Administrator Unveils Strategy for Space Exploration on Sept
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA September 2005 Administrator unveils strategy for space exploration On Sept. 19, NASA Administrator Station, take four crew members to lu- shuttle because of its in-line design and Michael Griffin released the results of nar orbit, and eventually maintain up to launch-abort system. NASA chose the the agency's Exploration Systems Ar- six astronauts on a mission to Mars. shuttle-derived option for its launch sys- chitecture Study - a blueprint for the Crews and cargo will be carried tem due to its superior safety, cost and next generation of spacecraft to take into orbit by a space shuttle-derived its availability. The new ship will be able to ferry crew and supplies to the International Space Station. Plans call for as many as six trips to the outpost a year. In the meantime, robotic missions will lay the groundwork for lunar exploration. In 2018, humans will return to the moon. Here's how a mission would unfold: A heavy-lift rocket blasts off, carrying a lunar lander and a "departure stage" needed to leave Earth's orbit (above left). The crew launches separately (above center), then docks their capsule with the lander and departure stage and heads for the moon (above right). humans back to the moon and on to launch system, consisting of a solid Specifically, the space shuttle's main Mars and other destinations. rocket booster and an upper stage pow- engines and solid rocket boosters are The study makes specific design ered by a shuttle main engine that can reliable and rated for human space flight. recommendations for a vehicle to carry lift 25 metric tons. The spacecraft also Much of the industrial base and hard- crews into space, a family of launch will be 10 times safer than the space continued on page 6 vehicles to take crews to the moon and beyond, and a "lunar mission architec- ture" for landing on the moon. It also recommends the technologies NASA Combined Federal Campaign launches should pursue in the near term. The study will assist NASA in achieving President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration, which calls for the agency to safely return the space shuttle to flight, complete the International Space Station, return to the moon, and continue exploration of Mars and be- yond. America's next generation space- craft will use an improved, blunt-body NASA photo by Tom Trower crew capsule, and will accommodate up to six people. "This spacecraft and its systems will build upon the foundation of the proven designs and technologies used in the Apollo and space shuttle programs, while having far greater ca- pability," Griffin said. "It will be able to Members of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) team hold the CFC banner. Left to right: carry larger and heavier cargos into space Former representative for the CFC Bay Area board Herb Finger; deputy chairperson Andy Hocker; Ames campaign chairperson Larry Lasher; loaned executive to the CFC office Dennis and allow more people to stay on the Romano and Ames representative for the CFC Bay Area board Don Durston. Acting Deputy moon for longer periods of time." Director Steve Zornetzer was unavailable for the picture. The new spacecraft can be config- ured either to support human explorers NASA Ames has an ambitious outstanding and generous member or fly unpiloted to carry cargo. Its de- goal of raising $240,000 for the Com- and super hero of the community. sign allows the flexibility to ferry crews bined Federal Campaign (CFC) this Ames can be a good neighbor and of three astronauts, plus additional sup- year to allow it to stand out as an continued on page 8 plies, to and from the International Space www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/astrogram/2005/05astrograms.html Ames lauds recipients of 2005 Honor Awards The 2005 Ames Honor Awards were presented at a recognition ceremony on Mentor Sept 1. This center-sponsored program Community Service/Volunteer features a peer nomination process and Kevin L. Jones Christopher P. McKay is considered one of Ames' most presti- gious honors. Congratulations to all honorees! EEO NASA Employee Travis A. Liggett Reynaldo J. Gomez Administrative Professional (JSC Employee) Betsy Robinson Lupe M. Velasquez Project Manager Engineer Howard N. Cannon Wayne R. Johnson Best First Paper at Ames and Stephen E. Dunagan Joseph P. Lavelle Shannon J. Zelinski (co-winners) Safety and Environment Richard H. Mogford Commercialization/Tech Transfer Award Cheryl M. Quinn Future Air-Traffic-Management Concepts Evaluation Tool Meyya Meyyappan and Jun Li Scientist/Researcher William J. Borucki Student Supervisor/Manager Viktor Stolc Brooke H. Cole Daniel M. Bufton Mark H. Kliss Eugene L. Tu Technical Support Contractor Employee Serdar Uckun Patricia B. Hudson David W. Bogdanoff, ELORET John F. Schipper Nathalie A. Cabrol, SETI Institute Sergio Castellanos, Solution Quest Technology Development Brian H. Day, Planners Edwin F. Erickson Technician Collaborative Robert E. McMurray Kent A. Stednitz Charissa S. Kolar, Muniz Technologies, Inc. Celeste J. Merryman, Lockheed Martin Engineering Pepsi Phounrath, Muniz Technologies, Inc. Ames RTF teams acknowledged Michael D. Wong, Raytheon Group/Team Airspace Concept Evaluation Team Ames Child Care Center New Facility Project Management Team Ames Management System Development and Certification Team NASA Ames Video Production NASA photo by Tom Trower Group Life Sciences Hyper-G Team NASA Ames Center Director G. Scott Hubbard personally thanked the Ames teams who supported The New Business Office Group the return to flight (RTF) for the monumental effort put forth by the teams to make RTF possible. System Evaluation and He addressed them at a reception held in the lobby of Bldg. 200 on Sept. 8 honoring the contributions of the people in the Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, debris transport team, thermal Assessment Data Analysis Team reentry analysis team, Project Columbia, wind tunnels and public affairs office. Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel - MMA Test Team Astrogram 2 September 2005 NASA Ames celebrates historian Jack Boyd’s birthday Few people have influenced the cul- ture and ethos of NASA, and especially of NASA Ames, as profoundly as Jack Boyd. Throughout his first 58 years of pub- lic service, Boyd's work, words and smiles have welcomed us all into the Ames family. Perhaps he is like a fine wine, that only gets deeper and more enjoyable with age. NASA photos by Dominic Hart I would like to thank my many friends at Ames for an unforgettable 80th birthday party. Those who believe Gathering of Eagles. From left to right: Former NASA Ames Center Director Hans Mark (third they have accomplished director, 1969-1977); former NASA Administrator Dan Goldin; former NASA Ames Center Director something in their lives Henry McDonald (eighth director, 1996 - 2002); Jack Boyd with his grandson Zachery Hovey; former NASA Ames Center Director Sy Syvertson (fourth director, 1977-1984); and former NASA should pause for a moment Ames Center Director Bill Ballhaus (fifth director, 1984-1989) at Boyd’s 80th birthday party and consider all those who celebration bash held at Ames in August. helped them along the way. I certainly had that Ames assists hurricane relief efforts opportunity on my birthday, Several members of NASA Ames' DART rescue specialists Mark when you all helped me and Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team Tangney, Roger Miller, Lynn Bala, Paul (DART), representing several special- Brown, Eric Mueller, Kelly Kasser and my family to celebrate it. It ties, have responded to calls for on-the- Erik Rockwell deployed with the 70- was truly the pinnacle of the scene support of rescue and recovery person California Task Force 3 on Aug. many events I have efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane 31 to support the search and rescue and celebrated at NASA. I am Katrina. recovery efforts in the New Orleans area. Shortly after the disaster occurred, On Sept. 16, CNN covered the rescue of honored and proud to be a the NASA Ames Emergency Operations a 71-year old man by members of the part of this incredible Center (EOC) was activated and worked task force. Tangney, deputy chief of family. I thank you! with the NASA Headquarters EOC and DART, reported that the team was ac- with other EOCs throughout the agency companied by the Coast Guard, U.S. -- Ol’ Jack supporting NASA's hurricane relief ef- Fish and Game, and the National Guard, forts. Robert J. Dolci, director of emer- for security. gency services at Ames, was called to A three-person emergency commu- support the Stennis Space Center EOC nications team from NASA Ames flew For all that he is, his dedication to led by Bill Parsons, who was recently to Huntsville, Ala., to help establish com- the center has earned him countless named the new director of Stennis, near munications at Michoud. The team also circles of friends around the center, and Gulfport, Miss. shipped emergency communications these circles of friends joined together at Both Stennis and the Michoud As- equipment and purchased $50,000 of Ames to celebrate his 80th birthday on sembly Facility near New Orleans, La., satellite time to support satellite com- Aug. 19 in the NASA Ames Conference were hit hard by the hurricane. Ap- munications. Team members included Center. proximately 3,500 NASA civil service Bill Notley and Bill Hunt (QSS) of Code Like Boyd's office door, the invita- and contractor employees work at the JTN, and Code TN network engineer tion was open to everyone -- to all those two facilities, in addition to some 4,600 Dave Hartzell. Michael Wright also de- he has mentored, inspired, advised, re- employees of other federal agencies. ployed to support the emergency com- lied upon, calmed, researched beside On Aug.