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September 15, 2006 Vol. 45, No. 18 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/snews/spnews_toc.html Atlantis, STS-115 return to space station construction Landing scheduled delayed previous attempts. “It’s been almost four years, for Sept. 20 at KSC two return-to-flight missions, a tremendous amount of work by oments before the launch thousands of individuals to get the of Space Shuttle Atlantis shuttle program back to where we Mon STS-115, Commander are right now and that’s on the Brent Jett expressed the crew’s verge of restarting the station excitement about the mission from assembly sequence,” Jett said. his seat inside the orbiter. The fuel cut-off sensor system, “We’re confident over the next which delayed Atlantis’ scheduled few weeks, and few years for that Sept. 8 launch, performed normally matter, that NASA’s going to prove the following day. The engine cut- to our nation, to our partners and off sensor is one of four inside the our friends around the world that it liquid hydrogen section of the was worth the wait and the shuttle’s external fuel tank. sacrifice,” Jett said. “We’re ready Atlantis’ flight resumes to get to work.” construction of the station. The Atlantis and its six-member shuttle and station crews will work crew are docked at the Interna- with ground teams to install a tional Space Station after lifting girder-like structure, known as the off from Kennedy Space Center at P3/P4 truss, aboard the station. The 11:15 a.m. on Sept. 9. The liftoff 35,000-pound piece includes a set was the fifth in the launch window of giant solar arrays, batteries and after weather and a fuel cell issue (See ATLANTIS, Page 4) SPACE SHUTTLE Atlantis lifts off at 11:15 a.m. on Sept. 9 for its rendezvous with the International Space Station on mission STS-115. Parsons to be next Kennedy Space Center director NASA selects Lockheed Martin ASA Administrator as Orion CEV prime contractor Michael Griffin named NWilliam (Bill) Parsons the ASA selected Lockheed Orion will form a key element of new director of the Kennedy Martin Corp., based in extending a sustained human Space Center, effective in Bethesda, Md., as the presence beyond low-Earth orbit January. Parsons succeeds Jim N prime contractor to design, to advance commerce, science Kennedy, who is retiring. develop and build Orion, and national leadership. Parsons currently serves as America’s spacecraft for a new Announced on Aug. 31, deputy director of KSC, a generation of explorers. Lockheed Martin will be respon- position he has held since Orion will be capable of sible for the design, development, February. transporting four crew members for testing, and evaluation (DDT&E) As Space Shuttle Program lunar missions and later supporting of the new spacecraft. manager, Parsons led the return- crew transfers for Mars missions. Manufacturing and integra- to-flight activities for the agency Orion could also carry up to six tion of the vehicle components and played a major role in the crew members to and from the will take place at contractor success of the Discovery STS-114 International Space Station. facilities across the country. mission. His first stint as NASA’s The first Orion launch with Lockheed Martin will perform the Stennis Space Center director in humans onboard is planned for no majority of the Orion vehicle Mississippi came in August 2002. BILL PARSONS will become the Kennedy Space Center director later than 2014, and for a human engineering work at NASA’s (See PARSONS, Page 2) moon landing no later than 2020. in January. (See ORION, Page 3) Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS September 15, 2006 neers worked issues with antenna NASA joined the world in mourn- actuator bolts and fuel cell 1 on ing those lost during the tragic Atlantis. The team displayed that September 11, 2001, terrorist The “whatever it takes attitude” I like attacks on our Nation. The attacks to talk about. were intended to tear us apart; The STS-115 mission delivered instead, they united us. a major structure to the Interna- Space legend Rocco Petrone Awards Kennedy tional Space Station, marking the recently passed away, but his first time in nearly four years that a legacy at NASA and KSC will space station component has been never be forgotten. You can read Update added to the orbiting outpost. This about Petrone’s legacy, still Jim Kennedy will be one of NASA’s busiest present today at KSC, in this Center Director shuttle missions in history. Thank edition of Spaceport News. you for all that each of you do, and I was very proud when NASA etween typical Florida Pad 39B to ride out Tropical Storm congratulations on another terrific Administrator Michael Griffin weather, the launch Ernesto, but by taking the precau- launch! announced Bill Parsons as my Bpreparations for STS-115 tions to secure the entire center NASA gave the world more successor when I retire this and the announcement of from any possible damage. I’m exciting news with the announce- January. Bill has stepped up to the Lockheed Martin as the prime happy to report that no damage to ment of Lockheed Martin as the plate and delivered every time contractor for the Orion crew facilities were reported at KSC or prime contractor for the next- NASA has asked and we both look exploration vehicle, I’ve reached a at the Cape Canaveral Air Force generation manned space vehicle. forward to an exciting agenda for new level of pride as your director. Station. Using the best of Apollo and space the upcoming months. The greatest space team in the The work force hit the ground shuttle technology, Orion will fly As we look ahead, the next turn world began this busy time by not running after Ernesto, then to the moon as well as service the of the calendar will bring the only securing Atlantis at Launch cautiously stood down as engi- International Space Station. annual Combined Federal Cam- We are on the brink of an paign (CFC) to the civil service amazing accomplishment as we work force. The CFC committee is complete construction of the space planning kick-off activities for station, while also transforming early October. We’ve set a new our facilities for the goals of the record each year I’ve been director Constellation Program - to launch and I’m sure you are ready for its first manned flight no later than another banner year. 2014. Enjoy the week and I’ll be We can not look forward seeing you around the center! without paying respect to the past. September NASA employees of the month INSIDE THE Launch Control Center, KSC Director Jim Kennedy congratulates the launch team after the liftoff of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-115. Behind him are (left to right) Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach, Pat Leslie and Robbie Ashley, STS-115 payload manager. PARSONS . later as the shuttle flow director of the Shuttle Operations Directorate (Continued from Page 1) at Kennedy. In 1996, he became He was first assigned to Stennis in manager of the Space Station 1997 as the chief of operations of Hardware Integration Office at the the Propulsion Test Directorate. center. Parsons relocated to NASA’s Parsons has received numerous Johnson Space Center in Houston honors, including the Presidential to become the director of the Rank Award (Meritorious Execu- Center Operations Directorate. He tive); NASA’s Exceptional Service later served as the deputy director Medal and Distinguished Service of Johnson. He returned to Stennis Medal; and the Silver Snoopy, in 2001 and served as director of awarded by astronauts for out- the Center Operations and Support standing performance in flight he September NASA employees of the month, standing from Directorate. safety and mission success. left, include Matthew Parris, International Space Station and In 1990, Parsons joined the Parsons holds a bachelor’s TPayload Processing; Gary O’Neil, Shuttle Processing; William NASA team at Kennedy Space degree in engineering from the Riddle Jr., Center Operations; and Christopher Comerford, Safety and Center as a launch site support University of Mississippi and a Mission Assurance. Seated from left are Dawn Dwyer, Information manager in the Shuttle Operations master’s degree in engineering Technology and Communications Services; Dorothy Davis, Engineer- Directorate. He also worked as an management from the University ing Development; and Penny Chambers, Office of the Chief Counsel. executive management intern and of Central Florida. Not pictured is Penelope Hale, Procurement Office. September 15, 2006 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Lebron ‘reinvigorates’ Launch Services Program safety By Jennifer Wolfinger that the Safety and Mission EDDIE LEBRON, Staff Writer Assurance Directorate provides to chief of the the NASA Launch Services Launch Services hen one of Kennedy Program and related spacecraft Program Safety and Mission Space Center’s leaders, customers. He also develops Assurance WEddie Lebron, received different approaches to satisfy the Division, enjoys the NASA Outstanding Leadership directorate’s requirements and contributing to Medal for motivating his col- functions recommended by the the growth of leagues to achieve high levels of Columbia Accident Investigation young talent at excellence, he experienced similar Board. NASA. He inspiration in return. Lebron strives to bring a new received the “Recognition for the accom- dimension to the division’s NASA plishments is definitely an functions, resulting in efficient Outstanding Leadership incentive and catalyst for improve- work and significant independent Medal for his ment. It’s given me a sense of flight readiness assessments effect on NASA contribution to the nation’s space supporting expendable launch programs.
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