Oct. 16, 2009 Vol. 49, No. 21 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/snews/spnews_toc.html Journey back to moon inspires students, teachers By Linda Herridge In September and Spaceport News October, the ERC hosted What we said . Florida students from An- ASA’s Lunar Crater Kennedy Space Center workers drew Jackson Middle School Observation and gathered in the Operations in Titusville; Clearlake Sensing Satellite, or and Checkout Building and the N Middle School in Cocoa; and Operations Support Building II LCROSS, made an impact Girl Scouts from Brevard for a live viewing of the on more than just the moon LCROSS lunar impact. and Orange counties, for its when it plunged into the sur- Here’s what they said. LCROSS-related activities face shortly after 7:31 a.m. “It’s another day in history.” EDT Oct. 9. “On Target” and “Touch Down.” – Jennifer Abernathy, NASA For several weeks lead- Launch Services Program ing up to the event, Kennedy The “On Target” activ- Space Center’s Education ity challenged students to “It took me back to the impact it Division conducted work- modify a paper cup so it had on me when I witnessed the could zip down a line and first moon landing in 1969.” shops and special activities – Larry Tucci, ManTech for hundreds of students drop a marble onto a target. and teachers from Brevard The “Touch Down” activ- “Hopefully we’ll learn from this ity challenged students to lunar landing how to scale the County, Fla., and across the NASA country. protect two “astronauts” blast of an Altair descent stage Hundreds of Kennedy Space Center workers gathered early Oct. 9 to watch impact from an aborted landing Dr. Lesley Garner, lead the LCROSS moon impact at the Operations and Support Building II 5th floor during landing by designing and building a shock-absorb- near a lunar outpost.” for Elementary/Secondary Conference Room and the Operations and Checkout Mission Briefing Room. The – Phil Metzger, NASA Engineering LCROSS mission seeks to test for water ice deposits on the moon, which will pave ing system, using cardboard, Surface Systems and Informal Education, said the way for future human lunar exploration. it’s an exciting time to be paper cups, straws and mini- “Losing the video was not that part of NASA education. neering and mathematics, or “It’s the next step in ex- marshmallows. “The students had a big of a deal, as long as they get “The students who STEM, careers at an early ploration for the next genera- the data they need, everything are participating in Lunar age.” tion,” said Laila Rahmatian, great time and came back should be OK. I’m anxiously Reconnaissance Orbiter/ Those wishing to catch NASA co-op. excited about being able awaiting the data and hoping LCROSS education activities a live glimpse of the impact While LCROSS inves- to accomplish something there’s water up there on the moon.” could very well play a role gathered in Kennedy’s tigators are busy scanning special, even though they usually have difficulty doing - Christopher Han, in sending mankind back to Operations and Checkout through data for signs of wa- United Space Alliance the moon and on to Mars,” Building and the Opera- ter ice deposits on the moon, normal classroom book- Garner said. “To help them tions Support Building II. the activities will continue at work,” said Dana McLaurin, “I’m kind of disappointed we achieve this goal it is vital Although the cameras on NASA’s Educator Resource a special education teacher lost video, but it still was very at Stone Middle School in exciting. Hopefully we’ll see that we take an active role to the impactor went out right Center, or ERC, through at what the data has to show.” encourage students to pursue before it hit, the excitement least December, and perhaps – Don Spratt, NASA science, technology, engi- of the mission’s goal did not. beyond. See MOON, Page 2 50 years of service Heritage: Road to Inside this issue . launch pads turns 45 Energy awareness Buzz Lightyear returns Page 2 Page 3 Page 6 Page 7 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS Oct. 16, 2009 From MOON, Page 1 Melbourne, Fla. October is Energy Awareness Month Other events included a Bre- espite the recent and unex- Schools in the United States vard In-service Teacher Workshop pected heat wave, October and its territories, science muse- on Sept. 14, followed by another Ways to conserve is the time of year when ums, science centers and home workshop on Oct. 3. Facilitators took D For more ways to conserve we welcome cooler temperatures school groups may host teams. LCROSS activities on the road to energy in the workplace, click on and observe Energy Awareness The winning teams will be an- Durbin Creek Elementary School in the “Bring your Green to Work” Month. nounced in May 2010. During the Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 15, where link at: This year’s energy theme, “A students and their families gathered winning team’s visit to Kennedy, Sustainable Energy Future: We’re www.energystar.gov. for Astronomy Night, and viewed the students will gain firsthand knowl- Putting All the Pieces Together,” moon through telescopes provided edge about NASA’s missions, encourages everyone to help by the ERC. tion by unplugging equipment that receive behind-the-scenes tours of acheive and maintain an energy- According to ERC Program drains energy even when not in use launch facilities, and learn about efficient future. Manager Birdette Brown, with the and placing trouble calls to report future aerospace and engineering When we put all the pieces University of Central Florida, the energy waste in the work area. careers. together, all of us -- NASA, private ERC will host LCROSS briefings for Follow Kennedy’s slogan, The competition is designed industry and the public -- we have Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Orange “Get a Grip on the Power, Save to engage and retain students in the means to shape our energy County educators Oct. 17. Energy at KSC.” the science, technology, engineer- future and move our nation toward Later this month, LCROSS ing and math disciplines critical to energy independence. activities will reach more Florida NASA’s missions. The 2009 Energy Awareness Water recycling competition students from Willow Creek Middle For information about the Month campaign reminds federal School in Vero Beach, Lake High- challenge and how to apply, visit: employees to switch off unneces- NASA also is calling on fifth- land Preparatory School in Orlando, www.nasa.gov/offices/education/ sary lights and equipment, use through eighth-grade students to Trinity School in Tampa, and Mathis centers/kennedy/home. efficient Energy Star products and participate in a waste limitation Elementary School in Jacksonville. compact fluorescent light bulbs, management and recycling design LCROSS briefings and activi- and drive fuel-efficient and alterna- challenge. Musgrave to speak ties already were given to the Indian tive-fuel vehicles. Participants in the competition River and Gifford libraries in Vero The National Energy Con- will design and test water recy- NASA astronaut Story Mus- Beach, Fla., the Citrus Council Girl servation Policy Act requires all cling systems that could be used grave will talk about “The Beauty Scouts, students visiting from Ennis federal agencies to reduce energy for future exploration of the moon. of Nature, The Art of Technology” Junior High School in Montana, consumption per gross square foot The top three teams will receive during a presentation at 6:15 p.m. Lauer Middle School in Pennsyl- by 3 percent annually or 30 percent awards, and the first place team Oct. 17. vania, New Covenant School in by 2015. will receive a trip to Kennedy. Brevard Community College Orlando, and Living Science Home In addition to the energy Teams of up to six students is hosting the event at the Cocoa School in Georgia. conservation measures above, the and one teacher or mentor should campus’ Florida Solar Energy LRO/LCROSS press kits and Kennedy Space Center Energy submit their proposals and results Center at 1679 Clearlake Road in special DVDs titled, “Let’s Kick up Working Group calls on all em- to NASA for evaluation by Feb. 1, Cocoa, Fla. Some Moon Dust,” were sent to each ployees to reduce energy consump- 2010. For tickets, call 321-727-2311. Brevard County school. The ERC also hosted planetarium shows lead- ing up to and after the impact. “We are excited to share STEM Former Kennedy worker, LCROSS hands-on activities with students and educators,” Brown said. astronaut remembered “It is an amazing opportunity to be able to inspire the next generation ernando “Frank” 1991 as a cryogenics and of astronauts, scientists, engineers, Caldeiro, a NASA propulsion systems expert geologists and geographers, as well Fastronaut and former for the Safety and Mission as students interested in the many Kennedy Space Center Assurance Office. He took other career opportunities NASA has employee, died Oct. 3 after part in 52 space shuttle to offer.” a battle with brain cancer. launches before being chosen The education outreach doesn’t He was 51. as an astronaut candidate in end there. About 30 college under- Caldeiro was born 1996. graduate and graduate students from June 12, 1958, in Buenos He received his master around the country participated in an Aires, Argentina, but of science in engineering online chat with LCROSS Co-In- considered New York City management from the vestigator Peter Schultz on Oct. 15. and Merritt Island, Fla., to University of Central Florida. Schultz also is the director of the be his hometowns.