Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Space Explorers & Workers
  Space Shuttle Hall of Stars tribute to workers

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Space Shuttle Hall of Stars tribute to workers
Shuttleman
Member

Posts: 117
From: Huntsville, Al. USA
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 09-02-2011 04:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As I reflect on the Space Shuttle Program I am reminded of the thousands of people who dedicated their lives and careers to make it happen. My tribute ("Shuttleman's Tribute to the Space Shuttle Program") has inspired me to create a "Space Shuttle Hall of Stars" as a way to recognize individuals for their dedication and commitment. It will also serve as a lasting tribute to them and a legacy for their families and future generations by featuring their accomplishments.

Former Space Shuttle workers will submit a short profile highlighting their career and will be recognized as part of the Hall of Stars in a tribute thread. I would also solicit the cS community to assist in this vision by suggesting individuals to recognize.

I have commissioned a person 'near and dear to me' to administer this vision under the cS call sign of Hall of Stars. The first profile will be posted next week with many more to come.

Space Shuttle Hall of Stars Mission Statement: A means to recognize the accomplishments of the committed men and women who dedicated their lives and careers to the success of human space flight in the Space Shuttle Program and to inspire future generations to continue the journey.

saturn1b
Member

Posts: 159
From: Westcliffe, CO
Registered: Jun 2006

posted 09-03-2011 07:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for saturn1b   Click Here to Email saturn1b     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Nice idea Scott, that could turn into a real long thread. There are so many good people that have never been acknowledged. It will be interesting to see some of the posts about people that have worked on the lesser known sub systems that nobody even knows about but that are every bit as important as the more well know areas. Without each and every one of them, the Shuttle wouldn't have flown. I look forward to it.

Jay Chladek
Member

Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007

posted 09-05-2011 11:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jay Chladek   Click Here to Email Jay Chladek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Would this be for NASA civil servants and contractors, or contractors only? Granted there are a lot of workers on both sides that could be so honored, but I am curious as to if you have a specific focus. I also assume that you mean to honor the workers more that worked on this program on a day to day basis as opposed to the astronauts who flew them (although those astronauts assigned to the test missions would still likely qualify as it was their input that helped to influence shuttle's design).

Shuttleman
Member

Posts: 117
From: Huntsville, Al. USA
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 09-06-2011 10:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great question! The Hall of Stars will include civil servants (including astronauts) and contractors who advanced the ball of human space flight while working on the Space Shuttle Program. ‘Hall of Stars’ is excited to be posting the first profile later this week!

Hall of Stars
New Member

Posts:
From:
Registered:

posted 09-10-2011 10:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hall of Stars   Click Here to Email Hall of Stars     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It’s a privilege to announce the first person to be honored in the Space Shuttle Hall of Stars:

Joby Minor, NASA/MSFC. Joby worked two years as government design engineer for Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) turbo machinery and five years as Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) Subsystem Manager for Thrust Vector Control (TVC) subsystem.

Best shuttle memory? Sitting in the Commander’s seat of the orbiter Discovery as she was being prepared for a mission in 2006.

Best advice for the next generation? Don’t let anyone other than yourself determine your future.

Thank you, Joby, for your dedication and passion! For a real treat, see Joby’s fantastic behind the scenes shuttle processing and launch photos at his website.

Please e-mail Hall of Stars for additional information or profile recommendations.

Hall of Stars
New Member

Posts:
From:
Registered:

posted 10-07-2011 08:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hall of Stars   Click Here to Email Hall of Stars     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Merle (Ed) Kirch, Lockheed Martin/MSFC. Ed worked 23 years as an aerospace technician with the last 17 years as manufacturing lead on the external tank composite nose cone.

Every time a space shuttle rose from the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a structural component made at the Marshall Space Flight Center lead the way. Since the launch of STS-86 in September 1997, the liquid oxygen tank's top-most portion has flown with a composite nose cone manufactured at MSFC's National Center for Advanced Manufacturing (NCAM). The nose cone is made out of graphite phenolic, a high-temperature composite material designed to withstand the approximate 1,100 degree F. heat experienced by the external tank during launch.

Ed was responsible for the nose cone manufacturing including precise hand cutting of the composite fabric panels, laying up (placing them inside the mold), vacuum bagging, and curing in a 9 foot diameter autoclave, which applies heat and pressure to very tight tolerances in a controlled environment.

Above: Ed cutting the composite material for the External Tank nose cone (the nose cone mold (background) measures 56.5-inch-diameter).

Above: Ed inspecting a completed nose cone

Over the past 17 years, 50 flight composite nose cones were manufactured at Marshall Space Flight Center's advanced manufacturing facility. Each nose cone was assigned a serial number; however, Ed liked to nickname each one - such as "Baby," "Wilma," "Shady Lady," and "Lucky" - names usually derived from workers' wives, children, mothers, and pets. This was Ed's way of distinguishing and honoring each nose cone. He displayed a flight patch with the nickname on his lab door.

Above: Ed with the last shipment of the Space Shuttle's External Tank composite nose cone in 2009

Above: Ed's nose cone installed on Space Shuttle External Tank

Best shuttle memory? "Witnessing STS-125 as Launch Honoree. I missed a launch years ago because a stray hurricane couldn't make up its mind which way to go. I was glad to be there. I thought I would miss seeing a launch."

Best advice for the next generation? "Measure twice and cut once. With material costing hundreds of dollars a yard, you can't make mistakes."

Congratulations, Ed, for your hard work and dedication as a shuttle team member!

Please email Hall of Stars for additional information or profile recommendations.

Hall of Stars
New Member

Posts:
From:
Registered:

posted 12-12-2011 10:06 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hall of Stars   Click Here to Email Hall of Stars     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Wilbur Dudley

Wilbur with his grandson standing in front of the Space Shuttle Tribute honoring his service in the Space Shuttle Program

Wilbur G. Dudley, Lockheed Martin Space Systems. Wilbur worked 31 years as a data base administrator overseeing data base requirements for the manufacture of the space shuttle external tank.

Best shuttle memories?

  1. Received Silver Snoopy Award January 1985
  2. Attended a night launch with my whole family in the mid 1980’s
  3. Was given the opportunity to see the program through to the end!
Best advice for the next generation? Reach for the stars and they shall become yours.

Thank you, Wilbur, for your hard work and dedication to the Space Shuttle Program. We know your grandson is very proud of you!

Please email Hall of Stars for additional information or profile recommendations.

Hall of Stars
New Member

Posts:
From:
Registered:

posted 01-02-2012 03:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hall of Stars   Click Here to Email Hall of Stars     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Twyla with her shuttle model in front of the Space Shuttle Tribute honoring her service in the Space Shuttle Program
Twyla Torregano, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Michoud Facility. Twyla’s first 22 years were spent working in the Contracts Department under Configuration and Data Management (C&DM) as a Status and Accounting (SAS) Contract Specialist. Her primary responsibility was to coordinate with Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, and Engineering Release organizations to obtain timely closeout verification of design changes to support DD250. She also coordinated with the launch site (KSC) for current status of all open work (modification kits) against the External Tank.

Her last 11+ years were spent in Property Management as a Senior Property Specialist. She was responsible for tracking all External Tank contract tools. She maintained and updated tooling records and handled closeouts of tooling property items requiring final disposition due to project ending, plant clearance and tool order changes. She was also responsible for annual physical wall-to-wall inventories. Her efforts resulted in a 100% inventory of all property items!

Best shuttle program memories/career highlights?

  1. Recognized at a corporate-wide Configuration and Data Management event, receiving an “Excellence for Sustained Superior Performance Award.”
  2. Witnessed STS-125 as a “Launch Honoree” with son, Chez, as her guest.
  3. Employed with the ET program from the beginning to the end!
Best advice for the next generation? Get more involved in the space program and follow your dreams. If you believe, all things are possible!

Congratulations, Twyla, for a job well done! A personal thanks from Hall of Stars for your continued support and enthusiasm!

Please email Hall of Stars for additional information or for profile recommendations.

Hall of Stars
New Member

Posts:
From:
Registered:

posted 07-17-2012 11:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hall of Stars   Click Here to Email Hall of Stars     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

Debra with her shuttle model in front of the Space Shuttle Tribute honoring her service in the Space Shuttle Program

Debra A. Rodriguez, NASA, Michoud Facility, New Orleans. Debra worked 34 years on the External Tank Program. She was the Management Support Assistant to the Manager of ET Resident Office and Engineers. Her primary responsibility was to administratively manage the office.

Best Shuttle Program memories/career highlights?

  1. Meeting all the astronauts and having lunch with them.
  2. External tank roll outs were exciting. We would watch them roll out the massive tank and I would see the look of pride on everyone’s face.
  3. Lift offs and count downs were always exciting!
Best advice for the next generation? If lucky enough to work on the Space Program, go for this most rewarding program! Stay focused, grasp as much knowledge as you can, and stay prepared for what is in the future. Go forth and take in all you can and be happy!

Congratulations, Debra, for your hard work and dedication as a Shuttle Team Member!!

Please email Hall of Stars for additional information or profile recommendations.

Hall of Stars
New Member

Posts:
From:
Registered:

posted 10-03-2012 01:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hall of Stars   Click Here to Email Hall of Stars     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

Michael D. Griffin, NASA Administrator (2005-2009)

Nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate, Michael Griffin began his duties as the 11th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on April 14, 2005. As Administrator, he led the NASA team and managed its resources to advance the U.S. Vision for Space Exploration. He made the final decision to allow repair of the Hubble Telescope (STS-125) post Columbia.

Current Position: CEO, Schafer Corp., Huntsville, Alabama

Best Shuttle Memory: The perfect flight of STS-121 after enormous controversy before launch.

Advice for the next generation: Follow the truth and ignore the politicians.

Mike Griffin with Founder of Hall of Stars, Scott “Shuttleman” Phillips

Mike Griffin with his one-of-a-kind Space Shuttle model

Thank you, Mike, for your dedication and vision!

Please email Hall of Stars for additional information or profile recommendations.

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement