posted 07-10-2005 12:52 AM               

When the Space Shuttle Discovery launches next week, visitors to the NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, can get a front-row seat and meet some of the men and women whose work made the Shuttle a safer vehicle.

Commander Eileen Collins and the six-member crew of Discovery are scheduled to liftoff at 3:51 p.m. EDT, July 13, on the first U.S. space flight since the February 2003 loss of the Shuttle Columbia.

Beginning with launch and continuing through Discovery's 12-day mission, known as STS-114, NASA Glenn's Visitor Center will open its doors and invite the public to attend a series of talks about Glenn's role in preparing for Return to Flight. Each afternoon from 2:30 to 4 p.m., visitors will be able to view coverage of events on NASA TV and participate in daily talks with Glenn researchers. Topics to be covered include:

Launch/Flight Day 1 (July 13)* - Hear an overview of Glenn's role in returning the Space Shuttle to flight and view the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery. (Launch is scheduled for 3:51 p.m. EDT - Visitor Center hours will be extended.)

Flight Day 2 - Learn about the ice debris analysis done at Glenn.

Flight Day 3 - Discover the impact of ballistic testing in returning the Shuttle to safe flight.

Flight Day 4 - Find out how Glenn's wind tunnels were used to analyze foam on the protuberance air load (PAL) ramps of the Space Shuttle. Two PAL ramps exist on each of the Shuttle's External Tanks. They are designed to prevent unsteady air flow underneath the External Tank's cable trays and pressurization lines.

Flight Day 5 - Explore small area repair techniques developed at Glenn.

Flight Day 6 - Discover the role Glenn engineers play in studying the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon material that makes up the Space Shuttle wing leading edge and nose cap.

Flight Day 7 - Discuss the metallic overwrap Glenn is developing that could potentially be used to repair Space Shuttle wing leading edge damage.

Flight Day 8 - Learn about the analysis and experiments Glenn researchers conducted on the Space Shuttle actuators (gears) i.e. Rudder Speed Brake.

Flight Day 9 - Talk to the researchers who designed and developed experiments for the Materials on the International Space Station Experiment (MISSE). Astronauts will be retrieving MISSE 1 & 2 and installing MISSE 5 during the STS-114 mission.

Flight Day 10 - Explore the ply lift phenomena in the Space Shuttle's reusable solid rocket motor nozzle insulation and the research being conducted on elements that cause foam debris.

Flight Day 11 - Learn about the work Glenn engineers did on the Shuttle's main landing gear door seals.

Flight Day 12 - Hear from Glenn's representative to the NASA Engineering and Safety Center - the agency's independent engineering and safety assessment organization.

Flight Day 13 - Attend live landing coverage beginning at 10:30 a.m. Landing scheduled for 11:01 a.m. EDT, July 25.

*Dates may shift due to possible delays in launch. Please monitor the Glenn Events website or call the Visitor Center at 216-433-2000. On Saturday, July 23, the Visitor Center is hosting a Space Memorabilia Show as part of its continuing Third Saturday Series. The Return to Flight talk will be held in an alternate location at the Center. More information will be available at the Visitor Center.

Admission to the Visitor Center is free and is wheelchair accessible. During the STS-114 mission the Visitor Center will be open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, July 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.