Thursday, March 12, 2015

Fwd: JSC Today - Wednesday, March 11, 2015



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Begin forwarded message:

From: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Date: March 11, 2015 at 7:52:03 AM CDT
To: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Subject: FW: JSC Today - Wednesday, March 11, 2015

JSC Today - Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Looks like more rain for us.   Be safe out there.

 

 

LEADING THE NEWS

• When At ISS, Brightman Will Sing Song Composed With Andrew Lloyd Webber.

NASA NEWS

• Edwards Announces Run For Mikulski's Senate Seat.

HUMAN EXPLORATION AND OPERATIONS

• NASA "Back In Business" With SLS.

• NASA Centers To Take Part In Examining Heat Shield's Performance.

• Wilmore Will Leave ISS Today.

• Both SpaceX And Boeing Look For Opportunities Outside Of NASA.

• ISS Becoming A "More Suitable" Location For Alzheimer's Studies.

• NanoRacks Working With NASA On Commercial Airlock.

• High School Students Take Remote Photos From ISS.

• Space Center Houston To Hold Mars Food Face-Off.

• NASA Contractor Signs $5M Deal With UTEP.

When At ISS, Brightman Will Sing Song Composed With Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The AP (3/10, Hui) continues coverage of opera singer Sarah Brightman's upcoming trip to the ISS. Yesterday, Brightman revealed to reporters that she will sing a song composed by her and Andrew Lloyd Webber that "suits the idea of space." The performance could be done "with a choir or another singer on Earth," but those arrangements have yet to be made. Brightman said that she currently is feeling "'overwhelmed' and excited — but not yet nervous —" about her upcoming launch in September.

    

Edwards Announces Run For Mikulski's Senate Seat.

Space News (3/10, Foust, Subscription Publication, 481) reports that on Tuesday, Rep. Donna Edwards announced that she would run for the Senate seat that will be vacated when Barbara Mikulski retires, making her the second candidate to do so. The article notes that in an announcement video, Edwards highlighted her work on the House Science space subcommittee. She said, "As the ranking Democrat on the space subcommittee, I passed a bipartisan investment in NASA, for space programs that employ over 10,000 Marylanders and lift our sights just a little higher." According to the article, that was "likely a reference to NASA authorization bills passed by the House both in 2014 and in February," but not the Senate.

        Space News: Mikulski Leaves Behind Far-Reaching Legacy. Space News (3/10, Subscription Publication, 481) editorializes that when she retires, Mikulski will leave a "substantial and far reaching" legacy. The editors note her "unwavering support" for NASA, even when she is willing to criticize projects. Furthermore, even though she fought for programs that benefited her state and the Goddard Space Flight Center and Wallops Flight Facility, she also was a "powerful advocate" for projects like the ISS and the Space Launch System, which are run by centers outside her jurisdiction. Now that Mikulski is leaving, the major question is who "will fill very large void" she leaves behind, and whether they will also share "her unabashed support for the civil space program as a whole."

NASA "Back In Business" With SLS.

Richard Hollingham, in an article on the BBC News (3/10, 1.66M) "Future" website, writes that NASA is "back in business" with development of the Space Launch System (SLS). SLS systems engineer Dawn Stanley said, "This will be a unique rocket. ... It's going to get us back to the Moon and beyond the Moon to asteroids and Mars, further than we've ever gone before." Stanley also highlighted how "versatile" the rocket will be, saying, "If they want us to go to an asteroid to do a retrieval mission, this rocket can get you there or if you want to go to Mars, this rocket can get there. ... The SLS can meet those many missions that our government has." Meanwhile, Hollingham describes a tour of the Michoud Assembly Facility where the SLS is under construction. Engineering manager Pat Whipps said, "Everything about this programme is big – the tooling is big, the hardware you make is big and yet the tolerances you work to are really small. ... You're looking at thousandths of an inch of accuracy for something that you have to look up and up and up just to see the top of." Hollingham was most impressed by the "remarkable" friction stir welding process he saw, as well as the "most impressive" final assembly hall. Hollingham comments that because of current funding, it was "almost certain that, unlike previous rocket programmes, the SLS will fly."

        Officials Disagree On Whether Private Sector Could Build Rocket Like The SLS. In an article for Bloomberg News (3/10, 2.94M), Justin Bachman writes that some criticize that the SLS is such a "drain" on NASA's budget that it prevents the "vital research" it needs to be doing if it wants to send astronauts to Mars. "Former NASA deputy administrator and a long-time critic of the SLS" Lori Garver thinks that developing the transport should be left to private companies. However, Bill Hill, NASA's deputy associate administrator for exploration systems development, disagrees with that view, saying, "Do you believe promises or do you believe what hardware is actually built and ready to go? ... There's an impression that the commercial guys are basically paying their own way … but if you dug into it, you may find that is not necessarily the case." Jason Davis, an editor with the Planetary Society, similarly noted that there is "no market for Mars," and only the beginnings of a market "for low-earth orbit" that is "almost entirely dependent on NASA." Hill said that "our mantra right now" is making the SLS "competitive with other folks in the market. ... And if we can't, then it's not going to sustain itself. And NASA will be the only customer."

        SLS' Qualification Motor Gets Undergoes "Key" Test Firing Today. NASA Space Flight (3/10, Bergin, 305) reports that Orbital ATK is ready to test fire the Qualification Motor -1 (QM-1) today, a "key" event toward the Space Launch System's eventual launch. The QM-1 has taken "a long path to its big day, involving a major investigation – and subsequent solution – after the discovery of voids in one of its segments." Any information from the test firing will go into the next test firing, "which has not yet received a test date."

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NASA Centers To Take Part In Examining Heat Shield's Performance.

The Huntsville (AL) Times (3/10, Roop, 127K) reports that Orion's heat shield is now at the Marshall Space Flight Center for several months so that it can be ground "down to almost nothing" before its "skeleton" heads to the Langley Research Center for future tests. Ames Research Center technicians will also take samples for examination. The article notes that ahead of all this work, "a steady stream of young NASA employees" visited the shield on Tuesday to see what it looked like after surviving last year's Orion test flight.

        The WHNT-TV Huntsville, AL (3/10, Carter, 76K) website notes that NASA wants to examine how the heat shield fared following the test "to ensure safe flight when Orion takes astronauts to space." Orion project manager Larry Gagliano said, "When we have the rare opportunity to get a piece of hardware back then we go in and take some more measurements of this piece of hardware, compare it to our computer models and see how well we did."

        WAFF-TV Huntsville, AL (3/10, 10:11 p.m. CDT, 60K) and WBRC-TV Birmingham, AL (3/10, 9:37 p.m. CDT, 50K) also cover the story.

        Orion Engines A "Significant Coup" For Aerojet Rocketdyn. The Puget Sound (WA) Business Journal (3/10, Wilhelm, Subscription Publication, 48K) reports on the engines for the Orion capsule designed by Aerojet Rocketdyn. During a briefing yesterday, Jennifer McCormick said that the work brings the company "back into the manned arena." The article also described the work as a "significant coup" for the company.

Wilmore Will Leave ISS Today.

ABC News (3/10, Newcomb, 3.41M) reports that astronaut Doug Wheelock told the publication what it was like to return to Earth after spending months in space. Expedition 42 commander Barry Wilmore will be "living that reality" when he leaves the ISS today aboard a Soyuz capsule with two of his fellow crew members. According to the article, Wilmore now only has "loose ends" to tie up before his departure, as well as handing over command of the station to astronaut Terry Virts. Meanwhile, Wheelock said that returning on a Soyuz is "a feast for the senses," while the return of smells not present at the ISS was "literally intoxicating." Astronaut Clay Anderson also told ABC News that he was ready for "a really good meal" when he returned.

        The WAAY-TV Huntsville, AL (3/10, Barrett, 2K) "Space Alabama" website noted that that change in command ceremony has already taken place.

        The WSMV-TV Nashville, TN (3/10, Morris, 68K) website, WAAY-TV Huntsville, AL (3/11, 12:13 a.m. CDT, 151), CFLN-TV Orlando, FL (3/10, 7:47 p.m. EDT, 13K), and Spaceflight Insider (3/10, Latrell) also covered the story.

        Kelly Already Tweeting In Anticipation Of ISS Mission. The New Jersey Local News (3/10, Mazzola, 772K) continues coverage of Scott Kelly's upcoming one-year mission to the ISS, which begins when he blasts off on March 27. Kelly is already "tweeting in anticipation" of the mission.

        RT (RUS) (3/11, 346K) also covers Kelly's upcoming mission, noting that Kelly told the publication, "NASA is venturing into this field of genetic base research because my brother and I are identical twins and our DNA is mostly the same. NASA has a lot of data on my brother for the last 20 years. ... There are negative effects on our physiology, a lot of them we know how to mitigate and part of the reason for doing this flight is to understand those physical effects better, and understand how to mitigate them, so that we can travel further from our planet than we've done before. ... Risk and reward balance, and not just personal reward, but what it provides our society is worth the risk for me personally, and for my colleagues as well."

Both SpaceX And Boeing Look For Opportunities Outside Of NASA.

Florida Today (3/10, Dean, 178K) reports that at Tuesday's meeting of the National Space Club Florida Committee, Pete McGrath, director of business development for Boeing's Space Exploration Division, and Barry Matsumori, SpaceX's senior vice president for sales and business development, said that both companies are looking for customers for the commercial spacecraft beyond the ISS program. According to the article, Bigelow Aerospace may "play a major role" in these plans because it is developing inflatable structures that could serve as future destinations for "countries without national space programs, drug companies and wealthy space tourists." Meanwhile, the article notes that both "agreed" that if Congress decided to approve the entire budget for the Commercial Crew program, they likely would not be able to speed up work on their respective spacecraft "by more than a few months."

        Boeing Proposing CST-100 Spacecraft For ISS Cargo Missions. Aviation Week (3/10, Morring, 2K) reports that in Boeing's proposal to use its CST-100 spacecraft to ferry cargo to the ISS, Boeing would exchange "seats and other crew hardware for station supplies." Boeing claims that if this model wins the second round of NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-2) contract, it would reduce "the cost of both the crew and cargo versions." According to the article, John Mulholland, vice president and program manager of commercial programs at Boeing Space Exploration, added that by returning to land instead of landing in water, more of the spacecraft can be reused, "and thus lower the cost of cargo missions."

        Blog Coverage. Scott Johnson at Spaceflight Insider (3/10) wrote that in new aerial photos, it "appears" that SpaceX is taking steps when constructing its new test stand at its McGregor, Texas facility to limit noise. There is "speculation" that this test stand will be used to test the Falcon Heavy rocket. Johnson also noted that pictures reveal work for "new structures on and around the 'Grasshopper' launch / landing pad," which may be needed for the manned version of the Dragon spacecraft.

ISS Becoming A "More Suitable" Location For Alzheimer's Studies.

Clapway (3/10, Bhatia) reports that the International Space Station is becoming "a more suitable place to conduct studies" about how Alzheimer's develops. Because of the lack of gravity, scientists have determined that "the accumulation of protein fibers" can be accelerated because the fibers do "not collapse under their own weight." This in turn can speed up research into the cause of the disease, which is thought to be linked to these fibers, which "strangle" brain cells. According to the article, Dan Woodard of the Kennedy Space Center said that while the Self-Assembly in Biology and the Origin of Life: A Study into Alzheimer's (SABOL) experiment will not find a cure, its investigation into the cause may be "immensely beneficial for the field of medicine as a whole."

        WTIC-TV Hartford, CT (3/10, 4:23 p.m. EDT, 22K) also covered the story.

        Blog Coverage. David Szondy at Gizmag (3/10, 64K) writes that astronauts Terry Virts and Samantha Cristoforetti are using the ISS' airlock to study "the lungs of space travelers by monitoring the effects of one the astronauts most surprising hazards: dust." The work is part of the Airway Monitoring experiment, which will examine how much nitric oxide astronauts exhale because it can "diagnose asthma and lung inflammations." This could help future astronauts, but also could help those with asthma "who would benefit from a simple lung test, as well as the possibility of developing new drugs."

NanoRacks Working With NASA On Commercial Airlock.

The Aviation Week (3/11, Morring, 2K), in an article titled, "Private Company Eyes Commercial Space Station Airlock," reports that NanoRacks and NASA are developing "the design and specs for a second way to move cargo from the ISS's pressurized volume out into the vacuum of space." This new airlock would "support delivery on orbit by the end of 2017," and would help increase commercialization of the station.

High School Students Take Remote Photos From ISS.

The Chattanoogan (3/11, 7K) reports on a project that had high school students take photos remotely from the ISS. One photo displays the Russian Progress M-25M, "a disposable, unmanned, cargo spacecraft docked at the ISS during the mission orbits" which "remains docked until a new Progress is ready to arrive." The images were posted to the McCallie School's Instagram account.

Space Center Houston To Hold Mars Food Face-Off.

The Houston Chronicle (3/10, Hlavaty, 2.28M) reports that Space Center Houston is holding a series of family-friendly events next week, including a cooking challenge involving ingredients that astronauts will take to Mars some day. Judges for the event, the Mars Food Face-Off, include local celebrity chef Chris Shepherd and former NASA astronaut Kenneth Cameron, as well as a NASA food scientist.

NASA Contractor Signs $5M Deal With UTEP.

The El Paso (TX) Times (3/11, Kolenc, 210K) reports that Johnson Space Center contractor Jacobs Technology has signed a $5 million research deal with University of Texas El Paso. The contract gives UTEP researchers access to Johnson Space Center and allows the school to hire five researchers. According to former NASA astronaut and current director of space initiatives at the school, Danny Olivas, "This partnership will lead to UTEP having a greater footprint in the space industry. There are multiple opportunities for us now, from conducting research at NASA to providing our students with tremendous hands-on experiences and job opportunities."

 

 

 

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

 

 

 

   Headlines

  1. Science of the One-Year Mission

Get the scoop on the science that NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko will participate in during the one-year mission. These investigations are expected to yield key knowledge on the medical, psychological and biomedical challenges that will be faced by astronauts during future exploration missions. Learn more here!

Liz Warren x35548

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  1. Flight Controllers AND Flight Instructors Wanted

Test Subject Screening (TSS) is seeking flight controllers AND flight instructors (including those in training flow) to evaluate a self-guided, multimedia stress management and resilience training computer program called SMART-OP in comparison to watching videos and reading information on stress management. Volunteers will:

    • Complete one information/consent session (via telephone - 10 minutes)
    • Attend two assessments (pre- and post-, 60 to 90 minutes each) involving questionnaires, neuropsychological tasks, physiological data and stress biomarker samples in Building 4N
    • Attend six weekly computer-based stress management training sessions (30 to 60 minutes) in Building 4N
    • Complete a three-month follow-up questionnaire (15 minutes)
    • Total of 10 session contacts

Volunteers must be healthy non-smokers taking no medications and have a current Category I physical.

Volunteers will be compensated. (Restrictions apply to NASA civil servants and some contractors. Individuals should contact their Human Resources department.) Please contact Linda Byrd at x37284 and Rori Yager at x37240.

Linda Byrd x37284

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   Organizations/Social

  1. Today! O&A ERG Brown Bag: Workplace Incivility

All JSC team members (government, contractor, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender [LGBT] and non-LGBT allies) are invited to the Out & Allied @ JSC Employee Resource Group (ERG) monthly meeting today from noon to 1 p.m. in Building 4S, Room 1200. This month we have invited Jackie Reese to lead a discussion on "Bullying and Incivility in the Workplace," tailored for JSC. We'll also be sure to discuss the latest on Pride Month planning. Please join us to help, meet others and network! For more information about our group, including how to become involved, contact any listed Out & Allied member on our SharePoint site.

Event Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015   Event Start Time:12:00 PM   Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: 4S/1200

Add to Calendar

Barbara Conte x31961 http://collaboration.jsc.nasa.gov/iierg/LGBTA/SitePages/Home.aspx

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  1. Today: Building Smarter Cities with Analytics

Don't miss JSC's SAIC/Safety and Mission Assurance speaker forum featuring architect Michael Moomaw with IBM Smarter Cities.

    • What does "Building a smarter planet" really mean?
    • How can it be done?
    • How do Smarter Cities, analytics and open data fit together to make citizens' lives safer, healthier and more productive?
    • Can these concepts be applied to your work and/or the work performed at NASA to advance human flight?

Date/Time: TODAY, March 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT

Location: Gilruth Alamo Ballroom

Event Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:12:30 PM
Event Location: Gilruth Ballroom

Add to Calendar

Della Cardona/Juan Traslavina 281-335-2074/281-335-2272

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  1. AIAA-Houston ATS Call for Abstracts

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)-Houston will be hosting the 2015 Annual Technical Symposium (ATS) on May 8 at the Gilruth Center, and are calling for abstracts. Topics include:

    • Space Exploration
    • Astrodynamics
    • Automation and Robotics
    • Communication and Tracking
    • In-Space Imaging
    • Space Operations
    • Life Sciences and Human Factors
    • Propulsion and Power Systems
    • Systems Engineering
    • Space Commercialization
    • Structural Mechanics
    • Avionics
    • International Space Activities
    • Climate Change Science and Public Policy
    • EVA
    • GN&C
    • SR&QA

Submit abstracts with short author biographies electronically at the AIAA-Houston Section website.

Abstracts are due Monday, April 20.

For more information, please contact the ATS General Chair Justine Wiles.

Justine Wiles x41728

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  1. Update: JSC Lunarfins SCUBA Club Meeting

Full-face dive masks are becoming more popular with sport divers. With form-fitting double seals, easily adjustable features and various colors, these formerly commercial diver masks are now available to sport divers. Join us today to hear Debbie and Bob Fuqua talk about their experience using a full-face dive mask. They will explain the benefits and lessons learned from diving with these masks and answer members' questions about use. We will also hold club officer elections and discuss next month's open house at the Gilruth. Come join us!

Event Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015   Event Start Time:7:00 PM   Event End Time:8:30 PM
Event Location: Clear Lake Park Recreation Center

Add to Calendar

Barbara Corbin x36215 http://www.lunarfins.com

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  1. Flex Friday Offerings at the Gilruth (March 13)

We are happy to share with you more special offerings for this week's Flex Friday!

Interested in learning how to increase your fitness capacity in the weight room, using your own body weight and free weights? Come to "An Intro to Strength Training" in the Strength and Cardio Center at noon! A take-home handout will be provided.

On top of our regularly scheduled Friday classes, we also have the following extraordinary offerings:

    • Complementary consultations with a personal trainer for 30 minutes (sign up through the link below)
    • TGIF Boot Camp
    • BALLEAN
    • Beginner Low-Impact Aerobics

As always, these Flex Friday specials are open to the JSC community and family members. (First-time participants will simply need to sign a one-time waiver.)

It's a fantastic time for you to check out the wonderful world here at the Gilruth and get involved.

We hope to see you Friday!

Chrisanna Colletta, Starport Fitness Director x35010 https://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/en/programs/special-events/flex-friday-spe...

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  1. Starport's Spring Break Camp

Can you believe spring break is just around the corner? If you're looking for a fun, convenient and familiar place for your children to go for the school break, look no further. NASA Starport camps at the Gilruth Center are the perfect place. We plan to keep your children active and entertained with games, crafts, sports and all types of fun activities!

Register your child before spaces fill up.

Dates: March 16 to 20

Time: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Ages: 6 to 12

Cost: $140 all week | $40 per day

Shericka Phillips x35563 https://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/

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   Jobs and Training

  1. NASA Safety Culture Training on SATERN

Have you checked your SATERN Learning Plan lately? Now, NASA civil servant employees will need to take one of two classes.

Employees need to take "Orientation to NASA Safety Culture." Supervisors should take "Safety Culture for Supervisors."

If you are a contractor, you are highly encouraged to take the appropriate class as well. What will this training do for Team NASA? It will provide practical guidance on how we can each positively influence our safety culture as a whole. Check your Learning Plan in SATERN for your due date. Please note that you only need to take the training once.

Johanna Petrocelli x28480

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  1. JSC Risk Management Workshop: March 26

The JSC Risk Management Workshop (JSC-NA-SAIC-RISKWKSP) includes risk-management concepts through a risk-identification workshop tailored for JSC personnel participating in institutional risk management and hands-on JSC-IRMA training. Class participants include managers, leads and risk-management focal points. The workshop addresses JSC's requirements for risk identification, tracking, reporting and making risk-informed decisions. Topics include understanding the potential health, safety, environmental, technical, infrastructure or workforce capabilities, as well as schedule and cost risks associated with successfully meeting JSC directorate objectives.

SATERN link: https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHEDULED_...

Event Date: Thursday, March 26, 2015   Event Start Time:9:00 AM   Event End Time:4:00 PM
Event Location: Building 12/Room 144

Add to Calendar

Paula Gothreaux/Russell Hartlieb 281-335-2441/281-335-2443

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   Community

  1. Family Space Day: Saturday, March 14

The Expedition Center at the George Observatory is holding a Family Space Day on Saturday, March 14, from about 3 to 8 p.m.

For purchase are tickets to complete a 45-minute Expedition Center mission to the moon! Expedition Center mission tickets may be purchased for $10 a person online.

After enjoying a trip to space, stay for the evening and look at the night sky through our telescopes. Telescope tickets can be purchased at the observatory gift shop.

George Observatory is located in the heart of Brazos Bend State Park. Admission to the park is $7 for adults; kids under 12 are free.

Megan Hashier 281-226-4179 http://www.hmns.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=404&Ite...

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JSC Today is compiled periodically as a service to JSC employees on an as-submitted basis. Any JSC organization or employee may submit articles.

Disclaimer: Accuracy and content of these notes are the responsibility of the submitters.

 

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