@

Chronology of KSC and KSC Related

Events for 2006

Elaine E. Liston

NASA/TM-2007-214727 February 2007
Chronology of KSC and KSC Related

Events for 2006

Elaine E. Liston,

InDyne, Inc., Kennedy Space Center, Florida

NASA / TM-2007-214727 February 2007
FOREWORD

This 2006 Chronology is published to describe and document KSC's role in

NASA's progress.

Materialsfor this Chronology were selected from a number of published

sources. The document records KSC events of interest to historians and

other researchers. Arrangement is by date of occurrence, though the source

cited may be dated one or more days after the event.

Materials were researched and compiled for publication by Archivist Elaine

E. Liston.

Comment on the Chronology should be directed to the John F. Kennedy

Space Center, Archives, LIBRARY-E, Kennedy Space Center, Florida,

32899. The Archivist may also be reached by e-mail at Elaine.Liston1@ksc.nasa.gov, or (321) 867-1515.
Table of Contents

January ........................................................................................ 1

February .................................................................................... 20

March ........................................................................................ 35

April .......................................................................................... 64

May ........................................................................................... 82

June ......................................................................................... 103

July.......................................................................................... 141

August ..................................................................................... 170

September ............................................................................... 199

October.................................................................................... 236

November................................................................................ 250

December ................................................................................ 257

Appendix A.............................................................................273

Appendix B .............................................................................274
JANUARY 2006

January 4: Accident delays GlobablFlyer's visit to KSC

A mishap that damaged a fuel-filled wing on the Virgin Atlantic GlobaiFlyer prompted

record-setting pilot Steve Fossett to postpone plans to bring the craft to Kennedy Space

Center this week. Fossett planned to fly the aircraft from Salinas, Kansas to KSC on

Friday. But those plans were dashed when one of the GlobalFlyer's wings was damaged

after the plane was fueled for a test flight. Fossett and his team are trying to determine

how long it will take to repair the wing and retest the aircraft for the longest nonstop

airplane of balloon flight in history. With NASA's shuttle landing strip at KSC serving

as his embarkation point, Fassett will attempt to pilot GlobablFlyer around the globe and

across the Atlantic Ocean a second time before touching down at an airport outside

London. The GlobalFlyer was built by Scaled Composites, Inc., a California company

headed by legendary aircraft designer Burr Rutan. The aircraft is a single pilot, ultra-light

aircraft designed for non-stop global circumnavigation. Web posted. (2006). [Accident

delays GlobalFtyer's visit to KSC [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, January 4].] ["Wing mishap pushes back record

try," Florida Today, January 5, 2006, p 1A.]

January 5: NASA Announces Next Space Station Crew

NASA formally announced the next crew bound for the International Space Station (ISS)

Thursday, a two-astronant team set to launch in mid-March aboard a Russian Soyuz

spacecraft. Veteran cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov, with Russia's Federal Space Agency,

will command the ISS Expedition 13 mission with U.S. astronaut Jeffrey Williams

serving as both flight engineer and NASA science officer. Also launching toward the ISS

with the Expedition 13 crew will be Brazilian Air Force Lt. Col. Marcos Pontes, Brazil's

first astronaut slated to fly in space. Pontes is expected to spend about one week

performing experiments aboard the ISS before returning to Earth with the station's

current crew. Both men will be onboard the ISS in May, when the current launch window

opensfor NASA's STS-121 shuttle flight aboard Discovery, NASA officials have said.

Web posted. (2006). [NASA Announces Next Space Station Crew [Online]. Available

WWW: _http://www.space.com/[2006,January 5].]

NASA Honors Michoud's Bravery During Hurricane

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin awarded the agency'sExceptional Bravery Medal

on Thursday to workers who protected a key space shuttle facility from the onslaught of

Hurricane Katrina. "Their courage reminds usthat not all of NASA's heroes fly in space,"

Griffin said during a presentation to 38 employees at the Michoud Assembly Facility near

New Orleans, where the giant shuttle external fuel tanks are built. ["NASA Honors

Michoud Workers For Bravery During Hurricane," NASA News Release #06-003,

January 5, 2006.]

January 6: Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-PurposeLogistics Module ;

Vehicle:Discovery (OV-103); Location:Orbiter Processing FacilityBay 3; LaunchDate:
NET May 2006; Launch Pad: 39B; Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak,

Wilson and Reiter; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. On

Tuesday, the vehicle was powered up so technicians could open the payload bay doors

and deploy the Ku-band antenna, putting the vehicle back into a processing configuration.

Crew module leak checks were successfully performed. Fuel cell No. 2 was removed and

replaced on Thursday. The fuel cells are located under the forward portion of the payload

bay. They make power for the orbiter by mixing hydrogen and oxygen to produce

electricity. The fuel cells also create potable water for the crew. Technicians continue to

remove and replace gap fillers at a rate of about 100per day. New installation procedures

ensure the gap fillers stay in place and pose no hazard during re-entry to the atmosphere.

Mission: STS-1!5 - 19th ISS Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV104);Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 Launch Date: TBD; Launch Pad: 39B;

Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper; Inclination/

Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. Atlantis' payload bay doors were opened

and the Ku-band antenna was deployed this week. On Tuesday, the shipping lid for the

remote manipulator system was removed and preparations continue for installation.

Endeavour (OV-105) - Technicians began processing Endeavour in Orbiter Processing

Facility Bay 2. The vehicle was powered up Wednesday to support the opening of the

payload bay doors. Body flap installation is complete. Work continues on the thermal

protection system blanket for the reinforced carbon-carbon nose cap. Endeavour isin a

scheduled two-week, power down period to make modifications on the "station to shuttle

power transfer system." The new system will allow the vehicle to stay docked to the

International Space Station longer than on previous missions. Owner-press-release.

(2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-001 [Online]. Available E-mail:

owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, January 6].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission:New Horizons; LaunchVehicle: LockheedMartin Atlas V 551 (AV-010);

LaunchPad:Complex 41, CapeCanaveral Air Force Station,Fla.;LaunchDate:NET

Jan. 17,2006; LaunchWindow:Jan. 17 to Feb. 14, 2006. The borescope inspectionof

theAtlas V RP-1 propellanttank wassuccessfully completed this week, andno defects

were observed.The results of the inspectionserve to increase confidence in launch

success, but further testing andmodeling of the vehicle continuesin order to provide

confidencein proceeding to launch.Launchvehicle ordnance installationwas completed

today.Thirdstage closeouts are scheduledfor Monday.The safe andarm devices will be

installedon the solid rocket boosters Tuesday.New Horizons spacecraft closeouts and

finaldocumentationare planned for Jan. 11 to 13. The finalpower-on integrated test is

set forJan. 12.The fairing doorswill be installedfor flightJan. 14. Mission: Space

Technology 5 (ST5); LaunchVehicle: Orbital Sciences PegasusXL; LaunchDate:Feb.

28, 2006; LaunchWindow: 8:57:21 a.m. - 10:19:21a.m. EST (5:57:21 a.m. - 7:19:21

a.m. PST). The wings and aftskirt of the Pegasuslaunchvehicle are installed. Launch

vehicle flightsoftware is installed.Flight SimulationNo. I is under way today. Flight

SimulationNo. 2 is scheduledfor Jan. 25 to 26. Spacecraftsoftware loading with

associatedtesting took place Wednesday. A spacecraftfunctionaltest was successfully

conductedThursday.A 12-hourST5 spacecraftoperationstest is under way today.

Mission:Cloud-Aerosol Lidarand InfraredPathfinderSatellite Observationand

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CloudSat (CALIPSO/CloudSat); Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta 7420 with Dual Payload

Attach Fitting; Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air Force Base,

Calif.; Launch Date: No Earlier Than February 2006 Launch Window: TBD. CALIPSO

and CloudSat are installed in the Dual Payload Attach Fitting at the Astrotech payload

processing facilities on north Vandenberg. They will remain there until a launch date is

determined and then be prepared for transportation to NASA's Space Launch Complex 2.

Further Delta II preparations at the launch pad are on hold until the CALIPSO/CloudSat

payloads arrive for installation atop the second stage. KSC News Center (2006).

Expendable Launch Vehicles Status Report #E06-001 [Online]. Available E-mail:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006,January 6].]

January 8: Upcoming NASA launch draws anti-nuke protesters

About 30 demonstratorsgatheredoutside the south gate of CapeCanaveralAir Force

Stationon Saturdayto protestthe upcominglaunch of a plutonium-poweredNASA

probe. The peaceful gathering lasted two hours and took place under the watchful eyes of

a security patrol. The protesters gave speeches, sang songs and picketed the entrance with

signssuch as "No Nukes In Space" and "I Want To Grow, Not Glow." NASA is

tentatively scheduled to launch its New Horizons spacecraft aboard an Atlas 5 rocket on

Jan. 17.The mission would be the first to explore Pluto, still officially considered the

most distant planet in the solar system, and its moon, Charon. Depending on the launch

date, New Horizons would arrive no earlier than July 2015. The probe's systems are

powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, or RTG, that produces electricity

from decaying plutonium. In the event of a launch failure, there is a chance some of the

radioactive material could be released into the air. A NASA study estimates that chance

at 1 in 350. The study contends that even if plutonium is released, the odds of it causing

any deaths are remote. Saturday's event was very different from 1997, when 800 people

showed up to protest the launch of NASA's Cassini spacecraft on a mission to Saturn

with three times as much plutonium. Twenty-seven demonstrators were arrested,

including some who scaled the base's security fence. Web posted. (2006). [Upcoming

NASA launch draws anti-nuke protesters [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/[2006, January 8].]

KSC on mission to boosttourism

Youcould say 2005 was business as usualat the VisitorComplex, which drewabout 1.5

millionvisitors, about the same numberas 2004, according to Dan LeBlanc, Delaware

North's chief operating officer at the Visitor Complex. In recent years, attendance has

been down at the Visitor Complex, and yet Delaware North keeps building more

attractions and raising ticket prices each year -- in a sort of "keeping up with the Joneses"

scenario with Central Florida's major theme parks. Today, the high-rise steel frame of

what will be the Shuttle Launch Experience, a $60 million space shuttle simulation ride,

rises above the Visitor Complex. The ride, scheduled to open in 2007, is a big part of the

company's $160 million redevelopment plan announced in July -- an effort to compete

more effectively with Orlando's theme park behemoths. With the 10-year redevelopment

plan, Delaware North promises the facility will be a "state-of-the-art space interpretive

center like no other NASA visitor center, science museum or attraction in the world."

The plan also continues to put more emphasis on the Visitor Complex itself, rather than

tours of the more locked down and less active launch complex. Not long after taking

3
over, Delaware North officials were talking about transforming the facility and began

spending to do it. From 1995 to 2005, the company invested about $160 million on

exhibits and infrastructure. Since the Visitor Complex has become a more elaborate and

expensive tourist attraction, fewer people have come to see it. In 1990, five years before

Delaware North arrived, an estimated 3.1 million people came to see the Visitor Complex

and take the accompanying bus tours of the Space Center. Attendance had slumped to an

estimated 2.05 million in 1994. The next year, NASA replaced TW Recreational

Services, the Visitor Complex's longtime manager, with Delaware North, and attendance

picked up each year, rising to an estimated 2.75 million in 1998, according to figures

provided by Delaware North at the time. Tourism at the space center has yet to fully

recover from the recession and terrorist attacks in 2001 and the Columbia disaster in

February 2003, which has led to only one shuttle launch in three years. Web posted.

(2006). [KSC on mission to boost tourism [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, January 8].]

Grissom's capsule to return to Brevard

The Liberty Bell 7 capsule from the early days of America's space program will come

home to Brevard County for a Memorial Day-to-Labor Day exhibit at the Kennedy Space

Center Visitor Complex. Late astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom piloted the capsule, which

was used for NASA's second manned space flight, in 1961. After the capsule's

splashdown, its hatch ejected prematurely, letting water into the vehicle. Grissom nearly

drowned, but he was rescued by helicopter, and the capsule sank in deep water. Grissom,

one of the first American astronauts, died six years later when he was killed with two

other astronauts in a fire in the capsule of Apollo 1 on a launch pad at KSC. The Liberty

Bell remained on the Atlantic Ocean floor for 38 years, until salvagers recovered it in

1999. The capsule is on loan from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. It

will be on display at the Visitor Complex from May 29 through Sept. 4, with no extra

charge to see the capsule. Web posted. (2006). [Grissom's capsule to return to Brevard

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, January 8].]

January 9: Florida Teeh, FSRI receive $1.3 million federal grant

NASA'sFY-2006 budgetincludes a $1.3 million grant,at FloridaCongressman Dave

Weldon'srequest, for a life sciences researchcollaborationbetween the Florida Institute

of Technology and the FloridaSpace Research Institute(FSRI). The two organizations

willsupportongoing programswithin the state'sSpace Life Sciences (SLS) Lab at

NASA's KennedySpaceCenter,includingresearch aimedatmitigatingthe negative

healtheffects of long-durationspace flight. The NASA grantwill supportjoint faculty

appointmentsbetween FloridaTech and FSRIwithin the SLS Lab,support existing

biomedical and other life supporttechnologyprojectswithin the facility, and enable

researchby other Florida universities andcompanies underFSRI'sFlorida!NASA

MatchingGrantProgram. FloridaTech, FSRI, andthe Economic Development

Commissionof Florida'sSpaceCoastwill continueto work closely together to leverage

theresearch activity to continuetheir successes in the expansionof aerospace and biotech

programsin the state.FloridaTech was foundedin 1958 in Melbourne,Florida, to

providecontinuingeducationto professionalsworking in the spaceprogram at whatis

nowKennedy Space Center.The independentuniversityis consistently listed as one of

4
America's best colleges in U.S. News & World Report. FSRI, which co-manages the

Space Life Sciences Lab with NASA at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, was established

by Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature to promote collaboration among the

state's academic institutions, industry, and federal space agencies to support space-related

education, training, research and technology development. Web posted. (2006). [Florida

Tech, FSRI receive $1.3 million federal grant for space research [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.eurekalert.orp_/pubreleases/[2006, January 9].]

Boeing launch strike continues

A strikeby 1,500Boeing employees involved with the Delta launch vehicle program

continues,with recenttalks unable to bringboth sides closerto an agreement.Officials

from Boeing andInternationalAssociation of Machinistsand Aerospace Workersmet

Mondayin aneffort to try an end a strike thatstartedtwo months ago, hutmadeno

progress. The union hasturneddown a proposal from the companyforwage increases,

sayingthe pay hike would not keep pacewith inflationand would also cause health care

coststo rise. The strikehas delayedthree launches of Delta 2 andDelta 4 vehicles from

CapeCanaveraland VandenbergAir Force Base, and has also halted most Delta

manufacturingwork at the company'splantin Decatur,Alabama. Company officials said

they are now looking into "contingencyplans" to move aheadwith those launches. Web

posted. (2006). [Boeing launch strike continues[Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spacetoday.net/[2006, January11].]

Nuclear rocket gets White House approval

The WhiteHouse has given NASA the go-aheadon plans to launch a plutonium-powered

spacecrafton the world's first mission to Pluto,an official said Monday.The green light

came whenJohn Marburger,who is director of the WhiteHouse Office of Science and

TechnologyPolicy, signed final launchapprovalpapersearlier this month. NASA aims

to launchits New Horizons spacecraftJan. 17 from CapeCanaveralAir Force Stationon

a nine-yearjourney to Pluto. White House launchapprovalwas requiredfor the mission

because the power source the spacecraftwill use to generate electricity. The spacecraft

will carry a Radioisotope ThermoelectricGenerator,or RTG. The device will convert

heatfrom the natural decay of 24 poundsof radioactiveplutonium-238into electricity to

power spacecraftsystems on a four-billion-milejourney. Similar or identicalnuclear

generatorshave been used on 25 previous missions,includingApollo moon landings and

robotic flightsto Mars,Jupiter, Saturn,Uranusand Neptune. The New Horizons mission

to Pluto will complete the nation's initialreconnoiteringof all nine known planetsin the

solarsystem.. Web posted.(2006). [Nuclear rocket gets White House approval [Online].

AvailableWWW: http://www.floridatoday.corn[i2006, January 10].]

January 10: GlobalFlyer will arrive Thursday

Withwing damage to his aircraft repaired,famedaviatorSteveFossett will pilotthe

Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyerto KennedySpaceCenter on Thursdayin advanceof a flight

that could make aviationhistory. Fossett and the GlobalFlyer are scheduled to arriveat

KSC's three-mile shuttle runway about4 p.m., clearingthe way for finalpreparationsfor

what is beingbilled as "TheUltimate Flight" -- anattemptatthe longest flight in aviation

history.Thejourney from Salina,Kan., hadbeen scheduledto take placed lastFridaybut

5
was postponed after one of the airplane's wing tips struck a fuel tank truck before a test

flight. Financially backed by Virgin Atlantic founder SirRichard Branson, Fossett aims

to take off from KSC and fly around the world before crossing the Atlantic Ocean a

second time and landing at Kent International Airport outside London. The window for

the flight extends from mid-January to the end of February. An exact take-off date will

depend on global weather and jet stream conditions. Fossett said the rapid repair work

would give him a good shot at getting the flight under way during that time frame.

["GlobalFlyer will arrive Thursday," Florida Today, January 10, 2006, p 1A & 3A.] [

Kennedy: Flight still possible by May, July

NASA still thinks the agency might be able to overcome concerns with external tank

foam insulation and launch its second post-Columbia shuttle test flight in May, the

director of Kennedy Space Center said Tuesday. "We have every hope that we can make

the launch opportunity in May," KSC chief Jim Kennedy said at a luncheon presented by

the National Space Club Florida Committee. "If not the May window, then the July

window, but it's clear we are getting closer." Kennedy said NASA still plans to deliver

an external tank for the test flight to the International Space Station in early February.

Doing so would put the agency in position to attempt to launch Discovery during a

window that extends from May 3 to May 23. NASA still has not set an official target

date for the launch. A selection won't be made until the agency completes the testing and

analyses needed to prove it is safe to fly without custom-crafted foam insulation that

protects pressurization lines and electrical cables that run along the exterior of the tank.

A heater designed to keep ice from building up on metal struts that connect the tank with

the nose of the shuttle orbiter replaced the foam in that area. Daylight launch rules that

are in place for NASA's first two post-Columbia test flights restrict the agency to sending

shuttles aloft during certain windows of opportunity. After May, the next opportunities

will come during windows that extend from July 1 through July 20 and Aug. 28 through

Sept. 14. ["Kennedy: Flight still possible by May, July," Florida Today, January 11,

2006, p lB.]

January 11: NASA Refines Design For Crew Exploration Vehicle

NASA's ConstellationProgramis makingprogresstoward selecting a prime contractor to

design, develop and build the Crew ExplorationVehicle (CEV), America'sfirst new

humanspacecraftin 30 years. The agency has issued Phase II of a Request for Proposals.

It is a "Call for Improvements"that incorporatesthe results of additionalanalysis and

study.Phase II adds detaileddesign, developmentand productionrequirements.Phase II

proposalswill be evaluatedand used to select a single CEV contractorlaterthis year.

The CEV is a key element of the ConstellationProgram,which will help NASA realize

the Vision for Space Exploration.The CEV will transportup to six crew members to and

fromthe InternationalSpace Stationand up to fourto and from the moon.It will also

supportfuture Mars missions. For the firsttime,the Phase II Requestfor Proposals

specifies a configurationfor the spacecraft: an improved,blunt-body crew capsule shape.

Requirementsare based on futureexplorationmissionneeds and the desire to fly the first

CEV mission as close as possible to 2010, when the space shuttlewill be retired.Phase I

resultedin contractawardsin July 2005 for CEV systems requirementsdefinitionto

teams led by Lockheed MartinCorp. andNorthrop Grumman SystemsCorp. Phase lI

6
proposals are due March 20, 2006, ["NASA Refines Design For Crew Exploration

Vehicle," NASA News Release #06-026, January 11, 2006.]

January 12: Nelson recalls shuttle he rode 20 years ago

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson saidhe couldn'tbelieve it has been 20 yearssince he flew on the

shuttle."When Ilooked atsome of those old pictures,then I believe it," Nelson saidafter

meetingwith topofficials atKennedy Space Centerto discuss plansto preparethe

spaceportfor the transition from launchingthe finalshuttlemissions and new rockets and

spaceshipsboundfor the moon. Nelson got the opportunityto fly on shuttleColumbia

while representingBrevard Countyin the U.S. House of Representativesand always has

treasuredthe memories of the training,the anticipation, the launchandthe flight itself.

Nelson didn'tspend the day reminiscing,though. He saidhis business at KSC was

checking on the statusof the center'seffortto landas much of the assembly and

refurbishment of NASA's next spacecraft as possible. The proposed Crew Exploration

Vehicle, an Apollo-like capsule riding on a new rocket that will be based on a single

shuttle solid rocket booster, could be built safer and for less money in existing facilities at

KSC. ["Nelson recalls shuttle he rode 20 years ago," Florida Today, January 12, 2006,

p lB.]

Global Flyer on its way to KSC

Steve Fossett and the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer are winging theirway toward Kennedy

Space Center today after taking off from Salina Municipal Airport in Kansas. The

experimental aircraft took to the skies at 11 a.m. EST, heading first toward Kansas City.

Fossett then will make a beeline toward Jacksonville before turning south and following

the east coast of Florida to Ormond Beach. At that point, the flight plan calls for Fossett

to angle inland to a point 20 miles west of KSC before making a final approach to

Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility. Web posted. (2006). [Global Flyer on its way

[Online]. Available WWW: http:/!www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, January 10].]

NASA drops requirement for methane engine from CEV

Congressional pressure to avoid a gap in U.S. human space access is behind a NASA

push to accelerate the first piloted flight of the planned Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV).

While President Bush originally wanted an operation CEV by 2014, the final RFP for the

shuttle replacement called for a first flight with crew "as close to 2010 as possible, but no

later than 2012, without compromising safety." The new document also drops

requirements for a LOX/methane engine on the CEV service module as a placeholder for

future extraction of the fuel from the atmosphere of Mars, and for delivery ofunpressurized cargo to the International Space Station, although nothing would prevent the

winning team from proposing them, according to a program spokesman at Johnson Space

Center. Officially a "call for improvements" to the original CEV bids, the long- awaited

document specifies for the first time that the vehicle will be "an improved, blunt-body

crew capsule shape" as called for in the exploration architecture released last fall

(Aviation Week & Space Technology, Sept. 26, 2005). Final CEV dimensions remain in

flux, the program spokesman says. Teams led by Northrop Grumman and Lockheed

Martin are finalists for the job of building the CEV, which will run through 2019. The

contract will fall into three parts - a cost-plus award fee element through "approximately

2013" that will cover design, development, test and evaluation (DDT&E) though first
flight of the initial two CEV blocks; an indefinite quantity indefinite delivery contract for

full-scale CEV production, and a sustaining engineering element that will include "any

additional DDT&E necessary to complete development of the Block 2 Lunar variant." Email distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re:

"NASA drops requirement for methane engine from CEV," [Electronic]. Vol. 217, No. 7,

[January 12, 2006.].]

Stardust On Final Approach For Landing

NASA's Stardust mission return capsule will land Sunday at approximately 5:12 a.m.

EST (3:12 MST) on the Utah Test and Training Range. Stardust is completing a 2.88

billion mile round-trip odyssey to capture and return cometary and interstellar dust

particles to Earth. The spacecraft performs its last maneuver to put it on the correct path

to enter the atmosphere tomorrow at 11:53 p.m. EST (9:53 p.m. MST). The speed of the

capsule, as it enters the atmosphere at 28,860 mph, will be the fastest ever of any humanmade object, surpassing the record set in May 1969 by the returning Apollo 10 command

module. ["NASA's Comet Hunter On Final Approach For Sunday Landing," NASA

News Release #06-028, January 12, 2006.]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: New Horizons; LaunchVehicle: Lockheed Martin Atlas V 551 (AV-010);

LaunchPad:Complex 41, CapeCanaveralAir Force Station,Fla.;LaunchDate:Jan. 17,

2006; LaunchWindow: 1:24p.m. - 3:23 p.m. EST. FlightReadiness Review completed

todayat NASA's Kennedy SpaceCenter. Spacecraft eloseouts conclude tomorrow;

payloadtest team conductsspacecraftelectricaltests Saturday,and the fairing access

doorswill be closed for flight.Rollout of the Atlas V from the Vertical Integration

Facilityis scheduledMondayat 10:30 a.m. EST.The storablepropellant tank will be

loadedonboardthe Atlas first stage tank Mondayafternoon. On Tuesdayat 10:39 a.m.,

Pad41 will be clearedfor cryogenic fueling operations scheduledto begin at 11:24a.m.

EST.Mission: SpaceTechnology 5 (ST5); LaunchVehicle: OrbitalSciences Pegasus

XL; LaunchDate:Feb. 28, 2006; LaunchWindow:8:57 a.m. - 10:19a.m. EST. Mating

of the Pegasussecond andthirdstageis tentatively scheduledfor tomorrow; mating of

the first and secondstage is plannedfor Monday.Pegasus Flight SimulationNo. 2 is

scheduledfor Jan. 25 - 26. Flight SimulationNo. 1was successfully completed last week.

ST5thermalblanketcloseouts completedtoday. A limited spacecraftfunctionaltest is

scheduledtomorrow, and thepayloadwill be weighed. Mission:Cloud-Aerosol Lidar

and InfraredPathfinderSatellite ObservationandCloudSat(CALIPSO/CloudSat);

LaunchVehicle: Boeing Delta 7420 with Dual Payload AttachFitting; LaunchPad:

SpaceLaunchComplex 2, VandenbergAir Force Base, Calif.; LaunchDate: No Earlier

ThanFebruary2006; LaunchWindow:TBD. CALIPSO andCloudSat are installed in

the DualPayloadAttachFitting at the Astrotechpayloadprocessing facilities on north

Vandenberg. They will remain thereuntil a launch date is determined andthey are

preparedfor transportingto the launchcomplex. Spacecraftbattery charging is being

performed as necessary. FurtherDelta IIpreparationsat the launch padare on hold until

the CALIPSO/CloudSatpayloads arrive for installationatop the second stage. KSC News

Center(2006). Expendable Launch Vehicles Status Report #E06-002 [Online].

AvailableE-mail: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006,January 12].]

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January 13: Fossett pumped for ultimate adventure

Steve Fossett landed the Virgin GlobalFlyer atKennedy Space Centeron Thursday.

FossettlandMarch piloted the first nonstopsolo flight aroundthe world,takingoff from

SalinaMunicipalAirportandthen landingthere 67 hoursand 1 minute later. Sometime

in the next few weeks, Fossett andthe GlobablFlyerwill take off from KSC's shuttle

runwayand attemptto circlethe globe fore crossing the AtlantisOcean a secondtime and

landingat Kent InternationalAirport outsideLongdon. The tripwould cover 26,160

miles in about80 hours. ["Fossettpumpedfor ultimateadventure," Florida Today,

January 13,2006, p 1A & 3A.]

January 14: Crawlers carry spacecraft for 40 years

They started work at Kennedy Space Center four decades ago, and NASA's cadre of

German rocket scientists knew them colloquially as Hans and Franz. Now they are

simply known as Crawler Transporters 1 and 2, but the machines continue hauling

massive spaceships to the beachside launch pads at NASA's storied spaceport, and they

likelywill remain in service for years to come. "They are impressive pieces of

equipment," said Michael Wetmore, a Merritt Island resident who serves as a launch

integration manager for NASA. Manufactured by Marion Power Shovel Co. in Ohio,

Hans and Franz started operating at KSC in early 1966. Dozens of current and former

NASA and contractor managers, engineers and techniciansgathered at KSC on Friday to

celebrate 40 years of Crawler Transporter service. As tall as two story buildings and as

wide as eight-lane highways, the vehicles have roofs that are the size of baseball diamond

infields. Powered by two 2,750 horsepower diesel engines, the giant tracked vehicles

each have tallied 1,800 miles hauling Saturn moon rockets and space shuttles to KSC's

twin launch pads from its landmark Vehicle Assembly Building. Top speed with a full

12-million-pound load: About 0.9 mph. Web posted. (2006). [Crawlers carry spacecraft

for 40 years ... and counting [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.corn/

[2006,January 14].]

January 15: New Horizons Pluto pre-launch

Thoughthey'vebeen stayingin Cocoa Beachfor months,the spacecraft engineersfrom

Maryland are living on Pluto. "It'sgot to workatPluto," they tell one another everytime

they ironouta wrinkle with theNew Horizonsspacecraft.They'veworked 12-hour days,

sometimes seven days a week, with rare trips home. For the plutonium-poweredprobe,

safety is alwaysfirst, but timing is certainly second.Launchis set for 1:24 p.m. Tuesday.

If theAtlas 5 rocket flies by Jan.28, the craftcan getto Pluto in 2015, savingyears of

flight time. The firstspacecraftto studythe ninthplanetis destinedto travel morethan 3

billion miles. Yet the $700 million missionhas alreadytaken a long journey,from its

2001 approvalthroughstruggles for funding,worriesaboutgetting enoughplutonium

fuel, andthe headlongraceto launch. Web posted. (2006). [New HorizonsPlutoprelaunch [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006,January 14].]

January 16: Pluto launch is go for Tuesday

A NASA spacecraft aiming for Plutopassed another round of approvals Sundayandwilt

attempta Tuesday launchfrom the Cape. The spacecraft,whose plutoniumfuelwas

loaded duringthe weekend, is to launchon anAtlas 5 rocket. The one-hour, 59-minute
window opens at 1:24 p.m. Weather looks good for Tuesday, with an 80 percent chance

of acceptable conditions. Winds are a concern as a cold front approaches. If the launch

delays to Wednesday, prospects worsen, with just a 40 percent chance of acceptable

weather. In a briefing Sunday, Launch Director Omar Baez acknowledged there had

been some disagreement about whether to approve a fuel tank on the rocket for launch

after another tank was "brutally tested and failed." This isthe first Atlas 5 to fly with five

solid rocket boosters. The Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University built

the New Horizons spacecraft for NASA. The mission will cost about $700 million.

[:Pluto launch is go for Tuesday," Florida Today, January 16, 2006, p 1A

January 17: NASA puts its journey to Pluto on hold again

High winds Tuesday forced NASA to postpone the launching of the New Horizons

spacecraft on a decade-long mission to distant Pluto. Another attempt was scheduled for

today from Cape CmaaveralAir Force Station in Florida between t2:16 p.m. and 2:15

p.m. CST. Pluto is the only planet in the solar system that has gone without a close-up

look by a U.S. spacecraft. Today's launch was called offas surface winds exceeded a 38-

mph safety limit. Web posted. (2006). [NASA puts itsjourney to Pluto on hold again

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.houstonchronicle.comJ [2006,January 17].]

NASA ready for the worst

NASA will quickly gauge the magnitude of any radiological release and notify the public

what to do next if an Atlas 5 rocket and a plutonium-powered spacecraft explode during

launch today, officials said Monday. Equipped with an electrical generator fueled by 24

pounds of plutonium, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is scheduled to blast off from

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station between 1:24 p.m. and 3:23 p.m. on the world's first

mission to explore Pluto. Government studies show there is a one in 350 chance of a

launch accident that would trigger a release of radioactive plutonium. Under most

circumstances, the material will not pose a threat beyond the Air Force station's property.

Sixteen field teams armed with high-tech monitoring equipment will be spread out in

Brevard County to determine the significance of any release. ["NASA ready for the

worst," Florida Today, January 17, 2006, p 1A & 5A.]

Florida should have private spaceport

A commission will recommend that Florida create its own private spaceport, separate

from the federally controlled property at Cape Canaveral, Florida Today reported

Tuesday. The paper, citing an executive summary of a report to be released Wednesday,

said the spaceport is one of 18 recommendations the Gov.'s Commission on the Future of

Space and Aeronautics plans to make. The commission was established to help the state

compete for space tourism business as NASA starts winding down its shuttle program.

The space industry represents $4.5 billion of the state's economy, according to a recent

Florida Senate report. Other recommendations include combining three space-related

government agencies into one, improving space education programs, protecting current

space jobs and creating new ones, and making sure the state retains a shuttle work force

after NASA's orbiters retire in 2010, the newspaper said. "I can tell you that anyone who

has attended our public meetings or hearings is going to find no surprises in the final

report," commission member Jim Banke told the newspaper. "We're going to talk about

10
education. We're going to talk about how to market the state's space resources. We're

going to talk about economic development." The commission said a spaceport, run like

an airport, could lure business beyond today's traditional rocket-lannch firms. The report

will also recommend the state provide financial incentives and seed money for space

companies and startups, according to the newspaper. Web posted. (2006). [Report:

Commission says Florida should have private spaceport [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.theledger.com/[2006, January 17].]

January 18: Federal mediators may intervene in rocket strike

The union representing striking Delta rocket workers is asking federal mediators to make

certain a Boeing Co. offer to return to the negotiating table is being made in good faith,

officials said Tuesday. Boeing contacted the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

on Tuesday and asked for a meeting with union negotiating committees at Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station as well as sites in California and Alabama. No new

negotiation date has been set. About 1,500 machinists, including 288 here, represented

by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers walked off the job

Nov. 2 after the union andthe company failed to come to terms on a new three-year

contract. On hold as a result are launches of a classified payload for the National

Reconnaissance Office, an atmospheric science mission for NASA and an advanced

weather satellite for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Federal

mediator Charlie Griffin and Boeing spokesman Joseph LaMarca Jr. confirmed the

company asked the FMCS to facilitate a meeting with union negotiators. Web posted.

(2006). [Federal mediators may intervene in rocket strike [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, January 18].]

Griffin confident of shuttle launch

NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said Tuesday he is confident the shuttle fleet will

return to flight in May or July, and then fly regularly enough to finish building the

International Space Station before the orbiters retire in 2010. Griffin said the agency is

close to picking a target date for the launch of shuttle Discovery on the second postColumbia flight. The mission is likely to be scheduled sometime in May, Griffin said,

though a delay to July remains possible if NASA needs more time to fix the lingering

foam debris problem blamed for the 2003 shuttle disaster. Griffin's basis for optimism:

the agency's 25 years of experience flying the aging shuttle orbiters. During that time

period, even including the two lengthy groundings of the fleet following the fatal

Challenger and Columbia accidents, NASA averaged between four and five shuttle

missions a year. That's about the pace necessary to fly the 18 or so missions necessary to

finish building the $100 laboratory as its currently envisioned. "All we have to do is

execute our average performance in order to finish the station,,' said Griffin, who visited

Kennedy Space Center to see the launch of a probe to Pluto. Web posted. (2006).

[Griffin confident of shuttle launch [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com! [2006,January 18].]

January 19: Florida plans spending to support space industry

Florida governor Jeb Bush released plans Wednesday to provide $55 million in the state's

next budget to support the state's space industry. The plan, released in conjunction with

11
the final report of a state commission studying Florida's future in space, includes $35

million in facility improvements at Cape Canaveral, designed to lure the company that

wins the contract to develop the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) to establish

maintenance and refurbishment operations there. The state will also waive sales taxes on

space companies, improve educational programs, and consolidate three existing state

agencies that deal with space into a single entity, Space Florida. That new agency will be

charged with carrying out other recommendations by the commission, including the

possibility of creating a new commercial spaceport in the state. Web posted. (2006).

[Florida plans spending to support space industry [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006, January 19].]

Atlas 5 to give it another try

Tuesday, it was heavy winds at Cape Canaveral. Wednesday, it was severe storms in

Maryland that stopped the launch of the world's first mission to Pluto. NASA plans to try

again today to launch the Atlas 5 rocket carrying its New Horizons probe after

postponing Wednesday's attempt because of a power outage at a spacecraft control center

in Laurel, Md. Today's launch window would extend from 1:08 p.m. to 3:07 p.m. if the

power problems at the control center are resolved. NASA is anxious to get the

plutonium-powered spacecraft off the ground as soon as possible because the longer they

wait, the more years it will take to reach Pluto. If New Horizons launches by Jan. 28, it

will arrive at Pluto in 2015. It still gets the benefit of a Jupiter gravity assist through Feb.

2 and then would have to fly directly to Pluto, with later and later arrival times until the

launch window closes Feb. 14. There's a backup window next year. ["Atlas 5 to give it

another try," Florida Today, January 19, 2006, p lB.]

NASA Launches Spacecraft on the First Mission to Pluto

NASA launched the firstspace mission to Pluto as a powerfulrocket hurled the New

Horizons spacecraft on a nine-year,three-billion-milejourney to the edge of the solar

system. As it soaredtoward a 2007 rendezvouswith Jupiter, whose powerful

gravitationalfield will slingshot it on its wayto Pluto,mission managerssaid radio

communicationsconfirmedthatthe 1,054-poundcraftwas in good health. The $700

million missionbegan when aLockheed Martin Atlas 5 rocket rose from a launching pad

at theCapeCanaveralAir Force Stationin Floridaat 2 p.m., almost anhour laterthan

planned because of low clouds that obscured a clear view of the flight path by tracking

cameras. "We have ignition and liftoffofNASA's New Horizons spacecraft on a decade

long voyage to visit the planet Pluto and then beyond," declared Brace Buckingham,

NASA's launching commentator. Speaking at a news conference at the Kennedy Space

Center in Florida, Dr. Alan Stem said the timing assured that the New Horizons would

arrive for its closest approach to Pluto on July 14, 2015 - the 50th anniversary of the first

flyby of Mars by the Mariner 4, the mission that began the exploration of the planets.

The New Horizons is to reach Jupiter's gravitational field in 13 months. Web posted.

(2006). [NASA Launches Spacecraft on the First Mission to Pluto [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.nvtimes.com/[2006, January 20].]

January 20: Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

12
Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics Module;

Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103); Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3; Launch Date:

No earlier than May 2006; Launch Pad: 39B; Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum,

Nowak, Wilson and Reiter; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles.

The shuttle arm (remote manipulator system) was installed Monday. Arm verification

testing starts next week. All three main engines were installed last week and leak checks

continue. Preparations are underway for installation of the dome-mounted heat shields

that surround the three engines. That heat shield is made of two semicircular sections of

thermal protection system tiles. Solid rocket booster stacking for Discovery's launch

starts Monday in'the Vehicle Assembly Building. Monday, the right aft booster,

comprised of the aft shirt and the aft motor segment, will be transported from the

Rotation Processing and Surge Facility to the assembly building for lifting onto the

mobile launcher platform. Technicians will perform the same procedure for the left aft

booster on Tuesday. Mission: STS-115 - 19th ISS Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays;

Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104); Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1; Launch Date:

TBD; Launch Pad: 39B; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and

Stefanyshyn-Piper; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. Atlantis

was powered down, so a cold plate could be removed and replaced. The cold plate

change-out is complete and leak checks are underway. Cold plates keep electronics boxes

cool. Work is scheduled to begin on the shuttle's gap fillers in early February.

Technicians will remove and replace approximately 3,000 gap fillers in the main priority

area at a rate of about 100 per day. This work is being performed due to two gap fillers

that were protruding from the underside of Discovery during the last mission, STS-114.

New installation procedures were developed to ensure the gap fillers stay in place and do

not pose any hazard during the shuttle's re-entry to the atmosphere. Endeavour (OV105);In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2, processing continues on Endeavour following

an extensive modification period. The Ku-band antenna was installed on Wednesday. All

mid-body structural inspections are complete. Work continues on the manipulator

positioning mechanism for the shuttle'srobotic arm before installation in the vehicle. The

mechanisms are pedestals that keep the arm secured in the payload bay when it's not in

use. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-002

[Online]. Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006,

January 20].]

NASA postpones troubled mission to visit asteroids

A NASA spacecraftbuilt to explore two of the solar system's largest asteroidswon't

launchthis year because the space agency is dealingwith cost overruns and technical

issues in theproject. The plannedsummerlaunchof the Dawn spacecrafthasbeen

indefinitelypostponed,said Andrew Dantzlcr,directorof NASA's solar-system division.

Mission managershadbeen orderedto haltwork on Dawn last fall while the projectwas

assessed by an independentreview team,which is expectedto present itsfindingsto

NASA on Friday. Dawn is part_of a NASA programcalled Discovery that seeksto

explore the solarsystem on what,for NASA, is considered a shoestringbudget. The

programincludesthe Stardustmission, which lastweek returnedto Earthwith samples of

cometdust. ["NASA postponestroubledmission to visit asteroids," Orlando Sentinel,

January22, 2006, p A3.]

13
January 23: NASA Shuffles Center Leadership

NASA announced Monday that the head of the Stennis Space Center had been reassigned

to a post at the Kennedy Space Center, to be replaced by an official from the Langley

Research Center. Bill Parsons, who had taken over Stennis just last September, will

become deputy director of the Kennedy Space Center. Parsons had held several other

senior positions within NASA, including space shuttle program manager. Parsons will be

replaced at Stennis by Richard Gilbrech, the deputy director of Langley. NASA also

confirmed the departure of Scott Hubbard as director of the Ames Research Center.

Hubbard, who announced his plans to leave the agency to center employees last week,

will take a position at the nearby SETI Institute, an astrobiology research center. Web

posted. (2006). [NASA shuffles center leadership [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spaeetoda¥.net/[2006, January 24].]

NASA recycles Triana component for lunar orbiter

NASA will pay Honeywell to refurbish a MiniatureInertialMeasurementUnit (MIMU)

originallybuilt for the Triana Earth-observationmission pushed by former Vice President

A1Gore, andplans to installthe uniton its proposedLunarReconnaissanceOrbiter

(LRO). Intendedfor launch in October 2008, the LRO requiresthree of the MIMUs for

redundancy,and NASA wants a sole-source dealwith Triana-supplierHoneywell for the

whole set - two new and one refurbished.The unitswould provide attitude rate

measurementsfor orbiter fine guidance over the lunarsurface. Trianawas intended to

providecontinuouscoverage of the sunlit side of the Earth from a post at the L1

Lagrangianpoint. E-mail distribution.(2006). [AviationWeek's Aerospace Daily &

Defense ReportRe: "NASA recycles Triana componentfor lunarorbiter," [Electronic].

Vol. 217, No. 13, [January23, 2006.].]

GAO: NASA needs better project planning

NASA may employ rocket scientists andmany other very smart people, but the space

agencystill needsto improvehow it executesbig projects thatcost taxpayers billions of

dollars. A reportMondayby the GovernmentAccountabilityOffice, which haslong

been critical of NASA's managementskills, suggestedthe space agency'sestimated $100

billionprogramto sendastronautsbackto themoon is headed for trouble unlessit adopts

more stringentprocedures. Among the report'sfindings: - NASA policies allowprojects

to proceedwithout proving technologies are fullydeveloped.This increases the risk of

costly design changes later. - NASA centers have different levels of assessing a project.

That,combinedwiththe loss of experiencedprojectmanagers,makesit difficult to

objectively evaluatethe statusof a particularproject. The report concluded: "NASA's

failureto define requirementsadequatelyand quantifythe resources needed to meet those

requirementsresultedin some projects costing more, taking longerandachieving less

thanoriginallyplanned."The findings are not new. Over the past decade, the National

AeronauticsandSpace Administrationhas experienceddelays, overruns and outright

cancellationsof projects. The GAO attributedthose troubles, in part,to the now

abandoned"faster,better, cheaper" philosophyarticulatedby former NASA

AdministratorDan Goldin. Ina written response to a draftof the GAO report, aNASA

official defendedthe agency'spolicies. ShanaDale, anassistantadministrator,indicated

the spaceagency would take stepsto strengthenits project managementto reflect some of

14
the GAO's recommendations. The GAO is Congress' investigative arm and serves in an

advisory role. Web posted. (2006). [GAO:NASA needs better project planning [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.fioridatodav.eom/[2006, January 23].]

January 24: Stacking begins for Discovery's solid rocket boosters

NASA on Jan. 23 began stackingthe solid rocketboostersfor space shuttleDiscovery's

second return-to-flightmission, STS-121, set to launchto the InternationalSpace Station

no earlierthanMay. Stackingtakes place in theVehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at

Kennedy Space Centerin Florida.The right aft booster was transportedfromthe Rotation

Processingand SurgeFacility to the VAB on Jan. 23, with the left aft booster slatedto

make the sametripthe following day. Also startingthis week is verification for

Discovery'srobotic arm,which was installedJan.16.Leakchecks also continueon

Discovery'sthree main engines. Meanwhile, shuttleAtlantis is being preppedfor the

nextmission in the sequence, STS-115, which will resumeassembly of the space station.

Startingnext month,technicians will beginreplacingroughly 3,000 thermaltile gap

fillers on Atlantis ata rate of 100 per day. E-mai! distribution.(2006). [AviationWeek's

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re: "Stacking begins for Discovery's solid rocket

boosters," [Electronic]. Vol. 217, No. 14, [January 24, 2006.].]

Weather, winds ground Fossett

Higher-than-desirable temperatures at sunrise and headwinds around the globe will keep

adventurer Steve Fossett and the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer on the ground the rest of the

month, officials said Monday. The earliest Fossett will take off from Kennedy Space

Center on "TheUltimate Flight" now is Feb. 1, Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman Suzanne

Weldon said. Fossett, 61, aims to set a new record for the longest nonstop flight in

aviation history. The plan isto take off fromthe shuttle runway and circle the globe

before crossing the Atlantic Ocean a second time and landing at mnairport outside

London. The 26,160-mile trip would be the longest flight by an aircraft or balloon. An

exact takeoff date for the 80-hour flight will depend largely on global weather and jet

stream conditions. Weldon said forecasters are predicting relatively high temperatures at

dawn at the Shuttle Landing Facility between now and the end of January. Web posted.

(2006). [Weather, winds ground Fossett [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, January 24].]

January 25: GAO Recommends NASA Standardized Acquisition Process

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is recommending that NASA adopt a

standardized "knowledge-based" acquisition approach at all of its centers as it tackles the

challenges of returning astronauts to the moon and beyond. According to GAO's

definition, knowledge-based acquisition allows developers to be reasonably certain, at

critical junctures, that their products will perform up to expectations. "A standardized,

knowledge-based approach would prepare NASA to face competing budgetary priorities

and better position the agency to make difficult decisions regarding the investment in and

termination of projects," GAO's report says. Web posted, (2006). [GAO Recommends

NASA Adopt Standardized Acquisition Process [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.aviationnow.com/[2006, January 25.]

15
January 26: Administrator's Statement On NASA's Day of Remembrance

The following is a statement by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin on NASA's Day of

Remembrance. The Day or Remembrance honors those who gave their lives for the cause

of exploration and discovery. This includes NASA employees, the astronauts who died in

Apollo 1 and on the Space Shuttles Challenger and Columbia. "Today we pause to

remember the loss of all of our employees, including our Apollo 1,Challenger and

Columbia astronauts, and to honor their legacy. Nearly 50 years into the space age,

spaceflight remains the pinnacle of human challenge, an endeavor just barely possible

with today's technology. We at NASA are privileged to be in the business of learning

how to do it, to extend the frontier of the possible, and, ultimately, to make space travel

routine. It is an enormously difficult enterprise. The losses we commemorate today are a

strong and poignant reminder of the sternness of the challenge." ["Administrator' s

StatementOn NASA's Day of Remembrance," NASA News Release #06-032, January

26, 2006.]

NASA remembers fallen astronauts

NASA employees throughoutthe country paused Thursday to rededicate themselves to

spaceexplorationandremember their 17 astronautcolleagues who died pursuing it.

"Theyand theirfamilies sacrificed muchin the pursuit of their dreamsand our dreams.

We havenot, will not, ever forget what theirsacrifice hasmeant to each of us," Johnson

SpaceCenter Director Mike Coatstold hundredsof NASA workers. NASA

AdministratorMichaelGriffin saidhe would lay a wreathat Arlington National

Cemetery in memoryof the astronautslost in the Apollo 1, Challengerand Columbia

tragedies. Saturdaymarks20 yearssinceChallengerblew apartasit lifted into space.

Three astronautsdied inside the Apollo 1 spacecraftin a fire during a countdowntest at

the launchpadon January27, 1967;seven diedaboardChallenger whenit exploded on

January 28, 1986, andseven more died as Columbiabroketo pieces upon re-entering the

Earth'satmosphereFebruary 1, 2003. "Spaceflightremainsthe pinnacle of human

challenge,an endeavorjust barelypossible withtoday's technology," Griffin said in a

statementThursday. Webposted. (2006). [NASA remembersfallen astronauts[Online].

AvailableWWW: http://www.cnn.com/[2006, January 26.]

European rocket to lift NASA telescope

U.S. and Europeanofficials are close to a dealto launch a $4.5 billion U.S. space

telescope on aEuropean rocket from a facilityin FrenchGuiana.The unusual

arrangementinvolves no cashbutwill save NASA tens of millions of dollarsin launch

costs at a time when the agency's budgetis shifting to support an estimated$100 billion

programto sendastronautsback to the moon.Inexchange for the launch, NASA will

give the EuropeanSpace Agency anundisclosedamountof research time on the orbiting

observatory,thepowerful successor to theHubbleSpace Telescope. The deal's neardone statuswas confirmedWednesdayby Aaron Lewis, a U.S. spokesman for

Arianespace,a Europeanlaunchcompany. ["Europeanrocket to lift NASA telescope,"

Florida Today, January26, 2006, p 1A& 5A.]

January 27: Cape Canaveral lighthouse undergoes renovation

16
The historic Cape Canaveral Lighthouse is getting an extreme makeover -- to the tune of

$750,000. Thursday, about 50 people hushed as a huge crane slowly hoisted the 18,000-

pound roof and lamp room off the lighthouse tower for refurbishing. The renovations --

needed after hurricanes Frances and Jeanne accelerated the deterioration from age, salt air

and leaks -- are to he completed by mid-July as part of the preparations to allow more

public access to the lighthouse. "I've gotten calls from people from as far as San

Francisco wanting to come and see this lighthouse," said Don George, natural/cultural

resources manager for Patrick Air Force Base. It has served as a beacon to mariners for

nearly 140 years. Because it is on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, which is restricted

property, public access to the lighthouse is limited to once or twice a year. It is the only

lighthouse owned by the Air Force. Web posted. (2006). [Canaveral lighthouse

undergoes renovation [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006,

January 27.]

County hopes to lure space tourism

The Brevard County Tourist Development Council voted to give $50,000 in marketing

funds to Space Adventures, should the space tourism company decide to relocate

anywhere in Brevard County. "We allocated these funds because space tourism could be

a very important part of Florida's tourism industry," said Bonnie King, assistant director

for the Space Coast Office of Tourism. "I think everyone used to think space tourism was

something of the future. Well, the future is here." The $50,000 represents an important

first step in expanding the role of the space industry -- and the role of Kennedy Space

Center -- to encompass tourism and "real people" who want to experience spaceflight,

officials said. "This was a very gracious offer aimed at boosting space tourism," said

Chuck Sammons, vice president of suborbital flight and spaceport development for Space

Adventures, based in Arlington, Va. Space Adventures also owns a percentage of Zero-G,

located in Fort Lauderdale. "The next step will be a request for proposal that will go out

next week," said Lynda Weatherman, president and chief executive officer of the

Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast. Web posted. (2006).

[County hopes to lure space tourism [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, January 27.]

January 28: 20 Years Later, a Tribute to the Fallen Challenger Astronauts

Relatives and friends of the seven crew members who died in the explosion of the space

shuttle Challenger gathered with NASA officials and hundreds of others Saturday to

observe the 20th anniversary of the tragedy. They also paid tribute to the other astronauts

who have died in the line of duty since the space program began. At the ceremony, held

.at the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy SpaceCenter, NASA also took the

opportunity to recognize the other 17 astronauts who have been killed since human

spaceflight began in 1961. Among those in attendance were family members of

Challenger astronauts and relatives of the seven astronauts who died on Feb. 1, 2003,

when the space shuttle Columbia broke apart as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere. Also

present was the brother of Virgil I. Grissom, the Apollo 1 commander, who died in a fire

along with two colleagues in a launch pad training session aboard the spacecraft in 1967.

NASA said the other seven astronauts honored on Saturday all died in aircraft crashes

during training missions. At the Space Mirror -- a shiny, towering wall bearing the

17
names of the 24 fallen astronauts -- people hung wreaths and flowers. William H.

Gerstenmaier, an associate administrator of space operations at NASA, said, "As

engineers, the machines we build can do great things but can also cause great harm.

Sometimes it's hard for us who work with the space program to articulate the higher

calling of ourjobs. We are not here for fame or money, but we are here because we

believe in what we do," he added. "The Challenger crew lived that higher calling." Web

posted. (2006). [20 Years Later, a Tribute to the Fallen Challenger Astronauts [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.nvtimes.com/[2006, January 29.]

Ride: Program won't survive more failure

A significant foam loss on NASA's next shuttle flight would be "a serious setback" from

which the agency might not recover, accordingto the only person to investigateboth the

ChallengerandColumbia accidents. A catastrophicfailurebefore the 2010 retirementof

the remainingthree orbiters might prompt immediateshutdownof the program, former

astronautSallyRide said. "I think the loss of anothershuttle before fleet retirement

wouldprobablyretire the fleet rightthenandthere,"she said. "The shuttlewas grounded

foralmostthree years afterthe Challengeraccident.... It was grounded for almostthe

same periodof fime after Columbia. "I think that tells you thatwhen thereis a shuttle

accident,you are misleading yourself if you think thatthe shuttleis going to get back to

flightin less thantwo-and-a-half to three years. Andhere we are in 2006.2010 is not

thatfar away." Ride, 54, became the firstAmericanwoman to fly in space in 1983. She

flew again in 1984. Ride servedon the official governmentinvestigationsof the 1986

Challenger accidentand 2003 Columbia accident. Web posted. (2006). [Ride: Program

won'tsurvive more failure [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.eom/

[2006, January28.]

January 30: Boeing agrees to contract with rocket workers

Boeing saidon Monday it agreed to a tentativecontractwith about 1,500 striking

machinistsat its rocketunitplants,who arerepresentedby the InternationalAssociation

of MachinistsandAerospace Workers.The workers affected by the contract, in Alabama,

FloridaandCalifornia,are setto vote on the contracton Wednesday, Boeing said. The

workerswent on strikeon Nov. 2 in a disputeover retiree health insurance. The IAM

saidon Saturdaythat Boeing hadmade "some movement"in its direction in negotiations

thatresumed inBirmingham, Alabamaon Friday.Those were the first "substantive"talks

since the strike began, the unionsaid. The unioncalled the changes offered in the

contract"substantive,not substantial."Boeing said the contractoffered lump sum

bonuses and wage increases for all employees andpensionincreases for those retiring

after March 1 but also will eliminateretireemedical coverage fornew hires after

September 1. Web posted. (2006). [Boeing agreesto contractwith rocket workers

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.reuters.eom/[2006, January 30.]

January 31: Parsing shuttle launch dates

One of the greatriddles of recent monthsis: When will the space shuttle launch again?

As usual, the short answer is: Nobody knows.The longer answer hinges largelyon when

two external fuel tanks, designatedET-119 and ET-118, aredelivered to the Cape.ET119 will be used to launchthe next mission aboard Discovery, which is tentatively

18
scheduled for May 3-22. If all goes well with Discovery, Atlantis will use ET-118 for the

flight after that, now targeted for July 1-19. Atlantis also has to be ready to fly a timely

rescue mission if Discovery runs into trouble. If ET-119 sticks to schedule, it will depart

by barge on March 3 from its manufacturing plant, the Michoud Assembly Facility in

New Orleans. It would arrive at Kennedy Space Center about five days later on March 8.

Barring any problems, that would allow plenty of time at KSC to finish processing the

tank and do checkouts before a May launch. ET-118's delivery date is more uncertain.

The old schedule had it arriving the last week of June, That would practically rule out

launching Atlantis in the July window and the mission would likely slip to August. KSC

spokeswoman Jessica Rye acknowledged today: "We're still discussing what open work

will be done at the Cape to fully certify the tank." There are other uncertainties, too. ET119 is scheduled to arrive at KSC in March before engineers sign offon the safety of the

tank's recent modifications. A critical design review is set for early-April after wind

tunnel testing of the changes. Problems with any of the redesigns could mean months of

delays. Web posted. (2006). [Parsing shuttle launch dates [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/[2006, January 31].]

19
FEBRUARY 2006

February 1: Budget space shuttle flights

NASA and its supporters in Congress have wona behind-the-scenesbattle with White

House budget writers who suggested retiring one or more of the shuttles early and

canceling some remaining flights to save money. The 2007 federal budget to be released

Monday is not expected to slash shuttle missions or change the goals that President Bush

set two years ago, according to Congressional leaders, analysts andNASA officials.

NASA remains under orders to fly the shuttlesthrough 2010, finish building the

International Space Station and then replace the shuttles by 2014 with new spaceships.

"Our best guess at this point is that the shuttle will.., execute something like 17, 18

flights between now and retirement," Griffin said while atKSC last month for the launch

of a probe to Pluto. Just lastweek, the agency adjusted its contract with Lockheed Martin

to purchase 18 shuttle fuel tanks. The deal will bring NASA's total inventory to 22 tanks,

which officials said covers the agency's needs until 2010. That's good short-term news

for thousands of people who work on shuttles and station programs at Kennedy Space

Center, where anxiety built as the White House Office of Management and Budget

ordered studies this fall and winter into ways to dramatically cut the shuttle budget. Web

posted. (2006). [Budget space shuttle flights [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.fioridatoday.com/[2006, February 1].]

February 3: Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULFt. 1) - Multi-PurposeLogistics Module ;

Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103); Location:Orbiter ProcessingFacility Bay 3 ; Launch

Date: No earlier than May 2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B; Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers,

Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical

miles. The forward reaction control system is scheduled to be delivered to the bay next

week for installation into the vehicle. The control system provides the thrust for attitude

(rotational) maneuvers (pitch, yaw and roll) and for small velocity changes along the

orbiter axis. Following shuttle main engine installation, leak checks were performed on

the interfaces per standard procedure. Engines No. 2 and 3 did not pass the leak check.

Those two engines were removed from the vehicle and were returned to the main engine

processing facility for evaluations. Technicians in the engine facility will lap, or polish,

the engine interfaces to remove any possible microscopic imperfections. Once completed,

the engines will be reinstalled into the vehicle and leak checks repeated. The additional

work will not impact the overall processing schedule. In the Vehicle Assembly Building,

solid rocket booster stacking was placed on hold until Monday due to an issue with the

325-ton crane controller. Booster stacking is scheduled to be complete on the right

booster in mid-February and the left booster by the end of the month. At this time, the

additional work will not impact the overall processing schedule. Mission: STS-115 -

19th ISS Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location:

Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date: TBD ; Launch Pad: 39B Crew: Jett,

Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper Inclination/Orbit Altitude:

51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles Preparations continue for the installation of the orbiter

boom sensor system inside the payload bay. About 200 gap fillers have been removed

and replaced on the underside of Atlantis. Once gap filler work is completed on

20
Discovery, the entire gap filler team will move to Atlantis to continue the work at a rate

of about 350 gap fillers per week. New installation procedures were developed to ensure

the gap fillers stay in place and do not pose any hazard on re-entry to the atmosphere.

Endeavour (OV-105) ; In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2, processing continues on

Endeavour following an extensive modification period. On Jan. 27, the vehicle was

powered up to support system testing. Body flap hardware reinstallation continues.

Thermal protection system blanket installation continues in the nose cap. Nose cap

installation for flight is planned for late February. Work continues on the new

modification called the "station to shuttle power transfer system," which will allow the

shuttle to remain docked to the station longer. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space

Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-004 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, February 3].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: SpaceTechnology 5 (ST5); LaunchVehicle: OrbitalSciences PegasusXL;

LaunchDate: Feb. 28, 2006; LaunchWindow: 8:57 - 10:19A.M. EST; TargetedDrop

Time: 9:04 a.m. EST. The ST5 spacecraftwill be matedto the PegasusXL rocket today

in the Orbital Sciences hangar,VandenbergAir Force Base, Calif.PegasusFlight

SimulationNo. 4, an integratedtest with the ST5 spacecraft,is scheduledfor Wednesday.

ST5 finalfunctionaltesting and spacecraftcloseoutsare scheduled forFeb. 11 and 12.

The three-day operationto installthe Pegasusvehicle fairingaroundthe ST5 spacecraftis

scheduled to begin Feb. 14. Mission: Cloud-AerosolLidar andInfrared Pathfinder

SatelliteObservationand CloudSat; LaunchVehicle: Boeing Delta 7420 with Dual

PayloadAttachFitting LaunchPad:SpaceLaunchComplex 2, VandenbergAir Force

Base, Calif. LaunchDate: UnderReview LaunchWindow: TBD. The strike against

Boeing by the InternationalAssociationof Machinistswas settled this week. A launch

timeframe is under review pending resolutionof anytechnical issues. CALIPSOand

CloudSatare installedin the DualPayloadAttachFitting atthe Astrotech payload

processing facilities on Vandenberg.They will remain there until a new launchdateis

determined and then be prepared for transportationto NASA's Space LaunchComplex 2.

Delta II preparationsat the launch pad are on hold untilthe payloadsarrive for

installationatop the second stage. KSC News Center(2006). Expendable Launch

Vehicles Status Report #E06-004 [Online]. AvailableE-mail:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, February 3].]

February 6: NASA must shift $3B to shuttles

A tight federal budget means NASA must divert more than $3 billion from science and

its moon-landing quest to keep the shuttles flying long enough to finish building the

International Space Station. "NASA simply cannot afford to do everything that our many

constituencies would like usto do," NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said Monday,

hours after President Bush delivered his 2007 budget plan to Congress. The president's

proposal, which still faces months of tinkering and debate in Congress before approval,

increases NASA spending from about $16.6 billion this year to about $16.8 billion next

year. The space agency plan shifts about $2 billion to the ailing shuttle program by

adjusting, delaying or canceling science projects or probes, prompting complaints from

scientists and deep-space exploration advocates. Overall, spending on science increased

21
1.5 percent. However, that is far less than had been anticipated in previous versions of the

agency's long-range budget, said Mary Cleave, associate administrator for science.

Griffin said NASA still plans to fly people on its new Crew Exploration Vehicle, the

proposed replacement for the shuttles, between 2010 and 2014. The combined changes

provide enough money to solve what had looked like a $3 billion to $5 billion shortfall in

the space shuttle budget between now and the orbiters' planned retirement in 2010. The

schedule calls for about 16 shuttle missions to finish building the $100 billion space

station -- asthe United States promised to partner nations around the world -- and one

more shuttle flight to repair and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope. Web posted.

(2006). [NASA must shift $3B to shuttles [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, February 7].]

February 6: Statement on Scientific Openness from NASA Administrator

I want to make sure that NASA employees hear directly from me on how I view the issue

of scientific openness and the role of public affairs within the agency. First, NASA has

always been, is, and will continue to be committed to open scientific and technical

inquiry and dialogue with the public. The basis for this principle is codified in the Space

Act of 1958, which requires NASA to "provide for the widest practicable and appropriate

dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof." Second,

the job of the Office of Public Affairs, at every level in NASA, is to convey the work

done at NASA to our stakeholders in an intelligible way. It is not the job of public affairs

officers to alter, filter or adjust engineering or scientific material produced by NASA's

technical staff. To ensure timely release of information, there must be cooperation and

coordination between our scientific and engineering community and our public affairs

officers. Third, we have identified a number of areas in which clarification and

improvements to the standard operating procedures of the Office of Public Affairs can

and will be made. The revised policy, when complete, will be disseminated throughout

the agency. I want to encourage employees to discussthis issue and bring their concerns

to management so we can work together to ensure that NASA's policies and procedures

appropriately support our commitment to openness. Mike Griffin, NASA Administrator.

E-mail distribution. (2006). [Griffin, Mike Re: "Statement on Scientific Openness"

[Electronic].KSC-NASA-INC-Message-Center [kscnasaincmc@kscems.ksc.nasa.gov]

[February 6, 2006.].]

February 7: NASA budget request allows at least 16 more shuttle flights

NASA'sfiscal year 2007 spending request uses science funds to pay down a $3- 5 billion

shortfall in space shuttle accounts and begin work in earnest on a shuttle replacement,

allowing the agency to plan for at least 16more space shuttle flights to assemble the

International Space Station. That should be enough to orbit and attach all of the station

hardware provided by NASA's international partners on the project -- a European

laboratory module and a pressurized lab, exposed experiment facility and logistics

module supplied by Japan. The $16.792 billion request amounts to a 3.2 percent increase

over what the agency got in fiscal 2006 (not counting $350 million to repair damage to its

facilities from Hurricane Katrina), but will be flat over the remaining four years in the

five-year budget runout. The high growth rates promised for the out-years in the agency's

fiscal 2006 budget request have been trimmed by about $2 billion over the new runout,

22
leaving science with an increase of 1.5 percent in fiscal 2007 and about 1 percent a year

thereafter. NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said ultimately NASA hopes to find

"synergies' between retiring the shuttle and building its replacement -- the Crew

Exploration Vehicle and its Crew Launch Vehicle -- using shuttle components to cover

the funding shortfall. In its budget rtmout, NASA sees shuttle spending going from $2.2

billion in fiscal 2010 to $147 million in fiscal 2011 -- chiefly closeout costs after the

shuttle is retired. That same year exploration systems accounts will jump from $5 billion

to $8.8 billion as the shuttle accounts are shifted to the hardware needed to return to

Mars. E-mail distribution. (2006. [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Re: "NASA budget request allows at least 16 more shuttle flights," [Electronic]. Vol.

217, No. 24, [February 6, 2006].]

February 8: NASA budget affects KSC jobs

With science dwindling and exploration shifting, Kennedy Space Center workers will feel

the impact of the NASA budget unveiled this week. Some jobs will be eliminated by the

time the shuttles are retired in 2010, officials said. "What we do know is it's coming

down, and we need to be prepared for that, and we need to be honest with the work

force," KSC Director Jim Kennedy said. NASA's budget is increasing, but areas within

the agency are shrinking. Administrator Mike Griffin acknowledged that cuts in science

will help pay for manned space flight. For KSC, that means dozens of people are halting

research in areas such as growing plants for food and oxygen on long space trips. "The

life science research that we do is something that will be needed one day for longduration stays on the moon or Mars, but clearly not for a one-week stay," Kennedy said.

NASA chose to divert money toward flying the rest of the shuttles and completing the

international Space Station. "It was hard to see some of those people leave," Kennedy

said, "but it's consistent with the priorities of this agency." Despite cuts, the state-funded

Space Life Sciences Lab, which housed many biological experiments, will remain open

after a fraction of its slashed funding was reinstated. It could be used for other technology

work, Kennedy said. Though some people will lose jobs as the shuttles stop flying in

2010, the KSC government and contractor work force should hold steady at 15,000 until

then, Kennedy said. NASA expects to fly 16 shuttle flights-- a reduction from 18 -- to

finish building the station, plus perhaps a Hubble Space Telescope repair mission. There's

a chance of two additional flights, but don't count on them, Kennedy said. As the shuttle

winds down, construction jobs are expected to boom asthe space center turns itself into a

port for the Crew Exploration Vehicle. "We have to transform the VAB (Vehicle

Assembly Building)," Kennedy said. "Wehave potentially major transformations of pads,

the mobile launch platform, the crawler." Shuttle pad 39B isthe likely target for overhaul

or demolition. Pad 39A is being refurbished and will become the only shuttle pad. The

center is hoping to get some as-yet-unallocated NASA money for the construction.

Though the crew exploration vehicle will launch from KSC, with a test flight planned in

late 2009, it may not be built here. The state is offering a $35 million incentive to lure

the winning contractor team, Kennedy said. Such a coup could help offset the loss of jobs

at KSC. Web posted. (2006). [NASA budget affects KSCjobs [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatodag.com/[2006, February 8].]

A Young Bush Appointee Resigns His Post at NASA

23
George C. Deutsch, the young presidential appointee at NASA who told public affairs

workers to limit reporters' access to a top climate scientist and told a Web designer to add

the word "theory" at every mention of the Big Bang, resigned yesterday, agency officials

said. Mr. Deutsch's resignation came on the same day that officials at Texas A&M

University confirmed that he did not graduate from there, as his r_sumd on file at the

agency asserted. Officials at NASA headquarters declined to discuss the reason for the

resignation. "Under NASA policy, it is inappropriate to discuss personnel matters," said

Dean Acosta, the deputy assistant administrator for public affairs and Mr. Deutsch's boss.

Web posted. (2006). [A Young Bush Appointee Resigns His Post at NASA [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.nytimes.com/[2006, February 8].]

Ex-Space Wing commander dies

Retired Maj. Gen. Jimmey Morrell, a former commander who helped transform the 45th

Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, died Wednesday. He was 59. Morrell, who

between 1991 and 1993 was the commander of the 45th Space Wing, died at Wuesthoff

Hospital in Rockledge. "Maj. Gen. Morrell was an Air Force legend," said Col. Gregg

Billman, vice commander of the 45th Space Wing. "He was also my personal mentor and

friend. Gen. Morrell was the first commander of the 45th Space Wing and transformed

this wing from a research and development center into a fully operational space lift

wing." That happened in 1991. Today, the 45th Space Wing processes and launches

satellites from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and manages the Eastern Range, which

provides launch tracking and range safety. Before that, Morrell had been commander of

the 9th Space Division, part of the Space Command that was headquartered at Patrick Air

Force Base. The division was dissolved. Web posted. (2006). [Ex-Space Wing

commander dies [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006,

February 8].]

Global Flyer Departs From NASA's Kennedy Shuttle Runway

The Virgin AtlanticAirways GlobalFlyer aircrafttook off today from NASA's Kennedy

SpaceCenterShuttleLandingFacility, Fla., at 7:22 a.m. EST. The effort is an attemptto

set a new world record for the longest flight made by any aircraft. NASA agreed to let

Virgin use the shuttlefacility aspart of a pilot program to expand access to the runway

fornon-agencyactivities.The use of the runwayis part of NASA's efforts to support the

President'sManagementAgenda andthe U.S. SpaceTransportationPolicy. Piloted by

Steve Fossett, the aircraftused morethan 13,000 of the 15,000 foot runwaybeforetaking

to the sky. Fossett will attemptto fly 26,084 miles in approximately80 hours.He will

attemptto landatKent InternationalAirport,nearLondon. ["Global Flyer Departs From

NASA's Kennedy ShuttleRunway," NASA News Release #06-059, February 8, 2006.]

February 9: NASA Preparing Oxygen Generation System for Space Station

NASA is preparing to launch an oxygen generationsystemto the InternationalSpace

Station.The system uses waterto generatebreathableoxygen for crew members. Life

supportsystems like this are necessary to supportfuture long-durationmissions to the

moon, Mars and beyond. The systemwas shipped from NASA's Marshall Space Flight

Center,Huntsville, Ala., on Jan. 24, and arrivedthe next day at the agency'sKennedy

SpaceCenter, Fla. The system will be installedin a pressurizedcargo compartmentlater

24
this month for a possible May launch aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. The oxygen

generation system is one of two primary components in the station's regenerative

environmental control and life support system.The other component, the water recovery

system, is planned for shipment to Kennedy early next year, once testing and design

modifications are completed. The water system is designed to provide clean water by

recycling wastewater and crew member urine. The recycled water must meet purity

standards before it is used to support crew, payload and spacewalk activities. The

recovery systems will be packaged into three refrigerator-sized racks for installation in

the station's U.S. Destiny lab module.. ["NASA Preparing Oxygen Generation System

for Space Station," NASA News Release #06-061, February 9, 2006.]

Fossett to fly across Africa after harrowing takeoff

Adventurer Steve Fossett is to pilot the Scaled Composites/Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer

across Africa Feb. 9, following a harrowing takeoffand initial cockpit problems Feb. 8 at

the start of the planned longest flight in history. Fossett'stakeoff from Kennedy Space

Center, Fla., required 11,500 feet of runway. This was at least 1,500 feet more than

predicted, even with a 10-knot headwind and temperatures at 47 degrees Fahrenheit. The

Kennedy space shuttle runway is 15,000 feet long with another !,000 feet of paved

overrun, and using nearly 12,000 feet of it left precious little margin for safety. Fossett's

"V1" go/no-go decision point was at 7,000 feet, and the longer roll frightened both he and

onlookers. With a 22,000 pound takeoffweight, Fossett was committed at the 7,000 feet

point in the roll to either fly, or in effect run offthe end of the runway, crashing into the

large ditch that surrounds the strip. That would have meant almost certain death given the

aircraft's 18,200-pound fuel load. "Takeoff was a bit scary to say the least," Fossett

radioed from GlobalFlyer. Immediately after the late rotation, GlobalFlyer also hit two

birds, one striking the left wing in the port boom fuel tank area and the other possibly on

the right wing. The birds, found dead on the Kennedy runway, were Black-Breasted

Plovers, each weighing about 30 ounces with 12-inch wingspans. Scaled Composites

engineers and pilots on Beech Starship chase aircraft performed a detailed inspection of

the GlobalFlyer as it headed out over the Atlantic and found no sign of the bird strikes.

Then Fossett had trouble with cockpit temperatures that temporarily soared to 130

degrees Fahrenheit, threatening his life and temporarily causing cockpit instrumentation

to fail. Had the temperatures remained high, Fossett would have been forced to at least

return to Kennedy for an emergency landing or bail out or ditch at sea. Fossett was able

to correct the temperature problem and continue acrossthe Atlantic. By dawn Eastern

time Feb. 9 as he crosses the African coast nearly 24 hours after his 7:22 a.m. Eastern

time takeoff, Fossett is to finally complete the climb to his cruising altitude of 45,000

feet. E-mail distribution. (2006). [AviationWeek's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Re: "Fossett to fly across Africa after harrowing takeoff, cockpit problems," [Electronic].

Vol. 217, No. 26, [February 9, 2006.].]

February 10: Analex 2005 'Small Business Contractor of the Year'

Analex Corporation, a leading provider of mission-critical professional services to federal

goverrtment clients, today announced its selection by NASA as the Kennedy Space

Center (KSC) Small Business Contractor of the Year for 2005. Analex won this honor for

its excellent support to NASA through the Expendable Launch Vehicle Integrated

25
Services (ELVIS) Contract. In its nomination KSC commended Analex on its

"outstanding collection of technical talent." Among other reasons for the award, KSC

included Anatex's large contributions in support of NASA to enhance risk mitigation

processes and its superior capabilities in proactive approachesto solving engineering

challenges. Web posted. (2006). [Analex 2005 'Small Business Contractor of the Year'

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.astroexpo.com/news/[2006, February i 0].]

NASA Honors Legendary Astronaut John Glenn

NASA will honor John Glenn, one of the original seven NASA astronauts, with the

presentation of the Ambassador of Exploration Award. The award is being presented at

4:00 p.m. EST, Monday, Feb. 20 at the John Glenn Institute of Public Service and Public

Policy, 300 Page Hall, Ohio State University, 1810College Road, Columbus, Ohio.

NASA is presenting the Ambassador of Exploration Award to the 38 astronauts who

participated in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs for realizing America's

vision of space exploration from 1961 to 1972.The award is a small sample of lunar

material encased in Lucite mounted for public display. The material is part of the 842

pounds of samples brought back to Earth during the six Apollo lunar expeditions from

1969to 1972. Glenn's award will be displayed at the institute. ["NASA Honors

Legendary Astronaut John Glenn," NASA Media Advisory M06-020_ February 10,

2006.]

Expendable Launch Vehicles Status Report

Mission:SpaceTechnology 5 (ST5); LaunchSite:Vandenherg Air Force Base, Calif.;

LaunchVehicle: OrbitalSciences PegasusXL; LaunchDate: Feb. 28, 2006; Launch

Window:8:57 to 10:19 a.m. EST; TargetedDropTime: 9:02 a,m. EST. Flight

SimulationNo. 4, an integratedtest with the ST5 spacecraftand the Pegasusrocket,

completedWednesday.The flight terminationsystem,avionics batteries and ST5 logo

installed.Finalfunctionaltesting and spacecraftcloseouts scheduled this weekend. The

three-dayoperationto installthe Pegasusvehicle fairingaround the ST5 startsTuesday.

Pegasuswill be matedto its transporteron Feb. 20 andmoved to Vandenberg'srunway

for mating to the Orbital Sciences L-l 01l carrier jet aircraft on Feb. 24. Mission: CloudAerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation and CloudSat; Launch

Vehicle: Boeing Delta 7420 with Dual Payload Attach Fitting; Launch Pad: Space

Launch Complex 2, Vandenherg Air Force Base, Calif.; Launch Date: No earlier than

April; Launch Window: When determined. Delta II preparations will resume and

payloads transported to the pad for installation. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable

Launch Vehicles Status Report #E06-005 [Online]. Available E-mail:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, February 10].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics Module ;

Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103); Location: OrbiterProcessing Facility Bay 3 ; Launch

Date: No earlier than May 2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B. Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers,

Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical

miles. Thermal protection system blanket installation continues on the orbiter boom

sensor system. The sensor package was installed Tuesday on the boom. Engineers are

26
analyzing information and hardware following failed leak checks of shuttle main engines

number 2 and 3. The two are in the main engine processing facility for evaluations. The

engines will be reinstalled in the vehicle when analysis is completed; tentatively set for

early next week. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, solid rocket booster stacking

continues today; the left aft center segment is being lifted onto the stack on the mobile

launcher platform. Right booster stacking is scheduled for mid-February completion; left

booster by the end of the month. Endeavour (OV-105) In Orbiter Processing Facility

bay 2, standard mission processing continues and return-to-flight modifications. Headsup display alignment is scheduled for the commander's seat this weekend and pilot's seat

next week. The display is an optical mini-processor that cues the commander and/or pilot

during the final phase of atmosphere re-entry and during the final approach to the

runway. Mission: STS-115 - 19th ISS Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays ; Vehicle:

Atlantis (OV-104) Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date: To be

determined Launch Pad: 39B Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and

Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. Atlantis

is in a power-down period. More than 400 gap fillers have been removed and replaced on

the shuttle underside. When gap filler work is completed on Discovery, the entire team

will move to Atlantis to continue the work at approximately 350 fillers weekly. New

installation procedures were developed to ensure the gap fillers stay in place and do not

pose any hazard on atmosphere re-entry. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle

Processing Status Report #S06-005 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, February10].]

February 12: Fossett makes history

AdventurerSteve Fossett ended the longest nonstop flight in aviationhistorythe same

way he began it,with a bit of hair-raising drama. Fossett, 61, piloting the VirginAtlantic

GlobalFlyeron its most demandingmission,nearly dove outof the sky to make a tireshreddingemergency landing inBournemouthon the southerncoast of Englandafterthe

airplane'selectrical generatorsuddenlystoppedworking. "Thatwas an exciting finish,"

Fossett said. Fossettand GlobalFlyer flew 26,389 miles in about76 hours to surpass

three of aviation'stoughest endurancerecords:longest nonstop solo flight, longest

nonstop flight in an airplaneandlongest nonstopflight in a balloon. Fossett set the solo

recordlastyear with a nonstopflight aroundthe worldin the sameairplane. This time,he

made a second perilous crossing of the Atlantic Ocean to get the mileage necessary to

surpassall of the distance recordsin a single mission. Upon landing, askedwhatwas

next for a manwho holds more than100 records, Fossett said "a good night'ssleep." The

three-dayflight began at Kennedy SpaceCenter on Wednesdaymorningwith a

harrowing takeoff during which Fossett admitshe nearlyran out of runway.GlobalFlyer

killed a couple of birds on the way upand then leakedabout 750 pounds of precious fuel

duringthe flight's first fourhours. Web posted. (2006). [Fossett makes history [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, February 12].]

February 13: NASA Honors Legendary Astronaut Deke Slayton

NASA will honor Deke Slayton,one of the originalseven NASA astronauts,with the

presentationof the Ambassador of ExplorationAward.Slaytonis being honored and

rememberedforhis pioneering involvementin America'sspaceprograms. The awardis

27
being presented at 5:30 p.m. CST, (6:30 p.m. EST), Wednesday, Feb. 22 at the Deke

Slayton Memorial Space and Bicycle Museum, 200 West Main Street, Sparta, Wis.

["NASA Honors Legendary Astronaut Deke Slayton," NASA Media Advisory M06-

021, February 13, 2006.]

February 14: No panic over STS manifest

NASA administrator Mike Griffin believes launching the Shuttle up to 19 times before

their 2010 retirement won't be a problem, citing the launch frequency needed to fulfill the

remaining manifest is in line with the average over the past 25 years of Shuttle

operations. With 17-19 flights remaining in the manifest, the first step will be a "clean"

STS-121, currently No Earlier Than (NET) May 10 - and it appears all efforts are being

focused on that flight, with no news on the shipping dates past External Tanks ET-118

and ET-119. ET-119 will fly with Discovery on STS-121 and will arrive at KSC on

March 4 - after new information today pointed to shipping date of Feb 28 - up from

Match 3. ET-118 will fly with Atlantis, on her STS-1 i5 assembly flight to the

International Space Station - and supporting STS-300 role. ET-123 - currently in

Building 103, Cell 2 at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) - is expected to be the

third tank to head to KSC, although no shipping or processing timelines have been noted

by MAF at time of publishing. That could point to only two flights being on track for

2006, leaving NASA with a tight schedule of launches until the end of Shuttle operations.

"As of April 12, 2006, NASA will have been flying the shuttle for 25 years exactly. We

will have flown, to that point, 114 missions in 25 years. That works out to an average of

4.56 missions per year on average, even taking into account two accidents and all the

downtime that we have had." Griffin also made a point of how recent stagnation in the

launch manifest has its upside, with Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour all in prime

condition to carry out their remaining roles as spaceships. "When we return to flight, it

will be with three fresh orbiters out of depot maintenance. It will be to return to flight

with greatly increased knowledge that we have never had before. Yet, all we have to do is

execute our average performance over those 25 years in order to be able to complete the

station." Finishing the ISS is the primary role of the Shuttle fleet, bar STS-121 's test

flight and the un-named STS flight for a final Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.

Confidence is high that the remaining manifest of flights won't be hijacked by another

problem of foam liberation from the ET. Web posted. (2006). [No panic over STS

manifest [Online]. Available WWW: http:i/www.NasaSpaceFlight.cmrd [2006,

February 14].]

February 16: NASA Honors Legendary Journalist Walter Cronkite

NASA is honoring Walter Cronkite for his coverageof America's space programwith the

presentationof the Ambassadorof ExplorationAward. The ceremony will be hosted by

the Universityof Texas atAustinCenterfor AmericanHistory is on Tuesday, February

28 at 3 p.m. EST. NASA is presentingthe Ambassadorof ExplorationAward to the 38

astronautsand other key individualswho participated in the Mercury, Gemini, and

Apollo space programsfor realizingAmerica'svision of space exploration from 1961 to

1972.Cronkite is the first non-astronautand only non-NASA individual to receive the

award. The award is a small sample of lunar materialencased inLucite andmountedfor

public display.The materialis part of the 842 pounds of samples brought back to Earth

28
during the six Apollo lunar expeditions from 1969 to 1972.Cronkite will present the

lunar sample to University of Texas president William Powers. He will accept the award

on behalf of the Center for American History, the archival home of the Walter Cronkite

Papers. The sample will be displayed in the Center's exhibit gallery. Cronkite isthe best

remembered journalist for his commentary and enthusiastic coverage of the historic

progression of missions from the early Mercury launches, through the ground-breaking

Gemini missions, to the Apollo 11 and subsequent moon landings. His marathon, live

coverage of the first moon landing brought the excitement and impact of the historic

event into the homes of millions of Americans and observers around the world. ["NASA

Honors Legendary Journalist Walter Cronkite," NASA Media Advisory M06-022,

February 16, 2006.]

February 17: NASA plans to park space shuttle Atlantis in 2008

Withjust 17 or so flights left on the shuttlemanifest before the program is terminated in

2010, NASA's three remaining orbiters can only expect to fly about five missions each.

As it turns out, NASA now plans to retire Atlantis in 2008, after five flights, rather than

put it through a required overhaul and to "fly out" the remaining half-dozen missions on

the manifest with Discovery and Endeavour. But shuttle program manager Wayne Hale

told Kennedy Space Center employees today that Atlantis will not be given to a museum,

at least not right away. Instead, the space shuttle will be used for spare parts to help keep

Discovery and Endeavour healthy through the end &the program. "Atlantis will be

coming due for an OMDP (orbiter maintenance down period) in the '08 time frame," Hale

said. "And we looked the manifest and laid it out and we believe we can fly the '08, '09

and '10 time frame with Discovery and Endeavour. "Discoveryjust came out of OMDP

and Endeavour isjust about to come out of OMDP. So it looks like the right thing to do is

not to put Atlantis through another OMDP, which would get it ready to go fly maybe just

at the very end, in 2010, but rather use it Wasa parts donor, if that's the word, for the

other vehicles. All shuttles are required to undergo periodic inspections and

modifications to maintain their overall health. Such OMDP overhauls can take a year or

more to complete. Web posted. (2006). [NASA plans to park space shuttle Atlantis in

2008 [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.Spaceflightnow.com/[2006, February

17].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: Space Technology 5 (ST5); LaunchSite:VandenbergAir Force Base, Calif.;

Launch Vehicle: Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL; Launch Date: Feb. 28, 2006; Launch

Window: 8:57 to 10:19 a.m. EST; Targeted Drop Time: 9:02 a.m. EST. Spacecraft

eloseouts are complete. The fairing was cleaned and inspected with a black light for any

contamination. Quality control contamination samples were taken from the craft. The

right half of the fairing was installed Wednesday. Installation of the left half of the fairing

was completed Thursday. The Pegasus/ST5 combination wi!l be mated to the transporter

on Monday. Transportation to the runway for mating to the L-1011 carrier aircraft is

scheduled for Friday, Feb. 24. An integrated launch vehicle/spacecraft combined systems

test and an ST5 state-of-health check is scheduled for Feb. 25. KSC News Center (2006).

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report #E06-006 [Online]. Available E-mai!:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, February 17].]

29
NASA studies shuttle engine seals, contamination issues

NASA now plans to ship the next external fuel tank to the Kennedy Space Center ahead

of schedule and the shuttle Discovery's commander said today the astronauts remain

optimistic about launching in May on the second post-Columbia mission. But a variety of

technical issues remain on the table, including wind tunnel tests to show fuel tank

changes will work as expected, an ice and debris analysis and, most recently, main engine

seal leaks and metallic contamination in the main propulsion system. The latter issue

appearsto be a generic problem in that metallic debris, estimated to weigh just 0.08

milligrams, has been found in the liquid oxygen prevalve filter screen used by

Discovery's main engine No. 1 and also in an oxygen prevalve screen in the shuttle

Endeavour. In the latter case, the debris is estimated to weigh 1.1 milligrams. The

concern is that such debris, depending on its composition, could trigger a catastrophic fire

during engine operation. It is not yet known whether the shavings detected by boroscope

inspections represent a real ignition threat, whether the shuttle can safely fly as is or

whether time-consuming work to disassemble the system and remove the debris will be

necessary. If so, NASA could be hard-pressed to launch Discovery before the next launch

window closes May 22. In a separate issue, Discovery's main propulsion system failed a

helium leak test after engine installation and then failed it again after engineers detached

the engines, installed different seals (two per engine) and reattached the powerplants.

Engineers now plan to install the best seals in the shuttle inventory and carry out a third

helium signature test to verify the integrity of the system. If the system passes, NASA

will press ahead with Discovery's processing for a launch as early as May 10.But the

issue will remain open until engineers figure out what caused the original sealing

problem or, if the problem involves hardware that does not meet specifications, whether

the shuttle can fly safely with any such out-of-spec components. At Lockheed Martin's

Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans, meanwhile, engineers are readying

external tank No. 119 for shipment to the Kennedy Space Center as early as next Friday,

Feb. 24, a week ahead of schedule. Web posted. (2006). [NASA studies shuttle engine

seals, contamination issues [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.Spaceflightnow.com! [2006, February 17].]

February 21: Atlantis slated to be first shuttle retired

Atlantis will be the first of NASA's three space shuttles to be retired, most likely in 2008,

asthe shuttle program winds down in four years, a senior agency official said Tuesday.

Atlantis' parts will be used by the remaining shuttles, Discovery and Endeavour, until the

aging spacecraft are mothballed in 2010, shuttle program manager Wayne Hale told

workers at the Kennedy Space Center last week. Atlantis, which began flying in 1985,

was chosen for retirement first since it was scheduled for maintenance, a process that

could take two years. The $3 billion shuttle likely will have four or five more flights to

the international space station before retirement. "The reasoning is instead of taking it

off-line for two years and spending a lot of money to return it to flight when it probably

would fly only one time at the most, why spend that extra money, when you don't need

to?" NASA spokesman Bruce Buckingham said Tuesday at the Kennedy Space Center.

NASA has planned 17 more shuttle flights before the program ends in 2010. The nextgeneration vehicles are expected to be ready no later than 2014. Most of the nearly

30
15,000NASA and contractor employees at the space center work on the shuttle program,

but they likely will be unaffected by the retirement of Atlantis, Buckingham said. Web

posted. (2006). [Atlantis slated to be first shuttle retired [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.cnn.eom/[2006, February 21].]

February 22: Lockheed's CEV plans

As part of Lockheed Martin's plans for the Crew Exploration Vehicle, the company has

announced that final assembly and testing of the capsules will be performed at the

Kennedy Space Center's Operations and Checkout Building. Lockheed Martin officials,

Florida's lieutenant governor, the local congressman and a county economic development

leader held this press conference Feb. 22 to unveil the plans. Web posted. (2006).

[Lockheed's CEV plans [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.Spaceflightnow.eorni

[2006, February 22].]

NASA's Return to Flight Shuttle Crew Visits White House

NASA's Return to Flight crewmet with PresidentGeorgeW. Bush in the OvalOffice at

the White House this afternoon. The seven astronauts flew aboard Space Shuttle

Discovery last summer. Their mission, designated STS-114, was the first since the Space

Shuttle Columbia accident in 2003. President Bush greeted NASA Administrator Mike

Griffin and Discovery's commander Eileen Collins, pilot Jim Kelly, and mission

specialists Steve Robinson, Andy Thomas, Wendy Lawrence, Charlie Camarda and

Soichi Noguchi, an astronaut with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. ["NASA's

Return To Flight Shuttle Crew Visits White House," NASA News Release #06-065,

February 22, 2006.]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: Space Technology 5 (ST5); Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.;

Launch Vehicle: Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL; Launch Date: No earlier than March 6,

2006; Launch Window: 8:57:31 a.m. to 10:19:50 a.m. EST; Targeted Drop Time: 9:02

a.m. EST. The ST5 launch has been rescheduled to no earlier than March 6.The delay

allows time for review of data from the spacecraft's separation system to ensure it will

function when intended during the flight. The Pegasus/ST5 combination was mated to

the transporter on Monday as planned. Transportation to the runway for mating to the L1011 carrier aircraft is scheduled for March 2. An integrated launch vehicle/spacecraft

combined systems test and an ST5 state-of-health check is scheduled for March 3. KSC

News Center (2006). Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report #E06-007 [Online].

Available E-mail: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, February 22].]

February 24: Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th InternationalSpace StationFlight (ULF1.1) -Multi-Purpose

LogisticsModule ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103); Location:OrbiterProcessing Facility

Bay 3 ; Launch Date:No earlier than May 2006 ; LaunchPad: 39B; Crew:Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/OrbitAltitude: 51.6

degrees/122 nauticalmiles. The forward reaction controlsystem was installedMonday.

The control systemprovides the thrustfor attitude(rotational)maneuvers(pitch, yaw and

roll) and for small velocity changes alongthe orbiteraxis. Space shuttlemain enginesNo.

31
2 and 3 were reinstalled in the vehicle last weekend and leak checks were successfully

completed. Because the engines failed the previous leak checks, engineers evaluated the

interface seals and decided to replace them with better fitting seals. Program management

will continue its analysis to determine if these seals will fly, or if additional work will be

needed prior to flight. Analysis is underway to determine what effect, if any, a small

metallic shard found in Discovery's 12-inch liquid oxygen feed line filter screen will

have. Options include cleaning or replacing the screen or flying as is if analysis

determines the shard is inconsequential. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, stacking of

both solid rocket boosters is complete, and booster closeouts are underway. The external

fuel tank, designated ET-119, that will fly on the STS-121 mission is scheduled to leave

the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans this weekend and be transported via

barge to the Kennedy Space Center. It usually takes about five days to transport the tank.

Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays ;

Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date:

To be determined ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean

and Stefanyshyn-Piper ;Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles.

Preparations continue for Friday's servicing of Freon coolant loops. Only 57 thermal

protection system tile cavities remain to be filled. More than 680 gap fillers have been

removed and replaced in the top-priority area of the vehicle. This work is being

performed due to two gap fillers that were protruding from the underside of Discovery on

the first return-to-flight mission, STS-114. New installation procedures were developed

to ensure the gap fillers stay in place and do not pose any hazard on re-entry to the

atmosphere. Endeavour (OV-105) ; In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2, work continues

on Endeavour following an extensive modification period. Powered-up system testing

continues, as well as implementation of the new return-to-flight modifications to the

vehicle. Ku-band antenna testing continues this week. Optics work is being performed

on the shoulder and elbow pedestals that will hold the remote manipulator system, or

shuttle arm. This work ensures proper alignment of the arm once installed. Owner-pressrelease. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-006 [Online]. Available

E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov[2006, February24].]

PR revamp at NASA met with pessimism

A committee headed by former astronaut Mary Cleve, now associate administrator for

science, is revamping NASA's public relations rules following the flap over attempts by

headquarters public affairs officers to meddle in the release of NASA-funded science

results. But some public affairs professionals at the agency - and some of the scientists

they serve - are pessimistic about the chances for real change. To replace the young

political appointee who lost hisjob after it emerged that he misstated his academic record

on his resume, NASA has picked another political appointee. The new hire, Joe Pally, has

experience as a spokesman for the federal Office of Surface Mining and with the

Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. But his selection continues the practice of placing

officials who owe their jobs to Bush administration political connections directly in the

flow of information from the agency, instead of in policy-making roles only. E-mail

distribution. (2005). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense ReportRe: "PR

revamp at NASA met with pessimism," [Electronic]. Vol. 217, No. 37, [February 24,

2006.1.1

32
Discovery's external fuel tank on way to KSC

A newly designed external fuel tank for Space Shuttle Discovery is expected to arrive at

Kennedy Space Center, Fla., this week,NASA says. The huge orange tank, called ET119, was scheduled to depart NASA Miehoud Assembly Facility near New Orleanson

Feb. 25 after being loaded on a covered barge. The barge will travel fromthe Mississippi

River-Gulf of Mexico Outlet to Florida's Banana River, which flows into the Atlantic

Ocean. The journey is expected to take five to six days. The tank will receive a final

checkout once it arrives at Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building. It will later be

attached to the twin solid rocket boosters and Discovery.NASA is shooting for May to

send Discovery to the International Space Station.The tank will fly for the first time

without Protuberance Air Load ramps. Tests showed the ramps are unnecessary and their

elimination would make shuttle flights safer. E-mall distribution. (2006). [Aviation

Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense ReportRe: "Discovery's external fuel tank on way to

KSC," [Electronic]. Vol. 217, No. 37, [February 24, 2006.].]

February 27: Slowly Crumbling, NASA Landmarks May Face the Bulldozer

In February 1962, it was the hub of the space program, the center where controllers

counted down and then watched tensely from their consoles as John Glenn became the

first American to orbit Earth. Today the Mercury Control Center stands empty and all

but abandoned, half hidden by thick Floridavegetation. Its 10-foot-wide NASA emblem,

warped by high winds, flaps even in a light breeze. A trash can on the floor of the hollow

control room seems to be the only barrier against rain seeping throughthe crumbling

ceiling. And now the 45-year-old center may be slated for demolition, one of 12 sites and

landmarksthat the space agency says it may tear down to save money. Situated on Air

Force property, the control center, where NASA directed the flights of unmanned and

manned space capsules from 1960 to t965, is off limits to the public except for some

tours. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But Mario Busacea, federal

preservation officer for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center here, said that as the agency

prepared to replace the space shuttle with a safer vehicle and to return astronauts to the

Moon, it needed to rid itself of deteriorated or useless sites, the sooner the better. He

emphasized, however, that no decision had been made aboutthe Mercury Control. Many

historic space sites are being preserved by NASA, the Air Force and private

organizations, including the two bunkers used to launch the first American satellite in

1958, as well as the astronauts Alan B. Shepard and Virgil I. Grissom in 1961; a whole

Saturn V rocket and part of its launching tower; and a lunar module and an Apollo

spacecraft from the "Men Walk on Moon" era. A main concern for the space agency is

pollution. Decontamination work costs millions. That is why in 2004 the space agency

removed the launching tower used for two of its most historic missions, Apollo 8 and

Apollo 11, and dispatched it to the blast furnace. An engineering support building and

200 acres of land around it are soaked with a toxic solvent used to clean rocket parts. The

site, Launch Complex 34, was used to launch the first Saturn rockets and was the site of

America's first space tragedy, the Apollo 1 fire that killed three astronauts in a training

session in 1967. Like Mercury Control, it is on the historic register. Web posted. (2006).

[SlowlyCrumbling, NASA Landmarks May Face the Bulldozer [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.nytimes.com/[2006, February 27].]

33
February 28: NASA estimates costs for shuttle return to flight at $1.267B

NASA's latest estimate for the total cost of returning the space shuttle to flight following

the Columbia accident is $1.267 billion total spent from fiscal 2003 through FY '06. The

cost estimates are included in the latest update to NASA's return-to- flight (RTF)

implementation plan. The update, released Feb. 24, is the 1lth edition of the plan and the

first since the shuttle resumed operations with mission STS-114 in July 2005. NASA's

estimates of RTF costs for fiscal 2003-2005 have remained stable since the July 2005

estimate of $1.141 billion, according to the agency. At the end of FY '05, the reported

costs for RTF are $1.105 billion, which is $36 million below the estimate. NASA entered

FY '06 expecting to spend $163 million on RTF activities during the fiscal year, a

reduction of $125 million from the previous estimate of $288 million. NASA plans a

number of RTF activities for FY '06, including completing orbiter tile/reinforced carboncarbon (RCC)-related modeling, continuing the development of various methods of onorbit thermal protection system (TPS) repair, and completing wing leading edge sensor

deliveries for all orbiters. "NASA intends to complete the content associated with RTF

projects in FY 2006," the report says. "Any remaining content will be minimal and will

be managed in operations starting in FY 2007." The most challenging recommendation

made by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) is the group's mandate that

NASA develop methods by which astronauts can repair damage to the shuttle's TPS

while the vehicle is in orbit. The astronauts experimented with several methods of TPS

repair during STS-114. Columbia was lost as a result of damage done to the RCC on the

leading edge of its left wing. NASA is implementing two complementary RCC repair

concepts - plug repair and crack repair. Together they should allow astronauts to fix

"limited RCC damage," NASA said. Similarly, NASA was able to develop a "limited"

tile repair capability for STS-114, including an emittance wash application to repair

shallowdamage, a cure in place ablator (CIPA) repair material for larger damage, and a

tile repair mechanical overlay designed for large damage areas or lost tiles. "Despite

comprehensive efforts to develop TPS repair materials and techniques, the state of the art

technology in this area has yielded modest technology to support the capability," the

report says. "As a result, continued effort does not hold promise of significant capabilities

beyond those in hand." E-mail distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily &

Defense Report Re: "Fossett NASA estimates total costs for shuttle return to flight at

$1.267B," [Electronic]. Vol. 217, No. 38, [February 28, 2006.].]

34
MARCH 2006

March 1: NASA considering removing particle from shuttle engine

NASA is considering whether to remove a tiny particle of debris caught in a pre-valve

screen in one of shuttle Discovery's engines that some engineers worry could cause

problems if it is dislodged and pulled into the engine. NASA's worry about the piece,

which Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale described as being about the size of the

point on a mechanical pencil, is that it could either clog up engine components or ignite

in the oxygen-rich environment of the engine. If the particle is deemed a threat, NASA

will take out the screen and clean it. "Cleaning the screens sounds simple, but it's never

simple," Hale said during a press conference at Kennedy Space Center Feb. 28. "And the

fact of the matter is that you run the risk of introducing more contamination when you

take the covers off and clean the screens." Engineers also are analyzing certain engine

sealsthat are slightly thinner than they should be due to a manufacturing defect. NASA

has ordered a new batch of seals and is prepared to install them if the engineering

suggeststhat the seals in the orbiter may pose a threat, although they have passed leak

checks, Hale said. NASA hopes to launch Discovery during a window in May, and is

reviewing the feasibility of a May 10 launch date. Although it would be an "extensive"

procedure, getting the particle out of the screen should not threaten a May launch,

according to NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach. E-mail distribution. (2006).

[Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re: "NASA considering removing

particle from shuttle engine screen." [Electronic]. Vol. 217. No. 39. [March 1, 2006,].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: SpaceTechnology 5 (ST5); LaunchSite:VandenbergAir Force Base, Calif.;

LaunchVehicle: Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL;LaunchDate:No earlier thanMarch 14,

2006; LaunchWindow: 8:57:31 to 10:19:50a.m.EST; Targeted DropTime: 9:02 a.m.

EST. The ST5 launchhas been rescheduleddue to the availabilityof the WesternRange.

Technicianshave completed reviewingdatafromthe spacecraft'sseparation systemand

determined itwill function as designed. The Pegasus/ST5combinationis matedto its

transporterin preparation to be moved fromthe hangar to the runway.The L-1011 carrier

aircraftis scheduled to arriveat VandenbergMarch 6. A flight terminationsystemtest

between the Pegasus and the Western Range is scheduled for March 8. The Pegasus/ST5

will be transported to the runway and mated to the L-1011 carrier aircraft on March 10.

An integrated launch vehicle/spacecraft combined systems test and an ST5 state-of-health

check is scheduled for March 11. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable Launch

Vehicle Status Report #E06-008 [Online]. Available E-mail:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, March 1].]

NASA Hopeful for May Shuttle Launching

NASA is still aiming for a space shuttle launching in May, but there is so little extra time

left in the schedule that the plan could be derailed ifa major technical problem arose that

needed fixing, NASA managers said Tuesday. Wayne Hale, the space shuttle program

manager, said NASA engineers and technicians were facing a "somewhat aggressive

schedule" in trying to finish preparations to launch the shuttle Discovery during the May

10 to May 23 target window. At a news conference from the Kennedy Space Center in

35
Florida, Mr. Hale and other managers emphasized that they would not rush the flight just

to stay on schedule. But they noted that crucial testing and flight preparations remained to

be done with little "contingency time" left to absorb unexpected delays. If the Discovery

doesfly successfully in May, or during the next available launching period, July 1 to July

19,Mr. Hale said, it remains possible to get three flights off this year. The National

Aeronautics and Space Administration has plans to fly the shuttle 17times before the end

of the program in 2010, which requires returning to the steady launching rate disrupted

by the loss of the Columbia in 2003. Web posted. (2006). [NASA Hopeful for May

Shuttle Launching [Online]. Available WWW: http://w_v.nvtimes.com/[2006, March

1].]

March 2: Joint Statement by International Space Station Heads of

Agency

Theheads of space agencies from Canada,Europe,Japan,Russia andthe United States

met atKennedySpaceCenter, Fla.on March2, 2006, to review InternationalSpace

Stationcooperationand endorsea revision to the stationconfigurationandassembly

sequence. At today'smeeting,the Heads of Agency were also briefed on the statusof

ongoingInternationalSpace Stationoperationsandflight hardware development

activities across the partnership.The partnersreaffirmedtheir agencies'commitment to

meettheir mutualobligations,to implementsix personcrew operationsin 2009 andan

adequatenumber of shuttle flights to completethe assemblyof the space stationby the

end of thedecade. The partnersalso affirmedtheir plans to use a combinationof

transportationsystems providedby Europe,Japan,Russia, andthe UnitedStatesto

completespace stationassemblyin a timeframe thatmeets the needs of the partnersand

to ensure full use of the uniquecapabilitiesof the space stationthroughoutits lifetime.

The InternationalSpace StationHeads of Agency expressed their appreciationfor the

outstandingwork being conductedby the spacestationon-orbit crews andgroundsupport

personnel.They commendedthem for their creativity in makingfull use of available

resourcesto operatethe space station,prepare for assemblymissions andcarrying out

scientificresearch aboardthe station. The uninterruptedflow of Russian vehicles, the

outstandingperformance of Canadarm2,the successfulshuttle logistics flight, andthe

resourcefulness of all of the partners' ground-basedengineers, researchers andoperations

personnelhave served to highlightthe strengthof the InternationalSpace Station

partnershipandthe importanceof internationalcooperation in space operations. The

partnerslook forwardto the upcomingspaceshuttleflight of the STS-121 mission, a

returnto InternationalSpace Stationassembly activityand a permanentcrew of three.

They also notedthe upcominglaunchof key space stationelements suchas: three

additionalpowertrussesto support overall InternationalSpace Stationneeds andthe

needsof the partners;the EuropeanSpace Agency AutomatedTransfer Vehicle; the U.S.

Node 2; the European Space Agency ColumbusModule;the Canadiantwo-armed

SpecialPurposeDexterousManipulatorDextre; the JapaneseExperimentModuleKibo;

theRussianMultipurposeLaboratoryModule and the JapaneseH-2 Transfer Vehicle.

Theseelements of the space stationprogramwill bringto fruitionthe partnership'sgoal

of operationand use of a permanentlyinhabitedcivil InternationalSpace Station. ["Joint

StatementBy InternationalSpace StationHeads of Agency," NASA News Release #06-

084, March2, 2006.]

36
March 3: Space station chiefs agree on final configuration

NASA and its International Space Station partners have agreed to accelerate the launch of

the European Columbus and Japanese Kibo modules on the space shuttle, ahem of any

attempt to service the Hubble Space Telescope. The changes involve a major

repackaging of ISS elements in the assembly sequence to ensure the full station

configuration can be completed as early as 2009, before termination of shuttle flights in

late 20.10. Logistics and utilization flights have been deferred to ensure the shuttle is

available to launch heavy station elements. And two shuttle flights with spares would not

be launched until just before termination of the shuttle program. "I regard the scheduling

of the Hubbte servicing mission to be largely a technical matter" that will factor in the

needs of the telescope and ISS assembly operations, says Michael Griffin, the NASA

administrator. He said station assembly now has significant margin. The heads of the

European, Japanese, Canadian and Russian space agencies met with Griffin last week at

Kennedy to cement the plan. Notably, the Node 3 module and cupola are retained while

the Russian power platform has been deleted in favor of U.S. solar arrays providing

power to Russian elements through at least 2015, says Anatolii Perminov, who heads the

Russian space agency. The large Russian solar array group has been a schedule risk for

some time and a high-fidelity model of the ISS with the Russian arrays was ordered out

of a Kennedy briefing roomjust as the agency heads came in to brief the news media.

The major shift is important for the U.S. to resolidify its relationship with key

international partners in the wake of shuttle delays caused by the Columbia accident in

early 2003. Columbus is now scheduled for launch on the seventh upcoming mission in

2007, about nine months earlier than previously planned. "I must say we appreciate the

priority that all the partners and especially NASA have put on the launch of Columbus,"

says Jean-Jacques Dordain. The logistics module forJapan's Kibo pressurized laboratory

is planned for launch on the eighth upcoming flight in 2007, the Kib0 module itself on

the ninth flight in 2008 and its external exposure facility on the 12th mission later that

year. "We had the fortunate situation of having one of our Kibo flights advanced earlier,"

says Keiji Tachikawa, president of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. NASA had

envisioned launch ofa Hubble servicing mission as early as late 2007. The plan will now

be for a Hubble servicing flight no earlier than about a dozen missions into the sequence

in 2008, pending validation that the shuttle remains for an autonomous flight without the

ISS for a safe haven. E-mail distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily &

Defense Report Re: "Space station chiefs agree on final configuration." [Electronic].

Vol. 2t7. No. 41. [March 3, 2006.].]

NASA's new 'straight talk' express

Back in the day, some members of Congress were so suspicious of NASA's thenadministrator Daniel Goldin they required Goldin and his deputies to stand before each

committee hearing, raise a right hand and swear to "tell the truth, the whole truth and

nothing but the truth." That all ended when the Bush White House brought in Sean

O'Keefe. The long-time bureaucrat was a by-the-book NASA administrator. And, the

book was Webster's Unabridged. So fond of the spoken word was O'Keefe that a wellrespected aerospace writer once described him as "logorrheic," a label that stuck until he

left NASA for a top position at Louisiana State University. Now comes the new

administrator, Michael Griffin, and his team. After nearly a year in the role, Griffin has

37
shown himself to be candid and brief. He clearly has more valuable things to do than sit

around giving two-dollar answers to fifty-cent questions. On the hot seat Thursday here

in Washington, though, was Mary Cleave, a former astronaut and now associate

administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, the division straining under the

Bush administration's proposal to trim its spending by $3.1 billion through 2010. Web

posted. (2006). [NASA's new 'straight talk' express [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com! The Flame Trench [2006, March 3].]

Leaky shuttle power unit replaced

NASA contractortechnicians are hooking up a spare hydraulic power device aboard

shuttle Discovery today after replacing a leaky unit. The so-called Auxiliary Power Unit

is one of three devices that play critical roles during shuttle launches and landings. The

units provide the hydraulic power needed to steer the shuttle's three liquid-fueled main

engines during an 8 1/2-minute climb into orbit. They also are key to operating the

orbiter's wing flaps, rudder speedbrake and landing gear during a gliding freefall back to

Earth. The removal and replacement work will not have an impact on NASA plans to

move the orbiter from its hangar to the Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly

Building in mid-April. NASA hopes to launch Discovery on the agency's second postColumbia test flight around May 10. Web posted. (2006). [Leaky shuttle power unit

replaced [Online[. Available WWW: http:!/www.floridatoday.com/The Flame Trench

[2006, March 3].]

The "Survivor Astronaut" survives

Former shuttle astronaut Dan Barry continuesto plod through "Survivor Panama"

(televisionrealityshow) andthere appears to be little threat of him being voted off the

show anytime soon. He's older than a lot of the contestants,but continuesto hold his own

in whatappearto be extremelyphysically demandingtasks, all while practicallystarving

to death.InThursday's installment,his tribelost a battlefor some badly needed fish and

spice (and a bottleof wine to boot). They did get atub of beans, but those only provided

morepainand agony. Everyone who ate them was up all nightsick, in the worst ways. In

anyevent,the tribe wonthe important challenge and did nothave to vote anyone outthis

week. The numberof castawaysis down to 11, and my guess is Dan is going to be onthe

show for atleast anothermonthor so. Web posted. (2006). [The "Survivor Astronaut"

survives[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/The Flame Trench

[2006, March 3].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Orbiter Processing Facility

Bay 3 ; Launch Date: No earlier than May 10, 2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B; Crew: Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6

degrees/122 nautical miles. On Thursday, Space Shuttle Program management set a

launch date of no earlier than May 10 for Discovery's launch to the International Space

Station.Technicians continue preparingDiscovery for its roll over from Orbiter

Processing Facility bay 3 to the Vehicle Assembly Building. Work is under way to close

out various areas of the vehicle for flight. Following the installation of the space shuttle

38
main engines, technicians added a dome-mounted heat shield around each engine. The

heat shields are composed of two, semi-circle shaped sections of thermal protection

system tiles that surround the engines. The external fuel tank for the STS-121 mission

arrived by barge at Kennedy Wednesday, five days after leaving the Michoud Assembly

Facility in New Orleans. The tank, designated ET-119, was towed into the Vehicle

Assembly Building. On Thursday it was lifted into a checkout area for final processing

before being attached to the solid rocket boosters. Mission: STS-115 - 19th International

Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location:

Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date: No earlier than Aug. 28, 2006; Launch

Pad: 39B; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MaeLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper ;

Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. Technicians continue

processing Atlantis for its mission to the International Space Station, scheduled for no

earlier than Aug. 28. The vehicle is in a scheduled powered-down period, with the next

power-up as early as next week. Leak checks of water coolant loop No. 1were

successfully completed. Servicing of that loop is scheduled for the middle of next week.

Work on the shuttle's thermal protection system (heat shield) continues with gap filler

removal and replacements. Endeavour (OV-105) ; In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2,

work continues on Endeavour following an extensive modification period. The vehicle

remains powered-down, and technicians continue to implement the new Return to Flight

modifications. Rigging of both the elbow and shoulder for the remote manipulator

system (shuttle arm) continues. Final work continues on the reinforced carbon-carbon

nose cap. It is scheduled to be installed into the vehicle next week. Owner-press-release.

(2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-007 [Online]. Available E-mail:

owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov[2006, March 3].]

March 6: Two secretive spaceships come out of "black"?

SpaceNews, via space.corn, has an interestingpiece about SpaceX developing its own

mannedspacecraft.In it, the trade newspaperreportsthatthe firmbehind the soon-to-belaunchedFalcon rocket also plans an Apollo-like spacecraftcalled Dragon. The company

has been secretly working on the fleet for severalyears. Now, the company'slikely to

seek some funding from NASA to getthe spaceshipsto completion.The move wouldfit

NASA's strategyof finding private firms to get crewand cargo to the space stationafter

the space shuttlesretire. Another trade publication,AviationWeek, is reporting on

anothersecret spacecraft projectthis week. In a fascinatingarticle posted on its web site,

AviationWeek details an apparentlyshelved projectcalledBlackstar.The two-stage to

orbitspacecraft,which some speculatehas made secretorbitalflights, is a mysterythat

AvWeek says it has chased for about 18 years. With the projectfacing cancellation,the

magazinedecided to put forward what documentsand evidence is available aboutthe

project(including some contradictoryinformation)before Blackstar'sexistence fadesinto

oblivion. Web posted. (2006). [Two secretivespaceships come outof "black"?

[Online]: Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/The Flame Trench [2006,

March 6].]

NASA Sets Media Events for Space Technology 5 Launch

NASA's SpaceTechnology 5 (ST5) spacecraftis scheduledto launch from an Orbital

Sciences PegasusXL vehicle at 6:02 a.m. PST (9:02 EST) on March 14 within a launch

window thatextendsfrom 5:57 to 7:19 a.m. PST. The droppoint of the Pegasusfromthe

39
L-1011 carrier aircraft is a location over the Pacific Ocean approximately 100 miles

offshore west-northwest of Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. ST5 will be launched at an

azimuth of 105.6 degrees into an elliptical polar orbit of 186 miles by 2,796 miles. The

New Millennium Program's ST5 spacecraft consists of three miniature satellites called

"micro-sats." ST5 will flight-validate innovative technology concepts to reduce risksto

future science missions. Although only 55 pounds each, the satellites have capabilities

comparable to those of much larger spacecraft. ST5 will demonstrate the ability of small

satellitesto perform research-quality science by taking measurements of the Earth's

magnetic field using highly sensitive magnetometers. ["NASA Sets Media Events for

Space Technology 5 Launch," NASA Media Advisory #17-06, March 6, 2006.]

March 7: Shuttle Woes Put May Launch in Jeopardy

Space shuttle Discovery has two problems -- a fuel tank sensor that misreads and a

robotic arm that was dinged -- that could potentially delay its planned launch in May. No

decision has been made on whether those predicaments will push back the launch of the

second shuttle mission since the doomed Columbia flight in 2003, NASA spokesman

Kyle Herring said Tuesday. But last week, NASA officials said that sticking to a May

launch schedule provided little time to fix any major technical problems. Space shuttle

programmanager Wayne Hale plans to hear a formal presentation from tank project

managers before deciding what to do. "The program hasn't heard the full story," Herring

said. "It's very premature to indicate that we're going to do anything with this right now."

The fuel tank problem was discovered during testing before it was shipped to the

Kennedy Space Center in Florida last week. One of the four sensors at the bottom of the

liquid hydrogen fuel tank gave an electrical current reading that was slightly off. The

fuel sensors are used for making sure the spacecraft's main engines shut down during the

ascent when the tank runs out of fuel. A launch could end in tragedy if the engines cut out

too early or too late. Last year, the launch of Discovery was delayed because of a

malfunctioning hydrogen fuel sensor. NASA never was able to pinpoint the cause and

was prepared to fly with just three of the four fuel sensors working but the problem never

resurfaced on launch day. Options for the current problem include flying with just three

sensorsworking properly or swapping out parts, although engineers hope they don't have

to open up the tank. "It's like your car," Herring said. "If you open up your engine to try

to find a small problem, you might create some others." Discovery's robotic arm was

bumped last Saturday by a cherry-picker-type vehicle that was being used to clean up

broken glass from a light bulb whose pieces had fallen in the shuttle's open payload bay.

Engineers haven't decided whether the arm will need to be changed out. Web posted.

(2006). [Shuttle Woes Put May Launch in Jeopardy [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.nvtimes.com/[2006, March 7].]

March 8: Ultrasound on Discovery arm; Endeavour tiles hit

The shuttleDiscovery'srobot arm is undergoing ultrasoundinspections aftera weekend

mishap in which a moveable access bucket bumpedintothe arm during work to cleanup

broken glass.Two smallindentationswere foundunderneaththe arm'sinsulation

blanketsandNASA wantsto make sure the underlyingstructurewasn't damaged.At the

same time, engineersareassessing tile damage to the shuttleEndeavour'sbody flap

causedby equipmentthatslipped off a trayused by workers inspecting the ship's

40
rudder/speed brake. The Endeavour incident happened Tuesday morning in Orbiter

Processing Facility Bay 2 while technicians were carrying out an X-ray inspection of the

rudder and speed brake system in the shuttle's vertical stabilizer. "While they were doing

that, they dropped some equipment offthe tray," said Jessica Rye, a NASA

spokeswoman. "What they dropped was a film processor; it struck the left hand side of

the body flap. There was some tile damage on the body flap, which they're addressing.

They're looking, of course, at structural inspectionsto evaluate if there is any structural

damage to the body flap." In Discovery's hangar (OPF Bay 3), meanwhile, engineers are

continuing inspections of the shuttle's 50-foot-long robot. Friday night, engineers

servicing the shuttle's heat shield tiles broke a light fixture. During work to vacuum up

the fragments, a telescoping bucket used to move technicians from point to point in the

cargo bay bumped into the robot arm. Insulation blankets were removed and engineers

spotted apparent damage to an aluminum grounding strap that runs the length of the arm.

In addition, there are two small indentations in the arm's so-called outer bumper, an

epoxy honeycomb material that protects the arm's underlying carbon composite structure.

One indentation is. 115 inches deep and 1 inch long and the other is .035 inches deep and

a half-inch long. During Discovery's upcoming mission, the shuttle arm will be used to

pick up a long boom equipped with cameras and laser sensors to inspect the shuttle's

heat-shield system after launch. In addition, two astronauts will ride about on the end of

the boom during the first of three planned spacewalks as part of an engineering study to

evaluate the extended arm-boom system's stability. The idea is to find out if the system

could be used for heat-shield repair work if such work is ever needed. To help evaluate

the loads on the arm-boom system, Discovery's robot arm has been instrumented and

engineers want to make sure the arm itself and the instrumentation were not damaged by

the work bucket incident. As of this writing, the arm damage does not appear to be a

threat to the shuttle schedule, but engineers won't know for sure until the ultrasound tests

are complete. Web posted. (2006). [Ultrasound on Discovery arm; Endeavour tiles hit

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spacefli_htnow.coroJ [2006, March 7].]

USA positioning itself for post-shuttle work

United Space Alliance is not resigning itself to fade into oblivion post-shnttle. The

contractor responsible for the care and feeding of the space shuttle orbiters on a daily

basis is positioning itself to become the "operator" of NASA's next fleet. To that end,

USA named Anne Martt a vice president and Constellation Program Manager. She'll be

responsible for handling USA's transition of workers, facilities and other assets fromthe

space shuttle and station programs to the new exploration program. USA, a 50-50

partnership between aerospace giants Boeing and Lockheed, has been saying for some

time it envisions itself as the "operator" for the Crew Exploration Vehicle just as it has

been for the space shuttle since the mid-1990s. USA President and CEO Mike McCulley

is reiterating that in the appointment of Martt, whose past jobs including running the

space shuttle upgrades program and a business development post chasing work for the

space alliance on new NASA programs. But McCulley notes that the company also

intendsto play a role in systems development and engineering as well. Martt starts the

newjob immediately. Web posted. (2006). [USA positioning itself for post-shuttle work

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/The Flame Trench [2006,

March 8].]

41
March 9: Mishaps damage shuttle hardware

NASA is investigating three shuttle-processing accidents in the past five days, a spate

that represents a high number of workplace incidents in such a short time. Jessica Rye, a

spokeswoman for NASA's Kennedy Space Center, said shuttle managers aim to pinpoint

the factors that led up to the incidents and determine whether they might be related. "The

management is concerned, and they are going to be looking into the incidents to see if

there is a common thread," she said. NASA managers are trying to have Discovery ready

for a targeted May 10 launch attempt, but the agency faces a tight schedule for work that

still must be completed before flight. Two of the recent accidents damaged multibilliondollar orbiters. Technicians inadvertently dropped an X-ray film processor onto the body

flap of Endeavour on Tuesday, damaging thermal tiles that protect the ship and its

astronaut crews from intense heat during atmospheric re-entry. The technicians had been

preparing to perform X-ray inspections on the shuttle's rudder speed brake. NASA now

plans additional structural inspections of the body flap to determine the extent of the

damage. The body flap provides thermal protection for the shuttle's three main engines

during ascent and also helps guide an orbiter during reentry and landing. Extra

inspections also will be carried out on the robot arm of the orbiter Discovery, which is

being readied for launch about May 10 on NASA's second post-Columbia test flight. A

bridge bucket carrying technicians from a clean-up site in shuttle Discovery's payload

bay late Saturday inadvertently struck the orbiter's 50-foot-long robot arm. Marks were

noted in two places on multi-layered insulation blankets that provide thermal protection

to the arm, which is mounted on brackets along the inside of the shuttle's cargo bay. The

blankets were removed and two small indentations were found on the arm's so-called

outer bumper, a layer of graphite epoxy that protects the composite carbon structure

beneath. The technicians in the bridge bucket had just finished cleaning up glass shards

inside the cargo bay. A technician performing thermal tile repair work Friday bumped a

heat lmnpinto a handrail. The lamp broke and glass fell into the bay. No serious damage

was apparent during any of the incidents. But they represent the most accidents in a short

span in recent years. Web posted. (2006). [Mishaps damage shuttle hardware [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, March 9].]

March 10: U.S. Spacecraft Enters Orbit Around Mars

The mostsophisticatedspacecraftever sentto Marsslippedinto orbiton Friday after

successfullyfiringbraking rockets and maneuveringitself into position while tense

controllersmonitoredfrom Earth. After ajourney of seven monthsand 310 million

miles, NASA's MarsReconnaissanceOrbiter,a largerobotic spacecraft crammedwith

six scientific instruments,performed an intricateballet of turns andengine firings to

completethe crucialstep of enteringMars'sorbitwithout careering into space. At that

point, mission controllersatthe space agency'sJetPropulsion Laboratoryin Pasadena,

Calif.,announcedthat everything hadgone as plannedandthatthe craft was orbiting

Mars. Webposted. (2006). [U.S. SpacecraftEntersOrbitAroundMars[Online].

AvailableWWW: http://www.nytimes.com/[2006,March 10].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

42
Mission: Space Technology 5 (ST5); Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.;

Launch Vehicle: Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL; Launch Date: No earlier than March 14,

2006; Launch Window: 8:57:31 to 10:19:50 a.m. EST; Targeted Drop Time: 9:02 a.m.

EST. The Pegasus rocket with ST5 was transported today from the hangar to the L-1011

ramp area next to the runway on north Vandenberg. The rocket is being mated to the

Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft. A combined systems test is scheduled for

Saturday. The integrated test between the Pegasus vehicle and the L-1011 will ensure all

connections have been established and all systems are functioning properly. A state-ofhealth check of the ST5 is also scheduled. The Launch Readiness Review is scheduled

for March 12. The four-hour, 40-minute countdown for launch is scheduled to begin at

4:20 a.m. EST, March t4; leading to launch at 9:02 a.m. EST. KSC News Center (2006).

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report #E06-009 [Online]. Available E-mail:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, March 10].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th InternationalSpace StationFlight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

LogisticsModule ;Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location:Orbiter ProcessingFacility

Bay 3 ; LaunchDate: No earlierthanMay 10, 2006 ;LaunchPad:39B; Crew: Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson andReiter ; Inclination/OrbitAltitude:51.6

degrees/122 nauticalmiles. Finalcloseouts continueon Discovery in preparationfor its

roll over from OrbiterProcessing Facility bay 3 to the Vehicle Assembly Building

(VAB). Leak cheeks of the liquid oxygen system on space shuttlemainengines No. 2 and

3 were successfully completed. OnMarch 4, space shuttletechnicians inside a work

platformdevice, called a bridge bucket, accidentallybumped into Discovery's remote

manipulatorsystem,or shuttlearm. The bridge bucketwas being used in the payload bay

to cleanup pieces of glassfrom a brokenheat lamp.That accident caused pieces of glass

to fall intothe payload bay. Initialinspectionsshowedtwo indentationsin the arm's

outer bumper,a honeycombed structuremadeof epoxy designed to protectit. One of the

indentationsis 0.115 inches deep and 1inch long. The second indentationis 0.035 inches

deep and 0.5 inches long. Inspectionsof the forward indentationwere completed

Thursdaynight, andno issues were found. The second indentationwill be inspected

today. Mission: STS-115 - 19th InternationalSpace StationFlight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar

Arrays;Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ;Location:OrbiterProcessingFacilityBay 1 ;

LaunchDate:No earlierthan Aug. 28, 2006; LaunchPad:39B;Crew:Jett, Ferguson,

Tanner,Burbank,MaeLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper; Inclination/OrbitAltitude:51.6

degrees/122 nauticalmiles. Technicians continueprocessingAtlantis for its missionto

the InternationalSpace Station.The vehicle remainsin a scheduled powered-down

period, with the next power-up as earlyastoday. Power upwill follow servicing of the

water coolant loop. OnThursday, liquid oxygen leak checks began on the spaceshuttle

main engines. Endeavour (OV-105) InOrbiterProcessingFacilitybay 2, work

continueson Endeavourfollowing an extensivemodificationperiod. The vehicle was

powered up on Wednesday following a plannedpowered-down period. Power-upsystem

testing is resuming. OnTuesday, a technicianpreparingto performX-rayson the rudder

speedbrake dropped a film processor on the left-hand side of the body flap, causing

minimaltile damage.One tile was removedand will be replaced.Ultrasound inspections

were performed, andthere is no structuraldamage to the body flap. ExternalTankFinal

43
closeouts continue in the checkout cell of the VAB on the external tank that will fly with

Discovery. The tank is designated ET-119. An "all systems" electrical checkout was

conducted on the tank approximately one week prior to shipment from NASA's Michoud

Assembly Facility in New Orleans to Kennedy. Technicians noted a minimal difference

from the expected reading on liquid hydrogen engine cutoff sensor No. 3. The sensors

indicate whether the tank still has fuel during liftoff. While the reading was within

acceptable limits, additional data evaluation is needed before the Space Shuttle Program

makes any decisions regarding flight rationale. A series of external tank wind tunnel

tests began this week and will continue for several weeks. Analysis of the testing will be

ongoing. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-

008 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hqnasa.gov

[2006, March 10].]

March 13: ST5 Launch Postponed 24 Hours Due To Weather Forecast

The launch of NASA's ST5 spacecraft aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket has

been postponed 24 hours to Wednesday, March 15, due to predicted launch weather

conditions. Due to an approaching weather system, there is an 80 percent probability of

not meeting the launch weather criteria within the area of the drop box, the location over

the Pacific Ocean where the Pegasus rocket will be dropped from the Orbital Sciences L1011 aircraft. The forecast conditions improve on Wednesday with only a 20 percent

chance of not having acceptable weather. On Wednesday, March 15, launch is targeted

for 6:02 a.m. PST. Launch coverage on NASA Television will begin at 4:30 a.m. PST.

["ST5 Launch Postponed 24 Hours Due To Weather Forecast," NASA News Release

#18-06, March 13, 2006.]

March 14: NASA Announces New Window for Next Shuttle Mission

NASA announced today July 1to 19, 2006, is the new launch planning window for Space

Shuttle Discovery's mission (STS-121). The window gives the agency time to do

additional engineering work and analysis to ensure a safe flight for Discovery and its

crew. Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale made the announcement during a

news conference from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The decision to target

July followed a two-day meeting on the external fuel tank's engine cutoff(ECO) sensors.

The sensors indicate whether the tank still has fuel during liftoff. During testing, one of

the four ECO sensors had a slightly different reading than is expected. Shuttle officials

have decided they will remove and replace all four liquid hydrogen sensors. "We've been

saying for months that our engineering work would determine when we fly our next

mission. Targeting July isthe right choice in order to make smart decisions," said Bill

Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Space Operations. Other issues factored

into the decision to adjust the STS-121 planning window: Testing and analysis are

required on the shuttle's modified external tank. The testing will help verify the tank is

safe to fly without the protuberance air load (PAL) foam ramp. The PAL ramp was

removed after a large piece of foam fell from that area during Discovery's July 2005

launch. More analysis is needed to decide whether changes are needed on the tank's ice

frost foam ramps. Repair work on the shuttle'srobotic arm must be completed.

Technicians on a work platform accidentally bumped the arm last week, causing a tiny

crack. The arm will be removed for repair. The STS-121 mission will take Shuttle

44
Commander Steve Lindsey and six crew members to the International Space Station. This

isthe second mission in the Return to Flight sequence to evaluate new heat shield

inspection and repair techniques and to deliver supplies and equipment to the station.

["NASA Announces New Window For Next Shuttle Mission," NASA News Release

#06-092, March 14, 2006.]

March 15: Shuttle launch target slipsfrom May to July

NASA has given up on making the space shuttle's May launchwindow and is focused

now on launching Discovery in July, Program Manager Wayne Hale announced March

14. The decision to shoot for the July 1-19 window for mission STS-121 followed a twoday meeting on the external fuel tank's engine cutoff (ECO) sensors, one of which is

showing warning signs that it may be developing a problem (DAILY, March 9). Shuttle

officials have decided they will remove and replace all four liquid hydrogen ECO

sensors, which will take three weeks and rules out a May launch. "This decision was not

an easy decision," Hale said during a press conference at Johnson Space Center in

Houston. The difficulty of the decision was not based on losing schedule, however, but

on the fact that going inside the tank to remove the sensors carries with it the risk of

doing additional damage. "This was not a decision about schedule," Hale said. "This was

a decision about safety." NASA still hopes to fly three missions total this year, he said.

The erratic performance of the same sensors, which are designed to cut offthe shuttle's

engines if fuel runs too low, also hampered efforts to launch Discovery on its first returnto-flight mission last year (DAILY, July 20, 2005). A subsequent investigation found that

there may be a manufacturing problem having to do with the wiring in the sensors, Hale

said. Other factors also played into the decision to slip the May schedule, which NASA

officials had already admitted contained little or no time to deal with unforeseen

contingencies (DAILY, March 1). Further testing is required to assure NASA that the

shuttle can fly without the external tank's Protuberance Air Load (PAL) ramp, which has

been removed to reduce the risk of foam debris coming loose during ascent. More

analysis also is needed to decide whether changes are needed on the tank's ice frost foam

ramps, according to NASA. Meanwhile, repair work also continues on the shuttle's

robotic arm, which was accidentally cracked last week when it got bumped. E-mail

distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re: "Shuttle

launch target slips from May to July." [Electronic]. Vol. 217. No. 49. [March 3, 2006.].]

ST5 Launch to Be Rescheduled

The launch of NASA's ST5 spacecraft aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket was

called offtoday when a locking pin in the rocket's flight control service mechanism did

not retract just prior to launch. Orbital Sciences Corporation and NASA engineers will

diagnose and correct the problem. A new launch date will be established at the earliest

opportunity pending resolution of the issue, the availability of the Western Range, and

acceptable weather conditions at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., launch site. The

delay will be at least 48 hours. ["ST5 Launch To Be Rescheduled," NASA News

Release #19-06, March 15, 2006.]

Statement from Center Director Jim Kennedy

45
To the KSC Workforce: "I have called for a 2-hour Centerwide Safety Standdown to be

held Thursday, March 16, 2006, from 2-4 p.m. Please take this time to reflect on how

you and your fellow employees ensure the safety of each other and the billions of dollars

worth of assets the American people have entrusted us with. We have an awesome

mission here at KSC--launching astronauts and payloads into space. To accomplish this

hazardous mission, Safety must be our number one value. Spending this time to reflect

on safety will help us stop, in its tracks, the chain of events that led me to call for this

Safety Standdown. Additional information will be provided by your KSC leadership

team and will also be available, along with a video message from me to you, on March 16

at the following link: http://nasa.kse.nasa._ov/safetyhealth06/index.html. Thank you for

all you have done to make KSC's safety record world-class, but remember, past

performance does not guarantee future success. Only our commitment to safety can do

this." Jim Kennedy. E-mail distribution. (2006). [Kennedy,James W. Re: "Centerwide

Safety Standdown" [Electronic]. [March 15, 2006.].]

March 16: Firm plans 1,000 space jobs

ASRC Aerospace Corp. plans to add as many as 1,000jobs during the next several years

at Kennedy Space Center, as the high-teeh company works on projects aimed at helping

the transition to a new space vehicle. Experts say those jobs will boost the economy, as

NASA shifts from launching space shuttles into orbit to developing the new Crew

Exploration Vehicle that will send astronauts to the moon and Mars. The jobs ASRC will

add mainly are engineering positions paying in a range of $40,000 for entry level and up

to $100,000 for more senior positions, consistent with other engineering jobs in the state,

company officials said. ASRC now employs about 230 people in Cape Canaveral and 700

eompanywide. The jobs ASRC is looking for would be a mix of savvy veterans and new

graduatesto "help build a new generation of designers," said Dick Lyon, vice president

for Florida operations of ASRC. "This is not a one-time thing. The CEV program.., will

be going on for the next 35 or 40 years, so it's critical to retain the skills that keep

Brevard the place for space." The jobs the company is planning to add to the area,

combinedwith the innovation of its technologies and research, helped ASRC win the

Florida Space Authority's 2006 Florida Space Business Award, beating out 24 other

firms.ASRC also was cited for developing innovations that help the space program,

investing in space technologies and forging partnerships with area universities. ASRC, is

based in Anchorage, Alaska, and was started by Inupiat Eskimos. Web posted. (2006).

[Fimaplans 1,000 space jobs [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/

[2006, March 16].]

Brevard delegation fights for space interests

WhenNASA AdministratorMike Griffincomesto call today, Floridaofficials will show

unifiedpublic supportfor the state'sspace endeavors. Griffin'svisitto the Capitol is part

of SpaceDay, anannualeventto drawlegislative attentionto the state'saerospace

industry. Behind the scenestoday, the Legislatureand governor'soffice are squabbling

over how to reorganize the state'sspace agenciesto best capturethe space flight business,

who will control it and where it will be based. "Iwish someonewould tell the Brevard

delegation that administrationfitsfunction," saidLt.Gov. Toni Jennings, who is pushing

Gov. JebBush'sspace plan. The governor'sbill createsa single agency, Space Florida,

46
under the wing of the state's privatized economic development agency, Enterprise

Florida. The House and Senate sponsors include Rep. Ralph Poppell, R-Vero Beach, and

Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Indialantic. The bill gives the governor's office and Enterprise

Florida broad authority over business development and space education programs, now

housed among several small state agencies based in Brevard County. But it is a problem

forsome local lawmakers, who say Bush is ignoring local needs while overreaching,

creating a new bureaucracy instead of honing the existing one. A competing bill offered

by the House Spaceport and Technology Committee, led by Rep. Bob Alien, R-Merritt

Island, preserves the state's business and education space agencies under the umbrella of

a revived Space Florida Management Council. That, in turn, would answer to the new

Space Florida. Allen's committee bill also requires that Space Florida be located close to

Kennedy Space Center. "I would remind Toni Jennings that the Brevard boys are the ones

who have to watch two, three, four-thousand people laid off at a whack," Allen said. "It's

our community." Web posted. (2006). [Brevard delegation fights forspace interests

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.fioridatoda¥.com/[2006, March 16].]

Videotaped message from KSC Director to employees

The following is a transcript of a videotaped message from Kennedy Space Center

DirectorJames Kennedy. After a rash of recent shuttle processing accidents, Kennedy

called for a two-hour safety stand-down on Thursday, March 16. The message was

broadcast via closed circuit television to various KSC work sites: "I appreciate a few

moments of your time as I address the No. 1 value at KSC - Safety. First and foremost,

the Kennedy Space Center has an excellent safety record. Our personnel injury rates are

world-class, exemplified by USA, SGS, NASA and Boeing being awarded the coveted

VPP Star Certification. Even better, we have not experienced a major mishap involving

flight hardware during ground processing in more than 15 years. However, our past does

not guarantee future success. In the last few weeks alone, KSC has experienced a rash of

close calls and mishaps leading me to call for a two-hour Center-wide Safety Standdown. Let me give you some specific examples that led to this decision. First, during an

orbiterjack transfer, an unexpected movement of Endeavour's nose landing gear

occurred. This incident could have resulted in major damage to the Orbiter. Next, we

inadvertently overpressurized Atlantis' Water Coolant Loop, resulting in damage to the

water accumulators. Then, in less than a seven-day period, we had three more incidents.

We damaged Discovery's robotic arm while moving the bridge bucket, which will

require removal and replacement of the arm. Next, an X-ray film container was dropped

onto a body flap tile on Endeavour, which will require repair. Finally, workers started a

small fire during roof repairs to the VAB, the consequences of which could have been

catastrophic. These incidents were experienced by several different organizations on

Center and there is no apparent common cause. However, I considered all a threat to

successfully accomplishing our mission - the launching of astronauts and payloads into

space. I called for this Safety Stand-down so the workforce can focus on SAFETY. In

the next two hours, I would like each of you to focus on two awesome responsibilities we

all have. First, we are responsible for human lives! The Apollo 1 fire and the loss of

Challenger and Columbia vividly remind us of this. Also, we all play a part in ensuring

the safety of our fellow employees. An employee who cleans up a spill may be keeping

somebody from slipping and falling. The fall-protection you tell your fellow employee to

47
wear may save his or her life. It's the small things each of us do on a daily basis that

ensurewe, and our fellow employees, make it home to our families at the end of the day.

Second, the American people have entrusted us with significant assets. Remember, this is

America's space program, notjust NASA's. Our assets include not only flight hardware

but the facilities, systems and utilities required to successfully accomplish our mission.

KSC is, and will continue to be, the only United States facility capable of human space

launches. Many of our facilities and systems, such as the VAB, are not only critical to our

mission, but national treasures. Every employee at KSC is entrusted with the care of these

facilities and flight hardware. We are expected to be good stewards of what the taxpayers

of this country have provided. We understand that incidents may occur but a major

mishap could result in losing the confidence of the American people to execute our

mission as NASA's Launch Operations Center. This could derail NASA's plans to

complete the International Space Station and begin exploration of the moon, Mars and

beyond. We MUST stop, in their tracks, the chain of events that led me to call for this

Safety Stand-down. Discovery is approaching rollout of the second Return-To-Flight

mission. With this launch, and subsequent launches, NASA will complete the assembly

of the International Space Station. Also, KSC is beginning the tremendous task of

preparing our infrastructure for the Constellation program. This will require significant

construction in the LC-39 and industrial areas. Taken separately, any one of these tasks is

a major safety challenge. Together, they present KSC with a safety challenge unmatched

by anything since Apollo - performing major construction in the middle of flight

hardware processing. I know we are up to this safety challenge and our commitment to

achieving it begins today. In all you do, remember that safety is our highest priority and

we will not process, launch or build anything unless it is safe to do so. I have total faith

that together we will rise to the challenge, stop the mishaps and SAFELY complete the

work the American public entrusted to us! Thank you for your time." Web posted.

(2006). [Videotaped message from KSC Director to employees [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, March 17].]

Boeing to let 41 space station workers go

The Boeing Co. on Friday officially will send out 60-day layoff notices to 41 employees

because of a reductionin processing requirementsfor the InternationalSpace Station,

business reporterWayne Price will report tomorrow. Boeing, which employs 1,700

people inBrevard County, saidchanges in the space shuttlemanifest made it necessary to

eliminatesome positionsrelated to the work done atthe Space StationProcessing

Facility. The presidentialdirective to retire the orbitersin 2010, along with budget and

overarchingsafety concernswith the agingfleet, has promptedthe space agency to adjust

its manifest from 28 to about 16-18to finish spacestationconstruction. That meansless

payloadsand integrationwork atthe SSPF. SusanWells, aBoeing spokeswoman,says

thatthe companywill tryto "absorb" the workers into otherjobs. Web posted. (2006).

[Boeing to let 41 space stationworkersgo [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, March 16].]

Griffin: KSC ready for future

NASA Administrator Mike Griffin told legislators at the Capitol on Thursday the

Kennedy Space Center could adapt itself to any new needs the space industry has for

48
decadesto come. He assured House members that NASA's vertical launch systems at

KSC and commercial structures at Cape Canaveral are adequate, despite increased

attention to the development of horizontal launch sites. But should horizontal launches

become the standard platform, NASA can adapt, he said. "I'll note that on the north side

on Merritt Island is quite a lot of undisturbed land that could accommodate whatever

runways need to be built," Griffin said. Gov. Jeb Bush is pushing legislation to collapse

several state space-related agencies into one, Space Florida, under the wing of the

governor's office and Florida's privatized business development agency, Enterprise

Florida. The governor faces opposition from Brevard County's delegation, which wants

to streamline existing agencies, and keep them headquartered near KSC. Griffin spoke to

legislators Thursday as part of Space Day. But some lawmakers quipped that

environmentalists might shudder at giving up Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

next to Kennedy Space Center. "I have only limited interest in that, I'm sorry," Griffin

said. Web posted. (2006). [Griffin: KSC ready for future [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, March !7].]

NASA Honors Apollo Moon Walker Buzz Aldrin

NASA will honor former astronaut Buzz Aldrin for his involvement in the U.S. space

program with the presentation of the Ambassador of Exploration Award on Saturday,

March 25 at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. NASA is presenting the

Ambassador of Exploration Award to the 38 astronauts and other key individuals who

participated in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs for realizing America's

vision of space exploration from 1961to 1972. The award is a small sample of lunar

material encased in Lucite and mounted for public display. The material is part of the 842

pounds of samples brought back to Earth during the six Apollo lunar expeditions from

1969 to 1972.Aldrin's award will be displayed in the Sketch Foundation Gallery: Air &

Space Exhibits, California Science Center, 700 State Street, Los Angeles. ["NASA

Honors Apollo Moon Walker Buzz Aldrin, NASA Media Advisory #M06-045, March

16, 2006.]

March 17: NASA changing out windows on Discovery

NASA contractor technicians are replacing two cockpit windows on shuttle Discovery

with windows that have passed more stringent pressure tests. The work is being done in

hangar No. 3 of the Orbiter Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. Each shuttle

orbiter has six forward and two overhead cockpit windows. NASA isreplacing the No. 3

and No. 5 forward windows on Discovery because they were not subjected to pressure

tests at levels that would prove they meet engineering specifications. The loss of a

window in flight would cause a loss of cabin pressure that could force a crew to attempt a

risky and unprecedented emergency landing. NASA earlier this week delayed

Discovery's targeted May launch to no earlier than July 1:Mission managers decided to

take advantage of the extra time and replace the windows. Web posted. (2006). [NASA

changing out windows on Discovery [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com/The Flame Trench [2006, March 17].]

Death to elevate KSC safety concerns

49
The death of a roof repairman at Kennedy Space Center on March 17, one day after the

center held a safety "stand down" to review safety procedures, will elevate concerns

about safety consciousness as the site transitions from the shuttle to Crew Exploration

Vehicle operations. The roofer fell from a Kennedy building and was not involved in any

aerospace activities. But the accident serves as a reminder about the risks inherent in

launch site operations. The accident came just a day after James Kennedy, center director,

had the entire work force pause for two hours to hear safety re-emphasized by managers

and quality control personnel. The stand down came in the wake of accidental damage to

the orbiter Discovery's manipulator arm and another incident in which Endeavour's body

flap was damaged. Other recent incidents occurred when jacking Endeavour and

pressurizing the Atlantis water coolant system, an event that damaged water accumulators

in the spacecraft. "We understand that incidents may occur, but a major mishap could

result in losing the confidence of the American people to execute our mission as NASA's

Launch Operations Center. This could derail NASA's plans to complete the International

Space Station and begin exploration of the moon, Mars and beyond," Kennedy said about

the shuttle incidents that caused the safety stand down. "We must stop, in their tracks, the

chain of events that led...for this safety stand down," Kennedy told the center's work

force. E-mail distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Re: "Death to elevate KSC safety concerns," [Electronic]. Vol. 217. No. 52. [March 21,

2006.].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - l 8th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ;Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Orbiter Processing Facility

Bay 3 ; Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 1-19, 2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B;

Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit

Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. On Tuesday, Space Shuttle Program

management announced Discovery's new launch planning window of July l to 19. This

window provides the agency time to change the shuttle's external fuel tank engine cutoff

sensors and to perform additional engineering analysis to ensure a safe flight for

Discovery and its crew. Discovery's damaged remote manipulator system (shuttle arm)

was removed from the payload bay on Tuesday. The lower section of the arm is en route

to Canada today, so repairs can begin on the damaged section. Leak checks were

successfully completed on all three space shuttle main engines, and thermal protection

system foaming operations around the engines are under way. Removal and replacement

of windowsNumber 3 and 5 have begun. Although the windows in the vehicle meet

specification, the new ones have been tested to a higher pressure. Mission: STS-115 -

19th International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis

(OV-104) ;Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date: No earlier than

Aug. 28, 2006; Launch Pad: 39B; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and

Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. The

vehicle was powered up March 10. Work continues with powered up system testing.

Main propulsion system leak and functional checks were completed on Tuesday, with

final space shuttle main engine operations continuing once engine No. 3 is installed.

Endeavour (OV-105) ; In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2, work continues on

Endeavour following an extensive modification period. Installation is under way on a

5O
new modification called the station-to-shuttle power transfer system. It will enable the

shuttle to stay docked longer than normal to the space station. On Wednesday,

technicians completed the leak-check requirements to support the multi-purpose logistics

module. External Tank ; Following a two-day engineering discussion to determine

whether one of the four extemal tank engine cutoff (ECO) sensors needed to be changed,

program management decided to remove and replace all four liquid hydrogen sensors in

the external tank. These sensors indicate whether the tank still has fuel during its climb to

orbit. During normal testing, one of the four ECO sensors had a slightly different reading

than was expected, and its performance in flight was questioned. The work will be

completed at Kennedy in the Vehicle Assembly Building's external tank checkout cell.

The change out will be performed by technicians from NASA's Michoud Assembly

Facility who are most familiar with this particular work. The replacement of the sensors

will take approximately 22 days to complete and is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-009

[Online]. Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006,

March 17].]

NASA Appoints Board To Investigate Shuttle Arm Incident

NASA has formed a board at the agency's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., to investigate the

March 4 incident that damaged Space Shuttle Discovery's remote manipulator system

(shuttle arm). Hugo Delgado is chairman of the five-member investigation board. He is

deputy director for the Office of the Chief Engineer at Kennedy. The board is supported

by one ex-officio member, four advisors and administrative personnel. Board functions

include investigating the facts surrounding the incident, determining its probable cause,

assessing the possibility of a recurrence and recommending corrective actions. A final

report is expected this summer. On March 4 at about 10:10 p.m. EST, shuttle technicians

inside a bridge bucket work platform device accidentally bumped into Discovery's

robotic arm. The arm is a 50-foot-long, jointed extension used to grapple payloads,

remove them from the payload bay and move spacewalking astronauts to various work

platforms. Inspections showed two indentations in the arm's outer bumper layer, a

Kevlar-covered plastic, honeycombed structure designed to protect the arm from minor

impacts. One of the indentations in the honeycombed layer is oval shaped, 0.115 inch

deep and 1 inch in diameter. The second indentation, also oval shaped, is 0.035 inch

deep and 0.5 inch in diameter. Ultrasound inspections were performed once the Kevlar

and honeycombed layer were removed. Under the largest indentation was a small crack in

the carbon-fiber composite, measuring 1.25 inches long and 0.0!5 inches deep. The arm

was removed from the vehicle on Tuesday and will be sent back to the vendor for repair.

The shuttle is in Kennedy's Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3. It is undergoing

preparations for the STS-121 mission to the International Space Station. The launch is

targeted for no earlier than July 1. ["NASA Appoints Baord To Investigate Shuttle Arm

Incident," NASA News Release #06-100, March 17, 2006.]

NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: Space Technology 5 (ST5); Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.;

Launch Vehicle: Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL; Launch Date: No earlier than March 22,

2006; Launch Window: 8:57:31 to 10:19:50 a.m. EST; Targeted Drop Time: 9:02 a.m.

51
EST. The weather outlook is generally favorable for a launch attempt on March 22.

Testing and troubleshooting on the Pegasus rocket by the NASA and Orbital Sciences

engineering team is under way. It is undetermined why the starboard flight control

surface fin pin did not retract during the March 15 launch attempt. The Pegasus fin

batteries have been removed and replaced in accordance with standard procedure

following a launch attempt. They had been activated for the pre-deployment fin sweep

tests during the terminal countdown sequence. A Launch Readiness Review is scheduled

for Monday, March 20. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable Launch Vehicle Status

Report #E06-010 [Online]. Available E-mail: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, March

17].]

March 18: Redstone remembered

Tonight's reunion of the last remnants of the trailblazers who blasted America into the

high frontier frames a bittersweet snapshot about the passage of time and local

indifference to history. "They're coming from as far away as California and Arizona,"

says Redstone Missile Pioneers reunion organizer Pat Grimbly, who estimates a closed

attendance of 120 people at the Radisson at the Port in Port Canaveral. "But we won't be

able to do it again. We're all in our 70s, 80s and 90s now." The tribute will celebrate the

Redstone rocket program, which ignited the United States' aerospace odyssey from Cape

Canaveral in 1953. Its special guest will be Konrad Dannenberg, one of the last surviving

V-2 missile scientists who followed visionary Dr. Wernher von Braun to America after

World War II. Web posted. (2006). [Redstone remembered [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, March 18].]

March 20: Helms to take over at Patrick

Patrick Air Force Base's 45th Space Wing will get its first woman commander. Col.

Susan Helms, a former astronaut and veteran of five space flights who served as vice

commander of the 45th Space Wing until February 2005, is expected to return as

commander by mid-summer. No date has been announced. She replaces Brig. Gen. Mark

Owen, who has been commander of the 45th Space Wing since August 2004. He has

been reassigned to the Pentagon, the Department of Defense announced Friday. Helms,

who has been selected to become a brigadier general, returned to the Air Force after 12

years at NASA. She flew several shuttle missions and spent a combined 163 days aboard

the International Space Station from March to August 2001. The commanders' post is a

key role in national security. The commander oversees the launch of most of the

Pentagon's spy, communications and navigational satellites from Cape Canaveral Air

Force Station. She also will work closely with NASA and commercial launch companies.

Web posted. (2006). [Helms to take over at Patrick [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, March 20].]

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Second OSB Building

Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Bill Parsons, members of center management

and local industry officials will participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the

Operations Support Building (OSB) II on Friday, March 24, at 9:30 a.m. The OSB II is

an agency safety and health initiative project to replace modular housing and trailers in

the Launch Complex 39 area. The OSB II project eliminated 198,466 square feet of

52
substandard modular housing and trailers, equivalent to 276 singlewide trailers. The

facility represents a firm commitment by the center to provide a safe, efficient and

attractive workspace for the employees. The new five-story, 189,000-square-foot

building consists of approximately 960 office spaces, a 300-person mission conference

center with observation deck, training rooms, computer rooms, multimedia conference

rooms, and technical libraries. ["Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Second Operations

Support Building," NASA News Release #21-06, March 20, 2006.]

March 21: NASA Announces ST5 Spacecraft Launch Set for Wednesday

The second launchattemptof NASA's Space Technology 5 spacecraftis scheduledfor

Wednesday,March 22 at 9:02 a.m.EST.NASA TV begins live coverage at7:30 a.m.

EST. Departureof the L-1011 aircraftcarryingthe Orbital Sciences PegasusXL rocket

andST5 is scheduled for 8:04 a.m. EST,from VandenbergAir Force Base,Calif. The

Pegasus/ST5launch istargeted over the PacificOcean, 145 miles northwestof

Vandenberg.The launchwindow closes at 10:20 a.m. EST. The weather forecaston

Wednesdayis generally favorablewith an 80 percentchance of meeting launchcriteria.

Duringthe firstlaunch attempton March 15,the Pegasusstarboardflight control surface

fin pindid not retractresulting in an abortedattempt.NASA and Orbital Sciences

completedanengineering analysis,butthe exact cause of the malfunctioncould notbe

determined.The most likely reasonwasthe pinretractorsystemfailed to operatedueto

the formationof ice. The mechanismwas removedandreplacedin case there were other

contributingcauses. Steps have also been takento mitigatepotentialwaterintrusionthat

could form ice during captive carry. ["NASA AnnouncesST5 SpacecraftLaunch Set for

Wednesday," NASA News Release #22-06, March 2!, 2006.]

March 22: Pegasus launches ST5

A Pegasusrocket successfully launchedthe threemicrosatellitesthatcomprise NASA's

SpaceTechnology 5 (ST5) mission Wednesdaymorning.The Pegasus XL was dropped

from its L-1011 aircraftand ignitedits engine at 9:04 am, offthe coast from central

California.The three ST5 spacecraftwere successfullyplacedinto anellipticalorbit

ranging in altitudebetween 300 and4,500 kilometers about20 minuteslater.The launch

was previouslyscheduled for a week ago but scrubbed atthe lastminutewhen apin that

holds a controlfin in place on the booster failed to retracton command.The three ST5

microsatellitesare designed to test a numberof spacecrafttechnologies while performing

measurementsof the Earth'smagnetosphere.Web posted. (2006). [PegasuslaunchesST5

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006,March 20].]

March 23: 2nd Probe Ordered in Space Center Accident

For the second time in a week, NASA hastakenthe infrequentstep of appointinga board

to investigatean accidentatthe KennedySpace Center. The five-memberboard

appointed Thursday will examine how a construction worker fell off a warehouse last

week while performing roof repairs. The worker died later at a hospital. A final report

with recommendations on safety procedures is expected in a month, said NASA

spokesman Bruce Buckingham. The panel's appointment comes almost a week after

another investigative committee was formed to examine how the robotic arm of space

shuttle Discovery was dented by a platform being used to clean up broken glass earlier

53
this month. The Discovery mishap was one in a series this year at the space center. In

January, workers did not lock down space shuttle Endeavour's nose wheel landing gear

while transferring it between floor jacks, causing the orbiter to pitch forward. Earlier this

month, an X-ray film container was dropped on Endeavour, requiring tile repairs. Two

weeks ago, workers repairing the roof of the vehicle assembly building inadvertently

started a small fire. There was no major damage. Web posted. (2006). [2nd Probe

Ordered in Space Center Accident [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/[2006, March 23].]

March 24: Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th InternationalSpace StationFlight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

LogisticsModule ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location:Orbiter Processing Facility

Bay 3 ;LaunchDate:LaunchPlanningWindowJuly 1-19, 2006 ;LaunchPad: 39B;

Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit

Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. Technicians continue to process Discovery

and close out completed areas for its launch to the International Space Station. The

seven-member STS-121 crew was at Kennedy on Monday for the station crew equipment

interface test. This standard test provides the crew with hands-on experiences with

equipment that will be used on orbit. Final closeouts of the space shuttle main engines

continue with thermal protection system foaming operations around the engines.

Techniciansremoved and replaced windows No. 3 and 5. Work continues in the payload

bay in preparation for reinstallation of the remote manipulator system, or shuttle arm. The

repaired arm is scheduled to return to Kennedy from the vendor in Canada in early April.

Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays ;

Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date:

No earlier than Aug. 28, 2006; Launch Pad: 39B; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank,

MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical

miles. Technicians continue to perform powered-up system testing on Atlantis for its

mission to the International Space Station. The final space shuttle main engine is

scheduled to be installed in early April, and then final main propulsion leak checks will

be performed. Global positioning system fimctional checks are scheduled to resume

today. Removal and replacement of the water coolant loop No. 2 pump package was

completed Wednesday. Following the installation of the pump package, the system was

retested, and leak checks were completed. Endeavour (OV-105); Work continues on

Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2, ;following an extensive modification

period. Technicians continued implementing the new return-to-flight modifications that

have been added to the other two vehicles. Upgrades include the orbiter boom sensor

system, sensors in the wing leading edges, and the new digital camera to view the

external tank. Fuel cell No. 2 installation is scheduled to begin as early as March 29.

Endeavour's external airlock arrived at Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday and is set to be

installed into the payload bay in early April. External Tank; The external tank that will

flywith Discovery on the STS-121 mission is in the Vehicle Assembly Building

checkout cell where work is scheduled to begin on Monday. Technicians will remove and

replace the external tank's four liquid hydrogen engine cutoff sensors, which indicate

whether the tank still has fuel during its climb to orbit. The replacement will be

performed by the technicians from NASA's Miehoud Assembly Facility who are most

54
familiar with this particular work. This work will take approximately 22 days to

complete. On Monday, the technicians will begin removing the foam on the bottom of the

tank and then remove a cover, called the "manhole." This will provide access to the area

to begin the removal and replacement of the sensors. Owner-press-release. (2006).

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-010 [Online]. Available E-mall: ownerpress-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, March 24].]

March 25: Investigators: Launch put public at risk

Everythingappearednormal June5, 2002, asshuttleEndeavourthunderedto orbitfrom

Kennedy Space Center through hazy afternoon skies. Unknown to the public, however,

the Air Force's top two safety officials at Cape Canaveral had tried to stop the

countdown. Air Force technicians could not verify that a critical backup system used to

destroy errant rockets was working properly. In an apparently unprecedented move, the

safety officers were overruled after a phone conversation between Brig. Gen. Donald

Pettit, commander of the Air Force's 45th Space Wing, and KSC Director Roy Bridges.

Endeavour launched minutes later in violation of flight rules designed to protect the

public. Those and other findings are detailed in a 2005 internal briefing on the incident

written by investigators with NASA's Office of the Inspector General. Despite those

findings, NASA Inspector General Robert "Moose" Cobb derailed the inquiry and

declared the issue an Air Force matter last year, according to investigators familiar with

the case. Sources in Cobb's office said they were forbidden from interviewing Bridges

and Pettit or requesting crucial information from the Air Force. Cobb, a White House

political appointee, is under investigation by an administration integrity committee after

being accused of repeatedly quashing cases and retaliating against those who resisted.

All manned and unmanned rocket launches from KSC and Cape Canaveral are supported

by the Air Force's Eastern Range. The range is a network of tracking and

communications stations that extend more than 5,000 miles from Cape Canaveral to

Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. The network is managed in the Range Operations

Control Center, or ROCC, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. One of the main reasons

the range exists is to ensure public safety. All rockets launched from Cape Canaveral are

equipped with explosive devices to destroy them if they veer off course. Both of the

shuttle's pencil-shaped booster rockets have such devices, which range-safety officers can

detonate by remote control. During the !986 Challenger disaster, a safety officer used the

system to destroy the shuttle's still-intact boosters asthey arced uncontrollably away from

the massive explosion. As with other critical functions, the so-called command-destruct

system has a backup communication link in case the primary link fails. Launch rules

mandate that both links must be working properly before a mission lifts off. On June 5,

2002, Endeavour was poised to begin a 14-day flight to the international space station.

Bad weather and a faulty valve in one of Endeavour's rocket pods had delayed the launch

for almost a week. Weather conditions were expected to worsen the next day. As

countdown clocks ticked toward a 5:23 p.m. liftoff, the backup command-destruct link

went down about 2:30?[p.m. Components were changed out, but still the link wouldn't

work. After more troubleshooting, the system faded in and out before being reported back

online about 3 p.m. However, the link went down again less than an hour later.

According to the document drafted by investigators, Pettit and Bridges discussed the

problem at some point late in the countdown in a "totally non-standard procedure" that

55
occurred off of the regular communications network used by range personnel. The

investigators concluded it would be "unacceptable" for the KSC director, who has no role

in the final countdown, and the range commander to privately develop a rationale for

waiving a safety requirement. There was a "distinct probability" that occurred,

investigators determined, although there was no definitive proof. "Because we weren't

allowed to interview the two key people, Bridges and Pettit, we don't know exactly what

was said," a former NASA investigator familiar with the case pointed out. "But everyone

in the room knew Pettit was off the net[work] and on the phone with Bridges." Bridges,

who retired from NASA last year, said Friday he did not remember the incident but that

he typically spoke to range officials only to get updates on problems. By an hour before

launch, Pettit had decided to waive the requirement for two command-destruct links,

investigators found. The ROCC, from which Pettit worked, is several miles from KSC's

Launch Control Center. Although there are communications between the two, NASA's

shuttle-launch team relies solely on the Air Force for the decision on whether the range is

"red" or "green." Two range officials -- the mission flight-control officer and the chief of

safety -- are responsible for determining whether the command-destruct system is

working and the public is protected. During the final poll before liftoff, both responded

"no go" because of the system's problems. Pettit overruled them, however, and declared

the range green "with little if any discussion," according to the briefing document drafted

by investigators. Shuttle managers launched Endeavour without ever knowing of the

safety officers' actions. "The commander has the authority to do that," a NASA

investigator said. "But the review couldn't find another case where this had happened."

Just before Endeavour's liftoff, internal system testing appeared to indicate the backup

link was working. However, investigators found that the "functionality of the 2nd string

was never verified" and an "external test [was] never conducted to verify

communications with [the launch] vehicle." The incident might have escaped scrutiny if

not for the efforts of Wally Toolan, a former range-safety officer at Cape Canaveral.

Toolan wrote a letter to the Air Force Inspector General's Office on June 30, 2002, that

accused Pettit of violating launch rules. Three months later, the Air Force Inspector

General's Office responded to Toolan after completing its investigation. The inquiry

found that "available evidence did not indicate any wrongdoing or misconduct on the part

of the wing commander" and that there was insufficient information to investigate

further. Toolan persisted with more letters. The Air Force refused to reopen the case, but

in August 2003 it referred his eomplaint to the NASA Inspector General's Office. NASA

reviewers found no evidence of criminal behavior, so they forwarded the information to

the division that audits safety issues. NASA investigators finally were assigned to the

case in November 2004 -- almost 2 1/2 years after the launch. Their preliminary findings

were very different from the Air Force's. Several crucial issues were raised. The biggest

was whether the shuttle program should rely solely on the Air Force to determine whether

the range is safe for launch. Investigators recommended that NASA independently verify

the range's status. KSC's safety office was unaware of the range problem during the

countdown.NASA shuttle managers said they would not have proceeded without further

discussion had they known the range's safety officers were "no go." Before Endeavour's

2002 launch, the shuttle program stationed a representative in the ROCC who had limited

access to flight controllers' conversations over internal Air Force channels. For

Discovery's launch last July, KSC's safety office sent someone to the ROCC to monitor

56
communications. However, that person has no direct link to KSC's Launch Control

Center during the countdown, a former investigator said. Web posted. (2006).

[Investigators: Launch put public at risk [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/[2006, March 25].]

March 26: Unions pledge to finance space jobs

Laborunionleaders say usingup to $250 million of theirmembers'pension fundsis a

risk they're willing to take to save local jobs in the space industry. Unions with

thousands of workers at Kennedy Space Center are pledging the pension money in the

hope of getting the state to provide matching funds for the proposed $500 million

Aerospace Workforce Challenge Fund. Officials said the money would be used to invest

in aerospace industry expansion and development opportunities, and construction and

upgrades of space-related facilities. They hope to create jobs as NASA phases out the

shuttle program and begins work on a future spacecraft and launch program. "There's

always a risk," said Jeff Rainey, a local business representative for the International

Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which has more than 2,500 workers

on the Space Center. Union officials said the uncertainties seem better than the

alternative: possibly losing an estimated 3,000 to 7,000 space-related jobs on the Space

Coast as NASA phases out the shuttle. The shuttle replacement vehicle is expected to

require fewer workers. Web posted. (2006). [Unionspledge to finance space jobs

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.eom/[2006, March 26].]

March 27: Panel to deliver report on KSC death in one month.

In one month a NASA investigation board is expected to deliver its report on the death of

construction worker Steven Owens, who fell 16 feet while performing roof repairs at

Kennedy Space Center on March 17. Owens was airlifted to a hospital in Orlando and

died later that day. The five-member investigation board is chaired by veteran astronaut

John Casper, manager of the Space Shuttle Management Integration and Planning Office

at Johnson Space Center in Houston. E-mail distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's

Aerospace Dailv& Defense Report Re: "Panel to deliver report on KSC death in one

month." [Electronic]. Vol. 217. No. 57. [March 27, 2006.].]

NASA attempts fuel tank repair

Kennedy Space Center technicians will take on a lengthy and unusualjob today, one

aimed at getting inside a shuttle external tank to swap out suspect fuel sensors. "It's not a

trivial process," said John Chapman, manager of NASA's external tank project at

Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. "There are certain risks involved," NASA

shuttle program manager Wayne Hale added. "You could damage the tank." Delivered to

KSC earlier this month, the 154-foot-tall tank is hanging vertically inside the 52-story

Vehicle Assembly Building. A March 14 decision to replace four fuel-depletion sensors

in the bottom of the tank prompted NASA to delay the planned launch of its second postColumbia shuttle mission from May to July. The sensors serve the same purpose as

automobile fuel gauges and also provide a backup means of making sure the shuttle's

three liquid-fueled main engines shut down properly in flight. A malfunction could

prompt a premature shutdown, which could lead to a risky and unprecedented

emergency-landing attempt. A failure also could allow the engines to run dry, causing

57
powerful turbopumps to seize up, break apart and possibly prompt a catastrophe.

Technicians have built scaffolding that will provide a work platform beneath the domeshaped bottom of the tank. A makeshift clean room also was put in place to make certain

no dirt or other contmninants get inside the tank. The replacement work will begin today

as technicians start to remove foam insulation from a 3-foot-wide manhole cover bolted

on the bottom of the tank. Later this week, the cover will be taken off and a technician

will climb inside. The four sensors are on a bracket attached to an internal shock mount

that crisscrosses the bottom of the tank. The technician will remove the bracket, replace it

and then exit the tank. After the manhole cover is bolted back in place, the tank will be

hoisted out of the checkout cell and onto a horizontal transporter in the center aisle of the

assembly building. The move will enable technicians to reapply foam insulation on the

bottom of the tank, a lengthy process that involves spraying several layers of liquid foam

and allowing each to harden. All in all, the sensor swap is expected to take about 22

days. "It takestime," Chapman said. "But it's a straight-forward process." The changeout work will be followed by the mating of the tank to a pair of 149-foot-tall solid rocket

boostersthat already are stacked on a mobile launcher platform in the assembly building.

The orbiter Discovery will be connected to the tank late next month. NASA hopes to

launch the shuttle about July 1. Web posted. (2006). [NASA attempts fuel tank repair

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.comJ [2006, March 27].]

March 27: NASA Reinstates the Dawn Mission

NASA senior management announced a decision Monday to reinstate the Dawn mission,

a robotic exploration of two major asteroids. Dawn had been canceled because of

technical problems and cost overruns. The mission, named because it was designed to

study objects dating from the dawn of the solar system, would travel to Vesta and Ceres,

two of the largest asteroids orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter. Dawn will use an

electric ion propulsion system and orbit multiple objects. The mission originally was

approved in December 2001 and was set for launch in June 2006. Technical problems

and other difficulties delayed the projected launch date to July 2007 and pushed the cost

from its original estimate of $373 million to $446 million. The decision to cancel Dawn

was made March 2, 2006, after about $257 million already had been spent. An additional

expenditure of about $14 million would have been required to terminate the project.The

reinstatement resulted from a review process that is part of new management procedures

established by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. The process is intended to help

ensure open debate and thorough evaluation of major decisions regarding space

exploration and agency operations. "We revisited a number of technical and financial

challenges and the work being done to addressthem," said NASA Associate

Administrator ex Geveden, who chaired the review panel. "Our review determined the

project team has made substantive progress on many of this mission's technical issues,

and, in the end, we have confidence the mission will succeed." ["NASA Reinstates the

Dawn Mission," NASA News Release #06-108, March 27, 2006.]

NASA Extends Cew Exploration Vehicle Contracts

NASA has authorized contract extensions for development of the agency's new Crew

Exploration Vehicle. The companies, Lockheed Martin Corp., and a team of Northrop

Gmmman systems Corp., and The Boeing Co., were selected as CEV Phase 1 contractors

58
in June 2005. They have been working with NASA to define requirements and develop

conceptual designs for the agency's next-generation vehicle for human space flight. The

estimated maximum total value for each Phase 1 contract, including the extension to Aug.

31 and the optional extension periods, is approximately $60 million for each contractor.

The approximate value of the basic extension period from March 31 to Aug. 31 is $17.5

million for each contractor; the approximate value of each two-month option is $7

million. One of the Phase 1 contractors will be selected as the Phase 2 prime contractor to

design, develop, test, evaluate and produce the CEV. Although the new contract

authorizations include options that could extend the Phase 1 work until December, NASA

expects to select the Phase 2 prime contractor by August. The new contract extends

Phase 1 work from March 31 until Aug. 31 and adds options for a pair of two-month

extensionsfor each contractor. The first two-month option would extend Phase 1 work to

Oct. 31, 2006. The second two-month option would extend Phase 1 work to Dec. 31.

2006. The new spacecraft is expected to carry up to six astronauts into Earth orbit soon

after the space shuttle is retired in 2010 and then on to the moon by 2018. The Crew

Exploration Vehicle is a key element of the Vision for Space Exploration, which returns

human explorers to the moon, Mars, and beyond. [NASA Extends Cew Exploration

Vehicle Contracts," NASA News Release $C06-107, March 27, 2006.]

Facilities modernised ahead of Crew Exploration Vehicle

The first of five architecture and engineering contracts to modernise NASA Kennedy

Space Center (KSC) facilities for the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) has been awarded

to US infrastructure company Reynolds, Smith and Hills (RS&H). An unmanned test

flight of the CEV's Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) could take place in 2009, but KSC's

infrastructure is incompatible. The first contract is for work on non-conventional

buildings such as launch pads, test stands, mobile platforms and support facilities needed

at KSC to support NASA's space exploration plans. Changes will have be made to the

vehicle assembly building and crawler, which have serviced both Saturn rockets and the

Space Shuttle. Rumours suggest that launch pad 40 will be upgraded for the CLV, and

the first step for the centre's redevelopment is to remove the Shuttle and Spacelab

materials from the operations and checkout building. "The magnitude of work expected

to be involved with each of the five contracts is between $1 million and $10 million a

year," says KSC, which awarded the first contract on 15 March. Under its contract,

RS&H will test and analyse existing and planned structural and support systems and

report on recommended actions and designs. The four other areas in which NASA will

place contracts are specialised fluid systems, conventional structures, civil and

mechanical work, and electrical and plumbing systems. Web posted. (2006). [NASA

Kennedy Space Center facilities m0dernised ahead of Crew Exploration Vehicle flights

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.fiightglobal.com/[2006, March 28].]

March 29: Crews do slight damage to shuttle fuel tank foam

Workers on Tuesday dinged foam on an external fueltank scheduled to fly with the

shuttle in July. They were preparing to replace a gaseous oxygen vent valve near the

nose and were repositioning a halogen lamp when it hit the tank, causing "extremely

minor" damage to the insulating foam, NASA spokeswoman Jessica Rye said. Work

continues on the bottom of the tank, in Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly

59
Building, as technicians replace problematic engine cutoff sensors. The workers are from

the Lockheed Martin-run Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, which makes the

external tanks. Web posted. (2006). [Crews do slight damage to shuttle fuel tank foam

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, March 29].]

Space Shuttle Commanders inducted to Hall of Fame

Space history will be made on May 6, 2006, as three of America's finest Space Shuttle

commanders are honored and inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. The

commander of the firstjoint U.S. and Russian Space Shuttle mission, the commander of

Space Shuttle Discovery's maiden voyage and the commander of the mission that paved

the way for construction of the International Space Station will increase the number of

space explorers enshrined in the Astronaut Hall of Fame to 63. Charles Bolden, Henry

Hartsfield and Brewster Shaw willjoin such American space heroes as Neil Armstrong,

John Glenn, Alan Shepard, Jim Lovell, Sally Ride and John Young when they are

enshrined during a May 6, 2006 public ceremony at Kennedy Space Center Visitor

Complex. The inductees were selected by a committee of current Hall of Fame

astronauts, former NASA officials and flight directors, historians, journalists and other

space authorities in a process administered by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

This is the fifth group of Space Shuttle astronauts named. Earlier inductees came from

the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz programs. Web posted. (2006).

[Online]. Available WWW: http://hospitality-lst.comJPressNews!DNC-KSC032906.html [2006, March 29].]

NASA probes damage to fuel tank

NASA is investigating another mishap atthe Kennedy Space Center, this time an

accident involving the remodeled fuel tank to be used for the next shuttle mission, the

agency said or/Wednesday. Technicians were replacing a vent valve near the top of the

154-foot(47-meter) tall tank on Tuesday when a Halogen work lamp fell and hit the

tank's foam insulation. Preliminary inspections show the impact left five small

indentations, with the largest about the size of a stick of gum, and one 6-inch (15-

centimeter) to 7-inch (17-centimeter) long scratch, said Marion LaNasa, spokesman for

tank manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. A detailed inspection of the area was under

way, LaNasa said, but the incident was not expected to affect the shuttle's targeted July 1

liftoff. The affected area is not among the sections of tank foam insulation that were

redesigned after the 2003 Columbia disaster and again after the July 2005 flight of

Discovery, the only launch since the accident. A piece of foam insulation that fell offthe

tank and hit Columbia's wing during liftoff was responsible for heat shield damage that

led to the ship's destruction and the loss of seven crewmembers during atmospheric reentry on February 1, 2003. A similar problem occurred during Discovery's liftoff2 1/2

years later, though the shuttle escaped damage. NASA is preparing Discovery for launch

again, but it first must prove that the new tank design is safe to fly. A series of wind

tunnel tests and analyses are under way. Safety has been a top priority for NASA,

particularly at the shuttle processing center in Florida, where a series of mishaps have

resulted in a death, equipment damage and several near-disasters over the past month.

Webposted. (2006). [NASA probes damage to fuel tank [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.cnn.com/[2006, March 30].]

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March 29: NASA & HDNet Announce HDTV Broadcast Partnership

NASA and HDNet have joined togetherto provide high definitionTV coverage of space

shuttle launches through 2010. The agreement ensures the remaining shuttle liftoffs and

landings at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida will be broadcast in the highest

quality television format available; NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and HDNet

Chairman and President Mark Cuban are scheduled to discuss formal details of the

agreement during a news conference Thursday, April 6, from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. EDT at

the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo. "We appreciate the financial investment

and technical expertise HDNet has brought to the table to help us reach audiences

interested in this next generation of television," Griffin said. HDNet will broadcast the

flights in high definition TV, known as HDTV, which has at least twice the resolution of

standard television formats. HDNet also will provide the agency a standard broadcast

signal of launches for use by media networks andNASA TV, When possible, it will air

HDTV coverage of NASA's expendable rocket launches on its network. "This is an

exciting deal for HDNet," Cuban said. "Every shuttle launch is a unique and historic

American experience. For the next four years, the place to watch this full live broadcast

experience in high-definition will be on HDNet. We are proud that NASA has partnered

with HDNet for this important role." This news conference is hosted by the Space

Foundation during its 22nd National Space Symposium, which runs April 3 through April

6. ["NASA & HDNet Announce High Definition TV Broadcast Partnership, NASA

News Release #06-129, March 29, 2006.]

March 30: United Launch Alliance nears approval

The federal government is expected to give its final approval to a joint venture that

mergers the noncommercial launch operations of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, the Wall

Street Journal reported Thursday. According to the report, the Defense Department and

the Federal Trade Commission are completing work on an agreement that would permit

the formation of the United Launch Alliance (ULA), and sources told the paper that the

agreement should be completed in the next few weeks. The approval of the ULA will

include provisions to allay any antitrust concerns from satellite manufacturers, notably

Northrop Grumman; the agreement will also include provisions regarding future costs

and how to treat new entrants into the market. Boeing and Lockheed announced the ULA

nearly a year ago, and had expected to receive government approval by the end of 2005,

but extended reviews by the Pentagon in particular delayed the joint venture. The

agreement between the two companies allows either one to pull out of the deal if the

ULA isn't in place by the end of March, but both companies have expressed their

commitment to the joint venture in recent weeks. Web posted. (2006). [United Launch

Alliance nears approval [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spacetoda¥.net/[2006,

March 30].]

NASA revamps policy on talking to the press

NASA released a new policy Thursdayto clarify the role of its public-affairspeople in

the wake of scientists' complaintsof being intimidatedfor talkingwith the press.

AdministratorMike Griffin said the policy was more clear, though it still encourages

agency representativesto sit in on interviews.Even though public affairs officers aren't

61
required to be present at interviews, Griffin said he recommended that one be there to act

as an intermediary and record the interview. "I myself do not like to do interviews

without a professional present, because this is not my profession," Griffin said. While

NASA employees may speak to the press, the policy encourages them to coordinate such

conversations with bosses and public affairs. NASA received unwanted attention when

one of its climate scientists said a public-affairs officer had stopped him from giving

interviews on global warming. That spokesman, a political appointee, resigned.

Spokesman Dean Acosta said Thursday there are five political appointees among 300

public affairs employees agency wide. Web posted. (2006). [NASA revamps policy on

talking to the press [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006,

March 31].]

March 31: Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th Intemationai Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Orbiter Processing Facility

Bay 3 ;Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 1-19, 2006 ;Launch Pad:39B;

Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit

Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. Final powered-up systems testing and area

closeouts continue in preparation for Discovery's move to the Vehicle Assembly Building

no earlier than May 12. Final closeouts on the shuttle's main engines continue with

thermal protection system foaming operations around them. Engine configuration for

rollover was performed Thursday, which was followed by platform removal and final

inspections. Work continues on the thermal protection system and thermal barriers for the

nose landing gear. The landing gear functional test is set for next week. The lower section

of the remote manipulator system, or shuttle arm, returned to Kennedy today following

repairs by the vendor in Canada. Shuttle technicians inadvertently damaged the arm

slightly March 4. The arm will be retested prior to reinstallation. Mission: STS-115 - 19th

International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV104) ;Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date: No earlier than Aug. 28,

2006; Launch Pad: 39B; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and

Stefanyshyn-Piper ;Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles.

Technicians continue performing powered-up system testing on Atlantis for its mission to

the International Space Station. Water coolant loop servicing continues following the

removal and replacement of the water coolant loop No. 2 pump package. Preparations

begantoday for the orbiter boom sensor system's installation into Atlantis' payload bay

on Monday. The 50-foot-long boom attaches to the shuttle arm and is one of the new

safety measures added prior to Return to Flight last year. It equips the orbiter with

cameras and laser systems to inspect the shuttle's heat shield while in space. Endeavour

(OV-105); Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavour in Orbiter Processing

Facility bay 2 following an extensive modification period. Work continues in preparation

for the external airlock's installation into the payload bay, which is set for next week. On

April 3, technicians will begin operations to install the reinforced carbon-carbon nose

cap. Rigging operations continue on the manipulator positioning mechanisms, which

support the remote manipulator system and orbiter boom sensor system. The mechanisms

serve as pedestals that hold the shuttle arm and boom in the payload bay. ; External Tank;

Work is under way in the Vehicle Assembly Building checkout cell on the external tank

62
that will fly on mission STS-121. Technicians are removing and replacing the tank's four

liquid hydrogen engine cutoff sensors, which indicate whether the tank still has fuel

during its climb to orbit. On Monday, technicians began removing thermal protection

system foam around the bottom of the tank in an area known asthe "manhole." The

manhole was removed Tuesday to allow technicians to gain access into the tank, and on

Thursday the sensors and mounting bracket were removed. The sensors were shipped

back to the Michoud Assembly Facility inNew Orleans for inspection. Work is also

under way to install a new gaseous oxygen vent valve under the nose cap of the tank.

While technicians were beginning to work around the nose cap area this week, a light

stand that was being repositioned fell, contacting the tank. The lamp struck the composite

nosecone and adjacent foam insulation, causing minor damage. Any repairs will be

performed in the Vehicle Assembly Building checkout cell. Owner-press-release.

(2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-011 [Online]. Available E-mail:

owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov[2006, March 31, 2006].]

63
APRIL 2006

April 3: Panel investigates new KSC accident

NASA launched an investigation Monday into yet another shuttle workplace accident:

serious damage to a nearly half-million-dollar power controller that routes electricity to

critical orbiter systems. The incident, which occurred last week at a shuttle spare parts

depot in Cape Canaveral, followed a recent rash of accidents that have resulted in damage

to shuttle orbiters and the death of a construction worker. Two other investigation boards

have met to determine the cause of two of those incidents in hopes of preventing similar

mishaps in the future. The estimated cost of replacing the power controller damaged last

week would be $452,710, according to a Kennedy Space Center mishap report.

Investigators are not yet certain whether replacement will be required. The initial mishap

report said the damage occurred March 27 during an engineering evaluation of the power

controller. A power-input connector had been installed backwards. That caused the flow

of electricity to be reversed, damaging the controller during testing. The controller is one

of three used to route electricity from a shuttle's power-generating fuel cells to orbiter

systems. The devices are considered critical during launch, flight, atmospheric re-entry

and landing. Web posted. (2006). Panel investigates new KSC accident [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, April 4].]

April 4: 280 tourists could fly annually from shuttle runway

Zero Gravity Corp's weightless flights from Kennedy Space Center will become a regular

thing, with up to 280 tourist flights a year from the shuttle landing strip. The company

and NASA have already tested the concept at the runway, and they announced the new

agreement Tuesday. The first flight for the public is slated for June 24. Using rollercoaster moves, the flights let tourists experience spurts of low and zero gravity similar to

what astronauts feel in orbit. The advertised price is $3,750. NASA has actively

encouraged proposals for alternative uses for the landing facility. Earlier this year,

adventurer Steve Fossett staged a record-smashing airplane flight from the runway.

Fossett piloted the GlobalFlyer aircraft around the world once and then across the

Atlantic a second time on what is now the longest flight without refueling. Under the

private-use deals, companies reimburse NASA for the use of the space center runway and

any support services. Web posted. (2006). 280 tourists could fly annually from shuttle

runway [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, April 5].]

April 5: NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation and

CloudSat (CALIPSO/CloudSat) ; Launch Site: NASA's Space Launch Complex 2,

Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.; Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II; Launch Date: April

21, 2006; Launch Time: 6:02:08 a.m. EDT. NASA successfully completed a flight

simulation of the Delta II rocket on April 4 at Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg

Air Force Base, Calif. Technicians are preparing both CALIPSO and CloudSat for the

April 7 installation into the environmentally controlled payload transportation canister.

Transportation from the payload processing facility to the launch complex is scheduled

for the pre-dawn hours of April 8. Upon arrival, the payload will be hoisted and mated to

the Delta II. The Flight Program Verification, an integrated electrical and mechanical

64
flight test involving the Delta II and the CALIPSO/CloudSat payload, is planned for

April 11. Installation of the launch vehicle ordnance will follow on April 13.

CALIPSO/CloudSat payload closeouts are scheduled for April 13 and will be followed

by installation of the fairing around the spacecraft on April 14-15. Previous status reports

are available on the Web at: KSC News Center (2006). Expendable Launch Vehicles

Status Report #E06-011 [Online]. Available E-mail: kse@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006,

April 5].]

April 6: NASA vexed by worker accidents

Over the past three months, workers at the Kennedy Space Center have tripped, dropped

things, banged into sensitive equipment and started fires in a deadly string of accidents

that has NASA perplexed. The space agency has launched investigations into three

accidents -- the death of a worker who fell offa roof, the bumping of space shuttle

Discovery's robotic arm by a platform, and damage last week to an instrument that

supplies power to the orbiters. But since the beginning of the year, there has been 20

other incidents in which a worker was injured or equipment was damaged in excess of

$25,000. There were only 14 incidents during the same time period last year. Senior

managers and contractors have been urged to get out in the field to talk to workers about

any problems and emphasize safety and discipline. Web posted. (2006). NASA vexed

by worker accidents [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.cnn.com/[2006, April 6].]

First shuttle crew to appear at KSC

The two men who flew the first shuttletold workerstales of theirflight at KennedySpace

Centeron Thursday, and todaythey'll appear atthe KSC Visitor Complex. The activities

markthe 25th anniversaryof STS-1, Columbia'smaiden flight, on April 12, 1981. "That

wasthe kickoffof whathas been a fantastichistory for the shuttle," STS-1 pilot Bob

CrippensaidThursday. The men were by turnsbrash,somber and funnyasthey talked

aboutthe mission and its repercussions.Then-CommanderJohnYoung madejokes about

breathingtoxic gases and other narrowescapes. "I think maybe the surprisewas it

worked so well asit did," Young said. Another surprisecame five years ago when he

learnedhot gases had come in where there was a loose gap fillerbetween heat-shieldtiles

andbuckled the ship'srightmain landinggeardoor. KSC DirectorJim Kennedy

announcedthat a firingroom in the launchcontrolcenterhadbeen named for the men.

Webposted. (2006). First shuttlecrew to appear at KSC [Online]. Available WWW:

http:i/www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, April 7].]

NASA KSC Names Firing Room For First Shuttle Crew

Intributeto the 25th anniversary of the firstspace shuttle flight, NASA's KennedySpace

Centertodayis honoringthe crew of mission STS-1, CommanderJohn Young and Pilot

RobertCrippen,by dedicating the firingroomthat launchedthe historic flight asthe

"Young-CrippenFiringRoom." The firstshuttlemission launched the two astronauttest

pilots on April 12, 1981, aboardSpace ShuttleColumbia from firingroom 1 at Kennedy.

The crew landed two days lateratEdwardsAir ForceBase in California,ending the

boldesttest flight in history. CenterDirectorJimKennedy said, "Itis ourpleasure on

behalf of all your friendsat the Kennedy SpaceCenterto honoryou with a plaque

commemoratingyour historic flight andyoursuccesses with NASA. "Young and

65
Crippen are visiting Kennedy today and Friday to celebrate the anniversary, as well as

address employees and answer questions. Deputy Center Director Bill Parsons surprised

the men with the honor following the crew's presentation to employees. A plaque

featuring the STS-1 mission patch was placed outside the firing room. Signed by NASA

Administrator Michael Griffin and Kennedy, the plaque bears the inscription: "On the

25th anniversary of STS-1, April 12, 1981, the first orbital test flight of NASA's Space

Shuttle Program, we proudly name firing room 1 the Young-Crippen Firing Room in

tribute to John W. Young, commander, and Robert L. Crippen, pilot." ["NASA Kennedy

Space Center Names Firing Room For First Shuttle Crew," NASA News Release #26-06,

April 6, 2006.]

Exploration Park To Host Space Technology and Commerce

NASA's Kennedy Space Center announced Thursday its plan to seek private-sector

partners to develop a space technology and commerce park to be named "Exploration

Park at John F. Kennedy Space Center." The park is expected to attract tenants engaged

in space technology, space commerce, space education and otherwise involved in

promoting and implementing the Vision for Space Exploration. Exploration Park will be

located along Space Commerce Way, behind the KSC Visitor Complex. "Exploration

Park will be a site where the private sector brings both traditional and non-traditional

work to Kennedy Space Center in support of both our NASA programs and commercial

space initiatives that find value in locating their operations here," said KSC Director Jim

Kennedy. KSC expects to formally solicit development proposals soon. "This concept

offers a front door at Kennedy Space Center for organizations that expect to be involved

inNASA's exploration activities, or for commercial ventures that seek to support the

vision and develop low earth orbit," said Spaceport Development Manager Jim Ball. "It's

also an ideal site for support services and other uses that require close proximity to KSC

facilities and personnel." ["Exploration Park To Host Space Technology and

Commerce," NASA News Release #06-180, April 6, 2006.]

April 7: Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18thISS Flight (ULF1.1)- Multi-PurposeLogistics Module ;

Vehicle: Discovery (OV-I03) ; Location:OrbiterProcessingFacility Bay 3 ; Launch

Date:LaunchPlanningWindowJuly 1-19,2006 ; LaunchPad: 39B ; Crew: Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossum,Nowak, Wilson andReiter ; Inclination/OrbitAltitude:51.6

degrees/122 nauticalmiles. Final areacloseouts continue in preparation forDiscovery's

move to the Vehicle Assembly Building andthento the launchpadfor its missionto the

InternationalSpace Station.Techniciansplan to power up Discovery on Saturdayto

supportthe aftareastructuralleak test andorbitercompartmentpositive pressuretest.

Final cleaning operationsof the environmentalcontroland life support systembay

continuein preparationfor closeont prior to flight. Workcontinueson the nose and main

landinggear priorto the finalfunctionaltest. Mission: STS-115 - 19thISS Flight (12A) -

P3/P4 SolarArrays; Vehicle: Atlantis(OV-104) ; Location:OrbiterProcessing Facility

Bay 1 ; LaunchDate: No earlier thanAug. 28, 2006; LaunchPad:39B; Crew: Jett,

Ferguson,Tanner,Burbank,MaeLean andStefanyshyn-Piper; Inclination/OrbitAltitude:

51.6 degrees/122nauticalmiles. Technicianscontinueperforming powered-up system

testing onAtlantisfor its mission to the InternationalSpace Station.Water coolant loop

66
servicing is complete following the replacement of the water coolant loop No. 2 pump

package. Technicians also successfully performed compression testing on the water

coolant pump. The orbiter boom sensor system was installed in the payload bay of

Atlantis on Monday. The 50-foot-long boom attaches to the remote manipulator system,

or shuttle arm, and is one of the new safety measures added prior to the Return to Flight.

It equips the orbiter with cameras and laser systems to inspect the space shuttle's heat

shield while in space. Endeavour (OV-105) ; Powered-up system testing continues on

Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2 following an extensive modification

period. On Wednesday, technicians installed Endeavour's reinforced carbon-carbon nose

cap. Endeavour's external airlock was installed in the payload bay on Thursday. The

airlock is located in the shuttle's middeck and permits flight crew members to transfer

from the middeck crew compartment into the payload bay for extravehicttlar activities in

their space suits without depressurizing the orbiter crew cabin. External Tank; Work is

under way in the Vehicle Assembly Building checkout cell on the external tank that will

fly with Discovery on mission STS-121. Last weekend, technicians removed and

replaced the tank's four liquid hydrogen engine cutoff sensors, which indicate whether the

tank still has fuel during its climb to orbit. They also installed a new gaseous oxygen vent

valve under the nose cap of the tank. With the change out of the sensors complete, the

access cover on the bottom of the tank called the "manhole" was reinstalled. On April 11,

the tank will be lifted from the checkout cell and placed horizontally on the transporter in

the transfer aisle. Once in the transfer aisle, technicians will reapply the thermal

protection system foam that had to be removed in order to perform the sensor change out.

Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-012

[Online]. Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006,

April 7].]

April 8: Shuttle era began 25 years ago

No one really expected the first space shuttle to fly on April 12, 25 years ago. It was only

the second countdown for Columbia. A computer glitch scrubbed the first attempt two

days earlier. After struggling through the ship's creation, workers and astronauts alike

were sure several more counts were in the works. Then it got down to the last minute.

Pilot Bob Crippen and Commander John Young were the only two people aboard, taking

the highly unusual risk of riding a vehicle that had never taken an unmanned test flight.

Crippen turned to Young. "I think we might do it!" When the engines and solid rocket

boosters lit, Gene Beckett could see the shock wave rolling acrossthe grass toward where

he stood outside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. "It physically

moves your skin, your clothes and everything else, when you get that initial thunder when

those SRBs light," said Beckett, now director of United Space Alliance's Florida Program

Office. In the launch control center, chief shuttle project engineer Bob Sieck and his

colleagues hugged one another, shook hands and waved flags. "The marathon that it took

to get us to that point.., it was just lost in the euphoria that overcame us," said Sieck,

who lives in Viera. "We actually pulled it off, and it worked." Crippen became an

astronaut in 1969. He saw the end of the Apollo moon program in 1972 and thought he

would fly a lot sooner than 1981. Ignition of the solid rocket boosters had prompted a

pressure wave -- later mitigated by changes to the water sound suppression system -- that

caused Columbia to lose heat-shield tiles. Nonetheless, the orbiter, which had launched

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on the 20th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic flight, landed with aplomb at Edwards

Air Force Base in California on April 14. The people at KSC were exhilarated, but there

was no way they would launch 24 times a year, as the hype would have it. NASA hopes

the three-ship fleet will finish building the International Space Station by the time they

retire in 2010. Web posted. (2006). Shuttle era began 25 years ago [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoda,/.com/[2006, April 8].]

April 9: NASA Marks 25 Years, Preps for Sea Change

As NASA celebrates the 25th anniversary of its first shuttle flight this week, the agency

also steels itself for the biggest upheaval since the moon shot days of Apollo in the early

1970s. In just four years the three aging, behemoth space shuttles will be shelved likely

headed to museums. And by 2014, a brmad new spacecraft will be flying _ one des]-gned

to get astronauts to the moon by 2018 and eventually Mars. This wrenching transition

will be only the fourth such makeover for the manned space program in the agency's

nearly 50-year history. Critics already are grumbling about the lack of money to

accomplish the shift to the new crew exploration vehicle. More than a fifth of NASA's

proposed $16.8 billion budget for next year will be spent on developing the new vehicle

system. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin has acknowledged the agency will have to

transform itself in order to carry out goals first articulated by President Bush two years

ago. The transition will change everything from how astronauts are trained, which NASA

operations stay open, which private companies get multibillion-dollar contracts and the

size of NASA's work force. The crew exploration vehicle will be shaped like an Apolloera capsule and hold six astronauts for trips to the space station and four for journeys to

the moon. Under the proposed design, astronauts in the new space vehicle will be

launched on one rocket, and the lunar lander and moon-propelling rocket parts will be

launched on another, much bigger rocket. Once in orbit, the capsule carrying the crew

will dock with the lander and rocket and head for the moon. The crew capsule will return

to Earth by parachutes and can be used up to 10 times. Two comt_eting contractors,

Lockheed Martin and a team of Northrop Grumman and Boeing, each have received $60

million contracts to develop conceptual designs for the crew exploration vehicle. NASA

will choose a winning bidder to build the spacecraft by August. A board of high-ranking

NASA officials has begun deciding which of the millions of shuttle parts will be scrapped

and which will be kept or retooled. Some parts, like the shuttles' solid rocket boosters,

will be used in the new vehicles. The board also will decide which facilities, like the

launch pads at the Kennedy Space Center, should be shuttered or refurbished and when.

There are still 16 to 17 shuttle flights needed to complete the space station, and there is

still a possible mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. Fearing a loss of skilled

workers, Griffin has said he doesn't want a big gap like the one that occurred between

Apollo and the shuttle in the 1970s. But space agency officials have a tough balancing act

between keeping shuttle workers in place until the vehicles are retired and recognizing

many workers will either have to be retrained or let go in four years. The new vehicles

will require less servicing than the shuttles. Almost 2,000 NASA civil servants and more

than 15,000 contractor employees work on the shuttles, mainly for United Space

Alliance. Web posted. (2006). NASA Marks 25 Years, Preps for Sea Change [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.washingtonpost.com/[2006, April 9].]

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April 10: NASA lab has a new mission

Open a little more than two years, the gleaming new Space Life Sciences Lab at Kennedy

Space Center is getting out of the plant seedling and cell culture business. The five-story,

glass-front structure paid for by Florida taxpayers and NASA was intended to be a stateof-the-art home for scientists working on plant, animal and other experiments bound for

the International Space Station. But NASA's directive to return astronauts to the moon

means dozens of contract and university researchers have been reassigned. Now, space

agency managers will use the building's offices and labs for chemists, physicists,

engineers and others working on the exploration initiative called for by President Bush

and endorsed by Congress. Just last year, the lab building bustled as about 150 scientists

and others went about their research, some preparing payloads for transfer to the space

station. Today, there are "significantly less" than 100 professionals in the building as

NASA disengages from the space-based research that was the $100 billion space station's

original purpose. NASA has sharply cut life sciences research funding across the agency.

The Bush administration's budget for NASA, pending before Congress, would lower

science spending approximately $3.1 billion during the next five years. The agency has

eliminated or dramatically reduced funding for research projects staffed by 1,182

contractors and 671 civil servants, according to data provided by NASA's Exploration

Systems Mission Directorate. Almost 240 university researchers received project

"termination" letters from NASA within the past year, a NASA spokesman confirmed.

NASA Administrator Mike Griffin repeatedly has defended the budget, saying it was the

best the agency could do given the funding available. But for the foreseeable future, the

Space Life Sciences Lab appears destined to become a hub for research into the new

systems needed to keep astronauts alive and machines functioning for a return trip to the

moon, scheduled for 2018. Florida officials, who originally agreed to invest almost $30

million to build and equip the lab for life sciences research, are working closely with

NASA as the lab's focus changes. Web posted. (2006). NASA lab has a new mission

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, April 10].]

NASA Honors First Man on the Moon Neil Armstrong

NASA wii1 honor former astronaut Neil Armstrong for his involvement in the U.S. space

program with the presentation of the Ambassador of Exploration Award at 11:15 a.m.

EDT Tuesday, April 18, in the Reakirt Auditorium, Cincinnati Museum Center at Union

Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati. NASA is presenting the Ambassador of

Exploration Award to the 38 astronauts and other key individuals who participated in the

Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs for realizing America's vision of space

exploration from 1961 to 1972. The award is a small sample of lunar material encased in

Lucite and mounted for public display. The material is part of the 842 pounds of samples

brought back to Earth during the mx Apollo lunar expedttlons from 1969 to 1972•

Armstrong's award will be displayed at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union

Terminal. Armstrong, an Ohio native, was the first man to set foot on the moon on July

20, 1969. He is a Korean War combat veteran and has flown more than 200 different

models of aircraft. ["NASA Honors First Man on the Moon Nell Armstrong, NASA

Media Advisory #M06-060, April 10, 2006.]

April 11: NASA Solicits Ideas for Exploration of the Moon

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NASA issued a Request for Information Tuesday soliciting ideas on lunar exploration

activities that could be pursued as part of the agency's long term exploration goals for the

moon, Mars and beyond. Sponsored by NASA's Exploration Systems Mission

Directorate, this request seeks input from individuals and organizations covering a broad

range of disciplines, from lunar science activities, to operational activities and technology

research efforts that could be done on the moon to assist in preparing for future human

missions to Mars and beyond. The goal is to collect a wide variety of perspectives on

future human and robotic activities on the moon. Eventually, a multidisciplinary lunar

exploration strategy will be developed using information from a variety of sources,

including inputs received through this solicitation. ["NASA Solicits Ideas For

Exploration of the Moon," NASA News Release #06-134, April 1I, 2006.]

April 12: CALIPSO/CloudSat Satellites Ready for April 21 Launch

NASA's Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO)

and CloudSat satellites are set to launch aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket at 3:02 a.m. PDT

on Friday, April 21, from NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air

Force Base, Calif. The launch window is instantaneous. The CALIPSO satellite will

separate from the Delta II at 62 minutes after liftoff, followed by CloudSat at 96 minutes

after launch. Together, CALIPSO and CloudSat will provide new perspectives on Earth's

clouds and aerosols, answering questions about how they form, evolve and affect water

supply, climate, weather and air quality. They will be launched into an orbit where they

will fly just 15 seconds apart as members of NASA's "A-Train," a constellation of several

Earth-observing satellites. ["CALIPSO/CloudSat Satellites Ready for April 21 Launch,

NASA News Release #26-06, April 12, 2006.]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission:CloudSat and Cloud-AerosolLidarand InfraredPathfinderSatellite

Observations(CALIPSO);LaunchSite: SpaceLaunchComplex2, VandenbergAir

ForceBase, Calif.; LaunchVehicle: Boeing Delta II;LaunchDate:April 21, 2006;

LaunchTime: 6:02:08 a.m. EDT. NASA transportedCALIPSOand CloudSatfromthe

Astrotechpayloadprocessing facility atVandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to the launch

complex on April 8. The payloadwas hoisted and attachedto the top of the Delta II

rocket. The Flight Program Verification, anintegratedelectrical andmechanical flight

testinvolving the Delta II andthe CALIPSO/CloudSatpayload,was successfully

completedtoday.Following the test, techniciansbegan installationof the launch vehicle

ordnance.Payloadcloseouts are plannedforThursday.Installationof the fairing around

the two spacecraftis scheduled for Friday. KSC News Center(2006). Expendable

Launch Vehicles Status Report #E06-012 [Online]. AvailableE-marl:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, April 12].]

April 13: Tank foam lost during shuttle wind tunnel test

During wind tunnel tests earlier this week, NASA subjected a full-scale mockup of a

shuttle external tank section to aerodynamic forces greater than a real tank would

experience during launch. In one series of tests, unmodified foam insulation used to

prevent ice buildups around external fittings suffered only minor damage while a

redesigned "ice/frost ramp" suffered major foam loss. The redesign is being considered in

70
a bid to remove as much insulation as possible from the tank to minimize the threat of

debris shedding during launch. The old ice/frost ramps, which insulate the fittings used to

hold two pressurization lines and an electrical cable tray in place, featured long, sloping

ramps to smooth the flow of air. But those very ramps, it was believed, were susceptible

to cracks and failure, providing a potential source of debris that could strike a shuttle

during launch. The redesigned ramps are much more blunt. But in initial wind tunnel

tests at the Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tullahoma, Tenn., the old design

fared better than the redesign. During two sets of test runs this week, the new design

sufferedmajor foam toss. "That's exactly what testing is all about," said one official.

"This is where you want to find a problem, not on launch day." More tests are planned

and other design changes are under consideration, along with the option of flying the

ramps "as is." But a decision on how to proceed is needed by the end of the month to give

engineers time to make any required changes before NASA's planned July launch of the

shuttle Discovery on the second post-Columbia mission. In other developments, shuttle

program manager Wayne Hale has told project engineers to begin planning for a shuttle

fueling test around June 1 to verify performance of new low-level fuel sensors in the tank

scheduled for use by shuttle Discovery in July. The test has not yet been formally

approved and is opposed by some - including, sources say, William Gerstenmaier,

NASA's chief of space operations - because of concern about putting unnecessary

thermal stress on the tank's foam insulation. But Hale strongly favors the test in the wake

of recent, unprecedented work to replace four engine cutoff- ECO - sensors, which are

part of a critical backup system used to make sure the shuttle's main engines shut down

on time. Problems with ECO sensors before Discovery's launch last July on the first postColumbia mission were never fully resolved and a tanking test would give engineers

confidence the new sensors will work properly on launch day. A tanking test also would

provide an opportunity to monitor the performance of a relief valve used to maintain

proper tank pressurization during flight. A valve in a tank last year cycled more often

than usual. Discovery remains targeted for launch at 3:48 p.m. EDT on July 1. Web

posted. (2006). Tank foam lost during shuttle wind tunnel test [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.comJ [2006, April 13].]

NASA To Webcast Minotaur Launch of Cosmic Spacecraft

The Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate, or

COSMIC, is setto launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 5:10 p.m. PDT

(8:10 p.m. EDT) Friday, April 14, aboard a U.S. Air Force Minotaur rocket. The launch

window isthree hours in duration. The launch eonntdown will be available on the

Internet beginning at 3 p.m. PDT (6 p.m. EDT) and may be accessed at:

http://www.ksc.nasa._ov/video/vafb.ram A globe-spanning constellation of six weather

and climate research satellites based upon a novel application of a NASA-developed

technology, the network is expected to improve weather forecasts, monitor climate

change and enhance space weather research.NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory,

Pasadena, Calif., designed COSMIC's primary instrument, a science global positioning

system (GPS) space receiver. JPL will also provide instrument flight software and

71
technical support. The five-year mission is funded by Taiwan's National Space

Organization and various U.S. agencies, including the National Science Foundation,

Arlington, Va., which leads science activities. The University Corporation for

Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colo., manages the mission and designed the satellite

array system. The low-orbiting satellites will be the first to provide atmospheric data

daily in real time over thousands of points on Earth by measuring the bending of radio

signals from the U.S. GPS as the signals pass through Earth's atmosphere, a technology

known asradio occultation. The data will be used for research and operational weather

forecasting. ["NASA To Webcast Minotaur Launch of Cosmic Spacecraft," NASA

News Release #27-06, April 13, 2006.]

April 14: Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission:STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-PurposeLogistics Module;

Vehicle:Discovery (OV-103); Location:Orbiter ProcessingFacility Bay 3; LaunchDate:

LaunchPlanningWindowJuly 1-19, 2006 ;LaunchPad:39B ;Crew: Lindsey, Kelly,

Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter;Inclination/OrbitAltitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nauticalmiles. Technicians continueclosing outareas of Discovery prior to its move to

theVehicle Assembly Building,scheduledfor May 12. Theright andleft payloadbay

doorswere openedearlierin the week in preparationfor reinstallationof the remote

manipulatorsystem, or "shuttlearm."The armwas transported from the lab in the

VehicleAssembly Building to the processingfacility on Wednesdayandinstalled in the

vehicle today. Fridayprogrammanagersdeterminedthe space shuttlemainengine in

position No. 2 will need to be replaceddueto the possibility of a crack in a solderjoint in

the controller.Duringthe certification of similar controllers, engineers observed cracking

afterthermaltesting of the units.The engine replacementhasno impacton the overall

processing schedule. Mission: STS-115 - 19th ISS Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays;

Vehicle:Atlantis (OV-104); Location:OrbiterProcessingFacilityBay 1; LaunchDate:

No earlierthanAug. 28, 2006; LaunchPad:39B; Crew:Jett, Ferguson, Tanner,Burbank,

MacLeanandStefanyshyn-Piper;Inclination/OrbitAltitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical

miles. Technicians continueperformingpowered-upsystem testing on Atlantis for its

missionto the InternationalSpace Station.The externaltank door functionaltest is

scheduledfor earlynext week. Crane operationsremovedandreinstalledthe orbiter

boomsensor system in the payloadbayof Atlantison Wednesdayfor additionalwork on

themanipulatorpositioningmechanisms.The positioningmechanismsare the pedestals

thatholdthe boom in place in the payloadbay while the boom is notin use. The 50-footlong boom attachesto the shuttle armand is one of the new safety measures addedprior

to the Returnto Flightmission thatlaunchedin July2005. Endeavour(OV-105);

Powered-upsystem testing continues on Endeavourin Orbiter Processing FacilityBay 2

following an extensive modificationperiod.OnThursday, leak checks andfunctional

testswere completed on the liquid oxygen portion of the mainpropulsion system.

Technicians continueworking onthe positioningmechanismsfor Endeavour'sremote

manipulatorsystem in preparationfor the arm'sinstallationin the payloadbay. External

Tank ; Finalcloseouts continue in the Vehicle Assembly Building on the external tank

thatwill flywith Discovery onmission STS-121.On Tuesday,crane operatorslifted the

tankfrom the checkout cell and placedit in ahorizontal position on the transporterin the

transferaisle. Lockheed Martin employeesare completingfinalwork requiredto close

72
out the aft area of the tank in preparation for thermal protection system foam application,

scheduled for late next week. Once the foam application is complete, the tank will be

lifted from the transporter and attached to the two solid rocket boosters already stacked in

high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building. That move is scheduled for April 24.

Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-013,

Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, April 14].]

April 17: NASA, Brevard County Partner to Preserve Historic Schoolhouse

NASA Kennedy Space Center and Brevard County of Florida are set to take a major step

in preserving the Clifton School, a 116-year-old schoolhouse used by the children of

early black homesteaders in North Brevard. On Saturday, April 22 at 8:30 a.m., KSC

Director Jim Kennedy and Chairwoman of the Brevard County Board of Commissioners

Helen Voltz are scheduled to meet at the school's site to signify its transfer of ownership

from NASA to Brevard County. The school, built in 1890, was discovered in 2003 in a

remote wooded area north of Kennedy Space Center. Under a Space Act Agreement;

NASA and Brevard County formed a partnership to have the remnants of the school

removed from its current location for reconstruction. Upon completion, the restored

school will become part of the Heritage Park Complex at the Chain of Lakes Project in

Titusville, Fla. ["NASA, Brevard County Partner to Preserve Historic Schoolhouse,"

NASA News Release #28-06, April 17, 2006.]

NASA Names Additional Ambassadors of Exploration

Two distinguished names have been added to the list of NASA's first generation of

explorers honored as Ambassadors of Exploration. They include a man considered the

architect of Mission Control, designing systems from the ground up and known to many

in the early days of space exploration simply as "Flight." The other will be forever linked

to the phrase "Failure is not an option," and is remembered for his fiNN-tophairstyle and

relentless dedication to mission success. Christopher C. Kraft and Eugene F. Kranzjoin

an eminent list of honorees that include astronauts Alan Shepard, U.S. Sen. John Glenn

and Neil Almstrong. NASA's Ambassadors of Exploration are presented a unique award

that includes a moon rock to recognize the sacrifices and dedication of the astronauts and

others who were part of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. "The early years of

our nation's space program had 400,000 heroes, not just the astronauts who took the first

tentative steps into space," said Administrator Michael Griffin. "The managers,

engineers, flight directors, the mathematicians and computer programmers, the

technicians and construction workers, all of these carried what was in some ways the

heaviest responsibility of all." "Through their work, they held the lives of other men in

their hands, And no one in those early years carried this responsibility more visibly, or

with more grace and fortitude, than did 'Red Flight' Chris Kraft and 'White Flight' Gene

Kranz. And no two people are more deserving of the title 'Ambassador of Exploration'

than these men. I have been privileged to know them, and to confer this recognition upon

them," Griffin said. The award celebrates the realization of a vision for exploration first

articulated 45 years ago next month by President John F. Kennedy, who was looking to

bolster a nation and a fledgling space program. It was a mandate to extend humanity's

reach further into the cosmos. Kraft began his career as an aeronautical engineer with the

National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, predecessor of NASA, and later became

73
an original member of the Space Task Group for NASA in 1958. He was the agency's

first flight director, responsible for developing the technologies and procedures for

ground operations for Project Mercury. Kraft served as flight director throughout

Mercury, including Shepard's historic first spaceflight and Glenn's orbital mission. He

later moved up to director of flight operations throughout the entire Apollo program. He

is considered the father of Mission Control and later became the director of NASA's

Johnson Space Center in Houston from 1972to 1982. Kranz joined the Air Force in

1954 and flewjet fighter aircraft. He was selected to join the Space Task Group in 1960

and was assigned as assistant flight director. Hisfirst duty as flight director came in 1965

for Gemini 4, which featured the first spacewalk by an American astronaut. Kranz was

flight director for Apollo 11 and led the team that helped to safely return the crew of

Apollo 13 back to Earth. He later became director of NASA mission operations and

retired in 1994 shortly after the space shuttle flight that repaired the ailing Hubble Space

Telescope. To date, NASA has presented 13 of the nearly 40 lunar samples awarded as

part of the Ambassadors of Exploration initiative. The award was first announced in July

2004 on the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Tuesday afternoon in

Cincinnati, Griffin is scheduled to present the award to Armstrong, a former naval aviator

and NASA test pilot. As Apollo 11 commander, Armstrong was the first human to ever

land a spacecraft on the moon and the first to step on the lunar surface. ["NASA Names

Additional Ambassadors of Exploration," NASA News Release #06-186, April 17,

2006.]

April 18: NASA Announces Crew Launch Vehicle Contract

Modification

NASA has authorized a contract action having a maximum value of $28.6 million with

ATK Thiokol of Brigham City, Utah, to continue design and development of the first

stage for the crew launch vehicle. The contract action maintains the design,

development, tests and evaluation schedule; initiates procurement of long-lead items;

addsthe necessary design and engineering analysis leading to a Systems Requirements

Review in September 2006; and provides the necessary support for first stage and

vehicle-level design reviews identified in the work statement. The cost-plus-award-fee

contract provides additional support through Sept. 30, 2006. The crew launch vehicle is

an in-line, two-stage rocket being developed primarily to carry the crew exploration

vehicle - the capsule that will take astronauts to the moon. Development of the crew

launch vehicle is led by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., in

partnership with the agency's Johnson Space Center, Houston; Kennedy Space Center,

Fla; and Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss. ["NASA Announces Crew

Launch Vehicle Contract Modification," NASA Release #C06-027, April 18, 2006.]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations

(CALIPSO) and CloudSat; Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air

Force Base, Calif.;Latmch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II; Launch Date: April 21, 2006;Launch

Time: 6:02:08 a.m. EDT. Workers at Space Launch Complex 2 fueled the Delta II

second stage Tuesday for flight with storable hypergolic propellants. Officials also

conducted a launch countdown dress rehearsal. No significant issues or concerns were

74
found during the Flight Readiness Review on Monday. Technicians installed the payload

fairing around the two spacecraft on April 14 and are conducting a routine state-of-health

check today. Plans call for the RP-] fuel, highly refined kerosene, to be loaded on the

rocket's first stage on Thursday afternoon. Early that evening, the mobile service tower

will be retracted from around the rocket. Liquid oxygen will be loaded into the first stage

during the terminal countdown sequence that starts at 4 a.m. EDT Friday. There is

currently an 80 percent chance of acceptable weather conditions for launch. KSC News

Center (2006). Expendable Launch Vehicles Status Report #E06-013 [Online].

Available E-mail: ksc@newstetters.nasa.gov [2006, April 19].]

April 21: NASA's CloudSat and CALIPSO Launch Rescheduled

The launch ofNASA's CloudSat and CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared

Pathfinder Satellite Observations) wasrescheduled for Tuesday, April 25. Launch is set

for 6:02 a.m. EDT from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Launch commentary on

NASA TV starts at 4 a.m. EDT. The weather forecast calls for a 90 percent probability

of acceptable launch conditions. ["NASA's CloudSat and CALIPSO Launch

Rescheduled," NASA Media Advisory #06-068, April 21, 2006.]

April 23: NASA's CloudSat and CALIPSO Launch Rescheduled

The launch ofNASA's CloudSat and CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared

Pathfinder Satellite Observations) was rescheduled for Tuesday, April 25. Launch is set

for 6:02 a.m. EDT from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Launch commentary on

NASA TV starts at 4 a.m. EDT. The weather forecast calls for a 90 percent probability

of acceptable launch conditions. ["NASA's CloudSat and CALIPSO Launch

Rescheduled," NASA Media Advisory #06-072, April 23, 2006.]

April 24: Problems Persist, but NASA Says the Discovery Can Launch

as Scheduled

A string of distracting accidents, safety incidents and tough technical questions have

complicated NASA's efforts to get the space shuttle program back on track. The shuttle

Discovery is to fly again in July, in only the second mission since the Columbia disaster

in February 2003. But there are continuing questions about fuel-tank foam, which

doomed the Columbia and bedeviled the Discovery's return-to-flight mission last year,

and about other parts on the aging shuttle fleet. And this winter, there were so many

accidents -- a robot arm damaged by a moving work platform, a dropped film canister

that damaged heat tiles on the shuttle Endeavour, a small fire in the assembly building --

that last month the director of the Kennedy Space Center stopped all work for two hours

and lectured employees on safety. When work resumed the next day, a worker was killed

in a fall from a warehouse roof. Nevertheless, NASA officials insist the Discovery can

lift offon time. NASA had planned to fly the Discovery in May, but decided to go for

the next available launching period, July 1 to July 19, to complete modifications on the

large external fuel tank to reduce the chances that it would shed insulating foam and to

replace some sensors inside the tank. The delay also allowed engineers more time to deal

with other lingering technical issues, like debris in fuel lines and aging electronics.

NASA needs to get at least two shuttle flights offthis year to get back on schedule

building the International Space Station before the shuttle fleet is retired in 2010.

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Officials hope to send three missions aloft this year and then fly four per year to finish

the station with 16 flights, plus one mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope, before

the deadline. Web posted. (2006). Problems Persist, but NASA Says the Discovery Can

Launch as Scheduled [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.nyfimes.com/[2006,

April 26].]

NASA Honors Record Setting Moon Walker Charles Duke

NASA will honor former astronaut Charles Duke for his involvement in the U.S. space

program with the presentation of the Ambassador of Exploration Award at 10 a.m. EDT

Monday, May 8 at the Admiral Farragut Academy, St. Petersburg, Fla. The event is open

to the media and public. NASA is presenting the Ambassador of Exploration Award to

the 38 astronauts and other key individuals who participated in the Mercury, Gemini, and

Apollo space programs for realizing America's vision of space exploration from 1961 to

1972. The award is a small sample of lunar material encased in Lucite and mounted for

public display. The material is part of the 842 pounds of samples brought back to Earth

during the six Apollo lunar expeditions from 1969 to 1972. Duke's award will be

displayed at the Admiral Farragut Academy, 501 Park Street North, St. Petersburg. For

event, academy and media access information, contact Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Linkner at:

(727) 343-3678. Duke was selected as an astronaut in 1966, while serving as a U.S. Air

Force jet pilot. He was a member of the Apollo 16 lunar expedition crew. Along with

John Young, the fifth lunar landing team spent a record 71 hours and 14 minutes on the

moon's surface. While command module pilot Thomas Mattingly orbited the moon, Duke

and Young collected approximately 213 pounds of rock and soil samples, set up a remote

observatory and the first lunar surface cosmic ray detector. Duke logged approximately

265 hours in space; more than 21 hours during extra vehicular activity. He retired from

NASA and the Air Force as a brigadier general. ["NASA Honors Record Setting Moon

Walker Charles Duke," NASA Media Advisory #M06-070, April 24, 2006.]

April 25: NASA chief defends approach to moon

Even with a tight budget, NASA has little choice but to move forward with the expensive

shuttle and space station programs, the agency's chief told senators Tuesday. In at least

his third appearance before a congressional panel this year, NASA administrator Mike

Griffin defended the Bush administration's go-slow funding approach in developing a

new generation of lunar launchers and landers. The administration has requested nearly

$16.8 billion for NASA in the fiscal year that begins Oct. i. Nearly 40 percent of those

funds are necessary for the shuttles and the International Space Station. A chief worry,

especially for the Space Coast, is what happens if the shuttlesretire in 2010. Sen. Bill

Nelson, D-Orlando, reminded Griffin that the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 made it

national policy that U.S. astronauts wouldn't stop flying between when the shuttles are

retired and when NASA delivers the new Crew Exploration Vehicle for moon

exploration. "I don't believe we can have a CEV by 2010, no matter what we do," Griffin

said. Even after Nelson offered a hypothetical $1 billion increase to NASA's budget,

Griffin said technical challenges would prevent NASA from signiftcantly speeding the

delivery of the new space vehicles. The target is no later than 2014. The agency also is

no closer to solving what Griffin described as its biggest challenge -- shifting its

operational workforce from shuttle and space station dutiesto the new moon vehicles.

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Many of the skills now possessed by shuttle technicians and engineers can easily be

adapted for work on the new crew vehicles and launchers, Griffin said. Just how many of

those workers will be retained remains an open question, Griffin said. "NASA will not

need as many engineers and technicians on the shop floor as we do today with the space

shuttle," he said. Webposted.(2006).[NASA chief defends approach to moon [Online].

AvailableWWW:http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, April 26].]

NASA'S CloudSat and CALIPSO Launch Scrubbed

NASA's CloudSat andCALIPSO(Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and InfraredPathfinderSatellite

Observations)launchfrom VandenbergAir Force Base, Calif.,was scrubbedTuesday

shortlybefore 6 a.m.EDT due to higher thanallowable upperlevel windconditions. The

next launchattemptis tentativelyset forWednesday,April26, at6:02 a.m. EDT, pending

availabilityof all requiredWestern TestRange assets.LaunchcommentaryonNASA TV

starts at4 a.m. EDT. Weatheris a concern forWednesday'slaunch attempt.The forecast

callsfor a 40 percentprobability of acceptableweather conditions. The primaryconcerns

are for thick clouds, higher than allowablewinds, rainshowers andisolated

thunderstorms. ["NASA's CloudSatandCALIPSOLaunchScrubbed," NASA Media

Advisory #06-074, April25, 2006.]

April 26: NASA chief accepts China invite

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin has accepted an invitation to visit China to start

talks on possibly cooperating with the Chinese in some areas of space. "I think the

United States always benefits from discussions and I do not see how it can hurt us,"

Griffin told members of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space in

Washington on Tuesday. NASA spokesman Dean Acosta said no date or agenda has

been set for a China visit by Griffin. Chinese President Hu Jintao met with President

Bush in Washington last week. China launched its first manned space mission in 2003,

making it the third country to send a human into orbit on its own, after Russia and the

United States. A second, longer mission carrying two astronauts was completed last year.

Web posted. (2006). NASA chief accepts China invite [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.cnn.com/[2006, April 26.]

Weather Again Scrubs CloudSat and CALIPSO Launch

The launch ofNASA's CloudSat and CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared

Pathfinder Satellite Observations) satellites from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., was

scrubbed this morning at 4:24 a.m. EDT due to thick clouds. Launch has been

rescheduled for Thursday, April 27, at 6:02:37 a.m. EDT. Launch commentary on NASA

TV starts at 4 a.m. EDT. The weather is expected to improve for a Thursday morning

launch attempt. The current forecast calls for an 80 percent probability of acceptable

weather conditions. ["Weather Again Scrubs NASA's CloudSat and CALIPSO Launch,

NASA Media Advisory #06-076, April 26, 2006.]

April 27: Former NASA Astronaut Robert L. Crippen Honored

At a ceremony in Washington to commemorate the 25th anniversary of NASA'S maiden

flight of the space shuttle, the pilot of that historic mission was honored with the nation's

highest award for spaceflight achievement, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

STS-1 astronaut Robert L. Crippen was presented the award last night by NASA

77
Administrator Michael Griffin in the name of President George W. Bush and on behalf of

the U.S. Congress. "This medal, awarded by the Congress of the United States,

commemorates publicly what all of us who know Bob Crippen already understood: he is

an authentic American hero," Griffin said. "He holds an unsurpassed record of dedicated

service to this country as a military aviator, test pilot, engineer, and astronaut, including

his assignment as pilot for the historic STS-1 mission, recognized with this award. And

no one has more effectively applied such an extensive operational background more to

the demands of senior management in both government and industry. And above all, Crip

is a loyal friend to all who know him. We at NASA are honored by his association with

our agency." In receiving the distinction, Crippen said the recognition was unexpected.

"It was such a surprise. I am totally overwhelmed," Crippen said. "Just look at the names

of the people who are on the list. They are heroes in the truest sense of the word and I

can't believe someone would think to include me in such distinguished company. I'm so

honored." The Congressional Space Medal of Honor was authorized by Congress in

1969 to recognize "any astronaut who in the performance of his duties has distinguished

himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of

the nation and mankind." Crippen became a NASA astronaut in September 1969. He was

a member of the astronaut support crew throughout the entire Skylab program and the

Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, which was completed successfully in July 1975. For his first

mission into space, he was selected for the initial flight of the space shuttle in what is

considered the boldest test flight in history. Along with his crewmate, veteran

commander and Apollo moonwalker John Young, he successfully piloted the orbiter

Columbia on her maiden flight April 12, 198I. The two astronauts tested the space

shuttle's systems for two days and 36 orbits before safely gliding the unique spacecraft to

a safe landing on a California desert runway. Crippen went on to command three future

space shuttle missions and served in a variety of supervisory positions at NASA before

becoming the director for the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where he safely managed

22 space shuttle flights. Young was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in

May 1981. Apollo 11 astronaut Neff Armstrong was the first recipient of the award in

1978as part of a celebration to mark NASA's 20th anniversary. Since then, a total of 28

astronauts have now received this prestigious recognition of their service, bravery, and

dedication. Past honorees include: Neil Armstrong ; Frank Borman ; Charles "Pete"

Conrad ;U.S. Sen. John Glenn ;Virgil "Gus" Grissom; Alan Shepard ;John Young ;

Thomas Stafford ; James Lovell ; Shannon Lucid ; Roger Chaffee ; Edward White ;

William Shepherd ; Dick Scobee ; Michael Smith ; Judith Resnik ; Ellison Onizuka ;

Ronald McNair ; Greg Jarvis ;Christa McAuliffe ; Rick Husband ; Willie McCool ;

Michael P. Anderson ; Kalpana Chawla ; David M. Brown ; Laurel Clark ; Ilan Ramon.

["Former NASA Astronaut Robert L. Crippen Honored With Congressional Space Medal

of Honor," NASA News Release #06-205, April 27, 2006.]

NASA Honors Pioneer Astronaut Frank Borman

NASA will honor former astronaut Frank Borman for his involvement in the U.S. space

program with the presentation of the Ambassador of Exploration Award at 5 p.m. EDT

on Monday, May 8 at the Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Ariz. The event is open to

the media and public. NASA is presenting the Ambassador of Exploration Award to the

38 astronauts who participated in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs for

78
realizing America's vision of space exploration from 1961 to 1972. NASA is also

recognizing several other key individuals who either participated in or supported the early

space programs. The award is a small sample of lunar material encased in Lucite and

mounted for public display. The material is part of the 842 pounds of samples brought

back to Earth during the six Apollo lunar expeditions from 1969to 1972. Borman's award

will be displayed in the musemn at 6000 East Valencia Road, Tucson. Borman led the

firstteam of American astronauts to leave Earth orbit and circle the moon as commander

of the Apollo 8 mission in 1968.Borman, with crewmates James Lovell and William

Anders, were the first humans to view the far side of the moon. He was also a member of

the Gemini 7 crew, which performed the first ever orbital rendezvous linking with

Gemini 6 in 1965. Borman was a career U.S. Air Force officer, retiring as a colonel.

["NASA Honors Pioneer Astronaut Frank Borman," NASA Media Advisory #06-171,

April 27, 2006.]

NASA's CloudSat and CALIPSO Launch Reseheduled

NASA's CloudSatand CALIPSO launch from Vandenberg AirForce Base, Calif.,is

scheduled for 6:02 a.m. EDT Friday, April28. Launch commentaryon NASA TV begins

at 4 a.m. EDT. On Wednesday, engineers and mission managers assessed a suspect

temperature sensor on the Boeing Delta II rocket's second stage. They concluded the

unusual temperature readings observed during the previous two launch attempts were

primarily the result of higher temperature pressurization rates and are not indicative of

any defect in the sensor. The sensor does not require replacement and can fly as is.

Weather is not expected to be a concern for Friday's launch. ["NASA's CloudSat and

CALIPSO Launch Rescheduled," NASA Media Advisory #06-077, April 27, 2006.]

April 28: NASA Launches Satellites For Weather, Climate, Air-Quality

Studies

Two NASA satellites were launched Friday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on

missions to reveal the secrets of clouds and aerosols, tiny particles suspended in the air.

CloudSat and CALIPSO ( Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite

Observations ) thundered skyward at approximately 6:02 a.m. EDT atop a Boeing Delta

II rocket. The two satellites will eventually circle approximately 438 miles above Earth in

a sun-synchronous polar orbit, which means they will always cross the equator at the

same local time. Their technologies will enable scientists to study how clouds and

aerosols form, evolve and interact. "Clouds are a critical but poorly understood element

of our climate," said Graeme Stephens, CloudSat principal investigator and a professor at

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. "They shape the energy distribution of our

climate system and our planet's massive water cycle, which delivers the freshwater we

drink that sustains all life." "With the successful launch of CloudSat and CALIPSO we

take a giant step forward in our ability to study the global atmosphere," said CALIPSO

Principal Investigator David Winker of NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.

"In the years to come, we expect these missions to spark many new insights into the

workings of Earth's climate and improve our abilities to forecast weather and predict

climate change." Each spacecraft will transmit pulses of energy and measure the portion

of the pulses scattered back to the satellite. CloudSat's Cloud-Profiling Radar is more

than 1,000 times more sensitive than typical weather radar. It can detect clouds and

79
distinguish between cloud particles and precipitation. CALIPSO's polarization lidar can

detect aerosol particles and distinguish between aerosol and cloud particles. Lidar, similar

in principle to radar, uses reflected light to determine the characteristics of the target area.

Sixty-twominutes after liftoff, CALIPSO separated from the rocket's second stage.

CloudSat followed 35 minutes later. Ground controllers successfully acquired signals

from both spacecraft, and initial telemetry reports show both in excellent health. Over the

next six weeks, system and instrument checks will be performed, and the satellites will

maneuver into their final orbits. The satellites will fly in formation as members of

NASA's "A-Train" constellation, which also includes NASA's Aqua and Aura satellites

and a French satellite known as PARASOL, for Polarization and Anisotropy of

Reflectances for Atmospheric Sciences coupled with Observations from a Lidar. The

satellite data will be more useful when combined, providing insights into the global

distribution and evolution of clouds to improve weather forecasting and climate

prediction. ["NASA Launches Satellites For Weather, Climate, Air-Quality Studies,"

NASA News Release #06-190, April 28, 2006.]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ;Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Orbiter Processing Facility

Bay 3 ; Launch Date: Launch Processing Window July 1-19,2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B ;

Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit

Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. Final powered-up systems testing and area

closeouts continue in preparation for Discovery's move to the Vehicle Assembly Building

no earlier than May 12. Final closeouts on the shuttle's main engines continue with

thermal protection system foaming operations around them. Engine configuration for

rollover was performed Thursday, which was followed by platform removal and final

inspections. Work continues on the thermal protection system and thermal barriers for

the nose landing gear. The landing gear functional test is set for next week. The lower

section of the remote manipulator system, or shuttle arm, returned to Kennedy today

following repairs by the vendor in Canada. Shuttle technicians inadvertently damaged the

arm slightly March 4. The arm will be retested prior to reinstallation. Mission: STS-115 -

19th International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis

(OV-104) ; Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date: No earlier than

Aug. 28, 2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and

Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles.

Technicians continue performing powered-up system testing on Atlantis for its mission to

the International Space Station. Water coolant loop servicing continues following the

removal and replacement of the water coolant loop No. 2 pump package. Preparations

began today for the orbiter boom sensor system's installation into Atlantis' payload bay

on Monday. The 50-foot-long boom attaches to the shuttle arm and is one of the new

safety measures added prior to Return to Flight last year. It equips the orbiter with

cameras and laser systems to inspect the shuttle's heat shield while in space. Endeavour

(OV-105); Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavour in Orbiter Processing

Facility bay 2 following an extensive modification period. Work continues in preparation

for the external airlock's installation into the payload bay, which is set for next week. On

April 3, technicians will begin operationsto install the reinforced carbon-carbon nose

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cap. Rigging operations continue on the manipulator positioning mechanisms, which

support the remote manipulator system and orbiter boom sensor system. The mechanisms

serve as pedestals that hold the shuttle arm and boom in the payload bay. External Tank;

Work is under way in the Vehicle Assembly Building checkout cell on the external tank

that will fly on mission STS-121. Technicians are removing and replacing the tank's four

liquid hydrogen engine cutoff sensors, which indicate whether the tank still has fuel

during its climb to orbit. On Monday, technicians began removing thermal protection

system foam around the bottom of the tank in an area known asthe "manhole." The

manhole was removed Tuesday to allow technicians to gain access into the tank, and on

Thursday the sensors and mounting bracket were removed. The sensors were shipped

back to the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans for inspection. Work is also

under way to install a new gaseous oxygen vent valve under the nose cap of the tank.

While technicians were beginning to work around the nose cap area this week, a light

stand that was being repositioned fell, contacting the tank. The lamp struck the composite

nosecone and adjacent foam insulation, causing minor damage. Any repairs will be

performed in the Vehicle Assembly Building checkout cell. Owner-press-release. (2006).

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-014 [Online]. Available E-mail: ownerpress-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, April 31].]

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MAY 2006

May 1: NASA KSC Director Announces Retirement

James W. Kennedy, the eighth directorin the history of NASA's Kennedy Space Center,

today announcedhisintention to retire in January2007 after 35 years of government

service. Kennedy spent 31 of those years with NASA andfour with the U.S. Air Force.

Kennedy'ssuccessor will be announcedat a later date. "Serving asthe director of the

historicKennedySpaceCenterwhere the U.S. space program was born is an opportunity

of a lifetime," Kennedy said. "While I have treasuredevery minute of every day, now is

the time to announceI'm steppingasideto allow someone else the opportunityto lead

thisgreat center anditsincredible work force." In his position, Kennedy oversees nearly

15,000 government andcontractoremployees at KSC. The center's primary mission is

theprocessing of spaceshuttle,InternationalSpace Stationandexpendablelaunch

vehicle space flight hardware for launch. NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, after

accepting Kennedy's retirement letter, stated: "I've had the pleasure of knowing and

working with Jim Kennedy for 10 years. He has offered a sure and steady hand at the

Kennedy Space Center in the difficult period following the loss of the Space Shuttle

Columbia, and will be sorely missed. And while he can retire from NASA, he cannot

retire from the NASA family. He will always be one of our own." Prior to serving as

director, Kennedy served as the center's deputy director beginning in October 2002.

Prior to coming to KSC, he served for 25 years at the George C. Marshall Space Flight

Center in Huntsville, Ala., rising to the position of deputy center director. Kennedy

began his career with NASA in 1968 in the Aerospace Engineering Cooperative

Education Program, first at KSC and then at Marshall. After earning his Bachelor of

Science degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University in 1972, he was called

to active duty with the U.S. Air Force. In 1977, he received his master's in business

administration from Georgia Southern University and returned to NASA in 1980.

Kennedy's work experience includes serving as project manager for major projects, such

asthe X-34, DC-XA and Solid Rocket Booster Projects. He served as Marshall's director

of engineering. He has received numerous awards, including the National Space Club's

Astronautics Engineer of the Year Award, the Silver Snoopy Award, NASA's

Distinguished Service Medal, and the Presidential Rank of Meritorious and Distinguished

Service Awards. Most recently, he received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal

and was named the Florida Chapter of the National Space Club's Dr. Kurt H. Debus

Award winner for 2006. Kennedy was born in Riverdale, Md., and currently resides in

Cocoa Beach, Fla., with his wife, Bernadette. He's has two grown children, Jeff and

Jamie, and isthe proud grandfather of Hayes. ["NASA KSC Director Announces

Retirement," NASA News Release #29-06, May 1, 2006.]

NASA Astronaut Eileen Collins Completes Career of Space

Firsts

Astronaut Eileen Collins is leaving NASA. Collins was the first woman to command a

space shuttle and the leader of Discovery's Return to Flight mission last year. She plans

to pursue private interests and spend more time with family. "Eileen Collins is a living,

breathing example of the best that our nation has to offer," said NASA Administrator

Michael Griffin. "She is, of course, a brave, superb pilot and a magnificent crew

82
commander. Beyond those qualities, she is both very bright and modestly self-effacing

about that fact. And above all, she is possessed nfa quiet determination to attain the very

highest levels of accomplishment. I am proud to know her and will greatly miss her at

NASA." A veteran of four space flights, Collins' career at NASA has been punctuated by

firsts. She was the first woman selected as a pilot astronaut, the first woman to serve as a

shuttle pilot and the first woman to command a U.S. spacecraft. Collins was selected as

an astronaut in 1990. She served as the pilot on mission STS-63 in February 1995, the

first shuttle mission to rendezvous with the Russian Mir Space Station. In May 1997, she

flew as pilot on mission STS-84, the sixth shuttle flight to dock to Mir. Collins

commanded the Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-93 in July 1999, the flight that

launched the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Her most recent space flight was as

commander of July's STS-114 mission, the first shuttle flight since the Columbia accident

in 2003. During the 14-daymission, Collins and her six-member crew tested new shuttle

safety enhancements and resupplied the International Space Station. ["NASA Astronaut

Eileen Collins Completes Career of Space Firsts," NASA News Release #06-208, May 1,

2006.]

May 3: STEREO spacecraft begin Florida launch preparations

NASA's nearly identical twin STEREO(Solar TErrestrialRElationsObservatory)

spacecraft,designed and built by the Johns Hopkins UniversityApplied Physics

Laboratory(APL) inLaurel,Md., arrived today in Florida forfinal pre-launchtestingand

preparations.Once in orbit,the observatorieswill capture the first-ever3-D "stereo"

views of the sun and solar wind. The observatoriesarrivedtodayby truck atthe

Astrotech SpacecraftProcessingFacilityjust outsideNASA's Kennedy SpaceCenterin

Florida, where they wilt be placed inside a cleanroom for finalpre-launchchecks.

They're scheduled for launchno earlierthan July22, 2006, aboarda single Delta II rocket

from Cape CanaveralAir Force Station'sLaunchComplex 17, PadB. Web posted.

(2006). [STEREO spacecraftbegin Floridalaunchpreparations[Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006, May 3].]

STEREO Arrives In Florida to Begin Launch Preparations

NASA's Solar TerrestrialRelations Observatory(STEREO)spacecraftarrivedtoday at

Astrotech,a payload processing facilitynear KennedySpace Center in Florida,to begin

preparationsand finaltesting for launch.Liftoffwill occur aboard aBoeing Delta II

rocketfromLaunchComplex 17 on Cape CanaveralAir Force Stationin the summer.

STEREOconsists of two spacecraftthattogether comprisethe first mission to take

measurementsof the sun and solar wind in 3-D. This new view will improveour

understandingof space weather and its impactonthe Earth. Duringits two-yearmission,

the two nearly identicalspacecraftwill explore the origin, evolutionand interplanetary

consequencesof coronalmass ejections, the mostviolent explosionsin oursolar system.

When directedat Earth,these billion-toneruptionscan disruptsatellites, radio

communicationsand power systems.Inaddition,energeticparticlesassociatedwith these

solareruptionsarehazardousto scientific spacecraft and astronauts.Truly an

internationaleffort,the STEREOmissionutilizesscientific collaborationand instrument

componentsprovided by the United Kingdom,France, Germany,Hungary,Switzerland,

and the European Space Agency. The instrumentswere integratedwith the observatories

83
by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md.

Spacecraft testing was performed at APL and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in

Greenbelt, Md. Now that both observatories are in Florida, technicians will begin the

final activities to prepare them for launch. This includes integration and test activities

such as: deployment of the solar arrays and high-gain antennas, installation of the flight

batteries, a mission simulation for each of the two observatories (also involving the Deep

Space Network), and a spacecraft Comprehensive Performance Test, an overall test of the

spacecraft systems and its instruments. The observatory propulsion system will then be

ready to undergo leak tests and fueling operations. Finally, the two observatories will be

vertically stacked in their launch configuration forspin-balance testing before mating

with the upper-stage booster. These operations are scheduled to take approximately three

months. The build-up of the Boeing Delta II rocket at Launch Complex 17 will begin

later this month. The first stage is currently planned to be erected on Pad 17-B during the

last week of May, followed by the attachment of the nine solid rocket boosters. The

second stage is currently planned to be hoisted atop the first stage late in the first week of

June. STEREO is targeted for transportation to the launch pad and mating with the Delta

II on July 10. The initial launch period for STEREO extends from July 22 to Aug. 6.

["STEREO Arrives In Florida To Begin Launch Preparations," NASA News Release

#30-06, May 3, 2006.]

May 4: Space Florida gets final approval

Gov. Jeb Bush got his new space agency from the Florida Legislature today, despite

efforts by two local lawmakers to slow down the shutdown of what's there now. The

House today passed legislation that creates Space Florida, under the wing of the state's

privatized economic development agency, Enterprise Florida. In doing so, it scuttles

existing economic development and research agencies and boards. The legislation comes

with $43 million in funding, including $35 million to modify launch facilities to

accommodate a new spacecraft. The impetus is NASA's coming plans to shut down

shuttle operations and shift to the Crew Exploration Vehicle, with yet unnamed

contractors. Web posted. (2006). [Space Florida gets final approval [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, May 4].]

Shuttle managers decide against special fueling test

NASA managers today ruled out a June 1 fueling test with the shuttle Discovery,

deciding there was no clear-cut technical justification for a complex exercise that would

put unwanted stress on the tank's foam insulation and use up valuable contingency time.

Shuttle program manager Wayne Hale ordered engineers to make tentative plans for a

tanking test earlier this spring as a way to make sure recently replaced engine cutoff -

ECO - sensors would work properly on launch day. The test would not have included

any so-called "drag on" instrumentation in the shuttle's aft compartment and its sole

purpose would have been to verify the ECO sensors changed state from dry to wet and

back again as expected. In the absence of additional instrumentation, no detailed

operational insights would be possible. During a weekly program meeting today, the

management team unanimously decided not to run the test, officials said, because any

major problems with the ECO sensors almost certainly would preclude a launch in the

July window anyway and because loading the tank with supercold propellant would

84
subject its foam insulation to unwanted thermal stress. Shuttle tanks are certified for 13

fueling cycles. When a countdown proceeds past the point where the tank is pressurized

for launch - part of the plan for the June test - it counts as two cycles. Diseo3,ery'slaunch

on the second post-Columbia mission is targeted for July 1.The ECO sensors will be

checked, as usual, when the tank is loaded with liquid hydrogen and oxygen on launch

day. A final analysis of the tank's ability to withstand aerodynamic buffeting without the

ramps in place, based on wind tunnel testing and complex computer modeling, is

expected next month. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle managers decide against special

fuelingtest [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.corni [2006, May

4].]

May 5: Roadkill posse accomplishes mission

The Roadkill Posse at Kennedy Space Center is cleaning up. Literally. More than 800

pounds of carrion have been collected around KSC since NASA in mid-April asked

workers to call in roadkill sightings. Coming in the wake of a bird strike duringthe STS114 launch last July, the roadkill reporting program is aimed at ridding the spaceport of

black vultures and turkey vultures. The vultures roost around NASA's twin shuttle

launch pads, and a bird strike in flight can cause serious damage to an orbiter. NASA

hopes that eliminating a major food source will prompt the scavengers to go live

elsewhere. Web posted. (2006). [Roadkill posse accomplishes mission [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, May 5].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1.1) - Muki-Purpose Logistics Module;

Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103); Location: OrbiterProcessing Facility Bay 3; Launch Date:

Launch Planning Window July 1-19, 2006; Launch Pad: 39B; Crew: Lindsey, Kelly,

Sellers,Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nautical miles. Technicians continue final preparations on Discovery prior to its move to

the Vehicle Assembly Building. The move is scheduled for May 12. Shuttle program

managers will discuss readiness for the move and any final technical details during the

Orbiter Rollover Review on May 8. As a precautionary measure to provide protection

fromthe tin whiskering phenomenon, a reactionjet driver was replaced in an avionics

bay and successfully retested early this week, Whiskering is a phenomenon identified

decades ago whereby certain metals, primarily tin, zinc and cadmium, develop pure

metallic crystalline extrusions. During retesfing of the reaction jet driver replacement, an

unrelated problem was discovered in the load control assembly in a line replacement unit

box in the forward avionics bay. The remotely controlled assembly provides power to the

reactionjet driver. Technicians have replaced the assembly and will retest the equipment

over the weekend. Mission: STS-115 - 19th ISS Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays;

Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104); Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1;Launch Date:

No earlier than Aug. 28, 2006; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew:Jett, Ferguson, Tanner,

Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nautical miles. Technicians are carrying out powered-up system testing on Atlantis for its

mission to the station. Workers continue to perform water coolant loop samples. The

remote manipulator system, or shuttle robotic arm, is scheduled to be installed early next

week. The shuttle arm maneuvers a payload from the payload bay of the orbiter to its

85
deployment position and then releases it. The arm can also grapple a free-flying payload,

maneuver it to the payload bay of the orbiter and berth it in the orbiter. Endeavour (OV105);Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility

Bay 2 following an extensive modification period. Technicians continue completing

system leak and functional checks on the liquid oxygen side of the main propulsion

system. Heater checks for the multi-purpose logistics module axe complete. The logistics

module will be added to the payload bay at the launch pad and will carry supplies and

equipment to the station. External Tank; Following detailed discussions Thursday, Space

Shuttle Program management decided that a tanking test of the external fuel tank will not

be needed prior to Discovery's STS-121 mission. Managers decided the proposed

objectives of the test could be achieved during the actual launch attempt. Technicians

continue to perform final closeouts on the external tank and solid rocket boosters in the

Vehicle Assembly Building in preparation for Discovery to be attached to the tank and

boosters, or as it's also known, the stack. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle

Processing Status Report #S06-015 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, May 5].]

International Space Station Module to Arrive In Florida

Columbus is embarking on a new journey to the United States. The European Space

Agency's Columbus module, a laboratory facility destined for the International Space

Station, is set to arrive at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., from Bremen, Germany

on May 30. NASA will welcome Columbus during a ceremony Friday, June 2, at 10 a.m.

EDT at Kennedy's Space Station Processing Facility. The Columbus module is the

European Space Agency's primary contribution to the International Space Station. The

module will be used to support a variety of life, physical and materials science

experiments. At Kennedy, it will be processed for launch on a future space shuttle

mission. ["International Space Station Module To Arrive In Florida This Month,"

NASA Media Advisory #M06-082, May 5, 2006.]

May 7: Three join space Hall

All inducted Saturday, the three newest members of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

urged more than 1,000 spectators to make the world a better place. Charles Bolden Jr.,

HenryHartsfield Jr. and Brewster Shaw Jr. became astronautsto help reach that goal and

joined those "select few who have distinguished themselves through extended

commitment and remarkable leadership," said Jim Kennedy, Kennedy Space Center

director. More than 20 astronauts -- including John Young, Robert Crippen and Charles

Duke -- attended the induction ceremony at Kennedy Space Center's Apollo/Saturn V

Center. Their space-flying peers praised the inductees, who increased the number of

space explorersin the Astronaut Hall of Fame to 63. Thomas Mattingly introduced

Hartsfleld, John Young introduced Shaw, and Robert Gibson introduced Bolden. Web

posted. (2006). [Three join space Hall [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, May 7].]

May 8: Report: NASA in need of new blood

NASA's work force is graying and the agency lacks a long-term plan for luring qualified

workers to help send astronauts to the moon and Mars, a National Research Council

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report says. "NASA doesn't have a lot of people leaving, so what's been happening is

they're aging in place," said MIT aeronautics professor Daniel Hastings, who co-chaired

the panel of aerospace industry experts who wrote the report. The space agency has been

too focused on short-term labor problems, such as what to do with some 900 employees

whose work is ending along with the soon-to-be-retired space shuttle, the experts wrote.

And there has not been enough attention on the type of skills needed in the future and the

aging of the work force, they said. NASA requested the report last year from the research

council, a nonprofit organization that is part of the National Academies of Science, which

offer policy advice under congressional charter. A final version of the report will come

out in early 2007. NASA spokesman Doc Mirelson said the space agency would reserve

commenting on the interim report until making a formal response Monday at a meeting

with the panel. NASA's 18,400 workers, along with the tens of thousands of contract

employees, face the end of the space shuttle program in 2010 and the development of

next-generation vehicles that will allow astronauts to go back to the moon and eventually

explore Mars. The two projects require different skill sets, forcing NASA to keep space

shuttle workers in place, while at the same time designing, building and testing new

vehicles. The lack of major turnover at the space agency has added to the aging of the

work force and the lack of younger employees. NASA only hired 411 new engineers in

2005, or about 4 percent of the 10,700engineers at the agency. Only a quarter of NASA's

engineers and scientists are under age 40, and by 2011 the agency predicts that close to

half of its scientists and more than a quarter of its engineers will be eligible for

retirement, the report noted. The panel found no evidence of a shortage of aerospace

scientists and engineers as had been forecast for the industry but agreed that NASA was

having trouble finding some workers, such as system engineers and project managers.

Web posted. (2006). [Report: NASA in need of new blood Monday [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.enn.com/[2006, May 8].]

Tracy Anania Named Director of KSC Human Resources

Kennedy Space Center Director Jim Kennedy announced today Tracy Anania has been

appointed the center's director of Human Resources. In this position, Anania will oversee

the center's civil service staffing requirements, manage employee classifications and

compensation, and build training and leadership development programs. Anania

currently serves as the director of Human Resources for the Communications-Electronics

Research, Development and Engineering Center for the Department of the Army

Research, Development and Engineering Command at Fort Monmouth, N.J. This

directorate has 21 staff workers and is responsible for Human Resources services in the

areas of recruitment, retention, career development and training, performance

management and employee recognition, and employee and labor-management relations.

Anania is expected to arrive at Kennedy within the next month to assume her position.

["Tracy Anania Named Director of KSC Human Resources," NASA News Release #31-

06, May 8, 2006.]

Stephen J. Altemus to Lead New KSC Engineering

Organization

NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Jim Kennedy announced today the center is

standing up a new organization called the Engineering Directorate with Stephen J.

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Altemus as its director. The new 800-person Engineering Directorate is being created to

centralize the center's engineering activities, processes and personnel into one

organization that will have an independent reporting line of authority and to ensure the

highest quality of engineering rigor at the center. The new directorate will be fully

staffed by Oct. 1 and wilt be responsible for supporting projects and programs at

Kennedy by furnishing design, development and operations engineers to these offices.

Since January 2005, Altemus has been serving as acting and then deputy director for

engineering at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. He was responsible for

providing engineering design, development and testing, as well as technical expertise in

support of hardware, software and systems for human space flight programs such as

space shuttle,International Space Station, and advanced spacecraft for human exploration

initiatives. Prior to joining the Johnson team, he served at KSC as the chief of the Shuttle

Launch and Landing Division, where he supervised and managed a team of engineers and

technical experts in the specialized fields of shuttle ground processing and launch and

landing operations. In this role, he also served as the Columbia reconstruction director

for the Space Shuttle Program and KSC. During this six-month period, he managed a

diverse team of up to 400 engineers, scientists and technicians from multiple NASA field

centers, government agencies and contractor organizations. The team was responsible for

cataloging, identifying and assembling more than 85,000 pieces of Columbia debris.

["Stephen J. Altemus To Lead New KSC Engineering Organization," NASA News

Release #32-06, May 8, 2006.]

May 9: NASA steps up shuttle rollout

Discovery will move into Kennedy Space Center's massive assembly building this week,

marking a key milestone in preparations for a planned July i launch on NASA's second

post-Columbia shuttle mission. Secured atop a 76-wheel transporter, Discovery will be

backed out of a nearby hangar about 8 a.m. Thursday and escorted to the 52-story

Vehicle Assembly Building by technicians and engineers who have readied the orbiter for

flight. "It's always nice when the vehicle leavesthe hangar," said KSC spokeswoman

Jessica Rye. The date and time for the move was selected after a meeting Monday. It had

been planned for Friday; if all goes well, the move will take place 24 hours ahead of

schedule. The short trip will cap a 263-day stay in the hangar, one that began Aug. 22

after Discovery was ferried back to KSC from Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The spaceship landed at the Mojave Desert military base at the end of NASA's first postColumbia test flight and then was flown back to Florida atop a modified 747 jumbo jet.

Once in the assembly building, crane operators will hoist Discovery atop a mobile

launcher platform and connect it to an external tank with two attached solid rocket

boosters. The assembled shuttle remains scheduled to roll out to launch pad 39B on May

19. A move to the pad then would allow NASA to preserve two weeks of leeway in the

schedule for a July 1 launch. The launch window will close July 19. Web posted. (2006).

[NASA steps up shuttle rollout [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, May 7].]

Community Leaders Briefing to Discuss Space Exploration

The 2006 annual Community Leaders Briefing, which will focus on many of the space

industry'smost important aspects, is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. May I2 at the NASA

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Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. KSC DirectorJim Kennedy will meet with

various leaders from throughout Florida to discuss a variety of KSC and NASA activities.

Topics will include updates on the Space Shuttle,International Space Station, Launeh

Services and Constellation Programs. Participants also will discuss KSC's role in

continuing the Vision for Space Exploration. Attendees will meet at the Dr. Kurt H.

Debus Conference Facility for registration and a buffet breakfast. The briefing will begin

at 9 a.m. Following the briefing, guests will have the opportunity to see exhibits at the

KSC Visitor Complex and view the latest IMAX movie, "Magnificent Desolation." A

variety of community leaders, business executives, state and local government officials

and community organizations have been invited. ["Community Leaders Briefing To

Discuss Space Exploration on May 12," NASA Media Advisory #33-06, May 9, 2006.]

May 11: Discovery cargo transferred to transporter

The primepayload for NASA's second post-Columbiashuttlemission now isresting in a

transporter thatwill haul it outto Kennedy Space Center'slaunchpad 39B next week.

Craneoperatorsin the Space StationProcessingFacilityhoisted the Leonardo cargo

moduleout of a work stand and then intothe payload transporterduringthe daytoday.

The transporterwill head outto the launchpadnext Tuesday.Shuttle Discovery is

scheduledto join it atthe pad on May 19. Web posted. (2006). [Discovery cargo

transferredto transporter[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/

[2006, May 11].]

May 12: NASA Automated Rocket Safety System Passes Key Test

NASA has successfully demonstrateda new automatedsystem which may enhance

launchsafetyand reduce costs for access to space. The autonomousflight safety system

detects when a rocket is flying offcourse and directs itself to end the flight. The new

"self-destruct" system,tested on April5 duringa suborbitalflight fromWhite Sands

Missile Range, N.M., hasthe potentialto dramaticallyreduce downrange radar,telemetry

and command uplinkrequirementswhile enhancingreactiontime. The safety system

was able to detect the rocket'sposition and compare it to the projectedflight path," said

BartonBull,technology developmentmanager atNASA's Wallops Flight Facility,

WallopsIsland, Va. Itwas a very successfultest of the prototype." In an operational

system,if the onboardcomputers had detectedthat the rocket was flying off course and

therewasthe potentialof it flying outside the launch range, the vehicle would selfdestructhe said. NASA's Kennedy Space Center,Fla.,joins Wallops in supportingthe

project,designed to let errantvehicles use onboardsoftware to end a flight basedon selfcontainedpositionandattitudesensors.The system will be able to replicate all mission

rules availableto range safety officerswithout relying on any commandsfrom the

ground. The test incorporatedredundant GlobalPositioningSystem sensors and used

two on-board computerprocessors.Onewas loadedwith a nominaltrajectoryandthe

otherwasprogrammedso that a nominalflight wouldviolate safetyrules and prompta

self-destruct. The system was notconnected to a terminationsystemduringthe test

flight. The safety system functionedand reactedcorrectlyduring the entire flight from

launchto parachute deployment. The two stage soundingrocketflew to an altitudeof

47.5 miles, and the experimentpackagewas safely recovered. The next goal of the

project isto complete the design and demonstratea systemcompliant with the strict

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reliability and redundancy rules required by range safety organizations at NASA and

Department of Defense launch ranges. The next test flight of the system is tentatively

scheduled for fall. ["NASA Automated Rocket Safety System Passes Key Test," NASA

News Release #33-06, May 9, 2006.]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory(STEREO); Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape

CanaveralAir Force Station,Fla.;LaunchVehicle: Boeing Delta II ; Launch Date: July

22, 2006 ;LaunchTimes: 3:11 - 3:13 p.m. and 4:19 - 4:34 p.m. EDT. Technicians

completed state-of-healthtesting of the two STEREO spacecraftthis week, following

theirMay 3 arrivalin Florida. Individualsystem checkoutis under way. The STEREO

flight batteriesare scheduledto be installednext week. The build-up of the Delta II

rocket atPad 17-Bis scheduled to begin duringthe lastweek of May. STEREO will use

"3D" vision to build a global picture of the sun and its influences. KSC News Center

(2006). Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report #E06-014 [Online]. Available Email: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, May 12].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18thISS Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-PurposeLogistics Module;

Vehicle:Discovery (OV-103); Location:Vehicle Assembly Building;LaunchDate:

LaunchPlanningWindowJuly 1-19, 2006; LaunchPad: 39B;Crew: Lindsey,Kelly,

Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nautical miles. Discovery was moved today from Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 to

the VehicleAssembly Building, a major step toward a launch to the International Space

Station. Technicians and crane operators began preparations to lift Discovery into the

assembly building's High Bay 3 and attach the shuttle to its external fuel tank and twin

solid rocket boosters. After final integration, a crawler transporter is scheduled to carry

Discovery to the launch pad May 19. Discovery was scheduled to move Thursday, but a

sheared left-hand jack screw on the lifting sling in the assembly building postponed the

rollover until today. Both the right and left-hand screws were removed and replaced. The

replacements were inspected, analyzed, proof loaded and installed on the sling. The

payloads that will launch aboard Discovery were loaded into the payload transportation

canister this week and are scheduled to roll outto the launch pad on May 16. Discovery's

payloads include the Italian-built logistics module, known as Leonardo, which will carry

food, clothing, spare parts and research equipment to the station. Other payloads include

two cargo carriers which contain heat shield tile samples, a spare pump module and a

replacement mobile transporter reel assembly. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space

Shuttle Processing Status Report #S06-016 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006 May 12].]

May 13: Discovery makes its debut

Discovery took a first step toward the launch pad Friday,rolling out of its hangar and into

KennedySpace Center'sshuttle assemblybuilding. Mounted atop a 76-wheeled

transporter,the winged spaceshipemerged froma cocoon of scaffolding, slowly inching

outof the hangar as about200 technicians, engineers,managersand other workers

watched from the roadside. "This is huge for us -- especially for the folks working on the

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orbiter," said Stephanie Stilson, the NASA manager in charge of ground processing work

on Discovery. Added Betty Muldowney, an Orlando resident who manages the hangar

for United Space Alliance: "We're cheering the orbiter on. We've done our part, and now

it's on to the next phase to get ready for launch." Discovery and seven astronauts are

scheduled to launch July 1 on NASA's second post-Columbia test flight, a supply run to

the International Space Station. The spaceship will be connected today to an external

tank already equipped with twin solid rocket boosters. Five days of testing will follow

before the fully assembled shuttle is hauled out to launch pad 39B. The 4.2-mile trip is

scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Muldowney and a team of 350 people in Bay 3

of NASA's Orbiter Processing Facility have been working on Discovery since it rolled

into the hangar on Aug. 22, a day after the ship returned to KSC from a California

landing site. Their biggest challenge: Replacing 5,104 heat-resistant fabric strips

between thermal tiles on the underside of the orbiter. Seeing the finished product after all

the extra work was a welcome sight, Stilson said. Web posted. (2006). [Discovery makes

its debut [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, May 13].]

May 15: Delta 4 launch sliding a few days

The return to flight of the Delta 4 rocket looksto be sliding four to five days on the

calendar to no earlier than May 24. A technical issue with the rocket's first stage is the

culprit, and a final decision about the delay and the new launch date won't be made until

sometime later today. The Delta 4 last flew in December 2004, when the first-ever heavy

model of the Boeing rocket suffered first-stage performance degradation and left its

payload about 10,000 miles short of its intended orbit. A string of technical problems and

a lengthy strike by Boeing machinists have contributed to the lingering grounding.

NASA's George Diller says the mission, to launch a GOES-N weather satellite, should be

reset for either May 24 or May 25. We'll have more details later today once a new date

and time are approved. We'll also get more details on the technical concern. Web posted.

(2006). [Delta 4 launch sliding a few days [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, May 15].]

May 16: NASA releases DART report summary

A collision between a small NASA satelliteandanother spacecraft last year has been

blamed on a glitch with the spacecraft'snavigationsystem, compoundedby management

andtraining issues, according to a reportsummary releasedby NASA lateMonday.The

Demonstrationof AutonomousRendezvousTechnology (DART) spacecraftwas

launched in April 2005 on a shortmissionto rendezvouswith a defunctsmall military

satellite,MUBLCOM, without human guidance.The mission ended early, though, when

DART bumped into MUBLCOM.Accordingto the summaryof the mishapinvestigation

board report, glitches in DART's navigationsystemcausedit to inaccuratelymeasure its

position and navigation,usingupan excessive amountof thrusterpropellant in the

process. Contributingto the failure, the reportsummarynoted,was the "high risk, low

budget" natureof the projectand inadequatetrainingof the spacecraftteam. The full

report was not issued by NASA, citing export controlissues. Web posted. (2006).

[NASA releases DART report summary [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, May 15].]

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May 17: Super Loki launches from Cape

A small weather rocket took off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station today, marking

the first of two test flights aimed at proving the 10-year-old rockets are safe to fly as part

of a university launch program. The 15-foot Super Loki rocket blasted off about i0 a.m.

at Launch Complex 47, which is operated by the Florida Space Authority under a license

agreementwith the Air Force's 45th Space Wing. A follow-up flight is expected to take

place in June. Brevard Community College and the Florida Space Institute plan to use

almost 200 Super Loki rocketsin a program geared toward training a new generation of

aerospace technicians and engineers. Web posted. (2006). [Super Loki launches from

Cape [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, May 17].]

Shuttle cargo heads to pad

The cargo that will be hauled to the International Space Station aboard shuttle Discovery

this summer is being transported to launch pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center today.

Comprised primarily of an Italian-built moving van filled with supplies and equipment,

the payload is nestled inside a specially designed canister that is mounted vertically atop

a 48-wheel, self-propelled truck. The diesel-powered transporter departed the KSC

Space Station Processing Facility around 9 a.m. The trip to the pad is expected to take a

few hours. Still scheduled for launch on July 1, shuttle Discovery will join the payload at

the pad on Friday. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle cargo heads to pad [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, May 17].]

Liberty Bell 7 lands at Kennedy

Gus Grissom's lost spacecraft, the Liberty Bell 7, is making a return visit to the Kennedy

Space Center. The famed spacecraft, which sank to the bottom of the ocean upon

completion of the United States' second human space flight in 1961, is part of a traveling

museum display. Entitled "The Liberty Bell 7 Recovered," the exhibit will be at the

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex from May 26 through Sept. 10. The exhibit lets

visitors go on a virtual ride into space with Grissom. Later, they get to travel three miles

beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean for the recovery expedition funded by the

Discovery Channel. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has hosted the

traveling exhibit before. When it is at KSC, visitors have the advantage of adding to their

trip an up-close look at the historic launch complex from which Grissom (and Shepard

before him) launched on a Redstone rocket in the early days of Project Mercury. Web

posted. (2006). [Liberty Bell 7 lands at Kennedy [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, May 17].]

NASA Finalizes Crew For Upcoming Shuttle Missions

NASA hasfinalizedcrew assignmentsfortwo space shuttlemissions targeted for launch

in2007 to continueassembly of the InternationalSpace Station. AstronautJohnD.

Olivaswill join the crew of shuttlemission STS-117. AstronautTracyCaldwell will join

the crew of shuttlemission STS-118. Olivasand Caldwell will be making their firstspace

flights. AstronautRichardA. Mastracchio, previously assigned to STS-117, has been

reassignedto STS-118. Veteranshuttle flier and spacewalkerScott Parazynski,

previously assignedto STS-118, has left thatcrew to prepare for assignmentto another

mission. Withthe changes, the STS-117 crewis commandedby Marine Lt.Col.

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Frederick W: Sturckow. The mission's pilot is Air Force Col. Lee J. Archambault and the

mission specialists are James F. Reilly II, retired Army Col. Patrick G. Forrester, Steven

R. Swanson and Olivas. STS-117 will deliver the second starboard truss segment to the

space station with the third set of U.S. solar arrays, batteries and associated equipment.

STS-118 will be commanded by Navy Cmdr. Scott J. Kelly. The pilot will be Marine Lt.

Col. Charles O. Hobaugh. The mission specialists are Canadian Space Agency astronaut

Dr. Dafydd R. Williams, educator astronaut Barbara R. Morgan, Mastracehio and

Caldwelt. STS-118 will deliver to the station the third starboard truss segment; an

external stowage platform; and logistics and supplies in a SPACEHAB single cargo

module. Olivas was born in North Hollywood, Calif., and raised in E1Paso, Texas. He

received a bachelor's from the University of Texas-E1Paso, a master's from the

University of Houston and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Rice University,

Houston. Upon completing his doctorate, Olivas worked as a senior research engineer at

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. He was selected as an astronaut in

1998. Caldwell was born in Arcadia, Calif. She received a bachelor's from California

State University in Fullerton and a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of

California at Davis. She was selected as an astronaut in 1998. Her assignments have

included spacecraft communicator in mission control, shuttle flight software verification

and support of shuttle launch and landing operations. ["NASA Finalizes Crew For

Upcoming Shuttle Missions," NASA News Release #06-221, May 17, 2006.]

NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery Cargo Ready for Flight

The payloads that will launch aboard the next space shuttle mission, STS-121, arrived

Wednesday at Launch Pad 39-B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Space Shuttle

Discovery's cargo includes the Italian-built logistics module Leonardo, which will carry.

11 large racks filled with food, clothing, spare parts and research equipment to the

International Space Station. Also included in the cargo is the Oxygen Generation System,

which can provide enough oxygen each day to support a six-member crew. The system

will be operational before the first six-person crew arrives aboard the station in 2009. An

integrated cargo carrier will deliver a spare pump module and replacement mobile

transporter reel assembly to the station. Another carrier containing pieces of the shuttle's

heat-shielding material is also installed in Discovery's payload bay. The material will be

used to test heat shield repair methods in orbit during a potential third spacewalk.

Discovery'slaunch to the International Space Station is targeted for July 1 in a launch

window that extends to July 19. During the !2-day mission, crew members will test new

hardware and techniques to improve shuttle safety. ["NASA's space Shuttle Discovery

Cargo Ready for Flight," NASA News Release #06-223, May 17, 2006.]

May 18: NASA Set to Launch Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2008

After successful completion of its mission confirmation review on Wednesday, May 17,

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter project has been given the authority to proceed to

the implementation phase. The confirmation review represents NASA's formal decision

for authorizing additional work and setsthe project's cost estimate. The mission was

deemed to be within budget and on schedule to launch in October 2008. After a 30-year

hiatus, the orbiter represents NASA's first step towards returning humans to the moon.

The spacecraft will spend an unprecedented year mapping the moon from an average

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altitude of approximately 30 miles. It will carry six instruments and one tec'hnology

demonstration to conduct investigations specifically targeted at preparing for future

human exploration. The orbiter is being built at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in

Greenbelt, Md. The insmaments are being provided by various organizations throughout

the U.S. and one in Russia. The instruments will generate a global map of the moon; to

determine which potential landing sites are free from hazards; to measure light and

temperature patterns at the moon's poles; to search for potential resources, such as water;

and to assess the deep-space radiation environment and its potential effects on humans.

The next spacecraft milestone is the critical design review, scheduled for later this year.

This review represents the completion of detailed system designs and marks the transition

into the manufaeturing, assembly, and integration phase of the mission development

cycle. ["NASA Set to Launch Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2008," NASA News

Release #06-224, May 18, 2006.]

NASA Announces New Weather Satellite Launch Date

NASA announcedthe launchdatefor a weather satellitethatwill provide timely

environmentalinformationto meteorologistsandthe public. The Geostationary

OperationalEnvironmental Satellite-N,knownas GOES-N, will launch Wednesday,May

24, from LaunchComplex 37 at Cape CanaveralAir Force Station,Fla. The launch

window is from 6:11 to 7:11 p.m. EDT. NASA TV will carry the launch live. GOES-N

joins a system of weather satellites that graphically display the intensity, path and size of

storms. Early warning about severe weather enhances the public's ability to take shelter

and protect property. GOES-N will be launched on a Boeing Delta IV rocket under a

commercial license with the Federal Aviation Administration. The satellite will be turned

over to NASA after Boeing completes a successful checkout. The National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration manages the GOES program, establishes requirements,

provides all funding and distributes environmental satellite data for the United States.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., procures and manages the

development and launch of the satellites for NOAA on a cost reimbursable basis, and

Boeing built it. For more information about GOES-N, visit: ["NASA Announces New

Weather Satellite Launch Date," NASA Media Advisory #M06-088, May 18, 2006,]

NASA Announces 2006 Fellowship Awards

NASA has named its 2006 awardees for the NASA Administrator's Fellowship Program,

an effort to ensure the strength of our nation's scientific and technical workforce. The

program was started nine years ago to help minority institutions respond toNASA's

overall education, research and development mission. It's designed to enhance the

professional development of NASA employees and faculty of minority-serving

institutions. The fellowship offers access to NASA's internal and informal information

networks. It also expands knowledge of NASA's technical and scientific needs, and

provides opportunities for institutions to share information about their specific

capabilities and technologies. The 2006 fellowship recipient for KSC is Dawn M. Elliott,

Ph.D., NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Seventy-one fellows have been selected since

the program's inception. Participants have been instrumental in securing individual and

institutional research awards and mentoring students to pursue NASA related research

and work at agency centers. The program is managed and administered by the United

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Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation in Fairfax, Va., for the NASA's

Office of Education. ["NASA Announces 2006 Fellowship Awards," NASA News

Release #06-225, May 18, 2006.]

NASA's Exploration Systems Progress Report

NASA has chosen the RS-68 engine to power the core stage of the agency's heavy lift

cargo launch vehicle intended to carry large payloads to the moon. The announcement

supersedes NASA's initial decision to use a derivative of the space shuttle main engine as

the core stage engine for the heavy lift launch vehicle. The cargo launch vehicle will

serve as NASA's primary vessel for safe, reliable delivery of resources to space. It will

carry large-scale hardware and materials for establishing a permanent moon base, as well

as food, fresh water and other staples needed to extend a human presence beyond Earth

orbit. Recent studies examining life-cycle cost showed the RS-68 is best suited for

NASA's heavy-lift cargo requirements. The decision to change the core stage engine

required an increase in the size of the core propulsion stage tank, from a 27.5-foot

diametertank to 33-foot diameter tank, to provide additional propellant required by the

five RS-68 engines. The RS-68 isthe most powerful liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen

booster in existence, capable of producing 650,000 pounds of thrust at sea level. In

contrast, the space shuttle main engine is capable of producing 420,000 pounds of thrust

at sea level. The RS-68, upgraded to meet NASA's requirements, will cost roughly $20

million per engine, a dramatic cost savings over the shuttle main engine. The RS-68 is

used in the Delta IV launcher, the largest of the Delta rocket family. ["NASA's

Exploration Systems Progress Report," NASA News Release #06-226, May 18, 2006.]

May 19: USA expects to get smaller after shuttles

The company that operates NASA's space shuttlesfaces job cuts, as the fleet approaches

its 2010 retirement, but United Space Alliance's chief executive says he does not know

how many people will be impacted or when reductions might begin. "We're going to be a

smaller company," United Space Alliance President and Chief Executive Officer Mike

McCulley said during a wide-ranging discussion with the Florida Today editorial board

Thursday. McCulley promised to be straightforward with workers, providing them

whatever information he has about potential reductions in force early enough to help

people plan. Some, but not all, of the expected reductions would be mitigated by attrition

as people retire or otherwise leave the company. Many ofthe company's approximately

10,000 workers already are asking questions about potential layoffs and what the future

holds for the company. The problem: McCulley doesn't know yet. He could not even

offer a range of the company's size post-2010. The reason things remain uncertain is that

key decisions still are being made about how NASA will transition from the shuttle to a

replacement Apollo-like spacecraft known as the Crew Exploration Vehicle. For

instance, if one of the orbiters retires in 2008, one of the hangar-like Orbiter Processing

Facilities could be shut down. It's unclear how many United Space Alliance staffers no

longer would be needed or how soon after that. To be sure, by 2010, workers on certain

tasks no longer will be needed. An example: The new vehicle won't use the same kind of

heat-shielding tiles and blankets used on the shuttles. Another uncertainty: While

NASA's goal is to minimize the gap between shuttle retirement and the buildup to the

first Crew Exploration Vehicle flights, it's unclear how long that lapse in human

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spaceflights might be or how many workers from the shuttle program can transition to the

early work on the replacement vehicles and related hardware at KSC. The company is

allied with both of the contractor teams vying for the Crew Exploration Vehicle contract.

United Space Alliance, a 50-50 partnership of The Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin

Corp., is attempting to position itself as being more than the operator of a new vehicle.

Web posted. (2006). [USA expects to get smaller aftershuttles [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com!_[2006, May 19].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) ;Launch Pad: 17-B,Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.; Launch Vehicle: Delta II; Launch Date: July 22, 2006;

Launch Times: 3:11 - 3:13 p.m. and 4:19 - 4:34 p.m. EDT. Technicians are testing

individual STEREO systems on both the "A" and "B" spacecraft. The flight battery for

spacecraft A was installed this week. Technicians are expected to install the battery for

spacecraft B next week. In addition to testing, work planned over the next few weeks

includes solar array installation and integration of the high-gain communications antenna.

The build-up of the Delta II rocket at Pad 17-Bis scheduled to begin on June 1 with the

first stage. Pad workers will start to erect the nine solid rocket boosters on June 2. The

second stage will be hoisted into position and mated to the first stage on June 20. The

crewwill raise the 10-foot fairing into the pad clean room on June 21. STEREO will

build a three-dimensional, global picture of the sun and study the sun's influence on

Earth. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report #E06-

015 [Online]. AvailableE-mail: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, May i9].]

NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery Moves To Launch Pad

The Space ShuttleDiscovery stands at itslaunchpadatNASA's Kennedy SpaceCenter,

Fla.The shuttlearrived at 8:30 p.m. EDTFridayon topof a giant vehicle known asthe

crawler transporter. "Rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery signifies the last major

processing milestone in preparation for our next mission, STS-121," said Space Shuttle

Program Manager Wayne Hale. "The entire team has worked tremendously hard to

ensure we were prepared to move to the pad, and we are excited to continue moving

toward a July launch." The crawler transporter began carrying Discovery out of

Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building at 12:45 p.m. Friday. The crawler's maximum

speed during the 4.2-mile journey was lessthan 1 mph. While at the pad, the shuttle will

undergo final testing and hardware integration prior to launch, as well as a "hot fire" test

of the auxiliary power units to ensure they are properly functioning. The rotating service

structure then will be moved back around the vehicle to protect it from potential damage

and the elements. Discovery's launch to the International Space Station is targeted for

July 1, with a launch window that extends until July 19. During the 12-day mission,

Discovery's crew will test new hardware and techniques to improve shuttle safety, as well

as deliver supplies and make repairs to the station. Another upcoming milestone isthe

terminal countdown demonstration test, set for June 12 through 15. This countdown dress

rehearsal provides each shuttle crew with the opportunity to participate in various

simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency

evacuation training. ["NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery Moves To Launch Pad," NASA

News Release #S06-016, May 19, 2006.]

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May 22: Shuttle engine test preps under way

Preparations for a key prelauneh engine test are under way at Kennedy Space Center

today as NASA marches toward the planned July 1 launch of Discovery on the agency's

second post-Columbia test flight. The Flight Readiness Test involves gimbaling the

engines and cycling valves within them. The idea is to make certain the engines can be

steered in flight and that valves open and shut when commanded to do so. Set for

Tuesday, the test will follow checkout this past weekend of the shuttle'sthree Auxiliary

Power Units. The units provide the hydraulic power needed to steer the shuttle's main

engines in flight and operate its wing flaps, rudder speedbrake, landing gear and

nosewheel steering system during atmospheric reentry and landing. All three units

passed the routine prelannch checkout. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle engine test preps

under way [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, May 22].]

Wednesday's launch weather forecast

The chance of acceptable launch weather is 60 percent on Wednesday for a planned Delta

4 launch of a GOES-N weather satellite. The weather forecast issued today by the 45th

Weather Squadron. There are concerns about isolated storms, clouds within 10 miles of

Pad 37B and potentially strong winds that could damage the launch vehicle or spacecraft.

If the launch must wait one extra day, the conditions worsen. There is only a 40 percent

chance of acceptable launch weather Thursday. For now, launch remains set sometime

between 6:11 p.m. and 7:11 p.m. on Wednesday. Web posted. (2006). [Wednesday's

launch weather forecast [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/

[2006, May 22].1

May 22: Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th InternationalSpace StationFlight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

LogisticsModule ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103); Location:LaunchPad39B ; Launch

Date:LaunchProcessingWindow July 1-19,2006 ;LaunchPad:39B ; Crew: Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6

degrees/122 nautical miles. On May 19, the crawler transporter carrying Space Shuttle

Discovery left the Vehicle Assembly Building at 12:45 p.m. on its 4.2-mile journey to

Launch Pad 39B and arrived nearly eight hours later. Technicians performed a "hotfire"

test of the auxiliary power units on Saturday to ensure they are properly functioning.

Later that evening, the rotating service structure was moved back around the vehicle to

protect it from potential damage and the elements while at the pad. Today, the launch

team at the pad began preparing for the flight readiness test of the space shuttle main

engines. Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen system leak checks are scheduled for this

afternoon. The test will ensure the engine hydraulics are working properly. The payload

arrived at the pad last week. Technicians will open the payload bay doors on the orbiter

this afternoon and the payload will be transferred into the payload bay on Tuesday.

Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-052206

[Online]. AvailableE-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006,

May 22].]

97
May 23: Communication key at KSC

Kennedy Space Center has been preparing for this hurricane season since 2004. NASA

always prepares, but the triple whammy of Charley, Frances and Jeanne ripped off wall

panels and roofs and pointed out many of the center's weaknesses. Since then, KSC has

made a concerted effort to get rid of vulnerable "temporary" structures that have been

around for decades. More than 3,000 people were in trailers and boxcars at one time.

"We've almost eliminated the problem," NASA spokesman George Diller said. About a

hundred trailers were removed. Now, there are fewer than 100 people in trailers, thanks

to the new Operations SupportBuilding 2 and other structures. "We've been trying to

harden facilities," said Emergency Preparedness Officer Wayne Kee. The center got

$126 million in federal funding for hurricane repairs. The money contributed to

improvements to roofs and other structures at the center, where some 15,000 people

work. Among the structures that have had repairs isthe Vehicle Assembly Building,

which had holes in its walls after Frances and Jeanne. Although it's in better shape, Kee

said he couldn't rule out the loss of more panels in a hurricane. When a storm

approaches, forecasters and officials meet frequently to determine the status of KSC and

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The base goes through levels of hurricane alert that

enable people to get ready in a methodical fashion. Even before the season, workers do a

debris inspection and gather up discarded and loose items. The base's Emergency

Operations Center is located in the Launch Control Center. Officials from the Air Force's

45th Space Wing also ride out the stormthere. People in the center are able to

communicate with county emergency managers, and they have a ham radio as a backup

in case other links fail "Communication's a big thing, staying in touch," Kee said. "If

we're going to survive to operate after the storm we have to be prepared before it." Web

posted. (2006). [Communication key at KSC [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, May 23].]

May 24: Tower back, clock ticking toward Delta 4 launch

The countdown clock has started and the rusty-orange and white Delta 4 rocket can

clearly be seen now that its cocoon of work platforms has backed away from the pad.

This will be the first Delta 4 launch since December 2004, when a heavy version of the

rocket lifted off successfully but failed to get its payloads to target orbits. The primary

concern today: a mediocre weather forecast saying there's a 40 percent of unacceptable

launch conditions today. One slight improvement isthat, if there is a 24-hour delay,

conditions have gotten a little better. There's a 40 percent chance of unacceptable

conditions Thursday (it had been 60 percent up until this morning). The mission will

place into orbit the first of a series of three new GOES weather satellites. The Delta 4

rocket is due to lift the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite during a

window that extends from 6:11 to 7:11 p.m. Wednesday. During a months-long delay,

Boeing removed the satellite from the rocket and checked it out in the Astroteeh facility

in Titusville. It was deemed in good health and ready for its launch from Cape Canaveral.

Web posted. (2006). [Tower back, clock ticking toward Delta 4 launch [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, May 24].]

Next-generation weather satellite takes flight

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Boeing launched an unmanned Delta rocket carrying a new U.S. weather satellite toward

orbit Wednesday, the first with the ability to keep an eye on developing storms even

when the solar-powered craft is in Earth's shadow. The Boeing rocket carrying the

satellite blasted off at 6:11 p.m. EDT from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,

following a 15-month stay at the launch pad. The mission was delayed due to technical

problems with the rocket and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, and

because of a machinists' strike. The spacecraft is the first of three upgraded GOES

weather satellites to be launched over the next few years. The National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration will use them to provide imagery and data for weather

forecasting in North America and the rest of the Western Hemisphere. The new satellite,

designated GOES-13, will be the first to have enough battery power to continue data

collection and transmission around the clock, even when the solar-powered craft is in

Earth's shadow. Unlike its predecessors, the spacecraft also will be able to use sound

wave technology to analyze the moisture content of storms. With the 2006 Atlantic

hurricane season starting on June 1, forecasters are eager to get the new spacecraft into

orbit and ready to work as a backup in case one of the currently operating, though aging,

GOES satellites fails. After reaching its operational altitude of 22,300 miles above

Earth's equator, the satellite will be tested for about six months to make sure its

instruments are working properly. Then it will be put into orbital storage until it is needed

to replace one of the three now in use. Though GOES-13 is primarily intended to watch

for storms, hurricanes and other threatening weather on Earth, it also has sensors to

monitor the Sun for flares and other disruptions. Solar activity can knock out

communication and navigation satellites as well as pose a threat to astronauts in space.

Web posted. (2006). [Next-generation weather satellite takes flight [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.cnn.com/[2006, May 24].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ;Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: Launch Processing Window July 1-19,2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossnm, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 5!.6

degrees/122 nautical miles. Space Shuttle Discovery remains at Launch Pad 39B, and

technicians continue performing system testing while the vehicle is powered. The

external tank camera test was successfully completed, and the lens cap has been

reinstalled until launch. Tuesday, the launch team conducted the flight readiness test of

the space shuttle main engines, as well as the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen system

leak checks. The test ensures the engine hydraulics are properly working. Technicians

also are preparing for the gaseous and liquid hydrogen and oxygen leak checks of the

power reactant storage distribution system. The distribution system will be loaded with

hydrogen and oxygen next week. The system provides the fuel for the forward reaction

controlsystem and the orbiter maneuvering system pods. The orbiter payload bay doors

were opened Tuesday in preparation for the payloads to be installed today. The team

continues with other activities including the orbiter weather protection system's activation

and the completion of validations of the sound suppression and Firex systems. Ownerpress-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-052406 [Online].

Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, May 24].]

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NASA Set to Welcome European Space Station Component

The EuropeanSpaceAgency's research laboratory,designatedColumbus, will arrive at

NASA's Kennedy Space Centerin Florida on May 30. There it will be preparedfor

deliveryto the InternationalSpace Stationon a futurespace shuttlemission.NASA will

hold a seriesof media events fromMay 31 to June 2 in conjunctionwith the lab's arrival.

Columbusis being flown to Kennedy fromits manufacturerin Germany.Columbus will

expand the researchfacilities of the stationand provide researchers with the ability to

conductnumerousexperimentsin the areaof life, physical and materialssciences.

["NASA Set to Welcome European Space StationComponent," NASA Media Advisory

#M06-092, May 24, 2006.]

May 25: Couple finds Uranium in an old NASA tool box

A Putnam County couple got a startling surprise when they found a piece of depleted

uranium at the bottom of a box of tools. Susan and Lance Greninger called NASA

because they had bought the box at an auction near the Kennedy Space Center. A Hazmat

team from the fire department examined the metal and said it was a solid piece of

depleted uranium about the size of a child's fist. They closed the road in the front of the

home for about five hours just to be safe. The state Bureau of Radiation Control

retrieved the cylinder. They said the piece is toxic, but does not pose a health hazard to

the community. They did say that if the couple had walked around the house with the

uranium in their pocket, they would get radiation sickness. Authorities said the piece

may have been part of a tool. Depleted uranium can be used as a radiation shield and is

sometimes used as a ballast in commercial airliners and ships. Web posted. (2006).

[Couple finds Uranium in an old NASA tool box [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.tampabaysl 0.corn/[2006, May 25].]

May 26: Atlantis assembly to begin next week

NASA next week witl begin assembly of shuttle Atlantis for a planned Aug. 28 launch on

a mission aimed at resuming construction of the half-built International Space Station.

Set to begin June 2, the assembly work also is timed to enable NASA to launch Atlantis

on a mid-August rescue mission should serious problems crop up during a test flight

aboard Discovery in July. The assembly work will begin in high bay three of the

Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building, where workers will start stacking

two solid rocket boosters on a mobile launcher platform. Now in a nearby hangar,

Atlantis isto be rolled into the 52-story assembly building on July 25. Crane operators

then will hoist the spaceship atop the mobile launcher platform and connect it to an

external tank outfitted with the two boosters. The tank for the mission is due to arrive at

KSC on June 5. The prime payload for the mission -- a port-side station truss segment

and associated solar arrays -- is to be moved to the launch pad on July 27. Mounted atop

a giant tracked transporter, the fully assembled shuttle will roll out to the pad on Aug. 1.

The astronauts who will fly the mission will be at KSC for a practice countdown on Aug.

8. The crew includes commander Brent Jett, pilot Chris Ferguson and four mission

specialists:Joe Tanner, Dan Burbank, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Canadian

astronaut Steve MacLean. Web posted. (2006). [Atlantis assembly to begin next week

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, May 26].]

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KSC Close-Up: Cargo loaded into Discovery

An Italian"moving van" was loaded intothe payload bay of shuttleDiscovery this week

for a planned July 1 launchon a test fight that also will serveas a supply runto the

IntemationalSpace Station. DubbedLeonardo,the cylindrical cargo carrierholds about

two tons of food, water,supplies andotherequipment,includinga U.S. oxygen

generationsystem for the station. Techniciansused a specially designed ground-handling

mechanism to transfer the module and other cargo elementsinto the 60-foot-long bay

froma large payload canister. The work wasdone in the payload ehangeout roomat

Kennedy Space Center'sLaunchComplex 39B. Web posted. (2006). [KSC Close-Up:

Cargo loadedinto Discovery [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/

[2006, May 26].]

May 26: Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18thInternationalSpace StationFlight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

LogisticsModule ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location:LaunchPad39B ; Launch

Date:LaunchProcessingWindow July !-19, 2006 ; LaunchPad: 39B ; Crew:Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers,Fossum, Nowak, Wilson andReitcr ; Inclination/OrbitAltitude: 51.6

degrees/122 nautical miles. Technicians continue performing system testing on Space

Shuttle Discovery while the vehicle is powered at Launch Pad 39B. Auxiliary power

units No. 1 and 3 connections and leak checks were completed, with No. 2 in progress,

The orbiter payloads were installed in Discovery's payload bay on Wednesday.

Discovery's payloads include the Italian-built logistics module Leonardo, which will

carry food, clothing, spare parts and research equipmentto the International Space

Station. Other payloads include two cargo carriers which contain heat shield tile samples,

a spare pump module and a replacement mobile transporter reel assembly. There is no

significant holiday weekend work planne& Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space

Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location:

Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date: No earlier than Aug. 28, 2006 ; Launch

Pad: 39B ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper ;

Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. In Orbiter Processing

Facility bay 1, technicians are carrying out powered-up system testing on Atlantis for its

mission to the International Space Station. Gaseous nitrogen leak checks are finished in

the orbiter's mid-body. The remote manipulator system, or "shuttle arm," was installed

and functional testing has been completed. Workers also finished testing the manipulator

positioning mechanisms, which are the pedestals that hold the arm in place in the payload

bay during launch and landing. On Wednesday, the crawler transporter moved mobile

launcher platform No. 2 into high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building in preparation

forstacking operations to begin for the STS-115mission. The first solid rocket booster

segment is scheduled to be lifted into the high bay next week. Endeavour (OV-105);

Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2

following an extensive modification period. Following external airloek installation, the

team completed connector mates on Thursday and pick up with the docking system

flmctional next week. Main propulsion system leak and fimctional testing continues. Kuband communications and radar system testing has begun and will be finished following

the docking system functional being completed. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space

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Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-052606 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov[2006, May 26].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO); Launch Pad: 17-B; Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.; Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II; Launch Date: July

22, 2006; Launch Times: 3:11 - 3:13 p.m. and 4:19 - 4:34 p.m. EDT. Technicians are

testing individual STEREO systems on both the "A" and "B" spacecraft. Workers cleaned

the black light on spacecraft "A," completed vertical alignments, and installed the solar

array ordnance. They also attached the high gain antenna to the spacecraft's rotation

fixture, and closed out blankets. Technicians installed the batteries on the "A" and "B"

spacecraft last week. In addition to testing, upcoming work for spacecraft "B" includes

solar array installation and integration of the high-gain communications antenna in midJune. The build-up of the Delta II rocket at Pad 17-Bis scheduled to begin on June 1

with the first stage. Pad workers will start to erect the nine solid rocket boosters on June

2. The second stage will be hoisted into position and mated to the first stage on June 20.

The crew will raise the 10-foot fairing into the pad clean room on June 21. STEREO wilt

build a three-dimensional, global picture of the sun and study the star's influence on

Earth. For more information, visit: KSC News Center (2006). Expendable Launch

Vehicle Status Report #E06-016 [Online]. Available E-mail: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov

[2006, May 26].]

May 31: Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission:STS-121 - 18th InternationalSpace StationFlight(ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

LogisticsModule ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location:LaunchPad39B ; Launch

Date:LaunchProcessing WindowJuly 1-19,2006 ; LaunchPad:39B ; Crew: Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossnm, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/OrbitAltitude: 51.6

degrees/122nauticalmiles. Over the holidayweekend, technicians performedno

significant processing work at the launchpad.Connections and leak checks of auxiliary

powerunits No. 1, 2 and3 are complete. Thursdaymorning, workers will begin

prelaunchpropellant loading of the monomethylhydrazineand nitrogen tetroxide for the

forwardreactioncontrol system and the orbitalmaneuveringsystempods. Reaction

controlsystem quick disconnect matesand interfaceleak checks were completedMay 26.

Followingpayloadinstallationinto the payloadbay lastweek, the payloadbayand

payloadchangeoutroom doors were closed on Friday. Owner-press-release. (2006).

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-053106 [Online]. Available E-mail:

owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov[2006, May 31].]

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JUNE 2006

June 1: Columbus lab lifted into place at SSPF

A gigantic crane hoisted the Europeans'space lab out of a shipping container early this

morning atthe Space StationProcessingFacilityat the KennedySpace Center. The

danglingmodule, aboutthe size of a double-deckerbus,then "flew" acrossthe openbay

of the processing facility andinto awork standwhere itwill spend about 15 months

being tested andreadied for itslate 2007 flight aboardthe space shuttle. The earlymorningoperationbrought out top managersandtheirsupportteamsfrom NASA and the

EuropeanSpace Agency, a collaborationof 14 countriesthatfundedand developed what

will be one of the orbiting outpost'sthree laboratorymodules. NASA plans a ceremony

Fridayto celebrate the module'sarrivalatthe launch site. Web posted.(2006).

[Columbuslab lifted into place at SSPF [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, June 1].]

Shuttle passes debris review, on track for July launch

The space shuttleprogramheld a debrisverificationreview May 31 that uncovered "no

showstoppers," Program Manager Wayne Hale said, clearing the next hurdle for

Discovery's planned July 1 liftoff on mission STS-121. The debris review was added in

the wake of the Columbia accident to gauge the shuttle team's progress in eliminating

potentially dangerous sources of foam debris that could strike the orbiter during ascent.

The biggest change made to Discovery's tank for STS-121 is the removal of the

Protuberance Air Load (PAL) ramp - a large buildup &foam designed to protect a cable

tray on the tank from aerodynamic buffeting. The shuttle program's next major review is

a design verification scheduled for June 7 that will make sure the shuttle can safely fly

without the PAL ramp. NASA still expects to see foam come off during Discovery's

launch, but nowhere near the size of the 1.67-poundpiece that doomed Columbia or the

one- pound piece that was shed from the PAL ramp during STS-114 last year. Hale said

he expects to see numerous foam losses of less than one-tenth of a pound. The next

majorsources of concern for foam debris on the tank are its ice/frost ramps. These are

ice-preventing buildups of foam that cover metal brackets connecting pressurization lines

to the tank. There are a total of 34 ice/frost ramps. The biggest piece of foam NASA has

observed coming loose from one of these ramps weighed an estimated 0.09 pounds, Hale

said during a press conference at Kennedy Space Center May 31. For analytical purposes,

NASA istesting up to 0.2-pound pieces of foam to determine the range of potential

damage. Although it is unlikely a piece of foam could come off one of the ramps and

strike the orbiter's wing leading edges - the type of damage that brought down Columbia -

NASA is concerned that it could hit an aft tile and in a worst-case scenario produce

damage that might prevent the shuttle from safely re-entering the atmosphere.

Nonetheless, a month ago NASA decided to fly Discovery's ice/frost ramps as is to avoid

making too many changes to the tank at once. The PAL ramp removal is the biggest

aerodynamic change made to the shuttle stack in its 25 years of operations, Hale said, and

such changes are best made one at a time. NASA has experimented with a prototype

redesigned ice/frost ramp that did not perform well in wind tunnels, Hale said. He expects

the program will move to an "interim" redesign that places insulators between the upper

and lower parts of the bracket before settling on a final redesign that could replace the

103
brackets with a less thermally conductive material such as titanium that requires no

insulation at all. This final ice/frost ramp redesign probably won't be available until six

to eight missions further on in the sequence, Hale said. NASA hopes to fly the shuttle

three times before the end of the year and 16 more times total to complete the

International Space Station. Meanwhile, shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to the

launch pad on July 25 in anticipation of the next scheduled flight, STS-115, set to launch

Aug. 28. If Discovery experiences an emergency in orbit, NASA also is prepared to

launch Atlantis on a rescue mission as early as Aug. 18, Launch Director Mike Leinbach

said. The shuttle has a comfortable margin of two weeks worth of contingency

processing time, Leinbach said. The team is troubleshooting a problem with an electrical

bus in the left-hand solid rocket booster, but this is "no big deal" and not expected to

affect the overall launch schedule, he said. E-mail distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re: "Shuttle passes debris review, remains on track

for July launch," [Electronic]. Vol. 218, No. 43, [June 1, 2006.].]

June 2: LockMart snags Mars laboratory launch

A science lab that will carry a large rover to the surface of Mars will be launched from

Cape Canaveral aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 rocket in the fall of 2009, NASA

officials said today. In a deal valued at nearly $200 million, Lockheed Martin

Commercial Launch Services Inc. will send up the Mars lab from Launch Complex 41 at

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The firm, fixed-price contract for $194.7 million was

awarded by Kennedy Space Center, which operates aNASA directorate that oversees

expendable launch vehicle services for agency space science and planetary spacecraft.

The Mars Science Laboratory will be the most advanced spacecraft the United States ever

has launched to the red plmnet.The six-wheeled rover hitching a ride with it will explore

the surface of Mars for two years. Its mission: to examine sites where water and other

building blocks of life might exist. Web posted. (2006). [LockMart snags Mars

laboratory launch [Online]. Available WWW: ht_p://www.floridatoday.com/[2006,

June 2].]

Shuttle drill keeps ground crew fresh

Simulationmakes sure engineers know how to handle any situation. Although the space

shuttle lost two enginesthree minutesafterlaunchFriday morning and its top two

emergencylanding sites were shrouded in clouds, the seven-memberorbitercrew landed

safely on a runway in the PortugueseAzores. The orbiterwas recoveredandthe crew

wasunharmed;it's hard to improve those results on an aborted mission, even if the

missionis make-believe. Every 18 months,NASA conducts contingency shuttle

simulationsin which engineers and project managersfrom Kennedy, Johnson and

MarshallSpaceFlight centersworka pretend emergencyto hone their crisis

communicationskills. During Friday'ssimulation,the space shuttle team practicedhow

itwouldreact if the vehicle lost a couple of enginesand landing sitesin Spainweren't

usablebecause of weather. "The simulationteamtriesto think up a realistic butdifficult

scenarioto throw at the space shuttleteam," said JohnChapman,external tank project

manager. "We had some glitches in ourcommunication,with cross-talk between

channels.Mechanical things, things we can fix. After the four-hour simulation/debriefing

wasfinished, Chapmansaidthe goal of the simulationisn'tto understandwhy the crisis

happenedor even to have solutionsquickly at hand. The goal is to make sure thaton

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launch day, they have the right people in place who can. For instance, when the orbiter

landed on the Lajes Field runway 900 miles west of Portugal during the simulation, it had

6,000 feet of runway behind it. One of the key questions was if that was enough room to

land support planes that needed to come in to take care of the crew and the vehicle. "We

didn't need to know the answer to that question," Chapman said, "but we needed to know

that the person who could answer it was standing by." Although insulating foam has

been the source of a shuttle disaster and near-disaster in recent years, foam played no part

in the simulation. The team on the ground had no idea what problem was going to be

thrown at them, or when it would be thrown. With the shuttle, there are countless things

that could go wrong. "When you go from being bolted to the ground in Florida to going

17,500 miles per hour eight and a half minutes later, you know it must be a complicated

system," Chapman said. "Then, on the return, you have to decelerate from 17,500 mph to

zero on a runway. It's a complicated vehicle and a complicated system that runs it." The

space shuttle Discovery is scheduled for liftoff on July 1, when it will take seven crew

membersto the International Space Station. One will be left behind to work at the space

station. Two more shuttle launches are planned this year. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle

drill keeps ground crew fresh [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/

[2006, June 3].]

NASA Welcomes European Space Station Module

NASA is celebrating the arrival of an important component to the International Space

Station, the Columbus research laboratory. Columbus isthe European Space Agency's

primary contribution to the station. It arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla.,

Tuesday from Germany. Over the past week, it was unloaded from its transport aircraft

and taken to its temporary home in Kennedy's Space Station Processing Facility, where it

will be prepared for launch. It was welcomed Friday in a ceremony attended by guests

from both sides of the Atlantic. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the

station, providing researchers the ability to conduct a variety of experiments in the area of

life, physical and materials sciences. It was manufactured by the European Aeronautic

Defence and Space (EADS) company in Bremen, Germany, and Alcatel Alenia Space in

Turin, Italy. It will launch aboard the space shuttle, on the seventh of the shuttle's

upcoming missions to the station. "The arrival of Columbus is a major milestone in

moving forward to complete the station,"said Michael Suffredini, NASA's space station

program manager. "The delivery of Columbus to Kennedy to begin processing for flight

signifiesthe strong international partnership and planning required for the operation of

the station." The module has the capability to hold up to 10 payload facility racks of

experiments. Each rack provides independent controls for power and cooling and

communication links to researchers on Earth. In addition, four exterior mounting

platforms will enable the station crew to conduct experiments outside the module. The

operations center for the Columbus laboratoryis located in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany,

and will serve as the primary control center for the science to be performed in the

laboratory. ["NASA Welcomes European Space Station Module," NASA News Release

#06-232, June 2, 2006.]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

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Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF 1.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: Launch Processing Window July 1-19, 2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination!Orbit Altitude: 51.6

degrees/122 nautical miles. Discovery was powered up to support the prelaunch loading

this week of hypergolic propellants into the forward and aft reaction control system and

the orbital maneuvering system pods. Fuel loading for the orbiter's auxiliary power units

is scheduled for the weekend. Testing of the reaction jet driver - electrical control system

for the reaction control system jets - was successfully completed. The loading of

hypergolic fuel into the solid rocket booster hydraulic power units is scheduled for next

week. On Monday, tile payload bay doors will be opened for payload testing and sensor

installation in the Orbiter Boom Sensor System. Mission: STS-115 - 19th International

Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location:

Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date: No earlier than Aug. 28, 2006 ; Launch

Pad: 39B ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper ;

Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. In Orbiter Processing

Facility bay 1, Atlantis was powered up this week to support payload testing. Early in the

week, the auxiliary power controller unit verification testing was successfully completed.

Preparations for installing engine No. 3 are finished, with installation scheduled for

Monday. Engines No. 1 and No. 2 already are in place on the orbiter. On Thursday,

stacking for STS-115 began with the transfer of the right aft booster segment from the

Rotation Processing and Surge Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it was

lifted into high bay 3 and placed on mobile launcher platform No. 2. The left aft booster

was transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building and lifted into high bay 3 on Friday.

Endeavour (OV-105); Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavour in Orbiter

Processing Facility bay 2 following an extensive modification period. Main propulsion

system leak and functional testing continues, and the potable water leak checks also are

ongoing. Teelmicians are performing tests and checkouts of the manipulator positioning

mechanisms prior to installing the Orbiter Boom Sensor System. The manipulator

positioning mechanisms are the pedestals that support the boom inside the payload bay.

On Thursday, workers finished installing hardware in the rudder speed brake, allowing

installation of thermal blankets to begin on the brake. The orbiter's drag chute was

installed and the drag chute doors wilt be installed today. Owner-press-release. (2006).

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-060206 [Online]. Available E-mail:

owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov[2006,June 2].]

June 4: Moon missions require facelift

NASA soon will decide how to start converting Kennedy SpaceCenterback into a

moonport,narrowingoptionsfor launchpads needed to stage human expeditions to the

lunar surface. The transformation required to launch two new rockets could be subtle. Or

it could be sweeping. A clearer picture will emerge in coming weeks, but this much is

certain: The choices will change the face of NASA's prime launch operations center for

decades. "This is a big step," said John "Tip" Talone, director of the Constellation

Project Office at KSC. "We're going to go set in stone how we're going to design the

facilities and how we're going to install the systemsto support these vehicles. It's not an

inconsequential thing." In fact, he said, the decisions would put NASA "on a 30- to 40-

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year irreversible course." Coming up first: The selection of a pad for a Crew Launch

Vehicle. The rocket will launch new capsule-like spacecraft and astronauts on missions to

the International Space Station, the moon and ultimately Mars. Among options under

consideration: modifying one of NASA's twin shuttle launch complexes -- either pad 39A

or 39B. A new pad also could be built. Launch Complex 40, an abandoned Titan rocket

pad at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, could be converted. But pad 39B

appears to be the leading candidate. A May 12 forecast from the KSC Procurement

Office indicates NASA is considering awarding contracts in 2007 to demolish the launch

tower and a 100-foot-tall rotating service structure at the pad. Separate contracts might

be awarded to modify heating, ventilation, air conditioning, mechanical, electrical and

plumbing systems at the pad. Also on tap: modifications to a system that floods the pad

with water during launch to prevent acoustical damage to rockets and payloads. NASA

Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale said pad 39B could be handed over for

modifications next spring. Ongoing refurbishment work at pad 39A will be completed by

then, making it available for shuttle launches again. The timing of any such handover

could ride on a pending NASA decision whether to launch a Hubble Space Telescope

servicing mission before the shuttle is retired in 2010. Another factor: whether NASA

choosesto have a second shuttle ready to fly a rescue mission should something go awry

on a Hubble flight. That's because astronauts servicing the Hubble would not be able to

reach the International Space Station and take shelter there should something go wrong

with the shuttle. The station flies in a completely different orbit than Hubble, so a

crippled shuttle would lack the fuel needed to get there. What's more, the shuttle cannot

remain in orbit longer than two to three weeks. Consequently, NASA would have days,

not months, to launch a rescue mission. Shuttles "don't have a lot of linger time in orbit,"

Hale said. "So you almost literally have to have a rescue mission on the launch pad when

you launch to Hubble." Web posted. (2006). [Moonmissions require facelift

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, June 4].]

NASA trying to head off Shuttle launch delay

STS-115's launch date could slip, should NASA fail to find a solution to the continuing

problems with ET-118, which is having processing issues at the Michoud Assembly

Facility (MAF) in New Orleans. A series of high level teleconferences took place over

the weekend, as concerns grow over the evaporation of contingency days for the second

launch of 2006, set to see Shuttle Atlantis re-start International Space Station (ISS)

assembly missions. Web posted. (2006). [NASA trying to head off Shuttle launch delay

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/[2006, June 4].]

June 5: NASA Announces Distribution of Constellation Work

NASA announced Monday agency center responsibilities associated with the

Constellation Program for robotic and haman moon and Mars exp!oration. This

distribution of work across NASA's centers reflects the agency's intention to productively

use personnel, facilities and resources from across the agency to accomplish the Vision

for Space Exploration. "Our past experiences have provided the foundation to begin

shaping the space exploration capabilities needed to create a sustained presence on the

moon and on to Mars," said Scott Horowitz, associate administrator for NASA's

Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. "Ourprograms and projects are evolving as we

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develop the requirements to execute the Vision for Space Exploration. At the same time

we are aligning the work that needs to be accomplished with the capabilities of our

NASA centers." In addition to primary work assigranents each center will support moon

and Mars surface systems conceptual designs. Centers also support additional

Constellation program and project activities. Center assignments: Ames Research

Center, Moffett Field Calif., leads the crew exploration vehicle (CEV) Thermal

Protection System Advanced Development Project. Ames is developing information

systems to support the Constellation Program Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance

Office. Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., leads CEV Abort Flight Test

integration and operations including Abort Test Booster procurement and integration with

the Flight Test Article. Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, leads the CEV Service

Module and Spacecraft Adapter integration, providing oversight and independent analysis

of the prime contractor's development of these segments. Glenn has lead responsibility

for the design and development of several crew launch vehicle (CLV) upper stage

systems. Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., provides co-leadership of the

Constellation Program's System Engineering and Integration navigation team and

software and avionics team. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., leads a multicenter activity in support of the Mission Operations Project to plan systems engineering

processesrelated to operations development and preparation. JPL provides co-leadership

for the Constellation Program Office Systems Engineering and Integration Software and

Avionics team. Johnson Space Center, Houston, host the Constellation Program, the

CEV Project and the Mission Operations Project. The Constellation Program manages

and integrates the program and all projects. The CEV Project Office manages and

integrates all CEV elements including prime contractor work. The Mission Operations

Project manages and integrates all activities related to mission operations. Kennedy

Space Center, Fla., hosts the Ground Operations Project. The project manages all

activities related to ground operations for the launch and landing sites, including ground

processing, launch, and recovery systems. Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., leads

Launch Abort System integration supporting the CEV Project, providing oversight and

independent analysis of the CEV prime contractor's development of the system. Langley

leads the Command Module Landing System Advanced Development Project for CEV.

Langley provides vehicle integration and CEV test article module development for the

CLV Advanced Development Flight Test-0. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville,

Ala., hosts the Constellation Launch Vehicle projects. The projects are responsible for

project management of all CLV and cargo launch vehicle related activities. Marshall

provides the CLV first stage design, and isresponsible for launch vehicle demonstration

testing including the Advanced Development Flight Test-0. Stennis Space Center, Miss.,

manages and integrates rocket propulsion testing for the CLV Project. Stermisleads sealevel development, certification, and acceptance testing for the upper stage engine, sealevel development testing for the upper stage main propulsion test article, and sea-level

acceptance testing for the flight upper stage assembly. While these decisions will result

in budget and personnel allocations at the centers, detailed estimates will not be available

until after prime contractors are formally selected for the program's major projects, such

as the crew exploration vehicle, crew launch vehicle and cargo launch vehicle. ["NASA

Announces Distribution of Constellation Work," NASA News Release #06-233, June 5,

2006.!

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Shuttle booster problem pinpointed

A faulty electronics box will be replaced on shuttle Discovery's lefthand solid rocket

booster, but the work will not delayNASA plansto launchits second post-Columbiatest

flight on July 1. Technicianswill do the job atKennedySpace Center'sLaunchComplex

39B, and NASA still has more than a week of extratime in the processingschedule

leadingup to the opening of a window thatextendsthroughJuly 19: "We'retaking

weekends off. That's how well the flow is going atthe pad," saidKyle Herring,a

spokesman for NASA's JohnsonSpace Centerin Houston. Duringroutinetesting last

week, engineerstesting the booster'spowerdistributionsystemnoted anunexpected

power shift from a prime to a back-upcircuit.Itwasn'tclear what promptedthe shift.

NASA engineers now thinkthe culpritis a faultyIntegratedElectronicsUnit, a critical

device that serves asthe primarycommunicationslink between the booster and shuttle

orbiter computers. Each booster is equippedwith two of the electronics boxes. They

provide controlelectronics for the booster duringlaunch,ascent andseparation aswell as

booster splashdown andrecovery operations. The faultyunitwill be replaced in the

comingweeks while other routineprelaunehwork continues atNASA's coastalFlorida

spaceport. Technicians have swappedthe electronics boxes atthe padduringatleasttwo

previouslaunchcampaigns. An STS-43 launchattemptin 1991 was delayeda day to

replaceon of the units. The boxes on both boosters were replacedatthe pad priorto the

STS-96 launchin May 1999. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttlebooster problem pinpointed

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, June5].]

NASA divides up exploration work

Kennedy Space Center, as expected, will be NASA's launch and landing operations

center for the United States' bid to return hmnansto the moon and ultimately fly them to

the planet Mars. NASA Administrator Mike G-riffinannounced the general assignments

of each of the space agency's field centers in the Vision for Space Exploration and KSC's

was no surprise. The Brevard County spaceport will be the launching site for the

proposed Crew Exploration Vehicle as well astwo new rockets, the Crew Launch

Vehicle and Cargo Launch Vehicle. The center also will lead landing operations,

although the Crew Exploration Vehicle is not expected to land at KSC. Discussions

continue among program managers about whether to return the capsule-like spacecraft to

water or to an oceanic splashdown. "Clearly not everyone working on the shuttle will

transition over to the Crew Launch Vehicle and Cargo Launch Vehicle," Griffin said. If

NASA did that, the new vehicles would cost too much and the program would not

succeed, the administrator said. Web posted. (2006). [NASA divides up exploration

work [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, June 5].]

Kennedy Space Center's (KSC's) Role in the Constellation

Program

"I want to share with you my excitement about our Center's bright future and discuss

some of our upcoming roles in the Agency's Constellation Program. Like the other

NASA Centers, KSC's role is critical in carrying out the Agency's mission of space

exploration and scientific discovery. As I have stated before, KSC has a key role in

NASA's future. Specifically, we are gearing up to provide project management for the

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transition of the ground facilities/systems from the current human space flight mission to

the next generation of space vehicles. Our talented workforce will be responsible for

designing, developing, testing, and evaluating those facilities/systems required for ground

processing, launch, and recovery systems for the space vehicles. I'm proud to say that

KSC also will provide prelaunch test and integration, launch operations, and recovery

support for the Crew Exploration Vehicle, Crew Launch Vehicle, and Cargo Launch

Vehicle. We will lead launch operations planning and execution for the advanced

development test flight of the Crew Launch Vehicle, as well as other flight demonstration

activities. We will actively manage the transition from the Space Shuttle to the

Constellation Program. I arn committed to making the transition as smooth and seamless

as possible. This transition may indeed be our most significant management challenge

over the next several years. In the coming months, the Agency will develop a detailed

Space Shuttle transition plan describing how we will carry out our human space flight

programs. KSC also will continue to support the refining of the architecture for the

Constellation Program (such as design concepts for future elements). As you know, the

Shuttle will continue to fly through 2010, and this will be done as safely as possible.

That is our current focus. Throughout this time, however, KSC will develop strategies

that will ensure we seamlessly transition our relevant Shuttle-derived assets, such as our

facilities and workforee, to prepare for the next generation of space vehicles. The coming

years at KSC will bring many new challenges and lots of excitement. I know the Center's

most valuable resource--our employees--will enable us to continue making great strides

in space exploration and scientific discovery that make a difference throughout the world.

I offer my heartfelt thanks for all you have done and will continue to do as we seek to

unlock the mysteries of the bold universe beyond. Remember, KSC is where visions

become reality." James W. Kennedy. E-mail distribution. (2006). [Kennedy, James W.

Re: "Kennedy Space Center's (KSC's) Role in the Constellation Program" [Electronic].

CD Comm #2006-04, [June 5, 2006.].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULFI.1) - ; Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: Launch Processing Window July 1-19, 2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6

degrees/122 nautical miles. The launch pad crew performed preparations on Space

Shuttle Discovery over the weekend to support the launch to the International Space

Station in July. The team has completed prelatmch loading of hypergolic propellants

(monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide) into the forward and aft reaction control

systems and the orbital maneuvering system pods, as well as fuel loading for the orbiter's

auxiliary power units. Late this week, workers will begin loading the hypergolie fuel into

the solid rocket booster hydraulic power units. Technicians at the pad are in the process

of opening Discovery's payload bay doors. The doors will remain open for about three

and a half days for payload testing and sensor installation in the orbiter boom sensor

system. Tomorrow, integrated testing of the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo is

scheduled to begin. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status

Report #S-060506 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.publie.hq.nasa.gov [2006, June 5].]

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Space museum snagslower-rent locale

Volunteers at the Space Walk of Fame Museum were hoping for a miracle to keep its

doors open. Miracles happen. An affordable rental space has been found on Main Street

in downtownTitusville, blocks away fromSpace View Park. The miracle on Main Street

will prevent the museum from closing, which has been a threat ever since rent at the

current Searstown Mall location was raised from $1,500 to $5,000 a month. The increase

is slated to take effect later this year. The free space-themed museum opened in 2002

and was housed in Miracle City Mall before moving to its current location. Pins,

spacesuits, flags, launch consoles and other quirky and varied items donated by people

connected with the space industry are on display at the museum, which also includesa

giftshop. The new location has 2,000 square feet, compared with the 10,000-square-foot

area the museum currently occupies. Rent will be about $900 a month. Charlie Mars,

president of the Space Walk of Fame Museum Foundation, said exhibits will be changed

frequently as they are moved in and out of storage. Web posted. (2006). [Space museum

snags lower-rant locale [Onlin@ Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/

[2006,June 5].]

Atlantis: Next booster segment stacked

A segment of shuttle Atlantis' righthand solid rocket booster was hoisted in the Kennedy

Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building late Monday as NASA continued preparations

for a planned Aug. 28 launch. Crane operators lifted the right aft center segment of the

149-foot tall booster up and over a transom on the 16th floorof VAB. Then it was

lowered down toward a mobile launcherplatform in high bay 3. The segment will be

mated with the right aft booster assembly of the solid-fueled rocket,which was placed

onto the launcher platform last week. The build-up of the shuttle's twin rocket boosters

will continue over the coming week. An external tank will be fitted between the boosters

before the orbiter Atlantis is added to the stack on July 25. The fully assembled shuttle is

scheduled to roll out to LaunchComplex 39B on Aug. 1. Web posted. (2006). [Atlantis:

Next booster segment stacked [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, June 6].]

June 6: Faulty box won't delay shuttle launch

A faulty electronics box will be replaced on one of shuttle Discovery's solid rocket

boosters, but the work won't delay NASA plans to launch its second post-Columbia flight

July 1. Technicians will do the job at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B.

NASA has more than a week of extra time in the processing schedule leading up to the

opening of a window that extends through July 19. "We'retaking weekends off. That's

how well the flow is going at the pad," said Kyle Herring, a spokesman for NASA's

Johnson Space Center in Houston. During routine testing last week, engineerstesting the

booster's power distribution system noted an unexpected power shift from a prime to a

backup circuit. It wasn't clear what prompted the shift. NASA engineers now think the

culprit is a faulty integrated electronics unit, a device that serves as the primary

communications link between the booster and shuttle orbiter computers. Each booster is

equipped with two of the electronics boxes. They provide control electronics for the

booster during launch, ascent and separation as well as booster splashdown and recovery.

111
The faulty unit will be replaced in the coming weeks while other prelaunch work

continues. Technicians have swapped the electronics boxes during at least two previous

launch campaigns. An STS-43 launch attempt in 1991 was delayed a day to replace one

of the units. The boxes on both boosters were replaced at the pad prior to the STS-96

launch in 1999. Web posted. (2006). [Faulty box won't delay shuttle launch [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, June 5].]

Atlas rocket to launch Mars Science Laboratory

Lockheed Martin's Atlas V rocket has been selected by NASA to launch the Mars

ScienceLaboratory(MSL) mission in 2009 fromCape Canaveral,Fla. The mission will

fly on a powerful Atlas V 541 configurationto propel MSL on itsjourney to the red

planet. "We are extremely proudof the trustNASA has placed in our team to deliver the

biggest ever rover to Mars," said Jim Sponnick,Atlasprogram vice president for

Lockheed MartinSpace SystemsCompany. "This comes on the heels of two recent,very

successful Atlas launchesfor NASA, the Mars ReconnaissanceOrbiterand PlutoNew

Horizons.We are excited to be a part of our nation'sspace explorationefforts." Boosting

the 7,900-1b.MSL spacecraftinto a Mars transfertrajectorywill requirethe Atlas V 541,

similar to the Atlas V 551 thatlaunched theNew Horizons mission to Pluto in January.

The 541 configurationincludesfour strap-on solid rocket boosters, each of which adds an

additional300,000 lbs. of thrustto the almost 1,000,000 lbs. provided by the core

vehicle'sRD-180 engine. The Atlas V 541 vehicle will also utilize a 5-meter fairingto

protectthe MSLpayloadon the ascent.Once the boost phase of flight is complete, the

Centaurupperstage will performtwo engine burns to place MSL into a Mars transfer

trajectory. Scheduled for launch in the fall of 2009, MSL will land on the surfaceof Mars

in summer2010 and begin itstwo-year mission.Atlas V launchedNASA's most recent

Mars mission,the Mars ReconnaissanceOrbiter (MRO), in August2005. Itarrived at

Mars in March 2006 andis executinga seriesof orbit-lowering maneuversprior to

beginning its primary science mission. MRO will help determinethe landing site for

MSL, andlater itwill serveas a communicationrelayfor MSL once the lab is on the

Martiansurface. Web posted. (2006). [Atlasrocket to launch MarsScience Laboratory

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006, June 6].]

NASA awards rocket engine contract

A California company has been awarded a $50 million NASA contract to start the

development of an engine the agency intends to use on two new rockets that will loft

astronauts and payloads on missions to the moon and Mars. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne

Inc. of Canoga Park, Calif., will build the J-2X, an upgraded version of the engine that

powered the second and third stages of the Saturn 5 rockets that launched Apollo

astronauts to the moon. NASA intends to use the J2X to power the second stage of a new

Crew Launch Vehicle that will be built to launch Apollo-style capsules that will carry

astronauts on missions to the International Space Station, the moon, Mars and other

celestial destinations. The J-2X also will be used as the propulsion system for the second

stage of a Cargo Launch Vehicle that will loft lunar landers, habitats and other hefty

payloads needed to stage human expeditions to locations throughout the solar system.

Web posted. (2006). NASA awards rocket engine contract [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, June 6].]

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June 7: Discovery's fuel tank receives certification

NASA managerstoday clearedthe shuttleDiscovery'sexternalfuel tankfor flightbased

onwind tunneldataand computermodeling thatshow the huge tankcan standup to the

aerodynamicrigors of launch despite the recentremovalof long foam wind deflectors.

Launchcurrentlyis targeted for July 1, at 3:48 p.m., but the long-awaitedflight could slip

anotherday or so to ensurebetterlighting for criticalphotographyof the tankafter

Discoveryreachesorbit.NASA managersareexpectedto discuss the lighting issue

duringa weekly review Thursday. Discovery's launchwindow is defined, in part,by a

requiremento launch in daylight and to have the externaltankseparatefrom the orbiter

in daylight,halfa world away. The goal is to obtaingood photos of the tank'sredesigned

foam insulationas well asthe shuttle'sheat-shieldtiles and wing leadingedge panels to

spot any potentialimpactdamage. As it turnsout, a new analysis&orbital lighting

conditionsshows a cameramountedin the belly of the shuttlewill nothave enoughlight

for good photographyif Discovery takesoff July 1. Conditionsimproveon July2 and

subsequentdays. The results of the certificationmeeting,which focused on the removal

of the PALrampsandmodificationsto preventfoam sheddingnearthe bipod that

attachesthe shuttle'snose to the tank,will be presentedata formalflight readiness

review June 16-17 at the Kennedy Space Center. Discovery's crew, meanwhile,flies to

the Florida spaceportJune 12 for launchsite emergencydrills and a dress-rehearsal

countdownJune 15. Web posted. (2006). Discovery'sfuel tankreceives certification

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006, June 7].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18thInternationalSpaceStationFlight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

LogisticsModule ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location:LaunchPad 39B ;Launch

Date:LaunchProcessingWindow July 1-19,2006 ; LaunchPad: 39B ; Crew:Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossum,Nowak, Wilson and Reiter; Inclination/OrbitAltitude:51.6

degrees/122 nauticalmiles. OnTuesdayat the launchpad, Space ShuttleDiscovery was

powered up for technicians to perform the integrated testing of the multi-purpose logistics

module Leonardo, scheduled to fly in the vehicle's payload bay to the International Space

Station. During testing, a problem was detected in left-hand solid rocket booster bus B,

which is a power distribution circuit that delivers electrica! power from the orbiter to the

booster. This caused the system to switch to the backup circuit, bus C. Engineers have

determined the integrated electronics assembly failed and needed to be replaced. Late

this week, workers will begin loading the hypergolic fuel into the solid rocket booster

hydraulic power units. External Tank; The external tank scheduled to fly with Atlantis

on mission STS-115 departed the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on

Monday. Liberty Star, the solid rocket booster retrieval ship towing the tank, is scheduled

to arrive at Port Canaveral on Friday. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle

Processing Status Report #S-060706 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, June 7].]

June 8: Crew confident of shuttle safety

The astronauts of the second return-to-flight mission stressed their willingness to fly the

shuttle in July even as they acknowledged the risks Thursday. Some risks can be

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understood, said Piers Sellers, one of the mission's spacewalkers. "We've driven those

risks down as far as we can, which leaves the things you don't know about," he said.

Since Columbia was lost to a breach caused by insulating foam that fell off the fuel tank,

NASA has worked to reduce the risk of a similar accident. Another foam loss during last

summer's flight prompted a year of modifications. Managers announced Wednesday that

removal of a large piece of insulating foam wouldn't put too much stress on cables and

pipes running up the external fuel tank. They also said, however, that they intend to

remove smaller ramps of potentially dangerous foam on future missions, while Discovery

will fly in July with them intact. Web posted. (2006). Crew confident of shuttle safety

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.eom/[2006, June 9].]

June 9: Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) ; Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station ; Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II ; Launch Date: July 22,

2006 ; Launch Times: 3:11 - 3:13 p.m. and 4:19 - 4:34 p.m. EDT. Testing and prelaunch

processing of STEREO continue on schedule. Deep Spaee Network spacecraft

compatibility testing is under way. Launch and mission simulation exercises are also

being performed. Upcoming next week is further thermal blanket installation and

preparations for attaching the solar arrays. STEREO is scheduled to be transported to

Launch Complex 17 on July 11to be mated to the Boeing Delta II rocket. The first stage

of the Delta II rocket at Pad 17-B was erected on June 2. The first of three sets of three

solid rocket boosters were attached on June 5. At this time, the Delta II second stage is

scheduled to be hoisted into position and mated to the first stage on June 20. The crew

will raise the 10-foot fairing into the pad clean room on June 21. KSC News Center

(2006). Expendable Launch Vehicles StatusReport ELV-060906 [Online]. Available

E-mail: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006,June 9].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) -Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: Launch Processing Window July 1-19, 2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6

degrees/122 nautical miles. Work continued at the pad this week to support electrical

testing and payload vertical operations on Discovery. On Thursday, the payload bay

doors were closed in preparation for fuel loading of the solid rocket boosters. The doors

will be reopened on Monday. In the payload bay, the installation of sensors and cameras

in the shuttle robotic arm and boom was completed. Following replacement of a faulty

integrated electrical assembly box in the left solid rocket booster, hypergolic fuel loading

began today into the solid rocket booster hydraulic power units. Next week the crew will

be at KSC for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. This is a launch dress

rehearsal that occurs prior to each shuttle mission. Mission: STS-115 - 19th International

Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location:

Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date: No earlier than Aug. 28, 2006 ; Launch

Pad: 39B ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MaeLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper ;

Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. In Orbiter Processing

Facility bay 1, engine #3 was installed in Atlantis and leak checks of the system are under

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way. Testing and checkout of the orbiter boom sensor system is complete. Window #2

was replaced, with plans to replace window #5 next week. In the Vehicle Assembly

Building, stacking of the STS-115 solid rocket boosters continues. The right forward

center section was lifted into high bay 3 and onto mobile launcher platform no. 2 on

Wednesday. The external fuel tank for STS-115, ET-118, is scheduled to arrive via barge

at the KSC turn basin late this afternoon and will be transported to the Vehicle Assembly

Building this evening. It will be lifted into a checkout cell in the VAB this weekend, so

that technicians can begin processing the tank for launch. Endeavour (OV-105);

Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2

following an extensive modification period. This work includes main propulsion system

leak and functional testing and potable water leak checks. The flash evaporator functional

testing was completed. The flash evaporator provides supplemental cooling to the orbiter

in flight. Technicians began test and checkout of the docking mechanism this week.

Work continues on the orbiter's thermal protection system, with tee seal installation

between the reinforced carbon carbon panels on the wing leading edges and replacement

of gap fillers on the underside of Endeavour. To date, approximately 500 new gap fillers

have been installed. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Proeessing Status

Report #S-060906 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, June 9].]

June 12: NASA keeps an eye on Alberto

NASA officials are keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Alberto, but the first named

storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to pass well north of the Kennedy

Space Center. Meteorologists expect winds at the spaceport to peak Tuesday at 30 knots,

well below the threshhold for moving shuttle Discovery off its launch pad and back into

the KSC Vehicle Assembly Building. One to three inches of rain are in the forecast at

KSC. The strongest winds from the storm are expected to remain north of the Interstate 4

corridor. NASA's hurricane plan calls for a shuttle to be roiled back from the pad if there

is a possibility that wind could exceed a sustained velocity of 60 knots. A rollback would

have to be complete before the wind reaches 40 knots. Web posted. (2006). NASA keeps

an eye on Alberto [Online]. Available WWW: htrp://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006,

June 12].]

Tropical storm delays astronauts' trip to Cape

Tropical Storm Alberto pre'cented commander Steve Lindsey and crew from flying to

Florida's Kennedy Space Center from their home base in Houston on Monday. The seven

astronauts will try again Tuesday afternoon, weather permitting. The crew is coming to

the Cape for the traditional launch day dress rehearsal conducted before every shuttle

mission. Web posted. (2006). Tropical storm delays astronauts' trip to Cape [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.spacefiightnow.com! [2006, June 12].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th InternationalSpace StationFlight (ULF1.1) - ; Multi-Purpose

LogisticsModule ; Vehicle: Discovery(OV-103) ; Location:LaunchPad 39B ; Launch

Date:LaunchProcessing Window July 1-19, 2006 ;LaunchPad:39B ; Crew:Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson andReiter ; Inclination/OrbitAltitude: 51.6

degrees/122 nauticalmiles. On Friday,hypergolic fuel was loaded intothe hydraulic

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power units of the solid rocket boosters. The payload bay doors of the orbiter are

currently closed in anticipation of high wind and rain from Tropical Storm Alberto.

Weather permitting, the doors will be opened Tuesday for camera checkouts in the

shuttle's remote manipulator system (robotic arm) and the orbiter boom sensor system.

Aft closeont work is also scheduled to begin Tuesday. The crew is scheduled to fly to

KSC today in advance of the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, which is

scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. This is a launch dress rehearsal that occurs prior

to each shuttle mission. External Tank; External Tank 118, which will fly as part of the

STS-115 mission, arrived via barge at the KSC turn basin Friday evening. It was

transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building the same day. On Saturday, the tank was

lifted into a checkout cell in high bay No.2, where it is being processed for flight.

Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-061206

[Online]. Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006,

June 12].]

June 14: NASA automates rocket safety

NASA is developing a flight safety system capableof automatically detecting when a

rocket flies offcourse andthen destroyingthe vehicle before it endangers people on the

ground. Thatjob now is done by range safety officers who rely on data from widespread

networks of ground stationsthatcan cost $700,000 or more to operate during the launch

of a typical, medium-sizedrocket such asthe BoeingDelta 2. The new autonomous

systemhasthe potential to cut costs by reducing the need for sophisticatedradar and

opticalsystemstraditionallyused to track rockets in flight. "Itwould minimize the

costs," saidRich Nelson, chief of the advancedsystems division of the applied

technology directorate at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Autonomous Flight

SafetySystem is theproductof small teams of engineers andrange safety experts at KSC

andNASA's WallopsFlight Facilityin Virginia. KSC projectmanager Michelle Amos

saidthe new systemis being designed for use on small- and medium-sized expendable

launchvehicles rather than largerrocketssuch asthe Boeing Delta 4 and the Lockheed

MartinAtlas 5. "The concerns we have heardfrom variouspeople that dealwith those

larger vehicles is that you're talking about a very costly vehicle and a very costly payload,

typically," Nelson said. "Right now, they would prefer to have a man in the loop to make

a decision rather than have an onboard decision made." The system, however, could be

particularlyuseful for small rockets launching from remote sites: In those cases, it is

extremely expensive to provide traditional ground tracking services. Web posted. (2006).

NASA automates rocket safety [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatodasr.com/[2006, June 14].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - lgth International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - ;Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: Launch Processing Window July 1-19, 2006 ;Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers,Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6

degrees/122 nautical miles. The payload bay doors of Discovery remained closed

Monday and Tuesday because of the anticipated high wind and rain from Tropical Storm

Alberto. Today, doorswere opened for camera checkouts in the shuttle's remote

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manipulator system (robotic arm) and the orbiter boom sensor system. Aft closeout work

continues, with technicians performing final inspections and installation of panels and

thermal blankets on the avionics bays. The STS-121 crew is conducting its Terminal

Countdown Demonstration Test activities today and Thursday at KSC. This test is a

launch dress rehearsal that occurs prior to each shuttle mission. Today's activities include

pad egress training and systems briefings. On Thursday, the crew will climb aboard

Discovery on the launch pad for the simulated final hours of the launch countdown. On

Friday,NASA managers will gather at KSC for the Flight Readiness Review that is

expected to culminate on Saturday with the setting of a launch date. Owner-pressrelease. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-061406 [Online].

Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.publie.hq.nasa.gov [2006, June 14].]

June 16: Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) ; Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station ; Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II ; Launch Date: July 22,

2006 ;Launch Times: 3:11 - 3:13 p.m. or 4:19 - 4:34 p.m. EDT. At the Astroteeh Space

Operations Facility, testing and prelannch processing of STEREO continues.

Communications testing with the Deep Space Network continues. On observatory "A" on

Wednesday, the Heliospheric Imager vertical instnunent door was successfully deployed

during testing. On observatory "B," the scientific instruments were aligned and tested.

Comprehensive performance testing of both observatories continues to go well. STEREO

is planned to be transported to Launch Complex 17 on July 11 to be mated to the Boeing

Delta II rocket. The first stage of the Delta II rocket at Pad 17-B was erected on June 2.

The first of three sets of three solid rocket boosters was attached on June 5. A fourth solid

rocket booster is set to be attached on Saturday. Following this, no further work on the

launch vehicle is scheduled until after a U.S. Air Force launch next week on adjacent Pad

17-A. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable Launch Vehicles Status Report ELV061606 [Online]. Available E-mail: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, June 16].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th InternationalSpace StationFlight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

LogisticsModule ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103), Location:LaunchPad 39B ; Launch

Date:LaunchProcessing Window July 1-19, 2006 ; LaunchPad:39B, Crew:Lindsey,

Kelly, Sellers, Fossum,Nowak, Wilson andReiter; Inclination/OrbitAltitude:51.6

degrees/122 nauticalmiles. Aft closeoutwork continues,with technicians performing

final cleaning,inspections andinstallationof panels andthermal blanketson the avionics

bays. Mid-body eloseoutsin the payloadbay are scheduledto be completed todayandthe

payload bay doorswill be closed for flightthis evening. The space shuttle mainengine

sensor checkoutswere completed on Thursday.Flight crew systems workers de-stowed

equipmentfromthe crew cabin following completion of the TerminalCountdown

DemonstrationTest on Thursday,and arescheduled to installthe extravehicular

maneuveringunits(the suitswornby shuttlecrew membersfor spaeewalks)on Saturday.

NASA managersare meeting at KSC today for the FlightReadiness Review that is

expected to culminatein the setting of a launch date on Saturday.Mission: STS-115 -

19th InternationalSpace StationFlight (12A) - P3/P4 SolarArrays, Vehicle: Atlantis

(OV-104) ; Location:OrbiterProcessing FacilityBay 1 ; LaunchDate"No earlierthan

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Aug. 28, 2006 ;Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and

Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. In

Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1, closeout work on Atlantis continues. Window No. 5

was replaced. Preparations for servicing of freon coolant loop No. 2 are under way. The

coolant loop is part of the system that cools the avionics bays in the midbody and the aft

of the orbiter. Main propulsion system leak cheeks are complete and the point sensor box

was replaced. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, stacking of the STS-115 solid rocket

boosters continues. Mating of the left aft center segment was completed Thursday, and

the left forward center segment is scheduled to be lifted into high bay No. 3. Processing

of the external fuel tank, ET-118, continues in the Vehicle Assembly Building. Workers

from the Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana are at KSC and will remove and

replace the tank's liquid hydrogen engine cutoff sensors, or fuel gauges, next week.

Endeavour (OV-105); Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavour in Orbiter

Processing Facility bay 2 following an extensive modification period. Mass spectrometer

leak checks were performed this week on the system that provides nitrogen to the crew

cabin. Work continues on the orbiter boom sensor system manipulator positioning

mechanisms, which are the pedestals that support the boom. Hydrogen tank No. 4 was

installed. There are a total of five oxygen tanks and five hydrogen tanks that supply the

fuel cells in the orbiter. Owner-press-release: (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status

Report #S-061606 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006,June 16].]

NASA Conference Celebrates 30 Years of Mars Research

NASA will host a symposium titled "Mars: Past, Present and Future" on Thursday, June

22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the agency's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va. The

event is part of NASA's Viking 30th Anniversary celebration. NASA's Viking 1 and 2

missions to Mars, each consisting of an orbiter and a lander, obtained high-resolution

images of the Martian surface, characterized the structure and composition of the

atmosphere and surface and searched for evidence of life. Viking 1 was launched on Aug.

20, 1975, and arrived at Mars on June 19, 1976. On July 20, 1976, the Viking 1 Lander

separated from the Orbiter and touched down at Chryse Planitia. Viking 2 was launched

Sept. 9, 1975,and entered Mars orbit on Aug. 7, 1976. The Viking 2 Lander touched

down at Utopia Planitia on Sept. 3, 1976. ["NASA Conference Celebrates 30 Years of

Mars Research," NASA Media Advisory #M06-100, June 16, 2006.]

June 17: Launch adds to holiday tourism boom

Shuttle launches can draw 150,000 viewers. And the scheduled July 1 launch of shuttle

Discovery could attract even more since this will be the first shuttle flight in nearly a

year, and it falls on a Saturday. But visitors fromout-of-town are likely to have a tough

time finding a hotel room along the Space Coast at the last minute. The scheduled launch

date isthe beginning of the Fourth of July weekend and the same day as the Pepsi 400

NASCAR race in Daytona Beach. "Our property is already sold out for the first week of

July and looking strong for the rest of the month," said Rick Hutcherson, director of sales

and marketing for Holiday Inn Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Resort. "We're on our way to

having a record July. Any time we have a launch, we do well. But this launch will fall on

our biggest holiday of the year." Danielle Courtenay, vice president of public relations for

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the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said launch day is a great

opportunity for tourism in Central Florida. "The shuttle launch brings international

recognition to our area," Courtenay said. Orlando-area residents also are expected to

spend a significant amount in Brewxd County on launch day. Among international

visitors, tourists from the United Kingdom are expected to be among the largest

contingents. The scheduled launch time is 3:48 p.m. -- allowing restaurants to draw

customers for meals both before and after the event. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor

Complex also is likely to get a boost fromthe launch. Dan LeBlanc, chief operating

officer of the complex, said things have been going well in June, which is typically not a

strong month for attendance at the complex. Web posted. (2006). Launch addsto holiday

tourism boom [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, June

171.]

NASA Gives 'Go' for Space Shuttle Discovery's Launch

NASA senior managers on Saturday cleared the Space Shuttle Discovery for a July 1

flight to the International Space Station. The decision was announced after a lengthy

Flight Readiness Review, a traditional meeting in which top NASA managers and

engineers set launch dates, determine whether the shuttle's complex array of equipment,

support systems and procedures are ready for flight and assess any risks associated with

the mission. "We had two full days of an intensive Flight Readiness Review," said

Administrator Michael Griffin. "It was spirited and one of the most open, yet nonadversarial meetings I've seen since returning to NASA." Commander Steve Lindsey and

his six-crewmates are scheduled to lift offat 3:48 p.m. EDT to begin a 12-day mission,

designated STS-121. Discovery's crew will test new hardware and techniques to improve

shuttle safety, as well as deliver supplies, make repairs and bring a third crew member to

the station. The ice/frost ramps are structures made of insulation foam that cover 34

brackets on the outside of the shuttle's external fuel tank. The ramps have been cited as a

potential source of foam loss, which could cause damage to the shuttle. The Flight

Readiness Review board decided the current design does not pose sufficient risk to delay

the upcoming mission while design improvements for later flights are under way. Joining

Lindsey aboard Discovery will be pilot Mark Kelly, mission specialists Mike Fossum,

Piers Sellers, Lisa Nowak and Stephanie Wilson: European Space Agency astronaut

Thomas Reiter will launch on Discovery and stay on the station for several months.

Aboard the station, Expedition 13Commander Pavel Vinogradov, a Russian Federal

Space Agency cosmonaut, and Flight Engineer and NASA Station Science Officer Jeff

Williams will greet Discovery and its crew. Vinogradov and Williams began their sixmonth mission on the station March 31. ["NASA Gives *Go' for Space Shuttle

Discovery's Launch," NASA News Release #06-241, June 17, 2006.]

June 19: Hubble camera down

NASA scientistshave no explanationforHubble'sAdvanced Camerafor Surveys' (ACS)

unexpectedshutdown June 19. At 1:15P.M. EDT, peak power-supply voltages inthe

camera's charge-coupleddevice (CCD) Electronics Box (CEB) exceeded limits. As a

result,the camera suspended activityandautomaticallywent into safe mode. Preliminary

analysis of technical informationfrom the camera'scomponentsrevealsno anomalies.

Testsfocusing on the camera'slow-voltage power supplyandanalog-to-digitalconverters

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are now under way. One possibility being considered for the camera's shutdown includes

a cosmic-ray strike that damaged its electronics. E-mail distribution. (2006). [Astronomy

Magazine [AstronomyMagazine@maillist.astronomymail.com] Astronomy Newsletter 6-

30-06, Re: "Hubble camera down" [Electronic]. [June 30, 2006.1.]

NASA Assigns Crew for Shuttle Mission

NASA has assigned crew members to the space shuttle flight that will launch an Italianbuilt U.S. module for the International Space Station. Air Force Col. Pamela A. Melroy

will command the STS-120 mission to take the Node 2 connecting module to the station.

Melroy, a veteran shuttle pilot, is the second woman to command a shuttle, Marine Corps

Col. George D. Zamka will serve as pilot. The flight's mission specialists will be Scott E.

Parazynski, Army CoLDouglas H. Wheelock, Navy Capt. Michael J. Foreman and Paolo

A. Nespoli, a European Space Agency astronaut from Italy.Zamka, Wheelock, Foreman

and Nespoli will be making their first spaceflight. STS-120 will be Melroy's third shuttle

flight. This crew announcement reflects reassignments of other astronauts to other

missions and to technical and management positions within NASA. ["NASA Assigns

Crew for Shuttle Mission," NASA News Release #06-242, June 19, 2006.]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - l 8th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.i) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Target

Launch Date: July 1-19, 2006, Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers,

Fossum,Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nautical miles. NASA's Flight Readiness Review was completed Saturday, with

managerssetting a July 1 launch date. At Launch Pad 39B, installation of ordnance in

the orbiter and in the solid rocket boosters is complete. Flight crew systems workers

installed extravehicular maneuvering units in the crew cabin on Saturday. The suits are

worn by shuttle crew members for spacewalks. Mid-body eloseouts in the payload bay

are complete. Closure of the payload bay doors was delayed when a small amount of

water seeped through the payload changeout room dock seals during violent weekend

thunderstorms. Initial inspections revealed no damage to the orbiter. The payload bay

doors will be closed for flight as soon as final inspections are complete. Owner-pressrelease. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-061906 [Online].

Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006,June 19].]

June 20: Pluto's Twins Get Their Names

Pluto's baby twin moons, formerly known as S/2005 P 1 and S/2005 P 2, have been

christenedNix and Hydra. The objects, discovered last year by the Hubble Space

Telescope, received their names from the International Astronomical Union (IAU). A

formal announcement will be issued this Friday, 23 June. The names were proposed this

spring by the discovery team, who first identified the moons in May of last year. "We had

a giant list of possible names to con_ider," says team member Andrew Steffi of the

Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. "It was a fun thing to do." In

mythology, Pluto ruled the underworld. Nyx was the goddess of night and the mother of

Charon, the boatsman who takes souls across the River Styx and into Pluto's grasp.

Pluto's large satellite, discovered in 1978, is called Charon. Because an asteroid with the

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name Nyx already exists, the IAU decided to use a slightly different spelling for the inner

one of the two small Plutonian moons, to avoid confusion. Hydra was the mythological

nine-headed serpent that guarded the underworld. A large but inconspicuous constellation

in the spring sky also bears this name. Pluto-philes read even more significance into the

two names. The first letters, N and H, also refer to NASA's New Horizons spacecraft,

which was launched in January and is now on its way to an encounter with the Pluto

system in the summer of 2015. And according to the team, nine-headed Hydra is a fitting

companion for the ninth planet. This summer, the IAU will decide on the much-discussed

planetary status of Pluto. The naming of Hydra "could possibly" help convince the IAU

to preserve Pluto's planethood, says Steffl. Web posted. (2006). Rocket Pluto's Twins

Get Their Names [Online]. Available WWW: http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/[2006,

June 20].]

NASA Offers Media View of New Firing Room

Media are invited to view a newly renovated firing room in the Kennedy Space Center

Launch Control Center at 1p.m. Friday. The STS-121 launch of Space Shuttle Discovery

on July 1 will mark the first use of Firing Room 4 (FR 4) for a space shuttle launch

countdown. Now designated the primary firing room for all remaining shuttle launches,

FR 4 will also be used daily to manage operations in the Orbiter Processing Facilities and

for integrated processing for the shuttle. The firing room now includes soundsuppressing walls and foors, new humidity control, fire-suppression systems and

consoles, support tables with computer stations, communication systems and laptop

computer ports. FR 4 also has power and computer network connections and a newly

improved Checkout, Control and Monitor Subsystem. The renovation is part of the

Launch Processing System Extended Survivability Project that began in 2003. United

Space Alliance's Launch Processing System directorate managed the FR 4 project for

NASA. A fully manned firing room can hold more than 200 people, including the NASA

launch director, space shuttle program management staff, test conductors, shuttle launch

engineers,support engineers, public affairs staffand others. ["NASA Offers Media View

of New Firing Room For STS-121 LaunCh," NASA Media Advisory #37-06, June 20,

2006.]

June 21: Rocket blasts off from Cape

A Boeing Delta 2 rocket lifts off fromcomplex 17A at CapeCanaveralAir Force Station

on Wednesdaycarryingthe MiTEx spacecraftfor the Air Force. Two mini-satellites

meantto test technology for futuremilitary andintelligence satellites are in orbittoday

afterblasting off from Cape CanaveralAir Force Stationon Wednesday night:A Boeing

Delta 2 rocket roared off itslaunchpadthrough an almostpristine blue sky at 6:15 p.m.

aftertwo minor delays, one for a troublesomeheateron one of the microsatellites and

anotherbecause a boaterstrayedintoa hazard zone off the coast.The Micro-Satellite

Technology Experiment(orMiTEx) was a collaborativeeffort by the Defense Advanced

ResearchProjectsAgency, the Air Force and the Navy. Web posted. (2006). Rocket

blastsoff from Cape [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006,

June 22].]

Foam would threaten shuttle rescue

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NASA could not fix a serious foama-gheddingproblem in time to launch a rescue mission

if Discovery suffers severe damage during its July 1launch, the agency's top safety

officer said Wednesday. Atlantis, the rescue vehicle, might be damaged by the same

design flaw that Discovery now faces. Neither Bryan O'Connor nor NASA Chief

Engineer Christopher Scolese plan to appeal a decision to proceed with the launch,

because the shuttle's crew could seek safe haven on the International Space Station in that

case. "That's a done deal. That decision has been made. We now go forward and we look

to see if we can get this vehicle off the launch pad next week," O'Connor said. In a flight

readiness review last Saturday, O'Connor and Scolese voted to delay the launch until

NASA could redesign external tank foam covers that could shed insulation chunks large

enough to severely damage shuttle heat shielding. Dubbed "ice-frost ramps," the foam

covers are designed to keep ice from building up on metal brackets that secure

pressurization lines on the outside of the tank. Ice also could cause critical damage to

shuttle heat shields. NASA Administrator Mike Griffin decided to press ahead with the

launch so the agency can resume construction of the half-built station on another mission

in late August. NASA faces a 2010 deadline to finish the job. Sixteen more shuttle

missions will be required. Web posted. (2006). Foam would threaten shuttle rescue

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda,/.eom/[2006, June 22].]

Helms to command 45th Space Wing

The next commander of the Air Force wing that supports rocket launches and manned

space flights is a former astronaut with strong ties to NASA. But she's not afraid to

criticize its safety program when she sees a problem. She's also a eat-loving musician

who knows what it's like to lose her roof to a Florida hurricane. Today, Col. Susan

Helms, 48, will be promoted to brigadier general, becoming the first woman to command

the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base. She replaces Brig. Gen. Mark Owen, who

moves to Washington, D.C., for a job with the Pentagon. Helms, who was vice

commander of the 45th from June 2004 to February 2005, takes charge just days before a

critical shuttle launch. As commander, she will work closely with NASA on shuttle

launches as well as commercial rocket launches from the Cape. Web posted. (2006).

Helms to command 45th Space Wing [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, June 2I].]

Launch will be safe despite no-go votes, 2 NASA chiefs say

NASA'stop safety official andchief engineervoiced confidence Wednesday that space

shuttle Discovery's crew would be safe to launchJuly 1 despite their "no-go" votes at a

flight-readinessreview last weekend. Safety chief Bryan O'Connor and Chief Engineer

Chris Scolese based their dissent on concern that possible debris shedding fromfoaminsulationrampson the ship's external fuel tankposed anunacceptablerisk to Discovery.

However,both said Wednesdaythat proceeding with the launchwould be OK because of

NASA's ability to provide astronautssafe haven onthe internationalspace station andto

launch a rescue flight to bringthem home. "I thought when Isized all of this up thatif we

were in the redarea -- in other words, the unacceptable-riskarea for loss of the vehicle --

I did notconsiderus to be there for the loss of the crew," said O'Connor,a former

astronaut."Even ifI disagreed with some on loss of the vehicle, Ithink everybody in that

room agreed thatthe loss-of-crew risk for this mission is acceptable."NASA's decision to

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launch the shuttle after a finding of unacceptable risk by the safety office and chief

engineer is unprecedented. It comes after months of internal debate about the threat posed

by 37 so-called ice-frost ramps. The small foam ramps stretch from the tip of the tank to

its base and prevent ice from forming on underlying aluminum brackets used to fasten

fuel-pressurization lines and a tray of electrical cables to the tank's exterior. Web posted.

(2006). Launch will be safe despite no-go votes, 2 NASA chiefs say [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/[2006, June 22].]

NASA ships practice recovery of SRBs off local inlet

Two 170-foot-long NASA ships -- spotted off the St. Lucie Inlet on Wednesday -- are

in the Treasure Coast for training purposes, officials said. The Liberty Star and the

Freedom Star are identical ships used to retrieve solid rocket boosters after launches, and

the crew is practicing the retrieval process through today, said Joe Chaput, manager of

marine operations for the United Space Alliance. While the actual retrieval takes place

140miles offthe coast of Port Canaveral, the crew practices closer to shore to save time

and gas money. The waters off Stuart, Chaput said, had the best underwater visibility

closest to the Cape. "Sometimes we can do it right offshore (Cape Canaveral), but this

week the water is turbid," he said. "We'rejust borrowing the clarity of your water."

About two weeks before a scheduled launch, crew members and divers conduct an entire

mission to retrieve the rocket boosters -- work that takes five hours, Chaput said. After

leaving the rocket, the 165,000-pound, 116-foot-long booster opens a parachute and falls

at 50 mph into the ocean. First, it floats vertically. Then, divers attach an air pipe to it to

pump air into the booster, allowing it to float horizontally. They then tow the booster

behind the boat. Chaput said the crew had been practicing since Monday and hope to

complete another training session this morning, if the visibility holds. The next shuttle

launch is scheduled for 3:49 p.m. on July 1. Web posted. (2006). NASA ships practice

recovery of SRBs off local inlet [Online]. Available WWW: http://wwwl.tcpalm.com/

[2006,June 22].]

June 22: Destination Space

Two top managers at NASA are again expressing their confidence in the next shuttle

flight, despite no-go votes for the launch this past weekend. Wednesday, NASA's top

safety official and chief engineer said they both have concerns that falling foam could

cause problems for Discovery. They say they are confident in the astronauts' safety

because of NASA's ability to provide the astronauts safe haven on the International Space

Station if something were to go wrong. NASA's decision to launch the shuttle after a

finding of unacceptable risk by the pair is unprecedented. A majority of NASA

managers decided instead to develop a fix and implement it two or three missions in the

future instead of holding up the July 1 launch. In other NASA news, workers at the

Kennedy Space Center damaged the external fuel tank for Space shuttle Atlantis. NASA

says the workers accidentally struck the tank with a mobile work platform, denting the

foam. The dent is about 3/8 of an inch deep on the upper part of the tank very close to

the centerline. That fuel tank is in the Vehicle Assembly building and is not the one

scheduled to fly on next week's mission but it would be needed for Atlantis should it be

called up for a rescue mission. NASA says they will be able to make repairs in time for

Atlantis's scheduled August mission and in time for its use as a rescue shuttle for

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Discovery. Web posted. (2006). [Destination Space [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.cfnewsl3.com/[2006, June 22].]

June 23: Destination Space: Tank Problem

Workersatthe Kennedy SpaceCenterjust foundout thatHurricaneKatrina causeda

problemno one was awareof on spaceshuttleAtlantis'fueltank. The workers were

fixing a dentthey madeon the tank earlierthis week, andnoticedbeads of water coming

out of the tank'sfoam. They say it must have gottenin duringHurricaneKatrinawhen

the tankwas being processed atits facility in New Orleans. KSC workers will inspectthe

problemthroughoutthe weekend to see what needsto be done. NASA says it does not

appearthat it will affect Atlantis'sscheduledlaunchon August 28 or the possible launch

if it's neededas a rescue shuttle. Meanwhile,the crew for the Atlantismission is atthe

Space Center to try out the gear they'll use on their flight. At the same time, space shuttle

Discovery's crew is preparing to fly in for their launch. They're scheduled to land next

Tuesday for their July 1st launch. Web posted. (2006). [Destination Space: Tank

Problem [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.cfnewsl3.comJ [2006, June 23].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission:STS-121 - 18thInternationalSpace StationFlight(ULF1.1) - ; Multi-Purpose

LogisticsModule ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location:LaunchPad39B ; Target

LaunchDate: July 1, 2006, 3:49 p.m. EDT ; LaunchPad:39B ; Crew: Lindsey, Kelly,

Sellers, Fossum,Nowak, Wilson andReiter; Inclination/OrbitAltitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nauticalmiles. Aft closeouts of Discoveryare nearingcompletion.Workers are

preparingto installthe engine compartmentaccess doors. Aft confidence testing will take

place today.This involves power upand testing of all aft systems,such asthe main

propulsionsystem circuits. Workersare preparingthe orbiter for pressurizationof the

orbitalmaneuveringsystem andmainpropulsionsystem,scheduledfor this weekend.

Also plannedfor this weekend aremicroinspections of the orbiter windows. All

checkoutsof the externaltank and solid rocketboosters are complete and those

componentsare closed for flight. Mission: STS-115 - 19th InternationalSpace Station

Flight(12A) - ; P3/P4 Solar Arrays ; Vehicle:Atlantis(OV-104) ; Location:Orbiter

ProcessingFacilityBay 1 ; LaunchDate:No earlier than Aug. 28, 2006 ; LaunchPad:

39B ; Crew: Jett,Ferguson, Tanner,Burbank,MacLean andStefanyshyn-Piper ;

Inclination/OrbitAltitude:51.6 degrees/122 nauticalmiles. InOrbiter Processing

Facilitybay 1,the Crew EquipmentIntegratedTest withthe crewof STS-115 is under

way and will continueon Saturday.Thetest allows crew membersto familiarize

themselveswiththe vehicle, perform fit checks andverify hardware configurationsthat

will be usedon orbit. Closeout work in the aft andmid-bodyareas of Atlantis continues.

Freoncoolant loop No. 2 is serviced,andpreparationsfor servicing watercoolant loop

No. 1 continue.The coolant loop is part of the systemthat cools the avionics baysin the

mid-bodyand the aft of the orbiter. InhighbayNo. 3 of theVehicle Assembly Building,

stackingof the STS-115 solid rocket boostersfuel segmentsis complete.The forward

assemblysections are mated,andjoint closeouts are in progress.Processing of the

externalfueltank for STS-115, designatedET-118, continuesin the Vehicle Assembly

Building.Workers from the MichoudAssembly FacilityinLouisianaare at KSC and

have completedreplacingthe tank's liquidhydrogenengine cutoff sensors, or fuel

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gauges. This week, while workers repaired a minor nick on the side of the ET-118 tank

facing away from the shuttle, they noticed a couple of beads of water come out of the

foam. It appears the water got into the stringers of the intertank during Hurricane Katrina.

An inspection is under way and is planned to be completed this weekend or early next

week. The work is not expected to affect the launch-on-need support for STS-121 or

STS-115. Endeavour (OV-105); Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavour in

Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 following an extensive modification period. Mass

spectrometer leak checks are complete on the orbiter's oxygen lines. Work continues on

the orbiter boom sensor system manipulator positioning mechanisms, which are the

pedestals that support the boom. Installation of the reinforced carbon-carbon panels on

the orbiter's wing leading edges is under way, as is functional testing of the docking

mechanism. The engine No. 1 dome heat shield is being installed today. Elevon cove leak

checks are complete. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status

Report #S-062306 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, June 23].]

Discovery's Launch Countdown Begins June 28

NASA will begin the countdownfor the launchof Space Shuttle Discovery at 5 p.m.

EDTJune 28. The countdownincludesnearly28 hours ofbuilt-in hold time leadingto a

scheduledlaunchat about3:49 p.m. on July 1. The launch window extendsfor nearly

five minutes.The launchteam atNASA's Kennedy SpaceCenter, Fla., will conductthe

countdownfromthe newly renovated FiringRoom 4 of the LaunchControlCenter. This

missionis designated STS-121. It is the 115th shuttleflight and the 18th U.S. flightto the

InternationalSpace Station.Discovery's mission is scheduledto last about 12 daysand

endwith 10:45 a.m. landing atKennedy on July 13. The crew will test new equipment

and proceduresto improve shuttlesafety, aswell as deliver supplies andmakerepairsto

the InternationalSpace Station. ["NASA Space ShuttleDiscovery's LaunchCountdown

Begins June28," NASA Media Advisory #M06-106 (corrected), June 23, 2006.]

June 24: Discovery's flight will be the ll5th space shuttle mission

The fleet leader • Discovery is flying for the 32ndtime. Lastflight (of all shuttles as well

as Discovery),was July 26 to Aug. 9. • First mission of Discovery:Aug. 30 to Sept. 5,

1984. • Upcoming Discovery liftoff: Scheduled for 2:48 p.m. CDT July 1, Kennedy

Space Center, Fla. • Destination: Space station, altitude 212 miles. • Docking: 10:25

a.m. CDT July 3. • Liftoff weight: 4,523,850 pounds (Discovery, all payloads, external

fuel tank and both solid rocket boosters). • Delivering: Leonardo, a European cargo

carrier with 5,100 pounds of food, clothing, research gear and other equipment. • First

spacewalk: 9:24 a.m to 3:54 p.m. July 5. ° Second spacewalk: 8:54 a.m. to 3:24 p.m. July

7. • Undock: 6:43 a.m. CDT July 11. ° Landing: 9:46 a.m. CDT July 13, Kennedy Space

Center. • Landing weight: 225,741 pounds (with cargo return from space station). Web

posted. (2006). [Discovery's flight will be the 115th space shuttle mission By NASA

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.chron.com/[2006, June 24].]

June 25: Flight Will Have an Effect on Brevard's Economy

The shuttle program and the jobs of thousands of space workers across the country,

including about 15,000 here on the Space Coast, will be on the line when Discovery

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blasts off Saturday from Kennedy Space Center. A catastrophe, or any failure that could

have caused a catastrophe, will prompt the nation's leaders to retire the three remaining

orbiters now and spend the $4 billion-a-year shuttle budget to rush development of a

replacement fleet. "If we have another major incident in launching a space shuttle, I

would not wish to continue the program," NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said last

Saturdayjust after he gave the go-ahead to launch Discovery and seven astronauts.

Granted, every launch brings do-or-die risks. Now, however, the consensus inside and

outside NASA is that every mission will carry the highest stakes the shuttle team has ever

faced. The imminent 2010 retirement of the shuttles -- long an emotional and economic

linchpin of this community -- is worry enough. Closing the doors sooner would speed the

loss of 5,000 to 10,000jobs that pay, on average, almost twice what the typical Brevard

Countian takes home. Even before the last three Apollo missions were called off, the

cuts began to hit Kennedy Space Center and Brevard County. "Moonport," a NASA

history of that era, says space center employment fell from about 26,000 in 1968 to

16,000 in 1970. Home prices fell. High-paid space workers moved away. Unemployment

rocketed. A couple of years passed before community leaders forged a recovery,

marketing affordable coastal homes to retirees and other Northerners. "There's legendary

stories about people walking out the front door and leaving it open, abandoning their

houses," said Mike McCulley, the former astronaut who heads United Space Alliance, the

company that operates the shuttle fleet day to day and is the employer of the vast majority

of Brevard's space workers. "It was an ugly environment." A new vehicle, the shuttle,

was coming. But it was the latter half of the decade before the shuttle replaced those lost

KSCjobs. Brevard is different now. Then, NASA and its contractors employed 40

percent of county workers. The numbers of people and diversity of businesses has

exploded in the three decades since. Tourism, service and high-tech industries dominate

Brevard's economy. The construction and real estate markets are running strong, too.

KSC employsjust 7 percent of Brevard's work force today. Most space workers live in

North Brevard. A high percentage of KSC workers are nearing retirement, and they have

savings and benefits at their disposal that would allow them to stay here. Another

potential cushion: new opportunities developing beyond NASA-owned and -operated

space vehicles. For instanee, NASA wants companies to field private ships to take cargo

and people to and from the station, which could generate new jobs here. Web posted.

(2006). [A successful or unsuccessful flight will have an effect on Brevard's economy

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.comJ [2006, June 25].]

Delta 4 rocket poised for first California launch

The final piece of Boeing's new generation Delta 4 rocket fleet makes its long-awaited

debut this week when a booster blasts off from the U.S. West Coast for the first time,

punctuating the company's work to develop a line of launchers and build pads in Florida

and California. California Delta 4 pad once hosted the space shuttle. Boeing's Delta 4

rocket pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base was renovated in recent years, transforming

Space Launch Complex-6 from the West Coast space shuttle launch site into a facility for

the next-generation unmanned booster. Web posted. (2006). [Delta 4 rocket poised for

first California launch [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/

[2006,June 25].]

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June 26: Reporters begin arriving at KSC

The news media horde is descending on Kennedy Space Center, albeit smaller than last

year's return to flight. "The last two weeks are absolutely crazy," NASA spokeswoman

Tracy Young said. "Sometimes you don't know whether you're coming or going, but it's

fun, a lot of fun." Last July, when Discovery made the first flight since the 2003

Columbia accident, about 1,200journalists showed up. KSC expects 700 to 900 for the

launch Saturday. During the years, a typical launch has drawn from 300 to 700. With

Soichi Noguchi on the last crew, Young said, "we had a lot of Japanese media. Of course,

we're expecting a lot of European media as well for Thomas Reiter." Reiter is a German

who will stay on the space station for several months. "We don't have nearly the

entourage we did a year ago," said Peter King, a radio correspondent for CBS News who

covers Kennedy Space Center. "Look at how many (news organization) trailers are not

there. Remember when the parking lot was absolutely packed?" said King. "I think

people in some cases don't realize what a big deal this particular return to flight is." This

shuttle mission is key to finishing construction of the International Space Station by the

time the fleet retires in 2010, but its nuances make it a hard story to tel!, King said. Web

downloads of space stories remain strong, he said, "so I think that there's a great deal of

interest out there." Web posted. (2006). [Reporters begin arriving at KSC [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, June 26].]

UCF researcher to study space-traveling fruit flies

Whenthe Space Shuttle Discovery blasts off from Kennedy Space Center on July 1, its

cargo will feature a bunch of fruit flies that may give scientists, including a University of

Central Florida researcher, clues into the effects of space travel on the human immune

system. Laurence von Kalm, a UCF biology professor, will be part Ofa research team

that will study the fruit flies upon their return to Earth at the end of the shuttle's 12.day

mission. Von Kalm will work with Deborah Kimbrell, aUniversityofCalifornia-Davis

research geneticist, to evaluate the flies' responses to bacteria and fungi and compare

them to the responses of flies that did not go into space. The primary question being

asked is whether the immune system is compromised from prolonged space travel, says

von Kalm. "Are they more susceptible to infection than the flies that don't travel into

space?" NASA is funding the research with a grant, while Kennedy Space Center is

providing a lab where von Kalrn, Kimbrell and their colleagues will test the flies for two

weeks after the shuttle returns. Scientists fromNASA's Ames Research Center, Rice

University and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas also will take part in the research.

Von Kalm says NASA's goal is to find out how extended stays in space, such as a trip to

Mars, could affect the health of astronants. Web posted. (2006). [UCF researcher to

study space-traveling fruit flies [Online]. Available WWW:

http://orlando.bizjoumals.com./[2006, June 26].]

Airspace, Bridges and Waterway Restrictions

For the STS-121 launch of Space Shuttle Discovery, NASA managers are urgingall

aircraftpilots andboatersto fully complywith the airspace,bridges and waterway

restrictions imposed around Kennedy Space Center prior to and during shuttle launches

and landings. "As always, we are coordinating with officials from the U.S. Air Force

Eastern Range, Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard to help

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provide a safe launch environment for the shuttle crew and for interested spectators," said

KSC Launch Director Mike Leinbach. Violating these restrictions is not only unsafe for

the astronauts and support crews, it's unsafe for the violator.', Space Shuttle Discovery's

first launch opportunity is Saturday, July 1, and istargeted for liftoff at 3:49 p.m. EDT.

The launch window is 10 minutes. At NASA's request, Air Force and Coast Guard

surveillance aircraft will patrol KSC's airspace boundaries on launch day. Violators will

be intercepted by patrol forces, thoroughly investigated and subject to FAA enforcement

action. A number of restrictions remain in effect around KSC during the hours

immediately following the launch of a space shuttle. ["Airspace, Bridges and Waterway

Restrictions in Effect for STS-121, NASA News Release #41-06, June 26, 2006.]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS- 121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF 1.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: July 1, 2006, 3:49 p.m. EDT ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers,

Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nautical miles. Discovery's aft is closed for flight, and workers have successfully

completed the aft confidence test. This involves powering up and testing all aft systems,

such as the main propulsion system circuits. Workers began flight pressurization of the

orbital maneuvering system and main propulsion system this weekend, and those

operations continue today. Workers also continue preparing for the launch countdown,

which will begin at the T-43 hour mark on Wednesday at 5 p.m. The STS-121 crew is

scheduled to arrive at the Shuttle Landing Facility Tuesday afternoon from the Johnson

Space Center in Houston. External Tank; The water that was discovered last week in one

of the stringers of the intertank on ET-118 has been removed. Stringers are reinforcing

channel structures located on the outside of the intertank skin. Preliminary water analysis

indicates that corrosion and salinity levels are low and will not affect the launch-on-need

support for STS-121 orthe STS-115 mission. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space

Shuttle Processing Status Report #S062606 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.publie.hq.nasa.gov [2006, June 26].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: STEREO(SolarTerrestrial Relations Observatory) ; Launch Pad: 17-B,Cape

CanaveralAirForce Station ; LaunchVehicle: Boeing Delta II ; LaunchDate:July 30,

2006 ; LaunchTime:2:55 - 2:57 p.m. or 4:03 - 4:18 p.m. EDT. The launch of STEREO

aboardaBoeing Delta II rockethasbeen rescheduled to July 30, pendingconfirmation by

the EasternRange. This allows the launchto occur at a more optimumtime in the launch

period and providesadditionalscheduletime to accomplishcritical safety operations on

the spacecraft,includingfueling and spinbalancetesting. At the Astrotech Space

OperationsFacility,testing and prelaunchprocessing of STEREO continues. The final

ComprehensivePerformanceTest was completedlate lastweek on the "A" Observatory.

The"B" Observatory completedthe test earlier in the week. The "B" spacecraft's solar

arrays havebeen installed.Technicians are performingthe deploymenttests on the "A"

solar arrays andhigh-gainantenna today.STEREO launch and mission simulationswith

the Deep SpaceNetwork were also performed.Thermalblanketinstallation continues.

Thesecondandthird sets of three solid rocket boosters will be erectedon the Delta II

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booster for STEREO at Pad 17-Bthis week. This is possible now that the U.S. Air Force

MiTEx mission has launched from adjacent Pad 17-A. After the boosters are erected, the

second stage will be hoisted atop the first stage, and the payload fairing will be raised

into the clean room inside the pad's mobile service tower. KSC News Center (2006).

Expendable Launch Vehicles Status Report ELV-062606 [Online]. Available E-mail:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006 June 26].]

June 27: Shuttle Is Set for Liftoff Saturday

With dogged determination, NASA will try resuming regular space shuttle missions this

week, hoping that the venerable spacecraft will weather aging components and falling

debris long enough to finish construction of the International Space Station. The shuttle

Discovery is scheduled to be launched as early as Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on

just the second flight since the loss of the Columbia and its crew of seven. Officials hope

to test the modifications and new procedures instituted after the disaster. The National

Aeronautics and Space Administration flew its first test flight after the disaster almost a

year ago, and the second was to followjust weeks later. But a problem with shedding

foam persisted, even after the space agency spent more than a year and hundreds of

millions of dollars to correct it. The Columbia disintegrated while returning from a

research mission on Feb. 1, 2003, after being critically damaged at liftoff when a piece of

foam weighing 1.67 pounds broke from its external fuel tank and struck its left wing.

That opened a crack that admitted superheated gases when the craft re-entered earth's

atmosphere. When the highly modified Discovery flew last year, much less foam debris

fell. But the tank still shed several unacceptably large pieces, weighing up to a pound,

that could have done severe damage. NASA grounded the fleet and removed 35 more

pounds of foam from critical areas. This month, mission managers pronounced the

Discovery ready to fly again, even though some engineers argued that more needed to be

done. Defending the decision, NASA's administrator, Michael D. Griffin, said that

falling foam might pose a danger to the shuttle but not to the crew, because the astronauts

could find a haven, if necessary, on the orbiting space station; another shuttle could then

be sent to retrieve them. (Mr. Griffin did add, however, that another serious accident

could end the shuttle program.) The shuttle fleet is scheduled to fly 16 more missions to

complete work on the half-finished space station and possibly to service the Hubble

Space Telescope. The three remaining shuttles-- Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour --

are scheduled to be retired in 2010. "If we're going to fly, we need to accept some

programmatic risks -- not crew risks-- and get on with it," Dr. Griffin said. The

Discovery's crew members, experienced astronauts and rookies alike, say they are eager

to get under way. "The crew is ready, we're ready," said the mission commander, Col.

Steven W. Lindsey of the Air Foreei who has flown three previous missions. The main

goals of the 12-day flight are to test the post-Columbia modifications and procedures,

perform maintenance on the space station and deliver critical supplies, and deliver a new

crew member to the station. To inspect for possible in-flight damage to the Discovery,

NASA has mounted additional cameras on the shuttle since the last mission; every aspect

of liftoff will be examined for possible problems. Video cameras at the top of each rocket

booster look down on the fuel tank, and new ones on the bottom look up. One on the tank

looks at the shuttle's belly, and a digital camera will take photographs of the fuel tank

after it drops away. Expanded observations of the flight will also take place on the

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ground. More than 100 cameras and radar devices at 25 widely scattered sites will make

high-definition images of the shuttle from numerous angles. As with the previous

launching, this one will be done in daylight so the fuel tank can be easily photographed as

it drops into the ocean thousands of miles from Cape Canaveral. The inspection will

continue as the shuttle f heads to the space station. Astronauts will extend a 50-foot,

Canadian-built robot arm that has a 50-foot boom with a camera and a laser imager. The

crew will spend seven hours moving the boom along critical parts of the shuttle's heatprotection system looking for potential problems areas, and will relay the data to the

ground for closer examination. Upon approaching the space station, Colonel Lindsey

will stop the Discovery about 600 feet away and execute a tricky maneuver that should

take about eight minutes. He will rotate the 100-ton orbiter nose-up in a full circle,

allowing the station crew to take detailed photographs of the shuttle. Once done, Colonel

Lindsey and the Discovery's pilot, Mark E, Kelly, a Navy commander who flew on one

earlier mission, will dock the shuttle to the station. The two spacecraft will be attached

for about a week, during which time the Discovery will unload tons of supplies and new

equipment carried in an Italian-made module called Leonardo. The cargo transfer will be

supervised by Stephanie D. Wilson, a first-time astronaut, who will also use the station's

robot arm to move Leonardo from the shuttle's cargo bay to the station and back again.

Two spacewalks are planned during the mission, with a third possible if controllers

determine that the Discovery has enough power and oxygen for an extra day at the

station. Piers J. Sellers, a veteran of a previous flight and three spacewalks, and Michael

E. Fossum, on his first mission, will venture outside to repair a mini-railcar system that

transports equipment. The pair will also attach a work platform to the end of the shuttle's

robot arm and extension boom to see if it can serve as a stable platform that would allow

astronauts to reach previously inaccessible parts of the shuttle to repair damage. The

Discovery's flight engineer, Cmdr. Lisa M. Nowak of the Navy, who is on her first

mission, will operate the robot arm during the spacewalks. Ifa third walk is possible, the

astronauts will tests methods that could be used to repair damage to the heat shields on

the shuttle's wing and nose. If the mission is successful,N. Wayne Hale Jr., the chief of

the shuttle program, said NASA could launch the Atlantis as early as Aug. 28 to resume

constructiun of the space station. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle Is Set for Liftoff

Saturday, With All Eyes on the Fuel Tank [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.nvtimes.com/[2006, June 27].]

NASA replaces a key safety official

An astronaut from NASA's first post-Columbia mission told colleagues Monday he was

fired from a high-ranking engineering job after refusing to step down from the team

responsible for safety during Discovery's upcoming flight. The sudden departure of

Charles Camarda from hisjob as director of engineering at Johnson Space Center

changes the team responsible for flight safety -- five days before the planned launch of

seven astronauts on the agency's second post-Columbia test flight. Camarda, who served

as a mission specialist on Discovery's flight lastsummer, took the job as director of

engineering at JSC inNovember. In that capacity, he would have served during the

upcoming flight on NASA's Mission Management Team, which is responsible for

overseeing safety while shuttle crews are in orbit. An expert in spacecraft thermal

protection systems, Camarda accepted an immediate reassignment to a post with the

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NASA Engineering and Safety Center, an oversight group created after the Columbia

accident. The group is based at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. Camarda will

work out of its office at JSC. But in an e-mail to colleagues, he indicated that he was

forced to relinquish the Mission Management Team post held by the JSC director of

engineering. NASA named Stephen Altemus as the new JSC director of engineering. He

had been deputy engineering director at the NASA field center in Houston. A former

chief of the launch and landing division at Kennedy Space Center, Altemus on May 8

was selected to lead a new 800-member engineering organization at KSC. Web posted.

(2006). [NASA replaces a key safety official [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatodag.corn/[2006, June 27].]

Shuttle crew faces 1-in-lO0 chance of dying

The seven crew members of the space shuttle Discovery arrived at Kennedy Space Center

on Tuesday to begin training for a spaceflight next month in which each will have a 1-in100 chance of dying. Those are the official oddsthat NASA has long given. Exactly

what the real odds are is a question that looms larger than normal this time. That is

because two top officials at NASA took the unusual step of dissenting from the space

agency's decision to go ahead with the launch without correcting the potentially

catastrophic problem of foam falling from the external fuel tank. That was the problem

that doomed the Columbia 3 1/2 years ago. The agency's safety director and chief

engineer wanted to walt and repair the problem. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin

decided, however, that a July 1 launch was worth the added risk for a variety of reasons.

"It's a difficult decision, highly technical, highly subtle, very subtle, involves lots of

assessment of statistical risks," Griffin said in an interview with The Associated Press.

"We spent weeks on this decision." In engineering geek-speak, what they did is called

"risk analysis." In everyday life, it's making up your mind about seemingly ordinary

things that could be deadly. Will that car trip end in a fatal crash? Will that extra dessert

or cigarette lead to life-shortening health problems? "What's really instructive is the way

the various players in this controversial choice -- from the head of NASA to the safety

director to the astronauts themselves -- are not only using the facts but their individual

unique perspectives in Wing to figure out what's right or what's safe," said David Ropeik,

risk communications instructor at the Harvard School of Public Health. Humans have

gone into space 717 times, and 18 astronauts and cosmonauts have died doing it: the

seven Challenger astronauts, the seven aboard Columbia, and four cosmonauts in two

Soviet accidents. (The total does not include the three astronauts who died in a fire during

a launch-pad test aboard Apollo 1 in 1967.) Michael Stamatelatos, who as director of

safety and assurance requirements at NASA is the agency's risk guru, said NASA's 1-in100odds for the loss a vehicle and its crew should be taken with a grain of salt, because

NASA used to say the chances were 1 in 7,000 until Challenger proved that to be overly

optimistic. The more NASA studies what goes on, the more the agency finds that the

risks were really far higher than originally thought, because so much more could go

wrong than engineers figured, said Paul Fischbeck, a Carnegie Mellon University

engineering and decision sciences professor. At the same time, problems are being fixed,

so the shuttle is getting safer to fly than before, he said. The uncertainty about the foam

worried NASA safety chief Bryan O'Connor. He dissented from the launch decision but

did not appeal, because NASA has drawn up plans to send the crew to the international

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space station to await rescue if the shuttle skin should be damaged. Shuttle program chief

Wayne Hale argued in favor of flying Discovery now, saying all sorts of changes that

already have been made to the foam need to be tested in flight before more complicated

modifications are made. The final decision rested with Griffin, who said that because

everyone agreed the crew could survive on the space station, the risk was more to the

space program than to the astronauts. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle crew faces 1-in-100

chance of dying [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.cnn.com/[2006, June 27].]

Europe has much riding aboard shuttle

While the upcoming flight of space shuttle Discovery marks a critical test for the U.S.

space agency NASA, Europe will have a lot riding aboard the shuttle too. German-born

Thomas Reiter, 48, will be one of Discovery's seven crewmembers when it makes its

planned liftoff July 1. And his presence goes beyond mere symbolism since the flight, in

many ways, is key to the future of Europe's manned space program. Reiter will be

returning to space after a 10-year hiatus, having last served aboard Russia's now-defunct

Mir space station. Reiter is set to become the first member of an international space

station crew who is not from the United States or Russia, dominant partners in the 16-

nation program. A latecomer to the Discovery crew, Reiter nonetheless said he feels

perfectly at ease with his six shuttle erewmates. British-born Piers Sellers, who became a

U.S. citizen in 1991 and joined NASA's astronaut corps five years later, will also be

aboard. Rounding out the crew are commander Steve Lindsey, pilot Mark Kelly, flight

engineer Lisa Nowak, spacewalker Michael Fossum and mission specialist Stephanie

Wilson. Web posted. (2006). [Europe has much riding aboard shuttle [Online].

Available WWW: http:/!www.cnn.comJ [2006, June 27].]

VP Cheney to attend launch

Vice-President Dick Cheney and his wife will travel to Cape Canaveral to attend

Saturday's planned launch of space shuttle Discovery, his office confirmed Tuesday.

Details of his visit will be released Wednesday. After the launch, the Cheneys plan to

attend the Pepsi 400 NASCAR race in Daytona Beach. "It's a terrific way to spend the

Independence Day weekend," the VP's press office said Tuesday in a prepared statement.

The photo of Cheney at left is courtesy of the White House. Click on the image to enlarge

it. Web posted. (2006). [VP Cheney to attend launch [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/[2006, June 27].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS- 121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF 1.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: July 1, 2006, 3:49 p.m. EDT ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers,

Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nautical miles. The STS-121 crew arrived at 10 a.m. today at the Shuttle Landing

Facility from Johnson Space Center in Houston. Final preparations for the launch of

Discovery's mission to the International Space Station continue at Launch Pad 39B.

Flight pressurization of the orbital maneuvering system and main propulsion system

continues and initial helium tank pressurization is complete. Launch countdown

preparations are nearing completion in Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center. The

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STS-121 launch countdown begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday, at the T-43 hour mark. Ownerpress-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-062706 [Online].

Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, June 27.].]

Delta 4 launches NRO satellite from California

A Delta 4 launched a classified National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellite late

Tuesday evening, the first launch for that vehicle from California. The Delta 4 MediumPlus (4,2) lifted off from SLC-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 11:33 pm

EDT Tuesday (0333 GMT Wednesday), placing into orbit an NRO payload identified

only as NROL-22. No other details about the spacecraft and its mission were released.

The launch is the first for the Delta 4 from California; previous launches took place from

Cape Canaveral in Florida. The launch took place from a pad originally developed for the

cancelled Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory project in the 1960s and later

converted, but never used, for space shuttle launches. Web posted. (2006). [Delta 4

launches NRO satellite from California [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spacetodav.net/[2006, June 28].]

NASA Issues Hubble SpaceTelescope Status Report

NASA engineers continueto examine the issuessurroundinga problem relatedto the

Advanced Camera for Surveysaboard the agency'sHubble SpaceTelescope. Engineers

receivedindications on Monday,June 19,thatthe power supply voltages were out of

acceptablelimits, causingthe camerato stopfunctioning.The camerahas been takenoff

lineso engineers can studythe problem and determinethe appropriateremedy.Hubble

observations arecontinuingusing the other science instrumentson board. "We believe

we are very close to fully understandingthe issue experiencedwith the cameraand we

are going to resolve it," said EdRuitberg,deputyassociate director,Astrophysics

Division atNASA's GoddardSpaceFlight Center,Greenbelt,Md. "However,beforewe

proceed with any actions,we want to have a reviewboard meetingto assess both the

trouble-shootingand the proposed solution." The board will meetat GoddardThursday,

June29, to decide the best courseof action.Engineersanticipateinstrumentobservations

will resume no earlier thanJuly 3, with no degradationto performance. ["NASA Issues

Hubble Space Telescope StatusReport, NASA News Release #06-252, June27, 2006.]

June 28: Weather not looking good

There'sa 60 percentchance of weatherconditionsprohibitingthe launch on Saturday,

and Sunday,and Monday. The forecastfromthe 45th WeatherSquadronat PatrickAir

ForceBase says we'reto expect the weatherwe'vebeen having the pastfew daysto

continuethroughthe holiday weekend. That makesit less likely the shuttle will getto fly

asscheduled at 3:49 p.m. on Saturday.However,preparationscontinuetoday for the start

of the countdown.As all Florida residentsknow, the weathercan change fast here. The

concernsall threedays includethunderstormsand cloudswithin 10 miles of the flight

path(dangerousin part because of thethreat of lightning) and within 20 miles of the

ShuttleLanding Facility,where the commanderwould have to tryto emergency land the

shuttlein the event of an aborted launch. Web posted. (2006). [Weathernot looking good

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, June28].]

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Discovery countdown begins today

A three-daycountdown to the planned launch Saturdayof shuttle Discovery is set to

begin atKennedySpaceCentertoday while seven astronautstake part in finaltraining for

NASA's secondpost-Columbiatest flight. Withthe 18-story shuttle standingat launch

pad39B, mission commanderSteve Lindseyand pilot MarkKelly will practice landings

five miles awayat NASA's shuttlerunway. The dive-bombingtraining runs will be done

in a Gulfstream2 aircraftmodifiedto mimicthe shuttle's steepdescent duringfinal

approach-- seven times that of a commercial airliner. Mission specialists Mike Fossum,

StephanieWilson andPiers Sellers will be atthe pad,training to take pictures of the

shuttle'sredesignedexternaltankonce it isjettisoned from the orbiter nine minutes into

flight. All seven erewmates-- includingmission specialistsLisa Nowak and Thomas

Reiter-- will check the fit of the pumpkin-orangepartialpressuresuitsthatthey'll wear

duringlaunchandatmosphericre-entry. The astronautswere more concerned aboutthe

weekendweatherwhen they arrivedTuesdayat KSC, disembarkingfrom T-38 jet

trainersjust a few hours aheadof afternoonthunderstorms. Liftoffis scheduledfor 3:49

p.m.Saturday-- prime time for seasonalsummerstorms. The first official launch

forecastwill be issuedtoday.But extendedforecasts fromthe U.S. Air Force's 45th

SpaceWing show a highprobabilityof rainSaturday andSunday. A 102-foot-tall

service structurewill be pulled awayfrom Discovery about7 p.m. Friday, and launch

engineerswill begin pumping a half-milliongallons of super-coldpropellant intothe

shuttle'stankabout 5:50 a.m. Saturday. Webposted. (2006). ]Discovery countdown

beginstoday ]Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/]2006,June

28].]

Cockpit upgrade on back burner

One thing Discovery won't carry is a cockpit upgrade Commander Steve Lindsey helped

develop, but its ideas will be employed in the shuttle's successor. The shuttle cockpits

were designed in the 1970s, before designers thought much about how people would use

them and how computers might help, Johnson Space Center's Bruce Hilty said. "A bunch

of engineers designed the way the shuttle operates," said Hilty, who worked with Lindsey

on the avionics upgrade project. The current cockpits don't employ safety lessons that

have been learned over the years from aviation. "A tremendous percentage of aviation

accidents are related to crew error," he said. A typical problem with the shuttle's current

system is that it will sound alarms for an avalanche of glitches, even if they stem from

one root cause. "Today's caution and warning system is not very smart, and it's going to

enunciate to the crew every one of these problems," said human factors researcher Robert

McCarmof NASA's Ames Research Center. "Every single one is going to have its own

alarm and its own fault message that shows up." A crucial message might be obscured by

a stream of trivial ones. "Something will fail and a light will turn on here and a light will

turn on there and some little number will turn here," Hilty said, "and you've just got to be

trained to know that that sequence of events means this thing failed. And so you start

adding up enough of those, it becomes very cumbersome." The new system that he,

McCann, Lindsey and other experts developed does the recognition for the astronauts.

The upgrade would have gone far beyond the so-called "glass cockpit," which improved

the visibility of the old controls. It would have organized the displays better and

employed multiple colors for easier interpretation. The new avionics software was

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"flown" in simulators on the ground and tested. But installation of the upgrade was

canceled because of time and money pressures after the Columbia accident. Web posted.

(2006). [Cockpit upgrade on back burner [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, June 28].]

NASA Would Explode Shuttle If It Went Off Course

Risk is part of the astronaut business, butNASA thinksthe people who live on the Space

Coastshouldnot have to bear part of thatrisk. That'swhy there'sa little-knownsafety

office at CapeCanaveralwith a spaceshuttledestructswitch andtwo officers who have

anawesomeresponsibility.The astronautssaidthey know that could be their fate.

"There'snothing inherently safe aboutsitting on 4 1/2 millionpounds of explosives," said

astronautMike Fossum. Few places areas dramaticasthe Range Safetydisplayarea.

Forthe officers seatedat the stations,thejob is as dramaticasthe setting. They ran

througha practicerunon Tuesdayfor the space shuttle'splannedSaturdaylifloff. The

shuttlehas to stay within certain lines on theofficers'screens. If its debrisfootprint

crosses one of the red lines, thatwouldmean that it is wildly out of control and

someplacesuch as Cocoa Beach or Titusville couldbe threatened.The space shuttle

crashinginto an area like that could causedevastationon the ground.John Bond, of St.

Cloud,saidhe knows if thathappenshe has a couple of buttonshe hasto press. Those

switchesgo to the shuttle'sbooster rockets, andthe booster rockets would explode.

Everythingand everyoneon board wouldgo down. Bondhas been through a lot of

launches and missions, and he said he knows every one could be the one where he has to

throw the switch. 'Tve probably got 1,000training runs in that we've done and it will be

done by instinct," Bond said. "You kind of make peace with that in your mind?" Billow

asked. "Yes. We're pretty much, it'sjust part of the job, much like the astronauts know

what their job is and part of the job is if they endanger the public, that's going to happen,"

Bond said. The space shuttle has emergency systems and procedures that might or might

not work if the shuttle were out of control and off course. But the astronauts wouldn't get

to try them because the safety of the public takes priority over the safety of the

astronauts. Web posted. (2006). [NASA Would Explode Shuttle If It Went OffCourse

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.wesh.com! [2006, June 28].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date:July 1, 2006, 3:49 p.m. EDT ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers,

Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nautical miles. The countdown for the Space Shuttle Discovery launch begins at 5 p.m.

today at the T-43 hour mark. Launch remains scheduled for Saturday at 3:49 p.m.

Discovery's flight crew is relaxing today and reviewing its flight data file. The Launch

Complex 39 avian detection and monitoring continues through launch. On Tuesday

afternoon, a lightning strike was detected near the south perimeter of Pad B. Discovery

was not powered up and was not struck. There was one report of hail that was not

confirmed. Initial walkdowns indicate there was some damage to facility electrical

equipment supporting liquid hydrogen operations, but no vehicle damage was reported.

None of the damage is expected to impact Discovery's launch. Further assessments of the

135
shuttle and facilities will continue today. U.S. Air Force weather officers are forecasting

a 60-percent chance of weather prohibiting a launch attempt on Saturday. The primary

weather concerns are anvil clouds from inland thunderstorms, cumulus clouds within 10

nautical miles of the flight path, and showers within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle

Landing Facility. The forecast is similar in the event of a 24-hour delay. Owner-pressrelease. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-062806 [Online].

AvailableE-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, June 28.].]

No technical hurdlesto launch

The shuttle launch team is working no technical issues that would prohibit an on-time

liftoff on Saturday afternoon from the Kennedy Space Center. Jeff Spaulding, the NASA

test directoron the launch team, says Discovery could get up to four launch opportunities

over the five days beginning Friday. After that, the team would have to take a day or two

off before preparing the vehicle for another round of launch attempts. So it's all about the

weather at this point. Kathy Winters, the weather officer, says afternoon storms are the

worryfor Saturday, Sunday and Monday launch attempts. The chance of acceptable

launch weather all three days isjust 40 percent. Winters says conditions could actually

worsen next week, though it is far too early to give specific forecasts. "While they sound

a little gloomy, we have certainly launched with a higher-percentage no-go than we have

for Saturday," Spaulding said. For those who might be trying to plan ahead, target launch

times for the next few days are as follows: Saturday: 3:49 p.m.; Sunday: 3:26 p.m.;

Monday: 3 p.m.; Tuesday: 2:37 p.m.; Wednesday: 2:12 p.m. Web posted. (2006). [No

technical hurdles to launch [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/

[2006,June 28].]

Clouds could thwart shuttle launch

Clouds in the forecast raised doubts Wednesday about whether Discovery would get off

the launch pad this weekend for the first space shuttle flight in nearly a year. There was a

60 percent chance that clouds capable of producing lightning would prevent a launch

during the 10-minute window Saturday afternoon, said Kathy Winters, shuttle weather

officer. The forecast remained the same for Sunday and Monday and was expected to

worsen later in the week. NASA test director Jeff Spaulding said the shuttle had no

technical problems that would prevent a launch. The space agency said it will make up to

four launch attempts over five days, if needed. The launch window extends until July 19.

The countdown began late Wednesday afternoon. "Obviously these forecasts, while they

sound a little bit gloomy, we've certainly launched with higher predictions of no-go,"

Spaulding said. Weather already was creating some problems. A violent thunderstorm

Tuesday afternoon caused minor damage to equipment used for fueling the shuttle, but it

was not expected to affect the launch. Among the dignitaries planning to attend the

launch were Vice President Dick Cheney and two members of the board that investigated

the Columbia disaster. The Kennedy Space Center also will test new techniques for

keeping birds away from the launch pad during liftoff. A vulture struck Discovery's fuel

tank during last summer's launch but did not cause major damage. Web posted. (2006).

[Clouds could thwart shuttle launch [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.cnn.comJ

[2006, June 29].]

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June 29: NASA Has Plan to Land Shuttle if Crew Has to Leave Ship

NASA officials revealed a new plan on Thursday that might allow a last-ditch effort to

save a damaged space shuttle by guiding it back to Earth without astronauts aboard. The

system, which could be used if astronauts were forced to abandon the shuttle and take

refuge in the International Space Station, makes use of a 28-foot-long braided cable,

weighing about five pounds, that can be attached to various control boxes on the shuttle.

It would allow flight controllers on the ground to activate systems that previously had to

be switched on by members of the shuttle crew, including power units, landing gear and

drag chutes. John Shannon, the deputy manager of the space shuttle program, described

the automatic landing system at a news briefing in preparation for the launching of the

shuttle Discovery as early as Saturday. The flight wi!l be only the second since the loss of

the shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven astronauts in 2003, because a piece of falling

foam put a hole in the left wing during ascent:NASA spent two years redesigning the

external fuel tank and developed potential repair methods. But in the flight of the shuttle

Discovery last year, several pieces of foam fell from the tank. The newly announced

cable system could offer an alternative to ditching a craft worth at least $2 billion. If the

craft had a chance of successful re-entry but officials felt that the risk to crew might be

unacceptably high, the cable could be tried. The landing might be tried at Vandenberg

Air Force Base in California so the approach to Earth would occur over water. The plan

was developed over the past year, said Kyle Herring, a NASA spokesman. In the past

NASA officials have argued that it would be impossible to land the shuttle without

astronauts. Before the cable was developed, Mr. Herring said, the ability to feed landing

instructions to the computers was there, but "the ability to land safely was not." Web

posted. (2006). [NASA Has Plan to Land Shuttle if Crew Has Had to Leave Ship

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.nvtimes.com/[2006, June 30].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULFI.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date:July 1, 2006, 3:49 p.m. EDT ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers,

Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter, Inclination]Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nautical miles. The countdown for the Space Shuttle Discovery launch began at 5 p.m.

Wednesday at the T-43 hour mark. The launch control team members are in Firing Room

4 of the Launch Control Center monitoring the system consoles. Launch remains

scheduled for Saturday at 3:49 p.m. The entire STS-121 crew participated in flight

training this morning in T-38 jets. The commander and pilot also practiced landing

techniques in the Shuttle Training Aircraft. At Launch Pad 39B, preparations for the

launch of STS-121 continue. Early stowage of items in the flight crew cabin is complete.

Loading of fuel cell reactants is scheduled to pick up latertoday. The fuel cells provide

electricity to the orbiter during flight. The Mission Management Team met this afternoon

for the traditional launch readiness meeting and gave the approval for a launch attempt on

Saturday. U.S. Air Force weather officers are forecasting a 60-percent chance of weather

prohibiting a launch attempt on Saturday. The primary weather concerns are anvil clouds

from inland thunderstorms, cumulus clouds within 10nautical miles of the flight path,

and showers within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility. The forecast is

similar in the event ofa24-hourdelay. Owner-press-release. (2006). SpaeeShuttle

137
Processing Status Report #S-062906 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, June 29].]

June 30: Shuttle fascinates tourists

About 10,000 tourists will file into the KSC Visitor Complex on Saturday for the

scheduled launch of NASA's second post-Columbia test flight. Tickets to view the launch

from the complex, one of the closest public viewing sites, have been sold out for weeks.

Another 5,000 people will be bused a few miles east to the NASA Causeway and about

3,500 people are expected at the Astronaut Hall of Fame, a few miles west of the

complex. Besides the anticipated crowds on launch day, a surge of tourists have flooded

the two attractions in the days leading up to the launch, and higher attendance is expected

through the shuttle's landing 12 days later. To prepare for the crowds, Delaware North

Companies Parks & Resorts at Kennedy Space Center Inc., which manages both

government-owned facilities, hired additional employees, increased food shipments and

added food and souvenir locations. "There's no better way to tell the NASA story than

seeing a space shuttle launch," said Dan LeBlanc, chief operating officer of Delaware

North. "It's an emotional and inspirational event that lasts a lifetime." Web posted.

(2006). [Shuttle fascinates tourists [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, June 30].]

Most networks to go live for Discovery launch

If the space shuttle Discovery lifts off from its Florida launch pad at 3:49 p.m. EDT

Saturday, all but one of the major networks will cover it live. Only CBS has opted not to

cover the launch live, though most of the other networks aren't devoting the same kind of

resources and airtime to this launch as they did in July when the shuttle program returned

to flight after the February 2003 Columbia disaster. The longest coverage will be on the

cable channels, with Fox, CNN and MSNBC -- and their Web sites -- devoting significant

resources. But NBC and ABC have positioned anchors, correspondems and space experts

in New York, Cape Canaveral and Houston and will interrupt regular programming. Fox

won't because its network isn't on air at that time. NBC, which will carry the U.S.

Women's Open Championship on Saturday, finalized a plan Thursday that will have NBC

Sports throw a few minutes before the scheduled launch to NBC News weekend anchor

John Siegenthaler. Joining him will be Tom Costello, longtime space correspondent Jay

Barbree, astronaut Steve Robinson and analyst James Oberg. They also will work on

MSNBC, where Chris Jansing will anchor coverage. "We always felt this was indeed

newsworthy," NBC News specials executive producer Phil Alongi said. "There's been a

lot of discussion surrounding this launch." The shuttle will ferry more than two tons of

supplies to the work-in-progress International Space Station. Web posted. (2006). [Most

networks to go live for Discovery launch [Online]. Available WWW:

http://today.reuters.com/[2006, June 30].]

Pre-Launch Mission: Get the Vulture Count Down

For decades, the vultures of Cape Canaveral have enjoyed a banquet served up daily by

the thousands of commuters at the Kennedy Space Center. Workers used to move roadkill

to the grassy roadsides so the vultures could eat in peace. All that ended after the space

shuttle Discovery hit a vulture as it lifted off from Pad 39B last year. In videos, the bird

138
could be seen bouncing offthe top of the external fuel tank several hundred feet above

the ground. Two other vultures were immolated during the launch. Although the birds

missed the orbiter containing the crew, the event alarmed NASA managers, who, in 2003,

saw a 1.7-pound piece of foam insulation from the shuttle's external fuel tank strike

Columbia, eventually causing its destruction and the deaths of all seven crew members;

"We talk about a quarter-pound piece of foam being catastrophic to the vehicle -- these

are 4- to 6-pound birds," flight director John Shannon said Thursday while discussing

preparations for Saturday's scheduled launch. "We laugh about it, but it is a serious risk."

NASA will use radar to track the birds before liftoff. If too many vultures are deemed too

close to the shuttle, the data "will allow us to make a real-time call about holding the

launch to give them time to fly out," said shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach. Since

the Columbia disaster, NASA has spent billions trying to ensure nothing hits the shuttle

during launches. Birds have been frequent uninvited guests at shuttle launches

throughout the program's 25-year history. Woodpeckers used to attack the external tank

until NASA engineers began blasting them with loud noises. That doesn't work with

vultures. There are two types at Kennedy: the black vulture and the red-headed turkey

vulture. Each has a wingspan of up to 4 feet. They spend a significant amount of time

patrolling the skies in search of meat, which makes them a launch hazard. Experts have

no hard evidence about how well the bird abatement program is working. Anecdotally,

they think they are seeing an effect. NASA has been hearing from neighboring cities

claiming to be seeing more vultures. Deprived of the easy pickings at Kennedy, the birds

are foraging farther afield, program workers said. The space agency is trying more exotic

approaches-- from loud noises to chemical fogs -- to deal with vultures. Birds that

didn't mind the stench of decaying alligator had no trouble ignoring the fog, said ]'racy

Gibson of ASRC Aerospace Corp. The space agency has decided to set a trap five miles

from the launch site with enough bait to lure as many as 60 birds. "After launch, we'll

release them," Leinbach said. "We live on a national wildlife refuge out here, so we're not

free to mess with the birds in a terminal fashion." Web posted. (2006). [Pre-Launch

Mission: Get the Vulture Count Down [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.latimes.com/[2006, June 30].]

NASA Names New Rockets

NASA announced on Friday the names of the next generation of launch vehicles that will

return humans to the moon and later take them to Mars and other destinations. The crew

launch vehicle will be called Ares I, and the cargo launch vehicle will be known as Ares

V. "It's appropriate that we named these vehicles Ares, which is a pseudonym for Mars,"

said Scott Horowitz, associate administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission

Directorate, Washington. "We honor the past with the number designations and salute the

future with a name that resonates with NASA's exploration mission." The "I and V"

designations pay homage to the Apollo program's Saturn I and Saturn V rockets, the first

large U.S. space vehicles conceived and developed specifically for human spaceflight.

The crew exploration vehicle, which will succeed the space shuttle as NASA's spacecraft

for human space exploration, will be named later. This vehicle will be carried into space

by Ares I, which uses a single five-segment solid rocket booster, a derivative of the space

shuttle's solid rocket booster, for the first stage. A liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen J-2X

engine derived from the J-2 engine used on Apollo's second stage will power the crew

139
exploration vehicle's second stage. The Ares I can lift more than 55,000 pounds to low

Earth orbit. Ares V, a heavy lift launch vehicle, will use five RS-68 liquid oxygen/liquid

hydrogen engines mounted below a larger version of the space shuttle's external tank, and

two five-segment solid propellant rocket boosters for the first stage. The upper stage will

use the same J-2X engine asthe Ares I. The Ares V can lift more than 286,000 pounds to

low Earth orbit and stands approximately 360 feet tall. This versatile system will be used

to carry cargo and the components into orbit needed to go to the moon and later to Mars.

NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, manages the Constellation Program and the

agency's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., manages the Exploration Launch

Projects office for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, Washington. ["NASA

Names New Rockets, Saluting the Future, Honoring the Past," NASA News Release

#06-270, June 30, 2006.]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18thInternationalSpace StationFlight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

LogisticsModule ;Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location:LaunchPad 39B ; Launch

Date:July 1, 2006, 3:49 p.m. EDT ; LaunchPad:39B ; Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers,

Fossum,Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclinatlon/OrbitAltitude:51.6 degrees/122

nautical miles, The countdown for the Space Shuttle Discovery launch is in a built-in

hold at the 11-hour mark, The countdown will pick up again at 10:53 p.m. The launch

control team members are in Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center monitoring the

system consoles. Launch remains scheduled for 3:49 p,m. Saturday. The STS-121 crew

is relaxing and reviewing flight data files today. They will go to sleep at 8:15 p,m. at the

Kennedy Space Center and will be awakened at 5:15 a.m. Saturday to begin final

prelaunch preparations. At Launch Pad 39B, preparations continue for the launch of

Discovery. Fuel cell reactants were loaded Thursday night after a three-hour delay caused

by lightning at the Kennedy Space Center. Crew module provisions are being stowed

today and pad closeouts are under way, prior to rolling back the Rotating Service

Structure at 7 p.m.U.S. Air Force weather officers are forecasting a 60-percent chance

of weather prohibiting a launch attempt on Saturday. The primary weather concerns are

anvil clouds from inland thunderstorms and thundershowers within 20 nautical miles of

the Shuttle Landing Facility. The forecast is similar in the event of a 24-hour delay.

Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-063006

[Online]. Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006,

June 30].]

140
JULY 2006

July 1: Discovery's 'Pedestrian Mission' Means a Lot to NASA

The space shuttle Discovery and its seven astronauts are to roar into orbit this afternoon

on what NASA managers called "a rather pedestrian mission" that nevertheless has a

great deal riding on it. Liftoffis scheduled for 3:49, when Earth's rotation will put the

launching pad at the Kennedy Space Center here in the orbital plane of the International

Space Station, the shuttle's destination. Weather is still an open question with conditions

shifting from favorable to unfavorable throughout the day. But a last-minute teclmieal

problem has cropped up: a heater in the shuttle's maneuvering system is not working

properly. NASA officials have not stopped the countdown for this problem, but if it is not

corrected it might cause the launching to be delayed at least one day. A different issue

that had caused some concern -- whether fuel level sensors that caused a delay in the last

flight would act up again -- was not a problem this morning. The sensors passed their test.

Web posted. (2006). [Discovery's 'Pedestrian Mission' Means a Lot to NASA [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.ngtimes.corn/[2006, July 1].]

Clouds Force Delay of Shuttle Launching

NASA scrubbed the launching of the shuttle Discovery minutes before its scheduled

liftoff Saturday as threatening clouds encroached on the 20-mile boundary around the

Kennedy Space Center. The postponement came on the first day of a 19-day launching

window,just before the start of a 10-minute span in which the launching pad entersthe

same orbital plane as the International Space Station. Liftoffis now scheduled for a 10-

minute window starting at 3:26 p.m. on Sunday, but current weather forecasts put the

likelihood of adverse conditions at 70 percent. Conditions for Monday, according to

forecasters working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, are likely

to be even worse. Web posted. (2006). [Clouds Force Delay of Shuttle Launching for at

Least a Day [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.ngtimes.com/[2006, July 2].]

July 2: NASA Scrubs Shuttle Liftoff for 2nd Day Over Storms

NASA scrubbed the launching of the shuttle Discovery on Sunday for the second dayin a

row as thunderstorms and clouds cloaked the Kennedy Space Center. "We decided to

terminate the count today, stand down for 48 hours," Michael D. Leinbach, the launching

director, told Col. Steven W. Lindsey of the Air Force, the shuttle's commander, at 1:15

p.m., a little more than two hours before the scheduled liftoff. All seven astronauts had

entered the Discovery, but workers had not yet closed the hatch. The National

Aeronautics and Space Administration will hold off launching until Tuesday at 2:38 p,m.,

with the extra day to keep the shuttle astronauts and crews fresh and to replenish the fuel

cells, which provide electrical power to the orbiter, Mr. Leinbach said NASA could try

again on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday before having to shut down operations for

three or four days to replenish fuels. Web posted. (2006). [NASA Scrubs Shuttle Liftoff

for 2nd Day Over Storms [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.flofidatoday.com/

[2006,July 3].]

Russia, NASA Sign New Protocol on ISS Maintenance

141
Russian Federal Space Agency chief Anatoly Perminov and NASA Administrator

Michael Griffin have signed a new protocol on cooperation in the maintenance of the

International Space Station (ISS), agency press secretary Igor Panarin told Itar-Tass by

phone. He said the protocol was signed at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on July 1 during

Perminov's working visit to the United States. He was invited to attend the Discovery

space shuttle launch, which was aborted on Saturday because of bad weather. This is a

strategic document, which defines bilateral cooperation in all aspects of the ISS

maintenance, including the delivery of cargos, Panarin said. The validity of the previous

agreement expired this year. "It is of paramount importance that a new agreement has

been signed, and Russia and the United States have found optimum forms of

cooperation," he said. "Both Griffin and Perminov are pleased with the signing."

Perminov has also met with the chief of the European Space Agency (ESA). Panarin said

they discussed the program of the future manned space vehicle. That meeting did not

result in signing of any accords, he said. Web posted. (2006). [Russia, NASA Sign New

Protocol on ISS Maintenance [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.astroexpo.com/

[2006,July 5].]

July 3: Get these guys some barbecue

Brad Smith,JeffRowell and CharlesWassen earned their Fourth of July barbecue and a

beer. Leaningoffa platform 200 feet abovethe ground,tetheredto the shuttle launch

tower for safety reasons,Rowell was ableto get a tiny camerawithininches of an

otherwise impossible-to-reachspot on shuttleDiscovery's externaltankon Monday.

The picturesthathe and his colleaguessnappedgaveNASA managersthe last bit of

confirmationthatthey neededto make the decisionto go aheadandtry to launchthe

shuttleon IndependenceDay. "It's notjust us,"Rowell said,noting several times thatthe

13-manmicro-inspectionteam for United Space Alliance collaboratedwith countless

engineersand members of the launchcrew to pull off anunusualinspectionof damaged

foaminsulationto make sure it posedno threatto the shuttleor the astronauts. "We do

this allthe time withthe orbiter,"saidRowell, a Cocoa residenton the team that uses a

boroscope to get inside pipes, aroundcomers andinto all kinds of tiny crevices to inspect

theplaces humans can't see. The call came in around noonMonday.Someone on the

shuttleteamwas tryingto figure out a way to get an up-close look at foam covering a

brackethigh on the external tank.Not only wasthe damagedfoam too far from work

platforms,it was blockedfrom view by a 17-inchwide liquidoxygen pipe. "He thought

we wouldbe the people to call," said Smith, who lives inTitusville. The team inserted a

6 millimeterwide, fiber optic cable with a cameraonthe end througha bendable piece of

piping.Bentinto a shapethat wouldallow them to snake it aroundthe big oxygen pipe,

Rowell extendedthe camera-tippedtool within six inches of the damagedfoam. He had

to lean out as fax as he could to get there, but the result was 20 pictures that were "about

like looking at it with your eyeball." The pictures convinced the launch team that no

more foam would fall from the area and gave engineers additional data they needed to

predict whether the area would be covered in ice during the countdown or overheat

during ascent. Web posted. (2006). [Get these guys some barbecue [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, July 4].]

July 4: Shuttle Makes a Safe Return to Space Flight

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The space shuttle Discovery split a nearly cloudless sky with thunder and fire on Tuesday

afternoon and roared safely into orbit. The liftoff, right on schedule at 2:38 p.m., was the

start of a 13-day flight that isthe first in a year for the diminished shuttle fleet as NASA

continues its efforts to resume more frequent human spaceflight. The Discovery is to

rendezvous on Thursday with the International Space Station, where it is carrying

equipment, supplies and a fresh astronaut for the station's crew. But this is also

considered the second and final test flight for the shuttle fleet since the loss of the

Columbia and its seven astronauts in 2003, and the Discovery's ascent was scrutinized for

the kind of liftoff debris that caused that disaster. At 2 minutes 53 seconds into the flight,

an onboard camera showed numerous pieces of debris appearing to fall away from the

external fuel tank. They fluttered away and did not appear to strike the shuttle, carrying a

crew of seven. N. Wayne Hale Jr., NASA's shuttle program chief, said the pieces had

fallen "after the time we are concerned about," after the air becomes so thin that debris

usually floats harmlessly away. A piece of debris that broke off later in the ascent did

appear to strike the midbody of the orbiter, NASA officials said. But they added that it

probably did not do any damage. In all, officials said, insulating foam broke away from

five spots on the external fuel tank and a solid rocket booster, some with several pieces of

foam. But none occurred within the time that NASA considers hazardous, and only one

piece might be larger than the allowable size. Batteries of cameras on the Discovery and

the space station are photographing every square inch of the shuttle's surface during the

mission, If serious damage is found, NASA plans call for the crew to abandon the shuttle

and seek "safe haven" inside the station until a rescue mission can begin. NASA officials

were jubilant about the liftoff. "They don't get much better than this," said NASA's

administrator, Michael D. Griffin, who had been criticiZedfor overruling engineering and

safety officials last month after they recommended postponing the mission for more study

of debris hazards. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle Makes a Safe Return to Space Flight

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.nytimes.com/[2006, July 4].]

July 5: NASA: No concern on fallen foam

At least five pieces of foam -- the material that broke off and doomed the space shuttle

Columbia -- flaked off Discovery after its launch Tuesday, but the particles broke loose

after a critical time period, said shuttle program manager Wayne Hale. "The shuttle

(Discovery) performed very, very well. We saw nothing that gave us concern or pause

that we wouldn't be safe to fly the next mission," Hale said. "The tank performed very

well, especially early in the flight in the lower atmosphere." After a crack was

discovered in Discovery's foam covering, there was a question as to whether Discovery

would launch Tuesday -- the Fourth of July. NASA engineers decided the problem

caused no risk to the seven astronauts on board. The foam insulates the exterior fuel tank

to prevent ice from forming. The particles that fell from Discovery were observed in

images of the flight, Hale said. He told reporters Tuesday night that NASA has only

reviewed 30 or 40 percent of the pictures, and was still collecting data. Some of the

images will be available Wednesday, he said. "Every piece of foam that came off was

after the critical time, and we can confirm all but one of those was smaller than the mass

that we worry about." Tuesday's foam fell off at 2 minutes, 53 seconds and 4 minutes, 45

seconds. "Two minutes, 15 seconds is our bingo time. Anytime after that, we're not

worried," Hale said. In addition to the five pieces of foam that separated from the shuttle,

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Hale said NASA has identified two other issuesrequiring further study: a shim that acts

as a separator between tiles broke off, and a camera lens got water on it. A piece of ice

broke off the shuttle about 15 minutes into the flight, but such occurrences are not

unexpected, Hale said, There was a problem with the shuttle's cooling system, but it was

being resolved. "It's incredible to me the space shuttle main engine can form frost on the

outside when hot inside," Hale said. He said in an early conversion with the crew, there

was "very little to talk about because the orbiter performed so well." Discovery was to

have launched Saturday, but bad weather that day and Sunday delayed the effort. Web

posted. (2006). [NASA: No concern on fallen foam [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.cnn.com/[2006, July 5].]

Discovery astronauts to check heat shield today

Discovery's astronauts will inspect their ship's heat shield today after an impressive

Independence Day launch on a mission marking NASA's second attempt to get a deadly

foam-shedding problem under control. With sophisticated radar and more than 100 highresolution cameras tracking Discovery's climb into orbit, engineers spotted a flurry of

smallfoam fragments flying offthe shuttle's redesigned external tank. But NASA

officials said Discovery was traveling too high and too fast for the debris to do the type of

serious damage that doomed Columbia's crew during an ill-fated atmospheric reentry

back in February 2003. "We saw nothing that gives us any kind of concern about the

health of the crew or the vehicle or any pause to think that we wouldn't be safe to fly the

next tank," said NASA shuttle program manager Wayne Hale. The seven astronauts

nonetheless will start a meticulous inspection of Discovery's vulnerable wing panels and

nosecap early today. Along with the shuttle'sthermal tiles, the heat shield components

protect the ship and its crew from extreme temperatures -- up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit

-- encountered during reentry. It was the first Fourth of July launch in the 45-year history

of the U.S. human space flight program. About 200,000 people jammed Space Coast

roadways, riverbanks and beaches to witness the holiday launch. NASA hosted another

20,000 VIPs, celebrities and dignitaries at Kennedy Space Center, and others traveled to

the space center to work the launch. The 2:38 p.m. lifloff was precisely timed to put

Discovery on course for a 10:52 a.m. Thursday docking at the International Space

Station. The high-flying hookup will require some precision piloting. NASA hopesto

extend the mission a day so a third spacewalk can be carried out to test heat shield repair

techniques. As it stands, Discovery and its crew are scheduled to land at KSC at 8:52 a.m.

July 16. Web posted. (2006). [Discovery astronauts to check heat shield today [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, July 5].]

Coast Guard patrols waters off Cape

Positioned nine miles south of the launch pad, the search-and-rescue boat's four-member

crew snapped photos, recorded video and stared through binoculars as shuttle Discovery

ascended over the Atlantic Ocean. "Look at her go," said Chief John Rice, executive

petty officer of Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral and captain of the boat. "It'sjust

beautiful." For the past week, including Tuesday, about 40 Coast Guard members -- both

active and reserve -- patrolled the federally protected waters around the clock off Cape

Canaveral. Their mission was twofold: to secure NASA property, especially Discovery,

and to keep boaters in the area out of danger. Fourteen Coast Guard boats were stationed

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throughout the security zone, which stretched 24 miles long and three miles wide. Boat

traffic was light Tuesday, despite the expected launch and the Fourth of July holiday. A

handful of boats ventured north of Port Canaveral before the launch Tuesday, and only a

few were forced to change course. Web posted. (2006). [Coast Guard patrols waters off

Cape [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.comJ [2006, July 5].]

Space shuttle external tank fixes appear sound

After a full day of image analysis and inspections, NASA engineers are increasingly

optimistic that major changes to the foam insulation on the shuttle Discovery's external

fuel tank worked as required to minimize the release of potentially catastrophic debris

during the ship's Fourth of July climb to space. If they're right, and if preliminary

indications are confirmed during continued observations and around-the-clock analysis,

NASA wil! move a major step closer to putting its painful post-Columbia return-to-flight

effort behind it, shifting the focus instead to resuming assembly of the international space

station. "We have in hand all the data we're going to get from the external tank and the

performance was very good," said John Shannon, chairman of NASA's Mission

Management Team. "And we got some good data, too, which was really important. We

really want to be able to verify what kind of redesigns we were doing." Shannon said the

most significant change made to the external tank since Discovery last flew a year ago -

removal of a long foam wind deflector - worked well. Known as a protuberance air-load -

PAL - ramp, the wind deflector was in place to smooth the flow of turbulent air overtwo

pressurization lines and a cable tray during the shuttle's climb out of the dense lower

atmosphere. Much of the 11 months preparing Discovery for its current mission was

focused on proving the PAL ramps could be safely removed and that the pressurization

lines and cable tray could, in fact, stand up to the aerodynamic rigors of launch on their

own. Computer modeling and wind tunnel tests convinced agency managers the ramps

were not needed and Discovery's lannehing Tuesday appeared to verify those

conclusions. While a final answer will depend on analysis of data captured by sensors

mounted in the cable tray - work that is not yet done - Shannon was clearly optimistic.

"The only thing we have to do is go make sure all the aerodynamic modeling that we did

is corroborated by the sensors that we flew on this flight," he said. "This was one data

point and it was a really good data point, but we want to make sure we are not on the

edge of anything. We don't think we are, but we need to go make sure." During

Discovery's launch last year, foam debris also broke away from an area where two struts

attach the nose of the shuttle to the tank. Engineers came up with a fix and it, too,

appeared to work. Photographs of the tank after it wasjettisoned in space showed no

foam losses in the area. Even the ice-frost ramps on the tank appeared to work well. The

ice-frost ramps, hand-sculpted foam insulation applied to 34 brackets holding the cable

tray and pressurization lines in place, generated controversy before launch when two top

NASA managers voted to delay the flight until they could be redesigned. The insulation

in question was officially deemed an unacceptable risk, in large part because engineers

lacked a solid understanding of foam failure mechanisms. Web posted. (2006). [Space

shuttle external tank fixes appear sound [Online]. Available WWW:

,, http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006, July 5].]

July 6: Space Shuttle Does Back Flip and Rendezvous With Station

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The space shuttle Discovery glided Thursday morning to a smooth rendezvous with the

International Space Station. The approach, at a gradual one-tenth of a foot per second as

both craft raced through orbit at 17,500 miles an hour, could be seen on NASA

Television from a camera mounted in the Discovery's docking mechanism. "Capture

confirmed," the shuttle's commander, Col. Steven W. Lindsey of the Air Force, radioed to

mission control at 10:52 a.m. Eastern time, when the two spacecraft joined about 220

miles above Earth, south of Pitcaim Island in the South Pacific. By 12:30 p.m., the crews

had opened the hatch separating them and exchanged handshakes and hugs. An hour

before docking, the Discovery, in its second full day in orbit, did a back flip of greeting

as it approached the space station. During the maneuver, in which Colonel Lindsey pulled

up the nose of the craft at three degrees per second, the 122-foot-long, 245,000-pound

shuttle turned as gracefully as a gymnast, though an extremely large one. That gave crew

members on the station, Pavel V. Vinogradov of Russia and Col. Jeffrey N. Williams of

the United States Army, the flight engineer, a leisurely view of the bottom of the

Discovery so they could take 350 highly detailed photographs of it. The flip was part of

the program of inspection put in place after the 2003 Columbia disaster, when an

undetected hole in the left wing caused that shuttle to break up during re-entry, killing all

seven astronauts on board. It was only the second time that the maneuver had been

performed. Colonel Lindsey executed the maneuver with the help of a small thruster,

known as a Vernier, that developed a balky thermostat last week. The problem had

threatened to delay the mission, but NASA elected to launch without fixing the thruster,

saying the astronauts could maneuver without it, Once in orbit, Colonel Lindsey kept the

left side of the shuttle facing the sun, which warmed the craft and brought the thruster up

to operating temperature. The coast of Spain was clearly visible beneath the Discovery

asthe maneuver began, and the hills and clouds slid by underneath. Thomas Reiter, a

German astronaut aboard the Discovery, officially joined the station's crew, bringing its

complement to three for the first time since the Columbia disaster. John Shannon, deputy

manager of the shuttle program, noted that a breakaway patch of thin foam that he

described yesterday as being 8 inches by 10 inches was actually more than 12 by 14. That

larger patch was still within the range that the agency expected to see, Mr. Shannon said,

and did not constitute a threat. On Friday, the shuttle crew will transfer an Italian-made

cargo carrier, known as Leonardo, from the shuttle to the station so that the 5,000 pounds

of supplies inside can be loaded into the station. Web posted. (2006). [Space Shuttle

Does Back Flip and Rendezvous With Station [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.nvtimes.com/[2006, July 6].]

July 7: Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: STEREO(SolarTerrestrialRelationsObservatory);LaunchPad: 17-B,Cape

CanaveralAir Force Station; LaunchVehicle: Boeing Delta II; LaunchDate: NET Aug.

1, 2006 ;Launch Time: 2:42 - 2:44 p.m. or 3:50 - 4:05 p.m. EDT. The launch of

STEREO aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket has been rescheduled to Aug. 1,pending

Eastern Range availability and confirmation. Due to a faulty crane at Pad 17-B, vehicle

stacking of the solid rocket boosters was not able to resume until yesterday and will

continue on Saturday and Sunday. Hoisting of the Delta second stage atop the first stage

is scheduled for Tuesday, July 11. On Wednesday, the payload fairing will be lifted into

the pad clean room. At the Astrotech Space Operations Facility, technicians completed

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final thermal blanket installation on Observatory "A" yesterday. This was followed by

final black-light cleaning of the observatory. Today, it is being transported to the adjacent

hazardous processing facility in preparation for fueling. Instrument testing on

Observatory "B" has been completed. Final thermal blanket installation and black-light

cleaning will take place this weekend. On Monday, Observatory B will also be moved to

the hazardous processing facility, joining Observatory A. Fueling of the two

observatories, hoisting Observatory A and mating it with Observatory B, spin-testing of

the integrated STEREO spacecraft, and mating to the upper stage booster will take place

at the hazardous processing facility. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable Launch

Vehicles Status Report ELV-070706 [Online]. Available E-mail:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, July 7].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18thInternationalSpace StationFlight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ;Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; OfficialLaunchDate: July 4, 2006 at

2:38 p.m. ; ExpectedKSC LandingDate/Time:July 17 at about9:14 a.m. ; Crew:

Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson andReiter ; Inclination/OrbitAltitude:

51.6 degrees/122nauticalmiles. Today is Flight Day 4 for STS-121, and Discovery is

currentlydocked to the InternationalSpaceStation.The Multi-PurposeLogisticsModule

containing suppliesand equipmentfor the space stationhas been transferredfrom

Discovery'spayloadbay to its stationport. The crew will spendthe nextseveraldays

unloadingthe module andthen filling it with itemsto be returnedto Earth. Mission:

STS-115 - 19thInternationalSpace StationFlight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays; Vehicle:

Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location:OrbiterProcessing FacilityBay 1 ; LaunchDate: No

earlierthan Aug. 28, 2006 ; Launch Pad:39B ; Crew:Jett,Ferguson,Tanner,Burbank,

MacLeanand Stefanyshyn-Piper; Inclination/OrbitAltitude:51.6 degrees/122 nautical

miles. InOrbiter ProcessingFacilitybay 1, workers are busy preparing Atlantis for

rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building, currentlyscheduled for the last week of July.

Final gapfiller and tile work is under way, and finalinspectionsof the radiatorare

complete. The payload bay doors are scheduled to be closed for flight late today.

Workers have configured the shuttlemainengines for rollover and are finishing fina!

closeoutsin the forward and aftsections. In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly

Building, ET-118, the externalfuel tank for STS-115, has been lifted fromthe checkout

cell, andoperationsto mate it to the solid rocket boostersareunderway. Endeavour

(OV-105); Powered-upsystem testing continueson Endeavourin Orbiter Processing

Facilitybay 2 following an extensive modificationperiod. This week, functionaltesting

of the atmosphererevitalizationpressurecontrolsystem got under way. This system

maintainscrew module pressureduring flight. Window no. 3 installationis nearing

completion, and tile-processingwork continuesaround the external tankdoorsand nose

landinggear doors. Gap filler removal andreplacementcontinuesin the high priority

areas of the orbiter's heat shield. Owner-press-release.(2006). Space Shuttle

Processing Status Report #S-070706 [Online]. AvailableE-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov[2006, July 7].]

July 9: Board begins mission to land space business

147
Monday marks the beginning of a new strategy for Florida's efforts to attract and retain

the space and aeronautics industry with the first meeting of the board of Space Florida.

It's a unified effort under the umbrella of the public-private Enterprise Florida and

replaces the state's previous, three-agency effort. At stake are high-paying space and

aeronauticsjobs, nearly 30,000 private-sector jobs acrossthe state with $2 billion in

payroll in the most recent statistics available. The bulk of those are at Kennedy Space

Center. With Discovery in orbit, Gov. Jeb Bush will lead the inaugural Space Florida

board asthe state continues efforts to snag business as the shuttle program concludes by

2010. Gone by September will be the Florida Space Authority, Florida Space Research

Institute and Florida Aerospace Finance Corp. "A very smooth and easy transition is first

and foremost. Let's take what we have, consolidate it down and move forward," said Jim

Tolley of Palm Bay, a lieutenant with the Melbourne Fire Department and a board

member of the old Space Authority moving overto new duty on the board of Space

Florida. Created by legislation this year, board members said naming a search committee

for Space Florida's first president will be an important part of early work. A strategic plan

is due by March. Web posted. (2006). [Board begins mission to land space business

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, July 9].]

July 12: NASA visitor facilities among top contenders

As the space shuttle era draws to a close, NASA officials and aviation historians are

preparing to transform the workhorse orbiters from reusable space wagons to revered

museum pieces, Competition to host one of the three shuttles -- Atlantis, Discovery and

Endeavour -- already has begun, even though the ships still face at least 15 more missions

to the International Space Station and perhaps one repair call to the ailing Hubble Space

Telescope during the next four years. "A whole bunch of museums and communities are

vying for a retired shuttle," said Jim Hull, a NASA artifacts manager spearheading shuttle

retirement planning. Visitor complexes at NASA's main space flight centers in Alabama,

Florida and Texas are considered front-rum:ers. But the National Museum of the United

States Air Force in Ohio and the California community where the shuttles were built also

have expressed a desire to house one of the orbiters. Hull said he is busy crafting

proposalsthat would exhibit the shuttlesin fascinating, innovative and fun ways. He

declined to elaborate, saying the plan still is a work in progress and must be approved by

NASA Administrator Mike Griffin. The $2 billion space planes are likely to be a big

draw, wherever they come to rest. "People are absolutely fascinated with seeing anything

that has been in space," said Valerie Neal, space history curator at the National Air and

Space Museum in Washington. The shuttle Enterprise, a test vehicle that never flew in

space, is a top attraction at the Smithsonian Institufioffs Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly,

Va., where the annual visitor count exceeds 2 million. "People are astonished when they

see it," Neal said. Currently, the National Air and Space Museum is designated as the

primary repository for NASA artifacts of historic and educational value. Its two locations

house the world's most complete collection of space artifacts. Space division branch

chief Roger Launius said the museum has a standing request for one of the flown shuttles

along with many of the estimated 900,000 shuttle components -- from space suits to

onboard lavatories. "We've requested a flight vehicle as it was when it flew the last time

because we would like to freeze it in time," said Lannius, formerly NASA's chief

historian. "We would like to ensure that one of these is preserved so 500 years from now

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people can study and look at the technology." Smithsonian officials also could play a

role in where the other shuttles go and how they are preserved. Curators say they are

determined to avoid the mistakes made when the Apollo program came to an abrupt end

in 1970s. Many valuable Apollo items were trashed or made their way into private

collections. Three massive SaturnV moon rockets on loan from the Smithsonian to the

Johnson, Kennedy and Marshall Space centers suffered serious degradation from weather

and animal infestation. "These things (space shuttles) are so huge, and once they arrive

somewhere, that's where they are going to stay indefinitely," Neal said. "We're trying to

figure out what's the most responsible position for the preservation of these artifacts."

Webposted. (2006). [NASA visitor facilities among top contenders [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.fioridatoday.com/[2006, July 12].]

Wanted: Space dynamo

Retaining,recruitingand growingnewjobs in Floridaspace'sindustry,which faces an

avalancheof change with the retirementof the shuttlefleet in 2010 anddeep workforce

cuts at Kennedy SpaceCenter. And effortsby other statesthat are out-thinking,outmaneuveringand out-hustlingFloridato lure the new breed of space entrepreneurswho

are creatingindustriesas we speak. Florida hasto get back in the game -- fast -- or risk

watchingits $4 billion a year space industrywitherandBrevard Countytake an

especially hardhit. To accomplishthat,Gov. JebBush and the Legislaturetooka smart

stepthis springby streamlining the state'soutdated,ineffective space-development

approachandconsolidatingthe push intoa new agency: Space Florida,a public-private

entitythat held itsfirst meetingMondayand announceditwas conductinga national

search for a president. This is a criticalhire, and the personselected shouldbe an

aggressive, innovative leader who can getthings doneand is not afraidto make turfboundTallahassee officials understandtheirold ways don'twork. Decisions soon on

what companies will build NASA's next-generationCrewExplorationVehicle moonship,

where the constructionandassembly will be done, andwhat commercialfirmswill fly

suppliesto the InternationalSpace Station. KSC is poised to gain some of the work. But

whateverit gets should be just the startof turningthe spaceportinto a hub forNASA's

moon-Marsprograms,which will require extensive statehelp to attractprivatecompanies

via economic incentives. Beyond that,the statemustcreatea spaceport-- perhaps

centeredat KSC'sshuttle runway-- for the type of entrepreneurswho are launchingthe

infantspace tourism industryin other states. The facility shouldprovide low-cost

operationsandeasy licensing so companiescan use it as anincubator,move rapidlyto

test their technologies and not be strangled by excessive regulation. Web posted. (2006).

[Wanted: Space dynamo [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.eom/

[2006,July 12].]

Mystery surrounds beached boat at Cape

It'sa real mystery but investigators hope to get some answers from a boater found

walking out of the surf about two miles fromwhere his 32-foot- vessel washed ashore at

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The boat was found with a running motor and a dead

dog onboard. The unidentified boater was spotted about noon after a short search of the

restricted area by two military helicopters. The crew ofa U.S. Coast Guard HH-60 Jay

Hawk helicopter airlifted the man -- who was suffering from hypothermia and exposure

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to the ocean waves -- to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne for treatment,

officials said. The search started after a group of civil engineers walking along the beach

came across a boat with a running motor and the remains of the dog still onboard, said Lt.

Col. Maria Carl, spokeswoman for the 45th Space Wing. The discovery was made about

1I:15 a.m. Brevard County homicide agents were called to the restricted area - also the

site of several rocket launch complexes - to investigate. "We found the boater about two

miles north of where his boat was found. He was walking out of the water onto the beach

when he was spotted by the helicopters," said Donnie Brzuska, a spokesman with the

U.S. Coast Guard. "Now we're working on trying to find out what happened and hope to

debrief him at the hospital." There were no other people on the boat when it was found.

Webposted. (2006). [Mystery surrounds beached boat at Cape [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com! [2006, July 12].]

Discovery Astronauts Test Repair Methods

Two spacewalking astronautssqueezed a putty-like sealant froma caulk gun Wednesday

to test new repairtechniquesthat mightsome daybe necessary to save a damagedspace

shuttle. "Easymotion on the trigger,"astronautPiers Sellers told his colleague, Mike

Fossum,asthey floatedin Discovery's cargo bay andpreparedfor the tests on 12

deliberately damagedpieces of shuttle material. "Good goo?" Sellers asked. "Good

goo!" Fossumresponded. More than anhourinto the 6 1/2-hourspacewalk,the

astronautsraninto a brief delaywhenone of the safety tethers on Fossum became

unlocked.Therewas no danger of the astronautfloating away since he is attachedto the

complexby more than one tether,andhe was able to relock it. NASA spokesman Rob

Naviassaid problemslike that happenon occasion.During Monday's spacewalk, Seller's

safety-jet backpackalmost came loose while he worked on repairs. "Theyaredoubleand

in some cases, tripletethered at all times dependingonwhere they are," Naviassaid.

"Theirchancesof ever floating away are zero." Wednesday'swas the third and final

spacewalkplannedwhile Discovery is dockedat the space station. Using a caulk gun,

the two squirtedsealantonto 12 deliberatelydamagedreinforced carbon-carbonsamples

stored on a pallet in Discovery's openpayload bay. Reinforced carbon-carbonis usedto

protectthe shuttle'swing leading edges and nose capfrom searing heat that canreach

2,300 degrees Fahrenheitduringre-entry into Earth'satmosphere.A crack in Columbia's

wing in 2003 allowed fiery gases to penetratethe shuttle,destroying Columbiahigh over

Texas andkilling itsseven astronauts. The repairtechniquewas devised by NASA to

make sure sucha disaster never happens again.Web posted. (2006). [Discovery

AstronautsTest RepairMethods [Online]. AvailableWWW:

http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006,July 12].]

NASA Seeks Master Developer for KSC's Exploration Park

NASA todayissued a solicitationto attractoffers for the developmentand long-term

operationof ExplorationPark at KennedySpaceCenter. The agency posted a draft

request for proposalsand seeks commentsfrom industryon the draftby Aug. 17. A

briefingforpotential developers and a site tour is planned atKSC for Aug. 10. NASA

envisionsExplorationPark as a unique technology andcommerceparkdevelopment,

featuringtrend-setting,sustainabledesign featureswhile hosting cutting-edge technology

and space exploration-relatedactivitiesat the nation'sprimaryspaceport. NASA's

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primary objectives in establishing Exploration Park at KSC are to: Enable and grow

private sector participation and contributionto the long-range exploration of space by the

U.S. and its international partners; Promote the development and use of technologies that

contribute to space exploration and preservation of Earth's environment; Attract tenants

who advance the mission of NASA and KSC with an emphasis on commercial, academic

and governmental synergy; Expand access to and use of the capabilities of KSC and

neighboring space launch and landing sites. NASA also seeks through this project to

accomplish a federal government goal of improved asset management by obtaining

increased value from underutilized property. Through the solicitation, NASA aims to

select a forward-looking, creative and highly capable developer who is adept at planning

and delivering projects that foster entrepreneurial opportunity while honoring the

environment. NASA intends to select a master developer of Exploration Park whose role

and responsibility will be to: Define a master development plan for the entire park,

including planned phasing; Define and implement detailed development plans to

integrate all of the initial infrastructure and building projects and those of any subsequent

phases; Provide full financial, management and project integration resources to design

and deliver the site improvements for initial and any subsequent phase projects, including

any build-to-suit projects and/or spec buildings to be constructed and owned by the

master developer; Assure that all development in Exploration Park is consistent with

design standards and implementation approaches proposed by the master developer and

accepted by NASA; Establish and sustain an Exploration Park operations and

management structure that ensures a well maintained, quality development. NASA plans

to negotiate a long-term lease and development agreement, up to 75 years in term, and

offer immediate and future development rights consistent with the site boundaries and

conditions defined for the Exploration Park project. The master deve!oper selection is a

two-step process. NASA intends to use the responses to the first step to establish a list of

approximately five most highly qualified candidates. Step two responses to this request

for proposals will be accepted only from those developers on the short list. Prospective

tenants and/or site developers with a specific project interest who wish to participate in

Exploration Park -- but who do not wish to be considered as the master developer -- are

encouraged to express their interest, and NASA will accept such information for the

master developer ultimately selected. The master developer will have the right to

sublease space in multi-tenant projects or improved sites for the development and use of

improvements built by others. ["NASA Seeks Master Developer For KSC's Exploration

Park," NASA News Release #46-06, July 12, 2006.]

July 13: Fla. boater survives ocean adventure

A New Smyrna Beach man was in good condition today after surviving about 24 hours

stranded in the Atlantic Ocean without a life jacket, Coast Guard officials said. Brian

Wallschlaeger, 34, was picked up when he swam onto Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

in Brevard County shortly after noon Wednesday, said Petty Officer 1st Class Mark

Carstens of U.S. Coast Guard Station at Port Canaveral. Wallschlaeger set out on his 32-

foot Albamarle sport fisherman from Ponce de Leon Inlet about 8 a.m. Tuesday on his

way to Fort Landerdale. The boat was about 10 miles offshore when a large wave came

by about 11 a.m. Wallschlaeger's Labrador retriever slid across the deck and knocked him

into the ocean, Carstens said. Wallschlaeger held on to a platform on the back &the boat

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for a time, but when he let go to try to wave down some passing boaters, his boat drifted

away. A Coast Guard helicopter transported Wallschlaeger to Holmes Regional Medical

Center in Melbourne. He was being treated for exhaustion, dehydration and hypothermia.

The boat was found beached about two miles from where Wallschlaeger was located. The

dog was found on the boat dead, Coast Guard officials said. Web posted. (2006). [Fla.

boater survives ocean adventure [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, July 12].]

Mission managers update crew on shuttle APU issues

TheDiscovery astronautstook the day offtoday, relaxing andenjoying the view from

space aftera hectic week in orbithighlighted by threespacewalks andwork to transfer

supplies and equipment to the international space station. Texas Gov. Rick Perry plans to

call spacewalker and fellow Texas A&M graduate Mike Fossum later today and flight

engineer Lisa Nowak will join Fossum for two media interviews. Engineers, meanwhile,

continue analysis of two seemingly minor issues with Discovery's hydraulic system. In

the morning "execute package" of instructions and timeline changes uplinked to the

astronauts, mission control passed along a few tongue-in-cheek ideas for spending an offduty day in space: The morning execute package also included the latest thinking from

NASA's Mission Management Team about the status of two of Discovery's auxiliary

power units, or APUs, which provide the hydraulic power necessary to operate the

shuttle's aerosurfaces, landing gear brakes and nose wheel steering during entry and

landing. The shuttle is equipped with three APUs and can safely land with just one. But

given the critical nature of the system, engineers pay close attention when anything out of

the ordinary occurs. In a brief call to the crew late Wednesday, mission control told

shuttle commander Steve Lindsey that engineers were monitoring two unrelated issues

with APUs 1 and 3. The pressure in APU 1's fuel tank appears to be decaying faster than

expected, indicating a possible hydrazine fuel leak or a leak in the nitrogen (N2) gas

system used to provide pressurization. And APU 3 is experiencing heater problems. Both

issues may be related to work done before Discovery's launch, but that remains to be

seen. Web posted. (2006). [Mission managers update crew on shuttle APU issues

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.eom/[2006, July 13].]

July 14: Senate appropriators OK NASA bill with $1B Columbia

recovery add-on

The SenateAppropriations Committeeapproved a $16.757 billion fiscal 2007 spending

bill forNASA July 13 thatincluded an amendmentto add another $1 billion in extra

fundingto help cover the agency'scosts in recoveringfromthe 2003 Columbia accident.

The amendment,sponsored by Sens. BarbaraMikulski (D-Md.) and Kay Bailey

Hutchison(R-Texas), is classified as an emergencyappropriationthatdoesn't have to be

offsetwithin the larger$51 billion commerce/justice/science spending bill thatNASA is

partof. "NASA hadto forage for fundsin other accounts,cuttingfunds in research"to

returnthe shuttleto flight, Mikulski said duringthe committee's markuphearing. "NASA

haspaida significantprice in other programsin orderto getthe shuttleback up there."

Mikulski is the rankingmemberon the SenateAppropriationssubcommittee that directly

overseesNASA. The amendmentalso includes $40 million forrepairs to the Stermis

SpaceCenterin Mississippi and the Michoud Assembly Facilityin New Orleans,both of

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which were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The funds also provide "critical support" for

flight operations at Johnson Space Center in Houston, according to a statement from

Mikulski's office. Although NASA actually needs $2 billion to help it recover from

Columbia, Mikulski said, appropriating the full amount in the current fiscal environment

wasn't realistic. Nonetheless, even the $1 billion boost will face an uphill battle to

become law. Such a move is not without precedent, however. In 1986Congress shifted

$2.7 billion in emergency funding from the Defense Department budget to pay for a new

space shuttle to replace Challenger. E-mail distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's

Aerospace Dally & Defense Report Re: "Senate appropriators OK NASA bill with $1B

Columbia recovery add-on," [Electronic]. Vol. 219, No. 8 [July 14, 2006.].]

NASA Accused of Serving Employees Spoiled Food

The WESH 2 I-Team has investigated a major federal lawsuit questioning whether those

NASA employees are at risk. We're not talking about working conditions at the Kennedy

Space Center. We are talking about bad or rotten food. More than 14,000 government

employees and private contractors workjust about non-stop, 24 hours a day, seven days a

week for three months just to assemble the space shuttle and then get it off the ground.

All those people have to eat. So, NASA has contracted with a private food company,

Lackmarm Culinary Services, out of Woodbury, N.Y., to feed those people at seven

different cafeterias on base at Kennedy Space Center. The WESH 2 I-Team obtained

undercover and home video of several different food lines at KSC run by Lackmarm

Culinary. Lackmarm serves 6,000 meals each day. "These are people that trusted me to

make sure they were getting something of quality," said former cafeteria worker Carolyn

Vargas. "And they were getting food that wasn't fit for a dog. I wouldn't want to feed my

Chihuahua the food that they made me serve." Vargas worked at the headquarters

cafeteria for three years. She claimed that her superiors would force her and others to put

food out on the cafeteria line that was old and past its due date -- food that sometimes

would be spoiled. "We have three racks of raw chicken. Two days later it's still sitting

there," Vargas said. "Isaid, 'That chicken is smelling. That chicken is no good.' It was

rank," she said. WESH 2 1-Teamreporter Stephen Stock asked Vargas what they did

with the meat and if they served it. "They cooked it," Vargas said. "Yes. And served it."

Vargas said that happened many different times with many different meats and other

types of food that was past its expiration date, the date when it was supposed to be

thrown away. "They would re-date the meat?" Stock asked. "Yes," Vargas answered.

"Two or three times?" he asked. "Yes, if it was in a particular meal and they didn't use it

all that day, they'd take old fish and chop it up and throw it in the chili. Everything went

in the chili," she said. When she complained, Vargas said her position was eliminated.

Now, she's suing in federal court. In the suit, Vargas claimed at least one entree -- one

menu choice every day -- was unfit for human consumption. Vargas is asking ajudge to

fine Lackmann Culinary Services $500 million or $10,000 for each possible instance she

estimates that tainted meals were served. "We inspect here at the Kennedy Space Center

more frequently than they do on the outside," NASA Health and Environment Chief Burt

Summerfield said. After an anonymous complaint in 2002, one Vargas said she filed,

inspectors found minor problems, such as workers without hair nets or workers not

wearing or not changing gloves appropriately. But federal inspectors said they never

found evidence that cafeterias served bad or rotten food with any regularity. Web posted.

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(2006). [NASA Accused of Serving Employees Spoiled Food [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.wesh.com/[2006, July 14].]

Discovery's hydraulic system leaking

While astronauts set a record for using robotics in space, NASA engineers on Friday

focused on a slow leak aboardspace shuttleDiscovery that if it worsens could cause a

first-of-its-kindshutdownof one of three hydraulicsystems duringMonday'slanding

attempt. John Shannon,the shuttleprogram'sdeputy manager, saidthe problem was

unlikelyto affect the shuttle'sreturnto Earth.But engineerswere closely monitoring the

leak inthe pipeline of an auxiliarypowerunitthat controlshydraulic steering andbraking

maneuvers. It is leaking at a rate of "aboutsix dropsper hour," andcould be leaking

harmlessnitrogenor flammablehydrazine fuel, Shannonsaid. The leak is more likely

nitrogen,but there is no way of knowing that, so NASA is treating the problem asif the

leak were fuel, he said.If it is fuel, the currentrate is still 100,000 times slower thanwhat

would causea fire, Shannon said. So if nothingchanges, the shuttle will landnormally,

Shannonsaid. Just in case,NASA will turnon the power unit with the leak early Sunday

aspartof its normal testing and then see if the leak rate changes. If it does, NASA may

bumoffthe hydrazine andshutdown thepower unit before the shuttlereturnsto Earthto

eliminateany firehazard, Shannonsaid. If thathappens,the shuttlewould landwithjust

its two other power unitsfor the first time in the spacecraft'shistory. The shuttle is

certifiedto landnormally with two power units, with the only change requiring

pyrotechnics to lower the landinggear, Shannonsaid. The shuttlecould land with only

onepower unit,but that wouldbe moredifficult, he said. Discovery's touchdownis

scheduledfor 9:07 a.m. EDT on Mondayat the KennedySpaceCenter in Florida. Web

posted. (2006). [Discovery's hydraulic system leaking [Online]. AvailableWWW:

http://www.cnn.com/[2006, July 14].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Official Launch Date/Time: July 4,

2006 at 2:38 p.m. ; Expected KSC Landing Date/Time: July 17 at about 9:07 a.m. ; Crew:

Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude:

51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. Today is flight day 11 for STS-121. Discovery is

docked to the International Space Station. The multi-purpose logistics module containing

supplies and equipment for the space station has been unloaded and transferred from its

station port back to Discovery's payload bay as the crew prepares for undocking. The

crew will also conduct an imagery survey of the orbiter's left wing. Discovery is

scheduled to undoek from the station early Saturday morning. Mission: STS-115 - 19th

International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV104) ; Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date: No earlier than Aug.

28, 2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and

Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. In

Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1, workers are busy preparing Atlantis for rollover to the

Vehicle Assembly Building, currently scheduled for the last week of July. Final gap filler

and tile work is under way. The payload bay doors are closed for flight. The orbiter main

engine and maneuvering systems are configured for rollover. Close-out work in the

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forward section of the orbiter continues. On Monday, Atlantis will be powered down for

rollover. In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, close-out work is under way to

mate the solid rocket boosters to ET-118, the external fuel tank for STS-! 15. Endeavour

(OV-105) ; Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavour in Orbiter Processing

Facility bay 2 following an extensive modification period. Functional testing of the

atmosphere revitalization pressure control system is under way. This system maintains

crewmodule pressure during flight: Tile processing work continues around the external

tank doors and nose landing gear doors. Gap filler removal and replacement continues in

the high priority areas of the orbiter's heat shield. Helium system leak and functional tests

of the main propulsion system are under way. Workers are installing the star trackers in

Endeavour's payload bay; these are deployed during flight for guidance and navigation.

All reinforced carbon-carbon panels have been installed on both wing leading edges.

Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-071406

[Online]. Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006,

July 14].]

July 17: Astronauts ready for return, watch for rain

The space shuttle's six astronauts made final preparations to land Monday, with the

chance of showers being the only possible obstacle to their return to Earth within hours.

The doors to Discovery's payload bay were shut, the first step in a landing attempt. The

astronauts planned to don their orange spacesuits as they aimed for a 9:14 a.m. EDT

landing at the Kennedy Space Center. A second opportunity was possible at 10:50 a.m.

EDT. When Mission Control woke up the astronautsjust after 1 a.m. EDT, Discovery

commander Steve Lindsey made it clear that his crew, weary after a 13-day mission that

he said was the busiest of his four fights, wanted to come. "Hopefully, with good

weather we will be on the ground" later Monday, Lindsey told Mission Control as he

woke up. The weather forecast improved Monday morning at the Kennedy Space Center

in Florida, the only landing site NASA has called up for the day. Rain clouds to the north

had been forecast to dip south, but astronauts doing reconnaissance weather flights

reported few problems. The landing rules say rain has to be 30 miles away because rain

could damage the shuttle's tiles. NASA's spaceflight meteorology group had predicted

scattered Monday morning showers and storms, with worse weather Tuesday. Landing

officials have to make a "go-no-go" decision for the first landing try at 7:47 a.m. EDT.

On that first landing attempt, Discovery would fly to Florida from the south, coming over

the Yucatan Peninsula, pass by the western tip of Cuba and into Kennedy. This would be

the first landing at Kennedy in nearly four years. Last year's flight of Discovery, after

weather delays, came down at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the backup site. If

Discovery can't land at Kennedy on Monday, NASA will call up Edwards and try to land

at either location Tuesday, weather permitting, landing director Steve Stich said. The

shuttle has to land no later than Wednesday because after that it will run out of oxygen

for its fuel cells, he said. Landing at Edwards costs NASA about $1.7 million more

because it has to get the shuttle back to Florida. Web posted. (2006). [Astronauts ready

for return, watch for rain [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.cnn.com/[2006, July

17].]

Discovery returns home

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The space shuttle Discovery wrapped up its 13-day, 5.3-million-mile mission on Monday

with a picture-perfect landing at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. The shuttle and its sixmember crew glided through overcast skies before touching down at 9:14 a.m. ET. "It

was a great mission," Shuttle Commander Steven Lindsey said after Discovery rolled to a

stop. The crew then changed out of their orange flight and re-entry suits and went

through medical tests before leaving to inspect Discovery. The four men and two women

smiled and pointed as they walked around under the shuttle's belly, pausing occasionally

to shake hand with NASA officials. "I've never seen a vehicle that was as clean as this

one is," said Lindsey, a veteran of four shuttle flights. " Officials were concerned about

rain showers and clouds north of the landing site and did not make the decision to land

until aboUt 10 minutes before Discovery was scheduled to fire its engines and begin its

return to Earth. They also decided to use a different runway because of a last-minute

change in the weather. It approached the runway from the south, flying over the Pacific

Ocean, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and Florida, before reaching the runway. Monday's

landing comes after a successful 13-day mission to the international space station where

the Discovery astronauts delivered supplies and dropped off German astronaut Thomas

Reiter at the station. Web posted. (2006). [Discovery returns home[Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoda,/.com/[2006, July 17].]

Commander Steve Lindsey thanks KSC workforce

ShuttleDiscovery's crew has departed the landing strip in a silver van, headed to crew

quartersatKennedy SpaceCenter.Before leaving,the shuttle'scommander, Steve

Lindsey,saida few words of thanksto KSC workersforpreparingDiscovery for flight.

He said the shuttle was virtually trouble-freein orbit andlooked good upon inspections

afterlanding.He also said Discovery's successfulmission bodeswell for the shuttle

program.He said: "I'dlike to just thankthe folks at KennedySpaceCenter for a really,

really clean vehicle. Thisis my fourthflight and I'vedone four walkarounds andI've

never seen a vehicle that'slooked as clean asthis one did...We hadtwo majorobjectives

on this flight. The first one was to complete the return-to-flighttest objectives that 114

started,and the second one wasto get us readyback for space stationassembly.Ithink

we accomplishedboth of those objectives andwe're ready to assemble station,andwe're

readyto startflying shuttleson a more regular basis." Webposted. (2006). [Discovery

returnshome [Online]. AvailableWWW: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/[2006,July

17].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose

Logistics Module ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Official Launch Date: July 4, 2006 at

2:38 p.m. ; Official Landing Date: July 17, 2006 at 9:14 a.m. ; Crew: Lindsey, Kelly,

Sellers,Fossuna,Nowak, Wilson and Reiter ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nautical miles. After 12 days, 18hours and 37 minutes of flight, orbiter Discovery safely

landed at Kennedy Space Center today with a main landing gear touchdown at 9:14:43

a.m. EDT. The nose landing gear touched down at 9:14:53 a.m. The orbiter came to a full

stop at 9:15:49 a.m. Discovery made 202 trips around the Earth and traveled 5.3 million

miles during the mission. Following a four-hour period of landing operations at the

shuttle landing strip, the orbiter systems were safed and technicians connected Discovery

156
to ground support equipment for ground cooling and purging of the interior spaces.

Preliminary inspections revealed 93 total hits to the orbiter'sthermal protection system

with 11 greater than one inch in diameter. The vehicle was towed to Orbiter Processing

Facility bay 3, where the processing flow will begin for its next mission, STS-116,

targeted for launch in December. Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station

Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location: Orbiter

Processing Facility Bay 1 ; Launch Date: No earlier than Aug. 28, 2006 ;Launch Pad:

39B ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper ;

Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. In Orbiter Processing

Facility bay 1, workers are making final preparations for the rollover of Atlantis to the

Vehicle Assembly Building, currently scheduled for July 25. Forward closeouts continue

and T-0 umbilical disconnects are scheduled to be completed today. The T-0 umbilical is

the connection point for ground power to the orbiter. Final orbiter "power down" for

rollover is scheduled for today. Final tire pressure for flight is under way. Procedures this

week include orbiter jackdown, weight and center-of-gravity operations, which occur

prior to the vehicle's transfer to the transporter. Atlantis will be placed on its transporter

on Wednesday. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

#S-071706 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-press-elease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov

[2006,July 17].]

Safe return marks 'full circle'

Launch director Mike Leinbach hasseen a tot of grief and hard work since Columbia was

lost in 2003. So Discovery's homecoming Monday, marking the end of two test flights

and a return to regular launches, was especially sweet. "Itfeels good," the Scottsmoor

resident said. "It does kind of bring it full circle, because Columbia was such an awful

day. Today was such a good day." The mood is upbeat at Kennedy Space Center, he

said, "but we can't take anything for granted, either?' The work flow will change as

NASA tries to keep up with an ambitious schedule that includes Atlantis' flight in August

and Discovery's return to the International Space Station in December. "We're in a

turnaround process now that we haven't been in for 31/2 years, _othat feels good,"

Leinbach said. After he got a look at the ship on the runway, he was encouraged by the

condition of the orbiter's heat shield. Discovery's belly was nearly unscathed by foam

debris from the external fuel tank. Foam concerns have driven modifications since a large

piece caused the fatal breach in Columbia's wing. "We had to search for dings to the tile,

and the couple that we saw were very, very minor," Leinbach said, "and so it'sjust a

great-looking vehicle. Good to have her in Florida." As workers resume processing with

a mix of cheer and caution, they're also aware that the shuttle flights between now and

2010 are the last. But Leinbach is optimistic. "We'll deal with that," he said. "There's

another program on the line. So we're ready to go." Webposted.(2006).[Safe return marks

'full circle' [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.eom/12OO6,July 18].]

Flights will be frequent for shuttles

There's no rest for the space shuttle team at Kennedy Space Center. As Discovery

touched down at the Shuttle Landing Facility on Monday morning, crews were finishing

connections between Atlantis' external tank and twin solid rocket boosters inside the

Vehicle Assembly Building. Work is on schedule for a shuttle launch that is now six

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weeks away. United Space Alliance, the contractor in charge of day-to-day operations of

the shuttle fleet, aimsto transport Atlantis from its Orbiter Processing Facility hangar to

the VAB around July 25. Inside the cavernous building, assembly crews will lift the

orbiter into position and attach it to the tank and boosters atop a mobile launcher

platform. That work takes about one week. If everything continues on schedule, Atlantis

would roll out to the launch pad as early as Aug. 2. NASA currently plans to launch

Atlantis sometime between Aug. 28 and Sept. 7, a window dictated by post-Columbia

safety restrictions that require blastoff to occur during daylight hours. Shuttle teams are

looking at lighting conditions to see if it might be possible to extend the launch window

by one day, starting it a day earlier on Aug. 27. NASA said the launch crews have about

five days of padding left in the schedule, raising the likelihood of an on time launch in

late August. The mission will be the first since 2002 to carry up and install a new piece

of the International Space Station. Another flight is set to launch no earlier than Dec. i4

to finish out the year. After that, NASA plans to launch five shuttle missions in 2007

including the long-awaited launches of the European Space Agency's Columbus science

laboratory and Canada's robotic hand (a sophisticated grappling tool for the station's

robotic arm). The schedule calls for four flightsin 2008, including launch ofJapan's Kibo

science lab. Four flights are planned for 2009 and two more in 2010. That manifest

doesn't include one of the highest-profile missions left for the space shuttles: the fifth and

final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. The flight would repair and

upgrade the telescope in hope of extending its mission well into the next decade. Web

posted. (2006). [Flights will be frequent for shuttles [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, July 18].]

Information Picket

SPFPA Amalgamated Local 127 intends to stage an informational picket at KSC and

CCAFS perimeter gates effective 0530 hours on Monday, July 17th. The Air Force and

NASA maintains strict neutrality in contractor labor disputes and will not interfere or try

to influence collective bargaining or labor disputes between contractors or labor unions

representing contractor employees. Our goal isto minimize the impact of picketing and

other demonstrations during this dispute so other operations aren't impacted, while

ensuring the first amendment rights of all involved parties. E-mail distribution. (2006).

Re: "Security Flash- Informational Picket" [Electronic], [July 14, 2006.].]

July 18: Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) ; Launch Pad: 17-B,Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station ; Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II ; Launch Date: No earlier

than Aug. 20, 2006 ; Launch Time: 3:52 - 4:07 p.m. EDT. At the Astrotech Space

Operations Facility, STEREO was moved to the hazardous processing facility early last

week for fueling, stacking and spin-testing of the two observatories. During fueling of

ObservatoryA, one of the valves used to load the spacecraft with hydrazine propellant

was observed to be leaking from a secondary seal. Technicians suspended the fueling and

made adjustments to the fuel line connection. Fueling operations resumed with no further

leakage. Both observatories are now completely fueled. However, as a precaution, the

two observatories have not been pressurized while this problem is investigated. An

anomaly team is working to fully determine the reason for the problem and assess the

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integrity of the valve. For this reason, launch has been rescheduled for the opening of the

next launch window, no earlier than Aug. 20. At Pad 17-B,the Delta II second stage was

stacked atop the first stage on July 13. The following day, the payload fairing was hoisted

into the pad cleanroom located at the upper levels of the mobile service tower.

Technicians are now performing standard prelaunch electrical interface testing of the two

stages and checking the guidance system. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable

Launch Vehicles Status Report ELV-071706 [Online]. Available E-mail:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, July 18].]

July 19: Man injured during shuttle pad work

Kennedy Space Center officials suspended work on one of the space shuttle launch pads

Wednesday, after a worker was seriously injured by a loose part that flew from a

compressor and struck him on the head. The accident - one of a series of mishaps to take

place at the space center this year - happened about 7 a.m., after a piece from a 10-foottall compressor unit used for sandblasting snapped loose and hit the worker as he stood

on the ground level of launch complex 39A. "Right now we're setting up an investigation

board either today or tomorrow to review what happened," said Bruce Buckingham, a

spokesman for the Kennedy Space Center. "We're in a situation where we are securing

the area and taking evidence so that we can understand what happened. Until that's

completed we won't be doing any detailed work at the pad now." The unidentified

worker, a subcontractor hired by the shuttle processing company United Space Alliance,

was treated at the scene and then airlifted to Holmes Regional Medical Center's trauma

center in Melbourne. His condition was not immediately known, officials said. "He's a

good worker and a good person," said Dale Kauzlick, the site manager for the Titusvillebased SDB Engineers and Contractors company that hired the injured worker. Kauzlick,

whose company does corrosion control work at KSC, did not release the man's name.

The launch complex, one of two 400-foot towers used by the space shuttle program, was

not in use and was being refurbished for next year's launch schedule, Buckingham said.

Launch pad 39B - the site of Discovery's liftoff on July 4 - isthe primary launch site for

the next three shuttle missions. Web posted. (2006). [Man injured during shuttle pad

work [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, July 19].]

July 20: STS-115 Launch Windows

To roach the internationalspace station, the shuttle must launch within aboutfive minutes

of the momentEarth'srotation carries the launchpadinto the plane of the station'sorbit.

For STS- 115, launchmust occur in daylightand the externalfueltankmust separatein

orbit, onthe otherside of the planet, withenoughsunlightto allow photo documentation

of the tank.Those factors,plustemperature issues basedonthe angle betweenthe plane

of the space station's orbit and the sunresult in the following launchwindows for shuttle

mission STS-115 in August and September(thesetimeswill be tweaked aslaunch

approachesbased on the station's actualorbit). The window's close is dictatedbythe

scheduledRussian Soyuz launchwith the Expedition14 in mid-September. To maximize

performance,NASA targets launchfor rightaroundthe momentthe shuttle can launch

directly into that plane. In the chartbelow, the target launchtime is listed in the "in

plane"column.All times in EDT andsubjectto change. Web posted. (2006). [STS-115

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Launch Windows [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006,

July 20].]

NASA Assigns Crew for Columbus Shuttle Mission

NASA has assigned crew members to the space shuttle mission that will deliver the

EuropeanSpaceAgency's ColumbusLaboratoryto the InternationalSpace Station. A

veteran space flier, Navy Cmdr. StephenN. Frick, will commandthe STS-122 shuttle

mission to deliver the lab to the station.Navy Cmdr. Alan G. Poindexterwill serve as

pilot. Mission specialistsincludeAir Force Col. Rex J. Walheim, StanleyG. Love,

LelandD. Melvin andEuropeanSpaceAgency astronautHans Schlegel. Poindexter,

Love and Melvin will be making their firstspaceflight. STS-122 will be Frick's second

spaceflight. ["NASA Assigns Crewfor ColumbusShuttle Mission," NASA News

Release #06-283, July 20, 2006.]

Space Shuttle Atlantis to move to VAB

On Monday, July 24, Atlantis is scheduled to be moved out of its hangar at NASA's

Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The first motion is expected at 6 a.m. EDT. Media must

arrive at Kennedy's News Center by 5 a.m. to attend the event. The move from the

Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building is referred to as a

"rollover." Inside the assembly building, Atlantis will be attached to its external fuel tank

and twin solid rocket boosters. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-

day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will

install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. ["Space Shuttle Atlantis

Set to Move To Vehicle Assembly Building," NASA Media Advisory #M06-118, July

20, 2006.]

July 21: Space station trusses set to go

Ina big room atKennedy Space Center, cylindrical labs and plastic-draped trusses

surrounda 17-tonspace girderwhose time to fly has come. It's not particularlypretty,

withits hexagonalframe,bouquetsof wires and squatbatteries,but this two-truss combo

isthe first big piece of the InternationalSpace Stationto be broughtthere in nearly four

years. Thismorning, a super-cranewill liftthe linked P3/P4 truss segments-- designated

"P" for their port or left-side location -- and place them in their canister. "I alwayslove

to see that," said Boeing site managerChuckHardison of Merritt Island,who haswaited

a long time to see it go. "It'slike a shipgoing down the channel. It'sso big, andit moves

so gracefully." Inturn, the cargo will headto the padfor a launchaboardAtlantis

targeted for Aug. 28. The orbiter is set to roll to the Vehicle Assembly Building at

Kennedy SpaceCenter on Mondayand to the launchpadJuly 31. "The shuttleis flying

again, and we're excited and anxiously awaiting our turn at the end of August," said

Robbie Ashley, NASA's manager for the cargo. The last true station construction

mission was in late 2002, before the 2003 Columbia accident grounded the shuttles and

prompted a round of design changes. In the interim, astronauts have taken several

spacewalks, making repairs and performing other tasks on the station, but no large

equipment has been installed. The truss will add another set of solar panel wings. Tests

gave managers confidence that, after issues with sticky panels in the past, these will

unfold despite their long storage. The batteries have been replaced because NASA feared

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they wouldn't be able to store and distribute power as expected. "They were never

intended to be on the ground this long," Hardison said. Perhaps one of the most

impressive parts of the linked segments is the 10-foot-wide Solar Alpha Rotary Joint in

the middle, which keeps the solar panels aimed at the sun. "The entire space station

outboard of that joint will be rotating 360 degrees every orbit," Hardison said. "It'll be

quite something to see, that's for sure." He said his team was eager to get the hardware

into orbit as they waited for the shuttle schedule to pick up again. Among the many parts

awaiting flight are the Japanese Experiment Module, Europe's Columbus Laboratory and

a starboard truss that will mirror the port pieces about to fly. "We worked on it for so

long," Hardison said. Web posted. (2006). [Space station trusses set to go [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.colrd [2006,July 21].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-115 - 19thInternationalSpace StationFlight (!2A) - P3/P4Truss

Segmentsand Solar Arrays ;Vehicle: Atlantis(OV-104) ; Location:Orbiter Processing

FacilityBay 1 ; TargetLaunch Date:Aug. 28, 2006 ; LaunchPad: 39B ; Crew:Jett,

Ferguson,Tanner,Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper;Inclination/OrbitAltitude:

51.6 degrees/122nauticalmiles. InOrbiterProcessingFacility bay 1,Atlantishas been

placedon a transporterthat will be usedto transferthe orbiterto the Vehicle Assembly

Building.Rollover of Atlantisis currentlyscheduledforMonday morning.Once in the

VAB, the orbiterwill be lifted into high bay 3 formatingto the externalfueltankand

solid rocketboosters. Discovery (OV-103); Discovery is back in OrbiterProcessing

Facilitybay 3 following a 13-daymissionto the InternationalSpace Station.The orbiter

is now being processed for its next mission,STS-116. The payloadbay doorshave been

opened, andthermographyinspectionsof the nose cap andreinforcedcarbon-carbon

panels on the wing leading edges are under way. The orbiter's main engines and the

orbiter boom sensor system will be removed next week. Endeavour (OV-105); Poweredup system testing continues on Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 following

an extensive modification period. Functional testing of the atmosphere revitalization

pressure control system is under way. This system maintains crew module pressure

during flight. Tile-processing work continues around the external tank doors and nose

landing gear doors. Gap filler removal and replacement continues in the high priority

areas of the orbiter's heat shield. Workers have installed wiring for the station-shuttle

power transfer system in the midbody. Testing of the orbiter's air to ground

communication system is complete. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle

Processing Status Report #S-072106 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006,July 21].]

July 23: NASA works to lift night launch ban

The safe conclusion of Discovery's mission brings NASA's shuttle program to its next

challenge: Can an agency that has flown two shuttle missions in three-and-a-half years

now shift into higher gear and execute 16 of them in four years? History, in the longterm, says NASA can do it. On average -- even including two years-long groundings of

the fleet after catastrophic accidents in 1986 and 2003 -- Kennedy Space Center has

launched four to five shuttle missions every year since the first one in 1981. Flying 15

missions to the International Space Station and one to the Hubble Space Telescope during

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four-and-a-half years is definitely doable. The space agency's difficulty getting shuttles

off the ground since the Columbia accident is not exclusively limited to problems with

the external tank's foam insulation. Rather, a host of post-Columbia safety requirements -

- most notably not being able to fly at night -- exacerbated the situation. In the simplest

terms, to fly 16 times between now and 2010, NASA needs the flexibility to launch the

space shuttle day or night. Mike McCulley, the former astronaut who now leads the

company that operates the shuttle fleet day-to-day, agrees that the agency needs to relax

some of the post-Columbia restrictions placed on flying the shuttles while not sacrificing

safety. "We have to make some changes to the way we do requirements," he said. The

first relaxation is almost certain to be lifting the ban on nighttime launches. Currently,

NASA wantsto launch shuttles during daylight, when it can get the clearest possible

pictures of the rising vehicle and its external tank foam insulation. The idea is to be able

to document whether design changes have reduced the amount of foam coming off the

tank and presenting a debris threat to the orbiter's delicate heat-shielding -- the flaw that

doomed Columbia and seven astronauts. How does that hinder NASA's ability to fly

frequently? There are only certain times on any given day when a shuttle blasting off

from Brevard County can be targeted to dock with the International Space Station,

orbiting more than 200 miles overhead and whizzing around the Earth at more than

17,000 mph. Certain days of the year, the times when the shuttle can launch to the station

do not occur at the same times when the vehicle and its external tank will be lit properly

during launch and when the tank isjettisoned. The periods of time when all of those

conditions do exist have defined NASA's launch windows. The next one stretches from

about Aug. 28 to about Sept. 13, though some schedule conflicts with the Russians' flight

schedule practically means shuttle Atlantis can't launch after Sept. 7. The only other

launch windows before December are a couple lasting no more than a few days each in

October and November. Eliminate the daylight launch rule, and NASA suddenly has a

much higher chance of getting offits two planned missions before the end of this year.

The agency's leaders have said they may lift the daylight restriction after one more flight

if the tank's foam continues to perform as expected and tools used to inspect the orbiter in

space prove reliable. Discovery's flight is evidence things are turning in that direction

and everyone from the astronaut corpsto top management celebrated that. "The shuttle is

back," shuttle program manager Wayne Hale said Tuesday. Steve Wallace, a former

member of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, said he is confident that NASA

can fly the shuttle safely. However, he is not as confident that it is possible to fly all of

the missions on NASA's plate before shuttle retirement in 2010. Wallace, who also

served a stint on the agency's independent Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, says postColumbia safety restrictions, the availability of only three orbiters and limited financial

resources could slow the agency's pace of flights when compared to the historical average

that Griffin often cites as evidence it can be done. "We have funding limits, and it doesn't

look like it's going to add up," Wallace said. "... It gets harder and harder for me to see

how we're going to complete that space station by 2010." NASA could push harder to

meet the goal, but Wallace said the internal discussions he has been part of in his role as

an investigator and a safety watchdog suggest to him that no one wilt be willing to cut

any safety corners to accelerate the flight rate. "I still think this Columbia lossis fresh in

people's memories, and there is really is an awareness and a fear of letting schedule

pressure cause that kind of thing to happen again," Wallace said. Web posted. (2006).

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[NASA works to lift night launch ban [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda,/.com/[2006, July 23].]

July 24: USA gets contract to support Constellation program

NASA plans to use the expertise United Space Alliance has built uprunning the space

shuttle program to help it begin switching to the follow-on Crew Exploration Vehicle and

its Ares I launcher for the remainder of the decade. Under a no-bid contract extension

announced last week, the agency will award the Boeing-Lockheed Maffm 50-50 joint

venture a wide range of support work as it develops requirements for the shuttle

replacements. "USA isthe only known source with the wide range of unique skills,

analytical capabilities and expertise ... that is available immediately," NASA says by way

ofjustifying the sole-source arrangement. USA will support the new Constellation

program under its existing Space Flight Operations Contract and the Space Program

Operations Contract planned to follow after Oct. 1, as the program sets requirements for

flight operations trajectory planning, mission planning, and flight-test, including testvehicle assembly. However, "it is anticipated that the majority of those requirements will

be competitive," the extension announcement notes. As a way to keep its work force

engaged as the shuttle program winds down after 2010, USA also has been discussing

possible collaborative efforts with European companies. E-mail distribution. (2006).

[Aviation Week!sAerospace Daily & Defense Report Re: "USA gets contract to support

Constellation program" [Electronic]. Vol. 219, No. 14, [July 24, 2006.].]

Atlantis to roll out to Vehicle Assembly Building on July 24

On July 24 space shuttle Atlantis will be moved out &the Orbiter Processing Facility and

transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., in

anticipation of flight STS-115, scheduled to launch no earlier than Aug. 27. Inside the

VAB the shuttle will be mated to its external tank and solid rocket boosters before being

rolled out to the launch pad. An 11-daymission, STS-115 will resume construction of the

International Space Station, installing the Port 3/4 truss segment and its two large solar

arrays. It will be the first flight for Atlantis since STS-112 in October 2002.. E,mall

distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re: "USA gets

contract to support Constellation program" [Electronic]. Vol. 219, No. 14, [July 24,

2006.1,]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) ; Launch Pad: 17-B,Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station ; Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II ; Launch Date: No earlier

than Aug. 20, 2006 ; Launch Time: 3:52 - 4:07 p.m. EDT. At the Astroteeh Space

Operations Facility, work to prepare STEREO for launch resumed today with the

pressurization of the hydrazine tanks on each of the two observatories. This will be

followed by preparations to stack the spacecraft. Stacking is currently planned for Friday,

July 28. Three days of spin-testing will follow beginning Sunday, July 30. The final

major processing activity prior to launch occurs next week with the mating of STEREO

to the upper stage booster. At Pad 17-B,standard liquid oxygen leak checks of the Delta

II first stage are under way today. The second stage will undergo a helium leak check on

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Wednesday. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable Launch Vehicles Status Report

ELV-072406 [Online]. AvailableE-mail: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, July 17].]

July 25: Heat vision: Infrared eyes aid shuttle health predictions

Thespace shuttleDiscovery's mission may be over, butNASA is still hard atwork

evaluatinga set of infrared tools usedduringthe flightto help predictwhether anorbiter's

heatshield is clearto returnastronautsback home safely. Engineersare poringthrough

infrared video recorded by a pair of high-flyingaircraft as Discovery re-enteredthe

Earth'satmospherelast week to make a near-perfectlandingat Florida'sKennedySpace

Centerto end its STS-121 mission. The videohas given NASA scientists their first

complete look athow the scorching temperaturesof re-entry are distributed across a

shuttle's belly at supersonic speeds,somethingonly hintedat in previous ground-based

attempts. "It's a really quite a spectacularimage," saidBob Blanchard,a lead senior

scientist at George WashingtonUniversitywho participatedin the STS-121 and earlier

shuttleheatshield studies. "Itwas something we kind of dreamedaboutwhen we were

doingthis low-altitude stuffearlier." A team of engineers atNASA's Langley Research

Centerin Hampton,Virginia are now workingto matchthe infrared video against data

from computermodels and wind tunneltests to determinehow close their predictions

were to Discovery'sactualre-entry. DuringDiscovery's STS-114 flightin July and

August of 2005, engineers foundthattwo protrudinggap fillers could have unacceptable

heatingresultsto the orbiter's heat shield,prompting a spacewalk repairto pluck out the

offendingceramic cloth bits. Meanwhile,a separate teamis going over data froman

orbitaltest of a new digital infrared video cameraused by STS-121 spacewalkers Piers

Sellers and MichaelFossum.The astronautsscannedheat shield test samples, Discovery's

wing leadingedge, space stationradiatorsand themselves duringthe demonstration.

Webposted. (2006). [Heat vision:Infraredeyes aidshuttle healthpredictions[Online].

AvailableWWW: http://www.usatoday.com/[2006, July 25].]

NASA Appoints Board to Investigate Injury at KSC's Pad 39A

NASA has formed an investigation boardat Kennedy SpaceCenter, Fla., to review the

circumstances surroundingthe injury of a constructionworker at LaunchComplex 39-A

July 19. The functionsof the five-memberboardinclude examiningthe facts

surroundingthe incident, gathering evidence, determiningcauses and recommending

corrective actions. A final report is expectedin aboutthree months. Chairingthe boardis

Mike Smiles,manager of the Office of Safetyand MissionAssurance at NASA's Stennis

SpaceCenterin Mississippi. Inadditionto the five voting members, the board is

supportedby anex-officio member and a numberof NASA advisers and administrative

supportstaff. The employee of SDB Engineers andConstructionInc. of Titusville, Fla.,

waspreparingto perform sandblasting work on LaunchPad 39-A whenhe was struck in

theheadby a section of pipe thathadloosened from a pressurizedsandblastingunit.

Emergencypersonnel were called to the site andhe was airliftedto a hospital in

Melbourne,Fla. SDB is a subcontractorto UnitedSpaceAlliance, the NASA contractor

for space shuttleoperations. ["NASA AppointsBoard to InvestigateInjuryat KSC's Pad

39A," NASA News Release #48-06, July 25, 2006.]

July 26: NASA Awards Contracts for Constellation Program Study

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NASA has awarded a 90-day study contract to four space-related companies to separately

examine long-term ground processing and infrastructure planning for the agency's

Constellation Program. The contractor teams are expected to provide a wealth of

knowledge and experience during the study phase to support ground systems and

operations planning through 2030, including missions supporting the International Space

Station, lunar exploration and Mars exploration. Contract awardees are: ATK Launch

Systems Group, Corrine, Utah; Boeing Space Operations Co., Titusville, Fla.; Lockheed

Martin Space Systems Company, Littleton, Colo.; and United Space Alliance, Houston.

The awards are limited to $150,000 per contract. Study recommendations will be

considered in NASA Kennedy Space Center's planning for the Ares I crew launch

vehicle, Ares V cargo launch vehicle operations and crew exploration vehicle processing.

The contracts, which should be completed in October, were awarded in response to the

Constellation ground operations Broad Agency Announcement Request for Proposal

issued in April. "NASA's intent is to include industry in our planning phase to get a

broad perspective of ground operations, especially for the long-term," said Pepper

Phillips, deputy director of the Constellation Project Office at Kennedy. "These four

companies will provide several possible solutions to the same challenges, which we

expect to benefit our planning. Selecting ground processing and launch concepts are

long-term commitments and we want to consider all options." Web posted. (2006).

[NASA Awards Contracts For Constellation Program Study [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatodav.comi [2006,July 26.]

July 27: NASA Foam Under Control

Discovery's heat-shield tiles sustained significantly less damage during NASA's second

post-Columbia test flight, a sign that the agency is starting to get a deadly foam-shedding

problem under control, a NASA official said. During post-landing inspections, engineers

noted a drop of about 33 percent in the number of damage spots on heat shield tiles on the

belly of the orbiter. There also was almost a 50 percent decrease in the number of hits

greater than one inch - defects more susceptible to sustaining further damage when

exposed to extreme temperatures during atmospheric reentry. "The vehicle looked very

good," Thomas Ford, a member of NASA's ice-debris inspection team at Kennedy Space

Center, said Wednesday. "It's definitely gratifying." Columbia and seven astronauts were

lost on re-entry in February 2003 when hot gases surged into the orbiter through a hole

created when its heat shield was struck by a 1.67-poundpiece of external tank foam

insulation about 82 seconds into flight. Since then, NASA engineers have modified the

tank to try to prevent chunks of foam large enough to cause severe damage from breaking

free at critical times during launch. Ford said 96 hits were tallied on the underside of

Discovery after its July 17 landing. In comparison, 152 strikes were found on the shuttle's

belly after NASA's first post-Colambia flight last summer. Only 11 strikes larger than

one inch were found on Discovery during inspections conducted on Kennedy Space

Center's three-mile runway earlier this month. Inspectors found 21 after last summer's

flight. The drop is a sign that safety modifications meant to prevent the shedding of large

foam chunks are working, Ford said. NASA engineers still are working on other design

changes that should reduce the problem even further. "Do we have a handle on it? Yes.

Is itstill a problem? Yes," the Merritt Island resident said. "But we're getting better at it."

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Web posted. (2006). [NASA Foam Under Control [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.con_ [2006,July 27],]

Space authority dissolving, Scott resigns

Winston Scott, the former astronaut and Florida native who's led the Florida Space

Authority for three years, is expected to have his resignation approved by the authority's

board Friday. Scott is traveling this week and declined an interview. His departure comes

just before the authority itself is dissolved in about a month. This is likely the last

meeting of the board. A new agency, Space Florida, is working to consolidate the state's

many space-promoting groups into one effort to lure businesses to Florida. Though the

1:30 p.m. meeting Friday is by teleconferenee, the public may attend at the anthority's

campus at 100 Spaceport Way, by the gate to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Also on

the agenda: The board will discussthe dissolution of the authority and termination

packages for its 17 full-time employees. In addition, it will consider approving the

transfer of Lockheed Martin's leases °- and liability associated with the anthority's

financing of the building of Launch Complex 41 for the Atlas 5 -- to the United Launch

Alliance, a proposed partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Web posted.

(2006). [Space authority dissolving, Scott resigns [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, July 27].]

July 28: Shuttle can fly earlier, NASA says

NASA has moved up the launch window for shuttle Atlantis by one day. Shuttle

managers decided Thursday they will have enough light to get good pictures of Atlantis

and its external tank if the launch happens Aug. 27 instead of Aug. 28, a possibility the

agency had been studying for several weeks. The launch window for Atlantis now runs

from Aug. 27 through Sept. 13, although NASA and the Russians have agreed the shuttle

probably would not launch after Sept. 7 to avoid a potential conflict with another visiting

spacecraft. A Russian Soyuz is set to deliver the next permanent crew to the InteruationaI

Space Station in mid-September. A shuttle launch too late during the existing Atlantis

window could result in both spaceships being docked at the orbiting outpost at the same

time, a violation of flight rules. In addition to the oversized crew that would result from

both ships being there at once, the space station partners prefer several days cushion

between visiting ships to give the permanent outpost crew time to rest and get ready. The

Aug. 27 opening of the window remains a target only. An official launch date will be set

at a Flight Readiness Review meeting next month. Meanwhile, Atlantis is set to roll to

the launch pad early Monday morning. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle can fly earlier,

NASA says [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.corn/[2006, July 28].]

Space panel resigned to losing chief

Winston Scott, a former astronaut who's led the Florida Space Authority for three years,

is expected to have his resignation approved by the authority's board today. Scott, a

Florida native, is traveling this week and declined an interview. His departure comesjust

before the authority itself is dissolved in about amonth. The authority, along with the

Florida Space Research Institute and Florida Aerospace Finance Corp., are being folded

into the new group. This is likely the last meeting of the Florida Space Authority board.

A new agency, Space Florida, is working to consolidate the state's many space-promoting

166
groups into one effort to lure businesses to Florida. Though the ! :30 p.m. meeting today

is by teleconference, the public may attend at the authority's campus at 100 Spaceport

Way, by the gate to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Also on the agenda: The board

will discuss the dissolution of the authority and termination packages for its 17 full-time

employees. It also will consider approving the transfer of Lockheed Martin's leases --

and liability associated with the authority's financing of the building of Launch Complex

41 for the Atlas 5 rocket -- to United Launch Alliance, a proposed partnership between

Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Web posted. (2006). [Space panel resigned to losing chief

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodaT.com/[2006, July 28].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) ; Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station ; Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II ; Launch Date: No earlier

than Aug. 31, 2006 ; Launch Time: 3:12:24 or 4:20:28 p,m. EDT. The launch of

STEREO aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket has been postponed to no earlier than Aug. 31.

At the Boeing plant in Decatur, Ala., a leak has been observed in the second-stage

oxidizer tank for the Delta II that had been scheduled to launch NASA's THEMIS

spacecraft in November. Therefore, all identical tanks scheduled for launch in the near

future must be checked. Boeing engineers and technicians found that the second stage

for the Delta II that will launch STEREO cannot be effectively tested while atop the first

stage at Pad 17-B. It will be de-stacked and taken to the High Pressure Test Facility

located near Launch Complex 17 for further leak checks. De-stacking will begin on

Tuesday, Aug. 2. The stage will be returned to the pad in about a week if no problems are

found. Due to the change in the launch date, a decision has been made not to stack the

two STEREO observatories earlier than Aug. 9. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable

Launch Vehicles Status Report ELV-072806 [Online]. Available E-mail:

ksc@newsietters.nasa.gov [2006,July 28].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment

and Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location: Vehicle Assembly Building;

Launch Date: No earlier than Aug. 27, 2006 ;Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson,

Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6

degrees/122 nautical miles. On Monday, Atlantis rolled from Orbiter Processing Facility

bay 1 to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it was lifted into high bay 3 for mating to

the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Mating operations and checkouts are

under way. The shuttle is scheduled to roll to Launch Pad 39B on July 31, with first

motion targeted for 12:01 a.m. EDT. The STS-115 payload was transferred to the launch

pad on Wednesday and is scheduled to be installed in Atlantis' payload bay on Aug. 2.

Mission managers made the decision to move the opening of Atlantis, launch planning

window to Aug. 27. The decision was made after it was determined that lighting

conditions for launch and external tank separation were sufficient to support imagery

analysis. The payload for STS-115 is the Port 3/4 truss segment, the next major addition

to the 11-segment integrated truss structure that will eventually span more that 300 feet.

The P3/P4 truss, with its two large solar arrays, will provide one-fourth of the total power

generation capability of the completed station. Mission: STS-116 - 20th International

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Space Station Flight (12A.1) - P5 Truss Segment ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ;

Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 ; Launch Date: No earlier than Dec. 14, 2006

; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Polansky, Oefelein, Curbeam, Higginbotham, Patrick and

Fuglesang ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles, Processing of

Discovery for its next mission, STS-116, continues in Orbiter Processing Facility 3. The

payload bay doors have been opened, and engineers are performing thermography

inspections of the nose cap and reinforced carbon-carbun panels on the wing leading

edges. The orbiter's main engines were removed on Wednesday and the orbiter boom

sensor system is scheduled to be removed today. Workers are also performing a checkout

of the forward reaction control system, Endeavour (OV-105); Powered-up system testing

continues on Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 following an extensive

modification period. Functional testing of the atmosphere revitalization pressure control

system continues this week. This system maintains crew module pressure during flight.

Workers completed the eleven and body flap rigging verification and calibration. Rigging

and alignment of the remote manipulator system manipulator positioning mechanisms are

under way. The star tracker doors were installed this week. The star tracker is part of the

on-orbit guidance system. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Proeessing

Status Report #S-072806 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, July 28].[

July 30: Atlas will launch Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Lockheed Martin's Atlas V rocket has been selected by NASA to launch the Lunar

Reconnaissance Orbiter mission in 2008 from Cape Canaveral, Fla. LRO represents

NASA's first step toward returning humans to the surface of the moon. The mission will

be launched using an Atlas V 401 oonfiguration. "This isthe fifth time that NASA has

selected the Atlas V to launch an important space exploration mission, and our team is

extremely excited to play such a key role in carrying out our nation's plans for returning

to the moon," said Jim Sponnick, Atlas program vice president for Lockheed Martin

Space Systems Company. The Atlas 401 configuration includes a single Common Core

Booster powered by the RD-180 engine system, providing almost 1,000,000 lbs. of thrust

at Iiftoff. The Atlas V 401 vehicle will also utilize a 4-meter fairing to protect the LRO

spacecraft during the ascent through the earth's atmosphere. Once the boost phase of

flight is complete, the Centaur upper stage will perform two engine burns to place LRO

into a lunar transfer trajectory. Atlas will launch LRO in the fall of 2008, along with a

secondary payload called the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite

(LCROSS). Following delivery of LRO to its required lunar transfer orbit, the Centaur

upper stage will perform a unique series of maneuversto place LCROSS into a separate

trajectory that will result in a subsequent lunar impact. Web posted. (2006). [Atlas will

launch Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spaceflightnow.eom/[2006, July 30].]

July 31: NASA's Next Space Shuttle Crew Ready for Countdown Test

The astronauts and ground crews for Space Shuttle Atlantis' upcoming mission, STS-1I5,

will participate in a full launch dress rehearsal Aug. 7-10 at NASA's Kennedy Space

Center, Fla. The demonstration test provides the crew of each shuttle mission with an

opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment

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familiarization and emergency egress training. The STS-115 crew members are

Commander Brant Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson and mission specialists Joe Tanner, Dan

Burbank, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve MacLean of the Canadian Space Agency.

The launch window for Atlantis' mission to the International Space Station opens on Aug.

27. ["NASA's Next Space Shuttle Crew Ready for Countdown Test," NASA Media

Advisory #M06-123, July 31, 2006.]

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AUGUST 2O06

August 2: Pam Melroy hopes more women choose space as a career

PareMelroyplansto board shuttleAtlantisa year fromnow andthen do something only

one otherwoman ever has done: Strapinto the left seat. Melroy, 45, nonetheless says she

is astoundedby the response she hasreceived sinceNASA announcedthatshe would

become only the second womanto command a U.S. space mission. "I was really

surprisedthat people have made a big deal outof it. I really was," she said. "I think it

doesreflect a little bit of our society. There still area limitednumberof people who made

a set of choices like I did 20 years ago." Former NASA astronautEileen Collins became

the firstwomanto pi!ot a shuttleflight in 1995 andthe first to commanda U.S. space

missionin 1999. She also commanded NASA'sfirstpost-Colmnbiatest flight a year ago

andthenretiredfromNASA in January, SusanStill-Kflrainpiloted two shuttlemissions

in 1997butnever served as a mission commander. She retiredfromNASA in 2002. And

while Melroy is the only womanpilot-astronautnow employed by NASA, she hopes

other female mission specialists are chosen to command expeditions on the International

Space Station. Melroy will lead a crew of six on a mission to deliver a key component to

the station. Dubbed Node 2, the can-shaped U.S. module will serve as gateway to

European and Japanese laboratories at the outpost. Web posted. (2006). [Launch from

Kennedy Space Center tentatively is set for Aug. 9, 2007 [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, August 2].]

August 4: Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory); Launch Pad: 17-B,Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station ; Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II ; Launch Date: Aug. 31,

2006 ; Launch Time: 3:12:24 or 4:20:28 p.m. EDT. At Launch Complex 17, the second

stage of the Boeing Delta II was de-stacked on Tuesday and taken to the nearby HighPressure Test Facility. The planned precautionary leak test has been completed. No leak

was observed. The second stage will be returned to the launch pad on Saturday and mated

again with the Delta first stage. In the Hazardous Processing Facility clean room, the two

STEREO observatories are scheduled to be stacked on Aug. 9 in preparation for spin test

activities. These are planned to begin on Aug. 11. The integrated STEREO payload will

then be mated to the upper stage booster on Aug. 16 and transported to Pad 17-Bon Aug.

19 for integration with the Delta II. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable Launch

Vehicles Status Report ELV-080406 [Online]. Available E-mail:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, August 4].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-115 - 19thInternationalSpace StationFlight (12A) - P3/P4TrussSegment

and Solar Arrays ;Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ;Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: No earlier than Aug. 27, 2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner,

Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nautical miles. Early on Wednesday, Space Shuttle Atlantis rolled from high bay 3 in the

Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B. Early Thursday, the orbiter's auxiliary

power units were successfully test fired. Also on Thursday morning, the rotating service

structure was moved to the mate position and is now surrounding the orbiter as _tsits on

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the mobile launch platform. Functional tests and checkout of the shuttle and pad systems

are under way. The STS-115 payload is scheduled to be installed in Atlantis' payload bay

on Saturday. The payload for STS-115 is the Port 3/4 truss segment, the next major

addition to the 11-segment integrated truss structure that will eventually span more that

300 feet. The P3/P4 truss, with its two large solar arrays, will provide one-fourth of the

total power generation capability of the completed station. Mission managers made the

decision to move the opening of Atlantis' launch planning window to Aug. 27. The

decision was made after it was determined that lighting conditions for launch and

external tank separation were sufficient to support imagery analysis. Next week, the

STS-115 crew wilt visit KSC for a launch dress rehearsal, called the terminal countdown

demonstration test. Mission: STS-116 - 20th International Space Station Flight (12A.1) -

P5 Truss Segment ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location: Orbiter Processing Facility

Bay 3 ;Launch Date: No earlier than Dec. 14,2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Polansky,

Oefelein, Curbeam, Higginbotham, Patrick and Fuglesang ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude:

51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. Processing of Discovery for its next mission, STS-116,

continues in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3. Following discovery of a leak, fuel cell

no. 2 was removed and replaced. Work is under way to remove and replace the L5L

vernier thruster, located on the portside orbital maneuvering system pod, following a

thruster heater malfunction during the STS-121 mission. Windows no. 1, 2 and 5 have

been replaced, with replacement of windows no. 3 and 4 to follow this week. The orbiter

boom sensor system was re-installed Thursday after completion of post-flight

inspections. Post-flight inspection of the thermal protection system is 90 percent

complete. Endeavour (OV-105); Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavottr in

Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 following an extensive modification period. Workers

performed brake leak checks, main propulsion actuator leak checks and environmental

control life support system rotary equipment checks this week. Fuel tank installation for

the power reactant storage and distribution (PRSD) system is under way. Oxygen tank

no. 5 will be installed Monday. The PRSD supplies liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to

the orbiter's fuel cells, which serve as the electrical power plant for the vehicle. The seats

for the shuttle crew commander and pilot were installed in the flight deck this week.

Testing of the atmosphere revitalization pressure control system was completed this

week. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S080406 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov

[2006, August 4].]

August 7: Prelaunch test set for Thursday

Destined to resume construction of the International Space Station, the Atlantis astronauts

this week face a key pre-launch test -- a practice countdown at Kennedy Space Center.

With about 150to 200 engineers operating computer consoles in the NASA Launch

Control Center, shuttle skipper Brent Jett and five crewmates will board Atlantis at pad

39B on Thursday for a launch-day dress rehearsal. The exercise is one of the most

important drills that any astronaut crew goesthrough during shuttle flight training. It's the

only time astronauts don their partial pressure launch-and-entry suits and climb into their

spaceship before the real deal on launch day. "The training events for this week mark the

last milestones for us in flight preparations," Jett said after the astronauts arrived

Monday. The Atlantis launch remains scheduled for Aug. 27 around 4:30 p.m. A three171
day launch countdown is scheduled to begin on Aug. 24. Shuttle preparations are

proceeding on schedule. NASA contractors finished a flight readiness test of the shuttle's

three liquid-fueled main engines during the weekend. Web posted. (2006). [PreIaunch

test set for Thursday [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006,

August 8, 2006].]

NASA Air Force Agree to Aeronautics Cooperation

NASA and the United States Air Force have formed an aeronautics research partnership.

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne

signed a Memorandum of Understanding Monday at a Pentagon ceremony. The

agreement builds upon and expands on the longstanding relationship between the two

organizations. "Although NASA and the Air Force have differing missions, there are

common aeronautics research goals that dictate we maintain a close partnership, Griffin

said. Besides the obvious benefits, it's in the nation's best interest for usto work together.

"Thisis a great day for aerospace," Wynne added. "It's a renewal of an already strong

partnership and codifies what we've been doing all along." The agreement is designed to

ensure the free exchange of research information, reduce duplication of research, and

enhance long-term research planning for both organizations. It covers areas such as

advanced aircraft design, propulsion development, materials development and aviation

safety. ["NASA Air Force Agree to Aeronautics Cooperation," NASA News Release

#06-289, August 7, 2006.]

August 8: Rescue Shuttle to be on standby

NASA has decided it will have an orbiter on standby for a rescue mission for every Space

Shuttle flightto the end of the programme in 2010. After the 2003 Columbia accident,

NASA plannedfor contingencySpace Shuttlesupport missionsto rescue a damaged

orbiter'screw from the InternationalSpace Station(ISS), which would act as a safe

haven. Since the July 2005 Discovery/STS 114 returnto flight mission,NASA has hada

Shuttleundergoingpre-launchprocessingto prepareitto rescue a crew within 45 days of

an in-orbitShuttle emergencybeing declared.The agency'sstated goal was to end the

contingencysupportpolicy once post-Columbia Shuttlechanges had been flight proven,

butnow NASA says: "We are planning to have a rescue mission for every flight untilthe

end of the programme." The policy change comes despite the success of the Discovery

STS 121 mission lastmonth andhas been made becauseNASA has an orbiter available

on standbyfor all futuremissionssince Endeavour's22-month maintenanceperiodwas

completedin October last year. No decision has been made on a rescue Shuttle for the

proposedHubble SpaceTelescope servicingmission STS 125 scheduled for 11 April

2008. Web posted. (2006). [Rescue Shuttle to be on standby [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.flightglobal.corrd[2006, August 8, 2006].]

August 9: Crew up for practice countdown, launch

With theirplannedAug. 27 launchless than three weeks away,the Atlantisastronautsare

anxiousto climb aboardtheir spaceship Thursdayandtake part in a launch-day dress

rehearsal. "We're looking forward to a good practice countdown," mission commander

Brent Jett told reporters during an informal Q&A early today at Kennedy Space Center's

launch pad 39B. Jett and his five crewmates are at KSC for a Terminal Countdown

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Demonstration Test, or TCDT, a major training exercise that involves the astronauts and

the KSC launch team. Some 150 to 200 engineers in the NASA Launch Control Center

picked up a simulated countdown today, and early Thursday, the astronauts will don

partial pressure spacesuits and then board Atlantis at the pad for the last three hours of the

two-day drill. The crew also includes pilot Chris Ferguson and mission specialists Joseph

Tanner, Daniel Burbank, Steven MacLean and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper. The

prime goal during their flight: Mount a Secondportside segment to the International

Space Station's central truss, which is the metallic backbone of the orbiting outpost.

The assembly job -- as well as 14 additional station construction missions scheduled for

launch before the Shuttle fleet is retired in 2010 -- are considered some of the most

complicated and difficult missions ever attempted in space. Said Jett: "Every crew likes

to say that, 'Boy, this is one of the most complex missions that we've ever flown.' And

they are all that way. And they will be that way until we stop flying in 2010." Web

posted. (2006). [Rescue Shuttle to be on standby [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/The Flame Trench [2006, August 9, 2006].]

Turns out Emcril's creations really are rocket science

Space food has evolved far beyond Tang, the fave drink of Gilda Radner's Lisa Loopner

character on Saturday Night Live. Tang is still on board -- and in our little Tranquility

Base-walking hearts -- but celebrated chefs are getting into the menu-planning these

days. On Thursday, chef Emeril Lagasse gets in on the act. His menu of Mardi Gras

Jambalaya,Kicked Up Mashed Potatoes with Bacon,Green Beans with Garlic, Rice

Pudding and Mixed Fruit will be served aboard the International Space Station.

Apparently, a special food locker was part of the Shuttle Discovery's recent cargo. More

than 18 months ago, discussions began with NASA to launch Emeril's food into space.

(Please refrain from gratuitous references to "kicking it up a notch.") Working with the

NASA Space Food Lab, Lagasse's staff and the crew at the Food Network's Emeril Live

came up with the promotion-of-all-promotions: Emeril in space. An Emeril Live crew

recently went to Johnson Space Center in Houston to exp!ore the food lab. The October

show will chronicle how Lagasse's space menu was developed, finessed, tested, freezedried, packed and launched into space. NASA and the Food Network are billing this as

the "ultimate takeout food." Until I see my lave takeout utensil, the spork, on the video,

I'm reservingjudgment on that. Web posted. (2006). [Turns out Emeril's creations really

are rocket science [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006,

August 9].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-115 - !9th InternationalSpace StationFlight (12A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment

and Solar Arrays ;Vehicle: Atlantis(OV-104) ; Location:LaunchPad 39B, Launch

Date:No earlier than Aug. 27, 2006 at about 4:30 p.m. EDT ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson,

Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6

degrees/122 nautical miles. At Launch Pad 39B, functional tests and checkout of the

shuttle and pad systems are under way. Installation of the elbow camera of the orbiter's

remote manipulator system (robotic arm) is complete. This weekend, hypergolic

propellant loading will begin for the orbiter's reaction control system, orbital

maneuvering system pods and the auxiliary power units, and for the hydraulic power

units of the solid rocket boosters. The STS-115 payload was installed in Atlantis'

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payload bay last Saturday. The payload for STS-115 is the Port 3/4 truss segment, the

next major addition to the 11-segment integrated truss structure that will eventually span

more that 300 feet. The P3/P4 truss, with its two large solar arrays, will provide onefourth of the total power generation capability of the completed station. The STS-115

crew visited KSC this week for a launch dress rehearsal, called the terminal countdown

demonstration test. The demonstration test provided the crew an opportunity to

participate in various simulated countdown activities, and included equipment

familiarization and emergency egress training. Mission managers will meet next week

for a 2-day Flight Readiness Review, during which they will thoroughly assess the status

of Space Shuttle Atlantis for launch. This meeting will yield a number of key decisions

about STS-115, including selection of an official launch date. Mission: STS-116 - 20th

International Space Station Flight (12A.1) - P5 Truss Segment ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV103) ;Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 ; Launch Date: No earlier than Dec.

14, 2006 ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew: Polansky, Oefelein, Curbeam, Higginbotham,

Patrick, Fuglesang and Williams ;Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical

miles. Processing of Discovery for its next mission, STS-116, continues in Orbiter

Processing Facility bay 3. The thermal barrier on the orbiter's rudder speed brake was

replaced this week. Testing of the power reactant storage and distribution system is under

way, as are checkouts of the Ku-band antenna heater, the main propulsion system and the

orbital maneuvering system pods. Functional checkout of the radiator is complete. The

wheels and tires for the nose landing gear have been installed. Windows no. 3 and 4 were

removed and replaced. Endeavour (OV-I05); Powered-up system testing continues on

Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 following an extensive modification

period. Freun coolant loop no. 2 deservicing was completed this week. Rigging and

alignment of the remote manipulator system (orbiter arm) pedestals continue. Workers

completed verification of the orbiter's airlock/hatch. Fuel tank installation for the power

reactant storage and distribution (PRSD) system is under way. Oxygen tank no. 5 was

installed last week, and lea&checks were successfully completed this week. The PRSD

supplies liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to the orbiter's fuel cells, which serve as the

electrical power plant for the vehicle. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle

Processing Status Report #S-081106 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, August 11].]

August 12: Crew confident of foam fix

The astronautswho will jump-startconstructionof the half-builtInternationalSpace

Station say they don't expect their spacecraft to experience the type of fatal foam

shedding that doomed Columbia's crew. Set for launch aboard Atlantis on Aug. 27, the

six-member crew aims to carry out the first station construction mission since late 2002.

Assembly was halted after the February 2003 Columbia accident, which killed seven

astronauts. An errant chunk of foam from the shuttle's external tank caused heat shield

damage that went undetected during Columbia's 16-day science mission, leading to

disaster during atmospheric re-entry. Safety changes since will prevent the loss of foam

pieces large enough to cause catastrophic damage, the Atlantis astronauts say. "Foam

will not bite us again," mission specialist Steve MacLean, a Canadian Space Agency

astronaut, told reporters Friday during briefings at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Led by veteran mission commander Brent Jett, the Atlantis astronauts plan to add a 17.5-

174
ton segment to the left side of the station's central truss. It wil! be the most complicated

job done so far in the assembly of the international outpost. Robot arms on both the

shuttle and the station will be used to attach the section to the truss. It supports two

massive solar arrays that will stretch 240 feet from tip to tip once unfurled in space. The

hefty payload is the heaviest ever launched to the station. It weighs 34,977 pounds. It is

44 feet long, 16 feet wide and 15.5 feet tall. It cost $371.8 million. The 12-daymission is

the first of 16required to finish the station before a Sept. 30, 2010, deadline set by

President Bush. Jett said the astronauts, who have trained for the flight for four-and-ahalf years, are more than ready to take on the job, A three-day launch countdown is

scheduled to begin on Aug. 24. Liftoffremains scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Aug. 27. An ontime liftoffwould lead to a landing back at Kennedy Space Center at 12:46 p.m. Sept. 7.

Web posted. (2006). [Crew confident of foam fix [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2005, August 12].]

August 13: Shuttle communications antenna bolts a concern

Engineers are trying to determine whether critical bolts holding the shuttle Atlantis' KUband antenna box in place are securely threaded, a potentially serious issue that could

require tricky repairs before the ship's Aug. 27 launch, sources said Sunday. A two-day

flightreadiness review to assess Atlantis' ground processing, to resolve open issues and

to set an official launch date begins Tuesday at the Kennedy Space Center. The launch

window for the 116th shuttle mission opens Aug. 27 at 4:30 p.m. and closes Sept. 7. The

KU-band antenna bolt issue will be discussed Monday, but it's not yet clear whether the

issue can be resolved before the flight readiness review begins or whether additional

work will be needed to determine what, if anything, needs to be done. The issue involves

four bolts that hold the antenna support box to the forward right side of Atlantis' cargo

bay. The KU-band antenna is used to relay voice, video and data between the shuttle and

NASA's fleet of communications satellites. During an earlier !aunch campaign, engineers

discovered problems with a certain type of bolt that in some cases were too short and not

sufficiently threaded, or screwed in. Engineers began an assessment of similar bolts used

elsewhere in the shuttle. As it turns out, the same type bolts are used to secure the

shuttle's KU-band antenna box to the payload bay wall. Engineers replaced the bolts in

the shuttles Discovery and Endeavour but not in Atlantis. The bolts have been in place

since the antenna was installed aboard Atlantis and there has never been a problem. But it

is known that some of the bolts could be engaged just a few threads worth because of a

"tolerance stackup" in the way the bolts and washers are installed, according to engineers

familiar with the matter. Should the box break free during ascent, it would fall the

length of the shuttle's 60-foot-long cargo bay and could cause catastrophic damage. The

bolts in question cannot be easily inspected at the launch pad. Kennedy Space Center

engineers axe studying paperwork and earlier analyses to determine whether the bolts are,

in fact, sufficiently threaded, At the same time, sources said, they also are studying ways

to replace the bolts at the pad, if necessary, a procedure that has never been done before.

Atlantis' launch window is defined by the international space station's orbit and by a postColumbia requirement to launch two missions in daylight for photo documentation of the

shuttle's heat shield and external tank foam insulation. Because of unexpected foam

shedding during the first post-Columbia mission last year, NASA extended the daylight

requirement to the third flight in the sequence. But if Atlantis isn't offthe ground by the

end of the September window, NASA would be faced with the prospect of just two

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launch days in October, none in November and just one in December. As such, agency

engineers want to resolve the bolt issue as soon as possible. Web posted. (2006). ]Shuttle

communications antenna bolts a concern ]Online]. Available WWW:

http://www,floridatodav.com/[2005, August 13],]

Tale of the TV tapes: Apollo 11 mission archive mystery

unspools

Back in July 1969, the firstmoonwalks by Apollo 1l's Neil ArmstrongandBuzz Aldrin

are frozenforever momentsin the history books.But it turnsoutthat millions of riveted

spectators back on Earth were on the receiving end of substantially degraded television

showing the epic event. The highest-quality television signal from Apollo 1l's

touchdown zone in the moon's Sea of Tranquility -- from an antenna mounted atop the

Eagle lunar lander -- was recorded on telemetry tapes at three tracking stations on Earth:

Goldstone in California and Honeysuckle Creek and Parkes in Australia. Scads of the

tapes were produced -- and now a search is on to locate them. And if recovered and

given a 21st century digital makeover, they could yield a far sharper view of that

momentous day, compared to what was broadcast around the globe. But Apollo I 1 is a

memory rewind -- now over 37 years old. Nobody is quite sure just how much longer the

original slow-scan tapes will last.., that is, if they haven't already been erased. John

Sarkissian, operations scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research

Organization's (CSIRO) Parkes Radio Observatory in Parkes, Australia said the tapes

were appropriately handled and archived in the mid 1970's after the hectic activity of the

Apollo lunar landing era was over. "We are confident that they are stored at [NASA's]

Goddard Space Flight Center [in Greenbelt, Maryland] ... wejust don't know where

precisely," he told SPACE.com. It is important to note, Sarkissian added, that there is no

inference of wrong-doing, incompetence or negligence on the part of NASA or its

employees. Making it tough to track down the whereabouts of the data, many of those

involved in the archiving of the tapes have since moved on, retired or passed away,

"taking their corporate memory of where the tapes are with them," Sarkissian said. It is

important not to exaggerate the quality of the images being sought, Sarkissian added.

"The SSTV was not like modem high definition TV and nor was it even equal in quality

to the normal broadcast TV we are accustomed to viewing," he said. Still, the SSTV was

better than the scan-converted images that were broadcast at the time --which isthe only

version currently available, Sarkissian concluded. Web posted. (2006), [Tale of the TV

tapes: Apollo 11 mission archive mystery unspools [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.usatoda¥.com/[2006, August 13].]

August 14: NASA prepare for interesting FRR

Three "significant open items" will be at the center of tomorrow's STS-115 Flight

Readiness Review (FRR), as NASA look to give final approval for the August 27 launch

of Shuttle Atlantis. TPS (Thermal Protection System) putty repair risk, issues with the

Ku band attach bolts and Ice Frost Ramp risk acceptance - the latter already noting

dissenting opinion - are up for discussion, in what Shuttle lead Paul Hilt noted would be

the highlights of the FRR. 'The most significant open items for 115 are the Ice Frost

Ramp risk acceptance, TPS putty repair risk and the OV-104 Ku band attach bolts,' said

Hill in a pre-FRR memo acquired by this site. 'The IFR discussion is pretty much the

same debate as 121's. 'The TPS putty repair issue is similar to the IFR and is still coming

176
together. Putty repairs have been lost in flight, including on 121. Debris transport can

cause some of these to impact critical RCC panels and tiles under some conditions.

'Orbiter is bringing the latest status on the OV-104 Ku band attach bolts to Monday's

noon board. The goal is to get into the payload bay on the pad to inspect and confirm

sufficient threads are engaged.' (Attach bolts status will be updated). The Ice Frost ramps

proved to be a key issue ahead of July's launch of Shuttle Discovery on STS-121, with

NASA Safety and NASA Engineering both noting their concerns, later to be diluted by

their understanding that the risk was not associated with the crew, given the 'safe haven'

ability for the mission. It appears NASA is wanting to reduce the rating on the risk matrix

to 'Infrequent/Catastrophic' - however, in documents dated August 11, NASA

Engineering stated their self titled dissenting opinion, noting they feel the risk should

remain as 'Probable/Catastrophic.' STS-121's clean flight is likely to help the evaluations

of the FRR when it comes to the risks associated. However, an extra equation to add to

the mix is STS-115's High Q ascent profile, which is required for Atlantis' ability to lift

the heavy truss segment payload uphill. Discovery flew a Low Q ascent profile to reduce

stresses on the modified External Tank. Regardless, following on from presentations

fromthe MOD FRR associated with STS-115, the meeting in F!orida should pass without

any major standouts, with managers then being allowed to fully focus on trying to keep

STS-116 (with Discovery) on track for a December launch - currently under threat. Web

posted. (2006). [NASA prepare tbr interesting FRR [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/[2006, August 14].]

One small step for man,' 700-box tape loss for NASA

The U.S. government has misplaced the original recording of the first moon landing,

including astronaut Neil Armstrong!sfamous "one small step for man, one giant leap for

mankind," a NASA spokesman said on Monday. Armstrong's famous space walk, seen

by millions of viewers on July 20, 1969, is among transmissions that NASA has failed to

turn up in a year of searching, spokesman Grey Hautaloma said. "We haven't seen them

for quite a while. We've been looking for over a year and they haven't turned up,"

Hautaloma said. The tapes also contain data about the health of the astronauts and the

condition of the spacecraft. In all, some 700 boxes of transmissions from the Apollo lunar

missions are missing, he said. "I wouldn't say we're worried -- we've got all the data.

Everything on the tapes we have in one form or another," Hautaloma said. NASA has

retained copies of the television broadcasts and offers several clips on its Web site. But

those images are of lower quality than the originals stored on the missing magnetic tapes.

Because NASA's equipment was not compatible with TV technology of the day, the

original transmissions had to be displayed on a monitor and re-shot by a TV camera for

broadcast. Hautaloma said it is possible the tapes will be unplayable even if they are

found, because they have degraded significantly over the years -- a problem common to

magnetic tape and other types of recordable media. The material was held by the

National Archives but returned toNASA sometime in the late 1970s, he said. "We're

looking for paperwork to see where they last were," he said. Web posted. (2006). ['One

small step for man,' 700-box tape loss for NASA [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.cnn.com/[2006, August 14].]

NASA tests pilot recovery parachute for Ares I launcher's first

stage

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NASA conducted two drop tests of the Ares I first stage's recovery pilot parachute over

the US Army's Yuma proving ground from 14-17 August. The two tests were the first of

nine planned for the next two years to test the recovery system's pilot, drogue and man

parachutes. The Ares I first stage is a five-segment solid rocket booster (SRB), similar to

the four-segment SRB used by the Space Shuttle. During the tests a 6,818kg (15,0001b)

test vehicle, 304mm (12in) diameter and 9.15m (30ft) in length, representing the Ares I

first stage was dropped from 10,000fl by a US Army Bell UH-1 Huey helicopter. Just

before the test vehicle reached the ground another parachute opened to ensure the

onboard instrumentation package had a soft landing. "The testing will included an

examination of the differences between the performance of the recovery systems of the

Shuttle's SRBs and the Ares I fist stage," says NASA. Because the Ares I first stage is

larger, with an extra segment, and separates from the second stage at a higher altitude

than the Shuttle SRBs detaches from the vehicle, the parachute system has to cope with a

longer descent and potentially harder water landing. An Ares I single main parachute test

will occur early next year, followed by a test of a cluster of main parachutes. In the

second or third quarter of 2007 the Ares I drogue chute will be tested. Web posted

(2006), [NASA tests pilot recovery parachute for Ares I lanncher's first stage [Online].

www.floridatodav.com [2006, August 14-17].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: STEREO (SolarTerrestrial Relations Observatory) ; Launch Pad: 17-B,Cape

CanaveralAir Force Station; LaunchVehicle: Boeing Delta II ; LaunchDate: Aug. 31,

2006 ; LaunchTime:3:12:24 - 3:14:24or 4:20:28 - 4:35:28 p.m. EDT. At Launch

Complex 17,the launch team is performingthe Delta IIFlightSimulation today.Thisis

an electrical andmechanical test of the rocket thatactivatesthe first and second stage

onboardsystems, taking them throughthe programmedflight events asthey will occur

duringlaunch. Inthe HazardousProcessingFacility dean room, STEREO spin-test

activitieswere successfully completedon Saturday.Thermalblanket closeouts andfinal

spacecraftcleaning are underway. The STEREOpayloadis scheduledfor matingto the

upperstage booster on Wednesday.It will be transportedto Pad 17-Bon Friday for

integrationwith the Delta II. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable Launch Vehicles

Status Report ELV-081406 [Online]. AvailableE-mail: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov

[2006, August 14].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS- 115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment

and Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ;Location: Launch Pad 39B ;Launch Date:

No earlier than Aug. 27, 2006 at about 4:30 p.m. EDT ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner,

Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper ;Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122

nautical miles. At Launch Pad 39B, functional tests and checkout of the shuttle and pad

systems are under way. Hypergolic propellant loading continues this week. Ordinance

installation is scheduled for Thursday and Friday. The Orbiter Boom Sensor System

sensor package has been installed and checkouts are complete. T-0 instrumentation

installation is under way. The T-0 umbilicals are connection points on the aft of the

orbiter through which electrical power, fuel and systems data flow. The instrumentation

will provide data during launch. On Tuesday and Wednesday, mission managers will

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meet for the Flight Readiness Review, during which they will thoroughly assess the status

of Space Shuttle Atlantis for launch. This meeting will yield a number of key decisions

about STS-115, including selection of an official launch date. Owner-press-release.

(2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-081406 [Online]. Available Email: owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov[2006, August 14].]

August 15: Bolts cause trepidation

NASA managerswill decide this week whether suspect bolts must be replacedbeforethe

plannedAug. 27 launchof shuttleAtlantis and six astronautson an InternationalSpace

Stationconstructionmission. Duringa two-day flight readinessreview that will start

todayat Kennedy Space Center,engineers will brief managerson a potential problem

with fourbolts holding a key communicationsantennain place in the shuttle'scargobay.

The bolts are shorter than called for in engineeringspecifications, and engineersfear they

might not have enough threadsto hold the antennainplace during the spaceship'slaunch

andnine-minuteclimb into orbit. The dish-shaped antennais located atthe rightside of

the payloadbay near the shuttle'screwcabin.Itbeams voice, video anddatato NASA's

Mission ControlCenter in Houstonvia a fleet of orbitingcommunicationssatellites.

With Atlantis poised in a nose-upposition onlaunch pad 39B, the antennacould plunge

the length of the 60-foot cargo bay and causecatastrophicdamageif it shook loose

duringlaunch. "We haven'tdecided whatwe'regoing to do yet, but if we do decideto

replacethe bolts, it looks like we can do thework at the padand probablynot impactour

launchdate," KSC spokesmanBrace Buckingham said Monday. The job wouldbe both

unprecedentedand difficult. Platformswould have to be built up almostsix stories above

the aft end of the payload bay. A technicianlying fiat on his or her back would work in

tight quarters,with at least a foot-long reachto remove and replace the bolts. Accidental

damage is possible. Buckingham said preliminary plans indicatethe work wouldtake at

leasta couple of days, and thatthe job couldbe done late this week. A decision is

expected by Thursday. Webposted. (2006). [Bolts cause trepidation[Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, August 15].]

August 16: Air Force's space chief sounds an alert

The Air Force's new top commanderfor space is predictingfutureattackson U.S.

satellitesandcalling for greatlyexpanded tracking andidentificationof payloads

launchedby other countries. Currently,U.S. efforts are focusedon determiningif an

overseaslaunch is a ballisticmissile or designed to putan object in orbit, then cataloging

it over a period thatcan take weeks, said Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton,who headsthe

AirForce Space CommandatPetersonAir Force Base, Colorado. "I say those days are

over," he said Tuesdayat an annualconference here on the fledgling, multibillion-dollar

U.S. anti-missile shield. "If it's a space launch, we can't affordto relax." "We need to

know whatthe intentof that launchis,, he said, including whether an object couldjam or

otherwiseharm satellites or spreadmicro-satellitesthat could do so. Chiltonsaid his goal

was to learnall this in the object's first orbit aroundEarthso the United Statescould take

unspecifiedactions"before an adversary can cripple us." The increased "situational

awareness"he had in mind could be achieved largely through improvedcomputerwork

thatwould present informationin easy-to-understand displays, he said. Foes wouldbe

foolish notto be thimkingof how to deny the United Statesthe advantagesof space, on

which it relies heavily formilitary and commercialpurposes, said Chilton, who took over

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the space command a month and a half ago. "And in the future, I'm convinced they'll

strike at these capabilities, if nothing else to attempt to level the playing field," he said.

Web posted. (2006). [Air Force's space chief sounds an alert [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/[2006, August 16].]

Bolts May Pose Problem in Shuttle Launch

NASA managers on Wednesday unanimously picked Aug. 27 for the first attempt to

launch the space shuttle Atlantis on a mission to resume construction of the international

space station -- but two precariously attached bolts securing a crucial antenna could delay

those plans. Engineers suspect that two of the bolts are too short on the KU-band

antenna, which transmits images and other essential data between the space shuttle and

Mission Control. They want to make sure the bolts are secure enough so that the antenna

doesn't fly off while in the payload bay during a launch, which could cause catastrophic

damage. "We're not going to fly if we think there's a possibility the antenna will come

off," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. Atlantis has flown with those bolts

without trouble since they were first installed two decades ago. The problem was

discovered last week, after Atlantis was rolled to the launch pad, when a review of

paperwork on bolts on NASA's three space shuttles was ordered because a related

problem was found in Discovery. NASA officials likely won't decide until this weekend

whether to leave the bolts in place or change them in a tricky swap-out at the launch pad.

Technicians would have to build scaffolding on top of a platform six stories off the

ground in order to change out the bolts with the shuttle vertical on the launch pad. A

swap-outprobably would take NASA the two spare days it has in the schedule.

Web posted. (2006). [Bolts May Pose Problem in Shuttle Launch [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.nvtimes.com/[2006, August 16].]

NASA wrapping up launch review

Top NASA officials today are wrapping up a review aimed at determining whether the

agency is ready to launch shuttle Atlantis and resume construction of the International

Space Station after a near-four-year hiatus. Meeting at Kennedy Space Center, the

officials will be briefed on a potential problem with bolts securing a key communications

antenna inside the shuttle's payload bay as well as the status of orbiter systems. The bolts

are shorter than required under engineering specifications and it is likely a decision will

be made Thursday to swap them out at launch pad 39B. A news conference will be held

no earlier than 2 p.m. to brief reporters on the two-day Flight Readiness Review and

announce a firm launch date for Atlantis and its six-member astronaut crew. At the pad

today, engineers and technicians are stowing a pair of spacesuits aboard Atlantis. Mission

specialists Joe Tanner and Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper will use the suits during two of three

spacewalks aimed primarily at preparing a new segment of the station's central truss and

its two massive solar arrays for orbital operations. Suits to be worn by crewsmates Dan

Burbank and Steve MaeLema on the other spacewalk already are at the station. Web

posted. (2006). [NASA wrapping up launch review [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatodaycom/The Flame Trench [2006, August 16].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

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Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment

and Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: No earlier than Aug. 27, 2006 at about 4:30 p.m. EDT ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson,

Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6

degrees/122 nautical miles. At Launch Pad 39B, functional tests and checkout of the

shuttle and pad systems continue. Hypergolic propellant loading continues and should be

complete by Thursday. Ordnance installation is scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

Replenishing of both the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen storage tanks at Pad 39B is

underway. The fuel from these storage tanks will be transferred to the shuttle's external

fuel tank on launch day. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status

Report #S-081606 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, August 16].]

August 17: Dissing Pluto and the Other Plutons

A panel appointed by the International Astronomical Union thinks it has come up with a

dandy compromise to the years-tong struggle over whether we should continue to count

Pluto as a planet. The trouble is, the new definition of a planet will include an awful

m61angeof icy rocks found on the outer fringes of the solar system. It would be far better

to expel Pluto from the planetary ranks altogether, leaving us to bask in the comfortable

presence of the eight classical planets that were discovered before 1900 and have excited

wonder ever since. Pluto, discovered in 1930,never deserved to be called a planet. It is

far smaller than first thought, smaller in fact than our own moon. Its orbit is more

elliptical and tilted in a different plane than those of the other planets, and its icy, rocky

body is more like a comet's core. If Pluto were discovered today, it seems highly unlikely

that anyone would consider it a planet. But Pluto has emotional partisans who resent

anyone picking on the puniest planet, so efforts to demote it invariably meet resistance.

Now a panel of astronomers and historians has come up with a new definition of the word

"planet" that will keep Pluto in the club. Under the new definition, a planet would be any

celestial body that orbits around a star and is large enough for its own gravity to pull it

into a spherical shape. That definition would produce an ugly porridge of 12 old and new

planets, with dozens more on the way. Ceres, heretofore considered the largest of the

asteroids, would qualify. The panel suggests that people might want to call it a "dwarf

planet," raising the question of why bother to call it a planet at all. Pluto would still

count as a planet but would be shunted into a new category called "Plutons," which

would include any object that meets the definition and has an orbit beyond Neptune's.

Webposted. (2006). [Dissing Pluto and the Other Plutons [Online]. Available WWW:

http:!/www.n,!times.com/[2006, August 17].]

August 18: NASA orders up bolt swap

Suspect bolts securing a key communicationsantenna in shuttle Atlantis' cargo bay will

be swapped out at Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39B over the weekend. But the

work is not expected to delay the planned Aug. 27 launch of six astronauts on a mission

to restart construction of the International Space Station. Senior shuttle program

managers made the decision to change out the bolts in a meeting early today. NASA

cannot be certain the threads on two of four bolts holding the antenna in place are

engaged, so managers decided the prudent course of action would be to replace the

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fasteners. The 304-pound antenna system is located on the starboard side of the forward

end of the 60-foot long payload bay. With the shuttle in a nose-up position on the pad, the

concern is that the antenna could break free during launch and fall the entire length of the

bay, potentially causing catastrophic damage. NASA contractor technicians will start

setting up for the job late tonight after engineers finish loading toxic propellants into

tanks that feed steering thrusters on the nose of the orbiter. Lightning warnings over the

past 24 hours have stalled that work, which included replacing a leaky poppet valve that

failed last weekend, halting the hazardous operation. Plans now call for technicians to

open the shuttle's clamshell-like payload bay doors late tonight and then begin setting up

platforms and scaffolding. The set-up work is aimed at providing technicians with access

to the antenna so that the bolts can be swapped out. The actual replacement work

probably won't get under way until late Saturday or Sunday. Graphics showing how the

work will be done are in a post below. A three-day countdown still is scheduled to begin

next Thursday. Web posted. (2006). [NASA orders up bolt swap [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/ The Flame Trench [2006, August 18].]

NASA selects crew, cargo launch partners

NASA is making an unprecedented investment in commercial space transportation

services withthe hope of creating a competitivemarketfor supply flightsto the

InternationalSpace Station (ISS). Two industrypartnerswill receive a combinedtotal of

approximately$500 million to help fundthe developmentof reliable, cost-effective

accessto low-Earthorbit. The agency is using its SpaceAct authorityto facilitate the

demonstrationof these new capabilities.NASA signedSpace Agreements Aug. 18 with

SpaceExplorationTechnologies (SpaceX) of E1Segundo,Calif., and Rocketplane-Kistler

(RpK)of OklahomaCity to developanddemonstratethe vehicles, systems, and

operationsneeded to support a humanfacility suchasISS. Once the space shuttle is

retired,NASA hopes to become just one of many customersfor a new, out-of-this-world

parcel service. Webposted. (2006). [NASA selects crew, cargo launch partners[Online].

AvailableWWW: http:/iwww.spacefli_2atnow.eom/[2006,August 18].]

Launch Countdown Begins Aug. 24 For Space Shuttle Atlantis

NASA will begin the countdown for the launchof Space ShuttleAtlantisonmission

STS-115 at6 p.m. EDT Thursday, Aug. 24, atthe T-43 hourpoint. Duringthis mission,

Atlantis'crew will resume the constructionof the InternationalSpace Station,which is

the goal of the remainingspace shuttleflights in the program. The Kennedy Space

Centerlaunchteam will conductthe countdown from the newly renovatedFiringRoom4

of the LaunchControl Center.The countdownincludes 27 hours,24 minutes of built-in

hold time leadingto a preferredlaunchtime atabout4:30 p.m. on Sunday,Aug. 27, with

a launchwindow extendingabout five minutes. This mission is the 116th spaceshuttle

flight, the 27th flight for orbiterAtlantis,andthe 19thU.S. flight to the International

SpaceStation.STS-125 is scheduled to last 11 dayswith a plannedKSC landing at about

12:02p.m. EDTon Sept.7. Atlantisrolledinto KSC'sOrbiterProcessing Facilityon

Oct. 18, 2002, afterreturningfromits lastmission, STS-112.Itsnext mission was

plannedto be STS-124; however, duringtheprogramdelays following the loss of orbiter

Columbia,Atlantis was reassignedto mission STS-115. The orbiterrolled outof the

facility'sbay 1 and into the Vehicle Assembly Building on July 24. While in the

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building's high bay 3, Atlantis was mated to its modified external tank and solid rocket

boosters. The entire space shuttle stack was transferred to Launch Pad 39B on Aug. 2.

The STS-115 crew includes Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson, and Mission

Specialists Joe Tanner, Dan Burbank, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve MacLean

of the Canadian Space Agency. During mission STS-115, Atlantis will dock with the

station and the crew will perform three spacewalks. The astronauts will deliver and install

the 17.5-ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss segment to the station's girder-like truss

backbone. The new piece wilt include a second set of giant solar arrays, batteries and

associated electronics. Together, the trusses and solar arrays will provide one-fourth of

the total power-generation capability of the completed station. ["Launch Countdown

Begins Aug. 24 For Space Shuttle Atlantis," NASA News Release $51-06, August 18,

2006.]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission:STEREO(So!ar Terrestrial RelationsObservatory), LaunchPad: 17-B, Cape

CanaveralAir Force Station; LaunchVehicle: Boeing Delta II ; LaunchDate:Aug. 31,

2006 ; LaunchTime: 3:12:24 - 3:14:24and4:20:28 - 4:35:28 p.m. EDT. After leak

checks of the Delta II first stage, engineers decided to remove and replace the liquid

oxygen fill and drain valve at Launch Complex 17. That work is being completed today

without impact to the launch date. Also, preparations are under way at the pad for the

arrival of the STEREO pay!oad. In the Astrotech Hazardous Processing Facility clean

room, the STEREO spacecraft was mated to the upper stage booster on Wednesday.

Today the integrated payload is being installed into its transportation canister. On

Saturday morning, STEREO will be moved to the launch pad for hoisting atop the Delta

II. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable Launch Vehicles Status Report ELV081806 [Online]. Available E-mail: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, August 18].]

August 19: NASA technicians are ready to tackle tall task

NASA istaking on an unprecedented and potentially dangerous repair job this weekend,

trying to swap out suspect bolts securing a key communications antenna inside shuttle

Atlantis' cargo bay. With Atlantis and six astronauts scheduled for launch Aug. 27,

technicians plan to put in place a work platform and scaffolding almost six stories above

the bottom of the bay. Toiling in tight quarters near a barrel-shaped airlock, a worker

will shimmy onto a skinny gangplank and lie on his side, stretching to reach the bolts so

they can be removed and replaced. "So imagine operating on a surfboard that's tied down

at one end, sticking out over a six-story balcony," NASA shuttle program manager

Wayne Hale said. "I mean, this has got all kinds of implications." Not the least of which

is the potential for serious injury or accidental damage to the shuttle and its $372 million

payload. Senior shuttle program managers ordered up the change-out in a meeting

Friday. The reason: NASA cannot be certain that threads on two of four bolts holding the

antenna in place are engaged. The 304-pound antenna system is located on the right side

of the forward end of the payload bay, which is 60 feet long and 15 feet wide. With the

shuttle in a nose-up position on Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39B, the dish-shaped

antenna could break free after liftoff and plunge the entire length of the bay, potentially

causing catastrophic damage. Managers consequently decided the prudent course was to

replace the fasteners. A three-day countdown still is scheduled to begin Thursday, and

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the shuttle crew is due to arrive at KSC that day. Liftoff remains scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Aug. 27. The Atlantis astronauts will launch on NASA's first International Space Station

construction flight since the February 2003 Columbia accident. They aim to deliver a new

central truss segment equipped with two power-producing solar arrays. Landing at KSC's

three-mile runway is set for 12:02 p.m. Sept. 7. Web posted. (2006). [NASA technicians

are ready to tackle tall task [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/

[2006, August 19].]

August 20: Shuttle set for Thursday countdown

NASA is poised to pick upthe countdown to launch of shuttle Atlantisthis week after

swappingout two suspectbolts securing a key communications antennainside the ship's

cargo bay. Thework, whichwas finished Sundayat KennedySpaceCenter's launchpad

39B, putNASA in position to starta three-daycountdownThursday.Liftoff of Atlantis

and six astronautsremainsscheduledfor about4:30 p.m. Sunday. "Everything is looking

good," saidKSC spokeswomanTracy Young. Workingatopa platformandscaffolding

nearthe topof the shuttle'ssix-story payloadbay,techniciansreplacedtwo of the four

bolts holdingthe antenna in placewith longerbolts. The engineers hadfeared thatthe

two original bolts were not adequatelyengagedandthatthe 304-poundantenna -- located

atthe forwardendof the payloadbay -- might breakfreeduring lannch. In thatcase, the

antennacouldhave plungedthe entire length of the 60-foot-long cargo bay, causing

criticaldamageto the shuttlemadits $372 million payload. NASA managers ordered the

replacementwork Friday.The shuttle'sclamshell-like cargo bay doorswere openedthat

night,and techniciansspentthebetter partof Saturdaysetting up equipmentfor the job.

A work platformwas extendedinto thebay near the top of a towering room that provides

access to shuttle cargoeson five levels. Scaffoldingthenwas builtup on the platform,

andthe gangplank was fixed atopit so that a technician wearing safety harnessescould

reach the bolts. The actual replacementwork beganlate Saturdayand was completed

Sunday. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle set for Thursday countdown[Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006,August 20].]

All Roads Lead to KSC for International ISS Hardware

With 200,000 lb. of InternationalSpace Stationhardware being readied,the shuttle

launchsite is the nexus for finalU.S., Japanese,Europeanand Canadianstationhardware

preparationby multinationalteams. The JapaneseKibo andEuropean Columbus

modules (see cover) are key elementsin the Space StationProcessing Facility (SSPF)

here. The 17.5-ton,$372-million P3/P4 ISS payload (right)thatwill provide such station

science moduleswith electricitywas recentlymoved fromthe SSPF for loading into

Atlantisfor launch on STS-115 by late this monthor early September.Launchtiming

will dependon resolutionof a bolt issuewith the orbiter'sKu band antenna. The 45 X16-ft.trusspayloadis 5 tons heavier than the Hubble SpaceTelescope and, as with its

shuttle-sizedtransport canister, the elementwill consumethe entireAtlantis payload bay.

The new elementwill be positioned on the ISS port beam to unfurlthe station'ssecond

set of solar arraysspanning 240 ft. (see artist'sconcept, topright). The Kennedy Space

Center(KSC) is alreadya busy intersectionfor 100 tons of diverse stationhardware

includingItalianstationlogistics modules.But morehardwareis also due in the coming

months,especially fromJapan. "There is a sense of upbeatbattle rhythm across the

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program," says Mark Jager, Boeing program manager for the NASA Checkout Assembly

and Payload Processing Services (Capps) contract that oversees ISS payload support.

Boeing not only leads a team of more than 175 aerospace contractors for the total U.S.

segment, it also helps coordinate multinational preparations in Kennedy's SSPF under the

$332-million Capps contract. The SSPF is the world's largest space processing clean

room. Its high bay measures 363 X 80 X 61 ft. with an adjoining low bay nearly as

gigantic. All of the already launched U.S., Canadian and early European hardware twice

filled and emptied the SSPF, says David Bethay, Boeing Capps director of mission

management and utilization. But the ISS, with a current mass of 404,000 lb., is not yet

even half built. The hardware here now has filled the SSPF a third time and, by the end

of the shuttle program, the facility will have been filled and emptied a fourth time as the

ISS grows toward 925,000 lb. in space. The international presence in the SSPF is

striking: about 110 personnel from multiple countries are on the floor at any given time.

Because there can be U.S., European, Canadian, Russian and Japanese staff present

simultaneously, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) "are a very big deal for

us here," Jager says. "We have detailed plans to deal with each individual country and its

people." But it has not been a problem for hardware processing, because the personnel

from each country respect the rules of the others, he says. There are 14 ISS cargo

elements in preparation at KSC for 12 of the 16 ISS missions remaining, and all of them,

except for the P3/P4 truss now in Atlantis, are in the SSPF, says Chuck Hardison, Boeing

ISS site manager. The massive STS-115 truss payload only left the facility in late July. It

and other elements have received significant upgrades here in the three years since the

Columbia accident, Hardison says. Other key elements in the SSPF are: *Node 2: The

29,555-1b.module was built by Alenia in Turin, Italy, for the Italian Space Agency and

provided by the European Space Agency under a barter agreement with NASA in

exchange for the shuttle launch of Columbus. Set for launch next August, Node 2 will

eventually be attached to the front of the U.S. Destiny Laboratory module where it will

be the connecting hub for both the European Columbus and Japanese Kibo modules.

*Columbus: The 27,000-1b.European Space Agency Columbus Orbital Facility (COF)

was also built by Alenia with extensive outfitting by EADS in Bremen, Germany. Set for

launch no earlier than September 2007, it arrived here in May and passed critical vacuum

chamber tests. *Kibo: Developed by Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the

Kibo Japanese Experiments Module (JEM) istwice the size of Columbus. Set for launch

by late 2007, it was built by Mitsubishi inNagoya, Japan. Major internal rack functional

tests are planned for Kibo this week, while a major end-to-end systems test in October

will link the module here via satellite to its Japanese Tsukuba control center near Tokyo

and the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Other major Kibo facilities set for delivery to

the SSPF over the next 12-18 months include its Toshiba manipulator arm and Nissan

exposure facility porch. Web posted. (2006). [All Roads Lead to KSC for International

ISS Hardware [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, August

2o].]

Voyager 1 passes milestone

Voyager l, alreadythe most distant hnman-madeobject in the cosmos, reached 100

astronomical units from the sun on Tuesday, August 15 at 5:13 p.m. Eastem time (2:13

p.m. Pacific time). That means the spacecraft, which launched nearly three decades ago,

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is 100times more distant from the sun than Earth is. Web posted. (2006). [Voyager 1

passes milestone [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006,

August 20].]

August 21: Space tourist fails medical test

A Japanese businessman seeking to become the world's fourth space tourist has failed a

medical test and cannot fly to the international space station next month, a Russian space

agency official said Monday. Daisuke "Dice-K" Enomoto, 34, was to be launched in a

Russian Soyuz vehicle from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with the next space

station crew on September 14. However, Roseosmos spokesman Igor Panarin told The

Associated Press that Enomoto "was deemed not ready to fly for exclusively medical

reasons." Web posted. (2006). [Space tourist fails medical test [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www,enn.com/[2006, August 21].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) ; Launch Pad: 17-B,Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station ; Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II ; Launch Date: No earlier

than Sept. 18, 2006 ; Launch Time: TBD. STEREO's launch has been postponed to no

earlier than Sept. 18, the opening of the mission's next launch window. The additional

time is necessary for further evaluation of the Delta II second stage to verify it is

structurally sound for flight. This concern arose after further engineering analysis

revealed that a similar tank produced for another mission was marginally thin in an area

of the oxidizer tank. Engineers are assessing several options for the STEREO launch

vehicle at Pad 17-Bto determine the thickness of the tank in this same area. STEREO

was not transported from Astrotech to the launch pad overthe weekend as planned. It will

remain at the payload processing facility until the necessary course of action for the Delta

II can be more clearly defined. KSC News Center (2006). Expendable Launch

Vehicles Status Report ELV-082106 [Online]. Available E-mail:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, August 21].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-115 - 19thInternationalSpace StationFlight(12A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment

and Solar Arrays; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location:LaunchPad39B ; Launch

Date:Aug. 27, 2006, 4:30 p.m. EDT ; Crew: Jett,Ferguson, Tanner,Burbank,MacLean

and Stefanyshyn-Piper; Inclination/OrbitAltitude:51,6 degrees/122 nauticalmiles. At

LaunchPad39B, workers have completedhypergolicpropellantloading of the orbiter

and solid rocket boosters. Following a decision by Space Shuttle Programmanagers to

remove and replace two Ku-band antenna actuator bolts in the forward section of the

orbiter payload bay, workers spent the weekend preparing access platforms, performing

the bolt replacement and then removing the temporary access equipment. The bolt

replacement was completed early Sunday. Later on Sunday, the orbiter's payload bay

doors were closed and ordnance installation was initiated, with completion early on

Monday. Technicians are now closing out the orbiter's aft eompartments and

pressurization of the orbiter's maneuvering system, reaction control system and main

propulsion system will begin tomorrow. Stowage of flight crew equipment in the crew

module is ongoing. In Houston, the STS-115 crew began their health stabilization period

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in preparation for the Aug. 27 launch. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle

Processing Status Report #S-082106 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, August 21].]

Simpkins Named Director of New KSC Engineering Group

NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Jim Kennedy announced today that Patrick

Simpkins has been appointed the director of the center's new Engineering Directorate. He

replaces Steve Altemus, originally selected for the position, who recently accepted

another position at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The new 600-person Engineering

Directorate at KSC will centralize the center's engineering activities, processes and

personnel into one organization that will have an independent reporting line of authority.

It will ensure the highest quality of engineering rigor at the center. The directorate will

officially begin operation in October. Simpkins will assume the responsibilities of the

director's position immediately to ensure that all issues associated with the reorganization

are addressed and to help with the successful transition from concept to operations. Bill

Parsons, the KSC deputy director, will assume the responsibilities of acting director of

the Advanced Planning Office, Simpkins' most recent position. Over the course ofhis

career at KSC, Simpkins has worked as an engineer, performing systems engineering

integration for human space flight programs and payloads for more than 15 years. He was

also KSC's Human Resources director for 2 1/2 years, during which time he received a

doctorate in business administration from Nova Southeastern University in Fort

Lauderdale, Fla. He holds a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from the

University of Florida and a master's degree in human resource management from the

Florida Institute of Technology, as well. Simpkins has played key roles in the strategic

decision-making process at KSC, most recently as chairman of the Organizational

Development Team for the Engineering Directorate. In this capacity, he guided the

development of this reorganization, one of the most significant changes made to the

center's structure since the transition fromthe Apollo to the Space Shuttle Program. Scott

Kerr will serve as the deputy director of the Engineering Directorate. Kerr also had an

instrumental role on the Organizational Development Team and has managed several

large technical organizations at KSC. Other reassignments at KSC include the selection

of Oscar Toledo as the director of the Design and Development Engineering Office in the

new Engineering Directorate and Shannon Bartell asthe director of Safety and Mission

Assurance. Bartell replaces Denny Kross, who is retiring, and she will assume her new

post on Oct. 1. ["Simpkins Named Director of New KSC Engineering Group," NASA

News Release #52-06, August 21, 2006.]

August 22: NASA pressurizes propulsion systems

NASA is pressurizing propellant systems aboard Atlantis today as the agency continues

preparations for the launch of six astronauts on the first International Space Station

assembly mission since the 2003 Columbia accident. With Atlantis perched atop

Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39B, engineers are pressurizing the shuttle's main

propulsion system as well as its twin maneuvering engines and 44 nose-and-tail steering

jets. Close-out work in the shuttle's rear engine compartment is continuing along with

preparations to pick up a three-day launch countdown. The Atlantis astronauts are

scheduled to arrive at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility about 11:15 a.m. Thursday. The

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launch countdown is slated to start at 6 p.m. that day. Liftoff remains scheduled for

about 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Web posted. (2006). [NASApressurizes propulsion systems

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/The Flame Trench [2006,

August 22].]

Airspace, Bridges and Waterway Restrictions

Forthe STS-115 launchof Space ShuttleAtlantis,NASA managersare urgingall aircraft

pilots andboatersto fully complywith the airspace,bridgesandwaterway restrictions

imposedaroundKennedy SpaceCenter prior to andduring shuttlelaunchesandlandings.

"As always,we are coordinatingwith officials fromthe U.S. Air Force Eastern Range,

FederalAviation Administrationand the U.S. Coast Guardto help providea safe launch

environmentfor the shuttlecrew and for interestedspectators,"saidKSC Launch

Director Mike Leinbach."Violatingthese restrictions is not only unsafe for the astronauts

and support crews, it's unsafe for the violator." The first launch opportunity is Sunday,

Aug. 27, with liftoff targeted for 4:30 p.m. EDT. This launch time is approximately in the

middle ofa 10-minute launch window. At NASA's request, Air Force and Coast Guard

surveillance aircraft will patrol KSC's airspace boundaries on launch day. Violators will

be intercepted by patrol forces, thoroughly investigated and subject to FAA enforcement

action. A number of restrictions remain in effect around KSC during the hours

immediately following the launch of a space shuttle. ["Airspace, Bridges and Waterway

Restrictions In Effect for STS-115," NASA News Release #53-06, August 22, 2006.]

August 23: Final countdown preps continue at KSC

NASA is stepping through final countdown preparations at Kennedy Space Center today,

pressing ahead with plans to larmch shuttle Atlantis and six astronauts on Sunday. Liftoff

of the agency's first International Space Station assembly flight since the 2003 Columbia

accident remains scheduled for about 4:30 p.m. that day. At launch pad 39B, NASA is

continuing to pressurize the shuttle's main propulsion system as well as its twin orbital

maneuvering engines and 44 nose-and-tail steering thrusters. Technicians also are

wrapping up final eloseouts in the orbiter'srear engine compartment. A three-day

countdown is scheduled to pick up at 6 p.m. Thursday. The Atlantis astronauts are slated

to arrive at KSC for final launch preparations at 11:15 a.m. that day. Web posted. (2006).

[Final countdown preps continue at KSC [Online[. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com! The Flame Trench [2006, August 23].]

Texas woman tapped for tourist flight

The Texasbusinesswoman who helped bankrollthe $10 million AnsariX-Prizewill fly

as a spacetouriston an upcominglaunch to the InternationalSpace Station,replacinga

JapaneseIntemetmagnate. Anousheh Ansari will launch Sept. 14 aboard a Russian

Soyuzrocketwith U.S. astronautMichael Lopez-Alegriaand Russian cosmonautMikhail

Tyurin. She'll be the first woman to make a paid voyage to the station. Ansari follows

Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttlesworth and Greg Olsen. The co-founder of Telecom

Technologies in Richardson, Texas, will remain on the outpost for eight days and then

return to Earth with current station commander Pavel Vingradov and flight engineer

Jeffrey Williams. Web posted. (2006). [Final countdown preps continue at KSC

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[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda,/.com/The Flame Trench [2006,

August 23].]

NASA nameSnew ship Orion

A new spaceship thatwill carryastronautsto the InternationalSpace Station,the moon

andMarsis being named for one of the brightestandmost familiarconstellationsin the

nightsky. Orionis the monikerthatNASA has chosen forits CrewExplorationVehicle,

which is slated to replace the space shuttleandmake its firstpiloted flight no laterthan

2014.Its first pilotedflight to the moonis slated for launchno laterthan 2020. The

spaceships will be able to ferryup to six astronautsto and fromthe internationalstation

andcrews of fourto the lunarsurfaceandback. "Many of(Orion's) stars have been used

for navigationand guided explorersto new worldsfor centuries,"NASA projectmanager

Skip Hatfield said in a statement."Ourteam,and all of NASA -- andI believe, our

country-- grows more excited with every step forward this programtakes.The futureof

spaceexplorationis coming quickly." NASA is expected to announcethe winnerof a

multibillion-dollarcontractto build the new ships next week. The two competitorsare

LockheedMartinand a team madeup of Northrop GrummanandBoeing. Orion

spaceshipswill be launched aboard two newmoon rocketsthat NASA has dubbedAres 1

andAres 5. The name Ares was selected because it is a synonymfor Mars. Tell us what

you think of the new name for NASA'sfuture fleet by clicking on commentbelow. Web

posted. (2006). [NASA names new ship Orion [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.eom/ The Flame Trench [2006, August 23].]

Launch of Sun-watching mission delayed again

Continuingconcerns aboutthe structuralintegrityof theBoeing Delta 2 rocket'ssecond

stage that will launehNASA's twin STEREO solar observatories have again delayed

liftoff from Cape Canaveral. Problems with a similar stage in the factory led engineers to

re-check the motor for STEREO, pushing back the launch to Aug. 31. Now, launch is

being delayed to no sooner than Sept. 18. Although STEREO's rocket has passed its

testing, further analysis is underway to ensure the internal tank structures are the proper

thickness. Web posted. (2006). [Launch of Sun-watching mission delayed again

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spaeefiightnow.eom/[2006, August 23].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-115 - 19thInternationalSpace StationFlight (12A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment

andSolar Arrays ;Vehicle: Atlantis(OV-104) ; Location:LaunchPad39B ; Launch

Date:Aug. 27, 2006, 4:30 p.m. EDT ; Crew:Jett,Ferguson,Tanner,Burbank, MacLean

andStefanyshyn-Piper;Inclination/OrbitAltitude:51.6 degrees/122 nauticalmiles. At

LaunchPad 39B, closeout of the orbiter'saftcompartmentscontinues,with aft door

installationexpected latertoday. Once the doorsareinstalled,workerswill begin aft

confidence testing. This involves poweringupand testingall of the aft systems, such as

the mainpropulsionsystem circuits. Pressurizationof the orbiter'smaneuveringsystem,

the reactioncontrol system and the mainpropulsionsystemhas been completed.Stowage

of flight crewequipmentin the crewmodule is ongoing,and the crew cabinand White

Room are being prepared for launch.Technicianswill open the payloadbay doorstoday

to allow for the charging of the payload batteries.The payload bay doorswill be closed

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for flight on Thursday. Final closeouts on the solid rocket boosters and the external fuel

tank will be completed today. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing

Status Report #S-082306 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, August 23].]

August 24: Atlantis astronauts arrive at KSC

The Atlantis astronauts are arriving at KSC ahead of Sunday's scheduled launch. The

first of a string of T-38 training jets carrying the crew members touched down at just

before 11:30 a.m. Commander Brent Jett and his five crewmates will now start the final

preparation for a launch set for 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Also, NASA has decided to start the

countdown six hours earlier than scheduled today. They had planned to start the clock at

6 p.m. Instead, the launch team is being called to their stations right now. NASA's

George Diller says the countdown will start at noon. So far, everything is on track for a

Sunday liftoff. There are no major technical concerns. The weather forecast for a Sunday

launch looks good, with a 70 percent chance that conditions would allow an on-time

liftoff. Web posted. (2006). [Atlantis astronauts arrive at KSC [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/ The Flame Trench [2006, August 24].]

Kohler to lead Space Florida

Gov. Jeb Bush has chosen Steve Kohler as president of Space Florida, a new state agency

thatis designedto lead Florida'seffortsto maintainandattractthe aerospace industryto

the Sunshine State, officials said Wednesday. Kohler, president and chief executive

officer of Pennsylvania-based Winner Global Defense LLC, a maker of security and antiterrorism equipment, was one of three finalists for the job. Joseph Wiendl, a member of

Space Florida's board of directors and part of the search committee that chose the

finalists, said the governor's office informed him of Bush's selection of Kohler. pace

Florida is scheduled to go into operation Sept. i and likely will be based in Brevard

County near or at Kennedy Space Center, Wiendl said. Web posted. (2006). [Kohlerto

lead Space Florida [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006,

August 24].]

Pluto gets the boot

Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longera planet under historic

new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight. After a

tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International

Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery

in 1930. The new definition of what is -- and isn't -- a planet fills a centuries-old black

hole for scientists who have labored since Copernicus without one. The decision by the

prestigiousinternational group spells out the basic tests that celestial objects will have to

meet before they can be considered for admission to the elite cosmic club. For now,

membership will be restricted to the eight "classical" planets in the solar system:

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Web posted. (2006).

[Pluto gets the boot [Online]. Available WWW: http:i/www.cnn.com/[2006, August

241.]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

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Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment

and Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: Aug. 27, 2006, 4:30 p.m. EDT ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean

and Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. At

Launch Pad 39B, closeout of the orbiter's aft compartments is complete and the aft doors

have been installed. Technicians have finished performing the aft confidence test, which

involves powering up and testing all of the aft systems, such as the main propulsion

system circuits. The payload bay doors will be closed today for flight. The start of the

launch countdown was moved from 6 p.m. to noon Eastern time today to allow for earlier

loading of fuel for the power reactant storage and distribution system. The goal is to

finish the system loads before the predicted afternoon thunderstorms on Friday.

Additional hold time will be added at the T-19 hour mark, extending the hold from four

hours to 10 hours. After T-19, the schedule will proceed as normal, culminating in a

launch on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. The STS-115 crew arrived at 11:30 a.m.

today at the Shuttle Landing Facility from Johnson Space Center in Houston. They will

spend the next days prior to launch going overtheir flight plans. U.S_Air Force weather

officers are forecasting a 30-percent chance of weather prohibiting a launch attempt on

Sunday. The primary weather concerns are anvil clouds, showers and thunderstorms

within 20 nautical miles ofthe Shuttle Landing Facility. Owner-press-release. (2006).

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-082406 [Online]. Available E-mail:

owner-press-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, August 24].]

August 25: Countdown starts early for Aug. 27 shuttle launch

The Kennedy Space Centercountdownfor the plannedlaunchof Atlantis began 6 hours

early onAug. 24 to provide an extramarginforthe loadingof electricalfuel cell

cryogenicsasthunderstormswere a threatatthe launch site. The liftoff of STS-115 is

planned for 4:30 p.m. Easterntime Aug. 27 to reinitiateassembly of the International

Space Stationwith a $372 million, 7.5- tonsolar arraytrnss_ The countdownhadbeen

plannedto startat 6 p.m. Eastern time Aug. 24, but was moved up to noon to provide

several extra hours in which liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogencouldbe loaded intothe

Atlantiselectrical fuel cell system. The cryogenicscannotbe loaded when lightning is

presentin the area. Although thunderstormsarea riskto prelaunchtiming,forecasters

expect a 70 percentchance of good weatherfor at least the firstthree days of the 12- day

Atlantislaunchwindow. But a tropicalsystem brewing in the Caribbean could be a

factorif weather or technical factorsslip liftoff intoearlynext week. The system,

threateningto reachtropicalstorm or hurricanestatus,hasthe potentialof curving

northeast,which could bring it nearKennedySpace Center.Conversely, if it takesa more

westerntrack,it couldthreatenthe GulfCoastarea includingMission Controlatthe

Johnson SpaceCenter. The overall launch window extendsonly through Sept.7. The

window was shortened from Sept. 13 a month ago to coordinatethe Atlantis flightwith

the launch of the Expedition14 crew to the stationon a Soyuz in early September.

Atlantis and its payload are in excellent shape,with no technical issues being worked,so

managersbelieve there is a very good chance to launch early in the 12-daywindow.

Earlier questionsaboutthe integrityof bolts holding the orbiter'sKu bandantennawere

resolved when two suspect bolts were replacedin a difficult repairoperationwith

Atlantis vertical on LaunchComplex 39B. Givenlaunch teamrest andfuel cell

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cryogenic replenishment factors, there could be a maximum of seven countdowns during

the 12-day period. This includes the potential for four attempts during the first five days.

Under that scenario there could be launch attempts on Aug. 27 and 28, with an off day

Aug. 29, then attempts again Aug. 30 and 31 if necessary. E-mail distribution. (2006).

[Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re: "Countdown starts early for

Aug. 27 shuttle launch," [Electronic]. Vol. 219, No. 38, [August 25, 2006.].]

Air Force and FAA collaborate on launch safety requirements

Air Force and FederalAviation Administrationofficials strengthenedtheirlong history of

cooperationandpartnership in the commercialspace launch safetyarenatoday with the

publicationof the FAA'sLicensing and SafetyRequirementsfor Launchdocument,Code

of Federal RegulationsTitle 14Part 417. The FAA has worked with Air Force Space

Commandsince 1997 to develop andimprove standardizedlaunch safetyrequirements,

with an emphasis on continuing the legacy of experience and knowledge developed over

the decades by Air Force safety personnel. These federal guidelines will ensure common

safety standards for federal and non-federal launch sites, and will reduce costs, improve

efficiency and ensure public safety during space launches. These launch safety

requirements are the first such set of guidelines for non-federal launch sites, and were

intended to codify and maintain safety measures that have been used by the Department

of Defense and NASA for years. Air Force Space Command, based at Peterson Air Force

Base, Colo., manages space launch activities at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.,

and Vandenberg AFB, Calif. In the 53 years that the Air Force has had oversight of

public safety for space launch activities, there have been no injuries to the public

resulting from launch operations. Web posted. (2006). [Air Force and FAA collaborate

on launch safety requirements [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.af.mil/news/

[2006, August 25].]

NASA working around stormy weather at the Cape

A lightning bolt struck near the space shuttle Atlantis today as powerful thunderstorms

rolled acrossthe Kennedy Space Center, but the launch pad lightning protection system

shielded the orbiter and officials said the countdown was on track for a Sunday launch

try, weather permitting. Forecasters are continuing to predict a 40 percent chance of

afternoon storms that could block the planned 4:30 p.m. launch, but the outlook improves

to 80 percent "go" Monday and Tuesday. NASA's launch strategy supports four attempts

in five days and LeRoy Cain, director of shuttle integration at the Florida spaceport, told

reporters "we feel very good about where we are going into the weekend." NASA started

Atlantis' countdown six hours early Thursday, knowing storms today could interrupt

work to load liquid hydrogen and oxygen to power the ship's electricity producing fuel

cells. Engineers were able to load the oxygen tanks today but work to load hydrogen was

delayed when the powerful afternoon storms developed. Lightning struck a thick wire

that runs to either side of the launch pad as part of its lightning protection system, but

launch director Mike Leinbaeh said telemetry from the shuttle showed no signs of any

unusual electrical activity. As for fuel cell loading, Leinbach said engineers had plenty of

time in a long built-in hold to make up for lost time and by tomorrow morning, the

countdown was expected to be back on track. NASA and Air Force meteorologists are

monitoring the development of tropical storm Ernesto in the southern Caribbean, but it

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does not pose any immediate threat to Florida's space coast. If Atlantis gets delayed,

however, the storm could come into play next week depending on where it is, where it's

going and how strong it might be. While the Kennedy Space Center likely will be

unaffected, the storm at some point could have an impact on Houston and mission control

at the Johnson Space Center. Web posted. (2006). [NASA working around stormy

weather at the Cape [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spaeeflightnow.com/

[2006, August 25].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment

and Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: Aug. 27, 2006, 4:30 p.m. EDT ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean

and Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. At

Launch Pad 39B, final launch preparations continue, The payload bay doors were closed

for flight last night, and loading of the fuel for the power reactant storage and distribution

system is now under way. Weather delays interrupted the PRSD loading earlier this

afternoon, but the task is expected to be completed later this evening. No impact to the

remaining schedule is expected. Also, the Tyvek ring covers have been installed on the

forward reaction control system thrusters. These covers protect the thrusters from

inclement weather. They are designed to release from the orbiter shortly after launch, as

the shuttle clears the tower. Mission managers met at KSC this afternoon to further

discuss progress made and give final approval to continue with launch activities. No

problems were discussed that would prevent an on-time launch on Sunday. Weather

forecastersindicate the launch day probability of weather prohibiting launch is 40

percent. A Bermuda high pressure ridge located over the Florida Straitsis creating a

southwesterly flow over Central Florida, bringing afternoon thunderstorms for the next

two days. The primary concerns on Sunday are anvil clouds, showers and thunderstorms

within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility. Owner-press-release. (2006).

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-082506 [Online]. Available E-mail:

owner-press-release@spinoza.public:hq.nasa.gov[2006, August 25].]

August 26: Lightning delays Atlantis launch a day

The lightningbolt thathit launch pad 39BFridaywas one of the most powerfulonrecord

atthe KennedySpace Center,sending some 100,000 amps of currentthroughthe

lightningprotection system, officialssaid today.While the lightning protectionsystem

worked, shielding the shuttleAtlantis from a directhit, engineersarc concernedabout

induced currentsthatshowed upin a brief spike in one of the shuttle'smain circuitsand

anotherin a launchpad pyrotechnic system. The spike in the shuttle electricalsystem

was very small and within allowable limits.But no such spikeswere expected, an official

said, prompting engineersto questionwhether it might have caused any problems. Atthe

sametime, telemetryindicated a spike in the circuitry associatedwith apyrotechnic

device thatreleases a hydrogen vent armfrom the side of the shugle's externaltankat

liftoff. Engineersinspecting the pad later reported a burningsmell in the area of the

gaseous hydrogen vent arm, but no obvious signs of damagewere seen. LeRoy Cain,

chairmanof NASA's Mission ManagementTeamanddirector of shuttle integrationatthe

Kennedy Space Center, delayed Atlantis' launchfor at least 24 hours, from Sunday to

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Monday at 4:04:18 p.m., to give engineers time to inspect the vent arm system and to

carry out additional tests and analyses. The forecast Monday and Tuesday is 80 percent

"go." The MMT will meet again at 10 a.m. Sunday to hear an update from the

engineering community and to make a decision about whether to proceed to launch

Monday or order an additional delay. As of this writing, it's not at all clear how that

discussion might go. Video of the lightning strike at pad 39B showed a large bolt hitting

the mast atop the shuttle gantry that anchors the pad's lightning protection system. The

shuttle wasn't hit and other than the slight 20-millisecond spike in the shuttle electrical

bus, and the concern about the hydrogen pyrotechnic device, there are no other known

problems. " The goal of the 116th shuttle mission is to deliver a $372 million solar array

truss segment to the international space station, a complex assembly task requiring three

spacewalks to complete. The shuttle's launch window, based on a requirement to launch

in daylight and to avoid conflict with a Russian Soyuz launch, runs through Sept. 7.

Atlantis' fuel cell system has enough on-board liquid oxygen and hydrogen for launch

attempts Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, although NASA does not usually make three

attempts in a row. Web posted. (2006). [Lightning delays Atlantis launch a day

[Online]. Available WWW: ht_p://www.spaceflightnow.com/ [2006, August 26].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-115 - 19th InternationalSpace Station Flight(12A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment

and SolarArrays ;Vehicle:Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location: LaunchPad 39B ; Launch

Date: Aug. 2g, 2006, 4:04 p.m. EDT ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean

and Stefanyshyn-Piper; Inclination/OrbitAltitude:51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. The

Mission ManagementTeam decidedtoday to postponethe launchof ShuttleAtlantis on

mission STS-115 for 24 hours. Launchis now scheduled for 4:04 p.m. Easterntime on

Monday,Aug. 28. OnFriday, at about 1:49p.m., a lightning strike occurred on thepad's

lightningprotection system. Managers determinedadditionaltime was requiredto be

assuredallsystems on the shuttleand the padwere not affected. Mission managerswill

meetagain Sundaymorningto furtherassesslaunch readiness. The countdownclock is

currently in an extended hold at T-11 hours. At Launch Pad 39B, launch preparations

continue. Loading of the fuel for the power reactant storage and distribution system was

completed Friday night, following a six-hour weather delay. Closeouts of the pad systems

and finalstowage of flight crew items is under way. U.S. Air Force weather officers are

forecasting a 20-percent chance of weather prohibiting a launch attempt on Monday. The

primary weather concern is for the probability of showers within 20 nautical miles of the

Shuttle Landing Facility. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing

Status Report #S-082606 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, August 26.]

August 27: Solid rocket booster tests could be ordered

NASA's Mission Management Team decided early Sunday to continue testing and

analysis to assess the possible effects of a launch pad lightning strike Friday on the

shuttle Atlantis' solid-fuel booster and self-destruct systems. Monday's launch attempt

remains feasible for now, sources said, but only if the community agrees time-consuming

tests to verify the health of booster and range safety pyrotechnic systems are not needed.

If the tests are required, launch likely would slip to mid week or later. The Mission

194
Management Team plans to meet again at 6 p.m. Sunday to discuss the progress of the

analysis and to make a decision on how to proceed. The lightning bolt hit Friday,

pumping some 100,000 amps of current through the launch pad's lightning protection

system. Lightning strikes typically generate 5,000 to 20,000 amps of current and the bolt

Friday is one of the strongest on record at the Kennedy Space Center. Telemetry showed

a very small "spike" in one of the shuttle's electrical buses and a larger surge in the

circuitry associated with a launch pad pyrotechnic device used to disconnect a hydrogen

vent arm from the shuttle's external tank. Concern that induced currents could have

affected other sensitive electrical systems on the pad or in the shuttle, Mission

Management Team Chairman LeRoy Cain on Saturday ordered Atlantis' launch delayed

for at least 24 hours, from Sunday to Monday at 4:04 p.m., to give engineers a chance to

assess their systems. Later Saturday, representatives of the shuttle booster program and

the range safety system raised concerns that prompted a late night meeting of the Mission

Management Team. Web posted. (2006). [Solid rocket booster tests could be ordered

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ [2006, August 26 updated

August 27].]

August 28: Rollback to start early Tuesday

Launch director Mike Leinbach says in an ongoing press conference that he hopes to get

Atlantis rolling back from the pad as early as 8 a.m. Tuesday, instead of Tuesday

afternoon. He's concerned about deteriorating conditions as the day wears on, and the trip

takes several hours. If for some reason the forecast changes drastically and NASA

decides at the last minute to stay on the pad, the earliest a launch could take place would

be late next weekend. If they do roll back, they can't get to a launch day before the

current end of the window, Sept. 7, according to Launch Integration Manager LeRoy

Cain. Shuttle weather officer Kathy Winters says hurricane-force winds are expected on

the Space Coast by 5 p.m. Wednesday, based on the current National Hurricane Center

forecast. Web posted. (2006). [Rollback to start early Tuesday [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/The Flame Trench [2006, August 28].]

Shuttle crawler complications

NASA's tentative plan to move shuttle Atlantis back to the Vehicle Assembly Building

just got a little more complicated. Shuttle fleet operator United Space Alliance was

moving a mobile launcher platform and a partial booster stack out of east-facing High

Bay 3 of the building, but the crawler-transporter hauling it broke down. Technicians

were able to get it started again, but the problem prompted NASA to move the stack back

into bay 3. So if NASA ultimately decides to move Atlantis, the shuttle will be rolled

into High Bay 2, which is on the southwest side of the building. The bay was converted

into a shuttle hurricane shelter back in the mid-1990s. An Atlantis rollback,

consequently, would take about 12 hours -- or about four hours longer than a move from

pad 39B to the east-facing bay. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle crawler complications

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/The Flame Trench [2006,

August 28].1

Rollback preps ordered for Atlantis

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In what amounts to a "perfect storm" of high winds, high stakes and international drama,

tropical storm Ernesto is now predicted to hit southern Florida as a possible category two

or three hurricane early Wednesday, passing within a few miles of the Kennedy Space

Center laterthat day. NASA managers early today ordered engineers to begin

preparations for rolling shuttle Atlantis offthe launch pad and back to the protection of

the Vehicle Assembly Building, eliminating any chance of launching the shuttle Tuesday.

While its movement over land will decrease Ernesto's strength, the current track likely

will bring tropical storm-force winds to Florida's space coast by Wednesday morning and

possible category one hurricane-force winds by Wednesday night. NASA managers met

this morning at 7 a.m. to discussthe storm and quickly decided to begin preparations to

roll Atlantis off the launch pad, a move that would take 42 hours to complete. Rollback

can be called offat any point between now and Tuesday afternoon if the storm changes

strength or direction. NASA's safety rules forbid moving the unprotected orbiter offthe

pad in winds higher than 40 knots. On Sunday, when the storm's track was well west of

the space center, NASA managers expected 40-knot winds early Wednesday morning,

giving them time to complete a rollback, if necessary, by Tuesday evening. NASA

managers considered ordering a rollback Sunday night but deferred a decision to today

believing they had time before the onset of 40-knot winds. By deferring a decision,

NASA kept open the possibility of launching Atlantis Tuesday on a space station

assembly mission if Ernesto's track or strength dramatically changed. That option is now

closed. Atlantis' launch window closes Sept. 7, based on a desire to launch in daylight

for photo documentation of the shuttle's heat shield and external tank and because of

conflict with launch of a Russian Soyuz rocket carrying the space station's next crew.

While the shuttle can launch as late as Sept. 13 from a lighting standpoint, any launch

past Sept. 7 would force the Russians to delay the Soyuz launch and, more important,

delay the return to Earth of the station's outgoing crew. A shuttle launch on Sept. 7 would

result in a pre-dawn landing for the returning Soyuz. Every day past Sept. 7 would move

the landing earlier in the day and Russian managers want to avoid a dead-of-night

touchdown because the recovery team will be conducting its first operation under new

civilian management. A rollback likely would use up NASA's available launch window,

barring a concession form the Russiansto delay the Soyuz launch. Even if Ernesto passes

without causing major damage, it would take NASA at least eight days to ready the ship

for flight after rolling back out to pad 39B. Web posted. (2006). [Rollback preps ordered

for Atlantis [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/The Flame

Trench [2006, August 28].]

August 29: Kennedy Space Center Closes For Tropical Storm Ernesto

As a result of Tropical StormErnestoapproachingCentralFlorida, Kennedy Space

Center will close at midnight tonight. All non-essential KSC employees are being asked

not to report to work on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Based on current conditions, the center is

expected to reopen Thursday, Aug. 31, or as soon as the "all clear" is given. A ride-out

crew has been designated and will remain at KSC in critical facilities during the storm. If

HURCON I (hurricane condition with 58 mph sustained winds within 12 hours) is

declared, the ride-out crew will report to their appointed stations until the "all clear" is

given. ["Kennedy Space Center Closes For Tropical Storm Ernesto," NASA News

Release #56-06, August 29, 2006.]

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NASA errs on side of caution

Shuttle Atlantis is headed back to its assembly building after a decision to avoid any

chance that Tropical Storm Emesto might spawn hurricane-force winds as it passes near

Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday. The move began at 10:06 a.m. and is expected to

take about 10 hours to complete. It was a tough call for NASA officials. The move could

delay the resumption of International Space Station assembly until late October. But

when it came down to it, NASA decided it made more sense to haul the shuttle out of

harm's way than risk damage to the $2 billion spaceship at the launch pad. "There was a

sense that there was a lot at stake either way," said KSC spokesman Bruce Buckingham.

"But we are always cautious when it comes to the health of the shuttle, the safety of the

vehicle. We do not take unnecessary risks." The launch pad is designed to withstand

winds up to 125 mph. NASA safety rules call for a rollback if peak winds are expected to

top 79 mph. And while winds from Emesto are expected to be well below that

threshhotd, managers were concerned that flying debris could damage the shuttle at the

pad. The pad is equipped with a robust weather protection system, but the shuttle's

external tank nonetheless is exposed on the pad. Web posted. (2006). [NASA errs on

side of caution [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/The Flame

Trench [2006, August 29].]

August 30: KSC Visitor Complex closed Wednesday

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is closed today and Wednesday because of

Tropical Storm Ernesto. The visitor complex is closing today to prepare for severe winds

that could damage. Tentatively, the visitor complex could reopen as early as Thursday. A

decision will not be made until the storm is through the Space Coast. Workers are

placing sandbags and moving outdoor equipment indoors, as well as securing and

protecting space items that can't be moved inside. Unless they are part of the close-out

team for the visitor complex, workers are asked not to come to the visitor complex today

or tomorrow. Workers can call a hotline at 449-0969 for updates on work schedules and

other issues related to the storm. Web posted. (2006). [KSC Visitor Complex closed

Wednesday [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.corrd The Flame

Trench [2006, August 30].]

August 31: NASA aims for Wednesday launch

After a week of weather delays, NASA officials on Thursday set a Wednesday launch

time for space shuttle Atlantis on its mission to resume construction of the international

space station. The launch decision was made after a check of Kennedy Space Center

following Ernesto's pass as a tropical depression on Wednesday found no serious

damage. "We're back," said NASA spokesman Bill Johnson. "There was no water

intrusion in any operational areas, and so basically we came through this one unscathed."

The launch time was set for 12:29 p.m. EDT on Wednesday. If the shuttle doesn't lift off

then, NASA has launch opportunities in the following two days. Atlantis' six astronauts,

who flew in their training jets back to Houston earlier this week, planned to return to

Florida Saturday morning. The countdown was set to begin Sunday morning. Tropical

Storm Ernesto's approach and a lightning strike on the launch pad last week had forced

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NASA to delay the launch. Web posted. (2006). [NASA aims for Wednesday launch

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.cnn.com/[2006, August 31].]

Kennedy Space Center Reopens After the Passage of Ernesto

The KennedySpaceCenter returnedto normaloperationstoday with the passage of

TropicalStorm Ernesto late Wednesday.There is no apparentdamage to Space Shuttle

Atlantisat Pad 39-B or to the Delta IIrocket for the STEREO mission atPad 17-B.

Inspectionsare continuingtoday. No damageto facilitieson Kennedy Space Center or

CapeCanaveralAir Force Stationhas been found. The peakwind at Pad 39-B was 44

mph, and the total rainfallfor the storm was 4.16 inches.At the top of the 500-foot

weathertower located north of the Vehicle Assembly Building, a peak wind of 56 mph

was measured. Launch of Space Shuttle Atlantisis targetedfor no earlierthan

Wednesday,Sept. 6. ["Kennedy SpaceCenterReopens AfterThe Passage of Ernesto,"

NASA News Release #57-06, August 31, 2006.]

Lockheed Wins Contract to Build NASA's New Spaceship

Lockheed Martin Corp.won a multibillion-dollar contractyesterdayto build a vehicle to

replaceNASA'sspace shuttles,put a human on the moon for the firsttime since 1972 and

be the precursor to a manned spaceship to Mars. The award marks NASA's most

concrete step to fulfill President Bush's two-year-old, $230 billion promise that the space

agency would return astronauts to the moon and restore excitement about space

exploration. NASA has planned to replace the shuttles since the mid-1980s and has spent

almost $5 billion to do so -- with little success so far. "It'sjust thrilling, for all of us,"

said Skip Hatfield, NASA's project manager. The vehicle, known as Orion, is the

embodiment of the "very future of human space flight," he said. Orion will look

somewhat like the three-man Apollo command module but will carry as many as six

astronauts. Like the shuttle, Orion will be able to carry cargo to and from the

International Space Station. Orion is expected to make its first manned flight by 2014,

four years after NASA's three operating shuttles are retired. NASA said it hopes for a

moon landing by 2020. Unlike the shuttle, which lands like an airplane on a runway,

Orion will descend with the aid of a parachute to landings in the ocean or on land. NASA

plans to build two of the vehicles, one for manned flight and the other for unmanned.

Afterjudging how often the spaceships can be reused, the agency will decide how many

more to buy, Hatfield said. Web posted. (2006). [Lockheed Wins Contract to Build

NASA's New Spaceship [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.washingtonpost.com/

[2006,August 31].]

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SEPTEMBER 2006

September 1: Layoffs Hit Kennedy Space Center

CentralFlorida Newsl3 reported thatin a cost cutting move, one of NASA's contractors

will be laying offworkers atthe SpaceCenter.This move comes.justdays before another

scheduledlaunchof the Space ShuttleAtlantis. 75 NASA contractorswill lose their

jobs. They work for SGS, a contractorthatkeepsthe infrastructureof the space center

running.The contractor foughtto keep somejobs, butnowhave to tell those 75

employees,they'll no longer have ajob atthe space center. The laid offemployees

include engineeringsupportandenvironmentalservices workers along with spacecenter

police and firefighterswho would supportrescues ifa space shuttlehada launch

accident. The companysays it can still do itsjob. NASA and the AirForce originally

told SGS to lay off 115. The company fought tillthatnumberdroppedto 75. However,

there aremore layoffs to come.NASA pointsoutthatthe spaceshuttle'sreplacementwill

notrequire as many workers. Webposted. (2006). [LayoffsHit KennedySpaceCenter

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.cfnewsl3.com/[2006, September 1].]

Top employers in Brevard County

The top seven asidentifiedby the EconomicDevelopmentCommission of Florida's

SpaceCoast.* United SpaceAlliance (LockheedMartin/Boeingpartnership)6,500

* Harris Corp. 6,500

* HealthFirst6,100

* SpaceGateway Support 3,000

* WuesthoffHealth System 2,500

* NorthropGrnmman 2,000

* TheBoeing Co. 1,800

Number 12: * Lockheed Martin SpaceSystems Co. 975

Webposted. (2006). [Top employersin BrevardCounty [Online]. AvailableWWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, September 1].]

Shuttle weathers storm

NASA reopenedKennedy SpaceCenterThursdayandresumedpreparationsfor

Wednesday'splanned launchof Atlantis afterthe spaceportand the shuttle came through

Ernestounscathed. "We'rein great shape," saidKSC spokeswomanTracy Young.

Added centerspokesman Bruce Buckingham, "Wedidn'teven have to send outour

damageassessmentteam." Ernestohadweakened considerablyby the time it swept

throughcentral Floridaon Wednesdayevening. Therewas no apparentdamageto

Atlantis or its $372 million payload,anew truss segmentfor the InternationalSpace

Station. Thepeak wind at launchpad39B, where the shuttle is being readiedfor flight,

was 44 mph.The totalamountof rainfall recordedwas 4.16 inches. A 56-mphgustwas

measuredby instrumentationatthe topof a 500-foot weather tower north of the Vehicle

AssemblyBuilding. The windsturnedoutto be "far less than we hadanticipated,"

Buckinghamsaid. No damagewas doneto two Boeing Delta 2 rocketsbeing readiedfor

launchatnearby Cape CanaveralAir Force Stationeither. The storm passedthroughthe

area more quickly thanNASA hadanticipated,enablingthe agencyto reopen KSC and

launch pad 39B by first shift Thursday. Technicians verified mechanical, electrical and

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other connections between the pad and the shuttle. They also began installation of small

explosive devices used to separate the shuttle from its mobile launcher platform, two

solid rocket boosters and external tank in flight. Today, engineers will pressurize the

shuttle orbiter's main propulsion system as well as tanks that feed its twin maneuvering

engines and 44 nose-and-tall steering thrusters. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle weathers

storm [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, September 1].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment

and Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlanfls (OV-104) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: Sept. 6, 2006, 12:29 p.m. EDT ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean

and Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. At

Launch Pad 39B, preparations for Wednesday'slaunch are under way, with the launch

countdown scheduled to begin on Sunday at 8 a.m. The liquid oxygen and liquid

hydrogen transfer lines used for filling the external fuel tank (ET) were reconnected to

the mobile launch platform. The ET hydrogen vent line hook-up is complete. The

ordnance was disconnected to allow for vehicle power-up and will be reconnected this

weekend. The Orbiter Midbody Umbilical Unit (OMBUU) mate is complete. This is the

connection point for lines that will be used to provide hydrogen and oxygen reactants for

the fuel cells. Weekend work includes pressurization of the orbital maneuvering system,

the reaction control system and the main propulsion system. The two doors to the aft

compartment of Atlantis were removed for access to ordnance, and they will be closed

during the weekend to allow for the aft confidence test on Sunday. This test involves

powering up and testing all aft systems, such asthe main propulsion system circuits. On

Tuesday, the shuttle was moved off the pad in advance of Tropical Storm Ernesto, then

returned to the pad after traveling about 2 miles toward the Vehicle Assembly Building

when the storm predictions became more favorable. On Thursday, engineers inspected

the ET thermal protection system, post-rollback, and found three areas of minor foam

damage. One area, about 3/8 inches long, is located at the midsection of the liquid oxygen

tank, about 2 feet outboard of the ice frost ramps. A second area, about 1 inch long by

1/16 inch wide, is located near the ET/right SRB aft fairing, which is the attach point

between the two components. Both of these resemble a scratch, are accessible and are

expected to be easily repaired. The third area, a missing foam nodule from the liquid

hydrogen barrel between the ET and the left SRB, about five feet below the intertank

flange closeouts, will not need repair. Mission: STS-116 - 20th International Space

Station Flight (12A.1) - P5 Truss Segment ; Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location:

Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 ; Launch Date: No earlier than Dec. 14, 2006 ; Launch

Pad: 39B ; Crew: Polansky, Oefelein, Curbeam, Higginbotham, Patrick, Fuglesang and

Williams ;Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. Processing of

Discovery for its next mission, STS-116, continues in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3.

Work was interrupted this week by the arrival of Tropical Storm Ernesto, but the vehicle

is now configured for normal operations, and system testing on the main propulsion

system continues. Preparations for removal and replacement of auxiliary power nnit No.

3 are in work, The brake ant't-skid and nose wheel steering testing is in work. Final

eloseouts are under way to complete installation of the orbiter's drag chute. This weekend

the orbiter's thermal protection system will be waterproofed. Endeavour (OV-105);

200
Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2

following an extensive modification period. Work was interrupted this week by the

arrival of Tropical Storm Ernesto, but the orbiter is now configured for normal work and

technicians are performing electrical tests on the remote manipulator system (shuttle arm)

pedestal wire harnesses. Rigging of the orbiter boom sensor system pedestals is under

way. Workers continue to remove and replace gap fillers in the high priority areas of the

orbiter's underside. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing Status

Report #S-090106 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, September 1].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) ; Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station ; Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II ;Launch Date: No earlier

than Oct. 18, 2006 ; Launch Time: TBD. A decision was made to remove the STEREO

second stage from the launch vehicle and perform inspection from inside the propellant

tank to verify it is structurally sound for flight. The launch of STEREO is now targeted

for no earlier than Oct. 18. An electrical checkout of the vehicle is under way due to

lightning strikes within a one-third mile radius of Complex 17 during the passing of

Tropical Storm Emesto. The STEREO observatories remain at the Astrotech Space

Operations Facility. Today technicians removed the transportation canister from around

the payload to begin the process of reconditioning the batteries and preparing for the

storage period (currently about 30 days). The twin spacecraft will remain in storage until

the necessary course of action for the Delta II can be more clearly defined. There was no

effect on the STEREO spacecraft from Tropical Storm Ernesto. KSC News Center

(2006). Expendable Launch Vehicles StatusReport ELV-090106 [Online].

Available E-mail: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, September 1].]

Launch Countdown Begins Sept. 4 for Atlantis

NASA will begin the countdown once again for the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on

mission STS-115 Sept. 3 at 8 a.m. EDT, at the T-43 hour point. During this mission,

Atlantis' crew will resume the construction of the International Space Station, which is

the goal of the space shuttle flights remaining in the program. The Kennedy Space

Center launch team will conduct the countdown from the newly renovated Firing Room 4

of the Launch Control Center. The countdown includes 33 hours, 24 minutes of built-in

hold time leading to a preferred launch time at about 12:29 p.m. on Sept. 6 with a launch

window extending about five minutes. This mission isthe 116th space shuttle flight, the

27th flight for orbiter Atlantis, and the 19thU.S. flight to the International Space Station.

STS-115 is scheduled to last 11 days with a planned KSC landing at about 8:03 a.m. EDT

on Sept. 17. Atlantis rolled into Kennedy's Orbiter Processing Facility on Oct. 18, 2002,

after returning from its last mission, STS-112. Its next mission was planned to be STS114; however, during the program delays following the loss of orbiter Columbia, Atlantis

was reassigned to mission STS-115. The orbiter rolled out of the facility's bay 1 and into

the Vehicle Assembly Building on July 24, 2006. While in the building's high bay 3,

Atlantis was mated to its modified external tank and solid rocket boosters, The entire

space shuttle stack was transferred to Launch Pad 39Bon Aug. 2. A lightning strike at

the pad Aug. 25 caused the launch to slip from Aug. 27. As assessments of the strike's

201
impact were conducted, Tropical Storm Emesto threatened the Space Coast. Atlantis was

rolled halfway back to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Aug. 29 for protection from

the storm, but returned to the pad again on the same day after shuttle managers received a

more favorable weather forecast. The STS-115 crew includes Commander Brent Jett,

Pilot Chris Ferguson, and Mission Specialists Joe Tanner, Dan Burbank, Heidemarie

Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve MacLean of the Canadian Space Agency. During mission

STS-115, Atlantis will dock with the station and the crew will perform three spacewatks.

The astronauts will deliver and install the 17.5 ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss

segment to the station's girder-like truss backbone. The new piece will include a second

set of giantsolar arrays, batteries and associated electronics. Together, the trusses and

solar arrays will provide one-fourth of the total power-generation capability of the

completed station. ["Launch Countdown Begins Sept. 3 for Space Shuttle Atlantis,"

NASA News Release #59-06, September 1,2006.]

NASA Requests Proposals for Exploration Park Developer

NASA today issued a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) for the selection of a master

developer for a 320-acre technology and commerce park at Kennedy Space Center. The

RFP seeks offers from qualified firms interested in leading the development and longterm operation of Exploration Park, which NASA as established to enable and grow

private sector participation in space exploration, support commercial space transportation

and promote commercial development of technologies for application in space and on

earth. NASA plans to negotiate a 50-year lease and development agreement, which could

extend for up to 99 years, with the selected master developer. NASA has also invited

prospective tenants that desire occupancy in the initial phase of the park to formally

expresstheir interest to the agency. ["NASA Requests Proposals for Exploration Park

Developer," NASA News Release #58-06, September 1, 2006.]

September 2: After Storm Evacuation, Shuttle Crew Returns to Florida

Fourdays afterevacuatingthe Kennedy SpaceCenteras Tropical StormErnesto

approached,the six crew membersof the spaceshuttleAtlantisflew back to Floridaon

Saturdayto prepare for a launching on Wednesday. When the crew left in training jets

last Tuesday for a trip to Houston, they watched from the air as the space shuttle crawled

off the launching pad on a journey to an assembly building for shelter, said Capt. Brent

W. Jett Jr., the shuttle commander. Midway through the shuttle's four-mile journey,

managers with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration decided to return it to

the launching pad once the storm's intensity had been downgraded. The decision gave

NASA an opportunity to launch on Wednesday, rather than several weeks later. "I think

all of usthought we were going to be spending a little while in Houston," Captain Jett

said Saturday after returning to the Kennedy Space Center. "I think we're all really happy

that just four days later we're back here and we have a shot at this launch window." By

the time the storm reached the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday night, it had been

downgraded to a tropical depression, and peak gusts at the launching pad were at 44

miles an hour, well below the 79 m.p.h, threshold that requires the shuttle to be moved

indoors. Engineers inspecting the Atlantis the next day found three areas of minor foam

damage on its external fuel tank: a three-eighths-inch cut in the middle of the liquid

oxygen tank, a one-inch scratch near where the tank connects to the solid rocket boosters,

202
and a missing lump of foam from the liquid hydrogen barrel. The first two scratches

were expected to be repaired easily, and the missing foam will not need to be replaced,

NASA officials said. Web posted. (2006). [After Storm Evacuation, Shuttle Crew

Returns to Florida [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.nvtimes.com/[2006,

September 2].]

September 4: NASA IG examines KSC problem tracking

NASA's Inspector General has issued a report saying that the agency could improve the

way it tracks problems with the shuttle fleet at Kennedy Space Center. NASA employs a

so-called Problem Reporting and Corrective Action (PRACA) system to track problems

and their root causes, document corrective actions and provide a database the agency can

use to prevent recurrence. The agency's Office of Inspector General audited the system

and said that it included inaccurate and incomplete data, and that KSC should put in place

a means to improve the system. The IG is not the first time find fault with the system.

The Columbia Accident Investigation Board found that the system did not enable NASA

to adequately track a long history of the type of external tank foam shedding that led to

the 2003 loss of Columbia and its seven astronauts. A separate board that investigated

wiring problems that led to a five-month grounding of the shuttle fleet in 1999 expressed

similar concerns. NASA shuttle program manager Wayne Hale said the system is

considered "extremely important" to the agency and that a team of technica! experts is

coming up with a plan to address the recommendations made by the IG. Web posted.

(2006). [NASA IG examines KSC problem tracking [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com/The Flame Trench [2006, September 4.]

NASA: Three consecutive attempts possible

NASA is planning to make three consecutive launch attempts, if necessary, to get shuttle

Atlantis off the ground so the agency can resume construction of the International Space

Station after a near-four-year hiatus. The strategy is a bit unusua!. NASA has only made

three consecutive launch attempts once before: on STS-101 back in late April 2000. The

agency generally will make two attempts and then stand down a day to rest its launch

team. The move in 2000 was unprecedented, and unsuccessful. Stiffcrosswinds at the

KSC Shuttle Landing Facility forced NASA to scrub two initial attempts on April 24 and

April 25. The third on April 26 was postponed due to bad weather at emergency landing

sites overseas, which was a bit of a rarity itself. It was only the fifth time in 19 years of

shuttle operations up to that point that overseasweather had forced a shuttle scrub. The

STS-101 flight fell back behind a string of previously planned missions that included four

unmanned rocket missions and a classified fleet ballistic missile test. Atlantis and a crew

of seven finally launched on May 19, 2000. The weather for the upcoming Atlantis

launch, however, still is looking good. Meteorologists say there is an 80 percent chance

conditions will be acceptable for flight at liftofftime: 12:29 p.m. Wednesday. On

Thursday and Friday, the forecast calls for a 70 percent chance that the weather will be

good enough to go. Web posted. (2006). [NASA: Three consecutive attempts possible

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/The Flame Trench [2006,

September 4.]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

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Mission: STS-115 - 19th Intemational Space Station Flight (I 2A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment

and SolarArrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location: Launch Pad 39B ; Launch

Date: Sept. 6, 2006, 12:29 p.m. EDT ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean

and Stefanyshyn-Piper ; Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. At

Launch Pad 39B, preparations for Wednesday's launch are under way. The launch

countdown began on Sunday at 8 a.m. The pressurization of the orbital maneuvering

system,the reaction control system and the main propulsion system is complete. The aft

confidence test is complete. This test involves power-up and testing of all aft systems,

such asthe main propulsion system circuits. The power reactant storage and distribution

system fuel loading is complete. Weather officials are predicting favorable conditions for

Wednesday'slaunch attempt, with a 20 percent chance of weather prohibiting the launch.

Dryer conditions are expected to arrive on Wednesday, and the early launch time should

avoid the afternoon thunderstorms. The primary concerns for launch are cumulus clouds

within 10 nautical miles of the launch pad, and isolated showers within 20 nautical miles

of the Shuttle Landing Facility. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing

Status Report #S-090406 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, September 4].]

September 5: Shuttle weather forecast worsens

NASA is marching through the final full day of a shuttle launch countdown at Kennedy

Space Center, aiming to send Atlantis and six astronauts aloft Wednesday on a mission to

resume eonstrnetion of the half-built International Space Station. But meteorologists now

expect an increase in moisture in the atmosphere, and they say there is only a 70 percent

chance that conditions will be acceptable for launch -- down from 80 percent. Liftoff

remains scheduled for 12:29 p.m. Wednesday, and NASA still plans to begin loading the

shuttle's 15-story external tank with a half-million gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid

oxygen around 2:30 a.m. that today. Engineers earlier today finished filling the 290-foottall sound suppression system water tartk at launch pad 39B, where Atlantis is being

readied for launch. The system dumps 300,000 gallons of water on the pad surface prior

to liftoff to dampen the acoustical wave that accompanies ignition of the shuttle's solid

rocket boosters and main engines, avoiding a potential damage to the orbiter and its

payload. Final close-out work on the mobile launcher platform and a checkout of the

shuttle'sstar tracker navigation devices beganjust before 6 a.m. Later today engineers

and technicians will activate the orbiter's communications systems, install film in

cameras around the launch pad and stow flight crew equipment in the shuttle's crew

cabin. The Rotating Service Structure is to be moved away from the shuttle around 3

p.m., and the this evening, the orbiter's three power-producing fuel cells will be activated

and the blast danger zone surrounding the pad will be cleared of all non-essential

personnel. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle weather forecast worsens [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com! The Flame Trench [2006, September 5].]

Air Force Jets Ready To Protect Shuttle From Terrorism

The Air Force is stepping up its counter-terrorismflights over CentralFlorida in advance

of Wednesday's shuttle launch. Air Force F-15s and F-16s fighter planes will be in the

air Tuesday night and on Wednesday to protect the astronauts. NASA's biggest fear is a

small airplane flying in off the ocean and slamming into a space shuttle full of rocket

204
fuel. The only way to stop such an attack isto have fighter planes in the air, ready to

shoot at anything that gets too close. Air Force officers said they've received no specific

additional threats against the shuttle, but they are raising the profile and increasing the

frequency of these patrols. Air Force jets can fly more than twice the speed of sound.

That's fast enough to easily outrace a small plane that might be headed for a collision

with the shuttle on the pad. The Air Force is also restricting all civilian flights in and out

of local airports. Local pilots have been sternly warned to stay out of the shuttle's air

space. The Air Force pilots get one of the most amazing views available of the shuttle

launch. It's one that's tempting for small plane owners, too. The fighter jets will restrict

the airspace up to 40 miles from the launch pad. That will affect noncommercial flights

out of Orlando International Airport, along with local airports in Melbourne, Titusville

andNew Smyrna Beach. Web posted. (2006). [Air Force Jets Ready To Protect Shuttle

From Terrorism [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.wesh.com! [2006, September

5].1

Danger is the only constant

NASA intendsto jump-startthe most complex engineeringproject in human history

Wednesday,launching six astronautson the first InternationalSpace Stationassembly

mission since the 2003 Columbia accident. Set to blast off from Kennedy Space Center

at 12:29 p.m., the flight aboard Atlantis will be the first of 15 required to finish the halfbuilt station and retire the shuttle fleet before a 2010 deadline established by President

Bush. Five massive truss segments, three sets of power-producing solar arrays, science

laboratories from Europe and Japan and other components still must be erected amid an

intricate assembly sequence that leaves little margin for error. "The assembly of(the

station) has been described as one of the most difficult tasks ever attempted by humans,

and I'm here to tell you that it seems like it's going to be that hard," said Mike Sufffedini,

who manages the construction project for NASA. "These are extremely intense,

extremely tightly choreographed missions -- probably more so than any we have done in

the past," added Phil Engelauf, NASA's chief of mission operations. Circling 213 miles

above Earth, the 200-ton station and three tenants will be passing high over the Pacific

Ocean south of Tasmania at launch time Wednesday. The Russian side of the outpost

features a command-and-control center that doubles as crew quarters, a space tug that

also serves as a storage unit, and a barrel-shaped airlock. Each is equipped with a docking

port, and a telescoping construction boom is fixed to the outside of the airlock. The U.S.

Unity module serves as a bridge to the American section of the station. It leads to the

U.S. Destiny science laboratory, an attached shuttle docking port, and the U.S. Quest

aMock. There's also a Canadian-built construction crane that can be moved from the hull

of the lab to a rail cart that runs between work sites along the station's American-made

central truss. Now the size of a small three-bedroom house, the station was raised during

a series of 18 shuttle and Russian rocket missions and 69 spacewalking excursions

outside the outpost. Over the next four years, the station is expected to double in size and

mass, ultimately weighing about 925,000 pounds. By 2009, the outpost will be equipped

to house crews of six people -- twice as many as today. And it will operate in orbit until

at least 2017, the year before NASA hopes to send astronauts back to the moon. Getting

the job done before the presidential deadline will not be easy. Web posted. (2006).

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[Danger isthe only constant [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/

[2006, September 5].]

NASA: Falcons might chase offvultures

As part of an ongoing bid to prevent deadly bird strikes during shuttle launches, NASA is

negotiating with falconers that could bring trained raptors to Kennedy Space Center to

scare off troublesome vultures. The potential hazard was pointed up when a vulture

slammed into the shuttle Discovery's external tank shortly after liftoff of NASA's first

post-Columbia test flight in July 2005. No damage was done, but the bird strike

prompted NASA to form an "avian abatement team" to develop means to reduce the

threat to shuttles in flight. That effort resulted in NASA's "Road Kill Round-Up," a

program aimed reducing the vulture population at KSC by quickly gathering carrion, and

thus, eliminating a prime food source for the scavengers. Thousands of pounds of road

kill has been collected in the past six months. In addition, NASA now uses radar to

survey the launch pad area for flocks before clearing a shuttle for liftoff. Hiring a

falconerto bring young, trained raptorsonto the center is the latest idea being

investigated by the agency, NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach said today. Falcons

typically claim an area as their territory and chase away other birds of prey like hawks

and vultures. Web posted. (2006). [NASA: Falcons might chase offvultures [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.fioridatodav.com/The Flame Trench [2006, September

5].]

NASA look to move Hubble mission to 2007

NASA is evaluatingthe possibility of moving the finalHubble SpaceTelescope servicing

mission from April 2008, to December 2007 - following a request to the Shuttle Program

fromthe group in charge of the telescope. STS-125, currently manifested to launch with

Shuttle Discovery, will receive final authorization next month, with plans for a unique

LON (Launch On Need) rescue mission also in works. The flagship mission for the final

run of launches prior to Shuttle retirement, HSM-04 will be the final life extending

mission to the telescope. The last Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission took place

on STS-109, with one of the most spectacular launches ever witnessed at the Kennedy

Space Center, as Columbia's dawn launch pierced through low clouds, lighting up the

State of Florida in the process. Such changes would see the Hubble mission sandwiching

the two JAXA (Japanese Space Agency) missions, currently flight 7: December 6, 2007 -

STS-123 - 1J/A - Endeavour - JEM ELM-PS, SLP-D1 with SPDM Dextre - and flight: 8:

February 7, 2008 - STS-124 - 1J- Atlantis - JEM PM, JEM RMS. 'Hubble Space

Telescope (HST): Hubble ServicingMission is currently slotted for around April 2008,

HST project would like to go in December 2007,' noted a NASA update on the current

STS manifest. 'Japanese flights (1J/A & 1J) would stay were they are manifested, the

HST mission would be between 1J/A and 1J. Space Shuttle Program (SSP) is looking at

other options. Decision expected by end of October.' Other notable changes on the latest

manifest include: STS-116 has a new flight

Below is the current STS launch manifest (updated).

1 - September 6, 2006 - STS-115 - 12A - Atlantis ? P3/P4

(November 11, 2006 - STS-301 - LON for STS-115 - Discovery)

2 - December 14, 2006 - STS-116 - 12A.1 - Discovery - P5, Spacehab-SM, ICC

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(February 9, 2007 - STS-317 - LON for STS-116 - Atlantis)

3 - February 22, 2007 - STS-117 - 13A - Atlantis - S3/$4

(May 8, 2007 - STS-318 - LON for STS-117 - Endeavour)

4 -June 11, 2007 - STS-118 - 13A.1 - Endeavour - S5, Spacehab-SM, ESP3

(July 26, 2007 - STS-320 - LON for STS-118 - Atlantis)

5 - August 9, 2007 - STS-120 - 10A - Atlantis - Node 2, PDGF

(September 28, 2007 - STS-322 - LON for STS-120 - Discovery)

6 - October 17,2007 - STS-122 - 1E- Discovery - Columbus, ICC-Lite

7 - December 6, 2007 - STS-123 - 1J/A - Endeavour - JEM ELM-PS, SLP-D1

with SPDM Dextre

8 - February 7, 2008 - STS-124 - 1J- Atlantis -JEM PM, JEM RMS

9 -April 17, 2008 - STS-125 - HST SM-04 - Discovery

10 - June 19, 2008 - STS-119 - 15A - Endeavour - $6

11 - August 21, 2008 - STS-126 - ULF2 - Atlantis - MPLM Leonardo

(last flight of OV- 104)

12 - October 30, 2008 - STS-127 - 2J/A - Discovery - JEM EF, JEM ELM-ES, SLP-D2

13 - January 22, 2009 - STS-128 - 17A- Endeavour - MPLM Donatello, LMC

14 - April 30, 2009 - STS-129 - ULF3 - Discovery - ELC1, ELC2 (last flight of OV-103)

15 - July 16, 2009 - STS-130 - 19A- Endeavour - MPLM Donatello, LMC

(October 22, 2009 - STS-131 - ULF4/CLF - Discovery - ELC3, ELC4)

16 - January 21, 2010 - STS-132 - 20A - Endeavour - Node 3 with Cupola

(last flight of OV-105) (July 15, 2010 - STS-133 - ULF5/CLF -

Endeavour - ELC5, ELC1)

Web posted. (2006). [NASA look to move Hubble mission to 2007 [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.nasaspacefli_ht.com/[2006, September 5].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission:STS-115 - 19th InternationalSpace StationFlight (!2A) - P3/P4 Truss Segment

andSolar Arrays; Vehicle: Atlantis(OV-104) ; Location:LaunchPad 39B ; Launch

Date: Sept. 6, 2006, 12:29 p.m. EDT ; Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean

and Stefanyshyn-Piper ; InclinatiordOrbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. At

Launch Pad 39B, preparations for Wednesday's launch are under way. The external tank

camera functional test is complete. Rain covers have been installed on the reaction

control system thrusters, and all engine covers have been removed for launch. Workers

continue stowing flight crew items in the orbiter crew module. The orbiter

communications systems have been powered up for flight. The launch pad rotating

service structure, which protects the shuttle prior to launch, will be rolled away from the

shuttle today. Weather officials are predicting favorable conditions for Wednesday's

launch attempt, with a 30-percent chance of weather prohibiting the launch. A lowpressure area may develop over Central Florida on Wednesday, increasing the potential

for moisture in the atmosphere. However, the early launch time is expected to avoid the

afternoon thunderstorms. The primary concerns for launch are cumulus clouds within 10

nautical miles of the launch pad and isolated showers within 20 nautical miles of the

Shuttle Landing Facility. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space Shuttle Processing

Status Report #S-090506 [Online]. Available E-mail: owner-pressrelease@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov [2006, September 5].]

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'Anxious anticipation' for shuttle

Launchintegration manager LeRoy Cain says the shuttleteam is filled with "anxious

anticipation"of Wednesday'slaunch. "We work so hardto get to this point,"he said in an

ongoing briefing. "As it's been said,the first couple inches are the hardest part of the

whole flight." The mission managementteam met this morning andfoundno issues

standingin theway of launch.Theyput to rest discussion of anunusualhaz-gas reading

atthe launchpad- a slight indicationof gaseous oxygen in one reading in the aft of

orbiter,launchdirectorMike Leinbachsaid. He's confidentit was associated with a

ground system that is no longer attached to the ship. "This is not a problem for us," he

said. "This is not a constraint." The weather forecast is 70 percent "go" for launch, with a

chance of showers and storms. Of more concern for the moment is this aftemoon's

weather, which could delay rollback of the rotating service structure that encloses

Atlantis at the pad. "If we get it back before the weather sets in, that's great," Leinbach

said. If not, later will be OK, too, he said. He's not concerned about storms rolling over

the pad after the structure is rolled back, especially since the chance of hail today is

extremely low. The shuttle can get wet with no issues. "The countdown's going

extremely well," Leinbach said. Said Cain: "I think tomorrow's going to be a good day."

Web posted. (2006). ['Anxious anticipation' for shuttle [Online]. Available WWW:

http:/!www.floridatoda¥.com/The Flame Trench [2006, September 5].]

Hale talks foam redesign, mission extension options

NASA managersareholdingopen the possibilityof extending the shuttleAtlantis'

missionby at least one andpossibly two daysto give the crew time to carry out

additionalheat shield inspectionsand to handle anyunexpectedproblemsthatmight crop

up, officials saidtoday. Atlantis is scheduledfor blastoffWednesday at 12:29 p.m.on a

space station assembly mission considered one of the most complex shuttle flights in

recent memory. There are no technical problems of any significance at pad 39B and

forecasters are predicting a 70 percent chance of good weather Wednesday, Thursday and

Friday. "We really are working no issues, the vehicle's in very good shape," said LeRoy

Cain, launch site chairman of NASA's Mission Management Team. "I conducted the

go/no-go poll to continue and everybody on the team is go and in good spirits. We're

ready to press forward from here." Launch Director Mike Leinbach said engineers may

move the launch pad service gantry away from Atlantis an hour or so early today to beat

the onset of expected afternoon thunderstorms. "If we get it back before the weather sets

in, that's great," he said. "Ifnot, we'll recover that time after the weather passes.

Typically, we hold four or five hours in abeyance for RSS (rotating service structure)

retract. So if we do get hit by the afternoon weather that really shouldn't pose a problem

for us." The Mission Management Team plans to meet at 1:45 a.m. Wednesday to assess

theweather and give engineers clearance to proceed with loading Atlantis' external tank

with liquid oxygen and hydrogen rocket fuel. Fueling is scheduled to begin at 2:33 a.m.

and if all goes well, commander Brent Jett, pilot Chris Ferguson, flight engineer Dan

Burbank, Joe Tanner, Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean and Heidemarie StefanyshynPiper will begin strapping in around 9:09 a.m. Liftoffis targeted for 12:28:49 p.m. If

Atlantis fails to get off the ground Wednesday, NASA can try again Thursday and Friday.

After that, the flight will be delayed until after the Russians launch a fresh crew to the

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international space station Sept. 18 and bring the lab's outgoing crew back to Earth Sept.

29. The next daylight launch opportunity or the shuttle after Friday is Oct. 26. Web

posted. (2006). [Hale talks foam redesign, mission extension options [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, September 5].]

Airspace, Bridges and Waterway Restrictions in Effect

For the STS-115 launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis, NASA managers are urging all aircraft

pilots and boaters to fully comply with the airspace, bridges and waterway restrictions

imposed around Kennedy Space Center prior to and during shuttle launches and landings.

"As always, we are coordinating with officials from the U.S. Air Force Eastern Range,

Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard to help provide a safe launch

environment for the shuttle crew and for interested spectators," said KSC Launch

Director Mike Leinbach. "Violating these restrictions is not only unsafe for the astronauts

and support crews, it's unsafe for the violator." The first launch opportunity is

Wednesday, Sept. 6, with liftofftargeted for 12:28 p.m. EDT. This launch time is

approximately in the middle of a 10-minute launch window. At NASA's request, Air

Force and Coast Guard surveillance aircraft will patrol KSC's airspace boundaries on

launch day. Violators will be intercepted by patrol forces, thoroughly investigated and

subject to FAA enforcement action. A number of restrictions remain in effect around

KSC during the hours immediately following the launch of a space shuttle.["Airspace,

Bridges and Waterway Restrictions In Effect For STS-115," NASA News Release #60-

06, September 5, 2006.]

September 6: Fuel cell problem delays shuttle launch

NASA postponed the launch of space shuttle Atlantis by another day after discovering

problems with a fuel cell early Wednesday. Fueling the shuttle never got under way

before one of three cells providing electricity malfunctioned. The space agency planned

to further,examine the problem and try again Thursday. The shuttle, which is on a

construction mission to the international space station, was already delayed by the

Columbia shuttle accident, continued safety problems after Discovery's flight in 2005, a

lightning strike in August and the threat of Tropical Storm Ernesto. If Atlantis doesn't

get in the air this week, the next chance probably won't come until late October. The

Russians plan to launch a Soyuz capsule on Sept. 18 ferrying two new station crew

members and the space station's first female tourist, Dallas-area entrepreneur Anousheh

Ansari. Officials with both space agencies wanted to avoid the shuttle and Soyuz meeting

at the station, fearing a traffic jam. Atlantis' mission will be the first since late 2002 to

expand the space station. The last two flights were tests evaluating a redesign of the

external fuel tank, whose falling foam was blamed for the Columbia accident. Web

posted. (2006). [Fuel cell problem delays shuttle launch [Online]. Available WWW:

http:!/www.cnn.com/[2006, September 6].]

New details on fuel cell issue

The suspect fuel cell that prompted NASA to scrub today's Atlantis launch is not believed

to have failed. NASA believes the problem lies with an associated freon coolant loop,

which prevents the electricity-generating device from overheating. The shuttle team is

looking at a variety of options, from ways to accommodate for what could be a non209
functioning coolant loop to how it might repair or replace the suspect components. The

team is studying options for repair or replacement with the shuttle still on the pad, a

difficult but not impossible or unprecedented task. Engineering work continues at the

Kennedy Space Center, Johnson Space Center and elsewhere to gather as much

information as possible ahead of a 1 p.m. meeting of the Mission Management Team,

where a decision is expected to be made about whether NASA could go ahead with a

launch attempt on Thursday. Liftoffwould be at 12:03 p.m. There is some history to onpad repair and replacement of the fuel cells, with differing results. At least two times

(STS-6 in 1983 and STS-69 in 1995),NASA has replaced fuel cells in orbiters on the

pad. In 1995, the work on Endeavour took about seven days, quick work that would not

allow launch this week but would protect late-September launch options by avoiding a

time-consuming rollback (presuming of course that's the necessary fix and that it could be

replicated), In 1997,NASA flagged a technical glitchwith a fuel ceil component at

about the same time in the countdown, but believed it had worked the problem out.

ShuttleColumbia launched. The suspect fuel cell failed. Columbia's crew had to come

home after just four days in orbit, without finishing its mission. The mission was reflown

three months later. Web posted. (2006). [New details on fuel ceil issue [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/The Flame Trench [2006, September

6].1

Smaller crowds expected for launch

A midweek space shuttle launch in September -- like the one scheduled today -- won't

draw the same number of people as it would have if the event been on a weekend or later

in the day. And local tourism officials are concerned that even the faithful, Orlando-area

visitors may stay away if the weather isfft perfect. That could mean viewership for

today's midday launch would be half the number that would come for a weekend launch -

- cutting into revenue for local hotels, restaurant, bars and shops. "We won't have the

people we would have on a Sunday, like when it was supposed to launch last time," said

Rob Varley, executive director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism. A shuttle launch

draws a crowd, but when it's in the middle of the week -- especially the week after threats

of tropical depression Ernesto and just following a Labor Day weekend that yielded

mediocre hotel occupancy -- don't expect the hotelsto be teeming with sky-watchers,

either, tourism officials said Tuesday. "We'll still see a crowd," Varley said. "ButI

would say we'll get around 75,000 day-trippers, rather than our usual t50,000. September

is our slow time, anyway, and so it all depends on the weather. People just look outside,

and if it's cloudy or looks like it will rain, people could stay at home and watch the launch

on TV. Hopefully, it'll turn a dismal Wednesday into a decent Wednesday. Web posted.

(2006). [Smaller crowds expected for launch [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, September 6].]

NASA Aims for Possible Shuttle Launch Attempt Friday

NASA is targeting a possible launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Friday, Sept. 8 because

of a problem associated with one of the spacecraft's electricity-produclng fuel cells.

Shuttle program managers at NASA's Kennedy Space Center decided Wednesday

afternoon additional time was needed to evaluate fuel cell flight history and potential

causes of the malfunction. Mission managers will hold another meeting Thursday at 1

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p.m. EDT to assess the issue. There will be a news conference on NASA Television at

the conclusion of that meeting. If the team decides to "go" for launch Friday, lift-off

would be at 11:41 a.m. EDT. Tuesday night as ground teams were preparing for Atlantis'

scheduled launch Wednesday, a voltage spike in the motor of Atlantis' fuel cell #1

coolant pump was observed during the activation of the shuttle's three fuel cells. The

coolant pump flows Freon through the fuel cell to prevent it from overheating during

flights. During Atlantis'mission, STS-115, astronauts will deliver and install a girderlike structure, known as the P3/P4 truss, aboard the station. The 35,000-pound piece

includes a set of giant solar arrays, batteries and associated electronics. The arrays

eventually will double the station's power capability. Atlantis' crew, Commander Brant

Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson and mission specialists Dan Burbank, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper,

Joe Tanner and Steve MacLean, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut, will remain at

Kennedy Space Center while the fuel cell evaluation continues. ["NASA Aims For

Possible Shuttle Launch Attempt Friday," NASA News Release #06-400, September 6,

2006.]

September 7: NASA still undecided on date of shuttle launch

NASA remainedundecided late Sept. 6 on whetherto proceedwith the launch of Atlantis

on the STS-115 mission Sept. 7, 8 or 9 or delay the flight intoperhaps October for

repairsfollowing an electricalspike detected in a Freon coolant pumpmotor associated

with one of three orbiter fuel cells. The orbiterfuel cells use cryogenic hydrogen and

oxygen to produce electricity and all three must be operationalfor a mission to launch or

remainin orbitshouldone fail in space. A 1.5amp currentincrease and associatedspike

involtage occurred in the coolant pumpmotor for Fuel Cell 1 asthe system was being

activatedwith Atlantis on Pad 39B about 10hourspriorto the scheduled 12:29p.m.

Easterntime launch target on Sept.6. Whenthe problem occurred,the loading of liquid

oxygen andhydrogen propellantsinto the shuttle'sexternaltankwas delayedwith the

hope thattroubleshootingcould clear the problem.Butwhen it became obvious the

problemneeded significant assessment,the Sept. 6 launchattemptwas scrubbed. This

left only Sept. 7 and8 as primary launchoptions untilthe shuttlelaunch window expires,

althoughsome optionsfor Sept. 9 were also being considered. The orbiterteam isfacing

atleasttwo majorquestionsin its assessment. First, how to troubleshootthe cause and

effect of the coolant loop motor voltageproblem,and second,to determinewhetherthe

electricalgremlincould also affect other criticalorbitersystems notinvolved with the

motor. Launch timing for flight to reinitiatestationassembly is dictatedby lighting for

photographyof externaltankfoam and an agreementwith the Russians to have Atlantis

off of the InternationalSpace Stationby aboutSept. 17 to allow properspacing for the

arrivalof Soyuz TMA-9 that includesthe station'sExpedition 14 crew. Soyuz launch

timing is one issue that could play a part in any decision. Ira launch attemptis made

Sept. 7, liftoff wouldbe about 12:03p.m. Easterntime. If Sept. 8 is used,the launch time

would be about 11:40 a.m. Easterntime, with an 11:15 a.m. Easterntime liftoff if an

attemptis made Sept. 9. E-maildistribution.(2006). [AviationWeek'sAerospaceDaily

& Defense ReportRe: "NASA still undecidedon date of shuttlelaunch," [Electronic].

Vol. 219, No. 46, [September 7, 2006.].]

Atlantis launch decision on tap today

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NASA worked through the early morning hours today trying to determine whether it can

launch shuttle Atlantis on Friday without repairing or replacing a suspect fuel cell system

that prompted the postponement of Wednesday's launch. The agency's Mission

Management Team will be briefed on an ongoing engineering analysis at 1p.m. today,

and a decision on whether to press ahead with a targeted 11:41 a.m. launch opportunity

Friday could come at that time. Engineering teams acrossthe country have been trying to

determine what could have caused abnormal current readings and the consequences of the

problem recurring whenever the shuttle does launch. An exhaustive overnight effort

could not be completed in time to attempt a launch today, so leaders gave the engineers

more time to try to resolve the problem. If the fuel cell or associated components must be

replaced, there is no way NASA could launch this week. The abnormal data recorded

during fuel cell activation late Tuesday did not violate launch restrictions, shuttle

program manager Wayne Hale said.NASA could have gone ahead with launch

Wednesday, but determined that "there is something funny going on with that fuel cell"

that needed to be investigated, Hale said. The fuel cells create electricity to power shuttle

systems. All must work for the shuttle to complete its full mission. The most likely

consequence of a fuel-cell failure in orbit is that NASA would have to cut Atlantis'

mission short, preventing the crew from finishing all its work. NASA could decide to

accept that risk, but Hale would rather fly with increased confidence there won't be a

failure. "This is one of those 50-50 kind of decisions," Hale said of the rigorous debate

during a Mission Management Team meeting that lasted more than four hours on

Wednesday afternoon. "If you want high drama this is about as good as it gets." If

NASA can't launch Friday, Hale would not rule out the possibility of extending the

launch window to make an attempt on Saturday. Nor would he rule out easing daylight

launch restrictions that would open a late-September launch window. Hale said he would

prefer to not have to deal with making either of those difficult decisions, and the team

won't make those decisions until it has to confront them. Web posted. (2006). [Atlantis

launch decision on tap today [Online]. Available WWW: Jattp://www.floridatoda¥.com/

The Flame Trench [2006, September 7].]

Turning to Lady Luck to Bless Launchings

"Superstitions? What's that all about?" NASA's shuttle launch director, Michael D.

Leinbach, asked in an interview this week. "I am not a superstitious person." If not, he is

one of the few. The space program is rife with rituals, charms, lucky numbers and other

defenses against bad karma -- not just disaster, but the mechanical and weather problems

that have postponed the Atlantis lifioff. In a custom that dates from the first shuttle

mission in 1981, shuttle crews will not leave the suit-up room until the commander loses

in a card game. They repeatedly draw poker hands until the commander ends up with the

lowest. Some managers insist on wearing special clothes. During the Apollo era, the

Lunar Orbiter program manager, Lee R. Scherer, always wore the same sport coat, said

Hugh W. Harris, a retired public affairs chief at the Kennedy Space Center here. When

the program ended, Mr. Scherer shredded the coat and distributed pieces among coworkers. Numerology is also important. Space shuttle missions were numbered as STS1, STS-2 and so on, for Space Transportation System. Then NASA turned the

consecutive identification system into an awkward combination of numbers and letters

that included even the fiscal year. "Whether that was superstition, you really can't say,

212
but somehow they avoided STS-13," Mr. Harris said, laughing. (NASA has since gone

back to straightforward numbering.) It should be noted that three astronauts aboard the

International Space Station are the 13th team of permanent residents, and NASA

officially refers to them as the Expedition 13 crew. As they launched a Soyuz capsule on

March 30, television showed a dangling toy white bear, a lucky charm. And that is

hardly the only superstition at work in Russia and the Baikonur Cosmodrome. In keeping

with a custom almost half a century old, the wives of Russian astronauts do not attend

launchings. Nor do the crews watch their Soyuz spacecraft roll to the pad two days before

liftoff. The Russian astronauts have another ritual: urinating against a tire of the bus

taking them to the launching pad. They are commemorating the first man in space, Yuri

A. Gagarin, by replicating his urgent deed before his launching in 1961. An odder

ceremony took place before Titan rocket missions back in the 60's. Members of the

launching team would meet the night before liftoff, and the youngest would bury a knife

in the sand, aimed in the same direction asthe flight path. At the space center here, some

controllers pick a different place to park the day after a liftoff is scrubbed. Not Mr.

Leinbach, the launch director -- he has a reserved spot. "So I park in the same spot all

the time," he said with a laugh. "I don't have to worry about that." Web posted. (2006).

[Turning to Lady Luck to Bless Latmchings [Online]. Available WWW:

http:i/www.n,/times.com/[2006, September 7].]

September 8: CEV decision document ranks LM ahead in mission suitability,

cost, past performance

A source selection document explaining NASA'srationale for choosing Lockheed Martin

to build the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) says the aerospace giant bested rival

Northrop Grumman/Boeing's bid in the areas of mission suitability, cost, and past

performance. Doug Cooke, NASA's source selection authority, wrote in the Aug. 31

document that although both team's proposals were sound, Lockheed's possessed a "clear

advantage." Both received ratings of "very good" in overall mission suitability, but

Lockheed's was numerically ranked somewhat higher because of its superior technical

approach. "I was particularly impressed with the numerous technical enhancements, the

sound, effective, and realistic concepts for avionics and software development, and

incorporation of proven operations considerations and innovative technologies into the

design of the spacecraft and operational processes," Cooke wrote. While the

Northrop/Boeing proposal was praised for its proposed Crew Module (CM) pressure

vessel design, which NASA thinks would have significantly reduced production time and

schedule risk, it was criticized for having "high and unsubstantiated" proposed software

production rates, as well as "unrealistic" re-use claims for flight and test software. Both

teams' cost proposals for building the CEV were deemed "very realistic," but Lockheed's

final price tag turned out "appreciably" lower. "I determined that the difference in cost

between the proposals is a compelling consideration in my selection decision," Cooke

wrote. "I have determined that the lower-cost [Lockheed] proposal represents a

substantial savings to the government." Finally, Cooke deemed Lockheed's past

performance on Phase 1 of the CEV program "exceptional," saying there is "no better

predictor" for how a company will perform in Phase 2. Lockheed's past performance was

rated "very good," and Northrop/Boeing's was rated "good." The CEV is scheduled to

have its first flight with crew no later than 2014. E-mail distribution. (2006). [Aviation

213
Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re: "CEV decision document ranks LM

ahead inmission suitability, cost, past Performance," [Electronic]. Vol. 219, No. 47,

[September 8, 2006.].]

NASA manager: 24-hour launch delay likely

The scheduled late-morning liftoff ofspace shuttleAtlantis on Friday is likely to be

delayed by 24 hours. As NASA prepared for launch, crews on the launch pad were

troubleshootinga glitch in a fuel sensor for the main-engine cutoff system. A similar

sensor has plagued previous missions, and a malfimctioningfuel cell held up the launch

of Atlantis earlier in the week. Weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center were

forecast to be 70 percent favorable for the scheduled 11:41 a.m. ET launch. The launch of

the Atlantis has been delayed multiple times. The launch of the Atlantis, commanded by

Navy Capt. Jett, will be the first shuttle mission since the 2003 Columbia disaster to

deliver a major new portion of the International Space Station. The Atlantis crew will

conduct three spacewalks to install a massive set of solar arrays to the station's main

truss. Under NASA regulations, three operational fuel cells are required to proceed with

a launch. They generate electricity that powers the onboard systems during flight and

generates water for the crew. Web posted. (2006). [NASA manager: 24-hour launch

delay likely [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.enn.com/[2006, September 8].]

September 9: NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis Begins Mission to the Space

Station

The Space ShuttleAtlantisand its six-member crew areon their way to the International

Space Stationafterlifting-off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center,Fla., at 11:14:55 a.m.

EDT Saturday. "It's been almost four years, two Return to Flight missions, a tremendous

amount of work by thousands of individuals to get the shuttle program back to where we

are right now and that's on the verge of restarting the station assembly sequence," said

Atlantis' Commander Brent Jett. "We're confident over the next few weeks, and few years

for that matter, that NASA's going to prove to our nation, to our partners and our friends

around the world that it was worth the wait and the sacrifice. We're ready to get to work."

The fuel cut-off sensor system, which malfunctioned and delayed Atlantis' scheduled

Friday launch, performed normally Saturday. The engine cut-off, or ECO, sensor is one

of four inside the liquid hydrogen section of the shuttle's external fuel tank. Atlantis'

flight, STS-115, will resume construction of the International Space Station. The shuttle

and station crews will work with ground teams to install a girder-like structure, known as

the P3/P4 truss aboard the station. The 35,000-pound piece includes a set of giant solar

arrays, batteries and associated electronics. The arrays eventually will double the station's

power capability. Atlantis' crew includes Pilot Chris Ferguson and mission specialists

Dan Burbank, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper, Joe Tanner and Steve MaeLean, a Canadian

Space Agency astronaut. The shuttle is scheduled to dock with the station on Monday.

Once Atlantis arrives, a day could be added to the I 1-daymission for a focused

inspection of the shuttle's heat shield. ["NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis Begins Mission to

the Space Station," NASA News Release #06-402,September 9, 2006.]

After topsy-turvy 13 days, smooth count

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After a tumultuous launch campaign, it was a relatively easy day at the office for the

shuttle launch team. There were almost no issues from fueling overnight to liftoffat

11:15 a.m. Saturday, in contrast to the last few days when problems with critical orbiter

power generators and engine cutoff sensors forced the agency to scrub launch tries on

Wednesday and Friday. On top of that, Atlantis' flight was delayed several times the

previous week by a freakish lightning strike at the launch pad and an aborted rollback

from the launch pad because of the unpredictable Tropical Storm Ernesto. "We've been

in a launch countdown for over 13 days," relieved launch director Mike Leinbach said

after watching Atlantis soar into orbit. "The countdown itself went extremely smoothly,

which probably shouldn't be a surprise considering how many times we tried it," said

Leinbach of Scottsmoor. "It was just really, really clean today. We were trying to find

stuffto talk about and couldn't." On Saturday, the three electricity-generating fuel cells

inside Atlantis worked as expected. That included the fuel cell that acted up during the

countdown to Wednesday's launch attempt. One of the power streams to that fuel cell is

not working, but two others were fine and the fuel cell functioned properly Saturday.

"We didn't have any issues with it. It is performing nominally," launch integration

manager Leroy Cain said of the fuel cell, which combines liquid hydrogen and liquid

oxygen in way that generates electricity for the computers and other systems inside the

orbiter. Also Saturday, all four engine cutoff sensors did the job of recording when there

was and was not liquid hydrogen inside the external tank. Friday's launch was called off

because one of those four sensors was providing incorrect readings. NASA debated

launching with three working sensors, but decided to wait a day. The agency could have

launched Saturday even if that fuel sensor failed countdown tests, but instead the sensor

worked. "When we retanked today, it went wet," Cain said, so the launch team never had

to revisit the issue. Web posted. (2006). [Aftertopsy-turvy 13 days, smooth count

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/The Flame Trench [2006,

September 9].]

Minor foam loss seen on tape

It appears from the post-launch films that Atlantis' external tank shed at least four pieces

of foam, all of which seemed to be small in size. The fragments came off from near the

liquid oxygen feedline and flew near (or possibly struck) the wing of the orbiter.

However, the foam loss came almost four minutes into flight, at a time when the shuttle

was beyond the atmosphere. NASA has long said that small pieces of foam coming off

that late in flight could not impart enough force on the orbiter's heat-shielding to do

serious enough damage to threaten the spaceship or crew. Of course, the engineers and

imagery experts are looking a lot closer at the still and video images of launch and they

will do their own quick-look review. A post-launch news conference is setto begin at

12:30 p.m. A few hours later, after downlink of the crew photos and video taken of the

tank after separation, NASA will hold another news briefing to discuss the early analysis

of any foam loss or debris incidents during ascent. Web posted. (2006). [Minor foam loss

seen on tape [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com] The Flame

Trench [2006, September 9].]

Engineers' input important in decision

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The top manager representing NASA's astronauts was one of just two people on the

Mission Management Team to cast a "no go" vote against launching shuttle Atlantis on

Friday. Ken Bowersox, a veteran shuttle and space station commander who is the

outgoing head of the Flight Crew Operations Directorate, objected Friday to NASA

launching the shuttle in the face of a fuel sensor glitch that violated the agency's launch

rules. While his vote on behalf of the astronauts certainly would have been considered

influential, the rules governing the operation of the Mission Management Team actually

make the most important vote the one cast by the team's chairman. In this case, that was

KSC launch integration manager Leroy Cain. On Friday, Cainjust happened to be the

other "no go" vote. Bowersox sits on the prelaunch Mission Management Team by virtue

of his position, a post he intends to leave next month to take a new job as an aide to

Johnson Space Center Director Mike Coats. Approximately 20 senior space agency

managers serve on the Mission Management Team. The prelaunch team includes

managers of the space station program, the astronaut office, mission control, payloads

and spacewalk operations among other divisions. They serve as a sort of advisory board,

but one with strong influence over final decision-making. The chair, in this case Cain,

would lean heavily on their input. Friday was an interesting diversion from that. All but

two voting members of the MMT were supportive of a proposal to deviate from written

flight rules to launch Atlantis and six astronauts knowing that one of four critical fuel

sensors was not working properly. According to an internal NASA document outlining

the MMT's responsibilities, the chair of the prelaunch mission management team has the

final say on whether or not to launch the shuttle on any given day. Cain said Friday that

he made the call after considering not only what the voting members of the management

team had to say, but also what other nonvoting engineers and technical experts had to

say. Cain repeatedly stressed that he and Bowersox were not the only ones voicing

objections to launching. They were just the only voting members of the MMT who did

not agree with attempting to fly Friday. Web posted. (2006). [Engineers' input important

in decision [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.colrd [2006, September

91.]

September 11: Additional heat shield inspections ruled out

High-resolutionphotographs of the shuttleAtlantis'underbelly shot Monday during final

approachto the internationalspace stationshow the orbiter'sheatshield tiles are in good

shape with no obvious signs of damage. Agency engineers decided late today that

additional heat shield inspections, a move that would have triggered a one-day mission

extension, were not required. Web posted. (2006). [Additional heat shield inspections

ruled out [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spacefli_htnow.com/[2006,

September 11].]

Debris analysis update

NASA's Mission ManagementTeamhas refinedthe timing of a handful of launchdebris

events noted during the shuttle Atlantis' climb to space Saturday. As mission managers

reported Sunday, no impacts occurred during the first 135 seconds of flight, the period

when atmospheric density is high enough to give debris enough energy to cause heat

shield damage. Here is the latest MMT summary uplinked to the astronauts by mission

control as part of their daily "execute package" of notes and instructions: "The teams

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continue to review the ascent imagery data (ET LOX feedline camera, ground cameras,

WAVE aircraft video, and debris radar). The preliminary characterization is the debris

environment was minimal, which is consistent with the preliminary debris report that you

received yesterday during the post insertion timeframe. There was only one event

occurring inside the debris sensitive timeframe. That event was a late release of an F4D

(thrusterjet) Tyvek Cover at (about) 16 sees MET (mission elapsed time) at a velocity of

230 mph." An attached photo showed the paper cover did not impact the orbiter. Other

debris events are as follows (shown in minutes and seconds after launch): 2:50: Debris

from ET ice-frost ramp at position Xt 1270. 4:05: Possible orbiter debris impacts to belly

and wing leading edge glove areas, but no damage visible. 4:07: Debris outboard of

liquid oxygen feedline; no orbiter impact. 5:27: Potential debris impact on right wing,

but no signs of visible damage. Wing leading edge sensors did not detect any impacts.

5:30: Radar detected a possible debris event, but nothing shows up in the imagery. 7:32:

Debris seen with possible impact. 8:44: Suspected ice hit Atlantis near a nose landing

gear door. Web posted. (2006). [Debris analysis update [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spacefli_htnow.com/[2006, September 11].]

September 12: NASA Names Parsons New Kennedy Space Center Director

NASA AdministratorMichael Griffintoday namedWilliam (Bill) W. Parsons the new

director of the agency's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., effective in January 2007. Parsons

succeeds James W. Kennedy, who is retiring. Parsons currently serves as deputy director

of NASA Kennedy Space Center, a position he has held since February. As space shuttle

program manager, Parsons led the return-to-flight activities for the agency and played a

major role in the success of the Discovery STS-114 mission. His first stint as NASA's

Steunis Space Center director, Stennis, Miss., came in August 2002. He was first

assigned to Stennis in 1997 as the chief of operations of the Propulsion Test Directorate.

Parsons relocated to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to become the director of

the Center Operations Directorate. He later served as the deputy director of Johnson. He

returned to Stennis in 2001 and served as director of the Center Operations and Support

Directorate. In 1990, Parsons joined the NASA team at Kennedy Space Center as a

launch site support manager in the Shuttle Operations Directorate. He also worked as an

executive management intern and later asthe shuttle flow director of the Shuttle

Operations Directorate at Kennedy. In 1996, he became manager of the Space Station

Hardware Integration Office at the center. Parsons has received numerous honors,

including the Presidential Rank Award (Meritorious Executive); NASA's Exceptional

Service Medal and Distinguished Service Medal; and the Silver Snoopy, awarded by

astronauts for outstanding performance in flight safety and mission success. Parsons

holds a bachelor's degree in engineering fromthe University of Mississippi and a master's

degree in engineering management from the University of Central Florida. ["NASA

Names Parsons New Kennedy Space Center Director," NASA News Release #06-314,

September 12, 2006.]

September 13: Boehlert: NASA will try to shorten gap between manned space

programs

The chairman of the House science committee says he expects NASA will be able to

reduce the projected gap between the final space shuttle mission and the first flight of the

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next-generation Orion space exploration vehicle. Sherwood Boehlert -- a Utica-area

Republican -- says it might be difficult to cut the length of time between the two space

programs. But Boehlert expects NASA administrator Michael Griffin to make a

"determined effort" to narrow the gap. The shuttle program now is set to end in 2010

while the first test flight of the Orion spacecraft isn't scheduled until four years later.

Boehlert said there likely will be a period when the U-S doesn't have manned space flight

capability. NASA has selected Lockheed Martin to lead the development team for the

Orion program. Web posted. (2006). [Boehlert: NASA will try to shorten gap between

manned space programs [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.wstm.com/[2006,

September 13].]

September 14: " Spacewalkers lose the darndest things

It's a junkyard out there in space and sometimes astronautsaccidentally contribute to the

litter. In 1965, the first American spacewalker, Ed White, lost a spare glove when he

went outside for the first time. From that time on, astronauts have accidentally added

some of the more unusual items to the 100,000 pieces of space trashthat circle Earth.

Last July, spacewalker Piers Sellers sheepishly reported that he lost a spatula. Nicknamed

"spatsat" by space junk watchers, it returns to Earth in a fireball early next month. This

week the Atlantis astronauts made their own contributions to the space debris in low

orbit: a couple of bolts that escaped from the addition they were connecting to the

international space station. To engineers, this isn't funny. Many of those pieces of space

junk can kill astronauts, puncture satellites or at the very least scratch up expensive space

shuttle windows. "It's one of these problems that is growing in seriousness," said

William Ailor, director of the Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies at the

Aerospace Corp. in Los Angeles. "It's really the small things that will get you." NASA

and the Air Force track objects bigger than about 4 inches. The official "box score" of

that space debris as of Thursday was 9,925. But the 90,000 objects smaller than that can

be as dangerous, zipping around Earth at more than 15,000 mph. They are just harder to

track. Of all the items followed by the Air Force, the more unusual ones are those "that

aren't necessarily meant to drop," said Air Force Space Protection Officer David Ward of

the First Space Control Squadron in Cheyenne Mountain. "The astronauts didn't

necessarily mean to let go of the bolts the last couple days, but that happens." So when

spacewalkers venture outside, NASA makes sure everything is tethered -- tools, bolts, the

astronauts themselves. Think of it as wrapping a Christmas present with everything tied

up to something, the scissors, the paper, the scraps of paper not used, said NASA

spokesman Phil West, a former spacewalk tool engineer. "You worry about (losing tools)

all the time," said former astronaut and spacewalker Jay Apt, noting that he never lost

anything. And well they should worry. Web posted. (2006). [Spacewalkers lose the

darndest things [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.cnn.com/[2006, September

14].]

NASA Exercises Payload Processing Services Contract Option

NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., will extend its Checkout, Assembly, and Payload

Processing Services contract for three years with Boeing Space Operations Company of

Titusville, Fla., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, Chicago. The

contract extension and modification, valued at $278.5 million, covers Oct. 1,2006,

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through Sept. 30, 2009. The total contract value including exercised and unexercised

options is approximately $846 million. The contract is a performance-based, cost-plus

award fee contract to provide checkout, assembly, and pay!oad processing services at

Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., and Vandenberg Air

Force Base, Calif. Under the contract, Boeing provides management and technical

support of payload processing for the space shuttle, International Space Station and

expendable launch vehicle programs. Services and support include the planning for and

receiving of payloads, maintenance of associated ground support systems, integration of

payloads with the space shuttle, launch support and space shuttle post-landing payload

activities. ["NASA Exercises Payload Processing Services Contract Option," NASA

Contract Release #C06-046, September 14, 2006.]

September 15: Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: SolarTerrestrialRelationsObservatory(STEREO) ; LaunchPad: 17-B,Cape

CanaveralAir Force Station ; LaunchVehicle: Boeing Delta II ; Launch Date:No earlier

than Oct.25, 2006 ; LaunchTime: TBD. AtPad 17-B, the Delta II second stage was

destackedon Sept. 6 for furthertesting to determinethe thicknessof the tank in identified

areas.The initialtest procedures are completeand the resultsare being assessed.These

resultswill be used with continuinganalyticalevaluationto determine the flight

worthinessof the second stage. This should be concludedin about aweek. Inthe

meantime,workerswill reinstallthe engine on the secondstage. STEREOremainsat the

Astroteeh Space OperationsFacility. The transportationcanister was removed on Sept. 1

so technicians could reconditionthe spacecraftflight batteries and monitorcritical

functionsduring the hiatus. The twin observatoriesremainstackedon top of the third

stage. The transportation canister will be reinstalledimmediatelyprior to the payload

being moved to the launch pad for matingto the Delta II. KSC News Center(2006).

Expendable Launch Vehicles Status Report ELV-091506 [Online]. Available E-mail:

ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, September 15].]

NASA Awards Thermal Protection Contract for Orion

oNASA has selected The Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, Calif., to support the

design and development of a lunar direct return-capable heat shield for the Orion crew

exploration vehicle. The hybrid firm fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract has a

16-monthperiod of performance, with a maximum value of approximately $14 million,

including all priced options. ["NASA Awards Thermal Protection Contract for Orion

Spacecraft," NASA Contract Release #C06-046, September 15.]

September 18: STS-125 - NASA's Flight Of Opportunity

Flagship mission STS-125, betterknownasthe finalHubble SpaceTelescope Servicing

Mission, has officially enteredNASA'sflight manifestsasthe "Flight Of Opportunity."

HST SM-04 is currently scheduledforNo Earlier Than(NET) April 17, 2008, involving

ShuttleDiscovery. Confirmation of the mission is expected next month. The last Hubble

SpaceTelescope servicingmission took place on STS-109,with one of the most

spectacularlaunches ever wimessed atthe Kennedy Space Center,as Columbia'sdawn

launch piercedthrough low clouds, lightingup the Stateof Florida in the process.

December 2007 is ambitiousto saythe least, due to naturalslippage in the launch

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manifest. Both STS-116 and STS-I 17 are under threat of slipping a few months due to

delays with Atlantis' External Tank (required both for Atlantis' primary mission and her

support of Discovery's December mission). Realistically, the Hubble mission is expected

to remain sandwiched between the two major launch and installation missions for the

Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) in early 2008, currently dated - before slippage - as NET

December 6, 2007, STS-123/1J/A, Endeavour - JEM ELM-PS, SLP-D1 with SPDM

Dextre, and NET February 7, 2008, STS-124/1J, Atlantis -JEM PM, JEM RMS. Web

posted. (2006). [STS-125 - NASA's Flight Of Opportunity [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.nasaspacefli_ht.com/[2006, September 18].]

Final shuttle heat shield inspections performed

TheAtlantisastronautscarriedouta finalinspectionof the shuttle'sheatshield today,

using a laser on the end of a long boomto look for signs of damageon the ship'snose cap

andwing leading edge panels. An identicalinspectionwas carriedout Sept. 10, the day

afterlaunch,to make sure the most critical partsof the heatshield came throughthe

climbto space in good condition.Today'sinspectionwas designedto make sureno space

debrisor micrometeoroidshitthe shuttleunnoticedwhile dockedwith the international

spacestation. "The first one is obviously gearedtowards anydebris which cameoff

duringascentand may have hit the orbiter," commanderBrentJettsaid in a NASA

interview."There'sa secondthreatto your thermalprotectionsystem, andthatis from

micrometeoritedamage. It's a threatwe dealwith on every mission." Heat shield

inspectionsare carried out using a 50-foot-longboom attachedto the end of the shuttle's

50-foot-long robot arm. A laser scanner and a high-resolutioncameraare mounted onthe

endof the orbiterboom sensor systemto look for signs of damageto the reinforced

carboncarbon material makingupthe shuttle'snose cap andwing leading edge panels.

Those areas experience the most extremeheatingduringre-entry,some 3,000 degrees

Fahrenheit."There'san analysisdone thatgives you the probability of being struckby a

micrometeorite," Jettsaid. "It all dependsonwhat attitudeyou're flying and what orbit

you're flying in.The thoughtis that if you inspectearlyin the mission for ascentdebris,

you mightwant to inspect late in the missionto see if you've sustainedany damagefrom

a micrometeoritehit on the RCC, a criticalarea of the orbiter." Along with carryingout

the heatshield inspection,Jett and his erewmates - pilotChrisFerguson, flight engineer

Dan Burbank,Joe Tanner,CanadianSteve MacLeanandHeidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piperalso plan to begin initial packing for re-entry andlanding Wednesday.Cabin stowwill

begin in earnestTuesday,whenthe astronautsalso will test the shuttle'sre-entry systems.

Webposted. (2006). [Finalshuttleheatshield inspectionsperformed [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006, September 18].]

September 19: Boeing rocket program to cut 39 jobs

The Boeing Co. plans to cut 39 local rocketprogramjobs Friday. The job reductionwill

resultin 25 to 29 layoffs -- mainly engineers, inspectors and technicians, Boeing

spokesman Michael Rein said. Priorto thejob cuts,Boeing had about 615 employees on

the SpaceCoastfor its Delta rocketprogram, Rein said. Boeing is trimming its local

workforce because of an anticipateddecrease in commercial rocket launches,he said.

Initially,Boeing planned to lay off43 workers,but laterdecided to keep four. Boeing

also hasfound 10 of the affected workersotherjobs with the company, and is trying to

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find jobs for four others, bringing the number of expected layoffs from the job reduction

to between 25 and 29, Rein said. The localjob reduction is part of 125jobs that Boeing

was considering cutting from its rocket program at Cape Canaveral and the program's

other locations in Alabama and California, Rein said. Web posted. (2006). [Boeing

rocket program to cut 39 jobs [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/

[2006, September 19].]

Landing forecast: Weather iffy at best

The Atlantis astronauts are packing up their spaceship for a planned return to Earth on

Wednesday, but the weather at Kennedy Space Center is going to be iffy at best.

Meteorologists say that a frontal boundary moving through central Florida will bring with

it stiff crosswinds at the three-mile shuttle runway, low-level clouds and a chance of

thunderstorms within 30 nautical miles of the landing strip. In the event the weather is

clear, the astronauts would fire the shuttle'stwin maneuvering engines at 4:56 a.m. EDT,

heading for a 5:59 a.m. EDT touchdown. Web posted. (2006). [Landing forecast:

Weather iffy at best [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodag.com/The

Flame Trench [2006, September 19].]

September 20: Look ahead to a possible landing

NASA flight directors report that they saw no signs of heat shield damage during an

overnight survey of shuttle Atlantis with cameras on the ship's robot arm. What's more,

they said they'll be ready to support a landing attempt Thursday if mission managers clear

the ship and its six astronauts for a return to Earth. The Atlantis crew would have two

opportunities to land at Kennedy Space Center: at 6:21 a.m. EDT and 7:51 a.m. The

weather outlook is good, with few clouds and light winds that will blow directly down the

runway. There are no plans at this time to activate NASA's back-up landing site:

Edwards Air Force Base in California. And as it turns out, rainy weather would have

forced the shuttle crew to forego the two opportunities NASA passed up today to perform

additional heat shield inspections. The Atlantis crew is wrapping up an extra heat shield

survey with the shuttle's orbital inspection boom. NASA mission managers will meet at

10 a.m. EDT to decide whether to press ahead with the Thursday landing opportunities. A

news briefing is scheduled to start no earlier than noon EDT. Web posted. (2006). [Look

ahead to a possible landing [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/

The Flame Trench [2006, September 20].]

NASA aims for Dec. 7 launch

Saying NASA now is back in the International Space Station construction business,

NASA shuttle program manager Wayne Hale says the agency is considering moving up

its next outpost assembly flight. Now set for launch Dec. 14,shuttle Discovery and six

astronauts plan to erect another new segment to the port side of the station's central truss.

Hale saidmanagers are trying to determine if the launch can be moved up a week so that

the mission can be finished in time forworkersto take a break at Christmas. "If that's not

incentive, I don't know what is," Hale said. Web posted. (2006). [NASA aims for Dec. 7

launch [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.fioridatodav.com/The Flame Trench

[2006, September 20].]

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Atlantis crew spots more space debris

Shuttle astronauts spotted three pieces of debris floating in space outside Atlantis early

Wednesday, a day after the discovery of two other mysterious objects prompted

postponement of the landing. Atlantis commander Brent Jett described the objects as two

rings and a piece of foil. He told Mission Control the first object, about 100 feet from the

shuttle, was "a reflective cloth or a mechanic looking-cloth.... It's not a solid metal

structure." The astronauts noticed the objects during an extensive inspection of the space

shuttle using a 50-foot boom early Wednesday to see if its heat shield was damaged by a

mysterious object that apparently floated off the spacecraft. Jett suggested the three

objects might have come from the Russian Soyuz vehicle, which docked with the

international space station early Wednesday. But Mission Control told him the Soyuz

likely was too far below the shuttle, and that the closest the two space vehicles came to

each other was 20 miles. Before the postponement Tuesday, Atlantis had been scheduled

to touch downjust before daybreak Wednesday, when the weather forecast wasn't

favorable for landing anyway. The landing time was reset for early Thursday, but could

be put off until Friday. The extra inspection with the boom followed a 41/2-hour

inspection using cameras on the space shuttle's robotic arm early Wednesday. The first

object sighted appeared to drift away when landing systems were put through a normal

but bumpy trial run early Tuesday morning. Worry about whether it came from a crucial

part of Atlantis was enough to make NASA postpone the landing. NASA officials said

their best guess was that the object was a plastic filler placed in between thermal tiles

which protect the shuttle from blasting heat. But after being unable to determine what the

object was Tuesday, NASA managers opted to spend early Wednesday making sure the

shuttle was in good shape instead of concentrating on solving the mystery. Web posted.

(2006). [Atlantis crew spots more space debris [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.crm.corn/[2006, September 20].]

Inspections find no shuttle damage

An additional round of inspections of the exterior of the shuttle Atlantis Wednesday

turned up no evidence of damage to the orbiter, apparently clearing the way for a

Thursday morning landing. The STS-115 crew spent much of Wednesday surveying the

exterior of Atlantis a day after cameras on the shuttle identified two small objects that

apparently floated away from the orbiter, raising fears that an object struck and damaged

critical tiles or panels. Cameras found three additional objects floating away from the

orbiter on Wednesday, but officials did not believe these were critical items. If managers

decide to press ahead with landing, Atlantis will return to Earth on Thursday at the

Kennedy Space Center, landing at either 6:21 or 7:57 am EDT (1021 or t 157 GMT).

Weather conditions are forecast to be favorable for a landing attempt either Thursday or

Friday. Web posted. (2006). [Atlantis crew spots more space debris [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006, September 20].]

NASA Forms Partnership With Red Planet Capital, Inc.

NASA hasjoined with Red Planet Capital,Inc., San Marco,Calif., in a partnership to

helpthe agency gain access to new and innovativetechnologies through the venture

capitalcommunity. Red PlanetCapitalis a nonprofit organizationthatwill establish a

strategicventure capitalfund for NASA. The purposeof the fund is to provide NASA

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earlier and broader exposure to emerging technologies. It is designed to promote the

future availability of technologies with both government and commercial applications

that can meet NASA's future mission requirements. The effort signifies the

administration's commitment to creative approaches for promoting innovation in pursuit

of America's space agenda. Red Planet Capital will use venture capital and a NASA

investment of approximately $75 million over five years to attract private sector

innovators and investors who typically have not done business with the agency. ["NASA

Forms Partnership With Red Planet Capital, Inc.," NASA News Release #06-317,

September 20, 2006.]

September 21: NASA Announces Kennedy Construction Contract

NASA selected Rush Construction, Inc., Titusville, Fla., for construction of a new

Replacement Life Support Facility at the agency's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The 500

calendar day contract has a maximum value of $5,375,000. Rush Construction will

furnish all management, supervision, labor, transportation, facilities, materials, tools,

disposal, coordination of subcontractors, documentation and equipment (except any

government provided property, including utilities) to construct the new Kennedy facility.

Web posted. (2006). [NASA Announces Kennedy Construction Contract [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.pmewswire.com/[2006, September 21].]

Atlantis touches down safely at KSC

Space Shuttle Atlantis and six astronauts safely returned to the Earth early this morning,

completingthe first constructionat the InternationalSpace Station since the 2003

Columbia disaster. "It's nice to be back," CommanderBrentJett saidminutesafterthe

landingwheels stoppedrolling onthe runway atthe KennedySpaceCenter. Jett and his

crew spentabout 12 days in space, addinga new set of solararrays thatwill doublethe

amountof electric power available atthe internationalspace lab. The shuttletouched

down at 6:21 a.m. in the pitch black of predawncoastalFlorida. It was the third safe

reentry since Columbia disintegratedduring its attemptedlanding in Februaryof 2003

because its heat-shieldingwas compromisedby debristhat struckthat vehicle during

launch. The first two missions afterthatwere test flightsto attemptto get undercontrol a

problemwith foam insulationpoppingoff the externaltankand hitting the delicateheatshieldingin the firstmoments of flight. Thelast two flights have shown thatsituationis

improvedand this was the firstoperationalmission since the disaster. NASA now plans

to stage 15 more flightsto finishconstructionof the InternationalSpace Stationand

NASA deemsthose some of the most complicated spacemissions ever tried. The shuttle

also may be usedone more time for a repairflight to the HubbleSpaceTelescope. The

nextspace shuttle flight is set for December, and NASA is even attemptingto move up

Discovery's launchone week from Dec. 14 to Dec. 7. Thatwould allowthe mission to be

completed,if all goes well, before Christmasso employees can spendthe holiday at home

with families. Web posted. (2006). [Atlantistouches down safely at KSC [Online].

AvailableWWW: http://www.floridatoday.coml[2006, September21].]

As Atlantis returns, NASA plans to speed up assembly of

station

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The Atlantis astronauts aim to return to Earth today, and it appears NASA is poised to

accelerate construction of the International Space Station. "Ijust have to remind

everybody that we are back in the assembly business," NASA shuttle program manager

Wayne Hale said Wednesday in advance of a scheduled 6:21 a.m. landing at Kennedy

SpaceCenter. "We're set up in a very good way for the next set of assembly flights.

There are about six in a row here that we really need to pull off in fairly rapid order to

keep the assembly going." Next up: A complicated mission to rewire the entire 235-ton

station. Six astronauts are scheduled to launch aboard Discovery on Dec. 14, but NASA

is going to attempt to get the flight going a week early so its shuttle team can be home for

Christmas. "If that isn't incentive," Hale said, "I don't know what is," Winding up the

first station assembly mission since the February 2003 Columbia accident, the Atlantis

crewwould have a second opportunity to land at 7:57 a.m. today. But meteorologists

expected only light winds and a few clouds in the area. A planned landing Wednesday

was canceled so the crew could make one final heat shield inspection -- a survey

prompted in part by a small piece of dehris seen flying below the shuttle Tuesday.

Mission managers considered it highly unlikely the unidentified flying object might have

compromised the shuttle's fragile heat shield. But sensor readings, later discounted,

indicated the ship's right wing might have been pinged eight times. Faced with a dismal

weather forecast, the crew was kept in orbit an extra day. An extensive survey already

had been done on the second day of the flight. There were no signs of significant damage

during another survey the next day. And the heat shield was clean too, when yet another

scanwas done Monday. Managers nonetheless decided it would be prudent to take one

last look before committing the shuttle crew to an encounter with temperatures up to

3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. So the astronauts inspected the wing panels, nose cap and

thermal tiles on the belly of the ship once again. Atlantis pilot Chris Ferguson and

mission specialist Dan Burbank did most of the work with an assist from Canadian

astronaut Steve MacLean. The intense operation had its own perils. It called for the

astronauts to wield the shuttle's robot arm, and later, a sensor-tipped inspection boom, in

close proximity to the vulnerable heat shield they were inspecting. The chance of

accidental damage was significant, and the whole operation took about nine hours to

complete. No signs of damage were detected. Flight controllers hailedthe effort. "They

made something very difficult look easy," fellow astronaut Terry Virts said fromNASA's

Mission Control Center in Houston. "Everybody is trying to do the right thing," shuttle

skipper Brent Jett said. "So we're happy to do what it takes." Hale said the effort

exemplified a new post-Columbia attitude, one in which NASA is determined to make

certain astronaut crews fly safely. "We've seen a new standard in NASA in vigilance and

the thoroughness of engineering rigor," Hale said. As it turned out, rain showers and

low-level clouds would have forced NASA to keep the crew aloft another day anyway.

"If it makes you feel any better, both of your de-orbit opportunities (Wednesday) would

have been no-go," Virts told the astronauts. The same cold front that spawned the bad

weather near KSC swept through Houston earlier this week, and then skies cleared. "So

we're hoping the same will happen in Florida," Virts said. Added Jett: "We're hoping so

too." Web posted. (2006). [As Atlantis returns, NASA plans to speed up assembly of

station [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, September

211.]

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NASA Honors America's First Flight Director Chris Kraft

NASA will honor ChristopherC. Kraft,Jr.,for his key involvementin America'sspace

programswith the presentationof the Ambassadorof ExplorationAward.The ceremony

is at 10:30 a.m. EDT Saturday,Sept. 30, in the Inn atVirginiaTech University,

Blacksburg,Va. NASA is presentingtheAmbassadorof ExplorationAwardto the

astronautsand otherkey individualswho participated inthe Mercury, Gemini,and

Apollo space programs for realizingAmerica'svision of space explorationfrom 1961to

1972. Kraftoriginallyjoined the NationalAdvisory Committeefor Aeronautics,NASA's

predecessoragency, in 1945.In 1958,he joined the newly createdNASA as one of the

originalmembers of the Space TaskGrouporganizedto design andmanageProject

Mercury. He was America'sfirst mannedspace missionflight director,managingall of

the Mercuryand several Gemini missions. Kraft servedas directorof NASA's Johnson

SpaceCenterin Houston from January1972 to August 1982. He was one of the designers

and implementersof the Mission ControlCenterin Houston,the heartof al!NASA

crewed space missions. After his retirement from federal service in 1982, he served as an

aerospace consultant for numerous companies. The Ambassador of Exploration Award is

a small sample of the 842 pounds of the lunar material collected during the six Apollo

moon landings from 1969 to 1972. The sample is encased in Lucite and mounted for

public display. The material for Kraft's award came from the samples brought back by the

crew of Apollo 11,the first to land on the moon in 1969. Kraft's award will be displayed

at Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. ["NASA Honors America's First Flight

Director Chris Kraft," NASA Media Advisory #M06-148, September 21, 2006.]

NASA Welcomes Space Shuttle Crew Back To Earth

The Space Shuttle Atlantis and its crew are home after a 12-dayjourney of more than 4.9

million miles in space. The mission, STS-115,succeeded in restarting assembly of the

International Space Station. The crew delivered and installed the massive P3/P4 truss, an

integral part of the station's backbone, and two sets of solar arrays that will eventually

provide one quarter of the station's power. Atlantis' Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris

Ferguson and mission specialists Joe Tanner, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Dan

Burbank, and Steve MacLean, a Canadian astronaut, landed Thursday, Sept. 21, at

NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 6:21 a.m. EDT. After landing, Jett told Mission

Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center, "Thanks, Houston. It's nice to be back. It was a

great team effort, so I think assembly's offto a good start." The flight was the first in a

series of missions that will be among the most complex in space history. Atlantis

delivered the first major new component to the station since 2002 and laid the

groundwork for upcoming station assembly missions. STS-115 is one of the most

photographed shuttle missions ever, with more than 100 high-definition, digital, video

and film cameras documenting the launch and climb to orbit. Data from these images, as

well as station and shuttle crew inspection, helped to clear Atlantis' thermal protection

system for return only two and a half days after launch. Tanner, Piper, Burbank and

MacLean, with the help of crewmates, made three spacewalks that completed truss

installation, enabled solar arrays to be deployed and prepared an important radiator for

later activation. They also installed a signal processor and transponder that transmits

voice and data to the ground and performed other tasks to upgrade and protect the

station'ssystems. A new procedure called a "camp out" was implemented, in which

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astronauts slept in the Quest airlock prior to their spacewalks. The process shortens the

"prebreathe" time during which nitrogen is purged from the astronauts' systems and air

pressure is lowered so the spacewalkers avoid the condition known as the bends. On each

of the three spacewalks, the astronauts were able to perform more than the number of

scheduled activities. The astronauts performed unprecedented robotics work. They used

the shuttle's arm in a delicate maneuver to hand off the school bus-sized truss to the

station's arm. The 45-foot truss weighs 35,000 pounds. The arrays at the end of the truss

extended to their full 240-foot wingspan once they unfurled on flight day six. The

astronauts also moved the station's robotic arm to a position where it will assist in the

next phase of station construction. After Atlantis undocked from the station, it did the

first full fly around of the facility since prior to the Space Shuttle Columbia accident. The

maneuver helped ground crews get a better perspective on the station's environment and

overall exterior health. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a call during the

mission to astronaut Steve MacLean to congratulate him on being the first Canadian to

operate Canadarm2, the station's Canadian-built robotic arm. After undocking, the

Atlantis crew participated in a first-ever three-way call with the Expedition 13 crew

aboard the International Space Station and the three crew members of the Soyuz

spacecraft on its way to the station. All 12 astronauts in space at that time were able to

have a conversation. With Atlantis and its crew safely home, the stage is set for the next

stage of International Space Station assembly. Preparations continue for Space Shuttle

Discovery'slaunch, targeted for mid-December, on the STS-116 mission to deliver an

adfffftonaltruss segment and a cargo module to the station. Discovery will also do

extensive work on the station's electrical and cooling systems. ["NASA Welcomes Space

Shuttle Crew Back To Earth," NASA News Release #06-321, September 21, 2006.]

September 22: Bigelow announces space station plans, Lockheed

agreement

Bigelow Aerospace announced Thursday that it has signed an agreement with Lockheed

Martin to study the use of the Atlas 5 to launch human missions, while making plans to

launch a human-rated orbital habitat as early as 2009. The Lockheed Martin agreement

initially covers the study of modifications needed to the Atlas 5 so it can safely launch

passenger spacecraft, something Lockheed has already been examining, as well as

"potential business models and business plans". Under one scenario, that would involve

the launch of up to 16 Atlas 5 vehicles a year. Bigelow Aerospace founder Robert

Bigelow also announced Thursday that the company is planning a larger inflatable

habitat, called Sundaneer, would be ready for launch in late 2009 or early 2010.

Sundaneer would have life-support systems and 180 cubic meters of habitable volume,

and thus could support human crews ifa means of transporting them there is available.

Bigelow launched a subscale inflatable module, Genesis 1, in July, and it continues to

operate well. A second spacecraft, Genesis 2, is scheduled for launch in early 2007. Last

month Bigelow announced that it was making significant but unspecified changes to its

program intended to accelerate its overall development. Web posted. (2006). [Bigelow

announces space station plans, Lockheed agreement [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spacetoday.net/[2006, September 22].]

Leaky valve delays rocket

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A Delta 2 rocket launch has been delayed one day to Monday because of a repair to a

leaky valve, the Air Force said. The rocket, which carries aNavstar Global Positioning

System satellite, is scheduled for launch between 2:50 and 3:03 p.m. from Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station. The Air Force said that during routine testing, a few drops

of hydrazine were detected leaking from a valve on the third stage of the Delta 2. The

launch team needed one day to make a repair and verify that it worked, the Air Force

said. Web posted. (2006). [Leaky valve delays rocket [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda,/.com! [2006, September 22].]

Shuttle Atlantis crew successfully completes work on space

station

NASA's highly successful third post-Columbia mission likely will lead to a rapid return

to night shuttle launches, a move that would boost the agency's ability to finish the

International Space Station before a 2010 deadline. "We're soon going to make a

decision," senior NASA manager LeRoy Cain said after shuttle Atlantis and six

astronauts made a predawn landing Thursday at Kennedy Space Center. "I expect that we

will in all likelihood be able to launch at night as early as (December)." Self-imposed

restrictions put in place after the 2003 Columbia accident limit NASA to launching

shuttles during daylight and at times when the ship's modified external tank will be

jettisoned on the sunlit side of Earth. More than 100 cameras on the ground, on aircraft

and the shuttle then can photograph the tank to see whether safety changes work. The

restrictions, however, cut in half the number of launch opportunities available in any

given year. Keeping them in place would severely hamper NASA's ability to launch at

least 14 station assembly missions by a September 2010 deadline set by President Bush.

So lifting them "is extremely important to us," Cain said. "And we will be able to get

back to being able to launch without lighted conditions because we have to to complete

the space station assembly." NASA's first station construction flight since the Columbia

accident wrapped up at 6:21 a.m. as Atlantis emerged from inky black skies, touching

down on the three-mile runway at KSC. "Welcome back, and congratulations on return

to assembly," astronaut Toni Antonelli said from NASA's Mission Control Center in

Houston. "Thanks, Houston. It's nice to be back," shuttle skipper Brent Jett said. The

225-mph landing followed an hour-lung atmospheric re-entry that was observed by

astronauts peering out station windows more than 200 miles above Earth. "The brightest

thing through the window by far isthe orbiter itself, with its contrail behind," station

flight engineer Jeffrey Williams told colleagues in Mission Control. Fifteen minutes

before Atlantis touched down, the 235-ton station soared over the shuttle runway, a

spectacular man-made shooting star nearly as bright as Venus and Jupiter. Its brilliance in

part comes from a new set of massive solar wings that the Atlantis crew erected at the

outpost. Stretching 240 feet from tip to tip, the glistening gold arrays make the station

one of the brightest objects in the night sky while doubling the amount of electricity

available to run science labs and outpost systems. The astronauts struggled through three

arduous spacewalks to wire up the new wings and deploy a radiator that will shed excess

heat from them. The work was some of the most complicated and physically demanding

to be performed at the outpost. "I know it might have looked easy; it was not," mission

specialist Joe Tanner said. "I'mnot really sure what to say after a flight like that," Jett

said. "It was a pretty tough few days for us, a lot of hard win'k, and a great team effort to

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get the station assembly restarted on a good note. We've got a lot more missions coming

up, and they are going to be just as difficult." NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said the

12-daymission set a pace for what promises to be some of the most ambitious space

missions ever attempted. "Whatever else the space station is, it's one of the most amazing

construction projects that human beings have ever undertaken. It's maybe a little simpler

than trying to build an aircraft while you fly it, but not a lot," he said. "It's obvious to me,

and I hope it's obvious to you, that we are rebuilding the kind of momentum that we have

had in the past and that we need if we are going to finish the space station," Griffin said.

"We're halfway done, and of course we lost several years with a major accident. We've

got a number of very challenging missions to go, but I know we are going to make it."

Webposted. (2006). [Shuttle Atlantis crew successfully completes work on space station

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, September 22].]

NASA Announces New Advisory Council Members

NASA AdministratorMichael Griffin named nine new members to theNASA Advisory

Council on Friday,includingDr. EdwardDavid,Jr., Chairof the Science Committee, and

Dr. PaulRobinson,Chair of the new Space OperationsCommittee. TheNASA Advisory

Council (The "Council") consists of six committees,Aeronautics, Audit andFinance,

Exploration,HumanCapital,Science, andSpace Operations.Council ChairmanHarrison

H. Sehmitt welcomed the new members. SchmittwasNASA's firstscientist astronautto

fly in spaceand exploredthe moon duringthe Apollo 17 mission. He also served as a

U.S. Senatorfrom New Mexico. The new membersandtheirprimarycommittee

assignmentsare: Col. Eileen Collins (USAF,Ret.), a retired astronaut,was the first

female pilot and commanderof the spaceshuttle. Col. Collins, most recently the

commanderof STS-114, will serve on the SpaceOperationsCommittee. Lt. Gen.(Dr.)

PatCondon(USAF, Ret.) isthe Chairman of the Board of the Air Force Associationand

will serve on the Space OperationsCommittee. Dr.EdwardDavid was the Science

Advisorto the Presidentfrom 1970-1973 and currently is the Presidentof EED,Inc.Dr.

Davidwill serveasthe Chair of the Science Committee. Dr. Owen Garriott is a retired

scientistastronautwho flew on boardthe secondmannedSkylabmission andSpacelab-1.

He will serve on the Science Committee. Dr. Thomas Jones, a retired scientist astronaut

andplanetologistwho flew four Space Shuttlemissions, installedthe centerpiecemodule

of the InternationalSpace Stationduringhis finalmission. Dr. Joneswill serve on the

Space OperationsCommittee. AdmiralBenjamin Montoya,former Chairman,President

andCEO of the Public Service Company of New Mexico, is the Chief Executive Officer

of SmartSystemsTechnologies and will serveon the Space OperationsCommittee. Dr.

C. PaulRobinson,PresidentEmeritusandformer Director of SandiaNational

Laboratories,will serve asthe Chair of the Space OperationsCommittee. Dr. Alan Stern

isthe ExecutiveDirector of the SpaceScience andEngineeringDivision of the

SouthwestResearch Institute and will serve on the Science Committee. Dr. John

Sullivan isthe Director of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Purdue University

and will serve on the Aeronautics Committee. The NASA Advisory Council will host its

next public meeting on October 12, 2006, at the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center,

Greenbelt,Md. ["NASA Announces New Advisory Council Members," NASA News

Release #06-320, September 22, 2006.]

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NASA Honors Veteran Astronaut James McDivitt

NASA will honor former astronaut James (Jim) McDivitt for his involvement in the

Gemini and Apollo space programs with the presentation of the Ambassador of

Exploration Award. The ceremony is at 3:30 p.m. EDT, Friday, Oct. 6, in the Boeing

Auditorium, Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Building, University of Michigan, College of

Engineering, Ann Arbor, Mich. NASA is presenting the Ambassador of Exploration

Award to the astronauts and other key individuals who participated in the Mercury,

Gemini, and Apollo space programs for realizing America's vision of space exploration

from 1961 to 1972. The award is a small sample of lunar material encased in Lucite and

mounted for public display. The material is part of the 842 pounds of samples brought

back to Earth during the six Apollo lunar expeditions from 1969 to 1972. McDivitt was

the command pilot for Gemini 4 in 1965. He was commander of Apollo 9, a 10-dayEarth

orbital mission, launched March 3, 1969.This was the first flight of the complete set of

Apollo hardware and the Lunar Module. In August 1969 he became manager of the

Apollo Spacecraft Program. He was program manager for Apollo 12 through 16.

McDivitt's award will be displayed at the College of Engineering. ["NASA Honors

Veteran Gemini-Apollo Astronaut James McDivitt," NASA Media Advisory #M06-149,

September 22, 2006.]

September 23: Union plans to picket launch

Local 127 of the Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America plans to hold an

"informational picket" starting at 11 a.m. Monday at the main entrance of the Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station -- the day of a scheduled launch of a Delta 2 rocket. Union

representatives said Space Gateway Support, which employs security police and various

other workers at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy Space Center, "has

refused and failed to engage in meaningful or realistic collective bargaining for an

amended contract." The union is ramping up pressure on the company, since Space

Gateway Support laid offabout 68 people on Sept. 15. Seventeen of them were from

Local 127. "Ourmain issues are twofold: Reduction in force, and failing to engage in a

meaningful and realistic collective-bargaining agreement," Local 127 President Jerry

Heyman said Friday. "We are in limbo at this time, while we are waiting for the selection

of an arbitrator, at which time we will be in ,interest arbitration' for another three-year

agreement." Union workers last got a new contract in 2003, and that contract expired on

May 31. "The company has made more than 180 proposed changes to the contract, like,

with seniority, holidays, grievance, vacation, and they want to take away many benefits

that have been negotiated over the 50 years this contract has been in existence," Local

127Vice President Joe Nocera said. "Recently, we had layoffs, and, with the proposed

changes, that's forced us to get back to the table." "The parties haven't reached an

agreement, and we respect what they have to do, but both panics have tried very hard to

reach an agreement, and we, unfortunately, could not," said Sam Gutierrez, public affairs

manager for Space Gateway Support. "Our concern is making sure we're serving our

customer:" Web posted. (2006). [Union plans to picket launch [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, September 23].]

September 27: Population boom inspires scientists to study birds

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They bump shuttles at liftoff and live to squawk about it. In July of 2005, the tip of the

external fuel tank of shuttle Discovery smashed into at least one turkey vulture. The

strike caused no significant damage but triggered stepped-up patrols to pick up road kill

at the Kennedy Space Center. That tip came from a consultation with Disney officials.

"By taking the road kill out of the main roads, we have, we believe, reduced the number

of vultures," said Steve Payne, NASA's test director. The space center shoots a shotgunlike device to scare buzzards from launch pads and landing strips, with mixed success.

Past attempts to trap them or "stink" them away with chemical odors failed. "They find

very little offensive. We've tried everything," Payne said, adding that buzzards sometimes

nest atop the shuttle fuel tanks. "We have had scratches on our tanks, where hawks and

vultures will roost on top of it and leave scratch marks," he said. In coming shuttle

launches, they'll try a new, 18-foot tall canon NASA bought that can blast a focused

sound wave to scare birds from up to a few thousand feet away. NASA also bought new

radar to scan for birds near launch pads and is considering using trained falcons to scare

off the vultures, Payne said. Buzzards have long been the bane of those who maintain

telephone, water supply and Doppler radar towers. "They have a highly acidic digestive

tract from what we know," Avery said. "They're very adaptable.'t Web posted. (2006).

Population boom inspires scientists to study birds [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, September 27].]

Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

Mission: Solar TerrestrialRelations Observatory (STEREO) ; Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape

CanaveralAir Force Station; LaunchVehicle: Boeing Delta II ; LaunchDate: No earlier

than Oct.25, 2006 ; LaunchTime: TBD. After anassessment of all engineeringdata,

engineershave determinedthat the Delta IIsecond stagetankfor STEREO is ready for

processingto continue.A final determinationof flightworthiness will be made priorto

spacecraftmatingto the Delta II rocket.The second stagewill be re-erected atopthe first

stage onFriday, Sept.29 at Pad 17-B. STEREO remainsatthe Astrotech Space

OperationsFacility. Duringthe hiatus,the spacecraft flight batteries were reconditioned.

The twin solar observatoriesremainstacked on top of the third stage. The transportation

canister will now be reinstalledin preparationfor moving to the launchpad on Oct. 12.

KSC News Center(2006). Expendable Launch Vehicles Status Report ELV-092706

[Online]. Available E-mail: ksc@newsletters.nasa.gov [2006, September 27].]

NASA opens door to new era

NASA quite literally opened the door Tuesday on a new era in space exploration at

Kennedy Space Center. For the first time since the end of the Apollo program in the mid1970s, NASA raised an 80-foot-tall door on the west side of the KSC Operations &

Checkout Building. The high bay inside -- which once housed moon-bound Apollo

spacecraft -- is being converted into a factory for the Crew Exploration Vehicles that will

carry U.S. astronauts back to the lunar surface before the end of the next decade. The

final assembly and integration of the new Orion spacecraft will he performed there by

Lockheed Martin, which will build up to eight of the ships under a contract that could

worth more than $8 billion through 2019. "This is truly a symbolic event," Russell

Romanella, director of the International Space Station and Payload Processing

Directorate at KSC, told a crowd of 100 who gathered for the ceremonial reactivation of

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the building's West Vertical Door. "We have an exciting future, and today we are really

opening the door to exploration." Lockheed Martin won the lucrative contract for a new

fleet of Apollo-style space capsules earlier this month. Orion spacecraft are scheduled to

begin flying sorties to and from the international station by 2014 and moon missions by

2020. A work force of 300 to 400 people will perform the assembly and checkout work

at KSC. Local economic development officials said luring the new work was an

important step toward attracting more than launch operations to Florida. "This is new

business for KSC," said KSC Director Jim Kennedy. "It's a paradigm shift in the

industrial climate of this state," added Lynda Weatherman, president and chief executive

officer of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast. "This isjust

the beginning." Originally known as the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building, the

facility is being converted with $35 million in incentive money offered to Lockheed

Martin by the state of Florida. The state also is providing $735,000 to clean out the

building in preparation for the conversion. The clean-out work, which is being

performed by The Boeing Co., so far has involved tearing down test stands and hauling

away more than 50 tons of structural steel. Thirty pallets piled high with surplus

equipment also has been removed from the building. Built between 1962 and 1964, the

building has quite a storied history. Some of NASA's Gemini capsules and all of the

agency's Apollo Command Modules and Service Modules were inspected, tested and

integrated in the five story facility, which houses more than 600,000 feet of offices,

laboratories, astronaut crew quarters and payload processing areas. The spacecraft flown

during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project and Skylab space station program also were

assembled and tested at the facility. The cylindrical science laboratory modules and

instrument pallets flown during 26 Spacelab missions also were processed in the facility.

Those missions were launched aboard space shuttles between November 1983 and April

1998. "Pretty amazing history," Romanella said. Web posted. (2006). Population boom

inspires scientists to study birds [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, September 27].]

Hearings about nuclear-powered probe planned

A sophisticated science laboratory bound for Mars will draw its electrical power either

from a nuclear generator or solar arrays, and local residents this week can weigh in on

NASA's choice. The space agency plans two public hearings today on the potential

danger of launching the Mars Science Laboratory with a plutonium-powered generator,

which is NASA's preferred method of powering the craft. Launch of the big Mars rover

is set for sometime between September and November 2009 on an Atlas 5 rocket. Safety

studies by NASA and the Department of Energy show there is a 1 in 420 chance of an

accident early in the flight resulting in a release of radioactive material over communities

near Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Two public hearings, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6

p.m. to 9 p.m. today, will give area residents a chance to hear NASA's explanation of the

mission, the dangers and the safety measures being taken by the government. The threehour sessions at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa also include time for people to

speak in support of or opposition to the launch of the new Mars rover. The nuclear

generator is similar to ones launched on past space missions, including the launch earlier

this year of the New Horizons probe bound for Pluto and the 1997 launch of the Cassini

probe now orbiting Saturn. Public hearings are a routine step in the government's effort to

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inform the public and get feedback before launch. In the past, such missions have

prompted protests of varying size and intensity. Anti-nuclear protesters have argued

against the mission on the basis that the danger to the public is too great and that the

science purposes touted by the space agency are a cover for plans to test technologies that

could ultimately become nuclear space weaponry. "Time will likely prove us to be right

as we say that fabricating and launching nuclear power is too much of a risk and danger

to this planet," said Bruce K. Gagnon, who is the leader of an anti-nuclear peace

organization that has repeatedly protested such launches. Gagnon said in an e-mail

interviewthat his group would fight this launch, too. Past protests have not stopped

NASA from launching probes carrying the plutonium power plants, which are called

Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator. The device generates electricity that powers the

spacecraft's science instruments, communications tools and other systems on the surface

of Mars. NASA has a backup plan to outfit the Mars Science Lab with solar arrays to do

the same job if it is ultimately deemed that the nuclear generator should not be used.

Doing so would require the addition of some smaller nuclear-powered heating devices,

but those would carry a fraction of the plutonium and pose substantially less risk. The

plutonium fuel is not the highly explosive kind used in weapons. It is a different grade

that is only dangerous to people if reduced to fine dust, and the generator itself is

designed to make sure that does not happen. The generators are subjected to intense

testing to make sure they will hold up to violent rocket explosions. Pellets of plutonium,

much like ceramic, are designed not to break up even if they somehow escape the

generator in a mishap. The biggest danger for Brevard residents comes from an accident

on the launch pad or within a minute after liftoff. Studies found once the rocket arcs out

over the ocean, there is no chance of a plutonium release if it crashed into the water. If

there is an accident, people living near the launch site would be told to take shelter inside

buildings until government detection teams determine whether there was a radioactive

release and whether residents are at risk. Web posted. (2006). Hearings about nuclearpowered probe planned [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.corrd

[2006, September 27].]

September 28: Critical door on Discovery damaged

Oneof the two externaltankumbilical doors on the underside of Discovery was damaged

this week, butNASA officials saythe problemis notexpected to delay the planned

launchof the shuttle in December. Senior shuttleprogram managers, meanwhile, will

meettodayto decide whether to move a plannedDec. 14 launch up to Dec. 7. Six

astronautsaim to fly an InternationalSpace Stationconstructionmission aboard the

orbiter. Kennedy SpaceCenterworkers were replacing a power distributionunit onone

of the doors Wednesdaywhen apparentdamagewas done to a bell crank and push rod

thatare partof the mechanism usedto open and shutthe door. The door is one of two

thatswing shut afterthe shuttle'sexternaltankisjettisoned fromthe orbiter nine minutes

into flight. Itmust close and seal properlyto protectthe ship and its crew from extreme

temperaturesencounteredduringatmospheric reentry. KSC spokesmanBruce

Buckinghamsaidengineersaretroubleshootingthe problem,trying to determinewhether

the bell crankandpush rodwill have to be replaced.Partsfromthe orbiter Endeavour

likely wouldbe used in that case. Engineersstill are determining how long any

replacementwork might take.Buckinghamsaid the problem atthis point is not expected

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to threaten either a Dec. 7 or Dec. 14 launch date. Web posted. (2006). Critical door on

Discovery damaged [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.eom/The

Flame Trench [2006, September 28].]

Jeb Bush to visit for space celebration

Gov. Jeb Bush will be in BrevardCountythis afternoonto help celebrate Florida's rolein

the next generationof space exploration,the $8 billion constructionof a space shuttle

replacement.Aerospace and defense giantLockheedMartinwon the lucrative contract

earlierthis monthto build an Apollo-style crew vehicle called Orion.Itwill be usedto

service the InternationalSpace Stationandfor lunarmissions. Bush will be joined by

Lockheed's Orionprogram manager,CleonLacefield,as well as other state and local

officials at the Radisson Resort and PortConventionCenterat 1:30p:m. Loekheed's

contractcallsfor the construction of up to eight vehicles through2019. The work will

employ 300 to 400 workers who will do assembly and checkout at KennedySpace

Center. The work will be done in the MannedSpacecraft OperationsBuilding, which is

being converted with $35 million in economic developmentmoney providedby the state.

Floridaalso is paying $735,000 to cleanoutthe building to make it ready for the

conversion. Web posted. (2006). Jeb Bush to visit for space celebration [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/[2006, September 28].]

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

Mission: STS-116 - 20th InternationalSpace StationFlight (12A.1) - P5 Truss Segment;

Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) ; Location:OrbiterProcessingFacilityBay 3 ; Launch

Date:No earlier than Dec. 7, 2006 ; LaunchPad:39B ; Crew: Polansky,Oefelein,

Curbeam,Higginbotham,Patrick,Fuglesang and Williams ; Inclination/OrbitAltitude:

51.6 degrees/122 nauticalmiles. Duringtoday'sProgram RequirementsControlBoard

meeting,Space Shuttle Program managementmoved the targetlaunch date for Discovery

to no earlier thanDec. 7, a week earlier than originally planned. This change allows for

workersat both Kennedy Space Centerand Johnson SpaceCenterto enjoy additional

timewith their families during the Decemberholidays. At this time, thereis currentlya

range conflict with an Atlas V launch, which is currently onthe range on December 8 and

9. NASA will work with Lockheed-Martinandthe Air Force to determinewhetherwe

will have a launchopportunity on December 7. Until this negotiationis complete, we

understandthat December 7th is a targetand thatwe arenoton the range schedule atthis

time.As always,the official launchdate is not set until the Flight Readiness Review.

Technicianscontinue processing Discovery in the OrbiterProcessingFacilityfor its

launch to the InternationalSpace Station.The keel yoke assembly was installedin the

payload bay lastweekend. The assembly holdsthe payloadin the bay duringthe mission.

Workers completed the payloadpremate test in preparationof the Spacehab module

being installedin the payload bay. Engineersarereviewing potential damageto orbiter

Discovery'sright-hand externaltank door mechanism, which resultedduringthe process

of reassembling the linkage following the change out of the power driveunit. No impact

to the processingschedule is expected. The externaltankscheduled to fly with

Discovery, designatedET-123, arrived by barge atKennedy Space Center fromMichoud

Assembly Facility in New Orleanslast week. The tankwas lifted intothe checkoutcell in

the Vehicle Assembly Building for finalwork prior to being matedto the solid rocket

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boosters. Mission: STS-117 - 21st International Space Station Flight (13A) - $3/$4 Truss

Segment Solar Arrays ; Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) ; Location: Orbiter Processing

Facility Bay 1 ;Launch Date: No earlier than Feb. 22, 2007 ; Launch Pad: 39B ; Crew:

Sturckow, Archambault, Reilly, Forrester, Swanson and Olivas ; Inclination/Orbit

Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles. Following the landing of Atlantis on Sept. 21,

technicians towed the vehicle into the Orbiter Processing Facility to begin preparing it for

its next mission to the International Space Station. Thermal protection system post-flight

inspection is 27 percent complete. Flight crew equipment removal was completed

Monday. Technicians installed payload bay door strongbacks on Monday in preparation

for the doors to open. On Wednesday, the doors were opened and the Ku-band antenna

was deployed. Nose cap and chin panel thermography has begun and preparations are

under way to begin thermography on the wing leading edges. Endeavour (OV-105);

Endeavour remains powered down in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 and technicians

continue to prepare the vehicle for its first launch following an extensive modification

period. Technicians completed the environmental control and life support system

functional test. Work continues on the orbiter boom sensor system manipulator

positioning mechanism. The mechanisms serve asthe pedestals that hold the boom in

place in the payload bay when it is not in use. Owner-press-release. (2006). Space

Shuttle Processing Status Report #S-092806 [Online]. Available E-mail: ownerpress-release@spinoza.public.hq.nasa.gov[2006, September28].]

Next shuttle mission to do complex electrical work

NASA managerstoday agreed to move upthe target launchdate for the shuttle Discovery

and mission STS-116 from Dec. 7 to Dec. 14 atroughly 9:38 p.m. EST. Agency

managers have not yet formally relaxed a post-Columbia daylight launch constraint, but

that issue will be discussed at the next program requirements change board meeting Oct.

5 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Still unresolved is conflict with a Lockheed

MaWmAtlas 5 rocket carrying a military payload that currently is scheduled for launch

Dec. 7 from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. An overview of the STS-1i6 mission

is posted below. Shuttle mission STS-116, a December visit to the international space

station, represents the most complex construction flight yet attempted, a three-spacewalk

mission to rewire the U.S. segment of the outpost and activate its sophisticated cooling

system. Construction has now reached the point where an interim power system,

designed to support the station during its initial assembly, needs to be upgraded to

support the eventual attachment of new research modules. And with the delivery of new

solar arrays by shuttle astronauts earlier this month, NASA is finally ready to activate the

lab's permanent power and cooling systems. But in order to do that, the astronauts must

first retract one wing of the older solar arrays providing interim electricity to the U.S.

segment of the station. Flight controllers then will power down the lab's two major

circuits, one at a time, while spacewalking astronauts plug electrical cables into different

sockets. With the solar arrays attached by the shuttle Atlantis' crew in September, "we'll

now be generating enough power we can bring the permanent cooling system on line and

start using it," said Paul Hill, mission operations manager at the Johnson Space Center.

Webposted. (2006). Next shuttle mission to do complex electrical work [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006, September 28].]

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September 30: KSC Visitor Complex offers ticket deal

The Kennedy SpaceCenterVisitorComplex is offering Florida residents one yearof

accessfor the price of one daily admission. Floridaresidents will receive a 12-month

passto the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complexwith the purchaseof a one-day

MaximumAccess pass. The tickets are only available online andover the phone, andthe

offer expiresDec.15 of this year. Owning a 12-monthpass comes with a few perks,

includingfirst access to the ShuttleLaunchExperience, opening May of next year, and a

10 percentdiscountin the gift shop. Passholders also get admissionto IMAX films and

theAstronautHall of Fame. Web posted. (2006). KSC Visitor Complex offersticket

deal [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, September30].]

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OCTOBER 2006

October 2: NASA Awards Space Program Operations Contract

NASA has awarded a letter contract valued at $IA billion for the first six months to

United Space Alliance (USA), LLC, of Houston. When definitized, it will result in a fouryear contract through Sept. 30, 2010, to cover Space Shuttle Program operations. Efforts

under the Space Program Operations Contract include work and support for mission

design and planning; software development and integration; astronaut and flight

controller training; system integration; flight operations; vehicle processing, launch and

recovery; vehicle sustaining engineering; flight crew equipment processing; and Space

Shuttle and International Space Station-related support to the Constellation Program. It is

a cost reimbursement contract, with provisions for award and performance fees. Work in

support of this contract is performed at USA's facilities in Houston; Huntsville, Ala.;

Kennedy Space Center, Fla.; major subcontractor facilities in Huntington Beach, Calif.;

Houston; and Cape Canaveral, Fla. ["NASA Awards Space Program Operations

Contract," NASA Contract Release #C06-054, October 2, 2006.]

October 3: Spokane woman wins NASA's Greatest Fan video contest

A Spokane woman has won NASA's Greatest Fan video contest. Kayla LaFrance's 30-

second video is called "Mars Mates Forever." It features still photos set to music.

LaFrance's video was tops among 15-hundred entries from contestants aged 13 to 24. She

and a friend will be treated to a five-day trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to

witness a shuttle launch. She is an engineering physics major in her senior year at

Belmont University inNashville, Tennessee. Suprisingly, another Spokane woman was

also a finalist -- Becca Millsap, a junior at Clark High School. Web posted. (2006).

[Spokanewoman wins NASA's Greatest Fan video contest [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.kndo.com/[2006, October 3].]

NASA research earns Nobel Prize

JohnMatherofNASA's Goddard SpaceFlight Center and George Smoot of the

University of California at Berkeley won the Nobel Prize in physics today "for their

discovery of the blackbody form and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background

radiation," according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. They did research into

the earliest days of the universe, using data from NASA's Cosmic Background Explorer

or COBE satellite, launched in 1989. To quote the press release, "The COBE results

provided increased support for the Big Bang scenario for the origin of the Universe, as

this is the only scenario that predicts the kind of cosmic microwave background radiation

measured by COBE. These measurements also marked the inception of cosmology as a

precise science." Web posted. (2006). [NASA research earns Nobel Prize [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/The Flame Trench [2006, October 3].]

NASA awards space operations contract

NASA has awarded a space program operations contract valued at $1.1 billion for the

first six months of its term to United Space Alliance LLC, of Houston. When formalized,

the agreement will result in a contract running through Sept. 30, 2010. The National

Aeronautics and Space Administration operations agreement covers work and support for

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mission design and planning; software development and integration; astronaut and flight

controller training; system integration; flight operations; vehicle processing, launch and

reeovery; vehicle sustaining engineering; flight crew equipment processing; and space

shuttle- and International Space Station-related support to the Constellation Program.

NASA said the contract includes provisions for award and performance fees. Work in

support of this contract is performed at Space Alliance facilities in Houston; Huntsville,

Ala.; and Cape Canaveral, Fla. Web posted. (2006). [NASA awards space operations

contract [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.upi.com/[2006, October 3].]

FTC approves ULA formation

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has agreed to allow the formation of the United

Launch Alliance (ULA), the merger of the government launch operations of Boeing and

Lockheed Martin, but with conditions. In a statement released late Tuesday, the FTC said

that it would allow Boeing and Lockheed to proceed with the ULA, but only under the

terms of a consent decree that requires the companies to cooperate equally with all

manufacturers of government payloads and to protect sensitive information provided by

those payload manufacturers. Proponents of the ULA argued that the joint venture would

save the government money, while satellite manufacturers and other launch vehicle

developers expressed concern that the ULA would give the two companies an unfair

advantage for government launch and satellite work. Boeing and Lockheed announced

the formation of the ULA in May 2005, hoping to win approval for the deal by the end of

last year. In separate statements both companies said they would press ahead with

completing work on ULA's formation but did not set a date for the deal to close. Web

posted. (2006). [FTC approves ULA formation [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spacetoda,/.net/[2006, October 3].]

October 4: State grant to support NOTU

A stategrantof $160,000 thatwill go for a study of Naval OrdnanceTest Unit is among

14 projects around the state to help solidify tiesto the military that could help keep

projects in the state. Other projects from Key West to Jacksonville shared in the $4

million in grants, Gov. Jeb Bush announced Tuesday. Business and community leaders

rallied successfully to get NOTU offa list for closure during the 2005 round of base

closures. Web posted. (2006). [State grant to support NOTU [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, October 4].]

Look ahead at the launch prep work

The launch team at Kennedy Space Center is pressing ahead toward the scheduled Dec. 7

launch of shuttle Discovery on a construction mission to the Internationa! Space Station.

The major milestones between now and launch are beginning to stack up and we thought

you might want a quick look guide to the current processing schedule: * Oct. 13:

Connect externai tank to the solid rocket boosters. * Nov. 1: Discovery rolls from its

processing hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it is lifted into positioned

and connected to tank and boosters. * Nov. 8: A crawler-transporter hauls the fully

assembled shuttle stack to Pad 39B. * Nov. 16:STS-116 crew and launch team

participate in countdown demonstration test. * Dec. 4: Countdown begins. * Dec. 7:

Launch at 9:38 p.m. A date for the Flight Readiness Review is not yet finalized. Also,

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NASA and Lockheed Martin Corp. still must work out a scheduling conflict with the U.S.

Air Force's Eastern Range because Lockheed has an Atlas 5 already set to launch that

day, Presumably, the Atlas 5 would move back a couple days to make way for NASA.

Web posted. (2006). [Look ahead at the launch prep work [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/The Flame Trench [2006, October 4].]

Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle First Stage Contract Modification

NASA is extendinga previous contractaction with ATK Thiokol of Brigham City, Utah,

to continuedesign anddevelopmentof the first stage for the Ares I crew launch vehicle.

The extension has a maximum value of $35 million. Ares I isthe crew launch vehicle

that will transport the Orion crew exploration vehicle, its crew or other small cargo

payloads to low-Earth orbit. The first stage will consist of a single solid rocket booster

similar to those used on the space shuttle, but with a fifth motor segment added. The

upper stage will consist of a J-2X liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen engine and the

associated propellant tanks and main propulsion system. The contract action maintains

the design, development, test and evaluation schedule; expedites the procurement of new

nozzlemetal hardware and production tooling for propellant casting and nozzle

fabrication; and maintains the necessary design and engineering analysis leading to a

SystemsRequirements Review in December 2006. ["Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle First

Stage Contract Modification," NASA Contract Release #C06-057, October 4, 2006.]

October 5: Merritt Island refuge among most 'at risk'

TheDefenders of Wildlife haslisted the MerrittIslandamong 10 refuges most at risk

from harmfulimpacts of globalwarming. Warmercoastal waters could trigger more

algae blooms such as red tide that kill fish, manatees and other marine life. Shifting

gender ratios of sea turtles could hatch more females but too few males, gutting their

numbers. While refuge officials temper such dire predictions, they say Defenders' annual

refuge report raises important issues and public awareness about the challenges refuges

face from climate change. "They lean a little bit to the left, but I think their perspective is

pretty well founded in science," said Dora Whitmore, a refuge ranger at Merritt Island for

about three decades. The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group released its annual

Refuges at Risk report Thursday to coincide with the upcoming National Wildlife

Refuges Week, Oct. 7 to Oct. 14. Web posted. (2006). [Merritt Island refuge among

most 'at risk' [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, October

5].]

October 6: NASA safety panel to recommend changesto review process

The AerospaceSafetyAdvisory Panel (ASAP) plans to recommendthat NASA adopta

new methodof categorizing and distributinginformationduringflight safety reviews that

will give more latitude to lower-level managers to solve simpler problems ontheirown,

while leaving seniormanagersfree to focus on larger, thornier issues. RetiredVice Adm.

Joseph Dyer, chair of the ASAP and formerheadof Naval Air Systems Command

(NAVAIR),told The DAILYthatNASA's currentphilosophyfor flight safety reviews is

to provide all levels of managementwith as much informationaspossible. "AtDOD we

triedto tier informationsuchthat easier thingsgot taken care of at lower levels, then at

the topyou hadtime to really focus on the hard ones," Dyer said. "NASA's way of

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working similar briefings and decision processes is really to bring all the information to

all the people... We think there is an opportunity to further enhance safety by highlighting

those issuesthat require senior-leveljudgment, and setting them apart from the laborious

details that the current culture still embraces." During safety reviews, a "tremendous

depth and breadth of information" is made available all the way up the chain to top

officials such as Chief Safety Officer Bryan O'Connor, NASA Chief Engineer Chris

Scolese and even Administrator Michael Griffin, Dyer said. NASA personnel have told

Dyer that the roots of this approach go back to the way rocket pioneer Wernher von

Braun managed reviews. The ASAP's recommendations for "tiering" information will be

in its next quarterly report, Dyer said. "There's an opportunity to improve quality of life

of the senior folks, to give more empowerment to the junior folks, and to focus on the

hard [problems]," he said. Originally formed in the wake of the Apollo 1 fire in 1967,the

ASAP is charged with advising NASA on safety. Its next meeting will be at Johnson

Space Center in Houston, where the panel will work on a report to Congress due by year's

end. E-mail distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Re: "NASA safety panel to recommend changes to review process," [Electronic]. Vol.

220, No. 4, [October 6, 2006.].]

Debris Damage to Shuttle Is Found

The shuttle Atlantis came back from space last month with a tiny but significant hole in

it, apparently from a collision with a piece of space debris,NASA officials said

yesterday. The micrometeoroid did not damage the delicate thermal panels and tiles that

protect the shuttle on its return to earth; instead, it struck a radiator panel that extends

from the payload bay doors. The doors hang open during missions to get rid of heat

produced by the shuttle's systems. By historical standards, it was a major hit, said James

Hartsfield, a NASA spokesman, who called it "the second-most-damaging particle that

we've encountered in the program." Mr. Hartsfield added, however, that the damage was

slight. "It posed no danger to the crew and no change to the mission," he said. The hole

is about a tenth of an inch in diameter at the entry point, with damage extending about an

inch around and a half inch deep within the radiator itself, where the particle shattered.

On the other side of the radiator, it left an exit hole three-hundredths of an inch in

diameter and a crack two-tenths of an inch long. The radiators are tucked inside the bay

when the doors are closed shortly before returning to earth, so the damaged area never

faced the searing heat of re-entry, It was superheated plasma entering a hole in the wing

of the shuttle Columbia on Feb. 1, 2003, that caused the loss of that craft and its crew of

seven. The obvious high velocity of the impact meant that the debris that struck the

Atlantis did not come from the shuttle itself, Mr. Hartsfield said, since objects floating

away from the shuttle have a low velocity relative to the speed of the shuttle. Web

posted. (2006). [Debris Damage to Shuttle Is Found [Online]. Available WWW:

http:!!www.nytimes.com/[2006, October 6].]

October 9: Road Kill Posse PSA

The Road Kill Posse atKennedy Space Centeris still tryingall it canto get the wordout

aboutthe dangers of big birdsswarming over the nation'slaunch site. The latestoffering

to get the word outto the troops: a public service video on the KSC web site thatcan't be

missed. The folks out at KSC obviously had some fun with that,but they're seriousabout

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this issue.Road kill attracts vultures. Vultures are a real threat. The one that recently met

its demise in a collision with Discovery's external tank posed a serious danger. The video

warns workers that post-flight analysis shows a vulture strike could be catastrophic for

the shuttle and its crew. Web posted. (2006). [Road Kill Posse PSA [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/The Flame Trench [2006, October 9].]

October 10: NASA to name moonlander after Greek goddess Artemis

Artemis isthe preferred name forNASA's proposedLunarSurface Access Module

(LSA1V0wh , ich is expected to land fourastronautsatthe Moon's southernpole from

2020 for missionsthat initiallywill lastupto a week. Artemis was a daughter of Greek

god Zeus and is identifiedwith the Greek Moongoddess Selene. NASA sources confirm

the name choice. The US space agency releaseda request for information (RFI) of lunar

lander concept studiesin May. Participantsin the studywere asked to refine the LSAM

design including descent stage propulsion system packaging, crew cabin layout, airlock

design and options for unmanned operation of the LSAM to deploy lunar outpost

modules and equipment. NASA has already nmned its crew exploration vehicle Orion,

and its launcher Ares I. The proposed heavylift cargo booster is being called Ares V.

These names have been registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office, but the

government organisation's website shows no applications for Artemis to be trademarked

by NASA. Web posted. (2006). [NASA to name moonlander after Greek goddess

Artemis [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.flight_lobal.com/[2006, October 10].]

October 11: Visitor complex, astronaut hall welcome locals this weekend

Two of the best space museums in theUnited Statesare free to local residentsthis

weekend. On a normal day, itwould cost $38 for adults and$28 for children (ages 3 to

11)to get intothe Kennedy SpaceCenterVisitor Complex and the AstronautHall of

Fame. All day on Friday, Saturdayand Sunday,any resident of Brevard County getsin

fornothing,as long asthey bring proof they live here and food for the poor. The freebie

is a yearly show of thanks by the privatecompany that operatesthe visitor complex and

hall of fame, both located east ofU.S. 1 on StateRoad 405 in Titusville. Delaware North

Park Services began the free weekend for locals in 1999, about the time the company

began charging theme park-style fees to get into the NASA-owned visitor facility long

accessible to the public free. Delaware North calls the event "Salute to Brevard

Residents." The company says in a written release promoting the event that the free

weekend is a way "to thank the people of Brevard for their continued support of Kennedy

Space Center Visitor Complex's mission: to tell the NASA story and inspire all people to

support the exploration of space." A driver's license or utility bill will be good enough to

demonstrate you are a Brevard resident. Local residents also will get 10 percent off items

bought from the gift shop. The event serves a dual purpose: feeding the local hungry.

Delaware North is collecting food for area food banks. Although a donation is not

required to get into KSC or the hall, the company asks each person coming through the

gates for free to bring one canned good or nonperishable food item. The donations will

go the North Brevard Charities, Central Brevard Sharing Center and South Brevard

Sharing Center. Web posted. (2006). [Visitor complex, astronaut hall welcome locals

this weekend [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, October

111.1

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October 13: Tank, boosters mated as crew checks things out at KSC

Launch processing crews this morning finished connecting the external tank to the twin

solid rocket boosters for NASA's next space shuttle mission. The operation to lift the tank

into place and then mount it between the booster rockets began yesterday and finished

this morning. It's a key step toward NASA's targeted Dec. 7 launch of shuttle Discovery

on another space station construction mission. Also at KSC this week, Discovery's crew

is checking out its spaceship and the cargo as part of what's called the Crew Equipment

Interface Test. The astronauts are here through Saturday morning looking over the space

station truss segment they will deliver and install as well as their orbiter. Web posted.

(2006). [Tank, boosters mated as crew checks things out at KSC [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/The Flame Trench [2006, October 13].]

October 16: Shuttle manifest summit under way

A summit aimedatsorting out a launchschedule forNASA's remainingshuttleflights is

underway today as NASA andcontractormanagerstry to determinehow best to finish

buildingthe InternationalSpace Station.NASA is planning to launchat least 14more

missionsto complete the orbiting outpostand perhaps anotherto service the Hubble

Space Telescope. The launch dates for those flights largely will depend on a complex

combination of factors that include the agency's budget, external tank delivery dates,

shuttle modifications and the timing of crew rotation missions to the international

outpost, among other things. Launch of shuttle Discovery on the next station

construction mission remains scheduled for Dec. 7, but dates for flights beyond that could

change. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle manifest summit under way [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/The Flame Trench [2006, October 13].]

October 18: U.S. Says 'Keep Out of My Space'

The White Househas quietly putout a new NationalSpace Policy -- a documentthat,

among other things, makesit clearthatthe Bush administrationwill notsign anytreaty

that limitsAmerica'sability to put weaponsin orbit. The document,much of which is

classified, also promotes the growth of private enterprise in space, and calls on NASA to

continue its exploration missions, but those come after a call "to ensure that space

capabilities are available in time to further U.S. national security, homeland security and

foreign policy objectives. " "Freedom of action in space is as important to the United

States as air power and sea power," the policy states. "Consistent with this policy, the

United States will preserve its rights, capabilities and freedom of action in space ... and

deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to U.S. national

interests." In other words, analysts say, don't expect the United Statesto sign any new

treaties that try to keep weapons from being launched. Web posted. (2006). [U.S. Says

'Keep Out of My Space' [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.abcnews.com/[2006,

October 18].1

NASA announces new International Space Station crew

NASA and the Russian Federal Space Agency have named two astronauts and two

cosmonauts to the next International Space Station crew, known as Expedition 15.

Astronauts Clayton C. Anderson and Daniel M. Tani will travel to the station next year

and work as flight engineers. Cosmonauts Fyodor N. Yurchikhin and Dr. Oleg V. Kotov

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will spend six months aboard the orbiting laboratory. Anderson will get a ride to the

station aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour's STS-118 mission, targeted for launch in June

2007. He will return to Earth on shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-120. That flight will

carry his replacement, Tani, to the station. Tani will return on shuttle mission STS-122,

targeted for October 2007. Yurchikhin will command Expedition 15, and Kotov will

serve as station flight engineer and Soyuz commander. Yurchikhin and Kotov will fly to

the complex aboard a Soyuz spacecraft scheduled to launch in March 2007. Until

Anderson arrives, astronaut Sunita L. Williams will serve as Expedition 15'sthird crew

member and flight engineer. She will fly to the station on STS-116 in December. Web

posted. (2006). [NASA announces new International Space Station crew [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006, October 18].]

Twin solar observatories set for launch

A Delta rocket and twin solar observatories passed a critical test this week, setting the

stage for a scheduled launch next Wednesday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The 12-story rocket and its payload -- NASA's SolarTerrestrial Relations Observatory, or

STEREO -- are slated to blast off from launch pad 17Bbetween 8:38 p.m. and 8:53 p.m.

that day. An all-systems test of the rocket and the two satellites was completed Monday,

and a subsequent data review showed the Delta and its cargo are ready for launch.

"That'sthe last major test we do before launch," said George Diller, a spokesman for

NASA's Kennedy Space Center, The two STEREO spacecraft are designed to shed

unprecedented light on solar explosions that can cause communications and power

outages on Earth. The spacecraft will spend two years studying coronal mass ejections,

which are violent explosions on the sun. The eruptions create bursts of solar wind that

can disrupt satellite and radio communications on Earth and trigger problems with

electrical power grids. They also create energetic particles that are hazardous to

spacecraft electronics systems as well as astronauts working in low Earth orbit. The

mission is a joint effort of the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Hungary,

Switzerland and the European Space Agency. Web posted. (2006). [Twin solar

observatories set for launch [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com!

The Flame Trench [2006, October 18].]

October 19: Firing Room 1 Gets a New Look

Thereare exciting changes aheadat Kennedy space Center, andthe first step toward

supportingfuture launchesforNASA's ConstellationProgram is taking place in Firing

Room 1 atthe LaunchCon troll Center. The ShuttleProcessing Transition Team is

workingto decommissionthe firing room, also known as FR1, for transfer to theprogram

byno later than Jarluary, Thetransition team heldmanagement briefings and determined

thatFR1 decommissioningwould pose no risk to the Space ShuttleProgram, which will

use FiringRoom 4 for all remaining launches. "Firing Room I isthe first suchfacility to

be transferred to the ConstellationProgram for reuse," said George Jacobs,ANSA shuttle

programtransition manager. FR1 recentlywas renamedthe Yonng/CrippenFiring

Room, in honorof Commander John Young andPilot Robert Crippen as a tribute to their

firstspaceshuttleflight on mission STS-1 in April 1981. Mario Busacca of the

EnvironmentalProgramBranchsaidthe LaunchControlCenter is listed as an historic

propertyon theNational Register of Historic Places. Before work began, ANSA

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analyzed the activity to determine if it would have an adverse effect on the property and

shared plans for the decommissioning with the State Historic Preservation Office.

According to Busacca, it was determined that removing the equipment from FR1

wouldn't cause the facility to lose its historic value. Curtis Williams, launch processing

hardware and system software co-lead, said it's exciting to consider that the transition is

one of the first steps toward providing an infrastructure that will eventually support

mankind's return to the moon. He shared a little-known fact about FR1: the "Master

Console" sign carries the signatures of many notable visitors, including Prince charles

and Prince Andrew and astronauts Bob Crippen and Story Musgrave. "It is tremendously

exciting to begin to see the physical transformation of the historic firing room that

launched Apollo 11 and 13, as well as the first shuttle launch in 1981," said Mike

Leinbach, NASA launch director. Web posted. (2006). [Firing Room 1 Gets aNew

Look[Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.nasa.gov/missionApages/consteltation/maln/frl .html/[2006, October 19

Bush, new space group want more jobs

Florida is not content with just winning the assembly and launch work for NASA's next

human spaceship. Gov. Jeb Bush and the president of the state's new space agency say

they aim to capture more pieces of NASA's next moon-landing program as well as

investment and jobs created by space tourism and other private space businesses. "We

need to attract high-wage jobs," Bush said. "We need to target our resources for high

wage jobs in targeted areas and space is one of them." Space Florida, meeting Friday for

the first time under new president Steve Knhler, mostly took care of basic transition

housekeeping such as approving an initial $8.5 million annual budget and establishing

target deadlines for hiring staff, reports and planning documents. Still, the governor and

several of his highest-ranking economic development officials traveled to Kennedy Space

Center to gather with the Space Florida board to get started on the new agency's work.

Kohler, who took over the agency less than three weeks ago, gave the board of directors

and the governor's contingent a broad overview of the agency's strategy going forward.

Members of the board toured some key state-owned or state-financed facilities at KSC

and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as part of Friday's daylong activities.

Approximately half of the agency's $8.5 million goes to operating expenses such as

paying salaries and benefits and fixed costs for facilities such as the Space Life Sciences

Laboratory constructed near KSC. The other half goes for economic development

projects and other incentives aimed at luring new space jobs to Florida, whether from

existing aerospace companies or the creation of new companies. In other business, the

board voted to increase the loan the state has helped secure to finance a new shuttle

simulator ride at the Visitor Complex from $35 million to $40 million. The complex

operator, Delaware North Park Services, is constructing a ride aimed at giving tourists a

chance to experience what it feels like to launch in a space shuttle. The Shuttle Launch

Experience is set to open later this spring. The additional funds will pay for enhanced

services around the ride, such as a pizza restaurant, better landscaping and a Kodak photo

stand, officials said. The ride will be paid for over time with a portion of the tourist

complex's ticket sales. Web posted. (2006). [Bush, new space group want more

jobs[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, October 20].]

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October 21: Lunar Lander Challenge prizes go unclaimed

The only team approved to compete in NASA's Lunar Lander Challenge prize

competition failed to win any of the $2 million in prize money when their vehicle failed

in several attempts to claim part of the purse. The inaugural competition, sponsored by

Northrop Grumman, took place at the X Prize Cup in Las Cruces, New Mexico on Friday

and Saturday. Although four teams had signed up to participate, only one, Armadillo

Aerospace, completed their vehicle and won FAA approval to fly it at the event.

Armadillo's first flight attempt for the less-difficult "Level 1" part of the competition on

Friday failed when a hard landing on the first leg of the flight damaged some wires. The

team repaired the vehicle, nicknamed Pixel, overnight, and flew it again Saturday

morning, only to have it land only partially on a hard concrete pad and tip over. The

vehicle wasn't damaged and Armadillo flew it again Saturday afternoon, successfully

completing the first leg of the flight. However, on the return leg the vehicle tilted on

liftoff, triggering an automatic shutdown that caused the vehicle to crash seconds later.

The Level 1 version of the competition, part of NASA's Centennial Challenges program,

requires vehicles to fly to an altitude of 50 meters, translate 100 meters to another pad

and land, remaining in the air for at least 90 seconds, and then make an identical return

trip. The unclaimed prize money will be held over for next year's competition. Web

posted. (2006). [Lunar Lander Challenge prizes go unclaimed [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.spacetoday.net/[2006, October 21].]

October 23: NASA Reaction

The CongressionalBudget Office's (CBO) recentanalysis of alternativelaunchprograms

to supportNASA's explorationplans "largely...validated" NASA's choice to develop the

shuttle-derivedAres launchsystems, accordingto JeffHanley, the agency'sConstellation

programmanager. CBO estimatesthatthe total cost of the launchcampaignto support a

2018lunarreturn,assumingNASA reliessolely on the U.S. Air Force's AtlasEvolved

ExpendableLaunchVehicle (EELV),wouldbe $26 billion, versus the roughly$30 billion

NASA plansto spend duringthattime on Ares (DALLY,Oct. 18).However, CBO

acknowledgesthat relyingon EELVwould involvemanymore launchesthan the twolaunchscheme enabled by the shuttle-derivedAres 1andAres 5, Hanley says.To getto a

two-launchsolution with EELVwouldinvolve "substantial"additionalcosts beefing up

the vehicles, Hanley says. Also, "we wouldhave to go build a new launchpad, new

infrastructure,and all of that,"he says.Another advantageof sticking with the shuttle's

partiallyreusable solid rocket boosters(SRBs) is the factthatthey can be recovered and

analyzedafter each flight, he says. E-maildistribution.(2006). [AviationWeek's

AerospaceDaily & Defense Report Re: "NASA Reaction," [Electronic[.Vol. 220, No.

15, [October23, 2006.].]

Hubble could soon learn its fate

The fate of what some scientists dub "the people's telescope" is again up in the air as

NASA decides soon whether to squeeze in a last astronaut repair mission to extend the

life of the Hubble Space Telescope. On Friday, NASA engineers will debate the safety

of sending a fifth and final manned space shuttle flight to the 16-year-old telescope,

probably in 2008. Soon afterward, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin will make the

final call. His decision could prolong Hubble's ability to capture some the most

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spectacular images of the universe well into the next decade or allow the telescope to

deteriorate into oblivion by 2009 or 2010. The final Hubble repair mission was canceled

by former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe 2 1/2 years ago after the space shuttle

Columbia disaster which killed seven astronauts in 2003. The decision was roundly

criticized by scientists and politicians, but the ex-administrator cited the risk to astronauts

and the need to use the remaining shuttle flights to finish building the international space

station. The remaining 14 shuttle flights are dedicated to completing the space station by

the time the fleet is grounded in 2010. Ifa Hubble servicing mission is approved, it would

have to be squeezed into the space station construction schedule sometime in early 2008.

NASA also would have another shuttle on the launch pad, ready to make an emergency

rescue trip if there were a catastrophic problem. Web posted. (2006). [Hubble could soon

learn its fate [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.cnn.com/[2006, October 23].]

October 24: Discovery cargo bay doors closed for rollover

Shuttle Discovery's payload bay doors now are closed after an additional cycling to

ensure a latch is working properly. The bonding of the thousands of thermal tiles that

protect the orbiter during atmospheric reentry also is complete, and the ship's planned

Nov. 1 move to the Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building remains on

schedule. The shuttle's two clam shell-like cargo bay doors initially were closed last

week, but engineers questioned the performance of a motor that drives a door latch. Sixty

feet in length, the doors were opened and shut again late Monday, and the motor drive

worked as expected. Technicians today are preparing the shuttle's three liquid-fueled

main engines for the move from Orbiter Processing Facility No. 3. Rear-engine

compartment doors are to be installed Wednesday and the aft of the vehicle will be

checked for leaks on Thursday. Discovery and an astronaut crew are scheduled to launch

on Dec. 7 on a International Space Station assembly flight, but a conflict with a

previously scheduled Atlas rocket launch that day still must be resolved. A Dec. 7 shuttle

lifloffwould come at 9:39 p.m., marking NASA's first post-Columbia night launch.

Landing in that case would come at 5:09 p.m. Dec. 18. Web posted. (2006). [Discovery

cargo bay doors closed for rollover [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatodav.eorrd The Flame Trench [2006, October 23].]

October 25: Observatories to launch tonight

Twin NASA observatories are set to rocketinto spacetoday,heading offon a halfbillion-dollar mission to shed light onpowerfulsolar eruptionsthat wreak havoc on Earth

and in orbit. Mounted atop a 12-story Delta 2 rocket, the spacecraft are scheduled to

blast off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station between 8:38 p.m. and 8:53 p.m. One of

them is destined to fly ahead of Earth in orbit; the other will trail behind. Together, their

instruments wilt beam back unprecedented three-dimensional views of solar explosions

that endanger astronauts and airline crews, disable satellites, disrupt radio

communications and trigger widespread terrestrial power outages. "We are going to be

providing what I call 'really cool science' out of this mission," said NASA project

manager Nicholas Chrissotimos. "It will be the first time we have ever taken 3-D images

of the sun." The expected outcome: a revolution in solar science. The $550 million

mission is aimed primarily at studying coronal mass ejections -- violent explosions that

propel billions of tons of solar particles out of the sun's atmosphere and into

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interplanetary space. About the size of electric golf carts, the 1,364-pound spacecraft are

outfitted with suites of science instruments that will enable researchers to monitor coronal

mass ejections as they erupt on the sun and plow toward Earth. The long-awaited

mission had been slated to launch earlier this year but was delayed six months by a string

of spacecraft and rocket problems. Two technical issues cropped up earlier this week but

were resolved in time to press ahead with plans to launch at the opening of the 15-minute

window today. Web posted. (2006). [Observatories to launch tonight [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com! [2006, October 25].]

Launch lights up the skies

A pair of solar satellites launched into orbit Wednesday should better NASA's

rudimentary ability to forecast space weather -- an expertise deemed key to carrying out

human expeditions to the moon. Lofted by a Boeing Delta 2 rocket, the spacecraft are

designed to analyze violent solar eruptions that propel billions of tons of high-energy

particles out of the sun's atmosphere and into interplanetary space. The $550 million

mission got off to a spectacular start at 8:52 p.m. Powered by a liquid-fueled main

engine and six solid rocket boosters, the Delta 2 blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air

Force Station amid a brilliant flash of light. The sleek vehicle sped into the night sky,

riding atop a blazing trail of flame. The six boosters -- and three more that lit one minute

into flight -- peeled away from the rocket as planned, looking like tumbling orange

embers as the Delta arced out over the Atlantic Ocean, streaking toward orbit. Liftoff

was delayed 14 minutes while range safety officers verified the wind would not blow

toxic clouds over populated areas in the event of a launch explosion. The satellites were

dropped off in orbit 25 minutes after launch. Web posted. (2006). [Launch lights up the

skies [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, October 26].]

October 26: NASA Announces 2005 Agency Invention of the Year Winner

A groundwater treatment technology developed at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., was

recognized Thursday as NASA's 2005 Government Invention of the Year and

Commercial Invention of the Year Award winner. The Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron

(EZVI) technology was developed by researchers from Kennedy and the University of

Central Florida, Orlando. The technology is used to clean up environmental contaminants

in ground water around industrial areas, like rocket launch pads. The invention also

provides a means to clean up Superfund sites. A traditional method of cleaning up areas

with pollutants has been to pump out the groundwater and treat it to remove harmful

contaminants. The EZVI process can exceed "pump and treat" systems in both the time it

takes to achieve clean up and cost. During NASA's early years, the grounds around the

launch complex at Kennedy became polluted with chlorinated solvents used to clean

Apollo rocket parts. Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids, or DNAPLs, were left untreated

in the ground and contaminated the fresh water sources in the area. A DNAPL is denser

than water and doesn't dissolve or mix easily in water. These pollutants are a common

cause of environmental contamination at thousands of government and private facilities

around the country. ["NASA Announces 2005 Agency Invention of the Year Winner,"

NASA News Release #06-341, October 26, 2006.]

Space Shuttle Discovery Set for Move to VAB

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Discovery is scheduled to "movefrom the Orbiter Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy

Space Center, Fla., to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it will be attached to its

external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters. The first motion is expected at 6 a.m.

EST. Media must arrive at Kennedy's News Center by 5 a.m. to attend the event.

Discovery's launch window opens Dec. 7. During its 11-daymission to the International

Space Station, the STS-116 crew of seven astronauts will deliver a third truss segment, a

SPACEHAB module and other key components during the shuttle's 20th mission to the

International Space Station. ["Space Shuttle Discovery Set For Move to Vehicle

Assembly Building," NASA Media Advisory #M06-169, October 26, 2006.]

October 27: NASA seeks alternate schemes after Orion TPS effort hits snag

NASA is quickly mounting an alternate effort to develop thermal protection system

(TPS) materials to protect the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) during a return

from lunar orbit, after having disappointing results from the primary development

program. Only a single Boeing-led team was chosen to move forward into Phase Ii of the

primary TPS progrmn, known as Block 2. "NASA is not satisfied with the Orion heat

shield development risk posture that results from the development of a single Block 2

heat shield," the agency said in procurement documents. "Consequently, NASA plans to

procure alternative Block 2 TPS materials and heat shield systems. "NASA is moving

forwm'dswiftly with the alternative effort. The agency expects to issue a draft RFP by

Nov. 1, followed by the final RFP on Nov. 13. Proposals will be due one month later,

with up to three conlracts awarded inmid-February. The temns will be expected to

perform to a "tailored subset" of the requirements the Boeing team must fulfill in its

ongoing Block 2work. The alternate program wraps up at the end of August 2008.NASA

has divided Orion TPS development into Blocks 1 and 2. Block 1 is developing TPS

materials good enough to protect the Orion during atmospheric reentry after a trip to lowEarth orbit. These temperatures will be less than those routinely experienced by the space

shuttle. Block 2 is developing the more advanced TPS that will be needed to shield the

Orion fromthe higher temperatures and stresses of returning from the moon. Block I was

instituted as a risk-mitigation effort, so that if the more advanced Block 2 TPS wasn't

ready in time for the earliest flights of the Orion to LEO, those missions could stil!take

place. NASA awarded five teams Phase 1 contracts for the Block 2 TPS inNovember

2005: Applied Research Associates, for phen-carb materials; Boeing, for PICA (phenolic

impregnated carbon ablator) materials; Lockheed Martin Space Systems, for advanced

carbon carbon with calcarb material; madtwo Textron teams working on Aveoat 5026-39

material and 3D-Q/P-tll)/LDmaterial. Each team delivered smnples to NASA for

thermal and structural testing, and a request for proposals (RFP) for Phase II was released

in Jtme. But in September, only the Boeing team received a Phase II contract. "The

intended objective of the TPS Block 2 Phase ii contracts was to reduce the current

development risks for an Orion Block 2 heat shield by awarding multiple TPS contracts

to develop preliminary heat shield designs and to demonstrate system maturity through

manufacturing demonstrations and performance testing," NASA said. "This intended

objective, however, was not accomplished. "The alternate procurement will be focused

on developing technology and reducing risk, and won't be "specifically tied to the critical

path scheduled fbr Orion initial operating capability," according to NASA. E-mail

distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re: "NASA

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seeking alternate schemes after Orion TPS effort hits snag," [Electronic]. VoI. 220, No.

19, [October27, 2006.].]

October 30: Shuttle rollover moves up to Tuesday

The orbiter Discovery will be rolled from its processing hangar to the Kennedy Space

Center Vehicle Assembly Building on Tuesday, a day ahead of schedule. Mounted atop a

76-wheeled transporter, the 122-foot-long spaceship is scheduled to begin backing out of

its hangar about noon EST. Transporter drivers then will deliver the orbiter to the transfer

aisle of the 52-story assembly building a short while later. Once there, crane operators

will hoist the orbiter up and over a 16th floor transom before lowering the vehicle onto a

mobile launch platform in High Bay Three of the building. The spaceship then will be

hooked up to an external tank with attached solid rocket boosters before a weeklong

series of tests is carried out to verify mechanical and electrical connections between

shuttle components. The fully assembled shuttle is scheduled to be rolled out to launch

pad 39Bon Nov. 7. The STS-116 astronaut crew will be at KSC the following week for a

practice countdown, and a traditional Flight Readiness Review will be held Nov. 28 and

Nov. 29 at KSC. Launch of the International Space Station assembly mission istargeted

to take off no earlier than Dec. 7. The shuttle flight, however, might be pushed back a

couple of days because a Lockheed Martin Atlas rocket already had been scheduled to

launch that day on a military mission. Web posted. (2006). [Launch lights up the skies

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/The Flame Trench [2006,

October 30].]

October 31: NASA Approves Mission and names Crew for Return to

Hubble

Shuttle astronautswill make one final house call to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope as

part of a mission to extend and improve the observatory's capabilities through 2013.

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin announced plans for a fifth servicing mission to

Hubble Tuesday during a meeting with agency employees at NASA's Goddard Space

Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Goddard is the agency center responsible for managing

Hubble. "We have conducted a detailed analysis of the performance and procedures

necessaryto carry out a successful Hubble repair mission over the course of the last three

shuttle missions. What we have learned has convinced us that we are able to conduct a

safe and effective servicing mission to Hubble," Griffin said. "While there is an inherent

risk in all spaceflight activities, the desire to preserve a truly international asset like the

Hubble Space Telescope makes doing this mission the right course of action.,, The flight

istentatively targeted for launch during the spring to fall of 2008. Mission planners are

working to determine the best location and vehicle in the manifest to support the needs of

Hubble while minimizing impact to International Space Station assembly. The planners

are investigating the best way to support a launch on need mission for the Hubble flight.

The present option will keep Launch Pad 39-B at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla.,

available for such a rescue flight should it be necessary. Griffin also announced the

astronauts selected for the mission. Veteran astronaut Scott D. Altman will command the

finalspace shuttle mission to Hubble. Navy Reserve Capt. Gregory C. Johnson will serve

as pilot. Mission specialists include veteran spacewalkers John M. Grunsfeld and Michael

J. Massimino and first-time space fliers Andrew J. Feustel, Michael T. Good and K.

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Megan McArthur. ["NASA Approves Mission and Names Crew for Return To Hubble,"

NASA News Release #06-343, October 31, 2006.]

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NOVEMBER 2006

November 1: NASA sets new date for rocket launch

NASA has set a new target date for the launch early next year of a Boeing Delta 2 rocket

and a quintet of agency science satellites. The 12-story rocket is scheduled to blast off

Feb. 15from Launch Complex 17 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Its cargo of five

spacecraft will be embarking on a two-year mission to study the Northern Lights. NASA

has dubbed the mission THEMIS after the Greekgoddess of justice, wisdom and good

counsel. The agency acronym stands for Time History of Events and Macroscale

Interactionsduring Substorms. The five satellites will align above the North American

continent and make the first comprehensive study of the onset of solar storms and how

they trigger auroral eruptions known as the Northern Lights. Web posted. (2006). [NASA

sets new date for rocket launch [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/

The Flame Trench [2006, November 2].]

NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery Rolls to VAB

NASA's Space ShuttleDiscovery completed one milestoneand is nearinganotheras

workers preparethe orbiter for a December launchto the InternationalSpace Station. On

Tuesday night, drivers moved Discovery from the shuttle processing facility to the

VehicleAssembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Discovery,

perched on top of the giant, 76-wheel orbiter transporter system, began moving out of the

facility at 9:23 p.m. EST. In the assembly building, technicians attached Discovery to its

propulsion elements, an external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters. Following those

operations, final integration, preparations and closeouts began in preparation for flight.

Discovery's next milestone is the 4.2-mile trip to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for its

mission, designated STS-116. During the 11-daymission, the shuttle's seven astronauts

will rewire the station to bring online new power supplies generated by solar arrays

installed in September. ["NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery Rolls To Vehicle Assembly

Building," NASA Media Advisory #M06-171, November 1, 2006.]

November 2: Discovery prepped for December launch

SpaceshuttleDiscovery was hoisted by a craneand outfitted with its external fueltank

and twin boosterrockets on Wednesdayin preparationfor anotherflight next month.

NASA plans a week of tests to make sure the electrical and mechanical connections are

intact before the ship is hauled out to the launch pad, said Kennedy Space Center

spokeswoman Jessica Rye. The shuttle, which is due to return to space on December 7,

will be taking another section of the half-built International Space Station's metal truss, or

flame, into orbit. Web posted. (2006). [Discovery prepped for December launch

[Online]. Available WWW: http://www.cnn.com/[2006,November 2].]

November 6: Toxic fuel leak prompts evacuation at KSC

A leak of toxic rocket fuel prompted the evacuation of two shuttle processing hangars at

Kennedy Space Center today but no workers were exposed to fumes or injured, NASA

officials said today. The hydrazine leak was detected in Bay No. 1 of Orbiter Processing

Facility, where the orbiter Atlantis is undergoing post-flight servicing and inspections.

More than 100 people were evacuated from the hangar and nearby OPF Bay No. 2 as a

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precaution. Safety inspectors think the leak came from the shuttle's Orbital Maneuvering

System. Technicians over the weekend were draining residual fuel from the system and

removed a quick-disconnect line. Inspectors think an end-cap for the line apparently

came off after work was completed, causing the leak. Hydrazine is used in combination

with nitrogen tetroxide to power the shuttle's twin maneuvering engines in flight. An

elevated level of the toxic fuel -- 60 parts per million -- was detected in the air around the

engines, prompting the evacuation. "That's not what we consider a dangerous level. But

with any reading above zero, we would take precautionary measures and evacuate the

facility," said KSC spokeswoman Jessica Rye. The hangars were evacuated around 9

a.m. and reopened by 2 p.m. Web posted. (2006). [Toxic fuel leak prompts evacuation at

KSC [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/TheFlame Trench [2006,

November 6].]

Dec. 6 slotted for Discovery

NASA faces a Dec. 17 deadline to launch Discovery and avoid computer failures that

could appear if the shuttle and its astronauts are flying duringthe year-end computer

clock rollover from 2006 to 2007, officials said Monday. The next chance to launch

would be Jan. 14. Five computers control almost all aspects of a shuttle flight, from

sending the commands to ignite the ship'ssolid rocketboosters to guiding the orbiter

through atmospheric reentry and landing. The system istied to Greenwich Mean Time,

and unlike the computers that control the International Space Station, they were not

designed to operateduring the transition from one year to the next. Rather than switching

from Day 365 of one year to Day 1 of the next, the computers would simply tick up to

Day 366. NASA engineers have been testing procedures Discovery's astronauts could

execute to make certain the year-to-year transition would go smoothly in orbit. However,

they've only been certified for use in an emergency. They have not been proven for use

otherwise. The upcoming mission is scheduled to last 12 days, and mission managers

always protect for the possibility of weather delays. NASA wants to move the launch

date up to Dec. 6. The Jan. 14 launch opportunity is based on the next time sun angles

would be adequate to keep a docked shuttle and station at temperatures conducive to

completing the flight. Web posted. (2006). [Dec. 6 slotted for Discovery [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.eom/[2006,November 7].]

November 8: NASA Honors Apollo Moon Walker's Memory In Seattle

Ceremony

NASA will honor former astronaut Charles "Pete" Conrad for his involvement in the U.S.

space program with the presentation of the Ambassador of Exploration Award at 2 p.m.

EST, Saturday, Nov. 18, in the Allen Theater, The Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal

Way South, Seattle. The award ceremony coincides with the 37th anniversary of the

Apollo 12 mission of Nov. 14-19, 1969, and culminates a day of museum space-related

activities and workshops. NASA is presenting the Ambassador of Exploration Award to

the astronauts and other key individuals who participated in the Mercury, Gemini, and

Apollo space programs for realizing America's vision of space exploration from 1961 to

1972. The award is a sample of lunar material mounted for public display. The material

is part of the 842 pounds of samples brought back to Earth during the six Apollo lunar

expeditions from 1969 to 1972. Conrad's award will be displayed at The Museum of

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Flight, one of the largest air and space museums in the world. Conrad was the third man

to walk on the moon as commander of Apollo 12, the second lunar landing mission. He

and hmar module pilot Alan L. Bean spent 31.5 hours on the moon. Conrad also served

as pilot of the Gemini V mission; commander of Gemini XI; and commander of the first

mission launched to the Skylab space station in 1973. He retired from the U.S. Navy and

NASA as a captain in 1974. Conrad died of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in

July 1999,so his widow Nancy will accept the award on his behalf. She will present it for

display to The Museum of Flight President Bonnie Dunbar. Dunbar is also a former

NASA astronaut. ]"NASA Honors Apollo Moon Walker's Memory In Seattle

Ceremony," NASA Media Advisory #M06-174, November 8, 2006.]

November 16: Astronauts practice countdown

Discovery's astronauts wrapped up a practice countdown at Kennedy Space Center on

Thursday, completing a key milestone in preparations for their Dec. 7 launch. Wearing

bright orange launch-and-entry suits, the seven crewmates crawled through the side hatch

of Discovery at launch pad 39B and then strapped into couches in the shuttle's two-level

crew cabin. About 150 to 200 engineers at the KSC Launch Control Center also took

part in the launch-day dress rehearsal, which was the last major-training exercise for the

astronauts at KSC prior to their launch on an International Space Station construction

mission. "Wehad a good exercise," said KSC spokesman Bruce Buckingham. "We got

the astronauts in the vehicle and let them get hands on a real live space shuttle." Led by

mission commander Mark Polansky, the crew includes pilot William Oefelein and

mission specialists Robert Cnrbeam, Nicholas Patrick, Joan Higginbotham, Sunita

Williams and Christer Fugelsang of the European Space Agency. During a I2-day

mission, the astronauts will mount a new segment to the port side of the station's central

truss and rewire the outpost's power-producing electrical system. Web posted. (2006).

[Astronauts practice countdown ]Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/

[2006,November 17].]

November 17: House Spaceport panel being eliminated

The House Spaceport and Technology Committee is being eliminated in the chamber's

new committee structure. Instead, space industry issues will be included within another

committee as it had been previously. Spaceport and Technology no longer exists among

the committees being created by House Speaker-designate Marco Rubio. Former

chairman of the defunct committee, Rep. Bob Allen, said he discussed the change in a

meeting with Rubio earlier this week. The Merritt Island Republican said he was

promised that space issues would be folded into a committee that includes economic

development. The departing speaker, Allan Bense, created the spaceport committee two

years ago at Allen's urging, as Florida jockeyed with other states to land contracts for the

next phase of the national space program. Its biggest task was in overseeing last year's

repackaging of state space agencies into a new, single agency Space Florida, following a

blueprint developed by Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings and an advisory board appointed by Gov.

Jeb Bush. In the Senate, space legislation is a function of the Commerce and Consumer

Services Committee. Rubio next week is expected to unveil part of his committee

structure and key appointments -- a perquisite of every new speaker. His staff says the

entire structure and assignments won't be final until as late as mid-December, but the

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merger of what used to be policy-setting and budget-writing committees means an

accumulation of power for the recipients of those choice appointments. Web posted.

(2006). [House Spaceport panel being eliminated [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoda¥.com! [2006, November 17].]

Delta 2 launches new GPS satellite

Aftera beautifulFriday launchfrom CapeCanaveralAirForce Station,another

navigationsatellite is in orbit, enriching the GlobalPositioningSystem usedby people

from soldiers to anglers. A Boeing Delta 2 rocket lifted the satellite into a breezy blue

sky at 2:12 p.m., right atthe startof the launchwindow, afterbad weatherdelayed

Thursday'sattempt. "Everyone's veryexcited, thrilled-- a sigh of relief, if you will, for

people who have been along with this satellite all along, asit's been built,tested and

madereadyfor launch today," saidLt. Col. AlanEdmiaston,representingthe office at

Los Angeles Air Force Base that buildsGPS satellites. The spacecraftwill be operational

Dec. 8,Edmiaston said, and bringsthe groupof working satellites back to 30. Usually the

spacecraftnumberin the high 20s. This one has a life expectancy of 10 years. The

spacecraftlaunched Friday is the third of a series of modernized GPS satellites. Web

posted. (2006). [Delta2 launchesnew GPS satellite [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, November 18].]

November 21: NASA: Harness swapout won't stall launch

NASA set out Tuesday to replace a faultywire harnesscrucial to jettisoning the shuttle's

externaltankin flight, but thework isn'texpected to delaythe planned Dec. 7 launchof

Discovery on an International Space Station construction mission. The harness houses

electrical cabling that routes commands from flight computers to small explosive devices

designed to ignite about nine minutes into flight, separating the 15-story tank from

Discovery. The tank subsequently makes a destructive plunge through the atmosphere.

A three-foot section of the 21-foot harness failed to operate properly during routine

prelaunch testing, said Kennedy Space Center spokeswoman Jessica Rye. Senior shuttle

program managers ordered up replacement work as a result. Rye said the swap-out

would not prompt a launch delay. Discovery and seven astronauts are tentatively

scheduled to blast off at 9:36 p.m. Dec. 7 on a mission to rewire the station and add

another girder to the port side of the outpost's central truss. Other standard launch

preparations are continuing without problems. Engineers this week finished !oading toxic

rocket propellants into tanks that feed the shuttle'stwin orbital maneuvering engines, 44

nose-and-tail steering jets and hydraulic power units. The latter provide the hydraulic

power needed to steer the shuttle's three main engines in flight and control crucial

systems such as its wing flaps, landing gear and brakes during atmospheric reentry and

landing. NASA and contractor managers will gather at KSC next week for a two-day

Flight Readiness Review. A firm launch date will be set Nov. 29. Web posted. (2006).

[NASA: Harness swapout won't stall launch [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatodav.com/The Flame Trench [2006,November 21].]

November 23: ISS crew performs spaeewalk, golf shot

Two membersof the crew of the InternationalSpace Stationperformeda spacewalk

outsidethe stationWednesday evening, highlighted by a much-publicized "golf shot" into

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orbit. Astronaut Mike Lopez-Alegria and cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin spent five hours and

38 minutes outside the station Wednesday starting at 7:17 pm EST (0017 GMT

Thursday). The first major task of the EVA, and the one that garnered all the attention

leading up to the EVA, was a golf shot by Tyurin, where he hit a lightweight golf ball

using a gold-plated club provided by a Canadian company. Web posted. (2006). [ISS

crew performs spacewalk, golf shot [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spacetodav.net/[2006, November 23].]

November 27: Meeting to review plans for next week's shuttle launch

NASA managers are gathering at the Kennedy Space Center for a two-day flight

readiness review Tuesday and Wednesday to assess the shuttle Discovery's launch

processing and to set an official launch date for mission STS-116. Liftoff currently is

targeted for Dec. 7 and there do not appear to be any major issuesthat would force a

delay. But the launch window is complex because it includes lighting, holiday and endof-year issuesthat are not normally on the table. As it now stands, the window opens

Dec. 7 and closes Dec. 26 because of a so-called "beta angle cutout," that is, thermal

issues associated with the international space station due to the angle between the plane

of its orbit and the sun. Based on the beta angle, the shuttle cannot launch between Dec.

27 and Jan. 13. To reach the international space station, Discovery must be launched

when Earth's rotation carries the launch pad into the plane of the lab's orbit. For mission

STS-116, on Dec. 7, that works out to 9:35:45 p.m., resulting in NASA's first night

launch since 2002. Daylight launch opportunities do not become available until Dec. 18.

Major post-Columbia objectives through the first three return-to-flight missions included

photographing the shuttle's external fuel tank after separation in orbit to document how

its foam insulation performed during ascent. For STS-116, NASA managers are relaxing

that requirement based on the performance of the tank over the past three flights. For the

record, sufficient lighting for a camera mounted in the shuttle's belly does not become

available until Dec. 20. For crew hand-held photography, good lighting is not expected

until Dec. 24. A launch past Dee. 19 would result in the shuttle being in orbit during the

year-end rollover from Dee. 31 to Jan. 1.The "YERO" issue has received quite a bit of

attention in recent months because of concern about possible computer glitches. The

shuttle'sflight software was not designed to handle the transition from one year to the

next and YERO will be a topic of discussion during the flight readiness review this week.

Launches between Dec. 7 and 12 result in a landing before Christmas for a standard 12-

day mission. A launch on Dec. 17 would result in a landing on Dec. 29, preserving two

daysfor bad landing weather or some other contingency. Launches past Dec. 17could

result in a YERO flight, depending on weather or other problems, while a launch past

Dee. 19 would require the shuttle to be in orbit over the year-end rollover. Web posted.

(2006). ]Meeting to review plans for next week's shuttle launch ]Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006, November 27].]

November 28: Space Week lifts off for Brevard students

Brevard County sixth-graders will storm the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

today to learn about space exploration fromNASA scientists and former astronauts,

Today marks the official launch of the fourth annual Space Week, an effort to provide

nearly 6,000 students first-hand knowledge of KSC. About 800 students will visit the

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center each day for the next nine days. They will participate in a scavenger hunt and

experiments with NASA scientists and learn about NASA's plans to build and launch a

new crew exploration vehicle back to the moon. Sixth-graders have been receiving

special instruction in preparation for their visits. During the summer, a committee of

Brevard teachers worked with NASA and the Kennedy Space Center education

departments to develop activity guides and curriculum. The goa! is to inspire students to

continue studies in math and sciences. The students also will receive complimentary

passes to return to the center with their families. Web posted. (2006). [Space Week lifts

off for Brevard students [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda,/.com/

[2006,November 28].]

November 29: Discovery launch set for Thursday, pending ISS issues

NASA managerstoday wrapped up atwo-day flight readinessreview andofficially set

December 7 asthe target launch date for the shuttle Discovery on an unprecedented

mission to rewire the international space station.If all goes well, Discovery's countdown

will begin at 11p,m. EST Monday, setting the stage for a launch attempt at 9:35:45 p.m.

EST Thursday. This will be NASA's first night launch since 2002. But space station

engineers are working two issues that must be resolved for Discovery to get off the

ground next week: Russian engineers must resolve a problem that cut short a space

station rocket firing today about three minutes into a planned 18-minute 22-secund burn.

NASA engineers must resolve a glitch that cropped up Tuesday during tests of new solar

array drive control software on the international space station. The software did not work

as expected and one of two critical circuit breakers that deliver power to motors that

allow the newly installed solar arrays to rotate and track the sun popped open. Web

posted. (2006). [Discovery launch set for next Thursday, pending ISS issues [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ [2006, November 29].]

November 30: NASA Will Wait to Redesign Shuttle Tank

NASA managers decided Thursday to wait until 2008 before redesigning the space

shuttle's external fuel tank, the source of the foam problem that caused the Columbia

disaster. NASA spokesman Kyle Herring said the tank's current design "has proven to be

more robust" than initially thought. After the disaster, engineers refined the process of

applying insulating foam to the tank to prevent the situation that doomed Columbia.

Since then, three flights have launched without foam falling offthe tank early enough in

the journey to damage the shuttle. NASA plans to have the redesign ready in early 2008.

The decision comes a week before Discovery is scheduled to make NASA's first

nighttime shuttle launch in four years. The shuttle is supposed to liftoff late on Dec. 7 for

a miss;ionto the international space station. Also on Thursday, Mission Control resolved

a problem with a unit that controls power to an enormous joint that rotates solar arrays at

the space station. A circuit breaker opened this week during a software test on the device,

which ensures that the panels follow the sun to generate electricity, Engineers were

concerned that the circuit breaker had been tripped, but NASA spokeswoman Lynnette

Madison said they determined it had mistakenly been commanded to open. The space

station crew was later able to close the circuit breaker. NASA will continue tests to

determine the source of the glitch. Web posted. (2006). [NASA Will Wait to Redesign

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Shuttle Tank [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.washingtonpost.com/[2006,

November 30].]

Not One Hurricane Strikes United States

The mild 2006 Atlantic hurricane season drawsto a close Thursday without a single

hurricane striking the United States _ a stark contrast to the record-breaking 2005 season

that killed more than 1,500 people and left thousands homeless along the Gulf Coast. In

May, scientists predicted 13 to 16 named storms and eight to 10 hurricanes, with four to

six of them major. The 2005 hurricane season was the busiest on record, with 28 named

storms, including 15 hurricanes, four of which hit the United States, including Katrina

and Rim. Only two storms, Tropical Storms Alberto and Ernesto, hit the U.S. mainland

in 2006. Neither caused significant damage. The season effectively ended with Hurricane

Isaac, the last named storm, which dissipated Oct. 2. Web posted. (2006). [Not One

Hurricane Strikes United States [Online]. Available WWW:

htto://www.washingtonpost.com [2006, November 30].]

Launch Countdown Begins Dec. 4 for Space Shuttle Discovery

NASA will begin the countdown for Space ShuttleDiscovery's STS-116 mission at 11

p.m. EST Monday,Dec. 4, at the T-43 hourpoint. Duringthis mission, Discovery's crew

will rewirethe InternationalSpace Station,bringingelectrical power on line from solar

arrayslaunchedearlier this year. The Kennedy SpaceCenter, Florida, launchteam will

conduct the countdown from Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center. The

countdown includes 27 hours, 36 minutes of built-in hold time leading to a preferred

launch time at 9:35 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7. The launch window extends an additional

five minutes. This mission isthe 117th space shuttle flight, the 33rd flight for Discovery

and the 20th U.S. flight to the InternationalSpace Station. STS-116 is scheduled to last

12 days with landing at about 4:35 p.m. EST on Dec. 19 at Kennedy. Discovery rolled

into Kennedy'sOrbiter Processing Facility on July 17 after returning from its last

mission, STS-121. The shuttle rolled out of the facility'sbay 3 and into the Vehicle

AssemblyBuilding on Oct, 31, While in the building's high bay 3, Discovery was mated

to its modified externalfuel tank and solid rocket boosters. The entire space shuttle stack

was transferredto Launch Pad 39B on Nov. 9. The STS-116 crew consists of

Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Bill Oefelein and mission specialists Bob Curbeam,

Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick,Christer Fuglesang of the European Space Agency

and Snnita Williams. Williams will remain aboard the station to begin a six-month stay.

European Space Agency astronautThomas Reiter, aboard the station since July, will

returnto Earth on Discovery. During STS-116, Discovery's astronauts will completely

rewireand activate the station's electrical and thermal control systems. The crew will

deliver and install the P5 trusssegment between the station's existing P3/P4 and P6 truss

segments during two of three planned spacewalks. Installation of the P5 trusswill allow

the solar arrays on the P3/P4 and P6 trusssegments to operate and rotate without

interfering with each other. The P5 truss will act as a conduit that will transmit power and

data from the P6 segment to the other segments on the station. ["Launch Countdown

Begins Dec. 4 for Space Shuttle Discovery," NASA Media Advisory #M06-185,

November 30, 2006.]

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DECEMBER

December 1: ULA becomes reality

Boeing andLockheed Martin say this morning that they've finalized the merging of their

rocketdivisionsinto a new companycalled UnitedLaunchAlliance. The deal,proposed

in May andapprovedby the governmentearlier this year, appliesto launchesof

governmentpayloadsonly. Boeing's Delta 4 andLockheed'sAtlas 5 would stop

competingfor those launches.Both rocketswill keep flying. The companies are calling

today "DayOne" of the new venture, a 50-50 partnershipmodeledafter a similar

structurethey used to create United SpaceAlliance to win the contractfor dayto day

operationsof NASA's space shuttle fleet. News conferences are set for later in the dayto

explainimplications.Web posted.(2006). [ULAbecomesreality [Online]. Available

WWW: http://wwvav.floridatoday.com/TheFlame Trench [2006, December 1].]

Boeing and Lockheed Martin Complete United Launch

Alliance Transaction

The Boeing Companyand LockheedMartinCorporationtodayannouncedthatthey have

completedthe transaction combiningtheir expendablelaunchvehicle businesses,forming

thejoint venturecalled United LaunchAlliance,LLC (ULA).ULA will combinethe

production,engineering,test and launchoperationsassociatedwith U.S. government

launchesof Boeing Delta and LockheedMartinAtlas rockets. Theproposedjoint venture

was first announcedin May 2005. "Withthis merger we have combinedthe launch

capabilitiesof Boeing andLockheedMartinto createa very capablefamily of rockets

that will support our country's space needsfor the 21st century," said Boeing Chairman,

PresidentandCEO Jim McNemey. "I am gratefulto allof the employees who have

remainedfocused on mission success andcontinuedto deliverto our customer despitethe

distractionsof the merger process." "On behalfof all Lockheed Martinemployees and

shareholders,I wouldlike to thankthe many governmentagencies thatwere involvedin

reviewingthis very complex and importanttransaction,"saidBob Stevens,Lockheed

MartinChairman,President and CEO. "Formationof ULA is essential if our countryis to

meet its requirementsfor assuredaccessto space in the 21stcentury.I have the fullest

confidencethat ULA andits employeeswill meetour country'slaunchneedsin a cost

eflbctive and reliablemanner. Thisis clearlyan importantdayfor our nation." Michael

C. Gass has beennamedULA presidentandchief executive officer and Daniel J. Collins

has been namedchief oparating officer. ULA will be headquarteredin Denver where

most engineeringand administrativeactivitieswill be consolidated.Major assembly and

integrationoperations will be locatedprimarilyat Delta's manufacturingand assembly

facility in Decatur, Ala. Web posted. (2006). [STS-107Columbialandingj ou Boeing

and LockheedMartin Complete UnitedLaunchAlliance Transaction[Online]. Available

WWW: http://studio.financialcontent.com[2006, December 1].]

Air Force plans shuttle security patrols

TheAir Forcewill step up its air patrolsin the CapeCanaveralarea to increase security

for the upcomingshuttle launch, officials saidtoday. "NORAD protects a variety of

nationalassets across the nation on anygiven day," 1st AirForce commanderMaj. Gen.

HankMorrow saida press release today. "Inthis casewe're increasing our sorties inthe

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Cape Canaveral area during the Space Shuttle launch window. It's part of our continuing

mission to protect America's airways with our fighter air patrols." Increased military

aircraft activity will have minimal impact on the heavy volume of low-flying aircraft in

the area, the Air Force said. Air Force jets will be making low approaches at Orlando

Executive, Orlando Sanford International, Daytona Beach internationai, and Melbourne

International Airport on Tuesday. The missions are carefully planned and closely

controlled to ensure public safety, and are not in response to any specific threat, the Air

Force news release said. The Air Force will use F-15 Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons

in the security mission. The Discovery launch is set for Thursday at 9:36 p.m. from

Kennedy Space Center. Web posted. (2006). [Air Force plans shuttle security patrols

[Online[. Available WWW: http://www.fioridatoda¥.com/[2006, December 1].]

December 3: Astronauts arrive at Space Center

Seven astronauts jetted to Kennedy Space Center Sunday, where they will make final

preparations for the planned launch this week of shuttle Discovery on an ambitious

International Space Station assembly mission. Piloting high-performance T-38 training

jets, the astronauts soared over the launch pad where Discovery is being readied for flight

and then landed at the north end of NASA's shuttle runway five miles to the west.

"We seven certainly are very ready to go, and we're looking forward to executing a great

mission," said Discovery pilot William Oefelein. Oefelein and his crewmates are slated

to blast off from pad 39B about 9:35 p.m. Thursday -- the first after-dark shuttle launch

in four years. "We're going to go ahead and hopefully have one heck of a night show,"

Discoverymission commander Mark Polansky said. The crew includes mission

specialists Robert Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick, Sunita Williams and

Christer Fuglesang of the European Space Agency. Williams will replace European

astronaut Thomas Reiter as a flight engineer on the outpost. Reiter will be ferried back to

Earth on the shuttle. Fuglesang will become the first Swedish astronaut to fly in space,

and Higginbotham - a former NASA payload and orbiter engineer -- will become only

the second astronaut from KSC to launch into orbit. "I actually began my career here at

the Kennedy Space Center," said Higginbotham, who worked at the center from 1987to

1996. "And to finally come back as an astronaut and get to fly on the vehicle that I used

to work on isjust absolutely beyond words." A three-day countdown is scheduled to

begin at 11p.m. today. Technicians replaced a broken duct in the shuttle's rear engine

compartment Sunday, but launch preparations are proceeding without major problems.

The astronauts plan to add another segment to the station's central truss and rewire the

electrical system that powers the U.S. side of the outpost. Landing is scheduled for about

4:35 p.m. Dec. 19. Web posted. (2006). [Astronauts arrive at Space Center [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, December 3].]

December 4: NASA unveils exploration strategy, lunar architecture

NASA on Monday unveiled the initial elements of the Global Exploration Strategy and a

proposed U.S. lunar architecture, two critical tools for achieving the nation's vision of

returning humans to the moon. NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale, who is guiding

the long-term strategy development effort among 14 of the world's space agencies, said,

"This strategy will enable interested nationsto leverage their capabilities and financial

and technical contributions, making optimum use of globally available knowledge and

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resources to help energize a coordinated effort that will propel us into this new age of

discovery and exploration." The Global Exploration Strategy focuses on two overarehing

issues: Why we are returning to the moon and what we plan to do when we get there. The

strategy includes a comprehensive set of the reasons for embarking upon human and

robotic exploration of the moon. NASA's proposed lunar architecture focuses on a third

issue: How humans might accomplish the mission of exploring the moon. In April 2006,

NASA initiated development of the Global Exploration Strategy in order to meet a

congressional mandate, as well asto accomplish goals outlined in the agency's strategic

plan and the Vision for Space Exploration. The strategy is evolving from a lengthy

dialogue among more than 1,000 individuals, including experts from NASA and 13 other

space agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations and commercial interests.

Experts from the Australian, Canadian, Chinese, European, French, German, British,

Indian, Italian, Japanese, Russian, South Korean and Ukrainian space agencies

participated. NASA planners used the international group's deliberations as well as input

from academia, private sector and private citizens asthe basis for sketching a U.S.

blueprint for a return to the moon. NASA's Lunar Architecture Team, chartered in May

2006, concluded that the most advantageous approach is to develop a solar-powered lunar

base and to locate it near one of the poles of the moon. With such an outpost, NASA can

learn to use the moon's natural resources to live off the land, make preparations for a

journey to Mars, conduct a wide range of scientific investigations and encourage

international participation. As currently envisioned, an incremental buildup would begin

with four-person crews making several seven-day visits to the moon until their power

supplies, rovers and living quarters are operational. The first mission would begin by

2020. These would be followed by 180-daymissions to prepare for journeys to Mars.

The proposed lunar architecture calls for robotic precursor missions designed to support

the human mission. These precursors include landing site reconnaissance, natural

resource assays and technology risk reduction for the human lander. Moving into 2007,

NASA will continue to refine its lunar architecture, maintaining the open dialogue

initiated in 2006, to enhance further the Global Exploration Strategy. NASA's goal is to

enable a sustainable space exploration effort in which participating organizations can

achieve individual goals with mutually beneficial results. Web posted. (2006). [NASA

unveils exploration strategy, lunar architecture [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/[2006, December 4].] news release

NASA's Delayed Moon Plans Worry KSC Workers

NASA is slowing down its plans to return to the moon. For Central Florida's space

industry, that puts thousands of jobs in doubt. NASA is now confirming a four-year gap

between the last flight of the shuttle and the first launch of its replacement. There are

14,000 space workers at the Kennedy Space Center, and many are wondering what will

happen to them when nothing is flying for that length of time. NASA is asking them to

hang on because they're needed if the U.S. is going to return to the moon. "As we're

getting ready for 2014, there will have to be test flights leading up to that," said NASA's

Dr. Scott Horowitz. That's the best space workers can hope for -- less than a handful of

test launches between the last shuttle flight in 2010 and the first launch of its

replacement, the Orion capsule, in 2014. NASA said there's no chance of extending the

shuttle'slifetime. It's too old and too high-risk to fly that long, and NASA must free up

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money to pay for the moon program by retiring the shuttle. The space agency is looking

for help from other countries to pay for going to the moon. "It is critical that we have

international participation," said NASA's Shana Dale. Workers will be needed to

assemble the shuttle's replacement ship at the Kennedy Space Center, but that will take

only 300 or 400 of the 14,000 space workers here. So, while workers worry about getting

pink slips, NASA worries the employees will start leaving on their own, draining too

much talent from the space program. Managers hope to keep them interested and

announced Monday that the first moon base might be at the south pole, where astronauts

could find frozen water. "We're going to go after a lunar base," Horowitz said. "A lunar

base will be the central theme in our going forward plan for going back to the moon in

preparation to go to Mars and beyond." The first test-launch for the moon effort is

delayed until mid-2009. That will be a launch of a single space shuttle booster rocket,

which isthe rocket that will carry the new replacement capsule into space. Web posted.

(2006). [NASA's Delayed Moon Plans Worry KSC Workers [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.wesh.com/news/ [2006, December 4].]

Astronauts arrive at Space Center

A three-daycountdown to the planned launch of Discovery is under way at Kennedy

Space Center and the weather for a planned Thursday night iiftoff looks good. The

shuttle and its seven astronauts will be able to dock at the International Space Station on

the third day of their flight as a result of an orbit-raising maneuver at the outpost. Look

for NASA's first countdown status briefing at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Taking part in the news

conference will be NASA Test Director Steve Payne, NASA Payload Manager Debbie

Hahn and Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters. NASA finished launch countdown

preparations Monday. A final pressure check of Discovery's rear engine compartment

was completed. Engineers staffed consoles in the KSC Launch Control Center and

countdown clocks began ticking backward at 11 p.m. Monday. Russian engineers

sucessfully carried out an engine firing about 4:30 p.m. Monday that put the outpost in

the proper orbital position for the shuttle to link up with the station on the third day of a

busy flight. The 23-minute firing propelled the station into an orbit with high and low

points of 219.5 and 205.9 statute miles, opening up Flight Day Three rendezvous

opportunities for Discovery's crew from Thursday through Dec. 23. Discovery's

astronauts arrived at KSC on Sunday, and work at launch pad 39B is continuing without

major problems. Engineers and technicians on Tuesday will test circuits that route

computer commands to small explosive devices that are used to separate the shuttle from

its mobile launch platform, solid roeket boosters and external tank in flight. Also on tap:

the loading of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen into the shuttle's fuel cell system, which

generates electricity to power the shuttle in flight. The astronauts aim to add a new

segment to the station's central truss and rewire the U.S. side of the outpost. Liftoff

remains scheduled for about 9:35 p.m. Thursday. Web posted. (2006). [Astronauts arrive

at Space Center [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda_ [2006,

December 4].]

Hatch Act Information and Training

As many of you may know, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) conducted a Hatch

Act investigation at the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) regarding then-Presidential

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candidate John Kerry's campaign stop at the Debus Facility Center on July 26, 2004.

OSC's investigation heightened our awareness of the Hatch Act, and it is now recognized

that using NASA Select to broadcast and Web stream this campaign stop to Federal

employees and contractors while on duty or in a Federal building was not sensitive to the

Hatch Act's prohibitions and protections concerning political activity. Thus, we are

committed to ensuring that the NASA community understands the Hatch Act's

restrictions. To that end, we have arranged for the NASA community to receive two

broadcasts of OSC's Hatch Act training video. Therefore, all Federal employees are

required to view the video. The video will be shown on December 12, 2006, and

December 14, 2006, each day at 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. E-mail distribution. (2006).

[Re: "Hatch Act Information and Training" [Electronic]. KSC-Center-Director [KSCCenter-Director@mail.nasa.gov], [December 4, 2006.].]

December 5: Danger will run high on 'complex mission'

Shuttle Discovery's seven astronauts are about to embark on a difficult and dangerous

attempt to rewire the electrical system that powers the American side of the International

Space Station. Set for launch from Kennedy Space Center 9:36 p.m. Thursday, the

orbital construction crew first plans to add a new girder to the station's metallic backbone

-- a high-precision job during which crane operators will have clearances as tight as two

inches. A solar panel that's been in orbit for six years must be rolled up like a window

shade to allow a new solar wing to rotate for the first time so it can track the sun and

maximize electrical output. No one is sure the old array will retract. But the job must be

done to proceed with the rewiring work, which calls for half of the electricity to the U.S.

segment to be shut down. Lab lights and communications links with ground controllers

will be cut off, and like electricians on Earth, the astronauts will face electric shock

hazards. What's more, the crew must start critical cooling pumps that have not been

turned on. No one at NASA expects the 12-daymission to come offwithout trouble, and

there is more than ample opportunity for things to go seriously wrong. The wiring work

itself will be a challenge. Curbeam and Fuglesang face two spacewalks to unplug and

plug 140 connectors, first making certain power to each has been shut down to avoid

electrical shock or even electrocution. The job must be completed to draw power from

all four American solar wings after all are delivered to the station. It also is required to

start up cooling pumps dormant at the outpost since their delivery in 2002. The initial

pump activation will be like starting a car that's been garaged for four years. Coupled

with the rewiring work, the activation of the new cooling system -- which will be

completed during three spacewalks early next year -- will clear the way for the longawaited addition of their science laboratories. Web posted. (2006). [Danger will run high

on 'complex mission' [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatnda¥.com/[2006,

December 5].]

December 6: Glue problems could gum up shuttle launch

Before the space shuttle Discovery can embark on amission to rewire the international

space station's electrical system, NASA engineers have to resolve two late-breaking

technical worries: a brief power surge and potential problems with a glue that helps seal

rocket boosters. Engineers will spend much of Wednesday trying to decide whether the

two problems are minor or major. It's too early to tell if these will postpone Discovery's

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scheduled liftoff at 9:35 p.m. EST Thursday, said launch integration manager LeRoy

Cain. The split-second power surge occurred early Tuesday when power was about to be

switched from the shuttle's launch platform to Discovery itself. Early tests found that the

shuttle's main engines, boosters and external fuel tank are OK after the power burst, but

NASA was not saying the same about Discovery, Cain said. Concern about booster-seal

glue involves the adhesive that helps connect segments of the solid rocket boosters

together, Routine tests found that the adhesive used on some of the connectinn joints in

the boosters might not be as strong as it should be, NASA spokeswoman June Malone

said. But the adhesive is only of one many systems that keep hot gas from escaping and is

not one of the main ones, she said. Aside from those potential problems and a concern

about worsening weather, NASA was marching toward its first nighttime launch in four

years. Web posted. (2006). [Glue problems could gum up shuttle launch [Online].

Available WWW: http://www.cnn.com/[2006, December 6].]

Rocket to blast off from Wallops

Early Monday morning is "T-minus 300." The countdown to liftoff of the first orbital

rocket launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility range in more than 10 years will

start at 2 a.m. In a best-case scenario, the five-hour countdown will culminate at 7 a.m.

with a blast into space. The launch window for the Air Force Research Lab's TacSat-2

satellite runs to 10:30 a.m., but if fog cover or other weather events preclude the launch,

backup dates run through Dec. 20. If successful, the launch will propel the 35-ton

Minotaur I rocket into space, placing into orbit the 814-pound satellite with 11 onboard

experiments 254 miles above the Earth. Also hitching a ride will be a NASA nanosatellite, the 22-pound GeneSatl, which will perform life science experiments. It would

be the first time a payload has been released into orbit from Wallops in more than two

decades. This launch, from pad 0-B on Wallops Island, is the first time the 113-foot

launcher -- built by the regional spaceport at a cost of $3.6 million in 1998 -- has been

used. Web posted. (2006). [Rocket to blast offfrom Wallops [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.delmarvanow.com/[2006, December 6].]

December 7: Shuttle pad cleared for fueling preps

NASA this hour is clearing Pad 39B of everyone except people necessary for the fueling

operationsthat are to begin later this morning. The fuel cells thatwill generateelectricity

for the orbiter's systems once it reaches space are being activated. The launch crew is

scheduled to start pumping more than 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid

oxygen into the shuttle's 15-story external tarkkabout 11:40 a.m. That's about the same

time that Discovery's crew is scheduled to he awakened to start their launch day

activities. Mission managers will meet at 10:30 a.m. to give engineers a go-ahead for

fueling. They could decide to move up the start of fueling to 11:i0 a.m. Web posted.

(2006). [Shuttle pad cleared for fueling preps [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/The Flame Trench [2006, December 7].]

Shuttle may launch tourism

Morethan 150,000 out-of-townvisitors and localspectators are expected to pack the

hotels,restaurants and bars along the SpaceCoasttonight to catch a glimpse of the first

scheduled nighttime launch of the space shuttle in four years. The launch is a welcome

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lift to the sagging tourism industry, which is slowly marching back from a dismal

October and poor September. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex could draw

10,000 gueststo view the launch, said Andrea Farmer, public-relations manager for the

complex. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle may launch tourism [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, December 7].]

Clouds could delay launch

NASA will try to send Discovery aloft tonight after resolving two minor technical issues,

but worsening weather might force a delay in the first nighttime shuttle launch in four

years. Seven astronauts remain scheduled to blast off from Kennedy Space Center just

before 9:36 p.m., setting sail on a complex mission to rewire the electrical system that

powers the U.S. side of the International Space Station. A cold front is expected to

sweep into the Cape Canaveral area early today, spawning isolated rain showers and lowlevel cloud cover that is expected to linger up to launch time. Meteorologists said

Wednesday that there is a 60 percent chance cloudy weather would prohibit launch -- a

significant downgrade from favorable forecasts earlier this week. "The forecast has

trended toward the worse," said Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer with the U.S. Air

Force's 45th Space Wing, which provides forecasting services for all launches from

Florida's Space Coast. NASA launch rules call for cloud ceilings to be at least 4,000 feet

so range safety officers can track the shuttle during the critical early portion of flight.

Conditions will be no better Friday or Saturday. The concern then would be strong winds

at the launch pad and the runway. Two late-breaking technical issues were resolved

Wednesday. Engineers determined a split-second power surge at Discovery's launch pad

Tuesday did no damage to shuttle systems. Managers also said there was no significant

problem with an adhesive used to glue insulation together between solid rocket booster

segments. Engineers will begin loading more than 500,000 gallons of super-cold liquid

hydrogen and liquid oxygen into the shuttle's 15-story external tank around 11:40 a.m.

today. The propellant will power the shuttle's three main engines during a nine-minute

climb into orbit. Polansky and his crew -- which includes former KSC engineer Joan

Higginbotham -- will don partial pressure launch-and-entry suits and then depart crew

quarters at 5:45 p.m. The astronauts will arrive at the launch pad and begin climbing

aboard Discovery about 6:15 p.m. The orbiter's side hatch will be closed for flight about

7:30 p.m. An on-time launch would lead to a landing at KSC around 4:30 p.m. Dec. 19.

Web posted. (2006). [Clouds could delay launch [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.fioridatoda,/.com/[2006, December 7].]

NASA Reschedules Space Shuttle Launch for Saturday

NASA managers postponed Thursday's space shuttle launch until Satm'day because of

low cloud cover. Friday's weather is not expected to be favorable for a launch attempt but

mission managers believe conditions will improve by the weekend. Launch of Discovery

is now scheduled for 8:47 p.m. EST Dec. 9. Tomorrow's weather is not expected to be

favorable for a launch attempt but mission managers believe conditions will improve by

the weekend. During STS-116, the astronauts will deliver and install a girder-like

structure, known as the P5 truss, aboard the station. The 4,000-pound component will

make possible future installation of solar arrays.The crew will also reconfigure the

station's electrical and cooling systems from temporary to permanent mode. Discovery's

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crew is Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Bill Oefelein and mission specialists Bob

Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick, Sunita Williams and Christer Fuglesang,

a European Space Agency astronaut. ["NASA Reschedules Space Shuttle Launch For

Saturday," NASA News Release #06-368, December 7, 2006.]

December 8: Stormy weather clouds shuttle launch

Bad weather at NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla., will continue to be a factor Dec. 9-11

in attempts to launch space shuttle Discovery on the STS-116 mission to the International

Space Station. Bad weather forced a last-second scrub of the original countdown for a

launch at 9:36 p.m. Eastern time Dec. 7. NASA planned to make a second launch

attempt Dec. 9 after bad weather forecast for Dec. 8 forced NASA to skip an attempt that

day altogether. A liftoff Dec. 9 would be at 8:47 p.m. Eastern time. By skipping Dec. 8,

the Kennedy launch team was able to replenish the hydrogen supply in the shuttle's

electrical fuels cells, increasing the number of attemptsthat could be made before a more

lengthy delay is required to replenish both the hydrogen and oxygen supply for the cells.

Poor weather, including light rain and unacceptable winds, were forecast to persist in the

Kennedy area through at least Dec. 11. Florida weather is highly changeable, however,

and launch managers hoped to catch a period of acceptable weather beginning Dec. 9.

Forecasts forDec. 9, however, called for only a 30 percent chance of acceptable

conditions and only a 40 percent chance on Dec. 10 and 11.But the weather is likely to

improve on Dec. 12. E-mail distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily &

Defense Report Re: "Stormy weather clouds shuttle launch," [Electronic]. Vol. 220, No.

48, [December 11, 2006.].]

December 9: KSC bids its own farewell for now

As she prepared to board the shuttle Discovery before a launch that ultimately was

scrubbedThursdayevening, JoanHigginbothamheld upa message saying "Hi" to her

mom. On Saturday,her hand-writtensign was a bit broader, sending love to "all of you,"

and onthe otherside, proclaiming allegiance to her hometown ChicagoNFLteam, "Da

Bears." Her unofficial extendedfamilyat Kennedy Space Centerwas thrilled Sundayas

they saw a formermember of their team fly into space.Higginbotham, the second of

KSC's ownto orbit the Earth,was anengineeratthe center whenshe was selected for

astronauttraining. She startedat KSC in 1987 as a payloadelectrical engineer,just two

weeks out of college in her native Illinois.In 1996, after working on 53 shuttle launches,

she joinedthe astronautclass. Duringthe 12-dayDiscovery flight, Higginbotham, a

missionspecialist,will orchestratewhat she describedas a ballet, operating a 57-foot

crane to get a truss out of the cargo bay and onto the International Space Station. It was

at KSC she fostered her interest in weight lifting, which remains, along with cycling and

motivational speaking. She came under the tutelage of former center director Jay

Honeycutt, and was designated a "bubba," Honeycutt's term for people chosen for

mentoring and special attention as acknowledged future leaders. Bill Parsons was

another mentor. He, too, was an engineer at KSC in the late '80s and early '90s. In

January, Parsons becomes center director,succeeding Jim Kennedy. "Each one is

special," Parsons said Saturday evening of the seven astronauts aboard Discovery. "But

when you have one of your own, there's a tremendous feeling of pride." Parsons was

jubilant over a successful launch half an hour after Discovery made its ascent into orbit,

264
but he said he also was particularly happy for an astronaut he's known for so long.

Parsons said he didn't know if Higginbotham would have a special message from space

for her former colleagues at KSC. The 14,500 employees here will watch her mission

with special enthusiasm, Parsons said. Even more, they'll be happy to have her back.

"We're looking forward to getting her back here before Christmas and welcoming her

back to Kennedy Space Center," Parsons said. Web posted. (2006). [KSC bids its own

farewell for now [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006,

December !0].]

NASA's Shuttle Discovery Begins Mission to the Space Station

The space shuttleDiscovery andits seven-membercrew lifted off Saturdayfrom NASA's

Kennedy Space Center at 8:47 p.m. EST on one of the most complex missions ever to the

International Space Station. Shortly before launch, Discovery's Commander Mark

Polansky said he and his crew were excited to continue assembly of the station, "We look

forward to lighting up the night sky and rewiring ISS." After hearing of the successful

liftoff, Expedition 14Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria told Mission Control in

Houston "We'll leave the light on," in anticipation of the space shuttle crew's arrival, now

scheduled for Monday. Low clouds delayed Discovery's launch on Thursday night. After

standing down on Friday, weather was much better for Saturday's launch. During the 12-

day mission, designated STS-116, a new structural component will be added to the

station. Shuttle and station crews will work with ground teams to install the P5 truss. This

latest addition to the station's backbone weighs 4,000 pounds and will extend the left side

of the truss to allow future solar panels to rotate. The mission also includes extensive

work to reconfigure the station's electrical and cooling systems from temporary to

permanent mode. During the mission, ground control will shut down and reroute the

station's power in stages so that the astronauts can reconfigure the power system and

make the P4 solar arrays delivered during the last mission fully operational. This complex

operation has never been done before. Part of an existing solar pane! will be retracted to

allow the P4 arrays to track the sun for a full 360 degrees and provide power to the rest of

the station. As part of these operations, the station's temporary cooling system will be

deactivated and a permanent system will become operational. The station's newest

resident will also be traveling aboard Discovery. Astronaut Sunita Williams joins the

Expedition 14 crew. Thomas Reiter, a European Space Agency astronaut who has been

aboard the station since July, will return to Earth with the Discovery crew. Williams is

scheduled to spend six months on the station. Discovery's crew is Polansky, Pilot Bill

Oefelein and mission specialists Bob Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick,

Williams and Christer Fuglesang, a European Space Agency astronaut. ["NASA's

Shuttle Discovery Begins Mission to the Space Station," NASA News Release #06-367,

December 9, 2006.]

December 11: Heat shield OK; Discovery docks today

Discovery's astronauts are due to dock at the International Space Station today after a

survey showed no obvious damage to the heat shield that will protect them during a fiery

atmospheric re-entry later this month. With the shuttle and the station flying in formation

220 miles above Earth, mission commander Mark Polansky will ease Discovery up to the

outpost while both ships circle Earth at a speed of five miles per second. Some 600 feet

265
below the station, Polansky will pilot the orbiter on a nose-over-tail backflip, exposing

the tile-covered belly of the shuttle to camera-wielding astronauts on the station. Outpost

commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and station flight engineer Mikhail Tyurin will

photograph the heat shield tiles to detect any damage. An extensive inspection to the

shuttle's wing panels and nose cap on Sunday yielded no evidence of the type of severe

damage that downed Columbia and its crew in February 2003. Preliminary data from

more than 100 cameras and radar that tracked Discovery raised no alarm, after NASA's

first nighttime shuttle launch in more than four years. And data from sensors inside the

shuttle's wings indicated that any possible debris hit was at least one-tenth the force that

could cause even minor damage. "I was very encouraged by what we saw," NASA

deputy shuttle program manager John Shannon said. Web posted. (2006). [Heat shield

OK; Discovery docks today [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoday.com/

[2006,December 10].]

Discovery docks with ISS

The space shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station on Monday

afternoon, and shortly afterwards shuttle crewmembers performed an additional

inspection after detecting a possible debris hit earlier in the day. Discovery docked with

theDestiny module of the ISS at 5:12 pm EST (2212 GMT) Monday, after a normal

approach.. Later Monday, though, NASA instructed the Discovery crew to inspect an

area on the outer edge of the orbiter'sleft wing, after accelerometer data indicated a

minor impact there earlier in the day. Images of the affected panels showed no obvious

signs of damage. The next major milestone of the mission will be on Tuesday afternoon,

when astronauts Robert Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang will install the P5 truss segment

onto the ISS. Web posted. (2006). [Discovery docks with ISS [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.spacet0day.net/[2006, December I2].]

Florida base provides mix of support for shuttle launch

TheAirForce's45th Space Wing out of PatrickAir Force Base, Fla. supported NASA's

launch of Space Shuttle Discovery from Kennedy Space Center Dec. 9 on the shuttle's

first night launch in four years. Several units acrossthe 45th SW played vital roles such

as helping validate the pad after the shuttle rolled out, final ordnance installation,

providing weather forecasts, organizing and training Department of Defense contingency

response forces and media relations. The wing also provided eastern range support with

a vast network of radar, telemetry, meteorological, optical and communications

instrumentation that helped facilitate a safe, picture-perfect launch. Web posted. (2006).

[Florida base provides mix of support for shuttle launch [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www, af.mil/news/storg.asp?stor,cID=123034723 [2006, December 11].]

December 12: NASA asking for industry help with 2009 ISS cargo shortfall

NASA is seeking information from industry about the feasibility of launching an

additional unmanned cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in

2009 to make up for an anticipated shortfall in dry cargo deliveries. An analysis of the

station's cargo needs versus scheduled deliveries has determined that the outpost will be

left 54.4 metric tons short on dry cargo logistics - which includes food and other supplies

but not propellant from the period 2009-2015. Although NASA is already preparing to

266
fill the gap through its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program,

routine deliveries to the ISS by COTS suppliers would not begin until the next decade.

The anticipated shortfall in 2009 is two metric tons, and can't be made up by the space

shuttle, according to NASA. The additional flight would have to deliver 2,000 kilograms

(4,409 pounds) of dry cargo, and be able to take an equivalent volume of trash off the

station when it undocks, as Russia's unmanned Progress spacecraft currently does. The

vehicle would have to dock with the ISS for at least 30 days and be ready by April 2009.

E-mail distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re:

"NASA asking for industry help with 2009 ISS cargo shortfall," [Electronic]. Vol. 220,

No. 49, [December 12, 2006.].]

TacSat-2 launch scrubbed at NASA Wallops

The launch of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's TacSat-2 satellite from NASA's

Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Va., was scrubbed Dec. 11 due to a possible

problem with the software that points the spacecraft's solar arrays. Mission controllers

opted to postpone the morning liftoff when Air Force engineers running simulations

determined that the software might not point the arrays directly at the sun when the

spacecraft arrives in orbit, which could leave it with insufficient power, according to

NASA spokesman Keith Koehler. The earliest the next launch attempt can take place is

Dec. 14,Koehler said. The launch window is from 7-10 a.m. Eastern Time each morning

and runs through Dec. 20. If TacSat-2 hasto be de-mated from the rocket to solve the

problem, it would push the flight back to January, Koehler said. The Orbital Sciences

Minotaur 1 rocket carrying TacSat-2 includestwo refurbished Minuteman II stages and

two stages built by the company. The mission is being conducted from the newly opened

Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport commercial launch pad at the southern end of Wallops.

E-mail distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re:

"TacSat-2 launch scrubbed at NASA Wallops," [Electronic]. Vol. 220, No. 49,

[December 12, 2006.].]

Inspection shows Discovery damage free

Inspection of the shuttle Discovery's reinforced carbon carbon wing leading edge and

nose cap material by the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) shows no sign of any

external tank foam or ice impact. But examination of video of the external tank recorded

by cameras on the solid rocket boosters will be delayed by about a day because of a non

life- threatening accident to a worker on one of the booster recovery ships. He was

helicoptered off the vessel, but the process delayed SRB recovery. The SRB video can

only be retrieved once the boosters are towed back into Port Canaveral near the Kennedy

Space Center launch site. The now routine OBSS inspection in space was conducted Dec.

10, following the shuttle's night liftoffDec. 9. OBSS operations involve detailed robotic

auto sequences, and great care is needed by the crew to ensure that those sequences do

not accidentally result in orbiter contact by the 100-foot OBSS/manipulator arm

combination. A detailed inspection of the thermal tiles on the be!ly and underside of the

wings were set to be done later Dec. 11 using photography from the International Space

Station as Discovery's autopilot is used to fly a 360-degree backflip maneuver with the

orbiter 600 feet below the ISS just before docking. The docking was set to take place at

5:06 p.m. Eastern time. During launch, wing leading edge accelerometers detected six

events of 1.2- 1.3 gs each on the orbiter wing leading edges. Four of these were on the

267
left and two were on the right at about 110-120 seconds into launch, The characteristic

has been seen on other flights and is believed to be caused by a shock wave moving along

the wings in combination with the settling of the T-seals that bridge the RCC with the

upper wing surface. The data is only one-tenth of what would be required to even scuff

an RCC panel and one-twentieth of what would be required to actually cause damage,

says John Shannon, shuttle deputy program manager and head of the shuttle Mission

Management Team. Nevertheless, the imagery analysis team headquartered at Johnson

Space Center, along with members linked acrossthe country, was assessing as a matter of

routine whether the minor data spikes could be correlated with any debris seen falling

from the external tank. No significant debris was spotted from the ET mounted camera

nor by Cand X band radars on the ground. A large new C-band debris tracking radar is

based at Kennedy, while the two X-band radars are mounted on the booster recovery

ships, one positioned north and the other south of the launch trajectory. The C band and

the northern ship's X-band saw nothing of concern. But a failure of the tracking pedestal

for the southern ship's X-band prevented it from tracking the ascent properly, Shannon

said. The ET camera also returned spectacular imagery of the night ascent, including a

circular rocket plume feature trailing behind the orbiterjust before main engine cutoff.

E-mail distribution. (2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re:

"Inspection shows Discovery damage free," [Electronic]. Vol. 220, No. 49, [December

12,2006.].]

December 13: Budget deal to keep NASA funded at 2006 levels

A plan by the incomingDemocraticleadershipof Congress to resolve a numberof

outstandingappropriationsbills for 2007, including one thatfunds NASA, would keep

the space agency's budget at the same level as 2006. On Monday the incoming chairman

of the appropriations committees in the House and Senate, Rep. David Obey and Sen.

Robert Byrd, said that planned to replace the incomplete appropriations billsremaining in

Congressfor the 2007 fiscal year with a continuing resolution that would run through the

end of the fiscal year. NASA and many other federal agencies have been operating since

October 1 under a series of short-term continuing resolutions that keep them funded at

2006 levels; the year-long resolution would also keep spending at 2006 levels with only

minor adjustments. That decision would be a setback to NASA and its supporters, who

had sought a modest budget increase for NASA in 2007. The decision also ends a

separate bipartisan plan by two senators to provide a billion-dollar boost to the NASA

budget. The continuing resolution, however, would also be free of earmarks that

traditionally have sapped money from the budget for specific pet projects. Web posted.

(2006). [Budget deal to keep NASA funded at 2006 levels [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spacetoda,/.net/[2006, December 13].]

December 14: Vandcnberg successfully launches Delta 11

Vandenbergsuccessfully launched a Delta IIrocket carrying aNationalReconnaissance

Office payloadfrom SpaceLaunchComplex-2 at 1p.m. Dec. 14. The Delta II, a

125.75-foot expendable launch, medium-lift vehicle, launches civil and commercial

payloads into low-earth, polar, geosynchronous transfer and stationary orbits.

Vandenberg credited teamwork in the delivery of 100-percent mission success. "Today's

successful launch was accomplished from the outstanding teamwork from all

268
organizations to include the 30th Space Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, NRO,

and recently named United Launch Alliance," said Col. Jack Weinstein, 30th SW

commander. "Vandenberg ensures national security with each executed launch,

continuously proving that no one does it better," he said. Vandenberg Airmen strive to

continually deliver successful launches to ensure national security through teamwork

with other base organizations. "I'm proud of our entire 30th Space Wing team for their

amazing teamwork that made NROL-21 a success," Lt. Col. David Goldstein,

commander of the 4th Space Launch Squadron, said. "The perfect orbit insertion we

achieved is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the professional Airmen of the

30th Space Wing." "The 4th SLS along with the 30th Launch Support Squadron and the

Aerospace corporation conducted launch base mission assurance guaranteeing 100-

percent mission success and we delivered; the satellite launched wil! provide invaluable

intelligence data to support the Global War on Terror." The next United Launch Alliance

mission from Vandenberg will be an Atlas V in the spring. Web posted. (2006).

[Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.afspc.af.mil/news/[2006, December 14].]

State Department defends national space policy

In the first public comments by a Bush Administration official since the release of the

new national space policy two months ago, a State Department undersecretary said that

the policy is not evidence that the US wants to weaponize space, but that the nation will

do whatever is required to defend its space assets. Robert Joseph, Under Secretary for

Arms Control and International Security at the State Department, said in a speech

Wednesday that the policy is intended to emphasize the importance of space to US

commercial and government interests, and that the US must therefore take seriously

unspecified threats to them by both nations and "non-state actors". Joseph said that the

policy did not mean that the US planned to put weapons in space, adding that the there is

no evidence of an "armsrace in space", but that the policy did not rule that step out, and

that there was no need for a treaty banning space weaponization. The policy had come

under criticism since its low-key release in early October, with some people interpreting

the document to mean that the US would act unilaterally to attack other countries'

satellites or deny them access to space. Web posted. (2006). [State Department defends

national space policy [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.spacetodav.net/[2006,

December 14].]

December 18: 1 killed, 1 hurt in KSC traffic accident

One person is dead and another critically injured following Monday night's fiery crash on

Kennedy Space Center property. The Florida Highway Patrol is withholding names

pending a criminal investigation, Sgt. Channing Taylor said. Alcohol may have been a

factor, he said. The accident occurred around 9:40 p.m. Monday. According to Taylor, a

2007 Hynndai Tiburon was driving at 80 to 100mph on eastbound State Road 406, also

called the Max Brewer Memorial Parkway. The posted speed is 45. The ear failed to stop

at the intersection of State Road 3, drove more than 100 feet into the woods and burst into

flames, he said. One person was confirmed dead at the scene, and another was flown to

Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Taylor said. Web posted. (2006). [1

killed, 1 hurt in KSC traffic accident [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, December 19].]

269
Astronauts complete retraction of solar panel

Astronauts completed the retraction of a troublesome solar array on Monday during an

unscheduled EVA. Robert Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang spentjust over six and a half

hours outside the ISS Monday on the fourth EVA of the STS-116 shuttle mission. The

EVA, added to the schedule only on Saturday, allowed the two astronauts to help with the

retraction of a solar array on the P6 segment of the station, after previous efforts to have

the panel retract automatically failed. The astronauts primarily tugged on guide wires that

got stuck in grommets on array segments asthey retracted. The panel, and an identical

one of the same segment, have to be retracted before the segment is moved to its final

location on the station's truss next year. The EVA was the fourth in the mission for

Curbeam, setting the record for the most spacewalks by an astronaut on a single shuttle

mission. Discovery is scheduled to undock with the ISS shortly after 5 pm EST (2200

GMT) Tuesday, with a landing in Florida on Friday afternoon. Web posted. (2006).

[Astronauts complete retraction of solar panel [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spaeetoday.net/[2006, December 19].]

NASA, Google begin partnership

NASA and Google announced Monday that they would work together to help make

NASA's vast archives of images and other information available on the Web. Under the

Space Act Agreement between NASA and Google, the search engine giant will work to

make "the most useful of NASA's information" available online, from real-time weather

visualizations to high-resolution three-dimensional maps of the Moon and Mars, although

no date for when such visualizations would be available was announced. Future

collaboration between the two could include "joint research, products, facilities,

education and missions," according to a statement. NASA's Ames Research Center,

located in Silicon Valley, madGoogle first planned to collaborate on such ventures about

a year ago, although the deal was only finalized on Monday. Web posted. (2006).

[NASA, Google begin partnership [Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.spacetoday.net/[2006, December 19].]

December 21: Crew rises as landing options get discussed

Mission Control just sent the morning wake up call to Discovery. On tap today: late

inspection of the heat-shielding and preparations for a scheduled Friday landing. "We

look forward to seeing you back here on planet Earth real soon," astronaut Shannon

Lucidjust called up from Mission Control in Houston. Discovery's landing options, as of

right now, are being worked out as we write this morning. For now, the plan is that the

shuttle will land Friday at Kennedy Space Center, Edwards Air Force Base in California

or White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. All three sites are activated for a Friday

landing. Limited consumables likely will force a Friday landing. There appears to be

little chance of a "wave off" for a Saturday landing attempt if the weather is bad. Right

now, Saturday is there as a backup day for a technical problem. If it'sjust weather, the

plan isto come back on Friday regardless of location. Forecast for Kennedy and

Edwards looks pretty grim for Friday. So White Sands could be the destination, unless

NASA decidestoday to skip or dramatically reduce the late heat-shield inspection in

order to move up landing to Thursday. That's a real long shot and noone is "officially"

27O
talking about it yet. Indeed, the Mission Management Team's decision as of late last night

was to stick with a Friday landing. Web posted. (2006). [Crew rises as landing options

get discussed [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatodav.com/The Flame

Trench [2006, December 21].]

Shuttle on way home, but maybe not to KSC

A final pre-landing inspection found no apparent heat-shield damage, so shuttle

Discovery remains set to return to Earth on Friday. However, weather may prevent

landing in Florida. At 3:56 p.m., the first scheduled landing opportunity at Kennedy

Space Center, forecasters expect clouds, wind and rain that could make it unsafe to land.

If so, Discovery would orbit the Earth once more and land at KSC, Edwards Air Force

Base in California or White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. "Our intent will be to

land somewhere, safely, on Friday," said Phil Engelauf, chiefofNASA's flight directors.

Wednesday's forecasts for all three sites made New Mexico look most likely. That is

NASA's least favored site because it lacks the specialized equipment needed to hook the

shuttle to the top of a modified 747 jet for its ride home to the Space Coast. Getting the

necessary gear to New Mexico, among other factors, could delay Discovery's return to

Florida by weeks. NASA could not estimate how many weeks, but it would be longer

than the week it normally takes to return from California. Engelauf, however, stressed

that "these are forecasts" more than 48 hours before landing. The weather could change

by Friday. The day Discovery blasted off, there was a 70 percent chance the weather

would not permit launch. NASA hasjust one backup day and will only use that in the

unlikely event of a serious technical problem or severely unacceptable weather at all

three landing sites Friday. Web posted. (2006). [Shuttle on way home, but maybe not to

KSC [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.floridatoda¥.com/[2006, December 21].]

December 22: Shuttle lands safely at Kennedy Space Center

Space ShuttleDiscovery returned safely to Earth Dec. 22, completinga 13- day mission

in which astronauts conducted four spacewalks and continued work on the International

Space Station. The shuttle's seven astronauts were cleared to perform a re-entry toward a

Kennedy Space Center landing at about 5:30 p.m. Eastern time after initial Kennedy and

Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., opportunities were cancelled because of dynamic

weather conditions. The final "go" for a Kennedy landing was made only five minutes

before the deorbit burn to KSC. Clouds and light rain in the central Florida area were the

initial problem at Kennedy, while high crosswinds were the problem at Edwards,

although the weather there was clear. Weather was also acceptable at Northrup Strip, at

White Sands Space Harbor, N.M. But managers wanted to avoid Northrup if at all

possible because of the lack of orbiter turnaround facilities there. The clouds and rain

showers near Kennedy began to trend more toward acceptable conditions in the 30

minutes prior to the deorbit burn, about 60 minutes before the landing. The Mission

Control decision to go for a Kennedy landing was based on key observations by

Astronaut Office Chief Air Force Col. Steve Lindsey, flying a Gulfstream II Shuttle

Training Aircraft (STA) on approaches to Runway 15 at KSC, combined with real time

forecasts by the Space Flight Meteorological Group at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The most critical observation was that showers moving toward Kennedy were actually

dissipating, although they remained threatening on radar displays. E-mai! distribution.

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(2006). [Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Re: "Shuttle lands safely at

Kennedy Space Center," [Electronic]. Vol. 220, No. 58, [December 26, 2006.].]

December 27: NASA's Top Exploration and Discovery Stories of the Year

NASA moved forward in 2006 to extend humanity'sexploration of the solar system and

learn more about the universe and our home planet. The space shuttle got back to work

building the International Space Station, and the agency began developing the next

generation of spacecraft and outlined plans for returning to the moon as a stepping stone

toward Mars. Space science missions found new evidence of water on Mars, sent the

first-ever probes toward Pluto, brought back dust from a comet and launched new

instruments to study the sun and the weather on Earth. For more information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ ["NASA's Top Exploration and Discovery Stories of the Year,"

NASA News Release #06-376, December 27, 2006.]

December 28: Workers recall loyalty to space

Retired space industry workers and historians on Wednesday remembered former

President Gerald Ford as a staunch supporter of America's space industry and a leader

who held steady reins asthe program advanced from moon exploration to manned shuttle

launches. Ford died Tuesday night (December 26, 2006) at his home in Rancho Mirage,

Calif., about 130 miles east of Los Angeles. He was 93. He served 25 years in the U.S.

Congress representing Michigan before becoming president in 1974 after the resignation

of Richard Nixon. Cocoa Beach resident George English, who served on the executive

staffto the Kennedy Space Center director in 1975, met Ford around the time of the

Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the first manned space flight between the United States and

Russia. "He was very low-key, a very friendly individual," English, 77, said. "He was a

supporter of the space program, more so than some of the other presidents." In 1972,

long before the Watergate scandal forced him out of office, Nixon approved funding for

America's shuttle program. Ford ensured that didn't change, despite a public and political

perception of a weakened presidency, said Roger Launius, head of space history for the

National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C, What most people don't know,

Lannius said, is that Ford's strong belief in the space program was formed early in his

political career. "His role in Congress is one thing most people wouldn't think about,"

Launius said. "He was proud to have been a part of that process -- a floor leader -- to

make sure the NASA budget was maintained." Gerry Griffin, KSC deputy director KSC

from 1977 to 1982, agreed and called Ford a "great friend" of the space program. Griffin,

72, ran legislative affairs for NASA in Washington when Ford was House Minority

Leader. "We could always count on Ford to be the guy to carry the day for us in the

House," Griffin said from his home in Hunt, Texas. "He went to bat on several occasions

to get appropriations passed that worked for us. Once he got into the White House, the

agency from time to time would go to him when they were having trouble." Web posted.

(2006). [Workers recall loyalty to space ]Online]. Available WWW:

http://www.floridatoday.com/[2006, December 21].]

272
Appendix A

Space Shuttle Missions

2006

STS-!21 Discovery July 4, 2006 ULFI.1 July 17, 2006

LC-39B KSC

9:15 a.m. EDT 13 days

STS-115 Atlantis September 9, 2006 P3/P4 Arrays September 21, 2006

LC-39B KSC

6:21 a.m. EDT 12 days

STS-116 Discovery December 9, 2006 P5 Truss, December 22, 2006

LC-39B SPACEHAB KSC

5:32 p.m. EDT 12 days, 20 hours,

45 minutes

Web posted. (2006). [Mission Information [Online]. Available

WWW:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_oages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/list main.html

[2006, December 28].]

273
Appendix B

Expendable Launch Vehicle Missions

2006

New Horizons Atlas V CCAFS January 19, 2006

CPX 41 2 p.m. EST .._

Space Technology 5 Pegasus XL VAFB March 22, 2006

CALIPSO Delta II VAFB April 28, 2006

CloudSat Delta II VAFB April 28, 2006

STEREO Delta II CCAFS October 25, 2006

CPX 17B 8:52 p.m. EDT

Web posted. (2006). [2006 Expendable Launch Vehicle Missions [Online]. Available

WWW: http://www.nasa._ov/centers/kenned¥/launchingroekets/archives/2OO6.html

[2007,January 5].]

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anyotheraspectof thiscollectionof information,includingsuggestionsforreducingthisburden,to Departmentof Defense,WashingtonHeadquarterSservicesD, irectorate

for Inforn_ationOperationsandReports0704-0188,1215JeffersonDavisHighway,Suite1204,ArlingtonVA, 22202-4302.Respondentshouldbeawarethat

notwithstandinganyotherprovisionof law,nopersonshallbesubjectoanypenatyforfa ngto compy w tha co ectonof nformaton f t doesnotdisplayacurrently

validOMBcontrolnumber.

PLE/_I_DONOTRETURNYOURFORMTOTHEABOVEADDRESS.

1. REPORT DATE (DD'MM'YYYY) 2. REPORTTYPE 3. DATES COVERED(From- To)

20-02-2007 Technical Memorandum 2006

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER

Chronology of KSC and KSC Related Events for 2006 8b.GRANTNUMBER

8c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER

6. AUTHOR(S) 5d.PROJECTNUMBER

Elaine E. Liston 5e. TASKNUMBER

5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER

7, PERFORMINGORGANIZATIONNAME(S)ANDADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMINGORGANIZATION

REPORTNUMBER

lnDyne, Inc.

Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 32899

9. SPONSORING/MONITORINGAGENCYNAME(S)ANDADDRESS(ES) 10.SPONSORING/MONITOR'SACRONYM(S)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA

Kennedy SpaceCenter,Florida, 32899 11.SPONSORINGIMONITORING

REPORTNUMBER

NASA/TM-2007-214727

12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITYSTATEMENT

Unclassified -- Unlimited

13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

14.ABSTRACT

This document is intended to serve as a record of KSCevents add is a reference source for historians and other researchers.

Arrangement is by day and month and individual articles are attributed to published sources. Materials were researched and

compiled by the KSC Library Archivist for KSC Library Services Contractor, InDyne, Inc.

15.SUBJECTTERMS

Budget, Discovery (Orbiter), Atlantis (Orbiter), Expendable Launch Vehicles, External Tanks, Launches, Landings, STS-115,

STS-l 16, STS-121, accidents, safety, Vision for Space Exploration, organizational changes.

16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF 18. NUMBER 19b. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON ABSTRACT OF

a. REPORT b. ABSTRACT e. THIS PAGE PAGES

19b.TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include area code)

Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified 278

Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98)

PrescribedbyANSI Std 7-39-18