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| Little did he know back then that he would grow up and become the Director of the Center |
Post from the Past
Dave Wall Announces the Opening Day of His New Pathfinder Simulator in Salt Lake City
April 27, 2001
Friends of Space, Simulation, and the Pathfinder,
It looks as though the fateful day is finally (almost) here...the Pathfinder will officially launch on May 5th, 2001. This day also marks the 40th anniversary of the first American in space...Alan Shepard became the first American to go into space on May 5th, 1961. It also marks the end of Space Week (yes...space has a week).
There will be an open house with tours, maybe some activities or demonstrations and will take place on May 5th, between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. (0100-0300 GMT). The Pathfinder is located at Bonneville Elementary, 1145 South 1900 East, Salt Lake City, UT in a trailer on the north side of the school. You are all welcome to come and see this amazing event! Invite your friends!
Hope to see you all there.
Dave Wall
Pathfinder Space Simulation
Post from the Past
The USS Pathfinder, the Eleventh Simulator, Opens Tomorrow
May 4, 2001
Good Morning Troops!
Tomorrow afternoon will usher in, according to my calculations, the eleventh simulator generally based on our model in the world. Tomorrow the Pathfinder will open its doors. The Pathfinder is a private simulator designed and owned by Dave Wall.
The history of this type of simulation can be traced back to the first simulation based on this model, the Pegasus (1983). From there the history is as follows:
1. Pegasus: 1983 - 1986 (Central Elementary)
2. Orion: 1986 - 1990 (Central Elementary)
3. Voyager: 1990 - Present (CMSEC)
4. Explorer I: 1992 - 1995 (Mobile)
5. ISES/Seeker/Odyssey: 1993 - Present (CMSEC)
6. Explorer II: 1996 - Present (USU)
8. Chiron: 1996 - 2000 (Granite School District)
7. Questar: 1997 - 1998 (Provo School District)
8. Galileo: 1998 - Present (CMSEC)
9. Magellan: 1999 - Present (CMSEC)
10. Falcon: 2000 - Present (CMSEC)
11. Pathfinder: 2001 (Private)
(I realize my years may be a bit off. Anyone in the egroup that has correct years or other information please send that on to me).
People say that Utah's space pioneers are those that have ventured into space (Jake Garn and Don Lind). That is true, but may I also add the following to that list:
Steve Wall
Dave Wall
Mark Daymont
Pat Bown
Kyle Herring
Chris Alldredge
John Barainca
Ed Douglas
Lois Douglas
All the above have created simulators where there were none before. I consider them a different type of space pioneer - citizens working to excite a new generation of children about space and its possibilities.
In addition to the pioneers listed above may I add the following to that list:
Bill Schuler
Lorraine Houston
Fred Olsen
David Merrell
Aaron Yeager
Jennifer Remy
All of whom are set directors,flight directors, or educators at the Space Center. All dedicated individuals that have the vision of the future and where the conquest of space will lead us.
Let us all join in welcoming the Pathfinder to our family of simulators in Utah.Congratulations to Dave Wall and those that helped him put this project together! Good luck to our sister ship and may all those that sail in her enjoy learning taken to its fullest.
To those that are interested in touring the Pathfinder - the open house goes from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Saturday. I hope to see you there.
(for address and location please refer to Dave Wall's post on the matter)
Mr. Williamson
Post from the Past
The USS Pathfinder. A Report on its Opening.
May 6, 2001
Hello Troops,
A report on the opening of the Pathfinder at Bonneville Elementary School in Salt Lake City.
Yesterday I attended the opening of Dave Wall's new simulator "Pathfinder" along with Mr Daymont, Mr Schuler, James and Stephen Porter, and Brian Hawkins. The simulator is located in a small trailer on the north side of the school.
From the outside it looks like any office trailer you would find on a construction site. You enter from the south end up a couple of metal steps. Once inside you find yourself in a small narrow hallway. Turn left and take a couple steps and you enter the control room. Turn right and take a couple steps and you enter the simulator proper. Everything was what I expected until I entered the simulator proper. I was truly amazed at what I saw. Dave has done an excellent job. The walls are painted the same colors as the back wall of our briefing room . There is even the same blue band along the wall separating the colors. The workstations very closely resemble the Voyagers. In fact, anyone that has flown in either the Voyager or Odyssey would find themselves very much at home in the Pathfinder. The computer stations at many of the stations are very Odyssey like. The communication station looks like the first officer's station on the Voyager. What is different is the size. It is roughly 1.5 times bigger than the Odyssey. Another difference is the front of the simulator. There is the typical large screen TV behind the black plastic but coming down from the TV are two stations built into the same piece of furniture. It looks like the front of a ship. Under the main view screen are the speakers - all hidden from view.
We all were impressed with the lighting. Dave found some very "cool" lights that would be nice to buy and equip our sims with. He also has 3 strobe light mounted on the ceiling pointing down to the floor. There are also red alert lights and the turning "police" red lights
like the Odyssey. The Pathfinder has metal chairs for the crew. The carpet is blue with a thick pad (I notice things like that because I sleep on the floor on overnighters).
There was a short launch ceremony. We shut the outer doors and launched the Pathfinder for the first time. Yours truly got to operate the thrusters and HyperLight drive. Once in Hyperlight we experienced our first emergency. The engines overloaded (of course not my fault, I'm sure it was programmed into the mission). What was "way cool" was the Red Alert. The lights went red and then the explosion. Smoke filled the simulator. Now you are saying that is common but what is not common is Dave's use of the strobes. During the explosions, the strobes flash just for a second. It gives just the right effect without knowing they are strobe lights. It makes you feel like electrical sparks are flying without real electrical sparks. That is another innovation we will borrow from the Pathfinder.
After the launch, we drank a toast to the ship using the "approved" bubbly.
Dave has done a remarkable job with the Pathfinder. I'm anxious to book missions for our staff and volunteers. Yes, we will arrange flights for you. These will be reward flights so keep volunteering and passing off your stations. Your points tell your story so always check your
points to see if Mr. Williamson is adding them correctly. ALSO KEEP THOSE GRADES UP.
WE WELCOME THE PATHFINDER. IT IS ONE FANTASTIC SISTER SHIP TO THE
VOYAGER, ODYSSEY, MAGELLAN, GALILEO, FALCON, AND EXPLORER.
Mr. Williamson
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| Taken in July 2002 |
Post from the Past
The Magellan Mission Tora, Tora, Tora is Run for the First Time
April 17, 2001
I am happy to announce that Magellan's new private mission titled Tora! Tora! Tora! is officially up and running. It was run successfully tonight with a group that Mitch Comfort brought. The website will soon have a detailed briefing for both the Magellan and the Ranger so stay tuned.
Post from the Past
Volunteers (Voyagers and Pioneers) Reward Mission
April 21, 2001
Hello Troops,
This memo is to inform all of you Voyagers that have made 500 points or over that you will be invited to come to the Magellan and fly the new mission, "Tora, Tora, Tora" at no charge. Date:
Saturday, April 28th from 11:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. Some of you are very close to the 500 pt mark. Remember, your Quarter 3 grades are due. You earn 50 points when you submit your grades. If you are within 50 pts of 500 and haven't gotten those grades into me do it now so you can make the mission.
Pioneers. 13 of you will be selected based on your points and seniority to come do the Tora Tora Tora mission on Saturday, May 5th from 11:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. again at no charge. You will be invited by email so watch your email this next week.
I'm looking for other ways to reward our outstanding volunteers that have accomplished so much for the Center.
To you volunteers, keep earning those points and always check the database of this egroup to see if I'm recording your missions and points correctly.
Just an advance announcement. The Magellan, Odyssey, and Galileo will be hosting special 4-hour missions within the next month to reward our Blue Shirts, Voyagers, and Pioneers. These missions will be the trial runs of their new summer missions. The Voyager's trial run will be the special mission planned for our new Blue Shirts and Promoted Blue
Shirts. Watch here for further announcements.
Thank you troops for all you do. Please accept this cyber pat on the back from me. I'm honored that you have selected the Center to be a place where you spend some your precious free time. I enjoy seeing you when you arrive to do your missions. I enjoy talking to each of you and hearing your stories and comments. I hope you enjoy the Center as
much as we enjoy you. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
All the Best!
Mr. Williamson
The Imaginarium
Rules Men Should Teach Boys
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