Space & Rocket Center News
Tisk, Tisk Space & Rocket Center
Friday, March 21, 2008
It seems the Space
Center hasn't been taking care of all of their
artifacts. Say it isn't so!
NASA Watch had this post the other day.
In short, if you visited the Space Center around the mid-90s, you would have been able to walk though the Skylab trainer built.
Well, it's been sitting outside the back of the Space Center for years and it seems recent efforts to protect and preserve have been thwarted by the Space Center.
There's also a swift kick at the end alleging (uh, with photographic evidence) that the USSRC has been letting people climb around Casper for a small $10,000 fee.
I can only hope that nothing is as bad as it looks from this piece and that the Space & Rocket Center curator would want to do everything in her power to preserve to the best of her abilities every piece of space history in her care. Anything less would be a true shame.
NASA Watch had this post the other day.
In short, if you visited the Space Center around the mid-90s, you would have been able to walk though the Skylab trainer built.
Well, it's been sitting outside the back of the Space Center for years and it seems recent efforts to protect and preserve have been thwarted by the Space Center.
There's also a swift kick at the end alleging (uh, with photographic evidence) that the USSRC has been letting people climb around Casper for a small $10,000 fee.
I can only hope that nothing is as bad as it looks from this piece and that the Space & Rocket Center curator would want to do everything in her power to preserve to the best of her abilities every piece of space history in her care. Anything less would be a true shame.
A Few Photos from the Davidson Center
Sunday, February 17, 2008
I was able to get down to our favorite museum on the
opening day of the Saturn V last week.
I thought you'd like to see the absolutely beautiful building the USSRC has!
Read More...
I thought you'd like to see the absolutely beautiful building the USSRC has!
Read More...
Despite Rain, Rocket Roll Shakes & Rattles
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
This morning's Rocket Roll! event at the Space &
Rocket Center was a resounding success. Despite the
rain, the turnout was respectable and the Saturn V
has started its journey to its new home.
For those of you that missed the event, I present to you the crescendo:
The move should more-or-less be finished by the time the Saturn V reunion comes around! If you're able to, you should get your tickets and come by this Friday.
Rocket Park is sure going to look awfully strange without that Saturn V there...
...don't forget about the webcams to see that space get awfully bare.
For those of you that missed the event, I present to you the crescendo:
The move should more-or-less be finished by the time the Saturn V reunion comes around! If you're able to, you should get your tickets and come by this Friday.
Rocket Park is sure going to look awfully strange without that Saturn V there...
...don't forget about the webcams to see that space get awfully bare.
MSFC Tours - One Sticking Point
Friday, June 22, 2007
To provide an update regarding the post about MSFC
tours resuming, it seems that there is one sticking
point holding up tours.
It seems Marshall doesn't want Space Camp to use busses that aren't able to comply with the Americans with Disabilities act and the Space Center doesn't currently have any that do.
So until the Space Camp can get a few busses that meet the ADA (or retrofit current ones....if that's possible), the tours will be a no go.
So it may be a little while.
It seems Marshall doesn't want Space Camp to use busses that aren't able to comply with the Americans with Disabilities act and the Space Center doesn't currently have any that do.
So until the Space Camp can get a few busses that meet the ADA (or retrofit current ones....if that's possible), the tours will be a no go.
So it may be a little while.
MSFC Tours to Resume
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Yep! The rumor going around (well, the rumor I'm
starting here) is that Marshall Space Flight Center
tours will resume.
The date hasn't yet been completely nailed down, but I'm told that it will be sometime within the next month.
A great part of the Space Camp experience is about to return!
The date hasn't yet been completely nailed down, but I'm told that it will be sometime within the next month.
A great part of the Space Camp experience is about to return!
Mike Wing Pleads Guilty to Fraud
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Well,
he was arrested a little while ago, and now former
USSRC CEO Mike Wing has pleaded guilty to wire fraud
in Texas. Do they execute for wire fraud in Texas?
Anyway, you can read an article of it here.
From the article:
At the time of Wing's ouster in 1999, space center officials said they had not known when they hired him that he had been barred from selling franchises in Arizona for a market research company due to misrepresentations. Wing disputed that account and told the Times he had never been accused of wrongdoing.
Whoops!
Anyway, you can read an article of it here.
From the article:
At the time of Wing's ouster in 1999, space center officials said they had not known when they hired him that he had been barred from selling franchises in Arizona for a market research company due to misrepresentations. Wing disputed that account and told the Times he had never been accused of wrongdoing.
Whoops!
Amazing Race Space Camp Episode Wrap-Up
Monday, October 24, 2005
So
the episode of the Amazing Race filmed this past
Summer at Space Camp has come and gone.
It's always fun to get a look at the place on national television! You're very photogenic, Space Camp!
A thorough write-up of the episode can be found at this website if you weren't able to catch the episode when it aired:
The remaining four teams are now on the second bus (the Aiellos, missing the point, think they beat the Weavers; no, you're tied) to the mystery location, which turns out to be Huntsville, Alabama. The clue upon arriving directs them to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Luckily this proves easy to find, being as there's a giant rocket sticking up into the sky at it.
It's always fun to get a look at the place on national television! You're very photogenic, Space Camp!
A thorough write-up of the episode can be found at this website if you weren't able to catch the episode when it aired:
The remaining four teams are now on the second bus (the Aiellos, missing the point, think they beat the Weavers; no, you're tied) to the mystery location, which turns out to be Huntsville, Alabama. The clue upon arriving directs them to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Luckily this proves easy to find, being as there's a giant rocket sticking up into the sky at it.
Amazing Race USSRC Episode Next Week
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Episode
Three of
The Amazing Race 8
which
is featuring contestants at the U.S. Space &
Rocket Center will air this coming Tuesday at 9PM
(EDT).
USSRC makes CBS...Twice
Friday, July 15, 2005
You're
going to have two opportunities to see the Space
& Rocket Center on television!
First, contestants of the show, "The Amazing Race," stopped by the USSRC to film segments of the contestants in the museum, Rocket Park, and Aviation Challenge.
Details can be read here and here.
From the Huntsville Times:
Between midnight and 4 a.m., one by one, a fleet of eight to 10 GMC Yukons rolled out of the parking lot and sloshed down Interstate 565, got off at exit 15 and headed toward the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Motorists driving by on the interstate had no idea they were passing celebrities - members of the eighth installment of the CBS reality series "The Amazing Race."
Also, to be aired the week after this one, is a segment on "The Early Show." One of the anchors attended Pilot/Copilot Aviation Challenge, and a news crew was on hand to cover it.
From the article:
"All those memories came crashing back to me" during a day at U.S. Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center on Saturday said Syler, who was in town to attend the Parent/Child Aviation Challenge with her son, Cole Parham, 7.
The two were having a regular Space Camp experience, except for the video crew and television producer following them. The footage will be used for a program on Syler's trip to Space Camp to be broadcast the week of July 25.
Syler's co-anchors, Harry Smith, Hannah Storm and Julie Chen, and weatherman Dave Price will each attend a summer camp for a series called "The Early Show Goes to Camp."
This is certainly great exposure for Space Camp, Aviation Challenge, and the USSRC!
First, contestants of the show, "The Amazing Race," stopped by the USSRC to film segments of the contestants in the museum, Rocket Park, and Aviation Challenge.
Details can be read here and here.
From the Huntsville Times:
Between midnight and 4 a.m., one by one, a fleet of eight to 10 GMC Yukons rolled out of the parking lot and sloshed down Interstate 565, got off at exit 15 and headed toward the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Motorists driving by on the interstate had no idea they were passing celebrities - members of the eighth installment of the CBS reality series "The Amazing Race."
Also, to be aired the week after this one, is a segment on "The Early Show." One of the anchors attended Pilot/Copilot Aviation Challenge, and a news crew was on hand to cover it.
From the article:
"All those memories came crashing back to me" during a day at U.S. Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center on Saturday said Syler, who was in town to attend the Parent/Child Aviation Challenge with her son, Cole Parham, 7.
The two were having a regular Space Camp experience, except for the video crew and television producer following them. The footage will be used for a program on Syler's trip to Space Camp to be broadcast the week of July 25.
Syler's co-anchors, Harry Smith, Hannah Storm and Julie Chen, and weatherman Dave Price will each attend a summer camp for a series called "The Early Show Goes to Camp."
This is certainly great exposure for Space Camp, Aviation Challenge, and the USSRC!
USSRC Web Cam
Friday, June 17, 2005
The thing updates in real time so you can even see visitors and campers touring the park!
Additionally, they are in the process of moving the Saturn V for restoration...check out the crane!
USSRC 2004 Annual Report Published
Friday, June 03, 2005
Additionally, scattered throughout the report are blurbs on great alumni doing great things. Included among them, of course, is our first alumni astronaut, Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger!
Whoops!
Monday, April 18, 2005
According
to the
Tuscaloosa News,
former USSRC CEO Mike Wing has
failed to
pay on time the agreed upon settlement of
$200,000. As a result of not paying by the
deadline, Mr. Wing is now required, according to
the settlement, to pay $500,000 instead.
That's quite a large error on his part, I'd say!
That's quite a large error on his part, I'd say!
The Mighty Saturn V gets a Nod in the Washington...
Monday, January 10, 2005
An
article,
Retro Rocket,
was published in today's Washington Post. The article
discusses how the Saturn Vs in Houston and Huntsville
are beginning the first stages of reconditioning much
like the work the Saturn V in Florida received.
This story was linked to on the front page of Slashdot this morning, and it even included a link to the USSRCs Save the Saturn V page! With the large number of eyeballs Slashdot receives every day, one can only hope it will translate into more donations for the USSRC Saturn V.
I made my donation today! Have you?!
Again, for some idea of just what it took to restore the Saturn V in Florida so you can better appreciate where the money is going to go, you can read the article from Air & Space Magazine.
This story was linked to on the front page of Slashdot this morning, and it even included a link to the USSRCs Save the Saturn V page! With the large number of eyeballs Slashdot receives every day, one can only hope it will translate into more donations for the USSRC Saturn V.
I made my donation today! Have you?!
Again, for some idea of just what it took to restore the Saturn V in Florida so you can better appreciate where the money is going to go, you can read the article from Air & Space Magazine.
A Save the Saturn Gathering
Thursday, June 10, 2004
On
June 19th, the US Space & Rocket Center will be
having a gathering to help raise funds to restore
their mighty Saturn V.
Buzz Aldrin will be in attendance as well food and entertainment!
Tickets are only $25 and include a CD and T-Shirt to commemorate the event
So if you're going to be in the Huntsville area, you should come by!
You can see the flyer here, which includes info regarding how/where to purchase tickets, as well as other additional information.
Also, to see what an effort it takes to restore one of these mighty vehicles, you really should read the posted article from an issue of Air & Space about what it took to restore KSC's Saturn V.
Hope to see you there!
Buzz Aldrin will be in attendance as well food and entertainment!
Tickets are only $25 and include a CD and T-Shirt to commemorate the event
So if you're going to be in the Huntsville area, you should come by!
You can see the flyer here, which includes info regarding how/where to purchase tickets, as well as other additional information.
Also, to see what an effort it takes to restore one of these mighty vehicles, you really should read the posted article from an issue of Air & Space about what it took to restore KSC's Saturn V.
Hope to see you there!
Space & Rocket Center on TLC TODAY!
Friday, May 07, 2004
The
USSRC will be featured on TLC's show,
While You Were Out.
The program will also feature astronaut Robert
Springer.
This episode airs tonight and is entitled, "Skylab."
Check your local listings for program time.
Enjoy!
This episode airs tonight and is entitled, "Skylab."
Check your local listings for program time.
Enjoy!
We Have a New Board
Friday, April 09, 2004
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.
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.
The Saga Continues
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Alabama
Governor Bob Riley is expected to announce the new
board for the Space & Rocket Center this week,
as
this article states.
I suppose that would mean today or tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see.
I suppose that would mean today or tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see.
Friday Comes and Goes...No word from the Governor
Sunday, March 07, 2004
Well,
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.
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.
Governor of Alabama asks USSRC Board to Resign
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
An
article in
the Huntsville Times reports that Alabama Governor
Bob Riley has asked for every member of the
commission that oversees the US Space & Rocket
Center to resign.
This should prove to be an interesting week. In the meantime, be sure to read the article.
This should prove to be an interesting week. In the meantime, be sure to read the article.
USSRC on USA Tonight
Thursday, February 19, 2004
This
is just a reminder regarding a story I posted last
December that tonight on the USA network, as they
present a showing of Apollo 13 at 7pm tonight,
they'll also be showing segments shot at the USSRC.
here again is a link to the article which talks about tonight's event.
So tune in and enjoy!
here again is a link to the article which talks about tonight's event.
So tune in and enjoy!
USSRC to be Featured on USA
Monday, December 29, 2003
If
you happen to tune into USA's broadcast of Apollo 13
on February 19 (at 7pm), you're in for a familiar
sight.
An article in the Huntsville Times last week reported that USA Network was down in huntsville to tape segments for the show "Ready for the Weekend Movie."
The segments were filmed around the Space Center and Space Camp facilities where some of the cast of Apollo 13 went to train before shooting the movie (one week before I arrived to Camp one year, I might add).
So tune in and enjoy!
An article in the Huntsville Times last week reported that USA Network was down in huntsville to tape segments for the show "Ready for the Weekend Movie."
The segments were filmed around the Space Center and Space Camp facilities where some of the cast of Apollo 13 went to train before shooting the movie (one week before I arrived to Camp one year, I might add).
So tune in and enjoy!
USSRC on TLC's...Dating Story?!
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
So
I was flipping through the channels and I thought I
saw some rockets out a window on the screen. Not just
any rockets though, but USSRC rockets!
Sure enough, TLC's show, "A Dating Story" was at the USSRC!
It's on right now as I write this (1:20EST). If you're on the west coast, you can probably catch it in just under 3 hours.
If you catch this too late (and since the show only has 10 minutes left, you probably will), it might be rerun later. Then again, they seem to curn these shows out one after another, so perhaps not...
It also must have been shot a while ago becasue the Columbia simulator was still on the TCF.
At any rate, it's a fun watch!
Sure enough, TLC's show, "A Dating Story" was at the USSRC!
It's on right now as I write this (1:20EST). If you're on the west coast, you can probably catch it in just under 3 hours.
If you catch this too late (and since the show only has 10 minutes left, you probably will), it might be rerun later. Then again, they seem to curn these shows out one after another, so perhaps not...
It also must have been shot a while ago becasue the Columbia simulator was still on the TCF.
At any rate, it's a fun watch!
A Space Camp Credit Card? Cool!
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
It
would appear as if one can now get a US Space &
Rocket Center Master Card now!
Along with MBNA, they seem to be offering a Platinum Master Card. If you apply now, you even get a free USSRC T-Shirt!
Using this credit card will benefit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and its programs. Since the credit card you currently use most often probably isn't doing all that much for you, why not get this one and let it do some good for the USSRC?!
Pictures of the two available designs (shamelessly stolen from the application page):
Along with MBNA, they seem to be offering a Platinum Master Card. If you apply now, you even get a free USSRC T-Shirt!
Using this credit card will benefit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and its programs. Since the credit card you currently use most often probably isn't doing all that much for you, why not get this one and let it do some good for the USSRC?!
Pictures of the two available designs (shamelessly stolen from the application page):
So go get one, and remember: don't leave Earth
without it! (sorry...couldn't resist saying it...come
to think of it, they should totally steal that
slogan!)
May The Force Be With...IMAX
Saturday, October 12, 2002
This comes at a wonderful time, as IMAX has just mastered Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones onto 70mm IMAX film.
The USSRC will be showing Episode II 4 times daily beginning November 1st and running until January 2nd. Ticket prices are $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for children (an increase, if I am remembering their old prices correctly). Of course, the prices are half that if you get a membership.
A full list of theaters showing Episode II can be found here.
Save the Saturn V
Friday, May 31, 2002
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?!
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?!