National Aeronautics and Space Administration

CACiNCo-Op Agency Connections Insider | June 2010

Editor’sLetter

JUNE 2010Features:

Fred Haise InterviewPage 3

SOFIA: First Light FlightPage 10

Top Ten NASA DatesPage 14

Welcome to the Summer 2010 issue of CACiN!

My name is Heather D. Williams and this is my first time working on CACiN. I fully support CAC’s vision and purpose and feel it is an excellent opportunity for co-ops and interns to see what students across the Agency are doing to help NASA achieve its current and future goals.

I have been with the Agency since January 2010 and completed my first tour at White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) as a Budget/Resources Analyst. I am now working on my second tour at Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Human Resources Training and Development. With my new position as a Human Resources Development Representative (HRDR), I have been actively working on the “Workforce Transition” with the announcement of NASA’s new direction. As I attend meetings, meet with managers, and talk with my mentor, I keep asking myself, “So what does it mean to be a student working at NASA while all of this ishappening?”

First of all, think about why each and every one of us is important to NASA. Students have an overall advantage because with NASA’s “New Space Enterprise,” change is inevitable. We as students bring in fresh eyes and new ideas for innovation. In any field, when someone has dedicated their career to one way of doing things or one approach to solving problems, it is always difficult to accept a new vision or a new path. That is why we are a valuable commodity to NASA. We are not spending our years of pursuing a higher education to do things the same way they have always been done. We are learning to apply new ways of thinking and apply new knowledge to improve and change what we currently have. NASA knows the answers to the future lie within the youth.

Also, think about how you are benefitting from this experience and what you are learning by being a part of the nation’s space program during this critical time period. As students becoming a part of the NASA family now, we have a rare opportunity to see a dynamic organization adapt and change. While a lot of what we see and hear going on around us is stressful or somewhat confusing, take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn from an organization in transition.

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Welcome to Co-op Agency Connections (CAC)! CAC is a group organized and run by NASA students across the Agency. Our primary mission is to increase networking between co-ops and interns throughout NASA. The organization began at Johnson Space Center in 2007 with a few students who wanted to connect with co-ops from other NASA Centers. By 2009 , we had student participation from several other Centers and had gained internal recognition from NASA Headquarters for these CAC newsletters . I have been fortunate to watch CAC grow for the past two years. Thanks to the hard work of our CAC Board, we have successfully reached co-ops and interns at nearly every NASA Center, including JPL!

The CAC Board consists of the Project Lead, Secretary, Ombudsman, and one representative from each NASA Center known as the CAC Director. The CAC Directors are also in charge of CAC subcommittees at their own Centers. These positions are rotated every spring, summer, and fall semester.

Please visit our website to learn more about CAC and view archived CACiN issues at http://nasacac.wordpress.com/. Want to get involved? Contact us at cac.nasa@gmail.com!

Stephanie JohnstonCAC Project Lead

A Word About CACfrom the Project Lead

Remember that working at NASA presents an environment that encourages professional and individual development, more-so than many other workplaces. It provides challenging “real world” work that allows you to apply the concepts taught in school. NASA is also an organization where we as students have the chance to demonstrate our leadership abilities by taking responsibility and ownership of our actions and products.

Do not forget to surround yourself with a diverse group of people and supportive peers. Take full advantage of your “official” mentors but do not stop at just one person. Find “informal” mentors who can help, guide, and support you towards your goals.

So now is the time to take charge of your career. Step up, be a leader, and think to yourself, “As a student, what is the value of working at NASA? What are my goals while I’m here? What do I want to get out of this opportunity and where do I see myself going? What resources are available to me to help me achieve my goals? Is there further training needed to help me develop the skills I am looking for?” Take this opportunity to do your job, and do it well. Not just for the sake of NASA, but you owe it to yourself to produce a valuable product that you can be proud of. Hey, you already are lucky enough to put “NASA” on your resume. Take pride in yourself and what you have accomplished thus far. And as you hear about what is going on across the Agency, remember by being here, you are helping to define NASA’s new direction. As cliché as it sounds, we truly are the future.

Heather D. WilliamsGraduate Co-op | Master of Business Administration

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InterviewBorn in Biloxi, Mississippi, Fred Haise is one of the three Apollo 13 astronauts.

He graduated with honors from the University of Oklahoma and completed

post-graduate courses at the USAF Aerospace Test Pilot School. After becoming

a test pilot, Mr. Haise applied to be an astronaut and was selected as part of the

astronaut class of 1966. After flying aboard Apollo 13, Mr. Haise continued his

career by piloting the Space Shuttle Enterprise for approach and landing tests.

What did you want to be growing up?“Well, I really had no serious aspirations until high school when I went to work on the high school newspaper. I was going to become a Journalist, which I did continue through two years of college. When I was very young I wanted to be a cowboy; cowboys and Indians were very popular in the movies in those days.”

What was your favorite aircraft to fly in the military?“The fighter I enjoyed the most from the standpoint of aerodynamics was the Sabrejet F-86 without any augmentation. The transport that I have the most hours in is the old DC3.”

When did you know you wanted to become an astronaut?“I decided to apply when the Apollo Program came around, when they announced the thought of going to the moon. Otherwise, I was not interested.”

Fred Haise

By: Russell Ralston, JSC

What was your favorite part of astronaut training? “Because I had never been into the field before at all, I really enjoyed the Geology field training, which I did for 4 missions.”

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What was your reaction to Ken Mattingly being taken off the prime crew for medical reasons?

“The [crew substitution] meeting was actually with Deke [Slayton]; medical doctors were not involved. It was with Deke and Dr. Paine, who was then the Administrator of NASA, the head guy. Jim [Lovell] pleaded for us to just go because the time was [such that] we would have already done the landing and had been back up in orbit and we probably would not have left lunar orbit but [we would have been] close to going on our way home, but of course they did not buy that. It was sad to change out a crew that late, but not from a standpoint of safety, because we trained equally daily in the schedule.”

What was launch day like? “Well launch day to me was a little deflated from what it might have been because of the crew change out. You know, you half felt guilty because Ken has left the crew and he is not going to make the mission, again not from the standpoint of worry about Jack not being able to do the things he needed to do. I had been in the capsule on Apollo 8 and 11and on 11 you could obviously tell these people were really ready to go and I just didn’t feel that same level of excitement.”

What was your biggest fear on launch day?

“I think it’s like most things in aviation where you have a test flight and you have a card of things you’re supposed to do, execute. You’re biggest concern is following up, that you’re going to mess it up somehow, because all the data is there, they have you recorded.”

What was your reaction when the center engine shut down two minutes early?

“It wasn’t really that traumatic in the capsule. When it happened it was quite a ways below us. There was a few seconds of slight vibration that was not normal but it went away and everything appeared to be running. When we realized what had happened, Jim called the center engine out. I mainly worried if that would mean we would end up in this alternate earth orbital mission. We carried a flight plan for an earth orbital mission which was a nothing mission, shoot pictures and stuff. So my main concern was had that right there stopped us from going to the moon?”

Continued on the next page….

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Fred Haise

Fun Facts:

• Born Nov. 14, 1933

in Biloxi, Mississippi

• One of 19

astronauts selected

in class of 1966

• Accumulated 9,300

hours flying time,

6,200 hours in jets

• Logged 142 hours

and 54 minutes in

space

• Backup lunar

module pilot for

Apollo 8 and 11,

backup spacecraft

commander for

Apollo 16, and lunar

module pilot on

Apollo 13

Fun Facts Source: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/haise-fw.html

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On the way to the moon, once the O2 tank explosion occurred, what was it like to be in the vehicle and what was the initial reaction of the crew?

“The initial reaction was a combination of confusion about what really had happened and what was wrong. Very quickly I knew from looking at the instrument panel when I got back into position to view things that we had lost this one oxygen tank because we had low readings on that tank. All the meters were on the bottom. That meant an abort [of the moon mission], so I had just a sick feeling about that fact. I knew it was an abort without referencing the rules and we had lost the landing. From there on it just went into what I call a normal but a troubleshooting [mission], where Mission Control would call out things [tasks] to isolate the leak. Then the second tank started to go down, so they had us shutting off reactant valves and various things like that. I was sick with disappointment. When Jack shut the vehicle off I worried about how it would do when it came back on. I felt relieved when we got the LEM going because it was fully intact. Nothing had been damaged with that vehicle.”

What were the internal conditions of lunar module after powering down all the computers, and did the conditions have affect on the mood of the crew at all?

“Well, it got cold. It didn’t immediately, of course, it took some time for the thermal balance adjustment to occur, probably almost most of the first day. It gradually cooled on down to where what we had left on in the LEM that was generating heat, including our bodies, balanced against the configuration of the thermal blankets they had provided in the landing craft. We did go down to using about 12 amps of power, 30 volt system, 360 watts. That was our total power for two spacecraft. It got to be pretty miserable because we did not have enough adequate clothing. If we would have had a nice parka jacket or something it wouldn’t have been bad. The problem with the two piece garment that we wore inside was worrying about the fire that had happened; they did a lot of material changes, even in our suits. The suits were made of beta cloth, but Teflon coated. The Teflon took the temperature of the air, so

that was not a very good set of clothes to have on. People

have often asked, “Why didn’t you put on your spacesuits on?”

Number one, we only had one set of cooling hoses free. The

other set was tied up ultimately with the lithium cartridge fix.

Believe it or not, even at mid 30’s temperature you would have

perspired in that spacesuit. So we didn’t want to end up

sweaty and have to come out and get pneumonia.”

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What did you think about the movie Apollo 13? How closely did it follow what really happened during the mission?

“Well, let me just say first of all, in general, the entire script except for “Houston, we have a problem” was Hollywood script. It was nothing we said, and I can understand why because most of what we were talking about with systems and switch selections, nobody would have understood. To me they did a very good job with the reality and spent money to make it good. For instance, the instrument panels in the vehicles that they built to do the filming, the switches and the gages, all of that was verbatim. They rented, in what I thought was a real stroke of genius, NASA’s zero-G airplane, and they took the actors up and free floated them. The thing I didn’t like in particular [was that] they added some vulgar language. The biggest fault I think they had [was] with their handling of Jack Swigert. It gave the flavor when we had to change the crew, to me, that we were worried Jack couldn’t do the mission. That was not the case. They had Jack, really Kevin Bacon, really doing something stupid. One time he showed up in the landing craft with his pad of paper and a pencil saying Mission Control had given us this maneuver to execute and they had us coming in too steep. We were going to burn up or something. The truth of the matter is, first of all we had no navigation capability on-board, the only navigation was in the ship that had been shut down, we did not have that in the LEM software, so we couldn’t navigate at all, and you’re certainly not going to do trajectory analysis with pencil and paper. Secondly, all the mid-course [adjustments] to that point, and as far as I know for the whole Apollo program, to and from the moon had been the ground solution; the on-board solutions were not used. They grossly exaggerated the two very small manual burns to correct our trajectory on the way back without a computer, and they had the vehicle waving out of control which was not the case. In both of those maneuvers we did not deviate even one degree in any of the three axes.”

Out of all the things you have done, flying military aircraft, Apollo 13, flying the space shuttle Enterprise, what was the most exciting experience, and what was the most terrifying experience you have had?

“Well, I guess in the total effort I have spent working, the crowning achievement was the first flight of Enterprise, mainly because I had been involved from the very start. When the proposal was submitted, I actually worked on the government

proposal evaluation to pick who even got the contract. The most terrifying was my sport flying aircraft crash where I ended upside down backwards with the canopy jammed shut and it’s on fire. I ended up spending three months in the hospital; I had 65% burn coverage. It took me 14 months to get back to flight status. That was after [Apollo] 13, before I flew shuttle, so 1973.”

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Ames

As a part of my assigned responsibilities, I manage the agency-wide Speakers Bureau program at Ames Research Center. Before being assigned to this position, I was not aware of such a program. The Speakers Bureau is a free service as a part of NASA’s public communication and outreach programs. This program creates an opportunity for all NASA employees to reach out to the public. The Speakers Bureau serves as a catalyst for increasing public interest, awareness, and enthusiasm for NASA. The bureau members are composed of dedicated volunteer speakers including students, engineers, scientists, planners, analysts, and administrative specialists.

Any one at the Center, even you, can become a member of the Speakers Bureau to assist with NASA’soutreach efforts. For example, Brenden Sanborn, an Ames co-op, has touched the lives of over 200 students by participating in the Speakers Bureau. Hehelped spread knowledge of NASA and created awareness in students from more than five different elementary schools and preschool classes.

Brenden says, “I was contacted by the Ames SpeakersBureau coordinator about participating in a speaking engagement at a preschool. At first the teacher wasworried if my speech would be appropriate for preschoolers but I reassured her that it shouldn’t be hard to engage the students, especially when I will be bringing props such as space suits. The day of, it was such a tremendously joyful moment to see the children get wide-eyed from seeing the space suits, shuttle model, and from receiving cool NASA stickers, tattoos, and posters. When I was younger, I knew of NASA through word of mouth and television but never actually had a NASA person come speak in my classroom. I love children and I love what NASA does so through the Speakers Bureau and the education office, I am able to impact lives and spread the word of NASA. I am looking forward to doing more speaking engagements with audiences from all ages.”

I truly believe that students have as much to offer as any other engineer or scientist. Through the Speakers Bureau, students have the chance to represent NASA and showcase NASA’s missions, goals, accomplishments and challenges. NASA’s workforce is one of this Agency’s greatest resources.

Research Center

Brenden Sanborn with a Preschool Class

Speakers Bureau: Get Involved with your

Community

By: Huong Nguyen, ARC CAC DirectorSpeakers Bureau Website: www.nasa.gov/about/speakers/index.html7

AmesStudent FacesBrenden Sanborn

School: San Jose State University - 2nd year in Masters degreeMajor: Masters Informal EducationArea Currently Working In: Education Hobbies: Scuba diving, Rock climbing, Caving, Hiking, Surfing, and SkateboardingFavorite NASA Mission: My favorite NASA mission is definitely Apollo 11 because it is the height of NASA’s ingenuity and no-holds bar bravery. The favorite astronaut of mine is Ed White because he was one of the first and most brave, and he sacrificed everything for NASA.Favorite NASA Memory: I remember watching the progression of Hubble throughout my childhood.What you are looking most forward to this tour: Helping to restore America’s interest and love for NASA and all of its endeavors.

Kenneth Ashford

School: San Jose State University - 2nd year in Masters degreeMajor: Masters of Business Administration Hobbies: Console Gaming, PC Gaming, Snowboarding, Paintballing, Basketball, Hiking, and Playing Frisbee Favorite NASA Missions: Apollo 11-17 (until we go back to the Moon or Beyond), and Buzz Aldrin is my favorite astronaut due to how active he is in the space community and how willing he is to talk to everyone he meets, even after all these years. Favorite NASA Memory: Attending ISU SSP 2009What you are looking most forward to this tour: The everyday surprises that await around every corner. No single day is the same around here and I love it!

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AmesChristine Berg

School: San Jose State University – SeniorMajor: Mechanical Engineering Area Currently Working In: Thermophysics facilities as a mechanic, repairing and maintenancing the Arc Jets that test heat shield materials. Student Since: 2004, Started out as a Foothill/Deanza Community College Intern and in 2005 got hired as a contractor with Sierra Lobo. I’ve been a NASA intern for almost two months now, so I’ve been working at NASA full-time for five years.Hobbies: Biking and GolfingFavorite NASA Astronaut: Steve Robinson, he also worked at Ames for a while and was part of STS-121, the Return to Flight Mission. Favorite NASA Memory: Our team is like a family. It is enjoyable to work with such a cohesive unit to accomplish our goals. What you are looking most forward to this tour: Finishing up school and being able to apply my engineering knowledge to design/modify the facilities I currently work at.

Matthew DanielsSchool: Stanford University - Graduate studentMajor: Aeronautics & AstronauticsArea Currently Working In: ARC Mission Design CenterHobbies: SCUBA diving, Traveling, Starting hang gliding lessons this summer!Favorite NASA Mission: My favorite mission is the Mars Exploration Rovers -- my undergraduate advisor was involved in the MER data processing, and our weekly homework was processing recently-downlinked pictures from Mars. Playing with MER data was like getting to explore Mars for the last two years of my undergraduate studies at Cornell.What you are looking most forward to this tour: I am looking forward to participating in a small satellite mission from spacecraft design through data analysis!

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SOFIA: First Light Flight

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy(SOFIA) is a next-generation airborne observatory designed to provide astronomers routine access to the infrared and sub-millimeter part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Initiated by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, SOFIA is an integral element of an overall strategy to obtain data to better understand the nature and evolution of the universe, the origin and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems, and the conditions which led to the origins of life. The SOFIA program is a joint effort between the NASA and the Deutsches Zentrum Für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DRL), the German space agency.

On May 26, 2010 the SOFIA Program achieved a major milestone with its first in-flight night observations. The highly modified Boeing 747SP fitted with a 2.5 m diameter reflecting telescope took off from its home base at the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility (DAOF) in Palmdale, California, at sunset on May 25, 2010. In-flight personnel consisted of an international crew from NASA, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) of Columbia, Md., Cornell University, and the German SOFIA Institute (DSI) of Stuttgart. During the six-hour flight, at altitudes up to 35,000 feet, the crew of ten scientists, astronomers, engineers and technicians gathered telescope performance data at consoles in SOFIA’s main cabin. The goal of the SOFIA First Light Flight was to characterize the performance of the German-made telescope and integrate the telescope’s systems and subsystems with the first flown science instrument. “First Light” is a term astronomers use to describe the first viewing with a new telescope. SOFIA returned to the NASA DAOF at approximately 5:30 A.M. on May 26th with an ecstatic mission crew and it first images captured by the telescope and the FORCAST science instrument from USRA and Cornell University.

Continued on the next page. . .

DrydenFlight Research Center

By: Ashley Parham, CAC Secretary Information compiled and cited from NASA sources

Stratospheric Observatory for

Infrared Astronomy

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The stability and precise pointing of the German-built telescope met and exceeded the expectations of the engineers and astronomers who put it through its paces during the flight. The main accomplishment of the night occurred when scientists onboard SOFIA recorded images of Jupiter and the M82 galaxy in the Ursa Major constellation using FORCAST. The Faint Object Infrared Camera (FORCAST) is a mid-infrared diffraction-limited camera with selectable filters for simultaneous continuum imaging in two bands, the 4-25 and 25-40 μm spectral regions. The composite infrared image of Jupiter, below on the right, at wavelengths of 5.4 (blue), 24 (green) and 37 microns (red) shows heat trapped since the formation of the planet, pouring out of Jupiter’s interior through holes in its clouds.

FORCAST captured in minutes images that would require many hour-long exposures by ground-based observatories blocked from a clear infrared view by water vapor in the Earth’s atmosphere. SOFIA’s operational altitude, which is above more than 99 percent of that water vapor, allows it to receive 80 percent or more of the infrared light accessible to space observatories.

The success of the First Light Flight begins SOFIA on a twenty-year journey that will enable a wide variety of astronomical science observations not possible from ground-based observatories and it also proves SOFIA will provide scientists with Great Observatory-class astronomical science. The SOFIA program is managed at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. NASA Ames Research Center manages the SOFIA science and mission operations in cooperation with USRA and DSI.

SOFIA First Light Images: Galaxy M82 from the Ursa Major Constellation and Jupiter

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Transition from Co-op to Full-Time Hire Interview with Claudia Herrera

How did you first hear about the Co-Op Program?Through a school organization, I met other current NASA co-ops and learned about the co-op program opportunities. I applied through Dryden’s co-op website and sent in all of the required materials for the application.

Did you want to work for NASA before the Co-op program?Yes, I always wanted to work for NASA; it was my dream since being a kid.

What was your favorite Co-op memory?The first time I ever heard a sonic boom was during my first co-op rotation out here at Dryden. I was with my mentor and co-worker when it happened and got really excited.

How valuable were you rotations in getting a job at NASA?Extremely valuable. Through my second rotation, I realized I wanted to go into structures as a career. Previously I was interested in propulsion.

Describe the transition from being a co-op to a full time hire.At first it feels the same, like being on another co-op term. I was given a 6 month project, assigned a mentor, and I learned software through examples. After getting through this initial experience, my objectives started to change to where I was now applying everything I had learned, where tasks and projects had a long term career plan requiring increasing technical abilities and skills. Overall it was very smooth, plus I already knew everyone I was working with.

What were the benefits of being a co-op vs. not being a co-op?When you start working, you can at least hit the ground walking as you know everyone you are working with, who to ask for questions, and what resources are available to you. In addition you are already comfortable in the work environment and are familiar with culture and atmosphere. The only negative was not getting experience in private industry, only working for the government. It would have been nice to get a working perspective on the other side through companies.

What advice do you have for current co-ops in the program?Be open to new kinds of experiences which may reveal your real interests and passions. I was pretty gung ho on pursuing a career in propulsion, until I did a co-op rotation in structures and really loved the subject. Don’t be afraid of new tasks. Always ask questions you know you need to ask. Seek help if you do not understand. Be perseverant; if somebody is not present, look to different people besides your mentor. The great thing about NASA is that so many people are willing to share knowledge, so take advantage of that.

By: Alex Chin, DFRC CAC Director

Claudia Herrera is a former NASA Co-op and is currently a NASA engineer

working in the structural dynamics branch at Dryden Flight Research Center.

She started in the Co-op program in the fall of 2003 and returned for a second

term in the summer of 2004. Claudia became a full-time hire in January of 2005.

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Julianna PlumbSchool: Biola University/USC - SophomoreMajor: Physics/Aerospace EngineeringArea Currently Working In: SOFIA- Research (Aerodynamics) BranchHobbies: Singing, Reading, Enjoying math and MatlabFavorite NASA Test Pilot: Glamorous Glennis, as flown by Chuck YeagerFavorite Intern Memory: Flight testing an Electrostik RXR RC aircraft with my INSPIRE intern team after spending 7 weeks going through a miniature version of the rigorous flight test process, including Critical Design Reviews, Crew Briefs, and a Final Report.

Peter FastSchool: Wichita State University - SeniorMajor: Aerospace EngineeringArea Currently Working In: I am in the Research Flight Controls Branch. I am working on X-48C, developing an optimal flight path for a particular test. Due to the many dependencies involved, this task will involve numeric computation as well as simulator tests.Hobbies: Crew, Christian Challenge, and HikingFavorite NASA Mission/Astronaut: Freedom 7/Alan Shepard. Why? First American in space!Favorite NASA Memory: As a member of the Wichita State Microgravity Team, I had the opportunity to visit Johnson Space Center. The tour was very inspiring to me as we visited the simulators, NBL, and viewed some possible Lunar Lander Mock-ups for moon colonization. The trip inspired me to pursue my dream of making space travel feasible for the average citizen.What you are looking most forward to this tour:Developing my skills in flight navigation and guidance as well as developing relations here at Dryden to further promote the air-breathing side of my vision.

DrydenStudent Faces

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GlennResearch Center

Top 10: NASA Space AnniversariesMost of us are probably aware that last year was the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon.

This issue’s Top 10 focuses on NASA’s best and worst space-related anniversaries.

10. JANUARY 28TH - Ok, so not all anniversaries can be good ones. In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger was launched with a crew of 7 astronauts. Only 73 seconds after lift-off, the space vehicle tragically exploded, killing its entire crew.

9. JANUARY 3RD – On a brighter note, on this day in 2004, Spirit became the first NASA rover to land on the surface of Mars. Another NASA rover, Opportunity, arrived three weeks later, coming in a close second.

8. JANUARY 31ST – In 1958, Explorer 1 became the first US satellite in space, beaten only by the Soviet Union’s satellite, Sputnik 1, which was launched on October 4th, 1957.

7. FEBRUARY 1ST – On this date in 2003, the space shuttle Columbia and its seven crew members were lost during reentry following a sixteen-day mission. This tragedy and the Challenger Accident both serve as reminders of the importance of safety and success for future NASA missions.

6. APRIL 25TH – Although the construction of the Hubble Space Telescope was completed in 1985, it was not launched until this date in 1990 because of the Challenger Accident. To date, Hubble is the only space-telescope ever designed to be serviced in space by astronauts.

5. APRIL 12TH – This date is important for two reasons. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, and in 1981, the STS-1 took off from Cape Canaveral, going down in history as NASA’s first orbital flight of the Space Shuttle.

4. JULY 20TH – In 1969, all of the hard work put into NASA’s Apollo program paid off when the world witnessed one of the most astonishing technological achievements in history. On this day, Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon.

3. NOVEMBER 20TH – In 1998, the orbital assembly of the International Space Station began with the launch of the first bus-sized component, Zarya. A few weeks after Zarya was launched from Kazakhstan, the space shuttle carried aloft the Unity connector module in December 1998.

2. MARCH 3RD – In 1915, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) embarked on a mission to change the face of U.S. aviation. NACA began a legacy of innovations in flight that continues at NASA today.

1. OCTOBER 1ST - NASA’s Birthday!

This October, make sure to celebrate NASA’s 52nd Birthday!

By: Karin Bodnar, CAC Ombudsman 14

Emil HesselSchool: Georgia Tech - JuniorArea Currently Working In: Guidance, Navigation, and ControlsHobbies: Jogging, Playing basketball, and Working outFavorite NASA Astronaut & Mission: My favorite astronaut is Pam Melroy for her revolutionary contributions to the Agency and the nation, as one of the most decorated female aviation pioneers in history. As for my favorite missions, I would have to choose the Apollo program, as we were able to accomplish goals ~40 years ago that still prove substantially difficult today. It was easily one the greatest engineering feats that mankind has ever accomplished.Favorite NASA Memory: At the end of my first term, everyone was looking forward to having me come back!What are you looking forward to: I am excited about developing tools that NASA will use in the future.

Evan PinedaSchool: University of Michigan – Graduate StudentArea Currently Working In: Damage of CompositesHobbies: Listening to music, Watching football and BoxingFavorite NASA Missions: Apollo, because they were the first missions to demonstrate the great potential NASA has for manned space exploration. Also, it is amazing that they were able to design those vehicles and execute those missions without the heavy use of computers.Favorite NASA Memory: I liked the trip to Plum Brook Station, a GRC facility in Sandusky, Ohio. It is an impressive facility.What are you looking forward to: The release of micromechanics code MAC/GMC 5.0, because the improvements we are making will lead to a more accessible code with tons of new features, and it will be one of the only codes of its kind.

GlennStudent Faces

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It’s been 3 months since my last article and I think it’s time for an update! When we left off, I was just getting acquainted with my new position in the Information Technology and Communications office at Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) located on the good ol’ Eastern Shore. Having spent two years in Flight Safety as a mathematician, transitioning to IT was quite a change. It has taken a few months to get my feet wet, but every day I feel more and more like a valuable member of the team.

I have a lot to be thankful for. The work is interesting, the people are kind, and I practically live at the beach! But one thing has been holding me back from reaching my full potential and only I can make it right. I’m afraid to face reality and own up to this little thing called a career. Two words: project management. It’s been my goal, it’s what I’m going to grad school for; it’s all part of my plan. Then why do I flinch when I hear those words? Why do I shy away and shrink, hoping to escape reality? Why can’t I accept the role so many people in my position would like? I am struggling to answer all these questions and more.

GoddardSpace Flight Center

Two Little Words

By: Rachel Broemm, WFF/GSFC CAC Director

GSFC co-ops like to play mini golf!

From left to right: Bridgette Wiley, Kevin Fisher, Rachel Broemm,

and Mike Walker. Not pictured: Thomas Zielinski.

Continued on the next page…

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As I self-reflect, I am reminded of the basics. The facts, if you will:

It is what I make it. I can choose to hide behind the “co-op” position and continue to preface each introduction with “My name is Rachel and I’m just a co-op,” or I can own it. I can accept the fact that I’m almost finished with my Master’s degree and I am a capable, valuable, and contributing employee at NASA. I think I’ll pick the latter.

A little challenge never hurt anyone. In fact, challenges build character. They help me grow and become a better person. The thought of being a project manager might scare me now, but given time, I’m confident I can do it. And, do it well!

Everything is a learning experience. People make poor decisions and people make mistakes. That’s normal. We’re human. I shouldn’t be afraid to accept responsibility simply because I’m afraid of the unknown. I take in information through my senses, but I ultimately learn by doing. I’ve never been one to shy away from learning, so bring it on!

This is basic stuff, but sometimes reinforcing the obvious is all it takes. I am grateful for this experience and am anxious to improve. As I reflect on the past few months and dream about the future, the truth is clear. I am a work in progress. Every day I learn something about myself. I better understand my strengths and weaknesses, and I constantly refine my personal code of ethics. Faced with daily challenges and surrounded by great role models, I am certain I will come out of this experience a better person.

And, if anyone asks, I am a project manager… in training!

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School: BS, MS - University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez3rd year Ph.D student at Catholic University of America, Washington, DC

Major: Space PhysicsArea currently working in: Heliospheric Physics Laboratory, doing research on the interaction of solar wind particles with the Earth’s magnetosphereHobbies: Dancing and volleyballFavorite NASA mission: I think all NASA missions are great!Favorite co-op memory: Having the opportunity to travel several times around the world to present my research results as well as meeting all the amazing and brilliant people I have met. Sometimes I can’t believe where I’m standing. Being a co-op has definitely been a great experience.

Yari M. Collado-Vega

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Mike WalkerUniversity: Purdue University - 2nd year Graduate StudentMajor: Aerospace EngineeringArea Currently Working In: Components and Hardware SystemsHobbies: Skiing, Running Marathons, Hiking, Backpacking, Traveling, and Ultimate FrisbeeFavorite NASA Mission: Deep Impact. It sent a probe to the comet Tempel 1. The probe released an impactor which hit the comet as the probe observed. Going to and hitting a comet is just such a cool problem that I loved it!Favorite NASA Memory: Last summer I got to bring a small GPS receiver for sounding rockets from concept all the way through environmental testing. It was really awesome to work on a project so fast paced that produced immediate tangible results!

Colin EatonSchool: University of Michigan - 1st Year Master’sMajor: Space EngineeringArea Currently Working In: Navigation and Mission DesignHobbies: Juggling, Vacationing, Skydiving, Bungee Jumping, Soccer, and pick-up games in pretty much any other sportFavorite NASA Mission: ARTEMIS, a mission that I am currently working on that is going to attempt the first station-keeping maneuvers around the Earth-Moon libration points.Favorite NASA Memory: Getting to touch post-flight Hubble hardware last summerWhat you are looking most forward to this tour: Going to see my first (and last) shuttle launch!

GoddardStudent Faces

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Jet PropulsionStudent Faces

Elyse FosseSchool: Claremont Graduate University - 1st year PhD Major: Applied MathematicsArea Currently Working In: Multimission Ground Data System EngineeringHobbies: Traveling, Going to the beachFavorite NASA Astronaut: Buzz AldrinFavorite Co-op Memory: Sitting in on the Mars Exploration Rover Science Operations Working Group. We got to see how they go about planning the rovers’ events for the following day and we saw images from the last downlink.

Miguel ColónSchool: California Polytechnic State University, Pomona - SeniorMajor: Civil Engineer with an Environmental OptionArea Currently Working In: APX (Academic Part Time Employee) - Purchase Card Reason for applying to JPL: I had been in the private engineering industry for 8 years before applying to JPL. I took the job at JPL because I felt it would be good to gain an idea of what both sides (private and government sectors) could offer me after graduation.Hobbies: Running with my dog, playing video games and traveling with my wife.Favorite APX Memory: When I was able to write my name on a list that would be downloaded into the next space bound rover. My name being on a micro chip in space just seemed like a fun opportunity.

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JohnsonSpace Center

JSC Students Meet Charlie Bolden

By: Bonnie Stern

JSC Tours & Lecture Committee,

Co-Chair

Last semester, the JSC Co-op Tours and Lecture Committee asked Charlie Bolden if he would like to speak to the co-ops and interns at Johnson Space Center. Two months later, Charlie Bolden arrived at JSC. He was only in Houston for half of the day, but we were privileged to spend some time with him. He was very excited to speak to us and wanted to learn all about the students, from our hometowns to our interests to our favorite sports. We all enjoyed listening to him immensely. He spoke to us about his mission to deploy the Hubble Space Telescope as an astronaut, and got emotional when he talked about the end of the Shuttle Program. We asked him a lot of questions about President Obama’s budget and how it will affect us. Charlie Bolden did not seem to agree with everything the Obama Administration had proposed, however, he had a lot of respect for the President and was positive about the future of NASA. He also encouraged us to get our ideas out there and develop the game-changing technologies that will become the future of NASA.

One comment that really stuck out for me is when he was asked what the coolest thing he had ever done was, he simply responded by telling us that it was having children and grandchildren.

After Charlie Bolden’s lecture, he was happy to shake hands and take pictures with all of the co-ops and interns. Finally, he had to be pulled away from us, but before he left, his assistant told me that meeting with students is his favorite part of being the NASAAdministrator. Hopefully he will find the time to meet with usagain during a future visit to Johnson Space Center.

Bonnie Stern with Charlie Bolden

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NASA’s Summer of Innovation Sparks Learning Initiative for Middle Schools

By: Hallie Mann, JSC

Soaring High Five!

NASA astronaut Leland Melvin and NASA Administrator

Charles Bolden tag up during the NASA live TV program,

in which they both shared childhood stories.

Image credit: NASA/JPL

The summer months can be a period of lost learning for students. With no school to keep them engaged and excited about topics like science and math, the “summer slide” will set in. To remedy this problem, NASA is putting forth a bold new program, Summer of Innovation, to engage middle school students across the country in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) topics.

NASA’s Summer of Innovation program is a response to the President’s “Educate to Innovate" Campaign for Excellence in STEM Education, which includes efforts from the Federal Government and its partners. NASA is the first federal agency to invest resources for a summer program in STEM education. This year will be the pilot year of a 3-year commitment by NASA for the Summer of Innovation program.

“NASA education is the perfect fit for a summer learning experience,” said Cindy McArthur, JSC’s lead for NASA’s Summer of Innovation program. “We’re getting outside of the formal learning environment and reaching students in a fun and exciting way.”

With the theme of “Who Knows What You’ll Discover?” the program is designed to generate excitement and curiosity from students about STEM-related fields and careers. Through activities like multi-week camps, large scale STEM awareness events and professional development programs, students and educators will be immersed in NASA STEM-related content.

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Spirited Students!

Students shout out in response to

questions from presenters.

Image credit: NASA/JPL

Meet Curiosity

Students see the full-scale model of the rover

named Curiosity, scheduled to launch in 2011

and arrive at Mars in 2012.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The summer student and teacher experiences are part of NASA’s ongoing STEM learning community that supports long‐term improvements in STEM teaching and learning. NASA will collaborate with a variety of partners to bring Summer of Innovation to the nation. “I believe the Summer of Innovation program is a great initiative to aspire underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Bobby Watkins, Johnson Space Center Chief of Sataff. “I can’t wait to see the results of this program in the years to come.”

Internally, the JSC Office of Education is working with Space Center Houston on summer learning programs and the Human Research Program Education & Outreach (HRPEO) at JSC to reach Boys and Girls Clubs of South Texas. NASA’s Johnson Space Center is collaborating with several partners in the Houston area to make the Summer of Innovation program a success: the Houston Community College Minority Male Initiative, Houston Works, UTMB-STEM QUEST, and the DREME Foundation. JSC is also partnering with Galena Park ISD and Galveston ISD to reach local middle school students with its efforts for the program. “The students are really excited,” said Darrell McWhorter, manager of the Scholars Program for Galena Park ISD. “I’ve already got parents calling and emailing to see how they can get their student involved.”

The Summer of Innovation kicked off Thursday, June 10, with an event at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Los Angeles. Summer of Innovation activities will continue through October 2011 for the pilot program.

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Cynthia OchoaSchool: Texas A&M University -JuniorMajor: Aerospace EngineeringArea Currently Working In: Constellation Program, Flight and Integrated Test OfficeHobbies: Space, Volleyball, Tennis, Music, Violin, and TravelingFavorite NASA Mission: Apollo 13Favorite NASA Memory: My favorite NASA memory would have to be getting the opportunity to meet Buzz Aldrin and hear him speak at a conference. I will cherish this memory forever.What you are looking most forward to this tour: Gaining more experience in my field of research, meeting more astronauts, and fully enjoying my experience as a NASA intern!

Saifullah Malik

School: Georgia Tech - JuniorMajor: Mechanical Engineering Area Currently Working In: Dynamic Systems Test Branch in the Robotics DivisionHobbies: Ultimate Frisbee, Racquetball, Running, and Working on carsFavorite NASA Mission: STS-128, since that was the first mission that was launched while I was co-oping at JSC. I watched the launch on the big screen in JSC’s auditorium.Favorite NASA Memory: When I got the phone call from the JSC co-op coordinator telling me I got the job! It was the first and best memory.What you are looking most forward to this tour: Being a human test subject for ARGOS (Active Response Gravity Offload System), the Lunar and Martian gravity simulator.

JohnsonStudent Faces

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KennedyStudent Faces

Corrie LamkinSchool: Georgia Institute of Technology - 3rd yearMajor: Aerospace EngineeringArea Currently Working In: Engineering Surfaces, building things for the surface of the planetary bodies we are planning to land on. Currently I am working with a group of other co-ops to design, build, and test a micro excavator that will excavate lunar regolith.Hobbies: Reading, backpackingFavorite NASA Mission: STS-114, the return to flight mission after the Columbia accidentFavorite NASA Memory: Standing on top of the launch pad before Ares 1-X launched and watching it weave in the breezeWhat you are looking most forward to this tour: Hands-on training and building a mobile rover!

Jennifer DowlingSchool: Georgia Institute of Technology - 4th yearMajor: Aerospace Engineering Area Currently Working In: Expendable Launch Vehicles Fluids and PropulsionHobbies: Traveling, reading, hanging out with friendsFavorite NASA Mission: STS-128, it was a beautiful night launch and was my first time watching a Shuttle launch up close. Favorite NASA Memory: Sitting in the Commander’s seat of DiscoveryWhat you are looking most forward to this tour: Spending the summer in Florida!

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Employee of the Month: Darius Yaghoubi

By: Carlos Diaz

MarshallSpace Flight Center

Darius Yagouhbi is a relatively new full-time employee at MSFC who is involved with a lot of the activities

that the co-ops and interns do. In doing so, he makes it easier for the out-of-towners to assimilate into the

“Hunts-vegas” community. Darius graduated Magna Cum Laude from North Carolina State with a

Bachelors of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Currently, Darius is working in the Control

Systems Design and Analysis Branch developing a simulation model for Ares V in preparation for any

possible heavy launch vehicles that NASA might design in the future. By working on this project, Darius

has the opportunity to further develop his skills using the MAVERIC and CLVTOPS simulation programs.

Why did you choose engineering? “I’ve been interested in the aerospace field for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest and fondest childhood memories are flying on a plane.”

Why NASA?“NASA is synonymous to innovation and technological advancement.” To Darius, NASA’s primary scope is to advance the human race. Another factor that helped him make up his mind about working at NASA is the quick response and decent job offer from the Agency.

What would you like to see mankind commit itself to accomplishing?“I would like to see humans on Mars within my lifetime. Then I would like to see humans go beyond that.”

Why should we explore space?“We’re isolated on this planet. If we don’t see what else is out there, what’s the point of us even being here? Life on this planet is so diverse because of how the earth is tilted or how the moon affects the tides. There might be life in part of the universe and even forms of life that humans cannot even begin to conceive. It’s a big universe; we need to see what else is out there.”

Do you have any words of wisdom for Co-ops/Interns?“Get your name out there. Be proactive. The more people you meet, the more you learn.”

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Lauren A. BadíaSchool: University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez - 4th yearMajor: Mechanical EngineeringArea Currently Working In: Materials & Processes Laboratory, Nonmetallic Materials & Manufacturing Division Hobbies: Dancing, Reading, and TravelingFavorite NASA Mission: STS-125 Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission. I’ve always loved Hubble images and I had the chance to road trip with two other co-ops to KSC to go see Shuttle Atlantis’ launch.Favorite NASA Memory: One of the best memories I have at NASA is when I toured Launch Pad B at KSC and got to see the Shuttle Endeavor close-up and realize just what an awesome engineering marvel it is.

Tracy McConnaugheySchool: University of Alabama Huntsville - JuniorMajors: Biology and FrenchArea Currently Working In: Environmental Engineering. The environmental engineering group works to keep MSFC within government emission regulations, and specifically, I am working on a "Green Team" that is helping to reduce Marshall's overall carbon footprint.Hobbies: Horseback Riding, Hiking, Caving, and EatingFavorite NASA Missions: ApolloFavorite NASA Memory: Eating astronaut ice creamWhat you are looking most forward to this tour: Having an intellectually stimulating job that involves a subject that I am passionate about.

MarshallStudent Faces

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AmesFrank W. Barnes IV

School: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach Campus) - SeniorMajor: Aerospace Engineering - Propulsion ConcentrationArea Currently Working In: Spacecraft & Auxiliary Propulsion SystemsHobbies: Tennis, Soccer, and Music ProductionFavorite NASA Test Pilot: Chuck Yeager, because he was brave enough to strap himself to the first rocket-powered aircraft. He totally had “the right stuff.”Favorite NASA Memory: LOX/LCH4, 100 lbf thruster test. It was my first ever hot-fire rocket engine test.What you are looking most forward to this tour: Working with rocket engines!

Neal TaylorSchool: University of Alabama - JuniorMajor: Aerospace EngineeringArea Currently Working In: Materials and Processes Laboratory Hobbies: Video games, exercising, music, movies, and drawingFavorite NASA Astronaut: Neil Armstrong, because we have the same name!Favorite NASA Memory: During my first co-op term, I worked in the nonmetal materials TPS lab. Another co-op and I created hundreds of test specimens in the span of a month. It was pretty cool.What you are looking most forward to this tour: A better understanding of mechanical properties (stress, strain, etc.) and how involved, as well as important, all the test data is in designing a rocket.

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White SandsStudent Faces

Center: White Sands Test Facility,School: New Mexico State University - SeniorMajor: Mechanical EngineeringArea Currently Working In: Composite-Overwrapped Pressure Vessels GroupHobbies: Long-Distance Marksmanship, Bicycling, Endurance RunningFavorite NASA Astronaut: I haven’t met enough yet to pick a favorite, but Buzz Aldrin is one cool guy!Favorite NASA Memory: When the site manager asked about the strength of a dental-floss sized strand of carbon fiber in one of my presentations, I told him it would be strong enough to support his weight along with his girlfriend’s. Then I realized he was married. Thank goodness he has a good sense of humor!What you are looking most forward to this tour:Seeing my research at WSTF mature into an ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standard for failure prediction and damage accumulation in composites!

Charles Nichols

White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) is located near Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is a subsidiary unit of the NASA Johnson Space Center, constructed in 1962-1964 to support the Apollo Project. WSTF is a Hazardous Test Facility located in a large buffer zone and controlled remote property which occupies 28 square miles of White Sands Missile Range. WSTF performs testing and evaluation designed to better understand, improve, and verify the systems, capabilities, and materials used in space flight. WSTS’s end product is safety during human space missions.

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Word SearchAround JSC

Learn more about Johnson Space Center and its unique labs and facilities by solving the

clues below. The words you use to fill in the blanks can then be found in the word search!

Clues:1. JSC is home to the United States _________ Corps. 2. From JSC’s facility in New Mexico, _____ _____ Test Facility, Pad Abort-1 was

successfully launched in May.3. The Texas city JSC calls home.4. Originally named the ______ Spacecraft Center, JSC is the primary NASA center

for space missions involving astronauts.29

Clues (continued for previous page):

5. Come see the largest and most powerful launch vehicle ever operated, the ______ _, at Rocket Park when youvisit JSC. This rocket was used for Apollo and Skylabmissions.

6. The surname of a former NASA astronaut and current JSC Center Director, Mike.

7. The humanoid machine designed to have incredible dexterityand replace the use of humans in performing EVAs that will be flown and tested on STS-133.

8. The C-9, also referred to as the _____ _____, is used to simulate weightlessness to conduct researchand train astronauts by flying a parabolic flight pathover the Gulf of Mexico.

9. _________ Field is where the astronauts train by flying T-38 Talons and the Shuttle Training Aircraft.

10. Six Apollo missions brought over 800 pounds of samples from this planetary body back to JSC’s Lunar Receiving Laboratory.

11. Flight controllers work around the clock in the _______ _______ Center where they direct and operate every American manned mission to space.

12. Astronauts perform simulated EVA tasks underwaterin the full-sized mockups of the Space Shuttle payloadbay and International Space Station at this JSCfacility, the Neutral ________ Lab.

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Stephanie Johnston

Project Lead, Johnson Space Center

Emily Kollin, Jessica Turner, Heather Williams

Editors-In-Chief, Johnson Space Center

This issue of CACiN was put together by the CAC Team at

Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

2101 NASA Parkway

Houston, Texas 77058

www.nasa.gov