VOLUME 17 ISSUE 4 APRIL 2015

LaunchHouse Helps Glenn Gain Entrepreneurial Skills

NASA Glenn-developed water purification technology was among

10 early-stage startups “cleared to

take off” after graduating from the

LaunchHouse Hardware Accelerator

(LHX) 2014 program in February.

More than 200 people attended the

graduation, where the Glenn team and 

local startup companies demonstrated 

prototype systems to a mix of investors, 

companies, academia and others in the 

entrepreneurial community.

Glenn was both a participant and

partner during the rigorous 16-week 

program. Participants received a

crash course on the “lean startup”

methodology—a scientific approach

to shorten development, lower costs 

and produce a product that aligns with 

Continued on page 2

Photo by Matthew Moran

Glenn’s Dr. Isaiah Blankson (left) and Dr. Grigory Adamovsky (middle), senior researchers 

who developed the water purification technology, describe it to Richard Rund of Shaker 

Investments, LLC.

Glenn Joins Cleveland Clinic's Global 

Healthcare Innovations Alliance 

NASA Glenn and Cleveland Clinic Innovations (CCI) have entered into a joint collaboration that will bring NASA’s renowned aeronautics and spaceflight engineering 

expertise to CCI’s Global Healthcare Innovations Alliance.

The entities will work together to identify, prioritize, develop and commercialize 

technologies in Glenn’s portfolio that 

can be applied to healthcare.

As a member of the Global Healthcare 

Innovations Alliance, Glenn’s researchers, engineers and developers will have 

access to Cleveland Clinic Innovations’ 

Continued on page 3

The Hubble Space Telescope 

launched April 24, 1990! 

Celebrating 25 years of 

discovery deep into the universe

For more information on Hubble@25,

visit hubble25th.org

In This Issue

Director's Safety Corner .............. 2 

New CIO Deputy Named............... 2

Celebrating NACA Pioneers .......... 3 

Station's Year-Long Mission ........ 3

Glenn Strikes Up the Band............ 5

New Cafe Sprouts ......................... 8
Good Sleep Habits Promote Health and Safety

Are you getting enough sleep? The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends a minimum of 7 hours of sleep each night. Chronic sleep deprivation 

may be caused by stresses in our daily life, trading sleep for more work or 

play, or more seriously—a disorder. Some alarming consequences from lack 

of sleep include decreased alertness, increased stresses with relationships 

and higher risks of occupational and automobile injuries. It’s been a month 

since we turned our clocks forward an hour. Are you still missing that precious sleep time? If so, NSF suggests resetting your sleep habits as well as 

your clock. 

Please join me in being attentive to good sleep habits for your own wellbeing and those around you. 

 —Jim

LaunchHouse Accelerator

Continued from page 1

customers’ wants. They also learned best practices for finding and developing 

customers, along with a host of other useful tools. As a partner, NASA’s expertise 

and test facilities were available to all fellow participants. 

“Our NASA team selected the plasma water purifier technology after review and 

assessment of potential candidates,” explained Matt Moran, sector manager for 

Energy and Materials in the Office of the Director. “LHX training exposed us to 

customer development methods and the concept of a ‘minimum viable product.’ 

This type of product offers just enough features to entice early adopters, some of 

whom will pay for additional reiterations or give feedback.” 

The water purifier team included NASA senior researchers Dr. Isaiah Blankson 

and Dr. Grigory Adamovsky, and former NASA researcher Dr. John Foster, now a 

University of Michigan professor. Moran served as business lead for the team. 

The technology involves producing plasma in water, which generates 

reactive radicals that can attack organic contaminants such as pesticides and 

pharmaceuticals. This problem is not currently being addressed in conventional 

treatment methods. No chemicals or filters are required, only electrical power.

Glenn’s participation in the LHX program was a first for NASA, with very few other 

federal agencies to model. As a result, Moran is benchmarking General Electric 

(GE), a larger company more closely aligned with the type of work performed 

at the center. GE has adapted their own version of the lean startup methodology 

throughout their corporation. 

“The LHX program has been a springboard for us to develop a strategy to train 

teams and other interested staff in the lean startup methodology,” Moran said. “We 

will also identify pilot projects to test and adapt these techniques to specific NASA 

activities internally and externally.” 

By S. Jenise Veris

Glenn Names CIO 

Deputy Director

Raju Shah has been 

selected as NASA 

Glenn’s Deputy 

Chief Information Officer and 

deputy director 

of the Office of 

the Chief Information Officer, effective March 22. 

He previously served as chief of the 

Information and Applications Office, 

overseeing information management, 

applications, scientific computing and 

visualization at Glenn. Joining Glenn in 

2013 from the University of Maryland, 

College Park, Shah brings an extensive 

background in Information Technology (IT) management and comprehensive knowledge of delivering IT in 

research environments.

Shah

New Library 

Request System 

The Glenn Science and Engineering 

Library’s (GSEL) new Library Request 

System (LRS) is open for business at 

Glenn. Use the new site to request articles, books and other materials from 

the Library Learning Center. 

Librarian Jaime Scibelli said the new 

system enables the staff to communicate with libraries at other NASA 

centers, universities and government 

facilities. The previous Glenn-only 

system did not link to an agencywide 

system. 

Users should update their bookmarks 

to https://requests.ndc.nasa.gov, and 

look for the “NASA Library Request 

System” link on the GSEL website (in 

the “Library Forms” section). 

As always, the staff is available via 

phone, email and in person at building 142 or Mobile Librarian sites to 

assist with information requests. Please 

do not hesitate to 

contact them. For 

additional information, contact Jaime 

Scibelli, 3–8854.

LIBRARY

COMMONS

2
APRIL 2015

CCI Alliance

Continued from page 1

resources, which will help facilitate 

the discovery and development of 

patient-benefiting technologies.

“NASA Glenn’s research extends well 

beyond our aeronautics and spaceflight missions to the field of human 

health,” said Center Director Jim Free. 

“By providing a pathway that will benefit the greater medical community, 

the Cleveland Clinic and the Alliance 

has opened a door to decades of NASA 

technological expertise that keeps

humans safe on Earth and in space.”

Glenn will also be a part of the Alliance’s 

nationwide network that currently includes hospital systems, universities, 

institutions and industry partners that 

are all looking to share innovation resources and leverage CCI’s commercialization expertise.

“This collaboration between some

of the nation’s most respected institutions will bring great depth and 

breadth to our innovation mission,” 

said Gary Fingerhut, executive director of Cleveland Clinic Innovations. 

“We believe that the collaboration between NASA Glenn’s engineers and our 

caregivers will bring about promising 

ideas and technologies that can propel us into the new era of healthcare.”

The collaboration stems from Glenn’s 

desire to develop a medical technology portfolio based on research 

from its longstanding aerospace missions. While NASA has a long history 

of pushing its industrial innovations 

to the commercial market, the organization has typically had limited resources to pursue healthcare sector 

opportunities. By Frank Jennings Jr.

A century of aerospace achievement

What was it like to work here when NASA 

was NACA? Over the coming months, 

we will share a few memories of NACA 

employees still working at the center. Our 

first profile is Carl F. Lorenzo, who works 

as a Distinguished Research Associate 

in the Communications and Intelligent 

Systems Division.

GRC-2015-C-1135 Photo by Marvin Smith

Above: Lorenzo applies 

fractional trigonometry 

to study the shapes of natural phenomena such 

as galaxies, shells and 

weather patterns. Right: 

In his early NACA days. 

Carl F. Lorenzo

Q. How did you begin your career at 

NACA?

A. I started my NACA career in 1956 as a co-op student working 

in the turbine cooling group. In my second co-op period, I worked with the rocket 

engine performance group, studying compatibility of the oxidizer, fluorine, with 

rocket components. I started full time with that group in 1958.

Q. What do you remember most about the workforce culture of the early years? 

A. The culture at that time was quite different from the present day. Then, we were 

organized into small groups/sections, each of which was devoted to a particular 

research area. Typically, each section housed various talents required to perform 

the mission, as opposed to the later matrix-based organizations. The workforce 

at that time had very few Ph.D.-level researchers relative to what we have here 

today. Further, there were considerably fewer female and minority members of 

the research staff.

Q. As NASA has evolved through the years, what has stayed the same?

A. The important thing that hasn’t changed since those days was the dedication 

and commitment of a very talented and professional staff. Then, as now, there was 

always a willingness to share knowledge to help a fellow investigator when asked. 

Q. What do you feel is the most important contribution you have made to NASA’s 

mission?

A. In the early Apollo flights one of the vehicles experienced mission-threatening 

pogo-stick-like oscillations. Pogo oscillation is a potentially dangerous instability 

involving the vehicle structure, fluid system and rocket engines. NASA then 

decided to preempt the problem for the space shuttle and formed an agencywide 

and industry Pogo Interface Working Group to assure stability of the vehicle. I 

served as the Lewis lead and our team provided active control designs. I was also 

project engineer for hot-firing tests of the full-up Centaur vehicle in the Plum Brook 

B–2 facility. From these tests, pogo stability for the stage was established.

By Doreen B. Zudell

Year-Long Mission in Space

On March 27, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko 

began a 1-year mission of collaborative investigations focused on human exploration 

beyond low-Earth orbit onboard the International Space Station. Researchers expect the investigations to provide data on physical and mental changes as well as 

challenges astronauts may face on longer-duration missions, like those to an asteroid, Mars or beyond. Follow the mission on social media at #yearinspace. Kelly Kornienko

3
News and Events

Emerging Technologies Showcased at Expo

NASA Glenn held a Technology Expo, 

March 3, in the upper level of the 

Lewis Field cafeteria. This was an opportunity for organizations and directorates to see the latest in emerging 

technologies, network with industry 

experts, and share ideas and future 

goals. More than 200 people attended 

and viewed the live demonstrations 

and presentations from a variety of 

vendors. Eight of the 17 vendors participating were small businesses. Glenn’s 

Office of Small Business hosted the event. 

Pictured is TPC Wire and Cable Corporation’s Chris Hannigan, center, talking with 

Glenn’s George Guzauskas, right.

GRC-2015-C-1073 Photo by Michelle Murphy

Workshop Focuses on Space Power Technologies

NASA Glenn’s Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology

Transfer Research (SBIR/STTR) Program held a Space Power Technology Workshop at Lewis Field, March 17 and 18. 

The workshop informed NASA staff, 

other government agencies and private 

industry representatives of opportunities to further develop federally funded 

technologies. Technologies discussed 

were representative of the SBIR/STTR 

Program and Game Changing Development Advanced Energy Storage Systems 

awards. Charles Taylor, Space Technology 

Mission Directorate principal investigator for Space Power and Energy Storage, 

pictured right, discusses technology 

opportunities with a small business 

GRC-2015-C-1012 representative at the workshop. Photo by Marvin Smith

Science Facts Versus 

Comic Book Fiction

Photo by David DeFelice

Faster than a speeding bullet! More 

powerful than a locomotive! Able to 

leap tall buildings in a single bound! 

NASA Glenn researchers addressed the 

science fiction surrounding such super 

powers during their “NASA and the 

Science of Superman” panel at the Wizard 

World Comic Con Cleveland (comic convention), Feb. 20 to 22. Approximately 

100 convention participants explored

science facts versus fiction based on 

NASA’s accomplishments. Glenn’s David

DeFelice moderated the panel that included Joan Emmett, Dr. Lee Kohlman,

Dr. Geoffrey Landis, Dr. Jerry Myers 

and Dennis Stocker. Pictured, left, 

Stocker and Myers at the event.

Employees Recognized for Public Speaking

Glenn’s Aerospace Toastmasters Club 

(ATC) members Judith Majher, retiree, 

and Mina Mankbadi, Inlets and Nozzles 

Branch, finished second in the Toastmasters Western Division/Area 42 Championship held at the Westlake Porter 

Public Library, Feb. 28. They advanced to 

the area competition after winning the 

club contest in the categories of International Speech and Speech Evaluation. 

Glenn’s ATC is an affiliate of Toastmasters International, an educational nonprofit organization focused on improving communication and leadership skills of its 

members. To learn more about the club visit http://aerospace.toastmastersclubs.org. 

Pictured: Majher, second left, is congratulated by ATC officers Dr. John Betterson, 

Robert Reid and Saundra Gage. Mankbadi, not pictured.

4

Photo by S. Jenise Veris
APRIL 2015

SFA Awarded 

Photo by John Proferes, Boeing

David Morgan, Quality Engineering and 

Assurance Branch, received a Space 

Flight Awareness (SFA) award during 

the QM–1 Static Test Honoree Event, 

Ogden, Utah, March 10. The QM–1 is 

the first Space Launch System booster 

qualification motor, which is being tested in a specialized test stand in Utah. 

Morgan was recognized for exceptional 

technical excellence. He provided leadership in quality assurance and nondestructive evaluation for the completion 

of the Mechanical Vibration Table. 

Pictured above, left to right: Glenn 

Safety and Mission Assurance Director Anita Liang, astronaut Jim Kelly, 

Morgan and NASA Deputy Associate 

Administrator for Exploration Systems 

Development Bill Hill.

Earth Month 2015

• Trevor Clatterbuck discusses 

“Fresh Fork Market,” a Community Supported Agriculture 

(CSA) group in the Cleveland 

area. A CSA is a weekly subscription service to fresh local 

foods. Learn about the benefits 

of CSAs and opportunities to participate, April 16, 11:30 a.m., Small Dining 

Room (bldg. 15).

• Garlic Mustard Pull to combat invasive species at Lewis Field, April 22, 

near Abrams Creek at the bottom of 

Duct Bank Road, 12 to 1 p.m.

• Sustainability Fair at Lewis Field

Learn about opportunities to protect 

the environment while perusing items 

from local vendors who keep sustainability as a top priority in their products, April 30, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 

MIC Auditorium (bldg. 162).

Check Today@Glenn for more Earth Week events. 

Glenn Gets a New Band: Everything 

Old is New Again—And More

After a 40-year hiatus, NASA Glenn is 

reviving a concert band reminiscent 

of the center’s band in the 1960s and 

early 1970s. A group of musicians, 

featuring Glenn employees and 

retirees, have been practicing for 

their debut this summer. 

Jeff Woytach, Science and Space 

Technology Systems Branch, is the 

“Pied Piper” for the band’s revival. In 

July, he began posting bulletins and 

hosting meetings to gauge the interest of other Glenn musicians. 

“Nearly 40 people expressed interest in forming a new band,” Woytach 

said. “The level of talent varied from 

accomplished musicians to those 

becoming reacquainted with their 

instruments after a lapse in time.”

Over the next several months, 

Woytach took on the challenge of 

securing a conductor, a practice 

facility and music arrangements suitable to the new group. 

Erik Kalish, North Olmsted High 

School’s (NOHS’s) band and orchestra director, graciously accepted the 

role of conductor and began leading 

weekly practices in the school’s band 

room in October. To show their gratitude, band members offered to tutor 

NOHS students.

Woytach’s vision for the band includes 

making the most of the center’s band 

tradition while expanding the mission 

beyond entertainment for employee 

morale. 

“Our goal is to represent Glenn at 

official events, as 

well as public activities. We want 

the band to perform outreach as 

a vehicle for what 

is called STEAM—

Science, Technology, Engineering, 

Arts and Mathematics. Band members 

will be demonstrating the ‘science 

of sound’ during National Lab Day in 

May,” said Woytach. “We came together 

out of a sense of pride and camaraderie, but now have an even greater 

sense of purpose.”

The Glenn Band is still accepting 

new members, and is open to Glenn 

employees, retirees and their family 

members. Whether you are an accomplished musician or someone dusting 

off an instrument that has not been 

played in years, the band would love 

to have you.

Editor’s note: This new band is separate from the NASA Jam Band, which 

features rhythm and blues (R&B) and 

jazz musical selections.

By S. Jenise Veris

Photo by S. Jenise Veris

Kalish leads front row (left to right): Jeff Woytach, Susan Wrbanek and Valerie Lyons; middle 

row: Jennifer Nappier, Peter Struk, John Wrbanek, Linda Yavoich, Jeff Riddlebaugh, Wes Johnson, 

Bill Fabanich, Brian Sommers, Shae Miller and Carissa Woytach; back row: Gary Klann.

5
Glenn-School Partnership Connects Scientific Education to Careers

NASA Glenn scientists and engineers 

are helping students at the Metropolitan Cleveland Consortium for Science, 

Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (MC2

STEM) High School connect what they study in the classroom 

to real-world jobs. 

Glenn subject matter experts (SMEs) 

highlighted current work and science, technology, engineering and

mathematics (STEM) careers through 

hands-on demonstrations at a 2015 

kickoff event in January. In March, the 

SMEs led a Communication Workshop 

where they highlighted NASA Space 

Communication. Students visited Glenn 

laboratories and learned firsthand about 

STEM careers.

MC2STEM is an innovative STEMfocused high school within the

Cleveland Metropolitan School District. It uses cutting-edge curriculum 

and support strategies to attract and 

retain students in STEM fields. Glenn’s 

relationship with MC2STEM started 

in 2009. MC2STEM has been recognized as a national model of effective school reform. 

Glenn employees serve as SMEs,

mentors, tutors and speakers for the 

school, which is located at the Great 

Lakes Science Center in Downtown 

Cleveland. Students also have opportunities to visit NASA Glenn. 

“Our employees enthusiastically share 

their time, expertise and experience in 

support of this program,” said Glenn 

Education Director Rob LaSalvia. “This 

helps students experience a dynamic 

project-based learning environment 

that will better prepare them for the 

21st century global economy.” 

Employees are always welcome and 

needed for this program. Those interested in sharing a little of their time 

should contact Lynne Sammon, 3–3952. 

By Doreen B. Zudell

Above: Glenn’s Dan Vento, talks with students 

about extreme environment testing during 

a kickoff event at the school. Below: Glenn’s 

Deb Waters (center) discusses intercalation 

of carbon nanotube yarns with Aakilah 

Carlisle (left) and Denise Cameron during 

the March visit. 

Photo by Tim Dedula

Photo by Doreen B. Zudell

More Than a Memory

Ralph F. Jocke, 84, a 1986 retiree with 36 years of federal service, died Dec. 15, 2014. Jocke was a U.S. Army veteran, who 

retired from NASA’s Facilities, Operations and Maintenance 

Division. During his career, he served as a building manager 

and a mechanic working on automatic controls for test rigs. 

He was also a volunteer for the center’s Emergency Reaction 

Team that backed up the Lewis Fire Department. Jocke’s sister 

Rosemarie Jocke, a NASA retiree, survives him.

Donald H. Priebe Jocke , 84, a 1981 retiree with more than 50 years Priebe Seiler

of federal service, died Feb. 20. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, who began his NACA/NASA career as an apprentice in 1955. Priebe 

enjoyed a distinguished career as a civil servant and contractor in the Test Installation Division. He made significant contributions, 

from launches for pioneering space research on Aerobee sounding rockets to testing the Space Acceleration Measurement System 

(SAMS), currently on the International Space Station. His niece, Victoria Vasek, and her husband, Thomas, work at Glenn.

Cheri Jo Seiler, 61, a 2009 retiree with 33 years of federal service, died Jan. 15. Seiler served with the Social Security Administration prior to joining NASA. She worked in the Procurement Division throughout her 30-year NASA career. She is remembered as a cheerful, hardworking member of the Accounting Department, where she earned two NASA Group Achievement 

Awards supporting the Voucher Payments Team (1987) and Cash Implementation Team (1991). 

6
APRIL 2015

Retirements

Ernest Bertone, Facilities Division, 

Facilities, Test and Manufacturing Directorate, retired April 3, 2015, with 

53 years of NASA service.

Beth Cooper, Structural Dynamics Branch, Materials and Structures 

Division, retired March 31, 2015, with 

28 years of NASA service.

Thomas Dixon, Fabrication and 

Instrumentation Branch, Manufacturing Division, retired March 31, 

2015, with 27 years of NASA service. (Not pictured.)

Diane Duly, Office of the Director, 

retired April 3, 2015, with 42 years of 

NASA service. (Not pictured.)

Ralph Fekete, Machining Branch, Manufacturing Division, retired March 31, 

2015, with 21 years of NASA service. 

(Not pictured.)

Bob McCluskey, Operations Management Branch, Facilities Division, 

retired April 3, 2015, with 35 years of 

NASA service. (Not pictured.)

Barbara McKissock, Power Architecture 

and Analysis Branch, Power Division, 

retired March 31, 2015, with 28 1⁄2 years 

of NASA service.

Nancy McNelis, Aeronautics and 

Ground-Based Systems Branch, Systems Engineering and Architecture 

Division, retired April 5, 2015, with 

30 years of NASA service.

Gerald Sadler, Science and Space 

Technology Systems Branch, Systems 

Engineering and Architecture Division, retired March 31, 2015, with 

33 years of NASA service.

Donald Varga, Fabrication and Instrumentation Branch, Manufacturing Division, 

retired March 31, 2015, with 31 years of 

NASA service. (Not pictured.)

Gary Wilder, Operational Safety 

Branch, Safety and Health Division, 

retired April 3, 2015, with 43 years 

of federal service, including 40 with 

NASA. 

Bertone Cooper

McKissock McNelis

Sadler Wilder

Calendar

HUBBLE IMAX MOVIE: In recognition 

of the Hubble Space Telescope’s 

25-year anniversary, the Great Lakes 

Science Center will present the IMAX 

movie “Hubble,” April 24–26. For times 

and ticket prices, visit http://www.

greatscience.com/.

SATURDAY TOURS AT LEWIS FIELD:

Glenn offers free tours of its worldclass facilities at Lewis Field one 

Saturday through October. Tour buses 

depart from the Main Gate every hour 

starting at 10 a.m. One-hour tours 

begin with a multimedia presentation 

in the Briefing Center Auditorium. The 

May 2 tour will showcase research 

performed in Glenn’s hangar. For 

more information and a complete 

schedule, visit http://www.nasa.gov/

centers/glenn/events/tours.html.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER: NASA 

Glenn’s Prayer Group invites all 

members of the Glenn community to 

join them for a Christian observance 

on Thursday, May 7. Observances 

will be held at 7:30 and 11:30 a.m. 

See Today@Glenn or type “Prayer” 

in the Wing Transporter for locations 

and details. 

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING: 

LESA will hold its next membership 

meeting, Wednesday, May 13, noon, 

in the Glenn Employee Center’s Small 

Dining Room.

NASA RETIRED WOMEN’S LUNCHEON:

The next luncheon will be held 

Thursday, May 21, 1 p.m. at Vintage 

House Café, 35800 Detroit Road, 

Avon. Please contact Gerry Ziemba, 

330–273–4850 or gto64gerry@yahoo.com 

to reserve your place. 

NATIONAL LAB DAY VOLUNTEERS: 

Glenn’s Office of Education is seeking 

organizations or individuals to engage 

students in STEM-related research 

demonstrations during National Lab 

Day, Friday, May 22, at the hangar 

from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. POC: Stephanie 

Brown-Houston, 3–8006.

GRC CONNECTIONS PRESENTS C&I

Learn more about Glenn’s 

Creativity & Innovation (C&I) 

Initiative during the next GRC 

Connections, April 16, 10 to 

10:45 a.m., Briefing Center Aud. 

Panelists include Glenn staff who 

have been identified by their peers 

as being creative and innovative. 

POC: Mark Kilkenny, 3–8567.

Emergency and Inclement 

Weather Lines

Lewis Field: 216–433–9328 (WEAT)

Plum Brook Station: 419–621–3333

Connect with Glenn

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. 

May 2015 Calendar section deadline: April 17, noon

News and feature stories require additional time

Editor: Doreen B. Zudell, SGT, Inc.

Assistant Editor: S. Jenise Veris, SGT, Inc.

Managing Editor: Kelly R. DiFrancesco

Read AeroSpace Frontiers online at http://aerospacefrontiers.nasa.gov

New Cafe Dishes Up Fresh Breakfast and Lunch 

The Sprout Café has taken root at NASA 

Glenn, offering fresh and healthy food 

options for staff and visitors. Operated 

by Marigold Catering, a local business 

with years of experience and awards, 

the full-service café opened for business at Lewis Field in January.

“The staff and I are thrilled to be here 

and part of the NASA family,” said Mike 

Smith, Sprout Café owner. “It’s great 

getting to know the people, providing 

quality food and giving good customer 

service.” With more than 15 years of 

experience in the restaurant industry, 

Smith looks forward to creating new 

and exciting menu items.

Most of the food is prepared from 

scratch daily. Items not prepared on 

the premises are obtained from select 

local bakeries. Patrons can choose 

from a variety of hot and cold foods 

from the buffet or grill. The popular 

salad bar is stocked with at least 20 

topping options! Stop by in the morning to brighten your breakfast at the 

Oatmeal Bar or spice up Tuesday’s 

lunch at the Taco Bar. Menu items 

change frequently, so check the website at https://www.grc.nasa.gov/exchange/cafe/, for daily offerings. 

In a hurry? Pick up “grab and go” items 

such as yogurt parfaits, pasta and fruit 

salads, to name a few. Sprout Café is 

proud to be a “Certified Green Restaurant” ensuring all packaging is recyclable or compostable. 

As part of Marigold Catering, Sprout 

Café is well equipped to meet your 

catering needs. Check the website 

for details or call 3–2986. The café 

also plans to open a full-service coffee 

kiosk in the Mission Integration Center 

(MIC) lobby, bldg. 162. Stay tuned to 

Today@Glenn for details.

“Quality food service is not just about 

the food,” Smith said. “It’s a lot about 

relationships we build with our customers based on mutual respect.”

By Doreen B. Zudell

Sprout’s Paul Finch serves up smiles along with a variety of grilled items. 

We’re Open!

Breakfast: 6:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Lunch: 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Photos by Doreen B. Zudell

Cafe Manager Jimmy Hood shows off his 

own Irish flair to accompany St. Patrick’s 

Day special menu items.

8