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The Mission: SPACE adventure for Epcot guests begins well before
the countdown to liftoff. Here's a step-by-step journey through
the attraction from the entrance courtyard . . . to the exit through
Space Cargo Bay.
Entrance
When guests step into the courtyard of Mission: SPACE, they step
into the future. The year is 2036. The courtyard -- Planetary Plaza
-- features bold spheres symbolizing Earth, Jupiter and the moon.
On the wall of the plaza are plaques bearing quotes from notable
figures who exemplify the questing spirit that has led mankind into
space. Moving words from President John F. Kennedy, Columbia Shuttle
astronaut Kalpana Chawla and others are featured. The attraction's
45,000-square-foot building -- the International Space Training
Center (ISTC) -- features a curvilinear exterior that surrounds
Planetary Plaza.
ISTC Astronaut Recruiting Center
At the entrance to the recruiting center emblazoned in the circular
walls is the motto "We choose to go!" It is here that
astronaut hopefuls learn about training. This is also where guests
see the remarkable model of the ISTC's X2 Trainer, the futuristic
spacecraft they will board to embark on a one-of-a-kind journey
into space.
Space Simulation Lab
A slowly turning 35-foot-tall gravity wheel containing exercise
rooms, offices, work areas and sleeping cubicles for space teams
dominates the area. Overhead hangs a model of the ISTC’s X-1
spacecraft (a precursor to the X-2) and a graphic of the X-2 with
details explaining the shuttle functionality. Also overhead is a
Lunar Roving Vehicle display unit loaned by the Smithsonian Institution’s
National Air and Space Museum -- a symbol of mankind’s first
exploration of another planetary body during NASA’s Apollo
program.
As guests leave the Space Simulation Lab, they encounter plaques
marking great moments in space flight -- from 1961 when Yuri Gargarin
became the first man in space . . . to the first family in space
in the year 2030 and the first deep-space mission aboard the X-2
in 2035.
Training Operations Room
The Training Operations Room is the hub of activity for training
sessions in progress. Behind the glass are several large monitors
showing live video feeds of ongoing ISTC training sessions.
Team Dispatch
A dispatch officer meets guests in Team Dispatch. This area is dominated
by an ISTC logo embedded in the floor. The dispatch officer motions
astronaut hopefuls forward. They are assigned to teams of four people
and sent to the Ready Room.
Ready Room
It's time for each team member to accept an assignment -- commander,
pilot, navigator or engineer. Each role is responsible for a specific
task during the mission, enabling the team to affect what happens
during the adventure. Here, guests meet Capcom. Capcom, or capsule
communicator, is the voice of Mission Control who guides astronauts
through their missions.
Pre-Flight Corridor
The pre-flight corridor is inspired by the "White Room"
at Kennedy Space Center, where astronauts wait for the countdown
to begin. At Mission: SPACE guests receive, via video, final instructions
and information from Capcom, who also explains the technology of
the X-2 rocket, shows the route of the mission and the destination:
Mars. Then, a uniformed flight crewmember escorts the teams to an
X-2 trainer. All systems are go!
X-2 Trainer
Each team member is securely strapped into an X-2 trainer. Mission
Control monitors the launch sequence. The capsule moves into launch
position, pointed straight up toward the sky, and the countdown
begins. Then it's 3... 2... 1... liftoff!
The senses are immediately engaged. On takeoff guests experience
sensations similar to what astronauts feel during liftoff. They
hear the roar of the engines. They view computer-generated photo-realistic
imagery based on actual data taken from Mars-orbiting satellites.
During the mission, the team encounters challenges like those of
an astronaut as they try to successfully complete the mission. Team
members must perform the task associated with the roles they have
accepted. It's vital to the outcome of the mission.
Advanced Training Lab
Now that the flight training session is over, guests can find out
if they also have what it takes to be part of Mission Control. This
is determined in the Advanced Training Lab, a colorful, interactive
play area where guests can further test their skills.
Mission: SPACE Race -- Up to 60 guests at a time can enroll
in this training adventure where two teams, each made up of both
astronauts and ground control personnel, race against time to be
the first to complete a successful mission. Teams must work together
to overcome challenges and setbacks in order to send their rocket
from Mars back to Earth.
Expedition: Mars -- This simulated astronaut obstacle course,
which offers a joystick and a jet-pack button, preps explorers for
conditions on other planets.
Space Base -- Made for junior astronauts, Space Base is
an interactive play area made for climbing, exploring and having
fun.
Postcards from Space -- At this kiosk guests make a video
of themselves with an entertaining space backdrop and e-mail it
to friends and family.
Mission: SPACE Cargo Bay
A four-foot-high, 3-D portrayal of Mickey Mouse outfitted in an
astronaut space suit with one foot planted on Mars beckons guests
into the 1,500-square-foot retail space. Astronaut-inspired gear
and supplies are displayed beneath a 12-foot mural featuring Astronauts
Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald on the surface of Mars with
the X-2 shuttle streaking across the stars.
When to go - Very popular, visit first thing
in the morning or in the hour before park closing.
Where to sit - sit in the back for the wildest
ride.
Fastpass.
Single Riders Line available.
Restrictions
Must be 44 inches tall to ride.
Guests must transfer from their wheelchair/ECV to the attraction/ride
vehicle
For safety and comfort, you should be in good health and free from
heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions
that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should
not ride.
Tips
To avoid motion sickness don't look to the sides of the screen when
riding, keep looking straight ahead.
Reviews
"When I looked at the warning signs for this ride, it made
me very apprehensive.
I went on it and it was absolutely fantastic. I can't imagine how
much work must have gone into it. I actually felt like I was going
into space when we were waiting to enter our (shall I say, space
rockets?) The whole experience was out of this world. An incredible
view of florida from space made you feel that you were a million
miles away. Incredible! 10/10" (5/04) Graham Thirkill
"You go through the line which seems never ending. Once you
get to your room color-red, yellow, blue, or green- you go inside
and you have to watch a preshow. Its okay for the first time, and
the second, but after a while its like okay, i've seen it! So, after
the preshow, the take specific rows at a time inside another room
where there is, you guessed it, another preshow, so i guess that
makes the first one a pre-preshow. After this one, the doors open
and you follow a strip to the little simulators. Once inside you
notice there is 4 different positions. Engineer, Navigator, Pilot,
and commander. you have buttons to push during the ride, but you
don't have to. There is alot of buttons to push that do not work,
there fun though. Then you feel yourself being turned upward and
suddenly you can see the tower of the rocket launcher thingy. Then
the count down 5....4....3...2.....1.... KABOOOM! You can suddenly
feel your stomach being pushed back and it feels so awesome, you
have no idea your spinning. Then as you get closer to clouds it
begins to turn dark and zero G is involved. There is no actual floating,
but it still feels neat. I recommend taking your feet off the floor!!!
Then you make a sling shot around the moon and then your put into
hypersleep. When you awake your right smack in the middle of a meteor
shower and you make some evasive manuevers to avoid them and then
suddenly, you see mars. You decent to mars and as you level out
you can really feel the G forces and its spectacular. Then you have
to take control of the sticks and do some piloting through a canyon,
then he tells you that your coming in too hot for landing, you smack
the ground, then go up over a cliff and ALMOST fall, you can feel
the little cars tipping really far. then it levels out and your
there. It is an absolute awesome experience!!!" (8/03) MonoManBlue
"My review 4 out of 4 stars. This ride is the greatest technological
achievement since audio-animatronics. To star things off, the building
is the foreground for real life takeoffs from Kennedy Space Center.
Once inside the atmosphere is realistic with a simulated space station
and several space vehicles. Your pre pre-show and pre-show star
Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan from Forest Gump). Next, It is time to board
your spacecraft. Once inside the pod there are four seats. Each
seat is a different task Commander, Pilot, and so on. You pull down
on the harness to secure yourself in. After the door is shut your
pod rotates upward to where you are on your back. Looking at the
screen in front of you, you come to realize you are on a launch
tower looking towards the sky, Then the fun begins. 3---2---1 We
have liftoff. "Liftoff," (do we ever), the G-forces here are awesome
and the duration is unbelievable. When you break Earth's atmosphere
and the G-force stops it is like a weightlessness feel to your body.
By the time things are normal you must slingshot around the moon
to head towards Mars. Here once again you feel the slingshot. I
don't want to give away the rest of the adventure but throughout
the ride it is a rush of adrenaline. The ride vehicle spins at a
high rate of speed, but when you look at your monitor you feel like
you are moving in the direction you are supposed to be going. People
have told me if you close your eyes or look away from the screen
you will get dizzy. Almost everyone I talked too including myself
Felt the effects when you get done. Hopefully Disney won't tame
it down. Even though you feel it, space flight is somewhat tough
on the body so it adds even more to the adventure." (8/03)
-----Patrick D. Brown, Shuttle Commander
© Copyright 2003, The Walt Disney Company
Four guests become a team of astronauts working together to fulfill
a mission when they step into a capsule and prepare for takeoff
at Mission: SPACE. During the thrilling ride, which gives guests
the sensation of blasting off into space, everyone in the capsule
participates in completing the mission by using joysticks and buttons
- all while viewing outer space through their own video screen.
© Copyright 2003, The Walt Disney Company
- Astro Notes: How NASA and Space Reality
Inspire a New Adventure
- Mission: SPACE -- Did you Know?
- If You 'Choose to Go': A Primer About Mars
- Mission: SPACE Advanced Training Lab
- Mission: SPACE Facts
- Mission: SPACE . . . Launching an Adventure
Through Technology
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