Laura and I had such a wonderful time last year at Space City Con in Houston that we were excited when they asked us to return again this year. Laura and I flew down on Wednesday, joined the celebrity guests of the convention on Thursday for a tour of the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center and then two wonderful days at the convention in the company of incredible fans and guests alike.
There were so many personal highlights for me: seeing and being pictured with the restored Galileo Shuttle from the original Star Trek series (now on display at NASA). Standing again in the Mission Operations Control Room (MOCR — pronounced Moe-ker) where so many of my heroes stood in the past. Seeing Astronaut Mike Fincke again … and meeting the amazing Astronaut Cady Coleman and Astronaut Mike Fossum. Having lunch at NASA while hearing a lecture on their current research into — no kidding — warp drive. (More about that later.) Enjoying a long and fascinating conversation with Gil Gerard on the bus ride to and from NASA. Meeting amazing fans at the convention, playing one of the best Killer Breakfasts ever and then sharing our Sojourner Tales game with everyone as well. We capped it off with a very special Q&A which was deeply meaningful for all of us there.
Below is a glympse of what it was like. Now we are on our way to Gencon Indy … and more great memories!
Hickman as Capcom
Tracy & Laura with original TOS Shuttlecraft Galileo
Original TOS Shuttlecraft Galileo
Laura Hickman, NASA controller Tobin Melroy and Tracy Hickman.
Laura as Capcom in the MOCR.
Apollo MOCR
Tracy as Capcom
Robert Picardo as Flight Director
Tracy Hickman, Don Marshall and Gil Gerard at the Apollo Flight Director’s station, NASA.
Someday I’ll get to drive this thing.
Never mind how you get in to this thing … how do you get out?
The Doctor meets Robonaut
Old friends … new handshake.
Robert Picardo with Robonaut.
Tracy Hickman and Astronaut Mike Fincke outside the ISS mockup.
Astronaut Mike Fincke & Robert Picardo aboard the ISS mockup.
Robert Picardo considers taking up the Soyuz.
Tracy checking out the Soyuz capsule.
Cozy for three cosmonauts.
Main control panel of the Soyuz.
Astronaut Cady Coleman & Robert Picardo.
Tracy Hickman, Astronaut Cady Coleman & Laura Hickman in front of the ISS mockup.
Laura Hickman, Torri Higginson, Robert Picardo and Astronaut Mike Fossum aboard the ISS mockup.
Astronaut Mike Fossum, Ethan and Robert Picardo aboard the ISS mockup.
Tracy with Astronaut Mike Fossum.
Killer Breakfast 2013 at Space City Con.
Killer Breakfast worked at Space City Con.
Killer Breakfast action at Space City Con.
Killer Breakfast action at Space City Con.
Tobin Melroy plays a demo of the Sojourner Game with Tracy at Space City Con.
