Monday, March 9, 2015

Fwd: NASA News and JSC Today at the end of the email - Monday, March 9, 2015



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Begin forwarded message:

From: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Date: March 9, 2015 at 8:32:44 AM CDT
To: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Subject: FW:NASA News and  JSC Today at the end of the email - Monday, March 9, 2015

JSC Today - Monday, March 9, 2015

Happy wet and soggy/rainy day from metro Houston.   Be safe out there.

 

Don't forget,  the JSC Todays are at the end of my emails now for those who don't care that much to follow what is happening today at JSC!

 

 

LEADING THE NEWS

• Dawn Becomes The First Spacecraft To Visit A Dwarf Planet.

NASA NEWS

• MMS On Track For Thursday Launch.

• Some Wonder About How Mikulski's Departure Will Affect NASA's Budget.

• Boeing, SpaceX Still Somewhat Combative At Recent Hearing.

• Retro NASA Poster Uncovered At National Archives.

• Victoria College Museum Of The Coastal Bend Boasts Moon Rock Exhibit.

• Bond Lowered In Case Against NASA Special Agent.

HUMAN EXPLORATION AND OPERATIONS

• Ochoa, Auñón Held Up As Exampled For Latinas.

• NASA Spends Time At Texas Capitol To Thank Lawmakers.

• Russians Reportedly Interested In Results Of Kelly's One-Year ISS Mission.

• Antares Rocket Could Launch Again Next March.

• Virts Tweets Image With Spring Training Locations.

• Brightman Working 16 Hours Per Day To Prepare For ISS Trip.

• Biologists Examine Sand Shoals' Role In The Ecology.

• Steubenville Elementary Students Participate In NASA Simulation.

• NASA Scientist To Speak At Ham Radio Club Meeting.

Dawn Becomes The First Spacecraft To Visit A Dwarf Planet.

Coverage of the Dawn mission continued, with it expanding and peaking Friday with the spacecraft's arrival at Ceres. The tonality continued to be very positive, highlighting the firsts of the mission and the capabilities of its ion engines.

        The AP (3/6) reported that the Dawn spacecraft "flawlessly" entered Ceres' orbit on Friday, making its the first spacecraft ever to visit a dwarf planet. Dawn chief engineer Marc Rayman said, "It went exactly the way we expected. Dawn gently, elegantly slid into Ceres' gravitational embrace. . ... The real drama is exploring this alien, exotic world." As with previous coverage, the article noted that Rayman stated that the first "new pictures" of Ceres now that Dawn has arrived will not come until next month.

       

   

MMS On Track For Thursday Launch.

Florida Today (3/8, Dean, 178K) reported that on Thursday, NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission launches aboard an Atlas V rocket. This follows last Friday's successful Flight Readiness Review. A Launch Readiness Review will take place tomorrow. Meanwhile, other "highlights" for the coming week include the return of astronaut Barry Wilmore from the ISS; an Orbital ATK test fire of the Space Launch System's five-segment solid rocket motor; a Bigelow Aerospace media event to see the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) heading to the ISS later this year; and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden's testimony to the Senate's Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness on Thursday.

        Spaceflight Now (3/8, Ray, 3K) reports that early weather predictions show that the conditions should be "cloudy but optimistic" for the launch, with a 70% chance conditions will be good enough.

        Another Spaceflight Now (3/6, Ray, 3K) article also covered the story.

        Universities Contribute To MMS. The Denver Post (3/8, Keeney, 804K) reported that when the MMS launches, it will be operated in part by student employees of the University of Colorado (CU) Laboratory for Atmospheric Space Physics (LASP). The article noted that LASP will be working on the mission with members of the Goddard Space Flight Center, where the MMS mission control is located.

        The AP (3/8) notes that the spacecraft will carry "instruments constructed or coordinated by University of New Hampshire researchers." Each of the four spacecraft in the MMS carry six sensors form the university.

        Blog Coverage. Ken Kremer at Universe Today (3/7, 19K) wrote about this week's "inaugural ground test firing" of the QM-1 qualification motor, which NASA will broadcast on NASA TV. Kremer noted that engineers have been preparing for the test for months. Spaceflight Insider (3/8, Rhian) and collectSPACE (3/9, Pearlman) also cover the story.

        Meanwhile, Sherry Valare at AmericaSpace (3/8) writes that during the past week, ISS astronauts had a "full work week" completing tasks for "many ongoing experiments," training for this week's astronaut departures, and the preparing for the arrival of new crew members later this month.

Some Wonder About How Mikulski's Departure Will Affect NASA's Budget.

Space News (3/6, Foust, Subscription Publication, 481) reported that with Sen. Barbara Mikulski's decision to retire, some are expressing "concern about the effect her departure will have on the space agency's funding." NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a statement last week, "Senator Mikulski has been a tireless champion for NASA, and has helped pave the way for future exploration and our journey to Mars." However, the article noted that none of the current candidates expected to run for her open chair are known to be as interested in NASA as Mikulski. Some do hope that when Mikulski said that she would be "working for her constituents" until her retirement, she will continue to advocate for NASA.

Boeing, SpaceX Still Somewhat Combative At Recent Hearing.

Space News (3/6, Foust, Subscription Publication, 481) reported that even though both Boeing and SpaceX won commercial crew contracts from NASA, both are "in some sense competing with each other" as evidenced by their recent testimony at a US House Science space subcommittee hearing on February 27. Detailing the testimony by Garrett Reisman, director of crew operations for SpaceX, and John Mulholland, vice president and program manager of commercial programs at Boeing Space Exploration, the article noted that both officials touted their own "strengths" while "highlighting the other's perceived weaknesses." Still, both officials did leave some "room for potential future collaboration."

Retro NASA Poster Uncovered At National Archives.

SPACE (3/6, 236K) reported that a NASA poster made in 1965 has been discovered at the National Archives and posted online. The poster promotes the "Spacemobile," a traveling NASA educational program that visited schools to talk about NASA projects and space science. The poster announced the Spacemobile's arrival in New Zealand.

Victoria College Museum Of The Coastal Bend Boasts Moon Rock Exhibit.

The Victoria (TX) Advocate (3/6, Astrain, 77K) reported that the Victoria College Museum of the Coastal Bend will have on display a moon rock during spring break. The museum's curator, Eric Ray, explained how the museum ended up with the moon rock: "We talked to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and we told them we were doing an exhibit about the Texas Coastal Bend's contribution to space flight and they were happy to loan this rock to us." Ray added that "this rock was originally a football-sized rock on the moon, we have a cut piece of it that is about a quarter pound and this rock is very old, about 3.3 billion years old, which is older than 98 percent of all the surface rocks on the Earth."

Bond Lowered In Case Against NASA Special Agent.

The Dayton (OH) Daily News (3/6, Gokavi, 65K) reported that the bond for NASA special agent David Hawbecker was lowered after allegedly trying to assault a police officer responding to an incident on February 27. Defense attorney Hal Arenstein said that his client was "extremely intoxicated" at the time, and now is on personal leave from NASA.

Ochoa, Auñón Held Up As Exampled For Latinas.

The Latin Times (3/6, Attanasio) profiled astronaut and Johnson Space Center Director Ellen Ochoa and astronaut Serena Maria Auñón, who has not yet gone to space. According to the article, their presence is proof that "up-and-coming Latina scientists, future reinas of Science, Technology and Math (STEM)" can achieve success at NASA.

        Blog Coverage. Clarissa-Jan Lim at Bustle (3/8) wrote that with International Women's Day on Sunday, NASA "celebrates" the women who have chosen science careers with Women@NASA, "a program dedicated to women's contribution to NASA and celebrating their role in the history of space exploration." Lim commented that bringing more women into STEM fields is a challenge that is "acknowledged and gradually but actively being addressed."

NASA Spends Time At Texas Capitol To Thank Lawmakers.

The San Angelo (TX) Standard-Times (3/7, Waller, 1K) reported on last week's Space Day Texas at the Texas capitol, featuring "models of spaceships, private companies with brochures, and a model of the International Space Station." A NASA spokesperson said that "times are tight" at the agency, which has to rely on commercial companies to end Russian monopolies to reach the ISS. According to the article, even though NASA officials were not at the event to lobby legislators, they were there "to thank lawmakers for their emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics outreach programs."

Russians Reportedly Interested In Results Of Kelly's One-Year ISS Mission.

Voice of America (3/6, Flakus, 70K) continued coverage of astronaut Scott Kelly's one-year mission to the ISS. Craig Kundrot, deputy chief scientist of NASA's Human Research Program, said that Kelly's twin brother, Mark, "is no longer with NASA, but he is volunteering as a research subject for this study. Differences between them are going to be much smaller in a lot of these things we are going to be measuring than if you took two unrelated people, so that allows us, by comparing Scott and Mark, to pick up much more subtle changes." NASA scientist John Charles added that while cosmonauts have spent this much time in space before, "the Russians themselves are very interested in what we are going to learn in this mission, because it is a chance to revisit and further the studies they did earlier. ... We are not going to be surprised by surprises. ... We were surprised several years ago by finding that certain astronauts have changes in their vision during long-duration space flight about halfway through a six-month mission."

        Herholz: Russia Is Teasing US With Its ISS Involvement. Deutsche Welle (DEU) (3/7, 730K) interviewed space engineer Jürgen Herholz about Russia's decision to leave the ISS program in 2024. Herholz thought that Russia is "trying to tease" the US because of their dispute over Russia's actions in Ukraine. However, he noted that likely by 2020, with commercial companies launching astronauts to the ISS, Russia's role at the ISS will be "less important" than it is today.

Antares Rocket Could Launch Again Next March.

The Newport News (VA) Daily Press (3/8, Dietrich, Subscription Publication, 201K) reports that if all goes as planned, "the final recovery of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS)" could come next March with the first launch of Orbital ATK's upgraded Antares rocket on an ISS cargo resupply mission since last year's failure. The article notes that there will be another Orbital cargo mission this year, but that will take place from Florida using an Atlas V rocket. As for the Federal funds that have been allocated to repair MARS, they still have yet to be released. NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said in a statement, "We're still reviewing guidance included in the FY 2015 omnibus appropriations and accompanying."

Virts Tweets Image With Spring Training Locations.

The WTVT-TV Tampa, FL (3/6, Boex, 50K) website reported that ISS astronaut Terry Virts tweeted an image of Florida's Ed Smith Stadium and McKechnie Field where the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates are undergoing spring training for the upcoming Major League Baseball season.

Brightman Working 16 Hours Per Day To Prepare For ISS Trip.

The Press Association (UK) (3/8) reports that opera singer Sarah Brightman said that she is spending 16 hours a day training for her upcoming trip to the ISS, likening the "gruelling regime" to training to conduct an orchestra, because of the way one must "understand the whole thing from A-Z." Even though it is hard work, Brightman said that she does "love" the experience.

Biologists Examine Sand Shoals' Role In The Ecology.

Florida Today (3/9, Waymer, 178K) reports how biologists are examining "how a variety of wildlife — invertebrates to large fish — use offshore sand shoals and how the ecological functions of those shoals might change after dredging." While Bureau of Ocean Energy Management funds research off Cape Canaveral, the article notes that the Kennedy Space Center funding similar research "within KSC's boundaries." Douglas Scheidt, KSC's lead aquatic biologist, was mentioned in the article for his role in the studies.

Steubenville Elementary Students Participate In NASA Simulation.

The Steubenville (OH) Herald Star (3/7, 32K) reported that elementary students from Pugliese West Elementary in Steubenville, OH experienced space through a simulator at Wheeling Jesuit University. The simulator, within the Challenger Learning Center, gave students the opportunity to see how a NASA Mission Control specialist works.

NASA Scientist To Speak At Ham Radio Club Meeting.

The Fond du Lac (WI) Reporter (3/6, 35K) reported that NASA's Nancy Rabel Hall will speak at the Fond du Lac Amateur Radio Club on Monday. Hall works with the ISS as well as the Human Health Office at the Glenn Research Center. Hall will give attendees a televised tour of Glenn.

 

 

 

 

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   Headlines

  1. Make it Your 'Business' to Know

Did you miss the All Hands featuring JSC Director Ellen Ochoa, NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot and Deputy Associate Administrator for Mission Support Krista Paquin on March 4? Important discussions included NASA's progress toward a "New Operating Model and Business Services Assessment." Make it your business to be knowledgeable about these topics as the agency moves forward with Technical Capabilities Assessment Team (TCAT) initiatives and the complementary area of Business Services Assessment (BSA). Watch the All Hands video or download the presentation on the JSC 2.0 website.

The BSA was designed to leverage the experience gained from TCAT methodology and tailor it for the operating model of agency business services. Like TCAT, BSA is committed to transparency and stakeholder input to inform decisions throughout all phases of the process. The larger goal of all of these assessment activities is the development of a new, healthier operating model for the agency—one that balances the maintaining and advancing of our critical capabilities with performing our current and future missions.

JSC External Relations, Office of Communications and Public Affairs x35111 http://strategicplan.jsc.nasa.gov/?id=101&catid=6

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  1. NACA Scavenger Hunt Winners & Answers Released

A big thanks to all those who stretched their brains and scoured the Internet to participate in the JSC Knowledge Office's (JKO's) online scavenger hunt this past week, which paid homage to the NACA. Through trivia, we celebrated the NACA's centennial and learned more about unique individuals who were an integral part of NASA and JSC history.

Find out if you had the "right stuff" and all the right answers on the JKO website. While there, see if YOU were the big winner of a VIP launch experience in mission control for the one-year International Space Station crew—or if you perhaps walked away with a unique JSC experience that will create lasting memories, like a ride in a space exploration vehicle or a visit to the lunar lab.

Even though the contest is over, keep us bookmarked to read more about case studies and JSC history and stay connected to valuable resources.

Julie Barnes-Gober x38407

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  1. New NASA@work Challenge

We just launched a new challenge on the NASA@work platform: Revising the Review Item Discrepancy (RID) Respository - Seeking New Tools! Submit your solution today about how best to document suggestions and comments for projects of all magnitudes. And, don't forget to check out our other active challenge: Washing Produce Grown in Space.

Are you new to NASA@work? NASA@work is an agencywide, collaborative problem-solving platform that connects the collective knowledge of experts (like YOU) from all centers across NASA. Challenge owners post problems, and members of the NASA@work community participate by responding with their solutions to posted problems. Anyone can participate! Click here for more information.

Carissa Callini 281-212-1409 http://nasa.innocentive.com

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  1. ESTA Pyrotechnic Testing

Please be aware that the Energy Systems Test Area (ESTA) will be conducting pyrotechnic testing in Building 352 this week, which may be audible in some areas of JSC.

Scott Hacker x36132

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   Organizations/Social

  1. Don't Forget: Env. Brown Bag Today - Composting

Don't forget. Join the JSC Environmental Office tomorrow, March 10, in Building 45, Room 751, from noon to 1 p.m. to find out more about composting and JSC's composting programs. We will even take a quick trip around site to see JSC's composting setup and how you can participate in the highly successful Coffee-to-Compost Program. Transportation to the composting site visit is available on a first come, first served basis. Don't miss it!

Event Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015   Event Start Time:12:00 PM   Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: B45 Rm 751

Add to Calendar

JSC Environmental Office x36207 http://www6.jsc.nasa.gov/ja/ja13/index.cfm

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  1. Out & Allied ERG Lunch n' Learn - March 11

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 Wednesday, March 11, 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. 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. SWAPRA Luncheon Hosts Larry Price - March 11

 

This Wednesday, March 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the South Western Aerospace Professional Representatives Association (SWAPRA) is pleased to be hosting Larry Price, deputy program manager of the Orion Program, at the Bay Oaks Country Club (BOCC).

Price will discuss the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle's first test flight, Exploration Flight Test-1, detailing the four-hour, two-orbit test mission that featured a high apogee on the second orbit and a high-energy re-entry at around 20,000 mph. Price will also show never-before-released video showing the ULA Orion launch, on-orbit sequences and splashdown in the Pacific.

The luncheon cost for non-members is $35 at the door, or $25 with pre-paid RSVPs received today, March 9. Contact David L. Brown for more information, or RSVP directly to Chris Elkins at 281-276-2792 or via email.

Event Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: Bay Oaks Country Club

Add to Calendar

David L. Brown x37426

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  1. 2015 JSC Picnic Tickets on Sale

The 2015 JSC Annual Picnic will be held at SplashTown Water Park on Sunday, April 26, from noon to 6 p.m. Bring your family and friends and come on out and enjoy some food, drinks, music and fun for all ages! Advance purchase is required, as tickets will not be available at the gate. Tickets are available in the Buildings 3 and 11 ShopNASA Gift Shops and Gilruth Center for JSC and contractor employees, retirees and friends and family.

A ticket includes an "all-you-can-eat" barbecue dinner, ice cream novelties, adult beverages, music by DJ, unlimited access to the park's rides and attractions, horseshoes, sand volleyball, basketball, dunking booth, bingo, bounce house, face painting, kids' games, half-price return ticket option and more!

The early-bird price is $35 until April 10. From April 11 to 17, the price goes to $40.

Season-pass upgrades will be available at SplashTown for just $ 44.99 with a JSC picnic ticket.

Event Date: Sunday, April 26, 2015   Event Start Time:12:00 PM   Event End Time:6:00 PM
Event Location: Wet & Wild Spashtown Water Park

Add to Calendar

Cyndi Kibby x35352

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  1. Johnson Space Center Astronomy Society Meeting

Dr. Paul Schenk will tell us what scientists are expecting to see when two different missions encounter dwarf planets Pluto and Ceres. This is a talk you won't want to miss!

Our new feature, "Do-It-Yourself Astronomy," will join our other regular topics, including: "What's up in the sky this month?", with suggestions for observing; the intriguing "Astro Oddities;" the novice Q&A session, where you can ask your questions to our membership; a preview of our upcoming star parties, including the trip to our dark sky site at Ft. McKavett; and the informative member's minutes.

Membership to the JSC Astronomy Society is open to anyone who wants to learn about astronomy. There are no dues, no bylaws—just come to our meeting. After joining us, you can try out our loaner telescope program or borrow from our DVD library filled with hundreds of choices. Best of all, it's FREE!

Event Date: Friday, March 13, 2015   Event Start Time:7:30 PM   Event End Time:9:30 PM
Event Location: USRA auditorium, 3600 Bay Area Blvd

Add to Calendar

Jim Wessel x41128 http://www.jscas.net/

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  1. Analytics & Open Data--How Can YOU Apply Them?

Save the date! On March 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Gilruth Alamo Ballroom, join JSC's SAIC/Safety and Mission Assurance speaker forum to learn about building smarter cities. How do analytics and open data fit together to make citizens lives safer, healthier and more productive? Michael Moomaw, an IBM Smarter Cities architect, will answer that question, as well as what "Let's build a smarter planet" really means and how it can be done.

See how these concepts can also be applied to work here at NASA.

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

Add to Calendar

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

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   Jobs and Training

  1. Job Opportunities

Where do I find job opportunities?

Both internal Competitive Placement Plan and external JSC job announcements are posted on the Human Resources (HR) portal and USAJOBS website. Through the HR portal, civil servants can view summaries of all the agency jobs that are currently open at: https://hr.nasa.gov/portal/server.pt/community/employees_home/239/job_opportu...

To help you navigate to JSC vacancies, use the filter drop-down menu and select "JSC HR." The "Jobs" link will direct you to the USAJOBS website for the complete announcement and the ability to apply online.

Lateral reassignment and rotation opportunities have now moved to the NASA Employee Talent Search (NETS) website. These opportunities do not possess known promotion potential.

If you have questions about any JSC job vacancies or reassignment opportunities, please call your HR representative.

Brandy Braunsdorf x30476

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   Community

  1. Starport (JSC Exchange) Scholarship Program

Starport is proud to award scholarships this year to provide financial assistance for dependents (children) of JSC civil servants or reimbursable detailees and dependents (children) of JSC Starport Partners to attend college.

Applicants are evaluated on the basis of academic achievement, financial need and involvement in school or community activities. Scholarship winners may pursue any course of study leading to a recognized degree at any accredited college in the country.

Additional information regarding Starport Partners, the Starport Scholarship Program and applications can be found online.

Dottie Smith x39028 https://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/en/additional-services/scholarship-program

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  1. HTC Tech Champs Conference: Commercial Space

Curious about Houston's future plans for commercial spaceflight? If so, you don't want to miss the Houston Technology Center's (HTC's) Tech Champs Conference on March 12 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Flying Legends Museum at Ellington Airport.

Get the latest from Arturo Machuca, general manager of Houston Airport Systems for Ellington Airport and Spaceport, and hear from exciting startup companies working with the HTC to develop commercial space technologies.

You will also learn more about how the HTC helps launch startup companies in aerospace, energy, Information Technology, life sciences and nanotechnology.

Enjoy refreshments and networking.

FREE TO NASA EMPLOYEES!

Register online at HTC Tech Champs registration.

Event Date: Thursday, March 12, 2015   Event Start Time:4:00 PM   Event End Time:5:30 PM
Event Location: Flying Legends Museum (Ellington Airport)

Add to Calendar

Jennifer Patterson 832-513-0837

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  1. Not Your Traditional Students

What do Eileen Collins, Fred Haise, George Lucas and Nolan Ryan all have in common? They all began their great success at a community college! If community college played a role in your success, this is your chance to pay it forward. Learn how Education's NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars project opens doors for non-traditional students, and how you can be a part of it. Bring your lunch and we'll provide dessert TOMORROW, March 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Building 3 Collaboration Center.

Did you know that you can add this event to your Outlook calendar? Click below to keep it on the radar ...

Event Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:12:30 PM
Event Location: Building 3 Collaboration Center

Add to Calendar

Alicia Baturoni Cortez x30493 http://ncas.aerospacescholars.org/

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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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