Volume 30, Number 6 AIAA Houston Section www.aiaa-houston.org July/August 2005

Accelerating the Crew Exploration Vehicle STEVE KING, AIAA HOUSTON CHAIR Almost everyone is in agree- the first spacecraft of its weeks later which included as ment that the United States kind since the Apollo Com- part of its charter these words: needs a new means to safely mand Module." and effectively put humans into Assessing the top-level CEV low-Earth orbit (LEO) and the Initial NASA plans called for the requirements and plans to space beyond – this being re- first, "boilerplate" flight tests of enable CEV to provide crew cently reinforced by the suspen- the CEV to occur in 2008. They transport to ISS, and acceler- sion of Shuttle flights as a re- were to be followed by ate the development of the sult of debris shedding on STS- more capable, un- CEV and crew-launch system HOUSTON 114. The development of the crewed flight tests in to reduce the gap between Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) 2011 which would Shuttle orbiter retirement is envisioned as our follow-on lead to an opera- and CEV initial operational vehicle for human space trans- tional, crewed capability (IOC). portation. The question now is: capability in Image at right: Initial Crew Explora- when can we realistically expect 2014. This As of this writing the official tion Vehicle concept from Lockheed to see the first crewed flight of plan un- results of this team study will Martin - Crew Vehicle (top) with the the CEV? From approval to pro- nerved not be released until August mission module (center) and the ceed (ATP) to Gemini’s first many or September 2005. It is Trans-Earth Injection Module crewed flight, Gemini 3, was 40 law- generally believed that their (bottom). The Trans-Earth Injection Module would be used to return the months. Apollo 7, the first assessment will call for an CEV from lunar missions back to crewed flight of Apollo, flew 84 IOC to transport crews to ISS Earth. [Northrop/Boeing has not re- months after ATP and includes and back again to be avail- leased any concept art at this time.] the setback of Apollo 1. If the able by no later than mid Image courtesy of Lockheed Martin. Apollo 1 fire had not occurred 2011. This is roughly 89 and the mission launched as months from the President’s planned, the duration would CEV announcement. Later have been 64 months. Many versions of the CEV will still Contents challenges must be addressed need to operate for extended before this new spacecraft duration in close proximity to Accelerating the Crew Exploration 1 takes flight. or on the surface of the Vehicle Moon and Mars. Chair’s Corner 2 On January 14, 2004 the offi- makers cial clock on CEV started when who do not While accelerating CEV to From the Editor 2 President George W. Bush an- want the minimize the gap be- Letters to the Editor 6 nounced the CEV as part of the United States tween Shuttle retire- NASA Space Act 8 Vision for Space Exploration to have to rely ment and CEV IOC Staying Informed 8 (VSE): on other coun- is a great idea, Membership Page 9 tries to catch a many program- "Our second goal is to de- ride to the In- matic - not nec- Books: Risk and Exploration 10 velop and test a new space- ternational essarily techni- Annual Technical Symposium Report 12 craft, the Crew Exploration Space Station cal challenges - Advent Launch Services Seeks Help 13 Vehicle, by 2008, and to (ISS) after Shut- must be dealt conduct the first manned tle retirement in with. These in- LnL Summary: ISS Phantom Torque 14 mission no later than 2014. 2010. In April clude: Outreach and Education 15 The Crew Exploration Vehi- 2005 during his Section Announcements 15 cle will be capable of ferry- Senate confirmation Budget: CEV Calendar 16 ing astronauts and scien- hearing, new NASA Ad- must be ade- tists to the Space Station ministrator Dr. Mike Griffin quately funded Cranium Cruncher 17 after the shuttle is retired. called for accelerating the CEV to have any Odds and Ends 18 But the main purpose of this program to bring it into service likelihood of Upcoming Conference Presentations 21 spacecraft will be to carry as soon as possible. He estab- meeting a shortened astronauts beyond our orbit lished an Exploration Systems schedule. This may result in AAS Conference 22 to other worlds. This will be Architecture Study team two- (Continued on page 4) Mission Statement / Membership 24 Page 2

Chair’s Corner STEVE KING, AIAA HOUSTON CHAIR Happy New Year! No, you have- Making all this possible comes up a whole new world of interac- n’t picked up an old issue of the from the teamwork and volun- tion with others regardless if newsletter. Each July the Hous- teer time of members serving they are competitors, execu- ton Section kicks off a new ad- on the Section’s Executive tives, elected officials, educa- ministrative year, and this one Council and its committees. tors or students. In addition, promises to offer a lot of con- Lance Armstrong could not have you might not be aware that tent and variety as a service to won his 7th consecutive Tour de some employers will cover all or our membership and commu- France without the help of his part of your AIAA membership nity. Our technical committees teammates and other riders in based on your level of involve- will be hosting a diverse selec- the peloton. The Houston Sec- ment. Another benefit to con- tion of lunch n’ learns and we tion is fortunate to have team- sider. are working to secure dinner mates that give of their time meeting speakers to discuss and can be counted upon in These are exciting and dynamic topics ranging from non- turning our plans into reality. times for all of us in the busi- traditional space to the restora- We are always looking to add to ness of human spaceflight with tion of JSC’s Saturn V. Plus our team and get more mem- many new begins – Shuttle Re- throw in a “space trivia” night to bers involved. Whether your turn to Flight, the start of Crew determine who has local brag- interest is in technical ex- Exploration Vehicle Phase 1, ging rights. All of this will be change, professional develop- new NASA top leadership, com- complemented by outings, so- ment, community outreach, mercial bidding for Space Sta- cials, tours, a kid’s balsa glider public policy or networking, tion cargo services, the X-PRIZE workshop, a Student Paper Con- there is a place for you. Ever Cup, etc. May your association ference, our Annual Technical wonder what’s happening out- with AIAA serve you well as we Symposium, and much more. side of your local work organiza- seek to explore. Let’s continue Stay tuned in for details. tion? Getting involved can open the journey… -SK From the Editor JON S. BERNDT, EDITOR, “HORIZONS” We’ve finally seen the return to shuttle program is at its lowest target, some was misleading, flight of the space shuttle, and a point in the past 20 years. some was sensationalized, and successful landing. Some have These figures beg the answer to some was incorrect. For in- referred to this mission as a the question: what information stance, of the solid rocket very successful test flight (it do American citizens draw from boosters, he wrote: “Solid rock- was an acknowledged test to form their opinions? From ets can fail in two ways. They flight) – even among the more respected space industry publi- can explode; enough said. Or successful missions of the shut- cations? From network news they can shut down spontane- tle program. Yet, we also wit- coverage? From publications ously. If a booster shuts down, nessed a couple of unexpected that write of space events only there will be 2.5 million pounds events. The press seized on the when there is a sensational of thrust on one side battling loss of some foam on the ET – a event that can be spun to sell zero pounds on the other.” Solid significant event, to be sure. In as many issues as possible? rockets in general can (and the media frenzy that followed, have) exploded, but according The New York Times labeled the Words matter. People can be to ATK Thiokol, the STS SRB shuttle as an old jalopy. Some misled. Bad information sticks propellant cannot detonate. And are asking if it's ready for retire- around for a long time. Here’s a I’m not aware of any solid ment (if not for ISS and our in- specific example: In 1980, rocket booster that has sponta- ternational obligations, the deci- sometimes-sports-writer and neously shut down. Neither of sion on whether to retire the avowed shuttle critic Gregg Mr. Easterbrook’s “two ways” shuttle program before 2010 Easterbrook wrote what could was the way that Challenger’s would of course be a lot more be viewed as the journalistic SRB failed. In addition, he clear-cut). Some opinion writers equivalent of shooting fish in a stated in no uncertain terms, have even called the return to barrel. In “Beam Me Out Of This “You've probably heard, for in- flight a failure, viewing the en- Death Trap, Scotty”, Mr. Easter- stance, that the space shuttle tire flight in narrower terms. brook wrote of the engineering will retrieve damaged satellites hurdles the shuttle program and return them to earth for According to a recent CBS poll was overcoming at the time. (8/3), public support for the Some of what he wrote was on (continued on page 3) Page 3

(Editorial, continued from page 2) into space on the Discovery last Tuesday. During the A few days ago on August 17, repair. Not so. It can't. Simply launching, foam fell off the the Return to Flight Task Group and flatly, can't.” That was external tank. For the risk issued its final report. What proven incorrect when, in No- averse, the only acceptable made the news was not so vember of 1984 during the STS- thing to do now is retire the much the entire report of the 51A (Discovery) mission, two shuttle program immediately 25 member group, but one sec- satellites were deployed (Anik and wait for the divine arrival tion (referred to as the “minority and Syncom) and two were re- of the next generation of report”) of Annex A in which trieved (Palapa B2 and Westar spacecraft. I am disgusted at seven of the Task Group mem- 6). The retrieved satellites were the lack of courage and com- bers present in frank detail later refurbished and re- mon sense this attitude their observations of serious launched. shows. problems they felt remained in … place at NASA (for instance: not Fast forward two decades. The technical response to the learning from their own mis- Within 24 hours of the loss of Columbia accident led to a takes, and reliance on past suc- the STS-107 crew and Colum- significant reduction in the cess as a substitute for the use bia, Mr. Easterbrook had an- amount of debris striking this of sound engineering analysis). other article published – this shuttle during launching. Mis- A New York Times editorial one in Time magazine - entitled, sion managers have said that (“Mismanaging the Shuttle “The Space Shuttle Must be the external tank shed 80 Fixes”) described some of the Stopped”. That article was also percent less foam this time concerns conveyed in the mi- rife with error. For example, Mr. than on previous launchings. nority report, and lists the high a tribute to the dedicated Easterbrook claimed that after Only in the news media, ap- qualifications of its seven au- efforts of many people work- Challenger, “the Rogers Com- parently, is an 80 percent thors. Other editorials are also ing hard at all levels and in mission, ordered to get to the improvement considered a critical. all parts of the Agency. At the bottom of things, essentially failure. Rather than quit, we same time, we believe that recommended that nothing must now try to reduce even In the RTF TG Final Report itself, the leadership and manage- change.”, as well as "… no more the amount of foam there are some positive state- ment climate that governed safety systems were added to that comes off the tank. ments. For instance, in the ex- NASA’s return-to-flight effort the solid rocket boosters whose ecutive summary of the report: was weak in some important explosion destroyed Chal- Risk and exploration is a hot ways that bear discussion. lenger.” In at least one other topic. Today, we stand on the Relative to the 15 specific While we explicitly address editorial by a different writer, shoulders of those who were recommendations that the the Space Shuttle return-to- and elsewhere online, Mr. willing to take calculated and CAIB indicated should be im- flight effort, we believe these Easterbrook’s new article was managed risks in the past. Re- plemented prior to returning organizational and behavioral receiving lots of attention, with member the X-15? [Note: the to flight, NASA has met or concerns are still pervasive some claiming in reference to “X” in X-15 is acknowledged.] exceeded most of them – the throughout the human space- his 1980 article that he had Pete Knight, one of the X-15 Task Group believes that flight programs. predicted the Challenger disas- pilots, recalled: “I can probably NASA met the intent of the ter. This lent undeserved status count on one hand the number CAIB for 12 of these recom- These observations are not to the insight portrayed in his of flights we made where noth- mendations. The remaining intended as criticism of the Columbia column. And so, incor- ing happened in terms of an three recommendations were entire NASA workforce. We rect information was dissemi- emergency, regardless of how so challenging that NASA have stated several times – nated. That’s the way that tril- big or small the emergency.” could not comply completely in this report and else- lion dollar Mars program costs The three X-15s made a total of with the intent of the CAIB, where – that within the get legs. In fact, Mr. Easter- 199 flights. The vehicles, on but conducted extensive “working levels,” much of the brook had a hand in that one, various occasions, suffered mis- study, analyses, and hard- NASA and contractor work- too (see James Oberg’s article, haps including: rolling over and ware modifications that re- force “got it” and we believe “Bringing space costs back over down the lakebed when a sulted in substantive pro- at least some have always down to Earth”). strut failed at landing, breaking gress toward making the ve- gotten it. And, indeed, there in half on landing with a heavy hicle safer. It must be em- are some capable leaders at Back to the present. Frustration load of fuel, having the engine phasized, however, that, the NASA who also “get it.” at some of the coverage in the blow up while the vehicle was in inability to fully comply with first few days of the STS-114 a test stand (with a pilot in the all of the CAIB recommenda- Over the past few weeks, with mission drew a response from cockpit), having the engine blow tions does not imply that the respect to both the STS-114 Gene Kranz (New York Times): up while in the air, and a fatal Space Shuttle is unsafe. mission and the release of the in-flight break-up. Except for the RTF TG Final Report, has the To read and listen to the cov- last accident, the vehicles in- From the “minority report” it- press been accurate? Fair and erage about the space shut- volved were all repaired and self: balanced? Overly risk-averse? tle, you would think NASA's flown again. Has the risk aver- Send comments to: mission team has taken care- sion “climate” changed since We agree that the improve- [email protected]. less risks with the lives of the the early years of human space- ments to the Space Shuttle - JSB seven astronauts who went flight? and its organization are real, Page 4

(continued from page 1) complete and operate ISS. An- systems, simulators, trainers, other possible wild card in the test equipment, facility modifi- some tough budget decisions mix is the development of possi- cations, etc. In all, a lot of work within NASA as it attempts to ble two Shuttle Derived Launch that needs to be done. One accomplish so much over the Vehicles (SDLVs) over the same thing to keep in mind is that the next five or so years. Recent period. Even though these aerospace workforce is much fallout from freeing up funding SDLVs use many existing Shut- smaller today than it was when for VSE has resulted in the re- tle components, they should be Apollo (and even the Space duction or elimination of several looked at as new vehicles. They Shuttle) were developed. There ISS science and NASA aeronau- will require the design of new is also competition within the

tics projects. NASA’s overall hardware and software, modifi- aerospace industry for many budget has little margin for er- cation of ground systems, test- critical skills. Portions of the ror since it must still compete ing, extensive analysis, etc. All workforce are already commit- with other agencies for its of this combined will have a ted on other long-term pro- budget in the annual appropria- large price tag. grams outside of NASA such as tions process. NASA’s budget the F/A-22, Joint Strike Fighter, at the same time must also deal Industry Capacity: Bringing a and 787. Others are becoming with realities and dynamics new human rated spacecraft involved in projects of national such as a possible redesign of online in roughly six years is importance such as homeland some External Tank compo- possible, but is still a tremen- security, and some are drawn to nents as a result of STS-114’s dous task. Consideration must small space startups such as t/ debris shedding. Events like be given to all the support ele- Space and Bigelow Aerospace. this have an adverse effect on ments for CEV including the The creation of the proposed the phased spending plan to launch vehicle (likely the SDLV safety retire the Shuttle, and “stick” configuration), ground (continued on page 5) Page 5

(continued from page 4) future Moon and Mars mis- Mars at the expense of other sions. important programs. But for United Launch Alliance will the moment, the VSE and its likely make other technical Launch Vehicle: As previously CEV have strong Congressional skills unavailable. NASA will mentioned NASA will likely push backing. Sen. Hutchison also be adding a new demand forward with developing a SDLV (Chairman of the Senate Com- on industry with the need for “stick” configuration for launch- merce Subcommittee on Sci- developing commercial cargo ing the CEV. If so, the certifica- ence and Space) was recently services for ISS. CEV will gain tion of this booster will be on quoted saying “At a time when personnel from the Shuttle and CEV’s critical path for first flight. space is becoming increasingly ISS workforce; however, their Particularly if NASA does not important and relevant to com- critical skills won’t be readily elect to human-rate other merce, national security and available since they will be boosters as a means of opera- international affairs, it is crucial needed to ensure safe opera- tional redundancy. that we recognize and acknowl- tions on those programs. Oth- edge the importance of our cur- ers from this workforce becom- National Priorities: There exists rent human space flight activi- ing available might require re- a family of other risks to accel- ties.” training at an expense. As with erating CEV development which the availability of enough tech- are beyond the control of the Accelerating the schedule for nical and leadership talent, so CEV Program. National priori- first crewed flight of exists limits on the supply chain ties could change in the event the CEV is possi- for CEV. Some long-lead com- of another major terrorist strike ble; however, ponents and raw material stock within the United States, the it will might also be in demand by loss of another Orbiter and crew take other programs. before its planned retirement, or with the change in admini- Requirements Creep: The Shut- strations in essentially tle is a magnificent and versa- three and a half tile flying machine, but CEV is years. Dr. Grif- not intended to replace all of its fin acknowl- capabilities. Too often aero- edged space projects have suffered costly delays and overruns as a result of changing require- ments. Past history tells us that CEV cannot be all things to

Image courtesy of Lockheed Martin strong leadership on all fronts. Thorough plan- that ning and execution is para- progress must be mount. Execution must be car- demonstrated to keep such a ried out with a realistic assess- all peo- long-term program alive. On ment and plan to deal with the ple. The CEV Program must be typical programs tangible re- numerous risks the program vigilant in fending off sults must be shown within five may face. Planning cannot be- “requirements creep” while years, but in this case they will come reliant on a success- maintaining focus on its top- be expected by the end of Presi- oriented mindset. Dr. Robert H. level mission requirements. dent Bush’s second term. Law- Goddard once said “It is difficult There is also a need for require- makers and the public must to say what is impossible, for ments “push back” where it sense real progress and not see the dream of yesterday is the makes sense so no obsolete just the latest offering in a se- hope of today and the reality of legacy or “nicety” requirements ries of go-nowhere paper stud- tomorrow.” I look forward to are imposed. There will also be ies and PowerPoint presenta- the day when a “Go” for flight is a delicate balancing act be- tions. Failure to perform would given to a brand new CEV sitting tween keeping the initial CEV leave the program vulnerable, primed and ready in the Florida LEO vehicle simple and reliable and open to renewed debate sunshine. Let’s make it hap- vs. including extensibility for about spending billions to go to pen! Page 6

Letters to the [email protected] AIAA HOUSTON Digital Decay of Documents example, gamma or alpha place. Cases such as I describe, would become "y" or "n"). The in all likelihood, were papers To the Editor, letter "n" sometimes turned into which were SCANNED into an two letters "i". Subscripts for 1 electronic medium at a later Over recent months I had the and 2 turned into commas. In date after original publication. It opportunity to try out the on-line other cases I had no idea what was assumed that text errors AIAA journal archive and I come the original letter or symbol were absent or negligible, but away from it wondering whether must have been. In some in- this has proved not to be the our nation’s knowledge base for stances denominators simply case. heading into deep space is dis- dropped out of equations. They solving into a digitized fog. weren’t cancelled by algebraic I hope that good hard copies of division; they were deleted. many of these 1960s and 70s My experience and concerns journal volumes still remain at result from working with the Some of the papers I am refer- headquarters; otherwise seri- NASA Johnson Space Center ring to are the following as par- ous losses of data will result if library system to research pa- ticular evidence, but I suspect this process of folding up librar- pers and issues related to lunar that this is only a sampling: ies and trusting to electronic flight dynamics. To formulate archiving continues. Possibly new plans for lunar exploration, 1. "Traveling between the scanner technology will in- it makes sense to check how Lagrange Points and the crease the accuracy of the copy far theory and planning had Moon", R. Broucke, JG&C, if the papers are read in a sec- already gone in the 60s and Vol 2. No. 4, Article No. 79- ond time. But if this problem is 70s efforts at solving astrody- 4087, July-August 1979, not addressed, we are going to namics problems. Obviously pp. 257-263. lose a lot of research and tech- stacks of research papers were 2. "Stability of Periodic Orbits nology that Americans paid a published in that period and the in the Elliptic, Restricted high price for. material was archived in many Three Body Problem", R. research libraries ( state univer- Broucke, AIAA Journal, Vol. And, oh yes, remember all those sities, NASA centers, etc.) for 7, No. 6, June 1969, old journals and clippings you many years. Of course, these pp.1003-1009. were going to throw away? institutions experience both 3. "Rapid Analysis of Moon-to- Think again. budgetary and modernization Earth Trajectories", J. E. pressures. As a result, many Lancaster, J. C. Walker & F. Best regards, document collections are disap- I. Mann, AIAA Journal, Vol. pearing off library floors. Substi- 7, No. 6, June 1969, pp. Wes Kelly tuting for back volumes of the 1017-1023. AIAA Journal, Journal of Space- 4. “Apollo Lunar Rendez- craft and Rockets, Journal of vous”, K. A. Young, J. D. [Editor: AIAA has responded, Guidance and Control are on Alexander, J. of Spacecraft below.] line services such as the one I & Rockets, Vol. 7, No. 9., used at the Johnson Space Cen- pp. 1083-1086. The AIAA has spent more then ter to locate a number of pa- two years developing a com- pers regarding lunar mission This is a serious problem for plete online archive of its jour- trajectory design and solutions papers with dozens and dozens nals. In this process, we had to to three body problems in celes- of detailed, yet abbreviated use compression technology to tial mechanics. mathematical equations. It cre- reduce the size of the pdf files ates further gaps in under- for online transmission. In com- At first I was pleased how easy standing of an argument's logic, paring the online files with the it was to locate these papers, if it is difficult, concise and re- hardcopy, we have also noted but then when I began to read fined to essentials already. En- the discrepancies to which your them carefully, I noticed many gaging in a guessing game adds writer refers. After a fair more typographical errors than I to the odds of incomprehension amount of research and test- had come to expect in such or drawing the wrong conclu- ing, we have identified another publications. In some instances, sions. compression tool that renders I had looked at these papers graphics accurately. We are before and I was certain that It is suspected that this prob- now in the process of replacing the errors were new. Greek lem disappears in recent jour- the existing files with files proc- symbols were now appeared as nal articles, probably electroni- essed through this new tool. We Roman alphabet characters; for cally submitted in the first (Continued on page 7) Page 7

(Continued from page 6) Frenchmen and Japanese come [Editor: Readers may recall that anticipate that we will be able out of college interested in the previous (May/June) issue to replace all files within the teaching, or science, or social of Horizons featured an article next several months. work, or law, and enter into entitled, “Education and the those professions, while Ameri- Future Workforce”. Coinciden- AIAA is fully committed to creat- cans come out of college — tally, the current issue of Aero- ing an online archive that is whatever their interests – with a space America features a faithful to the hardcopy and can crippling six-figure debt that for roundtable discussion, serve as a durable, permanent all practical purposes restricts “Examining the U.S. Aerospace “The fact is, a record of the enormous re- their career options to those Workforce”. The specific con- search and insights that are that are lucrative enough to pay cern expressed by Ms. Adams is university education in conveyed through the more off their loans. Even the Indians not addressed in the article. the United States now then 50,000 articles published are pretty well subsidized for The roundtable discussion is in the AIAA journals. their higher education. good reading, though. Here’s an costs between three and excerpt: Thank you again for allowing us We have somehow managed to ten times as much for to respond (and hopefully to set our next generation up to be “... intellectual capital is the this generation as it did clarify the situation). as NON-competitive in the world highest asset this country has. market as possible, starting out So, the management of that 20 years ago …” Sincerely, with a massive handicap com- intellectual capital, the knowl- Norma Brennan pared with their counterparts edge management has got to -- elsewhere, and as many disin- be number one, because that Letter to Editor AIAA Publications centives as we can muster affects everything else. No mat- E-mail: [email protected] against choosing a career in ter what you want to do, you’ve education. Why would anyone got to have the right people to with a first-rate education run do it. Cost of Education themselves into the poorhouse for the dubious pleasure of … We ought to be in-service As Candide said, "In the land of teaching the next generation of training the math and science the blind, the one-eyed man is Americans how to read, write, and other types of teachers so king". decline, integrate or mix NaCl? that they heighten the students’ appreciation, whether they’re The fact is, a university educa- It means, one-eyed Americans going to go into that area or tion in the United States now today should probably try to get not. costs between three and ten citizenship somewhere else for times as much for this genera- their children's sake. We need comprehensive career tion as it did 20 years ago, while planning, so that students have the cost of higher education in And that is a pretty depressing the information to make a the other G8 nations is nothing. thought. learned decision in selecting Zip, zilch, nada, nix. $0.00. their career, not driving some- That means, Germans and Constance Adams one because we need more people in an area.] Horizons Horizons is a bi-monthly publication of the Hous- This newsletter is created by members of the ton section of the American Institute of Aeronau- Houston section. Opinions expressed herein tics and Astronautics. other than by elected Houston section officers belong solely to the authors and do not necessar- Steven R. King ily represent the position of AIAA or the Houston Houston Section Chair section. Unless explicitly stated, in no way are the Jon S. Berndt comments of individual contributors to Horizons to be construed as necessarily the opinion or Editor position of NASA, its contractors, or any other Regular Contributing Authors organization. Elizabeth Blome Bill Miller Joy Conrad King Please address all newsletter correspondence to the Editor:

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Legislation National Aeronautics and Space Administration Act of 2005

June 23, 2005 — The U.S. Sen- for FY 2008-2010. develop an expanded perma- ate Committee on Commerce, nent human presence on the Science, and Transportation The bill addresses concerns Moon, and then extending from today approved S. 1281, the about NASA’s capability to the Moon to Mars. Policy Watch at AIAA: National Aeronautics and Space launch humans into space once Administration Act of 2005 by a the space shuttle is retired. The National Aeronautics and http://www.aiaa.org/content. unanimous vote. Senator Kay NASA is directed not to plan on Space Administration Act of cfm?pageid=128 Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.), Chair- or allow for a gap in human 2005 establishes criteria for man of the Senate Commerce space flight without Congres- the development, capabilities Guidelines for writing your rep- Subcommittee on Science and sional approval. In order to and support of the International resentative: Space, introduced the legisla- achieve this direction, NASA is Space Station (ISS). Addition- tion, which was co-sponsored by authorized to conduct the ally, NASA is directed to ensure http://www.aiaa.org/content. the subcommittee’s Ranking Space Shuttle transition in a diverse and growing utilization cfm?pageid=147 Member Bill Nelson (D-Fla.). manner that uses the person- of and benefits from the ISS. Commerce Committee Chair- nel, capabilities and infrastruc- man Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) ture of the current Shuttle pro- The bill also requires NASA to and Co-Chairman Daniel Inouye gram. The NASA Administrator conduct a balanced and broad (D-Hawaii) also co-sponsored must report to Congress with an science program, including the the bill. overall Shuttle transition plan, development of a plan for a after completion of an overall Shuttle servicing mission to “The space shuttle The legislation authorizes fund- assessment of space transpor- Hubble after completion of the ing for NASA’s programs for propulsion systems are tation requirements. first two “return-to-flight” Shut- Fiscal Years 2006-2010. The tle missions, unless such a mis- authorization for FY 2006 and the most reliable systems The bill directs NASA to imple- sion would compromise astro- 2007 is consistent with the ment a science program that naut safety or the integrity of in the world. The President’s budget request, extends human knowledge and NASA’s other missions. with the exception of an addi- Reusable Solid Rocket understanding of the Earth, tional $100 million in fiscal year (Source: http://commerce. Sun, solar system and the uni- Motors used in the space 2006 for International Space senate.gov/newsroom/ verse. The National Aeronautics Station research. The authoriza- printable.cfm?id=239450) shuttle launch phase and Space Administration Act of tion includes a NASA budget 2005 instructs NASA, as well, to have flown 226 times increase at the level of inflation with significant engineering, inspection, Staying Informed and testing supporting COMPILED BY JON S. BERNDT, EDITOR “HORIZONS” well understood This column points out useful web sites, documents, policy papers, periodicals, etc. operational margins; the Return to Flight Task Group Final Report Space Shuttle Main http://returntoflight.org/reports/final_report.asp Engines have flown 339 Aerospace America: Examining the U.S. Aerospace Workforce times and have over a http://www.aiaa.org/aerospace/images/articleimages/pdf/AA_Aug05_RT.pdf million seconds of Human Spaceflight: The Space Shuttle and Beyond testing!” Science and Space Hearing (May 18, 2005) U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/witnesslist.cfm?id=1509 - Dr. Scott Horowitz DIRECTOR OF SPACE NASA Authorization Act of 2005 TRANSPORTATION AND Report of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation EXPLORATION, ATK http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/T?&report=sr108&dbname=cp109&

HIOKOL T Proceedings from the NASA Administrator's Symposium: Human Spaceflight: The Space "Risk and Exploration: Earth, Sea and the Stars” Shuttle and Beyond, http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4701/frontmatter.pdf Science and Space Hearing Page 9

New Members ELIZABETH BLOME, MEMBERSHIP The Houston Section has sev- David Fleeger Khoi Nguyen Important notes: eral new and transferred-in Matthew Geistweidt Patricia Nesrsta • Not a member? See the members. If you see one of John Gowan Brian Payne these folks at the next section Sarah Graybeal Artem Pomnomarev end page. event, please give them a Robert Hall Gregory Prichard hearty welcome: Neal Hammond Faheem Qazi Brian Handley Leslie Quiocho Alexandrea Anderson Dallas Hopper Marc Reagan Nick Baker Daniel Houy George Robinson Nazareth Bedrossian Brent Hughes Jerry Sanders Farokh Bharucha Myung-Hee Kim Mark Schrock Kyle Brewer Ying-Ming Kuo Laura Slovey Dennis Carroll Jessica LoPresti Jeremy Steinshnider Joseph Coddou Michael Machula Glenn Stromme William Davidson Mark Mangieri Stephen Walker Monica Dubois Gavin Mendeck Michael Weeks Karen Faubion Richard Mrozinski Help AIAA Help You - Update Your Membership Records ELIZABETH BLOME, MEMBERSHIP It is often said that the aero- ing corporate support for local email me, Elizabeth.c. space industry is the only place AIAA activities (such as our blome@nasa.gov with any con- where you can have the same monthly dinner meeting, work- tact information you have. job for five years and work for shops, etc.). Please take a few five different companies. That is minutes and visit the AIAA web- Missing in action: especially true given the indus- site to update your member try wide consolidation that has information or call customer Jeff Donoughue happened in the last few years. service at 1-800-NEW-AIAA Jeffrey Marshall As companies have changed so (639-2422). Feel free to also Justin Doyle have the building signs and the contact me at 281-244-7121. Henry Hoang business cards. Keun Joo Park The AIAA-Houston section is Jeff Phillips With all of these potential currently missing information Gable Rhodes changes have you verified if for the following members. If Matthew Schudder your AIAA member record is up you know where they are, James Watts to date? Knowing where our please let them know their con- Sean Welch members are working is vital to tact information is not up to the Houston Section in obtain- date for AIAA. Or, if you prefer,

Membership Upgrades You are eligible for Senior Mem- Associate Fellow. You may be nation forms are due by 15 April ber status if you have over eight nominated for Honorary Fellow of each year, and references years of professional practice in if you are a person of eminence are then due by 15 May. Fellow the arts, sciences, or technology in aeronautics or astronautics, and Honorary Fellow nomina- of aeronautics or astronautics. recognized by a long and highly tion forms are due by 15 June You may be nominated for Asso- contributive career in the arts, of each year, and reference ciate Fellow status if you have sciences, or technology of these forms are then due 15 July. over 12 years of professional fields, and are a current Fellow. practice in the arts, sciences, or To receive AIAA membership technology of aeronautics or AIAA does not charge a fee to upgrade information, simply call astronautics and are currently a upgrade your membership. Your AIAA Customer Service at Senior Member. You may be dues only increase when you 800/639-AIAA. Outside the nominated for Fellow if you are elected to Fellow grade. United States, call 703/264- have personally made notable 7500. The Customer Service and valuable contributions in Senior Member applications are representatives will be glad to the field of aeronautics or astro- accepted and processed each forward membership upgrade nautics and are currently an month. Associate Fellow nomi- information to you. ▲ Page 10

Books Proceedings from the NASA Administrator's Symposium: "Risk and Exploration: Earth, Sea and the Stars" RISK AND EXPLORATION: EARTH, SEA AND THE STARS The issue of risk and exploration has been fore- craft on that morning, would you have been front in the news again, recently. As the Acknowl- motivated by a desire to take risks? edgement in “Proceedings …” points out, it really Frank Borman: No, sir. Sometimes there are has been since Columbia was lost. In September romantic, silk-scarf notions attributed to this of 2004, then NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe business, but we’re professionals. We will sponsored a Symposium on Risk and Exploration— accept it, certainly, but not undue risks. the idea of NASA Watch Editor Keith Cowing, and Senator Mondale: Let me rephrase the ques- NASA astronaut (and then Chief Scientist) John tion. Knowing what you know now, would Grunsfeld. The aim of the meeting was to offer you have entered that spacecraft? “insights on why we explore, how to balance risk Frank Borman: No, sir. and exploration, how different groups define and Senator Mondale: Colonel Borman, how did perceive risk differently, and the importance of Commander Grissom and his crew feel exploration to a creative society.” about the readiness of the vehicle? Frank Borman: I talked to Ed White shortly be- The chapters in the book are made up of the tran- fore the accident. He thought they were over scripts of speakers’ presentations. Groups of most of their problems and were on their speakers are set off into sessions addressing vari- way . . . ous destinations: Earth, Sea, Stars. Senator Mondale: Didn’t Commander Grissom once hang a lemon on the simulator? In the session entitled Stars, movie writer/director Frank Borman: You had to know Gus. Graham Yost relates the feelings he has developed Senator Mondale: Did Commander Grissom “After working on Earth about risk in exploration, given his unique experi- hang a lemon on the simulator? ences. A portion of his presentation is reprinted, Frank Borman: Yes, sir. to the Moon, I was below: Second Senator: [interrupts Mondale] Tell us looked at in Hollywood about him, Colonel. Sorry, Senator, I just ▼ have a couple of quick questions. Would you as the guy who, if NASA yield for a minute or two? ever had a problem, In the writing of this episode, “Apollo 1,” I de- Senator Mondale: Actually, Mr. Chairman, I— cided very early on that I wanted to focus on Second Senator: Thanks. Colonel Borman, you would write the thing Frank Borman, who was part of the Apollo 1—it just said, “You had to know Gus.” And I think about it. So I became was actually, technically, called the Apollo 204 that that’s been missing in here the past few Review Board. We’re going to show a clip from days. I’d like the record to contain just a lit- the disaster guy. This the episode. So this is Frank Borman. It’s later tle about the men who perished in that fire. on in the episode and it’s Frank Borman, played Colonel, could you do that for us? was also incredibly by David Andrews, who’s testifying in front of a Frank Borman: Gus Grissom was the first as- tough. I wrote a screen- Senate committee. And I made Walter Mondale tronaut to be asked to fl y three times. Mer- the bad guy, but that’s a whole other story. cury, Gemini, and Apollo. He loved being an play in ’99 on Chal- astronaut, except for the publicity and dis- lenger. That has never [Dialogue from video clip is indented.] play that comes with the job. There are no front windows on the house he built for Betty been produced. Partly Senator Mondale: Colonel Borman, would you in Timber Cove because he didn’t want peo- because, I think—it was have entered the spacecraft on the morning ple looking in. If that gives you the impres- of the accident if your turn had been called? sion that Gus was a cranky SOB, well, he for 20th Century Fox— Frank Borman: Yes, sir. was, at times. But I would have trusted him they were looking for Senator Mondale: Would you have had any hesi- with my life. tancy? Ed White was a big man for an astronaut, a white hats and black Frank Borman: No, sir. shade under six feet. As you well know, Ed Senator Mondale: Were there defects in work- was the first American to walk in space. hats, and what I found manship? There’s a story going around that when he was human beings.” Frank Borman: There were. was on his spacewalk, he stayed out after Senator Mondale: And did these defects go be- he had been ordered in because he was yond workmanship? having such a good time. Funny story, but it Graham Yost Frank Borman: Yes, sir, there were defects in would have meant Ed White disobeyed an Writer/Director design. order. Not going to happen. Ed was a West Senator Mondale: If you had entered that space- (Continued on page 11) Page 11

(continued from page 10) Point man. Duty, honor, country were not just Frank Borman: They didn’t see the spark that “Risk and Exploration” words to him. He was one of my closest caused the fire because it was behind the is available online at the friends. panel door, down below Gus’s feet. Because Roger Chaffee, I didn’t know that well. He was of the oxygen, the spark was able to jump out NASA History web site: one of the new guys, very energetic, very ex- into the netting under the seats. Gus probably cited. I heard a story about him, though. He saw it first because it was closest to him. was out on Long Island visiting the Grumman Astronaut: Fire! We have fire! http://history.nasa.gov facility where they were building the descent Frank Borman: Procedure would have had Gus stage of the lunar module. He saw a group of push down Ed’s headrest so that Ed could men standing in the corner. He found out have started turning the latches. these were the fellows that make the tools Frank Borman: Now, it just took me a minute or that make the machines. None of the big wigs more to tell you all that. In actuality, from the that were escorted through there ever talked first mention of the fire to the rupture of the to these guys. But Roger went over and made hull only 15 seconds went by. them feel like they were the most important Second Senator: Colonel, what caused the fire? part of the program. I’m not talking about wires and oxygen. It Second Senator: Colonel, this isn’t a court of seems that some people think that NASA law, so I can ask you something that’s com- pressured North American to meet unrealistic pletely hypothetical. If you could somehow and arbitrary deadlines and that in turn North reach beyond the wall of death and talk to American allowed safety to be compromised. Grissom, White, and Chaffee, what do you Frank Borman: I won’t deny that there’s been imagine they would say about the fire? pressure to meet deadlines but safety has Frank Borman: I was—I was hoping that some- never been intentionally compromised. one would ask that. I don’t know what Roger Second Senator: Then what caused the fire? or Ed would say, but I can let Gus speak for Frank Borman: A failure of imagination. We’ve himself. Back in January, he talked to a group always known there was the possibility of a of reporters. They asked him about the dan- fire in a spacecraft. But the fear was always gers involved in going to the Moon. that it would happen in space when you were 180 miles from terra firma and the nearest [Additional indentation to set off reminis- fire station. That was the worry. No one ever cence of Grissom speaking.] imagined that it would happen on the ground. If anyone had thought of it, the test would Gus Grissom: We’re in a risky business, and have been classified as hazardous. But it we hope if anything happens to us, it will wasn’t. We just didn’t think of it. Now whose not delay the program. The conquest of fault is that? Well, it’s North American’s fault. space is worth the risk of life. Our God- It’s NASA’s fault. It’s the fault of every person given curiosity will force us to go there our- who ever worked on Apollo. It’s my fault. I selves, because in the final analysis, only didn’t think the test was hazardous. No one man can fully evaluate the Moon in terms did. I wish to God we had. understandable to other men. Second Senator: Now before we all go home, is there any statement you personally would like Second Senator: Colonel, at the risk of being to make? gruesome, we’ve heard about the fire from Frank Borman: I think I’m safe in speaking for everyone who was there, everyone except the all the astronauts when I say that we are con- astronauts themselves, of course. Can you fident in our management. We’re confident in tell me what they went through? What it was our training, in our engineering, and in our- like for them? selves. The real question is, are you confident Frank Borman: I can only tell you what we know in us? or, at least, what we think we know. When it Second Senator: What do you think we should happened, they were just waiting for the test do Colonel? to resume. Frank Borman: I think you should stop this witch-hunt and let us go to the Moon. [Additional indentation to set off flashbacks to astronauts caught in Apollo I fire.] ▲

Gus Grissom: How are we going to get to the For more information about the book, and about Moon if we can’t talk between three build- ordering a hardcopy, see the NASA History web ings? I can’t hear a thing you’re saying. site: Jesus Christ, I said, how are we going to get to the Moon if we can’t talk between two or http://history.nasa.gov/what.html three buildings? Page 12

2005 Annual Technical Symposium TIM PROPP, VICE-CHAIR, TECHNICAL The 2005 AIAA Annual Techni- The morning sessions began The evening reception featured cal Symposium (ATS) was held promptly at 9:00 a.m. and con- free hors d’oeuvres and a cash on Friday, May 6th at the JSC sisted of the following topics: bar. The symposium concluded Gilruth Center. This all-day Crew Exploration Vehicle (1 ses- with a tribute to the late Max event was open to NASA civil sion), Robotics (1 session), Fu- Faget, hosted by AIAA Associate servants, NASA contractors, ture Space Suit Development (1 Fellow Chet Vaughan. Mr. industry, and academia. session), Space Exploration (3 Vaughan reviewed the fascinat- Liz Zapata, Padraig Moloney, sessions), Simulation and Mod- ing career of Dr. Faget, includ- and Norman Chaffee This year’s theme was Space eling (1 session), and Aero- ing a summary of the numerous working the registration Exploration Initiative. In all, 200 space Technology (2 sessions). patents he was awarded during people attended the sympo- his career at NASA. sium throughout the day, repre- Lunch was served at noon in senting over 25 different NASA the Gilruth Alamo Ballroom, and The symposium was organized

Michaela Benda of EADS/ Astrium North America presents “Development and Testing of Sails for Solar Sail Spacecraft”

and contractor organizations. was followed by a keynote by the ATS Planning Committee: Jeffery Morris, Texas A&M Attendees enjoyed 47 20- speech by JSC Deputy Director Tim Propp (General Chair), Aerospace Engineering minute presentations made by Colonel Robert Cabana. Col. Douglas Yazell (Operations Graduate Student, presents 43 separate speakers. Some Cabana discussed the state of Chair), Norm Chaffee (NASA “Vision-Based Relative presentations were made to the center, the new vision for Interface), Murugan Subra- Navigation System for Autonomous Space Craft standing room only crowds. The space exploration, and how the manium (Webmaster), and Docking Operations” event began at 7:45 a.m. with new vision might affect the JSC Ellen Gillespie. The planning registration. A minimal fee of $5 community. Col. Cabana then committee wishes to thank all was charged for all who partici- led a question and answer ses- those who contributed to the pated in the symposium. Break- sion in which he fielded several success of the 2005 ATS, par- fast items were provided com- questions from the audience on ticularly the JSC Center Direc- pliments of Atec, Inc., a local the new exploration initiative. tor’s Office, the JSC Print Shop, aerospace firm who sponsored the three keynote speakers, 16 a booth at the ATS. Atec spe- The afternoon sessions began session chairs, 43 speakers, cializes in the design and pro- at 1:30 p.m. Afternoon topics and finally Atec, Inc. duction of quality critical com- included: Space Operations (3 ponents and test systems for sessions), Space Exploration (1 A copy of the 2005 ATS pro- the aerospace and energy mar- session), Space Exploration (1 gram can be found online at Standing room only. kets. session), Safety (2 sessions), www.aiaa-houston.org/cy0405/ Aerospace Technology (3 ses- event-06may05/ Paul Hill, Lead Flight Director sions). The day concluded with ats05_program.doc. Presenta- for STS-114 (Return to Flight) a drawing for a free Space Shut- tions from authors/speakers kicked off the symposium at tle model, provided compli- who have agreed to post their 8:15 a.m. Mr. Hill reviewed the ments of Atec, Inc. The winner materials on our local website Columbia early debris recovery of the drawing was Roy Harris can be obtained at www.aiaa- efforts and preparations for from Honeywell Technology So- houston.org/cy0405/event- return to flight. lutions. Congratulations Roy! 06may05/program. Page 13

Advent Launch Services Soliciting Volunteers JIM AKKERMAN, PRESIDENT, ADVENT LAUNCH SERVICES

Advent Launch Services is seeking volunteer 4. Engine help. 5. Orbit Maneuvering System/Reaction Control System Advent Launch Services (ALS) is an employee- 6. Power/Distribution owned corporation established to provide 7. Steering reliable earth-to-orbit payload deliveries at a 8. Guidance/Navigation/Control small fraction of today's costs and to estab- 9. Fairings lish a fully-commercial space program. ALS is 10. Thermal Protection System a group of NASA retirees having extensive 11. Vehicle Assembly & Verification experience with space vehicle development. 12. Payload The Advent concept has been developed us- 13. Payload Ground Service Equipment ing a cost/performance modeling technique 14. Vehicle Operations Ground Service which allows the vehicle to be optimized for Equipment cost. The proposed Advent fleet consists of a 15. Maintenance Ground Service Equip- group of vehicles with the same design differ- ment ing only in size. All the development is The launch sys- performed on the tem employs first vehicle, which two stages that is the smallest, and differ only in is used as the ini- size and basic tial orbiter. Succes- function: orbiter sive vehicles are and booster. each about 2.5 The same cate- times larger than gories (1 the previous vehi- through 11) are cle, and can be involved with used as boosters or both stages and orbiters. they are to be worked on in More than a hun- sequence. Ide- dred individuals ally, the same and three business subsystem man- organizations have agers will be supported the Ad- available to help vent design and with both development activi- stages. ties over the last 15 years. Some The Advent individuals have Launch System provided technical concept is the and analytical sup- product of port for each and about 15 years every aspect of the of design and concept. analysis effort. The primary The current effort to raise capital to advance responsibility of each subsystem manager the system development requires current is to review the work already done and support of several qualified individuals. provide a response, improvement, refine- Hopefully we will be able to have a represen- ment, cost reduction, schedule improve- tative for each of the 15 subsystems ment, or other appropriate input. A (subsystem managers). The System Account- change in one of the systems will likely ing Model (SAM) documents the concept. It have “ripple effects” into the other sys- employs the following categories: tems. Each system manager will need to respond to those effects. 1. Wing 2. Fuel Tank Interested parties should contract Jim Ak- 3. Oxygen Tank kerman at [email protected]. Page 14

A Lunch In Pursuit of the ISS Phantom Torque and Learn TIM PROPP, VICE-CHAIR, TECHNICAL The AIAA Houston Section’s Transfer Vehicle. It was during curred on September 3, 2004. Summary Report Guidance, Navigation, and Con- these EVAs that GN&C person- The US CMG’s saturated 4.5 trol Technical Committee nel observed unexpected satu- hours into the EVA, at which hosted a Lunch and Learn semi- ration of the US control moment point the ISS entered into a loss nar on July 26, 2005, in the JSC gyroscopes, occasionally caus- of attitude control. The recon- Building 30 Auditorium. Dr. ing the ISS to lose control of its structed disturbance torque Jack Bacon, lead of the NASA attitude, then drift in unpredict- was injected into a time domain Mission Analysis & Integration able ways. The phenomenon simulation with initial conditions soon became known as the similar to RS EVA #11. The “phantom torque” in the ISS simulation response to the re- community because its cause constructed disturbance torque was unknown. The ISS Mission compared very well with the Evaluation Room managers actual EVA #11 flight telemetry. assembled a team of experts, To further test the sublimator including Dr. Bacon, to trouble- theory, a disturbance measure- shoot the problem. One of the ment test was conducted in the early theories was that out- early stages of RS EVA #11 by gassing from the Docking Com- positioning the EVA crew face partment-1 was creating the down on the zenith face of the unexpected torque. To test this FGB and remaining motionless. theory, the starboard Service With both Orlan sublimators Module solar array was feath- pointed zenith, a positive ISS ered to an edge-on position with pitch torque was expected and respect to the DC-1 EVA hatch observed. This data was used during RS EVA #10 in early Au- by the GN&C team to estimate gust 2004. This theory was the magnitude of the thrust vec- quickly discarded as the US tor from the two sublimators as CMG’s saturated at 92% mo- 0.025 lbf. Finally, a reconstruc- mentum within 40 minutes. tion of the torque throughout Here’s where the story gets in- RS EVA #11 based solely on teresting. A member of the crew orientation, crew position, troubleshooting team hypothe- and expected sublimator force sized that the sublimators on was performed. Fourteen dis- the Russian Orlan EVA suits was tinct periods of the EVA were the cause of the “phantom identified, and torque predic- torque”. The sublimator does tions were generated for each not have a diffuser, so it is pos- period. The correlation be- sible to get a directional thrust tween the GN&C torque backed from the Orlan suit. Many out from flight data and the laughed at the concept. How computed torque estimates was could emissions from an Orlan good: 0.838 in yaw, 0.747 in suit exert a force large enough pitch, and 0.689 in roll. With all to have such drastic effects on of this data in hand, the team of a 195 ton spacecraft? To at- experts was ready to conclude tempt to prove this hypothesis, that the Russian Orlan sublima- experts used a combination of tor was indeed the primary basic physics and an impres- source of the ISS “phantom Image courtesy of NASA sive set of flight data analyses. torque”. Mr. Bacon concluded team in the VIPER group, at- First, the team derived the force his presentation by proudly dis- tracted a crowd of 78 to hear expected from the Orlan subli- playing the US currency he col- the story of the ISS “phantom mator. Their conclusion was lected from those who were torque”. Over the past 18 that thrust levels of about 0.05 willing to bet against the subli- months, ISS crewmembers Newtons (0.011 lbf) could be mator hypothesis. If anyone is have abandoned the Station to expected from each sublimator. interested in obtaining a copy of conduct a handful of EVAs on Second, the GN&C team devel- the videotaped presentation, the Russian Segment. Several oped a means of extracting the please contact Douglas Yazell of the EVA tasks were executed total disturbance torque from at douglas.yazell@honeywell. on the aft end of the Service the flight telemetry. This tech- com. Module, outfitting it for the fu- nique was used on flight data ture arrival of ESA’s Automated from RS EVA #11, which oc- Page 15

Free Glider Workshop Outreach and JOY CONRAD KING, PRE-COLLEGE Education Who: 100 students (grades K – 8) What: Hear pilots talk, then build your own balsa glider When: Saturday, October 22, 2005 9 am – 12 noon Where: NASA Johnson Space Center Gilruth Center

The workshop is FREE but you must pre-register. Registra- tion starts September 1st at www.aiaa-houston.org. Anyone interested in volunteering can e-mail precollege@aiaa- houston.org.

The 2005-2006 Mars Rover Model Competition Date: January 21, 2005 chassis. Solar powered RC and are encouraged to have entire Time: 12:00-5:00 pm free-form models will compete grades participate. Participation Where: Houston Room, separately. The students will in the finals on January 21 may University Center, build the models as part of a 6- be limited to the best 3 teams University of Houston week fall semester classroom- of 4 students from each school learning or homework project depending on total number of Primary (Grades 3-5) and mid- on Mars. The students will be entries. A $25 entry deposit is dle school (Grades 6-8) stu- given design criteria for a rover, required. Deposit will only be dents interested in science and and be required to do basic refunded when you show up for engineering will compete in the research on Mars that will de- the contest. design and construction of a termine the operational objec- model of a Mars Rover to carry tives and structural features of Questions and Teacher Work- out a specific science mission their rover. This module may be shops on the surface of Mars. The used as part of a class studying model will be mostly a mock-up, general science, earth science, Contact Prof. Edgar Bering at constructed at a minimal cost solar system astronomy or ro- [email protected] or Prof. (estimated cost of less than botics or as a multi-disciplinary John Ramsey at jramsey@uh. $10-$25) of mostly found ob- unit for a gifted and talented edu for more information. jects and simple art supplies. If program. Entries will be limited desired, teachers may supply to the first 50 schools to enter. Entries students with a low cost ($10) Home school students and or- solar powered car kit or a low ganized youth groups are also Submit no later than Nov. 15, cost RC car to serve as the encouraged to enter. Schools 2005 to Prof. Bering by e-mail. Section Announcements AIAA HOUSTON EXECUTIVE COUNCIL New Young Professionals Chair Assistant Newsletter Editor Student Paper Conference Needed The Houston Section welcomes The 2006 AIAA Region IV Stu- Laura Slovey of United Space The Houston section is looking dent Paper Conference will be Alliance who will be servings as for some help in producing the held in April, exact date to be Young Professionals Chair. She newsletter. The assistant editor decided, on the campus of will be planning a variety of YP would be responsible for help- Texas A&M University. The outings, socials, etc. Please ing to collect articles for the Houston Section and the Texas contact her at: upcoming issue, proofread, etc. A&M Student Chapter will be [email protected] Interested parties should have the hosts. More details will be or 281-483-1685 if you have a deep interest in aerospace forthcoming in future editions of questions or want to find out current events and history. the newsletter. more about the YP committee. Please contact Jon Berndt for more information at [email protected]. Page 16

August 26-28 Outing: Ballunar Liftoff Festival (JSC)

September 12 Executive Council Meeting (Gilruth) 15 Lunch n' Learn: “Business School Admissions Seminar” by Kaplan (JSC Bldg 16 Rm 111/113) 16 Workshop on Automation & Robotics (WAR) 2005, and Innovation 2005 (Gilruth) 29 Lunch n' Learn: “Small Business Innovative Research, Small Business Technology Transfer" by Dr. Kumar Krishen/NASA-JSC (JSC) at Gilruth TBD Dinner Meeting (Gilruth) TBD Apache helicopter demo (JSC or Ellington) TBD Public astronomical observing activity (likely UHCL)

October 3 Executive Council Meeting (Gilruth) 8-9 Outing: "Wings Over Houston" Airshow (Ellington) 22 Kid's Balsawood Glider Workshop (Gilruth) 9 am to 12:00 noon, JSC Gilruth Live Oak Pavilion Middle school students listen to pilots then build their own balsa wood glider. If you would like more information or to volunteer at the event contact Joy Conrad King at [email protected]. TBD Lunch n’ Learn: "Advent Launch System" by Jim Akkerman/Advent Launch Services (JSC)

November 7 Executive Council Meeting (Gilruth) 15-16 American Astronautical Society (AAS) National Conference (South Shore Harbour) TBD AIAA Aerospace Historical Site Dedication at JSC TBD Lunch n' Learn TBD Dinner Meeting (Gilruth)

December 5 Executive Council Meeting (Gilruth) TBD Lunch n' Learn Page 17

Cranium Cruncher BILL MILLER, SENIOR MEMBER

Last Issue

Last month’s sphere problem came (once again) from Chap- ter 12 of Martin Gardner’s book Hexaflexagons and Other Mathematical Diversions (1959).

The surprising thing about this problem is that the radius of the sphere drops out of the solu- tion. There are at least two ways to solve it – I think this is the most elegant:

If the problem has a unique solution, the volume must be a constant which holds even when the hole is reduced to zero radius. Therefore the “residue” must be equal to the volume of a sphere with a di- ameter of six inches - 36p.

Correct solutions were received from:

Wendell Mendell Brian Johnson Joshua Gibson Jeff Hagen

Current Cruncher

A Texas wildcatter is drilling an oil well somewhere in a flat rec- tangular lot. His GPS is failed so in order to re-locate a prom- ising spot he measures dis- tances to the spot from the cor- ners of the lot, which are marked by stakes. The spot is 21,000 feet from one corner of the lot, 18,000 feet from the opposite corner, and 6,000 feet from a third corner. How far is the spot from the remaining corner of the lot?

Send solutions to Bill Miller at [email protected]. The answer, along with credits, references, and names of the solvers, will be provided next time. Page 18

Odds and Ends SPECIAL EVENTS, PICTORIALS, ETC.

These are three of a sequence of aerial U-2 photos showing the May 4, 1989 STS-30 launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. These were among those taken by a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft flying a race track pattern above the Ken- nedy Space Center. The unique bird's eye views show the Space Shuttle Atlan- tis during the first seconds after liftoff during STS-30 on May 4, 1989. Why were these photos taken?

The orbiter Atlantis, upon its return after the successful DoD STS-27 mission in December 1988, was peppered with some 707 hits on the tiles. When the orbiter landed, engineers were amazed to find seven times the normal num- ber of hits. Because of the unusual number of hits received, engineers wanted to know if the damage was unique to Atlantis or was part of a trend that began with STS-27. They wanted to "see" the damage as it was happen- ing to help answer such questions as where did the debris sources originate since damage could have been caused by ice, insulation from the external tank or ablative material falling off of the solid rocket boosters. In addition, they wanted to know how much material was lost and at what point in time during the flight (pre-Mach, transition or post-Mach) did the damage occur. Upon closer examination of the orbiter tiles from STS-27, engineers found 16 damage sites with residual material that could be sampled. The results of the sampling revealed traces of MSA-1 (the ablator) and Hypalon paint (the white topcoat) from the SRB forward assemblies. Since the forward skirts and frus- trums showed very little loss of material, a process of elimination suggested the damage might have originated from the unrecovered SRB nose caps. Most of the orbiter lower surface damage was on the right side; the left was virtually undamaged. Hence, the source of the damage seemed to lean to- ward the right SRB nose cap. Eventually, it was determined that the tile dam- age was caused by booster ablative material falling off of the right SRB nose cap due to a bonding problem. Once the bonding problem was fixed, that type of damage was not seen on subsequent missions. (From BlackBirds.net) Page 19

Odds and Ends (Page 2) SPECIAL EVENTS, PICTORIALS, ETC.

Someone got the idea that a documentary about a small airport would be a great idea. Surprisingly, he (producer/ director/pilot Brian J. Terwilliger) appears to be right. From the web site: “One Six Right is an aviation docu- mentary about the passion for flying centered around the life and history of an airport icon, Southern Califor- nia’s Van Nuys airport. The film illuminates an apprecia- tion for small airplanes and community airports every- where.”

Visit the web site at http://www.onesixright.com for more information. For those with a broadband Internet connection, you can watch a high quality preview of the DVD of the movie, which they offer for sale. It’s a beauti- fully filmed excerpt. The full length documentary (over one hour) is planned for completion in November 2005.

Image at left courtesy of VNY Documentary, LLC.

APOLLO CM CONTROL PANEL—Flight controls are located on the left-center and left side of the main display console, opposite the com- mander. These include controls for such subsystems as stabilization and control, propulsion, crew safety, earth landing, and emergency de- tection. One of two guidance and navigation computer panels also is located here, as are velocity, attitude, and altitude indicators. The as- tronaut in the center couch (CM pilot) faces the center of the console, and thus can reach many of the flight controls, as well as the system controls on the right side of the console. Displays and controls directly opposite him include reaction control propellant management, caution and warning, environmental control and cryogenic storage subsystems. The right-hand ( LM pilot's) couch faces the right- center and right side of the console. Communications, electrical control, data storage, and fuel cell subsystem components are located here, as well as ser- vice propulsion of subsystem propellant management. All controls have been designed so they can be operated by astronauts wearing gloves. The controls are predominantly of four basic types: toggle switches, rotary switches with click-stops (detents), thumbwheels, and push buttons. Critical switches are guarded so that they cannot be thrown inadvertently. In addition, some critical controls have locks that must be released before they can be operated. (Image: NASA History Web Site; Text: Apollo Spacecraft News Reference, ApolloSaturn.com) Page 20

Upcoming Conference Presentations by Houston Members COMPILED BY THE EDITOR FROM AIAA AGENDAS

Information here is taken from AIAA conference agendas. As such, it is subject to change. AIAA-Houston members can also inform the editor of any upcoming presentations at any conference (AIAA or other) via email at: [email protected]. Space 2005 Study” 30 Aug - 1 Sep 2005 A. Leskin and G. Trobaugh, Raytheon, Houston, TX; R. Lenard, De- Long Beach Convention Center sert Fox Engineering Services, Edgewood, NM Long Beach, California “Automating Space Exploration Software Verification and Testing” “Sustainable, Reliable Mission- Systems Architecture” G. O'Neil and S. Watson, United Space Alliance LLC, Houston, TX G. O'Neil, J. Orr and S. Watson, United Space Alliance LLC, Houston, TX “A Computational Study of Explosive Hazard Potential for Reusable Launch Vehicles” “ARED Flight Software - A Unique Approach to Exercise in Long Dura- C. Freitas and S. Chocron, Southwest Research Institute, San Anto- tion Habitats” nio, TX; D. Palmer and P. Langley, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, M. Mangieri, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX Denver, CO; M. Kipp, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM; L. Langston, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX; and W. “Developing and Verifying Requirements for Extravehicular Activity Saul, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM (EVA) Worksites” D. Coan, Barrios Technology, Houston, TX; and J. Kagey, United “Automation Scripting for Manned Spaceflight” Space Alliance LLC, Houston, TX Z. Parer, United Space Alliance LLC, Houston, TX; T. Eckert, Barrios Technology, Houston, TX “Space Flight Resource Management: Mitigating Human Error in Human Space Flight” “EVA Inspection of Space Shuttle Thermal Protection System” S. Dillon, United Space Alliance LLC, Houston, TX Z. Scoville and S. Rajula, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

“Knowledge Capture and Management - Key to Ensuring Flight “The NEEMO Undersea Analog: Another Type of Deep Space Explora- Safety and Mission Success” tion” J. Goodman, United Space Alliance LLC, Houston, TX W. Todd, United Space Alliance, LLC., Houston, TX; and M. Reagan, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX “Health Management and Automation for Future Space Systems” C. Garcia-Galan and G. Aaseng, Honeywell Inc., Cocoa Beach, FL; A. “NASA Radiation Track Image GUI for Assessing Space Radiation Crocker, NASA Mission Operations Directorate, Houston, TX Biological Effects” A. Ponomarev and H. Nikjoo, Universities Space Research Associa- “Spacecraft Design Considerations for Human Radiation Shielding tion, Houston, TX; and F. Cucinotta, NASA Johnson Space Center, and Protection Issues” Houston, TX W. Atwell, The Boeing Company, Houston, TX “Cooperative Education: A Proven Cornerstone for Developing To- “Effect of Shielding Materials from SPEs on the Lunar and Mars Sur- morrow’s Space Workforce” face” B. Dansberry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH; D. Pearson, M. Kim, Wyle Laboratories, Houston, TX; X. Hu and F. Cucinotta, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA; and R. Musgrove, NASA NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

“Tethered Lander for Planetary Applications” “Analysis of Planetary Surface Module Options” O. Bannova, Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture, L. Bell, University of Houston, Houston, TX Houston, TX “Planetary Surface Transportation and Site Development” “Lessons Learned in Simulation Development for Space Systems” L. Bell, University of Houston, Houston, TX W. Davidson, G. O'Neil and S. Watson, United Space Alliance LLC, Houston, TX “The Peer- to- Peer Human- Robot Interaction Project” T. Fong, I. Nourbakhsh, C. Kunz, L. Fluckiger and J. Schreiner, NASA “An Overview of Shuttle Derived Launch Vehicle Concepts” Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA; R. Ambrose, NASA John- W. Rothschild and D. Boyd, The Boeing Company, Houston, TX; E. son Space Center, Houston, TX Henderson, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX “Human- Automation Partnering for Onboard Mission Management: “Shuttle- Derived Side- Mount Heavy Launch Vehicle” Human Factors Challenges” D. Boyd and A. Gale, The Boeing Company, Houston , TX; E. Enright, R. McCann, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA; J. Lockheed Martin, New Orleans, LA McCandless, NASA, Moffett Field, CA; B. Hilty, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX “Lunar Post Solar Power System Configuration and Location Trade Page 21

Upcoming Conference Presentations by Houston Members CONTINUED ...

“RASC- AL 2005: SelenAres” Infotech@Aerospace B. Bodrero, J. Gregory, A. Johnes, J. Salmon, E. Siggard, J. Stroms- 26 - 29 Sep 2005 dorfer, and T. Mosher, RASC-AL / Utah State University, Logan, UT; Hyatt Regency Crystal City and S. Skillern, Universities Space Research Association, Houston, Arlington, Virginia TX “Autonomous Walking Inspection and Maintenance Robot (AWIMR)” “Early Lunar and Planetary Outpost Design and Requirements” H. Lane, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Redondo Beach, CA; B. G. Kitmacher, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX Kennedy, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA; D. Apostolopou- los, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA; and M. Diflter, NASA “RASC- AL 2005: Advanced Space Health Maintenance System: Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX Technology Enabling Extending Manned Space Exploration” A. Elam, C. Gibson, Z. Metwalli, R. Robb, T. Rooney, and M. Lieb- “Understanding the Application of Knowledge Management in a schner, RASC-AL / Rice University, Houston, TX; and S. Skillern, Uni- Technology Driven Industry” versities Space Research Association, Houston, TX D. DeLoach and G. Lowe, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA; B. Anderson, The Boeing Company, Houston, TX; L. Long, Penn “Optimal Design Solutions for Crew Exploration Vehicle” State University, University Park, PA; R. Aggarwal, Rockwell Collins, T. Kulkarni and S. Suh, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX Cedar Rapids, IA; M. Bailey, GE Aircraft Engines, Cincinnati, OH

“Interplanetary Communication Network for Outer Planets of Solar “An Architecture for Intelligent Management of Aerial Observation System” Missions” T. Kulkarni and A. Dharne, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX M. Freed, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA; P. Bon- asso, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX; W. Fitzgerald and “Proton Flux at Mars: Assessment with the MARIE Data” C. Frost, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA E. Towns and P. Saganti, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX “Comparison of In Depth and Critical Few System Models” D. Bradt, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX “Radiation Particle Flux Assessment with ACE / CRIS Data” T. Calvin, P. Saganti, R. Wilkins and K. Kirby, Prairie View A&M Uni- “FLOAAT, A Tool for Determining Levels of Autonomy and Automa- versity, Prairie View, TX tion, Applied to Human-Rated Space Systems [invited]” R. Proud and J. Hart, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

AIAA 5th Aviation, Technology, Integration, and Operations “Autonomous Mission Management for Spacecraft Rendezvous Us- Conference (ATIO) ing an Agent Hierarchy” 16th Lighter-than-Air and Balloon Systems Conference M. Jackson, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., Houston, TX 26 - 28 Sep 2005 Hyatt Regency Crystal City “Application of Model- Based Technology Systems for Autonomous Arlington, Virginia Systems” D. Cooke, M. Gelfond, and N. Rushton, Texas Tech University, Lub- “Flight Segment Identification as a Basis for Pilot Advisory Systems bock, TX; and H. Hu, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX (Invited)” W. Kelly, Blue Rock Research, Apex, NC; and J. Painter, Texas A&M “Improved Adaptive- Reinforcement Learning Control for Morphing University, College Station, TX Unmanned Air Vehicles” M. Tandale, J. Valasek and J. Doebbler, Texas A&M University, Col- “Small Aircraft Pilot Assistant: Onboard Decision Support System for lege Station, TX; A. Meade, Rice University, Houston, TX SATS Aircraft” J. Rong, T. Spaeth and J. Valasek, Texas A&M University, College “Scattered Data Approximation of Weapons Bay Flow Classification” Station, TX J. Yoo and A. Meade, Rice University, Houston, TX

“Improving Aircraft Sequencing and Separation at a Small Aircraft “Characterization of Shape Memory Alloy Behavior and Position Con- Transportation System Airport” trol Using Reinforcement Learning” K. Helbing, T. Spaeth and J. Valasek, Texas A&M University, College C. Haag, M. Tandale and J. Valasek, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX Station, TX

Page 22

AAS Conference Highlights Role of ISS in Achieving Vision for Space Exploration Goals

The American Astronautical Society's Annual Con- premier independent scientific and technical ference (Nov 15-16, 2005 at South Shore Har- group in the United States exclusively dedicated bour Resort) will bring together senior-level tech- to the advancement of space science and explo- nical and public policy experts from NASA, indus- ration. It is also committed to strengthening the try and the International Partners, as well as uni- global space program through cooperation with versity student participants, in a wide-ranging international space organizations. review of International Space Station as a means to achieve the Vision for Space Exploration. An AAS & AIAA jointly sponsor several national con- overview of the Conference agenda is included ferences throughout the year. Both organizations below. Updates and registration information can believe in collaboration that brings a mutual be found at the AAS's Houston Chapter's web benefit to each other’s membership. site: http://www.aashouston.org The AAS is the

Building Bridges to Exploration: The Role of the International Space Station

AMERICAN ASTRONAUTICAL SOCIETY National Conference and 52nd Annual Meeting South Shore Harbour Resort November 15-16, 2005

Draft Agenda

Day 1

Welcome: Jonathan T. Malay, AAS President and Director, Civil Space Programs, Lockheed Martin Corporation Jefferson Howell, Director, Johnson Space Center

Keynote Speaker: Carl Sagan award winner [chosen by AAS and Planetary Society]

Session 1: Realizing the Promise of International Space Station

Theme: Status of ISS program, discussion of its challenges and its achievements to date, challenges ahead after Shuttle is retired. Session Chairman: ISS Program Manager/Bill Gerstenmaier (confirmed) Deputy Chairman: NASA/G. Kitmacher

Lunch Speaker: Kay Bailey Hutchinson (proposed)

Session 2: Focus on International Space Station Research

Theme: International discussion on each partners’ plans with respect to ISS research Session Chairman: ISS Program Scientist/ Don Thomas (confirmed) Deputy Chairman: Julie Robinson/NASA Speakers/Panelists: NASA, CSA, JAXA, Russia, ESA

Session 3: International Space Station Challenges Enabling Exploration Risk Reductions

Theme: Discussion of ISS systems/operations/etc that have contributed directly to Explora- tion risk reduction. Ideas include: EMU on-orbit maintenance and certification, ad- vanced life support, advanced power systems, etc. Session Chairman: Boeing/John Elbon (confirmed) Deputy Chairman: Boeing/Rich Clifford Speakers/Panelists: Page 23

Session 4: Roundtable on Integration Challenges of Large Scale Programs (ISS Program SSCB to be held in Houston during this timeframe)

Moderator: Stephen Johnson (confirmed) Panelists: NASA/Gerstenmaier, Russia/Representative, ESA/Thirkettle, JAXA/K. Shiraki, CSA/B. Marcotte, Boeing/J. Elbon

Dinner Speaker: TBD

Day 2

Keynote Speaker: Mike Griffin (proposed)

Session 5: Common Challenges: Human and Robot Exploration

Theme: This session is dedicated to the “outbrief” of the JSC/JPL Personnel Bridges ses- sion. What challenges and risks exist within manned and robotic spacecraft missions? What can we learn from each other to reduce risks? How can we work together to reduce risks? Each JSC/JPL team will review their results/ ideas/etc. Session Chairman: Gen. Howell/C. Elachi/ TBD Deputy Chairman: David Korth/Troy Leblanc/Andy Miskin

Lunch Speaker: TBD

Session 6: Roundtable on Commercial Opportunities in Human Spaceflight

Theme: This session will be a lively discussion on the possibilities and policies associated with commercial opportunities for human spaceflight, such as human transporta- tion, cargo transportation to the ISS, and other possibilities for in orbit infrastruc- tures operated on a commercial basis.

Session 7: The Future of International Cooperation

Theme: This session will explore the impact of current events and policies on the future of international cooperation on human spaceflight projects. Invited presentations include ESA/Russia cooperation on Soyuz in Kourou and the Clipper development, The Global Impact of International Space University, and an examination of coop- eration when managed at the intergovernmental level vs. industrial level

Session 8: ISS as a Mars Mission Testbed

Theme: Ideas for using the ISS in mission simulations or other operational risk reductions in support of the exploration spirals. Include presentations on activities around the agency/outside the agency. Also include presentations by student session leads – idea discussed separately. Chairman: NASA/HQ Mike Foale (confirmed) Deputy Chairman: Paul Brower

Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Houston Section PERMIT NO. 1 P.O. Box 57524 Webster , Texas Webster, TX 77598

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Advance the arts, sciences, and technology of aerospace, and nurture and promote the professionalism of those engaged in these pursuits. AIAA seeks to meet the professional needs and interests of its members, as well as to improve the public understanding of the profession and its contributions.

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