November 16, 2007 Vol. 47, No. 24 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/snews/spnews_toc.html

Discovery home after historic mission sets up future space station growth

HE Discovery (right) and its crew landed Tat NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 1:01 p.m. Nov. 7 after completing a 15-day journey of more than 6.2 million miles in space. Discovery’s STS-120 mis- sion added a key component to the International Space Station and featured an unprecedented space- walk to repair a damaged solar array. “This mission demonstrates the value of having humans in space and our ingenuity in solving problems,” said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for space operations at NASA Headquarters Paolo Nespoli delivered the Node returned with the STS-120 crew. in Washington. 2 module, known as Harmony. With Discovery and its crew “The teams on the ground Harmony will provide attachment safely home, the stage is set for the worked around the clock, along points for European and Japanese next phase of station assembly. with the crews in space, to develop laboratories to be added later this Before Atlantis’ STS-122 mis- a plan to fix the array. Our high year and early in 2008. sion delivers the European Space level of preparedness gave us the Tani remained behind on the Agency’s Columbus laboratory edge necessary to make this a suc- station as part of the Expedition module to the station, Harmony Right, Commander Pamela Melroy, Pilot George Zamka and Mission Specialists cessful mission.” 16 crew. He is scheduled to return must be relocated to its permanent Scott Parazynski, Stephanie Wilson and Discovery’s crew of Com- home aboard location at the front of the com- Doug Wheelock after landing on Runway mander Pam Melroy, Pilot George on a mission targeted to launch plex. The station crew will conduct 33 of the Shuttle Landing Facility. Zamka and Mission Specialists Dec. 6. Tani replaced Clayton three spacewalks and robotically Scott Parazynski, Doug Wheelock, Anderson, who spent almost five move two components to complete Stephanie Wilson, Dan Tani and months on the station, arriving in that task, allowing Atlantis to dock (See NASA TV below for more European Space Agency June aboard Atlantis. Anderson and Columbus to attach to Harmony. information.) NASA TV to cover November space station spacewalks, work and briefings OLLOWING the wake of the spacewalks and major robot- for the relocated mating adapter Whitson and Tani conduct a final Fspace shuttle Discovery's ics work will be broadcast live on and Harmony module. A press con- 6.5-hour spacewalk to complete delivery of the Harmony connect- NASA Television. ference will follow the spacewalk the hookup of the mating adapter ing module to the International At 4:30 a.m. Nov. 20, NASA on NASA TV, originating from and Harmony module to the sta- Space Station, the station crew will TV will broadcast live coverage as NASA's Johnson Space Center tion. This will leave them ready conduct two more spacewalks and Commander and with questions from participating for the docking of space shuttle robotically move two components Flight Engineer Daniel Tani con- NASA sites. Atlantis and delivery of Columbus this month to prepare for delivery duct a 6.5-hour spacewalk to hook At 4:30 a.m. Nov. 24, NASA on mission STS-122. of a European laboratory. All of up fluid, electrical and data lines TV will broadcast live coverage as Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS November 16, 2007 SpaceX breaks ground on launch complex PACE Explora- Putting spades to work at tion Technologies, ground-breaking ceremonies for or SpaceX, broke SpaceX’s new Falcon 9 rocket S launch facilities at Space Launch ground on Nov. 2 at Launch Complex 40 to Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral build new launch facili- are (from left) Thad Altman, Florida representative; Jeff Kottkamp, ties at Cape Canaveral Florida lieutenant governor; Elon Air Force Station. The Musk, founder and chief execu- U.S. Air Force Space tive officer of Space Exploration Command's 45th Space Technologies; U.S. Air Force Brig. Wing granted a license Gen. , commander to SpaceX to operate on of the 45th Space Wing; Lynda Space Launch Complex Weatherman, Brevard County 40, which was previ- Economic Development Commis- ously used for Titan 4 sion chief executive officer and president; Steve Koehler, president launches. of Space Florida; Janet Petro, SpaceX will be able deputy director of NASA's Kennedy to launch both the Falcon Space Center; Patricia Grace 9 and Falcon 9-heavy Smith, Federal Aviation Adminis- from the site. The com- tration associate administrator for pany is planning to debut commercial space transportation; the Falcon 9 in late 2008. and Steve Cain, Kennedy COTS As part of NASA’s project manager. Commercial Orbital Transportation Services, or COTS, competition, SpaceX will launch a shuttle operations. Falcon 9 with a cargo-carrying payload on a series of three demonstration In operation since 1965, Space Launch Complex 40 has hosted numer- missions from Cape Canaveral to the International Space Station, culmi- ous launches, including two interplanetary missions: the Mars Observer nating with the delivery of supplies to the orbiting laboratory. SpaceX on Sept. 25, 1992, and the Saturn-bound Cassini-Huygens, which rode says it intends to demonstrate its launch, maneuvering, berthing and return into space on Oct. 15, 1997, atop a Titan IVB launcher. abilities by 2009 – a year before NASA has scheduled the end of space A fire began Nov. 7 during demolition activities at the launch complex. The Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Fire Department arrived NASA honors USA employee nine minutes later and promptly extinguished the flames. There were no injuries and no damage to for technical excellence surrounding property. Demolition contractors using HE NASA Engineering and Space Alliance employee Delmar Research Center in Virginia. The steel cutting torches were section- Safety Center, known as Foster during ceremonies at a lead- ceremony recognized individuals T ing an aging structure in prepara- NESC, recently honored United ership meeting at NASA's Langley for their contributions to critical technical assessments over the past tion for removal when adjacent year. materials ignited. The work was Foster received an NESC En- monitored by a fire watch, and the gineering Excellence Award in fire department was summoned recognition "of technical expertise according to standard operating and outstanding proactive support procedures. in establishing the processes and “This kind of thing is not un- techniques for SAS software utili- heard of during large-scale demoli- zation within the Data Mining and tion. That’s why we have proce- Trending Working Group." dures in place. Everyone acted pro- The Engineering Excellence fessionally and by the book, and Award honors individual accom- fortunately no one was hurt,” said plishments of NESC job-related Norman Bobczynski, SpaceX’s tasks of such magnitude and merit launch site director. as to deserve special recognition. Chief Executive Officer Elon This is the fourth year the Musk was informed of the situa- NESC has recognized employees tion and stated that SpaceX will and NASA partners for outstanding work closely with officials at Cape contributions to NESC-sponsored Canaveral to investigate the fire and will make any changes deemed At NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, Ken Cameron (left), NESC deputy director activities and to encourage critical for safety, and Ralph Roe, NESC director, present an NESC Engineering Excellence Award examination of engineering necessary. to Delmar Foster (center) of NASA's Kennedy Space Center. problems. November 16, 2007 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Atlantis rolls to Launch Pad 39A

PACE shuttle Atlantis rolled Space Shuttle out to Launch Pad 39A on Atlantis, secured Nov. 10 and preparations for atop a mobile launch S platform, nears the STS-122 mission are moving the top of the five forward. percent grade to the The first motion of the shuttle top of the hardstand out of the Vehicle Assembly Build- on its final approach ing was 4:43 a.m. The 3.4-mile to Launch Pad 39A. journey to the launch pad took The rotating service about a little more than 7 hours. structure, adjoined The primary payload on to the fixed service Atlantis is the Columbus Labora- structure at left, has tory (see below for more about been rolled back in preparation for Columbus). Launch to the Interna- the shuttle’s arrival. tional Space Station is targeted for After a 7-hour trip, Dec. 6. The addition of this mod- the shuttle was hard ule to the space station was made down on the pad at possible with the installation of the 11:51 a.m. Harmony Node 2 module on mis- sion STS-120 in October.

24th shuttle mission to the space station to add Columbus Laboratory UILT by the European Space Agency, or ESA, Columbus Bwill expand the research facilities of the station, provid- ing crew members and scientists around the world the ability to conduct a variety of life, physical and materials science experiments. The module is approximately 23 feet long and 15 feet wide, allowing it to hold 10 large racks of experi- ments. Columbus is ESA's largest single contribution to the space station. ESA has developed a range of payload racks, all tailored to squeeze the maximum amount of research from the mini- mum of space. The Biolab, for example, supports experiments on micro-organisms, cells and tissue cultures, and even small plants and small insects. The Material Science Laboratory Electromagnetic Levita- tor is a facility for melting and solidifying conductive metals, alloys or semi-conductors. The Fluid Science Laboratory will accommodate experiments in the strange behavior of weight- less liquids. ESA says these could bring far-reaching benefits on Earth, such as better ways to clean up oil spills and even

In the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Columbus Laboratory is positioned on a stand where it is being displayed to the media at a special showing.

At left, an artist’s rendering of the inside of the Columbus Lab as it is intended for use after its installation on the International Space Station.

improve manufacture of optical lenses. Outside its pressurized hull, Columbus has four mounting points for external payloads. Exposed to the vacuum of space, and with an unhin- dered view of the Earth, science packages can investigate anything from the ability of bacteria to survive on an artificial meteorite to volcanic ac- tivity 250 miles below on the Earth. Columbus was transferred to Launch Pad 39A on Nov. 8 in preparation for its journey to the station. Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS November 16, 2007 World Space Expo commemorates humanity’s first 50 years in space, looks to future explorations to the moon and beyond

By Steven Siceloff Staff Writer

HUNDERING space shuttles gave way to the TThunderbirds and roaring rockets made room for a soaring Super Hornet, Eagle and Raptor during the four days of the World Space Expo on Nov. 1-4. For the first time, the U.S. Air Force's elite aerial demonstration team known as the Thunderbirds Anniversary event honors staged a full air show from the same runway at NASA's Kennedy Mercury Space Center used by space shut- By Linda Herridge tles returning from orbit. Staff Writer "I never thought I would get the opportunity to do it. It's just really HOUGH the air was crisp and neat to do it," said Lt. Col. Kevin the skies threatened rain, noth- "Hollywood" Robbins, commander T ing could dampen the spirits of the of the Thunderbirds. crowd that gathered at the Kennedy The squadron was joined at the Space Center Visitor Complex Rock- Shuttle Landing Facility by the et Garden Nov. 2 to honor the 45th most advanced fighter aircraft in anniversary of the Mercury Program the American inventory, including during the kickoff of the first World the Air Force F-22 Raptor and the Space Expo. Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet. Mercury astronauts "It's a once-in-a-lifetime for and arrived for the me," said Maj. Paul "Max" Moga, VIP event in gleaming classic Cor- who pilots the F-22 Raptor. vettes. Glenn and his wife, Annie, A pair of F-15 Eagles, the were escorted by former Apollo as- Army's precision parachute team tronaut Al Worden, while Carpenter known as the Golden Knights and In a cavalcade of veteran Apollo and Mercury astronauts, John was escorted by shuttle astronaut and a World War II-era P-51 Mustang Top, crowds along Glenn rides in the back of a Corvette driven by Al Worden. Glenn chairman of the Astronaut Schol- also took part in a weekend of air the NASA Cause- piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 “Friendship 7” spacecraft on the first arship Foundation John McBride shows over the space center in way watch the U.S. manned orbital mission. Worden was command module pilot HC-130 transport and Mercury astronaut nurse Dee for Apollo 15. Florida. aircraft in an aerial O’Hara. The 920th Rescue Wing, based refueling demon- Preceding them, also in classic Corvettes, were U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Susan Helms of at nearby Patrick Air Force Base stration. the 45th Space Wing, Center Director Bill Parsons and NASA Associate Administrator Chris and on-call during all space shuttle Scolese. launches and landings, showed its Middle, the U.S. Rob Reider, who was narrator for the Aerial Salute to 50 Years in Space, welcomed each capabilities with helicopters pull- Air Force 920th speaker to the stage. “This is a great time to be here at Kennedy for the World Space Expo,” ing an astronaut from the waters Rescue Wing Reider said as a U.S. Navy F-18 Hornet streaked across the sky overhead in salute. of the Banana River in a simulated demonstrates its Dan LeBlanc, chief operating officer for Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts at recovery. The two helicopters then capability. This unit was responsible KSC Inc., welcomed everyone to the celebration. “We’re so proud to have these two Ameri- joined up with an HC-130 trans- for Mercury and can heroes here with us tonight,” LeBlanc said. port aircraft for an aerial refueling Gemini capsule Parsons discussed the center's vital part in the future of the space program. “On behalf demonstration. recovery. of the nearly 15,000 men and women who work here at Kennedy, I welcome you to World It made for an impressive roster Space Expo,” Parsons said. “As we kick off this inaugural event, it marks an exciting time of performers for crowds number- Left, a member for NASA. ing about 7,000 each day on Nov. 3 of the U.S. Army “We’re celebrating the upcoming 50th anniversary of NASA and are honoring our Mer- and 4 at the NASA Causeway that Golden Knights cury astronauts.” Parsons said. “As we build on our rich heritage in space exploration…Ken- links Kennedy and Cape Canaveral demonstrates his nedy will play a key role in returning humans to the moon and beyond.” Air Force Station. precision skydiving and landing. Scolese said Glenn’s and Carpenter’s flights proved that America was in space to stay. November 16, 2007 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 World Space Expo commemorates humanity’s first 50 years in space, looks to future explorations to the moon and beyond Roaring Raptor stuns, dazzles in Left, the U.S. Air Force Thun- derbirds fly in formation. The rare performance at Kennedy squadron includes two women: By Steven Siceloff twin engines to rip through the air enough to make the plane cruise Maj. Nicole Malachowski flies Staff Writer on passes reaching Mach 0.94, the at supersonic speeds, but the key No. 3 jet as the right wing pilot in maneuvers that took him sharply to its tight turns and exotic dem- the diamond formation and Maj. ARTING skyward or showed off a tight onstrations is a set of robust ramps Samantha Weeks flies the No. 6 through circle turn were the ones no other that can steer the exhaust up and jet as the opposing solo pilot. D tight loops, performer was able to match. down. snapping into It was a rare sight for air show It's a technology that NASA rolls and roar- audiences anywhere in the world helped develop with the X-31 air- Anniversary event honors ing through because the Raptor was too new craft. unexpected for aerial demonstrations until this For Moga, incorporating that starts and stops, year. technology safely into the demon- Mercury astronauts Maj. Paul Moga the F-22 Raptor "Having flown another aircraft, stration flights was one of the chal- By Linda Herridge flies like a wild animal. being the F-15C, when I'm do- lenges of choreographing the show. Staff Writer But the man at the controls says ing some of the things I do in this "Really, what I'm trying to dis- the cutting-edge fighter jet is re- demo in the Raptor, sometimes I play at an air show is primarily the HOUGH the air was crisp and markably tame to pilot. actually can't believe that I'm doing power and maneuverability of the Tthe skies threatened rain, noth- U.S. Air Force Maj. Paul Moga, it," Moga said. aircraft," Moga said. ing could dampen the spirits of the whose call sign is "Max," showed "I can't believe that the aircraft "Those two alone truly set it crowd that gathered at the Kennedy off the Raptor at NASA's Ken- is allowing me to execute those apart from anything that is in the Space Center Visitor Complex Rock- nedy Space Center in Florida dur- maneuvers, and allowing me to ex- world right now." et Garden Nov. 2 to honor the 45th ing three performances at the first ecute them safe. I mean, I'm totally During a particularly stunning anniversary of the Mercury Program World Space Expo held under complete control throughout maneuver that is a standard for during the kickoff of the first World Nov. 1- 4. the whole demo." Raptor flying, Moga pulled the Space Expo. Although Moga used the jet's The Raptor's engines are strong aircraft straight up, but let the jet Mercury astronauts John Glenn stall and start sliding backward and Scott Carpenter arrived for the while its nose fell forward. He let VIP event in gleaming classic Cor- the aircraft flutter a bit before turn- vettes. Glenn and his wife, Annie, ing up the engines again and steer- were escorted by former Apollo as- ing straight out of the fall with no tronaut Al Worden, while Carpenter In a cavalcade of veteran Apollo and Mercury astronauts, John problem. was escorted by shuttle astronaut and Glenn rides in the back of a Corvette driven by Al Worden. Glenn It was enough to make other chairman of the Astronaut Schol- piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 “Friendship 7” spacecraft on the first fighter pilots watching the show arship Foundation John McBride U.S. manned orbital mission. Worden was command module pilot shake their heads. and Mercury astronaut nurse Dee for Apollo 15. "Even though there's a couple O’Hara. times where it looks like I'm out of Preceding them, also in classic Corvettes, were U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Susan Helms of control and falling like a leaf to the the 45th Space Wing, Center Director Bill Parsons and NASA Associate Administrator Chris A P-51 Mustang tries to keep pace with a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor during the Earth, I am in complete control of Scolese. World Space Expo aerial salute at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. the aircraft and that alone speaks Rob Reider, who was narrator for the Aerial Salute to 50 Years in Space, welcomed each to how capable this airframe is," speaker to the stage. “This is a great time to be here at Kennedy for the World Space Expo,” he said. Reider said as a U.S. Navy F-18 Hornet streaked across the sky overhead in salute. Dan LeBlanc, chief operating officer for Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts at KSC Inc., welcomed everyone to the celebration. “We’re so proud to have these two Ameri- U.S. Army Golden Knights Glenn said training was rather want to cut back on science on can heroes here with us tonight,” LeBlanc said. precision skydiving team members difficult in the human centrifuge the International Space Station Parsons discussed the center's vital part in the future of the space program. “On behalf presented Glenn and and desert training was interesting. and would like to see six people of the nearly 15,000 men and women who work here at Kennedy, I welcome you to World Carpenter with commemorative Carpenter said pre- and post-flight living and working on the sta- Space Expo,” Parsons said. “As we kick off this inaugural event, it marks an exciting time Mercury mission flags. times were difficult with the loss of tion. for NASA. Both Mercury astronauts com- anonymity. “We are doing what we “We’re celebrating the upcoming 50th anniversary of NASA and are honoring our Mer- mented on early training experi- Glenn and Carpenter would should do,” Carpenter said. “To cury astronauts.” Parsons said. “As we build on our rich heritage in space exploration…Ken- ences, challenges with the Atlas like to see the space program re- explore the moon, Mars and nedy will play a key role in returning humans to the moon and beyond.” rockets and their hopes for the fu- turn humans to the moon and take beyond is inevitable. Just wait Scolese said Glenn’s and Carpenter’s flights proved that America was in space to stay. ture of NASA’s space program. them to Mars. Glenn would not – you ain’t seen nothing yet.” Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS November 16, 2007 FIRST robotics teams seek Kennedy mentors

By Linda Herridge Bradley said workers at Kennedy interested in doing,” Staff Writer also benefit from FIRST in several Bauschlicher said. ways. Benson said men- NDY Bradley, an aero- “Working here, engineers go toring establishes rela- space technologist in Ken- through the development cycle tionships between cur- Anedy Space Center’s En- and learn the ropes in just six rent NASA employees gineering Directorate, enjoys men- weeks,” Bradley said. “What we and future engineers toring “Pink Team” students for the do for FIRST is very similar. We and scientists. It also FIRST competition, also known as are given a difficult challenge and provided him an oppor- For Inspiration and Recognition of incredibly short deadline, and we tunity to enhance his Science and Technology Robotics. come together as a team to find a leadership and engi- Bradley and several Kennedy solution.” He said mentors provide neering skills by work- workers, including Bill Benson and direction and hands-on skills to ing with a small team The Bionic Tigers. Jon Bauschlicher of the Launch help students design a robot for to develop new hardware in a short Services Program, are gearing the annual competition held in the period of time, thus making him a up to once again mentor Brevard spring in Atlanta. more effective NASA employee. 2010 school year. County high school students and There are eight FIRST teams in “FIRST is a great program, but “For now, we encourage stu- prepare them for the annual team Brevard County schools, with Ken- it takes mentors to make it hap- dents where a school does not have event. nedy mentors supporting Rock- pen,” Center Director Bill Parsons its own team to join a team from a FIRST includes 130,000 stu- ledge/Cocoa Beach/Viera High said. “Kennedy civil servants and neighboring school.” dents, 10,700 robots, 37,000 men- Schools’ Pink Team and Cocoa contractors who contribute to this DiPatri said the program is an tors and 27,000 event volunteers High School’s Bionic Tigers. program are helping to develop the outstanding example of how to each year. Benson, an aerospace technolo- next generation of America’s tech- effectively inspire and encourage Though the students benefit gist, and Bauschlicher, a guidance, nical work force.” students to pursue careers in engi- from the leadership and guidance, navigation and controls analyst, Higher Education Programs neering, science, auto mechanics, are returning for their Specialist Dr. Lesley Garner said technology and other careers im- fifth and third year, there are FIRST mentors at all of portant to the country. respectively, to men- NASA's centers. Garner is Ken- “It provides a wonderful op- tor the Bionic Tigers nedy’s mentor coordinator in the portunity for students of all ability team. Education Division of the External levels to engage in a team process “It makes engi- Relations Directorate. She is look- with sportsmanship and friendly neers and the things ing for more workers to get in- competition as hallmarks of the we do real for the volved in the FIRST program, pos- program,” DiPatri said. kids who, before this sibly expanding to other schools in For more information about exposure, might have the county. FIRST, visit www.usfirst.org. To thought that engineer- Brevard Schools Superinten- become a FIRST mentor, contact ing was either beyond dent Dr. Richard DiPatri would Garner at 321-867-3623 or Lesley. their reach or some- like to see a FIRST team in each C.Garner@.gov. The Pink Team. thing they were not high school by the end of the 2009-

Panel provides updates on Ares I-X test flight progress

By Linda Herridge I-X test vehicle included updates Staff Writer on hardware manufacturing and delivery to Kennedy. “We are less PANEL discussion featuring than one year from the start of A updates on work for the Ares hardware delivery to Kennedy and I-X test flight was hosted by the we’re 18 months from launch of Kennedy Space Center Engineer- our first test flight,” Sullivan said. ing Academy at the Training Audi- Sullivan said the flight test torium. Presenting to a full house vehicle elements and components of NASA and contractor personnel will be fabricated and assembled at were panel members Jon Cowart, multiple sites and then transported NASA Ground Systems Integrated to Kennedy for integration and Product team lead; Steve Sullivan, launch. Kennedy Ares I-X chief engineer, The vehicle will be outfitted and Shaun Green, Kennedy Ares with 753 developmental flight I-X deputy chief engineer. Right, Jon Cowart, team lead Sullivan’s overview of the Ares (See PANEL, Page 8) November 16, 2007 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Remembering Our Heritage

40 years ago: November brings busy week to Eastern Range

By Kay Grinter was the development of the tech- Reference Librarian nology for a lunar soft-landing to support the Apollo Program. Once HE launch activity of the Surveyor-6 was on the moon, its United States steadily in- vernier engines were fired to ac- Tcreased until 1966, when it complish the first rocket-powered peaked at 77 commercial, military liftoff from the lunar surface. and NASA launches, a record that The third launch on Nov. 9 still stands. There were a respect- was the first unmanned all-up test able 61 launches in 1967. of the Saturn V vehicle. Apollo 4 The Eastern Test Range was launched from Launch Pad 39A at especially busy in early Novem- Kennedy Space Center. ber 1967. Three different rock- George Meyer was a pad safety ets were launched successfully supervisor for Pan American, the between Nov. 5 and 9, a span of Range support contractor. Now just five days. A successful fourth a youthful 85 and retired, he was launch from the Western Range on station for all three of these on Nov. 10 put the NASA family launches. “I was assigned to the in the right frame of mind for the impact convoy command near the Thanksgiving season. pads for the ATS and Surveyor First up, on Nov. 5, was the launches,” he recalled. “One of our Missile Row, Cape Canaveral Hughes-built Applications Tech- responsibilities was to inspect the nology Satellite-3 from Complex pad and give the ‘all clear’ follow- inside to finish my nap before I Administration meteorological 12 on Cape Canaveral. Launched ing launch. I was also in the firing drove home.” satellite in the series, was designed aboard an Atlas-Agena D, its nine room for the Saturn V test.” The fourth launch during this to provide both global and local experiments were designed to Louis Ullian was chief engineer busy week was of a McDonnell cloud-cover pictures daily. improve spacecraft technology, for Range Safety for the U.S. Air Douglas-built Thrust Augmented How do jubilant employees cel- develop long-life control systems, Force Eastern Test Range and was Improved Delta from Space ebrate a winning streak? Like the advance spacecraft communica- on console in the Range Control Launch Complex 2E at Vandenberg rest of the American work force, of tions and improve long-range Center, known as the RCC, for all Air Force Base, Calif., on Nov.10. course, with well-deserved time off weather predictions. ATS-3 was the three launches. Retired after 38 ESSA-4, the fourth RCA-built spent with family and friends, giv- last spacecraft to be launched from years of service, he recalled: “We Environmental Science Services ing thanks and eating turkey. Complex 12. worked some pretty long hours On Nov. 7 two days later, Sur- then, and there were cots available veyor-6 was boosted into orbit by a in the RCC. After the Surveyor-6 NASA employees of the General Dynamics-built Atlas-Cen- launch, I fell asleep outside on the taur from Pad 36B on Cape Canav- center’s steps. The Range Com- month: November eral. Among Surveyor’s objectives mander found me and sent me back

Explorer program event looking for past employees

SERIES of exciting activities on Jan. 31 in the Cape Canaveral A area will mark the 50th anniversary of the launch of America’s first satellite, Explorer 1, on a Jupiter C Rocket from the Cape. The event will include a banquet sponsored by the NASA Alumni League, the Redstone Missile Pioneers, the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Museum in Cape Canaveral and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Event coordinator Norman Perry is seeking reunion participants who were involved in the Explorer program with the U.S. Army Bal- listic Missile Agency, Jet Propulsion Lab, U.S. Air Force or support- ing contractors on Jan. 31, 1958. For more information about the event, contact Perry at 321-480- Kevin Zari of International Space Station/Payload Processing; Rebecca Witt of Information 0688. Technology and Communications Services; Ralph Gelpi of the Launch Integration Office; and Nancy W. Hoffman and Gerald M. Stahl with Engineering Development. Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS November 16, 2007 Wyle employees walk the talk for safety

By Jennifer Wolfinger hazardous cryogenics, hypergolic, Employees with Wyle Staff Writer high-pressure gases and special Laboratories enjoy a commodities, and manufacture luncheon in recogni- tion of their outstanding T’S hard enough for one per- liquid air used by government and contractor personnel. safety and health record son to go more than two years for the past two years. The company manages more without suffering an injury Management hosted I than 35 miles of high-pressure that keeps them away from work, the events to encourage let alone more than 250 people gaseous nitrogen and helium pipe- camaraderie among the avoiding this problem. lines at Kennedy that support many more than 250 employ- On Oct. 10, the Wyle Laborato- of the launch and flight hardware ees at Kennedy. ries work force accrued one million complexes. Wyle also operates and hours without “lost-time injuries," maintains equipment used to find which are incidents that require defects in space shuttle and rocket time to be missed from work. This systems and components. is particularly impressive because “This admirable streak is one with various luncheons and speak- ees say they are also dedicated to the workers are responsible for of the longest records on the space- er events. According to Gutierrez, the Voluntary Protection Program, sensitive laboratories, propellants port. The entire JBOSC team con- Wyle management was generous which recognizes and promotes and life support services, as well as gratulates the Wyle employees and in encouraging employees to spend effective safety and health manage- the systems engineering, operation, George Hauer for his leadership as this time to build camaraderie. ment. Through their commitment, maintenance and use of chemical a JBOSC team partner,” said Sam SGS and the Wyle Safety and employees have certain rights and personal protective equipment. Gutierrez, Space Gateway Support Health Office strives to ensure which include protection from Wyle is part of the Space public affairs and government rela- their employees work in areas and discrimination for their health and Gateway Support Joint Base Op- tions manager. with tools and equipment that are safety duties, and access to results erations Support Contract team. From Oct. 29 to 31, the team’s safe and healthy. of inspections and accident inves- Wyle workers handle potentially safe practices were recognized Company leaders and employ- tigations.

PANEL . . . Continued from Page 6 NASA showcases inflatable instrumentation sensors that will Shirish Patel, the Payload Rack habitat for Antarctica take thermal, structural, trajectory, Checkout System manager in the aerodynamics and shock measure- ground systems division of the ASA, the National Science Foundation and ILC Dover recently un- ments during flight. International Space Station and Nveiled an Antarctic-bound inflatable habitat at ILC’s facility at One Sullivan said the vehicle will Spacecraft Processing Directorate, Moonwalker Road in Frederica, Del. be autonomous and use the current attended the panel discussion. He The habitat, being developed under NASA’s Innovative Partnership shuttle range safety system and said he has attended several of the Program, will be a component of the McMurdo Station in Antarctica from ground telemetry during launch. Kennedy Engineering Academy January 2008 through February 2009. Cowart discussed progress on events because they are very in- Using reports from explorers braving the harsh Antarctic environment ground support equipment and formative and he appreciates the and data collected from the habitat’s sensors, designers will evaluate the facilities including Launch Pad knowledge shared by the experts. concept of using inflatable structures to support future explorers on the 39B modifications to the gaseous “It is great to hear about past moon or Mars. oxygen vent arm, first-stage avion- projects and how they were suc- ics module access and lightning cessfully accomplished,” Patel protection system. He said work said. “It’s also important to gain John F. Kennedy Space Center is under way to provide design, knowledge on future vehicle de- analysis and the equipment neces- sign, capabilities, planned tests and Spaceport News sary for access to the solid rocket schedules.” booster igniters, avionics module The center’s Engineering and upper stage. Directorate created the Kennedy Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and “We will have a Vehicle As- Engineering Academy to bring is published on alternate Fridays by External Relations in the interest of KSC civil sembly Building high bay, launch engineering resources together to service and contractor employees. pad and firing room ready in time create a culture of engineering ex- Contributions are welcome and should be submitted two weeks before publication to the Media Services Branch, IDI-011. E-mail submissions can be sent to for the test flight,” Cowart said. cellence. [email protected]. The integration product team According to Jack Fox, the will also provide design, analysis directorate’s management sup- Managing editor...... Amber Philman Editor...... Anita Barrett and equipment needed for impor- port office manager, the academy Copy editor ...... Corey Schubert tant elements including mobile encourages engineers to learn con- launch platform vehicle stabiliza- tinuously, inquire constantly and Editorial support provided by InDyne, Inc. Writers Group. tion and the sound suppression share openly within and beyond NASA at KSC is located on the Internet at http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy water system. the engineering community. USGPO: 733-049/600142