Spaceport NewsJohn F. Kennedy Space Center

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

October 11, 1996Vol. 35, No. 21Mission update

(See SES, Page 8)

Mission: STS-79 on Atlantis.

Landing date, time: Sept. 26,8:13 a.m. at KSC's ShuttleLanding Facility.

Mission: STS-80 on Columbia.

Launch date, time: No earlierthan Nov. 8, 2:47 p.m. fromLaunch Pad 39B.

Primary payloads: OrbitingRetrievable Far and ExtremeUltraviolet Spectrograph-ShuttlePallet Satellite (ORFEUS-SPAS-2)a telescope aimed at unravelingthe life cycles of stars andunderstanding the gases that driftbetween them. And the WakeShield Facility- 3, which will usethe vacuum of space to createadvanced semiconductors for thenation's electronics industry.

Landing date, time: Nov. 24,7:31 a.m., at the Shuttle LandingFacility.

NASA, USAbegin new erawith SFOC

At the Skid Strip on Cape Canaveral Air Station, U.S. astronaut Shannon Lucid gets apersonal escort from KSC Director Jay Honeycutt, left, and STS-79 Pilot Terrence Wilcuttas she prepares to return to Johnson Space Center in Houston. Lucid embarked to Miron March 22 and returned to Earth Sept. 26. Her 188 days on-orbit represent a U.S.human spaceflight record as well as the longest stay in space by a woman.

7 KSC leadersnamed to SES

Seven Kennedy Space Cen-ter employees have been namedto Senior Executive Service po-

sitions, pending final approvalby NASA Headquarters. Thenew appointments are:

Larry Ellis will serve as di-rector of Process Integration,Shuttle Processing Directorate.He currently serves as actingmanager for Process Integra-

tion. Previously he served asmanager of the Shuttle Process-ing and Operations Office.

John "Chris" Fairey is des-ignated as director of QualityAssurance in the Safety and

(See SFOC, Page 8)

NASA has begun a new erain the Space Shuttle programthis month by consolidatingmuch of the ground processingand in-flight operations of theShuttle under a simplified con-tract signed with a single com-pany, United Space Alliance.

The six-year, $7 billion basecontract includes two, 2-yearextension options that couldbring the total estimated con-tract value to about $12 billionover ten years.

While maintaining safety asthe top priority and keeping thecurrent annual flight rate in-tact, the new contract is ex-pected to reduce the cost of fly-ing the Space Shuttle. The con-tract assigns greater responsi-bility to the contractor, reduc-ing the government’s role inoverseeing day-to-day, routineshuttle operations.

Following a transitional pe-riod, NASA’s involvement in thework accomplished by USA will

Mission: STS-81 on Atlantis.

Launch date, time: Jan. 12, 1997,4:17 a.m.

ELLIS FAIREY FRANCOIS KING REYNOLDS TALONE

Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS October 11, 1996

The Combined FederalCampaign (CFC) was createdmore than 30 years ago to bringa diversity of fund-raising effortsunder one umbrella. From amodest total of 50 initial fundrecipients, the program hasgrown to include more than1,100 agencies today. TheCFC’s annual campaign repre-sents a unique opportunity forfederal workers to pledge fundsto the national or local charitableorganization(s) of their choice.

The assistance provided byCFC-funded agencies extendsto every aspect of society and inBrevard County includes 48organizations that receive CFCfunding.

There are two levels ofparticipation in the annualcampaign. The Office ofPersonnel Management isresponsible for the screeningand approval of all CFC recipi-ents registering at the nationallevel, while Brevard Countyorganizations register with aLocal Federal CoordinatingCommittee that is responsiblefor the county-wide campaign.

The local committee is a six-member group that representsall federal agencies in thecounty. This year’s committeemembers are employed by the

45th Space Wing, the SocialSecurity Administration, theDefense Contract ManagementOrganization, the Postal Ser-vice, the U.S. Coast Guard and

NASA. This year’s committeechairperson is KSC’s BobbyBruckner of the Payload GroundOperations Directorate.

Each applicant for inclusionin the CFC is required to meet aseries of stringent qualificationrequirements that includes thesubmission of a budget and afull disclosure of what percent-age of monies received arerequired to cover administrativeoverhead. Generally, no morethan 25 percent of moniesreceived can be used to coveradministrative expenses.

County-wide employeeparticipation percentages in theannual campaign has droppednearly 28 percent in the pastfive years.

However, the averageamount collected has onlydropped a little more than 6percent during this same timeperiod.

This year’s slogan is “KSC -Keep Showing Compassion”and your participation is neededto help restore CFC's positivetrends. The campaign con-cludes on Nov. 1.

KSC kicks off CFC campaign with inspirational effort

Employees of the monthKSC seeks approvalfor new buyout plan

Kennedy Space Center is submitting abuyout plan offering up to $25,000 to eli-gible civil service employees to Headquar-ters for final approval.

As soon as approval is received, probablyby Nov. 1, applications will be accepted fromemployees interested in participating in theopportunity, said James L. Jennings, direc-tor of the Administration Office.

Details on the structure of the plan willbe available at that time, he said.

Initially, 325 employees have expressedan interest in taking part in a buyout,Jennings said. Experience has shown thatabout 60 percent of those who express in-terest actually follow through with thebuyout, which would mean about 200 KSCemployees could actually separate underthe plan.

The buyout authority was included in abudget agreement signed by PresidentClinton last month.

HONORED IN OCTOBER are, from the left, Rich Deakins, Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate;Roslyn McKinney, Administrtion Office Directorate; Marc Seibert, Payload Operations Directorate; KathleenHarer, Engineering Development Directorate; Zack Byrns, Space Shuttle Program Office; and WilliamPatrick, Shuttle Operations Directorate. Not pictured are Mary Poitier, Office of the Chief Financial Officer;Michael Brown, Installation Operations Directorate; Valarie Franklin, Logistics Operations Directorate; andElizabeth Brown, Procurement Office.

KSC ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Al Parrish looks on as Merrit Island High School's IslandSingers entertain during the Combined Federal Campaign kickoff rally Oct. 7 at theKSC Training Auditorium.

SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3October 11, 1996

By Howard Sterling

The NASA Safety Reporting System(NSRS) is a confidential, voluntary, andresponsive channel to notify NASA’supper management of any concernsemployees have about NASA programsor projects. The NSRS was establishedshortly after the Challenger accidentbased on a recommendation by thePresidential Commission to enhancecommunication. Originally designedfor the Shuttle program, it has sincebeen expanded to all of NASA’s pro-grams.

Anyone who is aware of any hazardto a NASA operation, mission, or per-sonnel, should notify a supervisor im-mediately, and use the standard NASAand contractor problem reporting sys-tem. If no satisfactory response is re-ceived, the concern should then be re-ported to the NSRS. Reports will re-ceive prompt attention and will behandled confidentially. Concerns maybe in engineering, manufacturing, ad-ministration, maintenance, support oroperations.

Any NASA or contractor employeemay use the NSRS by picking up anNSRS reporting form at any of themore than 75 display locationsthroughout the center. Forms are alsoavailable through the KSC NSRSchairperson at 867-3163. The formsshould be filled out as specifically aspossible, including part numbers andother information. Names, addressesand phone numbers should be includedso that the independent NSRS contrac-tor, Research Planning Incorporated(RPI), can contact the reporter for ad-ditional information. A summary ofthe concern is sent to the Safety officeat NASA Headquarters; however, thereporter’s identity is not included.

In an emergency, a concern can bereported by calling 911, then mailinga report to the NSRS Office.

NSRS provides extrameasure of KSC safety

'Mission Safety - Round Trip'theme of annual Safety Day

While safety is always an issue duringKennedy Space Center's launch processingactivities, it will be highlighted Oct. 23,NASA Safety Awareness Day, when a SafetyAppreciation Day is observed.

The appreciation day will feature thetheme "Mission Safety - Round Trip," pro-cessing safely from the ground up, throughdeployment and back to Earth. The goalsof Safety Awareness Day are to heightenawareness of potential safety hazards atwork and to promote safety. Center Direc-tor Jay Honeycutt has encouraged supervi-sors to take time to express appreciation toemployees when they are observed to bedoing their jobs properly and safely.

Activities on center to emphasize theevent include videos which will be shownon NASA Television channels 59 and 60throughout the day, safety contests and pro-grams sponsored by directorates and con-tractors.

For more information on safety eventsor to obtain brochures, videos or other ma-terials, contact Don Vycital at 867-6553.

Top tensafety tips

1. Extension cords are to beused for periods of less than sixmonths and should not be usedto replace permanent wiring.

2. Do not use homemadeextension cords. Use only thosein the KSC stock system.

3. Extension cords should notbe linked together in tandem ascircuits could become over-loaded.

4. Means of egress should bea minimum of 32 inches andshould be kept clear.

5. Work areas should be keptclean and orderly.

6. Files, books and othermaterials should not be stackedtoo high or on top of cabinetsthat could fall over.

7. Flammable and hazardouschemicals should be stored inapproved or certified lockers orcabinets.

8. Hand/guard rails on stepsand platforms should not beloose. Intermediate rails shouldbe installed where required.

9. Fire extinguishers shouldbe maintained in a workingcondition and access to themshould not be blocked.

10. Show appreciation forareas maintained in a safemanner.

Plastic bed liners, gascreate an explosive mix

The Kennedy Space Center has issued asafety awareness notice based on reportsof combustion caused by the fueling of gascans in the back of pickup trucks with plas-tic bed liners.

During the past six months there have23 reports of injuries or deaths nationwidefrom the phenomenon.

Several companies, including Ford Mo-tor Corporation, Standard Oil Company,amd Chevron Oil Company have issuedtechnical bulletins giving warnings aboutexplosions and fires from sparks that canbe caused by electric static discharge.

Investigations have determined that theincidents were caused by static electricitybuildup from the flow of fuel into the con-tainers sitting on the plastic bed liners,which were not grounded.

The technical bulletins recommend re-moving the cans from the pickup trucks andsetting them on the ground away from thevehicle for filling.

In addition, the containers should beproperly sealed and secured to prevent slid-ing and spillage while they are being trans-ported.

Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS October 11, 1996

Space Shuttle insulation will soon becommercially available to protect race cardrivers from the searing heat they endureduring competition through an agreementbetween NASA, Rockwell Space Systems,the insulation’s developer, and BSR/TPSProducts Inc., Mooresville, NC.

Kennedy Space Center Director JayHoneycutt placed a special space certifica-tion seal on the first kit to be made fromSpace Shuttle orbiter Thermal ProtectionSystem (TPS) materials Oct. 8 at BSR’sLakeside Park facility.

The BSR thermal protection kit is thefirst commercial use of Shuttle TPS insula-tion. It also is the first product to bear theMission HOME (Harvesting Opportunity forMother Earth) official seal, an indicator thata product was developed directly from U.S.space program technology. Mission HOMEis an effort by the U. S. Space Foundation,the National Space Society and major aero-space companies to inform Americans of thebenefits of space.

The certification initiative was created aspart of the Mission HOME’s “Take UpSpace” program, chaired by Apollo 13 Com-mander Jim Lovell. Companies earn theright to use the certification seal by under-going review by a panel of technology ex-perts.

The TPS tiles and blanket material pro-tect the orbiters from temperatures as highas 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit experienced asthey re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere dur-ing the final phase of a Shuttle mission. BSRwill manufacture blanket insulation kits forinstallation on stock cars that race inNASCAR events, as well as other types ofrace cars, through its nationwide catalogdistribution system. Rockwell Space Sys-tems developed the TPS material for NASA’sfleet of Shuttle orbiters at KSC.

The insulation is the same type that hasbeen tested and race-proven on Penske Rac-ing Inc.’s No. 2 Ford Thunderbird driven byveteran NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace.Wallace has raced several times with thematerial and participated in an instru-mented test at Daytona InternationalSpeedway in April 1996. KSC workers ap-plied a prototype TPS insulation system onthe car at the space center through a SpaceAct agreement in October 1995.

During the Daytona test, the insulationreduced temperatures in the cockpit ofWallace’s car by 30 to 50 degrees. Withoutsuch protection, experts have estimatedthat temperatures inside the driver’s cock-pit during a race can reach up to 160 de-grees.

Although drivers are cooled with forcedair systems and protected by fire-retardantsuits, they have been burned and blisteredby the tremendous heat transferred throughthe engine firewall, transmission tunneland floor.

“This is a breakthrough,” Wallace said ata press briefing after the Daytona test ear-lier this year. “I am totally impressed withthis material. I feel that the TPS materialhelps the whole car run cooler, and thecooler the car is the better the performance.”

Cooler cars will also increase the safetyfactor, since drivers will have better con-

centration and will be more alert, Wallacesaid.

“This is a win-win situation, both forNASCAR and the space agency,” Wallacesaid. “I want to give a huge endorsement tothe racing community about what NASAhas done to help us.”

Space Act agreements are a part ofNASA’s Dual Use program, where theagency partners with industry to developtechnology for use by the space center thatalso has potential for the commercial mar-ket. The original effort to install TPS ma-terial on Wallace’s car at KSC was broughtabout through an agreement betweenPenske Racing, Rockwell and the spacecenter’s Technology Programs and Commer-cialization Office.

Honeycutt, a racing fan, first recom-mended TPS insulation to NASCAR raceteam manager Bobby Allison. Allison thenpassed the concept along to Roger Penske.KSC employees worked with Penske’s teamto develop and perfect the final insulationkit design.

“We have a real opportunity to reach agroup of Americans who otherwise don’trealize how space impacts their lives,”Honeycutt said in reference to the racingcommunity and racing fans. ”This is a greatopportunity for us to promote space andrespond to commercialization outreach.”

VETERAN NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace, left, checks out a piece of Space Shuttle insulation that was installed onhis Ford Thunderbird race car after a fully instrumented test was conducted at Daytona International Speedway todetermine how well the heat reduction system would work under race track conditions. To his left are RockwellInternational project engineer Suzanne Hodge and NASA/KSC Thermal Protection System Facility (TPSF) managerBruce Lockley.The offical HOME seal is shown below.

Shuttle insulationin race cars getsseal of approval

SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5October 11, 1996

As in past years, October has been desig-nated Quality month. Kennedy Space Cen-ter is again planning several activities to re-affirm its commitment to Continual Im-provement and quality.

Quality month events include: * The eighth annual KSC Teams recep-

tion which was held at the Radisson Resortat the Port on Oct. 8. Associate Director AlParrish and motivational speaker DavidCrocker were scheduled at press time to ad-dress the group.

* Astronauts will visit NASA and con-tractor employees during the month.

* Posters displaying quality quotes andphotographs will be displayed in KSC caf-eterias and lobbies.

* Pyramid style paperweights will bedistributed to all employees.

* KSC billboards will display qualityawareness information throughout themonth.

Success stories recognizing quality con-tributions by KSC improvement teams willbe presented in Spaceport News in two parts.The first series begins below:

NASAX-33 Program EnvironmentalAssessment Team Mission: Develop an assessment to de-termine the environmental impacts of theX-33 program.

Method: Consolidated the resources ofthe Marshall Space Flight Center Environ-mental Engineering and Management Of-fice and the KSC Environmental ProgramOffice, Natural Resources Program Groupwhich provided technical support and writ-ing for much of the document.

Results: This cooperative effort savedNASA approximately $250,000 in contractcosts by utilizing in-house NASA expertise.

KSC Travel TeamMission: To identify customers of the

Travel Office, provide timely, efficient andaccurate processing of travel orders, vouch-ers and various information as requested.

Method: Flowcharted travel processes,implemented the use of Automated TellerMachines (ATMs) and Direct Deposit (DD).

Results: Through flowcharting, stream-lining was achieved by reducing applicablereports by 83 percent, saving time and la-bor costs. ATM implementation offered con-venience, while Direct Deposit ensured re-imbursements are received in 48 hours ver-sus a week. Direct Deposit usage increasedby 98 percent.

EG&G Florida Inc.Financial Management Team

Mission: Improve NASA/contractor fi-nancial management report (Form 533) pro-cess.

Method: Team improved upon previousprocess, which involved manual efforts in-cluding redundant typing, data entry, proof-ing and copying, by producing an electronicform which can be retrieved by user, viewed,printed and downloaded to any otherspreadsheet as necessary.

Results: The improved process accom-plishes a single point of entry ensuring thatthe same data is reproduced throughout thesystem.

Facility Project TeamMission: Improve facility project man-

agement process.Method: Improved project estimates and

established and implemented methods ofreviewing and improving project require-ments based on regulatory compliancy andoperational value.

Results: Improved communications andteaming in operations, engineering, con-tracting, construction, resource manage-ment and program integration which haveresulted in reducing project schedule vari-ance from 30 percent to less than 10 per-cent and reducing cost performance vari-ance to less than five percent.

United Space AllianceAutomated Pen-based ProblemReporting System Team

Mission: To develop and implement anautomated inspection problem reportingsystem for the Thermal Protection System(TPS) on the Space Shuttle orbiter.

Method: The team acquired hand-heldpen-based computers and customized soft-ware to improve the problem/discrepancyreport process.

Results: The handscribed post-flight in-spection process was reduced from 65 to 40days per flow.

Tracer Pattern Specialists TeamMission: To eliminate obsolete and di-

lapidated tracer patterns for orbiter tiles,improve storage, reduce recall time and im-prove records.

Method: The team transferred ThermalProtection System (TPS) tracer pattern stor-age from logistics to the Pattern Shop, re-viewed and disposed of dilapidated and agedpatterns, and developed a database to man-age storage information.

Results: Tracer pattern processing timewas reduced from six hours to 33 minutes apattern, which results in a 2,970 hour yearlysavings. The team also found old tiles thatcould be used for training material and pub-lic relations demonstrations. This resultedin a $500,000 savings.

McDonnell DouglasAerospace Space & DefenseSystems - KSCCredit Card Implementation Team

Mission: To provide a more cost-effectivemethod of acquiring low dollar, high volumematerial and services.

Method: The team developed require-ments, procedures and a cardholdersmanual outlining the credit card purchas-ing process. The team interfaced with Gen-eral Electric (GE), McDonnell Douglas Cor-porate and cross-directorate teammates andcustomers to perform system developments,enhancements and modifications.

Results: The credit card usage provideda new approach to purchasing and reducedexpenses and cycle times. Cash flow andoverall efficiencies of accounting and pro-curement were improved. The three monthpilot program affirmed a successful imple-mentation of the mission.

Operations Support & DepotMaintenance ISO Pilot Project Team

Mission: To serve as a test team fortransition to new benchmarks for qualityand performance set by the InternationalOrganization for Standardization (ISO9001) and adopted by NASA.

Method: The team developed an 11-stepapproach upon completion of initial fact-finding. The keys to the success of the ap-proach were technical and familiarizationtraining, internal gap analysis, an actionplan to close the gaps and development of agraphic tree for monitoring compliance.

Results: The project was completed insix months and the division achieved com-pliance in January 1996.

Success stories document savings, efficiency during Quality Month

Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS October 11, 1996

Vernon Sylvia has been in just aboutevery building at the Kennedy SpaceCenter during his nearly 16 years as adesign engineer.

Over the years he has found it easier toget into many of them, thanks largely to theefforts of the Disability Awareness andAction Working Group (DAAWG) andfederal laws requiring accessibility to thosewith disabilities.

Sylvia was born with cerebral palsy. Thecondition is caused by damage to the brainand usually occurs before, during or shortlyafter birth. It is characterized by an inabilityto fully control motor function and can resultin spasms, tonal problems, involuntarymovement, disturbance in gait and mobility,seizures, abnormal sensation and percep-tion, impairment of sight, hearing orspeech, and mental retardation.

Despite seven operations to straightenhis legs and ease his gait, Sylvia stillstruggles to make it up stairs and to walklong distances. He wore braces on his legsuntil he was 13.

The challenges he faced as a childwere nearly overwhelming.

"You can imagine the teasing that goesalong with wearing leg braces and walkingfunny,” he said. As he prepared to graduatefrom Jones High Schoolin Orlando, ateacher asked him what his plans were forthe future. “I hadn’t really considered that Icould go on and make something ofmyself,” he said. Encouraged by histeacher he went on the University ofCentral Florida where he majored inengineering design technology. In January1979, he started his KSC career with thePlanning Research Corporation. He nowworks for United Space Alliance.

The challenges Sylvia faced in his earlylife gave him a perspective he says hewouldn’t have developed otherwise. “I’macutely aware of people with disabilities,”he said. “We take it for granted that wehave healthy bodies until we don’t havehealthy bodies.”

That awareness is being extended tothe work force through groups likeDAAWG, he said.

“There are little things that start to benoticed. You have to be keenly aware at alltimes to determine whether we’re excludingpeople just because they’re disabled.When you notice little things at work youshould make your supervisor aware ofthem.”

In his position, which requires him toconduct walk-throughs and inspections ofbuildings throughout the center, Sylvia hasnoticed that many of the things that wouldhave been potential problems in the pasthave been rectified at KSC.

“NASA has a good attitude aboutmeeting needs,” he said.

Just in the last several years parking lotaccess for those with disabilities has beentremendously improved; ramps have beeninstalled to give access to trailers andfacilities with stairs; restrooms have beenmodified to allow wheelchair access; manydoors have been equipped with automaticopeners; and kickplates have been placedon the bottoms of glass doors. Technologi-cal developments have opened up a wholenew range of improvements by offeringvoice command computers and tele-phones, video aids such as head setswhich will magnify images on a televisionscreen, scanners for the hearing impairedand pagers and buzzers that can be usedto supplement audio weather announce-ments. Some of those features and otherswill be on display at a technology fair to be

held by the DAAWG Oct. 16 in the Head-quarters lobby area and Oct. 17 in theOperations Support Building lobby.

Sylvia said he joined the DAAWG lastyear and has been impressed by thegroup’s progress in improving accessibilityand awareness.

While working a job that requires balanc-ing seven to eight things at a time, Sylviasaid he appreciates not having to worryabout daily concerns that foresight andconsideration can eliminate.

SCOTTY CARNAHAN, center, has contributedto KSC's focus on Disabilitiy Awareness Monthby loaning the KSC Visitor Center a woodenSpace Shuttle he built as a high school project.Carnahan, who has cerebral palsy, met ShuttleProcessing employee Jan Zysco, pictured atright, at the Lakeland Air Show last spring andsent him pictures of his work. Zysco, after seeingthe pictures and hearing about Carnahan's otheraccomplishments, including skydiving, arrangedwith his co-worker Cindy Coddington, at left, forCarrahan to show his model through October.

Disability Awareness Month focuses on technology, education

DAAWG keeps currenton issues, technologyrelated to disabilities

A group at Kennedy Space Centerworks diligently to keep current onprograms, products and issues thataffect people with disabilities at KSC.

The Disability Awareness and Ac-tion Working Group advises the cen-ter director on matters relating toemployees with disabilities andserves as a resource for the EqualOpportunity Program Office, the Ad-ministration Office and others.

The group, which includes bothNASA and contractor employees,works to serve as an effective advo-cate for hiring individuals with dis-abilities; to enhance awareness of thecapabilities and value of employeeswith disabilities; to remove barriersthat hinder employees with disabili-ties from working at their full poten-tial; and to provide a forum for dis-cussion and resolution of issues con-cerning people with disabilities.

Sterling Walker, director of Me-chanical Engineering, is the chair-man of DAAWG and Leon Wichmannof the Procurement Office is co-chair.

Besides high-visibility work suchas structural changes and buildingmodifications, the DAAWG has beenworking on developing the educa-tional aspects of their mission. Oneof the latest innovations is an InternetHome Page which should debut dur-ing the Technology Fair at the follow-ing address: http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/groups/daawg.

SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7October 11, 1996

Two Processing Engineering em-ployees have been recognized byNASA's Technology Transfer Office forarticles accepted by NASA's presti-gious technological publication TechBriefs. Ivan Velez wrote a piece titled"Relative-Height Monitor Aids Maneu-vering of Large Objects" which ap-peared in the August edition of thepublication.

The article addresses the use of alaser to measure the vertical distancebetween two horizontal planes. Hissecond article, "Optical Horizontal-Displacement Sensors for Crane Pay-loads" discusses how a laser lightsource can give a crane operatorknowledge of whether a crane hook isvertically right below a crane, elimi-nating potential erratic movement inthe transfer of payloads. It will appearin a future edition.

Lewis Lineberger's article "Spread-sheet Fourier Analysis of RepetitiveData Signals" in the September edi-tion focuses on a formula that can beadapted to spreadsheet applications toprovide an analytical tool for lookingat repetitive data strains.

IVAN VELEZ, left, receives a NASA Certificate ofRecognition from Rudolf Seiffer, a technicalassistant in Process Engineering.

LEWIS LINEBERGER, left, receives the Certificateof Recognition from Seiffer.

Engineers recognizedfor 'Tech Briefs' stories Child Development Center director named

DENISE SULLIVAN-JOHNSON has been named director of Kennedy Space Center's Child DevelopmentCenter. Before accepting the Child Development Center position, Sullivan-Johnson served as general managerof the Discovery Zone Children's Fun and Fitness Center in Melbourne. She has also worked as programadministrator/preschool director at the Bear Hugs Childcare & Preschool in Palm Bay and as preschooldirector for the Apollo Preschool in Palm Bay. Sullivan-Johnson has a bachelor of professional sciencedegree in human services from Suny College of Technology in Utica, New York. She lives in Melbourne. TheKSC Exchange Council began operation of the Child Development Center Sept. 30. An open house isscheduled for Oct. 15. Fees range from $80 a week for preschoolers (from 3 to 5 years old) to $100 a weekfor infants. Sibling discounts of 10 percent a week for a second child and 15 percent a week for a third childare available. There is also a one-time registration fee of $50. A special sign-up offer through Dec. 31waives the registration fee and includes one week's free tuition. For more information, call 867-KIDS.

Pathfinder petals gently closedin preparation for Mars mission

PETALS ON THE Mars Pathfinder lander were closed Oct. 5 by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) engineers andtechnicians in KSC's Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility (SAEF-2). When the lander touches down onMars next year, a pyrotechnic system will deploy its three petals to open like a flower and allow the Sojournerautonomous Rover to explore the Martian surface. The Pathfinder is scheduled for launch Dec. 2.

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Spaceport News The Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy SpaceCenter and is published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Officein the interest of KSC civil service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted two weeks be-fore publication to the Media Services Branch, PA-MSB. E-mail submis-sions can be sent to Barbara.Compton-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov

Managing editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa MaloneEditor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Barb ComptonEditorial support provided by Sherikon Space Systems Inc. writers group.

USGPO: 733-096/20031

SPACEPORT NEWS October 11, 1996Page 8

SES. . .(Continued from Page 1)

Mission Assurance Directorate.He has served as acting directorof Quality Assurance since June1995. He served previously asdeputy director, Ground Engi-neering in the Shuttle Process-ing Directorate.

Stephen Francois is desig-nated as director, InternationalSpace Station Launch Site Sup-port in the Payload ProcessingDirectorate. He previouslyheaded the Space StationLaunch Site Support Office andis currently serving as actingdirector, International SpaceStation Launch Site Support.

David King is designateddeputy director of Shuttle Pro-cessing. He has served as deputydirector of Installation Opera-tions since September 1995. Heserved as flow director for theSpace Shuttle Discovery from1992 to 1995.

Joel Reynolds will serve as

director, Safety and Reliabilityin the Safety and Mission Assur-ance Directorate. He has beenassigned as acting director,Safety and Reliability sinceApril 1995. He served previouslyas deputy director, Safety andReliability.

Ralph Roe, Jr. is desig-nated director, Process Engi-neering in the Shuttle Process-ing Directorate. He is now act-ing director, Process Engineer-ing. Prior to this assignment heserved as chief, Fluid SystemsDivision in Processing Engineer-ing. Roe was out of town and notavailable to be photographed.

John (Tip) Talone, Jr. isdesignated director, Space Sta-tion Hardware Integration Of-fice. He has served as acting di-rector, Space Station HardwareIntegration Office, since its in-ception in April 1996. He previ-ously served as flow director forthe Space Shuttles Columbia,Discovery and Endeavour.

be geared more to managingunusual and critical issues thatmay occur during shuttle pro-cessing. NASA will retain ulti-mate responsibility for safeSpace Shuttle operations andwill continue to direct high-levelmanagement of the SpaceShuttle program and flight op-erations. A variety of mecha-nisms — such as structured sur-veillance and audits, reviews ofunusual “out of family” prob-lems, safety performance grad-ing that is linked to thecontract’s award fees, and a de-tailed system of metrics — willbe used to ensure that safety al-ways remains the contractorshighest priority.

The new single prime con-tract, called the Space FlightOperations Contract (SFOC),replaces 12 previous individualcontracts, the largest two ofwhich had covered shuttleground processing work atKennedy Space Center, per-formed by Lockheed-MartinSpace Operations and shuttle

operations work performed byRockwell Space Operations Co.at the Johnson Space Center,Houston. USA is a joint ventureannounced last year byRockwell and Lockheed-Martinin preparation to compete forNASA’s request for a singleshuttle operations contract.

This is the first phase of theSFOC, and its content includespreparatory work for operation

of the International Space Sta-tion as well as the SpaceShuttle. A second phase of theSFOC that may be negotiatedwith USA could include another16 contracts covering the supplyof such critical Space Shuttlecomponents as the main en-gines, external tank and solidrockets. The second phase ofconsolidation may result in evengreater cost reductions for thegovernment.

The Phase I contract includesa unique incentive that rewardsUSA for cost savings. The incen-tive allows the contractor to re-tain 35 percent of any cost sav-ings, while 65 percent of the sav-ings go back to the government.Conversely, the contractor willbe penalized in a similar fash-ion for any cost overrun.

The SFOC's provisions for

NASA's semi-annual grading ofthe contractor's performance --grades which determine theamount of fee, or profit, awardedto the contractor each sixmonths -- are designed to em-phasize safety. As part of thestandard contract provisionsthat have NASA grade the over-all performance of the contrac-tor each six months, SFOC con-tains the first-ever provision fora performance grade basedsolely on safety. Any safetygrade less than "very good" alsowould eliminate the cost-reduc-tion incentive feature for thepast six months, a provision de-signed to guard against the pos-sibility of an overzealous con-tractor cost reduction effort im-pacting shuttle safety.

To ensure safety is main-tained, the transition of respon-sibilities from NASA to USA forday-to-day shuttle operationswill be performed on a highlystructured, job-by-job basis.

For each task where the leadresponsibility is changed fromNASA to the contractor, over-sight will be provided by NASAuntil the government has deter-mined the contractor is ready toassume responsibility for thetask. Other contract stipula-tions include a requirement thatUSA inform NASA immediatelyabout all problems encounteredwith highly critical shuttle com-ponents and any abnormal "outof family" problems.

SFOC. . .(Continued from Page 1)

CUTTING THE CAKE during an Oct. 4 picnic for USA employees at KARS I are, fromthe left, Mike McCulley, USA's vice president and associate program manager for GroundOperations at KSC; Kent Black, USA's chief executive officer; Dan Goldin, NASAadministrator; Bob Sieck, director of Shuttle Operations, and George Abbey, director ofthe Johnson Space Center.