The vomit comet has some competition.
"Galactica" is a new take on roller coasters from Alton Towers, the UK equivalent of Six Flags. It combines the 3.5 G thrills of an actual roller coaster with the artificially-induced sensations of virtual reality in an attempt to show riders what it's like to soar through outer space.
In other words: This is next-gen Space Mountain.
The ride, which is a newly repurposed version of Alton Towers' "Air" roller coaster, seats VR headset-wearing riders in a face-down position. The twists and turns of the 2,760-foot track are synchronized with a virtual reality video experience that simulates the act of flying through space.
The Air roller coaster made local news last summer when a breakdown left riders stranded for at least 20 minutes on one of the hottest days of the year. That misfortune came a month after a carriage crash on The Smiler roller coaster left four riders seriously injured.
Engadget reports that the ride's virtual reality tech is based on Samsung's Gear VR headsets. The ride also allows patrons to ride sans headset if they prefer (via Birmingham Mail). Both of these details were confirmed during a morning press conference (UK time) that announced the news.
Galactica opens in the Forbidden Valley area of Alton Towers in Apr. 2016. You can find additional information on the ride's official website.