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Terrifyingly Realistic Shuttle Simulator Opens in Florida
Just in time for summer, the Kennedy Space Center in Florida has launched what just might be the hottest ride found at any amusement park. And when I say launch, I do indeed mean launch.
NASA has put their best brains together to come up with an attraction that will blow the pants off of nearby Disney World; a shuttle launch simulator.
Now this might not sound all that exciting. When I first heard about it I pictured a cheesy shuttle mock-up with hydraulics that shimmied and bumped you around to simulate the launch into outer space. Chris Haslam, writing for the Sunday Times (UK), however, was one of the first journalists to step into the simulator and according to his report, it sounds like he nearly wet his pants.
Haslam explains how NASA has expertly replicated the seven million pounds of thrust experienced by the shuttle to the point of your head being forced back, your insides feeling queasy, and my very favorite quote, "your jowls are wobbling like a fat girl on a tumble dryer."
Throw in some realistic sound effects and a TV screen that replicates the view seen by the astronauts, and you got a very cool experience indeed.
And, instead of paying the Russians $20 million to fly into outer space, you've now just done it for $38.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kit May 29th 2007 3:11PM
This should make everyone want to go to Space Camp!
Leian May 29th 2007 5:10PM
Seeing as how I can get serious vertigo from an Imax theater, I don't think there is any way in hell I could do this - which sucks, because it sounds very very cool. This reporter might "almost" have wet my pants - in my case, there'd be no doubt it would happen, even knowing it's not really happening.
I'm such a wuss...but it's good to know for the kids (I'm sure there are age limits...)
http://childofleisure.com
janette minkoves Jun 24th 2007 10:40PM
It may look as "cool" but no ride where someone can die inside should be ever allowed. Millions of people can have an unknown physical defficiency as the little boy or the girl that recently died after riding this shuttle simulator or MGM's Aerosmith. This one NASA has participated in its project has nothing to do with a shuttle launch. In fact you enter inside a revolving room that moves in circular way in a very high speed and your brain keeps shaking in the same way. All five people from different ages in my group felt nausea and dizziness after the ride. It is a shame that Disneyworld lost its concern with their visitors and the basic idea of Walt Disney that was to create a fantasy land. In trying to defeat its competitor Universal Studios, they have become a place where safety is not important any more. When did we use to hear about fatal incidents at Disneyworld in the past, or when did you hear of any death caused by a Universal Studios ride? There must be a limit for everything in this world and I believe Disneyworld has reached it!