Volume 1 Issue 6 www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis June 2006

SSC plays vital role in NASA’s Project ConstellationNASA announced June 5 agency center responsibilitiesassociated with the Constellation Program for robotic andhuman moon and Mars exploration.

This distribution of work across NASA’s centers reflectsthe agency’s intention to productively use personnel, facili-ties and resources from across the agency to accomplish theVision for Space Exploration.

“Our past experiences have provided the foundation tobegin shaping the space exploration capabilities needed tocreate a sustained presence on the moon and on to Mars,”said Scott Horowitz, associate administrator for NASA’sExploration Systems Mission Directorate. “Our programsand projects are evolving as we develop the requirements toexecute the Vision for Space Exploration. At the same timewe are aligning the work that needs to be accomplishedwith the capabilities of our NASA centers.”

“This is an exciting time for our nation and for StennisSpace Center,” said Center Director Richard Gilbrech. “Bybuilding on more than 40 years of experience in rocketpropulsion testing, Stennis will continue to serve in its traditional test role, testing elements of the Constellation Program.”

In addition to primary work assignments, each center willsupport moon and Mars surface systems conceptualdesigns. Centers also support additional Constellation pro-gram and project activities.

Center assignments:

Stennis Space Center manages and integrates rocket propul-sion testing for the Crew Launch Vehicle Project. Stennisleads sea-level development, certification and acceptancetesting for the upper stage engine, sea-level developmenttesting for the upper stage main propulsion test article and sea-level acceptance testing for the flight upper stage assembly.

See CONSTELLATION, Page 6

Engineering concept of NASA’s new Cargo Launch Vehicle (left) and CrewLaunch Vehicle. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne’s RS-68 engine will powerthe core stage of the Cargo Launch Vehicle, and the J-2X will power theupper stage of the Crew Launch Vehicle. Both engines will be tested atStennis Space Center.

Page 2 LAGNIAPPE June 2006

It’s hard to believe it has been more than nine monthssince Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc along the GulfCoast. Yet, here we are already into the 2006 hurricaneseason. Because the storm season is indeed here, now isthe time to make sure you’re ready should another hurri-cane come our way.

Although the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season had a record28 storms, including 15 hurricanes, the National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration has predicted yet anoth-er active hurricane season for 2006. NOAA is predicting13 to 16 named storms with eight to 10 of those becom-ing hurricanes. Four to six of the hurricanes couldbecome “major” hurricanes of Category 3 strength orhigher.

After the devastation felt by our region in the aftermathof Hurricane Katrina, the importance of personal prepa-ration cannot be understated. In the days following thistragic storm, NASA’s first concern was for the welfare ofits employees, and I can assure you that continues to bethe case.

I have no doubt that Stennis Space Center and itsemployees will build on the lessons we learned in previ-ous hurricane seasons, and do what it takes to ensure thesafety of our families, homes and communities. But Iurge you, there’s no time like the present to get prepared.

The National Weather Service has an excellent Web sitethat provides information on preparing for the hurricaneseason. For more information, please visit the site at:http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml.

With proper advance planning, I’m certain we will weath-er the upcoming season together.

From the desk of

Dr. Richard GilbrechDirector,

Stennis Space Center

SSC sends delegation to Capitol HillThe directors of NASA’s 10 field centers met with more than 100members of Congress March 23-24 in Washington, to provideupdates on the role each center will play in the nation’s Vision forSpace Exploration: to return to the moon before the end of the nextdecade, paving the way for eventual journeys to Mars and beyond.Center Director Dr. Richard Gilbrech, NASA Astronaut Kay Hire, Leg-islative Affairs Officer Myron Webb and NASA Engineering and SafetyCenter Chief Engineer for SSC Shamin Rahman met with membersof Congress from both Mississippi and Louisiana.

Pictured at left, Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran meets with Gilbrechand Hire. Below, Gilbrech and Hire are pictured with Louisiana Rep.Bobby Jindal (left photo) and Mississippi Rep. Gene Taylor (rightphoto), who each represent districts where the majority of SSCemployees live.

June 2006 LAGNIAPPE Page 3

Methane testing may play role in future explorationA unique test project resultingfrom a joint partnership betweenTechnology Development andRocket Propulsion Test officesat NASA’s Stennis Space Centermay play a role in America’sVision for Space Exploration: toreturn humans to the moonbefore the end of the nextdecade, paving the way for even-tual journeys to Mars andbeyond. The project at Stennisuses a portable test stand to testa potential fuel, or propellant,for new rocket engines.

Called a thruster test bed, thesmall test stand at Stennis’ E-3test facility is mounted on aflatbed trailer measuring roughly4 feet by 12 feet and usesgaseous methane and liquid oxy-gen as propellants. The test bedwas developed through a Small Business InnovationResearch (SBIR) Phase II contract by AJT & Associates,based in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

“Using the portable test bed in test-ing oxygen-methane at StennisSpace Center is a great example ofhow a technology can be maturedfrom a prototype to an operationaltechnology to support NASAexploration needs,” said Ray Bryant,who manages the SBIR/STTR(Small Business Technology Transfer) programs at Stennis Space Center.

The thruster test bed was designedto support tests on various hydrocar-bon-fueled engines with up to 1,000 pounds of thrust. Itwas initially configured as a standalone system forgaseous oxygen/kerosene propellants, but was modifiedfor integration into the E-3 test facility and reconfiguredfor methane testing.

The tests support NASA’s investigation into the use ofnontraditional propellants as part of the agency’s plan to

develop system control hardware, heavy-lift launch sys-tems and crew exploration vehicles to fulfill the goals ofthe nation’s Vision for Space Exploration.

Oxygen-methane propellants may be a better choice thanthe traditionally-used hydrogen-oxygen combination for poweringlunar ascent and return missionsbecause methane would store moreeasily, last longer and be safer tohandle. Most importantly, oxygen-methane is the easiest propellantcombination to synthesize or“mine” from the atmospheres ofMars and the moon.

Randy Holland, former projectmanager for the methane thrustertest bed, said the project aimed to

further develop propulsion test experience with methanepropellants, and to build an application platform fordeveloping plume diagnostics on hydrocarbon fuel andIntegrated System Health Management technologies.

See METHANE, Page 11

Unlike some test stands at Stennis Space Center that tower hundreds of feet above ground, this thrustertest bed is mounted on a trailer that measures 4 feet by 12 feet. The methane-oxygen tests conducted onthe test bed could play a role NASA’s plan to return to the moon, and eventually travel to Mars and beyond.

The plume with Mach diamonds is visible during anoxygen-methane test at SSC.

FULFILLING THE VISION FOR SPACE EXPLORATION

Page 4 LAGNIAPPE June 2006

Space Shuttle Discovery’s 4.2-mile journeyfrom the Vehicle Assembly Building toLaunch Pad 39B was accomplished on May19. Mounted on the Mobile Launcher Plat-form and carried by the mammoth crawler-transporter, Discovery emerged from theassembly building at 12:45 p.m. EDT. The“stack” rolls along at less than 1 mph.

The team has completed prelaunch loading ofhypergolic propellants into the forward and aft reactioncontrol systems and the orbital maneuvering system pods,as well as fuel loading for the orbiter’s auxiliary power units.

The crew of space shuttle Discovery will continue to testnew equipment and procedures that increase the safety ofspace shuttles during the STS-121 mission to the Interna-tional Space Station. It also will perform maintenance onthe space station and deliver more supplies and cargo forfuture station expansion.

This mission is to carry on analysis of safety improvementsthat debuted on the Return to Flight mission, STS-114, andbuild upon those tests.

Discovery will bring a third crew member tothe station, European Space Agency Astro-naut Thomas Reiter. This will be the firstthree-person crew since the Expedition 6crew returned to Earth May 4, 2003. With-out the space shuttle to ferry equipment tothe station after the Columbia accident, onlytwo people could be supported on boarduntil the necessary provisions were in place.

Discovery will carry the Italian-built Multi-PurposeLogistics Module (MPLM) Leonardo, with more thantwo tons of equipment and supplies aboard.

Steve Lindsey, an Air Force colonel, will command Dis-covery. He is making his fourth spaceflight, and secondas commander. The pilot will be Navy Cmdr. Mark Kelly,making his second flight.

Others aboard, in addition to Reiter, will be mission spe-cialists Mike Fossum, Stephanie Wilson, Piers Sellers andNavy Cmdr. Lisa Nowak. This will be the first space-flight for Fossum, Wilson and Nowak. Sellers is makinghis second spaceflight.

STS-121:Space Shuttle Discovery prepared for July launch

Space ShuttleDiscovery awaitsa July launch onLaunch Pad 39Bat KennedySpace Center,Fla., after its suc-cessful “rollout”on May 19.

June 2006 LAGNIAPPE Page 5

SSC engineer looks to the stars, produces stellar imagesTom Nicolaides has been looking to the starssince he was a child, and now the NASA engineeris bringing that vision back down to earth.

Nicolaides, a New Orleans native now living on asmall farm in Carriere, Miss., is an avid“astrophotographer” in his time away from Sten-nis Space Center where he works as a systemsintegration engineer. By using a high-powered tel-escope and a digital camera, Nicolaides capturesimages from space, including the solar system,galaxies, constellations, nebulae and more.

His fascination with celestial bodies began in ele-mentary school when his school library only hadone book about astronomy. He re-checked thebook week after week until his father finallybought him his own copy – and a telescope to gowith it.

Whenever people asked what I wanted to bewhen I grew up, I always said “an astronomer,”Nicolaides said. “It didn’t quite work out that way, but Istill do it in my spare time.”

Nicolaides began merging his interest in astronomy withphotography in college by using a film camera, but he wasnever satisfied with the outcome. About four years agoafter moving to Carriere from Slidell, La., his wife Sharonsuggested he take the hobby to the next level. Nicolaidespurchased an advanced telescope and digital camera, and hehasn’t looked back.

Each image is the result of Nicolaides’ intense labor. Hespends about an hour setting up his telescopes, camera andcomputer in his horse pasture, tracking each subject forseveral hours or overnight.

“It’s not easy,” Nicolaides said. “So many things have to bejust right. . . first and foremost, the weather.”

He uses software to combine the sequence of 100 or soexposures into one composite image, and then adjusts thecontrast, color and other variables to produce the best pos-sible effect. The end results are breathtaking images filledwith bursts of light against a dazzling star field and otherdetailed views impossible to see with the naked eye.

His wife, Sharon Nicolaides, a financial analyst with Com-puter Sciences Corp. at Stennis Space Center, also professesan interest in astronomy. The two were members of thePontchartrain Astronomy Society in New Orleans in the1970s, but never met until both began work at StennisSpace Center.

“My interest is more about being able to identify the con-stellations and the aesthetics of sky objects; his is extremelytechnical,” Sharon said. “He’s surpassed the amateur level.It’s definitely advanced astrophotography.”

One of Nicolaides’ favorite images is the constellationOrion, taken in his first successful astrophotography ses-sion following Hurricane Katrina. Despite the devastationaround him, Nicolaides was able to find one positive: thelack of city lights allowed his celestial targets to stand outmore clearly in the night sky.

More information about Nicolaides’ astrophotography, theequipment he uses and examples of his work are availableat his Web site, http://www.first-light.org.

NASA’s Tom Nicolaides pursues his hobby of astrophotography from his horse pasture inCarriere, Miss. Nicolaides, fascinated with astronomy since childhood, uses a digitalcamera and a powerful telescope to create images of celestial bodies.

This photo of the constellation Orion is the first successful image Nicolaides captured after Hurricane Katrina.

Page 6 LAGNIAPPE June 2006

Ames Research Center, Moffett Field,Calif., leads the crew exploration vehi-cle (CEV) Thermal Protection SystemAdvanced Development Project.Ames is developing information sys-tems to support the Constellation Pro-gram Safety, Reliability and QualityAssurance Office.

Dryden Flight Research Center,Edwards, Calif., leads CEV AbortFlight Test integration and operationsincluding Abort Test Booster procure-ment and integration with the FlightTest Article.

Glenn Research Center, Cleveland,leads the CEV Service Module andSpacecraft Adapter integration, provid-ing oversight and independent analysisof the prime contractor’s developmentof these segments. Glenn has leadresponsibility for the design and devel-opment of several crew launch vehicle(CLV) upper stage systems.

Goddard Space Flight Center, Green-belt, Md., provides co-leadership ofthe Constellation Program’s SystemEngineering and Integration naviga-tion team and software and avionics team.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena,Calif., leads a multicenter activity in

support of the Mission OperationsProject to plan systems engineeringprocesses related to operations devel-opment and preparation. JPL providesco-leadership for the ConstellationProgram Office Systems Engineeringand Integration Software and Avionics team.

Johnson Space Center, Houston, hoststhe Constellation Program, the CEVProject and the Mission OperationsProject. The Constellation Programmanages and integrates the programand all projects. The CEV ProjectOffice manages and integrates all CEVelements including prime contractorwork. The Mission Operations Projectmanages and integrates all activitiesrelated to mission operations.

Kennedy Space Center, Fla., hosts theGround Operations Project. The proj-ect manages all activities related toground operations for the launch andlanding sites, including ground pro-cessing, launch and recovery systems.

Langley Research Center, Hampton,Va., leads Launch Abort System inte-gration supporting the CEV Project,providing oversight and independentanalysis of the CEV prime contrac-tor’s development of the system. Lan-gley leads the Command ModuleLanding System Advanced Develop-ment Project for CEV. Langley pro-vides vehicle integration and CEV testarticle module development for theAdvanced Development Flight Test.

Marshall Space Flight Center,Huntsville, Ala., hosts the Constella-tion Launch Vehicle projects. Theprojects are responsible for projectmanagement of all CLV and CargoLaunch Vehicle-related activities. Mar-shall provides the CLV first stagedesign, and is responsible for launchvehicle demonstration testing includingthe Advanced Development Flight Test.

While these decisions will result inbudget and personnel allocations atthe centers, detailed estimates will notbe available until after prime contrac-tors are formally selected for the program’s major projects, such as theCrew Exploration Vehicle, CrewLaunch Vehicle and Cargo Launch Vehicle.

For information about the programvisit:http://www.nasa.gov/constellation.

CONSTELLATIONContinued from Page 1

Stennis Space Center has been given responsibilities for thenew Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV), a critical element in ournation’s plans for humans to explore the frontiers of space.SSC’s responsibilities include:

CLV– Serve in a focused program management and integrationrole for Constellation Systems rocket propulsion testing– Lead sea-level development, certification and acceptancetesting for upper stage engine including facility modificationsand test operations– Support altitude development & certification testing forupper stage engine– Lead sea-level development testing for upper stage mainpropulsion test article, which includes facility modificationsand test operations

– Lead sea-level acceptance testing for flight upper stageassembly, which includes facility modifications and test operationsGround Operations– Support design, development, testing and evaluation ofpropellant test and delivery systems, ground engine check-out facility simulation and analysis, engine and launch facilityplanning and developmentProgram Office tasks include:– System Engineering & Integration - Support to flight per-formance systems integration group (propulsion test integra-tion) and systems engineering processes and tools– Test & Verification - Propulsion test integration and coordi-nation with rocket propulsion test management board– Advance Projects Office - Support architecture refinementand conceptual design of future elements

“By building on more than 40years of experience in rocket

propulsion testing, Stennis willcontinue to serve in its traditionaltest role, testing elements of the

Constellation Program.”

– Stennis Space Center DirectorDr. Richard Gilbrech

Rolls-Royce engine testing facility breaks ground at SSC

NASA launches new learning management systemNASA’s new learning managementsystem is now operational. SATERN(System for Administration, Training,and Educational Resources forNASA) went live on May 8 and canbe accessed online athttps://satern.nasa.gov.

The new SATERN system isdesigned to support the develop-ment of the NASA workforcethrough a simplified and one-stopaccess to high quality training prod-ucts and processes to support learn-ing and development.

An e-Training initiative, SATERNsupports the President’s Manage-ment Agenda by providing effectivemanagement of training and careerdevelopment activities. It increasesefficiencies and reduces costs

through standardized processes, con-solidation and replacement of threeNASA legacy systems:

- Site for Online Learning andResources (SOLAR): The online,custom content courseware systemused throughout NASA;

- AdminSTAR: The training adminis-tration system used by all centertraining offices; and

- NASA Online Registration System(NORS): The system that allows stu-dents to register online for coursesand is integrated with AdminSTAR(at Marshall Space Flight Center andKennedy Space Center).

With SATERN, the NASA work-force has Web-based access to train-

ing and career developmentresources. Supervisors can work withtheir direct reports to assign andtrack required training and developand manage individual learning plans.

In future phases, NASA will buildupon this functionality and enableemployees and supervisors to useSATERN as a tool for career plan-ning, competency management andindividual development planning.

As NASA begins to use this newlearning management system,employees are encouraged to accessthe SATERN informational Web siteat https://saterninfo.nasa.gov to getinformation about how to log ontoSATERN and take the Web-basedtutorial to learn about SATERN’smany features.

Officials present for the Rolls-Royce groundbreak-ing at SSC on June 1 included, from left, StateRep. J.P. Compretta; State Rep. Jessica Upshaw;State Sen. Billy Hewes; Stennis Space CenterDeputy Director David Throckmorton; Gov. HaleyBarbour; State Sen. Scottie Cuevas; TrevorOrman, director of Operations Civil Aerospace forRolls-Royce; Michael Ryan, executive vice presi-dent-Government Business for Rolls-Royce; StateRep. Billy Broomfield; and Anna Kelynack-Boddy,business development manager for OperationsCivil Aerospace for Rolls-Royce.

Rolls-Royce broke ground June 1 at Stennis Space Centerfor its new outdoor jet engine testing facility. The facilitywill be used to test development and prototype jetengines for performance, noise, validation of safety sys-tems and other factors.

Initially, it will test the company’s high-thrust Trentengines, the Trent 1000 and Trent 900, being developedfor the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A380, respec-tively. Work is expected to begin at the site in the secondhalf of 2007.

This is the first Rolls-Royce test facility of its kind out-

side the United Kingdom, and the first built from theground up in the U.S. Last year, the company announcedits intent to relocate this test capability from the U.K. tothe U.S. There are only three such testing facilities in the world.

Rolls-Royce will spend $42 million on construction andfacility upgrades, as well as utilize existing infrastructureat SSC.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and First Lady MarshaBarbour joined Rolls-Royce and local dignitaries at thegroundbreaking ceremony.

June 2006 LAGNIAPPE Page 7

Page 8 LAGNIAPPE June 2006

Editor’s Note: Archaeologist Dr. Marco Giardino of NASA’sNew Business Development Office at SSC provides thisLAGNIAPPE column dedicated to the history of Stennis SpaceCenter and the surrounding area.

One of the more notable landmarks inour buffer zone is the site of theWingate/Weston/Otis House, locatedon Main Street in Logtown until 1962. In1848, W.R. Wingate hired Henry Weston,a young man from Maine, to work at the Logtown lumbermill. Eight years later, Weston owned the mill and movedinto Wingate’s house. For more than 100 years, the sitehoused some of the most prominent families of Logtown.

However, one important historic figure that predated allthose inhabitants was Jean Baptiste Rousseve, known as“Little Allain” who bought the site of the future house atCabanage Latimier (as Logtown was then called) in 1788during the Spanish ownership of the area. Jean was a skill-

ful interpreter of Indian languages like his neighbor JeanFavre. Rousseve and Favre descended from the earliestFrench settlers at Mobile.

A contemporary of Jean Rousseve writing in 1745described him as “a prudent and sensible ladwho knows them [Choctaws] all, since he wasbrought up among them and has a perfectcommand of the language.”

Rousseve was named “interpreter for theKing” and was a major figure during the Eastern Choctawwar led by the famous Chief Red Shoes. In 1757 Rousseveled an expedition of Alibamu Indians, allies to the French,to Cat Island to intercept a renegade Frenchman who had plundered a wrecked Spanish ship and was fleeing to the British.

It may have been during that expedition that Roussevetraveled up the Pearl River where he made his home 30years later.

Retirees, from left, Bill Tay-lor (Naval OceanographicOffice), Leo Bermond(Johnson Controls) andThomas Farve (MississippiSpace Services) gather atStennis Space Center forOld Timers’ Day, held May19. Nearly 150 current andformer employees reunitedfor food and fellowship atthe annual event.

Old Timers’ Day reunites current, former employees

The Logtown lumber mill

Buffer zone settlement of Logtown boasted rich past

Stennis Space CenterHISTORY

June 2006 LAGNIAPPE Page 9

LAGNIAPPE commentary: Getting together. . .Editor’s note: The following commentary written byMack Herring appeared in the Aug. 22, 1980, issue of“Lagniappe.” At the time, Stennis Space Center wasknown as the National Space Technology Laboratories,or NSTL. Herring was SSC’s first public affairs officerand later the site’s first historian. His popular, long-run-ning columns featured Gator, the cartoon mascot ofSSC. This is the last of a series of columns celebratingHerring’s contributions during the 40th anniversary of thesite’s first rocket engine test firing.

We believe it would be hard to find a more beautifulplace to live than the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Thecoastline, with its stately live oaks growing right up tothe water, may just give the Coast a unique look. Thebayous, bays, rivers and creeks add to the charm. OldHandsboro, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport,Biloxi, Bay St. Louis and Waveland have stood as liv-ing and symbolic ghosts of a proud history.

The Coast cities and communities share not only a coast-line, historic sites, unique architecture and vast leisureactivities, but also a sense of progress – progress in edu-cational opportunities and in the revitalization of down-town and residential areas.

And just to the north of the Coast is Picayune, a townnamed, we understand, for a newspaper which wasnamed for a small coin. However, there’s nothing smallabout Picayune and the warmhearted people who makeit “everybody’s hometown.” Just across the Pearl Riverand Honey Island Swamp is Slidell, one of the fastestgrowing communities in the U.S. And all who have chosen this Louisiana city as their home can give you a list of attributes a mile long that have caused its rapid growth.

So we all at NSTL have much to be thankful for in hav-ing a special place to live and one of the most attractiveand modern government installations in the country tospend our working hours.

Activities that bring us all together on a “person-to-per-son” basis are increasing – evidenced by the Rec Associ-ation, Toastmasters and various specialty clubs such asthe ones enjoyed by the artists and photographers. Thesuccess of the blood drives, Combined Agencies Cam-paigns and a helping hand to fix a flat tire show thatagency and element don’t separate acquaintances andfriendships.

This observer has noticed a growing positive trendtoward the most ideal organization – the NSTL family.

– M.R.H.

NASA establishes emergency contact number for its employeesAs Stennis Space Center employeesprepare for the beginning of anotherhurricane season, it is imperative forthem to plan and be ready for thethreat and impact of potentialstorms to their homes, as well as the center.

The safety and well-being of Stennisemployees and their families are ofutmost concern.

Everyone should plan ahead for anevacuation strategy. Employeesshould discuss evacuation shelterlocations with their employers.

Employees are also reminded to dis-cuss their evacuation plans with theirsupervisors so they can be contactedfollowing a storm or to acquire com-pany/agency policy on contacts aftera storm.

To receive site status reports, call 228-688-3777.

In the event that NASA employeescannot contact Stennis Space Centerdue to downed communicationsafter a storm, a toll-free number hasbeen established to call outside thearea to report employees’ status.That number for NASA employeesis 877-776-4654.

Page 10 LAGNIAPPE June 2006

Pictured is the 2006 classof Leadership HancockCounty, a program thatwas instituted by the Han-cock Chamber of Com-merce to identify and pre-pare the community’sexisting and future leader-ship resources.

Besides a tour of StennisSpace Center, sessionsinclude field trips focusingon government, economicdevelopment, education,smart growth and qualityliving.

Pictured are, from left,(front row) Kevin Ladner,Karen Ruhr, Yuki Northing-ton, Pam Cuevas, LynneChasez, Jenny Bell, MaryPerkins, Kay Gough, EricRoss, (back row) DeborahBatchelor, Mary Kay Hub-bard, Clay Leyser, Debo-rah Trotter, Richie Santia-go, Hank Wheeler, TeriVelardi, Lora Mederos,Gary Knoblock, WhitsonChristy, David Mauffray,Ricky Adam. Not picturedare David Knopf, SusanMayley, Matt Moore,Janelle Nolan and Charl-lotte Santa Cruz.

Hancock County Leadership Classtours Stennis Space Center

‘Juneteenth’ marks release date of last slavesJuneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemora-tion of the ending of slavery in the United States. It com-memorates the events of June 19,1865, in Galveston, Texas, whenword of the emancipation procla-mation finally reached the enslaved,and a new and uncertain way oflife began.

Today, Juneteenth commemorates African-American free-dom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is aday, a week and in some areas a month marked with cele-brations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It isa time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assess-ment, self-improvement and for planning the future.In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities

and religions are joining hands to acknowledge a period inour history that shaped and continues to influence our

society today. Sensitized to theconditions and experiences of oth-ers, only then can we make signifi-cant and lasting improvements inour society.

Beyond freedom for one’s self, Juneteenth celebrates free-dom for all, worldwide. Juneteenth promotes unity andbuilds self-esteem through reflection, education andthrough acknowledgement of achievements.

Juneteenth serves symbolically and in reality as a referencepoint from which to appreciate the progress and contribu-tions made by African-Americans to society.

From theOffice of Diversity

and Equal Opportunity

NASA helps propellocal teacher intoDisney spotlightBay St. Louis teacher Connie Heitz-mann has been selected by the WaltDisney Company’s Worldwide Out-reach to receive the 2006 DisneyTeacher Award.

“NASA and Stennis Space Centerplayed an important part in all this,”Heitzmann said. “Stennis Space Cen-ter has helped so much with all that’soffered there.”

Sherrill Reynolds, information servic-es coordinator for the EducatorResource Center at SSC, said Heitz-mann has “probably taken every one of the technology workshopswe’ve offered.”

Heitzmann is one of 44 teachersnationwide who will receive $10,000from Disney and a trip to the Dis-neyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif.,July 29 to Aug. 3. During that week,five exceptional teachers will be cho-sen. Four Outstanding Teachers andone Disney Teacher of the Year will receive an additional $15,000from Disney.

NASA initiates summer program for AmericanIndians: NASA and the American Indian Higher EducationConsortium (AIHEC) announced the launch of the NASAAIHEC Summer Research Experience Program. The programis a strategic approach to inspire young American Indians topursue careers in science and engineering.

Sixty participants representing 14 Tribal Colleges and Universi-ties will take part in the programs at seven NASA centers thissummer. Participants will be assigned to research and engi-neering teams exploring robotics, 3-D design, geospatial dataanalysis and astrobiology while fostering long-term relationshipswith their research mentors at the field centers.

“American Indians are very under-represented in the fields ofscience and engineering,” said Gerald Gipp, Ph.D., executivedirector of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.“The program is a critical step toward changing that equation byencouraging young American Indians to pursue careers in sci-ence and engineering while also building a welcoming environ-ment that nurtures their career path.”

Shuttle tank ET-118 departs New Orleans,bound for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center: Thespace shuttle external tank designated ET-118 departedNASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans June 5.Shipped via NASA’s transport vessel Liberty Star, the tankarrived in Florida June 9. ET-118 will be mated with SpaceShuttle Atlantis for the STS-115 mission, scheduled for August 2006.

First images from NASA’s CloudSat have scientists sky high: The first images from NASA’s newCloudSat satellite are already revealing never-before-seen 3-Ddetails about clouds. Mission managers tested the flight andground system performance of the satellite’s Cloud-ProfilingRadar in late May, and found it to be working perfectly. Thesatellite’s first images may be viewed athttp://www.nasa.gov/cloudsat.

“CloudSat’s radar performed flawlessly, and although the dataare still very preliminary, it provided breathtaking new views ofthe weather on our planet,” said Graeme Stephens, CloudSatprincipal investigator and a professor at Colorado State Univer-sity, Fort Collins, Colo. “We have now begun continuous radaroperations, and we look forward to releasing our first validateddata to the science community within nine months, hopefully sooner.”

NASA welcomes European space station module: NASA is celebrating the arrival of an important com-ponent to the International Space Station, the Columbusresearch laboratory. Columbus, the European Space Agency’sprimary contribution to the station, arrived at NASA’s KennedySpace Center, Fla., May 30 from Germany. Columbus willexpand the research facilities of the station, providingresearchers the ability to conduct a variety of experiments in thearea of life, physical and materials sciences.

AROUND NASA

NASA welcomes the following to SSC:

Rosalind Baker - Contract specialist, Operations Contracting DivisionTim White - Aerospace technologist, Quality Assurance/Office of Safe-ty & Mission AssuranceKeith Pierce - Aerospace technologist, Quality Assurance/Office ofSafety & Mission AssuranceMichelle Craft - Aerospace technologist, Experimental Facilities/Pro-ject Management Division

Hail & Farewell

METHANEContinued from Page 3

This is the first testing in which SSC has used a hydrocar-bon fuel to develop technology for monitoring the healthof an engine by diagnosing its flame plume. It has pro-duced a stable, repeatable source of measurable plumeemissions for collecting data and establishing performancebaselines. The project will help validate computer codesthat model the combustion process, and has given techni-cians the chance to examine the capabilities and method of Integrated System Health Management within the test environment.

As the United States continues preparations to send futureexplorers to the moon, Mars and beyond, these tests, con-ducted aboard a small trailer at NASA’s Stennis Space Cen-ter, hold the potential to help pave the way for the journey.

Margaret Womble, daughter of NASA Stennis Space Center’s namesake Sen.John C. Stennis, accompanied a group of DeKalb, Miss., students to Stenni-Sphere, the visitor center at SSC. Womble, a retired teacher in DeKalb, volun-teers for a group called Bringing Up Grades Plus Good Behavior. She said itwas her third visit to Stennis Space Center and her first visit to StenniSphere.

Daughter of John C. Stennis visits StenniSphere with students

June 2006 LAGNIAPPE Page 11

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Stennis Space Center, MS 39529or call:

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Page 12 LAGNIAPPE June 2006

Rocket Rulzteaches science

principlesNASA Stennis Space Center’s education

staff recently treated students atAberdeen (Miss.) Elementary School to

the Rocket Rulz program.

‘Rocket Rulz... Real Science! Real Loud!’is an exciting day of activities that help

students understand how NASA usesNewton’s Laws of Motion in rocket

propulsion testing. The program alsohelps students see how things they

learn in the classroom apply to practical situations.

Summer Astro Camp launches to ‘Moon, Mars and Beyond’June 5 kicked off the first week ofAstro Camp, the popular day campat Stennis Space Center.

Counselor Rachel Selzer (left),Kourtnie Jenkins, 9, of Nicholson,Miss.; Alexandra Greenlee, 9, ofCarriere, Miss.; and Seth Baker, 6,of Slidell, La., perform a scienceexperiment to learn what types of‘fuel’ will best propel their ‘rockets.’

The theme for this year’s sessionsis ‘Moon, Mars and Beyond,’ inwhich campers design, build andtest a model rocket based on theprinciples that would be used tobuild a rocket suitable for a missionto the moon or Mars. They learndetails like how far they would trav-el, how long it would take, whatsupplies they would need and howto survive in that environment.