NASA at Epcot (Astronauts, too!)

[NASAMan]

Starting tomorrow, Friday Sept. 7, NASA will have a display set up in the Innoventions West corridor (between Character Connection and Club Cool [oh, the alliteration hurts! ]) A quarter scale Orion spacecraft, Ares rocket and other exhibits will be presented along with some educational hands-on activites provided by me and my colleagues. The astronauts from STS-118 will be on hand Monday, Sept. 10, to do some media interviews, talk to students and the public, and dedicate a new plaque at Mission:Space before going over to Magic Kingdom to be Grand Marshals of the "Share a Dream Come True" parade. This will be for just four days, so stop on by Innoventions West and ask for NASAMan!

 

[mousermerf]

Hm.. tempting..

 

[Evo]

Starting tomorrow, Friday Sept. 7, NASA will have a display set up in the Innoventions West corridor (between Character Connection and Club Cool [oh, the alliteration hurts! ]) A quarter scale Orion spacecraft, Ares rocket and other exhibits will be presented along with some educational hands-on activites provided by me and my colleagues. The astronauts from STS-118 will be on hand Monday, Sept. 10, to do some media interviews, talk to students and the public, and dedicate a new plaque at Mission:Space before going over to Magic Kingdom to be Grand Marshals of the "Share a Dream Come True" parade. This will be for just four days, so stop on by Innoventions West and ask for NASAMan!

You mean the "Disney Dreams Come True" parade?

 

[Figment1986]

thanks for telling us, if only it wasnt so short notice.

can't wait for the photos

 

[hack2112]

Merf, I have a strange feeling you'll go. I mean if I was in the area I would stop by...

Oh, and NASAMan, thanks for the info!

 

[RiversideBunny]

Have any astronauts been to Orlando before this?

 

[Moustronaut]

According to NASA's press release about the event on the 10th, the education event will be webcast live at 11:15 EST.

http://www.disneyworld.com/nasa

 

[Moustronaut]

Have any astronauts been to Orlando before this?

I don't know if they've have a specific mission crew visit like this before but former adn current astronauts were there for Mission:Space's opening. They also held an event at Mission:Space with the NASA adminsitrator and other NASA VIPs shortly after the Mars Exploration Rovers landed on Mars.

 

[scpergj]

Starting tomorrow, Friday Sept. 7, NASA will have a display set up in the Innoventions West corridor (between Character Connection and Club Cool [oh, the alliteration hurts! ]) A quarter scale Orion spacecraft, Ares rocket and other exhibits will be presented along with some educational hands-on activites provided by me and my colleagues. The astronauts from STS-118 will be on hand Monday, Sept. 10, to do some media interviews, talk to students and the public, and dedicate a new plaque at Mission:Space before going over to Magic Kingdom to be Grand Marshals of the "Share a Dream Come True" parade. This will be for just four days, so stop on by Innoventions West and ask for NASAMan!

That's cool...just how big would a quarter scale model of an Orion be? I thought it was a pretty big spacecraft. That would be an interesting exhibit, and talking with astronauts would probably make any kid's (and many adults) day!

Kevin

 

[TomorrowlandTyler]

Starting tomorrow, Friday Sept. 7, NASA will have a display set up in the Innoventions West corridor A quarter scale Orion spacecraft, Ares rocket and other exhibits will be presented along with some educational hands-on activites .

Now if we could only have exhibits like this on a permanent basis...

 

[rdour@techminds]

I actually would like to know if they ride M:S. I think that would be cool if only we could get honest reviews straight from people who have actually been in a launch. Especially if it turns out that we really are getting a good experience.

I still say they need to have a day where they really turn that thing up to the full potential and riders sign away their rights to try it out. I think I'd like to experience sustained 2.5 or 3 G. The thing can do it right?

Ryan

 

[Moustronaut]

I actually would like to know if they ride M:S. I think that would be cool if only we could get honest reviews straight from people who have actually been in a launch. Especially if it turns out that we really are getting a good experience.

From our very own website: http://www.wdwmagic.com/space_pavilion.htm
"As part of the grand opening dedication today, astronauts Wally Schirra, Jim Lovell, Buzz Aldrin, Bruce McCandless, Mae Jameson and Guion Bluford Jr. are scheduled to join Michael Eisner, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and Carly Fiorina, chairman and CEO of HP."

I found this quote on Space.com from the time around the grand opening.
"I really enjoyed it and so did the kids," said Rhea Seddon, a former NASA astronaut who flew three shuttle missions. "It sort of gives you that funny feeling in your stomach as you clear the tower. I thought that was quite realistic."

 

[collectspace]

I think that would be cool if only we could get honest reviews straight from people who have actually been in a launch.

Astronauts Dan Barry and Story Musgrave served as consultants to Disney on the design and execution of M:S. Barry told Reuters in 2003 "It felt very familiar."

I still say they need to have a day where they really turn that thing up to the full potential and riders sign away their rights to try it out. I think I'd like to experience sustained 2.5 or 3 G. The thing can do it right?

If you really want to experienced sustained Gs similar to what astronauts feel riding the shuttle, you have several options today. For example, you can ride a centrifuge specifically designed to train space tourism candidates. Or you can get both sustained Gs and no Gs on a Zero-G flight. I can personally recommend both options, though I also enjoyed riding M:S.

By the way, we'll be at Epcot and Magic Kingdom on Monday to cover the STS-118 crew's activities and will have many photos to share afterwards for those unable to be there themselves.

 

[Hoop Raeb]

Thanks for the links! The zero-g flight is a lot less than I thought it would be.