Sputnik has landed at JSC in Houston!
No, not the first Russian Satellite. This Sputnik is a 27 foot Airstream trailer that began it’s career at NASA in 1989 as the Shuttle Modal Inspection System. After the Space Shuttle Program ended the trailer became excess and was available for other uses.
At NASA Johnson Space Center, the Center Operations Directorate has set a goal to expand the use of the outdoor mall area and take full advantage of the beauty and serenity of the ponds, trees and wildlife. They decided to conduct a low-cost experiment with the Airstream and create an outdoor meeting and gathering area for employees in the center of the mall.
The Center Operations Directorate has turned the historic Airstream into a collaborative meeting area, code-named “Sputnik”. The project pays homage to the past while linking to our future. The Airstreams unique silver exterior invokes the same creative flair seen in the world’s first satellite. That Sputnik launched from the same pad that now sends our astronauts to the International Space Station.
Sputnik’s features include:
- Sustainable power in the form of a solar generator and LED light fixtures
- An outdoor sitting area for casual meetings
- An indoor meeting area for small groups
- Whiteboards and large post-it-note paper
- A small table for private work
- The “Airlock” – a two person “back porch” complete with a hatch that can be raised to enjoy the full view of the natural outdoors
No comments:
Post a Comment