Iss Expedition SIX: Crew Comes Home
Iss Expedition SIX: Crew Comes Home
Iss Expedition SIX: Crew Comes Home
In each of these communities there are base camps of more than 1,500 folks set up to cover every acre of a 240-mile-long debris field which i s about 10 miles wide. And having searched more than 550,000 acres, the equivalent to covering every acre in the state of Rhode Island, they less than 90 days.
strength we need to persevere. We've heard from thousands of folks who want us to continue our space-
visIO"
NASA Vision
Editoml Staff M q Fenton, 202 358 4817 Jennifer Wood, 202 358 0097 Desgn i; Lqout Enn M Houchen, 202 358 2299
InfoCom e-miL
infocom@hq.nasa.go~,
Access M U Vision Online:
~~.hq.na~a.go~lhq/infocom/hqhiil~~~sii~n-5-O~.pdf
The Fxpedifion Six crew members pore for o crew photo in the Zvezdo Servire Module on /he InternotionolSpoce Stofion (ISS1. From the left ore h n o n o u t Nikoloi M. Budorin, flight engineer; Artronouts Kennefh D. Bowersox, Mission Commander; ond Donold R. Peffif, NASA IS8 Science @fire[
~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~~
The station provides an incomparable platform for scientific research and human space exploration
seats that conform to their bodies. The seats help cushion the landing and distribute the shock; the impact ranges between three and four Gs. Of course, after more than five months in space, any gravity will be a shock to the crew. Within minutes of landing, Russian space officials will set up a portable medical tent and carefully take the Soyuz crew members to it, one by one. Bowersox, Pettit and Budarin will spend their first moments back on Earth in special recliners, resting up and readapting to gravitys pull. About two hours later, theyll begin a trip to Star City, Russia, where theyll spend at least 16 days undergoing medical tests and physical therapy. Back on orbit, another first: the typical three-person space station crew
...
From undocking to landing, the crews Soyuz trip is expected to last about three hours and 23 minutes. Just about everything that happens is automated; the crew has little to do but hold on tight. About 15 minutes before the Soyuz lands, it begins to deploy a series of parachutes to slow its descent. Then, a mere two seconds before landing - less than three feet above the ground - six engines on the spacecraft fire toward the Earth to cushion the touchdown. Still, a landing in a Soyuz is generally bumpier than on a shuttle, but comfort for the astronauts and cosmonauts is part of the Russian spacecrafts design. Bowersox, Pettit and Budarin will be riding home in custom-built
scaled down to two. NASA and its international partners have determined a smaller crew will be able to maintain the station and the scientific experiments on board, while reducing the need for consumables, such as water, aboard the station. Construction on the station is on hold for now, but its at the top of the list of priorities once the shuttles return to flight. The target date has been pushed back, but the goal remains the same, Associate Administrator for Space Flight Bill Readdy says, U.S. Core Complete - and beyond. The station provides an incomparable platform for scientific research and human space exploration, he says. Its our future.
NASA Vision
AMESresearchcenter
NASA Ames Reseorch Center hos launched "Women In Science: No Limits," a new lecture series to provide role models for young women, interest them in science coreers and inform general audiences about the research fields of oceanography, atmospheric chemistry ond space science. The broad range of speokers from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities ond notionalities supports diversity ond serves minority, os well os mainstream, audiences. Speakers hove included Dr. Marcia McNutt, president ond chief executive officer of the Monlerey Boy Aquorium Research Institute, ond Dr. Azadeh Tabazodeh, on Atmospheric Scientist at NASA Ames. The next speaker will be astronaut Dr. Ellen Ochoa on June 11. The lectures are to-sponsoredby NASA Ames, De Anza College and the Center for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
DRYDENJ7ightreseurchcenter
During April, the woters off Southern California were studied by both NASA and the Novol Research Loborotory (NRL). These coastal eddies con be important in bringing nutrients from deep to surface waters, where they provide stimulus for ocean plant growfh. Eddies con transport pollutonts that originoted on lond, recirculoting this moteriol for several doys. Scientists from NASA and the Naval Research Loborotory, Washington, D.C., are interested in spiral-shoped slicks, or glossy water, on the ocean's surface thot may result from small-scole eddies in the ocean. NASA will fly its specially instrumented oirborne sciences DC-8 jet, bosed at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, over the Southern Californio Bight to locate eddies using Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR).
LANG LE Yresearchcenter
The Americon Institute of Aeronoutics and Astronautics (AIM) has named Thomas Brooks the
GLENNresearchceizter
Dr. Rafot Ansari, on Aerospace Scientist in Glenn Research Center's Biofluid Sensor Systems/Microgravity Science Division, wos a planning committee member and panelist at the "Ohio's Vision . .. Awoken to the Challenge" conference hosted by Glenn on April 28. The conference focused on the social, economic and quoliiy-of-life challenges that will result from increosing vision problems in Ohio, a growing statewide health issue. Ansori summorized his research involving noninvasive and early detection of eye diseases os a way to find treatments for illnesses in the entire body. Dr. Jonathan B. Clark, o Flight Surgeon ot Johnson Space Center, was the luncheon keynote speaker.
MARSHALLs~~nceJ7i~~tceizter
It wos a grueling, obstocle-strewn course at the U S Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., but Team No. 1 from North Dakota State in Forgo conquered it and rode to victory in the college division of NASA's 10th annual "Greot Moonbuggy Race." The team topped 23 others representing colleges and universities from IO states and Puerto Rico. A teom from the University of Tennessee Knoxville took second ploce, and the team from the University of South Alabamo in Mobile placed third. On Friday, a teom from The Lafoyette County (Mo.) C-1 high school in Higginsville, Mo., won the high school division.
KENNEDYspacecenter
Providing premier bose support services is Suson Kroskey's main objective in her new role as Executive Director of the Cope Canaverol Spaceport Monogement Office (CCSMO). Kroskey assumed the Senior Executive Service position, monoging the Joint Base Operotions and Support Controct (J-BOSC) for Kennedy Spoce Center (KSC) and the 45th Spoce Wing (CCAFS ond PAFB) on April 6. She reports to KSC Director Roy Bridges, Jr., and to the 45th Space Wing Commonder Brig. Gen. J. Gregory Pavlovich. The Emory University summo cum loude graduate entered federal service in 1982 os o Presidential Monogement Intern.
STENNISspacecenter
Stennis Spoce Center Director Bill Parsons recently gave o keynote address at the Choctow
JETpropzilsioi2lffhcratory
JPL will hold its Open House on Saturdoy ond Sunday, May 17 ond 18, taking visitors on a virtuol ride through the solor system with this year's theme, "Journey to the Plonets and Beyond." The fun-filled fomily event hos o little of everything for space enthusiosts and spoce novices, from virtuol flying lessons to building your own spacecraft and hoving your picture token with on infrared comera. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet with the Lab's scientists and engineers who will staff booths to answer questions obout current and future missions.
Shift-2 Technology Conference held in Choctow, Miss. He spoke obout the relationship formed between NASA and the Mississippi Bond of Choctaw Indians that begon in 1995 with the signing of a Spoce Act Agreement. This partnership brought a regional Educator Resource Center to
Choctaw Central High School. He also highlighted o later Spoce Act Agreement that was designed to shore NASA's knowledge ond resources in Earth science applications and resulted in the formotion of new high-tech businesses for the tribe.
JOHNSONspacecenter
Baseball ond spoce flight came together on April 1 as the STS-107 crew was honored at the Houston Astros' home opener. The families of the STS-IO7 crew simultaneously threw out seven "first pitches" to stort the Astros' 2003 seoson, during which the players will weor the 95-107 mission potch on their uniforms. The pregome tribute also included a live performance by Patti LaBelle, who song NASA's onthem "Way Up There" while footage of the crew was shown on the stadium's video screen. NASA's astronaut corps ond 93-107 mission representatives were also introduced, ond the Expedition Six crew greeted Houston baseball fons from the lnternotionol Space Stotion. Another moving segment of the tribute wos the national onthem, during which Chollenger, a trained bold eagle nomed for the orbiter that wos lost in 1986, soared oround the stodium. To view images, go to: io.isc.noso.gov/browr.dm?catid=1991
G 0D D A R Dspaceflightcenter
Years spent charting o shodow donce between the Moon and the Sun poid off lost month for
NASA Astronomer Fred Espenak, on olumnus of Wagner College, Stoten Island, N.Y., with on
asteroid that beors his nome. The organization thot assigns official nomes to celestiol objects, the lnternotionol Astronomical Union (IAU), designated "minor planet 1412 0 as "Espenak" in the SmithsonionAstrophysics Center Minor Planet Circular #48157, issued Morch 18. "It's quite on honor to hove o piece of real estate in the solar system nomed ofter you," said Espenok, who is o world-renowned authority on solar eclipse predictions at NASA Goddard Spoce Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
NASA Vision
mer storms occurred nearly every duy from lore Februury well into April 2003; these olso were seen in lote summer in 1999 undZO0l. The white feoturer of the /op o f h e imoge ore the woter ice surfores of the norfh polor residuol tup. Sunlighf illuminates the xene from the lower left
NASA Virion
I
~
Researchers Encouraged by
Collision-Avoidance Test
Its a weird place for an astronomer. Meteors fly underfoot. Auroras appear just inches in front of your nose. City lights twinkle, but stars dont. Astronaut Don Pettit loves every minute of it. Theres always something good to see out the window of the Space Station, says Pettit, an amateur astronomer and NASAs science officer for the International Space Station (ISS). Lately weve been having some extraordinary auroras, he said. They meander like big green amoebas crawling across the sky. These lights are constantly changing. They swirl. Bright spots come and go. Green blobs transform into upward-directed rays topped by red feathery structures.
0
I -
1 1 1
Auroras are caused by electrons and protons from space raining down on Earths atmosphere. When they hit the top of the atmosphere, they excite atoms and molecules and make the air glow. Reds and greens come from atomic oxygen, blues from nitrogen. Auroras arent all: Ive seen an occasional meteor while looking down through the Destiny Lab window, Pettit said. Meteors disintegrate in Earths atmosphere below the Space Station, so you have to look down to see them! You can also see space junk orbiting nearby. And there are satellites, too. A flash of sunlight glinting off an Iridium satellite near the Southern Cross really brought a smile to my face. fimoge or lehl This nightfime view of the British cupitol offers unique One of the curious things about sky watching from insight into the cifys urbon density ond infrostructure os highlighted orbit is the appearance of stars. They dont twinkle, by elecfricol lighting. Interpreting the brightest oreos os the most popu says Pettit. Twinkling is caused by irregularities in lord, the populotion densify drops off ropidly from the bright urban Earths atmosphere that refract starlight to and fro. But center until it reorhes the viciniw of the Orbitol, on encircling r o o h y . in orbit there is no atmosphere. Stars are remarkably Beyond lie isoloted bright ureos morking the numerous smaller cities steady and piercing. ond towns of the region ond os for southeast os Hostings on the toost. For sheer beauty, though, my favorite is still auroras, Note londons hvo muior oirpons, Heothrow and Gutwick, and the particulorly bright, sinuous stretch of the Orbitol to the s o ~ ofthe h city. he says. I cant get enough of them. Pettit is scheduled to remain on board the ISS until May. Between now f i e crew of the Internotionul Spore Stolion oqurred this rmoge shortly and then, in his spare time, he plans to continue taking aher 7 22 p m local time on the evening of February 4, 2003 Gther pictures and sending them to Earth. thin, low clouds or perhops fog is evident in the fuzzy choructer of For more images, go to: potferns for some ofthe surrounding smoller cities, while thot of the sc~ence.nasa~~v/he.ad~~~~nes/y2~~~/~(rm~~n~
- -
Retha Mchewell
Your name and title: Retha Whewell, Executive Assistant to the Administrator Briefly describe your current position: Manage and filter the flow of information to the Administrator in a timely fashion; review material for quality assurance and coordination among senior staff prior to sharing with the Administrator; use judgment with regard to internal and external schedule requests; and supervise the Administrator's immediate staff. Briefly describe your career history: While in college, I worked within various administrative offices at my local tribal government in upstate New York. After graduating from the State University of New York at Potsdam with a bachelor's degree in business economics, I served as residence director for a local business institute in Central New York. Soon thereafter, I began working at Syracuse Universityas an assistant to an Endowed Chair of Business and Government Policy and the Director of National Security Studies while taking part-time graduate classes. During the 2001 Administration transition, I relocated to D.C. to provide administrative support to the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and, most recently, transitioned to provide support to the NASA Administrator.
Photo credit: NASURenee Boorhard
Briefly describe your goals and objectives for your current position:
Lili;
Cat: Mya.
19th Annual
Space Symposium
Administrotor Seon O'Keefe wos o feotured speoker ot the 19th Notionol Spoce Symposium held in Colorodo Springs, Colo., April 7-1 0, 2003. Widely regorded os the premier conference for spore professionols onywhere in the world todoK the Notionol Spoce Symposium is the only spore-reloted conference to fully integrote oll sectors of spore - commerd, civil ond notionol security - while oftrocting the most important ond influentiol speohers, ond the notionol lendership of the spore industry
~~~~~~~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~~
NASA Virion
NASA HQ Secretarial
Awards Luncheon
NATA Adininistrotor $eon O'Keefe oniiounted the fornintron of /he N45A Fomi/y Assistante fund The fund wos treoted in response to the numerous requests of Agency employees to support the fomilies of STS-I07 and other NASA fomilies during their times of need. Formed in tooperotion with the Federol fmployee Education ond Assistonce Fund (FffA), the NASA Fomily Assistonce fund will provide need-bused finonciol ussirtonre ond educotionol ossistonte to the fomilies of the seven Columbio ostronouts, os well os to other h i l i e s of NASA personnel who die os the result of personol injuries suffered in the performonte of their offiriol duties. For odditionol informofion, go to: www.~oso.gov/obout/overview/AN_FAEhtm/
~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~
The HO Secretoriol/lierrtol Awords hiitheon wos heid Wednesdoy April 23 ut the Discovery Bollroom Holidoy Inn Coprtol Assotrote Deputy Admrnistrotor for Institutions ond Asset Monogement Jomes 1 Jennmgs, Putrice Wi//ioms the first plote oword winner from Code f', ond Administrotor O'Keefe pose ut the luncheon Secretories, clerks,
ossistonts ond tethnicions were eligible for the owords Nominotions were bused on personol knowledge or
htm
re invigoroted 9th floor representotionol futility, during o reception held on April I4 ut I I 30 o in As of April 15,o light breokfost service is ovoiloble from 7 30 lo 9 30 o m , with lunch extending from I I 30 o in to I 30 p m flon to dine in the b h n b i o Cofe,
which will feature o wort service for your convenience
~
NASA V6ion
Picture a group of children in kindergarten giggling and fidgeting while standing in a line. Theyre getting ready for a test, but youd never know it by looking at them. Theyre lining up for a simple, inexpensive eye test that is literally as quick as taking a photo. But this test helps determine if a child has vision problems. Its a test that, in many cases, will change a childs life. The Space Foundation honored the technology that creates scenes like this every day throughout the country. The VisiScreen@Ocular Screening System is one of the six new members of the Foundations Space Technology Hall of Fame. The basis for VisiScreen@originated at the Marshall Space Flight Center and was developed as a commercial system by Vision Research Corporation of Birmingham, Ala. NASAs work on image processing and space optics led innovators at the Marshall Space Flight Center to develop and patent a method and device for detecting human eye defects. With the help of NASAs technology transfer program, individuals and companies transitioned the technology into the
commercial arena. Under an exclusive license from NASA, Vision Research Corp. began marketing the technology in 1991. Over the past several years, Vision Research has screened almost two million children for eye problems in public schools. VisiScreenmdetects a wide range of eye problems, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, alignment problems, opacities such as cataracts, differences in the eyes that can indicate or lead to amblyopia - often called lazy eye - and a number of other ocular abnormalities. The system includes a special camera, lens and electronic flash. The flash sends light into the childs eyes, which is reflected from the retina back to the camera lens, producing a revealing image. Examination of the image by a trained observer then identifies abnormalities. To learn more about technology transfer managed by the Marshall Center, visit the Web site: techtran.msfc.nasa.gov For more information about Vision Research Corporation and the VisiScreen@ system, visit the Web site: www.vision-research.com
N U Vision