ALTON TOWERS • IG Express.co.uk was one of the first in the UK to test the awesome new, VR-fuelled ride

Galactica is the latest addition to Alton Towers' portfolio of adrenaline-filled rides. The new rollercoaster blasts thrill-seekers deep into outer space using the power of virtual reality. Express.co.uk was one of the first in the world to test the awesome new, VR-fuelled ride. Packed with all the usual twists, dips and turns – from the ground, the ride might look like a very familiar affair. And that's probably because it is. Galactica is a re-imagining of Alton Towers' Air rollercoaster, which was designed to give you the sensation of flying, and opened back in March 2002. Now 14 years later, the same ride comes with a pair of specially-modified virtual reality goggles.

Once the Galactica headsets have been wiped down, fitted and everyone has adjusted the focus to their liking – the ride starts. At first glance through the cutting-edge headset, it appears as if you will be riding Galactica blind. But when the countdown kickstarts and the seats are lifted – so that you're lying face down – the headset springs into life and transports you inside a futuristic spaceship. You're then blasted out into space for 90 seconds of intergalactic mayhem.

EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS The virtual reality headsets do take away some of the thrills you'd expect from a 47 mph ride

Every twist and turn of the Air rollercoaster has been mapped and perfectly-synced with what's happening in the intergalactic virtual world inside your goggles. And as you zip around the 840-metre long track at over 47 mph you really get the feeling of flying as the ride speeds past stars, banks through wormholes and takes you to undiscovered galaxies. The on-screen graphics look closer to a video game than a Professor Brian Cox documentary. But the experience is still pretty mind-blowing – especially if this is your first taste of virtual reality. To help with the immersion as you thunder around the rollercoaster, each of the modified Samsung Gear VR headsets include an in-built pair of headphones which bring a constant commentary from mission control.

EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS Once the headsets have been wiped, fitted and everyone has adjusted the focus – the ride starts

It's a lot of fun – and a very different experience to the dozens of other, more traditional rides littered across the Alton Towers resort. But Express.co.uk did have a few reservations about the flagship new 2016 rollercoater. Firstly, the virtual reality headsets do take away some of the thrills you'd expect from a 47 mph rollercoaster. Don't expect to hear any gasps or worried whispers as the ride cranks you to its highest point – preparing to thunder down the tracks. Everyone is too immersed in their 3D tour of the outer rims of our universe to feel the suspense. And we struggled to hear any screams as the ride blasted through its final G-force filled turns as most of the riders are too focused on the world inside the headset, or the chatter from mission control.

Ultimately, whilst it is not as stomach-churning as some faster roller coasters we've been on, the VR experience is well worth the queues. Sadly the ride time is quite short and just as you begin to get used to the virtual coaster it is time to remove the gadget goggles. Once we knew what to expect – and what to look out for – we found we enjoyed the experience much more during our second ride. But on a sweaty, crowded summer's day it is unlikely you'll want to immediately join the back of the queue for another try. And anymore than two times in a row – we are sure we would start to feel very, very queasy.

ALTON TOWERS Alton Towers' Galactica uses virtual reality to simulate a tour of our galaxy

PH Astronaut Chris Hadfield was brought in to test the space-themed 'coaster

PH Alton Towers' Galactica opens later this month

To prove Galactica is worth all the fuss, the theme park Towers drafted in Astronaut Chris Hadfield to take a ride alongside Express.co.uk. Spaceman Hadfiled has been off-planet three times and spent over 100 days high above the earth. Speaking after his first experience on Galactica, Chris Hadfield said "This is one of the best rides I've ever been on and I've been on some rides! "I've been lucky enough to serve on three space flights, including five months on the International Space Station, but this is as close as I've come to a virtual trip across the universe."