NASA’s Space Launch Initiative (SLI ) is the centerpiece of NASA's
long-range Integrated Space Transportation Plan. It is synonymous with
the Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle Program. The program seeks to
develop a new generation of safer, more reliable and less expensive launch
vehicles for both government and commercial needs. Its goals are to reduce the
risk of crew loss and lower the cost of delivering payloads to low-Earth orbit.
NASA expects to enable full-scale development of the Second Generation
Reusable Launch Vehicle around the middle of this decade. A new system could be
operational early next decade. NASA says that ultimately, the program will [at
last] focus resources on its core missions of scientific discovery and
exploration.
Suzan Turner of the Marshal Space Flight Center will explain NASA’s Space
Launch Initiative in more detail. Marshall engineers are designing and
developing enhancements and upgrades to the Shuttle to improve safety and
increase performance and reliability. As NASA’s center of excellence for space
propulsion, Marshall employs some of the nation’s finest and brightest engineers
to support its renowned propulsion program.
Invocation: Jack Anderson
Fellowship: Bernard Cheatem
Entrée du jour: Beef Bourguignon over rice, Apple Cobler
OUR PREVIOUS MEETING 19 Aug, 2002
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Dodd Galbraith, the Planning Director for
Tenn. Dept. of Environment and Conservation provided us an update on the
states asssesment of Inter-basin Water Transfers from the Tennessee River.
Tennessee government cash shortfalls are reducing our ability to document river
water levels and uses. Two million dollars were requested to complete the
required instrumentation for recording river levels, and was not
available. Mr. Galbraith has studied the burden of proof requirements
imposed by the Supreme Court on inter-state water disputes and lacking required
data can cause permanent forfeiture of future rights to water within a states
boundaries. Water needs in Arkansas for agriculture and Atlanta for
residential use are well documented and their governments are building cases and
public support for water transfers that may permanently restrict Tennessee’s
growth. Mr. Galbraith showed several graphs of ground water and surface water
that dramatically illustrated the impact of the urban and agricultural
withdrawals on water levels nationwide. South Georgia is already drawing
salt water into their aquifers, and Atlanta has restricted flow to Lakes
downstream of Lake Lanier to the point that property owners on the former shores
of downstream lakes are requesting that their taxes be reduced because their
property no longer borders a body of water (some shores have moved hundreds of
feet.)
Many thanks go again to our ghost writer for taking good notes and
providing us with this program summary.
FUTURE MONDAY MEETINGS
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September 2: No meeting, in observance of Labor Day
September 9: Global Warming - How Real the Threat? - Dr.
Marilyn Brown, ORNL
September 16: Operating a Manufacturing Plant in
Chattanooga - How difficult has it become? Mark Collin, Magister Corp.
September 23: TVA's Reservoir Operations - Resolving Competing
Interests - David Nye, TVA
September 29: Plant Tour of the Light Touch (Previously
Olan Mills Digital Photography School Division)
October 7: An update on the TVA Regenesys Project - Ian
Grant, TVA
October 14: No meeting in observance of Columbus
Day
October 21: CSTCC Partnering with Industry for Success-
Dr. James Catanzaro
October 28: UCT, an Engineering Program for The New
Century
November 4: Urban Heat Retention-Cooling Our Cites Down -
Dr. Dale Quattrlouci, Marshal Space Flight Center
November 11: Water, Water Everywhere? - A global look at a
precious resource- Mike Sale, ORNL
November 25: Technology Transfer and Economic Development
- A little help from Oak Ridge- Terry Payne
WHERE WE MEET
_______________________________________________
Unless we note otherwise, all
of our presentation meetings are held at the Cellar Restaurant in the Tallan
Building, Union Square Downtown Chattanooga from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Our meeting
room and luncheon service are open by 11:30 a.m. Lunch buffet is $10.00 per
person (inclusive). No reservation is required. Free parking is available in the
Days Inn Motel (on Carter St. and MLK Blvd,) courtesy of the Days Inn
management. When you park there, be sure to place a note on your dashboard
indicating you are attending the Engineers Club meeting.
QUESTIONS ?
___________________________________________
If you have any
questions about program items please call Steve McGuire at 756- 4430 or e-mail
him at
stevemcguire@comcast.net.
You can find references to other Chattanooga Engineers Club members at our web
site:
www.chattanooga.net/engineer/CEC
.