Magic Kingdom visitors blast off on Space Mountain during a preview of the ride's refurbishment in 2009. (JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINEL)

This installment of Theme Park Rangers Radar includes Space Mountain throwback moments but has current in-the-news touches such as Russians, government leaders descending on Walt Disney World and the Goodyear Blimp. Then we’ll have a snack (Mickey bar alert) and a few smiles.

Radar is a weekly roundup of newsy bites and theme park memories. It publishes on OrlandoSentinel.com on Wednesdays.

On hand for Space Mountain's opening in 1975, were (left to right) astronauts Gordon Cooper (from left), James Irwin and Scott Carpenter with Robert Sarnoff, chief executive of RCA, seating next to Mickey Mouse. (Dennis Wall / Orlando Sentinel)

The hype about Epcot’s upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coaster, news of vehicles on the track at Magic Kingdom’s in-development Tron ride and the announcement of an overhaul of Tokyo Disneyland’s Space Mountain have propelled me back into Orlando Sentinel archives in search of the opening days of Disney World’s Space Mountain.

It was a big deal in 1975. Tomorrowland was the park’s first major expansion, and it gave locals and analysts the idea that tourists might return to Magic Kingdom over and over again. The world was going space-crazy still, and the idea of a coaster in the dark was exhilarating.

The Sentinel wrote a slew of stories. Here are five chunks I mined from the first month of operation of the ride.

>>> On Jan. 15, 1975, opening day for Space Mountain, there was an invitation-only dedication event for 2,000 people.

The front page of the Sentinel Star newspaper featured astronauts Gordon Cooper, James Irwin and Scott Carpenter along with Robert Sarnoff, chief executive of RCA, the corporate sponsor of attraction, and Mickey Mouse in a lunar rover.

But the big banner headline: FORD LAYS OUT TAX PLAN. Secondary headline: State of Union ‘not good’ — president.

The ride article notes “Before you board your capsule, you can stand by in what Disney calls a ‘chicken line’ to summon your courage.” Also debuting in Tomorrowland that day: Carousel of Progress (“a free attraction featuring audio-animatronics”) and StarJets, an attraction later redesigned and renamed Astro Orbiter.

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>>> By the numbers, according to 1975:

Space Mountain measures 175 feet tall and is 300 feet in diameter. The structure has 72 precast concrete beams weighing 149,000 pounds apiece. The capacity was said to be 3,000 passengers an hour running on the two sets of tracks. At the end of Space Mountain’s dedication ceremony, 500 pigeons were released.

It cost more than $15 million to build, pushing the total development cost of Disney World to $600 million.

At the end of its first day of operation, cast members found 18 pairs of eyeglasses, several sets of keys and one billfold beneath the roller coaster’s rails.

>>> Also on the scene, but in the sky, for opening day as the Goodyear Blimp.

Later, Charlie Wadsworth, writer of the newspaper’s Hush Puppies column, indicates he was told Disney had a deal for the blimp’s hitching place to move from Herndon Airport (renamed Orlando Executive Airport in the 1980s) to a small airstrip at Walt Disney World. It’s still there, sort of, but no blimp.

Wadsworth also had a source tell him the top speed of Space Mountain was 18 mph, but Bill Watkins, who headed the coaster design as an engineer with WED Enterprises, called him to say it really went 28 mph.

>>> It was “annual legislative appreciation weekend” Feb. 15-16, 1975, at Magic Kingdom.

“We are planning no special presentations nor special activities,” said a Disney World spokesman. “We just want them to see what we have new.”

Bigger names had beaten lawmakers to the park. Actress Lucie Arnaz, Broadway performer Tommy Tune and Lyle Waggoner of “Carol Burnett Show” fame were there for the coaster’s opening day and to tape an episode of “Wonderful World of Disney.”

Early February visitors included flashy pianist Liberace, who was in Orlando for sold-out shows at Municipal Auditorium.

>>> Finally, in mid-February of that year, U.S. astronauts and Russian cosmonauts training for the Apollo-Soyuz mission that summer, visited Magic Kingdom. For weeks, there had been lighthearted chatter about Space Mountain as a good experience for out-of-world travel.

But American astronaut Vance Brand of U.S. said “The only time we would feel anything like that in flight would be during an abort. And we don’t plan to abort.”

The group had a full day, experiencing the “it’s a small world,” Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion attractions. They watched Country Bear Jamboree, which had to suffer in the translation.

Cosmonauts and astronauts lunched at King Stephan’s Banquet Hall inside Cinderella Castle and had dinner at Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness. No reports of vodka.

They were trailed by 60 reporters and photographers, but Disney said no extra security was required.

Here’s evidence of a simpler time. The Sentinel printed that the cosmonauts were staying at Holiday Inn in Cocoa Beach.

The classic Mickey's Premium Bar gets gussied up for Disney World's 50th anniversary. The hand-dipped version is available at Drinkwallah at Disney's Animal Kingdom. (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel)

Sometimes you just want a Mickey bar. That was my mindset recently at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. As fate would have it, I then stumbled upon the hand-dipped 50th celebration Mickey’s premium bar at the park’s small Drinkwallah.

This ice-cream option was announced in late September, but I had forgotten. It’s a regular Mickey bar dipped in blue raspberry-flavored coating and sprinkles and “a little bit of pixie dust,” according to the menu.

It was hand-dipped by a cast member before my eyes. The sprinkle colors are very Disney at 50/Cinderella Castle makeover.

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The flavor was a slightly tart, fruity blend atop the chocolate and vanilla. It felt like an upgrade, and it’s priced like one at $6.99.

It also was served in a little cardboard boat like you might get at a food kiosk during an Epcot festival. That seemed odd, but the coating was prone to falling off in chunks while it was being eaten, so I’d rather it fell in the container — still suitable for human consumption — than on the ground for DAK birds to descend upon.

I’m told this 50th anniversary Mickey bar is at this one location, and, of course, it’s a limited-time offering.

So very 2022 in Disney merchandise: Rebel Leader bucket hat (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel)

Three little things that made me smile during recent WDW outings.

· The very idea that a Disney merchandiser may have said these four words in a meeting: “rebel leader bucket hat.”

· The wording on a sign for a Joffrey’s drink at Epcot, where they sell a minty melon refresher beverage (watermelon-cucumber mint juice with strawberries and blueberries). But you can get the “spirited option” with watermelon-basil vodka. We see what you did there, Joffrey.

· Kevin the big, brightly colored bird character from “Up,” who technically is not a little thing, but her presence brings joy to Animal Kingdom guests. She rules.

What’s on your radar? Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com