The Space Center's Galileo Lite Lands at FanX in Salt Lake - A Big Hit. Construction Update. From the Archives - the First Telling of Event Horizon on the Voyager and Dave Wall and James Porter's Discovery Project. Imaginarium Theater.

 

 The Christa McAuliffe Space Center Lands the Galileo Lite at FanX in Salt Lake City

By James Porter
CMSC Director

     We had a wonderful time at FanX last week. Our mobile version of the Galileo for participants to sample performed well considering it was put together in 3 days. Our goal was to raise awareness of our program, get a few donations, and try to reach our Facebook likes goal. We didn't quite get all our goals but we ended up with something even better.

NEW FANS
     There were so many times where people started off with a puzzled look and apprehension to stop that then transformed into excitement and a "thanks for stopping me, this is going to be what I do for my next birthday." Or the classic, "how did I not know this existed!"

     Often new fans rescued their friends from the hustle and bustle of the more crowded booths to come and experience our simulator instead. A prime example of how we rely on so many of you who have helped us with the simple phrase, "it's hard to describe, but trust me that you are going to love it."

     One new commander who is sure to work their way up the ranks became one of our favorites. This young man has already logged around 3 hours of simulator time. We asked if there were other things at the convention he was planning on seeing as he kept coming back, "No, yours is the best,"  he said. He eventually started receiving orders from Starfleet to complete investigations of a rumored Borg invasion in a nearby booth with our friends from the 7th Fleet Star Trek club.

OLD FRIENDS
     A large portion of our encounters brought back floods of memories with past volunteers, staff, and campers bumping into us. Many stories were shared as we reminisced about good times saving the galaxy. Far too many of them didn't realized we were still operating after so many years and had written it off as a childhood memory. They have their plans now to return and reconnect with the Space Center that was so much a part of their formative years.

     I think the furthest back we came was someone who went on an overnight camp around 25 years ago. As he stood there with his family he kept looking to his wife with a look of, "our kids are doing a mission while we fly another with our friends." It was fun to see his excitement as he tried to convey some of what he remembered to his wife who stood wide eyed as she saw a previously unknown side of her husband. The 12 year old right wing officer from 1994.

THANK YOU
     To all those who visited that already fly with us on a regular basis as we greatly appreciate your support. To the many new fans who are gathering their crews for their first adventure we look forward to testing your abilities as command officers of our starships. Lastly to our long lost friends who we reconnected with we are glad to have you back and for the past experiences you shared with us.

      It was a great reminder of just how impactful our program has been and will continue to be as we spent the last few days in such excellent company.

Mr. Porter

Construction Update.  Central Elementary School and the Christa McAuliffe Space Center

Construction of the new Christa McAuliffe Space Center and Central Elementary School is moving ahead at a fast pace.  Check out these now photos taken on September 13.

The new Space Center's foundation

The Space Center's walls are going up

The building site where the old three story church once stood

The school's walls are going up fast

From the Christa McAuliffe Space Center's Historical Archives

The First Telling of the Voyager Mission "Event Horizon"

May 13, 2003

Hello Troops,

The Voyager is going to run its summer mission, "Event Horizon" for the first time this Friday evening. It will be a level 3 mission (maybe a 2.5). The crew will be made up of some of our Sixth Graders from Central Elementary's staff and a few 6th and 7th graders from our
volunteer clubs. I want this to be limited to no one older than 13 years old. This will give me a good idea how our normal aged campers will understand the mission. The mission will begin at 7:00 P.M.  Friday evening and continue until 1:30 P.M. Saturday afternoon. We are
going longer because it is a test mission and we will be making changes as we go. You will be fed a breakfast but you should bring a sack lunch. The crew will be limited to 10 people. I'll give the slots away based on hours and points in the clubs.

If you are interested in being a crew member please send me an email asap. I'll let you know if you made it by Thursday. Once again, this will be for the top point earners in the clubs that are 11 - 13 years old.

Thanks Troops,

Mr. Williamson

Discovery Log, 05 May 2003

This is a blog post sent to me in 2003 by Dave Wall, Director of the Discovery Space Simulator program in the Cache Valley of northern Utah.  Dave started at the CMSEC as the original Odyssey's Set Director and Imagineer.  Dave started the Pathfinder project. He, along with James Porter, ran the program.    Victor Williamson

     
     Welcome to the first log entry of the USS Discovery! Many changes have been happening at the simulator up in Cache Valley and I have been very much behind in keeping in touch. Stay tuned for regular log entries.

Name Change
     For those of you who might be confused, the Pathfinder name and branding has been changed to Discovery. This includes the program itself (Discovery Space Simulator) and the name of the ship (USS Discovery). The simulator operates under the umbrella of the Discovery Alliance, and it is best for everyone to have a name that is compatible with the other programs under the Alliance (The Discovery Center, Discovery on Wheels and Discovery Summer Science Camps). Check out our updated website at www.discoverysim.org. Other ships named Discovery include one of the two ships used by the British explorer Captain James Cook when he explored Alaska and northwestern Canada in the 1770s, as well as the Space Shuttle. The Discovery is proud to bear the name of such historic ships.

Daytime Program a Success
     The daytime program was started in March and has been running very successfully ever since. By the end of the school year, we will have run nearly every 5th grade class in the District. We will be running missions all the way through May until the end of the school year. The daytime program was possible due to the sponsorship of the Cache County
School District and the Discovery Alliance, who we thank very much for their support.

Happy Birthday to Us
     The Discovery was launched on May 5th, 2001 as the USS Pathfinder at a ceremony that some of you may remember. We are now two years old and are finally getting things to work.

James Porter Leaving
     We are sad to say that James Porter is beginning to believe that there is life outside of simulation. He is going to be leaving the Discovery at the end of this week and may end up at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center from time-to-time. James has gone above and beyond the call of duty and managed to almost single-handedly got everything in the
Discovery running in Bristol-fashion. James has taken the responsibility of getting the ship fixed up and stations added so we could run a day program. I don't know where we would be without him.

Help Me Spock
     The Discovery is in desperate need of many things. We welcome not only donations, but your ideas as well. Please look over our website and let us know what you think. We have the information people need there, but are always looking to improve outreach and programs. Take a look at www.discoverysim.org and give feedback to dave@pathfinderspace.com.

     We are also in need of some items. We would love to upgrade our computer stations since the ones we have are getting on almost ten years old. If you have any Macs better the old LCIII you would like to donate, please let us know. If you don't have any, perhaps you know of where we may get some for not too many credits. We are also in need of cots for our overnight missions, preferably ones that don't squeak. If you don't have any items, please send us your ideas.

     Many thanks to those who have helped us get this going.

Dave Wall
Director, Discovery Space Simulator

Imaginarium Theater

The Best Videoettes From Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience