April 21, 2000 Vol. 39, No. 8 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

Mission update Bridges, new leaders meet STS-101 wish you always had.” employees at the GS-13 grade and KSC 2000 moves All GS-15 employees were to below into their respective posi- toward next round have been notified of their new tions within the new organizations. positions by April 21. Round 2 of Most employees will move with the A major element of the KSC the leadership staffing process, their current work functions. Every 2000 reorganization activities is filling the new and supervisory GS- KSC employee will be notified by under way with the placement of 14 level positions, is scheduled to the WPT of their position by the center’s leadership personnel. be completed by April 28. All high- May 2. Personnel moves are being Preparations continue Center Director Roy Bridges grade GS-15 and GS-14 positions planned for May 25-29, over the toward an April 24 launch recently spoke to the newly not filled through the leadership Memorial Day weekend. for STS-101, the third selected GS-15 leaders at KARS staffing will be reviewed at a later In his address to the leadership construction mission to the Park. date through the normal high-grade staff Bridges said, “You are International Space Station. “This is about leadership,” review process. responsible and accountable to set For more details, please see Bridges said. “Get out and help us In parallel with the leadership up the organizations. Make sure the story on Page 2. pull together to make it work. Be a staffing process, the Workforce model of the kind of leader you Planning Team (WPT) is placing (See KSC 2000, Page 6)

PlantingseedsPlantingseeds Cryogenics lab opens ofknowledgeofknowledge MARS experiment gives students chance to pack a Shuttle payload

For elementary school teacher that encouragement, Scott re- Betty Scott, what seemed an mained so doubtful about the idea outlandish question has led to an that she didn’t place the call. invaluable opportunity. Fortunately for Scott and her During a parent open house a students, Chamberland wound up few years ago at Melbourne’s with the teacher’s name and called Suntree Elementary School, the her himself. The result is that when father of one of Scott’s students the Space Shuttle Atlantis launches spoke to her fourth-grade class on mission STS-101, Scott’s about his work at KSC. When Lee science class will supply a small Maull finished his talk and took part of the cargo in the MARS questions, Scott half-seriously (“Mission to America’s Remark- tossed out one that she considered able Students”) Experiment. entirely far-fetched: Would it be To hear the buoyant Scott possible for her class to send a discuss it, one might think she KSC Director Roy Bridges strikes a hammer to a cryogenically frozen science project into space? herself will be onboard Atlantis. ribbon during a ceremony April 14 to unveil the Cryogenics Testbed The man said it might be “It’s just the most exciting thing Laboratory.The new research facilities include the Cryogenics Test possible and gave her a card Laboratory, Liquid Nitrogen Flow Test Area, Hazardous Test Area and for a teacher, and for the kids, too,” the Launch Equipment Test Facility. A large gathering of local and state bearing the name of Dennis Scott said in her rapid-fire, effusive government and industry officials attended the dedication ceremony. Chamberland, a bioengineer manner. “This is something they’re The project represents a key milestone in expanding KSC’s involved in the KSC Space Life development capabilities. Sciences Outreach Group. Despite (See Students, Page 2) Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS April 21, 2000 Replacement of unit keeps mission on track

The Space Shuttle Atlantis ture was moved back into position Concurrent with other Shuttle 4:15 p.m. on April 24, managers remains on schedule for an April 24 around the Shuttle. Workers then processing efforts, technicians plan to begin the launch countdown launch for mission STS-101. reestablished access to the replaced replaced an electronic control box at 7 p.m. on April 21. Landing is During standard testing at PDU and reconnected the hydraulic located in the orbiter’s aft compart- scheduled for May 4 at about 12:51 Launch Pad 39A, technicians lines. ment. The box amplifies the p.m. detected a faulty power drive unit Because of the PDU change-out, electrical signal transmitted from a STS-101 prepares the Interna- (PDU) for Atlantis’ rudder/speed technicians conducted a full multiplexer/demultiplexer to the tional Space Station (ISS) for the brake. Launch managers decided to hydraulic system test for Shuttle orbiter’s aerosurfaces. Technicians arrival later this year of the replace the unit at the pad, and the main engines and aerosurfaces. also replaced a leaky hydraulic Russian-made Zvezda service work was completed on April 13. Subsequent data review will fluid discharge hose on the main module. The second Shuttle Following that replacement confirm the system’s readiness for pump for auxiliary power unit. docking with the ISS will include work, the Rotating Service Struc- flight. With launch scheduled for about one space walk.

Students ... tubes, each approximately the size (Continued from Page 1) of a portable coffee container, were loaded and carefully sealed in a going to remember for the rest of clean environment at Kennedy their lives. It’s motivated my Space Center. Technicians then students to get more interested in fitted the tubes into the “gascan” science.” cylinder, which was bolted to an The manifest for STS-101 interior wall of the Space Shuttle includes a Get Away Special Atlantis’ payload bay. MARS will Canister, or “gascan,” a special fly as a passive payload, one that is container designed to carry small, not manipulated during flight and autonomous payloads. The con- doesn’t have any automatic tainer will transport the MARS functions. Payload, which consists of 20 tubes The 20 schools — ranging from filled with materials chosen by elementary to high school — students from the United States and worked independently on their Canada — including Scott’s class. projects. Most decided to fill their The MARS experiment arose tubes with seeds, though the types after Goddard Spaceflight Center’s vary widely and include sunflower, Small Shuttle Payloads office watermelon, loquat, radish, green notified the KSC Space Life bean, soy bean, turnip and poppy. Sciences Outreach Group of an Other materials also were placed opportunity to fly a Get Away into the tubes: freeze-dried bacte- A NASA technician seals one of the tubes containing students experiments Special experiment on the Space ria, freeze-dried brine shrimp, that will be carried aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Shuttle. Following approval from plastic samples, soil and yeast. NASA Headquarters for the Following nearly 10 days in Scott said her students will plant The lag time between planning project, each school was invited to space aboard Atlantis, the tubes the seeds, comparing their growth and launch in the space program design a payload that dealt specifi- will be removed from their canister to that of seeds stored underwater creates a sense of continuity for cally with Space Life Sciences. in a controlled environment at and others treated normally. They Scott’s school. The students who “The idea was that the schools KSC’s Orbiter Processing Facility will plant the palm, loquat and designed the current payload are would have the freedom to pick and returned to the respective tabebuia seeds around a newly now sixth-graders and no longer in whatever Space Life Sciences schools. Supervising teachers will constructed pavilion at the school Scott’s class, but she tells them, experiment they wanted, as long as then use the materials for class- in hopes of producing “MARS “You’re always a MARS student.” it fit inside the constraints of the room investigations and projects. trees” that will inspire future In addition to Suntree Elemen- tube and our safety experts agreed In deciding how to fill its allotted students. tary, seven of the participating it was safe to fly,” said space, Scott asked each of her The Suntree class has been schools are from Central Florida: Chamberland of the Biomedical students to discuss the matter with involved in the MARS program for Longleaf Elementary (Melbourne), Office. their parents. The students then several years, participating in Cocoa Beach Christian School, The KSC Space Life Sciences made classroom presentations, experiments and designing its own Golfview Elementary (Rockledge), Outreach group has sponsored pitching their ideas about materials MARS T-shirts each year. Scott’s Oak Park Elementary (Titusville), occasional student experiments on to put in the tube. A classroom vote students grew tomato plants from Teague Middle School (Altamonte Space Shuttle flights. The KSC determined the winning combina- seeds that were used in a previous Springs), Southwest Junior High group sponsored the Seeds II tion: popcorn kernels, yeast, experiment. (Palm Bay) and Brevard experiment on STS-90 and partici- watermelon seeds, sunflower seeds “The first thing they do when Homeschool Co-Op (Cocoa). The pated in the Seeds I flight on the and the seeds of three kinds of trees they come in every day is go and remainder include schools from Long Duration Exposure Facility. — weeping sand palm, loquat look at those tomato plants,” she Florida, Indiana, Oklahoma, The MARS payload’s plastic (Japanese plum) and tabebuia. said. Michigan, California and Canada. April 21, 2000 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Crew counts on preparation

The crew of STS-101 participated in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) activities at KSC on April 6-7. Clockwise from top: STS-101 Pilot Scott J. “Doc” Horowitz shows his excitement as he takes his seat inside Space Shuttle Atlantis for a simulated launch countdown. ... At the 195-foot level of the Fixed Service Structure on Launch Pad 39A, the crew receives instruction in making an emergency exit with a slidewire basket. Seen from left are Mission Specialists Yuri Usachev and ; Commander James Halsell; Mission Specialists James Voss, and Jeffrey Williams (standing behind), Horowitz. ... Settled in their seats inside Space Shuttle Atlantis are (left to right) a trio of mission specialists — Russian cosmonaut Usachev, Helms and Voss. ... During a break in TCDT activities, the STS-101 crew takes time for a photo at Launch Pad 39A. The white solid rocket booster and external tank attached to Space Shuttle Atlantis can be seen behind them. Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS April 21, 2000 ScenesScenes fromfrom aa picnicpicnic

The KSC All-American Picnic, held on April 15 at KARS Park, provided a variety of entertainment for approximately 5,000 employees. Clockwise from top left: Take One, an Asian dance ensemble, performs with oversized drums. ... Children await the balloon creations of a man whose hat identifies him as “Press.” ... Center Director Roy Bridges rides aboard a 1938 Ford fire engine during the picnic’s opening ceremonies. A group of astronauts occupies the aft compartment of the vehicle. ... Children find something to keep them occupied at the park’s playground. ... A KSC employee and his youngster spend some time with a space-suited host. April 21, 2000 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5

More scenes from the KSC All-American Picnic: In the photo above, a member of Thunderhawk Big Cat Rescue brings out one of its great cats for an audience during a “Wildlife Encounter.” The Native American, non-profit group based in Brevard County is dedicated to the preservation of large cats. At right, astronauts and former KSC employees (left) and Kay Hire get acquainted with some potential future space explorers.

Administrative Apollo 16 professionals get their due astronaut with breakfast tries out April 24-28 is Administrative a new seat Professionals Week. In recognition of the occasion, Almost exactly 28 years after the NASA Executive Secretarial launching on Apollo 16, former Council will host an an “Adminis- astronaut sits in trative Professionals Breakfast” on the cockpit of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Duke, who Wednesday, April 26. contributed to the placement of All NASA/KSC secretaries, instruments in the original clerical personnel and their bosses Space Shuttle cockpit, had are invited. The buffet breakfast never been inside an orbiter will be held from 8:30-10 a.m. in before his recent trip to KSC. the Mission Briefing Room Duke now can say that he has (Operations and Checkout Build- been in the same seat as former ing). colleague , who flew James Jennings, deputy director on the first Space Shuttle mission in 1981. Duke and for business operations, will give a Young explored the surface of 10-minute address. Following the moon together in a lunar breakfast, there will be a talk by the rover as part of Apollo 16, which guest motivational speaker — launched on April 16, 1972. Marilyn Sherman, co-author of the Duke, 64, now lives in Texas. book Chicken Soup for the Soul. The points of contact for tickets are Diane Carillion, 867-6565; Mary Conklin, 867-4545; Sue Gross, 867-4343; Maxie Johnson, 867-8794; Penny Myers, 867-2386; and Beth Smith, 867-7246. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS April 21, 2000 Shriver leaves KSC for industry job

Loren J. Shriver, a former Space place. I will be able to apply all that Before joining the astronaut Shuttle astronaut who became one I learned in my new job. I’ll miss program, Shriver had a distinguised of KSC’s highest-ranking execu- everybody.” career in the Air Force. The Iowa tives, has retired from NASA to As Space Shuttle program native earned a Bachelor of Science take a position in private industry. manager for launch integration, degree in aeronautical engineering Shriver, 56, began work at KSC Shriver was responsible for final from the Air Force Academy in as the Space Shuttle Program Shuttle preparation, mission 1967 and followed that with a Manager for Launch Integration in execution, and return of the orbiter master of science degree in 1993. He had served as Deputy to Kennedy following landings at astronautical engineering from Director for Launch and Payload Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Purdue University in 1968. Processing since 1997. Shriver has From October 1992, he served as During a 12-year career as a been named deputy program deputy chief of the astronaut office fighter pilot, he accumulated more manager of operations for United at the in than 6,200 hours in high-perfor- Space Alliance, NASA’s prime Houston. mance jets. contractor for the Space Shuttle After joining the astronaut Shriver has received many program. program in 1978, Shriver flew on notable awards, including the “I will really miss Loren. He three Space Shuttle missions. He United States Air Force Distin- provided extraordinary leadership Launch and Payload Processing served as pilot for STS-51C in guished Flying Cross, the Defense in his broad areas of responsibil- Systems. Those included payload 1985, and fulfilled the role of Superior Service Medal, the ity,” KSC Director Roy Bridges carriers, Space Shuttle processing commander on two subsequent Defense Meritorious Service said. “All of us at KSC wish him and launch and processing of missions, STS-31 in 1990 and STS- Medal, the Air Force Meritorious well and look forward to seeing payloads that included International 46 in 1992. His first flight was a Service Medal, the Air Force him often. He will bring tremen- Space Station elements, as well as Department of Defense mission Commendation Medal, the NASA dous knowledge and capabilities to responsibilities assigned to the that included deployment of a Distinguished Service Medal, the USA’s Shuttle program manage- Center for expendable launch modified Inertial Upper Stage NASA Outstanding Leadership ment team.” vehicles. (IUS) vehicle from the Space Medal, the NASA Space Flight In his capacity as a deputy “I had a great tour at KSC and Shuttle’s payload bay. The STS-31 Medal (three times), the American director, Shriver was responsible learned an awful lot about the mission was noteworthy for Astronautical Society 1990 Flight for executive leadership, strategic operations that happen down here,” deploying the Hubble Space Achievement Award and the planning and direction for KSC’s Shriver said. “There is nothing like Telescope, and STS-46 released the American Institute of Aeronautics Agency-assigned responsibilities as being here and experiencing the European Retrievable Carrier and Astronautics Haley Space the Center of Excellence for actual ground processing taking (EURECA) satellite into space. Flight Award for 1990.

“Grasp it so we can move ahead KSC 2000 ... as a high performance team,” (Continued from Page 1) Bridges said. “We must measure so we know what to improve. We have you are committed to the organiza- lots to learn about our customer. tion and people. Nurture, coach and Who are they and how do we mentor to help them to rise to their deliver the best possible service.” full potential. Let go of the people James Jennings, deputy director and let them expand their horizons for business operations, said, “We and have a variety of experiences. have 160 new employees coming to Be conscious of the reliance on KSC. They are depending on us to each other and value teamwork and make it work. partnerships.” He emphasized that “We need to rely on each other to safety is the number one priority at make sure we all do our part and KSC. the whole organization will work KSC Director Roy Bridges and Deputy Director for Business Operations James well. I look forward to working Bridges told the Center leader- Jennings, right, meet with employees to discuss the recent appointments of ship to continue using KSC’s with each of you.” high-level personnel as part of the ongoing KSC 2000 reorganization. Roadmap and objectives in making Employees can learn about the KSC successful. He encouraged the new organization during an answer questions. vision. In conjunction with his attendees to hold on the passion for employee “Open House” tenta- Assuming final approval is visit, each director will share success and the strong character tively planned on May 8 from 8:30 received from NASA Headquarters, insight into the new organization and values that have made KSC so a.m. to noon in the Operations and all personnel changes will be and answer questions. That successful. He also advised the Checkout Building Mission effective May 7. On May 9, afternoon, civil service employees team to assess the products Briefing Room. In trade show-type Bridges is scheduled to visit each are invited to a KSC 2000 kickoff delivered to their internal/external fashion, directors will be on hand directorate to emphasize the celebration at KARS II from 3-5 customers and measure how well to discuss their new organization’s importance of the employees’ new p.m. Refreshments will be pro- they are serving the customer. roles and responsibilities, and role in deploying the KSC 2000 vided. April 21, 2000 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Hubble’s candle bright on 10th birthday

A spectacular morning launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery 10 years ago, on April 24, 1990, ushered in a new golden age of astronomy. The payload in Discovery’s cargo bay, NASA’s , was released by the crew into Earth orbit the next day and the Universe hasn’t looked the same since. Even though initially impaired by a flaw in its main mirror (it was expertly made but to the wrong The U.S. Postal Service has released a series of stamps commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Hubble Space “prescription,” causing its images Telescope. Hubble was launched from KSC aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990. to be blurred), Hubble’s position above the distortion of Earth’s single observatory,” said Dr. Ed newspapers, television and the supermassive galactic black holes; atmosphere enabled it to begin Weiler, associate administrator for Internet.” the majestic birth of stars in making major discoveries even Space Science, NASA Headquar- In its first 10 years, the 12.5-ton monstrous stellar clouds; planetary before astronauts repaired it in ters, Washington, D.C., who has Earth-orbiting Hubble has studied systems forming around other stars; 1993. When corrective optics were been associated with the Hubble 13,670 objects, has made 271,000 extraordinary arcs, shells, and installed during that dramatic first program since 1978. “But what individual observations, and has ribbons of glowing gas sculpted by servicing mission, the Universe may be even more important in the returned 3.5 terabytes of data, the deaths of ordinary stars; mega- suddenly snapped into sharp focus, long term is what Hubble has given which have been archived as a megaton blasts produced by the and there followed a flood of to just about everyone on Earth. scientific treasure trove for future impact of a comet into the cloud spectacular images and discoveries Hubble’s spectacular images and generations of astronomers. Its tops of Jupiter; the surface of which have forever changed how discoveries of black holes, collid- rapid-fire scientific achievements mysterious Pluto; and galaxies at we view the cosmos. ing galaxies and bizarre objects at have resulted in more than 2,651 the edge of space and time. “Hubble’s rate of discovery is the edge of the Universe have been scientific papers. Hubble was conceived to tackle simply unprecedented for any brought into millions of homes by “Not since Galileo aimed a small scientific goals that could be 30-power telescope into the night accomplished only by an observa- sky in 1609 has humanity’s vision tory in space. Its mission is to of the Universe been so revolution- spend 20 years probing the farthest Happy about history ized in such a short time span by a and faintest reaches of the cosmos. single instrument,” said Dr. David Crucial to fulfilling this objective is Leckrone, Hubble Project Scientist a series of on-orbit servicing at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight missions by Space Shuttle astro- Center, Greenbelt, Md. “The nauts. The third of those was Hubble Space Telescope has seen performed last December. farther and more clearly than any These missions extended visible-light telescope before it, and Hubble’s scientific power with new has revolutionized the science of instruments; modernized its astronomy. It already has earned a systems with new technology; and place as one of the wonders of the performed critical maintenance and modern world.” repairs of its optics, solar arrays, Hubble’s photographic hall of gyros and other components. As a fame includes the deepest view result, Hubble is a far more capable ever of the Universe in visible observatory than when it was light; a peek into the environs of launched.

Sally Putnam Chapman, second from right, receives a commemorative Free tags solve any identity crisis plaque after her appearance as guest speaker at the Women’s History Month luncheon in the Saturn V Center. Chapman, author of the book NASA and Cape Canaveral Air be carrying around: Whistled Like a Bird, entertained the audience of about 150 people Force Station rules require that all • KSC Headquarters Building, with stories of the life of her grandmother, Dorothy Putnam, an avid briefcases, gym bags, equipment VRC Badging Office, Room 1470 naturalist, socialite and explorer; her step-grandmother, the famous bags, backpacks and packages must • Vehicle Assembly Building aviator Amelia Earhart; and her grandfather, well-known publisher and have an identification tag. As a Gate F Badging Station adventurer George Putnam. Joining her, from left, are Liz Wise, Federal service to all employees, J-BOSC • Pass and ID Station 1 on Women’s Program Coordinator; Kenny Aguilar, director of the Equal Security Services is issuing free ID Phillips Parkway near the CCAFS Opportunity Program Office; Tracy Anderson, Federal Women’s tags. South Gate Program Working Group chairperson; and Jean Rhodes, Federal Drop by the following locations • Pass and ID Station 3 on NASA Women’s Program Manager for KSC. to get a tag for whatever you might Causeway near Gate 3 Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS April 21, 2000

Making progress Bookman earns Fame for marketing efforts

Pamela Bookman, a Kennedy Beck and Drake helped formu- Space Center employee, recently late a lubricant used on the pins joined the United States Space connecting the one-ton tractor tread Foundation’s Space Technology belts of the Hall of Fame. crawler, which Bookman, marketing program itself weighs six manager in KSC’s Technology million pounds. Programs and Commercialization The crawler, Office, was inducted for her role in designed for the helping a private company market a Apollo program product originally developed for in the 1960s, the space program. Sun Coast carries the Chemicals of Daytona Beach, Fla., Pamela Bookman Space Shuttle sells many products based on X-1R three miles Crawler Track Lube, an advanced from the Vehicle Assembly lubricant used for the giant crawler- Building to the launch pad. transporters that deliver the Space During that trek, lubricants must Shuttle to the launch pad. withstand pressures as high as 12 “That’s what we try to do in our million pounds, the combined A recent aerial photo shows the continued progress in construction of office — transfer technology and weight of the Shuttle and its Mobile the remote launch vehicle hangar., located at the south end of the try to help companies be successful Launcher Platform. The lubrication Shuttle Landing Facility. Next to the multi-purpose RLV hangar are in their ventures,” Bookman said. is used to reduce wear and noise facilities for related ground support equipment and administrative/ “It’s a win-win situation for NASA and to lengthen component life. technical support. At the bottom of the photo is the tow-way road which as well as for the company.” The lubricant, biodegradable and connects the runway with the Orbiter Processing Facility. Bookman was officially inducted non-toxic, arose from an Environ- on April 6 at the 16th National mental Protection Agency finding Space Symposium in Colorado that the previous lubricant was Survey: NASA workers among Springs, Colo. Joining her were environmentally unacceptable. The Richard H. Beck and Daniel A. resulting product, X-1R Crawler most satisfied in government Drake, KSC employees of NASA Track Lube, has been featured in contractor United Space Alliance NASA’s “Spinoff” magazine as an According to a newly published participation in cross-functional and the developers of the lubricant. example of technology transfer to government survey, NASA employ- teams; and supervisors/team leaders The Hall of Fame honors the private sector. ees enjoy a greater level of job understanding and supporting innovators who have transformed KSC received a commemorative satisfaction than most other federal employees’ family and personal technology originally developed for plaque in recognition of Bookman’s workers. The National Partnership responsibilities. the space program into commercial induction. for Reinventing Government “I am incredibly proud of these products. Bookman’s induction “There’s a lot of competition (NPR) Employee Survey showed results,” NASA Administrator marked the first time since 1990 from across the country, so we’re NASA employees gave the agency Daniel S. Goldin said. “They that a KSC employee has been very pleased to win it,” Bookman the highest favorable ratings in 14 represent a strong statement of the recognized by the foundation. said. out of 32 categories. top-to-bottom excellence of the NASA’s highest favorable NASA team. ratings were in the areas of “NASA strives to uphold core John F. Kennedy Space Center employee job satisfaction, customer values related to people, excellence orientation and placing reinvention and integrity,” Goldin added. “Our Spaceport News as a priority. greatest strength is our workforce.” NASA’s employees pointed to The 1999 Employee Survey is several factors for the high ratings: part of a program administered by employee involvement in decisions the National Partnership for 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 that directly affect them; recogni- Reinventing Government and the KSC civil service and contractor employees. tion for creativity and innovation Office of Personal Management to Contributions are welcome and should be submitted two weeks before and for doing a good job; working study Federal workers and to gain publication to the Media Services Branch, AB-F1. E-mail submissions can be as a team; and getting quality an understanding of employee sent to Gary.White-4@ksc..gov results. perspectives on reinvention and Managing editor...... Bruce Buckingham NASA also finished with the workplace issues. Editor...... Gary White highest favorable ratings on You can find additional survey Editorial support provided by InDyne Inc. Writers Group. questions about managers commu- information on the Internet at: NASA at KSC is located on the Internet at http://www.ksc.nasa.gov nicating the organization’s mis- www.nasa.gov/newsinfo/ sions, vision, and values; employee survey.html USGPO: 533-128/00030