Jade Hansen Appointed to Head the CMSC's Engineering Department. The Galileo II at American Heritage School is to be ReArmed! The Old Girl is Making a Comeback! Imaginarium Theater.

 

Jade Hansen and James Porter discussing engineering things

     The Christa McAuliffe Space Center has a new Engineering Department Chief, or Boss, or Director, or Guild Master, or Head.  Jade will be replacing Matt Ricks. Matt did a real fine job but due to circumstances relating to life has had to step down.  

     Jade will continue his day job where he makes real American money (not that phony Canadian stuff) and run the Engineering Department during those few hours a week he sets aside for Space Center "fun" work (where he also makes American money but not that much - hey its good for a volunteer job right).  And let's not forget Jade's other Space Center responsibility - supervising in the Cassini.  

     The Engineering Department's primary responsibility is to build, create, and maintain the center's physical electrical props - like the dial and switch panels in the simulators.  Jade will be assisted by young volunteers who attend regular meetings / classes where they learn the trade.  

     This is the email sent to the staff and volunteers by Tabitha Ricks announcing Jade's elevation.  

I've an announcement in regards to our Engineering Department Head. Matt Ricks, who has been the Engineering Department head since 2019, will be stepping down. He has done a lot for the Space Center from helping with controls, to maintaining props and sets, to helping our ships move forward. We will be sad to see him step down from Engineering Department, but want to thank him for all he's done. If you see him around, make sure to thank him. You'll still see him in the planetarium and I'm sure he'll still be stepping in to help out here and there in the ships. 

Jade Hansen will be stepping in to fill Matt's shoes in Engineering Department. Jade first started volunteering at the Space Center circa Mr. Porter's age of volunteerism. (in the 90's) He's excited to help mentor all the wonderful projects that have been brewing in the minds of our volunteers and staff that will help make the Space Center a better place. Be sure to lend him your support by attending the department and giving him a pat on the back and a warm smile. Good luck to you Jade! 

--

Tabitha Ricks

Outreach Coordinator

Flight Director

Planetarium Navigator 

The Galileo II at The American Heritage Space Center Is About to be ReArmed

      

The Galileo II at American Heritage

     I know it's confusing to keep track of which Galileo I refer to in blog posts. That's what you get when you have two Galileo starship simulators in Utah County.  The simulator you see above is the Galileo II.  It was sold to American Heritage School when the first Space Center and Central School were torn down a few years back.  When I refer to the "Galileo" I'm referencing the Galileo simulator at the new Christa McAuliffe Space Center.  So know that we have that straight, let's get on with the story.

     Alex DeBirk and students are busily working morning, noon, and night preparing to open the American Heritage School's Space Center for its 2022- 2023 school year operational season set to start in January.  That preparation includes a full restoration of the Galileo II to its original glory.  That includes restoring the ship's probe and torpedo undercarriage launch capabilities.  

      At one time, when the Galileo II first opened, you could assemble probes / torpedoes inside the ship, lift the flooring, place the probe into the undercarriage launch tube, replace the flooring and fire away. That function ended because of mechanical failures.  In January, the function will return.  Here are a few pictures of the probe / torpedo modules. They're being build by American Heritage high school students.  

This is the Torpedo Launcher, a four port magazine which will slide side to side as the students use it to give the impression that the torpedo chamber has emptied itself.

(Above and Below) You're looking at torpedo casings currently being 3D printed by American Heritage students in the school's creativity lab.   

     I'm most impressed by the fact that this entire project is student designed and student manufactured.  Kudos to Alex DeBirk and staff for demonstrating how effective operating starship simulators can be in the hands on, day to day education of students.  

Imaginarium Theater

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