June Lagniappe available

The June issue of Lagniappe, a monthly newsletter about NASA activities at Stennis Space Center, is available for download. This issue includes a story about the J-2X engine being ready for testing; Endeavour's final mission; a tour by Mississippi mayors of the Infinity Science Center site; Stennis Space Center's Open House and more. (Source: Lagniappe, June 2011)

Exports, STEM highlight Mississippi ranking

Among the states, Mississippi ranks No. 5 for export growth, according to the Enterprising States 2011 study just released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Mississippi is also ranked 10th in cost of living, 11th in per capita income growth and higher education efficiency, and 12th in productivity growth and business birth rate. Mississippi is also ranked 20th in science, technology, engineering and math job growth as well as 20th in entrepreneurial activity. (Source: Tcp, 06/23/11) Study: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Fire damaged engine

An Aerojet AJ26 engine that will power the Orbital Sciences Corp. Taurus II launch vehicle was badly damaged in a fuel fire June 9 at Stennis Space Center, Miss. NASA is counting on the Taurus II/Cygnus and the Space Exploration Technologies Falcon 9/Dragon combinations to help resupply the International Space Station when the space shuttle fleet retires after the upcoming final flight of shuttle Atlantis. The AJ26 engine shut down prematurely after a fuel leak developed during a hot-fire acceptance test, and the leaking kerosene fuel ignited. The test stand at Stennis Space Center suffered only minor damage. A team of experts from Aerojet, Orbital and NASA is investigating the cause of the mishap and the extent of the damage to the engine. (Source: Aviation Week, 06/23/11) Previous story

Command at SSC gets new leader

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - A change of command ceremony took place at the Naval Oceanography Operations Command at Stennis Space Center last week. Capt. Van Gurley assumed command, relieving Capt. David J. Walsh, who has commanded since November 2009. Gurley has served two previous tours in Mississippi, and was the first commanding officer of the Naval Oceanography Anti-Submarine Warfare Center from 2006 to 2008. The NOOC, an Echelon IV command of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command at SSC, is comprised of over 1,000 military and civilian personnel located at seven globally distributed subordinate commands supporting every warfare area in the fleet. Rear Adm. Jonathan W. White, Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, presided over the ceremony. (Source: NNS, 06/14/11)

Upper stage engine ready for SSC testing

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA's new J-2X rocket engine, which could power the upper stage of a future heavy-lift launch vehicle, is ready for its first round of testing. The fully assembled engine was installed Saturday in Stennis' A-2 Test Stand, originally used to test Saturn V rockets for the Apollo Program. Beginning in mid-June, the engine will undergo a series of 10 test firings that will last several months. The test stand, which supported the space shuttle main engine project, has been modified for the J-2X's different shape. In addition to the structural, electrical and plumbing modifications, a new engine start system was installed and control systems were upgraded on the stand. The liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen transfer lines that dated back to the 1960s were replaced. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne designed and built the J-2X for NASA. (Source: NASA, 06/13/11)

Data portal earns Gulf Guardian award

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System - Regional Association of College Station Texas will receive a Gulf Guardian Award for 2011 in the partnership category. The awards ceremony will be in conjunction with the Gulf of Mexico Alliance Meeting Aug. 3 in New Orleans. The GCOOS Data Portal Project spans the entire Gulf coast and engages people from academia, state and local government and the private sector. The Gulf of Mexico Program initiated the Gulf Guardian awards in 2000 to recognize businesses, community groups, individuals, and agencies that are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive. (Source: EPA, 06/09/11)

AJ26 shuts down early in test

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - An Aerojet AJ26 engine, the propulsion system for one of NASA's commercial space-cargo haulers, shut down early in a test firing at the Stennis Space Center. The test was conducted Thursday on the E-1 Test Stand. The AJ26 is the main engine for Orbital Science Corp.'s Taurus 2 rocket, which will launch the company's Cygnus capsule for commercial resupply missions to the international space station. Orbital and Aerojet are investigating the cause, and Stennis will perform checkouts to the facility to ensure its operational integrity. "This is the reason we test engines here at Stennis before they are installed on launch vehicles," said David Liberto, AJ26 engine project manager at Stennis. Three AJ26 have been successfully test fired to date. (Source: NASA, Space News, 06/10/11)

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)