The Troubadour: The Space Academy's Nighthawk Simulator, a Hit at the Winter Palooza in Sandy. Outstanding Performance from a Young Captain - He Earned his Wings. Construction Update on the New CMSC and Central School. Imaginarium Video and Memes

Renaissance Space Academy dispatched three Fleet Admirals to the Utah Kids Club Winter Palooza held at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy on Saturday, February 22 to recruit new cadets into Terran Space Command's Expeditionary Force. The Expeditionary Force's mission comes from the famed Earth astronomer Carl Sagan: "Somewhere, Something Incredible is Waiting to be Known."

Admiral Camden Robinson, the Space Academy's InfiniD Mission Leader and renowned professor of history, met the young astronauts and briefed them on the Academy and its programs. The recruits raised their right hands to take the oath of allegiance to Earth and her colonies before donning the uniform and taking their introductory flight in the Nighthawk.

Admiral Bracken Funk, Space Academy Director of Operations, prepared the cadets for boarding. He warned them of the dangers they face as officers in the Expeditionary Force. "You will go where no man or woman has gone before. Are you ready?" To which the cadets replied enthusiastically, "We Are Ready!" And with that, the cadets boarded the Nighthawk for their introductory mission to the great beyond.

Admirals Megan Warner and Parriss King trained and directed the missions. The Troubadour is pleased to report that all missions returned to TSC's Sandy, Utah spaceport in one piece, although shaken up a bit.

Renaissance Space Academy was proud to be a sponsor of the Winter Palooza. Bracken Funk, Megan Warner, Parriss King, and Camden Robinson did a fantastic job. What a long day it was. The first missions started at 10:00 A.M. The last touchdown was 8:00 P.M.

The Space Academy also wants to thank Bracken's parents, Randy and Markae Funk, for their financial support for the event and the use of their truck to transport the Nighthawk.

The Space Academy's goals were met at the Palooza. A great number of children and their parents were introduced to simulator based experiential learning offered at the Space Academy and to the Space EdVentures movement.

The Space Academy Awards its First Captain's Wings to Brigham Banagas, Commander of American Heritage School's Alpha Squadron

Captain Brigham and the American Heritage Alpha Squadron

The Space Academy's new directive is to only allow those who've earned their Captain's Wings to command the Starships Voyager and Nighthawk. This directive applies to the Academy's Young Astronauts and Voyager Club Squadrons and not private missions. Cadets wanting to command one of the Academy's two starships must audition for their wings. An audition could be the normal LDM mission.
Having directed simulator missions for the past 37 years, I knew it was possible to find outstanding captains on their maiden voyages. Such a thing happened last week. The American Heritage School's Alpha Squadron captain Brigham Banagas did an outstanding job as a new captain.
The Academy scores captains on a scale of one to three, with a three being the score given for an outstanding performance. Brigham's score was off the chart. He left the ship with a solid 4. Any captain who scores off our normal chart earns his or her Captain's Wings and is therefore eligible to always take the command seat unless another cadet with his Wings should challenge for the job.

Congratulations Captain Brigham on a job well done and congratulations to the middle school Alpha Squadron for their score of 155 points for their maiden voyage.

Construction Update: The Christa McAuliffe Space Center and Central Elementary School

Construction is moving along quickly for a springtime opening of the new Christa McAuliffe Space Center and Central Elementary School. The pictures below were taken on February 14th and first appeared on the Christa McAuliffe Space Center's Facebook. Brandon Pace is the head custodian at Central. You see him in the first picture wearing the white hat and his old Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center Supervisor Blues. That's right, Brandon was a Magellan Supervisor during his high school days. The school and Space Center are in good hands with Brandon.