American Heritage School's Discovery Space Center and Renaissance Academy's The Space Place Finish Their Seasons of School Based Flights and Programs. What at Success! Training Never Ends at the CMSC. Imaginarium Theater

 

The final crew of the inaugural season for the American Heritage Discovery Space Center in the USS Discovery

This is the final crew of the inaugural season for the American Heritage Discovery Space Center in the USS Discovery. The season was a great success. We ran flights for the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade classes as a part of their science class curriculum. We had fifteen different classes split into two groups for 30 separate squadrons. Each group flew twice, making for sixty flights and 360 students served.

 

Each class attended an initial mission session which informed them of a problem to solve in a laboratory session. The 5th-grade class flew "Intolerance," In the first session, they encountered the Pannae and Pannou races. In their laboratory session, they tested the genetic codes of both aliens and learned that they were identical, which helped them counter the Pannou's racist claims.

 

In sixth grade, the classes flew "Children of Perikoi." After discovering the truth behind the Choosing, the students decide to end it. But now they have to decide what to do with the vacuum they'll leave behind. During their laboratory session, the students determined which basic science principles they will teach the natives and how they will teach them.

 

Seventh and Eighth grade flew "Collision Course." They gathered information on the orbits, black body emissions, and spectroscopy of a new solar system, looking for a habitable world. The crew analyzed this data during the lab session, creating a solar system map and determining each planet's temperatures and chemical makeup. Hence, they knew which planets to visit or send probes to when they returned to the simulator.

 

Our main goal is to continue integrating our mission stories with the middle school science curriculum. We have some great ideas for next year when we expand the program to last all year with more mission sessions and new stories.

Alex DeBirk

American Heritage Discovery Space Center Director

Physics and Engineering Department

The Young Astronauts and Voyagers at Renaissance Academy's The Space Place Finish the School Year Strong!

The Fifth Grade Young Astronauts Tiger Squadron on Their Final Mission of the School Year

Renaissance Academy's The Space Place, American Heritage School's Discovery Space Center, and Telos Academy's Discovery Space Center operate within the Farpoint Universe.  All three school's run school based space education programs.  You read about American Heritage's successful program in the above article.  Congratulations Alex and team on your first year.

  

A Defense Officer manning his station during the final scene of the year long mission

The Space Place's (TSP) school based program finished the school year strong as well.  The majority of Renaissance Academy's 3rd - 9th grade students participated in InfiniD missions in their classrooms overseen by Bracken Funk, TSP's Director.  170 students enrolled in the after school space academy program for grades 3 - 9.  136 missions were flown in the Starship Voyager giving each squadron of 10 students 8 flights stretching from October - May. 

The 5th Tigers in a Break Out Classroom Session with Mr. Funk discussing their Long Duration  Mission Intolerance and how to meet their mission objectives

Next school year The Space Place plans on expanding the InfiniD mission program to more classrooms so that all 750 students at Renaissance Academy in grades K-9 can participate.  The Young Astronauts and Voyager Club programs will continue as well with enrollment starting in September and the first club meetings starting the first week of October. 

The Space Place offers summer space education camps throughout the summer months for grades 3 and up.  To learn more, visit SpaceCampUtah.org.

American Heritage School's Discovery Space Center will not offer a summer program this year because of construction and remodelling at the school. 

Training New Staff, a Never Ending Endeavour at The Christa McAuliffe Space Center 

Hyrum going for a Flight Director Pass last week in the CMSC's Cassini Simulator

Hyrum would like to be a Cassini flight director in the very near future at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center in Pleasant Grove. Standing in his way is Jon Parker, Cassini Set Director.  

Jon Parker watching, listening, analyzing, and note taking during Hyrum's mission

Jon's job is to ensure that Hyrum is fully capable of directing a mission for a paid public crew before he issues a Flight Director License to Hyrum.  Maintaining flight excellence is Jon's goal.  

Ian (blue shirt) was also training a black shirt volunteer in the fine art of running 

the Cassini's IIFX Station

I left before the results were given but based on what I saw, Hyrum did an excellent job.  Whether it was good enough for Jon is another matter.  A Flight Director License is given after a candidate successfully flies 2 test missions.  

The Christa McAuliffe Space Center is so busy with private missions and summer space camps that training is a must.  Regardless of what ship you're in, you can count on the fact that someone will be training during all missions, all summer long.

Imaginarium Theater

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