On November 16, 2015, the Jon McBride Software Testing and Research Laboratory (JSTAR), a subgroup of NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Program, received the TechConnectWV Innovator of the Year award at the West Virginia Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, W.Va. The award is designed to recognize both academic and non-academic inventors or researchers, whose innovative work has created the greatest impact on technology in the state. The recipients of this award are led by NASA’s JSTAR team lead, Justin Morris, and include 15 engineers with TMC² Technologies serving as the lead contractor company. Team member Scott Zemerick of TMC² was present to accept the award.
The JSTAR team was nominated specifically in recognition for their efforts developing software-only, fully-functional, spacecraft simulations to assist with flight software testing on NASA missions. It was because of these specific efforts that the team earned a spot in NASA’s CubeSat launch initiative, which will result in the launch of the first West Virginia built spacecraft. In addition to aiding the efficiency of NASA’s testing activities, the JSTAR team’s efforts will also help West Virginia small businesses grow technical capabilities that can be used to advance the technology sector in the state.
The role of the JSTAR laboratory is to provide simulations of embedded spacecraft environments and test services to verify and validate spacecraft flight software products from NASA flight projects; and conduct research and development efforts to improve test methods and simulations of embedded system components and space environments. The work within JSTAR currently focuses on Robotics research, Independent Testing, OC-Flight-1 (the NASA IV&V Space Flight Design Challenge), and Simulation-to-Flight 1 (STF-1). JSTAR also focuses on outreach which spans all groups and focus areas.
If you would like to learn more about JSTAR’s services, please visit https://www.nasa.gov/centers/ivv/jstar/JSTAR.html.
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Jennifer Neptune
Independent Verification and Validation Program, Fairmont, W.Va.
304-367-8262
jennifer.d.neptune@nasa.gov