Space Camp, MSFC to be Featured on HBO’s Vice

Vice LogoThe last episode of this seasons’ acclaimed HBO news series, Vice, will feature footage and interviews shot at the Marshall Space Flight Center and Space Camp!

The segment will center around the future of spaceflight and the ongoing public and private space efforts.

The episode will begin airing on July 1, 2016 on HBO.  Check your local listings for the start time as well as repeats.

There’s a preview available on their website that briefly shows Space Camp!

Harry Winer Confirmed!

Joining Larry B. Scott to induct the SpaceCamp cast, the movie’s director, Harry Winer, will be on hand!

Additionally, on Friday, July 15, at 6pm, Larry and Harry will sit for a very special screening of SpaceCamp, providing commentary for the duration of the movie.  Afterwards, there will be a Q&A with the audience.

This is truly going to be an amazing event not to be missed!

Get yourself to SummerFest!

Harry Winer, Director of SpaceCamp

Rudy Returns!

Larry B Scott in SpaceCampIt worked!

Larry B. Scott will be coming back to Huntsville for this year’s SummerFest to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of SpaceCamp!

And that’s not all!  To celebrate the great service the movie has done for Space Camp over the last thirty years, the entire cast of SpaceCamp will be inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame!

This year’s ceremony is definitely not one to be missed!

SpaceCamp Released Thirty Years Ago

The Goldbergs - SpaceCampThirty years ago today, SpaceCamp went into theaters like a lion.  That it went out like a lamb is incidental.  The movie that would give a lot of kids the idea to go to Space Camp was released onto the world, and we’re all better for having seen it!

The anniversary gained some surprising traction on the internet today, as media, both social and otherwise, took note!

SpaceCamp Movie Cast

The movie being the 80s cult classic that it is, the anniversary is directly responsible for the 80s theme at this year’s Space Camp Summer Fest.  An 80s costume contest will be held at the Friday night pool party at the Marriott, and the movie will be screened throughout the weekend!

ISC 2016 Stories and Notes

AIM Buddy Icon - International Space Camp LogoInternational Space Camp 2016 is just around the corner!  The Opening Ceremony is on July 9, 2016!

And it’s already June!  Whew!

As we get closer to ISC, news organizations all over the world have long since started to write features and articles on those who have been selected to represent their respective countries! I thought I would highlight them here.

Austria just selected their delegation.  As in previous years, they require a video submission and you can see the winning videos by students Martina Markunovic and Julian Lai at this announcement post on the blog site of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology.

One of the New Zealand students, Connor Kennedy, just had a story written about his upcoming trip! And another!

Finally, the Canadian contingent, selected months ago, has made the news as well.  Several times!  They’re partially funding their own trip, and you can help chip in, if you’d like!  Every little bit helps, I’m sure!  It’s only about US$0.75 per Loonie right now!

Mike Flachbart: The End of an Era

Today marks Mike Flachbart’s final day as an employee at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center / Space Camp.

He retires after 29 years in its service, from a Space Camp counselor all the way up to Vice President of Global Operations.

Mike sure has seen it all!

He even oversaw at least one of my graduation ceremonies when I went through Space Academy Level I in August of 1995!

Mike Flachbart Graduates Vincent Vazzo from SA Lvl I in August 1995

Despite Space Camp’s general tendency to obliterate @SpaceCamp twitter accounts upon an employee’s departure, that hasn’t happened to Mike’s account, @SpaceCampBoss (yet)!  You can continue to follow him there (possibly) to find out where the retirement road takes him!

Happy trails, Mike!

Space Camp Astronaut Schedule – Summer 2016

Some time ago–never mind how long precisely–Space Camp published their Astronaut visitation schedule for summer 2016.

Here, duplicated in full, is that schedule:

Astronaut May June July August
Col. Ken Cameron 5, 6 2, 3
Capt. Wendy Lawrence 12, 13  11, 12
Col. Bob Springer 19, 20 9, 10
Capt. Robert “Hoot” Gibson 26, 27 23, 24 21-22
Ms. Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger 16, 17  14, 16 18, 19
Col. Jerry Ross  30 1 4, 5
Dr. Don Thomas  7, 8, 9, 28, 29

As usual, you don’t have to go to Space Camp for a week to see the Astronauts!  Lunch tickets are available over at the Space Camp Store, though only Jerry Ross / August 5 seems to be available.

In addition to her several appearances in Huntsville throughout the Summer, Dottie will also be traveling to Space Camp Turkey and will be there from August 7th to August 13!

Sunita “Suni” Williams will also be at Space Camp Turkey from July 10 through the 23rd!

Great opportunities abound at Space Camps this summer!

Still Time to Earn a Spot at ISC 2016…

AIM Buddy Icon - International Space Camp Logo…if you’re in Bulgaria.

The U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria is now accepting applications, and they’re due on June 3rd, 2016!

As usually, two students (usually one young man and one young woman) will be chosen along with an educator.

Technically speaking, the application doesn’t explicitly say you need to be in Bulgaria; I’m sure it’s just an oversight!

It’s a heck of an opportunity though for three lucky individuals, especially considering, “All expenses will be covered by the Embassy of the United States in Sofia.

Let’s Get Larry B Scott Back to Space Camp!

 

The 80s theme of this year’s Space Camp Summer Fest stems entirely from the fact that this year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of SpaceCamp into theaters.

As part of the celebration, there will be screenings of the movie throughout the weekend.

It would be a very special thing to have any of the cast show up, wouldn’t it?

The Space Camp Alumni Advancement Board just reached out to Larry B. Scott (“RUDY TYLER, MA’AM!”), attempting to take his temperature on coming back to Space Camp!

I think if we show enough enthusiasm, we might just be able to get him to come!  So follow him on Twitter (@Lbeezee17) and like and retweet the Space Camp stuff!

Space Camp Alumni reach out to Larry B Scott on Twitter

Hall of Fame 2016 – Final Inductee Announced

George Whitesides of Virgin GalacticThe third and final inductee into the 2016 Space Camp Hall of Fame class, the ceremony to be held as part of the 2016 Space Camp Summer Fest, is none other than Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides!

A Space Camp alum, George oversees the day-to-day development and construction of both the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo vehicles as Virgin Galactic works towards making space tourism commercially viable!

Like the two other inductees, George spent some time at NASA, receiving NASAs Distinguished Service Medal, amongst many other accolades!

George rounds out an impressive threesome for this year’s Space Camp Hall of Fame class!

It will truly be a pleasure to see their induction at this year’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony!