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Calling
the Next Generation of Space Explorers! |
New
Interactive Gameplay Experience – Cosmic Quest – Launches at
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex |
Experience
will challenge “Trainees” with immersive NASA-inspired adventures |
Cape
Canaveral, FL – March 2016 / Newsmaker Alert / Imagine making your
way to Mars in a simulated capsule with a mission to create a habitat on
the planet in order to protect astronauts from poisonous dust and radiation.
Or, assembling your own launch team from a pool of NASA’s best. These and
other exciting space adventures are now a reality at Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex. Its newest visitor experience – Cosmic
Quest – an interactive live-action game experience, designed by Creative
Kingdoms, engages and inspires young guests known as “trainees” like never
before by immersing them in a number of STEM-based (science, technology,
engineering and math) space adventures while teaching them about NASA’s
current and future space science and exploration endeavors.
Thursday
(February 25), teams of 16 students from Brevard, Seminole, Volusia and
Orange counties in Florida joined forces with veteran space shuttle astronauts
Jon McBride, Norm Thagard and Mike McCulley and Apollo astronaut Al Worden
to take Cosmic Quest missions on an inaugural test flight.
“Never
before have we been able to offer our younger guests the opportunity to
engage directly with NASA designed missions in this way,” said Therrin
Protze, chief operating officer, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
“By introducing Cosmic Quest, guests discover firsthand how to launch a
rocket, redirect an asteroid, and build a habitat on Mars – all based on
real NASA missions. This gameplay experience is designed to inspire and
educate young people about STEM: science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”
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Cosmic
Quest kiosks are incorporated throughout the visitor complex, and offer
a host of NASA-inspired adventures:
In NASA’s
Next Rocket Launch Adventure, located at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, “trainees”
assemble their launch team from a pool of NASA’s best, including environmental
engineers, biologists, computer scientists and other experts, each of whom
are instrumental in overcoming challenges leading up to the launch. As
the rocket lifts off the pad, the trainee – safe in mission control – is
immersed in the sensations of the launch, including powerful vibrations
and steam.
At Mars
Habitat Adventure, located in Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted, trainees
can pick from two exciting missions: building a research exploration base
or building a permanent habitat, both of which must be able to protect
inhabitants from poisonous dust and radiation on the Red Planet and keep
them physically and mentally fit. During the adventures, trainees will
learn about the complications of living on the surface of Mars and the
components needed to sustain human life. Trainees see their habitat or
base displayed as a 3-D holograph while using a high-definition touch screen
to assemble all of their necessary parts.
Asteroid
Capture Adventure, located within the IMAX® Theater, calls for trainees
to command a robotic spacecraft and overcome challenges in deep space to
capture and redirect an asteroid. This deep-space adventure takes place
in front of a massive half-dome screen, which completely immerses trainees
in “outer space” as they redirect the asteroid into the orbit of Earth’s
moon.
Finally,
the International Space Station Research Adventure, located within Space
Shuttle Atlantis, challenges Trainees to gather items and information to
complete various experiments on the International Space Station (ISS):
Humans in Space, Plant Systems in Space, Materials in Space and Closed
Loop Systems. Trainees perform life-science experiments and discover what
astronauts are doing on the ISS right now. Using large, interactive touch
screens, trainees will solve challenges such as countering the negative
effects of microgravity on the human body and creating an efficient greenhouse
to grow vegetables using aeroponics. While performing the experiments,
trainees find out how space research will not only prepare humans for life
on Mars, but also how it improves medicine, farming and technology here
on Earth.
Robonaut,
a replica of NASA’s real R2 robot currently working aboard the ISS, serves
as a virtual narrator and guide as Cosmic Quest trainees use their “astronaut
badges” as activation devices to interact with digital progression points
and touch screens located throughout each of the exhibit areas.
Cosmic
Quest costs $24.95 in addition to the price of daily admission. All adventures
are included in the price; the completion of one adventure is not dependent
on other adventures. Cosmic Quest badges can be used for an entire year.
About
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex brings to life the epic story of the U.S.
space program, offering a full day or more of fun and educational activities,
including the Kennedy Space Center Tour featuring the Apollo/Saturn V Center
with an actual Saturn V moon rocket, Space Shuttle Atlantis (SM), Shuttle
Launch Experience®, IMAX® Hubble 3D and Journey To Space films,
Astronaut Encounter, Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted, Rocket Garden and
many other interactive exhibits. Only 45 minutes from Orlando, Fla., Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex opens daily at 9 a.m. with closing times varying
by season. Admission is $50 + tax for adults and $40 + tax for children
ages 3-11. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers annual passes starting
at $75 + tax for adults and $60 + tax for children ages 3-11. For more
information, call 877-313-2610 or visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.
About
Delaware North Delaware
North is one of the largest privately held hospitality and food service
companies in the world. Founded in 1915 and owned by the Jacobs family
for 100 years, Delaware North has global operations at high-profile places
such as sports and entertainment venues, national and state parks, destination
resorts and restaurants, airports, and regional casinos. Our 60,000 employee
associates are dedicated to creating special experiences one guest at a
time in serving more than a half-billion guests annually. Delaware North
operates in the sports, travel hospitality, restaurant and catering, parks,
resorts, gaming, and specialty retail industries and has annual revenue
of about $3 billion. "Delaware North" is a reference to Delaware North
Companies Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries, including location-specific
operating entities. Learn more about Delaware North, a global leader in
hospitality and food service, at www.DelawareNorth.com.
About
Creative Kingdoms Creative
Kingdoms, a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Wolf Resorts, Inc., creates
immersive live-action games for companies who want to connect with their
customers, creating brand fanatics. Using proprietary gaming patents, Creative
Kingdoms brings brands to life through technology, storytelling and gaming.
More information can be found online at www.CreativeKingdoms.com.
Contacts: Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex
Andrea
Farmer Public
Relations Manager
321-449-4318