Spaceship in Spaceship Earth

[marni1971]

Mission:Earth is in. I`m looking through all the pics and enhancing certain areas. At first glance, I`ve found the `94 laser. The core looks too small for the 2nd satellite to have been in, and for other reasons - though the I beam mentioned a while back looks interesting since it now supports nothing. No satellites up there now. Tomorrows Child descent tube mirrors removed, and at least where I can see they should be there are no screens or mirrors left either. No sign of the red strip supports. The diorama peppers ghost projections do come from above the track, Merfs projection mystery looks like a mis-aligned or off center projection; the AA floor is very steeply angled towards the projector. A CM left a drink cup lying around, it`s very dusty and the `94 rehab used all of the chicken wire in the northern hemisphere.

 

[marni1971]

Okay... PICTURES ARE UP.

To respect the forums bandwidth (and thread length (!)) I`ve created an album for them in my WDWmagic album; http://photoalbums.wdwmagic.com/showgallery.php?cat=3533&ppuser=6710

It`d be an idea to post notes in this thread, not on individual pictures. Keep all the madness in one place. All credit for the pics in this album to Jeff Lange and epcotrob. As you can also see, all Omnimovers infront of and behind them were free of other guests. That was part of the plan too.

To whet your appetite, here `s a little composite I created earlier...
(it`s a composite 20 years apart - not what you can see today!)

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

I truly believe the big satelite was IN the shaft. The comparison I did of the 80s flash picture and 2007 enhanced pictures clearly shows in my opinion that the flash picture happened to capture the shapes of the shaft wall. Even the enhanced satelite photo made by Marni shows in the backdrop the sound panneled walls.

The big satelite was not as big as we may think or want to think it was. The mechanical arm holding it was merely a prop in my opinion to fit in with the whole space station theme. The satelite was held up by cables from a beam that goes across the shaft that is still there today...and now holds nothing.

 

[marni1971]

^ my thoughts exactly. The prop arm must have dead-ended into the wall of the core, somewhere below and to the left of the cone/cylinder, and I guess the redundant I-Beam in the photo`s in my album used to be surrounded by the bulky shaped object in the original flash photo, with the support wires tied to it.

 

[PBarton]

Brilliant!

Top marks to all individuals concerned with this project!

:sohappy:

:king:

 

[joel_maxwell]

martin, im curious about this laser and shield type panel below it. What purpose did this panel (expanding over the track) serve?

secondly, where is the "Graphics Generator"? by seeing the frame/skeleton, i would assume that it is right on the bend between the dioramas and the city model? could this be the lighting generator for the fiber optics in the city model?

 

[marni1971]

The shield panel... no idea. As I said, the wlding and frame look more like an add-on than an original fitting, and it`s too weak for any satellite involvement. It`s also in the wrong place for the red strip lights (incidentally I didn`t see any evidnce of these). Then I thought a tray to catch the mist drips, but it`s in the wrong place. Best guess is it was a shield to stop the laser shining either directly or indirectly at guests. I have no idea why it would be here to do this though. Unless.... it was a large cone-shaped beam (or could worse-case-scenario reset itself to produce one) and the bottom of the cone would shine on this part of the track. Maybe? Any guest looking up at the wrong moment would get any eyeful of class IIIb radiation; the laywers would have no contest. Again, maybe.

The fx generator non-spinny things or whatever WDI would call them are on the right, after the core and before the diorama. All that`s there is a starfield I think; either it`s an over the top firbe optic box, or something else not in use.

 

[joel_maxwell]

The shield panel... no idea. As I said, the wlding and frame look more like an add-on than an original fitting, and it`s too weak for any satellite involvement. It`s also in the wrong place for the red strip lights (incidentally I didn`t see any evidnce of these). Then I thought a tray to catch the mist drips, but it`s in the wrong place. Best guess is it was a shield to stop the laser shining either directly or indirectly at guests. I have no idea why it would be here to do this though. Unless.... it was a large cone-shaped beam (or could worse-case-scenario reset itself to produce one) and the bottom of the cone would shine on this part of the track. Maybe? Any guest looking up at the wrong moment would get any eyeful of class IIIb radiation; the laywers would have no contest. Again, maybe.

The fx generator non-spinny things or whatever WDI would call them are on the right, after the core and before the diorama. All that`s there is a starfield I think; either it`s an over the top firbe optic box, or something else not in use.

ok, it just looks so out of place.... just floating there. it is screaming to be the red strips since it does have the same shape, but like you said, in the wrong place i presume.

ok, i just viewed that as on part of the decent that is flat and not part of the actual decent (angle of the vehicles). huh. so this shows that the complete inner skeleton wasnt covered by the same material that 180/top is covered by. so if i understand you..... you pass through core/ under the cone, start to bend around heading true north right before the dioramas and it is on that bend? due to memory fade... is the geosphere model after the city scene when you make the turn and start heading south again? wait.. yes, since the fiber optic network from the city scene wraps around the model.

with that said though, in part of you description on the pics, you said that you thought right behind the curtain was the true outer wall.... meaning the wall between the decent and the first accent correct.

*picking it apart*

 

[jeffb]

Really amazing pictures - fascinating

 

[beanboon]

Someone said earlier that they thought the satellite arm connected to the still intact shuttle piece that the girl was/is in. There's a nice plug for it to connect to (one picture shows detail of this connection point) and it would make sense for that arm to have been attached to something in the show (robotic arms don't just float in space).

^ my thoughts exactly. The prop arm must have dead-ended into the wall of the core, somewhere below and to the left of the cone/cylinder, and I guess the redundant I-Beam in the photo`s in my album used to be surrounded by the bulky shaped object in the original flash photo, with the support wires tied to it.

 

[marni1971]

ok, it just looks so out of place.... just floating there. it is screaming to be the red strips since it does have the same shape, but like you said, in the wrong place i presume.

I thought that for a moment. The red strips were defiantly above and behind where the classroom is today. You faced them straight on (symetrically) as you left the core under the cylinder.

so this shows that the complete inner skeleton wasnt covered by the same material that 180/top is covered by...

Yep. The padding on the core and stair walls I assume was sound deadening. You would need it on any flat surface in such a vast open space. Worst still, in any dome you get a very strange accoustic effect; stand dead center amd any sounds around you virtually dissappear. I`ve had it once at work. So strange. The padding (and projection tiles) would help allieviate any such effect.

..is the geosphere model after the city scene when you make the turn and start heading south again? wait.. yes, since the fiber optic network from the city scene wraps around the model.

Yep; the Geosphere model is on the final descent, after the city.

with that said though, in part of you description on the pics, you said that you thought right behind the curtain was the true outer wall.... meaning the wall between the decent and the first accent correct.

Here I believe you are in the connection between the Geosphere and the external building (north Earthstation - load/unload) - one of the `legs` is to the other side of the track, and the ascent and descent tracks have spread out here (they deviate when leaving the Geosphere) leaving enough space. I dare say between the ascent and descent tunnels are utility lines etc. Even in the final descent (and initial ascent) tubes there is at least a tracks width of empty space between the track and the wall. At the 52ft level (where the tracks are level) there is twice as much space for pre and post show exhibits.

*picking it apart*

Go for it! That`s what it`s all about.

 

[Epcotrob]

The shield panel was used as a block to prevent the laser from shining into the guests eyes as you passed under. The odd shape of it is because of the decent and curvature of the track in the core. Never once did the laser hit you but was all around you from the start of the decent to the exit of the ship area. While Jeff was taking these pics I was taking my own with my small point and shoot. I am sending those to Martin tonight. I got good shots of the maintenance bay in the 180 other misc stairways, zone markers and other odd things.

WOW 50 posts for me.

 

[marni1971]

I am sending those to Martin tonight..

BIG Grins

And happy 50 posts! :wave:

 

[joel_maxwell]

thanks martin.... yey, i think you are right about the decent stuff and the spacing between tunnels.

this is going to come off ungrateful of the pics that were taken, and let me say im not at ALL, i saved all of them and nice work guys, but im curious like bean, i guess the guys were surely focused on that core area. i wish they would have gotten a little of 180 top with the SUPER flash. but the graphic box thingy with skeleton in the background sure makes up for that. :animwink:

 

[joel_maxwell]

The shield panel was used as a block to prevent the laser from shining into the guests eyes as you passed under. The odd shape of it is because of the decent and curvature of the track in the core. Never once did the laser hit you but was all around you from the start of the decent to the exit of the ship area. While Jeff was taking these pics I was taking my own with my small point and shoot. I am sending those to Martin tonight. I got good shots of the maintenance bay in the 180 other misc stairways, zone markers and other odd things.

WOW 50 posts for me.

*read post above* i should have known there would have been more. nice work guys. looking forward to it.

if this continues, tshirts will be made with Mission: Earth on the front with created logo and mystery solved on the back.

 

[coastermaster83]

BIG Grins

And happy 50 posts! :wave:

Ok first of all great photos in the album, But what I find funnest of all and I dont know if anyone has said this yet but in photo number sDSC_9384 in your album of photos in the top right corner is a classic medium Disney soda cup. I just found that to be interest and wonder how it got there :shrug:.

 

[Vernonpush]

I am wondering what this carrier on an I-beam traveller track is/was used for.:shrug:

 

[Eyorefan]

Love the pictures. You guys are so cool.

Ok first of all great photos in the album, But what I find funnest of all and I dont know if anyone has said this yet but in photo number sDSC_9384 in your album of photos in the top right corner is a classic medium Disney soda cup. I just found that to be interest and wonder how it got there :shrug:.

I think you're right about the cup, and it looks like there is a second one in the lower right. What gives with people leaving their stuff everywhere? Makes me wonder if it was a CM joke or something.

 

[joel_maxwell]

Ok first of all great photos in the album, But what I find funnest of all and I dont know if anyone has said this yet but in photo number sDSC_9384 in your album of photos in the top right corner is a classic medium Disney soda cup. I just found that to be interest and wonder how it got there :shrug:.

ahhh, some CM must have met his other fellow CM for a make-out session and..... wait, i just gave away the coolest place for a secret rondevu.

no seriuosly, i wonder how current is that merchandise/cup design so we could see how long it has been up there. it would be great if it was a few years old.

 

[joel_maxwell]

I am wondering what this carrier on an I-beam traveller tack is/was used for.:shrug:

i saw that as well and i think that the pulley look-a-like is a light bulb. weird. yes. but im not sure. get the "master" on it a.k.a. Martin