October 2014 Vol. 1 No. 7 National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Kennedy Space Center’s

MAGAZINE

PAIR OF CONTRACTS E-MIST EXPERIMENT RESCUED KENNEDY AWARDED TO JOURNEYS TO EAGLE ‘STARS’ AT FLY ASTRONAUTS STRATOSPHERE TEXAS THEME PARK PAGE 8 PAGE 4 PAGE 24 Ground Systems Education and ISS and Spacecraft Information Launch Services Commercial Center Operations Development and External Relations Processing Technology Program Crew Program Operations

NASA’S KENNEDY SPACE CENTER’S LAUNCH SPACEPORT MAGAZINE SCHEDULE Date: No Earlier Than Oct. 20-- 9:29 p.m. EDT Mission: Orbital-3 Commercial Resupply Services CONTENTS Flight 4 �������������������E-MIST experiment soars in Earth’s stratosphere Description: Launching on an Antares rocket from 7 �������������������Kennedy prepped station-bound seeds Wallops Flight Facility, Orbital-3 will deliver cargo and crew 8 �������������������NASA announces crew transportation contracts supplies to the ISS.

11 ����������������Tech Roadmaps target solar system, deep space Date: Oct. 29 ����������������MAVEN meets Mars Mission: Progress 57 12 Description: Launching on a 14 ����������������Delta IV boosters attached first Orion flight Russian Soyuz from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, 20 ����������������Team supports Orion Underway Recovery Tests Progress 57 will deliver cargo and crew supplies to the ISS. 24 ����������������Kennedy eagle lands in San Antonio Date: Nov. 23 26 �����������������Brilliant launch kicks off scientific cargo run to ISS Mission: Expedition 42 ����������������SpaceX CRS-4 payload processed by Kennedy Launch to the ISS 29 Description: Launching on 32 ����������������Ensuring safety, reliability of spacecraft software Soyuz 41 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, 36 ����������������Tom Joyner reunion encourages STEM education Soyuz 41 will take Terry Virts and Samantha Cristoforetti to 40 ����������������NASA OK’s Ground Systems’ progression the ISS.

Date: No Earlier Than December Mission: SpaceX 5 Cover: On Sept. 16, NASA announced two Back: A four-image mosaic of Comet Commercial Resupply Services I am a program analyst in the Resources Management Office of Kennedy Space contracts that will enable the agency to launch ChuryumovñGerasimenko was taken Sept. 19 Flight with Cloud-Aerosol Center Office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) co-located to the Launch Services its astronauts from Florida’s Space Coast. These when the spacecraft Rosetta was about 18 miles Transport System Program (LSP). I support all fiscal and resources management activities related to the vehicles will carry four crew members and critical away. The European Space Agency’s Rosetta Description: Launching LSP Flight Projects Branch. One of my primary responsibilities is to ensure that the cargo, doubling the amount of scientific research mission will deploy its lander, Philae, to the from Cape Canaveral Air visions of the CFO -- making sure dollars make sense -- and the LSP Program are Force Station, Fla. SpaceX 5 performed on the International Space Station. surface of comet Nov. 12. NASA contributed ALICE, met by ensuring the program provide on-cost launch services to its customers. Learn more on Page 8. MIRO, and IES - plus a significant portion of the will deliver cargo and crew electronics package for another instrument. supplies to the International My most challenging and rewarding tasks are using my acquired analytical skills to Photo credit: ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM Space Station. develop customized budget solutions for LSP internal and external customers. In doing so, I accommodate all the financial mission requirements for my assigned mis- sions from inception to launch. I also enjoy the outreach opportunities and events I Editorial Writers Group Graphics Group have participated in since joining NASA, and it is extremely rewarding to see the kids’ THE eyes light up when they learn about NASA at these events. SPACEPORT Managing Editor...... Chris Hummel Bob Granath Anna Heiney Richard Beard Amy Lombardo Cooper DeAntae Editor...... Frank Ochoa-Gonzales Kay Grinter Linda Herridge Lynda Brammer Matthew Young To me, working for NASA is a rewarding career and far beyond my wildest dreams. I MAGAZINE take great pride in viewing the launches of LSP missions and knowing that I am part TEAM Assistant Editor...... Linda Herridge Frank Ochoa-Gonzales Steven Siceloff Greg Lee of the team that makes it happen. Copy Editor...... Kay Grinter

SPACEPORT Magazine 3 Preparations are underway Aug. 24 to launch NASA’s E-MIST experiment on a giant scientific balloon gondola from Ft. Sumner, New Mexico, into the stratosphere above the Earth. Photo credit: NASA/David J. Smith

Up, Up and Away E-MIST experiment soars in Earth’s stratosphere BY LINDA HERRIDGE

ASA’s Exposing Microorganisms E-MIST was contained in a special Nin the Stratosphere (E-MIST) carrier that was conceived and built experiment launched to the at Kennedy’s Prototype Development lead, Smith, and engineers microbes, and to demonstrate “The stratosphere is an stratosphere on the exterior of a giant Laboratory. The 80-pound structure from NASA’s Rocket University hardware functionality, then affordable and accessible scientific balloon gondola at about features four doors that rotate to provided guidance, mentoring closed again. Data was proving ground for fundamental 8 a.m. MST on Aug. 24 from Ft. Sumner, expose up to 10 experimental samples and support. collected, including humidity, biology questions we want to New Mexico. Soaring 125,000 feet each for a predetermined period According to Adam Dokos, a altitude, light, time and answer for Mars,” Smith said. above the Earth, E-MIST was exposed of time. The structure also features Rocket University mentor and temperature, on the inside and “We have a whole library of to the upper atmosphere during a a control board for autonomous lead engineer in the prototype surface of the hardware. spacecraft assembly facility five-hour journey over the desert, operations and customizable avionics, lab, some of the carrier’s Bharrat said it was very microbes to test, and we to understand how spore-forming power, environmental controls and components were 3-D printed exciting to start a project from are grateful for future flight bacteria, commonly found in spacecraft sensors. and others were acquired over the beginning and then see it fly. opportunities provided by the assembly facilities, can survive. A team of more than 20 design, the counter. “I was thrilled to see our NASA Balloon Program Office.” “Like Mars, the Earth’s stratosphere avionics, structures, analysis, science, The carrier contained heaters experiment go up on the high- The NASA Balloon Program is extremely dry, frozen, irradiated logistics and safety engineers worked to keep the samples at room altitude balloon,” Thakrar said. is managed by the agency’s and hypobaric,” said David J. Smith, on the carrier, including Anthony temperature as they reached “It was especially exciting to Wallops Flight Facility in Ph.D., E-MIST principal investigator in Bharrat, avionics lead; Prital Thakrar, the stratosphere. During the have a live feed of the payload Virginia. E-MIST was funded Kennedy Space Center’s Engineering design lead and student engineer flight, the four doors rotated from the on-flight cameras by Rocket University, a Directorate. “Results from E-MIST trainee from the University of Florida; to expose the samples, each during ascent. A lot of my training program developed may contribute to development of and Evan Williams, an Education containing up to 1 million family, friends and co-workers by Kennedy’s Engineering and procedures for preventing the microbial intern from the University of Central were watching, so I received Technology Directorate and Left: NASA’s E-MIST experiment soars above the Earth contamination of Mars by robotic Florida. Nicole Dawkins, E-MIST project on Aug. 24 aboard a scientific balloon from Ft. Sumner, several congratulatory phone funded by NASA’s Office of the spacecraft exploration.” manager and systems engineering New Mexico. Photo credit: NASA/GoPro. calls during and after the flight.” Chief Engineer.

4 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 5 I am National Aeronautics and Space Administration Sue Gaines Preece Packing for Planting Air Force Eastern Range Liaison Packing for Planting GSDO GROUND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS

Kennedy prepped seeds for flight to space station online more Several tiny seeds have begun their mission as a pathfinder for future space-grown food crops. The University of Wisconsin-Madison sent seeds of the Arabidopsis thaliana plant to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s fourth commercial resupply mission to learn how the microgravity environment affects their patterns of growth and gene expression. These seeds will grow into a small flowering plant commonly used for scientific study. The plants are grown inside a canister called BRIC-19, short for Biological Research in Canisters. The mission launched Sept. 21 on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Just days before liftoff, the specimens arrived at Kennedy Space Center and were carefully packed into two bread box-sized Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) containers in preparation for the ride into orbit aboard a look online SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. The results of the study, called BRIC-19, could lead to a better understanding of how to grow fresh food for astronauts on future missions. Kennedy Space Center -- By Anna Heiney Exploration Begins Here To read the complete story: http://go.nasa.gov/1plvFVX www.nasa.gov SP-2014-09-280-KSC 6 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 7 DYNAMIC

DUO “It’s really amazing to note just how much through ongoing Space Act Agreements. SpaceX has been accomplished in such a short period and Sierra Nevada Corporation are completing of time,” Lueders said. “Now we’re getting milestones under the Commercial Crew to the real exciting part of final development Integrated Capability (CCiCap) phase, which Boeing, SpaceX race to station The companies will build and test the systems of a system: the smoke and fire testing, the will see SpaceX pad and launch abort tests BY STEVEN SICELOFF and, after NASA certification has been achieved, manufacturing, the flight testing, the certification of the Dragon spacecraft and another Dream will fly two and as many as six missions to and of safety and then full missions to the station.” Chaser free-flight test, respectively. Blue Origin NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) from the International Space Station. Each post- NASA’s objective is to enable more research also is advancing its spacecraft design through remains a trendsetter in human spaceflight with certification mission will carry four astronauts to take place on the unfunded Commercial the Sept. 16 naming of two companies to build to the station. The total potential contract value International Space Crew Development The milestones NASA established in the contracts are a series of the next generation of American space systems including certification, the maximum number Station and to end five progressively more advanced checkpoints that would lead to a Round 2 (CCDev2) capable of carrying astronauts into low-Earth of missions, and special study services is $4.2 America’s sole reliance on successful certification: milestones. • Certification Baseline Review orbit. The program retained the advantages of billion for Boeing and $2.6 billion for SpaceX. Russia for transportation (Scheduled to begin within 90 days of the contract start) “We feel it’s very competition by laying out criteria that permits “It was not an easy choice, but it was the best to the orbiting laboratory. • Design Certification Review important for the • Flight Test Readiness Review each design to progress on its own merits choice,” NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden said “We can double the • Operational Readiness Review commercial industry through the rigorous demands of manufacturing, during the award announcement at Kennedy amount of scientific • Certification Review to continue to mature testing and certification. Space Center, home of CCP. research performed Another five milestones would be required to complete a mission: their capabilities. As Boeing and SpaceX each was awarded Competition has played a substantial role on the station today,” • Vehicle Baseline Review a program, we gain • Mission Integration Review a contract to complete designs of the CST- in the program. NASA has worked with eight Lueders said. “We’ll also • Mission Certification Review a lot of benefit from 100/ United Launch Alliance Atlas V and Crew different partners since 2010, ranging from be able to return powered • Flight Readiness Review continuing to work • Post Flight Review Dragon/Falcon 9 v1.1 integrated systems, the development of subsystems to spacecraft cargo with our crews and with different partners respectively, under the Commercial Crew systems and boosters, before getting to fully retrieve critical science who have different Transportation Capability known as CCtCap. integrated spacecraft and rocket designs and within two hours of landing. This is huge for solutions,” Lueders said. “Keeping our fingers on The goal of the contract is to complete the initial certification plans. researchers here in the U.S. who are working on the pulse of industry out there is critical because certification efforts in 2017. This final development and certification phase time-sensitive science investigations.” it continues to provide us with innovative ways However, Kathy Lueders, manager of CCP, will see the two selected designs manufactured The new spacecraft also will serve as lifeboats for us to be able to do business together.” said, “We’re not going to sacrifice crew safety and flown, along with establishing the ground for space station crew members who could take A week following the award announcement, for that goal. We’re going to work methodically and mission operations architectures. Like shelter inside during emergency situations or, if CCP managers and their counterparts already with our partners as we move forward and many other elements of the program, it differs the need arose, even evacuate the station. That were preparing for the first sessions under make sure their systems can perform to the substantially from NASA’s traditional approach, necessity is currently carried out using Russian the Certification Baseline Review, the first safety requirements that we have prior to being which was to design its own transportation Soyuz capsules, each of which holds three milestone aimed at completing the certification certified.” system, then pick a contractor to build it. people. process. The review will cover the design and Although the announcement established the development status of Boeing and SpaceX and goals of the latest contract, CCP continues their progress in meeting safety requirements While NASA has awarded this contract, NASA has instructed Boeing and SpaceX its involvement with partners performing work necessary to achieve certification. to stop performance on the contract while the GAO resolves a protest.

8 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 9 The Orion crew module, stacked atop its service module, begins its move from the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) to the Launch Abort System Facility (LASF) at Kennedy Space Center. The spacecraft Orion for Exploration Flight Test-1 was fueled in the PHSF. Inside the LASF, the Launch Abort System will be installed around the Orion spacecraft ahead of its December flight test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet On Course explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. Moves On Course Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. more online more Technology Roadmaps identify technologies needed to explore solar system, deep space Roadmaps were invented to help us understand where we are in relation to our goals and to help us find the best routes to reach our destinations. NASA established its Technology Roadmaps with the same purpose in mind: to take stock of the current state-of-the-art technology and identify the essential capabilities needed for our exploration goals in our own solar system and in deep space through the next two decades. “The roadmaps are really how we identify the promising technologies that can enable us to achieve our future missions,” explained Faith Chandler, director for Strategic Integration in NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist.

Chandler recently visited Kennedy Space Center to invite technology a look online team members to contribute to the Technology Roadmaps, which are being updated, expanded and standardized. -- By Anna Heiney To read the complete story, visit: http://go.nasa.gov/YjcQg6

10 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 11 MAVEN MEETS MARS

ASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, beginning a N(MAVEN) spacecraft successfully entered 10-month journey to the Red Planet. Mars’ orbit at 10:24 p.m. EDT Sunday, Sept. 21, MAVEN will study the Martian upper where it now will prepare to study the Red Planet’s atmosphere in unprecedented detail from orbit upper atmosphere as never done before. MAVEN above the planet taking measurements of the is the first spacecraft dedicated to exploring the composition, structure and escape of gases and tenuous upper atmosphere of Mars. the planet’s interaction with the sun and solar Built by Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colo., wind. MAVEN’s journey to Mars began Nov. 18, 2012. For more on MAVEN along with the past, A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifted present and future of Mars exploration, see next off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape month’s edition of Spaceport Magazine.

12 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 13 A United Launch Alliance technician monitors progress as core booster elements of a Delta IV Heavy rocket are being integrated in preparation for Exploration Flight Test-1. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky

ngineers took another step Booster Cores were attached Branch of the Launch Services Eforward in preparations for in ULA’s Horizontal Integration Program (LSP). “NASA’s role Initial the first test flight of NASA’s Facility (HIF) at Cape Canaveral is to keep a watchful eye on new Orion spacecraft in Air Force Station in Florida. The everything and be there to help December. The three primary HIF building is located at Space if any issues come up.” core elements of the United Launch Complex 37 where the Stowe explained that during Integration Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta mission will lift off. major testing experts from IV Heavy rocket recently The first booster was NASA’s Launch Services were integrated, forming attached to the center rocket Program monitor the work Delta IV boosters attached as next step the first stage of the launch in June with the second one on consoles in Hanger AE toward first Orion flight in December vehicle that will send Orion attached in early August. at Cape Canaveral Air Force far from Earth to allow NASA “The day-to-day processing Station. Hangar AE is home to BY BOB GRANATH to evaluate the spacecraft’s is performed by ULA,” said the Kennedy Space Center’s performance in space. Merri Anne Stowe of NASA’s upgraded Launch Vehicle The three Delta IV Common Fleet Systems Integration Data Center. The facility

14 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 15 A transporter for oversize loads carries the port, or left, booster for the United Two of the three United Launch Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy for Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) into the Alliance Delta IV heavy boosters Horizontal Integration Facility, or HIF, on May 7 at Space Launch Complex 37 for NASA’s upcoming Exploration on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett Flight Test-1 mission (EFT-1) which will launch the Orion spacecraft, arrive at the U.S. Army Outpost wharf at Port Canaveral on March 4, 2014. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

allows engineers to monitor preflight processing. length and 17 feet in diameter. aboard Orion to deep-space will be mated,” Stowe said. generating temperatures as high voice, data, telemetry and “After the three core stages It uses one RL10-B-2 engine, destinations such as an asteroid The upcoming flight test as 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit, video systems that support went through their initial also burning liquid hydrogen and Mars. will use the Delta IV Heavy to before splashing down in the expendable launch vehicle inspections and processing, and liquid oxygen propellant “The hardware for launch the Orion and send it Pacific Ocean. missions. Kennedy also is the struts were attached, creating 25,000 pounds of Exploration Flight Test-1 is 3,600 miles in altitude beyond The Lockheed Martin-built where Orion was built and is connecting the booster stages thrust. coming together well,” Stowe the Earth’s surface. During the Orion is designed to take being processed. with the center core,” Stowe “The second stage was taken said. “We haven’t had to deal two-orbit, four-hour mission, humans farther than ever The Delta IV rocket stages said. “All of this takes place to the Delta Operations Center with any serious problems. engineers will evaluate the before. The spacecraft will serve were assembled at the ULA horizontally.” for processing after it arrived,” All of the advance planning systems critical to crew safety, as the exploration vehicle that plant in Decatur, Alabama, The three common booster said Stowe. “The second stage appears to be paying off.” the launch abort system, the will carry astronauts to space about 20 miles west of cores are 134 feet in length and was moved to the HIF on Once all the launch heat shield and the parachute and provide safe re-entry from Huntsville. After completion, 17 feet in diameter. Each has an Aug. 29 and is scheduled to be vehicle stages are mated and system. The data gathered deep-space missions. Orion the rocket components were RS-68 engine that uses liquid horizontally mated to the first thoroughly checked out, the during the mission will influence currently is at Kennedy’s Launch shipped down the Tennessee hydrogen and liquid oxygen stage on Sept. 12.” next step is the Test Readiness design decisions and validate Abort System Facility. River and Tombigbee Waterway, propellant producing 656,000 The same upper stage will be Review. existing computer models. The Stowe is especially invested a canal, to the Gulf of Mexico. pounds of thrust. All totaled, used on the block 1 version of “These meetings are held flight also will reduce overall in a successful outcome for the From there they traveled to the three Delta IV boosters NASA’s new heavy-lift rocket, to bring together all the mission risks and costs for later flight test. Cape Canaveral, arriving on collectively generate 1.96 million the Space Launch System interested parties to be sure Orion flights. “What I’m looking forward to May 6. The elements of the pounds of thrust. (SLS). More powerful than any the Delta IV rocket is ready for The capsule will re-enter most,” she said, “is seeing that rocket’s first stage then were The second stage of the rocket ever built, SLS will be the move to the launch pad Earth’s atmosphere at speeds Orion capsule being retrieved transported to the HIF for Delta IV rocket is 45 feet in capable of sending humans where the Orion spacecraft approaching 20,000 mph, from the Pacific.”

16 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 17 Monumental Mating

United Launch Alliance technicians prepare the second stage of a Delta IV Heavy rocket for mating to the central core booster of the three booster stages for the unpiloted Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) inside the Horizontal Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Sept. 12. During the mission, Orion will travel farther into space than any human spacecraft has gone in more than 40 years. The data gathered during the flight will influence design decisions, validate existing computer models and innovative new approaches to space systems development, as well as reduce overall mission risks and costs for later Orion flights. Liftoff of Orion on the first flight test is planned for December. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

For more information and the latest Orion news, visit www.nasa.gov/orion

18 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 19 PREPARING FOR SPLASHDOWN

Third round of Orion Underway Recovery Tests helps support teams prepare for December flight

BY LINDA HERRIDGE ASA, Orion prime contractor Lockheed Martin and Nthe U.S. Navy successfully completed the third round of tests to practice recovering Orion when it splashes down off the coast of San Diego at the end of its December flight test. The mid-September test series, led by NASA’s Ground Systems Development and Operations (GSDO) Program, continued to perfect The tethered Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured in the well deck of the USS Anchorage during the third day techniques and ensure the full team and all equipment of Orion Underway Recovery Test 3 in the Pacific Ocean are ready when Orion returns to Earth after traveling on Sept. 17. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston more than 3,600 miles above the planet. Two Navy ships, a test version of Orion, several support boats, two helicopters and associated ship headed out to sea Sept. 12 to test a “Recovery of the Orion crew crane attached to the Navy ship sea condition limits for crane hardware and equipment were used for the tests. backup recovery method using the ship’s module is essential to the to retrieve the 20,000 pound recovery. The teams practiced two methods for recovering stationary crane. success of Orion’s flight test Orion test vehicle from the During this test, Navy divers Orion. The first test began Sept. 11 at Naval Base “The test was a success thanks to and subsequent Orion and water. practiced attaching a “horse San Diego, with loading of the test vehicle, equipment the expertise of the Salvor crew, Navy Space Launch System missions They continued recovery collar” around Orion and four and hardware aboard the USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52), divers and the Department of Defense,” in the years to come.” efforts in more challenging tending lines that helped a safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship. Also on said Marcos Pena, GSDO Technical Starting in calm seas, the waters to determine control lateral and longitudinal board were Navy radiomen and a civilian crew. The Integration lead for crane recovery. team used a 40-ton aft boom recommended weather and motion during crane recovery.

20 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 21 The team also evaluated a basket lift rigging, end-to-end recovery simulation using the ship’s consisting of 10 slings that were placed around well deck, two of the Navy’s Zodiac boats, four Orion during crane lift operations. rigid hull inflatable boats, two helicopters and “The basket lift rigging was tested previously equipment and procedures that were used on the USS Anchorage,” said Pena. “We were during August testing. The Orion boilerplate test vehicle was lifted able to take the next step and demonstrate that U.S. Navy divers in Zodiac boats and other by stationary crane off the side of the USNS Salvor, a safeguard-class rescue and salvage the basket lift rig and horse collar can be used team members in rigid hull inflatable boats were ship, during Underway Recovery Test 4A in the Pacific Ocean on Sept. 14. Photo credit: to lift the test vehicle over the side of the ship stationed in the water near the test vehicle. NASA/Kim Shiflett and set it on a cradle on the ship’s deck, all while Orange stabilizers on the top of the test vehicle maintaining motion control.” were inflated to simulate the system that will During the week, they also Tether lines from the ship were attached to be used to upright Orion in the water after practiced retrieving a mock-up of Orion for towing tests at various speeds and can splashdown. Orion’s forward bay cover, a shell be used to bring the capsule to calmer waters for Using tether lines attached to the test vehicle, that fits over Orion’s crew module recovery. the team guided Orion back to the ship. In the to protect the spacecraft during On Sept. 15, the USNS Salvor rendezvoused well deck, NASA and Lockheed Martin workers launch, orbital flight and re-entry. with the USS Anchorage in the open sea and set up a capture net, crew module recovery “Successful completion of this handed off the Orion test vehicle for the next cradle, wing well fenders, speed bumps, and test series marks a significant portion of the recovery test. used a recovery winch, horse collar and Kevlar milestone in NASA’s partnership During the week, the team performed an tending lines to stabilize Orion in the well deck. with the Navy to recover the Orion crew module after it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean in December,” said Jeremy Graeber, GSDO NASA Recovery director. “The integrated team has done an amazing job working to refine the procedures to make this mission a success. I feel confident that our team and hardware are ready to support Exploration Flight Test-1.” Other goals of the test were to assess on-ship communications and ship-to- shore communications, as well as to record timing data for recovery activities to help provide future recovery methods for crewed missions. A rigid hull inflatable boat containing U.S. Navy divers and The USS Anchorage returned other personnel approaches the Orion boilerplate test vehicle to Naval Base San Diego on Sept. floating in the Pacific Ocean, 19 where the Orion test vehicle a distance away from the USS Anchorage, during the third day and recovery equipment were of Orion Underway Recovery Test 3 on Sept. 17. Photo credit: offloaded from the ship. NASA/Cory Huston

22 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 23 rehabilitation and release of Florida’s raptors. Two days after the rescue, one eaglet was ThisThis EagleEagle returned to the area where he was found. The bird was placed in a nest box, built by wildlife experts, with a wooden frame, wire mesh in the bottom and filled with twigs and straw. He was fed and raised by his parents and fledged (ready HasHas LandedLanded to fly) three weeks later. The second eaglet remained at the Audubon Center where treatment continued for an eye Bird rescued at Kennedy problem. It was found that she had clear vision in ‘stars’ in educational only one eye. program in Texas “The veterinarians at Audubon determined that the eagle could not survive in the wild BY BOB GRANATH with only one good eye,” Bolt said. “She was given to SeaWorld in Orlando to be trained for

educational programs.” Missy Lamar of SeaWorld San Antonio holds “Star.” nesting bald eagle, blown from its nest Eight months later, the eagle was sent Photo credit: InoMedic Health Applications Aduring a storm that passed through to SeaWorld in San Antonio. According to Kennedy Space Center in early 2013, now their website, “Guests are often surprised what is described as the “grace and nobility of is the star of an educational program at a to be greeted by one of our many animal the magnificent eagle.” theme park in San Antonio, Texas. One of ambassadors, many of whom were orphaned or During her recent visit to San Antonio, Bolt the ecologists who rescued the bird recently injured in the wild and given a second chance noted that wildlife conservation experts at the visited the site where the eagle is part of a thanks to our SeaWorld Rescue Team.” Texas SeaWorld named the eagle “Star.” program that is delighting guests of all ages. The SeaWorld animal encounters now include “For many people, this may be their only “She is incredible, very large, a good opportunity to see an eagle up close,” she said. learner and has a nice temperament,” said “Kids, especially, enjoy seeing the bird one-on- Becky Bolt, a wildlife ecologist with InoMedic one.” Health Applications Inc. (IHA). “Her trainers During the educational presentations, guests absolutely adore her.” learn that bald eagles do not gain the distinctive When a thunderstorm passed through the white feathers on their heads until they are about Space Coast on the afternoon of March 24, five years old. The average weight of an adult 2013, it pounded the area with heavy rain, hail female bald eagle is 10 to 14 pounds. In captivity, and winds exceeding 60 miles per hour. Two eagles are known to live up to 50 years, due to eaglets were blown to the ground along with a controlled environment, nutrient-rich diet and their nest. Fortunately, ecologists at Kennedy veterinary care. stepped in and rescued them. Bolt explained that “Star” is still “only a baby.” With assistance from the Merritt Island “She is 16 months old and weighs about National Wildlife Refuge, both birds were nine pounds,” she said. “Even so, she is a big collected and taken to the Audubon Center bird and people love seeing her. Now they will for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida. hear her story and gain a better appreciation for Wildlife ecologist Becky Bolt holds one of the eaglets rescued March 26, 2013. The center provides medical treatment, Photo credit: InoMedic Health Applications/Russ Lowers eagles.”

24 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 25 of the station and launches Reid Wiseman snagged into orbit on a cargo craft. The of cargo spacecraft within a the uncrewed Dragon with technology could be invaluable month. the station’s robot arm and for future trips into deep space. Lifting off at 1:52:03 a.m. EDT maneuvered the capsule onto a The microgravity findings also on Sept. 21, from Launch port of the station. The station are expected to refine 3-D Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral crew will unload the equipment printing on Earth. Air Force Station, Florida, and supplies inside the Dragon, A plant experiment carried the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket including a glovebox-sized into orbit will evaluate the and Dragon etched a yellow habitat holding 20 mice that growth and development of and white arc across the sky will be used for microgravity Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. as it flew on a path roughly research into bone density. These seeds will grow into a Brilliant night launch paralleling the East Coast of The Dragon carried the small flowering plant commonly kicks off scientific America. The nine Merlin 1D elements needed for some 255 used for scientific study. The engines of the first stage shut scientific investigations the plants are grown inside a cargo run to ISS down as planned about crew members of Expeditions canister called BRIC-19, short BY STEVEN SICELOFF 2 minutes and 41 seconds 41 and 42 will conduct. for Biological Research in n eruption of fire and into flight and the single Merlin A device called ISS-RapidScat Canisters. Asmoke sent a SpaceX engine of the second stage that will measure the winds on This mission was the fourth Dragon spacecraft skyward ignited to carry the Dragon the the Earth’s ocean made the trip SpaceX cargo flight to the laden with 5,000 pounds rest of the way into orbit. bolted inside the unpressurized station by a Dragon spacecraft, of scientific equipment and Cheers greeted the video trunk of the Dragon. It will counting the first test flight in supplies destined for use by from Dragon as the second be connected to the outside May 2012. the crew of the International stage pushed itself away from of the Columbus module on The Dragon and Orbital Space Station. the orbit-bound spacecraft, and the space station to make its Sciences’ Cygnus spacecraft Two days later, the uncrewed a pair of solar array “wings” observations. The readings are have become regular visitors spacecraft approached the unfolded to recharge the expected to improve weather to the space station as station carefully so astronauts Dragon’s batteries. forecasting and hurricane they deliver the supplies on the orbiting laboratory could “There’s nothing like a good monitoring. and equipment that allow latch onto it with the station’s launch, it’s just fantastic,” Along with the mice and groundbreaking research in robotic arm and connect the said Hans Koenigsmann, vice RapidScat, the Dragon’s a wide array of fields to take Dragon in place for unloading. president of Mission Assurance payload included the first place. “This launch kicks off a for SpaceX. “From what I can 3-D printer taken into The Dragon is to leave very busy time for the space tell, everything went perfectly.” space. The experiment is to the station in mid-October station,” said NASA’s Sam The launch began a two-day demonstrate the potential to for a plunge through Earth’s Scimemi, director of the chase of the space station that produce parts in orbit cheaply atmosphere and a landing International Space Station, ended when European Space and on-demand instead of under parachutes in the noting upcoming launches of Agency astronaut Alexander having to wait for them to be Pacific Ocean where it will be a Soyuz carrying the next crew Gerst and NASA astronaut made on Earth and shipped recovered.

26 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 27 Ready, Set, Stow SpaceX CRS-4 payload processed by Kennedy team

BY LINDA HERRIDGE their science experiments for flight. ngineers and technicians frequently “Our role was to ensure that all of the Eload perishable cargo and time- necessary laboratory equipment, supplies sensitive scientific investigations into and consumables were readily available spacecraft destined for the International and met customer requirements,” said Rob Space Station (ISS) just hours before liftoff. Kuczajda, ISS Utilization project manager At Kennedy Space Center, the ISS Ground in the ISS Research and Utilization Office. Processing and Research Project team has Various powered and pressurized become expert at the process and geared experiment containers were readied up to get crucial late stowage cargo on at Kennedy for a multitude of science SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft destined for experiments that were part of the cargo the orbiting laboratory. loaded soon before launch. These included For SpaceX’s fourth contracted powered lockers for the Commercial commercial resupply mission to the space Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA), station, that lifted off from Cape Canaveral the Animal Enclosure Module Transporter Air Force Station (CCAFS) on Sept. 21, (AEM-T) and the General Laboratory Active several NASA and contractor workers Cryogenic ISS Experiment Refrigerator outfitted 16 different hardware (GLACIER) which holds a NanoRack and science labs in Kennedy’s Space module, a drug metabolism syringe kit and Station Processing Facility (SSPF) for a bone densitometer. 61 principal investigators, including 17 The CGBA will provide automated from other countries, as they prepared biological processing and temperature

Inside a laboratory in the Space Station Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, Dr. Takeshi Kobayashi, an assistant professor at Nagoya University in Japan, uses a microscope and computer monitor to check samples of the Cell-Mechanosensing 2 experiment for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency 28on Sept. 9. PhotoSPACEPORT credit: NASA/Dimitri Magazine Gerondidakis SPACEPORT Magazine 29 control for the Micro-8 investigation. The AEM-T will be used to launch rodents to the space station. According to Kuczajda, his team’s involvement with RapidScat started much earlier in the GLACIER is an ultra-cold refrigerator/freezer that will store samples at temperatures as low as processing flow than normal. A small team of engineers and technicians went to JPL in July 2013 minus 301 degrees Fahrenheit. during manufacture of the payload in order to assist with the integration of an element of the Two unpowered lockers were prepared to hold experiments from the Japan Aerospace experiment. Exploration Agency and food for the space station crew, while a variety of “JPL requested our assistance because we had performed this type of work on unpowered hardware bags also were readied to carry 16 different experiments, other space station hardware in the past,” Kuczajda said. including Biologic Research in Canisters 19 and plant gravity sensing When the payload arrived at Kennedy in May, the team supported experiments. Included for late stow were experiments from the Center its offload from the truck and setup in the SSPF. Kennedy engineers for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) for the ISS supported a final end-to-end verification test in the Payload Rack National Laboratory. Checkout Unit that same month to ensure the payload would “This is an important time for the space station program,” said perform as designed in orbit. Kennedy transported the external Kuczajda. “There is an effort to maximize the science utilization payload to the SpaceX payload processing facility June 25, and on the space station.” it was loaded into the Dragon trunk June 26. Teams at Kennedy also helped prepare other experiments The day before launch, the Kennedy team transported for the trip to the space station in other ways. NASA’s all of the late-load science experiments and hardware to ISS-RapidScat external payload also was delivered to SpaceX at Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air the space station on SpaceX’s mission. Built at NASA’s Force Station, and oversaw their installation into the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, Dragon capsule. RapidScat is the first in a series of NASA Earth-observing “It’s exciting to play a part in ensuring some very instruments designed to operate outside the space important science is delivered to the space station,” station. It will measure Earth’s ocean surface wind speed Kuczajda. “Knowledge obtained from these investigations and direction, providing data for weather and marine will play a direct role in supporting NASA’s vision of deep forecasting. space human spaceflight.”

April Spinale, a payload integration specialist with Bionetics, fills vials with clear water Sept. 10 during an acceptance leak test on the hardware for the Protein Crystal Growth 2 experiment inside a laboratory at the Space Station Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. Photo credit: NASA/ Dimitri Gerondidakis

30 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 31 examinations of testing regimens, the plans for each subsystem, system and the spacecraft as a whole see intense inspections. “Hazard reports are anywhere from a few dozen pages to hundreds of pages, and we’ve had several hundred that we’ve had to review between all partners,” Peters said. And that’s just for the software that will operate the systems. Another whole other set of requirements and reviews is used to survey the hardware. “There’s no way one person could do it or know everything there is to know about these systems,” Peters said. Team offers unique insight to ensure The software reviews to this point have not taken a deep dive into coding or running a company’s program through a simulator. Instead, safety, reliability of spacecraft software the team has been looking over sets of standards each partner says BY STEVEN SICELOFF it is using to guide software development and ensures they meet the intent of requirements NASA set up throughout the agency’s decades he new approach NASA is taking to get its crews to low-Earth orbit of spaceflight experience. Twith commercial partnerships requires the space agency to closely “In some respects it is like translating between foreign languages, examine the plans companies have for their own space transportation systems to ensure they are as safe and reliable as can be. Reviewing software, for example, has become increasingly important in aerospace as technology has become more complex, and computers are required to take on more and more of the operation of systems. Simply put, computer programs can detect the need to make adjustments, then execute those adjustments in a fraction of the time it would take a person to even turn his or her head to read an instrument. Software also can handle the mundane, everyday aspects of a spacecraft to free up astronauts and crew for unique tasks. That’s where a specialized team of software architecture analysts comes in. NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation group evaluates spacecraft software for weaknesses and identifies ways to fix problems from a number of perspectives. The work is done so the agency can offer insight into company plans throughout their partnerships with the Commercial Crew Program, or CCP. “The team has a very strong software background in a variety of areas,” said Norman Peters, one of the Safety and Mission Assurance project engineers working with CCP. “Whether it’s human flight or touching down on Mars, they’ve been involved. So they’ll look at a system like the environmental control system and if software is but generally we look at the prime software standard, which has involved and it might be a cause of a problem, they let us know.” roughly 140 requirements, and compare partner standards to that,” It’s a big task that involves analyzing sets of documents, Peters said. “And with multiple partners, we have to make sure scrutinizing each sentence and comparing it to NASA’s historically we’re being fair and consistent and we’re looking at it the same way. stringent requirements. From standards to hazard reports to We’re looking at it from a safety and mission assurance perspective

32 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 33 rather than from an engineering perspective.” Encouraged by NASA to add their own innovations into spacecraft systems, the partners developed everything from new thrusters and escape systems to different engineering guidelines specifically tailored Oxidizing Oranges to their corporate needs and culture. Oxidizing Oranges “When a provider presents an alternate standard, we assess what they give us against what we believe is the intent of the NASA standards. We provide an analysis of the gap between the two and Citric acid tests underway determine whether we think the alternate is meeting the intent of the at corrosion lab and standard,” said Kathy Malnick, team lead in the Safety and Mission beachside test facility Assurance Support Office group at NASA’s IV&V Program. The evaluation criteria focuses on safety and reliability but is Who would have thought that oranges greatly reduced from the list NASA uses during its own spacecraft and other citrus fruit would be good for development because the commercial companies are not obligated more than eating? Now, the citric acid to set up a management and related workforce structure in the same that these fruits contain also could be manner NASA would. used to protect stainless steel equipment “I think the total number of requirements levied has been reduced and structures at Kennedy Space Center. dramatically, so our job is to ensure that full level of intent has The Technology Evaluation for been met,” said Chad Schaffer, who is with contractor TASC and Environmental Risk Mitigation (TEERM) reviews the hazard reports from CCP’s aerospace partners. “CCP Principal Center in NASA’s Environmental is definitely unique in that NASA’s really trying to take a different Management Division has partnered approach, reducing the amount of overhead to try to streamline and with the Ground Systems Development let commercial space add value at a cost point that’s going to work for and Operations program at Kennedy to more online more the future.” investigate citric acid as an alternative The small support team also includes Ken Costello, Ryan Schmitt, to nitric acid for protecting a specific Rhonda Fitz, Pat Cuyno and Mel Rother. set of stainless steel alloys currently “The first time I got reviews back I was amazed,” Peters said. “I used in ground support equipment and never expected the quality of data that they provided, and later on, it structures, including pipes, at the center. got to be where I would call in and say we need something and I don’t Phase I testing began in late 2012 and have much time, and they’d come through every time.” concluded in April 2014. Several different The group recently earned Spaceflight Awareness honors from the tests were completed on stainless steel Safety and Mission Assurance branch at Kennedy Space Center, the samples in the Corrosion Technology Lab parent organization for the group. in the Operations and Checkout Building “The team provides invaluable expertise to the commercial and the Beachside Atmospheric Test crew safety and mission assurance effort with independent review Facility at Kennedy. -- By Linda Herridge and assessment of our commercial partner’s software standards,

processes and hazard reports,” said Russ Deloach, deputy director of To read the complete story, a look online Safety and Mission Assurance at Kennedy. “Their work is extremely visit http://go.nasa.gov/1qFD9Yt important to the overall safety and success of the program as software provides many critical control functions that could have catastrophic consequences if performed incorrectly. Their hard work and dedication is admirable.”

34 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 35 technology, engineering and math are fun.” Pamela Covington, manager of NASA Office of Communications at the Stennis Space Center Annual Tom Joyner gathering encourages STEM education in Mississippi, was on BY BOB GRANATH hand to assist with the Kennedy Space Center’s ASA’s Education Division participation. She agreed Nat Kennedy Space Center that inspiring students recently joined radio host Tom was a key message of the Joyner in touting the benefits agency’s exhibit. of studying math and science “This is an opportunity along with career opportunities to tell people the space “Learn and Spin Challenge” was an opportunity for guests to answer questions related to science, technology, engineering and math. Debbie Houston of Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Health in NASA Center Operations, right, gives a prize for offered by the space agency. program is alive and participation. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper Attended by thousands of well and remind them guests, the event took place of its many benefits and at the Gaylord Palms Resort in economic relevance,” she Kissimmee, Florida, during the said. “We also want to Labor Day weekend. encourage young people The Allstate Tom Joyner to study math and science, Family Reunion is an annual and consider careers with event, now in its 11th year, and NASA.” is designed to present uplifting As host of The Tom programs, entertainment and Joyner Morning Show, educational information about the nationally syndicated Now a senior vice president at the Florida Institute of Technology, Winston Scott signs autographs and poses for pictures growing, diverse communities. with guests at the Allstate Tom Joyner Family Reunion during Labor Day weekend. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper radio personality also is the The exposition included many founder of REACH Media displays with NASA’s participation focusing on about space, education and careers. Inc. and the Tom Joyner encouraging young people to consider studies “Our participation is in line with our strategic Foundation. and careers in STEM disciplines -- science, goal to get the community and, for that matter, Joyner grew up in technology, engineering and math. the world interested in NASA’s work,” said Tuskegee, Alabama. His Ken Fullwood of Booz-Allen-Hamilton, left, and Yves Lamothe of the NASA Technical Management Branch of the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program talk to guests about ongoing work to convert the Kennedy Space Center into Agency representatives were on hand Priscilla Moore, a lead education program father served during World a 21st century spaceport. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper to explain NASA’s current efforts with the specialist in NASA External Relations at the War II as a member of the International Space Station, Commercial Crew, Kennedy Space Center. “Many kids from the famed Tuskegee Airmen, “The Kennedy Education Division has Ground Systems Development and Operations, Central Florida area and from around the state the first group of African-American military been participating since 2010,” Moore said. as well as the Launch Services Programs. At the are from underrepresented groups. We want combat pilots. Following graduation from “Kennedy’s continued success is directly tied same time, participants had an opportunity to to show these young people what NASA is all Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in to our most valuable asset -- our workforce. To engage with NASA experts and ask questions about, what STEM is all about and that science, 1970, Joyner began his career in radio. continue to lead the world into space, we must

36 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 37 During the five-day reunion, visitors also to ensure that one million elementary and had an opportunity to take part in hands-on secondary students participate in NASA STEM science projects such as a rocket building and engagement opportunities over the next five launch experience, as well as a “Learn and Spin years. Challenge” with emphasis on STEM-related “What better way to accomplish these questions. A robotic exhibit demonstrated to challenges than an event such as the Tom Joyner students that it is fun to channel their creativity Family Reunion that attracts people from all and energy toward science and technology. A over,” she said. “We want to continue to show robot workshop introduced students to basic children and their parents the possibilities that robotics by engaging them in building and await them in NASA and the STEM fields.” operating small sensor-based robots. Other hands-on activities included a “Rocket Science 101” touch-screen computer game involving how NASA launch vehicles work, and tangram puzzles were available in which participants were responsible for patching up a space vehicle Brittani Sims, left, and Sheldon Lauderdale both work in the Program Control and Now retired from NASA and the Navy, Scott that had been hit with a micrometeorite. Integration Office of the Commercial Crew Program. They talked to visitors about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Photo credit: NASA/Dan Casper is senior vice president of the Office of External Tangrams are geometric puzzles consisting Relations and Economic Development at the of flat shapes cut into pieces, which are put show our children the possibilities that await Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, together to form other shapes. them in the technology and engineering fields.” Florida. “College Day was an opportunity for A highlight of the event was an appearance by “My primary job is to expand the Florida Tech college-bound students to network with former astronaut Winston Scott, who encourages Research Park,” he said. college and university educators,” Moore young people to follow in his footsteps and According to the Florida Tech website, the said. “It included a panel discussion those of others now working as scientists and research park is a self-sustaining center focused with our higher education specialists engineers with NASA. on facilitating the creation and application of participating with more than 15 historically “We want them to know that there are a lot of innovative solutions for government and industry. black colleges and universities, traditional exciting things to do in life,” he said. “Education Additionally, Scott spends time with students. colleges and other higher education is first and foremost, that’s got to be No. 1. “I talk to them in different classes in organizations.” Get a good education and identify some things engineering and aeronautics and other activities, Moore noted that the National Science they like to do in life and they’ll be prepared for and I emphasize how important it is to get a and Technology Council’s Committee on opportunities to be successful.” good education and prepare for all the things STEM (CoSTEM) Education has challenged Raised in Miami, Scott graduated from Florida the future holds,” he said. “There are new and NASA Education to continue to provide State University in 1972. After serving as a pilot different opportunities coming along every day opportunities for learners to participate in in the U.S. Navy, he became an astronaut in that are just fascinating. We want our students to STEM education activities. According to

1992, flying two space shuttle missions, STS-72 be prepared to take their place and participate in the report, the approach should capitalize Photographed in the space shuttle Columbia’s cargo bay, STS-87 mission specialist Winston in 1996 and STS-87 in 1997. some of those fascinating things.” on the agency’s unique assets and content Scott waves to crewmates during a spacewalk on Dec. 3, 1997. Photo credit: NASA

38 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 39 Significant Progress NASA OK’s Ground Systems’ progression to world’s premier multi-user spaceport

BY RACHEL KRAFT AND LINDA HERRIDGE

ASA’s Ground Systems Development and Operations N(GSDO) Program continues to make significant progress preparing Kennedy Space Center to launch the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft that will take humans to new destinations in the solar system, including an asteroid and Mars. NASA announced Sept. 10 that the agency has completed a rigorous review process to transform Kennedy from a traditionally government-only launch complex to the world’s premier multi- user spaceport. Marking the completion of the milestone, NASA officials approved the program’s progression from formulation to development. The approval is part of a thorough evaluation known as Key Decision Point C (KDP)-C, and provides a development cost baseline of $1.844 billion from Fiscal Year 2014 through a launch readiness date of no later than November 2018. Conservative cost and schedule commitments outlined in the KDP-C align the GSDO program with program management best practices that account for potential technical risks and budgetary uncertainty beyond the program’s control. “The GSDO program has performed extremely well in developing and implementing solid plans that will support the launching systems of the future,” said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations. “These ground systems will be critical to the support of SLS and Orion. Tremendous progress has been made over the past several years on Vehicle Assembly Building modifications, pad upgrades and mobile launcher upgrades. Today at Kennedy, Modifications continue on the Mobile Launcher (ML) at the Mobile Launcher Park Site at Kennedy Space Center. A crane is in place to lift a new steel beam for installation on the you can see many of the major components of the launch ML structure. The ML is being modified and strengthened to carry NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to Launch Pad 39B for its first uncrewed mission, Exploration Mission-1. Image Credit: NASA/Cory Huston 40 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 41 near- and far-term goals of the ground systems generators, electronics, cables, tubing and program. Firing Room 1 has been equipped to hydraulic components have been installed. support the launch of Exploration Mission-1 and CT-2 is now capable of carrying as much as future launches of Orion and SLS. Firing Room 18 million pounds, well above the weight of the 4 has been transformed into a multi-use control 130-metric-ton (143 ton) SLS and its payload. room that will support NASA and commercial The Multi-Payload Processing Facility needs, while the other two firing rooms have underwent extensive upgrades and been dismantled and await identification of modernizations to support processing of the requirements for their use. Orion spacecraft. The facility will be used for Modifications continue on the mobile launcher hypergolic fueling, ammonia servicing and high- to strengthen it to accommodate SLS’ weight, pressure gas servicing and checkout of Orion. size and thrust at launch. The existing 24-foot The ground systems team continues to exhaust hole is being enlarged and strengthened upgrade its skills, facilities and ground support for the larger, heavier SLS rocket. equipment to safely handle a variety of rockets Crawler-transporter (CT)-2 has undergone and spacecraft during assembly, transport and a major tune-up to enable it to carry the SLS launch. The GSDO team and Kennedy are well on the Mobile Launcher to the pad. Roller positioned to support future vehicle processing bearings and roller bearing assemblies have and launch operations into the middle of this

Inside Firing Room 4 in the Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center, the outer walls, inner walls, windows and doors for the four separate firing rooms on the main floor been removed and replaced. New air conditioner century. have been completed. Three rows of upper-level management consoles remain and could be used as a fifth firing room. Image Credit: NASA/Dimitri Genrondidakis

The Vehicle Assembly infrastructure needed for improving infrastructure in launches. The legacy flame Building and Launch Control Center are SLS and Orion. This review ways that show the progress deflector and Apollo-era bricks contrasted against a blue sky at Kennedy Space milestone shows that there are documented in the agency-level from both walls of the flame Center. Inside Firing solid plans to complete these review. trench have been removed Room 4, the Ground Systems Development facilities and support launch.” “The team has made to make way for a new flame and Operations Program is overseeing efforts NASA’s three exploration tremendous progress improving deflector and new steel-plated to create a new firing systems development programs the infrastructure at Kennedy to walls. room based on a multi- user concept. Image -- GSDO, SLS and Orion -- support SLS and Orion,” said Inside the massive Vehicle Credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis have been pursuing parallel Mike Bolger, GSDO program Assembly Building, all of the development paths that keep manager. “Kennedy and its work platforms in High Bay 3 each program progressing ground systems are a key were removed, and designs are toward the first SLS and Orion component of sending humans underway for 10 levels of new mission. Individually, each to deep-space destinations.” platforms that will surround the program is making progress The landscape at Launch SLS and Orion for testing and toward delivering its hardware Pad 39B, from where SLS and processing. All four of the large in support of Exploration Orion will launch, has evolved vertical lift doors have been Mission (EM)-1 in Fiscal Year over the last few years. A clean repaired and upgraded. 2018. pad approach has replaced Firing rooms in the Launch At Kennedy, engineers the fixed structures approach Control Center have undergone and technicians have been that supported space shuttle extensive upgrades to meet the

42 SPACEPORT Magazine SPACEPORT Magazine 43 National Aeronautics and Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 www.nasa.gov

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