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UPDATE # 55 - October 16, l998 PART 1: The Launch of STS-95 THE LAUNCH OF STS-95
The Launch of STS-95 (aka the Return to space of John Glenn) is scheduled for Thursday, October 29, 1998 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific / 2:00 p.m. Eastern You won't want to miss this one! Two and a half hours before the scheduled launch, we will begin to broadcast, coming to you live in video over the Internet with some great coverage. You will meet some exciting visitors to the Kennedy Space Center and learn some interesting facts about this well-publicized mission. Many of our Challenge Project participants will be on board to give you the Life Sciences perspective of this mission, including the reasons that John Glenn's participation is so valuable to ongoing studies of aging conducted in the unique environs of Space. Then from the Press Viewing Site, Space Team Online team member, Mike Ciannilli, will fill you in on what it takes to prepare the Shuttle for flight and prepare you for the pageantry of the launch itself. Additionally, our location puts us in position to interact with some of the special dignitaries and personalities who will be present to witness this historic event. Plan to be there too to join in the excitement! The place is: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/ltc/sto/launch/sts95/ UPCOMING CHATS
->Tuesday, October 20, 1998, 11 a.m. Pacific Time (2 p.m. Eastern Time): Sebastian O'Kelly, aide to Senator John Glenn, and a part of the Challenge Project, will discuss Sen. Glenn's preparations for STS-95. Read Sebastian's profile at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/challenge/team/okelly.html ->Tuesday, October 20, 1998, Noon Pacific Time (3 p.m. Eastern Time): John-Henry Williams, president of Hitter Communications, as part of the Challenge Project, will share the ways his dad, Ted Williams, communicates the themes of lifelong fitness and learning. Read John-Henry's profile at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/challenge/team/williams.html ->Friday, October 23, 1998, 9 a.m. Pacific Time (Noon Eastern Time): Stephen Long is in training to be an International Space Station (ISS) flight controller. His first flight on console is scheduled to be the fourth U.S. flight supporting the ISS, scheduled for August 1999. Read Stephen Long's profile: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/challenge/team/long.html ->Thursday, November 5, 1998, 10 a.m. Pacific Time (1 p.m. Eastern Time): Ric Adams is involved in inspecting the space shuttle for any minor damage before, during, and after a mission. Read Ric's profile at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/challenge/team/adams.html ->Thursday, November 19, 1998, 10 a.m. Pacific Time (1 p.m. Eastern Time): Rick Pettegrew works with a team that analyzes the characteristics and behavior of fire. Rick and his team try to better understand the science by performing experiments in reduced gravity environments. Read Rick's profile at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/challenge/team/pettegrew.html [Editor's note: Stefan's has been involved in several Quest projects, most recently NeurOn, surrounding STS-90. As you can see below, with STS-95 he has been working with a re-flight of one of the experiments flown on STS-90 before phasing into the SSBRP (Space Station Biological Research Project) as the lead systems engineer for "intra-facility" interfaces. As usual, Stefan shares some pictures as part of this journal online.] DISCOVERY AT PAD 39 by Stefan Rosner October 8, l998 I'm back from KSC early due to some unforeseen delays in the arrival of the PI [Principal Investigator] team and flight candidate Toadfish specimens. My role for this payload was to support all prelaunch PI team science operations through October 20, however my trip was cut short following a complete inventory of the PI laboratories in the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) and coordination of a shipment of Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to support a contingency secondary landing site recovery at Dryden. While I was at KSC, I managed to snap a couple of digital pictures of Discovery at Pad 39B awaiting the STS-95 flight from the Cape Canaveral National Seashore, just north of Launch Complex 39. As you can see from the pictures at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/team/journals/rosner/10-08-98.html I was not the only one looking, and Discovery was not the only thing ready for flight! Thought you might like to take a look... [Editor's note: As Liz remarked in her QuestChat yesterday, "I have not yet figured out what a typical work day for me is. Because I'm involved with hardware and management, my daily tasks vary." Below she shares more about what she's currently involved in] BRAIN-WORK AND A LITTLE MUSCLE-WORK by Liz Bauer Interviewed by Lori Keith September 24, l998 I work on several projects for the International Space Station (ISS). One is the Human Research Facility (HRF), which I wrote a little about in my last journal. The HRF provides the instrumentation and resources needed for doing life sciences research on the ISS. It is a SIR-type rack with drawers, which house things like an ultrasound imaging system and a computer workstation. The HRF contains many different pieces of hardware which are provided by many different NASA/contractor teams. My job for this project is to globally manage all of these different hardware developments. There is a NASA lead for the computer workstation, one for the ultrasound imaging system, and so on. Each project also has a contractor lead who works with the NASA lead. It is my responsibility to make sure all of the hardware is on schedule and within budget limitations. It is like I am responsible for building a car, but different groups provide the engine, car frame, etc. I've been working this project for over a year now. It has been a definite challenge and learning experience for me. I learned to read monthly budget reports, something I never concerned myself with on previous projects. I'm also constantly exploring new and better ways to manage more efficiently, including team building skills and managerial functions. The interesting and frustrating aspect of management is it is difficult to see my direct contribution. Since I am not building anything myself, I do not have concrete knowledge that I am contributing or accomplishing a task. Another project I work is the Ku-band system. It is used for video-teleconferencing and file/data transfer between the ISS and the ground control center. This is scheduled to begin operating with Flight 6A. My job for this project is to manage the repackaging of a commercial receiver into a SIR drawer. Since a rack is unavailable at 6A, the team is developing an alternate power source (a 120 Vdc to 28 Vdc converter) for use until installation in the rack. I like this project because it is smaller in scale, so the managerial tasks are less which allows for more technical contributions. I enjoy using my technical skills as much as possible. One of my most recent non-work experiences was an August mission trip to Costa Rica. A group of about 20 people went for over a week to help build a church and parsonage. I went along for many reasons, but the main one was to see a different country with a different culture. The green hills and mountains were beautiful, and I was amazed I didn't miss air conditioning. The Costa Ricans were friendly and gracious, and all of us improved our Spanish thanks to their patience and tutoring. Another reason for going was a short break from work. How wrong I was!! It was a break from brain work, not muscle work. I shoveled, moved, picked, wheelbarrowed, lifted, carried, and cemented. Although it was hard work, I had an outstanding time with the Costa Ricans and the other people on the trip. I returned very relaxed, probably from all the smiles and laughter. SUBSCRIBING & UNSUBSCRIBING: HOW TO DO IT!
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