Astronaut Sam Cristoforetti Visits Space Camp

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ESA Astronaut Samantha CristoforettiEuropean Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut and Space Academy Level II alumnus Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) paid a visit to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center yesterday.  Samantha was on her way from Europe to the Johnson Space Center to continue training for her very first space shot, currently slated for the end of 2014!

Her first visit since attending Space Academy Level II in 1995, Ms. Cristoforetti was given a tour of Space Camp, treated to lunch, and greeted by Space Camp Hall of Fame inductees Penny Pettigrew, Vincent Vazzo, Dave Hnyda, and Dan Oates.

While at at the Space & Rocket Center, Samantha generously gave her time to speak to kids currently attending Space Camp as well as visiting museum patrons.

Sam’s talk covered both training to go to the International Space Station as well as what it’s like to live in space.  After her presentation, she was kind enough to stick around to field some excellent questions from the Space Campers.

The second of her two presentations that day was recorded and is available on YouTube.

Rover Pioneers at Moonbuggy Race

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Last week, as part of the 20th annual Great Moonbuggy Race, six Moonbuggy engineers were kind enough to sit down and discuss their histories, development of the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), and answer questions from the Great Moonbuggy Race teams in attendance as well as folks in for a NASA Social.

Space Camp Hall of Fame inductee Burke Hare moderated the panel, while Moonbuggy pioneers Sonny Morea, Skeet Vaughan, Mike Vaccaro, Ron Creel, Bob Elliott, and Jon Knickrehm generously gave their time to this wonderful event.

Update: The book mentioned is indeed available on Amazon here.

Space Warriors Premieres

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Last night saw the Huntsville premiere of Space Warriors!  And it was a tremendously enjoyable premiere!

After drinks and hors d’oeuvres underneath the Saturn V, audience members were whisked into the Davidson 3D Theatre for opening remarks and introductions of cast and crew who were able to make the premiere!

After the movie, cast and crew were assembled front and center for a Q&A:

Space Warriors is now being shown in select theaters.  It will air on the Hallmark Channel at the end of May.  Also at the end of May, Space Warriors will be available for purchase on DVD and Blu-Ray exclusively at Wal-Mart.

Moonbuggy Race Starts Tomorrow

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It’s that time of the year! Tomorrow starts the first race day of the 20th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race!

Moonbuggy Night

Nearly 100 teams from all over the world have descended upon Huntsville, Alabama!

The races begin tomorrow morning at 7:30am CDT.

You can view the event live either in person or live over the internet at http://moonbuggy.msfc.nasa.gov/

Best of luck to all of the teams!

Space Warriors Trailer Out

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Space Warriors has an official trailer!  And an official release date!  And official movie theaters!  It’s all very official!

To find out if Space Warriors is playing in a theater near you, head on over to Space Camp’s Space Warriors page.  You can also enter to win a week at Space Camp!

The movie opens in select locations on April 25, 2013.

Space Camp will themselves be holding a premiere for the movie.  A $75 VIP ticket will also allow you to sit in on a panel discussion with some of those involved in the making of Space Warriors and watch the movie in the Davidson 3D Theater.  A $10 ticket will allow you to see the movie in the Saturn V Hall.

 

Hall of Fame Nominations – One Month Left

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Space Camp Hall of Fame LogoNominations for the 2013 Space Camp Hall of Fame close in one month, on April 15, 2013!

If you have someone in mind that you think would make a terrific addition to a group that contains not only wonderful, deserving individuals, but also has me as a member as well, you can head on over to the nomination page.

That page has the criteria for the different categories of inductee, so be sure to select which one your nominee best fits.  Once you’re sure, you can go directly to the nomination form and brag up your nominee.

Be sure to pay particular attention to the last field, “Share why the nominee is worthy to be inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame.”  All the information on the form is important, but that’s the one that can really make your nomination stand out in a sea of worthy candidates.

As in previous years, past nominations will be reevaluated.  But it never hurts to renominate someone.  As time goes on, the nomination form might no doubt look different than what was previously submitted.  New information, activities, etc. could make all the difference.

There’s still plenty of time to put together a dynamite nomination form, but do not delay!  If only because your taxes will be due, the middle of April is going to be here right quick!

Space Camp would like to AXE them a few Questions

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A few weeks ago, AXE Body Spray, that awful product teenage boys bathe in, released a series of ads featuring Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin.  You might have seen them.

The trouble is, they’ve been using these ads to heavily promote their “AXE Apollo Space Academy” and their “Space Camp.”  Have a look:

The trouble lies in their use of ‘Space Camp’ and ‘Space Academy’ to promote their “AXE Apollo Space Academy!”

Space Camp naturally wanted a few words with Unilever, the owners of the AXE brand.

Wes Lyons has had great coverage as this has unfolded.  If you want to learn more, I encourage you to check out his coverage.  The first article provides a play-by-play of a meeting of the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission to discuss the issue, and a follow-up as well.

via Sprocketeers:

U.S. Space and Rocket Center Committees set to Discuss AXE Body Spray Copyright Infringement

What is the Next Move for Space Camp and AXE Body Spray?