March 18, 2005 Vol. 44, No. 6 Spaceport News America’s gateway to the universe. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/snews/spnews_toc.html John F. Kennedy Space Center Kennedy technology helps GlobalFlyer set world record By Jennifer Wolfinger Staff Writer early 70 years ago, Amelia Earhart bravely Nattempted to fly around the world. Following in her trail, Virgin Atlantic’s GlobalFlyer aircraft recently used some of Kennedy Space Center’s tech- nologies to set the record for the first solo non-stop flight around Earth. Through NASA’s Space Based Telemetry and Range THE GLOBALFLYER (above) Safety (STARS) project, led by lands in Salinas, Kansas, after a Lisa Valencia, KSC offered 67-hour flight. video transmission of pilot Steve AT LEFT, NASA personnel involved Fossett during the historical with the historic flight include, from 25,000-mile flight. left: Chris Forney, Jennifer Murray “The team also distributed and Rich Nelson of NASA KSC; the cockpit’s video signal to Steve Bundick, NASA Wallops Kansas’ Mission Control, and Flight Facility; James Dumoulin, provided streaming video, audio NASA KSC; Philip Grassa, Scaled and still images,” said Richard Composites; Lisa Valencia, Erik Nelson, KSC’s chief of the Denson, Michael Downs and Dr. Range Systems Design and James Simpson, all of NASA KSC; Greg Coombs, Honeywell; and Jan Development Branch. “Overall, Zysko, NASA KSC. STARS demonstrates the capa- bility of a space-based platform to provide communication and tracking support for various continuous circumnavigation by exceed speeds of 285 miles per descent. launch vehicles.” one pilot and no passengers. It hour. The GlobalFlyer has a 114- After the successful flight, The aircraft is a single- weighs roughly 22,000 pounds foot wingspan and uses drag Nelson commented: “KSC’s engine model designed for when fully fueled and can parachutes to slow down on final technology did better than expected. It wasn’t expected to last the entire duration of the Bush nominates Griffin as new NASA administrator flight, but it surpassed every- resident George W. Bush companies that serve national thing we had in mind.” announced his intention security interests. Earlier in his On Feb. 28, Fossett began his PMarch 11 to nominate career, Griffin served as chief flight from Salina Airport in Michael D. Griffin to be NASA’s engineer at NASA and as deputy Kansas, which happens to be 11th administrator. Griffin for technology at the Strategic Earhart’s home state. currently serves as Space Depart- Defense Initiative Organization. Once the jet stream and ment head at Johns Hopkins He received a bachelor’s weather conditions were satisfac- University Applied Physics degree in physics from Johns tory for flight, Fossett boarded Laboratory. Prior to his current Hopkins University; a master’s the small quarters he’d call home position, Griffin was CEO of In- degree in aerospace science from for the next 67 hours. He pre- Q-Tel, a non-profit enterprise Catholic University of America; dicted the journey would take 66 funded by the Central Intelli- and a Ph.D. in aerospace engi- hours. gence Agency to work with neering from the University of Fossett sat in a reclining seat cutting-edge technological Maryland, among other degrees. Dr. Michael D. Griffin (See GLOBAL, Page 2) Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS March 18, 2005 Kennedy Space Center maintains awaiting their launch companion. its leadership in the future of And if that wasn’t enough, space exploration. approximately seven days later, If you can’t attend, the event Discovery will roll out to Pad The will be broadcast on our closed- 39B to await its launch in May. circuit NASA TV and it will also Again, if you come to or tune in be available on the Web. to the Mar. 24 all hands, you’ll Awards Kennedy The next two weeks are going hear more about this in detail. to be filled with excitement for I want to put a plug in for our the Space Shuttle Program, as upcoming KSC picnic, taking Update well. First, the External Tank for place April 9 at KARS 1. If you Jim Kennedy STS-121 arrived Tuesday at the haven’t been before, it’s a blast. Center Director turn basin so it can be prepared Last year, nearly 8,000 people for the scheduled July launch of attended. reetings, folks! What an nity. Atlantis. But that was just the It’s loads of fun for the exciting couple of weeks Speaking of leaders, there is a opening act for the hard-working family, with great food and Git’s been, especially with super opportunity approaching folks in the Shuttle processing drinks, music, games for the kids the president nominating Dr. for the KSC work force to hear realm. and visits by astronauts. If it isn’t Michael Griffin as the new from one of our highest leaders Next week, after two years of on your calendar, you should put NASA administrator. While I in government. Congressman preparation, Space Shuttle it on now. I hope to see you know Congress still needs to Dave Weldon, who represents Discovery will roll from Orbiter there. confirm the nomination, I believe areas of KSC, will join me for an Processing Facility bay 3 to the If you didn’t realize it, we Dr. Griffin is an excellent choice. all hands from 1 to 2 p.m. March Vehicle Assembly Building. have less than 60 days until the I’ve been fortunate to work 24 at the training auditorium. Discovery will be mated with its opening of Discovery’s launch with Dr. Griffin in the past and Discussions will center on External Tank and Solid Rocket window. I can’t wait. Have super look forward to serving with him Return to Flight, the Vision for Boosters that are already there week, everyone! as NASA safely returns the Space Space Exploration and KSC’s Shuttle to flight and carries out future. GLOBAL The rules insisted the aircraft the Vision for Space Exploration. While attendance is totally must take off and land from the During his career, he’s worked voluntary, I believe if you come (Continued from Page 1) same airfield, cross all global with our professional KSC work you’ll receive tremendous in the main fuselage, directly meridians and 80 waypoints and force on many occasions, so I insight into what Congress is behind the nose landing gear and go beyond 23,000 miles, which is look forward to his return trip to discussing about the vision. below the main engine. Potential the length of the imaginary KSC to reacquaint himself with Also, he will be able to provide noise problems because of the Tropic of Cancer line. After the Center and interact with our information on how Florida is engine’s proximity were rem- landing, Global Positioning tremendous Space Coast commu- positioning itself to ensure the edied with noise barriers and System records verified the absorbers. requirements were met. Pressurization of GlobalFlyer followed the jet- March Employees of the Month GlobalFlyer’s cabin created a stream winds toward the United cabin altitude of 10,000 feet, Kingdom and headed across the although the aircraft was actually Mediterranean before turning at 45,000 feet. To ensure toward Pakistan, India, China Fossett’s safety, KSC loaned its and Japan. The flight’s final Personal Cabin Pressure Monitor, portion crossed the Pacific which recognizes potentially danger- GlobalFlyer followed the jet-stream winds ous or deteriorating toward the United Kingdom and headed cabin pressure across the Mediterranean before turning conditions and alerts toward Pakistan, India, China and Japan. the pilot of the need for supplemental oxygen. toward Hawaii before crossing However, because of the America’s West Coast and exceedingly loud cockpit noise, returning to Kansas. Fossett wouldn’t notice if the Waypoints on the flight original alarm sounded, so the included Montreal, London, monitor was upgraded with a Paris, Rome, Cairo, Bahrain, body-shaking system to catch his Karachi, Calcutta, Shanghai, attention. Tokyo, Honolulu and Los The Federation Aeronautique Angeles. Fossett crossed major Internationale (the World Air flight routes, so he was visible to STANDING IN the back row, from left, are: Pete Carrion, Chief Financial Sports Federation) established some commercial airline passen- Office; and Robert Ruiz, ISS/Payload Processing. Sitting in the front row, gers. The aircraft wasn’t easily from left, are: Dunamis Pedrasa, Procurement Office; Sherald Jordan, rigid record-setting guidelines Cape Canaveral Spaceport Management Office/U.S. Air Force; Teresa for the GlobalFlyer team. Once visible from the ground, but Strobush, Information Technology and Communication Services; and Miros the single flight was completed, onlookers could see its conden- Guisbert, Spaceport Services. at least three records were set. sation trail. March 18, 2005 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Recognizing Our People New role as Equal Opportunity director inspires Gillam By Linda Herridge of many parts. When diversity is TARA GILLAM, Staff Writer an element of the organization’s director of the makeup, the sum of those parts is Office of Equal ara Gillam sees her new exponentially greater,” Gillam Opportunity, will rely on the special position as director of said. “Through diversity in the emphasis groups TKennedy Space Center’s work force, we all benefit from at KSC to ensure new Office of Equal Opportunity new ideas, ingenuity and diver- that she (OEO) as a chance to step in and sity of thought.” represents their leave her own personal legacy on Another goal is to increase diverse views at diversity management. the use of alternative dispute senior “I hope to incorporate resolution to manage work place management diversity and equal opportunity conflicts. According to Gillam, forums. Before management into more of KSC’s resolving conflicts through working at the Center, Gillam strategic planning and decision mediation brings the parties and worked for 17 making,” said Gillam.