November 3, 2025

— With the release of Felix & Paul Studios' latest version of "Space Explorers," users can now find and collect virtual space artifacts on the International Space Station and then interact with them within their own spaces.

Of course, in a way, the immersive app was designed from the start to bring the entire orbiting complex home for audiences to experience like never before.

"Space Explorers: Ultimate Edition," available for Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S VR headsets, continues to build upon what was the largest immersive production ever filmed in space. The new version adds enhanced visuals, improved performance and expanded interactive features.

"'Space Explorers: Ultimate Edition' arrives as humanity celebrates 25 years of continuous presence aboard the International Space Station and looks toward a new lunar frontier, delivering a deeper, more immersive experience of human spaceflight," reads a press release issued on Monday (Nov. 3) by Felix & Paul.

Space Explorers: Ultimate Edition. Click to enlarge video in new pop-up window. (Felix & Paul)

First announced at the Sundance Film Festival in 2019 and rolled out in chapters between October 2020 and July 2022, the "The ISS Experience" was shot using specialized cameras over the course of two years by the astronauts aboard the space station. The footage includes the first-ever 360-degree, 3D views captured outside the outpost during a spacewalk.

The project also served as the basis for "Space Explorers: The Infinite," a traveling installation that added the ability to walk through a virtual, full-size replica of the International Space Station and related exhibits. More than 500,000 people toured through "The Infinite" in multiple countries and cities between 2020 and 2025.

"Space Explorers: Ultimate Edition" adds to the "ISS Experience" with the AR (augmented reality) features, allowing users to "fly" a model T-38 jet or "toss" a football as found on the ISS, for example. The new version also has an exclusive chapter, "Mission to the Moon," documenting NASA's efforts to return humans to the moon. (Felix & Paul exclusively 360-degree live-streamed the launch of the Artemis I mission in 2022.)

The "Ultimate Edition" app's visuals have been optimized for 8K resolution, delivering more lifelike renderings of the space environments, especially on the latest-generation VR headsets. There is also a redesigned navigation system, which uses hands-only gesture controls, offering more intuitive interactions.

Produced in collaboration with TIME Studios and filmed in partnership with NASA, Space Explorers: Ultimate Edition can be downloaded now from the Meta Store.