Panel sidesteps Constellation

A House panel agreed Tuesday to accept President Obama's proposed funding increase for NASA, but without taking a position on changing the agency's course. The House appropriations subcommittee governing NASA unanimously approved $19 billion for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, a nearly $276 million increase from the current year. The panel opted to take to take no position on White House plans to scrap NASA's moon-rocket program and replace the space shuttle with commercial rockets. (Sources: Multiple, including Florida Today, Orlando Sentinel, 06/30/10)

Students try hand at robotics

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - Students Ian Tonglet and Seth Malley, both 13 and both from Picayune, work with an underwater robot during Tuesday's Astro Star camp activity at Stennis Space Center. The science and technology camp is for 13-15 year olds interested in robotics, engineering, marine science and related fields. NASA joined with the Navy for the underwater robotics exercise involving Sea Perch robots, simple, remotely operated underwater vehicles made from PVC pipe and other inexpensive, easily available materials. During the exercise, students used the robots they built to maneuver underwater and collect plastic rings. (Source: NASA, 06/29/10)

System a game-changer in mine warfare

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – The commanding officer of the mine warfare center called the system a game-changer. It also affirmed Naval Oceanography’s mine warfare role. The new mine detection method is more selective and does the work in substantially less time than in the past. The concept of centralized data fusion was proven during the Frontier Sentinel '10 Homeland Defense mine warfare exercise earlier this month in Norfolk, Va. Data fusion takes information from multiple sources and "fuses" them into a stream more useful for analysis. Experts from Stennis Space Center's Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center and the Naval Oceanographic Office processed a majority of the data collected, fused and conducted analysis on all of the mine-like contacts, then advised which required diver identification. It reduced by 57 percent the number of mine-like objects that had to be checked. Significantly, in the past analysis took four times as long as data collection. This time it was 0.7 as long. The data fusion and analysis used upgraded software developed by the Naval Research Laboratory at Stennis. "We've never operated at this level before,” said Lt. Cmdr. Scott Parker, whose squad operated 14 unmanned underwater vehicles from multiple organizations collecting data. "It was a game-changer for mine warfare, and Naval Oceanography's role in it," said Cmdr. Matthew Borbash, NOMWC commanding officer. (Source: NNS, 06/28/10)

Former SSC director dies

Roy Estess, long associated with NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, died Friday. He was 71. Estess, of Carriere, had an allergic reaction to an insect string while at his camp in Tylertown. His career at NASA spanned 37 years, with 25 of that at Stennis Space Center. He was a founding director of the board of Infinity Science Center, a science learning center being built along Interstate 10, just south of Stennis Space Center. (Source: Sun Herald, 06/26/10)

June issue of Lagniappe available

The June issue of Lagniappe, a monthly newsletter about NASA activities at Stennis Space Center, is now available for download. This issue includes a story about the role Stennis Space Center is playing in the oil spill effort, and preparations for new engine testing. Other items in the newsletter: the selection of Ken Human as associate director; the visit by Bay St. Louis officials to SSC; details of 2010 NASA honor award winners; profile of the new chief technologist and more. This issue also has a hurricane guide. (Source: Lagniappe, June 2010)

NSSC awards workers

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - The NASA Shared Services Center's fourth annual honor awards ceremony was held June 10 at the StenniSphere Auditorium to honor employees for exceptional performance. The NSSC Deputy Director of Service Delivery Kenneth Newton received NASA's Exceptional Achievement Medal, and Cynthia Epperson received NASA's Exceptional Service Medal. Steven Collins and Art Askew received the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal. Certificates of appreciation, certificates of achievements and team awards were also presented. (Source: NASA, 06/24/10)

Funds to stimulate aerospace jobs

The president submitted to Congress last week a fiscal year 2011 budget amendment that targets up to $100 million toward spurring regional economic growth and job creation in the aerospace industry. The amendment would provide up to $40 million in aid for Florida's Space Coast and a maximum of about $60 million for other affected regions. The funds would be made available from the Constellation Program transition element of the agency's exploration request. The amendment does not increase the total of the administration's fiscal year 2011 budget request. (Source: NASA, 06/21/10) Stennis Space Center, Miss., is involved in the Constellation Program.

NASA may delay final shuttle flights

NASA is considering new target launch dates for its last two shuttle missions to give engineers more time to prepare equipment for the International Space Station. Launch of Discovery carrying a station warehouse module would be targeted for Oct. 29. Endeavour would aim for liftoff on Feb. 28, 2011. Senior managers are expected to approve the new dates at a meeting on July 1. (Source: Florida Today, 06/23/10) Stennis Space Center, Miss., tested engines for the shuttle program.

Navy patents tops in government groups

Navy scientists rank No. 1 when it comes to newly patented discoveries and inventions, according to a June report published by the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers. The IEEE's annual Patent Power Scorecard, which ranks the relative significance of organizations' patent portfolios, said the Navy surpassed all international government agencies. The Office of Naval Research, the Navy's science and technology provider, is responsible for policy and direction concerning patents, inventions, trademarks, copyrights and royalty payments. "Holding the top position is a good performance indicator, but being first also recognizes that the network of naval research labs and partnerships is focused on generating innovations and intellectual property that our sailors and Marines depend on," said Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Nevin Carr, who leads the Office of Naval Research. The Navy had 232 patents issued in 2009, while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had 121 and Japan's Science and Technology Agency had 104. (Source: NNS, 06/18/10) Note: The Naval Research Lab has a detachment at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

CNATTU command change set

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. - Cmdr. Cris Treharne turns over command of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit to Cmdr. Angie Walker, 11 a.m. June 25 at Welch Auditorium. Walker is reporting from NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss., where she served as the deputy assistant chief of staff for operations for the Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. (Source: 81st Training Wing, 06/17/10)

STS-132 crew visits SSC

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - The STS-132 Atlantis space shuttle crew visited NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center Thursday to thank personnel for their role in the May mission to the International Space Station. Crew members presented a video recap of their mission, scheduled as the last flight for the Atlantis shuttle. Since the 1960s, Stennis has tested every engine used in all crewed Apollo and space shuttle missions. Atlantis now is being prepared to serve as a backup craft should an emergency arise during the final two scheduled shuttle missions. (Source: NASA, 06/17/10) The crew also visited NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.

Constellation gets new managers

Lawrence D. Thomas was appointed manager of NASA's Constellation Program, which manages the effort to take humans beyond low-Earth orbit and develop the next generation launch vehicle and spacecraft. Charles M. Stegemoeller was appointed deputy program manager. They'll be based at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Thomas most recently served as the deputy program manager of the Constellation Program at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. (Source: NASA, 06/14/10) Previous story. Gulf Coast note: Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans, are both involved in the Constellation Program.

BP announces first $25M for research

The Northern Gulf Institute at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center, Miss., will receive $10 million to study the impact of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. NGI is one of three groups getting a total of $25 million in initial funding from BP. The company three weeks ago pledged $500 million for a 10-year program called the Gulf Coast Research Initiative in the wake of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and subsequent massive oil spill. On Tuesday it announced the first installment. NGI, a consortium led by Mississippi State University, includes the University of Southern Mississippi, Louisiana State University, Florida State University and Dauphin Island Sea Lab in Mobile, Ala. Another $10 million is going to the University of South Florida-led Florida Institute of Oceanography, a consortium of 20 institutions with marine science interests, including 11 state universities. The remaining $5 million is going to Louisiana State University, which has been promised $10 million over 10 years. In a related matter, the director of the National Institutes of Health told a House committee Tuesday that the institutes will spend $10 million on research on the potential health impacts of the spill. (Source: Multiple, including New York Times, OilVoice, ENewsParkForest, 06/15/10)

Orion takes shape

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Orion crew exploration vehicle took shape as the two halves of the crew module were fused together at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, west of NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss. The Lockheed Martin Orion team welded the forward cone assembly to the aft barrel assembly using the next generation friction stir weld process. The 445-inch long weld is the longest such weld of its kind. Prior to flight testing, this crew module will be tested on the ground in flight-like environments, including static vibration, acoustic, and water landing tests. The welds were done on a Universal Weld System II, which allows virtually unlimited five-axis welding on fixture-mounted hardware. The UWS II is part of the National Center for Advanced Manufacturing, managed by the University of New Orleans Foundation in partnership with NASA and the State of Louisiana. (Source: PRNewswire, 06/15/10)

Atlantis crew to visit SSC

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - Six members of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-132 crew will visit NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center Thursday to thank employees for their part in a safe mission to the International Space Station in May. The mission was the last scheduled flight for the Atlantis shuttle, which will be prepared to serve as an emergency backup craft for the final two shuttle missions. Atlantis'12-day mission carried the Russian Rassvet Mini-Research Module-1 to the ISS. Atlantis also was the first shuttle to dock to the Russian Space Station Mir. It traveled to the ISS 11 times. (Source: NASA, 06/14/10)

Shuttle crew visits SSC

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – Members of the STS-134 space shuttle mission crew addressed employees at the foot of the A-2 Test Stand during a visit to NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center today. The crew members were Commander Mark Kelly, Mission Specialist Mike Fincke, Pilot Greg Johnson, Mission Specialist Greg Chamitoff, European Space Agency Mission Specialist Roberto Vittori and Mission Specialist Andrew Feustel. The flight of Endeavour will be in November. (Source: NASA, 06/11/10)

NASA picks 18 projects

NASA has selected 18 projects valued at $11 million for Phase II funding under the Small Business Technology Transfer program. The 18 high tech firms are partnered with 15 universities, including Mississippi State University. Several projects are of interest to NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center. Combustion Research and Flow Technology of Pipersville, Pa., is teamed with the University of Florida to develop simulation software to predict potential damage to a propulsion system and test stands that can be caused by vibrations of liquid rockets. In another project, MSU is working with Keystone Synergistic Enterprises of Port Saint Lucie, Fla., on a process to solid-state weld high strength and temperature alloys used to make engine nozzel skirts. The team will produce experimental components for test and evaluation by NASA. MSU is also working with Streamline Numerics of Gainesville, Fla., on an advanced simulation framework for design and analysis of space propulsion systems. (Source: Tcp, based on NASA release, 06/09/10)

StenniSphere closing for event

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - StenniSphere, the visitor center at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center, will be closed June 17 for an on-site event. It will reopen June 18 and resume normal operating hours. StenniSphere is open to the public 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and is closed on major holidays. Public tours run throughout each day from the Launch Pad at the Hancock County Welcome Center, Interstate 10, Exit 2. (Source: NASA, 06/10/10)

Put your face in space

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA is inviting members of the public to send an electronic image of their faces into orbit aboard one of the final remaining space shuttle missions. Visitors to the "Face in Space" Web site can upload their portrait to fly aboard shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission or shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission. Participants will receive special certificates once the mission is completed. Visit http://faceinspace.nasa.gov/ to submit an image. Those without a picture can skip the image upload section, and NASA will fly their name. (Source: NASA, 06/08/10)

STS-134 crew to visit SSC

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - The six crew members of the last scheduled space shuttle mission will visit NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center this week. The shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station, and is slated to launch in November. Visiting on Friday will be Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Greg Johnson, Mission Specialists Greg Chamitoff, Drew Feustel, Mike Fincke and European Space Agency Specialist Roberto Vittori. Shuttle crew traditionally visit NASA centers instrumental to the missions. Stennis has tested all of the main engines used on space shuttle missions. (Source: NASA, 06/08/10)

NOAA seeks observers

The Northern Gulf Institute at Stennis Space Center says NOAA is seeking observers to serve on the vessel monitoring dispersant use at the Deepwater Horizon wellhead. Cruises last about 10 days and transit from ports near Port Fourchon, La. Individuals from NOAA cooperative institutes including graduate students are eligible to serve as observers. The next cruise is schedule to leave June 10, but additional opportunities are expected throughout the summer. Contact Julien Lartigue, 240-429-5966. (Source: NGI, 06/08/10)

Bill has two SSC-related items

The defense authorization bill passed by the House has two projects of interest to Stennis Space Center, Miss. One would provide funding for phase two of the Navy Special Warfare Performance and Injury Prevention Program. The lab at Stennis Space Center supports Special Boat Team 22. The other measure would provide military construction funds to buy about 1,063 acres of land designated as the Western Maneuver Area at Stennis. It will allow Navy SEALs to establish a live-fire training range on the Pearl and Mike's Rivers for pre-deployment training with aircraft and small boats. (Source: Rep. Gene Taylor release, 06/03/10)

Spill offers research bonanza

BATON ROUGE, La. - As terrible as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is, it offers an opportunity for research for generations. Scientists and federal officials gathered at Louisiana State University Thursday for a day-long brainstorming. "We're here to find out what we know, what we don't know and what we need to know," said Robert Gagosian, president of the nonprofit Consortium for Ocean Leadership, which organized the event. An oceanographer at the Naval Research Lab at Stennis Space Center, Miss., Sonia Gallegos, last year received NASA funding to study spills. She said she wanted a small spill, but not something like this. She lives two blocks from the beach in Bay St. Louis and said the spill breaks her heart. (Source: Washington Post, 06/03/10)

Discovery crew visit canceled

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - A visit to Stennis Space Center by four members of the Space Shuttle Discovery's STS-131 crew had to be canceled today because of the weather. They planned to thank workers for the role they played in Discovery's mission in April to the International Space Station. (Source: NASA, 06/03/10)

RAPID grants available for oil spill

In light of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Science Foundation has issued a reminder about the availability of the Rapid Response Research mechanism. RAPID has been regularly used to provide research on unanticipated events, such as earthquakes, where a timely presence is required. Awards are already being made in connection with the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and subsequent, ongoing oil spill. Researchers are urged to contact the NSF program officer most germane to the proposed topic before submitting a RAPID proposal. (Source: NSF, 05/27/10)