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

Feb. 16, 2001

John F. Kennedy Space Center

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

Vol. 40, No. 4

Pages 4-5 – Spaceport Newsgoes inside Life Support.

Page 8 – NASA FlightOperations partners with U.S.Fish and Wildlife to fight fires.

Page 3 – African-AmericanHistory Month Luncheon servesup inspiration.

Inside

Page 2 – “Recognizing ourpeople” debuts.

(See SERPL, Page 6)

Page 6 – Third Italian module,Donatello, arrives.

Spaceport News is introducinga new feature, “Recognizing ourpeople” on page 2. The newsection will highlight awards,retirements and presentationsto employees. The page also willbe a place to recognizeemployees on the job with a“Personal Profile.”

New feature KSC teams with students on FIRST

Rockledge High students Ben Hanzl, left, and AdamHart use a band saw in the Prototype Shop to cut signsfor the new robot, identified as No. 233.

The SERPL Real Property Use Permit Agreement between Spaceport Florida Authority and Kennedy SpaceCenter is signed by SFA Executive Director Ed Gormel, left, and Center Director Roy Bridges.

(See FIRST, Page 7)

It’s an educator’s dream: A way to pass on thelearning of the present to the doers of tomorrow.From January to March, that dream is turned intoreality at Kennedy Space Center as engineer mentorsand students work side by side developing equipmentto fulfill a task.

They are taking part in the annual FIRST competi-tion, pitting robots on a playing field against eachother and the clock. The robots are designed and builtby the student/mentor teams.

The event has been held at KSC for two years, togrowing enthusiasm and expertise. Kennedy hassponsored a local team for five years. Two participat-ing schools, Rockledge High and Cocoa Beach High,are building their robot in the KSC Prototype Shop.

Mike Dininny, lead for all manufacturing processingin the Shop, has been part of FIRST for three years.

He is high on the enthusiasm the program gener-ates, not only among the students but himself andother KSC mentors as well. He added, “It’s fun toshow the kids what we can do in the shop and maybe,after working here, they will be better engineers whenthey design equipment in the future.”

Student Terry Ashby is enjoying his first year as aFIRST team member. He likes “learning about a lot ofequipment” from the milling machine to the computer.

Another first-timer is KSC engineer Dan Whitworth,with the Spaceport Engineering Development Director-ate. He is helping with the electrical system on the

SERPL construction beginsNASA KSC management and

State of Florida representativesgathered under a tent near S.R. 3 onFeb. 8, to break ground for theconstruction of a three-mileroadway and a 100,000-square-footresearch facility made possiblethrough their unique partnership.

The Space Experiment Research& Processing Laboratory (SERPL)will be the magnet facility for aproposed 400-acre Space Com-merce Park, located south of theKennedy Space Center VisitorComplex.

During the ceremony, Florida’sLt. Governor Frank Brogan andCenter Director Roy Bridges Jr.spoke to the invited guests aboutthe need for a facility that focuseson technology development.

Among others participating inthe groundbreaking were Jan

Personal Profile

SPACEPORT NEWS Feb. 16, 2001Page 2

Employees of the Month

Name: Mae Griffin

Job: Mobile driver

Responsibilities:Delivering food

Company: LackmannCulinary Services Inc.

Years at KSC: 32 years

Most interesting aspect ofmy job: Getting to watch allthe launches. I’ve beenwatching launches heresince the Apollo and Geminidays. I never get tired ofthem. It’s always exciting.

My most rewardingexperience here: Beingjoyful for my customers.

What people don’t knowabout my job: I make 39stops a day across theCenter in the SnackMobile.

Gold Quality Dollar

Brenda Johnson,Wyle Laboratories

William “Bill” Simmons,Wyle Laboratories

Melanie Chan,NASA Spaceport Engi-neering and Technology

Jan Zysko,NASA Spaceport Engi-neering and Technology

Silver Snoopy

Sandra Weethee,United Space Alliance

Dr. Dennis Raichart,Space Gateway Support

Bruce Olseen,Space Gateway Support

Harold “Hal” Herring,Computer SciencesRaytheon

Mark Paxton,United Space Alliance

Kimberly Serfozo,Boeing Human Space-flight and Exploration

Donald Stieler,Boeing Human Space-flight and Exploration

Douglas Stillwagon,Boeing Human Space-flight and Exploration

Carmen Moore,Boeing Human Space-flight and Exploration

Mark Hudson,Boeing Human Space-flight and Exploration

Sherry Reed,Boeing Human Space-flight and Exploration

February employees of themonth are, from left, JulieCaimi, Procurement Office;Maria Selzer, ShuttleProcessing Directorate;Amador Capellin, LaunchIntegration Office; PollyGardiner, International SpaceStation/Payloads ProcessingDirectorate; and RalondaFarrant, SpaceportEngineering and TechnologyDirectorate. Not pictured areCarl Thorn, SpaceportServices; Doug Newsom,ELV and Payload CarriersProgram Office; and KarrollPurer, External Relations andBusiness Development.

Awards

Recognizing our people

SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3Feb. 16, 2001

African-American Luncheon inspiresThe 2001 African-American

History Month Luncheon on Feb. 7provided inspiration and good foodto about 400 participants.

Held at the Debus ConferenceFacility at the Kennedy SpaceCenter Visitor Complex, theluncheon recognized achievementsof African-Americans over theyears and recognized some ofKennedy Space Center’s ownheroes.

The luncheon was sponsored bythe Black Employee Strategy Team(BEST) with Michelle Amos andMichael Bell leading the event.

“We’re here to celebrate thecontributions of African-Americansto this great nation and what itstands for,” said Center DirectorRoy Bridges. “God willing, we’regoing to launch the U.S. LabDestiny today. Many African-Americans in the space programhave helped make that possible.”

Bridges noted several engineersand STS-98 astronaut RobertCurbeam by name as representa-tives of many others who havecontributed to the InternationalSpace Station.

Keynote speaker Ray Johnsonasked the audience to rededicatethemselves to the mission ofhelping to improve the lives ofthose who are not reaching theirfull potential.

“Let’s stay on task, on time andon a mission,” Johnson said.“There are still too many who don’tknow where they’ve come from.You have to know where you’vebeen to know who you are.”

When Johnson speaks to youth,he said, he points out theirancestors built the pyramids andlists many other modern achieve-ments of African Americans.

As founder and principal of thehighly regarded Paul RobesonAcademy in Detroit, Johnson hasbeen a pioneer in the realm ofcharacter education, acceleratedlearning, multi-cultural and African-centered curriculum.

The luncheon program includedan African-American history videolisting heroes of history, includingthose who have contributed to thespace program as astronauts.

Among them were Robert

Lawrence Jr. and Ron McNair(deceased), Guion Bluford, MaeJemison and KSC’s own JoanHigginbotham.

During the luncheon, BESThonored retired employees andfounding BEST members Jay DiggsJr., former Director of the EqualOpportunity Office and AlfredMcGee for their work at KSC.

Latoya Sutton, a stay-in-schoolstudent from Rockledge HighSchool was awarded the firstEvelyn Johnson Scholarship inhonor of Johnson who at the time

of her death was the DeputyDirector of the Equal OpportunityOffice at KSC and a mentor andsupporter of higher education.

A number of special guests werehonored at the luncheon.

They were Gen. Marcie Harris,Florida site director for UnitedSpace Alliance; Maj. Gen., Ret.,Titus C. Hall, and his wife,Clarissa; Ret. Lt. Col. Hiram Mann,a World War II fighter pilot with theTuskegee Airmen; Judge RobertDecatur, who served underThurgood Marshall’s NAACP

Legal Defense Team and an original“Tuskegee Airman”; Dr. BessieCooper Noble, author and SyracuseUniversity professor; JerryDemings, Orlando police chief; ValDemings, captain in the OrlandoPolice Dept.; and Raphael Davis,WFTV Channel 9 general assign-ment reporter.

This year is the 75th anniversaryof the establishment of “NegroHistory Week” by Dr. Carter G.Woodson and the 25th anniversaryof Black History Month establishedby President Gerald Ford.

At left, Kennedy Space CenterDirector Roy Bridges and keynotespeaker Ray Johnson standtogether in the buffet line at theAfrican-American History MonthLuncheon. Both leaders offeredinspiring words during the event,which was held at the DebusConference Facility at the KSCVisitor Complex. Above, luncheonguests serve themselves at thebuffet table. About 400 peopleattended the event. The luncheonwas held to recognize theachievements of African-Americans, including those whohave contributed to the spaceprogram.

Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS Feb. 16, 2001

InsideLife Support

Various types of life supportequipment used at Kennedy SpaceCenter and Cape Canaveral AirForce Station are maintained andrepaired at the Life Support Facilityin Hanger S.

Joint Base Operations Contractsubcontractor Wyle Laboratories isresponsible for keeping in workingorder more than 10,000 pieces of lifesupport equipment stored atHangar S at CCAFS or in otherlocations across the CapeCanaveral Spaceport.

Wyle Laboratories uses adetailed record-keeping system tokeep track of the critical equipmentand to ensure each piece isregularly tested, maintained and, ifnecessary, repaired or replaced,said Dennis Dudzinski, Wyle’smanager for Life Support.

The group also uses the systemto respond to customer requestsfor changes in service or modifica-tion to the equipment whenfeasible, he said.

Two pieces of commonly knownequipment on the Center, main-tained by the Life Support group,are SCAPE (self-contained atmo-spheric protective ensemble) suits

and ELSAs (emergency life supportapparatus).

SCAPE suits are used in opera-tions involving toxic propellantsand are supplied with air eitherthrough a hardline (used withCategory IV or Category VI SCAPEsuits) or through a self-containedEnvironmental Control Unit (usedwith Category I SCAPE suits).

Because even a nick in theSCAPE suit’s material can affect itsability to protect the wearer fromexposure to hazardous materials,the suits must be thoroughlychecked after each use and repairsmade where needed.

The Life Support group spendsmuch of its time cleaning andrepairing the 600 SCAPE suits inaddition to sending out teams tosuit up workers at launch pads andother facilities when requested bySpaceport customers.

Wyle maintains SCAPE suits forbetween 4,000 to 6,000 suitingseach year, depending upon thelaunch rate for the year.

Another major role for the groupis maintaining the more than 6,000ELSAs across the Spaceport.

The ELSAs provide 5, 7 or 10

minutes of air in case hazardousfumes create the need for emer-gency egress.

ELSAs are inspected once amonth and flow-tested each year.

The Life Support group alsokeeps emergency life supportequipment for astronauts andrescue personnel ready for action.

KSC/CCAFS Fire DepartmentCaptain George Hoggard said hisstaff are among many workers atthe Spaceport who appreciatehaving their life support equipmentregularly serviced and maintainedby the group.

“Much of the equipment we usein our job is life support equipment.We depend upon it in a big way,”Hoggard said. “When they give usa piece of equipment, we know it’sgoing to work.”

Because life support equipmentmay be needed anytime of the dayor night, the Life Support employ-ees are split over three shifts.

“We’re here anytime our custom-ers need us,” Dudzinski said.“Because of the nature of what wedo, safety is paramount andproviding good customer service isessential.”

Team dedicated to providing safe service

BC

Wyle Life Support technician Gary Sera

A SCAPE Transporter Van parked in front of Hangar S.

Tom Seberry works on a Environmental Control Unit (ECU) in the ECU Maintenance Shop.

Page 5SPACEPORT NEWSFeb. 16, 2001

Betty Flowe runs the Life Support scheduling office “PulseCenter,” where customers call for support.

Absalom Fergusonassists a SCAPEoperator donning aSCAPE suit with anEnvironmentalControl Unit.

Jim Sayler moves a SCAPE suit.

Wyle Life Support Manager Dennis Dudzinski and technician ToddJohnson review SCAPE suit inspection data.

atzki tests a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus mask.

Robert Chambers repairs a SCAPE suit.

Mike McLeod cleans a SCAPE suit.

Feb. 16, 2001 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 6

SERPL ...(Continued from Page 1)

Donatello arrivesThe Italian Space Agency’s “Donatello” Multi-PurposeLogistics Module, at right, the third of three such modulesfor the International Space Station (ISS), arrived atKennedy Space Center Feb. 1 and was transported to theSpace Station Processing Facility. It arrived on a specialAirbus “Beluga” air cargo plane, below, from the factory ofAlenia Aerospazio in Turin, Italy. Donatello, a reusablelogistics carrier, is one of Italy’s major contributions to theISS program. The logistics modules are the primarydelivery system used to resupply and return Station cargorequiring a pressurized environment. The cylindricalmodule is approximately 21 feet long, 15 feet in diameterand weighs almost 4.5 tons. Donatello will be launched onmission STS-130, currently planned for September 2004.

Heuser, program manager ofSERPL; JoAnn Morgan, director ofExternal Relations and BusinessDevelopment; Dr. Pamella Dana,director of the Office of Tourism,Trade and Economic Development,Florida; Congressman DaveWeldon; Dr. Samuel Durrance,executive director of the FloridaSpace Research Institute; andCheryl Harrison-Lee, districtmanager of the Florida Departmentof Transportation.

The SERPL facility will supportthe development and processing oflife sciences experiments destinedfor the International Space Stationand accommodate NASA, industryand academic researchers perform-ing associated biological research.

The Florida Space ResearchInstitute and the University ofFlorida will have a permanentpresence within SERPL and will beusing the facility for biological andspace-related academic andresearch activities.

“The SERPL facility and theCommerce Park will contribute tothe expansion and diversification ofNASA, commercial, academic andinternational space programs in ourstate,” said Brogan. “Together with

NASA, Florida is investing in thesuccess of the International SpaceStation, and in the commercialpotential for space-related technol-ogy development in our state.”

He emphasized how the explora-tion of space has already betteredour lives and using the SpaceStation to find cures and explorespace will ultimately lead toenhancing the quality of life.

“What is good for space is goodfor our people, and what is goodfor our people is good for space,”he said.

An unannounced element of theceremony was the signing of theSERPL Real Property Use Permitbetween Spaceport FloridaAuthority and Kennedy SpaceCenter, represented by ExecutiveDirector Ed Gormel and CenterDirector Roy Bridges, respectively.

“The signing,” said Bridges, “issymbolic of how all of the factors[have come together] beforebreaking ground.”

He added, “This project wasnever about a road and a buildingbut about a new partnershipbetween the federal and stategovernment and universities andwhat the partnership can do. Letthe record show that we didsomething right today to ensurethe future of our grandchildren.”

Destiny on the rise

Atlantis surpassed the full moon for beauty as it roared into theearly evening sky trailing a tail of smoke at 6:13 p.m. on Feb. 7. TheShuttle carried a crew of five and the U.S. Laboratory Destiny, akey module in the growth of the Space Station, on mission STS-98.

SPACEPORT NEWSFeb. 16, 2001

FIRST ...(Continued from Page 1)

Whitworth says “Working withthe students is a good learningtool. They teach us, too. It’s like atraining session to hone our skills.”

Not all activities on the team aredesigning and building the robot.

Renee Lippert, a junior atRockledge High School, has beenwith the team for three years. Reneeis project manager, in charge offundraising, spirit, and generalorganization.

Renee has declared a goal thisyear of seeking “letter” status atschool for FIRST participation.

“The school has academic lettersand sports letters,” said Lippert.“We combine both – not playing agame but also designing Roccobot2K.”

Demetrius Taylor is anotherRockledge High student with aunique role to play. He is helpingdevelop a 30-second animation ofthe robot. Demetrius frequents thePrototype Shop to check on therobot but then works on his projectat Headquarters in the DynacsDigital Media Lab.

Eduardo Lopez del Castillo, withthe External Affairs and BusinessDevelopment Directorate, coordi-nates the FIRST team competitionat KSC. He is just as enthusiasticabout the event as the students.

“My goal at Kennedy is to makethis program a developmentalassignment opportunity for NASAand contractor engineers andtechnicians to be able to sharpentheir skills operating the CAD andengineering analysis software andmanufacturing tools that we use atKennedy to develop groundsupport equipment,” said Lopez delCastillo. “This will contribute toequipping Kennedy with the talentneeded to get more involved in thedevelopment of future vehiclecomponents, robots and supportequipment to be used in spacecolonies. Other skills the programhelps develop are applied projectmanagement, system engineering,manufacturing, rapid prototyping,team work and communications.”

KSC’s involvement with FIRSTexpanded after NASA Administra-tor Dan Goldin signed a Memoran-dum of Understanding with DeanKamen, founder of FIRST, in the

Spring of 1999.Since then, KSC involvement has

been divided into two major efforts:1) Sponsoring the Space Coast

FIRST Team, a partnership betweenNASA/KSC, Lockheed Martin,Dynacs, Alpha MRC, Inc., SpaceShirts, The Brevard SchoolFoundation, Rockledge High andCocoa Beach High; and

2) hosting the NASA/KSC-FIRST Southeastern RoboticsCompetition at the Visitor Complex.KSC has a Southeast RegionalPlanning Committee comprisingindividuals from different officeswithin NASA, contractors and thecommunity.

This year the Kennedy Competi-tion will take place March 1-3. Fortyteams have registered to partici-

pate, a 33 percent increase over lastyear. More than 2,500 people areexpected to come from all overFlorida, as well as teams fromVirginia, Massachusetts, Indianaand a few other states.

Volunteers of technical and non-technical background are neededfor the 3-day event. Those inter-ested in participating should

In the Prototype Shop, Ian Myers, Rockledge High School, checks lastyear’s robot the team has modified to practice maneuvers on. The ramp isa new feature in this year’s contest.

Lead and mentor Mike Dininny talks about scheduling with two of the Rockledge High students on the team: first-timer Terry Ashby, background, and Renee Lippert, back to camera, a three-year veteran.

Page 7

“This (work withstudents) will contributeto equipping Kennedywith the talent needed toget more involved in thedevelopment of futurevehicle components,robots and supportequipment to be used inspace colonies.”Eduardo Lopez del Castillo,KSC FIRST team coordinator

contact Pat Christian at 867-2144 ore-mail her at patricia.christian-1@ksc.nasa.gov.

The KSC competition is one of 14regional events this year. TheSpace Coast FIRST team will alsotravel to the Philadelphia RegionalMarch 21-24.

The national event will take placein Epcot Center, Orlando, April 5-7.

Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS Feb. 16, 2001

Flight Operations takes on new roleNASA helicoptersused to assistFish and Wildlife

The U.S. Fish and WildlifeService is being given a helpinghand with managing its controlledburns by the NASA Flight Opera-tions’ helicopter team.

Through a recent letter ofagreement between the twoagencies, the group also is set toassist U.S. Fish and Wildlife putout wildfires when they occur onthe Merritt Island National WildlifeRefuge. The agreement is designedto save both agencies money,foster their safety preparednessand strengthen their partnership.

“It’s a good use of our resourcesand it keeps us trained to helpcombat our own fires,” said BudMurray, chief pilot for FlightOperations.

Because of current droughtconditions, it’s vital that the FlightOperations group is trained andready to respond, Murray said.

Murray’s group began using“Bambi” buckets about a year agoto douse fires at Kennedy SpaceCenter. The rugged plastic bucketsare used to scoop water from theIndian River Lagoon to be carriedto the wildfire area.

Flight Operations participated inits first controlled burn with U.S.Fish and Wildlife on Jan. 29. About100 acres were successfully burnedon the southeast side of HauloverCanal at S.R. 3. The interagency

team also practiced dousing fireusing a Bambi bucket.

“We were pleased with theoperation and were able to smoothout some wrinkles so that we’ll bebetter prepared for the next time wehave to deal with a wildfire,” saidFrederic Adrian, administrativeforester with U.S. Fish and Wildlife.

Two NASA UH-1H helicopterswere used during the controlledburn. One dropped pingpong-ball-

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: 633-096/00051

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

shape fire starters to ignite areas tobe burned. The other tracked thehot spots in the fire throughinfrared radar and fire imaging.

Flight Operations, staffed by theJoint Base Operations Contract’sSpace Gateway Support, isassigned four UH-1H helicopters.

The helicopters are used forsecurity checks on Center and toprovide extra security, rescue andmedical support for Shuttle

operations. The helicopters are alsoused for U.S. Fish and Wildlifemanatee and bird surveys. Thatteamwork laid the groundwork forFlight Operations’ new role.

“We have an excellent workingrelationship with NASA FlightOperations and we think that willreally help us work well as a team tocombat wildfires. The question isnot ‘if,’ but ‘when,’ ” Adrian said.“We’ll be ready.”

A NASA FlightOperations helicopter,at left, is used in a U.S.Fish and WildlifeService controlled burnon the southeast side ofHaulover Canal at S.R.3 on Jan. 29. Below isan aerial view of thearea during the burn.

For the eighth consecutive year,the United Space Alliance (USA)Space Shuttle Florida Operationsteam has been recognized forsuperior safety achievements bythe Central Florida Safety Council.

The Central Florida SafetyCouncil, with a membership of morethan 800 companies, presentsannual awards to those companieswhose safety efforts deservespecial recognition for the overallperformance of their workforce.

The awards were presented atthe Council’s Annual AwardsLuncheon in downtown Orlando.

USA again wins safety awardUnited Space Alliance, with a

workforce of more than 6,000 at theKennedy Space Center, is NASA’sprime contractor for the SpaceShuttle program.

The USA team received the Year2000 Special Achievement Awardfor Continued Safety Excellence forits progress in continuing safetyprogram initiatives as the companyprepares for evaluation by theOccupational Safety and HealthAdministration’s VoluntaryProtection Program (VPP), one ofthe highest safety honors acompany can earn.