SSC celebrates safety goal

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center celebrated a major workplace achievement Thursday with a flag ceremony to signify its status as a Voluntary Protection Program Star site, a designation of safety excellence. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration established VPP in 1982 as a proactive safety management model so organizations and their employees could be recognized for excellence in safety and health. Since then, more than 2,000 organizations, including several NASA centers, have been designated VPP Star sites. (Source: NASA, 06/09/11)

June Messenger available

The June issue of Michoud Messenger, a monthly newsletter about activities at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, is available for download. The issue includes a report about more than 3,000 Louisiana students who participated in Space Day at Louisiana Tech University, designed to involve them in science fields. Also included are items about Navy Day at Michoud; the New Orleans chamber tour of the facility; a story about Endeavours final flight and more. (Source: Michoud Messenger, June 2011)

Hydroid on track with AUV

Hydroid Inc. said it has passed Critical Design Review to provide Littoral Battlespace Sensing (LBS) Autonomous Undersea Vehicles (AUVs) and associated technologies to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). The review was to verify that Hydroid is in compliance with design requirements to proceed with system fabrication, demonstration, and testing. Hydroid is providing REMUS 600 AUVs with technologies for meteorological and oceanographic data collection, as well as technologies to process and disseminate the data. The end user will be the Naval Oceanographic Office at Stennis Sapce Center, Miss., which provides data to all elements of the Department of Defense. (Source: SeaDiscovery, 05/26/11)

Images show extent of river sediment

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA's Applied Science and Technology Project Office at the John C. Stennis Space Center has provided satellite images to the Army Corps of Engineers and Louisiana showing large amounts of sediment throughout coastal Louisiana as a result of flooding on the Mississippi River. The images show three large areas of sediment, or plumes, moving through the floodwaters across Louisiana. The U.S. Geological Survey and NASA are providing satellite imagery to help in flood response efforts. It's part of the Applied Science and Technology Project Office's commitment to use data from agency satellites to help communities address issues of concern. (Source: NASA, 05/27/11)

New spacecraft based on Orion

NASA this week said a new spacecraft to take humans into deep space will be based on designs for the Orion crew exploration vehicle, and be built by Lockheed Martin. Orion, originally designed to take astronauts back to the moon, is a surviving component of the Constellation program canceled by President Barack Obama last year. The new spacecraft is called the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) and will carry four astronauts for 21-day missions and be able to land in the Pacific. NASA has spent some $5 billion on Orion since it awarded Lockheed Martin the prime contract in September 2006. Lockheed built the Orion ground test article at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. NASA still needs to finalize plans for a heavy lift vehicle. (Sources: NASA, AFP via Montreal Gazette, Space News, 05/24/11)

SSC open house set

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center is holding a 50th anniversary open house June 2. The visitor center, StenniSphere, will be closed to the general public during the event. Passes are available through Friday at chamber offices in St. Tammany and Washington parishes, and in Picayune, Hancock, Stone and Jackson counties. Passes are also available at the Launch Pad at the Mississippi Welcome Center. (Source: NASA, 05/25/11)

MSET offers new affiliate program

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - The Mississippi Enterprise for Technology (MSET) at NASA's Stennis Space Center has announced its new Affiliate Program that will allow companies not resident at SSC a chance to benefit from some of the incubator's programs. It also broadens the offerings to companies already resident within MSET. MSET is mostly known for its small business incubator, established in 1994. To the nonresident client, the program provides business development assistance within the Stennis community. Affiliates may maintain a Stennis address, care of MSET, with secure mail, package handling, notary services and optional administrative support. MSET's shared assets are also available, including conference rooms, meeting rooms, AV and office equipment. Details and fee structure of the program can be found on MSET's website. (Source: MSET, 05/09/11)

NASA awards services contract

NASA has awarded five indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity sole source contracts to Aerospace Corp. of El Segundo, Calif., for specialized engineering, evaluation and test services. These five cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts will support eight NASA centers, including John C. Stennis Space Center, Miss., and have a total maximum value of $658.25 million. The period of performance is from the date of award thru Nov. 30, 2018. (Source: NASA, 04/29/11)

NASA facility named for Estess

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA and community officials paid tribute to the late John C. Stennis Space Center Director Roy S. Estess on May 2, naming a site facility in his memory and announcing establishment of the annual Roy S. Estess Public Service Leadership Award. Estess, a Mississippi native and graduate of Mississippi State University, served as director of Stennis Space Center from 1989 to 2002, gaining a reputation as an agency pioneer, as well as a mentor and coach to many who later led or still lead throughout NASA. "His legacy will not be forgotten," Stennis Director Patrick Scheuermann said during a May 2 ceremony at the south Mississippi facility. "The significant contributions of Roy Estess will be etched in our memories for generations." (Source: NASA, 05/02/11)

SBIRS encapsulated in fairing

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. - The first Lockheed Martin-built Space Based Infrared System geosynchronous spacecraft was encapsulated into its payload fairing April 20 in preparation for an early May liftoff aboard an Atlas V rocket. SBIRS GEO-1 will enhance the nation's missile warning capabilities and improve other critical mission areas. The GEO-1 satellite includes sophisticated scanning and staring sensors that will deliver enhanced infrared sensitivity and a reduction in area revisit times over the current constellation. (Source: Lockheed Martin, 04/26/11) SBIRS is an A2100 satellite-based spacecraft. Work on the A2100 core's propulsion system, which positions the spacecraft in orbit, is done at Stennis Space Center, Miss. (Source: Alliance Insight, pp 4-5, July 2009)

RS-68A completes design certification

CANOGA PARK, Calif. - Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne successfully completed the design certification review for the upgraded RS-68A engine configuration, demonstrating the hydrogen-fueled engine has met all requirements to power heavy-lift vehicles into space. The first three flight engines, 30003, 30004 and 30005, have completed acceptance testing. Engine 30003 has already been integrated onto a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle in Decatur, Ala. Integration activities for engine 30004 have been initiated, and the third engine, 30005, has successfully completed its processing at Stennis Space Center, Miss., and is awaiting shipment to Decatur in May. The three engines are scheduled to boost a future Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle into orbit carrying a government payload. (Source: PRnewswire, 04/26/11)

Nebula used in ecosystem project

NASA is moving ahead with its work on the Nebula cloud-computing platform even after the departure of the technology's creator. The agency's John C. Stennis Space Center, Miss., recently used the cloud-computing infrastructure to process data for an environmental project aimed at boosting the health of the ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico. The center's Applied Science and Technology Project Office has been using the results of NASA Earth Science research to address issues identified by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, a partnership of five states. The group is collaborating to improve both the ecological and economic health of the Gulf region, which sustained a major blow last year with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster. (Source: Information Week, 04/19/11)

NASA picks projects for development

NASA has selected 27 small business proposals that address critical research and technology needs for agency programs and projects for final contract negotiations. The proposals have a combined value of about $16.2 million. The selected proposals were submitted by 27 high-tech firms in 18 states, partnering with 24 research institutions in 19 states. Negotiated individual awards, each with a value of up to $600,000, will be for research projects for two years. Three of the proposals involve technologies being developed for the Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss. (Source: NASA, 04/20/11)

Discovery crew to visit SSC

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - Crew members of space shuttle Discovery's final mission, STS-133, will visit NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center Wednesday to thank employees for their part in a safe mission. Commander Steve Lindsey led the 13-day mission to the International Space Station. Other crew members were Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Nicole Scott, Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen and Michael Barratt. Discovery completed its final flight on March 9. During the mission, the crew delivered and installed the Permanent Multipurpose Module and the Express Logistics Carrier 4 to the space station, and also delivered critical spare components. Discovery is the first craft of the three-shuttle fleet to be retired. During its 27 years in service, it flew 39 missions and logged more than 148 million miles in space. (Source: NASA, 04/18/11)

Lockheed Gulf Coast tech hub announced

JACKSON, Miss. - Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday plans to open a new Mission Support Center in the Greater Jackson, Miss. area in September 2011. It will create up to 350 jobs and provide diverse technology services for federal customers. The center establishes Lockheed Martin's Gulf Coast Technology Hub and increases the corporation's presence in the state. Lockheed Martin has existing operations in Biloxi, Stennis Space Center and Vicksburg. The new facility will work with Lockheed Martin's East Coast and West Coast Technology Hubs in Rockville, Md. and Altadena, Calif. to offer enhanced technology capabilities such as cloud computing, business continuity and disaster recovery services. "The state of Mississippi offers the right workforce and facility to create a world-class operation that will deliver enhanced technology services and best value to customers," said Linda Gooden, Executive Vice President, Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions. (Source: PRNewswire, 04/19/11)

April Lagniappe available

The April issue of Lagniappe, a monthly newsletter about NASA activities at Stennis Space Center, is available for download. This issue includes a story about NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver's visit to Stennis Space Center; an item about space shuttle Endeavour; the visit by staffers from U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker's office; the ribbon cutting for the cryogenic facility and more. (Source: Lagniappe, April 2011)

Topping out done on A-3 stand

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - The new A-3 Test Stand being built at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center reached a milestone Wednesday with the placement of the test cell dome atop the stand. It's known as the "topping out." NASA broke ground in 2007 for the new stand, which is being built to provide simulated high-altitude testing for next-generation rocket engines that will carry humans into deep space. The stand will use a series of chemical steam generators to create a vacuum that allows operators to test full-scale engines at simulated altitudes up to 100,000 feet. The A-3 stand, scheduled for activation in 2013, is the first large test structure to be built at Stennis since the facility was established to test the Saturn V rocket stages that helped carry Apollo astronauts to the moon. (Source: NASA, 04/13/11)

Command's deputy leaving

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - The deputy director of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command is leaving to take a job with NATO in Italy, the command announced. Edward C. Gough Jr. is taking a post as senior principal scientist at the NATO Undersea Research Center in La Spezia, Italy. Gough, who also is the technical director, joined the command in 2003. (Source: Sun Herald, 04/13/11)

Cochran: Bolden gives SSC assurances

Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., said NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden, Jr., offered additional assurances that his agency intends to complete construction of test stands at Stennis Space Center, Miss. Cochran, vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned Bolden during a Senate subcommittee hearing late Monday afternoon to review the FY2012 budget request for NASA. Cochran sought Bolden's views on the future of NASA's test stands and its development of 130-ton heavy lift vehicle in light of the funding uncertainties for the remainder of FY2011, as well as FY2012. "The 2012 budget that I have put forth will support the continued development of our testing capability at Stennis. We intend to complete the construction of the A-3 test stand. I think, as you are probably very well aware, Stennis has become rejuvenated and reinvigorated," said Bolden, citing recent rocket tests and the increased testing capabilities that will be offered with a completed A-3 test stand. (Source: Sen. Thad Cochran, 04/12/11)

Lunch and Learn speaker scheduled

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – Ron Magee, assistant to the director of center operations at Stennis Space Center, will be guest speaker at the next "Lunch and Learn" series of the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology. He will provide details on the Stennis master plan. The lunch and learn is April 14 at the Herman C. Glazier Conference Room, Building 1103, Stennis Space Center. Networking will begin at 11:30 a.m. with lunch at noon. To register. For more information, contact Belinda Gill at MsET by e-mail or by calling 228-688-3144. (Source: MsET, 04/04/11)