ODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

A NNUAL R EPORT

onal Aeronautics and Space Administration
1

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

I am very pleased to share with you the last annual report from the Goddard Space Flight

Center for the 1900s! During 1999, we celebrated our 40th Anniversary and this event

gave us a moment in time to educate and refresh ourselves about our past as well as envision the future. We are “proud of our past and prepared for the future.” 

This is our report card to you on the Center. We want to describe where we are today with

our goals and plans; how employees and Center processes are making safety a priority in

everything we do; our commitment to quality to include management and systems; our

success and status in meeting commitments for the year; highlights of scientific and technological leadership; the impact of Project Goddard; our economic impact for the year; the continuing emphasis in

community relations to include education programs that make a difference; and, finally, a report card from you. This

year we

’

re adding a feature of customer feedback: How do our clients and customers perceive us?

In the report, you will see quotes from members of the Executive Council on their perspectives for 1999. Given the

vast array of activities, from launching Landsat-7, to becoming certified for ISO 9001, I must congratulate each member of the Council for his/her leadership and dedication. I appreciate and rely on the Executive Council as the principal arm in the Center’s organization to enable employees and others to achieve the Center’s goals and objectives.

This past spring, during the Anniversary activities, I visited with former Goddard Center Directors; and in Harry

Goett’s absence I met with the First Family of Goddard, his children and grandchildren. For me, such an opportunity released an enormous amount of energy and appreciation of the challenges, difficulties, hardships, celebrations

and achievements of so many people who wore a Goddard badge over the course of 40 years. Every Center Directoroffered a special story and, taken together, these blended into a mosaic of what we are today. If we are successful, it’s

because the work is achieved by people; if we enjoy a reputation for excellence, it’s because of the efforts made by people; and if we grow and achieve further recognition by our peers and the world, it’s because of the attitudes of our

people. I am convinced that the strength of Goddard has been and always will be its family. 

As you read this report, please reflect on the many employees who dedicate their efforts to the quality, progress and

accomplishments described here. This document offers only examples of the many contributions made by our work

force. Every person at Goddard can and does make a valuable contribution to the mosaic of the Center. We are looking forward to the adventures of the next century and with our talented and skilled people, we will step up to the

challenges in Robert Goddard’s tradition of “The dream of yesterday is the hope of today and reality of tomorrow.”

A. V. Diaz, Director

TS

12 4

57

10242529303943

and

“From participating in the Center’s 40th

anniversary celebration, to restoring theNation’s land remote sensing capability with thesuccessful launch and activation of Landsat-7,to getting our hard-earned ISO certification, it’s

been a busy but extremely successful and productive year. Congratulations to the Goddard teamfor making all this, and more, possible!”

Bill Townsend, Deputy DirectorGoddard Space Flight Center
3

ctivities together, the Center continues its

ard. In addition to activities begun last year

ership to achieve Center goals and mission

dard defined Center core competencies and

Integrated Business Plan to ensure business

will support Center goals.

tation Plan

Goddard’s Strategic ImplementationPlan was a framework to identify where

the Center’s priorities should lie. Theplan confirms the vision statement forthe Center, consistent with its Center ofExcellence and mission roles and responsibilities, along with supporting goals

and strategies linked with the NASA

e Plans, and the Agency Performance Plan.

values which define the Center’s culture and

ples in the decisions which it makes: Agility,

cation, Integrity, Respect and 

Teamwork.

nable discovery through leadership is the

h and space sciences making this Center

aming its commitment to its customers. As

o operate in an environment of limited

d to pursuing science missions which best

entific and education communities and the

the framework established by the Agency’s

Science Enterprises. 

d supporting strategies form the framewor

k

oals, performance targets and actions. This

torate develop an operating plan linking its

ectives to those of the Center. To ensure that

ds how his or her role fits into the Center’s

ormance plans now identify the employee’s

t and how it links to one or more of the six

can see how their contributions relate to the

uirements to Center and Agency goals. The

resource for discovery in Earth and space

 development;

A

Y

?

• to be an international Center of Excellence for research on Earth

science, space science and technology;

• to enhance the Nation’s technological and scientific literacy by

sharing the information and knowledge that result from the performance of Goddard’s mission;

• to accomplish the Center’s mission through a vital and effective

work force;

• to maintain and upgrade Goddard’s core infrastructure, laboratory

facilities and equipment to preserve the Center’s preeminence as a

national resource and Center of Excellence;

• to organize science, technology, flight mission and business

processes to achieve greater productivity.

O

rganizational Structure 

The Center implemented a restructuring activity in 1999 related toits Earth and space science program management responsibilities.

This activity strengthened the overall management of Earth and space

science activities within the Agency and is compliant with the NASAStrategic Management Handbook. This restructuring folded togetherthe Associate Director for Earth Science and the Associate Directorfor Space Science into one Associate Director position responsible forprogram integration at the Center level. Implementation of science

mission programs assigned to GSFC will now be the responsibility of

the Program Manager in the renamed Flight Programs and ProjectsDirectorate. Integration of all programs comprising the Earth ScienceEnterprise will now be the responsibility of the Office of Earth

Sciences at NASA Headquarters.

Civil Ser

vants by Skill Group

FY59 FY99

# of % of # of % of 

Work Force

Work Force

Work Force

Work Force

Clericals 231 7.2Prof. Admin. 823 25.6Sci. & Eng. 610 55.7 1871 58.2

Technicians 154 14.1 230 7.2

Wage Grades 83 7.6 61 1.9

249 22.7

Highest Degree Earned of Emplo

yees 

Currently on Boar

d

# of % of 

Work Force

Work Force

Ph.D. 439 13.7Masters 609 18.9

Bachelors 1278 39.7Associate 116 3.6No Degree 774 24.1

Employee Facts and FiguresSome of the world’s premier scientists and engineers comprise theGoddard team. Its work force is predominantly technical and ishighly educated. On its 40th anniversary, it is interesting to see ho

w

the composition of the Center has changed over time:

“Realizing that people are our most important asset,we were really excited that the hiring freeze ended so

that we could get started building for the future of theCenter work force.”

Jerry Simpson, Chief Office of Human Resources

Systems

Technology

and Advanced

Concepts

Suborbital

and University

Class Project

Operations

Flight

Programs

and

Projects

Office of

Flight

Assurance

Management

Operations

Space

Sciences

Earth

Sciences

Office of

Human

Resources

Office of the

Chief Financial

Officer

Applied

Engineering

and

Technology

Director

Deputy Director

Associate Director

Assistant Director for Information Sciences

NASA

Office of

Inspector

General

Equal

Employment

Programs

Office

Office of

Public

Affairs

Office of

Chief

Counsel

Office of

University

Programs
5

ON E

GODDARD ’ S

COMMITMENT T O

QUALITY

ative, a risk assessment to determine vulner

on Center will be used to select higher-risk

d assessments. Examining our aging facilities

wing need as time passes. 

training and tools strengthen our position to

. During 1999, our entire work force partic

ce day. To focus on safety, personnel vie

wed

d a safety pocket guide, gathered preliminary

revie

wed safety plans and emergency proce

dbooks, another important tool, gives

ey need to focus attention on safety in their

orm easily the required analyses and assess

lows people to enter information on either

online to provide employees with a fast way

get feedback on what is happening to repair

not stop at work. By making our work force

 work we hope employees, civil servants and

more careful at home, where many accidents

people are our most cherished resource and

well-being at work, home or play is vital to

In late 1996, the Agency set a goal to be in the forefront of qualitymanagement just as it was in its scientific and engineering advancements. 

To demonstrate achievement in this area, the entire Agency

would seek certification to ISO 9001 by the end of Fiscal 

Year 1999.

In meeting this Agency goal, GSFC accomplished its first ISO 9001milestone with the successful completion of a registration audit byDet Norske 

Veritas (DNV) at the end of August 1999. The Center

was granted ISO 9001 Certification that covers Scientific andEngineering Research and Development at the Center.This Certification is a significant milestone in Goddard’s history. The

receipt of the certificate, ho

wever, is only a piece of the story.

Goddard employees developed and implemented a Quality

Management System to meet the requirements of ISO 9001, but alsoused this opportunity to provide a value-added approach to work asa preeminent research and engineering institution. The Center’s

intention was to meet the Agency’s goal and focus on understandingand meeting customer requirements by applying excellence in everything we do. We sought ISO

9001 certification as well as

a quality managementsystem that fostered effective

and efficient processesthrough continuousmeasurement and continualimprovement. The Center

believes in and supports aphilosophy to include as

much of the Center’s work force and as many of its products under

the ISO 9001 Standard as practicable. In particular, the scientific and

engineering processes involved in the Center’s scientific missions,

ranging from research effort themes to the Center’s role as program

and project managers, are covered by the certification. 

To that end,

the Center developed a list of the Center’s five core processes andmade these the subject of the Quality Management System. These

include: • Science Enabling• Systems Development

• Program/Project Management

• Technology Enabling

• Mission OperationsThe quest for certification began by understanding the ISO 9001

requirements and how these might be applied to the Center’s work. A

core group knowledgeable about ISO 9001 and its application tosimilar organizations along with a project office and a Centerwide

steering committee led the aggressive schedule. The Center revie

wed

processes for compliance with the Standard, modified them as

needed, and developed new processes to satisfy any remaining ISO

9001 requirements. The Project Office and the Quality Management

System Council met frequently to work on the Quality Management

System and reported often to senior managers regarding progress andissues that required high-level attention. More than a hundred

employees were trained to serve as a resource for subcommittees to

work on particular issues regarding ISO 9001.

The Council learned that many of the Standard’s requirements were

met in existing processes and that the largest task was to ensure thatthe processes were properly documented. In a few areas, such as

document control, nonconformance reporting and supplier evaluation, the QMS Committee recommended and developed improvedprocedures that used a Center-level system to gather information. I

n

other areas, including management review of the quality system and

internal quality audits, theQMS Committeedeveloped entirely ne

w

processes to meet specificrequirements of theStandard. This gave the

Center the opportunity totake a broad perspective onwhat to do to maximizethe return on investmentfor oversight functions. 

Preparing for ISO Certification, Goddard managers met frequently

to plan and implement a Quality Management System.

“1999 was a year of continued adaptation to change, one thatclarified the advantages of the reorganization in many ways,and highlighted areas where additional effort is still needed.Although it may take some time to become more evident, I

believe that the Goddard Integrated Business Planning Processwill prove to be a tool of exceptional value.”

Brian Keegan, DirectorApplied Engineering and 

Technology Directorate (AETD)
7

MEETING OU R COMMITMENTS

The era of the Earth Observing System, EOS, arrived in 1999. The

launch of Landsat-7 on April 15, 1999, marked the successful

beginning of an unprecedented era in Earth studies. The anticipated

Enhanced Thematic Mapper produced improved images for theEarth science community as well as state and local governments and

natural resource management personnel, as well as other customers.

The mission achieved operational status. The Alaska Ground Station

and the Svalbard, Norway, Ground Station, the backbone of the EOSPolar Ground Stations, became operational to support the Landsat-7

mission.In other Earth science endeavors, Goddard and the Jet PropulsionLaboratory (JPL) partnered to fill the gap created in ocean windmeasurements when the Japanese Adeos mission failed. JPL providedthe Seawinds instrument and Goddard provided the spacecraft from

the Rapid Spacecraft Development Office catalog. In less than 12months the QuikScat mission was conceived, implemented and ready

for launch. Due to launch vehicle problems the launch was delayed

until June 19, 1999. One month later, July 19, 1999, the observatory

was turned over for science operations.

Terra, the flagship of the Earth Observing System, represents the next

landmark in NASA’s leadership role to observe the Earth from the

unique vantage point of space. Focusing on key measurements identified by a consensus of U.S. and international scientists, Terra will

enable new research into the ways that Earth’s lands, oceans, air, iceand life function as a total environmental system. The TerraObservatory was shipped from Valley Forge, Pa., in April for finaltransportation to the West Coast. 

To meet the needs of the Earth science community, new missions are

underway. For example, the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment(SORCE) was confirmed. This is important because solar irradiance

is the dominant energy source in the Earth’s atmosphere, establishingmuch of the atmosphere’s chemistry and dynamics. It becomes the

dominant element in the global energy balance and an essential determinant of atmospheric stability and convection. The SORCEmeasurements will provide data to help us understand one of the

primary climate system variables. 

“While the year was tremendously exciting for the Center as

a whole, what made this year stand out from a Wallopsperspective was the continued successful implementation ofWallops Mission 2000 and the initiation of planning forWallops Mission 2005.”

Dr. Arnold Torres, Director 

Suborbital and Special Orbital Projects

Center Director Diaz andISO lead Vanek share a

moment of celebrationupon ISO 9001Certification.

Goddard manages the Earth Observing System including theflagship Terra spacecraft. Teams of scientists from all over the

world will use the data from Terra to improve our understandingof the Earth.

The Spartan 201mission during JohnGlenn’s return toflight put us muchcloser to unravelingthe mystery of theacceleration of thesolar wind. 

ebra

sible

ional

cien

as a

nfra

h to

The Alaska GroundStation in Chatanika,Alaska, serves as oneof the critical groundstations for the EarthObserving Systemspacecraft because ofthe high-latitudelocation.
9

The Explorer Program recorded

four launches. The SubmillimeterWave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS)is a NASA Small Explorer Project

designed to study the chemicalcomposition of interstellar gasclouds. Its primary objective is to

survey water, molecular oxygen,carbon and isotopic carbonmonoxide emission in a variety ofgalactic star-forming regions. The

SWAS Science Operations Centeris located at the HarvardSmithsonian Center forAstrophysics in Cambridge, Mass. 

d Explorer, a partnership between Goddard

n-orbit anomaly that prevents the spacecraft

mary science mission. However, the satellite

unity for students and engineers to test their

are.

eriment using Radiative Recombinative

Radio Sources (TERRIERS) satellite was

 Its mission was to produce unprecedented

s of Earth’s upper atmosphere on a global

bination of space- and ground-based instru

Following its successful launch into space, the satellite has beenorbiting Earth as planned, but has been unable to orient itself so thatits solar panel fully faces the Sun. The panel is designed to gather solarenergy and continually recharge a set of batteries that run the craftand all of its instruments. The spacecraft failed to acquire the Sun,

losing its battery po

wer about 10 hours into the mission.

Confident that TERRIERS is basically healthy, researchers fromBoston University and Goddard believe that the error can becorrected if they can communicate with the spacecraft. If TERRIERS

can be contacted and reoriented towards the Sun, researchers hope to

achieve all science and educational goals for this mission.Finally, the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer, an astronomy

mission launched on June 24, explores the universe using the

technique of high-resolution spectroscopy in the far-ultraviolet

spectral region. The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., led

the development and now operates the mission in collaboration withthe University of Colorado at Boulder, the University of California at

Berkeley, the Canadian Space

Agency, the French Space Agency,

and corporate sponsors.The outlook for future missions inspace sciences is excellent. The NextGeneration Space 

Telescope

advance studies are underway andother missions are meeting competitive criteria for final selections.

The Goddard Space Flight Center established a new road map, called

“Mission 2000,” for the direction of its 

Wallops Flight Facility in

Virginia in 1997. In only two years the facility has instituted the

major components of this three-year plan to revitalize the work at this

54-year-old research range. It has privatized its satellite and rockettracking activities and the sounding rocket operations. New wor

k

arriving at 

Wallops includes the space shuttle small payloads GetAway-Specials and Space Experiment Modules and management of

programs for university small satellites for space and Earth science.

With 2000 approaching, the employees have initiated an effort to

develop strategic and business plans towards 2005 and beyond.

“Throughout the past year, Flight Projects continued toprovide management expertise needed for the Center to meetits commitments to NASA Headquarters, and specifically tothe Earth and space science communities.”James Moore, Director Flight Programs and Project Directorate

thy Olsen visits Goddard for a

fings on current projects.

S is a

oject

The SeaWindsinstrument on theQuickSCAT satelliteis a “quick recovery”

mission to fill thegap created by the

loss of data from theNASA Scatterometerlost in June 1997.

Researchers at 

Wallops Flight Facility tested this pumpkin-shaped

balloon to carry science experiments for up to 100 days. Asuccessful test flight from Ft. Sumner, N.M., used this balloon.Once inflated it is about half the size of a football field.

Dr. Ed 

Weiler, NASA’s

Associate Administrator forSpace Science, speaks toGoddard audience on theachievements and challengesof the Space ScienceEnterprise during CenterAnniversary events.

With the successful launch of theFar Ultraviolet SpectroscopicExplorer, scientists will gain

insight into the structure of theMilky 

Way.
11

L EADERSHIP

ng the theory of magnetars. Remarkably, 

netar is hundreds or thousands of light-years 

ed enough energy on our planet to modify 

e and electrical state of a high-altitude layer 

ed to a more comprehensive knowledge of 

pace where the gravity is so powerful that 

y of light — can escape from within. 

gnetic fields from a bursting star in the 

servations with GSFC’s Rossi X-ray Timing 

esence of what may be one of the strongest 

own universe and thereby confirmed the 

suspected class of cosmic objects called 

 are seen in this X-ray image taken by the 

arger Vela, which covers most of the field, 

in blue. A Hubble Wide Field and Planetary Camera–2 close-up of the center of Centaurus A. GSFC’s Energetic Gamma-Ray Experiment Telescope on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory revealed that the nearest galaxy with an active nucleus (meaning a galaxy mani- festing evidence of energy release from the surroundings of a central giant black hole), Centaurus A, is also an emitter of very high- energy gamma rays. The discovery implies that the high-energy gamma rays can be released from the vicinity of a black hole in a previously unknown manner. This is an artist’s conception of an intermediate-sized black hole. Black holes exist in the heart of large galaxies throughout the universe. Black holes emit no light. What is visible from Earth is the accretion disk (matter swirling into the black hole, often glowing brightly in X-rays) and jets (beams of charged particles moving away from the black hole). An intermediate-sized black hole is 100 to 10,000 times as massive as the Sun yet occupies a region smaller than the Moon. Previously, only two types of black holes were thought to exist: stellar-mass black holes, several times as massive as the Sun, and supermassive black holes, with the mass of a million or billion Suns. Goddard scientists detected what was hailed as perhaps the first direct detection of matter falling into a black hole. The observations were made with Japan’s Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics. The observers found that gas was pouring into a giant black hole at the center of galaxy NGC 3516 at a speed of six-and- one-half million miles per hour. The galaxy is about 100 million light-years from the Earth, where a light-year is a distance of about 5.9 trillion miles. The actual “signature” of the doomed matter consisted of X-rays emitted by atoms of iron in the gaseous state, at a temperature of millions of degrees Fahrenheit. Goddard’s Energetic Gamma-Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory surveyed the highest energy gamma rays currently observable from satellites. The EGRET investigators found that gamma rays coming from beyond our own Milky Way arise exclusively in so called “blazars,” where a jet of energy from the vicinity of a giant black hole points almost directly at the Earth. Blazars are found at the centers of very distant galaxies. This conclusion had to be modified in 1999 when further work with EGRET revealed that the nearest galaxy with an active nucleus, meaning a galaxy manifesting evidence of energy release from the surroundings of a central giant black hole, Centaurus A, is also an emitter of very high energy gamma rays. But Centaurus A is not a blazar, because its jets point off in random directions, not toward the Earth. This discovery implies that the high-energy gamma rays can be released from the vicinity of a black hole in a previously unknown manner, as well as in directed beams or jets. What might be a whole new class of black holes was reported by two independent groups of astrophysicists in April 1999. Called “inter- mediate-mass black holes,” these objects are much larger and more massive than the “stellar-mass black holes” that result from the collapse of a massive star in a supernova explosion. And, they are much smaller and less massive than the “supermassive black holes” that have been found at the centers of galaxies. Goddard scientists turned up evidence for the new class of black holes while studying observations of 39 galaxies made with ASCA and ROSAT, while investigators from the University of Pittsburgh reached a similar conclusion by studying the X-rays from the bright nearby galaxy Messier 82. The new kind of black holes have masses in the range of 100 to 10,000 times the mass of the Sun. In contrast, stellar-mass black holes discovered thus far have masses that are at least 3 times the solar mass and much less than 100 solar masses, while supermassive black holes are in the range of several hundreds of thousands to several billion times the solar mass. Each type of black hole may originate in a different way.
13

ers found that water ice crystals form and

ce, while acting as seeds on which dry ice —

snowflakes also condense. What begins as a

ends as falling snow of ordinary and dry ice.

 concentrated on the large moon 

Titan, a

rn. 

Titan is the target of the Huygens Probe,

ni mission is carrying to the Saturn system.

g the Huygens Probe is to take into account

ch will affect the course of the probe as it

tmosphere. This requires knowledge of both

d its direction. The speed will be estimated

iously from a Goddard instrument on a

 the wind direction must be estimated from

ddard observations with a special infrared

rared 

Telescope Facility at Mauna Kea

e providing this information.

dings Bore Directly on how the

ances Affect our Environment on

he Center’s POLAR spacecraft documented

omenon: the ejection of large amounts of

mosphere of the Earth because of the impact

trified and magnetized gas that erupt from

ase, a solar cloud that struck on September

undred tons of Earth’s atmosphere. Scientists

casion, the Earth lost about as much atmos

oxygen normally present in the Louisiana

ve direct, quantifiable evidence that distur

produce changes in the flow of ions out of

arch leader concluded. Ions are atoms and

molecules that have each lost one or more of their electrons, so that

they become electrically charged.Researchers working with the Geotail spacecraft, a collaborative

project of Japan’s Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and

NASA, and part of the GSFC-managed International Solar 

Terrestrial

Physics Program, found the long-sought location where energy fromsolar disturbances enters the Earth’s magnetosphere to po

wer geomagnetic storms and substorms. These storms and substorms have many

effects on society, including disturbances to po

wer grids, pipelines,

communications, and orbiting satellites. The entry point for energycarried in disturbances in the solar wind, an electrified gas streamingout in all directions from the Sun, was found to be on the night sideof the Earth, at a distance of 12 1/2 times the diameter of the Earth inthe direction opposite the Sun, and located in the geotail, an extended

region of the Earth’s magnetic field that reaches far into space.The above “entry point” is where magnetic reconnection, a kind ofshort circuit between the magnetic field of the Earth and a magnetic

field traveling in the solar wind, occurs. During this reconnection

process, bursts of fast-moving electrified gas fly back up the geotailtoward the Earth, triggering the geomagnetic storms and substorms,while other such blobs, called plasmoids, fly out the tail toward deepinterplanetary space and are lost to Earth forever.

Exploring the Deepest UniverseUsing three instruments on the Goddard-managed Hubble Space

Telescope, astronomers recorded the Hubble Deep Field-South, a

penetrating view into the very distant and early universe. The deepestpicture of all, extending to dimmer objects in space (rated at 30th

magnitude, where the human eye sees readily only to 6th magnitude)than ever photographed before, was obtained in the imaging mode of

Goddard’s Space 

Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), in a total of

156,000 seconds of exposure time. Counting the faint galaxies in theimage from STIS, and extrapolating to the whole sky visible fromEarth, astronomers concluded that there are about 150 billion

galaxies within range of present technology. Each galaxy is a so-called“island universe” of billions or even hundreds of billions of stars.

ds, from X-ray astronomy

planet Earth.”

Hubble Space 

Telescope’s exquisite resolution has allo

wed

astronomers to resolve for the first time hot blue stars deep inside an

elliptical galaxy. The swarm of nearly 8,000 blue stars resembles ablizzard of snowflakes near the core (lo

wer right) of the neighboring

galaxy M32 located 2.5 million light-years away in the constellationAndromeda.The deepest visible/ultraviolet light image of the universe ever

taken, revealing galaxies down to the 30th magnitude, using the

Hubble Space 

Telescope.

GSFC scientists workingwith the POLAR satellitedocumented a newlyrecognized phenomenon:the ejection of largeamounts of oxygen fromthe upper atmosphere ofthe Earth due to theimpact of massive cloudsof electrified and magnetized gas that erupt fromthe Sun. Scientistsestimated that on thatoccasion, the Earth lostabout as much atmosphere as the amount ofoxygen normally presentin the LouisianaSuperdome.
15

Hubble images showa spectacular twinlobed structurearound the supergiant star Eta Carinaedue to past ejectionsof huge amounts ofmatter. Scientistssuspect a catastrophicdestruction of theentire star, called a

supernova explosion,

could in theory occurat any time.

e to block most of the energy from the

d star AB Aurigae, GSFC scientists found

nging the young star. Scientists suspect the

to accumulate in a process that may form

rse of the next few million years. These images are from a computer animation illustrating the impact

of the Lunar Prospector spacecraft with a crater near the south pole

of the Moon. 

olet light, but longer wavelengths and lower

 TRACE enabled the scientists to detect

e loops of hot gas on the Sun after a blast

on struck the loops. Unexpectedly, the vibra

hed, as though something was “braking” the

menon was apparently a property of the hot

ting the brakes in a fast-moving car heats

 the brake linings, the squelching effect or

 heat into the solar atmosphere. This could

nation for why the corona is more than 100

ble surface of the Sun that lays beneath it.

tem?

ce to block most of the energy from the

d star AB Aurigae, scientists observing with

ce Telescope found clumps of gas and dust

esearchers suspect that the cloudy matter is

 a process that may form new planets over

ew million years. AB Aurigae is about 2.4

the Sun and is an estimated 470 light-years

Making?

o-workers using the Hubble Space Telescope

monitor and explore the supergiant star Eta

 doubled in brightness since early 1998 and

tly than it has in a century. Hubble images

show a spectacular twin-lobed structure around this star, due to pastejections of huge amounts of matter. The scientists suspect that wemay be witnessing the start of another massive eruption, and note

that a catastrophic destruction of the entire star, called a supernova

explosion, could in theory occur at any time.The space science organization at Goddard is looking forward to anexciting and challenging era with the completion of on-orbitservicing of the Hubble Space Telescope and the development and

implementation of Explorer missions to learn more about theuniverse.

Lunar ProspectorThe Lunar Prospector mission made striking discoveries about theMoon’s magnetic fields, including evidence that the strongest lunar

magnetic fields formed as a result of giant impacts which occurredabout 4 billion years ago. Goddard was a co-investigator on Lunar

Prospector’s magnetometer instrument. Lunar Prospector was

launched from Cape Canaveral on January 6, 1998, and collectedorbital mapping data on the entire Moon from January 11, 1998,

through the end of July. The mission ended on July 31 when flight

dynamics controllers at Goddard guided the Lunar Prospector to a

designated crash site inside a crater near the south pole of the Moon.

As with the primary and extended mission, Goddard provided thetrajectory design, maneuver generation, and navigation for this event.

Studies of MarsExploring Mars with satellites in orbit around that planet will help us

understand not only Mars, but also our own planet.For the first time, the global landscape of Mars has been accuratelymeasured. The GSFC Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter on the Mars

This image, the first global 3-D view of Mars, reveals a deep basinand pathways for water flow. White spots are volcanoes.

Shown here is the Goddard guidance control team that guided the

Lunar Prospector.
17

e Highlights

h sciences organization at Goddard made

prove our understanding of how the atmos

ehave like a system. 

We moved closer to an

aking more accurate and proactive environ

ent successes in measuring and modeling

ogical properties of the land surface as well

s became the building blocks towards more

predictions and projections of biosphere

ess in our ability to predict global air and

vanced measurements of atmospheric ozone

as well as applying state-of-the-art ocean

 to predict natural hazards and severe storms

ased understanding of planetary dynamics,

al modeling. 

We continue to build on the

previous work with a clear eye to the future,

n can reap the substantial economic benefits

mental prediction.

es

t falls changes from year to year, making

lt for crop management, or to protect people

s or droughts. 

Yet, researchers believe that

measurements, particularly in the tropical

preciation of rainfall impact to local regions.

Measuring Mission (TRMM), launched in

ht into how and where rainfall occurs during

nts. These extreme weather patterns, which

occur every three to five years, have far-reaching effects on people and

property. In addition, incorporation of these data into our global

predictive models improves the model’s predictive capability. These

models help predict how changes in temperature in the tropicalregions of our planet affect rainfall patterns around the world. Thisdemonstrates how satellite data can be used to help predict when and

where floods, droughts, and other extreme weather patterns willoccur, and can be used to help protect property and lives.This work makes use of the notion of a multi-model super-ensemblerecently developed at GSFC for the improvement of seasonal climate,

global weather, and hurricane track and intensity forecasts. While still

in the testing phases of the project, this forecast model did correctlyforecast the track of Hurricanes Dennis and Floyd up the easterncoast of the United States with an eventual landfall in North

Carolina. As with any new model, ho

wever, confidence grows with

each correct forecast and the TRMM program is keeping careful

statistics on the success of this model in the current testing phase.

Atmospheric Ozone ResearchThere is a natural shield protecting life on our planet: the ozone layer.

Without this layer of gas in our upper atmosphere, life on our planet

would not have developed as we know it today. Like any shield, itmust be maintained to continue its protective role. Damage to theozone layer translates to danger for the Earth. One of the ways that people may change the protective ozone layer is

by using chemicals with chlorine in them, especially chlorofluorocarbons, or CFC’s. The breakdown of CFC’s in the stratosphere releases

chlorine, causing stratospheric ozone loss. These chlorine-inducedozone losses are most evident in the Antarctic ozone hole. When thesechemicals travel to the stratosphere, they are harmful to that layer.

When chlorine in the stratosphere increases, levels of ozone go down,

and the levels of UV rays atthe Earth’s surface increase.

Increased levels of UV canlead to harmful healtheffects, such as blindnessbecause of cataracts andincreases in skin cancer. 

Goddard scientists leadinvestigations concerningthe health of the protective

ozone layer. This research

includes exploring the waysthat human activities impactthe chemistry of the atmosphere generally, and

specifically the presence and

nced image of Hurricane Bonnie showing a

ud, to

wering like a skyscraper, 59,000 feet

wall. This image was obtained by the

ain radar on board the TRMM spacecraft

Hurricane FloydOn September 16, 1999, SeaWiFS captured this image ofHurricane Floyd as it passed over North Carolina and theChesapeake Bay region. The storm produced increased activity in

coastal waters, which churned up sediments from the shelf floor.

This allo

wed the SeaWiFS instrument to image the boundaries of

the continental shelf, something which had never been done thisway before. The sediment-laden waters, which indicate the locationof the continental shelf, show up as light blue or turquoise. The

clearer, deep ocean waters appear dark blue. 

Aftermath of Hurricane Floyd

This SeaWiFS image, collected on September 23, 1999, shows the

after-effects of Hurricane Floyd. Increased rainfall resulted in greaterrun-off from rivers, which introduced large quantities of suspended

sediments, and in some cases sewage, into the estuary systems of theCape Hatteras area. These contaminated estuaries show up as dar

k

brown in this image. 

Anne Thompson, a Goddard atmospheric scientist and mission scientistfor the Subsonic Assessment Ozoneand Nitrogen Oxides Experiment

(SONEX), part of NASA’sAtmospheric Effects of AviationExperiment, studies ozone chemistryacross jet line pathways.
19

se scenes are used to teach science, mathematics, and geography. 

Using satellite observations to examine

environmental conditions that demonstrate a favorable nature for the spread of

disease is a new and promising area of

research. Recent work gives researchers

the ability to forecast outbreaks of Rift

Valley Fever in Kenya two to five months

before they occur. This work — based upon

peatable patterns of Pacific Ocean and

n Ocean sea surface temperature and plant

ndices — provides enough lead-time for

ons, organizations and businesses to prepare

cts of such outbreaks.

enomena carried out on the ground show

e being cleared at unprecedented rates. This

r environmental consequences on a regional

to global scale, with effectson local weather, agriculture and biodiversity. A

joint agreement was signedin December 1998 bygovernment officials of theU.S. and Brazil to developeight regional study sites inthe Amazon. The sites are

outfitted to enable continuous, detailed ecologicalstudies for the next fiveyears. Goddard field investigations as well as remote

sensing measurementsbegan this year.

Ocean StudiesApproximately two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered by water.

Because approximately 50 percent of the world’s population live in

the coastal zone, understanding and monitoring the changing oceanis critical. For example, a decline in the health of fisheries can impactcommunities that depend on them for their food and livelihood.Changes in sea level can also impact human lives and property alongthe coastlines.During 1999, Goddard scientists studied the details of how energy inseveral forms moves between the atmosphere and oceans. Thesetransfers affect the timing and strength of El Niño events and thesubsequent La Niña. The appearance of tropical cyclones on thecontinental U.S. points to the importance of understanding theseevents from economic and human perspectives. In addition, Goddard

researchers applied computer-based mathematical models to study

ways in which the Indian Ocean may play a role in generating El

Niño and La Niña events.The nature of ocean events and the health of the oceans can bemeasured by looking at changes in ocean color, most notably those

colors present in plants. These colors often come from chlorophyll, apigment used by organisms to convert sunlight into useful biologicalenergy. In 1999, the SeaWiFS instrument obtained the first global

view of the marine biosphere over an entire year. Other work showed

that the high-accuracy measurements, which are essential to identifymonth-to-month and year-to-year changes in the ocean biosphere, areroutinely possible in the harsh marine environment. SeaWiFS data

assisted in monitoring the development and movement of tropical

storms and hurricanes, such as Dennis and Floyd, and contributed todecisions by local officials to evacuate coastal properties.Other techniques, such as very low-power lasers that penetrate thewater and measure the health of living coral reefs, monitor the healthof the oceans. Coral reefs are the marine equivalent to tropical rainforests and like rain forests they are now being subjected to increasingstress. In fact, coral reefs worldwide are mysteriously dying. Becausethese reefs help stabilize coastlines, their health has a major impact on

the economic well-being of coastal communities.The Earth’s massive ice sheets contain most of the fresh water

available on our planet. Changes in ice sheet behavior can affect thehalf of the world’s population that lives in the coastal zone. Goddard

scientists are increasing their understanding of how ice flows grow

and shrink by using several light- and radar-based techniques.Information gathered in 1999, along with new maps of surfacefeatures — never before seen in such detail — allow Goddard scientists to understand how ice has behaved in the past and how it may

behave in the future. These new data are used in computer-based

mathematical models to predict future ice-sheet flow changes andtheir effects on sea level. 

wn that the area of ozone depletion over

in 1999 than it was the year before.

Preparing Landsat-7 at Valley Forge,Pa., for delivery to the launch pad at

Vandenberg AFB in California.

 1999, that shows Baltimore, Washington,

 northern reaches of the Chesapeake Bay.

 bay and the contrast between the urban

n (green). This is among Landsat-7’s first

SeaWiFS captured the 1997–1998 El Niño

event. During the winter, abnormally warm

conditions in the equatorial Pacific Oceanproduced a reduction in plant nutrients,essentially starving the entire ecosystem.As conditions returned to normal, anincrease of plant nutrients caused theconcentration of chlorophyll, whichshows up as bright green in the Julyimage, to increase significantly.
21

ey now know that the Indian Ocean was in

n over three decades, six months before the

o began.

ter-based mathematical climate model may

rward in simulating the ways that climate

he model will affect our ability to predict

ace temperature responds to changes in the

ay also help us understand what portion of

om natural variations in the Sun’s output.

e models have concentrated on the lower

 included the ways that the upper and lower

ere interact. This year, Goddard scientists

ays of representing energy input from the

ls and distribution change, and includes a

mplete stratosphere. 

Planetary DynamicsAttempts to understand how the Earth’s various systems interact must

be supported by basic information about the structure of the Earth. A

new Goddard-generated estimate of Earth’s gravitational constant —

now known to be better than one part per billion — is the most

precise value ever obtained. Highly accurate measurements of Earth’s

gravity are a key to measuring changes in the height of the ocean’ssurface, which is a key indicator of the magnitude of an El Niño event. 

Goddard scientists are exploring parts of the Earth’s environment that

extend into space. Preliminary results from the Oersted Magnetic

Field Satellite indicate that theEarth’s magnetic field has decreased

significantly since it was lastmeasured in 1979 and 1980. Highenergy particles, traveling along this“highway” of constantly changingmagnetic fields, are responsible forsignificant damage to orbiting satellites by upsetting and degradingsatellite electronics. Goddard’s role, to examine, study

and offer interpretation and datarelated to the Earth, enables

researchers, educators, students andmany industries to apply new

knowledge to improve the quality oflife as we know it.

For the first time, researchers generated a computer model depictingchanges in the Antarctic ice sheet since the peak of the last ice age,nearly 20,000 years ago. The west Antarctic lost nearly two-thirds of

its mass during this period.

ber 23, 1999, of coastal North Carolina

 of Hurricanes Floyd and Irene. The

ast its banks and the massive flow of sedi

 off into Albemarle Sound. The

 right side is the Outer Banks.

This image shows a global composite of data from September 1997–August 1998. The red colors show high concentrations of chlorophyll in

the water, the yellows/greens indicate intermediate concentrations of chlorophyll, and the blues/purples show low concentrations of chlorophyll.

Dr. Ghassem Asrar, NASA’sAssociate Administrator forEarth Science, addresses theGoddard community onthe Center’s high-profilemissions contributing toincreased knowledge about

the Earth.

Scientists, using satellite data,discovered that the combination of the warmer thannormal water temperaturesassociated with El Niño andrising sea surface temperatures

in the western equatorialIndian Ocean can triggeroutbreaks of Rift Valley Fever

in East Africa.
23

o accelerate data processing for the Earth

cessing nearly a terabyte of data a day using

with commercial reconfigurable computing

ges to be placed on websites from orbiting

ds of being processed;

segmented to fold inside a launch vehicle,

neering efforts to send larger aperture tele

periodically tune them up to eliminate any

telescope deployment or changes from the

ght packages for chopper mechanisms that

sitioning and velocity control with the least

umption;

mit spacecraft detectors, at already very low

en cooler. These chillier temperatures allow

 remarkable sensitivity in orbit. Advanced

olutionary new process for fabricating elec

thresholds approaching 1/4 volt; this

on in power used.

These photographs showNASA’s High Resolution 

X-Ray Spectrometer beinglowered into a tankcontaining solid neon andsealed in preparation forlaunch. The spectrometer

will be installed aboard theAstro-E X-ray satellite forlaunch in 2000. The instrument was developed jointlyby the Institute of Spaceand Astronautical Science inJapan and Goddard usingmicrocalorimeter detectorsoriginally developed atGoddard.

Three nano satellites, ornanosats, fly in formation inthis artists concept.Goddard, the Air Force

Research Laboratory and

universities are workingtogether on planningmissions, designing spacecraft and developingtechnologies for smallsatelite experiments to beconducted through theUniversity Nano-SatelliteProgram. 

“The celebration of 40 years of excellence and incrediblecontributions to technology and understanding of Earth and

the universe, reminded me of how privileged I am to be partof Goddard. Every new challenge ahead of us is an opportunity to paint the canvas of the next 40 years. I can’t think of

a better place to be!”

Orlando Figueroa, Director

Systems, Technology, and Advanced Concepts (STAAC)

Directorate

engineering tools enable a longer life for ultra-sensitive componentson board spacecraft.

In addition, numerous examples occurred where Goddard researchers

capitalized on their expertise in web-related technology to gain

national recognition for communicating science, such as the selectionby Science magazine of the science visualization studio as the “cool

site” for its stunning images of the flows of Antarctic ice. Otherexamples include the millions of accesses of the NSSDC “SolarEclipse” website, the choice by Yahoo of the Applied Information

Branch “Global View From Space” as the hot site of the week, and the

development by the Information Systems Center of an automatedInternet spacecraft maintenance system, “GenSA.” These are but afew areas of application that the future holds for information technology.The unique engineering capabilities at Goddard enable researchers totake on challenges, doing the impossible to build extraordinary innovative spacecraft and enable or enhance unique spacecraft systems orinstruments.

ience and Technology community will

the Goddard Space Flight Center into

volutionizing the capture, delivery and

ace data and systems into providing

 for scientists and public alike.” 

stant Director

nd Chief Information Officer
25

D

lls, facilities and tools needed to achieve its

nd tools that exist today were compared to

the 2003 vision. A gap analysis indicated

 or change to achieve its vision. Outcomes

ghted the Center’s need to:

by replenishing its skills and resolving skill

tion efforts on our scientific laboratories; 

d sustained in-house work to maintain our

d management practices. 

Each Center organization completed atransition plan describing how it willresolve the identified gaps and is nowimplementing these plans. As the objectives of the ProjectGoddard initiative are carried out,attention shifts to a more tacticalstrategy. Efforts underway look at

Business Plan to align the Center’s business

e Center information needed to make both

ecisions when it is time to make those

d launches the Center into the next century

ople, facilities, and approaches necessary to

ed

re

i

re

w

nd

li

ed

al

E CONOMIC I M PACT

Goddard significantly impacts the local and national economy. As theCenter acquires the necessary goods and services to perform itsmission, the direct and indirect impacts of the expenditure of thesefunds affect the economic health and development of the local, state,and national economy. The dollars spent by Goddard enhances

business development, creates jobs, and increases the tax base.

Contract ObligationsThe largest portion of Goddard’s budget is obligated through

contracts with commercial firms, nonprofit institutions, and othergovernment agencies. These contracts allow the Center to acquire thegoods and services necessary to accomplish its mission. Ultimately,

these dollars are returned to the local, state, and national economy inthe form of gross output, sales, the purchase of intermediate goodsand services, and employee income. For every $1 that Goddard

obligates, a total of $2.09 in gross output of sales is generated in thestate of Maryland alone.

During Fiscal Year (FY) 1999, Goddard processed more than 40

percent of the Agency’s contractual actions and 23 percent of the

contractual obligations. In total, the Center obligated over $2.3

billion on new and existing contracts during FY 1999. These obligations and prime contract awards are issued to contractors nationwide,

as well as outside the United States. Commercial firms received 60percent, educational institutions 28 percent, nonprofit organizations8 percent, other government agencies 3 percent, and 1 percent wasawarded geographically outside the U.S.

Employment ImpactEach year, Goddard accomplishes its mission through the dedication

and support of both civil servant and contractor employees. In FY

1999, Goddard employed over 3,100 civil servants and spent $281

million on their salaries and benefits. Every payroll dollar paid by the

Center generates an additional $1.20 of income in the state ofMaryland.

Awards Outside U.S. - $457K

$1,001K—$10,000K

$10,001K—$100,000K

No Award$0—$100K$101K—$1,000K Over $100,000K

Total Prime Contract Awards - FY99
27

Dollars Obligated

$121.6

ns of Dollars

0 150 200 250

$202.9

$173.6

$123.2

Set-Asides

47%

Comp $126,979 eted

16%

$42,088

Section 8(a)

28%

$74,142

Noncompetitive

9%

$24,223

Commercial

Firms

60%

$1,311,564

Educational

Institutions

28%

$626,549

Nonprofit

Organizations

8%

$186,292

Outside U.S.

1%

$15,034

IntraGovernmental

3%

$70,745

FY

99

FY

98 Institutions Number of Contracts Millions of Dollars Obligated

Millions of Dollars

123456789

10111213141516171819202122232425

123458

19

6

121114

79

131015181621172623255022

9633

184168

9877884362

125120

22

118

79

4

30695058815168751178

Johns Hopkins University

Assoc. of Universities for Res. in Astronomy

University of Colorado — Boulder

University of Maryland — College Park

University of California — Berkeley

California Institute of Technology

University of California — San Diego

Southwest Research Institute

Universities Space Research Assoc.

University of Arizona

Smithsonian Institution

New Mexico State University — Las Cruces

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Columbia University

Wheeling Jesuit College

University of Alaska — Fairbanks

University of New Hampshire

Stanford University

University of Texas — Austin

University of Washington

University of California — Santa Barbara

University of Wisconsin — Madison

University of Hawaii

Carnegie Mellon University

University of California — Los Angeles

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

$55.4

$33.2

$31.9

$30.9

$24.7

$20.2

$20.2

$18.4

$14.7

$14.4

$11.8

$10.8

$9.8

$8.9

$8.7

$8.2

$7.2

$6.8

$6.8

$6.3

$6.2

$6.1

$6.0

$62.1

$109.4

Distribution of Awards to Small and Disadvantaged Business

FY99 Obligations

(In Thousands)

Distribution of ProcurementsFY99 Obligations(In Thousands)

Top 25 Nonprofit Institutions - FY99
29

R ESOURCES

Goddard FY99 Budget ($M)

FY99 FY98 FY97 

Earth Science $1,151.7 $1,117.9 $1,032.9Space Science 778.2 869.2 836.8

Mission/Space Communications 169.2 265.0 396.2Other Programs 225.7 150.4 171.7R&PM 346.4 340.9 334.5

Subtotal Direct Appropriations 2,671.2 2,743.4 2,772.1

Reimbursables 359.7 336.0 265.2

Total $3,030.9 $3,079.4 $3,037.3

Goddard Work Force (FTEs)

Civil Service & Contractor Support FTEs

FY99

Earth Science 2,308.7

Space Science 2,085.8 Mission/Space Communications 2,163.4

Other Direct Programs 637.0

Indirects 1,784.9

Total 8,979.8

Earth Science

$1,151.7

Mission/Space

Communications

$169.2

Other

Programs

$225.7

Reimbursables

$359.7

R&PM

$346.4

Space Science

$778.2

Excludes Purchases <$25K

Total ($K)

$ 8,599

2,4471,168

13,81988,366

9,912

37,238

4,0952,6165,7911,9526,807

26,297

3,4463,032

749

3,268

49,227

3,105

908

71,551

13,75016,361

6,701

492

$2,117.948
31

NTS

Statement of Financial Position 

As of September 30, 1999

(In Thousands)

1999 1998

Assets

Intragovernmental Assets:

Fund Balance with 

Treasury (Note 2) $ 1,429,862 $ 1,611,787 

Accounts Receivable, Net (Note 3) – Federal Claims 45,892 71,989

Advances and Prepayments (Note 4) 2,749 3,435 

Governmental Assets:

Accounts Receivable, Net (Note 3) – Nonfederal Claims 2,211 7,994

Operating Materials & Supplies, Net (Note 5) 241,320 206,425

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Note 6) 2,216,432 2,762,800

Total Assets $3,938,466 $4,664,430

LiabilitiesLiabilities Covered by Budgetary Resources:

Intragovernmental Liabilities

Accounts Payable $ 50,411 $ 80,924

Other Liabilities (Note 7) 20,005 21,469

Governmental Liabilities

Accounts Payable 628,934 807,224

Lease Liabilities (Note 8) 190 178

Other Liabilities (Note 7) 16,827 20,677

Total Liabilities Covered by Budgetary Resources 716,367 930,472

Liabilities Not Covered by Budgetary Resources:

Intragovernmental Liabilities

Other Liabilities (Note 7) 2,092 2,092

Governmental Liabilities

Other Liabilities (Note 8) 121 500Other Liabilities (Note 7) 31,609 29,876

Total Liabilities Not Covered by Budgetary Resources 33,822 32,468

Total Liabilities 750,189 962,940

Net Position (Note 9): Balances: 

Unexpended Appropriation 764,517 764,911

Invested Capital (Note 10) 2,457,441 2,968,547

Cumulative Results of Operations 20 — 

Future Funding Requirements (33,701) (31,968)

Total Net Position 3,188,277 3,701,490

Total Liabilities and Net Position $3,938,466 $4,664,430The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

mu

s of

e

the

he

ons

ared

Basic

 form

dget

eflect

d by

ent of

n

ncial

ht

e



al

ng the

ng the

initia

es and

we are

l mo

ve

pect to
33

1998

$2,935,655

18,506

356,355

13,420 

(13,420)

$3,310,516

$2,386,877

16,572

534,017

8

228

(7,655)

4,647

35 

1,227

—

374,861

$3,310,817

$ (301)

$ (220,407)

132,512

—

(3,923)

$ (91,818)

$ (301)

$3,793,609$3,701,490

Notes to the Financial StatementsSummary of Accounting Policies and Operations – Note 1 Basis of PresentationIn accordance with NASA’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) directive that installations begin the processof fulfilling the requirements legislated by the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990, regarding thepreparation of subject to audit financial statements (beginning FY 1996), these statements wereformulated from the books and records of GSFC in conformity with form and content procedures

specified in OMB Bulletin 94-01.Reporting EntityGSFC is one of nine NASA field centers established to assist NASA in its mission to provide for aeronautical and space activities. The financial management of NASA's operations is the responsibility of Center

officials at all organizational levels. Ultimately, the Financial Management Division, Code 151, within the

Office of the Center's Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for synthesizing, aggregating, and reporting

accounting events to NASA Headquarters Code B and the Department of 

Treasury (for cash transactions),

in accordance with Agencywide financial management regulations. The GSFC overall accounting system consists of numerous feeder systems. When combined, they provide

the basic information necessary to meet internal and external financial reporting requirements in terms of

funds control and accountability. Albeit, it is recognized that the current systems do not meet OMBCircular A-127 requirements for a single integrated financial system. NASA is moving to implementing a

fully integrated financial system. NASA contracted KPMG Peat Marwick to provide an off-the-shelfaccounting package to accomplish this objective. Currently, Goddard is scheduled for deployment in FY

2001. The following nine direct appropriations require individual treatment and are distinctly classified in GSFC

combined accounting and control systems:(1) 

Human Space Flight (HSF) – supports human space flight research and development activities for

space flight, spacecraft control, and communications actions. This includes research, development, operations, services, maintenance, and construction of facilities, which encompass the repair, rehabilitation, and

modification of real and personal property.

(2) Space, Aeronautics and 

Technology (SAT) – provides for the conduct and support of science, aeronautics, and technology programs. Research, development, operations, services, maintenance, and

construction of facilities (repair, rehabilitation, and modification of real and personal property) also serve

as by-products of this appropriation.(3) 

Mission Support (MS) – funds safety, reliability and quality assurance activities in support of Agency

programs and space communication services for NASA programs. The appropriation also providesbudgetary resources for salaries, fringe benefits and related expenses, while supporting research and

construction of facilities.(4) The Space Flight Control and Data Communication (SFCDC) appropriation for program years

1994 and prior provides funding for space flight, expendable launch vehicles, spacecraft control, and

communication activities, including operations, production services, related institutional activities, minor

construction, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and modifications.
35

4 and prior provides

d contractual services

ks. R&D also provides

m years 1994 and prior

ated expenses to manage

94 and prior provides

or construction of new

avel and related expenses

perty and services

d nonfederal customers

hen incurred and revenue

ance with the Agencywide

at is used for planning,

e General Ledger as

 Grants Program by the

ent Management System

own of funds (disburse

ards. The established

versity contract/grant

h the U.S. Treasury

ransactions is provided by

unds control (against

udits by the Defense

Property, Plant, and Equipment (PP&E)

GSFC-owned Property, Plant, and Equipment (PP&E) may be held by the Center or its contractors.

Under the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), contractors are responsible for control

over and accountability for such property in their possession. The GSFC General Ledger is capable of

separately classifying Government-held PP&E from Contractor-held PP&E.

Government regulation does not make a provision for depreciating PP&E under appropriated funding

authority. However, in accordance with the User Charge Act and OMB Circular A-25, NASA is permitted

to assess depreciation charges for the use of facilities and equipment, under the “full cost” concept, to

nongovernment reimbursable customers. In addition, automated data processing software is treated as

operating cost rather than capitalized in accordance with GAO Title II guidelines.

Equipment with a unit cost of $100,000 or more and a useful life of two years or more and will not be

consumed in an experiment is capitalized. Capitalized cost includes unit cost, transportation, installation,and handling and storage cost. Real property, such as land, buildings, and other structures and facilities, is

capitalized when the asset value is $100,000 or more. Land values are recorded at original acquisition cost and do not reflect current market value or include

cost of improvements. Buildings are also valued at acquisition cost, including the cost of capital improvements and fixed equipment required for functional use of the facility. 

Government-owned/Contractor-held property includes GSFC real property, such as land, buildings, and

structures, materials, plant equipment, space hardware, special tooling, and special test equipment.Contractors are directed to report annually (on NASA Form 1018) plant equipment costing $100,000 ormore and having a useful life of two years or more and will not be consumed in an experiment. Inaddition, this reporting includes capturing the other property categories mentioned above, regardless of

the value (although most exceed $100,000), and is included in the Statement of Financial Position. This

reporting is certified by the contractor's representative and reviewed by a government property administrator. Space hardware work-in-process represents the largest amount of assets owned by GSFC. 

Revenues and Other Financing SourcesGSFC receives the majority of its funding through multiyear appropriations. These include three-year

appropriations for construction activities, two-year appropriations for operational and space flight activities, and a single-year appropriation for civil service payroll and travel. In addition to appropriated funds,the Center performs services for federal and nonfederal customers upon receipt of customers funding

authority. 
37

NOTE 6 – PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT (In Thousands):

Government-owned/Government-held 1999 1998 Change

Land $ 5,473 $ 5,483 $ (10)

Structures, Facilities & Leasehold Improvements 494,008 513,930 (19,922)

Equipment 284,768 365,825 (81,057)

Assets Under Capital Lease 877 12,911 (12,034) 

Work-in-Process 43,944 54,232 (10,288)

Total $829,070 $952,381 ($123,311)

Government-owned/Contractor-heldStructures, Facilities & Leasehold Improvements $ 7,461 $ 14,833 $ (7,372)

Equipment 45,489 24,891 20,598Special Tooling 5,555 6,667 (1,112)

Special Test Equipment 63,120 79,682 (16,562)

Space Hardware 106,639 108,053 (1,414)

Work-In-Process 1,159,098 1,576,293 (417,195)

Total $1,387,362 1,810,419 ($423,057)Grand Total $2,216,432 $2,762,800 ($546,368)See Note 1 for discussion on Property, Plant, and Equipment.NOTE 7 – OTHER LIABILITIES (In Thousands):Liabilities Covered by Budgetary Resources: Current Non-Current Total

Intragovernmental Liabilities:

Liabilities for Deposit and Suspense Funds $19,846 $ — $19,846

Liabilities for Statistical Reimbursable Cost 159 — 159

Total $20,005 — $20,005

Governmental Liabilities:

Liabilities for Deposit and Suspense Funds $ 5,909 — $ 5,909

Liabilities for Statistical Reimbursable Cost 5 — 5

Accrued Funded Payroll 10,913 — 10,913

Total $16,827 — $16,827

Total Liabilities Covered by Budgetary Resources $36,832 — $36,832Liabilities Not Covered by Budgetary Resources: Current Non-Current Total

Intragovernmental Liabilities

Accounts Payable for Closed Appropriations $ — $2,092 $ 2,092

Liabilities for Receipts Accounts — — —

Total $ — $2,092 $ 2,092Governmental Liabilities:

Accounts Payable for Closed Appropriations $ — $7,644 $ 7,644 

Liabilities for Receipt Accounts — 3 3

Unfunded Annual Leave 23,962 — 23,962

Total $23,962 $7,647 $31,609

Total Liabilities Not Covered

by Budgetary Resources $23,962 $9,739 $33,701

Grand Total $60,794 $9,739 $70,533

ated 

cted Total

804 $1,406,146

— 23,716

804 $1,429,862

h the U.S. Treasury include

e services. 

Net Amount Due

$45,892

2,211

$48,103

ounts owed by the public.

standing receivable balances.

ederal customers provide

rformed.

98 Change

35 ($686)

98 Change

27 $33,790

53 1,096 

45 9

25 $34,895
39

R EACHING OU R COMMUNITY

Visitor Center ImpactThe Goddard Visitor Center offered its visitors during 1999 a variety

of educational and community programs linked to Earth science,

space science and advanced technology. These programs included

tours, on- and off-site presentations, traveling exhibits, children’sprograms, open houses and special events. Nearly 3 million people

were impacted by our programs this year alone. These programs are

designed to enhance the technological and scientific literacy regarding

the Goddard Space Flight Center, its accomplishments and its impact

on the community at large. Audiences impacted included families,school groups, and organizations.

PartnersDuring the past year, Goddard enjoyed partnering withthe Maryland Space Business Roundtable, Prince

Georges Conference and Visitors Bureau, High

Technology Council of Maryland and the PrinceGeorges Economic Development Corporation, to share

presentations and information that promote the values

of a hi-tech environment in Maryland.

Goddard Public Affairs ConsortiumReaching the community by networking onsitecontractor interests proved a major success for 1999.

The Consortium participated in Anniversary events,

sharing products with their employees and local neighborhoods; supported an education competition for

middle schools; and actively kept their employeesinformed on Goddard’s progress.

Goddard Contractors AssociationThe Goddard Contractors Association (GCA) worked in partnership

with Goddard management to promote the mutual interests of theGoddard Community. There were 14 additional members inducted

this year, to bring the total membership to 35 companies. A series ofmonthly meetings with Goddard Senior Management focused on

discussion topics for GSFC/GCA partnership action, including theGCA role for focusing contractor participation and activity reporting

for GSFC’s Safety-Day initiative. The GCA supported the Public

Affairs Consortium and proactively worked with the new Wallops

Contractors Association to strengthen ties and alignment of goals.The most significant achievement for the GCA was the 15th AnnualGoddard Contractors Association Quality Symposium. This eventstressed the theme of continuous improvement and procurement

innovations in project management. This symposium was the forumfor presenting the 1999 Goddard Contractor Excellence Awards and

the Quality and Process Improvement and Customer Service

Excellence Awards.

Administrator Goldin and Director Diaz share the honors ofpresenting “Thank You’s” to Senator Mikulski during the Center’sAnniversary Symposium.Local high school joins the festivities to honor Goddard in thisCenter parade.

“People who experience Goddard, whether by the media,education programs or tours, tell us how captivated they areby the unexpected treasures they find here.”Janet K. Ruff, Chief

Office of Public Affairs

$877

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rms longer than

eement terms

$190

150

ts $340

t (29)

y $311

$190

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41

A 40-footbirthday cake onthe Goddard mallto celebrate 40years!

p for the development of Earth and space

culum materials.

wide systemic partnership through the

ducation Collaborative generated 24

throughout the state, reaching 280 teachers

age into 1520 classrooms. Connecticut is

model to determine the impact of NASA’s

d resources on the improvement of instruc

tics, and technology.

ate Department of Education drew upon

ain 40 Maine teachers participating in devel

d space science standards. 

tnership strategy, the Center continued

ordinating teacher development in 70 Earth

of space science education programs and products. A major feature of

this forum was the webcasting of the last solar eclipse of the 20th

century, attracting over 225,000 individuals to the GSFC solar eclipse

website.Goddard hosted an Education Showcase for 150 local teachers participating in a series of 25 curriculum support workshops conducted byscientists and engineers and related to Earth and space sciences and

engineering missions. A particular strength of the workshops were the

links to state and national standards in Earth and space sciences,mathematics, geography, and technology.During the past year, efforts to serve underrepresented populations

increased through partnerships with Morgan State University, the

ASPIRA organization of New Jersey for the advancement of Hispanic

youth, and the Stevens Institute of Technology, and the Jersey City

and Hoboken school districts distance mentoring program. Inaddition, Goddard hosted a Tribal Colleges Program that brought

together representatives from tribal colleges across the country to

examine how the Center can provide support to strengthen these

institutions’ efforts to recruit, prepare and sustain students underrepresented in mathematics and science-related fields. The Equal

Opportunity Office expanded its relationships by developing asupport program for underrepresented high school populations

through Delaware State College that will assist in preparing underprivileged students in mathematics, science and technology to meet

the national standards, and encourage them to pursue careers inscience and technology.In 1999, the Center hosted a GSFC urban initiative with the Districtof Columbia Public Schools through the SUNBEAMS programinvolving nine separate classes of sixth grade students, each coming tothe Center for a full week of intensive instruction, and continued

with the development of the integrated astronomy curriculum withD.C.’s Anne Beers Elementary School in cooperation with GlennResearch Center and Cleveland Public Schools.

Professionals from Goddard also developed and delivered workshops

to groups preparing to apply remote sensing in their work environments. Presentations were conducted for the National Park

Service-Inventory and Mapping Managers, Regional Global

Information Systems Coordinators and American Meteorological

Society Weather Broadcasters. 

Teachers perform hands-on investigations using guidance fromGoddard researchers.

Goddard employees were key participants in

he Minority University Space

nterdisciplinary Network (MUSPIN)

nnual conference held during the past year.

At the sessions scientists and engineers

poke to teachers about Goddard programs. 

Mentored students work with engineers on projects.

Teacher interns gain lab experience.
43

These are examples of feedback we receive from our customers:NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin“NASA Goddard’s commitment to excellence in the Earth sciences over the past year — from the launch of Landsat-7 to the measuring of

hurricanes, oceans and ozone — continues to make NASA the world leader in Earth system science. As we move into the new millennium,

the Goddard team will not only play a pivotal role in our understanding of planet Earth, it is also vital to us as we explore the cosmos.

From the inner workings of the Sun, to the incredible topography of Mars, to the discoveries the Next Generation Space Telescope will

unveil, the NASA Goddard team holds the keys to unlocking the mysteries of our universe.”Dr. Ghassem Asrar, NASA Associate Administrator for Earth Science “I consider GSFC an outstanding and unique establishment for the conduct of Earth and space sciences. I believe GSFC is one of the few

places around the world where there is a unique blend of first-class scientists and engineers with access to cutting-edge technologies to conduct

and further Earth and space sciences. The NASA Office of Earth Science is privileged and proud to have the GSFC team on its side.”

Dr. Ed Weiler, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science“Goddard’s role in space science this past year has been pivotal, not just in announcing numerous cosmic discoveries and building several

missions which we successfully launched, but also by laying the foundations for a robust program in future years. A wealth of exciting

discoveries ranging from a deeper understanding of our Sun and planets to galaxies at the very edges of the universe came from Goddard

scientists and missions this year. And Goddard’s management of the Next Generation Space Telescope program, a worthy successor for

Hubble, is something all Americans can be proud of.”

James Baker, NOAA Administrator “NOAA and NASA have a history of interagency cooperation which started with the first flight of TIROS I in 1960, and which has been

reaffirmed through our agreement of 1998. The accurate weather forecasts and better understanding of our environment that have come

from this partnership are one of the great scientific achievements of the 20th Century. The Goddard Space Flight Center has been an

integral part of this relationship, sharing specialized technical, scientific and operational expertise. We’re proud to reiterate our commitment to the partnership.”

Senator Paul S. Sarbanes, Maryland“Goddard is important to Maryland and the Nation. Its people and programs represent a critical mass for advancing our high-techeconomy into the 21st Century.”Senator Barbara Mikulski, Maryland“I fought for the priorities of our country and for Maryland. I fought to invest in the future of science and technology. I’m on the side ofNASA employees and the thousands of men and women who work at the Goddard Space Flight Center and other NASA Centers around

the country.”

COMMENTS FROM Y O U

s with Sisters in Engineering and Research

ER is an Equal Opportunity Program

for 7th grade girls going into the 8th grade.

e the awareness of and provide opportuni

s to explore nontraditional career fields

gineers, mathematicians, scientists, and

ants in the first-ever University Day

 September 1999. Scientific and tech

more than 60 colleges and universities

ed Goddard scientists and engineers to

ss opportunities for future collaborations.

erence the Center invited world-class

t and academia to discuss future research

rtnering opportunities, and explore joint

nd teachers from New York review

 poster session at the annual Minority

ciplinary Network (MUSPIN) Goddard

d in New Mexico. Educators from around

 this minority education activity.
now that the Goddard Space Flight Center

cientists and support staff at the Goddard

nsiders the Center a major stakeholder in

nce of space and Earth visuals at the hotel

 many inspiring programs with our educa

cellent backdrop for our growing economy

nd Visitors Bureau

nomy from both a business attraction and

nd hospitality industry is both proud and

d enhance Prince Georges County Schools’

chnology to upgrade teacher skills in tech

ter Science, Bowie State University

years, I have been affiliated with Goddard

rich relationship with Goddard spans over

elop a viable infrastructure in science and

cts in support of key NASA strategic enter

-class scientific environment.”

CONCLUSION

The past year offered numerous challenges and opportunities to explore space and theEarth. Through the efforts and hard work of a talented and professional staff, and usingthe most innovative technologies available, we achieved excellent results and served the

needs of our customers. Because of these efforts, we know more today about the universe

and the interactions of the Earth's systems. We know more today about the violence of

hurricanes, the power of climate change and the enormous global consequences of an El

Niño and La Niña. We also know more today about the Sun's tremendous influence on

our planet, the origins of the solar winds, and the nature of mysterious black holes. We

even detected new classes of objects in the universe that before now were beyond our

comprehension. As remarkable as these and many other achievements appear, some

would say, “it is all in a day's work” at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. 

The coming year promises equal if not greater challenges to our unquenchable thirst forknowledge about the solar system and the Earth. We will improve our comprehensivemodeling capabilities, increase the breadth of computing and data storage systems, and

provide continued leadership for the Sun-Earth Connection and Structure and Evolution

of the Universe. We will advance the state-of-the-art for the Next-Next generation of

Astro-Physics Observatories.

We will accomplish remarkable outcomes in the year ahead because of the innovation andhard work of our people. With the strong and continued support of our communities,the Goddard Space Flight Center will make a glorious entrance into the NewMillennium.

Harry Goett

1910-2000

First Center Director

In Memoriam
C