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Volume 5 Issue 1 www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis January 2010 Stennis hosts NASA Day at the Capitol Astronaut Danny Olivas addresses members of the Mississippi Senate Stennis exceeds during NASA Day at the Capitol activities 2009 campaign Jan. 6. He is joined by Mississippi Lt. Gov. Phil giving goal Bryant (at left rear), Stennis Space Center tennis Space Center Deputy Director Patrick employees closed 2009 by Scheuermann (left) and exceeding their Combined a pair of Gulf Coast S Federal Campaign giving goal delegation members. Olivas also spoke to the of $200,000 by 16.5 percent. Mississippi House of Representatives during Employees contributed Jan. 6 activities. $233,016 through the 2009 campaign. In addition to epresentatives from John C. “These are exciting days for NASA exceeding the giving goal, the Stennis Space Center visited and Stennis Space Center,” Stennis 2009 total also surpassed the RJackson on Jan. 6, to meet Director Gene Goldman said. “Sten- 2008 giving total by almost with Mississippi legislators as part of nis is making continued progress, $35,000 (17.3 percent). NASA Day at the Capitol. readying for testing of the engines that will replace the space shuttle The CFC is the largest annual Astronaut Danny Olivas, who has main engine. In addition, we are workplace charity effort. Each logged more than 668 hours in space involved in science projects related to year, its gifts support organiza- and 34-plus spacewalk hours during a the Gulf of Mexico and benefi cial to tions providing health and hu- pair of space shuttle missions, joined this region. These efforts are fun- man service benefi ts through- Stennis representatives to thank Mis- damental in helping prepare for the out the world. sissippi legislators for their continued future of America’s space program support of NASA. Highlighted dur- and are indicative of the vital role For the 2009 campaign, 119 ing the event was Stennis’ important Stennis will continue to play in space Stennis employees qualifi ed as role in the past, present and future travel and Earth science.” Bronze Eagle contributors with of America’s space program, and gifts of $480 to $1,000 for the its positive effect on Mississippi’s The center has a total workforce of year. Thirty-eight employees economy and quality of life. more than 5,000 and has a con- gained Silver Eagle status with sistently strong economic impact gifts of $1,001 to $2,000 for For Mississippi lawmakers, Stennis throughout the region. Within a the year. Nine employees were displayed exhibits in the Rotunda, 50-mile radius, Stennis had a direct Golden Eagle contributors, highlighting the center’s role in the economic impact of $668 million in giving more than $2,000 for the future of space exploration. Models 2009. The direct global economic year through the campaign. of the next generation Ares I and impact of the center totaled $875 Ares V rockets also were displayed. million for the year. Page 2 LAGNIAPPE January 2010 and exploration. That story includes many memorable From the desk of chapters of Stennis achievements, all of which we will build upon. Gene Goldman We are continuing our preparations for next-genera- Director tion engine testing as we await fi nal decisions on the Stennis Space Center future course. That work includes completion of the unique A-3 Test Stand and continued E Test Complex testing. It includes test support for development of commercial ISS supply capability to fi ll the gap left “The last sound on the worthless Earth by shuttle retirement. B Test Complex maintenance and refurbishment for further RS-68 work and even- will be two human beings trying to launch tual stage testing are in the early planning phase. The a homemade spaceship and already quarreling Source Evaluation Board for a follow-on Test Opera- tions Contract is being staffed for an extremely impor- about where they are going next.” tant center procurement. Our Applied Science group is (William Faulkner to the UNESCO Commission, October 1959) initiating work on recent research proposal awards. In addition, they are seeking areas of collaboration with resident and regional agencies to further knowledge t’s 2010 ... fi nally! The holiday season is over, with and improve quality of our environment and our lives. its paths through colored paper and gifts awaiting All these represent steps along “the crossroads of Ireturn. Last year is already fading from memory, science” envisioned by our center forebears. It is also but hopefully, its lessons are ingrained and fast becom- indicative of our incredible potential as the heading ing ritual. We’ve begun another trip ’round the sun; evolves. hang on! Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said there was no We are in the last year of planned shuttle fl ights, with other time in history he would have preferred to live. only a handful left. The space shuttle has been an I believe that to be true in the realm of human space- incredible program, enabling a continuous presence in fl ight. We live and work in a unique era and endeavor. space, now approaching a decade on the truly Interna- Let’s make the best of it in 2010, and beyond. “Where tional Space Station. It provided for deployment, repair we go next” should be quite a journey! and maintenance of the Hubble Space Telescope, keeping a view of our universe’s past into the future. Dream big; work harder! It’s given us an incredible volume of “hard things” ac- complished, adding to the history of human spacefl ight State leaders welcome astronaut Mississippi leaders welcomed astronaut Danny Olivas (center) and Stennis NASA Day at the Capitol activities included visits by astronaut Danny Space Center Deputy Director Patrick Scheuermann (far right) during Olivas (center) with Mississippi leaders (l to r): Speaker Pro-Tempore NASA Day at the Capitol activities Jan. 6. In addition to other activities, Rep. J.P. Compretta, D-Bay St. Louis; Rep. Dirk Dedeaux, D-Perkinston; Olivas visited with (l to r): Sen. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis; President fi rst lady Marsha Barbour; Speaker of the House Rep. William McCoy, Pro-Tempore Sen. Billy Hewes, R-Gulfport; Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant; and Sen. D-Rienzi; and Gulfport Mayor George Schloegel, who also is chair of the Ezell Lee, D-Picayune. INFINITY Science Center board of directors. January 2010 LAGNIAPPE Page 3 FULFILLING NASA’S EXPLORATION MISSION A-3 Test Stand to mark 2010 milestones he A-3 Test Stand being built to test Tthe next genera- tion of rocket engines at NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center will mark several construction mile- stones in 2010. “Some deadlines related to the stand are tentative as the future of America’s space exploration program The A-3 Test Stand site at NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center is a busy place as work progresses on several is decided,” A-3 Project fronts. Installation of liquid oxygen, isopropyl alcohol and water tanks (to the left of the stand) continues, as does Manager Lonnie Dutreix work to install water delivery system piping (to the right of the stand) and general work on the structure. said. “However, we remain on schedule with the main gaseous nitrogen bottles American Tank and Vessel to the A-3 Test Stand will construction work.” for use with the chemical Inc. in nearby Lucedale. be completed in 2010. steam generator. The A-3 Test Stand will • Install a 66-inch water LOX and liquid hydro- Construction of the test provide simulated high- valve and piping between gen tanks will be installed stand’s lower SCB will altitude testing of the J-2X the delivery system con- atop the stand to provide proceed in 2010. Another rocket engine being devel- nection and the existing fuel for tests. Other LOX, SCB will be located at the oped to carry humans be- water system. isopropyl alcohol and top of the stand. Together, yond low-Earth orbit once • Construct the lower water tanks are located on these will contain all the more as part of NASA’s Signal Conditioning Build- the ground for use by the data acquisition and con- Constellation Program. ing (SCB). chemical steam generators. trol capabilities needed by • Construct the test Four of the tanks have stand operators. In 2010, construction stand’s shop building. been installed. In 2010, the work on the new stand will remaining fi ve water tanks Finally, 2010 will see proceed on several fronts Installation of the test cell will be installed. construction of the shop as workers: and diffuser is the next building next to the stand. • Begin installing the major task to complete. Installation of gaseous test cell and diffuser. The test cell and diffuser nitrogen bottles to be used “This will be a unique test • Install the liquid will enable operators to by the chemical steam gen- structure – and one pretty oxygen (LOX) and liquid simulate altitudes of up to erators will begin in 2010. important to the space hydrogen tanks atop the 100,000 feet, using a series The 32 bottles will provide program,” Dutreix said. “If test stand. of chemical steam genera- the pressurization gas we’re going beyond low- • Receive and install fi ve tors to create a vacuum. needed by the generators. Earth orbit, we’re going to remaining chemical steam need upper stage engines. generator water tanks. The test cell and diffuser Work on piping to connect Stennis is where those • Start installing the is being manufactured by the existing water system engines will be tested.” 2010 launch schedule STS-130 STS-131 STS-134 Shuttle Endeavour Shuttle Discovery Shuttle Endeavour Target: Feb.