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Home , Space Shuttle Discovery, Voyager 1

Jan. 14, 2011 Vol. 51, No. 1 Spaceport News John F. - America’s gateway to the universe

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New year Discovery brings new closes in exploration on mission By Steven Siceloff goals, ideas Spaceport News pace shuttle Discovery By Allard Beutel remains in the Vehicle As- Spaceport News Ssembly Building (VAB) as n 2010, Kennedy Space Center modifications and repairs are made helped begin a new volume to to the external fuel tank’s support the agency’s beams known as “stringers.” Ad- I ditional support structures called book as the storied Program entered into its final chap- radius blocks are being added to ters. 94 stringers, meaning the entire Kennedy teams were involved circumference of the external tank in launching five missions last year; will be strengthened by the time all two on expendable launch vehicles the repairs and modifications are finished. and three on space shuttles. And “The teams have done a tremen- on Dec. 8, SpaceX successfully dous job of staying focused and launched its Falcon 9 rocket and NASA file photos working this problem,” said Bill Dragon capsule from Cape Canav- From top left: President Barack Obama speaks in the Operations and Checkout Building on April 15. A Gerstenmaier, NASA’s associate eral Air Force Station (CCAFS). United Launch Alliance V launches with NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Feb. 11. On May 14, an exhaust plume surrounds administrator for Space Opera- The flight was the first for NASA’s the on Launch Pad 39A as lifts off on the STS-132 mis- tions. “There’s been lots of ups and Commercial Orbital Transportation sion. The Dragon capsule that launched from Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station downs but the team has really stayed Services (COTS) program, which aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is recovered in the Pacific Ocean about 500 west of the coast of Mexico on Dec. 8. focused.” is developing commercial supply Meeting Monday, space shuttle dent committed NASA to a series of services to the International Space new direction for NASA announced management approved the modi- Station. It also was the first time a in February by the White House. developmental goals leading to new fications using the radius blocks. commercial company launched and That was followed up by a visit by for reaching low or- The repairs to the cracked stringers returned a spacecraft to Earth. President Obama to Kennedy on bit and new technology for potential themselves have been finished. Commercial companies going April 15 to outline details of his missions beyond the moon. “It’s been a long road,” said John to low Earth orbit for both cargo and plans for the future of U.S. leader- crewed missions were the focus of a ship in human . The presi- See EXPLORATION, Page 2 See DISCOVERY, Page 3

Inside this issue . . . Engine install Heritage:Voyagers keep on giving Director’s Note Safe driving

Page 2 Page 3 Page 6 Page 7 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS Jan. 14, 2011 2010 great for Kennedy, but 2011 promises to be better he future holds great things hard work and innovation required of KSC and pursue efforts to align for Kennedy Space Center, to transition from the our assets to best accomplish our Tand along the way, there will Director’s Program to our new space explora- mission and goals. be some tough challenges and excit- tion efforts. This transition is made More information will be released ing opportunities. The KSC team Note even more challenging with the as the timeframe of these changes is will be key to making 2011 one of ongoing budget uncertainty, but that solidified. Bob Cabana the most notable years in the space just means we’ll have to get even This is going to be a great year, exploration history books. more creative to make it work. I and it’s a privilege to be a part of This year, we have three main pri- know we have the right people at this outstanding KSC team that will orities. First, we must safely launch KSC to make it happen, and we’ll continue to do what is necessary to and land the final space shuttle mis- Next, we need to provide the ensure they are in the right place to ensure the success of our Nation’s sions. The with the make these new ventures successful. and exploration closes out its historic three decades same diligence we have in the past Change brings with it the op- programs. this year, and it’s our responsibility to ensure the success of NASA’s portunity to do our jobs even better. and privilege to successfully see it science missions. Through this year, we will continue Keep Charging! through to the final “wheels stop.” And, finally, we will continue the to look at the organization structure Bob Cabana

program was established to help modernize Ken- From EXPLORATION, Page 1 resolution of funding considerations. The STS-133 mission will add the final pres- nedy’s infrastructure and facilities and transform NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP) surized module to the U.S. portion of the ISS is them from a space shuttle launch port into a based at Kennedy started its year on Feb. 11 by set to be the first flight of 2011. A gas multipurpose launch complex. Kennedy also is sending the agency’s Solar Dynamics Observatory leak on Discovery’s external fuel tank scrubbed a working on technology demonstration spaceflight (SDO) into space aboard an Atlas V rocket from Nov. 5 launch attempt. On Dec. 22, Discovery plans that will support NASA’s new long-term Launch Complex-41 at CCAFS. SDO is a first-of- was rolled off Launch Pad 39A and back into the exploration goals. its-kind mission to reveal the ’s inner workings Vehicle Assembly Building for more tank analysis To help with the shuttle program retirement, in unprecedented detail. and modifications. Kennedy held two large-scale jobs fairs last year, Less than a month later, NASA’s latest Geo- Kennedy management also focused on bring- one in May and the other in September, along stationary Operational Environmental Satellite, or ing new commercial companies to the space cen- with months of career-building courses and other GOES-P, lifted off aboard a Delta IV rocket from ter. In June, the official groundbreaking ceremony work force support efforts. The Federal Aviation Space Launch Complex-37 at CCAFS. The latest for NASA and Space Florida’s new technology Administration also began establishing an office at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- and commerce park, known as Exploration Park tion (NOAA) satellite joined four other similar at Kennedy, was held outside the Space Life Sci- Kennedy this year to help support the commercial spacecraft to improve forecasting and ences Laboratory. Exploration Park is designed to human launch services endeavor. monitoring of environmental events. bring new aerospace work to the area and support Kennedy also expanded its “green space” Just three days before the LSP’s first flight space-related activities of NASA, other govern- efforts in 2010. On April 8, NASA, Florida Power of 2010, the Space Shuttle Program launched its ment agencies and the U.S. commercial space & (FPL) and political leaders commissioned first of three missions aboard shuttle Endeavour industry. They also set up a new Center Planning FPL’s Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy on Feb. 8. STS-130’s six delivered the and Development Office to enhance the economic Center. In December, Kennedy’s new Propellants Tranquility node and cupola to the International vitality of Kennedy. North Administration and Maintenance Facil- Space Station (ISS) during the two-week flight. After supporting its last space shuttle in ity was reopened for business. It will be one of On April 5, launched 2009, Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39B began be- NASA’s “greenest” facility, expected to achieve on its STS-131 mission to deliver science experi- ing deconstructed this year to convert it from a the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in ments, equipment and supplies to the space sta- shuttle launch pad to a commercial launch site that Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) Plati- tion. Discovery and its seven-member could host multiple launch vehicles. Phase one num status, the highest rating. And this summer, crew landed at Kennedy 15 days later. of NASA’s new mobile launcher was completed Kennedy helped with the unprecedented effort to What turned out to be the final shuttle mis- this year, too. The 355-foot-tall tower could be save wildlife from the effects of the BP Deepwater sion of the year, STS-132, lifted off on May 14. converted to support commercial launch vehicles Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Hundreds Shuttle Atlantis and its six astronauts delivered the or possibly even large heavy-lift rockets. of endangered sea turtle eggs were brought to a Russian-built Mini Research Module, cargo and Four years worth of upgrades to Kennedy’s hatchery at Kennedy and then the baby turtles critical spare parts to the station. Atlantis touched Launch Equipment Test Facility also were com- were released into the Atlantic Ocean. down at Kennedy after the 12-day mission. pleted this summer. The LETF, which has fixtures On the education front, NASA’s first Luna- STS-132 was the last scheduled spaceflight that can simulate launch conditions, can support botics Mining Competition, hosted by Kennedy’s for Atlantis. Currently, it’s planned to be used the Space Shuttle Program in its final months, as as the “launch on need,” or potential rescue well as the Launch Services Program and com- Education Programs and University Research mission for the final scheduled shuttle flight, mercial companies in the coming years. Division, drew more than 20 university teams to Endeavour’s STS-134 mission. Among the new To support the agency’s new direction, design and build remote controlled or autonomous directions in the NASA Authorization Act of the Space Transportation Planning Office was excavators, called lunabots, on May 28. The 2011 2010 passed by Congress in September and established at Kennedy to help develop a com- competition is expected to be even bigger. signed by President Obama in October was the mercial capability to low Earth orbit leading to And just like the Lunabotics Competition, approval to turn Atlantis’ planned rescue mis- astronaut launch services that NASA could buy to Kennedy will build on the success and learn from sion into an actual flight to the space station this the International Space Station in the 2015 time the challenges of 2010 to make 2011 one for the summer. NASA intends to fly this flight pending frame. The 21st Century Space Launch Complex history books. Jan. 14, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Safe driving habits number one goal on Kennedy roads By Linda Herridge drivers to call and alert us ing, combined with tailgat- Spaceport News to look out for a particularly ing, unlawful lane change, or unsafe driver.” other moving violations, is ith safety being Schmidt said the Protec- considered “aggressive care- NASA’s primary tive Services Office imple- less driving” and can result core value, Ken- W ments several enforcement in increased penalty points. nedy Space Center workers practices and techniques If a driver accumulates exercise great care as they intended to encourage safe 12 points within 12 months, process and prepare Amer- NASA/Kim Shiflett driving habits. These include it can result in a 30-day ica’s spacecraft for launch. A Kennedy Protective Services officer uses a radar device to detect of drivers on Jan. 10. There were nearly 1,000 speeding citations issued to badged the use of unmarked patrol suspension of driving privi- Now more than ever it is employees in 2010, down from the 1,772 issued in 2009. Fifty-five drivers were cars, laser and radar leges on Kennedy and Cape also important that Kennedy suspended from driving on Kennedy property. enforcement, issuing admin- Canaveral Air Force Station workers exercise the same was wearing a seat belt. On Sept. 16, another istrative citations with points roads. degree of care when driving On New Year’s Day, an- fatal Kennedy traffic crash added to a worker’s Kennedy Drivers and passengers on the center’s roadways, 52 other suspected drunk driver occurred on State Road driving record, and participa- also can be cited and fined miles of which are open to was detected driving south 405 westbound, just before tion in the Federal Magistrate up to $169 for not wearing a the general public. Several in the northbound lanes of the Indian River Bridge. A Program. seatbelt, if they are detected recent traffic crashes on Ken- State Road 3, but this time young visitor ran off the According to Schmidt, the by any state law enforcement nedy roads, two resulting Kennedy Protective Services road, overcorrected, and end- Federal Magistrate Program officer transiting Ken- in fatalities, emphasize the officers were able to stop ed up rolling a rented vehicle allows Kennedy officers to nedy. According to Special importance of driving safely, and arrest the driver before into the river. Although Ken- issue citations for certain Agent Ana Contreras, in the on and off the center. another tragedy occurred. nedy employees performed criminal offenses, such as Protective Services Office, According to NASA Spe- These suspected DUI drivers a dramatic water rescue of reckless driving, failing there were about 127 traffic cial Agent Robert Schmidt, were not badged Kennedy a trapped passenger, the to stop for an officer, and crashes on Kennedy during in Kennedy’s Protective workers. driver’s young brother died driving under the influence, 2010. Contreras further ad- Services Office, on Dec. 30, In yet another December the next day. potentially resulting in a trip vised there were nearly 1,000 a non-badged driver transit- incident, a badged employee “The focus of our traf- to jail, monetary fines, and speeding citations issued to ing through the public area in the Industrial Area, ap- fic enforcement program is points applied to state driv- badged employees in 2010, of Kennedy mistakenly parently distracted by an saving lives and all of our ing records. down from the 1,772 issued drove south in the north- electronic device, ran a enforcement measures are Schmidt said traffic points in 2009. Fifty-five drivers bound lanes of State Road stop sign and was struck by designed to improve traffic can be added to a Kennedy were suspended from driving 3, resulting in a head-on another vehicle, resulting safety for everyone using driving record for violations, on Kennedy property. collision with a northbound in a rollover crash. Schmidt Kennedy roads,” Schmidt including driving while Schmidt added: “We vehicle near the solar farm. said that two people were said. “We realize that anyone intoxicated (12 points), would like to remind driv- The driver of the northbound transported to the hospital for can make a mistake while reckless driving (12 points), ers that if they treat other vehicle was killed and the medical treatment. driving, but unsafe or erratic speeding (3 to 12 points, drivers with courtesy and Florida Highway Patrol In November, an off-duty driving behavior draws spe- depending on speed), and respect they won’t have to is investigating this crash Kennedy contractor was cial attention and can result use of a non-hands-free cell worry when they see traffic for the possibility of DUI arrested for DUI on Space in a traffic stop. In fact, it’s phone while operating a mo- enforcement officers on the involvement. Neither driver Commerce Way. not at all unusual for other tor vehicle (2 points). Speed- road.”

From DISCOVERY, Page 1 the problem,” Shannon said. The stringers became the focus of tions and scans of areas that were not The radius block modifications are launch preparation when cracks were accessible at the pad. Those scans Shannon, Space Shuttle Program not thought necessary for the tank discovered in two of them follow- showed four more small cracks in manager. “I’m very confident we to be used on STS-134 because it ing fueling operations during a Nov. three stringers on the portion of the have it finally figured out and we was made with a different batch of 5 launch attempt. That attempt was intertank opposite Discovery. have a fix. We’re going to fly with a materials. However, the modifica- scrubbed because of an unrelated While the scans and repairs took lot of confidence in this tank.” tions will be made for the third of the problem with the ground umbilical place at Kennedy, teams of engineers The radius blocks are 6-inch-long three available tanks, Shannon said. carrier plate. and managers at NASA’s Marshall aluminum pieces that are only about That tank is set to fly on STS-135 Since then, the shuttle’s intertank Space Flight Center in Alabama and a fifth of an inch thick. However, that later this year. region, the ribbed portion that con- the Michoud Assembly Facility in is thick enough to keep the stringers Discovery will not launch on the nects the liquid and liquid Louisiana have been analyzing the flat as the liquid oxygen tank shrinks STS-133 mission before Feb. 24, but hydrogen tanks, were surveyed with results and testing theories in lab set- when the super-cold propellant is shuttle managers have not yet chosen two types of powerful X-ray devices tings to find a root cause and prove loaded before launch, Shannon said. a target date for the mission. The at the launch pad. The launch team the fixes will work. Without the radius blocks, the schedule depends in part on traffic also performed a fueling test Dec. Discovery and its six-member end of the stringers were bending in at the International Space Station 17, with 89 temperature and motion astronaut crew will deliver experi- slightly as the tank contracted and during that time frame. A European sensors on parts of the tank’s alumi- ments, supplies and equipment to the the stress was causing the cracks to cargo spacecraft, ATV-2, is sched- num skin. station during the 11-day mission, develop, Shannon said. uled to launch to the station Feb. 15 Discovery was rolled back to the along with an experimental robotic “It’s a very simple, elegant fix to carrying supplies and equipment. VAB on Dec. 22 for more inspec- crew member called “Robonaut 2.” Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS Jan. 14, 2011 Jan. 14, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 Scenes Around Kennedy Space Center 2010 Kennedy Awards Retirement celebrations This award is intended to recognize contributions made by NASA employees, citizens, contractors or public organizations to Kennedy endeavors.

NASA INNOVATIVE HEALTH Tony Shibly Charles Abell APPLICATIONS Richard Walls Lisa Arnold Mark Mercadante Hannah Wise Miles Ashley David Board C&C INTERNATIONAL URS FEDERAL Jacqueline Brooks Graciela Derry TECHNICAL Gregory Dawes Amanda Gilmore SERVICES Michael Deliz Leila LeePow Dale Meneau Richard Dobbs Barbara McCormack Stephen Ernest Melissa Pederzani Lakeesha Flowers Angela Solorio ENVIRONMENTAL Craig Fortier AWARDS Sheila Frowiss LOCKHEED MARTIN Mary McMains Mary Hanna Adam McCullough Jane Provancha Anthony Harris The Conservation Scott Hunt MILLENNIUM Test Team Charmel Jones ENGINEERING Phil D’Andreamatteo Jack King INTEGRATION Kevin “Bert” Cummings Anton Kiriwas and TECHNOLOGY Mike Guthrie Charles Lostroscio Michael Blankenship Walt Hatfield John Matthews Joseph Hamilton Brian Hunter Bruce McBride Megan Jaunich Kevin Jumper Michael Miller Thomas Miller Reader-submitted photo Barry Meneghelli Paul Mogan James Shearer Matthew Nugent Ron Simons celebrates with friends and coworkers during a retirement coffee held in his honor Dec. Michun North 15 at Kennedy’s . Simons is retiring from Space Gateway Support after more Nicole Otermat SCIENCE Jeffrey Tuttle than 25 years of service. Simons was the contingency landing sites security manager for more than Charles Quincy APPLICATIONS Mark Velasco 108 emergency landing sites worldwide and when he was not supporting launches at one of NASA’s Bruce Reid INTERNATIONAL Gary Walls four transoceanic aboard landing sites, he supervised the Resource Protection Office, the KSC Lock Ruthanne Shuey-Moss CORP. Shop and supported the SGS Emergency Management Office. Daniel Shultz Catherine Bond SMALL BUSINESS Amy Simpson Harold Donald PRIME CONTRACTOR Taya Stokes Neil Elton Reader-submitted photo OF THE YEAR Michael Thornton Randy Hancock REDE/Critique, JV Kennedy workers, families and friends attend NASA Day at Sun Life Stadium in Miami on Dec. 19. The group received on-field recognition for their contributions to the nation’s space program during the Miami Dolphins/Buffalo Bills Craig Whittaker Roger Hill divisional matchup. The event was sponsored by the NASA Exchange. Donald Wood SMALL BUSINESS NELSON SUBCONTRACTOR ABACUS TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING OF THE YEAR Linda Herridge Jonathan Lisak MIL-CON Stephen Pantano REDE/CRITIQUE, JV ANALEX Patrick Feeney LARGE BUSINESS Frank Billingham Amanda Griffin PRIME CONTRACTOR Michelle Dailey Holly Hicks OF THE YEAR John Glass Brandi Roberts The Boeing Co. Charles Moore Kristina Nelson UNITED SPACE SECRETARIAL Margaret Persinger ALLIANCE EXCELLENCE AWARD Kenneth Watts George Atkins Janette Martin Richard Baz ASRC AEROSPACE William Brim ENGINEER/SCIENTIST CORP. Lori Carey OF THE YEAR AWARD Betty Lee Thomas Clark NASA Donna O’Neill Ira Erteschik David Cox Jeanette Silvas Paul Espy Innovative Health Ivan Townsend Chris Hasselbring Applications NASA/Kim Shiflett Angel Vazquez Cruz Peter Klonowski Reader-submitted photo Jane Provancha Donna Oddy, left, and Karen Holloway, biologists with Innovative Health Applications at Kennedy, stand Timothy White James Little June Perez is retiring from NASA after 22 years of service with the federal government. Kennedy’s ready to release an endangered green sea turtle into the Mosquito Lagoon on Jan. 5. The lagoon is part Bradley McCain Human Resources Office hosted a retirement celebration in Perez’s honor Dec. 10 at the Kennedy For NASA of Florida’s Indian River. The turtle was one of more than 300 that were “stunned” during two cold snaps THE BOEING CO. Michael Palmer EMPLOYEE OF THE Learning Institute. Hundreds of Kennedy workers, families and friends attended the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” pep rally in the in December 2010. Turtles that were stunned multiple times will be released in the Sebastian area of the Maxine Daniels Matthew Pringle YEAR Visitor Complex’s Rocket Garden on Jan 3. Hundreds volunteered to build a new home for a family in Cocoa, Fla. Indian River, which often offers warmer water and could help prevent future stuns as winter progresses. Ernest Rodriguez Shelby Roberts Pamela Zeitler Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS Jan. 14, 2011 Engine installation has come a long way since broomsticks

By Steven Siceloff up with when he cut the Spaceport News broom handles. Michael Kerasotis, a he first time anyone quality inspector with Pratt installed a main & Whitney Rocketdyne, engine in a space T came to Kennedy in 1979 as shuttle in 1980, it took three part of a summer program. days and prompted a series of changes that quickly He started working on the became standard practice. shuttle’s tiles but migrated “ ‘There’s the orbiter, go to engine work within a put a motor in it,’ ” recalled couple years of Columbia’s Robert “Bob” Rysdyk, a first launch. lead engine technician for One of the most care- Pratt & Whitney Rocket- fully choreographed aspects dyne of his initial instruc- of preparing a shuttle for tions before helping install launch involves placing three 7,700-pound main NASA file/1980 that first engine. Engines No. 1 and No. 3 are installed in shuttle Columbia on July 19, 1980. There were laser instru- engines into the back of the ments galore marking off spacecraft. was brought to Kennedy in Basically, the engineer except for that engine,” all sorts of measurements It takes eight people and a the late ’70s, Rysdyk said. leading the first engine Rysdyk said. “There were as technicians tried to set lot of patience. “Every other piece of installation ran out of room nights when you’d come in the first engine carefully The machinery involved ground support equipment to stand, so he hopped up at midnight and come out inside shuttle Columbia’s aft starts with a cone-shaped has gone through a lot of on the installer to get out at noon. There was nothing compartment. fitting specially made to changes,” Rysdyk said. of the way. Although some but, ‘Get it done.’” Rysdyk credits engineer handle a main engine. “That thing right there is folks didn’t want anyone on While the vast majority Roy Austin with working Because the engines face almost exactly like it was in top of the installer for fear of installations have been out a simple solution. slightly up toward the rud- 1978.” of falling, the advantages completed in the confines of “He actually went down der, they have to be installed The machinery also got a became apparent instantly. an orbiter processing facil- to the janitor’s closet and at an angle. So the fitting lot more use than designers “Suddenly, he sees he can ity, replacing an engine at cut two broomsticks the is welded to a sliding rack. thought it would, although it see a lot better up there,” the launch pad requires just same length and used those The rack and fitting are, in has held up just fine. That’s Rysdyk said. “He can run as much precision, but in an to align the pump to the turn, positioned on the front because the shuttle’s main the job better.” environment that is hardly orbiter,” Rysdyk said. of a huge forklift known as engines originally were not Both Rysdyk and Kera- hospitable, especially in the Thirty years and more the “Hyster” for the engine expected to be removed sotis said the stress of winter. than 130 missions later, installation. after each flight. Instead, the handling the machinery “That flame trench works Rysdyk was part of the The engine installer, main engines are taken out regularly on tight schedules both ways,” Kerasotis said, soon after a shuttle returns and in changing situations team that installed what’s forklift driver and the explaining that just as the so their components can gives the engine teams a expected to be the last set technicians who oversee an flame trench funnels fire be inspected closely and strong sense of camaraderie. of main engines in a shuttle, installation preach careful and exhaust away from the without the engines in the “There are personal this time in Atlantis. It took control anytime an engine is shuttle at launch, it collects way, making processing for sacrifices,” Rysdyk said. less than four hours and the on the move. frigid air from the north the shuttle safer and quicker. “Kids’ rehearsals go out the team used the same mea- The installer has seen in the winter and shoots it The main engines for the window, trips go out the surements that Austin came very few changes since it up into the bottom of the initial five missions were window, birthdays go out inspected in-place without the window because what’s shuttle stack. removal from Columbia. important is that this gets The workers endure the “We literally in the first done.” harsh environment because few operational flights after Some of the launches the engines are not just that, used up the whole during the early part of the important, they are incred- design life of the engine Space Shuttle Program were ibly complex machines installer,” Rysdyk said. scrubbed a few seconds that are at once more than More than equipment before liftoff, after the main 99 percent efficient and changed, too. engines had ignited but were unforgiving. In other words, One of the most common shut down for a problem. the technicians know they sights during an installation Called a “pad abort,” the are one of the last to touch process is an engineer sitting situation meant a mandatory the engines to ensure mis- on top of the engine installer engine change at the launch sion success and no flaws in in a posture reminiscent of pad, with the shuttle in its installation. NASA/Kim Shiflett “Dr. Strangelove.” launch position. “It’s never normal, but An engineer on a headset helps guide a space shuttle main engine into shuttle Atlantis on Dec. 8. The decision to have someone on top of the engine installer “That came about by ac- “If you have a pad abort, you get used to it,” Rysdyk came about by accident during the first shuttle engine installation 30 years ago. cident,” Rysdyk said. your life comes to a stop said. Jan. 14, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Remembering Our Heritage Voyager spacecraft continue to explore, inspire scientists By Kay Grinter , proved possible Another veteran, Tom Reference Librarian -- and irresistible to mission Krimigis of the Applied scientists -- after the success- Physics Laboratory at Johns ore than 33 years ful completion of its primary Hopkins University, is PI of have flown by objectives. No other space- the low-energy charged par- Msince the odys- craft have visited these two ticles (LECP) investigation. sey of NASA’s Voyager outer . The PI for the spacecraft began, but their Between them, Voyagers 1 (MAG) is Norman Ness of contributions to our scientific and 2 explored all the giant the Bartol Research Institute knowledge base continue. outer planets of our solar at the University of Dela- When launched aboard Ti- system, 49 of their moons, ware, another original team tan III/ rockets from and the unique systems of member. Pad 41 on Cape Canaveral rings and magnetic Things have come full Air Force Station in 1977, those planets possess. circle for Suzanne Dodd, the interplanetary probes had In 1990, took who was appointed Voyag- an initial goal of exploring an unprecedented family por- er’s project manager at JPL two planets in about five trait of most of the planets in October. In 1984, her first years. Today, they survive in the from a job at JPL involved sequenc- as NASA’s longest-lived unique point of view -- look- ing science and engineering spacecraft after , ing down on the solar system commands for Voyager 1 launched March 2, 1972, from a position 32 degrees and 2. sent its last signal in 2003. above the plane in “We can’t wait for the was first to which the planets orbit the Voyager spacecraft to enter launch Aug. 20, with Voy- sun. No other spacecraft has interstellar space -- true outer ager 1 following Sept. 5. ever been in a position to space -- and make more The Voyagers were built attempt a similar series of unexpected discoveries,” by NASA’s Jet Propulsion photos. Dodd said. Laboratory (JPL) in Pasa- Today, five science inves- NASA file/1977 With successful power dena, Calif., which continues tigation teams, four from management, the Voyagers to operate both spacecraft. NASA and one from France, A prototype Voyager spacecraft is shown at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., as it successfully passed vibration tests that simulated the are expected to continue Following different tra- continue to participate in expected launch environment in 1977. The large parabolic antenna at the top is returning data until 2020. jectories at different speeds, Voyager 1’s interstellar mis- 3.7 meters in diameter and was used at both S-band and X-band radio frequencies No one knows what they Voyager 1 is traveling faster, sion, engaged in the study of for communicating with Earth over the great distances from the outer planets. The spacecraft received electrical power from three nuclear power sources. will encounter once they at a speed of about 38,000 magnetic fields, low-energy are out of touch with their mph, compared to Voyager charged particles, cosmic nounced that Voyager 1, the Voyager project since its home . In the event 2’s velocity of 35,000 mph. rays, and most distant human-made beginnings. they should cross paths with Encounters with only two waves. Voyager 2 currently object in the universe, had Ed Stone, of the California intelligent life, each of the planets, and , operates a slightly different reached a point at the edge of Institute of Technology, is Voyagers carries a golden re- were originally planned. set of instruments, with an our solar system, 10.8 billion the Voyager project scientist cord with greetings, images Additional flybys by Voyager extra plasma instrument and miles from the sun, where and principal investigator and sounds from Earth. 2 of the two outermost gi- no ultraviolet spectrometer. there is no outward motion (PI) of the Sub- The record also has direc- ant planets, and Last month, NASA an- of . system (CRS). tions on how to find Earth if Voyager 1 crossed the “Over and over, the the spacecraft is recovered A golden record termination shock line of the spacecraft revealed so many by something or someone in December unexpected things that it with the technology to “re- Both Voyager spacecraft carry a often took days, months and turn to sender.” greeting to any form of life, should 2004 into the the interstellar that be encountered. The message medium, the outer region of even years to figure them Future Voyager project is carried by a the sun’s solar wind influ- out,” Stone said. scientists can only hope. -- a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk ence. Scientists have used containing sounds and images se- lected to portray the diversity of life data from its Low-Energy Extreme Planet Makeover and culture on Earth. The contents Charged Particle Instrument were selected for NASA by a com- to deduce the solar wind’s The new “Extreme Planet Makeover” on the NASA/JPL PlanetQuest site mittee chaired by Dr. of lets you roll up your sleeves and create your very own planet. Cornell University. Sagan and his velocity. Balance five factors to create an Earth-like habitable world, or get wild associates assembled 115 images A scientist could devote and make your own extreme exoplanet. Use the “Image Gallery” feature to and a variety of natural sounds. To his entire career to analyz- compare your creation with those of other Earthlings. Once you’ve finished this they added musical selections ing the data returned from creating the exoplanet of your dreams, download a picture of your custom from different cultures and eras, and world for posterity. spoken greetings in 55 languages. the Voyager missions, and in For more information, visit: NASA file/1969 fact, three principal inves- http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/planetMakeover/planetMakeover.html. tigators have been with the Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS Jan. 14, 2011

NASA Employees of the Month: January Kennedy celebrates 2010 holidays

NASA/ Troy Cryder Kennedy’s Child Development Center hosted its annual holiday celebration Dec. 17. Activities included a gift exchange and a party. Infants, toddlers and preschool classes had the to meet Santa Claus and share their holiday wish list. The children also put on a special program for parents that drew cheers and laughs.

NASA/ Tom Farrar Employees for the month of January are, from left, William Little, Information Technology and Com- munications Services; Eric Perritt, Constellation Project Office; MicheleTaylor, Engineering Directorate; Jennifer Nufer, Processing Directorate; Tiffaney Alexander, Safety and Mission Assur- ance; Margaret Dutczak, Engineering Directorate; and Brian Graf, Center Operations. Not pictured are Rayelle Thomas (Employee of the Quarter), Space Transportation Planning Office; Eric Poole, Launch Services Program; and Helena Jo Wilkas, Launch Vehicle Processing Directorate.

Looking up and ahead . . .

Targeted for Jan. 22 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, SBIRS GEO-1; TBD

Targeted for February Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, GPS IIF-2; TBD

Feb. 23 Launch/VAFB: Taurus, ; 5:10 a.m. EST

No Earlier Than Feb. 24 Launch/KSC: Discovery, STS-133; 4:50 p.m. EST NASA/Jim Grossmann Civil service and contractor employees enjoy refreshments and other goodies at the 31st Annual No Earlier Than April 1 Launch/KSC: Endeavour, STS-134; 3:15 a.m. EDT KSC Holiday Coffee on Dec. 8 in the Operations and Checkout Building’s Mission Briefing Room and the lobby of the Operations Support Building II (above). No Earlier Than April 14 Launch/CCAFS: SpaceX Falcon 9, Dragon C2; TBD

No Earlier Than June 6 Launch/CCAFS: SpaceX Falcon 9, Dragon C3; TBD John F. Kennedy Space Center

No Earlier Than June 9 Launch/VAFB: Delta II, Aquarius / SAC-D Satellite; TBD Spaceport News

Aug. 5 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, ; Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and Launch Window 11:54 a.m. to 12:24 p.m. EDT is published on alternate Fridays by External Relations in the interest of KSC civil service and contractor employees. Aug.15 Launch/ Kwajalein Atoll, Reagan Test Site: Contributions are welcome and should be submitted three weeks before publication Pegasus, NuSTAR; TBD to the Media Services Branch, IMCS-440. E-mail submissions can be sent to [email protected] Sept. 8 Launch/CCAFS: Delta II Heavy, GRAIL; Managing editor ...... Candrea Thomas 8:35:52 a.m. to 9:14:35 a.m. EDT Editor ...... Frank Ochoa-Gonzales Copy editor ...... Rebecca Regan Oct. 18 Launch/VAFB: Delta II, NPP; TBD Editorial support provided by Abacus Technology Corp. Writers Group. No Earlier Than Nov. 25 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, ; TBD NASA at KSC is on the Internet at www.nasa.gov/kennedy USGPO: 733-049/600142