Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. has partnered with Nanoracks, LLC, a Voyager Space company, to send state-of-the-art, immersive camera equipment to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Northrop Grumman’s 18th Commercial Resupply Services mission (NG-18), set to launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
Capture and technology teams from the Company’s MSG Sphere Studios will collaborate with Nanoracks and the ISS National Lab (sponsoring organization), to work with astronauts on the space station across three missions to validate custom camera technology being developed for the state-of-the-art, MSG Sphere venues.
On this mission, MSG Sphere Studios sent the highest-resolution camera system ever launched to the ISS to establish critical baseline knowledge in microgravity conditions and the harsh environment of space. The camera will be operated inside the ISS for approximately 60 days, and data and imagery gathered will help shape plans for a new, ultra-high resolution camera system being developed for MSG Sphere.
Two upcoming missions will further test camera capabilities in space, including power systems, data transfer structures, and space-hardening of this cutting-edge system. This unique technology will benchmark imagery at a captured level of detail never before possible.
The ISS National Lab works together with NASA to maximize use of the orbiting laboratory to bring value to humanity through space-based research and technology demonstrations. Nanoracks, a leading global provider of commercial access to space, installed and manages the first commercial airlock on the ISS and is designing a commercial space station to succeed the ISS after it is decommissioned. Nanoracks is certifying the camera for in-space use, integrating the camera for launch and will facilitate operations on the ISS to test MSG Sphere’s capture technology.
MSG Sphere is a new entertainment medium that will deliver immersive experiences at an unparalleled scale, which requires developing custom content creation tools, including camera and lens technology capable of producing ultra-high-resolution images.
The Company’s first MSG Sphere is under construction in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is expected to open in the second half of 2023. Once complete, it will be the largest spherical structure in the world, with an exterior exosphere that features a fully-programmable 580,000 square foot LED display, the largest LED screen on Earth.
Inside, the venue will house the world’s highest resolution LED screen – a 160,000 square foot display plane that will wrap up, over, and behind the audience at a resolution over 80 times that of a high-definition television. With approximately 17,500 seats and a scalable capacity up to 20,000 guests, MSG Sphere at The Venetian will become the venue of choice for a wide variety of content, including original attractions, concert residencies, product launches and marquee sporting events.
To meet the unique demands of producing immersive visuals at this scale, which requires an extraordinary level of detail and sharpness, MSG Sphere has assembled a team of innovative leaders to develop its own custom production tools with capabilities far exceeding existing systems. The camera research proposal was submitted to CASIS by MSG Ventures, which is tasked with developing the cutting-edge technologies to support content creation for MSG Sphere.
Andrew Shulkind, MSG Sphere Studios’ Senior Vice President of Capture and Innovation, who serves as the program’s project lead and Principal Investigator, said, “Our vision with MSG Sphere is to create immersive experiences that transport audiences to new places, and there are few landscapes more awe-inspiring than space. The insights and imagery we gain from this first mission will be invaluable to prepare our groundbreaking camera technology for working in space, and push our collective understanding of Earth and deep space. We are thrilled to be collaborating with Nanoracks, the ISS National Lab and NASA on this project, which we believe will not only benefit the extraordinary vision of MSG Sphere, but also set a new bar for ultra-high-fidelity imaging.”
Scott Rodriguez, Nanoracks’ Vice President of Government Programs, said, “MSG Sphere is one of Nanoracks’ most exciting customers. Commercial access to the ISS continues to open doors for newcomers to the Space industry, leading to incredible technology development, and paving the way for long-term commercial space utilization from science activities to media and entertainment. Nanoracks is proud to be the partner of choice for filming and media projects on the space station, and to help support the success of MSG Sphere’s camera technology in space.
About MSG Sphere Studios
Established in 2020, MSG Sphere Studios features an interdisciplinary team of creative, production, technology, and software experts, working together to develop the content and tools that will make MSG Sphere a first-of-its-kind entertainment destination. The studio provides full in-house creative and production services – including strategy and concept, capture, post-production, and show production – so artists, directors and brands can seamlessly utilize MSG Sphere’s capabilities to bring their creative vision to life in a way never before possible. Headquartered in Burbank, CA, the studio space includes a quarter-scale full-resolution prototype of the MSG Sphere display in Las Vegas, as well as an exosphere model and a sample of the venue’s Sphere Immersive Sound system. More information is available at .
About Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment) is a leader in live entertainment. The Company presents or hosts a broad array of events in its diverse collection of venues: New York’s Madison Square Garden, Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theater; and The Chicago Theatre. MSG Entertainment is also building a new state-of-the-art venue in Las Vegas, MSG Sphere at The Venetian. In addition, the Company features the original production – the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes – and through Boston Calling Events, produces the Boston Calling Music Festival. The Company’s two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG Sportsnet, deliver a wide range of live sports content and other programming. Also under the MSG Entertainment umbrella is Tao Group Hospitality, with entertainment dining and nightlife brands including: Tao, Hakkasan, Omnia, Marquee, Lavo, Beauty & Essex and Cathédrale.
About Nanoracks
Nanoracks, a Voyager Space Company, is the world’s leading commercial space services provider. Nanoracks owns and operates private hardware on the International Space Station and has launched over 1,300 research experiments, deployed over 300 small satellites, and installed the Bishop Airlock. Today, Nanoracks leverages over a decade of experience to develop new commercial space systems in direct response to customer needs. These space systems include converting commercial launch vehicle upper stages into functional secondary platforms, building new habitable space stations, supplying payload and crew airlock systems and services infrastructure, and more. Follow @Nanoracks on Twitter to learn more.
About Voyager Space
Voyager Space is a space technology company dedicated to building a better future for humanity in space and on Earth. With nearly 20 years of spaceflight heritage and over 1500 successful missions as of Fall 2022, Voyager delivers space station infrastructure and services and technology solutions to commercial users, civil and national security government agencies, academic and research institutions, and more, with the goal to accelerate a sustainable space economy.
