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Mission update Vol. 35, No. 13 June 21, 1996 Spaceport News America's gateway to the universe. Leading the world in preparing and launching missions to Earth and beyond. John F. Kennedy Space Center Olympic spirit runs through KSC

Mission: STS-79 on Atlantis. ot only is the inter and back down. served basis. Each vehicle enter- national symbol for The torch will ing the area must have a badged Launch date, time: July 31, the Olympics coming then be trans- employee or a placard which are approximately 11:42 p.m. from N ferred by vehicle available only for employees Launch Pad 39A. to KSC this summer, but KSC will have a presence at the to State Road 3 who will be working that day. and the NASA Employees are encouraged to Mission Synopsis: STS-79 is Olympics. The Olympic spirit the fourth in a series of NASA will begin to be felt on center Parkway. From watch from the Visitors Center docking missions to the Russian July 7 when the Olympic torch there runners where all of the KSC torch bear- Mir Space Station, leading to the passes through as it continues will then ers will be publicly recognized. construction and operation of the on its circuitous route from Los carry the t press time STS-78 is International Space Station. As Angeles to Atlanta. flame to the KSC Visitors Cen- scheduled to touch the first flight of the Spacehab Seventeen KSC employees ter where a public ceremony will A down at the Shuttle Double Module, STS-79 be held. Landing Facility at 8:51 a.m. encompasses research, test and have been selected by the At- lanta Committee for the Olym- Although employees may in- that day. If that occurs, Com- evaluation of ISS as well as vite family and friends to view mander Tom Henricks, Pilot logistics resupply for the Mir pic Games as torch bearers and, Space Station. STS-79 is also beginning about 2 p.m., will the event along the crawlerway, Kevin Kregel and Mission Spe- the first NASA/Mir American crew carry the flame along the parking will be limited and (See OLYMPICS, Page 5) member exchange, with crawlerway, up the Pad A ramp available on a first-come, first- astronaut John Blaha replacing Shannon Lucid aboard the Mir.

Landing date, time: August 9 at STS-78 could provide world with new view approximately 8:17 p.m. at KSC. By Chuck Weirauch When the Space Shuttle Co- lumbia lifts off from Launch Pad 39B with the Life and Microgravity Spacelab (LMS) mounted in its payload bay to begin the STS-78 mission (scheduled at press time for 10:49 a.m. June 20), it could be the start of the longest Shuttle flight to date. Although the flight plan is for a 15-day, 22-hour mission, careful management of electrical power consumption on board the orbiter could allow an extra day for science work. The decision to extend the flight by A HUGE, billowing pair of gas Mission Control at Johnson THE STS-78 flight crew poses for a group portrait next to the Space Shuttle Columbia and dust clouds are captured in Space Center would enter STS- this Hubble Space Telescope at Launch Pad 39B. From the left are Mission Specialist Charles Brady, Pilot Kevin 78 into the history books with a Kregel, Payload Specialist Jean-Jacques Favier, Payload Commander Susan Helms, (HST) image of one of the most 16-day, 22-hour record space Mission Commander Terrence "Tom" Henricks, Payload Specialist Robert "Bob" Brent massive stars in our galaxy, the Thirsk, and Mission Specialist Richard Linnehan. supermassive Eta Carinae. Eta flight. Carinae, located more than 8,000 Another first for this mission seated on the flight deck during sion is to help set the stage for light years away, was the site of a is the first use of cameras on the ascent, and views of the re-en- the International Space Station giant outburst about 150 years flight deck to provide a near- try and landing of Columbia by studying the effects of long- ago, when it became one of the real-time television video of the through the crew cabin win- duration space flight on human brightest stars in the southern crew entering the crew cabin dows. This video will be broad- physiology and conducting the sky. The exploding star is and getting ready for flight, a cast on NASA Television. type of experiments that would radiating about five million times recorded view of astronauts The goal of the STS-78 mis- more power than the Sun. (See STS-78, Page 6) Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS June 21, 1996 Calibration system software nets 11 KSC employees prestigious Space Act award

Eleven Kennedy Space Cen- ter employees were recently honored with the prestigious NASA Space Act Award for software they have developed to streamline instrument calibration. The recipients, all employees of EG&G Florida, Inc.’s Calibra- tions and Standards Laborato- ries at KSC, were honored in a ceremony with Center Director Jay Honeycutt on June 5 at Headquarters. The automated calibration system consists of more than 60 software programs which enable computers to calibrate instru- ments used on the Shuttle program, in payload processing and other base support activities. The Space Act Award was initiated in 1958 to reward NASA and contractor employees for PICTURED AT the Space Act Award presentation are, from the left, Ken Walla, associate general manager for EG&G Florida, Inc.; significant technical contribu- EG&G General Manager Dick Jolley; award winners Jeffrey Cheatham and James Lewis of The Bionetics Corp.; award winners tions to the NASA mission. Todd Dayton, Otto Fischer, Robert McKay Jr. and James Tidwell of Precision Fabricating and Cleaning (PFC); Center Director Jay awards. Honeycutt; award winners William Frazier III and Thomas Brown of PFC; Paula Pokorny, Standards and Calibrations lab manager for PFC; Marv Jones, Director of Installation Operations; Dick Lyon, Director of Logistics Operations; H.T. Everett, chief of the The recipients will divide operations support branch for the Logistics Directorate; Ray Kotowski, NASA logistics calibrations manager; and Kristen Riley, of $5,000 in award money. KSC's Technology Transfer Offiice. Not pictured are award winners Lois Muse Lewis, Perry King, and Christopher Piehota, of PFC. CFC thanks KSC Employees of the month

COMBINED FEDERAL Campaign chairwoman Irene Long, left, presents Center Director Jay Honeycutt with a certificate thanking Kennedy Space Center employees for an outstanding 1995 campaign. KSC employees raised nearly $222,000 for the nearly 60 affiiliated agencies during the 1995 effort. Long also presented Honeycutt with the CFC Chairman's Award recognizing outstanding participation from 1964 to 1996, during which time $4 million has been raised. Specific directorates HONORED IN JUNE are, from the left, Julie Shalley, Logistics Operations Directorate; Oscar Gamboa, acknowledged for their 1995 efforts are the Office of the Equal Opportunity Program Office; Dana Bolles, Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate; Maria Smith, Chief Financial Officer, named the most improved KSC Administration Office; Jean Dilts, Office of the Chief Financial Officer; and Maria Dumoulin, Payload Operations organization and the KSC directorate with the highest Directorate. Not pictured are Leslie Alderman, Engineering Development Directorate; Bryce Collins, percentage of dollar goal obtained, and the Equal Procurement Office; and Carlos Estrada, Shuttle Processing Directorate. Opportunity Program Office, the KSC staff office with the highest percentage of dollar goal obtained. June 21, 1996 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Biomass chamber sprouts wheat, potatoes in landmark study

By Joel Wells said Ray Wheeler, NASA plant physiologist. Life scientists at Kennedy The BPC, a retrofitted test Space Center (KSC) have chamber from the Mercury initiated NASA’s most realistic Space Program, has an interior test to date on plants being composed of two plant cham- used for human life support in bers. A hydroponic system is space. used to supply the plants with The study began June 11, nutrients and water. Tanks when workers planted 128 outside the chamber store the potato plants and 6,500 wheat water and nutrient solution and seeds in KSC’s Biomass special lamps provide artificial Production Chamber (BPC). sunlight. The controlled environ- During the experiment, ment imitates the confined and researchers from NASA and resource deficient conditions of Dynamac Corporation, KSC’s space. Life Sciences Support Contrac- KSC scientists have been tor, will evaluate the ability of a NEIL YORIO, a plant physiologist with the Dynamac Corp., moves a potato plant from using the chamber almost “bioregenerative” life support a test tube, where it was grown under sterile conditions for four weeks, to a hydroponic continually since 1987, observ- system to produce food and tray in KSC's Biomass Production Chamber located at Cape Canaveral Air Station. ing a variety of crops including oxygen, purify water, and soybeans, lettuce, tomatoes, recycle waste products for long while removing carbon dioxide white potatoes and wheat. This duration space missions. study with potatoes that lasted from the air. study focuses on wheat and The landmark study, part of about 14 months,” explained Gradually, researchers will potato production because of NASA’s development of a NASA agricultural engineer introduce plant and human their high productivity and Controlled Ecological Life- John Sager. “If we plan to live in waste streams from a performance in previous trials. Support System, is scheduled space though, we must deter- “bioreactor” to the BPC, and “We hope to see the same for a full year and could last up mine if this system will be as through transpiration the plants positive results and high yields to three years. It marks the first successful over longer periods will remove and use nutrients in this study that we have seen time two crop species have of time.” from the waste effluent. “In in the shorter preceding stud- been grown simultaneously in Through photosynthesis the effect, plants may be the air and ies,” said Dynamac plant the BPC. wheat and potatoes will produce water filters of the space age,” physiologist Gary Stutte. “We recently completed a food, distilled water and oxygen, Applications taken for engineering master's program at KSC Federal women Applications are currently graduated from the program to tive) on the GRE. Students not award scholarships being taken for the master of date. meeting the admission require- The Spacecoast Chapter science program in engineering Classes will begin on Tues- ments may be considered on a of Federally Employed management offered on-site at day, August 27 and will meet on conditional basis. Students Women recently presented Kennedy Space Center by the Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 must have completed a course scholarship awards to thir- University of Central Florida to 7 p.m. in the NASA Training in differential equations prior to teen high school and under- Department of Industrial Engi- Building. The program runs for graduation. graduate college students. neering and Management Sys- six semesters (including sum- Applicants are generally Selections were based on ap- tems. The program is open to mers) and includes two courses sponsored through their plication, scholastic and aca- NASA and contractor employ- each semester that are taught employer’s training office. Cost demic achievements, written ees of KSC. by UCF Industrial Engineering is $1,100 per semester, not in- references, and personal in- An informational session will faculty. All classes are video- cluding fees for books. A de- terviews. Scholarship values be held June 26 at 4 p.m. at the taped for students who have to ferred payment plan is available ranged from $250 to $1,000. NASA Education and Training miss because of travel or work at a nominal fee for students Recipients, all employees, Center, located at Second Street commitments. The 12 courses awaiting tution reimbursement spouses or dependents of and B Avenue. Applications are cover people, financial and sys- by their employers. KSC employees, are: due August 1 but early applica- tems aspects of project manage- Application packets are avail- Amey Lueck, Catherine tion is encouraged. ment. able at KSC by contacting Potteiger, Amy Snyder. The program is designed to Applicants must have a Cassie Spear, UCF liason at Frances Sandborn-Spiess, better prepare engineers and bachelor’s degree in engineer- KSC, at 459-9326, or by contact- Jennifer Kuglemann, Jenni- scientists with focused techni- ing, science or mathmatics. Ad- ing the UCF Center for Out- fer Tharpe, Jennifer Blom, cal backgrounds to move into mission requirements are a 3.0 reach Credit at 407-823-6227 or Jennifer Opresko, Karoly broader project management GPA in the last two years of Charles Reilly, KSC program Purer, Kimberlee Snyder, positions. More than 250 KSC undergraduate work or a score manager at 407-823-2204 or Michele Luecking, Robert scientists and engineers have of 1000 (verbal plus quantita- [email protected]. Rauch and Sarika Mehta. Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS June 21, 1996 KSC engineers recognized for working with industry to solve technical problems By Joel Wells sponse to the program,” said Chuck Griffin, KSC’s Technol- Twenty Kennedy Space Cen- ogy Outreach coordinator. ter engineers were recently rec- “Sometimes we receive the one- ognized by NASA and the state page applications filled out by of Florida’s Technological Re- hand.” search and Development Au- A committee of NASA and thority (TRDA) for providing contractor employees review technical help to hundreds of each problem statement and Florida businesses. then assign it to an engineer Awards were presented state with expertise in that area. Sen. Patsy Kurth during the “Companies have presented 2nd Annual NASA/TRDA Tech- problems that range from rede- nology Outreach Program signing dentistry tools to keep- Workshop on June 6. ing sea turtles out of a nuclear “The event focused on how power plant’s intake canal,” said KSC and the state of Florida co- Griffin. operate to extend the benefits of NASA allows the engineer to space exploration and research work the problem directly with to businesses across the state,” the company for up to 40 hours. said Frank Kinney, TRDA’s ex- “If you think of the hours of KATHY WHALEY and Mike Legare of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Tom ecutive director. TRDA is an in- free talent and expertise that Strunk, a United Space Alliance technician, move a crow's nest from the roof beams of the oxidizer storage farm at Pad 39B on June 6. The nest contained dependent state agency which small businesses can now tap four fledglings that were probably hatched about the time of the May 19 launch provides space-related educa- into through this program, the of Endeavour. The nest, located 200 feet from the pad surface, was constructed tion and research grants as well economic impact is quite obvi- of branches, twigs and string. It was discovered during a walkdown prior to the as working with NASA to pro- ous,” said Kurth. hypergolic loading for Mission STS-78. Officials, concerned the nest could be a fire hazard, decided to move it. mote technology transfer to in- The award recipients from dustry. KSC’s Technology Pro- NASA, EG&G Florida, Inc., grams and Commercialization Dynamac Corporation, I-NET, Fledglings Office has received 434 requests Inc., Lockheed Martin Space for help from businesses in the Operations and McDonnell launch southeastern United States in Douglas Aerospace and Defense the past year, of which 374 came Systems are credited with suc- new lives from Florida companies. The cessfully closing 283 of the prob- requests are submitted in the lem statements to date. WHALEY carries a fledgling to a form of a Technology Transfer “This program is already safe area outside of the oxidizer Agreements or problem state- proving its worth within the building in preparation for moving its nest. Since the ment. “The simplicity of initiat- first year of operation at KSC,” fledglings were found to be old ing a Technology Transfer said Bill Sheehan, of KSC’s enough to leave the nest on Agreement is one of the reasons Technology Programs and Com- their own, it was destroyed. we have seen such a positive re- mercialization Office. Lockheed Martin, Rockwell employees begin transition to United Space Alliance

More than 3,800 Shuttle Pro- and USA recently decided to in- the Space Operations Contract cessing Contract employees at clude Rockwell’s Orbiter Logis- (SOC). Kennedy Space Center this tics Contract and Lockheed Lockheed Martin and month began the process of Martin’s total Shuttle Process- Rockwell formed USA in August transitioning badges from ing Contract (SPC) in USA. 1995 in response to NASA’s in- Lockheed Martin Space Opera- The remaining 1,850 SPC tention to consolidate the SOC. tions to the new Lockheed Mar- employees will transition to NASA Administrator Dan tin- Rockwell International joint USA later this summer. Goldin announced in November new company badges. venture United Space Alliance. USA signed novation agree- that the agency would pursue an New NASA picture badges Work flows have not been af- ments with NASA April 12 al- agreement with USA serving as will be issued in the near future. fected by the changeover, which lowing the company to assume the single prime contractor for Lockheed Martin, Rockwell consisted primarily of obtaining responsibility for the SPC and Shuttle operations. June 21, 1996 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5

Olympics. . . Olympics events, will be dis- (Continued from Page 1) played throughout the Olympic KSC trainer hopes to keep venue. cialist Susan Helms will travel The spinoffs display will be Olympic athletes injury-free to the Visitors Center to cheer exhibited near NASA’s full-scale runners on and present to Olym- mock-up of the International pic officials a replica torch and Space Station’s U.S. Laboratory SC exercise special an Olympic banner they will be which will travel to the games Kist Mary Kirkland will carrying with them on their mis- from the Marshall Space Flight play a hands-on role in sion. Center in Huntsville, AL. keeping Olympic athletes A stage for the celebration The hands-on exhibit, housed injury-free this summer. ceremony will be set up in the in two 48-foot trailers, recreates Kirkland, who many KSC parking area just in front of the the station’s living quarters, employees recognize as the Rocket Garden. connecting nodes, U.S. Science coordinator of the "Back at The event is scheduled to be- Laboratory and Space Shuttle Work" program and the gin at approximately 3 p.m. with docking tunnel. KSC will help biannual Intercenter runs, is a welcome by Center Director staff these displays as well. a licensed/certified member Jay Honeycutt and the introduc- In addition to supporting of the National Athletic tion of the STS-78 crew mem- NASA and KSC’s role in the Trainers Association. bers. Hugh Harris, director of Olympics, Richards has a per- She will be traveling to Public Affairs, will serve as mas- sonal interest as well. She has Atlanta in July to work alongside the hundreds of athletic trainers selected to care for the athletes of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Though athletic trainers are sometimes confused MARY KIRKLAND will be tending to with personal trainers, Olympic basketball teams at the Kirkland said, athletic Games in Atlanta next month. trainers have the dual responsibility of keeping the Georgia Tech dorm room, athlete injury-free and Kirkland will primarily be evaluating, treating and working second shift duty, rehabilitating those injuries with a couple of days off that can’t be prevented. between weekly shifts. lthough her first “I’m sure I’ll be learning Achoices were gym- techniques that I can bring nastics and track and field, back here to the exercise A FULL-SCALE mockup of the International Space Station's science laboratories and sports she has extensive facilities,” she said. the crew's living quarters is housed in these two 48-foot trailers which will be on display prior experience, she was irkland is excited at at the Olympics in Atlanta next month. assigned to work with Kthe prospect of basketball, a rather welcome working with some of the top ter of ceremonies and will intro- been selected to carry the torch surprise. athletes and trainers from the duce each KSC torch bearer. The through Orlando after its ar- “People are already U.S. and around the world. Melbourne Municipal Band and rival at KSC. asking me if I’ll get an "It is a unique opportunity," the Challenger Fife and Drum KSC runners are: autograph from Shaq,” she she noted, "to learn the latest Corps will provide entertain- Lee Harrison Davies, Jane said. Shaquille O’Neal of the and most innovative rehab ment beginning at 1 p.m. Hodges, Joanne Maceo, Robert Orlando Magic may be one techniques and bring them In addition to hosting the Nagy, Jr. and Loren Shriver, of the better known Olympic back to benefit KSC and its torch run, KSC will have a rep- NASA; Kathleen Weaver, athletes to participate in this employees." resentative at the Olympics. EG&G; Mark Chappell, Sara summer's games but Authorized to take up to Joni Richards, the marketing Delamonte, Claude Overfelt, Kirkland expects her star- four weeks off for the volun- lead for KSC’s Technology Pro- Michael Charles Phillips, gazing time will be limited. teer stint, Kirkland hopes to grams and Commercialization Deborah Prongue, Robin She will be working with bring back a wealth of Office, will oversee KSC’s Seymour and Marty Winkel, team physicians and other experience and treasured “NASA Spinoffs - From Space to Lockheed Martin Space Opera- trainers anytime an athlete memories of a once-in-a- Sports” display which will fea- tions (now United Space Alli- is hurt during an event or lifetime event. ture several sports-related prod- ance); Thomas Anderson and practice session. And, just maybe, an ucts including bicycle helmets, Donna Lee Hoven, McDonnell Hoping for space in a autograph or two! bicycle racing wheels and oth- Douglas; and Theresa Clifton ers. Posters, depicting addi- and Richard Unrue, Rockwell tional spinoff products related to International. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS June 21, 1996

STS-78. . . Air Station. The 13 human physiology (Continued from Page 1) experiments are designed to fly on the orbital platform. Co- provide additional information lumbia will climb to a 173-stat- on how the body adapts to the ute-mile high orbit with a 39- near-zero gravity conditions degree inclination to the Earth’s found in orbit. equator to allow the seven-mem- Three space biology experi- ber flight crew to maintain the ments in the middeck crew same sleep/wake rhythms they cabin lockers — the Animal En- are accustomed to on Earth and closure Module (AEM), Space to reduce vibrational and direc- Tissue Loss-Configuration B tional forces that could affect on- (STL-B) and the KSC- designed board microgravity experi- Plant Growth Facility (PGF) — ments. will also be on board to study Once in orbit, the crew will how microgravity affects the enter the 40-foot pressurized basic mechanisms of both ani- Spacelab module to begin the 22 mal and plant physiology. LMS life science and micro- The STS-78 crew includes gravity experiments in the labo- astronauts representing the ratory and in lockers in the French Space Agency and the middeck area of the orbiter’s Canadian Space Agency, as well crew cabin. Thirteen of the life as two medical doctors and a sciences experiments will be veterinarian. The three veter- A HISTORIC tracking antenna is mounted on a pedestal at the Merritt Island Launch devoted to the study of the ef- ans are Mission Commander Area tracking station. fects of microgravity on human Terence T. “Tom” Henricks, Pi- physiology, while six will be con- lot Kevin R. Kregel and Payload ducted to produce metallic al- Commander and Flight Engi- Historic antenna finds new life at MILA loys and protein crystals and neer Susan J. Helms. Mission Goddard Space Flight Center, study the behavior of fluids and Specialist Richard M. Linnehan By George Diller responsible for MILA’s tracking materials processing. is on his first Shuttle mission. A tracking antenna with a support, began looking into Throughout the mission, the Mission Specialist Charles E. historic past has just been ways to meet the RTLS require- crew will be working with sci- Brady, Jr. has been a flight sur- added to the myriad of eclectic ments without having to pur- entists from the European geon for the U. S. Navy’s Blue communications antennas at the chase a new antenna. Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Angels aerobatic demonstration Merritt Island Launch Area The solution was found at Space Agency (CSA), French team. Payload Specialist Jean- (MILA) tracking station at the NASA’s ground tracking station Space Agency (CNES), Italian Jacques Favier is a French Kennedy Space Center. at Dakar, Africa. The station, Space Agency (ASI) and NASA Space Agency astronaut. Robert Mission managers recently originally established for the in the Payload Operations Con- Brent Thirsk is the chief astro- discovered that during Space Apollo program, continued to trol Center at the Marshall naut for the Canadian Space Shuttle launches MILA's existing serve duty for the Space Shuttle Space Flight Center and six re- Agency. If the mission is ex- omni-directional UHF antenna, era but was recently closed with mote sites. Three of these sites tended, landing is scheduled at which is small and non- the completion of a full constel- will be at NASA centers, includ- the KSC Shuttle Landing Facil- steerable, may not be fully lation of space-based Tracking ing Hangar L at Cape Canaveral ity runway at 8:51 a.m. July 7. effective if a Return to Launch and Data Relay Satellites. A Site (RTLS) should occur. The UHF antenna from that site, antenna allows voice communi- which was steerable and cations between the Shuttle and complete with a four element John F. Kennedy Space Center ground controllers. The second- array had been shipped back to ary antenna would serve as a the United States. back-up, but both are required to An engineering team at Spaceport News be available during launch for Goddard fully refurbished the voice communications should an nearly two-decades old antenna The Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space RTLS occur. to like-new condition and Center and is published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office Although another comparable shipped it to KSC. in the interest of KSC civil service and contractor employees. antenna is located at the Ponce The antenna was hoisted Contributions are welcome and should be submitted two weeks be- DeLeon Inlet tracking station at fore publication to the Media Services Branch, PA-MSB. E-mail submis- atop its support pedestal at sions can be sent to [email protected] New Smyrna Beach, it is not MILA on June 6 and is being steerable and is too far north of Managing editor...... Lisa Malone tested with the STS-78 launch. Editor...... Barb Compton the Cape to serve as a back-up. If the antenna operates suc- Editorial support provided by Sherikon Space Systems Inc. writers group. The Allied Signal operations cessfully, it will be used as a team at MILA and NASA’s fully operational antenna for all USGPO: 733-096/20024 management team from upcoming Shuttle launches.