The Voyager Club at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center is composed of both teens and adults. Some are Explorer level  and others are Volunteers.  The Club meets once a month on a Saturday morning from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. at Central Elementary School, home of the Christa McAuliffe Space Center in Pleasant Grove.  Yesterday was the club's first meeting for the 2025-2025 school year.  Attendance was excellent - we have almost outgrown the school's faculty room.  

      Club meetings always start with bingo and donuts at 8:00 A.M.  Bingo and donuts encourages club members to be on time for the club's official start time of 8:30 A.M. Jack and Thomas, the club's co- presidents, called bingo and officiated at the meeting.   

     Thomas is the club's September president. Jack takes the reigns in October. They switch off month by month. Thomas open the meeting by calling forth all new club members.  They introduced themselves by giving their names, their schools, and their favorite pass time activity.   

     After new member introductions, Thomas reminded the club of the importance of keeping the costume closet well maintained.  His pictures illustrated the point well.  After his gentle reminder, all club members stood and took a solemn oath to keep the closet in perfect order on pain of a stern, soul piercing look from both Thomas and Jack. 
     The Voyager Academy was the club's next item of business.  The Academy starts its Fall class and workshop offerings starting this week.  The Academy's faculty introduced themselves to the club;  Conner Larsen spoke about the Academy's new Music Appreciation course starting this week.  Dave Stevens spoke about his Unity workshops coming this winter.  Brian Dean and Jack spoke about the Blender classes. Finally, Matt Long introduced the Academy's Props workshops starting in January. Props is a new division of the Space Center's StageWorks Department.  Club members taking the Props workshop will design props for the Space Center using CAD software. Once designed, the props will be manufactured using 3D printers, then wired for electronics, and finally - given to the Space Center to be used in the simulators. 
     Other classes and workshops to be offered this Fall will be Hyrum's math tutoring program and Tyler's acting workshops.  Watch the Space Center's Google Classroom for more information.      

       Jason Trump, and his associate Jared sorry Jared, but I forgot your last name), gave the September lesson on "The Search for Life in the Universe".  Jason is the Director of Education at Clark Planetarium and was a former planetarium director at the Space Center.  Jason is an astrobiologist and a former Space Center Voyager Club volunteer. Both are on the Voyager Academy's volunteer faculty.  

     Soil samples were place around the room. Water was added. The Voyagers were asked to watch the samples as the lesson progressed. Their mission was to identify any sign of life.  
     Jared and Jason always give excellent lessons!  The club members were involved and asked many good questions.  The club's mission is to "Create a Space Faring Civilization" and to provide volunteers for the Space Center.  Creating a Space Faring Civilization requires education and training.  Jason and Jared are doing their part through their outstanding lessons. 
     After the meeting, the Voyager Club's Leadership Team met to discuss October's meeting and to plan a club Halloween party.  In attendance were the club's presidents Jack and Thomas, along with Canon (representing The Space Place) and Isaac (representing American Heritage School).  Brian Dean and I sat in as advisors. There was a discussion of starting a LDM (Long Duration Mission) program at the Space Center for our volunteers. It will be structured like the program currently being run at The Space Place at Renaissance Academy.  Look for more information in upcoming blog posts and in the Google Classroom.  

     Nan spent last Thursday at Renaissance Academy in Pleasant Grove.  Her education program at UVU required her to spend 15 hours working in a classroom. Nan chose my 6th grade classroom for her observation. She spent the day working with our students in their history, math, and science classes.  She got to see all 94 of them in the wild.  I'm sure it was an eye-opener!  
     Later, in the afternoon, Nan spent an hour with Bracken Funk in the Voyager simulator learning how it is both like and unlike the Falcon and Cassini.  She wanted to help with our after school Young Astronauts club 3 hour mission.  She ran Second Chair  (2FX) and I flight directed.  We has a blast!  Nan is awesome to work with and consistently works to be the best at everything she does.   
​     Nan has a few hours left to complete her required time so we may see her again on an upcoming Thursday.    

     Both the Young Astronauts and Voyager Clubs at The Space Place at Renaissance Academy will extend their club meetings times this school year by 30 minutes, bringing their total LDM (Long Duration Mission) meetings to 3 hours; from 3:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. Monday - Thursday and 12:45 P.M. to 3:45 P.M. on Fridays.   All 3rd - 9th graders are doing the same extended, 8 month long LDM mission in the Voyager.  This is a change from last year when every grade level did a different mission.  This year's mission is a multi-episodic continuation of the old Supernova story I wrote 30 years ago.  The mission begins right after Betelgeuse's explosion.   
     The Dragon Squadron (pictured above) finished their 2nd three hour block mission on Friday.  Notice that they appear lost?  That is because they are.  Where or Where (or When) are they, that will be completely reviled in their next mission

     Dave Wall, a Space Center legend, returned to the Christa McAuliffe Space Center last Saturday and was amazed at what he found.  His first shock was bumping into me as I was exiting the Staff Room.  "Vic!" he exclaimed.  I looked at him unable to believe my eyes. 
     "Dave!" I answered.  We shook hands and began reminiscing about the good old Space Center days.  You see, Dave and his brother Steve were tasked by me to design and build the first Starship Odyssey back in 1992-1993.  Dave was the Odyssey's first flight director when the ship opened and maintained that position for a couple years before moving to Logan to open operate his own ship Pathfinder he built in a trailer.  Mr. Porter flew the Pathfinder with Dave when he lived in Logan many many years ago.  Dave was on a very short visit to Utah and wanted to see the new Space Center before leaving. 

     I asked Dave to sit in the Odyssey III's flight director chair for a photo. I wanted him to say a few things into the mic so the new Odyssey could hear the Founder's voice, but sadly Dave forgot his engineering character's name.  Yes, it has been that long since he flew last.  Doesn't he look like a natural in that seat wearing his old Navy Blues? 
   The Odyssey I was notorious for causing injury to every flight director.  Back then you weren't truly baptized into the Odyssey cult without spilling blood from either the small engineering hatchway or a protruding screw. I asked Dave it the bandage on his arm was from his original Odyssey injury from 30 years ago.  He declined to comment :) 

       In the photo above you see Dave and his brother Steve at the Odyssey Launching Ceremony held in the original Space Center's Briefing Room in 1993. They spoke about the new Odyssey and its importance as the Space Center's second simulator after the Voyager.   I wrote a short post about the Odyssey's opening that appeared in the Troubadour Blog
The post is below: 

      The Odyssey opened in the fall of 1993, three years after the launch of Starship One, the USS Voyager in November 1990.  Back in the days before the Voyager had to hold all the field trip students.  I needed another ship.  Having a small ship for private missions was another reason for the Odyssey.  The room was there at the back of the Briefing Room. I just needed funding.  I thought $25,000 would do the trick.  
      In the early to mid 1990's I served on the US West (CenturyLink today) Foundation's Outstanding Teacher Selection Committee.  We traveled the state looking at teachers in our yearly search for US West's Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, an award I had won earlier.  Eve Mary Verde was the Foundation's Director.  US West had helped me before so I thought to ask again. I scheduled an appointment to make the pitch for funding, went to Salt Lake, sat down with the companies managers, made my pitch, and got the funding.  The Odyssey was a GO!  
     The next problem, who to build the Odyssey?  Dave and Steve Wall were brothers, raised in Provo, and science fiction extreme fans.  They were also big fans of the Space Center.  They both agreed to take on the project.  A year later, the Odyssey was built. At first the simulator went by two names: ISES and Seeker.  I liked ISES. Dave Wall liked Seeker.  ISES stood for Inner Space Explorer Ship. I wanted to Odyssey to be a multi-platform ship doing both space and inner body adventures.  Dave Wall was the Odyssey's Set Director.  In the end Dave and I compromised on a new name - Odyssey.  All that was left was the official launch and ribbon cutting.    

      In the photo above you see Even Mary Verde from US West Corporation (they funded the Odyssey) cutting the ribbon officially opening the Odyssey.  Dave and Steve Wall stand behind her.  
        The slide show below has other pictures and descriptions from the Odyssey's Grand Opening Ceremony if you'd like to take a walk down Space Center History Lane.  

        The Space Center is what it is today because of dedicated pioneers like Dave Wall who caught the vision of the Space Center's mission, To Create a Space Faring Civilization.  Thank you Dave for your contribution, and speaking for the Odyssey III's current staff, thank you for imagineering the Odyssey's place in the Space Center's family of simulators.  

     Last Thursday evening, the Christa McAuliffe Space Center gathered to honor the incredible staff and volunteers who make its mission of creating a space-faring civilization possible. Honor’s Night, held every four months, is a time to reflect on milestones, achievements, and the dedication of those who help inspire wonder in the next generation of explorers.
     This year’s ceremony was filled with heartfelt moments, enthusiastic applause, and the excitement of recognizing both new and veteran contributors. The night celebrated excellence in every aspect—from volunteers voted as favorites by campers to those who’ve dedicated thousands of hours to ensuring the success of the Space Center’s missions.

The Lord and Ladies of the Vote
     A unique and exciting tradition at the Space Center’s summer space camps is the Lord and Ladies of the Vote award. This honor goes to the volunteers who received the most votes from campers throughout the summer. These volunteers stood out not only for their dedication but for the inspiration they sparked in campers during immersive space missions.
     Sofi, Audrie, and Thomas were celebrated as runners-up for the award.
     The top honor went to Jack, who earned the most camper votes, cementing his role as a favorite among participants for his exceptional contributions.

Summer Camp Staff and Simulator Awards
     The summer camps are a cornerstone of the Christa McAuliffe Space Center, and this year, the award for the Top Staff Member went to Rachel, whose leadership and dedication shone brightly throughout the season. Runner-ups for this prestigious honor included Alex, Ellie, Orion, and Mitch, all of whom played key roles in creating unforgettable experiences for campers.
     The space center’s simulators are the beating heart of the immersive space missions, and the award for the Best Simulator Mission went to the Odyssey, recognizing it for delivering the most thrilling and engaging simulations.
     In terms of overall simulator excellence, the Galileo earned the top spot, followed by the Odyssey in second place, and the Falcon in third place, each playing a pivotal role in the Space Center’s educational programs.

New Set Directors Announced
     Honor’s Night also served as an opportunity to announce the new set directors who will oversee the Space Center’s various simulators. These individuals are tasked with ensuring that each mission runs smoothly and continues to captivate participants. The new set directors are:

Hayden, who will lead the Magellan simulator.
Cecily, taking charge of the Odyssey.
Alex, stepping up as the Galileo’s set director.
Rylan, overseeing the Falcon
Hyrum, directing the Cassini.
Lissa, leading the Phoenix.

Each new set director brings their unique talents and passion to the role, ensuring that every simulation is as dynamic and exciting as ever.

Pin Achievements
     Throughout the night, volunteers were awarded their pins for completing training and mastering different stations within the Space Center’s simulators. These pins represent hard work, dedication, and a deep understanding of how each simulation operates.

Magellan pins were awarded to Thomas, Anya, Julian, and Charlie.
Cassini pins went to Thomas, Hyrum, Jack, and Marcus.
Phoenix pins were given to Thomas and Jack.
Odyssey pins were earned by Jack, Thomas, Cameron, and Charlie.
Galileo pins were awarded to Ben and Jack.
Falcon pins were given to Jack, Eavie, and Sofi.

These achievements underscore the volunteers’ commitment to the Space Center’s mission and their readiness to take on leadership roles within each simulator.

Volunteer Service Awards
     Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Christa McAuliffe Space Center, and those who have dedicated countless hours were honored for their service. 

The Apprentice Starfighter Award for 100 hours of volunteer service was presented to Eden, Kyle, Julian, Kade, and Michael.
The Hitchhiker Level Award for 500 hours of service went to Jack, Eavie, and Charlie.
The prestigious Defender of the Universe Awardfor 1,000 hours of volunteer service was given to Jack, whose commitment has been nothing short of extraordinary.

     In addition, the Five Years of Service Award*was presented to Quinn and Kyson, while the Decade of Loyal Service Award, known as the Journeyman Award, was given to BryleeAnn. These awards recognized the long-term dedication of individuals who have made the Space Center their second home.

Mentor Level Promotions
     Two standout volunteers, Thomas and Jack, were awarded their Royal Blue shirts and promoted to the Mentor level, marking a significant step in their leadership at the Space Center. Their growth, both as individuals and as leaders, was evident in the recognition they received.

A Fond Farewell
     The final recognition of the night was reserved for Orion, who after many years of loyal service, is retiring from the Christa McAuliffe Space Center. His contributions over the years have left a lasting impact on the Space Center and the many students and volunteers he has inspired. Orion will be greatly missed, and his legacy will live on in the missions and programs he helped build.

Looking to the Future
     As Honor’s Night concluded, it was clear that the spirit of wonder, exploration, and dedication is alive and well at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center. With new leaders at the helm and a strong volunteer base, the Space Center is poised for even greater adventures ahead. Each honoree, in their own way, has contributed to building the future of space exploration and education. Here’s to another successful year of creating a space-faring civilization and inspiring the next generation of explorers!
     The next Honor’s Night, just four months away, promises even more milestones to celebrate. Until then, the work continues and the stars await.

The Photos:  Warning, Disappointment Ahead!
     You'd think I learned my lesson from previous Honor's Nights held in the Planetarium but I guess I'm a slow learner with a short memory.  Sadly, because of the low green lighting in the planetarium, the pictures, as a whole, turned out very very green. My flash didn't always kick in because of the bright dome behind everyone.  Several pictures had to be converted into black and white to be properly seen.  For future reference, I'll snap Honor's Night photos away from the bright dome which will engage the flash and we will get some color.  

Thank you,
​Mr. Williamson

     Pictured above is Thomas. Thomas is the Co-President of the Space Center's Voyager Club and one of the Center's top volunteers (rumor has it that there is a significant HONOR coming his way on Thursday's Honor's Night.  And with the introductions done, I'd like to draw your attention to Thomas' belt buckle.  What you see is the newest in Space Center fashion for staff and volunteers - the Space Center Belt!  I think it has a classy look.  And just like working and volunteering at the Space Center supports you in life, the belt supports your pants in a similar way :) 
     The Space Center belt is the forth item in the Space Center's Staff and Volunteer fashion and apparel store. The other  items are 1) the classic black t-shirt. 2) the gray simulators t-shirt. and finally, 3) the Space Center jacket.  I can't help but wonder what might be next in the Space Center's General Store.  In fact, a vision is coming into view right now..............

     Howdy.  Whether you’ve just docked in from a three-lightyear haul or you're taking a leisurely spin ‘round the asteroid belt, The Space Center's General Store has all the knick-knacks and doodads you didn’t know you needed but can’t live without! The Store's proprietor, James Porter and live in manager (in the small trailer parked in the back) Jon Parker keep the place well stocked with the latest in space faring goods.... 

**Moonshine Moon Pies**: Fresh-baked from the finest dehydrated moon flour. Perfect for snackin’ between warp jumps. 
**Rocket Fuel Candles**: Give your cabin that warm, country aroma of burnt thrusters and fresh hay. Now in Space Cedar, Starship Spice, and Cosmic Cornbread scents!  
**Galaxy Overalls**: For the rugged interstellar rancher who wrangles space critters by day and fixes hyperdrives by night. Complete with asteroid-proof pockets and a zero-gravity harness!
**Plasma-Powered Porch Lights**: Tired of your front deck floating off into the abyss at night? Keep your starbase’s front porch lit with these here solar-powered beauties—guaranteed to attract space-moths and repel them, too!
**Cosmic Jelly Jars**: Got yourself a hankerin’ for good ol' fashioned jam, but can’t find a jar that’ll withstand solar flares? Look no further—our jars are photon-resistant, perfect for storing everything from Nebula Nectar to Space Apple Butter.
**Quantum Quilts**: Hand-stitched by Old Nan down on Deck 7! They’ll keep you warm even in the coldest sectors of space. Made from 100% hypo-hyperspace fiber. 
**Star-Dusty Fiddle Strings**: ‘Cause what’s an evening under the binary suns without a little toe-tappin’ music? Now made with extra tension to handle low-gravity pickin’!

And don’t forget to check out our **"Fix 'n Fuel" Station** out back! We’ve got *Star Warp Drive Parts* for them busted hover-modules, **Meteor Milk** for your coffee, and **Space Slime Devil Repellant** for those pesky varmints.

Y’all come on by now, ya hear? Space Center Galactic General Store is open 26/7, because time’s just a suggestion out here in the stars. We’re located right next to "Bones, the Chiropractor" on Deck 3. Come for the supplies, stay for the stories—maybe even a game of interstellar checkers with ol' James or Jon themselves. 

      I was privileged to work the Voyager's Bridge for the first team out of the gate for The Space Place's new Voyager Club Long Duration Mission "The White Rose".  Bracken Funk and I wrote the story over the summer.  It is the second chapter of "Supernova", picking up where the original story Supernova ends. 
      The Voyager Club and Young Astronauts at The Space Place is an after school club with over 160 members in grades 3-9.  They are divided into squadrons of 10 members each.  Each squadron meets monthly for a new  3 hour episode of the LDM.  Class sessions are written into each episode so the cadets never leave the illusion of the mission. They take breaks in the Captain's Ready Room for the classes and discussions. This year's classes will focus on astronomy and cosmology.  This year the program will integrate 4 - 9th graders into the same teams with the purpose of giving the younger cadets opportunities to see the older cadets operate the ship.  It also lets cadet siblings fly at the same time.  
       The first squadron ran the ship beautifully and only "died" once.  It's a joy to see our older cadets who've been in the club for so many years staff the Voyager. They know the controls inside and out and make my job as a bridge supervisor easy.  That freedom lets me focus more on their teamwork and communication skills.   
        The Space Place has a Voyager Club Volunteering Program and accepts volunteers in grades 6 - adult.  If you'd like to volunteer for the LDM club missions, contact me and I'll give you the information.  We have two cadets of are duel center volunteers at the moment.  Cannon and Henry do an excellent job at both Space Centers.  

       The Lion's Gate Space Center does an excellent monthly newsletter.  September's letter introduced the staff and asked them several questions about their work at the Lions Gate Center.  Some of the staff started at The Christa McAuliffe Space Center in Pleasant Grove so their answers have references to both Centers.  

      Last year Mr. Porter, Space Center Director, changed the way Set Directors are chosen. Instead of Set Directors keeping their positions until they voluntarily leave the position, or retire from the Space Service, or are fired (which rarely happens) Set Directorships are reviewed each year at the end of the summer camp season.  Many of the Set Directors feel one year at the helm of one of the ships is enough for them :) Others are needed elsewhere in the organization, and others no longer have the time to commit to the ship. 
      Mr. Porter released the names of the new Set Directors this weekend. They take their positions starting today (September 1).  In his email to Space Center staff, Mr. Porter said,

"I'm sending out an announcement to inform you of a changing of the guard that will be taking place this weekend.  Before we get to those important changes I hope you'll take a moment to reflect on the efforts of our current set directors.  They performed very well and helped us have a wonderful year.  We've made some good progress in establishing roles, building new experiences, and trying to support each other.  So pass on your appreciation for the time they have devoted to this role which often goes far beyond what we see.

Our new set directors will take on their roles starting in September so let's give our support to.

Magellan - Hayden (Replacing Tyler)
Cassini - Hyrum. (Replacing Ellie)
Phoenix - Lissa. (Replacing Scott)
Odyssey - Cecily. (Replacing Mitch)
Galileo - Alex. (Replacing Brylee)
Falcon - Rylan. (Replacing Mr. Porter) 

     I've said this many times and I'll say it again, the Space Center is staffed by dedicated people who care deeply about the program and its success.  This commitment to excellence starts at the top with James Porter , the Space Center's Director, who sets the example.  He works a full work week, and then a whole bunch of extra hours to keep the Center operational and goal driven.  I am privileged to get to with James, and everyone - staff and volunteers. 
      Let's welcome the new Set Directors in their positions.  I'm excited to see how they continue the traditions of excellence established by their predecessors. 

Mr. Williamson     

      In keeping with the Space Center's 33 year tradition, Central Elementary students were the Space Center's first field trip of the new school year.  The Field Trip program is the Space Center's primary mission within the Alpine School District.  Students and teachers receive an excellent day of simulator missions, planetarium shows, and lessons.  The success of the Field Trip program brings the students back in the summer for space camps, and back again for private group missions.  
      Staffing the Field Trip program can be tricky. Most of the flight directors and supervisors are in high school or college. Many work their school schedules around the field trips to ensure we have every ship staffed and ready for the busses to arrive. 
​     Here are the people who staffed the first field trip of the year.

     The Lion's Gate Space Center recently started their in school field trip program.   All students in grades K-9 at Lakeview Academy attend in school field trips in the school's two simulators, the Apollo and Artemis.  

      The Space Place at Renaissance Academy begins its school based Young Astronauts and Voyager Club programs on Friday, September 6.