accomplishments

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Innovative Partnerships 

Program Office Report 2006
IPP Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

c o n t e n t s

From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Introduction to the IPP Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

 Our Vision, Mission, and Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

 Our Process: Proactive Partnership Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

 Spotlight on the Partnership Seed Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

 Looking Ahead to FY07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Bringing Value to NASA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

 Value to the Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

 Value to Innovators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Bringing Value to the External Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

 Value to Our Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

 Value to the Regional Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

 Value to Humanity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Contact Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Special thanks to Chris Gunn for select photos on pages 1, 3, 6-9, 12-13, 15, and 23.
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

1

A Focus on Value

As Chief of the Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP) Office at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 

I am pleased to present this summary of 

our accomplishments for fiscal year 2006. 

Previously the Office of Technology Transfer, 

our office name reflects our alignment with the IPP’s goal of promoting and 

developing innovative technology partnerships among NASA, U.S. industry, and 

other sectors for the benefit of Agency programs and projects.

Forming partnerships that add value to NASA is essential for the success of the 

space program. These alliances allow NASA to achieve its space exploration, 

science, and other mission ambitions faster. Furthermore, by combining our 

resources with those of our partners, we can more efficiently realize our own 

goals as well as those of our partners. 

The IPP Office also provides value to the Agency by transferring Goddard’s 

technology to external organizations, enabling the development of new 

applications and products that benefit their processes and their customers—

including, in some cases, NASA—as well as the U.S. economy through new 

business development.

Albert Einstein said that one should strive not to be a success but rather to be 

of value. For the IPP Office, to add value to NASA is to be a success at achieving 

our goals. This report demonstrates how the IPP Office has brought value to our 

Agency, our innovators, our partners, our economy, and our community—that is to 

say, our successes. 

Nona Minnifield Cheeks

Chief

Innovative Partnerships Program Office

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

From the Chief |
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

2

Introduction to the IPP Office

∴ The mission of NASA Goddard Space 

Flight Center is to expand knowledge of the 

Earth and its environment, the solar system, 

and the universe through observations from 

space. To assure that our nation maintains 

leadership in this endeavor, Goddard is 

committed to excellence in scientific investigation, in the development and operation of 

space systems, and in the advancement of 

essential technologies.

∴ The IPP Office helps Goddard achieve 

its mission—within the context of the 

Agency-wide mission of pioneering the future 

in space exploration, scientific discovery, and 

aeronautics research—by identifying and 

securing agreements with partners that can 

positively contribute to NASA’s technology 

developments. 

∴ The IPP Office brings value to NASA and 

our partners by:

– Securing partnerships with outside organizations for technology development that will 

yield future benefits for NASA

– Out-licensing Goddard-developed technologies to benefit NASA, the U.S. economy, and 

humankind

– Supporting regional economic development 

by extracting value from NASA technology 

and expertise

– Protecting NASA intellectual property rights 

in partnership activities

Our Vision

To be recognized as a leading source of value 

to NASA by creating innovative, mutually 

beneficial collaborations with industry, 

academia, and other government agencies 

that yield positive impacts for the Agency, 

the U.S. economy, and mankind.

Our Mission

1. To foster strong internal and external relationships by understanding and identifying 

where technology needs and solutions align.

2. To develop innovative approaches to 

creating collaborations that leverage each 

party’s resources and strengths while 

supporting NASA’s missions, Goddard’s 

strategic objectives, and the partner’s goals.

Our Values

We will continually strive to be...

– Efficient and effective

– Creative and innovative 

– Open and insightful

– Honest and ethical

– Professional and friendly

... in everything we do.
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

3

Our Process: 

Proactive Partnership Building

When NASA and external organizations partner for technology 

development, they reap many benefits:

– Accelerated development of technology for missions/goals

– Efficient use of resources, including laboratories, equipment, 

and personnel

– Increased return on the investment in research and 

development (R&D)

– Growth of commercial aerospace and other industries

– More science and engineering breakthroughs 

In order to create collaborations that maximize the 

partnership’s value for NASA as well as the partner, 

Goddard’s IPP Office utilizes the following process:

– Solicit: We “harvest” the innovations 

(technologies) developed by and technical 

challenges (needs) facing Goddard innovators, 

understanding the full range of partnership 

opportunities.

– Screen: We evaluate these technology/need 

opportunities, determining which are best 

positioned for partnership success and 

prioritizing accordingly.

– Strategize: We develop a strategy for effectively and efficiently approaching the appropriate 

potential partners and communicating the 

relevant opportunities to them.

– Seek: We implement the strategy, actively 

marketing the technology/need opportunities. 

– Secure: We facilitate discussions between 

potential partners and Goddard personnel, 

developing a partnership that meets the 

needs of all parties.

– Succeed: We ensure the mutually beneficial 

partnership is successful, actively observing 

and promoting it. 

Note:

This “6-S for Partnership 

Development Success” 

process was described 

at the 2006 International 

Astronautical Congress 

in Valencia, Spain.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

4

Spotlight on the Partnership Seed Fund

The Innovative Partnerships Program at NASA Headquarters established the 

Partnership Seed Fund in late FY06 with the following objectives:

– To support NASA Mission Directorate program/project technology needs

– To provide “bridge” funding to Centers in support of Mission Directorate 

programs

– To promote partnerships and cost sharing with Mission Directorate programs and 

industry

– Leverage resources with greater return on investment

The Seed Fund issued a call for one-year proposals that were scientifically/technically 

feasible with relevance and value to NASA Mission Directorate programs and that 

leveraged the strengths and capabilities of an external partner. Each of the ten NASA 

Centers could submit eight proposals.

Within the six-week timeframe of the call, Goddard’s IPP Office received fifty 

preliminary proposals, selected eight for submission to HQ, and worked closely with 

the Goddard principal investigators to develop the full proposals. We are pleased to 

announce that four of the eight Goddard proposals received funding in early FY07. 

project title partner(s)

 Development of a Continuous Adiabatic Demagnetization Lake Shore Cryotronics

 Refrigerator and Integrated Control Electronics Lockheed Martin ATC

 Infusing Environmental Knowledge into Decision Support United Space Alliance

 and Planning Tools for Exploration Mission Operations 

 Large Focal Plane Technology for Simultaneous Imaging Lockheed Martin

 and Guiding Teledyne Scientific and

Imaging

Conceptual Analytics

 Lightweight, Cryostable, Low-Cost Mirrors for the Next ITT Space Systems

 Generation of Space Telescopes 

Goddard’s IPP Offce is further enhancing the value of the Partnership Seed Fund. 

Active efforts to develop the partnerships identified in the four other proposals 

are underway. And the Office will be re-examining the more than forty preliminary 

proposals originally received, working with the principal investigators to more fully 

develop their ideas as mutually beneficial projects for partnership development and/or 

future Seed Fund opportunities.

The IPP Office’s assistance with 

“

the Seed Fund proposal really 

helped get me thinking clearly 

about the work... I don’t think 

I could have done it without 

them. And even though we did 

not receive the funding from HQ, 

we’re using what we came up with 

to ‘tell our story’ as we pursue 

other funding possibilities.

”

Dan Powell, Goddard’s Lead 

Nanotechnologist
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

5

Looking Ahead to FY07

As we enter 2007, we move forward eagerly within the context of 

several changes to the Innovative Partnerships Program:

– New Director: Douglas A. Comstock assumed the leadership 

of the Innovative Partnerships Program at NASA Headquarters 

on October 30, 2006. Formerly the NASA comptroller, 

Mr. Comstock also has a technical background in aeronautics 

and astronautics, technology and policy, and mechanical 

engineering.

– SBIR/STTR Consolidation: The Small Business Innovative 

Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) 

programs have been restructured and consolidated to be more 

cost-efficient and ensure that outside technologies with benefits 

for space program missions are infused into NASA. Now part 

of the IPP Office, SBIR/STTR personnel will provide guidance 

for the technical aspects of proposals related to Goddard-based 

research. 

– Partnership Seed Fund: To further facilitate the infusion of nonNASA technology into the space program, the IPP established 

the Partnership Seed Fund in late FY06 to address barriers and 

initiate cost-shared, joint-development partnerships, providing 

“bridge funding” to enable larger partnerships and development 

efforts to occur. (See page 4 for more information.)

Given these changes, Goddard’s IPP Office will direct our efforts in 

FY07 toward partnering with innovators in commercial, academic, 

and other government labs to develop NASA’s technology and 

capability portfolios. We will do this by:

– Efficiently and effectively identifying new technologies and 

sources of technology that can benefit NASA missions

– Engaging organizations that are qualified potential partners for 

NASA

– Connecting with communities of innovators that complement 

Goddard’s capabilities

– Bringing the parties together to identify and build productive 

collaborations

– Leveraging NASA’s and our partners’ resources for the mutual 

benefit of all parties

A Year in Review

Partnerships with...

Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute . . . 6

National Institute of Standards and Technology. . . 7

Ames Research Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Idaho Space Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Lake Shore Cryotronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Aeroflex, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Harris Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 

Texas Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory . . . . . . . 18

BCG Wireless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Maryland Technology Development Corporation 23

Maryland’s Department of Business and 

Economic Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

University of Baltimore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Howard Community College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

Awards from...

Partnership for Public Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

R&D Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Federal Laboratory Consortium for 

Technology Transfer (Mid-Atlantic Region). . . . . . 14 

NASA Inventions and Contributions Board . . . . . 15

Contributions to...

Physical therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Medical research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Highway safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

6

Thanks for hooking us up with 

“

CMU, following through with 

great drive and initiative to be 

sure that something came of the 

connection, and helping out with 

many details including technical 

publications, input on infusion, 

and helping us to look for other 

applications and funding sources 

for the proposed technology.

”

Julie Loftis, Assistant Chief for 

Information Systems Technology, 

Information Systems Division, and 

Goddard’s Exploration Technology 

Lead

Bringing Value to NASA

Goddard’s IPP Office is committed to bringing value to NASA, striving to benefit the Agency and its innovators in every activity—from establishing 

NASA as a leader in technology transfer and partnering at national and international 

conferences (see page 12) to identifying, developing, and negotiating agreements that 

maximize the value for NASA as well as its partner.

Value to the Agency

Our accomplishments for FY06 include six agreements that directly impact NASA 

in the near term as well as activities that lay the groundwork for successes in the 

long term.

Accessing Leading Robotics Expertise

The IPP Office was pleased to assist in the formation of a partnership with Carnegie 

Mellon University’s (CMU’s) Robotics Institute. The Office identified CMU as an ideal 

partner for Goddard and arranged for several meetings between researchers from both 

organizations. After helping identify a research project well-suited for collaboration, 

the Office provided guidance as the researchers developed a proposal to secure 

funding for this research. The funded project, which also involves NASA’s Wallops 

Flight Facility and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, joins Goddard’s Adaptive Sensor Fleet and 

Instrument Remote Control software with CMU’s innovative techniques for “telesupervision” to drive a fleet of autonomous boats to study harmful algae blooms in the 

Chesapeake Bay estuary, advancing the technology readiness level (TRL) of the new 

system’s various innovations. These TRL advancements will benefit NASA’s Exploration 

Systems Mission Directorate, which could eventually use this system for lunar, orbital, 

or planetary construction and inspection; lunar and planetary in situ resource 

utilization; and prospecting, mining, transport, and construction.

photo credit: Gregg Podnar, Carnegie Mellon University
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

7

Accessing Cutting-Edge Facilities

The IPP Office negotiated a memorandum of understanding with the National 

Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to further advances in nanotechnology. By collaborating on nanotechnology research, Goddard and NIST 

can further advance both organizations’ missions. In addition, Goddard now 

has access to NIST’s Advanced Measurement Laboratory and its state-of-the-art 

tools for making, testing, and characterizing prototype nanoscale devices and 

materials, thereby eliminating the need to duplicate facilities. Through this 

collaborative research, advances in chemical sensors, biosensors, electronic 

devices and circuits, and architectures for electronics, health care, and other 

fields are possible.

By having access to these state-

“

of-the-art facilities and capabilities at NIST, Goddard can focus 

its resources on the validation of 

these miniaturized technologies to 

accelerate their maturity for space 

flight applications supporting 

scientific research and NASA’s 

vision for space exploration.

”

NIST’s Nanofabrication Facility © Robert Rathe

Peter Hughes, Goddard’s Chief 

Technologist

Facilitating Cross-Center Collaboration

Nanotechnology researchers at Goddard and NASA Ames Research Center in 

California have established a long-term relationship to make advancements 

that can be leveraged for the benefit of NASA’s missions and objectives. Pairing 

Ames’s expertise and capabilities in early-stage nanotechnology with Goddard’s 

systems and missions expertise and capabilities will greatly facilitate the strategic development of new technologies and systems. As noted by Harry Partridge, 

Chief of Ames’s Nanotechnology Branch, “Collaboration between the research 

Centers and the engineering Centers is essential to ensure that innovative technology makes it into NASA missions. The Ames-Goddard agreement makes that 

collaboration easier, enabling the Agency to reap the significant impacts of our 

nanotechnology innovations.” These developments will include multifunctional 

materials, sensors and detectors, scientific instruments, and radiation-tolerant 

nanoelectronics. 

© Robert Rathe
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

8

This success would not have been 

“

possible without the expertise 

and dedication of the Innovative 

Partnerships Program Office. And 

I’m very excited to see that this 

agreement is now making CNTs 

more readily available, particularly 

for academic and other research 

programs. The fact that they now 

have access to lower cost CNTs 

bodes well for the future of nanotechnology.

”

Jeannette Benavides, Goddard 

inventor of the CNT manufacturing 

process

The IPP Office was extremely 

“

helpful in identifying companies 

interested in licensing the ADR 

and then negotiating patent rights 

and other issues that allowed the 

licensing to go forward. 

”

Peter Shirron, Goddard inventor of 

the continuous ADR technology

Accessing Technologies at a Lower Cost 

The IPP Office out-licensed two Goddard-developed innovations that will make 

technologies needed for the space program available for purchase by NASA at a 

much lower cost than through in-house production:

– Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Manufacturing:

Goddard’s simpler, safer, and much less 

expensive manufacturing process for singlewalled CNTs was licensed to Idaho Space 

Materials, which was founded in December 

2005 as a manufacturer of advanced materials 

based on existing patents. The company has 

scaled-up and commercialized Goddard’s 

process and is now selling CNTs as its 

NOMEC 1556 product, which is available 

at a reduced price to educational/research 

organizations.

– Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator:

Goddard’s continuous Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (CADR)—a revolutionary 

cryogenic cooling technology—will soon be 

available for commercial applications and 

research thanks to a license to Lake Shore 

Cryotronics. Out-licensing this revolutionary 

technology to Lake Shore, which is uniquely 

positioned to manufacture and market the 

hardware, offers tremendous value NASA.

In particular, the company’s development 

of control electronics for the CADR will put 

NASA one step closer to developing a fully 

space-qualified cryogenic cooling system. 

(Note: Additional research will continue 

under the Partnership Seed Fund, as listed 

on page 4.)
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

9

Identifying Partners, Funding Sources

In a time of bold exploration and science goals and limited resources, it is crucial 

that NASA leverage the resources of other organizations. Therefore, the IPP Office 

takes an active role in helping Goddard personnel identify collaborators—such as 

universities (see page 6) and commercial entities—and pursue opportunities from 

federal agencies. The nearly two dozen agencies with such opportunities have 

included the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); the Departments 

of Commerce, Energy, and Veterans Affairs; the Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA); and the National Science Foundation. 

 The IPP Office’s efforts include:

– Assisting technical personnel in identifying potential partners and facilitating 

discussions to define precise areas for and means of collaboration

– Identifing open solicitations, focusing on calls aligned with Goddard’s 

capabilities, and communicating these funding opportunities to key Goddard 

personnel

– Serving as an internal reviewer for Goddard researchers’ white papers and 

proposals in response to these solicitations

– Establishing dialogue with the funding agencies and conducting research to 

better position Goddard for future opportunities

– Providing strategic, communications, and other guidance to Goddard 

researchers 

For example, the IPP Office assisted Goddard researchers developing a project to 

benefit lunar exploration—an effort that helped lead to the partnership with United 

Space Alliance (see page 4).

The IPP Office’s efforts in this area help Goddard to fulfill NASA’s technologydevelopment needs as well as the complementary goals of other government 

agencies. 

In these times of shrinking R&D 

“

funding from NASA HQ, Goddard 

is looking to improve its track 

record in technology partnering 

with other government agencies 

to the benefit of both NASA and 

the partner agency. The IPP 

Office provides a valuable service 

in seeking out these partnering 

opportunities and then following through with agreements, 

often bringing new and unique 

collaborations to Goddard.

”

Tupper Hyde, Chief Technologist, 

Goddard’s Applied Engineering and 

Technology Directorate
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

10

Protecting NASA’s Intellectual Property (IP)

The IPP Office and Goddard’s Office of Patent Counsel work together to ensure 

that the many innovations developed for the space program are appropriately 

protected from unauthorized use. 

Patenting NASA’s novel, innovative, and useful IP allows for the generation of royalties 

through out-licensing to commercial entities. More importantly, however, it allows 

Goddard to offer its partners unique access to NASA’s cutting-edge technologies as 

well as the innovators who developed them. 

In FY06, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued six patents for Goddarddeveloped technologies: 

U.S. patent no. title

 6,959,554 Passive Gas-Gap Heat Switch for Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator

 6,963,993 Fail-Over File Transfer Process

 6,966,820 High-Quality Optically Polished Aluminum Mirror and Process for 

Producing

 6,990,436 Computing Frequency by Using Generalized Zero-Crossing Applied to 

Intrinsic Mode Functions

 7,060,968 Method and Apparatus for Optical Encoding with Compressible Imaging

 7,008,605 Method for Manufacturing High Quality Carbon Nanotubes
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

11

Two types of patent applications can be filed with the USPTO: provisional and nonprovisional applications. A full, 

nonprovisional patent application is a relatively complicated document to prepare with a significant filing fee, while 

provisional applications are less complicated to prepare and give the applicant an additional year to file the full 

application without compromising its IP protection rights.

In FY06, Goddard’s Office of Patent Counsel filed 23 nonprovisional and 15 provisional patent applications. The 

resulting additions of IP-protected innovations to Goddard’s technology portfolio are as follows:

Nonprovisional Patent Applications

Conduit Purging Device and Method

Device, System, and Method for Miniaturized Radiation Spectrometer

Device, System, and Method for a Sensing Electrical Circuit

Gear Bearings

Hybrid Diversity Method Utilizing Adaptive Diversity Function

Interferometric Polarization Control

Method of Forming Pointed Structures

Modular Gear Bearings

Noise-Assisted Data Analysis, Method, System, and Program Product 

Therefor

Optical Source and Apparatus for Remote Sensing

Optical System for Inducing Focus Diversity

Solid-State Laser Gain Module

Stepping Flexures

System and Method of Self-Properties for an Autonomous and 

Automatic Computer Environment

Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Pattern Matching in Procedure 

Development and Verification

Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Flash Drive

Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Developing and Maintaining 

Evolving Systems with Software Product Lines

Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Generation and Verification of 

Policies in Autonomic Computing Systems

Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Procedure Development and 

Verification

Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Quiescence of Autonomic 

Systems

Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Automata Learning in Generation 

of Scenario-Based Requirements in System Development

Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Autonomic Safety Devices

Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Modeling, Specifying, and 

Deploying Policies in Autonomous and Autonomic Systems Using 

Agent-Oriented Software Engineering

Provisional Patent Applications

Adaptive Sensor Fleet (ASF)

Automated Infrared Image Damage Detection 

Algorithm with Quantitative Error Threshold

Broadband High Spurious-Suppression Microwave 

Waveguide Filter for Polarization-Preserving and 

Transformer

Design of a Lightweight, Low-Power Magnetometer 

Based on a Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Mat

Monolithic Large Format Infrared Bolometer Arrays 

with Integrated Optically Reflective Backshorts

Multipurpose Fiber Injected Micro-Spherical Lidar 

System

Otoacoustic Protection in Biologically-Inspired 

Systems

Space Plasma Alleviation of Regolith Concentrations 

in Lunar Environments (SPARCLE)

Systems and Method for Delivery of Information
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

12

Outreach

Identifying and creating opportunities for key Goddard personnel to interact with potential partners and other organizations can be an important step in the IPP Office’s successfully achieving its goals. These interactions might occur within 

the context of an industry conference or at an event organized by the IPP Office. The table below presents the events that 

the IPP Office hosted or otherwise participated in during FY06, indicating how NASA benefits from such involvement.

event involvement value to NASA

International Astronautical Chief and other IPP Office personnel presented Establishes NASA as a leader in 

Congress papers on NASA’s partnering mechanisms, the technology transfer and enables

October 17–21, 2005 social benefits of space spinoffs, and using tech networking with potential partners

Fukuoka, Japan transfer principles to guide R&D

NASA Tech Briefs IPP Office hosted booth to present (and view) the Establishes preliminary relationships

Nano Conference 2005 latest in nanotechnology with potential partners

November 10–11, 2005 

Boston, Mass. 

Joint Venture Workshop IPP Office hosted event to present Goddard’s R&D Enables early discussions with

November 15, 2005 needs to Northeast/New England organizations potential partners

Cambridge, Mass. 

Sensors Government Expo IPP Office hosted booth to present (and view) Establishes preliminary relationships

& Conference the latest in sensors and detectors with potential partners

Dec. 6–8, 2005 

Virginia Beach, Va. 

Annual NTR Program IPP Office hosted event to recognize innovators Reinforces the importance of innovator

April 6, 2006 who filed new technology reports or otherwise involvement in partnerships and 

Greenbelt, Md. participated in the program during 2005 technology transfer

Technology Innovation Chief presented how the results of space-related Ensures international community 

Information1 annual meeting research and development can bring spinoff recognizes NASA as a leader in 

April 26–28, 2006 benefits to business and society technology transfer and innovation

Gateshead, UK 

Federal Laboratory Office of Patent Counsel presented Goddard’s bold Establishes Goddard as a leader in

Consortium for Technology strides in the area of open source software innovative approaches to making

Transfer (FLC) national government-funded technology 

meeting available

May 1–4, 2006

Minneapolis, Minn.

NBC4 Connected Expo IPP Office personnel attended and coordinated Shares Goddard’s latest technology 

September 16–17, 2006 involvement of Goddard researchers active in and details the ways NASA enriches 

Washington, D.C. technology transfer lives through technology transfer

FLC Mid-Atlantic Region Chief presented case studies demonstrating how Establishes Goddard’s IPP Office as an 

annual meeting2 IP rights can be lost through interagency sharing industry leader in partnership 

September 19–21, 2006 and/or collaborative research with commercial development and technology transfer while 

Cumberland, Md. contractors providing insights to (and hearing best 

practices from) other federal agencies

1. European independent association, including technology transfer and innovation support professionals

2. Goddard also received two awards at this meeting (see page 14)
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

13

Early FY07 Technology Partnering Showcase 

Under the auspices of an agreement signed between Goddard and the Maryland 

Technology Development Corporation (see page 23), the IPP Office began 

plans for a Technology Partnering Showcase. The Office identified a dozen 

technologies and two state-of-the-art facilities that would be of interest to the 

attendees from companies, universities, and government organizations. Assisting 

with the development of formal presentations as well as posters to facilitate 

informal networking sessions, the Office ensured that researchers’ time with 

attendees would be productive.

Held on October 12th, the Showcase was a rousing success with more than 

130 organizations in attendance and many leads on potential partnerships and 

other arrangements. 

Photo credit: Tom Grayson, FLC; all rights reserved
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

14

Value to 

Innovators

Goddard’s innovators—the 

scientific and technical staff 

working toward NASA mission 

goals—are key to the success of 

the IPP Office. They know the 

technical challenges that must 

be overcome to ensure successful NASA missions, and they 

understand Goddard’s strengths 

and the technologies in its 

portfolio. Their participation in 

partnership development and 

technology transfer is essential.

Therefore, the IPP Office works 

to ensure that Goddard innovators benefit from their participation.

Awards and Recognition

Goddard’s IPP Office works to recognize Goddard innovators’ scientific and 

engineering achievements as well as their participation in partnership development 

and technology transfer activities. Doing so further inspires them toward R&D excellence, which benefits NASA, as well as promotes the Innovative Partnerships Program, 

encouraging other Goddard researchers to participate in the IPP Office’s activities. 

External Awards

– Service to America Medal: The IPP Office nominated Norden Huang (retired)

for the Service to America Medal, which Dr. Huang received in the Science and 

Environment category on September 27, 2006. Known as “The Sammies,” 

the awards pay tribute to America’s dedicated federal workforce, highlighting 

those who have made significant contributions to the country. Dr. Huang was 

recognized for his discovery of the Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) technology, 

one of the most important discoveries in the field of applied mathematics in 

NASA history. More information on HHT is available online (http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.

gov/HHT/index.html).

– R&D 100 Award: The IPP Office nominated the Conformal Gripper technology 

for the award known as “the Oscars of invention.” Developed by Goddard’s 

John Vranish (retired), this unique gripping mechanism has the potential to 

revolutionize robotics by eliminating the need for specialized end effectors and 

grippers. More information is available online (http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov/NWSRD100.html).

– Awards for Excellence in Technology Transfer: The IPP Office applied for and 

received two awards from the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Federal Laboratory 

Consortium for Technology Transfer:

• Transfer of a compliant cable mechanism and walker technology to Enduro 

Medical Technology, which has commercialized the technologies into the Secure 

Ambulation Module (see page 25)

• Transfer of the HHT technology to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 

to enhance monitoring patients at risk for sudden cardiac failure, stroke, 

depression, other neurological disorders (see page 26)

photo credit: Sam Kittnerphoto credit: Steel Angels Photo, Inc. All rights reserved.
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

15

NASA Awards

– The Kerley Award: The IPP Office annually 

bestows this award to a Goddard researcher 

who has greatly contributed to its technology 

transfer efforts over the course of the year.

The 2006 Kerley Award was given to James 

Tilton for his efforts to transfer his Recursive 

Hierarchical Segmentation (RHSEG) software 

(http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov/RHSEG/index.

html). RHSEG is being used in Batron Medical 

Imaging’s (http://www.bartron.ws) MedSegTM device to bring more precise imaging 

to the health care system. 

– Inventions and Contributions Board (ICB) 

Awards: The IPP Office coordinates the application efforts for various awards from NASA’s 

ICB. In FY06, these efforts resulted in the 

following: 

• Space Act Awards for 5 technologies (16 

innovators), which recognize exceptional 

scientific and technical contributions to 

NASA’s mission

• Patent Application Awards for 10 technologies (29 innovators), which honor 

researchers whose inventions have received 

approval for patent application by NASA

• Software Release Awards for 22 technologies (62 innovators), which are given 

to developers of software that has been 

approved for release by NASA to qualified 

users

• Tech Brief Awards for 46 technologies 

(72 innovators), which are presented to 

researchers whose innovations have been 

published in NASA Tech Briefs.

I want to thank [the IPP Office] for 

“

the ongoing help and support... in 

moving RHSEG outside of NASA’s 

walls. I am particularly excited 

by prospects of the utilization of 

the three-dimensional version of 

RHSEG to medical image analysis 

applications and other applications in and outside of NASA.

”

All of these collaborations were 

“

made possible by the hard work 

of [the IPP Office] and your 

team. You continuously pursued 

the agreements and made them 

happen. I also want to express my 

appreciation for all of the awards 

for which you have nominated me 

and my technology. I am quite 

sure that I would not have so 

many awards to my name had it 

not been for you and your team.

”

Norden Huang, Goddard inventor 

of the HHT technology

It is a true honor to have this 

“

technology recognized by R&D,

and I appreciate the efforts of 

everyone who supported and 

assisted in its development.

”

John Vranish, Goddard inventor of 

the Conformal Gripper technology

James Tilton, Goddard inventor 

of the RHSEG technology
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

16

Access to Information

In FY06, the IPP Office redesigned its quarterly 

publication—Goddard Tech Transfer News—which 

is distributed to civil servants and contractors at 

Goddard. The new magazine takes a targeted 

focus on:

– Education: Readers are reminded of the 

requirement to file new technology reports 

(NTRs). They also have the opportunity 

to increase their understanding of NASA’s 

technology transfer program through a quiz, 

brief summaries of IPP Office activities, and 

descriptions of newly signed partnerships and 

spinoff successes.

– Innovator Recognition: Each issue provides 

an in-depth interview with a civil servant active in technology transfer. Lists of 

awards bestowed by NASA’s Inventions and 

Contributions Board (see page 15) and other

organizations, NTRs, and patenting activities 

further recognize innovators’ achievements.

– Research, Funding, and Publishing 

Opportunities: Calls for proposals and other 

funding opportunities from non–Mission and 

even non–NASA sources are listed, allowing 

Goddard innovators’ R&D to have a greater 

impact for the Agency and for the nation. Also 

included is information on submitting papers 

to relevant upcoming conferences.

Royalties

Royalties are another way in which technology 

transfer benefits Goddard’s innovators. Once 

an NTR has been filed, the IPP Office evaluates 

whether there is potential for commercial interest 

in the technology. If such potential is sufficient, a 

patent application is filed (see page 11) and the 

technology is made available for licensing. The 

IPP Office lists the technology on its Web site and 

in some cases actively markets the technology to 

potential licensees. 

If a commercial entity licenses Goddard’s patented 

technologies and software, the innovator and 

NASA receive payments for this use. These payments can include an upfront licensing fee as well 

as either a “running” royalty (e.g., a percentage of 

net sales) or a minimum royalty payment. (Note: 

Actual royalty payment values are confidential.) 
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

17

Bringing Value to the External Community 

I n addition to the numerous ways that NASA benefits from the work of the IPP Office, a true partnership yields benefits for all parties. Therefore, the IPP Office 

ensures that the partnerships it pursues are truly win-win agreements.

Value to Our Partners 

Companies, universities, and other government labs have much to gain in collaborating with Goddard—well beyond simply the name recognition of NASA as a partner. 

Goddard has world-class expertise, unique facilities, and cutting-edge technologies that 

can augment our partners’ own capabilities, allowing them to take a giant leap forward 

in their R&D and strategic plans.

Growth Opportunities

Since 2002, Vexcel Corp. has been developing a wireless sensor network technology 

for use in NASA’s Earth science research under several Goddard-issued Small Business 

Technology Transfer (STTR) contracts. In May 2006, Vexcel was acquired by the Virtual 

Earth business unit of Microsoft Corp. Vexcel’s technology portfolio—including the 

results of the STTR research—is being integrated into Microsoft’s Windows LiveTM 

Local and the Virtual EarthTM platform offerings. (For more information about STTR, 

see page 5.)

Expertise

The personnel at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center are leaders in the fields of electronics, guidance and navigation, information technology, optics, sensors, and scientific 

analysis. In most partnership or other technology transfer agreements, developers of 

Goddard technologies are available to help guide new implementations of those innovations. As a result, organizations that partner with us gain access to unique expertise. 

For example, the IPP Office helped develop two agreements with U.S. companies 

needing assistance with SpaceWire—a network fabric used to move information 

defined in packets, providing flexibility, modularity, and reusability. Goddard will be 

providing Aeroflex, Inc., and Harris Corporation guidance as they develop SpaceWire 

technologies or build their knowledge of and skill with the SpaceWire standard. As a 

result, these companies will be better able to respond to future needs for SpaceWirebased communication devices at NASA and within the rest of the aerospace market.

NASA’s support for this STTR 

“

permitted me to work on the 

problem of data acquisition and 

recovery from harsh environments, 

which benefits not only NASA’s 

Earth sciences and interplanetary 

exploration goals but also our 

research partner Penn State and, 

by extension, the geoscience 

research community... Microsoft’s 

interest in Vexcel confirms the 

potential for this technology and 

increases the return on NASA’s 

investment.

Robert Fatland, Geophysicist, 

”

Vexcel Corporation
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

18

Facilities

The equipment, laboratories, and other capabilities needed to pursue NASA’s goals are 

a significant asset that can be accessed by outside organizations. For example:

– Radiation Effects Facility (REF): Goddard established the REF to study ionization 

and displacement damage of electronics and materials as well as instrument 

calibration requirements for devices in space, including electronics, microcircuits, 

sensors, couplings, lenses, and filters as well as paints, coatings, and aircraft 

structural materials. In FY06, Texas Instruments signed an agreement to use the 

REF in testing and reengineering radiation-tolerant electronics. 

– Integrated Design Capability (IDC): Goddard uses the IDC to conduct rapid space 

system analysis and develop conceptual designs. IDC’s collaborative process 

and sophisticated tools can be used to produce detailed space mission, remote 

sensing instrument, and/or technology applications design concepts. 

– Thin-Film Coating Facility: Goddard researchers used this facility and an innovative 

coating to provide the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) with optics 

that reflect light over a wide range of wavelengths, dramatically increasing the 

efficiency of SAO’s solar-laboratory experiments. 

– Detector Systems Facility: Goddard’s capabilities include detector development 

and characterization laboratories as well as a superconducting detector test 

facility and MEMS and nanotechnology facilities. This facility was featured at the 

October 12th Showcase (see page 13). 

– Goddard Mission Services Evolution Center (GMSEC): This facility was created to 

reduce the costs of mission development, operations, and maintenance; to accelerate the advancement of new capabilities and technologies; and to better utilize 

commercial software products. This facility was featured at the October 12th 

Showcase (see page 13).

– Cryogenic High Accuracy Refraction Measuring System (CHARMS): The CHARMS 

facility surpasses other refractometer facilities in its versatility—providing 

measurements at cryogenic temperatures and over a wide range of wavelengths—

and its unsurpassed accuracy. The IPP Office developed an agreement for the 

University of Oxford to access this facility in early FY07. 

More information about Goddard’s unique facilities is available online 

(http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov/facility-tours.html).

Goddard is the only place in 

“

the country that does this kind 

of coating. We could have tried 

to make do with a commercial 

coating, but they’re significantly 

less efficient. If we weren’t able 

to access Goddard’s facilities, it 

would have taken us four times as 

long to get the data we need. It 

has a big impact on our ability to 

do the experiments.

Larry D. Gardner, Physicist, 

”

Smithsonian Astrophysical 

Observatory
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

19

Technologies

Every Goddard-developed innovation is made available to the 

nation’s companies, universities, and other government laboratories through the IPP Office’s Web site (http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov), 

articles in NASA Tech Briefs, and listings in the Agency-wide NASA 

Tech Finder (http://technology.nasa.gov/). The technologies 

made available in FY06 are listed on pages 20–22. 

These technologies can provide our partners with significant 

strategic advantages. For example, in FY06 the IPP Office successfully out-licensed the Hilbert-Huang Transform technology to 

BCG Wireless. The small business in suburban Washington, D.C., 

is working to use HHT to help improve signal reception capability in radio frequency (RF) communications. If BCG Wireless is 

successful in its use of HHT, then the company will be able to 

offer software and hardware that improve the usability of existing RF systems and thereby gain a competitive position.

This license agreement is a key asset to BCG 

“

Wireless, and our relationship with Goddard’s 

IPP Office has developed into a true partnership. 

From the earliest days of our work together, they 

invested the time and energy to get to know us and 

to thoroughly understand our strategy. One of the 

barriers that small companies face is forging a solid 

working relationship with larger organizations. Not 

only do they understand that dilemma but they find 

creative ways to solve it. I can say with complete 

candor that without the IPP Office we would not be 

on the threshold of our own commercial success.

Jack Barse, Chief Executive Officer, BCG Wireless

”
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

20

The following lists FY06’s technology opportunities, including new technology reports (* indicates software approved for public 

release), technologies published in NASA Tech Briefs (†), and innovations featured on the IPP Office’s Web site (‡). 

Advanced Materials 

Fluorinated Suspension Medium and 

Propellant Based Thereon

Gellant for HAN Oxidizer

Improved Holographically Formed 

Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal 

Materials†

Mercuric Iodide Anti-Coincidence Shield 

for Gamma-Ray Spectrometer

Multiple Material Insert for Composite 

Sandwich Panels

Nanophase Dispersion Strengthened 

Invar 36

Pre-Injection Mixing of Gelled 

Propellants

Process for Cleaning and Treating 

Aluminum to Produce Highly Wettable 

Surfaces for Water and Hydrazine

Selective Plasma Deposition of 

Fluorcarbon Film on Self-Assembled 

Monolayers†

SMART Solar Sail†

Electrical Systems and 

Electronics

Coating Process for Silicon Carbide 

Fibers

General EQFlux†

Integrated Antenna Array with Individual 

MEMS Switch Based Modulation

Low-Power Intelligent Tool Environment 

(LITE) for FPGAs

MEMS-Scale Power System for 

Microsatallites

Method for Controlled Adhesive 

Attachment Using an Electrically 

Activated Viscoelastic Semiconductor

Micron and Submicron Pointed 

Structures‡

Novel Electronic Component Mounting 

to Achieve High Board Density

Novel FPGA Readout Integrated 

Circuit (ROIC) Architecture for Geiger 

Photodiode Arrays

Novel Method and Device for Stroke 

Prediction

Radiation-Tolerant, SpaceWireCompatible Switching Fabric

Safe to Mate

Spaceflight Ka-Band High-Rate RadHard Modulator

Guidance, Navigation, and 

Control 

Aerodynamic Design of a Propeller for 

High-Altitude Balloon Trajectory Control

Autonomous Navigation System Based 

On GPS and Magnetometer Data (GPSMAGNAV)‡

Coarse Alignment Technology of a 

Large Segmented Mirror

Crossed Beam Roof Target Six-Degreeof-Freedom Tracking System

Demiseable Reaction Wheel Assembly‡

Development of an Improved Upper 

Stage Ignition System†

Frequency Diversity Doppler Processing

GPS-Enhanced Onboard Navigation 

System‡

Mercury Laser Altimeter Onboard 

Science Algorithms†

Minimum Cycle Slip Airborne Differential 

Carrier Phase GPS Antenna‡

Pivot 2.0: Radiation Hardened Fast 

Acquisition/Weak Signal Tracking GPS 

Receiver (Navigator)‡

Recent Developments in Hardware-inthe-Loop Formation Navigation and 

Control

Reconfigurable, Decentralized 

Framework for Formation Flying 

Control†

Rover Radar for Surface Navigation, 

Hazard Detection, and Negative 

Obstacle Avoidance

Superpressure Tow Balloon for 

Extending Durations and Modifying 

Trajectories of High Altitude Balloon 

Systems

Three-Dimensional Antenna Array and 

GPS Receiver for Combined Navigation/

Attitude Determination Phase II

Trajectory and Performance Models for 

Earth and Planetary Balloons

Using the Global Positioning Satellite 

System to Determine Attitude Rates 

Using Doppler Effects†‡

Information Systems 

Advanced Land Image Assessment 

System (ALIAS)

Advanced Solid State Recorder 

Scheduling Tool (ASSET)

Application of SAE Architecture Analysis 

& Design Language (AADL) to IV&V of 

NASA Flight Projects

Approach for Autonomy: A Collaborative 

Communication Framework for MultiAgent Systems

Astronomer Proposal Tool†

AutoChem†

Automated Vortex Detection

Autonomic Quiescence

CCSDS Image Data Transcoding

Commercial GIS Extension for 

Visualization of Large Unstructured 

Geospatial Data

Common Data Format

Computer Code to Model Loop Heat 

Pipe Transients

Contamination Mass Transport Analysis 

Software

Control Center in the Classroom (CCC)

Cool-RADTM Ultra Low Power Cache 

Random Access Memory Structure 

with Enhanced Single Event Radiation 

Tolerance

Core Command and Data Handling 

Library

Core Flight Executive (cFE)

cFE Application Program Interface

D-Dimensional Formulation and 

Implementation of Recursive 

Hierarchical Segmentation

DocBUILDERsolo

Empirical Assurance of Embedded 

Software Using Realistic Simulated 

Failure Modes

Enhancing R2D2C Requirements Based 

Programming With Automata Learning

Estimated Spectrum Adaptive Postfilter 

(ESAP) and the Iterative Prepost 

Filtering (IPF) Algorithms‡

Extendable USB Drive

F Unit

General Mission Analysis Tool

Giovanni: GES-DISC Interactive Online 

Visualization and Analysis Infrastructure

Global Alert Resolution Network‡

Goddard Mission Services Evolution 

Center (GMSEC) Architecture

GMSEC Architecture Application 

Programming Interface

GMSEC Message Bus

20

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

21

Grants Document Generation System

Hilbert-Huang Transform‡

Innovative Utilization of the Heap Data 

Structure for Efficient Determination 

of Best Merges for Hierarchical 

Segmentation†

InSpec: Automated Review System

Integrated Modeling Environment†

Integrated Structural Analysis and Test 

Program‡

IV&V Technique for Object Oriented 

Software Systems

Java Application Shell†

Land Information System Software, 

Ver. 4.2

Lightwire†

LTM - LACE Task Manager*

Magic Bullet: Real-Time Anytime 

Treatment Learning

Matlab-CodeV Toolkit

Matlab-OSLO Toolkit

Matlab-Zemax Toolkit

Memory Efficient Serial Implementation 

of Recursive Hierarchical Segmentation

Method for Developing and Maintaining 

Evolving Systems with Software 

Product Lines

Method for Recursive Hierarchical 

Segmentation which Eliminates 

Processing Window Artifacts†‡

Methodology for Fixed-Point 

Computational Data Path Optimization

Mirador: A Fast, Minimalist Search Tool 

for Remote Sensing Data

Modeling, Specifying, and Deploying 

Policies in Autonomous and Autonomic 

Systems Using an AOSE Methodology

NASA Forecast Model Web Map Service

NUB: NPOESS User Block Tool

OASIS: A Reusable, Autonomous 

Ocean-Atmosphere Sensor Integration 

System

Otoacoustic Protection in Biologically 

Inspired Systems

Parameterization of the POD-Based 

Dynamical System Coefficients

Personalization and Flexible Rich Media 

Content Amalgamation to Existing 

Streaming Infrastructures

Pixelized Device Control

Practical Model Checking to Enforce 

Domain Specific Interfaces

Predictive Model for Return on 

Investment of Independent Verification 

and Validation

Programmable Digital Controller

Reusable Object-Oriented Software 

Package that Implements Instrument 

Command Building and Argument 

Validation

SLE Forward CLTU Service (User Side)

Space Operations Learning Center 

Website

Space-Based Ethernet Protocol 

Embedded in an IPDR Modular Avionics 

Architecture

SpaceWire Link and Switch 

Implementation‡

SpaceWire PCI Card Windows Driver 

Software

SpaceWire Test FPGA Design

SpaceWire Transport Layer‡

Spatial and Temporal Low-Dimensional 

Models for Fluid Flow

Specialized Color Function for Display 

of Signed Data

Split-Remerge Method for Eliminating 

Processing Window Artifacts in 

Recursive Hierarchical Segmentation†

Stabilization of a POD-Based Dynamical 

System

Standard Autonomous File Server‡

Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) 

Engineering Flight Software

Systems Engineering Process 

Realization Toolkit

Tandem Experiments in Finding Faults 

during Model-Based Development

TARA: Toolbox for Automated 

Registration and Analysis

Tool to Facilitate CMMI appraisals†

Ultra-Compact High-Definition 

Hyperspectral Imaging System

Virtual Satellite Platform (VirtualSat 

Pro)†

Wireless Sensor Network Node

Mechanical Systems

Annular Ring Premix Injector with 

Bladder Attachment

Apparatus for Providing Torque and 

Storing Momentum Energy‡

Compliant Mount for Umbilical 

Separation Connector

Dual Concentric Bladders for Positive 

Expulsion of Gelled Propellant

Gear Bearings‡

Hard Seat Isolation Valve for Spacecraft 

Applications

Hardware and Technique for Dead-End 

Welding of All Types of Tubing‡

Integrated Hydrostatic Journal Bearing

Method and Apparatus for Controlling 

a Tool‡

Miniature Pump for Long-Life 

Biomedical Application‡

Multiple Purpose Gas Generator

Ninety-Degree Close Quarters Facing 

Tool

One-Way Bearing‡

Passive Non-Rocking Vibration Isolation 

System

Phase-Oriented Gears†

Reversible Robotic Coaxial Connector

Robustness of Favorite Controllers

Rollatruss: Flexure-Hinged Optimized 

Ultralight Deployable Truss Boom with 

Flattenable Constituent Truss Elements

Space Robotic Tug System to Transport 

Cargo in Space, to Assemble and 

Repair Satellites, and to Dispose of 

Depleted Cargo

Synergistic Habitation System for 

Artificially Derived Forces from Directed 

Fluid Flow

Tetrahedral Exoskeleton for Segmented 

Struts

Three Degree-of-Freedom Parallel 

Manipulator with Three Inextensible 

Limbs and Base-Mounted Actuators†

Three-Dimensional Roller Locking 

Sprags‡

Tightly Packaged Integral Flexure Mount 

Design for Cryogenic, Metal Mirrors for 

Astronomy Instruments†

Toroidal Vortex Combustion

Virtual Feel Capaciflectors†

21

Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

22

Photonics

Absolute Cartesian Encoder‡

Active, Solid-State, 3-Dimensional 

Range Imaging System

Adhesive Bubble Remover‡

Aluminum Super Polishing Process‡

Automated Infrared Image Damage 

Detection Algorithm with Quantitative 

Error Threshold

Cartesian Electronic Absolute 

Autocollimator†

Cartesian Electronic Absolute 

Autocollimator‡

Chemical Stripping of Optical Fibers‡

Circuit for Real-Time Enhancement 

of GaN UV Photodetector Quantum 

Efficiency 

Device for Live-Axis Turning for 

the Fabrication of Non-Rotationally 

Symmetric Optics

Fabry-Perot Double-Cavity Optically 

Controlled Narrow Tunable Bandpass 

Filter

Fast Picometer Mirror Mount

Fiber-Optic Shape Sensing for 

Intelligent Solar Sail Deployment

Full-Disk Rationing Radiometer to 

Augment Calibration of the Advanced 

Baseline Imager

High Power Electro-Optic Modulator for 

Space-Based Applications

High-Resolution X-Ray Collimators

High-Speed Magnetostrictive MEMS 

Actuated Mirror Deflectors

Holographic Circle-to-Point Converter‡

Improvement to Fine-Alignment 

Technology of a Large Segmented 

Mirror

In Situ Lidar for Cloud and Aerosol 

Radiation Sciences

Instrument and Method for X-Ray 

Diffraction, Fluorescence, and Crystal 

Texture Analysis without Sample 

Preparation

Integration of Garnets and Magnets for 

Waveguide Isolators

Investigation of Helioseismic Waves and 

Magnetic Variations Associated with 

Solar Flares†

Large Depth-of-Field Particle Image 

Velocimeter

Lightweight Optic Mirror Single Crystal 

Silicon‡

Linear and Rotary Absolute Optical 

Encoders with Ultra-high Resolution†‡

Magneto-Optic and Electro-Optic 

Heterostructures

Magneto-Optic Garnet Films

Modulated X-ray Source

Natural Light Polarimeter

Novel Tunable Dye Laser for Lidar 

Detection

One-Dimensional Synthetic Aperture 

Microwave System Using Parabolic 

Cylinder Reflector†

Portable Airborne Laser System†

Portable Rugged Low Powered X-Ray 

Fluorescent Using Machined Sources‡

Simple, Compact, and Robust Optical 

Reference System for Lasers with 

Narrow Linewidth

Solid-State Spectral Light Source 

System

Spaceflight X-Band Hybrid PhaseLocked Oscillator

Spectral-Ratio Biospheric Lidar‡

Theodolite Ring Light†

Tunable, High-Power Fiber-Optic Laser 

for Lidar Applications

Ultra-Stable Miniature Seed Laser for 

High Power Nd:YAG Lasers

Sensors and Detectors

4x4 Individually Addressable InGaAs 

APD Arrays Optimized for PhotonCounting Applications

AIGaN Ultraviolet Detectors for DualBand UV Detection

Analog Radio Interference Suppression 

System

Analytical Particle Biogeochemical 

Sensor

Autonomic Smoke Detector

Blocking Contacts for N-Type Cadmium 

Zinc Cadmium Zinc Telluride

Cloud Micro-Sensors for Application on 

Small UAVs and Balloons†

Demonstration of 4H-SiC Visible Blind 

EUV and UV Detectors with Large 

Detection Area

Development of Ultra High Sensitivity 

UV SiC Detectors

Direct Solve Image Based Wavefront 

Sensing

Dual-Order Common Path Spectrometer

Extended Range Displacement Sensor

Field Programmable Processor Array

Horizon Sensor Microsystem with 

MEMS Linear Scanner

InGaAsP Avalanche Photodetectors 

for Non-Gated 1.06-μm Single Photon 

Counting

Interferometer for Low Uncertainty 

Vector Metrology†

Low-Power Mass Spectrometer 

Employing TOF

Microwave Rain Gauge

Miniaturized Instrument to Obtain 

Atmospheric Profiles of NO, NOx, and 

NOy

Miniaturized Radiation Spectrometer 

Development

Real-Time Parylene Thickness 

Monitoring Optical Sensor System‡

Remote Sensing Analysis of Forest 

Disturbances

Thermal and Cryogenic 

Systems

Advanced Adiabatic Demagnetization 

Refrigerator Integrated Controller

Bi-Propellant for Thermal Mechanical 

Chemical Induction of Vaporization and 

Combustion

Cryogenic Frost Point Hygrometer

Cryogenic Hydrogen Radiation Shield

Cryogenic Loop Heat Pipe for LargeArea Cryocooling

Gas Generator Propellant for Thermal 

Mechanical Chemical Induction of 

Vaporization and Combustion

Helium Loop Heat Pipe for Large-Area 

Cryocooling

Lightweight Cryogenic Radiator

Low-Cost Al/Diamond Composites for 

Thermal Management Applications

Low-Cost and Lightweight Three-Stage 

Radiative Cooler for Cooling Focal 

Plane Array or CCD to 140 K or Colder

Micro-Channel Embedded Pulsating 

Heat Pipes (ME-PHPs)

Microchip Cooling Device with Diamond 

Heat Sink

Miniature Loop Heat Pipe with Multiple 

Evaporators and Condenser

Solvent-Free Batch Process for the 

Manufacture of a New Generation of 

Highly Efficient Thermoelectric Coolers†

Sub-Kelvin Helium-4 Joule-Thomson 

Refrigerator

Tangential Jet Evaporator for Two-Phase 

Cooling of High Flux over Large Areas

Thermal Mechanical Chemical Induction 

of Vaporization and Combustion

22

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

23

Value to the Regional Economy

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is uniquely poised to contribute to Maryland’s 

regional economy. By working with economic development agencies, area universities, 

and other organizations, the IPP Office helps to enhance companies and the workforce 

in the region, which in the long term can help NASA achieve its objectives.

Through TEDCO and NASA’s 

“

formal partnership, technology 

transfer will continue to grow 

and serve as a way to advance 

Maryland’s promising technology 

economy. [Goddard’s innovations] 

provide the state’s technology 

companies and entrepreneurs 

opportunities to conduct further 

research and development in 

order to develop products that 

can enter the public marketplace.

”

Renée Winsky, Interim Executive 

Director, TEDCO (with Orlando 

Figueroa, Director of Goddard’s 

Applied Engineering and Technology 

Directorate)

Agreement with TEDCO

The mission of the Maryland Technology Development Corp. 

(TEDCO) is to facilitate the creation of businesses and foster their 

growth in all regions of the state through the commercialization 

of technology. This mission is closely aligned with the goals of 

the IPP Office. By working together, the IPP Office can leverage 

Maryland’s investment in technology-based economic development 

for the benefit of NASA as well as the state. The agreement with 

TEDCO is designed to serve as a valuable link between Maryland 

companies looking to benefit from Goddard’s capabilities and 

technologies. The agreement enables local industry and universities 

both to utilize Goddard R&D and to help achieve NASA missions 

faster and more cost-effectively. The first activity under this agreement is for both organizations to hold a Technology Partnering 

Showcase (see page 13).
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

24

Agreements with Local Universities 

In FY06, the IPP Office entered into agreements with the University of Baltimore 

and Howard Community College that are designed to enhance NASA’s strategic 

technology objectives. Under these agreements, students will have the opportunity 

to gain real-world technology experience as they assess Goddard technologies 

and collaborate with faculty, Goddard researchers, and local mentors to develop 

commercialization plans and potential licensing opportunities. These agreements 

provide Goddard with assessment information about potential applications and 

licensing opportunities for possible technology transfer efforts.

In particular, [the IPP Office] has 

“

been instrumental in identifying 

ideal projects and researchers 

for our students to work with to 

gain real, hands-on experience. 

This help has been invaluable to 

position this year’s Lab to Market 

program for success.

Michael Laric, Professor of 

”

Marketing, University of Baltimore

Agreement with DBED 

In FY06, the IPP Office developed an agreement with the Maryland Department 

of Business and Economic Development (DBED) to attract high-technology 

companies to the state and to foster growth of new technology start-up 

companies with skills specific to NASA’s technology needs. The agreement 

enables collaboration between Goddard and DBED, facilitating technical 

exchanges related to new aerospace trends, methods, and challenges that may 

benefit NASA missions. DBED also can leverage collaboration with Goddard 

to demonstrate educational, financial, and business resources that technology 

companies require. In short, the agreement is mutually beneficial, bolstering 

economic growth in Maryland while helping to support NASA’s numerous 

missions.

Goddard is a critical component 

“

of Maryland’s internationally 

recognized technology- and 

space-based industry. This 

agreement will help to ensure that 

NASA and the Goddard Space 

Flight Center will continue to be 

one of the state’s most important 

scientific, technological, and 

economic partners.

Chris Foster, Deputy Secretary, DBED

”
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

25

Goddard Technology Gets 

Patients Up and Walking

In 2003, Enduro Medical Technology introduced 

the Secure Ambulation Module (SAM). Based on 

Goddard’s cable-compliant joint technology and 

compliant walker, SAM is a revolutionary rehabilitative device that enables patients to stand and 

ambulate without the aid of a physical therapist.

The company made bold strides with this 

product during FY06:

– Enduro donated a SAM unit to Walter Reed 

Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., 

to help rehabilitate military patients with 

spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries.

– Kindred Hospital in Greensboro, North 

Carolina, is using SAM in its therapy 

for bariatric (extremely overweight) 

patients, who benefit from the 

device’s ability to help them 

support their body weight during 

exercise programs.

– Enduro introduced a youth model called 

SAM-Y, which can be used within or outside 

the therapy setting.

Value to Humanity

One of the sometimes surprising benefits of technology transfer is how NASA 

technologies provide advances in nonaerospace fields, such as medicine, the environment, transportation, consumer products, and more. These advances are sometimes 

years in the making, so the IPP Office monitors the progress of previously signed 

agreements to help the partner overcome any obstacles and to promote their 

successes. The pages that follow offer a few such successes from FY06.

Bariatric patients in long-term 

“

acute facilities like ours are 

bedridden and have not used their 

legs for quite some time. Their 

legs cannot support their body 

weight. SAM helps us to help 

them strengthen their whole lower 

body. The technology has a lot of 

promise.

Mark Castleberry, Director of 

”

Rehabilitation Services, Kindred 

Hospital

I think there’s a change in 

“

 confidence and almost like a

 change in hope for someone

 who hasn’t been able to walk 

for a long time and—with the 

assistance of SAM—is actually 

able to get up and ambulate and 

propel themselves on their own.

Anne Moore, Licensed Physical 

”

Therapist Assistant, Walter Reed 

Army Medical Center
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

26

In collaboration with Dr. Huang, 

“

[our] researchers were able to 

explore several exciting new 

applications of the HHT algorithm 

with major public health implications, including sleep apnea 

detection and the quantification 

of cerebral blood flow and blood 

pressure dynamics in elderly 

people at risk of stroke.

Ary Goldberger, Associate 

”

Professor of Medicine, Harvard 

University’s BIDMC

Advancing Medical Research

Under an agreement signed in FY04, Harvard University’s Beth Israel 

Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is working toward the goal of 

refining the use of Goddard’s Hilbert-Huang Transform technology 

for a variety of medical advancements. The collaborative effort 

is expected to enhance monitoring of patients at risk for sudden 

cardiac failure and stroke as well as diagnosis and treatment of 

depression and other neurological disorders. The research was 

also designed to use HHT to analyze physiological signals in 

order to measure the vitality of various systems within the body.

During FY06, BIDMC scientists worked directly with Dr. Huang to 

understand the HHT algorithms and to apply them to analyses of 

physiological signals, enabling better monitoring of cardiac and 

neurological diseases.
Innovative Partnerships Program Office | 2006 Accomplishments Report

27

The Nation’s Highways

Under a three-year agreement completed this year, Turner-Fairbank Highway 

Research Center (TFHRC) scientists learned how to apply Goddard’s Hilbert-Huang 

Transform technology to analyses of traffic flow data, wind and traffic interaction 

with bridges, and damage detection in pavement and bridges. These analyses are the 

basis of TFHRC’s Digital Highway Measurement (DHM) Project and are the first steps 

in a dramatic shift in the way state departments of transportation will be able to 

improve the safety and performance of the nation’s highway infrastructure.

The HHT has been a critical 

“

element for accurate analysis of 

data from some of the sensors 

on board the DHM van. The 

capability being created in the 

van represents the beginning of a 

paradigm shift in the way states 

will view and be able to carryout 

their stewardship of the nation’s 

highway infrastructure.

”

Morton Oskard, Structural 

Research Engineer, Turner-Fairbank 

Highway Research Center
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

28

Contact Us

We encourage companies, universities, government labs, and other 

organizations interested in joining NASA in going 

to the Moon, Mars, and Beyond to contact us today.

Innovative Partnerships Program Office

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Building 22, Room 290

Mailstop 504

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

phone: (301) 286-5810

e-mail: techtransfer@gsfc.nasa.gov

web: http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Innovative Partnerships Program Office

Building 22, Room 290

Mailstop 504

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

phone: (301) 286-5810

fax: (301) 286-0301

e-mail: techtransfer@gsfc.nasa.gov

web: http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov

www.nasa.gov

NP-2007-3-814-GSFC