Howdoes Ames contribute to the space shuttle program?
Wedon’t launch spacecraft, but we do a lot to support the shuttle program. AtAmes, we do a lot of human factors work, and pretty much every NASA rocket,shuttle, or capsule has been tested in our wind tunnels; we also have one ofthe most realistic simulators that can be configured to the shuttle cockpit totrain crews. Oh, and we develop the thermal protection systems that keepastronauts and spacecraft cool and functional, especially during reentry).
AsPete Worden, our center director, is known to say, “If you want to get to orbit,talk to the other centers. If you want to come back, come talk to Ames.”
Wealso do some pretty amazing basic biology research that helps us learn moreabout how life in space grows and lives differently than life on Earth. Thereare all kinds of implications of that research – from curing diseases to makingmore efficient and healthful food for us all. On STS-135, Ames will have sevenpayloads onboard. More about these later….
