About Space Academy - Lift and Skybridge

The Launch Lift is exactly what it says. It's the lift that takes you up the huge gantry supporting the Space Shuttle that will take you to your new home.

Movement, sound and a number of very special effects will lead you to the absolute conviction that you've ascended to the top of the Shuttle launch pad at Kennedy Space Centre.

There is a soundtrack playing ambient sounds as well as background communications from CAPCOM in Houston.

On arrival at level 195, there is a loud creaking of brakes as we come to a stop. The soundtrack tells us:-

"The astronauts are now making their way across the orbiter access arm towards the White Room where technicians will assist them in embarking".

A 2nd set of lift doors open to reveal "The Skybridge", more accurately known as The Orbiter Access Arm. The audience walk across a metal walkway with spectacular panoramic views of Florida on one side and a metal handrail and overhead trussing all around, on the other side. The atmosphere up here is very different to that of the lift. The ambient soundtrack reproduces sounds of Florida. But we are very high up and there are also sounds of a gentle breeze and wind machines take this impression one stage further.

A large format image some 6m wide x 4.5m high and shot from the Orbiter Access Arm at the Shuttle Launch Pad in Florida, will give you the view only astronaut's usually have of the Florida countryside.

At the far end of the Skybridge the audience can see the doors through which there is a white light which draws them down the Skybridge and into the White Room.