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Spinoff story
Space Mountain Designed With NASTRAN
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
Space Mountain" roller coaster in Walt Disney World was designed using NASA's computer program "NASTRAN" (NASA Structural Analysis Program). Task is to design a support structure for the tracks which is totally safe and not overstrong. Overstrengthing adds nothing to safety and simply wastes money in unneeded steel. NASTRAN analysis is quick and inexpensive. Minimizes trial and error in design process and makes possible better safe lighter structures while affording large scale savings in development time and materials."