Cover The International Space Station has officially opened to the general public by way of virtual tours on Google Arts & Culture. (Photo: Getty)

The global space facility has opened its doors to international space fiends

Between the abundance of art and culture museums, spas, and international auction houses that have gone virtual, the global response to COVID-19 has largely favored online alternatives—and the international space station comes as no exception.

The International Space Station has officially opened to the general public by way of virtual tours on Google Arts & Culture. The out-of-this-world experience is accessible to anyone with internet access by way of a 360-degree virtual tour that makes use of the company’s Street View technology—which allows curious travelers to explore every aspect of the expansive 21-year-old space station without leaving their home.

The digital exhibition by Google admittedly does not replicate the feeling of being weightless in space, but it does allow travelers to explore any of ISS’s expansive tunnels and equipment-packed rooms, which includes a variety of astronauts’ quarters and personal effects.

According to NASA, the International Space Station has the “volume of a five-bedroom house or two Boeing 747 jetliners,” while also supporting a crew of up to six people and if weighed, it would clock approximately 1 million pounds.

Aside from the virtual tour, Google has also funded an educational ISS-themed program, which attempts to illustrate what life is like for an astronaut onboard the international space station while covering all aspects of astronaut life—from how astronauts eat to the effects of zero-gravity on the body.

Whether you’re ready to experience life outside of earth’s orbit or not, the ISS has managed to provide endless space content for earthlings, including a closer look at the moon landing and a tribute to women astronauts, as well as a score of high definition video content that’s shot from space. 

See also: 7 Once In A Lifetime Travel Experiences You Can Enjoy From Home