Reported by Sanchita chatterjee: A new fulldome 3D digital film, “One Step Beyond: A Journey to Mars,” was inaugurated today by Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay, Senior Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, and Visiting Professor at California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA, at India’s first 3D fulldome 3D digital theatre at Science City, Kolkata. The inauguration took place in the presence of Shri A.D. Choudhury, Director General, National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), Shri K. S. Murali, DDG, NCSM, Shri Pramod Grover, Director of Science City, Kolkata, along with other distinguished guests.
The film traces the legacy of the first human step on the Moon and moves forward to the bold ambitions of future space exploration, driven by curiosity, innovation, and scientific endeavour. It captures the thrill of rocket launches, the challenges of living and working in space, and the remarkable technological advancements shaping the next era of exploration. The narrative also highlights the cutting-edge developments of the NASA Artemis programme and examines the scientific quest to discover signs of life beyond Earth.
Through breath-taking visuals, immersive storytelling, and a powerful cinematic experience, the film invites viewers to reflect on our home planet, our origins, and humanity’s place in the universe, as we prepare for one of the most significant milestones in exploration — setting foot on Mars.
“The fulldome 3D digital theatre at Science City, Kolkata is equipped to screen high-resolution fulldome digital content in both 2D and 3D, as well as planetarium shows, using six high-end digital projectors that together deliver an effective screen resolution of nearly 30 million pixels. The projection is seamlessly blended on a 23-degree tilted dome measuring 23 metres in diameter, built with Ulteria Seam technology that employs a specialised seamless joining process. This advanced facility creates a truly immersive viewing experience, making audiences feel as though they are part of the scenes unfolding around them, with objects in 3D projections appearing close enough to touch,” said Shri A. D. Choudhury, DG, NCSM.
Shri K. S. Murali, DDG, NCSM, shared: “Established in 1997, the Space Theatre at Science City was the first-of-its-kind facility in India and attracted around 77 lakh visitors during its operation for nearly two-and-a-half decades. After its upgradation in 2019 into India’s first fulldome 3D digital theatre, it has become even more popular among the people of Kolkata. The films at the fulldome 3D digital theatre have attracted more than 17.5 Lakh visitors.”
““Blending scientific accuracy with cinematic excellence, One Step Beyond: A Journey to Mars offers an awe-inspiring fulldome experience that seeks to educate, inspire, and spark curiosity about the future of human space exploration. The films presented in the fulldome 3D digital theatre at Science City not only introduce audiences to the fascinating aspects of science but also create a deeply immersive viewing experience. This 25-minute fulldome 3D digital film has been released in three major languages—Bengali, Hindi and English—and will be screened seven times daily from 11 AM to 5 PM,” said Shri Pramod Grover, Director, Science City, Kolkata.
Presented by the National Space Centre and produced by NSC Creative, the film first premiered internationally on 11 June 2025 at the Fulldome Festival Brno in Brno. It was later showcased in the United Kingdom on 19 July 2025 at the National Space Centre. Rendered in 8K fulldome resolution at 60 frames per second, the production offers a visually immersive and educational cinematic experience that sparks curiosity about science, technology, and humanity’s place in the universe.
The film will open to the general public from tomorrow at Science City, Kolkata, where visitors will have the opportunity to experience this immersive fulldome production through regular screenings.
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