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Take A (Simulated) Ride To The International Space Station

Courtesy
/
Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center

The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson will debut a motion flight simulator this week that comes with a choice of six themed rides.

The pod-like machine is called the "naviGATOR." Former Hutchinson resident Julie Purin won a contest to name the simulator and said her choice was inspired from the movie "Flight of the Navigator."

It will give visitors the experience of blasting off to the international space station, flying with the Blue Angels or they can choose to take part in another flight option.

Rides will be offered for the first time Friday.

The naviGATOR hours of operations for opening weekend are:

Friday, June 7:                   10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 8:             10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 9:                12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Simulator pricing is $5 per person, per ride. Each simulator experience lasts approximately four minutes.

When she's not out making lattes in her mobile coffee bus Sunflower Espresso, Kate Hutchens is a fill-in host for KMUW. She has worked in broadcast journalism at KFDI, Oregon Public Broadcasting, and at KMUW as Morning Edition host, which she did until March 2017.