Kenndy Space Center to get Coaster

According to the Central Florida News Channel (Euphamasticaly called "Channel 13" in these parts) Kennedy Space Center will be getting a Dive-Machine Coaster in the near future! :)

Now for the :( Bad News :( It will not be open to the public!

It will be built as an Escape System for Astronauts to use in case something were to go wrong with the Orion Space vehicle while it was still on the Launch Pad.

(For those of you in Rio Linda the Orion is what they are calling the manned Spacecraft that will replace the Space Shuttle after it is retired in a few years.)

needless and annoying emoticons removed *** Edited 11/5/2006 8:53:39 PM UTC by Jeff***

I would presume that it would not be a complete circuit then. More of a shuttle coaster. (Pardon the irony) If it is in fact true.

Yeah! I saw footage on CNN. It looked wild. It's an actual roller coaster with box track and - if I remember correctly - two cars, enough to hold up to eight astronauts. (I believe the shuttle's maximum capacity is seven.) It isn't a full circuit, but from what I saw it swoops swiftly away from the launch tower. Assumably it would get the crew away from the immediate danger zone in case of a blast of an imminent blast on the pad, such as during a major fuel leak. Wouldn't that be one heck of a credit to get?

Here's a link for more info: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=4888

That looks pretty wild! :)

I wonder if they'll build a public version for their Visitor Center. It seems to go along with the experience.

^That's exactly what I was thinking. I would give it a year or too, due to the high demand it will obviously have. ;)

BTW I forgot to ask but the way the coaster was described sounded like the abandoned Arrow Fish Hook Project. I wonder if this coaster has anything to do with that project.

I hope to God it's not an Intamin. If it is, those astronauts are so SCREWED.

;)

On a related, and somewhat cool note...

A previous S&S tower ride is located at "U.S. Space & Rocket Center", Huntsville, AL. So I guess it'll be made by S&S....multi-ride contract, ya know... ;)

I dont know if it will be available to the public, I imagine that since space, and time on ride will be a factor that the G-forces will be much higher then your run of the mill roller coaster (since astronauts train in high G environments.)

Remember that there are escape vehicles attached to 39A and 39B today. They're baskets that follow a long wire down to the ground at a fairly easy angle.

http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/release/1985/252-85r.htm

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Sawblade5 said:
BTW I forgot to ask but the way the coaster was described sounded like the abandoned Arrow Fish Hook Project. I wonder if this coaster has anything to do with that project.

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No...check out the concept art....they are not similar at all.

The cars and track description sound similar Peabody, The only difference would be that there's no fish hook at the end, instead a landing dock.

Not really....this seems to be similar to a "dive coaster" like Sheikra. The Arrow fish hook was more a giant Intamin 1st generation freefall (Demon Drop at CP) The key difference is that you fall butt first in the later.

*** Edited 11/6/2006 1:33:47 AM UTC by Peabody***

It's an interesting idea, but who would really be in a capacity to build something like what they describe other than B&M from their Dive Coasters?

Anyone...I bet they receive bids from a good half dozen companies.

I wouldn't be surprised if the contract goes to a company that has never sold amusement equipment before.

I wanna ride. And by the way Borntocoast, do I detect a little Maha lingo? :)

Ypu, angnjc, you do detect "A little Maha Lingo" (My Father was a card-carrying Dittohead. <G> As for me, I listen occaisionally for laughs.)

Hey Jeff! I'm Sorry all those Emoticons offended you. I mean't no harm. The 46 Emoticons represent each Roller Coaster I've been able to ride because of a Free Ticket I acquired as compensation for voluntarily giving up my seat on an overbooked flight! ;)

( :) This includes my most recent flight to Pennsylvania for PPP at Knoebals :) )

*** Edited 11/6/2006 12:18:34 PM UTC by Borntocoast***