ensures that the right lift fixtures and rigging are used to lift heavy hardware that is critical to the program. Chinh Hoang, based at Michoud, is one of the younger members of the Space Launch System team. A Manufacturing, Assembly and Operations manager, she ensures day-to-day operations are integrated with other SLS sites and teams. Hoang is also the diversity representative for Michoud and two other sites. She is particularly interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) outreach to students. “My MBA is in Finance and I always thought I’d end up working for some financial company,” Hoang said. “But I soon discovered that space was my passion and that I wanted to do my part to advance space exploration.” Kevin Pierre works in electrical and mechanical assembly. His expertise is in electrical installation and test, which involves putting instrumentation, electrical boxes, cameras, fuel and temperature sensors, and other equipment in the core stage. While preparing for the construction of the first launch vehicle, which will be delivered in 2016, he has been assisting with preparation for friction stir welding and thermal protection systems. “We have a team that’s made up of people from many different backgrounds,” Pierre said. “And everybody’s working together to make the program a success from the very beginning.” Rick Navarro, Boeing director of Manufacturing, Assembly and Operations for the Space Launch System, said the pro-gram has brought in people from other Boeing business units and sought the advice of experts from across the enterprise. “This is a team effort and a big ‘One Boeing’ showcase,” Navarro said. “We’re getting a lot of technology from the Boeing Research & Technology team. And we have a lot of manufacturing and tooling know-how that’s coming to us from Boeing Commercial Airplanes.” Rob Stuart, core stage chief engineer, said the program has been working with Commercial Airplanes to replace cer-tain metal parts with composites to save weight. Commercial Airplanes greatly expanded its composites expertise with the development of the 787 Dreamliner. “We’ve been working with the guys out at El Segundo who build the flight computers for Boeing satellites,” Stuart said. “We didn’t want to develop a brand-new computer, but we wanted the best equipment we could get. They’re doing a terrific job for us and they’re way ahead of schedule. Their hardware is working just great.” The development of the core stage uses computer-aided design that includes data on every piece of equipment that is used in the vehicle. “This allows us to do things like reduce the number of development tests we have to perform,” Stuart said. “We can also communicate directly with the supplier base, which is at the point where they are able to accept computer-based models.” With a program this complex—involving 1,300 direct employees and considerable support from outside the program—coordination is essential. Paisley Matthews, senior manager of Program Integration for the Space Launch System, said the focus of her team is ensuring that the program operates on schedule, that everyone has instant access to metrics and performance data. Direct human interaction is an important part of this. “The fun thing about integration is that you get to work with people across the program and make sure that the various groups are talking to one another,” Matthews said. “It’s important that everyone understands the challenges of the day and what needs to be done to make things happen.” In this electronic age, there’s a temptation to rely on data and exchanging emails. But Matthews notes that program integration includes building relationships with people throughout the program. “I tell my team that it’s important that they get up and go find the person they need to speak with,” Matthews said. “If that person isn’t in the city, I suggest that they get on the phone and call them. In a program like this, you need to understand the challenges people face and what they need. You can’t get that so much from an email or a process.” Agnes Vargas, based in Titusville, Fla., wears two hats in Boeing Space Exploration. Part of her time is spent supporting Paisley Matthews as the Space Launch System’s Program Integration representative in Florida. In addition, she is the manager of Boeing Space Flight Awareness, an employee motivation and recognition program run by Boeing Space Exploration and NASA. Overall, the program promotes safety and mission success among employees. In part, Vargas encourages employees to practice good safety habits, both on the job and at home. She also enlists the help of astronauts to remind employees that the quality of their work will determine the safety of astronauts on future space missions. “My role is to make employees feel engaged and together,” Vargas said. “We’re a team and we’ve got to do the best we can because the lives of our astronauts depend on what we do, whether it’s pushing paper or working on flight hardware. Safety is the most critical thing we do.” Vargas, a 24-year veteran of the Space Shuttle and Inter-national Space Station programs, has met many astronauts over the years—going all the way back to the Mercury astronauts of the early 1960s. But a recent announcement by NASA of a new class of astronauts brought out a deep emotional reaction. “I was just taken aback!” she said. “I was just so jazzed that these young people will be sent on their missions by the Space Launch System, and that we are part of the team that’s making that possible. That’s the future! It really doesn’t get any better than that.” n william.j.seil@boeing.com PHOTOS: (Clockwise from top left) Fabrication specialists Will Walsten, left, and Todd Duhon review data from a vertical weld; Materials specialists Randolph James and Francene “Frankie” Corradetti inspect a circumferential dome weld; Weld Engineer Bill McGee, top, works with fabrication specialists Ron Hindman (foreground, from left), Richard Oramous and Gary Bennett in planning the weld of a dome cap to a dome gore assembly. Frontiers February 2014 31
Frontiers February 2014 Issue
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