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June 10, 2011 Vol. 51, No. 11 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe NASA/Sandra Joseph - Kevin O’Connell Endeavour ends STS-134, final mission Xenon lights help lead space shuttle Endeavour home on June 1. Endeavour landed for the final time on the Shuttle Landing Facility’s Runway 15, marking the 25th night landing of NASA’s Space Shuttle Pro- gram. Main gear touchdown was at 2:34:51 a.m. EDT, followed by nose gear touchdown at 2:35:04 a.m., and wheelstop at 2:35:36 a.m. STS-134 was the 25th and final flight for Endeavour, which has spent 299 days in space, orbited Earth 4,671 times and traveled 122,883,151 miles. Clickhere to take a look at Endeavour’s Click here to find out everything you Click here to get a complete Click here to view STS-134 images, Click here to watch the YouTube video Fact Sheet, including every mission’s need to know about the legacy of STS-134 mission overview and mission watch the mission’s video and listen to of Endeavour’s final landing with com- facts and figures. Endeavour. timeline. the mission’s audio. mentary. Optimus Prime award STS-135 Payload Final Shuttle Rollout Be prepared Inside this issue ... Page 2 Page 3 Page 6 Page 7 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS June 10, 2011 NASA transforms way students learn about technology By Rebecca Regan Spaceport News ptimus Prime once said, “There’s a thin line between Obeing a hero and being a memory.” Four fifth-graders from Union Park Elementary School in Orlando, Fla., recently became more than just a memory . to their CLICK ON PHOTO NASA classmates they are heroes for win- The 10-pound glass 2010 NASA Optimus Prime ning an award inspired by the leader Spinoff Awards on display. For more information about the competition, or to view photos and a of the Autobots in the popular message from Optimus Prime, click on the photo. “Transformers” franchise. “Excelling in science, technol- eighth-grader from Roberto Clem- ogy, engineering and math allows ente Middle School in Germantown, you to use your imagination and to Md., took home first place in the go beyond what you see Optimus older age group. Her video was Prime doing,” said Nona Cheeks, about how a star-mapping algorithm chief of the Technology Com- CLICK ON PHOTO For NASA used on NASA’s Hubble Space mercialization Office at NASA’s Grace Romano, left and Isaliz Gonzales host a news program explaining the NASA technology that Telescope is helping scientists track Goddard Space Flight Center in protects skin against exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays. To view the “Fabrics Protect Sensitive Skin endangered animals. from UV Rays” video, click on the photo. Greenbelt, Md., during an award At the end of the Union Park ceremony at the school May 25. programs, green screens . and we hearing that she and her award ceremony, Peter Cullen, the Cheeks and other NASA repre- had us.” teammates will be receiving four voice of Optimus Prime, got the at- The teamwork attitude por- complementary passes each to sentatives were there to honor Isaliz tention of a couple hundred fourth- trayed in their “Fabrics Protect Sen- the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Gonzales, Juliana Sanchez, Saman- and fifth-graders by saying “Many sitive Skin from UV Rays” video Complex. tha Herrod and Grace Romano with challenges lie ahead . if we work is what won over the public after “I’m very impressed by your 10-pound glass trophies for the together, we can face them, and we short, creative video they produced it was posted on YouTube. Nearly group and your video . not only can beat them.” for the 2010 NASA Optimus Prime 70 videos were submitted by more did you grasp the concept and NASA plans to have the contest Spinoff Competition. The goal of than 170 students from 30 states explain it, but you also made it en- again this year, expanding the pool the video competition, sponsored in two age groups -- third through tertaining and that’s important,” said of contestants to ninth- through by the Innovative Partnerships fifth grade and sixth through eighth Dr. Lesley Fletcher, deputy division Program at Goddard and the action grade. A panel of NASA judges chief of Education at Kennedy. “Our 12th-graders. figure maker Hasbro, was to help reviewed and selected the winners hope is that you’ll go into science, When Klein asked the students, students understand how NASA from the top five videos in each age technology, engineering or math and “The next time I ask for volunteers “transforms” technologies to benefit group. you’ll create things that make the to do this video, I’ll get a lot more, humankind on a daily basis. “All our hard work has defi- world better for everyone.” right fourth-graders?” they all “We wanted to give you kids a nitely paid off,” Romano said after “Dahlia” Senthilnathan Huh, an yelled “yes” in unison. chance to express your creativity,” said Darryl Mitchell, a Goddard engineer. “It’s a very exciting time, our understanding of our universe and technology is evolving, and some of you may be the first to walk on Mars.” Kimberley Klein, the students’ science lab teacher, said highlight- ing clothing that helps protect skin against exposure to harmful ultra- violet rays was an easy pick because of all the time Floridians spend baking in the hot sun. She said that winning the award was quite a shock because the com- petition seemed pretty fierce. “We did our best and we hoped for the best,” Klein said. “It was a huge surprise because we looked CLICK ON PHOTO NASA at the other videos and they were Four fifth-grade students from Union Park Elementary in Orlando, Fla., accept their 2010 NASA Optimus Prime Spinoff Awards. To view the “How the NASA very high-tech, they used computer Star Mapping Technology Help Save Him” video, click on the photo. June 10, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 STS-135 mission to carry more payload than ever before By Linda Herridge attempt to test robotic refueling tech- Spaceport News niques for spacecraft not built with on-orbit servicing in mind, and is hen Atlantis and its four expected to reduce risks and lay the veteran astronauts launch foundation for future robotic servic- Won the STS-135 mission ing missions,” Cepollina said. to the International Space Station The RRM will remain on the (ISS) in July, the shuttle’s payload station for two years and will be used bay will be filled with more hard- to demonstrate robotic refueling of ware, supplies, logistics, and spare spacecraft as well as general space parts by volume than previous space robotic repair and servicing opera- shuttle missions. Also, two of the tions. 11 science experiments carried in Michael Kinslow, Boeing Space the middeck were developed in the Operations payloads flow manager, Space Life Sciences Laboratory, or said more than 60 NASA and Boeing SLSL, at Kennedy Space Center. workers performed the assembly, “This will be my first and only testing and final integration work for shuttle payload so I’m obviously the payloads. very excited,” said Spencer Wood- “Each mission is unique and has ward, who is the technical integra- routine and new payload hardware tion manager in the Engineering providers,” Kinslow said. “We’ve Directorate, “I hope to have many worked with many international more payloads on future vehicles.” customers for space station over the He helped develop the Forward years and have developed long-term Osmosis Bag (FOB), which is a relationships.” modified product designed to convert For STS-135, Kinslow said untreated water into a potable drink. there were some enhanced pumps Monica Soler, the FOB project and equipment arriving late for space engineer and a payload development station system racks, so Kennedy’s engineer with Team QNA on the cen- operations and engineering teams ter’s Engineering Services Contract, developed a late cargo stowage plan. said she feels honored to have had “It was a great team effort and such an integral role in the develop- spirit for this final shuttle mission to ment of the experiment. support the space station,” Kinslow “I have mixed emotions as said. I watch my first payload also be The science and research experi- the last science experiment to be ments will be stowed in 10 lockers in CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Jack Pfaller conducted on the space shuttle to end Atlantis’ middeck July 7. According such a vital part of history,” Soler Technicians garbed in protective wear, commonly known as “bunny suits,” install cargo inside the Raf- faello multi-purpose logistics module June 3 in the Space Station Processing Facility. Commander Chris to ISS Utilization Integration Engi- said. Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim are targeted to neer Jennifer Wahlberg, these have Biological Research in lift off aboard space shuttle Atlantis on July 8. They will take Raffaello, packed with supplies, logistics a late stowage requirement because Canisters-Symbiotic Nodulation in and spare parts to the International Space Station. For more on STS-135, click on the photo. some of the experiment samples a Reduced Gravity Environment need to be loaded as late as possible. (BRIC SyNRGE), developed by The multi-purpose logistics the station back to Earth for investi- “On this flight, we have more Dr. Gary Stutte, with Team QNA at module Raffaello and an external gation into why it failed.” science in the middeck than on any the SLSL last year, will investigate carrier that will hold the Robotic During the mission, the RRM recent mission and it will be chal- microgravity effects associated Refueling Mission (RRM) were pro- will be transferred from Atlantis to lenging for the team,” Wahlberg said.