Real Astronauts and Virtual Reality Pioneers Embrace Houston’s Spacewalk — Inside Infinite’s Takeoff

Exploring the Stars From Sawyer Yards

By Shelby Hodge // Jan 18, 2022

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Astronauts Christina Koch and Anne McClain share their take on space travel during a launch party for 'The Infinite' VR trip aboard the International Space Station.

'The Infinite's' Montréal-based filmmakers, concept creators, and executives Felix Lajeunesse, Stephane Rituit, & Phoebe Greenberg.

VIPs enter the world of outer space via 'The Infinite' now playing at Sawyer Yards.

A high-style Ceron dressed to impress while donning the Oculus headset that virtually transports one to the International Space Station.

George & Michelle Leal Farrah dressed for space at the party celebrating 'The Infinite' VR trip aboard the International Space Station.

Lynn Wyatt, Mark Sullivan at the party for 'The Infinite' VR trip aboard the International Space Station.

Priyanka Bins, Megha McSwain, Natalie Harms at the party for 'The Infinite' VR trip aboard the International Space Station.

Derrick Shore, Brandon Bourque at the party for 'The Infinite' VR trip aboard the International Space Station.

True Anomaly's Michael Duckworth at the party for 'The Infinite' VR trip aboard the International Space Station.

Mara Haaksman, James Inglis, Kam Franklin, Ryan Ramirez at the party for 'The Infinite' VR trip aboard the International Space Station.

Guests beginning their trip at the party for 'The Infinite' VR flight aboard the International Space Station.

Brian Ching & Lindsay Yates at the party for 'The Infinite' VR flight aboard the International Space Station.

CoCo Dominguez, Miya Shay at the party for 'The Infinite' VR flight aboard the International Space Station.

Davis Sheffield, Gabi Schlegel at the party for 'The Infinite' VR flight aboard the International Space Station.

Tarek El-Bjeirmi, Ceron at the party for 'The Infinite' VR flight aboard the International Space Station.

Creators of the remarkable VR experience that puts you aboard the International Space Station, “The Infinite,” were among the numerous notables who congressed at Sawyer Yards for a celebration of the interactive program that sweeps participants into a virtual spacewalk.

Leading the Montréal-based team joining the evening were creative director Felix Lajeunesse of Felix & Paul Studios; Felix & Paul Studios CEO Stéphane Rituit; Phoebe Greenberg, founder of Phi and the DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art;, and Phi CEO Éric Albert.

The real stars of the event, other than those viewed via the VR trip on the International Space Station, were astronauts and resident flight engineers Christina Koch and Anne McClain. Both astronauts appeared in the Emmy Award-winning series on which “The Infinite” is based, Space Explorers: The ISS Experience.

“The first time I ever put on the Oculus headset, I had to turn it off. That’s how real it was,” an emotional Koch told the gathering. “When we answer humanity’s call to explore as astronauts, the most important thing we do is bring our experience back to you, and that’s what this project is about.”

With the stage set by the astronauts, guests, sated with cocktails and appetizers, were then launched on their self-guided, hour-long adventure through space. They were not among the first to view it as “The Infinite” launched at Sawyer Yards in mid-December.

“’The Infinite’ has been in Houston for only a few short weeks, and we have already been overwhelmed by the response from visitors,” said Éric Albert, co-CEO of Infinity Experiences, the joint venture that brought project to life.

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PC Seen: Lynn Wyatt, Jessica and Tom Roupe, Dr. Billy Cohn, Brian Ching, Ceron, Katie and Jon Deal, Sallie and George Alcorn, Craig Massey, Steve Gibson, Kam Franklin, Ursaline Hamilton, and the duo from KPRC Channel 2’s Houston Life Courtney Zavala and Derrick Shore.