Reminder: There will be a memorial service held for Jack Kinzler on Saturday, March 22nd, at 2 PM at the Webster Presbyterian Church, 201 W NASA Parkway
| | JSC TODAY CATEGORIES - Headlines
- National Geographic Filming On-Site This Week
- JSC Has Technologies Featured in Feb. Tech Briefs
- Nominate JSC Exceptional Software by March 11
- #spacetoground: Weekly ISS Updates
- Managed Elevated Privileges Continues - Organizations/Social
- Today: HSI ERG Special Meeting - Orion HSI
- Space Serenity Al-Anon Meeting March 11
- JSC Contractor Safety and Health Forum
- Johnson Space Center Astronomy Society Meeting - Jobs and Training
- Job Opportunities
- Crane Ops and Rigging Refresher ViTS: March 21
- Lockout/Tagout ViTS - April 2
- Particle Count Training ViTS - April 4 - AM
- Cleanroom Protocol & Contam. Ctrl ViTS Apr 4 - PM - Community
- Are You an Aerospace Engineer?
- State Science and Engineering Fair Judges
- Mentors Needed for High School Aerospace Scholars |  |
| Headlines - National Geographic Filming On-Site This Week
All JSC team members, please be aware that a production crew for National Geographic and Channel 4 in the U.K. is conducting an extensive production shoot on-site at JSC this entire week. There will be film crews and trailers coming and going, and filming will take place in the International Space Station (ISS) viewing room. For this reason, there will be no tours possible in the ISS viewing room all throughout the week. If anyone has issues or concerns regarding the National Geographic visit, please contact x35111. Also, don't forget to tune in to "Live from Space" this Friday, March 14, at 7 p.m. CDT on the National Geographic Channel! JSC External Relations, Office of Communications and Public Affairs x35111
[top] - JSC Has Technologies Featured in Feb. Tech Briefs
Three new technologies from JSC were featured in the February 2014 issue of NASA Tech Briefs magazine. These JSC advanced research and technology innovations include: Omar Hatamleh's "Improving Friction Stir Welds Using Laser Peening;" Nathan Moyer, Charles H. McCracken III, Paul Santrach, George Cebry, Thomas Bingel, Deanne Tran-Vo, George Cebry and Paul Santrach's "Current-Controlled Output Driver for Directly Coupled Loads;" and Eugene Ungar and Timothy Brady's "Touch Temperature Coating for Electrical Equipment on Spacecraft." - Nominate JSC Exceptional Software by March 11
This is the 2014 call for software award nominations at JSC, including White Sands Test Facility. Nominees will be considered for the following awards: - JSC Exceptional Software Award
- JSC nominee for NASA Software of the Year Award
- JSC software nominees for Space Act Awards
- NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medals
The JSC Exceptional Software Award is designed to recognize software that has demonstrated outstanding value to accomplishing the JSC mission. Apply online using the Web nomination form and to find out other information. Directorates and individuals must provide their nominations by close of business tomorrow, March 11, via the form link listed. Questions can be sent to Lynn Vernon or Tondra Allen. - #spacetoground: Weekly ISS Updates
The crew congratulates "Gravity" on its Oscar winnings and preps for return to Earth in this week's Space to Ground. NASA's Space to Ground is your weekly update on what's happening aboard the International Space Station. Got a question or comment? Use #spacetoground to talk to us. JSC External Relations, Office of Communications and Public Affairs x35111
[top] - Managed Elevated Privileges Continues
On Tuesday, March 11, Managed Elevated Privileges (MEP) continues with DO (Operations Division) through DX (EVA, Robotics and Crew Systems Operations) org codes. MEP controls admin rights (Elevated Privileges, or EP) on NASA computers and allows users to request EP when needed. Users must complete SATERN training before submitting any requests for EP. All users, especially those scheduled for MEP deployment, are strongly urged to complete the SATERN training for "Basic Users" (Elevated Privileges on NASA Information System - ITS-002-09). Users can coordinate with their supervisor, Organizational Computer Security Official or organization's IT point of contact to determine the level of EP they may need beyond "Basic User" and any additional training required. The next scheduled deployment date is March 25, which will complete the DX org code. For more information, go to the MEP website or contact Heather Thomas at x30901. Organizations/Social - Today: HSI ERG Special Meeting - Orion HSI
Speaker: Dr. Neal Zapp - Orion Human Systems Integration Zapp is the lead of the Crew Systems Integration Office (CSI) in the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle program. Orion CSI carries two overarching areas of responsibility: to serve as the program Human Systems Integration Team and, as such, the focal point for the vehicle "cockpit," meaning crew interfaces, ops and health, as well as performance and safety issues; and also to serve as the program "owners" of mock-up hardware and Human In The Loop testing, evaluation and verification. Orion CSI administers the Cockpit Working Group, which provides the forum where we work issues related to these broad elements of the human impact on program and vehicle design. - Space Serenity Al-Anon Meeting March 11
"Progress, not perfection" reminds Al-Anon members to look for improvements and positive change. Our 12-step meeting is for co-workers, families and friends of those who work or live with the family disease of alcoholism. We meet tomorrow, March 11, in Building 32, Room 146, from 12 noon to 12:45 p.m. Visitors are welcome. - JSC Contractor Safety and Health Forum
Mark your calendars! The JSC Contractor Safety and Health Forum (CSF) will meet Tuesday, March 18, in the Gilruth Alamo Ballroom starting at 9 a.m. This meeting is dedicated to the presentation of the JSC CSF Safety and Health Excellence Awards and Innovation Awards for 2013. Refreshments, sponsored by Jacobs Technology, will be provided after the award presentations. For more information on this special event, please contact Pat Farrell at 281-335-2012, or go to the JSC CSF website. Event Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Event Start Time:9:00 AM Event End Time:11:00 AM
Event Location: Gilruth Alamo Ballrom
Add to Calendar
Patricia Farrell 281-335-2012
[top] - Johnson Space Center Astronomy Society Meeting
Our March meeting will feature Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassador Annie Wargetz speaking on NASA's twin solar-observing satellite mission called STEREO. These spacecraft have observed important solar events like coronal mass ejections and prominences in 3-D as they circle the sun. Come get the important info you'll need to join in on the spring trip to our dark site at Ft. McKavitt, as well as our upcoming local star parties. Other meeting topics include "What's Up in the Sky this Month?" with suggestions for beginner observing; "Astro Oddities;" and the novice Q&A session. Membership to the JSC Astronomy Society is open to anyone who wants to learn about astronomy. There are no dues, no by-laws--you just show up to our meeting. After you join us, you'll have access to our loaner telescopes to try your hand at observing and our educational DVD library with hundreds of learning choices. Jobs and Training - Job Opportunities
Where do I find job opportunities? To help you navigate to JSC vacancies, use the filter drop-down menu and select "JSC HR." The "Jobs" link will direct you to the USAJOBS website for the complete announcement and the ability to apply online. Lateral reassignment and rotation opportunities are posted in the Workforce Transition Tool. To access: HR Portal > Employees > Workforce Transition > Workforce Transition Tool. These opportunities do not possess known promotion potential; therefore, employees can only see positions at or below their current grade level. If you have questions about any JSC job vacancies or reassignment opportunities, please call your HR representative. - Crane Ops and Rigging Refresher ViTS: March 21
SMA-SAFE-NSTC-0028: This four-hour course serves as a refresher in overhead crane safety and awareness for operators, riggers, signalmen, supervisors and safety personnel, and also updates their understanding of existing federal and NASA standards and regulations related to such cranes. Areas of concentration include: general safety in crane operations; testing; inspections; pre-lift plans; and safe rigging. This course is intended to provide the classroom training for re-certification of already qualified crane operators, or for those who have only a limited need for overhead crane safety knowledge. There will be a final exam associated with this course, which must be passed with a 70 percent minimum score to receive course credit. Use this direct link for registration. https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHEDULED_... - Lockout/Tagout ViTS - April 2
The purpose of this course is to provide employees with the standards, procedures and requirements necessary for the control of hazardous energy through lockout and tagout of energy-isolating devices. Occupational Safety and Health standard 29 CFR 1910.147, "The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)," is the basis for this course. A comprehensive test will be offered at the end of the class. Use this direct link for registration. https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHEDULED_... - Particle Count Training ViTS - April 4 - AM
This course will provide the technician/engineer with the basic skills and knowledge for performing a particle count for determination of particle cleanliness level. A written/practical examination will also be offered. Course content includes: - Review of approved method for manually counting particles using an optical microscope
- Microscope operation and calibration
- Non-microscopic visual identification of particles by shape, size, color and other physical characteristics
- Sampling techniques for particles in gases and liquids
- Filtering techniques for fluid using Millipore apparatus
- Compatibility of filter membranes and their specific uses
- Handling filter membranes, Millipore assembly and performing background determinations and pre-reading of filters prior to sampling
- Use of high-pressure filter assemblies
- Particle counting and data recording
- Statistical analysis
- Use of automatic particle-counting techniques and their limitations.
- Cleanroom Protocol & Contam. Ctrl ViTS Apr 4 - PM
This course addresses the operation and use of cleanrooms and the associated cleanroom protocols to minimize contamination. The student will learn how to prevent contamination from spreading to the product or test article in and upon removal from the clean environment. The class will include a discussion of contamination control and cleanroom requirements documents, including SN-C-0005 and ISO 14644. The course discusses the nature and sources of contaminants; monitoring particle and film contamination; cleanroom protocols to prevent the spread of contamination; and contamination-removal methods. Also included are: NASA requirements for cleanliness levels; identification and monitoring of contamination; description and classifications of cleanrooms; personnel and garment protocols in cleanrooms and clean work areas; other do's and don'ts in cleanrooms and clean work areas; and removal methods. A comprehensive test will be offered at the end of the class. Use this direct link for registration. https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHEDULED_... Community - Are You an Aerospace Engineer?
We are looking for an aerospace engineer to share his or her knowledge with an eighth-grade student. This ambitious young man would like to spend 30 minutes interviewing you about your education, your job ... Can you spare just 30 minutes this week? Sign up on the V-CORPs calendar on Tuesday, March 11 - but don't worry, the date is flexible! For more information, contact the V-CORPs administrator. - State Science and Engineering Fair Judges
The ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair (EMTSEF) will be held in San Antonio, Texas, on March 22. They are in need of more than 300 judges to help out with this event. This event engages students from middle schools and high schools from across the entire state of Texas - students who are interested in science, technology, engineering and math - and could be our co-workers within a few short years. The EMTSEF has specific requirements for their judges. Please visit their website for detailed information about judges' qualifications, duties, location, timeline and more. Note that your participation in this event, while certainly worthwhile and enriching, is completely voluntary and travel funding will not be provided. It is shown on the V-CORPs Web page for information only, and is not available for signup. Questions may be directed to Lisa Spence at x25859. - Mentors Needed for High School Aerospace Scholars
Celebrate the 15th anniversary of High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) by mentoring students during a series of summer camps connecting our NASA workforce with Texas students. Share your NASA experience and advice with students interested in following your footsteps. Students work alongside NASA employees during simulated missions to Mars. You can choose any week to volunteer just 20 hours while enjoying our fun activities. Co-ops and interns are welcome and encouraged to apply, too. Summer Schedule: - Week 1: June 15 to 20
- Week 2: June 22 to 27
- Week 3: July 6 to 11
- Week 4: July 13 to 18
- Week 5: July 20 to 25
- Week 6: July 27 to Aug. 1
If interested, please: 1. Complete the mentor application here. 2. Create a V-CORPs account here. 3. Review mentor responsibilities. 4. Apply before April 2. | |
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| JSC Today is compiled periodically as a service to JSC employees on an as-submitted basis. Any JSC organization or employee may submit articles. Disclaimer: Accuracy and content of these notes are the responsibility of the submitters. |
NASA and Human Spaceflight News
Monday, March 10, 2014
- 3:30 p.m. CT - ISS Expedition 38 Farewells and Hatch Closure Coverage (hatch closure scheduled at 3:45 p.m. CT) - JSC (All Channels)
- 6:45 p.m. CT - ISS Expedition 38/Soyuz TMA-10M Undocking Coverage (undocking scheduled at 7:02 p.m. CT) - JSC (All Channels)
- 9:15 p.m. CT - ISS Expedition 38/Soyuz TMA-10M Deorbit Burn and Landing Coverage (Deorbit burn scheduled at 9:30 p.m. CT; landing near Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan scheduled at 10:24 p.m. CT) - JSC via Kazakhstan (All Channels)
HEADLINES AND LEADS
First Japanese astronaut takes command of space station
Irene Klotz – Reuters
Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata assumed command of the International Space Station on Sunday, the first Japanese national to oversee a manned space mission.
NASA to conduct the first-ever twin study in space
Deborah Netburn – Los Angeles Times
What happens to our DNA, RNA and proteins if we spend a long time in space? A pair of 50-year-old twins will help NASA find out. Falcon 9 v1.1 conducts Static Fire ahead of CRS-3 mission
Chris Bergin – NASA Space Flight
SpaceX have fired up their Falcon 9 v1.1 launch vehicle during a Static Fire (Hot Fire) test on Saturday, allowing for a health check and countdown dress rehearsal ahead of their next flight of their Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). The CRS-3/SpX-3 Dragon is tracking a launch – her first on the upgraded Falcon 9 – on March 16 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS).
First British man in space: 'We phone people because it's just so cool'
Tim Peake talks of life on International Space Station, 3D printing in space, stargazing and his weakness for watches
Michael Hogan – The Observer
You're being called "the first Brit in space". That's quite a thing to have on your business card.
Yes, I'll board the International Space Station in November 2015. Helen Sharman was the first Brit in space back in '91, but they're calling me the first official Brit in space because I'm the first UK government astronaut, if you like. Helen's was a kind of private, commercial-sponsored flight. But yeah, it's a big deal!
SpaceX fires Falcon 9 rocket engines for prelaunch check
Stephen Clark – Spaceflight Now
SpaceX fired up the nine-engine first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket Saturday in a major preflight rehearsal before the March 16 launch of nearly 5,000 pounds of experiments and supplies to the International Space Station.
First space tourists to fly around Mars and Venus in 2021
American congressmen seem to be seriously interested in the idea of a space expedition in the course of which the spaceship will make flies around Venus and Mars.
Editorial: Take advantage of Wallops opportunities
Salisbury (MD) Daily Times
The best opportunities in life are those that are hard won. That's certainly the case with NASA Wallops in Eastern Virginia, whose profile has soared in recent years as the nature of spaceflight and space exploration has changed. For decades, launches were the province of NASA's Cape Canaveral facility (known as Cape Kennedy for a while, as older readers will remember).
COMPLETE STORIES
First Japanese astronaut takes command of space station
Irene Klotz – Reuters
Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata assumed command of the International Space Station on Sunday, the first Japanese national to oversee a manned space mission.
Wakata, 50, had been a space station flight engineer since he and two crewmates arrived on November 7.
"I am humbled to assume the command of the space station," Wakata said during a change-of-command ceremony broadcast on NASA Television.
Outgoing station commander Oleg Kotov, flight engineer Sergey Ryazanskiy, both from Russia, and NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins are due to depart the orbital outpost on Monday. Their replacements arrive on March 26.
Wakata's command marks just the third time the station is being overseen by a crewmember who is not from NASA or the Russian Space Agency, the two primary partners of the 15-nation project.
Canadian Chris Hadfield served as commander from March to May 2013. European Space Agency astronaut Frank DeWinne led a station crew in 2009.
"I am very proud as a Japanese to be given this important command," Wakata, speaking Japanese, said through a translator.
"I think that this reflects the real trust toward Japan and what Japan has achieved over the past years," he said.
So far, four Japanese astronauts have served as space station crewmembers, including Wakata, who previously flew in 2009. Wakata also is a veteran of two space shuttle missions.
Along with NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, Wakata is scheduled to remain aboard the station until mid-May.
One of his first tasks as commander will be to oversee the arrival of a Space Exploration Technologies' Dragon cargo ship which is due to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida next Sunday and reach the station on March 18.
The station, a $100 billion research laboratory, flies about 260 miles above Earth. It has been permanently staffed by rotating crews of astronauts and cosmonauts since November 2000.
NASA to conduct the first-ever twin study in space
Deborah Netburn – Los Angeles Times
What happens to our DNA, RNA and proteins if we spend a long time in space? A pair of 50-year-old twins will help NASA find out. Identical twins Mark and Scott Kelly have signed up to be part of the first-ever twin study that takes place, at least partially, in space.
In March 2015, veteran astronaut Scott Kelly will begin a one-year stint living aboard the International Space Station. It will be the longest amount of consecutive time that any American astronaut has spent in space.
His brother Mark Kelly, who is married to former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, will stay on Earth and serve as a control in the study. Although he has also spent time in space as an astronaut, he has since retired from that role. "We realized this is a unique opportunity to perform a class of novel studies because we had one twin flying aboard the International Space Station and one twin on the ground," said Craig Kundrot, deputy chief scientist of NASA's Human Research Program, in a statement. "We can study two individuals who have the same genetics, but are in different environments for one year."
NASA announced Friday that its Human Research Program will fund 10 short-term studies that compares the physiology of the two brothers to help the agency better understand and prepare for the health impacts of living in space for an extended time.
This would be especially important in preparing for a manned mission to Mars which would likely take about three years of space time, and subject astronauts to unprecedented amounts of radiation from space.
The studies will look for differences in the twins on the molecular level, in the bacteria that live in their gut, in their overall physical bodies, and also in their behavioral thinking. For example, they will test if Scott Kelly continues to be as alert as his brother after a full year in space.
The space agency said in a release that these twin studies will not provide definitive data about the how spaceflight effects humans -- the study sample is too small. But it might help researchers figure out what to focus on in larger studies in the future.
Falcon 9 v1.1 conducts Static Fire ahead of CRS-3 mission
Chris Bergin – NASA Space Flight
SpaceX have fired up their Falcon 9 v1.1 launch vehicle during a Static Fire (Hot Fire) test on Saturday, allowing for a health check and countdown dress rehearsal ahead of their next flight of their Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). The CRS-3/SpX-3 Dragon is tracking a launch – her first on the upgraded Falcon 9 – on March 16 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS).
CRS-3:
The latest Falcon 9 launch will be the fourth in her upgraded configuration, following three successful satellite launches – one from Vandenberg and two from SLC-40 at the Cape.
However, unlike her predecessors, this Falcon 9 is sporting four landing legs on her aft, allowing for the latest test objective towards SpaceX's ultimate goal of a fully reusable rocket system.
Although a number of tests have already been conducted – mainly involving a restart of the First Stage post-staging, allowing it to practise a controlled re-entry – this will be the first mission where a soft splashdown on deployed legs will be attempted, as recently explained by SpaceX to NASASpaceFlight.com. Following staging, the First Stage will bid farewell to the Second Stage and Dragon, prior to rotating its aft and engines into the direction of travel. Once in the correct orientation, three of Falcon 9′s Merlin 1D engines will conduct a supersonic retro propulsion burn.
Once the First Stage has shut down the three engines, a stable re-entry should then occur. As the Stage begins to drop back to Earth, the center engine will ignite to stabilize the Stage and reduce its velocity.
About 10 seconds into the landing burn, SpaceX will attempt the unique demonstration of deploying the four legs, as the Stage closes in on the water.
Recovery of the first stage from the water will be attempted, although SpaceX noted there is a low probability this will be successfully achieved during this test.
The primary goal of the launch relates lofting the Dragon spacecraft en route to the ISS for her fourth mission to the Station. The spacecraft which will be riding uphill on the beefed up rocket for the first time.
The SpX-3 flight will carry a full launch and return complement of 1,580kg/3,476lb of payload, an increase from the previous limit of 800kg, afforded by the increased upmass capabilities of the Falcon 9 v1.1.
For launch, Dragon will carry a record of one GLACIER and two MERLIN freezers for transporting ISS experiment samples.
The external payload in Dragon's trunk includes the Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS) – which will demonstrate high-bandwidth space to ground laser communications, and the High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) package consisting of four commercial HD video cameras.
The CRS-3 mission will also involve the delivery of a replacement Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), allowing for the return of a faulty suit on the same vehicle when it returns to Earth. This spacesuit relay is enabled by a specially built rack inside the Dragon.
Static Fire:
Per the primary goals of a Hot Fire test, the effort relates to ensuring that the pad's fueling systems – and the launch vehicle – function properly in a fully operational environment, with numerous requirements to be successfully proven via such a test, such as the engine ignition and shut down commands, which have to operate as designed, and that the Merlin 1D engines perform properly during start-up.
Tasks also include a full propellant loading sequence, launch countdown operations, engine ignition operations and testing of the pad's high volume water deluge system.
The first opportunity for the Static Fire was scheduled for Friday. However, unacceptable weather in the region delayed the rollout, pushing the test to Saturday. The window for the test was 1pm local through to 5pm local, although it is understood engineers were working issues on the vehicle for at least the first few hours of the window.
With the test providing a dress rehearsal for the actual launch, controllers would have begun the test with polling to allow for the loading of Falcon 9′s RP-1 propellant with liquid oxygen oxidizer two hours and thirty five minutes before T-0.
This would have likely been followed with fuel and Thrust Vector Control (TVC) bleeding on the second stage, performed at T-1 hour.
At T-13 minutes, a final flight readiness poll would have been conducted, which would then be followed by the final hold point at T-11 minutes.
Per the countdown procedures, the tasks would have entered the terminal count ten minutes before ignition, followed by the launch vehicle being transferred to internal power at four minutes and forty six seconds before T-0.
The Flight Termination System (FTS), used to destroy the rocket in the event of a problem during an actual launch, would have been armed three minutes and eleven seconds before launch, and seven seconds later oxidizer topping ended.
Pressurization of the propellant tanks would have followed, and while a Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) – which are no longer required for the Falcon 9 – would have concluded the test at around T-5 seconds, the Static Fire test continued the count through to ignition.
A short burst of the Merlin ID engines on the core stage of the F9 would have then followed, allowing for validation data to be gained on the health of the vehicle and pad systems.
Detanking operations would then have followed, ahead of its lowering on to the Transporter Erector and rollback to the hanger to begin final processing ahead of launch, which normally results in the mating of the payload – in this case the Dragon spacecraft – to the top of the vehicle. However, for this mission, the Static Fire was conducted with the Dragon already integrated on the vehicle.
The Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs) for the launch vehicle and the spacecraft were concluded last week. A Launch Readiness Review (LRR) – which will include the full results of the Static Fire – will follow in the coming days.
SpaceX remain on track for the March 16 launch of the Falcon 9 and Dragon duo, with the launch window set to open at 4:41am local.
First British man in space: 'We phone people because it's just so cool'
Tim Peake talks of life on International Space Station, 3D printing in space, stargazing and his weakness for watches
Michael Hogan – The Observer
You're being called "the first Brit in space". That's quite a thing to have on your business card.
Yes, I'll board the International Space Station in November 2015. Helen Sharman was the first Brit in space back in '91, but they're calling me the first official Brit in space because I'm the first UK government astronaut, if you like. Helen's was a kind of private, commercial-sponsored flight. But yeah, it's a big deal!
Is the space station full of 90s tech?
Sort of. It's very weird [laughs]. I used to be a military test pilot so I'm trained to be extremely critical of cockpits and ergonomics. We strive for a very high level of performance in our military aircraft. I thought the space industry would be along the same lines, but the ISS first launched in 1998. Even then, the Russians used the same blueprints as for the Mir space station, so some of it goes back even further, to the late 70s. Then a Soviet space station is attached to an American one, with European and Japanese labs attached to that … Well, it's never going to be seamless. There's a lot of workarounds and old technology. On the Soyuz craft, the Russians have an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy, so there are huge oxygen valves that haven't been changed since the 60s.
Sounds a bit Doctor Who or slightly steampunk?
Yes! It's a funny, fascinating blend of old and new. And it'll stay that way because the ISS will be up there until 2024. New technology's constantly going on board. We've got highly advanced equipment like the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, which looks for dark matter outside the space station, but an antiquated environment in other respects. There's iPads and Google Glasses, mixed with clunky, shoebox-sized units. But it all works and that's the beauty of it. We've managed to bring nations and technologies together.
Are you a gadget fiend back on earth?
My main passion is anything involving engines or speed – flying, motorbikes, scuba-diving, skiing – but I do love gadgets as well. Unfortunately with my two little boys, aged five and two, there's limited amount of hi-tech gadgetry I can afford to have in the house!
Are you an Apple addict?
Yes, my family's gone Apple crazy. Two years ago, we didn't have a single Apple device. Now we've got Macs, iPads and smart TVs. My iPhone is absolutely vital day to day. All our schedules are on there and if someone in Russia changes my timetable, it pops up on my phone.
What's your favourite app?
A great one called The Night Sky. You point your device at the sky and it'll show you what's out there at that time: planets, stars, it even tracks space stations and satellites.
What's your favourite gadget?
Watches are my weakness. My favourite – and most expensive – is a Space Discovery Watch. My European astronaut colleague Christer Fuglesang, who's Swedish, designed it for his mission on the Discovery Space Shuttle. It's beautifully engineered with two modules: one classic timepiece, then you pop that out and pop in a lightweight electronic module with G-force sensors, linear accelerators, countdown timers and everything you could possibly want for spaceflight. It's a pretty special watch. They only made 128.
Are you into 3D printers?
We're flying one to the ISS in August, so we can print out components, like plastic ducting for air ventilation pipes. We're starting out with fairly lo-tech materials but eventually we'll work up to tools and equipment. We try to prevent too much stuff having to be flown up there, so the flexibility of what you can produce with just one printer is incredible. Now companies like SpaceX are using 3D printing with titanium alloys to actually manufacture rocket parts.
What's your favourite computer game?
Tomahawk Apache on the Amstrad 64. That shows my age! I'd play it relentlessly when I was in 16, which was funny as I ended up spending 10 years of my life flying the real Apache and absolutely loving it.
Are mobiles banned at the dinner table?
It's an individual thing: technology is there for us to use as we see fit. Personally, when I'm with people, the mobile stays in the pocket with vibrate mode on. Live in the moment, that's my philosophy. But having said that, I spend a lot of my time isolated, away from friends and family, and that's why I love connectivity. When you're on a mission, the space agency set up a video conferencing suite in your home. I spent 12 days living under the ocean and was able to Facetime my family every day, which was incredible.
Your phone bill must be massive.
[Laughs] I've got no idea who pays the bill. But what I do know is that most astronauts try to call as many people as they can while they're in space, because it's just so cool to do it.
Do you use social media?
I really enjoy Twitter. It's a great medium for reaching out to people and useful to keep track of what's going on. For me, it's really important to share this whole experience. I'm in a privileged position, so see it as my responsibility to encourage people to get involved.
SpaceX fires Falcon 9 rocket engines for prelaunch check
Stephen Clark – Spaceflight Now
SpaceX fired up the nine-engine first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket Saturday in a major preflight rehearsal before the March 16 launch of nearly 5,000 pounds of experiments and supplies to the International Space Station.
The brief ignition of the Falcon 9's nine Merlin 1D engines occurred with the rocket firmly fastened to SpaceX's Complex 40 launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Fla. The engines generate about 1.3 million pounds of thrust at sea level.
The engine firing came at the end of a multi-hour countdown, in which the SpaceX launch team loaded liquid oxygen and kerosene propellants into the two-stage Falcon 9 booster. The exercise, known as a static fire, serves as practice for engineers and helps ground crews address any problems with the rocket before launch day.
A SpaceX spokesperson said the static fire was successful.
Engineers typically spend several days reviewing data from such tests before clearing the rocket for liftoff. A launch readiness review is scheduled for next week to give the formal go-ahead for the countdown and launch of the Falcon 9 rocket with SpaceX's Dragon spaceship, an automated cargo craft to deliver and return supplies to and from the space station.
Workers will also add sensitive experiment samples, fresh food and other perishables to the Dragon capsule's pressurized module. Most of the mission's nearly 5,000-pound payload has already been packed inside the spacecraft.
Launch is scheduled for 4:41 a.m. EDT (0841 GMT) on March 16 from Cape Canaveral.
Two days later, after a series of course-correction burns to adjust its orbit, the Dragon spacecraft will arrive in the vicinity of the space station, beginning a laser-guided final approach toward the complex.
Astronauts Koichi Wakata and Richard Mastracchio will monitor the Dragon's rendezvous. Once the uncrewed spacecraft is at a hold position about 30 feet from the space station, Wakata will grapple the Dragon with the lab's 58-foot Canadian-built robotic arm.
Capture of the Dragon spacecraft is expected at about 6:59 a.m. EDT (1059 GMT) on March 18.
The Dragon spacecraft will be attached to the station's Harmony module with 16 remotely-driven bolts, then the crew will open hatches leading to the cargo carrier to begin removing the freighter's supplies.
The SpaceX-owned spaceship will also deliver a high-definition Earth observation camera package and a laser communications terminal inside its unpressurized trunk section. Ground controllers at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston will use the robot arm and the Dextre robotic handyman, fitted with two arms and tools for tasks requiring fine dexterity, to remove the payloads and transfer them to operating posts on the European Columbus laboratory module and an exposed platform on the station's truss.
Departure of the Dragon spacecraft is set for April 17 after a one-month stay at the space station.
The capsule will return to Earth with a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean west of Baja California a few hours after its release from the space station, bringing back more than 3,500 pounds of experiment samples and other gear for analysis and refurbishment.
The upcoming flight is SpaceX's third operational cargo delivery to the space station under a $1.6 billion commercial resupply contract with NASA. The agreement covers 12 missions through 2016.
It is SpaceX's first flight to the station since March 2013. The March 16 launch is also the first flight of SpaceX's upgraded Falcon 9 launcher, known as the Falcon 9 v1.1, on a space station resupply flight.
The Falcon 9 v1.1 launched three times from September to January with commercial satellites.
The March 16 launch will also be the first flight with landing legs on the Falcon 9 first stage. SpaceX officials say they will attempt a controlled water landing of the first stage in the Atlantic Ocean northeast of Cape Canaveral following the launch.
First space tourists to fly around Mars and Venus in 2021
American congressmen seem to be seriously interested in the idea of a space expedition in the course of which the spaceship will make flies around Venus and Mars.
Several days ago, the Congress's Committee of Science asked NASA to estimate the possibility of realization of such a flight (it is supposed that NASA would also take part in it). It is expected that the flight will start in November 2021 and will last 582 days, and that a married couple will take part in it.
The idea to send a married couple to space first occurred to Dennis Tito, who is known as the first person to fly to space as a "tourist", not a professional astronaut. According to Mr. Tito's initial idea, the expedition was to take place in 2018 and last 501 days. Initially, it was planned to make a rotation only around Mars. Dennis Tito planned to use a private rocket and spaceship for this project. However, the private non-commercial fund "Inspiration Mars Foundation", which was collecting money for this project, failed to collect the needed sum. There were several other uncertainties as well. Then, Dennis Tito realized that he would hardly be able to bring this project to life without NASA.
He added a flight around Venus to his project, postponed the launch to 2021 and turned to NASA. The year 2021 was chosen because it is planned that by that time, NASA will finish the construction of a spaceship called "Orion" and a heavy launch rocket "Space Launch System". It is on them that Dennis Tito wants to carry out his expedition.
Mr. Tito says that the whole project would cost $ 1 bln. His fund has promised to give $ 300 mln, and the rest, as he hopes, would be allocated by NASA.
At a hearing devoted to this case in the Congress committee, the majority of speakers expressed the opinion that this project is quite realizable. However, Alexander Zheleznyakov from the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics has some doubts about this.
"Quite likely, both the spaceship and the launch rocket will really be ready by 2021," Academician Zheleznyakov says. "But I doubt that NASA would agree to immediately send them to such a long and risky flight without any preliminary tests. The congressmen who are supporting this project do not probably realize to the full how difficult and risky it really is."
Somebody has already called Dennis Tito's project "an interesting interlink" between space missions no further than the Earth's orbit and flights to other planets.
The head of the Congress's commission Lamar Smith is actively supporting Dennis Tito's initiative. Mr. Smith says that NASA has not put forward any interesting ideas for a rather long time. The US astronautics is now not what it once used to be, and no one else than President Obama and his administration should be blamed for this, Lamar Smith believes. For example, President Obama has cancelled a flight to the Moon in favor of an expedition to an asteroid. However, many experts do not take this asteroid project seriously.
Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Russian magazine "Voprosy Kosmonavtiki" ("Issues of Cosmonautics") Igor Lisov notes that no representative of NASA spoke at the hearings over Dennis Tito's project:
"The project was presented by people who once used to work for NASA but are now private individuals. I believe that there are practically no chances that NASA would accept this project. At least, NASA's draft budget for 2015 does not mention anything of the kind."
However, the idea of a flight around Venus and Mars is too fascinating to reject it. One year ago, when the first variant of this project was announced, a lot of people offered their candidatures as the "space tourists". Several scientists have also suggested some interesting ideas about how to better protect the crew from space radiation. Besides, in 2021, Mars and Venus will come close to each other, which does not happen very often, and it would be convenient to make a fight to both planets without spending much fuel. The next such chance will occur only 12 years later.
As for Dennis Tito himself, he considers his project to be a daring challenge, but a quite realizable thing. He does not give up hope that once, officials who have the authority to make his initiative a government project will do that.
Editorial: Take advantage of Wallops opportunities
Salisbury (MD) Daily Times
The best opportunities in life are those that are hard won.
That's certainly the case with NASA Wallops in Eastern Virginia, whose profile has soared in recent years as the nature of spaceflight and space exploration has changed. For decades, launches were the province of NASA's Cape Canaveral facility (known as Cape Kennedy for a while, as older readers will remember).
From Cape Canaveral soared the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions, and later the space shuttles. It is a place etched in American history as a symbol of technological know-how and human courage.
With the sun having set on the shuttle program, and with further human space exploration by NASA cloudy, the page has turned. Now, the focus is on launching satellites and cargo for the International Space Station, with the impetus coming more from the private sector than simply the public sector.
These types of launches are well handled by a place like Wallops, which has operated in the shadow of its more famous cousin located in Florida. The frequency of launches has grown, as has the attention being paid to them. Now comes word, however speculative, that manned spaceflight from Eastern Virginia is not out of the question.
Bigelow Aerospace, of Las Vegas, is talking about conducting a demonstration mission that would involve human spaceflight, the Eastern Shore News reported earlier this month.
Certainly, many hurdles need to be cleared, but such talk indicates the untapped potential of the Mid-Atlantic space facility. And regional leaders need to ask, Why not Wallops?
Increased flight activity, manned or not, means the potential for more economic activity.
On one level, it means attracting companies and support staff to make such launches possible.
On another, it means attracting visitors from neighboring metropolitan areas to watch rockets launch.
The leadership of Maryland and Virginia should examine with even more vigor the potential to create a technology hub on the Eastern Shore. Smart use of tax credits and other incentives could help tech-oriented firms relocate here.
And the tourism potential needs to be addressed. If families are coming for a launch, where will they stay? Where will they eat? How can they be connected to other tourism attractions nearby such as Assateague National Seashore so that they stay a few days?
Hard-earned opportunity knocks. The Shore needs to open the door, welcomingly.
END
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