Monday to Friday my time is exclusively dedicated to my sixth graders and the Voyager and Young Astronaut Clubs at Renaissance Academy. They get my attention for 53 hours a week.  Saturdays are reserved for fun, and fun for me is visiting The Space Place and The Christa McAuliffe Space Center to see the missions and work with our fantastic Voyager Club volunteers. Yesterday was no exception.
        My first stop of the day was WalMart to pick up day old donuts, cookies, and rolls for both Centers. The goodies keep the Volunteers sugared up and happy. You don't want to be around them on days where there isn't something to nibble on in the Staff Rooms, so I take my morning goody run seriously. 
        With the back of my Nissan loaded, I was off to The Space Place to drop off donuts, visit the staff and Voyagers, and marvel at how well Bracken, Megan, and Livy have the Volunteers trained.  They run the Voyager like professionals.  They set the ship up for an 11:00 A.M. mission.  The Space Place is different than the other space centers when it comes to mission lengths.  Each mission offered for private flights has a different length, this allows crews enough time to complete a mission successfully without needing to rushed or vigorously coached.  Saturday's crew booked "The Gateway", a six hour mission. 

     While Bracken Funk welcomes the arriving crew, the staff and volunteers meet in the Staff Room to go over the mission in detail. Assignments are given and special circumstances are discussed.  Characters are assigned along with set up and take down responsibilities.  Costuming is reviewed along with acting specifics for the mission. 

      After the mission briefing, the volunteers and staff move to complete their prepping jobs.  Megan was on the Voyager's floor repairing a rope light.  

       After the ship is prepped, the Voyagers gathered in the staff room with Livy for Team Building.  Team building for the volunteers happens while Bracken briefs the crew.  Today's team building involved an online character creation game.  Team building ends as soon as the staff and volunteers hear the crew lining up in the hallway. "Loading Stations," is called and everyone jumps to their positions.  
 
The Happy Birthday Singing Tradition
    The Space Place staff and volunteers sign "Happy Birthday" in Cardilir if the private mission is celebrating a birthday.  The singing happens before the mission briefing starts. You can watch below....  The video also shows the crew welcoming their captain to the bridge during loading.

         The volunteers and staff meet in the Voyager's Control Room after training to wait for the official start of the mission. Bracken will enter the Control Room, take his seat at the FD station, and say "Let's Get to Work!"  And that is when the fun and games begin.  

       I left The Space Place and set course for The Christa McAuliffe Space Center, my Saturday home away from home.  After arriving, I set up my computer in the Staff Room, set out the donuts, cookies, and rolls, greeted and thanked the volunteers for coming in, and trekked upstairs to the computer lab to see Matt Long and the StageWorks Props class. As usual, I was amazed at what they were creating using 3D Cad.  

        These young Voyagers will be the Space Center's prop engineers when they finish Matt's course. 

       After learning CAD basics, the young engineers will design and 3D print props for the Space Center's simulators.  Electronics is another course. The young engineers will learn basic electronics. Using that knowledge, the young engineers will be able to design, print, and wire props.  

       The Space Center specializes in training its volunteers to take on staff responsibilities. This ensures a never ending supply of qualified people to hire as the older staff retire from Space Service to enter civilian life. 
​     While the Young Engineers trained in CAD upstairs, Thomas was in the Falcon Control Room with Rylan training to become a flight director. Thomas is a member of the Space Center's Staff Training Class.  Each trainee is assigned a Mentor. Mentors work with the trainees one on one to perfect their skills and prepare them for their final exams and pass off flights.  Tabitha and Mitch oversee the training program.  

   Jack is another Trainee.  Conner Larsen is his Mentor.  Mentors and Trainees spend many hours together in the simulators and control rooms. Conner and Jack wanted everyone to know that it isn't all work.   Conner sent me the photos above showing the two of them hamming it up for this blog post.  I like the last photo with Conner in the chair and Jack standing dutifully behind him.  Sooooo 18th Century.  
      The rest of my Saturday at the Space Center was spent updating volunteer records, issuing rank and ID badges, and having many conversations in the Staff Room with the Volunteers as they came and went. 
     The Space Center and The Space Place provide excellent opportunities for teens to learn new skills, socialize with others sharing similar interests, and develop good working habits that carry into their school and personal lives. These are examples of how the Space Centers benefit their local communities.  

      In the dark expanse of the galaxy, the passenger ship Apollo Rising went missing. Tasked with uncovering its fate, the overconfident crew of the Starship Voyager set out from Starbase Renaissance on a mission fraught with mystery and peril.  But what began as a rescue spiraled into chaos when they discover the Apollo Rising had crossed into Cardilir space and entered the territory of Earth's most sworn enemies, the Cardilit. Surrounded by hostile warships and facing certain annihilation, the crew navigated the fragile line between survival and certain doom. At least that is what we think.  Sadly, the crew of the Voyager are missing. Starbase Renaissance hasn't received a communication from the Voyager since their last message.  Two ships have been dispatched to investigate.  
​        There is always hope......

      The volunteers, students, and staff of American Heritage School's Discovery Space Center are busy restoring the Galileo II to its original specifications and giving it a good "once over" to ensure all systems are functioning before it officially launches again into the vast distances of space.  

     Megan Warner has returned to the Christa McAuliffe Space Center as a field trip flight director. Mr. Porter hired Megan to work with the field trip program in the simulators.  Megan started last week and flew the Falcon and supervised on the Cassini.  This return to flight duty comes after an 10 year absence.  This also makes Megan the ONLY tri-Space Center employee.  She is a flight director at The Space Place at Renaissance Academy. She is the in house field trip flight director at the American Heritage School's Discovery Space Center, and now she adds the Space Center to her list of responsibilities.  

     Megan's Space Centering career started as a young student volunteer at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center.  Over the years she became a supervisor, flight director, set director, and was The Space Center's director from June 2013 to the summer of 2024 during which time she oversaw the building of the Odyssey II and the Space Center's reopening from the 7 month maintenance closure. 

     Welcome Home Megan!   I'm happy to see you back in a flight director's chair at the Space Center.  

     Alex DeBirk and team at American Heritage School's Discovery Space Center have been hard at work on the school's two starship simulators; the Discovery and the Galileo.  Alex recently posted a few pictures on their progress....
     American Heritage School uses the ships for in house field trips for their students.  The high school students provide the staffing and volunteers.  

     The Lion's Gate Space Center is back open for private missions. visit their website to book a flight
​

Hello fellow, Troubadours! This is Matt Ricks a long time Space Center enthusiast and also host of Drydock Talk with the TSG podcast.

I'm excited to announce that after six long years of being away, and after some not-so-gentle prodding and poking from the Bossman himself, Drydock Talk is back!

The episode recently released is simply a transitional episode, announcing the reboot along with a few changes. You can view that episode by clicking this link. The next few episodes will detail stories of the Space Center from before the creation of the Voyager, and how the Space Center Concept came to be. So stay tuned for the first words next week!

If you are like me, and are a little impatient, you can listen to some previous episodes here. If you would prefer a notification as soon as a new episode is released, make sure to subscribe with notifications on. That way you'll be sure not to miss an episode! You can also stay tuned here on the Troubadour for the latest on Space Center History.

I look forward to learning and sharing more about the 30+ years since it all started, and what impact it has had on you, me, and the community. See you in the trenches!

     The Starship Voyager, The Space Place at Renaissance Academy's Flag Ship, received new uniforms.  The first crew to wear them was the Voyager Club's Bears Squadron.  The uniforms were made by Ems Peterson-Porter and paid for by a generous donation to The Space Place.  

     Every year, The Space Place issues new Voyager Club and Young Astronaut shirts to our cadets.  The 2024-2025 club shirts came in a couple months back so I thought I'd show them off with this post about the Voyager's new uniforms. 

     Tabitha Ricks is the Space Center's new Director of Staff Training (I think that's the title but I could be wrong).  Mitch Foote is the Assistant Director.  James Porter, Space Center Director, tasked them to create an effective, methodical, researched based training program to train select Space Center volunteers to become supervisors and flight directors. The first training session was held on Wednesday afternoon from 3:45 - 6:45 P.M. Tabitha presented a lesson on acting with a focus on voice acting. 
       The training program is open to current staff, especially those who've been asked to be Trainers.  For example, Conner Larsen is Jack's Trainer.  I stopped in to document the class's first session for the blog, but found it so interesting and FUN that I couldn't leave. I found a chair and learned a lot about the art and science of flight directing. Tabitha is a gifted teacher.  Take a good look at the photos above and below. In this group you see the Space Center's future supervisors and flight directors.        

Last Saturday, January 4, Starbase Williamson's starports buzzed with excitement as three legendary starship simulators—the Galileo, Falcon, and Magellan—lit up their warp cores and embarked on a test mission.  

Why, you ask? To boldly train where no staff had trained before! The goal: mastering the continuation of the legendary "Children of Perikoi" mission, a tale so epic it’s been captivating cadets for decades. 

The test crews were none other than the elite members of the Space Center’s and The Space Places' Voyager Clubs—starfleet veterans who know their phasers from their tricorders. The verdict? Success! The mission was executed with precision, teamwork, and just the right amount of "turn off the red alert already!" humor. Everyone involved had a stellar time, and the simulators’ AI systems reported zero mutinies—an excellent sign for the year ahead.  

Soon, students from across Utah will step into the shoes of damage control officers, engineers, and starship captains and fly this new missions. Will they rise to the challenge of the Children of Perikoi? Will they rewrite history—or at least not reverse-polarize the warp coils? Only time will tell.  

     Yesterday, Matt Long, a volunteer and staff member of the Space Center from many years ago, returned as a volunteer instructor.  Matt is teaching the Space Center's Props and Engineering Workshop.  Props and Engineering is a part of the Space Center's StageWorks Department.  
     For the next several weeks, the students will learn the basics of CAD programming.  Afterwards, the students will design a prop and 3D print it.  An electronics component will be included in the series of workshops.    

If you weren’t at the Voyager Club’s December meeting (held stylishly late on January 2, 2025—fashionably procrastinating, just like the best of us), then buckle up, because you missed an *epic* space-faring adventure. This wasn’t just any meeting; it was an away mission to the Lion’s Gate Space Center at Lakeview Academy in Saratoga Springs, home to the legendary Apollo and Artemis starship simulators. And let me tell you, those ships are the amazing simulators—sleek, fast, and best of all, they have ladders :)
​
Mission Kickoff: Space Bingo
The day started at 10:00 AM with the high-stakes Bingo. Yes, you heard that right—Voyager of all ages huddled over their cards, muttering prayers to Fortuna, Goddess of Fortune. It was the kind of intense pre-game warmup that only seasoned Voyagers could handle. 

Meeting Maddness
At 10:30, Jack H., one of our club's co-presidents, called the meeting to order. After thanking the Lion’s Gate crew for hosting us, Jack turned the meeting over to me. I gave a few announcements, then introduced the Voyager Club's Acting Department Head, Tyler Weight. Tyler's mission that day was to teach the club how to channel their inner Hollywood stars while playing out our deep-space missions. Tyler’s lesson was all about using acting scripts to both enhance, prepare and act out character driven simulator scenes. Because let’s be real—if you’re going to be a space alien, you’d better look and sound the part. Fake it till you make it…

Trivia
Next up was trivia, hosted by Jonathan Eden, a Lion’s Gate Flight Director, who somehow managed to turn a game of space trivia into a cross between a history lesson and a comedy show. Club members split into teams, scarfing down their sack lunches while debating the finer points of space-center lore. The winning team earned first dibs on starship positions, making it a highly contested trivia game. No pressure, right?

 The Raffle 
Before splitting into crews, Mr. Williamson held the traditional Voyager Club raffle. Members crossed their fingers as they handed over their name tags (aka rank cards) as tickets. The prizes? Pure awesomeness. From charging stations to intergalactic swag (Marvin the Martian head gear), winners left with a few treasures. 

Mission Impossible: Starship Showdown
Once the prizes were claimed, it was time to gear up for the real fun. Members divided into two crews: one for the Apollo and one for the Artemis. Jack captained the Artemis while Thomas, the club’s other co-president, took command of the Apollo. Captain Kirk himself (aka Daniel Kirkpatrick, Lion’s Gate Space Center Director) briefed both crews on their missions: venture into criminal-infested space to rescue a secret agent and recover a stolen Earth weapon. No big deal, right? Just another Tuesday in space.

Both crews dove into their missions with all the bravery and flair of a blockbuster sci-fi movie. As the mission progressed, the Voyagers learned that both the Christa McAuliffe and Lion's Gate Space Center's were similar and different in how they approached and operated the simulators. It was obvious that the Lion's Gates Center was a descendant of the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center from the terminology used and basic mission structure. The Lion's Gate differs from the Christa McAuliffe Center by pioneered new avenues in space center operation because their primary mission is to provide in school field trips to Lakeview Academy's 1000 students in K - 9th grade. They also use Dream Flight Adventure controls instead of Thorium and they have their own science fiction universe. 

As for our crew's performance.....Spoiler alert: both crews totally crushed it, completing their objectives and earning universal (pun intended) applause. 

The Aftermath
By the end of the day, everyone agreed—Lion’s Gate Space Center is absolutely stellar. From the top-notch simulators to the friendly and talented staff, the experience was unforgettable. Today's experience was the first of a two part exchange. The Lion's Gate Center hosted us, and in return, we will host them at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center for a return mission. 

So, if you’re not part of the Voyager Club yet, what are you waiting for? We’ve got simulators, space missions, trivia, and Bingo (yes, Bingo). Whether you dream of piloting a starship, acting out dramatic space sagas, or just hanging out with the coolest club in the galaxy, we’ve got room for you. 

Until next time, keep looking up and dreaming big.

Ad Astra!
Mr. Williamson

 Hello Troops,
The Voyager Club's Writing Department is starting up again.  One of the department's goals is to encourage our Voyagers and Explorers to write illustrated stories that offer different continuations of our simulator missions, especially with A.I.'s ability to create artwork. The following is an example of taking a simulator story (The Children of Perikoi) and writing a continuation of the story. 

I enjoyed writing the mission 'The Children of Perikoi'.  Since then, I wanted to continue the story and did once several years ago. The mission was told in the Galileo. It was OK, but not what it should have been. I blame myself for that. Not everything you write is good, right?  This is another attempt at a continuation of Perikoi using our own staff and volunteers as characters.  For you old timers, this is a brushed off and cleaned up retelling of a continuation story I wrote years ago.

Have you got a few stories rummaging around in your creative imagination related to any of our current simulator missions?  If so, please consider taking Writing Department workshops.  Let's get those stories written, illustrated, and published for our staff, volunteers, and patrons to enjoy.

Ad Astra!
Mr. Williamson

December 21, 2321
23:00 Hours
McAuliffe Station, Earth Orbit

The McAuliffe Station Lounge was situated at the far end of Hallway A on Deck 12, near the Officer’s Quarters. The hallway’s futuristic design featured softly rounded corners where the walls met the holotop ceiling, which displayed a dynamic 3D simulation of Earth’s sky. By day, a holosun tracked the real position of the sun as seen over San Francisco, and at night, a bright moon and twinkling stars cast the hallway in deep twilight. The effect was both stunning and soothing.

Two brightly polished oak doors separated the lounge from the hallway. Each door had an over sized port hole with the station’s logo etched in glass. The station’s Voyager Academy (VA) was a brisk 45 second walk to the opposite end of Hallway. The VA section housed the staff and instructor's office's and academy class rooms. Between the lounge and academy, Hallway A passed several staff quarters, two turbolift elevators, and a small convenience shop managed by the academy's senior class.  The shop benefited both the senior and junior cadets.  The senior's received valuable work experience, and the cadets had access to a never ending supply of reasonably priced candy and sodas.  The hallway was carpeted in a speckled blue carpet.  Fiber illuminated lighting was stitched in the carpet, displaying the number of each room.

It was 23:00 hours. The Station’s Christmas party was in its third hour.  The sound of laughter and singing poured into Hallway A every time the doors slid open.  The noise didn’t matter. Two thirds of the station’s staff were at the party.  The others were on duty.

A large Christmas Tree stood on the opposite end of the room from the entrance. It was decorated with holographic ornaments. The ornaments changed color and design to match the beat of the music. False Flame took the place of traditional Christmas tree lights, giving the tree a very 19th century look.  A two hundred year old glass star crowned the tree, compliments of Admiral Porter, the station commander.

The people in the room divided themselves by choice. Starfleet Officers occupied one end of the room. They were the ones who ran the daily military operations of the station. The educational staff gathered on the other end of the room. They staffed the Voyager Academy. The VA was a special military boarding school for gifted 13 to 16 year olds wanting careers in Starfleet.  After graduation, most VA students found themselves at Starfleet Academy in San Francisco. Their time in the VA placed them well ahead of their peers.  That advantage made getting into the VA very competitive.  The majority of the academy’s cadets were on home leave for the holiday. Those who remained were looked after by instructors and the academy's house parents.

The Lounge doors slid open.  Commander Williamson, the VA director, entered the room fashionably late. He looked around and noticed the demarcation between the two camps. He moved toward the side of the room reserved for the Academy's staff.

“Hello Sir and Merry Christmas,” Lt. Kyson said. He was the first to see the Commander. The others in his group stopped talking in mid sentence and extended their holiday greetings .

“I see you’re all having a good time,” Williamson observed. He glanced around and noticed the absence of his senior officers. “Where are the old timers?"

“There were sitting at that far table. They’re gone now,” replied Lt. Nan. "I think we were too loud." 

“I can see that Lieutenant. Anyone have an idea where they went?” he asked.

“Not a clue,” Lt. Jason Trump, the Academy's head instructor sang as he danced rhythmically to an upbeat Christmas carol. He had a drink in his hand. Some of it spilled onto the carpet. Williamson reached out, took the cup, and smelled its contents. “I don’t drink Commander,” he promptly explained while taking back the cup. “Besides, alcohol is banned on this base so we make due with what ‘s available, this is heavily spiced eggnog," 

“You all have fun. I’ll my exit before I get hurt and go find the old folks.” Williamson moved from the table and did another glance around the room waving at many of the Station's staff.  He caught the eye of Admiral Porter, the station's commander. The commander offered a friendly nod while pointing to his ear. Williamson returned the nod, pointed to his ear, then pointed upwards. The Admiral replied with an understanding thumbs up. 

Admiral Porter ran the station by the book and strictly followed the chain of command. It was his decision to place the training academy on his station.  He believed in the value of on the job training.  Besides, he hoped the cadets would choose his station to serve in after their graduations. It was his way of getting the best talent right out of the gate. 

Williamson picked up a cranberry juice from the bar and a handful of yogurt covered pretzels before leaving the lounge to find his senior teachers. The hallway went quiet as the doors closed behind him. He walked toward the turolift. It opened. He stepped in. The doors closed.  

“Destination?” The computer waited for his response. He thought for a moment. Where would his teachers be? He knew he was too early for them to retire to their rooms.  He could ask the computer to locate their comm badges, but chose to try a guess before taking the easy route.

“Observation Deck,” he replied. The lift moved upward and then sideways. Seconds later, upward again. The lift stopped and opened on deck 3. In the doorway stood two of the Academy’s students, Midshipman Oliver and Midshipman Eavie. They froze upon seeing their Commander occupying the same lift they were waiting to enter. They were suppose to be in their dorms' common rooms enjoying their own parties. What were they doing roaming Deck 3?

“Well, well, well..... what do we have here?” Williamson asked. Both cadets jumped to attention. “Two cadets roaming the station without clearance. I do believe that is a violation of curfew. Please correct me if I’m wrong,” he asked. Neither of the them spoke. Their gaze was unbroken on a spot on the wall.  A bag of snacks was in Oliver's hand.  Apparently there had been an unauthorized visit to the station's commissary.  

“Sir, we were on our way back but needed extra...” Eavie began speaking only to be cut off by the Commander.

“Not now. I have a place to be." Williamson replied. "Save the explanation for your squadron leaders. We don’t want to overwork the oxygen generators. ”

Both cadets squirmed every so slightly. Oliver's eyes rolled upward and then toward Eavie. He knew it was pointless to explain a breech of curfew. He was surprised Eavie tried. “Cadets, you will take the next lift and go straight back to your dorms. You will report to your leaders, explain what you were doing, and then go straight to bed. You will bypass the party in your Common Room. Now step back, and you have my permission to breath.”

The cadets took one step back. The lift’s doors closed. “Resume,” Williamson said. The lift continued. Seconds later the doors opened. Williamson stepped out onto a solid floor. The rest of the room appeared to be open space. He was right - there at one of three tables sat his senior officers. “I thought I’d find you in the Observation Deck,” he said moving toward the table.

Scott Wiltbank noticed the commander approach. "Too noisy downstairs." he explained.  Seven other Academy officers sat around Scott at his table. Jon, Brylee, Jordan, Lissa, Tabitha, Matt, and Mitch all raised their glasses toward the commander. When they were alone, they called each other by their first names. The table was stocked with a variety of snacks brought from the party below. 

“You’ve got the right idea,” Williamson said as he moved a chair out and sat down. “This view up here never gets old.”

“That’s why we're here; quiet talk and a great view,” Jon explained. The blues and whites of Earth nearly filled the sphere over their heads. Beyond was the star studded blackness of space. A few minutes later, the turbolift opened reveling  Lieutenants Audrey and Marissa, new pilgrams seeking sanctuary from the lounge.

The group's conversation wound it way around many topics. Time was spent discussing the students and how they might perform in the new simulations being prepared by the educational staff. Lt. Tabitha, assisted by several of the younger instructors, was writing a complete military campaign involving several simulations to be told in three of the station's six training ships.  

Two hours passed passed. It was getting late. They agreed to call it a night. As they stood to clean the table, the station's alarm rang loudly, reverberating around the transparent ceiling of the Observation Deck . A moment later the alarm stopped and was replaced by the voice of Admiral Porter, the Station’s Commander. 

“Alert Condition One. This is no drill. Alert Condition One. This is no drill. More information will follow,” his voice sounded firm and emotionless as the communication closed with a familiar tone.

“We are under attack?” Lissa asked with a puzzled expression. Everyone's attention turned to the transparent dome overhead. There were no ships. All seemed peaceful.

“Admiral,” Williamson said as he tapped the communicator pinned to his uniform. There was a slight pause before the call was answered.

“Yes Commander?” the Admiral responded.  "I thought you'd be the first person to call."

“Where is the attack?”

“We’ve received word from Command that Farpoint Station has been destroyed,” he replied matter of factly.

“Farpoint Station?” Williamson was surprised by the answer. Farpoint Station was the Federation’s furthest starbase, two months away at maximum warp from Earth. He wondered why the station was placed on battle alert if this attack occurred so far away.

The Admiral continued his explanation. “Farpoint was attacked by an alien race only recently encountered. They use wormholes to transit space.” His statement made it clear why distance didn't matter. Anyone able to use wormholes could strike anywhere at anytime.

“Who are they?” Williamson asked. He had a hunch, having read the report of a disturbance involving the science ship Copernicus and a race of beings who use wormholes.  That encounter happened two years earlier.

“I’m not sure what they call themselves, but the Voyager and Copernicus encountered them at PCX2214. Perikoi as the natives call it. We lost the Copernicus. They lost one of their ships. It appears they are back, and in force.  It's best that you see to your cadets. I'll keep you informed of developments. Porter out. ” The connection ended, leaving the group in stunned silence. The implications of wormhole technology were terrifying.
    
Williamson took a deep breath. “Well, ladies and gentlemen, life is about to get very interesting. Let’s head to the Common Rooms and explain this to the cadets. They’ll need reassurance."  The officers filed into the turbolift, leaving the serene beauty of the Observation Deck behind as the station prepared for whatever lay ahead.

Hello Space Center Community,   
     Years ago, in the old Troubadour blog, I used to write stories that placed the Space Center's staff and volunteers in the Middle Ages, working as troubadours who brought music and stories to the villages of the shire. One Christmas, I crafted a tale where all of us gathered at a Midnight Mass. This year, I’ve decided to revive that tradition with a new story inspired by the original from way back. While most of you are part of the narrative—even if unnamed—the spirit of this tale reflects our shared journey.
     The blog’s title, The Troubadour, was inspired by the storytellers of the Middle Ages who traveled from village to village. Their work bears a striking resemblance to what we do today in our planetarium and simulators. Troubadours captivated audiences with engaging narratives, whether through song, spoken word, or performance. Similarly, we bring stories to life, immersing our audiences in missions that transport them to the farthest reaches of space.
     Troubadours conveyed themes of love, chivalry, and societal norms—themes not so different from those we explore in our space missions, which delve into contemporary values, relationships, and the challenges of humanity. They evoked deep emotions through their poetry, stories, and music, just as we connect with our audiences on an emotional level through the immersive experiences we create.
     Moreover, troubadours were keepers of oral tradition, preserving stories and passing them from generation to generation. In much the same way, our missions are handed down from one generation of flight directors to the next, each adding their own creative flair. Both the troubadours of the past and our flight directors craft stories that resonate with their audiences, leaving a lasting impact.
     So, as we continue this tradition, let us remember that we are modern-day troubadours, weaving tales of exploration and discovery that inspire and unite our community. Below is this year’s story—a blend of history, imagination, and the shared spirit of the Space Center.

Merry Christmas!
Mr. Williamson

The Troubadours Gather for Christmas Midnight Mass

     The priest’s voice echoed through the vaulted cathedral, his words rippling like waves against the gray stone walls. The sound danced up into the rafters, where it softened into whispers, lost among the timbers. My knees rested on a dark wooden plank, smooth from years of penitence, attached to the pew before me. My hands clasped tightly in prayer as I bowed my head, my eyes flickering open and shut with each sacred utterance. 
     The priest’s Latin was both a stranger and a familiar friend to my ears. A stranger, for its meaning was veiled to all save those who knew the Roman tongue. A friend, for I trusted that the priest’s supplications were made to God on our behalf. This faith brought me comfort on that bitterly cold Christmas morning in the Shire. My prayers escaped my lips as soft clouds of breath, dissolving into the frosty air and settling as invisible moisture on my chilled hands. Each prayer was a humble plea: for health, the warmth of summer, abundant harvests, and joyous evenings of story and song.
      I tugged my coarse woolen coat tighter around my chest, though it was a futile gesture against winter’s relentless bite. The priest, in contrast, was robed in fine silk and linen, his vestments gleaming with gold embroidery. I wondered if he felt the cold as we did. As he raised a golden chalice filled with wine toward the heavens, an altar boy rang a delicate bell. We were reminded that this was the moment when the wine became Christ’s blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. The sacraments formed a sacred bridge between Earth and Heaven, offering comfort and connection in a world often fraught with uncertainty.
      My gaze wandered down the pew to my fellow troubadours, companions in both purpose and artistry. This was a fitting moment to offer thanks for their camaraderie. Together, we knelt, some in reverence, others in quiet respect though wishing they were elsewhere, and the youngest out of a sense of duty yet to deepen into true devotion. My reflections were interrupted by soft laughter from behind. Two of our maiden voyagers whispered, their eyes fixed on the Baron’s eldest son. Their cheeks flushed with youthful thoughts of love, a distraction ill-suited to the solemnity of the chapel. I cleared my throat and furrowed my brow, a silent rebuke. They understood and redirected their attentions to the service.
     The choir’s chant filled the cathedral, their voices weaving a melody that seemed to warm the very stones around us. I noted Brother James, our leader, in a front pew. His expression was serene, despite word having arrived of troubles in the shire. Our fiefdom was soon to be three.  There would be new lords to serve, each wanting something from our band of troubadours.  The path ahead will be difficult, yet he knows from where his strength comes.
     Goodwife Tabitha’s presence among us that morning was a blessing; many thought she would miss the Christmas Mass. The evening's latest hours found her educating our gifted young troubadours in the art of story and music; for soon they will perform alone on our stage. She teaches them by word and example, her resilience as vibrant as her performances. Her work is in our prayers, for in the voices of these young troubadours, lie the fortunes of the band.
     A sudden ringing of the altar bell pulled me back to the present. The congregation echoed the priest’s words, but a discordant sound caught my attention. To my left, Master Jon had succumbed to sleep, his head resting heavily in his hand. His snores rose steadily, threatening to rival the cathedral organ. Maiden Ellie, seated beside him, intervened with a gentle yet forceful nudge that nearly sent him sprawling to the stone floor. The younger troubadours stifled their laughter, though their mirth was short-lived as Goodwife Brylee silenced them with a stern glance and a finger to her lips. Chastened, Master Jon straightened, his face reddening as he resolved to stay awake under our collective gaze. Such moments of levity reminded me of the simple joys found in a simple life.
     The Mass drew toward its conclusion. My thoughts turned once more to prayer. These were troubled times, bringing uncertainty to the kingdom. Wars raged in distant lands, and whispers of a plague reached us from nearby shires. Yet on this holy night, we gave thanks for the blessings we still held: the warmth of family and friends, the strength of our community of travelers, and the enduring hope that we could weather whatever trials lay ahead.
      As the final prayers were spoken, my knees ached from the cold, and I was grateful when it came time to rise. The great wooden doors of the cathedral creaked open, and the dark morning's north wind swept in, biting and sharp. Yet beyond those doors awaited a warm fire and the promise of rest. With renewed faith and hearts fortified by the sacred mysteries, we stepped out into the night, carrying the light of Christmas within us.

     By all accounts, yesterday was the busiest day in the Space Center's history.  I knew something was up when I arrived at the Center Saturday afternoon. There wasn't a parking space to be had.  The lot was full up and so was the Center.  I entered the lobby ready to complain to Nolan that the parking lot was full and what was an elderly person like myself expected to do...... walk!?  I began to complain, then took one look at poor Nolan and realized my complaint would be adding fuel to the fire; I settled on "What is going on? The parking lot is full!"  

     "All 7 planetarium shows are sold out and we're flying most of the simulators all day," Nolan explained.  I stopped for a moment to do the math.
7 Planetarium Shows at 70 seats per show = 490 people.
10:00 A.M. Simulator missions = 30 people
12:45 P.M. Simulator missions = 41 people
3:45 P.M. Simulator missions = 14 people
6:30 P.M. Simulator missions = 19 people
      Approx Simulator Attendance = 104
Total Attendance for December 14, 2024 = 594!
That is amazing!  Nearly 600 people on one Saturday attending a Space Center program.  The planetarium's Christmas shows are the big attraction.

     In the photo at the top of the page you'll notice Scott was wearing his Red's for the event.  The red staff shirt signifies a trained EMT medic.  With these huge crowds, Scott felt it best to be ready just in case...... I think the person who needed his services the most was Julie. She was up in the Planetarium's Crows Nest managing the crowds and running the shows.  
I saw her briefly in the lobby between shows huddled in a corner taking oxygen from the Space Center's reserve tank kept in the office for emergencies.  Scott was standing by with the defibrillator.  Luckily, Julie pulled through and staggered back into the dark dome and into the hands of the holiday hoards waiting to be filled with the Christmas spirit through the digital magic of the planetarium.  

       Someone overheard Julie mumble something at the end of her shift. "Someone is going to get a candy cane through the heart if I hear another Christmas song or am wished a Merry Christmas today!"  

     Reinforcements arrived at the Lobby Desk during one shift change when everyone from the simulators and the planetarium emptied into the lobby at the same time.  Jon Parker consoled Nolan and assured him that all would be well and that he had done an outstanding job. Nolan was able to forcibly produce one last smile before vacating the lobby desk to Jon.  Marissa was there as well with mask in place to remove the smell of the holiday season.  Her favorite book is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".   Jack, a Space Center mentor, stood against the wall.  Jack feeds off chaos, and you can tell by his smile, that he was feasting that afternoon.  
       Well done to the Space Center's staff and volunteers for their outstanding performance on Saturday.  Now be warned, we've got one more Saturday before Christmas and a new record to break!  Hold onto your seats, it could be a bumpy ride.

     The Staff Room door at the Space Center is a magical time portal for me. A few months ago I wrote about opening the Staff Room door and nearly running into Dave Wall, a Space Center staff member from the earliest days of the Space Center in the 1990's.  Yesterday I had another spooky encounter. I opened the door to leave and nearly knocked Bart Mills off his feet.  Bart and his family were at the Space Center for a planetarium show.  They were heading to the stairs when I opened the door.  "Mr. Williamson!" Bart exclaimed.  It took me a minute to gather my thoughts and recognize him. After all, I hadn't seen him since the mid 1990's and he had grown up.  With a little help from his two boys, the name came back to me. "Bart Mills!" I said as I forced the image of a 14 year old Bart out of my head and replace it with grown man Bart. 
      We spoke for several minutes about the new Space Center. He wondered if running missions had changed much since 1994.  I showed him the six control rooms in action and made the point that procedures hadn't changed much - only the technology.  Bart runs his own business these days and lives with his family in Nephi.  He is a member of the Juab School District School Board and wants to find a way to get his students involved in something like the Space Center.  

     The Christa McAuliffe Space Center's Voyager Club held our monthly meeting on Saturday, December 2nd. My pre-meeting ritual began before dawn, as always. By 6:15 A.M., I was out the door, heading to Smith's for the all-important Bingo goodies. The folks at the Lehi Smith's Marketplace know me well. I'm practically a local legend there, always showing up in the wee hours to snag day-old bakery treasures for my classroom. It's reached the point where I half-expect them to greet me with, *"Morning, donut whisperer."*
     But alas, this time, the donut shelves were barren, there are some to get there before me. I know who they are and they know me. As a sign of mutual respect, we nod to each other when we pass. My hopes for meeting refreshments dimmed until I spotted a glimmer of salvation: cupcakes. Not just a few—dozens of the little lifeboats. Sure, day-old cupcakes are pricier than donuts, but considering the Space Center had just celebrated its 34th birthday on November 8th, I figured, *Why not live a little?* Nothing says "birthday" like slightly stale frosting and semi-moist cake.
      By 7:15 A.M., I was at the Space Center, my trunk loaded. Thankfully, my trusty expandable wagon was up to the task, sparing me from multiple trips. Over the years, that wagon and I have become quite the dynamic duo.  Look for me if you ever visit Renaissance Academy. I'm the guy walking down the hallway with the black Radio Flyer.  
     Setting up takes about 15 minutes: Bingo cards and prizes on the Faculty Room's back table, raffle prizes on the front counter, cupcakes strategically arranged (to maximize temptation), and my computer hooked up to the front wall TV. By 7:45 A.M., everything was ready. Now all I had to do was wait for the congregation of space enthusiasts to "beam down" with the promise of intergalactic fun.  

     Thomas, looking all regal in his Royal Blues (because nothing says authority like coordinated attire), kicked off the meeting at 8:00 A.M. with a round of Bingo for the eager early birds. Assisting him in this mission of number-calling and prize-distribution were Canon and Ellie, who handled the job with poise and professionalism.  
     At 8:30 A.M., the meeting officially began. Thomas, ever the gracious host, invited visitors and new members to step up and introduce themselves. A special guest from the Lion’s Gate Space Center at Lakeview Academy was a special visitor. Lion's Gate will be hosting the January 2nd Voyager Club meeting. Jonathan wanted to scope out the scene to ensure they’d be ready for the next galactic gathering. It’s always good to see inter-space-center diplomacy in action—truly the spirit of cooperation

     After welcoming new members and visitors, Thomas spoke about an ongoing issue at the Space Center - the state of the Costume Closet.  His firm, but friendly words, were accompanied by photos (above).  "The Costume Closet isn't your bedroom. Everything has a place and everything should be in its place unless it is being used," he said.  As he spoke, I glanced around the room looking for telltale signs of guilt. I counted at least seven pairs of shifting eyes accompanied by uncomfortable squirming.  I stood and gave the group one of my stern teacher looks after Thomas's speech.  I held the gaze for at least 5 seconds to prove that we meant business. Had I held the "look" any longer, profuse sweating would have been the result, and sweating teens are NOT what flight directors want in their control rooms for the 10:00 A.M. missions.       

     Tabitha Ricks and Mitch Foote were next on the agenda.  Tabitha is the newly appointed director over the Space Center training program. Mitch is her assistant. They both train and coordinate the training of volunteers and staff who want to become flight directors and supervisors.  That training starts with the Voyager Volunteers because nearly all Space Center employees started as volunteers.  

     Jason Trump gave a lesson on comets.  Jason is the Director of Education at Clark Planetarium and a member of the Voyager Club's education team.  Jason is a gifted educator who knows how to engage an audience with both his verbal presentation and visuals.  On Saturday, the Voyagers learned about the different types of comets, what they are made of, why they have double tails of different color, and their types of trajectories.  I pride myself in my general knowledge of space and astronomy and have never left one of Jason's lessons having not learned many things.    

      The meeting ended with the raffle for prizes.  This month Voyagers won a Swig gift card, a multi-device charging station,  t-shirts, a complete set of Apollo program patches from Cape Kennedy, and other items.  The meeting was called to close at 10:00 A.M.  Thank you to everyone who attended. We missed those club members who couldn't make it and hope to see you at our next meeting on January 2nd.  
     After the meeting, the Voyager Club Leadership Team met to plan for future events.  Coming up is the Club's Holiday Party and the club meeting at the Lion's Gate Space Center on January 2nd.  Those who attend that meeting will get to fly a 2.5 hour mission in Lakeview Academy's Apollo and Artemis starship simulators.  

     Kyson is the newest Phoenix Flight Director at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center.  Kyson is a senior in high school and plans to go to university to study aeronautical engineering.  "I'm heading into space," he told me when I asked him about his future plans.  Kyson is also a regular at the Space Center's lobby desk, so if you happen to attend a Space Center program and find him there, offer your congratulations.  
     Lissa Hadfield is the Phoenix Set Director.  Under her care, the Phoenix has a quality set of flight directors.  And now, Kyson takes the Flight Director's Pledge and joins the others who comprise that very small professional guild of Flight Directors who work in Utah's twelve starship simulators (Magellan, Cassini, Odyssey, Phoenix, Falcon, Galileo III, Discovery,  Galileo Mark V, Voyager, Apollo, Artemis, and Hyperion).    

​I pledge to honor the training and craftsmanship of the trainers and flight directors who came before me and guided my journey.
I pledge to set a shining example of professionalism for my staff, volunteers, and crew.
I vow to lead and inspire my crews by upholding the mission’s goals and objectives.
I promise to honor the pioneering spirit of the first ship, Voyager, by continually learning, improving, and refining my craft—until the day I pass my microphone to those who will carry the torch forward.

     When you have a limited budget and a great need you find ways to "make it work".  That was the case last week with the Phoenix Captain's Chair.  Lissa asked me to find a new captain's chair for the Phoenix on Amazon.  The chair was in bad shape and needed to go. The back of the chair was good, but the seat needed to go.  I found an office chair and placed the order.  The chair arrived (seen above) but didn't have that cool factor needed for a starship captain's chair.  The new chair ended up in the control room. I came in to take a look and a picture so I could write a review and saw the problem.  Regardless of the fact that the new chair didn't have the cool factor - it was better than the existing chair (in my opinion).  The Phoenix flight director's disagreed and Lissa was in-between on the issue.  
      Then Jon Parker stepped in and looked at the situation. I asked him to vote on the matter.  He chastised us for not thinking out of the box and suggested a solution.  With a screwdriver in hand, Jon when to work.   

     In no time at all, Jon created a hybrid chair.  The seat of the new chair was attached to the back of the old chair; and with a "There you Go!"  and a clap of the hands, Jon was done.  The Phoenix captains get to rest their backsides on a half  new chair complete with all the coolness factor.  Well done Jon Parker.   

     I haven't participated in a Space Center field trip since May of 2012 so I was excited to help with the field trip last Tuesday. Renaissance Academy had the Thanksgiving week off so I was able to attend. The bus arrived around 9:45 A.M. and departed shortly after 1:30 P.M. I'm pleased to report that the field trip program is pretty much just as it was when we did our last field trip in May 2012.  
1.  The bus arrives. Lunches are brought in first and stowed away for later. 
2.  The students line up into the A.M. and P.M. simulator groups. In 2012 we lined them up outside on the sidewalk (no room in the old Central School lobby). Now they line up in the Space Center's nice lobby.
3.  The A.M. simulator groups head to the bathrooms. 
4.  The simulator group is divided into their ships, boarded, trained, and flown.  The planetarium students head to the planetarium. In 2012 they did the bubble planetarium and had a class lesson with Lorraine Houston.
5.  The planetarium group eats lunch in the lunchroom first.  After lunch they go the restrooms and ready to board the ships.
6.  The A.M. simulator groups end their missions, go to the lunchroom to eat, then to the planetarium.
7.  Both groups meet up again at 1:30 P.M. to board their bus and head home. 
     The field trip staff are the bread and butter of the Space Center.  For most people, the field trip program is where they are first introduced to the Space Center and our programs.  We give them an outstanding field trip and they want to come back for private missions, camps, and planetarium shows.  
     It is a tough job working field trips.  The missions are very repetitive and you fly without volunteers, and sometimes without supervisors.  Your ships are full and you have the classroom teachers watching your every move.  Be sure to thank the field trip staff when you see them for the work they do to make the Space Center successful because the field trip program is the Space Center primary mission in the District.  It is because of field trips the Space Center still exists today. The school district saw how successful they were when we opened in 1990 and because of that, decided to fund the Space Center with a full time teacher so it could be open during the school day.  
     The field trip program needs volunteers.  If you have time during the school day, please contact Mr. Porter at the Space Center and then join our Voyager Club. 
     I took several pictures of the field trip from beginning to end.  Enjoy.....   

     This is a post I wrote in The Troubadour on May 26, 2012 about our last field trip for that school year.  It comes from the original blog The Troubadour.  If you'd like access to the originial blog, which covers the years 2008 to 2023 contact me.
​Mr. Williamsono