Another Mission Space Casualty

[sunken]

http://www.space.com/news/ft_060413_missionspace_accident.html

At Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center yesterday, another rider of the popular Mission Space ride died. The ride is basically a centrifuge that spins at high speeds to give people the sensation of going into space. During the "flight", they are tasked with several things like pushing buttons on the console, while watching a monitor. The 49 year old lady who died was taken to Celebration Hospital (which is across the highway from the Disney Resort) for dizziness and later her condition deteriorated. Word is still out on what caused her death, but it's rumored at the moment that it had to do with high blood pressure. This is the second death on the ride since it opened, although numerous people have been sent to the hospital for observation after having adverse reactions to the ride. The earlier death involved a 4 year old boy who had a heart condition that his family was unaware of at the time that killed him due to the stress.

They, of course, have many warnings before you got on the ride, about blood pressure, etc. The warnings focus a lot on motion sickness. The problem seems to be that these people didn't know they were sick before going on the ride, so the warnings don't do much good.

Have theme park rides gone too far in getting people excited to the point of fatality in order to provide the ultimate thrill? Do you think Disney should permanently shut down this $100 million ride? Discuss.

 

[Coolalex]

I think they should at least make them sign a contract then at least they are sure they are capable of going on the ride.

 

[{insert name here}]

they shut it down, stop the insanity, walt is evil!

lol, just kidding, poor lady.

 

[sunken]

They did shut it down while an investigation is being conducted, not sure for how long. Actually they never shut down the Peoplemover which has killed more people (but from their own stupidity - jumping between cars, etc).

 

[superprogrammer]

oh
Never knew those rides are so dangerous!

 

[sunken]

The ride is more troublesome than most. So much so that they have to include a barf bag onboard in case you get sick. This was preferable to the first week where 1 out of every 100 people were losing their launch, er lunch a day, on the expensively tiled floor. That equals about 100 people if you go by the estimated 10,000 that ride a day.

I guess Disney figures that they spent $100 million on the ride, and considering the odds are 2 in a million or so, the risk is worth taking. Maybe they need to give people blood pressure checks before getting on the ride.

 

[DOMiNIC]

Cosidering the traing, health examinations and gradual build up to stressful sensations an astronaut has to go though, it seems irresponsible that disney can put up such a ride for the general public, and for 4 year olds?

 

[swimjenni]

They did shut it down while an investigation is being conducted, not sure for how long. Actually they never shut down the Peoplemover which has killed more people (but from their own stupidity - jumping between cars, etc).

I'm pretty sure it was the rest of the the day, then they check it that night and the next morning. Then it reopened.

I've gone on this several times and its really cool. As far as danager- if you are smaller, than you can move around in the sit more like in any other ride. Its as safe as a rollercoaster. I do think the age and height requirement need to be updated to probally 10 years old. The G's are strong- at times you can't move your arms or head and its hard to breath but only for split seconds at a time.