As we continue to honor 50 years of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, we look back at the love stories of the Rocket Center and Space Camp! Here are 50 years of love stories:
Lisa Hall and Nick Hall
Nick Hall first came to Huntsville in 2000, where he attended Advanced Space Academy. He was on Team Gagarin.
“That week was life-changing and pivotal to where I am today,” said Nick, who is now a six-time graduate of Space Camp.
Nick made several friends throughout his first week at camp, and kept in touch with many of the friends throughout the years. One of the friends, Mike Kass, became Nick’s lifelong best friend. In 2014, Mike asked Nick to be his best man in his wedding. Nick quickly agreed, knowing that it came with the responsibility of planning Mike’s bachelor party.
Nick said he spent weeks thinking of options that would best suit Mike. “That's when I looked up and found out that Space Camp isn't just for kids, but for adults as well!”
A three-day weekend at Adult Space Camp seemed to be the perfect idea, considering Nick and Mike met at camp 14 years prior. Little did Nick know, the three-day weekend in 2014 would be just as life-changing for him as the first Space Camp he attended in 2000.
It was during that weekend that Nick first met Lisa, who would later become his wife.
“She was attending Space Camp with her sister Karen, both for the first time, as a Christmas present from their parents,” Nick said.
Nick and Lisa at Adult Space Academy in 2014.
The pair kept in touch after Adult Space Academy, even though they lived several states apart. They began dating, and naturally, had to attend Space Camp again together in 2016. Little did Lisa know, Nick had coordinated with the Space Camp staff to plan a proposal during the simulated space mission.
Nick and Lisa's engagement in 2016.
Lisa accepted the proposal, and the couple were married in 2018. After the wedding, they changed into Space Camp flightsuits to enter the reception.
Nick and Lisa at their wedding in 2018.
“Space Camp will continue to be our past, present and future,” said Nick.
“We look forward to our next adventure at Space Camp!”
Sara Biwer Rennekamp and Alex Rennekamp
Sara and Alex met while working as Crew Trainers at Space Camp in January, 2009. During the spring, they both decided to train to be Advanced Space Academy team leaders. They continued to work together throughout the year; taking on Advanced Space Academy teams together.
The pair started dating in April 2009, when Alex officially asked Sara out while working in the Astrotrek building. He wrote on a scratch piece of rocket construction paper, “disc golf, anytime.”
The next year, Sara was promoted to night supervisor at Space Camp. The following year, the pair both moved into the sales and marketing team. This position allowed Sara and Alex to work on the film, “Space Warriors,” where they both had roles as Space Camp’s mascot “TOPPS.” They were engaged in Feb., 2012, while working at the Rocket Center.
Sara and Alex working on the sales and marketing team.
Alex and Sara were married in Hawaii in April 2013, along with their friends and family present for the ceremony. In March 2015, they expanded their family with the birth of their son, Henry.
Sara, Alex, and their son, Henry.
“To this day, some of our closest friends are Space Camp couples, and we often reminisce about the good times that we had at Space Camp,” said Alex.
Kelly Gann Cruser and Jeffrey Cruser
In April 1996, Kelly Gann overheard a conversation at the Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. A group of teen boys in front of her were talking about “space bucks,” saying they used these in the gift shop at Space Camp. Kelly’s ears immediately perked up. Not only did she know about Space Camp, but she also knew about the gift shop bucks. She knew the prepaid gift card style items parents could opt to purchase for their campers weren’t called “space bucks,” but instead were called “shuttle bucks.”
“I knew I had to step in and correct them,” said Kelly. “Little did I know, that moment was just the first in a lifetime of me correcting those boys!"
Upon their initial meeting at the airport, both Kelly and Jeff found one another “annoying,” according to Kelly. They flew to Huntsville to attend Advanced Space Academy together, but were placed on different teams. In the coming years, Kelly and Jeff met at the airport again, each time were headed back to Huntsville for Advanced Space Academy. They became fast friends.
“We made multiple return trips together, requesting to be on each other’s team,” said Kelly.
Kelly and Jeff at Advanced Space Academy.
As Kelly and Jeff grew older, they remained in contact. They visited one another during college break. Some 10 years after their first encounter in the Newark International Airport, they officially started dating. They moved to Houston in 2006, and were engaged in 2008.
In June 2010, Kelly and Jeff were walking down the aisle. The friend who was next to Jeff at the airport in 1996 served as best man at the wedding.
Kelly and Jeff, along with the best man, at their wedding in 2010.
Kelly and Jeff recently had the opportunity to bring their children to visit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Kelly remarked, “Our kids loved their brief visit and my son is already asking to go when he gets to 4th grade.”
Kelly and Jeff's children, visiting the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Kelly added, "It is safe to say that I owe my entire life and all of my happiness to being a know-it-all while trying to impress a few kids at the airport on our way to Space Camp.”