NASA security problem.

[Anthony S.]

Here in my hometown of Huntsville AL, NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center is located on Redstone Arsenal. Last year we met there for about the last 3 weeks and a machine shop was right there, very convenient! We won't have that luxary this year. After 9/11/01, trying to get on the Arsenal is a major head ache because of the high security, no one can go on without a an escort or something like that. I was just wondering does anyone else have a similar problem because of security issues, if so what are you doing about it?

[Kyle Fenton]

We have the same exact problem getting into Naval Base here. Photo ID is needed and you can only gain access through an escort. Our situations are reverse though, we have a good machine shop at our school, but our field is on the navy base.
The war is going good, if they do capture Osama Bin Ladin, and destroy Al Qaeda & the Taliban, the security maybe drop down to what it was. It took a whole 2 months after the 9/11 attacks for the base to even allow visitors.

I have got a funny feeling that my team will be doing a lot more stuff in School than on the base this year.

As for a machine shop, I maybe would ask a local university if you could use it.

[Tom Fairchild]

Last year I had my own badge for NASA Langley, which meant that I could get in and out without a problem. This year badges are a lot more rare, and student positions were the first to go. A real bummer too, they have an advanced machining shop which includes a 5 axis milling machine, along with a bunch of other high speed tools.

~Tom Fairchild~, who was really hoping to learn some more machining this year.

[gniticxe]

I'm not sure if its in direct relation with Sept. 11, but this year when students check in at our facilities, we are required to have a badge. Other than that we still sign in at the 'guard shack' and sign out when we leave. This season, we will have access to a different machine shop of DuPont's (our team just moved across the street). This one has many Bridgeports (mmmmm) and a variety of other tools - I think its the one the DuPont technicians use to prototype designs and even do final products.

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally posted by gniticxe
This one has many Bridgeports (mmmmm)

Mr. Bridgeport has to be, without a doubt, our favorite machine in the whole wide world. It even has a name, if you count adding "Mr" to the brand name.

[Karl]

We won't get to use 4619? Are you absolutely sure? Why not? That's going to suck; maybe I should quit.

[gniticxe]

heh I like that - "Mr. Bridgeport"... it has a nice little ring to it

[Jeff Waegelin]

I thought so, too. We love Mr. Bridgeport. How else could you cut a 10-hour wheel-filing job down to 1 hour in the shop?

[Jgreenwd1]

team 95 has been using crrel for our work shop and our pratices and after the 9-11-01 attacks we have had problems trying to get in. we cant get in without photo ID, we have to have a esscort to go anywhere.