Crossroads

When I started Talking Space in the early morning hours in late July of 2009,  I never would had thought the voyage would have been as eventful and rewarding as it has been. This program will always be "my child" in a sense. It has given me the high honor to  have seen things and meet people that I thought I would never have the privilege to see much less impart those experiences to a such a large following that Talking Space has acquired over the years. 

I'm truly humbled.  

I owe much to the talents of the team I assembled for this program, Mark Ratterman, Sawyer Rosenstein, and Gina Herlihy and to you who think enough of this project and what we do here to subscribe to Talking Space and download it week after week. 

However, there comes a point in time where creative differences arise and new projects are embarked upon as a result. Therefore,  I am announcing that I will be involved in two new endeavors. One just launched on 21 January, 2012 is called Spaceflight Observer. The new experiment is logical follow-up and extension to what I have been doing here on Talking Space. I wish to build on what I have learned as a result of my experiences here with this vehicle, in an attempt to do something a little different and build a new "network" of programs.  I also hope to have members of the Talking Space Team join me from time to time on the Spaceflight Observer microphones. The other will be announced at a later date. I once more dear reader, humbly ask for your support on these new projects. 

So far as I know as of now, I will still play a role on Talking Space, but the definition of that role is still a "work in progress" and has yet to be defined. This isn't my "swan song" at Talking Space,  just perhaps simply a diminished part to play where I am no longer standing at its center. Whatever that role may be, even if it turns out to be none at all, I trust all of you will continue to support  Mark, Sawyer and Gina, and my first "child" Talking Space.  

I sure will. 

A Flag Full of Stars

At 10:28 AM Eastern daylight time yesterday 18 July 2011, a moment that might get lost in spaceflight history occurred on board the International Space Station. (ISS)

After seven days twenty one hour and forty one minutes of docked operations, the main hatch between the ISS and the Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis was closed for the final time. It was a seminal moment in the history of both the Space Station and the Space Transportation System program – the way NASA has brought people and cargo into space for the past thirty years.

Never again would the magnificent space craft/aircraft hybrids the Space Shuttle Orbiters, reach for the sky and pay a call on the ISS.  The Space Station an almost 100 ton orbiting facility, is a multinational complex that owes its very existence to the Space Shuttle Orbiters. 

According to NASA Public Affairs, the total time the Space Shuttle Orbiters Atlantis, Endeavour and Discovery invested in constructing the International Space Station is staggering: Two hundred and thirty four days, fourteen hours and thirty minutes on this project.

With the construction phase now at an end, The ISS has become the orbiting laboratory it was designed to be. The exciting opportunity of using this for microgravity research now begins.

To mark the occasion of this final mission, the crew of the STS 135 mission, Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, brought with them some mementos. These included a desk model of the Space Shuttle Orbiter signed by John Shannon , the Space Shuttle Program Manager, Leroy Cain, Chair of the Mission Management Team for STS 135, and Lead Flight Director Kwatsi Alibaruho.  The little desktop model orbiter is affixed on a bulkhead near the Harmony Node hatch. 

Another memento is in the form of a challenge…

In 1981 the maiden voyage of the Space Shuttle Program, Columbia carried on board 1000 small US Flags. These flags were given to those who had made significant contributions to the success of that first flight. One of these flags were carried back into orbit by the crew of STS 135. The small flag is currently attached to the airlock door of the Harmony module, where Atlantis was docked for seven days. The flag is flanked by the mission insignias for STS-1 on its left and for STS-135 on its right.

The final crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis have challenged the various commercial companies hoping to construct and operate a “space taxi” service for cargo and eventually crew to the International Space Station. The challenge is to “Be the first United States spacecraft launched from US soil, with a US crew to successfully dock and board the facility and return the US Flag back home to Earth.” 

Right now we can only speculate as to who that company will be but to be sure Elon Musk's company, Space Exploration Technologies or SpaceX is the early favorite.  

After who ever brings the flag back home, it will then await another journey into space. It will be carried on the first Orion Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle to break Earth's gravity well.  This will be the first US piloted spacecraft to explore deep space since the Apollo missions of the late nineteen sixty’s and early seventies.

After the end of STS 135, the Space Shuttle Orbiters are destined to sit inert in various museum’s throughout the United States, where they will hopefully inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and astronauts. But their contributions and their impact will be felt for years to come, through the International Space Station and a small US Flag. 

Where Have You Been All My Life?

- From Kennedy Space Center

When I had told a dear friend that I was going to be at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for the final launch of the Space Shuttle Program, she had recommended that I make an effort to  “create a memory” for the occasion. So this morning, I went for a short walk around the press site, near the iconic countdown clock  to see If I could do just that.

I succeeded. 

One bittersweet the other left me scratching my head.  

A few minutes after I arrived and took my place at the KSC Press Site, I looked out to take a moment to look at Atlantis standing at Launch Complex 39A. I paused to look at this icon of American spaceflight for the past 30 years illuminated by Xenon lights, standing tall and proud for the final time.  This was indeed a moment in history and I wanted to sear this moment into my brain forever.

I then took a look at the phalanx of media vehicles adorned with satellite dishes of various shapes and sizes. Along side of the media center are tents and platforms from ever possible mainstream media outlet here to see Atlantis fly one last time, all jockeying for the best possible position to view the final ascent of Atlantis.

It’s tremendous and it’s good to see such interest in OUR space program and the Space Transportation System that has served our nation well over thirty years. 

To the mainstream media, thank you for your interest in NASA and for deciding that STS 135 merited more attention. However I have one question for you all: 

Where were you for STS 60 or STS 129?

The fact of the matter is that all Shuttle missions deserved this kind of attention. Each one carried the same risks and dangers. The all pushed the edge of the technological envelope, and deserved the same attention that STS 135 is receiving. 

Thank you for noticing the importance of OUR human space flight program..a bit too late.  

Opinion: And the Orbiter Goes To……

So it’s official.

The new homes for the Space Shuttle Orbiter’s were announced by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden at an event held yesterday at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

 Obiter Vehicle (OV)-103, Shuttle Discovery will be giving OV-101, the Test Orbiter Enterprise the boot at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F.Udvar-Hazy Center in Washington DC. No huge surprise there, the Udvar-Hazy Center had long been thought where the flagship of the orbiter fleet would spend her retirement.

OV-104 Shuttle Atlantis will be staying home at the Kennedy Space Center’s Visitors Center which is operated by the Delaware North Hospitality Management Company. Once more, no huge surprise there, it made sense for Atlantis to stay home since she was going to be the last Orbiter in the flight flow. It would be a fairly easy task to tow Atlantis to her new home after she returned from her scheduled STS 135/ULF 7 mission and was decontaminated. During a recent press conference Mike Leinbach, Shuttle Launch Director, indicated that the display for orbiter at KSC was going to “knock your socks off” It will be interesting to see what ultimately will be the final configuration of the exhibit.

 OV-105 Shuttle Endeavour now sitting out at Launch Complex 39A will be going to the California Science Center after she returns from her STS134/ULF 6 flight. In the commentary today Mr. Bolden said that the Center was close by to where the Shuttle’s were constructed in Palmdale. Thus, I guess, the contribution to the Space Transportation System Program.

After Discovery arrives at its new home, Enterprise, the prototype Orbiter, which performed aerodynamic drop tests in 1977 at Edwards Air Force Base and integration tests at Kennedy Space Center and later at Vandenberg Air Force Base will be moved just four hours up north to its new home: The Intrepid, Sea, Air, and Space Museum in Manhattan, New York City. The tie in to the program: the Intrepid served as a prime recovery vessel during the Mercury and Gemini programs and NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies is located in Manhattan.

 NASA’s Olga Dominguez Assistant Administrator, for the Office of Strategic Infrastructure explained during a press conference yesterday that NASA wanted to make sure that as many individuals as possible could come see and appreciate the Orbiters. Her office conducted studies on all of the potential host facilities that wanted to host an Orbiter. Data points took into account factors such as regional population and international access. Reaching as many people as possible was the key.

 The results of that study on all of the locations that were in the running were given to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and according to Ms. Dominguez; Mr. Bolden approved the final recommendations.

 Ms. Dominguez indicated that all of the vehicles will become property of the receiving entity with the exception of Shuttle Atlantis. NASA owns the KSC Visitor Center thus Atlantis will remain NASA’s property. 

During the press conference Ms. Dominguez stressed that no one facility failed. There were just only four Orbiters to go around and the decision was based on the criteria of reaching as many people as possible.

NASA's  Johnson Spaceflight Center (JSC), the place that cared for these incredible machines from afar and prepared those who flew the Shuttle Orbiters will be surrendering its simulators to several other facilities at various locations around the country and in return will receive a set of flown Space Shuttle Commander and Pilot seats.

 (Insert sound of stylus being pulled across vinyl record here)

 I pictured the characters from “It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” with all of the kids in their ghost costumes looking though their bags pointing out the candy they received. Then, JSC playing the role of Charlie Brown, looking through its bag saying “I got a rock!”

Ms. Dominguez during the press event  stressed that the flown Commander and Pilot seats represented signifcant and critical artifacts from the Shuttle Era and that JSC has and will continue to play a significant role in human space flight. However, a group of flown seats is hardly what JSC deserves. It seems odd to me that nary a one of the Shuttle simulators will stay at JSC.

There were some calls for a congressional investigation into NASA’s decision making process, Ms. Dominguez responded that she stands by the process used and welcomes any vetting that could take place. I hope that does not happen. We have better things to spend the US Taxpayer dollar on. I wonder if the same people calling for an inverstigation on how spaceflight artfiacts are distributed are equally outraged that we still don't know how much money NASA will receive for this fiscal year. 

Did politics play a role in the decison? No. Ms Dominguez indicated during the press event that  NASA Administrator Charles Bolden sheilded her and her office from any political pressure and that the decisons on the sites were made in a political and lobbying vacuum. 

 I was also a bit mystified at the attitude of the WNBC TV web saying “First the good news New York is getting an Orbiter; the bad news is that it’s one that never flew.” And the New York Daily News complaing that New York did not receive a flown Orbiter. Hey,  Big Apple, be happy and honored that you will be hosting Enterprise and that you will be receiving anything at all. I gave the New York Metro area a dim chance at hosting any of the Orbiters on the basis of one of the stated site requirements, contributions made  to the Shuttle Program.  Besides New York,  if you don’t want Enterprise I know a lot of folks in Clear Lake Texas, that would love to take her with open arms.

To those chosen to receive these magnificent vehicles,  please take what NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said with emotion to heart " Take good care of our vehicles. They served a nation well, and we at NASA have a deep and abiding relationship and love affair with them that is hard to put into words."

Just Say It, Already!

While watching the post firing press conference following yesterday's Demonstration Test Number 2 between members of the press and the ATK/NASA team, I made an observation.Something I stumbled upon that I thought was well, odd to say the least.

 When asked by the press about how this motor test, an element of the old Constellation Program, would play into the new human space flight effort, Doug Cooke never mentioned the word "Constellation" once, calling the effort "The program of record"  while members of the press kept referring back to Constellation. It's almost like saying "Constellation" without an astronomical, satellite, Naval, or even a fictional starship reference was tantamount to saying an epithet.

There has been a lot of controversy since the programs cancellation, and its demise is going to cause a lot of pain in space contractor community but calling it simply "the program of record" is a bit dismissive. Yes thats how the Augustine Committee refered to Constellation but it may have been an attempt to remain impartial on their part.

Project Constellation (CxP) did exist. It technically still does. Its terminal because it didn't receive the proper funding to carry out its mission, which was going back to the moon and picking up the baton left behind by Gene Cernan, commander of Apollo 17.

Whether or not CxPs “Apollo-like” model for exploration of the Moon, and setting up a permanent presence on the lunar surface was flawed is still open for debate. Elements of CxP like yesterday’s Solid Rocket Motor Test look like they will be integrated into a proposed Heavy Lift Vehicle (HLV). The same could be said for the 345 ft gantry tower constructed for the now cancelled Ares 1. The Orion capsule, the piloted element of Constellation, will apparently live on as well. But it leaves one with this question: Is all of this just a patch to keep jobs alive or is this new program going to be goal oriented and  sustainable?

Constellation may soon join the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) of 1989 as yet another failed attempt to get humanity out of the gravity well. However we have to acknowledge it existed and not sweep CxP under the rug. We have to examine what went wrong from all angles, technical and political alike, and learn from those mistakes or we will never create the long term sustainable space program that the United States so richly deserves.