Sept. 20, 2013 Vol. 53, No. 19 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe UAV contest challenges engineers By Steven Siceloff Research Center judged the results. experience,” said Steve Sullivan, chief en- Spaceport News “There was a plaque, but other than brag- gineer for the Kennedy team. “If you go to ging rights, that was about it,” said Mark class, build something and fly it, that stays ompetition was in high gear at Kennedy Ross, a NASA test director who coordinated with you. I think it keeps your brain sharp.” Space Center recently as three teams pi- C the competition. The principle of diversifying engineers’ loted unique remote-controlled and autono- The technology could be implemented in skills also is in keeping with Kennedy’s mous aircraft through a demanding series of a number of different ways, including locat- push to operate as a multi-user spaceport search-and-rescue tasks, capping off months ing a crew returning from space or rescuing with expertise in many different areas, Sul- of work that pushed NASA engineers out- stranded hikers, pilots or boaters. The real livan said. side their usual specialties. point of the competition, though, was to add Working outside their areas of expertise Using helicopters, rotorcraft and a built- new skills to established engineers’ portfo- excited the engineers from all the centers from-scratch, radio-controlled airplane, the lios and to give young engineers a taste of and made them work together intently, said teams scanned a mock airplane crash site the process that goes into developing a full Jan Lomness, project manager for the Ken- with sensors and software they developed project. nedy aircraft. and installed in the aircraft. The flights took “There was a lot of realization that this “I think the team camaraderie and ex- place at the north end of the Shuttle Landing was a rare opportunity to see things from change of information was really impor- Facility at a time when the airspace around cradle to grave, to see something from tant,” Lomness said. it was closed so the craft wouldn’t interfere idea to actually flying,” Ross said. “They Peter Ma, an engineer with the Mar- with runway operations. also learned a good bit about the systems shall team, said the hardest part about the Although human operators were at the engineering process, which was the whole software design was getting the machine to flight controls of the aircraft, the sensors intent behind this and how to apply it in a recognize people. The Marshall group went had to identify the aircraft, a replica “black practical way.” on to win the competition. box” and several crash dummies. Later, the Kennedy’s Rocket University developed “People can be in a lot of different posi- aircraft were sent on endurance runs. the fixed-wing, remote-control aircraft used tions, make a lot of shapes,” he said. NASA field centers Kennedy, Johnson in the competition. The group built the The aircraft went through a full safety Space Center and Marshall Space Flight airframe from scratch, along with designing and air worthiness review before being al- Center took part in the competition while the software to operate it. lowed to fly at Kennedy, despite being very engineers from Ames Research Center, “The whole purpose is to use low-cost, small and not carrying a crew, said Tom Dryden Flight Research Center and Langley high-capability equipment to get hands-on Friers, the chief of Flight Operations. A remote-controlled helicopter with a unique set of sensors and software flies during a competition Sept. 11 at Kennedy Space Center. NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS Sept. 20, 2013 Innovation Expo unites spaceport’s efforts By Bob Granath Spaceport News Nearly 1,000 attend event ennedy Space Center’s annual Innovation Expo is The 2013 Kennedy Space Center reach outside their day-to-day routine and about the 2013 Innovation Expo and I K Innovation Expo came to a close make substantial improvements to how we couldn’t agree more,” said Cabana. “Not designed to spark creativity and Sept. 13. Nearly 1,000 Kennedy operate and to the products we create.“ only did the expo highlight new tech- new ideas to aid in transitioning employees attended the four-day event, The expo was designed to provide a nologies, showcase technology initiatives the spaceport from a histori- which included a showcase, kick-start, forum for individuals to learn about ongoing being worked across the center through cally government-only launch guest speaker engagement, tours of the activities at Kennedy, to break down organi- the different lectures and tours, and facility to a multi-user space- center and a finale. zational silos that hinder collaboration and to provide the opportunity for innovators port. On Sept. 10, as part of “The Innovation Expo was created to establish relationships where expertise can to kick off projects through our KSC the four-day event, Kennedy’s kindle a creative and collaborative culture be shared cross-organizationally. KickStart program, but it also brought Center Planning and Develop- within the Kennedy workforce,” said Der- Center Director Bob Cabana believes together 17 of our center partners for an rick Bailey, expo chair and NASA mission innovation is the key to success for future unprecedented display of the different ment Directorate (CPD) hosted safety engineer. “The Innovation Expo missions, endeavors and business at collaborations being worked centerwide. displays by partners, bringing Team wants the Kennedy workforce Kennedy. I am proud of what we accomplished together center employees with to know opportunities exist for them to “I’ve received a lot of positive feedback this year.” many of the organizations that are helping build the center’s Innovation Expo.” president and chief executive principal investigators multiple future. Kennedy employees had an officer of Diversified Industries innovative ways to flight test Innovation is defined as opportunity to meet many of C&IS Inc. their new space technologies. the introduction of something NASA’s partners. Additionally, Booths representing CPD “One of the agency’s biggest new or a fresh idea, method or representatives from partner or- focused on Spaceport Plan- challenges is space testing and device. Kennedy’s Innovation ganizations had an opportunity ning, Partnership Development, Expo highlights just that -- space qualification of promis- to interact with each other and Research and Technology, groundbreaking efforts facili- ing new technologies that are learn how each adds value to Technology Evaluation for tated by both civil service and needed to extend our presence developing the Kennedy Space Environmental Risk Mitiga- contractor employees, as well farther out into the solar system Center of the future. tion and Flight Opportunities as partner organizations. The and beyond,” he said. “The invitation to Kennedy’s Programs. exhibits and presentations allow During the Innovation Innovation Expo provided us According to Robert Ash- those who are developing new Expo, Howard Biegler, Human approaches to share how they an opportunity to meet and col- ley, Kennedy’s manager of the Launch Services lead for Unit- plan to implement their ideas. laborate with other companies Flight Opportunities Program in ed Launch Alliance, showed “We hope this will lead to and space center employees, NASA’s Research and Technol- off a Dual Satellite System-5 some ‘out-of-the-box’ think- which was very positive for our ogy Management Office, the model that provides the Atlas V company.” said Martin Belson, program gives engineers and ing about Kennedy becoming and Delta IV rockets with the a multi-user spaceport,” said capability of launching two Scott Colloredo, director of payloads to different orbits on a CPD. “We also hope this will single launch vehicle. be a forum to encourage inter- “By utilizing dual-launch action between partners, result- technology, ULA provides effi- ing in developing relationships cient use of excess performance that will lead to collaborative margins on launches, which in efforts.” turn provides lower mission Center Planning and Devel- cost and operational flexibility opment is the “front door” for to our customers,” Biegler said. partnerships with Kennedy. With a partnership, the agency Other organizations repre- can allow industry to operate sented in the partner exhibits a facility or provide services were: The Boeing Company, NASA wants to maintain. Craig Technologies, Juntura, “Through partnerships with Micro Aerospace Solutions, industry and academia, KSC PaR Systems Inc., Quantum is truly becoming a multi-user Innovative Technologies, Space NASA/Charisse Nahser Coast Energy Consortium, spaceport,” Colloredo said. At the 2013 Innovative Expo Sept. 11, Howard Biegler, right, Human Launch Services lead “This is the first time we’ve had for United Launch Alliance, describes a model of his company’s payload fairing, which United Paradyne Corp. and the partner displays at Kennedy’s could deploy multiple satellites on a single launch vehicle. University of Central Florida. Sept. 20, 2013 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Boeing completes MCC interface test By Rebecca Regan Spaceport News More online For more information about or the first time, the Mission Control NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, visit: FCenter (MCC) at NASA’s Johnson http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Space Center in Houston has tested commu- “As low-Earth orbit opens to a growing nications with a commercial made, crew- commercial space industry, the ability of capable spacecraft, as The Boeing Company new spacecraft to communicate with exist- conducted an interface test between the ing space infrastructure is critical.” MCC and software planned for the com- Through a reimbursable Space Act pany’s CST-100 spacecraft. Boeing has partnered with NASA to Agreement with NASA’s Mission Op- develop a fully integrated crew transporta- erations Directorate, which began during tion system, with its CST-100 spacecraft CCP’s second phase of development, Boe- and United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, ing is collaborating with the agency on mis- in partnership with NASA’s Commercial sion planning, training and flight operations Crew Program (CCP).