July 13, 2012 Vol. 52, No. 14 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe

NASA begins next chapter with Orion arrival By Steven Siceloff Spaceport News

he Orion capsule that will make the first Tflight test into space was celebrated Monday morning as the cornerstone of a new era of explora- tion for America's space program. The spacecraft's alumi- num-alloy crew pressure module arrived at NASA's NASA/Kim Shiflett Kennedy Space Center in Mark Geyer, Orion program manager for NASA's Ground Systems Development and Operations, addresses the audience assembled in Kennedy Space Center's Florida on Friday, June 29, Operations and Checkout Building high bay at an event July 2 marking the arrival of NASA's first space-bound Orion capsule in Florida. Slated for Exploration Flight where it will be built up into Test-1, an uncrewed mission planned for 2014, the capsule will travel farther into space than any human spacecraft has gone in more than 40 years. The capsule was shipped to Kennedy from NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans where the crew module pressure vessel was built. The Orion production team will prepare a fully functioning space- the module for flight at Kennedy by installing heat-shielding thermal protection systems, avionics and other subsystems. For more information, click on the photo. craft ahead of a test flight slated for 2014. of instruments to evaluate Designed with astronauts opment of Orion, said the life support equipment have "This starts a new, excit- how the spacecraft behaves in mind, Orion will take capsule can be the principal seen significant improve- ing chapter in this nation's during launch, in space and crews beyond low Earth spacecraft for 30 years of ments in size and capabili- great space exploration through the searing heat of orbit for the first time since human exploration of the ties. story," said Lori Garver, re-entry. 1972, when Apollo 17 solar system. "The systems on this NASA deputy administrator. Later Orion spacecraft completed the last moon "It's the first in a line of spacecraft, it's bigger than "Today we are lifting our will take astronauts on landing. The Space Launch vehicles that can take us Apollo and it has to stay in spirits to new heights." missions to destinations far System, or SLS -- a gigantic where we've never gone be- space longer than Apollo, Orion will be the most beyond Earth, such as to an rocket akin to the Saturn fore," Walheim said. "It'll be so it has to be better than advanced spacecraft ever asteroid and Mars. V that launched the Apollo a building block approach, Apollo," said Bob Cabana, designed. It will provide "Ladies and gentlemen, spacecraft -- is being devel- we'll have to have a lander director of Kennedy and a emergency abort capability, we're going to Mars," oped to launch future Orion and a habitation module, but former shuttle commander. sustain astronauts during proclaimed U.S. Sen. Bill missions to deep space. The we can get there." For now, the focus for space travel and provide Nelson, who joined Garver first launch of the SLS, with Although the design is NASA and Lockheed safe re-entry from deep and other officials to wel- Orion atop, is targeted for reminiscent of the land- Martin, the spacecraft's space. come the Orion spacecraft. 2017. mark Apollo capsule that builder, is on preparing this The 2014 uncrewed flight, "We know the Orion capsule Astronaut Rex Walheim, took men to the moon, the capsule for space in 2014. called Exploration Flight is a critical part of the sys- who flew on the final space interior of the spacecraft is During the EFT-1 mission, a Test-1, or EFT-1, will be tem that's going to take us shuttle mission and has had significantly more advanced. loaded with a wide variety there." a leading role in the devel- Its guidance, navigation and See ORION, Page 2

Consoles find homes ISU panel seeks ideas First Telstar launch BEST BBQ photos Inside this issue...

Page 2 Page 3 Page 7 Page 8 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS July 13, 2012 Firing Room 3 launch consoles find new homes

By Linda Herridge centers. The external review “Any of the thousands of Spaceport News includes universities and NASA and contractor per- museums. sonnel involved with those biomedical console In May, the Public Affairs consoles will be able to look that once was in console was delivered to the at them and experience the A Launch Control Kennedy Space Center Visi- many memories of their Center (LCC) Firing Room tor Complex where it will proud accomplishments.” 3 at Kennedy Space Center be readied for permanent Mars said visitors to now is on display at the display along with space the museum will have the Coca-Cola Space Science shuttle Atlantis. opportunity to sit in front Center at Columbus State The Smithsonian Mu- of a console and imagine University in Georgia. seum in Washington, D.C., the thrill of controlling a The science center also is hoping for three launch part of the many operations will receive artifacts from consoles and the Launch Di- required to launch. other NASA centers, includ- rector’s console. The Space Awtonomow said the ing a launch pad escape bas- center is working hard ket, orbiter window, orbiter Walk of Fame in Titusville is making room for a set of to find homes for all of wing leading edge, shuttle the consoles, but any not three main floor consoles tire, and a space shuttle NASA requested will be excessed and a smaller console from main engine nozzle. Lance Tankersley, planetarium director of the Coca-Cola Space Science Center at and transported to Ransom the test conductor's row. “Having artifacts from Columbus State University in Georgia, left, and others assist with the removal of the Road for public auction. Museum President Char- NASA will improve our biomedical console from the Kennedy Space Center's Firing Room 3 in March. After the firing room is lie Mars said the smaller ability to enhance educa- ongoing exploration and master console and asso- emptied, it will be turned console will be displayed tional and visitor experi- discovery. ciated launch processing over to the Ground Systems ences by showing technol- in the room with the Atlas LCC Transition and systems, and furniture. Development and Opera- ogy first hand to those Centaur consoles from Retirement Project Lead Awtonomow said that all tions (GSDO) Program. Old that would not otherwise Launch Pad 36. Debbie Awtonomow said of the artifacts have been Apollo and shuttle era encounter it,” said Lance preparing consoles and other “From the Kennedy equipment and wiring under listed in a historical database Tankersley, planetarium di- space shuttle artifacts for launch perspective, those the floors will be removed and that there is a requestor rector of the science center. dissemination to universi- consoles are the workhorses as the room is converted to priority list. The internal Tankersley said the ties and museums is all part that controlled the process- a spaceport command and university was founded of ongoing transition and review is government enti- ing, loading and launching control system development in 1958, the same year as retirement activities. ties, including other NASA of the shuttles,” Mars said. laboratory. NASA, at the insistence of To date, United Space “It’s very sad to see these the local community. The Alliance launch processing Watch a video items go, but it’s good to see Coca-Cola Space Science system workers have pack- To watch a video of the Coca-Cola Space Science Center staff them going to good homes Center serves as one of the aged and readied all of the unloading the BIO/MED console that came from where shuttle education university’s outreach centers Kennedy Space Center's Firing Room 3, go to firing room’s 64 consoles, www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUVoVPPS9gk&feature=player_detailpage. will continue,” Awtonomow for the purpose of inspiring racks of equipment, the said.

From ORION, Page 1 tools to turn the aluminum shell of from this pad," said Pepper Phillips, will use a stage adapter design that Orion into a functioning spacecraft manager of the GSDO program. also will connect the Orion to the Delta IV Heavy rocket from United complete with avionics, instrumen- The Orion program, based at SLS. Launch Alliance will lift the space- tation and heat shield. Johnson Space Center in Houston, "You want to make a part that can craft into orbit. Its second stage The space-bound Orion was calls on multiple NASA centers to be designed for the Orion flight, as will remain attached to the capsule welded at NASA's Michoud Assem- team up for the missions, including well as the SLS flights, so you only and will be fired to raise the Orion's bly Facility in New Orleans, in the EFT-1. have to design it once," Beaman orbit to 3,600 miles, about 15 times same factory that built the external "Ultimately, we're going to fly as said. "We'll get flight data on the higher than the International Space tanks for space shuttle missions. one big team," said Dave Beaman, performance, which really helps." Station. The mission will only last a NASA's Ground Services Devel- Space Launch System spacecraft The spacecraft arrived at Ken- few hours, long enough to make two opment and Operations Program, or and payload integration manager nedy nearly 50 years to the day that orbits before being sent plunging GSDO, oversaw development of the based at Marshall Space Flight the center was born. Garver said back into the atmosphere to test it at mobile launcher that will provide a Center in Huntsville, Ala. "The fact both occasions give NASA a great deep-space re-entry speeds. launch pad for the SLS and Orion that we're two separate programs, chance to set future milestones Assembly at Kennedy will take missions. The program also refur- and having the GSDO program here that will be as celebrated as those place in the high bay of the Opera- bished Launch Pad 39B, designing at Kennedy, it gets some early coor- already achieved. tions and Checkout Building, or a new pad structure emphasizing dination going and gives a chance to Garver said, "It's a great day and O&C. The O&C was refurbished flexibility. iron out some wrinkles." great way to celebrate 50 years of extensively in 2006 and has been "A vehicle can come in any shape Although EFT-1 will be launched success and talk about 50 years in outfitted with large fixtures and and any size and be able to launch aboard a Delta IV Heavy rocket, it the future," July 13, 2012 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Space leaders challenge ISU students for bold ideas By Rebecca Regan July 3 for the international graduate of Alliant Techsystems Inc. “It’s hard to predict what markets Spaceport News students who are in Brevard County, Each of the partner representatives might flourish, but we’re relying on Fla., for two months to sharpen their talked about their company’s plans people like you, entrepreneurs, for s NASA continues to foster knowledge of space-related activi- to make their systems safe enough new businesses to materialize once commercial capabilities to ties. to launch NASA astronauts to the spaceflight is more affordable.” launch astronauts to low A The first panel session included International Space Station around The second panel included Mark Earth orbit, students of the Interna- Lisa Colloredo, associate program the middle of the decade. Once those Bontrager, vice president of Space- tional Space University’s 25th annual manager of NASA’s Commercial systems are certified to fly, the com- port Operations at Space Florida, Space Studies Program are being Crew Program (CCP), along with panies will be able to market their and Tom Engler, NASA’s deputy challenged to come up with new and Commercial Crew Development rockets and spacecraft to other cus- manager of Kennedy’s Planning and innovative destinations, experiments Round 2 (CCDev2) partners tomers to send people or experiments Development Office. Both talked and business models to keep the Chuck Hardison of The Boeing Co., into the weightlessness of space. about how the center and the state path to space sustainable for future Andy Aldrin of United “We really believe that once the are preparing for these emerging generations. Launch Alliance, Scott Henderson capabilities to low Earth orbit are markets and encouraged the students Kennedy Space Center hosted a of Space Exploration Technologies there, there will be the stimulation to keep expanding their goals for Commercial Space Initiatives panel Corp., and Kent Rominger of other markets,” said Colloredo. space. Commercial crew partners taking giant strides The Boeing Co. Blue Origin Sierra Nevada Corp. SpaceX

Awaiting new photo Awaiting new from SNC photo from SpaceX

Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne completed Blue Origin conducted a system require- SNC completed a test of the nose land- SpaceX conducted a Concept Baseline a series of tests on a thruster destined for ments review (SRR) of its Space Vehicle ing gear for its full-scale Dream Chaser Review (CBR) of its Dragon capsule Boeing’s CST-100 spacecraft at NASA’s on May 15 and 16 in Kent, Wash., to as- engineering flight test vehicle June 25. June 14, at its headquarters in Hawthorne, White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, sess the spacecraft’s ability to meet safety The evaluation is an important milestone Calif. During the review, the company N.M., June 18-21.Twenty-four OMAC and mission requirements, and evaluate to prepare for an upcoming free flight of provided details about each phase of a system thrusters, short for orbital maneu- the technical readiness of the design, the the Dream Chaser Space System later potential NASA mission, including plans to vering and attitude control, would give concept of operations, the feasibility of this year. The test evaluated the impact modify its launch pad to support crewed the CST-100 the ability to maneuver in project development plans, and planned the nose landing gear will experience missions, how Dragon would dock with the space and on its trip back through Earth’s verification activities. The review also to ensure a safe runway landing of the station, how much weight Dragon could atmosphere. They also would allow the included results from recently completed Dream Chaser during the approach and handle and power it would consume, and spacecraft and its crew to separate from wind tunnel tests of the biconic shape, landing tests and future test flights. Dream prospective ground landing sites and tech- its launch vehicle quickly if an emergency validating the vehicle’s aerodynamic Chaser’s main landing gear was tested niques. The company also outlined crew were to occur during launch or ascent. design, stability and cross-range. earlier in the year. living arrangements aboard the spacecraft. Alliant Techsystems Inc. Excalibur Almaz Inc. United Launch Alliance

Awaiting new Awaiting new photo from ATK photo from ULA

ATK’s Liberty launch vehicle passed a EAI completed its Commercial Crew De- ULA held two reviews in July as part of the Program Status Review (PSR) to complete velopment Round 2 (CCDev2) partnership milestones to be met under its Commercial the final milestone under Commercial with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) on on June 19. Since October 2011, NASA partnership with NASA. Agency technical July 11. The Liberty team presented NASA has reviewed the design of the company’s experts and ULA design and development with a design analysis cycle status, sys- human spacecraft concept, its systems engineers looked at how to define and test tem requirements, software status, flight requirements and compatibility with launch the Atlas V rocket for human spaceflight test plan, system safety review, ground vehicle alternatives, as well as plans to test needs, as well as cost, schedule, risk, processing certification plan and schedule and integrate the spacecraft in advance of a technology readiness, operational concept for initial operation capability. crewed launch. and other system constraints. Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS July 13, 2012 Groundbreaking ushers in new liquid hydrogen test site By Linda Herridge the original 33,000-gallon Spaceport News tank was acquired from the old Titan Launch Complex ennedy Space Cen- 41 at Cape Canaveral Air ter’s Engineering Force Station in Florida. The KDirectorate recently directorate is negotiating broke ground on a new test with United Launch Alliance site that could help reduce to acquire a flight-weight the cost of ground hydrogen Centaur tank for a more processing operations for accurate representation of a variety of commercial the loading demonstration. launch vehicles and NASA’s A refrigeration unit will be next exploration vehicles. NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis integrated into the storage Located northeast of the Cryogenics and systems engineers break ground June 25 on the Ground Operations Demonstration Unit Liquid Hydrogen tank. Hypergolic Maintenance Fa- (GODU LH2) test site near the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From left are Johnny The pneumatic system is cility, the Ground Operations Nguyen, Fluids Test and Technology Development branch chief; Emily Watkins, engineering intern; Jeff Walls, ESC Cryogen- Demonstration Unit Liquid ics Test Lab engineer; Kelly Currin, systems engineer; Stephen Huff and Rudy Werlink, cryogenics engineers; Angela Krenn, from Launch Complex 20, Hydrogen (GODU LH2) systems engineer; Doug Hammond, command and control engineer in the electrical division; William Notardonato, GODU with the hydrogen transfer LH2 project manager; and Kevin Jumper, ESC Cryogenics Test Lab manager. test site will be used to test and vent lines coming from advanced liquid hydrogen energy,” said GODU LH2 genics engineer in the cen- Johnson said. “This project Edwards Air Force Base in systems. The main compo- Manager Bill Notardonato. ter’s Cryogenic Test Labora- has the potential to help any California. nent of the site, the storage Funded by NASA’s Ad- tory. He said a goal of the launch program to lower After construction is com- tank, is targeted to be ready vanced Exploration Systems GODU test site is to become the costs and improve the plete, the tank will be used to by August. A cryogenic Program, the GODU LH2 more energy efficient, and servicing of propellants to demonstrate liquid nitrogen refrigerator will be delivered test site has the potential in the long run, more cost the launch vehicle.” processing for about a year, in April 2013. to provide support to the efficient, in how cryogenic Johnson said the hope is followed by demonstration “The groundbreaking is Launch Services Program, propellants are handled. that the facility will allow for testing of liquid hydrogen. the start of a transition of a the Space Launch System, “If Kennedy is to become the demonstration of cost and Notardonato said the goal facility once used to support Ground Systems Develop- a multiuser spaceport that energy efficient storage and is to process liquid hydro- NASA’s Space Shuttle Pro- ment and Operations and serves government and transfer of liquid hydrogen gen with as little waste as gram that will now help sup- human exploration beyond commercial launches, then during processing, loading, possible, thereby proving port advanced development low Earth orbit. we will have to become cost launch and spaceflight. economical ground cryogen- concepts in hydrogen and Wesley Johnson is a cryo- and efficiency conscience,” According to Notardonato, ics operations. Center's waste reduction efforts earn recycle award By Cheryl Mansfield cling, electronic recycling and Spaceport News more." s government, business The three-day program featured and industry look for ways workshops on recycling, material to advance their sustain- recycling facilities, organics, trends A and legislation. ability programs, those efforts at Kennedy Space Center recently "Colleges gave case studies received recognition at a statewide on recycling efforts, there was a conference in Florida. workshop showcasing reuse efforts At the Recycle Florida Today's through rehabilitative programs annual conference and exhibition and community art projects, and in June, the space center received NASA/Gianni Woods another focusing on construction the "Waste Reduction" award from Kennedy Space Center was recognized at the Recycle Florida Today's annual conference and exhibi- and demolition," explained Smith. the group's board. tion in June for offering free school supplies to public and charter school teachers from the surrounding "We looked at recycling progress, counties on Oct. 31, 2011. What made the center's efforts where we stand now, and what the outstanding was that the sustain- "There were 293 teachers who But the center's four-member future holds." ability team members not only eagerly snapped up the surplus delegation to the conference did The space center has been a recycled materials that would have supplies from our excess offices more than just collect the award. member of the Recycle Florida otherwise ended up in the landfill, supplies donation project," said "We came back with ideas on Today organization since 2006. but also garnered excess supplies Alice Smith, KSC recycling and developing a material recycling The group serves as a profes- through a donation project that sustainable acquisition program facility and organic recycling," said sional association that helps its benefited six surrounding Brevard manager. "The supplies' estimated Smith. "We brought back ideas and members improve their recycling County public schools, helping the value was $115,000. It was a win- contacts from the exhibitors on techniques through education, teachers meet the students' needs. win situation." balers, containers, plastic recy- research and exchange of ideas. July 13, 2012 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 Scenes Around Kennedy Space Center

CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Charisse Nahser Technicians perform a solar array illumination test after the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, on various scales of space and time. The boom will provide data of the electric fields that energize spacecraft A solar arrays and magnetometer boom were deployed July 6 inside the Astrotech payload radiation particles and modify the structure of the inner magnetosphere. RBSP will begin its mission processing facility near Kennedy Space Center. Deploying these components is a standard procedure of exploration of Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch to ensure they work properly on Earth before they head into space. NASA’s RBSP mission will help us aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Launch is targeted for Aug. 23. For more information understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on the mission, click on the photo.

CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Kim Shiflett Steady progress is made on the construction of the hazard field for the Project Morpheus lander near the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, at Kennedy Space Center on July 5. Testing of the prototype lander has been ongoing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in preparation for its first free flight. For more information on Project Morpheus, click on the photo.

CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Frankie Martin United Space Alliance technicians completed spray-painting simulated orbital maneuvering system, or OMS, pods onto space shuttle Endeavour on July 3 inside Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at Ken- nedy Space Center. The work is part of the transition and retirement of the remaining space shuttles, Endeavour and Atlantis. Endeavour is being prepared for public display at the California Science Center CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Kim Shiflett in Los Angeles. Its ferry flight to California is targeted for mid-September. Endeavour was the last space Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana accepts a resolution in honor of Kennedy's 50th anniver- shuttle added to NASA’s orbiter fleet. Over the course of its 19-year career, Endeavour spent 299 days sary from the Brevard County Commission on July 10 in the Brevard County Board Room in Viera, Fla. in space, traveled more than 122 million miles and carried 173 astronauts into space during 25 mis- For more on Kennedy's 50th anniversary, click on the photo. sions. For more information on the shuttles' transition, click on the photo. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS July 13, 2012 Engineer's past triumphs pave way to future

By Bob Granath Spaceport News erb Rice joined NASA the year astronauts first left HEarth for the moon. As one of the longest tenured employees at the Kennedy Space Center, he is now part of the team that is prepar- ing to send humans even farther into space. Starting work with NASA in 1968, Rice contributed to the Apollo, space shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) programs. Today, he is helping prepare for futurepro- grams such as the Ground Systems Development and Operations, Space Launch System, and Orion. The past 44 years has seen many changes in America’s space agency, but Rice believes the biggest differ- ence is the advances in computers. “Apollo had amazingly few NASA file computer systems and no micro- NASA Administrator James Beggs, left, presents an award to Herb Rice for his work in support of the Spacelab program during the 1980s. processors,” he said. “The Saturn V told him both the book and motion control system to use nitrogen along one aspect of the work was integrat- avionics were huge. We didn’t even picture mirrored his own experience. with oxygen in the crew cabin of the ing payloads from various countries. think about the weight of avionics Like Hickam, Rice would end up Apollo spacecraft.” when planning for the shuttle.” “We had payloads and experi- with a career with NASA. By the end of 1968, Apollo 7 and Rice believes NASA is headed in ments from France, Italy and Japan, At Kentucky’s Morehead State Apollo 8 had both flown success- the right direction for the future. as well as other countries,” he said. University, Rice earned degrees in fully. “Transitioning to commercial “We had to ensure all of the equip- math and physics and went on to During Rice’s second year with companies the job of getting crews ment was compatible. That was earn a master’s in nuclear physics at the space agency, President John F. to the space station and low Earth or- interesting, working with represen- the University of Kentucky. Shortly Kennedy’s goal to land on the moon bit is a good idea,” he said. “NASA’s tatives of agencies from different afterward he heard NASA was was achieved July 20, 1969. job has always been exploration – nations.” looking for engineers and quickly “It was like one non-stop party going beyond. I believe that’s what That international collaboration applied. all up and down Brevard County we should be doing.” served Rice well. In the early 1990s, “I was offered a job at Kennedy after Apollo 11 landed,” Rice said. Growing up in Louisa, Ky., a his career focus moved to the space during the summer of 1967,” he said. “That whole period was fun. We all small town on the state line with station. “I started the next year.” knew we were a part of something West Virginia, Rice was one of Rice began at a pivotal period for historic.” “I spent the next seven to eight many young Americans who were the then 10-year-old space agency. As Apollo neared completion and years as the Information Technol- inspired by the fledgling space race NASA was still recovering from the with the space shuttle on the horizon, ogy consultant for the ISS Payload that began in 1957 with the launch loss of three astronauts in the Apollo Rice began work as a section chief Directorate.” of Sputnik. 1 fire while preparing for the first on an automated, computer-con- Rice is now working in the “I was fascinated with rockets flights to the moon. trolled system for the firing rooms. Ground Systems Devopment and and wanted to build and launch my “I started in the Design Engineer- During 1983, Rice transferred to Operations program helping de- own,” said Rice. “Some of my mod- ing Directorate,” he said. “We were the NASA shuttle payload organiza- velop the Space Launch System, an els launched successfully, but I also restructuring the environmental tion at Kennedy. He explained that advanced heavy-lift launch vehicle had a few blow up.” that will provide a new capability Rice's story is reminiscent of Homer Hickam’s in his book, "I was fascinated with rockets for human exploration beyond low "Rocket Boys." The narrative relates and wanted to build and launch Earth orbit. “I’m coordinating radio frequency growing up in a West Virginia coal my own. Some of my models mining town, and Hickam’s pursuit agreements between Kennedy, of amateur rocketry while dream- launched successfully, Johnson Space Center and Marshall ing of working in America’s space but I also had a few blow up." Space Flight Center,” he said. “This program. is to ensure the flight vehicles can After Hickam’s memoir was Herb Rice, communicate with ground control made into the movie "October Sky," NASA engineer rooms while at the pad and during some of Rice’s friends and relatives flight.” July 13, 2012 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Telstar opened era of global satellite television By Bob Granath Information Agency poll showed on an aircraft headed to New York Spaceport News that Telstar was better known in from London. The film was aired on Great Britain than Sputnik had been American television later that same or out of this world TV cov- in 1957. day. erage you need out of this While commercially sponsored By contrast, Telstar led to televi- world technology. Since the F spacecraft are now widely accepted, sion broadcasts as events happened 1960s, NASA partnerships with Telstar was the first privately on other continents. commercial companies has enabled financed satellite. Bell Laboratories “Telstar is the best known of all world-wide coverage of internation- designed and built the spacecraft (communications satellites) and al events such as Queen Elizabeth which was paid for by the American is probably considered by most II’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olym- Telephone and Telegraph Corp., observers to have ushered in the pics. While global TV coverage is under a NASA-AT&T agreement. common today, it is a technology era of satellite communications," The Goddard Space Flight Center born the day Telstar was launched wrote Leonard Jaffe, director of the had oversight for the project for 50 years ago this summer. NASA’s Satellite Communications NASA file/1964 NASA. Telstar 1 was the first satellite ca- Program in 1966. Shown is a Telstar 1 satellite used at the Parade While watching live broadcasts The era of “live via satellite” pable of relaying television signals of Progress show at the public hall in Cleveland, now seems commonplace, that from Europe to North America. The Ohio, in 1964. TV opened opportunities for news convenience was not the case when coverage regularly from almost 171-pound, 34.5-inch sphere loaded “This (is an) outstanding symbol Queen Elizabeth's coronation took with transistors and covered with any place on the globe thanks to of America's space achievements," place in London’s Westminster Telstar’s communications satellite solar panels was placed in orbit by the president said. Abby on June 2, 1953. American a Delta rocket launched from Cape successors. Elections, wars, sporting The international impact of tech- TV crews recorded the event, then events -- on any continent -- are Canaveral on July 10, 1962. nical success was immediate. A U.S. developed and edited film while “Liftoff came at 2:35 a.m.,” said now viewed instantly around the John Neilon, NASA’s deputy launch world. director for the Telstar mission. “It Telstar’s limitation was that it was was also the first launch attempt,” available for broadcasts for only he noted since it frequently took about 18 minutes at a time as its or- several tries in those days. bit passed over the Atlantic Ocean. Once in a 3,503-mile by 593-mile The much larger communications elliptical orbit, the first tests con- satellites of today are placed in a firmed the spacecraft was function- geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles ing properly. above the Earth. This results in the History was made just hours after spacecraft staying over the same Telstar’s launch when it relayed point on the Earth's surface, allow- the first live television pictures to ing for constant television commu- France – a U.S. flag waving outside nications between continents. the Andover, Maine, receiving sta- Telstar was just slightly larger tion. Telstar later broadcast the first than a beach ball. On the other live transatlantic television seen by hand, the satellite receiving stations American TV viewers. In addition in Andover, Maine; Pleumeur-Bo- to television broadcasts, Telstar also dou, France; and Goonhilly Downs, relayed telephone calls, data trans- Great Britain, were enormous. missions and picture facsimiles. “I had a chance to go up to An- “We were pretty excited when it dover and see that antenna,” Neilon worked,” Neilon said. “Today, you said. “The size of that thing was expect things to work. Back then, really something to see.” we ‘hoped’ it would work. I was re- The Andover horn antenna was ally proud to be a part of it.” seven stories high and weighed Neilon was Bob Gray's deputy 340 tons. director of Unmanned Launch Compare that to satellite antennas Operations for over ten years and the size of an umbrella atop many succeeded Gray as director in 1970. homes bringing in signals from Neilon later served as Kennedy today’s commercial TV satellites. Space Center’s director of Shuttle When the Summer Olympics Payload Operations, retiring in 1986 begin July 27, millions will be after 28 years with NASA. watching around the world “live via President John F. Kennedy had satellite.” high praise for "our American com- NASA file/1962 That technology began a half- munications satellite” launched dur- A Thor/Delta 316 launches with the Telstar 1 satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space century ago with a beach ball-size ing the “heat” of the Cold War. Launch Complex 17B on July 10, 1962. spacecraft named Telstar. Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS July 13, 2012

In celebration of Kennedy Space Center's 50th anniversary, enjoy this vintage photo . . . FROM THE VAULT

Photos by NASA/Jim Grossmann Barbecue spotlights 'Diversity at its Best' NASA file/1962 By Stephanie Covey President John F. Kennedy visits Cape Canaveral on Sept. 11, 1962. Among the VIPs accompa- Spaceport News nying him are Launch Operations Center Director Kurt Debus (in front of the president) and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson (behind the president). he sounds of smooth jazz Tfilled the air as 220 Ken- nedy employees and Air Force personnel enjoyed barbecue ribs Looking up and ahead . . . and chicken at the 12th an- * All times are Eastern nual KSC BEST BBQ at KARS Park I on June 22. The event Aug. 2 USAF Launch/Vandenberg Air Force Base (SLC-3E): flair,” said Sonya Plummer, the Atlas V (AV-033), NROL-36 was sponsored by Kennedy’s Launch window: TBD Black Employee Strategy Team event's Master of Ceremonies. (BEST). This year’s theme, "Diver- Aug. 23 NASA Launch/Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (SLC-41): “The 2012 BEST barbecue sity at its Best," celebrated the Atlas V-401, Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Launch window: 4:08 to 4:28 a.m. welcomed all incoming interns accomplishments of the shuttle workforce, highlighted the to Kennedy with fun and family Oct. 4 USAF Launch/Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (SLC-37B): history of the Kennedy BEST Delta 4, GPS 2F-3 barbecue, and welcomed summer Launch window: TBD students and faculty. Oct. 25 USAF Launch/Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (SLC-41): Jazz saxaphonist Tony Wynn Atlas V, OTV 3 provided the music. Launch window: TBD Several games and activities were played during the barbecue including cornhole, a multi- player chess showcase, an intern scavenger hunt, a cake walk, John F. Kennedy Space Center spades and Wii tournaments. Spaceport News

Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and is published online on alternate Fridays by Public Affairs in the interest of KSC civil service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted three weeks before publication to Public Affairs, IMCS-440. Email submissions can be sent to KSC-Spaceport-News@mail.nasa.gov Managing editor ...... Candrea Thomas Editor ...... Frank Ochoa-Gonzales Copy editor ...... Kay Grinter Editorial support provided by Abacus Technology Corp. Writers Group. NASA at KSC is on the Internet at www.nasa.gov/kennedy SP-2012-07-122-KSC