September 29, 2006 Vol. 45, No. 19 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/snews/spnews_toc.html STS-115 mission boosts space station’s power pace Shuttle Atlantis and its crew are home after a 12-day Sjourney of more than 4.9 million miles in space. The mission, STS-115, succeeded in restarting assembly of the Interna- tional Space Station. The crew delivered and installed the massive P3/P4 truss, an integral part of the station’s backbone, and two sets of solar arrays that will eventually provide one-quarter of the station’s power. Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson and Mission Specialists Joe Tanner, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Dan Burbank and Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean landed at 6:21 a.m. Sept. 21 at Kennedy Space Center. After landing, Jett commented: “It’s nice to be back. It was a great team effort, so I think assembly’s off to a good start.” ATLANTIS AND her STS-115 crew return to Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 21 and approach Runway 33. The flight was the first in a station since 2002 and laid the history, with more than 100 high- prior to their spacewalks. The series of missions that will be groundwork for upcoming station definition, digital, video and film process shortens the among the most complex in space assembly missions. cameras documenting the launch “prebreathing” time during which history. Atlantis delivered the first STS-115 is one of the most and climb to orbit. Data from these nitrogen is purged from the major new component to the photographed shuttle missions in images, as well as station and astronauts’ systems and air shuttle crew inspection, pressure is lowered so the space- helped to clear Atlantis’ walkers avoid the condition thermal protection system for known as “the bends.” On each of return only 2 1/2 days after the three spacewalks, the astro- launch. nauts were able to perform more Tanner, Piper, Burbank than the number of scheduled and MacLean, with the help activities. of crewmates, made three The astronauts performed spacewalks that completed unprecedented robotics work. truss installation, enabled They used the shuttle’s arm in a solar arrays to be deployed delicate maneuver to hand off the and prepared an important school bus-sized truss to the radiator for later activation. station’s arm. The 45-foot truss They also installed a signal weighs 35,000 pounds. processor and transponder The arrays at the end of the that transmits voice and data truss extended to their full 240- to the ground, and performed foot wingspan once they unfurled other tasks to upgrade and on flight day six. The astronauts protect the station’s systems. also moved the station’s robotic A new procedure called a arm to a position where it will THIS VIEW of the International Space Station was taken shortly after the Space Shuttle Atlantis “camp out” was imple- assist in the next phase of station undocked from the orbital outpost on flight day six. mented, in which astronauts slept in the Quest airlock (See ATLANTIS, Page 4) Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS September 29, 2006 The next launch — scheduled message of community spirit. for December using Space Shuttle I’m also proud to report the J- Discovery — means Atlantis will BOSC-sponsored United Way The undergo an aggressive turnaround campaign for contractors raised to be able to serve as the backup more than $180,000 — an increase orbiter for STS-116, but I know our of $35,000 over the 2005 total. work force has faced this challenge Way to go! Awards Kennedy in the past and will do so again Hispanic Heritage Month and again. That’s just another of a began Sept. 15, and today I was thousand reasons I’m “KSC and privileged to speak at the annual Update proud to be!” Hispanic Heritage Luncheon at the Jim Kennedy On Oct. 10, I hope NASA civil Debus Center. Center Director service employees will be able to Charismatic guest speaker join me and members of senior Miguel Rodriquez, soon to be i, everyone. The team has employees about NASA’s future. staff as we kick off the 2006 returning to KSC, gave us a clear done it again! No matter Mike held nothing back and gave Combined Federal Campaign at understanding of the work his Hwhat happened during the us great insight about how we will rocket propulsion STS-115 mission, from weather simultaneously finish space station “Now that space station construction is team at the Stennis delays to debris that needed construction and begin the moving forward and the nation is Space Center in analysis, the NASA team came Constellation Program. strongly behind us, we must continue to Mississippi is together to make this mission look You will start to see changes performing, as well as routine, although there was around the center as we transition perform our mission successfully.” his profound pride in nothing easy about attaching the our facilities from supporting his heritage. Look for the Training Auditorium with P3/P4 truss to the space station. shuttle and station to supporting coverage in the next issue of exciting guest speakers, including Now that space station con- the new programs. Spaceport News. the United Way’s Rob Rains. struction is moving forward and On Sept. 26, a ribbon-cutting I hope you will take advantage This charitable campaign not the nation is strongly behind us, ceremony at the Operations and of the Visitor Complex’s generous only benefits the community we we must continue to perform our Checkout Building paved the way “Salute to Brevard Residents live in, and beyond, but also mission successfully. Doing so will for new equipment to be added to Weekend” on Oct. 13 to 15, when fellow employees who have a show the world we are up to any support the Orion vehicle as it is residents and up to five guests can loved one in need of services. The task and that the Vision for Space built at our center. In the past, this learn about the colorful NASA campaign runs from Oct. 10 to Exploration will make Earth a task was performed elsewhere story free of charge. Our thanks to Nov. 7 and key solicitors will talk better place to live. before being shipped to KSC, but Dan LeBlanc and our friends at to workers in groups and one-on- I appreciated how our Adminis- this “nontraditional” work is Delaware North for providing this one about this annual event. A big trator, Mike Griffin, took time out another example of how your opportunity. thank you to Ray Lugo, Ed of his very busy schedule the day management and local legislatures Congrats to all of you for a Markowski and the campaign before Atlantis landed to talk to have worked together to keep jobs great STS-115 mission and have a cabinet who spread this vital the Kennedy Space Center at our spaceport. great week! Visitor Complex offers Brevard residents free admission o show its appreciation for food items to benefit the the support of Brevard Central Brevard Sharing TCounty residents, the Center, North Brevard Kennedy Space Center Visitor Charities and South Brevard Complex will present the seventh- Sharing Center. While not annual Salute to Brevard Residents mandatory for admission, the free weekend and food drive Oct. suggested donation is one 13 to 15. food item or canned good per Throughout the three-day guest. celebration, Brevard residents will Last year, more than eight enjoy free admission to the Visitor tons of food was donated, Complex by showing proof of setting a new collection residency, in the form of a driver’s record for this event. license or utility bill. The Brevard The Salute to Brevard resident and up to five guests in Residents free weekend was his or her party will receive free created in 1999 to thank the admission. people of Brevard for their Residents will also enjoy pre- continued support of the holiday shopping at the Visitor Kennedy Space Center Complex, with a 10-percent Visitor Complex’s mission: to discount in the world’s largest tell the NASA story and THE ROCKET Garden at the KSC Visitor Complex features eight authentic retail Space Shop. inspire people to support the rockets from the past, including a Mercury-Atlas rocket. The garden also Guests are encouraged to bring exploration of space. The features accessible Mercury, Gemino and Apollo capsule replicas, seating pods canned goods and non-perishable Visitor Complex opens daily and informative graphic elements. The Salute to Brevard Residents free at 9 a.m. weekend is Oct. 13 to 15 at the Visitor Complex. September 29, 2006 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 STS-121 crew shares mission highlights with employees By Linda Herridge possible.” Staff Writer The crew members provided narration for a 20-minute video t was “standing room only” presentation that showed mission inside Kennedy Space Center’s activities, including the spectacu- Itraining auditorium as workers lar launch, docking with the gathered to welcome mission STS- station, three dramatic spacewalks, 121 crew members back to the other station activities and the Space Coast. shuttle landing at KSC. Commander Steve Lindsey, The astronauts answered Pilot Mark Kelly and Mission questions from the audience and, Specialists Lisa Nowak and Piers as a special treat, showed approxi- Sellers returned to share mission mately 40 of the best photographs highlights and accomplishments taken during the mission. from the 13-day mission that Edsel Sanchez, a NASA began with the launch of Space electrical engineer in facility Shuttle Discovery on July 4.