National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

May 2008

www.nasa.gov

Page 2 - NASA, NIA announce NASA

 education, television partnership

Page 3 - NASA, Intel, SGI plan to

 ‘soup up’ supercomputer

Page 4 - NASA nanotechnology based

 biosensor helps detect biohazards

Page 14 - Ongoing monthly events

Page 15 - Classifieds

On the Inside . . .

Insulation material named ‘NASA Government Invention of 2007’

as conventional heat shields, but can 

withstand temperatures up to 5,000 

degrees Fahrenheit, according to 

project engineers at NASA. The material has a foundation made of fibers 

coated with a thin layer of organic 

polymeric resin. The resin, traditionally used as a bonding agent, creates a 

light, durable, heat-resistant shield. 

 "This material will play a key role 

in NASA's future space missions as 

we mount human and robotic misby Rachel Prucey

continued on page 7

sions to the moon, asteroids, Mars and 

throughout the solar system," said 

Ames Center Director S. Pete Worden. 

"This is indeed an honor and I'm very 

proud of the Ames team that developed this critical technology."

 Because of its durability and lowdensity, the LCA family of protective 

materials is expected to play a significant role in future NASA missions every time a spacecraft enters a planetary 

NASA, NIA announce television partnership NASA photo by Dominic Hart

Deputy Administrator 

Shana Dale announced 

the launch of NASA’s 

Education TV (NASA 

eTV) during her 

keynote address at the 

NASA Future Forum 

in San Jose in May. See 

story on page 2.

Crowd celebrates Phoenix’s successful landing on Mars

More than 1,200 

NASA enthusiasts visited 

the Ames Exploration 

Center Sunday, May 25, 

2008 for the Phoenix 

Mars Lander touchdown 

event. 

Visitors heard 

presentations by Ames’ 

David Korsmeyer, who 

provided listeners with a 

Phoenix mission overview; Ames’ Jim Kurien, 

who helped develop the 

Phoenix Science Interface 

(PSI) software that mission scientists will use 

to schedule the activities 

Phoenix will perform in 

the Martian arctic; and 

Ames’ Chris McKay, a Phoenix mission co-investigator who explained to 

the audience that Phoenix will search 

the Martian ice-rich soil for organic 

components that can lead to life.

Visitors could also see heat shield 

materials on display, demonstrations 

of the PSI software and play catch 

The 2007 NASA Government 

Invention of the Year is a heat shield 

material slightly more dense than 

balsa wood that is designed to protect 

spacecraft during their fiery re-entry 

into Earth's atmosphere.

 The Lightweight Ceramic Ablator material (LCA) is a low-density 

material that weighs one-fifth as much 

Local media interviewed visitors at the May 25, 2008 Phoenix Mars 

Lander touchdown event at Ames. Visitors heard presentations by 

several Ames scientists and cheered enthusiastically upon learning 

that the Phoenix had landed successfully.

NASA photo by Jim Taylor

continued on page 5

by Rachel Prucey

The 2007 NASA Government Invention of the 

Year is a heat shield material slightly more dense 

than balsa wood, designed to protect spacecraft 

during their fiery re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. The Lightweight Ceramic Ablator material 

(LCA) developed at Ames, weighs one-fifth as 

much as conventional heat shields, but can withstand temperatures up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, according to project engineers at NASA. 

NASA photo by Cesar Acosta
2 Astrogram May 2008

NASA Deputy Administrator 

Shana Dale announced on May 14 

the launch of NASA Education TV 

(NASA eTV), a partnership with the 

National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) 

to produce new educational television 

programs for distribution on NASA 

Television and the internet.

The announcement was part of 

Dale's keynote address at the NASA 

Future Forum in San Jose, Calif., 

where NASA and California leaders 

met to discuss how space exploration 

benefits Silicon Valley and the nation 

through discovery, innovation and 

inspiration.

"California's Silicon Valley is a 

launch pad for high-tech ideas and 

businesses, many of which were inspired by NASA scientific discoveries 

and technology advances," Dale said. 

"America's long-term space exploration goals support economic growth 

right here, right now in California 

communities, and throughout the 

country."

NASA eTV aims to engage young 

people in the excitement and challenges the future holds for America's space 

program. Designed for grades K-12 

NASA, NIA announce NASA education television partnership by Kelly Humphries and young adults, the short vid

snippets will be available on demand 

through the internet during the 2008 

and 2009 school years. This will allow 

teachers unlimited options in the timing, sequence and pacing of the video 

content for greater impact.

"We realize that to sustain U.S. 

economic competitiveness, it is imperative that students have a solid 

educational foundation to be prepared 

for professional careers in the technologically complex 21st century," said 

Robert Lindberg, NIA's president and 

executive director.

"Working jointly with NASA, NIA 

has developed a comprehensive approach to producing visual media that 

teachers will find easier to integrate 

into their classroom instruction," he 

said.

Each NASA eTV program will consist of 5- to- 10-minute video segments 

designed to meet identified teacher 

needs. The elementary school-level 

segments will provide a balanced introduction to the fields of science and 

engineering and be aligned to national 

education standards. The middle 

school-level segments will be aligned 

with mathematics learning standards continued on page 5

and the relevance of math to 21st century careers. The high school-level segments will build on the engineering 

and science behind NASA projects and 

missions. The general public programs 

will be aimed at the 18- to 34-year-old 

audience and focus on the impact of 

space exploration, scientific discovery, 

aeronautics research and NASA-derived technologies on society.

The San Jose Future Forum was 

hosted by NASA's Ames and The Tech 

Museum of Innovation in San Jose 

as part of a year-long series of events 

marking NASA's 50th anniversary. 

Other NASA forum participants 

included Ames Center Director S. Pete 

Worden, astronaut Rex Walheim, who 

just returned to Earth from a mission to deliver the European Space 

Agency's Columbus Laboratory to the 

International Space Station, Assistant 

Administrator for Education Joyce 

Winterton and James Norman, director of the Constellation Systems Division in NASA's Exploration Systems 

Mission Directorate in Washington.

"NASA Ames is on the cutting 

edge of exploration," Worden said. 

"Here, government, businesses and 

How cool would it be to have your 

name on board the spacecraft that 

discovers the first known Earth-like 

planet beyond our solar system? Well, 

here’s your chance.

In May, NASA announced an 

opportunity for anyone to submit their 

name to be included on a DVD and 

rocketed into space as part of NASA’s 

Kepler Mission, scheduled to launch 

in February 2009 from Cape Canaveral 

Air Force Station, Fla. “This mission 

will provide our first knowledge of 

Earth-like planets beyond our solar 

system,” said Kepler Mission principal 

investigator William Borucki.

 The Name in Space DVD will be 

mounted on the exterior of the spacecraft in November 2008. A video of 

the DVD being mounted on the spacecraft will be taken and posted on the 

Kepler Mission Web site prior to the 

spacecraft being shipped to NASA’s 

Kennedy Space Center in December 

of this year. A copy of the DVD with 

all of the names and messages will be 

Send your name into space on the Kepler spacecraft by Michael Mewhinne  given to the Smithsonian Institution’

National Air and Space Museum, 

Washington.

 “It’s a way for the public to 

participate in our space program,” explained David Koch, deputy principal 

investigator for the Kepler Mission. 

According to Koch, there’s no limit to 

the number of names that can be submitted for inclusion on the DVD.

 “We’re looking for several million 

names,” Koch said. “The only limitation is people’s interest.” 

 Anyone who wants to participate 

in the Name in Space project should 

submit their name, the state or country 

they live in and if they desire, a short 

statement (500 words or less) answering the question: “Why do you think 

the Kepler Mission is important?” The 

deadline for submissions to the Kepler 

Mission Web site is Nov. 1, 2008.

 Certificates of Participation will 

be available for printing from the Kepler Mission Web site. The certificate 

states that the person whose name has 

been submitted has been included on 

the list of names launched in 2009 with 

the Kepler spacecraft into orbit around 

the sun. There is no charge for participating in the project or for printing the 

certificate.

 Name in Space is an international 

activity associated with the International Year of Astronomy 2009 in 

recognition of the 400th anniversary of 

Johannes Kepler’s publication of his 

first two laws of planetary motion.

 Kepler is a NASA Discovery mission. NASA Ames is the home organization of the science principal investigator and is responsible for the ground 

system development, mission operations and science data analysis. Kepler 

Mission development is managed by 

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 

Pasadena, Calif. Ball Aerospace & 

Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo., is 

responsible for developing the Kepler 

flight system. 

 To submit names and learn 

more about the Kepler Mission, visit: 

http://kepler.nasa.gov/
3 Astrogram May 2008

This year is the 25th anniversary 

of NASA’s premier supercomputing 

organization at Ames Research Center.

NASA officials in April observed 

the occasion with a celebration highlighting the NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) Division’s legacy of 

accomplishments in high performance 

computing and aerospace modeling 

and simulation.

Originally founded in 1983 as the 

Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation 

program, the NAS Division today encompasses not only supercomputing, 

mass storage system, and high-speed 

networking, but also a host of integrated services. This includes advanced 

visualization, application performance 

optimization, expert user services, 

high-fidelity computational science 

and innovative information technology solutions.

“Over the past quarter century, 

the NAS Division has earned an 

international reputation as a pioneer 

in development and application of 

high-performance computing technologies,” said Ames Center Director 

S. Pete Worden. “This outstanding 

team provides its diverse customers 

with state-of-the art supercomputing 

services and world-class aerospace 

modeling and simulation expertise.”

The NAS facility and staff have 

contributed significantly to NASA’s 

missions, including essential work 

for the space shuttle’s return to flight 

and subsequent missions. Simulations 

Supercomputing facility marks 25 years of accomplishments by Michael Mewhinney conducted at NAS are critical to th

design of Ares and Orion, NASA’s 

space transportation vehicles for a 

new generation of explorers.

In science, Columbia and the other 

supercomputers at 

NAS are used for simulations in nanotechnology, combustion, 

atmospheric chemistry, ocean and climate 

modeling, hurricane 

prediction, solar and 

black hole physics, 

and cosmological 

structure simulations. 

The division continues 

to support NASA’s 

aeronautics research 

covering all flight 

regimes from subsonic 

to hypersonic.

“NAS has a stellar 

record of innovation and delivery of 

cutting-edge technology,” said Rupak 

Biswas, chief of the 

NAS Division. “None 

of that success would have been possible without our expert staff, which 

continuously accomplishes ambitious 

goals while overcoming challenges. I 

look forward to the next 25 years and 

the new heights that this outstanding 

team surely will attain.”

NAS continues to strive to improve and expand its capabilities. The 

division installed the world’s largest known visualization engine, the 

“Hyperwall-2,” a powerful tool with 

more than a million times the graphics rendering power of the original 

workstations installed nearly 25 years 

ago. This summer, NAS plans to install 

a new cluster supercomputing system 

to augment its current computational 

capability.

For more information about the 

NASA Advanced Supercomputing 

Division, visit: http://www.nas.nasa.

gov/

NASA, Intel Corp., and SGI in 

May announced the signing of an 

agreement establishing intentions to 

collaborate on significantly increasing the space agency’s supercomputer 

performance and capacity.

 Under the terms of a Space Act 

Agreement, NASA will work closely 

with Intel and SGI to increase computational capabilities for modeling and 

simulation at the NASA Advanced 

Supercomputing (NAS) facility at 

NASA’s Ames.

“Achieving such a monumental increase in performance will help fulfill 

NASA’s increasing need for additional 

computing capacity and will enable us 

to provide the computational perforby Michael Mewhinne

NASA, Intel, SGI plan to ‘soup up’ supercomputer

mance and capacity needed for future 

missions,” said Ames Director S. Pete 

Worden. “This additional computational performance is necessary to 

help us achieve breakthrough scientific discoveries.”

NASA Ames, Intel and SGI will 

work together on a project called 

Pleiades to develop a computational 

system with a capacity of one Petaflops peak performance (1,000 trillion 

operations per second) by 2009 and a 

system with a peak performance of 10 

Petaflops (10,000 trillion operations 

per second) by 2012. 

“Throughout its history, NASA has 

sought to explore the most compelling 

questions about mankind, Earth, and 

the worlds that await our discovery,” 

said Robert “Bo” Ewald, chief executive officer of SGI. “SGI is proud to 

be part of this effort. These groundbreaking new systems powered by 

SGI and fueled by the latest multi-core 

Intel processors, offer a platform for 

new discoveries that will help us all 

achieve the most promising future for 

the human race. This effort is important to everyone on this planet.”

 This collaboration builds on the 

2004 deployment of Columbia, which 

generated a tenfold increase in supercomputing capacity for the agency. 

Meeting NASA’s future mission challenges will require additional computational resources to handle increasingly higher fidelity modeling and 

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

Former Ames Center Director Hans Mark, (left), NASA Ames Senior Advisor 

for History Jack Boyd and Ron Baily, a senior consultant for Computer Sciences 

Corporation in the NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) Division, chat 

during the recent NAS division 25th anniversary celebration.

continued on page 9
4 Astrogram May 2008

NASA has developed a revolutionary nanotechnology-based biosensor that can detect trace amounts of 

specific bacteria, viruses and parasites. 

This biosensor will be used to help 

prevent the spread of potentially 

deadly biohazards in water, food and 

other contaminated sources.

 NASA’s Ames licensed the biosensor technology to Early Warning 

Inc., Troy, N.Y. Under a Reimbursable 

Space Act Agreement, NASA and 

Early Warning jointly will develop 

biosensor enhancements. Initially, the 

biosensor will be configured to detect 

the presence of common and rare 

strains of microorganisms associated 

with water-borne illnesses and fatalities.

 “The biosensor makes use of ultrasensitive carbon nanotubes which can 

detect biohazards at very low levels,” 

explained Meyya Meyyappan, chief 

scientist for exploration technology 

and former director of the Center for 

Nanotechnology at Ames. “When 

biohazards are present, the biosensor 

generates an electrical signal, which 

is used to determine the presence and 

concentration levels of specific microorganisms in the sample. Because of 

their tiny size, millions of nanotubes 

can fit on a single biosensor chip.”

 Early Warning company officials 

say food and beverage companies, 

water agencies, industrial plants, 

hospitals and airlines could use the 

biosensor to prevent outbreaks of illnesses caused by pathogens - without 

needing a laboratory or technicians.

 “Biohazard outbreaks from pathogens and infectious diseases occur every day in the U.S. and throughout the 

world,” said Neil Gordon, president of 

Early Warning. “The key to preventing 

major outbreaks is frequent and comprehensive testing for each suspected 

pathogen, as most occurrences of 

pathogens are not detected until after 

people get sick or die. Biohazards can 

enter the water supply and food chain 

from a number of sources which are 

very difficult to uncover.”

 Early Warning expects to launch 

its water-testing products in late 2008.

 “Ambitious space missions have 

produced some of the world’s most 

creative technologies by NASA and 

its industrial partners,” said Harry 

Partridge, deputy director of the Space 

NASA nanotechnology-based biosensor helps detect biohazards by Michael Mewhinn

Technologies Division at Ames. “Not 

only does NASA want these technologies used in space applications, 

an equally important objective is the 

transition of NASA research into real 

world products that can benefit our 

society.”

For more information about Early 

Warning, visit: http://www.earlywarninginc.com

Above photo: Meyya Meyyappan, chief scientist for exploration 

technology and former director off the Center for Nanotechnology at NASA Ames (left), and Neil Gordon, president of Early 

Warning, Inc., Troy, N.Y., examine a prototype of NASA’s 

revolutionary nanotechnology-based biosensor licensed to Early 

Warning. The biosensor can detect trace amounts of specific 

bacteria, viruses and parasites and will be used to help prevent 

the spread of potentially deadly biohazards in water, food and 

other contaminated sources. Right photo: the Early Warning’s 

Lab-on-a-Chip incorporates NASA’s nanotechnology-based 

biosensor which can test for both common and rare strains of 

microorganisms associated with waterborne illnesses and infectious diseases.

NASA photos by Dominic Hart

Ames Center Director S. Pete Worden (left) spoke at a special All Hands meeting on May 16 focusing on 

the recent NASA Culture Survey. Center senior management described their roles and interactions, and 

provided information about the responsibilities of each directorate. The managers want to hear from center 

employees concerning improvements the employees believe are needed.

Employees discuss culture survey

NASA photo by Dominic Hart
5 Astrogram May 2008

NASA is in a unique position to 

lead the world in space exploration. 

However, the ability to sustain this position is directly tied to the knowledge, 

commitment and skilled leadership of 

its people. As NASA’s workforce ages, 

it faces perhaps its biggest challenge 

-- to inspire an entire generation that 

to this date, is not connecting with 

NASA. 

The millennial (aka Gen-Y) were 

born between 1980 and 2000 and while 

they are 25 percent of the workforce 

today, 50 percent of the workforce is 

projected to be from Gen-Y by the year 

2014. Now more than ever, we all 

need to take seriously our responsibility to engage future generations. 

What better way to inspire future 

generations than by going out into the 

community as ambassadors of space 

exploration? The life experiences of 

Gen-Y have resulted in a generation 

that explores, connects and collaborates in the personal, dynamic, virtual 

world of the internet. We can provide 

greater service and inspiration by 

joining NASA’s Speaker Bureau and 

creatively connecting with Gen-Y on 

their level. The possibilities are countless and the excitement is unmatched 

by the routine of a typical 

work day.

The Speakers Bureau is a 

NASA-sponsored program 

composed of engineers, scientists and other professionals 

who represent the agency as 

speakers at civic, professional, 

educational and other public 

venues. Each year, NASA 

speakers provide hundreds of 

presentations to thousands of 

people. 

Each NASA center represents a territory. Ames’ 

territory covers Alaska, 

California, Hawaii, Idaho, 

Montana, Nevada, Oregon, 

Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The Speakers Bureau is 

a free service as a part of the 

center’s public communication 

and outreach programs. Audiences 

include pre-school to college classes, 

libraries and museums, scouts, professional and technical organizations and 

community groups.

The center receives several requests for speakers each month. 

Speaking opportunities are listed in 

the weekly Heads-Up announcements. 

Don’t just be an employee working at 

by Dana Bolle

Help inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers

NASA employee Dana Bolles (left) and Stanford oncologist 

Denise Johnson spoke recently at Technology Day at Intel, 

Santa Clara, an event for 4th – 8th grade girls, organized by the 

National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Photo by Sheila Johnson

Ames, be that role model who goes 

the extra step and invests in NASA’s 

future. Contact the program coordinator Sheila Johnson, ext. 4-5054.

For more information, visit http://

speakers.grc.nasa.gov/speaker and inquire about the speaking engagement 

that best suits you. With all expenses 

paid, you have nothing to lose. 

Education partnership

continued from page 2

learning institutions are forging partnerships to develop technologies for 

a new generation of space explorers. 

We're at the dawn of an exciting new 

era that will help us explore our solar 

system and make life on this planet 

and others sustainable."

The forum was sponsored by 

Aerojet of Sacramento; Google of 

Mountain View; Jacobs Technology of 

Tullahoma, Tenn.; Lockheed Martin 

of Bethesda, Md.; Nortel of Toronto, 

Canada; Microsoft Research of Redmond, Wash.; Symantec of Cupertino; 

and Raytheon of Waltham, Mass. 

For more information about 

NASA's 50th Anniversary Future 

Forums, visit: http://www.nasa.

gov/50th/future_forums

with a five-foot-tall robot that the For 

Inspiration and Recognition of Science 

and Technology (FIRST) robotics team 

from Gunn High School, Palo Alto, 

Crowd celebrates Phoenix’s successful landing on Mars

continued from front page

Calif., had racing around in front of 

the Exploration Center entrance.

 Phoenix landed right on schedule, 

at 4:54 p.m. PDT, to the enthusiastic 

crowd who cheered, clapped and 

smiled to learn that Phoenix had successfully landed.

NASA photos by Jim Taylor

Top and right photos: visitors at the May 25 

Phoenix Lander touchdown fill the Exploration 

Center at Ames, patiently waiting to hear that 

the Lander had reached it’s destination. Ames’ 

Chris McKay, photo, below left, a Phoenix mission co-investigator, explains to visitors how 

Phoenix will search the Martian ice-rich soil for 

organic components that can lead to life. 
6 Astrogram May 2008

The Entrepreneurial Initiatives 

Division, along with Ames Center 

Director S. Pete Worden, hosted the 

2008 Patent Awards Ceremony and 

luncheon in April, in the ballroom 

of the Ames Conference Center. Jeff 

Koplow of Sandia National Labs gave 

a well-received keynote presentation about “Managing Creativity, the 

Search for IP Gold.” Invention and 

Contributions Board Staff Director 

Anthony J. Maturo from NASA Headquarters delivered closing remarks.

This event was an opportunity 

for the center to thank individuals for 

their hard work, as well as recognize 

them for helping build Ames’ intellectual property portfolio for partnership 

development.

 Worden presented plaques to U.S. 

patent recipients who have had a patent issued within the past five years. 

There have been 47 patents issued to 

NASA Ames researchers by the U.S. 

Patent Office since 2003. 

 The Entrepreneurial Initiatives 

Division is responsible for awarding 

various Space Act Awards throughout the year. Ames employees are 

encouraged to investigate the types 

of awards available, and can visit the 

division awards web site at http://

technology.arc.nasa.gov/awards. 

Additional information is available on 

the NASA Headquarters Inventions 

and Contributions Board web site at 

http://icb.nasa.gov.

 The following current NASA civil 

servant and contractor employees and 

retired civil servants were honored 

for their recent technical and scientific 

contributions:

Andrew B. Watson - Method and 

Apparatus for Evaluating the Visual 

Quality of Processed Digital Video 

Sequences (DVQ) (Patent # 6,493,023)

David H. Wolpert - Masked Proportional Routing (Patent # 6,577,601) 

John W. Hines, Carsten W. Mundt, 

Robert D. Ricks - Advanced Sensor 

Systems for Biotelemetry (Patent # 

6,582,365) 

Matthew R. Jardin - Neighboring Optimal Aircraft Guidance in a 

General Wind Environment (Patent # 

6,600,991) 

Ames hosts 2008 Patent Awards ceremony

Nateri K. Madavan, Man Mohan Rai 

- Method for Constructing Composite Response Surfaces by Combining 

Neural Networks with Other Interpolation or Estimation Techniques 

(Patent # 6,606,612); Method for 

Constructing Composite Response 

Surfaces by Combining Neural Networks with Polynomial Interpolation 

or Estimation Techniques (Patent # 

7,191,161) 

Muriel D. Ross, Xander Twombly

- Method and Apparatus for Virtual 

Interactive Medical Imaging by Multiple Remotely-Located Users (Patent 

# 6,608,628) 

Mark D. Betzina, Khanh Q. Nguyen

- Method and System for Active Noise 

Control of Tiltrotor Aircraft (Patent # 

6,671,590) 

Owen R. Greulich - Wire Insulation 

Defect Detector (Patent # 6,677,761) 

Michael W. McGreevy - System, 

Method and Apparatus for Generating Phrases from a Database (Perilog) 

(Patent # 6,697,793); System, Method 

and Apparatus for Discovering Phrases in a Database (Perilog) (Patent # 

6,721,728); System, Method and Apparatus for Conducting a Phrase Search 

(Perilog) (Patent # 6,741,981); System, 

Method and Apparatus for Conducting a Keyterm Search (Perilog) (Patent 

# 6,823,333) 

Russell J. Andrews, Robert W. Mah 

- Multimodality Instrument for Tissue 

Characterization (Patent # 6,718,196) 

Charles C. Jorgensen, Kevin R. 

Wheeler - Characterization of Bioelectric Potentials (Patent # 6,720,984) 

David J. Loftus - Retinal Light Processing Using Carbon Nanotubes (Patent # 6,755,530) 

John H. Goebel, Robert E. 

McMurray - Wide Operational Range 

Thermal Sensor (Patent # 6,838,669) 

Stevan M. Spremo - Diffraction-Based 

Optical Switch (Patent # 6,847,749); 

Diffraction-Based Optical Correlator 

(Patent # 6,930,775)

Lance D. Delzeit, Meyya Meyyappan 

- Controlled Patterning and Growth 

of Single Wall and Multi-Wall Carbon 

Nanotubes (Patent # 6,858,197) 

Peter M. Goorjian, Cun-Zheng Ning 

- Ultrafast Laser Beam Switching and 

Pulse Train Generation by Using Coupled Vertical-Cavity, Surface-Emitting 

Lasers (VCSELs) (Patent # 6,865,208)

Thomas R. Chidester, Robert E. 

Lawrence, Robert E. Lynch, Loren J. 

Rosenthal, Irving C. Statler - 

Identification of Atypical Flight Patterns (Patent # 6,937,924); Information 

Display System for Atypical Flight 

Phase (Patent # 7,206,674) 

Daniel J. Rasky, Christine E. Szalai, 

Huy K. Tran - Secondary Polymer 

Layered Impregnated Tile (SPLIT) 

(Patent # 6,955,853) 

Man Mohan Rai - A Hybrid Neural 

Network and Support Vector Machine 

Method for Optimization (Patent # 

6,961,719); A Hybrid Neural Network 

and Support Vector Machine Method 

for Optimization (Patent # 7,293,001) 

Yuri O. Gawdiak, Shu-Chun Y. Lin, 

David A. Maluf, Khai Peter B. Tran

- Extensible Database Framework for 

Management of Unstructured and 

Semi-Structured Documents (NETMARK) (Patent # 6,968,338) 

 

Lance D. Delzeit - Carbon Nanotube 

Purification (Patent # 6,972,056); Increased Alignment in Carbon Nanotube Growth (Patent # 7,288,490) 

Robert W. Mah - Metrics for Body 

Sensing System (Patent # 6,976,013) 

David J. Loftus - Provision of Carbon 

Nanotube Bucky Paper Cages for Immune Shielding of Cells, Tissues, and 

Medical Devices (Patent # 7,070,923); 

Bucky Paper as a Support Membrane 

in Retinal Cell Transplantation (Patent 

# 7,135,172) 

continued on next page
7 Astrogram May 2008

Thomas R. Chidester, Robert E. 

Lawrence, Robert E. Lynch - Energy 

Index for Aircraft Maneuvers (Patent # 7,075,457); Historical Analysis 

of Aircraft Flight Parameters (Patent 

# 7,161,501); Real-Time Analysis and 

Display of Aircraft Approach Maneuvers (Patent # 7,212,135) 

Meyya Meyyappan - Carbon Nanotube Interconnect (Patent # 7,094,679); 

Metallic Nanowire Interconnections 

for Integrated Circuit Fabrication 

(Patent # 7,217,650); Nanoengineered 

Thermal Materials Based on Carbon 

Nanotube Array Composites (Patent # 

7,273,095) 

David F. Blake, Philippe C. Sarrazin - 

Powder Handling Device for Analytical Instruments (Patent # 7,113,265) 

Liljana Spirkovska - Intelligent 

Weather Agent (Patent # 7,129,857)

Upender K. Kaul - Enhanced Elliptic 

Grid Generation (Patent # 7,231,329) 

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

Ames Center Director S. Pete Worden (far left, top row) and NASA Inventions and Contributions Board 

(ICB) Staff Director Anthony J. Maturo (second from left, top row) with the 2008 patent award recipients.

atmosphere. The materials quickly are 

becoming the industry standard for 

heat shields on commercial spacecraft. 

The invention may lead to the application of heat shields specially tailored 

for broader commercial and government applications.

 NASA applied a type of this 

innovative heat shield material, the 

Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA), on the Stardust sample 

return capsule, which brought back 

to Earth the first comet particles and 

interstellar dust samples in January 

2006. Stardust holds the record for 

the fastest Earth re-entry speed of any 

human-made object. PICA is planned 

for use as the heat shield on the new 

Orion crew vehicle and the Mars Science Laboratory mission. Other LCAs 

were used to protect the Mars rovers 

during their descent to the surface of 

the red planet.

 “It is an honor to be involved in 

the development of an innovative 

heat shield material that has a far 

reaching impact on NASA missions 

and perhaps on commercial space travel in 

the future,” said Huy 

Tran, an Ames engineer 

and member of the 

team that invented the 

technology.

“I’m very pleased 

to see a simple idea 

we had years ago 

evolve into important 

technology for pursuing space exploration 

for NASA, and new 

space development for 

the commercial space 

industry,” said Daniel 

Rasky, another member of the Ames development team. 

Other members of the team included 

Ming-Ta Hsu, William Henline, and 

Salvatore Riccitello, all since retired. 

U.S. Patents have been granted for the 

inventions.

NASA's general counsel selects 

the Invention of the Year Award with 

technical assistance from NASA's 

Inventions and Contributions Board. 

continued from front page

Ames hosts 2008 Patent Awards ceremony

continued previous page

Bishun N. Khare, Meyya Meyyappan 

- Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes (Patent # 7,276,266) 

Cun-Zheng Ning - Conversion of 

Type of Quantum Well Structure 

(Patent # 7,286,573)

Steven M. Green - Delay Banking 

for Air Traffic Management (Patent # 

7,313,754)

Daniel B. Leiser, David A. Stewart - 

Toughened Uni-piece Fibrous Reinforced Oxidation-Resistant Composite 

(TUFROC) (Patent # 7,314,648) 

Peter M. Goorjian - Communication 

Using VCSEL Laser Array (Patent # 

7,333,735) 

Durand R. Begault - Auditory Alert 

Systems with Enhanced Detectability 

(Patent # 7,346,172)

Inventors of the technology will be 

honored at the NASA Project Management Challenge Conference tentatively 

scheduled in February 2009.

For more information about 

NASA's Inventions and Contributions 

Board, visit: http://icb.nasa.gov

Insulation material named ‘NASA Government Invention of 2007’

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

Ames Center Director S. Pete Worden, (right), presents NASA Inventor 

plaques for a new addition to the Lightweight Ceramic Ablator (LCA) 

family of heat shield materials to (left to right) Daniel Rasky, Christine 

Szalai and Huy Tran.
8 Astrogram May 2008

For his significant contributions to 

NASA history, Jack Boyd was recently 

awarded the 2008 NASA Headquarters History Division Award. In 

addition to his numerous other duties, 

Boyd has served as the NASA Ames 

senior advisor for history since 2003. 

Ames’ Jack Boyd earns NASA History Award

The award citation commends him 

for “Energetic outreach and promotion of NASA history and 

for making history relevant 

to NASA’s present and 

future.” 

NASA Chief Historian 

Steven Dick commended 

Boyd for his vigorous lecture and outreach schedule, 

and his ability to describe 

NASA’s present and its 

future in an interesting and 

informative manner. He 

noted how NASA benefits 

when those with corporate memory, like Boyd’s, 

participates so actively in 

conversations about shaping the agency’s vision.

In thanking the NASA 

history community for the 

award, Boyd said it a pleasure to work for an agency 

that has taken its history 

seriously. 

Boyd thanked the NASA Ames 

History Office staff, Glenn Bugos and 

April Gage, for building a professional 

history and archive function at Ames, 

which is consistently relevant, cuttingJack Boyd, NASA Ames senior advisor for history (center) with the 

NASA Ames History Office staff, Glenn Bugos (right) and April 

Gage (left). Boyd received the 2008 NASA Headquarters History 

Division Award.

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

edge and working to achieve high 

academic standards. He marveled at 

how quickly and efficiently Bugos 

and Gage had established an archive, 

a system of finding aids, a way to 

track historic artifacts, and a reference 

culture so that people who have questions can get some answers.

He paraphrased a favorite quote, 

saying that “Historians never finish 

their work; for various reasons they 

simply abandon it.” Not to abandon 

its responsibilities to the future, NASA 

Ames has just committed itself to 

substantially revising and updating its 

most recent history book, Atmosphere 

of Freedom, and republishing it for 

NASA Ames’ 70th anniversary year. 

Dick presented the award at 

the annual NASA History Program 

Review at NASA Langley Research 

Center. NASA has built one of the 

largest, most professional, and most 

mission-directed history programs of 

any government agency in the world. 

In April 2009, the NASA History Review will convene at NASA Ames so 

that historians and archivists can share 

their best practices.

Science fair students present ideas from sun beams to leaf blowers by Deborah Robin Cr

One could be forgiven for thinking that all those kids and parents 

descending from busses in front of the 

Exploration Center in early May were 

just part of another elementary school 

field trip coming to see the sights 

at Ames. But these were not your 

average school kids -- they are tomorrow’s leaders in science, engineering, 

physics and astronomy-- the winners 

of the 2008 Silicon Valley Science and 

Technology Championship, (Synopsys). They were here for a breakfast 

held in their honor and convened by 

Carl Pilcher, director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute and Brad Bedout 

of the Exobiology Branch of the Space 

Science and Astrobiology Division. 

The students each stood up and 

described their projects to an audience 

in the World Room of Building 943 

at 8 a.m., while drinking orange juice 

and snacking on bagels.

 The students attending the breakfast were primarily elementary and 

middle school students in Santa Clara 

County. This year, out of 754 applicants, 666 students participated and 

out of those, 218 students in grades 

six through eight received awards. 

One 140 participants in grades nine 

through 12 also received awards.

 In her welcoming remarks at the 

beginning of the 2008 fair competition, Heidi Strahm Black, the Santa 

Clara Valley Science and Engineering 

Fair association president said, “It 

sounds corny, but growing up in the 

‘60s and ‘70s I observed that no matter 

what the political problems between 

countries, regardless of walls, real 

or otherwise, athletes and scientists 

transcended the ‘boundaries.’ Strahm 

Black reiterated how important the 

study of science is for giving young 

people the intellectual tools to solve 

complex global problems.

 Indeed, some of the projects the 

students described were ingenious 

in their simplicity. Kevin Shay called 

one project “Lighter Than Air.” He 

constructed a “hover craft” with a leaf 

blower engine, a plywood board and 

plastic sheeting that remained suspended in the air and could support 

up to 250 lbs., and travel a distance of 

about 70 feet. Another young inventor, 

Justin To, a sophomore at Oak Grove 

High School, created sub-critical, 

silica aero gel, a substance that NASA 

developed for its Stardust mission. 

The students’ projects illustrate a 

commitment to inventing and improving technologies in order to benefit 

society and the environment. The 

objective of the science and engineering fair is to awaken more students to 

the wonder and power of science and 

engineering and it certainly accomplished that goal with this group of 

young wizards.

 In Strahm Black’s words, “Whether the issue is global warming, bee 

colony collapse, or locating land 

mines, we need minds that are not just 

knowledgeable--they must be skilled 

in the processes of science. Today we 

celebrate the skills of critical thinking: 

analysis, observation, classification, 

inference, hypothesizing and -- for the 

engineers – how to put it all together.”

continued on next page
9 Astrogram May 2008

National Day of Prayer celebrated at Ames by David Br

photos by Mike Henschke

National Day of Prayer 

was celebrated at Ames 

on May 1, 2008, with 

a special prayer service 

held at the Moffett 

Chapel (left and below) 

followed by a fellowship 

luncheon.

A prayer service was held May 

1 at the Moffett Chapel during the 

lunch hour to celebrate the National 

Day of Prayer. Under the authority 

of 36 U.S.C. 119, the President issued 

a proclamation designating May 1, 

2008 as the National Day of Prayer. 

More than 50 NASA Ames and 

Army personnel attended this event 

and the fellowship luncheon that 

followed in Bldg 152 at Moffett. 

The chapel service was arranged by 

Chaplain Major Ray Alexander and 

the luncheon was sponsored by the 

Ames Christian Fellowship. 

Chaplain LTC Steven Langhough 

kicked off the event with an inspirational message. Following this, 

several people from Ames particippated in prayer sessions. Prayers 

were offered for the nation, the nation’s leaders, Ames Research Center, 

the armed forces personnel and their 

own personal needs. 

Sabrina Paseman - Creation of a 

Ferrometer

 

Justin To - ‘Much Ado About Nothing’: An Analysis of the Thermal, Optical, and Other Physical Properties of 

Various Aerogel Nanocomposites

 

Anoop Galivanche - A Comparison of 

Different Water Purification Methods

 

Ethan Van Steenburgh - Magnetic 

Propulsion

 

Patrick Tierney - What is the Effect of 

Temperature on Elastic Materials

 

Devon White - Speed of Light Inductive (Solid) Charger

 

Surya Sivaram - Extending the Range 

of UAVs through the Use of Proton 

Exchange Membrane Cells and Other 

Renewable Energy Sources

 

Eric Cassavant and Alex Marshall

-The Detection of Graviton Exchange 

Rate with Ocean Tides 

 

Elizabeth Bernal and Alec Simpson - 

A Prototype of a Lunar Planet Growth 

Chamber 

 

Kevin Shay - Lighter Than Air

 

Frederic Enea - Photovoltaic Cell 

Efficiency

Following is a list of the science 

fair winners: 

 

2008 NASA Science Fair Winners

simulation. In 2009, NASA expects to 

increase that computing capability 16 

times with the Pleiades project, and by 

an additional tenfold in 2012. 

 “Intel, working with SGI, is proud 

to play an important role in helping 

NASA expand the pursuit of scientific 

discovery,” said Diane M. Bryant, vice 

president of Intel’s Digital Enterprise 

Group and general manager or Server 

Platforms Group, Intel Digital Enterprise Group. “Systems such as Pleiades challenge the imagination, and 

guide our exploration of Earth, space 

and beyond. As we approach performance that was once thought impossible to achieve, our eyes are opened 

even wider to the vast possibilities 

enabled by supercomputing.” 

For information about the NASA 

Advanced Supercomputing facility, 

visit: http://www.nas.nasa.gov 

NASA, Intel, SGI 

plan to ‘soup up’ 

continued from previous page supercomputer

continued from page 3

Students present ideas at science fair
10 Astrogram May 2008

On April 16, the Ames Library 

sponsored a National Library Week 

presentation by Daniel Russell, a 

Google research scientist who studies search quality and user happiness. 

Russell shared with the audience 

several tips to make searching with 

Google easier and more productive. 

Highlights and examples of his advice 

are summarized below. DVD recordings of the entire talk will soon be 

available for checkout from the Ames 

Library. Watch the library home page, 

located at http://ameslib.arc.nasa.gov, 

for an announcement.

 Russell and his colleagues know 

a lot about searches, and Google 

incorporates sophisticated search 

algorithms, but one thing that Google 

can’t do, Russell emphasized, is read 

a person’s mind. Until that objective is realized, an individual’s search 

satisfaction depends on six kinds of 

knowledge that he or she brings to the 

task:

1. Search engine technique

(knowing what Google can do) 

• the dictionary function 

(define:astrobiology)

• the exact phrase search with quotation marks (“to the moon and beyond”)

• the calculator (4 percent of 389) 

Scientist offers better ways to search with Google by Beverly M

Daniel Russell, a research scientist at Google, 

spoke recently at Ames and offered tips for 

conducting better searches using Google.

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

(3121 in hex) (lightyear x 29)

These and many more useful functions 

can be found at www.googleguide.

com, a Web site that is unaffiliated 

with Google.

2. Information mapping (knowing 

how to think about searching)

• using Wikipedia first to get a overview of an unfamiliar area

• using a reverse dictionary to find 

specific terms

• understanding what is available and 

where certain information might be 

found (Google doesn’t index everything; NASA reports are more likely to 

be located in a specialized database.)

• searching for and using mashups 

(www.runningmap.com can be used 

to plot a path and find the distance 

between any two points)

3. Domain knowledge

(having expertise in a particular field)

• using domain-specific terminology, 

which makes a search more focused 

and thus more effective

• using synonyms of key terms to 

conduct a more complete or satisfactory search

4. Search strategy

(planning the most effective search 

steps) 

• using the minimum number of lowfrequency search terms to start broad

(search mars)

• refining search results by adding 

terms one at a time (then add planet)

• eliminating unwanted results using 

the minus sign (mars –candy)

• understanding that the sequence of 

terms matters in a search string (milky 

way galaxy yields different results 

than galaxy milky way)

• searching maps and images as well 

as text

5. Assessment (understanding how 

to evaluate the authoritativeness of a 

site) 

• understanding that sites that are 

indexed and searched by Google are 

not vetted by Google

• examining sponsorship of site

• distinguishing truth from the 

“truthiness”

• limiting type of sites searched 

(entering mars site:edu searches only 

educational Web sites)

6. Site-specific knowledge (knowing 

how to “read” different sites)

• realizing that each site is organized 

differently; greater familiarity with a 

site makes for more efficient retrieval 

of information

Russell also mentioned several 

other useful Google features:

• Google Alerts (www.google.com/

alerts allows users to monitor individual interests by receiving e-mail 

updates on selected topics.

• Google Custom Search Engine 

(http://www.google.com/coop/cse/) 

allows users to set up a custom search 

engine—“your very own Google.” You 

can also search for CSEs that others 

have created.

• Downloading the Google toolbar 

(http://toolbar.google.com/T4/index_pack_xp.html) to your browser 

adds helpful features, such as instant 

suggestions as you type in the search 

box.

• If you have a Gmail account, Google 

saves your search history, which is 

particularly useful to leverage your 

own memory of what you have done. 

Research indicates that one-third of 

searches are actually re-searches—

searching for the same information 

again.

• Search for mashups—combinations 

of data sets—to find out what your 

house (and your neighbor’s house) is 

worth, or the standardized test scores 

of various schools.

• Searching for a book will lead to a 

page that links to the holdings of local 

libraries.

• Entering NASA Ames library in the 

Google search box leads you to more 

help from the Ames library staff.
11 Astrogram May 2008

If you are an equipment user, 

property custodian or an organizational point of contact, or involved in 

any type of equipment management 

role/responsibility, the recent roll out 

of N-PROP affects you. 

 The new and improved Integrated 

Asset Management (IAM) Property 

Plant and Equipment (PP&E) system 

is replacing two agency mainframe 

legacy systems: the NASA Equipment 

Management System (NEMS) and the 

NASA Property Disposal Management System (NPDMS). Why make all 

the effort to replace the old systems? 

There are so many reasons! Here are 

just a few: 

• is easy to access either via i-View 

at https://iview.ifmp.nasa.gov or directly through the internet at: https://

web.ifmp.nasa.gov:3200/;

• is a web-based application that 

is user friendly and facilitates realtime updating, tracking, managing 

and reporting; thus reducing manual 

processing;

• includes the automatic routing of 

e-mail messages to assist with notification of actions;

• allows for a standardized mechanism to view and update equipment 

across the entire agency; thus, eliminating multiple systems and redundant data; and

• allows users to search for active and/or excessed property across 

NASA which will reduce procurements and increase reutilization 

statistics.

 All civil servants and contractors 

are now able to manage their assigned 

property via N-PROP. Before logging 

onto N-PROP, employees should take 

a short web- based training course in 

SATERN – “IEM 1066 N-PROP Basic 

Navigation Course.” Drop-in labs and 

additional training opportunities at 

Ames are also being planned during the implementation of this new 

system.

 Once you have completed a training course in SATERN and feel you 

are fully prepared to use N-PROP you 

will find that this intuitive tool will 

help you accomplish many things in 

a more efficient and effective manner. 

Some examples of what you can do 

to make your life easier by using NGot property? Then, check out N-PROP by Michelle Stra

PROP include the following:

1. Accept or reject equipment and 

cancel a pending action; 

2. Display property assigned to 

property custodians or property users, 

as well as property transfer history;

3. Change location information or 

transfer equipment to another property custodian or user; 

4. Generate a removal pass for a 

piece of equipment; and

photo by Melody Miles

5. Request new tags or replacement 

tags for equipment 

 Implementation of this initiative 

is exciting because it will improve the 

accountability and visibility of assets 

used by all NASA installations, programs and projects. 

For questions or more information regarding the IAM PP&E, contact 

the ITSC Help Desk at ext. 4-2000 or 

help@mail.arc.nasa.gov. 

From left to right, Carl Lawson, John Reiss, Lisa Fabish, Darlene Gross and Jayme Johnson during a 

regular Wednesday agency-wide telecon status/planning meeting.

Recently an Aeronautics technical seminar was held at Ames entitled, "Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics Testing of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV).” The presentation was given by James C. Ross 

(seen here speaking during the event, with a model of the CEV in the foreground) who explored the 

fundamental link between NASA's Aeronautics and Exploration Systems Mission Directorates. Every 

flight of NASA's next-generation spacecraft will begin and end with a transit of the Earth's atmosphere. 

These relatively short portions of the flight are critical to the safety of the vehicle and its crew. The 

Constellation Program is therefore spending a great deal of effort to develop an accurate aerodynamic 

database for the CEV. The CEV Aeroscience Project is responsible for defining the aerodynamic, aeroacoustic and aerothermodynamic environment of the CEV during re-entry and descent from orbit and 

during the unlikely event of a launch abort.

Crew Exploration Vehicle testing 

discussed at aeronautics seminar

NASA photo by Dominic Hart
12 Astrogram May 2008

Cherished Ames friend and colleague Linda Christine Cortez passed 

away on May 2, 2008 after a courageous struggle with cancer. Among 

those blessed with knowing her, she 

will always be loved and admired for 

her vibrant spirit, kindness, unforgettable laugh and propensity for inspiring joy in everyone around her.

 Born in Livermore, Calif., on Sept. 

14, 1957, she was raised by her mother 

along with two brothers and a sister. 

In spite of an upbringing unsupportive of women pursuing education and 

careers, Cortez possessed the motivation and strength of character to push 

herself through school and become the 

first of her family to go on to college.

 Cortez first started working for 

NASA in 1981, providing administration and financial analysis support at 

the office of an Ames-contracted company. She then joined Ames’ NASA 

Remembering a woman who really knew how to live by Lorien Whe

In memory of . . .

photo by Paul Munoz

Advanced Supercomputing Division 

in 1992 as a Mac/PC system administrator for the desktop support group, 

where she became an inspirational 

group lead and integral member of the 

community. Her skill with computers 

along with a personable “can-do” attitude quickly distinguished her as an 

invaluable colleague and dependable 

friend. 

In 2004, she took on a position as 

Columbia project administrator, bringing the same attributes to this new 

role. Regardless of what position she 

held, Cortez always brought laughter 

and cheer into everything she was 

involved with.

 Even greater than her dedication 

on the job was her devotion to her 

family, which was always first and 

foremost in her life. She was wellknown by all as a wonderful mother 

with unparalleled love for her four 

children—Paul, Nicole, Daniel and 

Linda Christine Cortez

Natane—and, most recently, for her 

new grandchildren. Cortez also played 

classical guitar, loved to sing and 

dance and delighted in swimming and 

being out on the water. 

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

NASA photo by Eric James

Dancers celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Ames

On May 15 and 16, Ames hosted the Headquarters-sponsored Education Coordinating 

Committee meeting. The committee is a collaborative structure that maximizes NASA’s 

ability to maintain an integrated education portfolio and strategically manage the implementation of programs, projects and activities in a distributed system to ensure the achievement of education outcomes. Attendees at the meeting, left to right, included: Susan White, 

Jim Stofan, Gregg Buckingham, Larry Cooper, Bill Anderson, Tammy Rowan, Jerry McKee, 

Jo Ann Charleston, Parvin Kassaie, Roger Hathaway, Bernice Alston, Alotta Taylor, Joyce 

Winterton, Christine Ivie, Diane DeTroye and Jerry Hartman.

Ames hosts Education Coordinating Committee meeting

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, the Hispanic Advisory Committee of 

Employees (HACE) celebrated with entertainment by the San Francisco 

Ballet Folkloric Dancers. The dancers entertained the lunch time crowd 

at the Mega Bites Cafeteria with traditional dances. Steve Zornetzer, 

associate director for Institutions and Research at Ames, was on hand 

to welcome and thank the HACE group for hosting the event. He also 

thanked the dancers and participants for their contributions to the event. 

The dancers also were treated to a tour of the Vertical Motion Simulator 

and met an astronaut. The event was a bridging of cultures and an introduction to NASA for the next generation of explorers.
13 Astrogram May 2008

In April, the NASA Express 

A.I.B. supply store held a 

customer appreciation free 

lunch for Ames employees 

(left photo) and also sponsored 

Earth Day exhibits during the 

event (photo, far right), inside 

the NASA supply store, Bldg. 

N-255. ‘Green’ products were 

featured and Ames organizations and employees showcased their environmental and 

health activities with table-top 

exhibits.

In May, a Director's Colloquium, "NASA Science Serving Society: UAV/ 

Sensor Mission Support to the Southern California Firestorms of October 2007 

was held in the Space Sciences Auditorium. Vincent Ambrosia (photo left) and 

Francis Enomoto co-presented the colloquium, followed by a reception. In late 

October 2007, a series of large wildfires, spawned by Santa Ana winds, spread 

throughout Southern California. The wildfires burned more than 500,000 

acres, forcing the evacuation of more than half a million residents. Funded by 

NASA’s Earth Science Applications Program, a team of NASA Ames researchers developed new capabilities to observe and provide real-time fire-related 

sensor information to disaster managers, utilizing innovative NASA capabilities, such as uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) and infrared sensors. This 

presentation highlighted the capabilities demonstrated during the summer and 

fall of 2007 over the wildfire events, and provide insight into the future of the 

technologies, science and concepts vividly displayed during a true "test of fire."

NASA CoLab to connect the public with NASA’s work

CoLab is an agency-wide project started at NASA Ames and is designed to 

connect individual members of the public with NASA’s mission. Its vision is to 

foster collaborations between NASA and the public by providing the tools and 

environments for collaborations, two-way communication and content creation. 

During a recent open house (right), Ames employees learned how NASA 

CoLab can make their work more collaborative and accessible to the public.

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

NASA’s support of Southern California firestorms highlighted

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

NASA photos by Dominic Hart

Ames A.I.B. Store sponsors lunch and Earth Day event
14 Astrogram May 2008

Ames emergency 

announcements

To hear the centerwide status record- ing, call (650) 604-9999 for informa- tion announcements and emergency 

instructions for Ames employees. You 

can also listen to 1700 KHz AM radio 

for the same information.

Ames Ongoing Monthly Events Calendar

Security/Law Enforcement Activity

Fire Protection Activity

A statistical summary of activities of the Protective Services Division’s 

Security/Law Enforcement and Fire Protection Services units for the month 

of April 2008 is shown below.

Protective Services monthly activity

 Safety Data 

 NASA-Ames Occupational

 Illness-Injury Data for 

 Calendar Year-to-Date 2008

 Jan. 1, 2008 - April 30, 2008

 Civil Contractors

 Servants

 

 First aid cases 10 5

 Lost Workday cases 1 0

 Recordable cases 0 3

 Restricted duty days 0 2

 Above data are as of April 30, 2008. 

 May be subject to slight adjustment in

 the event of a new case or new informa- 

 tion regarding an existing case.

Ames Amateur Radio Club, third Thurs., of 

ea. month, 12 noon, N-T28 (across from N-255). 

POC: Michael Wright, KG6BFK, at ext. 4-6262. 

Ames Ballroom Dance Club, Classes on 

Tuesdays. Beginning classes meet at 5:15 p.m. 

Higher-level class meets at 5:50 p.m. Held in 

Bldg. 944, the Rec. Center. POC: Helen Hwang 

at helen.hwang@nasa.gov, ext. 4-1368.

Ames Bicycling Club, every third Wednesday 

of each month, 12 noon - 1 p.m., Bldg. N-245 

Auditorium. POC: Julie Nottage at jnottage@

mail.arc.nasa.gov, ext. 4-3711. 

Ames Bowling League, Homestead Lanes on 

Thursday nights at 6:20 p.m. Seeking substitute 

bowlers. Questions to sign up: Mike Liu at ext. 

4-1132. 

Ames Child Care Center Board of Directors 

Mtg., every other Monday, 1 - 2:30 p.m., Bldg. 

N-262/Rm 180. POC: Sally Miller, ext. 4-5411.

Ames Contractor Council Mtg., first Wednesday of ea. month, 11 a.m., Bldg. N-200, Committee Room. POC: Kathleen Starmer, ext. 4-6959

Environmental Forum, first Thursday every 

other month, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m., T20-G conference 

Rm. 129. URL: http://q/qe/events/EHSseries/ POC: Stacy St. Louis, ext. 4-6810.

Ames Federal Employees Union (AFEU) Mtg, 

First Wednesday of November (7th), noon. 

First Wednesday of December (5th), noon. 

Bldg. N-247, Rm. 109. Beginning 2008, third 

Wednesday each month, same location. Guests 

welcome. Info at: http://www.afeu.org. POC: 

Paul K. Davis, ext. 4-5916. 

The Hispanic Advisory Committee for 

Excellence (HACE) Mtg., first Thursday of each 

month, 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., Bldg. N-255, Rm. 

101C. POC: Eric Kristich, ext. 4-5137 and Mark 

Leon, ext. 4-6498.

Jetstream Toastmasters, Mondays, 12 p.m. 

- 1 p.m., Bldg. N-269/Rm.179. POC: Miwa 

Hayashi, ext. 4-1397, mhayashi@mail.arc.nasa.

gov. Web: http://jetstream.freetoasthost.com

Ames Mac Support Group Mtg., third Tuesday 

of each month, 11:30 a.m.to 1 p.m., Bldg. N-262, 

Rm 180. POC: Tony ext. 4-0340.

Ames Model Aircraft Club, flying radio-controlled aircraft at the north end of Parsons Ave. 

on weekend mornings. POC: Mark Sumich, 

ext. 4-6193.

Native American Advisory Committee Mtg., 

fourth Tuesday each month, 12 noon - 1 p.m., 

Bldg. 19, Rm 1096. POC: Mike Liu, ext. 4-1132.

Ames Nimble Knitters Club, every Tuesday 

at 11:30 a.m., Bldg. N-241/Rm 237. POC: 

Rosalyn Jung, knitfan2@yahoo.com or Diane 

Alexander at ext. 4-3140. URL: http://knit.arc.

nasa.gov

Ames Safety Committee, third Thursday of 

each month, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., Bldg. N-237, 

Rm. 201. POC: John Livacich, jlivacich@mail.

arc.nasa.gov, ext. 4-3243 or Terry Reichert, 

treichert@mail.arc.nasa.gov, ext.-4-0375.

Ames Sailing Club Mtg., second Thursday of 

each month (March through November), from 

12 p.m. - 1 p.m., Bldg. N-260, Rm. 113. URL: 

http://sail.arc.nasa.gov/. POC: Clif Horne, 

ext. 4-4571.
15 Astrogram May 2008

The Ames Cat Network needs help finding 

homes for cats trapped at Moffett. They 

range from feral to abandoned/lost pets. 

Tested, altered and inoculated. Call Iris at 

ext. 4-5824 if you or someone you know are 

interested in fostering or adopting a cat.

Ames Cat Network

Researcher with family of three looking for 

housing for six months near NASA Ames. 

Contact Ram e-mail ram@prl.res.in

Visiting researcher/intern needs furnished room 

within walking or biking distance of Ames for 

June - August 2008. Ann (202) 285-2150.

Brand new one bedroom garden apartment 

behind single family home. Available in both 

furnished and non-furnished (non-furnished: 

$1,500). Located at Willow Glen Area. Stainless steel appliances, granite kitchen counter, 

beautifully designed and decorated hardwood 

mahogany floors, cherry wood cabinets, tile 

kitchen and bathroom. W/D, dishwasher. Call 

(408) 239-3050 (cell) or (408) 978-8422 (home).

Single family home located in Willow Glen, 

2bd/2ba. Furnished (beautifully decorated) or 

not furnished ($2,100) as requested. Split-level 

family room (could also be used as a guest room 

with full bath). Cozy living room/dining room, 

hardwood floors, fireplace. Call (408) 239-3050 

(cell) or (408) 978-8422 (home).

Ames Classifieds Exchange Information

Beyond Galileo Gift Shop N-235 in 

the cafeteria , 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., ext. 4-6873

Don’t forget to purchase your baby shower, birthday, holiday gifts at Ames’ two gift shops!

Mega Bites Cafeteria N-235, 6 a.m. to 

2 p.m., ext. 4-5969/Catering ext. 4-2161

Visitor Center Gift Shop N-943 

M-F, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., ext. 4-5412

NASA logo merchandise, souvenirs, toys, gifts and 

educational items. 

Ongoing Vacation Opportunities

Information about products, services and opportunities provided to the employee and contractor 

community by the Ames Exchange Council. Visit 

the web site at: http://exchange.arc.nasa.gov

NASA Lodge (N-19) 603-7100

Tickets, etc... N-943 outside the main gate, 

10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., ext. 4-5412 and Beyond 

Galileo, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ext. 4-6873

See daily menu at: http://exchange.arc.nasa.gov

The pool is heated year round! The pool is currently available for lap swim, pool parties and 

special events. POC -Chana Langley, Pool Manager 

(650) 603-8025. Memberships: single memberships: $40/yr. Family memberships: $60/yr. After 

purchasing a membership, there is an entrance fee: 

daily entrance fee - $3/day or lap pass fee - $40 for 

20 uses. Platinum membership - $360/yr. (no daily 

fee). Special events: include military training, swim 

team events, kayak role practice, etc. The cost for 

special events is $50/hr.

Ames Swim Center (N-109) 603-8025

Ads for the next issue should be sent to astrogram@

mail.arc.nasa.gov and must be resubmitted for each 

issue. Ads must involve personal needs or items; (no 

commercial/third-party ads) and will run on a spaceavailable basis only. First-time ads are given priority. 

Ads must include home phone numbers; Ames extensions and email addresses will be accepted for carpool 

and lost and found ads only. Due to the volume of 

material received, we are unable to verify the accuracy 

of the statements made in the ads. Caveat emptor! 

RV Lots Available Call to reserve a 

space at (650) 603-7100/01.

 Civilian/Contractors, $50/mo; military $25/mo

Where to stay when you’re too tired to drive home? 

What about the lodge?! Two types of rooms: Bldg. 

19 (43 rooms), rate: $55/night ($5 ea add’l adult); 

Bldg. 583 (150 rooms), rate: $45/night ($5 ea. add’l 

adult) 

Moffett Field Golf Club with ‘Tee minus 

1’ Grill and Sports Bar. Call (650) 603-8026.

Lake Tahoe-Squaw Valley Townhse, 3bd/2ba, 

View of slopes, close to lifts. Per night: $250, plus 

$145 cleaning fee. Two night minimum. Includes 

linens, propane fireplace, fully equipped. Call (650) 

968-4155, DBMcKellar@aol.com.

Bass Lake vacation rental, 4 mls south of Yosemite. 

3bd/1.5 ba, TV, VCR, MW, frplc, BBQ, priv. boat 

dock. Sleeps 8. $1,050/wk. Call (559) 642-3600 or 

(650) 390-9668.

Big Sur vacation rental, secluded 4bd/2ba house 

in canyon setting. Fully eqpd kitchen. Access to 

priv. beach. Tub in patio gdn. Halfway between 

Carmel and Big Sur. $175/night for 2; $225 for 4 

and $250 for more, plus $150 cleaning dep. Call 

(650) 328-4427.

Pine Mountain Lake vacation home. Access to golf, 

tennis, lake, swimming, horseback riding, walk 

to beach. Three bedrooms/sleeps 10. $100/night. 

Call (408) 799-4052 or (831) 623-4054.

Incline Village, Forest Pines, Lake Tahoe condo, 3 

bdrms/2 ba, sleeps 8, fireplace, TVs/VCR/DVD, 

stereo w/CD player, microwv, W/D, jacuzzi, 

sauna, outdoor pool. Walk to lake. Close to ski 

areas. Visit web site for pictures: http://www.

ACruiseStore.com $135/night spring and fall, 

$173/night summer and winter (holidays higher) 

plus $125 cleaning fee and 12 percent Nevada 

room tax. Charlie (650) 743-8990.

New York, 5th Ave., one fully furnished bedroom 

apt. in 24 hour security fbldg. overlooking

Washington Square Park, $1,000/week or

3,000/month, negotiable. Call (650) 430-6977.

Paris/France: Fully furnished studio. 5th arr, Latin 

Quarter, Notre Dame and Lie-St. Louis, $1,400/

week, negotiable. Call (650) 430-6977.

Santa Cruz townhouse, 2 bedrooms plus study, 

2 baths, decks, totally furnished, 3 blocks from 

beach, available July, August, September; $1,600 

per month. Call (831) 423-5777 (H) or (831) 277-

8476 (C).

Lake Tahoe cabin rental in Agate Bay, North Shore. 

4bd/3ba tri-level, AEK, cable TVs, fireplace, BBQ, 

deck, sleeps 10. Closest skiing is Northstar, Alpine 

and Squaw. Rates are $375 a weekend, $1,000 a 

week. Call (408) 867-4656.

Florida west coast vacation in St. Petersburg, 

beautiful 2bd/2ba condo, fully equipped kitchen 

and furnished, sunset views, 1/4 mile from St. Pete 

Beach, monthly or 2 week minimum rentals only. 

Call (703) 299-8889 or e-mail: jdgoehler@aol.com

Monterey Bay vacation rental at Pajaro Dunes, 20 

miles south of Santa Cruz, 3bd/2ba beach house 

with distinctive architecture. Beautiful ocean and 

valley views, only 150 ft from the beach, first-class 

tennis courts. $700/wkend, $2,100/wk including 

cleaning by the maid service when you depart. 

Call (408) 252-7260.

South Lake Tahoe large cabin surrounded by 

protected forest, 8 miles from Stateline Sleeps 12 

comfortably, 4 bd/3ba. Hot tub/pool table/65” TV 

Matt (408) 482-5286

South Lake Tahoe cozy home backs up to large 

open meadow, 1 mile from Heavenly Valley. Sleeps 

11, 3 bd/2.5 ba. Large deck with hot tub. Matt (408) 

482-5286.

Transportation

Car Pool

Housing

Miscellaneous

Looking for carpool from central/south Fremont 

to Ames three days/week. Call (510) 657-7543 or 

ext. 4-3258 or nancy.dorighi@nasa.gov

Wanted carpool mate or carpool to Ames from 

Ida Price School area in San Jose. Hours flexible. 

Ann, ext. 4-2350.

Young parakeets, nine months old. Three female and two male, four are yellow/green and 

one is blue. They are $10 each or two for $15. 

All five w/the cage, $45. Desiree (510) 493-1927.

‘01 Chevy Prizm, 50K miles, 1.8L eng., AT, AC, 

Corolla twin, $5,170. Original owner, all records 

available. Dan (408) 238-6538.
16 Astrogram May 2008

The Ames Astrogram is an official publication of 

Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration.

Managing Editor......................Michael Mewhinney

Editor, Layout and Design...................Astrid Olson

You can reach the Astrogram Office at: astrogram@

mail.arc.nasa.gov or by phone at (650) 604-3347. 

Astrogram Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/

ames/astrogram.

Astrogram deadlines

Please submit articles, calendar 

and classified advertisements to 

astrogram@mail.arc.nasa.gov no later 

than the 10th of each month. If this 

falls on a weekend or holiday, then the 

following business day becomes the 

deadline. For Astrogram questions, 

contact Astrid Olson at the aforementioned e-mail address or ext. 4-3347. 

What’s on InsideNASA . . .

Qualified NASA employees are 

invited to apply to be Innovation 

Ambassadors under a new program 

sponsored by the Innovative Partnerships Program at NASA Headquarters.

 The Innovation Ambassadors 

program will provide a temporary 

developmental assignment for select members of NASA’s technical 

workforce. These employees will be 

assigned to work with a host external organization for up to one year. 

Shorter assignments of three months 

or more will also be considered. 

The host organization will have the 

benefit of the expertise of the NASA 

employee at no cost. The NASA employee will focus on improving their 

technical and management skills while 

learning, on a day-to-day basis, about 

the innovative technologies and processes used by the host organization. 

The Innovation Ambassador can 

also share ideas and approaches from 

their NASA experience. Following the 

assignment, the NASA employee will 

be expected to disseminate their new 

knowledge within NASA and lead 

efforts to implement new technologies 

and process improvements based on 

their experience. 

An additional benefit for NASA 

and the host organization is the potential for the Innovation Ambassadors 

activity to lead to future business partnerships and other interaction.

 Innovation Ambassador applicants must be civil servant engineers, 

scientists, project managers or program managers at the GS-11 to GS-15 

level. The host organization can be a 

private company, academic or research 

institution, national laboratory or another government agency. Innovation 

Ambassador applicants can propose 

work assignments at an external organization with which they have established their own contact. 

Also, the Innovative Partnerships 

Program Office is requesting information from external organizations 

interested in hosting an Ambassador 

and a list of those organizations will 

be provided to each Center Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP) Office 

for reference by June 27. The NASA 

Headquarters IPP Office will fund 

the travel expenses for the Innovation 

Ambassador. However, the salary 

Agency announcement:

NASA Innovation Ambassador Developmental Assignment

of the Ambassador must be paid by 

their home organization and so the 

concurrence of the home organization 

supervisor is essential. 

 Interested employees should 

contact their center IPP Office for 

additional guidance and to submit 

their application packages. Center IPP 

Offices will begin reviewing Innovation Ambassador applications by July 

14, 2008. The center IPP Office will 

forward a limited number of applications to NASA Headquarters for final 

selection by Aug. 1, 2008.

 For more information about the 

Innovation Ambassador program and 

the application requirements, visit: 

http://ipp.nasa.gov/ii_ambassadors.

htm. You can also contact Andrew 

Petro, Innovation Incubator Program 

Executive, Innovative Partnerships 

Program Office, NASA Headquarters: 

andrew.j.petro@nasa.gov. 

NASA Deputy Administrator 

Shana Dale’s corner on InsideNASA 

this month features an article entitled, “SpectraSensors, Inc.”

This feature describes SpectraSensors, Inc., formed in 1999 by 

co-founders Randy May and Carl 

Kukkonen. Their research efforts at 

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory 

(JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., helped 

develop a special type of laser diodebased gas analyzer for measuring 

atmospheric gases on Earth, on the 

International Space Station and on 

Mars.

To learn more about this technology, visit: http://insidenasa.nasa.

gov/nasa_stories/May_SpectraSensors.html

Hispanic Advisory Committee of Employees 

(HACE) Chairman Eric Kristich (front, center) 

presented the HACE Awards for Evergreen 

Valley College students. The students graduated from a two-year college and are moving to 

universities to complete their bachelor degrees 

and higher education. This event also marked 

a bridging of cultures between the students and 

NASA. The recipients of the awards were, (left 

to right) Andres Mendes, Bianca Rivera, Maria 

Rocha, and Montserrat Orozco (center) with 

Eric Kristich. HACE will host its annual golf 

tournament Sept. 12, 2008. 

HACE presents award to college students

photo by Melody Miles