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Serving the Marshall Space Flight Center Community May 5, 2005
Butler
Continued from page 1 Sony XC-999 ultra-compact integrated camera module with a heavy,
Marshall. And the only view he’s interested in these days is the shatterproof quartz lens, can record 30 high-resolution frames per
one looking down from atop the Space Shuttle Discovery’s massive second. Butler is satisfied it will function smoothly -- it previously
External Tank, the 154-foot-tall, orange fuel tank built for NASA by recorded breathtaking images of Shuttle Atlantis’ ascent during the
Lockheed Martin Space Systems of New Orleans. In July, the External STS-112 flight in October 2002, the first mission in which a camera
Tank will help lift the STS-114: Space Shuttle Return to Flight mis- was installed on the tank.
sion to space. But there’s no time to breathe easy just yet. Butler switches
Like most of the nation, Butler will be watching Discovery’s team-lead hats, checking in with various tank engineers on fresh
historic flight. But he may be watching more closely than some. issues. He manages what are known as “launch commit criteria” for
He manages the team responsible for the External Tank-Mounted the External Tank -- the final set of safety checks used by spacecraft
Shuttle Observation Camera, which is mounted in a recessed area of managers on the day of launch to verify whether Shuttle hardware
the External Tank’s liquid oxygen feedline, the 70-foot conduit that is indeed ready to fly. Butler oversees more than a dozen launch
delivers propellant to the Shuttle Main Engine. The camera team criteria for the tank, and works closely with criteria managers for
is spending the final weeks before flight ensuring the camera, a other Shuttle components, helping to ensure NASA launch personnel
primary tool for recording Discovery’s launch, is in proper work- are prepared to finalize Discovery’s go/no-go status on the pad.
ing order, and securely mounted to withstand the powerful energy Butler routinely huddles for updates via conference calls with
of liftoff, as the Shuttle accelerates -- in a little more than eight Shuttle teams across NASA: tank manufacturers at the Michoud
minutes -- toward its 17,500 mph orbital cruising speed. From its Assembly Facility in New Orleans; launch facility managers at Ken-
vantage point, the feedline camera will record the ascent, maintain nedy; members of the Astronaut Corps at NASA’s Johnson Space
a bird’s eye view of the Orbiter and, most importantly, document Center in Houston. “There are a lot of reviews, a lot of voices speak-
the behavior of foam insulation covering several key areas of the ing up,” he says. “Everyone is working to make this flight the safest
External Tank. it can be. We’re confident we’ve achieved that.”
The polyurethane foam is a critical safety element. Once the Butler was born in Pensacola, Fla., and raised in Huntsville. He
External Tank is loaded with the 535,000 gallons of super-cold earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1984 from the Uni-
liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen propellant needed to loft the versity of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, before joining Marshall’s Systems
Shuttle into the sky, the insulating foam helps maintain the interior Analysis and Integration Office the same fall. He was promoted in
temperature and prevents buildup of potentially dangerous ice on 1988 to the Systems Engineering Project in the Shuttle Propulsion
the exposed aluminum exterior. After the loss of Shuttle Columbia in Office, and has climbed through the office’s ranks ever since. A tall,
February 2003, it was determined the foam itself posed a potential rangy outdoorsman, Butler still looks like the young man who ran
debris risk during liftoff. Preventing foam loss -- and document- track for the Crimson Tide. And his athletic nature has proved handy
ing future instances to provide an early warning system and permit at NASA over the years.
repairs -- were critical recommendations of the Columbia Accident “We’re constantly on the move, solving problems, staying ahead
Investigation Board. of issues,” he says. “The last two years have really shown what
Together with cameras on the Shuttle’s Solid Rocket Boosters, still NASA is willing to give for the American people. This is good work.
and video cameras used by the crew in flight and enhanced cam- And a great team.”
eras on the ground and on “chase planes” that fly in the Shuttle’s
vicinity, the feedline camera will help NASA develop a compre- The writer, an ASRI employee, supports the Public Affairs Office.
hensive, second-by-second picture of each launch. The camera, a
Solar sails
Continued from page 1
Such a maneuver would require a signifi- L’Garde Inc., of Tustin, Calif.; and ATK Space Pasadena, Calif., was tapped to develop
cant amount of propellant for conventional Systems of Goleta, Calif. Their work is led by an integrated set of computer-based solar
rocket systems. the In-Space Propulsion Technology Office sail simulation tools. These are just three
“A spacecraft utilizing solar sail pro- at the Marshall Center. of a number of efforts undertaken by NASA
pulsion can deploy a large, lightweight The tests are being conducted in a Centers, industry and academia to develop
reflector -- up to tens of meters long, but vacuum chamber -- to simulate the space solar sail technology.
very, very lightweight -- that can reflect environment. ATK Space Systems-Goleta Solar sail technology is being developed
sunlight,” says Les Johnson, manager of the began its tests in April 2005, while L’Garde’s by the In-Space Propulsion Technology
In-Space Office at the Marshall Center. “As it testing begins in June. Each test series is Program, managed by NASA’s Science Mis-
reflects the Sun’s energy, the sail will move expected to last up to 30 days. sion Directorate and implemented by the
and carry a small payload or a spacecraft Solar sail technology was selected for In-Space Propulsion Technology Office at
along with it.” development in August 2002 by NASA’s Marshall.
“As long as there’s sunlight, there can be Science Mission Directorate in Washington.
propulsion,” adds Johnson. Along with sail system design projects by
The 20-meter solar sail system designs L’Garde and ATK Space Systems-Goleta, The writer, an ASRI employee, supports the
were developed by two engineering firms, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Public Affairs Office.
Michael Rudolphi, Shuttle Propulsion The AIAA Alabama-Mississippi Sec- NASA TV is now running a special
Office manager, will speak at the tion Awards Dinner and Town Hall daily video feed ”STS-114 Return to
Marshall Association luncheon Tues- Meeting with AIAA National Presi- Flight Gallery,’’ for the Space Shuttle
day at 11:15 a.m. in the Marshall dent Dr. Don Richardson will be May Return to Flight mission. Schedule
Center Activities Building. Rudolphi 17 at Holiday Inn Research Park. permitting, it airs daily from noon
will speak on “The Road We Traveled The meeting begins at 6 p.m.; the to 2 p.m. CDT. The Return to Flight
from Columbia to Return to Flight.’’ dinner at 7 p.m.; and the awards Gallery will include a rotation of
The luncheon cost is $8, payable in ceremony at 8 p.m. video items, including full-length
advance or at the door. Contact Tom There is no cost to attend the meet- interviews with each of the Space
Fleming at 544-3962 by Monday for ing. For dinner reservations, contact Shuttle Discovery crew members,
reservations. Kevin Higdon at 256-679-3143 or replays of mission coverage, news
email him at: Kevin.Higdon@kph- briefings, b-roll and soundbites.
research.com by noon May 16. The mission is the first of two test
Applications being accepted for flights to verify new inspection and
Planetary Summer School Management Operations Retirees repair techniques, and to deliver
to meet for breakfast supplies to the International Space
Applications are due June 3 for Station.
NASA’s 17th Annual Planetary Sci- The Management Operations
ence Summer School, which runs Retirees will meet at 10 a.m., May
July 25-29 and Aug. 1-5, at the Jet 26 at the Cracker Barrel in Madison.
Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Call 539-0042 for more information.
Calif. Science and engineering post-
Job Announcement
doctoral and graduate students with Local Engineers Without Borders
a strong interest in careers in plan- chapter proposed MS05C0046, Supervisory, AST,
etary exploration are encouraged to Mission Support Requirements
apply. Students will gain a clearer Anyone interested in starting a
& Development, GS-15, Engi-
understanding of the relationships Huntsville-Madison County chapter
neering Directorate, Mission
among mission design, cost, and of Engineers Without Borders should
Operations Laboratory Training
schedule, and the trade-offs neces- contact Stephen Clanton at 544-
and Crew Operations Branch.
sary to stay within cost and sched- 5643. Engineers Without Borders is
a non-profit, humanitarian organi- Closes May 9.
ule while acquiring high-quality
zation established to partner with Contact: Carolyn Lundy,
science. Partial financial support is
developing communities to improve 544-4049
available. For application and other
information, go to http://www2.jpl. the quality of life of its residents.
nasa.gov/pscischool/.
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Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812
(256) 544–0030
http://www1.msfc.nasa.gov