About the Cité de l’Espace

The Cité de l’Espace is a scientific discovery center dedicated to space, opened in 1997 in Toulouse. Across more than 4,000 m² of exhibitions and 4 hectares of gardens, it brings the space adventure to life for the general public: full-scale hardware (Ariane 5 rocket, Mir station, lunar module), a planetarium, an IMAX cinema and interactive experiences. Supported notably by the City of Toulouse, the Occitanie Region and CNES, it embodies Toulouse, the European capital of space.

The project

The setting

The “Machine Terre” room at the Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse, as a permanent installation. The 120 cm ORA sphere hangs at the center of the room, in the dimness.

The purpose

To help visitors better understand climate change through images of the Earth reconstructed by satellites and data from Wekeo and NOAA, in a spectacular and interactive immersion.

What was shown & the experience

The sphere gives access to five scenarios: the evolution of the climate over 50,000 years, the cycle of atmospheric particles over 10 years, global warming since 1050, the evolution of polar ice and the seasonal cycles seen from satellites. Using an interactive tablet, visitors rotate the Earth in every direction and travel through time. The installation combines the rear-projected sphere, wall projections, a dedicated screen and touchscreens, all synchronized.

The impact

Visitors are struck by the presence of our blue planet, as if suspended in space, and build their own experience by “piloting” the Earth. A tool designed to amaze as much as to deepen our understanding of the planet. The Cité de l’Espace’s head of science outreach confirmed that the installation strengthens its educational mission.

Created with Kaléo.