American space book 2017 web by Thomas Brady

| 2017 EDITION

THE SKY IS

NOT THE LIMIT. AT LOCKHEED MARTIN, WE’RE ENGINEERING A BETTER TOMORROW. The Orion spacecraft will carry astronauts on bold missions to the moon, Mars and beyond — missions that will excite the imagination and advance the frontiers of science. Because at Lockheed Martin, we’re designing ships to go as far as the spirit of exploration takes us. Learn more at lockheedmartin.com/orion.

Hello, The American Space Museum grew out of one noble project that, in turn, grew out of an earlier noble project. And in each case, the over-arching goal was the same: to test the limits of man’s knowledge and to build a better tomorrow for planet earth. Our museum’s story begins in 1988 when the City of Titusville, FL decided to honor the men and women who had worked so diligently to build the American Space Program. By paying tribute to these pioneers via a series a beautiful monuments, our city fathers hoped that a new generation of dreamers and doers would be encouraged and inspired, and, thus, the path toward innovation and enlightenment might continue to be blazed. Out of the birth of the four monuments came the birth of the museum, which took root in 2001. For over 15 years our “little museum that could” has been collecting and preserving artifacts and stories from America’s early space program. Our goal is not simply to honor the astronauts, although they are front-and-center in our displays and educational programming, but to also pay tribute to the “ordinary” men and women whose innovative spirit led us starward. Likewise, we exist to ensure that new generations of innovators and inventors are nurtured and emboldened. Our education program seeks to acquaint young people with their own potential and abilities, showing them that they can not only study history, they can MAKE it! But none of this – the monuments, the museum, the educational programming – would be possible, or even necessary, without the FIRST noble project…the one that started it all: man’s quest to leave mother earth and discover “what lies beyond.” This magazine is dedicated to the dreamers and achievers of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. In its pages you will read stories of Projects Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle. You will discover more about our museum and how we seek to stand on the shoulders of giants to inspire a new generation of discovery. You will also see articles and advertisements from organizations and companies seeking to forge a pathway to the stars. Each offers a glimpse into the fascinating continuum of America’s space research and achievement. As a museum, our mission is to preserve the past…but if we do not simultaneously look toward new vistas and far horizons then we have no purpose behind our preservation. Please enjoy the articles in this publication and allow them to summon great visions and bold dreams, for therein lies the future of mankind! With warmest regards,

Tara Dixon Engel Executive Director American Space Museum

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

Proud to employ Space Worker Hall of Fame inductees as we launch into the future of space exploration.

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fit.edu/programs Florida Institute of Technology is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Florida Institute of Technology. Florida Institute of Technology is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, ancestry, disability, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status, or other non-merit reasons in admissions, scholarship and loan programs, educational programs, athletic or other university sponsored programs or activities, and employment including employment of disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam Era, as required by applicable laws. Contact the Title IX Coordinator at (321) 674-8700. EX-548-916

50 —

COMING

SOON

—

Tara Dixon Engel Executive Editor Executive Director, American Space Museum Karan Conklin Director, American Space Museum

Editor

Anniversary of

Apollo 11

C O M M E M O R AT I V E

Contributors: James Tulley

Writer

Debbie Hamilton

Writer

Robert Sieck

Writer

Lee Solid

Writer

Bill Hosford

Collections Research

Bruce Jacobs

IT support

Mike Lombardo

Historical Reference

P U B L I C AT I O N

The primary objective of Apollo 11 was to complete a national goal set by President John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961: perform a crewed lunar landing and return to Earth.

Other project support: Eleanor Shoman Ruth Miller Dan McCune American Space Museum Board of Directors 2017 Richard Beagley — Chairman of the Board Charles Mars — Co-chair Robert Sieck — Treasurer

THAT’S

ONE SMALL STEP FOR

MAN, ONE

Robert Herman — Secretary Nancy Evans

GIANT

Charles S. Griffin Charles Jeffrey

LEAP FOR

Steve Lloyd Tim LaMunyon

MANKIND

Pedro Medelius Lee Solid Robert Springer Emeritus:

Neil Armstrong July 1969

Fred Haise Jon McBride Official Publishers: Specialized Media Group LLC 1301 Riverplace Blvd Suite 800 Jacksonville FL 32207 Thomas Brady tom@smg-jax.com

President & Publisher

Joseph Duhamel

Production Manager

Chip Boeckh

Art Director

The 2017 Official American Space Museum & Space Walk of Fame is published by Specialized Media Group LLC (SMG), which is located at 1301 Riverplace Blvd Suite 800 Jacksonville FL 32207.All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form, by means of electronically, mechanically, photocopying, or otherwise, and no article can be printed without the written consent of the publisher (SMG) and/or The American Space Museum. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden without written consent. No responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited manuscripts, statements made by advertisers, nor quality or positioning of advertising, deliverability of products and services advertised. Author’s opinions do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. For more information please contact Thomas Brady tom@smg-jax.,com

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

For more details contact: Thomas Brady 3 Email: tom@smg-jax.com

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CONTENTS

Mercury Seven

American Space Museum and Space Walk of Fame

pages 6-10

Space Exploration Time Line

pages 12-14

Project Mercury 1958 -1963

pages 16-17

Project Gemini 1961-1966

pages 18-19

Project Apollo 1961-1975

pages 20-25

The Space Shuttle 1972- 2011

pages 26-30

The Future of Space

pages 32-35

The Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex

pages 36-40

A Tribute to an American Hero John Glenn

page 41

Port Canaveral’s Exploration Tower

pages 42-43

The Business of Space Exploration

pages 44-48

Space Elevator

| 2017 EDITION

The Monuments on the cover are part of Titusville’s Space View Park. Monument photos by Bill Hosford. Located less than 15 miles directly across from the launch pads, the Park is the first and only walk in the nation that honors America’s astronauts as well as the men and women behind the scenes who helped America lead the world in space exploration. This park provides a live audio feed direct from NASA control room. Visitors are able to listen as they sit on the river’s edge with no obstruction and listen to the launch process from the park and a walk through the history of space from the Chinese discovery of Rockets in 3rd century BC to Space Station Freedom. All photos in this publication courtesy of NASA unless otherwise indicated.

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

History of the American Space Museum & Space Walk of Fame The U.S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation began life as a noble vision to honor all the workers - past, present and future - who toiled to make America’s space program a success.

The City of Titusville – strategically nestled in the shadow of NASA’s towering Vehicle Assembly Building – would be home to a series of steel, granite and bronze monuments paying tribute not only to visible space heroes like astronauts, launch directors and NASA brass, but also to the “little guys and gals” who designed, engineered,

The museum’s authentic mission control panels

oversaw and implemented all the moving parts necessary to place Americans – and American equipment – in space. The Foundation was born in 1988, though it would be a decade before its vision would be

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

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Friendly helpful staff and clean fresh rooms. 4735 Helen Hauser Blvd. Titusville, FL 32780 I-95 at Exit #215

2016 class at museum

for the Apollo Monument at Space View Park. The groundbreaking kicked off a week-long, 30-year anniversary celebration of the first moon landing. There was still much work to be done on the monuments, and the right man for the job was former NASA official Charlie Mars, who joined the Foundation in 1999 and was appointed President in 2000. Mars oversaw the fundraising for, and design of, the Apollo and Shuttle monuments, in addition to personally securing handprints from all of the living Apollo and Gemini astronauts, and some in the Shuttle program, as well.

begin to be realized on the banks of the Indian River. Spearheaded by NASA Alumni like Sam Beddingfield and Cal Fowler, the The Apollo Monument project to honor space was finally dedicated visionaries steadily in May 2007. A few gained momentum, more years of targeted Student in STEM class with the Mercury and fundraising and planning Gemini monuments being took place before the completed in 1995 and 1997, respectively. Shuttle Monument groundbreaking was held in May 2012, followed its The anticipated leisurely river walk dedication in November 2014. past all four monuments didn’t quite materialize as planned, when property As the monument work progressed, more originally earmarked for Space View and more NASA alumni signed on to the Park was sold to a new development. project. Fundraiser events often consisted Thus, today’s Space View Park offers of members dragging out their career more of an “L-shaped” path, than a memorabilia for space-obsessed onlookers linear stroll along the river bank. –and potential project donors – to “ooohhh” and “ahhh” over. Before long, Mars and his New momentum began in 1999 when, crew realized that they had the makings on July 16, 1999, at precisely 9:32 of a pretty impressive space museum. a.m. – exactly 30 years after the lift off of Apollo 11 – ground was broken The “U.S. Space Walk of Fame Museum”

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

opened its doors in 2001 with Jack Weakland and Joseph Adams lending their expertise to the fledgling facility, then located at the Miracle City Mall in Titusville. Among the artifacts displayed were the bronze handprints collected by Charlie Mars, parts and pieces from the various spacecraft, and documents or models from local space enthusiasts and former NASA workers. The project snow-balled and changed locations yet again, eventually ending up in the nearby Searstown Mall, filling 10,000 square feet of floor space, spotlighting everything from functional mission control consoles to Alan Shepard’s Corvette! After another change of venue – and an internal nickname of “the Gypsy museum” courtesy of all the moving about – the facility finally found a permanent home with the purchase of 308 Pine Street in downtown Titusville, walking distance from Space View Park. Today, inside the museum – recently renamed The American Space Museum – you will find thousands of artifacts and materials donated by the astronauts, space workers, NASA, and space contractors involved in the various manned missions. The museum also houses working consoles from Launch Pad 36A and a Model 4 Sequencer from Launch Pad 16. These are used in the facility’s educational programming in order to give students hands-on exposure to the mission control environment. In 2015, the museum hired its first Executive Director, a former non-profit

A recent senior tour of the museum

and museum manager from Ohio. Tara Dixon Engel oversaw the development of new internal processes designed to take the facility to a more professional level. A new collection manager began cataloging, photographing, and numbering all the artifacts via Past Perfect software. The museum’s long-time Chief of Staff Karan Conklin was named Deputy Director and, later, Director, and worked closely with Engel to overhaul day-to-day operations,

“We want youngsters to get excited about their own potential and we want to help them to become producers, rather than consumers. If we can do that, our beloved Space Coast will have a dynamic tech work force for many years to come ...” marketing, volunteer processes, fundraising and to develop a dynamic new education program known as STEAM Space. The board of directors, headed by space program alumni Richard Beagley (Chairman), Charlie Mars (Vice Chairman), former launch director Bob Sieck (Treasurer), Bob Herman (Secretary), Lee Solid, astronaut Bob Springer and

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

Leadership and Teamwork), based on the achievements of American space leaders.

Photo: John Karjanis

Museum officials continue to be proactive, forging partnerships and joint projects with other local agencies such as Greater Titusville Renaissance, the Space Coast Fab Lab, Computers Advancing Education, Inc., and many others.

Space View Park is located less than 15 miles directly across from the launch pads. The Park is the first and only walk in the nation that honors America’s astronauts as well as the men and women behind the scenes who helped America lead the world in space exploration.

others set out to develop a long-term strategic plan and to add new vision to the board by seeking members with broader backgrounds and current business contacts. The strategic plan process was completed in December 2016 and board approved in 2017. As the museum anticipates the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Apollo program, its leaders are confident the facility will stand ready to not only honor man’s most “out of this world” adventure, but to inspire a new generation of dreamers and doers to go even higher and further. To that end, they continue to emphasize programming that features hands-on experience in the STEAM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) as well as an exciting new Makerspace where young and old alike can create and innovate. The facility is also developing a proprietary curriculum known as SALT (Strategic thinking, Administration,

“We are committed to not only preserving the past, but to inspiring the future,” said Executive Director Tara Dixon Engel. “Our educational goals are tied to the history of the space program and to supporting 21st Century technology. We want youngsters to get excited about their own potential and we want to help them to become producers, rather than consumers. If we can do that, our beloved Space Coast will have a dynamic tech work force for many years to come…and our museum will grow and thrive along the way.” The facility has also added an exciting new digital presence – The Space Workers Hall of Honor (www.spacehonor.org). This venue is designed to allow former space workers or their families to pay tribute to the men and women who achieved the goals of the first space age. Each day the museum and its determined staff, board and volunteers take another step toward inspiring our 21st Century aerospace work force, preserving the artifacts and achievements of the 20th Century, and honoring all those who dreamed great dreams and defined new realities for all of mankind.

For more information, go to www.AmericanSpaceMuseum.org. 10

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

Space Exploration Timeline 1960 August 19 - Sputnik 5 is launched by Russia, carrying two dogs, Strelka and Belka. Unlike Laika, the two canines make the return trip home safely, becoming the first living creatures to survive a visit to space

Robert Goddard 1926 American Robert Goddard, considered the “father of modern rocketry” launches the first liquid-fueled (gasoline and liquid oxygen) rocket on March 16 in Auburn, Massachusetts. Goddard and his team would launch 33 more rockets between 1926 and 1941.

1965 March 18 - Cosmonaut Alexi Leonov becomes the first man to walk in space (also known as EVA, Extra Vehicular Activity). June 3 - Astronaut Ed White becomes the first American to walk in space. July 14 - The spacecraft Mariner 4 transmits the first pictures of Mars.

1961 April 12 -- Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space. Gagarin’s spacecraft, Vostok 1, completes one orbit of the earth, and lands about two hours after launch.

1966 February 3 - The Russian spacecraft Luna 9 is the first spacecraft to land on the moon. June 2 - Surveyor 1 is the first American spacecraft to land on the moon.

1942 A German V2 rocket designed by Werhner Von Braun (who was inspired by Goddard’s work) reaches 100km from the Earth’s surface (the boundary of space).

1967 January 27 - Astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee are killed during a routine test in the Apollo 1 capsule on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral.

1949 June 14 - America launches the first primate in space, Albert II, a rhesus monkey. Albert flew to a height of 83 miles. 1957 Russia launches the first satellite into space; Sputnik 1, which signals the start of the Space Race between America and Russia. Sputnik is the first satellite to orbit the earth. Russia follows Sputnik by launching Russian space dog Laika in November of 1957. Explorer 1 Team

1962 February 20 - Astronaut John Glenn becomes the first American in orbit. June 16 – Russian Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space.

Alan Sheppard 1961 May 5 -- Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space. Shepard’s flight is suborbital and lasted about 15 minutes.

1968 September 15 - The Soviet spacecraft Zond 5 becomes the first unmanned spacecraft to orbit the moon and return to Earth. December 21 - Apollo 8 is launched with the goal of becoming the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon. The crew, consisting of Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders completes its mission and returns safely to earth. The iconic photo “Earthrise” is taken on this mission.

1958 January 31 - Explorer 1 is the first satellite launched by the United States. The satellite is sent aloft from Cape Canaveral in Florida by the Jupiter C rocket that was designed, built, and launched by the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) under the direction of Dr. Werhner Von Braun. 1959 April 9 - The Mercury Seven, America’s first astronauts, are introduced to the world. They were Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard and Donald “Deke” Slayton.

1920 12

1961 May 25 – in an address at Rice University, President John F. Kennedy challenges America to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

1930

1940

1969 July 20 - Neil Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin become the first men to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. This fulfills President Kennedy’s commitment to put an American on the moon and get him safely home before the end of the 1960s.

1950

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

1970 April 11 - Apollo 13 launches and travels to the moon, where it experiences a catastrophic explosion that requires the crew to utilize the LEM as a lifeboat while NASA innovates the best way to get the crew home safely. Because the crew survived, the mission is considered “a successful failure.” September 12 - The Soviet craft Luna 16 launches and becomes the first automatic spacecraft to return soil samples of the moon. 1971 April 19 - The Soviet space station Salyut 1 was launched. July 30 - The moon rover was driven on the moon for the first time. November 13 - The Mariner 9 probe became the first craft to orbit another world - Mars. 1972 December 11 - Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt become the last men to walk on the moon. Schmitt is also the first geologist to walk on the moon.

1975 July 17 - The American Apollo and Soviet Soyuz 19 dock in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.

1980 November 13 - Voyager 1 reaches Saturn and begins transmitting images.

1976 September – America’s Viking 2 discovers water frost on the Martian surface. 1977 August and September - Voyagers 1 and 2 are launched. (Voyager 2 launches before Voyager 1, but Voyager 1 was on a faster trajectory.)

1981 April 12 – America’s first reusable spacecraft, the Shuttle Columbia launches (coincidently – or not – on the anniversary of Russian Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight.) August 26 - Voyager 2 reaches Saturn and begins transmitting images. 1983 April 4 - The second Space Shuttle, Challenger, is launched. June 19 - Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space on Challenger’s second mission. August 30 - Guion Bluford becomes the first African-American in space. 1984 February 3 - Astronaut Bruce McCandless becomes the first man to make an untethered EVA. August 30 - The third Space Shuttle, Discovery, is launched. October - Kathryn Sullivan becomes the first American woman space walker.

Jupiter’s moon Io

Skylab 1973 May 14 - The U.S. launches its first space station, Skylab.

1960

1970

1979 March and August - Voyagers 1 and 2 begin transmitting images of Jupiter and her moons. September - The U.S. probe Pioneer 11 reached Saturn and began transmitting images. July 11 – the decommissioned Skylab plummets back to earth amid much fanfare – and many fears – about where its pieces might end up. The charred debris pelts the southern Indian Ocean and Western Australia, hurting no one in the process.

1985 October 3 - Atlantis, the fourth Space Shuttle, is launched. 1986 January 24 - Voyager 2 begins transmitting images from Uranus. January 28 - The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes seconds after liftoff, killing all seven crew members including the much-celebrated “teach in space” Christa McAuliffe. 1989 August - Voyager 2 begins transmitting images from Neptune.

1980

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

Space Exploration Timeline 2000 February 14 - The U.S. Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft transmits images of the asteroid Eros

Hubble Space Telescope 1990 August 10 - The Magellan spacecraft begins mapping the surface of Venus using radar equipment. August 24 - The Space Shuttle Discovery deploys the Hubble Space Telescope.

Mae Jemison 1992 May 7 - Space Shuttle Endeavor is launched on her maiden voyage. September 12 - Mae Jemison becomes the first African-American woman in space. 1993 December - Space Shuttle Endeavor performs the first servicing mission of the Hubble Space Telescope.

NEAR 2001 February 12 - NEAR lands on the surface of Eros. April 28 - American Dennis Tito pays $20 million to the Russian space agency in order to become the first space tourist.

2004 July 1 - The Cassini spacecraft sends back photos of the rings of Saturn.

1994 February 3 - Sergei Krikalev becomes the first Russian cosmonaut to fly on a Space Shuttle. 1995 February 2 - Eileen Collins is the first female to be named Shuttle pilot. December - The Galileo probe begins transmitting data on Jupiter.

1998 October 29 – At age 77, John Glenn becomes the oldest man in space aboard STS-95. November 20 – The first component of the International Space Station is launched into space. The ISS is now the largest man-made object in space. 1999 July 23 - Eileen Collins is the first female to be named Shuttle Commander.

1990 14

2000

2009 March 6 - The NASA spacecraft Kepler is launched. Its mission is to search for planets outside our solar system, in a distant area of the Milky Way. June 18 - NASA launches the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, also known as LCROSS. Its mission is to confirm the presence or absence of ice on the moon. On November 13, 2009, NASA scientists announced a “significant amount” of ice in a crater near the moon’s South Pole.

2003 February 1 - The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates upon re-entry, following a successful mission. All aboard are killed. August 25 - NASA launches the largestdiameter infrared telescope ever in space, the Spitzer Space Telescope. September 21 - NASA’s Galileo mission intentionally crashes into Jupiter, thus ending its 14-year exploration of the solar system’s largest planet and its moons.

2005 July 26 - Space Shuttle Discovery launches NASA’s “return to space” mission as the first manned mission since the Columbia tragedy.

1997 July 4 - The Mars Pathfinder arrives on Mars and begins transmitting images.

2008 May 25 - NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander lands safely and begins transmitting images after a 10-month, 422 million-mile journey. Phoenix eventually discovers chunks of ice on the red planet.

Comet Wild 2 2006 January 15 - NASA spacecraft Stardust returns safely to Earth near Salt Lake City with the first dust ever collected from a comet 2007 August 4 - NASA launches its Phoenix Mars Lander. August 8 - Space Shuttle Endeavour and its seven person crew launches with teacherastronaut Barbara Morgan aboard. Morgan had been the back-up for the original teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe, who was killed in the 1986 Challenger explosion.

2010

SpaceX 2010 October 11 - President Barack Obama signs legislation focusing NASA’s efforts on exploring Mars and the asteroids. December 8 - A private company named SpaceX launches a spacecraft into orbit and returns it to earth safely. Space X is the first non-government organization to accomplish this. 2011 July 8 - The space shuttle Atlantis becomes the last American space shuttle to go into space. Mission STS-135 and its 4-member crew ferried supplies and equipment to the International Space Station (ISS). July 16 - NASA’s Dawn spacecraft becomes the first man made craft to orbit an asteroid. November 26 - NASA launches Curiosity, the biggest, best equipped robot ever sent to explore another planet. It reaches Mars in 2012. The space program didn’t end with the close of the Shuttle missions. Indeed, American astronauts have continued to travel to the International Space Station as crew members of Russian spacecraft. Likewise, commercial space companies like Space X and Blue Origin have had numerous triumphs and are planning new initiatives that will take us higher, faster, and farther than dreamers like Robert Goddard could ever have imagined

TODAY

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

PROJECT MERCURY

By Jim Tulley

Introduction

the moon. Mercury Flight: May 5, 1961, Freedom 7

On Oct. 4, 1957, the Russian satellite Sputnik 1 successfully entered Earth’s orbit, signaling an uneasy start to the space age. Sputnik shocked the world, and gave America the kick in the pants it needed to begin aggressively building a manned space program. Project Mercury was introduced to America in 1958 with three basic objectives: orbit a manned spacecraft around Earth; learn about man’s ability to function in space; and safely recover both man and spacecraft.

The Men

NASA required that all astronaut candidates be male, 40 or younger, no taller than 5’11 (to fit into the cramped Mercury spacecraft) and in top physical The Mercury 7 condition. They had to be test pilots, qualified jet pilots with at least 1,500 flying hours, and have a bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent in experience. NASA officials whittled a pool of 508 service records down to 100. The group was further reduced by physical and psychological testing, until seven men remained. In April of 1959, NASA unveiled the first seven astronauts. They were: Alan Shepard, who was born in New Hampshire on Nov. 18, 1923, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Naval Academy and served at sea in the Pacific during World War II. Shepard won his pilot’s wings in 1946, graduating from Naval Test Pilot School in 1950. He was the first American in space, Commander of Apollo 14 in 1971, and one of 12 men to walk on

Gus Grissom was born on April 3, 1926, and flew 100 combat missions over Korea. He graduated from Air Force Test Pilot School in 1956, shortly before his NASA selection. Grissom was Commander of Gemini 3 and was selected to command the Apollo 1 mission, until his untimely death during a launch pad accident in 1967. Mercury Flight: July 21, 1961, Liberty Bell 7 John Glenn Jr. was born on July 18, 1921 and was the oldest of the original seven. A Marine pilot with 149 combat missions during WWII and Korea, Glenn graduated from the Naval Test Pilot School in 1954, and, in 1957, set a transcontinental speed record by flying from Los Angeles to New York in 3 hours and 23 minutes. In 1962, he became the first American to orbit the Earth. He did not reach space again until 1998, when at the age of 77, Glenn flew on the Space Shuttle as the oldest man in space. Mercury Flight: February 20, 1962, Friendship 7 Scott Carpenter, was born on May 1, 1925. He was commissioned a Naval Officer in 1949, and earned his Naval wings in 1951. He flew anti-submarine patrol missions during the Korean War and graduated from the Navy Test Pilot School in 1954. Carpenter had the distinction of being the first human ever to live and work both above the earth and below it (under water), thereby acquiring the title, Astronaut/ Aquanaut. Mercury Flight: May 24, 1962, Aurora 7 Walter Marty “Wally” Schirra Jr. was born on March 12, 1923. An aeronautical engineer by training, Schirra graduated from the Naval Academy in 1945. He was ordered to WWII combat aboard the USS Alaska, but the war ended before the ship arrived in Japan. Schirra later flew 90 combat missions in Korea. He graduated from Navy Test Pilot School in

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

1958 and was the only Mercury astronaut to fly Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. Mercury Flight: October 3, 1962, Sigma 7

rocket for sub-orbital hops and to an Atlas rocket for the orbital missions. Both of these boosters were derivatives of military Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM).

Leroy Gordon “Gordo” Cooper Jr. was born on March 6, 1927 making him the youngest of The overall program had only three basic the Mercury seven. He graduated Air Force objectives, but capsule requirements Test Pilot School in 1956, and was the only were more detailed, as Lance Erickson Mercury astronaut who was not a combat outlined in his book Space Flight Mercury 3 veteran. Cooper was the last astronaut to History, Technology and Operations: fly in the Mercury program. He circled the globe a record 22 times in 34 hours and 20 minutes. He was the first 1. The spacecraft must be fitted with a reliable astronaut to sleep in space, and the last astronaut to launch-escape system to separate the spacecraft orbit Earth alone. Mercury Flight: May 15, 1963, Faith 7 and its crew from the launch vehicle. 2. The pilot must be able to manually Donald “Deke” Slayton was born on March 1, 1924, got his control spacecraft attitude. Army Air Corps wings in April 1943 and flew 63 combat 3. The spacecraft must carry a retrorocket system bomber missions World War II. He left studied aeronautical capable of bringing the spacecraft out of orbit. engineering, worked at Boeing Aircraft Company, and 4. A zero-lift body using drag braking joined the Minnesota Air Guard in 1951. Slayton graduated would be used for reentry. from Air Force Test Pilot School in 1955. Because of a 5. The spacecraft design must satisfy the heart arrhythmia, he was grounded in 1962 and never got requirements for a water landing. his Mercury fight. He would oversee NASA’s astronaut office for many years until finally flying in space in 1975 Of all these requirements, the one that, arguably, had the as a crew member on the Apollo-Soyuz project. greatest impact was the manual control stipulation. As a group, the Mercury Seven shared several key attributes: combat experience (except Cooper), engineering degrees, and test pilot school. Exposure to combat had allowed them to conquer many of the fears inherent in most people. Because of their engineering and test pilot experience, they came to the program with a more disciplined mindset than the “average” military or commercial pilot. Because of all three, they harbored a determined self-confidence that was essential for the rigors of space flight. This confidence was best exemplified by Gordon Cooper, who, when asked “who’s the greatest pilot you’ve ever seen,” would enthusiastically answer, “you’re looking at him!” These attributes would prove critical, not only to the missions, but to spacecraft design and operation throughout the manned program.

The Machine

The Mercury capsule itself would be mated to a Redstone

Since all seven astronauts were engineering test pilots they understood, from years of experience, that they could not simply be passengers, but had to maintain an element of control. They understood that getting to the moon and back would require difficult maneuvers such as rendezvous, docking, orbital adjustment and lunar landing, and that those maneuvers must be subject to the judgment and snap decision-making of the astronauts themselves.

The Impact

Mercury met it objectives and provided a much-needed shot in the arm for American technology and for the collective American psyche. It inspired a generation of young people to choose careers in science and technology, and it motivated the next generation of astronauts. Mercury was the genesis of a dream that endures today, a dream that set the stage for everything that followed in American manned space flight.

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

GEMINI

By Debbie Hamilton and Tara Dixon Engel

On May 5, 1961 Americans watched in awe and excitement as Alan Shepard became the first American in space. Twenty days later, President John F. Kennedy added to that enthusiasm when he announced that America would now set the bar even higher and shoot for the moon. Thus the Gemini Project was born. More ambitious than Mercury and designed to pave the way for Apollo, Gemini was considered the “bridge to the moon.”

Project Gemini

The project consisted of two unmanned and ten manned missions, and numerous accomplishments within a tight window of time. These included the first American extravehicular activity (EVA), 8-day fuel cell endurance tests, rendezvous between spacecrafts, docking, and a new Earth orbital altitude record. Each mission would take America one step closer to the moon. The first two (unmanned) launches in the Gemini series tested the Titan 2 and

the Gemini spacecraft’s durability, compatibility with its booster, and its ability to survive reentry. Gemini 1 was launched April 8, 1964 and Gemini 2 followed in January 19, 1965. On March 23, 1965 Gemini 3 became the first manned mission. Crewed by astronauts Virgil “Gus” Grissom and John Young, Gemini 3 was a virtually flawless mission from a performance standpoint, although NASA dealt with several crew-induced headaches. Grissom’s previous Mercury flight had been marred by the sinking of the capsule (which was eventually salvaged from its watery grave in 1999) and his own near-drowning. The astronaut did not want a repeat performance, and cheekishly named the capsule “The Molly Brown” in a nod to the popular Broadway musical, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” Although NASA grudgingly allowed the name to remain, it was the last named Gemini flight. During the mission itself, a more blatant disregard for protocol occurred when Young smuggled aboard a corned beef sandwich from Wolfies’ delicatessen in Cocoa Beach. Although Grissom was amused by the prank, the technicians on the ground were concerned that crumbs from the sandwich might fowl the delicate Gemini panels and controls. Neither NASA nor Congress saw the humor in the astronauts’ efforts to take along “a taste of home.” Future space food was limited to NASA approved meals and the two astronauts were reprimanded for their impish behavior. On June 3, 1965, Gemini 4 had its own notable achievements, as Astronauts James McDivitt and Edward “Ed” White embarked on a 98-hour mission. Five and a half hours into the flight, White opened

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the hatch and pushed himself out of the capsule, achieving America’s first “extravehicular activity” (aka spacewalk). The EVA lasted 23 minutes, with White starting his “walk” over the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii, and ending near the Gulf of Mexico.

March 16, 1966 launch, Gemini 8 successfully docked with the Agena target vehicle, but the astronauts suddenly became aware that the spacecraft was tumbling out of control. After radioing mission control, Armstrong and Scott Gemini Orbiter general guide tried to correct the rotation. They undocked from the Agena, but the Gemini continued to He was clearly exhilarated by the experience, returning tumble. Armstrong finally made the decision to activate to the capsule only after several requests from the re-entry system, which ended the mission but solved mission control. “I’m coming back in… and it’s the the problem, which was later identified as a stuck thruster. saddest moment of my life,” the astronaut said. The two astronauts returned to earth, alive and well, thanks to Armstrong’s ability to stay focused in a crisis. Although Gemini 4 lasted four days, it wasn’t until Gemini 5 that a new record would be established for Gemini 9A launched June 3, 1966, and was supposed long-duration space flight: 8 days. Astronauts Gordon to attempt another Agena docking, but astronauts Cooper and Charles “Pete” Conrad launched on August Gene Cernan and Tom Stafford discovered that the 21, 1965. Gemini 5 was the first mission to use a fueldocking shroud on the target vehicle had malfunctioned. cell system. Previous Mercury and Gemini flights ran “It looks like an angry alligator…” Stafford radioed to on batteries. In addition to testing the new fuel-cells, the ground. Cernan’s planned EVA also encountered Gemini 5 also recorded the effects of long “periods of problems when the pressure inside his suit almost weightlessness on the crew and rendezvous capabilities prevented him from re-entering the spacecraft. It was a and maneuvers using a rendezvous evaluation pod.” The difficult mission, but a learning experience for NASA. capsule’s limited space prompted the colorful Conrad to nickname the mission “eight days in a garbage can.” The following month, John Young and Mike Collins launched aboard Gemini 10 and successfully docked with their Agena The next phase of Gemini was designed to test a target vehicle. Collins also performed two spacewalks, spacecraft’s ability to rendezvous with another orbiting still encountering some of the same stability and control body. But when the Agena target vehicle exploded during issues faced by the earlier spacewalkers. On Sept. 12, 1966, launch, NASA decided to have two spacecraft meet up, Dick Gordon and Pete Conrad performed an artificial instead. Gemini 6 was renamed 6A, and Gemini 7 was gravity test aboard Gemini 11, in addition to boosting the launched out of sequence, on Dec. 4, 1965, carrying spacecraft to a higher orbit and performing two EVAs Frank Borman and Jim Lovell. Eleven days later, Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford launched aboard 6A. The two The project concluded with Gemini 12, described as a spacecraft met in space, using fuel burns to adjust their “textbook mission,” in which astronauts Jim Lovell and orbit. They eventually came as close as one foot from Buzz Aldrin performed several docking maneuvers each other, so close that Stafford (a Naval Academy and Aldrin conducted three successful EVAs, with graduate like Schirra and Lovell) could place a “Beat Army” the help of newly added handholds and steps. sign in the window to taunt West Point grad Borman. By any measure, Gemini had been an unparalled success. With rendezvous achieved, the next logical step was NASA now had the information it needed to begin its docking, which was scheduled to happen with Gemini 8, triumphant quest for the moon. But before the tickertape carrying Neil Armstrong and Dave Scott. Shortly after its and cheers would come questions and tears…

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APOLLO

By Tara Dixon Engel

“We choose to go to the moon...we choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard...” – President John F. Kennedy at Rice University, Sept. 12, 1962

Left to right are astronauts Virgil I. Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee.

As the darkness of night closed in on January 27, 1967 America couldn’t have been further from Kennedy’s lofty goal of placing a man on the moon by the end of the decade. High atop the gantry at launch pad 34 near Cape Canaveral, FL, a charred spacecraft served as a reminder that the best-laid plans of scientists and engineers do not always unfold smoothly. Only hours before, astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee had been working their way through a variety of snags and communication issues that tested the patience of the mission’s silent but salty commander. “How the hell are we going to go to the moon if we can’t even talk between three buildings,” Grissom grumbled. Apollo 1 was to be the first manned launch in a program that would take Americans not simply beyond earth’s atmosphere, but onto the face of another celestial body. Apollo would put us on the moon, thus confirming the technological, cultural, and political superiority of the United States over the Soviet Union, with whom we were fighting not simply a Cold War but a hotly contested “Space Race,” as well.

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But Apollo, by 1967, had not lived up to its auspicious christening as the Roman God who rode a chariot across the Sun. Indeed, there had been so many quality issues with the new three-man space craft that, at one point, Grissom dangled a lemon from it. While many of the early problems had been fixed, the evening of January 27 brought new communications headaches between the spacecraft and her ground crew. Grissom, Chaffe, and White sat suited up and strapped into the Command Module for a “plugs out” test – a kind of dress rehearsal for the actual launch. The module’s hatch was sealed and procedures mimicked a live launch, including the presence of 100% pure oxygen, pressurized to 16.7 pounds per square inch. Once launched, the cabin pressure would have been reduced to 5 lbs psi, but, on the evening of Jan. 27, in the midst of a routine test, no one was thinking that the increased pressure created a highly combustible environment where a tiny spark could blaze into an inferno in seconds. And perhaps that is why the ground crew was momentarily mystified by a sudden shout from the command module at about 6:31 p.m.

Apollo Spacecraft Command/Service Module is mated to the Saturn Lunar Module Adapter which will be flown on the Apollo/Saturn mission.

space agency. By all measure, it should have spelled the end of America’s conquest of the moon...but a funny thing happened: NASA and her contractors rose to the occasion. “After the shock of the tragedy subsided, we assessed that we were working too hard and too fast just to meet schedules. As a result, the quality of our products and the safety of

“Fire!” came the voice later identified “We overcame that with a collective as Roger Chaffee’s. “We’ve got a fire in the cockpit...” In the seconds it took resolve that it would never happen for the NASA workers to process again on our watch. The results the meaning of those words, three speak for themselves.” astronauts had been asphyxiated by toxic fumes and the interior of the spacecraft our operations had suffered,” recalled Bob had been consumed in a 2,500 degree blaze Sieck, then a NASA engineer and, later, a – all without ever leaving the launch pad. shuttle launch director. “As a team, we felt a collective guilt and loss of confidence. It was the fledgling moon mission’s darkest We overcame that with a collective resolve hour as public funerals were held and Congress that it would never happen again on our demanded inquiries and answers from the watch. The results speak for themselves.”

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to deal with emergencies, small and large. The resulting three-man, single-use Apollo spacecraft were made up of a Command Service Module (CSM) and a Lunar Module (LM) – with ascent and descent stage – often referred to as the “lem,” in a nod to its original designation as the “lunar excursion module.” Designed for “lunar orbit rendezvous,” the Apollo spacecraft, boosted by a massive Saturn V rocket, would pierce the earth’s atmosphere and fly to the moon. Once in lunar orbit, two of the three astronauts would climb into the LM, separate from the CSM and visit the lunar surface. After completing their exploration of the moon, the astronauts would blast off in the ascent stage of the LM (leaving the craft’s descent stage and spider-like legs in the lunar dust) and rendezvous with the orbiting CSM. Its usefulness complete, the LM would then be jettisoned out into the blackness of space. The Apollo 11 mission, the first manned lunar mission, launched from the Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969.

The Apollo spacecraft was an engineering marvel that evolved from the Mercury and Gemini projects that preceded it. Between 1961 and 1967, America learned how to send a man into space, how to work in space, how to rendezvous and dock in space, and how

Project Apollo – and, specifically, the Apollo 11 mission – was about far more than simply seeing what was on the moon. It was about national pride, geopolitical conflict, and man’s unquenchable desire to push the envelope of his perceived limits.

The Apollo 1 tragedy, simply known within NASA as “the fire,” may have been a grimly necessary wake-up call, and some in NASA later pondered whether we ever would have gotten to the moon by 1969 if it hadn’t happened. But it did – and in the somber days that followed, the entire NASA support network resolved that this loss would not be in vain. By 1968, Deke Slayton, Director of Flight Crew Operations, was inking the rotation that would place the crew of Apollo 11 on the lunar surface before New Year’s Eve 1969, thus fulfilling John F. Kennedy’s goal of sending a man to the moon and returning him safely within the decade. But the Soviet Union was redoubling its efforts to make America an “also ran” in the space race. Yuri Gagarin’s 1961 launch had established

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Russia as the first country to put a man into earth orbit. Four years later, Alexi Leonov took the first-ever space walk. And, although it was largely a publicity stunt, Valentina Tereshkova claimed the title of first woman in space in 1963, two decades before America’s Sally Ride took her historic flight aboard Shuttle Challenger. The USSR remained determined to beat America to the moon despite the bitter blow of losing their chief rocket designer, Sergei Korolev, to cancer in early 1966. Russia had replaced its problem-plagued N-1 rocket with a new moon ship known as Zond and was eyeing a manned circumlunar flight before the end of 1968. America needed to act quickly. That action happened over Christmas 1968, as the Apollo 8 crew – Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders – became the first human beings to leave earth’s atmosphere and gaze on the dark side of the moon...the first men to stare in wonder at “earthrise” over the desolate lunar landscape. Apollo 9 followed in March 1969 with a successful test of the LM. Then, in May, Apollo 10 took the LM within 50,000 feet of the lunar surface.

caused their deaths in a real-world scenario. But each approached their July launch date feeling confident, albeit acutely aware of the weight that rested on their shoulders. The trio were already experienced space travelers. Armstrong had been a civilian test pilot, tickling the fringes of space in the X-15, and, later, had proved his value as a cool head in a crisis, when his Gemini 8 spacecraft began tumbling end-over-end through space while attached to the Agena target rocket. Aldrin, an MIT grad and authority in space rendezvous, had broken all space-walking records during his Gemini 12 mission. Collins had also tasted space flight in Gemini 10 and had been assigned to Apollo 8 when

The dress rehearsals were over. The decade was winding to a close and it was time for the main event – ...put a man – an American man – on the lunar surface, and return him safely to earth. As spring faded into summer three astronauts were consumed by endless simulator hours. Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin were testing – and sometimes exceeding – the limits of the lunar module simulator while Mike Collins struggled to hit his stride mastering the command module. In the process, all three men tasted, and eventually overcame, repeated failures that would have

The crew of the Apollo 8 lunar orbit mission. Left to right, are James A. Lovell Jr., command module pilot; William A. Anders, lunar module pilot; and Frank Borman, commander

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A close-up view of an astronaut’s boot-print in the lunar soil, photographed with a 70mm lunar surface camera during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity on the moon.

son and his fellow astronauts rode the mighty Saturn V rocket into the skies above Florida. Four days later, the world would collectively hold its breath as Armstrong and Aldrin separated the LM from the command module and began their descent to the lunar surface. The intended landing site, known as the “sea of tranquility,” proved anything but tranquil, scattered with large rocks and boulders that prompted a heart-pounding search for a smooth place to set down. But Neil lived up to his reputation as a cool cucumber and maneuvered the LM over inhospitable terrain, finally landing it about four miles from the original site – with 15 seconds of fuel remaining. “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed,” came the first lunar transmission. bone spur surgery got him bumped from the rotation and replaced with Jim Lovell. With a crew and a launch date in place for the first “moon mission”, national debate centered around who might be the first man to leave his historic footprint on the lunar surface. Although several newspapers prematurely trumpeted “Aldrin to be First Man on the Moon,” when the dust cleared seniority ruled the day. Deke Slayton reasoned that Neil Armstrong had come into the program a full year before Aldrin and, thus, should have first crack at the task. That, coupled with the mechanics of the LM’s inward-opening hatch – and Neil’s positioning inside the spacecraft – secured the Ohio native’s place in aerospace history. And so, on July 16, 1969, at 9:30 a.m. EST, Neil Armstrong’s aging parents watched – along with several hundred million others – as their

“Roger Tranquility,” astronaut Charlie Duke radioed back. “We copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We’re breathing again...thanks.” It was a moment of deep personal satisfaction for the Apollo 11 crew. They had traveled across 250,000 miles and pushed cuttingedge technology to its very limits. And now Neil and Buzz stood poised to take one of the most important strolls in human history. Climbing out of the LM at roughly 10:39 p.m. EST (?) daylight savings time on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong uttered the “One small step...” phrase that would become, arguably, the best known quote in history and, a few minutes later, Buzz Aldrin marveled at the “magnificent desolation.” The duo spent 2.5 hours on the surface and collected 47 pounds of “moon rocks” which would be analyzed and dissected by scientists on earth.

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Remembering Apollo 11 Launch Day By Robert Sieck

From the vantage point of almost five decades, the complexity – and audacity – of this project takes on even greater proportions. A 2009 article on ComputerWeekly.com noted that the computing capabilities of the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) were no more powerful than today’s pocket calculator. The AGC – designed at MIT and built by the Raytheon company – “used a real-time operating system, which enabled astronauts to enter simple commands by typing in pairs of nouns and verbs, to control the spacecraft. It was more basic than the electronics in modern toasters,” said ComputerWeekly editor Cliff Saran. And yet the fledgling technology that powered man to the moon and back would lead to countless quality of life improvements – from vast medical advancements to home computers to microwaves and medical breakthroughs – for America and the world. All that was required were three “ordinary supermen” known as astronauts and millions of technical experts, scientists, designers, programmers, builders, and support staff who understood the magnitude of their mission. What began in tragedy with Apollo 1 reached the pinnacle of success during the Apollo 11 moon landing. Subsequent crews on Apollo 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17 would spend progressively more time exploring the lunar surface before the heavy hand of Congressional funding cuts and America’s boredom with “routine” space exploration would cut short our lunar jaunts. Although Congress and the American taxpayer may have agonized about the cost of space exploration, the Apollo moon missions changed forever the landscape of American life and gave us a sense – however fleeting – that, together, we could achieve anything.

During the Apollo missions, I was a NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) spacecraft test team engineer, assigned to the even-numbered missions. For Apollo 11, the expectations were that well over 100,000 visitors would descend on the region to view the historic launch. Our managers advised those of us not on the prime launch team to stay away from KSC because of the gridlock of traffic in the area. Officials even organized helicopter pick-ups, just in case the launch team members could not get through the traffic. My view of previous manned Saturn V launches was limited to the 8” black-and-white TV in the control room, so I welcomed this opportunity to actually watch one live, from the edge of the river near my home in Titusville. On launch day, my wife, one-year-old daughter and I drove toward the Indian river but we didn’t get far due to the snarl of traffic. We parked and walked, arriving at the river’s edge a few minutes before launch. The scene was unforgettable: Traffic was gridlocked but it wasn’t a scene of chaos and frustration…no one was really trying to move. People were sitting atop their vehicles, while the mass of humanity outside the cars crowded onto both sides of the highway. Our view of the towering Saturn V poised on the launch pad was perfect. As we awaited the moment of launch, I watched a woman pull up a handful of grass and place gently into in a bag. When I asked why she did this, she said that all the nearby vendors had sold out of decals, hats, shirts and other memorabilia. Since she had to have a souvenir of this historic event, the grass from where she stood would have to suffice. As expected, when the launch occurred, there was pandemonium among the spectators. Horns honked, people jumped, shouted, and waved flags. Euphoria and pride swelled from the friends and strangers sharing this unique experience. When I went to work the next day I remembered that I had a copy of the spacecraft launch countdown procedure for Apollo 11. As I discarded it (it was now obsolete since we would have a different one for the next mission) I briefly thought of how much revenue it could have generated if I had taken it home and worked that crowd by selling them pages from it!

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Among many other roles in the space program, Bob Sieck would serve as Launch Director for 52 Shuttle launches.

THE SPACE SHUTTLE

By Jim Tulley

Introduction

The Space Shuttle was truly a unique vehicle. It enabled us to do things in space that would not otherwise have been possible; and, with the close of the shuttle program in 2011, certain tasks and achievements can no longer be completed by America alone. It has been said by some that the Space Shuttle was the most complex machine ever developed by man. While the builders of aircraft carriers might dispute that claim, there is little doubt that the Shuttle was uniquely complex in many ways. In reality, the Space Shuttle was a system and should, more properly, be called by its official name, the Space Transportation System – or STS.

The Space Transportation System

The STS, as the name implies, was much more than simply a complex vehicle. It consisted of flight hardware, ground hardware and numerous processing facilities that all worked together to make the system operational. Flight hardware consisted of three parts: the Solid Rocket Boosters, The historic 3 man space walk on STS 49 the External Tank and the Orbiter, sometimes referred to as the “Space Shuttle,” although the term Space Shuttle really meant the entire assembled vehicle (orbiter, tank and boosters).

Ground hardware facilities included the Vertical Assembly Building (VAB), three Orbiter Processing Facilities (OPF), the Launch Control Center (LCC), the Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) and Crawler, the

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Key Missions Most of the 135 Shuttle missions were historic in some way, but the most memorable might include the following missions. STS-1 (Columbia, April 1981) – This was the first Space Shuttle and was remarkable in many respects, first and foremost by the fact that it was the first time a developmental space vehicle was flown manned on its very first launch attempt. It was the first space vehicle to land on a runway like an airplane and the first to utilize solid rocket boosters for orbital space flight. The flight was successful in every respect and proved that a reusable vehicle could be utilized to haul large payloads into low earth orbit. STS-7 (Challenger, June 1983) – This was the second flight of Challenger and the first time an American woman (Sally Ride) flew in space. The Russians had claimed “first woman in space” status in 1964 by launching Valentina Tereshkova. But Tereshkova was a former textile worker and Liftoff of STS 114 amateur skydiver who spent most of the flight sick to her stomach and in physical distress. Ride’s triumphant flight put the spotlight on women as professional scientists and explorers. STS-9 (Columbia, November 1983) – This was the first mission containing Spacelab in the payload bay and a precursor to eventual International Space Station (ISS) capabilities. STS-41B (Challenger, February 1984) – STS-41B included the first untethered space walk by Mission Specialist Bruce McCandless and the first time a Space Shuttle landed at its launch site, the Kennedy Space Center. STS-41C (Challenger, April 1984) – This mission was important in that it proved that satellite repair in space was possible. During this mission, the shuttle rendezvoused with, and captured, the malfunctioning Solar Maximum Mission Satellite (SolarMax, launched in 1980). STS-26 (Discovery, September 1988) – 2 1/2 years after the Challenger disaster, this was the return-to-flight mission, led by Commander Frederick Hauck. This flight was just as important to the workforce as it was to the astronauts, because it restored confidence in the program and lifted the morale of all involved. STS-31 (Discovery, April 1990) – This mission launched one of the world’s most famous satellites, the Hubble Space Telescope, which, after having some optical problems corrected, returned some of the most dramatic photographs of the universe the world had ever seen.

STS-49 (Endeavour, May 1992) – During the first mission of the space shuttle Endeavour, three astronauts conducted the first EVA that included more than two space walkers at one time. STS-61 (Endeavour, December 1993) – Three years after Hubble was launched with faulty optics, NASA launched a repair mission. The mission came about after engineers completed a set of corrective optics, allowing NASA to successfully complete the first Hubble servicing mission. STS-71 (Atlantis, June 1995) – This mission presaged the impact of the International Space Station. It was the first mission since Apollo-Soyuz in which Americans and Russians collaborated in space. STS-71 docked with the Russian space station Mir and our astronauts went aboard. STS-95 (Discovery, October 1998) – This was a truly momentous flight, as it marked the return to orbit of astronaut hero John Glenn after more than 35 years. At the age of 77, the former Mercury astronaut became the oldest person in space. STS-88 (Endeavour, December 1998) – NASA’s first shuttle to visit the International Space Station (ISS) was Endeavour, which carried the first American module, the Unity node, to the station. Unity was connected to the first space station segment, the Russian Zarya module, which had recently launched on a Russian Proton rocket. STS-114 (Discovery, July 2005) – This was the second great morale mission of the shuttle program. It was the return to flight mission after the Columbia accident. Although no Columbia replacement vehicle was ever built, this mission was critical to regenerating confidence in the program. It was not flown until two years after the accident and followed a thorough investigation that identified the causes and implemented safety improvements. STS-135 (Discovery, July 2011) – The final Shuttle mission was bittersweet for all involved. Astronauts knew that none would ever fly again on this historic spaceship, and the entire workforce understood that they would wait years to once again feel the pride of launching Americans into space. Shuttle Atlantis flew its final mission to carry supplies to the ISS. Atlantis is now on display for all to enjoy at the Kennedy Space Center.

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to the STS orbiter — was slated for a variety of functions, including reconnaissance and satellite maintenance. At that time, reusable shuttle-like space planes were increasingly viewed as key to our nation’s ability to access, explore and exploit space. According to a Space.com article titled How the Space Shuttle was Born, numerous design concepts were formulated during the early years, including the original vision of a fully reusable, two-stage vehicle that would be piloted in both stages. The article noted that the hypersonic, winged first stage would carry the orbiter on its back, reaching at least 50,000 feet. The first stage would then fly back to Earth and land like an airplane, while the orbiter cruised into space. Crew of STS-41-C spent months at the Marshall Center Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, an underwater training facility to prepare for the satellite repair mission

Launch Pad with its Fixed and Rotating Service Structures, and the Shuttle Landing Facility including the Mate-Demate Device. In addition to these most immediate ground requirements, there were also facilities for initial processing and inspection of the Solid Rocket Booster segments, the Hypergolic Processing Facility, a Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) processing facility, a payloads processing facility, a tile manufacturing facility, as well as a logistics center responsible for maintaining all STS spare parts and two solid rocket booster recovery ships. To truly understand the complexity of the Space Transportation System, one must understand how all the pieces fit together to make the Space Shuttle missions possible.

Development

Beginning in the late 1950s, the U.S. Air Force was designing the X-20 space plane, known as the Dyna-Soar, which helped lay the foundation for the shuttle project. This vehicle — similar in design

Budget issues prevented this vision from becoming a reality, and NASA ended up designing the shuttle system, an orbiter carried aloft by two reusable solid rocket boosters.

The Orbiters

The most recognizable components of the Space Transportation System were the Shuttle Orbiters. Six vehicles were built. The first was Enterprise, named after the Starship Enterprise of Star Trek fame. Enterprise was not adapted for, nor did it ever fly, in space. However, Enterprise had the important task of performing five landing tests to ensure that the orbiters could glide back to earth and land without the assistance of engines. The first of the flight vehicles was Columbia, named after the first American ocean vessel to circle the globe and the command module for the Apollo 11 Moon landing. As the first flight vehicle, Columbia was unique in having much additional instrumentation required for the early test flights. Because of the extra instrumentation, Columbia was the heaviest of the flight vehicles.

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The remaining vehicles were redesigned and the in order of flight were: entire program became more Challenger, named after safety conscious, adding the British Naval research significant new requirements vessel HMS Challenger to Shuttle processing that sailed the Atlantic and procedures, inspections, and Pacific oceans during the paperwork. 1870s; Discovery, named after a number of early The Columbia accident was British exploration vessels, also a hardware failure, but including one from the early even more troubling because 1600s captained by Henry it resulted from an external Hudson; Atlantis, named tank issue that had been after the primary research recognized for a number vessel for the Woods Hole of years. Engineers had Oceanographic Institute in long known that the foam Massachusetts from 1930 insulation on the exterior to 1966; and, Endeavour, of the tank frequently fell the Challenger replacement off in pieces during the STS 7 with Sally Ride vehicle, which was named stresses of launch. It was via a nationwide student competition. Each of the also known that something needed to be done to five flight vehicles flew at least one key mission mitigate the risk that one of those pieces might and all have added to the rich legacy of American damage the fragile shuttle heat protection tiles space flight. so crucial to a safe re-entry. While a number of unsuccessful fixes were attempted, none solved The Accidents the problem completely and the decision was The losses of Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in made to continue flight operations in spite of the 2003 were devastating to the Shuttle program. recognized danger to the crews. Both accidents made visible some of the weaknesses in shuttle processing and operations, ... flying five Space Shuttles over and resulted in the eventual conclusion of the a thirty-year period was very program. The Challenger accident was a hardware failure. The original design of the sealing rings (O rings) between the solid rocket booster segments was inadequate, causing one to fail in the cold weather of that January 28th morning. But, more important than the hardware failure, was the revealed inadequacy of the decision-making process that allowed the launch to proceed without regard to warnings from the booster manufacturer. After this accident, the O rings

difficult. It could not have been accomplished without gifted design and operations engineers, an extremely dedicated work force, and the continued financial support of the American public.

After the loss of two crews, the next most devastating effect of these accidents was the impact on the Shuttle work force. The astronauts who spoke after each accident stressed the

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importance of keeping the program alive. In their minds, space travel was dangerous, but each of them knew the risks when they signed up. They were all inspirational in conveying that message, but the work force still took it personally. Losing crews was like losing family and there is little doubt that every individual worker wondered, “What might I have done that could have avoided the tragedy?” After the Challenger accident and return to flight, workers who watched each subsequent launch took a collective sigh of relief at the sight of clean booster separation.

Legacy

The legacy of shuttle is embodied in the words of President Kennedy when he spoke of our

national journey to the moon and back. In that context, he said, “We choose to go to the moon, not because it is easy, but because it is hard.” Likewise, flying five Space Shuttles over a thirtyyear period was very difficult. It could not have been accomplished without gifted design and operations engineers, an extremely dedicated work force, and the continued financial support of the American public. In the end, the Space Shuttle program achieved things that had never been done before and will long be remembered as a critical stepping stone toward future exploration of the moon, Mars and beyond. Jim Tulley is the former Mayor of Titusville, FL and worked in the space program from 1985 to 2009. He is also a retired Naval aviator.

Reflections of a Space Worker By Jim Tulley

It was a great honor to work on America’s space program, and those of us who were fortunate to work at Kennedy Space Center during the Space Shuttle years treasured the experience. We saw history being made with every launch. We experienced the highs of watching the Hubble Space Telescope launched and repaired multiple times, as well as the unimaginable lows of experiencing the loss of two crews. Through it all, it was more than just a job: it was our lives. One of the great perks of working at the space center, was the opportunity to watch every launch from a mere 3.5 miles from the launch pad. The noise from a shuttle launch was exhilarating. It was not the kind of loud that hurt your ears, but, rather, I used to tell my friends and family that the noise made your bones vibrate. Naturally, we all did everything we could to maximize the launch experience. In the early days of the Shuttle

program, NASA had not yet built its two permanent office buildings, so many of us worked in temporary buildings, including converted railroad box cars. Because the box cars still had their ladders to the roof, we would often climb up there to observe launches. It was as though that extra 10 feet of height made a dramatic difference in what we observed. Eventually, NASA shut down that activity for safety reasons. Another great place to observe Shuttle launches was directly in front of the Launch Control Center. It did not take long to learn that standing there – between the building and the launch pad – the noise from the launch would echo off the wall behind us, making the liftoff experience that much more intense. Regardless of our viewing locations, the pride we all felt watching America launch those brave astronauts, was beyond description. In those days, many of us had license plate holder with the words, “Doing What Others Dream.” It was true then, it is still true today and will remain so as long as we continue to reach for the stars.

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THE FUTURE OF SPACE

Introduction

The future of space travel is one of those subjects about which almost anyone can have an opinion. And, due to the ever-accelerating rate of technological change, almost any opinion might turn out to be correct. While there are many “experts” in this field, one must always remember Albert

By James Tulley

prognostication, we must remember that space travel is still a dangerous activity. It is dangerous for two primary reasons: First, and most obvious, is the fact that the vast region of space beyond earth’s atmosphere is not conducive to life as we know it. Currently, human space travel requires heavy, expensive, redundant environmental control systems to keep us alive in the space environment. The second reason relates to gravity and the large energy requirements for getting payloads into space. There is also difficulty of dissipating large amounts of energy when returning from space. Recent launch pad explosions as well as two Space Shuttle accidents are everpresent reminders of the dangers involved in space travel.

Artist Concept Space Elevator by Glenn Clovis

Einstein’s observation that, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” For that reason, it is safe to say that our direction in future space travel is limited only by our imaginations. The future of space will be heavily dependent on commercialization, with assistance from governments around the world. Commercial activity will likely involve communications, resource retrieval and space tourism, while governmental activity will more likely focus on deep space exploration and research. This article is intended to explore possibilities dependent on new technologies rather than probabilities given current capabilities.

Constraints

Before delving into the realm of space 32

On extended space flights for exploration, there are also the challenges of radiation, food supply, propulsion and human health factors. All of these presumed constraints, while within the range of science and engineering to overcome, are worth mentioning because they will be factors in our future space activity.

Future Space Activity

Of all the probable activities mentioned in the introduction, space tourism is probably the most problematic. As we have already seen, the first to go will be those adventurers who are willing to assume the risk (and cost) to be prequalified as fit for space flight. After that, taking average citizens into space as if it were an ocean cruise will require the utmost in safety measures. Some might conclude that such travel could be likened to convincing the public that air travel is safe, as was done on the last century. However,

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

in the case of space travel, the risks are higher and the obstacles more challenging. Space travel for the masses will no doubt come, but at this point we must leave it to the visionaries to figure out how. It should also be apparent that all future space activity will be highly dependent on advances in technology. At this point in time, there are at least five technologies that are likely to have a major impact on the future of space. Those technologies are: propulsion systems, advanced miniaturization, advanced materials, robotics and artificial intelligence.

Future Propulsion Systems

Because of the dangers inherent in current propulsion systems and their obvious limitations for long-distance space travel, it is likely that advanced propulsion systems will play an important role in the future of space. Just a few of those possibilities are listed in the following paragraphs.

Ion Thrusters

In the same article, it was noted that, “NASA’s engineers have tested an engine known as a ‘Cannae Drive’, a machine that instead uses electricity to generate microwaves, bouncing them around inside a specially designed container that theoretically creates a difference in radiation pressure and so results in directional thrust.” The article noted that tests thus far have produced only a minimal amount of thrust, but, “still a great deal more than nothing.”

Space Elevator

While not exactly a propulsion system, the idea of a space elevator is to send payloads into earth orbit on a superstrong ribbon, the ends of which are anchored on earth and in space. According to an article on extremetech. com by Graham Templeton, such a ribbon, predicted by

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” For that reason, it is safe to say that our direction in future space travel is limited only by our imaginations.

According to a NASA.gov article on ion propulsion, “Ion thrusters are being designed for a wide variety of missions – from keeping communications satellites in the proper position (station-keeping) to propelling spacecraft throughout our solar system. These thrusters require significantly less propellant for a given mission than would be needed with chemical propulsion. Ion propulsion is even considered to be mission enabling for some cases where sufficient chemical propellant cannot be carried on the spacecraft to accomplish the desired mission.”

Microwave Engine

action must have an equal and opposite reaction.”

Rocket engines requiring no fuel would be invaluable for long duration space flight. According to a 2014 science news article in the London-based Independent, “In a paper published by the agency’s experimental Eagleworks Laboratories, NASA engineers confirmed that they had produced tiny amounts of thrust from an engine without propellant – an apparent violation of the conservation of momentum; the law of physics that states that every

a report from the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), “will be able to carry up to seven 20-ton payloads at once. It will serve as a tether stretching far beyond geostationary (aka geosynchronous) orbit and held taught by an anchor of roughly two million kilograms. Sending payloads up this backbone could fundamentally change the human relationship with space.” The article also noted that, “projecting current research in carbon nanotubes and similar technologies, the IAA estimates that a pilot project could plausibly deliver packages to an altitude of 1000 kilometers (621 miles) as soon as 2025.”

Gravity (or Anti-Gravity) Engine While bordering on science fiction, there is also the prospect of propulsion systems that could accelerate very large payloads to speeds approaching the speed

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

of light by using gravity. There are numerous articles on the web which describe both theory and research in this realm, but it is difficult to come to any conclusions as to the viability of this science. For now, we can only assume that this is a far future space system possibility.

Advanced Miniaturization

This trend in reducing the size of space hardware has already begun and will certainly continue. So called “Cube Sats” are already being placed in orbit and that will continue. As noted above, the cost of space activity remains connected to weight, and all weight reductions will make space activity more economical. Weight reductions via miniaturization will allow for more communication and earth science satellites as well more compact cargos for deep space missions.

Advanced Materials

Access to space has always been about advanced materials, which was the motivation for NASA’s Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). According to a NASA. gov article, “In January 1990, the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), after five-and-one half years orbiting Earth, was retrieved during the STS-32 space shuttle mission and returned to Earth for close examination and analysis. The orbital facility tested the performance of spacecraft materials, components, and systems exposed to the environment of micrometeoroids, space debris, radiation particles, atomic oxygen, and solar radiation for extended periods. It has proved invaluable as engineers selected materials to build the International Space Station, Mars rovers, and other spacecraft. LDEF carried 57 science and technology experiments, the work of more than 200 investigators, 33 private companies, 21 universities, seven NASA centers, nine Department of Defense laboratories, and eight foreign countries. Investigators at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. sponsored several experiments and

analyzed many of the samples in the center’s materials and processes laboratory.” In the future advanced, materials will be factors in reducing payload weight, increasing strength and safety factors and adding to required radiation protection on deep space missions.

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

The inter-related technologies of robotics and artificial intelligence have, perhaps, the greatest potential for far-reaching impact. Because the communication lag time between earth and deep space (e.g. Mars) it is clear that, for robotics to be effective, robots will be require a significant capacity for artificial intelligence. In an interview with Air & Space Smithsonian Magazine in August 2010, astronaut Story Musgrave said, “We need to join the robotic and the human programs so that they optimize each other. Send robots first to mine the materials you need, and they build the habitats. And then humans can get low-cost reliable access to space.” 5. Given that both android and artificial intelligence appear to be finally coming of age, these two technologies, when combined, may have a dramatic effect on future space flights. It may be that for resource extraction missions, the flights could be “manned” entirely by robots with no human involvement required.

Conclusion

Based on recent technological advances, anyone who has been fan of American and international space programs can come to only one conclusion: The future of space exploration is bright. Commercial space activity will mean more launches at an ever-increasing pace, by which we will learn more about space than we ever have before. Spin-offs will come faster, and, as it has always done, space activity will change lives for the better around the globe.

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

Emerging Space Companies Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s space companies aim to develop viable

existing capabilities (like access to space) available at lower

businesses to provide services such as human

costs and prices. By developing these products and services,

space travel and habitationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;currently the domain

they aim to open new markets for space experiences and

of government agencies. The re-emergence of

industrial activity.

private investment in space, coupled with ongoing government investment, combines for a promising

The following is an overview of emerging space companies

future in space exploration.

and their visions of space exploration. Many of these companies are entrepreneurial, but several (Sierra Nevada,

A belief in space exploration and economic

Boeing, and ULA) are accomplished aerospace firms seeking

development drives the current wave of space

to drive new markets. In addition, there are many other

entrepreneurs, who seek revolutionary change in

emerging space companies in supplier, component, and

our relationship with space, and are motivated

services segments. This is a dynamic industry with frequent

by their mission. They do not necessarily view

changes and the listing here is only a sample of the diverse

exploration as movement towards one singular

efforts under way. This is not an exhaustive list and several

accomplishment (such as a moon landing), but

of these companies plan to provide more than one type of

as the development of sustainable and diverse

service; for example, in addition to providing orbital launch

economic activities in space. This requires new

services, SpaceX also intends to provide crew and cargo

capabilities enabled by new technologies, but also

launch services to Mars sometime in the 2030s.

Beyond LEO

LEO Human Spaceflight

Remote Sensing

Space Access

Company

Vehicle(s) or Spacecraft

Services

Blue Origin

New Shepard, Biconic Spacecraft

Suborbital and orbital launch services including human spaceflight

Masten Space Systems

Xaero, Xogdor

Suborbital launches of small payloads

Virgin Galactic

SpaceShipTwo, LauncherOne

Suborbital launches of small payloads, suborbital human spaceflight, and air-launched nanosatellite launches

XCOR Aerospace

Lynx

uborbital launches of small payloads, suborbital human spaceflight, and nanosatellite launches

Orbital Sciences Corporation

Pegasus, Tauris, Antares, Cygnus

Orbital launches of satellites and ISS cargo

SpaceX

Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Dragon

Orbital launches of satellites and ISS cargo, with orbital human spaceflight planned by 2017

Stratolaunch Systems

Stratolauncher

Air-launched orbital launch services

United Launch

Alliance Atlas V, Delta IV

Orbital launch services

Planet Labs

Dove, Flock 1

Frequent imaging of the Earth and open access to acquired data via website

Skybox Imaging

SkySat

Frequent imaging and HD video of the Earth, data analysis, and open access to acquired data via website

Bigelow

Aerospace BA 330

Inflatable habitats for use in orbit or on the Moon

Boeing

CST-100

Crewed LEO transportation

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Dream Chaser

Crewed LEO transportation

Space Adventures

Soyuz

Crewed LEO and lunar expeditions

B612 Foundation

Sentinel

Detection and characterization of potentially hazardous asteroids

Inspiration Mars Foundation

Inspiration Mars

Crewed Mars flyby expedition

Moon Express

Prospecting and mining lunar resources

Planetary Resources

Arkyd 100, Arkyd 200, Arkyd 300

Prospecting and mining asteroid resources

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Brings to Life the Epic Story of the Space Program

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s newest attraction and the first stop upon entering, Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing, uses the early years of the space program to explore the concept of heroism, and the qualities that define the individuals who inspire generations. Through engaging storytelling, embark on an awe-inspiring journey through Heroes & Legends that begins with an immersive exhibit designed to spark thought and discussion about how society defines a hero. Cutting-edge technology, a 4D multi-sensory theater, interactive elements and engaging exhibits work together to introduce the heroes of the NASA space program: the pioneers who made space exploration possible.

Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing

The culminating exhibit of Heroes & Legends is the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Housed in a majestic rotunda, the exhibit intimately connects the visitor to each of the nearly 100 astronaut inductees

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

Photos courtesy of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Experience your very own space adventure by exploring the exciting past, present and future of America’s space program at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. More than an active launch facility and spaceport, it is a place where interactive space experiences bring you closer to NASA and space exploration than anywhere else on Earth. Be immersed and be inspired — at the place where the mission for exploration continues.

A ship like no other, the space shuttle launched like a rocket and landed like a glider

through the use of state-of-the-art interactive technology. A signature element of the experience is the ability to capture a memento: a special photo opportunity that allows you to pose with one of the Mercury astronaut heroes. The ever-popular Rocket Garden is a Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex hallmark. The outdoor garden features authentic rockets from the past including Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs as well as a Mercury-Atlas rocket similar to the one used to launch John Glenn into space in 1962. Go behind the gates and get access to historic launch sites and working spaceflight facilities on the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Bus Tour. Tour the birthplace of American spaceflight to see launch pads and the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building along the way. From the comfort of an air-conditioned motor coach, access restricted areas of this working spaceflight facility where America launched to the moon and where NASA plans to launch astronauts into deep space. Learn where NASA’s Commercial The gigantic Saturn V, the largest rocket ever flown Crew and Cargo partners such as SpaceX, Boeing and United Launch Alliance (ULA) operate on Florida’s Space Coast at this multi-user facility. The last stop on the KSC Bus Tour is the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Discover historic moments in the Firing Room Theater and the Lunar Theater, and view legendary artifacts in the Apollo Treasures Gallery. Stand in amazement under the gigantic Saturn V, the largest rocket ever flown! Get an up-close look at the moments and monuments that helped America win the race to the moon. A ship like no other, the space shuttle launched like a rocket and landed like a glider while transporting astronauts to space and back for 30 years. Stand in awe of this American icon at Space Shuttle Atlantis®, permanent home of the orbiter. More than 60 exciting, educational touch-screen experiences

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

Photo courtesy of the Kennedy Space Center

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

The Rocket Garden is a Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex hallmark featuring authentic rockets from the past including Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs as well as a Mercury-Atlas rocket similar to the one used to launch John Glenn into space in 1962.

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex launched a suite of official virtual reality experiences and the all-new custom-designed Space Visor. Utilizing three mobile applications, the Space Visor immerses guests in a space experience like no other, virtually taking visitors to restricted access areas, captivating them in a world

and high-tech simulators invite guests of all ages to “be the astronaut,” bringing to life the people, passion and patriotism behind NASA’s 30-year Heroes & Legends is an immersive exhibit Space Shuttle designed to spark thought and discussion. Program as well as the complexity of the engineering marvel that launched the Hubble Space Telescope and built the International Space Station (ISS).

that brings the artifacts to life and allowing guests to take Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Then strap in for a simulation of the space shuttle’s eight-and-a-halfminute ascent into orbit! Enter the heart of space shuttle operations for a prelaunch briefing by veteran space shuttle commander Charles Bolden. Once on board, experience what veteran NASA astronauts call the next best thing to flying aboard the space shuttle.

home to share their experience with others. The Space Visor is sold at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s Space Shop and online at TheSpaceShop.com.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.KennedySpaceCenter.com

In 2018, Kennedy Space Center will once again launch astronauts into space. See test versions of the spacecraft created for the Commercial Crew Program and Space Launch System, the future transportation of NASA’s deep space exploration and Journey to Mars. Currently on display: SpaceX Dragon Capsule from COTS-2 Mission, Boeing CST100 Starliner Crew Capsule Pressure Vessel, scale model of NASA Space Launch System (SLS), scale model of Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser Cargo Vehicle. View Earth like an astronaut in 3D films at IMAX®. See views of Earth from space in “A Beautiful Planet,” the newest IMAX 3D documentary film. Featuring footage of Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) and narrated by actress Jennifer Lawrence, images of our magnificent blue planet demonstrate the effects humanity has had on it over time in this film captured by the astronauts aboard the ISS. Get up close to a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers the closest public viewing for rocket launches. LC-39 Observation Gantry offers a premium, up-close view of the rocket on the launch pad and during lift off. You can feel the force of the launch and hear the roar of the engines from the launch pads at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This area features lawn and bleacher seating and live launch commentary.

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

Tribute to an American Hero

JOHN GLENN

He would live another 18 years following his history-making flight, dying at the age of 95 on Dec. 8, 2016. He was the last surviving member of the legendary Mercury 7 (and, interestingly, the oldest of the group).

American Space Museum board member Lee Solid was a young engineer during Project Mercury and he recently recalled one Glenn-related encounter:

John Glenn 1921-2016

When John Glenn died in December 2016, it was more than the loss of a space hero or a political figure, it was the end of an era. The last Mercury Astronaut had slipped the surly bonds of earth for a final, incredible flight. As a Mercury astronaut, Glenn was both outspoken and outgoing. No one was surprised when he sought political office for he was arguably more engaging and sociable than the rest of the Mercury Seven, most of whom shied away from the spotlight that astronaut status cast on them. As the first American to orbit the earth, Glenn quickly achieved national hero status, so much so that NASA and President Kennedy hesitated to risk his life on future missions. Glenn put his astronaut days behind him, for a while anyway, in 1964. He would eventually serve as a Senator from Ohio between 19741999, even mounting an unsuccessful bid for President. But on Oct 29, 1998, Glenn became the oldest person to fly in space, as a member of the STS95 crew.

“Being involved with launching the first American into Earth Orbit was a dream come true for me. I was a relatively new rocket engine test engineer working for Rocketdyne. They provided the rocket engines for the Atlas-Mercury launch vehicle and I was the engine specialist supporting the Convair launch processing. The Atlas was being developed and flight tested as an ICBM when I arrived at the Cape a year and a half before John Glenn’s flight. The Atlas and the Titan would become the launch vehicles for Mercury and Gemini. As we progressed toward putting a man on one of these “not fully developed” launch vehicles, our anxiety level rose. There were Atlases on 5 launch pads, and flight tests often led to picking up pieces of exploded vehicle on the beach. Was the Atlas really ready to be manned? It was no longer a question of “can we do it?” The Russians had, by now, done it twice…so, we must. I especially recall the launch attempts. The first attempt, set for December, 1961 soon slipped to early January 1962. Then, technical problems with the Atlas or unfavorable weather would slip it several more times before final success on 20 February. During these attempts, John was inserted into the Mercury capsule at least three times. On the first attempt, we workers rushed to the Pad to watch the approaching Astronaut van. It was a carnival-like atmosphere with spotlights, fanfare and the works. John made his grand entry to the cheering crowd and entered the elevator up to the capsule. As the festivities abated I engaged the Pad Leader (Gunter Wendt) and asked for a chance to visit John atop the Atlas. I had no business there, but Gunter took me to the white room where John was already in the capsule. I went to the open hatch, shook John’s hand and wished him a safe journey. He was most accommodating and I left on cloud nine…a part of history. By the next attempted launch, I discovered that “new rules” prevented nonessentials from entering the white room. I was told that my work was at the other end of the vehicle…so, “get to work.”

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

PORT CANAVERAL

– WORLD CLASS GATEWAY

No other port in Florida, the nation or, perhaps, in the world has operations as diverse as Port Canaveral. The Port’s mission is to serve as Central Florida’s premier maritime gateway for cruise travel and tourism, and to provide efficient cargo movement and logistics options for commodities and consumer goods shipping.

a total cost of $1,365,999. The Port began its operations with the commercial fishing fleet in the region, and with vessels calling on the port carrying scrap metals and citrus crops to and from Central Florida.

From Fishing Port to Space Port

Port Canaveral has grown to be a worldclass gateway to new frontiers, including History space. Originally chartered to serve as a local Dedicated on November 4, 1953, Port commercial fishing port, local and regional Canaveral is a man-made deep-water businessmen quickly saw the value of utilizing seaport that was first conceived in 1878 by the quiet port as Central Florida’s maritime gateway to the world. Within a few years of the Port’s opening, cargo vessels began calling on the port regularly with deliveries of oil, newsprint, and wood, and for the export of Central Florida’s famous citrus products around the world. Today, the Port moves approximately 5.5 million tons of cargo annually ranging from automobiles and 8.17.16 – SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket passes Exploration Tower and cargo terminals on its heavy equipment, to refrigerated first return trip to Port Canaveral for commercial reuse. containers carrying fresh produce; tankered petroleum products, and the Department of the Navy. The location now, flight proven commercial rockets. was considered ideal for commercial and military maritime ventures. For several years local officials and business leaders worked to promote the Port’s advantages and secure its build-out. Finally, in 1929 Congress gave its approval following justification by the United States Engineers office in Jacksonville. Construction began in June 1950 and was completed two years later at

The Port has played a critical role in America’s space program from its inception. In the late 1950’s as the United States led the global reshaping of post-World War II, a parcel of land located on the Port’s north side was sold to the United States Air Force. Subsequently, the first of many steel shipments were

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

delivered to this new military installation to be used in the construction of guided missile assembly plants at the Cape Canaveral Launch Area. In 1961, the space capsule of Alan Shepard, the first American launched into space, was retrieved upon its return to Earth by vessels home ported at Port Canaveral. In 1965, the Canaveral Lock opened connecting the Port to the Banana River. The lock was designed specifically to transport huge Saturn rockets from Port Canaveral to space launch pads located just to the north. During America’s Space Shuttle Program, solid rocket boosters retrieved at sea were returned to the NASA Space Center via Port Canaveral.

The Gateway to Exploration Port Canaveral is not just a port, it is a destination with a proud history of serving some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated cruise ships. Port Canaveral has become a world-class gateway for cruises and one of Florida’s fastest growing cruise ports. The Port is proud of its partnerships with many of the world’s most distinguished cruise lines, all of which have chosen Port Canaveral as their homeport for some of their largest and most sophisticated cruise ships.

During the 1960’s and 70’s as the Port was fully engaged on cargo expansion, it was 1963 when the Port welcomed its first chartered cruise – the S/S Yarmouth – a vessel carrying 402 passengers. Fast forward to more than a half century later and this once “sleepy” fishing port is now a worldrenowned cruise destination. Record numbers of passenger movements year after year are testimony to Port Canaveral’s commitment to the highest level of customer service coupled with its ongoing investments in state-of-the art facilities and continuous improvement in cruise operations. Port Canaveral’s growth in the cruise industry can be summed up in a single phrase: One trip,

two vacations, and twice the fun. Many of Port Canaveral’s cruise guests include visits to one or more of the many attractions conveniently located near the Port, such as the Orlando theme parks, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and Brevard County’s beautiful eco tours. What’s more, Port

Port Canaveral has grown to be a world-class gateway to new frontiers, including space. Canaveral offers more recreational activities within the port than all other Florida deep-water seaports combined. Upon entering the Port from the Atlantic Ocean, mariners and cruise passengers alike are welcomed by the sight of the Port’s Jetty Park – a 35-acre public park offering visitors beach access, camping spaces, and playgrounds. On the west end is Port Canaveral’s newest attraction, Exploration Tower, a seven story interactive museum and educational center, providing information on the Port’s operations, Brevard County history, space exploration and local artisan displays. Exploration Tower is also the best vantage point on the Space Coast for watching rocket launches and landings from the Cape.

Mission Moving Forward

Port Canaveral has grown considerably from its post-World War II days as an access point for commercial fisherman to trade their Atlantic Ocean catches. We have become a strategic gateway to the 10th largest market in the United States and a 21st century economic driver for the county, the state, and the entire Southeast region. Port Canaveral’s growth continues with its improvements and capabilities expansions in cruise and cargo operations, transportation fuels supply and distribution, and the Port’s continuous evolvement as the nation’s first space port. Growth is inevitable and complacency is not an option. Port Canaveral stands ready for whatever the future may hold. The sky is truly the limit at Port Canaveral.

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

The Business of Space Exploration: 2017 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER PRIME CONTRACTORS

• A bacus Technology; provides information technology and communications services to NASA • A .I. Solutions: provides full-lifecycle space mission engineering services to both civilian (NASA, NOAA) and defense (USAF, NRO) space agencies, having supported more than 300 manned and payload missions in all orbit regimes. • A -P-T Research provides mission assurance, engineering and risk assessment services at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. • Boeing: Throughout the last 50 years, Boeing and its heritage companies have been integral in every major endeavor to escape Earth’s gravity. From the first Mercury capsule, to the current International Space Station, and beyond to the Space Launch System, Boeing has and will take humans and technology farther than they’ve ever been. • C henega Infinity provide security, emergency management and protective services to NASA‘s Kennedy Space Center in Florida • D elaware North operates Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, helping NASA educate, inspire and inform guests about the country’s space program • I ntegrated Mission Support Services fulfill the Kennedy Environmental and Medical Contract (KEMCON) at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. • J acobs Technology provides support to NASA’s development, testing, and evaluation facilities at 10 complexes and major sites around the U.S. They also perform test and evaluation services at NASA sites for commercial spaceflight technologies. As NASA’s largest services-only contractor, Jacobs supports work on the main and sub-

systems of the International Space Station, and is involved in the development of the new Space Launch System, a combination of previous launch designs that will be able to carry large payloads of either personnel or cargo into space. • Lockheed Martin Space Systems: NASA and Lockheed Martin are approaching the end of Orion’s development phase, having successfully tackled many of the toughest engineering challenges associated with human exploration of deep space. The team remains on track for Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) in 2018 and Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the first crewed flight, as early as 2021. • M illennium Engineering; contracted by NASA for the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program Office Support contract to provide diverse, high-end engineering services to NASA’s GSDO Program Office • Orbital ATK is bringing the efficiency and discipline of fixed-price commercial contracting to the human spaceflight market by providing cargo delivery services to the International Space Station (ISS) under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program. The company’s Cygnus advanced maneuvering spacecraft conducts autonomous rendezvous and close- inoperations with the ISS and also supports future deep-space exploration programs. • Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) designs, manufactures, and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

other planets. Today, SpaceX is advancing the boundaries of space technology through its Falcon launch vehicles and Dragon spacecraft. Launch Complex 39 (LC-39) is a rocket launch site at the John F. Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island in Florida, United States. The site and its collection of facilities were originally built for the Apollo program, and later modified for the Space Shuttle program. As of 2017, only Launch Complex 39A is active, launching SpaceX’s Falcon 9. LC-39 is also being modified to support launches of the SpaceX’s Dragon 2 and Falcon Heavy, as well as NASA’s Space Launch System, with a new, smaller pad, C, added to support smaller launches. • T echnik, Inc. provider of services and solutions for the federal government, has been awarded the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Information Technology Support Services (ITSS) Contract to provide a variety of IT support services for the Information Technology and Communication Services (IT) Directorate.

The History of the Kennedy Space Center On July 29, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Public Law 85-568 that established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Dr. T. Keith Glennan was sworn in as the first administrator of NASA on Aug. 19, and on Oct. 1, the new agency began operation with the mission to perform civilian research related to space flight and aeronautics. On Sept. 1, 1961, NASA requested appropriations for initial land purchases on Merritt Island to support the Apollo Lunar Landing Program. This land would eventually become the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) we know today. The first request was for a 200-square-mile area immediately north and west of existing Cape Canaveral launch pads. On March 7, 1962 the Launch Operations Center (LOC) was established as an independent NASA field center

• U nited Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States.

located on Merritt Island. In November of 1963, President

• U RS Federal Technical Services, Inc. Was selected by NASA to fulfill the KSC Propellants and Life Support Services Contract (KPLSS) at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.

KSC first began making its mark on the Merritt Island side

• V encor Services & Solutions now the largest commercial contract at Kennedy Space Center, is helping NASA prepare for the next stage of exploration of the solar system and beyond.

know as the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The NASA

Lyndon Johnson designated the facilities of the Launch Operations Center and Station No. 1 of the Atlantic Missile Range as the John F. Kennedy Space. The Air Force subsequently changed the name of the Cape Canaveral Missile Test Annex to Cape Kennedy Air Force Station.

of the Banana River after acquiring property there in the early 1960s. Designers quickly began developing plans for Launch Complex 39 facilities which include the Launch Control Center, Pads A & B as well as the huge hangar we KSC Headquarters building, located in the industrial area, was formally opened on May 26, 1965. Headquarters is the administrative center for all spaceport activities, including the center director’s office. In February 1964, construction on the Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF) began.

2017 | AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME

Providing Past, Present, & Future Solutions Enabling American Space Program Success JACOBS’ PARTNERSHIP WITH NASA IS A HALF-CENTURY IN THE MAKING, with over 50 years dedicated to

delivering sustainable solutions focused on safety and reliability. We serve as a lead systems integrator for multiple exploration programs and a proven advocate for deep space exploration. In 1948 we provided design engineering support for the Joint Long-Range Proving Ground at Cape Canaveral, and critical test and analysis support for NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle Programs. Jacobs played key roles in the construction and operation of the International Space Station (ISS), and designed the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and our legacy continues with support to payload processing for cargo resupply missions to the ISS. Jacobs also designed, built, modified, and continues to operate much of the national test infrastructure critical to the success of these efforts, including rocket test stands, wind tunnels, impact ranges, arc heater test facilities, and space chambers at multiple NASA centers and DoD installations. Jacobs is the largest non-original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supporting NASA. With a strong presence at nearly every NASA center across the country, we are in the heart of development for the new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft. Jacobs performed early testing and analysis on Orion reentry trajectories and supported development of the Orion multistage parachute deployment system used to decelerate the spacecraft during re-entry from 25,000 to 25 miles per hour. Our team continues to refine and manufacture advanced thermal protection system components to protect Orion during re-entry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, where we will assist the U.S. Navy and an integrated team of engineers and technicians with recovery operations, which were proven successful during the recovery of Orion on Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) in December 2014. Retrieval Ship supports EFT-1 Landing and Recovery

At KSC, Jacobs’ team supports NASA’s efforts to transform Kennedy into a multi-user spaceport with the capability to launch new generation spacecraft. Together, we’ve made substantial progress upgrading Kennedy’s ground systems and facilities, including complete refurbishment of the Crawler Transporter 2, and the installation of new work platforms in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). We continue to perform modifications to the Mobile Launcher and to perform upgrades to Launch Pad 39B. Our team of software experts is designing and developing the Ground and Flight Application Software (GFAS) used in the Launch Control Center (LCC) to process and launch the next generation of Upgraded Crawler-Transporter 2 rolls out of the VAB human-rated space vehicles. As SLS components arrive at Kennedy, Jacobs’ team works with NASA to complete the final stages of assembly and integration prior to the maiden launch of SLS and Orion. With greater investments being made by private industry in space exploration, Jacobs contract operations works as one team to provide crucial engineering, wind tunnel testing, thermal protection system development and production, water impact testing for splashdown simulation, and orbital debris hypervelocity impact testing. No matter the exploration project, Jacobs is your solution services provider. From on the ground to in the air, Jacobs is helping pave the way for the future of America’s Spaceflight Program.

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed major holidays Admission: $10 adult; $8 seniors/military; $5 ages 13-18; FREE to 12 & under Memberships Individual Member $25 – Free museum entry for 1 individual for 1 year & more. Family Member $45 – Free entry for 4 in same household for 1 year & more. Supporting Member $100-$499 – Free entry for 4 members of same household for 1 year. 4 free passes to share with anyone. 10% off STEAM Shop purchases. Sustaining Member $500-$999 – All benefits of supporting member, plus 6 free passes to share. 15% off STEAM Shop. Patron Memberships Silver Patron $1000-$4999 – 4 memberships, 8 free passes for 1 year, web & wall acknowledgement, 15% off STEAM Shop purchases, 2 comp. Astronaut event tickets, invitation to museum events, introduction at all events & more. Gold Patron $5000-$9999 – 6 memberships, 10 free passes for 1 year, web & wall acknowledgement, 20% off STEAM Shop purchases, 4 comp. Astronaut event tickets, invitation to all museum events, introduction at all events & more. Platinum Patron $10,000 $ up – All Gold Level benefits plus 2 additional comp. Astronaut event tickets (6 total), plus 1 more for every $1,000 over $10,000. Up to 8 Kennedy Space Center tickets per year upon request. Special access to VIP events, use of meeting space & more...

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How Orbital ATK is Building the Future Using Lessons Learned from the Past

By Earl Benson

“Accept the challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.” This simple quote from General George Patton is applicable to every part of life, but for Orbital ATK and the aerospace industry as a whole, it provides a glimpse into the attitude necessary to transform and improve upon past successes to deliver a future for human space flight that will be a source of national pride. The challenges we face to build the future of space flight are substantial. Create the new and different, maintain technical rigor, and increase hardware reliability, while also reducing cost, increasing efficiency, and not losing sight of the failures and lessons learned that made us who we are today.

who can question the standards, challenge the status quo, and bring new ideas to what can easily become a stale set of ideals. The right combination of people brings out the best in everything we do and facilitates the transfer of knowledge to a new generation of future leaders in industry.

Infrastructure Also Key As important as the human factor is, an infrastructure must also exist to ensure that collaborative processes take place, that decisions – and reasons behind those decisions – are documented, and that the vast knowledge of our workforce is captured and passed on. This includes having value-added procedures directing what to do, easy-to-use standard work explaining how to do it, and educational training to explain why it’s important. This infrastructure is vital to making continuous improvement a part of our culture, which is necessary to ensure controlled innovation, making new products and services without losing the technical excellence and reliability for which we are known. With the people and culture in place, building the future just needs a well-suited continuous improvement process. Given the major focus on leveraging past successes, simply identifying your current condition and allowing your team to define a target state provides an easy model to identify the actions necessary to get from where you are to where you wish to be. Following through on those actions is not easy, but successful execution of them allows you to reach heights previously unobtainable.

So, how do you overcome those challenges? How do you self-evaluate your weaknesses? Most importantly, how do you ensure the lessons learned from your past are applied so you don’t repeat previous mistakes? First of all, it always starts with people. Having the right people in the right place at the right time asking the right questions is essential to the evaluation and decision-making processes. This not only includes the greybeards who lived ‘it’ and have the scar tissue as proof, but also the new-comers, those

At Orbital ATK, improving on our successes, failures, and overall history in aerospace is certainly a challenge, but it’s a challenge we gladly accept. But we don’t accept it simply for the exhilaration of victory, be it winning contracts and gaining profits. We do it for pride. Pride in our nation’s leadership in space, pride in the space flight industry, and pride in doing things nobody else has ever done. But in the end, having pride in what you do is a victory in of itself.

Earl Benson is an Engineering Manager at Orbital ATK, responsible for Quality Engineering work on the production of the Space Launch System (SLS) nozzle as well as full-scale motor testing. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines. He lives with his wife, Rachel, and two children, Hailey and Taylor, in Utah. 48

AMERICAN SPACE MUSEUM and SPACE WALK of FAME | 2017

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