It has been announced that the Space Center indoor theme park at Space Park Bremen will open on 19 December.

Being a part of Germany's first integrated entertainment and shopping centre, the official grand opening of the Space Center will take place on 12 February 2004. Between the two dates the site's attractions will be open to visitors at a special preview price.

Space Center will feature attractions that are said to be unique to Europe and, in some cases, the rest of the world. They include:

• An authentic copy of the centre's landmark symbol, the Ariane 4 rocket, next to which is the Space Shot, a ride which catapults 28 occupants to a height of 65 metres

• Galaxie Express, a flight through the solar system by means of a screen built into the cockpit of the ride vehicle

• Star Trek Borg Encounter, a 250-seat, 4D action theatre, which brings visitors direct to the Paramount Studios tv series Star Trek Voyager

• Stargate 3000, three hi-tech simulators based on the MGM Studios Stargate SG-1 tv series

Other attractions on offer will be northern Germany's first IMAX theatre, showing 3D and other films on a 500sq m screen; an encounter with an extraterrestrial being in Planet Quest and an adventure involving renegade robots in Robot Rescue.

Dr Wolfgang Wilke of Space Centre said: The opening of Space Center will further strengthen Bremen's destination value.

Space Center is a wholly owned subsidiary of ProFun Europe GmbH. Details: www.space-park-bremen.de