Alex Anderson recently sent me this photos of the Voyager, may it rest in peace, at its prime.
For many of you, the Voyager was your favorite ship. It was the ship that introduced you to the Space Center when you came with your teachers on field trips. Many of you did overnight camps here; many of you slept many nights in the Voyager's sleeping quarters, captain's loft or bridge. Over 300,000 children, teens and adults walked its rooms, screamed during its missions and imagined themselves far far away in some remote corner of the galaxy.
We are committed to bringing the Voyager back, but at a new location - Renaissance Academy in Lehi. Our goal is to open the Voyager II in September, 2015. Stay in touch with us here at Farpoint. Read the blog and be ready to help when the call goes out.
What once was, will be again for generations to come.
How many of you spent time in the Voyager's Brig? I know many of the older staff liked playing the dreaded Orion Pirates during the overnight camps (and especially during the Saturday morning continuation of the mission) knowing they could lay down and sleep in the brig when captured (after doing their duty of taunting security for a bit).
The Voyager's Security Station. Noticed how well It was designed. Security had its back to the screen and rest of the crew. The station was right at the top of the spiral stairs and in clear phaser shot range from the Captain's Loft. Security never stood a chance. Again, a flawless design :) By the way, the dedication plaque at the top of the spiral stairs hangs on my classroom wall at Renaissance Academy.
The Voyager's upper bridge showing the engineering's station; captain's, first officer's, and Ambassador's stations; sensors; and right wing. The headsets are out as the ship waits patiently for its next mission.
The lower bridge of the Voyager. To the left is damage control and left wing, below is communications.
Ahhhhhhh, good times.
Deck 2's Galley. Many a crew ate their meals on this red table. Many crews sat here talking, laughing, and playing games as they waited for the 'Light's Out' order on the overnight camps. Many a staff member and volunteer hid behind this table to fight pitched battles against the bridge crew. Many a crew was held in this room as prisoners after loosing the bridge to the Orion Pirates, Klingons or Romulans. We'd watch them on the Voyager's cameras as they'd plot and scheme to retake their bridge. Many a 'bomb' was hidden in those cabinets.
And finally, this old duck. He hung around the Space Center for 23 years, slept many a night on the floor during camps, and generally annoyed the staff and volunteers (did anybody ever ask him his name?). I don't know who gave him the staff shirt, or what he is doing sitting at my desk. I will say this, we never managed to get rid of him until the very end. Let's hope he's found a nice home somewhere else and new people he can bother.
I hope you enjoyed this walk down memory lane. Thank you for your support and the many kindnesses shown to myself, the staff and volunteers over the years.
Now, let's get to work. We've much to imagine and create as we build Farpoint, a new Space Center.
Mr. W.
Saturday at the Space Education Centers
The Discovery Space Center
I stopped by both space centers yesterday to catch up on the latest news to share with you, the highly educated and respected readers of The Troubadour.
The Discovery Space Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Jordan Winger to the post of Set Director for the Atlantis SEdsim (Space EdVentures Simulator). Jordan wrestled the set directorship and microphone from the cold clammy hands of Bradyn Lystrup. Bradyn is now the Chief Flight Director and Trainer at the DSC.
"He may have the Atlantis," Braydn was overhead saying, "but I've got his career as a flight director in my hands. He'd better not forget that."
Jordan Winger is pictured above directing a mission in the Atlantis on Saturday. To his left sat Atlantis's darling, Sarah Glad. Her job is to make the Jordan look good and appear talented. "I did it for Bradyn and I'll do it for Jordan," she said while working with an intern at the second chair station.
"Bradyn came to the job after spending years in the Voyager. Jordan is fairly new at this," I questioned.
"Well, I had more to work with, with Bradyn. It was easier to make him look talented. Jordan is different, but he's got the right stuff. Don't worry, I can make something out of him."
Sarah smiled and gave me a thumbs up.
My next stop was Jorden Osborn's Columbia SEdsim. Jorden was in his typical good mood. People who suffer from chronic Goodmooditis scare me. What do they have to be so happy about, especially on a Saturday after an overnight camp?
"Mr. Williamson, I'm happy because I don't have to work 'till 11:00 o'clock tonight like I did last Saturday!" Jorden beamed.
"Wait a minute, you worked the overnight camp last Friday night. Are you telling me you did the overnight camp AND then stayed here until 11:00 o'clock Saturday?" I was dumbfounded.
"Mr. Williamson, now I know why you closed the Space Center at 5:00 P.M. on a Saturday. I know how tired you were."
"What about Casey?" I questioned. "I hear he doesn't suffer from weekend Goodmooditis."
Jorden introduced me to the Columbia's mascot, "Grumpy Casey". "This is Grumpy Casey. This is what he looks like on a Friday and Saturday, especially if he hasn't had any sleep."
"And what about the air freshener?" I pointed to the can of Febreze sitting next to Grumpy Casey.
"That's for those of us who work these long Friday nights and Saturday mornings - if you know what I mean." The Australian Shadow interrupted our conversation needing a rewrap.
"One of them hugged me," he said as Jorden rewrapped him in his black shroud.
"That means double death," I interjected.
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| Grumpy Casey, the cat |
I took this picture to send to the Labor Relations Board and OSHA detailing another example of how Casey overworks his staff. "Whose?" I asked Jorden.
"Scott's."
"He doesn't even have time to eat his lunch?"
"He'll get back to it."
"When?" "When we don't need him any more."
"And if it's cold?"
"If you work here, you learn to love cold food."
Before leaving the DSC, I shot this photo of Kendrick Gines directing an Endeavor mission. Kendrick is another new DSC flight director - although I suspect he's been flight directing for quite some time and I just never noticed.
The Troubadour welcomes Kendrick to the Society of Flight Directors. He gets to work for Todd Rasband. That alone is a privilege - and to be paid an hourly wage on top of that is what I call, pampering.
Before leaving the DSC, I want to point out the new intelligence monitor installed in the hallway leading from Stone Gate's lobby, into the DSC. The sensors in the handrail are sensitive to the brain's alpha waves - a good indicator of a person's intelligence and creativity. The more lights - the more intelligent and imaginative. The lights are suppose to turn off when you let go of the handrail. Notice they didn't for me. My brain's alpha waves are so powerful, they trigger the lights when I stand anywhere near the sensors.
"Amazing!" Casey exclaimed when I showed him. "I can only get one of them to light up for me - and that's when I'm clutching the handrail with both hands and one foot!"
"Rookie," I mumbled under my breath.
The Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center
It was all go at the CMSEC on Saturday. I found Farpoint Cadet Zach inside the Galileo listening as Nathan Young trained the Galileo's new engineer. Our Farpoint Cadet's volunteer in the SEdSims at both Space Centers. They learn how to run the simulators, help run the missions and do the acting roles.
Connor and team in the Magellan control room waiting for their afternoon mission to finish training. Bradyn and Jacqueline were back from their honeymoon. I found Jacque sitting in Connor's flight directing chair.
"That's brave of her," I said.
"Not at all," Connor replied, "I let people sit there for awhile for a fee. It gives them a thrill to get to sit where I sit. You know.... experience what it's like to be me. Besides, its a good way to pick up a couple extra bucks for gas."
Bradyn occupied himself with a video game while he waited for his three minute turn. "How much longer," he asked his new wife.
"Two more minutes," Jacque replied. "Wow, look at all these buttons. And look at these sliders on the mixer. Gosh Gee.... This is too much to take in. Golly Connor, how do you keep track of all of this stuff? I'd be totally lost - I mean totally!"
Connor gave me a strange look, which seemed to be his comment on the questions Jacque was asking. I snapped the photo.
The Troubadour Welcomes Two New Farpoint Cadets
Two new Farpoint Cadets finished their observations and passed their interviews Saturday afternoon. Ethan is pictured above. Ethan will be volunteering at the CMSEC
and has an interest in joining Farpoint's Engineering Department.
This is Cole. I forgot to get a picture of Cole wearing his new Farpoint shirt after our interview so I'm using this picture of him taken Saturday morning at our Farpoint membership meeting. Cole also finished his observations at the CMSEC and plans on being a regular volunteer. Cole joined the club's Engineering Department.
Welcome to Farpoint!
The Imaginarium
Watch as the ordinary, becomes Extraordinary
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| Star Wars Cast |
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