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Sept. 7, 2012 Vol. 52, No. 18 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe Radiation Belt Storm Probes begin two-year mission team from the University of Iowa. Early morning liftoff The mission uses two probes so a major success for scientists can distinguish transient Launch Service Program features from those that are there for a longer period, or may be changing, By Anna Heiney Fox said. Spaceport News Based at Kennedy Space Center, the Launch Services Program (LSP) ASA's Radiation Belt Storm was involved in prelaunch planning Probes (RBSP) are bound for the RBSP mission for several Nfor the heart of the Earth's years. radiation belts after an early-morn- NASA Launch Manager Tim ing launch from Cape Canaveral Air Dunn said, "The team has been Force Station on Aug. 30. The Unit- preparing in total for about six years ed Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket for the RBSP mission. The early carrying the twin probes lifted off planning began that long ago, back from Space Launch Complex-41 at in about the 2006 timeframe. The 4:05 a.m. EDT. core team came in at about contract The Van Allen radiation belts award time in March of 2009. So are two concentric, wide rings of we've been very heavily involved high-intensity particles encircling the with RBSP for the last three years." Earth's equator. This dynamic region Rex Engelhardt, LSP's mission changes in response to the sun, with manager for RBSP, worked on the the potential to affect GPS satel- project since 2006. He pointed out lites, satellite television and more. that ensuring the separation of both The RBSP mission aims to study spacecraft from the Centaur upper this ever-changing environment in stage, after launch, required some greater detail than ever before. extra attention. The RBSP mission is part of "You've got to point it in the right NASA's Living with a Star program, direction, spin it back up again, which is managed by the agency's separate the second (probe), then Goddard Space Flight Center in you've got to spin the Centaur back Greenbelt, Md. The Applied Phys- down again, and quietly back away," ics Laboratory team built the RBSP Engelhardt said. spacecraft and will manage the mis- Now that the probes are flying in sion for NASA. their proper orbits, they'll undergo a The discovery of the radiation two-month "commissioning period." belts dates back to the dawn of This offers the team plenty of time the space age. Their existence was to extend the instrumentation booms, detected in 1958 by a Geiger counter check out the probes' health and CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Rusty Backer on NASA's first spacecraft, Explorer safety, and ensure the electronics are The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, lifts off 1, built by James Van Allen and his working. Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 4:05 a.m. EDT on Aug. 30. Armstrong remembered Topping out Exploration Park update Harvest Experiments Inside this issue... Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 6 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS Sept. 7, 2012 Workers praise Armstrong as an American hero By Bob Granath Spaceport News mployees at NASA's Kennedy Space Cen- Eter paused recently to remember Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the moon and one of America's greatest heroes of exploration. Armstrong died Aug. 25 at the age of 82. During a brief wreath- laying ceremony on Aug. 31, Bob Cabana, Kennedy's center director, described Armstrong as a role model. “Neil Armstrong was a true American hero, and one of the nicest gentlemen around," he said. "He was the epitome of what an engi- neering test pilot should be." Cabana added that Arm- CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Kim Shiflett Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana addresses employees and guests gathered for a brief ceremony on Aug. 31 to honor Neil Armstrong, who died Aug. 25 at strong was greatly interested the age of 82. Armstrong was hailed by Cabana as one of our heroes and a truly great American. in Kennedy's path forward to the future. aboard Apollo 11 in 1969, lessons at 15. While most Armstrong was offered an the Apollo 11 mission," Al- "Neil's one small step for they carried with them the American teenagers look for- opportunity to join NASA's drin recently said. "Virtually man was the culmination of aspirations of an entire na- ward to receiving a driver's expanding astronaut corps the entire world took that a lot of hard work by a lot of tion . they set out to show license, Armstrong earned which he accepted without memorable journey with us." people down on the ground," the world that the American his pilot's license before he hesitation. "When you have hundreds he said. "His step was only spirit can see beyond what could drive a car. On his first spaceflight, of thousands of people all the beginning of a very long seems unimaginable - that Putting his college work Armstrong was command doing their job a little better journey that we must now with enough drive and inge- aside, Armstrong was a naval pilot for Gemini 8 in March than they have to, you get continue as we prepare to nuity, anything is possible." aviator from 1949 to 1952, 1966. He and David Scott an improvement in perfor- move even further from our NASA Administrator flying 78 combat missions successfully performed the mance," Armstrong said in a home planet and continue Charles Bolden, like Cabana during the Korean conflict. first spacecraft docking in NASA oral history interview this quest in our exploration a former astronaut, also After leaving active duty, he orbit, linking their Gemini in 2001. "And that's the only of space." reacted to the loss of a fellow continued serving in the U.S. capsule with an Agena target reason we could have pulled Armstrong's family shared former astronaut. Naval Reserve until 1960. satellite, a crucial step in this whole thing off." the news of his passing "Besides being one of Armstrong completed his preparing for future trips to Looking to the future, following complications America's greatest explorers, work at Purdue University the moon. Bolden noted that Armstrong from recent cardiovascular Neil carried himself with a in 1955 earning a bachelor's After serving as back- helped pave the way. procedures: grace and humility that was degree in aeronautical engi- up commander to Frank "As we enter this next era "Neil was our loving an example to us all," Bolden neering. That same year he Borman for the first Apollo of space exploration, we do husband, father, grandfa- said. joined the National Advisory flight to leave Earth orbit so standing on the shoulders ther, brother and friend," Fellow Apollo 11 moon- Committee for Aeronau- and circle the moon in 1968, of Neil Armstrong," he said. the family statement read. walker Buzz Aldrin also tics, or NACA, NASA's Armstrong was selected to While tributes for Arm- "Neil Armstrong was also a honored Armstrong's flying predecessor organization, command Apollo 11, the first strong arrived from all areas reluctant American hero who skills. as a research pilot at Lewis lunar landing mission. of the world, his family had a always believed he was just "I know I am joined by Laboratory in Cleveland. With much of Earth's pop- suggestion. doing his job." millions of others in mourn- He later transferred to ulation watching, Armstrong, "For those who may ask Tributes honoring Arm- ing the passing of a true NACA's High Speed Flight along with lunar module what they can do to honor strong have been numerous. American hero and the best Research Station at Edwards pilot Aldrin and command Neil, we have a simple re- "Neil was among the pilot I ever knew," he said. Air Force Base, Calif. As module pilot Mike Collins, quest. Honor his example greatest of American heroes Armstrong was born Aug. project pilot, he was in the lifted off from Kennedy on of service, accomplishment - not just of his time, but of 5, 1930, on his grandfather's forefront of the development July 16, 1969. and modesty, and the next all time," President Barack farm near Wapakoneta, of many high-speed aircraft, "Neil and I trained togeth- time you walk outside on a Obama said in a statement Ohio. His passion for flying which included flying the er as technical partners, but clear night and see the moon released by the White House. began at an early age. He X-15 to the edge of space were also good friends who smiling down at you, think "When he and his fellow moved from building model seven times. will always be connected of Neil Armstrong and give crew members lifted off airplanes to taking flying In September 1962, through our participation in him a wink." Sept. 7, 2012 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Atlantis' new home at visitor complex topped out By Steven Siceloff come see our future." Spaceport News The exhibits will tell the shuttle program's history he new home for with interactive displays space shuttle Atlantis and other features that allow was topped out T visitors to learn as much as Wednesday with its high- they want about the space- est beam in a milestone craft that carried astronauts ceremony marking the into space for 30 years. continuing construction of a 90,000-square-foot exhibit "Every time you come hall at the Kennedy Space out of those story zones, Center Visitor Complex.