Spaceport News John F

July 8 , 2011 Vol. 51, No. 13 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe

Atlantis launches on final shuttle mission

Pages 4-5 Find out what the crew thinks about the final launch of the Space Shuttle Program; read what’s going up on Atlantis; follow experiments as they happen on your smart phone; and check out Atlantis’ processing photos.

NASA/Tony Gray-Tom Farrar

Summer Of Innovation Juno displays arrays ‘Recycled’ Water Test Heritage: STS-78 Inside this issue ...

Page 2 Page 3 Page 6 Page 7 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS July 8, 2011 Kennedy hosts first forum with NASA center directors By Rebecca Regan what makes working here so much Vehicle, or MPCV. facturers, as well as oil and chemical Spaceport News fun. It’s a team that can take on any Cabana looked to Scheuermann companies. challenge and make it happen.” to talk about how becoming a more “All of the commercial compa- ennedy Space Center Direc- Cabana discussed Kennedy’s capability-centric and cost-effective nies that are looking at Commercial tor Bob Cabana hosted path forward as the Space Shuttle center for other government agencies Crew (Development) have come to his first Center Director’s K Program draws to a close with space and commercial companies is work- JSC and we’re talking about how Forum called “Solving Today’s Chal- ing out for Stennis, which tested its they might be able to use our facili- lenges for Tomorrow’s Future” on shuttle Atlantis’ STS-135 mission. last space shuttle main engine 2009. ties, the control centers and so forth, June 29. Joining him were fellow NASA’s Launch Services Program Scheuermann said when it and the skills that we’ve got, which NASA Center Directors Robert will continue to launch expendable comes to others utilizing Stennis would help us maintain those critical Lightfoot of Marshall Space Flight rockets with groundbreaking science missions on board, Kennedy will facilities, they basically “hand over skills,” Coats said. Center in Huntsville, Ala., Patrick the keys” or become “full partners.” support commercial launches to At Glenn, aeronautics research Scheuermann of Stennis Space Currently, Stennis’ test stands cur- low Earth orbit so the agency can in one of the world’s most capable Center in Mississippi, Ray Lugo of rently are occupied by a Department focus on developing a heavy-lift icing research tunnels is expected to Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, of Defense engine for the Delta IV rocket capable of taking astronauts to solve the problem of ice forming on and Mike Coats of Johnson Space rocket, Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne’s more distant destinations within our the engines of commercial airplanes. Center in Houston. RS-68 engine, the Aerojet AJ26 for Lugo said the research center also Each director talked about chal- solar system, and facility modifica- Orbital Sciences Corp., and the J2X will focus on the U.S.’s energy is- lenges their centers face, how proud tions and upgrades will continue to under development by Marshall for sues. they are of their dedicated and pro- prepare the center for a more robust possible use on a heavy-lift vehicle. “We’ve got the ability to solve fessional work force, and how they future. It’s a business model that Cabana these problems in NASA,” Lugo are working together to transition The center also will play a key and Kennedy’s Center Planning and said. “We’re all trying to focus on toward an affordable and sustainable role in processing payloads and ex- Development Office are working to future for the space agency. periments for the International Space emulate on Florida’s Space Coast. what we bring as value to the table.” “We don’t back away from Station as it becomes a fully func- Coats and Lugo said their Cabana will continue to answer something just because it’s hard. We tioning National Laboratory. Work centers are working to partner with questions about Kennedy’s future on decide what needs to get done and also is expected to commence in the commercial entities as well. Johnson his internal blog at go make it happen and that’s because Operations and Checkout Building already signed Space Act Agree- https://sp.ksc.nasa.gov/sites/ of all of you,” Cabana said. “That’s to build the Multi-Purpose Crew ments with three major car manu- cdblog Summer of Innovation engages students in STEM activities By Linda Herridge that very few people have “The Summer of Innova- Spaceport News had, and the Earth is this tion program is important beautiful blue planet.” because it gets students group of middle and The purpose of SOI, engaged and interested in high school girls, which is managed by Glenn STEM careers at an early participating in the A Research Center, is to im- age,” Colville said. Girls Get IT! all girl surf “It’s a great way to get and science camp in Flagler prove the skills and enhance girls interested in and Beach, Fla., were excited the engagement of American middle school students in excited about STEM careers to get the chance to talk to CLICK ON PHOTO a real astronaut as part of science, technology, engi- where women are usually NASA’s Summer of Innova- neering and mathematics, or the minority,” Zimmerman tion (SOI) program June 21. STEM, education. added. Kennedy Space Center Dougles Beaven is the Kristina Brink, lead for Director Bob Cabana shared director of Girls Get IT!, K-12 projects and Kennedy’s his experiences as an astro- which is a program of the point of contact for the SOI For NASA naut on space shuttle mis- Florida Endowment Founda- program, said that each or- Students from the Girls Get IT! surf and science camp in Flagler Beach, Fla., talk sions, discussed what it takes tion. He said about 50 girls ganization’s educators were to Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana via teleconference from the Digital attended the annual summer given professional develop- Learning Network at Kennedy’s Educator Resource Center on June 21. For more to become an astronaut, and on the Summer of Innovation, click on the photo. answered the girls’ questions camp that featured NASA ment on the curriculum and via teleconference from the curriculum about aeronautics hands-on activities that were focused on Earth and space launch of Atlantis on the Digital Learning Network and rocketry for two days developed by NASA’s aero- science and engineering. STS-135 mission, Ken- (DLN) at the Educator Re- each week. space education specialists. “In each of these catego- nedy also is hosting several source Center. Kennedy Education Spe- Students in grades four ries are several subcategories Summer of Innovation sites, When asked what the best cialists Laura Colville and through six will participate that educators can choose including 100 students with thing about going into space Amy Zimmerman, both from in activities focused on from so that the learning the Idaho Space Grant, 100 was, Cabana said, “I think the University of Central life sciences and physical experience can be tailored to students with Albany State the best part is being able to Florida in Orlando, present- science, while students in the needs of the students,” University in Georgia, and look down on the Earth from ed the SOI curriculum and grades seven through nine Brink said. 15 students with the Fern- 200 miles high. It’s a view activities at the camp. will participate in activities For today’s scheduled bank Science Center. July 8, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Solar cells ready to light up Jupiter mission By Rebecca Regan to 34 feet each, Gehling Spaceport News said actuators will help bal- ance the spacecraft, a few ASA’s Juno space- degrees at most, to make craft is going to Jupiter powered by sure it spins perfectly. He N described the deployment an electrical source seldom deployed in deep space: so- much like a figure skater lar arrays. Commonly used spinning on the ice, and by satellites orbiting Earth once the wings deploy, the and working in the inner spacecraft will slow to a solar system, solar arrays graceful twirl about three are typically set aside for times slower than when it missions beyond the aster- began. Initially, only two oid belt in favor of genera- of the three inner panels tors powered by radioactive will be needed to generate isotopes. power, but as the spacecraft For Juno, however, three travels farther away from solar array wings, the larg- the sun, the remaining pan- est ever deployed on a plan- els will come alive. etary probe, will play an It will take the spacecraft integral role in stabilizing half a decade to reach its the spacecraft and generat- destination. Then, from a ing electricity. CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Kim Shiflett Technicians at Astrotech’s payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., watch vigilantly as NASA’s Juno spacecraft is tested very elliptical polar orbit, In order to operate five- for center of gravity, weighing and balancing on the rotation stand June 16. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard a United Juno’s instruments, includ- and-a-half times farther Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter’s poles ing a color camera that will away from its power source 33 times to find out more about the gas giant’s origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere, and investigate the capture images of the plan- than Earth-observing satel- existence of a solid planetary core. To view an animation of Juno’s solar arrays unfurling, click on the photo. et’s poles, a six-wavelength lites, Juno is equipped with on its five-year journey to inspections, cleaning and shuttle Atlantis on the microwave radiometer for more than 18,000 solar Jupiter where it will spend launch acoustic testing. Ge- STS-34 mission in 1989. atmospheric sounding and cells. Russ Gehling, the at least a year investigat- hling said one of the main Galileo operated on nuclear composition, plasma and solar array subsystem’s lead ing the gas giant’s origins, processing challenges came power, though. energetic particle detectors, engineer with Lockheed structure, atmosphere and in the fact that the wings are Juno’s wings arrived at Martin, said using the sun magnetosphere. Two years so large, they can’t support Astrotech in Titusville, Fla., and ultraviolet and infrared to generate power is an old- into the journey, it will fly their own weight in gravity. in March for additional imagers and spectrometers, school, yet proven technol- back by Earth for a grav- “The entire solar arrays checks and tests ahead of will begin sending data ogy. ity assist and then spin combined are almost launch. About a month back to Earth. “In general, once we’re through the frigid cold as it 750 pounds,” Gehling later, the spacecraft itself “The layout and size of out at Jupiter, we need 405 approaches its destination said. “They’re a little more arrived and the wings were the panels are oriented in watts, which is not really deep in our solar system. massive than typical solar installed onto it before that nice symmetrical hexa- enough to even run your After NASA’s Jet Propul- arrays because of all these the entire package will be gon so the instruments will hair dryer,” Gehling said. sion Laboratory (JPL) in various requirements of integrated into the United have an unconstrained field “Of those 405 watts, about Pasadena, Calif., and the stiffness and pointing and Launch Alliance Atlas V of view,” Gehling said. half of them go toward magnetometer team at God- carrying the magnetom- rocket. Juno is scheduled While the Juno science keeping the spacecraft dard Space Flight Center eter.” to liftoff Aug. 5 at team will have to wait for warm. So, the other half, in Greenbelt, Md., agreed The reason the wings 11:39 a.m. from Cape Ca- its gas giant data, Gehling somewhere in the 250 to an array design that met have to be so stiff and naveral Air Force Station. and his team will know range, is to run all of the all of the mission’s require- strong is because Juno will Gehling said the rocket’s about an hour after launch instruments and all of the ments, processing of these be a spinning spacecraft -- Centaur upper stage will if all their work paid off. avionics.” massive wings began at another retro-aspect of this help get the spacecraft spin- “In real time, we’ll The thousands of reddish- Lockheed Martin’s main mission. ning in orbit at about immediately start to see blue solar cells are located plant outside of Denver in “The wings dominate 1.4 revolutions per minute. power generated, we’ll see on 11 panels, four on each 2006. Then, the solar cells how true it spins on its “After the spacecraft on two of the spacecraft’s and their miles of electri- axis,” Gehling said. “Our separates from the upper temperatures increasing on 250-pound wings. The third cal wiring were installed goal is to make it spin about stage and starts transmitting the panels, and we’ll see the wing has three panels and is to the panels in California the direction of our high data, then the separation vehicle respond to the fact outfitted with a boom at the at Spectrolab Inc., which gain antenna boresight.” nuts release and the wings that wings deployed,” Geh- end that carries the space- is a division of The Boeing NASA’s last mission to deploy,” Gehling said. “It ling said. “We’ll get all that craft’s magnetometer. Company. After that, they Jupiter was Galileo, another only takes them on the or- data in. That’s how we’ll At this point, Juno is were sent back to Denver spin-stabilized spacecraft der of a minute to deploy.” assess that the wings are out fueled and ready to embark for installation, integration, and launched aboard space After the wings span out and the spacecraft is safe.” Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS July 8, 2011 July 8, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 Atlantis ready for final space shuttle flight Final Four: ‘In Their Own Words’ Last mission’s cargo The experienced STS-135 crew members reflect on their astronaut careers and being selected includes first iPhone to fly aboard the Space Shuttle Program’s final mission in a Kennedy Space Center video series called By Steven Siceloff “In Their Own Words.” To see and hear what each astronaut says, click on their photos. Download now Spaceport News Smartphone users can download here is at least one first SpaceLab for iOS, which will track involved with STS-135, a International Space Station astronauts’ Tmission notable for its lasts: scientific results. The 99 cent app The crew is taking the first iPhone allows earthbound users to perform the into space to help with experiments same experiments with the software CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Ken Thornsley aboard the International Space simulating microgravity. The STS-135 crew members wave an American flag to commemorate Indepen- Station. dence Day on the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. From left, are Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Sandy A Houston company called after they return to Earth. Magnus and Rex Walheim. To watch a retrospective video on NASA’s Space Shuttle Odyssey Space Research devel- For example, American flags Program and the final flight, click on the photo. oped an application for the Apple from the Delaware Valley Historic smartphone that is meant to help Aircraft Association, Key Penin- the astronauts track their scientific sula Middle School in Lake Bay, results and perhaps one day aid Commander Pilot Mission Specialist Mission Specialist in navigation. The device will be Wash., and a fire station in Houston are to orbit the Earth for 12 days Chris Ferguson Doug Hurley Sandy Magnus Rex Walheim housed inside a small research platform built by NanoRacks. The before being handed over to their platform will be placed inside the sponsors as symbols of inspiration. station. Among the unusual things The app, called SpaceLab for headed into space is a recipe card iOS, is even available to earth- from one of the dishes served in bound smartphone users to perform the Astronaut Crew Quarters at the same experiments with the Kennedy. software simulating microgravity. NASCAR is well-represented According to the company, the on the mission with a cap from Joe NASA/Frankie Martin software was designed with the Gibbs Racing and black flags from A technician prepares the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module (MLPM) in the Space Station Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center on April 13 for shuttle iPhone’s unique attributes in mind, Texas Motor Speedway on the Atlantis’ flight to the International Space Station. such as the gyro, accelerometer, roster of items. cameras and chip. More than 500 patches of the Atlantis launched today at STS-135 mission are tucked inside 11:29 a.m. EDT from Kennedy Atlantis for the flight, a common Space Center on a mission to take-along for all shuttle missions, deliver supplies and experiments to along with 800 small American the space station. flags that are typically handed Along with the first iPhone, the out after a mission as awards and crew of Atlantis is bringing along recognitions. numerous items commemorating When the crew returns, the items what will be the final mission of will be unpacked from lockers NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. inside the shuttle and returned to For instance, a flag from the first shuttle flight in 1981 will be carried the astronauts who often make to the station and left there until the personal visits to hand them back first commercial spacecraft crew to their owners. comes to retrieve it. The tradition of carrying me- The shuttle’s astronauts, Com- mentos into space is not expected mander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug to end with the end of the shuttle CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis Hurley and Mission Specialists program. When SpaceX launched External Tank-138 is lifted above the transfer aisle in the Vehicle Assembly Building Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, its Dragon capsule last year, for CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis NASA/Frank Michaux CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Kim Shiflett at Kennedy Space Center on July 15, 2010. ET-138, the last newly manufactured have allocated a number of unique example, it carried commemorative Space shuttle Atlantis is lowered May 18 toward the mobile launcher platform where After 30 years and 135 missions, residents and visitors to Florida’s Space Coast Bathed in xenon lights, space shuttle Atlantis embarks on its final journey from the tank, was originally designated to fly on space shuttle Endeavour’s STS-134 mission it will be joined with its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters in the Vehicle crowd the new A. Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville to see the rocket’s red glare Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center on to the International Space Station, but later reassigned to fly on Atlantis’ final mis- items that will become commemo- items inside, most notably a wedge Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. For more information on STS-135 of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program soar for the last time. Space shuttle Atlantis March 31. To view a video of the STS-135 rollout, click on the photo. sion, STS-135. For more about the tank and the shuttle system, click on the photo. ratives for numerous organizations of cheese. processing, click on the photo. launched at 11:29 a.m. EDT from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS July 8, 2011

STS-135 astronauts to test new method for recycling ‘used’ water By Cheryl Mansfield return-to-Earth scenarios, as well as Spaceport News aid during future long-term space exploration. ater -- it’s essential for life. When future Beyond water recycling, the re- space explorers venture sults from the experiment also could W shed light on several other aspects beyond low Earth orbit, their only water supply will be on board their of life in space. spacecraft. During the final space “Forward osmosis is the process shuttle flight, STS-135, NASA sci- that is responsible for the uptake entists plan to have astronauts test of water from the human intestine in microgravity a new method for into the blood. It is also the pro- recycling “used” water. cess that allows the root zones of The idea is to make a fortified plants to take up water from soil,” drink that provides hydration and explains Flynn. “In addition, many nutrients from all sources available drug delivery capsules use forward aboard a spacecraft, such as waste- osmosis.” water and even urine. The method Learning how forward osmosis set for testing uses a process known is affected by weightlessness might as forward osmosis. give scientists insight into the ef- “Forward osmosis is the natural fects zero gravity have on space- diffusion of water through a semi- grown plants and the digestive permeable membrane,” explains system function of humans in space Michael Flynn, research scientist at CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Monica Soler -- all of which might help future Ames Research Center. “The mem- Astronauts aboard space shuttle Atlantis will knead three water bags to see if the action aids in the brane acts as a barrier that allows forward osmosis process. space travelers adapt better on long- duration missions. small molecules, such as water, tic that doesn’t ‘off gas’ or burn,” chanical mixing on the membrane, So in the end, the testing of this to pass through while blocking says Woodward, explaining that as far as if that’s going to increase one simple device during the last larger molecules like salts, sugars, the fittings also were changed to a the flux rate. Half of them are going days of the space shuttle’s final voy- starches, proteins, viruses, bacteria quick-release version already used to get shaken and hand-kneaded for and parasites.” in space to make it easier for the a couple minutes,” explains Project age could provide key information The forward osmosis method astronauts to work with in weight- Engineer Monica Soler, who works for future exploration beyond our already is used for earthbound lessness. under Kennedy’s Engineering Ser- planet. applications, allowing water of The testing will come toward the vice Contract with Team QNA. unknown purity to be changed into end of the STS-135 mission, after Soler says if the mixing helps, drinkable water in six to eight hours undocking from the International then the hope is that a long-term using a bag containing two cham- Space Station. An astronaut will application would be in a spacesuit, bers separated by a membrane. inject a prepared mixture of a lower which would induce the mechanical The commercial technology aids concentration liquid containing mixing as astronaut moves around in diverse settings, from outdoor dye into the outer chamber of the during a spacewalk. sports like hiking, to the military, to apparatus, which will represent the To conclude the experiment, after natural disasters where water purifi- “dirty” water. Then, a higher con- five hours, the crew member will cation is essential for survival. centrated “draw” solution will be in- use sample syringes to connect to The membrane alone can work jected into the bag’s inner chamber. the inner chambers of each bag for most water, but a two-stage This process will be repeated six and remove 60 milliliters of the system is necessary when recycling times. sample from each of the six bags urine. It must first be filtered using “Some of the unknowns are, if and stow them for landing. Once an activated carbon bed, which re- you get an air and a fluid mixture the samples are returned to Earth moves urea and alcohol that would in space it can turn to foam instead aboard Atlantis, Project Scientists pass through the membrane alone. of a liquid, so then what will that Dr. Howard Levine and Dr. Michael A group of scientists at Kennedy do as it sits on the membrane?” Roberts from Kennedy’s Space Life Space Center, led by NASA Project Woodward questions. “Will it still Sciences Lab will conduct postflight Manager Spencer Woodward, be drawn across the membrane just analysis of the samples to see how will include in Atlantis’ cargo six like it is in 1g?” well forward osmosis worked in forward osmosis bag kits for the The plan is to have astronauts microgravity. astronauts to test. The bags’ manu- knead and manipulate three of the Results could prove that the facturer, Hydration Technology bags to assist in the transfer of the device can have several applications Innovations of Albany, Ore., made a liquid through the membrane to see for NASA in addition to the space- few adaptations to their commercial if it helps the process work better in suits. It could serve as an emergen- product for spaceflight. the absence of gravity. cy backup source for water aboard NASA/Todd Mortenson “It’s the same membrane, but the “The experiment that we’re going the space station, provide hydration Six forward osmosis kits will fly aboard space bag was remanufactured out of plas- to be looking at is the effect of me- and nutrition during emergency shuttle Atlantis on the STS-135 mission. July 8, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Remembering Our Heritage STS-78 landing marked shuttle program halfway point By Kay Grinter Reference Librarian s history would have it, the halfway point in NASA’s ASpace Shuttle Program came 15 years ago when space shuttle Columbia touched down at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility on July 7, 1996, concluding the STS-78 mission. Aboard was an international crew of seven: Commander Tom Henricks; Pilot Kevin Kregel; Payload Commander Susan Helms; Mission Specialists Richard Lin- nehan and Charles Brady; and Payload Specialists Jean-Jacques Favier of the French Space Agency and Robert Thirsk of the Canadian Space Agency. Five space agencies and research scientists from 10 countries worked together on the mission’s primary payload, the Life and Microgravity Spacelab (LMS). The more than 40 experiments flown were grouped into two areas NASA file/1996 of investigation: life sciences and Space shuttle Columbia touched down after its STS-78 mission at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility on July 7, 1996. The landing marked the microgravity science. midway point of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. The mission was good practice for the international cooperation caused the Challenger accident in The shuttle’s heyday also was solid rocket boosters (SRBs), and anticipated to become routine during 1986 had been corrected, and the a great time to be one of NASA’s during hurricane season that sum- the assembly and operation of the flight rate was stabilizing. female astronauts. mer, we had to roll the vehicle back International Space Station. After Seven shuttle launches in 1995 Eileen Collins made NASA from the pad twice.” years of deliberation, the station’s and 1996 were followed by eight history in February 1995 as the Atlantis returned to the shelter design had been finalized during launches in 1997, the first year since first female shuttle pilot of STS-63, of the VAB on July 10 as Hurricane the Clinton administration in 1993. 1992 that eight flights were accom- the first approach and flyaround of Bertha approached, where the SRBs LMS investigators were located at plished in a calendar year, and the the Russian space station Mir by a were swapped with those slated to four remote locations in both Europe pièce de résistance, all eight of the shuttle. fly on STS-80, and again on Sept. and the U.S. flights in 1997 launched on the dates A continuous U.S. presence 4, to elude the threat of Hurricane STS-78 was the longest shuttle set in their respective flight readi- aboard Mir started in 1996 with the Fran. flight to that date at 16 days, 21 ness reviews. March 22 launch of Atlantis on the The STS-80 mission in Novem- hours, 47 minutes. For the first time, NASA alum Jim Harrington STS-76 mission and one of its pas- ber/December 1996, which im- an in-cabin camera provided images was shuttle launch director from sengers, NASA astronaut Shannon mediately followed Lucid’s return, from the flight deck, beginning with 1995 through 1997. From the retire- Lucid, arrived on station. broke the long-duration record set crew ingress and continuing through ment community of Solivita on the Not only did Lucid become the by STS-78 and at 17 days, 15 hours, main engine cutoff, as well as the outskirts of Kissimmee, Fla., he first American woman to live on and 18 seconds retains the record for first live downlink video during the recalled: “In ‘95 and ‘96, the team the station, but her 188-day long- the longest shuttle flight. shuttle’s descent. was building itself up to a peak, so duration spaceflight set a new U.S. During a recent media briefing, After landing, Henricks and that in ‘97, we could successfully record, as well as the world record Space Shuttle Program Manager Kregel participated in the Olympic process the shuttles from landing, for a woman, after an unplanned John Shannon announced that the Torch ceremony at the Kennedy through the orbiting processing six-week extension to her stay. She program officially will come to an Space Center Visitor Complex ex- facility (OPF) to the Vehicle As- returned to Earth aboard Atlantis end 30 days after wheelstop of space tending the U.S. Independence Day sembly Building (VAB) and out to on Sept. 26, 1996, with the STS-79 shuttle Atlantis concluding the STS- euphoria just a little longer. the pad, and launch on time every crew. 135 mission. The shuttle program was in its time. The team gelled into a smooth- “We couldn’t go get her on “The launch teams who have prime, and for the Kennedy work running operation, and eight on-time schedule,” Harrington said, “be- nurtured the shuttles through the last force, all was right with the world. launches showed how great the cause there were concerns with a 30 years have reason to be proud,” The design deficiencies that launch teams were during that era.” new adhesive used to assemble the Harrington said. Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS July 8, 2011

Kennedy adds unique Looking up and ahead . . . * All times are Eastern touch to ‘Transformers’ Planned for July 20 Landing/KSC: Atlantis, STS-135; 7:06 a.m. By Steven Siceloff For Bay, the science fiction Spaceport News elements bring out the most in what No Earlier Than July 14 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, GPS IIF-2; audiences go to movies to see. Launch window: 2:51 to 3:10 p.m. ASA’s historic adventures “The highest grossing films of and cutting-edge technology all time are science fiction movies provide some of the under- Aug. 5 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, Juno; N and things that are in space. I think pinnings for “Transformers: Dark Launch: 11:40 a.m. it’s something we still have to of the Moon.” There also are some discover,” Bay said. star turns of a different sort for some The film’s leading characters No Earlier Than September Launch/CCAFS: SpaceX Falcon 9, of Kennedy Space Center’s workers played by Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Dragon C2; Launch window: TBD who appeared as extras in the film. Huntington-Whitely and Josh Director Michael Bay and his production team all but moved in Duhamel were on set at Kennedy at Sept. 8 Launch/CCAFS: Delta II Heavy, GRAIL; to the space center for a week in different times. Launch: 8:35 a.m. and 9:14 a.m. October 2010. There were casting It was easy to get excited about real-life space technology during calls, costuming and catering tents, Oct. 25 Launch/VAFB: Delta II Heavy, NPP; the filming, even though they were and of course a flotilla of high- Launch window: 5:47 to 5:57 a.m. performance cars and trucks. acting opposite computer-generated Employees at the center were creatures that convert from robots to able to see the outcome of all the vehicles and back. No Earlier Than Nov. 7 Launch/CCAFS: Delta IV, WGS 4; effort during a sneak preview of the “It’s hard to believe that you’re Launch window: TBD movie June 28 at the Kennedy Space standing in front of the shuttle over Center Visitor Complex’s IMAX here,” said Paul Turturro, who plays No Earlier Than Nov. 25 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, Mars Science Laboratory; Agent Simmons. “When you see theater. Launch: 10:21 a.m. “I thought they did a great job,” something for real you kind of have said Mike Cianilli, a NASA test to keep looking at it, walk around.” Late 2011 Launch/CCAFS: SpaceX Falcon 9, director (NTD) at Kennedy who Kennedy was a natural backdrop appears in the movie. “It was fun to for a science fiction story, said Dragon C3, C4; Launch window: TBD see the production and then to see Lorenzo di Bonaventura, one of the the end product.” film’s producers. Early 2012 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, AEHF 2; Launch window: TBD The cast and crew filmed inside “The idea of the space program always was how to get in contact the Vehicle Assembly Building Early 2012 Launch/CCAFS: Delta IV-Heavy, NROL-15; with others, so we’ve brought the (VAB), an orbiter processing facility, Launch window: TBD at the Space Station Processing ‘Transformers’ to the shuttle,” said di Facility and at Launch Pad 39A Bonaventura. “The Kennedy Space where space shuttle Discovery stood Center has always been this sort of February 2012 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, MUOS; Launch window: TBD ahead of its STS-133 mission. mythical thing, I think, for me. You Bill Heidtman, also an NTD, imagine it out there and then you May 2012 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, RBSP; Launch window: TBD said the agency shined in the feature. come here and you realize how many “It was kind of an homage to the people are working here and what space program,” Heidtman said. this kind of endeavor entails.” The feature film is the third The production called for installment of the “Transformers” dozens of extras who were John F. Kennedy Space Center franchise, covering the life-and-death volunteers from Kennedy. They battles of a species of robots that spent long days on the sets running bring their war to Earth. inside the VAB, working at Spaceport News “It all looked good,” said Ron computers and performing other Feile, lead air traffic controller at the tasks at the other locations. Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and Shuttle Landing Facility, who helped The “Transformers” films are is published online on alternate Fridays by Public Affairs in the interest of KSC coordinate the setup for the scenes a mix of live-action and computer- civil service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted three weeks before shot there. He was particularly generated characters based on a publication to Public Affairs, IMCS-440. E-mail submissions can be sent to pleased with the role a trio of NASA cartoon series and toy line. Many [email protected] helicopters played in the film. “That of the people who took part in the Managing editor ...... Candrea Thomas was impressive.” filming got to relive a bit of their Editor ...... Frank Ochoa-Gonzales The Shuttle Landing facility’s childhood when they played with the Copy editor ...... Rebecca Regan role in the movie was short, but Feile metamorphosing robots. said it was worth the effort. The movie opened nationwide Editorial support provided by Abacus Technology Corp. Writers Group. NASA at KSC is on the Internet at www.nasa.gov/kennedy “It was an interesting endeavor,” June 29 and is expected to be a major USGPO: 733-049/600142 he said. “We had fun.” summer blockbuster.