\n<\/p>\n
By Celine Smith<\/em><\/p>\n One week after the 25th anniversary of the International Space Station, NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-6 visited the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center to share their experience during Expedition 69. The event was held Dec. 14 in Building 4316.<\/p>\n Expedition 69 began March 2 with Crew-6 flying on SpaceX\u2019s Falcon 9 rocket from NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center. While aboard the space station, the crew studied the behavior of flames in microgravity, grew cardiac tissue using 3-D culturing, and researched the impact of weightlessness on astronauts\u2019 health.<\/p>\n NASA astronauts Frank Rubio (flight engineer), Stephen Bowen (flight engineer), Warren \u201cWoody\u201d Hoburg (flight engineer), and UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi (flight engineer) answered questions from Marshall team members after viewing a short film summarizing the research done on Expedition 69.<\/p>\n Acting Center Director Joseph Pelfrey welcomed Marshall team members, thanking them and Crew-6 for all the effort that goes into making a mission successful.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we wrap up 2023, I just want to say how proud I am of our team and all the accomplishments that you have helped us achieve this year,\u201d Pelfrey said. \u201cCrew-6 is going to talk about their amazing experience. Marshall is a part of that experience and mission with the work we do here between Payload Operations, the Environmental Control and Life Support System and payload facilities and our Commercial Crew Program support. This is a great time to hear from our guests and celebrate our successes together.\u201d<\/p>\n During the Q&A portion of the event, the audience learned about the strides in research being made on the station. Hoburg discussed the growing of human tissue while on the expedition.<\/p>\n \u201cOne day Sultan worked on heart muscle cells up there and we actually got to see the cells beating under the microscope,\u201d Hoburg said. \u201cWe\u2019re doing work in Low Earth orbit to help people back on Earth with potential heart disease. We also did work with the BioFabrication facility where we 3D-printed biological material. We printed the first-ever section of human meniscus.\u201d<\/p>\n The microgravity environment of the station provides crew members with the ability to do more intricate work that cannot be done as well on Earth, Hoburg explained.<\/p>\n Expedition 69 is particularly important because it marks the longest time an American astronaut has been in space. The end of the mission concluded Rubio\u2019s 371-day stay in space, which began with Expedition 68.<\/p>\n \u201cI was excited to implement lessons learned right away,\u201d Rubio said. \u201cWith your first mission, you\u2019re learning. You typically don\u2019t get to implement your better self until years later. I got that opportunity much sooner.\u201d<\/p>\n Rubio also used his experience to detail the effects of prolonged time in space on the body.<\/p>\n \u201cYou miss microgravity, in the sense that it\u2019s a lot of fun to just fly around,\u201d he said. \u201cIt takes 72 hours to 5 days to fully acclimate to microgravity. After two weeks, you\u2019re completely used to it. When you come back to Earth, there\u2019s a lot of aches and pains because the reality is offloading everything off your joints, especially your spine, feels good \u2013 specifically for those who are older. Like, for me, it feels like I\u2019ve run a 5k every time I get up because my feet did nothing for a year, but your body does readjust.\u201d<\/p>\n Expedition 69 also marks the first time a UAE astronaut has been to the station. Alneyadi spoke about his unique experience when asked about his participation in a culturally based event.<\/p>\n \u201cI was presenting to the whole region, speaking Arabic, discussing the International Space Station, and showcasing the importance of its science,\u201d Alneyadi said. \u201cIt was very impactful, and I felt honored to be a part of it as well. I see the impact on the students. They ask a lot of questions and have a lot of excitement.\u201d<\/p>\n The event concluded with the opportunity for attendees to get their picture taken with the Crew-6 astronauts.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are the same everywhere, that\u2019s the basics of humanity,\u201d Bowen said when asked what\u2019s the most exciting thing he\u2019s learned from the international aspect of his work. From our perspective, we can\u2019t see borders \u2014 it\u2019s one Earth. At the very intimate singular level, people are people. We\u2019re people, and we\u2019re absolutely capable of doing amazing things.\u201d<\/p>\n Learn more about Crew-6.<\/p>\n Smith, a Media Fusion employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n By Wayne Smith<\/em><\/p>\n For Jason Adam, joining NASA wasn\u2019t a career choice. It was a calling.<\/p>\n \u201cA calling to push the boundaries of human knowledge, to turn the dreams of a starry-eyed child gazing up at the sky into a reality, and to be a part of humanity\u2019s greatest adventure \u2013 the exploration of the universe,\u201d said Adam, who is the manager for the CFM (Cryogenic Fluid Management) Portfolio Project at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center.<\/p>\n The project develops key CFM technologies used to acquire, transfer, and store cryogenic fluids in orbit. The project is within STMD (Space Technology Mission Directorate) and develops crucial technologies for STMD and other mission directorates. Adam\u2019s role extends across 12 states and six NASA centers, managing significant contracts and a multitude of complex activities nationwide.<\/p>\n Growing up in North Dakota, Adam said he always was captivated by the mysteries of the universe as he studied the night sky.<\/p>\n \u201c(I was fascinated) by the endless expanse above, with its twinkling stars and wandering planets, and boundless possibilities,\u201d he said. \u201cThis childhood wonder laid the foundation for my journey to NASA. It was here that my dream to explore the cosmos took flight.\u201d<\/p>\n Working with projects like CFM enables Adam to live his dream, and he hopes to inspire others as well toward NASA\u2019s mission of exploring the universe for the benefit of all.<\/p>\n \u201cRemember your journey at NASA is not just about personal achievements, but also about contributing to the greater goal of exploring and understanding our universe,\u201d he said. \u201cEmbrace this opportunity with enthusiasm and a commitment to excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> What excites you most about the future of human space exploration and your team\u2019s role it?<\/p>\n Adam:<\/strong> Cryogenic fluid management is a critical and exciting area of technology, particularly in relation to the exploration of Mars for several reasons. One of the primary uses of cryogenic fluids in space exploration is as rocket fuel, specifically liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. These cryogenically stored fuels are highly efficient but must be kept at extremely low temperatures. Effective cryogenic fluid management is crucial for months or years-long missions to Mars, as it ensures that the spacecraft has enough fuel for the journey there, operations on the Martian surface, and the return trip. Mars missions are looking into using ISRU (in-situ resource utilization) to generate fuel from Martian resources. For example, water ice from Mars can be processed into liquid hydrogen and oxygen. Managing these cryogenic fluids effectively is essential for this process to be viable, enabling longer and more sustainable missions.<\/p>\n Cryogenic fluid management is not only a cornerstone to enable Mars exploration but also a catalyst for broader innovations in space travel and various terrestrial applications.<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> What has been the proudest moment of your career and why?<\/p>\n Adam:<\/strong> There have been many proud moments in my 20-plus years at Marshall that originated at Stennis Space Center. Some of those moments include helping the shuttle return to safe flight through testing SSMEs (space shuttle main engines) at Stennis, to flying the Mighty Eagle Lander with a small team in the Marshall West Test Area, to now having the privilege of leading the CFM project with a group of spectacular individuals. In each case, I have been proudest when the team was accountable, authentic, passionate, inclusive, and highly competent. Those are the teams I cherish most and the type of environment I try to create as a leader.<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> Who or what drives\/motivates you?<\/p>\n Adam:<\/strong> Working at Marshall, my motivation is deeply rooted in the pioneering spirit of technological innovation and the quest for knowledge beyond Earth. Marshall, known for its groundbreaking work in developing systems that push the boundaries of space technology, serves as a constant source of inspiration for me. My drive is fueled by a profound passion for space exploration. The idea of contributing to missions that reach into the unknown, that test the limits of human ingenuity and reveal the mysteries of the cosmos, is what gets me up in the morning. I\u2019m driven by the knowledge that the systems and technologies you\u2019re helping to develop at Marshall will one day make space more accessible and safer for astronauts. This drive isn\u2019t just about the technology itself, it\u2019s about what that technology represents \u2013 the human desire to explore, to learn, and to constantly push forward. My motivation comes from wanting to contribute in a meaningful way to this grand endeavor. Each day at Marshall offers a new opportunity to be a part of something larger than yourself \u2013 to contribute to a legacy of exploration that benefits not just the present generation but also the future ones. In my role, I\u2019m not just a witness to history in the making; I\u2019m an active participant in shaping it.<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> What advice do you have for employees early in their NASA career or those in new leadership roles?<\/p>\n Adam:<\/strong> First, follow your passion. Begin by immersing yourself in a field that truly fascinates you. NASA\u2019s diverse missions span from the depths of the oceans to the far reaches of space, so align your work with what genuinely excites you. This passion will be your driving force and will keep you motivated through challenges.<\/p>\n Second, build a strong foundation. Whether your focus is technical, scientific, or administrative, strive to develop a robust base of knowledge and skills. Seek opportunities to learn from different projects and teams. This diverse experience will be invaluable as you progress in your career, providing a well-rounded perspective and a toolkit of solutions.<\/p>\n Third, nurture your team. As you advance into leadership roles, remember that your success is intricately linked to the well-being and performance of your team. Invest in understanding their strengths, aspirations, and challenges. Encourage an environment where everyone feels valued and motivated. Strive to create an environment where employees can bring their full self to work.\u00a0<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> What do you enjoy doing with your time while away from work?<\/p>\n Adam: <\/strong>Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family. My wife and I have three children and two dogs. We like to spend time outdoors and enjoy camping around the region in our camper on some weekends. My wife and I also like to watch our alma mater, North Dakota State University, play football.<\/p>\n Smith, a Media Fusion employee and the Marshall Star editor, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Pamela Bourque has been named as chief counsel at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center. She has served as the center\u2019s acting chief counsel since May, leading Marshall\u2019s Office of the General Counsel team and overseeing the legal practice areas of procurement and contract law, partnerships and agreements, personnel law, ethics, fiscal law, employment law, intellectual property, and litigation.\u00a0<\/p>\n Marshall\u2019s chief counsel is responsible for coordinating a full range of legal operations affecting the center and its organizations.\u00a0The chief counsel also serves as a senior member of the NASA Office of the General Counsel\u2019s enterprise leadership team.<\/p>\n From 2022 to April 2023, Bourque was Marshall\u2019s deputy chief counsel, assisting the chief counsel with managing the legal operations of the center. She also supported the NASA legal enterprise on various senior teams, including the Legal Leadership Board, the Ethics Best Practices Working Group, the Deputy Counsel Forum, and participated as a mentor in NASA\u2019s attorney mentoring program.<\/p>\n From 2005 to 2022, Bourque was the center\u2019s assistant chief counsel for general law and litigation. She was the functional lead for litigation matters and provided Marshall management with legal advice and representation in the areas of personnel law, federal ethics standards, agreements, and other matters.\u00a0Under her leadership, Marshall\u2019s Ethics Program was recognized by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics with an Ethics Program Award.\u00a0<\/p>\n From 1993 to 2005, Bourque was an attorney-adviser at Marshall. She has previously served as president of the North Alabama Chapter of the FBA (Federal Bar Association), as well as the chair of FBA\u2019s Labor Law Symposium for multiple years.<\/p>\n Bourque has been recognized with numerous NASA awards during her career, including the NASA Office of the General Counsel\u2019s Meritorious Service Award, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the NASA Silver Achievement Medal, the NASA Space Flight Awareness Launch Honoree Award, the NASA Space Flight Awareness Silver Snoopy Award, the Marshall Engineering Directorate\u2019s Service to Engineering Award, and other performance, on-the-spot, and peer awards.\u00a0She has been profiled in Women at NASA.\u00a0<\/p>\n A native of Broussard, Louisiana, Bourque is a graduate of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command\u2019s Leadership Investment for Tomorrow (LIFT-II) Program, the Simmons Executive Leadership for Women\/NASA Fellowship at Simmons College, the Department of Defense Mediator Certification Program, and she is currently enrolled in the Leadership of Greater Huntsville\u2019s Connect Emerging Leaders Program.<\/p>\n Bourque earned a Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she was a senior fellow. She received her honors baccalaureate degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.<\/p>\n She lives in Madison with her husband, Max Patin. They have two children.<\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Thomas Percy has been named as the SE&I (Systems Engineering and Integration) manager for the HLS (Human Landing System) Program at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center.<\/p>\n The SE&I office oversees the development and verification of requirements, cross-discipline insight into commercial lander providers, and cross-program integration. The HLS SE&I team is also responsible for integration with the Moon to Mars Program in the areas of mission development, general analyses, and requirements management.<\/p>\n Since 2021, Percy has been the deputy SE&I manager for HLS.\u00a0From 2020 to 2021, he was the integrated performance lead for HLS, managing the team within SE&I responsible for trajectory analysis, environments, performance assessment, mission development, and metric tracking.<\/p>\n From 2016 to 2020, Percy was a space systems analyst prior to his role as chief architect of the Advanced Concepts Office at Marshall, where he supported the formulation of the HLS Program as well as transportation architecture studies for human Mars missions and the development of various robotic spacecraft concepts.<\/p>\n Prior to joining NASA in 2016, Percy spent 13 years working in private industry at SAIC as a section manager and support contractor to Marshall and Johnson Space Center. He also was a part-time instructor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Alabama in Huntsville off and on from 2006-2021.<\/p>\n His honors include a NASA Group Achievement Award: Human Landing System Source Evaluation Panel; NASA Exceptional Service medal;\u00a0NASA Silver Achievement Medal Group: Human Landing System Source Evaluation Panel; and a NASA Group Achievement Award: Mars Basis of Comparison Reference Team.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n A native of\u00a0Easton, Massachusetts, Percy received a bachelor\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, a master\u2019s in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, and a doctorate in aerospace systems engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.<\/p>\n He and his wife, Erin, live in Madison. They have three children.<\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Mission Success is in Our Hands is a safety initiative collaboration between NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center and Jacobs. As part of the initiative, eight Marshall team members are featured in new testimonial banners placed around the center. This is the second in a Marshall Star series profiling team members featured in the testimonial banners.<\/em><\/p>\n Chelsi Cassilly is a planetary protection microbiologist working for Jacobs at Marshall, where she\u2019s been for almost three years. A native of Tennessee, she previously worked at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, as a postdoctoral fellow prior to joining Jacobs. She\u2019s a graduate of Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in molecular biology, and of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she earned a doctoral degree in microbiology.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an honor and privilege to work for Jacobs and NASA,\u201d Cassilly said. \u201cI look forward to work every single day and consider myself exceptionally blessed with this opportunity I\u2019ve been afforded.\u201d<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> What are some of your key responsibilities?<\/p>\n Cassilly:<\/strong> I support many different projects at Marshall. Primarily I help projects implement planetary protection. This includes the Mars Ascent Vehicle, which is part of the Mars Sample Retrieval Lander; a mission concept for a Europa Lander; and the lunar Human Landing System. I also manage the Planetary Protection Lab at Marshall, which is a fully functional biosafety level 2 lab. Funded by multiple sources, including NASA ROSES (Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science), Marshall Cooperative Agreement Notices, Marshall Technical Excellence funding, and Jacobs Innovation Grants, I have both completed and continue to support multiple smaller experiments to determine microbial abundance within materials as well as sterilization methods.<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> How does your work support the safety and success of NASA and Marshall missions?<\/p>\n Cassilly:<\/strong> NASA missions must meet the requirements laid out by headquarters. One subset of requirements on some missions is planetary protection, that is, preventing forward and backward microbial contamination. Marshall is involved with several missions where there are planetary protection requirements to meet. I help the center interpret and implement techniques to meet the requirements. I am currently the only point of contact for this discipline at Marshall, so I take seriously the responsibility of helping engineers understand unfamiliar terminology while also ensuring we are compliant with requirements, therefore helping achieve the goals of our missions.<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> What does the Mission Success is in Our Hands initiative mean to you?<\/p>\n Cassilly:<\/strong> It means that success is personal. It means every single one of us can contribute in large ways to mission success simply by being ethical and maintaining our integrity as workers and as individuals.<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> How can we work together better to achieve mission success?<\/p>\n Cassilly:<\/strong> We can support one another by encouraging safety, ethics, a culture of learning, ownership, and integrity within our teams. We can foster an environment where ownership is lauded and correction is not seen as negative, but rather as learning opportunities and areas of improvement. Benchmarking such progress of both individuals and teams, using mistakes and problems to propel us forward, will serve to strengthen teams, develop a sense of pride in our collective mission, and provide clear trajectory for our long-term efforts and goals.<\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Growing up, Bruce Askins was passionate about space and oceanography. His desire to explore other worlds always made him want to be an astronaut. Though he did not become an astronaut, Askins has built a 42-year career at NASA, and, as the infrastructure management lead for NASA\u2019s\u00a0SLS (Space Launch System) Program\u00a0at the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center, Askins is an integral part for the next generation of explorers.<\/p>\n Askins and his team are the gatekeepers and protectors of data and responsible for both cyber- security and physical security for the SLS Program. Under Askins\u2019 leadership, his team ensures all data is stored properly, that information about the rocket shared outside NASA is done with proper data markings, and access is given to those that need it.<\/p>\n Askins wasn\u2019t always familiar with the world of infrastructure and cyber security. As a mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Askins began his career as part of NASA\u2019s internship program. He considered himself imaginative, or \u201ccreatively driven,\u201d which is why Askins originally pursued a career at NASA.<\/p>\n \u201cI always loved the design aspect of my early position in special test equipment,\u201d Askins says. \u201cBack then I drew everything by hand with a pencil before eventually transitioning to computers.\u201d<\/p>\n His creativity and interest in underwater worlds, along with his scuba diver certification, led him to have a hand in designing early test elements for NASA\u2019s\u00a0Hubble Space Telescope. At the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, a former underwater training facility at Marshall, Askins interacted with a crew of astronauts supporting Hubble and designed the flight simulation hardware used for crew training on the Canadarm2 robotic arm that is still a part of the International Space Station today.<\/p>\n Askins has been a part of the NASA family for almost half a century and is thrilled to be a part of the next era of space exploration to the Moon under\u00a0Artemis.<\/p>\n \u201cTo explore is one of the greatest things that we can all do, and with the Artemis Generation the sky\u2019s the limit,\u201d Askins said.<\/p>\n SLS is part of NASA\u2019s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.<\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\u2019s\u00a0Deep Space Optical Communications\u00a0experiment beamed an ultra-high definition streaming video on Dec. 11 from a record-setting 19 million miles away (or about 80 times the Earth-Moon distance). The milestone is part of a\u00a0NASA technology demonstration\u00a0aimed at streaming very high-bandwidth video and other data from deep space \u2013 enabling future human missions beyond Earth orbit.<\/p>\n \u201cThis accomplishment underscores our commitment to advancing optical communications as a key element to meeting our future data transmission needs,\u201d said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. \u201cIncreasing our bandwidth is essential to achieving our future exploration and science goals, and we look forward to the continued advancement of this technology and the transformation of how we communicate during future interplanetary missions.\u201d<\/p>\n The demo transmitted the 15-second test video via a cutting-edge instrument called a\u00a0flight laser transceiver. The video signal took 101 seconds to reach Earth, sent at the system\u2019s maximum bit rate of 267 Mbps (megabits per second). Capable of sending and receiving near-infrared signals, the instrument beamed an encoded near-infrared laser to the Hale Telescope at Caltech\u2019s Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California, where it was downloaded. Each frame from the looping video was then sent \u201clive\u201d to NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the video was played in real time.<\/p>\n Deep Space Optical Communications, or DSOC, a NASA technology demonstration riding aboard the Psyche space craft, is using advanced laser communication technology to transmit large amounts of data back to earth. DSOC is the latest in a series of optical communication demonstrations funded by the agency\u2019s TDM (Technology Demonstration Missions) program office at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just demonstrated a highly advanced data transmission capability that will play an instrumental role in NASA\u2019s boldest missions to deep space, and it shows that DSOC is functioning successfully in a relevant environment,\u201d said Tawnya Laughinghouse, manager of the TDM program office at Marshall. \u201cStreaming an ultra-high definition video from millions of miles away in deep space is no small feat.\u201d<\/p>\n The laser communications demo, which\u00a0launched\u00a0with NASA\u2019s Psyche mission Oct. 13, is designed to transmit data from deep space at rates 10 to 100 times greater than the state-of-the-art radio frequency systems used by deep space missions today. As Psyche travels to the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the technology demonstration will send high-data-rate signals as far out as the Red Planet\u2019s greatest distance from Earth. In doing so, it paves the way for higher-data-rate communications capable of sending complex scientific information, high-definition imagery, and video in support of humanity\u2019s next giant leap:\u00a0sending humans to Mars.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the goals is to demonstrate the ability to transmit broadband video across millions of miles. Nothing on Psyche generates video data, so we usually send packets of randomly generated test data,\u201d said Bill Klipstein, the tech demo\u2019s project manager at JPL. \u201cBut to make this significant event more memorable, we decided to work with designers at JPL to create a fun video, which captures the essence of the demo as part of the Psyche mission.\u201d<\/p>\n Uploaded before launch, the short ultra-high definition video features an orange tabby cat named Taters, the pet of a JPL employee, chasing a laser pointer, with overlayed graphics. The graphics illustrate several features from the tech demo, such as Psyche\u2019s orbital path, Palomar\u2019s telescope dome, and technical information about the laser and its data bit rate. Tater\u2019s heart rate, color, and breed are also on display.<\/p>\n \nTake 5 with Jason Adam<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Pamela Bourque Named Chief Counsel at Marshall<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Thomas Percy Named Systems Engineering and Integration Manager for Human Landing System Program<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Mission Success is in Our Hands: Chelsi Cassilly<\/strong><\/h2>\n
I am Artemis: Bruce Askins<\/strong><\/h2>\n
NASA\u2019s Tech Demo Streams First Video from Deep Space via Laser<\/strong><\/h2>\n