Mission update Vol. 35, No. 2 February 16, 1996 Spaceport News America's gateway to the universe. Leading the world in preparing and launching missions to planet Earth and beyond. John F. Kennedy Space Center

NASA/KSC prepare for new approach Mission: NEAR expendable vehicle launch on a McDonnell to doing business Douglas Delta II rocket By Lisa Malone Launch date, time: Feb. 16, One of the most sweeping 3:53 p.m. from Launch Complex changes ever to impact Kennedy 17, Pad B, Cape Canaveral Air Station Space Center will be the transi- tion of daily Shuttle processing Mission synopsis: The Near functions to a single prime con- Earth Asteroid Rendezvous tractor, United Space Alliance, (NEAR) will measure the composi- under the Space Flight Opera- tion and structure of the asteroid tions Contract (SFOC). Eros and provide fundamental “This transition will be a slow information about objects that and methodical process. This make close encounter with Earth. isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. The start line is Oct. 1, 1996 and the finish line is the year 2000,” explained Roy Tharpe last month during a speech to the NASA Kennedy Manage-

THE STS-75 flight crew poses at the 195-foot level of Launch Pad 39B during Terminal (See BUSINESS, Page 4) Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) activities. They are, front from left, Payload Commander Franklin Chang-Diaz, Mission Specialists and and Umberto Guidoni. In back from left are Mission Commander Andrew Allen, Mission Specialist Jeffrey Hoffman, and Pilot Scott "Doc" Horowitz. Tethered satellite, USMP payloads to fly again on the STS-75 mission

By Chuck Weirauch ADAMSON BLACK Experiments that could lead Mission: STS-75 on USA leaders share Columbia to a new way to generate elec- trical power in space, provide their vision, timeline Launch date, time: Feb. 22, new insights into physical sci- ence and possibly lead to im- 3:18 p.m. from Launch Pad By Barb Compton 39B proved manufacturing processes and products on Earth will be Kennedy Space Center em- Synopsis: The seven- the highlights of the STS-75 ployees got a glimpse of what member international STS- mission. At press time the mis- THE SATELLITE element of the Teathered the near future will hold when 75 crew will conduct sion was scheduled to lift off Satellite System--1R is processed at KSC the leaders of the Shuttle scientific investigations with from Launch Pad 39B between last summer. program's single prime contrac- both the Tethered Satellite 3:18 p.m. and 5:48 p.m. EST on tor shared their vision and tran- System-1R (TSS-1R) and sition timeline last week. United States Microgravity Feb. 22. Kent Black, chief executive Payload-3 (USMP-3) During the 13-day, 16-hour primary payloads during the space flight, the seven-member officer, and Jim Adamson, chief 75th Space Shuttle mission. international crew will conduct operating officer, of United scientific investigations with Space Alliance (USA) briefed Landing date, time: March 7, both Tethered Satellite System- employees of Lockheed Martin 7:32 a.m. at Kennedy Space THE UNITED STATES Microgravity Center's Shuttle Landing Facility (See STS-75, Page 6) Payload-3 pictured during processing. (See USA, Page 4) Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS February 16, 1996 KSC teams with industry to fight structural corrosion By Joel Wells a concrete slab to prevent the rebar from rusting, corroding A combined effort by NASA and separating from the con- researchers at Kennedy Space crete. Center and private industry With the help of Florida’s could ultimately keep buildings Technological Research and De- across the country from corrod- velopment Authority, an inde- ing away. pendent state agency that part- A Space Act agreement ners with KSC in technology signed recently will merge transfer initiatives, Surtreat KSC's research into electrical Southeast approached KSC treatments of structural corro- with a chemical option. sion with chemical processes de- Surtreat's product, Surtreat veloped by Surtreat Southeast, GPHP, is applied to the surface Inc., of Cape Canaveral, FL. of a corroding concrete slab and SURTREAT SOUTHEAST Inc. President James Emory and KSC Deputy Director Gene The results could have na- then seeps through to the rebar, Thomas shake hands following the signing of a Space Act Agreement Feb. 1. Standing tional significance, said Rupert coating it and preventing fur- in the background are, from the left, Kristen Riley of NASA, Frank Kinney of Florida's Lee, the NASA project engineer ther corrosion. Technological Research and Development Authority, Karen Thompson of NASA, Bruce leading the effort. “Any break- “It corrects the chemical im- Ellis of Surtreat, Dick Lyon of NASA and Robert Walde, Surtreat GPHP inventor. through in corrosion mitigation balance that causes the rebar to Kristen Riley, manager of KSC's with technical and personnel technology will have a signifi- corrode. Traditional structural dual use program, part of support as needed. Kennedy cant impact on the integrity of repair methods only last a NASA’s technology transfer and will provide testing specifica- this nation’s infrastructure,” he couple of years,” explained Jim commercialization effort. tions and procedures, prepare said. Emory, president of Surtreat “Combining NASA and the test slabs with the Surtreat Structural corrosion is a Southeast. Surtreat technologies may re- chemical, and environmentally multi-billion-dollar problem in The agreement, signed Feb. sult in a unique process with test the chemical. the United States. Over the past 2 by Gene Thomas, KSC’s broad corrosion control applica- KSC materials scientists will two years, KSC materials scien- deputy center director, and tions and could save NASA and also consider the applicability of tists have focused on an electri- Emory, combines the two efforts others a lot of money,” Surtreat the chemical treatment to the cal treatment known as without requiring the transfer GPHP inventor Robert Walde electromigration process and electromigration, which sends of funds. "It’s a mutually ben- said. Surtreat will provide the prepare a report on its effective- corrosion-inhibiting ions to the eficial relationship between corrosion-inhibiting chemical ness. The testing process lasts rebar or steel bars imbedded in KSC and private industry,” said and concrete testing slabs along about 12 months. Employees of the month New employee viewing site opens for launch of STS-75

Center Director Jay Honeycutt has made it possible for a limited number of KSC employees to view a Shuttle launch from a new VIP viewing site. NASA and contractor employees deserv- ing special recognition for their support of KSC’s human space flight program will be issued a vehicle pass to drive their families to this special viewing area. The new site, located at the LC-39 Barge Turn Basin, will be operational for the STS- 75 launch, scheduled at press time for Feb. 22. As with other VIP viewing areas, launch commentary, bleachers, restroom facilities, and food and souvenir sales will be provided. The pass will be valid for entrance HONORED IN FEBRUARY were, seated from the left, Erin Campbell, Comptroller's Office; Nancy Hoffman, Installation Operations Directorate; Julie Hallum, Administration Office; and Stephanie Stilson, Payload through KSC gates two hours before launch Operations Directorate. Standing, from the left, are Jessie Clark, Chief Counsel's Office; Patricia Metcalfe, for vehicles no larger than a 15-passenger Shuttle Operations Directorate; Eric Dirschka, Engineering Development Directorate; Sue Prentice, Safety van. and Mission Assurance Directorate; and Dorothy Davis, Procurement Directorate. Not pictured is Diane Vess, A badged employee must be in each ve- Logistics Directorate. hicle. February 16, 1996 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Multicultural training workshop gives Daytona Beach students new view

NASA/KSC’s multicultural students and facilitators to learn training workshop reached into more about each other. the community earlier this The board members repre- month when three program sent 12 Daytona Beach middle facilitators presented the and high schools, both public program to a group of Daytona and private. Beach students. The students meet monthly Sue Dickinson, air resources and discuss issues ranging from lead, Gregg Buckingham, smoking at school to environ- university programs manager, mental concerns. and Michael Bell of the Adminis- Additional comments on the tration Office led the session for evaluation sheets show that, as 35 members of the Daytona a result of the class, students Beach Teen Advisory Board plan to make some changes in Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Daytona the way they relate to others. Beach Police Athletic League “I’ve always had an open Center. mind, but it has opened up a The session turned out to be little more,” one student wrote. nearly as revealing for the “Because of this class, I will presenters as for the students. now think about people’s THREE FEMALE students list some of the stereotypes they have experienced as part feelings before I stereotype “Although the students come of an exercise offered during the multicultural training workshop presented to members from a variety of cultures, some of the Daytona Beach Teen Advisory Board earlier this month. Students and the Kennedy them,” wrote another. of them weren’t aware of the Space Center facilitators studied issues such as unconscious prejudice and societal day-to-day prejudices they might roles during the daylong session. experience,” said Dickinson. Angeleah, is a member of the During the daylong workshop advisory board, initiated the off- students took part in exercises center presentation after she on themes such as unconscious attended the course at work. prejudice and societal roles. “I enjoyed our training so Stereotypes for groups such much I talked to the police as jocks, good students, males, officer who sponsors the females and mixed race stu- advisory board and asked if they dents were noted and dis- would be willing to hold the cussed. class,” she said. Students responded favorably The officer, Suzette Moss, to the class with 18 offering an said she was excited by the excellent and 16 a good rating prospect of interaction between in a post-course evaluation. the students and NASA employ- Comments that came back ees. In addition to serving as included: “Nothing was bad, just role models, the facilitators difficult to do. But that’s a good spent time individually with the thing because not everything students during the lunch break. will be easy.” An impromptu basketball game Vernetta Chavis, who works led to some good-natured in the Engineering Support THREE MALE students list some of the steroetypes they have encountered as they competition and enabled the take part in the stereotyping exercise. Office and whose daughter,

Federally Employed Women announce scholarship applications for 1996

Federally Employed support the goals of FEW. enrolled in an accredited college ners. Women, Space Coast Chap- Applicants must be high or university program. Member scholarships are ter, announces the availabil- school seniors who will gradu- The registration package also available. ity of its 1996 scholarship ate in 1996. Applicants must must be completed and returned For more information or applications. also show evidence of enroll- no later than April 15. Finalists to obtain an application, con- Competition is open to all ment at a public or private col- will be notified by May 17. tact Vickie Hall, LO-SOD-1, persons working toward an lege or university as a full-time In 1995 FEW presented at 861-1455, or Clara Ander- undergraduate degree who student or must be currently $7,500 to 11 scholarship win- son, TM-ADM, at 867-3898. Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS February 16, 1996

Business . . USA . . (Continued from Page 1) (Continued from Page 1) ment Association. Tharpe helped generate at KSC on February 8 and 9. Their presen- the statement of work defining NASA's re- tations were held in the LC39 area as well quirements for a single source contractor as as the Training Auditorium in the KSC In- a member of the source evaluation board at dustrial Area. Marshall Space Flight Center. He is now a Mike McCulley introduced the corporate- member of the NASA Contract Acquisition level executives and helped answer em- Team. ployee questions about specific KSC im- pacts. McCulley is USA's associate program A new role manager for ground operations, responsible for its activities at KSC. Tharpe said that as a result of the new The two corporate officials described the contract, NASA employees at KSC will get formation of USA, a joint venture of out of the day-to-day operations involved in Rockwell International and Lockheed Mar- preparing Shuttles for launch, gradually tin, and addressed employee concerns about handing those functions over to the contrac- the status of their jobs, compensation and tor. The government job will be to monitor benefits in the transition to a single prime and evaluate the contractor performance. contract for Space Flight Operations. “In the beginning, KSC was a director- The Shuttle processing work currently ate of the Marshall Space Flight Center, performed by Lockheed Martin and we’ve always been involved in the daily op- Rockwell will transition to USA in three erations. We can be involved in a different phases over a five-year period, Black said. way. This role will in no way diminish ROY THARPE speaks to NASA Kennedy Space Center Between June 1 and Oct. 1 of this year, NASA’s overall impact to the program. But, Management Association members Jan. 18 in the Space Station Processing Facility cafeteria. USA plans to merge Lockheed Martin's we don’t need to sign all procedures to pro- Shuttle Processing Contract at KSC and cess the flight hardware,” Tharpe said to an against a predetermined set of metrics. For Rockwell's Flight Operations Contract at attentive audience of about 150. example, a work authorization document would be required to be technically accu- Johnson Space Center. The 3,800 KSC em- rate and available 100 percent of the time ployees and 3,000 JSC employees of Launch execution, preparation Lockheed Martin and Rockwell under those Government involvement in the Space with a maximum error rate being available only three days prior to test start. existing contracts will become employees of Flight Operations Contract will focus on United Space Alliance at that time. By the launch execution and preparation, includ- NASA will continue to have insight into the databases. Based on data, NASA can end of the summer, USA plans to absorb all ing development, institution and the tran- of the orbiter subcontracts. sition to the SFOC. The government also raise questions when warrented and con- duct independent audits. Phase II would occur by early 1997, when will be responsible for continued institu- Shuttle support contracts are scheduled to tional support, including the KSC infra- Next phase critical be picked up by USA. structure. Phase III will be divided into several In the area of development, the govern- This transition phase will be critical to steps. It consists of contracts that included ment will design and develop ground sup- the success of the space program, Tharpe development effort at the time of the Shuttle port equipment and bring it on-line for the said. Flight Operations Contract execution. It SFOC. KSC’s institution (non-Shuttle Pro- The cost of processing and launch will will eventually include the solid rocket cessing Contract expenditures) will be come down as areas of duplication are boosters, external tank and Space Shuttle funded by the Office of Space Flight (Code streamlined and optimized across the board. main engines. M). The government will continue to man- Tharpe reflected on a similar situation USA will be headquartered in Houston age the 43 contracts that do not come under in 1966 when Brown Engineering was where the NASA Shuttle program office is the SFOC. awarded NASA's Mission Contract and the based, Black said. “We will establish a way to transition government role changed from doing the Even though one of the goals of the tran- roles and responsibilities so the work is per- work to grading the contractors. sition is to reduce the numbers of employ- formed satisfactorily before we, the govern- USA is motivated to protect the national ees, Black said no immediate or major lay- ment, step back,” Tharpe explained. resources of the space program, including offs are planned. “We need to think and view things a little the people and the hardware, Tharpe said. "It will be a gradual evolving process," differently now. I don’t view this change as NASA Administrator Dan Goldin said he he said. "I would hope most, if not all, of the a negative and things will work out all right. wanted USA to do the job of processing and reductions will be made through attrition." The launch team of the future will have the launching the Space Shuttle system. Most Lockheed Martin and Rockwell em- most capable people as members. Our Tharpe noted that by early 1997, USA ployees who work directly with the Shuttle trademark has always been the best launch will have already conducted at least one Processing and Flight Operations contracts team in the world. The transition will be launch and will have had an award will automatically become USA employees. difficult, but KSC can help accomplish it.” fee evaluation. Employees will not have to apply to keep The SFOC performance-based contract, “KSC’s team is the best in the world. The their jobs, Adamson assured. which will be managed at Johnson Space way we do things will end up being the best,” Center in Houston, will be measured he said. (Continued on Page 5) February 16, 1996 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5

(Continued from Page 4) funds in a variety of stocks. Black invited employees to Pay structures and benefits take advantage of this "chance will be largely unchanged from to change the way things are Lockheed Martin and Rockwell done and improve the system." -- with the exception of some KSC employees are invited Lockheed Martin savings plans to share ideas for improvements which will pay company match- with the USA team. ing funds directly to employees Suggestions can be sent to Val instead of investing them in Wardell, Mail Code A-11, Lockheed Martin stock. Lockheed Martin Engineering The officials explained that and Sciences Services, Houston, since USA is a separate com- TX, 77058 or to Bill Jeffs, pany its employees will not be Rockwell Space Operations able to participate in Lockheed Company, Mail Code R04B, Martin's corporate stock pur- Houston, TX, 77058. E-mail chase plan, but instead will messages can be sent to usa- have the freedom to invest the [email protected]

PROFESSOR KYOICHI KURIKI of the Institute of Space and Astronautical EG&G appoints deputy general manager Science in Tokyo, program leader for the Space Flyer Unit (SFU), presents a Daruma, a Buddhist good luck symbol, to Payloads Director John Conway Jan. Stephen J. Bailey of Merritt nance, Human 29 at the Operations and Checkout Building. The presentation acknowledged Kennedy Space Center’s role in the successful retrieval of that satellite during Island has been appointed Resources and Mission STS-72. deputy general manager of Contracts. He EG&G Florida Inc. Bailey has will continue to Japanese icon commemorates been serving as acting deputy serve in this ca- general manager for the com- pacity also. SFU's retrieval, return to KSC pany since September 1995. As the Base Bailey has worked as control- O p e r a t i o n s multi-purpose reusable BAILEY by George Diller ler at EG&G Florida since the Contractor to spacecraft with eleven ex- inception of the Base Opera- NASA at the Kennedy Space Kennedy Space Center’s periments including an in- tions Contract in 1983. In June Center, EG&G Florida provides role in the successful retrieval frared telescope, biological 1995, he was appointed direc- a broad range of support ser- of Japan's Space Flyer Unit and crystal growth experi- tor of administration over Fi- vices for the KSC mission. (SFU) satellite during Mis- ments. It took ten years to sion STS-72 was acknowl- develop. Entries taken for two running events edged during a ceremony Jan. NASA Director of Payload 29 in the Operations and Operations, John Conway fee of $6 includes a post-race Kennedy Space Center ath- Checkout Building. Members and Professor Kyoichi pancake breakfast. Entrants letes can start getting warmed of the STS-72 payload test Kuriki, the SFU Program will also receive a specially de- up this winter for two upcom- team, senior NASA and Leader from ISAS, signed signed T-shirt. Applications are ing running events. McDonnell Douglas payload the document turning over available at the KSC exercise fa- managers, and representa- custody of the spacecraft cilities and NASA Exchange Beat the Boss tives of Japan’s Institute of from NASA to the Japanese. stores. For more information, The fifth annual Beat the Space and Astronautical Sci- After the signing Kuriki call Marty Winkel at 861-7502. Boss 5K run and two mile walk ence (ISAS) were present presented Conway with a will take place Saturday, March when KSC officially turned "Daruma," a Buddhist good 30, at 8 a.m. at the Patrick Air Intercenter run over the SFU to the Japanese luck symbol. Force Base Officers Club Pavil- KSC's seventh annual Spring Space Agency and its ISAS The Daruma’s left eye ion. The time and date have Intercenter Run will be held partner. SFU was then trans- was painted in while the been changed from previous Wednesday, April 17, at 5 p.m. ported to Astrotech in Japanese were at KSC in years to take advantage of low at the Shuttle Landing Facility Titusville where investigators 1991 planning the SFU re- tide and cooler weather. The lo- runway. are retrieving their experi- trieval and downloading ac- cation was also moved further There is no registration fee ments and data. tivities. The recipient of the south to give participants a flat- but participants must sign up SFU was launched on an Daruma then makes a wish, ter and firmer surface to run on. by midnight April 5. expendable vehicle from the and when it comes true, he Participants will have the Registration forms are avail- Tanegashima Space Center in paints the other eye. Kuriki option of competing against the able at the KSC exercise southern Japan on March 18, painted the other eye just bosses in a 5 kilometer run or facilities.T-shirts may be or- 1995. It remained in orbit 10 after the joint signing of the against a different set of bosses dered (pre-paid) at any NASA months before being retrieved turnover document. in the 2 mile walk. Exchange store. The cost is from space by Endeavour’s After the experiments are All NASA, military and $5.50 for sizes medium to extra crew on Jan. 13, 1996. SFU removed , the spacecraft will Shuttle Processing Contract large and $7.00 for extra extra is an octagonally shaped, be shipped back to Japan. employees are eligible to enter large. T-shirts will be available either of the events. An entry on race day. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS February 16, 1996

both STS-62 and STS-46. He STS-75. . . has more than 4,000 hours of (Continued from Page 1) flight time in more than 30 1R (TSS-1R) and United States types of aircraft. Pilot Scott J. Microgravity Payload-3 (USMP- “Doc” Horowitz is on his first 3) experiment equipment on Shuttle mission. He holds a doc- board the Space Shuttle Orbiter torate degree in aerospace en- Columbia. The STS-75 mission gineering and was selected as is scheduled to land at the KSC one of the Outstanding Young Shuttle Landing Facility on Men in America in 1985. March 7 at 7:32 a.m. Payload Commander Franklin R. Chang-Diaz has Deployment on Day 3 flown on STS-60, STS-46, STS- On Flight Day 3, the crew 34,and STS 61-C. He holds a will begin TSS-1R deployment doctorate in applied plasma by raising a 40-foot boom to el- physics and is director of the evate the satellite and its sup- Advanced Space Propulsion port structure. Once released, Laboratory at the University of the satellite, 5 feet in diameter, Houston. will rise 12.4 miles above the or- Mission Specialist Jeffrey A. biter while an electrically-con- Hoffman (Ph.D.) has served in ductive tether the diameter of a this capacity on STS 61, STS- matchstick unwinds from a mo- 46, STS-35 and STS 51-D. He torized reel. The objective for holds a doctorate degree in as- this (ASI) trophysics and has been work- and NASA payload is to demon- ing on the Tethered Satellite strate the ability to deploy and project since 1987. control satellites on long tethers Mission Specialist Claude in space and to conduct space Nicollier (ESA) has flown on plasma experiments that in- both STS-61 and STS-46. A cap- clude the generation of electri- tain in the Swiss Air Force, he cal power. The TSS-1 first flew holds a master’s degree in as- on STS-46 in 1992, but a me- trophysics and is a Fellow of the chanical problem allowed the British Interplanetary Society. THIS AERIAL view of the Space Shuttle Columbia was shot as the Shuttle arrived at Mission Specialist Maurizio satellite to be deployed only to Launch Pad 39B on January 29. 840 feet. Cheli is a lieutenant colonel in As the tether passes through continue NASA’s microgravity tection systems on Earth. the Italian Air Force. He became the electromagnetic fields of the research program. One experi- The STS-75 crew includes two an ESA in 1992. Earth’s atmosphere, an electri- ment will use mercury cadmium (ESA) Payload Specialist Umberto cal charge is expected to build telluride semiconductor alloy and one from the Ital- Guidoni (ASI) is a researcher of up between the satellite and the samples to study the directional ian Space Agency (ASI), as well the Space Physics Institute and orbiter. Electrons from the iono- solidification method of process- as four veterans of STS-46. is the scientist responsible for sphere will be collected at the ing semiconductors. A better Mission Commander Andrew the integration of the Electrody- satellite and will travel down understanding of this process M. Allen is on his third space namic Tether Effects (RETE) the tether to the orbiter. Ap- could lead to improved produc- flight, having served as pilot of experiment on the TSS-1R. proximately 27 hours after de- tion methods on Earth. Another ployment, the crew will activate will analyze Xenon fluid at the the 5-horsepower electric motor “critical point”, a phase where that will rewind the tether and liquid changes to vapor. Under- John F. Kennedy Space Center draw the satellite back to the top standing how matter behaves at of the support structure in the this point could lead to advances Spaceport News payload bay. The retrieval will in physics. Yet another experi- be conducted in two phases over ment could lead to improve- 18 hours. ments to materials preparation The Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space The crew will also conduct re- and processing on Earth. Center and is published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office search with four major USMP- in the interest of KSC civil service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted two weeks be- 3 experiment packages in Investigating fires fore publication to the Media Services Branch, PA-MSB. Columbia’s payload bay and The three USMP-3 middeck three combustion experiments experiments will study the char- Managing editor...... Lisa Malone in a Glovebox facility located in acteristics of fires and how they Editor...... Barb Compton the orbiter’s middeck area. The spread in microgravity. Data Editorial support provided by Sherikon Space Systems Inc. writers group. payload bay experiments are will be used to help design safer USGPO: 733-096/20015 designed to gather data that will spacecraft and better fire de-