March 23, 2007 Vol. 46, No. 6 Spaceport News John F. Kennedy Space Center - America’s gateway to the universe http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/snews/spnews_toc.html Petro becomes first woman deputy director at KSC Former Science Applications International Center Operations, including Aerospace, including program division and deputy operations manager for overseeing and Corporation manager begins position April 29 manager. She directed technical executing a classified $13-million teams in the design, installation U.S. Department of Defense ASA recently selected ers, and was responsible for and sustainment support for the program at Cape Canaveral Air Janet Petro as the new overseeing program and project Subsurface Engineering and Force Station. The program Ndeputy director of the managers and providing opera- Logistics Support contract. involved integrating, supporting Kennedy Space Center effective tional guidance on various In SAIC’s St. Petersburg and coordinating payloads onto April 29. Petro succeeds William technical projects. division, she led the Cooperative various space vehicles at U.S. Air (Bill) Parsons, who assumed the “I am extremely pleased that Engagement Capability Pre- Force and NASA facilities. Petro position as the director of the Janet has decided to join the Planned Product Improvement also served as a captain in the U.S. center in January. leadership team at Kennedy,” said Program Team in developing Army’s aviation branch. Prior to joining NASA, Petro Parsons. “She brings with her a supportability products for an She holds a bachelor’s degree served in various management strong technical management upgraded signal data processing in engineering from the U.S. positions for Science Applications background and extensive assembly. Military Academy at West Point, International Corporation, also engineering leadership that is “I am honored I was selected to N.Y., and a Master of Science known as SAIC, where she directly applicable to the challeng- join the talented team of profes- degree in business administration provided extensive program ing future here at Kennedy.” sionals at KSC and feel excited to from Boston University Metropoli- management and technical At SAIC, Petro held positions be a part of the tremendously tan College. leadership since December 2000. of increasing responsibility within important mission we have been She resides in Indian Harbor She directly interacted with the corporation’s Satellite Beach given,” said Petro. Beach with her daughter, Hannah, senior-level government custom- Subsurface Engineering and Data Earlier in her career, Petro held and son, Andrew. various senior management Atlantis processing continues positions with McDonnell Douglas while new launch date considered Employees, families enjoy 2007 All-American Picnic IN THE Vehicle Assembly Building, technicians secure protective material around the base of the nose cone of Space Shuttle Atlantis’ external tank. THE 2007 Kennedy Space Center All-American Picnic was held The nose cone is undergoing repair from recent hail damage. At press March 10 at KARS Park 1, complete with beautiful weather and fun time, the launch date for mission STS-117 was still to be determined. activities. See contest results and photographs on pages 4-5. Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS March 23, 2007 Students in ‘Harmony’ in naming space station module By Linda Herridge The winning entries for Staff Writer “Harmony” came from World Group Home School in Monona, rom theAwards incredible minds of Wis.; a ninth grade class from children came the new name Lubbock High School in Texas; Fof NASA’s Node 2 module, third grade classes from Buchanan which was announced during an Elementary School in Baton unveiling ceremony on March 15 Rouge, La., and West Navarre at Kennedy Space Center’s Space Intermediate School in Navarre, Station Processing Facility. Fla.; and eighth grade classes from Russ Romanella, along with League City Intermediate School mission STS-120 Commander Pam in League City, Texas, and Browne Melroy and Pilot George Zamka, Academy in Alexandria, Va. revealed the module’s new name: Harmony will be delivered to “Harmony.” It is the first U.S. piece the station on mission STS-120, of the station named by people scheduled for later this year. It is outside of the agency. the second of three nodes that will Also attending the event were serve as connectors on the station. Bill Gerstenmaier, associate During the mission, Harmony will administrator for Space Operations, be attached to the front of the U.S. and astronaut Mike Baker, a Lab Destiny. veteran of four space flights. IN THE Space Station Processing Facility, Russ Romanella (right), Both the European Space “It’s an exciting time in the director of International Space Station and Spacecraft Processing, Agency Columbus module and the history of human exploration, with presides over a ceremony to unveil the new name of NASA’s Node 2 Japan Aerospace Exploration module, Harmony. With him are mission STS-120 Commander Pam the recent incredible assembly Agency Kibo research module will Melroy and Pilot George Zamka. activities onboard the station, as use connecting ports on Harmony. well as preparations for future required students to learn about Entries came from 32 states and In an agreement between station missions happening here in the space station, build a scale one U.S. Department of Defense NASA and ESA, the node was built this facility,” said Romanella, who model of Node 2 and write an school in Japan. The 62 entries by Alenia Spazio at its facility in is director of International Space essay explaining their chosen involved more than 3,000 students Torino, Italy. Harmony weighs Station and Spacecraft Processing. name. across all grade levels. The most approximately 30,000 pounds and The node received its new “Involving the youth of our suggested name was submitted by is about 24 feet in length and 15 name through the NASA Exploring nation in our space program is six different schools and was feet in diameter. According to Space Challenges program geared important,” Melroy said. “It will be selected because it symbolizes the Romanella, it is presently the at kindergarten through 12th grade an exciting moment when the STS- spirit of international cooperation heaviest element for delivery to students nationwide. The Node 2 120 crew opens the module in embodied by the station as a the station. Challenge, held in the fall of 2006, space.” whole. U.S. Army’s Golden Knights to appear at World Space Expo he World Space Expo set for November 3-11 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will include a weekend aerial salute by Tthe U.S. Army parachute team’s Golden Knights as part of a 45th anniversary tribute to Project Mercury. The Mercury program successfully launched six of the original “Mercury 7” astronauts into space, including Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. The 920th Rescue Wing based at Patrick Air Force Base will also stage a demonstration as part of the tribute. The wing, formerly the 301st Rescue Squadron, was responsible for recovering the Mercury capsules when they splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean. “We could not think of a better way to open the World Space Expo aerial salute than with a tribute to the brave men who pioneered America’s manned space program,” said Daniel LeBlanc, chief operating officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, host of the World Space Expo. The U.S. Army played a key role in the success of Project Mercury, using its Redstone vehicle as a launch platform. “It is a privilege to perform over the Kennedy Space Center while THE U.S. Army’s Golden Knights parachute team will perform at the paying tribute to the 45th anniversary of Project Mercury,” said Sgt. 1st opening of the Nov. 3-11 World Space Expo. The salute will pay tribute to Class Karen Morrison of Golden Knights Operations. the 45th anniversary of Project Mercury. March 23, 2007 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Hanson receives woman engineer award By Jennifer Wolfinger According to Hanson, the women engineers develop their Staff Writer directorate works closely with the potential. Launch Services Program, Launch Nominees also must have oselle Hanson, the Engi- Vehicle Processing, International worked for and significantly neering Directorate’s Space Station and Spacecraft contributed to the enhancement of Rdeputy director for manage- Processing, and Constellation women’s status on the job or in the ment, was recently selected as the Ground Operations organizations. community; have at least seven Outstanding Woman Engineer of “I have been very fortunate to cumulative years of engineering the Year by the Society of Women have had opportunities to work in experience; and reside or work in Engineers’ Space Coast Chapter. many directorates here at Kennedy Brevard, Volusia or Indian River She was recognized for her Space Center and at NASA counties. sustained excellence, outstanding Headquarters and Johnson Space Hanson graduated from Corbin leadership and personal integrity Center, and to have led several High School in her hometown of that exemplifies and promotes the high-performing teams,” she Corbin, Ky. She received an goals of the society. explained. associate’s degree in civil engi- “I was very surprised and “I love the work we do at neering technology from the honored to be selected. I was NASA and the people — our University of Kentucky. Later, she nominated about 10 years ago in NASA and contractor work force earned a Bachelor of Science another category and, from that — are the best. I believe in degree in electrical engineering experience, I knew the other mentoring individuals and helping and a Master of Science in nominees would be highly them see opportunities to learn and industrial engineering and talented, respected and have grow.” management systems from the outstanding credentials,” said Award nominees must demon- University of Central Florida.