Astronauts visit Cache Valley
High-flying duo tour local business, talk about NASA space projects
01/29/02 — Darrell Edward Ehrlick
NORTH LOGAN — Despite the harsh weather that seemed to be borrowed from another planet, two NASA astronauts ventured — or more like plowed — through the record snow fall to tour Central Valley Machine on Monday and talk to employees about the space program.
Central Valley Machine supplies many different parts to NASA and Thiokol. Thiokol is the major manufacturer for the solid rocket boosters which launch the space shuttle into orbit.
As part of their training and safety protocol, astronauts routinely visit vendors which supply the space program with parts.
On Monday, the astronauts toured the North Logan facility, watching how certain components for the space program are engineered and built, and it also allowed astronauts Dominic "Tony" Antonelli and Christopher Ferguson a chance to talk about the international space station.
Both Antonelli and Ferguson are former Navy pilots who are currently going through training and have yet to receive their mission assignments from NASA.
Ferguson completed "Top Gun," and flew the F-14 Tomcat and Antonelli flew the F-18 for the Navy.
But nothing, not even the 1,500-plus hours that Ferguson logged in an F-14, compares to the thrill of training to go into space.
"As long as I could remember I wanted to be an astronaut, although I didn't have a good feel for how the process worked," Antonelli said. "Once I got older I figured out the process."
For Ferguson, he remembers Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon and remembers thinking, "It hit home that we are the only country in the world which does this."
And Ferguson said he continues to be amazed by the NASA's various projects.
The sheer numbers of the space shuttle program are impressive: 6.3 million pounds of thrust; the shuttle moves at five miles per second and weighs 4.5 million pounds at take off. The shuttle will burn 3,000 pounds of propellant fuel per second during take off — enough to drain a standard swimming pool in 10 seconds. And the rockets used to send the shuttle into orbit heat up to 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and one jet engine weighs less than a motor in a Corvette, yet puts out 73,000 horsepower — the equivalent of eight locomotives.
"This is the only solid rocket which has put man into space," Ferguson said.
Even though NASA’s darkest day came in 1986 when a problem with the rocket booster’s O-ring caused the Challenger space shuttle explosion, both astronauts felt that the problems have been solved. Both talked about the importance of trusting everyone who produces all the different parts of the shuttle.
"We’ve got those problems licked," Ferguson said.
Antonelli said it is a matter of trust.
"I trust each and every one of you with my life," Antonelli said. "I dependon you. Not only do I trust you, but my son, Michael is trusting you."
The main thrust of their presentation, though, was to talk about the multi-national, international space station.
"It’s a lot bigger than the publicity," Ferguson said. " … We’ve been making it like tinker toys."
Though putting a multi-billion dollar station together is not child’s play.
"Just watching it being put together is amazing," Ferguson said. "And the fact that it is being put together in space without a test run is even more amazing."
Some parts of the space station could not be assembled on earth because of gravity.
Before the station is complete, nearly 1,000 hours of space walk time will be needed.
"That’s more time than the U.S. and Russians have done in their history," Ferguson said.
In addition to being the biggest space walk project in history, the dangers of assembling the station are phenomenal.
"If they cut a finger on their glove, that would mean death," Ferguson said.
Even though the space station is years away from completion, it can still be seen across the horizon at night.
For example those wanting to see it, Cache Valley can take a gander on Wednesday night at 7:03 p.m. However, it will only be visible for two minutes.
"It will look like a really bright star going across the sky quickly," Antonelli said.
There are approximately three or four times per week in which the station is visible to the naked eye in the night sky.
After the presentation Monday, Cache Valley Machine employees gathered for autographs.
"This visit is important for our morale," Central Valley Machines co-owner Audrey Wursten said. " … We’re honored that you (astronauts) took this opportunity to come."
For more information log on to: http//:spaceflight.nasa.gov or http//:www.nasa.gov