​There isn't much to report this week in the way of news, so I'm reposting a story I wrote from November 23, 2008 on how I discovered the wonderland of Ebay to keep the Space Center operational 16 years ago.  The story is titled "My Addiction"

My New Addiction  
The slide into addiction is like boarding a rollercoaster blindfolded—thrilling at first, but you soon realize you’re hurtling toward chaos. It begins with a harmless taste, a fleeting moment you think you can brush off. But before you know it, you’re Alice, stepping through the Looking Glass, and there’s no way back.

My journey began innocently enough at the start of the week. I was on the Voyager’s Bridge, chatting with a teacher I’ve known since the days we supposedly taught hieroglyphics to Pharaoh’s kids.  
“What’s the hardest part of your job?” he asked, leaning casually against the console.  
“The repetition,” I replied. “But it’s a tight race with my worst fear: equipment failure. Imagine a teacher all set to bring their class to the Space Center, only to find out the trip is canceled because something broke. That teacher would face mutiny—a modern-day tar and feathering involving spit wads and glitter glue.”  

He nodded, sympathetically. “Sounds grim.”  
“Oh, it is,” I said, shaking my head. “We’ve avoided it so far by having spares for almost everything. But keeping this place running feels like balancing a starship on a unicycle.”  

The fateful mission began. We were running *Intolerance*—one of our more dramatic field trip scenarios. All was well until I heard Metta, our control room magician, muttering something ominous about the primary DVD player. My heart skipped. That DVD player was our unicorn—a relic from an ancient time when manufacturers blessed us with a ‘cancel on-screen display’ option.  

“It won’t play,” she announced grimly. “It keeps shutting off.”  
Cue mini-crisis. I had to keep the mission going while Metta worked her magic. And magic it was. She manipulated the backup DVD player like a maestro, reversing scenes, timing transitions perfectly, and switching between screens faster than a caffeinated gamer in a speedrun. Watching her was like witnessing an Olympic event in multitasking. By the end, I wanted to award her the Space Center Purple Heart—and maybe a standing ovation.  

The school left blissfully unaware of the behind-the-scenes heroics. But I was already spiraling into despair. The Panasonic S29 and S35 models were extinct, and the only viable replacement—the S97—cost enough to fund a small moon colony. Reluctantly, I turned to my computer, hovered over the “buy now” button, and prepared to sacrifice my budget to the retail gods.  

Then, like a beacon in the dark, inspiration struck. “eBay,” I whispered dramatically. My team stared as if I’d just discovered warp drive. Undeterred, I plunged into the world of online auctions—a place I’d only heard about in hushed tones. Within an hour, I’d found several used models. By the end of the day, I had not only joined the eBay cult but also emerged victorious in multiple bidding wars. I saved hundreds of dollars. I felt like I’d conquered the galaxy.

And that, dear friends, was my first taste of the forbidden fruit. It didn’t stop there. With my defenses down, I searched for more. Equipment for the Space Center. Gadgets for home. The sheer *bargains!* The adrenaline rush of bidding wars! One auction got so intense, I was ready to challenge my rival bidder to a duel—lightsabers at dawn.  

Fast forward a few days. I’ve secured DVD players for Voyager and Phoenix, plus a spare for good measure. The equipment crisis is averted, but now I have a new problem: eBay addiction. Is there an eBay Anonymous? Because I’m slipping fast. Christmas is around the corner, and eBay promises a treasure trove of gifts. Sure, they’re ‘gently used,’ but no one needs to know Aunt Marge’s gift was pre-loved by someone named Carl.  

So here’s the deal, troops: if you see me on eBay at work, you have my permission to hit me with an ice-cold bucket of water. But until then, I’ve got two sisters in California who deserve some vintage nicnaks from their suddenly generous big brother. Wish me luck in the trenches.

Mr. Williamson  

     I may be wrong, but I believe we have a first at the Space Center.  Lissa Hadfield, the current Phoenix Set Director, has been named the Magellan's Set Director as well.  One Set Director for two simulators. Someone let me know if I'm wrong.  Regardless, her appointment reflects Lissa's skills in simulator magic and management style.  Congratulations Lissa!   

The Christa McAuliffe Space Center is excited to make available again to you their holiday season themed laser show Deck The Dome! The first show is Friday November 29th. Tickets are available now for purchase on the Space Center's website.
It will be another fantastic holiday season at the Space Center!

Hello Troops,
Thirty four years have come and gone. I remember November 8, 1990 very well. I was nervous. I had doubts. I questioned whether I knew what I was doing. Others I felt had thoughts concerning my sanity.

This whole endeavor started with a Young Astronaut Club and a trip to Japan. I saw a school with a small shuttle simulator and wanted one for my club at Central. Suddenly the dream took on its own life. The little ship Pegasus, destined to be built where the Odyssey is now, had exploded into the Voyager – a new addition build onto the school.

So many people were drawn into the project. Great amounts of money and manpower were spent. It had to succeed but I didn't know what `it' was. Failure wasn't an option. I didn't sleep well those first years. My health suffered. My poor heart never completely recovered. The anxiety attacks, I'm happy to say, lasted three years and ended.

I had a building but no real understanding what to do with it. I envisioned a science lab on board a futuristic spaceship but that idea never took root. I experimented with a scientific mission to Mars. There are people that remember that first school mission. We flew at warp speed using HyperCard controls I programmed. Once there we used a Mars laser disc for special effects. We flew around the planet learning about its climate and features. I stood on the bridge next to the Tactical screen. My 6th grade staff (2 kids) sat in the control room listening and waiting for clues on when to play and pause the laser disc player and VCR. How primitive it was compared to what we do now.

After a few Mars missions I felt something was missing. The students showed little excitement. They were just bodies sitting at the computers listening to me. I was in command giving the captain orders on where to go and what to do. It wasn't working.

I thought back to my days in the classroom with the overhead projector, boom box, and paper controls. Then the idea came – do what you've proven successful. Introduce some drama. I quickly pulled a few of my "Star Trek" videos and, using two of the school's VCR's, I edited an ending with a Romulan warbird showing up orbiting Mars. It was a crazy idea but crazy ideas built the Center. I guess being willing to act on crazy impulses is a character trait I should be proud of.

The idea of adding the Romulan scene at the end of the mission worked well. The kids got excited to see the Romulan ship. The little battle thrown into the end of the Mars mission was successful. It convinced me that my original idea of taking a class on an EdVenture into space would work with the general public like it did with my captive 6th grade class.

I sat down and wrote another mission. I believe it was called "Epsilon". It was a story of a planet in the Klingon Neutral Zone. Half the planet was under Federation control and the other was under Klingon control. The treaty, allowing joint control of the planet, was up for renegotiation. The planet would be awarded to the government that demonstrated it could best care for the planet's population.

The story had the Voyager entering the Neutral Zone bringing a new kind of wheat to the planet. This new wheat was genetically engineered to grow well in the planet's harsh climate. The Voyager had a few close calls on the way to the planet and a few others while in orbit. At the end of the mission our classes left the Voyager so excited. I knew I had found the formula and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now here we are 34 years later. The one ship then, six ships now. Our stories are much more complicated. Our simulators are ten times more sophisticated. Our work force has exploded but here I am – still a part of this magical place - honored to get to work with the volunteers who have found in the Space Center a home away from home and the staff who are dedicated to our calling of "creating a spacefaring civilization". The years have taken their toll. I'm old and gray, but the magic is
still there. A few decades ago, when I was the Space Center Director, someone once asked me If I would ever move on and leave the Space Center completely. My response then was this,

"I've thought about that many times over the years. And every time the thought surfaces, I wait at the Space Center until everyone is gone, and walk onto the Voyager's silent Bridge. I sit under the dim lights over the Captain's chair and look at the walls. I imagine the voices of 250,000 children swirling around the room locked in the very fabric of the ship. I look over at the left wing and see the original staff training crews by hand before the days of training tapes and mp3 players. I see Jacob Bartlett over in the corner asleep when he should be doing his job as a bridge staff. I hear Russell downstairs playing the blind doctor. I watch a much younger Mr. Schuler coming up the stairs in full Star Trek uniform. I hear a child's voice shout, "Admiral on the Bridge!" I still see that silly mask popping up over the loft to frighten Security. I see our many young volunteers growing up in that simulator from elementary school to junior high to senior high and then jumping ship into life. I hear the screams, the laughing, and the quiet that came from sadness when Blossom, the Paklid, died in a fiery crash into a planet so many years ago. They are good memories. They've given me a good life.  Several minutes later I'll stand and run my hand along the black metal guard rail surrounding the captain's platform and know that this place is home. Why would I ever want to leave? And so, I think I'll stay awhile longer, if you all will have me."

That answer still stands today, thirty-four years after our opening. I retired as a full time employee from the Alpine District in 2013 but I'm still here helping, in my own small way, assisting the outstanding current Space Center Director, James Porter, as he skillfully navigates the Center through the 21st century.  

On November 8, 2010, on the Space Center's 20th birthday, I wrote:

​"Perhaps some day video game technology will become so evolved that children will do one of our missions at home connected to some kind of virtual reality machine. The computer will play my part, telling the story and reacting to the kid's decisions. The class will sit with goggles covering their eyes showing them the bridge of some futuristic ship. Gloves will give them the feel of working the controls.

Perhaps the Voyager will still be around when that day comes. It may be a museum this future generation will visit with their grandparents. As they tour the simulator the sounds of our voices and the blaring music with red alerts will mix with their
grandparent's stories of when they flew the Voyager long ago to far away places."  

Sadly, the first ship Voyager disappeared with the demolition of Central School a few years ago, but the new Space Center, with its planetarium and six simulators, is a wonder to behold. The mission of the Space Center carries on.  

Thank you everyone for thirty - four years. Thank you volunteers for the hours of time you give us each month and thank you staff for always going above and beyond the call of duty. We are all involved in creating lasting memories which will stay with our visitors forever.

​And now, we set sail for another 34!

Simply,
Mr. Williamson

      November 8, 2024.  6:00 P.M. on the Space Center's Front Porch.  A few of the Space Center old timers got together to celebrate the Space Center's 34th birthday.  It was a very low key event (we will reserve the fireworks for the Space Center's 35th birthday next year).  A few old timers got together with a few Voyager Club volunteers, who have an interest in Space Center history and lore, to share stories and memories of the Space Center's early days.  Missing from the photo are Bill Schuler, Jade Hansen, Bracken Funk, James Porter, Jon Parker, and Matt Ricks. 
      Cupcakes were consumed along with many a tale covering the evolution of the Space Center from day 1 to the present.  I call it a front porch affair because that is what it was - old timers passing generational stories to the younger generation. It is how we remember our past and from that, an understanding of where we are today and the important role so many people played in its creation.    

      Yesterday, Saturday November 9th, I had my had a couple dozen day old grocery store cupcakes out for consumption in the Staff Room at the Space Center (who can afford the fresh one at today's prices!). Normally I bring the day old donuts or sliced Everything Bread from Walmart, but yesterday was special. Not only were the cupcakes there to celebrate the Space Center's 34th birthday, they were also there to celebrate Jon Parker's 34th birthday.  Jon Parker, the Space Center's Assistant Director, was born the day after the Space Center opened; which is why I say he just missed the mark :)
     Jon Parker has been a blessing in many, many people's lives; so our band of merry Troubadours couldn't let the occasion go by without wishing him a Happy Birthday.  

     Last Tuesday, the Space Center's Voyager Club hosted a Halloween party at the Space Center and Central School.  The party was organized by the club's October president - Jack.  A special thank you goes out to Canon for providing most of the games and activities.  
     There were games to play, all you can eat donuts, and a costume contest with prizes provided by your's truly.  It is always fun for our volunteers to get together socially outside of the work setting.  That is one of the benefits of being a Voyager Club Volunteer along with all the other opportunities the club offers in the way of computer, acting, and writing skills.  

       The Troubadours' Report is an new feature in the blog.  This is where our Voyager Club members can send in photos and stories from their work at the different space centers.  Thomas is the first to be featured.  Thomas is the alternating president of the Space Center's Voyager Club. November is one of his months.  He gets the month off to a great start with this update from a mission he, and several club members, were on yesterday.     

     Hey Mr Williamson, tonight I got a lot of fun pictures for the blog. Eavie's family came in for a specially scheduled 5 hour Poor Man's Poison flight (the Falcon's Fright Flight). In the mission, Nan and I were siblings, Nan was Cassie and I was Jordan. At a different point in the mission, Jack and I were twinsies to be funny for two acting roles (I'll not say what they are for spoiler purposes). 
     Hope you like the pictures. We had an amazing time. 
-Thomas R.

Nebula Noodles: Stirring Up Stellar Game Ideas is a Space Center StageWorks initiative to create a set of minigames steeped in Space Center lore that the Space Center will be hosting on a website by Summer 2025.  The first workshop was held yesterday, October 26. It ran from 10am to 12:30pm. Program skill wasn't needed, nor any other set of skills except for an interest in game design or writing stories or music or improving coding or artistic abilities. In yesterday's workshop, Dave Stevens and his son Damon covering basic game design concepts, and let the participants team up and work together to come up with Space Center related minigame concepts  

In the past year the Space Center has been teaching Unity and Blender workshops. The overall goal is to help Voyager club members gain job-related skills and experience, which will help the Space Center by improve its programs.  Over the summer Dave and Damon held a Unity Summer Camp, which showed that with good training, youth with no experience could create great things.  The camps are all project based, which means you are learning and immediately applying skills, an essential way to ensure those skills stick and that you can use them outside of workshops.  Dave Stevens has been the driving force behind these programs.  He is an employee of Meta and a dedicated Space Center volunteer.
Dave worked on the Xbox team for nearly 10 years, helped ship the avatars used on Xbox, worked on Minecraft, and currently works at Meta in their VR organization. He has been developing indie games on the side for decades, and loves teaching young people about technology and content creation.

What's up next for Project Nebula?
Yesterday's workshop projects will be built out throughout the rest of the school year, with the aim to release them by Summer 2025.  In December the Space Center will have a workshop focused on coding, and will have later workshops built around giving/receiving feedback and presentation for the projects.  The Space Center will also participate in the January Global Game Jam for a second year running.

"     I do my Space Center outreach work on Saturdays. I set up shop in the staff room. I like it there. The Staff Room is where the volunteers come and go as they stow their personal belongings in the lockers, eat their meals, and access the costume closet. It gives me a chance to talk to them, answer questions, and keep up on Space Center gossip.  It's as close as I can get to where my desk was located when I directed the Space Center. My desk from 1990 - 2012 sat in the Briefing Room with the Voyager to my right, the Odyssey directly in front of me, and the Phoenix to my left. The staff walked by my desk multiple times during every mission and camp. 
     Anyway........ while working I learned that the Falcon was running a test mission of the new Space Center field trip mission titled "Exiled from Perikoi".  

      The mission is a continuation of the original Children of Perikoi mission told at the Space Center for many many years both for field trips and private missions in all the simulators.  Space Center Director James Porter was the flight director assisted by Rylan Hansen at 2nd chair.  The crew was made up of Voyager Club volunteers. 

     "They're using proper calming techniques!" James Porter said when I stopped in the Falcon Control Room to see how the mission was going. "The Perikoi are being evacuated from the planet and they're panicking.  Nolan (a member of the crew and Mr. Porter's son) suggested the Starfleet officers, who are trying to move the people into the rescue ships, ask the Perikoi about their favorite games. That is an effective calming technique," Mr. Porter explained.  "One mission objective achieved!" 
     I'm excited to see this mission for myself.  The story of the Perikoi lives on.  Will there be a third installment?  Why not; it just needs to be written.         

     Alpine School District is fortunate to have Dr. Vicki Carter leading our educational focus. As a former Central Elementary / Space Center principal, we know of the great things she can accomplish. Something they didn't mention was Vicki's notepad. If she writes down a task you know it is going to happen and we have benefitted so much from her efforts. We are glad to see that the rest of the district also gets to enjoy from her experience and dedication to student achievement.
       Dr. Carter was the principal when the Space Center closed for maintenance from August 2012 to January 2013.  She was instrumental in helping get the center reopened quickly so we could reopen for field trips before the school year ended.  She was moved into the district office a few years after that and worked diligently with Rob Hall, who was then the district's business superintendent, to raise the funds to build the new Space Center.  Dr. Carter, like many others, understands the Space Center's mission, to excite students about space and the endless possibilities that await mankind in the cosmos.     

     Last week I highlighted a few Halloween offerings at the CMSC in Pleasant Grove.  Today I'm adding an offering from our friends at the Lions Gate Space Center at Lakeview Academy in Saratoga Springs.  Below is the poster for their 2024 Halloween mission.  It looks impressive, right?  Their website is listed on the poster for more information.

     The Starship Phoenix at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center has a scary mission of their own.  Here is the poster for that...

     I like the titles of both missions.  A good title is hard to come up with, and the mission authors should be proud of the names that settled on.  
     If you're not into a scary space missions (or have the budget) I suggest an inexpensive visit to the Space Center's planetarium for their scary story offerings.  

     Sadly, The Space Place's FrightMares (or is it Flightmares??) missions won't be offered this year due to time restraints, but look for them to return next Halloween.  

     The staff at the Lion's Gate Space Center at Lakeview Academy in Saratoga Springs wrote about mission creation in their latest newsletter.  Use the link below to read it on their website, or read it below.  It is an excellent article about what goes into the creation of a simulator mission.  

Hello Space EdVenturers!
     Did you know there was an unofficial podcast for the Space Centering community?  I know, "centering" isn't a real word, but what other word should I use to describe all those who work or volunteer at one of the many space centers here, there, and soon to be everywhere?  I shamelessly stole the idea from Harry Potter. You know - the Wizarding community".  Yes, I am clever - aren't I?  
     Six years ago, Matt Ricks came to me and asked if I'd be a guest on their new podcast. They explained the purpose of the production, how it will permanently record the history of the space centers as told by those who created, worked, volunteered, acted, sacrificed, cried, screamed, and bled because of them.  "Dry Dock" is the handle for this Smithsonian style oral history repository of everything related to the space centers. I applauded their efforts and eagerly agreed to be a guest.
      They met me at Renaissance Academy late one afternoon.  Before the interview began, they asked if I needed to use the bathroom. How thoughtful of them to understand the toilet needs of the elderly. I assured them I was properly prepared with a fresh Depends. After a microphone check, the questions came fast and furious. I was peppered by questions delving into the deepest recesses of my mind.​

     "What was it that happened in your childhood which led you to where you are today?" Matt asked.  "Do you blame your parents? Teachers? Bishop.....?"  I squirmed in the hard sixth grade plastic chair.
       "I'm feeling uncomfortable with this line of questioning," I defensively replied.  "I need to go to my happy place." 
     Thankfully, they begrudgingly edited out the most probing questions after being served a letter from my lawyer. What remains on the tape is a most wonderful tale of a poor teacher from the backwoods of South Dakota finding a way to release his creative self as a 6th grade teacher at one of Alpine School Districts smallest elementary schools.  You have no heart if you aren't weeping at the end when the last syllable is spoken and the last Adieu is said. My interview was only one of several. There are a couple featuring the great and power Jon Parker and Megan Warner and of course, the two of them provide an entertaining layer of commentary and reminiscing. 
      Much has happened over the last six years since the last interview was aired on YouTube.  Perhaps it is time for DryDock to return with a few interview updates featuring Mr. Porter and several of the new "old timers" who've aged prematuring in the simulators and planetarium.  What do you say Matt?  To be honest, I know Matt is swamped with work and family so I wouldn't expect him pick up where the last show ended, but what about a couple of current volunteers and staff?  I'll leave that question out there and see if I get a response. 
     There is no better way to learn the history of this wonderful Space Center.  I guarantee you'll learn something you didn't know before, no matter how long you've been on this journey.  

      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.