Aug. 15, 2003

— The excitement and rush of rocketing into space has come to Walt Disney World's Epcot with the opening today (Aug. 15) of Mission: SPACE to the public.

Park guests who "accept the mission" will engage in an immersive experience that launches them on a simulated space adventure, from liftoff to the sensations of traveling though outer space on a mission to Mars.

The Mission: SPACE attraction is a collaboration between Disney Imagineers and HP inventors, which is designed to capture the imagination of riders who are fascinated by the courage, skill and daring of human spaceflight.

"The combination of creative and entertainment magic of Disney and the technology of HP create an experience our guests can get nowhere else in the world," said Al Weiss, president of operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, in a statement. "Epcot is the perfect setting, continuing the park's dedication to the explorer in all of us."

Mission: SPACE is the most advanced attraction created by Disney to date. Walt Disney Imagineering, working with in association with former NASA advisors, astronauts and scientists, developed Mission: SPACE to become the first ride system to take guests straight up in simulated flight.