RIP Oscar Holderer, 1919-2015

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SC Hall of Fame 2008 Inductee Oscar HoldererOscar Holderer, member of Wernher von Braun’s team, died today, May 5, 2015.  He was 95 years old.

Oscar was a great friend to Space Camp over the years, for it was he who designed many of the simulators in use at Space Camp, including the 1/6 Chair, 5DF, and Multi-Axis Trainer.

In 2008, Oscar was honored for his contribution with his induction into the Space Camp Hall of Fame.

Visitation and remembrances will take place from 2 to 4pm on Friday, May 8, 2015 at the Spry Funeral Home in Huntsville, AL.

Obituary

View Oscar’s Space Camp Hall of Fame induction videos:

 

Second Annual Rover Challenge Starts Tomorrow

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NASA Rover Challenge LogoThe second annual NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge begins tomorrow!  Though the race is only in its second year, it is a direct continuation of the “Great Moonbuggy Race,” which ran for twenty years at the Space & Rocket Center before its renaming last year.

As usual, if you can’t make it out to the Space Center, be sure to check in on the race on MSFC’s UStream channel, and/or follow their twitter feed.

 

Your Counselor’s a Real Hoot!

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Hoot Gibson CounselorA few lucky campers are going to get to train like an Astronaut by an Astronaut!

No, it’s not Andie or Zach Bergstrom, it’s better!

With five Space Shuttle missions under his belt, a Space Camp Hall of Fame induction, time as a Southwest pilot, Naval Aviator, and former Cheif Astronaut,  Robert “Hoot” Gibson is about to add another job to his resume: Space Camp Counselor.

Registration for Hoot’s October Adult ASA session clocks in at $1649, plus the requisite let’s-make-the-camp-look-cheaper-and-then-add-$50 registration fee.  The price seems like a bargain to many, as registration appeared to have filled up today, though the system is now again spots available, as of this posting.  Whether there was just a glitch or they opened up another team (Hoot is really going to be ambitious if he’s pulling team doubles) is unclear.  Regardless, if you’re interested, you would be wise to sign up sooner rather than later.

To attend this rare Adult ASA session with Space Camp’s many fine-but-alas-not-astronaut counselors, tuition clocks in at a mere $1299.

This is the very first time in quite some time that the full Advanced Space Academy program has been offered to adults, so seize the opportunity!

Registration can start by heading over to spacecamp.com.

USSRC Turns 45!

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The Alabama Space & Rocket Center opened its doors 40 years ago today, on March 17, 1970!

Head on over to their Facebook page and see the wonderful video advertisement they posted from the early years!

And if you’re local, join in the celebration at this week’s Biergarten event and walk through a photographic retrospective showing what a wonderful forty-five years it has been!

Happy Birthday!

Bon Voyage, Charity!

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Charity Nehls Stewart Speaking at a Social Media SummitIt’s the end of an era.

Today is the very last day of Charity Nehls Stewart’s employment with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center!

While you may or may not know the name, if you follow any of Space Camp’s social media accounts, you certainly know her work!

For the past four years, Charity has been the Space Center’s Advertising and Social Media Director, but her time working at Space Camp stretches back over a decade, all the way to 2004 when she started out as a counselor!

Off to bigger and better things, we wish her all the best!

While it’s likely to take several people at the Space Center to cover her duties, I certainly don’t envy them.  Those are awfully big shoes to fill! I wish them all the best as well!

Welcome New Counselors!

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New year, new crew trainers!

Tonight saw the induction of several dozen excited new individuals into the ranks of counselordom!

I had the privilege of attending the auspicious occasion, joined by Space Camp Hall of Fame inductees Burke Hare and Dr. Michelle Thaller!  It’s always exciting to see a new crop of counselors, along with many veteran counselors cross-training, ready to embark on exciting new adventures, leaving their mark on Space Camp and Space Campers!

January 2015 Counselors

January 2015 Counselors

Their in for the time of their lives!

Best wishes and luck!  Make the most of an incredible opportunity!  And enjoy effectively getting paid to play!

Have fun!

Space Camp Flies with Orion

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Space Campers, MSFC employees, and members of the general public gathered at the Davidson Center on Thursday and Friday mornings to view the successful launch and landing splashdown of the Orion test vehicle.

Crowd Gathers in 3D Theatre to Watch Orion

Along with your name and mine, NASA flew some Space Camp artifacts too!

Space Camp Stuff Flies on Orion - Display Case

Basically a nice “one of everything” collection of the various awards given out at Space Camp and Aviation Challenge graduation along with five Disappointed Astronaut Dad patches.

Another Alumna in Space!

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Sam CristoforettiWith the successful flight of Soyuz TMA-15M, Sam Cristoforetti becomes the second Space Camp alumna to leave the planet!

Sam was honored at this year’s Space Camp Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the entirety of which is now available for viewing.

At the very least, take a look at her introduction video as well as her acceptance remarks, the latter of which was filmed in Houston, TX whilst in the middle of training for her Expedition 42 journey.

You can follow Sam’s adventures on Twitter @AstroSamantha.

She paid Space Camp a visit early last year, speaking to a group of Space Campers and museum visitors.  Watch those remarks here!

Way to go, Sam!

Black Friday Space Camp Discounts

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Black Friday is a week away and Space Camp is will again be offering discounts, as has been their way for the past several years.

Like last year, the sale will start at midnight CST on Black Friday (November 28) and continue through the end of the day on Cyber Monday (December 1st).

The discounts offered will be as follows:

  • $200 off weeklong overnight Space Camp®, Aviation Challenge® Camp and Space Camp Robotics Use discount code BF14C. Discount is for programs occurring May 24, 2015, through August 28, 2015.
  • $200 off Space Camp and Aviation Challenge Family Camp Programs Use discount code BF14F. Must register a minimum of one adult and one child.
  • $100 off Adult Space Academy® and Adult Aviation Challenge Camp. Use discount code BF14A.

For more information, head on over to www.spacecamp.com/blackfriday.

While some discounts are usually offered through the summer months with short notice, the Black Friday sale has been the only surefire way to save money and choose the best week for you or a loved one to attend camp.  Get in while the gettin’ is good!

Throw Back Thursday – Space Camp Florida

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The year was 1988 when the very second Space Camp, Space Camp Florida, opened its doors.

This video was produced that year to highlight a week at Space Camp Florida, showing many of the activities Space Camp Florida kids would undergo over the course of the week!

Oddly, the occasional viewing of a shuttle launch was not mentioned, but this (somewhat jerky at times) video is an entertaining artifact from Space Camp’s history.