The first Space Camp Alumni Festival was a rousing success! Sims were flown, astronauts were met, and over $15,000 was raised for Space Camp scholarships. Take a look at all that took place as we lay the groundwork for next year’s festival!
Do you remember the Moon Walker? This attraction used to stand where Kids Cosmos Energy Depletion Zone sits today. Museum guests leapt to new heights back and forth, seemingly unbound by Earth’s gravity. Though this simulator was dismantled in the late 90s, it was announced at the Alumni Festival by the CEO of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Dr. Barnhart, the Moon Walker will soon return.
Summer 2015 is in the books! We hope that it was as wonderful for you personally as it was for Space Camp, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and our Alumni organization. In July we gathered many from the Alumni family for our inaugural Space Camp Alumni Festival, and we are happy to report it was a tremendous success! This year’s Alumni Festival was a first in several respects: the first full weekend of activities designed exclusively for the reconnection and enjoyment of Space Camp and Aviation Challenge program Alumni, the first Alumni-oriented event to be financially self-sustaining, and the first Alumni event to be planned and executed…by Alumni! While we were at it – we raised over $15,000 for Space Camp Scholarships during this, our inaugural year. For three days we had an awe-inspiring gathering of insightful, passionate, and engaged Alumni.
We kicked off the 3- day event with Biergarten – affectionately known as ‘Stein and Dine’ where guests were able to enjoy German cuisine and beer under the Saturn V! In conjunction with Biergarten, early arriving guests were treated to a special Alumni Weekend edition of the ‘Pass the Torch’ lecture series normally held at the USSRC throughout the year. During that event we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope and the upcoming launch and deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope with several excellent speakers, including former Space Shuttle Astronaut Scott Altman, the Commander of the last two Hubble servicing missions.
We honored the legacy and impact of a 25 year-young Aviation Challenge Program and we reveled in the history and inspiration of our F-14 ‘Mighty Tomcat’ as we admired her shiny restored appearance and rededicated her for another tour of inspiring the next generations. We were so happy to have former Naval Aviators and Space Shuttle Astronauts Capt Robert ‘Hoot’ Gibson, USN(Ret) and Capt Scott ‘Scooter’ Altman, USN(Ret) join us to celebrate. Guests then moved on to enjoy the ‘Hangout’ with several of the most popular activities / simulators at the Aviation Challenge compound. 
The Alumni family gathered to unwind at a Friday evening Pool Party under the stars, and then came together again for a Saturday morning Town Hall Breakfast to hear about where we are and where we’re going.
And while we were at it we recognized a few of our best and brightest Alumni, as well as a few key USSRC staff members, with some well deserved awards! Those awards included: Alumni: Dan Oates – CEO Leadership Award John Ratnaswamy – Space Camp Spirit Award Chris Key – Space Camp Pinnacle Award Vincent Vazzo – Space Camp Foundations Award Alyssa Carson – Outstanding Alumni Award Abigail Harrison – Outstanding Alumni Award USSRC Staff: Sandra Kerby – Delta-V Award Amber Williams – Delta-V Award Trevor Daniels – Delta-V Award Brenda Carr – Chairman’s Award We could not have succeeded without each of their unique contributions. It was truly a favorite moment of the weekend – likely second only to what was to come that evening! We were treated to a sneak peak of the USSRC’s newest exhibit ‘Science on Orbit’, and the future for the Mission Center Complex Training Center Floor with tour guides including current Space Camp Hall of Fame members supporting the International Space Station as well as former astronauts Capt. Robert ‘Hoot’ Gibson, Col. Bob Springer, Capt. Wendy Lawrence, and our own Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger – the first Space Camp Alumni to fly in space!
After the impressive VIP tour it was time to get down to business during ‘Choose Your Mission’ with simulated Shuttle launch and landing sequences in the familiar simulators, and the iconic Astronaut Simulators including the Multi-Axis Trainer, 1/6 Gravity Chair, and the Manned Maneuvering Unit. Of course a training iteration wouldn’t be complete without a chance to dive in the Underwater Astronaut Trainer! And yes – we had real astronauts as simulator coaches! 
Late Saturday afternoon we were treated to a special presentation by former Shuttle Astronaut Dr. Rhea Seddon and afforded the opportunity to get our own signed copy of her new book ‘Go For Orbit’ – and you’ll never guess who was first in line!! What a perfect transition into the exciting evening events.
As part of the evening events we heard from Todd May, Program Manager for NASA’s Space Launch System – updating us on the status and road ahead for NASA’s Journey to Mars. Prior to his introduction we shared a special message to the NASA and contractor community from the Alumni Community – with a little help from Camp Trainees attending sessions that week. Take a look – We think you’ll agree with the sentiment expressed in the video: https://youtu.be/WelFRUPO3W8
We inducted four new members into the Space Camp Hall of Fame – Sponsored by Orbital ATK. The Class of 2015 was an impressive array of Alumni – spanning manned and unmanned space exploration, engineering, and this year we adding the ‘A’ to STEAM with an Alumna from the arts. NASA Astronaut Kate Rubins, NASA-Mars Curiosity Flight Director Bobak Ferdowsi, Honeywell Aerospace Senior Project Engineer Elizabeth Bierman, and Opera Soprano Susanna Phillips represent all we aspire to be as a community of dreamers and achievers. Learn more about this year’s inductees here!
We ended on a truly high note! The first ever concert held in Shuttle Park featuring The Yacht Rock Revue™ with guest Amy McCarley culminated a fabulous celebration of all Space Camp Alumni who are the promise for the future of these programs and of the next trainees to pass through its’ doors.
The 2015 Space Camp Alumni Festival is just a preview of what’s yet to come for Alumni events and more broadly a great ‘end to the beginning’ of the full impact the Alumni Association has yet to realize. There are exciting announcements on the horizon regarding 2016. Next year’s festival is an event you won’t want to miss – with a host of phenomenal surprises. You will also hear about a very special campaign we’ll be launching in conjunction with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Foundation that will truly change the lives of many young people. Watch for those announcements coming this fall. Please enjoy the highlights video below from this year’s Festival and we’ve also included a second video covering the full Space Camp Hall of Fame ceremony. https://youtu.be/IORe5nnnnLg https://youtu.be/l80wsDkNR_A Stay tuned to spacecampalumni.com as well as our Facebook and Twitter channels for all the latest information and updates. We look forward to seeing you around Camp and we hope you’ll consider getting involved with Alumni activities in some fashion in the near future. On behalf of the entire Alumni Advancement Board as well as the staff and leadership of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, thanks to our sponsors for this year’s and event, and most of all we thank you for all your support and encouragement to date.
You are the ‘fuel in our tanks’ and we can confidently now say that ‘we have cleared the tower’ under power from YOU! The thrust of 700,00 dreamers now has us on a fast ascent to the stars! Ad Astra Per Alas Fideles!
If you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be inspired or it’s been awhile since you’ve had a unique experience, then accept this invitation to come to Huntsville (July 23-25) for what promises to be a magical weekend. The Alumni Advancement Board (AAB) has created a now-yearly homecoming event for our community to support camp growth and raise funds to send children to camp. There is literally something for everyone and every age group.
If you’re like us and loved your time as a camper, then come reconnect and create a memory. The success of this weekend is truly based on the engagement and attendance of the alumni. Weekend tickets are still available but certain events are filling up fast. Click here to make sure you don’t miss out the coolest parts of the weekend. 
This month, the Space Camp Hall of Fame welcomes four new members. All four inductees are Camp alumni who have gone on to achieve extraordinary success in their chosen fields, including, for the first time, one who is a star in the performing arts world. The four new HOF members are: Elizabeth Bierman, Senior Project Engineer at Honeywell Aerospace and national President of the Society of Women Engineers; Bobak Ferdowsi, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Flight Engineer; Dr. Kate Rubins, a NASA astronaut scheduled to fly to the International Space Station in 2016; and Susanna Phillips, Metropolitan Opera star. Elizabeth Bierman is a proven leader who guides initiatives through Honeywell’s project engineering council. Bobak Ferdowsi served on the Cassini-Huygens and Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) missions, with even President Obama commenting on the popularity of the NASA “Mohawk Guy”. Dr. Kate Rubins has a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology and was part of the team that developed the first model of smallpox infection. Finally, Susanna Phillips is a globally recognized opera star who has sung a host of major roles at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and stages around the world, and is a co-founder of the Twickenham, a music festival held annually in Huntsville. The Hall of Fame includes graduates and former employees of the US Space and Rocket Center who have distinguished themselves in their respective careers and friends of the Center who have made major contributions of personal time, effort, or resources to further the goals of Camp programs. As Center CEO, Dr. Deborah Barnhart, has said: “This year’s Space Camp Hall of Fame class demonstrates a diverse mix of passion, imagination, determination and intelligence.” You never know where the experiences and lessons of Camp may lead. 
Shuttle Park is soon to get a new addition, NASA 945, a Shuttle Training Aircraft. NASA 945 was one of 4 modified Gulfstream II jets used to train astronauts how to land the space shuttle. After a successful IndieGoGo campaign by the AAB to raise the funds for its installation, the aircraft’s support columns have been poured and work is underway to transport NASA 945 from Birmingham to Huntsville in the very near future. The Shuttle Training Aircraft isn’t the only airplane moving around. In the coming months, the A-12 Oxcart that has resided in front of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center entrance for decades, will undergo a restoration prior to it being moved to a new location at the entrance to the museum’s property.
In 1988 Space Camp opened up its second outpost in Titusville, Florida at the US Astronaut Hall of Fame, Space Camp Florida. It featured several of the same simulators as in Huntsville but several things set it apart, ranging from driving lunar rover simulators to being able to watch Space Shuttle launches right from the camp grounds. Space Camp Florida ceased operations in 2002.
First-hand story from Alison Cash, Space Camp Volunteer on the F-14 Tomcat restoration: I don’t remember when the Grumman F-14 Tomcat first came into my life. I grew up on Air Force bases, and have had a love affair with airplanes from a very young age. But this Navy plane? Maybe it was the similarities between the F-14 and the fictional Robotech Veritech fighters? I was mesmerized by this twin engine, variable sweep machine. I fed my imagination and curiosity by every means I knew how. I checked out library books on jet aircraft. I watched Robotech – over and over and over. I watched every documentary that came on TV that remotely involved fighter aircraft. I begged my parents for model kits, toy planes, and more books. I memorized statistics, and quizzed myself every time an aircraft flew overhead. In middle school, I began competing in the science fair. My dad helped me build a homemade wind tunnel, and I learned the joys (and challenges) of conducting wind tunnel experiments. At one of the science fairs, a judge asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I said I wanted to be a fighter pilot, or maybe somebody who designs and builds fighter aircraft. He asked me what my favorite plane was and I easily answered the F-14. He quizzed me on why and I breathlessly spouted off statistics and talked about the role of the variable sweep wings in improving performance. The judge smiled and said six words that set me on an arrow straight path for the future: “You should be an aerospace engineer.” I continued my science fair projects in fluid dynamics and became increasingly familiar with how difficult the subject matter really was. But with inspiration flying overhead, in movies, and in books, I kept my head down, worked hard, and graduated with a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. Unfortunately, the real world won’t let you just pick any job. I ended up going the way of missile defense, and have been happy. But I never ceased seeking out the F-14 at air shows, and I still get sucked into watching documentaries. In 2006, the United States decommissioned – and subsequently destroyed – the F-14s. I would never work with them. I would never see them fly again. My dream had slipped away.
And then an email came in from Chris Key asking for volunteers to help restore the F-14 on display at the US Space and Rocket Center. Are you kidding? The aircraft that accelerated my imagination and launched my career needs some work, and I can have the honor of helping to lovingly restore it? I’m there. I’m so there. That Saturday was a spiritual experience for me – one that I will never forget and one that I will cherish my entire life. The day was spent sanding, cleaning and painting the right landing strut. Not exactly the high adrenaline excitement I always imagined in being up close to an F-14. It was hot. It was dirty. It was awesome. I finally got to touch my dream.
Do you live near or in New York City? Come celebrate the induction into the Space Camp Hall of Fame for Susanna Phillips at The Juilliard School in New York City, Thursday, June 18 at 4 p.m. Susanna is a Space Camp alumna and American opera singer who has sung leading lyric soprano roles at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Santa Fe Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera as well as internationally. Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO & Executive Director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, will lead and preside over the induction ceremony at the Juilliard School, Susanna’s alma mater. Due to a performance, Susanna will not be able to attend the July 25 induction ceremony at the 2015 Alumni Festival weekend & induction ceremony in Huntsville, AL. Video of her induction will be a part of the ceremony on July 25th. All Space Camp alumni, Space Camp Hall of Fame members and space enthusiasts are invited to attend the ceremony. Please R.S.V.P to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘NYC Event RSVP’. Please include the full names of all attendees in the email.
More details on the 2015 Alumni Festival weekend can be found here: spacecamp.com/
The Space Camp Alumni Advancement Board (AAB) has an opening for a regular member. In order to be eligible, a regular member must be a graduate of Space Camp, Aviation Challenge, Robotics, an affiliate program, or be a former Space & Rocket Center staff member. We are reaching out to fellow alums and former staff who may be interested in helping us to advance the alumni movement and support the mission of the Center.
The AAB is a volunteer group. The AAB is a working board, whereby members are involved both in making decisions about a wide range of projects, outreach efforts, fundraising, and other activities, as well as the delivery of those 
plans. The Board meets most months by phone, and once or twice a year in person. Travel expenses are not reimbursable. If interested, please send a letter to [email protected]. The letter should describe why you are interested, your eligibility, and how you feel that your background, experience, and skills will enable you to work with other Board members and volunteers to advance the goals of the AAB. Please also attach a resume. The AAB seeks a diverse and inclusive membership, and you are not required to live in or near Huntsville, Alabama. The application deadline is May 14, 2015.