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Aerospace Frontiers
Volume 9, Issue 7
July 2007
SPF Rededication Opens Up New Horizons
NASA Glenn is gearing up to "contribute to the nation's next greatest adventure," announced Center Director Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr. during the June 11 rededication of NASA's Space Power Facility (SPF), the world's largest space environment simulation chamber.
Image right: Space Power Facility at Plum Brook Station. Credit: NASA
Agency management, top-level elected officials and community stakeholders joined NASA Glenn in recognizing the role this illustrious facility, located at Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, will play in the country's next phase of space exploration. The facility will host integrated environmental testing of Orion, the crew exploration vehicle being designed to carry humans to the moon.
"This dedication is a significant milestone for returning back to the moon and onto Mars," said Glenn's Director of Space Flight Systems, Robert Moorehead. He explained that modifications are under way in the facility to enable tests that will simulate environmental conditions such as those experienced during launch, in-orbit operations and atmospheric reentry. The tests will demonstrate the ability of the Orion hardware to meet specified performance requirements. The SPF staff will test thermal, acoustic, mechanical vibration and electromagnetic compatibility testing on the fully assembled spacecraft -- the launch abort system, crew module, service module and spacecraft adapter.
During the rededication, Center Director Whitlow recognized members of the Glenn team for their "hard work and dedication." This team created the proposal -- selected by the Crew Exploration Vehicle Project Office -- to conduct the integrated environmental testing at PBS. NASA Glenn awarded each team member with a certificate of appreciation.
Skip Hatfield, Orion CEV project manager, NASA Johnson, also applauded the team, and affirmed the value of the SPF in helping to achieve the Vision for Space Exploration.
Image left: Agency managers, elected officials and community stakeholders expressed support and enthusiasm for the new testing. Credit: NASA/Mark Grills
In addition to Hatfield, NASA Associate Deputy Administrator, Charles Scales; Director of Plum Brook Station, David Stringer; Astronaut and International Space Station Program Scientist, Dr. Donald Thomas; and Vice President and Orion Program Manager, Lockheed Martin, Cleon Lacefield, shared their excitement and expectations for the facility.
Senator George Voinovich, Senator Sherrod Brown, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Ohio Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, Greater Cleveland Partnership President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Roman; and Erie County Commissioner Thomas Ferrell each recognized the importance of the testing to the state of Ohio and to the nation.
"Of all the economic development projects we will work on, none will be more transformational than the one we announce and celebrate today," stated Lieutenant Governor Fisher.
The rededication culminated with an Orion test sequence animation video of the SPF, which was produced by Glenn's Imaging Technology Center Video and Multimedia Group in the Logistics and Technical Information Division. A reception within the assembly area enabled guests to experience the magnitude of the 122-foot high facility.
By Doreen B. Zudell
Director Named Scientist of the Year
Glenn Center Director Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr., has been selected as the top recipient of the 2007 Minorities in Research Science Award.
Also called the Emerald Honors award, this is the premier award for African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Native Americans working in the research sciences.
The winners will be featured in a special issue of Science Spectrum magazine and honored at a black tie gala during the Minorities in Research Science Conference on September 15 at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Whitlow received the Scientist of the Year award for his exemplary record of research, scientific and management accomplishments while working for NASA.
"It is an honor to receive the Minorities in Research Science Award. I consider myself privileged to be among those, like Dr. Isaiah Blankson, a brilliant researcher, who previously was chosen for his scientific contributions," said Whitlow about his achievement.
Whitlow earned his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has written nearly 40 technical papers, mostly in the areas of unsteady transonic flow and aeroelasticity. While managing an annual budget of approximately $650 million, he oversees a workforce of 1,640 civil service employees that is supported by approximately 1,430 contractors. Glenn has 24 major facilities and over 500 specialized research facilities located at the 350-acre Cleveland site and the 6,400-acre Plum Brook Station site in Sandusky, Ohio.
Also honored with an Emerald Award was former Deputy Director for Glenn, Richard Christiansen, who received an award for Career Achievement. In receiving this award, Christiansen was recognized for his true commitment to excellence. He was cited as one of the nation's highest achievers in research science.
Christiansen earned a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering in 1979 from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University in 1985. He is an Associate Fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and has served on numerous committees and has authored nine papers on Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing aerodynamics and missile aerodynamics. After serving as Glenn's Deputy Director for 3 years, Christiansen recently retired from NASA on June 1.
The third awardee, honored as a Special Recognition Honoree, is Carlos Morrison, a physicist and aerospace engineer at Glenn. Morrison's contributions have focused in advancing technology for magnetically suspended, oil-free aircraft engines, a new five-axis magnetic facility to advance the state-of-the-art testing capability for turbomachinery damping and mistuning research and a flightweight electric motor for a pollution-free electric aircraft propulsion system. Morrison received the prestigious 2004 R&D 100 award for his invention of the "Morrison Motor" and was recognized in 2004 with the National Technical Association Technical Achiever of the Year award and in 2005 with the Black Engineer of the Year award.
Morrison owns four patents related to physiology and engineering and has authored and co-authored 24 journal and technical articles. He is a member of the American Physical Society and the National Technical Association. Morrison earned his bachelor's degree in physics/mathematics from Hofstra University in Long Island, N.Y. and his master's degree in physics from Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Additionally, two other Glenn employees, Lancert Foster, Inlet and Nozzle Branch, and Lizalyn Smith, Applied Structural Mechanics Branch, will be recognized by Science Spectrum magazine as Trailblazers for 2007. They are minority men and women who create new paths for others in science, engineering or technology, show leadership in their workplaces and communities, are role models and mentors and demonstrate a commitment to recruiting and relating minorities in the nation's science and technology enterprises.
By Katherine K. Martin
Center Says Aloha to Deputy Director
NASA Glenn bid "aloha" to its "Big Kahuna," Deputy Director Richard S. Christiansen, who retired on June 1. During a cake and coffee reception in the Administration Building Auditorium and Foyer on May 30, and a luau at the LaCentre in Westlake on May 31, NASA employees and retirees, colleagues and friends gathered to thank Christiansen for 27 years of service to NASA.
Image right: Christiansen cuts the first piece of his retirement cake, which affectionately displayed the words "Aloha Kahuna" during the reception at Glenn.
Christiansen served as the Deputy Director since November 16, 2003, sharing responsibilities for planning, organizing and directing center activities, first with Dr. Julian Earls (Director, 2003-2006) and recently with Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr. (2006-present).
During his time at NASA Glenn, he led the efforts in formulating and implementing a strategy to secure a better position for the center within the agency. He was instrumental in building partnerships throughout the agency and recently with Glenn and the space flight centers, resulting in significant recognition and responsibilities for the center in space exploration systems development.
"Rich, who I convinced to leave the sunny climes of California and join the Glenn team as my deputy, became my go-to leader as Glenn and NASA were faced with the numerous challenges," said Dr. Earls, who now serves as Executive in Residence at Cleveland State University. "These challenges were especially critical for the research centers. Not only was Rich the right person at the right time, he brought a degree of enthusiasm that was contagious. The results of his competence and dedication speak for themselves. Rich's service to NASA was exemplary. I am proud to have worked with him and that he is my friend as well as former colleague."
Prior to his assignment as Deputy Director, Christiansen served as the Associate Director for Planning at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. He was responsible for overseeing the development of the center's long-range strategic management plan and creating a vision for the future of flight research.
Christiansen began his career with NASA in 1980 at Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., where he was responsible for conducting systems analysis and large-scale aerodynamic and propulsion wind tunnel tests of vertical or short take-off and landing concepts. Much of his early research has been used in development of current U.S. military aircraft.
Christiansen has held increasingly responsible positions during his NASA career. From 1997 to 1998, Christiansen served as Acting Associate Administrator of the Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology Enterprise in Washington D.C. One notable thread has been consistent throughout these responsibilities: his involvement and dedication to making new technologies and concepts flight worthy. By his account, he has been involved with well over 40 research, experimental, demonstrator and developmental flight projects. At least 29 of them have gone on to fly.
"This has not been a normal aerospace engineer's career," Christiansen said, adding, "but then, I have never tried to be normal."
Christiansen has received numerous honors and awards including two Exceptional Performance Awards; a Superior Accomplishment Award; two Group Achievement Awards; the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal; and, since becoming a member of the Senior Executive Service, has twice earned the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
"I have known Rich since very early in our careers and always have valued his advice and counsel over the years," said NASA Glenn Director Whitlow. "We have had the opportunity to work on many projects for the agency and have impacted NASA's directions on several fronts. At Glenn, he has been instrumental in changing the culture of the center and in helping to define a role in the area of space flight systems development while ensuring excellence in aeronautics and space research."
In his farewell message to Glenn employees, Christiansen noted that his most cherished memories are about "the many people I have known. Any success I have had has been merely a reflection of the people whom I have been surrounded by."
Christiansen called "retirement" a journey "on to my next set of adventures."
Below are some pictorial highlights of Christiansen's experiences with NASA. Click on the blue line around the photograph to view it at a larger size.
Photo credits: NASA Glenn Imaging Technology Center
By Katherine K. Martin and Doreen B. Zudell
Glenn Guides Electrical Requirements for Successful Mission
On June 22, Glenn invited the public to the Visitor Center Auditorium to view the Space Shuttle Atlantis land after completing a 14-day journey of more than 5.8 million miles in space. During the mission, the STS–117 crew successfully completed construction to increase the power capability of the International Space Station.
Image right: Astronauts Patrick Forrester (right) and Steven Swanson, both STS-117 mission specialists, participate in the mission's fourth and final extravehicular activity (EVA). Among other tasks, they continued activation of the station's new starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment.
As the only research laboratory orbiting the Earth, the station is a work in progress, with constantly changing amounts and kinds of electrical power supply and demand. These challenging tasks rely on expert advice from a team at Glenn called the System Power Analysis for Capability Evaluation (SPACE) Team.
SPACE also is the name of the software code developed by the team that predicts the maximum power level that the space station power system can sustain throughout a variety of conditions. The code was developed in the late 1980s to support the design of the precursor to the station, Space Station Freedom. Since then, dozens of engineers have contributed to its enhancement, which includes mathematical models of the solar arrays, batteries and power management and distribution equipment. Utilizing this code, the SPACE Team provides analyses that are required to certify space shuttle flight readiness.
The most pressing challenge addressed by the team involved the STS-117 mission, during which a fifth and sixth set of solar arrays and batteries, or power channels, had to be installed on station. These new power channels on truss segments S3/S4 became a part of station's electric power system designed under Glenn's guidance in the 1990s. The S3/S4 added to station's 11-segment integrated truss structure (station's backbone) will provide one-fourth of the total power generation for the completed space station.
Of the four channels that were already on the station, three were active and one temporarily not in use, or dormant. The two new power channels added during STS-117 required retracting a second solar array for the channels to track the sun. Additionally, two of the active channels had to constantly send power to the dormant channels to prevent them from freezing or getting too hot.
Glenn's SPACE Team advised NASA's Johnson Space Center that the dormant channels temporarily receive less power, and the loads normally shared among two power channels, be fed by the more capable power channel.
"We started our analysis with a flight plan that had some flexibility, and worked to determine options that would give operators the best path forward," said SPACE Team Technical Lead Tony Jannette. "During the flight, we saw that many of our recommendations were implemented. We are pleased that our analysis played a role in a successful mission."
The team also assessed the station's electric power system performance for joint operations when Atlantis docked with station. That included launch, power channel startup and deployment of solar arrays.
Later this year, the SPACE Team plans to continue its involvement with space electric power needs with the first docking of the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle to the space station.
For more on the STS-117 mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
By Katherine K. Martin
Innovators Valued for Technological Contributions
The world would be a much different place if Thomas A. Edison had never commercialized the electric light bulb. By sharing this technology, Edison revolutionized the principles of electricity and improved the quality of life.
In the spirit of Edison's creativity and perseverance, Glenn's Technology Transfer and Partnership (TTP) Office recognized the value of NASA Glenn innovators with an awards breakfast at OAI on June 1.
Image right: sitting, left to right, Dr. Bruan, Dr. Meador, Maturo, standing, left to right, and Schmidt, Comstock and Stauber enjoy some conversation after the breakfast. Credit: NASA/Marvin Smith
Staff Director of NASA's Inventions and Contributions Board, Tony Maturo, applauded award recipients for their creativity and energy, as well as their persistence in pressing on with their research. "You turn a 'can't do' into a 'can do' and for that you truly deserve the title of innovator," he said.
Employees whose technologies were distinguished through awards in the areas of Space Act (Tech Briefs, patent application, software release and board actions, including Invention of the Year and Software of the Year), Federal Laboratory Consortium Midwest Regional, Most Promising Partnership, Gate II, NASA Illinois Commercialization Coalition and TTP Seed Fund over fiscal year 2006 received special certificates at the breakfast.
Doug Comstock, director of NASA's Innovative Partnership Program Office, thanked the honorees for their contributions and stressed the importance of technology transfer for the innovator and the agency. "It's vital that you report your technology and make that technology available within and outside the agency."
Federal regulations designed to record and protect NASA's intellectual property investments require Glenn inventors to report new technology. This begins the process to identify the technology's potential commercial applications through a NASA Form 1679.
"Reporting new technology can open up a world of possibilities for innovators," explained Laurel Stauber, Glenn's Award liaison officer, TTP. "In addition to patents, various NASA Space Act Awards carry significant monetary payoffs. The Inventions and Contributions Board, for example, awards up to $100,000,00 without Congressional approval based on scientific and technical contributions to the agency, and there is no statute of limitations."
Stauber noted that Glenn's Dr. Don Braun, Aeropropulsion Division, serves on the Inventions and Contributions Board. In addition, Dr. Maryann Meador, Durability and Protective Coatings Branch, will be appointed to the board this month.
George Schmidt, deputy director of Glenn's Research and Technology Directorate, encouraged Glenn scientists, engineers, researchers and program managers to "keep technology flowing."
"Although much emphasis is being placed on development, innovation has to continue," he said. "Research is the heart and soul of this center and will continue to be so for many years to come."
By Doreen B. Zudell
Cycling Keeps McCune on a Healthy Track
When it comes to health and fitness, Lance Armstrong is not the only one who can testify to the value of cycling. Glenn retiree Harry McCune hops on his bike to make a 13-mile (or longer) trip on one of the many Rail-Trails (bike trails created along former railroad lines connecting central Ohio through Toledo) three days a week. On alternate days, he walks three miles in the local Resthaven Game Preserve near his home in Castalia.
Image left: McCune bikes to Plum Brook. Credit: NASA/S. Jenise Veris
McCune's regime might challenge even a man half his age, but for the 76-year old Plum Brook Station (PBS) retiree, it is a great way to stay in shape, meet people and take in the sites. A fleet of five bicycles helps him to achieve varying speeds and to maneuver the different terrains.
Although he has enjoyed cycling since childhood, McCune became an avid cyclist when he joined the Sandusky Bike Club along with a group of his coworkers in 1968.
"During the 22 years I was a member of the bike club, we often met at Plum Brook to depart on trips with destinations of 10 to 100 miles round trip around the Sandusky and Castalia area," McCune explained. "I also cycled the 11 miles from my house to work during the summer and throughout the year when weather permitted."
McCune retired from PBS in 1994 after 28 years of service, where he covered a lot of ground as the facilities manager. After retiring, he chose to step up his fitness rather than slow down, and encouraged his wife, Judy, to increase her physical activity, as well.
Friends tease the McCunes that they need to take a vacation from their vacation after hearing about how much and often they exercised. During their Alaskan cruise in 2005, they opted for renting mountain bikes instead of taking the bus to tour Denali National Park & Preserve, which covers 6 million acres. They rode 19 miles up into Mount McKinley (also known as Denali, the "High One," in the Athabascan native language), which crowns the 600-mile long Alaskan range.
McCune keeps in stride during the winter months by retreating to a villa on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. He and his wife bike an average of 15 miles a day exploring the various bike paths constructed of hardened beach sand. This distance is in addition to a 3-mile walk on the beach each morning. This year, by the time they departed for Ohio, the McCunes charted over 500 miles of cycling from January through March.
In addition to being an avid cyclist, McCune also loves to hunt and fish. He still helps with the PBS Controlled Deer Hunts, and most weekends during the fishing season, he goes fishing on Lake Erie with his son, Mark.
"At my age, being able to get outdoors, travel and enjoy nature is a blessing," McCune said. "Henry Thoreau once said, 'In the woods we return to reason and faith.' When I'm out cruising along on my bike, it's so relaxing and reminds me just how fortunate I am."
By S. Jenise Veris
Glenn Named "Best in Class" in Diversity
The Commission on Economic Inclusion, a coalition of Northeast Ohio employers committed to making the region's diversity a source of economic strength, has recognized NASA Glenn's leadership team.
Image right: Center Director Dr. Whitlow and Interim Diversity Management Officer, Renee Batts, hold the Best in Class award. Credit: NASA/Quentin Schwinn
During the Commission's Annual Meeting on May 16, Glenn was among eight member companies who were awarded the "Best in Class" for building and maintaining a diverse organization. Center Director Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr. accepted the award in the category of Senior Staff Diversity Nonprofit/Government.
"NASA Glenn's leadership team actively supports diversity in all that we do, from recruiting new scientists and engineers for research project management, to providing opportunities for leadership development, promotions and awards," Whitlow said. "As a science and engineering organization committed to diversity, we have created an effective and diverse senior leadership team. Together, we reflect our workforce, our partners and the nation we serve."
The award recipients honored by the Commission were selected based on preliminary results of the 2006 Greater Cleveland Employs Survey on Diversity as well as follow-up inquires. Two organizations--one for profit and one nonprofit/government--were selected in four categories.
By Doreen B. Zudell
HCIE Enables Special Delivery of HC Information
This month, NASA begins an agencywide rollout of the Human Capital Information Environment (HCIE), a self-service Web portal and data warehouse that provides access to human capital information. This new agency-wide human resource system will be used for hiring, training, competency management, employment benefits and workforce management-- all from a single location.
The HCIE will enable employees, managers and human resource specialists to conduct human capital business from their desktop with the same ease and privacy features found in online banking.
The HCIE connects NASA's Office of Human Capital Management, Integrated Enterprise Management Program and the NASA Shared Services Center for near, real-time delivery of comprehensive, integrated workforce information from budget, finance, payroll and security systems.
Image right: HCIE combines NASA's independent human capital information tools into one integrated environment.
"With one sign-on—your Universal Uniform Personal Identification Code—you can access a robust suite of familiar NASA human resource systems/applications to manage your career and/or workforce, share information, keep up to date on human capital information, search for people and more," explained Nola Bland, Glenn HCIE project lead, Organization Development and Training Office. "HCIE will be particularly beneficial to new employees to learn their way around the agency/center and to aid them in career planning."
Bland said that HCIE is part of NASA's effort to expand e-Government, one of five keys to effective management defined by the President's Management Agenda. HCIE provides for efficient and effective electronic delivery of NASA human capital information, tools and services using:
Supervisors, managers and project leaders can use the HCIE as an authoritative data source for personnel and payroll information, awards, recruitment and hiring, performance, training, competency information and workforce planning.
"HCIE should be a useful tool for both employees and managers" said Ken Aguilar, director of Center Operations. HCIE is what human capital programs should be—accessible and practical for planning and accomplishing your future needs and goals."
More information on the HCIE and transitioning activities is available internally at http://workforce.grc.nasa.gov/hcie/hcie.asp or contact Nola Bland, 216-433-9343; Ron Mullenax, 216-433-6363; or Kelly Heidman, 216-433-2234.
By S. Jenise Veris
Celebrating the Future
It is only fitting to celebrate how hard work can pay off, and that's exactly what members of Glenn's senior leadership and invited guests did during the rededication of the Space Power Facility (SPF) on June 11.
Image above: Center Director Whitlow is pictured amid a crowd of attendees at the rededication event. Credit: NASA/Lawrence Oberle.
Among those recognized were members of the Glenn "capture" team. This team developed the proposal that led to NASA's Crew Exploration Project Office choosing to conduct integrated environmental testing on the Orion crew exploration vehicle in the SPF. Kudos for all your hard work, and your belief that NASA Glenn can make important contributions to this nation's space program!
The environmental tests will show how Orion hardware can meet specified performance requirements in simulated environmental conditions such as those experienced during launch, in-orbit operations and re-entry.
The rededication recognizes that, in 2008, we will begin modifying the facility to accommodate these important tests that will qualify the next human space flight vehicle for its journey into space. A new vibration and acoustic test chamber, a mechanical vibration test stand and electromagnetic interference equipment will enable us to test the fully assembled launch abort system, crew module, service module and spacecraft adapter.
In the past, the SPF has hosted the International Space Station's radiator and solar arrays, the Mars Rover landing system and most of the nation's major rockets, including Atlas and Centaur. While the new upgrades will position this unique facility for its next exciting challenge, there are many more on the horizon.
As the agency works to develop and test the next generation of lunar landers, robotic systems and military and commercial spacecraft, your dedication will turn these challenges into opportunities. Keep on believing in yourselves and in the future!
News Briefs
Area Mayors Gather at Glenn
Image above: Dr. Whitlow greets Valarie McCall, chief of Government Affairs for Cleveland's Mayor Frank Jackson, during the visit. Glenn's External Program Director John Hairston, Executive Officer Lori Manthey and Brook Park Mayor Mark Elliott, look on. Credit: NASA/Marvin Smith
Glenn welcomed members of The Cuyahoga County Mayors and City Managers Association on May 31. The Association held its monthly meeting in the Visitor Center Auditorium. Forty-two representatives of the 57-member cities attended the meeting that included an opportunity to become acquainted with Glenn technologies, facilities and explore the potential for partnering with the center. During a break, Martin Zanotti, mayor of Parma Heights and secretary of the association, commented how Glenn's communications expertise could possibly play a role in the development of a wireless network connecting the Cleveland metropolitan area to enhance its economic development. Center Director Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr. welcomed the guests and shared highlights of the center's work supporting NASA's Vision for Exploration. A tour of the Aeronautics Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory and 10- by 10-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel followed.
"Best of the Class" Taping
Image above: School valedictorians line up in Glenn's Hangar to film TV5's "Best of the Class" segments. Credit: NASA/Kelly DiFrancesco
On May 19, NASA Glenn served as the host site for the NewsChannel 5 taping of the 2007 "Best of the Class" promotional advertisements. The television station filmed high school valedictorians from over 250 Northeast Ohio schools in one large group held inside the Hangar, and individual videos of each student at two stations inside the Visitor Center. Accompanying the students were 287 parents/guests, who were on hand to watch the activities. The Best of the Class segments aired on TV5 from late May to mid June.
Guerin House Revisited
Image right: Left to right, Boone, Fredrick, and the Norris' stand in front of the Guerin House. Credit: NASA/Nora Blackman
On June 8, Robert Boone visited Glenn to see his childhood home, what is now known as the Guerin House. Boone's fiancee, Beverly Fredrick, accompanied him on the visit, as well as Gene Norris, whose family had owned land adjacent to the Guerin House, and his wife, Marilyn. Glenn Assistant Records Manager and History Officer, Anne Power, Logistics and Technical Information Division, hosted the visit. During the tour, Boone recounted that his father had purchased the 47 acres that the Guerin House sits on in 1931, and over the years constructed the house and several other buildings (which no longer exist). Boone lived in the home with his parents and siblings from 1935 until the 1950s. He explained the original purpose of the rooms and reminisced about his experiences while growing up in the home.
Calendar of Events
HBCU/OMU RESEARCH CONFERENCE AND SUMMER JOB FAIR: The Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Other Minority Universities Research Conference will be held at OAI on July 18 and 19. It is open to civil service and suppot service contractor employees. POC: Dr. Sunil Dutta, 216–433–8844. The Job Fair is for students to speak with representatives from other organizations and gain information about the Glenn Cooperative Education Program. POC: Lynda Glover, 216–433–2463.
THIRD SATURDAY EVENT FEATURES LAND ROVERS: Free Family Fun at NASA Glenn Visitor Center on July 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. From Apollo's Lunar Roving Vehicle to the Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, robotic vehicles have played an important role in the exploration of space. Find out how these wheeled robots have explored the moon and Mars and paved the way for future solar system discoveries. Programs include "Roving on the Moon" at 11 a.m. and "Roving on Mars" at 1 p.m. Don't miss the special bonus tour of the Simulated Lunar Operations (SLOPE) facility, kids' crafts and giveaways. Call 216-433-9653 to register or see http://glennevents.grc.nasa.gov for more details.
AUGUST FACILITY TOUR--DOME OF SILENCE: Visit NASA Glenn on August 4 for a tour of the Aero-Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory, and see where some of the world's most advanced aircraft noise-reduction ideas are developed and tested. Don't miss a chance to come inside and see how Glenn engineers are reducing ground noise around airports and cabin noise on airplanes. Call 216-433-9653 up to one month in advance to make your reservation. One-hour tours begin in the Visitor Center Auditorium at the following times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
LESA MEETING: LESA/IFPTE, Local 28, will hold its next monthly membership meeting on Wednesday, August 8, at noon in the Employee Center.
THIRD SATURDAY EVENT--VOYAGER: Glenn's Third Saturday Event on August 18 will focus on "Voyager: The Grandest Tour." Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Voyager space missions and learn what they have taught us about our solar system. More details will be provided in the August AeroSpace Frontiers. For questions about this program, contact the Visitor Center at 216-433-9653.
NERVOUS ABOUT PUBLIC SPEAKING?: The Aerospace Toastmasters Club invites employees to attend its weekly meetings. Toastmasters helps participants enhance their public speaking, oral communication and leadership skills. Meetings are held Thursdays from 12 to 12:45 p.m. in the 10-by 10-Supersonic Wind Tunnel Office and Control Building, Room 123. Before attending, please call Wai Wan (3-5599) or Stefanie Hirt (3-6782) to confirm a scheduled meeting.
DESTRESS ON WEDNESDAYS: Learn to manage stress rather than letting it manage you! Spend 45 minutes in this NEW relaxation class to help your mind function more efficiently in the workplace. Classes, sponsored by the Organization Development and Training Office and Singleton Health Services, are held every Wednesday from 11:15 a.m. to noon in the Small Dining Room. Come dressed as you are. No special attire needed. POC: Fitness Center, 216-433-6313.
AFGE MEETING: AFGE Local 2182 will not hold monthly membership meetings in the summer. The next meeting will take place on September 5.
Awards
Space Flight Awareness
Four Glenn Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Honorees were among the VIPs invited to attend the Atlantis STS−117 launch on June 8. They are recipients of the highest tribute paid by NASA to individuals in the agency, Department of Defense and industry. A trip to Kennedy Space Center for a launch is part of their reward for dedication to quality work and flight safety, which also includes a reception in their honor and the opportunity to meet with top NASA and industry officials and members of the Astronaut Corps.
The following honorees were recognized during a special reception at NASA Kennedy:
Robert Detamore, Mechanical Design Branch, for dedication and leadership as the lead designer in the design development and timely delivery of drawings to manufacture the Return to Flight LO2 Cable Tray test hardware.
Images right: Detamore, top photo, and Denniston, bottom photo, accept their SFA plaques presented by Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Scott Horowitz and Astronaut Anne Lee Fisher. Credit: NASA JSC
Charles Denniston, Applied Structural Mechanics Branch, for dedication and leadership as lead structures engineer overseeing all the major reviews of hardware developed for the International Space Station's Fluid and Combustion Facility project.
Two honorees were unable to attend the NASA Kennedy festivities. They include:
Dr. Geoffrey Landis, Photovoltaics and Power Technologies Branch, for exemplary work in support of the International Space Station Program by inventing a new mode of operation of solar arrays to reduce propellant requirements.
Dr. Elizabeth Opila, Durability and Protective Coatings Branch, for outstanding technical contributions to the Space Shuttle Program and Return to Flight research and development activities, which include wing leading-edge deposit analyses and experimental studies to identify the breach location and temperature conditions; and computational and experimental studies of NASA's leading small patch repair, NOAX material, development and evaluation.
Suggestion Awards
Glenn recently rewarded the ingenuity of four employees whose ideas were adopted under the Employee Suggestion Award Program. The program allows cash awards, up to $7500, paid to employees who submit suggestions that directly improve efficiency, economy and/or effective execution of Government operations.
The following employees recently received an award for their suggestions:
Image right: left to right, Haeberle, Cotleur, Hudson and Juhas. Credit: NASA/Michelle Murphy
Arlette Haeberle, Aviation Environments Technical Branch.
Subject of suggestion: Institute Calibration of IRT (Icing Research Tunnel) Transducers. Haeberle proposed using the Ice tunnel Ruska, a calibrated pressure standard, to calibrate all the spray bar water and air transducers, in place and at one time, to reduce the handling of the transducers and chance of damage. This increased the accuracy of the transducers and their entire system and decreased the work hours needed in removal, installation and data base entry time.
Deborah Cotleur and Avis Hudson, Office of Equal Opportunity Programs.
Subject of suggestion: CD for Recruiters/Speakers. Cotleur and Hudson suggested that a CD providing a preferred agency and/or center overview be enclosed in all recruiter folders. The CD would enable delivery of a unified message despite differences in the technical knowledge of recruiters at job fairs and workshops. It should also be available for presentations given to co-op, summer interns and Speakers Bureau audiences.
John Juhas, R&D Labs Technical Branch.
Subject of suggestion: Laser Aiming Device for Small Impact Gun. Juhas designed and built a laser alignment fixture that would allow precise location of the gun barrel for impact on test specimens without the need for pre-test alignment shots. The new fixture saves work hours, eliminates waste of expensive samples and more importantly, provides better data.
The Employee Suggestion Award Committee is eager to reward employees for a possibly great idea. To learn tips and guidelines for submitting ideas vist http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/OHR/Suggestion
American Helicopter Society Best Paper
Jonathan Litt and Donald Simon (Army), Control and Dynamics Branch, are coauthors of the paper, "Toward a Real-Time Measurement-Based System for Estimation of Helicopter Engine Degradation Due to Compressor Erosion," which was selected the Health Usage and Monitoring System Best Paper at the American Helicopter Society Forum 63. The paper describes an online approach to estimating the efficiency loss of a turboshaft engine's compressor due to sand erosion. The work was funded with an Army Research Laboratory Director's Research Initiative grant supporting the Subsonic Rotary Wing project under NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics program.
NASA College Scholarship Winner
Jonathan Krause, who recently graduated from Strongsville High School, won a 2007 NASA College Scholarship. Krause, son of Glenn employee David Krause, Mechanics and Life Prediction Branch, is one of six recipients selected agencywide. The scholarships, established in 1982 by noted Pulitzer Prize winning author James A. Michener, promotes careers in science and engineering and provides qualified dependents of current and former NASA employees majoring in these required fields a total of $8,000 within a six-year period. Krause counts among his many accomplishments the AP (Associated Press) Scholar with Distinction, Ohio Math League State Champion, Ohio High School Math Olympiad Qualifier and National Merit Finalist and Scholar. He will attend California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif., this fall, where he will major in computer science and mathematics, with specific interests in software development, data modeling and cryptanalysis.
In Memory
Eleanore M. Boughton, 66, who retired from NASA in March 1994 after 18 years of service, died on June 27. Boughton served in the Office of Community and Media Relations prior to retirement. Prior to joining NASA, she worked for the Veterans Administration.
Kathleen M. Brown, 89, who retired from NASA in February 1979 after 27 years of service, died on February 12. Brown was well known for serving as secretary to Center Director Dr. Edward Sharp and, prior to retirement, as secretary to Dr. Ted Olson, director of Public Affairs.
Earl W. Harper, 88, who retired from NASA in September 1983, died on May 22. Harper was a mechanical engineer who served as an aerospace service operator. He served in the military prior to his NASA career.
Eldred H. Johnson, 87, who retired from NASA in 1979 with 34 years of service, died on June 7. Johnson was an aerospace mechanic in the Chemistry Laboratory supporting test rigs such as the Five-Ball Fatigue Tester for analyzing design variances for ball bearings. He was a founding member of AFGE Local 2182 and served in the Army Air Corps for four years during WW II.
In Appreciation
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of my NASA friends and colleagues for your gracious support during the recent passing of my mother. Your kind thoughts, prayers and cards were a great comfort to my family and me during this difficult time.
--Pat (Caldwell) Parker
I would like to thank my NASA friends for the hospital visits, the get-well cards and the flowers and gifts you provided during my recent medical leave. It was very much appreciated. I am back at work now and look forward to seeing you again.
--Sandra Foust
My family and I would like to thank everyone for the support and kind words with the passing of my dad, Robert Leonard Bellisario. A special thank you to all who were able to visit at the funeral home, sign a card or just stop me in the hall here at work to talk. It means so much to my family and me to have such support in sad times. My dad was proud of what we all do here at NASA.
--Len Bellisario
Retirements
Richard Christiansen, Office of the Director, retired on June 1, 2007, with 30 years of federal service, including 27 1/2 with NASA. (See retirement story "Center Says Aloha to Deputy Director" in this issue.)
Robert Lawrence, External Programs Directorate, retired on June 2, 2007, with 37 years of federal service, including 23 with NASA.
Leroy Walker, Operations Management Branch, retired on July 3, 2007, with 34 1/2 years of federal service, including 34 with NASA.
July 2007
SPF Rededication Opens Up New Horizons
NASA Glenn is gearing up to "contribute to the nation's next greatest adventure," announced Center Director Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr. during the June 11 rededication of NASA's Space Power Facility (SPF), the world's largest space environment simulation chamber.
Image right: Space Power Facility at Plum Brook Station. Credit: NASAAgency management, top-level elected officials and community stakeholders joined NASA Glenn in recognizing the role this illustrious facility, located at Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, will play in the country's next phase of space exploration. The facility will host integrated environmental testing of Orion, the crew exploration vehicle being designed to carry humans to the moon.
"This dedication is a significant milestone for returning back to the moon and onto Mars," said Glenn's Director of Space Flight Systems, Robert Moorehead. He explained that modifications are under way in the facility to enable tests that will simulate environmental conditions such as those experienced during launch, in-orbit operations and atmospheric reentry. The tests will demonstrate the ability of the Orion hardware to meet specified performance requirements. The SPF staff will test thermal, acoustic, mechanical vibration and electromagnetic compatibility testing on the fully assembled spacecraft -- the launch abort system, crew module, service module and spacecraft adapter.
During the rededication, Center Director Whitlow recognized members of the Glenn team for their "hard work and dedication." This team created the proposal -- selected by the Crew Exploration Vehicle Project Office -- to conduct the integrated environmental testing at PBS. NASA Glenn awarded each team member with a certificate of appreciation.
Skip Hatfield, Orion CEV project manager, NASA Johnson, also applauded the team, and affirmed the value of the SPF in helping to achieve the Vision for Space Exploration.
Image left: Agency managers, elected officials and community stakeholders expressed support and enthusiasm for the new testing. Credit: NASA/Mark GrillsIn addition to Hatfield, NASA Associate Deputy Administrator, Charles Scales; Director of Plum Brook Station, David Stringer; Astronaut and International Space Station Program Scientist, Dr. Donald Thomas; and Vice President and Orion Program Manager, Lockheed Martin, Cleon Lacefield, shared their excitement and expectations for the facility.
Senator George Voinovich, Senator Sherrod Brown, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Ohio Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, Greater Cleveland Partnership President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Roman; and Erie County Commissioner Thomas Ferrell each recognized the importance of the testing to the state of Ohio and to the nation.
"Of all the economic development projects we will work on, none will be more transformational than the one we announce and celebrate today," stated Lieutenant Governor Fisher.
The rededication culminated with an Orion test sequence animation video of the SPF, which was produced by Glenn's Imaging Technology Center Video and Multimedia Group in the Logistics and Technical Information Division. A reception within the assembly area enabled guests to experience the magnitude of the 122-foot high facility.
By Doreen B. Zudell
Director Named Scientist of the Year
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| Dr. Whitlow Jr. | Christiansen | Morrison |
Also called the Emerald Honors award, this is the premier award for African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Native Americans working in the research sciences.
The winners will be featured in a special issue of Science Spectrum magazine and honored at a black tie gala during the Minorities in Research Science Conference on September 15 at the Baltimore Convention Center.
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| Foster | Smith |
"It is an honor to receive the Minorities in Research Science Award. I consider myself privileged to be among those, like Dr. Isaiah Blankson, a brilliant researcher, who previously was chosen for his scientific contributions," said Whitlow about his achievement.
Whitlow earned his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has written nearly 40 technical papers, mostly in the areas of unsteady transonic flow and aeroelasticity. While managing an annual budget of approximately $650 million, he oversees a workforce of 1,640 civil service employees that is supported by approximately 1,430 contractors. Glenn has 24 major facilities and over 500 specialized research facilities located at the 350-acre Cleveland site and the 6,400-acre Plum Brook Station site in Sandusky, Ohio.
Also honored with an Emerald Award was former Deputy Director for Glenn, Richard Christiansen, who received an award for Career Achievement. In receiving this award, Christiansen was recognized for his true commitment to excellence. He was cited as one of the nation's highest achievers in research science.
Christiansen earned a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering in 1979 from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University in 1985. He is an Associate Fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and has served on numerous committees and has authored nine papers on Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing aerodynamics and missile aerodynamics. After serving as Glenn's Deputy Director for 3 years, Christiansen recently retired from NASA on June 1.
The third awardee, honored as a Special Recognition Honoree, is Carlos Morrison, a physicist and aerospace engineer at Glenn. Morrison's contributions have focused in advancing technology for magnetically suspended, oil-free aircraft engines, a new five-axis magnetic facility to advance the state-of-the-art testing capability for turbomachinery damping and mistuning research and a flightweight electric motor for a pollution-free electric aircraft propulsion system. Morrison received the prestigious 2004 R&D 100 award for his invention of the "Morrison Motor" and was recognized in 2004 with the National Technical Association Technical Achiever of the Year award and in 2005 with the Black Engineer of the Year award.
Morrison owns four patents related to physiology and engineering and has authored and co-authored 24 journal and technical articles. He is a member of the American Physical Society and the National Technical Association. Morrison earned his bachelor's degree in physics/mathematics from Hofstra University in Long Island, N.Y. and his master's degree in physics from Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Additionally, two other Glenn employees, Lancert Foster, Inlet and Nozzle Branch, and Lizalyn Smith, Applied Structural Mechanics Branch, will be recognized by Science Spectrum magazine as Trailblazers for 2007. They are minority men and women who create new paths for others in science, engineering or technology, show leadership in their workplaces and communities, are role models and mentors and demonstrate a commitment to recruiting and relating minorities in the nation's science and technology enterprises.
By Katherine K. Martin
Center Says Aloha to Deputy Director
NASA Glenn bid "aloha" to its "Big Kahuna," Deputy Director Richard S. Christiansen, who retired on June 1. During a cake and coffee reception in the Administration Building Auditorium and Foyer on May 30, and a luau at the LaCentre in Westlake on May 31, NASA employees and retirees, colleagues and friends gathered to thank Christiansen for 27 years of service to NASA.Image right: Christiansen cuts the first piece of his retirement cake, which affectionately displayed the words "Aloha Kahuna" during the reception at Glenn.
Christiansen served as the Deputy Director since November 16, 2003, sharing responsibilities for planning, organizing and directing center activities, first with Dr. Julian Earls (Director, 2003-2006) and recently with Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr. (2006-present).
During his time at NASA Glenn, he led the efforts in formulating and implementing a strategy to secure a better position for the center within the agency. He was instrumental in building partnerships throughout the agency and recently with Glenn and the space flight centers, resulting in significant recognition and responsibilities for the center in space exploration systems development.
"Rich, who I convinced to leave the sunny climes of California and join the Glenn team as my deputy, became my go-to leader as Glenn and NASA were faced with the numerous challenges," said Dr. Earls, who now serves as Executive in Residence at Cleveland State University. "These challenges were especially critical for the research centers. Not only was Rich the right person at the right time, he brought a degree of enthusiasm that was contagious. The results of his competence and dedication speak for themselves. Rich's service to NASA was exemplary. I am proud to have worked with him and that he is my friend as well as former colleague."
Prior to his assignment as Deputy Director, Christiansen served as the Associate Director for Planning at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. He was responsible for overseeing the development of the center's long-range strategic management plan and creating a vision for the future of flight research.
Christiansen began his career with NASA in 1980 at Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., where he was responsible for conducting systems analysis and large-scale aerodynamic and propulsion wind tunnel tests of vertical or short take-off and landing concepts. Much of his early research has been used in development of current U.S. military aircraft.
Christiansen has held increasingly responsible positions during his NASA career. From 1997 to 1998, Christiansen served as Acting Associate Administrator of the Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology Enterprise in Washington D.C. One notable thread has been consistent throughout these responsibilities: his involvement and dedication to making new technologies and concepts flight worthy. By his account, he has been involved with well over 40 research, experimental, demonstrator and developmental flight projects. At least 29 of them have gone on to fly.
"This has not been a normal aerospace engineer's career," Christiansen said, adding, "but then, I have never tried to be normal."
Christiansen has received numerous honors and awards including two Exceptional Performance Awards; a Superior Accomplishment Award; two Group Achievement Awards; the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal; and, since becoming a member of the Senior Executive Service, has twice earned the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
"I have known Rich since very early in our careers and always have valued his advice and counsel over the years," said NASA Glenn Director Whitlow. "We have had the opportunity to work on many projects for the agency and have impacted NASA's directions on several fronts. At Glenn, he has been instrumental in changing the culture of the center and in helping to define a role in the area of space flight systems development while ensuring excellence in aeronautics and space research."
In his farewell message to Glenn employees, Christiansen noted that his most cherished memories are about "the many people I have known. Any success I have had has been merely a reflection of the people whom I have been surrounded by."
Christiansen called "retirement" a journey "on to my next set of adventures."
Below are some pictorial highlights of Christiansen's experiences with NASA. Click on the blue line around the photograph to view it at a larger size.
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Christiansen in his office at Ames Research Center in 1982. He worked in the Large Scale Aerodynamics Branch conducting research on VSTOL aerodynamics and VSTOL propulsion vectoring concepts. |
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Christiansen welcomed Administrator Sean O'Keefe to Glenn with a hardy St. Patrick's Day greeting in 2004. Pictured, left to right, O'Keefe, Director of External Programs John Hairston, Center Director Dr. Julian Earls, Christensen and Associate Director Bob Fails. |
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Christiansen hosted Mike Griffin's first official visit to Glenn as Administrator in 2005. They are pictured at a Town Hall meeting, which was followed by a tour of the center. |
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Christiansen with members of the Asian Pacific Islanders Advisory Council for the Heritage Awareness event in 2005. Pictured, left to right, Larry Liou, R&D Labs Technical Branch; Christiansen; guest speaker, Lynna Lai, Channel 19 Action News; Avis Hudson, Office of Equal Opportunity Programs (OEP); Tom Vannugen; and Robert Romero, OEP. |
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Deputy Associate Administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Doug Cooke, Center Director Dr. Whitlow and Christiansen stand in front of the Glenn-fabricated Crew Exploration Vehicle service module mockup in 2005. Christiansen spearheaded the inhouse construction of the full-scale model, which helped earn work for the center. |
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Center Director Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr., left, and Christiansen, right, brief retired Senator John Glenn on work in the Fabrication Shop during a 2006 tour. |
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Christiansen helped celebrate the NASA Safety Center dedication in 2006. Pictured, left to right, are Office of Safety and Mission Assurance Chief Bryan O'Connor, Associate NASA Administrator Rex Geveden, National Safety Center Director Alan Phillips, Glenn Associate Director Vernon "Bill" Wessel, Christiansen, former OAI Director William Selbach and NASA Engineering and Safety Center Director Ralph Roe Jr. |
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Many members of the Glenn (as well as NASAwide) family showed their appreciation for Christiansen's contributions to the agency. Christiansen received a standing ovation during the cake and coffee reception and roast held in the Administration Building Auditorium in May 2007. |
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Engineering Directorate Director, Olga Gonzalez-Sanabria, left, and Deputy Director of the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate, Rafael Sanabria, right, join Christiansen at the Hawaiian-themed buffet table during the luau in May 2007. |
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Christiansen, accompanied by family members, left to right, Ramm Phillips (brother-in-law), Shirley Marshall-Phillips (sister) and Lian Christiansen (mother) during the luau. |
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Center Director Whitlow, right, presented Christiansen with a desk-size replica of the Glenn Time Capsule during the luau in May 2007. Executive Officer, Lori Manthey, looks on in the background. |
Photo credits: NASA Glenn Imaging Technology Center
By Katherine K. Martin and Doreen B. Zudell
Glenn Guides Electrical Requirements for Successful Mission
On June 22, Glenn invited the public to the Visitor Center Auditorium to view the Space Shuttle Atlantis land after completing a 14-day journey of more than 5.8 million miles in space. During the mission, the STS–117 crew successfully completed construction to increase the power capability of the International Space Station.
Image right: Astronauts Patrick Forrester (right) and Steven Swanson, both STS-117 mission specialists, participate in the mission's fourth and final extravehicular activity (EVA). Among other tasks, they continued activation of the station's new starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment.As the only research laboratory orbiting the Earth, the station is a work in progress, with constantly changing amounts and kinds of electrical power supply and demand. These challenging tasks rely on expert advice from a team at Glenn called the System Power Analysis for Capability Evaluation (SPACE) Team.
SPACE also is the name of the software code developed by the team that predicts the maximum power level that the space station power system can sustain throughout a variety of conditions. The code was developed in the late 1980s to support the design of the precursor to the station, Space Station Freedom. Since then, dozens of engineers have contributed to its enhancement, which includes mathematical models of the solar arrays, batteries and power management and distribution equipment. Utilizing this code, the SPACE Team provides analyses that are required to certify space shuttle flight readiness.
The most pressing challenge addressed by the team involved the STS-117 mission, during which a fifth and sixth set of solar arrays and batteries, or power channels, had to be installed on station. These new power channels on truss segments S3/S4 became a part of station's electric power system designed under Glenn's guidance in the 1990s. The S3/S4 added to station's 11-segment integrated truss structure (station's backbone) will provide one-fourth of the total power generation for the completed space station.
Of the four channels that were already on the station, three were active and one temporarily not in use, or dormant. The two new power channels added during STS-117 required retracting a second solar array for the channels to track the sun. Additionally, two of the active channels had to constantly send power to the dormant channels to prevent them from freezing or getting too hot.
Glenn's SPACE Team advised NASA's Johnson Space Center that the dormant channels temporarily receive less power, and the loads normally shared among two power channels, be fed by the more capable power channel.
"We started our analysis with a flight plan that had some flexibility, and worked to determine options that would give operators the best path forward," said SPACE Team Technical Lead Tony Jannette. "During the flight, we saw that many of our recommendations were implemented. We are pleased that our analysis played a role in a successful mission."
The team also assessed the station's electric power system performance for joint operations when Atlantis docked with station. That included launch, power channel startup and deployment of solar arrays.
Later this year, the SPACE Team plans to continue its involvement with space electric power needs with the first docking of the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle to the space station.
For more on the STS-117 mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
By Katherine K. Martin
Innovators Valued for Technological Contributions
The world would be a much different place if Thomas A. Edison had never commercialized the electric light bulb. By sharing this technology, Edison revolutionized the principles of electricity and improved the quality of life.
In the spirit of Edison's creativity and perseverance, Glenn's Technology Transfer and Partnership (TTP) Office recognized the value of NASA Glenn innovators with an awards breakfast at OAI on June 1.
Image right: sitting, left to right, Dr. Bruan, Dr. Meador, Maturo, standing, left to right, and Schmidt, Comstock and Stauber enjoy some conversation after the breakfast. Credit: NASA/Marvin SmithStaff Director of NASA's Inventions and Contributions Board, Tony Maturo, applauded award recipients for their creativity and energy, as well as their persistence in pressing on with their research. "You turn a 'can't do' into a 'can do' and for that you truly deserve the title of innovator," he said.
Employees whose technologies were distinguished through awards in the areas of Space Act (Tech Briefs, patent application, software release and board actions, including Invention of the Year and Software of the Year), Federal Laboratory Consortium Midwest Regional, Most Promising Partnership, Gate II, NASA Illinois Commercialization Coalition and TTP Seed Fund over fiscal year 2006 received special certificates at the breakfast.
Doug Comstock, director of NASA's Innovative Partnership Program Office, thanked the honorees for their contributions and stressed the importance of technology transfer for the innovator and the agency. "It's vital that you report your technology and make that technology available within and outside the agency."
Federal regulations designed to record and protect NASA's intellectual property investments require Glenn inventors to report new technology. This begins the process to identify the technology's potential commercial applications through a NASA Form 1679.
"Reporting new technology can open up a world of possibilities for innovators," explained Laurel Stauber, Glenn's Award liaison officer, TTP. "In addition to patents, various NASA Space Act Awards carry significant monetary payoffs. The Inventions and Contributions Board, for example, awards up to $100,000,00 without Congressional approval based on scientific and technical contributions to the agency, and there is no statute of limitations."
Stauber noted that Glenn's Dr. Don Braun, Aeropropulsion Division, serves on the Inventions and Contributions Board. In addition, Dr. Maryann Meador, Durability and Protective Coatings Branch, will be appointed to the board this month.
George Schmidt, deputy director of Glenn's Research and Technology Directorate, encouraged Glenn scientists, engineers, researchers and program managers to "keep technology flowing."
"Although much emphasis is being placed on development, innovation has to continue," he said. "Research is the heart and soul of this center and will continue to be so for many years to come."
By Doreen B. Zudell
Cycling Keeps McCune on a Healthy Track
When it comes to health and fitness, Lance Armstrong is not the only one who can testify to the value of cycling. Glenn retiree Harry McCune hops on his bike to make a 13-mile (or longer) trip on one of the many Rail-Trails (bike trails created along former railroad lines connecting central Ohio through Toledo) three days a week. On alternate days, he walks three miles in the local Resthaven Game Preserve near his home in Castalia.Image left: McCune bikes to Plum Brook. Credit: NASA/S. Jenise Veris
McCune's regime might challenge even a man half his age, but for the 76-year old Plum Brook Station (PBS) retiree, it is a great way to stay in shape, meet people and take in the sites. A fleet of five bicycles helps him to achieve varying speeds and to maneuver the different terrains.
Although he has enjoyed cycling since childhood, McCune became an avid cyclist when he joined the Sandusky Bike Club along with a group of his coworkers in 1968.
"During the 22 years I was a member of the bike club, we often met at Plum Brook to depart on trips with destinations of 10 to 100 miles round trip around the Sandusky and Castalia area," McCune explained. "I also cycled the 11 miles from my house to work during the summer and throughout the year when weather permitted."
McCune retired from PBS in 1994 after 28 years of service, where he covered a lot of ground as the facilities manager. After retiring, he chose to step up his fitness rather than slow down, and encouraged his wife, Judy, to increase her physical activity, as well.
Friends tease the McCunes that they need to take a vacation from their vacation after hearing about how much and often they exercised. During their Alaskan cruise in 2005, they opted for renting mountain bikes instead of taking the bus to tour Denali National Park & Preserve, which covers 6 million acres. They rode 19 miles up into Mount McKinley (also known as Denali, the "High One," in the Athabascan native language), which crowns the 600-mile long Alaskan range.
McCune keeps in stride during the winter months by retreating to a villa on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. He and his wife bike an average of 15 miles a day exploring the various bike paths constructed of hardened beach sand. This distance is in addition to a 3-mile walk on the beach each morning. This year, by the time they departed for Ohio, the McCunes charted over 500 miles of cycling from January through March.
In addition to being an avid cyclist, McCune also loves to hunt and fish. He still helps with the PBS Controlled Deer Hunts, and most weekends during the fishing season, he goes fishing on Lake Erie with his son, Mark.
"At my age, being able to get outdoors, travel and enjoy nature is a blessing," McCune said. "Henry Thoreau once said, 'In the woods we return to reason and faith.' When I'm out cruising along on my bike, it's so relaxing and reminds me just how fortunate I am."
By S. Jenise Veris
Glenn Named "Best in Class" in Diversity
The Commission on Economic Inclusion, a coalition of Northeast Ohio employers committed to making the region's diversity a source of economic strength, has recognized NASA Glenn's leadership team.
Image right: Center Director Dr. Whitlow and Interim Diversity Management Officer, Renee Batts, hold the Best in Class award. Credit: NASA/Quentin SchwinnDuring the Commission's Annual Meeting on May 16, Glenn was among eight member companies who were awarded the "Best in Class" for building and maintaining a diverse organization. Center Director Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr. accepted the award in the category of Senior Staff Diversity Nonprofit/Government.
"NASA Glenn's leadership team actively supports diversity in all that we do, from recruiting new scientists and engineers for research project management, to providing opportunities for leadership development, promotions and awards," Whitlow said. "As a science and engineering organization committed to diversity, we have created an effective and diverse senior leadership team. Together, we reflect our workforce, our partners and the nation we serve."
The award recipients honored by the Commission were selected based on preliminary results of the 2006 Greater Cleveland Employs Survey on Diversity as well as follow-up inquires. Two organizations--one for profit and one nonprofit/government--were selected in four categories.
By Doreen B. Zudell
HCIE Enables Special Delivery of HC Information
This month, NASA begins an agencywide rollout of the Human Capital Information Environment (HCIE), a self-service Web portal and data warehouse that provides access to human capital information. This new agency-wide human resource system will be used for hiring, training, competency management, employment benefits and workforce management-- all from a single location.
The HCIE will enable employees, managers and human resource specialists to conduct human capital business from their desktop with the same ease and privacy features found in online banking.
The HCIE connects NASA's Office of Human Capital Management, Integrated Enterprise Management Program and the NASA Shared Services Center for near, real-time delivery of comprehensive, integrated workforce information from budget, finance, payroll and security systems.Image right: HCIE combines NASA's independent human capital information tools into one integrated environment.
"With one sign-on—your Universal Uniform Personal Identification Code—you can access a robust suite of familiar NASA human resource systems/applications to manage your career and/or workforce, share information, keep up to date on human capital information, search for people and more," explained Nola Bland, Glenn HCIE project lead, Organization Development and Training Office. "HCIE will be particularly beneficial to new employees to learn their way around the agency/center and to aid them in career planning."
Bland said that HCIE is part of NASA's effort to expand e-Government, one of five keys to effective management defined by the President's Management Agenda. HCIE provides for efficient and effective electronic delivery of NASA human capital information, tools and services using:
- A personnel data warehouse that serves as a comprehensive storage for NASA human capital information;
- Applications used to manage human resources and reporting tools integrated with legacy applications within NASA;
- A single, standalone web-based portal that enables communication and collaboration among a variety of programs and communities of practice including employees, managers/supervisors, program/project managers, workforce planners, security and human resource specialists.
Supervisors, managers and project leaders can use the HCIE as an authoritative data source for personnel and payroll information, awards, recruitment and hiring, performance, training, competency information and workforce planning.
"HCIE should be a useful tool for both employees and managers" said Ken Aguilar, director of Center Operations. HCIE is what human capital programs should be—accessible and practical for planning and accomplishing your future needs and goals."
More information on the HCIE and transitioning activities is available internally at http://workforce.grc.nasa.gov/hcie/hcie.asp or contact Nola Bland, 216-433-9343; Ron Mullenax, 216-433-6363; or Kelly Heidman, 216-433-2234.
By S. Jenise Veris
Celebrating the Future
It is only fitting to celebrate how hard work can pay off, and that's exactly what members of Glenn's senior leadership and invited guests did during the rededication of the Space Power Facility (SPF) on June 11. Image above: Center Director Whitlow is pictured amid a crowd of attendees at the rededication event. Credit: NASA/Lawrence Oberle.
Among those recognized were members of the Glenn "capture" team. This team developed the proposal that led to NASA's Crew Exploration Project Office choosing to conduct integrated environmental testing on the Orion crew exploration vehicle in the SPF. Kudos for all your hard work, and your belief that NASA Glenn can make important contributions to this nation's space program!
The environmental tests will show how Orion hardware can meet specified performance requirements in simulated environmental conditions such as those experienced during launch, in-orbit operations and re-entry.
The rededication recognizes that, in 2008, we will begin modifying the facility to accommodate these important tests that will qualify the next human space flight vehicle for its journey into space. A new vibration and acoustic test chamber, a mechanical vibration test stand and electromagnetic interference equipment will enable us to test the fully assembled launch abort system, crew module, service module and spacecraft adapter.
In the past, the SPF has hosted the International Space Station's radiator and solar arrays, the Mars Rover landing system and most of the nation's major rockets, including Atlas and Centaur. While the new upgrades will position this unique facility for its next exciting challenge, there are many more on the horizon.
As the agency works to develop and test the next generation of lunar landers, robotic systems and military and commercial spacecraft, your dedication will turn these challenges into opportunities. Keep on believing in yourselves and in the future!
News Briefs
Area Mayors Gather at Glenn
Image above: Dr. Whitlow greets Valarie McCall, chief of Government Affairs for Cleveland's Mayor Frank Jackson, during the visit. Glenn's External Program Director John Hairston, Executive Officer Lori Manthey and Brook Park Mayor Mark Elliott, look on. Credit: NASA/Marvin SmithGlenn welcomed members of The Cuyahoga County Mayors and City Managers Association on May 31. The Association held its monthly meeting in the Visitor Center Auditorium. Forty-two representatives of the 57-member cities attended the meeting that included an opportunity to become acquainted with Glenn technologies, facilities and explore the potential for partnering with the center. During a break, Martin Zanotti, mayor of Parma Heights and secretary of the association, commented how Glenn's communications expertise could possibly play a role in the development of a wireless network connecting the Cleveland metropolitan area to enhance its economic development. Center Director Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr. welcomed the guests and shared highlights of the center's work supporting NASA's Vision for Exploration. A tour of the Aeronautics Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory and 10- by 10-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel followed.
"Best of the Class" Taping
Image above: School valedictorians line up in Glenn's Hangar to film TV5's "Best of the Class" segments. Credit: NASA/Kelly DiFrancescoOn May 19, NASA Glenn served as the host site for the NewsChannel 5 taping of the 2007 "Best of the Class" promotional advertisements. The television station filmed high school valedictorians from over 250 Northeast Ohio schools in one large group held inside the Hangar, and individual videos of each student at two stations inside the Visitor Center. Accompanying the students were 287 parents/guests, who were on hand to watch the activities. The Best of the Class segments aired on TV5 from late May to mid June.
Guerin House Revisited
Image right: Left to right, Boone, Fredrick, and the Norris' stand in front of the Guerin House. Credit: NASA/Nora BlackmanOn June 8, Robert Boone visited Glenn to see his childhood home, what is now known as the Guerin House. Boone's fiancee, Beverly Fredrick, accompanied him on the visit, as well as Gene Norris, whose family had owned land adjacent to the Guerin House, and his wife, Marilyn. Glenn Assistant Records Manager and History Officer, Anne Power, Logistics and Technical Information Division, hosted the visit. During the tour, Boone recounted that his father had purchased the 47 acres that the Guerin House sits on in 1931, and over the years constructed the house and several other buildings (which no longer exist). Boone lived in the home with his parents and siblings from 1935 until the 1950s. He explained the original purpose of the rooms and reminisced about his experiences while growing up in the home.
Calendar of Events
HBCU/OMU RESEARCH CONFERENCE AND SUMMER JOB FAIR: The Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Other Minority Universities Research Conference will be held at OAI on July 18 and 19. It is open to civil service and suppot service contractor employees. POC: Dr. Sunil Dutta, 216–433–8844. The Job Fair is for students to speak with representatives from other organizations and gain information about the Glenn Cooperative Education Program. POC: Lynda Glover, 216–433–2463.
THIRD SATURDAY EVENT FEATURES LAND ROVERS: Free Family Fun at NASA Glenn Visitor Center on July 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. From Apollo's Lunar Roving Vehicle to the Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, robotic vehicles have played an important role in the exploration of space. Find out how these wheeled robots have explored the moon and Mars and paved the way for future solar system discoveries. Programs include "Roving on the Moon" at 11 a.m. and "Roving on Mars" at 1 p.m. Don't miss the special bonus tour of the Simulated Lunar Operations (SLOPE) facility, kids' crafts and giveaways. Call 216-433-9653 to register or see http://glennevents.grc.nasa.gov for more details.
AUGUST FACILITY TOUR--DOME OF SILENCE: Visit NASA Glenn on August 4 for a tour of the Aero-Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory, and see where some of the world's most advanced aircraft noise-reduction ideas are developed and tested. Don't miss a chance to come inside and see how Glenn engineers are reducing ground noise around airports and cabin noise on airplanes. Call 216-433-9653 up to one month in advance to make your reservation. One-hour tours begin in the Visitor Center Auditorium at the following times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
LESA MEETING: LESA/IFPTE, Local 28, will hold its next monthly membership meeting on Wednesday, August 8, at noon in the Employee Center.
THIRD SATURDAY EVENT--VOYAGER: Glenn's Third Saturday Event on August 18 will focus on "Voyager: The Grandest Tour." Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Voyager space missions and learn what they have taught us about our solar system. More details will be provided in the August AeroSpace Frontiers. For questions about this program, contact the Visitor Center at 216-433-9653.
NERVOUS ABOUT PUBLIC SPEAKING?: The Aerospace Toastmasters Club invites employees to attend its weekly meetings. Toastmasters helps participants enhance their public speaking, oral communication and leadership skills. Meetings are held Thursdays from 12 to 12:45 p.m. in the 10-by 10-Supersonic Wind Tunnel Office and Control Building, Room 123. Before attending, please call Wai Wan (3-5599) or Stefanie Hirt (3-6782) to confirm a scheduled meeting.
DESTRESS ON WEDNESDAYS: Learn to manage stress rather than letting it manage you! Spend 45 minutes in this NEW relaxation class to help your mind function more efficiently in the workplace. Classes, sponsored by the Organization Development and Training Office and Singleton Health Services, are held every Wednesday from 11:15 a.m. to noon in the Small Dining Room. Come dressed as you are. No special attire needed. POC: Fitness Center, 216-433-6313.
AFGE MEETING: AFGE Local 2182 will not hold monthly membership meetings in the summer. The next meeting will take place on September 5.
Awards
Space Flight Awareness
Four Glenn Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Honorees were among the VIPs invited to attend the Atlantis STS−117 launch on June 8. They are recipients of the highest tribute paid by NASA to individuals in the agency, Department of Defense and industry. A trip to Kennedy Space Center for a launch is part of their reward for dedication to quality work and flight safety, which also includes a reception in their honor and the opportunity to meet with top NASA and industry officials and members of the Astronaut Corps.
The following honorees were recognized during a special reception at NASA Kennedy:
Robert Detamore, Mechanical Design Branch, for dedication and leadership as the lead designer in the design development and timely delivery of drawings to manufacture the Return to Flight LO2 Cable Tray test hardware.
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Charles Denniston, Applied Structural Mechanics Branch, for dedication and leadership as lead structures engineer overseeing all the major reviews of hardware developed for the International Space Station's Fluid and Combustion Facility project.
Two honorees were unable to attend the NASA Kennedy festivities. They include:
Dr. Geoffrey Landis, Photovoltaics and Power Technologies Branch, for exemplary work in support of the International Space Station Program by inventing a new mode of operation of solar arrays to reduce propellant requirements.
Dr. Elizabeth Opila, Durability and Protective Coatings Branch, for outstanding technical contributions to the Space Shuttle Program and Return to Flight research and development activities, which include wing leading-edge deposit analyses and experimental studies to identify the breach location and temperature conditions; and computational and experimental studies of NASA's leading small patch repair, NOAX material, development and evaluation.
Suggestion Awards
Glenn recently rewarded the ingenuity of four employees whose ideas were adopted under the Employee Suggestion Award Program. The program allows cash awards, up to $7500, paid to employees who submit suggestions that directly improve efficiency, economy and/or effective execution of Government operations.
The following employees recently received an award for their suggestions:
Image right: left to right, Haeberle, Cotleur, Hudson and Juhas. Credit: NASA/Michelle MurphyArlette Haeberle, Aviation Environments Technical Branch.
Subject of suggestion: Institute Calibration of IRT (Icing Research Tunnel) Transducers. Haeberle proposed using the Ice tunnel Ruska, a calibrated pressure standard, to calibrate all the spray bar water and air transducers, in place and at one time, to reduce the handling of the transducers and chance of damage. This increased the accuracy of the transducers and their entire system and decreased the work hours needed in removal, installation and data base entry time.
Deborah Cotleur and Avis Hudson, Office of Equal Opportunity Programs.
Subject of suggestion: CD for Recruiters/Speakers. Cotleur and Hudson suggested that a CD providing a preferred agency and/or center overview be enclosed in all recruiter folders. The CD would enable delivery of a unified message despite differences in the technical knowledge of recruiters at job fairs and workshops. It should also be available for presentations given to co-op, summer interns and Speakers Bureau audiences.
John Juhas, R&D Labs Technical Branch.
Subject of suggestion: Laser Aiming Device for Small Impact Gun. Juhas designed and built a laser alignment fixture that would allow precise location of the gun barrel for impact on test specimens without the need for pre-test alignment shots. The new fixture saves work hours, eliminates waste of expensive samples and more importantly, provides better data.
The Employee Suggestion Award Committee is eager to reward employees for a possibly great idea. To learn tips and guidelines for submitting ideas vist http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/OHR/Suggestion
American Helicopter Society Best Paper
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NASA College Scholarship Winner
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In Memory
Eleanore M. Boughton, 66, who retired from NASA in March 1994 after 18 years of service, died on June 27. Boughton served in the Office of Community and Media Relations prior to retirement. Prior to joining NASA, she worked for the Veterans Administration.
Kathleen M. Brown, 89, who retired from NASA in February 1979 after 27 years of service, died on February 12. Brown was well known for serving as secretary to Center Director Dr. Edward Sharp and, prior to retirement, as secretary to Dr. Ted Olson, director of Public Affairs.
Earl W. Harper, 88, who retired from NASA in September 1983, died on May 22. Harper was a mechanical engineer who served as an aerospace service operator. He served in the military prior to his NASA career.
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In Appreciation
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of my NASA friends and colleagues for your gracious support during the recent passing of my mother. Your kind thoughts, prayers and cards were a great comfort to my family and me during this difficult time.
--Pat (Caldwell) Parker
I would like to thank my NASA friends for the hospital visits, the get-well cards and the flowers and gifts you provided during my recent medical leave. It was very much appreciated. I am back at work now and look forward to seeing you again.
--Sandra Foust
My family and I would like to thank everyone for the support and kind words with the passing of my dad, Robert Leonard Bellisario. A special thank you to all who were able to visit at the funeral home, sign a card or just stop me in the hall here at work to talk. It means so much to my family and me to have such support in sad times. My dad was proud of what we all do here at NASA.
--Len Bellisario
Retirements
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Leroy Walker, Operations Management Branch, retired on July 3, 2007, with 34 1/2 years of federal service, including 34 with NASA.