Thursday, April 16, 2015

Fwd: [nasa-jsc-retirees-list] FW:NASA News and JSC Today - Thursday, April 16, 2015



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Begin forwarded message:

From: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Date: April 16, 2015 at 8:26:40 AM CDT
To: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Subject: [nasa-jsc-retirees-list] FW:NASA News and  JSC Today - Thursday, April 16, 2015
Reply-To: larry.j.moon@nasa.gov

JSC Today - Thursday, April 16, 2015

 

LEADING THE NEWS

• SpaceX Video Shows Booster Landing Attempt.

NASA NEWS

• Students Will Interact With NASA At Kopernik Observatory & Science Center Summer Camps.

HUMAN EXPLORATION AND OPERATIONS

• Virts Honors Robinson's Baseball Anniversary At The ISS.

• Volusia County Still In The Running For Blue Origin Facility.

• Final Environmental Impact Report For Antares Launch Failure Released.

• UNOOSA Legal Subcommittee Meeting To Hash Out Space Laws.

• Panel Detail Lessons From Spaceflight Simulations.

• Boeing Could Reveal CST-100's First Crew This Summer.

• Anand: ISS Life "Crazy Yet Awesome."

• First Weld For Orion's EM-1 To Take Place In May.

• Bailey Electric Car Heading To KSC As PART OF 2015 Fireball Run.

SpaceX Video Shows Booster Landing Attempt.

The CBS Evening News (4/15, story 10, 0:30, Pelly, 5.08M) broadcast that SpaceX released a video of its attempt to land a rocket booster "Buck Rogers style on an ocean barge" after it launched cargo to the ISS. The booster fell "just after touchdown instead of landing on its feet."

        Aviation Week (4/15, Norris, 2K) reports that SpaceX is possibly looking into whether "static friction in an engine throttle valve" caused the unsuccessful booster landing. According to the article, the company is "encouraged" that the booster was able to land on target, even if it tipped over.

        TIME (4/15, 19.19M), SPACE (4/15, Wall, 236K), Daily Mail (UK) (4/15, Zolfagharifard, 4.78M), ExtremeTech (4/15, Whitwam, 94K), IGN (4/15, Pitcher, 1.66M), KOLD-TV Tucson, AZ (4/16, Jeanes, 21K) website, Orlando (FL) Sentinel (4/16, Speck, 794K), Mashable (4/15, Wills, 1.8M), Ars Technica (4/15, Timmer, 537K), NBC News (4/15, Boyle, 2.71M), Daily Caller (4/15, Macri, 318K), Popular Science (4/15, Grush, 6.72M), gCaptain (4/15, Schuler, 2K), ABC News Radio (4/15, Torres) website, ABC News (4/15, Newcomb, 3.41M), Slate Magazine (4/15, Plait, 1.21M) "Bad Astronomy" blog, and Business Insider (4/15, Dickerson, 2.26M) also cover the new video.

        Next SpaceX Booster Landing Could Take Place On Land. Defense News (4/15, Mehta, 9K) reports that Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President and COO, said that the next time SpaceX tries to land a booster, it may do so "on land, not at sea." While not specifying where that land-based test could take place, Shotwell "downplayed" the risks, noting that there are more risks when launching a rocket compared to landing one. The rockets will also have "a flight termination system" if needed.

        Paperwork Submitted For Falcon Heavy Certification. Defense News (4/15, Mehta, 9K) reports that Shotwell said that SpaceX has already begun the certification process for its Falcon Heavy launch vehicle. With paperwork already submitted, Shotwell reportedly believes that the process should "go more quickly than the Falcon 9" because part of the current process certifying the Falcon 9 was to evaluate SpaceX itself, which has not changed. As for when the Falcon 9 will be certified, Shotwell said it "depends," but it is "safer" to keep with the expected June date.

        Space News (4/15, Gruss, Subscription Publication, 481) also covers the story.

        SpaceX Already Preparing For Another Launch. Spaceflight Now (4/16, Clark, 3K) reports that SpaceX is already preparing another Falcon 9 rocket for an April 24 commercial satellite launch. If successful, SpaceX will have launched two rockets in 10 days, a company launch turnaround record. The article notes that the upcoming launch was supposed to take place in March, but was delayed because of "flawed high-pressure helium tanks."

        Blog Coverage. When commenting on the unsuccessful SpaceX booster landing, Ian O'Neill at Discovery News (4/15, 516K) writes that it was "more a partial success" than a failure because the booster landed "in a half-controlled manner." O'Neill thinks that a successful landing could come soon.

        Robert Zimmerman at Behind the Black (4/15) writes that the test was a "magnificent success" because SpaceX is forcing "every other launch company in the world, both old and new," to focus on reusable technology and lowering launch costs.

        Chris Burns at SlashGear (4/15, 40K) also notes that SpaceX is showing progress compared to January's attempt.

        Meanwhile, Rhett Allain at Wired (4/15, 4.24M) uses the video to analyze what happened to the rocket and provide "homework" for the readers to work on their own.

Students Will Interact With NASA At Kopernik Observatory & Science Center Summer Camps.

The Greater Binghamton (NY) Press & Sun-Bulletin (4/15, Deskur, 20K) reports on this year's student summer camps at the Kopernik Observatory & Science Center. One titled "Solar System Travels" will allow students to "interact with NASA scientists via Skype and...work with Kopernik's NASA Solar System Ambassador." Other camps will let students "speak to an astronaut on the ISS using Kopernik's Ham Radio station," and "learn about the design and operation of robotic vehicles used by NASA to explore the solar system."

Virts Honors Robinson's Baseball Anniversary At The ISS.

The AP (4/16, Resnick) reports that to honor the 68th anniversary of Jackie Robinson "breaking the major league color barrier" on Wednesday, ISS astronaut Terry Virts donned "a Dodgers jersey with Robinson's No. 42 along with a Brooklyn cap." Virts' observation of the day led the AP's coverage of how the day was observed around the US.

        In a separate article, the AP (4/16, Resnick) reports that Virts said in a video, "I can remember reading a book about Jackie when I was in the first grade. ... Even at that young age, I was really impressed with what he did beyond baseball. Jackie, alongside his wife Rachel, opened up a world of opportunities that had been closed to so many Americans simply because of the color of their skin. What he did took courage, a lot of courage. He had to endure things that most of us could not imagine, and he had to do it while maintaining composure that most of us couldn't begin to muster."

        The Houston Chronicle (4/16, Levin, 2.28M), USA Today (4/15, Berg, 4.95M) "For The Win" blog, Washington Post (4/15, Bonesteel, 5.17M) "Early Lead" blog, and True Blue LA (4/15, Bondurant) also cover the story.

        Blog Coverage. Mike Oz at the Yahoo! Sports (4/15, 5.77M) "Big League Stew" blog writes that Virts is "a pretty righteous dude" for what he did yesterday.

Volusia County Still In The Running For Blue Origin Facility.

The Daytona Beach (FL) News-Journal (4/15, Pulver, 158K) reports on the efforts by Florida and Volusia County officials to convince Blue Origin to locate operations in the state. Volusia officials would like the company to chose a site in the county, but according to the article, they have learned that Blue Origin is possibly "favoring a site in an industrial park that Space Florida leases from NASA just outside the Kennedy Space Center fence." Volusia County Councilwoman Deb Denys said that the county is still being considered and "everything is going forward."

        Blog Coverage. Jim Siegel at Spaceflight Insider (4/16) writes about the Kennedy Space Center's Master Plan as revealed by Mic Woltman of NASA's Launch Vehicle Services Engineering department. That plan is considering the construction of "a number of additional launch pads." When asked about a potential launch site in the Shiloh region, Woltman said, "We are working with the state of Florida on an environmental impact study."

Final Environmental Impact Report For Antares Launch Failure Released.

The Delmarva (MD) Daily Times (4/16, Pacella, 3K) reports on the final report into the environmental impact from last October's Antares rocket launch failure at the Wallops Flight Facility. The report recommended that "a groundwater study, and possible continued monitoring" take place moving forward. Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper Jay Ford said that Federal officials were "responsible as imaginable" in dealing with the fallout from the failed ISS cargo launch.

        The Delmarva (MD) Daily Times (4/15, 3K) editorializes on the environmental impact report, noting that "quick action" to mitigate the environmental effects "should be reassuring to everyone involved."

        FAA To Review Findings From Orbital ATK Investigation. Reuters (4/16, Shalal) reports that George Nield, FAA associate administrator for commercial space transportation, said that the agency will review Orbital ATK's findings into what caused the failed launch. Nield said, "We eagerly look forward to seeing what they have to say and making sure we understand it and agree with it before allowing them to go ahead with future launches."

UNOOSA Legal Subcommittee Meeting To Hash Out Space Laws.

Foreign Policy (4/15, Soloway, 325K) reports on how the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Legal Subcommittee is now in session to discuss the legal matters in space "as human space exploration becomes increasingly democratized and commercialized." Even though national space agencies "have a long history of productive cooperation," there are still many issues "on shaky legal footing," such as "space mining and space garbage cleanup." The article notes that operations about the ISS also raise legal questions about "liability and intellectual property" rights.

Panel Detail Lessons From Spaceflight Simulations.

Florida Today (4/15, Dean, 178K) reports that astronaut Cady Coleman led a panel titled, "Isolated and Dangerous: Analogue Research for Human Space Exploration" on Wednesday. The panel also included the Kennedy Space Center's Jason Schuler and Annie Caraccio. The participants discussed the "important lessons" they learned while participating in simulations on Earth to prepare for future spaceflights.

Boeing Could Reveal CST-100's First Crew This Summer.

Space News (4/15, Foust, Subscription Publication, 481) reports that John Elbon, vice president and general manager for space exploration at Boeing, said that his company plans to reveal the NASA astronaut and Boeing test pilot who will fly on the CST-100's first manned mission in 2017, as well as the spacesuits they will wear. Elbon said that so far there were "no showstoppers" in the spacecraft's development.

Anand: ISS Life "Crazy Yet Awesome."

In an article for the India Times (4/15, 26K) "Lifestyle" section, Kunal Anand lists eight reasons that life at the ISS was "pretty crazy yet awesome." These include astronauts shooting movies of spacewalks; the new ISSpresso machine; work to purify the ISS's air of bad odors; the ISS' speed; astronaut exercise routines; the microbes living at the ISS; the views astronauts have of the India-Pakistan border; Pizza Hut's 2001 delivery; and the upcoming arrival of opera singer Sarah Brightman.

First Weld For Orion's EM-1 To Take Place In May.

NASA Space Flight (4/15, Bergin, 305) reports that on May 1, the Orion spacecraft's "historic 'first weld'" for its Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) will take place at the Michoud Assembly Facility. The article notes that there will be "a number of improvements" to the spacecraft based on its performance during December's test flight. According to the article, "the next big milestone" will involve shipping hardware to the Kennedy Space Center, which is expecting "a fleet of Orion's passing through their doors."

Bailey Electric Car Heading To KSC As PART OF 2015 Fireball Run.

The Newburyport (MA) Daily News (4/16, Sullivan, 34K) reports that Amesbury is participating in the 2015 Fireball Run. As part of the 2,500-mile race, a 1911 Bailey electric car will brought to each day's stop until it reaches the Kennedy Space Center, "all in keeping with this year's 'Space Race' theme."

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Headlines

  1. Joint Leadership Team Web Poll

The Earth Day hashtag created by NASA is #NoPlaceLikeHome. Use it to share photos of your favorite spot on Earth. There's been a lot of attention lately to a Mars mission, but we all know it's really hard to do. What chance of returning safely to Earth would you need before volunteering for that first crewed Mars mission? 99.99 percent? 50 percent? 25 percent? Standing on the edge of a building and having a snake fall on you were the two things that scared you the most. How about falling off a building into a snake pit? Last week, one of my favorite shows ("Game of Thrones") returned. What bizarro plot twist do you think is likely for this week's episode? Dire your Wolf on over to get this week's poll.

Joel Walker x30541 http://jlt.jsc.nasa.gov/

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  1. Take the NASA Safety Culture Survey Today

Now through April 30, JSC team members can take the NASA Safety Culture Survey and tell us what you think of our safety culture at JSC. Your answers are anonymous. The survey can be taken from any computer or phone with Internet access at home or work. The results will be submitted to the JSC director and the survey point of contact. Click here to take the survey. Your opinion matters!

Johanna Petrocelli x28480

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  1. Meet Channel 2 Meteorologist Britta Merwin

On April 22, visit Britta Merwin at her Spring Safety, Health and Environmental Fair booth in the Gilruth gym from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and gain valuable information about the upcoming hurricane season. Merwin is a native Texan born in San Antonio, and joined the KPRC 2 Severe Weather Team last May. A self-proclaimed weather nut, Merwin dreamed of being a meteorologist since the age of 8, when a local meteorologist visited her school. She was raised in a military family, but grew up mainly in Colorado, crediting the state's dramatic weather for enhancing her love and passion for meteorology. Among other positions at different stations, Merwin served as the primary meteorologist for CNBC, covering the devastating Midwest flood of 2008 and Hurricane Gustav. Come out and say hi, ask questions or just chat about the weather for a bit.

Event Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2015   Event Start Time:10:00 AM   Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: JSC Gilruth

Add to Calendar

Rindy Carmichael x45078

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   Organizations/Social

  1. Hubble 25th Anniversary T-shirts & Caps are Here

The Hubble 25th Anniversary T-shirts and caps have arrived and will be available for pickup next week! If you pre-ordered and selected "TX-JSC" as your distribution site, you may pick up your order at one of these locations during the following times:

    • Tuesday, April 21, in the Building 11 café from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Wednesday, April 22, in the Building 11 café from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Thursday, April 23, in the Gilruth lobby from 1 to 5 p.m.

After these dates, remaining orders can be picked up in the Building 11 ShopNASA Gift Shop until May 8. 

Important note: Orders not picked up by May 8 will be put back into inventory. Please contact LaTonya Robertson in the Building 11 gift shop (x30360) if you cannot pick up your order by May 8.

A limited number of additional T-shirts and hats will also be available for purchase in the Buildings 3 and 11 ShopNASA Gift Shops, as well as at ShopNASA.com.

LaTonya Robertson x30360 http://shopnasa.com

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  1. Last Day for Early-Bird Price: JSC Picnic Tickets

Today is the last day to get the $35 early-bird ticket price for the JSC Family and Friends Picnic to be held at SplashTown on Sunday, April 26, from noon to 6 p.m. All NASA and contractor employees, retirees and friends and family are welcome to attend. Get your crew together and get ready for a full day of fun with food, drinks, music, games and more. The price will increase to $40 on April 17, and the last day to purchase is tickets is April 21. Tickets will not be sold at the gate. So, buy your tickets today at the ShopNASA Gift Shops in Buildings 3 and 11 or at the Gilruth Center, and save on some good old-fashioned NASA fun!

Cyndi Kibby x35352

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  1. Speak Up and Make a Plan

Please join Daisy Wei, MSSW, LCSW, with the JSC Employee Assistance Program, for this presentation from the caregiving and elder-care series: Speak Up and Make a Plan!

National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16—a day dedicated to raise awareness about the importance of advance-care planning. Even if you are not a caregiver, this is one of the most important topics to address with your loved ones. Attend and learn the tools for navigating this difficult and necessary conversation about your healthcare or that of someone you love.

Event Date: Thursday, April 16, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:12:30 PM
Event Location: Building 30 Auditorium

Add to Calendar

Lorrie Bennett, Employee Assistance Program, Occupational Health Branch x36130

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  1. Your Teen and Alcohol Awareness

The prom—graduation season is coming up. Have you talked with your teenager about the dangers of underage drinking? Alcohol Awareness Month is in April because one third of alcohol-related traffic incidents with teens happen yearly between the months of April and June. Drinking can also increase the likelihood of other risk-related behavior. It is important for your young kids and teenagers to learn about the effects of alcohol use beyond the glamorized image portrayed in the media. Join Daisy Wei, MSSW, LCSW, with the JSC Employee Assistance Program, for "Your Teen and Alcohol Awareness," and gain the facts for starting a conversation in your home.

Event Date: Thursday, April 23, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:12:30 PM
Event Location: Building 30 Auditorium

Add to Calendar

Lorrie Bennett, Employee Assistance Program, Occupational Health Branch x36130

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   Jobs and Training

  1. Working at the Speed of Trust - Slots Available

Franklin Covey's highly interactive Working at the Speed of Trust Program helps individuals in your organization identify and address "trust gaps" in their own personal credibility and in their relationships at work using examples based on their current work and focusing on real-world issues rather than theories or academic models.

Date: April 30

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location: Building 12, Room 146

Audience: All JSC team members

Pre-Work: Yes

Registration cutoff: April 17

If you are interested in attending, please register in SATERN using the direct link:

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

Patt Williams 713-249-1508

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  1. Leading at the Speed of Trust - Slots Available

This workshop is a comprehensive trust workshop for those in leadership positions. Leaders will learn how to create a language of trust by identifying and communicating through the "four cores" and "13 behaviors" of high-trust leaders.

Each participant will develop a specific trust action plan that they can immediately put into practice with their teams, and will also complete a tQ (Trust Quotient) 360 survey that will measure their trustworthiness with others. 

Dates: April 28 and 29

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location: Building 12, Room 146

Audience: JSC supervisors, managers and group/team leads

Pre-work: Yes

Registration cutoff: April 17

If you are interested in attending, please register in SATERN using the direct link:

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

Patt Williams 713-249-1508

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   Community

  1. Co-ops & Interns Needed for HAS

You've landed a great summer internship—pay it forward by mentoring High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) students. Share your NASA experience, college background and advice with students interested in following your footsteps, and lend a hand as they participate in engineering challenges and plan a mission to Mars. There are six weeks to choose from, and the commitment requires about 20 hours.

 Summer Schedule:

    • Week 1: June 15 to 19
    • Week 2: June 22 to 26
    • Week 3: July 6 to 10
    • Week 4: July 13 to 17
    • Week 5: July 20 to 24
    • Week 6: July 27 to 31

If interested, please:

1. Complete the mentor application here.

2. Create a V-CORPs account.

3. Review mentor responsibilities.

4. Apply by May 4.

Brandi Dean x41403 http://has.aerospacescholars.org/mentors

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  1. JSC Blood Drive: Donate TODAY

If you are eligible to donate blood, you have the chance to make the difference in the lives of three people by taking part in the JSC blood drive today, April 16. Your donation could help an accident victim, someone receiving an organ transplant or a cancer patient battling his/her disease. Consider giving this gift of life at one of the following locations:

    • Teague Auditorium lobby from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Building 11 café donor coach from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

T-shirts, snacks and drinks will be provided for all donors.

Event Date: Thursday, April 16, 2015   Event Start Time:9:00 AM   Event End Time:4:00 PM
Event Location: Teague Lobby, Bldg. 11, and Gilruth

Add to Calendar

Bini Kadwa x31979 http://jscpeople.jsc.nasa.gov/blooddrv/blooddrv.htm

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  1. Bone Marrow Donor Registration Drive 2015

Please stop by and learn about bone marrow donation at the April 22 Spring Safety, Health and Environmental Fair. There are approximately 12,000 patients waiting for a bone marrow donor match, and you can help out by joining the National Marrow Donor Program. Seventy percent of patients cannot find a marrow donor within their immediate family. Minority communities are very underrepresented in the National Marrow Registry. You can help if you:

    • Are 18 to 44 years old
    • In good general health
    • Fill out a form and provide cheek-swab samples
    • Are willing to donate to any patient until you are 60 years old

It just takes 15 minutes!

For more details on medical eligibility, click here. This donor drive is organized by the ASIA Employee Resource Group with support from BeTheMatch.org and the Gulf Coast Marrow Donor Program.

Event Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2015   Event Start Time:10:00 AM   Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: Gilruth Rec Center

Add to Calendar

Stacey Nakamura x34345

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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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