February Lagniappe available

The February issue of Lagniappe, a monthly newsletter about NASA activities at Stennis Space Center, is available for download. This issue includes a story about NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and the test of an Aeroject AJ26 rocket engine; Stennis hosting NASA day at the capitol; a visit by Rep. Steven Palazzo; the "moon tree" planting at Infinity Science Center and more. (Source: Lagniappe, February 2011)

Scheuermann: Budget reflects commitment

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - The president's proposed $18.7 billion budget for NASA in fiscal year 2012 reflects a commitment to long-term job growth, said Stennis Space Center Director Patrick Scheuermann. "As in the past, the unique test facilities and technical expertise at the John C. Stennis Space Center will continue to play a key role in the development and certification of new rocket propulsion systems," said Scheuermann. He added that the center's Applied Science and Technology Project Office will support essential scientific research while managing the Gulf of Mexico Initiative for NASA's Applied Sciences Program. (Source: NASA, 02/14/11)

SSC hosts NASA Day at Capitol

Representatives from NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center visited Jackson, Miss., Thursday to meet with Mississippi legislators as part of NASA Day at the Capitol. NASA Day is an annual event to thank Mississippi legislators for their continued support of NASA and to highlight Stennis Space Center's role in America's space program. (Source: NASA, 02/11/11)

Orion shipped out from Michoud

NEW ORLEANS - Lockheed Martin shipped out the first Orion crew module Thursday from NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. It's bound for Lockheed's Denver, Colo., facilities, where it will be integrated with a heat shield and thermal protection backshell, then tested to confirm Orion's ability to safely fly astronauts through deep space missions. It will later undergo simulated water landings at Langley's Hydro Impact Basin in Hampton, Va. This Orion ground test vehicle has already validated advanced production processes, equipment and tools required to manufacture the Orion crew module space flight hardware. (Source: Lockheed Martin, 02/10/11)

Engine tested without a hitch

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - A 52-second test of an Aerojet AJ26 rocket engine Monday went without a hitch. Executives from NASA, Aerojet and Orbital Sciences Corp. were on hand for the flight acceptance test of the AJ26, which will be the Stage 1 engine for Orbital's Taurus II space launch vehicle. NASA formed a $1.9 billion contract with Orbital to launch eight cargo missions to the International Space Station through 2015. The Aerojet AJ26, originally made in Russia 50 years ago, was tested at the E-1 test stand at Stennis, which had to be adapted to fire the engine in the vertical position. (Source: Sun Herald, 02/07/11)

AJ26 test scheduled

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and executives from Orbital Science Corp. and Aerojet will be on hand Feb. 7 for a flight acceptance test of an Aerojet AJ26 rocket engine at Stennis Space Center. Members of the media have been invited to see the 4 p.m. test. The engine will be used in Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Taurus II space launch vehicle. Once flight acceptance testing on the engine is complete, it will be delivered to Orbital at the Wallops Flight Facility launch site in Virginia for integration with the rocket's first stage core power. NASA has partnered with Orbital to provide eight cargo missions to the International Space Station, with the first scheduled for early 2012. (Source: NASA, 02/04/11)

Sats examined for contamination

Lockheed Martin has been conducting exoneration exercises for A2100-based satellites in various stages of manufacturing to ensure that foreign object debris (FOD) wasn't introduced during manufacturing, according to Aviation Week. FOD in the oxidizer line is thought to have caused the failure of the liquid apogee engine on the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite. The propulsion system for AEHF-1 was built at Lockheed Martin's facility at the Stennis Space Center, Miss., in 2006. (Source: Aviation Week, 02/02/11)

February Messenger available

The February issue of Michoud Messenger, a monthly newsletter about activities at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, is available for download. The issue includes reports about last month's industry day, Contact 2011, which drew 800 participants; the visit by Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise; information on the installation of a GPS station and more. (Source: Michoud Messenger, February 2011)

Moon tree to be planted

School children will mark the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 14 mission to the moon by planting a "moon tree" near the front promenade of the Infinity Science Center Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Apollo 14 astronaut Stuart Roosa brought seeds of various species on the lunar mission, and they were later planted and resulted in over 450 "moon trees." The science center's mission is to motivate students to take a greater interest in science, technology, mathematics and engineering, and to enhance science literacy in the general public. (Source: Infinity Science Center, 01/27/11)

Orbital: 3rd AJ26 test not needed

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - Two tests of an Aerojet AJ26 engine were so successful that Orbital Science Corp. engineers decided a planned third test unnecessary. The AJ26 engine was removed from the E-1 test stand Jan. 24 and will be returned to Aerojet to be refurbished and used on an upcoming Taurus II mission. The same day the engine was removed, the first flight engine was installed to begin regularly planned "acceptance testing" at SSC. The AJ26 flight unit will be tested in February, and then delivered to Orbital at the Wallops Flight Facility launch site in Virginia for integration with the rocket's first stage core. Orbital's Taurus II rocket will first be used to carry out commercial cargo supply mission to the International Space Station. Orbital is developing the cargo logistics system under the joint Commercial Orbital Transportation Services research and development project with NASA, and is scheduled to carry out the first of eight cargo missions under the Commercial Resupply Services contract beginning in early 2012. (Source: NASA, 01/28/11)

MSU gets new Carnegie classification

Mississippi State University has moved up in the latest Carnegie classifications from the "high research activity" to the "very high research activity" category. It's the highest research category for doctorate-granting universities. The University of Mississippi, Jackson State University and University of Southern Mississippi all are classified as "high research activity" universities. It's the first update of the list since 2005. MSU, Ole Miss and Southern Miss all have operations at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center. (Source: Tcp, 01/27/11)

Mississippi, Louisiana move up in tech index

Mississippi and Louisiana improved their overall ranking in the latest Milken Institute State Science and Technology Index. Louisiana is ranked 45, up one spot from 2008, while Mississippi improved two spots to 48. Mississippi had its best showing in technology concentration and dynamism, where it ranked 40. In that same category, Louisiana had its biggest gain, up 13 positions to 37. The study uses 79 indicators to come up with its rankings. Massachusetts had the best overall rank among the states. (Source: Tcp, 01/25/11) Study

New director, deputy join NGI

Two research professors from Mississippi State University have joined the leadership team at Stennis Space Center's Northern Gulf Institute. They are Robert J. Moorhead, professor of electrical and computing engineering, and Donald C. Jackson, professor of fisheries, chosen to serve as NGI director and deputy director, respectively. The previous director, Mike Carron, left NGI to accept a position with the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative. NGI is a NOAA cooperative institute led by MSU. Other academic partners are the University of Southern Mississippi, Louisiana State University, Florida State University and Dauphin Island Sea Lab. (Source: NGI, 01/25/11)

Palazzo tapped to chair subcommittee

Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., has been named chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, a key appointment for a freshman congressman who represents an area that includes NASA's Stennis Space Center. The appointment must still be approved by the full committee. Palazzo defeated incumbent Gene Taylor, a Democrat, in the November elections. (Sources: Multiple, 01/24/11)

NOAA satellites aid in rescues in 2010

NOAA satellites in 2010 aided in the rescues of 295 people throughout the United States and its surrounding waters. The satellites picked up distress signals from emergency beacons carried by downed pilots, shipwrecked boaters and stranded hikers, and relayed the information to first responders on the ground. NOAA's polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites, along with Russia's COSPAS spacecraft, are part of the international Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system, called COSPAS-SARSAT. Alaska had the most people rescued last year with 77, followed by Florida with 37, and West Virginia with 17, who were aboard a downed Army Reserve helicopter. (Source: NOAA, 01/20/11) NOAA is a tenant at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

Signup begins for SSC special olympics

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – The annual John C. Stennis Area III Special Olympics Track and Field Competitions is scheduled for March 19. Athletes must be at least eight years old, be mentally handicapped, and must have a current medical form on file with the Special Olympics. The event draws participants from Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River, and Stone counties. Athletes can sign up through their school's Special Education Office or by calling Penny Replogle at 228-343-1009 or 601-201-2103. She can be emailed at penawanda@aol.com. (Source: Stennis Space Center, 01/24/11)

Patent group showcased in newsletter

The January issue of the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology newsletter has a feature story about a new group called the Gulf Coast Patent Association, composed of people and groups involved with intellectual property issues. It includes patent practitioners, intellectual property specialists, business development specialists, technology transfer offices and others. (Source: MsET, January 2011)

January Lagniappe available

The January issue of Lagniappe, a monthly newsletter about NASA activities at Stennis Space Center, is available for download. This issue has a story about Stennis Space Center completing the initial AJ26 test series; an update on STS-133's mission to the International Space Station; a story about NASA and the Navy teaming up on a teacher project; the kickoff of the FIRST robotics competition and more. (Source: Lagniappe, January 2011)

Blade Dynamics begins hiring

NEW ORLEANS - Blade Dynamics, the wind turbine manufacturer at the Michoud Assembly Facility, plans to hire 40 salaried, technical operator positions. The positions require a minimum of one-year manufacturing or production experience, performance of industrial math and the ability to work rotating shifts. By 2015 Blade Dynamics plans to have some 600 employees on its payroll with an annual salary of about $48,000. (Source: The Advocate, 01/12/11) The Michoud facility is about 40 miles from Stennis Space Center, Miss.

NASA names deputy chief technologist

WASHINGTON - NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun has announced the appointment of Michael J. Gazarik as the agency's deputy chief technologist. Gazarik, who was deputy director for programs in the Engineering Directorate at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., will be a key member of the office responsible for coordination, integration and tracking of all technology investments across the agency, as well as management of NASA's Space Technology programs. (Source: NASA, 01/12/11) NASA has facilities at Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.