NASA Chief Technologist David Miller visited Stennis Space Center on Aug. 21 to participate in briefings, tour site facilities and honor several employees, including recognition of two NASA engineers awarded patents through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for technologies they developed at Stennis.
Miller first participated in a tour of several technology-focused facilities, including the test complexes and Area 9. Following a face-to-face with Center Director Rick Gilbrech, Miller spoke at a Stennis Engineering and Test Directorate all hands meeting. During his talk, he expressed the importance that both technology development and technology transfer have to the agency.
Based on having toured the Stennis test complex earlier in the day, Miller was also able to put aspects of his talk in context from an operational perspective and mentioned that it is important to “find opportunities to rigorously mature promising technology in an operationally authentic environment,” such as Stennis provides. He went on to share his understanding of the importance of the testing mission done at Stennis as having a valuable role in the bigger scheme of technology development and use in the agency.
After his presentation, Miller participated with Stennis Chief Technologist Ramona Travis and Intellectual Property Manager Gigi Savona in presenting patent award trophies, as well as a certificate of recognition for a provisional patent.
Mechanical engineer Bruce Farner was recognized for U.S. Patent No. 8,336,849 for Conical Seat Shut Off Valve, a low-maintenance actuator-less valve. Electrical engineer Scott Jensen was recognized for U.S. Patent No. 8,401,820-B2 for In Situ Health Monitoring of Piezoelectric Sensors, which monitors, tests and identifies degraded piezoelectric sensors without having to remove them. Jensen was also recognized for U.S. Patent No. 8,618,933-B2 for Monitoring Method and Apparatus using Asynchronous, One-Way Transmission from Sensor to Base Station, which improves the monitoring of high-geared and linearly-actuated ball valves used in rocket propulsion testing to more accurately predict valve life span and premature failure.
These patented products represent, in some cases, well over a decade of research, development and technical processing through the USPTO by the inventors and the Stennis Tech Transfer Office.
During the presentations, mechanical engineer Kenneth McCormick also was recognized for a provisional patent on the technology he developed, Cryogenic CAM Butterfly Valve, a novel valve design that provides a better seal in cryogenic environments and improved performance against seat leakage. A full patent application on this technology has recently been submitted.
Additionally, Miller participated in presenting certificates of recognition to several Stennis employees whose new technologies have recently been published in NASA TechBriefs. NASA TechBriefs publications award certificates were presented to David Coote, Harry Ryan, Justin Junell, Bartt Hebert and Scott Jensen.
At the conclusion of his visit, Miller toured the INFINITY Science Center, where he was surprised and honored by a display of his own technology development, Synchronized Position, Hold, Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES, project on the International Space Station.
Paul Foerman Stennis Space Center, Miss. 228-688-1880 paul.foerman-1@nasa.gov