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NASA

Commercial 

Technology 

Network (NCTN) 

A quarterly electronic publication from the

NASA Scientific and Technical Information (S T I) Program

January 2002 

NASA S T I News Other NASA News NCT Program * 

...From the S T I Principal

Center

S T I Program Plan

 

NASA History Office NCTP Overview

Spinoff

* NASA Commercial 

Technology 
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NASA

Commercial

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Network 

(NCTN)

...From the NASA S T I Program’s Principal 

Center

Thanks from the NASA STI Program

Roland Ridgeway, long-time director of the NASA STI Program, will be 

retiring Feb. 1, 2002. The STI Program Office (Principal Center for the NASA 

STI Program), the STI Programs at the Centers, and the NASA Center for 

AeroSpace Information would like to take this opportunity to thank Roland for 

his many years of hard work, dedication, and support of the STI Program. We 

sincerely hope that you will enjoy your well-earned retirement! 

STI Website Complies with Agency’s New Website Guidelines

NASA issued new guidelines on Nov. 16, 2001, for website registration and 

publishing content on all NASA web pages in light of the terrorist attacks of 

September 11, 2001. These guidelines were consistent with actions taken by 

other Federal agencies. All NASA websites were reviewed for content and 

registered prior to reactivation for public access. All STI web pages including 

various links that are hosted by STI were reviewed for compliance. We know 

that in some cases, data, text, or images were temporarily unavailable for 

users, and we apologize for this inconvenience; however, NASA policy 

deemed this review prudent to safeguard NASA’s employees and 

infrastructure. 
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NASA

Commercial

Technology Network 

(NCTN)

In part, the NASA S T I Program Plan states, "The NASA Scientific and Technical 

Information Program is an integral part of NASA's future. The program supports the 

Agency's missions to communicate scientific knowledge and understanding to help 

transfer NASA's research and development to the aerospace and academic communities. 

By ensuring a fast, two-way process of internal and external information exchange, the

S T I Program helps NASA avoid duplication of research, time, and cost and to make its 

wealth of information available to benefit its customers. Each Center is responsible for 

acquiring, tracking, and producing, or having produced, NASA S T I related to their 

Center mission; and for ensuring that Center S T I reaches the S T I Database [at the 

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information]."

To that end, each NASA Center executes the S T I Program mission and objectives by 

way of a team of individuals that applies professional publishing standards to all 

scientific and technical information passing through its doors. Whether the information 

will result in a document to be distributed through the traditional print and mail process 

or an electronic document available on the Internet-or both-the team is responsible for 

making it happen, going through the process step-by-step with each customer. For 

information about the S T I Program at any NASA Center, visit http://www.sti.nasa.gov.

...S T I Program Plan
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NASA 

Commercial

Technology 

Network (NCTN)

The NASA Commercial Technology Program encompasses a national network of specialized 

centers and organizations that assist U.S. businesses and industry in accessing, utilizing and 

commercializing NASA-funded research and technology. The organizations work closely 

with each other to provide a full range of technology transfer and commercialization services 

and assistance. The NASA Commercial Technology Network (NCTN) consists of the 

Commercial Technology Organizations at each of the NASA field centers, the Jet Propulsion 

Laboratory, the National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC), the six Regional Technology 

Transfer Centers (RTTCs), NASA Tech Briefs, UNISPHERE, and other specialized 

organizations and services. All are dedicated to fostering dual-use technology partnerships 

and the transfer and commercialization of NASA-sponsored research and technology. 

The NCTN provides access to a wide variety of information resources that can be searched 

and consulted for research and technology, patents, technical expertise, and R&D facilities, as 

well as for technology partnering, licensing, and commercialization opportunities. In addition 

to serving as an integrated information resource, the NCTN is developing into an electronic 

marketplace for NASA-sponsored technology, facilitating communications, transactions, and 

partnerships between NASA and the U.S. private sector. 

Visit the NCTN website at http://nctn.hq.nasa.gov for more information on the NASA 

Commercial Technology Program and the members of its network. 

...The NASA Commercial Technology Program 

An Overview
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NASA Commercial

Technology Network 

(NCTN)

New NASA History Series Publications

We are pleased to announce the publication of Shuttle-Mir: The U.S. and Russia 

Share History's Highest Stage (NASA SP-2001-4225, 2001), an attractive 

illustrated history by Clay Morgan. This multimedia history details the first major 

Russian/American space partnership after the fall of the Soviet Union, combining 

the America Space Shuttle's ready access to space with Russia's long-duration space 

station, Mir. This engagingly written book presents the human side of the ShuttleMir story, beginning by setting the historical stage. It then alternates between 

efforts of the team members on the ground, the missions of the Space Shuttle to and 

from Mir, and the tales of the seven American astronauts who, with their Russian 

crewmates, worked for months in Earth orbit, sometimes under challenging 

conditions. A CD-ROM accompanies the book with electronic versions of the text 

and pictures. The CD also contains extensive program documentation, full 

transcripts of more than 70 interviews, extensive imagery, video, and full text 

search capability. The NASA History Office plans to re-issue the CD-ROM 

separately at a later date. How to order: For sale for $93.00 (domestic postpaid), 

$116.25 (non-U.S.). By Phone: GPO Order Desk at (202) 512-1800 (DC Metro 

area) or 1-866-512-1800 (Toll-free) or fax (202) 512-2250. This book also may be 

ordered at http://bookstore.gpo.gov/index.html on the Web, order stock number 

033-000-01239-0. 

Forthcoming NASA History Publications

Forthcoming in the NASA History Series is Uplink/Downlink: A History of the 

Deep Space Network (NASA SP2001-4225, 2001), by Douglas J. Mudgway. The 

book will describe and analyze the complex history of the Deep Space Network 

(DSN) from its origins, as a result of the early years of the planetary science 

program in the late 1950s, through its current role as the most capable 

communications system in the world. It will assess the role of this critical 

communications method for both providing control to planetary probes and a means 

of obtaining the scientific data collected. Stay tuned for more information about

this work.

In early 2002, we will publish Asif A. Siddiqi's Deep Space Chronicle: Robotic 

Exploration Missions to the Planets (NASA SP-2002-4524) as one of our 

"Monographs in Aerospace History." This monograph provides an overview of the 

missions, conducted by the United States, the Soviet Union/Russia, and the other 

spacefaring nations of the world, to the planets of the Solar System. 

...From the NASA History Office 
New NASA Historical Information On-Line

We are pleased to announce that a history of Shuttle-Mir Phase I web page is now 

on-line at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/history/shuttle-mir. Produced in conjunction 

with the newly released NASA book authored by Clay Morgan entitled ShuttleMir: The United States and Russia Share History’s Highest Stage (NASA SP-2001-

4225), the fully searchable web page offers additional resources that exploit the full 

capabilities of the World Wide Web. These include on-line documents, text, videos, 

animation, interviews and audio that collectively chronicles the history of this 

unique program. 

2002-2003 Fellowship in Aerospace History Competition Announced

The American Historical Association has announced the annual competition for the 

2002-2003 Fellowship in Aerospace History. Supported by the NASA, this 

fellowship will fund at least one Fellow, for one academic year, to undertake a 

research project related to aerospace history. It will provide a Fellow with an 

opportunity to engage in significant and sustained advanced research in all aspects 

of the history of aerospace from the earliest human interest in flight to the present, 

including cultural and intellectual history, economic history, history of law and 

public policy, and the history of science, engineering, and management. 

Eligibility: Applicants must possess a doctorate degree in history or in a closely 

related field, or be enrolled as a student (having completed all coursework) in a 

doctoral degree-granting program. 

Term and Residency: The Fellowship term is for a period of at least six months, but 

not more than one year. The Fellow will be expected to devote the term entirely to 

the proposed research project. The Fellow will have (and be encouraged to take 

advantage of) the opportunities to use the documentary resources of the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration, and may also spend the Fellowship in 

residence at the NASA headquarters or one of the NASA centers. 

Other Requirements: The applicant must complete an application form and offer a 

specific and detailed research proposal that will be the basis of the Fellow’s 

research during the term. At the term’s conclusion, the Fellow will be expected to 

write a report, and to present a paper or a public lecture on the Fellowship 

experience. 

Stipend: The stipend is $20,000 for a 6-9 month fellowship. This amount is 

adjustable to the length of the fellowship term. Funds may not be used to support 

tuition or fees. A Fellow may not hold other major fellowships or grants during the 

fellowship term, except sabbatical and supplemental grants from their own 

institutions, and small grants from other sources for specific research expenses. 

Sources of anticipated support must be listed in the application form. 

Deadline, Submission Information, and Notification Applications and letters of 

recommendation must be postmarked by 1 March 2002. Submit to: Fellowship in 

Aerospace History, American Historical Association, 400 A Street, S.E., 
Washington, D.C. 20003. Additional information is available at 

http://www.theaha.org/prizes/NASA.htm. 

Notification: Names of the winner and alternate will be announced in May 2002.
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NASA Commercial

Technology Network 

(NCTN)

About Spinoff

NASA's premier publication, Spinoff, annually features over 40 companies that have 

successfully utilized NASA technology in commercial products and processes. Each 

year NASA distributes tens of thousands of Spinoffs through trade shows, 

conferences, and special requests. The Spinoff web site, located at 

http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto, contains a searchable database, which includes an entry 

for every article ever featured. If you are familiar with companies that have 

successfully commercialized NASA technology and may be interested in this unique 

opportunity, please contact the Spinoff editors, Ms. Michelle Birdsall, 

(mbirdsall@sti.nasa.gov or (301) 621-0244) or Mr. James Janvier, 

(jjanvier@sti.nasa.gov or (301) 621-0242). 

To receive a printed copy of Spinoff, please contact the National Technology Transfer 

Center (NTTC) at (800) 678-6882, or visit the NTTC web site at http://www.nttc.edu.

Benefits and Awards to NASA Innovators

Each NASA Center has an Award Liaison Office which will provide information to 

NASA innovators concerning benefits and awards for their innovations. Also, refer to 

the NASA Invention & Contribution Board’s web site. URL: 

http://icb.nasa.gov/alos.html.

Patents offer many benefits to the inventors and to NASA. Those benefits include: 

 Provides a symbol of prestige and professional stature. 

 Provides monetary awards. 

 Enhances Technology and Commercialization. 

 Patent protection provides the exclusivity required for licensing the technology to 

industry. 

 Royalties obtained from licensing patents and patent applications are shared with 

the inventors. 

The Space Act Awards Program is designed to: 

 Reward individuals (both NASA and Contractor employees) for scientific and 

technical achievements 

 Stimulate the identification and documentation of innovations 

 Enhance technology commercialization 

 Publicize innovations that broaden the boundaries of technology 

 Provide peer recognition 

 Increase exposure for new ideas that should be developed 

 Improve productivity and efficiency 

 Strengthen Centers of Excellence in government laboratories 

...From NASA’s Spinoff Magazine 
Innovators are eligible for one or more monetary Space Act award: 

 Upon filing of a patent application 

$500 to a sole inventor; or 

$250 to each of two or more inventors 

 Upon acceptance of software by your Center’s Software Releasing Agent or 

authority: 

$500 to a sole inventor/author; or 

$250 to each of two or more inventors/authors 

 When published in NASA Tech Briefs: 

$150 to each innovator 

Government innovators are eligible to share in royalties as described in the 

section on Licensing 

and Distribution of Royalties.

Innovators are eligible for NASA Inventor of the Year Award or Software of the 

Year Award

Recipients of the above awards are honored with: 

 Award check and certificate 

 Ceremony 

Innovators are eligible for additional Space Act awards:

You can obtain supplemental awards for new technology innovations based upon the 

significance of future benefits or savings to NASA. Supplemental awards can be 

made UP to $100,000. 

NASA Employees and Contractors Shared in the Numerous Space Act Awards 

(ranging from $2,000 to $45,000 per team). 

Over the last five years NASA employees have shared awards of approximately 

$800,000 per year for the 

development of various technologies. 

Approximately 2,500 NASA Employees and Contractors have received Space Act 

Award checks each year: 

40% received by NASA Employees and 60% by Contractors.