May 13, 2011 Vol. 51, No. 9 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe Cape Crusaders Cabana shares perspective on current, future direction By Linda Herridge supporting NASA’s science support, strap in Spaceport News missions with expendable launch vehicles (ELVs). ennedy Space Currently, there are five Center Director shuttle crew NASA ELV launches re- Bob Cabana told maining this year, and three By Steven Siceloff Not to mention the pure K a packed audience at the Spaceport News excitement that comes with of those will launched from National Space Club Florida nearby Cape Canaveral Air getting ready to go into orbit. Committee luncheon, May he crew of space Force Station. They might not be 10, that NASA is not going shuttle Endeavour will Juno is a five-year mis- thinking so much about out of business and Kennedy climb into the crew strapping themselves into the sion to Jupiter. The Gravity T NASA/Kim Shiflett is not closing its doors after Recovery and Interior Labo- compartment shortly before seats on the shuttle. NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough is the last space shuttle launch sunrise on Monday ahead of ratory (GRAIL) is a mission “You’ve got your mind in the White Room at Launch Pad 39A during his KSC: Framing the the scheduled liftoff at 8:56 helping the STS-134 crew strap into to the moon and NASA’s on a lot of stuff when you’re Future presentation. a.m. Heading up the launch getting into the shuttle and space shuttle Endeavour during the Mars Science Laboratory Terminal Countdown Demonstration Cabana touched on tower and getting to the getting ready to launch into (MSL) with its Curiosity Test (TCDT) on April 1, just as he will current work including hatch, they will be greeted space,” said astronaut Stan on launch day. rover will be the largest preparing for the next by the Closeout Crew and Love, a mission specialist on rover to explore Mars. space shuttle launch, the once they get inside the the STS-122 mission. “And on STS-74 and STS-100, “MSL is really an awe- Launch Services Program, shuttle, other astronauts will hooking up connections isn’t worked as an ASP before some mission and some of International Space Station, help them into their seats as always top of your priority his first flight. He credits the the flight support hardware NASA’s budget and continu- the shuttle stands on its tail list.” experience with teaching has already arrived at Ken- pointed to the stars. That’s why the crew him the details of launch day. ing resolution and what the nedy,” Cabana said. It is that second group gets help from other “Working at the Cape as future holds for the center. The International Space of astronauts, the ones not astronauts who get into the a Cape Crusader, C-squared, “We’re on track for Station has been occupied flying, that is responsible for shuttle with them but have whatever you want to call Endeavour’s launch, by humans for nearly 11 making sure the Endeavour no intention of flying that it,” Hadfield said, “I learned May 16, at 8:56 a.m.,” years, beginning with Ex- crew commanded by Mark day. Those astronauts are so much about how the Cabana said. “The crew is pedition 1 that docked Nov. Kelly is ready to go when the known formally as Astronaut vehicles get ready, about the in great spirits and they’ll 2, 2000. To date, more than engines ignite on STS-134. Support Personnel, but attitude at KSC, and about be back at Kennedy this 200 people from eight dif- After all, astronauts they go by several names, what it is to be one of the Thursday for our Monday ferent countries have visited climbing into a space shuttle including ASPs, Cape crew members getting in and morning launch attempt.” the space station. are typically thinking Crusaders because they out of the vehicle.” Cabana said with all “We will have astro- about lots of things, from are assigned to NASA’s It’s not as easy as the change going on at the nauts living and working trajectories and abort Kennedy Space Center in putting on a seatbelt, after center, there’s been one con- on the space station until scenarios to systems and Florida, or just C-squareds. all. For one thing, on launch stant, the Launch Services at least 2020, and Kennedy when to talk to the launch Chris Hadfield, a Program, which continues team and mission controllers. Canadian astronaut who flew See CRUSADER, Page 3 to do an outstanding job See CABANA, Page 2 NASA Explorer Schools Freedom 7 event New NASA Stamps Endeavour turns 20 Inside this issue... Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 7 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS May 13, 2011 NASA Explorer Schools dare students to dream big By Rebecca Regan investigation. The project things and working with you Spaceport News was awarded the “NASA in the future.” Sports Challenge” and Afterward, the students nspiring the next gen- will be played aboard the participated in hands-on edu- eration of explorers, International Space Station cational and skill-building Iscientists, engineers and later this year, with a few activities. Elementary stu- educators to “dream big” modifications. The goal is for dents built miniature robots was the goal of this year’s astronauts to gather objects and high schoolers built NASA Explorer Schools and build devices to save speakers. Symposium at Kennedy the planet, which actually is As he worked on his Space Center. just a large, soft ball, from speaker, Fernando Zamora- The symposium kicked CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Kim Shiflett incoming meteorites. Jimenez, an eighth-grader off May 4 with a welcome A student participates in a hands-on activity during the NASA Explorer Schools Sym- Thurston ended their from High Point, N.C., said, dinner in the company of posium at Kennedy Space Center on May 6. To read the full story, click on the photo. presentation with a small “From this experience, I’ve Bob Cabana, Kennedy’s over the rainbow dreams do the multitude of career paths piece of advice for the space learned that if you try your director and a former space come true because that was a the space agency offers, participants: “Play safe.” hardest, there really are shuttle astronaut. About 60 dream mission from start to including studying Earth’s Curtin said if she could rewards.” fourth- through 12th-grade finish.” climate, the sun, the solar ask the astronauts questions In the past, the NASA students and their teachers The symposium par- system, or galaxies and black after they played, they would Explorer School Symposium listened as Cabana shared ticipants were competitively holes, as well as designing be, “Who won?” and “What only was open to fifth- a vivid memory of seeing selected after they completed and launching rockets and was the most challenging through ninth-grade students. shuttle Endeavour awaiting an original investigation capsules that will travel to part?” Priscilla Moore, an educa- liftoff on Launch Pad 39A focused on existing NASA low Earth orbit and beyond. The symposium’s career tion specialist at Kennedy, with a remarkable rainbow missions or research inter- “Keep learning,” Rabelo panel boasted a wide variety said adding older students overhead. Later that day in ests and presented it to the said. “Continuous learning is of Kennedy employees, delivers NASA educational December 1998, Cabana and space agency via the Digital so important because science from a wildlife ecologist and content to many more. his crew would lift off on Learning Network. As their is always changing.” human resource specialist “The NASA Explorer the 12-day STS-88 mission reward, they spent four days Fifth-graders Nell to a chemist, engineer and Schools mission is to be the to begin construction of the at the space center. Curtin and Hazel Thurston contracting officer. agency’s classroom-based International Space Station. Luis Rabelo, a proj- from K.W. Barrett Elemen- “When I was in fourth- gateway to middle and “Our very first day in ect manager for NASA’s tary in Arlington, Va., and grade, I was only interested high school students,” said orbit, the wake up music Experimental Program to their classmates developed in Girl Scouts and soccer,” Moore, “inspiring them to was Judy Garland’s, ‘Some- Stimulate Competitive Re- a sports game for space, chemical engineer Annie participate in NASA mis- where Over the Rainbow. It search, or EPSCoR, was on called “Save the World,” Caraccio said. “So congratu- sions and develop their apti- brought tears to my eyes,” hand to listen to the students’ using Sir Isaac Newton’s lations . I look forward to tudes in science, technology, Cabana said. “Somewhere presentations and explained three laws of motion for their seeing you accomplish great engineering and math.” From CABANA, Page 1 gram Office at Kennedy to manage and federal agencies to prioritize presence on or near the center.” the commercial space activities that and modernize launch assets, and Cabana said work continues to will be processing payloads for will be critical to the nation’s future provide the capability to support define the architecture for explora- commercial partners like SpaceX spaceflight. The effort includes a production, processing and recovery tion beyond Earth. He said the 21st to ferry to the station beginning in recommended $4.25 billion through- of space systems. Century Ground Systems Program 2012,” Cabana said. This extension out five years for the development “These Space Act Agreements Office at Kennedy will provide the will expand the station’s scientific, of commercial crew systems, includ- will allow us to take advantage of necessary program management for technological and educational de- ing $850 million in the president’s American ingenuity to get to low the ground infrastructure develop- velopment potential to drive science budget for next year.