May 9, 1997 STS-84

MissionMission UpdateUpdate Vol. 36, No. 9 May 9, 1997 STS-84

Atlantis (19th flight) 84th Shuttle flight Spaceport News Launch date: May 15 America's gateway to the universe. Leading the world in preparing and launching missions to Earth and beyond. Pad: 39A Mission: 6th Shuttle-Mir John F. Kennedy Space Center Docking Duration: 9 days Crew: Precourt, Collins, Foale ready for GOES-K off to a good start Foale, Noriega, Lu, Clervoy (ESA), stay on Mir GOES-K, the third in a Kondakova (RSA). series of the most His training behind him and sophisticated weather his language skills honed, as- satellites ever built, tronaut Michael Foale says he lifted off at 1:49 a.m. EDT, April 25, from is ready for an extended stay Cape Canaveral Air aboard the Mir space station. Station. Over the past Foale will be one of seven as- several weeks, the tronauts embarking to Mir on satellite has undergone several apogee motor STS-84, set to lift off at 4:08 a.m. firings and adjusting EDT, May 15. The multina- maneuvers to move it tional crew includes Jean- to its final station at Francois Clervoy, a European 105 degrees west longitude, 22,240 miles Space Agency representative above Earth's equator. from France, and Elena Once checkout is Kondakova from the Russian complete, the satellite Space Agency. — which was designated GOES-10 The mission commander is on-orbit, will serve as a Atlantis rolls out to Launch Pad 39A Charles Precourt, who served as spare for the two on April 24. pilot for the first Shuttle-Mir GOES spacecraft already on-orbit. STS-94 (See STS-84, Page 6)

Columbia (23rd flight) 1997 Savings Bond drive begins May 19 85th Shuttle flight Target launch date: July 1 A flag flying in front of the some $187 billion in Savings • Safety. Bonds are backed Pad: 39A KSC Headquarters Building Bonds, and each year 17 million by the full faith and credit of the Mission: Microgravity Sci- stands as testament to the people buy more. There are federal treasury. If lost, stolen ence Laboratory-1 center's sustained commitment many advantages to buying a or destroyed they can be re- Crew: Halsell; Still; Voss; to U.S. Savings Bonds. U.S. Savings Bond: placed at no charge. Gernhardt; Thomas; KSC Director Roy • Affordability. • Tax benefits. Interest Crouch; Linteris. Reflight Bridges believes that Denominations range earned is exempt from all state of STS-83 mission. commitment will be from $50 to $10,000, and local income taxes, and fed- Same crew as first flight. demonstrated anew dur- and the purchase price eral tax can be deferred until the ing the 1997 Savings is one-half the face bonds are redeemed or they stop Bond Drive. The kickoff value. Through Payroll earning interest after 30 years. was held May 6, with Savings, bonds can • Financing education. Bridges and Treasury even be purchased on There are special tax benefits Department official John Janson an installment plan with $100 available to lower and middle the keynote speakers. The drive the smallest denomination. income investors. Those who itself begins May 19 and contin- • Flexibility. Bonds make qualify can exclude all or part ues through May 30. money available when it is of the interest earned on Series This year's slogan is right to needed. They can be cashed at EE bonds from income when the the point: A Great Way to Save. most financial institutions any bonds are redeemed to pay for Quality Assurance Director time after six months from the post-secondary tuition and fees. Chris Fairey, who is assisting date of purchase. Savings bond information is STS-85 Bridges with the campaign, has The purchase available on the Internet at: Discovery (23rd flight) a challenge for NASA employees price is redeemed http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov 86th Shuttle flight at KSC: To meet or exceed the plus interest Civil service workers can con- Target launch date: Aug. 7 1996 level of support. earned through tact their directorate canvasser Pad: 39A U.S. Savings Bonds are the the last semian- to set up a bond purchase. Call Mission: CRISTA-SPAS II world's most widely held secu- nual interest ac- Linda Mullen, 867-3392, if you rity. Americans already hold crual date. need your canvasser's name. Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS May 9, 1997 KSC taking on larger role in X-33 and X-34, says Wiley Spaceport News Editor Paula Shawa re- these will probably be from White Sands. Intercommunication System (OIS) cently talked to Deputy Engineering Devel- One goal is to fly 12 flights in 6 months, networks — areas that we as a launch opment Director Warren Wiley about the with a 24-hour turnaround. We're looking facility have a great deal of experience with. center's role in NASA's Reusable Launch at what we would need to do to be able to Vehicle effort, which features the X-33 and fly the high-speed tests off the coast of Q: What technologies are the X-34 programs. Excerpts from the interview Florida and land at KSC. The X-34 is air- demonstrators testing? follow in a question-and-answer format. launched from an L-1011. One potential scenario would be to launch off the coast of A: The X-33 will be powered by a unique Q: Could you place X-33 and X-34 in a North Carolina and land at the Shuttle engine called the Linear aerospike engine. big-picture framework as far as the Landing Facility or the Skid Strip on Cape It also will feature a metallic Thermal future of NASA space vehicles are Canaveral Air Station. We're looking at Protection System (TPS) and use oxygen concerned? costs and other aspects of such a scenario. and hydrogen for the Reaction Control System (RCS), a change from the toxic A: These vehicles are a Q: Many of the goals of the RLV materials currently used in the Shuttle series of technology program were once goals of the Space RCS. Both X-33 and X-34 will have demonstrators. First Shuttle: Greatly reduced costs, quick advanced guidance and navigation and there was the Clipper turnarounds, small launch crews. Are control systems that make use of the Global Graham which these realistic objectives? Is reusable Positioning Satellite (GPS) system for demonstrated many really cheaper than expendable? autonomous flight and handling. X-33 has new technologies. The some command capability but it's limited. X-34 is a small air- A: One must keep in mind that the Shuttle X-34 is completely on its own once it leaves launched vehicle is a crewed vehicle, and there are multiple the L-1011 except for range-destruct Wiley capable of flying to a systems which must be included in its receiving capability. This technology is speed of Mach 8. The X-33 is a larger vehicle design to support the human presence. Also, directly applicable to the liquid flyback which will fly at a speed of Mach 15 and the Space Shuttle went directly into booster being studied as part of the Shuttle will lead to the VentureStar. The production and operational changes were upgrades effort. On X-34, there are VentureStar is the Reusable Launch Vehicle hard to make. X-33 and X-34 are embedded technologies inherent in its (RLV) which potentially represents the experimental design, such as a composite airframe and future of U.S. spaceflight. The goal of the demonstrators advanced thermal protection, as well as program is operability: quick turnaround which will hosted technologies that can be added on between launches with reduced ground prove the or taken off, such as a composite liquid crews. These demonstrators are suborbital; technology and oxygen tank. they lift off from one location and land in provide another. All are uncrewed and test the lessons- Q: What is the relationship between technologies that are required to develop a learned that RLV and the Space Shuttle? single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) capability. The can be applied A: The RLV could carry humans, but more first flight of the X-34 is fall 1998 and the to a full-scale in a passenger- than a command-capacity. first flight of X-33 is March 1999. Even production The Space Shuttle is going to be around for though the X-34 will fly first, it tends to get vehicle. a long time, and as far as human spaceflight less attention because it is smaller than the VentureStar Another in general is concerned, KSC will continue X-33. X-33 is 63 feet long and 68 feet across, advantage of to be involved. I look at the X-33 and X-34 while the X-34 is about 58 feet long with a the demonstrators is that they are single technology demonstrators as additional wing span of about 28 feet. stage, which means nothing is falling away initiatives that we want to participate in. from the vehicle as it completes its We have a breadth of experience in launch Q: Let's talk a little about KSC's role in trajectory. And yes, reusable is cheaper operations that is unique. We're already X-33 and X-34. than expendable if the operational costs are sending someone out to the West Coast on kept down. a fulltime basis this summer to support X- A: I'll talk about X-34 first. Our role in X- 33. We can provide an excellent consulting 34 is expanding. We've just been invited to Q: What about KSC and X-33? role to support these activities. The first become a partner with Marshall Space RLV launch would take place in the 2003- Flight Center in the program. One of the A: We are involved in the X-33 effort and 2005 timeframe. We're going to get KSC things we'll be doing is sharing with them hope to increase our role. KSC is designing more involved and stay involved. the lessons we've learned from Space the umbilicals and holddown posts for the Shuttle operations. X-33 launch site at Edwards Air Force Base. We're also designing vehicle positioning and Comparison of Q: How else is KSC involved? handling equipment. These elements will X-33 (left), be tested here at KSC in the Launch VentureStar and the Space A: The X-34 program has two phases. The Equipment Test Facility (LETF). We're also Shuttle first phase calls for two flights. These will assisting in the areas of hazardous gas be from White Sands, N.M. The next phase detection systems and Operational calls for an additional 25 flights. Some of Television (OTV) and Operational May 9, 1997 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 KSC team honored for supporting X-33 environmental impact study NASA's Reusable Launch A team from KSC was re- federal requirements that must aspects of launch and landing Vehicle Program cently recognized by Marshall be completed before the X-33 operations, said Burt Space Flight Center for support- launch site at Edwards Air Summerfield, acting chief, En- ing the X-33 environmental im- Force Base, Calif., can begin vironmental Program Office. Goal: To develop and demonstrate new technologies for the next pact effort. construction and various land- Rebecca McCaleb, director, generation of reusable space Mario Busacca, Gail King, ing sites around the Western Environmental Engineering transportation systems that can Barbara Naylor and Dave United States can be selected. and Management Office, at radically reduce the cost of access Barker helped prepare the X-33 KSC and other X-33 environ- Marshall, called the KSC team to space. RLV will be an all rocket- powered Single Stage-to-Orbit Environmental Impact Assess- mental experts had to travel to a model for cooperation in the (SSTO). Means of transport only, ment (EIA) issued in June 1996 each site, study the area and agency. A tabletop review of the not a science platform like the and are still supporting work on prepare for public meetings to EIS was recently completed at Shuttle. Government initially invests the Environmental Impact discuss the program. KSC was Marshall in preparation for a to reduce risk and later becomes a customer, not an operator. Progam Statement (EIS) to be released asked to participate because of Headquarters briefing this philosophy: “To spend a little on in June. Both are mandatory its expertise in environmental month. technology and save a lot in operations.” Astronauts and Daughters Day memories X-34 Klingons part of Team: NASA, Orbital Sciences Space Week lineup Corp., AlliedSignal, Oceaneering Inc., Draper Labs. Specifications: 58 feet long, wing Astronauts and Klingons span is 28 feet. may bump into each other the Launch/Landing: Launch initially the fourth week of May at the from White Sands, N.M.; land at KSC Visitor Center, where a various sites to test technologies. Capabilities: Speeds to Mach 8, slew of events in honor of Space altitude to 250,000 feet. Propulsion, Week '97 are planned. a 60,000-pound thrust version of the A highlight of the May 20–26 Fastrac LOX/kerosene engine program will be the premiere of being developed at Marshall. X-34 considered bridge between Clipper the newest IMAX movie, Mis- Graham and X-33. Less expensive sion to Mir, on May 21. The pub- and simpler to develop, operate and lic premiere of the film is May modify. 22 — National Space Day, so Technologies: Will test key designated in honor of President technologies that can be integrated THE FIFTH annual Daughters Day was held April 24. Astronauts Pam Melroy on RLV. Kennedy's speech at Rice Uni- (left on T-38) and Kay Hire showed several daughters a T-38 jet trainer parked versity declaring the lunar land- at the Shuttle Landing Facility. Melroy is a licensed pilot with more than 3,500 X-33 ing mission as a national goal. hours of flying time in 45 different aircraft and Hire was the first U.S. woman Astronauts expected to ap- assigned to a combat aircrew. Team: NASA; Lockheed Martin pear throughout the week for Skunk Works, Rocketdyne, Rohr, AlliedSignal and Sverdrup. both book signings and briefings KSC child care center plans summer program Specifications: 63 feet long, 68 feet include Wally Schirra, Scott The KSC Child Development snacks a day will be provided. wide; takeoff weight is 273,000 Carpenter, Gene Cernan, Ed- Center is offering a summer pro- Children will participate in ro- pounds. Propulsion, two J-2S ward Gibson, and Norm gram June 2 – Aug. 8. tational groups and special Linear Aerospike engines using LH2/LO2. Thagard. Thomas Bopp, one of Hours will be 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., clubs are being developed to Launch/Landing site: Edwards Air the co-discoverers of the Hale- Monday – Friday. The program learn about computers, arts and Force Base, Calif. Landing, various Bopp Comet, also will be is open to children ages 5 – 12 crafts, and space and science. In throughout West Coast and present. years. The children will be di- addition, the children will take Midwest U.S. Capabilities: Maximum speed, The Klingons are appearing vided into groups of 5 – 7 years a weekly field trip except for Mach 15. Suborbital. Seven days to mark the release of the Star and 8 – 12 years. week of the fourth of July. between flights. Trek: First Contact video. Set Slots will be filled on a first- For more information, con- Technologies: Lighter, reusable for May 20, there will be a photo come, first-served basis, so early tact Denise Johnson, 867-5437. cryogenic tanks; microelectronics; advanced ground and flight opportunity with the alien celeb- registration is encouraged. A operations techniques. rities, video giveaways and a one-family registration fee of Star Trek memorabilia display. $25 will be charged to enroll in VentureStar Other highlights will include the summer program and is a Super Loki rocket launch May valid for one year. The weekly Specifications: 127 feet long, 128 23, with details available at par- tuition rate is $80 and no dis- feet wide. Takeoff weight, 2.2 million pounds. Takeoff thrust, 3 million ticipating McDonalds, and a counts apply. pounds. Seven RS2200 Linear Kids Club day sponsored by Due to the limited space and Aerospike engines. WMFE Channel 24. Discover the high demand to participate, Capabilities: Orbital. Payload to magazine also will be on hand children must be enrolled for the Low Earth Orbit, 45,000 pounds. for a special space edition give- entire 10-week period. away. Breakfast, lunch and two Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS May 9,

Fun for little kids …

CODY Coleman takes a pony ride with Erin Gast leading the way.

CHELSEA Richards gets her face painted by Giggles he KSC All-American the clown as mother Shari Picnic held April 26 looks on. T drew an ethusiastic crowd to KARS I. SAM Moore hops a Ably managed by Acting carousel ride as Mom Pam Moore Logistics Director Ann Montgom- keeps him steady. ery and Logistics Directorate personnel and other volunteers, the picnic offered something for everyone, from pony rides and other entertainment for children to performing arts groups to classic car exhibits. SISTERS Tenae (left) and Lenae Walton Center Director Roy Bridges and friend Erika Bennett have their plates — attending his first picnic — full. stepped in and helped out when astronauts from Johnson Space Center were held up by weather. The former astronaut teamed up with another former spaceflyer, United Space Alliance Ground

DEPUTY Director of Shuttle Processing Dave King enjoys lunch with daughters Katie (center) and Bethany.

ETHNIC food booths drew a crowd. Doug Johnston (right) and daughter Darcey sampled the wares of the Hispanic Employee Action Working Group.

HOME RUN — The Red Hot Chili Booster Off: First place in the demonstrations (a m people's choice judging and first place in th Space Alliance, Thiokol, USBI and NASA ex employees. Also placing in the cookoff wer KSC Director Roy Bridges (center) was Chili Chefs, who won for best storefront as welcomed by new and veteran judges and the Shuttle Processing PZ/CLCS Roa of the Chili Cook-off, including Mike official judging despite the team's alarming McCulley (left) of United Space Alliance and Associate Director for Safety and Shuttle Upgrades JoAnn Morgan. , 1997 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5

THE volleyball tournament was a popular event.

Operations Vice President Mike McCulley, to sign autographs. Even early afternoon rain … Fun for big kids… could not cool the fiery Chili Cook-off competition. Eight teams pulled out all the stops to 104 MISSION Lead Frank Newman from the Johnson Space Center KSC win top place, and good-natured Resident Office dressed in bribery attempts were rampant. appropriately patriotic attire and looked Was it just coincidence that the forward to an al fresco lunch. first-place finisher offered free massages behind its chili stand? Proceeds from the cook-off — held this year for the sixth time — go to the Florida Children's Home Society. More than $1,100 was raised at this year's picnic. TILE technician All in all, it was a great day of Barbara Wyles fun for the KSC employees and shows off her athletic form as the their families, and guests, who Orbiter Processing attended the picnic. Facility Bay 1 team gives its best shot in the softball COOL dude Eric Hanson (left) sells a cold one to Hispanic tournament. Employment Program Manager Oscar Gamboa.

… and fun for chili fiends at Chili Cook-off madness. rs took home three prizes in the Chili Cook- masseuse!) to garner votes; first place in the he official judging. The team included United external tank/solid rocket booster processing re the Safety and Mission Assurance S&MA s well as placing third in the official judging, ad Kill Chili team that placed second in the g name. BEVERAGES flowed freely as chili cook-off team representatives conducted their own sampling of the chilis prepared by the eight teams. His duty as an official judge completed, Launch Director Jim Harrington was there to exhort them on. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS May 9, 1997 Spring InterCenter Run Randy Rooker Golf results are announced Tournament set for A rainy day couldn't keep May 31 – June 1 away 119 runners and walkers The 6th annual Randy for the 8th Spring InterCenter Rooker Golf Tournament will be Run. The top finishers were: held May 31–June 1 at the 10K — James Burnum, 36:19 Royal Oak Resort and Golf Club minutes; Frank Kapr, 37:05; in Titusville. and Sean Black, 37:51. United Space Alliance is 5K — Wayne Walker, 20:00; sponsoring the tournament, Jimmy Juel, 20:28; Bill Lembke, with proceeds going to the 20:46. American Heart Association in 2M — Jeff Myers, 12:26; RAIN didn't soak the spirits of the 119 runners who participated in this year's annual honor of the KSC employee who Mark Stuckey, 13:04; Donna Spring InterCenter Run at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility. The popular event is died in 1991 from a heart attack. Boone, 14:15. sponsored by the KSC Fitness Centers and The Bionetics Corp. The cost is $60 per player, per Voided Drawing Team earns award for tackling paperwork problem day, which includes green fees, and other amenities. Early reg- Computer-aided drawing istration is encouraged. Signup may be a boon to the engineer forms are available from: Rachel but it also has led to an in- Webb, KSC HQ, 7-7801; Clay creased volume of voided draw- Walker, OSB, 1-3471; Bob ing sheets at KSC over the past Osborne, OSB, 1-3455; John five years. Kowaleski, OPF area, 1-7036; Drawing sheets must be filed Jim Sullivan, LCC/VAB, 1-7400; and stored according to strict Dave Sterrett, pads, 1-6767/1- federal regulations, explained 0717; Don Eldred, complexes, 1- KSC Records Manager Judy 5964; Gene Payne, PCC, 1-7800. Wheeler. The sheets in question typically are of facility layouts. FEW hosts coffee for Each time a modification is THE Voided Drawing Team's efforts will lead to the elimination of hundreds of cubic made to the building, a new feet of voided drawings, such as those shown here. They marked their achievement senior managers drawing sheet is produced. with this “paper party” at the Technical Records Facility at Complex 37. The Federally Employed “In the past, the same draw- position, storage and destruc- The cost avoidance will be an Women (FEW) organization ing would have been changed,” tion problems. estimated $16,000 per year. An held a coffee April 28 to welcome said Wheeler. “With computer- The team proposed that a estimated 2.6 million micro- new Center Director Roy aided design, it's easier to print building in the Industrial Area forms are now held in the Film Bridges. Members of the KSC a new drawing.” be used to accommodate micro- Storage Facility. Because the Senior Management Council Voided drawings were taking form copies of KSC drawings, building is environmentally- also attended. up to 700 cubic feet of space with including voided drawings, controlled, the silver microforms FEW was formed in 1968. no sign of the volume decreas- which could then be destroyed. need to be inspected only once The acronym ‘FEW’ was selected ing anytime soon, and the sheets Called the Film Storage Fa- every two years instead of every because at that could not legally be destroyed cility, the building's tempera- six months. No additional con- time there were until silver microform copies ture and humidity were ad- tractor personnel were needed still relatively were stored in an appropriate justed to properly store the sil- to operate the facility, and space few women in area. The Voided Drawings ver microforms, which is the of- is being made available for federal service. team was formed to tackle dis- ficial copy of a document. centerwide use. It is the only national orga- STS-84 . . before Shannon Lucid's lengthy completed the first U.S.- nization dedi- stay set a new record. Russian spacewalk, during cated solely to eliminating sex (Continued from Page 1) Foale, who is flying in space which Linenger wore a Rus- discrimination in the federal docking in 1995. Pilot Eileen for the fourth time, says he is sian-made spacesuit. Rus- government. Collins flew in space for the looking forward to speaking sian cosmonaut Vladimir The Space Coast Chapter of first time as pilot of STS-63, Russian and working with his Titov, who flew on STS-63 FEW was chartered in 1970, the first Shuttle-Mir rendez- colleagues, Commander Vasili with Collins, will wear a U.S. and is a member of the 25-chap- vous. Tsibliev and Flight Engineer spacesuit for an EVA during ter Southeast region, the larg- Mission Specialists Carlos Aleksandr Lazutkin. the seventh Shuttle-Mir est in the organization. A schol- Noriega and Edward Lu are Astronaut Jerry Linenger docking in September. arship fund was created in 1976 both first-time flyers in space. will return with the STS-84 Other objectives of STS- in cooperation with Brevard Clervoy flew on STS-66. crew. If Atlantis lifts off on 84 include transfer of sup- Community College. The chap- Kondakova had set a long-du- schedule, the orbiter will return plies to and from Mir. About ter also sponsors conferences ration spaceflight record for to KSC May 24 at 7:49 a.m. 1,400 pounds of water will and training seminars. For women during her stay on Mir Linenger and Tsibliev recently be carried to the station. more information, contact Carole McCline, 867-2585. May 9, 1997 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7

THE EG&G-led Maintenance Management team was selected to represent KSC at the 12th annual NASA Continual Improvement and Reinvention Conference April 18. KSC well-represented at NASA quality conference

An EG&G Florida/NASA report states. “By electing to team and KSC Director Roy improve the existing program Bridges attended the 12th an- elements with internal re- nual NASA Continual Improve- sources, the team was support- ment and Reinvention Confer- ing an ‘inside-out’ cultural A variety of events are will be Defense Department ence on Quality Management, change.” planned in recognition of Asian official Belkis Leong-Hong, held April 18 in Alexandria, Va. Organizational restructuring & Pacific Islander American who is of Chinese descent. The 14-member team was se- was one major aspect of the Heritage Month.There will be Cost for the luncheon is $8. lected to represent the center team's solution, as well as an poster displays, and an arts and Tickets can be purchased May based on its success in effecting implementation plan with spe- crafts exhibit in the Headquar- 5-15 in Headquarters from: a major cultural change in how cific milestones, a training pro- ters lobby. Also, a different Rebecca Young, Room 2644; KSC's many facilities are man- gram, and strengthened com- Asian entree will be served in Denise Pham, Rm. 3475; aged and maintained. munication procedures. the cafeteria each week. Divina LeClair, Rm. 1645; Os- “Our goal is to sustain the A Proactive Maintenance A luncheon at the KSC Visi- car Gamboa, Rm. 2321; Hien availability and reliability of fa- Award to encourage a progres- tor Center Lunch Pad is set for Nguyen, Rm. 3384; Marina cilities and utilities in a cost-ef- sive approach to facilities main- 11:30 a.m., May 20. Entertain- Harris, Rm. 2245; in the Op- fective manner through use of tenance also was created. ment will be provided by Kung erations and Checkout Build- the Reliability-Centered Main- Since the program began, the Fu group Wah Lum Temple, and ing, Rupert Lee, Rm. 1237; tenance (RCM) philosophy,” said team estimates it has generated the Phillipine Performing Arts and in the Space Station Pro- team leader Ray Tuttle, man- approximately $250,000 in cost Company will perform native cessing Facility, Chris Chan, ager, EG&G Maintenance Man- savings and about $1 million in dances. The keynote speaker Rm. 3264U. agement. costs avoided. As the Base Operations Con- While the EG&G Florida tractor (BOC), EG&G is respon- team represented KSC at the Honeycutt takes post with Houston firm sible for maintaining about 600 conference, another NASA con- permanent structures and 250 tractor with KSC operations Former KSC Director Jay and Services division, part of temporary. Many date back to was named as one of the four re- Honeycutt has returned to Lockheed's Information and the Apollo era in the 1960s. cipients of the 1997 George M. Houston to take a job with Services Sector, has supported The BOC oversees some Low Award, NASA's highest Lockheed Martin Space Mission NASA for more than 30 years. 28,000 infrastructure elements, quality and excellence award for Systems and Services. It develops, provides and imple- from water lines to roadways to contractors and subcontractors. Honeycutt began work May ments high-reliability com- the buildings themselves. Space Shuttle Main Engine con- 5 as executive vice president, re- mand, control, communications The team employed a com- tractor Rocketdyne, Canoga porting to President Clinton and information processing and plex but effective process to Park, Calif., was cited for the Denny. management systems to sup- transition from a reactive main- measurable improvements it “I am looking forward to the port both human and uncrewed tenance culture to one that pro- has achieved in reducing en- new challenges and opportuni- space missions. motes proactive maintenance gine-related delays. ties of corporate life,” Honeycutt Honeycutt began his NASA based upon facility-condition Other recipients of the award said. “I am very pleased to be career at Johnson Space Center trending. were Dynamic Engineering Inc., able to continue to work and in 1966 during the Apollo pro- “The final solution was a com- Newport News, Va.; Hummer make a contribution to the space gram, starting out as an engi- prehensive effort that addressed Associates, Cleveland, Ohio; and program and become a member neer in Flight Operations. He all areas identified during the Scientific and Commercial Sys- of the Lockheed Martin team.” held a number of positions in root cause analysis,” the team tems Corp., Moffett Field, Calif. The Space Mission Systems Flight Operations until 1988. Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS May 9, 1997 KSC community outreach finds new avenues Robots and airplanes take KSC teams far afield in April KSC's commitment to com- robotic competition features a munity outreach was demon- goal in the center of a playing strated anew in April in two field. Student teams build ro- very different ways. A group of bots from kits that dunk or shoot NASA and contractor engineers colored inner tubes onto posts joined with students from two extending from the goal. local high schools to participate This year, the kit included in a robotic competition, while such assorted items as window other KSC personnel attended motors and seat motors from the Sun 'n Fun Air Show in cars, said NASA engineer Lakeland to share information Eduardo Lopez Del Castillo. The with attendees about NASA. Space Coast FIRST Team had • Robotics Competition six weeks to build their robot, Engineers from the Advanced which they named 4608. They Systems and Analysis Division, visited KSC engineering labs Mechanical Engineering direc- and learned about computer- torate, I-NET; EG&G Florida; aided design software. They ROBOT 4608 in action at the national finals at Epcot in April. The design featured an McDonnell Douglas; and the worked with a variety of ma- arm with an end effector referred to as jaws used to manipulate the tubes. With the arm fully extended, 4608 can reach a height of about 15 feet, manipulating tubes toward Florida Institute of Technology, chining tools at Florida Tech, the goal in the middle of the playing field. Below, Andrea Tabacchi of Satellite High and visited Merritt Island and Sat- and then split into groups to David Thurlwell of Merritt Island High assemble the robot prior to the competition. ellite High Schools to invite stu- design and build 4608. and the engineers who helped dents to participate in an inno- Many hours of long hard them, said Lopez Del Castillo, vative robotic competition. work paid off. The Space Coast and KSC hopes to participate Now in its sixth year, the FIRST Team first participated again next year. competition is sponsored by a in regional competition in New • Lakeland Fun 'n Sun Air non-profit organization called Jersey, finishing 11th out of 35 Show FIRST, which stands for For In- teams and first of the NASA While 4608 was strutting its spiration and Recognition of Sci- teams participating. The team stuff at Epcot, another group of ence and Technology. It pro- placed 14th out of 113 teams in KSC employees traveled to motes interest among students the national competition at Lakeland for the Experimental Epcot Center and was again the in science and technology. The Aircraft Association's Sun 'n man paid a visit as well. top NASA team. Fun Air Show. “This was an excellent forum There also was an animation More than 640,000 people at- to promote NASA's accomplish- category. Despite being com- tended the weeklong event. The ments in technology,” said Jone plete newcomers to the field of NASA exhibit featured material Richards-Gruendel, KSC Tech- 3D animation, the Space Coast about NASA-developed technology Transfer and Commer- First team finished in the top 20 nologies that have contributed cialization Office. Photographs out of 90 entries. to the field of aviation. from the Lakeland show are The effort was immensely re- Astronaut Richard Searfoss posted on the Technology Trans- warding for both the students flew in on a T-38 jet trainer, and fer Office Web home page at: the KSC Visitor Center Space- http://technology.ksc.nasa.gov

John F. Kennedy Space Center Spaceport News

The 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 KSC civil service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted two weeks before publication to the Media Services Branch, PA-MSB or sent via e- mail to the following SMTP: [email protected].nasa.gov Managing editor...... Bruce Buckingham Editor...... Paula Shawa TOP photo — NASA engineer Tom Bonner was among the KSC contributors to the Editorial support provided by Sherikon Space Systems Inc. writers group. Space Coast FIRST team. Below, Eduardo Lopez del Castillo (center) and students at the regional finals in Newark, N.J., in March. Funding from NASA in the form of a grant USGPO: 532-112/20046 as well as an additional donation by McDonnell Douglas helped pay for the project.