State-of-the-art high-resolution imaging equipment that will capture content for presentation in the MSG Sphere at The Venetian is on its way to the International Space Station.
The equipment was aboard the refueling station, which launched Monday morning from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The meeting at the ISS is scheduled for Wednesday.
Representatives of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. said Monday it is working with Nanoracks LLC to send imaging equipment aboard Northrop Grumman's 18th commercial refueling mission aboard an Antares rocket to the space station.
Antares launched an upgraded Cygnus spacecraft, named SS Sally Ride, into orbit to supply the Expedition 68 crew to the space station. Cygnus delivers crew equipment, new science experiments and other cargo to the station, including the Nanoracks module, and at the end of its mission serves as a disposal facility for dirty clothes, used experiments, community service and living waste .
MSG Sphere Studios has sent the highest resolution camera system to the ISS for testing in microgravity and harsh space environments. The camera will operate aboard the ISS for about 60 days, and the data and images collected will help develop a new ultra-high-resolution camera system for the MSG sphere. According to the press release, two future missions will further test the camera's capabilities in space, including power grids, data communications and space defense systems.
"Our vision for MSG Sphere is to create immersive experiences that take audiences to new places, and few things are more epic than outer space," said Andrew Shulkind, senior vice president of acquisitions and innovation at MSG Sphere. Studios, which is acting as program manager," the post reads.
"The knowledge and images we gain from this first mission will be invaluable in preparing our innovative camera technology for space and expanding our collective understanding of Earth and space," Shulkind said.
Nanoracks, a global commercial space access provider, installed and operated the first commercial gateway to the ISS and plans to build a commercial space station to replace the ISS once it is decommissioned. Nanoracks certifies the camera for use in space, integrates the camera for launch, and facilitates work on the ISS to test the MSG Sphere Capture technology.
The MSG Sphere is under construction east of the Venice Expo and is expected to open in the second half of 2023. When complete, it will be the world's largest spherical structure with a fully programmable 580,000-square-foot outer exosphere - a one foot long LED display, the largest LED display in the world.
Inside the auditorium, the world's highest definition LED screen will be installed: a screen area of 160,000 square meters that will cover the audience above and behind the audience with over 80 times the resolution of HDTV. With 17,500 seats and a scalable capacity of up to 20,000 people, the $1.9 billion MSG Sphere will feature original content rides, concert venues, product launches and select iGaming, boxing and martial arts events.
Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or call 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter.
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