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Spaceship Earth is the iconic and symbolic structure of Epcot, a theme park that is part World
Resort, it is not only the centerpiece and main focal point of Epcot, but also the name of the attraction
housed within the 18-story geodesic sphere that takes guests on a time machine themed experience
using the Omnimover system. The 13-minute dark ride shows guests how advancements in human
communication have helped to create the future one step at a time. The attraction involves a timeline from
the origins of prehistoric man to the dawn of the 21st century, where guests can then create a future for
themselves.
Resort, it is not only the centerpiece and main focal point of Epcot, but also the name of the attraction
housed within the 18-story geodesic sphere that takes guests on a time machine themed experience
using the Omnimover system. The 13-minute dark ride shows guests how advancements in human
communication have helped to create the future one step at a time. The attraction involves a timeline from
the origins of prehistoric man to the dawn of the 21st century, where guests can then create a future for
themselves.
The structure was designed with the help of science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, who also helped write the original
storyline for the attraction. Both the structure and the attraction's name were inspired by the work of Buckminster Fuller.
However, he was not given credit.
The structure
Close-up of Spaceship Earth's Alucobond tilesThe structure is similar in texture to the United States pavilion from Expo 67
in Montreal, giving a misconception that it is a geodesic dome. By definition, a dome can only be part of a sphere.
Spaceship Earth is a complete sphere, supported on legs.
Geometrically, Spaceship Earth is a pentakis dodecahedron, with each of the 60 isosceles triangle faces divided into 16
smaller equilateral triangles (with a bit of fudging to make it rounder)[citation needed]. Each of those 960 flat panels is
sub-divided into four triangles, each of which is divided into three isosceles triangles to form each point. In theory, there
are 11,520 total isosceles triangles forming 3840 points. In reality, some of those triangles are partially or fully
nonexistent due to supports and doors; there are actually only 11,324 of them, with 954 partial or full flat panels[citation
needed].
The cladding was designed so that when it rains, no water pours off the sides onto the ground. (All water is "absorbed"
through one inch gaps in the facets and is collected in a gutter system - and finally channeled into the World Showcase
Lagoon.)
Construction
formed by deep trusses and 6 legs, none of which are directly under the sphere. This was done to give the illusion of the
ball floating in air. Extending upwards from the table are "quadropod" structures which support the smaller beams which
form the actual shell of the steel skeleton. Pipes stand the aluminum skin panels away from the skeleton and provide
space for utilities. A small service car is parked at the top of the steel structure and can carry a prone technician down the
sides to access repair locations. The shop fabrication of the steel (done in nearby Tampa, Florida) was an early instance
of computer aided drafting and materials processing.
storyline for the attraction. Both the structure and the attraction's name were inspired by the work of Buckminster Fuller.
However, he was not given credit.
The structure
Close-up of Spaceship Earth's Alucobond tilesThe structure is similar in texture to the United States pavilion from Expo 67
in Montreal, giving a misconception that it is a geodesic dome. By definition, a dome can only be part of a sphere.
Spaceship Earth is a complete sphere, supported on legs.
Geometrically, Spaceship Earth is a pentakis dodecahedron, with each of the 60 isosceles triangle faces divided into 16
smaller equilateral triangles (with a bit of fudging to make it rounder)[citation needed]. Each of those 960 flat panels is
sub-divided into four triangles, each of which is divided into three isosceles triangles to form each point. In theory, there
are 11,520 total isosceles triangles forming 3840 points. In reality, some of those triangles are partially or fully
nonexistent due to supports and doors; there are actually only 11,324 of them, with 954 partial or full flat panels[citation
needed].
The cladding was designed so that when it rains, no water pours off the sides onto the ground. (All water is "absorbed"
through one inch gaps in the facets and is collected in a gutter system - and finally channeled into the World Showcase
Lagoon.)
Construction
formed by deep trusses and 6 legs, none of which are directly under the sphere. This was done to give the illusion of the
ball floating in air. Extending upwards from the table are "quadropod" structures which support the smaller beams which
form the actual shell of the steel skeleton. Pipes stand the aluminum skin panels away from the skeleton and provide
space for utilities. A small service car is parked at the top of the steel structure and can carry a prone technician down the
sides to access repair locations. The shop fabrication of the steel (done in nearby Tampa, Florida) was an early instance
of computer aided drafting and materials processing.
twinkling stars surround guests. Soon, guest's pictures are taken on a face-recognition program that is to be
featured in the attraction's post-show. Guests then re-enter the starfield. Guests then see prehistoric man fighting
for survival, later on Cavemen are depicted, who developed the first spoken languages. Then guests see the
Egyptians, who invented a system of hieroglyphs and made papyrus on which to record them; Phoenician
merchants, who developed a written alphabet (the Phoenician alphabet); Ancient Greece, where the theater was a
popular form of entertainment; and Ancient Rome, whose leaders built a vast system of roads all over Europe.
After the sacking of Rome by invaders, guests see scenes of the Middle Ages, when Jewish and Islamic scholars
continued to progress in science, and when monks copied Bibles by hand. The attraction then moves on to the
European Renaissance, the development of the movable-type printing press, and the 20th century
communications revolution—newspapers, telegraphs, radio, telephones, movies, television, as well as the
computer.
The remainder of the ride is involved in seeing a depiction of Earth from space, traveling through an infinite amount
of stars and into a realm of glowing triangles where guests can then use the touch-screens in their Omnimover
vehicle to create a possible depiction of their future.
Show scenes
This list corresponds to the current, fourth version of the ride.
Starfield
Face-Recognition Program
Starfield
Prehistoric Man
Cavemen
Egyptian Temple
Phoenician Merchants
Greek Math Teacher
The Roman Road Network
Islamic Empire
Cathedral Abbey
Gutenberg Press
Renaissance Italy
Industrial Revolution
The Age of Invention
The Age of Information
Tunnel of Facts and Figures
Spaceship Earth Planetarium
Infinite Stars
Descent Tunnel featuring Glowing Triangles and touch-screens within the Omnimover vehicles that allow guests to
create their future
featured in the attraction's post-show. Guests then re-enter the starfield. Guests then see prehistoric man fighting
for survival, later on Cavemen are depicted, who developed the first spoken languages. Then guests see the
Egyptians, who invented a system of hieroglyphs and made papyrus on which to record them; Phoenician
merchants, who developed a written alphabet (the Phoenician alphabet); Ancient Greece, where the theater was a
popular form of entertainment; and Ancient Rome, whose leaders built a vast system of roads all over Europe.
After the sacking of Rome by invaders, guests see scenes of the Middle Ages, when Jewish and Islamic scholars
continued to progress in science, and when monks copied Bibles by hand. The attraction then moves on to the
European Renaissance, the development of the movable-type printing press, and the 20th century
communications revolution—newspapers, telegraphs, radio, telephones, movies, television, as well as the
computer.
The remainder of the ride is involved in seeing a depiction of Earth from space, traveling through an infinite amount
of stars and into a realm of glowing triangles where guests can then use the touch-screens in their Omnimover
vehicle to create a possible depiction of their future.
Show scenes
This list corresponds to the current, fourth version of the ride.
Starfield
Face-Recognition Program
Starfield
Prehistoric Man
Cavemen
Egyptian Temple
Phoenician Merchants
Greek Math Teacher
The Roman Road Network
Islamic Empire
Cathedral Abbey
Gutenberg Press
Renaissance Italy
Industrial Revolution
The Age of Invention
The Age of Information
Tunnel of Facts and Figures
Spaceship Earth Planetarium
Infinite Stars
Descent Tunnel featuring Glowing Triangles and touch-screens within the Omnimover vehicles that allow guests to
create their future
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| Spaceship Earth |