenon and an important part of gaming antiquity that it would be unfair to deny it its place in this legend. Dreams is not a game in the strictest sense, but an open creative space where players are given the tools with which to develop any creative asset they can dream of. Hence the name.

Aside from the UI, which feels as if it were developed on a separate astral plane, Dreams earns itself the title of space game as it pulls on the collective hive mind of its entire player base to create ever increasingly complex and impressive gaming experiences, much like something straight out of science fiction. If you are not the creative type, you too can become part of the collective consciousness by simply playing and giving others feedback on their designs. One of the most unique distractions in gaming’s long-drawn library.

8. Half-Life Alyx

• Release date: March 23, 2020
• Developer: Valve

If you thought Astro Bot Rescue Mission was a predictable choice, then readers you are welcome to Half-Life Alyx. On a list which also included Dreams and Thumper though, please rest assured that it would not have been included if it was not completely vital. While Half-Life Alyx was not the Half-Life game players wanted from Valve after the 2007 cliff-hanger ending to the series, it offered something new and unique to the franchise simply through the medium it chose. 

As a game developed specifically with virtual reality at its core, every part of Half-Life Alyx was designed with optimizing the experience for the format. This has led to accolades from almost every gaming media outlet for the title which combines survival horror with puzzles and impressive story-telling with well-paced combat. If Astro Bot Rescue Mission forces you to buy a PlayStation VR set, then Half-Life Alyx is the game which forces you to purchase a PC compatible headset and all the components which go with it.

• Buy Half Life: Alyx via Steam.

• Release date: May 2, 2017
• Developer: KO_OP

After deep consideration, and a dark look into the abyss, it is GNOG which makes the final ten over the more popular co-op, cuboid-based experience Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes. While the latter offers intense gameplay perfectly suited to VR, where one person is immersed in the world with the explosive cube and the other reads from a real life manual, GNOG has better overall immersion, if only due to not requiring a second player shouting instructions to you from outside the headset.

GNOG is a puzzle game which creates a name for itself within the VR space by using the tactile nature of the three-dimensional surroundings to create a unique experience. Playing with what is visible within your field of view, GNOG combines a quirky art style with a calming soundtrack and unique puzzles to craft an experience as new as it is ethereal. Not the longest game on the list by far, it is perhaps the most differentiated.

• Buy GNOG via Steam or PlayStation Store

10. Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner - MARS

• Release date: August 24, 2018
• Developer: Konami Computer Entertainment Japan

As we reach the end of this list of the best VR space games, you would be forgiven for thinking that virtual reality is the defibrillator of long dead franchises, shocking them back to life and suddenly reminding us of how much we truly missed them. You would also be forgiven for believing that a third-person, mech-based, hack and slash from 2003 developed by a company known for smothering its most beloved franchises in their sleep does not particularly lend itself to the platform. In that assumption, though, you would be wrong.

When creating the MARS (stylized M∀RS) remaster for Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner they recreated it from the ground up with VR in mind. A change to the first person perspective now places you inside the mech and wholly immerses you in life on other planets. Controls are intentionally alien, giving players the experience of being sat in a cockpit, and you must be hyper aware of your surroundings without the benefit of an outside perspective. VR is the format this game was designed to be played on, and even those who adored the original experience will find something new and enjoyable in it.

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2024 NCAA Women's Tournament TV schedule: Tipoff times, results, games, scores for Final Four of March Madness

The tournament has already delivered huge comeback wins and upsets, and much more could lie ahead.

And then there were four. The NCAA Women's Tournament has reached its final destination. The four remaining teams are making their way to Cleveland, Ohio this week to compete for a national title and the matchups are as good as it gets.

Overall No. 1 seed South Carolina is back in the Final Four and the Gamecocks will meet an underdog when they take down No. 3 seed NC State. The Gamecocks eliminated another No. 3 seed in Oregon State to reach this game while the Wolfpack took out No. 1 seed Texas. 

The other matchup pits a pair of superstars against each other when No. 1 Iowa and Caitlin Clark battle No. 3 UConn and Paige Bueckers. The Hawkeyes got a bit of revenge in the Elite Eight when they took out No. 3 LSU in a rematch of last year's national title game. The Huskies, meanwhile, gritted through a win over No. 1 USC to get back to the Final Four for a record 23rd time.

Don't forget, there's still time to  print out your bracket  and be best prepared for the action.

Below is all the information you'll need to keep up with the tournament. Be sure to check back in on this page as it will be updated with matchups and tip times over the coming weeks. And check out fubo ( try for free ) for all your streaming needs. 

2024 NCAA Women's Tournament schedule, dates

National championship.

Sunday, April 7 -- 9:20 p.m. (ABC) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse -- Cleveland, Ohio

NCAA Tournament scores, results

First round.

Friday, March 22

Saturday, March 23

Second round

Monday, March 25

Sunday, March 24

Friday, March 29

Saturday, March 30

Elite Eight

Sunday, March 31

Monday, April 1

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