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____________________________________________________________________ Volume 6; Issue 2 February/March 2003 |
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** Administrator Visit **
First and Second Decades |
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_____________________________________________________________________ Civil Aerospace Medical Institute Team Visits the Technical Center By Ginger Cairnes _____________________________________________________________________ |
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Dr. Antuńano and team members, Dr. James Whinnery and Dr. Dave Schroeder, were accompanied by Dr. Harriet Lester and Dr. Mark Rodgers during a two-day visit to the Tech Center. Among the topics presented, were many facets of airport and aircraft safety and security research; separation standards; human factors research; recent developments in air traffic control; the impact of weather on air traffic; air/ground communications; navigation and surveillance; and fire safety research. A highlight of Antuńano’s visit was his presentation that not only demonstrated the research being done and the pros and cons of future commercial space travel, but also enabled the audience to enjoy his sense of humor. As a result of this
visit, is it is anticipated that the group will return to further observe
projects and to discuss ways in which like concerns and issues can
possibly be shared.
_____________________________________________________________________ World-Renowned Speaker in Aerospace Visits the Tech Center By Mary Lou Dordan _____________________________________________________________________
Pictured l. to r. : Dr. Melchor Antuñano, Dennis Filler Employees at the William J. Hughes Technical Center recently had an opportunity to hear Dr. Melchor Antunano, director of the FAA’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute in Oklahoma City, OK, describe the exciting work conducted by his employees involved in the Commercial Space Transportation Program. The audience was riveted to their seats during the two-hour overview of his work in aerospace medicine and the role the FAA plays in the future of commercial space.
Pictured: Dr. Antuñano being interviewed by Channel 40 Television Many Tech Center employees were surprised to discover the galactic focus of the every day job responsibilities of our FAA counterparts in Oklahoma. Although NASA leads the way with space research and vehicle development, the FAA is responsible for the safety of commercial space operations. Dr. Antunano and his staff work on the cutting edge of science as they look towards the next giant step into aviation and space. Their next phase of aircraft safety will evolve from seat belts to air bags as hypersonic transports become the next generation of aircraft. Evacuation research now includes a chemical/biological plan of aircraft egress. The multi-national presence in space has now prompted the need for international space laws to be enacted. For instance, no law currently exists to prosecute someone who commits a crime in space.
Gus Sarkos, AAR-422, informs the visitors how the aircraft are used for fire safety research and development. Pictured l. to r. : Dr. Mark Rodgers, AAR-100, Lester, Schroeder, Antuñano, Sarkos, Whinnery There is a long history of collaborative efforts between the Tech Center and CAMI that will continue to evolve into a more aerospace-oriented direction. “Our future looks bright to get involved in space explorations,” said Dr. Antunano. There are many areas of the support systems required for commercial space transportation in which CAMI and the Tech Center can work together such as future research and development with the fire and material labs at the Tech Center
Wayne Marsey and Satish Agrawal describe the Pavement Machine to the group Dr. Antunano described some of the many risk factors impacting our space explorers that are yet to be overcome by our scientists. Noise levels on the International Space Station currently exceed OSHA standards, astronauts are susceptible to kidney stones due to calcium being pushed to the lower part of their bodies, the shelf-life of medications in space is different than within earth’s gravity field, normal immune systems shut down in space making it difficult to fight infections, intestines stop moving in space causing constipation problems in the human body, nine out of 10 astronauts experience space motion sickness within the first 24-48 hours in space, and the list of challenges continues to grow. There is much to be done before we are ready to establish a permanent colony of pioneers in space. Dr. Antunano predicted commercial transport vehicles will be available within the next 12-24 months and a private hotel corporation will be the next addition to the deep space adventurers.
Center Director Dr. Anne Harlan hosts CAMI visitors at the Pavement Test Facility: Pictured L. to R. : Wayne Marsey, AAR-410. Dr. Harriet Lester, AEA-300; Dennis Filler, ACK-1; Dr. James Whinnery, CAMI; Dr. Dave Schroeder, CAMI; Dr. Harlan; Dr. Melchor Antuñano _____________________________________________________________________
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Late
last fall, William J. Hughes Technical Center Director Dr. Anne Harlan had
the opportunity to experience some of the human factors and aerospace
research being done at the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute in Oklahoma
City, OK.
