Pictured: a passenger gantry is added to the Falcon Heavy launch tower in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
HAWTHORNE, CA — Exciting news from SpaceX founder Elon Musk and Disney Parks and Resorts and Spas chairman Bob Chapek. They announced today that visitors to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge can to actually travel to outer space!
Musk says that visitors to the Star Wars-themed lands in California and Florida will be able to purchase a “fully immersive experience.” Yes, the experience will include the usual character meet-and-greets. But then the add-on culminates in the guests boarding a Dragon crew module atop a Falcon 9 rocket and blasting off for a quick journey to space. After circling the earth a single time in a low orbit, the spacecraft will return to the park.
Innovators and partners
This is not the first theme park partnership between Musk and Disney. The first joint effort was retheming Epcot’s Mission: Space to have guests driving Tesla Roadsters, after SpaceX launched one towards Mars. Disney later also adopted Tesla’s self-driving technology to its rental electric scooters.
The price tag for the experience has not been announced. Chapek hinted that a lower-cost option may be available. Guests paying less would ride aboard the first stage of the rocket, which is jettisoned before Falcon reaches space.
Is hyperspace next? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Need more Uncle Walt’s in your life? Be sure to LIKE us on Facebook, FOLLOW us on Twitter, and tell everyone you know (plus a few strangers) how wonderful (and humble) we are!
Cover photo: SpaceX launch tower under construction at Disneyland. Photo by ashleywho via Reddit & Stephen Clark via Spaceflight Now.
