trek the vote | discovery season 3 | emanations | NASA OSIRIS-REx mission ON THE cover: Captain Kim Smith discusses her experience participating in the 2020 Trek The Vote virtual event. Story on Page 8.

our 46th year | Issue 2 | November / December 2020

CAPTAIN Kim Smith EDITOR/DESIGNER David Matteson We aim to highlight the interests FIRST OFFICER Annette Sexton-Ruiz UFP CONTACT Dave Williams of our diverse membership. Help RECords OFFICER Walt Bartlow EMAIL [email protected] us by contributing your story to COMM OFFICER Victor Bugg WEBSITE www.u-f-p.org Subspace Chatter. Email us today! thei un ted federation of phoenix inh t is issue

The United Federation of Phoenix (UFP) is the Southwest’s oldest Star 02 Subspace Chatter Contents & Credits Trek and science fiction fan organization, continuously operating since 03 Captain’s Log by Dr. Kimberly Smith 1975. The club meets bi-weekly at various locations around the Phoenix 04 Emanations by VFX Artist David Stipes metropolitan area. As a group we have picnics, go hiking, watch movies, 06 Discovery Premiere by Bree Boehlke play games, take trips, and are active in the volunteer community. 07 Discovery Season 3 by David Williams You are about to read Subspace Chatter, our official publication, which 08 Trek the Vote by Kim Smith highlights science fiction and fandom events, spotlights our members, 09 Osiris-REx by Dr. David A. Williams and provides a resource for all things UFP. If you are in the area and 10 Incoming Transmissions would like to attend one of our meetings, email us at [email protected] 11 Official UFP club briefing

2 | Subspace Chatter captain'S log INFINITE DIVERSITY BY KIM SMITH, UFP CLUB CAPTAIN

Captain’s Log, 202011.8. differences and not fear them. We In the mean time, our diverse club It has been eight months since the need policies and laws to protect keeps hope alive by safely holding oppression of COVID-19 arrived. all of us as together. We are greater Zoom meetings and occasional Our people are increasingly divided than the sum of our parts, and small social gatherings. This past

on how to handle this foe, and this the key to humanity’s future is to weekend we did both, with a mystery month they have many important embrace our multicultural world and white wine tasting at Annette’s decisions to make. The population all the peoples therein. followed by a larger group Zoom is increasingly fearful, divided and, call. The UFP will continue forward at times, hostile. “Until humans learn to tolerate -- as smart and safely as possible and no, that’s not enough; to positively overcome this together. I find myself wishing more people value each other -- until we can knew of the Vulcan philosophy of value the diversity here on Earth, IDIC: Infinite Diversity in Infinite then we don’t deserve to go into Combinations. Our people need outer space and encounter the to unify and embrace diversity infinite diversity out there.” in others. We need to welcome - Gene Roddenberry. Dr. Kimberly Smith - UFP Captain

Subspace Chatter | 3 emanations VFX crew dedication makes a world for

By David Stipes | Star Trek VFX Artist & UFP Member to a couple of shots if I could do it with the money available. I spoke with John Gross, owner of It is not often that the Star Trek audience gets to see Amblin Imaging. He and his team were excited and and know about some of the extraordinary efforts volunteered four shots for the cost of two. and dedication by the visual effects crews that make these shows possible. This was possible because we had constructed a computer-generated (CG) Voyager for the pilot so we would not need costly motion control model elements. John and the animation supervisor, Grant Bouchet, got the whole crew creating asteroids, textures, atmosphere elements, and lighting. Artist David Jones worked with Adobe Photoshop incorporating satellite photos of Nevada and paintings to form the planet. He also painted texture maps for the asteroids.

John Gross programmed the Voyager animation moves and finessed the lighting of the shots. The programming, lighting, and compositing were Star Trek: Voyager episode #109, “Emanations” accomplished in LightWave 3D software. had an interesting premise of a world surrounded by a ring of asteroids where people of this culture deposited their dead. This was a fascinating concept but could be expensive to produce.

Star Trek: Voyager was on the UPN Channel and had tight budgets. Initially, the producers thought that the asteroid ring was unfilmable financially. They only wanted to show the asteroid ring as “Okuda-grams,” the on-set graphics by Michael Okuda, that are shown on display screens. To me we were cheating the audience out of even a minimal visual set up of the concept. I also felt that the show’s opening title sequences held out a visual promise to the audience. The mood of the title At that time, coming from many years of working sequence was part of the inspiration for the visuals I with real-world cameras and lights, I still experienced wanted to do for this episode. moments of confusion by the world of computer- generated imagery. I remember talking with John I created some storyboards and presented them Gross about the placement of asteroids around the to the executive producer, Jeri Taylor. Jeri was Voyager spaceship. I wanted to have certain asteroids determined to stick to a tight budget but did agree in front of the Voyager but my solution was rooted

64 | Subspace Chatter in my 2D film compositing approach. John reminded me that as far as the computer was concerned, the Voyager, planet, and the asteroids all existed and moved in real three- dimensional space. My particular asteroids could not be visually in front of the spaceship without costly reworking. So I agreed with John that the asteroids were just fine as he had them.

John Gross and the Amblin imaging crew contributed work above and beyond what they were paid for and what would’ve been expected for the show. Although there were only five shots (four new and one used twice) added to the episode they contributed to the audience’s understanding of what was going on and honored the promise of the imaginative Star Trek universe that was in the opening titles.

David Stipes is a visual effects consultant, artist and compositor. In 1992 David joined the Star Trek: The Next Generation team, and two years later received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Visual Effects. Embracing the change from physical models to computer effects, David championed the use of CGI in several Star Trek series over the years. Recently David has lent his talents to productions filmed right here in Arizona. As a member of the United Federation of Phoenix, David offers his unique insights from his professional life to fellow fans through his contributions to this publication. Learn more at davidstipes.com.

This is an in informative publication only, and is not for profit, for sale, or for commercial use. All “Star Trek” titles, associated names, and imagery are the sole property of . Star Trek is a registered trademark of CBS Corporation. Subspace Chatter | 5 i attended the star trek discovery virtual season 3 premiere event

By Bree Boehlke, UFP Member.

CBS All Access went virtual for their Season three kick-off event for Star Trek Discovery on October 14, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I was thrilled to win a ticket to the online event by entering a photo of my Janeway “Time & Again” cosplay I did in 2015.

The first two episodes for the new season were shown, along with interactive features such as a chat room where fans where able to talk with producers, actors and past Star Trek stars. The “breakout rooms” between episodes allowed for interviews, including one with the fluffy Maine Coon named Lumet, who plays Grudge, Booker’s very large domestic cat. The other breakout rooms included topics of cosplay, bartending and entertainment.

It was a fun event and I applaud CBS All Access for thinking outside the space sector on this event. The virtual format allowed for more fans to attend and have access to something that typically would only be for those involved in the production.

6 | Subspace Chatter SEASON BEGINS a review of the newest episodes of star trek discovery

By Dr. David A. Williams, UFP Member find a secure but somewhat xenophobic world where the Federation left a hundred years earlier. Michael, The hit CBS All-Access streaming show Star Trek the crew, and Book help settle a dispute between Discovery finally returned to TV on October 15th, Earth and apparently alien dilithium raiders who in fact resolving the cliffhanger from Season 2 back in 2019. are desperate colonists from Titan, demonstrating Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) the Federation ideals of listening, compassion and successfully led the U.S.S. Discovery 930 years into the understanding. Adira (Blu de Bario), a 16-year old future. Arriving first and by herself, Burnham’s time- human United Earth Defense Force investigator joins travel suit delivered her to the year 3188 on an unknown the crew’s search for the Federation and the cause of planet (that looks a lot like Iceland, where the first two The Burn – turns out she contains a Trill symbiont episodes were shot). In the premiere episode “That of a admiral! Onward to Trillius Prime Hope is You”, she soon meets up with Cleveland Booker in episode 4! “Book” (David Ajala), a Han Solo-like courier apparently working for a pair of and Andorian mobsters, but who in fact was rescuing an endangered species, trance worms, to a sanctuary. In the process Burnham learns that the Federation is mostly a distant memory, lost after “The Burn”, a catastrophic galaxy- wide explosion of ships containing dilithium crystals that power warp drives. So the season-spanning mystery is revealed: find the remnants of the Federation, help them rebuild, and return it to its rightful place as a beacon of hope in the Galaxy.

In episode 2, “Far From Home”, the U.S.S. Discovery arrives and crash lands on an unknown planet. Trapped in parasitic ice and with a damaged translator for the communications, acting captain Saru (Doug Jones) and Ensign Tilly (Mary Wiseman) seek out repairs in a mining town, controlled by Old West-type baddie and his gang. With some help from Terran Emperor turned Section 31 agent Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh), they defeat the baddies and with repaired comms escape the ice with the help of a With a mysterious vessel, which happens to contain Michael stable production team Burnham. Turns out Michael arrived a year earlier! for the first time since the show premiered in 2017, Star In episode 3, “People of Earth”, Michael and the Trek Discovery has set up a great Discovery crew reunites to hugs and tears, as Michael adventure for its third season. Can the Discovery crew tells Saru he should be the Discovery’s captain, and that restore the Federation in the 32nd century? What or she’s been changed by her year with Book in the 32nd who caused The Burn? The story will be revealed over century. With Book along they spore jump to Earth in the next ten episodes. Catch new episodes of Star Trek search of Starfleet Headquarters. Arriving at Earth, they Discovery on CBS All-Access on Thursdays.

Subspace Chatter | 7 By Kim Smith | UFP Club Captain from Picard. It was hosted by Julian Castro On Tuesday October 13, 2020, twenty Star Trek actors (former Secretary of Housing appeared in a Zoom event to get out the vote for Joe and Urban Development). It was Biden and Kamala Harris. Special guests included noted that the US is trailing behind George Takei, Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Marina other countries, such as Germany, in this important area. Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton, Wil Wheaton, Kate Mulgrew, , Sonequa Martin- Then there was a 25-minute session on individual Green, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Cruz, Isa Briones, Alison rights, especially LGBTQ rights, with George Takei, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Cruz, and Jonathan Del Arco with moderator Pete Buttigieg (former 2020 Presidential candidate).

Finally, the event ended with a Star Trek trivia contest between the teams of Stacey Abrams & Pete Buttigieg VS. Andrew Yang & Rosario Dawson, Pill, Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, moderated by Brent Jonathan Del Arco, and Whoopi Goldberg (via a recorded message).

The first 35 minutes was a general Q&A period Spiner. Stacy Abrams with each actor in the Zoom call. The Trek-related answered the most questions from moderator Andrew Yang (former 2020 Presidential candidate) were thoughtful and interesting. It felt just like being at a convention. questions correctly The next half hour included female Trek actors hands down and proved with moderator Stacey Abrams (Minority Leader that she is a true Trekkie of the Georgia House of herself. Representatives). She addressed issues such as The entire event was about 2.5 hours long women’s rights, challenges and was a fantastic time seeing some of our for women in the acting favorite Trek actors online. There was a “chat” profession, and how to deal feature going during the Zoom, but it was so with them. The ladies had overwhelmed with comments a fascinating session with that by 5:30 PM they were only Marina Sirtis being the most outspoken, up to showing comments from no surprises there! 3:30 PM! Wow there must have been thousands of comments and Next up was a 25-minute session on questions in the chat. I enjoyed every climate change with several actors, many single second of this event.

8 | Subspace Chatter OSIRIS

RNASA MissionE Samples Xan Asteroid

On October 20th NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft achieved the primary goal of its mission to Near Earth Asteroid Bennu by collecting rock samples, a first for NASA. The robotic orbiter spacecraft did a Touch- And-Go (TAG) event, when it “docked” briefly with the asteroid and placed its 1 foot wide sampling head on the surface for six seconds. A blast on nitrogen gas from a bottle onboard agitated loose rock, after which a vacuum sucked the material into the collector. The spacecraft then fired thrusters to back away from the asteroid. Preliminary analysis showed the collector was loaded full of material, so much so that a door on the collector would not close completely. Thus, NASA decided to quickly stow the collector in the sample return capsule to avoid losing too much material. It is destined to be returned to Earth and land in the Utah desert on September 24, 2023. The goal of the OSIRIS-REx mission was to visit a primitive Near Earth asteroid, orbit, analyze and sampling it, then return to Earth with some of the most primitive rocky material from the origins of our Solar System.

By Dr. David A. Williams UFP Member and Research Professor at ASU’s School Of Earth and Space Exploration.

Subspace Chatter | 9 power of microprint L as Vegas 2021 TOUR picard starship models

This tiny 3D printed, 15 micrometer 2021 marks the 50th Anniversary The Star Trek Official Starships model of the USS Voyager can of Creation Entertainment and the Collection model series will have actually move under its own power, 55th Anniversary of Star Trek. It’s a few new additions to the ever- although not quite at warp speed. the perfect time to celebrate and growing armada!

As part of research around no city is better than Las Vegas to The Official Starships Collection artificial microswimmers (more do just that! is set to feature ships from ALL of on those in a second), a team of the ongoing Star Trek Universe live- researchers at Leiden University The guest lineup now has over action series — Discovery, Star Trek: have been testing their microscopic 80 confirmed celebrities, with Picard, and Star Trek: Strange New 3D printer with a host of exotic headliners William Shatner, Worlds — set to begin in April 2021. forms. Where previously they were Sonequa Martin-Green, Jeri Ryan limited to simple spherical shapes, and Kelsey Grammer, as well The first Star Trek: Picard entries researchers are now able to print as other stars from Discovery, have been officially named, starting helixes, tugboats, and even the including David Ajala (“Cleveland of course with the hero ship of the starship Voyager. Booker”), Anthony Rapp (“Paul series — Cris Rios’ baby, La Sirena. Stamets”), Wilson Cruz (“Dr. Hugh Artificial microswimmers are Culber”), Shazad Latif (“Ash Tyler”) The second ship will be the “antique” essentially microscopic objects -- and making her first appearance Romulan Bird of Prey seen in that are able to move through at a Creation Convention, Rebecca “Absolute Candor,” which got into a liquids. These 3D printed, synthetic Romijn (“Number One”), who is scuffle around planet Vashti. “colloidal particles” (solid objects also starring in the upcoming suspended in liquid) have no series Strange New Worlds. The third ship will be the Inquiry- moving parts, instead they propel class USS Zhang He, “toughest, themselves through liquid by way The five days of programming will fastest, most powerful ship of chemical reaction—platinum that be the fantastic experience you’ve Starfleet ever put into service,” reacts with hydrogen peroxide. No come to know and love. which was captained by Will Riker tiny impulse engines here. in the season finale. Visit www.creationent.com for More: physicstoday.scitation.org tickets and more info. Learn more at shop.eaglemoss.com

10 | Subspace Chatter O FFIcial briefing

UP F CLUB schedule renewing memberships

Nov 21st – 4:00 PM We hope you continue to be with Saturday Zoom for everyone. us as we celebrate over 45 years Dec 5th – Time TBD join our adventures of the UFP and beyond! Members Kim & Dave’s Holiday Party or can receive a free copy of our 45th similar socially-distanced event. The United Federation of Phoenix Anniversary issue of Subspace Dec 6th - 4:00PM (UFP) is the Southwest’s oldest Chatter (while supplies last). We Sunday Zoom for everyone. Star Trek and science fiction also have a limited amount of Dec 20th - 4:00PM fan organization, continuously newly-designed shirts left for $15- Sunday Zoom for everyone. operating since 1975. $17 depending on size.

We also recently had some fun Our club is practicing safe social We also have a bunch of new and safe in-person events. Marcie distancing with limited in-person free swag that’s available for and Michael Donovan hosted a events, as well as bi-weekly Zoom members, such as magnets, lapel Halloween-themed wine tasting at calls where we discuss science pins, and holographic stickers. their house. Kim and Dave held a fiction and fandom news, One of our members even had few pool parties over the summer. some UFP face masks made! And Annette Sexton-Ruiz hosted If you are into Sci-Fi and are in a mystery white wine tasting this the Metro Phoenix area, consider To keep your membership current, week, where members have to attending one of our meetings. We please send a check for $15 to: guess what kind of unmarked would be glad to meet you. Email The United Federation of Phoenix wine they’re drinking. us at [email protected] for more info. P.O. Box 37224 Phoenix, AZ 85069.

T he officers of the united federation of phoenix

Recently the UFP voted to elect a new slate of officers for the club’s 46th operating year! Most are returning to their previous roles, with one first-time officer—Victor Bugg—joining the crew as Communications Officer. If you ever need anything, this is the team to call. Your officers for our 2020-2021 year are...

Captain First Officer RECORDS officer COMM Officer Kim Smith Annette Sexton-Ruiz Walt Bartlow Victor Bugg

Subspace Chatter | 11 the united federation of phoenix

Welcome to the Southwest’s oldest Star Trek and science fiction fan organization, continuously operating since 1975. The UFP is a collective of like-minded men and women from all walks of life who get together to have fun, engage in activities, and celebrate our shared love for Star Trek. Inside these pages is “Subspace Chatter,” our official bi-monthly publication, which spotlights our members, and provides a resource for all things related to the UFP! If you like Sci-Fi and are in the Phoenix area, we want to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] for info.

inside this issue of subspace chatter

The UFP’s 46th year continues with both science and science- fiction articles. Captain Kim Smith is hopeful for unity and celebration of our diversity in her Captain’s Log. She also discusses her experience attending the Trek The Vote event. Star Trek FX Supervisor and UFP member David Stipes shows how his team pioneered some striking visual effects on a small budget. Dr. David A. Williams gives us an update on NASA’s Osiris-REx mission. David also reviews the first 3 episodes of season 3 of Discovery. Bree Boehlke shares her experience with CBS All-Access’s virtual Discovery premiere event. We reveal the latest Star Trek news. And we wrap it up with our official club briefing, showcasing UFP news and upcoming activities.

The United Federation of Phoenix P.O. Box 37224 Phoenix, AZ 85069