Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

www.nasa.gov

Goddard’s

Innovative Partnerships Program Office

Accomplishments 

2008
accomplishments'08

Thank you for picking up 

the 2008 Accomplishments 

Report, highlighting the major 

successes and achievements 

of the Innovative Partnerships 

Program (IPP) Office at 

NASA Goddard Space Flight 

Center (GSFC). Tasked with 

championing innovation, our 

office is not one to do things 

the same way for long—and 

2008 brought with it some 

positive shifts in the way 

we bring technology into 

NASA as well as the way 

we transfer technology out. 

These changes are helping us 

support NASA missions and, 

as always, make better use of 

taxpayer dollars by extending 

the use of NASA technology 

to applications here on Earth.

Expanding. Excelling. Achieving.

In 2008, we focused on expanding our network of 

contacts “beyond the usual suspects.” In other words, 

we’re looking further than the most obvious partnerships and 

networking opportunities. Our time-honored relationships 

are still nurtured, to be sure. But we’re also looking into 

forging new bonds with organizations that can help us turn 

the next corner in meeting mutual NASA and industry goals. 

For example, we signed an exclusive license agreement 

this year with Ocean Tomo, an innovative company that 

auctions intellectual property (IP) to industry. This and other 

new agreements, as well as exposure at special events and 

symposia, are helping us reach out to a whole new network of 

innovative ideas and organizations.

Along with expanding our network, there comes a push 

toward excelling at new business practices. The Ocean 

Tomo agreement represents an entirely new way of doing 

business—a first for Federal agencies. In addition, an exciting 

partnership with Northrop Grumman’s Electronics Systems 

division promises to impact the Maryland region as well as 

the country as a whole through advanced microwave sensing 

technologies.

Finally, the new connections and practices we’ve aimed 

for in 2008 are leading us toward achieving complex 

goals. We’ve seen steady, large increases in the number of 

Inventions and Contributions Board Awards received by GSFC 

innovators as well as an upward trend in the number of new 

technologies reported. We’re also helping to meet the needs 

of NASA missions and growing businesses through SBIR/STTR 

contracts.

I hope you enjoy reading more about these and other 

2008 GSFC accomplishments. 

Nona Minnifield Cheeks

Chief

Innovative Partnerships Program Office

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Expanding our contacts. Excelling at new business practices. Achieving complex goals.

Nona Cheeks
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

i

The IPP Office was honored to be 

invited to speak to many national and 

international organizations in 2008, 

helping the office expand its reach 

with other NASA Centers, across the 

U.S. and abroad.

•	 U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

•	 Korean Foundation for

International Cooperation of 

Science and Technology

•	 Einstein Forum

•	 Kennedy Space Center Open

Innovation 

•	 NASA’s Project Management

Challenge

•	 The Clinton Foundation

Technology Exchange

The IPP Office works together and with you to help put new ways of doing 

business into practice. 
accomplishments'08

 Table of Contents

Championing Innovative Business Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Providing Strategic Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Spearheading Funding Efforts for New Innovation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Supporting Business Growth for Mutual Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Thinking Globally, Innovating Locally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Embracing New Ways of Managing Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Recognizing Award-Winning Innovation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Expanding Our Reach through Creative Networking . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Communicating to Expand Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

The IPP Office and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

ii
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

Partnership Development

Being a catalyst is core to the IPP. Through managing NASA 

intellectual property strategically, securing collaborative 

arrangements with partners to provide mutually 

beneficial endpoints, and developing and securing 

new types of partnerships; IPP is the entry point for 

collaboration with NASA. GSFC’s IPP strives to bring 

high value and strategic partners to Goddard. These 

activities enhance the resources available to NASA, in 

terms of funding and expertise.

1

IPP Program 

Elements

Technology Infusion

The GSFC IPP Office is actively engaged in technology 

infusion—finding innovative solutions to NASA mission 

needs. The Small Business Innovative Research and Small 

Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Program at NASA 

is managed by the IPP Office and works closely with missions 

to ensure alignment with current needs. IPP’s Seed Fund 

Program has been a highly successful program, especially at 

GSFC, bringing a significant amount of leveraged R&D funding 

to develop solutions for NASA mission needs.

Innovation Incubator

Stimulating innovation through a variety of mechanisms is a hallmark of 

the IPP Office. Offering contests and reaching out to form new business 

models are key components to IPP’s Innovation Incubator. At GSFC, the 

IPP has blazed new trails for NASA, as well as other 

government agencies in seeking new relationships, 

such as its agreement with Ocean Tomo.
accomplishments'08

GSFC and Ocean Tomo Establish 

Groundbreaking Partnership to 

Commercialize NASA Technologies 

In September, Ocean Tomo, LLC and GSFC announced a 

licensing agreement whereby GSFC would participate in 

the company’s October 30th Live IP Auction in Chicago. 

Licensing government-owned patents through a live-auction 

process is a highly novel approach to partnering, and GSFC’s 

participation in Ocean Tomo’s auction was the first time a 

Federal laboratory participated in such an event. 

“The Innovative Partnerships Program Office at GSFC is 

charged with helping identify novel arrangements, like 

this one with Ocean Tomo, to bring technologies to the 

marketplace quickly,” said Nona Cheeks, chief of GSFC’s IPP 

Office. “This is a perfect example of how we are working 

to find innovative partnering opportunities that expand the 

utilization of NASA technologies in the public sector.” 

The unique partnership between GSFC and Ocean Tomo 

focuses on maximizing the value of GSFC’s inventions by 

transferring technologies to commercialization partners, 

ultimately benefiting U.S. taxpayers and the domestic 

economy. 

GSFC’s IPP Office is excelling 

at new business practices 

by extending our partnership 

reach beyond traditional 

agreements. Key recent 

agreements are showcasing 

new ways of licensing GSFC 

technologies, as well as 

collaborative innovation to 

benefit NASA missions. 

These agreements support 

economic growth as well as 

new applications that will 

benefit future generations.

Championing 

Innovative 

Business 

Practices

L to R: Darryl Mitchell (GSFC), Jim Malackowski (OT), Dean 

Becker (OT), Nona Minnifield Cheeks (GSFC), Connie Chang (OT), 

Andy Ramer (OT), Bryan Geurts (GSFC), and Stephen Holzen (OT).

2
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

“We are truly honored to partner with NASA—a wellspring 

of technological ingenuity and creativity,” said Dean 

Becker, Ocean Tomo’s Vice Chairman. “Given the 

agency’s world-class reputation and historic technological 

achievements, it is not surprising that we have already 

received a significant number of inquiries and considerable 

interest [in the NASA technologies for auction].” 

The GSFC technologies offered at the October 

auction included:

•	 Hilbert-Huang Transform and applications:

HHT is a highly efficient, adaptive, and userfriendly set of signal-processing algorithms, 

capable of analyzing time-varying processes. 

Designed specifically for nonlinear and 

nonstationary signals, HHT can be used to

analyze data in a wide variety of applications 

including controls and automation, seismic 

exploration, reservoir imaging, geographical 

development, and industrial manufacturing. 

•	 GPS-based system technologies and applications:

These technologies provide autonomous, real-time, 

fully spaceflight-qualified GPS receivers with 

exceptional capabilities for fast signal acquisition and 

weak signal tracking, making them applicable to the 

fields of surveying, navigation, machine guidance, 

wireless platforms, telecommunication infrastructure, 

and homeland security. 

•	 Capaciflector sensor technology and applications:

This technology offers capacity-sensing elements that 

can be used as a single unit or a closely packed array. 

It eliminates sensor-mounting standoff, exhibits no 

thermal drift problems, and provides crosstalk-free 

performance. This technology can be used to detect 

mass and motion, enabling use for industrial process 

controls such as counting and capacity monitoring, as 

well as safety, security, and process monitoring such 

as object and human detection. 

“We are truly honored to 

partner with NASA—a wellspring 

of technological ingenuity and 

creativity.”

— Dean Becker

Vice Chairman,

Ocean Tomo

GSFC’s participation in Ocean Tomo’s auction was the first time a Federal 

laboratory participated in such an event.

3
accomplishments'08

GSFC Extends its Reach into the 

Future—Through Online Gaming

A new Space Act Agreement (SAA) managed by the 

IPP Office is providing another example of how 

GSFC is moving away from business as usual—and 

extending its reach far into the future.

The Massively Multi-Player Online (MMO) Learning 

Game platform is an Agency-wide initiative, 

managed at GSFC and administered by the Learning 

Technologies Project Office (LTPO). The project is 

designed to increase student interest, from middle 

school upwards, in and pursuit of science, technology, 

engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The IPP Office 

facilitated development of an SAA to initiate development of the MMO in 2008. 

Why is NASA playing games?

Simply put, research indicates that games are not only fun and engaging—they are good for 

the brain. Medical and cognitive studies have shown that the human brain can be induced 

to create new neural pathways through simulated environments, such as gaming. With 

MMO, NASA hopes to be able to enhance learning through use of “immersive synthetic 

environments” (ISEs) such as online games. Like suspending disbelief to enjoy the plot 

of a movie, users can choose to immerse themselves in a virtual world and, through that 

environment, train their brain by doing activities they may not be able to do in real life.

To date, most applications of ISEs have been for entertainment purposes. But NASA 

researchers and others believe that the same qualities and features that make ISEs 

such compelling entertainment also hold tremendous potential for education and 

collaborative work.

Championing Innovative Business Practices

Gaming may be a 

key technology in 

training middle 

school through higher 

education students to 

solve the challenges 

of the future through 

highly innovative, 

collaborative 

environments.

4
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

“We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t 

yet exist, using technologies that haven’t been invented, 

in order to solve problems we don’t even know are 

problems yet,” noted NASA LTPO’s Dr. Daniel Laughlin in 

a presentation about the new initiative. Those working 

on the agreement, like Dr. Laughlin, believe online 

gaming will be a key technology in training middle 

school through higher education students to solve the 

challenges of the future through highly immersive, 

collaborative environments.

Indeed, the online gaming market is ripe to support NASA’s MMO initiative. If the popular 

multi-player games World of Warcraft and Second Life—which together represent a $19.5 million 

market—are any indication, NASA may be jumping on board a mega-trend. 

Getting gaming companies online—and on board

A new SAA to be managed by the IPP Office is at the heart 

of getting the MMO initiative going. In an early attempt to 

gain interest among gaming companies and to vet potential 

partners, NASA sponsored an MMO Workshop in April. The 

event provided potential partners an opportunity to learn 

directly from NASA officials about the vision, goals, and 

expectations for the development of the educational game. 

The workshop was attended by more than 120 participants 

from large corporations and small gaming companies, as well 

as from universities at home and abroad. 

The IPP Office is currently in the process of reviewing a 

number of proposals, resulting from the workshop and the 

RFP. A partner is expected to be announced in early FY09.

“We are currently 

preparing students for

jobs that don’t yet exist, 

using technologies 

that haven’t been 

invented, in order to 

solve problems we 

don’t even know are 

problems yet.

 — Dr. Daniel Laughlin

”

Project Manager, 

NASA LTPO

Technology Transfer Manager 

Darryl Mitchell leads the MMO 

initiative for the IPP Office.

5
accomplishments'08

Championing Innovative Business Practices

New Agreement with Northrop Grumman 

Aims to “Measure the Immeasurable”

In 2008, the IPP Office continued to develop 

relationships with partners that will yield 

groundbreaking collaborative research and technology 

to directly benefit NASA missions. A new SAA with 

Northrop Grumman (NG) is a prime example of these 

efforts. Through the agreement, researchers from 

GSFC and NG are collaborating on the development 

of advanced civil radar system architectures that 

can be leveraged into new space-based remote 

sensing instruments with revolutionary performance 

characteristics. These systems will help scientists 

measure with far greater accuracy, precision, and detail 

such things as three-dimensional (3D) characteristics 

of Mars and other planets, as well as cloud composition 

and other characteristics on Earth, to better understand 

climate change. 

“I am confident that this agreement will be 

a catalyst for developing remote sensing 

systems that will allow us to measure 

things inaccessible to us now,” said 

Cathy Long, Deputy Director of GSFC’s 

Instrument Systems and Technology 

Division and technical point of contact for 

the agreement. “We’re aligning our branch 

to create technologies and systems that will 

meet the needs of NASA missions and scientists 

for the next 20 years.”

Goddard’s Laurie Leshin and Northrop 

Grumman’s Joe Ensor sign a new Space 

Act Agreement at Maryland Space Day.

The partnership with 

Northrop Grumman 

promises a positive 

impact on Maryland 

(both GSFC and the 

company’s Electronics 

Systems division 

are located in the 

State), as well as 

the country as a 

whole, through better 

understanding of 

planet characteristics 

and climate change 

here at home.

6
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

Benefits of the Agreement for NASA—and Beyond

• A new class of planetary measurements will enable 

scientists to better understand the history and habitability 

of Mars and other planets. 

• Remote sensing of environmental change from space 

will have huge implications for Earth science and our 

understanding of global warming and the carbon cycle.

• The partnership will enable NASA to conduct more 

exploration with less of its own investment.

• Significant expansion of its instrument development 

programs will give NASA new hardware capabilities.

• Northrop Grumman will be able to 

leverage its mature radar technology 

developed for Department of Defense 

applications into a valuable scientific 

tool that will benefit emerging science 

needs.

“This is a strategic partnership that blends the 

best of GSFC’s and Northrop Grumman’s advanced 

sensing capabilities. Our goal is to expand NASA’s 

instrument technologies, while advancing new and 

innovative space-based mission concepts capable 

of making critical science observations in support 

of NASA goals.”

— Dr. Laurie Leshin

Deputy Center Director of

Science and Technology, GSFC

7
accomplishments'08

NASA mission needs also are being anticipated through a 

partnership with Iridium Satellite Corporation, which will 

collaborate with GSFC to establish application needs and 

requirements for increasing the data 

rates available to suborbital missions 

and to provide the Telemetry, 

Tracking, and Control (TT&C) 

function to NASA’s low Earth orbiting 

(LEO) satellites via Iridium’s NEXT—

the company’s next-generation 

constellation satellite program to 

be launched beginning in 2013. 

Through the agreement, NASA will 

be able to influence NEXT system capabilities to meet NASA 

mission needs. Researchers expect that the lower costs and 

continuous access will enable many more small experiments 

as well as two-way emergency communication services or 

contingency voice services for manned exploration missions. 

Championing Innovative Business Practices

Many other agreements signed in FY08 are helping to extend the reach of GSFC technologies 

outside NASA while benefiting NASA missions in the near and long term.

The International Space Station and other missions will benefit from 

an SAA with Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, 

enabling NASA to validate and verify critical software provided by the 

company.

An SAA with ITT 

Space Industries

will save NASA 

tens of millions 

of dollars and 

ultimately shorten 

mirror fabrication 

time from 2 years to 

about 8 weeks. 

A new SAA with Genesis Engineering Solutions, Inc. may 

ultimately help NASA researchers address contamination 

issues that are critical to the success of optical instruments 

supporting NASA missions. As part of the agreement, GSFC 

will test samples of the company’s dry laser cleaning process, 

using its state-of-the-art infrared laboratory located in the 

Optics Branch. Surface morphology and transmittance/

reflectance response measurements will be provided to 

Genesis and also will be of use to NASA, providing additional 

data for its ongoing, cutting-edge research in dry-cleaning 

technologies that may be used on mission-critical optics 

instruments. GSFC also will receive reimbursement revenue 

as part of the agreement.

Providing critical characterization and measurements are also 

the subjects of an SAA with Advanced Powder Solutions. 

NASA will provide optomechanical characterization and 

fabrication testing of materials to help further technology 

maturation for possible use in space-based applications, for 

missions including the International X-ray Observatory (IXO), 

formerly known as Constellation-X. 

8
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

An overall effort to integrate new components 

onto GSFC’s Mission Services Evolution Center 

(GMSEC) bus includes a new SAA with 

a.i. Solutions. The agreement will enable 

integration of the GSFC Trajectory Determination 

System (among other components) onto GMSEC, 

helping reduce the cost of ground-based aerospace 

mission operations. 

Cost savings will also result from an SAA 

with Aerius Photonics, which will enable 

development of new, in-house bump-bonding 

techniques, using detector arrays and multiplexers 

provided by the company. Such technology will 

give NASA new experience and capabilities 

without incurring in-house procurement or 

building costs. 

Many NASA missions, particularly ground- and space-based satellites, will benefit from 

an SAA with Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPL). The agreement will enable 

PPL to build a high-accuracy wavelength calibration spectrometer, for NASA’s and its 

own use. Similarly, an SAA with Science Research Labs will provide NASA with a 

collaboratively developed, optically read thermal imager for use in future missions.

An SAA with QmagiQ will enable the company to build 10 high quality Gallium 

Arsenide Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) arrays. The arrays are 

planned for use on future NASA scientific instruments, and are expected to provide 

state-of-the-art performance in far infrared imaging.

Agreements signed 

in FY08 are helping 

NASA

•	 Improve mission-critical

instruments

•	 Further technology

maturation

•	 Increase accuracy

and speed of data 

transmissions

•	 Lower material and

operational costs

•	 Conduct more scientific

experiments

•	 Upgrade legacy systems

•	 Strengthen the science

and technology 

workforce of the future

Microcosm has signed an SAA with GSFC, enabling 

exploration of ultra-lightweight mirrors, off-axis telescope 

design, advanced controls, and nano-materials. The 

agreement will benefit NASA’s science and exploration 

missions through access to new and improved space 

telescope architectures.

An SAA with the Bureau of Indian 

Education will contribute to NASA’s goals 

of attracting and retaining students in 

science, technology, engineering, and math 

by supporting the educational needs of 

Native American Indian and Alaskan Native 

populations in science and technology.

9
accomplishments'08

Case in Point: Dr. Stephanie Getty receives 

ongoing GSFC strategic support

Winner of the 2008 James Kerley Award for excellence in 

technology transfer, Dr. Stephanie Getty has fully embraced 

a relationship with the IPP Office. This relationship has 

provided ongoing strategic support to Dr. Getty to help her 

gain exposure for her cutting-edge nanotechnologies. In 

accepting her award, Dr. Getty commented on the importance 

of attending external events with support from the IPP Office. 

“I am grateful to the IPP Office for giving me the opportunity 

to participate in a wide variety of meetings, technology 

transfer forums, conferences, and workshops.” Getty said the 

opportunities gave her insights into commercial opportunities 

for the technology areas in which she works.

The IPP Office supported Dr. Getty’s attendance at several 

events in FY08, notably the MIT Enterprise Forum, the 

NYC Technology Exchange with Columbia University and 

The IPP Office is committed 

to providing guidance and 

support to both GSFC 

innovators and management, 

in an effort to more fully 

engage those directly 

connected with technology 

in the full partnering process. 

FY08 provided several 

successes in this area, 

with technologists and 

management playing active 

roles in technology transfer 

and infusion to expand 

GSFC’s partnering prospects 

and the reach of its innovative 

influence. 

Providing 

Strategic 

Guidance

Dr. Stephanie Getty

10
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

the Clinton Foundation, and the 2007 National Nano Engineering Conference. At the MITEF 

Technology Transfer Lab, Dr. Getty was one of only six presenting innovators. Her patentpending NanoCompass technology—a lightweight, low-power magnetometer based on a Single 

Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT) network—was well received by the panel of experts who 

provided Getty with feedback related to cost-competitiveness, finding approachable markets, 

and narrowing applications.

At the NYC Technology Exchange meeting, Dr. Getty shared insights into GSFC’s instrument 

R&D. This included a presentation of GSFC capabilities and some challenges it is facing as 

the Center supports various Science and Exploration Mission Directorate Programs. Her

participation assisted efforts to structure collaborative agreements with other parties who 

participated in the event.

In supporting Dr. Getty at these 

events, the IPP Office assisted in 

the development of presentations 

and other materials and, following 

the events, served as a liaison in 

Dr. Getty’s interaction with 

external parties.

“I’ve been lucky to have a close 

relationship with the IPP Office 

in the time I’ve been at Goddard,” 

said Dr. Getty. “Through this 

relationship, the IPP Office has 

encouraged me to protect my new 

technologies through the eNTRe 

system, they work to introduce 

me to potential industrial 

partners, and they keep me 

informed about upcoming funding 

opportunities... It’s important [for innovators] to take full advantage of the resources available 

to you in the IPP Office. Make sure they know about your innovations. They are great at 

identifying partnership and funding opportunities that you might not otherwise come across.”

“I am grateful to the 

IPP Office for giving 

me the opportunity to 

participate in a wide 

variety of meetings, 

technology transfer 

forums, conferences, and 

workshops.

– Dr. Stephanie Getty

”

Innovator,

GSFC

GSFC Deputy Director Rick Obenschain (right) presents Dr. Getty 

with the prestigious Kerley Award.

11
accomplishments'08

Providing Strategic Guidance

Structuring Technology-Development Partnerships to Address 

Mission Needs

The value of the IPP Office’s strategic guidance to GSFC innovators was dramatically 

illustrated in 2008 as several Constellation projects selected a GSFC technology for critical 

data consolidation and analysis functions. 

ILIADS—short for Integrated Lunar Information Architecture for Decision Support—was 

designed to give users easy access to a wide range of lunar data. Similar to terrestrial 

geographic information systems (GIS) software, ILIADS is a powerful tool for integrating 

and superposing very large, layered lunar science data sets. In addition to historic data, 

ILIADS will draw upon new data sets provided by recently launched international lunar 

missions as well as NASA’s own Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission, scheduled 

to launch in spring 2009. 

ILIADS can use these diverse yet 

complementary data sets—threedimensional crater scenes, 

topographic contour maps, 

surface distance and elevation 

measurements, in situ resource 

and hazard maps, and much 

more—to conduct the analyses 

and visualizations needed for 

future crewed and robotic lunar 

missions. 

GSFC’s IPP Office has been 

supportive of ILIADS since April 

2006, when the ILIADS team was 

first developing presentations to 

key decision makers at GSFC and 

later at NASA Headquarters (HQ).

These presentations emphasized how ILIADS could address the data-integration challenges 

facing lunar exploration missions. IPP’s efforts to help the team map out the connections 

between exploration needs and ILIADS’s capabilities paid off, helping to secure internal 

R&D funding as well as support from Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) 

leaders at HQ. 

Since 2006, the IPP 

Office has provided 

strategic guidance 

to the ILIADS team, 

helping secure 

internal R&D funding 

and support from 

NASA HQ.

This three-dimensional map of the Dawes crater on the 

lunar surface illustrates the type of information that the 

ILIADS-Questus software product will make available to 

mission planners and researchers. Darker browns indicate 

higher elevations in the topography, while the lighter colors 

signify lower elevations.

12
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

As work to develop ILIADS progressed with this 

initial internal funding, the technology was poised 

to move beyond being an R&D prototype. To truly 

benefit Constellation missions, ILIADS needed to 

become a more robust application that could be 

integrated with commercially developed mission 

operations tools as well as forthcoming space 

weather analysis software tools. So GSFC’s IPP Office 

lent its support again, playing a key role in helping 

win the additional, external funding needed to make 

this leap. 

The ILIADS team had been discussing a possible 

partnership with United Space Alliance (USA)—whose QuestusTM product suite was developed, 

in part, for use in the management and planning of Space Station crewed operations—when 

IPP at HQ issued a call for proposals for its inaugural Partnership Seed Fund in August 2006.

With assistance of GSFC’s IPP Office, the ILIADS team and USA developed a successful proposal 

for integrating ILIADS with Questus. A second project, which added the Space Radiation and 

Analysis Group at Johnson Space Center to the team, received a 2007 Seed Fund award that is 

enabling the development of a software tool to estimate 

the potential impact of energetic solar particles on 

future crewed missions. 

The collaborative efforts to integrate GSFC’s ILIADS 

software with USA’s products are yielding a new 

decision-making application that NASA can use to plan 

and carry out future robotic and crewed missions to 

the Moon. In fact, ILIADS has been selected for several 

projects, including the Lunar Mapping and Modeling 

Project (LMMP) and the Lunar Surface Operations 

Simulator (LSOS) Project. ILIADS’s selection for these 

projects is infusing more than 

$1 million into GSFC. 

“This unique 

partnership will enable 

lunar science data to be 

directly applied to critical 

ESMD mission planning 

and operations needs. 

The integrated software 

tool suite... is necessary 

for lunar exploration 

and currently such an 

innovative capability does 

not exist.”

– Carl Walz

Director, Advanced 

Capabilities Division, ESMD

13
accomplishments'08

Technology-Specific Strategic Support

The IPP Office also makes an effort to support broad 

categories of technologies at events and through 

funding opportunities, when possible. Support for 

GSFC’s cutting-edge sensor technologies provides 

an example for FY08. The IPP Office supported 

these technologies and those who developed 

them at Sensors World. Organized by the National 

Association of Sensor Science and Technology, 

the event was attended by U.S. and international 

companies, universities, and research organizations 

interested in finding new sensor technologies and 

in partnering with organizations for collaborative 

R&D. The IPP Office showcased three GSFC sensor 

technologies through high-impact displays and 

marketing materials, and also networked with 

potential licensees. Interest from several companies 

at the event has resulted in ongoing discussions 

regarding potential licenses and/or partnerships.

Strategic Support to Management 

To successfully foster innovative, mutually beneficial collaborations that will yield positive 

impacts for NASA, the U.S. economy, and mankind, the IPP Office has pulled together a 

team of professionals with a diversity of expertise, capabilities, and skills.

•	 GSFC’s IPP team draws on its technical expertise to understand the challenges that

NASA and its potential partners face, identifying where complementary interests and 

capabilities overlap. 

•	 The team’s business acumen allows the IPP Office to recognize strategic factors that

may influence decision-making at NASA and its (potential) partner organizations.

•	 The IPP team appreciates the value of clear communication and has the necessary skills

to assure such clarity for all audiences in a print, electronic, and oral media.

These assets certainly enhance the IPP Office’s ability to achieve its goals. Moreover, 

these capabilities strengthen GSFC as a strategic center. GSFC recognizes the IPP Office 

as a valuable resource for strategic guidance, demonstrated by the support provided 

during 2008. 

Providing Strategic Guidance

Events and critical 

meetings. Presentation 

materials. Print 

and electronic 

communication 

vehicles. These are 

just some of the many 

areas in which the IPP 

Office provides strategic 

support to help GSFC 

and NASA achieve its 

multi-faceted goals.

The IPP Office supported GSFC sensor 

technologies at Sensors World through 

displays, marketing materials, and 

assistance in networking with potential 

licensees. 14
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

Communicating Strategic Messages 

Throughout 2008, GSFC called on the IPP Office for 

help in crafting documents, to communicate matters of 

strategic importance to management at GSFC and at NASA 

Headquarters. For final reports, slide presentations, speeches

at national conferences and more—the IPP team has proven 

its sophistication in effective strategic communication.

Case in point, when the Applied Engineering and 

Technology Directorate (AETD) was developing materials 

to present its “strategic thrusts” to GSFC management, 

the IPP Office was asked to contribute. Because multiple 

personnel were responsible for preparing various sections 

of the presentation, the potential for inconsistent and 

incomplete information was high. The IPP Office worked 

with AETD’s chief technologist to develop a template that 

fostered compilation of consistent and comprehensive 

information. This template focused on encouraging the 

elements that would be of greatest interest to management. 

These included a strategic plan that summarized the most 

advanced technologies being developed at GSFC, a vision for 

the future in terms of current/potential partners and funding 

sources, and a technology “roadmap” that indicated when 

key technologies could be expected to be ready for infusion 

into a mission.

The end result was a cohesive and relevant message that 

allowed AETD’s chief technologist to speak persuasively and 

convincingly to GSFC management.

Participating in Key Strategic Meetings

The GSFC Technology Federation meets every week 

to discuss the center’s ongoing work from a strategic, 

“big picture” perspective. Chaired by the GSFC chief 

technologist, these gatherings bring together GSFC’s 

various lines of business to ensure awareness of 

individual team research efforts, key challenges, specific 

needs for partners and/or funding, and opportunities for 

new business.

The IPP Office has participated in these Technology 

Federation meetings, making significant contributions. 

With its combined insights into GSFC’s technology 

portfolio, NASA mission needs, and industry interest in 

partnering with NASA, the IPP Office: 

•	 Provides key information about funding opportunities

from other government agencies and suggested 

facilitates partnership development to solve technical 

challenges

•	 Notifies GSFC management of outreach opportunities

that facilitate interactions with potential partners

•	 Helps connect GSFC’s research to NASA missions,

programs, and projects

The IPP Office often provides critical 

presentation support to GSFC and 

NASA HQ to help ensure communication 

consistency and impact.

15
accomplishments'08

Supporting Innovators from Small Wins 

to Big Windfalls

Case in Point: Dr. Peter Shirron 

and GSFC’s ADR Technology

An adiabatic demagnetization 

refrigerator (ADR) technology, 

developed at GSFC, has been chosen 

to be flown on two missions selected 

by NASA Headquarters as the Agency’s

next Explorer Program Mission of 

Opportunity investigations, with 

funding totaling more than $44 million. 

This achievement is the result of more 

than 10 years of work on ADR technology development, 

and the efforts of the technology development team as well 

as the IPP Office to find incremental funding sources and 

partnerships to keep the research active and progressing. 

“Only single-stage ADRs have been flown in the past, and for 

the last 10 years, we’ve actually been developing a four-stage 

ADR that runs continuously—a CADR,” said Dr. Peter Shirron, 

who leads the ADR and CADR development efforts for GSFC.

Taking an Innovative Technology into Space

ADR and CADR technologies provide cryogenic cooling 

capabilities for space-based applications such as infrared and 

X-ray detectors that must be cooled close to absolute zero. 

Built by a team led by Dr. Shirron, a two-stage ADR will be 

flown on the first mission—the Japan Aerospace Exploration 

Agency’s New Exploration X-Ray Telescope (NeXT), planned 

for launch in 2013. The ADR unit, along with a liquid helium 

cooler provided by the Japanese, will provide non-continuous 

cooling for the mission-critical components on the telescope. 

The technology will do the same for the second mission, 

the Spektrum Roentgen Gamma (SRG), to be launched on a 

Russian rocket to conduct all-sky surveys to identify prime 

targets for more intensive observations.

Spearheading 

Funding

Efforts 

for New 

Innovation

The IPP Office leads efforts 

to gain funding for R&D 

by GSFC innovators and 

collaboration with external 

partners. In an effort to 

continually look beyond 

the typical large sources 

of funding, the IPP Office 

supports small, incremental 

funding wins in addition to 

larger funding successes. 

Many accomplishments 

in funding gains in FY08 

are resulting in increased 

collaboration and infusion of 

critical GSFC technologies 

into NASA missions. 

Two GSFC projects 

received Supplemental 

Seed Funding in FY08, 

bringing the total 

funded projects this year 

to seven.

Dr. Peter Shirron

16
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

And, Dr. Shirron said, the work being funded under these two proposals is opening up R&D 

doors that may advance ADR and CADR technologies alike for future NASA missions.

Patience Pays Off 

“This funding opportunity is a huge 

breakthrough,” said Dr. Shirron. “Over the last 

10 years, through the efforts of our research 

team and the folks in the IPP Office, we’ve 

been able to get incremental amounts of 

funding that have kept our work going and 

helped us establish a worldwide reputation as 

the leader in ADR technologies. That is really 

what has helped us arrive at this success.”

Shirron himself has been a great champion of 

technology transfer and funding acquisition 

efforts, working closely with the IPP Office 

to advance cryo-cooling technologies. 

GSFC’s IPP Office provided Dr. Shirron and 

his team with R&D funding in fiscal years 

2001 through 2003, under its Commercial Technology Development (CTD) Program and 

recently helped him prepare a winning Partnership Seed Fund proposal in 2006, leading 

to a partnership with Lake Shore Cryotronics and Lockheed Martin. Dr. Shirron leads this 

ongoing partnership with the goal of increasing the technology readiness level (TRL) of 

GSFC’s CADR technology in preparation for advanced missions such as the International 

X-Ray Observatory (formerly Constellation-X). And while the two new Explorer Program 

missions will fly an ADR rather than a CADR, Dr. Shirron said the hardware performance 

improvements made possible by the Seed Fund are applicable to the ADR technology as well 

and, therefore, were key to its infusion into these two missions. 

Recipient of the 2005 James Kerley Award for excellence in technology transfer, Dr. Shirron 

said that staying in close connection with the IPP Office and playing an active role in these 

technology transfer efforts have been important factors leading to incremental funding 

opportunities and partnerships, ultimately leading to ADR’s infusion in the two new 

Exploration Program missions. 

“Funding is always a challenge and it often seems like you’re getting just enough to stay 

afloat. But all those small steps along the way are what helped us get a foot through this 

very large door—to move the last 10 years of work forward,” said Dr. Shirron. “Now, we’re 

standing on the edge of exactly what we’ve been waiting for.”

“Over the last 10 years, 

through the efforts of our 

research team and the 

folks in the IPP Office, 

we’ve been able to get 

incremental amounts of 

funding that have kept our 

work going and helped 

us establish a worldwide 

reputation as the leader in 

ADR technologies. That is 

really what has helped us 

arrive at this success.

– Dr. Peter Shirron

”

Innovator,

GSFC

17
accomplishments'08

Led by Wallops principal investigator, Barton 

Bull, the AFSS project has been propelled 

forward in part by funding applications 

supported by the IPP Office. In 2007, the 

Office supported Bull’s proposal for the IPP 

Partnership Seed Fund, created by NASA 

Headquarters to initiate cost-shared “bridge

funding” that enables large partnerships and 

development efforts. While the proposal was 

not accepted for funding at that time, it did 

create momentum and internal support from 

the project—leading to a significant win of Supplemental Seed 

Funding in FY08, as well as funding for NASA Headquarter’s

(HQ) Office of the Chief Engineer’s Technical Excellence

Initiative (TEI), which provides funding for research and 

development projects that offer solutions to technical 

challenges affecting multiple NASA Mission Directorates. 

Case in Point: Barton Bull and GSFC’s 

Autonomous Flight Safety System

The IPP Office’s ongoing support of innovators’ funding 

needs also was demonstrated by a recent collaborative 

arrangement reached among GSFC, the Air Force, and the 

U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). 

The project will enable GSFC’s Wallops Flight Facility 

and their partners at Kennedy Space Center to hasten the 

certification process for NASA’s Autonomous Flight Safety 

System (AFSS). A nontraditional Flight Termination System, 

AFSS provides trajectory information for flight termination 

decisions by incorporating rule-based algorithms coded onto 

redundant flight processors. The system augments or replaces 

the functions of traditional ground-based tracking and safety 

systems, and it provides for range safety beyond the radar 

horizon in the presence of Radio Frequency Interference and 

in situations requiring minimal response time. The system 

represents several leaps forward in traditional flight safety, 

and the effort will enable testing of the merger of AFSS with 

NASA’s Low-Cost TDRSS Transceiver (LCT2), which provides 

tracking data and other telemetry, including that needed for 

AFSS verification. 

Spearheading Funding Efforts for New Innovation

“We’re really excited 

about the TEI funding. We 

initially received funding 

from DARPA, and then 

Goddard’s IPP Office 

encouraged us to apply 

for HQ’s TEI funding. The 

combined funding will 

make it possible for us to 

fly our next AFSS test on 

a sounding rocket here at 

Wallops rather than 

having to piggyback 

on another mission’s 

schedule to test it out.

– Barton Bull ” 

Principal Investigator, 

Wallops Flight Facility

Barton Bull

GSFC’s Autonomous Flight 

Safety System

18
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

Bull said the funding efforts are helping his project conduct more 

science in a shorter timeframe, ultimately benefiting NASA missions. 

“We’re really excited about the TEI funding. We initially received 

funding from DARPA for the initiative, and then GSFC’s IPP Office also 

encouraged us to apply for HQ’s TEI funding,” said Bull. “The combined

funding will make it possible for us to fly our next AFSS test on a sounding 

rocket here at Wallops rather than having to piggyback on another 

mission’s schedule to test it out.”

Other Projects Win TEI and Supplemental Seed Funding

Other GSFC projects also are being supported through TEI and 

supplemental support from HQ’s Partnership Seed Fund. Principal

investigators Michael Hesse and Marlo Maddox received TEI funding in

FY08 to develop an Integrated Space Weather Analysis System to 

help better understand and predict space weather conditions as they 

relate to NASA mission operations. The proposed turnkey, Web-based 

dissemination system for NASA-relevant space weather information 

will combine forecasts based on the most advanced space weather 

models with concurrent space environment information.

While NASA HQ did not issue a Seed Fund call in FY08, GSFC innovators

did receive supplemental Seed Fund support this year, bringing the total 

GSFC Seed Funded projects being supported this year to seven (five were awarded Seed 

Funding in FY07). 

In addition to the AFSS project mentioned above, GSFC innovator Cathy Long received 

supplemental Seed Fund support for GSFC’s Advanced Microwave System Architecture 

(AMSA) Demo, through an SAA with Northrop Grumman. The goal of the funded research 

is to collect scientific data that will validate the technology employed in newly developed 

radar systems. In the long term, the research team plans to develop an efficient and effective 

microwave development program to meet NASA’s science and exploration goals. “We are 

very pleased that Goddard projects have received even more Seed Funding for 2008,” said 

Nona Cheeks, Chief of GSFC’s IPP Office. “It’s clear evidence of the wealth of innovative work 

happening here at Goddard.” 

How the IPP 

Supports GSFC’s 

Funding Efforts

•	 Identifying sources of

partnership funding

•	 Streamlining online

funding application 

processes

•	 Minimizing application

efforts for principal 

investigators

•	 Providing technical

editing support 

throughout funding 

application processes

•	 Helping PIs strategically

develop more winnable 

proposals

•	 Publicizing funding

successes to attract 

additional partnerships

19
accomplishments'08

New Source: The Innovation Fund

In FY08, the IPP Office established a new source of 

support—The Innovation Fund. As another effort to look 

beyond the typical sources of funding available for GSFC 

R&D efforts, the Innovation Fund provides an opportunity 

for GSFC technologists to foster truly innovative ideas that 

currently fall in a funding gap but are essential for future 

NASA missions. Facilitating innovation through collaboration, 

the Fund aims to benefit NASA missions by funding projects 

that may be higher risk but also higher reward. Eligible 

projects:

•	 Have potential to establish GSFC as

a leading provider of technology to 

commercial markets

•	 Employ GSFC labor for participation

in novel, cutting edge projects with 

partners

•	 Are engaged in technology development

that is complementary to GSFC’s 

strategic direction

•	 Foster partnerships with world-class

partners

•	 Feature regional partners that can

benefit from the economic boost of 

partnership funding

Spearheading Funding Efforts for New Innovation

The IPP Office’s efforts 

in FY08 helped secure 

more than $8.5 million

in internal and 

external financial 

and in-kind support 

for 11 GSFC projects.

The IPP Office maintains a Web page 

of federal funding solicitations, enabling 

innovators to find other sources of 

incremental funding.

20
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

Securing Funding for GSFC

Early in FY08, the IPP Office was asked to manage GSFC’s process for responding 

to the Office of the Chief Engineer’s Technical Excellence Initiative (TEI). 

Although the TEI call did not require a partnership component, the IPP Office 

was the natural choice for leading the center’s proposal efforts.

In 2007 and 2008, IPP Office successfully developed and managed an efficient 

and effective proposal management process for GSFC’s submissions to the 

Partnership Seed Fund. These efforts helped to secure more than $8.5 million 

in internal and external financial and in-kind support for 11 GSFC projects. The 

IPP Office’s proposal process for the Seed Fund involved a first-round review 

of dozens of notices of intent, which were down-selected to a few projects to 

develop into full proposals. The IPP Office also supported proposal development, 

including creation of a template that ensured every proposal included the 

required information in an easy-to-read format. 

This approach, which had proved so successful for the Seed Fund, was essentially 

repeated to respond to the TEI call. Three GSFC proposals were submitted, 

and two were selected for funding totaling more than $1 million, dramatically 

illustrating the value of the IPP Office’s strategic support.

“I’d like to express 

my sincere thanks and 

appreciation [to the 

IPP Office] for your 

outstanding support 

throughout the latest 

IPP Seed Fund proposal 

preparation process. Your 

comments, feedback, 

suggested edits, etc. 

were highly valued and, in 

my opinion, significantly 

contributed to a terrific 

proposal.”

 — Stephen Talabac

Lead Technologist for 

Sensor Web Systems,

GSFC

The IPP Office 

provides valuable 

editorial and 

strategic support in 

helping innovators 

prepare winning 

proposals.

21
accomplishments'08

Supporting 

Business 

Growth 

for Mutual 

Benefits

Advanced Collimator Technology for NASA 

Imaging Finds Application in Security and 

Medical Screenings

Mikro Systems of Charlottesville, 

Virginia has successfully 

completed Phase 2 efforts to 

advance high-resolution, 

high-aspect-ratio X-ray/

gamma ray collimator 

fabrication by reducing 

slit pitch by a factor of 

about two—from 35 

microns to 20 microns—

using an innovative 

hybrid micro-machining 

technology. The advancements 

reduce the size and mass of the 

enabling materials for astrophysical 

imaging missions, creating the potential to significantly 

contribute to NASA’s ongoing instrumentation development. 

The company has essentially reduced the collimator from the 

size of a coffee table to that of a shoebox. Under the Phase 3 

contract, Mikro Systems is currently preparing the collimator 

to be recommended for several possible NASA missions 

(e.g., Solar Orbiter Mission). In addition, commercial 

possibilities for the company include:

•	 A beta production contract worth $900,000 with a company

that provides airport luggage screening equipment, 

potentially renewable for $3.5 million in 2009. 

•	 A $200,000 contract to provide the technology to CT

scanning manufacturers, renewable for $600,000 in 2009.

The Small Business Innovative 

Research and Small Business 

Technology Transfer (SBIR/

STTR) programs are 

administered by the IPP 

Office and offer another 

way for GSFC to develop 

technologies that answer 

NASA mission needs while 

supporting the growth of 

small businesses and the 

U.S. economy.

Jim Chern leads the 

SBIR/STTR programs 

for GSFC’s IPP Office.

22
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

From Earth Science Data Storage to 

Commercial Success

Developed under a Phase 2 SBIR contract, Extrieva—an 

Earth science data archival system by Archivas of 

Waltham, Massachusetts—offers a low-cost, scalable 

storage management system that embraces several 

National Research Council (NRC) technology 

recommendations. In particular, Extrieva is a diskbased solution determined by NRC to be competitive 

with tape systems for long-term, archival-class storage. 

The system addresses NASA mission needs, such as the 

Earth Observing System Data and Information System 

(EOSDIS) and its diverse global user base. Archivas was 

purchased by Hitachi in 2007, and the new company began

marketing the storage system as the Hitachi Content Archive Platform. Under successful

Phase 3 commercialization activities, Hitachi has sold the product to GSFC, National

Archivas (Bush Administration Archives), several military locations, Google (for e-mail 

archives), Wal-Mart, Target, and United Airlines. 

Designing a Sensor to Better Understand 

Cloud Characteristics

Through a Phase 2 SBIR contract, researchers at Stratton 

Park Engineering Company (SPEC) of Boulder, Colorado, 

have developed prototypes of miniaturized cloud sensors 

for use on small, unmanned aerial systems and balloons 

at Wallops Flight Facility. Pending testing of the sensors, 

SPEC expects the technology will provide critical in situ 

cloud data that will help environmental scientists better 

understand the impact that clouds have on climate. The in 

situ cloud data can be compared with data from groundbased and satellite-borne remote sensors, thereby improving 

the retrievals that the remote sensors use to characterize 

clouds. Improving satellite retrievals of cloud properties is 

critical for refining and validating numerical models that 

predict global climate change.

“The SBIR program 

has helped us refine and 

optimize our technology 

without having to go to 

the private investment 

market and give up equity 

in our company.”

— Michael Appleby

President and CEO,

Mikro Systems 

23
accomplishments'08

Supporting Business Growth for Mutual Benefits

Advancing Our Understanding of Clouds and the Carbon Cycle

Two NASA-funded SBIR contracts with Anasphere of Bozeman, 

Montana may enable researchers to better understand the 

water content of clouds and the carbon dioxide in Earth’s 

atmosphere—helping to meet NASA mission needs while 

supporting this new business. One of the Phase 2 contracts 

has resulted in a set of miniaturized cloud-water sensors for 

test flights on balloons from Wallops Flight Facility, helping 

scientists determine how the sensor performs for measuring 

the water content in clouds and potentially the distribution 

of rain in a storm. The other SBIR Phase 2 contract is enabling 

Anasphere to develop a miniaturized carbon dioxide (CO2) 

sensor for use on unmanned missions. If validation is favorable, 

NASA and Anasphere expect the sensor to be revolutionary, enabling 

highly sensitive measurements of CO2 sources and sinks in the atmosphere, 

and thereby providing a deeper understanding of the carbon cycle and climate change.

Small Business Contributes to 

Next-Generation NASA Lidar Systems

A Phase 2 SBIR contract with AdvR, Inc. of Bozeman, 

Montana has resulted in a prototype of a nonmechanical fiber optic switch for use with high-power 

lasers. Designed to rapidly switch fiber-coupled 

lasers with 10 output channels, the device serves 

as an integral part of a fiber-based, fixed-array laser 

transmitter for next-generation NASA lidar systems. 

The design provides several important features that 

are required yet not currently available in a fiber 

switch, necessary to achieve a fiber-arrayed lidar 

source that includes high optical power handling, 

reduced crosstalk, low optical loss, fast switching times, 

low power consumption, and robust construction 

in a monolithic package with no moving parts. The 

company is now engaged in a Phase 3 contract worth 

$190,000, targeting further improvement in the device’s 

switching power and speed.

In FY08, several

companies have 

reached Phase 2 

or Phase 3 SBIR/

STTR contracts, with 

technologies being 

prepped for infusion 

in NASA missions 

and/or commercial 

successes.

24
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

High-Performance Data Analysis 

Tools for Sun-Earth Connection 

Missions

Tech-X Corporation of Boulder, Colorado has 

recently completed an SBIR Phase 2 contract 

for high-performance data analysis tools that 

are used with ITT Visual Information Solutions 

Interactive Data Language software. Scientists 

working on GSFC’s Reuven Ramaty High Energy

Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) mission—

which has had an X-ray imaging satellite in space to study the sun since 2002—are 

beginning to use Tech-X’s parallel computing tools to process large quantities of visual 

data 10 to 40 times faster then they could do previously. 

Commercialization activities in Phase 3 include a license 

purchased by NASA Jet Propulsion Lab. Tech-X has sold 

licenses for its technology since 2007, to 25 astrophysics 

and medical imaging research customers, and the 

company credits the SBIR program with enabling them 

to be competitive. “The SBIR program allows us to be 

very innovative,” said John Cary, the company’s CEO. 

“With other programs, it is hard to compete against 

big companies and universities. The SBIR program is 

oriented to companies who can come up with new ideas 

and [execute] quickly.” As a result of its innovation through 

the SBIR program, this small firm earned $50,000 in 2007 

revenue and $11,000 through April 2008. 

“Most of our business 

comes from these types 

of contracts. It’s how 

we’ve grown so far.”

— Tony Roberts

Senior Laser Physicist, 

AdvR, Inc. 25
accomplishments'08

The IPP Office is expanding its reach 

around the globe—through innovative 

efforts at home. In the Maryland/D.C. 

area, GSFC’s IPP hosts events to 

showcase GSFC technologies and 

provide a springboard for collaboration 

with organizations locally, nationally, 

and internationally. Some of GSFC’s key 

agreements are with Maryland-based 

partner companies—helping to strengthen 

relationships at home, build the local 

economy, and promote cost efficiency at a 

time when no taxpayer dollar is taken 

for granted.

Thinking Globally, 

Innovating Locally

Greenbelt, MD–A new agreement with 

Northrop Grumman (see page 6) will 

facilitate the development of new microwave 

technologies to enhance scientific experiments 

on global climate change and study the past as well 

as future habitability of planets such as Mars.

Greenbelt, MD–Sponsored by the American Astronautical 

Society, the Goddard Memorial Symposium was attended 

by IPP Office staff, enabling identification of new partnering 

opportunities and strategies.

Laurel, MD–GSFC co-sponsored the first Composite 

Material Engineering Technology (COMET) for 

Spacecraft Applications Workshop, bringing together 

leading experts in the use of composites materials in aerospace 

applications, for presentations and discussion about state-ofthe-art technological advances. The IPP Office presented its 

services, highlighting the capabilities of GSFC’s composites 

branch and encouraging potential partners to begin 

discussions with the Office. As a direct result of the workshop, 

the GSFC’s composites group submitted and received approval 

for a collaborative project with the Air Force Research 

Laboratory and The Aerospace Corporation.

College Park, MD–Entrepreneurs and business executives 

learned how they can capitalize on cutting-edge composites 

and materials manufacturing technologies developed by 

GSFC and NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) at an event 

sponsored by the Maryland Technology Development 

Corporation (TEDCO) and the Tech Council of Maryland/

MdBio (TCM/MdBio). This event highlighted more 

than a dozen technologies available for licensing and/or 

commercialization.

26
Maryland 

Space Day

Greenbelt, MD

Lanham, MD

Annapolis, MD

Bethesda, MD

Laurel, MD

College Park, MD

Technology Transfer Manager 

Ted Mecum (left) talks with an 

attendee at TEDCO 2008.
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

Annapolis, MD–Legislators, members of State departments, 

media, school groups, and business representatives were 

among the attendees of Maryland Space Day, sponsored 

by GSFC’s Government and Community Relations Office and 

supported by the IPP Office. Attendees learned how GSFC 

technologies and missions benefit Maryland and its economy. 

Bethesda, MD–A partnership with Iridium Satellite 

Corporation (see page 8) will enable NASA to influence the 

company’s next-generation constellation satellite program 

(NEXT) system capabilities, to meet critical mission needs. 

Lanham, MD–A new agreement with Genesis 

Engineering Solutions, Inc. is answering NASA mission 

needs by helping NASA researchers address contamination 

issues critical to the success of its advanced optics instruments.

Lanham, MD–A new partnership with a.i. Solutions (see 

page 9) is aiding cost reduction for ground-based aerospace 

mission operations.

“The IPP office team 

contributed greatly to the 

successful CoMET for Space 

Applications Workshop. Thanks to 

you and your team for making this 

a first class event.”

— Kenny Segal

GoCOMET Team Leader, 

Goddard Composite Material 

Engineering

A large audience gathered to hear presentations at TEDCO about more than a 

dozen technologies available for licensing or commercialization.

Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

“The work of the Innovative Partnerships 

Program at GSFC helps transfer technologies out 

of the space program 

into businesses 

in Maryland and 

across the U.S., 

finding new uses 

for the technologies 

here on Earth—and 

benefiting their 

business and the 

state economies as a 

whole. We also look 

to a growing number 

of technology-based 

organizations within 

the state to form 

partnerships that will help meet NASA needs. 

Working synergistically with businesses in the state 

of Maryland is a win-win opportunity.

— Nona Cheeks ” 

Chief,

GSFC’s IPP Office

27
accomplishments'08

Embracing 

New Ways 

of Managing 

Technology

The IPP Office is 

continually refining its best 

management practices 

for intellectual property 

(IP), helping to protect 

and enhance the value 

of GSFC technologies 

within and beyond NASA. 

FY08 saw the introduction 

of new training sessions 

and efforts to increase new 

technology reporting, along 

with increases in awards 

and admirable gains in IP 

protection.

IPP Staff Encourages New Technology 

Reporting

Continuing its FY07 push for increased new technology 

reporting, the IPP Office continued a door-to-door approach, 

providing in-person guidance and encouragement to help 

innovators understand the value of technology reporting and 

answer questions about the process. The Office has continued 

to offer innovators:

•	 Quarterly technology transfer training, covering the ins 

and outs of IP protection, partnerships, filing NTRs, and 

more

•	 Special courses covering the unique software reporting 

process

•	 Division-level, hands-on courses when requested by 

Division management

•	 Special announcements about training and new 

technology reporting in publications and on-site displays

The IPP Office 

supported 43 patent 

applications for

GSFC technologies

in FY08.

28

Technology transfer training courses get innovators and 

management up to speed on IP protection, new technology 

reporting, partnerships, and more.
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

GSFC innovators 

reported a total of 

220 new technologies 

in FY08. Using eNTRe 

to report technologies 

streamlines the 

process, lowers costs, 

and helps improve 

staff efficiency. A Steady Increase in ICB 

Awards

GSFC received 242 Inventions and 

Contributions Board (ICB) Awards 

in FY08, more than double the 

amount received in FY07. The IPP 

Office files applications for ICB 

Awards on behalf of innovators, 

who receive monetary recognition 

for technologies with high potential 

for commercialization or infusion 

in NASA missions. This increase 

demonstrates GSFC’s commitment 

to new technology reporting and to 

adding valuable technologies to the 

NASA portfolio.

29
accomplishments'08

Recognizing 

AwardWinning

Innovation

High-profile award wins 

help GSFC gain recognition 

and prestige for its 

technologies and technical 

services. The IPP Office 

helps support innovators in 

writing and putting together 

comprehensive award 

application packages. And 

when GSFC technologies 

or innovators win awards, 

the IPP Office publicizes this 

success in press releases, 

magazines, and other 

publications—helping to 

expand GSFC’s reputation 

as a leader in establishing 

the state of the art. FY08 

witnessed several awards for 

which GSFC is deservedly 

proud. 

Sensor Web 2.0 Claims GSFC’s Third 

Consecutive R&D 100 Award 

GSFC racked up a triple-play with the announcement that 

its Sensor Web 2.0 won an R&D 100 Award in FY08. This 

marks the third consecutive year that GSFC technology 

has been lauded at the ceremony that the Chicago 

Tribune dubbed the “Oscars of Invention.” Each year, R&D 

Magazine selects 100 of the most innovative technologies 

that have the potential to further scientific discovery, and 

to greatly affect human life and the way we live. 

GSFC’s IPP Office supported the award win through a 

month-long collaboration with Dan Mandl, the innovation 

team leader, to develop a compelling and comprehensive 

award application. “The IPP Office initiated, facilitated 

and provided the necessary support to create an award 

application that was concise, compelling, and ultimately 

provided a prestigious R&D 100 award. This award helps 

us establish and maintain Goddard’s reputation as an 

agency where highly innovative work is happening, and 

could not have been accomplished without the IPP Office’s 

excellent support and leadership.” said Mandl.

The Federal Laboratory 

Consortium Mid-Atlantic Region 

named Technology Transfer 

Manager Ted Mecum a recipient 

of a 2008 Partnership Award 

for his innovative strategy to 

increase use of and knowledge 

about GSFC’s SpaceWire Link 

and Switch (“router”) technology 

throughout the international 

aerospace industry.

IPP Office Chief Nona Cheeks 

and GSFC Innovator Donya 

Douglas were recognized as 

2008 Women of Color All-Stars 

and Rising Stars of Technology 

by the National Women of Color 

(WOC) Science, Technology, 

Engineering and Math (STEM).

GSFC Innovator Glenn Rakow 

also received an honorable 

mention from FLC-MAR in 

FY08 for his pioneering work 

on GSFC’s SpaceWire router 

technology.

The IPP Office 

supported three 

award-winning 

applications for 

GSFC technologies 

or staff in FY08.

30
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

The award win brought even more prestige to GSFC’s Sensor 

Web 2.0, which previously had gained attention in a wildfire 

management campaign in California. Particularly user friendly 

and cost effective, Sensor Web 2.0 frees up highly skilled 

programmers and engineers to attend to more technically 

demanding tasks, resulting in a more efficient allocation of 

resources. 

A Web services–based software, Sensor Web 2.0 gathers and 

assimilates data from a network of sensors—seismic and GPS 

ground sensors, firetower sensors, weather radar devices, 

and satellite sensors—enabling them to operate as a cohesive 

whole. By employing Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC) 

workflows and taking advantage of emerging “mashup” 

capabilities, Sensor Web 2.0 enables users to set up such 

sensor networks via easy point-and-click interfaces. Because 

the sensor integration path is not tied to a particular system, it 

strengthens the U.S. contribution to GEOSS, the Global Earth 

Observing System of Systems that unites 60 countries in a joint 

network of Earth-observing systems. The result is a complete, 

real-time picture of Earth via shared global resources. 

“The IPP Office initiated, facilitated and 

provided the necessary support to create 

an award application that was concise, 

compelling, and ultimately provided 

a prestigious R&D 100 award. This 

award helps us establish and maintain 

Goddard’s reputation as an agency where 

highly innovative work is happening, 

and could not have been accomplished 

without the IPP Office’s excellent support 

and leadership.”

 — Dan Mandl

Sensor Web 2.0 Team Lead,

GSFC

31

Left to right: Pat Cappelaere, Stu Frye, and Dan Mandl lead the 

innovator team for the award-winning Sensor Web 2.0.

Dan Mandl, the innovation team leader, noted that while 

all sensor web initiatives work toward early detection 

of natural disasters, Sensor Web 2.0 has the advantages 

of being particularly user friendly and cost effective. 

“Scientists or emergency workers typically spent months 

or years working with a team of programmers to assemble 

sensors and data processing algorithms into workflows to 

accomplish an application,” Mandl said. “Sensor Web 2.0 

enables even students to assemble customized sensor web 

applications in a matter of hours or sometimes minutes, 

with no extra staff resources. Like the Internet, usability 

will increase exponentially as the library of available 

workflows grows.” 
accomplishments'08

Attendance at local, national, 

and international events is a 

key part of the IPP Office’s 

strategy to extend its reach 

beyond its usual targets. 

IPP Office staff and GSFC 

innovators attended many 

events in FY08, providing 

opportunities to:

•	Identify new partnership

prospects

•	Network with other

technology transfer 

professionals about best 

practices

•	Highlight NASA mission

needs to identify 

technology infusion 

possibilities

•	Extend the reach and

reputation of GSFC 

technologies and 

technologists

Expanding 

Our Reach 

through 

Creative

Networking

FY08 Events

•	 Maryland Space Day

(see more information on 

page 6)

•	 ESMD Technology

Exchange Workshop

•	 MIT Enterprise Forum

•	 LES Annual Meeting

•	 FLC-MAR Annual Meeting

•	 Reach to Space Conference

•	 Missouri Regional SBIR

Conference

•	 AUTM Annual Meeting

•	 Annual TEDCO Conference

(see more information on 

page 26)

•	 SED Poster Session

•	 Boston Future Forum

•	 MAPLD Meeting

•	 IRAD Poster Session

•	 NCSL Meeting

•	 National Nano Engineering

Conference

•	 SAMPE Conference

•	 Goddard Memorial

Symposium (see more 

information on page 26)

•	 Smithsonian Air and

Space Museum Celebrate 

Goddard Day

•	 MODSIM Conference

•	 Goddard Launch Festival

IPP Office staff and 

GSFC innovators 

gained numerous 

contacts and 

networked with 

many potential 

partners at events 

throughout FY08.

32
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

“It is very important 

for Goddard to have a 

consistent presence 

among the local, national, 

and international 

aeronautics communities. 

This is part of our 

continuing efforts, starting 

in FY07, to make Goddard 

the Technology Partner 

of Choice through 

recognition of our worldclass capabilities. ”

— Nona Cheeks

Chief, 

GSFC’s IPP Office

33
accomplishments'08

Communicating

to Expand 

Relationships Presence in a 

Growing Number of 

Publications

The IPP Office provides 

writing support to ensure 

prominent promotion of 

GSFC technologies in several 

journals, magazines, and 

other publications, including:

•	 Goddard View

•	 FLC’s Innovation

•	 NASA Tech Briefs

•	 Spinoff 2008

The IPP Office also works to 

expand relationships through 

mass communications 

efforts with internal NASA 

publications, as well as 

with the trade press and 

mainstream media. These 

efforts help promote GSFC 

technologies within NASA and 

to the aerospace, commercial, 

and academic sectors.

Press Prowess

The IPP Office, together 

with the Public Affairs 

Office, supported press 

releases in 2008 for 

key agreements with 

Northrop Grumman 

and Ocean Tomo. As a 

result, stories about these 

partnerships appeared in:

•	 The Wall Street 

Journal

•	 Reuters

•	 Businesswire.com

•	 AOL.com

•	 MSN.com

•	 Yahoo.com

Goddard Tech Transfer News, the 

IPP Office’s quarterly magazine, 

showcases notable innovators, new 

technologies, awards, events, and 

partnership successes.

34
Innovative Partnerships

Program Office

NASA Goddard’s

The IPP Office is here to serve you. We 

hope you will contact us to learn more.

Chief of GSFC’s IPP Office

Nona Cheeks

Technology Transfer Manager

Ted Mecum

Technology Transfer Manager

Enidia Santiago-Arce

The IPP Office 

and You: 

The Most 

Innovative 

Partnership 

of All

The IPP Office works to establish innovative 

partnerships for technology transfer and infusion with 

NASA, industry, and academia, but we cannot do it 

without you—GSFC innovators, program and project 

managers, and our valuable contacts outside NASA.

Technology Transfer Manager

Darryl Mitchell

SBIR/STTR Technology 

Infusion Manager

Jim Chern

Awards Liaison

Dale Clarke

Find us online:

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

Or call us today:

 301.286.5810

35

Resource Analyst

Dwight Norwood
accomplishments'08

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

This publication is printed 

 on recycled paper

NP-2009-1-064-GSFC