HSFNEWS Digest - 13 Dec 2011 to 14 Dec 2011 (#2011-144)

From: "[NASA REPORTS]" <list.admin@aus-city.com>

Date: December 14th 2011

There are 3 messages totalling 160 lines in this issue

Topics of the day:

MEDIA INVITED TO SIMULATED ASTEROID CAMPOUT IN HOUSTON
NASA ASTRONAUT AVAILABLE VIA INTERNET TO DISCUSS RECRUITING
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER AND HOUSTON TECHNOLOGY CENTER PARTNER FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:56:45 -0600 From: info@JSC NASA GOV Subject: MEDIA INVITED TO SIMULATED ASTEROID CAMPOUT IN HOUSTON

Dec 13, 2011

Amiko Kauderer Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111

J D Harrington/Michael J Braukus Headquarters, Washington 202-358-5241/1979

Report #M11-248

MEDIA INVITED TO SIMULATED ASTEROID CAMPOUT IN HOUSTON

HOUSTON -- For three days this week, a small part of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston will simulate a human mission to an asteroid Reporters are invited to observe what the mission might entail

As NASA continues plans to send humans to explore asteroids and other destinations beyond low-Earth orbit, a number of questions are being asked about how astronauts could live and work in space NASA astronaut Mike Gernhardt and geologist Brent Garry of the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Ariz , will spend three days and two nights living inside the cabin of a prototype multi-mission Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV) answering some of those questions

Reporters may visit the test site at 10:30 a m CST on Thursday, Dec 15, during a simulated spacewalk in which a crew member will use a microgravity simulator To attend contact Amiko Kauderer at amiko kauderer-1@nasa gov by 5 p m on Wednesday The public is invited to ask the crew questions via twitter @Desert_RATS; for a Twitterview the crew will participate in at 11 a m on Friday, Dec 16 Questions should be marked #SEV

Normally, the cabin of the SEV prototype is used atop a wheeled chassis, but wheels are of no use in the microgravity environment of an asteroid Instead, the cabin would be used on a propelled sled allowing crew members to maneuver around the asteroid

To simulate such an environment, the SEV will be on an air-bearing floor allowing it to virtually float, much like an air hockey puck The crew will see how the SEV handles in a simulated microgravity environment

The tests are part of NASA's Research and Technology Studies (RATS) program that will evaluate and provide data for future generations of SEV cabins The test will be repeated in January with a different crew Both tests will be used to develop a fully integrated RATS test at Johnson in August

This series of tests and will be used to evaluate existing tools that could be used to simulate spacewalks on an asteroid The only time the crew will leave the SEV during the tests will be to perform simulated spacewalks Test equipment and laboratories include:

-- Johnson's virtual reality laboratory, also used to train astronauts for both space shuttle and International Space Station spacewalks -- A chair with thrusters previously used for testing the Manned Maneuvering Unit, a jet pack designed to allow astronauts to perform untethered spacewalks -- The Active Response Gravity Offload System, or ARGOS, a system that suspends astronauts in spacesuits from a beam and simulated different amounts of gravity During the media event, a crew member will conduct a simulated spacewalk using ARGOS

For information about the Desert RATS tests, visit:

http://www nasa gov/desertrats

For more information about the multi-mission Space Exploration Vehicle, visit:

http://www nasa gov/exploration/home/SEV html

Follow Desert RATS via Twitter at:

http://www twitter com/Desert_RATS

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Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:09:58 -0600 From: info@JSC NASA GOV Subject: NASA ASTRONAUT AVAILABLE VIA INTERNET TO DISCUSS RECRUITING

Dec 13, 2011

Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111

Joshua Buck Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100

Report #M11-249

NASA ASTRONAUT AVAILABLE VIA INTERNET TO DISCUSS RECRUITING

HOUSTON -- As NASA looks to new, deep space destinations and an ambitious commercial transportation system to the International Space Station, the agency is recruiting the next generation of explorers to make these momentous journeys

To discuss this opportunity and application procedures, veteran astronaut Rex Walheim will be available for interviews live via internet teleconferencing from 8:30 to 10 a m CST on Friday, Dec 16

NASA is accepting applications for the agency's next class in the Astronaut Candidate Program through Jan 27, 2012 After applicant interviews and evaluations, the agency expects to announce the final selections in 2013 Those selected will go on to become an integral part in the planning and execution of NASA's future missions

Walheim has flown on three spaceflights, including the STS-135 mission in July, the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program That mission delivered 9,400 pounds of spare parts, equipment and other supplies to the station, which will help sustain operations on the orbiting outpost during the next year

A native of Redwood City, Calif , Walheim is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and holds a master's degree from the University of Houston He is a retired U S Air Force colonel

To arrange an interview, news media must contact the Johnson Space Center newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 2 p m on Thursday, Dec 15 Interviews will be conducted via internet teleconferencing

For more information about the astronaut application and selection process and to follow the latest news via NASA accounts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, visit:

http://www nasa gov/flynasa

For Walheim's biography, visit:

http://www jsc nasa gov/Bios/htmlbios/walheim html

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Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:21:12 -0600 From: info@JSC NASA GOV Subject: JOHNSON SPACE CENTER AND HOUSTON TECHNOLOGY CENTER PARTNER FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Dec 13, 2011

Amiko Kauderer Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111

Maggie Joplin Houston Technology Center 832-476-9235

Report #J11-029

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER AND HOUSTON TECHNOLOGY CENTER PARTNER FOR ENTREPRENEURS

HOUSTON ï¿½ NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) and the Houston Technology Center (HTC) have formed a strategic partnership to further expand HTCï¿½s mission of accelerating the growth of emerging technology companies in the Houston region and to further develop the insights required to support NASAï¿½s long-term goals of increasing private and public collaboration

By opening JSCï¿½s facilities and resources to outside partnerships, NASA hopes to find areas of common interest where both parties can help each other foster new technologies that not only improve life here on Earth, but also pave the way for future human exploration in space

ï¿½This partnership will provide an enabling environment where commercial capabilities can develop at the Johnson Space Center,ï¿½ said JSC Director Michael L Coats ï¿½Increasing business opportunities through sustainable technologies not only boosts the entrepreneurial spirit of the region, but contributes to the local economy ï¿½

HTC is committed to growing a sustainable entrepreneurial network that will benefit the surrounding Bay Area for years to come including its future missions beyond low earth orbit Along with the other activities to support the existing expertise in the JSC community, HTC will seed the future workforce through its close ties with the major universities and with Science Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) programs and objectives

ï¿½We are excited to partner with NASA Johnson Space Center in an effort to foster entrepreneurial opportunities to the transitioning workforce in the Bay Area The combination of NASAï¿½s incredible technologies and HTCï¿½s powerful entrepreneurial resources presents the potential for immense economic development,ï¿½ said Walter Ulrich, President and CEO of Houston Technology Center ï¿½We want to keep these brilliant minds here and help them create new commercial ventures leveraging their unique expertise ï¿½

HTC will provide local assistance on the JSC campus to early stage companies and burgeoning entrepreneurs, with the support of strategic partners, expert advisors and the extensive HTC community to take their innovative ideas and develop the strategy for translating them into successful businesses

The Houston Technology Center has extended its operations by opening a satellite office at the Johnson Space Center To date, HTC has signed two new clients Dreamsaver whose co-founder and CEO is a former NASA shuttle astronaut and Chandah, a new commercial space company focused on small satellites and increasing student experiments on the International Space Station and encouraging STEM education

For more information about NASAï¿½s Johnson Space Center, visit:

http://www nasa gov/johnson

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End of HSFNEWS Digest - 13 Dec 2011 to 14 Dec 2011 (#2011-144)

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