The Aviation Systems Division at at NASA Ames Research Center is the home to the world’s biggest and most sophisticated flight simulator, the Vertical Motion Simulator or VMS. Its primary aim is to give the astronauts and the pilots who fly the space shuttles helicopters, Joint Strike Fighters and other high speed aircrafts a taste of what its like before they take the control of the actual thing.

The VMS was designed and developed in year 1980 and was specifically built to train helicopter pilots, but over time has changed its operational parameters and now conduct simulation flights for aircrafts and space shuttles. However, the Virtual Motion Simulator is being geared for the next generation training, that would include astronaut and pilot training for the next generation space vehicle developed by NASA, called the Constellation, that has been developed as a result of the now terminated space shuttle program.

The VMS has constantly been used by various government agencies, military and private contractors including Boeing, Lockheed, Grumman among many others, who required the simulator’s remarkable abilities to run vertical motion tests. The VMS is open to civilian organizations as well, provided that their tests can provide valuable data for NASA and that the companies can afford the staggering fees of $5000 day for using the VMS.

Via Cnet.