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Jan. 23, 2009 Vol. 49, No. 2 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/snews/spnews_toc.html STS-119 crew arrives for TCDT By Linda Herridge Spaceport News clear blue sky served as the back- A drop as Discovery’s STS-119 crew members touched down at Ken- nedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility aboard T-38 aircraft Jan. 19, for the Terminal Countdown Dem- onstration Test, or TCDT. A year’s worth of training cul- minated in three days at the center to prepare for their mission to the International Space Station to deliver and install the S6 truss segment and solar arrays. They were greeted by Launch Director Mike Lein- bach and NASA Test Direc- NASA/Kim Shiflett tor Pete Nickolenko, and STS-119 mission crew members head across the tarmac to greet the media after arriving at the Shuttle Landing Facility. From left, is Commander Lee Archambault, then fielded questions from Pilot Tony Antonelli, and Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold, John Phillips and Koichi Wakata. The crew flew to Kennedy Space Center members of the news media to take part in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities, which include equipment familiarization, emergency exit training, and a simulated launch countdown. during a brief Q-and-A. to familiarize themselves adding the final pieces of Johnson Space Center and for NASA’s space program. Commander Lee Ar- with the mission payload, the station’s power supply get out here very seldom “It’s beautiful to see Discov- chambault, Pilot Tony An- practice emergency egress, will allow a full comple- for official training. This ery on the pad and we know tonelli, and Mission Special- and take part in a simulated ment of power to operate the is really the culmination of it’s the result of many thou- ists Richard Arnold, Joseph launch countdown. Columbus and Japanese labs our training when we get to sands and thousands of man Acaba, John Phillips, Steve Commander Archam- on the station. spend a couple days here.” hours,” Archambault said. Swanson and Japan Aero- bault said they’ve been “I’d like to recognize Archambault said it’s Wakata said delivery space Exploration Agency training for more than a year the people at Kennedy,” a great time to recognize of the S6 truss and solar astronaut Koichi Wakata, and are anxious to get going Archambault said. “We the thousands of people at spent three days at Kennedy on this mission. He said do most of our training at Kennedy who do so much See STS-119, Page 2 Getting suited up Heritage: Inside this issue . First Block II Saturn I launched 45 years ago Director’s update Lightning tower goes up at Launch Pad 39B Page 2 Page 3 Page 6 Page 7 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS Jan. 23, 2009 Upcoming challenges bring in the new year new year is upon us gressive in recent years and at early this year is whether and the challenges you can understand why we’re structured properly to Aabound! The future Director’s it’s so important that we meet our commitments to holds great things for the stay focused and continue the programs in the future. Kennedy Space Center, and Update to meet our commitments With that in mind, key successfully navigating the in the excellent manner we members of senior staff and turbulent waters that lay Bob Cabana always have. project managers at Ken- ahead of us will be the key Kennedy Space Center Director Change isn’t always nedy will be meeting in the to our success. easy to deal with. Often This is a truly exciting times it brings with it un- next few weeks to clarify the time for human spaceflight. certainty about the future, roles and responsibilities of launch later this year. In addition to the new As we look around Kennedy which can cause concern. the programs and the institu- The Operations and challenges presented by the we see the signs of change Administrations, tion, and then determine the Checkout Building’s high Constellation Program, we and new beginnings. programs and management best possible organization bay has been totally redone have five shuttle missions Modifications to Launch personnel may come and for Kennedy to effectively and is being dedicated this scheduled this year, includ- Pad 39B are taking shape as go, but the one thing that utilize our work force. month to support the as- ing four to the International the first of three new light- remains constant is Kennedy The future is here; it’s at ning protection towers has sembly and processing of the Space Station and the final Space Center is the premier new Orion spacecraft. servicing mission to NASA’s Kennedy now, and we have been erected to support the launch facility for America’s to deliver. We must continue Constellation Program. Work is taking place Hubble Space Telescope. space program. You have a to provide excellent techni- In the Vehicle Assembly around the center to prepare These missions are essential secure role in the exploration cal solutions, on time and Building, the upper stage us to launch and recover to complete the ISS, and of space that is vital to our for the Ares I-X test flight is the first new U. S. human continue to increase in their future. under budget. being stacked, and the first spacecraft to be developed in difficulty and criticality. Change also brings with This is going to be a stage solid rocket motor seg- more than thirty years. This Now, add to this an it the opportunity to do our great year and it’s a privilege ments have arrived and are is history in the making and expendable launch program jobs even better. One of the to be a part of this outstand- being processed to support a we’re at the center of it. that’s one of the most ag- areas we’re going to look ing Kennedy team. From STS-119, Page 1 if the crew needs to exit the space shuttle and ride the slidewire bas- arrays is significant. “We’re going kets to the ground in an emergency. to the six-member phase of the Later, Commander Archam- International Space Station later this bault and Pilot Antonelli put on year,” Wakata said. “I’m ready and their launch-and-entry suits and looking forward to contributing to practiced landing at the Shuttle this mission.” Landing Facility aboard the Shuttle During the mission, Wakata Training Aircraft, or STA. The STA will transfer to the station and is a modified Gulfstream II jet that replace NASA astronaut Sandra mimics the space shuttle’s gliding Magnus as Expedition 18 flight profile during landing. engineer. On Tuesday, crew members Phillips said the crew watched rode to the pad and participated a lot of video from previous solar in an emergency exit walk down array installations in order to pre- pare for the STS-119 mission. and sat in the slidewire baskets “We take this very seriously,” at the 195-foot level of the fixed Phillips said. “We all have a role to service structure. They also viewed play in this installation.” Discovery’s payload bay from the NASA/Kim Shiflett payload changeout room. Phillips will operate the space STS-119 Commander Lee Archambault is in the driver’s seat of the M-113 armored personnel carrier station’s robotic arm, while An- used for emergency escape, if needed, from Launch Pad 39A. Other crew members behind him are, Just as they will on launch day, tonelli, Acaba and Wakata operate from left, Mission Specialist Steve Swanson, Pilot Tony Antonelli, and Mission Specialists Joseph the crew suited up in the Operations the space shuttle’s robotic arm. Acaba, Richard Arnold, John Phillips and Koichi Wakata, who represents the Japan Aerospace and Checkout Building, boarded the Exploration Agency. Swanson and Arnold will perform Astrovan and traveled to Launch three spacewalks, and Acaba will Constellation Program. of the program.” Pad 39A to participate in a simulated perform two during the mission. “I would at least encourage On Monday, crew members re- launch countdown Wednesday morn- Though the crew’s schedule President Obama to keep the course ceived an orientation on the M-113 ing. In the afternoon they boarded did not permit them to watch the NASA is going on,” Archambault armored vehicle and then practiced the T-38 jets and returned to NASA’s inauguration, Archambault said he said. “The long-term goal of driving the vehicle near Launch Pad Johnson Space Center in Houston. would like to encourage the new getting back to the moon and ulti- 39B. Resembling a small tank, the Discovery’s STS-119 mission is president to press on with the mately beyond is really the future vehicle serves as a means of escape targeted for launch Feb. 12. Jan. 23, 2009 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 First of three Ares lightning protection towers up at Pad 39B By Linda Herridge Spaceport News “This project ooking out over Ken- is like a reality nedy Space Center’s Lskyline toward the check, it marks Atlantic Ocean, the stage the beginning is being set around Launch of the Pad 39B for the next gen- eration of NASA space Constellation vehicles. Program.” A 600-foot-tall light- ning tower took shape on Jose the east side of the pad as an even taller crane lifted Perez-Morales, the remaining steel structure Launch Pad Senior and fiberglass mast from the Project Manager ground nearby and placed it on top of the tower Jan.