Old Times, Old Photos in Tonight's Digital Gathering

Hello Troops,
 The Troubadour gives us a place to reminisce, share a laugh or two, pass along bits of news on the Space Center, and keep in touch with each other during this long winter of our discontent . 

In tonight's 'digital' fireside gathering of staff, volunteers and campers,  I'm going to pass around a few photographs from the Space Center's old days.  Pull up a chair, squeeze in and let's get started.

This picture takes us back to the early 1990's  This is what the Odyssey looked like when it first opened in 1992

I found these ultra cool black Apple computers that I knew had to be in the Space Center's newest ship ISES.   ISES is what I called the Odyssey when it opened.  Dave Wall was the designer and builder of the Odyssey.  He didn't like the name ISES (Inner Space Exploration Ship) and called the ship Seeker.  So, for a year or so, the Odyssey was called either ISES or Seeker, depending on who was talking.

This disagreement had to be resolved.  People were getting too confused.  Dave and I compromised.  I gave up ISES.  He gave us Seeker (I hated that name) and we both agreed on Odyssey.

Back to the black computers.  Back then you could buy Apple computers in any color you desired, as long as it was white.  Then these black Apple's came on the market and, if you wanted to be cool, you bought one.  I was cool, so I bought several for the Odyssey.

They sat right out there in the open.  These were the days before we hid our computers behind black plastic screens.   

This shot was taken toward the front of the Odyssey.  I couldn't find enough black Apple's, so we had to include a white computer.  It messed up the color scheme but it really didn't matter.  I had a $25,000 grant to build the Odyssey and we had to stay in budget - mismatched computers or not.  

That's a dot matrix printer on the front counter.  It used stacks of perforated paper and made a racket as it printed messages.

The Odyssey was a great ship.  I know many of you had the chance to fly in her over her twenty year life span.  Just think of the stories those walls could tell;  good times, very good times.    

Here comes the next picture.  Keep passing them along.  Make sure everyone has a chance to see - and speak up if you have any questions.

I know I've shown this before to you Troubadours, but I'm going to pass it around again because many of you never got to see it last time.  This picture was taken right after our last 48 Hour Camp on July 31, 2000.  That was the last time anyone did a mission with the old Voyager computers.  We gathered on the Voyager's Bridge to bid the old bridge a fond farewell. 

"A Toast to the Voyager.  The finest ship in the fleet!" I'm saying. 

"To the Voyager!" everyone repeated. 

The following day, all the Voyager's bridge furniture was pulled out.  The Voyager was going to be remodeled.  The ship got new desks, new computers (behind black plastic), new carpeting and new chairs.  It was sad to say goodbye to the original bridge, but we had to stay ahead of the times. 

How many of the old staff do you recognize? 

The Great Fish, Kyle Herring sitting in the Voyager's Captain's chair in November 2000.  The Voyager was remodeled.  It was time to reopen the ship to field trips and the public.

We're going to jump ahead a few years with this next photo. It is 2004.   Bradyn Lystrup has a slight injury to his knee.  Our highly trained professional medics gave his magic medicine (M & M's) then treated the wound with duct tape. Bradyn lived to tell the tale - narrowly escaping an amputation, which I recommended.  A recommendation the medic flatly refused. 

This photo was taken at the Space Center's 15th birthday party, November 2005.   I'm standing on Central Elementary's Stage, surrounded by very happy staff and volunteers.  How many can you name?  How many have you flown with? 

Warren Nuila is wearing his black Space Center T-shirt and stands next to Stacy and I.  I'm happy to report that Warren just returned from an LDS mission to Germany.  Where has the time gone?  

I'm talking to Dr. Stan Harward.  Stan was the principal of Central Elementary when the Space Center was built in 1990.   He was my co-pilot in this adventure.  The Space Center wouldn't have been had Stan not supported the idea and backed me 100%. 

Think of all the people who pooled their talents and made the Space Center what it was,  the second happiest place on Earth!

Our final picture to pass around.  This was taken in the Discovery Room during one of the Space Center's Honor's Nights in 2007.  Sam Brady, Megan Warner and Casey Voeks were awarded their 1000 point, home made - Lorraine made, blankets.   Our volunteers and staff got Lorraine made pillowcases at 500 volunteer points and blankets at 1000.  Everyone wanted a Lorraine, hand stitched (with a machine's help) blanket to use when you staffed an Overnight Camp. 

Sam moved on after high school.  Megan was with us up to the day the Space Center closed in August.  Casey comes and goes depending on whoever is writing the bigger check!   :)