John. C. Stennis Space Center

A S I SA S I SO C E A N A I R S P A C E I N D U S T R Y S I T E

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3

STENNISSPACE CENTER:

www.ssc.nasa.gov FALL 2004

Inside:SSC tests engines for

Return to Flight

Mercury astronauts visit

NASA Honor Awards

Around Our World

Adm. Steidle visits

Bridging the gapbetween space

and theoceans

STENNISSPACE CENTER:

Bridging the gapbetween space

and theoceans

PAGE 2 OASIS FALL 2004

DDAs we approach the end of an active hurri-cane season, we should pause and reflect onour good fortune as we send our best wishesfor a speedy recovery to our NASA family atKennedy Space Center.

In the last All Hands meeting, I forgot to endmy presentation with a slide containing a quotefrom Abraham Lincoln, which is: “Character islike a tree and reputation is like a shadow. Theshadow is what we think of; the tree is the realthing.” I believe both character and reputationcount for organizations as well as individuals.The slide also suggested we move forward inall that we do here on Stennis by being:

SafeSmartTransparentBold

We were once again given the opportunity toshow how unique Stennis really is whenAssociate Administrator for ExplorationsSystems Mission Directorate Adm. CraigSteidle visited the center in September. I wouldlike to thank everyone for the excellent supportin planning, coordinating and conducting hisvisit in that distinctive Stennis style. Adm.Steidle arrived with a limited knowledge aboutthe lines of business at Stennis, but left with acomplete understanding of how vital thisCenter is in the exploration of space.

We often talk about metrics as an indicator ofhow we're doing, and here are three I'd like toshare with you. Since the early days of thespace program, we have completed more than2,530 liquid-fueled engine tests on the largetest stands at Stennis. In addition, there havebeen 725 tests of various types and sizes ofrocket engine components in the E-Complexsince 1998. Very impressive statistics; in fact,probably the best in the world.

Also, in our Applied Science Directorate, wehave seen their contributions to improved hurri-cane forecasting by the National WeatherService, and improved Natural DisasterPrediction Models by the Federal EmergencyManagement Agency this summer.

The final statistic deals with workforce partici-pation in the recent survey by BehavioralScience Technology, Inc. This is part of contin-uing efforts to effectively implement changes toNASA's organizational culture and missionsafety. Thank you for rising to the challenge ofparticipating in the survey during a very busyweek – 77 percent of you took the time to com-plete the survey and we will become a betterorganization as a result.

I have stated previously that character and repu-tation are vital to an organization and to each ofus, and I know that you will continue to exhibit thecharacteristics of a great organization.

From the

irector’s esk

STENNIS SPACECENTER DIRECTOR

Adm. ThomasQ. Donaldson V

USN (Ret.)

On the coverThe cover images show the similaritiesbetween two of Stennis Space Center’sspecialties: space and the ocean.

The top image is a photo of stars taken bythe Hubble Telescope; the bottom image isbioluminescence, or naturally glowingplankton, in the ocean.

SSC tests Space Shuttle Discovery’sengines for return to flight

The Stennis Space Center (SSC) team for Space Shuttle MainEngines has completed testing the three flight engines that willcarry the next Space Shuttle into orbit, STS-114.

The three SSMEs passed final acceptance tests on March 26,July 16 and Aug. 19. They were shipped to NASA's KennedySpace Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for installation on SpaceShuttle Discovery, readying it for the STS-114 mission to theInternational Space Station. Designated as the Shuttle's Return toFlight mission, STS-114 is expected to launch in 2005.

“Our NASA and contractor team has continued to work hard

over the past year and a half to make sure this incredible piece ofmachinery maintains its impeccable safety record,” said MiguelRodriguez, director of the Propulsion Test Directorate at SSC. “Allthe effort will pay off when we see the Space Shuttle Discoverylift off. To know we had such a big part in returning the orbiter toflight will be a great reward.”

Gene Goldman, manager of the Space Shuttle Main EngineProject Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center inHuntsville, Ala., said, “There has been a tremendous effort by theteam at Stennis, both civil servant and contractor, to ready theengines for flight. Their diligent attention to detail is critical to thesafe and reliable performance of the engines.”

Rocketdyne Propulsion and Power, a business unit of TheBoeing Co. of Canoga Park, Calif., manufactures the Shuttle’sMain Engines. Pratt and Whitney, a United TechnologiesCompany of West Palm Beach, Fla., builds the high-pressure tur-bopumps. NASA’s Space Shuttle Main Engine Project Officeadministers the main engine program.

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The Boeing Co.’s Joe Lewis, Sonny Jarrell and C.C. Hanna work on SpaceShuttle Main Engine 2056, one of three tested and proven flight-worthy at SSC forNASA’s Return to Flight mission.

With a rumble and a rush ofwater vapor, a successful flightacceptance test (right) wasconducted at SSC for the firstcomplete engine to be testedand shipped in its entirety toKennedy Space Center forSTS-114, NASA’s Return toFlight mission.

Space Shuttle Discovery’sthree engines were tested andproven flight-worthy at SSC,passing final acceptance testson March 26, July 16 and Aug.19 of this year.

On Oct. 5, SSC shipped the last of the three SSMEs (above) toNASA's Kennedy Space Center for installation on Space ShuttleDiscovery for its STS-114 mission.

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Shuttle Mission Execution Panelmeets at Stennis

NASA alumni look to the pastfor exploring the future

Former NASA leadership met at Stennis Space Center(SSC) on Tuesday, Aug. 17, for a lessons learned meet-ing focusing on the challenges facing NASA’s futureexploration missions. The meeting was initiated byNASA’s Office of Exploration Systems.

Participants included former SSC Director Roy Estess,Thomas Utsman, Arnie Aldrich, Gus Guastaferro, JimOdom, Howard Robins and John Newcombe.

About 25 members of theMission Execution Panel of thisyear’s Integrated SpaceOperations Summit (ISOS) activ-ity, met at NASA John C.Stennis Space Center (SSC)Sept.30-Oct. 1. The ISOSprocess, sponsored by the NASASpace Operations MissionDirectorate, is intended toevaluate the Agency’s spaceoperations assets (SpaceShuttle, International SpaceStation and associated infra-structure) and provide strategicrecommendations regardingtheir safe operation and transi-tion to support the Vision forSpace Exploration.

While at SSC, panel members toured SSC’s rocket engine teststands and talked with The Boeing Co.’s site manager DavidGeiger about the rigorous testing process for each Space ShuttleMain Engine.

The ISOS Mission Execution Panel, chaired by SSC Deputy DirectorDavid Throckmorton, is specifically tasked with defining require-ments to assure safe operation of the Space Shuttle systemthrough completion of the flight manifest.

Pictured are (from left) Karen Lucht, Mike McClain, Barbara Kress,John Olansen, Loraine Schafer, David Geiger, Jeff McCaleb, JoyceRozewski, Stu McClung, David Throckmorton, Pete Wickas, JimSeiler and Phil Engelauf.

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Adm. Steidle explores SSC’s capabilities

During his visit to SSC, Adm. Steidle was briefed on SSC activities bymembers of the Propulsion Test Directorate, including testing of theIntegrated Powerhead Demonstrator (above), and Applied SciencesDirectorate (left) at SSC.

A dm. Craig E. Steidle,Associate Administrator for theExploration Systems MissionDirectorate toured StennisSpace Center (SSC) on Sept. 1.

During the visit, Adm.Steidle learned about the cen-ter’s unique propulsion testingand applied science capabilities,and how they apply to theVision for Space Exploration.Adm. Steidle saw an activationtest for future Space Shuttleflowliner testing in SSC’sE Complex, where engineerstest engines and components forfuture spaceflight vehicles. Theversatile, three-stand complexincludes seven separate testcells capable of testing that involves ultrahigh-pressure gases and high-pressure,super-cold fluids.

The Exploration Systems MissionDirectorate was established to set prioritiesfor achieving the exploration goals inhuman and robotic technology and trans-portation systems for the Vision for SpaceExploration.

The directorate will provide the focusand direction of future exploration tech-nologies by applying strategy-to-task tech-nology analytical processes involving anintegrated team of users and developers.

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Rocket motor uses common household product for fuel

On Sept. 30, NASA Stennis Space Center (SSC) tested a rock-et motor powered by fuel most people have in their homes: paraf-fin, the material used in common candles.

In the past, paraffin was thought to be too weak and unstableto use as rocket fuel, but a research team at Stanford University inPalo Alto, Calif., found it to be twice as strong as conventionalsolid propellants. It also burns at a higher combustion rate, issafer, cheaper and very friendly to the environment, producingwater vapor and carbon dioxide.

Lockheed Martin-Michoud Operations designed and fabricat-ed the hybrid motor in collaboration with Space Propulsion GroupInc., which was formed by the Stanford team. The motor tested atSSC fired for the full planned duration and produced more than5,000 pounds of thrust.

“The testing demonstrated that paraffin has a much higherregression rate when compared with HTPB (hydroxyl terminated

polybutadiene). If the paraffin technology can be scaled up to evenlarger sizes, this higher regression rate has the potential forimproved hybrid propulsion performance. We will be looking atparaffin-fueled hybrids for future applications,” said Tim Knowles,Lockheed Martin’s principal investigator for hybrid rocket motors.

The paraffin motor test at SSC was the last of four tests con-ducted as part of the Hybrid Technology Test Project (HTTP). Theother three tests used HTPB. “We completed this project meetingall of the technical requirements from the customer – safely, onschedule, and under budget,” said Robert Ross, HTTP projectmanager at SSC.

Hybrid motors combine solid and liquid materials. An oxidiz-er such as oxygen is generally used with all rocket fuels to aidburning. Conventional rocket fuels are either solids, like what isused in the Space Shuttle boosters, or liquids, like what is used inthe Space Shuttle Main Engine.

Hybrid motors are not new – they have been in developmentfor about 50 years – but have not produced enough thrust to powerheavy space launch vehi-cles. Paraffin shows prom-ise because tests atStanford and at NASAAmes Research Centerhave shown it burns at arate three times greaterthan other hybrid fuels.

The Stanfordresearchers found thatparaffin burns fasterbecause as the oxygen gasblows across the meltedsurface, waves form andare pulled off as a spray ofdroplets. That spray burnsvery rapidly, increasingthe fuel’s combustion rate.

Above, Rosa Obregon (left),a NASA test engineer, JaredGrover and R.B. Shawcheck over the preparationsfor test-firing a paraffin-fueled rocket motor.

At left, the motor fires for thefull planned duration duringa test on Sept. 30, produc-ing more than 5,000 poundsof thrust.

Jared Grover (left), a NASA test conductor, watches as R.B. Shaw, a mechani-cal technician, works on a gaseous oxygen line prior to the test-firing of a paraf-fin-fueled rocket motor.

Former Mercury Astronauts Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper andWally Schirra, along with former Apollo Astronaut Al Worden, vis-ited NASA Stennis Space Center (SSC) Aug. 23 and 27 to talkabout their missions and their role in the Astronaut ScholarshipFoundation (ASF).

“We need a lot of push, a lot of attention” given to the Visionfor Space Exploration, Worden said. “We need to talk more aboutthe technology spinoffs from the space program that put this coun-try out ahead of everyone else. We take seriously the education offuture astronauts and scientists.”

The astronauts’ emphasis on supporting the next generation ofexplorers was part of the reason for their visit to SSC. With the aimof helping the U.S. retain its world leadership in science and tech-nology, ASF raises funds to annually award a total of $170,000 to17 college students who exhibit exceptional performance in scienceand engineering.

ASF was formed in 1984 by six surviving original Mercuryastronauts and Betty Grissom, the widow of the seventh, Virgil“Gus” Grissom. To date, the foundation has awarded nearly $2 mil-lion to 183 deserving students, andcounts more than 40 Gemini,Apollo and Space Shuttle astronautsamong its members.

“You are in the presence ofheroes,” Adm. Thomas Q.Donaldson V, USN (Ret.), SSCCenter Director, told the crowd in StenniSphere. “When you’re in thepresence of greatness, you just know it. These guys are the real thing.”

Worden was command module pilot for Apollo 15, July 26-Aug. 7, 1971. Apollo 15 took the lunar rover to the Moon, andspent the longest time on the lunar surface. Cooper piloted Faith7 on a 22-orbit mission May 15-18, 1963, that tested the Mercurycraft to its limits and concluded Project Mercury. He also served as command pilot of Gemini 5, the step between Project Mercury andthe Apollo Program. Schirra, the only astronaut to fly on Mercury,

Gemini and Apollo vehicles, piloted the Sigma 7 on America’s thirdorbital flight on Oct. 3, 1962. As command pilot, he flew Apollo 7,the initial flight of the Apollo series.

Carpenter followed John Glenn to makethe second American orbital flight on May 24,1962, piloting the Aurora 7 spacecraft throughthree revolutions of the Earth.

“We will go back to the Moon again,”Carpenter said. “It’s not a question of if, butwhen. We won the space race once, but it

has no end. We just need to renew our resolve.” For more information about ASF, visit

www.AstronautScholarship.org.

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Heroes of America’s space program touch down at SSC

Mercury mission Astronauts Scott Carpenter (left) and Gordon Cooper, along withApollo 15 Astronaut Al Worden, put their fingerprints on a Space Shuttle MainEngine at SSC.

Carpenter (left),Schirra and Coopergave a brief pres-entation to SSCemployees in theStenniSphere audi-torium, followed bya question-and-answer sessionduring theAug. 27 visit.

We will go back to the Moon again. It’s not a question of if, but when.

–- Astronaut Scott Carpenter

Editor’s note: Mercury Astronaut Gordon Cooper died Oct. 4 athis home in Ventura, Calif., from natural causes. He was 77. Also,Dr. Maxime Faget, who designed the original spacecraft for the

Mercury Project, died Oct. 9 at his home in Houston. He was 83.

AROUNDAROUNDNew leadership at Naval Meteorologyand Oceanography Command

Rear Adm. TimothyMcGee (right)salutes Rear Adm.Steven Tomaszeskiduring anAssumption ofCommandCeremony on Sept.14 at SSC. McGeeassumed commandof the Stennis-based NavalMeteorology andOceanographyCommand in theceremony.

Rear Adm. Steven Tomaszeski, the Oceanographer of the Navy inWashington, D.C., spoke at the ceremony.The U.S. Senate con-firmed McGee’s promotion to his current rank on July 22, and he waspromoted during a ceremony at SSC on July 30.

A native of Washington, D.C., McGee most recently served asSpecial Assistant to the Oceanographer of the Navy. He was previ-ously vice commander, Chief of Naval Research, Arlington, Va. He isa 1978 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and also holds a mas-ter’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.

The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, based atSSC, is a worldwide organization comprised of approximately 3,000military and civilian personnel in about 60 locations. The commandprovides forecasts of weather and ocean conditions, necessary forsafe and successful operations, to operating defense forces. It isMississippi’s only operational Navy command headed by an admiral.

Combined Federal Campaign 2004kicks off at SSC

The Combined FederalCampaign (CFC) is the annualfund-raising drive conducted byfederal employees in their work-place each fall. Each year fed-eral employees and militarypersonnel raise millions of dol-lars through the CFC that bene-

fits thousands of nonprofit charities.

The SSC sitewide kickoff for 2004’s CFC was held Thursday, Oct.21, on the front lawn of Bldg. 1100. The SSC campaign will runthrough Friday, Nov. 5.The Office of CFC Operations at the Office of PersonnelManagement is responsible for oversight of the CFC.

Workshop promotes newestsystem scanner at NRLA recent workshop at the Naval Research Laboratory(NRL) at SSC initiated and promoted collaborative researchassociated with their newest Computed Tomography (CT) system,and familiarized potential collaborators with the system’s capabilitiesand limitations. Twenty-three scientists and engineers, representing 11 institutionsand private industry, participated in the workshop. The researchers were provided the opportunity to evaluate shearbanding in sand, multiphase flow or drainage in sand, gas hydratestructure and constituents, volume imhomogeneities, and bubblegrowth dynamics in marine mud. Results were discussed throughoutthe course of the workshop, future collaborations were addressed,and participants were furnished with high resolution CT data of theirspecimens.“We demonstrated that the CT can work much better than manyother CTs currently in operation,” said Dr. Allen Reed of NRL’sMarine Geosciences Division. “We also collected the highest resolu-tion images of gas hydrates and gas bubbles ever obtained.”Collaborations with researchers to allow others to benefit from theCT are of interest to Reed. NRL can be contracted through a pur-chase agreement. For information on forming collaborations, contactReed at http://www7430.nrlssc.navy.mil/facilities/CTscanner/index, orby calling (228) 688-5473 (office) or (228) 688-5433 (CT lab).

Boeing-Rocketdyne honors employees The Boeing-Rocketdyne manage-ment team at SSCrecently recognized sixmonths of superiorachievement with aSteak Night for all SSCBoeing-Rocketdyneemployees.

The Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) team supported activationof the A-1 test stand to initiate testing on two test stands for the firsttime in many years. The SSME team also supported processing forall three return to flight engines. The RS-68 Assembly and Test teamaccumulated an additional 2,280 seconds of test time with 12 testson six RS-68 engines. Significant milestones of this achievementincluded the delivery of five production flight units, exceeding 100tests on the B-1 test stand, the initiation of the single acceptance testas the RS-68 processing standard and the performance of rapid turn-around between engines. The Integrated Powerhead Demonstrator(IPD) team provided support to numerous successful test programsat the E Complex, including the RS-84 Experimental Preburner andthe IPD Fuel Turbopump. The IPD Engine assembly is progressingwith a scheduled delivery date to E-1 Cell 3 in October. The SteakNight was attended by over 200 employees and included entertain-ment provided by Boeing employee Steve Kellar.

O C E A N A I R S P A C E I N D U S T R Y S I T E

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UR WORLDUR WORLD

O C E A N A I R S P A C E I N D U S T R Y S I T E

Kopfler marks 40 years of serviceThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Gulf of MexicoProgram would like to congratulate Dr. Frederick Kopfler on 40years of distinguished service to the federal government. Dr.

Kopfler has a degree in chemistry fromSoutheastern Louisiana University in

Hammond, a master’s in biochemistry fromLouisiana State University and a doctoratein food science and technology, also fromLSU. He began his federal career in 1964with USDA’s Protein Pioneering Research

Laboratory in Philadelphia, Pa. He thenwent to work for the Public Health Service in

Dauphin Island, Ala. In 1970 he became a charter member of thenewly formed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Today, Dr.Kopfler is one of only 325 remaining charter members of theorganization. In 1973 he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, with EPA andthen joined the Gulf of Mexico Program in 1989.

NAVOCEANO at SSC hosts multibeamsonar workshop in GulfportNAVOCEANO recently hosted a multibeam workshop at theNaval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport. Thirteen LatinAmerican nations participated in the workshop titled “BeyondSafety of Navigation,” which focused on multibeam equipmentand visualization techniques used in hydrographic surveying. Atthe workshop, industry representatives addressed the develop-ment and advancements of modern multibeam sonar and sup-porting technologies.

Multibeamsonar sys-tems aid inthe studyof hydrog-raphy andhydro-graphicsurveying,the chart-ing or bot-tom map-ping ofwater bod-ies. The sonar system uses sound waves to provide hydrogra-phers with images of the sea floor. Multibeam sonar systems areusually attached to sea vessels and can transmit and receivesoundings at both horizontal and vertical angles.

The data collected from surveys using the multibeam sonar areused to generate marine products such as nautical charts, whichaid in the safety of navigation of commercial and military vessels.The information is also used in the protection of the marine envi-ronment, the development of databases and models for coastal

zone management and for studying the effects of hazardousspills on ocean behavior.

The countries took the knowledge gained from this workshopback to their oceanographic and hydrographic offices to ensuretheir current and future surveys meet the InternationalHydrographic Organization’s standards. The workshop alsostressed the value of hydrography and what multibeam sonarsystems can do – beyond safety.NAVOCEANO is a leader in operational multibeam technology,hydrography and high volume data processing. Conference spon-sors include the Chief of Naval Operations; Commander, U.S.Fleet Forces Command; Office of Naval Research; and NAVO-CEANO, with support from the Commander, Naval Meteorologyand Oceanography Command; the Pan American Institute ofGeography and History; and the University of SouthernMississippi.

INFINITY science center moving intodetail design phaseINFINITY atNASA StennisSpace Center, thestate-of-the-artscience centerand visitor attrac-tion to be locatednear the Interstate10 entrance toNASA Stennis Space Center, moves forward with detail design. Leo Seal, chairman of the board, MAST Inc., recently signed con-tracts totaling $3.25 million for detail design services. A $1.8 mil-lion fixed-price contract was awarded to New York-based ESIDesign, one of the world’s foremost experiential design firms, fordevelopment of the visitor experience. MAST Inc. has also awarded a $471,000 fixed-price contract toStantec Architecture of Vancouver, British Columbia, for finaldesign of the INFINITY facility. Studio South, an architectural andengineering firm based in Gulfport and Biloxi, was awarded acontract for $975,000, and will serve as the project’s architect ofrecord.

The project concept and design result from a public-private part-nership between NASA and MAST Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)3 chari-table organization chartered in the state of Mississippi. MAST Inc.was formed in 2001 by a group of area business leaders to workwith NASA on the project.

Site preparation for INFINITY at NASA Stennis Space Center isscheduled to begin late 2004 with a formal groundbreaking in2005. Doors will open in early 2007. For more information,please contact Tommie Staten at (228) 688-1393 or by sendinge-mail to tommie.staten@ssc.nasa.gov.

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II NSPIRINGNSPIRINGthe nextthe nextgeneration . . . generation . . .

as only NASAas only NASA cancan

4Grandparents, grandkidsattend Astro Camp StenniSphere held its second annual Astro Camp forgrandparents and their grandchildren on Saturday,Sept. 11. The event, themed “Rocketry 101,” coincid-ed with Grandparents’ Day on Sept. 12. Pictured isLynn Blankenburg (left), an employee at JohnsonSpace Center in Houston, Texas, and his grandsonAustin Anderson, 8, of Covington, La. The day’sactivities culminated in the teams building andlaunching their own rockets.

SSC presents Moon Treeto Jackson planetarium Pam Covington (left), External Affairs Officer at SSC,presents a “Moon Tree” to Linda Taylor, City ofJackson Assistant Chief Administrator, Aug. 21 as partof NASA Day at the Russell C. Davis Planetarium.Covington and Taylor participated in a ceremonialplanting of the sycamore sapling, a descendant ofseeds carried to the Moon and back in 1971 by Apollo14 Astronaut Stuart Roosa. Roosa, a resident of theMississippi Gulf Coast until his death in 1994, carriedthe seeds in his personal kit – an experiment inspiredby his years with the U.S. Forest Service.

Students increase Earthscience awarenessSix students participated in the DEVELOP programat SSC this summer through the Office of ExternalAffairs & Education. They are, from left: back row,James Robinson, Philadelphia, Miss.; Dan Judnick,San Jose, Calif.; Andy Hilburn, Mobile, Ala.; MattTisdale, Newport News, Va.; front row, RebeccaAlsip, Mobile; and Michele Tisdale, Newport News.The DEVELOP program aims to increase publicaccess to federal information about the Earth andworks to bridge the gap between the public and theapplications of Earth science technology.

Dr. Loston visits SouthDelta Middle SchoolDr. Adena Loston (standing, left), NASAEducation Officer from Headquarters inWashington, D.C., visited with students atSouth Delta Middle School, a NASA ExplorerSchool, in Anguilla, Miss., on Oct. 1. Lostonand Astronaut Scott Parazynski inspired stu-dents to reach for their dreams with thetheme “There is a place for me at NASA.”

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ComingEventsHoliday Astro Camp activities

StenniSphere, the visitor center at NASAStennis Space Center, is the perfect place forfamilies and out-of-town guests to visit duringthe Thanksgiving holidays. On Friday, Nov. 25,and Saturday, Nov. 26, free Astro Camp activitiesfor all visitors will take place all day throughoutStenniSphere.

Winter hoursStenniSphere has begun its winter hours.

StenniSphere is open Monday-Saturdayfrom 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; public tours begin at10 a.m. and depart from the I-10, Exit 2,Hancock County Welcome Center.

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Panelists discuss issues at Women’s Equality DaySSC’s celebration of Women’s Equality Day, spon-sored by Lockheed Martin Mississippi Space andTechnology Center, was held Aug. 26. A panel dis-cussion included participants from a variety oforganizations discussing their views and sugges-tions for keys to success for women in today’senvironment.

Panelists were (from left) Candace Watkins, Mayorof Covington, La.; Heidi Lovett Daniels, AssistantProfessor of Education, Dillard University; Tish HaasWilliams, director, Hancock County Chamber ofCommerce; Joanne Beckham, director, LockheedMartin Mississippi Space and Technology Center atSSC; and Steve Jackson, general manager, TestOperations Group, Jacobs Sverdrup.

The panel was followed by three half-hour programtopics and a luncheon featuring keynote speakerJoanne M. Maguire of Sunnyvale, Calif., vice presi-dent and deputy to the president of Lockheed MartinSpace Systems.

SSC workers receive Spaceflight Awareness awards

NASA Astronaut Pam Melroy (left) helped present StennisSpace Center (SSC) employees with SpaceflightAwareness Awards on Aug. 27 in Florida. The followingSSC employees were recognized for their significant rolesin Return to Flight (from left): Ralph Gonzalez,Boeing/Rocketdyne; Samuel Stephens, Lockheed MartinSpace Operations, Stennis Programs; Donna Pullman,Mississippi Space Services; Gary Taylor, NASA; TrevorMack, Lockheed Martin Space Operations, StennisPrograms; and Brian Childers, Boeing/Rocketdyne.

SSC celebrates HispanicHeritage Month In 1988, Sept.15-Oct.15 was designated Hispanic Heritage Month to com-memorate the anniversary of Mexican Independence Day and other LatinAmerican independence day celebrations in the United States. Hispanic refersto those whose ethnic origin is in a Spanish-speaking country, no matter whattheir race. This year's theme is “Hispanic Americans – Making a Difference inOur Communities and Our Nation.” During this month, Americans celebratethe culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain,Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South Americaand the Caribbean. SSC marked the month with a Hispanic Heritage displayin the front lobby of Bldg. 1100.

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NASA bestows 2004 Honor

NASA Exceptional Service MedalJames Bevis

Chief financial officer for SSC’sBusiness Management Directorate

NASA Exceptional Service MedalRobert Bruce

Director of SSC’s TechnologyDevelopment and Transfer Office

NASA Exceptional Service MedalShamim Rahman

Chief engineer for SSC’sPropulsion Test Directorate

NASA Exceptional Achievement MedalDavid Coote

Chief of SSC’s EngineeringDivision for the PTD

Stennis Space Center Director Adm. Thomas Q. DonaldsonV, USN, (Ret.) and NASAAssociate Administrator of the SpaceOperations Mission Directorate William F. Readdy presentedNASA’s prestigious Exceptional Service Medal to several NASAemployees at Stennis Space Center (SSC) on Aug. 12.

The NASA Exceptional Service Medal is given for significantsustained performance characterized by unusual initiative or cre-ative ability that clearly demonstrates improvements in engineering,aeronautics, space flight, administration, support or space-relatedendeavors which contribute to NASA’s mission. Recipients were:

James T. Bevis, a resident of Diamondhead, chief financialofficer for SSC’s Business Management Directorate. He was giventhe award for his vital role in integrating the rocket propulsion facil-ities and capabilities of four different NASA field centers. Hisefforts to identify funding sources at each center were called a strik-ing example of “One NASA” teamwork.

Robert C. Bruce Jr., a resident of Gulfport, director of SSC’sTechnology Development and Transfer Office. He was given theaward for using his propulsion engineering expertise in promotingthe propulsion testing capabilities at SSC, as well as leveraging thetesting capabilities at other NASA centers through the RocketPropulsion Test Management Board.

Dr. Shamim A. Rahman, a resident of Mandeville, La., chiefengineer for SSC’s Propulsion Test Directorate (PTD). He wasgiven the award for improving propulsion test capabilities so muchthat SSC is recognized for engineering excellence in testing facilitypreparation, developing high-quality test products and assisting cus-tomers develop and test propulsion components. He initiated a tech-nology forecast activity and developed a new technology road mapfor each of SSC’s major programs.

Donaldson and Readdy also presented NASA Public Servicemedals to two individuals not government employees during theperiod a service is performed, to recognize exceptional contribu-tions to NASA’s mission. Those medals were awarded to:

Chief Phillip Martin, elected Tribal Chief of the MississippiBand of Choctaw Indians (MBCI), for his strong leadership andsupport for education as the pathway to success resulting in theimplementation of NASA educational programs in the MBCI

School System. His dedication to bettering education for AmericanIndians is recognized nationally.

James M. Sherrer, a resident of Picayune, was the LockheedMartin Information Technology (LMIT) program manager of theOutsourcing Desktop Initiative for NASA (ODIN) contract at SSC.He was given the award for helping NASA realize the benefits ofoutsourced information technology services. ODIN is a perform-ance-based, fixed-price contract representing a new way of doingbusiness for NASA. Sherrer has been called “an agent of change” inintroducing and deploying the ODIN IT services delivery model atSSC.

Donaldson and Readdy also presented a NASA ExceptionalAchievement Medal for a significant, specific accomplishment orcontribution clearly characterized by a substantial and significantimprovement in operations, efficiency, service, financial savings,science or technology that contributes to NASA’s mission.

The award was given to David J. Coote, chief of SSC’sEngineering Division for the PTD and a Slidell resident, for assem-bling and leading a team in developing the Propellant SystemsAnalysis Model (PSAM). The PSAM was built to meet engineeringdesign and analysis challenges for rocket propulsion testing in sup-port of the Next Generation Launch Technology program and otherrocket propulsion test programs.

NASA Public Service MedalChief Phillip Martin

Tribal Chief of the Mississippi Bandof Choctaw Indians

NASA Public Service MedalJames Sherrer

Former ODIN program manager

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Group Achievement AwardAudio/Visual and Video Production Services Team

Group Achievement Awards:

Stennis Space Center Association forCultural Awareness

NASASusan M. Cleaves (former)Dinna L. CottrellPatricia H. FairleyJorge F. FigueroaRhonda M. FoleyMelba M. HarrisMargaret E. Rhodes (former)Nancy G. Sullivan (former)Peter V. TranKaren L. VanderBoeing Benjamin A. GousmanJoyce M. LawrenceCommander, Naval Meteorology andOceanography CommandElizabeth Q. KirbyEnvironmental Protection AgencyGerald O. BinningerTerry Hines-SmithLockheed Martin Space OperationsBertha L. JacksonLa Sonya M. MerrillMississippi Space ServicesB. Denise Dedeaux (former)Marsha H. KingSusan M. SprouseMississippi State University, EducatorResource CenterStephanie L. McDanielNaval Oceanographic OfficeClaudette R. FlynnRhonda L. HuffmanNaval Research LaboratoryMargueritte B. FrommeyerNational Data Buoy CenterMartha A. MitchellRobert Cage Jr.Navy Human Resources Center, SoutheastAdolph H. DelgadoArthur L. ThorntonU.S. Geological SurveyBarbara J. WheatJoanne C. JonesPublic Health Applications of Earth Sciences

(PHASES) Program TeamNASA HeadquartersRobert A. VeneziaStennis Space CenterTimi S. VannVicki M. ZanoniLockheed Martin Space OperationsJane C. Andrews

Slawomir S. BlonskiDeborah K. FendleyDane M. HowellKenton W. RossKristen J. RussellRobert E. RyanCharles M. SmithJoseph P. SpruceLauren W. Underwood

Joint Agency Commercial ImageryEvaluation Team

NASABruce A. DavisThomas M. StanleyVicki M. ZanoniLockheed Martin Space OperationsSlawomir S. BlonskiDavid J. CarverDeborah K. FendleyGerald E. Gasser Jr. Brennan A. GrantRandall K. GreerKara L. HolekampKelly B. KnowltonDean P. NoelMary A. PagnuttiKenton W. RossJeffrey A. RussellRobert E. RyanRichard B. SellersCharles M. SmithWilliam F. SmithWesley C. TaborSteven L. TateNational Geospatial-Intelligency AgencyFrancisco X. AvilaBraxton E. BaldridgeWilliam T. LehmanJennifer L. MeisburgerSpencer M. RoylanceSouth Dakota State UniversityDavid B. AaronDennis L. HelderStephen J. SchillerUniversity of ArizonaRobert A. SchowengerdtKurtis J. ThomeUniversity of MarylandPaul E. DavisSamuel N. GowardU. S. Geological SurveyLori A. BaerEric W. ConstanceGeorge Y.E. LeeKevin W. PatrickJeff L. SloanGregory I. SnyderGregory L. Stensaas

Awards at SSC

Group Achievement AwardSSC Association for Cultural Awareness

Group Achievement AwardFluid Component Processing Facility Team

Group Achievement AwardIntegrated Powerhead Demonstrator Team

PAGE 14 OASIS FALL 2004

Group Achievement AwardJoint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation Team

Group Achievement AwardOutsourcing Desktop Information for NASA

Minimum Essential Infrastructure Team

Group Achievement AwardPublic Health Applications of Earth Sciences Program Team

Group Achievement AwardSite for Online Learning and Resources

Environmental Management System Project Team

Audio/Visual and Video ProductionServices Team

NASADavid E. WaltersLockheed Martin Stennis OperationsSamuel R. CookseyLindsey L. ThornhillKarl H. WilcoxOologah Technologies Inc.Jack T. AllenPhilip H. HartShelby F. RussellJoe M. StewartWilliam T. StewartDenise L. Woods

\Integrated Powerhead DemonstratorTeam

NASADavid W. BurrisGregory C. CarmoucheDavid J. CooteLaurence de QuayRebecca E. DeschampLionel J. DutreixReginald B. EllisBruce R. FarnerLawrence H. Haselmaier Sr. (IPA)Bartt J. HebertRandolph R. HollandMelissa M. HugginsScott L. JensenBridget A. JonesDonald E. KellyJoseph W. LacherJeffrey W. LottThomas O. MeredithMichael P. NicholsWayne L. North IIScott M. OliveJohn S. PaceShamim A. RahmanNickey G. RainesAmy M. RiceDavid E. RobertsHarry M. RyanJared P. SassKarma K. SnyderSteven A. TaylorPeter V. TranMaury A. VanderRichard K. WitcherBoeing Gregory W. ByrdOlen L. HargettPaul B. MillerBrian R. SprolesHenry L. WalthallHernandez Engineering Inc.Bryan P. VieagesLockheed Martin Space OperationsFrederick K. Abell Jr. Alan F. AldermanKeenan N. Ancalade

Henry J. BakkerTurner C. BrownDennis M. ButtsGregory K. Conn Sr.Robert S. DrackettWilliam Fowler Jr. Rogers S. GipsonBrianne C. GuillotJames A. HessePetter J. HobgoodSusan H. KellerKaren A. KennedyTravis D. KennedyJody D. LadnerRichard O. LadnerJames H. Landrum IIJulia F. LewisCurtis A. LockwoodBruce E. MatthewsKenneth L. MorganRobert J. MorganKevin L. NecaiseRandy L. Overton Alex PagnuttiStephen A. PerkinsStephen E. RoseVernon RileyMichael A. Saucier Michael E. SladePaul D. SmithRaymond J. WilliamsMississippi Space ServicesKenneth A. BroomJonathan C. DickeyWillie C. JohnsonFrank J. LorussoRobbie D. Miller Jr.

Fluid Component ProcessingFacility Team

NASAMary R. ByrdLaurence de QuayBruce R. FarnerMelissa P. Ferguson Stanley G. GillAndrew C. HolguinSamuel D. McCartyStanley C. WarrenRichard K. WitcherDefense Contract Management AgencyJohn J. BaroneJames E. GossettMichael F. HillBenjamin I. WilderMississippi Space ServicesDavid S. Alston Kelly L. AustinJohn BomholdNicholas P. ColemanWilliam J. Davis Jr.Linda C. DavisDouglas G. Dike

See AWARDS, Page 15

AWARDSContinued from Page 13

FALL 2004 OASIS PAGE 15

Duane P. DonnerWillie J. EllisJames R. FreemanDaniel H. GurneckJerry L. HannaLeslie G. HannaKenneth B. HawkinsDavid W. HodgeMichael W. HodgeAnthony J. JacksonNathaniel I. JewellRichard R. LadnerEiler P. Lichtenstein IIICynthia A. MaurigiMark A. MillsBryant H. QuaveTal S. RaboteauThomas M. RichBobby J. Rodriguez Jr.Bobby J. Rodriguez Sr.Charles F. SmithWilliam C. Spansel Jr.Ike J. Stewart

Site for Online Learning andResources Environmental

Management System Project TeamNASACarolyn D. KennedySarah E. Luster (former)Lockheed Martin Space OperationsGerard E. LedetSean S. Labat

Outsourcing Desktop Information forNASA Minimum Essential

Infrastructure TeamLockheed Martin Space OperationsJames R. Allgood William B. BrumfieldWilliam N. DeDeauxWilliam R. DyeKaren A. EkeyDavid L. GreerZackery J. GrimesJeanne B. HoffmannMarshall C. HollowayWilbert Johnson

NASA Space Flight AwarenessLeadership Award

BoeingMichael E. McDaniel

Length of Service Awards25 Years Service

James T. BevisRobert C. Bruce Jr.Samuel D. McCartyGerald R. MeeksBruce A. Spiering

30 Years ServiceJanet M. AustillLarry F. Bland (former)Gregory Fletcher Robert J. HeitzmannDonald E. Kelly

35 YearsTerence T. Bordelon

Director’s Certificate of AppreciationJohn A. WilsonJohn D. WilliamsTommie H. StatenPeer Recognition Award-Safety AwardRichard W. Harris

Special Recognition AwardsLegal Team Honor Awards Program

Ethics Team and Columbia Field Team Sandra M. Wozniak

NASA Group Achievement AwardCompetency Management System TeamDorsie Jones

NASA Invention and ContributionsBoard (ICB) Awards

ICB Board Action AwardsPlant Chlorophyll Content Meter

NASABruce A. SpieringUniversity of Southern MississippiGregory Carter

Direct-to-Disk High-Speed DataAcquisition System

BoeingPaul M. Lagarde Jr.

NASA Tech Briefs AwardsStrain Gage System and Method to

Measure Tank Fluid MassNASAJorge F. FigueroaWilliam W. St. CyrLockheed Martin Space OperationsLester A. Langford

William M. MitchellDavid B. Van DykeGregory P. McVay

Application Research ToolboxNASAVicki M. ZanoniLockheed Martin Space OperationsRandall K. GreerGerald E. Gasser Jr.Jeffery A. RussellSlawomir S. BlonskiRobert E. Ryan

NASA Invention and ContributionsBoard Awards

Automated Electrostatics EnvironmentalChamber

NASAAubri C. Buchanan – awarded byKennedy Space Center

Base Environmental ManagementSystem

Lockheed Martin Space OperationsCharlie W. MatherneChristopher A. Callac

Simulation-Based Cost ModelLockheed Martin Space OperationsCarolyn L. Smith

Generalized Computer-BasedComputation of Venturi and Orifice

Pressure Drops NASALaurence de Quay

AWARDSContinued from Page 14

SSC scientist receives Presidential award

Dr. Carlos Del Castillo of Slidell, La.,is one of three NASA-funded scientistswho received the Presidential Early CareerAwards for Scientists and Engineers(PECASE) Sept. 9 at the White House.

Del Castillo, an aerospace technicianwith the Applied Sciences Directorate atNASA Stennis Space Center, will soon

complete a one-year assignment withNASA’s Ocean Biology andBiogeochemistry Program in Washington,D.C.

He received the award for his researchproposal, “Carbon Transport by theMississippi River Plume.”

The National Science and TechnologyCouncil (NSTC) awards represent thehighest honor bestowed by the U.S. gov-ernment on scientists and engineers begin-ning their independent careers. They rec-ognize recipients’ exceptional potential forleadership at the frontiers of scientificknowledge. The NSTC only bestows thePECASE award to an individual once dur-ing his or her career.

“NASA is honored to have such prom-ising researchers among our ranks of pio-neers,” said NASAAdministrator SeanO’Keefe. “It is the work of these talentedindividuals and others that will propel us

forward to carry out our exploration ofEarth and the universe beyond.”

The PECASE awards were created tofoster innovative and far-reaching devel-opments in science and technology,increase awareness of careers in scienceand engineering, give recognition to thescientific missions of participating agen-cies, enhance connections between funda-mental research and national goals, and tohighlight the importance of science andtechnology for the nation’s future. Therecipients receive funding for their proj-ects.

For information about the PECASEawards on the Internet, visit:

http://www.ostp.gov/html/pecase2002.html

For information about NASA and pho-tos of the award ceremony on the Internet,visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

Carlos Del Castillo

National Aeronautics andSpace Administration

PRESORTED STANDARDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDNEW ORLEANS LAPERMIT NO. 2877

From 230 miles above Earth, Hurricane Ivan was photographed from the International Space Station, a portion of which is visible in the upper right corner. Astronaut MikeFincke snapped the photo as Ivan churned in the Gulf of Mexico on Sept. 14. At the time, Ivan was a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph. Fincke, the NASAStation Science Officer, and Station Commander Gennady Padalka completed a six-month mission aboard the space station in October.

OASIS is published quarterly by theNASA Office of External Affairs –

Public Affairs at John C. Stennis Space Center.Comments, suggestions or story

recommendations should be forwarded to:

NASA Public Affairs OfficeAttn: OASIS

Mail Code IA10Building 1100, Room 306

Stennis Space Center, MS 39529

or call:(228) 688-3333

www.ssc.nasa.gov

ASISASISOCEAN AIR SPACE INDUSTRY SITE

PAGE 16 OASIS FALL 2004

John C. Stennis Space CenterStennis Space Center, MS 39529

Official BusinessPenalty for Private Use $300

A view from above . . .