Meet The Team
At the heart of any good organization is a team of dedicated, passionate people. Here at Lion’s Gate Space Center, we got a pretty good team ourselves. So for September’s edition of the Lion’s Gate Newsletter, I sat down with 3 members of our team to ask them some questions about the work they do here at Lion’s Gate. (I’m here too because they refused to answer my questions if I didn’t answer them too)
Emma playing a Gexlpak Ambassador for a crew
Emma
What’s your role at Lion’s Gate Space Center?
I’m the assistant director. It entails flying for the kids here and for after school flights, and also entails story creation and yeah!
How long have you been working at Space Centers?
Since 2018 . . . yes, since 2018. I started as a volunteer and just worked my way up from there.
What’s your favorite part about working at the Space Center?
I like multiple things. Umm . . . I have multiple favorites. I like flying, directing, story creation . . . I guess that’s only 3.
If you had to describe the Space Center in 3 words, what would it be?
3 words . . . Interactive, Relationship-Building, . . . I know that’s technically two words, and Exciting.
Favorite Sci-fi Show or Movie?
I haven’t seen “Star Trek” . . . Haven’t fully seen “Battlestar Galactica” but I really like it so far. Umm . . . for a TV Show I’d say Battlestar, for movie I’d say “Star Wars”.
Favorite Space Center Mission & Why
I like a lot of them. AHHH . . . Umm, I like “Intolerance”, it’s a very good one. It’s got good morals in it. I like “Extraction Express”, it’s very adventurous and I think it’s very fun and engaging for those involved. I also like “Lullaby” . . . do I need to give a reason for all of them? I really like “Empty Throne”, it’s a really good one. “Echoes” is very good. Trying to think of any older ones . . . “Deathsweep” was very fun…Those are all the ones I can think of currently.
Favorite Space Center Moment
Dead Body Inspector. It’s fun to watch. (Author’s Note: In some missions, the crew attempts to play dead while a character walks around the ship with a big stick. This role is referred to as the Dead Body Inspector.)
If you could have your very own Spaceship, what would you name it?
It’s hard to think of names, I’ve never really thought of this . . . The initials would definitely be ESC, because that’s our universe. (long pause) Definitely not that name . . . (Is asked what name they thought of) Hepatitis. (lots of laughing and confusion) ESC Pegasus.
Favorite Position on the Ship
Material Science, I think it’s just a fun job. It’s my favorite.
What advice would you give to someone who is about to do a mission for the first time?
Have fun. The more you put in, the more you get out. Aaaand . . . nope that’s it.
Kelsie posing for one of our mission posters
Kelsie
What’s your role at LGSC?
I am a Supervisor and Flight Director. So, I do a lot of acting, helping the crew, and I fly occasionally when needed.
How long have you been working at Space Centers?
Uhh. Here 3 years, at Space Centers in total, 6 years.
What’s your favorite part about working at the Space Center?
It’s a perfect blend of just “I get to be a nerd"“ for a living. You get so much job experience in so many different things and you need so many different people. And just seeing how people react to all these different scenarios and getting to show people this side of being nerd . . basically. It’s a lot of fun!
If you had to describe the Space Center in 3 words, what would it be?
Oh gosh . . . 3 words? Umm . . . Interactive Space Adventure.
Favorite Sci-Fi Show/Movie
Star Wars: Episode 4, 5, and 6.
Favorite Space Center Mission & Why
It’s one we don’t fly here, but “Intolerance”.
Favorite Space Center Moment
The first time I ever came to the Space Center and I realized there is a space out here where I can just be me and not feel weird about it. I get to be an eccentric nerd. I get to act, and stuff like that with computers and not feel like a total outcast.
If you could have your very own Spaceship, what would you name it?
I really like New Horizons.
Favorite Position on the Ship
Captain. Being Captain, you get to just be part of everything. And I think I’m good at micromanaging and not much else. It’s the position where I feel I get the most mental stimulation, and has the least amount of down time.
What would you recommend to someone who is about to do a mission for the first time?
Just . . . Don’t be afraid to just have fun. Get into it. It is so much more fun when you just embrace the setting that you are in and just go all out. It is so much fun to just, like; “Oh! We are in a fight and there are explosions, I’m gonna scream and get into it!” It’s fun to just through away the cares of the world and just be present.
Melissa preparing to board the Artemis as Secretary Casey Ashfeld
Melissa
What’s your role at LGSC?
I am a Supervisor here. I do a lot of the assisting.
How long have you been working at Space Centers?
I always have to count. I believe we decided that it’s been 9 years this year. (Author’s Note: This was wrong, it was actually 11 years.)
What’s your favorite part about working at the Space Center?
It’s just the perfect intersection between being a nerd, and being a theatre geek.
If you had to describe the Space Center in 3 words, what would it be?
Chaotic, Fascinating, Fun
Favorite Sci-Fi show/movie
Okay. My default answer. Doctor Who.
Favorite Space Center Mission & Why
My favorite mission we currently fly is “Memento Mori” because the acting part in that one is a lot of fun.
Favorite Space Center Moment
I love a good, like, run away from a shockwave. That’s always good.
If you could have your very own Spaceship, what would you name it?
Calypso. It sounds like a spaceship, and I don’t think it’s one that is or has been flown.
Favorite Position on the Ship
Oh always some type of Engineering. Always.
What would you recommend to someone who is about to do a mission for the first time?
The more you suspend your disbelief, the more fun you will have.
Jonathan halfway in costume as a spooky monster
Jonathan
What’s your role at LGSC?
I am a Supervisor, Part-Time Flight Director, and Marketing Officer. I basically just do whatever is needed.
How long have you been working at Space Centers?
I’ve been working at Space Centers for 8 years now. 2 as a Volunteer, and 6 as a Staff Member.
What’s your favorite part about working at the Space Center?
I like the diversity of what you can do. No 2 days are ever quite the same. Some days your flying missions for students at school. Some days your flying super long missions where tension is really high. Sometimes your running around in spooky costumes scaring people. There’s just a lot of flexibility, and it never feels like your doing the same thing twice.
If you had to describe the Space Center in 3 words, what would it be?
I would say . . . Immersive, Interactive, and Fun.
Favorite Sci-Fi show/movie
I grew up watching a lot of Star Trek. My family were Trekkies, I was a Trekkie. I think I would have to say, partially because of nostalgia, Star Trek Voyager. It was my first star trek show, and my first space mission was on the Voyager. If I were to re-watch the show, I would probably change my answer to Star Trek Next Gen, but for now it’s Voyager.
Favorite Space Center Mission & Why
It’s hard to pick just one. I really enjoyed “Children of Perikoi”. It was my first mission back at Christa. It’s always gonna be special to me. If I had to go for my favorite for story . . . I think for me, I would probably have to say “Patriot”. The story is a mess, it’s convoluted, but there is just something so fun about the chaos of it all. It was a mess of a mission, but I still remember it so that’s got to be worth something.
Favorite Space Center Moment
We were flying a mission for this big family group. The Grandpa was the Captain, Grandma was the First Officer. And the parents/kids were the rest of the crew members. We got to the big final fight of the mission, and the villain basically was talking about how “You can’t beat me. How many lives is this thing worth?.” stuff like that. It was supposed to be this big fight, but the Captain just looked around the room and just said “You’re Right”. So instead of how the mission usually ended, with this big fight. The Captain offered to be taken by the villain instead. The villain agreed, the Captain gave a big speech to the crew that was literally his family to protect each other and to remember him and all that. The Captain got transported, the villain left, and the mission ended their. It was a really powerful moment, and it showed me just what the Space Center can do. So that’s probably my favorite Space Center moment.
If you could have your very own Spaceship, what would you name it?
Horizon, I’d call it Horizon.
Favorite Position on the Ship
For the longest time, my answer was always Engineer. I loved flicking those switches, running around trying to keep the ship intact. I think it still, but with the Dream Flight Controls, Pilot has become one of my new favorites. Being able to fly around asteroids and see them around you up on the big screen, it’s a really cool perspective. So I guess if it’s Non-Dream Flight, Engineer. If it’s Dream Flight, Pilot.
What would you recommend to someone who is about to do a mission for the first time?
I’d say get into it. We like to say you get as much out of the experience as you put in. Stuff like this can seem a little weird at first, but the missions are YOUR story. Make the story your own!
