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A quarterly electronic publication from the

NASA Scientific and Technical Information (S T I) Program

October 2001 

NASA S T I News Other NASA News NCT Program * 

...From the S T I Principal Center

S T I Program Plan

...From Goddard

 

NASA History Office NCTP Overview

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* NASA 

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Message from the NASA S T I Program

We send our condolences to those affected by the events of September 11 and our thanks to those 

who have worked so hard to help in its aftermath. Let us strive to meet each day with renewed 

strength and purpose, handle our work with professionalism, our personal lives with love, value 

and protect the information that we are entrusted to preserve, hoping it will be used for positive 

benefit. Now it is time to "roll up our sleeves" and successfully meet what lies ahead. 

Marshall Technical Library Closed

The Marshall Technical Library permanently closed its doors for service on September 28, 2001. 

Any document(s) that were ordered for patrons that were not received by this date will be 

forwarded to the patron through the Center-wide mail system. All document orders should now be 

referred to the Redstone Scientific Information Center (RSIC) (http://rsic.redstone.army.mil/) for 

processing. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Marshall Technical Library for the 

many years of service that it provided to NASA. 

New S T I Online Order Forms 

The NASA S T I Program's Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI) now offers secure online 

forms for ordering S T I documents and videos. These are VeriSign(TM) secure forms that allow 

users to place an order directly online and receive a temporary order confirmation number. The 

order is then processed, and an official order confirmation e-mail is sent to the user with the 

permanent order number, and acknowledgment that the order is entered into CASI's system. To 

access the new forms, visit http://www.sti.nasa.gov and select the "Order S T I " button in the 

sidebar. From there, choose either the "S T I Order Form" or the "Video Order Form" link. 

Although the new secure forms are now the best way to order from CASI, the PDF version of the 

forms is still available for users that would prefer, or are paying by check, to fax or mail their 

order. 

Access to Scholarly Journals Online 

Nearly everyone doing research desires access to the scholarly journals online. However, other 

than librarians, most do not realize the cost of these online journal services. The Cornell University 

Engineering Library developed an exhibit to make their users aware of the costs. On their website, 

http://www.englib.cornell.edu/displays/stickershock/, they point out: 

"Believe it or not, you could own this brand new Toyota Corolla, complete with air conditioning 

and a three-year warranty, for the same price as the library's yearly subscription to the Journal 

Applied Polymer Science." 

According to the site, the subscription for the Journal is $12,495.00. 

...From the NASA S T I Program’s Principal Center
NASA Technical Standards Program

Technical Standards have been an integral part of NASA Programs and Projects developments and 

operations since the Agency was established in 1959. However, for years each Center was 

responsible for its own development and selection of non-NASA technical standards that met the 

needs of Programs and Projects for which they were responsible. There were few "Agency-wide" 

applicable Technical Standards, mainly those in the area of safety. Department of Defense 

Standards and Specifications were the foundation and main source for Technical Standards used by 

the Agency. This process existed until about 1997 when NASA embarked on a Program to convert 

NASA’s Center-developed Technical Standards into Agency-wide endorsed NASA Preferred 

Technical Standards and the formal adoption of non-NASA Technical Standards (DOD, SAE, 

ASTM, ASME, IEEE, etc.) as NASA Preferred Technical Standards. 

Technical Standards are important to the Agency for many reasons. For example, they are used in 

contract proposal reviews to verify inputs, in-house design and development actions, supporting 

contractor use, to capture lessons learned and new technology, and to maintain engineering 

excellence in research and development and operations. They provide a common base for 

interoperability. 

As noted by Greg Saunders, Director of the Department of Defense Standardization Program 

Office, interoperability and standardization are connected just as thunder and lightning. Lightning 

causes thunder and the "right" type of standardization and standards results in the interoperability 

the Agency needs to win on the development and operation of spacecraft and associated 

instrumentation. 

The NASA Technical Standards Program now has several essential elements. They include the 

development of NASA-unique Technical Standards; formal adoption of non-NASA Technical 

Standards, especially those developed by Voluntary Consensus Standards Developing 

Organizations; conversion of NASA’s Center-developed Technical Standards and, of considerable 

importance to the Agency’s Programs and Projects, the development of NASA’s Integrated 

Technical Standards Initiative. This unique Initiative resulted from interactions with many 

Managers and staff members of NASA Programs and Projects, plus individual engineering staff 

members of the Centers. The three focal points of the Initiative consist of the Agency-wide Fulltext Technical Standards System, Standards Update Notification System, and the Lessons 

Learned/Best Practices/Application Notes - Integrated Standards System. All of these Systems 

have been implemented and their further development and enhancement to meet the Agency’s 

engineering needs continues as experience and feedback are obtained from the users. Anyone 

within the "nasa.gov" domain can access the Systems at the NASA Technical Standards Program 

Website: http://standards.nasa.gov. The NASA Technical Standards Program Office is sponsored 

by the NASA Chief Engineer and managed by Mr. Paul Gill. 

World Wide Support Shown to NASA’s S T I Program

That the World Trade Center has ’world’ as the first part of its name is no coincidence. After the 

horrendous attack on the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center, and on the Pentagon, 

condolences from our customers around the globe have come to CASI, some of which follow. 

A French company which provides standards support wrote: 
"We are really concerned about the horrible crime that happened yesterday in your country. We 

want to let you know that we are sincerely thoughtful [sic] of all the American [sic] people and 

share your grief today. We hope that all your relatives and friends have escaped this nightmare and 

are safe." 

In addition, a French attaché in Washington sent this message: 

"Dears friends, 

Following the terrible tragedy the country recently endured, I am sending you this e-mail in hopes 

that you, your family and your colleagues are doing well. Knowing how close some of you work to 

the attacks, I sincerely hope that no harm came to you or to your loved ones. It is hard to 

comprehend that this tragic act of hatred and horror could become a reality in this very country that 

promotes democracy and freedom. My thoughts are with you in this time of national mourning. 

New York City [sic], Washington DC, the USA and the world are different today. The world has 

lost some innocence. I am confident that this country, united as always, will rise one more time to 

the challenge. I hope it will, with the help of its friends and allies, put an end to international 

terrorism. 

Please forward to your family and colleagues my sympathy and support in this difficult time. 

I hope to have the pleasure to talk to you again soon, in better circumstances." 

A student from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) expressed his sympathy: 

"I'm student from Sri Lanka who loves to know information about NASA. But I heard the 

explosion happen in the WORLD TRADE CENTER ... (New York) and the other buildings and I 

heard that lot of people were died in this terrible Terrorist [sic] attack and [saw] the whole story in 

[sic] TV. First, I would like to give my kind sympathy for the people in U.S.A. I am so sorry about 

this situation. I pray for God to give you all the strength to face this problems [sic]." 

CASI is known worldwide as a source of NASA S T I , and it is clear from the geographic 

dispersion of the writers, that the S T I Program is known and respected in many countries. CASI 

stands ready to serve the scientific and technical needs of the nation and of its friends around the 

world.
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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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New NASA History Publications

NASA has just released Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in 

the History of the U.S. Civil Space Program, Volume V, Exploring the 

Cosmos (NASA SP2001-4407, 2001), produced under the general 

editorship of John M. Logsdon. The volume contains documentary 

materials on the origins, evolution, and organization of the space science 

enterprise at NASA, the history of planetary exploration, and solarterrestrial physics. A future volume will contain documentary materials on 

astronomy and astrophysics, microgravity and life sciences, solar science, 

and Earth science. This book is available for purchase from the U.S. 

Superintendent of Documents. You may order on-line by accessing the 

Government Printing Office homepage at 

http://bookstore.gpo.gov/index.html on the Web. Order publication number: 

033-000-01238-1. 

A recent addition to the "New Series in NASA History" is Taking Science 

to the Moon: Lunar Experiments and the Apollo Program, by Donald A. 

Beattie (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001), Hardcover 

- 336 pages, ISBN: 0-8018-6599-9, Price $42.50. The advertising copy for 

this work states: "This is a well written, clearly argued book on a topic of 

very considerable interest to working earth and planetary scientists, 

historians of science, and spaceflight 'buffs,' as well as an informed public. 

The science performed during and in preparation for the Apollo missions 

has drawn relatively little attention given its scope, the number of people 

involved, and the importance of the results secured. Hence, this work helps 

to fill a surprising gap in the literature, as well as adding a very interesting 

voice to the existing material on the workings of NASA in the 1960s and 

early 1970s." Robert Smith, University of Alberta, Canada. This book may 

be ordered from http://www.press.jhu.edu/press/books/ordering/index.htm

on-line or by calling 1-800-537-5487. 

Forthcoming NASA History Publications

Forthcoming 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 

...From the NASA History Office 
communications method for both providing control to planetary probes and 

a means of obtaining the scientific data collected. This book should be 

available in late 2001. Stay tuned for more information about this work. 

Forthcoming in October 2001 is Howard E. McCurdy’s latest study 

appearing in the "New Series in NASA History," Faster, Cheaper, Better: 

Low-Cost Innovation in the U.S. Space Program (Johns Hopkins University 

Press, 2001). This short historical study analyzes the efforts within NASA 

to change its method of doing business in the 1990s. It is coming to a 

bookstore near you so stay tuned for more information about this work. 

In addition, forthcoming in October 2001 is Imagining Space: 

Achievements, Predictions, Possibilities, 1950-2050 (Chronicle Books, 

2001). Written by Roger D. Launius and Howard E. McCurdy, this book 

uses the last fifty years in spaceflight to explore future possibilities. In 1949 

Willy Ley wrote the classic work, The Conquest of Space, describing what 

he thought would happen in the next fifty years in space exploration, based 

upon what had already taken place up to that time. This book, in many 

respects, is a continuation of that earlier effort. The first part of it focuses 

on the predictions made about space exploration over the last fifty years and 

will analyze what was predicted and achieved, what was achieved but not 

predicted, and what was predicted but not achieved. The remainder of the 

book discusses the prospects for the future, looking out fifty years. It is 

coming to a bookstore near you so stay tuned for more information about 

this work. 

Also appearing in the fall is Shuttle-Mir: The U.S. and Russia Share 

History’s Highest Stage (NASA SP-2001-4225, 2001), written by Clay 

Morgan. This is a popularly written illustrated history of the Shuttle-Mir 

project, produced at the Johnson Space Center. 

Appearing near the end of the year will be On the Frontier: Flight Research 

at Dryden, 1946-2000 (NASA SP-2001-4315, 2001), by Richard P. Hallion 

and Michael H. Gorn. This work is a revision of a 1984 NASA History 

Series publication about the Dryden Flight Research Center. It includes 

additional chapters and revisions to earlier material. 

Finally, the program will also be publishing Peter W. Merlin’s monograph, 

Mach 3+: NASA/USAF YF-12 Flight Research, 1969-1979 (NASA SP2002-4525, 2002). This is a study of the use of the YF-12/SR-71 in flight 

research at the Dryden Flight Research Center. 

New NASA Historical Information On-Line

The Great Images in NASA (GRIN) photo database is now on-line at 

http://grin.hq.nasa.gov. The database contains more than 1,000 searchable 

images. Available in four formats, the images are suitable for everything 
from quick reference to publishable 300 dpi high-resolution photos. 

Everything is available electronically and free of charge. To get started, we 

suggest reading the information at http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/howtouse.html. 

Please note that we intend to add images, but feel free to let us know, at 

histinfo@hq.nasa.gov, if you find errors or have suggestions. Special 

thanks to a variety of folks, but especially Michael Hahn, Dwayne Day, 

Erin Needham, and John Betts for getting this system up and running. 

Skylab: Our First Space Station (NASA SP-400, 1977), edited by Leland F. 

Belew, and Skylab: A Guidebook (NASA EP-107, 1973), by Leland F. 

Belew and Ernst Stuhlinger are now on-line at http://history.nasa.gov/SP400/sp400.htm and http://history.nasa.gov/EP-107/ep107.htm on the web, 

respectively. A very special thanks to Chris Gamble, who scanned and set 

up these attractive and informative books for the web. 

We are pleased to offer several useful NASA and contractor documents that 

cover the evolution of space suits from Project Mercury to the Space 

Shuttle. These documents about space suits were assembled into a single 

PDF file at http://history.nasa.gov/spacesuits.pdf on the web. The 1973 

report of the NASA Investigation Board Report on the Initial Flight 

Anomalies of Skylab 1 covers the loss of the meteoroid shield and a solar 

array that caused other problems on the first Skylab mission. It is available 

at http://history.nasa.gov/skylabrep/SRcover.htm on the web. Special 

thanks to Dirk Stoffels for his work formatting the report for the web. 

Please note that the site includes TIFF images so you may need to check the 

configuration of your browser software. 
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Library’s 40th Anniversary Celebration and Open House 

The Library held its 40th Anniversary 

Celebration on May 2. The event, entitled 40 

Years of Library Innovation, was a fitting theme 

to highlight the Library's many transformations 

and improvements over the years while 

improving access to Library resources and 

responding to the information needs of Center 

researchers and scientists. 

Ms. Janet Ormes, Assistant CIO for Library and 

Information Services and Head, Library Information Services Branch, began the 

festivities with the opening remarks. Ms. Alison McNally, Director, Code 200 

Management Operations Directorate, made the welcoming address. GSFC Center 

Director, Mr. Al Diaz, also attended and was present to hear Keynote Speaker, Professor 

Robert Allen, of the University of Maryland, College of Library Studies, give a 

presentation on Digital Libraries. Past and current Library Council Chairs and Members 

were invited and acknowledged as part of the Library's 40th Anniversary event. 

The Then/Now posters portraying the Library's Innovations Displays were very well 

received. Celebration attendees showed intense interest in these exhibits and received 

personalized demonstrations of the new (Now) products/services. In addition, Library 

staff demonstrated several new, wireless technologies with potential applicability to the 

new Goddard Digital Library. These tools are envisioned as part of the Goddard Digital 

Library of the future, as the Library seeks to employ high tech solutions in the delivery 

of Library information to Center users. 

Library staff also arranged a display of historical Goddard Library artifacts and a 

photographic display of staff from various projects in the Library's 20+ year history of 

contracting. Regular Library services were provided during the event. 

Library Hosts Intern

The GSFC Library is currently hosting an intern selected through the GSFC Education 

Office Intern Program. Patrick Healey, from Fairbanks, Alaska, will be receiving his 

Masters of Library Science degree from Wayne State University in December. During 

his 12-week internship, Patrick is working on several projects in the Library, including 

adding content to the digitized Webcast Goddard Colloquia Archive and planning for a 

customizable portal, or MyLibrary, interface to the Library's Web content. 

...From NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center 
New Contractor Selected

A new contractor has been selected to support the GSFC Library. Information 

International Associates, Inc. (IIA), with a subcontract to Zimmerman Associates, Inc. 

(ZAI), will be providing support services to the Library for the next five-year period. 

The contract began on September 19. 
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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.

Special Feature: Excerpts from the Online Technology Commercialization 

Handbook

For additional information go to: 

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

...From NASA’s Spinoff Magazine

Type of Agreement Primary Use Other Features

 Reimbursable 

Space Act 

Agreement 

Agreement with public/private 

entity to use NASA facilities, 

personnel, exper-tise or equipment 

to advance its own R&D efforts.

NASA is reimbursed or paid 

in advance for each stage of 

the effort. NASA may not 

compete with the private 

sector.

 Nonreimbursable 

Space Act 

Agreement 

A collaborative effort of mutual 

benefit in which NASA and the 

entity contribute facilities, 

personnel, expertise or equip-ment. 

No transfer of funds.

Supports industry needs and 

shares results in a 

collaborative effort.

 Memorandum of 

Understanding 

(MOU)/ 

Memorandum of 

Agreement 

(MOA) 

Domestically, sometimes used to 

document a statement of policy, 

practice, intention or 

accomplishment affecting NASA 

and a domestic partner. Internationally, an MOU engages NASA 

and an international partner in a 

significant activity.

International MOUs are 

enforceable under 

international law. However, 

normally NASA does not 

transfer technology to 

foreign entities.

 Cooperative 

Agreement Jointly funded research effort with a 

public purpose, such as, to stimulate 

and support development of 

innovative new technologies and 

products for dual-use applications or 

commercialization.

Substantial involvement 

between NASA and the 

recipient is required. Cost 

sharing or in-kind 

contributions required by the 

partner. Governed by the 

NASA Office of 

Procurement.
 Grant An assistance instrument to 

accomplish a public purpose of 

support or stimu-lation authorized 

by Federal stature (e.g., scientific 

research at universities and nonprofit organizations), where no 

substantial involvement between 

NASA and the recipient is required.

Governed by the NASA 

Office of 

Procurement.

 Joint Sponsored 

Research 

Agreement 

(JSRA) 

Jointly funded R&D collaboration 

with 

Individual companies or consortia to 

advance NASA’s mission-related 

projects, to enhance U.S. industry’s 

global competitiveness, or to 

commercialize aerospace 

technology. NASA may provide 

funds, services, facilities, 

equipment, information, intellectual 

property, or personnel. 

Cash or in-kind contribution 

by the industry partner is 

required and must be 

reasonable in proportion to 

NASA’s commitment. (see 

the Program Information 

Package (PIP) available at 

NASA Commercial 

Technology Offices).

 Cooperative 

Research and 

Development 

Agreement 

(CRADA). 

Agreement between a Federal 

Laboratory and the private sector to 

transfer federally funded technology 

to the private sector. Federal lab can 

provide personnel, services, 

facilities, equipment or other 

resources with or without 

reimbursement.

Federal Lab may accept, 

retain and use funds, 

personnel, services and 

property from a CRADA 

partner and provide 

personnel, services and 

property to a CRADA 

partner. Government may 

grant in advance to a 

CRADA partner, patent 

licenses or assignments in 

inventions made by a lab 

employee under the CRADA.