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NASA Ames Astrogram December 2018

The headshot image of Astrid Albaugh

Astrid Albaugh

Dec 21, 2018
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NASA Collaborates with JAXA to use Drones for Disaster Recovery Drill

by Darryl Waller

NASA has partnered with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, to successfully demonstrate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems (known as UAS, or drones) on a use case to support emergency response and disaster recovery activities.

This test, which happened in October 2018, connected JAXA’s Disaster Relief Aircraft Information Sharing Network, or D-NET, and NASA’s UAS traffic management, or UTM, research platform. D-NET delivers optimal route planning for UAS disaster relief operations, and UTM resolves possible airspace conflicts while providing tracking and UAS operator situational awareness.

UTM Operation Volume for Disaster Response UAS Between JAXA's D-NET and NASA's UTM System
UTM Operation Volume for Disaster Response UAS at the Planned Test Site Communicated Between JAXA’s D-NET and NASA’s UTM System Credits: NASA

For full story, see: DroneDisasterRecovery

For Holiday Celebrations and Space Radiation, Yeast is the Key

by Abigail Tabor

As you consume copious amounts of baked goods this holiday season, like delicious sweet breads, sticky cinnamon buns and crusty dinner rolls, know that one of the key ingredients is helping NASA learn about space radiation and how to protect humans on future space missions.

Holiday images made from white yeast growing in petri dishes against green, gold and red backgrounds.
Drawing of a white snowflake appears over time in a petri dish on blue background.
Credit: NASA Ames/Dominic Hart

For full story, see: YeastisKey

What is BioSentinel?

by Abigail Tabor

Astronauts live in a pretty extreme environment aboard the International Space Station. Orbiting about 250 miles above the Earth in the weightlessness of microgravity, they rely on commercial cargo missions about every two months to deliver new supplies and experiments. And yet, this place is relatively protected in terms of space radiation. The Earth’s magnetic field shields space station crew from much of the radiation that can damage the DNA in our cells and lead to serious health problems. When future astronauts set off on long journeys deeper into space, they will be venturing into more perilous radiation environments and will need substantial protection. With the help of a biology experiment within a small satellite called BioSentinel, scientists at NASA’s Ames Research Center, in California’s Silicon Valley, are taking an early step toward finding solutions.

BioSentinel Fluidics Card

BioSentinel’s microfluidics card, photo above, was designed at NASA Ames and will be used to study the impact of interplanetary space radiation on yeast. Once in orbit, the growth and metabolic activity of the yeast will be measured using a 3-color LED detection system and a metabolic indicator dye. Here, pink wells contain actively growing yeast cells that have turned the metabolic dye from blue to pink color.

For full story, see: BioSentinel

Employees Celebrate Ames’ 79th Anniversary with Cake

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NASA Ames Research Center’s 79th Anniversary is Dec. 20, 2018 and signals the kick off of the 80th Anniversary year of events. Ames employees were served cake at Mega Bites during lunch time. The Center was established in 1939 as the second laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and was named for the chair of the NACA, Joseph S. Ames. It was located at Moffett Field in Sunnyvale, California, now at the heart of Silicon Valley. The Laboratory was renamed the NASA Ames Research Center with the formation of NASA in 1958. Top photo: the 79th anniversary cake at Mega Bites. It depicted the Ames ground-breaking event on Dec. 20, 1939. Lower left photo: Carol Carroll, Ames deputy center director, second from left, serving the cake to staff members. Lower right photo, left to right, Jack Boyd, special assistant to the center director and Ames Ombuds; Deb Feng, associate center director; and Eugene Tu, center director all seen here initially cutting the cake.
Credit: NASA Ames/Dominic Hart

Ames Veteran’s Committee Hosts Talk on Suicide Prevention Awareness

Ryan Ayers, Area Director, Greater San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)) (top photo) speaking at Ames on Dec. 6, 2018, on how we can learn about preventing suicide through research, advocacy and education. His presentation is designed to teach people how to identify resources related to suicide prevention and how you can help others have the conversation without increasing the risk of harm.

Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or socio-economic background. Suicide is a national public health concern and is the third leading cause of death among young people.  People may experience mental or emotional crisis as the result of a wide range of situations or environmental conditions when they are most vulnerable.

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Bottom photo: Carolina Rudisel (Ames Veteran’s Committee Protocol Officer), Sarah Elizabeth Heraldo (AFSP), Ryan Ayers (AFSP) and Cherise Field (Ames Veteran’s Committee Chair). Photos by Femy McGrath

If you or someone you know is at risk of harming themselves, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text line at 741741 for free 24/7 support. Support for deaf and hard of hearing: 1-800-799-4889.  If you are a veteran in crisis, you can contact 1-800-273-8255 and press #1 to be connected to a confidential qualified VA trained responder or you can text 838255 24/7.

Students Present Tech Accomplishments and Poster Session Relating to their Internships at Ames

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The Human Capital and Education Directorate invited staff to attend the 2018 Fall internship presentations on Dec. 13, 2018. The exit presentations featured the technical accomplishments of the 2018 Fall cohort of high school, undergraduate and graduate students during their sixteen-week internship
Credit: NASA Ames/Don Richey
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On Dec. 12, 2018, the students presented a Poster Symposium in the lobby of N200 and N201. Attendees learned about the interns’ various projects they worked on and learned about the interns’ accomplishments they achieved here while at Ames.
Credit: NASA Ames/Dominic Hart

Magic, Music, Science and Treats–All the Fixings for a Fabulous Annual Ames Holiday Festival

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The Ames Exchange hosted its 11th Annual Ames Holiday Festival on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2018, in the NASA Ames Conference Center. The theme this year was “It’S a Small world” – highlighting the International Space Station (ISS) and the significance of diversity. Participants were invited to dress in their cultural or Disney attire. This year’s theme had a S.T.E.A.M. focus. Science activities included an “Insights into Math and Science” demonstration and a hands-on STEM project led by Girl Scouts. Kids were invited to bring their own light sabors to participate in the Interactive Jedi Acadmey Show. There also was a magic show, live music, an ISS backdrop photo op and cultural performances throughout the day. The Space Cookies Robotics team also provided robot task demonstrations. Young and old alike were treated to bakery holiday desserts and an assortment of refreshments. Santa also arrived via an Ames fire truck and took photos with participants.
Credit: photos by Astrid Albaugh

Researchers Discuss Current State and Future of Astrobiology and Space Biology

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On Nov. 29, 2018, employees were invited to attend a Town Hall to listen to seven Ames researchers from the Science Directorate summarize the current state of knowledge in astrobiology and space biology while also speculating where the fields may be in in the next 20 years. Ten-minute flash talks were presented by the researchers, addressing the future of Mars and ocean worlds exploration, extreme environments research, biosignatures research, life in orbit and life beyond LEO. After the talks, there was a panel discussion and audience members were given the opportunity to ask the reseachers questions. From left to right: Michael Bicay, David DesMarais, Niki Parenteau, Alfonso Davila, Darlene Lim, Elizabeth Taylor and Sharmila Bhattacharya.
Credit: NASA Ames/Dominic Hart

Statistical Summary of Activities of the Protective Service Division’s Security/Law Enforcement and Fire Protection Services Units for Period Ending November 2018

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firechartNov2018