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From: "Nakamura, Stacey T. (JSC-NC211)" <stacey.t.nakamura@nasa.gov>
Date: September 19, 2014 12:13:18 AM CDT
To: "Nakamura, Stacey T. (JSC-NC211)" <stacey.t.nakamura@nasa.gov>
Cc: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Subject: FW: JSC Today - Thursday, September 18, 2014
Larry Moon will resume sending these emails on Sept 19, 2014.
From: JSC Today [jsc-jsctoday@mail.nasa.gov]
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2014 6:00 AM
To: JSC-Today
Subject: JSC Today - Thursday, September 18, 2014
Thursday, September 18, 2014 Read JSC Today in your browser View Archives
Headlines
- Joint Leadership Team Web Poll
Flex Friday got pretty high marks in last week's poll, especially from those able to take it. Cars that explode when shot was the most irritating special effect in your movie-watching experience. This week I'd like you to grade your workspace. We have some brand-new buildings and some "seasoned" offices sprinkled throughout JSC. What grade would you give to your immediate workspace? A? C? F? You also get a visit from someone from the year 2065. What would be the first question you ask them? How's your hoverboard? Texans ever win a Super Bowl? Can I go with you? Back your Future on over to get this week's poll.
Joel Walker x30541 http://jlt.jsc.nasa.gov/
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- Building JSC's Future Through Students & Educators
Did you know that the JSC Office of Education directly reached more than 250,000 students last year and was involved with more than 8,000 educators? The goals of the JSC Office of Education are to grow the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce for NASA and the nation, develop STEM educators, engage and establish partnerships with educational institutions and inspire and educate the public. JSC education activities virtually reached an audience of almost 27 million in 2013. Find out more about your JSC Office of Education in the annual report.
Also, the JSC Office of Education is currently looking for candidates to join the team for a one-year rotation. To find out more about this opportunity, view the posting in the workforce transition tool.
For more information, contact James Hartsfield, JSC Office of Education, External Relations Office, at x34934.
James Hartsfield, JSC Office of Education, External Relations Office x34934
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- Oct. 9: Exercise Demos? Yes, Please
JSC Safety and Health Day is Oct. 9.
Events kick off in the Teague Auditorium with JSC Director Dr. Ellen Ochoa at 9 a.m. and guest speaker Dr. Aaron Chapa, who will discuss "Being the Best You Can Be."
Get a flu shot in the Building 30 lobby between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., check out the exhibits, displays and exercise demonstrations in the pond area, Teague lobby and Building 4S breezeway.
Join the group exercise demonstrations!
10 to 10:20 a.m. - Yoga Blend
10:30 to 10:50 a.m. - TaeKwonDo
11 to 11:20 a.m. - Cardio Blast
11:30 to 11:50 a.m. - Zumba
Noon to 12:20 p.m. - Basic Yoga
TaeKwanDo is the only class where participation isn't encouraged. The group will show off their forms, which will be impressive. They will be breaking boards! Astronaut Stan Love will lead this demo.
Don't forget the Health Run/Walk at 4 p.m. at the Gilruth to cap off the day.
Event Date: Thursday, October 9, 2014 Event Start Time:9:00 AM Event End Time:5:00 PM
Event Location: Teague Auditorium, JSC Mall Area, Gilruth
Add to Calendar
Suprecia Franklin/Angel Plaza x37817/x37305 http://sthday.jsc.nasa.gov/
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- External Smartcard Readers Available
The JSC ICAM PIV-Mandatory Project has scheduled a deployment on Sept. 23 to 500 GFE workstations.
Your Organizations Security Officer has the list of affected machines.
Please contact the Information Resources Directorate Customer Support help desk at x46367 for information on how to request an external smartcard reader for these devices.
Debra Hill x34861
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Organizations/Social
- Last Day to RSVP for NMA Luncheon
By 3 p.m. today, Sept. 18, RSVPs are due for the JSC National Management Association's (NMA's) exciting September luncheon presentation. On Thursday, Sept. 25, at 11:30 a.m., join the NMA in welcoming author and speaker Dayna Steele, who will talk about how to "Lead Like A Rock Star."
Location: Gilruth Alamo Ballroom
Cost for members: FREE
Cost for non-members: $20
Choose from three menu options:
- Mustard pork loin medallions with apple chutney, Dijon-roasted potatoes and roasted asparagus
- Blackened Chicken with red bell pepper and parmesan cream, angel hair pasta and roasted asparagus
- Vegetarian dish: pasta primavera with whole-wheat rotini
Desserts: pineapple/coconut sorbet
We hope to see you there!
Event Date: Thursday, September 25, 2014 Event Start Time:11:30 AM Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: Gilruth - Alamo Ballroom
Add to Calendar
Leslie N. Smith x46752
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- Recovery Awareness
In its 25th year, Recovery Awareness Month promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment and recovery for mental and substance-use disorders. This year's theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Speak Up, Reach Out," encourages people to openly speak up about mental and substance-use disorders and the reality of recovery, and promotes ways individuals can learn to recognize behavioral health issues and reach out for help. Recovery Awareness Month helps to promote education on the fact that addiction treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life. We will be discussing treatment options, community resources and tools to support those with an addiction. You are also invited to learn how to support those in recovery. Please join Anika Isaac, LPC, LMFT, LCDC, NCC, CEAP, as she presents "Recovery Awareness Month."
Event Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Event Start Time:12:00 PM Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: Building 30 Auditorium
Add to Calendar
Lorrie Bennett, Employee Assistance Program, Occupational Health Branch x36130
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- Massage Special - Schedule Today
Starport's "$55 for 60 Minutes" massage special is coming to a close at the end of this month. Schedule yours today!
Monday through Thursday only, schedule a 60-minute massage for only $55 online. The massage must be scheduled online by Sept. 30, and must take place at the Gilruth Center by Oct. 31.
Anette, Starport LMT - Mondays and Wednesdays
CLICK HERE to schedule.
Marj, Starport LMT - Tuesdays and Thursdays
CLICK HERE to schedule.
Don't miss out on this great discount!
Steve Schade x30304 https://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/en/programs/massage-therapy
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Jobs and Training
- Basic Nonlinear Analysis Using Marc and Patran
MSC will be on-site four days starting Sept. 22.
This course covers the use of Marc and Patran, or AFEA (the interlocked combination of Patran and Marc), for the solution of complex engineering problems.
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: create finite element models representing nonlinear physical phenomena; select appropriate element types and mesh densities; understand the limitations of solving nonlinear FEA problems; select solution types for various nonlinear phenomena such as nonlinear dynamics, metal forming, elastomers and contact problems; select error-tolerance parameters and properly use automatic time-stepping techniques; and understand the basis of large deformation, rotation and strain finite element analysis.
An overview of Patran will be covered as a refresher, as well as an introduction into material-modeling capabilities, including: elastic, plastic, hyper-elastic, creep and composite material models; and fundamentals of nonlinear analysis, problem formulation and convergence.
Sign up in SATERN!
Khadijah Shariff x35518
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- Fall Protection Authorized User: Sept. 29, B20
SMA-SAFE-NSTC-0311-AU: This class is geared toward training "Authorized Users," the end-users of fall-protection equipment, and teaches the proper methods for using fall-protection equipment at heights. Upon completion of this course, the student should: understand all stages of the fall-protection hierarchy; know the four parts of a fall-arrest system; understand fall-protection training requirements; be able to demonstrate the proper donning of the harness and proper usage of the equipment; be able to identify when and where the equipment is needed; be able to inspect fall-protection equipment; know how to properly care for and maintain fall-protection equipment; and be familiar with the effects of harness tension and pressures of the harness on the body. There will be a final exam associated with this course.
Use this direct link for registration. https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHEDULED_...
Shirley Robinson x41284
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Community
- BAHEP Health Care Committee Meeting
The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership's (BAHEP's) Health Care Committee's (HCC's) mission is to encourage collaboration between BAHEP's "health care provider" members to improve the health status of our community and demonstrate the community and economic benefits and quality of the health care industry in our region, with a specific objective of maximizing availability of our local health-care services, as possible, through partnering and community awareness.
As such, this month's HCC meeting is being hosted at San Jacinto College south campus to allow viewing of their brand-new Science and Allied Health Building. Lunch will be provided, but registration is required.
Event Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Event Start Time:11:30 AM Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: San Jac College South, 3735 Beamer Rd., Bldg 1
Add to Calendar
Barbara Cutsinger 832-536-3255 http://www.bayareahouston.com/content/calendar/calendar?Show=event&month...
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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 NewsThursday – September 18, 2014HEADLINES AND LEADSJeff Bezos' Blue Origin partners with ULA for new rocket engineWilliam Harwood – CBS NewsUnited Launch Alliance, builder of workhorse Atlas and Delta rockets, is partnering with Amazon-founder Jeff Bezos' secretive Blue Origin company to develop a powerful new rocket engine that eventually could replace the Russian-built RD-180 engine used by ULA's Atlas boosters, company officials said Wednesday.Average Joe, you are now cleared for launchLisa Holmes - Houston Business JournalThe University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston released a study showing that the average person is healthy enough for space travel. According to the study, even people with common medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes would be able to tolerate the stress of commercial space flight.NASA sets its sights back on deep spaceCBS This MorningNASA is a step closer to launching astronauts from American soil again.Senate Expected to Pass CR Tomorrow; Could Consider NASA AuthorizationMarcia S. Smith - Spacepolicyonline.comSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) plans to bring up the FY2015 Continuing Resolution (CR) for a vote tomorrow (Thursday, September 18). The House passed the CR today. The Senate could consider other legislation, including a NASA authorization bill, as it strives to adjourn by the end of the week until after the November elections.How Private Space Taxis for Astronauts Could Help NASA Reach MarsMike Wall - Space.comNASA's quest to put boots on Mars in the next two decades may have just gotten a big boost.NASA astronauts tested how fast humans can run on the moonThey ran on a treadmill in lunar gravityArielle Duhaime-Ross – The VergeIn terms of design, Neil Armstrong's iconic 1969 space suit wasn't exactly optimal. Bulky and stiff, the suit made it pretty hard for the astronauts aboard Apollo 11 to walk around. So, the fact that Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's most iconic moments also happen to make them look like they're float-bouncing across the Moon's surface is actually the product of their equipment — not the Moon's low gravity.MAVEN preps for orbital insertionAmy Lynn - Spaceflight InsiderA press conference was held at NASA headquarters today to discuss the status of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft as it prepares to enter Mars' orbit. After completing a 10-month journey and traversing over 442 million miles, the craft is set for orbital insertion on September 21 at 9:50 p.m. EDT (01:50 GMT on September 22).Radiation Blast Delays NASA Spacecraft's Arrival At Dwarf Planet CeresElizabeth Howell - Universe TodayNASA's Dawn spacecraft experienced technical problems in the past week that will force it to arrive at dwarf planet Ceres one month later than planned, the agency said in a statement yesterday (Sept. 16).WHAT WE THINKKeep money, momentum behind private space planOrlando Sentinel Op-EdAmerica's manned space program, in suspended animation for three years, was stirring this week. That's promising for the program and the nation — particularly for Florida, the nation's space port. sage But Congress must make sure it doesn't postpone the program's reawakening — and America's declaration of independence from Russia in space.FAA Awards Spaceport License to Texas AirportJeff Foust - Space NewsThe Federal Aviation Administration issued a commercial spaceport license Sept. 17 to an airport in Midland, Texas, the first such license issued to a facility that also hosts commercial passenger airline flights.COMPLETE STORIESJeff Bezos' Blue Origin partners with ULA for new rocket engineWilliam Harwood – CBS NewsUnited Launch Alliance, builder of workhorse Atlas and Delta rockets, is partnering with Amazon-founder Jeff Bezos' secretive Blue Origin company to develop a powerful new rocket engine that eventually could replace the Russian-built RD-180 engine used by ULA's Atlas boosters, company officials said Wednesday."I think it's pretty clear it's time for a 21st century booster engine," Bezos said during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington. "The great engines of the past were truly remarkable machines in their own right ... but we have tools and capabilities, software simulations, computational horsepower that the builders of those great engines could have only dreamed about."We can build an engine today that is a 21st century engine that has great reliability, low cost of operations and high performance," he said. "And we're super excited about that, and we couldn't be more excited to have a partner like ULA."United Launch Alliance is a partnership between Boeing, designer of the Delta family of rockets, and Lockheed Martin, which developed the venerable Atlas family of boosters. Both are used to launch national security payloads, NASA planetary probes and occasional commercial satellites.The Delta 4 uses U.S. propulsion technology while the first stage of the Atlas 5 relies on the Russian RD-180 engine, a high-performance oxygen-kerosene burning powerplant that generates 860,000 pounds of thrust at sea level.Elon Musk, chairman and chief designer of rival rocket builder SpaceX, has launched a wide ranging attack on the Atlas 5 and its use of Russian propulsion technology, arguing uncertain politics and increasing discord between the United States and Russia put downstream missions at risk.He also has filed a lawsuit challenging an Air Force block-buy contract with ULA, claiming his company's Falcon 9 rocket was unfairly excluded from consideration.In the wake of Russia's annexation of Crimea and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, a review panel charted by the Pentagon recommended replacing the RD-180, but said it could take up to seven years to develop, with some estimates putting the cost at up to $1.5 billion.Enter the Blue Engine 4, or BE-4, under development for the past three years at Blue Origin."We have been off studying what the next generation of our Atlas and Delta launch vehicle family should look like," said Tory Bruno, president and chief executive officer of United Launch Alliance. "We've conducted thorough trades and I am now here very excited and proud to tell you that we have selected Blue Origin and Jeff Bezos to be our partners going forward."As we make space even more affordable, more accessible to everyone, it's going to change the world," he said. "We are going to do for space and your lives what the internet has done for the information age. That's our vision for the future."Bruno said ULA chose Blue Origin for the engine development project after carrying out an exhaustive assessment of current domestic engine technologies and providers."We cast a pretty wide net, we went to everybody in the industry," Bruno said. "We selected Blue for a couple of reasons. First, they are way ahead. They have this innovative technology. Of course, this is rocketry and I have contingency plans, but this is my partner, and I'm expecting Jeff to succeed."Bezos said Blue Origin has logged more than 10,000 seconds firing time on the company's less powerful BE-3 engine, gaining valuable experience and performance data. Component testing for the BE-4 is well underway and the company has built a massive test stand at its facility near Van Horn, Texas, for engine firings."The BE-4 engine is a remarkable machine," Bezos said. "It's 550,000 pounds of thrust, it has a very low recurring cost and low life-cycle cost. Cost to space is a very important factor, so basically cost and reliability are the two driving factors. The BE-4 uses commercially available fuel, it's liquified natural gas, it's reusable and it's built and tested and designed and engineered 100 percent in the United States."If all goes well, ULA plans to incorporate two BE-4s in the first stage of a redesigned Atlas 5 to generate 1.1 million pounds of liftoff thrust.The new engine will be developed and flight tested in parallel with ongoing Atlas 5 flights using the RD-180. A joint ULA-Blue Origin statement said full-scale testing of the new engine will begin in 2016 with initial flight tests in 2019."The BE-4 is not a one-for-one replacement for the RD-180, which is a kerosene-burning engine," Bruno said. "What we intend to do is use a pair of these on our baseline Atlas vehicle. It would provide higher performance than what we have now. The RD-180 is a great engine, it's a real workhorse, it's reliable, it's high performance, but this is an opportunity to really jump into the 21st century with modern technology so we can achieve more performance at a lower cost."He said it typically takes seven years to develop a new engine, sometimes longer. But Blue Origin "is already several years into that cycle.""So by partnering with them, we have an opportunity to really cut that cycle in half, which means that about four years from now, we would be in a position to begin flying rockets with this engine technology," Bruno said.Bruno and Bezos would not provide any cost estimates or projections beyond saying the BE-4 is expected to be substantially less expensive than current engines."There's no equity changing hands," Bezos said of the partnership with United Launch Alliance. "ULA is making a very significant investment in the engine development, which we're not disclosing what that investment level is, and Blue Origin is committing to finish the engine."Asked again about cost, Bezos said "our goal is to make the engine so low cost, so reliable, ULA would be crazy to use anything else."Average Joe, you are now cleared for launchLisa Holmes - Houston Business JournalThe University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston released a study showing that the average person is healthy enough for space travel. According to the study, even people with common medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes would be able to tolerate the stress of commercial space flight."Physiological stresses of flight include increased acceleration forces, or 'G-forces,' during launch and re-entry, as well as the microgravity period," said lead author of the study, Dr. Rebecca Blue, in a statement. "Our goal was to see how average people with common medical problems, who aren't necessarily as fit as a career astronaut, would be able to tolerate these stresses of an anticipated commercial spaceflight."The participants of the study were put through exercises mimicking the acceleration of a rocket launch or of a spacecraft re-entering through the atmosphere in order for researchers to determine if a person who had a more complex medical history could handle something that can be uncomfortable even to a healthy individual.The news is particularly exciting for Texans who are anxious to sign up for commercial space travel as SpaceX, the space exploration company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, said in August that it has chosen Texas as the place to build its first private commercial rocket. Of note for Houstonians is t he proposal that Houston's spaceport be at Ellington Airport. In September of last year, the Houston Airport System publicly revealed the first renderings of its proposed spaceport at Ellington Airport.When the Houston Airport System unveiled renderings of its proposed spaceport at Ellington Airport, it also hosted a panel discussion from commercial spaceflight experts led by Michael Lopez-Alegria, the president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. The panel spoke about the progress of commercial spaceflight.In addition to plans for the proposed spaceport, Sierra Nevada Corp. began exploring the possibility of landing its Dream Chaser spacecraft at the proposed Houston spaceport in April. Of course Houston will be only one of many space hubs across the country, which will provide convenient commercial space flight for opportunities for those who can afford it.NASA sets its sights back on deep spaceCBS This MorningNASA is a step closer to launching astronauts from American soil again.The space agency announced Tuesday that Boeing and Space-x will ferry crew members to the International Space Station starting in 2017.Right now, the United States pays Russia $70 million per seat for the ride into orbit. The new agreement also helps NASA's other mission: returning to deep space, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy.NASA's new Orion spacecraft is located 65 miles out in the Pacific Ocean. It's designed to take American astronauts back into deep space.![]()
Orion capsuleRadislav Sinyak"It will be the first time in 40 years that this nation, the most powerful nation in the world, has ever designed and built a spacecraft intended to carry humans beyond low earth orbit, and that's a big, big deal," said Charles Boden, head of NASA.Boden was on board the Navy ship to oversee a test run of recovering Orion after it comes back to Earth. And if it all sounds a bit familiar, it should; Orion is the distant relative of Apollo, which also touched down in the Pacific.Apollo is the spaceship that took man and his footprints to the moon, so Orion is a bit of a back-to-the-future moment for NASA.The technology on the $9 billion project is light-years ahead of Apollo. It was built by Lockheed Martin and is upgradable and reusable. It will carry as many as six astronauts who will be able to explore distant asteroids and even the moons of Mars.Orion is expected to re-enter the atmosphere at up to 20,000 miles per hour.What hasn't changed is the ending; it's still decidedly low-tech. During the test run it took nearly three hours to hook Orion and drag it out of the water. They flooded the back of the navy ship and eventually guided the capsule on board.In December, the ship will make its first flight, traveling 3,600 miles above the Earth -- 15-times farther than the International Space Station.Orion is critical to NASA because the agency retired the space shuttle program in 2011. That's forced American astronauts to rely on the Russians for rides into space."I think any astronaut would want to, you know, hop on and take a ride," said NASA astronaut Nicole Stott.Stott flew on the final flight of the space Shuttle Discovery. She's excited to have a new spaceship."What I think about is the future, and this is one of several vehicles that we're looking at to get the United States back in a spacecraft into space," Stott said, "this one for sure is one that's going to take us farther than we've gone in a very long time."The first American astronauts are expected to board Orion in 2021. Their destination: still unknown.Senate Expected to Pass CR Tomorrow; Could Consider NASA AuthorizationMarcia S. Smith - Spacepolicyonline.comSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) plans to bring up the FY2015 Continuing Resolution (CR) for a vote tomorrow (Thursday, September 18). The House passed the CR today. The Senate could consider other legislation, including a NASA authorization bill, as it strives to adjourn by the end of the week until after the November elections.The Hill newspaper reports that Senate debate on the CR will commence at 1:00 pm ET. The CR funds the government through December 11, 2014 at the same level as FY2014, although it includes an across-the-board 0.0544 percent cut to fund new activities mostly related to national security, veterans affairs, customs and immigration, and responding to the Ebola crisis. The House included an authorization for President Obama to engage in certain military activities related to Syria and the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS), but that authorization also will expire on December 11. A more intense debate on that topic is anticipated in the lame-duck session after the elections.The Senate may also consider a new NASA authorization bill before it leaves town. The House passed its version in June and sent it to the Senate, where there has been no action since then. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved a bill last year on a party-line vote and Senate sources have been saying for some time that a revised version is in the works. The committee held a markup session today, but a revised NASA authorization bill was not considered. Nonetheless, a revised version could be brought up on the Senate floor as an amendment to the House version. Whether that happens or not depends on many factors and even if the Senate did pass a bill, it would have to go back to the House, which is also expected to adjourn by the end of the week. Final resolution, therefore, will not come in the near term.How Private Space Taxis for Astronauts Could Help NASA Reach MarsMike Wall - Space.comNASA's quest to put boots on Mars in the next two decades may have just gotten a big boost.Agency officials announced Tuesday (Sept. 16) that they've picked SpaceX and Boeing to fly American astronauts to and from the International Space Station, with operational flights scheduled to start as early as 2017.If all goes according to plan, the two companies will end or greatly reduce NASA's dependence on Russia's Soyuz capsule for manned access to space, which has been the norm since the space shuttle fleet retired in 2011. And there should be other benefits as well, officials say."Turning over low-Earth orbit transportation to private industry will also allow NASA to focus on an even more ambitious mission — that of sending humans to Mars," NASA chief Charles Bolden said during a press briefing Tuesday.Putting boots on Mars is NASA's primary longterm goal in the realm of human spaceflight. Indeed, the agency is working to get astronauts to the vicinity of the Red Planet by the mid-2030s, as directed by President Barack Obama in 2010. (The president also instructed NASA to send people to an asteroid by 2025, which the agency hopes to do by visiting a space rock dragged to a stable lunar orbit by a robotic probe.)NASA aims to reach an asteroid and Mars using a mega-rocket called the Space Launch System (SLS) and a capsule named Orion, both of which are under development. The duo won't fly together until 2017 or 2018, but Orion is scheduled to launch aboard a different rocket on its first unmanned deep-space flight in December of this year.The work with SLS and Orion "will set us up for humanity's next giant leap — the first crew to touch down on and take steps on the surface of Mars," Bolden said.But before that happens, the Red Planet will get a number of robotic visitors — including two in the next week. NASA's MAVEN spacecraft is slated to arrive in Mars orbit on Sunday (Sept. 21) to begin studying the planet's atmosphere, while India's first-ever Mars probe, known as the Mars Orbiter Mission, should reach the planet next Wednesday (Sept. 24).SpaceX and Boeing are splitting $6.8 billion from NASA's commercial crew program, with $4.2 billion going to Boeing and $2.6 billion to SpaceX. Both companies are building reusable, seven-passenger capsules; SpaceX's vehicle is called Dragon, while Boeing's is the CST-100.NASA astronauts tested how fast humans can run on the moonThey ran on a treadmill in lunar gravityArielle Duhaime-Ross – The VergeIn terms of design, Neil Armstrong's iconic 1969 space suit wasn't exactly optimal. Bulky and stiff, the suit made it pretty hard for the astronauts aboard Apollo 11 to walk around. So, the fact that Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's most iconic moments also happen to make them look like they're float-bouncing across the Moon's surface is actually the product of their equipment — not the Moon's low gravity.Yet, despite knowing how restrictive the space suit was during the moon landing, we've spent the last 40 years without ever testing just how fast astronauts can get around on the Moon. Thankfully, a group of NASA scientists have finally looked into the question. And, according to the study they published today in the Journal of Experimental Biology, humans can run a lot faster in lunar gravity than anyone ever expected.In the study, researchers took eight study participants — three of which were actual astronauts — on a trip aboard NASA's DC-9 aircraft, a plane capable of reducing its internal gravity to that of the moon during swooping, parabolic flights. There, the astronauts were asked to run on a treadmill during 20 second-long dips at lunar gravity.John De Witt, senior biomechanist at the NASA Johnson Space Center and a study co-author, told a reporter at the Journal of Experimental Biology that the experiment wasn't exactly pleasant for the eight participants. "If you get sick you're done... We wanted to be sure we had people that were used to flying." Still, it appears that they made it through with flying colors.According to NASA's theoretical calculations, the test subjects should have had an average walk-to-run transition speed of about 1.8 miles per hour (that's compared with transition speeds of 4.5 miles per hour here on Earth). But in the real-life setting offered by the DC-9 aircraft, things turned out differently: the participants' average transition speed was actually 3.13 miles per hour — a speed that's much closer to those we see on Earth.So why were NASA's theoretical calculations off-base? De Witt thinks the forces generated by the counter-swinging movement of the runners' arms and legs gave them a boost. That force probably exist on Earth as well, he said, but because Earth's gravity is far stronger, the effect is too small to notice.MAVEN preps for orbital insertionAmy Lynn - Spaceflight InsiderA press conference was held at NASA headquarters today to discuss the status of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft as it prepares to enter Mars' orbit. After completing a 10-month journey and traversing over 442 million miles, the craft is set for orbital insertion on September 21 at 9:50 p.m. EDT (01:50 GMT on September 22)."So far, so good with the performance of the spacecraft and payloads on the cruise to Mars. The team, the flight team, and all ground assets are ready for Mars orbit insertion," said MAVEN project manager for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, David Mitchell.The vehicles six main engines will fire briefly to commence the orbit-insertion. Lockheed Martin's Space Systems Flight Controllers in Littleton, Colorado will be responsible for monitoring the health and safety of the craft during the entire 33-minute process. After orbital insertion, MAVEN will start a six-week commissioning phase where its instruments will be tested, before beginning a one-Earth-year science mission. Throughout its mission, MAVEN will be responsible for analyzing the structure and composition of Mars' upper atmosphere as well escape gasses, and how the upper atmosphere interacts with the Sun and solar winds."The MAVEN science mission focuses on answering questions about where did the water that was present on early Mars go, about where did the carbon dioxide go," said Bruce Jakosky, MAVEN principal investigator from the University of Colorado, Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics. "These are important questions for understanding the history of Mars, its climate, and its potential to support at least microbial life."On November 18, 2013, MAVEN launched atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, carrying three instrument packages with it to the red planet. MAVEN is the first spacecraft dedicated to exploring the upper atmosphere of Mars and will be a powerful tool in understanding the evolution of the Martian atmosphere."MAVEN is another NASA robotic scientific explorer that is paving the way for our journey to Mars," said Jim Green, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Together, robotics and humans will pioneer the Red Planet and the solar system to help answer some of humanity's fundamental questions about life beyond Earth."When asked what the mission means to us and what it means to science, Jaksoky stated, "We make fundamental discoveries each time we visit a planet. MAVEN is a mission of discovery and with this data we hope to put together the whole story of Mars and how it lost its atmosphere."Mitchell added, "To see the look in children's eye when you tell them about your work and to know you are inspiring the next generation. It is very cool to work on a project that is going to Mars. I can't wait to see what we discover."MAVEN's principal investigator is based at University of Colorado, Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, and the university has supplied two science instruments and leads science operations, as well as education and public outreach, for the mission.NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the project and also provided two science instruments for the mission. Lockheed Martin built the spacecraft and is responsible for mission operations. The Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley provided four science instruments for MAVEN. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, provides navigation and Deep Space Network support, and Electra telecommunications relay hardware and operations.Radiation Blast Delays NASA Spacecraft's Arrival At Dwarf Planet CeresElizabeth Howell - Universe TodayNASA's Dawn spacecraft experienced technical problems in the past week that will force it to arrive at dwarf planet Ceres one month later than planned, the agency said in a statement yesterday (Sept. 16).Controllers discovered Dawn was in safe mode Sept. 11 after radiation disabled its ion engine, which uses electrical fields to "push" the spacecraft along. The radiation stopped all engine thrusting activities. The thrusting resumed Monday (Sept. 15) after controllers identified and fixed the problem, but then they found another anomaly troubling the spacecraft.Dawn's main antenna was also disabled, forcing the spacecraft to send signals to Earth (a 53-minute roundtrip by light speed) through a weaker secondary antenna and slowing communications. The cause of this problem hasn't been figured out yet, but controllers suspect radiation affected the computer's software. A computer reset has solved the issue, NASA added. The spacecraft is now functioning normally.![]()
Vesta (left) and Ceres. Vesta was photographed up close by the Dawn spacecraft from July 2011-Sept. 2012, while the best views we have to date of Ceres come from the Hubble Space Telescope. The bright white spot is still a mystery. Credit: NASA"As a result of the change in the thrust plan, Dawn will enter into orbit around dwarf planet Ceres in April 2015, about a month later than previously planned. The plans for exploring Ceres once the spacecraft is in orbit, however, are not affected," NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory stated in a press release.Dawn is en route to Ceres after orbiting the huge asteroid Vesta between July 2011 and September 2012. A similar suspected radiation blast three years ago also disabled Dawn's engine before it reached Vesta, but the ion system worked perfectly in moving Dawn away from Vesta when that phase of its mission was complete, NASA noted.Among Dawn's findings at Vesta is that the asteroid is full of hydrogen, and it contains the hydrated mineral hydroxyl. This likely came to the asteroid when smaller space rocks brought the volatiles to its surface through low-speed collisions.Spacecraft can experience radiation through energy from the Sun (particularly from solar flares) and also from cosmic rays, which are electrically charged particles that originate outside the Solar System. Earth's atmosphere shields the surface from most space-based radiation.WHAT WE THINKKeep money, momentum behind private space planOrlando Sentinel Op-EdAmerica's manned space program, in suspended animation for three years, was stirring this week. That's promising for the program and the nation — particularly for Florida, the nation's space port. sage But Congress must make sure it doesn't postpone the program's reawakening — and America's declaration of independence from Russia in space.On Tuesday NASA awarded $6.8 billion in contracts to Boeing and SpaceX for the two companies to finish developing their own space vehicles to carry U.S. astronauts to and from the International Space Station by 2017. Both companies plan to launch from Florida's Space Coast.SpaceX already has successfully delivered cargo to the station using its rockets. Boeing has decades of experience building vehicles for manned spaceflight.Boeing will assemble its capsule at Kennedy Space Center, which will create up to 550 jobs there. The region badly needs them; it's still recovering from the end of the shuttle program and the loss of some 10,000 jobs.NASA's decision to pick two contractors, instead of one, was opposed by some members of Congress, who contend it's a more expensive approach. But having two contractors will maintain competition that should keep costs down over the longer term and drive innovation. It also should forestall the possibility that problems with one contractor's operation will shut down the manned space program again.U.S. astronauts have been grounded since July 2011, when the shuttle program flew its last mission. Since then, NASA has been depending on Russia to carry U.S. astronauts to the space station. Russia is now charging some $70 million for each round-trip ticket. Call it a space shakedown.With relations between the U.S. and Russia at their worst since the Cold War, it's more untenable than ever for U.S. astronauts to be held hostage to a taxi service controlled by Vladimir Putin.A successful commercial program for trips to the station also will free NASA to concentrate on travel to more distant destinations in space, including asteroids and Mars. Those missions hold the greatest potential for the next generation of scientific and technological breakthroughs.NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden called Tuesday's contract awards "the fulfillment of the commitment President Obama made to return human spaceflight launches to U.S. soil and end our reliance on the Russians." But Bolden is getting more than a little ahead of things.NASA's decision this week put the commercial space program on schedule to launch in three years. The program will need sustained support in the meantime to meet its target. The launch date could slip to 2018 or later if Congress maintains its maddening practice in recent years of starving the program's budget.Lawmakers must not let that happen again; there's too much at stake.FAA Awards Spaceport License to Texas AirportJeff Foust - Space NewsThe Federal Aviation Administration issued a commercial spaceport license Sept. 17 to an airport in Midland, Texas, the first such license issued to a facility that also hosts commercial passenger airline flights.FAA Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation George Nield announced the awarding of the license, formally called a launch site operator license, to Midland International Airport during a meeting of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) here. The license is the ninth commercial spaceport license issued by the FAA.The award is the latest milestone in efforts by the city of Midland to attract commercial space companies. In 2012, suborbital vehicle developer XCOR Aerospace announced it would move from Mojave, California, to Midland after the city's economic development organization offered a $10 million package of incentives.That move depended on several factors, including renovation of a hangar at the airport that XCOR will use, as well as receipt of an FAA spaceport license so that the company can perform test flights from the airport. Work on the hangar started last month with a "wall breaking" ceremony.The license is the first awarded to an airport that also has regularly scheduled passenger flights. Several other airports also have spaceport licenses, including Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida; Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California; and the Oklahoma Spaceport in Burns Flat, Oklahoma. None of those airports, though, also have regular passenger service."Before today, we have never attempted to combine scheduled air carrier operations and commercial space operations at the same location," Nield said. "This is a huge milestone for commercial space and an indication that the FAA is doing all it can to safely integrate commercial space vehicles and conventional aircraft within the national airspace."Marv Esterly, director of Midland International Airport, said that by combining commercial aviation and space operations in the same facility the airport can provide economies of scale over dedicated spaceports. "We're leveraging existing facilities, runways, security, and emergency response," he said at the COMSTAC meeting. "In doing so, we'll definitely lower costs for space operations."Esterly added that, with the approval of the spaceport license, the airport will now be known as the Midland International Air and Space Port.ENDMore at www.spacetoday.net
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