 | |
| Vol. 19, No. 1 | Sept. 2, 1999 |
| |
| Vol. 19, No. 1 | Sept. 2, 1999 |
Vice provost NASA guest for space shuttle 'Columbia' liftoffVice Provost for Research Costel Denson was an invited guest to the July 19 liftoff of the space shuttle Columbia, whose mission was launching the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, the most powerful X-ray telescope ever put into space.
"It was after midnight and countdown time for the liftoff," Denson said. "Guests, including Hillary Clinton, were seated in an area overlooking the Banana River. I was with a group of French observers who were present because Col. Michel Tognini from the French Air Force was on board as a mission specialist.
"During the day, we had a briefing and tour of the Kennedy Space Center and then were bused to the observation site. One of the highlights of the evening was when other astronauts, dressed in their regulation jumpsuits, arrived in the spectator area," he said.
Denson, who serves on the Engineering Advisory Committee of the National Science Foundation, has been a member of a working subcommittee with astronaut Bonnie Dunbar and had an opportunity to talk to her. He also met Mae Jemison, an African-American woman astronaut. Then the time for the liftoff approached.
"It was a clear, dry night and in the distance we could clearly see the launch pad and the shuttle in its vertical position, lit up like midtown Manhattan. The astronauts, including Eileen Marie Collins, the first woman to command a space shuttle mission, had boarded. As the moment for the liftoff approached, the lights in the bleacher section were turned off. I was near the countdown monitor, and the excitement rose, but at 6 seconds to liftoff, they aborted the mission because of a possible hydrogen leak.
"We then had to stay where we were as a safety measure while they reversed the steps to liftoff. We were told if there was an accident and vapor clouds developed, we would have to vacate the bleachers and enter an air-conditioned building behind us to avoid the fumes.
"It was disappointing not to see the actual liftoff but the mission did not take off until the following Friday, and I had other commitments. At the time of the scheduled launching, they thought a faulty sensor was responsible for the problem, but after liftoff, it was discovered there actually was a hydrogen leak and the mission procedures had to be altered because of it," Denson said.
In spite of the postponement of the liftoff, he said, the briefing and tour of the John F. Kennedy Space Center were informative and gave him new insights into National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) programs and research projects.
For example, on this mission, in addition to launching the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, other space-related projects included an imaging system for obtaining measurements of the moon and other planets, and microgravity experiments were planned on plant growth and insects.
As a result of this trip, Denson said, one of his current goals is to explore ways UD researchers can become more involved in NASA projects.
Denson pointed out the University receives approximately $2 million a year in awards from NASA. The Bartol Research Institute receives the major share, but physics and astronomy, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, marine studies and geography also receive funding, Denson said. Projects include such areas as the development of the suprathermal and energetic particle analyzer for the solar and heliospheric laboratory, research on high-energy cosmic rays, white dwarf stars, evaluation of snow water, liquids in microgravity and ocean surface heat.
Denson said he came away from the experience with a feeling of pride and admiration for the U.S. space program and increased awareness of its scientific projects and goals. 
-Sue Moncure
