Space Shuttle Atlantis Opens New Chapter for Themed Entertainment Industry

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Mon, 07/01/2013 - 12:06 -- Nick Dager

Space Shuttle Atlantis. Photo: Delaware North Companies/Joe Cascio.When Space Shuttle Atlantis, the newest attraction at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Cape Canaveral, Florida opened to the public on June 29, a new chapter in the story of interactive AV design for the themed entertainment industry was written.

Delaware North and PGAV in partnership with NASA designed and created the Space Shuttle Atlantis attraction in 2010. PGAV Destinations was given a simple brief: to design and create the world’s premiere space exploration attraction.  PGAV in turn engaged Electrosonic in a four-phase design and consulting process.

The attraction was designed by PGAV and installed by Electrosonic. Projectiondesign high-performance projectors are used in the pre-show visitor area and various exhibit areas to engage, enthrall and entertain audiences

As is now commonplace at big attractions, on entering the building visitors are treated to a multimedia pre-show that provides the historical context for the exhibits they are about to see.

The Atlantis pre-show features some four projectiondesign F35 wqxga video projectors, edge-blended to form an immersive experience, with content being served by individual, multi-head, custom-configured Delta media servers from 7thSense Design.

Sixteen projectiondesign F32 projectors, running in 1920 x 1200 resolution and edge-blended in groups of four, are used to add video content for the four ‘arches’ that surround the Shuttle itself.

They are also used in Batchling exhibit area and F35 projectors are used in Hubble exhibit areas.

Designer Yiannis Cabolis says, “The projectiondesign projectors are likewise proven to be extremely reliable and to offer the kind of color accuracy and bespoke installation options you need when you are designing for a project like Space Shuttle Atlantis.