I have never known this before but I just realized that the HyperSpace Mountain Room is based on the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Some of the audio transmission that you hear in the room is actual audio from mission control to the space shuttle Challenger before it's tragic disaster. That is a very nice honor in memory of the Challenger mission and the NASA program. Has anyone else noticed that? Thanks!
Ace-:cool:

>_< Wow, cool! But what was the Disaster on Challenger? did it Crash or somethin'?

The space shuttle Challenger exploded approx. 70 seconds after liftoff due to a major malfunction in the solid rocket boosters ( SRB's ) which propel the shuttle into orbit. Among the crew was a woman teacher who was given the opportunity to be the first non astronaut/citizen to fly in the shuttle.
Ace-:cool:

PirateMario- The Challenger exploded a little over a minute after it launched back in the 80's, killing its 7 person crew.

I've never noticed that before. Then again, I rarely get the opportunity to be in the Space Mountain room. :Embar: Nice find!

That's the first thing I noticed about that room. "Roger roll Challenger." I think it is a very nice tribute to the seven astronauts (6 NASA personnel and 1 civilian~Teacher in Space) and to all the other astronauts who have lost their lives. My family and I will hopefully see the launch this weekend~Atlantis is scheduled to go up Sunday, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will go sometime between Sunday and Wednesday. That is my window of opportunity.;)

Whoah, It Blew Up, Ouch. Poor Austronauts and Teacher, But Yeah I heard the "Roger Roll Challenger" too. I'll listen for more Sounds tomorrow

That's sad :( . Well I've never noticed that about Space Mountain space room because only sometimes I'm in one. :Tongue:

The space shuttle Challenger exploded approx. 70 seconds after liftoff due to a major malfunction in the solid rocket boosters ( SRB's ) which propel the shuttle into orbit. Among the crew was a woman teacher who was given the opportunity to be the first non astronaut/citizen to fly in the shuttle.
Ace-:cool:

my old teacher knew christa macoliff one of the astronots from new hampshire, christa was going to be the first teacher in space too :(

here a tip don't be an astronaut duh

>_< Wow, cool! But what was the Disaster on Challenger? did it Crash or somethin'?
Wow. I'm feeling old with this statement. I was in 3rd grade at the time.

here a tip don't be an astronaut duh
What a heartless and cruel thing to say. Being an astronaut is an adventure, one that many would love to have a chance at.

Wow I would have never guessed that something like that was in vmk right in front of our noses. A memorial that none of us knew we were at.

I can tell you for a fact that the sound effects from Hyperspace Mountain did NOT come from STS-51L, the final mission of OV-099, Challenger. Challenger had flown 11 times before its fatal flight, and the sounds you hear are from a previous mission. There are some differences that someone familiar with the recordings can use to identify the flight.

It would be OK to assume that VMK used a Challenger recording to honor these astronauts, but more likely they just pulled a sound file without a second thought about it. In my opinion, it would be bad taste to place such a sound file in a children's game, and I have more respect for Yavn and his team to think they would knowingly do that. But as I already said, the sounds are from one of Challengers previous successful missions.

Astronauts place their lives at risk because they believe that in doing so they can make a difference for people here on Earth, just as our miliary, police, firefighters, and many others do. Their sacrifice should be held to the highest respect, and those who want to follow their example should be strongly encouraged. This Sunday, Aug. 27, another crew will be launched from Kennedy Space Center to restart the construction of the International Space Station. I invite all with space suits to join me by wearing your suit (or a piece of one: helmet, pants, top) as a show of support for the crew and all who make their journey possible.

I am really appalled at the school system of this country if a child has to ask the question on a forum like this one, What happened the the Challenger? My goodness do they not teach history in the school system anymore. Unreal. Nice editorial NASAMan! I know people that work hard to assure the safety of these brave individuals that put their lives on the line each time these missions take place and to read that the youth do not even know the history of things like this really bums me out.

Sorry if this is not the place for these remarks but the can of worms was opened and I felt compelled to respond as I am sure others have and will.

I will wear my suit too! I am very excited until the next shuttle launch. I actually just returned from Florida and I had the chance to visit the Kennedy Space Center and was lucky enough to have an opportunity to be about a mile away from the actual Atlantis shuttle on the launch pad. It is a pretty awesome site to see.