It was on this day in 1975 that about 2,000 guests, including several astronauts, attended the dedication of the Walt Disney World Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom, the first roller coaster of its kind, rocketing through the dark over nearly invisible tracks. The grand opening festivities included a band of 2,000 high school students, fireworks and the release of 50,000 balloons. Moonwalker James Irwin of the Apollo 15 space mission was the first official passenger, and said that the American people “allowed us to see Earth as a jewel in the blackness of space. Now all of us can enjoy this wonder because of Walt Disney.” Originally sponsored by RCA, Space Mountain had its own theme song that guests would hear in the attraction queue. The song, “Here’s to the Future,” promised, “It’s a world full of color, of perfect harmony, a world full of music, a living melody. The dreams of tomorrow are beginning today. It’s a world of discovery, the world of RCA!”
