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| The Honor's Night Turn Out. Numbers this big haven't been seen at an Honor's Night since the Overnight Camp Era |
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| Lorraine Houston, Space Center 'Mom' and provider of all good things.... even after 25 years! |
Mr. James Porter, CMSEC Director, gavelled the proceedings to order after noticing both tubs of ice cream were decimated in the mad rush to make sundaes and root beer floats. James knows the old trick that if you're going to do a staff and volunteer 'chew out', do it after they've been sufficiently sugared. We all know a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down, right?
"A Clean Ship is a Happy Ship!" How many times has that been said at an Honor's Night and staff meeting during my tenure, Megan's tenure, and now James' tenure as Space Center Director? Will it ever sink into the padawan's heads? Will they ever learn to pick up after themselves? Probably not, but it sure makes for a good lecture, and so Space Center directors will continue to deliver it - ad nauseam for many many years to come.
The honors and awards came fast and furious after the housekeeping discussion. I could hardly keep up with photos and notes.
Brenner and Alexis received their Odyssey pins from Odyssey Set Director Natalie Anderson. Getting a pin means you've passed off the simulator's second chair and bridge stations to Natalie's exact and demanding specifications. I'm told Natalie is pretty cool and easy to work with. Of course, the Odyssey is one cool ship as well.
Not to be outdone by the Odyssey, Erin Williams (Galileo Set Director) butted her way to the front of the room dragging Alexis, Brenner, and Tyler up with her for their Galileo pin. Erin and Brenner have an annoying habit of overly praising each other. The proceedings were delayed while they passed compliments back and forth to the annoyance of all present.
To no surprise to anyone, Brenner was called up yet once again for his Phoenix pin and pass. Mr. Jon Parker pinned the award to Brenner's collar. I was fortunate to be close enough to hear Brenner whisper into Jon's ear; something I'm sure he didn't want me to hear.
"You're next Mr. Parker," he hissed. "Your days as the assistant director are numbered. That's me you see in the rearview mirror."
The look you see on Jon's face isn't one of joy for a young apprentice; it's a look of unbelief and unsettling fear? What has he created?
I stopped Jon for a quick photo as he headed out to get a drink to settle his nerves. His posture was bent at a noticeable angle due to the weight of the multiple honors pinned to his lanyard.
Jon is a Space Center legend, one of the few old timers still left. While Brenner, and those associated with this up and coming rising star, may consider Jon 'past it', there are those of us who believe Jon has the right stuff.
Keep at it Jon. We're behind you, just not as close as Brenner at the moment.
Mr. Porter stepped in to award the Magellan pins. Yes, that's Brenner. Orion, not to be outdone by someone with a definite height advantage, proudly wears his collection of pins.
These Apprentice volunteers have put in 2 years of service.
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| A better look at the names for Space Center history |
Lindsey was the only Journeyman honored at yesterday's Honor's Night. She just summited at 5 years. It WAS the highlight of her day.
Lindsey refused to sit down. She was in her element - basking in the warm adoration and applause of the crowd.
"I wanted to thank all the little people at the Space Center who made it possible for me to shine," she explained when asked why she prolonged her time on stage. It does them good to show appreciation for true talent.
"Get her sat down," James mumbled to Jon. Jon started forward but stopped. Lindsey took the hint and returned to the peanut gallery of her own free will.
These are the Starfighter Volunteers. They have 100 volunteer hours. What? Where's Brenner?
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| And the list of Starfighters for the records. |
Alexis and Tyler both received their Hitchhiker badge for over 500 hours of volunteer service.
Tyler is super happy and rightfully so. He recently returned from a vacation to Disneyworld. We briefly spoke about my favorite Disneyworld attraction - the all you can drink Sodas of the World pavilion at Epcot. I park myself at the fountains and drain the syrup tanks. Nowadays they see me coming and close Epcot for the duration of my stay.
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This was his way of reminding the volunteers to not pester the flight directors during a mission; a time when a flight director's stress is at its highest.
Maeson Busk was welcomed to the CMSEC family as a Galileo field trip flight director. Maeson is one amazing dude. In addition to his new responsibilities at the CMSEC, Maeson is the director of the Telos Discovery Space Center at Canyon Grove Academy with two ships of his own to worry about. He is a flight director at Farpoint, working with me on the USS Voyager, and he is trained to fly the Artemis and Apollo simulators at Lakeview Academy in Saratoga Springs. Talk about an all rounder!
This is the other Mason. You know him better as the CMSEC's resident Time Lord. There could be no better tribute to this young Lord of Gallifrey than the title of Defender of the Universe - something his kind do on a routine basis. He's traveling incognito at the moment - apparently, he's been made aware of a squadron of weeping angles, loose somewhere in Pleasant Grove, with a pinning for the soul of a Time Lord.
JJ was surprised and honored to be named Lord of the Summer Votes by Mr. Porter. Apparently, the other volunteers didn't have a chance. The campers loved him and boy did he know how to schmooze. I will say this about JJ, he is humble to a fault. When asked for his secret to getting so many votes he replied, "I've learned from the best and follow all of your examples." Everyone wanted to rush up and give him a hug, but time was short and the proceedings had to carry on.
Russ was honored with the mini-trophy for being labeled "Pretty Lit" by a camper in a survey. I'm not modern enough to know what that means, so I'll take a guess and remind Mr. Porter that smoking is banned on school premises. "Smoke 'em if you got 'em," is no longer policy. Sorry Mr. Herring (an inside joke).
Although I doubt "Pretty Lit" has anything to do with actual smoke. Someone will need to educate me on modern vocabulary.
Wow, Nicole VandenBos took the Top Flight Director trophy! Nicole is cool for many reasons. She is a top summer camp Magellan flight director AND she is an awesome 4th-grade teacher in Heber, Utah. Devin Sudweeks came in second. Natalie Anderson third, and Matt Robinson forth.
Best summer story went to the Galileo for their mission Radio Silence. Erin is pleased as punch.
And the top simulator award went to the Magellan! Ah, Voyager, we miss you and your abilities at putting all these ship's in their rightful places.....
Erin Williams wants everyone to know that Lissa got the highest summer score for a telling of the Phoenix's 5-hour mission Razor Plan.
Welcome Back, Nathan Young!
Nathan recently returned from an LDS mission to Panama. He's currently attending BYU and back at the Space Center working as an all arounder in every ship. Nathan started at the CMSEC as a young volunteer in 2010 and was the Galileo's Set Director before leaving on an LDS mission.
Honor's Night is not Honor's Night without a few rounds of Honor's Night Bombardment - a trademarked, patented Space Center game. What better way to settle long standing scores and staff/volunteer rivalries and animosities? Put them in a circle, give them a few gym balls and let them have at it.
It was a fun night mingling with the people I've known for years and getting to meet this new crop of talented, young volunteers. The Space Center is thriving and always in need of help. Come volunteer and play your part in making the CMSEC the Second Happiest Place on Earth!
Mr. Williamson
Space News
By Mark Daymont
spacerubble.blogspot.com
Expedition 52 Returns to Earth
Alas, it was time for her to come home. Peggy Whitson left the International Space Station after 288 days, some of which was unplanned but welcome. That means she now holds the American record of 665 days in space throughout all her missions. The World record is held by Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, who has currently 879 days in his name. He will have more, as he is scheduled to return to the ISS in September next year.
Originally, MS-04 was supposed to land with only two occupants. It had arrived at the ISS four and a half months ago, with just Yurchikhin and Fischer on board. The Russian agency Roscosmos was temporarily reducing crew members while a new space station module is under construction, due to be installed on the ISS next year. This allowed NASA to keep Peggy Whitson on board for extra time and increase the availability of slots for NASA personnel.
Officially, once the Soyuz undocked, Expedition 53 began under the command of NASA astronaut Commander Randy Bresnik, and crewed also by flight engineers Sergey Ryazanskiy (Roscosmos) and Paulo Nespoli (ESA). They will be on their own until more crew arrives in mid-September.
You can read more about Peggy Whitson's career in space at NASA Spaceflight.com:
Theater Imaginarium
The Best Gifs of the Week Edited for a Gentler Audience and Classrooms
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