Jan. 27 2014 Vol. 54, No. 2 News John F. - America’s gateway to the universe

Sierra Nevada Corp. to process, launch, land at Kennedy By Steven Siceloff Space Coast for the future, and Spaceport News applaud Sierra Nevada Corpo- ration on their decision to carry n the latest example of NASA out their ground-breaking work Kennedy Space Center’s I at Kennedy.” transformation into a multi- SNC said it plans to work user spaceport, Sierra Nevada with ULA to launch the com- Corporation (SNC) of Louis- pany’s winged Dream Chaser ville, Colo., announced Jan. 23 into orbit from Space steps it will take to prepare for Launch Complex 41 at Cape a November 2016 orbital flight Canaveral Air Force Station. of its Dream Chaser spacecraft “SNC is thrilled to confirm from Florida’s Space Coast. a launch date for our country’s The announcement included the purchase of an Atlas V return to orbital human space- from United Launch flight and the restart of human Alliance (ULA) for the launch, operations from sharing the Operations and Florida’s Space Coast,” said Checkout (O&C) development Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice and testing facility with Lock- president and head of SNC’s heed Martin Space Systems, Space Systems. “We could establishing an operation center not have done this without the at Kennedy and using the spirit and engagement from our center’s former Shuttle Land- national and state governments, ing Facility (SLF). The steps the best aerospace companies in are considered substantial for the industry, and several major SNC and important to plans by universities, which all hail NASA and Space Florida for from over 30 states. Together Kennedy’s new availability to these passionate people will both commercial and govern- return our to space ment customers. on American spacecraft and “Today’s announcement launched from Ameri- is the latest major milestone ca’s Space Coast right here in in the transformation of the Florida.” NASA/Tony Gray-Sandy Joseph Kennedy Space Center into a The Dream Chaser spacecraft 21st century launch complex, is designed to carry crew and TDRS-L lights up the night serving both private sector and critical cargo to destinations, government users,” said NASA as well as perform servicing on its way to orbit of Earth Administrator Charles Bolden. and science in low-Earth orbit. “I salute Kennedy Space Center SNC said it intends to complete The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, or TDRS-L, Director Bob Cabana for his To , Page 2 to Earth orbit. Liftoff was at 9:33 p.m. EST. Story, Page 3. leadership in transitioning the SNC Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS Jan. 27, 2014

NASA/Kim Shiflett Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announces the steps the company will take to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft from Florida’s Space Coast during a news conference at Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 23. Participants are, from left, Michael Curie, NASA spokesman; Bob Cabana, director of Kennedy; Michael Gass, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance (ULA); Frank DiBello, president and CEO of Space Florida; Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC Space Systems; Larry Price, Lockheed Martin Space Systems deputy program manager for NASA’s Orion spacecraft; and Steve Lindsey, Dream Chaser program manager for SNC Space Systems.

From SNC, Page 1 ration vehicle. will find in our workforce and tion missions, ULA is able to “The O&C is a state-of-the- facilities the same dynamic and provide a wealth of flight data, Dream Chaser missions with a art facility that will greatly professional people who have design implementation, detailed landing on the 3.5-mile runway enhance Dream Chaser’s future made successful missions from system and subsystem analysis, at the SLF. Space Florida, operations through an innova- here for more than 50 years.” qualification and certification which will operate the SLF in tive co-use plan with Orion,” Cabana said SNC’s involve- documentation to support the the future, will negotiate the said James H. Crocker, vice ment with the Florida spaceport Atlas V for .” terms and conditions for the president and general manager, shows the conversion to a 21st The Dream Chaser space- runway’s use with SNC. Civil Space, Lockheed Martin century spaceport is succeed- craft is deep into development “We are pleased to see Space Systems, “The result will ing, although work remains of flight hardware and specific continued growth of the state’s maximize efficiency for both to keep the transformation on plans ranging from ground the Dream Chaser spacecraft pace. investment into KSC facilities support equipment to what to and Orion and will provide “We are honored that like the O&C,” said Space Flor- include in a mission operations continuity for our highly Sierra Nevada Corporation ida President Frank DiBello. “It center. is clear that the future of com- trained, motivated and certified has reserved a proven Atlas “I had the privilege of mercial space growth is hap- workforce.” V to launch its first flight piloting and commanding five pening right now in Florida and SNC also plans to lease of- test in 2016,” said Michael space shuttle flights as a NASA we couldn’t be happier to work fice space at Exploration Park, Gass, United Launch Alliance ,” said Steve Lind- with companies like Sierra located just outside Kennedy’s president and CEO. “With 42 sey, former NASA astronaut Nevada to realize their Florida- gates. successful missions spanning a based expansion goals.” “We have been diligent in decade of operational service, and SNC’s senior director and The company said it plans our efforts, and I consider this a the commercially developed Dream Chaser program manag- to prepare the Dream Chaser strong vote of confidence from Atlas V is uniquely qualified er. “This included the last flight spacecraft in the high bay of the a company that expects to be to provide launch services for of Discovery which was pro- O&C building at Kennedy, with a major force in the future of the Crew Transportation Sys- cessed, launched, and on March Lockheed Martin performing human spaceflight,” said Bob tem. Because Atlas is already 9, 2011, made its final landing the work. The facility also is Cabana, Kennedy center direc- certified by NASA to fly the at the SLF after 39 flights and used for the development, as- tor. “Sierra Nevada Corporation nation’s most complex explora- 148 million space miles. Mark, sembly and testing of NASA’s the entire SNC Dream Chaser deep-space Orion spacecraft. More online team, and I look forward to see- Dream Chaser testing will take For more information about Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser, visit: ing Dream Chaser continue this http://www.SNCDreamChaser.com place without disrupting Orion, For more information about Kennedy, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/Kennedy legacy from Discovery when it NASA’s flagship human explo- flies in 2016.” Jan. 27, 2014 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 TDRS-L safely in geosynchronous orbit By Steven Siceloff the space shuttle era with the launch of Spaceport News More online TDRS-1 in 1983. Of the 11 TDRS space- For more information about TDRS, visit: craft placed in service to date, eight still ASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Sat- http://tdrs.gsfc.nasa.gov are operational. Four of the eight have ellite-L (TDRS-L), the 12th space- To learn more about the many ways to connect N and collaborate with NASA, visit: exceeded their design life. craft in the agency’s TDRS Project, is http://www.nasa.gov/connect Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems safely in orbit after launching at 9:33 p.m. completed the TDRS-L integration and EST on Jan. 23 aboard a United Launch deep-space spacecraft, the Orion crew testing at its satellite factory in El Se- Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canav- module, in September. This test will see eral Air Force Station in Florida. gundo in November and launch process- Orion travel farther into space than any Ground controllers report the satellite ing began after the spacecraft arrived in -- part of a network providing high-data- human spacecraft has gone in more than Florida on Dec. 6. rate communications to the International 40 years.” TDRS-M, the next spacecraft in this Space Station, Hubble Space Telescope, The mission of the TDRS Project, series, is on track to be ready for launch launch vehicles and a host of other space- established in 1973, is to provide follow- in late 2015. craft -- is in good health at the start of a on and replacement spacecraft to support NASA’s Space Communications and three-month checkout by its manufacturer, NASA’s space communications network. Navigation Program, part of the Human Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems This network provides high-data-rate Exploration and Operations Mission Di- of El Segundo, Calif. NASA will conduct communications. The TDRS-L spacecraft rectorate (HEOMD) at the agency’s Head- additional tests before putting TDRS-L is identical to the TDRS-K spacecraft quarters in Washington, is responsible into service. launched in 2013. for the space network. The TDRS Project “TDRS-L and the entire TDRS fleet “This launch ensures continuity of Office at Goddard manages the TDRS de- provide a vital service to America’s space services for the many missions that rely velopment program. Launch management program by supporting missions that on the system every day,” said Jeffrey of the launch service for TDRS-L is the range from Earth-observation to deep- Gramling, TDRS project manager at responsibility of HEOMD’s Launch Ser- space discoveries,” said NASA Admin- NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, vices Program based at Kennedy. United istrator Charles Bolden. “TDRS also Greenbelt, Md. Launch Alliance provided the Atlas V will support the first test of NASA’s new The TDRS fleet began operating during rocket launch service. Herschel telescope detects water on dwarf planet NASA News Report icy surface and an atmosphere,” said Michael Küppers of ESA cientists using the Her- in Spain, lead author of a paper schel space observatory S in the journal Nature. have made the first definitive The results come at the detection of water vapor on the right time for NASA’s Dawn largest and roundest object in mission, which is on its way the asteroid belt -- Ceres. to Ceres now after spending Plumes of water vapor are more than a year orbiting the thought to shoot up periodically large asteroid Vesta. Dawn is from Ceres when portions of its scheduled to arrive at Ceres icy surface warm slightly. Ceres in the spring of 2015, where it is classified as a dwarf planet, a will take the closest look ever solar system body bigger than at its surface. an asteroid and smaller than a Carol Raymond, the deputy planet. principal investigator for Dawn Herschel is a European Space at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Labo- Agency (ESA) mission with ratory in Pasadena, Calif., said, important NASA contributions. “We’ve got a spacecraft on “This is the first time water the way to Ceres, so we don’t vapor has been unequivocally have to wait long before getting detected on Ceres or any other more context on this intriguing ESA/ATG medialab object in the asteroid belt and result, right from the source Dwarf planet Ceres is in the main asteroid belt, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, as provides proof that Ceres has an itself.” illustrated in this artist’s conception. For more, click on the photo. Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS Jan. 27, 2014 Jan. 27, 2014 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 Commercial Crew partners keep 2013 momentum going in 2014

By Steven Siceloff vehicle’s subsystems design. launch on an upgraded Falcon 9 rocket Spaceport News With the completion of a detailed design gave NASA engineers an opportunity to review in 2013, Boeing continued to de- review the vehicle’s performance in flight everal companies, working closely with SpaceX tests Dragon velop its spacecraft, the CST-100, con- SNASA, ended 2013 with an impres- following the Sept. 28 liftoff and ascent sive string of achievements to build on in firming in this review the of the Falcon 9 v1.1 from Vandenberg Air 2014 as the American aerospace industry propulsion system was ready to move into Force Base in California. SpaceX antici- parachute system continues to develop and demonstrate com- the next phases: production and integration pates using the upgraded rocket to launch mercial human spaceflight capabilities with with the CST-100 spacecraft. humans to destinations in low-Earth orbit. By Stephanie Martin understand how SpaceX’s system performs as the potential to support both commercial “Boeing’s goal is to develop a safe and “With the upgrade from version 1.0 to a Spaceport News it safely returns crew,” said Jon Cowart, NASA reliable commercial space transporta- 1.1, SpaceX introduced a number of new Partner Integration deputy manager working and government customers. ngineers and safety specialists from NASA tion system and these reviews are vital to systems including new engines, new soft- with SpaceX. “Like all of our partners, SpaceX The year will be pivotal for NASA’s and Space Exploration Technologies meet that goal,” said Gennaro Caliendo, ware and new avionics,” said Derek E continues to provide innovative solutions based Commercial Crew Program (CCP) as the (SpaceX) gathered in Morro Bay, Calif., in late NASA’s Integration Team lead for Boeing. Hassmann, NASA Partner Integration on NASA’s lessons learned that could make agency looks to announce one or more December to demonstrate how the parachute “They help ensure that the spacecraft and Manager working with SpaceX. “The spaceflight safer.” awards by August for Commercial Crew system on the company’s Dragon spacecraft its myriad systems will work together to overall conclusion is that SpaceX is on the During a normal spacecraft landing, the Transportation Capability (CCtCap) con- would function in the event of an emergency on accomplish challenging missions, which right track. The goal really isn’t to judge parachutes will be aided by the Dragon’s Su- tracts that will lead to operational crewed the or during ascent. require the utmost attention to detail.” their design, but to see how they cope with flights to the International Space Station. The test was part of an optional milestone perDraco thrusters to provide a soft controlled NASA worked with a team of engineers anomalies, see how they track their pro- NASA intends to use new commercial sys- under NASA’s Commercial Crew Integrated landing. This redundancy on both the parachutes and designers from SNC in 2013 to review cesses and control their hazards, and how tems to fly U.S. astronauts to and from the Capability (CCiCap) initiative and approved by and thrusters is designed to ensure safe landings station within the next three years. detailed certification and systems safety they’re able to deal with the unexpected.” the agency in August. Through the Commercial for crews. NASA’s industry partners are pursu- plans for its Dream Chaser Space System. The 2014 calendar for SpaceX includes Crew Program, SpaceX is one of NASA’s com- “SpaceX is working diligently to make ing ambitious milestones this year as CCP “The roadmap to understanding how safe increasingly detailed reviews of the com- mercial partners working to develop a new gen- the Dragon spacecraft the safest vehicle ever moves forward. The partners are Blue and reliable a crew transportation system pany’s integrated systems and on eration of U.S. spacecraft and rockets capable of flown,” said Gwynne Shotwell, president of Origin, Boeing Space Exploration, Sierra is takes a lot of details and dedication from its ground systems. SpaceX will conduct transporting humans to and from low-Earth orbit SpaceX. “The parachute system is an Nevada Corporation (SNC) and Space all parties involved,” said Cheryl McPhil- two flights to test the Dragon’s launch from American soil. NASA intends to use such part of Dragon’s ability to provide a safe landing Exploration Technologies (SpaceX). lips, NASA’s Partner Integration Team lead abort systems, powered by two SuperDraco commercial systems to fly U.S. astronauts to for nominal and abort conditions -- with this “Our partners have steadily moved for SNC. “When building a system that is thrusters that will push the Dragon into the and from the International Space Station. successful test we are well-positioned to execute pieces from the drawing boards and to be trusted enough to carry humans into sky instead of pulling the spacecraft up as The 12,000-pound test craft was lifted 8,000 a full end-to-end test of the launch escape sys- computer screens to factory floors and space, the most important part is building previous launch abort systems have done. feet above sea level by an Erickson Sky Crane tem later this year.” test stands across the country,” said Kathy in safety from the start. SNC has made Milestones achieved by CCP’s partners helicopter and flown over the Pacific Ocean. The parachute test puts SpaceX a step closer Lueders, acting manager of CCP. “The new significant progress with its Dream Chaser are continuing to push commercial space- Following Dragon’s release, two drogue para- to launch abort system tests. The company year offers exciting opportunities for these to date.” craft and transportation system designs chutes were released from the top of the space- currently is manufacturing the spacecraft and companies to demonstrate the reach and SNC plans to build on that progress in closer to reality. The successes of NASA craft to slow its decent, before the three main rocket to be used for these flight tests. potential of their hard-earned innovations.” 2014 with wind tunnel tests and further and American aerospace companies are parachutes deployed. The craft splashed down SpaceX is on track to complete all 15 of its Blue Origin test-fired its BE-3 engine advancement of its innovative main propul- ushering in a new generation of space and was quickly recovered by the Sky Crane CCiCap milestones in 2014. All of NASA’s in 2013. It plans this year to review its sion and reaction control systems, and a transportation capabilities, which will en- and carried back to shore. industry partners, including SpaceX, continue to assembly of a subscale propellant tank second free-flight test of the Dream Chaser. able new opportunities for humans to live “The parachute test is essential for the com- meet their established milestones in developing and conduct a review of the space SpaceX’s first commercial satellite and work in space. mercial crew effort because it helps us better commercial crew transportation capabilities.

Blue Origin Boeing Sierra Nevada Corporation SpaceX

Photo courtesy of the Blue Origin Photo courtesy of the Boeing Company Photo courtesy of the Sierra Nevada Corporation Photo courtesy of SpaceX NASA/Kim Shiflett NASA/Kim Shiflett Blue Origin test-fires a powerful new hydro- A mock-up of The Boeing Company’s Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser The Dragon mock-up used for the parachute A SpaceX Dragon test article is lifted by an Erickson The SpaceX Dragon test article splashes down following a test Dec. 20 over the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Morro Bay, Calif. The test gen- and oxygen-fueled American rocket CST-100 spacecraft undergoes a simulated flight vehicle is lifted by a helicopter during drop tests is on display at SpaceX Sky Crane helicopter before a parachute deployment enabled SpaceX engineers to evaluate the spacecraft’s parachute deployment system as part of a milestone under its Commercial Crew engine at the company’s West Texas facility. contingency water landing scenario. a captive-carry flight test. headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif. test Dec. 20 off the coast of Morro Bay, Calif. Integrated Capability agreement with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. To watch a video of the parachute test, click on the photo. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS Jan. 27, 2014 Hennessey Venom rockets down runway By Steven Siceloff efficiency or safety gear. of the longest in the world and confirm some of the aerodynam- Spaceport News “Almost everything in cars extremely wide. It’s also con- ic and suspension performance has started in racing,” said crete, so there’s no salt or sand throughout the entire operating major name in automotive Johnny Bohmer, owner of Per- to kick up into the cars as there development brought one range of this production car A formance Power Racing in West is at other locations that often of his exotic vehicles to the and that really helps show that Palm Beach. Performance Pow- are ancient lakebeds or other 3.5-mile-long runway at Ken- there’s no safety concerns which er Racing negotiated a Space natural surfaces. nedy Space Center recently to could lead to a potential recall, Act Agreement with Kennedy “From a safety perspective, evaluate its aerodynamics and which can be very expensive to you have a lot more room to to see how the car would handle in 2011 to perform aerodynamic the manufacturers,” Cox said, throughout its performance and other research evaluations negotiate if there’s a problem,” “so that’s really what we ap- range. at the center’s runway. He col- Hennessey said. “You feel like proved for the testing activities.” this is really the safest place for “You can have the smartest laborates with companies like For Hennessey, the testing Hennessey to accomplish the what we’ve got to do.” engineers and designers, but un- also is crucial to validating the testing, too. “It trickles down The rules for the runway’s use til you get the car going out there safety of the car throughout its and all that stuff is information require legitimate and measur- on a runway, you don’t know performance range. passed on to other people and able engineering data collection what the car’s going to do,” Adjustments tend to be min- everything trickles down into that can be used for research said John Hennessey, founder ute and based on feedback from of Hennessey Performance and passenger cars. You’ve got to and development, said David the sensors that show things the maker of the Hennessey Venom push boundaries to get results.” Cox, Kennedy’s Partnership driver and team can’t see on GT, a high-performance produc- The Development manager. There their own. tion sports car. is one of only about a half dozen needs to be a strong research For taxpayers and consumers places in the world that has the and development aspect to the “The data logging that he’s of exotic vehicles or everyday kind of room and infrastructure test runs in order to justify the doing, a human can’t pick up,” cars, testing in actual conditions to make test runs safely. use of a unique, taxpayer-funded Bohmer said. “He has to do this pays off in numerous ways. NASCAR and Le Mans facility, he said. because it’s pretty much manda- Technology developed in all teams also have tested their “When Performance Power tory if you’re a manufacturer aspects of auto making routinely vehicles at the SLF recently. asked if they could do some test- that you know all the param- find their way into everyday Built for the demands of the ing with the Hennessey Venom eters. You can’t sell something cars, whether it be increased fuel space shuttle, the runway is one GT, they said they needed to and not know what it can do.”

Mechanics, engineers and driver Brian Smith, in jumpsuit, ready a Hennessey Venom GT for test runs on the 3.5-mile long runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility on Jan. 10.

NASA/Kim Shiflett Jan. 27, 2014 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7

NASA/Ben Smegelsky Participants in Kennedy’s greenhouse gas emission reduction program charge their vehicles at designated program power outlets across the center. This program is part of a wide array of NASA initiatives designed to maximize sustainable operations and reduce the agency’s footprint on Earth.

Greenhouse gas emission program thrives By Steven Siceloff the power plant that made the electricity you plug in at the Kennedy Space Center.” Spaceport News produced greenhouse gases in the process. The program is working with 10 Kenne- “The average car puts out about a pound dy workers who commute daily and plug in arly figures from a pilot program at of carbon dioxide per mile,” Kline said. their cars at the center’s charging stations. Kennedy Space Center show that E “We’re reducing that by 3/5ths by letting In return for receiving free charging, each electric cars are reducing greenhouse gas of the workers fills out a spreadsheet each emissions by a far greater amount than day documenting how many miles were expected, according to the program’s driven and the road and traffic conditions. coordinator. “What we’re trying to capture is fully “The numbers are 10 times better than electric plug-ins,” Kline said. “The hybrid we thought we’d ever see,” said Frank is not that different from gasoline-powered Kline with Kennedy’s Sustainability office. cars. It’s better, but if you go electric, that’s “No one’s ever done a pilot where you get really where you see the bang for the buck. actual numbers. It’s always been estimates Fully electric is where we want to be.” only.” Calculations made from that informa- The results are more than academic tion is showing a dramatic reduction in since all federal agencies are under a the amount of emissions from the daily presidential order to reduce greenhouse gas commute. emissions. For NASA, the goal is a 12.3 “The numbers are really insane,” Kline percent reduction by 2020. The executive said. “ The program’s first three months order includes a category that judges how only cost $148, and we eliminated over much gas is emitted from sources that are 15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide into the not controlled by the agency, including atmosphere. Over a whole year, we’ll save things ranging from the gases produced over 60,000 pounds and that’s just with 10 by an airliner carrying a NASA employee drivers.” on assignment to the emissions from an Considering the center employs some employee’s car during the daily commute. 8,000 people, the potential to significantly “The biggest one is federal employee alter the amount of emissions from daily commutes -- that’s the easiest target to go commutes by installing even a modest net- after,” Kline said. “If we want to stop you work of outlets is compelling, Kline said, from producing greenhouse gases, electric and not very expensive. vehicles don’t produce any greenhouse “If you just put some infrastructure in gases.” NASA/Ben Smegelsky and get people to plug in, you can do more Even with electric cars, the reduction is The greenhouse gas emission reduction program coincides to reduce carbon dioxide and you won’t with a federal order for all agencies to reduce emissions not 100 percent because even though an by 12.3 percent by 2020. Above is an emissions reduction have to spend multi-million dollars,” Kline electric car itself produces no emissions, program outlet. said. Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS Jan. 27, 2014 Looking up and ahead . . . Scenes Around Kennedy * All times are Eastern

Feb. 5 Mission: Progress 54 Launch Vehicle: Russian Launch Site: Cosmodrome, Launch Time: TBD Description: Progress 54 will deliver cargo and crew supplies to the International Space Station.

Feb. 22 Mission: SpaceX-3 Commercial Resupply Services flight Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 40 Launch Time: TBD Description: SpaceX-3 will be the third commercial resupply mission to the ISS by Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX).

Feb. 27 Mission: Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory Launch Vehicle: H-IIA NASA/Tony Gray Launch Site: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tanegashima Space Sherrita Crummell, a member of the Port St. Lucie gospel group Cho’Zion (pronounced Center, Tanegashima Island, Japan “chosen”), sings and plays keyboard during the Black Employee Strategy Team (BEST) Launch Time: 1:07 to 3:07 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration in the KSC Training Auditorium on Jan. 23. Description: GPM is an international satellite mission led by NASA and JAXA Rev. Glenn Dames from St. James A.M.E. Church in Titusville was the guest speaker. to provide next-generation observations of rain and snow worldwide.

March 25 Mission: Expedition 39 Launch Vehicle: Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan Launch Time: TBD Description: Soyuz 38 will carry Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov and , both Expedition 39/40 flight engineers, and NASA astronaut Steve Swanson, Expedition 39 flight engineer and commander, to the International Space Station.

April 28 Mission: Progress 55 Launch Vehicle: Russian Soyuz Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan Launch Time: TBD Description: Progress 55 will deliver cargo and crew supplies to the International Space Station. NASA/Cory Huston May 1 NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot, right, discusses current and future initia- Mission: Orbital 2 Commercial Resupply Services flight tives for the agency and Kennedy Space Center, during an all-hands meeting Jan. 14 with Launch Vehicle: Antares Kennedy employees in the KSC Training Auditorium. Looking on are Center Director Bob Launch Site: Cabana and Langley Research Center Director Lesa Roe. Launch Pad: Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad-0A Launch Time: TBD Description: Orbital 2 will deliver cargo and crew supplies to the International John F. Kennedy Space Center Space Station.

May 28 Spaceport News Mission: Expedition 40 Launch Vehicle: Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center. Contributions are Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan welcome and should be submitted three weeks before publication to Public Affairs, IMCS-440. [email protected]. Launch Time: TBD Email submissions can be sent to Description: Soyuz 39 will carry Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, Expedition Managing editor ...... Chris Hummel 40 flight engineer and Expedition 41 commander, along with NASA astronaut Editor ...... Frank Ochoa-Gonzales Reid Wiseman and astronaut Alexander Gerst, both Assistant editor ...... Linda Herridge Expedition 40/41 flight engineers, to the International Space Station. Copy editor ...... Kay Grinter Editorial support provided by Abacus Technology Corp. Writers Group. To watch a NASA launch online, go to http://www.nasa.gov/ntv. NASA at KSC on the Web, at http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy SP-2014-01-006-KSC • NASA Kennedy Space Center Public Affairs