How is Mission: Space???

[Figaro30]

I haven't been to these boards religiously since M:S opened. If somebody could describe the ride to me I'd totally appreciate it.

 

[capegirl]

I'm not the best detail person, but it goes something like this.
Before entering the capsule each crew member is assigned a task according to their position,... navigator,commander,etc... .When you enter, there will be a small screen in front of you, and it is very important to look straight ahead at the screen to avoid getting dizzy. At lift off you will feel pressure in your face and chest as you watch the ship ascend through the clouds.
During the mission crew members will be told when to perform their tasks.
I'm sure you'll have a blast!!!

 

[CaseyJr]

Would a 9 y/o be able to understand and follow the instructions?

 

[safetymom]

I suggest doing a search on Mission Space here on the boards. You will find lots of first hand reports. Yes a 9 year old could follow the instructions. I love the ride. There is always a crowd waiting for this ride.

 

[Figaro30]

Originally posted by capegirl
I'm not the best detail person, but it goes something like this.
Before entering the capsule each crew member is assigned a task according to their position,... navigator,commander,etc... .When you enter, there will be a small screen in front of you, and it is very important to look straight ahead at the screen to avoid getting dizzy. At lift off you will feel pressure in your face and chest as you watch the ship ascend through the clouds.
During the mission crew members will be told when to perform their tasks.
I'm sure you'll have a blast!!!

Thanks so much. I appreciate the info. I"m going to pass on the ride myself as I don't like rides at all...but my husband is definitely going to try it out.

 

[kaygela]

The assignments given are really just to keep you focused ahead looking at the screen. If you don't follow your assignment "correctly", nothing really happens. The computer just takes over. Whether your 9 yr old will enjoys it depends on the individual child. My 8 yr old didn't ride it, and would have hated it if he did. He would have had a hard time with the intensity of the experience. The G forces are very strong and you can also becone somewhat disoriented. On the other hand, my DS16 would have loved it at the age of 8. He's totally different than his brother in that respect.

 

[grimp]

This ride is both a physical and a mind trip. As much as I knew I was being spun around in a centrifuge, once the ride started, I was blasting off and flying through space and never once felt dizzy. This is truly the best ride I have been on in my 60 years. I went 6 times in the course of a 10 day visit. I did not want to go twice in a row as the ride did leave me with a feeling (good, not bad, but unsettled) so I spaced out my rides. This ride is somewhat addictive, as I crave it now.

Once you are settled into a capsule, four accross, the shoulder restraint on, the doors on each side are closed and the panel with "v" shaped monitors, switches and a joystick falls toward you. Air is blowing on your face from a nozzle above your head. You do not notice it because of the rumbling (simulating the firing of the rocket motors) and the constant chatter of the mission controller, but the capsule starts spinning, before the takeoff "5.4.3.2.1". You can see the gantry and the smoke from the rocket engines in your periferal vision. You then blast off which consists of being pushed back in your seat from the acceleration of the rate of spin (you really don't perceive you are spinning) and as you break through the clouds you get the feeling you are rotating just like the Challenger rotates on takeoff. If you pay attention and relax, you can feel the skin on your face being pulled back. You break through the clouds and the centrifuge decelerates which lets you float out of your seat a little. The most intense point of the ride is just before this first deceleration. You then approach the moon to catapult around it and the ride again accelerates. If you move your arms during acceleration, they feel very heavy. There are two buttons on each crew members console which you are instructed to push at varying times during the ride which helps you to focus and really get into the mission. The capsule swings side to side during evasive manuvers to avoid a meteor shower.

As you enter the Martian atmosphere the ride again accelerates but instead of being pushed back in your seat, you are pushed down as the capsule must have been rotated somewhat to change the vector of the g-forces on you.

There is some anticlamatic horozontal flight through canyons before a rough landing on an airstrip on Mars. The ride ends abruptly with no return trip to Earth which I would like to have been part of the ride. Maybe later they will modify it.

We noticed that the lines for Mission Space were always shorter than most other rides and there were a lot more people waiting at the exit to meet family members. Looks like the hype has frightened away some; their misforturne.

 

[Sinclare]

My son (7yo at the time) and I rode it last MNSSHP and loved it!. We didn't have any after effects and he did just fine with pushing the buttons part (not really much to do here, just push the button when it says).

He loved it and we did it several times. It was kind of funny because he said it felt like a magnet pulling him back in the seat

 

[Hallo from Sweden]

Would a 9 y/o be able to understand and follow the instructions?

Oh yes !

My 9-yearold son took it all in and he doesn´t even speak a lot of english. He loved the ride and did it over and over again and he can sometimes be a little reluctant to rollercoasters so he´s not the tuffest kid around.
But I think he just loved the "space " theme, very exciting.

Me on the other hand (he´s middleaged mother) did not like the ride, I get motionsick very easily and I still don´t understand how I could read all the warnings along the way and STILL believe my children who kept saying, " it´s allright mom it´s just fun !!"

Oh yes, very funny... I had to put all my concentration on not to get motionsick and I did feel bad an hour after.

Annika

 

[Figaro30]

Hallo from Sweden:

Thanks for the comprehensive description. I'll be sure to read it to my husband as I know he wants to try this out.

I, on the other hand will definitely be skipping this ride. I don't like things that move at all. I went on Dinosaur a few years ago and freaked...I hated it. I don't remember any of the ride because I had my eyes shut the entire time praying for it to be over. It was way too jerky for me.

I haven't even been on test track yet....which I'm trying to get up the nerve to go on. I"m scared. LOL

 

[CaseyJr]

How many "capsules" are running at a time if there are only 4 people per capsule? IOW, how many people does the ride accomodate?

 

[dgaston]

I hope I'm not messing this up. CMs have corrected my language when I asked the 'How many question?'

There are four colored teams. Each color has 10 teams of four. That means there are 160 astronaut trainees at any given time. The experience lasts about 5 minutes.

The CMs didn't like me using the word 'centrifuge' and corrected me to simulator or capsule!!!

If I have messed this up, I'm sure a more accurate DISer will correct me!