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Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Fwd: NASA News and JSC Today at end of email - Wednesday, March 4, 2015



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Begin forwarded message:

From: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Date: March 4, 2015 at 7:37:11 AM CST
To: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Subject: FW: NASA News and  JSC Today at end of email - Wednesday, March 4, 2015

JSC Today - Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Happy warm and muggy Wednesday from the Houston Metro area.   Cold again later tonight –gotta love this weather. 

 

Hope you can join us at Hibachi Grill tomorrow for our monthly NASA retirees luncheon at 11:30.  And per larry ratcliff

 

Don't forget the NASA Alumni League First Thursday program from 2:30pm to 4:00pm at the Gilruth Alamo room "I guess".  The program subject is Robotnaut and the speaker is Ron Diftler

 

 

NASA NEWS

• NACA Formed 100 Years Ago.

• Culberson: NASA Needs Protection From "Political Interference."

• Kennedy Used Space Program To Improve Race Relations.

• Senate Hearing Only Briefly Mentions Weather Satellite Program.

• Aldrin Speaks To Packed Audience.

• NASA To Present Science Show At Middle School.

HUMAN EXPLORATION AND OPERATIONS

• NASA Plans To Add Four More Commercial Resupply Missions.

• Wilmore: Recent Spacewalks Were "Huge Endeavor."

• NASA Officials Visit Aerojet Rocketdyne.

• HI-SEAS Crew Has Been Conducting Mars Simulation Since October.

• NASA Hosts Space Day.

• Next ISS Crew Will Perform 50 Experiments.

• Hadfield Flight Accidentally Donated To Charity During Move.

• Hundreds Of Students Will Attend Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy.

NACA Formed 100 Years Ago.

Houstonia Magazine (3/3, Berado) spoke with NASA chief historian Bill Barry about the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which formed 100 years ago this month and eventually gave rise to NASA under President Kennedy. According to the article, NACA's original purpose was to help the US "catch up" to the rest of the world's aircraft during World War I. Barry said, "By the early 1930s, NACA was the place for aeronautics and research. ... Everyone came to NACA. In World War II there were actually planes in the Luftwaffe and US Spitfires that both had NACA wings." When asked about the future, Barry said, "We'll see the same caliber of things. ... NACA had a really interesting history of taking new people and giving them government jobs and the freedom to explore….I think we'll be carrying on with that."

        Tech Times (3/3, Maynard), in its historical retrospective, notes that NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said, "NASA can boast that streamlined aircraft bodies, quieter jet engines, techniques for preventing icing, drag-reducing winglets and lightweight composite structures are an everyday part of flying thanks to research concepts and tools that trace their origins to the NACA."

        Mashable (3/3, Leonard, 1.8M) and WDEF-TV Chattanooga, TN (3/3, 7:07 p.m. EST, 24K) also cover the story.

        Blog Coverage. Becky Ferreira at Motherboard (3/3, 10K) wrote that it is "sobering" to consider what NACA and NASA have accomplished over the past century. In examining what NASA is doing today, Ferreira considered the current shift toward utilizing private companies "similar to the sea change that dissolved the NACA in 1958." Still, Ferreira predicted that if the next 100 years are "anywhere near as momentous and action-packed," then the US is "in for a serious thrill ride."

Culberson: NASA Needs Protection From "Political Interference."

The Los Angeles Times (3/3, Hiltzik, 3.49M) interviews Rep. John Culberson, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on commerce, justice and science, about his views on NASA, starting with the proposed Europa mission. Culberson said, "The Europa mission exemplifies the need for NASA to follow the best recommendations of the scientific community in prioritizing the missions that we fund and fly," adding that he was "astounded" to learn that NASA was not following those recommendations. He said that he does not know why there has been so much "resistance" to the mission at NASA. However, Culberson does believe "NASA headquarters has become too risk averse and too bogged down in bureaucracy and just frankly stultified by a long unfortunate history of insufficient funding, lack of direction. Their culture and headquarters is unfortunately different from the way it was during the Apollo era and I'm determined to leave as a part of my legacy as the subcommittee chairman to ensure that NASA's given the stability and also the freedom they need to do what they do best, and to try to change the culture so they become more focused on their core mission." Culberson said that he hopes to "insulate NASA from political pressure" and "political interference, whether it be from presidents or from Congress."

Kennedy Used Space Program To Improve Race Relations.

The Public Radio International (3/3, Paul, Moss, 3K) website reports how President John F. Kennedy decided to use NASA as a way to promote race relations. When developing the Apollo program, Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, as head of the National Space Council and the President's Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, required NASA and contractors "to hire blacks, creating upper-level job opportunities that had never been available before to them, well before passage of the Civil Rights Act made equal employment opportunity the law of the land." According to the article, those researchers who took part in the space program back then achieved "a different kind of civil rights victory — quietly breaking through color barriers in education, employment, and politics."

Senate Hearing Only Briefly Mentions Weather Satellite Program.

Space News (3/3, Leone, Subscription Publication, 481) reports that at a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing yesterday, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker only made "a fleeting, if supportive, mention" of NOAA's weather satellite program, which NASA procures using NOAA funds. Pritzker said, "Funding the development and launch of future satellites is absolutely critical to reduce the risk of a potential gap in weather data." The article notes that except for the brief mention, satellites were "lost in the shuffle" of the hearing.

Aldrin Speaks To Packed Audience.

The Boulder (CO) Daily Camera (3/4, Kuta, 167K) reports that on Tuesday, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin spoke to a "packed" audience at the University of Colorado Boulder about his "Unified Space Vision." According to the article, Aldrin wants the US to lead in space by getting citizens "excited again about traveling into the great unknown."

NASA To Present Science Show At Middle School.

The Wilmington (DE) News Journal (3/3, Mordock, 319K) reports that NASA will partner with Honeywell in production of a live science show at Tally Middle School in Wilmington, DE. The show, called "FMA Live! Forces in Motion," has been performed across North America for over 400,000 students. The show features dancing, acting, music, demonstration, and video interviews.

NASA Plans To Add Four More Commercial Resupply Missions.

NASA Space Flight (3/3, Bergin, 305) reports that NASA plans to add four additional Commercial Resupply Services missions, with three going to SpaceX and one to Orbital ATK. Their respective Dragon and "beefed up Cygnus spacecraft" will bring supplies to the "engineering marvel that is the International Space Station" into 2017. According to the article, turning to commercial companies to resupply the ISS after the end of the space shuttle was "one of NASA's finer ideas."

        Orbital Will Soon Start Testing New Antares Rocket Engine. The Washington Business Journal (3/3, Aitoro, Subscription Publication, 119K) "Fedbiz Daily" blog reports that according to CEO David Thompson, Orbital ATK plans to start tests of the Antares rocket's new engines "in the coming weeks," with plans to launch a mission to the ISS "a year from now." Speaking at the J.P. Morgan Aviation, Transportation and Industrials Conference, Thompson reportedly did not speak much on last year's launch failure. Instead, he "did reaffirm" that Orbital is committed to resupplying the ISS and winning a second round of contracts. Thompson said that it is "likely" that NASA will split the next round of contracts "among at least two suppliers, possibly three."

        SpaceX Profitable From NASA Contracts. Bloomberg News (3/4, Lippert, 2.94M), in an article titled, "SpaceX Profitable As Musk Pulls In NASA Contracts, Google Cash," details how SpaceX already had $4.2 billion in NASA contracts, with a more "promising" future when it can compete for military launches and after it develops its "promising" satellite business. The article highlights that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk ultimately wants to colonize Mars. Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's chief operating officer, said that the company could send the first people there "in 15 years."

Wilmore: Recent Spacewalks Were "Huge Endeavor."

The Aviation Week (3/3, DiMascio, 2K) "Inside the Cabin" blog reports that ISS astronauts Wilmore and Terry Virts spoke with Aviation Week's Mark Carreau "about the importance of a mid-February series of spacewalks," the water that leaked into a spacesuit, "and the physical demands of a spacewalk." Wilmore said, "It's absolutely of huge significance. It's changing the capabilities of the ISS. ... It's been literally years of planning by engineering, planning, assessment and operations teams across the nation, doing much in preparation for this. So this is a huge endeavor."

NASA Officials Visit Aerojet Rocketdyne.

KTXL-TV Sacramento, CA (3/3, 5:17 p.m. PST, 24K) broadcast that NASA and Orion program leaders visited Aerojet Rocketdyne "to celebrate" Orion's successful first flight test back in December. The company reportedly stated that it has "seen a rise in interest" in spaceflight "due all the recent success in space exploration."

        NASA IG Testifies That Budget Factors Will Hurt SLS, Orion. Doug Messier at Parabolic Arc (3/3) writes that at a recent House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing, NASA Inspector General (IG) Paul Martin testified that "short-term and long-term budget pressures" will hurt the Space launch System and Orion capsule schedule, as well as "limit NASA's ability to conduct human deep-space exploration until the late 2030's."

HI-SEAS Crew Has Been Conducting Mars Simulation Since October.

Voice of America (3/3, O'Sullivan, 70K) reports on the six people participating in the eight-month Mars mission simulation as part of the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) program. The project aims to learn "how humans will cope with months in isolation on a Mars base." The article notes that the crew has been "mostly self-sufficient," with very limited contact with the outside world, since October.

        SPACE (3/3, Howell, 236K) reports that Jocelyn Dunn said via email that at the project's halfway point, the team is busy and "crew morale is strong." Dunn added that the participants are "proud" to be contributing to a future Mars mission and "not eager to leave" yet.

NASA Hosts Space Day.

The KXAN-TV Austin, TX (3/3, 63K) website reports briefly that NASA will host Space Day in Austin, Texas on Tuesday. The event, titled "Dawn of a New Era," will feature moon rock, and several exhibits on "the International Space Station, the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and the Commercial Crew Program."

        KXAN-TV Austin, TX (3/3, 10:13 p.m. CST, 28K), KVUE-TV Austin, TX (3/3, 11:02 a.m. CST, 12K), and KTBC-TV Austin, TX (3/3, 9:35 a.m. CST, 10K) also provided coverage on NASA's Space Day 2015.

Next ISS Crew Will Perform 50 Experiments.

Russia's ITAR-TASS News Agency (3/4, 5K) reports that the next ISS crew has no spacewalks on tap, but they will perform 50 experiments. Yury Lonchakov, head of the Cosmonaut Training Center, said that these include the "very extensive" experiments on Mikhail Kornienko and Scott Kelly during their year-long ISS mission.

Hadfield Flight Accidentally Donated To Charity During Move.

The Washington Post (3/3, Feltman, 5.17M) "Speaking of Science" blog reports that it is now known how Canadian astronaut and former ISS commander Chris Hadfield's flight suit ended up at a thrift store and was eventually purchased by Julielynn Wong. His son posted to Reddit that it was accidentally "donated...to charity during a move" following Hadfield's return from the ISS, when it was intended "to be loaned to a science center along with other memorabilia."

        Sen (3/3, Howell) also covers the story.

Hundreds Of Students Will Attend Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy.

The WAAY-TV Huntsville, AL (3/3, Barrett, 2K) "Space Alabama" website reports that for the sixth year, hundreds of students form around the world are attending the US Space and Rocket Center's Space Camp as part of the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy. According to the article, while the academy could have taken place at other locations, Honeywell chose Alabama because of the opportunity for students to "talk to astronauts, NASA personnel and participate in the one-of-a-kind Space Camp." The article highlights the international nature of the camp, highlighting that NASA is "very clear" that a future manned Mars mission requires "global cooperation and resources."

 

 

 

 

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   Headlines

  1. One-Year Mission!

On March 27, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Gennady Padalka launch to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Kelly and Kornienko will spend a year on the station, returning in March 2016. Check out the one-year mission website!

Liz Warren x35548

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  1. Wounded Warrior Project: Soldier Ride Houston

Don't forget! The Wounded Warrior Project, Soldier Ride Houston, will be held this Friday, March 6, at the entrance to Building 1. The Soldier Ride is a unique cycling opportunity for wounded warriors to use cycling and the bonds of service to overcome physical, mental or emotional wounds. Fifty selected warriors from around the nation and of all ability levels will cycle with state-of-the-art adaptive hand cycles, trikes and bicycles that accommodate the warriors' various injuries and disabilities. Communities play a key role in making each Soldier Ride a success and help warriors gain confidence in their rehabilitation efforts.

The center encourages JSC team members to line up in front of Building 1 on March 6 at 8:45 a.m. to cheer the warriors. Flags will be handed out to wave on the warriors as they approach Building 1.

Event Date: Friday, March 6, 2015   Event Start Time:8:45 AM   Event End Time:9:30 AM
Event Location: In front of Building 1

Add to Calendar

Alan Mather x32619

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  1. On a Mission to Win

Did you know that NASA and its predecessor, the NACA, have been making advances in cutting-edge technology for 100 years? Though there's no more "centennial" cake to be had (sorry, that was yesterday), use those leftover carbs to power through the midway point of the JSC Knowledge Office's online scavenger hunt and seize your opportunity to win a memorable JSC experience. (Will it be a tour of a special lab or facility or maybe a chance to see a live news conference up close and personal?) Or, are you gunning for the grand-prize drawing and your chance to be a VIP in mission control for the launch of the one-year crew to the space station? To do so, you need to participate—and be right—all week long.

The NACA trivia questions today focus on the law—specifically the National Aeronautics and Space Act—and an Apollo 13 flight director. Success is the option to choose as you search your way to the right answers. Good luck!

Julie Barnes-Gober x38407

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  1. Get Your Game on with Hubble Mania!

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured many amazing images during its 25 years in orbit. In celebration of the telescope's 25th anniversary, 32 of these incredible images are competing for your votes in a competition in which you decide the victors.

Starting today, visit Hubble Mania online to find a printable Hubble Mania bracket and vote for your favorite image in each matchup. Challenge your friends to see who can predict the winners of each round—all the way through the finals. Which one of Hubble's iconic images will win it all and become the champion? Your votes will decide!

Robin Prouse x32843 http://hubble25th.org/go/hubblemania

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   Organizations/Social

  1. ConVERG Celebration and Photo Opportunity

ConVERG (Connected Vets Employee Resource Group) is celebrating the U.S. Navy Reserve's centennial birthday. Come enjoy cake, meet our new officers and review/share logo designs.

Following the celebration, there will be a great opportunity for you to be in an official photograph with the U.S. Navy Reserves at Rocket Park at 1:30 p.m.

ConVERG membership is open to all JSC team members.

Event Date: Thursday, March 5, 2015   Event Start Time:12:00 PM   Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: Building 3 Collaboration Center

Add to Calendar

Rene Sanchez x46747

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  1. Building Smarter Cities with Analytics & Open Data

You are invited to JSC's SAIC/Safety and Mission Assurance speaker forum featuring Michael Moomaw, IBM Smarter Cities architect.

We have all heard the catch phrase, "Let's build a smarter planet." But …

    • What does that really mean and how can it be done?
    • How do Smarter Cities, analytics and open data fit together to make citizens lives safer, healthier and more productive?
    • Can these concepts be applied to your work and/or the work performed at NASA to advance human flight?

Date/Time: Wednesday, March 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CST

Location: Gilruth Alamo Ballroom

Event Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:12:30 PM
Event Location: Gilruth Alamo Ballroom

Add to Calendar

Della Cardona/Juan Traslavina 281-335-2074/281-335-2272

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  1. Intro to Engineers Without Borders: Kenya Project

Engineers Without Borders-JSC will be taking on a second project, this time in Kenya, and we will be working with UTMB. Stop by Building 7, Room 141, today, March 4, from noon to 1 p.m. to hear about the new project. There will be a presentation by UTMB volunteers who have just returned from the site where the chapter will be working. No RSVP is required.

Angela Cason x40903

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  1. Environmental Brown Bag: JSC's Compost Programs

Are you curious about JSC's composting programs? Have you seen signs for coffee grounds collection and want to know more? Do you want to get involved in composting, either on-site or at home? Come check out the next Environmental Brown Bag on March 10 from noon to 1 p.m. in Building 45, Room 751. Bring your lunch and join Jeni Morrison with the JSC Environmental Office for a discussion about composting in general and JSC's successful composting and mulch programs. The last half of the session will be a quick trip around site to see JSC's composting setup. Transportation for the composting site visit is available on a first come, first served basis.

Event Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015   Event Start Time:12:00 PM   Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: B45 Rm 751

Add to Calendar

JSC Environmental Office x36207 http://www6.jsc.nasa.gov/ja/ja13/index.cfm

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  1. You Are Invited: JSC Annual Picnic 2015

The 2015 JSC Annual Picnic will be held at the Wet & Wild SplashTown Water Park on Sunday, April 26, from noon to 6 p.m. Advance purchase is required, as tickets will not be available at the gate. Buy tickets in the Buildings 3 and 11 ShopNASA Gift Shops and Gilruth Center. Bring your family and friends and come on out and enjoy some food, drinks, music and fun for all ages!

Tickets include an "all-you-can-eat" barbecue dinner, ice cream novelties, adult beverages (ID required), DJ music, unlimited access to the park's rides and attractions, horseshoes, sand volleyball, basketball, dunking booth, bingo, moon bounce, face painting, supervised kids' games, free parking, a half-price return ticket option and more.

Early-bird price - $35 until April 10 / or $40 from April 11 to 17

Season-pass upgrades will be available at SplashTown for $ 44.99 with a JSC picnic ticket.

Cyndi Kibby x35352

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  1. Starport Boot Camp – Registration Now Open

Starport's boot camp is back, and registration is open and filling fast. Don't miss a chance to be part of Starport's incredibly popular program.

The class will fill up, so register now!

Regular registration

    • $110 per person

The workout began on March 2.

Register online now or at the Gilruth Center information desk.

Shericka Phillips x35563 https://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/en/programs/recreation-programs/boot-camps

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  1. Creating Business Opportunities

Energy Express Network presents Kristi L. Jackson, MBA, who will speak on "Creating Business Opportunities." Founder of the Women CEO Project, Jackson is a White House recognized and awarded entrepreneur who is passionate about helping ambitious women in business and entrepreneurs use simple yet effective business strategies. Learn how to grow your organization and develop key business relationships that add value and create opportunities by leveraging technology, on and offline tools and product creation. She will share five major strategies to help you grow your business in 2015.

Join us Wednesday, March 11, at 5:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Downtown.

Event Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015   Event Start Time:5:30 PM   Event End Time:7:30 PM
Event Location: Hyatt Regency 1200 Louisiana St Houston 77003

Add to Calendar

Kirsten Beyer 281-235-2271 http://www.abwaenergyexpress.org

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   Jobs and Training

  1. JSC Risk Management Workshop

The JSC Risk Management Workshop (JSC-NA-SAIC-RISKWKSP) includes risk-management concepts, a risk-identification workshop tailored for JSC personnel participating in institutional risk management and hands-on JSC-IRMA training. Class participants include managers, leads and risk-management focal points. The workshop addresses JSC's requirements for risk identification, tracking, reporting and making risk-informed decisions. Topics include understanding potential health, safety, environmental, technical, infrastructure or workforce capabilities and schedule and cost risks associated with successfully meeting JSC directorate objectives.

SATERN link: https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHEDULED_...

Event Date: Thursday, March 26, 2015   Event Start Time:9:00 AM   Event End Time:4:00 PM
Event Location: Building 12/Room 144

Add to Calendar

Paula Gothreaux/Russell Hartlieb 281-335-2441/281-335-2443

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  1. Russian Language Classes Phase II (Spring Quarter)

The JSC Language Education Center announces Phase Two Russian Language course offerings for the 2015 spring quarter (April 6 to June 26). Only the following classes will be offered this quarter: 2A, 2B and 2C. Registration for all courses is now conducted exclusively through NASA's SATERN system. Continuing students, both JSC contractors and civil servants who have approval of their supervisor and training coordinator, can enroll in the appropriate level group class through SATERN. Enrollment preference is, however, given to civil servants. Students new to the program and who have had previous Russian language training, or students who are resuming their Russian language training after a break of two or more quarters, should contact Dr. Anthony Vanchu (281-483-0644 or via email) to schedule a placement interview to determine the most appropriate class to join.

Natalia Rostova 281-851-3745

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  1. RLLS Portal Training for March - Via WebEx

The March Monthly RLLS Portal Education Series - via WebEx sessions:

    • March 11 at 2 p.m. CST, Translation Support Module Training
    • March 12 at 2 p.m. CST, Telecom Support Training
    • March 25 at 2 p.m. CST, Physical Logical Access Training
    • March 26 at 2 p.m. CST, Flight Arrival Departure Module Training

These 30-minute training sessions are computer-based WebEx sessions, offering individuals the convenience to join from their own workstation. The training will cover the following:

    • System login
    • Locating support modules
    • Locating downloadable instructions
    • Creating support requests
    • Submittal requirements
    • Submitting on behalf of another
    • Adding attachments
    • Selecting special requirements
    • Submitting a request
    • Status of a request

After each session is an opportunity for Q&A. Please remember that TTI will no longer accept requests for U.S.-performed services unless they are submitted through the RLLS Portal.

Email or call 281-335-8565 to sign up.

James Welty 281-335-8565 https://www.tti-portal.com

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   Community

  1. Family Space Day - Saturday, March 14

The Expedition Center at the George Observatory is holding a Family Space Day on Saturday, March 14, from about 3 to 8 p.m.

For purchase are tickets to complete a 45-minute Expedition Center mission to the moon! Expedition Center mission tickets may be purchased for $10/person online.

After enjoying a trip to space, stay for the evening and look at the night sky through our telescopes. Telescope tickets can be purchased at the observatory gift shop.

George Observatory is located in the heart of Brazos Bend State Park. Admission to the park is $7 for adults; kids under 12 are free.

Megan Hashier 281-226-4179 http://www.hmns.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=404&Ite...

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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.

 

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