VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 9 • SEPTEMBER 2020

Cultivating an

Antiracist

Workplace

Pages 4–5

Sealed

With Care 

Page 6

 NASAIRS Flies

High at 55

Page 7

Solar Investigation

Planned on Lunar Surface

Pages 2–3
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

A Learning

Safety Culture

With the recent release of the 

Safety Culture Survey results, I 

would like to celebrate our learning 

safety culture. Over the first month 

since the Glenn COVID website 

was launched, it received over 

6,700 visits on topics of return 

to onsite work expectations, 

frequently asked questions, mask 

terminology, and safe at work 

training. Information shared on 

the site also includes alerts, COVID 

information and buttons to report 

hazards, and ask a team member 

a question. Visit the site at https://

www.grc.nasa.gov/smad/rtowcovid/.

Thank you for your continued 

interest in learning and working 

safely!

GRC–2020–C–01412 Photos by Bridget Caswell

Solar Power

Investigation

To Launch on

Lunar Lander

Peshek gathers the solar cells that will be studied on the lunar surface as part of the PILS payload.

On the Cover: 

Researcher Tim Peshek brushes an adhesive onto 

the top of the PILS payload in order to adhere the 

solar cells to the front surface of the experiment. 

Research photos were taken in February 2020. 

GRC–2020–C–01429

Photo by Bridget Caswell

DIRECTOR’S

SAFETY CORNER
SEPTEMBER 2020

3

GRC–2020–C–01406

When Artemis astronauts go back to the Moon, they will 

need access to electric power to live and work on the 

surface. Solar power will be one of the options to sustain 

human life and science for those long-duration missions.

Next summer, a solar power experiment designed by a team 

of investigators at NASA Glenn will launch to the Moon on 

Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander.

Using state-of-the-art solar cells like the ones on today’s 

orbiting satellites and next-generation space solar cell 

technologies, PILS (Photovoltaic Investigation on the 

Lunar Surface) will demonstrate light-to-electricity power 

conversion devices for future missions. The experiment will 

also collect data on the electrical charging environment of 

the lunar surface using a small array of solar cells.

PILS includes multijunction solar cells made from improved 

gallium arsenide, a highly efficient semiconductor material, 

and silicon solar cells based on technology used on Earth. 

The cells will be connected to instrumentation measuring 

current and voltage outputs for the 8 to 10 days of the 

experiment. 

“We haven’t tested solar cells on the Moon since the Apollo 

era,” said Jeremiah McNatt, a principal investigator on 

the PILS project in the Photovoltaic and Electrochemical 

Systems Branch. “The technology has changed dramatically, 

and we want to verify that today’s solar cells can provide 

the level of power needed for future missions.”

There are several challenges. Solar cells can suffer damage 

and degradation by radiation exposure and the highly 

charged particles present on the Moon. High daytime 

temperatures can soar to over 260 F, damaging the 

electronics of solar array systems. 

“A sustained presence on the Moon requires a different 

design that maximizes power while protecting the system,” 

said Tim Peshek, principal investigator. “Figuring out the 

thermal requirements was one of our biggest challenges.”

In an effort to protect the electronics from high temperatures, the team decided to cover everything on the top 

of the structure, excluding the solar cells, with a film that is 

reflective of a broad spectrum of light. So, while the solar 

cells absorb the sun’s energy, the heat of the sun will not 

destroy the operating system. The body of the experiment is 

also wrapped with multilayer insulation.

The lander is slated to touch down on Lacus Mortis, 45 

degrees north of the equator. Because of this latitude the 

test bed is angled at 45 degrees off the lander, so during 

lunar noon, it will be pointed directly at the sun.

“Eventually, we think solar power will be best situated on the 

Moon at the poles where, similar to Earth’s poles, the sun doesn’t 

set at certain parts of the year,” said McNatt. “The arrays would 

be rotated to constantly take advantage of the sun’s energy.”

PILS is set to fly on Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander carrying 

NASA payloads to the Moon in 2021. In May 2019, NASA 

selected Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines as the first 

commercial companies to fly payloads to the lunar surface 

as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) 

initiative.

While NASA awarded the companies to fly the agency’s 

science investigations and technology demonstrations to 

the lunar surface, the agency expects to be one of many 

customers that will use these commercial landing services. 

In fact, PILS is one of several additional payloads that 

customers are sending with 10 NASA payloads, which will 

be integrated onto Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander. It will 

launch on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket 

to the Moon in 2021.

By Nancy Smith Kilkenny

Student intern Nicole Swatton cleans tools and materials that are 

being used to start construction of the PILS project’s solar cells.
4

Moving From Awareness to Action 

Presentation Supports NASA’s

New Core Value: Inclusion

On July 23, Administrator Jim Bridenstine 

announced Inclusion as NASA’s new fifth core 

value. The Administrator said, “NASA is committed 

to a culture of diversity, inclusion, and equity, 

where all employees feel welcome, respected, and 

engaged.”

In the spirit of this new NASA value of Inclusion, 

the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity 

(ODEO) and Office of the Chief Human Capital 

Officer (OCHCO) hosted a UStream event, Aug. 12. 

They invited employees across the agency to hear 

author and professor Ibram X. Kendi’s presentation 

on Cultivating an Antiracist Workplace.

Dr. Kendi is the director of Boston University’s 

Center for Antiracist Research, which fosters 

racial research, research-based policy innovation, 

data-driven educational and advocacy campaigns, 

and narrative-change initiatives. He is a columnist 

at The Atlantic, a correspondent with CBS News, 

and author of five books centering on racism.

Moderators Janet Sellers, ODEO director of 

Diversity and Data/Analytics, and Brady Pyle, 

OCHCO chief, led a question and answer session 

with Kendi. This included questions submitted 

from employees across the agency.

Kendi talked about his journey through racism, 

enlightenment, and action. He defined racism 

and being racist as a state of denial for actions 

or beliefs based on cultural biases, miseducation, 

and inequal policies. Antiracism, on the other hand, 

is actively working to educate ourselves and our 

communities to become more aware and inclusive, 

and to help reform unjust/inequal policies. 

He stressed the importance of acknowledging our 

racism, bigotry, and prejudice instead of denying 

it. “It was important for me to come to grips with 

my racism,” he said, “then consciously work to be 

antiracist.”

He talked about his umbrella philosophy where 

racism ideas are taught to be facts. “If you’re born 

in the U.S., racist ideas are rained on our heads 

about every racial group,” he said. 

These microaggressions—everyday indignities 

and insults that members of marginalized groups 

endure in their routine interactions with people—

culminate into racial harassment. This can cause 

feelings of anxiousness, shame, and anger.

The hope in his message: “Children are not born 

racist. Parents, caregivers, and teachers...can 

teach them [children] to be antiracist,” Kendi 

said. He recommended exposing young people 

to literature that features multiculturalism and 

modeling antiracism through our actions.

Moderators affirmed the value of continuing 

honest conversations about racism and reviewing 

racial hiring and retention data. 

“Pain is usually essential to healing,” Kendi 

said. “We cannot heal America without surgically 

removing inequality and injustice.”

Following professor Kendi’s remarks, a center 

leaders roundtable provided opportunities to 

share some of their efforts for instilling the new 

Inclusion value. 

Glenn Deputy Director Susan Motil talked about 

a time when she had to put biases aside to ask 

assistance from another co-worker, and how it 

ended up being a positive decision. She shared 

how Glenn supervisors are conducting dialogue 

sessions with staff that encourage honesty 

and respect. She pointed to the value of Center 

Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis’ weekly virtual 

townhall meetings, which place emphasis on each 

employee’s health and well-being. Motil also 

touted the importance of the special emphasis 

advisory groups that bring awareness about 

different cultures. 

By Doreen B. Zudell
5

SEPTEMBER 2020
GRC–2020–CN–00061

GRC–2020–CN–00062

6

Photo by SpaceX

Goodman Technologies is able to seamlessly 

join parts and make them into large, monolithic 

ceramic nanocomposites.

Seals developed by NASA Glenn and its many partners for the NASA 

Docking System can be seen during the SpaceX Crew Dragon’s approach to 

the space station on May 31. 

Trending With Tech Transfer

SiC Matrix Enhances

Aerospace/Military Projects

SpaceX Crew Dragon: Sealed With Care

Glenn’s Technology Transfer Office has signed a 1-year 

government-use license with Goodman Technologies LLC, a 

small business based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Goodman 

Technologies has demonstrated an ability to create siliconcarbide (SiC)-based nanopastes, which are 3D printable and 

moldable, via their proprietary process. The company secured

a license for Glenn’s cutting-edge SiC Fiber-Reinforced SiC

Ceramic Matrix to create continuous fiber ceramic nanocomposites to meet a variety of defense and space applications.

They include thermal protection systems for space and hypersonic applications.

Goodman Technologies is developing these materials via several 

NASA and Department of Defense-funded SBIR and STTR projects. For more information on NASA Glenn’s technologies available for licensing, visit https://technology.grc.nasa.gov.

When the SpaceX Crew Dragon docked with the International Space 

Station during the Demo-2 mission, one thing may have gone 

unnoticed—a narrow rubber seal that plays a critical role in safely 

connecting Crew Dragon with the space station.

NASA Glenn led efforts to develop the new, robust seal for the NASA 

Docking System, which is used by the Commercial Crew Program 

(CCP) and other current and future spacecraft. For the last 15 years, 

NASA Glenn worked with many outstanding partners, including 

NASA Johnson, to conceive the seal design and evaluate materials 

and performance in every possible condition experienced during 

flight.

“These seals prevent breathable air from escaping through the 

connection between the visiting spacecraft and the station,” 

explained Pat Dunlap, Mechanisms and Tribology Branch. “This 

connection is a heavily loaded somewhat dynamic structural 

interface and the seals must perform flawlessly during docking 

approach and while docked to the International Space Station.” 

To learn more about the challenges this team overcame to design 

the perfect seals, visit https://go.nasa.gov/2PoYveI.
NASAIRS Flying Club Dedicated to 

Making Aviation Accessible 

In 1965, a group of aviation enthusiasts from NASA Glenn’s Lewis 

Field and Plum Brook Station formed the nonprofit NASAIRS Flying 

Club. The goal of the club was to promote economic general aviation 

and aviation safety for its members. 

Fifty-five years later the club has endured, maintaining its 

philosophy of respectful and responsible aviation. 

“There are many people who want to fly, but think it’s costprohibitive,” said NASAIRS member Jared Berg, Thermal Systems 

and Transport Process Branch. “A flying club is an economical 

alternative to owning a plane, with more peace of mind than renting.”

Berg, who also serves as maintenance officer, explains that 

NASAIRS membership provides more than a convenient way of 

flying. Members share ownership in the Cessna 172 airplane. 

They learn about the mechanics of the plane and become actively 

involved in decisions regarding maintenance and membership 

approval. Club members fuel, wash, and wax the plane and 

participate in owner-performed maintenance like oil changes. 

Along with active involvement in aircraft maintenance, NASAIRS 

stresses learning and developing as an aviator. The club does not 

admit student pilots without a Private Pilot License, but it does 

have multiple members that are Certified Flight Instructors and 

actively encourages advanced flight training in the aircraft. The club 

is governed cooperatively with elected officers, and decisions are 

made by members voting at club meetings. 

NASAIRS member since 1986, Steve Schneider, Chemical and 

Thermal Propulsion Systems Branch, said at one time the club 

owned two airplanes, a Cessna 172 and a Cessna 182. The planes 

were tied down along a grass strip at Cleveland Hopkins. 

“Club membership was at its peak in the late 1970s, with both male and 

female members,” said Schneider. “Around the late 1990s, many of 

the club’s members retired from NASA and left the club. Membership 

was opened to the general community, and the club downsized to one 

airplane, which is now based at Medina Municipal Airport.”

Congratulations to NASAIRS Flying Club and its members throughout 

the past 55 years for making aviation accessible, exciting, and safe! 

For more information about the club, visit https://www1.grc.nasa.

gov/nasairs/. By Doreen B. Zudell

SEPTEMBER 2020

7

NASA Honors 

Pilots on National 

Aviation Day

On National Aviation Day, Aug. 19, NASA recognized the importance 

of pilots everywhere and highlighted pilots throughout the agency. 

Private and professional pilots from Glenn are among those featured on 

#https://twitter.com/i/events/1296237327560380416.

GRC–2020–CN–00057

GRC-1979-C-05021

GRC–2020–CN–00058

Photo by Brett Hewitt

Photo by Donald Huebler

NASAIRS member Jared Berg during a recent flight over 

Lynchburg, Virginia. 

This 1979 photo shows NASAIRS members with the club plane at 

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

Glenn’s Jared Berg.
8

NEWS AND EVENTS

Glenn’s Revolutionary Vertical 

Lift Technology Project 

Manager Susan Johnson 

participated in the virtual 

panel “Powerful Female 

Pilots,” July 22, during 

the Experimental Aviation 

Association’s (EAA’s) Spirit of 

Aviation Week 2020. Johnson 

and astronaut Anne McClain 

joined pilots from the U.S. 

Air Force and United Airlines. 

They talked about their first solo flights, career paths, STEM 

opportunities, personal experiences, and mentoring. The 

panel was one of the many virtual presentations scheduled 

to excite the public about aeronautics as part of this year’s 

modified activities for the annual EAA AirVenture convention 

and fly-in. The panel session is posted on YouTube at Power 

Female Pilots, EAA Spirit of Aviation Week. 

Female Pilots Inspire 

Confidence in 

Aviation Careers

NASA Shows Generosity

During Food Drive 

NASA employees throughout the agency donated a total of 

277,696 pounds of food—exceeding its goal of 150,000 

pounds—during the 2020 Feds Feed Families Food Drive. 

Hunger organizations in Ohio received 12,266 pounds of 

recorded donations from NASA, which includes donations 

from Lewis Field and Plum Brook Station employees. 

The Feds Feed Families Food Drive is a voluntary federalwide and nationwide effort for NASA civil servants and 

contractors to collect and donate food for those in need. The 

2020 Campaign at NASA focused on summer giving from 

July 1 through 31. It also encouraged federal employees to 

donate year-round. 

NASA conducted this year’s campaign virtually in 

communities where social distancing was in place. It 

included a greater emphasis on online donations.

Kudos to Feds Feed Families Food Drive coordinators, Anne 

Storer (Lewis Field) and Geneva Biglin (Plum Brook Station). 

Thank you to everyone who donated to the Feds Feed 

Families Food Drive! 

GRC–0000–CN–00059 Photo by Susan Johnson

Johnson’s FAA-certified experimental Pietenpol was a family project 

constructed when she was a teenager and inspired her to become a 

pilot and aeronautical engineer. 

Johnson

GRC–2020–CN–00056 Photo by Will Cummings

Will Cummings stands in the Security Gate building lobby at 

Plum Brook with a portion of the 247.5 pounds of food later 

donated to the Victory Kitchen food bank in Sandusky.
9

SEPTEMBER 2020

NASA Glenn held its first-ever 

virtual 2020 Girls in STEM Event 

on July 17. The event provided 

nearly 90 students the opportunity 

to explore Glenn’s facilities and 

learn from NASA employees about 

pursuing careers in the fields of 

STEM. 

Organized by Office of STEM 

Engagement (OSTEM) Activity 

Manager Gerald Voltz and 

moderated by Dr. Lisa Bell, OSTEM/

Partnership Training and Education 

Centres (PTEC) senior project 

coordinator, the event kicked 

off with a welcome from Center 

Operations Director Robyn Gordon 

and opening remarks from Center 

Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis. 

Featured speaker, Nicole Smith, 

chief of the Exploration Systems 

Office, gave a presentation on how she 

came to work at NASA and her experience 

with Orion testing at Plum Brook Station. 

Smith led participants on a virtual tour 

through the Space Environments Complex 

and held a brief question and answer 

session before students participated in a 

hands-on activity, titled Spacecraft Safety. 

Students were challenged to design and 

build a spacecraft model to transport 

two astronauts through space. They 

used materials from their homes to 

construct their models, with a few using 

Lego figurines as their astronauts, then 

conducted drop tests to see how well their 

models protected the astronauts inside. 

The virtual event concluded with closing 

remarks from Christopher Hartenstine, an 

OSTEM/PTEC educational specialist, who 

shared several educational resources 

on Glenn’s site for students to review. 

He encouraged participants to continue 

working on their models at home and to 

share pictures of their creations online 

using the hashtag #NASAGlennSTEM.

By Cynthia Zhang, NASA Intern

The University of Toledo (UT) in conjunction with NASA Glenn and the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate 

(STMD) hosted a virtual event, “Connecting to NASA Technology Through NASA Glenn,” Aug. 13. The event drew over 

300 participants who learned about ongoing NASA programs and identified collaboration and partnership opportunities 

for government, industry, and academic stakeholders in northwest Ohio.

Students Explore Glenn 

Facilities and STEM Careers

Event Connects Stakeholders

to NASA Technology

GRC–2020–C–02125 Photo by Jef Janis

GRC–2020–C–01933 Photo by Marvin Smith

Gynelle Steele, NASA’s SBIR/STTR deputy program executive, presents as a panelist.

Smith was the featured speaker and tour 

guide for the Space Environments Complex.

Administrator Jim Bridenstine provided 

the keynote address followed by remarks 

from Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, 

Center Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis, 

and STMD Associate Administrator Jim 

Reuter. Panel topics and breakout sessions 

included an STMD overview and details 

on NASA’s Prizes and Challenges, Space 

Technology Research Grants, Glenn 

Internships, Technology Transfer and 

Partnerships, and the SBIR/STTR programs. 

Breakout sessions focused on specific 

opportunities at NASA Glenn. 
PROMOTIONS

Gregory Fedor has been selected the Chief 

Safety and Mission Assurance Officer (CSO) 

for the Solar Electric Propulsion Project in 

the Flight System Assurance Office. Fedor 

previously served a 4-month detail as the 

acting CSO. 

Carl Sandifer II has been selected deputy 

chief of the Space Science Project Office, 

Space Flight Systems Directorate. Sandifer 

most recently served as Mission Integration 

manager with previous leadership experience 

in various aspects of NASA’s Radioisotope 

Power Systems Program.

Timothy Gaydos has been selected chief of the Quality Engineering 

and Assurance Branch in the Program and Project Assurance 

Division, Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) Directorate. Gaydos 

previously served as SMA’s chief officer and lead for the Solar 

Electric Propulsion project.

Fedor

Sandifer

MORE THAN A MEMORY

Alan H. Phillips, 60, a 2019 retiree with 30 

years of NASA service, died Aug. 3. Phillips 

was the founding director of the NASA Safety 

Center, located at NASA Glenn, where he 

served until retirement. He began his NASA 

career in 1989 in Langley’s Office of Safety 

and Mission Assurance (SMA). By 2002, 

Phillips was appointed to the rank of Senior 

Executive Service and director of Langley’s 

SMA program, prior to reassignment (2006) 

to the Safety Center. In 2016, Phillips received 

the prestigious Presidential Rank Award.

Dr. Lois J. Scaglione, 69, a 2009 retiree 

with 25 years of NASA service, died July 28. 

Scaglione retired as a product assurance 

manager. She played a critical role in 

ensuring the flightworthiness of complex 

electronic parts for several NASA programs, 

including the International Space Station, at 

NASA’s Glenn and Goddard centers. She 

received NASA’s Exceptional Achievement 

medal for contributions to the Process Based 

Mission Assurance Knowledge Management 

System, and a Space Flight Awareness 

Honoree Award for contributions to the 

Columbia Accident Investigation.

Phillips

Dr. Scaglione

Four Glenn employees have been recognized by the Human 

Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate as NASA 

HErOes for the Week. This honor celebrates an individual 

each day of the week working to help the agency achieve 

one step closer to reaching the goal of sending the first 

woman and next man to the Moon. 

The first three Glenn employees received recognition the 

week of June 15, and more recently, Drexler received his the 

week of Aug. 10

Carrie Green, Flight System Assurance Office, for safety 

and technical leadership as the Safety and Mission 

Assurance lead on European Service Module (ESM) 

Propulsion Subsystem Project (PSS) at Glenn collaborating 

with an international team of propulsion engineers to ensure 

the safety and reliability of the project.

Dr. Edward Lewandowski, Power Architecture and Analysis 

Branch, who serves as the Orion Flight Power Systems 

Development and Integration lead, for being instrumental in 

coordinating the team developing the Multi-Purpose Crew 

Vehicle Orion’s electrical power system. 

James “Jimi” Russell, Office of Communications, for 

successfully coordinating a public-media event for the arrival 

of the Orion spacecraft on the Super Guppy to MansfieldLahm Airport, and, subsequently, keeping them informed 

throughout the Orion Artemis I testing at Plum Brook Station.

Jonathan Drexler, Cost & Economic Analysis Office, for 

developing the programmatic products for the Power and 

Propulsion Element required to support the upcoming KDP-0 

review of the Lunar Gateway Program.

NASA Glenn

HErOes of the Week

Green Dr. Lewandowski

Russell Drexler

10
SEPTEMBER 2020

11

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.wang-1@nasa.gov, extension 

3–3613, for more information. https://

aerospace.toastmastersclubs.org/

AEROSPACE TOASTMASTERS MEET

The Emergency Management Office staff 

will conduct an audible siren test on the 

“severe thunderstorm” tone on Saturday, 

Oct. 3, at Lewis Field. They will conduct a 

mass notification voice test at bldg. 39 on 

Wednesday, Oct. 7. 

POC: Allen Turner, 3–6826 

OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING

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

Deadline for next calendar section is 

Sept. 16, noon. News and feature 

stories require additional time.

Stay tuned to Today@Glenn for 

updates on all these activities

The Glenn Science and Engineering Library 

will host a virtual Coffee and Conversation 

with Glenn’s Records Manager and History 

Officer Anne Mills. Join them in Microsoft 

Teams on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 

11 a.m. to 12 p.m., to hear about Mills’ 

career path and her guidance on all things 

records and history!

See Today@Glenn under Upcoming Events 

for the link.

 POC: Robin Pertz, 3–5776

VIRTUAL COFFEE AND CONVERSATION

Join Glenn’s Fitness Center staff and 

your co-workers for daily workouts via 

Microsoft Teams or exercise on your own 

with specially designed workouts. For 

information, visit https://www.grc.nasa.

gov/smad/fitness/.

POC: Bob Laws, 3–6313

VIRTUAL FITNESS FUN

Glenn’s Medical Services Clinic staff is 

available to provide telephonic medical 

consultations for all Glenn employees 

during the current center telework stage. 

Contact their staff for a consult today by 

sending an email to grc-medicalservices@

mail.nasa.org.

TELEMEDICINE CONSULT SERVICES

Upcoming Center Events

Insider Threat

Awareness Month

Listen to exciting speakers, visit virtual vendors 

and participate in the Virtual Health Walk.

You won’t want to miss it!

Tuesday, Sept. 22

POC: Steve Herron, 216–433–2917

or steven.l.herron@nasa.gov

September is National Insider Threat Awareness Month with the 

focus of “Resilience” as the theme this year. An insider threat is 

a person who has, or once had, authorized access to information, 

facilities, networks, people, or resources and who wittingly, or 

unwittingly, commits an act in contravention of law or policy. To 

learn more, visit the NASA 

Insider Threat Program website: 

https://www.hq.nasa.gov/

office/ops/nasaonly/internal/

ITP/. Personnel may register 

for Inside Threat Awareness 

training in SATERN (SATERN ID: 

ITS-NITTF-INSIDER-THREAT). 

POC: Craig Mehl, 3–5716 AWARENESS MONTH

Most insider threats display concerning behaviors prior 

to committing a crime.

Report Suspicious Activities!

An insider threat can be malicious or unintentional. To learn more about the warning signs of both or

to file an anonymous report, visit: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/ops/nasaonly/internal/ITP/.

Your report will remain confidential. www.nasa.gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Save the Date!

Virtual Safety

and Health

Awareness Event
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 https://www.nasa.gov/glenn/aerospacefrontiers.

Emergency and Inclement Weather Lines 

Lewis Field: 216–433–9328 (WEAT) 

Plum Brook Station: 419–621–3333

Connect With Glenn

Glenn Software Receives

Runner-Up for NASA’s

Software of the Year Award 

NASA Glenn’s Open Multidisciplinary Design 

Analysis and Optimization (OpenMDAO) Framework 

was selected as a runner-up for NASA’s Software of 

the Year (SOY) Award on June 18. 

OpenMDAO was developed to solve large-scale 

design optimizations for the study of unconventional 

aerospace concepts. It allows users to solve the 

most complex multidisciplinary analysis design 

optimization problems on an unprecedented scale.

The OpenMDAO team includes: Justin Gray, Stephen 

Ryan, Bret Naylor, Kenneth Moore, Robert Falck, 

Eric Hendricks, and Daniel Kilkenny, Research and 

Engineering Directorate; Herb Schilling, Thaddeus 

Kollar, Drayton Munster, and Calvin Robinson, Office 

of the Chief Information Officer; and former NASA 

contractor, John Hwang.

From 2016 to the present, OpenMDAO has been 

used by NASA’s Flight Demonstration Concepts to 

build a mission planning tool that is essential for 

the X–57 Maxwell X-plane subproject. It also has 

been instrumental in the design of pioneering new 

aircraft, wind turbines, wind-farm layouts, power 

plants, and small satellites known as CubeSats. 

The SOY Award competition allows for NASA to 

recognize and appreciate the team members that 

set high standards for software that is innovative, 

developed efficiently, meets the mission and 

infrastructure requirements, and possesses 

inherent quality.

By Lauren Simmers