This is a video of the interactive spaceship bed and mission control desk that Jeff Highsmith built for his two sons so they can play space all the time. I am into this. And I'm not just saying that because I went to Space Camp AND Space Academy when I was a kid, but I did, so there. I can still remember falling in love at Space Camp. "What was her name?"
Freeze-dried ice cream.
It has a control panel full of interesting displays and whiz-bang space sounds. A joystick controls lights and sounds for the engine and thrusters. The payload bay has a motorized hatch and contains a robot arm that can be remotely operated over video feed to deploy payloads like toy satellites. Headsets provide an audio link between the spacecraft and Mission Control in the other room, so my sons can practice collaborating on their space missions.
Heck yeah, I love playing space. Unfortunately it's hard to get friends my age excited about it anymore. I'll throw a party and as soon as I break out the pasta strainer space helmets all of a sudden everybody's got somewhere else to be. It's lame. "I'd play space with you, GW." Awwww, you mean it? "No, but I would play doctor." Now you're talking! "Lie down, this is an autopsy." Dammit! Keep going for a video of the bed (including build process), then one of the desk (also with build process).
