Leave him at the Space Center or take him home? That was my decision when we got home from Lagoon. In the end I put him in the Voyager Control Room and made him our official mascot. He sat there for years and years overlooking our operations in his role as our official quality control director. After all, who knows the ins and outs of space travel better than an honest to goodness little green alien who has found himself shipwrecked on Earth? Today I believe the Little Green Alien sits in the Magellan keeping an eye on the ship's new staff and volunteers.
What I didn't know was how attached James Porter has become to the little guy; something I discovered on my last visit to the Space Center. A poster hangs in the school's lobby showing Central Elementary School's staff funny photo. And in that photo I found James Porter clinging to the little plush toy. I'm glad James has found someone he can turn to for emotional support during those days when everything seems to be going wrong. You can't escape them as a Space Center director.
I have once concern. That little green alien was, from time to time, given to the youngest of our overnight campers to help them through bouts of homesickness in the wee hours of the morning. Its green fur has been washed in hundreds of tears over the years. Knowing that, and the possibility of nose droppings accompany the tears, James may not want to cuddle the little guy so closely.
Thank you James for caring so much for our mutual little friend.
Do You Have What it Takes to Become a Christa McAuliffe Space Center Ambassador?
The New Central Elementary School and Christa McAuliffe Space Center
The Christa McAuliffe Space Center is looking for individuals who are so enthusiastic about the new planetarium and simulators that they're ready to put their shoulder to the wheel and become CMSC Ambassadors. As ambassadors you'll help the CMSC reach a wider audience with updates about the new Space Center. If you have been positively impacted by our program we hope that you'll apply to become an ambassador and spread the joy. Application: https://goo.gl/forms/q3MigqrbCl8R54Vn2
Those selected for the position will have the option to buy a discounted $10 ambassador kit equipped with space center T-shirt, pin, and lanyard. That way you can catch the attention of friends and co-workers to share their excitement.
Additional materials will also be provided. Ambassadors will also be provided a ticket to the CMSC's sneak peek event before the grand opening, being some of the first to see the new facility.
As always thanks for your support as we continue on this exciting adventure to bring additional educational resources to our community.
James Porter,
CMSC Director
From the Historical Archives. The Space Center Journal. February 2003
Another power outage affects the field trip. A new way of doing hallway landing parties for the Overnight Camps. After camp Bombardment.
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| There I am looking through the Alpine District phone directory while enjoying my Dt. Dew. 2008 |
Can you believe another power outage! This was on Thursday!! I was in the middle of the morning mission when the lights dimmed and then went out. Two weeks in a row! Up to the last two weeks I've only had to send a class home once in 12 years due to a power outage. It was 11:15 A.M. The principal was gone so I stepped up to the plate and made a few decisions for the school concerning lunch and other procedures. Once again I want to thank our awesome daytime staff (Lorraine, Rio, Chris, Tear, Julie, Josh, and Shelley) for handling our guests while I was busy with the school. We fed both classes at the same time as a way to buy time as we waiting for the power to come back on. I made the decision to phone for a bus to take the students back to Orchard Elementary if the power wasn't on by 12:05 P.M. The power came on at 11:55 A.M. There was time to run the afternoon schedule. We stared up the simulators and had the kids loaded and running by 12:10 P.M. Lorraine was at a disadvantage with the afternoon class -She had an extra 20 minutes of teaching time to fill. Luckily we have that fantastic "Hyperspace" DVD series.
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| BJ and the Magellan Overnight Camp staff ready for their bridge capture 2008 |
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| BJ Warner in the Magellan Control Room ready for another bridge capture 2008 |
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| Metta Smith, the best Magellan supervisor hands down. 2008 |
Mr. Williamson
From the Historical Archives. The Space Center Journal. February 23, 2003
A thought exercise; how you would run a simulator in the days before electricity. I tossed and turned on the Overnight Camp. The Galileo's network goes down on the Overnight Camp. I jiggled a wire or two and a miracle happened. The worst field trip mission ever.
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| Magellan volunteers: ?, Galo, and Brad Smith 2008 |
Have you ever wondered how we could run a simulator without electricity? My imagination is starting to run with the idea. Let's take the Voyager for instance.
Bridge: Desks, chairs, paint, carpet - all possible but very expensive. Lights - kerosene lamps or natural gas. If we used natural gas lamps we could control the light output by adjusting the flow of gas. That would provide the dimming for attack scenes. Red lights are
also possible with natural gas lamps is you used colored lamp shades.  |
| Warren Nuila in the Magellan Control Room. Warren was gold. 2008 |
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| Tysen Kaylor, another fantastic Magellan volunteer. His mother was Mrs. Kaylor who taught sixth grade at the time. 2008 |
Now, what about ship controls? The bridge of a non electrical ship would be quite bare by our standards. I'm seeing a large table with maps and star charts spread every which way. I'm see calculating tables and other such devices. There would be a captain's chair, perhaps a stool in front of the large wooden steering wheel controlling the ship's course with a large galactic compass pointing the way. Blow tubes would run down the wall of the bridge to the various sections of the ship providing communication to the galley, ship stores, and engine room.
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| Scott Slaugh. Scott was one of our programmers back in the day. Scott is Vicki Carter's son in law. Vicki is an assistant superintendent in the Alpine District |
Decorating the set would be an interesting challenge. I would use a nautical theme with lots of polished brass. Music, now there's the problem but still possible. We would have a piano behind a large canvas painting of a large 17th century ship with full sail navigating
the Atlantic. The pianist would have a large selection of music on hand for all scenes and moods. That takes one back to the days of silent cinema. As for the main computer - well without electricity there wouldn't be one but then this entire journey of the imagination wouldn't be real anyway so back to the question: How do we do the computer? Two ideas, one would be a person in a mechanical costume that would walk around under steam
power. Another idea would be a person in another room that speaks into a megaphone onto the bridge. OK, we are almost done without 19th century Voyager - all that is missing is the main view screens. No electricity no television so we would use the 19th century version of a slide projector projecting glass slides onto the wall. All of which would have to be prepared ahead of the mission. Don't laugh - sitting on the floor with an overhead projector is how I started in 1983!
Wouldn't you enjoy going on a mission in our Victorian Voyager?
power. Another idea would be a person in another room that speaks into a megaphone onto the bridge. OK, we are almost done without 19th century Voyager - all that is missing is the main view screens. No electricity no television so we would use the 19th century version of a slide projector projecting glass slides onto the wall. All of which would have to be prepared ahead of the mission. Don't laugh - sitting on the floor with an overhead projector is how I started in 1983!
Wouldn't you enjoy going on a mission in our Victorian Voyager?
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| Who can forget Bridger Maxwell, another of our outstanding programmers. Bridger is currently a software engineer at Facebook |
The Overnighter was a mixture of public and school. Barratt Elementary provided half the campers. We had a pretty good crew overall. We celebrated three birthdays Friday night during ice cream time - Chris Call, Josh Dye, and Shelley Osterkirk. I didn't sleep well Friday evening. Some overnighters I fall asleep quickly; others I'm tossing and turning and awaking to every nose. It doesn't help to have snoring nearby or a young staff member that sits up every half hour and talks in his sleep. I fell asleep around 3:00 A.M. and that make me cranky on Saturday morning - just ask the staff.
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| Bridger and Scott in the Magellan Control Room working to keep the old gal running 2008 |
Part way through Saturday morning's mission I was told the Galileo's network was down. Shelley came into the Voyager's Control Room with the news. She said Alex DeBirk had restarted the simulator several times and still no solution. I told her to put someone in the ship to watch the kids work the controls and call them out to the guys in the control section of the ship. After a few minutes I realized that wouldn't work. Alex and Shelley haven't had any experience doing a mission that way. I got my crew in the middle of a "retake the bridge from the bad guys" scene and walked to the cafeteria. I found Alex on the floor looking at the network box. He had Kyle Herring on the cell phone. I jiggled a few wires and it came on. Alex asked me what I'd done. I said something to impress him but in reality I just jiggled a few wires. Those ships can sometimes sense when I'm just in the mood and know they had better straighten up or else it's the emptiness of a space junk yard for them.
I'm happy to report that Kendal Duclos. has successfully passed off all of the simulators! We haven't had anyone do that for a year or two now. He got his last pass (Odyssey) this overnighter. Richard Orcutt also completed his Falcon passes giving him his Ranger shirt with one bar on Honor's Night Thursday.
I want to remind everyone of Honor's Night this Wednesday evening. We will be retiring Jason Hills as he prepares to enter the MTC in a week or so.
I'm happy to report that Kendal Duclos. has successfully passed off all of the simulators! We haven't had anyone do that for a year or two now. He got his last pass (Odyssey) this overnighter. Richard Orcutt also completed his Falcon passes giving him his Ranger shirt with one bar on Honor's Night Thursday.
I want to remind everyone of Honor's Night this Wednesday evening. We will be retiring Jason Hills as he prepares to enter the MTC in a week or so.
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| Stacy, Metta, and Richard hanging up Magellan uniforms after the overnight camp. 2008 |
Monday.......
I wrote the above stuff on Sunday. This is Monday and we just finished our day program. I had to comment on the rough afternoon crew my staff and I suffered through. You know, if even 30% of our crews were like that I'd quit and walk away from this place right now. The captain was one of those chosen by the students ( the most popular kid in the class). Now, this usually isn't a problem but this kid was something else. He spent most of the training time sprawled out, nearly flat on his back, in his captain's chair. He had this look like he was the most bored person God had ever created. His face had no emotion at all. A complete look of apathy. I thought perhaps after the mission started he would come
around and perk up. Not a chance! The mission started and he continued in his "Whatever" attitude. His answers and comments were barely understandable. I told him on his headphone that he needed to get into gear and get things moving on the ship because they were running out of time. He told his crew with a smile,"This guy's getting pissed at me," and pointed to his headset. That was it; if he didn't care then neither would I.
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| Casey Voeks flying the Phoenix while enjoying a snack. 2008 |
It was the ambassador's turn next and she was almost as bad. Nothing was taken seriously - all of it was a joke. I can't remember a mission commanded by someone only 12 years old but with the attitude of a 14 year old jock. I should have stopped the mission and asked the teacher to replace him. I didn't because I saw the teacher didn't seem to mind his attitude. She sat there on the stool next to the Ambassador talking about whatever. The bridge staff overheard the captain talking to the left wing officer during one of the tense moments of the mission asking him if he was coming over to his house after school!!!
That mission was one for the books. Once again, I can't even remember the last time I had a captain like that. Any other flight directors have captains like that on any of your missions? I'd like to hear about it if you have.
Well, the emails are pouring in for the March volunteer positions. I'd better get started on those.
Well, the emails are pouring in for the March volunteer positions. I'd better get started on those.
All the Best and have a good week.
Mr. Williamson
Imaginarium Theater
The Best Gifs of the Week From Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience
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