May 30 News Items

Legendary Astronauts Offer Unforgettable Experiences in Online Auction (Source: ASF)
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) has published an online catalog for its Fifth Annual Auction of Astronaut Experiences and Memorabilia. Beginning May 31, space fans can bid on once-in-a-lifetime adventures with famed Astronauts and vie for the chance to win some of the most sought-after space artifacts – those that have been to the Moon! Auctioned experiences will include: Dive in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin; Throw out the first pitch at a Houston Astros game with Apollo 13 Commander James Lovell; Host a private dinner party with Moonwalker Charlie Duke; and others. Auctioned memorabilia will include a U.S. flag that landed on the Moon, and an Apollo 13 patch flown to the Moon with Lovell. Registration is now open at http://www.AstronautScholarship.org/Auction.pl. proceeds will go directly to fund scholarships for exceptional science and engineering students nationwide.

NASA Managers Mull Shuttle Engine Issue (Source: Florida Today)
A potential shuttle main engine problem that could trigger a catastrophic failure in flight will be discussed by NASA managers during a flight readiness review for the upcoming launch of shuttle Atlantis, but liftoff likely will remain set for June 8. Among topics on the agenda for an upcoming Flight Readiness Review: a potential problem with bolts that hold low-pressure turbopumps in their housings within the shuttle's three liquid-fueled main engines. Engineers uncovered evidence that sleeve-like inserts the bolts are screwed into could be be corroded. If so, the inserts and the bolts could come loose, triggering a potentially catastrophic leak of liquid oxygen in flight. But it appears that the silver-plated inserts on Atlantis' engines are not old enough to have rusted. Moreover, boroscope inspections showed the bolts appear to be in good condition.

Soyuz Launches Four Globalstar Satellites (Source: SpaceToday.net)
A Russian Soyuz rocket placed four Globalstar replacement satellites into low Earth orbit from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan. The satellites are spares that were manufactured at the same time as the original constellation, launched between 1998 and 2000, but were placed in ground storage until now. The satellites will augment the existing constellation, some of whose satellites have suffered from degrading performance in the S-band amplifiers, reducing their effectiveness. A second launch of four spare satellites is planned for this summer. A second generation of Globalstar satellites is under development by Thales Alenia Space, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the second half of 2009.

Air Force Tackles Range Improvement Challenges at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: USAF)
The 45th Space Wing is pursuing increased efficiency in the areas of Eastern Range safety and scheduling under an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century (AFSO21) initiative. The program aims to: achieve greater utilization of the Range Automated Tasking System; better define roles and responsibilities in the wing's anomaly resolution process; better utilize technology to witness ordnance installation (with enhanced acknowlement of ordnance program maturity); and redefine how procedures are reviewed and how the wing conducts local witnessing.

"Key to AFSO21 is understanding that we're not conducting drills to eliminate jobs," General Susan Helms explained. "We're looking for efficiencies to reduce costs so we can free up resources to help the Air Force with its priorities of recapitalizing and modernizing our air and space systems...I'm highly encouraged by the great preliminary work our AFSO21 teams have done...Secretary Wynne challenged us to improve the launch process, and we're going to deliver."

Girls to Explore Math and Science at Embry-Riddle Summer Camp (Source: ERAU)
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is sponsoring a GEMS (Girls Exploring Math & Science) Summer Camp at its Daytona Beach campus July 9-13. The camp runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day and is open to all girls ages 8-13, with special discounts and badges for Girl Scouts. The camp’s directors are Dr. Joanne Detore-Nakamura, an Assistant Professor of Communication and Humanities at Embry-Riddle, and Dr. Pamela Loughmiller, a National Science Foundation Post-Doc Research Fellow in Space Physics. Girls attending the program will learn about chemistry by making lip gloss, ice cream, and slime; aerodynamics by making hot-air balloons and water rockets; meteorology by pretending to be newscasters in front of a green screen and learning about weather; aviation by flying using a computer simulator; aerospace engineering by making water rockets and egg carriers; GPS location while scavenger hunting; mathematics by solving puzzles, making salsa, and creating proportional art; and space exploration by watching IMAX films and creating a Mars colony with arts and crafts materials. Visit http://www.erau.edu/db/summer/gems.html for information.