The HabForum

In 1988 there was a simulator outside of the Training Center building, near the Rocket Park. In it a person was enclosed inside a clear plexiglass bubble and rode up a clear tube on a cushion of air, as I recall. It had a weight limit of 200 lbs, so one of my friends couldn't ride it. I did not get a photo of it and it was discontinued shortly after that. Does anyone else remember it and what it was called?

Conan wrote:In 1988 there was a simulator outside of the Training Center building, near the Rocket Park. In it a person was enclosed inside a clear plexiglass bubble and rode up a clear tube on a cushion of air, as I recall. It had a weight limit of 200 lbs, so one of my friends couldn't ride it. I did not get a photo of it and it was discontinued shortly after that. Does anyone else remember it and what it was called?

Yes I remember this bubble ride. When I seen it, it was a big hit there at the center. I do not remember what it was called.

It was called the "Manned Maneuvering Pod". I got to "pilot" it in my 1992 session, although I was only along for the ride. We were not allowed to use the steering handles (located at hip-level next to the seat) to steer the craft. Apparently someone had broken their neck or something while steering it and landed on their head or something. But at least we got to ride in the thing back then. I have a really good photo of it from that year...somewhere

Ooh, found the picture...but no way to scan it. A crappy camera phone snapshot will have to do for now.



This is the one that was in the shuttle park next to the Pathfinder. The one we got to ride was next to the old museum exit to the rocket park. The two they had were identical.

I remember riding it in 91 and maybe 93 but definately 91. Was similar to the space shot few seconds iof weightlesness when you reached the top just a much smaller scale than space shot. We were also not allowed to stear it we were told it was too easy to flip the thing upside down. As i recall the pod was mostly metal but had a clear plexiglass window.

This thing?

Yep that's it

That's the one! And that is a great photo of it!! Thanks.

I'll have to find the archived article but it was removed after the ball popped out.