Space Camp Alumni, this is CAPCOM, we are resuming the Countdown!

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.

• Biergarten-for the foodies
• Pass the Torch Lecture-for the historians and Hubble Space Telescope fans
• Aviation Challenge Hangout-for the pilots, veterans, and ‘Top Gun’ fans
• Science on Orbit-for the science nuts
• Space Camp: Choose Your Mission-for the space geeks
• Space Camp Hall of Fame Ceremony and Auction-for the fans of our best and brightest and the memorabilia collectors
• Shuttle Park Concert with Yacht Rock Revue and Amy McCarley-for the music lovers

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 Year’s Space Camp Hall of Fame Inductees

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 Training Aircraft Coming to Shuttle Park!

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. 

Throwback Camp Photos

 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. 

Touching A Dream, An F-14 Restoration Volunteer’s Story

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/AlumniFestival

Opening on the Space Camp Alumni Advancement Board

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. 

Eagle 102, F-14 Refurbishment

During filming of TOP GUN at NAS Miramar, one special F-14 designated Eagle 102 was based there. Eight years after TOP GUN’s release, Eagle 102 arrived at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. In the last twenty years Eagle 102 has been on display, the harsh elements of Alabama weather and tree sap have not been kind. After completing the 2014 F-16 restoration and Tuskegee Airmen dedication of that aircraft, we turned our sights to the F-14. We are fortunate to have help from former members of the U.S. Navy’s VF-51 Screaming Eagle squadron. More specifically, Andy Foster – the lead motivator from VF-51 – realized he had flown in this very aircraft during his time in service and helped recruit other VF-51 members, including Sam Herrera  and James Morgan. With their help the team was able to open nearly every panel and engine compartment during the refurbishment effort and they’ve provided a great deal of guidance in the restoration.  Once again headed by Alumni Advancement Board Projects Chair, Chris Key, work on Eagle 102 began in September of 2014 and after a hiatus for college football and a very wet and cold winter, resumed in March. And on the weekend of April 4th, we applied the first coat of paint! This was only a test on a clean section of aircraft and much remains to be cleaned and refurbished. It will be very fulfilling to have this aircraft in a fully presentable state. We are excited to share it with alumni and visitors to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Aviation Challenge. Beyond restoring the aircraft itself, this effort has been a tremendous opportunity to hear first-hand history of this aircraft and of life in the Navy. We have a lot of work to do and we would greatly appreciate anyone that would like to come and help us with the restoration efforts. Join us Saturday mornings in May and June and capture a piece of the action and the legacy of Eagle 102. With many thanks and great appreciation to the VF-51 members (Andy Foster, Sam Herrera, James Morgan, Adam Lamson), USSRC Techs Dan Gibson and his brother Tommy Siler, Space Camp Alumni (Clarissa Flores, Maegan Edwards), and volunteers from Jacobs and FEMA Corps Oceans 3 team. You can read more on our progress at www.VF51Tomcat.com 

Throwback Camp Photos

(Photo courtesy of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center)

During the 1980s, Space Campers got to don spacesuits and conduct EVAs on the lunar surface! Can you imagine wearing spacesuits under the hot, Alabama sun? 

New Exhibit, Space Station: Science On Orbit

Changes are afoot at the Mission Center Complex.  Endeavour is moving to make room for a new, permanent exhibit ‘Space Station: Science On Orbit’. This exciting, new exhibit will immerse visitors in the engineering that went into the International Space Station as well as the science taking place on it; hearing from many of the engineers, scientist, and astronauts that have been involved.  The exhibit will feature several interactive exhibits and will show how the research being conducted in space is used to improve life on Earth as well as how to survive long-duration space exploration.  Visitors have the added benefit of seeing Space Camp Trainees conducting training and simulated missions as part of the immersive exhibit experience.