The First Week of October

This describes you, doesn't it?

Hello Troops,

September is behind us.
This is the longest the Space Center has been closed in 22 years.  In 2000 the Voyager was closed for four months undergoing a major renovation.  We installed new furniture, a new network and new computers. The Center remained open during that renovation, running private missions in the other four ships.  We couldn't take field trips because the Voyager was closed. Today's renovation of all five ships requires us to close completely.  It is good to do it this way and not disrupt the Center for a longer period of time doing one or two ships at a time.

The Space Center's staff and volunteers can take pride in what they've accomplished over the past 22 years.  Over 310,000 people have attended the Center for field trips, classes and camps.  Our simulators have run over 30,000 missions, making the Space Center The Second Happiest Place on Earth (remember, I give the Disney Parks credit as being the first.  Who doesn't love the Disney parks?).

Thank you staff and volunteers for the time, devotion and energy you've given over the years.  The Space Center is what it is today because of the work of thousands of volunteers and staff.

Thank you Space Center fans for your continued support.  The Center would have closed twenty years ago had it not been for an outpouring of support that convinced the school district to keep the Center open.  You said it was awesome and they agreed.

Thank you to our school district for being innovative and visionary.  I doubt you could find a school district more supportive of this new and unusual way of using simulations in education.

I believe simulations are the future of education.  Soon, with computers improving almost daily, children will do most of their learning through real life, science fiction and fantasy simulations.  Why would a teacher lecture on life in the Middle Ages, when her class could go on a virtual journey into the Dark Ages to see and experience it for themselves?  They could walk through a medieval village, see a battle,  explore a castle and meet the historic people of the time?   Perhaps a century from now, children will virtually walk through a holographic Voyager to see a place that pioneered education through simulation in a small elementary school in far away Pleasant Grove.

Today's Lesson.

People gravitate toward those who nourish, love and sustain them.  Think about your life.  Do you prefer to be in the company of optimists or pessimists?  Do you prefer to see a stern face standing at the front of a class or a face wrinkled by excessive smiling and laughing?   Do you prefer to hear, "It can't, it won't or it's a waste of your time and mine,"  or  "Why not, It might, and Let's give it try?"
Be the kind of person you enjoy being with.             

And now, Wonderland's  Imaginarium 

Creativity in Design and Advertising.  A

Protestants are not allowed to be buried in Catholic cemeteries.

This couple found a creative way to display their love despite 

their religious and physical separation.

The inside of a train car disguised to resemble a library.

Brilliance in Design: A

Finding a new use for a common Kitchen utensil.

Thinking out of the box.

A Conference Room at the Ministry of Nightmares and Machinations here at the Imaginarium.

A Four Generations Photograph.  

Outstanding use of imagination and creativity.

My kind of drain stopper.

Creativity: A

A Goodbye cake to a workplace friend.

Humorous with an icing of creativity!

A unique Halloween costume for a boy in a wheelchair.

Imagination and Creativity:  Off the Charts!

And finally,

Just when you thought your flight home would be peaceful and uneventful.

Just when you thought you'd be able to do a bit of in flight work.

Suddenly, your seat mate arrives and all bets are off.

Ever have this happen to you on a flight?

Pray it doesn't.

Metta Smith Leaves the Assembly of Space Center Elders. Flight Director Nicole Shares a Fond Magellan Memory. And, The Imaginarium!

Hello Troops,

Last night the Elders of the Space Center gathered at the Fortress of  Solitude in Pleasant Grove to commiserate over this weekend's departure of one of the eldest Elders of the Space Center, Metta Smith.  

Metta recently graduated from BYU, and if that wasn't enough of an accomplishment, was recently promoted to Lieutenant in the Air Force.  Metta will be stationed at some Air Force Base in Oklahoma.  The posting isn't a state secret - I just can't remember the name of the base.  This position, while regarded as an stepping stone along Metta's career path, is a serious loss for the Space Center.  

Metta will be missed.  And in the spirit of true sportsmanship, we surrender our claim to her and bid her adieu and success in Oklahoma.  May she never forget the little people she leaves behind.  May she never forget the numerous Overnight Camps worked both as a Supervisor and Chaperon.  May she never forget the thrill of a successful mission and the love and respect of her comrades.  

The Elders of the Space Center gathered in a ceremonial circle in the darkened Great Hall.    Their shadows danced by candlelight over the grey stone walls.  Metta stood in the center,  wearing the crimson vestments of her position. Her hood rested upon her shoulders, revealing her face and head to the assembly.   

"Venture into this world," The Grand Master spoke from his position at the circle's prime.  "We release thee to go forth to serve those who call themselves human, for they are most dear to the Assembly"  He waved his hand through the musty humid air.  A large hologram of the Milky Way Galaxy appeared directly over Metta's head.  Earth's position was highlighted in blue, along with the other known space faring planets.  

"When we will we reveal ourselves to them; I believe the time is near?" Metta asked.  

The Grand Master paused for a moment before answering.  "It has been written in the Book of Time, what has been will be and want will be has been."

"So it is written," the Assembly chanted.

"I will accompany her and then return," Megan Warner took two steps from the wall.  She removed her hood to reveal herself to her fellow Elders.  

"This is good.  You both have the Assembly's blessing."  The Master stretched out his arm revealing a newly formed Space Time Portal.  "Go now and remember the Directive.  Prepare this race for their induction into our galactic community."  

Megan walked to Metta.  They both bowed toward the Prime Position, turned, and stepped through the Portal - into the River of Time.

Good Luck Metta.  Make us proud in the United States Air Force!

Magellan Set Director Nicole Shares a Story About One of Her Favorite Overnight Campers. 

During an overnighter when I was a volunteer, I excitedly offered to be the doctor for the Magellan mission. Over the course of the night, I got to know the different crewmembers, but the one who was always the most excited to see me was our young Counterintelligence officer. You could often see us chatting away in the corner of the Magellan bridge about the mission or our lives in Starfleet.

At one point during the mission, the crew was being forced off the bridge by intruders. In the next room, we decided that we could take our bridge back from the intruders with phasers we had found in our armory. The weapons were dispersed to the crew, but unfortunately we didn't have enough phasers for everyone; one person would have to do without. The Counterintelligence officer looked at her phaser and handed it off to another crew member. "It's okay, I don't need one," she announced to the crew. "I'm going to help the doctor heal people!"

The crew agreed with the plan, and so she and I stayed in the Discovery to heal any officers who had been hit by phaser fire. It didn't take long until the wounded were being pulled to us. I used my tricorder to figure out where the crewmember was injured. I told her that my pills were color-coordinated. I knew that if there was an upper-body injury they would take a red pill, and if it was a lower-body injury they would take a blue one. I scanned the first few officers, offered some comforting words, announced where the injury was, and then the Counterintelligence officer would give them the correct pill. Our system was working perfectly until she asked, "Can I try scanning them?"

It seemed like such an easy request. However, I knew that my tricorder wasn't giving me any information. What would happen when she tried to diagnose a patient and realized that it didn't do anything, that it was all pretend? 

 I told her that I would love the help and handed her the tricorder. I waited with baited breath as she waved it across her fellow crewmember. "Hmmmm..." she said as she stared at the tricorder. After a moment, she announced, "I think it is an upper-body injury." She handed the tricorder to me. "What do you think, Doctor?"

I looked at the tricorder and then back to her. "It looks like you're right. Give him the red pill." She handed over a pill and moved on to the next person. After a while, she stopped asking me if she was right. I sat back and smiled as she began diagnosing all the crew members on her own.

This little girl has given me one of my fondest Space Center memories and made me realize how much I love working there. Since that mission, I've seen all types of crewmembers come through our doors. Some can't seem to get into the mission and instead find ways to criticize or complain. But there are some who can use their imagination. They embrace every moment of their time there and become a space explorer. Having an imagination like that can help you put on a role that you never would ever be able to take. That little girl may never be a doctor in her lifetime, but for a short while in the Magellan, she became one of the best doctors in the Federation of Planets!   

A now, join me for a slow stroll through Wonderland's Imaginarium.  Careful not to disturb those lost in thought.  

Creativity: A

Not as efficient as gas pumps lined up in straight row, but here in Wonderland

Efficient vs. Creative is a no brainer.  Creative always wins.

The Entrance to a Wonderland Book Shop

Not your typical Barnes and Noble is it?

Never let anything mechanical know you are in a hurry.

Wonderful advice.

Your World:  "Sorry man, I ate your cookies."

At the Imaginarium:  Look above.  How could Mitch get angry over his missing cookies?

An Open Mind and Open Heart is the doorway to a bright future.

Creative Advertising and a Public Service.

Only found at a Wonderland Bus Stop.

Brought to you by the Chocolate Growers of Earth.

Go Ahead.  Make his day.

Small, compact and loaded with Imagination.

Your World:  "Watch for Playing Children.  Drive 10 MPH"

Wonderland:  Look Above.

Creative Design: A

A solar powered outdoor lounge chair

Wonderland street art.

Oh Fortuna, Who hath displeased you?

The only bus I'll take when not in a hurry.

It's called, "Outside".  Its that place your Mother tells you to go to all the time.

I knew there had to be a use for those discarded breath mint containers.

 Give that man a raise!

A Wonderland Trailer Park.

Decorations compliments of soda bottle caps.

There was a malfunction in the Space Time Continuum Today.

Do not panic.  All will be well.

My day, the Old School vs. Today 

Finally.  Don't find an excuse not to go to the link below to find your place in the universe.  This is required.  Don't disappoint me.  I'll know if you don't and the consequences won't be pretty.

http://htwins.net/scale2/

Mr. Williamson

Are Robots, Instead of Humans, the Future for Space Exploration? And, I've Got Warts!

 

 

 Mars as seen on August 23

Curiosity Rover.  

The inset picture shows a boulder

roughly the same size as the rover itself for size comparisons.

 

Hello Troops,

It's a Wednesday, in case you didn't know.  I'm in the trailer reviewing my math lesson for tomorrow.  Poor kids, they get another hour of testing followed by 30 minutes of new assignments in Chapter 3.  They will leave the trailer dazed, confused and questioning their parent's decision to put them in the advanced math class.  

 

No news on the Space Center's renovation.  Hopefully there will be something to report next month.  

 

My funny moment of the day came in Shelley Elementary's lunchroom.  I was standing near the 3rd grade tables.

 

"Hey," a young 3rd grader was after my attention.

"What can I do for you young man?" I asked.

"I've got a virius!" he exclaimed proudly.  

 

I stepped back and cupped a hand over my mouth and nose.  "What kind of virus?" I'm surprised he understood me with my mouth and nose covered.

 

"I've got WARTS!" he said loud enough to draw everyone's attention at the table.  The girls scooted away while the boys leaned in closer.  He held his arm up high and pulled down his long sleeve.  Yes sir, he had warts.  He counted them for me.  One had been cut out by his doctor but was in the process of reforming.  He made sure to describe the surgical procedure in detail.  

 

There is never a dull moment - that's for sure.

 

The Future of Robotic Space Exploration

  

I sat in amazement watching the live landing of the new Mars Rover on TV a month ago.  I've checked on its progress almost daily.  I'm fascinated by the pictures, video and science.  It is truly the little engine that could.  

 

It's this fascination I have with the Rover that has me worried.  Will robots be the future of space exploration in the future?  Are humans destine to remain Earthbound; and if so, why? 

 

Matt Ricks sent me a link to a anonymous post written by someone who feels the same way I do.    

I have long expected that I would see people step foot on the red planet during my lifetime. As I am in my mid-thirties, I never considered that this was unlikely.  However, while following the exploits Spirit and Opportunity, this question came to me:  Have robots permanently become the most attractive option for space exploration? 

I think the answer to this question comes down to this:
Humans are more mentally and physical flexible than robots. This is their advantage in space exploration. However, human space-exploration has a high cost and is very dangerous. Robots are currently less mentally and physically flexible than humans, but the cost of robotic space exploration is much lower, and their is no associated risk to humans.

Due to the advances in robotics and artificial intelligence over recent years, and the certainty of advances to come, I think we may have reached a point where robotic space missions will forever remain to be more attractive compared to human missions.

I feel that the only exception to this situation might be due to a great need for humans to "experience it personally"; but unless the costs of space exploration can be surmounted by a small group of individuals that share this desire, I think this factor will not counter the obvious benefits of using robots.

I hope I am wrong, but my gut tells me that I am right. Of course, there may be a point in the future where human space-exploration becomes much less expensive and risky. However, I am currently reconsidering my own chances of witnessing it.

Imagine the computing power of future computers driving robotic space exploration.  Those robots will have the ability to reason and possibly imagine.

I believe the day will come when we bring Mars to Earth through elaborate simulations - like in a Star Trek like holodeck.  Our robots on Mars will send detailed information to powerful computers on Earth.  These supercomputers will take that information and create a Mars virtual world in a Star Trek like holodeck for Earthbound astronauts to explore.  The human's actions would be carefully recorded and transmitted to robots on Mars.  The Martian robots would mirror on Mars what their human counterparts did in their simulation. 

You, the younger readers of this blog, have a wonderful future ahead of you with advances in science and technology so wonderful, they can only be envisioned using your wildest imaginations.  Don't let the doomsayers and pessimists convince you that your future is lost.  I believe mankind will have the bright future championed by Star Trek and not the dark destruction offered in Battlestar Galactica.  We can solve our planet's problems.  We can explore the universe.  And with enough imagination and fortitude, wrestle away the universe's secrets and learn who and what we truly are.

Mr. W.