American Dynasty

Jon Parker celebrated his 17th anniversary at the Space Center on Saturday by wearing one of his first volunteer shirts - the Burgundy.  You don't see many Burgundies on people's backs these day.  It was a shirt style that lasted a while until I got tired of the color and decreed that from henceforth all volunteers would wear black.  The policy is still in effect.  For my benefit, Jon recreated one of his earliest memories as a young volunteer all those years ago.  He wore the Burgundy on Saturday knowing I would be flying the Cassini's morning mission. He sat in the Cassini's IIFX position (second chair) and cowered in his seat while looking at me with fear and dreading.  Would Mr. Williamson yell at him for missing a video clue?  Would he be berated for not pausing the video fast enough or backtracking to rid the screen of the VCR video pause lines?  Would he get the infamous Mr. Williamson's hand slammed down on the counter top.  YIKES, wa...

Honors Night at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center. January 13, 2022      Honor's Night was held on Thursday, January 13 at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center.  Honors Night is the Space Center's way of celebrating the accomplishments of its staff and volunteers. Tabitha Ricks welcomed everyone to Honors Night.  Tabitha is the Space Center's volunteer coordinator.  The first to be mentioned were the Center's newest volunteers.   Kayden, Mitch and Rylan were honored for getting their Galileo pass. Cecily and Mitch were honored for getting their Odyssey pass. Natalie Anderson presented the pins and took great pride in presenting them to the congregation.    Aaron, Mitch, and Henson were presented their Magellan pins for completing the requirements to get the Magellan pass.  Connor Larsen in the Magellan's Set Director. He attended the meeting remotely from North Carolina.    The newest members of the Apprentice Gui...

        The Farpoint Jumpship Discovery launched and completed its space trials during the first week of January.  The Discovery is the American Heritage Space Center's flagship at their American Fork campus.  Alex DeBirk, a long time volunteer and staff member of the Christa McAuliffe Space Center and the Starship Voyager at Renaissance Academy, is the director.  He has been working late into the night and weekends for the past few months in preparation for the launch.  And while the Discovery isn't completely finish (no simulator ever is no matter how long it has been open) it was certified space worthy.  The following are photos of the jumpship's first crews.  The Discovery's Logo The Discovery's Warp Core      The Discovery has a small sick bay just off to the left of the Bridge.  Attached to the sick bay is a small warp core access room called "Bridge Engineering".  The jaw dropping prop in the room is the w...

It was an eventful night last Thursday at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center's Honors Night.  Several honors were bestowed by Mr. James Porter, along with a few of the Center's set directors.  Those honors will be highlighted over then next few weeks on The Troubadour. Today we want to make a big announcement heard first at Honor's Night.       The Starship Phoenix has a New Set Director Mason Perry Receiving the Phoenix Microphone from Jordan Smith Jordan Smith recently graduated with a degree in computer programming and is actively seeking  professional employment.  Anticipating the move might come before the next Honor's Night, Jordan decided to pass the microphone before his official retirement.  Mr. Porter invited all staff to apply for the position of Phoenix Set Director.  Applicants were interviewed and a final decision was made.  Attention, prepare for an important announcement. Hear Ye, Hear Ye.  Friends, Romans, Coun...

Your Christa McAuliffe Space Center Staff: Unique, Talented, and Beautifully Weird in a Good Way! Katie       If you hang around the good people at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center in Pleasant Grove you soon come to realize they are a broad mix of some of the brightest, creative, and dedicated people you'll ever meet.  Now take those aforementioned qualities, and add it a touch of beautifully weird, and you'll know why the Space Center is the best place to work and play in Utah.      Pictured above is Katie.  Katie is an Odyssey flight director and Cassini supervisor.  I've had the honor and privilege of working with Katy on many occasion.  It wasn't until the Cassini's summer flight planning meeting a couple weeks ago that I got to see the 'other' side of Katy.  She came in, sat down, and took out a small Christmas tree.  It sat there through the meeting for all to enjoy.  It wasn't until afterwards that I put...