Apr 14 2010
From The Space Library
MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-004
NASA BRIEFINGS TO PREVIEW YEAR'S FIRST SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION RESCHEDULED
HOUSTON -- The news briefings to preview the year's first space shuttle mission have been rescheduled to Friday, Jan. 29, at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA Television and the agency's Web site will broadcast the briefings live. Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA locations. The series of briefings will focus on shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 mission to deliver the final module of the U.S. portion of the International Space Station. The briefings have been rescheduled to allow more analysis of engineering data from the test of high-pressure ammonia jumper hose assemblies that failed during a prelaunch test last week. The results will determine if there will be any impact to the shuttle mission. Teams continue to work toward a target launch of Feb. 7. Previously submitted requests from reporters for credentials to attend the briefings, or to participate in round-robin interviews with an STS-130 astronaut, will be adjusted for the new date and do not need to be resubmitted. Reporters who have not requested credentials and are planning to attend the briefings in Houston must contact the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. CST, on Jan. 21. Endeavour's six astronauts will be available for interviews at Johnson. New requests to reserve an interview slot should be submitted to Gayle Frere at 281-483-8645 by Jan. 21. The updated schedule of briefings (all times CST) is: 8 a.m. - STS-130 Video B-Roll feed 9 a.m. - STS-130 Mission Overview Briefing 10:30 a.m. - STS-130 Spacewalk Overview Briefing 11:30 a.m. - NASA TV Video File 1 p.m. - Crew News Conference For NASA TV streaming video, schedules, and downlink information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv For the latest information about the STS-130 mission and its crew, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle For the latest information on the space station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station
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RELEASE: 10-031
NASA ADMINISTRATOR NAMES BRAUN NASA CHIEF TECHNOLOGIST
WASHINGTON -- NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden named Robert D. Braun the agency's Chief Technologist, effective Wednesday, Feb. 3. Braun serves as the principle advisor and advocate on matters concerning agency-wide technology policy and programs. The appointment comes as NASA launches a bold new initiative that targets technologies that could be transformational in their ability to improve the capability, reduce the cost, and expand the reach of future human and robotic missions. "Bobby brings expert knowledge of spacecraft, robotic and planetary exploration technology development to this new position, Bolden said. His experience working at NASA Langley and in the academic community brings an excellent skill mix to this exciting and challenging new job. Braun will help develop a broadly focused advanced concepts and technology development program leading to new approaches to future NASA missions and solutions to significant national needs. During the coming decade, NASA will increase its support for research in advanced concepts and critical enabling technologies, including test programs for multiple technology flight demonstrations. New technologies include advanced lightweight structures and materials, advanced propulsion, power generation, energy storage and high bandwidth communications. This program also will generate spin-off technologies and potentially entire new industries. Braun has more than 20 years experience performing design and analysis of planetary exploration systems as a member of the technical staff at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., and the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research has focused on systems aspects of planetary exploration, where he has contributed to the design, development, test, and operation of several robotic space flight systems. Braun was a member of the Mars Pathfinder design and landing operations team from 1992 to 1997 and has been part of development teams for the Mars Microprobe, Mars Sample Return and Mars Surveyor 2001 projects. Braun also provided independent assessment and served on NASA review boards for the Mars Polar Lander, Mars Odyssey, Mars Exploration Rover, Phoenix Mars Scout, Genesis, and Mars Science Laboratory flight projects. Braun received a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Penn State in 1987, M.S. in Astronautics from the George Washington University in 1989, and Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University in 1996. He has received the 1999 AIAA Lawrence Sperry Award, two NASA Exceptional Achievement Medals, two NASA Inventions and Contributions Team Awards, and seven NASA Group Achievement Awards. He is an AIAA Fellow and the principle author or co-author of over 175 technical publications.
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CONTRACT RELEASE: C10-012
NASA EXTENDS JOHNSON SAFETY AND MISSION ASSURANCE CONTRACT
WASHINGTON -- NASA has exercised a $60 million, one-year extension option for a contract with Science Applications International Corporation of Houston to provide support to safety and mission assurance activities at the agency's Johnson Space Center. The Safety and Mission Assurance Support Services contract helps ensure safety, reliability, maintainability and quality in the International Space Station, space shuttle and Constellation programs. The cost-plus-award-fee contract option that has been exercised continues services from May 1, 2010, through April 30, 2011. Work under the contract will be performed at Johnson, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. Significant subcontractors in the work include Futron Corp. of Bethesda, Md.; GHG of Houston; M.H. Chew of Livermore, Calif.; URS - Washington Division of Princeton, N.J.; Management Technology Associates of Huntsville, Ala.; J&P Technologies and JES Tech, both of Houston; SoHaR Incorporated of Culver City, Calif.; and Texas Southern University of Houston.
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RELEASE: 10-013
NASA REVEALS NEW BATCH OF SPACE PROGRAM ARTIFACTS
WASHINGTON -- NASA is inviting eligible education institutions, museums and other organizations to examine and request space program artifacts online. The items represent significant human space flight technologies, processes and accomplishments from NASA's past and present space exploration programs. NASA partnered with the General Services Administration to provide a first-of-its-kind, Web-based, electronic artifacts prescreening capability last year. On Oct. 1, 2009, the GSA launched a Web initiative for screening and requesting NASA's space shuttle artifacts. The first round ended Nov. 30, and all 913 artifacts were allocated. A second Web-based screening opportunity begins Tuesday. It includes approximately 2,500 potential artifacts from NASA programs that include the space shuttle, Hubble Space Telescope, Apollo, Mercury, and Gemini. It is available at: http://gsaxcess.gov/NASAWel.htm Each artifact will be screened for 90 days. After the screening period closes, and at the completion of the allocation process, requestors will be notified about the status of their request. Museums and schools will be screened for eligibility through an online registration process or through their state agency for surplus property. Eligible recipients may view the available artifacts and request specific items at the Web site. Prescreening allows potential recipients to identify specific items and provides the time to plan to transport, preserve and properly display artifacts. Requesting an artifact through the prescreening process does not guarantee the item will be available. Nor does it provide a specific time when it will become available. Allocated artifacts will be incrementally released as they are no longer needed by NASA and in accordance with export control laws and regulations. Although the artifacts are provided without charge, eligible recipients must cover shipping and any special handling costs. Shipping fees on smaller items will be relatively inexpensive, while larger items may involve extensive disassembly, preparation, shipping and reassembly costs. NASA will work closely with potential recipients, on a case-by-case basis, to address any unique special handling costs.
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CONTRACT RELEASE: C10-003
NASA EXTENDS JOHNSON AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE CONTRACT
HOUSTON -- NASA will exercise a one-year extension option for a contract with Computer Science Corporation of Fort Worth, Texas, to provide aircraft maintenance and modification support. The extension is valued at $58 million. The Aircraft Maintenance and Modification Program contract provides for the continuity of services for flight line; intermediate and depot level maintenance; repairs; and modifications and engineering support on aircraft. The aircraft supported are operated at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston; NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif.; and NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. The aircraft are used for astronaut crew training and NASA flight research. Work under the contract is performed at Johnson, Dryden and Langley, as well as NASA facilities in El Paso, Texas. The option exercised on the cost-plus-award-fee contract begins March 1, 2010, and will continue to Feb. 28, 2011. Qualified Technical Services, Inc. of Houston is a significant subcontractor for the work.
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MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-071
NASA HOSTS WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS NEW EXPLORATION STRATEGIES
WASHINGTON -- NASA will host an Exploration Enterprise Workshop in Galveston, Texas, on May 25-26 to discuss the agency's new plans for human and robotic exploration in space. The event will focus on President Obama's fiscal year 2011 budget request for NASA's exploration activities. Representatives from industry, academia, and the federal government have been invited to discuss strategy, development, and implementation of the proposed new direction. NASA has completed the initial phase of planning for new exploration programs. The workshop's objectives are to: Provide status of planning for the new programs Discuss proposed program assignments Solicit feedback, ideas and suggestions Prepare for next steps after the new programs are initiated. The meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT on both days, at the Moody Gardens Conference Center, One Hope Boulevard in Galveston, Texas. There will be open briefings for news media on May 25. To attend, interested parties must register online at: http://www.aiaa.org/events/NASAworkshop Registration is limited to 400 people and closes at 4:30 pm EDT on Monday, May 17. In addition to registering online, media interested in attending the open briefings should contact Ashley Edwards at 202-358-1756 or ashley.edwards-1@nasa.gov.
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