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Spiderman at the Space & Rocket Center

Spiderman 3 swung into the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's (USSRC) domed IMAX Theater at one minute after midnight on Friday, May 4, 2007. The opening show was a complete sellout, as were showings for the entire opening week! In talking to Spiderman 3 guests, USSRC IMAX Theater staff discovered that many of the moviegoers had not been out to an IMAX film in 10-15 years. What an incredible pull Spiderman must have to the film buffs in Huntsville!

Overall reception of the movie has been extremely positive, reported IMAX staff, as our attendance to date for the film has been 8,864.

The USSRC is currently finalizing negotiations for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , and we hope to soon add it to our growing collection of IMAX experiences.

Alumni Spotlight

As a small child visiting the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Morgan Jeter knew that she would someday want to pursue a career in a space-related field. At the age of 12, Morgan attended SPACE ACADEMY for the very first time. She enjoyed her experience so much that she returned every year for the next five years. Those six years of SPACE ACADEMY and Advanced SPACE ACADEMY taught Morgan more than she could have thought imaginable, and they influenced her life in an extraordinary way that has continued to shape her future.

Currently enrolled at Mississippi State University (MSU), Morgan is pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering with a concentration in Aeronautics. With this degree, she hopes to one day work for NASA. Morgan is also a member of MSU's first NASA University Student Launch Initiative program. Her group recently attended a competition during which Morgan launched a seven-pound rocket more than a mile high (shown right).

Morgan recalls that many of the lessons she has learned and the experiences she has gained over the years have come from her time in Huntsville, Alabama . “The programs at SPACE CAMP teach more than just information about NASA and things related to space,” Morgan explains. “They also teach teamwork, leadership, and thinking skills, all while having a good time.”

If there is ever a day when Morgan feels overwhelmed with school, she says she just thinks back to her time at SPACE CAMP. Remembering those influential days helps Morgan to realize that she has chosen a significant path for her future – an engineering career that she has aspired to her entire life.

25 th Anniversary Update

Our special 25 th Anniversary summer events kicked off on May 17 with a panel discussion of Dr. Wernher von Braun's, Project Mars: A Technical Tale (shown left). The panel discussion was hosted by Chase Masterson (Star Trek: Of Gods and Men and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine); director James Kerwin; Austin Boyd, retired Navy pilot, NASA astronaut candidate finalist, and noted author; and Steve Cook, Director of the Exploration Launch Projects Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. The evening began at 6:00 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres and drinks in the USSRC museum. It continued with an autograph session at 7:00 p.m. when panel members signed books, CDs, and posters. Finally, the panel discussion began at 7:30 p.m., opening up a thought-provoking discussion between the panel and audience members. All in all, the evening was a great success, attracting guests of all ages from around the Huntsville area. If you'd like to form your own opinions of the book, Project Mars: A Technical Tale can be purchased through our online catalog at www.spacecamp.com or at our museum gift shop.

Adult Alumni SPACE CAMP sessions are still taking reservations for this summer! Sessions will be June 14-17 and August 2-5. Program costs including housing will be $399. Cost without housing will be $349. For more information on these programs, please visit www.spacecamp.com .

The inaugural SPACE CAMP Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony will be here in just a few weeks! Festivities will be held on Wednesday, June 13, at 7:00 p.m., with William Shatner and NASA Astronauts Story Musgrave and Jim Halsell speaking. After a comprehensive selection process, the 2007 SPACE CAMP Hall of Fame Inductees are as follows:

Founder:
Dr. Wernher von Braun
Edward Buckbee

Friend of SPACE CAMP:
Dr. Georg vonTiesenhausen – Rocket Team member; worked at MSFC and has been a volunteer lecturer for SPACE ACADEMY since 1987.
Dan Oates – helped coordinate and lead a SPACE CAMP program for the blind and visually impaired for the last 15 years.

Former SPACE CAMP Staff:
Amanda Stubblefield – currently working at Johnson Space Center ; responsible for ISS astronaut crew training.
Dr. James Rice – currently works with Arizona State University and the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rover project.

Former SPACE CAMPER:
Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger – former educator; recently completed astronaut training and awaiting assignment from NASA.
Penny J. Pettigrew – works at MSFC on the Ares I program.

Tickets for all 25 th Anniversary events, along with combination USSRC museum passes and tickets to the IMAX Theater, are now available for purchase online. Please visit www.spacecamp.com and click the “Buy All Your Tickets Here Now” icon in the upper left-hand corner. This link will take you to a separate page where you can choose which tickets you would like to purchase. Reserve your tickets today!

Sponsors for SPACE CAMP's 25 th Anniversary include: