MISSION: SPACE
LINER NOTES
IN MEMORIAM
1. HORIZONS LOST: REQUIEM & RESURRECTION
It is almost inconceivable that Horizons has been gone for decades. To the EPCOT Center generation, the wounds inflicted by its abrupt passing are just as fresh today as they were at the dawn of the 21st century for which (ironically) Horizons was created. To the casual observer, it might seem somewhat absurd that one should mourn the lost of an attraction as you would a living being, yet Horizons was much more than a ride. In many ways, it was the heart and soul of Future World that coalesced the concepts and principles of all other pavilions into a wondrous vision of an attainable future. Furthermore, it embodied an optimistic spirit and ambition that, sadly, we have seldom seen since its creation over three decades ago. Its demise symbolized the death of EPCOT Center, and a dark period for futurism.
BUT, the memory of Horizons is as strong as ever and the spirit of EPCOT Center is resurging in many new and unexpected ways. Although extremely slow to start, this new era could be traced back to the opening of Mission: Space — an imperfect and modestly statured experience that (unlike other replacements) did at least try to respectably fill the void of its predecessor.
Horizons Lost, is intended to convey the tragedy and triumph of its destruction and transcendence through Ennio Morricone’s emotional score to the 2000 film “Mission to Mars” — the prequel to Mission: Space.
MISSION: SPACE
2. ISTC MARCH (ENTRANCE PLAZA)
From a musical perspective, one could argue that an Epcot attraction is not legitimate unless it is featured in the
Entrance Plaza Atmosphere. In the case of Mission Space, the pavilion received a small nod in 2006 with the
incorporation of a special arrangement of its main theme into the now iconic 2001 Main Entrance loop.
3. & 4. PLANETARY PLAZA
Serving as the entryway to the International Space Training Center, Planetary Plaza is an architectural expression of our solar system. With its curvilinear forms and massive spheres representing the orbital paths that encircle the Earth, Moon, Jupiter & Mars, it serves as a soaring tribute to our quest for interplanetary space travel. For which, its sweeping musical score perfectly complements the awe and excitement of mankind’s final frontier.
READY ROOM
PREFLIGHT BRIEFING
MISSION TO MARS
ADVANCED TRAINING LAB
It is the year 2036, and we’ve arrived at ISTC during its celebration of 75 years of human space flight. From the Ready Room, to the Advanced Training Lab and all points in between “We Choose to Go” through the entire experience of Deep Space Flight Training.
IN TRIBUTE
9. CENTURY 3 — THE LEGACY OF HORIZONS
More than 20 years since its departure, Horizons, as unbelievable as it sounds, is more popular than ever. The pavilion is constantly celebrated through countless tributes in both the physical and digital worlds. A seemingly miraculous phenomenon that only serves to support the widely held theory that it may have been the greatest attraction ever created.
Horizons does, in fact, live on in the hearts and minds of patrons and its optimistic vision continues to serve as inspiration for innovators of today.
Century 3, explores several cinematic endeavors that have captured the spirit of Horizons and its proactively positive message
— “If We Can Dream It We Can Do It!”
