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| The CMSEC's Briefing Room in 1991. Mr. Harward, Central Elementary Principal is Standing in the Doorway. |
This is how the Space Center's Briefing Room looked in 1991 before the Odyssey and Phoenix were built. Today's current Odyssey control room occupies the space where I stood to take this picture. I had the Phoenix built where the recessed lockers were located along the left wall. Today's Phoenix Control Room's door would be right behind where Mr. Harward is standing. This picture was taken even before I had the lockers removed and had bunks installed for the overnight camp staff.
The Briefing Room was used as my office, the field trip classroom and my classroom for math and history. In the early 1990's I taught one period of 6th-grade pre-algebra daily before the field trip bus arrived at 9:30 P.M. At 1:45 P.M. I taught one period of 6th-grade social students after the field trip kids left. I was a busy bee for sure. I'd conduct Space Center business from 3:30 P.M. to whenever the private mission arrived. In those days, with only one simulator - the Voyager, and me being the only flight director, I'd have private missions nearly ever late afternoon or evening. I'd get home between 8:00 and 9:30 P.M. and do the whole thing all over again the next day. There were many sacrifices made in those early days to ensure the Space Center would survive, flourish, and become what it is today.
I relied heavily on a great group of volunteers and underpaid staff in those days. They kept me sane and put up with my frequent moments of extreme focus brought about by exhaustion and stress. Many a time I'd be flying the field trip or private mission at the same time an urgent phone call would come in, at the same time knowing I had a social studies and math lesson that needed preparing, knowing that one simulator wasn't going to do the job and desperatly trying to find a way to structure the overcrowded field trips into one simulator, etc.... It was my volunteers and staff that did so much by taking the load off my back when the could.
In those days I put their pictures on the Staff Board at the front of the room. Recently I found the envelope with those early staff pictures and thought I'd share some with you today and in the next post.
I'd like to introduce Landon Hemsley. Back in the day I called him Helmsley, something he'd occasionally correct me on but usually just accepted the fact that I wasn't always operating with both oars in the water and let it go. Landon was with us for several years, starting as a Voyager Club volunteer then working his way into a Blue Shirt then a Flight Director for the Odyssey.
Today Landon is a web application developer at Montana Interactive, lives in Helena, Montana, is married with kids.
You can reach Landon through Facebook. Thank you Landon for the time and dedication you gave the Space Center.
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| Ben Hoglund's picture from the STAFF board |
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| Richard Orcutt |
This is Richard Orcutt's STAFF board photo taken when he was 14 years old. The back of this photo says that he was a Magellan Specialist. I lost touch with Richard, but am happy to say that after this post went out Richard sent the following update. I'm pleased to see he is doing so well.
Mr. Williamson
I graduated from USU in 2013 with an economics degree. During college, I was an intern for the US state department in Guangzhou, China; on the executive board for my fraternity; and a student lobbyist to the Utah legislature. Since Utah State, I have worked in a few odd positions as the economy recovered. Currently, I am earning my MBA from the University of Montana, and I am a financial analyst for a large military engineering firm in Salt Lake City. I recently bought a house and adopted a dog. I have 10 nieces and nephews, who I spoil as much as I can. I still think about the Space Center, and even dream about it sometimes. I wish I was in contact with more former CMSEC staff so I could share the crazy missions I've been on in my sleep. It's funny how things like the Space Center stay with us for so long, I suppose the experiences I've had in those simulators helped shape a lot of my worldview. Who knows what if any social interaction my awkward Junior High self would have had without being a volunteer. There are not many options out there for young nerds who don't know when to stop talking. Thanks for making it all happen!
Richard was with us at the Space Center for several years; again, a fantastic volunteer and staff member.
Thank you, Richard for the time and dedication you gave the Space Center.
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| Chase Wooten |
Our final photo in today's post of pictures from the Space Center's STAFF Board is Chase Wooten. Chase was a steady, dedicated volunteer and staff member for many years. In fact, it was Chase's dad who built the Phoenix.
Chase grew up, went on an LDS mission, came home, married and went to dental school.
He is currently serving his country as an army dentist in Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Germany.
Thank you Chase for the time and dedication you gave the Space Center.
An Update from the Space Centers
The USS Voyager at the Farpoint Space Education Center, Renaissance Academy, along with the Odyssey at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center have Thorium. In December, the Voyager conducted a successful Thorium mission.
Farpoint's Isaac Ostler is nearly finished with his Interstellar Starship Simulator Controls. They are installed on the Voyager and at Lionsgate. I, for one, am excited to use these new controls. Each has unique features and work well with different audiences. Every space center in the SpaceEdVentures network of simulators are welcome to visit the Voyager to see demonstrations of these new controls. Contact me at Director@spacecamputah.org.
Victor
Update From the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center
Astronaut visits Central Elementary and the Space Center were on hand to share in the experience. Ok, so it wasn't a real astronaut, but we appreciated getting to see this amazing costume that brightened and inspired Mrs. Crandall's 2nd-grade class. As we excitedly approached him it reminded me how much I admire the courageous women and men who have ventured into space.#whatiwanttobewhenigrowup
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| The CMSEC Daytime Field Trip Gang |
Of course, you should like the CMSEC's Facebook page. Lots of exciting things coming like these camps - perfect for all ages.
Sign up your 10-16 year old for a space camp. $40 for a 6-hour mission, dinner, and amazing experiences. The next camp is on January 20th.
Due to high demand, The Space Center has added another adult camp spot for February 9th. Tag your friends and form your crew.
Thanks for your support. 25% of funds from school year camps are directly applied to support the Center's field trip program.
Space and Astronomy News
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly through the Orion nebula? Wonder no more.
Take a three-dimensional fly-through of the Orion Nebula. This newly developed visualisation uses real data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope to create a stunning view of Orion’s famous stellar nursery. By alternating between visible and infrared views, this movie shows strikingly different details and reveals a more complete picture of the Orion Nebula. See more at http://hubblesite.org/news_release/news/2018-04
Scientists found water just beneath the surface of Mars. Here's what we know.
Pictures from Jupiter
The Sky is Falling
How would you handle a space station that has been lost to tracking and is falling out of the sky, potentially on course to hit a populated area? This may sound like a mission from the Telos Discovery Space Center, but it's a real life dilemma that we are facing right now!
Imaginarium Theater
The Best Gifs of the Week Edited for a Gentler Audience
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