Venturestar: May 22, 1998 Vol. 37, No. 10 a bright look at the future 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
KSC takes one giant leap toward ISO 9001certification From May 11 through 15, detailed, comprehensive set of action to corrent seven minor three auditors from Det standard requirements for non-conformities. Norske Veritas (DNV), one of quality programs established Celebrating the recom- the leading international ISO by the International mendation was the Business certification organizations, Standards Organization (ISO). Innovation Group, or BIG, at visited KSC to audit NASA Based on their findings, the KSC. staff and determine if the audit team will recommend BIG’s charter is to develop This is one artist’s conception of the space center’s management certification with the ISO 9001 and support a long-term VentureStar, a potential successor to system is compliant with ISO standard for NASA at the business system for the center, the X-33 now in development. 9001 standards. space center, pending DNV and BIG was instrumental in A new launch vehicle The audit included all acceptance of a KSC plan of preparing the center for and could join the fleet of rockets Kennedy Space Center coordinating the ISO audit. blasting off from Florida's personnel working at KSC, About 500 KSC people were Space Coast — and in the not- Cape Canaveral Air Station, directly involved in the too-distant future. Managers Patrick Air Force Base, and development and internal from Lockheed Martin Skunk- Vandenberg Air Force Base in audits of the system. As KSC works in Palmdale, Calif., California. positions itself for the future, will visit KSC and Cape ISO 9001 is the most Canaveral Air Station in June (See ISO, Page 3) to look at potential launch sites here for their planned STS-91 — first Mir docking for Discovery closes door for Phase reusable launch vehicle (RLV) One of Space Station and opens window on antimatter research dubbed VentureStar. “This is an opportunity for More than two years of during docking operations on have lived and worked with their KSC and Cape Canaveral Air continuous U.S. presence aboard mission STS-91. When Dr. Thomas Russian crewmates continuously Station to showcase our the Russian Space Station Mir will leaves Mir, Phase 1 of the joint for more than 800 days on orbit. excellence,” said KSC draw to a close when NASA U.S.- Russian International Space The ninth and final Mir docking Director Roy Bridges. “We'll astronaut Andrew Thomas, Ph.D., Station (ISS) program will con- is scheduled for Flight Day 3 of show them creative ways that transfers to the orbiter Discovery clude, and NASA astronauts will Discovery’s mission set for launch we can meet their needs and June 2 at 6:10 p.m. Dr. Thomas will feature the proven launch, board Discovery for the return payload and landing support flight home within hours after the infrastructure in place hatches between the two 100-ton here on the Space Coast.” spacecraft are opened. Docking The goal of the RLV operations then will continue for program is to improve U.S. four days and will include the competitiveness in the transfer of 2,600 pounds of Russian worldwide launch market by supplies and logistics equipment to increasing reliability and Mir from a SPACEHAB Single lowering the cost of space Module in Discovery’s payload bay access to $1,000 per pound of and 1,400 pounds of water from the payload. Currently, payload orbiter's fuel cells. customers pay about $10,000 Major highlights of this 91st per pound for the Space Shuttle flight are the first Mir Shuttle’s reliable escort docking for Discovery, the first on- to orbit. orbit test of the Alpha Magnetic Four months ago, Lockheed Spectrometer (AMS-01), and the Martin hosted a briefing that first flight of the new Space Shuttle expressed their requirements super lightweight external tank. for a prospective VentureStar Other STS-91 investigations launch site. Florida was well The STS-91 crew recently prepared for their mission during Terminal Countdown include experiments in human life Demonstration Test activities at KSC. In the back, left to right, are Pilot Dominic Gorie, sciences, biology, protein crystal (See RLV, Page 6) Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence, Commander Charles Precourt, and in the front are Mission Specialists Franklin Chang-Diaz, Valery Ryumin, and Janet Kavandi. (See STS-91, Page 8) Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS May 22, 1998 Briefing to community leaders on KSC’s progress and local projects
Kennedy Space Center’s Jim Jennings, deputy plishments and achieved goals. annual Community Leaders director for business They also laid out KSC's plans Breakfast and Briefing was operations, described how for the future — both short- held the morning of KSC is committed to continued and long-term. Wednesday, May 6, at KSC’s community outreach and Michael Leinbach, deputy Visitor Complex before more service. Some of his points director, Space Station than 200 invited guests. included: Hardware Integration Office, Mayors, bank presidents, ▼ Visitor Complex visitation provided International Space leaders in education, growth of 35 percent since Station statistics and noted representatives from local 1994; how the station will benefit police departments, members ▼ consistently increased Brevard County. He said that: of Canaveral Port Authority, participation from last year in ▲ assembly completion is and others all gathered to hear educational areas such as the slated for 2003-2004; from KSC’s leaders about what Spacemobile program and ▲ 16 nations are the future holds for the space educator workshops; and participating (all of which will center. The briefing informed ▼ Combined Federal send representatives to community leaders of the Campaign results over goal, Brevard County to watch their activities, changes, and value- with more than 90 percent respective elements launched added products and services participation. KSC is into space); and KSC offers to Brevard and its consistently the largest ▲ approximately 90 U.S. and surrounding counties. government contributor in Russian missions are needed After a breakfast gathering, Brevard County. for assembly and Center Director Roy Bridges Deputy Director for Launch outfitting. opened the briefing in the and Payload Processing Loren Leinbach said that 300 IMAX II Theater with an Shriver discussed KSC’s NASA and 900 contractor overview of NASA strategic Centers of Excellence. employees are working locally goals and KSC’s guiding He talked about the details on the ISS and that those principles, which include: of crafting the center’s future numbers are expected to grow ◆ safety and health first; role in developing new in upcoming years. He added ◆ satisfy our customers’ technologies for spaceport that KSC’s role has increased needs anytime, anywhere; architecture and operations in the past decade to include One of several posters that accompany ◆ build reliance and development, environmental final test, integration, and KSC’s award-winning tradeshow exhibit was shown to community leaders. teamwork everywhere; and and bioregenerative systems, assembly. ◆ environmental and integrated intelligent test Leinbach encouraged the paying us to help them explore leadership. and simulation capabilities. community leaders to take new technologies. They will “As we at KSC advance “Although we’ve been their grandchildren outside in benefit from our 15-year space exploration and assigned lead center the evenings five years from Shuttle experience with commerce,” Bridges noted, responsibility in launch and now to catch a glimpse of the propellants and reusable “our guiding principles govern payload processing,” Shriver brightest light in the sky, launch vehicles. all of our plans and actions.” noted, “we now need to focus second only to the Moon — Together, KSC executives Bridges then introduced his on technology development in the orbiting International provided local leaders with a top management team and order to sustain that Center of Space Station. good look at how the center turned the program over to Excellence. We must employ Associate Director for has progressed over the past them. KSC’s unique expertise to Advanced Development and year and how through future The speakers painted a partner with universities and Shuttle Upgrades JoAnn partnerships the center’s detailed picture with a broad other outside groups in Morgan said that new industry resources will continue to brush of the center’s work over developing new technologies.” partnerships will be mutually provide unparalleled develop- the past 16 months and gave a Other KSC speakers beneficial to KSC and mental and operational glimpse of the future. discussed last year’s accom- outside organizations that are expertise. Shriver and Jennings receive Meritorious Executive awards On May 5, KSC’s Deputy President Al Gore and the recognize federal senior are recognized throughout the Director for Launch and Office of Personnel executives who have agency and acknowledged on a Payload Processing Loren Management’s new director, demonstrated exceptional national or international level; Shriver and Deputy Director Janice LaChance, in a performance over an extended achieve significant cost for Business Operations Jim ceremony at Constitution Hall period of time. The reduction; demonstrate Jennings were honored in recognizing their Meritorious Executive Rank personal initiative and Washington, D.C., with achievements. The event was award is awarded to the top innovation in meeting goals Presidential Rank Meritorious part of Public Service five percent of “sustained and policies; and demonstrate Executive awards. Recognition Week celebrated accomplishment” performers. successful efforts in Shriver and Jennings were annually the first week of May. Criteria include career encouraging and maintaining the honored guests of Vice Presidential Rank awards achievements that: a diverse workforce. May 22, 1998 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 ISO ... Irene Long named (Continued from Page 1) the system will serve as a SNFS President foundation for all improve- Irene Long, M.D., director of ments. KSC’s Biomedical Office, was A pre-assessment at KSC installed as president of the was conducted by auditors in Society of NASA Flight March. Surgeons (SNFS) at the Between that visit and the blockhouse dedication photo group’s annual luncheon on recent audit, employees in all May 20. The event occurred NASA directorates at KSC during the Aerospace Medical were interviewed by ISO Association’s Annual Scientific auditors. Meeting in Seattle May 17-22. Last week, the auditors Dr. Long’s term will run all remarked that a great through May 1999. improvement had been “Since the society is achieved in process Cutting the ribbon at the blockhouse renovation ceremony are, left to right, KSC Deputy dedicated to the advancement development and record- Director for Launch and Payload Processing Loren Shriver, Comedian Bill Dana (the of the aerospace medical keeping since their initial “8th Mercury astronaut”), Mercury 7 astronauts L. Gordon Cooper and Scott Carpenter, Brigadier General Randy Starbuck, Betty Grisholm, and Major Rory Maynard. profession to extend everyone’s visit. useful role in space explora- They also praised KSC Renovations complete at historic tion, it’s truly an honor for me workers for their dedication, to serve as the society’s skills and knowledge. - Mercury launch blockhouse president this year,” said Dr. “The enthusiasm and pride Long. that each employee has with The blockhouse for the orbital mission aboard In 1995, Dr. Long received the documentation and Mercury-Atlas and unmanned Friendship 7 in Feb. 1962. the society’s President’s execution of their procedures Atlas-Agena Gemini target Glenn was followed by Scott Special Award in recognition is readily apparent throughout missions at Cape Canaveral Carpenter’s Aurora 7 mission of her contributions to the center,” noted DNV Lead Air Station’s Space Launch in May 1962 and Wally aerospace medicine and of her Auditor Thomas Dadson. Complex 14 has been Schirra’s Sigma 7 mission in serving as an outstanding role The auditors also renovated. The 45th October of the same year. model for others. commented that the personal Operations Support Squadron The last Mercury 7 involvement and leadership of (OSS) led the effort to preserve astronaut to fly alone into the center director and his top the historic launch blockhouse space was Air Force Colonel L. management team in the that will be used as a confer- Gordon Cooper, who lifted off development of the system ence center. in his spacecraft Faith 7 in were critical to the center’s “It was a shame to see such May 1963. positive audit result. a historic site being reclaimed Painting and cleaning of the Following 88 hours of by nature,” said Lt. Col. blockhouse wre accomplished interviews, auditors identified Dennis Hilley, Operations by volunteers. Extensive only seven minor non- Support Squadron commander. repairs were made by Johnson conformities. “The 45th OSS decided to Controls and Boeing, while The KSC Business reverse this and find a use for Lockheed Martin and Brown Innovation Group intends to the complex to try and save it.” and Root provided additional submit the corrective plan of John Glenn launched from assistance. Other agencies also action by May 22. Complex 14 on his historic provided support. Orlando Melendez receives NASA administrator’s fellowship Orlando Melendez, Ph.D., doctorate in chemical engin- Irene Long, M.D., Director, an engineer with the Materials eering, will teach during the Biomedical Office Science Laboratory in KSC’s 1998-99 school year at the Logistics Operations, was University of Puerto Rico and announced as a participant in will spend the second year of Mark your calendar for the 1998-99 NASA Adminis- the fellowship in professional Super Safety Day on trator’s Fellowship Program. development. He will divide Thursday, July 16 ! The program aims to enhance the second year between Safety is always our priority, but on Super Safety Day the professional development interning at NASA head- the entire center will learn of mid-career science, mathe- quarters in Washington D.C. together why and how to matics and engineering faculty and at the International Space improve our safety record at historically black colleges University in France. each and every day. More information will be available and universities, Hispanic- The fellowship program also in future issues of Countdown serving institutions, and tribal helps universities better assist and Spaceport News. Orlando Melendez, materials science colleges and universities. NASA in its research and engineer, Logistics Operations Dr. Melendez, who holds a development mission. Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS May 22, 1998
KSC’s All-American Picnic
James Stickley, 5 years old, demonstrates brought smiles for miles... how much fun take off and landing can be!
The KSC All-American Picnic held May 16 at KARS Park One drew an enthusiastic crowd — more than 5,000! — on a spectacularly beautiful day. Managed this year by a committee of NASA and contractor staff, the event offered a few changes from years past — including a fishing tournament for the kids, a chowder cookoff, and an exotic wildlife exhibit! Proceeds from the cook-off — held this year for the seventh time — go to the YMCA of Titusville, which was the favorite charity of the People’s Choice Award winner, “Clams R Us.” More than $480 was raised for Titusville’s YMCA at this year’s picnic. As the pictures tell, all picnic participants were happy as clams!
Jenna Tower, 3 years old, prefers snow cones to freeze-dried ice cream.
The Rascals won out of four teams competing in early morning matches on the volleyball court. Astronaut Frank Caldiero congratulates Amanda Lampert, 12 years old, who took third place in her age group in the coloring contest.
Center Director Roy Bridges has the eye of the tiger, which came with the rest of this number one land predator in the world, a 450-pound Siberian-Bengal tiger. Thunderhawk Directors flanking the feline with Benita and Roy Bridges are, left to right, Eddie Bealle, Lou Gunther, and Ray Thunderhawk. The tiger, incidentally, is the first in the world to have had successful cataract surgery!
Alyse Mullon adds finishing touches to the already bright face of Chancey Wyhuskens. May 22, 1998 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5
Parents of triplets are experts at fighting fires! Just ask Nancy and Dave Johnson with their brood of three 20-month-olds, Gregory (in dad’s arms), Claire (standing on seat) and Matthew. The Johnsons are Catching some rays as well as fish enjoying a brief moment on a genuine 1938 are the Burman family, doubling their firetruck (the Dalmation is not quite that old). chances with both Cliff, 5, and Gineva, 2, at the poles. Mom Melinda and Dad Terry provide assistance to the young team, who were among 170 children participating.
Lindsay Marshall, left, and Lucy Stevenson, both 4 years old, wonder if balloons are as much fun in microgravity as they are on Earth!
Above, Kelsey McMonagle, 6 years old, catches one fish that won’t make it into the seafood chowder competition. Below, only Dale Nash (right), USA director of Ground Systems Support, knows the fishy recipe that garnered the Peoples Choice award. Presenting one of three awards to the “Clams R Us” team are JoAnn Morgan and Rick English. The NASA/Boeing Space Station Team won the Judges Choice award.
There was plenty of space at the picnic, but not enough time. This future astronaut found it hard to say goodbye to his new friend. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS May 22, 1998 RLV ... (Continued from Page 1) represented at the meeting, but other U.S. states and foreign countries have also expressed a keen interest. The 127-foot-tall, wedge-shaped vehicle does not sport an external fuel tank or solid rocket boosters that fall back to Earth during ascent. This makes Florida’s ocean-site location only one of several options available to VentureStar. Since the briefing, officials from Spaceport Florida Authority, KSC and Cape Canaveral Air Station have thoroughly reviewed Lockheed Martin's launch site requirements and are prepared to present both basic and creative options to the Lockheed Martin site visitors. “This is an exciting time for Florida,” said Ed O’Connor, Spaceport Florida Authority director. “The teamwork that's going on between the state, Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Station and state business leaders reflects our high level of commitment to supporting the VentureStar program.” Areas being reviewed as possible RLV This comparison of X-33, at left, and the VentureStar demonstrates the size difference between the two vehicles launch sites include locations on the west and under development. VentureStar is a reusable launch vehicle that potentially represents the future of U.S. spaceflight. The X-33 and the VentureStar will be powered by a unique engine called the linear aerospike engine. east sides of the existing Shuttle Landing Facility, toward the south end of the runways. “Right now we’re conducting studies to is currently building a subscale prototype of Also being studied are sites northwest of determine what areas on both sides of the VentureStar called X-33 under a cooperative Shuttle Launch Pad 39B and southeast of the (Banana) river would be feasible launch, agreement with NASA. It will demonstrate Cape Canaveral Air Station skid strip. landing and payload processing sites. We’re advanced technologies to be used on an VentureStar developers hope to have launch considering safety issues, environmental operational RLV. sites near a landing strip to facilitate quick RLV impacts and the needs of the customer,” said Test flights for X-33 are slated to begin in turnaround, supporting about 40 flights a year. Warren Wiley, KSC’s RLV director. mid-1999 from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Thus, initial designs call for the launch pad The state of Florida has already committed With up to 15 X-33 test flights and related to be located near a landing strip. The facility $4 million for the construction of a multi- research under their belt, Lockheed Martin and will have a unique processing feature that will purpose vehicle processing hangar at the SLF’s industry will decide by the year 2000 whether roll away from the vehicle just prior to its south-side apron. Construction of the hangar is to proceed and build a full-scale RLV such as rotation to a vertical launch position. slated to begin later this year. Lockheed Martin the VentureStar. Hurricane season starts June 1 and runs through November
Are you prepared? The hurricane season runs June through November. Check your supply of boards, tools, batteries, and non-perishable foods. Remember, plan your moves in advance, before a storm arrives, and avoid last-minute details that could leave you marooned or unprepared. Check your battery-operated equipment; your radio may be your only link with the outside world. Keep your car fueled (service stations may be inoperable for several days depending on the severity of the storm), and have cash available. Store drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles. Your town’s water supply could be contaminated by flooding during a storm. Monitor the storm’s position through National Weather Service advisories, and beware of the eye of the hurricane. If you have questions, KSC’s Hurricane Center can be reached by calling 867-9200 Hurricane Luis in late1995, as seen from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s GOES-8 satellite. or -9201. May 22, 1998 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Huge gamma ray Building robots builds bridges between burst detected KSC and local schools A recently detected cosmic SC recently partici- directing their robots to phenomenon has wowed K pated for the second pick up balls and researchers and turned year in a row in FIRST, which deposit them in the scientific theory on its ear. The means For Inspiration and designated goal. gamma ray burst, as bright as Recognition of Science and The tournament the rest of the entire universe, Technology. FIRST is a format came complete is unprecedented in astro- national competition to with referees, specta- nomy, except for the Big Bang. encourage student interest in tors and cheerleaders. science and technology. Working with NASA/KSC on again at Epcot Center in Students work with sponsors this year’s effort were contrac- Orlando last month. The to design and build a robot. tors Dynacs, Boeing, United Space Coast FIRST team The competition features a Space Alliance, EG&G Florida, finished 53rd out of 199 goal in the center of a playing Visitor Complex concessionaire national teams, and placed field. This year, teams Delaware North, Brevard fifth among 18 teams spon- competed against each other architectural firm BRPH, the sored by NASA. and the clock by remotely Brevard School Foundation, “Our agency’s vision Brevard School Board, Satellite includes words like: invest- High School and Merritt Island ment in America’s future, High School. A second Brevard exploration, innovation, County team led by Mike Sklar inspiration and benefit,” said and Brenda Bell of Boeing also Eduardo Lopez del Castillo, a took part, and won the Most NASA engineer who has led Photogenic Award at the the KSC effort for the past regionals, held at Johnson two years. “The way we Space Center’s Visitor Center in nurture and guide our youth Houston. NASA KSC worked will determine the strength of with this team as well, which our country and our ability to BIG BANG from a small speck — This still included students from Astro- lead a highly technical world star was at the center of the gamma ray naut and economy. It is our duty to burst. The energy release came from a galaxy about 12 billion light years from TOP photo, right, EG&G Titusville High develop their values and their Earth (one light year is about 5.9 trillion Florida Engineering Director Schools. The skills.” Call Lopez, 867-8005, miles). Gamma ray bursts are flashes of Tim Thurston works with high-energy radiation, first discovered by students on the robot’s finals were held to learn about volunteering. U.S. Air Force satellites in the 1960s. Their design. Above, Dynacs cause is not yet known. Technician Brad Ayers describes the manufacturing “The energy released by this process. Right, NASA Engineering Technician Ron burst in its first few seconds Fox (left) shows Satellite High staggers the imagination,” said student Albert Ramirez Shrinivas Kulkarni, one of two fabrication techniques. principal investigators on the team from California Institute of Technology in Pasadena that detected the distance of the enormous energy release. The burst appears to have released several hundred times more energy than an exploding star, called a supernova, which until now was the most energetic phenomenon in the universe known to scientists. The burst was detected Dec. ABOVE — In late February, the robot was still taking shape. Here, (left to right) students Trevor Hitt, of Merritt Island 14 by two orbiting spacecraft. High School; Samit Thakkar, also from Merritt Island High; Follow-up observations were Rob Mueller, a KSC engineer; Art Hendren, with Dynacs; conducted with ground-based and B.J. Jones, a student at Satellite High School, examine ALMOST THERE — The robot’s control system is put telescopes and the Hubble the structural frame of the robot outside the weld shop in through its paces by Robert Morrison (left), NASA; Andy the Industrial Area. Many of the students plan to study Bradley, NASA; Chris Porter, Satellite High; Tom Lippitt, Space Telescope. engineering in college, so the opportunity to work at KSC NASA; and Bill Jones, NASA, chief, Automated Ground The team’s findings gave them a taste of the real thing. Support Systems. appear in the May 7 issue of the journal Nature. Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS May 22, 1998
STS-91 ... matter and antimatter, which (Continued from Page 1) promptly annihilated each other, but that a small excess of ordinary Mir Reflections growth, materials science, radiation matter was enough to create the monitoring and physics. universe as we know it, with very The crew little surviving antimatter. More- One Russian cosmonaut and six over, scientists recently discovered American astronauts comprise the a gamma-ray burst that they’re STS-91 crew. Mission Commander calling the most powerful explo- Charles Precourt is on his fourth sion since the Big Bang. (See space flight and third trip to Mir, page 7.) whereas Pilot Dominic Gorie is The three-ton AMS-01 is the flying his first Shuttle mission. first large magnet experiment ever Mission specialists include Wendy to be flown in space and could be Lawrence; Franklin Chang-Diaz, the first experiment to detect Ph.D.; Janet Kavandi, Ph.D.; and minute quantities of antimatter in Andrew Thomas, Ph.D. Russian cosmic rays coming from outside Cosmonaut Valery Ryumin, our galaxy. This antimatter could director of the Russian Shuttle-Mir be an indication of the existence of program, completes the crew. antimatter galaxies. Mission Specialist Thomas The data gathered by AMS may began his stay on Mir on Jan. 25 lend clues about the mysterious STS-89 Mission Specialist David Wolf, above left, returned to KSC on Apr. 30 to during the STS-89 mission. The ‘dark matter’ that may make up 90 personally thank the many workers who assisted in his STS-86 liftoff to the Russian Australian-born scientist was Space Station Mir as the sixth U.S. astronaut to stay there. Wolf completed 128 days percent or more of the universe. on orbit and preceded Andy Thomas, who returns to Earth in June during STS-91. The selected as an astronaut candidate The experiment also will measure first U.S. astronaut to stay on Mir was Norman Thagard, below left, who also visited in 1992. While awaiting his space normal matter, as well as cosmic KSC recently to participate in a Pioneer Productions broadcast on space. It will air as flight assignment, Dr. Thomas and gamma rays. a two-hour documentary on British television’s Discovery channel in the near future. supported shuttle launch and The 7,050-pound AMS will landing operations as an Astronaut search for antimatter and dark Support Person at KSC. matter to understand cosmic ray What can the matter be? propagation. Anti-matter is the opposite of This first flight is designed to matter, and when the two come in verify AMS performance under contact, they release a burst of actual space conditions prior to its energy in the form of gamma rays, three-year deployment on the which can be detected outside International Space Station. Earth’s shielding atmosphere. The AMS is an international A prevailing theory of creation is collaborative project involving 37 that the Big Bang produced research institutions in the U.S. approximately equal amounts of and 12 countries. STS-91 tanking test goes well Engineers at KSC conducted a Developed to increase the pre-launch cryogenic test of the Shuttle payload capacity on Shuttle’s first super lightweight International Space Station flights, external tank (SLWT) on May 18. the first SLWT is more than 7,000 The tank, mated to the orbiter pounds lighter than conventional John F. Kennedy Space Center Discovery at Pad 39A, is scheduled metal alloy external tanks. for launch on mission STS-91. Major changes to the lighter tank The primary difference of this include the use of new materials Spaceport News test from standard pre-launch and a revised internal design. The tanking operations is that the liquid weight reduction is due to the use oxygen and liquid hydrogren of aluminum lithium in the con- propellants were not loaded struction of the tank’s internal The Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and is published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office in the interest simultaneously, but one after the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen of KSC civil service and contractor employees. other. For this reason, the tanking tanks. Aluminum lithium is a Contributions are welcome and should be submitted two weeks before test took longer than a typical pre- lighter, stronger material than the publication to the Media Services Branch, AB-F1. E-mail submissions can be launch tanking. metal alloy used in the original sent to Susan.Maurer-1@ksc.nasa.gov The primary objectives of the tanks. The new external tank holds Managing editor...... Bruce Buckingham test were to evaluate the strut loads a maximum of 143,351 gallons of Editor...... Susan Maurer Editorial support provided by Sherikon Space Systems Inc. Writers Group. between the tank and the solid liquid oxygen and 385,265 gallons Photographic support primarily provided by The Bionetics Corp. rocket boosters and to verify the of liquid hydrogen. The redesign integrity of the new components of also provides additional strength USGPO: 633-112/80006 the tank. and stability.