Sept. 2, 2011 Vol. 51, No. 16 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe Twin GRAIL spacecraft to map the moon’s gravity By Anna Heiney “GRAIL is a mission on New Year’s Eve of distance changes.” Spaceport News that will study the in- 2011; GRAIL-B will The GRAIL mis- side of the moon from follow on New Year’s sion also marks the umans have crust to core,” Zuber Day of 2012. first time students have studied the said. Each spacecraft will a dedicated camera Hmoon for The mission is set execute a 38-minute on board a planetary hundreds of years -- to depart from Space lunar orbit insertion spacecraft. The digital first with telescopes, Launch Complex 17B burn to slip into lunar video imaging system, then with robotic at Cape Canaveral orbit, then spend the called MoonKAM, will probes, even sending Air Force Station in next five weeks reduc- offer middle-school 12 American astronauts Florida on Sept. 8 at ing their orbit period. students the chance to to the lunar surface. 8:37 a.m. Prelaunch Finally, the twin orbit- request photography But many mysteries processing -- and the ers will be maneuvered of lunar targets for remain. final countdown -- are into formation, kicking classroom study. The The Gravity Re- managed by NASA’s off the mission’s three- project is headed by covery and Interior Launch Services Pro- month science phase. Dr. Sally Ride, the first Laboratory mission, or gram (LSP) at nearby During the next 82 American woman to GRAIL, features twin Kennedy Space Center. days, the moon will ro- fly in space. CLICK ON PHOTO NASA/Jim Grossmann spacecraft embarking “Our team, espe- tate three times as the The path from the on a challenging mis- The second half of the clamshell-shaped Delta payload fairing swings cially, gets excited into place around NASA's twin Gravity Recovery and Interior Labora- GRAIL spacecraft cal- Earth to the moon has sion to map the moon’s whenever we leave tory (GRAIL) spacecraft under the scrutiny of a spacecraft technician culate the gravity they been well traveled by gravity. Earth orbit, and going at Space Launch Complex 17B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station encounter. Each 27-day pioneers like Surveyor, “Trying to under- to the moon excites us in Florida on Aug. 24. For more information, click on the photo. rotation is called a the Apollo astronauts, stand how the moon and excites the public,” chine, designed to be After the climb to or- “mapping cycle.” Lunar Prospector and formed, and how says LSP’s Tim Dunn, compact and rugged. bit, the GRAIL space- “The lead spacecraft many more. Today, it evolved over its the NASA Launch “Whenever you have craft will be released will accelerate, speed GRAIL is ready to take history, is one of the Manager for GRAIL. two spacecraft, it does from the launch vehicle up, in response to a its place in this long things we’re trying The two spacecraft increase the amount of one at a time. mass and cause the line of lunar explorers. to address with the -- called GRAIL-A and work you have to do,” GRAIL’s journey distance between the “I’m going to be GRAIL mission,” says GRAIL-B -- are riding explains Bruce Reid, to the moon will two to increase,” Zuber passing Complex 17 Maria Zuber, principal into space side-by-side the GRAIL mission take three-and-a-half said. “Then, as the sec- about 3:30 a.m. on my investigator for GRAIL aboard a powerful manager for LSP. months, offering plenty ond spacecraft comes way to console,” Dunn from the Massachusetts Delta II Heavy rocket “Both spacecraft of time for controllers over this greater mass, said about launch day. Institute of Technol- built by United Launch have to go through to enure the spacecraft it will speed up and “And that hour of the ogy. “But also, (we’re) Alliance. environmental testing. are ready to work. get closer to the first morning, looking off trying to understand The GRAIL space- And then, for instance, The 42-day launch spacecraft. So we’re to the east, seeing the how the moon is an craft together weigh on launch day, we have window opens Sept. 8, essentially taking rocket bathed in spot- example of how terres- about 1,600 pounds. two dedicated teams but regardless of the the distance between lights . It’s an emo- trial planets in general Each unit is about the -- one to GRAIL-A and liftoff date, GRAIL-A two points, and tional time for all of us have formed.” size of a washing ma- one to GRAIL-B.” will reach the moon watching how that on the launch team.” Emergency Exercise Honor Awards HERITAGE: Ranger 1 New Commander Inside this issue ... Page 3 Page 4-6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS Sept. 2, 2011 Helicopter exercise tests emergency response By Melanie Carlson that included eyewitnesses, casualty Spaceport News victims and evaluators. Don Doerr and Dr. Philip Scarpa evaluated n Aug. 31, the same day and assisted crash victims, while a the Space Shuttle Program mannequin served as a fatality to Oofficially came to an end, evaluate notification procedures. the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) “Many agencies involved have at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, less people and less depth, so this Fla., was the focus of an emergency is an excellent operation to exercise exercise looking toward future the posture as it stands today,” Ken- operations at the runway. After all, nedy’s Chief of Flight Operations the SLF is still a functioning airport Tom Friers said. He added that -- one that continues to serve exotic training is a critical step in main- aircraft and act as the arrival point taining capabilities required in a for cutting edge NASA satellites viable airfield. and spacecraft. NASA mandates that an airfield Kennedy’s Flight Operations emergency plan exercise be con- and Safety offices conducted the ducted every two years. During off simulated helicopter accident to years, policies and procedures are evaluate emergency response and reviewed by managers via “tabletop mishap investigations of aircraft at training.” Kennedy. Various other Kennedy par- “We are looking to see and ticipants included: Air Rescue Fire evaluate procedures and test com- Fighters (ARFF), Flight Operations, munications among all the exercise Disaster Preparedness, Security, and participants at KSC,” Kennedy’s Safety. Aviation Safety Inspector Sam Rog- Later that afternoon, a review ers said. conference was held to document A Huey II helicopter was used findings and review lessons learned. in this “real time” training exercise, Friers said, “As shuttle has gone complete with real smoke and fake away, it is important to know the NASA/Kim Shiflett casualties. More than 50 personnel SLF airport is transitioning to sup- NASA Fire Rescue personnel assist volunteers portraying injured Huey II helicopter crew members from various Kennedy directorates port other customers in aviation and participating in the aviation safety exercise during Emergency Response Safety Training at the Shuttle participated in the simulated mishap aerospace.” Landing Facility, Runway 33, at Kennedy Space Center on Aug. 31. NASA/Kim Shiflett Participants in the aviation safety exercise during Emergency Response Safety Training included Air simulated aviation safety training take place every two years. The simulated helicopter mishap exercise Rescue Fire Fighters, Flight Operations, Disaster Preparedness, Security, and Safety. NASA mandates was conducted to evaluate emergency response and mishap investigations of aircraft on Aug. 31. Sept. 2, 2011 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 NASA’s Commercial Crew Program takes next steps By Linda Herridge sist commercial partners ing the second phase. sibilities and ensure that a Spaceport News and provide them access to Industry partners se- balance between public and NASA’s technical expertise lected during the two phases crew safety is achieved. ASA’s new Com- and resources for develop- were Blue Origin in Seattle; While NASA’s role in mercial Crew ment issues. The Boeing Co. in Seattle; CCP will include mission NProgram (CCP) is Maria Collura, acting Paragon Space Develop- assurance and crew safety, up and running at Kennedy deputy director for CCP said, ment Corporation in Tucson, Mango said the FAA will Space Center, and under the “NASA brings over 50 years Ariz.; Sierra Nevada Corp. develop the crew safety leadership of Program Man- of human spaceflight experi- in Sparks, Nevada; Space regulations and compliance ager Ed Mango and a team ence and lessons learned that Exploration Technologies standards and collaborate of NASA and commercial we want to ensure are part of in Hawthorne, Calif.; and with the Air Force and CCP tion capabilities and pro- the design, development and partner engineers, will take United Launch Alliance in on common standards and viding technical assurance certification efforts associ- giant steps to pursue the de- Denver. compatibility of require- to support certification of ated with the commercial velopment of a commercial Mango said the CCP ments. commercial space transporta- capability.” capability to low earth orbit also is establishing relation- CCP will host a follow tion systems. “We plan to implement and ultimately transport crew ships with key NASA stake- up Industry Forum webcast back to the International Mango said that NASA an innovative approach to will be intimately involved in ensure that we limit the holders including mission from Kennedy this month Space Station. directorates, other centers, with a goal of collecting “This program will al- the design and development safety risks while also allow- of launch and spacecraft NASA programs and techni- diverse input on commercial low others at NASA to move ing industry to use their ex- systems to ensure safety.