Nov. 14, 2008 Vol. 48, No. 23 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe

www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/snews/spnews_toc.html Cabana emphasizes importance of safety hope from my comments at the all hands, you were able to I get some sense of the excite- ment I have about being part of this outstanding team during a historic time in our nation’s space program. I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be as we complete the Inter- national Space Station and prepare to launch the first new human spacecraft the United States has flown in over 25 years. During the months ahead, I’d like to use my column in the Space- port News to discuss topics that are important to me and I think are important to our success as a center. NASA/Jim Grossman For my first column I want Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana NASA to pick a subject dear to my heart answered workers’ questions at the All Hands Bob Cabana, STS-88 mission commander, totes a notebook while checking on the progress of Meeting on Nov. 4 in the Training Auditorium. readiness tasks aboard the International Space Station’s Unity module in 1998. -- safety. I want everyone to un- derstand how important safety is will be ingrained in all that we do. fective safety program until all of to me and how committed I am to WORD ON THE STREET Teamwork will mean looking out us realize that safety is our respon- ensuring a safe work environment for each other and taking care of our sibility, not management’s or safety for all our employees. I will do my “What goals should the teammates by pointing out to them and mission assurance officers’, but very best to use our center resources new director focus on?” when they’re doing something un- ours. We have to own it and take to “buy down” the risk from hazards Page 8 safe or correcting a problem before responsibility for it. It has to be at that are identified in our safety someone gets hurt. walk-throughs and visits to the vari- our very core and part of everything tor/civil service team, are we really We will have the integrity to ous work sites around the center. we do. working together to make our work follow through and make things In our core values of safety, I’d like you also to consider environment at Kennedy safer for right. To ensure mission success, we teamwork, integrity and excellence, that safety doesn’t begin or end as everyone? will be true professionals, conduct- safety ranks first. Nothing we do we pass through the gates on our If we truly believe safety, team- ing our tasks safely, by the book, is so important that we can’t do it way home. If we’re truly committed work, integrity and excellence are without taking short cuts or putting safely. to doing things safely, we’re going our core values, then we are going people at risk and we will be recog- But do you really believe that, to see improvement in our com- nized for our excellence. have you accepted it? As a contrac- See CABANA Page 8 bined incident rate because safety We will never have a truly ef-

Blue Angels highlight Heritage: Inside this issue . . . Space & Air Show Crawlerway built 45 years ago NASA honors worker Ares I-X update

Page 2 Page 3 Pages 4-5 Page 7 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS Nov. 14, 2008 Whitehead earns NASA Lifetime Achievement Award s a young girl, Vir- with the German rocket sci- ginia Whitehead entists, who used to visit her Acould identify the home where she says she planets and even knew the got to know them well. names of the stars. Little “(Dr. Kurt) Debus, did she know then, that (Wernher) Von Braun and she would end up as one Karl Sendler used to come of NASA’s brightest as running into my office and she received the Lifetime grab the film out of my Achievement Award from hands,” she said. “When NASA Administrator Mike I was out there, it was all Griffin on Oct. 30. optical data. Telemetry was For many, 50 years just getting started. I would seems like a lifetime. But tell them how fast a missile that’s how old Whitehead was moving and if it was was when she started work- rolling or turning.” ing here at Kennedy Space In 2003, Whitehead was Center -- 34 years ago. given NASA’s You Make Whitehead has served a Difference Award, which so many roles with NASA, recognizes employees who from writing to reducing have set examples of high data, to serving as an ISS energy and are team players. payload director. NASA/Kim Shiflett Something that might “I have been given this Virginia Whitehead receives NASA’s Lifetime Achievement Award from NASA Administrator Mike Griffin at a ceremony shortly surprise those who have before the STS-126 Flight Readiness Review at the Operations and Support Building II on Oct. 30. Whitehead has worked at award for just having fun Kennedy Space Center for 34 years. known Whitehead for all all these years,” Whitehead these years -- in 1964, when who need help.” She then applied her based on what I did,” she said. “I just liked working Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High with everybody to get stuff Her interest in rocketry knowledge at a California joked. “If I did it, they had opened its doors, Whitehead done.” began at Johns Hopkins’ observatory, in the missile to make a rule against it.” asked them if she could And she’s not done yet, Applied Physics Lab in industry again, and even- Although Whitehead teach math. Of course, she as law school remains in her Maryland. Whitehead’s du- tually at NASA’s White kids that her methods are was hired on the spot. One plans. ties there included interpret- Sands Test Facility in New unconventional, many space of her algebra students also “I still toy with the ing data for Wallops Flight Mexico. pioneers valued her con- rose in the ranks at NASA idea,” she said. “I just want Facility missile launches in “All the rules they tributions. In fact, she says -- former Center Director to be able to help people Virginia. made at White Sands were it was a lot of fun working Jim Kennedy.

Disability awareness presentation features stroke survivor By Linda Herridge experiences and the long road to “Working together we can on behalf of the working group. Spaceport News overcoming Locked-in Syndrome, or overcome obstacles,” Adamson said. Gutierrez helped create the new total paralysis, from a double brain- “Don’t think about what you can’t DAAWG logo and was an active ocus on abilities rather than stem stroke at the age of 33. do; instead, focus on what you can committee member for many years. disabilities -- that’s the mes- The mother of two toddlers do.” sage Kate Adamson brought After the presentation, repre- F could see and hear but had no way to Tara Gillam, manager of Ken- sentatives from local organizations to Kennedy Space Center workers communicate or move. She remained nedy’s Office of Diversity and Equal during a National Disability Em- and companies answered questions ployment Awareness Month event. in this condition for 70 days and then Opportunity, said that right now the and provided information about the The presentation, delivered by spent another three months in acute Kennedy work force is diverse, but services and products available for the brain-stem stroke survivor and rehabilitation. When doctors wrote less than one percent are individuals the disabled. national speaker, was sponsored by her off, her husband discovered that with targeted disabilities. Participants included the Bre- the Disability Awareness and Action she could communicate by blinking “We all need to open our hearts vard Achievement Center, Brevard Working Group, or DAAWG. her eyes. and our minds,” Gillam said. “We Drop-in-Center, LifeBridge Diag- Helping to welcome Adamson “A support system is very must look beyond the wheel chair, nostics, National Stroke Association, were Kennedy Deputy Director Janet important,” Adamson said. “Dur- or the leg braces, the cane, or the Kennedy’s Re-hab Works, Kennedy Petro and Chief Financial Officer ing a crisis we find out who our true interpreter, and see the talent that we Adapted Physical Activity Program, and DAAWG Executive Advisor friends are.” have only begun to tap.” Southeastern Guide Dogs Inc., the Susan Kroskey. She challenged Kennedy work- During the presentation, the Tourette Syndrome Association Adamson, author of “Paralyzed ers to think of the good things that DAAWG committee recognized Sam of Florida-Brevard Chapter, and but not Powerless,” described her can come from a disability. Gutierrez for his support and efforts Visioneers. Nov. 14, 2008 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3

NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis Segments of the Ares I-X upper stage simulator are lined up in the cargo hold of the Delta Mariner, docked at Port Canaveral. The upper stage simulator will be used in the Ares I-X test flight targeted for 2009. The segments will simulate the mass and the outer mold line and will be more than 100 feet of the total vehicle height of 327 feet. The simulator comprises 11 segments that are approximately 18 feet in diameter. Most of the segments will be approximately 10 feet high, ranging in weight from 18,000 to 60,000 pounds, for a total of approximately 450,000 pounds. First rocket parts of new launch system arrive at KSC

he first major flight during a two-year period will provide NASA an early hardware of the Ares Want to learn more? at NASA’s Glenn Research opportunity to test hard- ware, facilities and ground I-X rocket has ar- Video of the arrival activities are available on NASA Center in Cleveland. The T operations associated with rived in Florida to begin Television’s video file feed. For NASA TV streaming video, components represent the preparation for the inaugu- schedules and downlink information, visit: size, outer shape and weight the Ares I crew launch www.nasa.gov/ntv vehicle. ral test flight of the agency’s of the second stage of the For more information about the Ares I-X and NASA’s It also will allow NASA next-generation launch next-generation spacecraft, visit: www.nasa.gov/ares Ares I rocket, and will be to gather critical data during integrated together in the system. The test flight is ascent of the integrated Ori- targeted for July 12, 2009. Alliance. The journey began into high bay 4 of the Ve- Vehicle Assembly Building. on crew exploration vehicle The Ares I-X upper Oct. 22 on the Ohio River hicle Assembly Building at The upper stage simulator and the Ares I rocket. stage simulator traveled to as the barge traveled toward Kennedy Space Center. eventually will be stacked The data will ensure the Port Canaveral aboard the the Mississippi River for its The upper stage simula- atop the solid rocket booster entire vehicle system is safe Delta Mariner, a ship that voyage to Port Canaveral. tor consists of 11 individual segments of the Ares I-X and fully operational before also transports the Delta IV The flight hardware has components that were de- rocket. astronauts begin traveling rocket for United Launch been moved off the barge signed and manufactured The Ares I-X test flight into orbit.

Sharing, caring highlight Make a Difference Day ake a Difference Day is The response was overwhelming the most encompassing as members and employees opened Mnational day of helping their hearts and pocketbooks and others -- a celebration of neighbors came through for their community. helping neighbors. In the past the chapter has And this year’s event Oct. 24 performed tasks such as painting, was no different as the Federally providing new curtains and Employed Women - Space Coast bedspreads, landscaping, providing Chapter put a call out to members diapers, collecting food -- whatever and employees at Kennedy Space was required in the community. Center to fill boxes for the Brevard An educational scholarship NASA/Jim Grossman Sharing Center and to assist in program was established in 1976 for Dan Tran and Anthony Edward, of the IT Office, volunteered to help out during Make a Difference Day furnishing the new Salvation Army members and students in the county by transporting collected items to the local Brevard Sharing Center & Salvation Army Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Center. that continues today. Center on Oct. 24. The event was hosted by the local chapter of the Federally Employed Women. Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS Nov. 14, 2008 Nov. 14, 2008 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 Scene Around Kennedy Space Center: 2008 Space and Air Show

Ed Hamill flies an Air Force Reserve biplane.

An F-18 flies in formation with an F4U Corsair. Highlights of the 2008 Kennedy Space Center Space and Air Show included the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels. Air show takes breaths away

istant relatives of the space shuttle adorned the skies Dover Kennedy Space Center during the 2008 Space & Air Show on Nov. 7-9. The Navy’s Blue Angels, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, an F/A-18 Super Hornet and other aircraft pro- vided thousands of spectators -- an estimated 10,000 each day -- with an experience they soon won’t forget. The 920th, based out of Patrick Air Force Base, demonstrated a daring water rescue. The Scream- ing Eagles provided a few oohs and aahs with their air assault opera- tions. The aircraft staged the air show from the same Kennedy runway used by space shuttles returning from space. Mike Goulian maneuvers his EXTRA300SHP aircraft. Patrick Air Force Base’s 920th Rescue Wing demonstrates a water rescue. Nov. 14, 2008 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 Scene Around Kennedy Space Center: 2008 Space and Air Show

The Screaming Eagles Parachute Demonstration Team wowed the crowd with several cool chutes.

NASA photos Highlights of the 2008 Kennedy Space Center Space and Air Show included the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels.

Thousands of visitors kept their eye on the sky dur- Patrick Air Force Base’s 920th Rescue Wing demonstrates a water rescue. ing the Space & Air Show at Kennedy Space Center. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS Nov. 14, 2008 Launch Services Program reaches 10-year mark By Linda Herridge Transferring from Goddard, Marisa Achee Spaceport News came to Kennedy to become a program manager for Boeing in 1998. Now with A.I. Solutions, ASA’s Launch Services Program, or Achee has supported LSP for 11 years. Her most LSP, recently celebrated its 10-year an- memorable launch was ARGOS, with NASA- niversary at Kennedy Space Center -- an N sponsored secondary payloads Orsted from important milestone in the agency’s history of Denmark and SUNSAT from South Africa in successful rocket-launched missions. Feb. 1999, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in The year was 1998, and the precursor to California. LSP -- the Expendable Launch Vehicle Program, “It took 11 attempts,” Achee said. “We sup- or ELV -- was established on the Space Coast. ported the mission integration process and made Engineering teams from NASA’s Goddard Space several trips to both countries. My hope is that Flight Center, with its management of Pegasus we continue our 100 percent success record by and Delta II launches, and Lewis Research Cen- maintaining the superior technical capability of ter (renamed Glenn Research Center), with its our engineers.” management of Atlas launches, combined with Kennedy’s ground operations team. Senior Launch Director Chuck Dovale According to former LSP Deputy Director came to the ELV Program in 1984. His mission Ray Lugo, plans to bring the program to Ken- highlight was serving as launch director for the nedy began in 1996, around the time he joined Phoenix mission in August 2007. “It was chal- NASA’s ELV Directorate. Though Lugo departed lenging to launch successfully within the tight Kennedy in Dec. 2007 to become deputy director Mars planetary window.” Dovale was invited of NASA’s Glenn Research Center, he remem- to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, bers the transition well. Calif., about seven months later to witness the “Kennedy started taking on some of the spacecraft’s landing on Mars. responsibilities for the program,” Lugo said. NASA file “LSP should continue to be ‘Earth’s Bridge A Delta II rocket lifts the Phoenix spacecraft toward Mars in one of to Space,’ and I look forward to doing my part “It just made sense to consolidate and bring the the many successful launches by the Launch Services Program. program here. We looked at best practices from The LSP was established for NASA’s acquisition and program and maintaining its record of success,” Dovale across the agency and the strengths from each management of expendable launch vehicle missions. said. center’s approaches.” LSP Launch Director Omar Baez came to The transition was critical because sev- the people and their contributions to each mis- LSP from the Space Shuttle Program and has eral high-visibility missions were scheduled to sion, year after year,” Francois said. supported expendable launch vehicles for 15 launch, including two Mars missions and Star- Darren Bedell, the program systems integra- years. The first offices were located at the E&O dust. “We pushed extra hard; it was important for tion manager, came to Kennedy in August 1998 Building at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, us to be successful,” Lugo said. from Goddard’s Orbital Launch Services Project and now are on the third floor of Kennedy’s Now, more than 50 missions later, Lugo said located in Huntington Beach, Calif. “My role Operations and Checkout Building. LSP’s efforts to put the right people, processes was to specifically formulate the mission integra- Baez hopes the program will continue to and procedures in place helped to ensure NASA’s tion function and help the program transition evolve. “I hope we can keep up the pace and record of acquiring and launching successful from the other centers,” Bedell said. maybe get two or three steps ahead of our missions. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was environment, which is the key to getting great LSP Manager Steve Francois worked on ex- the first NASA mission to use the new Atlas V projects to work on,” Baez said. pendable launch vehicle missions before the pro- launch vehicle. “The LSP technical management Lugo said the key was not to underestimate gram was established at Kennedy. He returned team did an incredible job so that NASA would Kennedy’s abilities. “If you give workers the to the program in 2000. “The real success of the be ready for the launch of this important mis- opportunities to stretch their abilities you’ll be program is due to the diligence and hard work of sion,” Bedell said. surprised at what you can accomplish.”

Launch Services Program workers share their memories and thoughts

John Giles, Jeerapong Wongchote, Timothy Widrick, Teresa Kinney, Heather Barthelme, James Ristow, launch approval avionics engineer discipline expert, loads structural dynamics co-op student structural dynamics engineer and dynamics and loads analyst and loads analyst “I’ve always had a “Came to LSP to learn “The first four planetary passion for “Watching EOS-Terra “Launch of Phoenix about dynamics “The level of knowledge missions, right after LSP space-related things.” liftoff on an Atlas IIAS was -- to see it launch and and controls.” and expertise here in the became a program at very gratifying.” land on Mars.” LSP. It’s a good place KSC.” to learn.” Nov. 14, 2008 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Crawlerway construction paved way for Apollo By Kay Grinter Reference Librarian

or NASA engineers, the early days of the FApollo Program were all about making the right decisions. Choosing the right launch site, capsule concept, rocket design and launch method created more than a few headaches. As the rocket and spacecraft designs came into focus, the mobile launch concept came under consideration. The advantage of a mobile concept lay in its promise of faster launch operations. Instead of rocket components being mated and checked out on a pad, which was then unavailable for other uses, the vehicle could be integrated and tests conducted in an assembly building a remote distance from the launch site. A brief checkout process at the pad could verify the rocket sys- NASA file tems were ready for launch. After excavation, more than 3,000,000 cubic yards of hydraulic sand fill was placed along the route from the ehicleV Assembly Building to the launch compound. There were other Alabama River rock was placed to a depth of eight inches on curves and four inches on straightway sections as the top surface. advantages to a mobile system, as well. An assem- the VAB and the launch was similar to that for a The finishing touches to bly building could protect Remembering complex’s twin pads con- causeway. After the softer Pad A followed in Decem- launch vehicles from Cape Our Heritage sisting of two 40-foot-wide material was excavated, ber 1965 at a total cost of Canaveral’s tropical weather lanes separated by a 50-foot more than 3,000,000 cubic $21,500,000. Pad B, con- and salt air. Housing the median. yards of hydraulic sand fill structed between December work force in one assem- the integrated Apollo/Saturn To support the was placed along the route. 1964 and April 1967, cost a bly building, rather than V from the assembly build- 17,000,000-pound load of The fill was compacted with little less at $20,300,000. requiring multiple teams on ing to the pad. a transporter carrying an vibratory rollers and then The crawlerway was numerous pads, might also The crawlerway was integrated Apollo/Saturn V proof-rolled with a 100-ton cheap by comparison, com- designed by the U.S. Army save in labor costs. atop a mobile launcher, the roller. ing in at $7,500,000 over Once the mobile Corps of Engineers and built roadbed averaged seven feet Three and a half feet of all. concept was adopted, by a joint venture of the in thickness. selected sub-base material Not only were the construction of the Vehicle Blount Brothers Construc- Under maximum load under three feet of graded mobile concept and its in- Assembly Building, or VAB tion Company of Montgom- conditions in high winds, crushed aggregate base frastructure used during the -- referred to as the Vertical ery, Ala., and M. M. Sundt each one of the four dual- course made up the road- Apollo Program, but they Assembly Building at its Construction Company of inception -- began in July Tucson, Ariz. Construction tractor units of the trans- bed, with a blacktop sealer continue to serve the Space 1963, as did construction of of the 18,159-foot stretch porter can exert 5,400,000 topping it off. River gravel Shuttle Program to the pres- the three mobile launchers, of the roadway between the pounds of pressure on the was placed to a depth of ent day. the platforms that support VAB and the site for Ken- roadbed, or more than eight inches on curves and The same pads, assem- the rocket before launch and nedy Space Center’s Launch 12,000 pounds per square four inches on straightway bly building, transporters, become, in effect, the pad’s Complex 39A got under foot. The access tunnels sections for the top surface mobile launcher platforms surface. way in November 1963. At for any ducts or pipes on which the transporter and crawlerway will be NASA selected a giant that time, work also began that would pass beneath maneuvers. upgraded and modified to transporter, or crawler, that on the pad under the same the crawlerway had to be The initial section of support the Ares rockets moves along a specially de- contract. capable of withstanding the the crawlerway leading and Orion crew module of signed roadbed, rather than The crawlerway pro- load conditions, as well. to Pad A was ready for the Constellation Program, a barge or rail system, as the vided a traveling surface The approach to con- transporter traffic in August NASA’s next-generation hu- method of transportation for for the transporter between struction of the crawlerway 1965. man space program. Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS Nov. 14, 2008

ON WORD THE STREET What goal, or goals, would you like the new center director to focus on?

“Consider a small trolley from the parking lots, and update and modernize our environment.” Mary Clark, with the NASA Exchange

NASA file “Hopefully he won’t leave a gap that’s too critical STS-88 Mission Specialist Nancy Currie gets a hug from Commander Bob Cabana after landing. to either the shuttle or Constellation programs.” Abel Gomes, really committed to safety as a core From CABANA, Page 1 logistics specialist with REDE/Critique Inc. value. Have you taken ownership of to take it home with us also. As the it, or do you feel safety is someone holiday season approaches, there else’s responsibility? are plenty of opportunities for an We’ve got a tremendous chal- incident at home. We need everyone lenge in front of us the next few “Working with the new vice president (Joe Biden), healthy if we’re going to succeed, years and we can’t afford to fail. Sen. Bill Nelson and NASA’s visions.” and more importantly, your families We will not be successful if William Thomas, need you healthy to provide and safety is not at our core. Think ground systems engineer with NASA care for them. Don’t be that bad ex- about it, take ownership of it, and be ample at the safety brief that shows safe at home and on the job. how not to do a job. So take some time and step Keep charging! “Just keep us informed about what’s going on back and ask yourself if you’re Bob with the transition from shuttle to Constellation.” Jerry LaMott, Looking up and ahead staff engineer with United Space Alliance Target Nov. 14 Launch/KSC: Endeavour, STS-126; 7:55 p.m.

No earlier than Nov. 16 Launch/CCAFS: Delta IV, NROL-26; TBD Feb. 4, 2009 Launch/CCAFS: Delta II, NOAA-N Prime; TBD “To hopefully continue the shuttle so we don’t Target Feb. 12, 2009 Launch/KSC: Discovery, STS-119; 7:36 a.m. have to depend on other countries.” Jessa Bautista, No earlier than March 5, 2009 Launch/CCAFS: Delta IV, GOES-O; TBD with Kennedy Space Center Credit Union Scheduled for March 5, 2009 Launch/CCAFS: Delta II, Kepler; TBD

No earlier than April 1, 2009 Launch/CCAFS: Delta II, STSS; TBD

April 24, 2009 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, LRO/LCROSS; TBD

Target May 15, 2009 Launch/KSC: Endeavour, STS-127; 4:52 p.m. John F. Kennedy Space Center Target July 12, 2009 Launch/KSC: Ares I-X Test Flight/Launch Pad 39B; TBD Target July 30, 2009 Launch/KSC: Atlantis, STS-128; TBD Spaceport News Target Oct. 15, 2009 Launch/KSC: Discovery, STS-129; TBD

Target Dec. 10, 2009 Launch/KSC: Endeavour, STS-130; TBD Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and is published on alternate Fridays by External Relations in the interest of KSC civil Scheduled for Jan. 26, 2010 Launch/CCAFS: Atlas V, SDO; TBD service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted three weeks before publication Target Feb. 11, 2010 Launch/KSC: Atlantis, STS-131; TBD to the Media Services Branch, IMCS-440. E-mail submissions can be sent to [email protected] Target April 8, 2010 Launch/KSC: Discovery, STS-132; TBD

Target May 31, 2010 Launch/KSC: Endeavour, STS-133; TBD Managing editor ...... Candrea Thomas Editor ...... Frank Ochoa-Gonzales Copy editor ...... Rebecca Sprague

Register for PM Challenge 2009 Editorial support provided by Abacus Technology Corp. Writers Group. The Project Management Challenge Conference is several months away, but registration runs NASA at KSC is on the Internet at www.nasa.gov/kennedy through Jan. 30. For more information, visit: http://pmchallenge.gsfc.nasa.gov USGPO: 733-049/600142