VOL. 37 NO. 9 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas May 8, 1998

In this issue Improved suit gives Virginia boy ‘freedom’ By Audrey Schwartz Rivers result in chronic skin inflammation Sarah Moody, founder and presi- glands that can lead to heat Like an astronaut who just stepped and blistering, inflammation of dent of the HED Foundation and exhaustion, heatstroke and, in foot on a new world, a 6-year-old nerves, abdominal pain and other Related Disorders which has severe cases, death. Several thou- Virginia Beach, Va., boy explored disturbances. For some children with worked with JSC’s Office of sand children worldwide suffer from Earth for the first time, thanks to light sensitivity disorders, even a 40- Technology Transfer and genetic disorders that cause either improved NASA technology. watt light bulb spells danger. Commercialization to provide the extreme light sensitivity or problems On April 19, Mikie Walker became JSC’s Office of Technology protective garments to needy chil- with body cooling. Thirty children the first American child to receive a Transfer and Commercialization dren. The HED Foundation donates are on the foundation’s waiting list modified “space suit” that protects offered the suit to Mikie through an cooling gear to children with hypo- for a suit like Mikie’s. him from ultraviolet rays of the Sun agreement with the non-profit HED hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia The pint-sized space suit blocks and other light sources. Mikie has Foundation, Hampton, Va. (HED), multiple sclerosis, spina bifi- nearly all of the Sun’s ultraviolet rays. porphryia, a genetic disorder that “To think that NASA astronauts da, cerebral palsy and other genetic Mikie sports an improved version of a Andy Thomas takes word of causes extreme and potentially dan- walking on the Moon means a child disorders. HED is a medical disor- prototype protective suit JSC provid- gerous sensitivity to sunlight that can now can play in the Sun,” said der characterized by a lack of sweat shuttle launch delay in stride Please see BOY, Page 8 aboard Mir. Page 2 Neurolab crew brings home gain on brain Following more than two weeks of on-orbit research designed to gain insight into the human nervous sys- tem, the STS-90 crew flying aboard Columbia returned JSC volunteers help students to Kennedy Space Center on May 3. at Hall Elementary bone up Columbia touched down on KSC’s three mile-long on their reading. concrete runway at 11:09 a.m. CDT with the Neurolab Page 3 crew—Commander Rick Searfoss, Pilot Scott Altman, Mission Specialists Rick Linnehan, Kay Hire and Dave Williams along with Payload Specialists Jay Buckey and Jim Pawelczyk—bringing back vol- TS-9 umes of information gathered S 0 from the more than two dozen experiments they performed dur- ing the flight. Following an overnight stay at NASA Photo S90E5085 the Florida spaceport, the STS-90 Payload Specialist Jay Buckey, right, helps Payload Commander Rick Linnehan with a crew flew back to Ellington Field sleep cap. Several electrodes in the cap make contact with the skull to monitor electrical Moody Gardens’ Discovery on Monday. impulses from the brain during sleep and an electrode under the nose monitors respira- Joining family, friends and co- COLUMBIA Pyramid continues to evolve tion. The cap also monitors and measures electrical impulses from the muscles, eyes and workers to welcome home with JSC’s help. heart as part of a study of astronaut sleep patterns in space. Associated with the experi- Columbia’s crew were hundreds of third and fourth Pages 4-5 ment were waking tests of the astronauts breathing patterns and blood gasses. graders from the Friendswood school system, which “adopted” the mission in its studies and made several field trip visits to JSC. During their 16-day mission, the astronauts research Saturn leader keys on training efforts were monitored by eight science teams. Four Low lecturer credits line’s success to customer focus teams with a combined total of 11 experiments used the astronauts as test subjects while the other four By Kelly Humphries the Soviet Union in the space race, it was an teams, through 15 different experiments, used a variety The man who helped launch General Motors’ experiment that GM management and the of animals as part of their data collection. newest lines of cars and management told JSC United Auto Workers union leadership hoped “Although the Spacelab flight is over,” reported managers recently that establishing core val- would turn around the giant automaker’s slump- Neurolab Mission Scientist Jerry Homick, “the Neurolab ues, educating potential leaders and recogniz- ing profits in the face of stiff overseas competi- program activities are far from completed. A significant Thirty-five years ago, ing implementers are the keys to his company’s tion and point the way toward a new way of amount of essential post-flight data is to be collected on Grumman was just starting recent resurgence. doing business. This means letting the union be both the crew members and animal test subjects … to build the lunar module. Richard “Skip” LeFauve, former chairman of involved in decisions such as engineering and and data analysis will continue for several weeks.” Page 6 the Saturn Corp., and now GM senior vice pres- picking advertising companies. The idea was to All of the teams studying human subjects reported ident for global leadership development and shift the roles of management and workers so receiving good data on their studies of how microgravi- global human resources processes, spoke to a that everyone focused on the customer and ty affects blood pressure regulation, eye-hand coordi- packed Gilruth Center ballroom on April 22 as shared responsibility for the company’s success nation, motor coordination, sleep disruption and the part of the George M. Low Leadership Series of or failure. balance system of the inner ear. lectures hosted by JSC Director George Abbey. “The most important thing we learned is how The teams using animals included the Aquatic, LeFauve said that when he took the reins of important people are to success in any enter- Neuronal Plasticity, Mammalian Development and the new car company, named for the Saturn V prise,” said LeFauve, who also is president of Neurobiology. The Aquatic team studying the Oyster rocket that “leapfrogged” the United States over Please see DON’T, Page 8 Please see SCIENCE, Page 8 High school JSC making Business Management sec- retary earns top honors for students taste big plans for staff work. Page 7 thrill of zero-g Inspection ’98 By Donn Sickorez A team of employees is working Tucked away in the back of the on plans for Inspection ’98, sched- KC-135, four high school students uled in October. and their teachers listen to the roar of JSC will invite business, industry, the KC-135’s engines as it gains alti- community and education leaders tude over the Gulf. This was it. to inspect the facilities and tech- Months of planning, preparation, nologies that are used to achieve meetings and weekend work has the science, engineering, manage- come to this moment. ment and operations goals of the Test Director Judy Rickard calls center. out “30 seconds” and the students do Organizers will be making a call White Sands hosts visit by what they can to prepare themselves JSC Photo 98E03368 to submit exhibit proposals in the Russian propulsion systems and their experiments for their first Holly Hyde, left, an instructor from Clear Creek Independent School next several weeks. colleague. experience of weightlessness. As the District, assists a student studying EVA construction activities as a For additional information on Page 8 engines’ shout dissolves to a whis- part of the Fly High Program—JSC’s pilot project to fly high school Inspection ’98 or to volunteer, call Please see HIGH, Page 2 researchers on the KC-135 research aircraft. Kathy Jurica at x34776. Page 2 Space News Roundup May 8, 1998 Thomas takes news of delayed shuttle ride home in stride By Leslie Eaton Following the checkout of the boom jet which are the focus of the experiment. In his latest letter home posted on the U.S. Astronaut Andy Thomas, on the assembly atop the “Sofora” truss on the He also continues to periodically gather NASA Shuttle-Mir Web at: http://shuttle- Russian Space Station Mir, received news Kvant-1 module, the unit was integrated into blood, urine and saliva samples to be evalu- mir.nasa.gov Thomas described his experi- that his ride home will be delayed by a few the station’s attitude control sys- ated after his mission on the ence unpacking and setting up home in Mir days. tem to provide roll control that was effects of long duration space flight in zero gravity. Shuttle managers announced that the temporarily handled by thrusters on the human body. “It can be a joy to experience, but also launch of STS-91, the final planned shuttle- on the Priroda module. IR-2 Science investigations by Thomas can really make your work day difficult. The Mir docking mission, will be delayed until Thomas, marked his 100th day in M 5 on Mir are part of 27 studies in the most frustrating thing is that you are forever June 2. orbit May 1 and continues his scien- areas of Advanced Technology, losing things,” Thomas wrote. “You might be Shuttle managers also noted that there tific research program. His primary Earth Sciences, Human Life rummaging through a bag to find one item, will be a tanking test of the new lightweight focus is on the Biotechnology Sciences, Microgravity Research, while all the other contents are floating external tank on May 18 and the STS-91 System Co-Culture experiment. He and International Space Station Risk away, and before you know it, they are Flight Readiness Review is scheduled for provided the Mir Operations Mitigation. gone, and lost. They may even be close by May 20. Support Team with the latest video Thomas also took time from his to you, but as you look around you tend to All systems aboard the Mir Space Station of the unit, which has been operat- THOMAS science activities to answer ques- focus your gaze only on surfaces, where we are in good working order as Russian flight ing since early in his stay on the sta- tions that had been submitted by are accustomed to seeing things, and not controllers last week tested a new thruster tion. The cause of air bubbles in the chamber Australian school children. Answers to the look at the empty space just in front of us.” assembly that was installed during a space still is being analyzed by experiment investi- questions are posted on the Internet at: Thomas is the seventh and final NASA walk by Mir 25 Cosmonauts Talgat gators, but has not appeared to hamper the http://shuttle-mir.nasa.gov/shuttle- astronaut earmarked to live and work Musabayev and Nikolai Budarin. growth of the three-dimensional cancer cells, mir/mir25/status/current/thomas.html aboard Mir. Science teams dive into ocean of data (Continued from Page 1) crew members into his sleep shift to Toadfish reported receiving intermit- personally treat the newborn rats. tent data, but enough to assume “When you initially see this, you say, experiment success. Early post-flight ‘Oh, no!’ Then we started treating. I evaluations indicate that about 90 guess the veterinarian in me kicked percent of the 200 young swordtail in. That’s something that has to be fish that flew died, probably because taken into account in the future, how their water was too warm. mothers are going to be able to rear, The Neuronal Plasticity team saw be it human or other species.’’ rodents performing on the Escher The Neurobiology Team studying Staircase and the Magic Carpet the development of gravity sensors apparatus, although no data was on crickets ran as planned with no collected on two of the four rodents. hardware problems The investigator said that early data “We expected a lot of success, shows the experimental hypotheses and our overall expectations were can be evaluated. The planned exceeded,”. Homick said. “We went number of rodent dissections were into this mission with a number of performed on orbit for the Neuronal challenges; a busy timeline, complex Plasticity Team. experimental hardware systems, The Mammalian Development and a number of difficult experimen- team dealt with the lessened num- tal procedures using cutting edge ber of young rats available after technology never before attempted experiencing unexpected deaths in space flight.” within the litters and did achieve Columbia for the most part operat- some data collection in the final ed smoothly, allowing the crew to days. The team redistributed the ani- devote its attention to meeting sci- mals to assure that all the primary ence objectives. Only a repair to the science requirements were met, with Regenerative Carbon Dioxide Re- NASA Photo S90E5292 only secondary objectives partially moval System, which required a The seven-member STS-90 crew enjoys some time off during the marathon Neurolab research mission affected by the smaller number of one-inch piece of aluminum tape by rehearsing and performing its own downlink music video, complete with “cool” shades. Front row, animals available. and some ingenuity by engineers on from left, are Pilot Scott Altman, Commander Rick Searfoss, and Mission Specialist Kay Hire. Back row, “It was disheartening to me to see the ground, and a work-around for a from left, are Payload Specialists Jay Buckey, and Jim Pawelczyk, and Mission Specialists Rick that happen,” said Linnehan, a vet- blocked waste water dump line were Linnehan and Dave Williams. erinarian who worked with other required during the flight. NASA tests hair-raising technique to clean up oil spills Most folks with oily hair use sham- trap and hold spilled oil, why can’t that human hair adsorbs—rather than believed it had potential use by NASA pounds of hair in nylon collection poo to get the oil out. But one human hair?” absorbs—oil. That is, the oil gathers and other U.S. government agencies. bags may be sufficient to adsorb Alabama hairdresser likes oily hair In a home experiment, McCrory in layers on the hair’s surface. This Successful field tests also influ- 170,000 gallons of spilled oil. and is working with NASA to use stuffed five pounds of hair he’d cut allows for easy recovery of the oil and enced Marshall’s decision to test Preliminary tests show that a gallon human hair to soak up oil spills. into a pair of his wife’s pantyhose. its reuse by simply squeezing it from McCrory’s system further. In an ini- of oil can be adsorbed in less than Researchers at Marshall Space Flight He tied the ankles of the hosiery the collection bundles. tial test, David Glover, a chemical two minutes with McCrory’s method. Center are testing a hair-raising together to form a ring-shaped col- “When I wrung the hosiery out, systems supervisor for Marshall There’s also a potential cost sav- recovery technique for oil spilled in lection bundle. Then, filling his son’s most of the oil was recovered,” said contractor BAMSI, Inc., filled a 55- ings in McCrory’s method. Present water. wading pool with water, he put the McCrory. “The remainder was bro- gallon oil drum with 40 gallons of oil cleanup methods cost approxi- The idea is the inspiration of hair- filled ring of hosiery into the ken down and disposed of when I water and 15 gallons of oil. “The mately $10 to recover a gallon of oil. Phillip McCrory, a Madison, Ala., center of the pool and poured used washed the hosiery with detergent.” mixture was filtered through nylon McCrory’s system may cost as little hairdresser. McCrory was watching motor oil into the middle. McCrory, who lives near Marshall, bags filled with hair,” Glover said. as $2 per gallon and offers the addi- television coverage of 1989’s oil spill “When I pulled the legs of the approached the Center’s Technology “When the water was tested after tional benefit of being able to use in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. “I hosiery ring together, the oil had Transfer Office with the proposal that just a single pass through McCrory’s the recovered oil for fuel. saw an otter being rescued whose adsorbed onto the hair inside of it,” NASA test his idea under controlled innovative filter, only 17 parts of oil Tests of the new system are fur was saturated with oil,” said McCrory said. “I couldn’t see a trace laboratory conditions. Marshall per million parts of water remained.” expected to be completed later this McCrory. “I thought, if animal fur can of oil in the water.” McCrory found agreed because its researchers McCrory estimates that 25,000 spring. Astronomers discover construction zone for planets around nearby star NASA astronomers using the main planetary formation phase,” and middle-aged photos,” Koerner new Keck II telescope in Hawaii said Dr. Michael Werner of JPL, said. “With HR 4796, we’re seeing have discovered what appears to who co-discovered the region, a picture of a young adult star start- be the clearest evidence yet of a along with Drs. David Koerner and ing its own family of planets. This is budding solar system around a Michael Ressler, also of JPL, and the link between disks around very nearby star. Dana Backman of Franklin and young stars and disks around Scientists released an image of Marshall College, Lancaster, Penn. mature stars, many with planets the probable site of planet formation “Comets may be forming right now already orbiting them.” around a star known as HR 4796, in the disk’s outer portion from The discovery of the HR 4796 about 220 light-years from Earth in remaining debris.” disk was made in just one hour of the constellation Centaurus. The The discovery was made on observing time at Keck, but the JPL Dick Covey, senior manager on the Boeing Consolidated Space Opera- image, taken with a sensitive March 16 from the giant 33-foot team plans to return to Hawaii in tions Contract Team in Houston, presents one of four shuttle flags to infrared camera developed at Keck II telescope atop Mauna Kea, June for further studies. They hope Rick Piercy, center, chief operating officer of Lewis Center for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Hawaii. Keck II and its twin, Keck I, to learn more about the structure, Educational Research in Apple Valley, Calif., during dedication of a shows a swirling disk of dust around are the world’s largest optical and composition and size of this disk, new addition. The center seeks to improve and expand science and the star. Within the disk is a telltale infrared telescopes. and to determine how disks around technology education in the region. From left are Covey, San empty region that may have been Koerner of JPL said the finding stars in our galaxy produce planets. Bernadino County First District Supervisor Kathy Davis, California swept clean when material was represents a “missing link” in the The Keck II image of HR 4796 Assemblyman Keith Olberg, Boeing Reusable Space Systems Vice pulled into newly formed planetary study of how planetary systems are and information on the MIRLIN cam- President and General Manager Rick Stephens, Piercy, U.S. Rep. Jerry bodies, the scientists said. born and evolve. “In a sense, we’ve era are available on the World Wide Lewis (R-Calif.), California First Lady Gayle Wilson, NASA Admin- “This may be what our solar sys- already peeked into the stellar fam- Web at: http://cougar.jpl.nasa.gov istrator Dan Goldin and Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director Ed Stone. tem looked like at the end of its ily album and seen baby pictures /mirlin.html. May 8, 1998 Space News Roundup Page 3 Community News

Students learn about the brain Westwood Elementary students adopt STS-90 Neurolab mission

The students of Westwood Elementary students understand the basic science School in Friendswood “adopted” the STS-90 involved in some of the Neurolab research. mission, participating in a Neurolab-based True and Haner created their own STS-90 educational outreach activity through the Neurolab Mission Packet for all the teachers Education and Information Services Branch to use with their students. The packet con- of the Public Affairs Office. tained numerous activities and experiments The program consisted of an educational tailored for the third and fourth graders. The activity that was carried out with the faculty basic anatomy of the brain was studied by the and students of Westwood, in the Friends- students and the teachers made models of wood Independent School District. Westwood the brain that were similar in consistency, is a third- and fourth-grade campus only, and size and weight. The students learned about has 750 students and 35 teachers. Judy True the feel (of the brain) as well as the fragility of and Becki Haner were the lead teachers for the brain and how to protect it. the activities. The teachers also had their students write The Neurolab project had its inception last letters to the astronauts and put together a fall when Norm Chaffee, of the Education and package of the letters to the STS-90 crew Information Services Branch at JSC, con- telling the crew of their “adoption” and study ducted a multi-day series of robotics presen- of the Neurolab mission. tations to the students at Westwood. True Several JSC employees, involved in the asked for suggestions for a broader project development of various experiments, visited Adrian Gonzales, a parent volunteer at Hall Elementary School in League City, places in the space science area which could involve Westwood prior to and during the mission to student work on a bulletin board. The students wrote stories and created their own illus- the entire school. The Neurolab mission was interact with “clusters” of classes and to pro- trations as a part of the new literacy initiative being supported by JSC volunteers. suggested because of its rich set of human vide some in-depth discussions about indi- and animal studies which lend themselves to vidual experiments. These visits also provid- separate focused assignments for a large ed an important role model function. number of individual students or classrooms. The school followed the progress of the JSC provides reading Also, a large volume of classroom material mission on-line by retrieving the regular mis- was already developed for educational out- sion status reports on the Internet. Students reach about Neurolab. were encouraged to develop questions for tutors to Hall Elementary As a result, all of the classes were involved the crew and Mission Control Center and in studying various aspects of the mission. send them over the Internet for answers. JSC has developed a comprehensive pro- efit from one-on-one reading tutoring. In The Education and Information Branch A select group of teachers visited the cen- gram to support Gov. George W. Bush’s response to the need for more tutors, the supplied the Westwood teachers with a large ter and observed some of the mission and focus on reading by providing 45 JSC Education and Outreach Program recruited amount of information to use to develop their experiment activity from the old Science employees to serve in the Clear Creek another 45 employees to serve as reading teaching plans. Monitoring Area in Bldg. 36 as an enrichment Independent School District as reading tutors tutors. Each instructor received one of the multi- experience. at Hall Elementary School in League City. Gretchen Thomas, a lead project engi- color Neurolab mission brochures, courtesy Some of the students organized a field trip “The Johnson Space Center has pledged neer in the EVA and spacesuit systems of the Space and Life Sciences Directorate to Ellington Field to greet the crew upon their to Gov. Bush our strong support of his liter- branch described her involvement as “a at JSC, as detailed background material. return. This helped them to follow the mission acy initiative for the youth of Texas,” said very rewarding experience.” A package of information about the Neuro- in its entirety. JSC Director George Abbey. “Tutoring the “I sit down with my student and she can lab websites was provided to the teachers, Several Friendswood Senior High School children at Hall Elementary School is one read an entire book to me without help. This for background information and ideas for media/journalism students videotaped and of several components of our support to amazes me to think that during my first tutor- classroom activities and experiments. A note- wrote about the students’ activities. This gave enhance the reading skills of children in ing session, my student could barely sound book containing most of the Neurolab web- the high school students an interesting pro- Texas.” out simple words at an agonizingly slow rate. site materials also was provided to ject on which to work and provided a lasting The program started with 12 JSC I’m very proud of her.” Westwood. record of what the elementary students did employees providing reading and math In order to improve student performance Each classroom at Westwood received a during the mission. tutoring to 14 at-risk students at Hall at Hall Elementary School, JSC reading crew lithograph, mission patch decal and The Westwood students have created a Elementary School. tutors meet with the students on a weekly pocket-sized mission timeline summary. A website to chronicle their adoption of the STS- A needs assessment by CCISD showed basis during school hours. limited number of cloth mission patches also 90 Neurolab mission and describe in detail the reading tutors to be of greatest assistance JSC’s support to Bush’s literacy initiative was provided for lobby and cafeteria display. assignments they have completed while and of most value in improving student per- will continue to be expanded in the 1998-99 One of JSC’s Educational Outreach learning about the mission. The Westwood formance. school year with a similar reading program Specialists visited Westwood to give a series Elementary website may be accessed via the In January 1998, the school identified at CCISD’s Stewart Elementary School in of four “Space Basics” briefings to all of the Internet at: http://www.friendswood.isd.tenet additional students who would greatly ben- Kemah. 750 students. The briefings helped the .edu/ww/sts_90_shuttle_mission_ado.htm. Gilruth Dinner Theater Relief Valve Failure in High Pressure System presents murder mystery What Happened Tickets are on sale for the Gilruth murder mystery-comedy with a On March 5, 1998, a relief valve catastrophically failed, separating at the inlet port-body Dinner Theater presentation of western theme. “The owner and bushing interface. The body of the valve flew off and struck the corrugated siding of the “Murder on the Happy Trail” at 7 p.m. crew of the Tri-six Ranch have been building eight feet above its initial position, making a fist sized dent in the building. The valve May 29 in the Gilruth Center ballroom. invited to a social at a neighboring then ricocheted off the building and hit the ground approximately 20 feet away, leaving a During the show, the audience will ranch. This is supposed to be a char- small impact crater. No one was hurt. witness a murder and have the ity fundraiser but, someone is rais- opportunity to assist in solving the ing funds for herself.” Results of the Investigation crime. Members of the audience par- The social begins at 6:30 p.m., ticipate by grilling the suspects, dinner is served at 7 p.m. and the The investigation revealed that the valve, an Anderson, Greenwood and Company putting all of the clues together to play begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are Model 81MB88-4L, was set for an operating pressure of approximately 3,000 psia and determine who committed the mur- $18.50 per person and include a din- failed most likely due to damaged threads. der and why. The audience will be ner of Cajun chicken with rice, The investigation also revealed that the exit port for the relieving valve was oriented in broken down into teams by tables Creole green beans, salad with such a configuration that the high pressure discharge could cause the relief valve to and there will be six or eight seats dressing, desert and beverages. unscrew. per table. Each team will be allowed The Gilruth Dinner Theater is only one guess to correctly identify sponsored by the JSC Employees What You Can Do the murderer and the motive. Activities Association. For details, Work with the Pressure System Manager’s Office (PSMO) to inspect all Anderson, “Murder on the Happy Trail” is a contact Mavis Ilkenhans at x49644. Greenwood and Company Model 8100 series relief valves immediately. Inspect all of your relief valves to assure that relieving gas can not cause any connec- tions to unscrew. Replace any damaged or defective high pressure components. When Space history club plans first session possible isolate high pressure systems from inhabited office areas or areas with high val- ue equipment. An initial planning meeting dis- tory of the human space flight pro- cussing the formation of a Manned gram and the people involved in For more information on this failure, call the PSMO at x37511. The PSMO will be con- Spaceflight History (MaSH) Club is space programs worldwide. The tacting all organizations that are known to have valves potentially affected by this type of scheduled for 11:30 a.m. June 17 in agenda for the meeting also will failure. http://www4.jsc.nasa.gov/safety/alert/ Bldg. 45, Rm. 651. include a presentation on the JSC JSC Safety Alert The goal of the club is to provide Oral History Project. For additional a forum for individuals interested in information, call Michael Ciancone discussing or learning about the his- at x38848. Page 4 Space News Roundup May 8, 1998 The New Moody Moody Gardens’ Discovery Pyramid sports new exhibits 1 Photo by Rita Karl he Discovery Museum at Moody entrance, which is modeled after the shuttle Habitation Module is a full-sized, walk- Looking Ahead Gardens on Galveston Island is com- airlock, they are greeted by an astronaut through mock-up of the module with floor pleting a major, six-month renovation video with narration in English and three and ceiling graphics, porthole, hatches, toi- The “NASA Future in Space” display fea- T with help from a team of JSC advisers. other languages. let, shower, recycling display, plant growth tures a short film about NASA’s future mis- JSC volunteers, who played a major role A right turn takes visitors to an area illus- chamber and a galley. sions and two computer kiosks with Internet in design and execution of the initial human trating some of the scientific principles of Shannon Lucid’s “What’s Cooking in connections. There, guests can learn more space flight display, also are helping train space flight. Visitors learn about Kepler and Space” video also is part of the habitation about living in space, space travel, and bene- Moody Gardens staff members so the his Law of Planetary Motion, Galileo and his module. A mock-up bioreactor for growing fits of space research. museum can better explain NASA’s space Law of Falling Bodies, Newton and his Laws cell tissues in space and a virtual tour of the Wayne Ordway, a systems integration flight program to its visitors. of Motion, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and ISS modules also are located in this exhibit. manager in the Space Shuttle Program “The educational partnership between Hubble’s discovery of the Red Shift. Hands- The new “Discovery Science Theater” Office, said shortly before the opening of the JSC and Moody Gardens (which hosts more on activities demonstrate these principles. runs the film “Towards Mars.” first phase last year that the project was “an than a million visitors a year) has allowed for Illustrations show guests how astronauts The X-38 model, by the same JSC team example of outstanding community collabora- the development and design of many new live in space. The International Space Station building and testing the real thing, is a two- tion and teamwork. Everyone involved at JSC exhibits in the museum due in large part to and Pathfinder’s trip to Mars are shown thirds scale mock-up that allows two visitors has felt a sense of ownership…. It was really the efforts of a wonderful team at JSC,” said before visitors reach a crew training area. to sit inside, check out the actual X-38 a just a group of talented people committing Rita Karl, Discovery Pyramid manager. There, a docking trainer exhibit allows switch panels and view a video of the X-38 their time and effort in a very motivated way.” This is Phase II of the on-going project. some visitors to practice docking the shuttle re-entry. Those words are as true as Phase II opens The first phase opened last year after exten- with the Russian Mir Space Station using as they were then. They will be just as true sive participation by JSC employees. As the same software that astronauts use in Launch, Re-entry when Phase III, now in the planning stage, many as 200 JSC workers were involved at their training. The software was donated by welcomes its first visitor. The “Space Shuttle Theater” shows a 20- times in development of the complex, JSC. The rest of the group is able to watch Doug Ming, a space scientist from the minute film (created in conjunction with JSC) designed to entertain and to show what the simulation on a large-screen television. Earth Sciences and Solar System Exploration of the launch and re-entry of the shuttle from NASA and JSC do and why. The same area houses other computer Branch, is the team lead for Phase III. One inside the cockpit, various space walking Called “Living in the Stars,” the display is training programs similar to those used by goal is to design a Mars outpost with surface activities and the assembly of the space sta- on the second floor, the exhibit floor, of the the astronauts. The programs have been system operations and a habitat. Its exhibits tion. This theater also is connected to live Discovery Pyramid. The pyramid also hous- modified by the Mission Operations Training will include telemedicine and “Living off the NASA Television and broadcasts each mis- es the IMAX Ride Film in three 18-seat Division to allow guests to learn about crew Land.” It will show some of the plants that sion and special events live. motion-based theaters. escape systems, space suits (American and Mars explorers could grow. “To The Planets” is a theater that allows The fascinating, wide-ranging exhibits Russian) and the Mir space station. They “We will have a simulated Mars surface visitors to choose any of several films of the show many facets of U.S. and international also provide a virtual tour of the shuttle flight with robots controlled by the people in the digital flyovers of Venus, Mars, Miranda or space activity. Phase II has updated and deck, Earth observation images from space, habitat,” Ming said. The exhibit also will show the Apollo Program’s Lunar Rover on the improved the exhibits of the first phase, a shuttle landing video and a performance science that will be conducted on Mars includ- Moon. which opened in June 1997. by the astronaut band Max-Q. ing looking for signs of life, and how water The “Mars Surface Operations Exhibit” Work on the project began in mid-1966. could be extracted from the planet’s surface. allows guests to teleoperate a rover across The Moody Foundation suggested to JSC Hubble Images Other plans include new interactive the surface of Mars (complete with simulat- Director George Abbey that the two cooper- exhibits by Access Multimedia. They include: A Hubble Space Telescope kiosk allows ed Mars soil) and remotely sense different ate in a Moody Gardens expansion project. The human research facility on the Interna- visitors to peruse Internet sites pertaining to rocks. About 50 JSC workers from nearly every cen- tional Space Station, a scale showing what Hubble and its fascinating images of our uni- The museum displays two of the simulat- ter organization formed five teams to develop visitors would weigh on other planets, a mod- verse and solar system. Nearby, a simulator ed Mars surface tiles created by JSC for use ideas for the project. The best elements of el of the magnetic-plasma rocket engine allows visitors to build and explore their own in KC-135 Mars excursion suit experiments. each of their proposals were the basis for being studied for potential interplanetary trips, space station. Coming soon will be a simulated drill that exhibits in the 6,000-square-foot area. and space station and Mission Control simu- The United Space Alliance-sponsored will allow visitors to pull a core sample from lations for school groups. The Exhibits exhibit, “Mission Control Galveston,” shows the simulated Martian surface. The museum activities compliment those of shuttle orbit tracking, live NASA Television, The JSC Graphics Department and Public Space Center Houston, JSC’s official visitor As visitors walk up the stairs to the sec- and three interactive computer programs on Affairs Office contributed to designs enhanc- center. Both are major tourist attractions. JSC ond floor, they encounter a space suit with a shuttle history, shuttle missions and virtual ing each of the museum areas, including the officials say both help tell the story of human manned maneuvering unit suspended from tours of JSC and Kennedy Space Center. astronomy area that features a Moon rock space flight, a story that cannot be told too the glass ceiling. When guests approach the The International Space Station sample and a sample of a meteorite. widely or too often. ❑

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S98-05511 1) Pete Alcocer, a tour guide at Moody Gardens Discovery Pyramid, gives a lift to the “EVA astronaut” that greets visitors to the museum. 2 2) Travis and Amy Ashley drill a core S98-05509 sample of Martian soil at the Mars Surface Operations Display. 3) Dayna Lee, a student from Texas City, watches the bioreactor simulator turn in the Space Station Habitation Module. 4) Charles, Nikita and John, from Houston, visit the new Space Station Habitation module. Charles and Nikita check out the astronaut sleeping bag secured above her, while john cautiously investigates the bathroom facilities. 5 5) Mission Control Galveston offers S98-05513 visitors virtual tours of the JSC, Kennedy Space Center, information about the space shuttle and a history of the missions, computer tracking of the shuttle during missions and live television from NASA. Visitors may select the virtual tours from the consoles. The display is sponsored by United Space Alliance. 6) A Moody Gardens tour guide explains the science behind special glasses that break light down into its component colors. The guests are wearing the glasses as part of a demonstration at the Discovery Science Theater. 7) The Discovery Science Theater offers visitors demonstrations and scientific explanations of principles of physics with the use of educational toys. 8) Carla Renfro, an astronomy student from Olathe, Kan., reads about new astronomy discoveries using the Hubble Space Telescope. 9) Travis and Amy Ashley from Kingwood experience the X-38 mockup that allows visitors to view a video of an X-38 flight test. 4 6

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S98-05512 Page 6 Space News Roundup May 8, 1998 3535 YYearsears AgoAgo atat MSCMSC Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. builds LEM which will one day touch down on the Moon’s surface Excerpts reprinted from the May 1, mission another 70 days. several alternative preliminary designs 1963, issue of the Space News In addition to carrying staples (food, of lunar roving vehicles utilizing meta- Roundup. water, oxygen, spare space suits and lastic wheels. When Grumman Aircraft Engi- backpacks, a power supply and other A great deal of effort is expended in neering Corporation was founded in life support items), the LEM descent Grumman’s research and advanced 1929, its first business was repairing stage, or “truck,” as Grumman calls it development departments on study Loening amphibians. Today the Long could also accommodate a 10-foot programs which are associated with Island company is developing the vehi- diameter, pre-assembled shelter manned space flight but not necessar- cle under a NASA contract adminis- which would protect the astronauts ily with the lunar program. Among tered by the Manned Spacecraft from the lunar hazards of micromete- these studies is one designed to inves- Center, which will land the first orite showers, and solar flares. The tigate whether it is possible for astro- American astronauts on the moon. shelter could also contain enough life nauts to live comfortably in space sta- Since the company was selected as support, power supply and communi- tions rotating faster than four the prime contractor for the LEM pro- cations equipment to sustain astro- revolutions per minute, possibly as gram, it has completed preliminary nauts for as long as three months. high as eight revolutions per minute. analysis of equipment that might be Another possibility would be the Only the first half of this program has Top: Examining a one-eighth scale model of the lunar excursion mod- considered for common usage for the inclusion of a lunar roving vehicle been completed, but trends detected ule are (left to right) Rep. George Miller, chairman of the House Science command and service modules and which could be used by the astronauts in the study of test subjects indicate and Astronautics Committee; Joseph Gavin, Grumman vice president, LEM in a joint investigation with MSC; for cargo carrying purposes. that it may be possible for humans to and Joseph Mullaney, program director at Grumman for the lunar land- presented to MSC a preliminary con- The LEM-truck would be capable of perform space station functions at ing vehicle. Bottom: Astronauts Jim Lovell and Elliot See operate the figuration aimed at an early freeze of carrying a total payload of about 7,500 approximately 8 rpm for extended peri- lunar landing simulator at Grumman Aircraft. the LEM design; established perma- pounds. The concept, should NASA ods, if the radius from the hub is about nent representation at MSC and decide to employ it, could be accom- 50 feet. The increased rotation, how- Atlantic missile range, as well as tech- plished with minimum modification to ever, is not without its penalty of limit- nical liaison in Los Angeles for the basic LEM design and maximum ing the normal head motions a man California subcontractors; begun development efficiency. might make. development of plans for propulsion Another related facet of the logistic Experiments are being conducted in system testing at the White Sands mis- problem—the locomotion and control an enclosed environment, a 10-foot by sile range; and selected four major sub of lunar vehicles—was first investigat- eight-foot by eight-foot tilting room contractors for negotiations. ed by Grumman under a company- located on the company’s 46-foot- As of the month of April, approxi- funded study in preparation for the diameter centrifuge. Further experi- mately 1,000 personnel had been prospector program. ments with the tilting room and the assigned to the LEM program. It is cur- The company’s advanced develop- centrifuge will be performed to confirm rently anticipated that the staff com- ment department continues to corre- results already indicated about the plement on the LEM program would late optical, thermal and radiometric effects of a rotating environment in the more than double by the end of 1963. measurements of these samples for regions about 8 rpm upon man. Grumman is now completing a fund- further comparison to “signatures” pro- Some other study work Grumman is ed study for NASA designed to inves- vided by the actual surface. performing in the research and tigate the supplies necessary for sup- Consequently, engineers at Grum- advanced development departments port of the astronauts during an man have developed a type of wheel include a simplified guidance scheme extended stay on the moon. Begun in which is thought to be suitable to loco- for re-entering spacecraft; the direct September, the $79,095 study was mote a lunar vehicle because of its use of human balance and reflexes for completed in February. characteristics. Called a “metalastic” vehicle control; remote control of an As an addendum to this lunar logis- (metal-elastic) wheel, tests conducted unmanned lunar vehicle from Earth; tic study, Grumman’s preliminary in unconsolidated sandy type sub- thermal control and dynamic control of design department analyzed the basic stances indicate the wheel has the a rotating space station; and manned LEM vehicle for its suitability to carry properties of large footprints for weak simulator studies of Earth entry and several payloads. Recently presented soil, low unsprung weight to accom- orbital rendezvous. to NASA, the study indicates that the modate the dynamics of reduced lunar In addition to these studies, the descent stage of the lunar excursion gravity and invulnerability to microme- company has just begun advanced module could be stocked with the nec- teorites and low temperatures. design work on a vehicle which could essary provisions to extend a lunar The company has already prepared be used to carry astronauts to Mars. Gilruth Center News Ticket Window

Hours: The Gilruth Center is open from 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, and Bldg. 3 Exchange Store hours are 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Bldg. 11 Exchange Store hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Sign up policy: All classes and athletic activities are on a first come, first served basis. Sign up in person For more information, please call x35350. at the Gilruth Center and show a yellow Gilruth or weight room badge. Classes tend to fill up two weeks in The following discount tickets are available at the Exchange Stores: advance. Payment must be made in full, in exact change or by check, at the time of registration. No registra- General Cinema Theaters ...... $15.50 tion will be taken by telephone. For more information, call x30304. Sony Loew’s Theaters ...... $15.00 Gilruth badges: Required for use of the Gilruth Center. Employees, spouses, eligible dependents, NASA AMC Theaters ...... $14.75 retirees and spouses may apply for photo identification badges from 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday; and 9 Astroworld Early Bird Tickets (valid thru 5/31) ...... $18.50 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Cost is $10. Dependents must be between 16 and 23 years old. Astroworld One Day Admission ...... $24.25 Nutrition intervention program: Learn more about the role diet and nutrition play in your health. This six- (valid at all Texas Six Flags Theme Parks) week program includes lectures, a private consultation with the dietitian and blood analysis to chart your Astroworld Season Pass ...... $57.75 progress. The program is open to all employees, contractors and spouses. For more information call Tammie (valid at all Texas Six Flags Theme Parks at x32980. and Water World) Defensive driving: One-day course is offered once a month at the Gilruth Center. Pre-registration required. Moody Gardens (2 of 6 events) ...... $ 9.75 Cost is $25. Call for next available class. Sea World ...... adult $27.25 . . . .child (3-11) $18.25 Stamp club: Meets at 7 p.m. every second and fourth Monday in Rm. 216. Schiltterbahn ...... adult $20.75 . . . .child (3-11) $17.50 Weight safety: Required course for employees wishing to use the Gilruth weight room. The next classes Space Center Houston . . . .adult $10.25 . . . .child (4-11) $17.00 are scheduled for at 8 p.m. May 14 and 28 (must be on time to receive credit for class). Pre-registration is Metro Tokens and value cards available. required. Cost is $5. Annual weight room use fee is $90. Additional family members are $50. Coming Soon: Splashtown Water Park and Houston Comets Tickets. Exercise: Low-impact class meets from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Cost is $24 for eight Mark your calendar for the Book Fair - May 5-7. weeks. Aikido: Introductory martial arts class meets from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. New classes begin the first of each month. Instruction is by a fourth-degree black belt. Learn to defend yourself and get a great aerobic workout. Cost is $35 per month. Step/bench aerobics: Low impact cardiovascular workout. Classes meet from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost is $32 for eight weeks. For more information, call Kristen at x36891. Roundup Deadlines Yoga: Stretching Class. Low impact exercises expertly designed for people of all ages and abilities in a Westernized format 5-6 p.m. Thursdays. Cost is $32 for eight weeks. Ballroom dancing: Beginning and advanced students meet from 7-10 p.m. Thursdays. Cost is $60 per couple. Country and western dancing: Beginner class meets 7-8:30 p.m. Monday. Advanced class (must know The Space News Roundup is published every other Friday. Story ideas basic steps to all dances) meets 8:30-10 p.m. Monday. Cost is $20 per couple. should be submitted as far in advance as possible, but no later than two weeks Fitness program: Health Related Fitness Program includes a medical screening examination and a 12-week prior to the date of publication. individually prescribed exercise program. For more information call Larry Wier at x30301. The deadline for Dates & Data calendar items is three weeks prior to the date Gilruth Home Page: Check out all activities at the Gilruth online at: http://www4.jsc.nasa.gov/ah/ of publication. Stories and ideas should be submitted to Editor Kelly Humphries exceaa/Gilruth/Gilruth.htm in Bldg. 2, Rm. 180, or via e-mail to [email protected]. Retirees should submit change of address notices to the distribution group at Mail Code BT552 or call Ignacia Ramirez at 281-483-6161. May 8, 1998 Space News Roundup Page 7 JSC ready for Savings Bond campaign JSC is ready to kick off its annual rate is 5.59 percent. Bonds cashed year are to have a 5 percent increase Savings Bond campaign on Monday. before 5 years are subject to a three- in the number of employees partici- “I’m pleased to announce the month interest penalty. pating; a 10 percent increase in the beginning of the 1998 U.S. Savings “The purchase of U.S. Savings level of savings by current partici- Bond Campaign at JSC and encour- Bonds is an investment in tomorrow,” pants; and a 50 percent or more level age your participation in this worth- Abbey said. of participation. I encourage all while effort,” said JSC Director “The program provides numerous employees who do not now partici- George Abbey. “The purchase of other advantages. Interest earned, pate to consider this investment alter- savings bonds is important both to for example, is not subject to state or native. For those of you who already the well-being of the nation’s econo- local taxes, and Federal tax liability participate, I encourage you to con- my and to the personal savings pro- can be deferred until the bonds are sider increasing your payroll deduc- grams of individuals.” cashed. In addition, when bonds are tions,” he said. The purchase of savings bonds is redeemed for the purpose of financ- Campaign coordinator Teresa a transaction where both the buyer ing higher education—yours or your Sullivan said bonds are available in and seller profit. Interest rates are children’s—interest earned under $100, $250, $500 and $1000 incre- market based and are adjusted every some circumstances is completely ments and the minimum biweekly 6 months, climbing as market rates tax free. I encourage each of you to allotment is $3.75 increase. Each May 1 and Novem- talk to your organization’s represen- “I look forward to your support and ber 1, the Treasury announces the tative to learn more about the Sav- commitment to this very important rate which is 90 percent of the aver- ings Bond program,” he continued. program, Abbey said. If you have age 5-year Treasury security yields “Our campaign will run May 11-25, questions about U.S. Savings Bonds, JSC Photo 98-05534 for the 6 months before the rate during which time you will receive contact your directorate campaign Carol Hill, secretary to the Director of Business Management, announcement. Bonds earn those more information about the program,” coordinator or Teresa Sullivan at receives the Marilyn J. Bockting award for secretarial excellence rates right from the start; the current Abbey noted. “NASA’s goals this x31034.” from JSC Director George Abbey. People on the Move President Hill receives top salutes public Human Resources reports the following personnel employees changes as of April 25, 1998: secretary honors President Bill Clinton saluted the millions of Americans who devote Key Management Assignments their time and talents to public ser- Carol Hill, secretary to the Shannon also stated that Hill, Mark Hammerschmidt was selected as chief, Guidance, Navigation vice in a special Public Service Director of Business Manage- “has organized and structured and Control Design and Analysis Branch, Engineering Directorate. Recognition Week (May 4-10) mes- ment recently received the the flow of correspondence and Cliff Hess was named chief, Special Projects Office, Engineering sage this past week. Marilyn J. Bockting award for reporting through the directorate Directorate. “Public service is among the most secretarial excellence. Hill was office in a highly competent and Betsy Hodges was selected as chief, Supply and Materials Branch, noble—and demanding—of voca- recognized for her competence professional manner.” Center Operations Directorate. tions,” the President wrote. “Through- in dealing with the overall busi- Shannon noted that Hill, “has Dave Ladrach was selected as manager, Engineering Products out my years in government, I have ness responsibilities of the cen- provided an organizational struc- Office, Space Shuttle Program Office. been privileged to know and work ter. ture and process flow that signifi- Rich Rodriguez was selected as chief, Crew Station Branch, Space with extraordinary men and women James Shannon, director of cantly enhances the competence and Life Sciences Directorate. who have recognized both the business management, stated, of the directorate.” Additions to the Workforce responsibilities of public service and “Carol brings to this senior posi- Hill also was cited for stabiliz- the opportunities it offers to improve tion the highest of personal and ing the large volume of work John Ira Petty joins the Public Affairs Office as a public affairs spe- cialist. the quality of life for others. professional integrity, polished moving through the directorate “Day in and day out, in a variety of technical skills in providing lead- and for providing an organiza- Connye McLendon joins the Transportation Branch in the Center Operations Directorate as a secretary. settings and at every level of govern- ership to the directorate secretar- tional structure and process flow ment, these quiet heroes work to give ial staff and a genuine caring atti- that significantly enhances the Promotions their fellow citizens the tools and tude for others.” competence of the directorate. Debra Eaton was selected as the secretary of the Institutional opportunities to make the most of Business Management Office. their lives,” Clinton wrote. “Providing Debra Wilson was selected as the secretary of the Occupational vital family, health, and educational Safety and Institutional Assurance Division in the Safety, Reliability, and services, improving transportation Quality Assurance Office. and water quality, defending our free- Krishen appointed to Linda Green was selected as the secretary to the manager, White dom and preserving our environment, Sands Test Facility. each day public employees meet the needs of a dynamic and diverse pop- medical physicists board Reassignments Between Directorates ulation. They have succeeded in Chris Gerty moves from the Engineering Directorate to the Mission making government work better and The Texas Board of Licensure NASA centers, industries, universi- Operations Directorate. cost less, in forging effective partner- for Medical Physicists recently ties and other government agen- Peter Bethke moves from the International Space Station Program ships at all levels of the government, appointed JSC’s Kumar Krishen to cies. Krishen also represents JSC Office to the Engineering Directorate. and in honoring the trust placed in its ranks. as the principal technologist on the Dave Whittle moves from the Safety, Reliability, and Quality them by their fellow citizens. The board oversees licensing NASA Council on Science and Assurance Office to the Space Shuttle Program Office. “On behalf of a grateful nation, I and licensing procedures for pro- Technology. Dalia Riojas moves from the Mission Operations Directorate to the salute America’s public employees fessional medical physicists and Krishen earned a bachelor of sci- International Space Station Program Office. for the hope and help you bring to processes complaints. ence degree in mathematics and Reassignments to Other Centers individuals, families and communities Krishen, chief technologist for physics, a masters degree in radio Chris Popp of the Engineering Directorate moves to the Marshall every day. You have dedicated your the technology transfer and com- physics and electronics, and a doc- Space Flight Center. skills and energy to fulfill America’s mercialization office at JSC, is torate in electronics. Jack Bullman of the International Space Station Program Office bright promise for all our people, and responsible for developing strate- Krishen was appointed to an moves to the Marshall Space Flight Center. you have rightly earned the respect gies for joint research and technol- unfilled position on the board and lasting appreciation of all those ogy projects and plans with other through January 1999. you have served.” Dates&Data

May 8 Robinette and Doyle Caterers, 216 Astronomy Seminar will meet at MAES meets: The Society of AIAA meets: The American Insti- Space society meets: The Clear Kirby in Seabrook. Dinner costs $14. noon May 13 in Bldg. 31, Rm. 129. Mexican American Engineers and tute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Lake chapter of the National Space For details, call Sina Hawsey at An open discussion meeting is Scientists will meet at 11:30 a.m. will meet at 7 p.m. May 21 at the Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. May 8 x36582. planned. For more information, call May 20 at Bldg 16 Rm. 111. For Gilruth Center grand ballroom. Jim at the Radisson Hotel, 9100 Gulf Aero club meets: The Bay Area Al Jackson at x35037. details, call George Salazar at Adamson, chief operating officer for Fwy. in the Deer Park room. Dr. Aero Club will meet at 7 p.m. May PSI meets: The Clear Lake NASA x30162. United Space Alliance, will speak on Kenneth Cox, assistant to the direc- 12 at the Houston Gulf Airport club- Chapter of Professional Secretaries Astronomers meet: The JSC “Shuttle Privatization.” The social tor, engineering directorate, will house at 2750 FM 1266 in League International will meet at 5:30 p.m. Astronomy Seminar will meet at begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at speak on “A Futurist’ Perspective for City. For additional information, call May 13 at Bay Oaks Country Club noon May 20 in Bldg. 31, Rm. 129. 6:15 p.m. Reservations are required Space. “ For additional information, Larry Henderson at x32050. Cost is $21 for dinner. For informa- An open discussion meeting is by May 15. For details, call Janet call Murray Clark at 367-2227. tion, call Elaine Kemp at x30556. planned. For additional information, Stewart at 333-6724 or Nellie Moen Astronomers meet: The JSC May 13 call Al Jackson at x35037. at x30934. Astronomical Society will meet at Spaceland Toastmasters meet: May 20 Scuba club meets: The Lunafins 7:30 p.m. May 8 at the Center for The Spaceland Toastmasters will Spaceland Toastmasters meet: will meet at 7:30 p.m. May 20 at Pot May 27 Advanced Space Studies, 3600 Bay meet at 7 a.m. May 13 at the House The Spaceland Toastmasters will Pie Pizzeria at Watergate Marina. Astronomy seminar: The JSC Area Blvd. Jim Morrison will speak of Prayer Lutheran Church. For meet at 7 a.m. May 20 at the House For additional information, call Mike Astronomy Seminar will meet at on celestial time keeping. For details, call George Salazar at of Prayer Lutheran Church. For Manering at x32618. noon May 27 in Bldg. 31, Rm. 129. details, call Chuck Shaw at x35416. x30162. additional information, call George Dr. Larry Friesen will speak on Communicators meet: The Clear Salazar at x30162. May 21 “Hypervelocity Impact with Light Gas May 12 Lake Communicators will meet at Communicators meet: The Clear Child care board: The Space Guns.” For additional information, ISS media workshop: Reporters 11:30 a.m. May 13. For information Lake Communicators will meet at Family Education board of directors call Al Jackson at x35037. and editors from around the world and location, contact Henry Duke at 11:30 a.m. May 20. For additional for the JSC Child Care Center will Spaceland Toastmasters meet: will be at JSC May 12-14 for an 280-4403 or Melissa Sommers at information and location, contact meet at 11:30 a.m. May 21 in Bldg. The Spaceland Toastmasters will International Space Station Media 332-0698. Henry Duke at 280-4403 or Melissa 45, Rm. 712D. For additional infor- meet at 7 a.m. May 27 at the House Workshop. Televised briefings on Spaceteam Toastmasters meet: Sommers at 332-0698. mation on this open meeting, call of Prayer Lutheran Church. For NASA TV and demonstrations are The Spaceteam Toastmasters will Spaceteam Toastmasters meet: Gretchen Thomas at x37664. details, call George Salazar at planned. For more information, call meet at 11:30 a.m. May 13 at United The Spaceteam Toastmasters will SHPE meets: The Society of x30162. the JSC Newsroom at x35111. Space Alliance, 600 Gemini. For meet at 11:30 a.m. May 20 at United Hispanic Professional Engineers will Spaceteam Toastmasters meet: NPMA meets: The National details, call Chuck Kubricht at 282- Space Alliance, 600 Gemini. For meet at 6:30 p.m. May 21. For addi- The Spaceteam Toastmasters will Property Management Association 3908 or Brian Collins at x35190. details, call Chuck Kubricht at 282- tional information and location, call meet at 11:30 a.m. May 27 at United will meet at 5 p.m. May 12 at Astronomers meet: The JSC 3908 or Brian Collins at x35190. Juan Anaya at 587-6824. Space Alliance, 600 Gemini. Page 8 Space News Roundup May 8, 1998 NASA Briefs Boy makes first ‘Earth walk’ on trip to lake (Continued from Page 1) “The body cooling system was Factory of Carmichael, Calif., provid- expose to sunlight. ed last September to 4-year-old Kyle changed from a battery-powered liq- ed the protective outer garments. Taking a cue from Apollo astro- and 2-year-old Ryan Richards of uid pump unit to a passive phase DRLI Co., which supplies protective nauts, Mikie picked up rocks and New device uses Shotton Colliery, England. The broth- change vest, made of material simi- coatings for astronaut’s space suit tossed them into the first large body reflectivity to detect ers have Polymorphic Light Reaction lar to freezer cold packs used for helmet, supplied the clear UV-block- of water he’d ever seen. He became Syndrome, a serious allergy to light sports injuries. The vest is simple, ing coating for Mikie’s face visor. attracted to a patch of buttercups plant stress earlier that causes severe skin lesions. Last less expensive and more durable According to HED Foundation’s and gathered a bouquet for his moth- Thanks to a new imaging fall, the boys, who looked like junior than the original battery pump,” said Moody, who presented the NASA er. Staring up at a tree he tool developed at Stennis astronauts, wore their protective suits Robert Dotts, assistant director of suit to the Walker family, a giggly, announced, “Someday I’m going to Space Center in South Missis- to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and Technology Transfer and Commer- jumping Mikie couldn’t wait to don climb a tree just like my older broth- sippi, farmers and foresters also viewed a space shuttle launch at cialization. his “space suit” and explore the out- er.” He adopted “Sparky,” a caterpil- may now be better able to the Kennedy Space Center. The new phase change vest is door world of his home planet for lar he found crawling on his gloved detect unhealthy crops and Thanks to the “expert” feedback easier to use for both children and the first time. The family headed for hand. trees before the damage provided by the Richards brothers, their families and brought the cost of a local lake and, for the first time as “It is said that a person never becomes visible to the naked NASA developed an upgraded ver- the entire suit down to about $1,700 well, Mikie could look at the walks as tall as when he stoops eye—information that may be sion of the protective garment. The from more than $2,000, Dotts said. scenery out the van’s windows. down to help a child. Well let me tell used to increase crop produc- suit’s headpiece was redesigned MicroClimate Systems Inc., of Previously, the passenger windows you, there’s many, many tall people tion. Plant stress is the adverse totally to enhance ventilation and Sanford, Mich., supplied the phase of any vehicle Mikie rode in had to who work at NASA,” said HED reaction of plants to environ- reduce overheating in the head area. change vest, and the Solar Protective be completely covered to prevent Foundation president Moody. mental conditions that are unfavorable to growth, such as lack of sufficient nutrients, inadequate watering, disease New pagers or insect infestation. The reac- tion with which most people are familiar is a change in leaf color, but research has found have local that in many cases, pre-visible signs of stress can be detected using the proper instruments and techniques. Plant stress area code can be monitored, in part, by observing variations of the Starting this month, almost all JSC employees who plant’s reflectance in two spe- use pagers will get new ones as the center joins other cific wavebands of light. NASA installations using the new agencywide pager Relative levels of chlorophyll, contract awarded to Air Touch Inc. the pigment that enables pho- The pager contract provides new pagers using the tosynthesis and gives plants 281 area code and reduces JSC’s costs, said Jim their green color, can be deter- Doyle the Information Systems Directorate’s pager mined by measuring the plant’s coordinator. The contract offers paging capabilities and reflectance of light in those services comparable to the pagers being replaced. parts of the spectrum. During the past five years, JSC’s pagers have been provided by Mobilecomm. That contract expires in July. NASA, EPA help The incremental exchange of pagers will be conducted from May 1 to July 1 through directorate and division cities study ways to offices. ISD will work with those offices to minimize the use urban forests impact and inconvenience of the exchange. Three U.S. cities will partner NASA-WSTF 0398-0645 “I’ve laid out a plan to exchange pagers within an with NASA and the Environ- TOUR DE FORCE—Russian propulsion systems manager Felix Lebedev (arms fold- organization to allow them to update their contact lists mental Protection Agency to ed, sunglasses) and a group of engineers from JSC supporting the International once,” Doyle said. “This is also a good time to look at study how strategically placed Space Station recently visited White Sands Test Facility. The entourage also wit- where pagers are assigned to make sure they are “urban forests” and the use of nessed the firing of an OMS engine, examined shuttle flight and test hardware and being used appropriately.” reflective surfaces may help observed operation of a developmental unit of the space station oxygen recharge Replacement pagers will be issued to contractors cool cities, reduce pollution, compressor being designed and built at WSTF. From left: Charlie Goldstein, Todd with approval by the appropriate JSC contracting offi- lower energy bills, modify Peters, Dave Harris, Maureen Dutton, Terrence Kelly, Tien Nguyen, Lebedev, Mark cer. Lost Mobilcomm pagers will be reported by com- growth plans and help mitigate Kitt and Francisco Hernandez. pleting a Report of Survey describing the nature and further deterioration of air quali- circumstances connected with the loss of this leased ty. Researchers from Marshall equipment. For details, call Doyle at x34048. Space Flight Center will study bubble-like accumulations of hot air, called urban heat Don’t forget to recognize implementers: Low lecturer islands, and how these change between day and night. Heat (Continued from Page 1) teach the classes, but earned double Management had never been chal- been recognized yet. That’s what we islands develop over cities as the newly created GM University. credit for teaching. The kicker was lenged in that way before, he said. learned at Saturn.” naturally vegetated surfaces “People need to feel a sense of par- that all of their employees had to And it led to the establishment of The key, he said, is helping them are replaced with asphalt, con- ticipation in the decision process. complete their 92 hours as well. core values for everyone in the com- along in their development. crete, rooftops and other man- People need to be involved in deci- “It was a magical thing,” LeFauve pany, one of which was a dedication “The way you transfer knowledge made materials. The sions that affect them. said. “In the process of 92 hours, we to “customer enthusiasm.” is through a formal recognition of researchers want to demon- “Think about this country. That’s had to think up what it is we were “You will never be second guessed education and training. Every one of strate that by “cooling” a city, it what we’re founded on,” he said. “As going to teach, what it is we wanted if you do the right thing for the cus- us as a leader has a responsibility to is possible to directly reduce a result, our government sustains people to know. We began to teach tomer” was the slogan, LeFauve be exposed to new ideas, to discuss energy use by buildings, which itself through some very tough times.” people simple things, like what are said. “We generally exceeded the them, to buy into them and then to in turn reduces greenhouse When GM began to explore these we all about? What is the purpose of customer’s expectations. I think teach them. If you are still teaching or gas emissions and ultimately different ways of doing things, he Saturn? What’s the purpose of that’s what really built the Saturn managing the way you managed 10 improves the air quality. said, management decided that if NASA? What’s the purpose of brand, was this sense of focus on years ago, shame on you unless Additionally, individuals, busi- union workers were going to begin General Motors? You’ve got to know the customer.” you’re a wonderful person and were nesses and governments can participating in the decision-making that in order to do your job. In the LeFauve, who began his GM 10 years ahead of your time.” save money by reducing the process, it would have to teach them process it was very interesting how career in 1956 as an engineer with In honoring employees, those who amount of energy consumed. about business. Saturn started a pro- hungry the people were for that Packard Electric Division in Warren, are often forgotten, LeFauve said, Based on the results of the pro- gram that would require 92 hours a knowledge.” Ohio, said he is sometimes asked are the implementers. ject, the science team plans to year of education and training for The classes made it clear to work- whether leaders are born or made. “In my company, I recognize im- disseminate its findings nation- everyone in company. Each employ- ers that the company would not sur- “It doesn’t make any difference. plementers, I don’t recognize new ally so other cities also can ee would be involved in a risk and vive if customers didn’t buy its prod- There are so many of them around ideas. Ideas are a dime a dozen—it’s incorporate what the team has reward system that included a 20 uct. Employees on the factory floor us that we don’t know about. There the people who make new ideas learned into their long-range percent pay cut that they would “buy began asking questions like “How are leaders everywhere at different work. We would like to have people growth plans. back” by completing their training. many cars do we have to sell to pay parts of the organization at different fail on new ideas with the idea that Saturn managers also had to take for this thing you in management stages of development. There are we’ll know at least that we’re trying the pay cut and were required to want to do?” hundreds of leaders that haven’t new ideas.” High school students learn much from zero-g flights (Continued from Page 1) was the one-word summary most In that program, teams of under- a unique environment in which real per, that curious sensation of not- often given during and after the flight. graduate students were competitively work is done for the space program,” The Roundup is an official publica- ready-for-prime-time physics comes The students were participants in selected to fly their experiments on Godwin said. “I feel it is extremely tion of the National Aeronautics about. They are experiencing what the Fly High Program, JSC’s pilot the KC-135 in the Spring of 1997. important to bring the ‘real world’ into and Space Administration, Lyndon only a handful of human beings project to fly high school researchers NASA’s Education and Information high school classes. There, it is often B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, and is published have—the feeling of weightlessness. on the KC-135 research aircraft. Services Branch, in partnership with difficult to visualize ‘what you want to every other Friday by the Public Bobbing and weaving like a boxers Students flew experiments examining the Texas Space Grant Consortium, do when you grow up’ because the Affairs Office for all space center in a prize fight, the first members of microgravity measuring devices, which administers both programs, educational environment is mostly employees. Deadline for the sub- the high school KC-135 flight pro- global positioning systems, blood worked with science coordinators classroom-related.” mission of articles is Friday, three gram take their readings and make pressure, coatings inside microcap- from Clear creek, Houston and Another strongly positive outcome weeks before the desired date of observations. Back at Ellington, sules, magnetic fields and EVA Austin independent school districts. was that students generally surprise publication. ground crews and other team mem- construction activities. Teachers The teams reported their men- themselves, and learn more than the The Roundup office is in Bldg. 2, Rm. 181. The mail code is AP3. bers huddle around the TV set in the accompanied their students and tors—Coy Kouba, Dennis Morrison, required technical facts. Michael Cox, The main Roundup telephone flight ready room. Images of their participated in the experiments. John Charles, Kevin Hames, Russell a junior from LBJ High School in number is x38648, and the fax teammates alternately floating and “NASA is always looking for ways Carpenter, Susan Gomez, Chad Austin said, “I think that dealing with number is x45165. Electronic mail then being pressed into the KC-135s to use its mission to encourage Rowe, Linda Godwin, Mary Flores, the politics and red tape that sur- messages may be directed to padded floor fill the screen. young people to study science and Alan Currie and Loretta Hidalgo— rounded this entire project (at least [email protected] This is science in action, proving technology,” said Donn Sickorez, were a valuable resource in terms of locally) was an education in and of or [email protected]. the concepts that they have only read NASA university affairs officer. “This technical help and inspiration. itself. Realizing just how important Editor ...... Kelly Humphries about; this is loosing the surly bonds program seemed like a logical out- “The best part of working with the politics and human interaction are Associate Editor . . . . .Leslie Eaton of Earth and learning that science growth of our undergraduate stu- students was seeing talented high gives new light to the complexity of has few, if any, boundaries. “Cool!” dent flight program.” school students get a chance to see the real world.” NASA-JSC