Space Camp’s 20th Anniversary Celebration is still ongoing. If you happen to be in the vicinity of Titusville, Florida this Saturday, you can get tickets to have dinner with astronaut Jim McBride in honor of Space Camp’s 20th Anniversary. Tickets cost $60.00 each, with the event starting at 7:00pm and running until 11:00pm.
Additional details will have to be had from the Astronaut Hall of Fame when you order your tickets, as very little additional information is provided on the order page.
(You know, I don’t think I’ve taken enough advantage of my ability to post whatever I want on the front page of this site, forcing all of you to read it! 🙂
Anyway, the thought just occurred to me, and I’d like to share it with everyone. The thought involves what I had always considered to be the destruction of Space Academy Level II when a great 8-day program became a 5-day “Advanced Space Academy.” I always considered this a grave injustice, and even though I loved my time at ASA, I’ve never really warmed up to it as much as the program probably deserves…
…So I was thinking that it’s been five years since Space Academy Level II died and ASA rose from its ashes. A half of a decade!
Now, a lot of people reading this probably never really new much about the program before it was ASA, and the fact that I do really kind of shows my age a little.
Regardless, I just thought that it’s been five years…I probably shouldn’t get my hopes up of a return to the “old ways.” And yet, I also would like to think about how many have gone through ASA. How they’ve enjoyed it and what it has meant to those who have graduated. A number which is larger than had they stuck to an 8-day program…
So while I still think it’s not as good as it used to be, Advanced Space Academy is still a great program that anyone should be proud to have had the honor of attending.
Space.com is reporting that Russia is now holding a seat for a launch to the ISS in October for N’Sync member and Space Camp alumnus Lance Bass.
Provided someone can cough up the $20 million dollars for the trip, and Mr. Bass can find time in his schedule to complete his training, this looks like a fairly done deal. Russia badly needs the cash, so I guess their willing to let him go, despite previous comments indicating the contrary.
As for my own position on this, well…he has been to Space Camp, so I guess it could be worse. This of course is a softening of my previous stance on the matter…Since they’re not going to be sending me up any time soon, I guess I don’t care that much!
Further, if they’re smart, Space Camp will take advantage of the situation if he does indeed go up…they could plaster “SPACE CAMP ALUM IN SPACE” anywhere and everywhere they possibly can, etc. It’d make for good PR, at the very least. And the fact that he’s already famous couldn’t hurt, either…
…but what do you think? Go discuss it in the HabForum!
Saturday finally came, and I was at the Space & Rocket Center well before it opened! I wasn’t alone though, as a surprising number of people arrived just as early as I did! But thankfully, I had my newly acquired membership, so I was able to get into the museum before most of them!
When I got back from my little vacation to Huntsville to be present for the celebrating of Space Camp’s 20th Anniversary, I said that I might do a write-up on it…A little tip…whenever I say I think I might do it, someone just send me an email and tell me to do it!
That way, it might get done just a little faster than this did (insert joke about CamperFinder here)!
So, even though it has been a little more than a month, here’s my write-up of my trip to the USSRC last May!
From May 23, 2002 to May 26, 2002, I was lucky enough to have been in Huntsville, Alabama to witness the the celebration of Space Camp’s 20th Anniversary firsthand. I hope you all enjoy the account of my trip!  I certainly enjoyed being down there!!!
Looking for your child to get a little something extra out of his or her Space Camp experience this fall?
The weeks of October 6th and 13th, Space Camp will be having “Robotics Week.” Besides the regular array of activities at camp, trainees will “also participate in a simulated First Lego League Robotics Tournament.”
Go here for a little more information.
Space Camp with Lego Mindstorms. Sounds doable!
Space Camp is offering money off week long camp programs for Space Camp alumni!
If you’ve been to camp once, you can save $100 off your next visit!
Been to camp twice? $200 off!
Three times or more was a charm for you (you lucky dog)?!?! $300 off!
This very generous offer is good for reservations made from June 12, 2002 through August 30, 2002. And if you’ve already made your reservation and are now Homer-Simpson-ing to yourself, “Doh!” Relax! When you’re back at camp for the x time, you won’t care! 🙂
For those alumni out there who haven’t yet registered yet, well, you’re procrastinating paid off! Go figure.
As usual, you can go register at Space Camp’s website or you can give them a call at 1-800-63-SPACE. If you need to reference a code for this offer, the site says to mention code RETW2.
If you want to see the offer or read the fine print, click here.
Have fun!
I’ve updated the HabFiles again, but with something I think is particularly great.
I mentioned an article in my previous post about the USSRC’s Save the Saturn V campaign that would provide great reading on the process of restoring such a vehicle.
I’m sure many would be interested in reading it but can’t readily get their hands on a 5 year old copy of Air & Space magazine (though they do sell back issues), so here’s the article! Enjoy it!
And remember to DONATE if you are able to and haven’t already! Thanks!
I’ve updated the HabFiles again, this time with another brochure of the Alabama Space & Rocket Center! This one is, I am quite sure, from the 1970’s! Be sure not to miss the large (4-pane) photo of the Space & Rocket Center…it has certainly changed over the past few decades!
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is beginning a project to refurbish the Saturn V which, after 30 years of being outside in Rocket Park, has corroded both inside and out. Plans are underway to refurbish the Saturn V and move it inside, away from the elements.
However, like almost everything else, such a project takes money! And you can donate! Donations are tax deductible, and will go a long way towards making a more suitable home for the Saturn V.
If you’ve been down to Florida, I think they are planning a similar facility for their Saturn V.
To get a better understanding of what’s involved in restoring a Saturn V, locate the January 1997 copy of Air & Space Magazine, as it details the restoration process of the Saturn V down at The Cape.
Head on over to spacecamp.com and click on “Save the Saturn V Campaign” for more information as well as the place to donate!
Update: Well, I just donated my 50 bucks…it’s not much, I’m sure, when compared to what they need for the project, but if everyone who’s been to camp donated just a couple of bucks, they’d have more than enough! So, I donated for a couple of campers (or something)…why don’t you as well?!
My hosting provider, in their infinite wisdom, is in the process of switching email servers.
So, if you’ve sent me a message in the past day or so, wait another day or two and resend it. If you are waiting for a response to an email you’ve already sent, please give me a little time, and I’ll post back here when everything is running well again.
Thanks!
Update: Okay, everything seems to be working just fine now! Feel free to send any email you were planning to. Further, if you’re waiting to hear from me, you’ll receive a reply very soon.
