VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 11 • NOVEMBER 2020

ISP Upgrades:

Full Steam Ahead

Page 4

Virtual Safety and 

Health Awareness 

Pages 6–7

 Center Kicks Off 

CFC 2020

Page 11

Deputy 

Administrator 

Visits Lewis Field

Page 3
NASA has released its first-ever agencywide economic impact report. The 

report outlines a myriad of NASA activities that have generated more than 

$64.3 billion in total economic output during fiscal year (FY) 2019; supported 

more than 312,000 jobs nationwide; and contributed to the estimated $7 billion 

generated in federal, state, and local taxes throughout the United States.

Based on wages and benefits paid to Glenn civil service employees, agencywide 

funding of contracts sourced to Ohio companies, and estimated consumer 

spending, the study revealed a total economic impact to Ohio’s economy of 

11,139 jobs, $805.3 million in labor income, and $2.3 billion in economic output.

The report also examines the impact of the agency’s Moon-to-Mars (M2M) 

program. The M2M program includes the landing systems, Moon and Mars 

science missions, ground support equipment, spacesuits, and the many 

technologies focused on returning humans to the Moon and cislunar space, 

with eventual missions to Mars and beyond. The study found that M2M-funded 

activities in the state of Ohio generated a total of 1,258 jobs and $302 million 

in economic output in FY 2019.

The study was conducted by the Nathalie P. Voorhees Center for Neighborhood 

and Community Improvement. A summary of the report is available at https://

go.nasa.gov/3cxsYlU and the full report is online at https://go.nasa.gov/3i2tycr.

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 in the interest of the 

Glenn workforce, retirees, government 

officials, business leaders and the general 

public. 

Submit short articles and calendar items 

to the editor at doreen.b.zudell@nasa.gov. 

Editor: Doreen B. Zudell, ATS, 

 216–433–5317

Assistant Editor: S. Jenise Veris, ATS

Design: Rhys Sampson, ATS

Managing Editor: Kelly R. DiFrancesco

Circulation: Angela Williams, ATS, 

 216–433–8921

Happy Holidays

As we approach the holiday 

season, I encourage you to 

schedule leave requests with 

your supervisor. It is important 

to take time for yourself and 

reenergize. As we gather with 

family and friends to celebrate 

the season, I urge you to not let 

your guard down and to practice 

safe COVID–19 protocols. The 

experts tell us it is in these 

small gatherings where the virus 

continues to spread, and we must 

stay vigilant for ourselves, our 

loved ones, our co-workers, and 

the NASA mission. 

 Safely enjoy the holidays!

DIRECTOR’S

SAFETY CORNER NASA Releases First 

All-Inclusive Economic 

Impact Study

On the Cover: 

While on tour in the Electric Propulsion Research 

Facility, Space Flight Systems Director Bryan Smith, left, 

discusses the mission advantages of electric propulsion 

with NASA Deputy Administrator James Morhard, center. 

Center Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis looks on.

GRC-2020-C-02783

Photo by Bridget Caswell
Center Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis 

and senior leaders welcomed Deputy 

Administrator James Morhard to Lewis 

Field on Sept. 28. 

During his first visit to the center, 

Morhard was briefed on the state of 

the center, including the budget, facility 

issues and the facility master plan, and 

state and regional partnership activities. 

Morhard talked with the Glenn senior 

leadership team over lunch in the socially 

distanced Mission Integration Center 

auditorium. 

Pérez-Davis and Space Flight Systems 

Director Bryan Smith escorted Morhard 

to the West Area where they toured 

vacuum tanks 5 and 6 in the Electric 

Propulsion Research Facility. There they 

discussed the mission advantages of electric

propulsion for science and human exploration. 

“We reviewed the testing of the 12.5-kW Hall thruster 

testing in Tank 5,” Smith said. “Glenn is testing the 

NOVEMBER 2020

3

GRC-2020-CN-00023

GRC-2020-CN-00022 

Photos by Bridget Caswell

design of a development thruster that will be used for 

the Power and Propulsion Element on Gateway.”

Morhard met with three engineers performing the 

testing and emphasized the criticality of the work in 

addition to specifically thanking them for their work 

throughout the pandemic.

They also toured the Telescience Support 

Center, where Morhard acknowledged 

the importance of the research on the 

International Space Station. 

The visit concluded with a summary of 

the center’s FY 2020 accomplishments. 

“It was an honor to host our Deputy 

Administrator and highlight Glenn’s 

critical roles and importance to the 

agency,” Pérez-Davis noted. “We truly 

appreciate Jim’s support and leadership.”

By Doreen B. Zudell

Deputy Administrator 

Morhard Visits Lewis Field

Hani Kamhawi, right, discusses the 12.5-kW electric propulsion thruster 

with Morhard while on tour.

Kevin McPherson, right, explains Glenn’s ongoing International Space Station Science 

Operations in the Telescience Support Center. Pictured, left to right: Associate Director Larry 

Sivic, Morhard, Dr. Perez Davis, and Smith.
4

Upgrades Prepare In-Space Propulsion

Facility for Artemis Testing 

This photo shows a view looking up from the spray chamber floor 

of two of the four 2000 HP water pump impeller sections attached 

to the pump columns that lead up to the spray bars 120 feet 

above. Each 10 foot pump column-shaft section was removed, 

reconditioned and then reinstalled.

Three of the accumulators have been recertified and steam piping has been

constructed and insulated (seen in bright silver) to connect the steam accumulators.

They are connected to the ejector train, which is used to remove rocket engine

exhaust products from the test chamber during a hot-fire engine test.

GRC-2020-C-02859

GRC-2020-C-02891 Photos by Sage Amato

As NASA prepares to send the first woman and next man to the Moon 

in 2024, Glenn is full steam ahead in support of the Artemis program. 

This includes a significant facility upgrade to Plum Brook Station’s InSpace Propulsion Facility (ISP). 

Formally known as B2, the facility has put powerful second-stage 

propulsion systems, like the RL–2, through hot-fire testing, longduration simulated space environmental conditioning, and restart and 

cold soak testing. 

Built in 1966 to support the Apollo program, the facility’s last largescale hot-fire test was performed in 1998. Due to the lack of funding 

and testing since then, several of the facility’s major components fell 

into disrepair. 

With the renewed interest in commercial launches and human 

exploration to the Moon and beyond, ISP has been undergoing a 

major overhaul to the steam ejector system, process water pumps, 

and other auxiliary systems over the past few years. This includes 

recertification and reactivation of three of the five 46,500-gallon 

steam accumulators, installation of new steam piping, and a new 

rental boiler and rental chiller interface. It also includes repairs to a 

200-foot-long 24-inch water line located 30 feet below grade going 

into the facility. Work inside the test chamber includes a complete 

refurbishment of the four 120-foot-long vertical 2,000-horsepower 

water pump system and much needed structural repairs. 

“This has been an excellent team effort over the past few years,” said 

Facilities Project Manager Jim Davic. “They include personnel from 

the ISP facility; Facilities, Test and Manufacturing; Research and 

Engineering; Safety and Mission Assurance directorates; and the 

Pressure Systems Office, as well as over a dozen 

construction contractors and their subcontractors.”

With the completion of these projects in the next 

few months, ISP will have the capability to support 

the development of the human landing systems for 

Artemis, as well as upper-stage rocket testing for 

NASA and commercial launch vehicles.

“This gives us the ability to simulate conditions at an 

altitude of 100,000 feet,” said Hal Weaver, ISP facility 

manager. “It will enable the ISP facility systems to 

support testing of propulsion systems of up to 30,000 

pounds thrust for 300 seconds of run time.”
In 2005, several of Glenn’s human spaceflight health studies 

initially pursued under the auspices of the John Glenn 

Biomedical Engineering Consortium transitioned to NASA’s 

newly established Human Research Program (HRP).

As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the International 

Space Station, we are reminded how the consortium staff 

identified and mitigated a range of physiological problems 

caused by spaceflight. Their pioneering research in low-Earth 

orbit, the space station, and at a variety of ground-based 

facilities developed technology to forecast and prevent health 

risks associated with in-flight medical conditions.

Dr. Rafat Ansari, a former NASA research scientist, adapted 

a Glenn-developed laser technique called Dynamic Light 

Scattering. The portable, noninvasive probe peers into the 

eye to measure blood flow and better understand vision 

changes encountered in space. The eye-scanning procedure 

captures changes going on in the body to detect cataracts, 

diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Glenn also collaborated with the Cleveland Clinic to 

develop a suite of zero-gravity locomotion simulators and 

associated ground-based technologies. These simulate inflight (microgravity) and surface (partial gravity) exercise 

to advance the health and safety of current and nextgeneration astronauts. Glenn’s Exercise Countermeasures 

Laboratory (ECL) is the most capable of these simulators. 

5

NOVEMBER 2020

It allows human-in-the-loop testing for research and 

technology development, most notably the Glenn Harness, 

which improved the effectiveness of the astronaut 

treadmill exercise on the space station. 

Astronauts must use a harness to attach themselves to the 

space station treadmill while walking or running in space 

due to the lack of gravity. The weight-bearing exercise 

afforded by treadmill running on the space station is 

thought to be crucial for effective gravitational loading of 

the musculoskeletal system and for bone health in space. 

“Working on a project that has the potential to positively 

affect crew members so directly is very rewarding,” said 

Gail Perusek, Glenn project manager with the HRP. “As long 

as we have manned spaceflight, humans will be exercising 

in zero gravity or even partial gravity, like on the Moon, and 

we’ll need comfortable harnessing systems.” 

Glenn continues to support the HRP through a variety of 

experiments and ongoing research conducted on space 

station in the Fluids and Combustion facilities, managed and 

operated remotely from Glenn. The research conducted in 

each of these facilities has advanced technologies, systems, 

and practices to improve astronaut health and safety for 

future missions to the Moon and Mars. 

By S. Jenise Veris

Left: Astronaut Don Pettit demonstrates the zero-g simulation capabilities of Glenn’s ECL used to study and improve astronauts’ treadmill 

harness. Right: Astronaut Suni Williams simulates a marathon on the space station treadmill with the help of the flight-tested Glenn Harness.

GRC-2007-C-01625 Photo by Marvin Smith iss032e011701 Photo by NASA/JSC

Glenn’s Human Research Program

Uses Space Station as State-of-the-Art 

Research Lab
Virtual Safety, Health Awareness Event 

Reflects Today’s Challenges

Medical Services staff members, clockwise, Patty Oleksiak and 

Dr. Susan Gifford, answer David Meigs’ question about services 

during virtual vendor sessions.

GRC-2020-C-02689 Photo by Jef Janis

Clockwise: Morhard, Safety and Mission Assurance Director Konstantinos (Gus) Martzaklis, 

and Dr. Pérez-Davis discuss Glenn’s contributions to safety and health. 

GRC-2020-C-02637 Photo by Jef Janis

6

Mishap Investigation Board members Mike Milbert, Tim Czaruk, 

Manuel Dominguez, and James Smith presented a compelling 

mishap case study on an electrical transformer arc blast and 

subsequent fire, which took place on the center in May. This 

culminated in a review of lessons learned and a panel questionand-answer session. 

The event concluded with a virtual health walk. Employees 

walked for 30 minutes and recorded their participation through 

the SMAD’s Safety and Health Awareness Event (SHAE) website 

through Friday, Sept. 25.

Safety and Health Division Chief Steve Herron served as chair, and 

Gail Skowron and Andrea Bonesteel served as co-chairs. Visit the 

SHAE website to view the speakers’ presentations and health walk 

photos of employees, https://www.grc.nasa.gov/smad/shae-2020/.

By Doreen B. Zudell

Hundreds of employees tuned in to Glenn’s annual Safety and 

Health Awareness event on Sept. 22, an all-virtual event this year, 

organized by the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate (SMAD). 

NASA Deputy Administrator James Morhard and Dr. Keith 

Armitage, infectious disease specialist with University Hospitals, 

headlined the event and were introduced by Center Director Dr. 

Marla Pérez-Davis.

Morhard, who survived a plane crash in a remote part of Alaska 

in 2010, talked candidly about the experience and his physical 

and emotional recovery process. He drew parallels to NASA’s 

vigilance to safety preparedness and resilience and encouraged 

employees to draw on these tenets and always put people first 

while navigating the COVID–19 pandemic. 

“Don’t forget lessons from the past,” Morhard said. “Be renewed in 

our vigilance to safety...do not take our lives for granted.” 

Armitage discussed currently available information on the 

coronavirus, as well as the importance of masks and social 

distancing, testing, types of medications, and promising vaccines. 

“Stay vigilant when it comes to your safety and health,” 

Armitage stressed. “Trust and follow public health authorities’ 

recommendations.” 

In addition to speaking events, vendors provided virtual 

presentations and answered questions on a range of topics. 

Some of these included ergonomics, domestic violence and child 

advocacy, personal protective equipment, the fitness center, 

medical services, return to on-site work, and the mission of the 

NASA Safety Center. 
Dr. Armitage, left, and Herron chat during the health presentation.

GRC-2020-C-02670 Photo by Jef Janis

NOVEMBER 2020

7

VIRTUAL WALKERS

GRC-2020-C-02700

GRC-2020-C-02712

GRC-2020-C-02706

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GRC-2020-C-02709

GRC-2020-C-02708 GRC-2020-C-02705

GRC-2020-C-02711

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8

NEWS AND EVENTS

Glenn Joins COSI for Local 

Learning Lunchbox Roadshow

Center Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis made a 

virtual visit to a Center of Science and Industry 

(COSI) Back-to-School Statewide Roadshow 

stop in Parma, Ohio, Oct. 5. The roadshow 

helps support students as distance learning 

needs increase across the state. Families have 

the opportunity to drive through and pick up a 

free COSI Learning Lunchbox, a box filled with 

5 days of science activities. During the event 

in Parma, Glenn partnered with COSI to help 

launch their new “Space Learning Lunchbox,” 

which features content from NASA Glenn and 

highlights the Artemis mission.

GRC-2020-CN-00064

Dr. Pérez-Davis makes a virtual visit to COSI’s Back-to-School 

Statewide Roadshow stop in Parma to help launch the Space 

Learning Lunchbox. 

NSC Names Deputy Director

Robert Conway was appointed in June as the new deputy director of 

the NASA Safety Center (NSC). Conway works with the NSC director 

to enable more effective and efficient Safety and Mission Assurance 

support for NASA’s portfolio of programs and projects. He manages 

the NSC’s activities in knowledge sharing, technical excellence, 

mishap investigation, audits and assessments, and data analysis.

Conway retired from the U.S. Navy in 2012, where he began his 

safety-focused career serving as Commander Naval Air Forces 

Assistant Chief of Staff for Safety and director of the School of Naval 

Aviation Safety. He is a former member of the NASA Aerospace 

Safety Advisory Panel and most recently, Walt Disney World Resort 

manager of Quality Engineering for Worldwide Safety and Health.

Conway graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a 

Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. 

Naval Postgraduate School. He holds several significant awards for 

military and public service.

Conway
9

NOVEMBER 2020

What’s In Your NASA Moon Kit?

NASA will be conducting the last in a series of 

Green Run tests for the core stage of the Space 

Launch System—the most powerful rocket 

ever built. In recognition of the upcoming tests 

bringing us closer to launching humanity to the 

Moon, NASA asked its social media followers a 

question: 

What would you take to the Moon?

Using the hashtag, #NASAMoonKit, followers 

posted photos of their Moon kits on NASA’s 

social media accounts. Last month, Glenn’s 

social media accounts kicked off the campaign 

by posting photos of Glenn’s Imaging 

Technology Center photographers’ kits. If 

you missed the campaign, visit @NASA’s 

Instagram account and search for the hashtag 

#NASAMoonKit. Glenn photographer Jordan Salkin packs the essentials, with 

a couple of goodies, in her Moon kit.

Hundreds Receive 

On-Site Flu Vaccines

Glenn’s Medical Services Clinic staff, with assistance from employees in 

the Center Operations; Facilities, Test and Manufacturing; and Office of 

the Chief Financial Officer directorates, distributed nearly 600 seasonal flu 

vaccines over a 7-day period in October. The clinic offered the 2020–2021 

vaccines, free of charge, to badged civil servants and contractors working 

on-site and off-site. The vaccine was administered in the cafeteria as well 

as in the hangar at Lewis Field. Employees scheduled appointments to 

ensure social distancing. 

GRC-2020–CN–00067 Photos by Angela Windau GRC-2020–CN–00066

GRC-2020-CN-00068 Photo by Jordan Salkin
PROMOTIONS

RETIREMENTS

Christopher Hartenstine has been 

selected the Public Engagement Team 

lead in the Office of Communications. 

Hartenstine previously served as an 

education specialist with Paragon 

TEC in Glenn’s Office of STEM 

Engagement, where he coordinated 

STEM opportunities for NASA’s formal 

and informal education partners. Arnett

Cressman

Lori Arnett has been selected the Data 

Systems and Security project manager 

for the Aerosciences Evaluation and 

Test Capabilities Portfolio Office. Arnett 

previously served as chief of the Data and 

Systems Branch within the Facilities, Test 

and Manufacturing Directorate.

Thomas O. Cressman, Structural 

Mechanics Branch, Materials and 

Structures Division, retired Sept. 30, 2020, 

with 44 years of NASA service.

William Schoren, Reliability and System 

Safety Engineering Branch, Program and 

Project Assurance Division, retired Sept. 

30, 2020, with 37 years of federal service, 

including 32 with NASA.

Hartenstine

Lynn Simmons has been selected the executive 

support assistant to Center Director Dr. Marla PérezDavis. Simmons previously served as administrative 

assistant to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer 

and, prior to that position, with the Aeronautics 

Directorate, both under Alcyon Technical Services, LLC.

Simmons

MORE THAN A MEMORY

Blumenthal Dawson

Phillip Z. Blumenthal, 87, a 2005 

retiree with a combined 49 years 

of federal and contracted service to 

NASA, died Sept. 20. Blumenthal 

was an electrical engineer who 

supported aeropropulsion research 

and testing in the supersonic wind 

tunnels that aided the Apollo space 

program. Blumenthal retired in 1988 

from the Aeropropulsion Facilities and 

Experiments Division. He returned to manage the 1989 to 

1991 renovation and upgrade to the tunnel complex while 

sharing his knowledge and mentoring for 17 more years. He 

worked across several contracts, most recently, Sierra Lobo.

Ronald Dawson, 91, a 1992 retiree with 

40 years of NASA service, died Oct. 5. 

Dawson graduated in the Mechanical 

Engineering Group of the 1953 Apprentice

Class. He worked in several sections of

the Engineering Design Division, from

1959 to 1980, before becoming project

manager of the Small Engine Components

Test Facility, Engine Research Building.

Dawson joined the Fluid Systems Branch 

in 1987, where he earned a 1988 NASA Exceptional Engineering 

Achievement medal for creative and innovative engineering to 

advance aeronautical and space propulsion. 
NOVEMBER 2020

NASA Glenn Employees: For more calendar information, visit https://wing.grc.nasa.gov/event-calendar/. 11

2020 CFC: Be the Face of 

Change and Impact the World!

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the world’s largest annual workplace 

charity campaign, and NASA Glenn has been an important part of this 59-year 

philanthropic tradition. This year’s theme is “Be the Face of Change.” 

The center held its virtual 2020 CFC Kickoff on Oct. 21, where the CFC 

Chair Mark Sorrells, Co-Chair Tonya Mitchell, and Loaned Executive Orlando 

Thompson were introduced. Additional guests discussed the importance

of the campaign, and four local charities shared information about their 

important services.

“During this pandemic, our country has great needs. Glenn employees are 

given an opportunity to respond in a big way.” Sorrells said. “Our goal this year 

is to raise more than $300,000 and 200 volunteer hours.”

Glenn raised $270,000 and over 400 volunteer hours last year. The CFC allows 

employees to decide which nonprofit organizations to support and how many 

volunteer hours to pledge. It has more than 6,000 nonprofit organizations 

representing many causes, and supports nonprofit organizations that are local, 

national, or international. 

The CFC provides a secure giving system that protects donor’s personal 

information. Donor’s data is anonymous unless they decide otherwise. The 

CFC allows a donor to give through payroll or annuity deduction, credit card, 

e-check, or time through volunteering opportunities. Donations can be a

one-time gift or a recurring contribution. You decide where and when to

give your time. 

To learn more about the campaign and how to donate, visit the Glenn WING 

website. Once you are in, type CFC in the transporter, or go directly to https://

cfcgiving.opm.gov/welcome, or ask your Keyworker for more information. The 

CFC concludes on Jan. 15, 2021.

Deadline for next calendar section 

is Nov. 18, noon. News and feature 

stories require additional time.

Improve communications 

and leadership skills through 

Aerospace Toastmasters. The 

group meets on Microsoft Teams 

on Thursdays from 12:05 p.m. to 

12:50 p.m. Contact john.wang1@nasa.gov, 216–433–3613, 

for more information. https://

aerospace.toastmastersclubs.org/. 

AEROSPACE TOASTMASTERS MEET

The Emergency Management 

Office staff will conduct a mass 

notification voice test at bldgs. 100 

and 302 on Wednesday, Dec. 2 

at Lewis Field. They will conduct 

an audible siren test on the 

“emergency conditions” tone on 

Saturday, Dec. 5.

POC: Allen Turner, 216–433–6826

OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING

SAVE THE DATE, Dec. 1, to participate in the Glenn Research Center Day 

of Service. All are welcome to volunteer their time as a center employee to 

assist with local charities. Look for details on Today@Glenn.

CORRECTION

The Solar Dynamic Collector 

testing for the Space Station 

Freedom photograph on page 7 in 

the October AeroSpace Frontiers 

was located in the Power 

Systems Facility at Lewis Field, 

not Plum Brook Station.
National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

John H. Glenn Research Center 

Lewis Field

21000 Brookpark Road 

Cleveland, Ohio 44135

Plum Brook Station

3597 E. Scheid Road

Sandusky, Ohio 44870

www.nasa.gov

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

Emergency and Inclement Weather Lines 

Lewis Field: 216–433–9328 (WEAT) 

Plum Brook Station: 419–621–3333

Connect With Glenn

NASA Seeks Ideas for Powering 

Moon Exploration

The Moon’s extreme temperature swings, irregular 

periods of sunlight and darkness, and permanently 

shadowed craters where water might be harvested, all 

challenge existing state-of-the-art space power systems. 

NASA is developing technologies to provide sustainable 

power through the extreme environments of the lunar 

night, including fission surface power, solar power, and 

regenerative fuel cells. 

The competition, supported by NASA’s Space Technology 

Mission Directorate, will involve two phases. For Phase 1 

of the competition, participants will submit competing 

designs for energy distribution, management, and storage 

addressing one or more of three hypothetical mission 

activities. For Phase 2, participants would implement 

their concepts for competitive testing in a NASA or thirdparty facility seeking to win prizes expected to total $4.5 

million. 

“NASA welcomes competitive innovation from outside 

the agency bringing their creativity into the national 

endeavor of sustainable space exploration,” said Dr. Kurt 

Sacksteder, Glenn’s Deputy Chief Technologist and lead 

for Watts on the Moon Challenge.

Individuals and teams interested in participating in the 

challenge can register and submit concept designs until 

5 p.m. EDT on March 25, 2021. Visit https://www.herox.

com/WattsOnTheMoon/138-registration.

By S. Jenise Veris

As part of the Artemis program, NASA plans to establish 

a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface and 

validate systems and operations to advance exploration 

to Mars and beyond. NASA Glenn is managing the 

Watts on the Moon Challenge, NASA’s newest public 

prize competition, which is now open and accepting 

submissions. 

The competition is intended to generate ideas for power 

distribution and management systems and energy 

storage technologies to complement NASA investments in 

surface power generation, led by Glenn.