posted April 04, 2007 09:37 AM               

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Guests 'Go Vertical' on Memorial Day Weekend...
Shuttle Launch Experience: Unprecedented Attraction Premiers at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex unveils the first interactive visitor experience of its kind — Shuttle Launch Experience — lifting off this Memorial Day weekend. This premier attraction officially opens Friday, May 25; the culmination of three years of development by veteran Space Shuttle astronauts, under the guidance of NASA. Shuttle Launch Experience will send visitors through the sensations of launching into Earth's orbit from Kennedy Space Center, the birthplace of American space exploration, just east of Orlando.

The design team, veteran NASA astronauts and renowned attraction experts created this authentic experience, deploying sophisticated motion technology, special effects seats and high fidelity visual and audio presentations. This unique-in-the-world experience immerses visitors in the sights, sounds and sensations of launching into space fully vertical.

The launch begins at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 2007 with a colorful and patriotic parade of American and Space Shuttle mission flags carried proudly by young people from Florida and across the country. Distinguished speakers include Florida Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, Kennedy Space Center Director Bill Parsons and Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Chief Operating Officer Daniel LeBlanc. First Space Shuttle Commander John Young and Pilot Robert Crippen will cut the ribbon and lead the way for 44 astronauts to take the inaugural launch of Shuttle Launch Experience. Visitors then embark on Shuttle Launch Experience at noon, becoming the first guests to experience the thrill of a Space Shuttle's rush to Earth's orbit.

On Saturday, May 26, the launch culminates with Mannheim Steamroller live in concert onsite at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex at 9:00 p.m. The Grammy Award-winning band, founded by Chip Davis in the early 70s, has sold more than 18 million albums worldwide.

"We're thrilled to celebrate the culmination of this phenomenal $60 million project by unveiling Shuttle Launch Experience to the public, and inviting them to feel what the astronauts have felt, and see what they've seen — first-hand," remarked Daniel LeBlanc, Chief Operating Officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. "Not only will they experience the thrill of launching into space, they will marvel at the spectacular view of Earth from space, through state-of-the-art digital technology."

Shuttle Launch Experience combines the detailed accounts of astronaut experiences with the expertise of premier design engineers to produce a true-to-life experience unique to visitor attractions around the world. The technical highlights include an amazingly realistic simulation of the space shuttle's eight and a half-minute ascent into orbit, custom-designed crew cabins with unprecedented vertical range, high-definition audiovisual effects, and advanced seating effects to maximize the sense of realism.

Along with the NASA and Delaware North Parks & Resorts team, operators of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, attraction experts have designed and engineered Shuttle Launch Experience into the most realistic launch simulation ever created. Shuttle Launch Experience is designed by BRC Imagination Arts, who also designed the Apollo/Saturn V Center which opened in 1997 at the Visitor Complex. BRPH Companies Inc. serves as the architect and construction manager. The crew cabin simulator fabrication is by Oceaneering and the crew cabin concept designer and engineer is The Wheel Thing, Inc. Technomedia Solutions is providing audio, visual and show control. HW Davis Construction is the general contractor of the facility.

Shuttle Launch Experience is financed in part through a Bank of America loan arranged and managed by Space Florida, the principal organization charged with fostering the growth of Florida's Space industry by the State of Florida.

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posted May 24, 2007 07:26 AM               

My family and I attended the preview for annual pass holders last night. There was a good size crowd but everyone moved easily through the turnstiles and security.

Due to the size of the crowd, attendees were given either a pink or green bracelet. The pink ones let you ride between 7pm and 8pm and the pink ones between 8pm and 9pm. Between 9 and 10pm anyone could ride.

Dinner was offered free of charge and was catered by Sonny's Bar-B-Que Restaurant. We elected to eat before we rode.

When we approached the "simulator" (do not call it a "ride"- "rides" are what they have in Orlando) we were instructed to place our items into a locker. They don't want F.O.D. to injure anyone. For those unaware of this acronym it stands for Foreign Object Debris. Things like hats, sunglasses, purses, etc. We then started up the gangway of the "gantry" that wound back and forth until we got inside. There are TV monitors with comments from shuttle astronauts speaking about their experiences.

Note: There are 4 crew modules that hold 44 people each. Although only two were being used last night. One is being finished and another was due to be put into service NLT June 4th. So lines will move pretty quickly.

When you enter the building you are in a briefing area. Charlie Bolden is the "simulator" host. Broadcast on two large video monitors which are attached to two "RMS" arms Charlie explains what the flight crew goes through before launch, how the ET and SRB's work and what the countdown is like. The lighting and fog venting off of the vehicle create excellent effects. At the end of the briefing you enter the area where the simulators are located. Two to the left and two to the right. There are 7 doors along each. Door number 1 is for the front row of the simulator. My son-in-law and I were in row 2. There is a VIP Viewing Room where folks who cannot experience the simulator or those who opt out at the last minute go into to watch. My wife and daughter went in there.

Just as we are about to enter the module, we are told that it is out of service. We found out later there was an issue with the payload bay doors. The "crew" to our left entered their module and we were put into their line as next to go.

When it is your turn you enter the module and take your seat. (A low and very shallow seat for those of us with generous backsides.) You are instructed to strap in with your seat belt and each row is checked to ensure they are all latched. Then the fun begins.

Charlie is back on the screen and explains how this is a special crew module for the payload bay. He says your orbiter is already on the pad, fueled up and ready to go and now you have to get vertical too. An illustration of the module tilting up to 90 degrees is shown as you are tilted back. Now the shallow seat doesn't matter much as you are on your back. There are grab bars available to use and as the main engines light and you feel the "twang" you find yourself using them.

At liftoff you honestly feel what we've all seen on the onboard cameras of the flight deck crew shaking and being jolted in their seats. The engineering of this simulator is incredible. A hint: raise your head off the seat head rest so you don't get too blurry a vision.

The seats are specially engineered so that when you throttle back to pass through Max-Q and then throttle up - you feel it. When MECO happens you pitch forward (you're actually lowering back don slowly) and you feel that flushed -light-headed feeling like you've just become weightless. The view of Earth when the payload bay doors open is as breathtaking as "The Dream Is Alive" IMAX film.

When you descend to exit you are walking down a spiraling ramp with a star field above and a view of Earth as if you were looking through the big window in the Destiny Lab. Along the handrails are placques marking each of the crews and missions of the shuttle program. Then of course you exit through the gift shop.

Now some notes of constructive criticism.

If they want people to shop remind them to take out their credit cards or money from their purses when they have to place them in the lockers prior to entering.

I know DNPS just conducted a job fair to be ready for the summer season. But train your people. The cashier couldn't answer my question about the availability of a Shuttle Launch Experience patch. He looked at me like he didn't know what I was talking about. This kind of lack of knowledge has happened in the main gift shop as well. The employees have a responsibility to know what they have even if they can't take the time to learn about the difference between Shuttle and ISS crew patches. They are there to assist the public.

And I know they are going to be busy for the foreseeable future- they are going to work a lot of hours - so do not bring your bad mood to work. You are there to make your guests feel welcome.

All in all a fantastic experience and I look forward to going back again and again.

posted May 25, 2007 08:01 AM               

(This same stage will be used to host the Manheim Steamroller concert on Saturday.)

posted May 25, 2007 08:02 AM               

Arriving on orbit, the payload bay doors open to a stunning reveal.

posted May 25, 2007 09:45 AM               

I'm regretting not taking any photos on the inside now! :-)

I must also say, I had a personal hope of getting to take some photos in the rocket garden at night. I wasn't quite as prepared as I would have liked, and they were closing when I went over there, but it was a very nice feeling to have it mostly to myself at night for a few moments.

Also of note, the Gemini Titan is being refurbished and has been removed from the garden.

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-Ben

posted May 25, 2007 04:59 PM               

Astronauts attending: John Young, Bob Crippen, Jack Lousma, Hank Hartsfield, Story Musgrave, John Fabian, Norm Thagard, Guy Bluford, Hoot Gibson, Bruce McCandless, Mike Mullane, Jon McBride, Loren Shriver, Don Williams, Jeff Hoffman, John Creighton, John-David Bartoe, Charlie Bolden, Bob Cenker, Bob Springer, Mark Lee, John Blaha, Pierre Thuot, Sam Gemar, Roy Bridges, Bruce Melnick, Andy Allen, Rich Clifford, Rick Searfoss, Bill Gregory, Sam Durrance, Kevin Kregel, Fred Leslie, Roger Crouch, Winston Scott, Greg Linteris, Buzz Aldrin and Al Worden.

posted May 26, 2007 09:20 PM               

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Originally posted by BobbyA:
Didn't they invite any female astronauts?

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posted May 26, 2007 09:23 PM               

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Originally posted by tegwilym:
So did that group say it was realistic feeling?

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posted May 27, 2007 06:32 PM               

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Originally posted by Rob Joyner:
Were there any astronauts conducting autograph signings after the 'landing'?

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posted May 28, 2007 10:24 AM               

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Originally posted by Blackarrow:
Would a truly accurate simulation of a shuttle launch not have to involve high G-forces (at least 3G) and wouldn't that have to involve a centrifuge?

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posted May 28, 2007 03:52 PM               

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Originally posted by Blackarrow:
Would a truly accurate simulation of a shuttle launch not have to involve high G-forces (at least 3G) and wouldn't that have to involve a centrifuge?

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posted May 28, 2007 08:04 PM            

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
The technology employed by the Shuttle Launch Experience, although not a centrifuge, does create the sensation of increased g-forces, complete with the feeling that the skin on your face is being pulled back and that you are being pressed into your seat. And that's to say nothing of the experience following MECO...

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posted May 28, 2007 08:36 PM               

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Originally posted by Blackarrow:
And even if you can fool the brain, how do you fool the skin? Sorry for sounding a bit negative - I just want to know how they do it!

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SPOILER ALERT

The Shuttle Launch Experience uses the combination of a motion simulator platform that can pitch forward and back with seats that can kick, rumble and that feature air bladders that inflate and deflate. Acoustic energy is also employed to deliver the full launch experience.

To recreate the sensation of increased g's, SLE riders are pitched on their backs (at increasing angles but never at a true 90 degrees, part of the mind fooling the body) while the chairs rapidly kick forward and back, creating the sense of acceleration (and the reaction of one's skin being taught back). The air bladders gradually deflate, giving riders the feeling that they are being pressed back into their seat, while acoustic and lighting effects trick the mind into perceiving forward motion.

To create the feeling of weightlessness, the platform pitches further back just before MECO and then rapidly pitches forward to a negative angle as the bladders in the seat inflate. The end effect is the rider sliding forward in their seat, while the blood that has pooled in their head (while on their backs) now is pulled back down by gravity, giving a similar lightheaded sensation that astronauts describe upon reaching orbit. The effect is further enhanced by the platform rocking back and forth, extending the sense that the rider is floating.

END SPOILER ALERT

Some of the same techniques are employed by NASA's own simulators for training shuttle astronauts.

posted May 29, 2007 05:35 PM               

In regards to the ride-component of each, SLE is a more violent experience, in the sense that it rattles and rumbles with much more force than does M:S. On the other hand, M:S has the tendency to effect the inner ear and balance system more so than SLE, due to the fact that it actually spins. SLE seems longer in duration though both have roughly the same ride time.

posted May 30, 2007 09:32 PM               

My understanding is that it is included with your KSC admission.

posted May 31, 2007 08:14 AM               

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Originally posted by capcom9:
Can you do the simulator as many times as you like while you're there, or are you limited to one launch only per admission ticket?

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posted August 11, 2007 03:58 PM               

As for myself, I have a Ph.D. in physiology and I completed a postdoc in neuroscience with experience in virtual reality and sensory perception. I have experienced over 90 minutes of weightlessness on the Vomit Comet.

I was pleasantly impressed with SLE! I highly recommend the ride to anyone. I don't think that people prone to motion sickness would have a significant problem with this ride.

About the launch, there was a LOT more shaking and vibration on the SLE than on the MB. I think that makes this a more realistic simulation of a space shuttle launch. I was grinning widely during the whole ride!

I also enjoyed the effect of throttling - there was a pretty effective sensation of acceleration and deceleration.

Most surprising was the effect of weightlessness. I actually felt like I was floating away from my seat for several seconds!

Importantly, the SLE is not an overly Disney-fied version of a space shuttle launch. The premise is that you are experiencing a ride on a space shuttle simulator with a NASA flight crew at the controls.

I give SLE a thumbs up.