Interview with Kathy Stittleburg

Partial Transcript: BR: This is Bree Romero...

Segment Synopsis: Interview's Introduction & Sound Check

Partial Transcript: BR: Tell me where you where you were born, when, and maybe...

Segment Synopsis: Born in Maryland in 1948. Father worked for Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. Dad passed away and family moved to Wisconsin.

Keywords: Department of Agriculture; UW-Madison; University of Wisconsin-Madison; Washington, D.C.; Wisconsin; childhood

Partial Transcript: KS: My family would come here every summer.

Segment Synopsis: Graduated from Madison Area Technical College (MATC) in 1968 with a degree in computer programming.

Keywords: Administration and Data Processing; MATC; Madison Area Technical College; UW-Madison; University of Wisconsin-Madison; computer programming

Partial Transcript: BR: How did you come to work at the Space Astronomy Lab?

Segment Synopsis: Hired at the UW-Madison Space Astronomy Lab (SAL or "the Lab" for short) in September 1968.

Keywords: Space Astronomy Lab

Partial Transcript: BR: Can you talk about some of your early years there?

Segment Synopsis: Early years at the Lab. Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 2 (OAO-2) launched in December 1968. Arthur (Art) Code, director; Ted Houk, associate director; John McNall, assistant director. Lab located at 35 North Park Street; description of that location.

Keywords: 1968; IBM cards; Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 2; Space Astronomy Lab; UW-Madison; University of Wisconsin-Madison; computing

Partial Transcript: KS: I got a call, probably a week after the launch...

Segment Synopsis: Successful launch of OAO-2. Robert (Bob) Bless, investigator on most space astronomy lab projects, asked KS to travel to Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland. Story about Art Code getting KS a rental car.

Keywords: Goddard Space Flight Center; OAO-2; Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 2; car rentals; launch; renting a car

Partial Transcript: KS: My job was to look at the data...

Segment Synopsis: Doing "quick look" work at Goddard. Astronomy lesson from Theodore (Ted) Houck.

Keywords: Goddard; Theodore (Ted) Houck

Partial Transcript: KS: ...at which time my limited term position was ending...

Segment Synopsis: End of limited term position; becoming a permanent classified employee. New title: data processing records librarian. Data from OAO-2.

Keywords: computing; data processing; space astronomy; space astronomy lab

Partial Transcript: KS: One of the last times that I was at Goddard...

Segment Synopsis: Reading about anti-war protests in Madison. Bombing at Sterling Hall. Memory of student protest; interaction with National Guardsman after cooking class at Memorial Union. Feelings about bombing and protests. Lab took precautions after Sterling Hall bombing.

Keywords: Madison, WI; Sterling Hall; anti-Vietnam War protests; anti-war protests; protests

Partial Transcript: KS: Back to the '70s, space astronomy...

Segment Synopsis: Rocket payloads flown from White Sands Missile Range in Arizona-tested instrumentation and made observations. Operating issues with OAO-2. Singing "Varsity" during the shut down of OAO-2.

Keywords: "Varsity"; Arizona; OAO-2; White Sands Missile Range

Partial Transcript: KS: About that time, that was in '73...

Segment Synopsis: Space Astronomy Lab moved to Chamberlin Hall. Taking over as business manager.

Keywords: Chamberlin Hall; Space Astronomy Lab

Partial Transcript: KS: So you could say I went on to school...

Segment Synopsis: Decision to pursue B.A. Returning to school while continuing to work.

Keywords: Bachelor's degree; returning students

Partial Transcript: KS: And I was able to start the process to become...

Segment Synopsis: Process of becoming an academic staff employee. Reorganization at the Lab. Taking over as assistant director.

Keywords: academic staff

Partial Transcript: KS: In 19- let me switch back...

Segment Synopsis: 1975 NASA announcement of opportunity for large space telescope. Bob Bless designed high speed photometer, named Hubble Space Telescope. Another announcement of opportunity in 1978 for an attached payload on shuttle. Art Code and Ken Nordsik proposed the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo Polarimeter Experiment or WUPPE.
WUPPE and Astro I.

Keywords: Astro I; Bob Bless; Hubble Space Telescope; Space Science and Engineering Center; WUPPE; Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo Polarimeter Experiment

Partial Transcript: KS: We weren't done when we packaged up...

Segment Synopsis: Training for Astro I. Setting up an office within the Payload Operation Control Center (POCC) at Marshal Space Flight Center. Joint Integrated Simulation (JISS)

Keywords: JIS; Joint Integrated Simulation; Marshal Space Flight Center; NASA; POCC; Payload Operation Control Center

Partial Transcript: KS: One of the things that NASA does...

Segment Synopsis: T-minus 30 press conference for Astro I, end of January 1986. Learning about the Challenger accident was a tragedy at various levels. Astro I put on hold. Scrubbed launches.

Keywords: Astro I; Challenger accident; Challenger tragedy; T-30 news conference; T-30 press conference

Partial Transcript: KS: Maybe that's when we should start talking about...

Segment Synopsis: Founding Space Place. Effort to engage the public. Coordinating classes at UW-Madison over 6-week period at the end of 1989. Memory of Art Code lecturing to 3rd graders about Halley's Comet.

Keywords: Art Code; Space Place

Partial Transcript: KS: So I talked to Bob Bless...

Segment Synopsis: Talking to Bob Bless about continuing the program. Looking for a building to house what became Space Place. Renting the old Ponderosa Steakhouse building on South Park Street from Al Anding.

Keywords: Space Place

Partial Transcript: KS: I had no idea what it was like...

Segment Synopsis: Challenges associated with opening Space Place. Getting volunteers and funding. Space Place today with Jim Lattis as director.

Keywords: Space Place

Partial Transcript: KS: When I was at a meeting...

Segment Synopsis: Getting OAO-2 prototype for Space Place. Space hardware at Space Place.

Keywords: OAO-2; Space Place; WUPPE; space hardware

Partial Transcript: KS: After a couple years at the Ponderosa...

Segment Synopsis: New location for Space Place.

Keywords: OAO; Space Place

Partial Transcript: KS: Last December, the OAO celebrated....

Segment Synopsis: 50th Anniversary celebration of OAO-2

Keywords: OAO; OAO-2

Partial Transcript: BR: This is a continuation...

Segment Synopsis: Interview's Introduction & Sound Check

Partial Transcript: BR: I think we were gonna start...

Segment Synopsis: 1990 was a busy year for space astronomy. Both the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), originally called the large space telescope and approved by congress in 1977) and Astro I payload carried UW instruments. KS describes the instruments on the Hubble Telescope: high-resolution spectrograph, faint object camera, faint object spectrograph, and highspeed photometer (HSP) from UW. Collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency.

Keywords: Hubble Space Telescope

Partial Transcript: KS: For our participation at UW...

Segment Synopsis: UW's participation in Hubble Space Telescope started with Bob Bless and Don Michalski. Bless's design for highspeed photometer. Working on the proposal for highspeed photometer. First partnership between Space Astronomy Lab and Space Science and Engineering to build instrument.

Keywords: Bob Bless; Don Michalski; Hubble Space Telescope

Partial Transcript: KS: I can't really think or talk about the high-speed...

Segment Synopsis: KS on Bob Bless, who was principal investigator on HSP. Taking Bless's Astronomy 101 class.

Keywords: Bob Bless; UW Madison; astronomy

Partial Transcript: KS: Ok, back to the HST.

Segment Synopsis: Memory of HST launch . Launch delays.

Keywords: Hubble Space Telescope

Partial Transcript: KS: It didn't take long, though, and the fun kind of wore off...

Segment Synopsis: Problem with mirror on HST. In order to correct optics, highspeed photometer had to be removed. Space telescope axial replacement (STAR) held correcting optics, installed in 1993. Despite problem, HSP got some data.

Keywords: Hubble Space Telescope; Space telescope axial replacement; high speed photometer

Partial Transcript: KS: So, the next one is Astro.

Segment Synopsis: Differences between Hubble and Astro missions. Challenger accident delayed Astro I mission. Astro I was an attached payload, which required payload specialists. Three main ultraviolet telescopes on Astro I: ultraviolet imaging telescope (UIT), ultraviolet telescope (Johns Hopkins), Wisconsin ultraviolent photo polarimeter experiment (WUPPE). Ken Nordsieck selected as payload specialist from UW; Ken named alternate specialist.

Keywords: Astro I; Ken Nordsieck; WUPPE; Wisconsin ultraviolent photo polarimeter experiment; ultraviolet imaging telescope

Partial Transcript: KS: Ok, back on the pad.

Segment Synopsis: Leaks, issues with communications system, and weather grounded Astro I. Challenges associated with launch delay of astronomy mission include difficulties involved with changing observing plan.

Keywords: Astro I; astronomy missions; fast fill hydrogen leaks

Partial Transcript: KS: All this time, when the rest of the team...

Segment Synopsis: KS was only member of the team at the Cape when Astro I finally launched. Al Anding, who was UW's VIP, came for every launch attempt. KS describes nighttime launch of Astro I.

Keywords: Al Anding; Astro I

Partial Transcript: KS: I guess I should mention Marshal...

Segment Synopsis: Payload Operation Control Center (POCC) at Marshal Space Flight Center. Redstone Arsenal. Memories of Astro I mission.

Keywords: Marshal Space Flight Center; POCC; Payload Operation Control Center

Partial Transcript: KS: We had two of the computers, we called them DEPs...

Segment Synopsis: Dedicated Experiment Processors (DEP) I and II. WUPPE did not work at first, which required them to switch to backup DEP II.

Keywords: Dedicated Experiment Processors

Partial Transcript: KS: So, that mission was a great success.

Segment Synopsis: Data from Astro I. Plans for second mission. Astro II launched in 1995; compiling large team and coordinating 16-day mission. Capturing and processing data. Listening to voice loops.

Keywords: Astro I; Astro II; astronomy missions

Partial Transcript: KS: There is a star in the Big Dipper...

Segment Synopsis: Astronomers gave KS her own object: Beta Uma, unpolarized star in the Big Dipper.

Keywords: Beta Uma; unpolarized stars

Partial Transcript: KS: So, after 16 days of this...

Segment Synopsis: Sense of pride after Astro II mission in the UW team and the university. Learning from Astro missions. Astronomy Department decided not to pursue future shuttle missions and focus on developing ground-based telescopes instead.

Keywords: Astro II; Astronomy Department; UW-Madison; University of Wisconsin-Madison

Partial Transcript: KS: And I think no matter who you asked...

Segment Synopsis: Experiencing culture shock after weeks away from home, participating in Joint Integration Simulations (JIS) and learning how to operate equipment at Marshal Space Flight Center, and then 16-day mission. Culture shock story.

Keywords: culture shock

Partial Transcript: KS: Let's think, what should we talk about...

Segment Synopsis: Life after shuttle missions. Changes at the Lab after Astro II mission. Rocket payloads flew from White Sands Missile Range. Changing direction of the Lab. Decision to leave Space Astronomy Lab after 30 years.

Keywords: Astro II; Space Astronomy Lab; White Sands Missile Range

Partial Transcript: KS: It was so odd how it came about...

Segment Synopsis: Learning about and applying for a position at UW Extension. Similarities and differences between work at the Lab with that at UW Extension. "Back-door" management style.

Keywords: "backdoor management"; Space Astronomy Lab; UW-Extension; UW-Madison; University of Wisconsin-Madison; management styles

Partial Transcript: KS: It was very hard. I haven't made a lot of...

Segment Synopsis: KS describes how hard it was to leave the Lab. Appointed to L&S Academic Planning Council, one of the first staff members to hold that position.

Keywords: L&S Academic Planning Council

Partial Transcript: KS: The associate director at Extension, that was not...

Segment Synopsis: Becoming Associate Director at UW Extension.

Keywords: Associate Director; UW Extension

Partial Transcript: KS: How long has it been? Goodness.

Segment Synopsis: Decision to retire. KS reflects on changes at the Lab and university over the course of her career. Why KS loved working at the Lab.

Keywords: retirement

Partial Transcript: BR: I wonder if you could reflect a little...

Segment Synopsis: Differences between the Lab and Extension. Very few women working in Astronomy Dept when KS started in 1968, but her experience working at the lab as a young woman with a 2-year degree was good. At Extension, KS missed having students around, so, hired students. Leadership at Extension made it a good place to work.

Keywords: Astronomy Department; UW-Extension

Partial Transcript: BR: Is there anything else you want to say...

Segment Synopsis: Feelings about the university. KS remembers her dad bringing her to UW for ice cream, and how UW has always been "near and dear" to her. Sense of openness and adventurousness.

Keywords: UW-Madison; campus culture; ice cream; retirement

Partial Transcript: KS: Oh, I was ready. Did I tell the story...

Segment Synopsis: Retirement. Tells story about when she started thinking about retirement during a bad day at work when she was 44. Loved her job, but looked forward to retirement for a long time. Lived a few hours outside of Madison, and during the week stayed in Madison with her mom, going home on the weekend. Shares some of what she's been doing since retirement.

Keywords: Madison, Wisconsin; retirement

Partial Transcript: BR: It sounds like an incredible career.

Segment Synopsis: Interviewer's Conclusion.

Keywords: career