Space News

 Hello Troops,

We set our clocks back to Standard Time early this morning.  The nights are getting longer and longer as the Earth revolves around the Sun to the Winter Solstice on December 21.  

You can see where the Earth is now on the graphic above as we inch our way closer and closer to the first day of Winter. 

Our days are growing shorter because of the Earth's tilt of 23.4 degrees. 

In this picture you see that the Earth's tilt in the Winter means less sunlight on the Northern Hemisphere.  Our days are shorter because of it and temperatures drop.

Those people living in the Southern Hemisphere move into the summer in December.  You see that the Earth's tilt gives them more direct sunlight and longer days.  

Curiosity Rover finds no methane on Mars.  
A Bad Sign for Life.

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has detected no methane in its first analyses of the Martian atmosphere — news that will doubtless disappoint those who hope to find life on the Red Planet.

Living organisms produce more than 90 percent of the methane found in Earth's atmosphere, so scientists are keen to see if Curiosity picks up any of the gas in Mars' air. But the 1-ton rover has come up empty in the first atmospheric measurements taken with itsSample Analysis at Mars instrument, or SAM, researchers announced today (Nov. 2).

Like a tourist who snaps a photo of himself in front of the Eiffel Tower, NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has stretched out its arm and captured a high-resolution self-portrait in spectacular surroundings.

The 1-ton Curiosity rover took 55 hi-res pictures with its Mars Hand Lens Imager camera, or MAHLI, on Oct. 31. Mission scientists then stitched the images together to create a full-color mosaic of Curiosity and its Gale Crater landing site.

Our Galaxy has How Many Potential Planets?

The Happy Bucket. A Funny Commercial and Thoughts

 Hello Troops,

Last night I glanced up at the clock in the kitchen.  It was 7:20 P.M.

"What would I be doing at 7:20 P.M. if I was running an Overnight Camp at the Space Center," I thought to myself.

At 7:20 P.M. I'd probably be covering the Overnight Camp rules with the campers in the gym.  In fact, I'd be right in my Happy Bucket speech.

So, for old times sake, let's relisten to that traditional Happy Bucket speech, given to thousands and thousands of campers every week for the last 22 years.   Best to grab a tissue and prepare for happy memories of some really happy times.

Mr. Williamson's Happy Bucket Overnight Camp and Super Saturday Speech (as best as I can remember)

Troops,
Occasionally people get sick during our camps.  Occasionally people explode.

Some people easily explode.  They see something they don't like - they vomit.  They smell something disgusting - they vomit.  Then there are people like me who rarely, if ever,  throw up.  I' threw up once in my entire life.  I was 8 years old; it was Valentine's Day.  My mother gave me a large bag of those gross, hard candy hearts with little sayings on them.   I was suppose to take them to school and pass them out to everyone in my class.

Well, what did the selfish little pig do?  I brought the full bag of candy home and secretly ate all of them right before going to bed.  The explosion was Earth shaking.  My bed was covered in partially digested candy Valentine's Day hearts.  Mother was furious that I'd eaten the entire bag at once.  She was even more furious I hadn't given them out to my classmates.  I was grounded from candy for a long time after that.     

I've seem some very nasty explosions in the 22 years I've run this Center.   During one camp I had a boy raise his hand and tell me that he had to throw up.  "Go!" I said pointing toward the restrooms.  I followed a minute behind to check on him.  When I got there, I saw that the bathroom sink was lined with  a gooey mixture of something I identified as having once been Top Ramen.  The boy had both hands on the sink.  His head was perfectly positioned to make another deposit.

"Wow, I guess you didn't like your supper very much," I said to lighten the mood.

"My mom was gone.  My Dad cooked the supper," the boy explained.  His face contorted to show me what he thought of his dad's cooking.

So, what do you do if you feel an explosion coming?   Tell a member of our staff that you're not feeling very good and you need a Happy Bucket.  We have small buckets called Happy Buckets we give to campers who think they might throw up.  They're called Happy Buckets because I'm the one who cleans up the vomit.  So when you get "It" in the bucket, it makes me HAPPY!

You keep the Happy Bucket with you all the time until the feeling is gone.  Just say this to anyone who makes fun of you for having a Happy Bucket,   "I either throw up in the bucket or on you, take your pick!"   

Let's say there isn't enough time to ask for a Happy Bucket.  You feel it coming.  It's Mount Vesuvius getting ready to erupt, its Old Faithful ready to spout.  Look for the nearest trash can if we can't get a Happy Bucket to you in time.  If you can't get to a trash can, then look around for some place on the floor that doesn't have carpet.  Cleaning up vomit from a hard floor is easy.  Cleaning a carpet means we have to close the ship, get everyone out, bring in the carpet cleaning machine etc etc.

Let's say there isn't enough time to get a Happy Bucket or a trash can and you can't find uncarpeted floor.  That's when we go to the nuclear option.  Grab the front of your uniform, hold it up from both corners and use it to contain the explosion.  It's going to get on the uniform anyway, so why not use the uniform to keep it off the carpet.  You get yourself cleaned up, the uniform goes to the laundry and all is well.

Now, don't get upset if you throw up.  It's no big deal even if it gets on the carpet.  I'm happy to cleaned it up.  I'm only telling you these things in case there is enough time to do something about it - like ask for a Happy Bucket.   

You're going to love this outstanding use of creativity and primitive special effects.  This commercial reminds me of some of the first missions we ran at the Space Center in 1990!  I cringe when I think of how crude they were (computer programming - mine.  special effects - mine.  Frightening, isn't it).  






And now, some thoughts to keep you going....... 

It's about that simple.

We all want to leave something lasting behind;

something that says, "I was here. I did that."

Imagine.  Believe.  Learn and Do.

A wise man once said, "The Truth will Set You Free."

Your parents and teachers are trying to do that for you.

They understand what lies ahead. 

Give them a break.

Listen.

Before you quit, Try.

I wish I could convince some of my math students to do this.

A few like to shut down with every turn of the workbook page.

Every morning is a fresh start

 Ever feel like you're a permanent citizen?

A plea to disengage from the Matrix from time to time.  Just listen.

Open House Update. Sentimental Trinkets, Disney and Star Wars and the Imaginarium

Hello Troops,

I just returned to the trailer after a meeting with the principal of Central Elementary School.  Permission for an Open House has been granted.  Dr. Carter and I are working out the exact details (date, time).  More information will be forthcoming.

I'm anticipating a large turn out, so we want to be sure everything is well thought out.  My staff and volunteers have heard me say over and over again, "Think what can go wrong, then make sure it doesn't".   The Open House needs that kind of careful planning if we are to accommodate the numbers I'm expecting.

Matt, Brent and I will be working from time to time in the Space Center.  Matt and Brent will be backing up the computer programs and ensuring our computers and equipment are cared for and will survive this prolonged closure.  I will be working through the Center's files and cleaning out the ships (discarding items that will not be needed in a future Center).

Everything of monetary value will be kept for the new Center or sold.  The school district will make that decision.  This blog will let you know if and when items will be offered for sale.

I'm sure I'll find many items of sentimental value to the Center's staff, volunteers and campers during my equipment survey.  These items will be sold if they have monetary value, or kept if they can be used again in the new facility.  The items will be given away if they can't be sold or reused.  Watch the blog for news and offerings. 

Thank you for your continued support,

Mr. Williamson   
 

And Now, the Imaginarium!

A very confused sci fi fan

Did we ever blend different sci fi universes at the Space Center?

Never  :)

One pumpkin to rule them all.

Just a few of the things brought to us through NASA research

A creative way to greet Walmart's guest.

Imaginative and very cost effective.

Oftentimes imaginative solutions won't work without 

the application of physics, mechanics and engineering.

I believe this home owner will be disappointed

Three movies in one.

"I'm going on an adventure!"

It's time to get out of the car and walk.

Do it right now.

Don't wait.

Best to have an exit stragedy before you start.

Disney buy's Star Wars!

The entertainment story of the day -- and probably the week -- is that the Walt Disney Company got one step further in its eventual goal of owning every piece of intellectual property ever created by gobbling up the entirety of George Lucas' Lucasfilm, lock, stock, and barrel-shaped robot.  Star Wars belongs to Disney.

Disney will continue to make Star Wars' movies.  The seventh movie, with a working title of “Episode 7,” is set for release in 2015. Episodes 8 and 9 will follow. The trilogy will continue the story of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia beyond “Return of the Jedi,” the third film released and the sixth in the saga. After that, Disney plans a new “Star Wars” movie every two or three years. Lucas will serve as creative consultant in the new movies.