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April 1, 2011 Vol. 51, No. 6 Spaceport News John F. - America’s gateway to the universe

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Armored M113s ready for any emergency role By Steven Siceloff slits in another hatch, but Spaceport News that means awkwardly trying to kneel or stand in umbling, cramped, the middle of the rest of the heavy and lacking crew. Ra big field of view, Most of the firefighters the M113 wouldn’t seem to feel the launch more than be a good candidate for an see it because the thunder ambulance. It doesn’t even thoroughly shakes the have a steering wheel. But it 10-ton carrier. has something essential for If an emergency call a NASA rescue mission at comes in before launch, the the launch pad: armor. driver runs in and gets the Basically a bunker vehicle moving in seconds, on tracks, the M113 is letting one of the other crew a Vietnam-era armored members work the lever to personnel carrier that offers lift the ramp. the a safe vehicle CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Kim Shiflett The astronauts and to get out of danger. It also Battalion Chief David Seymour provides supervision while Endeavour’s STS-134 crew members participate in pad workers have limited offers firefighters heavy M113 armored personnel carrier training at Kennedy Space Center. An M113 is kept at the foot of the launch pad in case an air sources, so the rescue protection in case they have emergency exit from the pad is needed and every shuttle crew is trained on driving the vehicle before launch. Space shuttle teams would work to get to go into danger to retrieve Endeavour’s six crew members are at Kennedy for the launch countdown dress rehearsal called the Terminal Countdown them to safety in less than Demonstration Test (TCDT) and related training. To learn about STS-134 mission, click on the photo. the flight crew and launch 10 minutes from the time pad personnel. neither the astronauts nor with the spacecraft or the their gear, including silver they get the rescue call. “These things are emergency crews have to gigantic rocket. protection suits, an airpack They constantly train and virtually indestructible,” worry about debris raining They serve the same role for and an air mask. They close adjust methods to shave off said David Seymour, down on them when they the shuttle. all the hatches and raise the seconds. battalion chief and the lead are inside an M113. “We’re here for the back ramp. “I don’t care about for the pad rescue team at “We never know astronauts, for the closeout The inside of the M113 anything except getting my Kennedy Space Center. what to expect, we always crew, whoever’s up there,” is hardly spacious, so the guys on the pad surface NASA has a different prepare for the worst,” said Seymour said. firefighters have to curl their safely,” Myer said. “If I kind of rescue vehicle Alan Myer, an M113 driver Three are on hand on legs up tight. Only the driver run over signs, I don’t care. because it has to make a and firefighter. launch day. Two stand by can see out consistently, I will not drive through a different kind of rescue NASA began using less than a mile from the looking through four slits building, because that could if a space shuttle crew is surplus Army M113s during launch pad. A few minutes facing the pad. The others hurt us, but if I have to in danger. In the unlikely the Program in case before liftoff, the firefighters in the vehicle have to take worst-case scenario, an emergency developed get inside wearing all turns looking through the See TCDT, Page 2

Inside this issue . . . FIRST Robotics Heritage: Stardust sends last signal Donating life AMS packed up

Page 2 Page 3 Page 5 Page 7 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS April 1, 2011 Workers donate blood, register in bone marrow program

By Linda Herridge Gwizdalski said. for both her and her second Spaceport News Michael Barth, a NASA child, so she understands civil engineer, gave blood how important being a do- ourteen years ago, March 28 at the SSPF, and nor can be. Gena Henderson, an then went inside the facil- “What a miracle this engineer at Kennedy F ity’s lobby to register with would be if my bone mar- Space Center, gave blood the NMDP. row would help to save and registered with the Barth has given blood National Marrow Donor someone’s life,” Henderson for many years and dur- said. “I’m overjoyed for the Program (NMDP) during ing each Kennedy blood person who needs it.” a donor drive at the center. drive since he arrived at the Joe Frakes, a Boeing Fast forward to 2011, and center three years ago. Barth technician, registered with Henderson now is a match said his wife is a nurse and the NMDP in 1993. He for someone in dire need of knows firsthand how impor- was a perfect match for a a marrow transplant. NASA/Jack Pfaller tant it is to donate blood. In fact, Henderson, A Kennedy worker donates blood during a blood drive and bone marrow donor “Giving blood does 28-year-old woman in 1995 now the Engineering Man- registry drive in Florida’s Blood Center’s Big Red Bus at the Operations and Sup- and went through the mar- port Building I on March 10. save lives,” Barth said. agement and Integration According to Kennedy row donor procedure. Services branch chief in the There were 155 units of Viera Hospital,” Scott said. blood and bone marrow “It’s the most reward- center’s Engineering Direc- blood donated. Some donors Angela Solorio, a secre- donor drive coordinator Ste- ing thing I’ve ever done,” torate, is a perfect match. with a rare blood type, such tary with C&C International, phen Pilkenton, every year, Frakes said. “It felt good to What that means, according as O negative, were given signed up with the NMDP thousands of adults and help someone. I would do it to the NMDP, is that nine the option of donating us- on her way to give blood at children need bone marrow again if called upon.” out of nine markers match. ing the ALYX automated the OSB I on March 10. transplants, a procedure that She is waiting for the next procedure that takes only “I’m retired military, may be their only chance for Did you know? step in the process. the red cells and returns the so it’s something we do survival. Pilkenton joined Florida’s Blood Centers platelets and plasma to the for each other. And I was the marrow donor program More than 4.5 million brought the Big Red Bus to patient during the donor always interested in being in 2004 and was later se- patients need blood transfu- several Kennedy facilities process. a bone marrow donor,” lected as a possible donor. sions each year in the U.S. during the month of March. Linda Scott, the north Solorio said. and Canada. “Marrow transplants Only 38 percent of the U.S. Bone marrow registration Brevard donor development Tina Gwizdalski is are a potential cure and population is eligible to donate drives were held in conjunc- coordinator with Florida’s an NMDP specialist with sometimes the last hope for blood -- less than 10 percent tion at the Operations and Blood Centers said that all Florida’s Blood Centers’ people suffering from many do annually. Support Building I and the donations stay in the local Orlando office. cancers and other blood About one in seven people Space Station Processing community. She said that the simple disorders,” Pilkenton said. entering the hospital need Facility, which led to the “We are the sole pro- act of filling out a consent “Minority participation in blood. One pint of blood can save registration of 26 workers vider of blood and blood form and completing a the marrow donor program up to three lives. with the NMDP. products for Parrish Medical buccal cheek swab is the is desperately needed and Other blood drive loca- Center, Cape Canaveral first step in becoming a strongly encouraged.” More information tions included the Operations Hospital, Wuesthoff medical potential match for someone Henderson, who has and Support Building II, the centers in Rockledge and in the U.S. or even another three children, was the For more information on Operations and Checkout Melbourne, Holmes Re- country. recipient of two blood trans- the National Marrow Donor Program, visit Building and the Launch gional Medical Center, Palm “The NMDP fusions during childbirth. www.marrow.org. Equipment Services shop. Bay Hospital and the new reaches around the world,” One of these was lifesaving

That’s the routine all crews Each lever controls one of the “These can be fun,” Myer said. From TCDT, Page 1 practice during the Terminal tracks on the M113. Push both of “It’s exciting.” Countdown Demonstration Test, them forward and the vehicle goes The fun aspect for the drive over these logs protecting the or TCDT. The STS-134 crew took forward. There’s a gas pedal to firefighters does not obscure the crawlerway, I don’t care. I want to part in the training March 30 as they determine how quickly it goes. Pull seriousness with which they train get them to the pad in one piece as prepared to launch on space shuttle the right lever to turn right, pull for emergencies. Considering fast as we possibly can.” Endeavour’s last scheduled mission. the left lever to go left. Pull them part of their job requires them to The other M113 sits empty with The driving is a required course for both back to stop. Don’t do it too climb into the orbiter and pull the its back ramp open facing the door each shuttle . hard, though, or everyone riding astronauts out of their seats on the of an emergency bunker near the “Everybody has to drive the along will get thrown into the metal flight deck. pad. If the astronauts have to take M113, so everybody kind of has to bulkheads. After all, there’s no “We want to give the the slidewire baskets to get away find their feel for maneuvering it,” padding on the thick metal walls, astronauts, close-out crew and from the pad, they would get out Seymour said. corners or shelves. ice inspection team the comfort of the baskets and into the bunker. Finding the feel for the M113 Some flight crews embrace the to know that when called we are Then they can get inside the M113, means adjusting to steering with a unusual vehicle and have a good going to be there no matter what close the ramp and drive to safety. pair of levers instead of a wheel. time with the training, Myer said. happens,” Seymour said. April 1, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 AMS to give invisible universe different look By Steven Siceloff Spaceport News he Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer will Trevolutionize what we know about invisible cosmic rays the same way NASA’s CLICK ON PHOTO To watch an animated video rewrote what we know about of the installation of the Alpha the visible universe says the Magnetic Spectrometer, click on the photo. Shortly after installa- intellectual force behind the tion, AMS is expected to begin instrument. The AMS will gathering data. launch aboard ’s STS-134 mis- unique scientific papers were sion, targeted for April 19. published following the mis- Those expectations are sion, Ting said. not lost on the team putting “None of the results the finishing touches on the AMS and packing it for we see can be explained by launch. existing theory,” Ting said of the findings. “This kind of has CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Jim Grossmann grains of Hubble, looking The second AMS, the The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) is moved March 15 from the weight and center of gravity stand, where final one flying on Endeavour, is at the universe in a different measurements were taken before launch, to a payload canister in the Space Station Processing Facility at Kennedy Space perspective,” said Boeing’s Center. The canister will protect the space-bound payload on its journey to Launch Pad 39A, where it will later be installed designed to operate as long Bob Hart, the payload flow into space shuttle Endeavour’s payload bay. To learn about the time AMS spent at Kennedy, click on the photo. as the space station itself is operational. That’s why manager for the AMS. “The The AMS is a 2-ton and storage platforms. It will space,” Ting told reporters science, the exploration Ting said the team opted to ring of powerful magnets be operated remotely from recently. Ting offered the replace a ring of supercold potential that will come out and ultrasensitive detec- Earth and should not require news media a close look magnets designed for a of this makes it very exciting tors built to track, but not any attention from astronauts at the AMS before it was 3-year lifespan with a set of to be a part of.” capture, cosmic rays. The in orbit. packed for loading into permanent, though weaker, Professor Sam Ting, a 15,251-pound instrument “The astronauts on the Endeavour’s cargo bay for magnets that can work 20 Nobel Prize winner for his will be connected to the space station have many launch. years. 1974 discovery of a heavy outside of the International things to do,” Ting said. “We How much of a differ- “The longer you stay, elemental particle, sees Space Station, braced on the wouldn’t dare bother them.” ence is that? Well, accord- the longer you learn,” Ting the AMS as a revolution- orbiting laboratory’s right- By recording the traces ing to the organization that said. ary observatory to measure hand truss and tilted a bit so cosmic rays make as they operates the Large Hadron The AMS was assem- invisible cosmic rays as they it will not interfere with any pass through, the AMS might Collider near Geneva, bled and tested in Europe, traverse the universe. of the station’s mechanisms uncover a universe that is Switzerland, a single trillion including calibration work in now invisible. Although Ting electron volt particle is about the Large Hadron Collider. It is hesitant to make predic- the same amount of energy was flown aboard a U.S. Air tions about what the instru- produced by a mosquito in Force transport plane to Ken- ment will find, he said the in- motion. The fastest cosmic nedy Space Center in August strument was designed with ray yet observed was a sub- 2010, and spent the next dark matter and antimatter atomic particle with the force several months in a work in mind. Very little is known of a baseball, according to a stand in the Space Station about dark matter although University of Utah account Processing Facility where it makes up an estimated 90 of the observation. technicians went through the percent of the mass in the The AMS going up on last steps of processing for universe. Endeavour is the second one flight. Although Earth-based built in the program. The first The payload processing facilities have been built to one was a prototype instru- teams are used to dealing create powerful streams of ment that flew on shuttle carefully with anything subatomic particles, Ting Discovery during STS-91. It designed to go into space and said their limits are more spent about two weeks in or- many precautions are taken. than 14 million times weaker bit proving the merits of the Still, there is a new level of NASA/Jim Grossmann than the power produced by design. Even with that very anticipation for the AMS. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) is a particle physics detector, designed cosmic rays in space. short mission, the instrument “This is probably the to operate as an external experiment on the International Space Station. It will use the unique environment of space to study the universe and its origin by searching “No matter how large an provided enough information most exciting one I’ve been for dark matter. The AMS-2, shown here March 15, will fly to the station aboard accelerator you build, you’re to make physicists reanalyze on,” said Joe Delai, STS-134 Endeavour’s STS-134 mission targeted to launch April 19 at 7:48 p.m. EDT. not going to compete with some of their theories. Four payloads mission manager. Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS April 1, 2011 Scenes Around Kennedy Space Center

CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Jack Pfaller About 385 people, including some 60 volunteers, participated in the 2011 KSC Annual Walk/Run at the Shuttle Landing Facility on March 22. Sponsored by Kennedy’s fitness center, the goal of the event was to motivate center employees to get moving. Center Director Bob Cabana stressed the importance of fitness in our everyday life before the event. Participants chose to walk or run 2 miles down the runway, rollerblade, or run a 5 or 10K. To learn more about Kennedy’s health initiatives, click on the photo.

CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Jack Pfaller Technicians in the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., test the electrical continuity of a solar array March 23 that will help power NASA’s spacecraft on a mission to Jupiter. Power-generating panels on three sets of solar arrays will extend outward from Juno’s body, giving the overall spacecraft a span of more than 66 feet in order to operate at such a great distance from the sun. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Aug. 5, 2011, reaching Jupiter in July 2016. To find out more about Juno, click on the photo.

CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Kim Shiflett About 2,100 of Kennedy Space Center employees stand side-by-side to form a full-scale outline of a space shuttle orbiter outside the Vehicle Assembly Building on March 18. The unique photo NASA/Jack Pfaller was designed to honor the ’s 30-year legacy and the people During the Child Development Center’s “Transportation Week” event March 21-25 at Kennedy, children were who contribute to safely processing, launching and landing the vehicle. To view time-lapse video able to become familiar with a tour bus, heavy-equipment vehicles, alternative-fuel vehicles, and Fire Rescue of the event, click on the photo. and security vehicles. Here they climb aboard a four-wheeler used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. April 1, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 Competition heats up for FIRST Robotics teams By Rebecca Regan educability through delicate Spaceport News beauty.” If they do well in Knox- eing a member of ville, the Bionic Tigers and a Kennedy Space Center sponsored or Horsepower teams could B potentially travel to the mentored FIRST Robotics team requires more than just national championship in St. panache . . . it takes team- Louis, where they would go work, skill, communication head-to-head with the Pink and a whole lot of brain Team in late April. power to build and compete Additional Brevard some of the most unique and County teams include: capable robots in just six ComBBAT from Astronaut weeks. and Titusville high schools; Kennedy’s house team, Team Voltage from Mel- known as the Pink Team, bourne High; Purple Haze consists of high school from Space Coast High; students from Rockledge, PiraTech from Palm Bay Cocoa Beach and Viera. In High; Bionic Bears from early March, the team was Bayside Engineering and on the winning alliance in Technology Academy; the Florida FIRST Robotics Team 3332 from Melbourne Competition, where they Central Catholic and Palm also took home the Industri- Bay Municipal Charter high al Design Award sponsored CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Glenn Benson schools; and Team 3376 by General Motors. Next, The Kennedy Space Center-sponsored Pink Team participates in the regional FIRST Robotics Competition at the University of Central Florida in Orlando on March 11. The team is made up of students from Rockledge, Cocoa Beach and Viera high from Satellite High. they went on to the Wash- schools. Kennedy’s Deputy Director Janet Petro and Engineering Director Pat Simpkins stopped by the competition to “It’s easy to become ington D.C. regional March encourage the teams. Click on the photo to view footage from the competition. 25-26, where they secured discouraged about the another win. said Bradley. NASA or one of our con- Christian School, Jefferson future,” Bradley said. “But “Our kids were really Kaitlin Lostroscio, tractors,” Benson said. “The Middle and Brevard County when you meet the wonder- excited. Not only did they student chief of the Pink more immediate benefit, for home schools. ful kids in FIRST Robotics have the chance to see our Team’s pit crew and official us, is hands-on project man- “FIRST Robotics -- and I’ve met them by nation’s capital and meet a spokesperson for the team, agement experience for our takes science, technology, the thousands -- hope is host of new friends, nearly won the FIRST Deans List younger engineers. They go engineering and mathemat- restored. We really do have half had the opportunity to Finalist Award at the Florida from inception to comple- ics (STEM) out of the books someone to which we can see snow for the first time,” competition. Lostroscio tion, manage a time sched- and classrooms and presents pass the torch.” said team mentor Andy also is a member of the PD ule, personnel and personal- it in an incredibly fun way,” Bradley of Kennedy’s Engi- Bot Team, which recently ity differences. It really is a said mentor David Bush of neering Directorate. “It also created a robot for the Rock- good leadership laboratory Kennedy’s Center Opera- was interesting to see that ledge Police Department. for both the mentors and the tions Directorate. the D.C. teams were excited “She is in those posi- student leadership.” Bush said FIRST also to learn the Pink Team was tions of leadership not just Along with perfecting places emphasis on team- attending. Our reputation because she was selected, their robot, students on the work, gracious profession- of being a fun and outgo- but because she works so Bionic Tigers team play a alism and helping out the ing group precedes us. . . hard and contributes so vital role in the organization competition. NASA it’s hard to be uptight while much,” said Bradley. and logistics associated with “Teams are always The police robot developed wearing a pink outfit, don- The Bionic Tigers travel, community outreach giving technical advice to by volunteers from Kennedy ning a fuchsia wig and danc- team, sponsored by NASA’s and fundraising. each other, lending tools Space Center’s Engineer- ing with 50 other similarly Next up for the Bionic and parts,” said Bush. “It ing Directorate and students from the FIRST Robotics Pink dressed people.” (LSP) at Kennedy, consists Tigers is the Smokey Moun- really is amazing to see the Team was turned over to the It’s much more than of students from Cocoa tain regional competition environment at a FIRST Rockledge Police Department just designing, fabricating, High and Holy Trinity Epis- in Knoxville, Tenn., March competition . . . the kids re- during a ceremony March 16 at building and testing. Team copal Academy. Bill Benson 31 through April 2. Also ally do get the message.” a Rockledge City Council meet- ing. According to the Rockledge members participate in com- of LSP said the competition attending that competition When asked to de- Police Chief Ronald Krueger, munity outreach programs, benefits both students and is the Horsepower team, scribe his team with one this robot will save lives. such as Habitat for Human- mentors. which is mentored by Ken- word, Bush thought it near The team, called PD Bot, will ity, and raise money for “Theoretically, it’s nedy employees. It includes impossible, so he said, join forces with a FIRST Robot- their travel costs by hosting possible that these students students from Merritt Island “Supercalifragilisticexpiali- ics team from Tampa, Fla., to provide a similar machine for its car washes and wrapping might show up a few years High, Edgewood Junior/ docious,” which in literal police force. presents during the holidays, from now to work for Senior High, Merritt Island terms means, “Atoning for Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS April 1, 2011 Unique quilt tells story of NASA’s space shuttle missions

By Linda Herridge processing areas as allowed. Spaceport News The quilt has been inside Kennedy’s orbiter processing nited Space Alliance facilities, in front of Endea- (USA) employee vour during its final sched- Vicky Turner has U uled rollover, in front of the witnessed every space shuttle Vehicle Assembly Building’s launch since STS-1 in April signature wall and out to 1981, and she has the memo- Launch Pad 39A. ries and a unique mission “Each time I take it out patch quilt to prove it. for a photograph the quilt Turner, who has been at draws a crowd,” said Turner. Kennedy Space Center for “I hear some nice comments 32 years, works in USA’s en- about how beautiful it is.” gineering group in technical Currently, Turner operations. After witnessing works on the Collaborative every shuttle launch and col- Integrated Processing Solu- lecting each mission patch, tions (CIPS) program, which she decided to incorporate includes the business system them into a quilt design. for USA’s paperless work en- “I’ve been collecting vironment, the transition and these patches for so many retirement of NASA’s shuttle years, that I wanted to do CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Jim Grossmann fleet, and future contracts something special with them United Space Alliance employee Vicky Turner, lower right, displays her space shuttle mission patch quilt with help from co- work. rather than just storing them workers, clockwise from lower left, Angie Buffaloe, Perry Njuguna and John Young. To view, download or print shuttle mission Turner came to Kennedy patches, click on the photo. in a box,” Turner said. “I in 1979 to work as a tile wanted to make something has added STS-134 to the STS-1, because the patch “I may take it to quilt shows inspector. that represented the Space quilt, and is waiting for the was flown on Columbia, and or maybe allow it to be on She has two children, a Shuttle Program and my STS-135 patch. She also STS-51L, because a teacher display somewhere.” son Shawn, 23, and a daugh- years here at Kennedy.” plans to add the launch and was among the crew. Turner said the quilt ter, Heather, 26. Her husband She consulted with a landing patch and the end-of- Turner used an embroi- will measure about 78 inches of 28 years, Mike, owns a few friends and began to de- shuttle patch to the design. dery machine to make the wide and 78 inches long local business. sign the quilt about two years As she sewed the shuttles, the stars represent- when it is finished. The fab- “I am proud of and ap- ago. With no formal experi- patches onto the quilt, Turner ing the lost crews of Colum- ric for the edges and back of preciate all the people who ence in quilting, Turner came said she reminisced about bia and Challenger, and the the quilt will feature a space have been part of the shuttle up with a design that in- each mission and noted the STS mission numbers below design. program,” Turner said. “I’ve cludes all of the space shuttle detail in each one of them. A each patch. For now, she takes the met a lot of nice people mission patches and NASA’s few of the missions stood out “I’m looking forward to quilt with her so she can during my career here at five orbiter vehicles. She as she sewed. These included completing it,” Turner said. photograph it in various Kennedy.” 2011 KSC All-American Picnic all about safely having fun By Rebecca Regan forget about the pony rides for the Planning for this year’s event, committee is trying to perfect this Spaceport News kids.” dubbed “Celebrating 47 Years of year is the “Greening of the Picnic.” All-time favorites are in the Success at the Kennedy Space Cen- Frank Kline with Kennedy’s Center his year’s KSC All-American rundown, too, such as the car and ter,” presented some challenges. But Operations Directorate helped make Picnic on April 2 promises to motorcycle show, chili cook-off, and the picnic chairperson, Eli Schoen, that initiative a reality by imple- be a memorable event with T dessert contest. Live entertainment said his team of creative thinkers, menting similar principals used at new contests, exciting entertain- ment for children, extreme obstacle will feature Dr. Dan the Magic Man experienced and newcomers, found the ultra-green, environmentally courses for teens and the much-an- from Cocoa Village and a classic ways to accomplish more with less. friendly Propellants North Adminis- ticipated astronaut appearances. and contemporary rock band called “A big challenge the committee trative and Maintenance Facility. “The vision for this year’s Bandwidth. The group features faced this year was an expectation to The committee hopes the picnic was to ensure everyone has Launch Services Program’s Deputy provide a similar event to years past initiative will carry on into the work a safe and entertaining day,” said Program Manager Chuck Dovale. with a considerably smaller budget environments and homes of all who picnic committee member, Teressa Astronauts scheduled to sign and fewer volunteers,” Schoen said. attend. “We are excited to say that Nguyen. “The committee is excited autographs and snap photos with “What began as a seemingly impos- the committee as a whole feels this to present some new events and attendees include STS-130 Pilot sible challenge revealed itself as a year’s picnic will be an all-time activities, such as the KSC Idol sing- Terry Virts, two-time shuttle flier great opportunity to come together best,” Schoen said. ing competition, a 3-on-3 basketball Kay Hire, and member of the 2009 as a community.” For more info, click http://ksc tournament, and, of course, we can’t astronaut class Mark Vande Hei. An initiative Schoen said the picnic.ksc.nasa.gov/program.htm April 1, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Stardust’s final signal resonates ‘celestial three-peat’ By Kay Grinter As it lifted off Feb. 7, Reference Librarian 1999, Stardust was the last of three planetary missions ASA’s Stardust launched from Complex-17 spacecraft sent its on Cape Canaveral Air Force Nlast transmission Station between December to Earth at 7:33 p.m. EDT 1998 and February 1999. March 24, shortly after NASA’s Darren Bedell depleting fuel and ceasing was Kennedy Space Center’s operations. During its 11 mission manager for all years in space, the vener- three, including the Mars ‘98 able spacecraft collected and missions: the Mars Climate returned comet material to Orbiter and Mars Polar Earth and was reused after Lander. the end of its prime mission “We called it the “celes- in 2006 to observe and study tial three-peat,” said Bedell, another comet during Febru- now system integration ary 2011. manager for NASA’s Launch The Stardust team Services Program (LSP). performed the burn to Stardust was the fourth mis- depletion, because the sion managed by LSP. CLICK ON PHOTO NASA file/1998 comet hunter was literally “It was the faster, better, running on fumes. The cheaper era,” Bedell re- Workers remove the Stardust solar panels for testing in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in 1998. Thirteen years later and about 194 million miles away in space, the Stardust spacecraft sent its last transmission to depletion maneuver called. “While Stardust was Earth at 7:33 p.m. EDT on March 24. During its 11 years in space, the venerable spacecraft collected and returned comet command was sent from in development, the mass material to Earth and was reused after the end of its prime mission in 2006 to observe and study another comet during the Stardust-NExT mission of the spacecraft outgrew February. To learn more about the Stardust mission, click on the photo. control area at Lockheed the capability of the launch where in the middle. the comet Wild 2. Aerogel, Martin Space Systems in vehicle. We were challenged “It was a joint effort by More online the world’s lightest solid Denver. The spacecraft sent to decrease the spacecraft’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory material, was used to capture acknowledgment of its last mass while at the same time For more information about and Lockheed Martin engi- command from about 194 increasing the capability of Stardust and Stardust-NExT, comet particles, as well as neers. It took a lot of great million miles away in space. the Delta II. We met some- visit http://stardustnext.jpl. samples of interstellar dust. engineering accomplish,” nasa.gov. The spacecraft returned to Bedell said “The spacecraft’s Earth’s vicinity to drop off swivel antenna was replaced motor would not come in a sample return capsule and with a fixed antenna to contact with the spacecraft was retasked, as Stardust- reduce its weight. There was NExT, to perform a bonus a similar constraint for the early in its flight.” Spacecraft and launch mission and fly past comet solar arrays. Reducing the Tempel 1, struck by the number of movable parts, vehicle issues were not the only ones being worked out. Deep Impact mission in though, may have contrib- 2005. Stardust-NExT uted to the spacecraft’s The fledgling LSP also was collected images and other success.” perfecting its review proce- scientific data to compare The Delta II used a dures. What became known with images of that comet new third stage, the Star 37, as the Launch Vehicle collected by Deep Impact. conceived for the Stardust Launch Readiness Review, Stardust traveled about mission. or LVRR, was under devel- 13 million miles around Bedell explained: opment. “Bigger stages couldn’t be “The first few of these the sun in the weeks after controlled carrying such a reviews involved a few the successful Tempel 1 light payload. Stardust, at people sitting around a table flyby. The Stardust-NExT 385 kilograms, was the light- discussing launch readiness mission met all mission est spacecraft to be launched with the center director,” goals, and the spacecraft was on a three-stage Delta II. The Bedell said. “The Stardust extremely successful during energy requirement for the review processes, espe- both missions, part of the launch was very high -- cially the LVRR, helped LSP managed 2.5 times the energy required establish the process that at NASA’s Marshall Space to go to Mars. has been used to determine Flight Center in Huntsville, “There were complica- launch readiness ever since.” Ala. From launch until final CLICK ON PHOTO NASA file/1999 tions with post-separation Stardust traveled rocket engine burn, Stardust Billows of exhaust roll across Launch Pad 17-A at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., as a Boeing Delta II rocket carrying the Stardust spacecraft launches on collision avoidance. We did halfway to Jupiter to collect traveled about 3.54 billion Feb. 7, 1999. To view the launch online, click on the photo. a lot of work to ensure the the particle samples from miles. Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS April 1, 2011

NASA Employees of the Month: April Kennedy Space Center Activites 2011 KSC Spring Flag Football League Standings and Upcoming Schedule

POINTS POINTS Week 3 Schedule (April 6) TEAM RECORD SCORED ALLOWED 5:30 p.m. - Redheads vs. Blood Hunters Stuffers 1-0 27 7 6:30 p.m. - Rowdies vs. Islaughter Islaughter 1-0 24 0 7:30 p.m. - Stuffers vs. FAT Redheads 1-0 21 6 Week 2 (Resheduled to May 18, due Rowdies 0-1 7 27 to inclement weather March 30) FAT 0-1 6 21 5:30 p.m. - FAT vs. Blood Hunters Blood Hunters 0-1 0 24 6:30 p.m. - Stuffers vs. Islaughter Games are played Wednesdays at KARS Park I. 7:30 p.m. - Rowdies vs. Redheads POC: Matt Jimeniz, 321-867-4509 or [email protected]

2011 KSC Tennis League Rankings, Leaders and Upcoming Schedule NASA/Tom Farrar Employees for the month of April are, from left, Roger Rudig (Employee of the Quarter), Space Trans- Singles portation Planning Office; Kimberly Knight, Center Operations; Mariah Champagne, Chief Financial Office; Tammy Annis, Constellation Project Office; John Hueckel, Launch Services Program; Teresa Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Week 2 Schedule Week 3 Schedule Parham, Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate; and Emily Weiland, Procurement Office. Not Rankings Rankings Rankings (April 7) (April 14) pictured are, David Campbell, Information Technology and Communications Services; Nancy Hoffman, Tom Bond Alan Wheeler Laura Scott Bond vs. Ingham Bond vs. Specht Engineering Directorate; Christopher Iannello, Engineering Directorate; and Thomas Marren, Launch Billy Specht Calvert Staubus James Hudleston Specht vs. Young Ingham vs. Young Vehicle Processing Directorate. Bob Ingham Kevin Panik Scott DeWitt Wheeler vs. Panik Wheeler vs. Staubus Ken Young Norm Hosan Kate Liu Staubus vs. Hosan Panik vs. Hosan Scott vs. DeWitt Scott vs. Hudleston Hudleston vs. Liu DeWitt vs. Liu Space Shuttle Program 30th Anniversary Celebration The league seeks new players and is open to all Kennedy civil service and contractor personnel and On April 12 at 4 p.m., the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will commemorate dependents. Matches are played Thursdays at KARS Park I and II. the 30th anniversary of the first space shuttle launch to honor Kennedy and Cape POC: Alan Wheeler, 321-867-3565 or [email protected] Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) workers. A ticket is required for entry into the visi- tor complex for employees and their families, which includes a barbeque meal (choice Doubles of chicken or pork, cole slaw, chips, dinner roll, and soft drink or water). Tickets are COURT LEADERS FROM MARCH 29 available for advance purchase for $6 per person through April 6 at the following NASA Court 9 - Russ Jones Court 7 - Rod Downing Court 4 - Teresa Billig Court 2 - Kate Liu Exchange Stores: Headquarters from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and the Operations and Sup- Court 8 - Dave Davies Court 6 - Art Shutt Court 3 - Tom Li port Building I from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tickets will be available the day of the event for $10. A Kennedy or CCAFS badge is required for purchase and family members must COURT GROUPS FOR APRIL 5 accompany the badged employee for entry. Employees and family members can enter Court 9 Court 8 Court 7 Court 6 the Visitor Complex at 3:30 p.m. For more information, call NASA Guest Operations at Russ Jones Ron Feile Jay Hebert Alan Wheeler Scott Schilling Ray Jones Chip Hooper Jeff Andress 321-867-2144. Miguel Rodriguez Andy Maffe Vijay Shravah Debbie Streiber Dave Davies Rod Downing Art Shutt Teresa Bollig

Court 4 Court 3 Court 2 Norm Ring Ken Tenbusch Debbie dela Fuente Looking up and ahead . . . Amy Lombardo Kyle Nowlin Donna Waln Ted Moore Jane Mosconi Laura Scott Targeted for April 19 Launch/KSC: Endeavour, STS-134; 7:48 p.m. EDT Tom Li Kate Liu Laura Rochester Planned for May 3 Landing/KSC: Endeavour, STS-134; 1:27 p.m. EDT The league seeks new players and is open to all Kennedy civil service and contractor personnel and No Earlier Than May 5 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, SBIRS GEO-1; TBD dependents. Matches are played Tuedays at KARS Park I and II. POC: Teresa Bollig, 321-264-8575 or [email protected] No Earlier Than June 9 Launch/VAFB: Delta II, Aquarius / SAC-D Satellite; TBD

No Earlier Than June 23 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, GPS IIF-2; TBD John F. Kennedy Space Center

Targeted for June 28 Launch/KSC: Atlantis, STS-135; 3:48 p.m. EDT Planned for July 10 Landing/KSC: Atlantis, STS-135; 11:03 a.m. EDT Spaceport News

No Earlier Than July 15 Launch/CCAFS: SpaceX Falcon 9, Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and Dragon C2; TBD is published online on alternate Fridays by Public Affairs in the interest of KSC civil service and contractor employees. Aug. 5 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, Juno; Contributions are welcome and should be submitted three weeks before publication Launch Window 12:10 to 1:40 p.m. EDT to the Media Services Branch, IMCS-440. E-mail submissions can be sent to [email protected] Sept. 8 Launch/CCAFS: Delta II Heavy, GRAIL; Managing editor ...... Candrea Thomas 8:35:52 a.m. to 9:14:35 a.m. EDT Editor ...... Frank Ochoa-Gonzales Copy editor ...... Rebecca Regan No Earlier Than Oct. 9 Launch/CCAFS: SpaceX Falcon 9, Dragon C3; TBD Editorial support provided by Abacus Technology Corp. Writers Group. NASA at KSC is on the Internet at www.nasa.gov/kennedy USGPO: 733-049/600142