VOLUME 19 ISSUE 3 MARCH 2017

..............

NASA Glenn Demonstrates Electronics for 

Longer Venus Surface Missions

A team of NASA Glenn scientists recently completed a technology demonstration that could enable new scientific 

missions to the surface of Venus. The 

team demonstrated the first prolonged 

operation of electronics in the harsh 

conditions found on Venus.

“With further technology development, such electronics could drastically improve Venus lander designs and 

mission concepts, enabling the first 

long-duration missions to the surface 

of Venus,” said Phil Neudeck, lead 

electronics engineer, Smart Sensors 

and Electronics Systems Branch.

Current Venus landers can only operate 

on the planet’s surface for a few hours 

Continued on page 3

GRC-2016-C-02360 Photo by Rami Daud

Researchers use a metal deposition system in the fabrication of the Venus-durable 

silicon carbide integrated circuits.

The Dust Never Settles on the Space Station

When your house gets dusty, the dust settles, falling down to lower surfaces, 

awaiting your attention with the vacuum cleaner or duster. Not so on the 

International Space Station. Like any home, it gets dusty, but the particles do not 

settle...they float.

And that’s a problem for astronauts living and working there. Dust can get in 

their eyes and nose, causing irritation and allergic reactions.

Continued on page 2

Dr. Marit Meyer at Glenn’s Telescience Support Center communicates with the 

Payload Operations team at Marshall Space Flight Center while her experiment 

GRC-2016-C-09831 Photo by Rami Daud on the International Space Station is conducted.

In This Issue

Director’s Safety Corner 2

Day of Remembrance .................... 3

CFC Presents Big Check .............. 5

Band Forms Ensemble.................. 5

Benafan Earns Honor .................... 6

Phasing Retirement........................ 8
Success! Boundary Layer Testing Safely Completed

Congratulations to all those involved in the successful development and testing of the Boundary Layer Ingesting Inlet/Distortion Tolerant Fan (BLI2DTF) 

in the 8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel. This trailblazing suite of tests 

is a testament to the dedication of our Research and Engineering, Test 

Operations, Manufacturing, and Safety and Mission Assurance teams. 

Thank you for addressing hardware and integration challenges, while 

exceeding all expectations to meet test objectives and allowing for a 

safe transition to the Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) test. I look 

forward to the BLI2DTF results and its impact on future air transportation.

Coming next month—Celebrating an Amazing European Service 

Module Test Campaign! 

 —Janet

Check Out 

Sprout Café!

Feeling hungry? 

Didn’t pack a lunch?

Stop by the Sprout Café for a 

delicious bite to eat with various 

entrees, salad bar and grab-n-go 

items! 

Various options in addition to the 

daily specials are available until 

2 p.m. Visit the website at https://

www.grc.nasa.gov/exchange/

cafe/ to check out the menu for 

this week!

Dust Never Settles

Continued from page 1

Although high-efficiency filters are installed on the space station and the astronauts vacuum regularly, there has 

never been a thorough investigation of 

airborne particulates until now.

NASA Glenn Research Scientist Dr. 

Marit Meyer, Combustion Physics and 

Reacting Processes Branch, is leading an experiment to sample airborne 

particles on the station to help improve 

astronaut health and wellness. The experiment involves two types of samplers designed by the RJ Lee Group, Inc. 

which are portable collection devices.

“Collecting this data will help us to 

ultimately build a particulate matter 

monitor so NASA can improve the environment for astronauts on station and 

other long-term missions in deep space,” 

Meyer said.

The first collection device is an electric 

sampler placed on the wall near where 

the astronauts work. A pump draws air 

through a cartridge containing a heated 

channel and across a very small disk. 

The airborne particles are drawn inside 

and get stuck to the surface of the disk.

“For six hours at a time the sampler 

collects particles as small as nanometer sizes, given off by the astronauts 

where they exercise and work,” Meyer 

explained.

She is particularly interested in collecting data from near the cargo bay area. 

“When cargo vehicles are opened to 

retrieve supplies, any particulates inside 

can circulate into the station and affect 

the air astronauts breathe,” she said.

Additionally, seven passive samplers are 

placed near air ducts and vents. These 

devices have several plates with sticky 

surfaces that are opened all at once and 

then closed at different times to collect 

larger particulates.

“We expect to see lint, skin flakes and 

metal particles when we study the samples upon their return from the space 

station,” Meyer said.

When the samplers return to Earth, the 

cartridges and other samples will be analyzed in a variety of light, laser and electron microscopes.

By Nancy Smith Kilkenny

GRC-2016-C-09824 Photo by Rami Daud

This passive air sampler has several 

plates with sticky surfaces that collect 

large particulates floating inside the 

space station.

2
MARCH 2017

NASA Day of Remembrance: Kalpana Chawla’s Legacy Endures

Astronaut Kalpana Chawla’s quest for knowledge and discovery still inspires people to push boundaries 14 years 

after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster took her life 

and that of her six fellow STS–107 crew members. 

Chawla’s husband, Jean-Pierre Harrison, and Center 

Director Janet Kavandi shared memories and personal 

photographs depicting Chawla’s life and legacy during 

NASA’s Day of Remembrance observance at Glenn, 

Jan. 31. 

Kavandi was in the same astronaut class (1995) as Chawla, 

and served as Harrison’s casualty assistance officer after 

the Columbia accident. Harrison said Kalpana, the first 

Indian to go to space, is idolized in India. He introduced 

Aishwarya Stanley, a young aerospace engineer from India, 

who told how Chawla’s belief that “with hard work everything is possible” inspired Stanley to follow her dreams. 

Glenn’s observance also recognized the fallen heroes of GRC-C-2017-00529 Photo by Marvin Smith

the Challenger and Apollo 1 missions. Jan. 28 marked the 

31st anniversary of the Challenger and Jan. 27 the 50th Harrison reflects on his wife’s legacy.

anniversary of the Apollo 1 accidents. 

Kavandi reminded employees that even with knowledge and advanced technology, space travel remains a risky endeavor. 

“Your work is very important and affects the lives of the many people who fly both inside and outside the atmosphere,” Kavandi 

said. “What you do makes a difference.” 

By Doreen B. Zudell

Electronics for Longer Venus Surface Missions

Continued from page 1

due to the extreme atmospheric conditions. The surface temperature on Venus is 

nearly 860 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hotter than most ovens, and the planet has 

a high-pressure carbon dioxide atmosphere. Because commercial electronics do not 

work in this environment, the electronics on past Venus landers have been protected 

by thermal and pressure-resistant vessels. These vessels only last a few hours, and 

they add substantial mass and expense to a mission.

To overcome these challenges, the Glenn team developed and implemented extremely durable silicon carbide semiconductor integrated circuits. They then electrically tested two of these integrated circuits in the Glenn Extreme Environments Rig 

(GEER), which can precisely simulate the conditions expected on Venus’ surface. 

The circuits withstood the Venus surface temperature and atmospheric conditions 

for 521 hours—operating more than 100 times longer than previously demonstrated 

Venus mission electronics.

“We demonstrated vastly longer electrical operation with chips directly exposed—

no cooling and no protective chip packaging—to a high-fidelity physical and chemi- Integrated circuit before (above) and

after (below) testing in Venus atmos- cal reproduction of Venus’ surface atmosphere,” Neudeck said. “Both integrated cir- pheric conditions. cuits still worked after the end of the test.”

Earlier this year, the team demonstrated nearly identical silicon carbide integrated circuits for more than 1,000 hours at 900 

degrees Fahrenheit in Earth-atmosphere oven testing. The integrated circuits were originally designed to operate in hot regions

of fuel-efficient aircraft engines.

“This work not only enables the potential for new science in extended Venus surface and other planetary exploration, but it also 

has potentially significant impact for a range of Earth relevant applications, such as in aircraft engines to enable new capabilities, 

improve operations and reduce emissions,” said Dr. Gary Hunter, principal investigator for Venus surface electronics development, Smart Sensors and Electronics Systems Branch.

By Jan Wittry

3
News and Events

MLK Observance 

Calls for Mentorship

Glenn celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King 

Jr.’s life and dreams with an MLK Day 

of Service, Jan. 25, themed “Remember! 

Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not a Day Off!” 

Coinciding with National Mentoring 

Month, the event called for employees to 

reach out and become a mentor within 

the center and the community. Charles 

“CJ” Harkness, chief diversity officer, 

Baldwin Wallace University, supported 

the theme in his keynote address. Center Director Janet Kavandi welcomed 

employees while Kathy Clark, Glenn 

Mentoring Program, and Dr. Antoine 

Moss, mentor, reflected on the value of 

mentoring. Representatives from participating mentoring organizations staffed 

informational tables. Pictured, left to 

right: Kavandi, Harkness and Glenn’s 

Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity 

Director Aretha Carr.

GRC-2017-C-00576 Photo by Rami Daud

Glenn-Cavs Team for Black Heritage Event

NASA Glenn teamed up with the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers for their Black Heritage Celebration, Feb. 1, at 

Quicken Loans Arena. Themed around the film “Hidden Figures,” the event included an appearance by former astronaut 

Dr. Guion Bluford, the first African-American in space. Four of Glenn’s “Modern Figures” were honored at center court 

during halftime including Director Dr. Janet Kavandi. A video tribute on the scoreboard highlighted the career of Glenn’s 

most prominent “hidden figure,” Annie Easley, who worked as a human computer. A video message from astronaut Shane 

Kimbrough was downlinked from the International Space Station. Approximately 20,000 fans attended the game. Pictured, 

below left, left to right: Bluford, Lizalyn Smith, Dr. Dionne Hernandez-Lugo, Dr. Quynhgiao Nguyen, Carol Tolbert and Kavandi 

are introduced as some of Glenn’s Modern Figures. Pictured, below right: Kimbrough offers a message from the space station. 

GRC-2017-C-00622 GRC-2017-C-00650 Photos by Bridget Caswell

4
MARCH 2017

News and Events

CFC Team Achieves Goal, Earns Awards, Continues Legacy of Giving

“It has been an honor and privilege leading the CFC, and 

witnessing the great things we can accomplish together!” 

 —CFC Chair Mary Jo Long-Davis

Team members and supporters of Glenn’s 2016 Combined 

Federal Campaign (CFC) gathered Feb. 2 to celebrate a successful 

campaign. The center exceeded its goal and presented the “big 

check” of $427,672 to North Coast CFC Director Carol McClain. 

Additionally, the center earned several awards from the North 

Coast CFC, including the Director’s Award for Outstanding 

Leadership, Chairperson’s Award in the Big “11” Agency Category 

and the Appreciation Award for Achieving 100 Percent of Goal. 

Glenn CFC awards included Keyworker of the Year presented 

to Heather Blum, Occupational Health Branch; Directorate 

Chairperson of the Year presented to Richard Kurak, Office of 

the Chief Information Officer; and the Code L Charity Cup presented to the Propulsion Division with the highest percentage of 

participation (61.4 percent). By Doreen B. Zudell

GRC-2017-C-00596 Photo by Marvin Smith

Kavandi presents check to McClain.

The NASA Glenn Band Modifies to Meet Demand 

The NASA Glenn Band performed at more than a 

dozen center events in 

2016—from the Center 

Picnic to the Holiday 

Gathering. The band 

gained respect, recognition and requests for 

numerous engagements to 

end the year on a high note. 

“Our mission is to support Glenn 

morale and expand public awareness 

and appreciation of the center,” explained founder Jeff Woytach, Science 

and Space Technology Systems Branch. 

“In 2017, we want to support more public events in and outside of the gates, 

such as National Lab Day, which enables band members to support STEAM 

(Science, Technology, Engineering, Art 

and Math) outreach.” 

To accommodate demand, the band 

recently created a spinoff group, the 

Lewis Ensemble. This group of up to 12 

musicians can be assembled on short 

notice, compared to the full band, to 

oblige an occasional unannounced 

event or venue with limited space. 

“The Ensemble performed the National 

Anthem for the Center’s John Glenn 

Tribute” said Woytach. “We also had 

the unexpected pleasure of performing, by request, one of Senator Glenn’s 

favorites, which just happened to be in 

our repertoire!”

The full complement of the Glenn Band 

includes 25-plus dedicated employees 

and retirees, along with several North 

Olmsted High School (NOHS) music 

students. They rehearse hours weekly 

on their own time under the direction 

of Erik Kalish, NOHS band and orchestra director. 

Employees interested in joining or requesting the Glenn Band or Ensemble 

should contact Woytach at 216–977–

7075 or Jeffrey.m.woytach@nasa.gov. 

By S. Jenise Veris

GRC-2016-C-09593 Photo by Marvin Smith

The Glenn Ensemble performs at the center’s John Glenn Tribute.

5
Dr. Benafan Earns Presidential Early Career Award

Benafan

In January, former President Obama named Glenn’s Dr. Othmane Benafan among five NASA researchers 

who received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Award. This 

is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on scientists and engineers who are beginning 

research careers. 

Benafan, High Temperature and Smart Alloys Branch, researches smart materials and shape memory alloys, materials that can be stretched and reshaped by applying heat. Although several applications for the 

material have been identified, Benafan is developing a rock splitter for potential NASA exploration of the 

rocky terrain of Mars without using forceful explosives.

“These PECASE winners represent some of the brightest researchers that NASA supports,” said NASA’s 

Acting Chief Scientist Gale Allen. “They were selected for what they have already accomplished, but more 

importantly, for where we expect they will lead the nation in the future.”

By S. Jenise Veris

Calendar

WOMEN’S HISTORY OBSERVANCE:

Come join in the celebration of Women’s History Month on March 22, from 

10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Guerin Management Center. The event will feature a 

panel of Glenn female trailblazers. POC: 

Nola Bland, 3–9343

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE:

The next onsite Red Cross Blood Drive 

takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, March 22 and 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 

3:30 p.m. in the Administration Building Auditorium. POC: Rhonda Billick, 

3–6286

APRIL OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING:

The Emergency Management Office 

staff will conduct the Lewis Field audible siren test focusing on the “emergency condition” tone on Saturday, 

April 1. An outdoor “voice” test will be 

conducted at Building 39 on Wednesday, April 5 at Lewis Field. POC: Allen 

Turner, 3–6826

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING:

LESA will hold its next membership 

meeting, Wednesday, April 12, noon, 

in the Glenn Employee Center’s Small 

Dining Room.

NASA RETIRED WOMEN’S LUNCHEON:

The NASA Retired Women's Luncheon is Thursday, May 18, at 1 p.m. at 

Hecks Cafe, 35514 Detroit Road, Avon. 

Please confirm your place by calling 

Gerry Ziemba at 330–273–4850 or 

email gto64gerry@yahoo.com.

FIRST ROBOTICS STAFFING NEEDED: 

The 2017 FIRST Buckeye Regional Robotics 

Competition will be held March 30 to April 1, 

at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center. 

More than 60 high school teams and 1,500 students 

will be participating in this annual STEM event. 

Staff is still needed for various positions 

throughout the 3-day event. 

Staffing role descriptions and registration information can be found at 

http://www.oai.org/firstbuckeye/volunteers.html.

POC: Tim Dedula, 3–3668

NASA SCHOLARSHIP FUND:

The NASA College Scholarship Fund is announcing its 2017 agencywide call for applications. Up 

to five scholarships will be awarded in the amount 

of $2,000 each in this 34th year of the 

program (2017–2018 school year). 

The scholarship is renewable for a maximum of $8,000 over 6 calendar years. 

Applicants must be dependents of current/retired NASA employees or 

reimbursable detailees with NASA for a period of 2 years as of January 2017. 

For full details, visit https://nasapeople.nasa.gov/nasascholarship/index.htm.

POC: Vanessa Webbs, 3–3768

Emergency and Inclement 

Weather Lines 

Lewis Field: 216–433–9328 (WEAT) 

Plum Brook Station: 419–621–3333

Connect With Glenn

6
MARCH 2017

More Than a Memory

Loew Brought Skill, Strong Work Ethic

Loew

Ray Loew, 57, an electrical test engineer in the Facilities Testing Branch, died unexpectedly on 

Dec. 30, 2016. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from the University 

of Akron and worked as a contract test engineer at NASA Glenn for the last 20 years, most recently 

for HX5 Sierra JV. 

“Ray’s tireless contributions to NASA’s work at the Aero-Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory and his 

kindness and friendship to all he came in contact with will be sorely missed,” said Loew’s supervisor 

Ed Becks, HX5 Sierra. “Ray helped everyone, never asking anything in return.”

Hanzel Valued As Metrology Technician, Co-worker

Hanzel

Rich Hanzel, 53, an ATS employee who supported the Calibration Laboratory, died suddenly Jan. 7. 

He came to the center in 1987 after leaving the Air Force where he received his primary training as 

a metrology technician. He worked in several of the calibration disciplines and spent the last several 

years as the lead technician and area coordinator for the primary pressure calibration lab. 

“Rich received multiple customer recognition rewards for his work, including a 1991 Group 

Achievement award from the Johnson Space Center director for support of pressure transducers 

used in evaluation of aerodynamic loads distribution on the orbiter, Columbia,” said Metrology 

Services Manager Terry Fleet, ATS. “He was a valuable team member and will be greatly missed.”

Graham

Dr. Robert W. Graham, 94, a 1989 retiree with 41 years of NACA/NASA service, died Jan. 30. From 

hiring Neil Armstrong to researching the propellant that took Armstrong to the moon, Graham played 

a key role in making the Apollo 11 mission possible. As head of the Rocket Fluid Dynamics Section 

during the 1950s and 1960s, Graham was a major proponent for liquid hydrogen as the best 

source of rocket fuel for breaking Earth’s orbit and reaching the moon. His area focused on developing the propellant for the J–2 and RL–10 engines used in the Saturn upper stages, Delta IV, 

shuttle’s main engines and Centaur. Graham’s family will hold a public memorial service in his 

honor, Saturday, March 25 at 2 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Berea.

Tesfahunei Tecle, 73, a 2012 retiree with 23 years of NASA service, died 

Jan. 16. Tecle was an electrical engineer who spent most of his career in 

the Electrical and Avionics Systems Branch of the Electrical Systems 

Division. He earned a Group Achievement Award (1991) as a member of the 

Preliminary Design Review, Resources and Restructuring Team. Tecle retired 

from the Propulsion, Structures and Thermal Systems Division. 

Adelbert “Del” O. Tischler, 98, a 1973 retiree with 33 years of service, died 

Jan. 12. Tischler began his NACA/NASA career at Langley in 1940 before 

reassignment to Cleveland’s Aircraft Engine Research Lab. During 

the War, he specialized in combustion research focused on fuels for 

existing aircraft engines. Afterwards he became an expert on highenergy propellants for turbojet and rocket engines and headed the 

center’s Rocket Combustion Section. Tischler transferred to Headquarters in 1958 to help establish NASA. He also held positions managing 

the agency’s liquid rocket engines, launch vehicles, chemical propulsion, 

and shuttle technologies programs before retiring in 1973. He earned several 

prestigious awards for his work in propulsion.

Retirements

Mark Bodziony, Wind Tunnel and 

Propulsion Branch, Test Division, 

retired Jan. 3, 2017, with 41 1⁄2 years 

of service.

Hugh McLaughlin, Logistics and 

Technical Information Division, 

Center Operations Directorate, retired Dec. 28, 2016, with 50 years 

of service.

Carol J. Vance, Logistics and Technical Information Division, Center 

Operations Directorate, retired Jan. 

31, 2017, with 28 years of service. 

7
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field

21000 Brookpark Road 

Cleveland, Ohio 44135

www.nasa.gov

AeroSpace Frontiers is an official publication of Glenn Research 

Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is 

published the second Friday of each month by the Office of 

Communications & External Relations in the interest of the Glenn 

workforce, retirees, government officials, business leaders and 

the general public. Submit short articles and calendar items via 

e-mail to the editor: doreen.b.zudell@nasa.gov or 216–433–5317. 

April 2017 Calendar section deadline: March 17, noon

News and feature stories require additional time

Editor: Doreen B. Zudell, ATS

Assistant Editor: S. Jenise Veris, ATS

Managing Editor: Kelly R. DiFrancesco

Read AeroSpace Frontiers online at http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/news/AF/index.html

Is NASA's Phased Retirement for You?

David McKissock, Power Architecture 

and Analysis Branch, wanted to dedicate more time to activities outside of 

work but was not ready to leap into full 

retirement. In January 2016, McKissock 

entered into NASA’s Phased Retirement 

Program, which allows him to work part 

time and earn partial retirement benefits. 

Glenn’s Phased Retirement Point of 

Contact, Cynthia Forman, Office of 

Human Capital Management (OHCM), 

said the objective of the program is 

twofold. “Employees slowly adjust to 

new patterns of working and living, 

thereby reducing post-retirement stress; 

and NASA maintains employees’ critical 

skills and competencies through mentoring and knowledge transfer.” 

Under the program, employees work 

a half-time schedule (40 hours per pay 

period) and draw about half annuity 

before transitioning to full retirement. 

Additionally, they are required to spend 

20 percent of the time in mentoring/

knowledge transfer activities. The agreement is limited to an initial period of 

up to 2 years, with a 1-year extension 

possible at management's discretion.

Eligible employees are responsible for 

proposing the work they would perform 

during the phased retirement period and 

developing a mentoring plan that addresses their transfer of knowledge. 

McKissock, who oversaw a large project 

prior to applying to the program, was 

able to transition back to some of his 

previous work now that he is in phased 

retirement. 

“It’s vital that you research the current 

and projected climate of the center,” 

McKissock explained. “Your skills and 

competencies must be of value and 

there must be opportunities to mentor 

within the area.” 

Forman, also in the Phased Retirement 

Program, is currently transferring her 

knowledge to Lauren Demirjian, OCHM. 

She will become the point of contact 

when Forman enters full retirement. 

NASA was on the forefront of a small 

group of federal agencies that rolled 

out phased retirement in 2015. To date, 

NASA has accepted 35 applicants agencywide, with 13 of those from Glenn. 

Three of those Glenn participants are 

now in full retirement. 

For information about phased retirement, visit Glenn’s OHCM website, 

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/ohcm/. 

By Doreen B. Zudell

GRC-2017-CN-00596 Photo by Doreen B. Zudell

Left to right: Demirjian and Forman meet with McKissock to discuss phased 

retirement issues.