Pictures of the USS Voyager - the Space Center's First Simulator, as it Appears Today. The Imaginarium

Hello Space Center Fans!
     A few days ago I stopped by the Space Center (CMSEC) and found Mr. Porter and Mr. Parker taking the equipment and furniture out of the Voyager simulator.  "It's time to clean everything out so we can take an inventory of what we have," Mr. Porter explained.  I was happy to see my first and favorite simulator once again and took pictures to share with you, knowing many of you flew in the USS Voyager when you came to Space Center between 1990 and 2012. 
     To enter the USS Voyager, a crew member started on the school's stage.  He passed through one turning door into the Voyager's hallway.  From there he descended a steep flight of stairs into the projection room (where the projector displaying the tactical onto the bridge's rearview screen was kept). A staff member invited the camper to step into a second turning door into Decontamination.  Stepping out from the turning door, the camper saw this hallway we called Decontamination.  

      The camper walked through Decontamination (the box opening you see on the left held an engineering dial and switch activity - since removed) then turned right. 

     A beautiful backlit, futuristic screen left no doubt in the camper's mind that he was on the USS Voyager, a Federation Starship.  The camper had another set of steps to navigate before entering the ship's Crew Quarters, Galley, and Sick Bay.  

     The steps leading up from the Crew Quarters to Decontamination.

     The view of the Crew Quarters from the bottom of the Decontamination steps looking toward the spiral staircase which led to the Voyager's Bridge.  Two sets of three level bunks once occupied the area to the right.  Another excellent backlit sign is seen on the left.  

      Jon Parker, Bracken Funk and James Porter stand in the Crew Quarters / Galley and reminisce about old times on the Voyager.  There are so many memories people have of spending time in the Crew Quarters during missions and sleepover camps.  Another three level bunk bed sat against the wall with the blue strip.  Another two level bunk (very short) sat under the spiral staircase.

  

     I took this picture near the outside exit and bathroom door.  Don't you love the 1960's Star Trek colors (the red table top in the Galley section of the Crew Quarters).  Bracken stands on the far left near the sink, cupboards, and microwave.  The Voyager's Sick Bay entrance is seen next to the Galley table.  

    

     The Voyager's Sick Bay was the home to the ship's doctor.  The small room had a desk and two sets of three level bunks (with very little headroom - ask anyone who slept in the Sick Bay about the headroom situation).  That shelf above the entrance was something to be feared.  You got a real nice goose egg if you stood up too soon when walking into the Sick Bay.  Do you remember a story or two of the time you spent in this Sick Bay?

     We're back in the Galley.  Bracken found an old piece of exercise equipment we used on the long overnight camps of the 1990's.  James is standing in the ship's hot water closet.  The Voyager's bathroom is seen to the left of the closet door.  The bathroom had a shower used by the staff on the long summer camps.  

     I took these pictures while Bracken, Jon and James continued to share their memories of the Voyager.  Good times....... Good Times!  The Voyager really was the ship of dreams.

     The space camper stopped in the Crew Quarters to don his uniform.  Once dressed appropriately, the staff requested he make the climb up the spiral stairway to the ship's bridge.  Let's climb the stairway and see the bridge as the camper saw it come into view.

     At first you only see the red wall carpeting.

     More of the bridge comes into view as you continue your journey upwards.

  Now you start the spiral, ending facing the Security Station.

     The First Officer's desk is on the right.  The Left Wing comes into view on the left.  The main viewer is in front.  

     You're almost at the top of the stairs.  The entire bridge is in view.  This is the camper's "Ahhhhh....... Coolllll........ THIS IS SICK!" moment.  From here, another member of staff would ask the camper what his job was and show him to his station. 

 

     James at the Security Station.  Records and Science stations are to his right.  The stairway leading to the Brig and Captain's Quarters (Loft) is seen.   

  Bracken, James, and Jon standing on the Captain's Platform.

     The Bridge seen from the Right Wing Station.

      The Right Wing (sensors, scanners, navigation, power distribution) as seen from the Captain's Station.  The Voyager's Engineering Station is on the right.

  

     This was the Voyager's Room of Requirement between security and the records station.  I call it the Room of Requirement because it was once the ship's science lab, then engineering room, then sleeping quarters, and finally sleeping quarters / bridge sick bay.
You can see the two sets of three level bunks.   The old phototron is seen on the floor.

 

     
I walked down the steps from the Security Station and climbed the ladder up into the Captain's Loft.  You can see the loft above the Exit sign as seen from the Security Station.   

     The Voyager's Bridge Security Station as seen from the loft.  Voyager's security officers never stood a chance against our invading aliens and Orion Pirates.  Look at how awesome this phaser shot is!  Security is right in the line of fire from the loft.  A perfect design for all starship simulators :)

     A nice small white sleeper couch sat against this wall under a poster of the ship.

     Three or four crewmembers slept in the loft.  Two slept on this platform.  They had a nice window looking down on the ship's hall which led to my desk in the Briefing Room.

     This crawl space under the sleeping platform led the camper to another platform and ladder leading to the hallway and the Voyager's Control Room.

     The Voyager's Control Room as it looks today.

      The Voyager was and will always be the finest ship in the fleet.  It opened on November 8, 1990 and closed forever on July 31, 2012.   Lucky are those who had the opportunity to fly in her.  It was the only ship I personally flight directed.  It was where the best trained.  It was   
our ship of dreams. 

Mr. Williamson

The Imaginarium

family bonding time

"Cocoa or Bust" Maintenance Day at the Space Center. See the Space Center's First Flight Director Jumbotron. The Imaginarium.

Hello Space Center Fans,
     Today was a maintenance day at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center.  I stopped by to check up on Jon Parker (assistant director) late this afternoon and found a few interesting bits and bops you Troubadours may find of interest.

Let's start with the Magellan's bridge.  For the first time in years, the big screen monitor which sat behind the Admiral's / Captain's chair was removed.  What will take its place is yet to be determined according to Jon Parker, the Space Center's assistant director.  It had to go because the graphics from the looped video which played on it for years were burned onto the screen.

     Here it is, removed and ready for the district to come and haul it away.  Troubadour, I give you the Magellan's Admiral Station video wall monitor in all its 1000 pound glory.  

     "You've got to come in and see this!" Jon was almost giddy with excitement as he dragged me into the Magellan's Control Room.  "Now this is what I call a flight director monitor," Jon said as he sat down and literally purred in delight as his hands stroked the keyboard and the mouse danced across the screen. 
     This monitor takes flight directing to a new level.  The CMSEC can now hire people nearly blind as a bat to flight direct their missions with a screen this size.  

     In addition to the jumbotron flight director monitor, the Magellan Control Room also sports a new CCTV video monitor, giving the flight director a much better view of the bridge.  

     Another CCTV monitor sits at the second chair station for the supervisor and volunteers to monitor.  

     "You'll be happy with this improvement," Jon explained.  "The supervisor sits in the center where you see the two keyboards.  Any one of the Farpoint Voyager cadets can sit here on the supervisor's left and run this station." Jon pointed stood behind the station with his arms folded.  "The volunteer will be able to monitor written messages and phone calls as they move around the ship and respond to them if he wants.  Great for training."
     The video station sits at the end of the counter.  Another good place for a volunteer.

     I found this interesting conversation piece on the shelf above the second chair position.
Apparently Magellan supervisor Andrew is claiming he doesn't make enough to afford a pair of black pants - a new dress requirement for staff at the CMSEC.  Mr. Porter, CMSEC Director, has taken up Andrew's cause and put this jar in the control room soliciting donations to help Andrew's plight.  Any amount is welcome :)    

     Maintenance days always include removing equipment for deep cleaning.  This maintenance day was extra special because of the root cause.  The CMSEC is formally switching the Magellan from its Revolution computer controls to the new Cocoa controls recently completed by Matt Long and his team.  "It's Cocoa or Bust!" Jon said, raising his hand into the air with index finger extended.       

     The Discovery Room was a managed mess but I could tell that Jon had everything under control.  He knew where every piece of equipment belonged.   

     Miranda is the Phoenix Simulator's new Set Director.  I found her in the Phoenix rearranging equipment and deep cleaning.  I also found this....

     A signed portrait of Megan Warner's long time Space Center character.  Megan was the CMSEC director from June 2013 to July 2014.  She did a great job and now moves on to fulfill her other life's goals.  
     Many great people got a start in their employable life at the CMSEC.  Megan was one of them.  We wish her all the best as she pulls up stakes and moves to California.  

Mr. Williamson


The Imaginarium