Mission: Space — Brave the Final Frontier at EPCOT!
No doubt you’ve heard it said or seen it plastered on a poster sporting a kitten in a space suit: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
Well, I say forget the moon. I say think bigger. I say, let’s go to Mars.
This might sound a little far-fetched, but don’t forget, we’re in Florida, home of the Kennedy Space Center. But instead of Cape Canaveral, I suggest lauching out of Orlando—at least for this mission.
An epic collaboration between NASA and Disney, EPCOT’s Mission: Space is truly out of this world!
The Future is Now!
With rides like the Carousel of Progress and an entire park section called “Tomorrowland,” it’s obvious Walt Disney enjoyed dreaming about the future just as much as he loved learning about the past.
In 1954, there was a Disneyland television series about the upcoming California theme park, with each episode covering a subject from Fantasyland, Frontierland, or Adventureland. However, Tomorrowland was a little more difficult to adapt, seeing as tomorrow hadn’t happened yet!
Nevertheless, Walt and his crew finally settled on the subject of space travel, creating three television segments about men going into space, to the moon, and to Mars and beyond.1 The project was headed by animator Ward Kimball with input from several notable scientists of the day, like Wernher von Braun.
Always a step ahead of his time, Disney’s episode “Man in Space” aired two years before the launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth, and “Man and the Moon” came out a full fourteen years before the momentous moon landing.
These pictures captured the audience’s imaginations before actual space travel did!
In fact, “Man in Space” was responsible for jump-starting America’s space program. Journalist and historian Jeffery Pepper writes, “President Eisenhower was so impressed with the program that he requested a print of the film to screen for high-ranking Pentagon officials, which was evidently instrumental in kick-starting the country’s space initiatives.”3
Walt was committed to the idea of discovery on a cosmic scale, commenting during an interview: “If I can help through my TV shows…to wake people up to the fact that we’ve got to keep exploring, I’ll do it.”4
Sadly, Walt did not live to see the moon landing or all of the innovations he and his Imagineers predicted (or tried to predict). But when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin touched down on the moon, Wernher von Braun called Ward Kimball to say, “Well, Ward, they’re following our script!”4
More than wishing on a star, Disney had, in a way, landed on the moon.
Affordable Space Travel for the Common Man
The idea of traveling through space like driving across town still belongs to the world of fiction, like in Star Wars, where Obi-Wan Kenobi can just hop in a starfighter and go. But in real life, if you want to go to space, you have to complete grueling training exercises and tests to become an astronaut. (Or, you know, be a billionaire.)
However, with Mission: Space at EPCOT, everybody has the chance to be an astronaut!
Mission: Space opened in 2003, replacing former EPCOT attraction, Horizons. A simulated NASA mission (complete with pre-boarding training and control center queue), the ride initially opened with one mission—Mission Orange. Then, in 2017, it closed for refurbishments and reopened with a second mission—Mission Green.
The question is, which mission should you sign up for?
Mission Space: Orange vs Green
When selecting which queue to take for Mission: Space ride, here’s what you need to know!
Whether you choose Orange or Green, each mission requires four cadets—a navigator, pilot, commander, and engineer. Each guest will have a special task to perform during the ride (a bit like Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run) to ensure a smooth journey as you experience the speed and g-forces of actual space travel!
Mission: Space g-forces are no joke, but the intensity of the experience is determined by the color—Orange for super intense, Green for gentle (but still exhilarating). The location of your mission is different as well, with Orange taking you to Mars and Green orbiting more peacefully around our home planet. Both ride experiences are amazingly fun and visually stunning, so don’t think you’re missing out on anything if you select Mission Green! While more tame in motion, it is no less in quality.
Of course, the reason Mission Green exists in the first place is that Mission Orange is truly that intense. If you were wondering how Mission: Space ride works, the ride is similar to the carnival ride, “Scrambler,” where you’re spun so fast you stick to the wall, even as the floor falls away from your feet. (Long story short, it’s the result of a centrifuge, or spinner, and physics beyond the comprehension of this humble writer.) Mission Orange works the same way, with a powerful centrifuge that spins the ride capsule, with additional motions like tilting and rotating.5
While this complex combo captures the weightless feeling of being in space, it’s also the perfect recipe for motion sickness. If you suffer from motion sickness—like, at all—Mission Orange is not for you. However, if you’ve got a stomach of steel, love thrills, and are at least 44 inches tall, then you’re going to love it!
Mission Green is for those of us who are…motionally challenged. While there is still motion simulation, it’s not as intense, and there’s no spinning, which makes for a family-friendly space endeavor. (The height requirement is only 40 inches!)
During both rides, you’ll be inside of a cramped cabin—much like actual NASA spacecraft —so if small spaces aren’t your thing, that’s also a consideration! A screen provides the visuals of your adventure. Hurtling comets, the moon, and the earth all float past immersing you in your journey to the stars. (Keeping your eyes on the screen is also a key way to avoid motion sickness!)
Whether you ride Orange or go Green, Mission: Space is a breathtaking way to experience our universe like never before.
What would Walt think of Mission: Space? I don’t know how he’d do on Mission Orange, but I think he’d love the concept of propelling people into tomorrow!
Have you ridden Mission: Space? Are you Team Green or Team Orange? Tell us about your experience, and share any tips for a successful ride in the comments below!
You are clear for take-off!
Cover Image
Photo: Unsplash
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