Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne sponsorship at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) is proud to announce its newest exhibit  sponsorship! Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne recently pledged $400,000 to fund “The Force,” a propulsion exhibit located in the 68,200-square-foot Davidson Center for Space Exploration. “The Force” will enable guests to learn about, experience, and appreciate the importance of propulsion in the story of the Saturn V rocket, as well as better understand the processes by which the rocket’s engines were conceived and developed, the nature of their propellants, and the results – the mightiest rocket the world had ever seen. This interactive propulsion exhibit promises to be both educational and entertaining.
The USSRC would like to extend a special thanks to Jim Maser, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne President, who traveled from California to publically announce the $400,000 pledge at the Fifth Annual Saturn Apollo Reunion held at the USSRC’s Davidson Center on July 18, 2008. Maser is shown at right presenting the sponsorship check to USSRC CEO Larry Capps.
"We are delighted to help guests appreciate the crucial importance of propulsion and its impact on the Rocket City," said Rick Bachtel, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Alabama Operations General Manager, who also attended the check presentation.
Please visit our Web site at www.spacecamp.com/gallery/reunionweekend to see photos of the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne check presentation and the Saturn/Apollo Reunion.
IMLS grant awarded to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center
 AppleMarkThe USSRC was recently selected for an exciting museum funding opportunity: an FY2008 Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums for America grant. This $140,800 award will help fund two new exhibits in the Davidson Center entitled “Second Stage: Into Space” and “Third Stage: To the Moon.” These exhibits will be part of the gallery located beneath the Saturn V rocket and will present concepts of propulsion and aerodynamics, featuring artifacts such as the second and third stages of the Saturn V, a Saturn V wind tunnel model, an interactive kiosk demonstrating air flow around a wind tunnel, and an interactive kiosk allowing guests to build and test a rocket. Through the exhibit artifacts and hands-on interactives, USSRC museum guests will be able to gain a deeper understanding of science as a human endeavor and learn how scientific experimentation evolved into the reality of space exploration.
This year the IMLS received 371 applications requesting more than $40.3 million in funding for various museum projects across the United States. Through a field review process, the USSRC was one of 154 projects selected to receive financial support. Furthermore, the USSRC was the only institution from the state of Alabama selected for an award. (For a complete listing of projects funded through the 2008 Museums for America program, visit www.imls.gov/news/news.shtm.)
The USSRC plans to develop its two new exhibits as part of this IMLS matching grant, which requires cost sharing for completion of the $300,000 project. Therefore, the USSRC respectfully requests the help of its SPACE CAMP alumni, donors, and friends in funding these exhibits.
For more information on how you can help the USSRC develop these exciting, new exhibits, please visit www.spacecamp.com and click “Donate Now.”
Alumni Spotlight
 Meredith Albrecht has been fascinated with space travel for as long as she can remember. When she was four years old, she became interested in SPACE CAMP after seeing the movie. She subsequently sent away for a brochure after seeing an ad in her older brother's Boy's Life magazine. At the age of nine, Meredith got her own paper route and saved for over a year to pay for her first trip to Camp in 1993. "That trip was one of the best experiences of my life," she says, "and at that point I was absolutely hooked on the Space Program. I don't think I was even out of the parking lot before I was begging my parents to go back." They did, in fact, agree to let Meredith return to Camp, on the condition that she pay at least half the tuition for each trip. Following these stipulations, Meredith attended Camp five more times before graduating high school, winning The Right Stuff team award in 1994 and The Right Stuff individual award in 1996. Her last visit in the spring of 2000 was bittersweet because Meredith knew it would be her final trip to SPACE CAMP. "But I was moving on to bigger and better things," she recalls.
SPACE CAMP helped Meredith realize that the best way to obtain her dream of being an astronaut was to attend a Service Academy, and in January of 2000 she accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy where she majored in Aerospace Engineering (Astro Track) and was a member of the Karate Team. While at the Academy, Meredith had the opportunity to intern at Johnson Space Center where she researched the effectiveness of liquid-cooled garments in the event of a flash evaporator failure. In the spring of her senior year, she realized another dream and was selected to be a Naval Aviator. Following graduation and commissioning in May 2004, Meredith was selected for the Navy's Immediate Graduate Education Program and reported to the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. She graduated in September 2005 with a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering.
Following graduate school, Meredith reported to Pensacola, Florida, to begin pilot training. After completing primary training, she selected the E-6B TACAMO aircraft and reported to Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, for advanced training. There, she received her 'Wings of Gold' on September 28, 2007, and reported to Tinker Air Force Base near Oklahoma City for her first fleet tour. Currently, Meredith is a member of the VQ-3 Ironman squadron, where she is working toward qualification as an aircraft commander as well as training for the Armed Forces Taekwondo team. Following her tour with VQ-3, she plans to apply for the Navy's Test Pilot Program and then the Astronaut Program.
 "SPACE CAMP has played a huge role in my life," Meredith says, "by giving me a foundation of knowledge and a motivation to pursue a career as an astronaut." After being introduced to model rocketry at Camp, she went on to take top honors in the Illinois State Fair 4-H Rocketry competition, which further inspired her to continue studying rockets and reentry vehicles, ultimately leading to the selection of a reentry vehicle problem as her Master's Thesis. Meredith has also been fortunate enough to keep in contact with some of her former SPACE CAMP teammates and counselors, forging many lifelong friendships over the years. Meredith hopes to one day be able to return to SPACE CAMP where she can give back to the program that has played such a vital role in her life.
If you know a SPACE CAMP alumnus you would like to spotlight in a future newsletter, please e-mail holleyg@spacecamp.com.
SPACE CAMP® Barbie® available for purchase!
 SPACE CAMP® Barbie®, Nikki®, and Teresa® are still available for purchase for $29.95 at the USSRC gift shop and online at www.spacecamp.com. These customized dolls have been updated to showcase a more modern version of the original 1990s SPACE CAMP Barbie®, along with all her accessories, including an astronaut helmet, jacket, and SPACE CAMP graduation certificate (shown left). Pink, youth- and adult-size t-shirts just like Barbie®’s (shown right), necklace, and duffle bags are also available.
Only 50,000 dolls are being released worldwide, so please visit www.spacecamp.com or come by the gift shop and purchase your SPACE CAMP Barbie® today. Supplies are limited and are selling quickly, so hurry in today!
Fly Me to the Moon continues to buzz
 Recently selected as one of the venues for the world premiere of the newest, animated 3D film, the USSRC is excited to announce that Fly Me to the Moon is now showing in our 3D Theater in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration. The USSRC is also partnering with Parade Magazine in a “Zoom to the Moon Sweepstakes” that includes an opportunity to win a free trip to SPACE CAMP. Visit http://www.parade.com/opencms/do/campaignOneDob today and register for your chance to win!
Last month’s sweepstakes winners for free Fly Me to the Moon tickets were:
- Dana Crisson – Birmingham, AL
- Carrie Duling – Decatur, AL
- Donna Paulson – Huntsville, AL
- Penny Pettigrew – Huntsville, AL
Please be sure to check out www.spacecamp.com for movie times and to purchase tickets for Fly Me to the Moon. Don’t miss out on a great summer flick that is sure to be fun for the entire family!
For suggestions, questions, or comments about this or any Alumni Newsletter, please email us at alumni@spacecamp.com.
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