Mission: Space
Mission: Space (stylized as Mission: SPACE) is a space exploration-themed pavilion and attached centrifugal motion simulator attraction located in the World Discovery section of Epcot at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida. The attraction simulates what an astronaut might experience aboard a spacecraft on a mission to Mars, from the higher g-force of liftoff, to the speculative hypersleep. The pavilion also includes the Mission Space: Cargo Bay gift shop, the Advanced Training Lab interactive play area and Space 220 Restaurant.[1]
Mission: Space
Future World (2003–2021)
World Discovery (2021–present)
Operating
US$100 million
August 15, 2003 (Mars Mission)
August 13, 2017 (Earth Mission)
Horizons
(Future World)
Space simulator
"Destiny"
by Cliff Masterson
2.5
1,600 riders per hour
X-2 Deep Space Shuttle
40 (between 4 centrifuges)
4
1
4
5:38
40 in (102 cm)
Capcom (portrayed by Gary Sinise, 2003–2017;
Gina Torres, 2017–present)
Capcom
Hewlett-Packard (2003–2015)
History[edit]
The attraction opened to the public in a "soft opening" mode in June 2003, and celebrated its grand opening on October 9 with a ceremony attended by Disney CEO Michael Eisner, HP CEO Carly Fiorina and NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe, as well as several NASA astronauts from its many phases of human space exploration (Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, the Space Shuttle program and two crew members aboard the International Space Station). The attraction was built on the former site of Horizons, a dark ride that offered optimistic visions of what life might be like in the future. Horizons closed permanently in 1999 after a few years of sporadic operation; construction began on Mission: Space shortly thereafter. Industry estimates put the cost of developing the new attraction at US$100 million. The pavilion, like others at Epcot, used to feature a VIP lounge for HP employees called The Red Planet Room.
Mission: Space was sponsored by Compaq, which began working with Disney Imagineers on the design in April 2000.[2] Hewlett-Packard assumed the sponsorship upon its merger with Compaq in 2002. The simulator hardware used in Mission: Space was designed and built by Environmental Tectonics Corporation of Pennsylvania with a nearly $30 million contract awarded in February 2000. Environmental Tectonics sued Disney in 2003 seeking over $15 million alleging failure to pay the full amount of the contract and sharing proprietary design details with competitors. The companies settled in January 2009.[3][4] HP later declined to renew its sponsorship, and the company's branding was removed in 2015.
The attraction was completely closed for a refurbishment on June 5, 2017.[5] During the D23 Expo 2017, it was confirmed that the Green Mission would be given a new video simulating a flight around the Earth, and the Orange Mission would keep the Mars mission, but with updated graphics.[6] The attraction reopened on August 13, 2017 with the Earth Mission (or Green Mission), where the centrifuge does not spin as much, thus eliminating the forces of lateral acceleration for riders who choose the more tame experience. The cabs themselves still pitch and pivot, providing some motion. The attraction's opening day experience was renamed the Mars Mission (or Orange Mission).[7]
Mechanics[edit]
The attraction is a multiple-arm centrifuge that achieves the illusion of acceleration by spinning and tilting sealed capsules during the four-minute "mission". Fans blow air gently at riders to help avoid motion sickness, and a magnified display in front of each rider simulates a window to space with high-resolution computer-generated imagery. Mission: Space comprises four separate centrifuges, each with 10 capsules holding four riders. The attraction exposes riders to forces up to 2.5G, more than twice the force of gravity at the Earth's surface (effectively multiplying a rider's weight by 2.5). A few months after the ride's opening, motion sickness bags were added within easy reach of riders.[9]
Horizons was the attraction that Mission: Space replaced. Keeping in line with a Disney tradition of paying tribute to defunct attractions in new attractions, Mission: Space features several subtle tributes to Horizons.