SPACE CENTER January 26, 2001 Roundup VOL. 40, NO. 2 L YNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS Safety checks delay shuttle launch huttle managers decided Jan. 15 to other such cables on the shuttle fleet roll Atlantis back from the launch revealed some similar potential failures, S pad to allow additional inspection and repairs were made to those cables. and testing of solid rocket booster cables. Inspections and tests were then ordered Pending the outcome of the inspections, for all watertight cables used for func- Atlantis is planned for launch no earlier tions other than commanding explosive than Feb. 6. bolts in the shuttle inventory that are “I guard against the flown repeat- phenomena of ‘go fever’ edly on the like it was the plague,” solid rockets. NASA Space Shuttle Of the hundreds Program Manager Ron “It doesn’t matter if of spare cables Dittemore said. “When a tested, four challenge comes up, you they launch this week, conductors have to be sensitive, to this month or this year, showed possi- ‘divorce’ yourself from ble failures, all the events and look we [humankind] are in which engi- carefully at the events and space to stay.” neers are data of the particular chal- continuing to lenge... I assure you that –William Shepherd analyze. The this program is extremely ISS Commander inspection and sensitive to the fact that tests of spare A KSC worker inspects the reusable cable and connectors located inside the external tank we need clear evidence to cables were not attachment ring on Atlantis’ left-hand solid rocket booster in December. overcome an anomaly that we don’t totally completed until after Atlantis had been understand.” moved to the launch pad, and the results the 18 solid rocket booster cables located tentatively set for 5:37 p.m. CST. The cable inspections on the entire led to the Jan. 15 decision for further inside each booster’s system tunnel, a Once the shuttle arrives at the station, shuttle fleet began as a result of an inves- checks. housing that extends along most of the three EVAs are scheduled to install the tigation of a primary explosive bolt that The cables to be checked on Atlantis’ length of the rocket. $1.4-billion U.S. Destiny Lab. The first failed to fire during the launch of STS-97 solid rockets are in a position where they If all goes well, Atlantis should return EVA is the first of the new millennium on Nov. 30, 2000. The problem was cannot be reached at the launch pad. In to the launch pad Friday, Jan. 26, for the and the first of Mission Specialist Bob traced to a flaw in the cable that was sup- the Vehicle Assembly Building, plat- 102nd shuttle flight. Launch of STS-98 Curbeam’s career. On this EVA, Mission posed to transmit the command for the forms are available to allow inspection, (ISS Assembly Flight 5A) is now sched- bolt to fire. As a result, inspections of continuity checks and X-ray analysis on uled for no earlier than Feb. 6, with liftoff Please see SHUTTLE DELAY, Page 6 JSC names 10 new flight directors The Mission Operations Directorate at said. “But it did remind me of the great A flight director manages the flight director also leads and orchestrates plan- Johnson Space Center has named 10 new talent, among both civil servants and controllers who work in the Mission ning and integration activities with flight flight directors. It is the largest class ever contractors, in the Missions Operations Control Center, and has overall responsi- controllers, payload customers, Interna- selected, and brings the number of current Directorate, the Johnson Space Center bility for the successful management tional Space Station partners and others. U.S. flight directors to 28. and NASA.” and execution of space flights. A flight All of the 10 new flight directors “Such a large class was have previously served as flight needed to support around-the- controllers. One works for a clock operation of the Canadian Space Agency contrac- International Space Station,” tor and another, the first flight said Jeffrey W. Bantle, chief of director from the ranks of space the Flight Director Office. station flight controllers, is “The first flight director, Chris employed by a NASA contractor. Kraft, was selected during the The flight director class of Mercury era. Since that time, 1983 with eight members had only 48 men and women have been the largest before selection served as flight directors of the class of 2000. I throughout the history of human space flight.” JSC’s new flight directors class, The selection process began front, left to right: Cathy Koerner, in June. “There were many Joel Montalbano, Tony Ceccacci, Annette Hasbrook; back, Bryan outstanding people to choose Lunney, Steve Stich, John from, which made the selection McCullough, Matt Abbott, process most difficult,” Bantle Norm Knight, Derek Hassmann. JSC readies Clip-n-Save JSC staff for rodeo, science recognized with trail riders. ✁ activities. Snoopy Awards. Page 3 Pages 5 Page 7 SPACE CENTER Roundup January 26, 2001 3 Children’s Art Calendar Awards Party has robot, aliens, safety, health and fun By Mary Peterson special memento of the occasion, and he Marcella Guidry. Even the smallest tots aliens, dinosaurs, and even a Tigger. autographed pictures as well. couldn’t resist dancing the “Macarena” Collins didn’t mind the overflow. “I like afety and health was the theme, but Following a group photo with all with the agile, nuts-and-bolts guy. doing this,” he said. things spacey were very much in the winners wearing their special shirts, the As the party came to a reluctant end, the This year’s winners and sponsors S minds of the young participants at children were then free to ask questions line was still long to have faces painted by were: Sarah Grunsfeld, 4 (Carol the 4th annual Children’s Art Calendar of and dance with the robot furnished by Indyne Inc.’s very talented Sean Collins. Grunsfeld); Jalynn Stewart, 4 (Rusty Awards Party as they darted eagerly the Houston Police Dept. and “assisted” He embellished faces with an assortment Stewart); Kelly Thomas, 4 (Gretchen about the decorated Gilruth Center, not by Officers Richard Rodriguez and of glittery butterflies and birds, assorted Thomas); Jacob Valle, 4 (Gerard Valle); wanting to miss anything. James Lassmann, 6 (Michelle Moore); And a full hour it was. Bolstered by Jessica Maggio, 5 (James Maggio); cookies, candies, and punch served from Sidney Farrow, 7 (Ruth Farrow); Patrick a table bedecked with beads and shiny Zimmerman, 5 (Susan Zimmerman); confetti balloons, children took turns Rachel Graubard, 5 (Robert Graubard); searching for their names artfully iced Jordan Vassberg, 6 (Nathan Vassberg); into a rocket-design cake, with little Melissa Cerimele, 7 (Mary Cerimele); green and blue alien figures gracing the Amber Canales, 7 (Tim Dawn); Christine tops and sides. The cake, the special Pham 6 (Nulan Pham); Victoria handiwork of JSC’s Vicki Cantrell, was a Armstrong, 7 (Charles Armstrong); real crowd pleaser, and anxious young Victoria Denny, 6 (Kevin Denny); hands could hardly leave it intact until Anthony Ciancone, 6 (Michael after the ceremony. Ciancone); Alexandra Vickery, 7 “This is the greatest,” said Perry (Pandora Vickery); Alyssa Ross, 7 Bennett, serving his second year as mas- (Nicholas O’Dosey); Alexandra Valle, 7 ter of ceremonies, and acknowledging the (Gerard Valle); Laura Thomas, 6 event’s organizer, Rindy Carmichael of (Gretchen Thomas); Jessica Mun´iz , 8 Mun´iz Engineering, Inc. He told the (Robert Mun´iz ); Jennifer Reister, 9 audience, “Not only has the calendar (Leah Reister); Drew Dekerlegand, 9 contest become an important activity to (Diane Dekerlegand); Grace Green, 10 us at JSC, the team of Russians with (John Casper); Jeremy Osborn, 9 whom we work has been highly (Laveeda Mullis); Katy Collins, 9 (Sean impressed with the idea. They especially Collins); Hallie Bruce, 8 (Janet Bruce); praised the way we encourage safety and Blake Kimball, 10 (Wanda Steiger); good health practices at such an early Mindy Karydas, 10 (Don Hanselman); age, and they are looking into starting a Courtney Axline, 8 (Michael Axline); similar project in their part of the world.” Kelly Langston, 9 (Barbara Langston); Bennett then called the children Melanie Mount, 10 (Frances Mount); individually to the podium, where each Katya Ilin, 13 (Andrew Ilin); Lauren received a T-shirt embellished with his Whitted, 12 (Barb Whitted); Humsini or her own artwork and a personal NASA JSC 2001e00781 Viswanath, 11 (Meena Viswanath); and calendar. Personal photos were taken Houston Police Department robot entertains attendees during the Children's Art Calendar Karen Baker, 12 (Ellen Baker). ■ with astronaut Col. John Casper as a Awards Party at the Gilruth Center. Get ready to rodeo t’s time for JSC employees to dust off dance from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Feb. 6 at their 10-gallon hats and shine their spurs Space Center Houston. This event will serve Ifor the upcoming rodeo season. as the official welcome to the trail riders. JSC will sponsor a variety of activities Enjoy dining and dancing with Kelly throughout the rodeo season. Working in McGuire & Hurricane. The theme for this concert with the NASA/Clear Creek/ year’s dance is “Spaceship Rodeo.” Tickets Friendswood Go Texan subcommittee, cost $20 and include dinner, two drinks, live JSC hopes to support the commitment to music, plus the exhibits for viewing at youth and education. Space Center Houston, and more. To kick off the rodeo season, the Go Tickets are available at the Exchange Texan Style Show will be held at 11 a.m. Stores. Proceeds go to the scholarship pro- on Jan.