Dec. 9, 2011 Vol. 51, No. 24 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe 21st Century Program passes major milestone By Steven Siceloff Previously, launch infrastructure Spaceport News management was a project that was tied strongly to an individual he program tasked with set- launcher and spacecraft, such as the ting up NASA’s Kennedy space shuttle. TSpace Center to host an “We’ve kind of graduated from array of launchers and spacecraft a project to a program,” Colloredo passed a milestone last week with said. “It’s exciting in a lot of ways. the completion of the 21st Century It’s tough.” Ground Systems Program’s Mission The organization already has Concept Review. made numerous decisions about “It gets all of our stakeholders what roles landmark facilities on board,” said Scott Colloredo, at Kennedy will play in future chief architect for the 21st Century launches, although there are many Ground Systems Program. “We feel more choices to make. For example, good about it.” the Space Launch System under de- The program is one of two new velopment will need only one high NASA programs that basically bay in the Vehicle Assembly Build- opened their doors at Kennedy in ing, or VAB, along with one mobile the past year or so. The other is the launcher. So, the new program is Commercial Crew Program. They working with other rocket compa- join the Launch Services Program, nies that want to use other bays in which moved to Kennedy in 1998. the VAB for their own processing The 21st Century Ground work. Systems Program is a big step for “There are a lot of big decisions NASA and Kennedy in that it is set that are going to impact for a gen- up to accommodate a number of eration.” rockets with new techniques and When program officials are con- parcel out the center’s extensive ar- sidering what changes to make to ray of facilities to several users. Kennedy facilities, they place a pre- Launch Pad 39B is envisioned mium on keeping options open so as as a site that could see the liftoff many launchers as possible can use CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Cory Huston of NASA’s new Space Launch a given facility. When Launch Pad Kennedy Space Center Director Robert Cabana (white shirt in front of group) and other support person- System super rocket one week, and 39B was refurbished, for example, nel accompany the mobile launcher, or ML, as it rolls from Launch Pad 39B to the park site near the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. Data on the ML collected from structural and commercial company rockets and functional engineering tests during its two-week stay on the pad will be used in the next phases of spacecraft the week after that. See MILESTONE, Page 2 construction. For more information, click on the photo. Space Week Scenes Around Kennedy Special Stockings PHSF Anniversary Inside this issue... Page 3 Pages 4-5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS Dec. 9, 2011 NASA honors volunteers for helping to shape future By Stephanie Covey Kennedy was like a home to him. Valencia Mitchell has worked at Spaceport News More information “The legacy of the past is a big Kennedy for 33 years and currently For more information about volunteering part of the future at KSC,” Sieck is the construction administrator. haring plans for future space said. She said she loves being here at exploration is as important at Kennedy Space Center, contact Wendy Dankovchik at 867-3005 Debbie Billias, who has worked at Kennedy because she feels part of Sas ever as NASA transitions ([email protected]) or Kennedy for 41 years, has volun- each mission. from the Space Shuttle Program to Tiffany Fairley at 867-7986 teered for 15 of those years. She is Mitchell is on the tiger team, a the Space Launch System heavy-lift ([email protected]). very passionate about the shuttle group of volunteers that lead tours rocket, Orion and the Commercial program. In fact, she joined the across the center. She said she loves Crew Program and Kennedy Space support throughout the year. Kennedy team in time to see the to volunteer at Kennedy because Center has just the people to do it. Center Director Bob Cabana STS-1 mission launch and saw all she is able to see and experience a Kennedy relies on a core of more thanked the volunteers during the 135 shuttle launches. launch up close. It is an experience than 700 volunteers consisting of presentation and said their com- “I enjoy seeing the looks on so few people ever have. current and retired employees who children’s faces when they see the munication with the public helps “The event really shows our share a strong passion for NASA shuttle launch,” Billias said. “I love appreciation to the volunteers for NASA better educate about the past and the space program. On Dec. 1, the rumbling in my chest. It is a part public outreach and conveying the and future of the center. these volunteers were recognized at of history, and I am glad that I got to NASA story to the outside world,” the Apollo/Saturn V Center for Bob Sieck, former launch director be a part of it.” said Tiffany Fairley, program/project dedicating their time to spread for more than 50 shuttle launches Although Billias is planning to coordinator for ReDe/Critique. information about the center’s and a current volunteer, said when retire at the end of the year, she is Fairley said volunteers are es- mission through educational he retired it was very hard for him to not planning to stop volunteering. sential to raise awareness of what programs and VIP guest and leave something that was such a big In fact, she’s already signed up to NASA has done, is doing and will media tours, as well as launch part of his life for so long. He said continue. do in the future. From MILESTONE, Page 1 the result was a “clean pad” with no fixed servicing tower or permanent clean room, both of which were needed to support the space shuttles. Instead, designers made room for the things every launcher will need, such as a water sound suppression system, electronics and data links, and a flame trench to funnel exhaust away from the rocket. “We want to be flexible, evolving, as multi-use as possible,” Colloredo said. “The clean pad ap- proach was a big part of that.” The redone Launch Pad 39B got a glimpse of the future recently when workers moved the 355-foot-tall mobile launcher (ML) into place for tests. After two weeks at the pad, the CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Jim Grossmann ML was driven back to its park site Members of the media tour several facilities Nov. 21, including the Operations & Checkout Building high bay where NASA’s Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Orion will be processed, during the 21st Century Ground Systems Program Tour at Kennedy Space Center. Other tour stops were the Launch Equipment Test beside the VAB atop one of the two Facility, the Multi-Payload Processing Facility and the Canister Rotation Facility. NASA’s 21st Century Ground Systems Program was initiated at Kennedy crawler-transporters. Space Center to establish the needed launch and processing infrastructure to support the Space Launch System Program and to work toward transforming The structural testing and systems the landscape of the launch site for a multi-faceted user community. For more on Orion, click on the photo. checks on the ML went well, Col- asteroid, Mars and other deep-space remain at the pad for only five days will stride down the same metal loredo said. destinations aboard the agency’s new before launch, a far cry from the walkway shuttle astronauts used. “It’s the first time we’ve done Orion spacecraft. weeks a shuttle would spend there With the mission concept review something like that in a long time,” The SLS is a modular rocket al- getting ready for liftoff, but there completed and the testing on the ML he said. “The clean pad functioned successful, Colloredo said the 21st lowing components of the system will be a certain tie between the ML like we thought it would.” Century Ground Systems Program to be mixed and matched to suit the and the shuttle pads, Colloredo said. The mobile launcher took two is starting to show results from the years to build and will go through payload and mission. Therefore, The orbiter access arm used months of work, studies and deci- some modifications to host the Space engineers are making the mobile at Launch Pad 39A is going to sions that have been under way. Launch System, or SLS. The SLS launcher capable of hosting five dif- be used as the crew access arm “There’s a lot of work going on is NASA’s booster that is being ferent versions of the SLS. on the ML, meaning that astronauts that a lot of people don’t realize,” he developed to launch astronauts to an The SLS and ML are expected to getting into the Orion spacecraft said. “We feel good about it.” Dec. 9, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Students explore life in space during Brevard Space Week By Linda Herridge “Brevard Space Week is impor- Spaceport News More online tant because it inspires students to study STEM disciplines and helps hat’s it like to live and NASA links for educators: www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/Alpha_index.html work in space? Almost NASA links for students: www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/index.html them realize the opportunities that About NASA Education: www.nasa.gov/offices/education/about/index.html 6,000 Brevard County are available to them,” Scauzillo W Brevard Schools Space Week: http://spaceweek.brevardschools.org/ said.