Moon Missions: The 29 missions that the United States and the Soviet Union sent to the moon between 1959 and 1976 are each designated on the moon sphere in the Planetary Plaza of Mission: SPACE.
The Right Red: Nearly 100 shades of red were mocked up before Imagineers decided on the color of the red planet that dominates the dramatic façade of Mission: SPACE.
How BIG Is It? Jupiter, at 16 feet in diameter, is the biggest celestial body in the Planetary Plaza of Mission: SPACE. Earth is 10 feet in diameter and the moon is 12 feet in diameter. (As they exist in our galaxy, Earth is 7,926 miles in diameter; the moon is 2,160 miles in diameter and Jupiter is 88,700 miles in diameter.)
How Sweet It Is: It would take 13,136,640 jellybeans to fill the Earth sphere in Planetary Plaza; 22,702,080 to fill the moon sphere and 53,809,920 to fill the Jupiter sphere.
Astronaut Jobs: In Mission: SPACE each guest performs a role vital to the mission -- commander, pilot, navigator or engineer. Here are some legendary astronauts that have performed those same roles:
Commander:
Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11
Jim Lovell, Apollo 13
Alan Shepard, Apollo 14
Pilot:
John Glenn, Friendship 7
Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11
Engineer (Mission Specialist):
Dr. Sally Ride, STS 7
Looking Ahead: Guests travel in the X-2 rocket on their mission to Mars. The design of the rocket is based on advanced propulsion technology, which could conceivably take astronauts into deep space in the future.
Futures Past: Close inspection of the Gravity Wheel reveals the logo for the one-time Epcot attraction Horizons affixed to the hub of the wheel. Horizons, which was located on the site of Mission: SPACE, featured a look at plausible future habitats, including ... space!
Yes Man: Trevor Rabin, a one-time member of the rock band Yes and a prolific composer of motion picture scores, composed the music for Mission: SPACE.
They Said It: There are 10 legendary quotes by famed space explorers and supporters of space exploration located around the walls of Planetary Plaza. They include:
"Look upward...From this world to the heavens" Plato
"The Universe...stands continually open to our gaze..." Galileo Galilei
"We set sail on this new sea because there is knowledge to be gained..." President John F. Kennedy
