The April meeting of NSS of North Texas featured a talk on “Defining the Future of Aerospace” by Enanga Fale, Director of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Aerospace Special Interest Group (SIG), a Director of the Society of Women Engineers, and a Northrop Grumman Technical Fellow and Senior Systems Engineering Manager.

Fale emphasized “Find your place in space, and everybody has a place in space.” Fale’s organizational aim is to transform the aerospace industry by research, experiential learning programs, outreach, and advocacy.

Fale said for the past two to three years, NSBE Aerospace SIG has been heavily involved in reviewing the needs of the future space workforce and aerospace as a whole relative to governmental priorities of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) for workforce and technology development. OSTP progresses Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) with new technology and workforce development across space, defense, aviation, and other vehicles to meet the needs of the U.S.

NSBE’s goal is to progress professionals in the Aerospace and Defense industry by understanding the governmental priorities and needs for U.S. constituents. Fale showed the OSTP space STEM priorities were exploration and science, growth in U.S. jobs, climate crisis mitigation, and national security along with growing internships and nurturing the future space workforce. Fale explained inspiration, preparation, and employment of the space workforce has moved from ideation to strategic goals with measurable impacts, and the space workforce has progressed from only engaging engineers to engaging lawyers, business leaders, psychologist, etc.

NSBE Aerospace SIG Policy engagement has included attending an OSTP space communication and collaboration community events, responding to request for information, writing technical position papers, and attending Space Weeks. Fale said NSBE has worked with the Kenyan space industry, and space market in East Africa and submitted a response to OSTP on sustainability of microgravity research and development during and beyond the International Space Station transition.

Jason Cassibry image credit: Michael Mercier, University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH)

The Huntsville Alabama L5 Society (HAL5) heard a presentation by Professor Jason Cassibry on “Experiments, Modeling and Theoretical Efforts in Fission, Fusion, Artificial Gravity, and Breakthrough Propulsion.” Cassibry said the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Charger Advanced Power and Propulsion (CAPP) laboratory is focusing on training students to develop expertise with fusion sources, high-voltage applications, and advanced propulsion for the next generation. His team also researches artificial gravity, dielectrophoresis (DEP), debris remediation, and material separation and recycling.

During an eight-year collaboration with NASA while working on a pulsed power machine, Cassibry and his team of students achieved calculations and code for the pulse fission/fusion concept, which could have led to a smaller propulsion system. Now, Cassibry’s team is concentrating on their groundbreaking work on fusion power for startup companies including NearStar Fusion Inc. Cassibry discovered instead of using large pulsed compression machines for high density regimes, his team could use high magnetic fields and a lower density regime to do a hybrid between magnetic fusion energy (tokamaks) and the extreme inertial confinement fusion to make a small-scale reactor that will breakeven (the moment when plasmas in a fusion device release at least as much energy as is required to heat them). Breakeven technologies are estimated to be achieved in the 2030s.

The team’s main collaboration fusion effort is Plasma Jet Driven Magneto-Inertial Fusion (PJMIF) and a gradient field/impact fusion hybrid using a railgun that shoots a projectile 10 km/s to a chamber with NearStar. PJMIF has the advantage that its field insulates and traps electrons, so the electron energy is contained.

At the UAH CAPP laboratory, Cassibry’s team works on Sparky (a 60kJ, 40 kilovolt capacitor) and with NASA on Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket (CNTR). The CNTR utilizes uranium in a liquid state for higher power density, higher specific impulse, and faster space travel. A UAH student benchmarked code on benchtop experiments. The team is determining how hydrogen can bubble through a liquid uranium annulus and go out through the nozzle. UAH is modeling a cylindrical drum containing liquid and incoming liquid bubbles. Since their development of fusion at CAPP, the team is developing a diagnostic system to make a better source with the aid of a small business, whose owner is a former radiation safety officer. The team also works with a high voltage equipment Tesla coil and refurbishes high voltage power supplies.

Cassibry’s team has developed code for a topology that will create thrust for their research on a power producing pulse magnetic nozzle. They are determining how to turn an explosion into thrust, which is required to turn a fusion system into a propulsion system and is difficult because plasmas are hot. The system must produce electrical power to recharge the system for the next shot.

Cassibry explained DEP, which can be used in biomedical science, particle extraction, and nuclear thermal propulsion. DEP is a charge independent body force created by a gradient in an electric AC and DC field. The charge of an atom or molecule orients itself and goes toward the stronger side of the force.

DEP may be a key enabler of long duration human spaceflight by maintaining crew health and conditioning without using a rotating spacecraft design and by overcoming size restrictions of centrifugally designed spacecraft systems and mass penalties associated with existing system designs. The ability to scale gravity is needed for space mission destinations (e.g., Mars). With increasing time in space, humans may need microgravity anti-measures to overcome the negative microgravity health effects to humans, which could negatively affect the success of future space missions.

The team has made a prototype DEP setup, developed a 3D electrostatic field solver and DEP force calculator, generated about 1/3 of Earth’s gravity with a 40-kilovolt power supply, and found how to exert force on conductors by half-wave rectification of AC fields. Cassibry said arcs are the main issue with DEP because they cause the fields to stop. Cassibry’s team hopes to enable humans to have an artificial gravity environment by using a 100-kilovolt power supply for DEP.

Cassibry used his model to explain the types of propulsion needed for increasing distances in space relative to energy density of the fuel and speed of the spacecraft (i.e., delta v), which is comparable to exhaust velocity. A spacecraft with chemical propulsion could make a round trip to the Moon in a week, make a round trip to Mars in two years with refuel at the destination, but would require a very large system to go faster and further in the solar system. Nuclear technologies offer better energy density with higher specific impulse for the achievement of 1,000 second Specific Impulse (ISP). Because a trip to Mars in six months would require 2,000 to 3,000 second ISP and pushes beyond the limits of nuclear thermal propulsion, nuclear electric propulsion (requiring a decrease size of the electric system and radiators) or fusion propulsion (giving a higher specific impulse, good thrust, and appropriate delta v) would be needed. Going to stars would require antimatter, laser light craft, or warp drive.

In regards to breakthrough propulsion, Cassibry said warp speed is achieved when the vacuum of space can be expanded so that travel is faster than the speed of light. After Dr. Cassibry gave a presentation on warp drive to students, UAH student Joseph Agnew gained interest and did an excellent research article on warp drive that was well received and announced at a press release. For warp drive, Cassibry explained the problem with Einstein’s field equations for general relativity was the poor coupling between mass and space time curvature. He said in the 2021 New J. of Physics, Williams and Inan derived subsets of equations from the general relativity equation that were similar to Maxwell’s equations. Cassibry’s interest is in material properties to give an augmentation to slow the speed of light and generate a measurable gravitational field. Cassibry said their lab is positioned to test claims such as asymmetric capacitors.

By Jennifer Munz

Greetings, fellow members of the National Space Society (NSS). The Florida Chapter is officially back in business, the business of promoting space. We are thrilled to share the latest updates and highlights from our activities aimed at promoting space exploration and fostering a sense of community in the Space Coast. Without further ado, let’s delve into the exciting events that have kept us busy:

1. First Friday’s at Port Canaveral

• Date: March 1st, April 5th, and May 3rd
• Location: Port Canaveral
• We’ve been actively engaging with the community by hosting a booth during the First Friday’s events at Port Canaveral. These gatherings have provided us with an excellent platform to showcase NSS and spark enthusiasm for space exploration. We distribute magazines, stickers, and candy, and at one point had a curious crowd of about 10 people at one time listening to our NSS elevator pitch.

2. “321 Day” Chapter Kickoff Event

• Date: March 21st
• Location: Space View Park, Titusville
• Our chapter kick-off event, aptly named “321 Day,” was a special celebration held in memory of Ozzie Osband, a founding member of the Florida chapter and a local icon in the space community, who spearheaded a campaign for the 321 phone exchange on the space coast. The festivities, held at Space View Park and the Titusville Welcome Center, featured food trucks, live music by Interstellar Grove Machine, and a presentation of a plaque by Mayor Dan Diesel, proclaiming March 21st as officially “321 Day”. With over 200 attendees, it was a heartwarming and memorable, inaugural event.

3. Shuttlefest 3 at the American Space Museum

• Date: April 13th
• Location: Hyatt Place, Titusville
• Shuttlefest 3, organized by the American Space Museum, brought together space enthusiasts and industry professionals for a day-long conference. A standout session was the “Rocket Renaissance” panel discussion featuring representatives from NASA, All Points, Vaya Space, and others, exploring the future of spaceflight. Our very own Burt Dicht was on that panel. We set up the NSS booth and gained a lot of visibility with approximately 125 attendees.

4. Yuri’s Night Event at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

• Date: April 12th
• Location: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Thanks to an invitation from fellow NSS member Robert Katz, we participated in Yuri’s Night event at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Burt set up the NSS booth and engaged with students. The event included a panel discussion on career choices in space, featuring young NASA employees and a retired Boeing employee.

5. Stay Curious Podcast Hosted by Burt

• Date: April 4th
• Burt took the helm as the host of the Stay Curious Podcast, providing insights on current events in space and highlighted milestones in April. As part of his presentation, he focused on ISDC and encouraged attendance, further amplifying our outreach efforts.

These events signify more than just individual gatherings—they represent the building momentum of our chapter within the vibrant Space Coast community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants, organizers, and supporters who have contributed to the success of these endeavors. Your passion and dedication fuel our collective mission to push the boundaries of NSS.

By Robin Scott

Robert “Hoot” Gibson is not only a great NASA astronaut, he is also a great storyteller. On January 8 he provided the Iowa Chapter with unique insights from his outstanding career both as a Navy pilot and space shuttle astronaut.

His talk to the Iowa Chapter can be seen online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQly6A_nDcQ.

Gibson’s mom and dad both flew planes, providing him with an inspiring environment. He achieved his childhood dream to be like his dad, who was an aeronautical engineer and test pilot.

After getting an aeronautical engineering degree and training as a Navy pilot, he experienced the excitement of flying an F-4 Phantom off of an aircraft carrier and then accurately landing within the carrier’s limited space. In 1972, Gibson’s squadron sent him to Navy Fighter Weapons “Top Gun” School where he flew the F-14 Tomcat jet fighter, which had a top speed of Mach 2.34, a variable-sweep wing, and 20% better overall capabilities than the F-4 Phantom that it replaced. After three cruises flying Tomcats, Gibson was selected for Navy test pilot school, which was one big accomplishment that qualified him to be selected as one of the first class of 35 space shuttle astronauts in 1978.

For his first six years as an astronaut, he worked in the software verification laboratory, as the deputy chief of aircraft operations for NASA, and as a T-38 chase plane pilot for the first two shuttle launches. For training, a T-38 chase plane and SR-71 Blackbird (Mach 3) were used to simulate the space shuttle landings. Gibson’s chase plane crew supported early launches by being prepared for return to launch site abort at lift off, ready to intercept the shuttle and follow it to touch down to check landing gear, give a cross check on altitude and speed, and call main gear and nose gear touch down heights.

Gibson flew five space shuttle missions. He was co-pilot on his first shuttle mission (Challenger, February 3–11, 1984), which deployed two commercial satellites, made the first landing at Cape Canaveral, and the first untethered space walks using a rocket pack with a translation and attitude controller. Landing at Cape Canaveral saved the expense of transport from and risk of weather exposure on a 747 flight from California.

Gibson was the Mission Commander on his second shuttle flight (Columbia, January 12–18, 1986), which deployed one satellite, did science experiments, pointed two ultraviolet telescopes, and was the second shuttle night landing. He had trained at night prior to this mission. His seven-member crew included House Subcommittee Chairman Bill Nelson, who was invited by NASA. Ten days after their landing, Challenger exploded. Gibson supported the investigation of the Challenger explosion and worked on the redesign and recertification of the rocket boosters.

Gibson was Mission Commander of his third flight (Atlantis, December 2–6,1988), which carried Department of Defense and other payloads. He trained a year for this mission.

Gibson was Mission Commander for his fourth flight (Endeavor, September 12–20, 1992), which was funded by Japan. The crew performed 40 material and life science experiments and built the largest single indium antimonide crystal. The crew was divided to do alternate 12-hour shifts and used foot loops to keep them in place so they could use both hands.

With the most experience after four missions, he was appointed by NASA to be the Chief Astronaut; but then NASA asked him to be Mission Commander of their very first shuttle docking mission with the Russian Space Station Mir (Atlantis, June 27 to July 7, 1995). The U.S. and Russian crew trained in Russia for 1.5 years and had done 100-docking simulations. Gibson successfully aligned the centers of two 4-foot docking rings to within three inches; and the mission featured crew changes, experiments, and transfer items to and from Atlantis. Space shuttle missions ended in 2011.

Gibson said his biggest thrill of going to space was the view of the Earth. He offered example pictures of Earth including Greenland, air traffic contrails, the Nile River, pyramids, and air glow; but the Northern and Southern lights were the prettiest.

Guest: Commander Susan Kilrain
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 2 at 5:00 pm CDT
In-Person Location: DMACC West Campus, 5959 Grand Ave., West Des Moines
Via Zoom: https://DMACC.zoom.us/j/95123855678

Commander Susan Kilrain is a renowned astronaut, a distinguished navy test pilot and aerospace engineer, and a world traveler. She is the youngest person, and one of only three women, to pilot the space shuttle. She served twenty years in the navy paving the way for women. She has flown more than 3,000 flight hours in more than thirty different aircraft, and she was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal. Commander Kilrain flew as pilot of STS-83 and STS-94, spending a total of more than twenty days in space. Her first mission was cut short due to a potentially life-threatening shuttle system failure.

An Unlikely Astronaut, a new 32-page children’s book, tells the true story of how Susan Kilrain overcame all obstacles to achieve her dream of flying in space after growing up in a time when, as a woman, it seemed nearly impossible. The youngest person and one of only three women to have ever piloted the space shuttle, her story of unwavering determination will encourage children to reach for the stars even if the odds are against them.

The NSS Iowa Chapter is pleased to present a Zoom presentation by Gene Fujii, the Chief Engineer for Astroscale, a company dedicated to on-orbit servicing across all orbits, helping to create a sustainable foundation for the growth of the space economy.

Astroscale is working on four pillars of creating a sustainable space environment:

(1) End-of-Life – Avoiding adding more debris to the orbital environment from satellites at the end of their service life.

(2) Active Debris Removal – Bringing down large items of debris that are currently in orbit.

(3) Life Extension – Servicing GEO satellites reaching end of life or useful in a new orbital location.

(4) In-Space Situational Awareness – Acquiring data to better understand the characteristics of objects in orbit.

Speaker Gene Fujii has over 25 years of experience in technology management in the commercial space industry. Prior to joining Astroscale, Gene was vice president of the space segment group at ORBCOMM where he oversaw the development, test, launch, in-orbit checkout, and on-orbit operations of a constellation of small communication satellites from multiple manufacturers. Before ORBCOMM, he was a senior principal systems engineer at Orbital Sciences Corp working on the design, test, and deployment of several small commercial LEO and GEO satellites and launch vehicles.

Please join us for this significant presentation.

Top image: Astroscale’s pioneering ELSA-d mission, the first project to demonstrate the core rendezvous, capture and de-orbit technologies used by the ELSA (End-of-Life Service by Astroscale). ELSA-d, launched in March 2021, is the world’s first commercial mission to prove the core technologies necessary for on-orbit satellite servicing in LEO. Image courtesy Astroscale.

The NSS North Houston Chapter hosted Houston Air Traffic Controllers Holly Cron and Jesse Strickland who spoke on “How Air Traffic Control (ATC) Operations are affected by Space Travel.” Their talk was timely because of the increase of space launches.

The U.S. has 14 space launch and re-entry ports, i.e., spaceports. Air Traffic Controllers have three types of facility positions: Tower, Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities, and Center. There are six-ATC areas that coordinate space flights in Boca Chica. Air Traffic Controllers utilize communication skills and computers to track flights and weather and change flight plans. However, in oceanic areas, they use pen and paper instead of computers. Air Traffic Controllers do annual training on space launches, re-entry, and airspace sterilization (establishing safety focus zones).

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation (known by the acronym AST) licenses launch and re-entry operations and spaceports. At least 10 days before every launch, the FAA ATC System Command Center in Warrington, Virginia does the following:

• Ensures that the space launch and reentry operations are safely and efficiently integrated in the National Airspace System, which includes a hotline for Air Traffic Controllers to communicate issues.
• Sends a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) and a notice to mariners. Airlines use NOTAMs to plan flight routes. For space launches, certain routes cannot be taken and flights may be delayed. Pilots use NOTAMS as a brief for the route of their flight. For unforeseen changes that were not on the NOTAM, Air Traffic Controllers can use a frequency to contact pilots.

On launch days, Air Traffic Controllers are given a Temporary Flight Restriction for the altitude, area, and time that aircraft cannot enter Aircraft Hazard Areas (AHAs). AHAs cover vehicle launch and ascent, jettison items, and stage re-entries. Debris Response Areas are similar to AHAs but can only be applied in radar-controlled airspace. No radar exists in the Gulf of Mexico.

Spaceport map courtesy FAA.

Captain Robert “Hoot” Gibson entered the United States Navy after college and served as a fighter pilot in the F-4 “Phantom” and F-14 “Tomcat” aircraft, flying combat missions in Southeast Asia and making more than 300 carrier landings aboard the aircraft carriers USS Coral Sea and USS Enterprise. After attending the Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as TOPGUN, and the Navy Test Pilot School, he served as a flight test pilot prior to being selected to become an Astronaut in 1978 in the first Space Shuttle Astronaut selection. In eighteen years as an Astronaut, he flew five space flights, four of them as Mission Commander, aboard the space shuttles Challenger, Columbia, Atlantis, and Endeavour. His final space flight was the first mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir in 1995. In his career with NASA, he held the positions of Deputy Chief of NASA Aircraft Operations, Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations, and Chief Astronaut.

In a flying career spanning more than sixty years, he has accumulated more than 14,000 hours of flight time in more than 160 types of military and civilian aircraft. He has received numerous honors, awards, and decorations and has established six Aviation World Records and three Space World Records.

Free MiniCube Balloon Flights to the Upper Atmosphere
Image courtesy JP Aerospace

The Sacramento L5 Society (SacL5), one of the oldest continuous non-profit space advocacy groups in the U.S. and a founding chapter in the National Space Society (NSS), is excited to announce the SacL5 MiniCube Contest, a new STEM contest for high schools. SacL5 is offering to defray the cost of lifting the contest winners’ experiments into the upper atmosphere. MiniCubes are small scientific experiments (5cmx5cmx5cm and 0.25 kg) carried above 98% of the atmosphere with balloons flown by a local Sacramento business, JP Aerospace.

Title: “Asteroid Autumn: Three Missions. Three Targets”
Date and Time: Monday, October 16. 5:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time
Location: DMACC West Campus, 5959 Grand Ave., West Des Moines
Join Zoom Meeting: https://DMACC.zoom.us/j/95123855678
Meeting ID: 951 2385 5678

NASA has declared September, October, and November “Asteroid Autumn,” as three missions to Solar System asteroids have major milestones. The OSIRIS-REx mission recently returned its sample of Near Earth Asteroid “Bennu” to Earth, and it continues on an extended mission to asteroid Apophis, renamed OSIRIS-APEX. A second mission, Psyche, is set to launch between October 12 and October 25 to the large Main Belt Asteroid 16 Psyche, the first visit to a metal asteroid. Then, in early November, the Lucy mission to the Trojan Asteroids orbiting with planet Jupiter will encounter Main Belt asteroid Dinkinesh on November 1 to test and calibrate its equipment on the way to its ultimate targets.

Dan Hoy has a keen interest in small bodies of the Solar System, and recently returned from a two-day experience witnessing the return of the OSIRIS-REx mission’s asteroid sample. Dan served as one of twelve social media influencers selected by spacecraft fabricator and operator Lockheed Martin to tour its facilities, hear from mission personnel, watch the mission’s final hours, and share the excitement on social media. Dan will share highlights of the three “Asteroid Autumn” missions, as well as some other recent and future expeditions to asteroids.