SPACE CAMP aboard the Shuttle
Johnson Space Center approved the manifesting of 250 25th Anniversary flags for the recent Space Shuttle mission, Discovery STS-116. The flags launched on December 9, 2007, as part of the Official Flight Kit for the shuttle’s 12-day mission to the ISS. When the flags return from space, they will be framed, mounted, and given as commemorative gifts to SPACE CAMP alumni, friends, and 25th Anniversary guests. The flags are also on display at http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-121106a.html with additional information on the STS-116 Official Flight Kit Manifest.

SPACE CAMP in the Spotlight
USSRC representatives traveled to New York for an appearance on the Fox Television program “Fox & Friends.” Media Relations Manager Al Whitaker, along with two SPACE CAMP ops staff and a technician, appeared on “Fox & Friends” on December 7, 2006, to promote SPACE CAMP’s 25th anniversary. The group also demonstrated one of the facility’s multi-axis trainers, an Apollo-era space suit, and a moon buggy that competed in the NASA Great Moon Buggy Race. The USSRC’s appearance on the program coincided with the launch of the space shuttle Discovery on December 9.

A SPACE CAMP Tradition
Have you ever met a bride who was missing something blue? Angie Barker, former member of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Department, ran into this problem in 2000 while preparing for her wedding to David St. John. Office brainstorming suggested making a garter that was SPACE CAMP blue, and before the big day, it was created from the leg of an old flight suit. Word spread about the garter and a tradition was born, as it has participated in almost 10 weddings of SPACE CAMP couples.

After a December 2006 wedding between Denah Taylor and Daniel Wright, the garter will have a new home in a shadow box at the USSRC. As more SPACE CAMP couples use the garter, their wedding pictures will be added to the box to commemorate the occasion. So, for all you couples who met attending or working at SPACE CAMP, if you need something old, something borrowed, or something blue…we have all three in a garter for you!

To reserve the SPACE CAMP garter for your wedding, please email us at alumni@spacecamp.com.

Alumni Spotlight
Jason Schreck became interested in space exploration in 1983 at the age of four when his grandfather took him to the NASA Visitor’s Center at Langley Research Center in his hometown of Hampton, Virginia. There he saw the Apollo 12 Command Module and a Mercury-era space craft. From then on, Jason was hooked!

Jason first heard of SPACE CAMP in 1986 when he saw SPACE CAMP the Movie. In July of 1991, Jason received a trip to SPACE CAMP as a Christmas present and attended as part of Team Teledyne Brown. SPACE CAMP allowed Jason to experience the same types of situations as astronauts and meet people his age with similar interests. After returning home, Jason began studying space exploration and landed a job as a tour guide at the Langley Visitor Center. Over the next few years, Jason attended SPACE ACADEMY Level 1, AVIATION CHALLENGE Intermediate (now Mach 3), and Advanced SPACE ACADEMY, more determined than ever to work as an astronaut for NASA.

While he had planned to pursue an engineering or military career to fulfill his dream of working with NASA, medical problems confined Jason to a wheel chair, seemingly ending his career plans. But Jason found other ways to live out his dream. After 11 years at Langley, he was offered a job in the museum's education department teaching students of all ages about science, space, and exploration. It also opened another opportunity to attend Corporate SPACE CAMP in 2005. Jason was also invited to attend an educator workshop at the USSRC sponsored by South Eastern Regional Clearing House (SERCH), a division of the NASA Science Mission Directorate. As part of the workshop, Jason attended a one-day camp program and tested new NASA educational materials for disability access.

Since then, Jason has continued his work with Langley and is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in History, which will be followed by a Master’s in Space Studies. Jason is also in the preliminary stages of writing a book on the U.S./Russian Space Race. After Jason receives his Master’s, he hopes to work for NASA or a related aerospace company. SPACE CAMP has inspired in Jason a life-long love of space exploration, and he hopes to return to the USSRC this summer for SPACE CAMP’s 25th Anniversary celebration.

If you have a SPACE CAMP alumnus you would like to spotlight in a future newsletter, please e-mail holleyg@spacecamp.com.

25th Anniversary Update
VIP speakers for 25th Anniversary events include Jamail Larkins, one of the youngest aerobatics air show performers in America, President/CEO of Larkins Enterprises, Inc., an aviation sales and advertising company he established at age 15, and the Official Ambassador to the Federal Aviation Administration; and Major Jill A. “Razz” Long, President, Instructor Pilot, and Euro-NATO Joint Pilot at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Astronauts who are onboard include Bob Springer and Story Musgrave.

The USSRC is also hosting a SPACE CAMP Hall of Fame, which will receive its first induction of members during this summer’s 25th Anniversary celebration. Activities will include VIP guests and the dedication of a special Hall of Fame mission patch.

25th Anniversary sponsors of $10,000 and up will be recognized with their company name featured on a new permanent fence display along Tranquility Base which faces I-565. This Interstate location amasses a traffic count of 82,000 vehicles daily. Sponsors will also be featured on event signage and on the Web site.

Please continue to visit www.spacecamp.com/anniversary25th/ for updated 25th Anniversary information.

Alumni Recognition at the Saturn V Visitor Center
The USSRC is excited about the construction of the new Saturn V Visitor Center, particularly because of what will be found in its Outdoor Apollo Exhibit Circle. The exhibit walkways, which will encircle the vertical Saturn V replica, will be paved with donor bricks and tiles, and now SPACE CAMP alumni will be able to have their own, commemorative alumni bricks. These 4” x 8” bricks include the SPACE CAMP and/or AVIATION CHALLENGE logo (depending on which program you attended) and up to two lines of personalization, 17 characters per line (13 if all caps). Alumni bricks (displayed below) are $100 each and available for purchase at www.savethesaturn.org.

For suggestions, questions, or comments about this Alumni Newsletter, please email us at alumni@spacecamp.com.