Battlestar Galactica: Human vs. Cylon
Tallest dueling coaster pair, with near-miss collisions.
Rojypala · via Wikipedia: Battlestar Galactica: Human vs. Cylon · CC BY-SA 3.0
At Universal Studios Singapore, a pair of steel dueling roller coasters called Battlestar Galactica: Human vs. Cylon face off against each other. One track is an inverted coaster painted gray (it was blue until 2017), while the other is a traditional seated coaster in red. These rides opened in 2010, stand 42.5 meters (139 feet) tall, and hold the record as the world’s tallest dueling coasters. They were closed from 2013 to 2015.
The coaster trains start their lift hill with a high-speed launch instead of a traditional chain lift, using Linear Synchronous Motors (LSM) for rapid acceleration. Like the now-defunct Dragon Challenge at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, the tracks feature several near-collisions that come within inches of each other. Part of the ride passes over the park’s central lagoon.
The Cylon coaster is designed like a Cylon Raider, with riders suspended from the track and legs dangling free. It performs five inversions: a cobra roll, a corkscrew, a vertical loop, and a zero-g roll. The ride plunges into a 5-meter (16-foot) deep pit filled with artificial fog, creating the sensation of a near miss with the ground, and includes sudden turns close to buildings for the same effect. Before the ride begins, a robotic voice says, “This has all happened before. This will all happen again.” The Cylon coaster launches to a top speed of 51.0 mph (82.1 km/h), then dives into a cobra roll, followed by a corkscrew. It drops into the fog pit, goes through a vertical loop around the launch area (the most intense part), dives into the pit again, performs a zero-g roll over the launch, and finishes with a helix before the brake run.
The Human coaster’s queue is a narrow walkway leading into a building where characters Galactica Actual and Cag Starbuck explain the mission. Riders board trains designed like Colonial Mark II Vipers, and upon departure hear, “Happy Hunting. So say we all.” This coaster has no inversions, but engineers say riders experience more G-forces than on the Cylon track. It reaches a top speed of 90 kilometers per hour (56 mph) at the top of the launch.
The ride opened during Universal Studios Singapore’s soft launch on March 18, 2010. A week later, a problem was found in a ride vehicle during routine testing, and the ride closed on March 25, 2010. Both coasters remained closed for about 11 months.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Universal Studios Singapore
- Section
- Sci-Fi City
- Opened
- 18 March 2010
- Year
- 2010
- Manufacturer
- Vekoma
- Model
- Custom
- Lift
- LSM
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The coasters were among 16 attractions that opened during Universal Studios Singapore's soft opening on 18 March 2010. A week later, a problem was identified in a ride vehicle during routine testing, and the ride closed for repair on 25 March 2010. Both rides remained closed for about 11 months. In August 2010, Resorts World Sentosa stated that higher than anticipated stress and vibration levels caused fatigue cracks in the seat-post supports of the Human coaster train. Redesigned components eliminated welds and added reinforcement parts. The rides reopened on 21 February 2011 after extensive testing and re-certification.
On 21 July 2013, the ride closed again for review. In November 2014, Resorts World Sentosa announced it would reopen in early 2015 with new trains. The ride returned on 27 May 2015 with all-new ride vehicles, changing from four-abreast seating to two-abreast seating. On 6 April 2016, riders were stuck for about an hour on Human due to a technical error. On 28 November 2025, Human stalled on the launch, stranding 16 riders for 30 to 40 minutes in the rain; no injuries were reported, and the ride reopened the next day.
Reader's Guide
Battlestar Galactica: Human vs. Cylon is significant as the only Universal Studios park to feature a Battlestar Galactica roller coaster. It was the first Vekoma coaster after the Flying Dutchman to have four-abreast seating similar to Bolliger & Mabillard coasters, though trains were later modified to two-across. The coasters use Linear Synchronous Motors for high-acceleration launching instead of traditional chain lifts. They feature several near collisions mere inches apart, similar to the now-defunct Dragon Challenge at Universal's Islands of Atlantis. Part of the ride takes place over the park's central lagoon. The Cylon coaster includes five inversions (cobra roll, corkscrew, vertical loop, zero-g roll) and plunges into a 5-meter deep pit with artificial fog. The Human coaster has no inversions but subjects riders to more G-forces than the Cylon track. The ride's history includes multiple closures and redesigns due to structural issues, making it a notable example of engineering challenges in themed attractions.
Did You Know?
- The coasters are the tallest dueling coaster in the world at 42.5 meters (139 ft).
- The Human coaster was originally designed with four-abreast seating but was later modified to two-abreast seating.
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