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TERM PAPERS DO HAVE A PURPOSE!

by Chris Barreras
December 31, l997

Most of the hardware I support for the Neurolab project is integrated into the Spacelab at this time. The hardware is completing its, what we call, the Level III/II (three-two) testing. Next will be the Level I (one) testing which, I believe, is after the Spacelab has been installed in the orbiter. Now I am working the "paper" for my project on RAHF. RAHF is an abbreviation for Research Animal Holding Facility. As with all space projects, all engineers review what they have done, file reports, close out any open discrepancies.

Presently we are monitoring the drinking water at KSC in the RAHF's RACK 3 and 7. Since the water we are using in the RAHF drinking water system will sit in the lines for some time before launch, we sample the water for any high bacteria counts. Our scientists want to make sure we can provide the cleanest water to the rodents and mice. If the bacteria report is high, we ask Kennedy Space Center personnel to drain, clean and refill the RAHF drinking water system.

In addition, the RAHF has interior lighting provided by small light bulbs that give no more light than a nightlite in a bedroom. During testing and processing at KSC we had to replace several light bulbs and, during this process, we damaged the bulb holders. As a result we have to do a rush effort right now to rework the bad parts during the first part of January 98.

While all this is going on, I am working on reports for my projects. It is common in the aerospace industry to be working 3 or 4 items at one time. I remember in the 7th grade my science teacher assigning us term papers and how much I did not like to do them. Well, now I can see the need for doing term papers. The present report I am working is the results of our testing with the RAHF and the power it draws. It is important to know the power used by our experiment hardware. If we draw too much, then the Astronuats will have a rough time flying the orbiter Columbia.

The RAHFs presently draw this much power

These figures are for RACK 3 (what we call the Neonate or Mammalian Facility). RACK 7 Adult or Neuroplasticity facility is similiar. To put this in perspective, the average home air conditioner uses 125 watts at 8hrs per day and a typical clother dryer at 8 loads per week uses 95 to 100 watts.

At the same time I am working another report which covers how much heat the RAHFs put into the orbiter systems. Both of these reports are interesting and challenging.