We Have a New Board

Well, the wait is finally over. The Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission has new members.

The article, including the list of the Board members, can be found here .

Personally, I’m disappointed that at least one of a couple of individuals I had in mind weren’t appointed.

It really just looks like an uninspired list of bureaucrats and businessmen. Essential, to be sure, but the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission surely shouldn’t be composed only of members such as these.

Hopefully, in time, they will prove me wrong. And if not, nine members’ terms will expire next year, and a second chance will be granted.

For the record, as pulled directly from the article, the board is as follows:

The appointees to terms that will expire on October 1, 2005 are:

  • Dr. Waymon Burke of Huntsville , Calhoun Community College
  • Joe Collazo of Huntsville, Vice President of Callazo Enterprises, Inc.
  • Jack Lee of New Market, President of Lee & Associates, LLC
  • Gary Marcrum of Birmingham, President of Marcrum Management Company
  • J. Garrett Martz of Huntsville, President and CEO of ELMCO, Inc.
  • Roy Nichols of Huntsville, Chairman of the Board of Torch Concepts, Inc.
  • Walter Penry of Daphne, Retired State Representative
  • Mayor Loretta Spencer of Huntsville
  • John Stallworth of Huntsville, President and CEO of Madison Research Corporation

Appointees whose terms will expire on October 1, 2009 are:

  • Margie Cumbie of Huntsville, assistant to the Director of Community and Legislative Affairs at the Computer Sciences Corporation
  • James L. Flinn, III of Huntsville, Deputy to the Commanding General , U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command
  • Colonel Roosevelt J. Lewis, Jr. of Montgomery, Owner of Air Tuskegee, Inc. and the American Consulting Group, SSG
  • Colonel Albert L. Patterson, III of Enterprise, President of Navigator Development Group, Inc.
  • Todd Slyman of Madison, General Partner in the Slyman Investment Group, Ltd.
  • Jimmy Ray Smith of Decatur, Vice President of Jimmy Smith Jewelers, Inc.
  • William H. Stender, Jr. of Huntsville, CEO of CAS Weapons System Analysis, Inc.
  • Irma Tuder of Huntsville, President and CEO of Analytical Services, Inc.
  • Sidney White of Madison, President and General Manager of White, Fleming & Company, P.C.

Friday Comes and Goes

The Friday deadline has come and gone, so technically the members of the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission are now former members of the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission.

Yet this is only technically as there has been no word from Alabama Governor Bob Riley or his office regarding the matter.

The Huntsville times has posted an articled about it here.

This should prove to be yet another interesting week.

Update on TCF Updates

The TCF Updates are coming along nicely!

Smiley was kind enough to pass along a few photos of the star curtain now on the Training Center Floor.

These pics kinda show what the star curtains look like. Its kinda hard to capture the effect. The stars are LED’s and vary in brightness. So they kinda twinkle. This starfield will wrap about 60% of the sims floor area.

MCC TCF Fall 2004 Updates

MCC TCF Fall 2004 Updates

MCC TCF Fall 2004 Updates

Space Camp says Goodbye to One of its Own

I received some troubling news in my inbox the other day, and it had been discussed in the forum even before that. Aviation Challenge and Space Camp has lost one of its own.

Former AC Counselor Jenie Purves, callsign “Texaco,” [was] laid to rest [on Friday, February 6, 2004] at 2:30 PM in Huntsville. Jenie was a shinning star among counselors and will be sorely missed by all. The US Space & Rocket Center has set up a scholarship fund in Jenie’s honor to allow a deserving child to attend Aviation Challenge. Tax deductible donations may made at the address below.

Jenie Purves Memorial Scholarship Fund
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center Foundation
One Tranquility Base
Huntsville, AL 35805

Jenie was truly one in a million. Her smile and attitude brought joy to all who knew her, no matter how briefly. She will be missed by many, forgotten by few, and loved by all.

Will Nickelson
Underwater Astronaut Trainer
US Space & Rocket Center

It was once written, “The true measure of a life is not how many people know our names when we die, but whether we touched the lives of others.” Jenie Purves was an Aviation Challenge counselor. Though she may have gone before her time, she no doubt spent her years well.

Update – 01/27/2011: Donations to the scholarship fund can now be made online at the Space Camp Store.

SpaceCamp will be Released on DVD Again

MGM SpaceCamp DVD CoverOn March 2, 2004, MGM Home Entertainment is going to rerelease SpaceCamp (now listed as “Space Camp”) on DVD. Unfortunately, it still looks as if there aren’t going to be any decent special features, and I’m reasonably sure it won’t be in Anamorphic widescreen.

Also, it appears as if the full frame version of the film that was present on the Anchor Bay release will not be present.

Still, this is good news for anyone who was thinking of overpaying for one on eBay.

The DVD can be pre-ordered at DeepDiscountDVD for only $9.12 including shipping! Or, if you’d rather order it from Amazon, you can get it for $12.71.