A big shoutout to Mike Penn and Debbie Reynolds for their presentation at the Space Exploration Educators Conference at Space Center Houston!

Space Center Houston @SpaceCenterHou
In the sim classroom, we’re headed to Mars with our #SEEC25 team! Each group has been assigned a role, along the way they’ll need to fix the problems that arise…will they make it? #STEMeducation

Mike used a shrink ray to fit the IKS Titan simulator into his luggage.  They set up the ship, assigned the attendees roles, and sent them on a daring rescue mission to Mars.

Space Center Houston @SpaceCenterHou
Our #SEEC25 team has had some trouble on their way to Mars! From security alerts to environmental warnings, they’ve got a lot to do if they’re going to make it! It’s going to take a lot of teamwork! No pressure! #STEMeducation

Space Center Houston @SpaceCenterHou
Mission success! In an incredible display of teamwork and perseverance, the #SEEC25 team completed their mission to Mars while learning of the usefulness of sim classrooms to facilitate #STEMeducation!

Despite a few bumps and bruises along the way—no Dream Flight mission is complete without a hair-raising emergency, after all—the crew successfully completed their mission and rescued an astronaut stranded on Mars.  Well done to Mike, Debbie, and the entire crew!

Hey everybody, Mike Penn needs our help!  He’s doing science at the South Pole, so he needs everyone to think warm thoughts and send them his way.  Brrrrr!

If you haven’t been reading Mike’s journals from his Antarctic expedition, you’re really missing out.  This past week he’s shared all about:

Station Life at the South Pole

How to use Black Magic and Trigonometry to Find the South Pole

Student Q&A and South Pole Station Tour

Flat White and Leafy Green

I’m not going to explain what that means… just check out the video and journal.  You won’t regret it.

I have a confession to make:  I’ve been naughty.  I’ve been excitedly following Mike Penn’s bold adventures in the Antarctic, but I haven’t been as diligent in relaying them here on our blog.

That said, I’m sure this doesn’t affect any of you, because you’ve undoubtedly been following Mike’s journals yourself.  If not, you’re even more on the Naughty List than I am.

But for those who want to share Mike’s adventures with their friends and family over this holiday season, here are some of the major highlights:

1. Mike departed Pennsylvania on Nov 23, leaving the IKS Titan in the capable hands of Admiral Perseverous, a.k.a. Heather Oros.
2. Mike traveled into the future on his way to New Zealand.  He’s been one day ahead of us for quite some time now (until very recently, when he attained full-fledged Time Lord status).
3. He received his Extreme Cold Weather gear, as is the kiwi fashion these days.
   
4. Mike took an Ice Flight onboard a Boeing C-17 military transport plane…
   and then rode in Ivan the Terra Bus!
   
5. Mike’s amazing boondoggle skills…
   
   attracted the attention of some scientists working on the Automatic Precipitation System,
   
   who kidnapped him and carried him away for forced labor on the Ross Ice Shelf.
   I’m pretty sure at least half of that is correct, but I can’t say which half.
6. Mike escaped, found his way back to McMurdo Station, and hid among the really exciting vehicles.
   
7. He teamed up with an impressive gang of scientists to study seals…pressure ridges…
   and extreme Antarctic weather.
   
8. Details on this are admittedly sketchy, but it seems that while waiting for a flight Mike and his colleagues engaged in open war against New Zealand.
   
9. Duty called, and Mike set to work repairing and upgrading a network of Automatic Weather Stations,
   hoisting them high above the frozen maw of the ice plains, which gradually try to engulf them.
10. Antarctica’s weather didn’t take too kindly to being automatically monitored, so it retaliated by thwarting Mike’s plans to travel south for the winter for over a week.  But eventually, warmer heads prevailed and Mike flew south until he couldn’t any more.
    
11. It was there, at the southern-most tip of the globe, that Mike Penn walked around the world and bent time and space to his frostbitten will.
    

    “I stepped from TODAY into YESTERDAY (that is where you are…just so you know). Then I stepped from yesterday BACK INTO TOMORROW!” – Mike Penn, Time Lord

The South Pole is absolutely fascinating, and I strongly recommend that you read Mike’s full journals about it.  They’re doing some really exciting science there, and I can’t wait to tell you all about the top-secret government research that [TRANSMISSION TERMINATED]

I have an incredibly abundant list of things to be thankful for, but today I’m going to focus on just one:  I’m thankful for Mike Penn.

Mike was our very first Flight Director—with us right at the beginning.  He embraced this crazy concept with open arms and ran with it, making the IKS Titan a huge success.  He pioneered DFA flight directing, established our vibrant community of practice, and helped spread the program to thousands of students across two continents.

Mike wasn’t alone in this—we’ve all been surrounded by wonderful supporting partners all along the way—and we’re extremely thankful for them.  But today I’m focusing on Mike Penn, because within the next 48 hours Mike will be flying south for the winter.

WAY south.

He’ll fly so south he won’t be in winter anymore.

He’ll travel so south he won’t be able to go south anymore!

Mike’s PolarTREC expedition to the South Pole begins tomorrow.  And we’re going to miss him.

But fear not!  All is not lost.  Mike will be reporting about his journey, and we’ll be relaying his discoveries here on this blog.  Communications may be sporadic.  It’s hard to predict how often Mike will be able to send out his weather-hardened carrier pigeons with his latest field journals… but rest assured when they arrive we’ll be ready to receive them.

Mike, we’re completely thrilled about your upcoming adventure.  Thank you for everything you do!  You’re an amazing partner, teacher, and friend.  Good luck, try to stay warm, and God speed!