The Rapture and the Week's End.

Hello Troops,
A few days ago we flew several fifth grade classes from Highland Elementary. They were a delight. They were attentive in the simulators and did their best to win the mission.

I told Intolerance, the story of the escaped slave. The story starts with the ship setting course for the Romulan border and jumping to warp. The first few minutes of warp travel is used for a bridge wide explanation of everyone's jobs. I do this over the microphone in my Tex character. The opening speech ends with:
"Captain, we've had a power fluctuation. Engineer, Left Wing and Right wing, please check your power numbers, get them balanced and don't forget to hit the red update or lock in buttons."

I reached out and pressed a button to send a sensor prompt to the Sensor Station. I heard the computer make the happy sound. The happy sound is the sound the old Sensor computer makes when it received my order to move to the next screen. Our Sensor Computer has issues sometimes and refuses to follow orders from the Flight Director. It's stubbornness sometimes requires patient coaxing. If that doesn't bring it around then a restart would be next.

I watched on the CCTV system as the Sensors Office straighted up when seeing something new coming in on his screen.
"Captain!" he shouted.
"Ralph," the Captain answered. (Ralph is a made up name. I don't want to use the real name of the boy).
"There is a rup...... rap......rep......" the boy struggled to sound out the word spelled out on his screen. He paused, searched his mind for a word that looked like the one on his screen and blurted it out.
"Captain, there is a Rapture near the Nebula......!"

I laughed. In my mind I visualized the literal meaning of the young boys very serious statement. This is the definition that came to mind that caused me to chuckle.

Read definition 2. In most of the Christian world, the Rapture means that point in time when all true believers will disappear from the real world and be caught up into the sky and heaven at the time of the second coming, leaving behind the sinners and the non believers.

Having been raised outside of Utah and having many Pentecostal friends I knew this word and its meaning all to well. My friends used it on me all the time. I would be the one left behind at the Rapture because of my LDS beliefs.

So, here I was, once again faced with the Rapture and just as my friends predicted so long ago, I really was left behind at my Flight Director's Chair. The whole thing just struck me as funny.

The Week's End

Well troops. We are at the end of the week. It is 4:39 P.M. on Saturday and the Center closes in twenty minutes. Our custodian is taking tonight off so I'm going to finish this post, go to the custodian's closet, fill a mop with water, put on a pair of rubber gloves and clean the school's bathrooms. I really mean it when I say even at Disneyland, someone's got to clean the toilets. It's true hear also except here, the boss takes his turn like everyone else.

Have a good weekend,
Mr. Willamson

Friday Before School Laughs

The New Galileo. And Other Space Center News.

Hello Troops,
This is the most recent picture of the new Galileo taken by Kyle Herring this evening. A lot of work has been done on our new addition to the fleet since it opened two weeks ago. The cool red lights coming from the front of the warp nacelles were installed today.
"Vic, you've got to come see the Galileo," Kyle said while I was working on the February Volunteering Schedule. I've learned that if Kyle is excited about something then I'd better be as well. He had the lights in the cafeteria off so I could experience the ship illuminated by its own lights. WOW is the only way to describe this new ship. The Galileo is amazing! You'll be very happy when you get a chance to fly her.

Troops, you may want to put a group of friend together and book a private mission in the New Galileo. It really is that cool.

What's Next? Well, the Galileo has several nifty torpedoes you actually load yourself through a hatch in the ship's floor. I'll post more on that when the loading mechanism is finished so I cant include a picture.

Casey Voeks is Back

Many of you old timers remember Casey Voeks. He worked as a flight director in the Magellan, Phoenix and Voyager. He returned on Tuesday from an LDS mission in Texas and plans on returning to work at the Space Center. I'm happy to have Casey back. He was a talented flight director and very popular with the campers.

Casey came in today to watch me fly Intolerance for a 5th grade class from Highland Elementary. He's got to relearn the Voyager before he directs his first mission Friday afternoon.

Summer Camp Registration Starts Monday!

You can book your summer Space Camp for 2010 beginning Monday. This year we add a 4 day camp to the roster. This Super Camp will combine a 3 day Edventure Camp with an Overnight Camp giving you the opportunity to spend four days with us. The Extended Camp will fill quickly so sign up quickly.

In addition to the Extended Camp, the Center will offer our usual EdVenture Camps, Day Camps, Super Overnighters, and regular Overnight Camps. It will be a busy and fun summer at the Space Center.

I Had to Laugh!

I stood on the bridge getting the 5th grade crew from Highland Elementary ready for their mission this afternoon. I called the Ambassador over to where I was standing and gave him a radio. The captain was next.
"Captain, did you see the last Star Trek movie," I asked while waving him over to have his radio fitted. The class heard the question. Several hands went up along with many comments on how much they liked it.
"It was cool," the Captain answered.
"Well, you're our Captain Kirk," I said. "Let's hope you bring us the same luck he brought the Enterprise." The Captain said that was cool and took his seat. I called the first officer over.
"And you are our Mr. Spock," I said while handing him the radio and headset.
"Mr. Smog?" he asked looking very confused. He was one of the few that didn't see the Star Trek movie. From his response I could tell he'd never seen Star Trek at all. "Why Mr. Smog?" he asked.
"Mr. Spock. I said Mr. Spock," I explained. His face expressed his confusion. "Never mind, have a seat." I directed him back to his chair.

Have a Nice Evening Troops,

Mr. Williamson