messengermichoud

SLS Meets Milestones Building, Processing Multiple Tanks NASA has met a first Space Launch propmilestone completing System deep space the rthe welding on a rocket. This tank and RS-liquid oxygen tank the liquid hydrogen Insidtest article and begin- tank are the parts of Assening welding the the SLS core stage NASliquid oxygen tank that hold more than Assethat will be part of the 700,000 gallons of New

ellant to power ocket’s four

25 engines. e the Vertical mbly Building at A’s Michoud mbly Facility in Orleans, four

fuel tanks are being builtsimEngbuiltanthe andprodatlargwelAssbactraccorwelfor twithjust ideliquiquaarti

and processed ultaneously. ineers are ding core stage ks that will fly on first SLS flight tanks that will vide valuable test a. In the world’s est robotic rocket der, the Vertical embly Center (left k), the prime con-tor for the SLS e stage, Boeing, is ding a flight tank he first SLS flight Orion. Engineers built an almost

ntical tank, the d oxygen tank lification test

cle (right front). On the same side of the building, techni-cians are washing the interior of the

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

continued on pg 3

The NASA Michoud Assembly Facility has met another milestone by building and processing multiple tanks for the core stage of the first Space Launch System deep space rocket. Inside the Vertical Assembly Facility four fuel tanks are being built simultaneously.sheets.

Letter from LeadershipTeam, Sophia Adams, Jalesa Fletcher, Cynthia Spraul,

Dena Yell, the MSFOC Closeout Team, and the MAF Business Team. I applaud your dedication

to our team. I would also like to congratulate Tracy Mc-Mahan for winning the Annual OSAC Peer Award for Communications.

Last, I would like to extend a welcome to Roslin Hicks as our new Acting Deputy Director. A mechanical engineer having worked at MSFC for 30 years, she has a broad breadth of expe-

t rience, most recently in the Center Operations Directorate. For the past nine years, Roslin was the supervisor of the Planning and Facilities Utilization Office at Marshall which included both the Master Planning Team and the Real

Property and Facilities Utilization Team. Her experience makes her a valued asset to

all of us. I am pleased to say that Roslin is also the first female to hold this position at Michoud. Employees at Michoud are encouraged to

- always look for ways to improve work skills, knowledge, value and efficiencies. Seek out ways to improve upon your experience here. If you have innovative suggestions for Michoud, I

want to hear from you. It is inspiring to see all the great things that

take place at Michoud. We all have a job to do and to ensure we can do that successfully we must keep the safety and security of ourselves, our coworkers and the facility one of our top

priorities at all times.

Last month, we celebrated Unity Day at Michoud. It was a pleasureto see everyone come together at Hero’s Way. I truly believe that our work-force diversity strengthensand empowers all of us to

Keith Hefner, do our best work. Michoud Director I want to reiterate the message of change that was carried throughouthe event. Change is a constant factor in our everyday life, at home and at work. Change may happen due to a variety of reasons such as a strategic decision, competition or due to factors beyond our control. It is how we chooseto accept it, embrace it, manage it and commu-nicate it that makes a difference in our successas a team. Unity Day is also the Michoud way of cele-brating our history, the great work being accomplished today, and the legacy we are leaving behind. I hope that everyone enjoyed the sam-plings of food representing various countries while listening to music performed by the WestJefferson High School Band. Let’s continue to grow the celebration in 2018; we have much tobe proud of. Something as unique as Unity Day at Michoud, could not be possible without the support or our MSFC sponsors. I want to thankthe Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, the Office of Strategic Analysis and Commu-nications and the Office of Human Capital for sponsoring this initiative. On July 11, the Annual Honor Awards themed, Proud Legacy-Bold Future, were celebrated at Marshall Space Flight Center. These Agency and Center awards are given to employees who inspire us through their extraor-dinary performance, dedication and achieve-ments. Congratulations to all the winners, es-pecially to those who work to support Michoud: Ngoc P. Nguyen, Tan T. Nguyen, Colin Lusk,

- Keith Hefner, Director of Michoud Assembly Facility

Editor’s Note: If you have a question or topic you’d like to see Keith address in his column, please email him at keith.hefner@nasa.gov.

Employee Spotlight I work as an industrial

hygienist here at NASA’s Michoud As-sembly Facility, where we are building the world’s largest rocket, known as the Space Launch System (SLS). Environmental health and safety are extremely important

Yaisa Wilson to our lives and to the shared mission. The

programs I maintain and administer, such as asbestos exposure control, food safety, hazard communication, respiratory protection and ther-mal stress, are extremely important to the SLS Program and everyone who works on it at the facility. For instance, I review and approve Safety Data Sheets for Boeing, the prime contractor for the SLS core stage, including those for the foam and primer it uses in constructing SLS compo-nents and the Orion spacecraft. I also ensure breathing air systems in the SLS and Orion production areas are certified, provide respirato-ry protection training to Boeing employees who work in these areas and offer consultation to the Boeing Environmental Health and Safety Depart-ment on various hazards and issues as needed. There is not always fanfare associated with such professional tasks, and I can never really know how many accidents/incidents are prevent-ed by what I do. I just do all I can to help as many as possible, including visiting jobsites to get an idea of ongoing work, making work environment recommendations, supporting those who need my help and training our workforce.

I am a Louisiana native and grew up in New Orleans. I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in biology pre-medicine in 2002 from Xavier Uni-versity. While enrolled at Xavier, I also attended Tulane University and earned a Master of Sci-ence in public health, with an emphasis in indus-trial hygiene. During graduate school, I decided to apply for a job with NASA after learning about opportunities at Michoud. I was a bit intimidated, thinking there was no way I would get a job here. Then, the Columbia shuttle tragedy occurred, which put that dream on hold. Finally, in 2008, I started work at Michoud during the space shuttle external fuel tank proj-ect. I was in awe of the thousands of people working at the facility and of all the tools needed to build the tanks. I felt a sense of pride – person-ally, for being able to work at NASA, and collec-tively, for working with people who were in sync with supporting NASA’s missions and returning astronauts back home safely. I had never felt so challenged and excited at the same time. Most recently, I was honored with a Silver Snoopy Award for my support in recovery efforts following the tornado damage Michoud sustained in February 2017. I have been an active member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) since 2003 and held several board posi-tions for the AIHA/Deep South Section (covering Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi) from 2005 to 2011. My hobbies include reading, traveling and visiting theme parks. After nine years at Michoud, I am still amazed at how cool it is to work here. I cannot wait to see the SLS rocket and Orion space capsule launch and to be able to say I was a part of making that happen.

liquid hydrogen structural qualification test article (right back). When completed, these core stage test articles travel by barge to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for struc-tural testing that will demonstrate that the tanks structures can withstand the harsh environments of flight and perform as designed. In the middle of the floor in the above image, engineers are practicing operations with a liquid hydrogen tank built for flight. The left front of the building is currently empty, but it serves as a vertical stacking area where tanks and other core stage hardware can be stacked, assembled and inspected.

continued from pg 1SLS Meets Milestones

messengermichoud

National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationMichoud Assembly Facility13800 Old Gentilly Rd.New Orleans, LA 70129http://maf.msfc.nasa.gov

www.nasa.gov

Unity Day 2017

As Larry Mack, Deputy Director of the Office of Human Capitol at MSFC and the moderator for the event pointed out, always look to turn negatives into positives. Change can be good. He also reminded us that FAIL doesn’t mean a negative fail, it is your First Attempt in Learning. END, doesn’t mean it is over, it means your Effort Never Dies. NO is not a negative, it is your Next Opportunity.

The honorable Ann Duplessis, former Louisiana Senator, and keynote speaker for Unity Day. She had a very valuable message about embracing change. Panelist in background: Randy Mays, Chief of the Security and Planning Office - Administrative Manage-ment Staff of the National Finance Center (USDA), Leo Williams, Manufacturing Manager (Boeing),Thuy Tran, Human Resources Business Partner (Lockheed Martin), Yaisa Wilson, Industrial Hygienist (S3), Keith Savoy, Operations Manager (NASA Michoud Assembly Facility), and Commander Veronica Brecht (US Coast Guard).

NASA in the Park

This year, Michoud Assembly Facility team was invited to partic-ipate with Marshall team members in the fourth annual celebra-tion of “NASA in the Park” event in Big Spring Park in downtown Huntsville, Alabama, on June 17. More than 8,000 people attend-ed the event which featured fun for all ages, live music members and a special appearance by former NASA astronaut Robert “Hoot” Gibson, who is a veteran of five space shuttle missions .

Tulane Scholars

The Michoud Messenger is the official publication for the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility. Each issue is published bi-monthly for civil servants, contractors, and site tenants. For suggestions or submissions, please contact Susan Wilson at mary.s.wilson@nasa.gov.

Students from Tulane’s Emerging Scholars Academy visited Michoud Assembly Facility In July. During their visit, Michoud personnel provided not only a tour of the manufacturing facility but enabled the students to participate in hands-on activities, experiments and research. The academy provides students (11th-12th) with an interest and curiosity in the sciences the opportunity to gain knowledge in environmental health sciences. The academy networks with peers and mentors, developing and promoting positive relationships for their academic futures.

July 2017Volume 8, Issue 4

MSFC Director: Todd MayMAF Director: Keith HefnerPhotography: Steven Seipel and Jude GuidryLayout and Design: Shannon La NasaEditors: Tracy McMahan and Susan Wilson