Nautilus Starts Round Two of the Long Duration Mission. The Imaginarium.

The Nautilus Squad Takes the Lead in Round Two of the Long Duration Mission

The Nautilus Squad took the Farpoint Voyager's out of the gate with an outstanding performance in the first Round Two mission of this school year's Long Duration Mission on Saturday.  

The Crew

Captain:  Ari

First Officer:  Nolan

Chief of Operations:  Kayla

Surveillance: Sam

Strategic Operations:  Andrew

Engineer:  Lissa

Counter Intelligence:  Lindsey

Communications:  MacKenzie

Damage Control:  Drake

Security:  Marcus

Support:  Marissa and Brylee

They did an outstanding job calculating the math for the air release (refer to the lesson Alex DeBirk taught at the last club meeting two Saturdays ago).  Their findings were presented to Alex before boarding the ship.  Emily took a few minutes to remind them of their mission objectives.  I followed up with a review of their last performance in Round One.  With all that said, they donned their uniforms and ventured into the abyss. 

 

As you can see from the photo above, the crew had a few problems with electricity thanks to the EMP blast they took at the end of their first mission.  What you don't see is the crew working frantically trying to get their systems online.  

In this photo, you see Drake at Damage Control looking frazzled as he navigates through reams of paperwork.  Anyone volunteering to be Damage Control after having suffered an EMP blasts needs to have his or her head examined.  

In the photo above you see (well, you would if they had their power back online) the crew working skillfully at their stations.  Then....... 

There was some power.  A muffled cheer broke their concentration.  Optimism replaced the ominous feel to the start of the mission.  There was hope that not all was lost and that they could work their way out of the pickle they had gotten themselves into.

Frankly, I don't know how they did it.  I had enough trouble keeping notes in the dark.   

I'd like to go into more detail on the mission and what the Nautilus accomplished, but that would be giving too much away and Nautilus wouldn't be happy with me.   Needless to say, they are alive and well at the end.   

     The Nautilus Squad at the end of Round Two.  All seem happy except Ari.  She was the captain this time around and did a fine job - so there should be a smile. It's lonely sitting in the command chair knowing the buck stops with you.  I'll say it again - Ari did the best she could with the situation handed to her.  She set the standard for this round. Let's see how the other captains deal with the dilemmas.

     As an LDM staff, let me repeat how much we appreciate the Nautilus Squad.  They chose to be the first in every round, which makes them our guinea pigs. I'd like them to know there are allowances made for that in the scoring.  

     Nautilus has left the bridge. Phoenix takes the bridge on Saturday.  I'm anxious to see how they deal with the problems at hand.  

Mr. Williamson

PS

The t-shirts have been ordered.  You should have them for your Round Three missions.      

   

The Imaginarium

A very interesting piece of art in the local art gallery.

Always leave them guessing.

You're walking through the forest on your way to the campsite.

Then, off in the distance, a noise.

You turn.

"Hello," a young girl says.  "We've been watching you."

Of course we all want Hans Solo frozen in carbonite for our living room coffee table.

A once in a lifetime event coming up on Tuesday.

Our other sun makes an appearance.

One of the hardest decisions you'll ever have to make.

I need one of these for my Battlestar.

I'm moving toward the "Pull 'em up" stage of life.

Don't put your parents through this.  

Study hard, get good grades and get those scholarships.

This is yet another item on my wish list.

Creativity: A

An adjusted sign welcoming people to a university.

Brilliant advertising for tires that truly hug the road.

Clever: Yes.

Safe:  Not on your life.

It was weird hair day at her school.

Brilliant logo.

Awesomely creative main gate.

Home and Bart in the flesh.

  

Casey Voeks' Secret Revealed. Two More Awesome Individuals Honored by Local Magazine. Megan Warner Reactivated. The Imaginarium.

Casey Voeks Has Done the Impossible! His Secret Identity Revealed.       

     I believe I know how Casey Voeks has done the impossible by finding a way to work 30 hours in a 24 hour day.  The physics of time manipulation is Greek to me, but evidently not to Casey.  Look at the evidence below - it's something he posted on his Facebook page in regards to his work at the Discovery Space Center.    

    Casey seemed unconcerned about the number of responses he was getting to such a generous offer. I know how busy my friend is and couldn't think of a way he was going to honor those requests. Then it dawned on me.  Casey is a Time Lord, able to manipulate the ebb and flow of time to suit his needs.  The next question that came to mind was how he was able to manage time.  The only possible answer was with a Tardis. We know Dr. Who uses a British police phone box as his.  Casey must use his car. If you'd like to see a real, honest to goodness Tardis, drive through the Discovery Space Center's parking lot and look for a late model, unassuming, goldish, Japanese sedan with Mia Love bumper stickers.
     We are on to you Casey.  So, being the one who outed you, may I formally put my name on your short list as a potential travelling companion?  I make for good conversation and know my history better than the average bloke.  Would it help if I promised not to talk too much?

Mr. W.

Two More Space EdVenture Fans Honored by Local Magazine

     Utah Valley 360 Magazine deserves praise for discovering one of the state's best kept secrets - the talented, dedicated, community minded, giving, loving, and altruistic people who associate themselves with our Space EdVentures community.
     Yesterday, The Troubadour put Lorraine Houston in the spotlight.  Applause was deserved and applause given by hundreds of our fans across the state and country.  Today The Troubadour brings two others to center stage who were also featured in the same issue.

Chris Alldredge
   
     Chris is a member of the Space EdVentures Foundation's board of directors (which sponsors and oversees the Farpoint Voyager Club and the Long Duration Mission program).  He is a former teacher and Magellan flight director - and we're talking the very first Magellan from years ago.  He is a gifted educator, artist, curriculum writer, and exemplary home teacher to my niece and her family.
He and his equally talented and charming wife Heidi, were one of four couples featured in this month's issue of Utah Valley 360. 
     Congratulations Chris and Heidi!

      

Jennie Johnson

     I've had the pleasure of knowing Jennie for two years now.  Rarely do I find someone capable of working me under the table.  Jennie is such a person.  She the owner of Stone Gate Reception Center and an owner of Discovery Simulations, the parent company of the Discovery Space Center located at Stone Gate.  Jennie is in the Space EdVenture business.  She shares our vision for experiential education and the power it brings to learning.
Congratulations Jennie!

Former Space Center Director Appears Out of Thin Air at the Space Center.  Transporters Do Exist.   

     Megan Warner and I share something in common, we are both former directors of the Space Center.  I retired from that position and hung my teaching shingle outside of Renaissance Academy in Lehi where my colleagues and I are helping Renaissance build the new Voyager, soon to be Utah's finest starship simulator, scheduled to open in June.  We were in a planning meeting yesterday afternoon when suddenly, and without warning, Megan Warner, accompanied by Marissa Burkett, walked into my classroom - seemingly out of the blue.  We warmly greeted this Space Center legend and offered a chair.  Apparently, Megan is vacationing from her jobs in California.  She heard we were meeting and decided to 'beam' in to offer her services.
     You've all heard me say time after time, "When we need help, the right person always walks through the door."  Megan walked in at the right time.  I reminded her of the 'Reactivation Clause' which hangs over the heads of all former Space Center staff and volunteers.  She said she was aware of the clause and its ramifications.  "So, you came to this meeting knowing that once we set eyes on you, we might reactivate you and put you to work?" I asked.
     "Yes," she replied.
     "Then consider yourself reactivated.  It's time to get to work."  And with that, Megan was given a list of assignments all related to our Farpoint Voyager Club's Long Duration Mission program.
     Megan was spotted again at the Space Center later that afternoon.  I found her sitting in Mr. Porter's chair in the Space Center office enjoying a light lunch.  She looked at home.  "Does Mr. Porter have anything to worry about?" I hesitated to ask, but someone had to.
     "You mean because I'm sitting in his chair?" she responded.
     "Got it in one," I replied.
     "Are you asking if I'd like to have this job back?" she probed.
     "You said it, not me." I heard movement from behind.  I turned around and saw Jon Parker, CMSEC assistant director.  He was hiding something behind his back.  It looked like the handle of a Magellan phaser.  Megan looked at Jon.  Jon looked at Megan.  Moisture formed on his forehead.  His upper lip started twitching.  There was a long, awkward pause.
     "Answer the question." Jon's voice quivered.
     "I live in California, does that answer your question?"
     Jon looked relieved.  "Oh, I heard you and Bossman talking about being reactivated and assumed...."
     "Jon, never assume," I interjected.  "Megan has been reactivated to work with us in the Voyager Club.  There are several things she can do from California to help us further the cause.  Now go put the phaser back in the armory and check on your missions while Megan and I talk shop."
     Jon walked away mumbling something about only doing his job.  Megan and I talked long duration missions and life went on at the Space Center.

Mr W.



The Imaginarium