Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Fwd: [nasa-retirees-jsc] FW: NASA News and JSC Today at the end of email- Tuesday, March 24, 2015



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Begin forwarded message:

From: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Date: March 24, 2015 at 7:04:05 AM CDT
To: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Cc: "nasa-ret-jsc@freelists.org" <nasa-ret-jsc@freelists.org>
Subject: [nasa-retirees-jsc] FW: NASA News and JSC Today at the end of email- Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Reply-To: larry.j.moon@nasa.gov

JSC Today - Tuesday, March 24, 2015

 

LEADING THE NEWS

• Kelly Profiled Ahead Of ISS Mission.

NASA NEWS

• Bolden, Student ISS Experiment Take Part In White House Science Fair.

• Brooks: Cruz Would Be Good President For Marshall Space Flight Center.

• NASA Promotes Innovation Through Three Strategies.

• Space News: US Should Focus On Getting Non-Russian Partners To Commit To ISS.

• Gemini 3 Flight Took Place 50 Years Ago.

• Sweetman: NASA Has No Contribution To Reusable Launch Vehicle Effort.

HUMAN EXPLORATION AND OPERATIONS

• Air Force In Final Stages Of SpaceX Certification.

• HUNCH School Shows Off Work To Congresswoman.

• Hawaii House Recognizes High School Robotics Team.

• NASA Will Continue To Work With SNC On Dream Chaser Until 2016.

• NASA Astronauts Share Experience Through Vines.

• ISS Photo Captures Pattern Of City Lights Along Gulf Coast.

• Russia To Resume ISS Space Tourism Trips In 2018.

• Upgraded Soyuz Spacecraft Could Launch To ISS Next March.

• ESA Tests E.Deorbit Concept.

• Japan To Send Second Space Robot To ISS.

• Hilmers In India For Techkriti Festival.

Kelly Profiled Ahead Of ISS Mission.

The AP (3/23, Dunn) continues coverage of astronaut Scott Kelley's upcoming one-year ISS mission, which is about to start. The article profiles Kelly, noting that "besides his loved ones," he will "miss" the Earth's changing weather the most. Kelly also said that in the future it will be "hard to walk away" from going into space, although he would like to pilot one of the US spacecraft being developed. The article also features a profile of his fellow crew member, Russia's Mikhail Kornienko.

        Another AP (3/23, Dunn) article notes that Kelly and Kornienko are both "eager" to start their yearlong project. According to the article, theirs is just the first one-year mission planned, with agencies planning missions for up to 12 test subjects. ISS program scientist Julie Robinson said, "We know a lot about six months. But we know almost nothing about what happens between six and 12 months in space." According to the article, both Kelly and Kornienko both know the risks and challenges of this type of mission, including the psychological hurdles. ISS Program Manager Mike Suffredini said that it is "a good thing" for the astronauts that the next year will be an active one at the station. The article also considers it a "plus" that both Kelly and Kornienko "seem to honestly" get along.

        SPACE (3/23, Kramer, 236K), Canada Journal (3/24), News (AUS) (3/24, 291K), Value Walk (3/23, Byrne, 19K), and the Science Recorder (3/23, Scalise) also cover the story, splitting their focus between profiles of Kelly and the science that will be done at the ISS.

        Kelly Takes Part In Pre-Flight Handoff. In an article for TIME (3/23, 19.19M), Jeffrey Kluger continues his coverage of what is taking place at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the days before the launch. Yesterday, the astronauts were scheduled to complete the "final ingress drills," as well as take part in the customary "handoff" of the spacecraft to the crew. Kelly said that the cosmodrome is "very different from home...very different from what I'm used to. It's a good way to separate myself slowly from what's familiar." Meanwhile, Kluger thinks that it is "likely" that Kelly will retire after the mission, although because spaceflight can get "deep into an astronaut's bones," Kelly could one day return.

        Two Soyuz Launches Planned For Friday. Spaceflight Now (3/23, Clark, 3K) reports that Kelly's launch aboard a Soyuz spacecraft on Friday is one of two Soyuz launches taking place that day. Two hours after Kelly launches into space, a Soyuz rocket is scheduled to launch two Galileo navigation satellites from French Guiana.

Bolden, Student ISS Experiment Take Part In White House Science Fair.

The New York Daily News (3/23, Friedman, 3.79M) reports on yesterday's annual White House Science Fair. The article very briefly notes that NASA Administrator Charles Bolden was in attendance.

        McClatchy (3/23, Zhang, Subscription Publication, 17K) and the Chicago Sun-Times (3/23, Mueller, 1.11M) also have very brief mentions of Bolden's appearance.

        Meanwhile, the San Antonio Current (3/23, Reagan, 146K) reports that Hobby Middle School students were also at the fair to show off their "Crystal Tetris" experiment, which was sent to the ISS and back earlier this year.

Brooks: Cruz Would Be Good President For Marshall Space Flight Center.

Alabama Live (3/23, Gattis, 502K) reports that on Monday, Sen. Ted Cruz announced that he is running to become the next President of the United States in 2016. Rep. Mo Brooks, who represents Huntsville and the Marshall Space Flight Center, was enthusiastic about Cruz's candidacy. Books said, "He's a strong supporter of human space travel. ... Redstone Arsenal – both on the military side and the space side – could not hope for a better president than Ted Cruz. Because Ted Cruz is strongly in favor of human space flight, which is what the Marshall Space Flight Center's primary focus is."

        Ring of Fire (3/23, De Leon) and Fusion (3/23, Wile) use Cruz's recent encounter with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden as an example of how Cruz may not be a good choice for President.

        Blog Coverage. Doug Messier at Parabolic Arc (3/23) writes about Cruz's candidacy, focusing on his known space position that NASA is spending too much on Earth science programs, even though that position was "not born out by the budget numbers." Messier thinks that Cruz will be a "dilemma" for conservative voters interested in space policy because of his support for the Space Launch System and Orion programs, which they see as "the epitome of a bloated government space effort." Messier commented that it would be possible Cruz could win their support by proposing "something other than a visit to an asteroid," or a program akin to "a lunar COTS model — with NASA partnering with the private sector to use the moon as a stepping stone to Mars."

NASA Promotes Innovation Through Three Strategies.

The Business Management Daily (3/23, 3K) lists three NASA strategies to promote a "culture of innovation," as stated by Jeri Buchholz, NASA's assistant administrator for human capital management, in a Federal News Radio interview. These are: promote communication "between execs and employees;" train supervisors; and provide non-monetary rewards like "learning opportunities, flexible hours, autonomy and the chance to work with specific teams or managers." The article notes how NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will visit employees "at their work stations" to hear their views and suggestions about the workplace.

Space News: US Should Focus On Getting Non-Russian Partners To Commit To ISS.

Space News (3/24, Subscription Publication, 481) editorializes that it is "good news" that Russia has decided to stay with the ISS program until 2024, at which point Roscosmos will depart with the Russian modules. While the editors do agree with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden's recent testimony that the agency is already working on a contingency plan if Russia leaves, there is no need to rush as "it is by no means clear" that Russia's plans could even work or it will have the budget to go it alone. Instead of focusing on Russia, the editors want NASA and "U.S. diplomatic efforts" to focus on obtaining the commitments from the other ISS partner nations to stick with the project until 2024.

Gemini 3 Flight Took Place 50 Years Ago.

The Huntsville (AL) Times (3/23, Roop, 127K) reported that yesterday was the 50th anniversary of "the first two-man Gemini flight." NASA is marking the event "with a special multimedia presentation on its website."

        collectSPACE (3/23, Pearlman) also covers the event, noting that the Gemini 3 mission had "the world's first — and possibly last — corned beef sandwich to fly in space." The presence of the "contraband" sandwich reportedly "fascinated the public" at the time, but angered some in Congress because the astronauts were supposed to be testing meals for later missions, resulting in a waste of Federal funds.

Sweetman: NASA Has No Contribution To Reusable Launch Vehicle Effort.

In an article for the May 2015 edition of Air & Space Smithsonian Magazine (3/24, 2K), Bill Sweetman writes that had it wanted to, NASA could have developed a reusable launch vehicle before now. He blames the development of the shuttle, which, with the development of the ISS and the maintenance of the astronaut program, required "a massive workforce," which was used to generate political support. Sweetman comments that any possibility of developing a truly reusable vehicle was always "compared to rosy promises of a safer and more efficient shuttle." NASA was also focused on projects that would maintain "the shuttle industrial base, the space station, and its astronauts." To Sweetman, NASA, therefore, will have "little to do" with any successful reusable launch vehicle development.

Air Force In Final Stages Of SpaceX Certification.

Reuters (3/23, Shalal) reports that the Air Force said yesterday that it is focusing on qualifying the second stage engine of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and examining contamination control as part of the final push toward certifying it for launch competitions by June. The article also notes that the military branch stated that a panel had determined ways for the Air Force to improve the certification process, but it did not state what the panel concluded.

        SpaceX Competitors Promote Their Better Reliability. Space News (3/23, Foust, Subscription Publication, 481) reports that SpaceX's competitors believe that they are viable alternatives to SpaceX's low prices because they can reliably launch on time. This was brought up at a Satellite 2015 conference panel. SpaceX officials argued that when its multiple launch sites are completed, it should be able to handle "schedule bottlenecks in the future."

        Blog Coverage. Alex Knapp at Forbes (3/23, 6.54M) writes that SpaceX has made its photos on Flickr publicly available "at no charge." Knapp notes that on the page itself, the pictures appear to fall under "a Creative Commons Attribution license," but that likely is due to Flickr having no public domain option for users. Knapp comments that SpaceX is setting a precedent for commercial space companies. NASA's pictures are already "widely available," and some were concerned that its "legacy of public domain photos" may not have been carried over into the private sector.

        NPR (3/23, Calamur, 1.58M) "Two-Way" blog and Ars Technica (3/23, Mullin, 537K) also cover the story.

        Meanwhile, Doug Messier at Parabolic Arc (3/23) examines the recent comments by SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell last week, concluding that the company has a "crowded" manifest for the rest of the year.

HUNCH School Shows Off Work To Congresswoman.

The Macomb (MI) Daily (3/23, Fahr, 135K) reports that earlier this month, US Rep. Candice Miller saw what Romeo Engineering and Technology Center students created as part of the High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) program under the supervision of Glenn Research Center employees. Glenn Aerospace Engineer Nancy Hall said, "The skills they are learning to build parts are the same skills NASA uses when we are building components for the International Space Station."

Hawaii House Recognizes High School Robotics Team.

The West Hawaii Today (3/23, 32K) reports on a robotics team from Kealakehe and Iolani High Schools that was chosen by NASA to go to Kennedy Space Center for a mentorship. The team, Moon RIDERS, developed an electrodynamic dust shield lunar project, and was recognized by the Hawaii House of Representatives on Monday. They have also partnered with PISCES and Google Lunar XPrize.

NASA Will Continue To Work With SNC On Dream Chaser Until 2016.

NASA Space Flight (3/23, Bergin, 305) reports that NASA is keeping its promise to continue working with the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) on its Dream Chaser vehicle even though it did not win a "lucrative" Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contract. NASA has agreed to help the company through the spacecraft's Critical Design Review (CDR). Under the agreement, SNC will continue to work with NASA until 2016, until a new closeout milestone is completed. According to the article, the company is "pleased" by the deal.

        Spaceflight Insider (3/24, Rhian) also covers the story.

NASA Astronauts Share Experience Through Vines.

The New York Daily News (3/24, Alba, 3.79M) posts 13 Vine videos, which are six-second videos shared using a social-media platform, taken aboard the ISS. Most of the Vines were taken by astronauts Terry Virts and Reid Wiseman.

ISS Photo Captures Pattern Of City Lights Along Gulf Coast.

The WVUE-TV New Orleans (3/24, 32K) website shares a photo from the ISS of the Gulf of Mexico. In the photo, city lights along the coast create a pattern, which "NASA says...revealed the oil- and gas-production zone of south-central Texas." New Orleans, Mexico City, and other cities can be seen in the photo.

Russia To Resume ISS Space Tourism Trips In 2018.

The AP (3/24) reports that Russia plans to launch space tourism missions to the ISS starting in 2018. No flights have been possible since the end of the shuttle program in 2011. The article notes that Sarah Brightman's upcoming trip to the ISS is an "exception" to the practice.

        Russia's ITAR-TASS News Agency (3/24, 5K) reports that the flight will help supplement "the loss of a contract with NASA for the delivery of astronauts to the ISS" once SpaceX and Boeing's commercial spacecraft are available.

Upgraded Soyuz Spacecraft Could Launch To ISS Next March.

Russia's ITAR-TASS News Agency (3/23, 5K) reports that the first launch of an upgraded Soyuz-MS spacecraft to the ISS could take place on March 18, 2016, according to an industry source. This differs from a previous report that the first launch would take place a few months later in May. According to the article, the spacecraft's new features should make it possible to reach the ISS "even in case of one of the engines' failure," and return to Earth safely "with two defunct engines."

ESA Tests E.Deorbit Concept.

The CBS News (3/23, Casey, 8.2M) website reports that the ESA is evaluating the e. Deorbit system, which would use "fishing nets in space to capture" space debris. This is just one of the concepts under evaluation for the ESA's Clean Space initiative. ESA engineer Kjetil Wormnes said that in order to see whether the concept would work, nets were shot at a scale-model satellite inside an airplane during parabolic flights to simulate weightlessness. Wormnes noted that during the test, the nets performed "extremely well." E.Deorbit could be tested in space in 2021.

        The Voice of America (3/23, 70K) "Science World" blog also covers the story, noting that NASA's Orbital Debris Program also is concerned by "the ever-expanding junkyard of space."

        Space Fence Radar Being Built On Marshall Islands. Sputnik News (3/23) reports that the US Air Force is placing a Space Fence radar on the Marshall Islands "to detect thousands of satellites and space debris." Steve Bruce, vice president for Advanced Systems at Lockheed Martin, which is constructing the radar, said in a statement that the Space Fence should identify "hundreds of thousands of objects" when operational in 2018.

Japan To Send Second Space Robot To ISS.

BBC News (3/24, 1.66M) reports on the Japanese space robot Kirobo, which went to the ISS for its first mission. A second robot, Mirata, will replace Kirobo. Toyota backed the project, which aims to study how humans and robots interact, especially when the robots can converse with humans and recognize faces.

Hilmers In India For Techkriti Festival.

The Times of India (3/24, Malhotra, 386K) interviews former NASA astronaut David Hilmers, who achieved a Doctorate of Medicine after his retirement from NASA in 1992. Hilmers, who also has a Masters of Public Health, spent four missions in space. Hilmers "said that while being in space as there is no gravitational force, the brain fluid does not slip down in the body," which is why astronauts run on a treadmill aboard the ISS. He also remarked on the talent within the space program in India. Hilmers was in the country as part of the Techkriti festival.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Headlines

  1. JSC Close Call System Turns 20 This Year

Did you know that it was in 1995, after a three-month pilot at Ellington Field, that the JSC Close Call system was established? A review of our program at the time noted that there were about three Occupational Safety and Health Administration recordable injuries for every close call reported. This was not in line with the safety literature and common sense.

You can read more about the history and results of the JSC Close Call System at "Random Thoughts" on the safety blog on the Safety and Mission Assurance Web page.

The JSC Close Call System allows you to be the eyes and ears of the safety office and identify hazards and unsafe events. The link below provides more information on the Close Call System.

Dan Clem x34272 http://www6.jsc.nasa.gov/safety/CloseCalls/index.htm

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  1. Section 508 Proposed Changes – Have Your Say

The Access Board has released for public comment a proposed rule updating accessibility requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) in the federal sector covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

These proposed revisions and updates are intended to ensure that ICT covered by the respective statutes is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. This "at-a-glance" accessible PDF gives an overview of the proposed rule.

Let your voice be heard by contributing your written comments here for JSC. Click "Add new item," complete the information and click save.

JSC comments are due by March 31. 

If you have problems accessing or using this SharePoint site, please forward your comments directly to Herb Babineaux, JSC Section 508 coordinator.

JSC IRD Outreach x34263 https://projects.jsc.nasa.gov/I3P/IRDDataCall/SiteAssets/RFC%20Section%2...

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   Organizations/Social

  1. Incredible Array of Flex Friday Gilruth Offerings

It's another great week with a whole new array of Flex Friday offerings!

Please see the schedule through the link below for the March 27 special classes in the studios, as well as more detailed descriptions for each class.

We are also ecstatic to let you know we have five trainers available this Friday, from times ranging from 6 a.m. all the way to 8 p.m., to offer you a 30-minute, complimentary personal training consultation (book through the link below).

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.)

We welcome you to the magical world of health here at the Gilruth!

"To keep the body in good health is a duty—otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." - Buddha

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

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  1. Buy JSC Picnic Tickets at Ellington Today

Starport will be selling tickets to the JSC Family Picnic at off-site locations for your convenience as follows:

    • Ellington's Building 273 today, March 24, at 8:30 a.m.
    • Jacobs Building lobby, Bay Area Boulevard, Tomorrow, March 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Ticket price includes an "all-you-can-eat" barbecue dinner, ice cream novelties, adult beverages (ID required), DJ music, unlimited access to the park's rides and attractions, horseshoes, sand volleyball, basketball, dunking booth, bingo, moon bounce, face painting, supervised kids' games, free parking, half-price return ticket option and more.

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

Available daily at ShopNASA in Buildings 3 and 11 and the Gilruth Center.

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

Cyndi Kibby x35352

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  1. RSVPs Due TODAY to See Glynn Lunney with NMA

TODAY you have until 3 p.m. to RSVP for an exciting luncheon presentation featuring Glynn Lunney, who will speak on "Life Lessons in Leadership." Join JSC's National Management Association (NMA) at 11:30 a.m. on March 31 in the Gilruth Alamo Ballroom. There will also be a book-signing opportunity with Lunney after his presentation.

Members can get in FREE, but the luncheon costs $25 for non-members. RSVP at the website and choose either sautéed chicken breast, fish of the day or vegetable napoleon as your meal choice. All meals come with salad, rolls, tea, water and black-and-white cake for dessert.

If you encounter technical issues, contact Leslie N. Smith at x47652 or via email.

Event Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:12:30 PM
Event Location: Gilruth - Alamo Ballroom

Add to Calendar

Leslie N. Smith x46752

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  1. JSC NMA Presents: Richard D. Jackson

Please join us for a JSC National Management Association (NMA) chapter professional-development activity featuring Richard D. Jackson. Jackson has a wealth of leadership experience related to the integration of programs across four NASA centers and working with teams to define growth opportunities in NASA and adjacent markets.

The JSC NMA is providing this professional-development activity because we believe it is important for current leaders to share their stories with future leaders. Successful leaders have a high level of self-awareness to clearly understand why they act as they do and know how their behavior affects and is perceived by others. By knowing themselves, successful executives are better able to keep a clear vision of where their organization is heading, have greater success in communicating their vision to others and are more able to make the decisions that transform vision into reality.

You don't want to miss this event!

Event Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: Building 1/ Room 966

Add to Calendar

Keya Briscoe x28633

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  1. Youth Brain Development Basics

Join us as we take an introductory look at two key periods in the development of youth. We will go over key changes in the brain during early childhood and discuss how the brain continues its growth and transition during the tween and teen years. Come and learn key concepts and terms that are involved in the cognitive, social and emotional development of the young person in your life. Ideas and tools for encouraging constructive and navigating troubling behaviors will also be addressed. Please join Anika Isaac, MS, LPC, LMFT, NCC, LCDC, CEAP, with JSC Employee Assistance Program, as she presents "Youth Brain Development Basics."

Event Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:12:30 PM
Event Location: Building 30 Auditorium

Add to Calendar

Lorrie Bennett, Employee Assistance Program, Occupational Health Branch x36130

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  1. Sleep Cognition and Mood

Studies have shown that even partial sleep deprivation has a significant effect on cognitive skills and mood.

The JSC Employee Assistance Program is pleased to host Dr. Ronald Moomaw, DO, FACN, in recognition of Sleep Awareness Month. Moomaw is a JSC flight surgeon/psychiatrist supporting research and providing operational mitigation of the effects of disordered sleep. He will offer insight into how sleep directly impacts our cognitive skills and mood. Please join us  today as Moomaw presents his expertise and offers techniques for effectively managing sleep cognition and mood.

Event Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:12:30 PM
Event Location: Building 30 Auditorium

Add to Calendar

Lorrie Bennett, Employee Assistance Program, Occupational Health Branch x36130

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   Jobs and Training

  1. Spacesuit Knowledge Capture Presents an Event

Skylab A-7LB Spacesuit Development for Skylab SL-2 to SL-4 Missions

With more than 50 years of experience with NASA spacesuit development and operations, as well as with the U.S. Air Force pressure suit, Jim McBarron will discuss the Skylab A-7LB spacesuit development. This will include A-7LB extravehicular (EV) suit requirements and design changes implemented to establish the Skylab A-7LB EV suit design baseline. Additionally, he will identify the spacesuit experience for the Skylab SL-2 through SL-4 missions and conclude with lessons learned.

Location: Building 5S, Room 3102 (corner of Gamma Link/5th Street/third floor), near guard shack at entrance of the Buildings 4/4S/5S parking lot. A ramp leads to a door at corner of Building 5S. A public access elevator is located past two sets of doors. Exit the third floor; the lecture room is fourth door on the left (Room 3102).

Registration: In SATERN

If you have any issues locating the class in SATERN, search using the keyword "spacesuit."

Event Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: Bldg. 5S, Room 3102

Add to Calendar

Vladenka Oliva 281-461-5681

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  1. Russian Phase One Language Course - for Beginners

Russian Phase One is an introductory course designed to acquaint the novice student with certain elementary aspects of the Russian language and provide a brief outline of Russian history and culture. Our goal is to introduce students to skills and strategies necessary for successful foreign language study that they can apply immediately in the classroom. The linguistic component of this class consists of learning the Cyrillic alphabet and a very limited number of simple words and phrases, which will serve as a foundation for further language study.

Dates: April 13 to May 14

When: Monday through Thursday, noon to 1 p.m.

Where: Building 12, Room 158

Please register through SATERN.

Natalia Rostova 281-851-3745

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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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