Incredible Flying Machine

Spring has sprung at JSC National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center SPACE CENTER ROUNDUP Volume 45 • Number 4 APRIL 2006 Roundup 3 6 5 0 0 1 8 8 8 8 8 8 0 0 0 E E E 6 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 C C C S S S J J J

r r r i i i a a a l l l B B B / / / A A A S S S A A A N N N

Space Center Roundup PRSRT STD The Roundup is an official publication of the U.S. POSTAGE NASA S81-29212 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, PAID Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, and is WEBSTER, TX published by the Public Affairs Office for all Space Permit No. 39 Center employees. The Roundup office is in Bldg. 2, Rm. 166A. The mail code is AP121. Visit our Web site at: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/roundup/online/ For distribution questions or to suggest a story idea, please call 281/244-6397 or send an e-mail to [email protected].nasa.gov. Incredible flying machine Joanne Hale Editor Kendra Phipps Assistant Editor Catherine Borsché and Brad Thomas Staff Writers Marshall Mellard Graphic Designer people were working onboard the station, will also take on tasks to restore operating devoted to later shuttle flights is going to and now we are actually back in a state capability of the station robotic arm’s come in our MPLM.” that we can continue with the assembly.” mobile railcar. One of two power, data On Flight Day 4, the station’s robotic STS-121 will begin its journey to the and video cables for the system was arm will lift Leonardo from the payload station when Discovery lifts off from inadvertently cut in December 2005. bay and attach it to the station’s Unity Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After A third spacewalk will include tasks Connecting Module. Then the station and entering orbit, the crew will spend about to test techniques for inspecting and shuttle crews will spend the next several 48 hours preparing for Discovery’s arrival repairing the reinforced carbon-carbon days unloading the cargo and refilling at the station and conducting inspections (RCC) segments that protect the orbiter’s Leonardo with trash, equipment and of the orbiter’s heat shield. After docking with the space station on Flight Day 3, the STS-121 crewmembers will conduct joint operations with the station’s expedition by Brad Thomas crew. Activities will include cargo transfers 121 and three spacewalks. Discovery is slated to undock from the will continue the on- deliver critical hardware and a new STS-104 flew to the station in 2001. His station on Flight Day 11 and land at NASA orbit testing of new crewmember to the space station, bringing new crew is a mixture of veterans and Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility on stsequipment and repair procedures for space the orbital outpost’s crew complement first-time fliers. Flight Day 13. STS-121 will be the 115th shuttles when mission STS-121 visits the back to three. The pilot is Mark Kelly, who will make shuttle mission and Discovery’s 32nd International Space Station later this year. “The main goals of STS-121, first and his second trip to the station. Kelly, a flight. Also, it will be the 18th space STS-121, the second Return to Flight foremost, are that we’re the second and commander in the U.S. Navy, served as shuttle mission to visit the space station. test mission, will carry on demonstrations final Return to Flight test mission,” the pilot of STS-108 in 2001. The STS-121 crewmembers are of safety improvements that debuted on the Lindsey said. “The second one… is purely Mission Specialist Piers Sellers, who scheduled to perform three spacewalks space station objectives. We will be holds a doctorate in biometeorology, will first Return to Flight mission, STS-114, to conduct tests for on-orbit inspection NASA ISS004E13294 make his second flight into space. Sellers and repair techniques for the orbiter’s The Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module rests in Space Shuttle Endeavour’s payload bay served as a mission specialist on STS-112 heat shield, perform station maintenance in 2002. during a previous trip to the space station. Leonardo will make its fourth trip to the orbital outpost and install spare parts for future use on the during STS-121. Mission Specialists Mike Fossum, station. Sellers and Fossum will perform all Stephanie Wilson and Lisa Nowak will three excursions. Sellers has accumulated nose cone and wing leading edges. The make their first spaceflight on STS-121. 19 hours and 41 minutes of spacewalking inspections will be done with an infrared Wilson and Fossum worked for NASA time during three spacewalks during camera, and the crew will use special before joining the astronaut corps. Nowak STS-112. Fossum will conduct his first sealants and plugs to repair simulated came to NASA from the Navy, where she spacewalks on this mission. RCC segments in Discovery’s payload bay. holds the rank of commander. STS-121’s three spacewalks will be In addition to a new crewmember, 0

Also scheduled to fly to the station on 2

performed from the station’s airlock while Discovery will deliver supplies and 2 7 E

Discovery is European Space Agency (ESA) 4 the orbiter is docked to the complex. equipment to the station. More than two 1 1 S

astronaut Thomas Reiter. When Discovery During one spacewalk, Sellers and Fossum tons of cargo will make the trip to the A S leaves the station, Reiter will stay behind A will test a 50-foot robotic arm boom station inside NASA’s Italian Multi- N to work under an agreement between ESA The space station soars above the Earth after Space

0 extension as a heat shield repair and Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), 3

3 and the Russian Federal Space Agency. Shuttle Discovery undocked during STS-114 in August 5

E inspection platform. known as Leonardo. This pressurized 4 2005. Discovery is scheduled to make its second 1

1 Reiter’s presence will give the station a

S “The idea is that we’re going to test cargo compartment will ride in the space

consecutive visit to the station during STS-121.

A three-member crew for the first time since S

A the suitability of this system for something shuttle’s payload bay along with the spare N Expedition 6 returned to Earth in May The remote manipulator system robot arm and its 50-foot extension, called the orbiter boom to stand on and work from while doing a parts for the station. experiments that will return to Earth. The 2003. He will also be the first ESA sensor system, flex above the Earth during STS-114. The boom will return to action during STS- repair on a shuttle,” Sellers said. “We’re Kelly said that Leonardo will deliver a robotic arm will return Leonardo to the 121 when it is used during inspections of Space Shuttle Discovery’s heat shield. astronaut to live aboard the space station going to put this whole system through wide range of cargo to the station. “We’ve payload bay before Discovery undocks. for a long-term mission. a series of tests to see how well it works as got a lot of supplies for the crew of the STS-121 will be Leonardo’s fourth trip to and build upon those tests. STS-114, transferring back and forth and re- Reiter said that STS-121 and the a stable platform.” space station that will be inside,” Kelly the station. which launched in July 2005, was the supplying the station with transfer items, arrival of a third station crewmember will During another spacewalk, Sellers and said. “We have some racks that will go in The STS-121 mission has a number of first shuttle mission to fly since the loss and also taking off the stuff that’s used be a good sign for the future. Fossum will contribute to the construction the U.S. Laboratory and then a lot of gear. objectives. “It’s going to be a full plate,” of Columbia and the STS-107 crew on up, old food trays and things like that.” “I think this moment signifies that we of the space station by installing a spare Things tend to wear out in space, so we’re Fossum said, “and there’s no one thing Feb. 1, 2003. Lindsey, who served as the pilot are getting back on track, if I may say so,” part on the outside of the station for bringing a lot of supplies that will replace that I could say would be my definition of Discovery and its crew, led by on two previous shuttle missions, Reiter said. “There has been an future use. The spare part is a pump for things within the space station and on the mission success. We’re going for all of it.” Commander Steven Lindsey, will also commanded his first shuttle flight when interruption of three years where only two the station’s thermal control system. They outside of the space station, stuff that’s

Roundup 08 Roundup 09 High-flying junk I John Opiela,orbital debrisscientist,displaysthedistributionofspaceorbitsaround theEarth. by BradThomas s spacecraft andare known asorbitaldebris,or these objectsare theremnants ofrobotic andhuman S centimeters indiameterare trackedby theDOD’s (human-made), ex “Everything now is inorbitaround theEarth and meteor function. S thatnolongerfulfillauseful orbiting theEarth program managerfororbitaldebris. and spacecraft,” saidNicholas Johnson, chiefscientist debris envir rest ofit. the NASA risks. Since ofthepicture, tracking onlygives part orbital debrisenvir I piececanbetracked. trackdebris,butnotevery to t is important forNASAtoknow isimportant whattheentire t aejunk. pace pace S The Department ofDefenseThe Department (DOD)usesradar n J O “Our principal jobistocharacterize theorbital ohnson saidthatdebrislargerthan10 rbital debrisisdefinedashuman-madematerials ’s Orbital Debris Program attemptstopaint ur v eillance N pace debrisincludesbothorbital a and othersatellites,millionsofobjects addition totheInternational Space Station oids, whichar onment andanalyz re orbiting the Earth. orbitingtheEarth. The majorityof re cept themoon,”J onment islikeandtheassociated etwork, headquartered in e naturalinorigin. e therisktoorbital ohnson said. 0centimeters. 10 assessing theenvironment fordebrissmallerthan O Cheyenne Mountain, ColoradoSprings, Colo. The 10,000 chancethatitwillhitthestation,M orbital trackofthestation,withagreater thanonein hours forobjectsthatcouldcomeclosetothe said Cheyenne Mountain eight personnelsearch every that NASAandtheDODtakeseriously. Johnson Earth. circling the piecessmallerthanonecentimetersare millions of debris thatare between oneand10centimeters Johnson saidthatmore than100,000piecesoforbital centimeters. 13,000 objectsthatare largerthan10 about onceay Johnson saidanavoidance maneuver isperformed Control will initiateacollisionavoidance maneuver. to humanspaceflightendeav one kilometerin2003. of debriswouldhav theclosestthatatrackedpiece beenperformed, not rbital Debris Program officeisresponsible for The threat thatdebrisposestospacecraftisone h ria ersPormswr snotlimited The Orbital Debris Program’s work is To date,ifacollisionavoidance maneuver had C I f anobject’s orbitplacesitcloseenoughtothe urrently, theDODistrackingmore than ear . e cometohittingthestationwas ors. “E very NASA very ission station.

NASA/DeHoyos JSC2006E06727 figur junkisupthere inspaceandto much the data.“M to 1,000kilometers.F orbital debrisisfoundatanaltitudeof850 Stansbery saidthegreatest concentrationof debris envir radars, telescopesandothertools. data gather gleaned fr S is themodelinglead. models. Dr. Mark Matney, aspacescientist, the orbitaldebristeamcreates aseriesof higher altitude.” with debriswouldbeworseiftheywere ata debris,” S area where atmosphericdragcleans out that islessdense. altitude below 600kilometers,are inanarea atan and station,whichorbittheEarth S be befor models todescribetheenvironment. But 1990s. the which were formulatedby NASAin have adopted thesefourbasicprinciples, agencies andtheinternationalcommunity canposetohumansontheground. debris istolookatthedangerthatany fourth itsmissioniscompleted;andthe once happens toaspacecraftorrocket stage space; thethird involves studyingwhat probability thatanexplosioncanoccurin thesecondistolimit necessary; creatinginadvertently debristhatisnot checks. The firstprincipleistheriskof principles thattheorbitaldebrisgroup them.” help thereports are compliant—ifnot,we if comes through ourofficeandwe evaluate launch,”Johnson said.“Every report prior to anorbitaldebrisassessment project hastodo tansber tansber collected. The orbitaldebrisgroup assessesthe The Orbital Debris Office alsocreates Stansbery saidthegroup usesinformation After thedataar shuttleandstationare flyinginan “The Johnson saidthatallU.S.government Johnson saidthere are fourbasic Lead M e e modelscanbecr out wher y y isoneofthepeoplewhocollects tansber om statisticalsamplingbasedon said. ed fr easurements Scientist Gene onment upto40,000kilometers. y jobistofigur e itisandwher om aworldwidenetwor y said. “The issueswe have y said.“The e collectedandanalyz or eated, datamust tunately e outho e itisgoing,” , theshuttle w k of ed, arm to study its optical properties. properties. tostudyitsoptical arm Heather Rodriguez, orbitaldebrisscientist,placesasimulatedsampleonrobotic must fallbackonstatisticalmodeling.“ are toosmalltotrackbutjustasserious.” iceberg,” M it intousefulinformation,”M andturn take thedatafrom theinstruments the U.S. expert tothe Unitedthe U.S.expert Nations for worldwide problem. Johnson, whoisalso a boundaries,” hesaid. environment hasnointernational orbitaldebris concern forall.“The engineers.” the senseofthedatatohandoff make to Matney said.“Weeverything,” have known data. “Modeling isbehind by covered happen duringashuttlemission. taken. The group alsomodelswhatcan actionis debris environment ifnofurther model pr would becreated by anexplosion.Another them isusedtopredict how muchdebris ther The modelsfillinthegapsnot Since theyare toosmalltotrack,one I Like pollution on Earth, orbitaldebrisis Like pollutiononEarth, Matney saidorbitaldebrisshouldbea e are numerous othermodels.One of “The objectswe seeare thetipof “The n additiontotheenvironmental models, edicts whatwillhappeninthe atney said.“ There are alotthat atney said. W e orbital debris. 1990s withther four guidelinesthatNASAadoptedinthe the guidelinesandothersteps.H are makingprogress onspaceoperationswith Johnson saidthatNASAandothergroups left uncheckedthepr orbital debris,saidthatifdebriswas Johnson said. reports ofinjuriesorsignificantdamage,” almost50years, there have beenno “In onEarth’sto humansorproperty surface. minutes,” Johnson said. do. “We canconfirmsatellitedebriswithin from aspacecraft, andinsomeinstancesthey year from peoplewhoclaimtohave pieces providing point. informationonthereentry theDODwillbegin fall backtoEarth will reenter theatmosphere. aswell aspredictingto Earth whatobjects inv up,” Johnson said. olv The Orbital Debris Program isalso “I So far, orbitaldebrishasnotcausedharm Johnson saidthegroupcallsa getsafew F our daysbefore anobjectisforecast to t iseasiernottopollutethancleanit ed inidentifyingobjectsthatfallback eduction ofne oblem wouldgetworse. wly cr e cr edits the eated Roundup

NASA/DeHoyos JSC2006E06729 11 “The ones that are really fun are the elementary school kids,” said Mike Giving NASA a voice Lutomski, risk manager for the International Space Station Program. “It’s THE SPEAKERS BUREAU ALLOWS JSC EMPLOYEES TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT A TOPIC not as cool for [fourth or fifth graders] to show enthusiasm, but when they are in NEAR AND DEAR TO THEIR HEARTS—THE SPACE PROGRAM kindergarten, first, second or third grade, they just go bananas!” by Catherine E. Borsché Rochlis had a touching experience after speaking to a group of teachers and students with the NASA Explorer Schools. 8 7

“The moment that really stood out for 7 4 0 E

What would happen if everyone in a choir “Young people in particular don’t realize, each JSC employee’s career and story has me was when a young girl, probably no 6 0 0 2

had the same voice and tone when they unless they hear from a NASA speaker, a unique slant to the overall NASA more than 7 or 8 years old, came to me C S J

z t sang? The music the singers would that they can follow their chosen mission, the more volunteers the better. and said, ‘Oh, I thought that was so i w o k produce would be pretty dull, and not profession, be it a doctor, lawyer, JSC speakers believe deeply in their interesting. But oh my goodness, I could r a M /

many would choose to hear it. However, accountant, engineer or even journalist, mission to spread the word about NASA. never be as smart as you,’” Rochlis said. A S A consider what would happen if you added and still work for NASA.” “The big picture is that the Space Act “It really just made my heart break to N many different singers to a choir, each To become a part of this “ambassador says the number one purpose of this think that here she is, already thinking Pleased to meet you, “Rocket Man.” The Speakers Bureau allows its volunteers opportunities to work at events such as the NBA All-Star Jam session, where you can become someone everyone that she can’t do it, that it’s beyond her. with a unique sound and musical quality. corps” only takes a few minutes. agency is to share our knowledge with the can look up to. The music they produced would be “Those who are interested in joining public,” said Jack Bacon, systems engineer Being a young woman specifically doing stunning, with a wide array of melodic the Speakers Bureau can just call or send in the International Space Station Program these kinds of talks, I sat there and talked sounds and harmonies. Wouldn’t you me an e-mail and request to be put on Integration Office. to her for a few minutes, saying, ‘Of Speakers not only get to share the “No matter what I talk about, I always rather listen to that second choir sing? the Speakers Bureau e-mail distribution Bacon says that judging from feedback course you can, you absolutely can do it. wealth of knowledge they have about throw in our Vision for Space Exploration. WThat is how it is when one chooses to list,” Deandra Young, Speakers Bureau he has received, the public does care If this is something you’re interested in, NASA, but they are also exposed to the Now we can say, ‘We’re working on it, and be an ambassador for the space program. coordinator for the JIMMS contract, deeply about NASA and is reading about you should do it full-heartedly. No one’s newest discoveries and fresh ideas. you will be the kids that go to Mars,’” The fewer people involved in spreading said. “Once they do that, about each the space program. He often gets various going to stop you.’ To me, turning her “It certainly, in my job, pays to think Lutomski said. “Another message I like to NASA’s story, the less likely it is that the week they’ll get a ‘Speaking of NASA’ questions about crewless missions, mind around that day was the most outside of the box, and it’s nice when they take out there is that this is your space public will clamor to hear about what we e-mail, an electronic flyer that lists all micrometeoroid debris and even going to rewarding thing ever.” let you out of the box every now and program. That’s what I try to stress—they are doing to benefit the world. the new speaking opportunities that we the bathroom in space at speaking events. Jeevan Perera, also a seasoned speaker, again. Particularly when I speak at are the customers for what we do.” “I think there’s a lot of misconceptions have available.” Not only does speaking about NASA had a lot of fun trying to explain to a technical conferences, I learn something [about NASA], because really the only Speakers then use that flyer to sign to the public benefit NASA, but it is young student how to use the bathroom from every place I go,” Bacon said. “Every things the public hears about NASA is up for speaking engagements, which are also gratifying for the speakers. Many in space. now and again I stumble across something what’s on the news or what they choose to on a first-come, first-served basis. It is also have wonderful memories from their “I recall one kindergarten student that I know we can use—for instance, go and read themselves,” Jennifer Rochlis, important to know that there are no speaking engagements. asking about how astronauts go ‘potty’ in printed electronics. It’s changed the way To find out more about NASA’s human factors and robotics engineer, said. “qualifications” to be a speaker. Since space. No matter how I tried to explain that we do inventory, track hardware, the Speakers Bureau Program, visit The Speakers Bureau works daily to that it was essentially the same as here on way we integrate our procedures. Getting http://www.nasa.gov/about/speakers change that with a force of almost 200 Earth with some minor differences to deal exposed to that was exciting—a real speakers. The Speakers Bureau is with the lack of gravity, the mechanics of information exchange.” If you would like to find out how responsible for coordinating speaking it just perplexed him beyond explanation,” And since the venues cover travel- to request a JSC speaker for requests from the public, including Perera, a Crew Exploration Vehicle risk related expenses for the speaking an event, visit schools, universities, conferences, clubs manager, said. engagement, it’s also a great way to see http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ and more, and matching the requests with Speaking to the public also requires new places. Speakers have even been able johnson/events/speakersbureau/ speakersbureau.html NASA civil servant speakers. JSC employees, by default, to be up-to- to go overseas to talk about the space “In addition to speakers educating date on the most current news within program. And, as Lutomski noted, the To get added to the Speakers Bureau audiences on the roles they play in support NASA. farther you are from Houston, the more 0

5 distribution and to begin receiving their 5 6

of the space program, they inspire public 4 “My favorite question was, ‘Oh, I “exotic” it is to be a NASA engineer.

E weekly electronic “Speaking of NASA” 5 0

support by personalizing NASA’s presence 0 heard they discovered planet X.’ And I The Speakers Bureau works to share

2 flyer, contact C S

J said, ‘No, no, it’s not true.’ And then I got NASA’s vision with those who aren’t

in their everyday life. Most Americans Deandra Young, z t i

know about astronauts, but are unaware of w back to my desk and I looked up some ordinarily exposed to it or don’t o Speakers Bureau coordinator, at k r a information on this new planet we’d understand it. Many speakers enjoy the the scientists and other professionals that M [email protected] / A

S or 281/483-4754 make up the majority of the NASA A found, and I went, ‘These kids know more challenge of educating taxpayers on the N workforce,” Linda Matthews-Schmidt, JSC team members learn more about the Speakers Bureau and the resources available to them than me!’” Lutomski said. “From then on, importance of our exploration goals and community relations manager, said. at an annual volunteer recruitment event in the Teague Auditorium. I sort of catch up on all the new planetary what we have already accomplished. sciences before I go talk.”

Roundup 12 Roundup 13 NASA JSC2005E20477 NASA/DeHoyos JSC2004E22678 NASA/Markowitz JSC2003E37672

continued from page 7 Texas A&M has been gathering information on the deer herd hopping around the center, and the occasional possum or skunk Not all of the animals at JSC are roaming free. JSC is taking Architects called Sustainable Landscapes. The Sustainable since 2003. “Once (Texas A&M scientists) had a population will be seen making its way from one set of shrubs to another. part in a program with the Houston Zoo to breed the Attwater’s Landscapes program was formed to support the culture and values model, they administered a vaccine that rendered some of the does A wide variety of birds can be found enjoying the landscape at Prairie Chicken, an endangered species that is native to Texas. of the local community, improve and restore desired wildlife infertile,” Ideler said. “The intent is not to decimate the herd but JSC. Sandy Parker, an environmental specialist, said the numbers “We have a total of 24 birds in the pen located behind habitats and contribute to the overall health of the local ecosystem. make it more manageable.” and varieties at JSC increase in the spring. “Springtime brings an Building 423,” Parker said. “These birds are held in captivity for Parker said that the Sustainable Landscapes program brings With JSC being surrounded by an eight-foot fence, Ideler said abundance of birds to JSC due to migration from South and breeding. It is all done under permits.” several benefits to JSC and its workforce including newly the deer live on site with very few coming in from the outside. Central America,” she said. People who drive down Saturn Road near JSC’s main gate can designated wildflower areas that were seeded last fall. “Some of the old-timers I have talked to say the deer have always Parker also said that there are a few birds of prey that can get a good look at another “captive” species, the Texas Longhorn. “One of the benefits is (the Sustainable Landscapes program) been here,” Ideler said. be seen patrolling the skies at JSC, including red-tailed hawks As of the end of February, there were a total of seven steers and is a potential cost-saving method. If we get the wildflowers According to Ideler, the risk increases for a deer/vehicle collision and falcons. heifers and one calf roaming the range—a 60-acre tract of land established, it will reduce the need for mowing,” Parker said. from November to January, which is when does go into heat. JSC’s mall is the sight of several ponds that are filled with koi just west of Rocket Park. “Also, if (the wildflowers) get established, it will help to improve Ideler said that the fertile does will have their babies in May and provide a safe haven for ducks. Walker said that the ducks are The Longhorn Project, developed jointly by JSC, the Clear the working conditions.” and June. He cautions people against interfering with the does and wild animals. “[The ducks] could leave if they wanted to,” she said, Creek Independent School District, the Houston Livestock Show Parker said that the wildflower explosion may not be as fawns, even if the fawns appear to be alone. “but they have it so good here.” & Rodeo and the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of brilliant this spring as it would normally be due to the dry weather Ideler said that he hopes JSC team members will not view The ponds also attract snakes, some of which are poisonous. All America, provides local high-school students with a one-of-a-kind that JSC experienced in the fall. deer as a problem but enjoy them. “The deer are part of the four types of U.S. poisonous snake can be found in the Houston area. learning environment that combines Western heritage with state- Parker said that the efforts to live with the wildlife and to environment,” Ideler said. “My greatest hope is that they appreciate Parker said that workers at JSC should enjoy the wildlife at of-the-art technology. promote nature at JSC go hand in hand with one of NASA’s and understand the deer.” JSC, but they shouldn’t try to feed the animals. “People feed the The natural taste of Texas isn’t limited to animals. JSC is now missions. “We feel like we are connected to the NASA mission of The majority of critters on site are much smaller than deer. One squirrels and koi,” Parker said. “People don’t realize they might be a test site for a new program developed by the Lady Bird Johnson trying to protect our home planet.” of the most abundant groups is squirrels. Also, rabbits can be seen doing more harm than good. They mean well.” Wildflower Center and the American Association of Landscape

NASA/Eddy JSC2006E08950 NASA/Markowitz JSC2005E11865

Roundup 14 Roundup 15 NASA/Blair JSC2005E40278 NASA/Blair JSC2003E56656 guest column Celebrating 25 years The following was compiled from stories that ran in the Space Center Roundup on April 14, 1981 and April 12, 1991.

Launching the first shuttle S by Christopher Kraft Space shuttle hailed as T ‘incredible flying machine’ launch of STS-1 was unquestionably a tense and exciting experience. During the last few months before the launch, all levels of the management team, both government

The S and contractor, were subjected to intense reviews by both NASA management and several outside Spaceship Columbia roared into orbit April 12, minutes and 12 seconds later, the solid rocket review committees. 1981 from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. boosters were jettisoned, to be recovered later These committees were made up of some of the nation’s foremost experts. The space shuttle Maneuvering through space and circling 151 miles downrange. Earth 36 times, astronauts John Young and Eight minutes and 34 seconds later, the main main engine, the orbiter automatic control and thermal protection systems received vigorous and Robert Crippen tested its systems then landed engines cut off. The speed was 25,670 feet per extremely thorough examinations. Other critical systems such as the auxiliary power unit, fuel cells, like an airplane on schedule: two days, six hours, second. The external tank was jettisoned and environmental control systems and the payload bay door operation came under similar attention. 20 minutes and 52 seconds later. broke up over the Indian Ocean, debris landing Although there were some dissenters, almost everyone involved agreed to proceed with the first The world hailed Columbia as the first true as programmed 21,000 miles downrange from flight. One dissenter made the dire prediction that the tiles on the underside of the orbiter would 1spaceship—an incredible flying machine. It Kennedy Space Center. fall off after the maximum heating period. This despite the fact that all of the tests that had been heralded the beginning of the era of crewed Columbia’s orbital maneuvering system round-trip travel from Earth. (OMS) took over at 10 minutes, firing for one suggested regarding this concern had been successfully accomplished. The launch preceded with a message minute and 27 seconds, to establish an orbit of As the time of launch approached, the best word to describe the NASA team is that we were nine minutes before liftoff from 132-by-57 nautical miles. A second OMS burn anticipatory. The final Flight Readiness Review gave the “GO” for launch and the countdown President Ronald Reagan. It achieved a 130-mile circular orbit. A third OMS started. I recall being asked at the time how we made such a complex and awesome decision, to was read by George Page, burn at six hours, 20 minutes set the orbit at which I responded: “We have examined every aspect of the Space Transportation System and found shuttle launch director: 148-by-131.7 nautical miles and a fourth added there is nothing left to do and so it is time to fly.” Frankly, my biggest concern was the paucity of “You 30 feet per second to set the circular orbit at go forward 149.3-by-147.6 nautical miles. reliable aerodynamic data in the Mach number range of 8 to 2. We had done an exhaustive study this morning The morning of Day 3 arrived and using a very wide range of each aerodynamic parameter and employing a Monte-Carlo process, but in a daring astronauts Young and Crippen readied for the the fact that the machine was basically unstable in this flight regime did give me pause. enterprise, and you crucial test of a winged Earth entry and wheels- After the first launch attempt was scrubbed, the STS-1 launch went off well. To say it was take the hopes and downing landing. Previous spacecraft returned thrilling would be a gross understatement. The powered flight phase has always made me prayers of all to Earth with parachutes and splashdown. apprehensive, but this one was almost overwhelming. The fire and steam and the high acceleration Americans with you,” A quarter of a million people were on the said the president’s (California) lakebed that morning, which was were impressive. message. awash in a sea of Winnebagos, blue bunting, The entire flight went off with almost perfect precision. There were a few anomalies, but John “As you hurtle U.S. flags and network anchors, but most of Young’s comment that “it is a beautiful flying machine” certainly described everyone’s emotions. from Earth in a craft the half-million eyes were trained on the sky. The entry and landing were particularly gratifying because of the tremendous effort that had been unlike any other ever Although they couldn’t see the spacecraft required to reach that point in the program. Again I was asked for a comment. I said “we had just constructed, you will do so just yet—Columbia was still far out over the become infinitely smarter.” I would not say it any differently today. in a feat of American technology Pacific—they had been able to hear the and American will.” exchanges between Mission Control and the The first launch of the Crew Exploration Vehicle will be equally trying. The engineers working Rising on a throne of 6.6 million pounds two astronauts thanks to loudspeakers out on on this challenging program will have similar emotions, but they too will find tremendous 2

9 of thrust, Columbia at first flew steeper than the desert floor. “Okay, understand. Go for the 4 0 3

- satisfaction from having accomplished the task. It will require the Herculean support of every

1 programmed, its three main hydrogen-powered deorbit burn,” Commander John Young had 8 S

person involved to reach the moon again in the next decade. However, I am confident that the A engines and two solid rocket motors driving said when the time came to fall out of orbit. S A N management team and the young talent now being assembled will do it well. skyward. “Thank you now.” Columbia made a 100-degree roll to the Earth entry lasted about 31 minutes, as the Launch view of the Space Shuttle Columbia right, heading for its imaginary target. Two spacecraft Columbia entered the atmosphere for the STS-1 mission, April 12, 1981. continued on page 4

Roundup 03 400,000 feet above Earth. At this point, Columbia was about 4,390 miles from the Edwards landing strip in California. At 151,000 feet, traveling more than eight times the speed of sound, Crippen saw coastline ahead. “What a way to come STS-8 to California!” he called. The worst of the waiting was over. Astronaut Guion (Guy) S. Bluford became Theory was becoming a reality. the first African-American in space aboard Twin sonic booms announced the arrival of Columbia Challenger on the first mission to launch and land at night August/September 1983. while the vehicle was still at an altitude of 54,000 feet. Bluford flew three more shuttle flights About 400 feet above the desert, landing gears were lowered. before leaving NASA in 1993. Columbia landed on Runway 23 of Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert, rolling 8,993 feet—within 200 feet of the estimate.

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STS-41B STS-3 The first mission to end with landing at the Kennedy The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down on Space Center included another historic first when the Northrup Strip at White Sands Missile Astronaut Bruce McCandless II flew untethered Range, New Mexico, marking the first (and outside Challenger during a demonstration only) time it touched New Mexico soil. Landing spacewalk. The nitrogen-propelled, hand-controlled was shortly after 9 a.m. Mountain Standard manned maneuvering unit was used operationally

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STS-63 Astronaut Eileen M. Collins became the first woman pilot of the space shuttle on the first mission to rendezvous with the Russian space station Mir in 1995. She later flew three more times, most recently STS-7 as commander of STS-114 last July. Collins became the first woman to receive Early shuttle program firsts continued with the the National Space Trophy on March 24, flight of STS-7 in June 1983. Sally K. Ride 2006. The trophy was established by the became the first American woman to go into space Rotary National Award for Space

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Roundup 04 Roundup 05 STS-71 Where This view of the Space Shuttle Atlantis still connected to Russia’s Mir space station was photographed by the Mir-19 crew on July 4, 1995. The STS-71 mission was the first time that the the wild shuttle docked with the Mir space station. things are by Brad Thomas

STS-88 A variety of white and gray clouds form the backdrop for this 35mm scene of the connected Zarya and Unity

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NASA/Blair JSC2003E56650 Space Shuttle Facts utting-edge technology and sophisticated rocket ships Walker is also co-chairperson of the Wildlife Committee,

I Propellant weight at liftoff: 3,851,887 lbs. I During the first two shuttle missions, the external tank was are often associated with NASA’s Johnson Space Center. which was chartered by the JSC Safety Action Team (JSAT). I Air pressure = 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi), same air painted white. Beginning with STS-3, NASA decided not But once inside the gates, it can become very apparent One purpose of the group is to educate JSC employees on how pressure as sea level on Earth. (The space station is about to paint the tank, saving 1,100 pounds on each flight. that engineers, astronauts and support personnel are not to coexist safely with JSC wildlife and provide information on I Cthe only ones on site. They share the 1,580-acre facility with an seasonal wildlife issues. 14 psi (equal to the average atmospheric pressure in The flow of fuel from the shuttle external tank into the main Oklahoma City, altitude 1,285 ft; normal air pressure in engines is equal to draining an average swimming pool in abundance of creatures. Deer are the largest wild animals on site and are one of the Las Vegas = 13.6 psi, and in Denver it’s 12.1 psi). 25 seconds. The pump pressure equals that of a submarine JSC is the home of a wide range of wildlife and domesticated animals most likely to be involved in an incident, in particular I Windows (six across the front, two looking into the payload three miles deep. animals. The wildlife includes, but is not limited to, deer, collisions with automobiles. bay, two overhead and one hatch) each are actually three I The shuttle’s solid rocket boosters have a combined thrust possums, squirrels, skunks, snakes, koi and a large assortment of Wildlife Committee Co-chairperson Andy Ideler said that Texas panes, not just one. So how thick are they (discounting the of 5.3 million pounds, which is equal to 44 million feathered friends. There has even been a documented sighting of A&M University estimates that there are between 160 to 174 deer hatch)? Outer: 0.6 inch; middle: 1.3 inches; inner: 0.5 inch horsepower, or 14,700 six-axle diesel locomotives, or a bobcat on site. Also, JSC hosts domesticated livestock and is on site. Ideler is responsible for the group’s deer committee. I Missions (all 114) have begun from the Kennedy Space 400,000 subcompact cars. involved in an effort to breed an endangered species, the Attwater’s JSAT started the deer committee to address the increasing deer Center in Florida. Twenty-eight of those were launched I The SRBs are two feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty Prairie Chicken. population at the center. Ideler said that different options were at night. (they’re 149 feet, 1.6 inches tall), but each, at 700 tons, Stephanie Walker, a flight crew systems manager, said that she discussed including capture/relocate and birth control before JSC I At full power, the shuttle main engines generate, in watts, the weighs three times as much. enjoys the outdoor surroundings at JSC, in particular the ducks. opted for birth control. equivalent output of 13 Hoover Dams. “I think it is a great stress release to watch the ducks,” she said. “Pure concrete does not relax me.” continued on page 14

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