sign in sign up
<<
Home , NASA Astronaut Corps, Project Morpheus

April 6, 2012 Vol. 52, No. 7 Spaceport News John F. - America’s gateway to the universe

Inside . . . SLF offers Morpheus realistic, rocky road 'Rocket University' By Cheryl Mansfield Project Morpheus, one of 20 inspires engineers Spaceport News small projects comprising the Advanced Exploration n area near Ken- Systems (AES) program in nedy Space Center's NASA's Human Explora- Shuttle Land- A tion and Operations Mission ing Facility (SLF) will Directorate. AES projects be turned into a field of pioneer new approaches for hazards as part of the next rapidly developing proto- phase of tests for the Project Morpheus . This type systems, demonstrating next step, which integrates key capabilities and validat- Page 2 technologies, hopefully will ing operational concepts for future human missions Trajectory Team someday be used to build beyond Earth orbit. keeps eye on target future spacecraft destined for asteroids, or the Although the first test . at Kennedy has not been The lander has been un- scheduled, it could take dergoing testing at NASA's place as early as June, with in the series scheduled to wrap up by Sept. 30. The testing for almost a year in CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/JSC preparation for its first free The Project Morpheus lander fires its liquid oxygen- and -fueled engine schedule is dynamic and flight. During that flight test- for a tethered test on May 4, 2011, at NASA's Johnson Space Center. With the changes as the vehicle and ing, it will rise almost 100 vehicle suspended from a crane, the tethered tests allowed engineers to test their weather dictate. The public control of the vehicle with little risk of damage to the lander. For more on Project can follow the tests on the Page 3 feet into the air, fly 100 feet Morpheus, click on the photo. laterally, and then land. Morpheus' Facebook and meets Once the lander has with the addition of some site manager. "Our team is Twitter. For more informa- Dragon capsule successfully completed a hazards, Kennedy's former looking forward to facilitat- tion about Project Morpheus planned series of these free shuttle runway would be the ing successful testing this and videos of past tests, visit flight tests, the team will best choice. summer." the project's home page at move on to its next chal- "Kennedy Space Center The upcoming test rep- http://morpheuslander.jsc. lenge -- flying a kilometer- offers the perfect combina- resents a new milestone for .gov/. long simulated surface tion of capabilities," said approach while avoiding Dr. Jon Olansen, Morpheus hazards in a landing field. project manager at Johnson. Morpheus integrates an "Range and airspace avail- autonomous landing and ability, hangar facilities, Page 4 hazard avoidance technol- propellant handling capabili- ogy (ALHAT) payload that ties -- and an open and often SCA crews focus on will allow it to navigate to available runway near which ferrying shuttles home clear landing sites amidst we can build a hazard field rocks, craters and other to complete the package." hazards during its descent, "It will be difficult to turn and land safely. the relatively flat, grassy But to put that capability area north of the runway to the test, Morpheus needs into a crater-filled planetary rocks, craters and hazards to scape for Morpheus to nego- NASA/JSC avoid -- and that's where the tiate and land in, but that's Steam billows around the Project Morpheus lander as its plumbing is filled with SLF comes in. After evalu- the kind of challenge that liquid nitrogen for a cold-flow test on March 17, 2011, at NASA's Johnson Space ating several potential test- the Kennedy team thrives Center in Houston. Project Morpheus integrates an engine that runs on "green" Page 7 propellants (liquid oxygen and methane) with NASA's automated landing and haz- ing sites, project managers on," said Greg Gaddis, ard avoidance technology into a fully operational lander that could deliver cargo to at Johnson determined that, Kennedy's Morpheus test the moon, asteroids and perhaps Mars. Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS April 6, 2012

Aerospace engineers stay on course at 'Rocket University' By Steven Siceloff the pressure inside was too launch the balloon provided Spaceport News much and it burst. That was a much more rapid schedule when the payload, a Styro- to the team. here was a launch foam box holding the flight March 15 that didn't "My experience has been computer, cameras and other make the news, but on long-term projects," T gear, fell back to Earth, Peters said. "You're working nonetheless was an accom- deploying a parachute along plishment for engineers at ground support projects that the way and splashing down NASA's Kennedy Space can take years to come up." in the ocean about six miles Center. Their work is not over. offshore. They just kicked off another The launch had everything Preparing the box, about effort that will see them one might expect: an open the size of a small cooler, to drop an aeroshell from area, an expected course, land in the water or on land antennas that could pick up was just one of the steps a much larger balloon signals and video from the they took during the two launched from NASA's craft as it soared into the months from start to launch. in sky, and a recovery team. They also had to build a Virginia. The experiment The operation was even led flight computer and set of calls for more instrumenta- by aerospace engineers. instruments that would work tion and equipment to test But this was no rocket. In- in the cold air of the strato- the design, a challenge the stead, it was a large balloon sphere and handle the speed group is excited about. designed to climb high into changes of a parachute It also may open another the stratosphere carrying a opening. research avenue for sci- 6-pound box of instruments "We were combining entists outside the typical and three cameras, plus a Photo courtesy of Rocket University known technologies to NASA realm, Dawkins said. parachute and associated NASA systems engineers Norman Peters, left, and Elkin Norena prepare the make a hybrid," said Elkin The group came away equipment. payload before it is sent aloft on a high-altitude balloon on March 15. Norena, who worked on the from the balloon mission en- That it was being for the balloon mission. example, soared to 115,000 power source that operated ergized, they said, and eager launched by engineers ac- the cameras and trackers customed to dealing with "What we're encouraging feet, a region considered to start the more-advanced is, for instance, an avionics near-space that offers lots of during the flight and for a mission. space shuttles was the point time after landing so the bal- person to go off and work as opportunities for research. It "I had a ball doing this," of the exercise: pushing loon wouldn't be lost. "We a project manager." also was extremely inexpen- Peters said. "Everyone accomplished specialists out had to fit our requirements The work, done in coop- sive and the payload was worked together very well." of their comfort zones. By into what we could get off eration with University of assembled by the university "I think we've all launched venturing into new areas, the shelf." Central Florida professors, is participants using off-the- they will pick up new tech- "I think off-the-shelf items many shuttles, which is much deeper than hobbyist- shelf parts in the team nological tips along the way require a lot more research probably the highlight of our level interest and has to stick members' down times. that are expected to pay off for those of us who are used careers," Dawkins said. "I to proven management pro- The launch pad was a for future NASA missions. to having a part handed to us would say this is the prob- cesses, said Norman Peters, baseball field in Oviedo, The mission was a that was custom-made for a ably the most I've learned a NASA systems engineer. Fla., about 40 miles inland project for the new "Rocket certain task," Dawkins said. and the most fun I've had UCF's Dr. Larry Chew from Kennedy. Liftoff came University," an internal The two-month deadline since the shuttle program worked with the balloon at about 10:40 a.m. and the NASA program of courses, to build the payload and ended." workshops, labs and projects project team. balloon was tracked with offered to and "It's advancing our ability GPS instruments riding with research pros of all types to to support customer needs, it, monitored by six teams keep their skills fresh and when it comes down to it," spread out along the ex- broaden their experiences. Peters said. "We're trying to pected path. As it climbed, About 20 Rocket University enhance skills." it drifted east with the wind students took part in the bal- Working with high- and sent back video of the loon launch. altitude balloons is one area ground, sky and horizon as "It's an the program deals with. it went along. for not just Kennedy, but Others include building "We saw the burst live engineers at other centers to rockets with payloads, (from the on-board cam- take courses and participate unmanned aerial vehicles era)," said Steve Pancoast, in labs and actually build and other aerospace special- who worked with the bal- payloads and in some cases ties. Together, they cover the loon's avionics. "Everything build rockets to stay up to spectrum from low-speed worked like we expected speed on the technology, to high-speed, high-altitude except for some (signal) and to learn some really flight. interference." Photo courtesy of Rocket University valuable skills," said Nicole The 8-foot-diameter It climbed higher and Technicians pull in the six-pound payload box from the ocean after it parachuted Dawkins, project manager balloon the team flew, for higher every minute until back to Earth following a ride to 115,000 feet on a balloon March 15. April 6, 2012 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Trajectory team targets perfect 'Flight Design' By Steven Siceloff the powerful arrays permanently in Spaceport News place at and around the launch site such as those at Cape Canaveral Air ocket science is perhaps at Force Station in Florida, to facili- its most demanding for ties at bases in the Caribbean Sea, the men and women who R South Atlantic, Africa and Australia. determine where a rocket needs to There are more options all over the go and then track it to make sure it world including at bases in Hawaii, gets there. California, New Mexico, Europe They work in what is called and even Antarctica. "Flight Design" and they are one of For areas in between, NASA can the groups most tested on launch call on mobile antennas mounted day, when the rocket engines are in airplanes or on ships and even burning and a spacecraft is be- portable arrays that can be erected ing lofted into orbit or to a distant by a few people who take them to a world. mountain or coastline in the flight On a good day, the rocket follows CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Rusty Backer-George Roberts path. They then can be broken down its predicted course and transmits a An rocket heads into space Aug. 5, 2011, carrying the spacecraft on a mission to study to a couple of suitcase-sized carriers nearly constant stream of informa- Jupiter. For more on the Juno mission, click on the photo. when the launch is complete. tion to a series of antennas arrayed NASA's orbiting Tracking and around the planet. The information trajectory. That means more than "It doesn't get any deeper into Data Relay Satellite System, called the rocket sends is generally known simply telling the rocket to start at rocket science than that," Benson TDRSS, also is available for some as telemetry, and it tells the launch the launch site and then stop when it said. "Being a detective is very launches to receive telemetry from team how the vehicle is doing, reaches orbit. much a part of this job." rockets including United Launch whether it is healthy and the condi- The programming lays out how Once the rocket and its spacecraft Alliance's Atlas V, Delta II and tions onboard. much thrust the engines will use are flying, the trajectory team tracks Delta IV. Other rockets currently On a bad day, well, the path reads at different points throughout the the data and compares it to what rely on ground tracking stations. differently, the numbers don't match climb to space, when the rocket will was expected to determine whether Which ones are chosen to track what was expected, and those anten- need to point its nose toward the everything is going well. The num- a mission depends on the rocket's nas so carefully laid out months in horizon instead of straight up, and bers sent back from the rocket tell planned course, and it can change, advance are quickly reset to track a when to fire the bolts that separate a big picture story of power, speed too, during the months of prepara- new course. stages and discard the payload fair- and altitude, but also include a host tion and as launch times and events Either way, there's a lot of work ing that protects a spacecraft during of other data that get down into the are refined. for the trajectory folks starting the early portion of launch. details of how the rocket is function- "The trajectory is what drives us," about a year before a launch and not Aligning the launch profile for ing. They often are simple "yes" Harris said. "It's never really done." winding up until weeks after. But a spacecraft going into Earth orbit or "no" signals to indicate whether Even the time of day for a launch they wouldn't have it any other way. is tricky, but arranging the ascent bolts fired as planned and also can After all, not many people get for a mission to the moon or one relay data such as vibration and tem- See TRAJECTORY, Page 4 to enter a Facebook status like that of the planets adds more levels of perature aboard the launcher. CLICK ON PHOTO of Samantha "Sam" Harris, a flight difficulty since the rotation of the Having the various tracking sta- operations integration engineer with Earth has to be matched so that the tions from around the world identi- NASA's . spacecraft’s trajectory will result in fied for the launch is the province It read, "Chasing down a rocket in a rendezvous with the distant world. of a team of specialists including an airplane." "It is quite a bit more work to do Harris. For many on the trajectory team, interplanetary (missions)," Benson "About a year before the mission working so closely with rockets is said. "The targets change at least is when we will start looking at fulfilling a dream. on a daily basis, sometimes on a which antennas will be used," Harris "When I was a real little kid, I minute-by-minute basis." said. "We have to have strategically wanted to be an astronaut," said The team has to make sure that placed antennas all over the world." William "Bill" Benson, a flight de- as long as one of the engines on the It's a lot of work, but the payoff sign engineer for NASA's Launch launcher is firing, the rocket is be- is that the controllers know exactly Services Program, or LSP. "But ing tracked and relaying data back what occurred during a launch and this is what I always wanted to do. to the team. Also, antennas have to can duplicate it for the next mission. I always wondered, 'How does the be in position to pick up the point If something goes wrong, then the rocket know to go where it wants to when the spacecraft separates from telemetry is virtually the only source go?' " the booster and begins its mission. of information investigators have to NASA Benson is part of the team that When the projected course is search for the problem so it doesn't Ground tracking stations around the world are analyzes the programming that ready, the engineers use analytical get repeated. equipped with different kinds and sizes of anten- goes into a rocket's flight control tools of all sorts, from computer "We like data, we like to know nas such as this dish at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Other antennas can be put together and computer to make sure the launch models to their own intellects, to see what's going on," Harris said. mounted in different locations. Still others can be will follow its intended course, or if the programming will work. The antennas chosen range from mounted on aircraft or on a ship to follow a rocket. Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS April 6, 2012 Astronaut gets familiar with SpaceX Dragon capsule By Cheryl Mansfield Spaceport News ASA Megan McArthur was "in Nthe house" March 28 rep- resenting NASA's astronaut corps in a crew equipment interface test in preparation for the upcoming SpaceX demonstration flight tar- geted for April 30. McArthur worked together with SpaceX flight controllers for five hours in their hangar at Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, as the team entered its final phase of testing of the Dragon cap- sule. The upcoming SpaceX rocket launch is part of NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS), which aims to begin regular commercial company cargo flights to the International Space Station. The interface test, known as the Photo courtesy of SpaceX CEIT, is an activity that dates back NASA astronaut Megan McArthur takes part in a crew equipment interface test inside the Dragon capsule in the SpaceX hangar at Cape Canaveral Air Force to the Program, when Station's Space Launch Complex-40 on March 28 . it provided a training opportunity to selves with the Dragon spacecraft. procedures to be used by the flight at the International Space Station. prepare still on Earth for The capsule is as close to flight crew and flight controllers. McArthur spent 13 days in space, their missions in space by work- configuration for launch as possible This was the last time for the serving as a crew member aboard ing with the actual hardware they although it still is undergoing final SpaceX team to check the cap- on the would use. equipment integration and testing sule's equipment and its associated STS-125 mission, the final servic- The CEIT gives astronauts, on the ground. The exercise pro- interfaces. ing mission to NASA's Hubble payload integration personnel and vides a hands-on assessment of the Flight controllers were able to Space Telescope. SpaceX engineers a final opportu- compatibility of the equipment and walk through the procedures they McArthur remains an active nity to test and familiarize them- systems aboard the Dragon with the will use once the Dragon is berthed member of the astronaut corps.

From TRAJECTORY, Page 3 all the changes along the way, are heavier than expected. mission to the moon, the Curios- important because the research- Suddenly, the airplane's crew had ity rover also known as the Mars can change which antennas get ers relying on the spacecraft have to adjust its own course to keep the Science Laboratory, and the Juno called up, Harris said. For instance, worked so hard for years and years antenna pointed at the rocket as mission to study Jupiter and its NASA's to get everything right, Harris said. long as it could to retrieve the criti- magnetic field in detail. launch had courses that took it over Harris began her trajectory ca- cal data that would allow engineers The teams of engineers are the Indian Ocean, Africa or Austra- reer when she was 24, a choice she to pinpoint what went wrong. working now with the upcoming lia depending on when it lifted off made so she could be in a job that Benson was part of the launch NuSTAR mission to launch an from Florida. Therefore, NASA had was not the same thing, day-in and team looking at the data from the observatory into Earth orbit that to have antennas at all the locations day-out. mission as it came in. He will survey the cosmos for black ready to go to work. "I would say I scored my dream said it was apparent quickly that holes and the remnants of stars that For each adjustment, engineers job right out of college," she said. the launch was failing. recently exploded. have to calculate how that will "It's a lot more hands-on than I ex- "There were 'discretes,' " Benson The conclusion of every mission affect the rocket's performance. In pected and it's a lot more work than said. "The switches that would leads to an intense data review other words, if the launcher is told I expected and I love it for that." show the payload fairing separated, during which engineers pore over to fly another degree farther south Harris was flying inside an they didn't change status when the all the telemetry the rocket and to take it over a particular tracking airplane assigned to track the Glory separation command was issued. spacecraft sent during the time it station, will it still have enough spacecraft's launch into orbit from The temperature data inside the took to get into space. energy to reach orbit? Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. fairing didn't change." The returns are crucial, Benson "There's always a trade-off," When the fairing on the Orbital There have been many success- said. Benson said. "Sometimes it's easier Sciences Taurus rocket failed to ful launches, too, with a number He added, "If we didn't have to get a mobile antenna in place." separate as planned, the rocket of notable achievements coming in telemetry, we'd never be able to The detailed work, including changed its course because it was the past year, such as the GRAIL improve." April 6, 2012 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 Scenes Around Kennedy Space Center

NASA/Jim Grossmann Lt. Governor of Florida Jennifer Carroll visits Kennedy Space Center on April 5 to meet with Center Director Bob Cabana. Cabana provided Carroll a tour of Kennedy’s Orbiter Processing Facility-1 and space shuttle Atlantis, which included sitting in the commander's seat on the flight deck. The spacecraft is being prepared for public display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Cory Huston Mike Williams, a thermal protection system technician with United Space Alliance, arranges weights atop a freshly installed section of tile on the right wing of at Kennedy Space Center on April 3. The weights will hold the section in place while the adhesive hardens beneath. Ongo- ing transition and retirement activities are preparing the spacecraft for public display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Endeavour flew 25 missions during its 19-year career. For more on the space shuttles' transition and retirement, click on the photo.

NASA/Tim Jacobs A Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne space shuttle main engine, or SSME, is rotated into a horizontal posi- tion with the aid of an engine-handling device attached to a crane inside the SSME Processing Facility, the engine shop at Kennedy Space Center, on March 28. The engine will be placed in a horizontal posi- tion on a portable workstand. The engine is one of the last SSMEs remaining at Kennedy and is being Photo courtesy of Space Florida prepared for shipment to NASA's in Mississippi. The first two groups of engines Joe Palaia and Marvin Tsoi, from Florida’s Omega Envoy Team, inform attendees about their progress were shipped from Kennedy to Stennis in November 2011 and January 2012. The remaining engines and the hardware they use as they prepare to build a prototype and compete in the Google are scheduled to depart on April 9. Altogether, 15 shuttle-era engines will be stored at Stennis for reuse Lunar-X Prize Competition during the Space Florida and the NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium on NASA’s heavy-lift rocket, under development. "Space Flight Payloads Workshop" at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa on March 23. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS April 6, 2012 All-American Picnic celebrates 50 years, 'Greenateers' By Frank Ochoa-Gonzales kids with hands-on activi- Spaceport News ties, such as a sustainability scavenger hunt. e’ve all heard of Astronauts scheduled to the Musketeers. sign autographs and snap WWell, some at- photos with attendees are tendees of the 2012 KSC STS-118 and STS-133 Mis- All-American Picnic on sion Specialist , April 14 will have the Jack Fischer and Serena opportunity to be "Greena- Auñón, members of the teers" 2009 astronaut class. “A Greenateer is some- “I’m excited to see all one between the ages of the new events in action 4-17 who participates in the this year, especially laser Greenateering Adventure to tag,” said picnic commit- better understand how be- tee chair, Billy McMillan. ing green conserves energy, “But I really am looking reduces pollution and saves forward to the 10 a.m. start money,” said Alice Smith, time because that’s when Kennedy Space Center’s the daylong celebration of Recycling and Sustain- CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Tony Gray our amazing work force able Acquisition Program Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, under NASA insignia, and the 2012 All-American Picnic commitee display the begins." manager. “While environ- KSC Pinic ticket. For more information on the picnic, click on the photo. This year's greening ef- mentally friendly activities fort is being coordinated by have been popular for many welcome table to learn what leftover cobs won't be Center Operation's Envi- decades, being a Greenateer thay and their families can More online heading to a landfill either. ronmental Management takes it to another level.” do every day to keep the For more information on the The cobs will be collected Branch. Primary sustain- As Kennedy celebrates planet healthy. They also 2012 All-American Picnic, go to in special containers around ability support is being its 50th anniversary, the can find out about Earth- http://kscpicnic.ksc.nasa.gov. the park and a local farmer provided by United Space center has proven to be friendly businesses in their will take them to feed his Alliance, Innovative Health a leader in sustainability. To see images from 30 years of communities. animals. At last year’s pic- Applications and URS The past five All-American picnic fun, go to The food and drinks will nic, more than 800 pounds Corp. Picnics have diverted more http://kscpicnic.ksc.nasa.gov/ be served using plates, thirtyyears.htm. of corn cobs were collected. Remember, the Three than 7 tons of picnic-related bowls, cups and utensils All-time favorites still are Musketeers’ motto was “All waste from local landfills. that are biodegradable and To learn to learn more about on the program, such as the for one, and one for all.” With Earth Day follow- compostable. They’re all biocompostable tableware and car and motorcycle show Back then, they weren’t ing a week later, on April opportunities for eco-friendly and chili cook-off. talking about Mother Earth, 22, it’s a no-brainer that the made of corn, sugarcane alternatives to everyday Live entertainment will but they could have been, picnic will be the site for or recycled paper and will products, go to feature Dr. Dan the Magic the annual KSC Earth Day/ become healthy new soil www.thorpackgreen.com and considering the importance www.worldcentric.org/ Man from Cocoa Village Sustainability Fair. Ken- for the Earth in just a few of going green. bio/index.htm. and a four-piece, female- nedy will host vendors that months. fronted band called Land- promote green, sustainable Smith said the plan this products or services for year is for the compostable There will not be regular slide. commercial or residential waste to be ground up and trash cans at this picnic, KSC Idol, KSC’s Got use. buried at KARS Park 1, Smith said. Instead, six Talent, and Earth day Be a Greenateer Five unique stations explain Participants can top by where it will feed plants collection stations will be activities will all be held at this year’s picnic. how today’s KSC All-American the Sustainability Fair’s and enrich the soil. strategically placed around Picnic is helping the Earth. the park, with separate con- In addition, there will be Visit each station – and win a tainers for different types a 50th anniversary-themed prize! Here’s how the adventure 2012 All-American Picnic pet policy of waste. Helpers and signs exhibit that celebrates the works: The annual KSC All-American Do not leave pets unattended in past, present and future of • Visit the Sustainability Picnic continues its policy of parked cars, regardless of whether at each station will make Fair’s welcome table and pick KARS Park which does not permit a window may be open. it easy for everyone to put Kennedy. up a Greenateering map. any pets on the picnic grounds, KARS Park patrons occupying waste in the right place. A Exhibits from Kennedy’s • Mr. E. B. Green marks excluding service or assistance campsites are permitted to keep mobile mechanical grinding commercial partners and each Greenateering station on dogs. This policy is enforced out pets on their campsites only. These the map. of respect for and safety of all the pet owners should exercise caution unit from SOMAT Waste local groups will display • Go to each station, read animals. The nature of some of to prevent possible injury to their Reduction Technology will projects and concepts of the Greenateering sign, and the events held on the grounds pets, exhibited animals and picnic be on site to pulp all of what the future has in store punch a hole in the map. • Return the completed requires caution to prevent attendees. the waste material prior to for space exploration and possible injury to the animals being For more information, email map to the Sustainability Fair exhibited. Also, crowds can be a Sam Talluto at sammie.s.talluto@ onsite processing. operating in a sustainable welcome table to pick up a threat to the safety of pets. nasa.gov. Fans of corn on the cob, way. This includes fun and prize. can be rest assured those interactive events for the April 6, 2012 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 SCA crews focus on ferrying shuttles home By Kay Grinter the John F. Kennedy International Reference Librarian Airport in New York. Later this year, NASA 905 also pace shuttle missions came to will support the last-ever shuttle an end in 2011, it’s true, but ferry flight when it transports shuttle that doesn’t mean that the S Endeavour to the Los Angeles Inter- shuttles have stopped flying. national Airport. Space shuttles Discovery, Enter- “When flying a mated SCA, there prise and Endeavour will each take are plenty of eyes watching us,” to the air one final time in 2012, Moultrie said. Crowds often turn bound for their retirement desti- out for the perhaps once-in-a-life- nations aboard a Shuttle Carrier time sight. “From a pilot’s perspec- Aircraft, or SCA, a modified Boeing tive, we always want (to execute) a 747 jet. nice landing.” The trio will travel piggyback on NASA retired its only other SCA, NASA 905, the first of two SCAs NASA 911, in February. After it was NASA acquired during the Space commissioned in 1990, NASA 911 Shuttle Program. NASA 905 has NASA/Tony Landis performed 20 of the 85 ferry flights been assigned to 65 ferry missions. to date. Discovery’s trip from Kennedy From left, pilots Jeff Moultrie, Bob Zimmerman and Henry Taylor deliver Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) NASA 911 to NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's Aircraft Operations Facility on its final flight in Although less utilized, NASA 905 to Washington Dulles International February 2012. Moultrie will be the SCA commander for shuttle Discovery's ferry flight April 17 to the may have had the more “exotic” Airport in Sterling, Va., is planned Washington Dulles International Airport aboard NASA 905. Taylor, the most experienced SCA flight engi- career, however, teaming up with for April 17. NASA 905 will arrive neer, will be celebrating his birthday at Kennedy Space Center on April 16. The three remaining shuttle Enterprise from February and in Florida a week before to allow ferry flights will be aboard NASA 905. November 1977 for the shuttle plenty of time for mate/demate the three-day sessions. System of the best crew members that I program’s Approach and Landing operations with the spacecraft. malfunctions and engine failures have ever worked with,” Moultrie Tests at the Dryden Flight Research NASA’s specially trained SCA are practiced repeatedly, including said. Center in California. NASA 905 pilots and flight engineers keep their two-engine flights, approaches and “We also are very lucky to have also accompanied Enterprise on a skills sharp with practice flights in landings.” top-notch flight engineers Henry European tour in 1983 that included an SCA about every three weeks Beall will analyze weather condi- Taylor and Larry LaRose who do a runway viewings for the public in and simulator training twice a year. tions aboard a “Pathfinder” aircraft great job running the systems on the Germany, at the Paris Air Show and Pilot Jeff Moultrie will serve as which flies about 100 miles ahead airplane and keeping the pilots on outside London. the commander of the flight crew of the SCA. the ‘straight and narrow.’ ” The traveling companions re- for Discovery’s ferry flight and will “The weather pilot advises the Taylor, the most experienced turned home to the U.S. amid much deliver 905 to Kennedy on April 10. SCA crew via radio of the flight member of the SCA team, will be at fanfare, with thousands turning out He is prepared for any contingency. conditions on the ferry route,” Beall Kennedy as he celebrates his 60th in the heat at Dulles for a glimpse “In the simulator, we only prac- said. “Describing the situation and birthday April 16, preparing to do from a distance. tice problem scenarios,” Moultrie explaining the alternate route is a one of the things he does so well. Perhaps some of those same fans said. “We have two of the best dynamic situation, something that is Once Discovery arrives safely in will show up at Dulles on pilot and engineer instructors in the usually changing all the time.” Virginia, NASA 905 will give the April 17 to welcome Discovery world: Tom Speer and Tim Sandon. The main weather hazard is rain. shuttle prototype Enterprise a lift to “home” nearly 29 years later. They have a world of experience “The mass of a raindrop at the and are an integral part of our speeds being flown will damage the program. shuttle tiles in a matter of seconds,” The prime flight crew for Discov- Beall explained, “so if any rain ery’s upcoming ferry also includes is encountered or observed, the SCA pilot Bill Rieke and SCA weather pilot offers alternate routes weather pilot Arthur “Ace” Beall. and altitudes to the SCA crew. “The simulator has a software “Additionally, the SCA does not program installed to simulate the have much extra fuel to maneuver flying characteristics of a mated significant distances around rain, so SCA,” Beall said. “It's very re- finding the most efficient, rain-free alistic. The instructors simulate route in a short amount of time can a variety of emergencies during be challenging. Turbulence is also a factor.” More information During a normal flight, the SCA NASA file/2009 might use 20,000 pounds of fuel an returns to Kennedy Space Center atop a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or For more on the history of the SCA, on Sept. 21, 2009, following the STS-128 mission to the International Space Station. Discovery was shuttle’s ferry flights, visit hour; with an orbiter on its back, that number could double. forced to land at Edwards Air Force Base in California after landing opportunities at Kennedy were waved www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ off on two days due to inclement weather. The flight from Edwards to Kennedy's shuttle/flyout/ferryflight.html The SCA program now has six pi- required three fueling stops that included an overnight stay in Louisiana. Even so, the SCA weather officer lots and two flight engineers, “some had to navigate the piggybacked shuttle through a line of showers across Louisiana and around Kennedy. Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS April 6, 2012

In celebration of Kennedy Space Center's 50th anniversary, enjoy this vintage photo . . . FROM THE VAULT

NASA file/1965 The Gemini 6 spacecraft (right) and the (left) undergo tests of the spacecrafts’ docking capability on the Boresight Range Tower in the Industrial Area at Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 30, 1965. The Gemini astronauts attempted to dock their spacecraft with the Agena in Earth orbit as practice for the maneuvers that eventually would be required to accomplish a successful lunar landing mission.

Looking up and ahead . . . * All times are Eastern CLICK ON PHOTO NASA 2012 Parachute drop test demo June Launch/Reagan Test Site Kwajalein Atoll: Pegasus XL, NuSTAR a success for Boeing Co. Launch window: TBD The Boeing Company's CST-100 boilerplate crew capsule floats toward a smooth landing beneath three main parachutes after being released from an Erickson Sky Crane helicopter at No earlier thanMay 5 Launch/CCAFS (SLC-41): Atlas V, AEHF 2 about 11,000 feet above Delmar Dry Lake Bed near Alamo, Nev., on April 3. This is one of two drop tests that Boeing will perform for NASA's (CCP) in order to Launch window: TBD validate the spacecraft's parachute system architecture and deployment scheme, characterize pyrotechnic shock loads, confirm parachute sizing and design, and identify potential forward Targeted for April 30 Launch/CCAFS (SLC-40): SpaceX Falcon 9, compartment packaging and deployment issues. For more about CCP and its commercial Dragon C2/C3 partners, click on the photo. Launch time: 12:22 p.m.

No earlier than June 28 Launch/CCAFS (SLC-37B): Delta IV-Heavy, NROL-15 Launch window: TBD John F. Kennedy Space Center

No earlier than Aug. 23 Launch/CCAFS (SLC-41): Atlas V-401, RBSP Launch window: 4:07 to 4:27 a.m. Spaceport News

No earlier than September Launch/CCAFS (SLC-37B): Delta 4, GPS 2F-3 Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and is published online on alternate Fridays by Public Affairs in the interest of KSC civil Launch window: TBD service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted three weeks before Dec. 1 Launch/VAFB: Pegasus XL, Interface Region publication to Public Affairs, IMCS-440. E-mail submissions can be sent to Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) [email protected] Launch window: 6:32:24 to 6:37:24 a.m. Managing editor ...... Candrea Thomas Editor ...... Frank Ochoa-Gonzales No earlier than December Launch/CCAFS (SLC-41): Atlas V, Tracking and Copy editor ...... Kay Grinter Data Relay Satellite-K (TDRS-K) Editorial support provided by Abacus Technology Corp. Writers Group. Launch window: TBD NASA at KSC is on the Internet at www.nasa.gov/kennedy SP-2012-04-070-KSC