Alex Anderson Speaks at the Voyager Club Meeting. An Introduction to Thorium Nova. The Farpoint Voyagers Fly the Starship Discovery at the Discovery Space Center at American Heritage School. The Imaginarium Theater

I've known Alex Anderson for many years and forget just how good he is with a crowd. He has the ability to grab a group's attention and hold it for as long as he wants, especially if he's talking about something he's passionate about, like the simulators and the controls they fly with.  

     Alex was the Space Center's Voyager Club guest speaker Saturday morning. He was there, bright and early, for the morning bingo at 8:00 A.M.  He dabbled on his laptop as cadet after cadet won delicious prizes I picked up in an early morning Walmart run.  Jack, the Voyager Club's February President, officially opened the meeting at 8:30 A.M. Jack spoke briefly about the use of cell phones in the Control Rooms and pointed out that whatever appears on your phone couldn't possibly be as interesting as the control room of a starship simulator in flight.  There was an "amen" from the congregation on that well-made point after which he turned control of the meeting to me (Mr. Williamson).  I reminded the cadets of their importance as volunteers in the operations of the Space Center and encouraged them to meet their 5 hours per month commitment. I also reminded them that the 5 hours includes attending the Voyager Club meeting, classes, workshops, and special Space Center projects they may be working on at home. 

     Mission writing was another topic I briefly covered (although some in the congregation would testify that my use of the word "briefly" is an exaggeration).  I saw Matt Ricks, sitting in one of the Faculty Room's massage chairs, circling a finger overhead telling me to wrap it up. I apparently was losing the young cadets. Some stared blankly at the walls while others turned to their cell phones for relief from boredom's mind-numbing burden.  Yes, I got the hint and changed gears into a brief introduction of Alex Anderson (there I go again using the word "brief"). Well, perhaps it wasn't a brief introduction; after all, how can one give a brief introduction to a Space Center legend?   Come on folks, we're talking about the man who created Thorium - the software that has kept more than one space center afloat for several years.  By the time I finished my introduction, Alex was red with humble embarrassment, and the Voyager cadets were on their knees worshiping the Great Alex.  

      From a seated position (he's so good he doesn't need to stand in front of an audience to keep their attention) Alex started his presentation by leading a discussion on what must be considered when making simulator controls, especially new controls for the modern era, set in a 3D gaming universe.  The Voyagers had great ideas from which Alex masterfully segwayed into other areas of discussion (does it appear to you, the reader, that I'm overly worshipping Alex with praise?  Well, to be honest, I am. I'm buttering him up to come do more presentations in the future and I know he reads the blog from time to time. Hopefully, this will be one of those times).  

     

     It was at this point in the discussion that Alex introduced Thorium Nova to the assembly. Several cadets had to be helped up off the floor after seeing the first few control screens and how they handled space flight in a 3D setting.  Even Matt Ricks was amazed by what he saw. There was no finger-circling during this presentation (my feelings wanted to be hurt, but didn't quite get there).  

     I learned many things from Alex's presentation. I didn't know how many spaceship simulator programs, very similar to what we do at our centers, there are around the world. The one in London was particularly eye-catching. The presentation was very informative and heavily spiced with good old fun.  Thank you, Alex, for making the trek from Salt Lake to meet with our Voyagers.  

     The meeting ended with the traditional raffle.  Several good prizes were awarded to the cadets; gift cards from Amazon and Target, a forest scene wall art, an astronaut windshield screen, a handheld multispeed fan for use when spending time in the summertime control rooms, a few t-shirts, a few planetarium tickets, Mercury NASA patch collection, a Star Trek collectors pop up book and more.  Be sure to mark your calendar for the March Voyager Club meeting scheduled for the last Saturday in March.  

The Farpoint Voyagers Club (The Space Place at Renaissance Academy) Did a Mission on the Starship Discovery at the Discovery Space Center at American Heritage School. 

 

     On Saturday afternoon, several Farpoint Voyagers from The Space Place at Renaissance Academy did a mission on the Starship Discovery at the American Heritage School.  The Farpoint Voyagers volunteer at The Space Place. Many are also involved in the school's LDM program (Long Duration Mission).  The Space Place and The Discovery Space Center at American Heritage School cooperate with each other in many ways, both operate within the Farpoint Universe, both share staff members, and both do mission swaps with their Voyager Clubs. 

     Alex Debirk (pictured above) is the Director of the Discovery Space Center AHS and the school's high school physics teacher.  Alex briefed the crew on the mission.  One of the things I like the most about Alex's work at the Discovery Space Center at AHS is how he skillfully inserts real space physics and astronomy into his missions and mission briefings. His description of the graviton engine used by the Starship Discovery was terrific.  He has done impressive work on the Farpoint Universe as a whole, keeping it as scientifically accurate as possible and still being able to tell engaging science fiction stories.  

      The AHS Discovery Space Center has two starships, the Discovery and the Galileo II.  The Galileo II was the second Galileo built for the original Space Center in the old Central Elementary School.  It was taken apart and moved to the Discovery Space Center when the school was demolished.  

     The Galileo II's refurbishment is nearly complete. Once finished, the ship will reopen for missions.  Look for more news on that event here on the blog.  

     I want to especially thank Megan Warner for her excellent work with the crew. Megan runs the Discovery Center's in-house field trip program for 5th - 8th graders. She also assists Bracken Funk at The Space Place and works the Space Center's field trip program. She is the only person I know who can claim to be a 3 Space Center employee. No one knows more about the workings of all three Centers than Megan.  

     The Farpoint Voyagers enjoyed the mission. Alex, Megan Warner, and their staff and volunteers did an outstanding job running the mission.  I wanted all of The Troubadour's readers to see Discovery and Galileo, so I filmed a walking tour.  Enjoy!    

        

Imaginairum Theater

The Week's Best Videos from Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience