• • • to government guide ofthe and shape: inbelong purview the really and that awhole, as country to the deemed important has The NASA’sabout country. to the value to tell one. We transition asmooth havemaking agreat the story to assist in Headquarters Space Center NASA with will working be over holidays. and relaxation the rest needed family much- time some with and get to spend and friends quality TestSands Facility in Mexico. New had an you opportunity Ihope well as our White as campus, and interns to our Houston students The directorof JSC Ellen Ochoa HAPPY NEW YEAR! YEAR! NEW HAPPY 2

• Finally, America’s continues space program to inspire people • We by maintaining enhance for national security acapability brings presidential anew This month and Johnson administration, partners, I’m happy to welcome all contractors, employees, back

across the country and around the globe—from and around the talk country kids who across the NASA, We Space orbit. orbit. creating aspace demand in for economy, low-Earth particularly applied and be by can across many industries that technology health and well-being. and address national and global issuesknowledge impacting spacecraft. and and reliable systems components aerospace-quality ofproducing capable country across the base industrial including and beyond, wehave orbit arobust assuring that Earth access to space—both and (soon robotic again) human—in low- positive examples ofglobal leadership and collaboration. since inceptionpolicy most and today its provides ofthe one LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

benefits

bring

also particularly

economic

provides from

NASA

human

benefit

a

unique

activities

spaceflight,

to

laboratory the

are

country

ones

has

to

that

both been

expand

the

through

linked

government

our

to scientific

new

foreign

exploration by beingexploration lean, agile and adaptive to change. tuned Stay will human continue space advance us to help JSCOur efforts 2.0 eachto work day, ofinnovation. ensuring weremain forefront the at single brings team ofyou Our one every passion is by the that fueled and dedication work ofour workforce. tremendous ofthe because test who imaginable science, for local elementary kids at http://go.usa.gov/x8Myj. at kids elementary local for life to story spaceflight human the brought Space Center interns Johnson how Read2016, about event. more Campus on NASA Nov. the during 18, Mars and moon Space Station, International Noah Michelsohn demonstrates the distance to the from Earth IMAGE OF THE QUARTER @Astro_Ellen The-Director@mail.nasa.gov. You onTwitter: me follow also can to JSC-Ask- Iinvite and suggestions questions to your send always, you • for Johnson SpaceJohnson Center leader is the in human space exploration I look forward to accomplishing these goals together as a team. As ateam. as As to accomplishing together goals these forward I look class astronaut ofanew • Announcement Research• Human Research Human Exploration Analog Program James Webb ofthe Space Telescope• Arrival stacking module and service • Orion crew • One-year mission Human Research research results Program in 2017, planned ofactivities We have avariety including:

more

what our government does right. ourdoes government what excellent “Hidden feature new Figures”); parents and even the (such the as orinspired about culture by NASA movies and books general onevery public us to the following NASA; with studying our challenge to design to students space habitats; International Space orenter the aboard Station astronauts with First habitat 45-dayhabitat missions space station the

flight

named uncrewed on

JSC technology,

of

social

2.017

their that

Commercial

children spacecraft.

media specific

engineering

outlet

Orion goals.

Crew

NASA

and

after

and Program

is also

math held being

flocking

up

vehicle fields

inspired

as

an

to and

test

example popular

by

interning

flight

the

first

of to

PHOTO: NASA Manipulating microsamples: Early-career scientists learn how to handle materials from other worlds

WHAT HAPPENS TO SAMPLES FROM SPACE ONCE THEY ARRIVE ON EARTH? With its many laboratories housing extraterrestrial materials ranging from the moon, to the sun, to meteorites from Mars—and with more samples to come in the next few years—management of the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division at NASA’s Johnson Space Center decided that the time was ripe to train new scientists in the handling of these precious scientific samples. To meet this objective, ARES leaders, in coordination with the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), held a two-day training session Nov. 15 and 16 to teach early-career scientists how to handle extraterrestrial samples. The first day at Johnson featured hands-on training in the Meteorite Processing and Cosmic Dust laboratories NASA and instructions in new handling techniques in the Microsample PHOTO: Handling Clean Laboratory, which houses the newly installed Dr. Scott Messenger, NASA planetary scientist, with micromanipulator. This device allows users to manipulate samples Dr.Carolyn Crow and Kim Fendrich (from left) examine the using controls on a computer rather than by hand. Classroom new micromanipulator in the Microsample Handling Clean sessions in preparing a successful sample request, accessing sample Laboratory. information and sample security, led by LPI Deputy Director Dr. Allan Treiman, highlighted the second day at LPI. Attending the training were: Dr. Carolyn Crow, Lawrence research to include Martian meteorites. Livermore National Lab; Dr. Christine Jilly-Rehak, University of “It is easy to become focused on the methods and questions California, Berkeley; Dr. Nicole Lunning, Smithsonian Institution; and particular to one’s research,” Crow said. “This class exposed me Kim Fendrich, American Museum of Natural History. to new analytical techniques that will allow me to investigate my The goals of the training were to broaden access to the sample samples in new ways. I’ve already got some ideas for collaborations collections to new scientists, build skills in the handling of the with JSC.” materials and allow the new scientists to assess how the techniques ARES scientists Dr. Keiko Nakamura-Messenger, Dr. Scott to handle the samples may apply to their own research. Messenger and Dr. Lindsay Keller conducted the sessions at The skills needed to handle the microscopic samples impressed Johnson with the support of several Jacobs Engineering contractor the trainees. specialists. “What I found to be most interesting was the skill and dexterity The ARES Division at Johnson is charged with preserving NASA’s involved in handling such extraordinarily small and precious collection of extraterrestrial samples, keeping them safe and specimens,” Fendrich said. “Mechanized sample manipulation providing them to the global scientific community for research. The is possible using a micromanipulator; however, many of the collection includes samples from the moon, Mars, sun, asteroids, preparatory and analytical techniques that are employed require comets and other stars. Samples from the OSIRIS-REx mission to precise manual manipulation at an incredibly small scale.” the asteroid Bennu and the Japanese Space Agency’s Hayabusa 2 The primary objective of Fendrich’s research is to locate Stardust mission will be added to the collection in the coming years. grains embedded in aerogel and characterize them in situ using For more information on ARES, go to: non-destructive methods to constrain the original properties of http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/astromaterials the particles and identify those that warrant extraction and further Follow ARES on social media at: investigation. Facebook: facebook.com/NASAastromaterials Crow, a postdoctoral researcher who studies the early history of Twitter: twitter.com/Astromaterials the moon recorded in Apollo samples, is interested in expanding her Instagram: instagram.com/NASAastromaterials

LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER 3 2016

jan mar may NASA/PHOTO: JOEL KOWSKY NASA/PHOTO: PHOTO: PHOTO: BIGELOW AEROSPACE NASA/PHOTO

JAN. 21: NASA astronaut Scott Kelly (left) MARCH 3: Expedition 46 Commander Scott MAY 28: Pressurization of the Bigelow and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko Kelly of NASA, right, is seen with (from left) Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) began (right) marked their 300th consecutive day NASA Administrator Charles Bolden; Dr. at 3:34 p.m. CDT, and the eight tanks filled aboard the International Space Station. The John Holdren, director of the White House with air completed full pressurization of the pair will spend a total of 340 days in space on Office of Science and Technology; and Dr. Jill module 10 minutes later. BEAM’s pressure will their one-year mission as researchers hope to Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, after be equalized with that of the International better understand how the human body reacts returning to Houston, following his return Space Station, where it will remain attached and adapts to long-duration spaceflight. to Earth. Kelly and Flight Engineers Mikhail for a two-year test period. Kornienko and Sergey Volkov of Roscosmos landed in their Soyuz capsule in Kazakhstan on March 1. Kelly and Kornienko completed an International Space Station record year-long mission as members of expeditions 43, 44, 45 feb and 46 to collect valuable data that will be used to formulate a human mission to Mars. june

april NASA/PHOTO

FEB. 18: More than 18,300 people applied to join NASA’s 2017 astronaut class—almost three times the number of applications

received in 2012 for the most recent astronaut BILL INGALLS NASA/PHOTO: class and far surpassing the previous record JUNE 18: The Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft NASA/PHOTO: CHRIS GUNN NASA/PHOTO: of 8,000 in 1978. Applications opened Dec. is seen as it lands with Expedition 47 crew 14 and closed Feb. 18, but that is just the APRIL 27: Engineers unveiled the giant members Tim Kopra of NASA, Tim Peake beginning of an 18-month process that golden mirror of NASA’s James Webb Space of ESA (European Space Agency) and Yuri will end with the selection of eight to 14 Telescope as part of the integration and Malenchenko of Roscosmos near the town individuals for the opportunity to become testing of the infrared telescope at NASA’s of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. Kopra, Peake astronaut candidates. Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, and Malenchenko served as members of the Maryland. The telescope arrives at Johnson Expedition 46 and 47 crews aboard the space Space Center in 2017 for testing. station.

4 LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER THE YEAR IN REVIEW

nov july SEPT NASA/PHOTO: JPL-CALTECH NASA/PHOTO: JOEL KOWSKY NASA/PHOTO: NASA/PHOTO: BILL INGALLS NASA/PHOTO:

JULY 4: After an almost five-year journey to SEPT. 7: The United Launch Alliance Atlas NOV. 18: The Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft the solar system’s largest planet, NASA’s Juno V rocket with NASA’s Origins, Spectral launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome spacecraft successfully entered Jupiter’s orbit Interpretation, Resource Identification, with Expedition 50 crew members NASA during a 35-minute engine burn. Confirmation Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) astronaut Peggy Whitson, Russian cosmonaut that the burn had completed was received on spacecraft aboard is illuminated in this Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and ESA Earth at 8:53 p.m. PDT (10:53 p.m. CDT) July 4. 30-second exposure, at Cape Canaveral Air astronaut Thomas Pesquet from the Baikonur Force Station in Florida. OSIRIS-REx will be the Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Whitson, Novitskiy first U.S. mission to sample an asteroid, retrieve and Pesquet will spend approximately six at least two ounces of surface material and months aboard the orbital complex. return it to Earth for study.

dec oct AUG NASA/PHOTO

NASA/PHOTO: NASA/PHOTO: BILL WHITE DEC. 2: For a mid-afternoon snack, NASA OCT. 27: U.S. Navy divers and other personnel astronaut Shane Kimbrough cut some of the NASA/PHOTO in a rigid hull Zodiac boat have attached “Outredgeous” Red Romaine lettuce leaves tether lines to a test version of the Orion crew he nurtured during the past month aboard AUG. 29: For the first time ever, DNA was the space station as part of a gardening successfully sequenced in microgravity as part module during Underway Recovery Test 5 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. harvest technique termed “cut-and-come- of the Biomolecule Sequencer experiment again.” Kimbrough has taken on the part-time performed by NASA astronaut Kate Rubins NASA’s Ground Systems Development and Operations Program and the U.S. Navy are role of in-orbit gardener, working virtually aboard the International Space Station. autonomously to cultivate the crops. Charles The ability to sequence the DNA of living conducting a series of tests using the USS San Diego, various watercraft and equipment Spern, a Veggie project engineer with the organisms in space opens a whole new Engineering Services Contract, relays messages world of scientific and medical possibilities. to practice for recovery of Orion on its return from deep space missions. from the Kennedy Space Center Veggie team to Scientists consider it a game changer. assist the crew during the harvest.

LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER 5 International Space Station and commercial partners lay framework for discoveries, deep space in 2016 NASA/PHOTO LAST YEAR MARKED SEVERAL MAJOR MILESTONES Jeff Williams, Expedition 47 flight engineer, during the FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROGRAM. Bigelow Expandable Activity Module ingress. NASA astronaut and Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Kornienko returned to Earth March 1 after an historic 340-day mission aboard the International Space Station. The unprecedented mission continues as scientists orbiting outpost twice, and by the conclusion of her mission assess and apply the data to advance NASA’s understanding and she will hold the record for the U.S. astronaut with the most preparations for long-duration human spaceflight on the Journey cumulative time in space—surpassing Jeff Williams’ recent record to Mars. of 534 days. The International Space Station is the world’s premier orbiting During four missions in 2016, NASA’s commercial cargo partners laboratory, where humans have been continuously conducting Orbital ATK and SpaceX launched more than 24,000 pounds of critical research for more than 16 years to demonstrate new critical supplies to the International Space Station, including crew technologies and provide benefits to Earth. Most recently, supplies and equipment to support hundreds of crucial science astronaut Peggy Whitson joined the space station crew; in experiments and technology demonstrations aboard the space February she will become the first woman to command the station. Experiments included Saffire-I and Saffire-II, which

Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams (shown here) and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins of NASA successfully installed the first of two international docking adapters (IDAs) on Aug. 19, 2016, during a five hour and 58-minute spacewalk. The IDAs will be used for the future arrivals of Boeing and SpaceX commercial crew spacecraft in development under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi assisted the duo from inside the station. NASA/PHOTO

6 LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER A United Launch Alliance At las V rocket carrying Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft on a resupply mission to the International Space Station lifts off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on March 22, 2016. PHOTO: UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE UNITED LAUNCH PHOTO:

provided a new way to study fire on an uncrewed exploration are informing the agency’s Journey to Mars are delivered to the craft, never before possible because of the risks of performing station from 2019 through 2024. In addition to current providers such studies on spacecraft with astronauts onboard. Research Orbital ATK and SpaceX, NASA also selected Sierra Nevada also included the sequencing of more than one billion base pairs Corporation to provide these critical services. of DNA in space for the first time, opening a whole new world of scientific and medical possibilities. WITH MANY MILESTONES UNDER ORION’S The agency’s first test of an expandable module began with the BELT, 2017 WILL BUILD A FOUNDATION FOR delivery to the station of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module HUMAN SPACE EXPLORATION (BEAM) in April and its full expansion in May. During the two- In the last year, a dedicated team in the United States and year test mission of BEAM to determine if astronauts could use Europe made significant progress building the Orion spacecraft such structures for deep space missions, astronauts will enter the that will venture beyond the moon in 2018. A look at the module for a few hours several times each year to retrieve sensor important milestones that lie ahead in the next year give a glimpse data and assess conditions. into how the Orion Program is pressing ahead at full steam to Throughout 2016, hundreds of engineers and technicians with develop, build, test and fly the spacecraft that will enable human NASA, Boeing and SpaceX worked to complete the final designs, missions far into deep space. manufacturing and testing of commercial space transportation ORION POWER ON systems to return crewed spacecraft launches to American soil. The NASA and Lockheed Martin team at Kennedy Space Center While Commercial Crew Program development continues on in Florida spent much of 2016 integrating structural elements into Earth, important preparations are under way on the space station, the spacecraft and then began incorporating critical systems such including the delivery and installation of the first International as avionics and propulsion tubing. In the spring of 2017, computers Docking Adapter, which will enable future crews to arrive via in the Orion crew module for Exploration Mission (EM)-1 will be Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. turned on for the first time to verify the spacecraft can route power NASA also awarded future cargo resupply contracts to ensure and send commands. It’s an essential integrated test that will verify the critical science, research and technology demonstrations that Orion’s systems are connected and responding as planned.

LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER 7 NASA is moving forward with plans to send new robotic explorers to the Red Planet while ticking off key milestones In October 2016, tile for the first journey of the SLS blocks were pre- rocket and Orion spacecraft fitted onto Orion’s into the proving ground of deep heat shield. The heat space, set to launch in 2018 shield will be mated from an upgraded 21st-century onto the crew module spaceport at NASA’s Kennedy in the summer. Space Center in Florida. In August, NASA selected six companies to develop ground prototypes for the deep space habitats that will be needed on long-duration journeys where humans will live and work for months or years at a time without cargo deliveries from Earth.

NASA/PHOTO: NASA/DIMITRI GERONDIDAKIS NASA/PHOTO: Also in August, NASA approved the Asteroid Redirect SERVICE MODULE ARRIVAL STATESIDE Mission to proceed to the next phase of design and development The European-built service module for Orion, which will for its robotic segment. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in propel and power it in space, is an essential component of the spacecraft and extends NASA’s international collaboration with ESA (European Space Agency) in human spaceflight into deep space. The service module for Orion’s upcoming flight is currently expected to be shipped to Kennedy in April after structural and systems work is completed at the facility of ESA contractor Airbus Defence & Space in Bremen, Germany. HEATING UP Orion’s heat shield will be secured onto the crew module in the summer, and the crew and service modules will subsequently be stacked together. Both mating operations are essential steps to be completed ahead of the early 2018 shipment of the entire stack to NASA Glenn’s Plum Brook Station in Ohio, where the vehicle will be put through a series of tests to ensure it is ready for flight. CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON EM-2 SPACECRAFT While the Orion outfitting and assembly process for the first mission of the spacecraft atop the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket continues in 2017, construction will also begin on the vehicle for EM-2, the first Orion flight with astronauts that will fly as early as 2021. The first panel of the primary structure for EM-2 is expected to arrive at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans in the spring. GRAY MATTERS AND RED AMBITIONS

The future astronauts who will fly on deep space missions will BEN SMEGELSKY NASA/PHOTO: be announced in the summer of 2017, following NASA’s largest recruitment ever. More than 18,300 people applied to join NASA’s The Orion crew module, which is being outfitted at Kennedy astronaut class in the application period—more than double the Space Center, will be powered on for the first time in 2017. previous record.

8 LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER Pasadena, California, sought proposals for the robotic spacecraft design, and plans to award a contract for its development in 2017. The robotic spacecraft will capture an asteroid and bring it to a stable orbit near the moon so that astronauts in Orion can take This samples, learning about techniques needed for the journey to view from Mars. Curiosity shows a The next two robotic missions to Mars passed key milestones dramatic hillside outcrop in 2016, with the InSight lander getting the green light for a 2018 with sandstone layers that launch, and the Mars 2020 rover approved for the final design and scientists refer to as construction phase. InSight’s primary goal is to help us understand “cross-bedding.” how rocky planets—including Earth—formed and evolved. Mars 2020 will look for evidence of past life, cache samples for potential return to Earth by a future mission and investigate the potential use of oxygen on future human missions. In July, NASA selected five companies to study concepts for a potential future Mars orbiter, which would provide telecommunications and global high-resolution imaging. Meanwhile, Curiosity hums along, sending back amazing imagery—including a close-up view of an odd-looking iron meteorite and stunning photos of the Murray Buttes, which evoked the National Parks of the American west. The rover can now choose its own rock targets for its laser spectrometer, a first for an

instrument of this kind on a planetary mission. JPL-CALTECH/MSSS NASA/PHOTO:

HERA— the Human Exploration Research Analog—is one of several analogs used by the Human Research Program to look into ways to help NASA move from lower-Earth orbit to deep space explorations. It allows participants to explore an asteroid, too, without ever leaving Earth. NASA/PHOTO

LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER 9

Partnering for progress: SpaceCom 2016 BY MORGAN MCALLISTER

NOW IN ITS SECOND YEAR, the Space Commerce Conference and Exposition (SpaceCom) gathered from Nov. 15 to 17 at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center. One of the most diverse cities in the nation and the home of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston was the perfect host city for the event, which unites inventors and investors from across the nation and globe. With a focus spanning advanced manufacturing, agri- business, energy, maritime and medicine, SpaceCom 2016 fostered cross-discipline connections to advance 21st-century needs. PHOTO: ALLISON BILLS ALLISON PHOTO: BILLS NASA

Robonaut, co-developed between NASA and GM, makes the case for progress through partnerships.

spinoff, licensing and co-development offerings, assist established and emerging business alike. JSC’s participation in SpaceCom provides a wonderful backdrop for the space agency to begin conversations with new collaborators. The joint NFL and NASA press conference PHOTO: ALLISON BILLS ALLISON PHOTO: BILLS at SpaceCom highlighted the importance of embracing partnerships, NASA with JSC Director Ellen Ochoa and the Super Bowl LI Wow Factor team JSC Director Ellen Ochoa announces a Journey-to-Mars-themed detailing a Journey-to-Mars-themed ride for the upcoming Super Bowl ride for Super Bowl LIve with rest of Super Bowl LI Wow Factor Live events in the days leading up to Super Bowl LI. Committee. SpaceCom 2016 reinforced a simple but profound message: There’s room in space for everyone. The conference also gave these stakeholders a chance to meet up Want to partner with JSC? Visit: with NASA. The largest and busiest exhibit on the show floor, NASA http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/partnerships/JSC-Partnership- showcased its vision for a human mission to Mars. Subject-matter Gateway/ experts agencywide presented their research and answered questions about our exploration efforts, and it featured more than 40 speakers and special guests. Most importantly, however, the exhibit invited attendees to consider partnership with NASA. With efforts headed by the Exploration Integration and Science Directorate (EISD), JSC connected with potential leads for future partnerships. “This was our second year at the event, and it was a big success for us,” said EISD Director Vanessa Wyche. “We opened the door to valuable partnership opportunities and highlighted NASA’s continued support for commercial space.”

Opportunities like those identified at SpaceCom could further ALLISON PHOTO: BILLS

the reach of space exploration and connect NASA’s experts with NASA peers in private, public and academic sectors. This work keeps NASA The NASA exhibit was a hub of activity for new partnership innovating and has made possible commercial expansion into low- connections. Earth orbit. JSC’s institutional capabilities and knowledge, combined with our

10 LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER snapshots

PHOTO: NASA

A barometer of health ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet uses a tonometer to record how his arteries react to weightlessness. The tonometer is connected to an iPad that is running the EveryWear app, which offers one interface for a variety of health-related tasks. It’s all NASA LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER part of an investigation that will test this emerging technology for nutritional assessment, sleep quality evaluation and constant blood pressure measurement through the day’s activities.

From hidden to modern figures NASA research mathematician Katherine Johnson is photographed at her desk at NASA Langley Research Center

PHOTO: NASA with a globe, or “Celestial Training Device,” in 1962. The film “Hidden Figures,” based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly, focuses on the stories of Katherine Johnson, Mary Supermoon is ‘super liked’ Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan, African-American women who were essential to the success of early spaceflight. Today, NASA The moon, or supermoon, is seen rising behind the Soyuz rocket embraces their legacy and strives to include everyone who at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad in Kazakhstan on Nov. 14, wants to participate in its ongoing exploration. 2016. When tweeted from the @Space_Station Twitter account, the “Progress is driven by questioning our assumptions and stunning image was seen by 4.56 million people (and counting)—the cultural assumptions,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. most of any tweet from that social media account. “Embracing diversity and inclusion is how we as a nation will take the next giant leap in exploration.”

LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER 11 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WEBSTER.TX Permit No. 39

The Roundup is an official publication of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, and is published by the External Relations Office for all Space Center employees. The Roundup office is located at the Johnson Space Center, Building 2. The mail code is AD94. Visit our website at: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/roundup/ roundup_toc.html For distribution questions or to suggest a story idea, send an email to [email protected].

Catherine Ragin Williams Editor Logan Goodson Graphic Design Lynnette Madison NASA Publication Manager OR CURRENT RESIDENT

John Glenn 1921-2016

ASTRONAUT. U.S. SENATOR. ICON. AMERICAN HERO. leaving public life, he loved to meet with citizens, school children in John H. Glenn Jr., one of NASA’s original seven Mercury astronauts, particular. He thrilled to music and had a weakness for chocolate.” had all the right stuff … and more. He passed away on Dec. 8, 2016, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden added, “With all his after a lifetime of serving his country in a variety of capacities. accomplishments, he was always focused on the young people of Glenn, who served four terms as a U.S. senator from Ohio, secured a today, who would soon lead the world. ‘The most important thing NASA/PHOTO NASA/PHOTO

Guenter Wendt, the original pad leader for NASA’s manned U.S. Sen. Glenn gets help with the donning of his partial- space program, coaxes a smile out of astronaut John Glenn pressure launch-and-entry suit during training at Johnson after the MA-6 mission was scrubbed. Space Center.

unique place in the annals of history after his flight on Friendship 7 on we can do is inspire young minds and advance the kind of science, Feb. 20, 1962. math and technology education that will help youngsters take us to At 77, his mission aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 1998 made the next phase of space travel,’ he said. ‘To me, there is no greater him the oldest human to venture into space. On Discovery, he calling … If I can inspire young people to dedicate themselves to the participated in a series of tests on the aging process—one of his good of mankind, I've accomplished something.’ focuses while a senator. By his own measure, Glenn did accomplish more than Glenn was described as “humble, funny, and generous” by Trevor “something,” and his legacy will live on in the generations of NASA Brown, dean of the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at Ohio State explorers to come. University, in a statement joined by the Glenn family. “Even after

12 LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER