Okay, here is what is going on. You all have elements of the real story, but no one has tripped on to the entire attraction description yet. The small circular structure in the front is the base for a small drop tower. Guests go through the line, where they view a short video about the wonders of space exploration and planetary flight. They then enter small "pods" which hold three people each, and are "shot" up the drop tower and back down. The pods roll into the center of the attraction, and are routed to one of four centrifuges. Here is the part you guys missed: the centrifuges ARE THE GIFT SHOP. Guest are spun around in a head-outwards orientation at up to 2.8G, and all the loose change and spare bills in their pockets fly out and straight into the cash registers arrayed around the perimeter of the centrifuges. In exchange, guests receive a small token souvenir of the attraction as their gift.

Seriously, there are several Mars-related events happening next summer, and the opening of Mission: Space will likely take advantage of that. NASA is launching two rovers to Mars, one at the end of May and the other at the end of June. ESA (European Space Agency) and NASA are launching the Mars Express mission in late May. All of these missions, along with the Japanese mission Nozomi, arrive at Mars in December 2003 and January 2004. Disney is aware of this schedule, and has been looking at options for tying in the opening of their new attraction with these events.

Mission: Space will not be open quite in time for the FIRST Nationals (current projected opening date is July 1, 2003). I can't disclose details about what will be inside the attraction; but careful observation of what you have in front of you will reveal a lot of information. You can tell a lot from the official web site. There is a reason that the big sphere out front is red. The "training center" is on their web site for a reason. Notice the phrase in the news update "you'll encounter challenges faced by the real astronauts." Assume that there will be a "persons in poor health should not ride this attraction" sign out front...

-dave

Are you saying there is a Vomet Comet?


Well g2g to school, first day. It sucks

It is for a planet. You can see the front of the building in that picture. In other pictures of the building more complete you will see the planet there. See here. The concrete ring was for the smaller planet on the right. The four other rings are inside the building from the satellite picture with this other one being outside.

Yes, that's exactly what he's saying.

Every 2.5 minutes, 10 guests will board a NASA KC-135, take off, fly around central Florida, and then land.

Dave - I love the gift shop idea :)

Yes there is a Vomet Comet. This is Dave enjoying the ride on the Vomet Comet. No word on if he vometed.



Wetzel
~~~~~~~~~~~
I think I hear photoshop calling...

Oh dear loard! One day and the whole forums go up in smoke about something I'm an expert in.

For anyone not in the know like me and Mr. Krass, go here.

M:S IS going to be a centerfuge. Here is a picture of what it's going to look like....



Each pod will seat 4 and there will be around 12-20 pods on each centerfuge. The pods will have interactive elements and have vibration (like a rumble pack in a video game).

The inside of the massive planet in the front will hold the Fastpass distribution, and the entrences to the three lines (Fastpass, Stand-By, and Single Riders; just like Test Track). They will exit to the far left, in, ofcourse, a giftshop.

I expect a soft opening in December and an offical oppeining in late March-Early June.

If you have any questions, just ask.

-Edit-

Also, Mars is the destination. And there will be an interactive post-show a la Innoventions, but it will feature the types of interactive exhibits like the ones at the M:S Preview Center in Innoventions right now.

-Edit Again-

Also, I have posted this before and M:S is under cycle testing. This means they have CM's running the ride, unloading, loading, then running it again. So it is very close for guests to try it out early. Remember, Disney has soft openings before the attraction truely opens.

Wow, it wouldn't be fun to be paid $5/hr. to clean those things, I guess that's why I'm going to college.

P.S. Hey Mike, I think we both win.

Building anything of significant depth underground is a monumental feat in Florida. Ever wonder why you never see a basement in Florida? Florida is very flat, most parts are just a few feet above sea level, the ground is made up of limestone, a very weak,unstable, and porous substance, and the water table is very close to the surface. I can assure you noone is making any form of tower underground.

Original Post
Building anything of significant depth underground is a monumental feat in Florida. Ever wonder why you never see a basement in Florida? Florida is very flat, most parts are just a few feet above sea level, the ground is made up of limestone, a very weak,unstable, and porous substance, and the water table is very close to the surface. I can assure you noone is making any form of tower underground.


True, very very true. I would be so surprised if it was a drop tower

I have followed this from the announcement (and somewhat before) to now, and at no time is a drop tower a possabilaty. This will be a spin-n-puke type ride. I have tons of places to turn you to point this out to you. Also, if anyone saw the Disney Imagineers like MattK did, you saw the inside que and the post show area.

If you want, I'll give you some links to some previous debates on Disney boards.

DECEMBER-JUNE?
 

so it opens in June of next year... So wait, i m an even team, and in two years we get to go to nationals... Lemme see here (carrie the 1) if my calculations are correct it would be open for sure when i m a senior and i m down there for nats w/ Mr. Krass!!! YAY!!!:D

HEHE, MR. KRASS... HEHE;)

I feel bad for you MK....

But I'm even too, and if M:S opens on July 1st, I'll be there one week after.

I may not be a physics expert but a centerfuge will never simulate negative g forces. They will only display lateral forces and positive gravitational forces. If they specifically mention weightlessness then it isn't a centerfuge. I've been on one about 20 times. I know my amusement rides.

Funny you should say this. :rolleyes: I do, too.

It is a centrifuge. Four of them. It's unique because it allows the pods to rotate on a second axis. See Joseph's picture higher up in this thread. It will simulate weightlessness.

It may *not* be actual weightlessness, but Disney knows plenty of tricks that'll fool the mind. It may suck. It may not. I have faith, though, that enough people have ridden a mock-up of what's being proposed to ensure its authenticity.

uh oh, now u got him started!