America’s gateway to the universe. Leading the world in preparing and launching missions to Earth and beyond.

May 11, 2001

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Spaceport Newshttp://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/snews/snewstoc.htm

Vol. 40, No. 10

Pages 4-5 – Spaceport Newsgoes inside the Marine Patrol.

Page 8 – “Remembering OurHeritage” debuts.

Inside

Pages 2-3 – Awards andhonors in “Recognizing OurPeople.”

(See CONGRESS, Page 8)

Page 7 – Cultural series held toenrich employees.

(See BRIEFING, Page 6)

New Feature

Spaceport News isadding a new periodicfeature “RememberingOur Heritage.” Thefeature will highlightlaunch and other spaceprogram anniversaries.

Space Congress looks ahead

KSC hosts community leadersSeveral hundred Brevard County and

State of Florida movers and shakers learnedabout innovative developments and plansfor Kennedy Space Center during theCommunity Leaders Briefing April 24.

KSC Director Roy Bridges Jr. and DeputyDirector James Jennings met with commu-nity leaders at the Dr. Kurt H. DebusConference Facility in the KSC VisitorComplex for the annual briefing.

The KSC senior executives discussed thelong-term viability of KSC and how thespace program benefits the community.

Community leaders heard KSC’s visionfor the future, the current KSC budget,employment trends, educational partner-ships, future goals and major facilityprojects. They learned KSC’s budget, whichhas been relatively stable in recent years,has been set for $1.6 billion for fiscal 2002.

Kennedy Space Center Director Roy Bridges and Deputy Director James Jennings address participantsduring the Community Leaders Briefing held at the KSC Visitor Complex on April 24.

Page 6 – MAP spacecraftarrives at KSC.

Space program leaders from thegovernment, industry and academiadiscussed possible directions ofthe space program for the next 50years during the 38th SpaceCongress May 1-4.

The international conference,sponsored by the CanaveralCouncil of Technical Societies, washeld at the Radisson Resort at thePort in Cape Canaveral. The themewas “A Space Odyssey – The Next50 Years.”

Gen. Ralph Eberhart, commanderin chief, U.S. Space Command, andcommander, Air Force SpaceCommand, started the conferencewith his keynote address.

“We must rededicate ourselvesas a nation to our space odyssey.We should always remember thewords of Jules Verne, ‘What oneman can dream, others can makereal,’ ” Eberhart said.

Session and panel speakers

discussed plans for exploration ofthe solar system, use of space fordefending national interests andthe need for space education.

Session speaker Renee Ponik,NASA comprehensive masterplanner for Kennedy Space Center,presented an update on the CapeCanaveral Spaceport Master Plan.

The master plan, which has beenunder development since August

2000, is a first-of-its-kind compre-hensive look at the Spacport. Itconsiders KSC and the CapeCanaveral Air Force Station, plusthe other operating agencies withinSpaceport boundaries, includingthe Merritt Island National WildlifeRefuge and the Canaveral NationalSeashore, as a single 160,000-acre

Gen. Ralph EberhartCommander in chief, U.S. Space CommandCommander, Air Force Space Command

“We must rededicate ourselves as a nation toour space odyssey. We should always rememberthe words of Jules Verne, ‘Anything one mancan imagine, other men can make real.’ ”

SPACEPORT NEWS May 11, 2001Page 2

Certificates ofAppreciation

Awards

Recognizing Our People

Goldin applauds KSC inventors

Johnson, Truemilla, BA-D; Denise,Catone, BA-A; Mangieri, Dan, BA-C;Stallings, Connie, BA-C; Stevenson,Cricket, BA-C; Wilson, Dave, BA-C;Popp, Gregory, Spaceport FloridaAuthority; Horn, Steven, CC; Mack,Bridgett, GG-C; Bronson, Regina, JP-A;Hawkins, Jeanne, JP-B; Hull, Thomas,JP-A; Rochester, Laura , JP; Burkhart,Jeanne, OP-OS; Nelson, Marilynn, OP-ES; Rafferty, Donna, OP-AM; Beil,Robert, PH-G; Brown, Donald, USK-119;Bundy, Andrew, PH-K2; Chivers, Joel,PH-N; Eadens, David, USK-N94;Mariano, Carolyn, PH-H1; Mitchell, Bill,USK-632; Mulligan, Melanie, PH-M;Sally, Christopher, PH-F1; Wittkopf,Donald, USK-282; Ackroyd, Linda, QA-A;Haddad, Samuel, QA-A-1; Monson,Robert, QA-D; Williams, Rutha, QA-D;Barcon, Eric, TA-B2; Boatright, John, TA-B2; Brown, Rodney, TA-C3; Dutt, George,TA-B2; Farley, Max, TA-D2; Lynn, Patricia,TA-C3; Sizemore, James, TA-D2; Coats,Ricky, UB-C3; Shultz, Daniel, UB-E;Milbert, Michael, UB-G1; Brawn, Lisa,UB-B1; Smith, Michele, UB-G3; Aguayo,Pablo, UB-G5; Nordeen, Ross, UB-E;Camacho, Jose, UB-G1; Nelson,Damon, UB-H; Arrington, Jon, UB-F2;Antonucci, Gerald, UB-F2; Barry, Steven,UB-F2; Bonde, Mark, UB-F2; Brunelle,Steven, UB-F2; Craig, Gary, UB-F2;Dixon, David, UB-F2; Downing, David,UB-F2; Eichenlaub, Thomas, UB-F2;Hale, Gregory, UB-F2; Harrison, Michael,UB-F2; Holt, Gary, UB-F2; Love, Vera,UB-F2; McMahon, Donald, UB-F2;Morris, Ronald, UB-F2; Phillips, Richard,UB-F2; Reed, James, UB-F2;Rosenberry, John, UB-F2; Scaltsas,Richard, UB-F2; Thompson , Mary, UB-F2; Cox, Stephen, VB-E1; Duffy, Amy,7210-C205; Nance, Rozella, SMI-KSC;Norman, Jack, CMT-450; Alexander,Edward, USK-373; Aument, Karen,GSFC-307; Bryant, Benjamin, YA-E1-S;Caswell, Donald, DNX-32; Courtney,James, USK-504; Filko, Charles, USK-504; Floyd, Susan, Boeing; Johnson,Earl, USK-489; Meeks, James, DNX-3;Pope, April,, LM/CLCS; Ross, David,721Z-K080; Smith, Richard, YA-E1-D3;Heffner, Ken, Air Force; Loftin, Charles,Air Force

ServicerecognizedKennedy Space CenterDirector Roy Bridgesrecently received his35-year service plaque.He is picturedpresenting AssociateDirector Marv Joneswith Jones’ 40-yearservice certificate.

NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin presenteda team of Kennedy Space Center scientists andengineers certificates and checks for the NASACommercial Invention of the Year Award on May4 at NASA Headquarters.

The award was for the improved nitrogentextroxide scrubber system, which traps thepropellant oxidizer vapors and with the additionof other compounds converts it into fertilizer.

It’s the first time a KSC team has won theaward given annually by NASA Headquarters torecognize a significant technology spinoffdeveloped at one of the NASA centers.

The inventors are Dr. Clyde Parrish, NASA;Dr. Dale Lueck, NASA; Andrew Kelly, NASA;and Paul Gamble, Dynacs Engineering. Dynacsis KSC’s Engineering Development Contractor.

NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin, right, is pictured with Commercial Invention of the Year Awardwinners, from left, Paul Gamble, chemist, Dynacs Engineering; Andrew Kelly, hypergolic systemsengineer, NASA; Dr. Clyde Parrish, senior chemist, NASA; Dr. Dale Lueck, senior chemist, NASA.

“This is a wonderful invention, to take a toxicmaterial and turn it into fertilizer,” Goldin said.“It’s a paradox, to be able to clean up theenvironment and create a useful procedure atthe same time.”

The new scrubber process process was testedand is being implemented at KSC. The fertilizergenerated is being used on KSC orange groves.The invention has been licensed to PhoenixSystems International Inc. of McDonald, Ohio.

“The award is a recognition that KennedySpace Center is a real force in the developmentarea,” said Ken Payne, acting director ofSpaceport Engineering and Technology. Paynewas among the group of KSC managers whoattended the ceremony at headquarters with theinventors and their families.

SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3May 11, 2001

Child Care Center honoredDuring the 2001 Environmental

and Energy Awareness Weekopening ceremony, Center DirectorRoy Bridges presented the ChildDevelopment Center with a plaquefor becoming one of NASA’s firstfacilities to earn the Energy Starlabel for buildings.

The Energy Star label is anational symbol of energy effi-ciency managed by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agencyand U.S. Department of Energy.

The Child Care DevelopmentCenter was recognized for demon-strating energy efficiency in the top25 percent of similar buildings while

maintaining indoor environmentrequirements for air quality, thermalcomfort, and lighting performance.

Across all NASA Centers, onlytwo facilities of 64 candidatesreviewed by NASA Headquartersqualified for this prestigious award.

Bridges congratulated all theteam members who contributed andexpressed special thanks to SGSEngineering Services’ EnergyManagement Office for supportingthe data collection and facilitywalkdowns required to apply forthe label and to SGS FacilitiesManagement Services for maintain-ing the building’s energy efficiency.

Center Director Roy Bridges, right, presents the Energy Star plaque toChild Care Coordinator Miriam Fuentes. At left, is KSC Energy ManagerWayne Thalasinos, who was on hand to recognize the center’s honor.

Starr wins Goddard Historic Essay AwardStanley Starr is the recipient of

the National Space Club’s Dr.Robert H. Goddard Historic EssayAward. The award was presented atthe recent Annual GoddardMemorial Dinner.

A short version of Starr’s essay, “Before the Beginning: the storybehind the first launch from CapeCanaveral,” appeared in the July 28issue of Spaceport News inconjunction with the 50th Anniver-sary of the Bumper 8 launch.

Starr – chief engineer and deputyprogram manager for Dynacs onthe Engineering DevelopmentContract at Kennedy Space Center

– has worked as a contractor atKSC for 20 years in variousengineering and management roles.

Starr said that he was “verysurprised and honored to receivethe award. It’s definitely made memore serious about researchingspace history.

“I hope to follow up this shortpiece with a NASA Monographwhich would include the results ofthe Bumper History Project.”

A NASA and contractor team ledby Dr. Shannon Roberts inter-viewed eight Bumper era veteransand amassed a significant additionto the KSC Archive.

Dr. Roger Launius, NASA chiefhistorian, performed the oralhistory interviews.

InDyne Inc. employee ElaineListon, the KSC archivist, providedmuch of the project coordination.

Dynacs perfomed the taping andtranscribing of the interviews withStarr providing historical expertise.

“By studying the past we cansee how much we owe those pio-neers for developing so manytechnologies and methods forhandling, servicing and launchinglarge rockets that have evolvedinto what we have today,” Starrsaid of the project.

Stanley Starr is pictured in the KSCArchive with the award he won forhis Bumper 8 essay.

QASAR Awards given to salute quality and safetySeven NASA and contractor

employees of Kennedy SpaceCenter were honored this quarterwith the Quality And SafetyAchievement Recognition(QASAR) Award.

The QASAR Award recognizesindividuals who have displayedexemplary performance in contrib-uting products and services and asafe environment and processes forNASA.

The QASAR Award is sponsoredby NASA Headquarters’ Office ofSafety and Mission Assurance.The director of KSC’s Safety,Health and Independent Assess-ment Directorate makes the finalselection of QASAR recipients atthe space center. The honorees:

Bao Nguyen, NASA, selected for

his outstanding performance andattention to detail for the discoveryof an unsecured bracket on theOrbiter Access Arm white roomduring the STS-97 T-8 hour padinspection. The timely discoveryprevented foreign object debrisdamage to the Shuttle vehicle andprevented a launch scrub.

Stephen Swichkow, NASA,selected for his outstandingcontribution to the investigation ofthe STS-97 SRB firing line anomalyand the cable screening test forSTS-98 flight certification.

Bruce Ledford, NASA, selectedfor his outstanding leadership ininvestigating the shuttle assetimplications of the Ka-Bandweather radar study.

Cindy Gersten, Space Gateway

Support/Logicon Federal DataCorp., selected for her dedicated,professional service in the design,implementation, and operations ofan on-line, automated changerequest and control system, whicheffectively supports both NASAand JBOSC application/systemsdevelopment and modificationsefforts.

Tamela Kimmell-Hammond,Space Gateway Support, selectedfor her outstanding efforts anddedication in supporting andpromoting safety and healththrough the Voluntary ProtectionProgram and for making SGS andthe spaceport a safer and morehealthful place to live and work.

Michael Milbert, NASA,selected for his persistence,

dedication and commitment toproactively pursuing resolutions toproblems with power systemsdevices that pose a risk to Interna-tional Space Station, Payloadshardware and personnel.

Roger Lawrence, Space GatewaySupport, selected for his leadershipas the SGS planner/supervisor forthe replacement of three oil-filled,high voltage, load break switchesin the VAB during the period March9-13, 2001. Under his leadership, asignificant fire and explosion risk tothe Space Shuttle fleet and to thepersonnel who work inside andnearby the VAB was eliminated. Hisprofessionalism ensured thiscritical activity was safely con-ducted with minimum impact toShuttle processing.

Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS May 11, 2001

Insidethe Marine Patrol

The Marine Patrol is an essential part of security at the CapeCanaveral Spaceport because the area is most vulnerable to intrudersvia its many waterways, from the Banana River to Port Canaveral tothe Atlantic Ocean.

Through the Joint Base Operations and Support Contract, SpaceGateway Support’s Security Police Marine Patrol Section providessurveillance of area waterways 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Many of the boaters we stop aren’t local and don’t realize theyhave come into a secured area,” said Bill Rickelman, Marine Patrolsupervisor. “Occasionally, we have to deal with local folks who knowbetter but have heard how good the fishing in a certain area is.”

Although such intrusions may seem harmless, because of thepossibility of terrorist or espionage activities, all intrusions intosecured areas must be addressed, Rickelman said.

A staff of specially trained security officers operate a fleet of 12boats to continuously survey Spaceport waterways and respondwhen unauthorized watercraft are observed or detected by sensors.Marine Patrol issues trespass warnings to security violators andescorts them out of secured areas.

Shallow areas of Spaceport waterways are covered by the patrol’sfour airboats, river channels by two flat boats and a 17-foot BostonWhaler, the Trident Turn Basin and Navy Wharf by three harborpatrol boats and the Atlantic by two offshore boats.

Marine Patrol also calls upon other government agencies, includingthe Coast Guard and U.S. Fish and Wildlife, to assist them whennecessary.

The Coast Guard helps support the patrol in keeping a large,variable launch zone in the Atlantic boat-free before and duringexpendable launch vehicle launches. The agency also helps theMarine Patrol escort Navy submarines and warships into the Trident

Basin at Port Cananveral. The Coast Guard was on hand on May 2,for example, when Marine Patrol escorted in a Navy fast-attacksubmarine.

Fish and Wildlife monitors the Banana River south of the NASACauseway to the State Road 528 bridge for motorized vessels,which are prohibited within the manatee safe zone.

Even so, motorboat captains make their way north of the NASACauseway about once a week.

“Most of the time the boaters have just gotten lost,” Rickelmansaid. “Our biggest challenge is to address the incident courteouslywhile at the same time maintaining security.”

In addition to maintaining security on Spaceport waterways, theMarine Patrol offers support for marine operations at the Spaceport,including for environmental studies, shoreline surveys and filming.

Page 5SPACEPORT NEWSMay 11, 2001

Clockwise from top left: Bill Rickelman, Marine Patrol supervisor,checks out a monitor on one of the Marine Patrol fleet’s offshore boat.The boat is used to help keep launch zones in the Atlantic Oceanboat-free before and during launches from the Cape CanaveralSpaceport. Birds and a dolphin are just a few of the permanentinhabitants of the Spaceport often seen on the Marine Patrol’s securitypatrols, which are made around the clock. Two views of AlgernonCooper, security police officer, patrolling the Banana River in anairboat. Jerry Heyman, security police officer, escorts a U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine into Port Canaveral and the Trident Basin. Cooperand Heyman are among a group of specially trained officers whosupport the Marine Patrol. A pelican perches on a palm stump as if asentinel keeping a watchful eye on the Spaceport.

BRIEFING ...(Continued from Page 1)

May 11, 2001 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 6

“The Odyssey Continues” wasthe theme for the briefing andbreakfast. The theme was areference to Arthur C. Clarke’snovel “2001 Space Odyssey” andto KSC moving forward in the newmillennium.

“According to Clarke we shouldbe a little farther along in ourexploration of space than we arenow, but life is a little tougher thanfiction,” Bridges said. “What is realis that while we are sitting here, theInternational Space Station is beingconstructed. It’s one of the greatestengineering feats humans haveever accomplished.”

KSC is preparing to help supportexperiments on the Space Stationby building the Space Experimentand Processing Laboratory(SERPL), Bridges said. The world-class facility, made possiblethrough a partnership with theState of Florida, will providemodern laboratories and experiment

processing areas. The design ofSERPL is being finalized andconstruction will begin in thecoming months.

“SERPL is the ground floor toour laboratory in space,” Bridgessaid. “It’s the key to our future.”

Bridges noted that a secondOperations Support Building isplanned for KSC. The new five-story building will replace a 20-year-old office trailer park. The OSBII will feature conference space anda VIP launch viewing area.

Two videos were shown at thebriefing. The first video, shown atthe beginning of the program,detailed KSC’s accomplishmentsduring the past year. The second,shown at the end of the program,was a visual summary of theShuttle program’s first 20 years.

Community leaders receivedcopies of the just-published KSCannual report.

Following the program, guestshad an opportunity to see some ofthe newest attractions at the VisitorComplex.

Salt fog chamber

MAP spacecraft arrivesat KSC for processing

NASA’s Microwave AnisotropyProbe (MAP) arrived April 20 atKennedy Space Center from theGoddard Space Flight Center inGreenbelt, Md.

The MAP spacecraft is undergo-ing final readiness preparations forits upcoming launch this summerfrom Cape Canaveral Air ForceStation (CCAFS) aboard a BoeingDelta II launch vehicle.

Using a scanning method, MAPwill make an accurate, precise, full-sky picture of cosmic microwavebackground radiation, the afterglowof the Big Bang.

MAP seeks to answer fundamen-tal questions about the formationand fate of the universe. Amongthe questions MAP will attempt toanswer: How old is the universe?How and when did the first galaxiesform? Will the universe expandforever or will it collapse? Howrapidly is the universe expanding?

Upon arrival at Kennedy SpaceCenter, MAP was taken to the

Spacecraft and EncapsulationFacility-2 (SAEF-2), a payloadprocessing facility located in theIndustrial Area.

Several milestones must becompleted while MAP is at SAEF-2including antenna installations,solar array installation, solar arraydeployment and illuminationtesting, a spacecraft comprehen-sive performance test, fueling withhydrazine propellant, and a spinbalance test.

MAP will then be ready forintegration with the solid propellantPayload Assist Module upperstage booster.

MAP is scheduled to be trans-ported from SAEF-2 to SpaceLaunch Complex 17 on CCAFSJune 19 where it will be hoistedatop the Boeing Delta II launchvehicle at Pad 17-B. The protectivefairing will be installed around thespacecraft on June 26. Launch iscurrently targeted to occur on June30 at 4 p.m. EDT.

Dynacs Engineering, the Engineering Development Contractor forKennedy Space Center, recently acquired responsibility for a newsalt fog chamber. The Q-FOG Cyclic Corrosion Tester, picturedabove, uses salt spray in an environmentally controlled chamberto duplicate environments experienced by materials exposed tonaturally produced salt spray. The chamber was purchased byNASA to enhance corrosion test capabilities at KSC and hasresulted in the award of a $30,000 corrosion test project. Theproject is being conducted by Dynacs through a Space ActAgreement between NASA and the Naval Research Labs.Pictured from left is Ray Springer, Dynacs technician, LillianaFitzpatrick, Dynacs chemist, Rubiela Vinje, Dynacs corrosionengineer, Louis MacDowell, NASA Corrosion Testbeds manager.

Above, the Microwave AnisotropyProbe (MAP) satellite arrives atKSC’s Spacecraft Assembly andEncapsulation Facility 2. Inside thefacility, at left, the covered MAPsatellite is revealed after removal ofits transport container. Launch ofthe satellite aboard a Delta IIlaunch vehicle is currently targetedfrom Cape Canaveral Air ForceStation Pad 17-B on June 30 at 4p.m. EDT. On orbit, MAP will make afull-sky picture of cosmicmicrowave background radiation,the afterglow of the Big Bang.

SPACEPORT NEWSMay 11, 2001 Page 7

New Block II engine installed on Atlantis The next Space Shuttle crew canexpect an even safer ride into orbit,thanks to the completion of a newSpace Shuttle Main Engine.

Workers installed one of the newengines, called the Block II confi-guration, on Space Shuttle AtlantisApril 24 at Kennedy Space Center.

Atlantis’ first flight using thenew engine is targeted for no earlierthan June 14 on mission STS-104 tothe International Space Station.

Atlantis will use one Block IImain engine and two Block IIAmain engines to complete its fullcomplement of three engines.

Improvements to the mainengines, managed by NASA’sMarshall Space Flight Center,Huntsville, Ala., and manufacturedby Boeing Rocketdyne, CanogaPark, Calif., continue to evolve toproduce the safest, most reliable

and reusable space transportationsystem in the world.

The Block II Main Engineconfiguration includes a new Pratt& Whitney high-pressure fuelturbopump. The new pump isstronger than the old pump andshould increase the number offlights between major overhauls.

“With this design change, webelieve we have more than doubledthe reliability of the engine,” saidGeorge Hopson, manager ofthe Space Shuttle Main Engineproject at Marshall.

Developed in the 1970s byMarshall, the Space Shuttle MainEngine is the world’s most sophis-ticated reusable rocket engine.

Each powerful main engine is 14feet long, weighs about 7,000pounds and is 7.5 feet in diameterat the end of the nozzle.

As the giant forklift moves closer to Atlantis, workers keep watch as thenew Block II configuration nears its installation point. The Space ShuttleMain Engine work was being done in the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3.

Cultural series provides enrichmentNASA-KSC, in cooperation with

colleges and universities of theFlorida Space Institute, hasintroduced a series of culturallunch events at various locationsthroughout Kennedy Space Centerwith the goal of enriching employeeworkday and building partnershipswith academia.

Dr. Shannon Roberts, associatedirector of External Relations andBusiness Development for NASA,is the program sponsor andUniversity of Central Florida’s GinaCrabbs is chairwoman for thenoontime series. “The idea was initially sug-gested by the University of CentralFlorida,” said JoAnn Morgan,director of External Relations andBusiness Development. “Facultyvisiting JPL (Jet PropulsionLaboratory) observed employeesenjoying onsite musical perfor-mances during lunch. It wassuggested that we consider doingsomething similar for employees.”

As a result, in April, the FloridaSpace Institute presented a musicalrecital the cafeteria at the SpaceShuttle Processing Facility. Lunch-goers were treated to a concertfeaturing renowned musical artists,Dr. Nora Lee Garcia, flutist and

Dr. Nora Lee Garcia, flutist, and Dr. EladioScharron, guitarist, perform inthe Space Shuttle Proces-sing Facility cafeteria as part of the new culturalseries at Kennedy Space Center. The series is being sponsored by NASA-KSC and the Florida Space Institute.

graduate of the University ofMiami, and Dr. Eladio Scharron,guitarist and graduate of theUniversity of Puerto Rico.

On Feb. 14, the 19-memberMadrigal Ensemble singers fromBrevard Community College-Melbourne performed in theHeadquarters Building cafeteria. “This is a work in progress andthe response has been good,”stated Crabbs, a pianist who gave

the first musical concert during acenter-wide holiday celebration inDecember.

Crabbs is a graduate of thePeabody Conservatory at JohnsHopkins University in Baltimore.

“We’re planning at least threeperformances a year, plus a holidayshow in December featuringentertainers from partner collegesand universities of the FloridaSpace Institute,” Crabbs said.

Roberts said future plans alsoinclude a talent show featuringKSC employees and their familiesand featured performances as partof the Cape Canaveral Spaceport’sannual open house in the Fall.

This is a work inprogress and theresponse has beengood. We’re plan-ning at least threeperformances ayear, plus a holidayshow in Decemberfeaturing entertain-ers from partnercolleges and univer-sities of the FloridaSpace Institute.Gina CrabbsCultural series chairwoman

Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS May 11, 2001

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Managing editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bruce BuckinghamEditor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Hagood

Editorial support provided by InDyne Inc. Writers Group.NASA at KSC is located on the Internet at http://www.ksc.nasa.gov

USGPO: 633-096/00056

Spaceport News

Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center andis published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office in the interest ofKSC civil service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted two weeks beforepublication to the Media Services Branch, XAE-1. E-mail submissions can besent to Katharine.Hagood-1@ksc.nasa.gov

Astronaut Virgil “Gus” Grissom wishes Alan Shepard a safe flightjust before insertion into the Freedom 7 spacecraft.

The early Mercury astronauts were big fans of comedian BillDana’s fictional astronaut Jose Jimenez. Al Shepard, Jose’s biggestfan, once sneaked a tape of the comedy routine into the somberproceedings at the Mercury Control Center during a practicesession. It was only natural, then, as Shepard rocketed away aboardFreedom 7 on the first American manned space flight on May, 5,1961, that astronaut Virgil “Gus” Grissom radioed “Okay, Jose,you’re on your way.” Shepard told Dana that all the kidding aroundwith the comic character helped ease the prelaunch jitters.

From The Light Stuff by Bob Ward.Other May anniversaries:

• On May 4, 1976, Lageos, a passive satellite to use as reflectors forlasers conducting geological studies was launched from the CapeCanaveral Spaceport.• May 30 is a twin anniversary in lunar-planetary exploration. OnMay 30, 1966, Atlas Centaur 10 launches Surveyor 1, the firstspacecraft to make a successful soft landing on the moon. Exactlyfive years later, on May 30, 1971, Atlas Centaur 23 launched Mariner9, the first spacecraft to orbit another planet (Mars). Surveyor waslaunched from Pad 36A and Mariner from Pad 36B.

Remembering Our HeritageCONGRESS ...(Continued from Page 1)

Recycled furniture purchasedKennedy Space Center’s Recy-

cling Program, managed by theEnvironmental Program Branch, haspurchased picnic benches andtables made of recycled materials.

All of the plastic outdoorfurniture meets the EnvironmentalProtection Agency guidelines.

The plastic furniture is made fromold milk and photographic filmcontainers.

It being paid for with the fundsgenerated by the sale of recycledmaterials here at the Center,including paper, batteries and scrapmetal.

The new tables and benches area reminder that recycling materialsenhances the environment byreducing production waste, savingnatural resources and extendingthe life of our landfills.

When the furniture arrives, it willbe placed throughout KennedySpace Center for the enjoyment ofemployees.

Those interested in this type ofproduct, and finding out the pointof contact for identifying arequirement, should contact JaniceEverett, TA-CE, at 867-8421, e-mailJanice.Everett-1@ksc.nasa.gov.

Kennedy Space Center will soon be adorned with outdoor furniture suchas the pieces pictured above thanks to the KSC Recycling Program.

complex with a common vision.The ongoing joint master

planning activities are supported byNASA/KSC, the U.S. Air Force 45thSpace Wing and Spaceport FloridaAuthority. ZHA Inc. is the masterplanning consultant for the project,which is to be completed bysummer 2002.

As the plan has been developed,the following goals – examinedmore in detail on the Web site –have been determined for theSpaceport.• Center of Excellence for environ-mental stewardship and landmanagement• Premier prototype spaceport withoptimal management and operation

• Assured and enhanced accessto and from space for civil andcommercial operations and testing• Assured and enhanced priorityaccess to and from space fornational defense operations andtesting and access for planetarydefense• Access for space-based re-search, space commerce and spaceexploration; research and develop-ment of new spaceport technolo-gies, space-related academia, andcommercial development

Ponik encouraged attendees toparticipate in the plan by submit-ting ideas at yourspaceport.com.

So far about 3,000 people haveadded their input to the planningprocess, about 2,000 from access-ing the Web site and the rest fromparticipating in various focus andplanning groups.