Space Station News
NASA has awarded a contract to The Boeing Company, Houston, for the procurement of 40 International Space Station replacement battery units. The contract facilitates the fabrication, assembly, testing and de-livery of these battery units in advance for the replacement of on-orbit batteries. Each of four power element truss structures on the Space Station – P6, P4, S4 and S6 – is designed with 12 batteries that store power generated by solar arrays. The batteries, which are one meter wide, 94 centimeters long and 48 centimeters high, are designed to last for about six-and-a-half years and can be replaced while in orbit. Boeing is presently under contract to deliver replacement batteries for the P6 truss. This new contract requires the purchase of replacement batteries for the P4, S4 and S6 elements, with an additional four batteries as spares.

SFA to mark 40th anniversary
Throughout NASA’s history, the Space Flight Awareness (SFA) program has worked to ensure that those who work in the space industry understand the unique role and responsibility they have in ensuring safety and mission success. Over the years, our di-verse and talented workforce has made our nation the world leader in space flight. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the SFA program. In recognition of this milestone, the SFA National Panel will host an Honoree Mid-Management Event in Washington, D.C., during the week of Sept. 22. This event will include approximately 250 honorees from all NASA installations, including civil service, contractor and military personnel.

Reminder
KSC and CCAFS will celebrate Take Our Children to Work Day on Thursday, July 24. On this day NASA, CCAFS and participating contractor employees may bring children 9 years of age or older to work with them to share in the work experience. Program hours are from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More details will be coming with complete information available in the July 11 issue of Spaceport News.

NASA Science News
A physics theory used to create cutting-edge “designer materials” doesn't work as scientists expect. A new experiment planned for the International Space Station could reveal why. Read the full story at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2003/07jul_coarsening.htm.

NASA Spinoffs
The flavors and fragrance industry is always seeking new ways to dazzle and delight consumers’ senses. One company launched itself ahead of the competition by collaborating with NASA to create a new fragrance ingredient that is literally out of this world. International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF), Inc., of New York, N.Y., discovered this new scent, known as the “space rose” note, by flying a miniature rose plant called the “Overnight Scentsation” aboard NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery Flight STS-95. IFF is the leading creator and manufacturer of flavors and fragrances used by others to impart or improve flavor or fragrance in a wide variety of consumer products. For information about other spinoffs, go to http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/spinoff.html .

Did You Know? You can keep up to date on current or future road projects such as repaving in the Launch Complex 39 area, Guard Gates construction and Banana River Bridge Bearing Pad replacement by visiting the KSC Road Projects Web site at http://kscroadprojects.ksc.nasa.gov/ .

KSC Countdown is published Tuesdays & Thursdays. Deadlines: 10 a.m. Mondays & Wednesdays. Send information, comments or questions to: E-mail -- Anita.Barrett-1@ksc.nasa.gov Telephone -- 321-867-2815