March 24, 2000 Vol. 39, No. 6 Spaceport News America’s gateway to the universe. Leading the world in preparing and launching missions to Earth and beyond. http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/snews/snewstoc.htm John F. Kennedy Space Center Rolling Robots

Students put wizardry on display as KSC hosts annual competition

It had all the sights and sounds Garden focused its gaze not on the of a typical high school sports competing students themselves but competition: the color-coordinated on a collection of mechanical banners, the throaty chants, the gladiators operating on 12-volt brassy pep band, the nervous batteries. chatter, the exultant high-fives and KSC hosted the Southeast FIRST Astronaut David Brown, center, gets to know members of the ComBBat team the disappointed frowns. Robotics Competition on March 9- from Titusville and Astronaut high schools during the robotics competition. But this event, with its elements 11, the fourth straight year of the of a track meet and a basketball Center’s involvement with the the national championship to be high school students, and the scene game, also had the aspect of a event. The competition brought held April 6-8 at Epcot Center. in the Rocket Garden suggested science fair. After all, the enthusias- together 29 teams representing 47 The competition’s founders they have been successful. Between tic throng in the bleachers at the schools from Florida and seven intended to promote enthusiasm for KSC Visitor Complex’s Rocket other states. Winners advanced to science and engineering among (See Robots, Page 3)

Mission update Magnetic mission set to fly STS-101

Shuttle managers have set IMAGE will record a target launch date of no halo around Earth earlier than April 17 for Space Shuttle Atlantis on Having successfully measured STS-101. The new date most of the Earth’s surface on STS- accommodates Shuttle 99, NASA now explores the processing and flight crew planet’s magnetic space environ- training requirements. ment. The “Imager for Magneto- Space Shuttle Atlantis was pause-to-Aurora Global Explora- scheduled at press time for tion” (IMAGE for short) is a rollout to Launch Pad 39A spacecraft designed to study the on March 24. global response of the Earth’s Landing is planned for magnetosphere to changes in the April 28 at Kennedy Space solar wind. Center. IMAGE was scheduled at press STS-101 will prepare the time to launch March 25 from International Space Station Vandenberg Air Force Base in (ISS) for the arrival later this California. KSC’s Expendable year of the Russian-made Launch Vehicle Program office will Zvezda service module. The manage the launch for NASA. second Shuttle docking with The magnetosphere is an area of the ISS will include one space around our planet that is space walk. The IMAGE spacecraft, shown during processing activities at Goddard Space Flight Center, will capture pictures of the Earth’s magnetosphere. (See IMAGE, Page 2) Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS March 24, 2000 KSC produces 2nd bone marrow match

Another Kennedy Space Center samples will be analyzed thor- employee, Elaine Wood, recently oughly for the compatibility of was notified that her marrow is an additional blood components to exact match for a person dying of confirm that she is the perfect leukemia. The “match” is with a 6- candidate. year-old boy diagnosed with acute “I’m excited to be a perfect lymphocytic leukemia. match for this 6-year-old boy,” said Wood, an employee with Yang Wood. “One day it could be my son Enterprises, Inc., joined the or daughter that has a need for National Marrow Donor Program marrow. This is my gift.” (NMDP) during the 1997 KSC KSC has had two additional Marrow Registration Drive. Three employees in the past who matched years ago at the registration drive, all six Human Leukocyte Antigens Wood had a small sample of blood Elaine Wood, right, an employee of Yang Enterprises, Inc., meets with KSC’s (HLA), which are found on blood only previous bone marrow donor, Ed Markowski of NASA. taken which was later typed and the cells. However, alternate donors information stored anonymously on with perfect HLA matches were N.Y. Markowski and Wood were be immediately transported to the the NMDP Registry. The prelimi- selected after further testing proved originally typed during the 1997 6-year-old boy. nary analysis showed Wood is a them to be superior matches. KSC Marrow Registration Drive. Last month, KSC, in a new perfect match for the young boy, After learning of her status, If all goes well with the confir- partnership with Patrick Air Force with six out of six genetic markers. Wood met Ed Markowski, the first matory testing, Wood’s next step Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force The next step for Wood was to KSC employee to be an exact will be a complete physical Station, concluded its third Marrow proceed with further confirmatory match for a leukemia patient. examination and eventually Registration Drive. The campaign testing, including more blood Markowski donated his marrow in “harvesting” of the life-saving culminated with nearly 1,100 samples that were taken at the KSC January 1999 to Kevin Castine, a marrow at St. Luke’s Hospital in employee’s names being added to Occupational Health Facility. The railroad worker from Champlaign, Jacksonville. The marrow will then the NMDP Registry.

Tickets for IMAGE ... KSC Picnic (Continued from Page 1) controlled by Earth’s magnetic field. It helps keep out charged go on sale particles from the solar wind, including high-energy particles that The KSC All-American Picnic come from solar flares and coronal 2000 has something for just about mass ejections. The magnetosphere everyone: astronauts, sports and is not a perfect shield. When the games, animals, rides, robots, Sun is very active, ionized gas is music, cars, fishing and clowns — able to penetrate the magneto- not to mention a chance to see co- sphere and high-pressure solar workers and their families. winds can cause the magnetic field The picnic will be held Saturday, to be squeezed and buffeted. April 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at KSC Director Roy Bridges, third from left, purchases the symbolic first ticket During periods of gusty solar KARS Park I in Merritt Island. to the KSC All-American Picnic. Members of the picnic planning committee, wind, powerful magnetic storms from left, are Warren Wiley, Michael Guzman, Roger Hall, Fran Brauer, Nancy Tickets are $4 for adults (ages 13 cause vivid auroras, radio and Hoffman and Dick Lyon. and up) and $3 for children (ages 3 television static, power blackouts, to 12). Children under 3 are of great cats, and Greyhound Pets planned appearances by Max Q and navigation problems for ships admitted free. Tickets can be of America. Recreational activities (the astronaut band) and Reflec- and airplanes with magnetic purchased at NASA Exchange on the agenda include a kids’ tions, as well as bagpipers. The compasses. There can even be Stores, locations in most KSC fishing tournament, softball and popular cultural cuisine displays damage to satellites and spacecraft. major buildings and several Cape volleyball games, a skateboard again will give guests the chance to IMAGE will be launched into locations. demonstration and rock climbing. sample a variety of dishes. an orbit that loops from a low point Many exciting events are A car show also is planned. And, of course, astronauts will of 600 miles to a high point of planned for the day. There will be A children’s carnival, a petting be on hand to meet with employees almost 27,000 miles. From that wildlife exhibits, including zoo, clowns and rides will give the and their families. vantage point, IMAGE’s instru- demonstrations by Thunderhawk day something of a circus atmo- For a list of picnic events and a ments will look back and be able to Big Cat Rescue, a Native American sphere. As always, musical picnic map, visit the Web site: see the inner structure of the group dedicated to the preservation entertainment will abound, with http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/events/ magnetosphere. 2000/picnic/ March 24, 2000 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3

Robots ... Lopez said. “I’m still in contact (Continued from Page 1) with some of the kids from the past teams, and many of them are matches, members of the Space involved in engineering.” Coast FIRST team huddled around The competition follows a their bright pink RoccoBot like format devised by For Inspiration handlers around a boxer. and Recognition of Science and “For all of us who are into this Technology (FIRST), a non-profit kind of thing, we just love it,” said organization based in New Hamp- Denny Caldwell, a Rockledge High shire. The high school students, senior on the Space Coast team. working with volunteer technical “This is heaven to us. This is what mentors, begin with identical crates I’m going to be doing for the rest of mechanical components supplied of my life, I hope.” by FIRST and then spend six weeks KSC was a co-sponsor for 21 of constructing robots. the 29 teams, 16 of which were The robots can weigh up to 130 from Florida. In addition, 18 KSC pounds and must start each match employees served as mentors to with dimensions in inches no larger local teams, guiding the designs of than 30-by-36-by-60. Students the robots. KSC awarded 20 grants operate their machines by remote of $5,000 each to entrants from control, manipulating joysticks Florida, Arkansas, Minnesota, from behind a Plexiglas wall. Ohio, and South Carolina. In all, The two-minute competitions NASA sponsored more than 100 of take place in a rectangular space the 491 teams in the national with two sets of racks at its center. competition. KSC and three other The object is to make the robot NASA centers provided the use of pick up balls arranged against a facilities to another 35 teams. wall and deposit them in the racks, Eduardo Lopez del Castillo of with extra points awarded for the KSC’s Technology Programs and less plentiful black balls. Four Commercialization office has been teams compete at a time in alli- a primary force in the competition’s ances of two that aren’t revealed growth among Brevard County until just before each match. schools. He first began making In addition, teams get extra presentations at local schools four points for having their robots on a ABOVE: Members of Voltage, the South Brevard FIRST Team, prepare a years ago, and helped KSC become ramp between the racks as the robot called Sparky for the Southeast Regional FIRST Competition. The team a regional host last year. period ends. The largest bonus goes included students from Eau Gallie, Satellite, Palm Bay, Melbourne, Melbourne In addition, Lopez served this to a team whose robot grasps a bar Central Catholic and Palm Bay high schools. The competition took place in year as a mentor to the Space Coast connecting the racks and hangs the Rocket Garden at KSC’s Visitor Complex. BELOW LEFT: The robot Dr. Beevil, operated through remote control by FIRST team. Such is his rapport from it as the time expires. members of the Bee Bots, scores points by dunking balls into a rack during a The temporary pavilion at the with the students from Rockledge match. Four teams competed in a two-on-two arrangement during matches. and Cocoa Beach that they refer to KSC Visitor Complex’s Rocket The Bee Bots, one of 16 teams at the competition sponsored in part by him simply as “Ed.” Garden was a hive of frenetic Kennedy Space Center, hail from Morristown, Ind. “We have developed an incred- activity as the matches took place BELOW: Members of the ComBBat team follow the action intently during the ible relationship, and I have seen in quick succession. Between first day of competition. The team included students from Astronaut and them grow from little kids to very matches, teams carried their robots Titusville high schools. Sponsored by KSC, the team was taking part in the responsible people I can rely on,” to a nearby tent, where they lifted FIRST competition for the third straight year. Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS March 24, 2000 their machines onto tables and scrambled to make adjustments. For robots in need of major repairs, KSC made its Prototype Laboratory available to the teams. The robots themselves displayed as much individuality as the students who made them. Colors ranged from hot pink to neon green, with teams supplying such touches as a bright orange smiley face. The machines — amalgams of Plexiglas, aluminum, PVC pipes, rubber belts and bicycle chains — varied widely in the designs that were intended to capture the balls from the ground and lift them into the six-foot-high racks. Jennifer Eggers, a Titusville TOP: Four High senior and a member of the teams prepare to put their ComBBat team for the third robots to work straight year, worked on the design during a trial team for “Tippy 2K” and operated match. Teams a joystick during matches. Eggers are placed in said the project has managed to “alliances” of unite students from rival schools — two during Titusville and Astronaut. competitions “I love working together with the but don’t learn other people,” Eggers said. “We of the pairings until just before have four really dedicated Boeing the match and NASA mentors, and we work begins. with them every day at the Boeing shop. At first, I was like — I don’t know about this. But I’ve been working on it for three years and now we’re like a big family. Everybody is going to hate leav- ing.” ABOVE: Students from the Orange Crusher team make The composition of the teams modifications to their robot, Rust Bot, during the FIRST didn’t fit stereotypes about competition. The team from Winter Springs and Lake Howell high schools had one of the most distinctive- “techno-geeks.” Most teams looking entries at the event. included as many girls as boys, and Eggers was typical of many award and advanced into the ABOVE LEFT: Members of the team from Orlando Edgewater High School students in not having any back- semifinal rounds. The CombBat get help from employees in KSC’s Prototype Laboratory while making repairs ground in engineering. Team of Titusville and Astronaut to their robot, HERO. The Prototype Lab contribute repair services to any “It’s a wide range, from artists to high schools will be competing in teams in need during the competition. scientists,” said Jason Mellen, a the Motorola Midwest Regional in Palm Bay High freshman and a Evanston, Ill., from March 23-25. BELOW: Students from one of the winning teams, Heat Wave, receive member of the South Brevard The Space Coast FIRST Team of congratulations from judges and KSC officials, including Deputy Director for Business Operations James Jennings. The team includes students from Voltage team. “It takes all kinds.” Rockledge and Cocoa Beach high Lakewood and Osceola high schools in Pinellas County. The overall winners of the schools will be competing in the regional competition were Benilde- New England Regional in Hartford, St. Margaret’s School of Mountain Conn., from March 30 to April 1. Home, Ark., sponsored by Baxter The three Brevard County teams Engineering; St. Petersburg will compete in the Nationals at Lakewood and Osceola high Epcot Center on April 6-8. schools, sponsored by Baxter “I would like to thank the many Healthcare; and Williamston Career volunteers from NASA, contractor and Technology Center of Ander- organizations and the community son, S.C., sponsored by KSC and who helped make the FIRST Robert Bosch Corp. Regionals at KSC such a huge The South Brevard entrant success,” Center Director Roy received a “Rookie All-Star” Bridges said. “Without their award. The Central Brevard entrant assistance, an event of this magni- received the Most Photogenic tude would not be possible.” March 24, 2000 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 Fertilizer-producing filter added to Pad 39A

The next Space Shuttle mission operations it automatically comes will be devoted to the continued on and controls the process,” growth of the International Space Parrish said. “Its operation is Station. In an indirect way, the essentially transparent to the mission also will contribute to the workers. It automatically offloads growth of oranges here on Earth. the scrubber sump to the trailers. A system for converting vapors No one needs to worry about it from the Shuttle’s hypergolic until the receiving trailer is full.” oxidizer into fertilizer was installed Hypergolic propellants — those at Launch Pad 39A in early March. that generate power through Already in use, it will receive its chemical reactions — produce biggest test during fueling opera- emissions not only in flight tions for STS-101. preparations at the pad but also in The installation of the Improved maintenance operations at other Nitrogen Tetroxide Scrubber locations, including the Orbiter follows a five-year process of Processing Facility and the HMF. development and production. The Scrubbers are in place wherever concept — devised by Clyde hypergolic propellants are used. Parrish, formerly of Dynacs Once the new control system at the Engineering Co. Inc., and now with pad proves successful, KSC will NASA — arose from consulting have the option of developing and work he had done in the 1970s installing similar devices on its involving chemical separations. other scrubbers. The new system NASA/KSC engineer Dale Lueck reduces emissions to 10 percent or contributed plans for a hydrogen less of the previous levels. peroxide controller, and Dynacs The Air Force has talked to KSC produced the scrubber system officials about using the system on under the direction of the NASA launch pads at Cape Canaveral Air Instrumentation Lab. It was Force Station, although no plans installed by United Space Alliance. The Nitrogen Tetroxide Scrubber, shown at top on a trailer, has been installed exist yet. The system also could be “It’s good to see something in the Oxidizer Farm at Launch Pad 39A. used in the future at other NASA you’ve been a part of go to comple- launch sites and test facilities. tion,” Parrish said. “We will be fertilizer will replace 10 percent of produced during loading or The innovation also has commer- happy to see this all come together the amount purchased at KSC, maintenance operations into a cial potential. Parrish noted that and operate like we expected and as resulting in an annual savings of trailer stationed nearby. Once the many industries — including power the tests indicated it would.” approximately $20,000. Equally trailer has been filled, the fertilizer plants and metal finishing opera- The Space Shuttle uses nitrogen important, the conversion process will be taken to its destination. tions — use processes that produce textroxide as the oxidizer for the eliminates KSC’s second largest Parrish estimated that preparations oxides of nitrogen. Should KSC hypergolic propellant for its on- source of toxic waste and saves for STS-101 will produce enough license the technology to busi- orbit reaction control system. When about $60,000 on disposal costs. fertilizer to fill two trailers. nesses, the resulting royalties the oxidizer is transferred from Parrish said the system automati- “The system is designed so that would make the system even more ground storage tanks into the cally transfers the fertilizer when you start the scrubbing financially beneficial. Shuttle storage tanks — and during maintenance operations — some Fair gives employees look at United Way services nitrogen tetroxide vapor develops as a by-product. KSC has used a Kennedy Space Center and Cape Gen. Donald Pettit will make Take advantage of this opportu- scrubber system since the 1980s to Canaveral Air Force Station would remarks at the Mission Briefing nity to learn about the services in capture the toxic vapor, preventing like to invite all employees to come Room. They will then visit the our community to help you and it from escaping into the atmo- to the Employee Information FAIR FAIR at the LCC. They will also your family in a trying situation. sphere. (Free Access to Information and speak at Hangar F on March 30 at KSC even has buses running The new control system traps the Referrals). The FAIR is being held 10 a.m. between the Launch Control Center vapor in water and then uses March 28 at the O&C Building The Employee Information FAIR and the Operations and Checkout hydrogen peroxide to produce nitric Mission Briefing Room and the features 50 United Way community Building. Additionally, you can acid. The addition of another lobby of the Launch Control Center service vendors. Carol Cavanaugh, enjoy chair massages, sample compound, potassium hydroxide, and March 30 at Cape Canaveral chair of the Community Relations chiropractic adjustments and win converts the nitric acid into Air Force Station Hangar F from 9 Council, said: “You might not need great door prizes. potassium nitrate, a commercial a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. This is the these services now, but this is your Event sponsors are KSC Com- fertilizer. first year a joint KSC/CCAFS chance to find out who to call if munity Relations Council in Plans call for the resulting event is being sponsored. you need them in the future.” conjunction with Cape Commander fertilizer to be used on the orange On March 28 at 10 a.m., KSC Sound too good to be true? A Community Outreach Council, and groves that KSC leases to outside Director Roy Bridges and 45th free event held each year just as a United Way and Community companies. Parrish said the Space Wing Commander Brig. service to employees? That’s right. Services Council. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS March 24, 2000 KSC officials prepare for dry season The phrase “hazardous fuel” is point that the prescribed fires can familiar to KSC workers involved no longer be managed safely. in processing space vehicles. But in Barring drastic changes, KSC has certain conditions, the phrase seen its last controlled burn of the applies to entirely different season. materials found in abundance on After conducting some small the Center and also in need of fires earlier in the winter, the careful management. Refuge’s Fire Management Office Typical winter weather yields managed a fire in early March that dry conditions throughout Central covered nearly 1,000 acres south- Florida, KSC and the Merritt Island east of the Launch Complex 39 turn National Wildlife Refuge basin. Walsh said the fire was (MINWR), increasing the possibil- controlled with four fire engines, a ity of wildfires. Wooded areas bulldozer, a water-bearing helicop- Controlled burns, such as this one in 1997, are intended to preserve animal lacking in moisture can become ter and at least 12 firefighters on habitat and reduce the risk of wildfires. potential kindling. the ground. KSC covers 140,000 acres, with Walsh’s office planned a fire of The index, which measures KSC and Cape Canaveral Air Force only about 10,000 acres developed similar size for woods near the moisture levels in the soil, ranges Station. for mission operations and support. intersection of Schwartz Road and from zero to 800, with 600 consid- Before the fire is lit, managers That leaves a considerable expanse Kennedy Parkway the following ered the threshhold of dangerously make sure the designated burn area of woodlands, which become week. But a series of events halted dry conditions. is surrounded by buffers — either vulnerable to wildfire threats those plans. Complications in In early March, most of Brevard natural (such as bodies of water) or during dry periods. That possibility planning with Cape Canaveral Air County was in the 500 range and man-made (such as bulldozed lies behind the controlled burns Force Station arose, and an rising. But Walsh said measure- trenches). Walsh’s crew starts the sometimes conducted by officials executive order from the Florida ments taken near the Shuttle fire either from the edges with a from the refuge, with which KSC governor’s office put that and Landing Facility showed an index “drip torch” or at a more central shares boundaries. future controlled burns on hold. In of 350-400 — significantly less point by using a flamethrower. “The reason for burning is to addition, wildfire concerns have led dry. By mid-March, however, the The early March burn reached restore some value as scrub jay to increased restriction by regional reading was nearing 600, the level the base of a tree bearing an active habitat and also to reduce the authorities. beyond which controlled burns are eagle nest, though the birds were hazard fuel danger,” said Kevin Extremely low rain totals during considered unsafe in upland areas. not harmed. Walsh said he under- Walsh, fire management officer for January and February prompted a Walsh said considerable planning stands the concerns of those who the refuge. rise in the Keetch-Bryam Drought goes into all controlled burns on wonder what effect the fires have But the dryness has reached the Index for most of Central Florida. KSC property. His office writes a on animals. But he said uncon- plan, taking into account such trolled fires would do far more factors as soil conditions, smoke damage on lands that are home to New food contractor dispersal and the impact on threatened or endangered species. wildlife. “I’ve been burning for 25 years, Once the plan is complete, Walsh and I’ve seen very little in the way set to deliver changes must submit it to KSC officials for of wildlife mortality,” Walsh said. approval. Of course, all prescribed “In the long run, the benefit for Anybody order a pizza? That will will be providing mobile conces- burns are planned around launch improved habitat is good for be a possibility in the future, one of sions for visitors attending Space and processing activities both at wildlife overall.” several changes in store as a result Shuttle launches and introducing a of a new food services contract. pizza delivery concept never before Beginning April 1, Lackmann offered to KSC employees. John F. Kennedy Space Center Culinary Services of Woodbury, Lackmann also is planning to build N.Y., will take over the operation and operate an on-site, drive- Spaceport News and management of the KSC Food through convenience store. Service Program, which consists of Lackmann officials said they will seven separate food service units, emphasize healthy offerings in their two mobile service units and a menus, with all the cafes serving Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and is published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office in the interest of central warehouse. subs and wrap sandwiches. During KSC civil service and contractor employees. Lackmann received a four-year the first three days of the new Contributions are welcome and should be submitted two weeks before contract, with three two-year option operation, food sampling will be publication to the Media Services Branch, AB-F1. E-mail submissions can be periods extending into 2010. offered in all the cafes. sent to [email protected] In addition to the day-to-day In addition Lackmann will be Managing editor...... Bruce Buckingham feeding of KSC’s 14,000 employ- updating the look of all the Editor...... Gary White ees, Lackmann also will provide cafeterias. Editorial support provided by InDyne Inc. Writers Group. catering services for dinners, Lackmann operates 74 accounts NASA at KSC is located on the Internet at http://www.ksc.nasa.gov receptions and other special events nationwide with an annual sales at the Center. The company also volume of $85 million. USGPO: 533-128/00028