Volume 2 Issue 4 www.nasa.

gov/centers/stennis April 2007

Sun-Earth Day at SSC

Exploring life under the sun
About 150 local students created an edible sun
model during Stennis Space Center’s Sun-Earth
Day celebration on April 10.

With a plain cookie, the students created the sun’s

outer layers – photosphere, sunspots and solar
prominences – by spreading white frosting and
shaking yellow and red sprinkles on top. The
sprinkles illustrated the granular appearance of
the photosphere. A few chocolate chips served as
sunspots and a few pieces of licorice formed
small arches for the solar prominences.

“This was one of the students’ favorite activities,

and it helped them to visualize how the Sun is
structured,” said Keely Keyser, SSC’s NASA Michael Sandras, a member of the Pontchartrain Astronomical Society, explains his
Explorer Schools coordinator. “All the hands-on solar telescope to students of Second Street in Bay St. Louis, Hancock County and
activities were great learning experiences for stu- Nicholson elementary schools in StenniSphere’s Millennium Hall. The students par-
dents to have a better understanding of the rela- ticipated in several hands-on activities at Stennis Space Center’s Sun-Earth Day
tionship between the sun and Earth.” celebration April 10.

Education’s Sun-Earth Day workshop in February.

Participating elementary schools – Second Street in Bay Divided in five rotating groups and sessions, the stu-
St. Louis, Hancock County and Nicholson – were select-
ed from those whose teachers attended SSC’s Office of See SUN-EARTH DAY, Page 7

Applied Sciences’ new associate director visits SSC

Dr. Teresa Fryberger (center), NASA’s new associate director of
Applied Sciences in NASA Headquarters’ Science Mission
Directorate, meets with Mark Glorioso (left), Stennis Space Center’s
Applied Research and Technology Office chief; and SSC Director Dr.
Rick Gilbrech during her visit to the center March 20. Fryberger visit-
ed SSC to learn more about the people who conduct the center’s
work in the program. SSC participation includes research in NASA
science capabilities relevant to community concerns such as climate
change and health of the planet. The work includes creating
advanced computer-generated visualizations, demonstrating research
results from remote sensing data and models, and managing the
information used by Applied Sciences Program participants at four
other centers and NASA Headquarters.
Page 2 LAGNIAPPE April 2007

can control how we manage our efforts. I once heard a

senior manager say, “We have to break the rules to get the
From the desk of
job done.” I don’t understand that mentality. Our task is to
Gene Goldman accomplish goals within strictures. Anybody can do it by
breaking rules.
Deputy Director,
Stennis Space Center We are in a pivotal era of space exploration. Nearing the
end of shuttle, we are in initial phases of preparation to
test engines for a new lunar program. This will be the
“Can’t do it that way.” “It’s never been done.” “(Fill in third generation of engines tested on stands built back in
blank) won’t approve it.” Have you heard, or even used, the 20th century, and will require our best effort. We also
such phrases? Too often we allow these admonitions to have significant roles in applied science, enabling a better
affect our thoughts about new initiatives. It’s been said understanding of our planet with tremendous potential for
NASA is an aging agency, petrified by bureaucracy. It lunar and planetary exploration. Our ability to collaborate
doesn’t have to be that way. with other federal agencies in using space-generated data is
unequaled. These opportunities come with technical and
Challenging the nation to a race for the moon in 1961, resource challenges, requiring us to focus our energy and
with 15 minutes of ballistic spaceflight experience, capabilities. The potential benefits are incalculable.
President Kennedy charged, “We do these things not
because they are easy, but because they are hard.” We work History is replete with civilizations that failed to accept
at a center raised from the muck of a cypress swamp to risks and ceased to explore. The same is true for organiza-
meet that audacious goal. Early in the program, construc- tions. I recently attended the “For Inspiration and
tion of the test stands was the critical path to footprints Recognition of Science and Technology” (FIRST)
on the moon. The Apollo Program, born of a vision, built Robotics Competition at the Convention Center in New
the infrastructure, processes, work force and the flight Orleans, a site once symbolic of suffering and hopeless-
hardware to successfully complete that mission. We “stand ness. Talk about inspiration! That center was filled with the
on the shoulders of Titans” with a quest to further prior enthusiasm of youth and volunteers, many from Stennis
achievements. Space Center, all with a full belief in what they could
accomplish together. Let’s foster that same spirit as we
Many say Apollo had an unlimited budget and zero prece- face these challenges. The cypress paneling in my office
dent; but they had slide rules and a belief they could. We attests we can accomplish whatever we believe we can.
have more constraints; we also have more experience,
infrastructure and incredible computing power. We can’t
control the budget we receive or program assignments; we

Mississippi commits $10M to INFINITY Science Center

INFINITY at NASA “This is extremely indirect jobs, according to the study.
Stennis Space Center good news,” said Leo
moved one step closer Seal, INFINITY board Internationally respected architects
from a dream to reality chairman. “With this and exhibit designers have already
March 30 when the Mississippi commitment we can now start mov- completed plans for many of the
Legislature passed SB 3190. ing ahead with plans.” exhibit areas. U.S. Navy Seabees cur-
rently are clearing 30 of the site’s
When Gov. Haley Barbour signs the A feasibility study for the project 200 acres on I-10 just outside SSC’s
revenue bill, Mississippi will increase anticipates approximately 300,000 gates.
its financial support from the $6 mil- visitors to the site each of its first
lion approved in 2006 to $10 million. five years, producing a local econom- Apollo 13 Astronaut Fred Haise, a
INFINITY’s board of directors is at ic impact of more than $35 million member of the INFINITY board of
work to raise at least $8 million to annually. The science and visitors directors, emphasized the center will
qualify for additional support from center also will produce more than be unique in its offering of a family
NASA and other agencies. 50 jobs and impact an additional 850 See INFINITY, Page 7
April 2007 LAGNIAPPE Page 3

F U L F I L L I N G T H E V I S I O N F O R S PA C E E X P L O R AT I O N

J-2X powerpack work progressing

Recent work on the J-
2X rocket engine
means progress in the A vintage 1960 J-2 thrust
engine’s development, chamber is fitted with brack-
ets and pumps recently at the
according to NASA’s Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
Gary Benton, J-2X assembly facility in SSC’s
project manager at Building 9101. Together, the
Stennis Space Center. parts comprise the J-2X
Powerpack 1A test article.
Mississippi Space Services
In a fit-check exercise machined the new bracket
for the J-2X power- (the V-shaped arm on the
pack, a vintage 1960 J- right), making this the first
2 thrust chamber was time parts for an engine test
article were machined, weld-
recently fitted with ed and assembled on site.
brackets and supports
to mount fuel and oxi-
dizer pumps onto its
injector-chamber assembly. The work, which took place 2 and the Linear Aerospike were tested at SSC. The J-
in Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne’s Building 9101 assem- 2X engines, which will also be tested at SSC, will eventu-
bly facility, was performed with PWR technicians and ally carry humans back to the moon as part of
welders under the direction of PWR engineers. America’s Vision for Space Exploration.
Mississippi Space Services employees machined the
brackets and supports welded to the injector-chamber To an untrained eye, the test article looks like a com-
assembly as part of the fit-check exercise. plete engine, but it’s really just a nozzle and combustion
chamber assembly, a “piece of metal to attach the
“It’s something new,” said Brian Sproles, PWR’s J-2X pumps to,” Sproles said. “We’re using it as a hanger for
assembly and test Integrated Product Team manager, the test stand,” a sort of mock-up to make sure every-
“for our engineers to do prototype assembly work here, thing fits the way it should.
then MSS’ machine shop making the brackets and
welders actually putting them on the test article. Even Powerpack 1A will be used for checking the operation
though it’s not a flight engine, this is the program’s first of the test stand and test team operations, testing the
test article, and it’s being fabricated and assembled here integrated powerpack components at sea level condi-
at SSC.” tions during start and shutdown
sequences and studying propellant flow
Together, the elements make up the J- A-1 Updates and turbomachinery component life.
2X Powerpack 1A, which will be fitted
with gas generator, and liquid hydrogen “This all means we’re about to get into
and liquid oxygen pumps pulled from • Paint work completed on Levels 7-10 our first critical component testing,”
the Linear Aerospike Engine on display • Painting on Level 6 structure under Benton said. “The tests will provide
in SSC’s visitor center, StenniSphere. way baseline data to feed into the J-2X
• Work continues on Master Facility engine design.”
Those pumps are now at PWR’s
Panel, shop air
Canoga Park, Calif., headquarters get-
• Installation of auxiliary flare stack
ting new seals, bearings and other inter- Benton said flow and facility activation
piping continues
nal refurbishments. testing on the A-1 Test Stand is sched-
• Preparations under way for moving
uled to take place late this summer, and
the flare stack from B-1 to A-1
The oxygen and hydrogen pumps were the test article should be installed in
• Powerpack Adapter fabrication
modified from those used in the Apollo continues
August or September. “We’re on track,
Program’s J-2 engines, which helped • Materials on hand for pipe fabrication meeting the requirements as planned,”
propel Apollo’s Saturn V rocket. The J- he said.
Page 4 LAGNIAPPE April 2007

SSC hosts Special Olympics

Dana Brannan (above) of Picayune

displays a blue ribbon she earned
competing in the Area III Special
Olympics, held March 31 at
Stennis Space Center. Andrew
Muns (at left) of the Biloxi Indians
Special Youth Team helped kick off
the competition by carrying the
Olympic torch into the games.
Other competing athletes include
Travis Ladner (far left) in the disk
toss, as volunteer Steve McCord
watches; Tiffany Heneger (below)
in the wheelchair race as volunteer
F.J. Cutting records the time; and
Luke Gray (bottom
left) in the softball
throw, measured by
volunteers David
Perkins (below) and
Marina Benigno,
director of SSC’s
Center Operations
Directorate. Athlete
Albert Huddleston
(bottom right) had a
chance to meet
Cincinnati Bengals
wide receiver Skyler
Green, who volun-
teered as a marker
for the softball throw
event.
April 2007 LAGNIAPPE Page 5

2 innovations earn awards

NASA’s Innovative Partnerships and Science
Program under the Science and Directorate at SSC
Technology Division at Stennis Space received a Tech Brief
Center recently presented Tech Brief Award for his innova-
and Software awards to Elizabeth tion, Balanced Piston
Valenti of WorldWinds Inc., Patrick Relief Valve with Side
Fitzpatrick of Mississippi State Vented Reaction
University’s GeoResources Institute Cavity.
and Bruce Farner of NASA.
He developed the the-
Valenti and Fitzpatrick were awarded oretical valve to great-
for their collaborative development of ly reduce the force
Elizabeth Valenti (left) of WorldWinds Inc. and Patrick Fitzpatrick (cen-
an interactive database containing within the piston area ter) of Mississippi State University’s GeoResources Institute recently
atlases of storm surge flood levels for of high-pressure, received Tech Brief and Software awards for a database they devel-
the Louisiana-Mississippi Gulf Coast high-flow relief valves oped. NASA’s Bruce Farner (second from right) also received a Tech
region. These atlases aim to make in SSC’s E Test Brief Award for his technology innovation. The awards were presented
by NASA’s Ray Bryant, SBIR/STTR program manager at SSC; and
flood forecasts more accurate, thus Complex. Farner the- Ramona Travis, SSC’s Innovative Partnership program manager.
improving severe storm preparedness orizes a small shoul-
and evacuation scenarios. der put on the side of the piston has experienced several failures of
would create a differential to produce high-pressure, high-flow relief valves
Using an algorithm to derive elevation reactive force to move the valve piston due to the large forces exerted on the
measurements from Interferometric and relieve the pressure. The cavity piston within them.
Synthetic Aperture Radar remote sens- created by this shoulder must be vent-
ing data, Valenti and Fitzpatrick devel- ed to atmospheric conditions. This Farner’s invention is scheduled for
oped the storm surge simulation, provides a tunable force at valve lift publication in an upcoming issue of
“Forecasting of Storm-Surge Floods points and may provide higher reseat the NASA Tech Briefs magazine.
Using ADCIRC and Optimized pressures.
DEMS.” Ray Bryant, Small Business Innovation
The valves could be used in any large Research/Small Business Technology
Their invention was published in pressurant piping delivery system. The Transfer program manager, and
NASA Tech Briefs magazine’s E Complex most commonly uses Ramona Travis, is the Innovative
December 2006 issue. nitrogren, helium, oxygen or hydrogen Partnership Program manager, present-
to keep cryogenic fuels pressurized ed the awards on behalf of NASA’s
Bruce Farner of NASA’s Engineering within its test facility. SSC’s test area Inventions and Contributions Board.

STS-117 launch update

NASA is targeting June 8 as the next possible launch
opportunity for Space Shuttle Atlantis’ STS-117 mission.

The decision by agency management followed a meet-

ing that reviewed the progress in repairing insulating
foam on the shuttle’s external fuel tank, damaged dur-
ing a hail storm Feb. 26 at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
That damage required engineers to repair approximate-
ly 2,660 sites on the tank.

The launch window extends from June 8 to July 18.

Wayne Hale, manager of the Space Shuttle Program,
Kennedy Space Center technicians carefully sand away the external tank’s
said, “What we’re doing is letting the work drive the
red dye to help expose cracks and dents caused by golf ball-sized hail
during a Feb. 26 storm. schedule, not the other way around.”
Page 6 LAGNIAPPE April 2007

NASA engineer serving in Kuwait

Editor’s Note: NASA wants to highlight SSC employees who are
serving our country. If you know of someone who is serving or will
serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom,
contact NASA News Chief Paul Foerman at 688-3333.

In January, NASA engineer Kevin Power traded cubicle

walls and a computer screen for camouflage and camels to
take on the full-time role of Cmdr. Kevin Power, U.S.
Navy.

Power, a member of the technical management team in

the Project Integration Office of Stennis Space Center’s
Project Directorate, has had his boots on the ground at
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, since February. He is one of a
handful of SSC employees who have been or will be
mobilized to the Middle East in support of U.S. efforts in
the region.
Cmdr. Kevin Power
serving with the U.S. Navy’s Facilities Engineering Detachment in Kuwait
Power is an individual augmentee in the Navy’s Facilities
Engineering Detachment Kuwait. He and 13 other IAs sonnel required … are incredible.”
work directly for the U.S. Army Area Support Group
Kuwait, filling personnel gaps for other branches of serv- A reservist since 1988, Power said the biggest adjustment
ice. They are responsible for all military construction proj- has been the separation from his family. At home in
ects in Kuwait in Mandeville, La., his wife Susan and the couple’s three chil-
Others who serve direct support of dren, Brandon, Madison and Devin, have a strong net-
Operation Iraqi work of support from their church, neighbors and
Ray A. Billeaud III Freedom. extended family.
The Paragon Systems employee at
SSC has served in the military for 18
From the permanent “Kevin is very committed to his mission,” Susan said. “He
years. The Mississippi Army National
base at Camp Arifjan totally believes in it, and believes he’s there for a reason.
Guardsman
(about 10 miles from That makes it easier to put up with the hardship of the
is a ser-
geant with
the Persian Gulf), distance.”
the 155th Power manages proj-
Brigade, ects at the Kuwait “This is a big endeavor on his part,” said Kevin’s father,
155th Naval Base and at the World War II veteran Michael Power. “When he told me
Infantry Sea Port of he was going to be deployed, he wouldn’t harbor a
Battalion. Debarkation, where thought of getting out of his duty. He’s got a lot of
Sgt. Ray A. ‘Skip’ Deployed to all equipment, mate- integrity about him.”
Billeaud III Bosnia in rials and supplies go
with children Nick, 2001, the into and out of the When Power returns to the states in September, he’ll
Mea and Louis 35-year-old resume his civilian duties at SSC. He said the skills he’s
area of operations.
was mobi- learned in his 18 years with NASA have helped him jump
lized to Iraq in December 2004, The scope of sup- into the work and keep his projects moving.
returning to help his family deal with port required by
Katrina’s aftermath. In Iraq, he troops in Iraq has “Kevin led an agency-wide team this past year studying
worked with the mechanized infantry been “the most the Constellation Program’s requirements for J-2X altitude
in the Battalion Tactical Operation eye-opening thing testing,” said NASA’s David Brannon, head of SSC’s
Center. The Kiln, Miss., resident and for me,” Power Propulsion Test Integration Group. “His leadership was
single father kept up with his three said. “The equip- instrumental in resolving our plans to test the J-2X engine
children via Webcam and e-mail while ment, materials, on the appropriate altitude facility. We miss his contribu-
he was away. “That helped a lot.”
supplies and per- tions to the work here, and we miss him.”
April 2007 LAGNIAPPE Page 7

SUN-EARTH DAY
Continued from Page 1
AROUND NASA
dents enjoyed a half-day of fun-filled experimental activi-  Team checking on Odyssey’s power supply:
ties that aligned with this year’s national celebration of Engineers for NASA’s Mars Odyssey mission are examining
Sun-Earth Day, “Living in the Atmosphere of the Sun,” data from the orbiter to determine whether onboard backup sys-
tems never used by the 6-year-old spacecraft could still be avail-
on March 20.
able if needed. Odyssey reported recently that a power process-
ing component of the backup, or “B-side,” systems had stopped
Other SSC-sponsored activities included solar clocks, working. The component, the high-efficiency power supply, has
where students created a small paper sundial to indicate a twin that is continuing to serve the “A-side” hardware, which is
the time based on the position of the sun in the sky. operating normally. Odyssey has stayed on its A-side systems,
Students also observed the changes in shadows over time including the A-side flight computer, since launch in 2001.
to develop a sense of the earth’s motion. SSC’s staff pre- However, the A-side power supply cannot serve most systems
sented a cryogenics demonstration that showed cryogens’ on the B-side, including the backup B-side computer. If engi-
relationship to solar exploration and the extreme envi- neers do not determine a way to restore the B-side power sup-
ronment of space. ply, most of the backup hardware would not be available, if it
were ever needed.
SSC’s portable planetarium was used for the students to  NASA chooses firms for contracts: NASA has
view the solar system and its constellations, and members awarded 45 commercial, fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite
of the Pontchartrain Astronomical Society brought solar quantity contracts to 37 vendors under the Solutions for
telescopes for students to view the sun. Enterprise-Wide Procurement IV. The principal purpose of the
SEWP IV contracts is to provide customers with state-of-the-art
“Sun-Earth Day allows us to explore ways to bridge the computer technologies, high-end scientific and engineering pro-
gap between solar exploration and education. It’s interest- cessing capabilities, network equipment and peripherals. These
Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts are available for order-
ing to learn about the sun’s impact on the earth,” said
ing by all NASA centers, all federal agencies and their contrac-
NASA SSC Education Officer Dr. Dewey Herring.
tors. The period of performance for each of the contracts is
“Teachers and students, who participated in both the seven years. The minimum amount of supplies or services that
workshop and this event’s educational activities, can con- may be ordered is $2,500 with a maximum of $5.6 billion per
tinue to apply what they have learned in their classroom.” contract.
 Astronaut runs Boston Marathon in space: NASA
Sun-Earth Day is a national celebration of the sun, the
astronaut Suni Williams went faster than anyone has ever gone
space around the earth, and how it affects life on Earth.
in the Boston Marathon on April 16. She ran the famed race this
The purpose of Sun-Earth Day is to educate the public month as an official entrant from 210 miles above Earth aboard
on how the sun, which is a magnetic star, impacts the the International Space Station. It was the first time an astronaut
earth and other planets in the solar system, and that all in space was an official participant in a marathon. Williams, an
humans use technology to understand the sun and the accomplished marathoner, has served aboard the space station
universe. since December 2006 as a member of the Expedition 14 crew.
She ran the race on a station treadmill, circling Earth at least
twice in the process, running as fast as 8 mph but flying more
INFINITY than five miles each second.

Continued from Page 2  NASA extends contract with Russian counter-

part: NASA has signed a $719 million modification to the cur-
entertainment attraction and an educational center for rent International Space Station contract with Russia’s Federal
Space Agency in Moscow for crew and cargo services through
science and technology students. “We say that INFINI-
2011. The firm-fixed price extension covers crew rotations for 15
TY will be a place to visit, play and learn. That’s a combi- crew members, six in 2009, six in 2010 and three in 2011, deliv-
nation that ensures our success.” ery and the removal of 5.6 metric tons of cargo. U.S.
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services are still planned to
Though still two years from its anticipated opening date, provide the bulk of cargo transportation needs from 2010 and
INFINITY already operates a Web site providing educa- beyond to the space station. With the modification, NASA also is
tional tools for families and teachers. To learn more purchasing the capability for the Russian Docking Cargo Module
about INFINITY and follow its progress, visit to carry 1.4 metric tons of NASA cargo to the space station.
InfinityScienceCenter.org. That module is scheduled to fly in 2010.
Page 8 LAGNIAPPE April 2007

Dominique Dawes
FMA Live! coming
signs a poster for
students of the to Moss Point
Brook-Lin
Gymnastics Center FMA Live! is coming to Moss Point, Miss.
after Dawes’ presen- The award-winning live stage show sup-
tation in the
StenniSphere audi-
ported by NASA and the Honeywell Corp.
torium March 27. will perform its unique version of hip-hop
The girls heard the science education May 10 at Magnolia
Olympic gymnast Junior High School. Performance times
speak about setting
will be 8:45 and 10:15 a.m.
goals and pursuing
dreams.
FMA Live! strives to engage middle-school
students in math and science through a
National Women’s History Month live, stage show demonstrating the amaz-
ing science in kids’ everyday lives.
Gold medalist speaks at SSC Featuring high-energy actors, music, video
and demonstrations, FMA Live! teaches
“There’s purpose, there’s power, ences in her presentation, “Success
Forces and Motion and the process of sci-
there’s progress, but before you can is a Journey, Not a Destination.”
entific inquiry in an innovative, entertain-
ever have any initiative, you need to
ing and memorable way. Showgoers wit-
have a passion for what you are “I learned more from falling in a
ness Sir Isaac Newton’s legendary Three
doing.” competition,” said Dawes. “I
Laws of Motion and experience science in
encourage all of you to find a pas-
a brand new way.
Those inspiring words were spoken sion, whatever it might be. You are
by motivational speaker Dominique worth the journey. Start taking steps
Dawes, the featured guest during a to make it happen.” Astro Camp booked;
National Women’s History Month
program presented by NASA Dawes advanced to the internation-
Astro Camp Plus open
Stennis Space Center’s Office of al spotlight during the 1992 All Astro Camp sessions for children ages
Diversity and Equal Opportunity Barcelona Olympics, where she 7 through 12 are completely full for sum-
on March 27. made history as the first African- mer 2007.
American gymnast to qualify and
Dawes, the nationally renowned compete in the Olympic Games. There are still openings in sessions of
Olympic-gold medalist who now She was the first African American Astro Camp Plus for teens ages 13 to 15.
heads the Women’s Sports to capture a bronze medal in a solo Those sessions begin June 25 and July 9.
Foundation (WSF) in East Meadow, floor exercise during the 1996 For fees, information or to register, call
N.Y., elaborated on personal experi- Olympic Games in Atlanta. 688-7623.

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