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Home , Space Shuttle Atlantis

May 27, 2011 Vol. 51, No. 10 Spaceport News John F. - America’s gateway to the universe

INSIDE . . . Aquarius seeks Atlantis leaves OPF for final time By Rebecca Regan platforms within a maximum salt in the seas Spaceport News distance of 6 to 8 inches, but a minimum of 4 inches.” f home is where the heart Bingham began working is, then the heart and soul at Kennedy in the late 70s Iof NASA’s to prepare shuttle Columbia fleet reside in three custom- for its first flight, STS-1, built, 29,000-square-foot and said the day-to-day facilities at Kennedy Space operations in an OPF are like Center. They’re called orbiter CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Jack Pfaller working in a garage. During processing facilities, OPFs, the first couple of days tech- Page 3 Shuttle Atlantis makes its final planned move from Orbiter Processing Facility-1 to bays, or hangars, and inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. Atlantis will roll out next nicians perform hazardous Lunabotics event highly experienced techni- week. To find out more about roll outs, click on the photo. commodity offloads, dry the cians perform two-thirds of in full swing short, yet historic, journey. operation began in May 2010 engines and open the door the work to prepare a shuttle “It was my first time when, fresh off the black- panels to gain access. Then, for space. seeing an orbiter roll out of top of Kennedy’s Shuttle they remove the previous On May 17, those the OPF, so it was an incred- Landing Facility and back mission’s payload. Next, it’s technicians said farewell ible experience to see it from the STS-132 mission, on to about three month’s as shuttle Atlantis ventured pulled away from the struc- it was towed to OPF-1. Once worth of work to check the out of its home in Orbiter tures and to see the whole inside, technicians jacked- heat shield tiles, change the Processing Facility-1 for orbiter up close and without and-leveled the shuttle to space shuttle main engines, its last rollover move to the the scaffolding around it,” maintenance height where or SSMEs, and assess the Vehicle Assembly Building. said STS-135 Mission Spe- platforms surrounded the vehicle’s structural, mechani- Page 4 Most agreed it felt like send- cialist Rex Walheim. like a glove. cal and electrical integrity. ing their son or daughter off Joining Walheim on the “Each bay has a Dan Johnson, Atlantis’ Starfighters to college. Hundreds of other STS-135 mission will be footprint of the orbiter, and senior vehicle engineer with fleet grows space center workers and Commander Chris Fergu- when it rolls in, it has to fit to USA, said sometimes they even the crew that will fly son, Pilot and that footprint,” said Wayne even have to troubleshoot the shuttle to the Internation- Mission Specialist Sandy Bingham, a United Space issues or replace crucial sys- al this summer Magnus. Alliance, or USA, flow See ROLLOVER, Page 2 stopped by to witness the Atlantis’ turnaround manager. “We try to keep the T-38s intregal part of successful shuttle landing

By Steven Siceloff Endeavour will perform the make pilots and mission you can get hurt or break Page 6 Spaceport News same technique June 1 with specialists think quickly in something or run out of gas. Commander Mark Kelly and changing situations, mental There are a lot of things that Heritage: ‘ ears before the happen real-world in a T-38 Speech’ turns 50 space shuttle would Pilot Greg H. Johnson at the experiences the that don’t happen in the glide home to a controls. The first landing say are critical to practicing Y opportunity for STS-134 for the rigors of . simulator.” safe touchdown on runways “You’re in a different in California and , comes at 2:32 a.m. EDT. “It’s actually our most world, a dynamic world, it astronauts pitched the noses Like astronauts important training that we doesn’t matter whether it’s a of T-38 jet trainers toward throughout NASA’s history, do as astronauts,” said Terry shuttle or a T-38,” said Story the same runways to find out they kept up their flying Virts, who flew as the pilot Musgrave, a six-time shuttle what it would look like to skills in the cockpit of of STS-130 aboard shuttle flier who posted thousands land a shuttle in such a way. T-38s. Endeavour. “It’s the one More than 30 years The T-38 remains a place where we’re not in of hours in the T-38 and Page 7 after that first T-38 fixture for training a simulator. It’s real flying approach, space shuttle because the sleek, white jets and if you make a mistake, See LANDING, Page 3 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS May 27, 2011 Students to design tiny satellite for future LSP mission By Linda Herridge during the launch, which is one of Spaceport News LSP’s goals. The data will be trans- mitted wirelessly to the university group of 12 students from satellite also on the mission, and Merritt Island High School then from there to . Aare participating in Kennedy “This is potentially the begin- Space Center’s Creating Under- ning of a series of missions that standing and Broadening Education could support that effort,” Johnson through Satellite (CUBES) pilot said. “It’s also a way to show that project. One day soon they may see high school students can design and the tiny satellite they design, called a build a small satellite.” CubeSat, fly as a secondary payload George said that LSP require- with a university satellite on one of CLICK ON PHOTO For NASA ments need to be changed in order NASA’s expendable launch vehicle NASA and industry representatives listen as students from Merritt Island High School present a mission to allow the CubeSat to be powered missions. concept review and preliminary systems requirements review for Kennedy Space Center’s Creating on during launch for data transmis- The CUBES project, developed Understanding and Broadening Education through Satellite (CUBES) pilot project last month. To find out sion. Normally, secondary payloads more about the Cubesat Launch Inniative, click on the photo. and implemented by Kennedy’s must be powered off so they don’t Foundations of Leadership Team, is the project through the school’s milestones, which were delivering a interfere with the primary satellite spearheaded by the center’s Educa- engineering club, as did many of mission concept review and prelimi- during launch. tion Programs Office. The Launch the other students who signed up. nary systems requirements review to According to Alison Fertig, a Services Program (LSP) is sponsor- McCaskey readied the preliminary NASA and industry personnel in late physics teacher and project advi- ing the project and providing the system requirements for review. April, the students received approval sor, the students will meet during CubeSat kits and additional support “I really wanted to get to continue on to the design phase. the summer to redefine require- material. involved because it seemed like George said the reviews includ- ments and work on their trades. She Merritt Island is only the second something unique and different than ed an overview of the mission and hopes the students will be able to high school in the country, and the anything else at the school,” McCas- how the team plans to achieve it. She travel to Utah State University at the first in Florida, to design and build a key said. “I knew it would be a great and other students talked about each beginning of August for the Small CubeSat. learning experience.” subsystem, including power, com- Satellite Conference and a CubeSat Danielle George, an incoming Kennedy mentor Shaun Daly munication, command and data and workshop facilitated by California senior and CUBES project manager, from the Engineering Director- the requirements needed for each. Polytechnic University. said she heard about the project ate, is the programmatic manager “The CubeSat is a tool to Daly and several other mentors through the school’s science club and liaison to the LSP. He said the educate,” said Garrett Skrobot, who are exceptionally proud of the work and wanted to get involved because mentors are equally excited about is the LSP PPOD/CubeSat mission the students already accomplished it was truly an opportunity of a the potential to be involved in the manager. “It is a way to encourage and also are impressed with the in- lifetime. development of a CubeSat. high school students to get excited novative solutions they developed to “I’ve lived next to the space “We hold ourselves to a promise about science, technology, engi- meet tough engineering challenges center my entire life so it is a dream that the students run this project,” neering and mathematics (STEM) in the beginning design phase of the come true to be able to partner with Daly said. “We will continue to en- careers.” project. engineers to design, construct and able learning while giving guidance Grace Johnson, the CUBES “There is much to come,” Daly launch a satellite,” George said. where needed, but the students make education project manager, said that said. “We expect great things from Erin McCaskey, also an incom- the end decisions.” the tiny satellite’s primary mission the students and I am sure they will ing senior said she heard about After completing the first major will be to collect vibration data deliver in a big way.”

gether, resolved the issue and oriented and so meticulous think you’re crazy. But in the STS-135 crew is sched- From ROLLOVER, Page 1 continued routine processing, and precise and they won’t reality, it’s just the niche uled to be back at Kennedy tems. For example, Atlantis but not without informing let something go that’s sub- that you develop with the on June 20 to run through a recently had an issue with its the astronauts who will be standard,” said Walheim. spacecraft.” full launch dress rehearsal external fuel tank actuator, strapped into the spacecraft That implicit trust could The work that took called the Terminal Count- which is a mechanism that traveling about 17,500 mph stem from the personal re- place in OPF-1 was only a down Demonstration Test. retracts back into the shuttle in space in a few months. lationship each OPF worker stepping stone toward more “Folks don’t come to after the tank separates in “We try to keep them develops with their shuttle. processing for the Space KSC to work on the shuttle orbit. tied in, or just communicate “You actually walk Shuttle Program’s final to get rich. They come be- “This needed to be the problems that we’ve had around sometimes and talk flight. On May 18, Atlantis cause of the space program. coordinated with a couple and it’s just a way to main- to it. You know, ‘You’ve was attached to its tank and They love being part of different engineering systems tain rapport,” said Johnson. got to be good today, you solid rocket boosters atop a something bigger than an in- teams, as well as with our “Especially if it was an can’t break, you’ve got to . dividual, being part of a great NASA customer, the chief in-flight anomaly (IFA) from do this test, we’ve got to do On May 31 at 8 p.m., Atlan- team,” Hurley said. “I have engineering office and with a previous mission . . . they it on time, so you’ve got to tis is scheduled to roll out the utmost confidence that flow management,” said know we addressed it and perform,’” Bingham said. to Launch Pad 39A. Launch all the i’s are dotted all the t’s Johnson. she’s ready to fly.” “People look at you who teams also are targeting a are crossed and Atlantis will Those teams got to- “They are all so detail are outside the business and tanking test for June 15, and be ready to go.” May 27, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Aquarius to search salty seas for climate clues By Steven Siceloff salinity measurements that “In other words, we have Spaceport News currently exists has been no salinity samples at all ASA’s Aquarius/ taken from boats or buoys from parts of the world, SAC-D mission is that are placed around the particularly in the southern to cast a specialized ocean, but to get complete hemisphere and the south N global coverage of sea Pacific and south Atlantic eye on the world’s ocean basins and seas to find out surface salinity, I mean, and southern Indian Ocean, what salinity can tell us you’ve got to do it from so there’s a big data gap.” about the future of Earth’s space,” said Armando NASA and Argentine climate. Piloto, mission manager for officials have worked closely The Aquarius Aquarius. before and are applying that instrument is NASA’s NASA’s Launch working relationship to the contribution to the Services Program, based at Aquarius effort. international mission Kennedy Space Center, is “This is actually the scheduled to launch June 9 managing the launch. fourth time that NASA from Vandenberg Air Force “The Delta’s been one and CONAE partnered Base, Calif., aboard a Delta of our most reliable vehicles on a science mission,” II rocket. The Argentine by far,” said Omar Baez, Piloto said. “I’ve had the Space Agency, CONAE, launch director for Aquarius. opportunity to work on the supplied the spacecraft that “We have not had a single previous mission, SAC-D, Aquarius and instruments mishap or failure on the which launched out of from other nations are Delta 2 in LSP’s history. Vandenberg on a Delta II. connected to. There have been failures, And I truly enjoyed the “Ocean salinity is one of some of the other guys have experience of working with CLICK ON PHOTO NASA the parameters that has never experienced failures in that the Argentines.” NASA’s Aquarius/SAC-D spacecraft is rotated for the final time into a vertical been measured before,” said vehicle years ago, but the The Aquarius position prior to its installation into a transportation canister in Space Systems Yi Chao, project scientist for vehicle is robust.” instrument is scheduled to International’s Payload Processing Facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Following delivery to the launch pad, the spacecraft will be integrated to Aquarius. “NASA satellites The mission is collect data for three years a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket in preparation for the targeted June liftoff. have been measuring a launching from California to give the most complete Aquarius, the NASA-built primary instrument on the SAC-D spacecraft, will provide number of different ocean because it will go to a look yet at ocean surface new insights into how variations in ocean surface salinity relate to fundamental parameters like temperature, polar orbit allowing the salinity. Scientists hope the climate processes on its three-year mission. To find out more about the Aquarius mission, click on the photo. sea level, the wind, the instruments to survey all the information will point out ocean color, productivity. world’s surface. trends in climate change and seasons and to droughts,” understand climate change But ocean salinity has never “Close to 25 or 30 the water cycle on the planet. Lagerloef said. “They affect in the future, it’s really been measured from space.” percent of the surface of “Variations in the agriculture, they affect important to understand Such a detailed the ocean has never even water cycle on a large scale water supply for our water what global warming, for measurement is been observed,” said mean changes in climate systems, for all the uses example, is going to do to unprecedented. Gary Lagerloef, principle from wet to dry, from moist that we have, agriculture those rainfall patterns and “Most of the surface investigator for the mission. years to rainy years to dry and everything else, so to drought patterns.”

From LANDING, Page 1 what we need at NASA because it’s requirements of flying at the hands the air and sort itself out until it fast, it’s high-performance and it’s of test pilots. pointed its nose down and once instructed others how to fly it, too. simple,” Virts said. “It’s safe and “It’s the best flying to me again became flyable. He performed “It’s understanding the rules, how to it’s known. So compared to other because you do absolutely the same test in the same jet with live within the rules.” airplanes, it’s one of the best.” everything the airplane can do,” the same results repeatedly after the Powered by two afterburning Anyone who didn’t fly a T-38 Musgrave said. “That’s very good mechanics could not find out what General Electric J85 engines, a before they got to NASA learned to flying.” was wrong. T-38 can reach Mach 2 and soar fly it once they joined the astronaut The T-38 is hailed by the He took the same plane out above 40,000 feet, about 10,000 corps. Basic astronaut training astronauts for its simplicity, safety again years later and it passed the feet higher than airliners cruise. The includes T-38 courses, and mission and reliability. It has surprised its stall test completely. plane can wrench its pilots through specialists, who do not sit at the pilots on a few occasions, though. Musgrave describes the T-38 more than 7 Gs, or seven times the controls of a space shuttle, have to One of Musgrave’s experiences as “a classic, timeless beauty.” force of gravity. That’s enough to record four hours a month at the came during a T-38 check flight “If you didn’t know what a make simply lifting hands a feat of stick of a T-38. Commanders and when the aircraft was supposed to shark was and I showed you a strength and breathing a labored pilots are required to fly the T-38 for hold itself level in a stall, which picture of a shark and asked you, chore. It’ll make one’s neck feel like 15 hours a month. is when the wings are no longer ‘Can it swim?’ Of course it can,” it is balancing a cinder block. It’s Joining the agency in 1967, providing lift. In Musgrave’s case, Musgrave said. “A thousand years also more than enough to make the Musgrave would take the planes the aircraft rolled over onto its back. from now, you’d say the T-38’s a average person black out. on checkout flights to make sure Musgrave released the control classic, but it’ll be beautiful then, “The T-38 is a great aircraft for a jet could handle the demanding stick and let the jet flop around in too.” Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS May 27, 2011 U.S. Honor Flag to fly on final shuttle mission By Cheryl Mansfield flag flew over Ground Zero for two Spaceport News weeks, and the U.S. Honor Flag was born. t’s toured the country and the “When we took the flag to world to honor the dedication Ground Zero, we had officers from and sacrifice of Americans I all over the country, and firefight- who have lost their lives serving ers. Since then, the flag has been as police officers, firefighters and to more than 1,000 different events military service members. Now, the and has truly become a piece of U.S. Honor Flag will pay tribute American history and a national to astronauts who have died in the line of duty as it flies this summer treasure that is safeguarded and pro- aboard space shuttle Atlantis during tected,” says Heisler, “But we had no anticipation that the flag would the shuttle program’s final mission. CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Kim Shiflett Begun as a tribute following James Loftus, director of the Miami-Dade Police Department; Jerry Ross, chief of the Vehicle Integra- go from there to NASA, aboard the the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists at- tion Test Office; and Bob Cabana, director of Kennedy Space Center in Florida, salute the Space Mirror space shuttle and to the Interna- tacks, the flag serves as a traveling Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex during a U.S. Honor Flag presentation May tional Space Station.” 26. A flag that has traveled throughout the world to honor heroes who have lost their lives while serving “When this flag comes back memorial to heroes who lost their their community and country was presented to NASA for space shuttle Atlantis’ final flight, STS-135, lives while serving their communi- targeted to launch in July. After the mission, the flag will continue as a traveling memorial. For more on from space and goes to the next ties and country. During a May 26 the U.S. Honor Flag, click on the photo. funeral for the next family,” he ceremony at the Kennedy Space aboard Atlantis and bring it home memorial, which bears the names explains, “it’s the little boys and Center Visitor Complex in Florida, safe,” said Cabana following the of astronauts who have died in the girls whose mother or father made the flag began its journey to space ceremony. exploration of space. the ultimate sacrifice who will see as James K. Loftus, director of the With the visitor complex’s As- The flag’s tour is sponsored by that flag there memorializing their Miami-Dade Police Department, tronaut Memorial Mirror as a back- the non-profit Honor Network, but parent and they’ll know that all that presented it to Bob Cabana, director drop, a 100-member honor guard began with one man and his flag, history of all these heroes is embed- of Kennedy Space Center. and bagpipe procession accompa- Chris Heisler. Shortly after the Sep. ded with their father or mother, so “The flag honors all the first nied the flag, which Cabana handed 11attacks, an American flag from that history continues.” responders, military and now over to veteran astronaut Jerry Ross the Texas House of Representatives Atlantis’ STS-135 mission to astronauts who’ve paid the ultimate in preparation for its flight aboard was given to Heisler, who decided the International Space Station will price in service to our country. I Atlantis. The handoff was fol- to take the flag to Ground Zero at be the last for the Space Shuttle think it’s a real privilege to take it lowed by a moment of silence at the the World Trade Center site. His Program. Students dig sandbox challenge at Lunabotics Mining Competition By Linda Herridge prepare for the official com- what you are doing.” Spaceport News petition, which began NASA’s Education Lead May 26, and continues for the Exploration Systems ndergraduate and through May 28. Mission Directorate Jerry graduate students Using computer-con- Hartman said the agency is from more than 30 U trolled commands, the teams becoming all about interna- universities and colleges in the U.S. and five other coun- are competing against each tional activities. tries are digging in the dirt in other to see who can maneu- “I’m pleased we have a supersized sandbox filled ver their Lunabot through international participation in with a crushed basalt that the rough terrain, collect and the Lunabotics competition,” has similar characteristics then deposit the most BP-1 Hartman said. “Life is too as lunar soil, called BP-1, at within 15 minutes. short to do something you NASA’s second Lunabotics During the opening cer- don’t enjoy. Go forth and do Mining Competition at the emony Thursday, Kennedy great things.” Kennedy Space Center Visi- Engineering Director Pat Rob Mueller is chief CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Jack Pfaller tor Complex. Simpkins said it was great to of surface systems in the see so many teams compet- Engineering Directorate and University students prepare their remote controlled or autonomous excavator, The teams arrived called a lunabot, in a tent next to the “Lunarena” at the Kennedy Space Center Monday and Tuesday to set ing this year, including those serves as the head judge for Visitor Complex. Forty-six teams of undergraduate and graduate students from the up their remote-controlled from other countries. the competition. He intro- United States, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia and India participated in NASA’s Lunabots and put them “You are paving new duced 13 judges representing Lunabotics Mining Competition May 26-28. The competition is designed to engage and retain students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). through communication frontiers here,” Simpkins For more about the Second Annual Lunabotics Mining Competition, click on the See , Page 6 checks and practice runs to said. “I’m excited to see LUNABOTICS photo. May 27, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 Scenes Around Kennedy Space Center

Grail

CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Frankie Martin NASA/Frankie Martin Fifty-nine students ages 16 through 18 from Freedom and East River high schools in Orlando, Fla., par- ticipate in an education event May 12 in honor of National Lab Day at the Space Life Sciences Labora- tory on Kennedy Space Center. The students experienced hands-on activities in polymer, microbiology, CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Jack Pfaller materials failure analysis and more. They also conducted a balloon experiment under the direction of Technicians lift one of two spacecraft for NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory, or GRAIL, to Space Florida. Through events such as these, NASA strives to inspire and engage students in science, a test stand in the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., on May 21. The United Launch technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education while building a future work force skilled Alliance Delta II rocket that will carry GRAIL into lunar orbit already is fully stacked at NASA’s Space in these disciplines. To find out more about Kennedy’s commitment to education, click on the photo. Launch Complex 17B and launch is scheduled for Sept. 8. For more on GRAIL, click on the photo.

CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Kim Shiflett The first stage for an Atlas V rocket arrives May 24 in the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The United Launch Alliance rocket is slated to launch NASA’s Juno spacecraft to from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Aug. 5. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter’s poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant’s origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere. To fol- low the spacecraft team on Twitter, click on the photo.

CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Jim Grossmann An overhead crane lowers the Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier, or LMC, into a payload canister in the Space Station Processing Facility on May 23. The canister then will be CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Gianni Woods installed into Atlantis’ payload bay for the STS-135 mission to the International Space Station. STS-135, Kennedy Space Center’s Hispanic Outreach and Leadership Alliance (HOLA) hosts its annual Cinco de the final mission of the , is targeted to launch July 8.To learn more about the Mayo celebration on May 5 at KARS Park II. Games and dancing highlighted the event. For more on STS-135 mission and crew, click on the photo. HOLA, click on the photo. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS May 27, 2011 F-104 Starfighters fleet grows while ‘breaking mold’ By Steven Siceloff are hard to find, which is the F-104 used the same Spaceport News why Svetkoff bought five of cockpit systems, so we the latest model Starfighters can use those -104 jet fighters just from Italy. With those F-104 suits in our aircraft.” like the ones astro- models, the company gains nauts trained in for The company is the F long-term stability, Svetkoff only civilian operator in decades will become a more said. regular part of the skyscape the world of the F-104 Researchers are above Kennedy Space Starfighter, a fighter jet able CLICK ON PHOTO Photo courtesy of Starfighters Inc. developing projects Center. The private company to soar to about 100,000 Starfighters is expected to add five more aircraft to its fleet of four F-104s that using the F-104 to try out is expanding its fleet of jets feet. Svetkoff’s fleet comes fly from the at Kennedy Space Center. Starfighters everything from space traffic with plans to conduct more have been used to test high-performance equipment used on the space shuttle, from overseas, acquired control to human reactions research flights, launch very telemetry equipment and a new digital camera. For more on the Starfighters, click from air forces in Norway to different physical small satellites into space on the photo. and Italy that stopped using conditions to launching and even take paying pas- to pull 7 Gs or more, the Svetkoff’s company satellites on quick trips into the planes. sengers into the stratosphere. F-104 provides a platform worked for years showing space. Designed by the The developments come to test rocket components, off the aircraft in air shows, “There’s a lot of things legendary Kelly Johnson, four years after the company tracking sensors and space- where the F-104s would that we can do out here,” the man behind the SR-71, made its first flight from bound equipment, Svetkoff tear through the air over said Eddie Ellegood, director the Starfighter was the first Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing said. The aircraft also dazzled crowds. In the last of Aerospace Development U.S. jet fighter to fly twice Facility, or SLF, in April can push over to create four years, the company and a space policy analyst at the speed of sound, a record 2007. microgravity conditions for has flown microgravity Embry-Riddle Aeronauical it set in 1954. Because of its Starfighters pilot and a short time. experiments, spacecraft University in Daytona huge 11,000-pound thrust owner Rick Svetkoff is one “We can go from parts and a digital camera to Beach, Fla. engine and stubby, seven- of the new generation of ground to 23,000 feet as make sure it could withstand A 19-foot-long, foot-long wings, the aircraft entrepreneurs working to 900-pound rocket about the was known as the “missile open different aspects of fast as some of the rockets launch conditions. For size of a Sparrow missile with a man in it.” the aerospace world to a launched here,” Svetkoff example, Space Florida and has been developed to broader group of developers, said. the Florida Space Grant NASA used the F-104 launch nanosatellites from researchers and people. That is an appealing Consortium have flown through the 1990s as a a Starfighter. The concept “We’re breaking combination for researchers payloads using Starfighters. research aircraft and chase requires the plane to fly to the mold,” Svetkoff said who want to try out their There are four planes plane. Astronauts including around 60,000 feet, about recently inside the hangar at designs and for passengers in the hangar now, three Neil Armstrong flew the twice as high as most who want to get pushed to operational and one used aircraft and one of NASA’s the SLF the company leased airliners cruise. their own limits. mostly for parts. Built in the retired Starfighters hangs in from Space Florida. “That means we have “High altitude and high 1960s, they are sharp, sleek the Smithsonian National Boasting speeds faster to have pressure suits,” speed is the key,” Svetkoff birds that evoke the aire of Air and Space Museum in than Mach 2, extreme Svetkoff said. “The U-2 and acceleration and the ability said. speed even at rest. But parts Washington, D.C.

From LUNABOTICS, Page 4 helped name the Lunabot, Hope, young students in STEM fields.” Dr. Paul Biney, a mechanical and offered suggestions on some Last year’s winning team from engineering professor, along with various NASA programs, Kennedy design aspects of the robotic exca- Montana State University in Boze- Technical Specialist Kevin Lee are directorates and industry. vator. man returned this year with eight the team’s advisors. He said the team “Are you ready to dig?” Mueller Owen’s mother accompanied new senior team members and an all rented a truck and transported the him to the team’s planning meet- new Lunabot, Mule 2.0. asked the teams. “To build a robot is Lunabot themselves this year. ings where he watched and learned According to Electrical Engi- not easy.” “So far all preliminary checks as the senior students built their neering Advisor Brock LaMeres, The only team from a com- are looking good,” Biney said. “We Lunabot. the mining competition is one of the munity college in the competition, have high hopes for this year.” According to Hortense Burt, senior design project choices at the Oakton Community College’s team, Other elements of the competi- chief of education programs, the university. tion include systems engineering from Des Plaines, Ill., is preparing event is designed to engage and “This year’s team took every- papers, an outreach project, slide for their turn to compete on Saturday, retain students in the science, thing that worked from last year and presentation and team spirit. with their youngest team member, technology, engineering and math, built on that,” LaMeres said. Owen Dudney, 7, cheering them on. or STEM, disciplines critical to “It’s an incredible event. There “These teams have persevered Adjunct Professor and Engi- NASA’s mission. are more robots with more function- through many difficult challenges neering and Physics Club Advisor “This is the first time a young ality this year.” to make it to the competition,” said George Tootelian said that a col- student has had a key role with a The Prairie View A&M Uni- Gloria Murphy, lead for ESMD league at Northwestern University Lunabotics team,” said Hortense versity team from Houston, Texas Space Grant and the Lunabotics contacted him about a young student Burt, chief of Kennedy’s Education returned to try again after last year’s Mining Competition. “This experi- who was ready for some challenges. Programs. “It is a efforts left them unable to compete ence will help the students learn how Tootelian said the team welcomed perfect opportunity to mentor with a Lunabot that was damaged to solve complex problems when the first-grader on board. Owen and encourage him and other during delivery. they become engineers.” May 27, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Moon speech sought international cooperation in space By Kay Grinter Reference Librarian he words of President John F. Kennedy 50 Tyears ago challenged NASA and the nation to attempt what at that time was seemingly impossible to many -- human lunar exploration. Driven to action by the Soviet Union’s successful launch and Earth-orbit of Yuri Gagarin, the world’s first man in space, Kennedy addressed Congress on May 25, 1961, regarding what he deemed “urgent national needs.” “I therefore ask the Congress,” Kennedy said, “above and beyond the increases I have earlier re- quested for space activities, to provide the funds which are needed to meet the fol- lowing national goals: “I believe that this na- tion should commit itself to CLICK ON PHOTO NASA file/1961 achieving the goal, before President John F. Kennedy delivered one of the most memorable speeches of the 20th Century on May 25, 1961. He challenged Congress and the American people to this decade is out, of landing put a man on the moon, and return him safely to Earth, by the end of the decade. For links to full-text and audio versions of the speech, click on the photo. a man on the moon and re- ued to hope that internation- “in a field where the United flight to the moon be a an Apollo capsule orbited turning him safely to Earth. al cooperation was possible. States and the Soviet Union matter of national competi- Earth docked to a Soyuz No single space project in Addressing the General have a special capacity -- in tion? . . . Surely we should spacecraft, joining their this period will be more im- Assembly of the United the field of space -- there is explore whether the scien- cosmonaut companions in pressive to mankind or more Nations on Sept. 20, 1963, room for new cooperation tists and astronauts of our broadcasts of the interiors of important for the long-range four months after NASA . . . I include among these two countries -- indeed of the two spacecraft to an avid exploration of space; and had accomplished its first possibilities of a joint expe- all the world -- cannot work international audience on none will be so difficult or six manned missions and dition to the moon.” together in the conquest of the planet below. expensive to accomplish.” the Mercury Program was Kennedy further asked, space, sending some day In so doing, the crews In his book “John F. concluded, Kennedy said “Why should man’s first in this decade to the moon of the ASTP paved the way Kennedy and the Race to not the representatives of a for the Shuttle- mis- the Moon,” John Logs- single nation, but represen- sions to the Russian space don, professor emeritus of tatives of all our countries.” station, the construction of political science and interna- At the time of his a truly International Space tional affairs at The George death on Nov. 22, 1963 two Station, or ISS, and the Washington University, months later, no deal for a mutual transport to the ISS points out that as a presi- joint space mission had yet of cosmonauts aboard the dential candidate, Kennedy been made. space shuttle and, in turn, said “wherever we can find It was not until 12 astronauts aboard the Soyuz. an area where Soviet and astronauts had walked on Kennedy’s vision for American interests permit the moon in the Apollo international cooperation is effective cooperation, that Program and the U.S. had expected to remain strong area should be isolated and demonstrated its techno- as NASA and 15 countries developed,” and put out a logical prowess that the carry out missions aboard call to the world leaders in U.S. and U.S.S.R. “shook the International Space Sta- his inaugural address “to hands” in space on the joint tion during the next decade. explore the stars together.” Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, NASA also looks to partner NASA file/1963 Even after Kennedy or ASTP. with other countries to Dr. Wernher von Braun explains the Saturn launch system to President John F. outlined his space goals to Kennedy at Cape Canaveral in 1963. NASA Deputy Administrator Robert Sea- Between July 17 and explore futher into the solar Congress in 1961, he contin- mans is to the left of von Braun. 19, 1975, astronauts inside system. Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS May 27, 2011

Kennedy Planning Office Kennedy Space Center Calendar * All times are Eastern updates workforce June 15 Sharon Wong, guest speaker, “Diversity, Leadership, Empowerment and Beyond” in honor of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month; Operations and Checkout on partnership efforts Building, Mission Briefing Room; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. By Linda Herridge “We are working these issues,” Spaceport News Riquelme said. “We’re also working June 16 Bonnie St. John, guest speaker, “Perseverance = with other NASA centers to learn Success” Spring 2011 Diversity Event; he status of Kennedy Space Training Auditorium; 10 a.m. about their efforts and share Ken- Center’s emerging partner- nedy’s efforts, and determine ways ships and what the Center June 17 KSC B.E.S.T. BBQ; KARS I Clubhouse (Area No. 3); T to collaborate on future partnership 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Planning and Development Office opportunities.” (CPDO) is doing to facilitate these Vinje said that NASA’s tradi- efforts were among the topics shared tional programs, including Space during the Kennedy Engineering Launch Systems, Launch Services Academy, or KEA, on May 26 in the Program and Multi-Purpose Crew Looking up and ahead . . . Training Auditorium. Vehicle will continue to be the core * All times are Eastern Panel members were Joyce business of Kennedy, but the office is Scheduled forJune 1 Landing/KSC: Endeavour, STS-134; 2:35 a.m. Riquelme, CPDO manager; Tom working on commercial partnerships Engler, manager of the Partnership to expand activities and provide op- No Earlier Than June 9 Launch/VAFB: Delta II, Development Office; and Mike portunities for growth. Aquarius / SAC-D Satellite; 10:20 a.m. Vinje, partnership development man- “All of the commercial activi- ager. Vinje moderated the presenta- ties we are working to bring here are Targeted for July 8 Launch/KSC: Atlantis, STS-135; about 11:40 a.m. tion and question-and-answer session meant to augment Kennedy activi- Planned for July 20 Landing/KSC: Atlantis, STS-135; about 6:15 a.m. that followed. ties, not replace them,” Vinje said. No Earlier Than July 14 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, GPS IIF-2; 2:51 p.m. The presentation included Engler said the center has CPDO’s mission, which is to de- signed agreements with Zero-Gravi- Aug. 5 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, Juno; 11:40 a.m. velop the world’s premier spaceport, ty, Space-X, the National Reconnais- meeting government and commercial sance Organization, the U.S. Depart- No Earlier Than September Launch/CCAFS: SpaceX Falcon 9, space industry needs, through com- ment of the Interior, Rivian (formerly Dragon C2; TBD prehensive resource planning and the Avera Motors) and Starfighters. formation of partnerships to ensure The center also has partnered Sept. 8 Launch/CCAFS: Delta II Heavy, GRAIL; the economic vitality of the center. with Space Florida to create Explora- 8:37 a.m. to 9:16 a.m. “Our job is to plan for Ken- tion Park, which is a new “outside nedy’s future, find partners and No Earlier Than Oct. 8 Launch/CCAFS: SpaceX Falcon 9, the gate” option for industries that Dragon C3; TBD secure agreements,” Riquelme said. may or may not be directly related to “Our biggest challenge will be to the space industry. Oct. 25 Launch/VAFB: Delta II Heavy, NPP; learn new ways to operate to make it “As we work with companies, 5:47 to 5:57 a.m. easier for commercial customers to our main issue is responsiveness in want to do business with us.” our processes,” Engler said. “Some No Earlier Than Nov. 25 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, ; Riquelme said the office’s of them don’t have the time or 10:21 a.m. responsibilities include serving as money to wait.” the center’s “front door” for new Riquelme said the contractor business and partnerships, making work force is included in partnership the most effective use of Ken- efforts to help create jobs for those John F. Kennedy Space Center nedy’s underutilized capabilities, workers who are being affected by and performing centerwide planning the end of the Space Shuttle Pro- to provide flexible capabilities for gram. She also said the office inves- Spaceport News future spaceport development and to tigates all suggestions of companies manage center agreements. that may be a good fit at the center. Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and She stressed that Kennedy orga- The office held an industry is published online on alternate Fridays by Public Affairs in the interest of KSC nizations are involved in every phase workshop in March 2010 to provide civil service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted three weeks before publication of the partnership process. interested companies information to the Media Services Branch, IMCS-440. E-mail submissions can be sent to Riquelme explained that one of about the CPDO and the partner- KSC-Spaceport-News@mail..gov the challenges for the office is de- ship process, and followed up with a Managing editor ...... Candrea Thomas veloping commercial pricing models notice of availability of facilities in Editor ...... Frank Ochoa-Gonzales for Kennedy’s unique facilities and February 2011. Copy editor ...... Rebecca Regan services. Many potential commercial For more information on the partners have business models that CPDO, visit the external website at, Editorial support provided by Abacus Technology Corp. Writers Group. NASA at KSC is on the Internet at www.nasa.gov/kennedy differ from Kennedy’s, which pres- http://kscpartnerships.ksc.nasa. USGPO: 733-049/600142 ent challenges. gov.