Posts from the Past and a Dr. Who Question Needing Your Answer.

 We found the place.

It's called The Space Center

Hello Troops,
One more day before our Fall Vacation. 
Once more I have nothing to report on the renovation.  They say no news is good news, right?

I encourage you to keep the Space Center spirit alive by continuing to read this blog and talking about your Space Center experiences with family and friends.  Let's not let the magic disappear while the Center lies dark.

"Hey, Mr. Williamson, Do you read our comments?" I was recently asked in an email.

Yes, I read every comment before I approve them to appear at the bottom of every post.  Am I any good about responding?  Ah, that's where the rubber hits the road, isn't it?  To be honest, the answer is...... I sometimes forget to respond.
I promise to be better.  So why not start now.

One of The Troubadour's readers asked me what mission I would run if Dr. Who were one of my passengers on the Voyager (submitted by a true Dr. Who fan for sure).  That's a good question.  I'm going to think about it while I throw it out to you.  So - THE QUESTION;  If Dr. Who were coming on a Space Center mission, which mission do you think we should run AND WHY?  Post your responses in the comment section of this email.  I'm curious  about what you think.  I'll let you know my decision and why after reading what you have to say.

Posts from the Past

Tonight I'm going to post three items from the Space Center's first blog in our Posts from the Past series.   

May 4, 2000.
From Mr. Williamson

Hello Friends,
Well, the Space Center passed a major milestone a few weeks ago. If you go to the database and look up attendance you will notice that our total attendance at the Center has crossed the 100,000 mark. We are approaching our tenth birthday on November 10th.

I want to thank all of your for your dedication to the this "unusual" undertaking that has changed all of our lives and many others. We are truly pioneers in a new type of education. All of this is only possible because of you.

100,000 AND GOING STRONG. TO THE 23RD CENTURY AND
BEYOND...........

Mr. Williamson

 By the way, the Space Center's current attendance stands at over 310,000. 

May 9, 2000
"My First Impressions of the Space Center"
By: Tyson Baker

In the summer of `97 I think it was, the end of my 6th grade
year, I got the chance to go to a 5 day camp at AstroCamp. I thought
it was the most amazing thing in the world. But as I was traveling
to AstroCamp, I glanced over the camp description again, and it
mentioned something about a `Christa McAuliffe Center'. I thought it was going to be cheesy and stupid. What I thought was cheesy has changed my life forever.

Once I got to AstroCamp, I queried about the camp to some other members in my group. They said it was the best camp ever, and that it was like Star Trek. My curiosity of the place was growing. As we rode the bus to the center, my stomach began to churn.

The thought of going on a journey to the 23rd century had gotten to
me.  As I arrived at the Center, a staff member took our bags, and
sat them down in the gym. Another one lead us into the Briefing
Room,  where we used to begin, not in the cafeteria. It was pretty cool in there. Mr. Williamson told me that I was in Team 1 and that we would
be going in the Voyager first. The rest of the kids were assigned to
the Odyssey, and some were assigned to the Classroom. I remember
Dave lining the kids up against the wall, and staring at them, to see who
would break out laughing first.

After the other kids had left, Mr. Williamson gave us our briefing. I can't put a finger on it, but I think I went on the `Corridor' mission the first time I was there. We boarded the Voyager, and entered through the spinning doors, which I thought were awesome. They had bold music playing as we entered the bridge. I knew it was already going to be fun.

The first job I had at the Space Center was Recorder/Security Officer.
The thing that capture my imagination about that place is that you were in a starship of the 23rd century. You got to fight alien bad guys. But the most important thing was that it was the most realistic thing I had ever experienced. When I went on the first mission, I thought that was the most amazing thing ever. The difference between now and then is that they have different staff, different missions, different equipment, and different simulators.  But I still think the Voyager is the best, since that's the first ship I went on.

I think the magic of the place is, well, everything...

This is Tyson Baker,
Signing off.

May 9, 2000

When I first went to the space center in 5th grade I thought it was the coolest thing in the world even though I was doing that old exploding star science mission with the romulan(I think it was a romulan) and I was the ambassador. The romulan chewed me up. I was extremely nervous. But I had an awesome time. I thought it was the coolest thing in the whole world. Then I went on my first two day mission. Oh boy. I had so much fun. It helps to go with somebody you know cause then it is even more fun.

I think the "magic" of the Space Center is the staff, and others who make it fun for all the little who come.

-Andy Heaton