Richard Shelby praises NASA’s successful Artemis launch, notes Alabama ties
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby released a statement regarding the successful launch of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft for its flight test, Artemis I. This 42-day mission is the first step toward returning American astronauts to the moon. “Congratulations to NASA and all of those who have worked on the Artemis program. Today’s successful liftoff was a historic achievement in our goal of deep space exploration,” said Senator Shelby. “Launching aboard NASA’s Space Launch System – the most powerful rocket in the world, made at Marshall Space Flight Center right here in Alabama – the Orion spacecraft will orbit the moon and return to Earth before next launching with a manned crew. Today, we demonstrated our commitment to returning humans to the Moon and beyond. Today, we made history. I’m proud of the major role that Alabama played in this monumental success.” On Wednesday morning, the Space Launch System (SLS) launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Onboard was the Orion spacecraft which the SLS launched into space on its way to the Moon. The Artemis I mission is unmanned but is an essential precursor to man’s return to the Moon after almost a fifty-year absence. Sen. Shelby played a key role in advocating for the U.S. Space Command headquarters to be in Huntsville, Alabama. Shelby is retiring at the end of this year after six terms in the Senate. He is the Ranking Republican on the powerful Senate Appropriations committee, which he chaired until Republicans lost control of the Senate in 2021.
Artemis set to launch just after midnight
The National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) announced Monday that its Artemis launch teams have been called to stations. The countdown has officially begun towards a launch for Artemis I on Wednesday, November 16th, during a two-hour launch window beginning at 12:04 a.m. CST. The Artemis I mission is unmanned; but is a test of the Artemis spacecraft, which will be carried into space by the Space Launch System (SLS) – the most powerful rocket ever made. The Space Launch System engineering is headquartered at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. The SLS, like the Space Shuttle and Apollo missions before it, will be launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Flight Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Artemis will be the vehicle that will take man back to the Moon after a 50-year absence, including the first woman and first African-American to walk on the Moon. NASA plans to eventually establish a permanent manned presence on the Moon and plans for a manned mission to Mars late in the 2030s. The Artemis I mission had been planned for September but had to be scrubbed several times due to problems with a fuel line not working properly on the SLS. Then in late September had to be taken off of the launchpad and sent back to the assembly building due to Hurricane Ian. The ship is now repaired, and Florida is sufficiently recovered from the hurricanes that NASA can operate efficiently. The SLS looks like an Apollo-era Saturn V rocket with two Space Shuttle-era solid rocket boosters attached, and that is not that far off from what it is, but it will allow NASA to carry larger payloads farther than ever before. For decades since Apollo, manned space flight has been limited to low Earth orbit with the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. Artemis will make manned space flight beyond Earth orbit not only possible but potentially routine. Artemis I will fly to the Moon, orbit, and then return to Earth. If all goes well with the unmanned missions, NASA could potentially launch a manned Artemis mission as early as 2024. The moon base mission is tentatively scheduled for 2028. Thousands of Alabamians, both at NASA and its many contractors, have worked for years to make this mission a reality. You can watch the mission live on NASA TV. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
First Artemis moon mission to launch on Monday
Americans last walked on the Moon on December 1, 1972, and nobody, not even NASA itself, has even attempted to duplicate the successes of the Apollo missions since then. Now NASA is poised to go back to the Moon and beyond with the launch of the most powerful rocket ever constructed, the Space Launch System (SLS). The SLS is on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral to launch the Artemis 1 mission into space for its first Moon mission. Duplicating many of the precautions of the Apollo program adopted after the loss of the crew of Apollo 1, Artemis 1 will not be manned and will not actually land on the Moon. The Artemis spacecraft, bigger and more capable than Apollo, will fly to the Moon orbit and then return to the Earth to test the capabilities of the system. Artemis 1 is scheduled to lift off from Pad 39B of the Kennedy Space Flight Center in Cape Canaveral on Monday at 7:33 a.m. CDT (1233 GMT), weather permitting. The SLS was designed and developed at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Thousands of Alabamians have devoted years of their lives into this rocket and returning Americans to the Moon. Marshall leaders have released a video explaining what they are hoping to achieve with the SLS. “The Space Launch System is really the backbone of the Artemis missions,” said John Blevins – SLS Chief Engineer at Marshall. “It is the truck. It is the big carry vehicle.” “It will lift up from Earth with more power than a Saturn V,” said Van Stickland – SLS Program Manager at Marshall. “This time it is more than a race it is about establishing a longtime presence “The difference between the Apollo program and the Artemis program is really the focus on sustainability and using the Moon as an outpost for further exploration,” Blevins said. “The Space Launch System is the culmination of sixty years of building rockets.” “We are moving from low Earth orbit like you see in the International Space Station to moving beyond that to take the next step in exploration,” said Sharon Cobb – SLS Associate Program Manager at Marshall. “This time, we are going back to learn how to live and work on the Moon.” If this and subsequent Artemis missions go well, the plan is for a manned mission to land on the Moon in 2024. That mission will include the first woman to step on the Moon and the first African-American to do so. NASA plans to begin their Moon base in 2028. No one under the age of 55 can remember a manned Moon mission outside of documentaries or history studies. If NASA has its way it could become commonplace. You can watch the launch live online on Monday starting at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT), courtesy of NASA TV. NASA’s meteorologist estimates that there is over a 70% chance that weather conditions will be favorable for a Monday launch. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Army defends decision to close space, tech library
The U.S. Army is defending a decision to close its historic 57-year-old space and technical library at Redstone Arsenal. Army officials said it was a joint decision made by interested parties. The Redstone Scientific Information Center, or RSIC, closed its doors Sept. 30, Al.com reported. The center was established in 1962 by a charter between the Army and NASA. It was overseen by a board of directors made up of senior leaders and scientists at Redstone’s various missile organizations. Dr. Wernher von Braun and Maj. Gen. Francis “Frank” McMorrow agreed to build the original facility, which held information about rocketry and space science used to advance United States rocket programs. In a statement released this week, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center, or AvMC, said the collection had become too big and expensive to maintain. “The sheer size of the collection – approximately 450,000 items – demanded an increase in space requirements,” the statement said. But it added decreased funding and resources have made it untenable to continue managing the library. AvMC said the library is now virtual and “consists of online-only access to scientific journals and e-books” plus electronic versions of technical documents. The e-documents will not be fully available until July 2021. As for the rest, NASA documents were returned to NASA and “excess library materials” will be offered to other Defense Department or government libraries first locally and then outside Huntsville. The Army’s statement said there are “no plans at this time to create another local library approaching the size and scope of RSIC for the entire Redstone Arsenal community.” NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center said it “has acquired selected books and other documents from RSIC and is in the process of developing an on-site library, which will be a branch of the NASA agency-wide library system.” Marshall said its employees will “have access to RSIC’s online subscriptions through spring 2020.” After that, “the NASA agency on-line library will provide subscriptions for all centers including Marshall.” Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Aerospace, automotive summits heading to Birmingham this week
Birmingham is hosting a pair of business summits this week that showcase Alabama’s growing automotive and manufacturing industries, providing participants with high-level networking opportunities and one-on-one meetings. The conferences are the Aerospace Innovative Technology Summit (AITS), held May 7-9, and the Automotive Advanced Technology Summit (AATS), held May 8-9. Both events are taking place at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, with 200 companies expected to participate. The Alabama Department of Commerce is among the sponsors of the summits, which feature workshops, presentations and business-to-business meetings. “The automotive and aerospace industries are major drivers of economic growth in Alabama, and these business conventions in Birmingham offer a pathway for companies from across the country and around the world to seek new opportunities and understand how their peers are utilizing and advancing the latest technologies,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Besides companies from Alabama and multiple U.S. states, an international presence representing 11 different countries is here to participate,” he said. “These summits bring a focus on innovation, which is critical to growing and sustaining these manufacturing sectors and placing Alabama in a leading role for the latest technologies.” Focusing on innovation The Aerospace Innovative Technology Summit targets the aerospace, space and defense industries, all with a significant presence in Alabama. With a focus on new technologies being deployed in the sector such as 3D metal printing, digitalization of manufacturing and cyber security, the event aims to connect leading companies and participants in the sharing of ideas in the application and development of these innovations in their businesses. To kick off the aerospace conference, Canfield will provide an overview of the industry sector in the state. Other scheduled speakers include R.G. “Corky” Clinton Jr. of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Nick Bowman of GKN Aerospace and Jeff Chang of Lockheed Martin. The Automotive Advanced Technology Summit will focus on advanced manufacturing and new technologies at use within an industry growing rapidly in Alabama. Scheduled speakers include Mark Brazeal of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA, Tom Shoupe of Honda of America Manufacturing, and Brad Newman of ZF Chassis Systems in Tuscaloosa. Also speaking is Chuck Ernst, a former Honda Alabama executive who now serves as manager of the Alabama Robotics Technology Park, a unique training facility in Decatur. “It is an honor to have Birmingham chosen as the site for both of these conventions,” said Brian Jennings, vice president of economic development for the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA). “It speaks to Alabama’s prominence in both the aerospace and automotive industries, and we look forward to bringing so many people together to foster continued growth of both industries.” Joining the BBA and the Department of Commerce in supporting the business conferences are the City of Birmingham, Jefferson County, the Birmingham Airport Authority, the Alabama Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Alabama Community College System. Mayor Randall Woodfin said Birmingham is the ideal location for the events. “Now, more than ever, Birmingham is focused on bringing high-quality technology jobs to our city. The summit gives a great chance to identify innovative partners that share our commitment to the next generation of manufacturing in the aerospace and automotive industries,” Woodfin said. This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.
Birmingham’s Southern Research tests parts 3-D printed in space for NASA
Could 3-D printers transform the International Space Station into a manufacturing hub and one day function as the heart of an on-demand machine shop in space that enables NASA to mount crewed missions deep into the solar system? Engineers at Southern Research are helping NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center explore the capabilities of additive manufacturing technologies that have major logistics implications for the nation’s ambitious future space missions. “When NASA sends a crew to Mars, there can’t be a resupply mission. There is just no way to send them replacement parts if equipment breaks or a part fails in deep space,” said Madison Parks, an advanced mechanical engineer in Southern Research’s Engineering division. “On a mission to Mars, a 3-D printer will have to go with the crew. A part failing in orbit can be replaced after a resupply mission, but a resupply mission to a craft on the way to Mars would be too costly and may result in a loss of the mission. The crew will need to be entirely self-sufficient,” he said. Parks is working with Marshall’s engineers to come up with an answer to a critical question facing NASA’s plans for space-borne three-dimensional printing: Are parts manufactured in zero gravity going to behave just like those produced on Earth-bound 3-D printers? The ISS is already equipped with a 3-D printer. In 2014, California-based Made in Space sent a polymer printer to the space station, followed two years later by a more advanced device. It’s been used to print plastic tools used around the station, along with other non mission-critical items. To help NASA understand the properties of materials printed in an in-space 3-D polymer printer, Parks and his team are testing specimens of materials printed in space and comparing them to similar specimens produced on Earth. Along with tension and compression tests on these materials, Southern Research will be performing digital image correlation (DIC). DIC is a non-contact optical method that employs tracking and image registration techniques for accurate 3-D measurements of changes on the surface during a mechanical or thermal loading. Measuring full-field displacements and strains during the mechanical tests will help engineers understand the material behavior and overall effect of print passes and how they relate to zero-gravity 3-D printing versus Earth 3-D printing. “For safety reasons, NASA has to understand the materials before they use them,” Parks said. “You have to understand where and how these parts, which are manufactured in space, can be used. Doing otherwise could lead to parts and systems failing prematurely.” Southern Research’s Engineering division, which specializes in analyzing how materials perform in extreme environments, has collaborated with NASA for decades. Its engineers analyzed the thermal and mechanical properties of potential heat shield materials for the Apollo program and provided crucial support for the Space Shuttle, particularly in the “Return to Flight” missions after the Columbia accident. Today, Southern Research is involved in the Space Launch System, the massive rocket NASA is developing for planned Mars missions. For NASA, three-dimensional printing offers a fast and inexpensive way to manufacture parts on a spacecraft, exactly when they’re needed. That’s a huge benefit to long-term missions and has the potential to fundamentally change how NASA plans logistics operations for human spaceflight. “Right now, there are thousands of parts for the International Space Station sitting in NASA storage, and most of them will never be used,” Parks said. “But they have to have all these parts on hand to launch to the ISS in case something breaks or fails.” “What Southern Research and NASA are working together on is a foundational effort with the goal of the ISS crew being able to print the parts they need as they need them, which will help the astronauts accomplish their missions,” he said. This story originally appeared on Southern Research’s website. Republished with permission from the Alabama NewsCenter.
Checking in: What has Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle been up to?
Ever wonder what your mayor been up to each month? Sure you may have helped elect them, but what happens after that? Alabama Today has you covered. Each month we’ll highlight what the Yellowhammer State’s Big 5 mayors have been doing in an effort to hold them accountable and keep things more transparent. From celebrating the 50 anniversary of the launch that took man to the moon, to writing a blog post on why Huntsville should be the home of the new U.S. Space Force — Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle has had one busy month. Here’s what he’s been up to for the last month: July 17 Battle joined U.S. Space and Rocket Center CEO Dr. Deborah Barnhart in announcing several events to commemorate the 50 anniversary of the launch that took Man to the Moon. July 18 Battle attended the ribbon cutting for Woodbridge Alabama, celebrating the creation of new jobs. Woodbridge Alabama is a Plastics, and Special Equipment Manufacturer in Huntsville, Ala. July 20 Battle published a blog post on the city’s blog, on why Huntsville should be the new home of the U.S. Space Force. “The Trump administration recently challenged the Department of Defense to stand up a branch of the Armed Forces to protect space as a national security priority,” Battle wrote. “I believe Huntsville is the answer to that challenge,” he continued. “As the space environment becomes even more complex, and the risks involved in losing critical assets in space continue to increase, there is no place better equipped than Huntsville to grow space leaders and solutions for a new U.S. Space Force.” July 25 In anticipation of the beginning of the school year, Battle met with principal of McNair Junior High School, Dr.Carlita Collins. “We have great leaders in our schools. Good luck this year,” Battle posted on Facebook. July 27 Battle recognized amateur boxer Obed“RADAR”Bartee II for winning the National Junior Olympics, giving him a Certificate of Commendation from the City of Huntsville. July 30 Battle joined the Huntsville Police Department in honoring three officers who saved every resident and pet from a burning apartment building earlier in the year. July 31 Joined by Governor Kay Ivey, Battle announced the opening of South Memorial Parkway to traffic. “After two and a half years of expedited construction, the main line overpasses on South Memorial Parkway are now open to motorists,” Battle’s weekly update read. “The project was made possible through Restore Our Roads, a $250 million cost-sharing package for eight major state road projects in Huntsville with the Alabama Department of Transportation.” He then presented Ivey with a special token of appreciation, “for the partnership between the City and the State to make this project and many more possible,” he posted on Facebook. August 1 The city of Huntsville announced a music ecosystem survey to gather additional public input for a citywide music audit, aimed at musicians and music industry stakeholders to learn more about what the public thinks about Huntsville becoming a music-rich city. “We have an amazing opportunity here, to figure this out and direct our future as a music city,” Battle said in a Press Release. “If we do this right, and the public participates, we can develop a vibrant and healthy music ecosystem that will generate social, cultural and economic benefits.” August 2 Battle journeyed to the White House to meet with Cabinet Officials as part of an Alabama elected leaders visit. August 7 Battle attended the annual Space and Missile Defense (SMD) Symposium, the leading educational, professional development and networking event in the space and missile defense community to meet with industry and military leaders. August 16 Battle presented NASA Administrator James Bridenstine a coin from the city of Huntsville to honor his visit to Huntsville and the Marshall Space Flight Center.
Personnel note: Steve Miley named associate director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
NASA has named Steve Miley the associate director of their Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Marshall, one of NASA’s largest field installations, has almost 6,000 civil service and contract personnel, an annual budget of approximately $2.5 billion, 4.5 million square feet of infrastructure and a broad spectrum of human spaceflight, science and technology development. As associate director, Miley will manage and lead development of business operations, guide daily business decisions and oversee Marshall’s operational policy and processes. In addition, he will serve as a senior adviser in advancing the direction of the center’s future. “With three decades of government acquisition and management experience, Steve is well prepared for his new position on the center’s senior leadership team,” said Marshall Center Director Todd May. “The leadership skills he has displayed while working with NASA Headquarters, other NASA field centers, the U.S. Air Force, government agencies and partners has been, and will continue to be, invaluable to Marshall and the nation’s space exploration efforts.” Professional background The Dayton, Ohio, native most recently served as director of Marshall’s Office of Procurement. Named to the position in December 2015, he managed the organization responsible for all aspects of the contracting and procurement processes at Marshall, NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans and associated contractor facilities. In 2014, Miley began a second stint as the associate director for operations in Marshall’s Engineering Directorate. He also held that post from 2007 to 2011. From 2011 to 2014, he was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, as director of contracting for the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the organization responsible for total lifecycle management of Air Force weapon systems. He led 13 acquisition directorates at three military sites, overseeing more than 2,000 contracting professionals, and guided more than $31 billion in annual obligations for 10 program offices with an active contract value of more than $196 billion. In 2006, Miley was appointed to the Senior Executive Service at NASA Headquarters in Washington, where he supervised the agency’s key technical capability portfolios as director of the Strategic Capabilities Assets Division. The Senior Executive Service is the personnel system that covers most of the top managerial, supervisory and policy positions in the executive branch of the federal government. Miley began his career in 1988 as a contract negotiator at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, supporting key military aviation and missile programs. After graduating from the Air Force contracting intern program in 1992, he transferred to NASA Headquarters in Washington as a contracting officer and procurement analyst. He was a contract negotiator for the NASA-Russian Space Agency contract for American support and use of Space Station Mir. In 1995, he transferred to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, as a contracting officer and business team leader in the International Space Station Program Office. He returned to NASA Headquarters from 1998 to 2007 to take on a variety of positions, including manager of the Sponsored Research Business Office and acting assistant associate administrator for infrastructure management in NASA’s Office of Space Flight. He earned a master’s degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., in 1986, a master’s degree in business administration from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, in 1992, and a bachelor’s degree from Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Ky., in 1983. He also received the Professional Designation in Contract Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and the Certified Professional Contracts Manager designation from the National Contract Management Association, headquartered in Ashburn, Va., in 1992. A 21-year Air Force reserve officer, Miley received his commission through the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2008. He and his wife Dana live in Huntsville.
Women of Influence: NASA astrophysicist Dr. Colleen Wilson-Hodge
Alabama has been home to many pioneers in many different industries, but after several new astronomic discoveries, long-time Huntsville resident and NASA astrophysicist Dr. Colleen Wilson-Hodge has set herself apart in a big way. From an early age, Wilson-Hodge had a love for astronomy and space few could match. In the sixth grade, she took an overnight field trip to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., where she toured NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. “I think that was the first time I realized I could actually work for NASA as a grownup,” she said. In college she became a NASA co-op student, alternating between classes and working for NASA she met Dr. Gerald Fishman, who was managing the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) at the time. She caught his excitement for the project, and began studying gamma ray bursts in 1989. Wilson-Hodge graduated with a Master’s degree in Physics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1996, and immediately began studying for her Ph. D. in Astrophysics, which she obtained in 1999. In 1999 Wilson-Hodge discovered a special type of pulsar called an X-ray pulsar, which led her to the finding of two new stars. X-ray pulsars emit X-rays and gamma-rays and are powered by accretion, stars gobbling up material from a companion star. “For just a little while, the universe is putting on a show that only I, and members of the gamma-ray team know about,” Wilson-Hodge told the Marshall Space Flight Center. She continued to work on the BATSE project until 2000, when the monitor was de-orbited. Wilson-Hodge continued working at the Marshall Space Flight Center, and made another discovery in 2011, when she and her team revealed unexpected changes in X-ray emission from the Crab Nebula. “For 40 years, most astronomers regarded the Crab as a standard candle,” she told UAH. “Now, for the first time, we’re clearly seeing how much our candle flickers.” In August of 2017, Wilson-Hodge and the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) team gave the world its first detection of light from the same source as gravitational waves, which according to NASA are “ripples in space and time.” “This new way of learning about the universe is kind of like gaining a new sense. It’s as if we’ve been watching the news for all of human history, but the T.V. has been on mute, now with gravitational wave detectors, we’re finally able to turn on the sound,” said Wilson-Hodge’s associate Tyson Littenberg. “When we built GBM and launched it on Fermi in 2008, we designed it to detect gamma-ray bursts well,” Wilson-Hodge told NASA. “Back then, it was only slated to fly for five years. Today, GBM is at the forefront of an entirely new type of science, ushering in this new era of multi-messenger astronomy.” Her findings won her, and the GBM team the 2018 Bruno Rossi Prize, the top prize in high-energy astronomy. Wilson-Hodge is a extremely “bright star,” in the world of scientific discoveries, and was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer some of Alabama Today’s questions about her life, work and influences: How have other women influenced your success? Several women in my life have had a positive influence. The first is my Mom, Carol Wilson, who always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, even if they were out of the ordinary. She has always believed in me and celebrated my successes, and still does! Another was Ms. Sutherland, my high school speech and drama teacher. She taught me much about public speaking that I still use today. I hear her voice in my head sometimes when I’m preparing talks. Early in my career at NASA, I worked with mostly men. One woman did have a big impact on me though. Her name is Dr. Jean Swank. She was the project scientist for the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer, a satellite that I used quite a bit of data from in my PhD Dissertation. She is an excellent scientist and an extremely capable leader and she is a quiet person like me. She was my first in person example of someone like me leading a space experiment, something that I always wanted to do, and she was a mentor to me. More recently Dr. Linda Sparke from NASA HQ spent a year leading the project that I now lead. She is also an excellent scientist and leader and an extremely good reader of people. She was leading a project where she wasn’t the expert in the specific science area, so she led collaboratively, getting the inputs she needed from the experts on the team to make decisions. She wasn’t afraid to say she didn’t know, but knew where to go to get the information. She was a great mentor to me as I became the principal investigator of the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor. What shaped your desire to work with NASA, specifically high energy astrophysics? I was fascinated by the Voyager images coming back from Jupiter and later Saturn when I was a child. I would clip the photos out of the newspaper and collect them. In the third grade, I told my classmates I wanted to be an astrophysicist, partially because I liked the big word and partially because I was interested in space. In the sixth grade, my school from Athens, TN, took an overnight field trip to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., where we toured NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. I think that was the first time I realized I could actually work for NASA as a grownup! When I was in college, initially at University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, I was hired as a cooperative education student at NASA MSFC. Initially I wasn’t working in astrophysics at all, and I thought my interest was to go into radio astronomy. While I was at MSFC, I walked down the hall to the Astrophysics Division and met Dr. Gerald Fishman who led the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) which was to be launched on the Compton Gamma ray
Governor talks Alabama aerospace growth at Paris Air Show
Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama team in France for the Paris Air Show connected with aerospace industry leaders at an exclusive gathering sponsored by a partnership that promotes the Gulf Coast aerospace cluster for long-term growth. The Aerospace Alliance’s event in Paris brought together delegations from Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana with invited guests from aerospace companies and government agencies on the eve of the industry’s premier trade show. Ivey is leading an Alabama delegation at the Paris Air Show that includes business development specialists, government officials, university representatives and others. Gov. Kay Ivey speaks with Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller at the Aerospace Alliance event in Paris. (Made in Alabama) The Aerospace Alliance cruise on the River Seine gave Ivey her first chance on the Paris Air Show mission to talk business with high-level executives in the field and share her commitment to supporting aerospace industry growth in Alabama. Made in Alabama caught up with Ivey to capture her thoughts on what she wants the team to accomplish at the 52nd installment of the Paris Air Show, which started Monday at Le Bourget Airport. Made in Alabama: Why is it important for Alabama to be at the Paris Air Show? Gov. Kay Ivey: The aerospace industry in Alabama is thriving – and we want to see even more growth in this vital sector. At the Paris Air Show, we’ll get a chance to talk with many industry decision-makers in private meetings, telling them Alabama is open for business. It’s a perfect opportunity to tell them about our advantages. To make sure Alabama remains a leader in aerospace, we must be strategic and work on building the relationships that will bring more jobs and investment to the state. The Paris Air Show is the best place in the world to do that. MIA: What are your goals for the Paris Air Show mission? Ivey: The primary mission of Alabama’s economic development team at the Paris Air Show is to promote the state to aerospace companies from around the globe. I want to personally share with the leaders of these companies my commitment to make Alabama the ideal location for them. Recruiting companies like Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and GE Aviation has made Alabama a force in the aerospace industry. In Paris, we’ll be working hard to position Alabama for a new wave of growth. Aerospace is lifting off in Alabama, and we have to make sure it continues climbing. Arista Aviation CEO Rich Enderle talks with Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey at the Paris Air Show. (Made in Alabama) MIA: What specific messages will you convey at the Paris Air Show? Ivey: That’s easy. Alabama has a rich history in aerospace, going back to the Wright Brothers, who set up a flight school in Montgomery more than a century ago. Rocket scientists and engineers at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville made the moon landing possible. We have a great heritage. Today, Alabama has everything an aerospace company needs to succeed. We have the skilled workforce and top-rated training programs. We have a pro-business environment and a solid transportation infrastructure. For aerospace companies, we really have it all. MIA: Why do you want to see the aerospace sector grow in Alabama? Ivey: Aerospace in Alabama is all about high-level jobs, thriving opportunities, advanced technology and dynamic innovation. Growth in this industry will continue to propel Alabama forward, and is a sign to the world that Alabama is open and ready for businesses to invest in our state. As the former chair of the Aerospace States Association, I know how critically important this sector is across the nation. Alabama is home to 400 aerospace companies from 30 different countries. More than 83,000 Alabamians are employed in aerospace and defense. I want to see us build on the solid base of this industry. The growth prospects are good. We just need to keep working to bring home that growth – and the jobs that come with it. This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website. Republished with permission of Alabama NewsCenter.
Aerojet Rocketdyne to build AR1 rocket engine, add 800 Alabama jobs in expansion
Aerojet Rocketdyne announced plans Monday to expand its presence in Huntsville with a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for the company’s AR1 rocket engine and the relocation of engineering, program management, and other jobs. Aerojet Rocketdyne’s overall growth plans for Huntsville call for the California-based company to add 800 jobs to support the U.S. space and defense programs for the next quarter century and beyond. As part of a strategic Competitive Improvement Program, Aerojet Rocketdyne previously selected Huntsville as the home of its Defense division headquarters and its Rocket Shop advanced programs. “We are two years into the first phase of our CIP affordability drive and the consolidation progress, and overhead cost reductions achieved to date have exceeded our expectations,” Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and President Eileen Drake said. “We intend to build on this success by expanding our CIP-related consolidation efforts so we can deliver the value our customers demand and position our company for further growth.” New rocket engine Aerojet Rocketdyne has been developing the AR1 rocket engine since 2014 as a replacement for Russian engines used on the Atlas V rocket, which is assembled in Decatur by the United Launch Alliance. In addition, the AR1 is being advanced for use on the Space Launch System (SLS), NASA’s Mars rocket now under development at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. The AR1 production facility in Huntsville will include advanced functions such as additive manufacturing (3-D printing), composites fabrication, and research and development. The company expects the facility to be ready for production in mid-2019. “Huntsville’s legacy in the development of rocket propulsion systems makes it the ideal choice for Aerojet Rocketdyne’s AR1 rocket engine assembly center and its advanced manufacturing and engineering operations,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Aerojet Rocketdyne’s decision to base these cutting-edge activities in Huntsville is a powerful endorsement of the capabilities found there,” he said. The company said it plans to move all Defense-related program management, engineering and support positions to Huntsville by the end of 2018. Some positions at a Gainesville, Virginia, facility that is being closed will also move to Huntsville. “We believe these actions are essential for the performance of our business and the growth of the company. The results from this initiative will benefit our valued employees, customers and shareholders alike,” Drake said. ‘Rocket City USA’ Huntsville officials welcomed the company’s expansion news. “This project is another great example of our effort to diversify Huntsville’s economy with high-quality advanced manufacturing, and yet, Aerojet Rocketdyne is here because of Huntsville’s outstanding role in research and defense technology,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “This project works all facets of our economy by marrying R&D with advanced manufacturing. We are both rocket scientists and rocket builders,” he said. Madison County Commission Chairman Dale W. Strong said, “The announcement by Aerojet Rocketdyne today selecting Huntsville, Alabama, to build their rocket engines reaffirms we are and will continue to be Rocket City USA and our world will be better because of this decision.” Aerojet Rocketdyne has worked with Huntsville-based Dynetics on the AR1 rocket engine project. This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website. Republished with permission of Alabama NewsCenter.
On this day in Alabama history: Wernher von Braun was born in Germany
Rocket engineer Wernher von Braun was born in Wirsitz, Germany. Credited with inventing the world’s first ballistic missile, the V-2, for Nazi Germany, von Braun secretly moved to the U.S. in 1945 and Huntsville in 1950. While at Redstone Arsenal and, later, the Marshall Space Flight Center, von Braun led the development of the Redstone family of rockets responsible for launching the first U.S. satellite into space, America’s first two manned spaceflights, and the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. Von Braun received the National Medal of Science in 1975 and was posthumously inducted into the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Hall of Fame in 2007. Read more at Encyclopedia of Alabama. Republished with permission of Alabama NewsCenter.
