April 20, 2012 Vol. 52, No. 8 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe

SpaceX Dragon sets next historic course By Steven Siceloff be the Mercury equivalent to Spaceport News eventually flying crew, and then eventually leading to, in paceX crossed another the long run, passenger travel milestone this week as in space." company and NASA S California-based Space officials met April 16 for a Exploration Technologies thorough Flight Readiness Corps., known as SpaceX, Review ahead of the launch is preparing to launch an of the Dragon spacecraft on ambitious mission to dock a demonstration flight to the its Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station. space station and return it to The Flight Readiness Re- Earth. The spacecraft will view, or FRR, is a standard not have a crew, but will element for NASA, but the carry about 1,200 pounds of NASA/Glenn Benson upcoming mission is not. As The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery to the Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia cargo that the astronauts and flies over the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center on April 17. The shuttle will be placed on display in the scheduled, the mission will cosmonauts living on the sta- Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. For more information on shuttle transition and be the first to see a privately tion will be able to use. The retirement activities, click on the photo. built and funded spacecraft capsule will go into space rendezvous with the station. atop a Falcon 9 rocket also If successful, the mission is built by SpaceX. Discovery departs Kennedy expected to pave the way The FRR set the stage toward regular operational for a launch on April 30, By Anna Heiney and Space Museum Steven vited guests, members of the commercial cargo missions. although there are sev- Spaceport News F. Udvar-Hazy Center in media and NASA officials "It's almost like the lead- eral additional checks to go Chantilly, Va. were joined at the runway by pace shuttle Discovery up to Apollo, in my mind," through, including a test-fir- The SCA transporting members of Discovery's first departed Kennedy said Mike Horkachuck, ing of the Falcon 9's engines. Discovery took off from and last astronaut crews for Space Center for the NASA's project executive for "Everything looks good S Kennedy at 7 a.m. EDT, just an emotional send-off. SpaceX. "You had Mercury, heading into the April 30 last time with an early morn- ing takeoff atop NASA's as the first light dawned at "This is the place where then you had Gemini, and launch date," said Bill Ger- Shuttle Carrier Aircraft the Shuttle Landing Facility. people have really taken care eventually you had Apollo. stenmaier, NASA's associate (SCA) on April 17. The ferry flight concluded at of Discovery for its entire This would be similar in the administrator for Human Instead of blazing a trail 11:05 a.m. when the aircraft life," said NASA astronaut sense that, we're not going Exploration and Operations. toward low Earth orbit, touched down at Washington Nicole Stott, a mission to the moon or anything as "I think the teams are very the agency's most-flown Dulles International Airport specialist on Discovery's spectacular as that, but we well-prepared. They've done shuttle made its way to the in Sterling, Va. are in the beginnings of com- Smithsonian's National Air Before the departure, in- See DISCOVERY, Page 4 mercializing space. This may See DRAGON, Page 3

'Transformers' spinoffs Golden recognition 2012 All-American Picnic Innovation honored Inside this issue...

Page 2 Page 3 Page 6 Page 7 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS April 20, 2012 Award-winning videos showcase 'Tranformers' spinoffs By Anna Heiney collaborated with Hasbro in in illustrating the innova- Spaceport News using the company’s iconic tions of the men and women OPTIMUS PRIME charac- at NASA," said OPTIMUS he students who pro- ter. PRIME in an animated mes- duced three award- Students provided their winning videos took sage for students. "You have T completed videos to NASA, inspired fellow humans to home trophies -- and met which posted them on You- the actor who gives voice seek out new solutions to the Tube, where members of the to a heroic robot in disguise problems you face. You are public could vote for the best -- at the NASA OPTIMUS heroes." PRIME Spinoff Video productions. NASA judges Space shuttle astronauts Contest awards ceremony selected winners from the Jon McBride and Wendy on April 12 at the Ken- top five videos in each age Lawrence also celebrated nedy Space Center Visitor group: grades three to five, with the winners and em- Complex. CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Jim Grossmann six to eight and nine to 12. phasized the importance of "You are the Galileos, the Peter Cullen, the voice of OPTIMUS PRIME from the TRANSFORMERS fran- So, what's the connection education in their own lives chise, addresses students and teachers involved with the NASA OPTIMUS PRIME Newtons. You are the ad- with OPTIMUS PRIME, and in the eventual careers of Spinoff Video Contest in the Rocket Garden of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor leader of the AUTOBOT venturers who will build the Complex on April 12. To view all of the contest videos, click on the photo. today's students. dreams," said Peter Cullen, warriors in the fictional "When I was 10 years old, NASA's spinoff technolo- astronaut or engineer," said world of the TRANSFORM- the longtime voice of OPTI- we did one of the most re- gies are innovations origi- Jim Stofan, NASA's deputy ERS? Like NASA's spinoff MUS PRIME, who attended markable things in the space nally designed for space- associate administrator for technologies, OPTIMUS the ceremony and answered program -- which was to put flight, but transformed into Education. PRIME was built for space, questions for the students humans on the moon for the products that improve daily The first person to walk but changes into something gathered at the complex's first time -- and that had a lives. on Mars is probably between useful while on Earth -- in Rocket Garden. "You are the profound impact on the di- future, and I am proud of you Now in its second year, the fourth and eighth grade his case, a slick, armored rection of my life," Lawrence all." OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff today, according to Stofan, semi-truck. said. "The key to making a The winning videos are Video Contest asks students who asked for a show of Cullen has provided the dream like that come true is "Eagle Eyes Ultraviolet- in grades three through 12 hands from students in those voice of OPTIMUS PRIME doing exactly what you're blocking lens protect, en- to study NASA spinoff tech- grade levels. "One of you since the television car- hance vision," "A Beautiful nologies and produce short, might be the person who toon's inception in 1984, doing now. Staying in school Earth, with the Help of Mi- creative videos promoting actually sets the first step on and his history with the and getting that good educa- cro-Organisms" and "NASA their favorites. Mars," he said. character extends to all three tion -- that truly is going to Vid 2012." Winners received "I've been sent out around The contest, run by NASA live-action movies and the be the foundation you build cash awards or scholarship the country to find some of Goddard Space Flight Cen- current computer-animated the rest of your life on." money, as well as the NASA the smartest, most-talented, ter's Innovative Partnerships television series from Hasbro OPTIMUS PRIME trophy creative (school-age) kids Office in Greenbelt, Md., is Studios, "Transformers: TRANSFORMERS, AUTOBOT, and OPTIMUS PRIME are trademarks etched with the image of the in the nation to see if any of designed to help students see Prime" airing on the Hub TV of Hasbro and used with permission. © 2012 Hasbro. popular TRANSFORMERS them might one day want the benefits of NASA tech- Network. All rights reserved. leader. to be a future scientist or nology here on Earth. NASA "You have shown rare skill GOES-R, GOES-S wear crown of latest, greatest technology By Brittney Longley "The GOES-R series is an Atlas V rockets from Space Launch communications payloads," Calero Spaceport News advanced spacecraft and instru- Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air said. ment technology that will support Force Station in Florida. NOAA’s responsibilities include or more than 30 years, the expanded detection of environmen- The GOES satellites have been a the overall programmatic responsi- Geostationary Operational tal phenomena," said Diana Calero, collaborative effort between NASA Environmental Satellite sys- bility and procurement of ground fa- F NASA mission manager with the and NOAA for many years, suc- cilities, antenna sites, and software tem known as GOES has been used Launch Services Program (LSP). cessfully creating and launching 15 and hardware for satellite command by NASA and the National Oceanic The satellites will assist NOAA in previous satellites. The GOES-R and control. NOAA also processes, and Atmospheric Administration monitoring water, weather, cli- and GOES-S Flight Projects Office, creates and distributes the data the (NOAA) to help provide accurate mate and ecosystems. Calero said which oversees the development satellites retrieve to researchers and weather forecasting on Earth and in upgrades to the series will include of the space segment, is managed space. higher resolution images, lightning by NASA's Goddard Space Flight weather forecasters. With each new series, the satel- detection, solar space monitoring Center in Greenbelt, Md. Calero said, "With the new lites are built with improvements to and higher data capabilities. “NASA's role is to provide GOES-R series, we will receive enhance their use and effectiveness. LSP selected United Launch oversight of the development of the new and accurate data that directly More recently, NASA and NOAA Services to launch GOES-R and space segment, which consists of affects public safety, protection of created a new series of GOES satel- GOES-S in October 2015 and the spacecraft, its instruments, the property, and ultimately, economic lites called GOES-R and GOES-S. February 2017, respectively, aboard launch vehicle and the auxiliary health and development." April 20, 2012 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Ordnance Operations Facility earns LEED Gold By Frank Ochoa-Gonzales Spaceport News CURRENT KENNEDY LEED FACILITIES he teams at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida Ordnance Operations Facility that routinely test explosive Certified Gold on March 2012 T Electrical Maintenance Facility devices can now carry out their mis- Certified Gold on October 2011 sions in an environmentally friendly Propellants North facility. Certified Platinum August 2011 On March 28, the center's Ord- Visitor's Complex Artifact Storage Certified Silver July 2010 nance Operations Facility (OOF) NASA Kennedy Space Center's Ordnance Operations Facility (OOF) received the U.S. Green Building Council’s Life Support Facility received the U.S. Green Building Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating on March 28. Certified Silver April 2009 Council’s Leadership in Energy and Visitor’s Center Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Management Branch. building. The facility is heated and Food Storage Warehouse Certified Silver July 2007 rating. This is the sixth facility at The general contractor, Canav- cooled with a 3.5-ton geothermal Kennedy and the 26th for NASA to eral Construction Company Inc., heat pump system located six feet POTENTIAL KENNEDY be recognized as sustainable. completed the project three months below the ground, also to the south LEED FACILITIES "The OOF takes Kennedy's total ahead of schedule and under budget, of the facility. Propellants South – Targeting Gold O&C Revitalization – Targeting Silver sustainable square footage to 76,570 Barth said. The OOF is expected to achieve OSB II Retrocommissioning – Targeting Silver square feet," said Mick Barth, a Selecting and sizing the geother- 34 percent energy use reduction and Central Campus – Targeting Gold LEED accredited professional with mal heat pump system, Barth said, a 49 percent water use reduction the Center Operations Directorate, was one of the many exciting chal- compared to traditional buildings, on who served as the OOF's project lenges to designing the administra- an annual basis. carbon emissions and contribute to a manager and lead design engineer. tive office building. Savings during construction healthier environment for workers," Ed Tobin, with Center Op- LEED awards are designed to include 95.8 percent waste diversion Barth said. erations, led the construction of the encourage and facilitate the develop- from landfill (144 tons) and The facility houses about 10 em- 3,500-square-foot facility. ment of more sustainable buildings. 33.9 percent of the building materials ployees who work for Space Coast It was designed by Eli Schoen The system is based on the use of were manufactured using recycled Launch Services and the Air Force, with the directorate's Environmental sustainable sites, materials and re- materials. depending on the requirements for sources, water and energy efficiency, Not only is the facility good for each mission. LEED'S LATEST RATING SYSTEM indoor environmental quality and the environment, it's good for the Barth said, “The center is going Rating Points Required design innovation. people working inside, too since to see more green buildings popping Certified 26-32 Contributing to the award of 97.3 percent of the building is lit by up to meet NASA’s sustainability Silver 33-38 LEED Gold, the OOF will receive natural daylight. policy, which is to execute missions Gold 39-51 about 20 percent of its power from "By using less energy, less water without compromising our planet’s Platinum 52+ a 5-kilowatt photovoltaic system and fewer resources, this facility will resources so that future generations located on the ground south of the save the taxpayers money, reduce can meet their needs.”

more of a question mark in my mind," Horka- mission together has been a learning experience, From DRAGON, Page 1 chuck said, "because no capsule that these guys Horkachuck said. For instance, SpaceX learned a tremendous amount of work getting ready." had built before had gone into space, done the how much more work would be involved in fly- Another review will be April 23, Gerstenmaier basic maneuvering to show you have attitude con- ing to a space station with a crew on board. said. There is a single instantaneous launch op- trol, as well as re-entering, so knowing the vehicle "One of the refreshing things has been, once portunity at 12:22 p.m. EDT. came through re-entry relatively unscathed and all you convince SpaceX they need to make a Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX and the com- the parachute systems worked perfectly, that was a change and it's the right thing to do from a pany's chief designer, said his team is not taking real big deal." technical perspective, they just go off and do it," the mission's objectives for granted. Because of that mission's achievements, NASA Horkachuck said. "There's not a lot of wran- "We have launched the rocket twice and the and SpaceX agreed to combine the planned gling." spacecraft once so they are pretty new, and the second and third demonstration flights into one. The rocket and capsule are at Cape Canaveral proximity operations will be our first test in Assuming the Dragon spacecraft passes about a Air Force Station undergoing final preparations space," Musk said. "I think it’s important to appre- few days' worth of equipment checks and dem- ahead of the launch. For Horkachuck, the three ciate that this is fairly tricky, and it is important to onstration in orbit, it will be allowed to approach weeks in orbit will be filled with the tension remember that we are hitting a target within a few the station close enough for astronauts to grab familiar to anyone involved with a spaceflight, inches while it moves over 17,000 mph." the capsule with the station's large robotic arm. he said. If this mission is successful, the Dragon is ex- The arm will berth the Dragon to the station and "Once Dragon gets into orbit and is operating, pected to become operational and launch regular astronauts will unload the spacecraft and put about there's certainly going to be a big cheer," he said. supply runs to the station this year. Unlike any 1,400 pounds of material inside the Dragon for "But I think most of the big events and dynamic other cargo carrier, the Dragon can bring things return to Earth. events in this spaceflight really culminate when back to Earth, too, a boon for scientists whose The mission is expected to last about 21 days, you finally have splashdown. Throughout the research is taking place on the orbiting laboratory. Horkachuck said. mission, there will be moments of panic fol- "I think the (first demonstration) mission was Getting the rocket, spacecraft and overall lowed by long periods of calm." Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS April 20, 2012 April 20, 2012 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5

A Look Inside Discovery's Ride NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), designated NASA 905, was the first carrier to begin ferrying space shuttles from their landing sites to their launch complex at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Delivering Discovery to D.C. The agency's other SCA was designated NASA 911 and retired in February. Often referred to as jumbo jets, the aircraft are modified Boeing 747s that feature three struts, two at the aft end and one at the forward end, where the shuttles are attached for flight. For a ferry flight mission, the crew consists of two pilots and two flight engineers. These photos were taken April 11. From DISCOVERY, Page 1 technicians permanently powered down the vehicle. Soon after, an Photos by NASA/Frankie Martin final flight, STS-133. Before joining aerodynamic tail cone was fastened the ranks of the astronaut corps, over the orbiter's main engines, and Stott worked in a variety of shuttle- the crew access hatch was closed NASA/Kim Shiflett processing roles at Kennedy. and sealed for the last time. Space shuttle Discovery completes a three-point turnaround April 14 outside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, for its trip to the Shuttle Landing Facility. "It's like sending someone from "I spent the better part of my your family to go live somewhere career, starting in 1988, working else," Stott said. "Discovery's leav- on Discovery in one capacity or ing home and starting a new life another," Pannullo said. "I will miss somewhere else." seeing her in the OPFs (orbiter pro- The spacecraft's retirement cessing facilities) and going inside journey began with the ferry flight. the crew module. But mostly, I will It was removed from the SCA and miss the excitement of the beautiful relocated to the Udvar-Hazy Center launches and landings she provided." on April 19. The transition and processing team Designated NASA 905, the air- will go through a similar process craft carrying Discovery to Virginia again later this year when shuttle is the same one that first delivered Endeavour moves from Kennedy to A maintenance technician from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California checks the spacecraft to Kennedy on Nov. the California Science Center in Los controls inside NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. 9, 1983. The aircraft is one of two Angeles. Shuttle Atlantis will remain NASA/Kim Shiflett modified 747 jets the agency used at Kennedy in a new exhibit at the At the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is positioned to ferry orbiters during the Space center's visitor complex. beneath space shuttle Discovery in the mate/demate device on April 15. Shuttle Program. "Working with the Smithson- Discovery flew 39 missions, more ian team has been wonderful," said than any other vehicle in the fleet. Stephanie Stilson, NASA flow Its 26-year spaceflight career began director within the Shuttle Transi- Aug. 30, 1984, when it carried six tion and Retirement Directorate. astronauts into orbit on the "Their passion for not only telling STS 41-D mission. The Hubble the story of this amazing spacecraft, Space Telescope was deployed NASA/Chris Gunn but also the team behind Discovery's from Discovery's payload bay. The Space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, is seen from Top of the Town in Arlington, Va., as it flies proud history, has made it easier to spacecraft also completed the first near the U.S. Capitol on April 17 in Washington. Discovery, the first orbiter retired from NASA’s shuttle fleet, completed 39 accept that we will no longer have missions, spent 365 days in space, orbited the Earth 5,830 times, and traveled 148,221,675 miles. space shuttle rendezvous and the the honor and privilege of caring for final shuttle docking with the Rus- down for the last time on Kennedy's Run- Discovery." sian space station Mir. Astronaut and way 15. It traveled more than 148 million See Discovery Leave At Kennedy's Shuttle Landing U.S. Senator John Glenn rocketed miles and spent a total of one year in space. To hear what the crew of STS-133 had to say about the Facility, busloads of guests gathered Maintenance technicians from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California check equip- into orbit aboard Discovery as a Discovery functioned "amazingly well" ferry flight, click here to watch the video. before dawn for the perfect view of NASA/Kim Shiflett ment in the fuselage of NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. An aerial view of space shuttle Discovery bolted to the top of a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on the ramp of member of the STS-95 crew -- 36 on that flight, according to Mission Spe- Discovery's departure. A hush de- the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center on April 16. years after his pioneering Mercury cialist Alvin Drew. "That was the first time spacecraft's three power-plant fuel cells scended over the crowd as a proces- flight. I've ever seen a mission when the shuttle were drained and purged, and the forward sion of aircraft -- a helicopter, T-38 After the Challenger and Colum- lands with a clean rap sheet," Drew said. reaction control system and orbital maneu- jet, and finally, Discovery and its bia tragedies, it was Discovery that He recalled a conversation with members vering system were sent off for cleaning ride -- moved to the north end of the led the space shuttle fleet back to of Discovery's processing team. "They at the White Sands Test Facility in Las runway for takeoff. As with all ferry orbit. It docked with the Interna- were beaming with pride and said, 'We're Cruces, N.M., then reinstalled. flights, a "pathfinder" aircraft also tional Space Station 13 times and the pros. This may be the last one, but "Although we weren't processing departed with the SCA. The NASA supplied more than 31,000 pounds we're going out on top of our game.' That Discovery for another flight, we still had C-9 jet flew about 100 miles ahead of hardware as the laboratory grew. was their message. 'We're going to give you to do a lot of planning with many require- of Discovery to scout for the safest The STS-133 mission to the space the best orbiter you've ever flown in your ments to satisfy. The biggest difference was route between Kennedy and Dulles. station was Discovery's final space- life.' And they did." making the vehicle safe to go to her display The SCA took Discovery on one flight. Led by Commander Steve That final homecoming kicked off a site," said Bart Pannullo, NASA vehicle last aerial tour of Florida's Space Lindsey, the six-person shuttle crew "transition and retirement" phase as the manager for the shuttles' transition and Coast. It also flew above the Ken- delivered the Permanent Multipur- shuttle processing team worked to prepare retirement. "It was similar to flight process- nedy Space Center Visitor Complex, pose Module, offering extra room the spacecraft for public display. Its main ing flows in that we were still working to a Vehicle Assembly Building and for science tasks and storage, and engines were removed and replaced with schedule to meet a defined delivery date." Kennedy Press Site before mak-

Robonaut 2, a humanoid robotic mock-ups, sparing the working engines for In December 2011, Discovery's 60-foot- ing one more pass over the Shuttle NASA/R.D. Lee An interior view of the crew cabin inside NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. helper. On March 9, 2011, Discov- reuse in NASA's under development Space long payload bay doors were closed for Landing Facility on its way out of The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery, accompanied by a T-38 jet, flies over ery's main landing gear touched Launch System heavy-lift rocket. The good, and the crew module went dark as the area for the final time. the Cocoa Beach pier just after sunrise on April 17. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS April 20, 2012 2012 KSC All-American Picnic

Children of all ages choose from dozens of activities, including rock climbing, corn hole, human jousting and lazer tag. The train ride and bounce houses were a hit as well. ore than 3,000 people Mattended the 2012 Kennedy Space Center All-American Picnic on April 14 at KARS Park I on Merritt Island, Fla. This year’s picnic celebrated 50 years of suc- cess at Kennedy with food and fun, classic children’s games, train rides, a singing competition called KSC Idol, exhibits, a chili cook-off, and car and motorcycle show. NASA astronauts Jack Fischer and Serena Auñón, members of the 2009 astronaut class, and STS-118 and STS-133 Mission Specialist Alvin Drew (not shown), meet with workers and their families. Share your thoughts Give your feedback on the 2012 KSC All-American Picnic by filling out a survey here.

NASA photos by Frankie Martin The potato sack race brought out the competition. and Amanda Diller

The annual chili cook-off was a hit with the GP-O.K. Corral winning first place for Storefront; The Dragon Children and adults snacked on corn on the cob, cotton candy and snow cones. Slayers winning the People’s Choice; and The Parrot Heads taking home the Judges' Choice. April 20, 2012 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Flexible aerogel, innovator earn hall of fame honors By Linda Herridge To meet NASA’s needs conducting electrical power Spaceport News for efficient launch vehicles transmission, and he is and facilities, Fesmire looking for inroads with the technology called collaborated with Aspen Departments of Energy and flexible aerogel Systems to produce afford- Homeland Security and the that originated in A able and easy-to-use aerogel U.S. Navy. a research lab at Kennedy composite blankets for “These products give Space Center and its senior space applications. engineers, designers and ar- principal investigator James “Materials that we can chitects access to very high- Fesmire were inducted into now buy as needed from performance and affordable the International Space Aspen Aerogels have be- i n s u l a t i o n t h a t i s u n i q u e l y t Foundation’s Space Tech- come an absolute staple in hin and light, and we will nology Hall of Fame during the design and construction see many new technologies the 28th National Space of equipment and facilities emerge that are enabled Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., on April 19. and a critical part of the fu- by flexible aerogel blanket During the past 10 years, ture research work for space insulations for years to aerogel blankets have been launch and exploration,” come,” Gould said. used inside the space shuttle Fesmire said. Fesmire previously and on a number of ground “The aerogel blanket received the NASA Excep- support systems, includ- Photo courtesy of Thomas Kimmell, Space Foundation doesn’t absorb water, is tional Technology Achieve- ing the launch tower and Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Janet Petro, right, and senior principal mechanically robust and ment Medal in 2009, and investigator James Fesmire at the 28th National Space Symposium in Colorado is the best insulator in the the R&D 100 Award for vehicle umbilicals. Aerogel Springs, Colo., on April 19. blankets also were used world,” Fesmire said. “It Flexible Aerogel Superinsu- for insulation on the space President of Research and Inc. starting in 1993. This can go where other insula- lation with Aspen Aerogels shuttle external fuel tank’s Development George Gould initial work also paral- tors cannot.” in 2003. hydrogen vent umbilical said that it takes a long time leled his founding of the Commercial applica- “I think it is a good thing, system interface connec- and a huge amount of effort Cryogenics Test Laboratory tions include sub-sea piping and what citizens expect, tion. and investment to develop at Kennedy in 1997 with for oil and gas, liquefied for NASA to foster the cre- This technology could commercially useful industry partner Dr. Stan natural gas terminals and ative work and innovation be applied to cryogenic materials-based technology. Augustynowicz. ships, building construc- to help make industry go pipes and tank insulation on The aerogel blankets are The aerogel originally tion, outdoor apparel and and solve problems in the future space launch systems critical in NASA’s current was developed to serve as numerous consumer goods, world,” Fesmire said. “I am and in thermal protection research and development a barrier to the extreme including stadium seats and very thankful to have been systems on crew vehicle funded by the Office of the temperatures that occur dur- shoe inserts. Fesmire said given the opportunity to be exteriors. Chief Technologist for new ing rocket launches and that there also may be future a part of such long-range Fesmire, the senior intelligent composite mate- affect spacecraft as they are applications in the are- work with the contributions principal investigator of the rials for future thermal man- exposed to high heat and nas of hydrogen-powered of so many people and see it Cryogenics Test Laboratory agement in space vehicles, severe cold. transportation and super- come to success.” at Kennedy, received an In- exploration and habitation novating Individuals award applications. for his work in pioneering Fesmire said the aerogel the technology. Aspen Aero- blanket materials are used gels Inc. of Northborough, for a number of space cold Mass., and Aspen Systems chain articles, such as the Inc., of Marlborough, Glacier late-load demon- Mass., received the Innovat- stration test for SpaceX’s ing Organizations award Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon for their role in producing capsule at Space Launch flexible aerogels for com- Complex-40 at Cape Canav- mercial use. eral Air Force Station. Gla- “I’m thankful for the cier is a cryogenic freezer privilege to work at Ken- for the International Space nedy and serve NASA by Station and future vehicles. helping to develop this new Fesmire said he first got aerogel blanket technol- the idea for flexible aerogels ogy,” Fesmire said. “The in 1992 and led the devel- thermal insulation applica- opment of the technology tions are conserving energy through NASA’s Small NASA/Amanda Diller for our nation and changing Business Innovation Re- A cold storage team member checks an International Space Station experiment cryogenic freezer, called a Glacier unit, inside the world for the better.” search Program with startup the Space Station Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center on March 2. The freezer utilizes the aerogel blanket technology Aspen Aerogels Vice company Aspen Systems which is targeted to launch aboard the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) Dragon capsule on April 30. Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS April 20, 2012

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

Workers walk, run, have fun in the sun About 280 people, including some 45 volunteers, participated in the 2012 KSC Annual Walk/Run at the Shuttle Landing Facility on April 3. Sponsored by Kennedy’s Fitness Center, the goal of the event was to motivate center employees to get moving. Participants chose to walk or run 2 miles down the runway, rollerblade, or run a 5 or 10K.

NASA file/1976 This aerial view of the Vehicle Assembly Building taken June 24, 1976, shows the Bicentennial Exhibit domes, and in the background, construction of an orbiter processing facility.

Looking up and ahead . . . * All times are Eastern 2012

Targeted for April 30 Launch/CCAFS (SLC-40): SpaceX Falcon 9, Dragon C2/C3 Launch time: 12:22 p.m.

No earlier than May 5 Launch/CCAFS (SLC-41): Atlas V, AEHF 2 Launch window: 2:38 to 4:38 p.m.

June (Under Review) Launch/Reagan Test Site Kwajalein Atoll: Pegasus XL, NuSTAR Launch window: TBD

No earlier than June 28 Launch/CCAFS (SLC-37B): Delta IV-Heavy, NROL-15 Launch window: TBD John F. Kennedy Space Center

No earlier than Aug. 23 Launch/CCAFS (SLC-41): Atlas V-401, Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Spaceport News Launch window: 4:07 to 4:27 a.m. Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and is Targeted for Sept. 20 Launch/CCAFS (SLC-37B): Delta 4, GPS 2F-3 published online on alternate Fridays by Public Affairs in the interest of KSC civil Launch window: TBD service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted three weeks before publication to Public Affairs, IMCS-440. E-mail submissions can be sent to Dec. 1 Launch/VAFB: Pegasus XL, Interface Region KSC-Spaceport-News@mail.nasa.gov Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) Launch window: 9:32:24 to 9:37:24 a.m. Managing editor ...... Candrea Thomas Editor ...... Frank Ochoa-Gonzales Copy editor ...... Kay Grinter No earlier than December Launch/CCAFS (SLC-41): Atlas V, Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K (TDRS-K) Editorial support provided by Abacus Technology Corp. Writers Group. NASA at KSC is on the Internet at www.nasa.gov/kennedy Launch window: TBD SP-2012-04-073-KSC