A quarterly electronic publication from the

NASA Scientific and Technical Information (S T I) Program

July 2001

NCTP Overview

Spinoff

* NASA Commercial

Technology

...From the S T I Principal Center NASA History Office

S T I Program Plan

...From Goddard

NASA S T I News Other NASA News NCT Program *

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

Center

STI Attends 2001 Global Air & Space Conference

Representatives from the NASA STI Program's Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI) attended the 2001

Global Air & Space Conference held in Arlington, Virginia, from May 7-9, 2001. Sponsored by the American

Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Global Air & Space featured contributions from

co-sponsors such as the Aerospace Industries Association, the Aviation Week Group, and Pratt & Whitney.

Out of the approximately 570 attendees, about 16 percent picked up a catalog and 11 percent picked up a copy

of NASA's Spinoff publication. Trade organizations expect the number of attendees to stop by a booth to be

from about 15 to 20 percent.

In addition to CASI representatives, NASA's JoAnne Rocker and George Roncaglia, representing the AIAA

Technical Information Committee, sponsored a session on competitive intelligence (CI) on May 9. The

Committee invited experts from the field of CI to talk about the uses and implementation of CI programs in

organizations. CI is the legal and ethical practice of information gathering about competitors and the

marketplace. Information sources like company web pages, online newspapers and news organizations,

electronic journal articles and reports, and Internet search engines allow CI practitioners to analyze company

strengths and weaknesses for their customers.

Blake Kimbrough, Senior Marketing Analyst, at The Aerospace Corporation, and Kenneth Sawka, Vice

President and Director of Fuld & Company's Consulting Practice, represented the CI industry and spoke on

their experiences as CI professionals. Mr. Kimbrough discussed the necessity for employee and management

buy-in for developing CI programs. CI programs require staff and resource investments and time to evolve.

Mr. Sawka spoke on his company's CI consulting business and the variety of his clients from bioengineering

to telecommunications. CI requires expertise in both understanding client needs and analytical skills. The

Technical Information Committee on CI proved a success and was well received by the audience.

CASI Team Worked to Beat the Clock!

A Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI) team worked to ensure that the STI web page at

http://www.sti.nasa.gov and its related links met the requirements of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998,

which is better known as Section 508. The deadline for compliance was June 21, 2001. This means that some

content and the look of some of the pages have been altered to comply with the existing requirements.

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...S T I Program Plan

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.

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...From NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Technology Showcase 2001

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center hosted Technology Showcase 2001, June 14-15, 2001. The goal of the

showcase was to build unique spacecraft and incorporate information technology that reduce the cost and

accelerate the delivery of scientific data to researchers around the globe. In addition to state-of-the-art

information technology, evolving technologies at Goddard include thermal control, spacecraft navigation,

microelectronics, intelligent systems, and super-conducting detectors. Participants at the showcase had the

opportunity to:

see some of NASA's newest award-winning technologies;

explore opportunities with Goddard technology leaders;

learn how Goddard research and technology can be leveraged for new technology development;

discuss how innovations move from research base to new technologies; and

attend forums to explore the intersection between research and new technologies.

In addition to exhibits representing award-winning technology being developed at the Center, the showcase

offered keynote speeches and discussion forums. Speakers included representatives from NASA Headquarters

and the Goddard Space Flight Center, as well as officials from Maryland business and industry. The plenary

sessions provided the attendees with the opportunity to hear descriptions of important industry technology

roadmaps and how they pertain to Earth and Space Science technologies. The forum sessions focused on

providing an overview of several industry, academic, and government development plans for Earth and Space

Science-related technologies. For more information on Technology Showcase 2001, visit

http://techshowcase.gsfc.nasa.gov.

Goddard Space Flight Center Visitor Center Open House

At the culmination of Technology Showcase 2001, the Goddard Space Flight Center held an open house to

which all members of the community were invited on June 16. The Open House, held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the

Visitor Center, offered an opportunity for participants to visit the Technology Showcase exhibits, enjoy a guided

bus tour of Goddard facilities, and hear Earth- and Space Science speakers. For the children there were puppet

shows, featuring Echo the Bat and Jenny and Jeff's Adventure in Space, a model rocket launch, and other special

demonstrations and activities that included making comets, making rocket racers, making volcanoes, and making

UV bead bracelets. Participants had the opportunity throughout their visit to enjoy international food

concessions and music.

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...From the NASA History Office

New NASA History Publications

The NASA History Office is pleased to announce the availability of Monograph in Aerospace History #23

entitled The Eclipse Project, by Tom Tucker. This monograph describes the Eclipse project involving Kelly

Space & Technology, Inc., NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, and the Air Force in flight testing a

concept whereby a launch vehicle for a satellite could be towed to initial launch behind a transport airplane.

Flight research with a C-141A as the tow aircraft and an F-106 as the simulated launch vehicle began in

December 1997 and ended in February 1998. The flights demonstrated that the concept was viable. The

monograph's author, Tom Tucker, has told the story in an interesting way that should make the monograph a

joy to read. Monographs 2-23 are available by sending a self-addressed 9x12" envelope for each monograph

with appropriate postage for 17 ounces (typically $3.95 within the U.S., $5.05 for Canada, and $11.00 for

overseas. International customers are asked to purchase U.S. postage through an outlet such as

http://www.stampsonline.com ) to the NASA History Office, Code ZH, Washington, DC 20546.

NASA History Website Updates:

The NASA History Office is pleased to announce that Pioneering the Space Frontier: The Report of the

National Commission on Space (commonly called the NCOS or Paine Report), May 1986, is now on-line at

http://history.nasa.gov/painerep/cover.htm. Please note that this is a full-text HTML version; no graphics are

included due to copyright issues. Special thanks to Eracenia Kennedy and Diane Reid for scanning this

document.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the launch of STS-1 on April 12, 1981, we are pleased to announce

a new website with much useful and interesting information about the Shuttle. It is available at

http://history.nasa.gov/sts1/index.html. Special thanks to Douglas Ortiz of our printing and design office

who prepared this attractive and functional site.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's famous May 25, 1961 speech before

Congress in which he proposed landing an American on the Moon by the end of the decade, the NASA

History Office created a new site at http://history.nasa.gov/moondec.html. This page has links to the full

speech, key documents, and other information about Project Apollo.

In addition, the NASA History Office is pleased to announce the on-line availability of NASA Leadership

and America's Future in Space: A Report to the Administrator by Dr. Sally K. Ride, August 1987.

Commonly known as the Ride report, this document is available from

http://history.nasa.gov/riderep/cover.htm on the Web in an HTML version (with fully searchable text) and a

PDF version (with full-color graphics). Special thanks to Mike Walker, Eracenia Kennedy, and Diane Reid,

for their assistance with document scanning and preparation.

The NASA Investigation Board Report on the Initial Flight Anomalies of Skylab 1 is now on-line at

http://history.nasa.gov/skylabrep/SRcover.htm on the Web. This 1973 report covers the loss of the meteoroid

shield and loss of a solar array that caused other problems on the first Skylab mission. Special thanks to

Dirk Stoffels for formatting this report for the Web. Please note that this site includes TIF images so you

may need to check the configuration of your browser software.

Finally, we are pleased to announce that the complete text and images of the Report of the Presidential

Commission of the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident (commonly known as the Rogers Commission report,

after its chairman, William P. Rogers) are now on-line. This site includes both the multi-volume report itself,

which was published in June 1986, as well as the Implementations of the Recommendations, published in

June 1987. The site is at http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/51lcover.htm on the Web. The report includes

extensive testimony, charts, photos, correspondence, and analytical narrative and is a tremendous reference

source for those interested in the Challenger accident. We hope you find this on-line version useful. Very

special thanks to volunteer Chris Gamble, who undertook the mammoth task of scanning and formatting this

report for the Web. We greatly appreciate his yeoman efforts, as well as those of Eracenia Kennedy and

Diane Reid, who assisted with some of the scanning.

2002 Aerospace History Literature Award

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is now accepting nominations for the new

History Literature Award. The Aerospace History Literature Award is presented for the best original

contribution to the field of aeronautical or astronautical historical non-fiction literature published in the last

five years dealing with the science, technology, and/or impact of aeronautics and astronautics on society. The

purpose of this award is to provide recognition by the aerospace profession to an author or editor for an

outstanding and significant work in the field of aerospace history. The award is generally presented at the

AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit.

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Requirements: Nomination must have been published within the last five (5) years. This would include

revised editions of previous works and translations of previous works. All nominations will be held over for

consideration for one year. Nominations must be submitted in the English Language. Six (6) copies of the

nominated publication must be submitted with the nomination. Past winning works of the AIAA History

Manuscript Award are NOT eligible for this award. Publications with multiple authors are allowed.

2002 History Manuscript Award

The AIAA is also now accepting nominations for the History Manuscript Award. The History Manuscript

Award is presented for the best historical manuscript dealing with the science, technology, and/or impact of

aeronautics and astronautics on society. The purpose of this award is to provide professional recognition to

an author who makes a major and original contribution to the history of aeronautics or astronautics. The

award is presented yearly at the AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit held in Reno, NV each

January.

Requirements: Manuscripts for this award must be in English and can be in their first year of publication.

Manuscripts previously published in part in periodical form are eligible. Manuscripts may be written by one

or more authors. Manuscripts should be substantial historical studies of book length, but no longer than

approximately 100,000 words. Manuscripts must be typewritten, double-spaced, and on one or both sides of

the paper. Illustrations may be submitted, but are not necessary for judging. All submittals are to include six

copies of the nominated manuscript.

The deadline date for nominations for both awards is July 30, 2001. To request nomination forms or

additional information, please contact Peter Gabriel, Honors and Awards Liaison, at (703) 264-7623 or via

e-mail at PeterG@aiaa.org or Tony Springer, History Committee Chair at (202) 358-0848 or via e-mail at

tony.springer@hq.nasa.gov.
...The NASA Commercial Technology Program

An Overview

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.

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...From NASA's Spinoff Magazine

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.

Sarah Sheehan, (sanderson@sti.nasa.gov or (301) 621-0244) or Ms. Rhiana Podraza,

(rpodraza@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.

Spinoff on the Road

The Spinoff editors, Rhiana Podraza and Sarah Sheehan, attended the SAMPE 2001 conference in

Long Beach, California from May 6-10, 2001. Sessions were offered by various NASA scientists and

engineers, as well as other materials and processes experts. The Spinoff staff accompanied the NASA

National Technology Transfer Center, complimenting their display. More than 39 percent of the 700

attendees picked up issues of Spinoff and other related materials. Special thanks to Tom Coleman of

the NTTC, for all his assistance and efforts in making Spinoff's appearance possible.

Special Feature: Excerpts from the Technology Commercialization Handbook

*This document may also be found online at

http://www.nctn.hq.nasa.gov/division/commtechhandbook3_19.pdf

Marketing and Finding Partners

Developing a marketing strategy and identifying potential partners for a NASA program/project's

technologies and innovations is perhaps the most challenging part of the overall technology

commercialization process. Each Center's Commercial Technology Office is available to support the

NASA program/project in developing and implementing its commercialization/partnering strategy. This

includes a range of activities to actively target and identify firms that have the capability to take a

NASA technology from concept to the marketplace. Options available are:

showcasing your technology to potential industry partners at trade shows;

targeting companies by direct mail whoa re in an industry that can benefit from NASA

technology;

showcasing NASA technology at business seminars with high level corporate executives;

targeting companies in different industries through magazines, public service announcements;

promoting technologies through press releases to the media;

accessing electronic commerce/TechFinder;

through the national gateway at the NTTC; and

through the regional gateway via the RTTC in your region

NASA Tech Briefs

Based on results of a commercial evaluation of NASA-developed or funded technologies, an article

describing the technology or innovation may be published in NASA Tech Briefs. This is a monthly

magazine distributed free of charge to qualified subscribers, which publishes brief synopses (Tech

Briefs) of NASA's new technologies that have been identified as having potential commercial value.

NASA Tech Briefs is:

An official publication of NASA;

A unique, powerful tool for engineers, managers, and scientists to reach industries they wish to

target;

The largest engineering magazine in circulation in the U S

NASA Tech Briefs is circulated to over 207,000 industry readers in the U S alone. The monthly

magazine features exclusive reports of innovations developed by NASA and its industry

partners/contractors that can be applied to develop new/improved products and solve engineering or

manufacturing problems. The "Tech Briefs" span a wide array of fields, including electronics, physical

sciences, materials, computer software, mechanics, machinery/automation, manufacturing/fabrication,

mathematics/information sciences, and life sciences.

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Most briefs offer a Technical Support Package (TSP) which explains the technology in greater detail

and provides points of contact for questions or licensing discussions. NASA Tech Briefs also contains

feature articles on successful NASA spinoffs, profiles of NASA tech transfer resources, and

technology application stories. Regular news columns describe new patents, industry products,

software, and literature.

Technical Support Package (TSP)

The Commercial Technology Offices at the Center may determine that a Technical Support Package or

TSP needs to be developed for the new technology or innovation. Most technologies selected for

NASA Tech Briefs have a TSP prepared for them. A TSP provides a full description of the item; a

description of the problem it addresses; any unique features of the item; and the potential market

applications. Appendix G is an example of a TSP. The innovator and/or program manager/COTR may

be asked to assist. Contact your commercial technology office for information about publishing in

Tech Briefs.