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

July 17, 1998

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Vol. 37, No. 14

Spaceport News Since its inceptionOct. 1, 1958, the NationalAeronautics and SpaceAdministration hasaccomplished many greatscientific and tech-nological feats, fillingvolumes of books inlibraries and schoolsworldwide. The agency has wonthe prestigious CollierTrophy for great achieve-ments in aeronautics andspace 14 times, andNASA technology hasbeen adapted for manyuses by the private sectorin areas unrelated toaerospace. As we celebrateNASA’s 40th anniversarythis October, the agencyremains a leading force inscientific research and instimulating publicinterest in aerospaceexploration as well as inscience and technologyin general. In honor of theanniversary, SpaceportNews will includeinformation pertinent toNASA history in theissues leading up to theOctober celebration. From Projects Mercury,Gemini and Apollo in the1960s through Skylab anddeep space exploration inthe 1970s, the SpaceShuttle in the 1980s andcommencing to build theInternational SpaceStation in the 1990s, thehistory of NASAdocuments the talents,skills andaccomplishments ofinnumerable people whodare to dream and arededicated to continue ournation’s leadership on thefrontier of space.

Ed Gormel

Ed Gormel named head ofJoint Base Operations Office

Space stations have longbeen the stuff of imagination.The idea of humans living andworking in space has enthralledscientists and visionaries formore than a century. Plans for development of aspace station have, in fact, beena part of NASA’s agenda sincethe agency’s inception. Many of NASA’s trailblazerssaw a station as a necessaryprerequisite to further humanexploration of space. With anorbiting space station in place,missions to the Moon and Marscould be planned withouthaving to deal with the diffi-culties of designing a vehiclethat could both withstand thestress of escaping the Earth’satmosphere and address theissues inherent in long-termmicrogravity spaceflight. Today, NASA and its partnersstand on the brink of finallymaking the dream of aninternational station a reality. The coalition of internationalparticipants currently includes16 countries in all: Belgium,Brazil, Canada, Denmark,France, Germany, Italy, Japan,the Netherlands, Norway,Russia, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, the UnitedKingdom and the United States. In January, all of the spacestation partners except Brazilsigned new intergovernmentalagreements establishing theframework for the assembly ofthe International Space Station(ISS) over the next five years. In meetings of the SpaceStation Control Board and theHeads-of- Agency in late Mayat KSC, all station partnersagreed to target launch dates ofNov. 20, 1998 for the Russian-made Control Module (FGB)

No time for a station break at KSC:ISS work continues full speed ahead

Artist’s concept of the stages of ISS on-orbit

(See ISS, Page 3)

KSC Director Roy Bridgesannounced the selection of EdGormel as the executive directorof the newly formed Joint Perfor-mance Management Office(JPMO).

(See Gormel, Page 4)

In this position, he will managethe Joint Base Operations andSupport Contract (J-BOSC) to beawarded later this year. Bridges also made several otherexecutive personnel assignments toreflect new KSC roles. “By combining resources andjointly managing base operationsactivities for NASA at KennedySpace Center and the United StatesAir Force, 45th Space Wing, wewill reduce costs and improveservices for all customers,” saidBridges. “The J-BOSC is a boldinitiative which will greatlyimprove the competitiveness of oureastern national spaceport.” As the base operations managerfor both KSC and the 45th SpaceWing at Cape Canaveral Air Station

now named Zarya (Russianword for “sunrise”) fromBaikonur in Kazakhstan andDec. 3, 1998 for Shuttlemission STS-88 with Unity(Node I) from KSC. Unity will launchaboard the Space ShuttleEndeavour, commencingthe construction efforts ofthe largest peacetimeengineering project inhistory. The excitement about thisevent is growing — as is thevolume of work in KSC’sSpace Station ProcessingFacility, or SSPF. Phase II of the ISS programends about one year fromlaunch of the first element, andof the 10 flights that com-prisethe second phase, seven will be

launched from KSC. Space station hardware formost of those flights is now at

SPACEPORT NEWS July 17, 1998Page 2

KSC’s brand new 34,600 squarefoot Space Shuttle Main EngineProcessing Facility (SSMEPF) isnow officially open for business. A major addition to the existingOrbiter Processing Facility Bay 3,the new facility replaces the ShuttleMain Engine Shop located in theVehicle Assembly Building (VAB). “When we do get [some] moneyto spend on a major facility, weknow how to do it right,” said KSCDirector Roy Bridges. “Withadditions to our infrastructure likethis one, I think it’s clear that theShuttle program is here for the longhaul.” Following Bridges’ remarks atthe opening day ceremony werecomments by U.S. CongressmanDave Weldon, KSC’s Director ofShuttle Processing Bob Sieck,NASA’s Launch IntegrationManager Donald McMonagle andRocketdyne Vice President JohnPlowden. NASA selected Ivey’sConstruction, Inc., of MerrittIsland, to build the $6.2 million

facility designed to increase thecapacity and efficiency of Shuttlemain engine operations. Thedecision to move these operationsout of the VAB was prompted bysafety considerations and recentengine processing improvements. Managers sought to minimizethe number of workers andactivities in the VAB where finalassembly of the Shuttle’s solidrocket boosters and external tankoccurs. Construction of theSSMEPF began in October 1996and was completed this pastFebruary. Efforts are currently underway totransfer the main engine pedestals,pneumatic panels, hydraulic testequipment and the enginesthemselves from the VAB to theSSMEPF. A 10-ton and a 15-toncrane already have been installed inthe new facility. Each of the Shuttle’s three mainengines generates approximately375,000 pounds of thrust duringliftoff, providing about 20 percentof the power needed to launch the

Space Shuttle Main Engine Processing Facility opens

spaceship into orbit. They are theonly reusable liquid-fueled rocketengines in existence and undergoprelaunch preparations here at KSCbefore installation into the orbiterin the OPF.

The first three main enginesto be processed in the new facilityare scheduled to fly on the SpaceShuttle Endeavour during theSTS-88 mission in Decemberthis year.

Fighting fires with KSC donations, elbow grease and volunteerism

James Tibble (pointing at engine), an Engine System/GSE Team manager forRocketdyne, discusses the operation of a Space Shuttle Main Engine with Bob Sieck,director of Shuttle Processing, U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon and KSC DirectorRoy Bridges Jr. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 6 for the Space ShuttleMain Engine Processing Facility, KSC employees and media explored the facility.

Kennedy Space Center firefighters support firefighting efforts innorth Brevard County with an aircraft rescue firefighting vehicle.

by Joel Wells Whether struggling alongsidethe army of firefighters on thefrontlines or donating food and

“It looked like a tidal wave offlames headed straight for myhome,” recalled Mike Mulcahy,Fawn Lake resident and KSCemployee. “There were about 10ground crews and a couple ofhelicopters working to save oursubdivision in Mims whenKSC’s water cannon truckshowed up. The ground crewstold me that my home wouldhave been lost if KSC didn’tcome in and knock down thefire that threatened my house.” After working to contain a4,000-acre KSC brush firestarted by lightning on June 21,KSC’s Fire Department chippedin equipment and personnel tohelp in the fight against othercentral Florida fires. While some monitored thebrush still smoldering aroundthe space center’s facilities,about 33 percent of KSC’sfirefighting resources werecommitted to battle wildfires inBrevard since June 27. A KSCfire engine and two aircraftrescue vehicles were alsoallocated to the effort. Base

Operations Contractor EG&GFlorida, Inc. provides KSC’semergency and security ser-vices. “I’m sincerely proud of thecenterwide contributions fromour fire department, securityoffice and the many KSCemployees,” said KSC DirectorRoy Bridges. With heavy air traffic andrefueling operations bustling atTitusville’s Space Coast Execu-tive Airport (SCEA), one KSCrescue truck was needed tosupport aircraft performingwater drops over fire-afflictedareas. Five KSC sludge tankerswere also staged at SCEA to mixthe flame retardant needed foradditional strategic air strikes.Also provided was NASA’s railcar tanker loaded with 20,000gallons of water. KSC workershad to fabricate a special elbowconnection to the tanker so itcould fill empty fire truckswaiting in north Brevard whereno municipal water source isavailable.

(See Fire, Page 4)

refreshments, KSC workershave aggressively responded toneeds across the scorched stateof Florida.

Brush firesbegan ragingthroughVolusia andFlaglercountiesin May,burningthousands ofacres andthreateninglives. KSCofficialsimmediatelybeganmobilizingtheir re-sources withplans to helptheir northernneighbors.Then theblazes flaredup in NorthBrevard —closer to

home.

SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3July 17, 1998

ISS. . .(Continued from Page 1)

An orbiter approaches the International Space Station.

Technology Transfer Week approaches July 27 through 31

the SSPF undergoing pro-cessing. The launch of Zarya andthen Unity will begin theprocess of piecing togethermore than 100 space stationcomponents. If orchestrating the on-orbitconstruction of these compo-nents sounds daunting, con-sider the task of allocatingspace on the ground for thecontinual flow and processingof hardware, includingthousands of cables, wires,pieces and parts; testing the

functionality of integratedcomponents; and hostingscores of international guestsparticipating in this incredibleeffort. For Unity and its twoattached Pressurized MatingAdapters, cargo element leakchecks and electrical testing arecompleted. In autumn, these com-ponents scheduled for flight 2Awill undergo communicationstesting while still in the SSPFvia satellite to Houston. Next month, the Italian-built,Multi-Purpose LogisticsModule, will arrive at the SSPF,followed shortly thereafter by

the arrival of the U.S.Labora-tory Modulefrom Boeing inHuntsville, Al., inearly September. In order to assureoptimum construc-tion and perfor-mance in space, aMulti-ElementIntegrated Test willoccur in the fall toattach hardware in thesame order that it willbe assembled on orbit. Also, a multi-computer set-up thatemulates Unity’s functions isundergoing special tests in theSSPF now to determine how itwill handle the flow ofinformation between theorbiter, Zarya, and other majorcomponents once on orbit. Using special cables and theactual crews that will performthe assembly, NASA andcontractor staff will simulatethe construction in the SSPFthat will occur during flights3A, 4A, 5A and 6A. Elements on these flightsand the three from Russiaprovide the initial framework,power supply, propulsion andlife support systems for thestation. If all continues as scheduled,

by this time next year, the firstISS crew will inhabit theorbiting research station; andby the end of 2003, it will bethe size of a city block and oneof the brightest objects in thenight sky. Only the Moon and Venuswill be more easily visible. Once complete, the ISS willbe a platform for research andinternational cooperation wellinto the next century. Full details of the currentInternational Space StationAssembly Sequence, RevisionD, are available in a NASA factsheet. The fact sheet appearson the International SpaceStation Web site athttp://station.nasa.gov.

NASA’s second annual Tech-nology Transfer Week will be heldJuly 27 through 31. This week of activities, spon-sored by theTechnology Programsand Commercialization Office,was created to inform centeremployees on the benefits oftechnology transfer. Exhibits will be in the lobbiesof the headquarters building onFriday, July 24, and Monday, July27; in the Space Station Process-ing Facility (SSPF) on Tuesdayand Wednesday, July 28 and 29;and in the Operations SupportBuilding on Wednesday andThursday, July 29 and 30. Technology Programs andCommercialization Office staffalso will be available to answerquestions. An awards recognition break-fast will be held on Thursday,

July 30, for the 1997 NASA andcontractor Space Act Awardrecipients. Award winners will belisted in the next issue ofSpaceport News. A total of $83,000in Space Act Awardswas received by 114KSC employeesover the pastyear. Space ActAwards and theirdisbursing body,the Inventionsand ContributionsBoard (ICB), were createdby the National Aeronautics andSpace Act of 1958 to recognizeinventions and other scientific andtechnical contributions that helpachieve NASA’s aeronautical andspace goals and stimulate andencourage similar contributions in

the future. Annual awards include Soft-ware of the Year and Invention of the Year. Space Act Awards represent both automatic

and ICB action awards. Automatic awards include $150 to each contributor to an article published in Tech Briefs magazine, $500 for a sole contributor or $250

for multiple contribu- tors to a technology forwhich a patent is applied, and$500 for a sole contributor or $250 for multiple contributors forwriting software that has beenreleased to the public. The ICB at NASA headquartersin Washington, D.C., evaluates

inventions on a bi-monthly basisand grants board action awards toinventors who contribute signifi-cantly to NASA’s mission. Other award criteriainclude the significance of thecontribution to aeronautics andspace, science and technology,or humanity; the stage ofdevelopment; the degree of use —both present and potential —by NASA, the government,industry and academia; andcreativity. There are three categoriesof Board Action Awards:nominal (under $1,000 perperson), major ($1,000 to $5,000each) and exceptional ($5,000 andup per awardee). Awards under$100,000 are approved by theNASA Administrator, whereasawards over $100,000 requireapproval by Congress.

On July 10, the Boeing Company filmed a 60-second commercial promoting theInternational Space Station in KSC’s Space Station Processing Facility. Theadvertisement, which features Boeing employees from KSC, Houston, and fromHuntington Beach, Calif., is scheduled to air nationally this fall.

SPACEPORT NEWSPage 4 July 17, 1998

John F. Kennedy Space Center

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, AB-F1. E-mail submissions can besent to Susan.Maurer-1@ksc.nasa.govManaging editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bruce BuckinghamEditor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan MaurerEditorial support provided by Sherikon Space Systems Inc. Writers Group.Photographic support primarily provided by The Bionetics Corp.NASA at KSC is on the Internet at http://www.ksc.nasa.gov

USGPO: 633-112/80010

In this photograph recently taken at Kennedy Space Center, a large alligator attacks,kills and eats a smaller alligator in a natural display of cannibalism.Although this event is not frequently seen, it is common feeding behavior among wildalligators, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Alligators are carnivorousand will eat any living thing that crosses their path and is small enough for them to kill.For this reason, it is dangerous to feed wild alligators, and in Florida, it is also illegal.There are several thousand alligators on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge onwhich KSC is located. The refuge is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Gormel. . .(Continued from Page 1)

and Patrick Air Force Base, Gormelwill direct the support of a safe,efficient and effective environmentproviding premier base support forthe space launch community. He is responsible for contractmanagement and administration ofthe J-BOSC. Gormel will report tothe chair of the J-BOSC board ofdirectors and is administrativelyaccountable to the KSC director. The positions of chair and vicechair of the J-BOSC board rotatebetween the KSC director and the

45th Space Wing commander. Gormel, a 30-year veteran of theAir Force’s Eastern Test Range, hasheld various roles of leadershipincluding chief of RangeScheduling, test supervisor of theNavy’s Trident Program anddirector of Plans for the 45th SpaceWing. He is credited with hundredsof innovations at Patrick Air ForceBase and Cape Canaveral AirStation. Most recently, Gormel hasserved as co-chair of the J-BOSCSource Evaluation Board where hehas shaped key aspects of theinitiative. Over the next few months, the

JPMO Office will be staffed withNASA and Air Force civil serviceand active duty military personnel.Other KSC assignments Bridges also announced KSCexecutive assignments that reflectthe center’s new leadership role inthe Expendable Launch Vehicleprogram, making the best possibleuse of the center’s leadership corpsand guiding the center towardKSC’s Roadmap objectives. The Payload ProcessingDirectorate is being reorganizedinto two distinct organizations. Bobby Bruckner, former PayloadProcessing director, is assigned asdirector of the Expendable LaunchVehicle (ELV) and PayloadCarriers Program Office. Larry Ellis, former director ofShuttle Processing Integration, is

the new director of ELV LaunchServices reporting to Bruckner. Sterling Smith, currently actingdirector of the Payload CarriersProgram Office, will continue toserve in that capacity reporting toBruckner and assisting with themerger of the two programs untilhis retirement later this year. Steve Francois is named directorof the Space Station and ShuttlePayloads Directorate with ShannonBartell serving as his deputy. J.Chris Fairey, former director ofQuality Assurance, becomes thedirector of Shuttle ProcessingIntegration, succeeding Ellis. Ann Montgomery, formerdeputy director of LogisticsOperations, moves to the QualityAssurance director role, succeedingFairey.

Fire. . .(Continued from Page 2)

“The leadership and courageour firefighters displayedhelped in saving about 50structures in north Brevard,including homes, businessesand the recently built MimsPost Office,” reported TimMoore, KSC Fire Chief. “KSCfire officers were appointed astask force leaders in Mims andScottsmoor. Their tactics re-wrote the rules on fightingbrush fires that involve struc-tures.” The KSC Community Rela-tions Council, comprised ofNASA civil servants and primecontractor representatives fromEG&G Florida, Delaware North,The Boeing Company, UnitedSpace Alliance and USBI,mobilized KSC employees todonate refreshment supplies toweary firefighters from acrossthe nation. About 2,500 poundsof snack foods, sport drinks,water and Styrofoam coolerswere transported to the Salva-tion Army for delivery to thefront lines. “As central Florida residentswe can’t physically fight thesefires, so we have to supportthose who can,” explainedCelene Morgan, who coordi-nated the council’s fire reliefefforts. Also, employees from NASAcontractors Boeing Aerospaceand United Space Allianceindependently donated thou-sands of dollars to Brevard andVolusia county fire relief funds. KSC and Eastern Range

weather officials also assistedstate fire analysts with wind,temperature and lightning dataupdates. Analysts were given access tocrucial information collectedfrom a network of 41 windtowers extending from KSC towest of Interstate 95; KSC’sunique Lightning Detection andRanging system data; andinfrared satellite and weatherradar data. The existing space-relatedweather infrastructure contin-ues to provide insight to thosestudying wildfire progression. So far, more than 10 internalKSC organizations have sup-ported fire fighting or reliefefforts in central Florida,amassing greater than 1,392hours of service to date.

Boeing employees Barry Slack, at left,and Robert Cummings stack boxes inKSC’s Operations and CheckoutBuilding to deliver to the Salvation Army.