The Space Center's Walls Shook and Almost Came Down, Thanks Christine. Timelapse of the CMSC's New Planetarium Dome. Space Center Artwork. The Sixth Simulator Soon to be Named. Imaginarium Theater.

 Hello Troops,

Things are moving along nicely at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center.  Word is the new space center should be open in less than two months.  I've been tracking it closely on the Space Center's Facebook page.  By the way, the CMSC is close to reaching its goal of 5000 Facebook likes.  If you haven't already "Liked" the page, please do so now.  Once that goal is reached James will announce the name of the sixth simulator.  https://www.facebook.com/asdspacecenter

"To the many people asking when we are going to be open again, we are crossing our fingers for no delays and hope to be flying again less than 2 months from now.

Our staff have been working hard on developing content for the planetarium, building updated models of our ships, refining the story universe we operate within, and so many other projects.

It's time to start spreading the excitement that the end is in sight. We use our Facebook page to announce new developments, special offers and discounts, and fun news relating to our program. We set a goal to reach 5,000 followers and we are just 170 friends away. As a part of that goal we said we would reveal the last ship of our fleet and gave a bit of a teaser pictured below. So to encourage you to share our page with your friends we'll reveal a bit more to the puzzle. Here's what the model of our new ship looked like over a year ago.

Help spread the joy of our program by visiting our page, clicking the three little dots . . . and INVITE FRIENDS!"

          James Porter 

Here are the latest updates from the CMSC.  Let's start with a video time lapse of the planetarium dome construction.  

 

Audrey Henricksen did a few sketches of the simulators all of you grew up to love.  Thanks Audrey! 

Audrey, A Space Center Legend

                             Jon Parker, the flight director with the always present smile

Ten Years Ago this Week on The Troubadour.

The Space Center's Walls Shook and Foundation Trembled.

August 30, 2010

The Imaginarium's Receptionist diving for cover
at the first jolt and cheer heard from the Space Center

At 9:40 A.M. Saturday last the walls of the Space Center shook. In fact, the tremors were felt throughout the Imaginarium and Wonderland. I was sitting at my desk working on the September Volunteering and Staff schedule when the shaking started.

The jolt was preceded by Christine Grosland, one of the Odyssey's Flight Directors, announcing to her crew that they had successfully finished their Overnight Mission. A millisecond later there arouse a sound from the bowels of the Odyssey rarely heard at such a deafening volume. The cheering was so enthusiastic and energetic it caused my desk to rattle. The light fixtures overhead shook, sending me in a panic under my desk to cower in fear the fluorescent light bulbs would explode and shower my desk and chair with shards of glass.

"What the ..." Alex Anderson shouted from the Phoenix Control Room. "Christine has triggered the Big One." 

In a panic so unlike his normally placid self, Alex shoved his young staff out of the way so he could stand in the doorway for protection. "It's every man for himself," he spat, wildly kicking at anyone who came near him. "Flight Directors are more important than volunteers when the ship is going down!"

The cheering continued for what seemed like minutes. Dust from the overhead rafters drifted downward like snowflakes. Ceiling tiles broke free and chairs bounced around the room like popcorn in a hot skillet. The youngest of our volunteers took hold of anything that seemed stable - their eyes, wide with shock.

Students, attending Wonderland's School for the Imaginationally Deprived, dive for cover as the shaking started. These students are brought to Wonderland for specialized treatment designed to reignite their imaginations and creativity. For some, its too much TV, or video games. For others it is a lack of play. And for some, it is the result of their school's overemphasis on standardized testing.

After what seemed an eternity, the cheering stopped. The Odyssey went silent - the shaking stopped. It's said the Wasatch Fault moved a good six centimeters Saturday morning, thanks to Christine, her staff and the excellent job they did - which resulted in a cheer heard throughout Wonderland.

Needless to say, the Odyssey scored a perfect 1 across the board, the first for the summer season. Congratulations Christine and your staff. What an awesome job.

Mr. Williamson

The Power of Imagination.  

A short story by Yours Truly.  There was a time when I'd write short little stories like this to keep my imagination sharp and in good repair for when I'd need to write those simulator missions.  

September 2, 2010

     Samuel Cooper. Age 10. Returned home from school at 3:45 P.M. He enjoyed a cookie taken without his mother's permission at 3:47 P.M. and at 3:49 P.M. stood in the refrigerator's doorway and drank directly from the milk carton - a serious no no. At 3:52 Samuel sat on the front porch of his home on Elm Street in Eugene Oregon. At 4:00 P.M. Samuel closed his eyes and accessed his direct link to Wonderland's Imaginarium. At 4:01 he relocated.
     Samuel Cooper, Age 10 sat on a stone windowsill enjoying the scenery and calm of the fjord. A smell introduced itself from behind - embedded in the musty smell of moss on stone. Something familiar and dangerously foul. He had one hour before mother would call him for dinner. It was time to act......

Imaginarium Theater

The Best Videos From Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience

Imaginarium Theater September 6, 2020 from SpaceCampUtah's Imaginarium on Vimeo.

Imaginarium Theater. Get your Week Off to a Good Start!

 Imaginarium Theater

The Best Videos from Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience

Imaginarium Theater August 23, 2020 from SpaceCampUtah's Imaginarium on Vimeo.

From the Space Center's Historical Files. The Police Arrive at the Space Center with Guns Drawn! Bracken Funk Retires. Brent Anderson Retires, Brady Young Returns to the Voyager. Also, A New Podium for Central. The CMSC Planetarium Dome Takes Shape. Imaginarium Theater.

From the Christa McAuliffe Space Center's Historical Files. 
Comings and Goings. An Update

Twelve Years Ago this Week. August 24, 2008

Bracken Funk Briefing a Voyager Crew

Bracken Funk Retires

     We have goodbyes and hellos for this post. Bracken Funk directed his last Overnight Camp on Friday. He ran his signature story ‘Silhouette’. His final scores were good enough to take first place in the post camp surveys.
Bracken leaves on Wednesday for the MTC in Provo. A few weeks later he will leave Utah. Houston Texas is his final destination.

Admiral William Schuler

The Police Arrive at the Space Center with Guns Drawn!
     The Overnight Camp was picture perfect. The scores were good (not great) and the kids were excellent in both behavior and performance. The Happy Bucket was given out but not used - a mark of another great camp. Equipment problems were fixed without delay. There was one small incident that stained the tranquility of an almost perfect camp. At 11:10 P.M. we were in the cafeteria giving the campers ice cream. Lorraine and I stood there in a semi conscious state staring, but not really seeing the kids as they ate. You know how your mind drifts when tired. My half slumber was disturbed by a staff member telling me the police were outside and wanting to see me about an incident reported by the neighbors. I was busy with the campers and sent Mr. Schuler out instead. With ice cream consumed I walked the boys to the gym. They picked up their gear. Our final stop was the lobby. The boys dropped their things and headed to the restrooms for a final break before bed. I had a minute so I walked outside behind the Voyager and found several policeman along with Mr. Schuler, Bracken, and a few other volunteers standing near the gym wall. Bill told me the police drew a gun on him when he went outside.
     “That’s ‘over the top’ for a noise complaint,” I said looking at the approaching officers.
     “It was more than a noise,” he said. “Someone was throwing dry ice bombs and one went off next to a policeman,” he responded.
     Sure enough, the story was repeated by the officer. He added another fact omitted by Bill. The policeman was moving around the back of the school toward the large outside air conditioner used by the school’s new addition. Near the cooling unit he saw something with red flashing lights. It looked like a bomb! He moved closer to the black object with blinking lights apprehensive as to its purpose. Just then, another dry ice bomb dropped behind the officer and exploded. Needless to say, the police were in a bad mood and determined to catch the delinquents.
     The bomb was actually one of our Space Center props set outside by the Voyager staff for their landing party. It was innocent but easily misunderstood. The police wanted to get on the school’s roof to find the culprits. I let them up through the ladder in the custodian’s closet. They found nothing. Whoever it was got away. I wouldn’t want to be them if the police ever find out. I’m sure it would be a minimum of ten years community service and a fine so large they would finally get out of debt to the Pleasant Grove City on their eighty-sixth birthday. I was relieved the Space Center wasn't blamed for the officer’s thrilling night out. The experience was added spice to Bracken’s last mission!

Brent Anderson Programming the Voyager's Flight Computer

Brent Anderson Retires to Attend BYU
     On Saturday afternoon the Programming Guild met at the Space Center for Brent Anderson’s last meeting and official resignation. Brent officially turned the reigns of the Guild to Bridger Maxwell. Brent will be attending BYU this fall, followed by an LDS mission. He hopes to enter the MTC in December. Brent came to me years ago as a youngling with a dream to build his own simulator at his home. He was in the process of raising money. One of his mentors told him to come to the Space Center and learn how I got the place started. I remember that meeting. Brent and his friend stood in front of me with grand ideas. I listened politely. A thought dawned on me as they spoke. If I could take that drive and enthusiasm and redirect it to the Space Center we would have a fantastic new and talented volunteer.
     I asked Brent to come on board as a volunteer. He eagerly accepted and the rest is history. The Space Center thrived under Brent’s administration of the Programming Guild. Brent took us out of the dark ages in many respects by streamlining my work and making everything he touched work more efficiently. Brent was awesome. There is nothing more to be said. Both Brent and Bracken will be missed. Wait...... that is worded to weakly. They will be missed greatly!
     We held a goodbye open house for both of them at my home Saturday night. It was well attended. We shared stories and memories and laughed for hours.
     I went to listen to Bracken’s Farewell speech in Sacrament Meeting this morning. He did well. He overflows with self confidence which was evident to anyone listening to his talk. 

Brady Young Receiving an Honor at Honors Night
(A young photo of Brady. I couldn't find later one for this post)

Brady’s Return
     We are loosing two of our best. The clouds gathering over the Center appear dark and foreboding. Luckily a silver lining has been spotted. Brady Young returned from his mission to Florida and is back at the Space Education Center eager and ready to resume his position as Voyager Flight / Set Director. Instead of crawling into a corner and rocking for weeks in fits of depression I’m sitting at my desk thinking we will all survive this hurricane roaring around us. Brady is back - one of our best.
     For some reason, and always when we need the help, the right person seems to walk in the Briefing Room Door and say “Here I Am. You’ve been looking for me”. The Fates are with us again my friends and we dare not tempt them. We continue our lives happily knowing that someone or something in the vacuum of space has us under a watchful eye.
     Now it is time to stop. Work hard and make each day better than the last. Remember, the success to life is imagination, education and hard work. Take time each day to sharpen each of those legs on success' stool and you to will be unstoppable and nearly irreplaceable.

Mr. Williamson

News from the Christa McAuliffe Space Center

By James Porter (From the CMSC's Facebook Page)

Today we welcomed back a bit of the old Central Elementary and Space Center. Through the amazing efforts of Wes and his mother we have a new/old podium. It was made from the doors of our previous building and the East tree near the main entrance.

We have such amazing volunteers and we look forward to welcoming them and everyone else back in the coming months. Thank you Wes and mom for your contribution to our community.

The New Planetarium Dome at the CMSC is Taking Shape

Imaginarium Theater

The Best Videos from Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience

Imaginarium Theater August 23, 2020 from SpaceCampUtah's Imaginarium on Vimeo.