Mission Space - News and Info Archive

Notice the changing light pattern on the swoosh around the blue planet, which forms the sign and logo for Mission Space. The planet also rotates.

The photo in the top right also appears to show some of the interior scenes powered up. Looking through the entrance in the side of the large red planet, you can what looks like banks of visual displays.

Notice the new landscaping and lighting. The front of the building is looking99% complete!

Below: A view from Test Track showing the corporate lounge building for Mission Space (the black building)

Talking about the removal of the Mission Space Countdown Clock in Innoventions..
"We did take down the countdown clock, but there isn't any delay with the construction of Mission: Space," said Bill Warren, a Disney World spokesman. Warren said although the ride is still scheduled to open in 2003, the sign never meant to indicate a specific date.

Asked about the sponsorship deal with Compaq, and how the possible HP takeover may affect the deal...
"There should be no change in the relationship with Disney relative to the ride," said Arch Currid, a Compaq spokesman.
Warren said Disney World officials aren't worried. "We're feeling pretty good about our corporate relationships on this project."

The new area of construction reported yesterday is the Compaq corporate lounge for the attraction.

In a recent interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Al Weis (WDW President) said of Mission Space, "It will be huge -- on a scale with Tower of Terror".

There are suggestions that part of the ride system was delivered to the Central Shops behind the Magic Kingdom a few days ago. Eye witnesses report seeing a large flat bed truck, with what looked like parts that match the "Space Simulator Pod" concept. The truck was being escorted by Disney security. (Thanks to Jason for the information)

Thanks to Alan Taff who sent us along this interesting discovery. This satellite image clearly shows 4 circular foundations, visible during the early stages of constructions. Perhaps the foundations for the 4 centrifuges that comprise the ride system? (see HERE for info/rumors on the ride system)

The Mission: Space team are suggesting that it may be possible for the post-show of the attraction to open Summer 2002. The interactive post-show area will serve as a great teaser for the soon to open E Ticket attraction.

Good news here. Despite the closures and cut-backs that are occurring elsewhere, this project is still on target and is very much alive.

Arstogas has sent me this revised concept art that he has worked on. Based on the construction photos we are seeing, it appears that from ground level, and facing square-on, you will not be able to see the box ride building behind the facade. This UNOFFICIAL modified concept art shows how it may look when complete.

While information on the actual ride system for Space is very sketchy, there are a few clues floating around the web. The origins of the Mission Space ride system appears to date back to a project that Disney developed for Disney Quest, called CyberSpace Mountain. To allow guests to create and then RIDE their own coaster, Disney worked with a company called ENVIRONMENTAL TECTONICS CORPORATION - specialists in simulated environments. (I believe Screamscape were the first to find the ETC connection)

"Two years ago, ETC began collaborating with the Walt Disney Company on a project that evolved from our unique and proprietary knowledge of the human bodyТs physiology and psychology and our complementary motion base technology. Through developing and manufacturing this highly successful entertainment ride for Disney, our relationship with the entertainment giant blossomed in ways unimagined, making Disney a premier customer. We feel extremely proud of that relationship, and hope to foster it for a long time to come. Accordingly, we have formed a separate company, Entertainment Technology Corporation, to provide the needed focus, dedication and commitment necessary to ensure its long-term success. Such a valued customer deserves no less."

The above release relates to the CyberSpace Mountain projects. So at this point, we know Disney was/is working with ETC. The actual CyberSpace Mountain simulator appears to be one of these http://www.etcusa.com/atsglab.htm

With this in mind, the following press release was made by ETC. This appears to be talking about the Mission: SPACE project. The time frame, budget, references to the 'Major Entertainment Industry Customer' all seem to fit the bill.

Environmental Tectonics Corporation Signs Major Entertainment Ride Contract; Company Backlog Hits Record Level
Wednesday, February 2, 2000 07:47 AM
SOUTHAMPTON, Pa., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- William F. Mitchell, President and CEO, Environmental Tectonics Corporation (ETC) (Amex: ETC), announced the signing of a contract with a major entertainment industry Customer on January 28, 2000. The contract, exceeding $25 million in value, with an approximately 3-year performance period, was awarded to ETC's wholly owned subsidiary, Entertainment Technology Corporation, and will be performed at ETC's Southampton, PA, facilities. The total project will entail the design and production of a totally new entertainment ride attraction, and also includes supervising of installation. In issuing the announcement, Mitchell noted that the project has been in the development stage for over 18 months, and is now ready to enter the final design and production stages. The development effort represented a unique cooperative effort between ETC and its Customer, whose identity may not be disclosed because of contractual prohibitions. The Customer's selection of ETC for this major project was a direct result of ETC's exceptional combination of advanced ride perception technology and superior technical and manufacturing capabilities. Mr. Mitchell also commented that, "This contract reflects the Customer's high level of confidence in our ability to work with them on a day-to-day basis. This confidence has been evidenced by several other very successful entertainment rides we have produced for them, and several projects now in progress. It is certainly a major milestone, and it firmly establishes ETC as a major player in the robustly expanding entertainment ride market."

With the addition of this contract, ETC's total backlog now approaches $53 million -- the largest in its 30-year history.

For nearly 30 years, ETC has been on the leading edge of the design, manufacture, installation, training and long-term maintenance of its products in the U.S. and 65 countries worldwide. These products include: aircrew training systems for standard and high-performance aircraft; disaster management simulators; industrial sterilization equipment and environmental simulation systems; clinical Hyperbaric systems, entertainment/amusement systems; and related hardware and software products. ETC's main plant and offices are located in Southampton, PA, USA, with subsidiary locations in Orlando, FL, the UK, Warsaw, Poland and Ankara, Turkey.

Certain matters in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. This includes, but is not limited to, market acceptance of new products, competitive actions, economic conditions, and other risks indicated in filings from time to time with the Securities Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Environmental Tectonics Corporation

Assuming the above is talking about Space, is is pretty handy that ETC also have a centrifuge product - http://www.etcusa.com/atsgfet.htm
which would appear to fit the sketchy descriptions we have heard of the Space ride system.

So if the above IS true, it appears that Mission: SPACE is going to be comprised of 4 of these centrifuge simulators, with 4 person pods attached to multiple arms of the centrifuge. Disney will be then using advanced onboard effects to simulate both the visual and physical effects of a training mission to space.

The above press release states the ECT project is worth $25million. We know from earlier rumors that the overall project is to be upwards of $100million - so one question that has to be asked is where is the remaining $75million going? Could Mission: SPACE be the first outing for C.A.V.E, or some other new visual simulation technology?

Notice the smoke in the air from the surrounding wild fires, in the photos above.

11 December 2000: Show building well underway, as vertical construction gets underway

A large tent has been erected near to the Millennium Pavilion for WDI to perform crowd flow simulations (for preshow - and lines) with Epcot CMs.
Has anyone taken part?

Work continues on ground clearing the Horizons site - with foundations rumored to be complete by December 2000

"...the reason there is no tower in the image of the Mission: Space pavilion is because there will BE no ride like that. I do have some word as to what will be INSIDE the building...samples from space projects, satellite models, a Spaceship cockpit, and tons of presentations going on that demonstrate the importance of the Space Program (this is where NASA comes in). Its basically going to be a bit like the Living Seas, only much cooler, and with more interesting and more interactive things to do. The goal of the project is to be able to keep people busy for a good 2 hours inside the building (something that even innovations cant do). Also look for more cool fiber optic concrete effects all around the new building. There is going to be a really neat design made by the entrance which will be unveiled at the opening of the attraction. This is a HUGE project that got even bigger now that it is replacing horizons. As you know it was not originally placed here, so you can image the amount of work that had to go into it to get it working at another location."

As for the ride system, seems like our good friend CAVE may be on the cards.

News from Daniel: "The little show didn't start until about 8:45, when Al Weiss and the president of Compaq came out. They said hello, described the new attraction in very little detail, and mentioned showing off the plans but couldn't since they are at NASA ready to be launched in Atlantis. The Compaq president then unveiled his giant thirty foot keyboard to give us some details. Weiss said it would be easier with a mouse, and out comes Mickey. Yay.. Mickey pressed the space bar four times, some fireworks shot out of the top of horizons, and a great big beam of light like Universal's shot out of the top. The Space title was also projected onto the front of horizons, along with plenty of stars.

Nothing was imploded though :(

Walt Disney World's next big attraction, billed as a "one-of-a-kind astronaut experience," will lift off at Epcot in 2003, Disney said Thursday.

Executives from Disney and Compaq Computer Corp., sponsor of Mission: Space, gave the first glimpse of the proposed ride Thursday night, displaying the new logo and artist drawings of the attraction.

Set decades into the future, guests will be transported in time and place to an International Space Training Center, where they will encounter simulated challenges faced by real astronauts.

The attraction -- in the former horizons Pavilion next to Test Track -- will feature a 5-minute ride that simulates space flight 20 to 30 years in the future.

"The idea is to give all the illusion and sensation of real space travel -- lifting off, leaving the confines of earth, feeling weightlessness and visiting another planet," Susan Bonds, the show's producer, said Thursday.

Disney would not release other details of the ride, saying it was still in development. Preliminary work has already begun on the $150 million to $200 million project.

"The combination of Disney magic and Compaq technology will create a truly one-of-a-kind guest experience," Walt Disney World President Al Weiss said. "Epcot is the perfect setting, continuing the park's dedication to the explorer in all of us with its unique attractions that inspire us to discover new worlds."

Disney consulted with former NASA scientists and astronauts, including Story Musgrave, to design Mission: Space. Musgrave calls the new attraction "a place where guests can imagine our future in space and their role in it, walking in the footsteps of heroes and building on the wealth of technology we've developed to date."

NASA has no formal relationship with the project but has agreed to allow Disney to depict its training methods. The agency sees the program as a potential way to promote its space program.

Guests, for example, might be able to communicate with astronauts in the future space station, Bonds said.

"With some of the most advanced technology ever produced, Mission: Space will provide guests with a rare glimpse into a world where the possibilities for computers and space flight are endless," Compaq CEO Michael Capellas said.

The Houston-based company also will sponsor a fireworks display for the 45th anniversary of Disneyland and continue to sponsor Disneyland's Innoventions Pavilion and the DisneyQuest interactive game centers.

The next Walt Disney World Resort attraction will go where no thrill ride has gone before -- deep space, announced Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Resort and Michael Capellas, CEO of Compaq Computer Corporation.

Walt Disney World ResortТs newest attraction, Mission: SPACE, to be presented by Compaq Computer Corporation, will lift off at Epcot in 2003. ItТs the latest in a series of new attractions and entertainment offerings at Walt Disney World Resort, continuing a period of phenomenal growth that includes the resortТs current year-long Millennium Celebration.

Offering guests a one-of-a-kind "astronaut-like" experience, Mission: SPACE will launch guests into a simulated space adventure -- from pulse-racing lift-off to weightlessness in outer space.

In association with former NASA advisors, astronauts and scientists, Walt Disney Imagineering created Mission: SPACE with new technologies, making it the first ride system ever created to take guests straight up in simulated flight. Set decades into the future, guests are transported in time and place to an International Space Training Center where they will encounter simulated challenges faced by real astronauts.

Plans for Mission: SPACE will be aboard NASAТs International Space Station shuttle flight, the scheduled April 24 launch of Atlantis.

"The combination of Disney magic and Compaq technology will create a truly one-of-a-kind guest experience," said Weiss. "Epcot is the perfect setting, continuing the parkТs dedication to the explorer in all of us with its unique attractions that inspire us to discover new worlds."

"Computers are vital in developing space programs today and well into the future," said Capellas. "With some of the most advanced technology ever produced, Mission: SPACE will provide guests with a rare glimpse into a world where the possibilities for computers and space flight are endless."

With a career in the NASA space program that spanned more than 30 years, six-time NASA shuttle astronaut Story Musgrave is an ongoing consultant to DisneyТs Mission: SPACE project. Musgrave calls the new attraction, "a place where guests can imagine our future in space and their role in it, walking in the footsteps of heroes and building on the wealth of technology weТve developed to date."

Mission: SPACE will be in a new Epcot Future World facility next to the popular attraction Test Track presented by General Motors.

Compaq is a major provider of servers, PCs and services to The Walt Disney Company and its Internet initiatives. Mission: SPACE represents a broadening of the relationship between Compaq and The Walt Disney Company.

BURBANK, Calif., april 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS - news) and Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ - news) today announced a broad 10-year corporate alliance highlighted by Compaq's sponsorship of the new Mission: SPACE attraction at Epcot, located at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The pact will enable Disney's theme park guests to enjoy entertainment and discovery experiences based on entirely new combinations of imagination and technological innovation.

Compaq is a major provider of servers, PCs and services to The Walt Disney Company and its Internet initiatives. Both companies hope to expand this relationship through the new alliance.

Compaq is the world's second-largest computer company and provides the technological infrastructure for many Disney theme park attractions. Compaq will provide its knowledge of computer systems and technology, along with funding, for Mission: SPACE. This ``thrill ride of the future'' will use new proprietary ride systems to provide guests with a deep space adventure that simulates challenges faced by real astronauts, as well as the experience of lifting off, leaving Earth's atmosphere and soaring millions of miles through the solar system on a space ship.

``Disney and Compaq are both highly regarded and well-known global brands that strive to achieve standards of excellence in their respective fields,'' said Disney Chairman and CEO Michael D. Eisner. ``This new alliance demonstrates how storytellers can use technology to entertain audiences in new ways and how technology can enhance the way guests experience the story.''

``The ability to entertain millions of people on some of the world's largest stages -- theme parks -- requires mission-critical technological innovation and support that Compaq provides on a daily basis to all types of businesses and individuals,'' said Compaq CEO Michael Capellas. ``Today's announcement further confirms Compaq's commitment to contributing to the ever- expanding entertainment world and the education of children -- both big and small.''

``The combination of Disney's entertainment expertise and Compaq's unparalleled capability in computer systems and technology will provide our guests with a highly compelling and true-to-life adventure at Mission: SPACE,'' said Disney Vice Chairman Sanford M. (Sandy) Litvack.

Scheduled to open in 2003, the Mission: SPACE attraction will be located in a new Epcot facility at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. It is the first ride system ever built to use technologies to simulate weightlessness in outer space.

Mission: SPACE is the latest in a series of new attractions and entertainment offerings at Walt Disney World Resort, continuing a period of growth which includes the resort's year-long Millennium Celebration.

From the horizons Tribute!

This is Not a rumor.... and not speculation....
Walt Disney World has called a press conference for 8:15pm Thursday April 20th in front of horizons... about the future of this location. They hint that something dramatic will happen...and something more dramatic will be announced. We can all guess the announcement is for Mission: Space.

The RUMOR is they will implode... or partially bring down the horizons building in front of the cameras.

The local news channels here in Orlando reported today that Disney will
announce their plan for the new space pavilion on Thursday.

It begins next Monday night from the rear. All work will be done at night for the major demolition and removal and such will happen in the day. It is expected to take 2 weeks for the entire building to be down. About a month of clean up and then 2 months for foundation preparation for the new structure.

That is as far as the schedule went.

11 April 2000: Latest Photos (taken 7 April 2000)
Thanks to Andrew for the photos

Epcot CMs are reporting heavy construction equipment being assembled behind horizons.

On March 29, a fence is being built around the horizons Pavilion. It starts from the back trees and is heading around to the grassy nolle near Test Track. I asked a manager when the big day was and he replied April 17. Rumor has it, a barricade of some sort may be in place by the morning of the 30. That has yet to be confirmed.

Also, a Test Track Maintenance Facility has broken ground just behind Test
Track and is scheduled to open August of 2000.

Recent guest reports are reporting there are still no visible signs of demolition. Backstage the removal process is still underway.

I was in Epcot today and I saw no construction or demolition going on.
No signs of any activity could be seen from within the park.

Recent reports from Epcot indicate that horizons is still being prepared for total or partial demolition. The interior show elements and ride vehicles continue to be removed. No sign of anything happening from the exterior yet. We have no information yet as to what whether the March 17th clearance date will be met, or if it will push back into the next couple of weeks.

Mission Space is being put onto a frantic development schedule. horizons is being cleared for demolition on March 17th 2000. Some set pieces are being preserved, and some animatronics are being kept for use with other attractions running a similar vintage of AA. A new office trailer has been installed behind Wonder of Life - as the command center for the new attraction.

Walt Disney World is about to boldly go where it has never gone before with a space-exploration attraction that has intrigued NASA.

The Space Pavilion, expected to open at Epcot in 2002 or 2003, would feature a series of interactive exhibits and shows describing space exploration, culminating in a motion-simulator ride similar to what NASA astronauts use to prepare for space flight, according to sources familiar with the project.

Though details are still being worked out, Disney is moving ahead with the $150 million to $200 million project and has already begun preliminary work inside the horizons Pavilion, sources say. horizons, which has been closed for months, depicted the sites, sounds and experiences of the future.

High-level Disney designers met Friday with the director of the Kennedy Space Center to discuss the proposed Space Pavilion. The officials agreed that the project could be "mutually complementary" to both Disney and NASA, said Jim Ball, acting head of public affairs for the Kennedy Space Center.

Disney could benefit by incorporating NASA's latest space technology and astronaut-training methods into the pavilion, while NASA could draw on Disney's extensive marketing power to help promote its space program.

"There's no agreement per se, other than an expression of willingness on our part to see what we can do to help them with this," Ball said.

"Outreach is a very important part of the NASA mission -- to let people know the value of space exploration. . . . Obviously this represents a tremendous opportunity for outreach for NASA."

At the meeting at Cape Canaveral, Disney officials, including Walt Disney World design and engineering vice president Greg Hale, had "preliminary discussions" with Kennedy Space Center director Roy Bridges about the proposed project and NASA's possible role in it, Ball said.

"It was a very positive meeting," Ball said. "Mr. Bridges was very interested in the project and very grateful that we were invited to be involved in this."

While NASA's role hasn't been defined, it's unlikely the agency will be a financial backer for the new pavilion. Disney has already lined up Compaq Computer Corp. of Houston to be a sponsor, sources say. A spokesman for Compaq could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

NASA has worked with Disney on other projects, including showcasing some of its technology at the Land Pavilion at Epcot in the early 1980s and at annual Space Week exhibits at the theme park.

Disney officials would not discuss details of the Space Pavilion or Friday's meeting.

"We are not prepared just yet to talk about that project, and we don't know what we'll do with that space, but I can promise you it will be an out-of-this-world experience," Walt Disney World spokesman Rick Sylvain said.

According to sources, guests would enter the Space Pavilion and pass through a series of high-tech interactive exhibits about space exploration. One section, for example, might feature a show re-creating experiments from an exploration to Mars or the Moon.

After learning about the astronaut-training process and mission preparations, guests would board space pods to experience the main attraction, Mission Space. Modeled on the next generation of space craft, the pods would take passengers on a simulated space mission in which they would experience g-forces and momentary weightlessness.

The story line may tie into the upcoming Disney movie, Mission to Mars, though that and other details may change as the project develops.

Mission Space will add another major e-ticket ride to Epcot, complementing Test Track, the high-speed car ride that opened last year.

It will also be Disney's answer to The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride at Islands of Adventure and the soon-to-open Men In Black ride at Universal Studios Florida, said Peter Stapp, director of operations planning for Baker Leisure Group, an Orlando theme-park consultant.

"It's a matter of theme parks keeping up with each other," Stapp said. "I think Disney is raising the bar to the next level."

PLEASE REALIZE THAT THIS ATTRACTION IS STILL IN THE CONCEPT STAGE AND THIS REPRESENTS ONLY ONE OF MANY PRELIMINARY DESIGNS. THIS COMES FROM A SOURCE WITHIN THE COMPANY, HOWEVER, I CANNOT VERIFY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION.

1. Sponsorship

Compaq/Microsoft- These technology powerhouses will cosponsor the attraction and provide a large majority of the capital required to build the attraction. Compaq and Microsoft have a history of co-sponsorship, where Compaq and Microsoft ads share the same space including the First Union Center home of the Philadelphia Flyers, Sixers, and Wings.

NASA- Though NASA will not provide any financial backing to the attraction they will allow Disney to use their name and depict their training methods and operations. NASA will also provide equipment for some of the attractions key features (see below).

2. Fate of horizons Show Building
The cost of work needed to allow the current building to house the new attraction is so great that it would be cheaper just to demolish the current building and start from scratch. The horizons location however is a definite because management does not want a empty building sitting and decaying.

3. Mission Space
This is the name the main attraction of what will be called simply the Space Pavilion. The main lobby of the building will be much like Wonders of Life. It will include many high tech interactive exhibits, shows, and other attractions. One of the centerpieces of this area will be a short daily video chat with the crew of the International Space Station or the crew of a space shuttle mission. Other items will include a Mars exploration section a show where space experiments are recreated and a display of objects that were invented due to the space program. Several computer simulations will also allow guests to explore the Moon or Mars by taking control of a exploration vehicle. The main attraction УMission SpaceФ will be setup much the way Test Track is. It will take guests through the astronaut training process, mission preparations, and culminate in a simulated launch.

Despite rumors that the horizons building has become unstable, we now have word that a portion of the building may remain, and be extended. The proposed Space attraction will not fit in the current building, so it is either extend the existing building, or build from scratch next to The Land - a decision on which has not yet been made.

3 February 2000: Latest news and rumors - thanks to Ntpadude from our Discussion Board

The primary reason to do away with the ride system and gut the building was to correct problems with building failure and reinforce and correct these problems, then install a new attraction that does not place as much stress that the old ride did. News that is leaking around the cast members is that just this past week, Disney has had some serious setbacks discovering that the building is in fact in worst shape then previously thought, they pulled the Imagineers out of the building and cancelled the cast member preview/walkthroughs because the company fears for their safety! Disney is aggressively attempting to save the building, although there is a appearing to be a strong possibility that they will have no choice but to tear the building down and start over again.

There you have it, horizons was actually closed out of concern for the safety of the guests, had Disney been ready to replace it with a new attraction, work would have begun quickly (like when World of Motion closed), horizons stayed closed 9 months ready to run again at a moments notice because Disney didn't even have a clue as to what to do with the horizons situation, repair, rehab/repair or teardown and replace, one thing they didn't want to get out was that they built a building that is in fact almost ready to collapse under its own weight after 16 years. One backroom rumor is that a Florida sinkhole formed under the building's foundation at some time in 1998 or some type of soil subsidence situation caused the problem.

It's nearly all systems go for Mission Space at Epcot. The shuttle ride, in which guests would experience G-forces, is close to getting final corporate clearance, Disney insiders say. Mission Space would replace Epcot's horizons pavilion and open by 2003.

The rumors continue to fly around the future of horizons. Latest word indicates that the IMAX Omnisphere screens have been removed - which is supported by the fact that horizons is no longer listed on the IMAX website. A post at the Yahoo horizons Tribute Club also states that the building is to be demolished, beginning in the next 2-3 weeks.

Rather surprisingly horizons did not open on New Years Eve for the capacity crowd. If Epcot were planning on reopening horizons this year, New Years Eve was the day to do it. This isn't looking good for the current show. Despite assurances by sources at WDI that the ride and show is still ready for guests, Epcot management just do not want to open it.