Mission Space wimps out at 1.5G's!

[erikthewise]

In a report by Len Testa on the official opening media event for Mission Space, (http://wdwig.com/flash.htm) it is mentioned that Mission Space only reaches a maximum acceleration of 1.5G's. (An actual shuttle launch produces an acceleration of 3G's.) This means that if you weigh 100, you would briefly feel like you weigh 150 on this ride.

Given that you're sitting in a padded seat with restraint, that's not bad at all. I'm ready to go! Let's light this candle!!

(Unless I'm horribly mistaken, Len Testa is a programmer for the Unofficial Guide and a participant on these boards.)

 

[2tinksmom]

One of the local Houston newsmen rode MS yesterday with an astronaut from the Space Program. They had a camera with them inside and it was fun to watch their faces. They both loved it and the astronaut said it was very realistic except for the amount of time you are under the g-force. At the end of the ride, the reporter said, "Houston, we DON'T have a problem here!" Anyway, I READY, READY, READY!!!!

 

[snuggles]

1.5 G's was plenty for me! It was hard enough to lift my arm to push the buttons. Don't think I could take 3G's!

 

[mommie2angels]

I agree Snuggles. I don't know if I could have taken anymore either. I wish that would take pictures so we could see ourselves. When I saw the new cover of the Epcot brochure I thought maybe they were doing that now.

 

[BrianD]

Yep, it's probably at about the max it could be to be a major attraction for many people to enjoy. If it were much worse, you would be hearing about a lot more people having "issues" (if you know what I mean) with the ride.

MISSION: Space is like nothing I've ever been on before and is now my favorite attraction at WDW.

 

[katerkat]

Only 1.5Gs?? DH is going to be so disappointed!

 

[dgaston]

It still feels impressive. It's a great attraction.

 

[jdads2]

I'd be interested to find out how many G's you get from other rides. That's probably the best way to get a feeling for the ride before your "mission". Anyone have information on that?

 

[caribbeanme]

hey all!

mommie2angels:

my local radio station posted a short 1:20 min. video of one of the morning radio jocks riding mission space...the camera is focused on his face, and it cuts off as soon as he starts pushing buttons, but you can hear some of the background audio and see his reactions. he's blubbering in spanish, by the way

http://www.lamega.fm/mission/dia1.htm

you need windows media player to see the video. just click on 56k if you have a dialup/modem connection, or the 256k if you have a broadband/high speed connection.

they might post more photos and videos here:

http://www.lamega.fm/index/missionspace.html

in the next few days.

enjoy!

 

[JamesD]

The Tower of Terror is listed at 1.3 Gs, but it probably lasts longer than Mission: Space.
The Rock 'n Roller Coaster pulls something like 4-5 Gs, but that's for a very short time.\

 

[fklhou]

I have heard that Disney toned down the ride a bit. My wife and I rode it over Labor Day and had a great time. The takeoff sequence was great.

 

[chrisp]

It FEELS like more than 1.5 - it was fantastic - it really doesn't need more than that. (and we are rollercoaster fans)

 

[erikthewise]

I doubt that RnR pulls 4 or 5 G's; that's getting into jet pilot territory. But the Travel Channel shows on thrill coasters occasionally mention G's. My memory is not real clear, but I think 3G's is not unusual on recently built coasters. There may have been a mention of one that reaches 4G's. But on coasters it's of short duration, not as prolonged as with a centrifuge ride like Mission Space.

 

[Cindy B]

1.5 G's is quite puny actually.. many coasters are much higher than that... and much more thrilling. The takeoff sequence at Mission Space should be much longer, and more thrilling... its sort of boring after you rode it a few times.

 

[wdwguide]

I find that quite hard to believe, having done a bit of stunt flying when I was in my teens. I would have put Mission: SPACE at 2 or 2.5 g's peak. Still, knowing that it's 1.5 g's only doesn't make it a worse ride.

 

[lentesta]

Hey folks,

I spoke with Guy Bluford (Bio: http://space.about.com/cs/formerastronauts/a/guionbluford.htm), NASA Astronaut and veteran of four shuttle flights, on this very topic, on Wednesday at the press event. Guy seems to think that M:S pulls about 1.5 g's. He said, if I'm quoting him correctly, that the shuttle pulls about 3 g's max, around 6 minutes into flight. Guy said that at 3 g's, it's difficult to breathe and you find it difficult to move your arms and legs.

Testing this, I rode M:S later and found that I could move my arms at will throughout the entire flight sequence. I also had no difficulty breathing. I'll do a full review of M:S later (and I'll have a giveaway of all the loot we got, too), but I think it's probably about 1.5 g's for now.

Len

 

[Micca]

How long does the ride last?

 

[katerkat]

I just asked the husband, and he said the centerfuge jet pilots and astronauts do is up to 8Gs. He doesn't think the shuttle pulls only 3Gs because he's done 6.5 in his trainer. Maybe it's negative vs. positive Gs? I know one is stronger than the other!

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by katerkat
I just asked the husband, and he said the centerfuge jet pilots and astronauts do is up to 8Gs. He doesn't think the shuttle pulls only 3Gs because he's done 6.5 in his trainer.

For an explanation of G force that katerkat mentioned see:

http://www.machinedesign.com/ASP/vi...leId=56322&strSite=MDSite&Screen=CURRENTISSUE

It also lists Mission: Space closer to 2.5 G's. in fact almost everything I have been able to find on M:S lists it as around 2.5 G's. I could lift my arms but for a few seconds the pressure in my chest made it hard to breathe.

 

[dejr_8]

The negative or positive aspect of g forces is in relation to the individual. A positive G force pushes you back (acceleration) and a negative G forces pulls you forward (deceleration). Neither is stronger than the other.

The shuttle does only reach 3 g's during liftoff. I believe the mercury, gemini and apollo capsules reached into the 6-7 range. The shuttle was designed to only reach "low" g forces to make it a launch platform that made space assessable to more people not just high trained astronauts/figher pilots/test pilots.