America’s gateway to the universe. Leading the world in preparing and launching missions to Earth and beyond.

September 25, 1998

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Vol. 37, No. 19

Spaceport News

On the move? Keep Spaceport Newscoming to your door! If you’rea retiree and have recentlychanged your address, be sureto let us know. Send writtennotification of your new (andformer) address and effectivedate to: Kathy McIntosh,NASA/John F. Kennedy SpaceCenter, Att’n: HM-A-3/KathyMcIntosh, Kennedy SpaceCenter, FL 32899. Otherwise, if you work atKSC, send your new locationby mail to Spaceport NewsAddress Change, ATS.

Remembering Return to Flight:

(See Decade, Page 4)

The year was 1988. It was atime that would long be remem-bered by Kennedy Space Centerworkers as the year they helped putAmerica back into space. The September launch ofDiscovery that year occasioned arenewed sense of pride andaccomplishment among KSCemployees. With the followingDecember launch of Atlantis, areawakened confidence inthemselves and the Space Shuttleprogram helped usher in the dawnof a new era. The road back to space was aformidable, often frustrating task asShuttle and payload teams wrestledwith reviewing and rewritingprocedures, upgrading andinspecting equipment and facilities,reassessing safety criteria andretraining personnel. What has happened as a result inthe past 10 years? “We became smarter in theimplementation of requirements,”according to KSC Director ofShuttle Operations Bob Sieck.

Development The orbiter tile system is anexample cited by Sieck thatdemonstrates how KSC hasevolved. In the early days ofReturn-to-Flight, onlookers couldeasily see scaffolding surroundingthe launch pad as tile techniciansand inspectors worked diligently onthermal protection system tile asthe orbiter was on the pad. “The requirements today havenot changed significantly fromwhat they were back then,” Siecksaid, “but our ability to accomplishrequirements on the thermal pro-tection system has been greatlyenhanced. “We found ways to meetrequirements by using technologysuch as laser step and gap tools,

The Space Shuttle Discoverylaunches from Pad 39B onSept. 29, 1988, as STS-26embarks on a four-daymission, marking America’sreturn to space.

A decade has passed sincethe Olympics were in Seoul,South Korea; since GeorgeBush debated MichaelDukakis before the Novemberpresidential elections; andsince Americans witnessedtheir nation’s historic Returnto Flight more than two yearsfollowing the Challengeraccident. Not only did KSC workershelp put America back intospace, reviving the spirit of acountry after a heartbreakingsetback, but they made Shuttlelaunches appear routine. KSC workers continuallymade history by putting themost scientifically andtechnologically advancedpayloads into space (Galileo,the Hubble Space Telescopeand the Gamma Ray Observa-tory, to name but a few);broke their own records(Columbia processed forreflight in 56 workdays in theOPF); and charted a coursefor the future by processingand launching the upgradedShuttle for Mir dockingsand soon the InternationalSpace Station. Ten years have passed inthe blink of an eye, paving theway for dreams of a new erain space history.

A decade of determination, development and discovery

CFC kicks off October 1 The 1998 KSC CombinedFederal Campaign (CFC) willofficially open with a kick-offrally in the Training Auditor-ium at 9 a.m. on Oct. 1 andwill run through Oct. 31. Thetheme this year is “TouchSomebody’s Life.” The goal of this year’s CFCis $210,000, which is a fivepercent increase over lastyear’s goal. A web site is already active

to provide you with informationon how your past and currentcontributions are touchingpeoples’ lives. Through the site, located athttp://ap03.ksc.nasa.gov/CFC/ orthrough the link provided onKSC’s internal page, you can findout who your directoraterepresentative is, read about localsuccess stories, check outfrequently asked questions andanswers, and more!

SPACEPORT NEWS September 25, 1998Page 2

Rechea Hutchinson

source.” According to Iannello, theproposed power converter wouldnot only have low input distortion,but has the potential to reduce heatlosses through increased efficiency. This in turn promises smallerweight and size. Further, the converter promisesto be more reliable and have alonger life as a result.

Putting FIRST things first For the first time,Kennedy Space Center willhost a For Inspiration andRecognition of Science andTechnology (FIRST) roboticscompetition at the KSCVisitor Complex Mar. 4-6,1999. This also will be thepremier FIRST regionalcompetition held in thesoutheastern United States. FIRST is a non-profitorganization that strives tocreate a world where scienceand technology arecelebrated. “FIRST is where kids thinkscience is cool,” commentedKSC Director Roy Bridges,“and they dream of becomingscience and technology heros.FIRST’s vision is to combinethe efforts of high schools,universities, government,businesses and privateindustry by forming teamsthat will provide students witha hands-on, inside-look atengineering and otherprofessional careers.” For the competition, teamswill be provided with a kit ofmaterials and have six weeksto complete the challengingtask of designing, manu-facturing, assembling and

testing a robot that willcompete in athletic-liketournaments and regional andnational levels. FIRSTannually sponsors severalrobotics competitionsattracting more than 10,000people. “This event at KennedySpace Center will be open toevery team in the nation thatwants to participate,” notedBridges, “and is expected tobring more than 3,000 peopleto KSC.” Most of the teams havemajor sponsors, such asNASA, but the event alsoneeds volunteers and localsponsors. “I encourage all NASApersonnel, contractor staffand the Central Floridacommunity to join andprovide support in sponsor-ship of this event to ensure itssuccess,” said Bridges. “Weshould all help to exposeyoung minds to valuablecareer opportunities as wellas to heighten their aware-ness of the importance of thespace program.” For more information or tovolunteer, contact EduardoLopez at 867-8005.

Safety tip: Avoid shocking experiences;Replace damaged cords.

Arthur Stephenson named to head MSFC Arthur Stephenson, president ofOceaneering Advanced Tech-nologies, Houston, was named tobecome the next director ofNASA’s Marshall Space FlightCenter, Huntsville, Ala. Stephenson has more than 30years experience as a manager inspacecraft and high technologysystems. NASA Administrator DanielGoldin said that Stephenson “willmake sure this Agency has the bestlaunch and in-space propulsioncapabilities and technical tools inthe world.”

During his 34-year career,Stephenson worked on a variety ofprograms related to Marshall’sactivities, including the OrbitalManeuvering Vehicle in the 1970sand 1980s, the Gamma RayObservatory, automated rendezvousand docking and the space weldinginspection EVA tool. Stephenson began his careerdesigning digital test equipment forProject Apollo. He progressed to management ofspacecraft subsystems, then entirespacecraft and ultimately entirelaunch vehicles.

Hutchinson named industrial relations officeradvice and assistance on laborrelations and labor law matters. Hutchinson joined KSC in 1980as a contract administrator in theConstruction AdministrationBranch of the Procurement Office.In 1988, she transferred to theProcurement Office’s Equipmentand ADP Branch as a contractspecialist. She returned to theConstruction AdministrationBranch in 1991 as the contractingofficer and lead of the procurementteam responsible for the SpaceStation Processing Facility con-struction contract. In April 1995,Hutchinson became a lead inProcurement’s Engineering SupportOffice. Before joining KSC, sheworked for the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers and Defense ContractAdministration Services.

Rechea Hutchinson has beennamed KSC’s new industrialrelations officer, serving asprincipal advisor and consultant tocenter management on matterspertaining to industrial relations. Inthis position, Hutchinson plans andadministers the center’s LaborRelations Program. Her officeserves as the center focal point for

An electrifying proposal NASA has selected 25 researchproposals for negotiation of Phase Icontract awards for NASA’s 1998Small Business TechnologyTransfer (STTR) Program. One ofthose proposals concerns powerdistribution at NASA. For the most efficient use ofpower, the shape of voltageand current waveformsshould be as closelymatched as possible,according to KSC’sPower/UPS SystemEngineer Chris Iannello,who wrote the proposal. “In most AC/DCsystems at KSC they arenot,” he said. “Wherethere are gaps, largeamounts of current harmonicdistortion are injected throughoutthe power distribution system. Thetraditional approach is to filter orisolate it, but with our proposal wewould eliminate the problem at the

by Anita Barrett In Phase I of the project, whichruns October 1998 through October1999, the intent is to conduct afeasibility study aimed at building acost-effective prototype — a con-verter that could replace portablecomputer and/or rack-mountedpower supplies.

Iannello said that initially thestudy would focus on groundsupport equipment such ashardware interface devicepower supplies or orbiterpower supplies. Phase II would focus oncommercialization; that is,manufacturing the con-verter. And finally, Phase III

would involve funding theimplementation within KSC.

“The proposal,” said Iannello,“furthers the KSC Road Mapinitiative to provide cutting edgeenergy reduction techniques andpractices.” The proposal promises toevaluate the latest research inthe field to produce a converteron the cutting edge of currentscience. The STTR Program is designedto stimulate technological innova-tion, help small businesses becomebetter-qualified to assist NASA inits research and development andincrease private commercializa-tion of federally funded research.

SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3September 25, 1998

KSC employees chip in elbow grease for Days of Caring

The 1998 Days of Caring project was a greatsuccess for Kennedy Space Center and espe-cially for some grateful senior citizens of BaxleyManor, a building of low-income apartments. On Sept. 11 and 12, about 170 NASA andcontractor employees participated in thecenterwide project at Baxley Manor located onMerritt Island. A cleanup crew prepared the rooms forpainting by moving furniture, preparing wallsand covering personal items, then a Prep Teamwashed walls, repaired holes and began cut-inpainting. The Paint Team painted walls, whilethe Customer Service Team supported team

leaders with other small repair andcleaning jobs. Additional KSCworkers provided companionshipto the residents during the commo-tion of the day. The majority of the “wish lists”that the residents had preparedwere accomplished and includedeverything from painting, spack-ling, cleaning, waxing floors,washing windows, vacuuming,washing curtains, cooking lunch,and escorting the residents. A total of 34 units were paintedand 27 cleaned, as well as thehallways and stairways, whichwere repaired and painted. Oversight for the project wasprovided by the Brevard CountyHousing Authority and supplieswere furnished by Prevent! ofBrevard. Prevent! also providedbreakfast and lunch for thevolunteers on both days. A total of 68 NASA andcontractor employees supportedvarious other United Way projects,such as Meals on Wheels, Central

Brevard Sharing Center, Crosswinds, Commu-nity Services Council, Women’s Center, andYellow Umbrella, to name a few. Days of Caringis one of many community outreach endeavorsof which KSC’s Community Relations Councilis proud to be a part. Each person’s name whovolunteered will have his or her name appear inFlorida Today as a special ‘thank you’ forparticipating. If you have questions about this project orother ways you can get involved through KSC’sCommunity Relations Council, contact LizOsborne at 867-4388 or Carol Cavanaugh at867-2363.

Cheryle Makocleaned areasfor painting atBaxley Manorduring KSC’s

Days ofCaring.

KSC workers helped clean and prepare Baxley Manor apartments on Merritt Island for painting Sept. 11 and 12.

Irene Long, M.D., director ofKSC’s Biomedical Office, waspresented with the 1998 OutstandingAchievement Award by Women inAerospace Sept. 23 at the RayburnHouse Office Building on Capitol Hillin Washington, DC. The award recognizes Dr. Long’scontribution to the fields of aerospaceand occupational medicine, lifesciences research, environmentalhealth and operational managementof life sciences support facilities. Women in Aerospace is a nonprofit,professional society dedicated toexpanding women’s opportunities forleadership and to increasing theirvisibility in the aerospace community. In a career where she has risensteadily to a position of seniormanagement in the U.S. spaceprogram, Dr. Long is a role model forwomen embarking on careers inmedicine and the aerospace sciences. As director of biomedical opera-tions at the center, she has encouragedpeople working in her office to pursueadvanced education and opportunitiesfor self-development. Dr. Long has made many contribu-tions to aerospace education. Among them, she is active in thecenter’s educational outreach agendaand is one of the founders of theSpace Life Sciences Training Pro-gram. The program introduces collegestudents to the field of Space LifeSciences and also aims to increasethe number of women and minoritiesin science and related fields.

Long honored with Womenin Aerospace award

Irene Long, M.D.

SPACEPORT NEWS September 25, 1998Page 4

Decade ...(Continued from Page 1)computerizing our logged reports and usingtechnicians to disposition standard repairanomalies post-flight — essentially reducingworkload so we have a more efficient processtoday,” he said. “The requirements didn’t change; we stillwant a thermal protection system that’s top-notch and that protects our national resource, butwe’re implementing those requirements a lotdifferently with visible results,” Sieck explained.“That’s one example of many across KSC where

Then Lockheed Space Operation Company technician Kristin Pisulagazes upon toughened uni-piece fibrous insulation tiles tested onShuttle Endeavour during the STS-59 mission.

STS-37 Mission Specialist Jerry Ross peers into Atlantis’ cabin. He joined Jay Apt inthe payload bay to accomplish a repair task on the Gamma Ray Observatory.

A decadeof human

space flighthas allowed us

to see ourselvesin a different light.

Song titles and self-help books allude to this planet, but only Magellan,the first planetary probe deployed from the orbiter (STS-30), gave usimages of Venus like this.

Returning from STS-94, the orbiter Columbia’s tiles are inspected by then KSCShuttle Launch Director James Harrington, left, with Director of Shuttle OperationsBob Sieck and, at right, Center Director Roy Bridges, KSC’s seventh center director.

the government/contractor team hasimproved the process.” Other visible results over the years haveincluded the evolution and expansion offacilities around the spaceport. Construc-tion crews rebuilt the 40-foot-wide, seven-foot-deep crawlerway in 1993 — the firsttime the route was ever completelyrefurbished. Three years prior, during therollout of the Space Shuttle Columbia toPad 39-A for the launch of STS-35 inApril, crawler-transporter number 2 passedthe 1,000-mile landmark. Other landmarks well known to the

public were also added inthe past decade. TheCenter for SpaceEducation, the SpaceMirror, the Saturn Vfacility, the Space Stationexhibit facility, thelaunch pads observationgantry and the building ofthe orbiter Endeavour

were all completed over the past 10 years. Less well known by the public, yet critical to flight processing, are theOrbiter Processing Facility Bay 3, the Payload Canister Rotation Facility,the Operations Support Building, the new Payload Spin Test Facility, theProcessing Control Center, the Hazardous Processing Facility, the SpaceStation Processing Facility and the Space Shuttle Main Engine Processing

SPACEPORT NEWSSeptember 25, 1998 Page 5

At left, the crew of STS-71pose for the traditional, yetunconventional, inflightportrait with the Mir-18 and-19 crews. This photo wasmade possible by U.S.-Russian collaboration in theInternational Space Stationprogram and by theflexibility and ingenuity ofShuttle workers to redesignthe orbiter to dock with Mir.Below, then ShuttleOperations Mgr. LorenShriver demonstrates adifferent type of flexibilityand endurance as he liftshigh the Olympic torch,having carried the flame toLaunch Pad 39A. He wasone of several runners whocarried the torch 20 milesaround KSC. Behind him isAtlantis, poised for STS-79.

Columbia inches toward space, arriving at Pad 39B forSTS-62. Workers spent most of 1993 stripping, reinforcingand rebuilding the road that carries the 17-million-pluspound load. The work of 1993 marked the first time thecrawlerway was completely refurbished since 1965, whenit was built to support the Saturn V rocket.

Below, the STS-60 crew plant a tree in May 1994 betweenHeadquarters and the Training Auditorium honoring theRussian tradition of planting a tree after a spaceflight.Mission Specialist Sergei Krikalev, in the foreground, wasthe first cosmonaut to fly on the U.S. Space Shuttle,paving the way for nine joint U.S.-Russian missions.

Workers celebrate hoisting the last steel structural beamfor the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) in thespring of 1992. Opening its doors for operation two yearslater, the SSPF began processing components for theInternational Space Station before their launch into space,where the station will be observed from the ground asone of the brightest objects in the night sky.

Facility — all of which did not exist 10 yearsago.

Determination KSC workers forged ahead from processingand launching two Shuttles in 1988 to a high ofeight launches in 1997, one of which wasunscheduled in the original launch manifest. From the beginning, it was a test of the mettleof KSC workers. Flying on the orbiter Columbiain 1990 were no fewer than 250 modificationssince early 1986, in addition to the first tileproduced at KSC. A record number of launchdelays on STS-36 that same year kept engineersand managers on the edge of their seats. Although early in Return-to-Flight, alllandings were scheduled for Edwards Air ForceBase, Calif., an unscheduled yet perfect landing

was made at KSC during STS-38, demonstratingthe ability of the KSC landing crews to preparefor a dramatic touchdown with little notice.Then, in 1991, KSC was scheduled as the primelanding site for several missions — for the firsttime since 1986. That same year, NASAannounced plans to keep orbiters in space forlonger periods of time; Columbia, with its newcapacity for extended flight, was the first to fly aplanned 13-day, 19-hour mission in 1992. The first night landing at KSC (STS-51)occurred the next year, thanks to enhancementsmade at the Shuttle Landing Facility in 1992.These included beefing up the shoulders,replacing the runway lights and adding conduitfor future electrical needs.

Many primary payloads made their secondand even third flights on the Shuttle in 1994,demonstrating the orbiters’ capability as aresearch platform in space. For the first time inthe spaceport’s history, a KSC worker wasnamed an astronaut candidate. Kathryn Hire wasselected in 1994 and flew on STS-90 in 1998.Two other KSC employees, Joan Higginbotham

and Frank Caldeiro, were also later selected as astronautcandidates.

Discovery From STS-26 10 years ago through STS-91 earlier thisyear, the Space Shuttle and its supporting KSC team havemade possible the discovery of countless advances formankind. The Hubble Space Telescope has given theworld a new look at the ‘big picture,’ as the Gamma RayObservatory explored elusive mysteries of the universe.KSC assisted in Mars and Saturn missions, as well asevery planet in the solar system, except Pluto. Welaunched planetary spacecraft such as Magellan andGalileo and were host to innumerable microgravity andlife sciences experiments. One can only marvel, in fact, athow much has been done in such a short time and onlyimagine what the next 10 years and millenium will hold.

SPACEPORT NEWSPage 6 September 25, 1998

Have you ever heard comments about howcool it must be to work at America’s spaceportor field questions on our astronomical missions?Now is the chance to share KSC up close withfamily and friends during the 1998 KSC OpenHouse on Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Among many other KSC and Cape CanaveralAir Station (CCAS) facilities, the new SpaceShuttle Main Engine Processing Facility will beopen to KSC and CCAS badged employees andtheir families. The event is also slated to feature a drive-byof the Space Shuttle Discovery at Launch Pad39B, aircraft at the Shuttle Landing Facility, aspecial viewing of International Space Stationflight hardware via the new International SpaceStation Center and dozens of exhibits anddemonstrations in major facilities throughoutthe center. Other attractions are a special tour package atthe KSC Visitors Complex that will include anexpress bus to the Apollo/Saturn V Center andan IMAX movie and a 25 percent discount on allpurchases at the Visitors Complex stores. The event is being held in celebration ofNASA’s 40th anniversary. The space agency’s first official day ofoperation was Oct. 1, 1958. Just 10 days later,the first NASA-directed launch took place atCape Canaveral from Launch Pad 17A as aThor-Able-1 rocket lifted off Oct. 11 with thePioneer 1 spacecraft onboard. NASA’s Deep Space 1 probe is slated to liftoff from that same pad in October this yearaboard a Delta II expendable launch vehicle. The Open House map and brochure thatdescribes the day’s activities will be delivered toall employees the week of Oct. 5. Information on the event is also available ona Web page at http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/events/1998/openhouse/ . More details about activitiesduring the day will also appear in KSC Count-down and the next issue of Spaceport News.

KSC’s Open House is a blast to the past and a peek into the future

A Thor-Able-1 rocket lifts off fromLaunch Pad 17A at Cape

Canaveral on Oct. 10, 1958 withNASA’s Pioneer 1 spacecraft

onboard. This was the firstlaunch directed by the space

agency after it officially beganoperations on Oct. 1, 1958. The

1998 KSC Employee OpenHouse is being held to celebrate

NASA’s 40th anniversary.

North Carolina State Military Environmental Issues Working Group visits KSC and 45th Space Wing

A subgroup of the North Carolina State Military Environmental Issues Working Group visited KSC Sept. 1.

Interested in how the X-34 program will impact theirairspace and how sonic booms might impact theirsurrounding environment, the Special Use Airspacesubgroup of the North Carolina Environmental IssuesWorking Group visited KSC Sept. 1. The Cherry PointMarine Corps Air Station in North Carolina is proposedas a contingency landing sight for potential missionaborts. Deputy Director of Engineering DevelopmentWarren Wiley welcomed the group, who were treated toa tour after a day of presentations, to KSC and the 45thSpace Wing. Members of KSC’s EnvironmentalProgram and the Future Vehicle and Advanced Programoffices presented information on the X-34 program,Environmental Assessment (EA) process and the natureof KSC’s unique operations and environmentalrequirements. The gathering was part of the EAprocess, which requires public involvement.

SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7September 25, 1998

Silver Snoopies and Space FlightAwareness awards given in August On Aug. 27, astronauts JoeTanner and Heide Piper presentedthe prestigious Silver SnoopyAward to 10 KSC employees. The recipients were:NASA EG&GRonald Schlierf Harry BinderupBoeing Doug DuryeeDoug Holden Ken HooksRocketdyne Irv StennerRalph Aaberg Sue TzareffEnsco, Inc. Tammy WilliamsMark Wheeler

On Aug. 5, BobSieck, KSC’sDirector of ShuttleProcessing, and EdAdameck, USAAssociate Program

Manager,Ground Operations, presented threeSpace Flight Awareness teamawards to the LC-39 Fiber OpticReplacement Team, the FlowPlanning Team and the RPSF CraneRepair Team.

KSC firefighters honored

KSC firefighters were honored Sept. 10 by the Kennedy Labor Management RelationsCouncil (KLMRC) with a plaque commemorating their hard work and dedication fightingFlorida’s flames earlier this year. The photograph on the plaque shows Fire Truck #50,seen here, that assisted the workers in battling raging fires in the heat of this summer’sworst wildfires. Shown here with KSC firefighters are Larry Hall, division manager,Sherikon Space Systems, Inc. (holding plaque at left) and Gary Pritchard, assistantbusiness manager, Sheet Metal Workers, Local Union 15 (fifth from right), both co-chairs of the KLMRC, who presented the award to the firefighting team. Rick English,standing left of Hall, represented KSC’s Labor Relations Office during the presentation. It’s not airmail; it’s space mail!

You can’t yet send a letter tospace, but you can witness historyin the making when the UnitedStates Post Office celebrates itsfirst day issue ceremony for theSpace Discovery commemorativestamps at KSC’s Visitor ComplexOct. 1. The event will take place in theShuttle plaza area at 11 a.m. Theunveiling marks the beginning ofNational Stamp Collecting monthand coincides with NASA’s 40thanniversary. Astronaut Donald Thomas willoffer comments regarding hisinterest in stamp collecting and hisfour missions into space to about

Getting a lift before lifting off for Deep Space

The first stage of Boeing's Delta II rocket, which will be used to launch NASA’sDeep Space 1 spacecraft, arrived at Pad 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Stationon Sept. 11. Targeted for launch in October, this first flight in NASA's New Millennium Program is designed to validate 12new technologies for scientific space missions of the next century.

200 students attending. Two students will share winning essays titled“What Space Will Be in Twenty Years.”

NASA honors outstanding minority contractors NASA recognized threeminority contractors Sept. 23 fortheir exceptional contributionsto the nation’s space program. Dynamac Corporation,Rockville, Md., which won theWoman-Owned Small Businessof the Year Award, wasnominated by KSC. Dynamac provides technicalsupport for KSC’s biologicalresearch and environmentalmonitoring programs, lifescience flight experiments,biomedical operations andAgencywide occupational healthprograms.

Dynamac was founded in1970 by Diana MacArthur,CEO. Symtech Corporation,Alexandria, Va., won NASA’sminority contractor of the year,and Stanford Mu Corporation,Harbor City, Calif., wasminority subcontractor awardee. Awards are given annually tominority contractors who havedemonstrated significantsupport of NASA’s initiatives,but this is the first year thatNASA has included thecategory for a woman-ownedsmall business award.

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Managing editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bruce BuckinghamEditor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Maurer

Editorial support provided by Sherikon Space Systems Inc. Writers Group.NASA at KSC is on the Internet at http://www.ksc.nasa.gov

USGPO: 633-112/80015

Spaceport News

Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center andis published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office in the interest ofKSC civil service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted two weeks beforepublication to the Media Services Branch, AB-F1. E-mail submissions can besent to Susan.Maurer-1@ksc.nasa.gov

SPACEPORT NEWS September 25, 1998Page 8

A worker paints the NASA logo on the port wing of the orbiter Endeavour, scheduled tolaunch in December for mission STS-88. The paint is a special pigment that takes 18hours to dry; the whole process took approximately two weeks to complete. The NASAlogo, termed “meatball," was originally designed in the late 1950s, and it symbolizesNASA’s role in aeronautics and space. The original design included a white bordersurrounding it, but the border was dropped for the Apollo 7 mission in October 1968and replaced with royal blue to match the background of the emblem. All the orbiters inthe fleet now bear the logo.

At left, morning shadows frame the orbiter Discovery onher rollover from the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF)Bay 2 to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Sept. 14. Afterspending three months in the OPF undergoing prelaunchpreparations for STS-95, the orbiter proudly displays therecently painted NASA “meatball” on the left wing andboth sides of the fuselage. Discovery is the first orbiter inthe fleet slated to launch with the official NASA insignia.The insignia on the wing measures 6 feet in diameter andthe insignias on the left- and right-side mid-fuselage are28 inches in diameter.

The fleet reveals a new look

At left, Space ShuttleDiscovery makes her finaljourney before launch asshe rolls out from the VABto launch pad 39B duringthe early morning hours ofSept. 21. The Shuttle isscheduled for its 25th flighton Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. Thelaunch window is two hoursand 30 minutes.