- Space World
nihongo|Space World|スペースワールド|Supēsu Wārudo is a
theme park in Yahata Higashi ward,Kitakyushu ,Japan created in 1990 byNippon Steel when the company wasdownsizing its steel plant in the ward. It is currently operated by Space World Inc., a subsidiary ofKamori Kankō .This theme park offers a wide variety of enjoyable attractions for the whole family, a number of events held daily, and Space Camp, Japan’s first authentic educational space experience facility.
Space Camp was created under a licensing agreement with the U.S.
Space Camp Foundation , and provides a full curriculum, including special training using the same apparatus asNASA astronauts. The participants stay in the camp, and are given instruction by an expert staff. A variety of courses are available, catering to different age groups and length of course.History
April 22 ,1990 : Space World opens on part of the grounds of the Yawata iron mill.1992: The popular attraction "Star Shaker" opens.
1993: First water attraction "Planetary Aqua" appears. The total course length runs 500 meters and is the longest in Japan.
1994: The coaster, "Meteor Liner Titan" (also known as "
Titan ") is opened. At that time, it was world's largest inclined angle coaster.1996: The coaster, "Venus" is opens.
1998: Coming-of-age ceremony of Kitakyushu city is held. In the same year an accident on "Atlas Tower" occurs, badly injuring a visitor. The park closes for 6 months.
1999: Treasure Star (Twin Mercury) is opened at a cost of 5 billion Yen (approximately $40 million).
2001: 4D theater attraction “BIOHAZARD 4D-EXECUTER” open.
2004: Amusement area “Kids QUEST” opens.
2005 April 22 : 15th anniversary. The attraction, "Alien Panic" opens the same year.2006 Character amusement area “Lucky Town” is opened.
Trivia
Space World has the only scale-one mock-up of an erected US Space Shuttle stack, complete with External tanks and SRB (Discovery). The visitor center of MSFC in Huntsville has a stack as well, but not in an upright position. This mock-up of OV |105 was actually built by the Carrington Engineering company in Newcastle, Australia. However it was never paid for, and the Engineering company was bankrupted by the costs attempting to recover the money owed.
External links
*en icon [http://www.spaceworld.co.jp/english/ Space World] official website
*en icon [http://www.bannister.org/coasters/parks/space_world.htm Fan site with Space World pictures]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.