NASA Ames researchers are opening the door to the future of aerospace with the world's biggest and most realistic flight simulator.

KTVU Health and Science reporter, John Fowler, recently had the opportunity to test drive the ten-story-high simulator. Behind the controls inside its cockpit, he  brought the space-shuttle in for a landing. His instructor was former astronaut and shuttle commander Bo Bobko.

"Things happen quickly. You only have one shot," said Bobko.

Every astronaut learned to fly the shuttle in the Ames simulator. The simulator experience helped engineers improve the shuttle. The sensations are stunningly realistic.

Simulator pilots travel 220 miles an hour, just a few feet off the ground. And there is no risk of actually crashing.

But how will future spacecraft fly? NASA's full-motion simulator allows engineers to fine tune flying qualities before that spacecraft is even built.

"The sense of motion is a very important cue for a human being and very important for a pilot who can move in six different directions at the same time," explained NASA Ames Aerospace Engineer Bimal Aponso.

We've learned NASA Ames agreed to reprogram the simulator for Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser, a private space-ship company. They hope this will help make Dream Chaser easier to fly and, ultimately, safer.

Airship Control Systems are also in the works. Ames already improved flight controls of tilt-rotor aircraft and is helping design a 90-passenger civilian tilt-rotor airliner.

Bobko, a former air force test pilot, said math only goes so far.

"We take the next step and go into something that looks like and feels like the real vehicle you're going to fly. It's going to give you a much better answer," said Bobko.