Both Space Centers Run Test Missions. Big Overnight Camp. This Week in Science and Technology. Your Weekend Imaginarium.

Hello Space EdVenture Fans!
     It was a busy weekend.  The Discovery Space Center sponsored a special overnight camp for two very special groups; Farpoint cadets and students from Renaissance Academy in Lehi.  The camp was full to overflowing.  Forty-three enrolled in a camp designed to hold 40 at the most.  Congratulations to the staff at the DSC for accommodating everyone.  They found a way to make it work.
     I am the official DSC overnight camp chaperone.  I was the official head chaperone and center director for the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center from 1990 to 2012.  I must have a punishment neurosis; either that or I really enjoy sleeping a few inches off the floor on two very thin foam mats.  Friday night was no exception. I was right there, on duty at 10:30 P.M. to pick up my charges when they excited the simulators at 11:00 P.M.   The campers got cookies and Otter Pops before bed. I give them a drink and bathroom break, and time to change if needed.  Then its downstairs to Stone Gate's Preschool where airbeds wait.  
     The boys were excited.  I'd be worried if if I ever chaperoned a camp where they weren't. 
It took an hour or so to get them calmed down and asleep.  THAT's when it happened, sometime between 12:30 and 1:00 A.M.   Mr. Casey Voeks, director of the DSC, triggered the building's alarm.  I sat straight up and waited for all thirty some boys to wake up and get all hyped. I knew it would take another half hour to get them calmed down and asleep.  
The alarm rang for a couple minutes - then silence.  Only one teen said anything. The rest of the boys either didn't wake up, or just chalked it up to a failed story plot and turned over and went back to sleep.

Saturday's Test Missions             

     Both the Discovery Space Center and the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center used our Farpoint Voyager Cadets as crews for their summer mission dress rehearsals.

     Bracken Funk ran three, four hour missions for our cadets.  He is seen in the picture above in the Atlantis' flight director chair.  Jordan is on the left acting as his second chair wing man.  Jacque Lystrup is on the right.  Jacque is a nurse and DSC flight director. She was on hand to learn the new missions and make sure Bracken's health held out over the grueling 11 hour, three mission day. I saw desperation in Bracken's eyes.  I recognized the look and knew just what he needed.  Several minutes later I walked into the control room with a 52 ounce Diet Mt. Dew with a 5 Hour energy drink chaser.  "Bless you," was all Bracken could say in between playing the mission's various story characters.   

      DSC staff sat in the Atlantis control room watching and learning.  They would all be required to tell the new missions and had one day to learn them. 

     I stepped into the Atlantis to take a couple pictures of our cadet crew.  They were at a decision point in the mission and took a few minutes to discuss their options.  

     Bracken's second test mission was in the DSC's Challenger simulator from 3:30 - 7:30 P.M.  It was also staffed by a creative Farpoint cadet team.  

     

Farpoint Welcomes a Somewhat New Cadet 

     The DSC's Todd Rasband is seen shaking the hand of Farpoint's somewhat newest cadet.  David is a student at Timpanogos and joined the club a year ago in August.  You other cadets who've had to wait a few weeks for your post mission observation interviews have nothing to complain about.  David waited ten months for his!  I'll take the blame for letting it slip for so long.  David didn't let his lack of an official interview stop him. He's been volunteering the whole time.  
     So, this is David's official welcome to the club, even though it's ten months late.

Mr.Williamson 

Space and Science News

From Sci-Tech

Science Summary of the Week

➤ Cosmic explosion: http://is.gd/ojRJWX
➤ Memory control: http://is.gd/tlEMyU
➤ Oldest exoplanet: http://is.gd/2jfXVw
➤ Cancer nanobubbles: http://is.gd/Uf0IbW
➤ Mega-Earth Planets: http://is.gd/XCq3v4
➤ HIV Reactivation: http://is.gd/F0CMH3
➤ Moon formation: http://is.gd/ecvUky
➤ Ancient reptile eggs: http://is.gd/dGNw9p

➤ Electrical stimulation "mind-control":http://is.gd/mthp4c
➤ Printable Robots: http://is.gd/MeZEtP
➤ Home Fuel Cell: http://is.gd/A102cI
➤ Raptor Robot: http://is.gd/3zW9RK
➤ New Battery Technology: http://is.gd/iujX02
➤ Do-It-Yourself Piratebox: http://is.gd/Xeyhb3
➤ More Science Graphics: http://weeklyscience.com/


The Imaginarium

CMSEC's Galileo Simulator's New Mission "Nightfall". The Imaginarium.

Hello Space EdVenture Fans!
     We're in the mission test run season at the two space edventure centers (CMSEC and DSC).  Today the CMSEC ran a crew of Farpoint cadets on the Galileo's new mission Nightfall.

   
     Sky had the front left job.  His friend manned the front right job.  Can you tell I don't know the Galileo flight stations?  
     The front half of the Galileo is illuminated by blue lights.  I never was a fan of the blue lights but that is how the ship was built and delivered several years ago.  I think the blue fluorescence bulbs be changed once they need replacing.    

     Another cadet is learning the fine art of touch screen manipulation at the Galileo's sensor station.  I remembered that station's name thanks to the obvious clue on the screen. 

     The Galileo engineer is responsible for plugging things in, then unplugging them when whatever reason the cord was plugged in was solved.  I know it's complicated, but he seems to understand. The Galileo engineer works in a blue free zone.  He also gets two bunks to choose from for those long distance flights across the galaxy.  

     Erin was today's Galileo flight director.  She is one of the authors of Nightfall, along with Nathan Y.  Her smile seems forced.  I chalk it up to nerves.  The CMSEC director was snooping around.  I think Megan was on hand because she approved Nightfall and wanted to see it told right. Another reason for her hovering presence could be her unquenchable thirst to be on The Troubadour! Remember, you're nobody unless you've been featured on The Troubadour.
  

     Erin and her brave Galileo crew just before blasting off on a mission of daring adventure. 

Word is they haven't made it back to Starbase as of the posting of this post.  The Odyssey and Phoenix will be dispatched to look for them if they aren't back to base by 1800 hours GMT.  I'm not concerned.  Sky is known for never being late for supper.  

The Imaginarium