Author: Diana Hughes

History was made on Friday October 18, 2019, when the first all woman spacewalk occured outside the International Space Station.

Astronaut Christina Koch and Astronaut Jessica Meir became the first two woman to complete a spacewalk together. The spacewalk was the 221st space excursion from the International Space Station.  During the spacewalk, they replaced a battery charge/dischage unit that failed to activate after they were installed during a previous spacewalk.The unit collects energy from the station’s solar arrays.

Christina Koch is a five-time Space Camp Alumna, attending Space Academy and Advanced Space Academy in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996. She has been aboard the International Space Station since March 14, 2019 and has been living in space for about six months. Upon completion of Expedition 61, she will have been in space for a total of 328 days. Her time is space is anticipated to be the longest single spaceflight by a woman, making space history yet again!

Do you remember your time training on the Mission Training Floor at Space Camp?

In our latest video, we share the Mission Training Floor in its past and current state! Mission training is the culmination of the time spent training with your team and learning different concepts to complete a successful mission.

by Suzanne Saltz

Back in 2007, a seven-year-old boy and his father took an epic father and son trip to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. What is more amazing is that the trip was all chronicled in an article written by the father, John Horn which appeared in the Los Angeles Times on July 15, 2007, entitled, “As a family vacation, Space Camp is out there.” (https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-trw-spacecamp15jul15-2-story.html).

The article focused on the highlights of their trip together.

I was so intrigued by their adventure, that I decided to catch up with them 12 years later to see how their experience at Space Camp changed their lives in 2007 and thereafter.

John and Charles Horn was interviewed in September.  The following is an edited excerpt of their responses to my questionnaire.

Thinking back to 2007, was Space Camp the destination or just part of the summer itinerary?

Charles: Space Camp was the destination for my space obsessed young self, it was also a unique opportunity as to my recollection it was the first time I went on a trip with just my dad…

John: It was definitely the destination. At the time my son, Charles, was seven years old, and he was interested in all sorts of things…Space Camp felt like a great father-son road trip that would be special for the two of us.

How did space and attending Space Camp become part of your life?

Charles: Since I can remember, space has been a part of my life, whether it be playing as astronauts, gazing up at the stars while camping, or my time at space camp. For me it is less of a singular moment of becoming my life, but rather an insatiable desire to understand my place in the cosmos and universe.

John: Charles and I previously had taken a trip to Washington D.C., where we spent a lot of time at the National Air and Space Museum, not only the museum on the National Mall but also the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. And even though both campuses had a variety of hands-on exhibits, almost all of the installations were to be viewed from afar. We wanted to actually pretend to be astronauts—and that’s what Space Camp gave us.

How did your visit to Space Camp affect you?

Charles: I maintained a deep interest in space and flight, an interest that continues into college.

John: I think for both Charles and myself, it continued to stoke our interest in space, science and, more broadly, hands-on learning.

What was the most memorable moment from attending Space Camp?

Charles: The missions stand out to me. Although me and my dad far exceeded the mission time when space walking, I still remember the science experiments and simulation experiences.

John: Probably a tie between “dying” on our space walk, and surviving all of the simulators that made us almost lose our lunch. Also, we still laugh about how badly I did during the game show quiz at the end of camp. I don’t think I got one answer right, including my name!

Have you visited any other Space related sight or event since attending Space Camp?

Charles: Seeing the endeavor fly into Los Angeles and directly over my school was an amazing experience, not just because a space shuttle on top of a 747 is quite the sight but also because it presented the opportunity to see the space shuttle once it reached its final destination at the Science Center in Los Angeles.

John: A year or two after Space Camp, Charles and I were in the Chicago airport during a space shuttle landing. We sat down to watch it in one of the gates, and a woman next to us starting telling Charles how the pilot used the alignment screens to land the shuttle. “How do you know so much about shuttles?” I asked. “I fly them,” she said. I don’t recall the name of the astronaut, but it was a special encounter.

Would you attend Space Camp again?

Charles: Of course, I hope my eventual kids have the same interest in space I did and are better at the simulators than I was.

John: Maybe..with grandchildren?

by Suzanne Saltz and Chad Driver

On Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 8:32 a.m. EST participants from all around the globe set off model rockets. This Global Rocket Launch commemorated the historic launch of a Huntsville-designed Saturn V rocket, which ferried the Apollo 11 crew to the moon on that exact day and time back in 1969.

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama led this Global Rocket Launch by simultaneously launching 5,000 model rockets from the Homer Hickam Space Camp Launch Complex.  178 volunteers assisted Rocket Center staff in the Rocket Launch preparation, working 696 hours over 13 sessions.  A crowd of approximately 2,500 people watched live, with the event on simulcast over YouTube and covered by national media outlets.

Below is a photo collage of several Space Camp Alumni that submitted photos to the Space Camp Alumni Association of their participation in this Global Launch:

July 12-20, 2019, marked a special week of celebration at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Coupled with the annual Rocket City Summer Fest and Space Camp Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, were a week full of events to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon launch and landing. The Rocket City Summer Fest has evolved into an annual homecoming for Space Camp alumni.

The week was packed with alumni centric events. The Town Hall meeting, co-hosted by Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and Dr. Andrea Hanson, Chair of the Space Camp Alumni Association Board (AAB), is an opportunity for alumni to meet up and hear about master planning activities at the USSRC, highlights of notable alumni activity throughout the year, and take part in an awards ceremony to recognize staff and alumni who have played a stellar role in supporting alumni activity.

Special recognition was received by Amber Williams, Director of Merchandise, who sits on the AAB as a USSRC representative, and has been a steadfast supporter of the alumni community. Amber received the Chairman’s Award for outstanding support aiding in the advancement of the board mission and goals. THANK YOU, Amber, for all you do for the ABB, Hall of Fame and alumni community!

Space Camp Alumni Association Board Chair Dr. Andrea Hanson and Co-Chair Chris Key present Amber Williams with the Chairman’s Award at the Town Hall meeting.

Four new memberS were inducted to the Space Camp Hall of Fame during the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday night. Mary “Wally” Funk, a member of the Mercury 13 and the first female air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board; Casey Harris, keyboardist for the rock band, X Ambassadors; Christina H. Koch, a NASA Astronaut currently aboard the International Space Station; and Beth Moses, Chief Astronaut Instructor and Commercial Astronaut for Virgin Galactic. Visit www.spacecamp.com/halloffame to learn more out these outstanding individuals!

2019 Space Camp Hall of Fame inductees with returning HoF members attending the 2019 Rocket City Summer Fest events.

There were many great lectures presented throughout the week. A notable Pass the Torch Lecture included Al Worden, Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot, and Francis French, Hall of Fame Member. The two co-authored “Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut’s Journey to the Moon,” and provided special commentary on the Al Worden’s extraordinary journey around the moon.

Al Worden and Francis French provide special commentary on Al Worden’s journey around the moon as Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot.

Yellowhammer Brewing and Campus 805 hosted an alumni event the evening of July 15, with Space Trivia and a special-release Whiskey Label signing with former astronaut Bob Springer. Plus, a percentage of proceeds from every T-minus beer sold is generously donated to the Space Camp Scholarship fund. Yellowhammer’s General Manager, Ethan Couch, presented the USSRC and Alumni Association with a check for $20,000 to support the Space Camp Scholarship Fund! Thank you, Yellowhammer!

Yellowhammer Brewing General Manager, Ethan Couch presents a $20,000 check to the Space Camp Scholarship Fund!

To commemorate the launch of Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969, the USSRC coordinated a Guinness Book of World Records Rocket Launch. On July 16, at 8:32 a.m., 50 years after the F1 engines of the Saturn V rocket were ignited, 5,000 model rockets were simultaneously launched while all of Space Camp, visiting Apollo astronauts, and thousands from the community watched this monumental event. Read the next article to hear more about alumni involvement in this event!

The Apollo 11 Homecoming Celebration Dinner was held Tuesday evening. Special guests included: Thomas Stafford (LTG, USAF, Ret), Apollo 10; Al Worden (Col, USAF, Ret.), Apollo 15; Dr. Ed Gibson, Skylab 4; Jack Lousma (Col, USMC, Ret.), Skylab 3, STS-3; Dr. Jan Davis, STS-47, STS-60 & STS-85; Bob Springer (Col, USMC, Ret.), STS-29 & STS-38; Dr. Margrit von Braun, Mrs. Iris von Braun-Robbins, Peter von Braun; The Honorable Kay Ivey, Governor of Alabama; and NASA Marshall Space Flight Director Jody Singer. Many alumni were in attendance for this very special affair celebrating achievements of the past and looking forward to the mission of tomorrow…to return boots on the moon by 2024!

The annual Rocket City Summer Fest weekend is also an opportunity for the Space Camp Alumni Association Board to hold their annual face-to-face board meeting. The AAB, which is made up of 16 volunteer members, conducts business virtually throughout the year while hosting regional activities and events for and with alumni. While at the USSRC in July, the board had an opportunity to tour the facilities, learn about new programs and opportunities, and set new goals for the coming year. “It is a true privilege to work with this team of motivated professionals who are still passionate about the Space Camp programs years after their own experience here at camp,” says Dr. Hanson, Chair of the AAB. “I am so excited about how the board is calling the alumni community to action, and reconnecting hundreds of alumni back to the mission to prepare the future’s astronauts, scientists and engineers!”

The Space Camp Alumni Association Board meets up in Mission Control! Pictured, left to right are Ben Chandler, Suzanne Saltz, Beth Gencel, Sean Squire, Andrea Hanson, Rebecca Torzone, Chad Driver, Brooks Martin, and Michele O’Shaughnessy.

The week culminated on Saturday night with a celebratory concert featuring Black Jacket Symphony ‘Party of the Year’ and projection mapping on the Saturn V by UA-Huntsville!

Plans are already in the works for next year’s Rocket City Summer Fest Event!  The dates will be July 16-18, 2020.  This will be a homecoming event you won’t want to miss!  Mark your calendars, and we’ll see you next year!

October 4-10, 2019 marked the annual ‘World Space Week’ as designated by the United Nations General Assembly.

World Space Week serves as a time for space enthusiasts to come together to celebrate the achievements made in space exploration and infuse the next generation with the excitement of space! Activities happened across the world for World Space Week and participants were encouraged to share their events using the hashtag #WorldSpaceWeek.

Space Camp alumna and teacher, Jessica Shipley, is the Library Media Specialist at Decatur Middle School in Decatur, Alabama. Her students took part in World Space Week by building “egg landers” and making a vehicle that helped their “eggstranaut” land safely! The activity helped them to think about the different atmospheres on celestrial objects, the physics behind the landers, and what materials would best be suited on their lander.

Principal of Decatur Middle School, Mr. Luke Bergeson, even got in on the fun by helping students with their landers and seeing if his lander could land the “eggstranaut” safely!

Students used a variety of materials and each of the landers turned out a bit differently, showcasing the wonderful imagination exercise that STEM activities can provide in the classroom. Ms. Shipley is a graduate of the Honeywell Space Camp for Educators program and gives back to her students everyday at Decatur Middle School by providing enrichments activities. We thank her for the photo submission!

Want to find out more about what Space Camp Alumni are doing around the world? Visit our Facebook group exclusively for Space Camp Alumni to network and connect!

The newest program in the Space Camp lineup is U.S. Cyber Camp!

This innovative camp was announced in 2017 and has since seen two seasons of campers come through the program. U.S. Cyber Camp aims to help develop an interest in the growing field of cyber security, as well introductory coding and other computer science concepts. Students in the program build a Raspberry Pi computer, that they also get to take home with them at the end of camp!

U.S. Cyber Camp has content that is evolving since the field of cyber security is moving so rapidly and the needs in the field are ever-changing. Many community partners have taken an interest in the camp, because of the need to rapidly bring up a workforce for cyber defense. Partners such as Dynetics and the state of Alabama have come together to make the program possible.

Find out more about this program on the Space Camp website: https://www.spacecamp.com/cyber/camp

And watch our 1 minute quick look at U.S. Cyber Camp on YouTube!

“Through these doors enter the world’s future astronauts, scientists, and engineers.”

Attending Space Camp leaves you with a number of special memories. When you arrive at Space Camp, the Habitat bunk area stands just beyond the entrance gates and the structure’s unique identity is a favorite for many trainees!

Trainees stay in their bunks with teammates and the space functions not only as sleeping space, but a space to catch up on reading, team building, and reminsicing about your experiences. Each room has its own unique bunk and locker system, with a unique space outpost feel. Walking the hallways, you could almost imagine that you were in an outpost, ready to engage in a mission far from Earth.

Watch our new video on YouTube, sharing images of the Habitat over the decades – a favorite of many Space Camp Alumni!

Some of the most distinct icons at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, home of Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, are the rockets towering over the campus. These rockets have been on display at the facility since the beginning of Space Camp in 1982. The largest rocket is the Saturn V model, a replica of which is on the west side of campus and an actual Saturn V rocket lays on its side inside the Davidson Center for Space Exploration.

These larger than life exhibits commemorate the efforts of the explorers of the Apollo era, and mark a great time in space history that will help advance us to our next chapter. Not only are they an icon for Huntsville and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, but they stand as one of the first things you see when arriving at Space Camp.

The restorations were done through a combined effort of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the community, and generous donors to the Rocket Protector fund. During a campaign to “Revive the Saturn V” in 2019, donors raised funds to restore the Saturn V icon back to its original state. While the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is a Smithsonian affiliate and the visitor center for Marshall Space Flight Center, we do not receive any federal funding for artifact preservation.

After completing the Saturn V revitalization project in time for the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center has now started work on preserving the Saturn I rocket that stands in the courtyard area and future plans include restoring the Rocket Park garden. Restorations to the rockets will ensure that they are there for visitors to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and future Space Camp trainees for years to come.

Share your favorite pictures you’ve taken of the rockets during your time at Space Camp in our private Facebook group just for Space Camp Alumni!