National Aeronautics and Space Administration

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

ANNUAL REPORT

www.nasa.gov
The Goddard Project Life cycle

We Start

 With Science...

...and End

 With Science

CONCEIVE DESIGN

TEST

BUILD

LAUNCH

OPERATE

SHARE ANALYZE
1

TABLE OF 

CONTENTS

One World-Class Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Goddard at a Glance  

Our Legacy 

Center Director’s Message 

25 Years of Hubble’s Universe 

Celebrating Wallops 

Our Focus Areas .

2015 in Figures . 

Delivering Your Data from Space . 

Our Organization . 

14 Highlights of 2015 . 

Engaging the Community • Explore@NASAGoddard  .

Our Leadership .

Earth Science .

Astrophysics .

Heliophysics .

Planetary Science .

Space Communications and Navigation .

Suborbital Programs and Range Services .

Our Life @ Goddard .

Institutional Support .

IT and Communications . 

Public Communication .

Education .

Our People • State of the Workforce 2015  .

Budget .

Economic Impact .

Environmental Impact  .

Our Loyalty • Wallops Flight Facility  .

Connections .

In Memoriam .

On Earth Day, April 22, 2015, NASA 

asked: What is your favorite place 

on Earth? Submissions came from 

all 50 U.S. states and 145+ countries and territories. These images 

were all shared on social media.

There is truly no place like home.
2

EDUCATING

ENGAGING

ROBERT H. GODDARD

THE FATHER OF MODERN ROCKETRY

(1882–1945) The American engineer, 

professor, physicist, and inventor credited 

with creating and building the world's first 

liquid-fueled rocket.

INSPIRING

ONE WORLD-CLASS ORGANIZATION:

FIVE UNIQUE SITES Over 13,000 People

Plus many other locations worldwide

FAIRMONT

WEST VIRGINIA

INDEPENDENT

VERIFICATION

& VALIDATION

FACILITY

WALLOPS ISLAND

VIRGINIA

WALLOPS FLIGHT

FACILITY

NEW YORK

NEW YORK CITY

GODDARD

INSTITUTE FOR

SPACE STUDIES

900,000+

Facebook Followers

1,800

Inaugural MD STEM Festival

Students

Engaged

Pre-K Through 8

Students 9,000

IV&V Rocket Competition

1.2M+

Instagram Followers

GODDARD

GREENBELT CAMPUS

MARYLAND

LAS CRUCES

WHITE SANDS

COMPLEX

NEW MEXICO

Est.1961

Est.1959

Est.1978* Est.1945

Est.2000^

*Goddard-managed ground communications stations

^Goddard assumed management

research satellites than any other institution in the world.

Goddard has built and operated more Earth Science

DID YOU KNOW?

Global 

provider of 

scientific 

research, 

technology, 

and missions 

that 

transform our 

knowledge 

of Earth and 

space

Expert in the study of our world, 

the solar system, and beyond, 

NASA Goddard Space Flight 

Center (GSFC) has been working 

since 1959 to increase scientific 

understanding, answer humanity’s big questions, and benefit 

the society and communities we 

serve. The center’s work in science, engineering, technology, 

and communications strengthens 

our ability to envision the origins 

of life, preserve our way of living, 

and define our place in the universe. We identify requirements 

and innovations; design, build 

and launch spacecraft; and manage and support entire space 

missions. Our fundamental communications infrastructure enables NASA and others to bring 

back knowledge from space, 

share it with diverse customers, 

and apply it to society in countless ways.
3

Greenbelt Visitor Center

1976

Opened! 

visitors since 2012

150,000+

NGC 6302, known as

the Butterfly Nebula

100

TERABYTES OF

DATA PROVIDED

BY HUBBLE

AT A GLANCE

National Inventors

Hall of Fame

WORLDWIDE THROUGH

GODDARD-ENABLED

SEARCH & RESCUE

LIVES SAVED

37,000+

25th ANNIVERSARY

Primetime 1EMMY AWARD

WEBB

will be a powerful

time machine with

infrared vision that

will peer back over

13.5 billion years.

1 of 63 known

living Moon Trees

planted from

approximately

450

seeds taken on

the Apollo 14

mission

George E. Alcorn 2015: X-ray Imaging Spectrometer

3,000 COMETS DISCOVERED BY SOHO

First spacecraft managed

and launched by a woman:

Marjorie Townsend

(March 12, 1930 - April 4, 2015)

GODDARD’S

“

FIRSTS”

UHURU: “Freedom”

in Swahili, first

satellite devoted

to X-Ray Astronomy

First Live TV Broadcast from the Moon in 1969

launched in 1989

led to a Nobel

Prize in Physics

Cosmic

Background

Explorer:

UHURU Mission

(1970-1973)

 Years of

 Experience

 Managing the

 Development 

 of NOAA’s 

 Weather

 Satellites

40+

www.nasa.gov/goddard
4

THIS IS WHO WE ARE

OUR LEGACY
5

NASA Vision

We reach for new heights and reveal the unknown for the benefit

of humankind.

NASA Mission

Drive advances in science, technology, aeronautics, and space

exploration to enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic 

vitality, and stewardship of Earth.

NASA’s Strategic Goals

1. Expand the frontiers of knowledge, capability, and

opportunity in space.

2. Advance understanding of Earth and develop technologies

to improve the quality of life on our home planet.

3. Serve the American public and accomplish our mission by

effectively managing our people, technical capabilities, and 

infrastructure.

A Place for 

Science

For the good of our Nation and 

the world, Goddard leads scientific research and exploration that 

transforms our understanding of 

Earth and space and enhances the 

lives of people on our home planet. 

We advance NASA’s mission 

by leading scientific research, 

and by building, launching, and 

operating scientific instruments, 

spacecraft, and information systems. As a science center, Goddard seeks to understand the 

Earth and to explore the universe 

through a robust program of scientific research in Earth science, 

astrophysics, heliophysics, and 

planetary science. As a spaceflight center, Goddard utilizes its 

core technical and programmatic 

expertise and facility capabilities 

to execute a broad range of flight 

missions and field campaigns. 

We are committed to enabling 

innovation and developing new 

technologies that expand the 

agency’s technical capabilities 

in support of its overarching 

mission. Goddard then applies 

its breakthroughs to society: 

stimulating economic growth, 

fostering the education of the 

next generation, and inspiring 

the Nation.
6

For more than 50 years, NASA’s 

Goddard Space Flight Center 

has laid a foundation of scientific 

and technical knowledge that 

society will apply to its endeavors today and in the future. I am 

inspired by, and grateful for, the 

exceptional legacy that forms 

the backbone of our work. Since 

its establishment in 1959 as the 

agency’s first spaceflight center, 

Goddard has been a leader in 

advancing our understanding 

of astrophysics, Earth science, 

heliophysics, planetary science, 

and engineering and technology.

This past year, we celebrated 

milestones for missions that have 

made—and continue to make—

countless discoveries in our quest 

to understand Earth, our solar 

system and worlds beyond. All 

the while, we have remained 

hard at work developing future 

missions that will carry our legacy 

for generations to come.

In 2015, we celebrated the 25th 

launch anniversary of the Hubble 

Space Telescope. Similarly, Goddard’s Wallops Flight Facility, 

a leader in research and technology since 1945, marked 70 

years in June. Goddard held 

open houses in commemoration 

of these anniversaries at both 

Wallops and Greenbelt with an 

extraordinary turnout for both 

events—evidence of the public’s 

overwhelming appreciation for 

our work and the people who 

make it all happen.

 During the year, we added the 

Soil Moisture Active Passive 

spacecraft to our constellation 

of Earth-monitoring sentinels

and gained new insights into the 

climate system with the Global 

Precipitation Measurement mission’s first global map of rainfall 

and snowfall.

We launched two new missions 

in 2015—the Magnetospheric 

Multiscale mission and NOAA’s 

Deep Space Climate Observatory—while two other heliophysics missions celebrated their 5th 

and 20th anniversaries. The Solar 

Dynamics Observatory studied a 

sunspot 80,000 miles wide, the 

largest yet of the current solar 

cycle; and the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory spotted its 

3,000th comet.

As NASA moves forward with its 

Journey to Mars, Goddard continues to research the Red Planet 

as part of the agency’s goal to 

send humans to Mars by the 

2030s. The Sample Analysis at 

Mars instrument suite detected 

organic matter on the planet’s 

surface while the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution 

mission made landmark discoveries about the upper atmosphere.

I invite you to explore this annual report and learn about these 

and many of our other notable 

achievements from the past year. 

With our breadth of work across 

an extensive portfolio of science 

disciplines, it is impossible to 

include them all. Please visit our 

website, www.nasa.gov/goddard, for greater detail regarding 

our efforts and accomplishments.

As 2016 begins in earnest, we 

can look forward to a year that 

will produce the next generation 

of missions and technologies that 

will further advance our scientific 

capabilities. We plan to launch 

such missions as Astro-H, Raven,

OSIRIS-REx, GOES-R, JPSS-

NICER, and ISS-CREAM, and

we will continue progress on 

important projects in support of 

science and human spaceflight.

The challenges ahead of us are 

extraordinary, and we remain 

extremely proud to do the work 

that we do. I am privileged to 

be part of a group of immensely 

talented and committed individuals who continue to push the 

boundaries of what is possible in 

the universe.

Chris Scolese

Center Director

CENTER DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
7

Launched in 1990, the Hubble 

Space Telescope has made over 

1.2 million observations of more 

than 38,000 celestial objects.

• The world’s first large, space

based optical telescope was 

named after American astronomer Edwin P. Hubble (1889

1953). Dr. Hubble confirmed an 

“expanding” universe, which 

provided the foundation for 

the Big Bang theory.

• In its 25-year lifetime, the

telescope has made nearly 

137,000 trips around our planet. Hubble’s miles traveled, 3.4 

billion, is nearly the average 

distance from Pluto to the Sun.

• An average of 829 gigabytes 

of Hubble data are added 

to the archive every month. 

Hubble observations currently 

produce 10 terabytes of new 

data per year, with over 100 

terabytes available for future 

generations of researchers.

• Scientists using Hubble data 

have published more than 

12,800 scientific papers, including research that led to a 

Nobel Prize in Physics.

25 Years of Hubble’s Universe

Hubble Infographic.ai

APR

1990

APR

1990

MAY

1990

Dec

1993 FEB

1997

DEC

1999

MAR

2004

DEC

2005

MAY

2009

JUL

2011

DEC

2011 DEC

2012

APR

2015

MAR

2002

First Image, Star 

Cluster NGC 3532

25 years in orbit with 

celebrations worldwide

Finds seven

galaxies formed

13 billion years ago

10,000th scientific

paper using Hubble

data published

Makes millionth 

observation

Reveals

collision between

two asteroids

Servicing Mission 2 

(STS-82)

Servicing Mission 4 

(STS-125)

Detects object larger

than Pluto in Kuiper belt

Hubble Ultra Deep Field

shows 10,000 galaxies

Servicing Mission 3B 

(STS-109)

Servicing Mission 3A 

(STS-103)

Launch (STS-31)

Deployment

Servicing Mission 1

(STS-61)

JAN

2010

Hubble Space Telescope

Contributes to Nobel

Prize in Physics

Dark energy. Exploding stars. The age of the universe.

Hubble has helped solve some of astronomy’s most pressing questions, and given rise to many new mysteries.
8

CELEBRATING WALLOPS 1940s 1

Expanding NASA’s Reach for Science and Technology Since 1945

ties at an Open House in celebration of this milestone. Today, men 

and women based at Wallops lead 

NASA’s suborbital programs, having launched thousands of rockets, 

released hundreds of scientific 

balloons, and logged thousands 

of flight hours in support of scientific investigations. Recent balloon 

missions include the launch of the 

Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator in Hawaii and a super pressure

balloon launch from New Zealand. 

Recent sounding rocket missions 

enable scientific advances with 

launch platforms at Wallops, Alaska 

and other worldwide sites, and also 

support important education initiatives. Wallops’ lower atmosphere 

airborne science missions fly 50 

percent of NASA’s aircraft science 

flight hours, with campaigns from 

Wallops, the Arctic, Antarctica and 

other global sites. 

Over the years, the Wallops launch 

range has grown to include six launch 

pads, assembly facilities and state-o

the-art instrumentation. In addition,

mobile launch facilities enable Goddard and NASA scientists and engineers to launch rockets from sites 

around the world. NASA’s Wallops

based aircraft include a P-3B Orion,

One of the oldest launch sites in 

the world, Wallops Flight Facility 

is a key part of Goddard Space 

Flight Center and NASA’s principal 

provider of suborbital programs 

and related services supporting 

U.S. aerospace technology and science research needs. The rich history of Wallops includes and even 

predates the early work of NASA’s 

predecessor, the National Advisory 

Council on Aeronautics (NACA).

June 27, 2015, marked 70 years 

since the first launch, and Wallops 

Flight Facility welcomed members 

of the public and various communi­
9

950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s TODAY

four C-23 Sherpas, a King Air, two

C-130 Hercules, and a UH-1 Huey

supporting the Airborne Science 

Program. Wallops also supports 

test flights of Unmanned Aerial 

Systems (UAS); the Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority will 

soon complete construction of a 

3,000 foot UAS runway. Wallops has 

NASA’s only owned and operated 

launch range and research airport. 

This facility collaborates on national 

missions with the U.S. Coast Guard, 

the Department of Defense, and 

NOAA as well as commercial space 

initiatives with the Mid-Atlantic

Regional Spaceport.

Recognized for pioneering innovative government, industry and 

academic collaboration, Wallops 

is poised to continue as the current and future key resource for 

operational test, integration and 

certification of NASA and commercial next-generation, low-cos

orbital and suborbital launch technologies. NASA and Goddard are 

indebted to the commitment, service, and dedication of the countless people who have contributed 

to Wallops Flight Facility’s important work in support of NASA’s 

mission over many decades.

“We had an incredible 70th Anniversary celebration Saturday, June 

27, with more than 7,000 guests spending the day with us, learning 

about our missions and the men and women who make Wallops so 

successful. I’m enormously grateful to all the volunteers who supported the event, as well as the exhibitors and sponsors who came 

out to show their support.”

- Bill Wrobel, Director of the Wallops Flight Facility
10

Observes and studies the Earth 

System, to further scientific understanding of our home planet, 

and to improve predictions of its 

evolving state due to human and 

natural changes.

Researches the Sun and its extended solar system environment 

(the heliosphere), and interactions of Earth, other planets, 

small bodies, and interstellar gas 

with the heliosphere. 

Investigates the universe 

through astronomy, astrophysics, and fundamental physics, 

on issues like dark matter and 

energy, life-harboring planets,

and black holes. 

Our FOCUS AREAS

Earth SCIENCE ASTROPHYSICS HELIOPHYSICS

Sensor Systems &

Instrument Platforms

Goddard develops and builds 

missions and instruments, from 

subsystems (detectors and optical elements) to complete instruments and instrument suites.

CROSS-CUTTING TECHNOLOGIES

Large-Scale Scientific

Information Systems, Data

Processing, & Dissemination

Goddard designs and implements custom, large-scale data

systems and supercomputing applications for high-performance

computing and archiving of a 

wide range of science data.

In-Space Satellite

Servicing

To enable extended mission 

operations, reconfiguration, and 

recovery, Goddard’s services include on-orbit spacecraft refueling and repair, assembling large

structures in orbit, and modular 

designs.
11

Investigates the planets, moons, 

and small objects in the solar 

system and beyond, including 

their evolution, inner structures, 

and forces that alter them.

Systems, technologies and services in support of science, exploration, and space operations 

missions that are near-Earth and

in deep space.

PLANETARY

SCIENCE

SPACE

COMMUNICATIONS

& NAVIGATION

Programs and services for sounding rockets, balloons, aircraft, 

and commercial space including 

NASA’s only launch facility, Wallops Launch Range.

SUBORBITAL 

PLATFORMS & 

RANGE SERVICES

OTHER ENABLING CAPABILITIES

Program & Project 

Management

Goddard conducts effective, 

tailored management and cost 

estimation, maintains schedules, 

develops technology, manages 

risk, and assures outcomes for 

missions and their supporting 

elements and services.

End-to-End Mission 

Systems Architecture & 

Engineering

Goddard addresses the full life 

cycle of science missions, spacecraft, in situ and remote-sensing

instruments, and payloads from 

advanced concepts through 

implementation. 

Safety & Mission 

Assurance

Goddard is a recognized leader 

in safety and mission assurance, 

with a lengthy history of implementing effective, innovative, 

and cost-effective approaches

to reduce risk and enable mission success. 
12

2015 in Figures

4

YEARS OF NASA

VISUALIZATION

EXPLORER APP

1.5 MILLIONDOWNLOADS

400ARTICLES

• NSF/Popular Science

 2015 People’s Choice

 Vizzie Award 

PUBLICATIONS588

EARTH SCIENCE

300

ASTROPHYSICS

180

PLANETARY

SCIENCE

200

HELIOPHYSICS

Tec

T

Part

Devel

In

P

73

HIGH

SCHOOLS

450INTERNS

Direct GSFC BUDGET:$3.5B

BUDGET: $5.0B

Reimbursable GSFC Budget:$1.5B

48

STATES

7

Y

WA

INNO

ONE GODDARD

38%FEMALE

(Civil Servants)

MALE 62%(Civil Servants)

6,000+

ONSITE CONTRACTORS

1,000s OF OTHERS*

3,000+

CIVIL SERVANTS

BestPLACES TO WORK IN THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT RANKING #11 OF 320 AGENCY

COMPONENTS

1.5 

OF DAT

SOLAR 

25-Y

L

d

A

A

h

IV&

MORE THAN 13,000 PEOPLE

180

COLLEGES &

UNIVERSITIES

(24% Minority Serving Institutions)

PY15 Budget Received in FY15

Landsat 9, GOES-R, JPSS

GOES 13-15, Landsat 7 & 8, 

Suomi-NPP, DSCOVR, GPM

*including off-site contractors,

 interns, and Emeritus

Japan Aerospace

Exploration Agency 5AGENCIES

3

Missions in

Development

8

Operational

Missions

Joint Agency Satellites

(FROM OTHER GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT ENTITIES)

IN THE UNITED STATES

THROUGH GODDARDENABLED SEARCH

& RESCUE

LIVES SAVED

252 VIZ
13

APPYLING

TECHNOLOGIES

Technology Transfer 104 Software Usage Agreements

213 New Technology Reports

Partnership Development 11 Strategic Partnerships

Invention

Portfolio 40 Patent Applications

NS

3,167 

ACTIVE

PROCUREMENT

INSTRUMENTS

70

5

YEARS

OF

WALLOPS

INNOVATION

MAJOR PROGRAM

ACHIEVEMENTS

HIGHLIGHTED

IN FY 2015 + many more.

Please visit

Number of primary mirror segments: 18

JAMES

WEBB

SPACE TELESCOPE

NCY

NTS

13,750

AIRBORNE 

SCIENCE HOURS 

ON SOUNDING 

ROCKET AND 

BALLOON 

MISSIONS

3,620

COLLEGE 

STUDENTS 

PARTICIPATED

IN HANDS-ON 

FLIGHT

PROJECT 

EXPERIENCES

2,125

AIRCRAFT 

HOURS IN 

SUPPORT 

OF EARTH 

SCIENCE

116

SOUNDING 

ROCKET AND 

BALLOON 

MISSIONS

7

ORBITAL 

LAUNCHES

16

SOUNDING 

ROCKET 

LAUNCHES

1.5 TERABYTES

OF DATA PER DAY SENT FROM THE

SOLAR DYNAMICS OBSERVATORY

25-YEAR HISTORY OF U.S. FOREST DISTURBANCE MAPPED

Landsat data were used to produce 25 time-integrated maps

depicting forest disturbance across the U.S. These North

American Forest Dynamics (NAFD) maps provide the North

American Carbon Program with analyses of U.S. forest

health at the scale of local forest management.

NASA MISSIONS 13 SUPPORTED

SEVERITY ONE 51 ISSUES IDENTIFIED

IV&V FACILITY

MISSION

NETWORK

Capability: 3.8 Gbps

Total Launches

Supported:

ISS Docking,

Undocking, and

EVAs Supported:

(In past 18 months)

(In past 18 months)

(In past 3 years)

S &

IES

ty 

tions)

8, 

M

tes

Figures are for FY 2015

unless noted otherwise.

TATES

ARD

H

VED

52 

12

27

http://jwst.nasa.gov/recentaccomplish.html
14

DeliverING Your Data from Space 

Since 1959, Goddard’s communications networks have served NASA, the Nation, and the 

world as the backbone for products and services derived from satellite data.

MANY ASPECTS OF

SOCIETY ARE IMPROVED

BY SATELLITE DATA

The SN ground segment at the White Sands Complex features 

ground terminals that provide the hardware and software necessary to guarantee a constant communication link among the customer spacecraft, TDRS, and the NASCOM interface to the customer control center. 

WHITE SANDS COMPLEX (WSC)

One of the NASA-

vide high-quality, l

Global Monitor a

passes allowing fo

other sites, includ

at Kennedy Space 

ties to the Space L

WALLOPS FLIGH

HUBBLE

Space Science

TDRS

Captures and

sends data to

WSC ground

stations

Captures and

sends data

to TDRS

p

and 

Grou

pr

and 

Captures and

sends data to polar

ground station

AQUA

Earth Science

ISS

Human

Spaceflight

SN 

NEN 

SCIENTIFIC

DISCOVERY

Weather

Forecastin

HEALTH

AND MEDICAL 

Transportation EDUCATION FINANCIAL 

JUST THREE

 EXAMPLES OF

THE MANY WAYS

WE ARE BRINGING

SCIENCE HOME!

HOW WE DO IT

KEY FACILITIES

Hubble Space 

Telescope observes the 

most distant stars and 

galaxies in the universe 

as well as the planets in 

our solar system. The 

International Space 

Station (ISS) collects 

data on global climate, 

environmental change, 

and natural hazards 

using crew-operated 

and automated Earth 

observation payloads. 

Aqua is a multi-national 

Earth-observing 

research satellite 

studying the 

precipitation, 

evaporation, and 

cycling of water.

Space Network (SN)

A constellation of nine Earth-orbiting Tracking Data Relay 

Satellites (TDRS) and four ground terminal locations that provide a continuous global link between satellites and the ground.

Near Earth Network (NEN)

A series of fifteen globally-located NASA-owned and contracted commercial ground terminals that provide comprehensive 

communications services to satellites in near-Earth orbit.

NASA Communications Network (NASCOM)

The central nervous system connected to all of NASA’s communications circuits, NASCOM transports and delivers the data to 

control centers or data centers which process and disseminate 

for the science community, other agencies, and the public.

Deep Space Network (DSN)

NASCOM also provides connectivity to the ground stations of 

NASA’s third communications network, DSN, which is managed 

by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

DID YOU KNOW?

• 98% of all NASA data comes through Goddard 

via SN and NEN.

• SN and NEN collectively transmit 29.5 TB of 

data per day.

• NEN supports about 40 NASA and other 

agency satellites.

NEN

SN

DSN
15

-owned tracking stations, WFF hosts five NEN antennas that pro

ow-cost communications services to supported flight missions. Its 

nd Control Center (GMaCC) provides continual monitoring of 

or remotely-controlled, locally unattended station operations at 

ing the nearly completed Launch Communications Stations (LCS) 

e Center. LCS will provide critical launch communications capabili

Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.

HT FACILITY (WFF)

In addition to overall management of SN and NEN, Greenbelt manages the 

NASCOM which handles all data from SN, NEN, and DSN. Its global system of communications transmission, switching, and terminal facilities provides Internet Protocol 

(IP) routed data, high-rate data and video services. Other capabilities include mission 

voice communications services, and high volume data transfer among NASA supercomputers including the NASA Center for Climate Simulation at Goddard.

GODDARD GREENBELT CAMPUS (GC)

WSC

rocesses

d transmits

und station

rocesses

 transmits

GC

GC

NASCOM

(Data transport)

DATA

CENTERS

END

USERS

• NASA

• Government

• Commercial/

 Industry

• International

 Partners

• Academia

CUSTOMERS

• GSFC

 Homepage

• Astronomy

 Picture of the Day

• Earth Observatory

• Ozone Hole

• Direct Readout

PRODUCTS

LONG-TERM IMPACT

g

Climate

Monitoring Agriculture

WATER

TV AND

TECHNOLOGY CELLULAR

Search and

Rescue

Defense

FIRES GPS Communications

NASCOM

(Data transport)
16

OUR

ORGANIZATION

OUR ORGANIZATION

DIRECTOR

Equal

Opportunity

Programs

Communications Chief Counsel

NASA Office

of Inspector

General

NASA Independ.

Verification

& Validation

Office

HUMAN

CAPITAL

MANAGEMENT

CHIEF

FINANCIAL

OFFICER

MANAGEMENT

OPERATIONS EDUCATION

SAFETY AND

MISSION

ASSURANCE

APPLIED

ENGINEERING

AND

TECHNOLOGY

Sciences AND

Exploration

Suborbital

AND Special

Orbital

Projects

FLIGHT

PROJECTS

Information

Technology

AND

Communications
17

2

HUBBLE

Celebrating 25 Years

of Hubble 

On July 23, 2015, Goddard 

hosted a day of open houses, 

events and panel discussions in 

honor of the project team, and 

they released videos showcasing 

key moments in Hubble’s history. 

In addition to these recognitions, 

Hubble continued to deliver 

compelling images revealing our 

mysterious universe. Releases included spectacular new views of 

the “Pillars of Creation”; super

rich galactic neighborhoods; 

young, massive, compact galaxies; debris-strewn exoplanetary

construction yards; extreme 

exoplanets; stars ejected from 

ancient galaxies; Pluto’s moons; 

and aurorae on the Moon.

14

HIGHLIGHTS

OF

2015

Universe Universe

1

WEBB

Next Strategic Astrophysics 

Mission Continues Progress

James Webb Space Telescope 

(JWST) again made significant 

progress toward its launch 

planned for no earlier than 

2018. A successful 116 days testing of its heart was conducted 

inside Goddard’s thermal vacuum chamber. Two primary test 

mirror segments were placed 

onto the support structure. The 

pathfinder telescope, a practice 

section of JWST, is now fully 

assembled. The special arms 

required to set up its secondary 

mirror in space were tested. The 

Integrated Science Instrument 

Module (ISIM) successfully underwent a “gravity sag test” and 

“severe sound” tests.
18

4

GPM

First Global Rainfall, Snowfall 

Map from Mission

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission has 

produced its first global map of 

rainfall and snowfall. Launched 

on February 27, 2014, the NASA/

JAXA mission unifies precipitation measurements from a network of 12 satellites. The result is 

NASA’s Integrated Multi-satellite

Retrievals for GPM data product, 

called IMERG. GPM Core Observatory has provided a worldwide 

tour of global precipitation by 

taking snapshots every 30 minutes that are available in hours. 

In addition, GPM is engaging citizen scientists to validate ground 

and satellite data.

5

TERRA/AQUA

Battling Wildfires

from Space 

NASA satellites have been adding to the firefighters’ toolkit by 

providing a clearer view of these 

threats with new satellite-based

tools to better detect fires and 

predict their behavior. Aqua spotted multiple fires in California, 

including the Rough fire—the 

largest in the state. Terra captured 

Alaskan wildfires in the 2015 

fire season which surpassed the 

5-million-mark for the number o

acres burned. Aqua also captured 

an image of dozens of wildfires 

across the Alaska wilderness. In 

addition, NASA satellites captured the smoke from wildfires 

in the skies over Alaska, Canada, 

and the U.S. Great Lakes.

UNIVERSE EARTH EARTH

3

SWIFT/XMM-NEWTON

Revealing the Destructive

Nature of Black Holes

The Swift Gamma-ray Burst Explorer, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and XMM-Newton joi

mission with ESA are helping 

scientists solve an astronomical 

puzzle concerning forces that 

rip apart stars near black holes 

called tidal disruption. One such 

event, called ASASSN-14li, was

found in the center of a galaxy 

290 million light-years away. This

observation has given researchers 

an extraordinary opportunity to 

understand these extreme environments. Results from the Nov. 

2014 All-Sky Automated Survey

for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) were

published in the Oct. 22, 2015 

issue of Nature.
19

6

ICESat-2

Measuring the Height of

Earth from Space

The Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), slate

for launch in 2017, will continue 

the important observations of 

icesheet elevation change, sea-ice

freeboard, and vegetation canopy 

height begun by ICESat in 2003. 

Together, these datasets will allow 

for continent-wide estimates in the

change in volume of the Greenland 

and Antarctic ice sheets over a 

15-year period, and long-ter

trend analysis of sea-ice thickness.

Testing continued on ICESat-2’s

laser-based light detection and

ranging (LIDAR) sensor called the 

Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System, or ATLAS.

7

PACE-OCI

New NASA Mission to Study 

Ocean Color 

NASA is beginning work on a 

mission to extend critical climate measurements of Earth’s 

oceans and atmosphere, and 

advance studies of the impact 

of environmental changes on 

ocean health, fisheries and the 

carbon cycle. Tentatively scheduled to launch in 2022, the 

Plankton-Aerosol Clouds and

ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission 

will study Earth’s aquatic ecology 

and biogeochemistry. PACE will 

be managed by Goddard, which 

will also build the Ocean Color 

Instrument (OCI) to measure 

ocean color and observe clouds 

and tiny airborne particles like 

dust, smoke and aerosols. 

8

MAVEN

MAVEN Extends Mars 

Exploration Heritage 

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile 

EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission 

continues our exploration of Mars, 

which began 50 years ago with 

Mariner 4. Since its arrival at Mars 

in September 2014, the results 

have been stunning. MAVEN has 

discovered diffuse auroras that 

occur intermittently and observed 

a temporary layer of metal ions, 

formed from dust left by comet 

Siding Spring. Four “deep-dip”

campaigns have investigated the 

lower end of the upper atmosphere. 

MAVEN’s observations are being 

used to determine how quickly 

Mars is losing its atmosphere 

today—to better understand its 

changing climate.

EARTH Earth SOLAR SYSTEM
20

9

OSIRIS-REx

OSIRIS-REx Meets Ke

Milestones

Origins, Spectral Interpretation, 

Resource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRI

REx) is the first U.S. asteroid 

sample return mission, planned 

for launch in Sept. 2016. It passed 

the Mission Operations Review 

in July 2015. That June marked 

the delivery of an instrument to 

measure the asteroid’s mineral 

and chemical abundances, and 

temperature. Shortly after, two 

more instruments were delivered: 

the instrument to explore the 

surface of the asteroid for water 

and organic materials, and the 

suite of cameras. These three of 

the five mission instruments were 

integrated by September.

10

DSCOVR

Satellite Camera Provides 

“EPIC” View of Earth

In July 2015, a NASA camera 

on the Deep Space Climate 

Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite returned its first view of the 

entire sunlit side of Earth from 

one million miles away. The color 

images from NASA’s Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) 

are generated by combining 

three separate images to create 

a photographic-quality image.

The satellite, a multi-agency collaboration (NOAA, USAF, and

NASA), was launched in February. 

Data from EPIC will be used to 

measure ozone and aerosol levels in Earth’s atmosphere, cloud 

height, vegetation properties and 

the ultraviolet reflectivity of Earth.

11

MMS

Historic Mission Launches,

Flies in Formation

In November 2014, all four of 

the Magnetospheric Multiscale 

(MMS) spacecraft had arrived at 

NASA’s pre-launch processing

facility in Florida to begin preparations for launch. On March 12, this 

unprecedented mission launched 

to study magnetic reconnection, 

a phenomenon that drives effects 

all over the universe. On July 9, 

MMS completed a major milestone with the planned execution 

of maneuvers to begin formation 

flying in a 160 km spaced tetrahedron. On September 1, MMS 

entered the Mission Operations 

and Science Data Analysis phase 

(E), with numerous publications 

to follow.

SOLAR SYSTEM SUN SUN
21

14

Explore@NASAGoddard

Record Crowds Visit

Open House 

On September 26, Goddard’s 

main campus in Greenbelt, MD 

opened for the first time in four 

years in celebration of Hubble’s 

25th anniversary. Over 20,000 

people attended the event. Visitors participated in over 130 

science, engineering and technology activities; and interacted 

with experts like Nobel laureate John Mather and astronaut 

John Grunsfeld, a veteran of 

the Hubble servicing mission. 

Over 10 buildings were opened, 

including the spacecraft integration and test facility, and the High 

Bay Clean Room. Hundreds of the 

center’s staff explained Goddard’s 

work to attendees.

COMMUNICATIONS SUBORBITAL OUTREACH

12

SPACE NETWORK

Initial Implementation of New 

Ground Terminal

The Blossom Point Remote Station now provides customer 

support and is fully operational 

with the first of two TDRS antennas, giving the Space Network 

(SN) additional capability in the 

Atlantic Ocean Region. Blossom 

Point began as a green field environment, with no SN antennas 

or supporting ground system. In 

a few years, the SN installed three 

antennas, three radomes and a 

suite of hardware and software 

systems to manage TDRS and 

provide customer services. The 

ground system implementation 

effort in particular took a short 

14 months from start to finish.

13

WALLOPS 70th

Wallops Celebrates 70 Years

of Aerospace Innovation

In 2015, Wallops hosted several 

events commemorating the historic date of its first test launch 

on June 27, 1945. The Wallops 

70th Anniversary Lecture Series 

began in March, and Wallops 

held a contest on “Art & the 

Cosmic Connection.” The facility hosted an opening reception 

for the youth art exhibit on June 

26th. Winners selected from over 

300 submissions were displayed 

through September. On June 27, 

Wallops opened its doors to engage the public with celebrating 

and recognizing its significant 

contributions to NASA and the 

Nation, ending with a 5K run on 

the facility runways. 
22

Engaging the Community

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight 

Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, 

opened its doors for the first time 

in four years to give the public a 

chance to explore the center’s 

Earth science, heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, and 

engineering and technology. In 

celebration of the Hubble Space 

Telescope’s 25th anniversary, 

this year’s event highlighted the 

theme “Celebrating Hubble and 

the Spirit of Exploration.”

Organizers at Goddard said some 

20,000 attended the Explore@

NASAGoddard event for an exclusive look at the center’s work.

• 20,000 Attendees

• 1,600 Staff (Volunteers, Presenters, Exhibitors, Partners, 

Performers, Facilities Personnel)

• 37 Presentations

• 21 Local Food Vendors

• 13 Facility Tours

• 108 Goddard Exhibits

• 22 External Exhibitors

• 14 Open Buildings 

• 12 Science Demonstrations 

and Performances

http://www.nasa.gov/explorenasagoddard-201
23
24

OUR LEADERSHIP

THIS IS WHAT WE DO
25

A Place for 

SUCCESS

At Goddard, we launch science. 

We help answer crucial science 

questions through complex 

missions that depend on dedicated, innovative teams to develop pioneering technologies. 

Goddard is one of the few organizations worldwide to manage 

a mission from concept through 

operations, which utilize internal, 

partner, and industry expertise 

and resources and cover suborbital to planetary missions.

The depth and expertise of 

our scientists, engineers, technologists, project managers, 

support personnel, and facilities form the foundation of our 

unique strength. With our leadership in scientific research as 

well as instruments and spacecraft development, the center 

has a notable capability to conceive and manage advanced 

science, technology, and space 

systems through the entire mission life cycle.
26

ARY

CE 

EARTH SCIENCE SPACE

COMMUNICATIONS

& NAVIGATION

SUBORBITAL

PROGRAMS &

RANGE SERVICES

INSTITUTI

SUPPOR

FY 2015 has yielded a number of 

accomplishments for Goddard 

Earth Science. CATS was launched 

to the ISS where it began observing clouds and aerosols; DSCOVR 

was launched into deep space 

(Lagrange Point 1) for a constant 

view of the entire sunlit hemisphere, 

or “blue marble”; and SMAP was 

launched into low Earth orbit where 

the GSFC-built passive microwave

radiometer preserved the main 

objective of measuring global soil 

moisture. GEDI, GOES-R, JPSS,

and ICESat-2 all made significant

progress towards launches in 2016 

and 2017. Early 2020s flagship missions Landsat 9 and PACE/OCI were 

formally directed to Goddard and 

began formulation. Unprecedented 

data products emerged in 2015 

including: a first-ever global map of

precipitation every 30 minutes from 

GPM Integrated Multi-Satellite Retrievals; a global map of root-zon

soil moisture from a synthesis of 

SMAP data with the Goddard Earth 

Observing System Model, Version 

5 (GEOS-5); and a Modern Er

Retrospective Analysis for Research 

and Applications (MERRA) resulting 

from the assimilation of satellite 

data into GEOS-5 to produce a

refined simulation of Earth’s climate 

system. In addition, GISS continues 

to monitor global temperatures and 

helped establish 2015 as the warmest year on record. 

PORTFOLIO

ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION

HYDROSPHERIC PROCESSES

CARBON CYCLE & ECOSYSTEMS

CLIMATE & WEATHER

EARTH SURFACE & INTERIOR

Combined Budget

Combined GSFC

Budget Percentage 43%

$2.1B

Non-Reimbursable

Reimbursable 26%

17%

57% 1,267

3

STAFF

Civil Service, Contract, Other

GSFC

FACILITIES

Greenbelt WFF GISS

Remaining GSFC

13LABORATORIES/OFFICES

• GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics 

Investigation)

• GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – R Series)*

• ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and land 

Elevation Satellite-2)

• JPSS (Joint Polar Satellite System)*

• PACE (Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and 

Ocean Ecosystem)

*Joint Agency Satellite

• Aqua

• Aquarius

• Aura

• EO-1 (Earth Observing-1)

• CATS (Cloud-Aerosol Transport System)

• DSCOVR (Deep Space Climate Observatory)*

• GOES-13*, GOES-14*, GOES-15*

• GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement)*

• Landsat 7*, Landsat 8*, Landsat 9*

• Suomi-NPP (Suomi-National Polar-orbiting 

Partnership)*

• SMAP (Soil Moisture Active-Passive)

• SORCE (Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment)

• Terra

• TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission)

MISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONAL MISSIONS

Combined Budget

Combined GSFC

Budget Percentage 43%

$2.1B

Non-Reimbursable

Reimbursable 26%

17%

57% 1,267

3

STAFF

Civil Service, Contract, Other

GSFC

FACILITIES

Greenbelt WFF GISS

Remaining GSFC

13LABORATORIES/OFFICES

• GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics 

Investigation)

• GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – R Series)*

• ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and land 

Elevation Satellite-2)

• JPSS (Joint Polar Satellite System)*

• PACE (Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and 

Ocean Ecosystem)

*Joint Agency Satellite

• Aqua

• Aquarius

• Aura

• EO-1 (Earth Observing-1)

• CATS (Cloud-Aerosol Transport System)

• DSCOVR (Deep Space Climate Observatory)*

• GOES-13*, GOES-14*, GOES-15*

• GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement)*

• Landsat 7*, Landsat 8*, Landsat 9*

• Suomi-NPP (Suomi-National Polar-orbiting 

Partnership)*

• SMAP (Soil Moisture Active-Passive)

• SORCE (Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment)

• Terra

• TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission)

MISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONAL MISSIONS

NASA Strategic Objective 2.2: Advance knowledge of Earth as a 

system to meet the challenges of environmental change and to 

improve life on our planet.
27

MAKING HEADLINES

It’s Official: 2014 Was the 

Hottest Year in Recorded 

History

— Jan 16, 2015, Washington Post

Risk of American 

‘Megadroughts’ for 

Decades, NASA Warns

— Mar 4, 2015, CNN

Suomi NPP Satellite Can 

Detect Holiday Lights 

From Cities

— Dec 16, 2014, TIME

NASA Warns Sea Levels 

Have Already Risen and 

‘It’s Not Going To Stop’ 

— Aug 26, 2015, Forbes

Watch How NASA Monitors 

Sand Flying From the Sahara 

to the Amazon

— Feb 25, 2015, TIME

NASA Releases Images of 

the Moon Passing in Front 

of the Earth From a Million 

Miles Away

— Aug 5, 2015, Newsweek

NASA Animation Shows 

World’s Garbage 

— Aug 24, 2015, The Weather Channel

NASA Satellite Spies 

Hurricane Joaquin 

Replacing an Eye 

— Oct 2, 2015, Yahoo

UNDERSTANDING 

OUR DYNAMIC 

PLANET

Proposals

(to NASA Research

Announcements)

 Total – 151

 PI – 73

 Co-I – 7

 Win Rate – 29%

 TBD – 42%

Publications

(peer reviewed)

Refereed (total) – 588

First Author – 35

Total – 44

Internal – 27

External – 17

HIGHLIGHTS

AWARDS

accomplishments

NASA and the Nation are indebted 

to two Earth Science missions that 

concluded in June 2015.

• The NASA/JAXA TRMM mission 

delivered a 17-year dataset of

tropical rainfall and lightning.

• Spacecraft SAC-D, which carried

the Aquarius instrument, studied 

ocean surface salinity.
28

Hubble Space Telescope’s return 

on investment has been priceless, 

with twenty-five years of extraordinary imagery and data helping

us better understand the universe. 

Swift satellite has marked 10 years 

of game-changing astrophysics,

and remains the only satellite 

capable of precisely locating the 

universe’s most powerful explosions and monitoring them before 

they fade from view. 

Looking ahead, the next Decadal 

Survey strategic astrophysics mission—JWST—has met significant 

integration and test milestones 

over the past year. JWST Program 

remains on schedule and within 

budget.

Designed as the first all-sky survey,

the TESS mission was also cleared 

for the next development phase 

of its mission to search the sky for 

planets outside our solar system. 

The X-ray timing instrument NICER

has made progress toward an 

October 2016 launch to ISS.

Astro-H flight hardware is assembled and has completed testing

with a launch date scheduled for 

late 2015.

WFIRST Study and Science Definition Teams completed a mission concept report and engaged 

the community with a request for 

information.

PORTFOLIO

PHYSICS OF THE COSMOS

COSMIC ORIGINS

EXOPLANET EXPLORATION

Budget

GSFC Budget

Percentage 19%

$933.6M

Astrophysics 19%

81% 372

2

STAFF

GSFC

FACILITIES

Greenbelt WFF

Remaining GSFC

5LABORATORIES/OFFICES

• Astro-H (with JAXA)

• BETTII (Balloon Experimental Twin 

Telescope for Infrared 

Interferometry)

• CALET (CALorimetric Electron 

Telescope)

• JWST (James Webb Space Telescope)

• Micro-X (sounding rocket)

• NICER (Neutron star Interior 

Composition ExploreR)

• PIPER (Primordial Inflation 

Polarization Explorer) (balloon)

• TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey 

Satellite)

• WFIRST (Wide-Field Infrared Survey 

Telescope) – pre-formulation

• ACE (Advanced Composition 

Explorer)

• CREAM (Cosmic Ray 

Energetics and Mass)(ISS)

• DXL (Diffuse X-rays from the 

Local galaxy) (rocket)

• Fermi Gamma-ray Space 

Telescope

• HAWC+ (High-resolution 

Airborne Wideband Camera) 

on SOFIA (Stratospheric 

Observatory for Infrared 

Astronomy)

• HEASARC (High Energy 

Astrophysics Science Archive 

Research Center)

• HST (Hubble Space Telescope) 

and its instruments Wide Field 

Camera-3 and STIS (Space 

Telescope Imaging 

Spectrograph)

• NuSTAR (Nuclear 

Spectroscopic 

Telescope Array)

• STEREO (Solar 

Terrestrial 

Relations 

Observatory)

• Super-TIGER 

(Super Trans-Iron 

Galactic Element 

Recorder) (balloon)

• Suzaku (with JAXA) 

• Swift

• XQC (X-ray 

Quantum 

Calorimeter) 

(rocket)

• XMM-Newton 

(X-ray Multi-Mirror) 

(with ESA)

• 104 civil servant scientists and engineers

• 115 contractors (administrative and engineers)

• 78 cooperative agreement scientists

• 44 postdoctoral fellows

• 31 graduate students

MISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONAL MISSIONS

Budget

GSFC Budget

Percentage 19%

$933.6M

Astrophysics 19%

81% 372

2

STAFF

GSFC

FACILITIES

Greenbelt WFF

Remaining GSFC

5LABORATORIES/OFFICES

• Astro-H (with JAXA)

• BETTII (Balloon Experimental Twin 

Telescope for Infrared 

Interferometry)

• CALET (CALorimetric Electron 

Telescope)

• JWST (James Webb Space Telescope)

• Micro-X (sounding rocket)

• NICER (Neutron star Interior 

Composition ExploreR)

• PIPER (Primordial Inflation 

Polarization Explorer) (balloon)

• TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey 

Satellite)

• WFIRST (Wide-Field Infrared Survey 

Telescope) – pre-formulation

• ACE (Advanced Composition 

Explorer)

• CREAM (Cosmic Ray 

Energetics and Mass)(ISS)

• DXL (Diffuse X-rays from the 

Local galaxy) (rocket)

• Fermi Gamma-ray Space 

Telescope

• HAWC+ (High-resolution 

Airborne Wideband Camera) 

on SOFIA (Stratospheric 

Observatory for Infrared 

Astronomy)

• HEASARC (High Energy 

Astrophysics Science Archive 

Research Center)

• HST (Hubble Space Telescope) 

and its instruments Wide Field 

Camera-3 and STIS (Space 

Telescope Imaging 

Spectrograph)

• NuSTAR (Nuclear 

Spectroscopic 

Telescope Array)

• STEREO (Solar 

Terrestrial 

Relations 

Observatory)

• Super-TIGER 

(Super Trans-Iron 

Galactic Element 

Recorder) (balloon)

• Suzaku (with JAXA) 

• Swift

• XQC (X-ray 

Quantum 

Calorimeter) 

(rocket)

• XMM-Newton 

(X-ray Multi-Mirror) 

(with ESA)

• 104 civil servant scientists and engineers

• 115 contractors (administrative and engineers)

• 78 cooperative agreement scientists

• 44 postdoctoral fellows

• 31 graduate students

MISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONAL MISSIONS

NASA Strategic Objective 1.6: Discover how the universe works, 

explore how it began and evolved, and search for life on planets 

around other stars.

How does the universe work? Probe the origin and 

destiny of our universe, including the nature of 

black holes, dark energy, dark matter, and gravity.

Are we alone? Discover and study planets around 

other stars and explore whether they could 

harbor life.

How did we get here? Explore the origin and 

evolution of the galaxies, stars, and planets that 

make up our universe.

HELIOPHYSICS PLANETARY

SCIENCE ASTROPHYSICS EARTH SC
29

MAKING HEADLINES

Gorgeous ‘Pillars of 

Creation’ Shine In New 

Hi-Def Hubble Photos

— Jan 6, 2015, The Huffington Post

Forget Interstellar, Watch 

Milestones from NASA 

Swift’s 10 Years in Space

— Nov 30, 2014, Newsweek

Hubble Telescope at 25— 

Hubble’s Greatest Hits

— April 2015, National Geographic

 Magazine

The Best Fireworks in 

the Galaxy Are Coming 

to Earth

— Jul 4, 2015, Gizmodo

SEEING THE 

COSMOS IN A 

NEW LIGHT Proposals

• 51 ROSES proposals

• 17 selected, 5 pending 

selection decisions

• 37% win rate

• 2015 IUPAP Young Scientist 

Prize in Astrophysics

• John C. Lindsay Award

• Honorary Doctor of Science 

from University College, Dublin

• 2 Agency Outstanding 

Leadership Medals

• 2 Agency Exceptional 

Scientific Achievement Medals

300 refereed scientific

papers annually

20 press releases

Publications

AWARDS

HIGHLIGHTS
30

In addition to the major accomplishments related to MMS and 

DSCOVR, 2015 marked a year of 

key milestones for Goddard Heliophysics. In December 2014, the 

Wind mission marked 20 years of 

characterizing the constant stream 

of particles from the sun. Nearing 

ten years of service, the Solar and 

Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) 

discovered its 3,000th comet on 

Sept. 13, 2015, cementing its 

standing as the greatest comet 

finder of all time. In operation 

for five years, the Solar Dynamic 

Observatory (SDO) observed a 

sunspot 80,000 miles across—the 

largest active region seen in the 

current solar cycle, which began 

in 2008.

In addition, NASA officially confirmed the Ionospheric Connection 

Explorer (ICON) mission, clearing 

it to move forward into the development phase. ICON will explore 

a swath of Earth’s atmosphere 

where weather close to the ground 

impacts the dynamic space environment. The EXOCUBE CubeSat 

successfully launched, providing 

flight validation of the mini-Ion

and Neutral Mass Spectrometer 

(mini-INMS) instrument. Finally,

Goddard CubeSat instruments 

are slated to demonstrate NASA 

firsts in 2016 on a small satellite 

called Dellingr which is taking its 

developers just one year to design, 

build, and integrate.

PORTFOLIO

SOLAR PHYSICS

HELIOSPHERIC PHYSICS

GEOSPACE PHYSICS

SPACE WEATHER 

Budget

GSFC Budget

Percentage 6%

$289.9M

Heliophysics

94%

6%

300

3

STAFF

Civil Service, Contract, Other

GSFC

FACILITIES

Greenbelt WFF GISS

Remaining GSFC

4 LABORATORIES/OFFICES

• GOLD (Global-scale Observations 

of the Limb and Disk)

• ICON (Ionospheric Connection 

Explorer)

• Solar Orbiter

• Solar Probe Plus

*Joint Agency Satellite

• ACE (Advanced 

Composition Explorer)

• AIM (Aeronomy of Ice in 

the Mesosphere)

• CAPS (Cassini Plasma 

Spectrometer)

• CINDI (Coupled Ion Neutral 

Dynamic Investigation), 

VEFI (Vector Electric Field 

Instrument) on C/NOFS 

(Communications/Navigation 

Outage Forecasting System)

• Cluster

• DSCOVR (Deep Space 

Climate Observatory)*

• Geotail

• Hinode (formerlySolar-B) 

(with JAXA)

• IBEX (Interstellar Boundary 

Explorer)

• IRIS (Interface Region 

Imaging Spectrograph)

• MESSENGER (MErcury 

Surface, Space ENvironment,

Geochemistry and Ranging)

• MMS (Magnetospheric 

Multiscale)

• RHESSI (Reuven Ramaty 

High Energy Solar 

Spectroscopic Imager)

• SDO (Solar Dynamics 

Observatory)

• SOHO (Solar and 

Heliospheric 

Observatory)

• STEREO (Solar 

Terrestrial Relations 

Observatory)

• THEMIS (Time 

History of Events 

and Macroscale 

Interactions during 

Substorms)

• TIMED 

(Thermosphere 

Ionosphere 

Mesosphere 

Energetics and 

Dynamics)

• TWINS (Two WideAngle Imaging 

Neutral-Atom 

Spectrometers)

• Ulysses

• Van Allen Probes 

(formerly RBSP - 

Radiation Belt 

Storm Probes)

• Voyager

• Wind

MISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONAL MISSIONS

Budget

GSFC Budget

Percentage 6%

$289.9M

Heliophysics

94%

6%

300

3

STAFF

Civil Service, Contract, Other

GSFC

FACILITIES

Greenbelt WFF GISS

Remaining GSFC

4 LABORATORIES/OFFICES

• GOLD (Global-scale Observations 

of the Limb and Disk)

• ICON (Ionospheric Connection 

Explorer)

• Solar Orbiter

• Solar Probe Plus

*Joint Agency Satellite

• ACE (Advanced 

Composition Explorer)

• AIM (Aeronomy of Ice in 

the Mesosphere)

• CAPS (Cassini Plasma 

Spectrometer)

• CINDI (Coupled Ion Neutral 

Dynamic Investigation), 

VEFI (Vector Electric Field 

Instrument) on C/NOFS 

(Communications/Navigation 

Outage Forecasting System)

• Cluster

• DSCOVR (Deep Space 

Climate Observatory)*

• Geotail

• Hinode (formerlySolar-B) 

(with JAXA)

• IBEX (Interstellar Boundary 

Explorer)

• IRIS (Interface Region 

Imaging Spectrograph)

• MESSENGER (MErcury 

Surface, Space ENvironment,

Geochemistry and Ranging)

• MMS (Magnetospheric 

Multiscale)

• RHESSI (Reuven Ramaty 

High Energy Solar 

Spectroscopic Imager)

• SDO (Solar Dynamics 

Observatory)

• SOHO (Solar and 

Heliospheric 

Observatory)

• STEREO (Solar 

Terrestrial Relations 

Observatory)

• THEMIS (Time 

History of Events 

and Macroscale 

Interactions during 

Substorms)

• TIMED 

(Thermosphere 

Ionosphere 

Mesosphere 

Energetics and 

Dynamics)

• TWINS (Two WideAngle Imaging 

Neutral-Atom 

Spectrometers)

• Ulysses

• Van Allen Probes 

(formerly RBSP - 

Radiation Belt 

Storm Probes)

• Voyager

• Wind

MISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONAL MISSIONS

NASA Strategic Objective 1.4: Understand the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather.

HELIOPHYSICS PLANETARY

SCIENCE 

YSICS EARTH SCIENCE SPAC

COMMUNICA

& NAVIGA
31

MAKING HEADLINES

Solar Flair: NASA Mission 

Provides Mesmerizing 

Images of the Sun

— Feb 16, 2015, CNN

WATCH as a Massive 

Eruption of Incandescent 

Plasma Explodes Far Into 

Space from the Sun

— May 5, 2015, Discover Magazine

ACE Solar Observatory 

to Make 3,000th Comet 

Discovery

— Aug 17, 2015, Discovery.com

Solar Flares From 80,000-

Mile Wide Sunspot 

Threaten Earth

— Oct 24, 2015, Tech Times

OBSERVING AND 

LIVING WITH 

Publications OUR STAR

HIGHLIGHTS

~200 publications in 

scientific journals

More than 100 primary news

articles and interviews, including 

The NYTimes; Washington

Post; LA Times; ABC,

CBS, and NBC news

AWARDS

• AGU’s Athelstan Spilhaus Award

• 6 NASA Agency Honor Awards

• Goddard IRAD Innovator 

of the Year

• 9 Goddard Honor Awards, 

including the Robert H.

 Goddard Award of Merit

accomplishments

• MMS launched successfully, science 

operations underway.

• Goddard built/managed the largest and 

most capable plasma instrumentation

 in history.

• Won numerous Heliophysics research 

proposals and a CubeSat (CUSPP+)

• EXOCUBE CubeSat Launch: mini-INMS

validated and operating successfully 

under difficult conditions.

• Contact continues with Firefly 

(Goddard’s first CubeSat) after two

 years. Its design life was only three 

months.
32

In 2015, Planetary Science at 

Goddard continued its leadership 

related to MAVEN and OSIRIS-REx.

MAVEN completed its first year in 

orbit, observing an unexpected 

high-altitude dust cloud and an

aurora that reached deep into the 

atmosphere. OSIRIS-REx continues

on schedule for a 2016 launch, with 

its three primary scientific instruments integrated onto the spacecraft. Additional milestones include 

the mapping of methane on the 

surface of Pluto by our infrared instrument on New Horizons. Earlier 

in the year, the DSCOVR mission 

launched with a Goddard magnetometer on board. In December 

2014, our Sample Analysis at Mars 

(SAM) suite on the Curiosity Rover 

made the first detection of organic 

matter on the Red Planet.

As we look toward the future, work 

continues on the mass spectrometer for the MOMA instrument on 

the ExoMars mission and on magnetometers for Solar Probe Plus. 

In addition, our team was chosen 

this year to develop the thermal 

infrared sensor for Landsat 9 as 

well as a high-resolution infrared

spectrometer for the Lunar Ice 

Cube, a mission selected under 

NASA’s Next Space Technologies 

for Exploration Partnerships. 

PORTFOLIO

MAGNETOMETRY

The Influence of Planets

INFRARED SPECTROMETRY

Remote Sensing 

MASS SPECTROMETRY

Sampling on the Spot

LASER AND LIDAR

Precision Measurements

ASTROBIOLOGY

Origins of Life

SPACE GEODESY

Next-Generation Mappin

• OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral 

Interpretation, Resource Identification, 

Security-Regolith Explorer)

Budget

GSFC Budget

Percentage 7%

$349.2M

Planetary Science 7%

1 GSFC

FACILITY Greenbelt

Remaining GSFC

8LABORATORIES/OFFICES

MISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT

INSTRUMENTS IN DEVELOPMENT

OPERATIONAL MISSIONS

OPERATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

• LVIS (Land, Vegetation, and Ice 

Sensor) conversion to NASA 

facility instrument

• Magnetometers for Solar Probe 

Plus 

• Mass Spectrometer for MOMA 

(Mars Organic Molecule 

Analyzer) on ExoMars 

• NASA Space Geodesy Network

• OVIRS (OSIRIS-REx Visible and 

Infrared Spectrometer)

• TIRS (Thermal Infrared Sensor) 

for Landsat 9

• LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter)

• MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN)

• Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) for Cassini

• LEISA (Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array) for New 

Horizons’ Ralph camera

• LOLA (Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter) for LRO

• Magnetometer for DSCOVR (Deep Space Climate 

Observatory)*

• Magnetometers for Juno, MAVEN, Van Allen Probes, 

and Voyager

• MLA (Mercury Laser Altimeter) for MESSENGER

• NGIMS (Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer) for 

MAVEN 

• Precision Orbit Determination for GRACE (Gravity 

Recovery and Climate Experiment)

• SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) Instrument Suite on 

Curiosity Rover

• Satellite Laser Ranging

• TIRS (Thermal Infrared Sensor) for Landsat 8

• Very Long Baseline Interferometry *Joint Agency Satellite

375 STAFF

Civil Service, Contract, Other

93%

• OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral 

Interpretation, Resource Identification, 

Security-Regolith Explorer)

Budget

GSFC Budget

Percentage 7%

$349.2M

Planetary Science 7%

1 GSFC

FACILITY Greenbelt

Remaining GSFC

8LABORATORIES/OFFICES

MISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT

INSTRUMENTS IN DEVELOPMENT

OPERATIONAL MISSIONS

OPERATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

• LVIS (Land, Vegetation, and Ice 

Sensor) conversion to NASA 

facility instrument

• Magnetometers for Solar Probe 

Plus 

• Mass Spectrometer for MOMA 

(Mars Organic Molecule 

Analyzer) on ExoMars 

• NASA Space Geodesy Network

• OVIRS (OSIRIS-REx Visible and 

Infrared Spectrometer)

• TIRS (Thermal Infrared Sensor) 

for Landsat 9

• LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter)

• MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN)

• Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) for Cassini

• LEISA (Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array) for New 

Horizons’ Ralph camera

• LOLA (Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter) for LRO

• Magnetometer for DSCOVR (Deep Space Climate 

Observatory)*

• Magnetometers for Juno, MAVEN, Van Allen Probes, 

and Voyager

• MLA (Mercury Laser Altimeter) for MESSENGER

• NGIMS (Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer) for 

MAVEN 

• Precision Orbit Determination for GRACE (Gravity 

Recovery and Climate Experiment)

• SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) Instrument Suite on 

Curiosity Rover

• Satellite Laser Ranging

• TIRS (Thermal Infrared Sensor) for Landsat 8

• Very Long Baseline Interferometry *Joint Agency Satellite

375 STAFF

Civil Service, Contract, Other

93%

NASA Strategic Objective 1.5: Ascertain the content, origin, and 

evolution of the solar system and the potential for life elsewhere.

YSICS PLANETARY

SCIENCE 

EARTH SCIENCE SPACE

COMMUNICATIONS

& NAVIGATION

SUBORBI

PROGRAM

RANGE SER
33

MAKING HEADLINES

Mystery Dust Cloud and 

Aurora Spotted on Mars

— Mar 18, 2015, Nature

OSIRIS-REx Asteroid 

Sampler Enters Final 

Assembly

— Apr 1, 2015, Universe Today

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Finds 

Fresh Signs of Ingredients 

for Life on Mars

— Mar 23, 2015, Los Angeles Times

How NASA’s Lunar 

Reconnaissance Orbiter 

Deals With a Supermoon 

Eclipse

— Sept 23, 2015, BBC Newsbeat

Why This Tuesday is Going 

to be Exactly One Second 

Longer

— June 29, 2015, People

This Shoebox-sized Probe 

Will Hunt for Ice on the 

Moon

— Aug 4, 2015, Popular Mechanics

Mars May Have Had an 

Ocean Comparable to 

Earth’s Atlantic

— Mar 6, 2015, CNN

The Many Ices of Pluto’s 

Surface, in Living Color

— July 15, 2015, Wired

EXPLORING 

OTHER

WORLDS

Leadership

DID YOU KNOW?

HIGHLIGHTS

FAST FACT

MAVEN arrived at Mars 

shortly before the flyby of 

comet Siding Spring...

the closest recorded 

approach of any 

comet to a planet in 

the solar system.

Goddard leads NASA’s Space 

Geodesy Network, which 

provides state-of-the-a

positioning measurements 

needed for nearly all space

based Earth observations and 

interplanetary navigation.

Our scientists hold leadership

roles in the:

• Goddard Center for Astrobiology*

• DREAM2 Center for Space

Environments** 

• NExSS (Nexus for Exoplanet Systems 

Science)

• Remote In Situ and Synchrotron Studies

for Science and Exploration**

• Solar System Exploration Data

Services Office

• In addition, we published 180

papers and won 30 research

grants in 2015

 *A node of the NASA Astrobiology Institute

**Part of NASA’s Solar System Exploration

 Research Virtual Institute
34

NASA’s Communications Networks 

provide reliable and secure voice, 

video, and data services to support 

development, launch, and spacecraft operations. Critical applications include: telemetry, commands, 

acquisition, tracking, and raw science data. Goddard continued its 

reliability and strong performance, 

coordinating the critical communications support coverage through 

SN and TDRS of the test flight of 

the Orion spacecraft and its Delta 

IV rocket in December. This year, the 

SN debuted a new ground terminal 

in Blossom Point, MD, increasing its 

capability. The SN also performed 

at 99.97% proficiency, and NEN 

operated above 99.1% proficiency. 

The NEN and SN worked together 

to implement the McMurdo TDRSS 

Relay System in time for the SMAP 

launch, allowing for low latency 

data transfer. New strides in new 

service capabilities included an 

optical communications laboratory, 

network upgrades for the future of 

human spaceflight, and major studies to map the future of space relay 

satellites. The innovative Navigator 

led navigation with GEONS flight 

software, demonstrating GPS at a 

record 43,500 miles above Earth, 

and performing as the fastest (over 

22,000 mph) operational GPS receiver in space. We also continued 

leadership in Search and Rescue 

operations, and led crash tests at 

NASA Langley which strengthened 

our position as the technical lead in 

the international arena.

PORTFOLIO

SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LASER COMMUNICATIONS

SATELLITE LASER RANGING

SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT

NAVIGATION

SEARCH AND RESCUE

Budget

GSFC Budget

Percentage 6%

$291.5M

Space Communications

and Navigation

94%

6%

3 GSFC

FACILITIES

Greenbelt WFF WSC

Remaining GSFC

3 LABORATORIES/OFFICES

• LCRD (Laser Communications 

Relay Demonstration)

• TDRS-M (Tracking and Data Relay 

Satellite)

• TDRS-C-L (Tracking Data Relay Satellite) 

MISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONAL MISSIONS

Budget

GSFC Budget

Percentage 6%

$291.5M

Space Communications

and Navigation

94%

6%

3 GSFC

FACILITIES

Greenbelt WFF WSC

Remaining GSFC

3 LABORATORIES/OFFICES

• LCRD (Laser Communications 

Relay Demonstration)

• TDRS-M (Tracking and Data Relay 

Satellite)

• TDRS-C-L (Tracking Data Relay Satellite) 

MISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONAL MISSIONS

NASA Strategic Objective 1.1: Expand human presence into the solar system and to the surface of Mars to advance exploration, 

science, innovation, benefits to humanity, and International collaboration.

NASA Strategic Objective 1.2: Conduct research on the 

International Space Station (ISS) to enable future space 

exploration, facilitate a commercial space economy, and

advance the fundamental biological and physical sciences

for the benefit of humanity.

NASA Strategic Objective 3.2: Ensure the availability and continued advancement of strategic, technical, and programmatic 

capabilities to sustain NASA’s mission.

CIENCE SPACE

COMMUNICATIONS

& NAVIGATION

SUBORBITAL

PROGRAMS &

RANGE SERVICES

INSTITUTIONAL

SUPPORT

SN: Four ground terminals to support 9 TDRS 

spacecraft. NEN: 15 ground terminal locations with 

50% of services by commercial providers.

Engineering lead and operations coordinator for 

three optical stations.

Architecture and engineering support for 75 

International GEO/LEO Local User Terminals.

SLR: Operations and maintenance for 8 stations 

worldwide. ILRS: Global network of 40+ ground 

stations.

Identification of mission parameters and frequencies 

within radio spectrum allocations for communications 

or data transfer.

Life cycle trajectory designs, orbit, estimation, and 

associated space/ground system development. 
35

Goddard Monitors Orion 

EFT-1 Test Flight 

— Dec 12, 2014, NASA.gov

Marking 50 Years of 

Satellite Laser Ranging 

— On Nov. 13, 1964, NASA announced 

the first successful tracking of a 

satellite using brand new laser 

technology, a technique now 

standard for precisely determining 

satellite orbits. The “Goddard Laser” 

or GODLAS was fired at Explorer 22, 

a small satellite measuring charged 

particles in the ionosphere. By 1970, 

5 stations in the United States and 

France were equipped for laser 

ranging. Now, more than 40 stations 

are located on every continent 

except Antarctica.

MAKING HEADLINES

FEATURE

Why NASA Crash Testing 

Small Planes Could 

Someday Save Lives

— July 30, 2015, cbsnews.com

NASA Technology is Behind 

Air, Sea and Land Rescues

— July 16, 2015, NASA.gov

NASA Awards Launch 

Services for Next Tracking, 

Data Relay Satellite

— Oct 30, 2015, NASA.gov

BRINGING 

KNOWLEDGE 

BACK TO Earth

HIGHLIGHTS

HIGHLIGHTS

HIGHLIGHTS

SMALL SATELLITES

Continuing to develop a new 

communications architecture and 

allocated spectrum space to enable 

the small satellite community to 

use NASA’s communications 

network assets. The Space 

Communications and 

Navigation community 

stands ready to support 

these new satellites in an 

efficient manner. 

• 300 Mbps increase to ISS data

 return being developed

• 60% increase in monthly data yield 

collected by NASA SLR stations

• 100% successful SN communications 

support for EFT-

• Provided communications services for 

launches by NASA, other Federal 

government agencies, commercial 

providers, and other countries

• NEN consistently above 99.1%

• TDRS-M awarded launch vehicl

• 252 lives saved in the 

United States in FY 2015

• New patent on cyber 

security protocol requiring 

cryptanalysis awarded 

• 25 interns focused on 

Space Communications 

and Navigation
36

E

ATIONS

ATION

SUBORBITAL

PROGRAMS &

RANGE SERVICES

INSTITUTIONAL

SUPPORT

FY 2015 featured support across 

the full spectrum of NASA’s missions. LDSD-2 support included a

balloon launch, systems testing and 

range/safety for all mission events. 

In addition to 10 annual missions, 

the Balloon Program achieved a 

super pressure balloon launch and 

month-long flight from New Zealand. More than 20 sounding rocket

missions flew from sites world-wide.

The Hurricane and Severe Storm 

Sentinel completed its third year of 

Earth Venture flights. Sensing Hazards with Operational Unmanned 

Technology (SHOUT) is a NASA/

NOAA effort with NASA Ames 

using a GSFC instrument and WFF 

runway/range services to study Atlantic basin weather. As part of the 

Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership,

WFF is enabling UAS capabilities by 

hosting a Virginia-owned UAS runway on Wallops Island. ISS-CREA

systems integration was supported 

in advance of expected launch 

in FY 2016. The Wallops Incident 

Response Team and Safety Office 

provided assessment and support 

to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport as pad repairs were completed

and tested for return to flight by 

spring 2016. Aircraft activities 

included Operation IceBridge as 

well as continuation of CARVE. The 

National Geospatial Intelligence 

Agency tested laser systems and 

equipment on WFF research range.

PORTFOLIO

SOUNDING ROCKETS

AIRCRAFT

BALLOONS

RANGE/MISSION MANAGEMENT

WFF WSC

Budget

GSFC Budget

Percentage 3%

$144.5M

Suborbital Programs

and Range Services

97%

3%

1,000+

2

STAFF

Civil Service, Contract, Other

GSFC

FACILITIES

Remaining GSFC

6NASA AIRCRAFT

MISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONAL MISSIONS

• LDSD (Low-Density Supersonic 

Decelerator)

• Green Propellant Demonstration

• NAAMES (North Atlantic Aerosols

And Marine Ecosystems Study)

• ARISE (Arctic Radiation IceBridge Sea and Ice 

Experiment)

• CARVE (Carbon Artic Reservoir Vulnerability 

Experiment)

• CREAM (Cosmic-Ray Energetics and Mass) (ISS)

• Operation IceBridge

WFF WSC

Budget

GSFC Budget

Percentage 3%

$144.5M

Suborbital Programs

and Range Services

97%

3%

1,000+

2

STAFF

Civil Service, Contract, Other

GSFC

FACILITIES

Remaining GSFC

6NASA AIRCRAFT

MISSIONS IN DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONAL MISSIONS

• LDSD (Low-Density Supersonic 

Decelerator)

• Green Propellant Demonstration

• NAAMES (North Atlantic Aerosols

And Marine Ecosystems Study)

• ARISE (Arctic Radiation IceBridge Sea and Ice 

Experiment)

• CARVE (Carbon Artic Reservoir Vulnerability 

Experiment)

• CREAM (Cosmic-Ray Energetics and Mass) (ISS)

• Operation IceBridge

NASA Strategic Objective 1.7: Transform NASA missions and 

advance the Nation’s capabilities by maturing cross-cutting and

innovative space technologies.

NASA Strategic Objective 1.1: Expand human presence into the solar 

system and to the surface of Mars to advance exploration, science, 

innovation, benefits to humanity, and International collaboration.

NASA Strategic Objective 2.1: Enable a revolutionary transformation 

for safe and sustainable U.S. and global aviation by advancing 

aeronautics research.

NASA Strategic Objective 3.4: Ensure effective management

of NASA programs and operations to complete the mission

safely and successfully.
37

MAKING HEADLINES

ENABLING 

SCIENCE AND 

EXPLORATION

Developments

SUBORBITAL 

Missions

HIGHLIGHTS

FAST FACTS

16 sounding rocket launches

2125 aircraft hours in 

support of Earth Science

7 orbital launches of 

expendable launch vehicles

(In past 3 years)

Arctic AND Antarctic 

missions

7 balloon launches

Norway and Alaska 

campaigns 

• 50K launcher relocation and site 

construction work on Pad 2 has 

continued with installation of 

siding to the roller shelter. 

• Safety Systems Engineering 

Projects: SureTrack In 

Government (STING), Linux 

RADAC, Distance Focusing 

Overpressure (DFO).

Sounding Rocket Hopes 

to Learn What Makes Up 

a Supernova Remnant

“OGRESS” will study the X-rays

streaming from a supernova remnant 

called Cygnus Loop and assess what 

the debris from the 20,000-year-ol

explosion is made of.

— May 2, 2015, NASA.gov

NASA’s LDSD Project 

Completes Second 

Experimental Test Flight

A high-altitude balloon carrying the

LDSD test vehicle launched from 

the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range 

Facility (PMRF) on Kauai. As planned, 

the vehicle separated from the balloon 

at about 120,000 feet above the ocean. 

An onboard rocket motor then took 

the vehicle to 180,000 feet, where the 

first braking technology, the Supersonic 

Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator 

(SIAD), deployed at about Mach 3.

— June 9, 2015, NASA.gov

Alaska Shows No Signs of 

Rising Arctic Methane

The new result shows that the changes 

in this part of the Arctic have not yet 

had enough impact to affect the global 

methane budget. 

— Nov 17, 2014, Phys.org

NASA’s Wallops Flight 

Facility to Hold Open 

House For Public

NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility is 

holding an open house for the public 

to celebrate its 70th anniversary. 

The event will be held on Saturday. 

Wallops launched its first rocket on 

June 27, 1945.

— June 22, 2015, The Washington Times
38

THIS IS WHY IT MATTERS

Our Life @ Goddard
39

A Place for 

SERVICE

Our talented people, driven by 

passion toward a common and 

worthy purpose, have made 

possible countless improvements 

to our knowledge and way of 

life. We safeguard the long

term public trust by cultivating 

our workforce, ensuring a safe 

and sustainable workplace, effectively meeting our mission 

commitments, and applying our 

scientific breakthroughs to stimulate economic growth, foster 

education, inspire the Nation, 

and impact the world. All of this 

is accomplished through a broad 

spectrum of institutional support 

efforts, including:

• Legal

• Procurement

• Information technology

• Financial management

• Human capital management

• Equal opportunity programs

• Diversity and inclusion

• Conflict management (alternative dispute resolution, 

anti-harassment

• Protective services

• Environmental and medical 

management

• Facilities management and 

transportation

• Logistics

• Knowledge and information 

management

• Government and community 

relations

• Proposal development

• Education and public outreach

• Public communication

It is difficult to say what is 

impossible, for the dream of 

yesterday is the hope of today 

and the reality of tomorrow.

– Robert H. Goddard
40

Goddard is committed to providing 

comprehensive center support services for its workforce and missions 

of today as well as transforming and 

preparing the center for the missions 

of tomorrow. Overall institutional 

support includes procurement operations, facilities management, 

protective services, medical and 

environmental management, and information and logistics management.

Throughout 2015, Goddard provided 

a safe and reliable workplace for its 

community, and enhanced the quality 

of work-life for all employees through 

new badging kiosks, upgrades to the 

Goddard Child Development Center, 

and upgrades to the Visitor Centers 

and Educator Resource Centers of 

Greenbelt and Wallops.

TAL

MS &

RVICES

INSTITUTIONAL

SUPPORT

Paving the 

road to 

mission 

success

NASA Strategic Objective 3.1 Attract and advance a highly 

skilled, competent, and diverse workforce, cultivate an innovative 

work environment, and provide the facilities, tools, and services 

needed to conduct NASA’s missions.

THE 2015 HIGHLIGHTS OF CENTER SUPPORT ENABLING GODDARD’S 

MISSION INCLUDE:

With over 3,167 active procurement instruments, Goddard has 

one of the agency’s most diverse acquisition portfolios and leads 

the agency in number of procurement transactions. In FY 2015, 

Goddard completed 7,454 procurement actions. To ensure that 

the center meets its customer needs and agency commitments, 

Goddard also completed 15 major contract awards. In addition, 

Goddard exceeded its FY 2015 small business obligations at 

26.5% against a goal of 22.1%.

Planned and executed more than $129.5M of construction, including a new Goddard integration and testing complex, a new 

program and project management facility, a new mission command center, and utility system upgrades for enhanced center 

facility readiness and reliability.

Provided program security support for the opening of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) Blossom Point 

Facility located in Southern Maryland, and conducted necessary 

background investigations for 180 people needing access to the 

OSIRIS-REx mission technology.

Critical electrical, electronic, and electromechanical parts acquisitions ($20M) and custom shipping operations were provided for 

missions including Webb, GPM, ICESat-2, MMS, OSIRIS-REx, and 

Operation IceBridge.

Provided comprehensive institutional support for International 

Space Station resupply missions from the Wallops Flight Facility.

Consistent with the center’s focus on Earth science, Goddard’s 

Site Sustainability Plan has helped reduce Goddard’s energy 

consumption intensity by 26% from 2003 to 2015. Goddard also 

leads the agency on coastal resilience initiatives including the Wallops shoreline restoration program and the Mid-Atlantic Coastal 

Resilience Institute (MACRI).

1

5

6

4

3

2
41

Goddard works diligently to provide its workforce with the Information Technology and Communications needed to achieve the center’s 

science and technology mission in 

support of NASA’s goals. FY 2015 

featured many related accomplishments that provided positive impact 

to the Goddard community, contributed to an effective workplace, 

and enabled mission success.The 

Next Generation Voice project replaced Goddard’s aging telephone 

system with a modern, IP-based

system that provides greater scalability, mobility, and cost savings. 

It allows employees to make and 

receive calls from their desk phone 

numbers even when working off

site. The Wireless Upgrade Project 

expanded wireless service to more 

buildings across Goddard’s Greenbelt campus, providing faster network speeds and more consistent 

access to employees. The Mission 

Launch Command Center (MLCC) 

project limited costly damage to 

Wallops Flight Facility’s IT infrastructure from the Antares launch 

VOLVING

MUNITIES

IT AND OUR PEOPLE

COMMUNICATIONS

BUDGET ECONOMIC 

Advancing 

NASA’s Work 

Through IT

failure by burying exposed cables 

and improving the cable plant 

infrastructure to support range 

and launch facilities on the south 

end of Wallops Island. Goddard’s 

Solutions for Enterprise-Wide

Procurement (SEWP) Program released SEWP 5, a government-wide

acquisition vehicle for IT products 

and solutions with a total value of 

$20 billion over five years. SEWP’s 

effective management resulted in 

the lowest fees of any government

wide acquisition contract. Goddard 

made progress on the Federal Data 

Center Consolidation Initiative by 

consolidating two data centers at 

Greenbelt, reducing power consumption and improving disaster 

recovery and security. Goddard 

also made progress against OMB’s 

requirement to use PIV smartcards 

for authentication by enabling employees to use their smartcards to 

log into their Windows 7 machines, 

resulting in both a more secure 

environment and an enhanced user 

experience with fewer passwords 

to remember.

PORTFOLIO

ONGOING PROJECTS:

• Mission Network: Goddard is 

leading the deployment of the 

next generation of NASA mission 

networks through two Agency 

projects: the Mission Next Generation Architecture (MNGA) and 

the Mission Backbone Transition 

(MBT). These projects will provide 

improved and expanded capabilities to support spaceflight and 

other mission customers, while 

improving security, accelerating 

service delivery and reducing 

recurring backbone circuit costs 

by an anticipated $2M annually. 

• Web Services: Goddard is working with center web site owners 

to move to IPv6, the next version 

of the internet protocol. This 

project will make web browsing 

faster and more secure.

• Cybersecurity: Goddard continues 

to focus on security, providing 

continuous diagnostics and mitigation to address incidents and 

vulnerabilities and work proactively with customers to improve 

the center’s security posture.

NASA Strategic Objective 3.3: Provide secure, effective, and 

affordable information technology and services that enable 

NASA’s mission.

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

INFORMATION SECURITY

COMMUNICATIONS

END USER SERVICES

APPLICATIONS

DATA CENTER
42

Scientific exploration leads to new 

knowledge, technology, and capabilities that Goddard then extends 

to industry and the public as ultimate customers and beneficiaries. 

Through efforts in communication 

and outreach, Goddard is committed to engaging these stakeholders 

in shaping and sharing the experience, benefits, and importance of 

exploration and discovery related 

to Earth and space.

The external website, www.nasa.

gov/goddard, is Goddard’s most 

accessible and centralized communication tool and gateway to the 

center’s latest images, videos, news, 

and resources.

Sharing 

NASA with 

the World

PUBLIC

COMMUNICATION

INVOLVING

COMMUNITIES

ATION IT AND OUR PEOPLE

COMMUNICATIONS

The Stories We Tell

Multimedia and Television Production

Visitor Center and Tours

Media Resources

Social Media

the Gateway to Goddard

Outreach Events

In calendar year 2015, Goddard published 1,034 articles on its website. 

Here are the top ten.

Social media services link Goddard’s websites, news, activities, and 

outreach efforts, and provide a direct line of communication with the 

center’s customers and the broader online community.

Visiting stakeholders and community groups experienced Goddard’s 

compelling missions, facilities, and people first-hand

These resources include products, activities, and access to Goddard 

facilities and experts that enable external organizations to acquire and 

share knowledge about the NASA.

Outreach events led by both the center and the agency engage the public and stakeholders with specific NASA missions and accomplishments. 

In addition to the open houses at Greenbelt and Wallops this year, the 

center participated in the following notable engagement activities.

During 2015, 109 multimedia videos were created. The top 13 videos of 

the year amount to 25 million plays, a quarter of the 100+ million total 

for Goddard’s YouTube account. The four top videos of this year are 

also in Goddard’s all-time top 10, spanning nearly 10 years on YouTube

Date 

12/31/20

12/30/20

Growth 

12 Live Sh

• Comet Sid

• Sunspot

• 2014 Warm

• Soil Moistu

• Magnetos

• New Glob

Top 10 Art

1 Hubble’s 

2 From a M

3 NASA Stu

4 Goddard’s 

5 Views of P

Top 13 Vid

1 SDO

2 Ther

3 Sup

4 Mas

5 A Vie

6 Jupi

7 5 Ye

• Total atten

• 16,686 peo

• For FY 201

• The Visitor 

nationwide 

Space Tele

through th

• VIP Center 

• The 16th A

presented 

• Maryland 

engaged a

• Celebratio

activities d

NASA Strategic Objective 3.1: Attract and advance a highly skilled, competent, 

and diverse workforce, cultivate an innovative work environment, and provide 

the facilities, tools, and services needed to conduct NASA’s missions.
43

2015 Public Communication Highlights

FANS/FOLLOWERS/SUBSCRIBERS TOTAL VIEWS

Facebook Instagram Twitter Twitter (photo) YouTube YouTube Flickr

14 611,606 709,342 207,838 144,315 223,938 70,515,363 140,282,123

15 926,098 1,295,961 294,214 253,802 326,807 105,977,693 182,444,180

h 51.4% 82.7% 41.6% 75.9% 45.9% 50.3% 30.1%

hot Campaigns 338 Interviews

ding Spring

mest Year on Record

ure Active Passive (SMAP) Pre-launch Campaig

pheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission Pre-launch Campaig

bal Precipitation Map  GPM IMER

• Hubble Space Telescope Celebrates 25 Years

• NASA’s “Flying Saucer” Ready for Test Flight (LS for HQ)

• Historic New Horizons Pluto Flyby

• A Tale of Two Extremes: Droughts and Floods

• Sea Level Rise

• Rare Supermoon Eclipse

• 302 Satellite Interviews

• 17 In-person Interview

• 6 Print Interviews

• 13 Radio Interviews

Top 10 Articles Views

6 NASA Scientist Sheds Light on Rare Sept. 27 Supermoon Eclipse 328,698

7 Hubble Goes High-Definition to Revisit Iconic “Pillars of Creation” 309,173

8 NASA Mission Reveals Speed of Solar Wind Stripping Martian Atmosphere 292,177

9 NASA Releases New High-Resolution Earthrise Image 239,865

10 Hurricane Patricia 214,716

ticles Views

 High-Definition Panoramic View of the Andromeda Galaxy 851,092

illion Miles Away, NASA Camera Shows Moon Crossing Face of Earth 644,043

dy: Mass Gains of Antarctic Ice Sheet Greater than Losses 452,136

s Homepage 426,412

Pluto Through the Years 398,215

deos of 2015 Plays

O: Year 5 4,616,984

rmonuclear Art – The Sun In Ultra-HD (4K) 4,286,637

ermoon Lunar Eclipse 3,951,531

ssive Black Hole Shreds Passing Star 3,393,443

ew From The Other Side 2,297,461

iter in 4k Ultra HD 2,040,268

ear Time-lapse of the Sun 760,039

Top 13 Videos of 2015 Plays

8 Measuring Mars’ Ancient Ocean 712,780

9 Solar Wind Strips Martian Atmosphere 660,496

10 Satellite Tracks Saharan Dust to Amazon in 3-D 581,341

11 2014 Continues Long-Term Global Warming 576,038

12 Arching Eruption 420,015

13 Earth and Moon Photobomb SDO 299,929

ndance for FY 2015 at the Visitor Center was 56,600, which includes 20,000 attendees of Explore@NASAGoddard.

ople attended tailored meetings, events, and programs at the Visitor Center in FY 2015.

15, 368 tour groups were conducted for a total of 9,806 attendees.

r Center debuted two major exhibits in 2015: 1) The “Solarium” art installation derived from SDO imagery was also installed at other locations 

e and highlighted by ArchitecturalDigest.com, National Geographic, andSpace.com; 2) A ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiled the James Webb

escope exhibit. As Webb’s assembly continues and its 2018 launch date approaches, space enthusiasts can learn about the premier observatory 

his dynamic, interactive exhibit.

r Facility Tours were held 105 times throughout the year serving 1,544 participants.

Annual Goddard Fall Reception and Lecture was held at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM) on September 30, 2015, 

 by the Maryland Space Business Roundtable (MSBR) and Goddard.

Day 2015 was organized by the University of Maryland, College Park, to engage the public with the school and local community. Goddard 

attendees with NASA science and technology.

on of the 45th Earth Day involved employees agency-wide. Goddard contributed with hyperwall presentations, demonstrations, and hands-o

during events on the National Mall and Union Station in Washington, DC.
44

We are driven by NASA’s education 

vision: “To advance high quality 

Science, Technology, Engineering, 

and Mathematics (STEM) education 

using NASA’s unique capabilities.”

As a result, Goddard education is 

grounded in the work of NASA’s 

missions, projects, engineering, 

and IT services to provide exceptional opportunities for learners, 

educators, and institutions across 

an 11-state service region and

nationwide through four lines of 

business. The following represent 

a few notable highlights from 2015.

NASA Internships, Fellowships, 

and Scholarships invest in NASA’s 

workforce of tomorrow through 

competitive awards and financial 

assistance that enable real-world

learning opportunities for students 

pursuing STEM careers today.

• In 2015, 450 high-school through

doctoral-level interns and fellows

worked alongside Goddard scientists, engineers, and technologists 

at Greenbelt, GISS, IV&V, WSC, 

and Wallops. Approximately 36% 

of interns were from underrepresented populations.

• A year-long Climate Change

Research Initiative pilot program 

launched at GISS, involving teams 

of GISS scientists; high school educators; and graduate, undergraduate, and high-school students

PUBLIC

COMMUNICATION

INVOLVING

COMMUNITIES

EDUCATION IT AND 

COMMUNICATI

Educator Professional Development programs train educators 

to nurture NASA’s STEM students through in-person institutes,

partner-delivered workshops,

online- and distance-learning, a

well as local, state, and regional 

community programs.

• Goddard partnered with Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia 

and Virginia education agencies to increase in-service, pr

service, and informal educators’ 

ability to deliver NASA STEM 

content and inspire completion 

of STEM degrees. 

• Four week-long solar system

exploration education workshops 

brought 148 middle school educators from the U.S. and India to 

Goddard. A fifth workshop engaged 31 librarians from DC and 

Prince George’s County, MD.

• GISS, the Intrepid Sea, Air & 

Space Museum and Queens College, City University of New York 

supported three days of GLOBE 

training, expert talks, and activities for teachers in New York City.

• Twenty high school educators 

from Maryland, Virginia, New 

York, New Jersey, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Delaware successfully 

completed the Wallops Rocket 

Academy for Teachers & Students.

Institutional Engagement builds 

the academic and research capacity 

of partner institutions to increase 

the participation of minorities and 

underrepresented communities in 

NASA-related STEM

• Goddard’s Maryland Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities 

(HBCU) Pre-Service Education

Network is a collaboration with 

Bowie State University, Coppin 

State University, Morgan State 

University and the University of 

Maryland Eastern Shore. The 

network developed STEM content 

modules, trained 32 pre-service

teachers, and delivered content 

to 175 middle and high school 

students at community-based

summer camps.

• Thirty-nine high school students,

counselors, and faculty from the 

Morehouse College and Clark 

Inspiring

the Future

NASA Strategic Objective 2.4: Advance the Nation’s STEM 

education and workforce pipeline by working collaboratively 

with other agencies to engage students, teachers, and faculty in 

NASA’s missions and unique assets.
45

Atlanta University learned about 

NASA engineering, aviation and 

STEM careers at Wallops. 

• The week-long Summer Institute

in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research (SISTER) 

Program engaged 40 middle 

school girls with STEM activities 

and female professionals. 

• Goddard staff and the center’s 

National Society of Black Engineers chapter helped organize the 

HBCU Week Conference (1200 

attendees) and the 2015 Conference of the National Society of 

Black Physicists (600 attendees).

• This year’s RockOn-RockSat-

workshops at Wallops in collaboration with the Colorado and 

Virginia Space Grant Consortia 

included students from Tribal Colleges and Universities.

STEM Engagement opportunities 

increase awareness, involvement, 

and interest of learners of all 

ages by connecting them to 

NASA-unique resources through

public events, experiential 

learning opportunities and NASA 

challenges.

• Goddard provided heliophysics 

education expertise in support 

of the White House Astronomy 

Night, showcasing Mars and MMS 

content for 400 participants.

• Female Goddard professionals 

from many technical areas and 

center organizations supported 

the U.S. Department of State 

International Visitor Leadership 

Program by meeting with 15 

female educators, researchers, 

and scientific leaders from 14 

different countries. 

• Eighty-three high school sophomore Virginia Space Coast

Scholars (VSCS) participated in 

a week-long residential summer

STEM academy that covered 

mission activities at Wallops 

and the Mid-Atlantic Regional

Spaceport.

• IV&V Program’s equipment loan 

program, which certifies educators 

in the use of 29 NASA and STEM

based educational kits, served 

over 15,000 students in 2015. 

• Five undergraduate students, 

a graduate assistant, and a 

faculty member of Stony Brook 

University’s School of Journalism 

accompanied a Goddard-led

field team to Hawaii to document NASA research through 

scientific reporting. This solar 

system education effort provided unique experience and 

enhanced understanding of 

NASA missions.

• Goddard hosted 67 U.S. and 

international students from the 

National Student Leadership 

Conference for Engineering. 

They toured the Greenbelt campus and learned about NASA 

careers. 

• Over 1,200 students, faculty, and 

visitors were engaged with Wallops content during the Virginia 

Science Festival and the Virginia 

Polytechnic Institute and State 

University Family Weekend. 

• As part of Physics of the Cosmos 

and Cosmic Origins education 

programs, the first episode of 

a Space Forensics interactive 

educational game has been 

released, allowing solvers to 

investigate the mystery of exploding stars. 

• Goddard extended facility tours 

and NASA content to 100 middle and high school boys participating in the College Success 

Foundation’s HERO (Higher Education Readiness Opportunity) 

Summer Leadership Academy 

that provides scholarships and 

mentoring to low-income, high

potential students.

• IV&V Educator Resource Center 

and Fairmont State University 

collaborated with 7 robotics 

programs, with 16 tournaments 

hosted by 12 unique partners. 

More than 200 K-16-level team

are participating in over 30 West 

Virginia counties.
46

GODDARD CIVIL SERVANTS by Age Group

GODDARD CIVIL SERVANTS by Disability

GODDARD CIVIL SERVANTS by Gender

29 & Under

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70 & Over

16.8%

22.2%

14.5%

544

2.2%

2% 5%

6.1%

38.2%

GODDARD CIVIL SERVANTS by Skill Mix

3% Clerical

11% AST Scientists

5% Non-AST

Engineers/Scientists

30% Professional

Administrative

51% AST Engineers

GODDARD CIVIL SERVANTS by Ethnicity

0.12% Hawaiian Pacific Islander

5.50% Hispanic

0.86% Multi-Racial

0.31% Native American

8.03% Asian

68.63% Non-Minority

16.55% African American

38% Female 62% Male

GODDARD CIVIL SERVANTS by Duty Location

100%

TOTAL

3239

0.2%

WSC

7

0.9%

GISS

28

1.4%

IV&V

44

8.6%

WFF

279

88.9%

Greenbelt

2881

71

198

719

1,238

469

Targeted

Disability

Non-Targeted

Disability 67 159

Current state of the workforce 2015

BEST PLACES 

TO WORK in 

the Federal 

GovernmenT

Scores By Category 2015 Rank 2015 2010 2005

Overall 11 of 320 78.6 79.5 73.9

Teamwork 11 of 319 80.6 77.4 79.6

Innovation 4 of 318 79.9 78.8 N/A

Effective Leadership 6 of 318 72.4 70 64.6

Support for Diversity 4 of 319 76.4 77.2 76.5

Training and Development 13 of 319 76.5 75.5 72.5

Employee Skills-Mission Match 8 of 319 84.8 84.7 80.

Work-Life Balance 29 of 319 71.2 67.7 67.

Performance-Based Rewards & Advancement 6 of 318 65.4 64.2 60.9 http://bestplacestowork.or

ND OUR PEOPLE

CATIONS

BUDGET ECONOMIC IMPACT IN MEMO
47

PEOPLE

BUDGET ECONOMIC IMPACT IN MEMORIAM ENVIRO

IMP

GSFC Program Year 2015 BUDGET Categorized by Lines of Business

(as of 9/30/15)

Reimbursable (Earth Science) •

$1,314.9 • 26.3%

Communications &

Navigation • $291.5 • 5.8%

Human Exploration &

Operations • $125.2 • 2.5%

Suborbital Platforms & Range

Services • $144.5 • 2.9%

Reimbursable (Other) •

$139.8 • 2.8%

Management & Operations •

$491.1 • 9.8%

Earth Science •

$827.8 • 16.6%

Astrophysics • $933.6 • 18.7%

Cross-Cutting

Technologies &

Capabilities • $90.2 • 1.8%

Chart is in $Ms

Heliophysics • $289.9 • 5.8%

Planetary & Lunar Science •

$349.2 • 7.0%
48

Goddard’s success in enabling 

NASA missions and applying these 

scientific achievements to society 

is evident. Each of Goddard’s five 

locations supports the center’s 

ability to stimulate and strengthen 

economic activity by:

• Expending goods and services to 

perform its mission.

• Generating technology transfer 

Annapolis

GODDARD

SPACE FLIGHT

CENTER

Greenbelt,

Maryland

WALLOPS

FLIGHT 

FACILITY

Wallops Island,

Virginia

Goddard invests over 80 cents of every

dollar it receives in American businesses,

academia, and nonprofit organizations. 

Goddard’s Top Contractors

1. LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION $463.7 M

2. NORTHROP GRUMMAN SPACE AND

MISSION SYSTEMS CORPORATION

$402.4 M

3. RAYTHEON COMPANY $328.8 M

4. EXELIS INC. $307.0 M

5. SGT, INC. $235.8 M

6. ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION $165.2 M

7. AS AND D, INC. $149.6 M

8. ASSOC UNIV RESEARCH ASTRONOMY $137.0 M

9. BALL AEROSPACE AND TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION $116.6 M

10. GENERAL DYNAMICS C4 SYSTEMS, INC. $116.3 M

11. HONEYWELL TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INC. $87.1 M

12. INUTEQ, LLC $67.5 M

13. THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA $62.0 M

14. LJT & ASSOCIATES, INC. $60.3 M

15. SCIENCE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS INCORPORATED $55.9 M

All numbers are based on NPDV and FPDS obligation data for FY14 as of 3/26/15. 

Not based total contract value.

 Goddard Budget 

Direct: .................................................................. $3.5 B

Reimbursable: ...................................................... $1.5 B

Total:.................................................................... $5.0 B

PY15 Budget Received in FY15

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS FY15 OBLIGATIONS

Maryland

MD-1: Harris $329,605

MD-2: Ruppersberger $3,091,089

MD-3: Sarbanes $1,830,055

MD-4: Edwards $14,181,337

MD-5: Hoyer $1,350,952,158

MD-6: Delaney $1,067,180

MD-7: Cummings $139,340,672

MD-8: Van Hollen $3,144.872

Virginia

VA-2: Rigell $143,330,983

ALL DISTRICTS $1,513,936,968

Obligations by 

Maryland County

Anne Arundel $4,237,583

Baltimore $1,811,650

Baltimore City $137,071,203

Calvert $11,100

Carroll $412,282

Charles -$7,263

Frederick $48,105

Harford $149,293

Howard $1,925,524

Montgomery $3,951,997

Prince Georges $1,364,299,247

Wicomico $11,860

Washington $14,387

Total $1,513,936,968

FPDS-NG data excludes all Interagency Acquisitions and transactions

under the micro purchase threshold ($3,500) such as bankcards,

purchase orders, and outside procurement transactions.

and spinoff activities.

• Broadening small business opportunities through its robust 

contracting program.

ET ECONOMIC IMPACT IN MEMORIAM ENVIRONMENTAL AWAR

IMPACT
49

1

5

4

3

2

MORIAM ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS

IMPACT

Green Goddard: With its 

unique understanding as a global 

leader in Earth Science, Goddard 

is committed to identifying and 

implementing strategies that ensure 

continued human progress, productivity, and prosperity while sustaining natural species and systems.

The 2014 Sustainability Report 

evaluated the relationships among 

Goddard’s activities and natural 

systems, resources, and local communities. The center then produced 

a 2015 Sustainability Plan in response to White House Executive 

Order 13693: Planning for Federal 

Sustainability in the Next Decade. 

• Mid-Atlantic Coastal Resiliency

Institute (MACRI)

 - Launched in June 2014, th

MACRI is a Goddard-led, mult

state, multi-disciplinary research collaboration among 12

world-class organizations that

aims to integrate science and 

its applications to support resilience for human and natural 

coastal communities.

• Goddard’s Living Laboratory for 

Coastal Resilience

 - In NASA’s largest shorelin

protection program, sand is being added to Wallops beach to 

ensure ongoing protection of 

the agency’s only launch range. 

Active climate adaptation science investigation (CASI) teams 

are providing science-based

analysis and tools.

Reduce energy consumption, associated air emissions, and other 

environmental impacts. 

• 26% reduction in Goddard’s energy consumption intensity 

from 2003 to 2015.

• 26% of square footage of Goddard’s buildings is rated LEED 

Silver or better.

Manage water impacts including consumption, pollution, and 

climate change impacts.

• 25 tons of acid rain emissions producing sulfur oxides prevented each year by replacing fuel oil heat system at Wallops 

with clean-burning propane-based syste

Reduce waste through lifecycle materials management from 

source reduction and green purchasing to reuse and recycling.

• 23% of Goddard’s energy obtained from renewable sources.

• 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions prevented each year 

by using landfill gas in place of natural gas at Greenbelt.

Promote transportation alternatives to reduce environmental 

impacts and promote universal access to the center.

• Goddard is promoting a bike share program for employee use 

onsite and has made significant progress in transitioning fleet 

vehicles and other institutional support vehicles to hybrid or 

electric power.

Support local ecosystems by caring for the lands that support 

NASA operations.

• Continued Preservation of Maritime Dune Woodland: Planning 

of the North Wallops Island UAS runway prevented unnecessary impacts to the ecosystem of the rare habitat designated 

the North Wallops Island Conservation Site.

• A Concerted Effort to Protect Wetlands: Storm water management, drainage planning for construction, erosion mitigation 

practices and pollution prevention are in place to protect the 

habitat surrounding Wallops.

• Shoreline Protection and Beach Nourishment: Recovery activities undertaken in 2012 and immediately following Hurricane 

Sandy restored large areas of Wallops Island beach, creating 

over 150 acres of new beach habitat.

Goddard is now implementing the 2015 Sustainability Plan’s strategies at all 

levels of management and operations, through five objectives:
50

JUNE

1945

First test rocket 

launched from 

Wallops to test 

its range assets.

Oct

1954

Launched

the first U.S.

four-stage

rocket, the

Nike-T40-T55

hypersonic

heat-transfer

vehicle.

70

YEARS

OF

INNOVATION

CELEBRATING Oct

1958

NASA begins 

operations. 

National Advisory 

Committee for 

Aeronautics’ 

Pilotless Aircraft 

Research Station 

becomes separate 

facility called 

Wallops Station, 

operating under 

NASA HQ.

1959 1961

Project Mercury capsules 

were tested at Wallops in 

support of NASA's manned 

spaceflight program before 

astronauts were launched.

JULY

1945

Tiamat is first research 

rocket launched. The 

program lasted until 1948 

with nine more launches.

1948 FEB

1961

Explorer IX launches 

from Wallops, first 

payload launch

into orbit.

MAR

1961

Goddard Space 

Flight Center 

dedication.

Mar

1970

During a 

total solar 

eclipse, a 

total of 32 

sounding 

rockets 

were 

launched 

during a 

three-day 

period.

1974

Wallops Station 

renamed Wallops 

Flight Center, 

expanded its 

horizons to include 

Earth studies of 

ocean processes 

and used its 

research airport for 

runway surface and 

aircraft noise 

reduction studies.

WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY

EXTENDING NASA’S REACH FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1945 1955 1965 1975 

OUR LOYALTY Goddard’s strength is anchored in our proven capabilities, one-o

a-kind facilities, and our dedicated workforce. Goddard employs

more than three thousand civil servants, over six thousand onsite 

contractors, and thousands of others (including off-site contractors,

interns, and Emeritus) working in various technical and professional administrative positions. Goddard has a diverse and inclusive 

workforce that inspires creativity, collaboration, and innovation. 

At our core, we embrace inclusion that opens a broader view and 

seeks diversity of thought and perspective. We honor individuality, equality, and human dignity. We are committed to creating an 

environment that empowers us to be ourselves, contribute through 

our own experiences, thrive, and do our best work.

NASA’s core values (safety, teamwork, integrity, and excellence) and 

key priorities are inherent in and embodied by the people who are 

leading the effort to achieve its mission. At Goddard, we recognize 

that our workforce is our greatest asset. Together, all facets of the 

diverse Goddard community are dedicated to the pursuit of the 

following objectives for the benefit of the agency and the public:

• Conduct NASA’s missions while fully minimizing risk to life, property, communities, and the environment. Safety and environmental 

stewardship are vital to NASA’s continued success.

• Meet our commitments to the agency and its customers by delivering high-quality products on time and on schedule. It is our

50
51

1981

Wallops Flight Center is 

merged into Goddard 

Space Flight Center and its 

name is changed to Wallops 

Flight Facility. It becomes 

NASA's primary facility for 

suborbital programs.

1993

The Range Control 

Center currently 

used for missions 

like Antares and 

sounding rockets 

opened.

1983

The Balloon Program Office

was established and has 

flown hundreds of balloons 

from locations around the 

world in support of scientific 

investigations.

Nov

1996

Launched the first of 

several Pegasus XL 

vehicles beginning 

the High Energy 

Transient Experiment 

(HETE) program.

Dec

2006

U.S. Air Force 

Minotaur 1 

rocket 

launched 

carrying the 

Air Force 

Research 

Laboratory’s 

TacSat-2 

satellite and 

NASA’s 

GeneSat-1 

microsatellite.

70th

Seventy years of 

innovation. Open 

house draws thousands 

of visitors to celebrate 

historic milestone.

APRIL

2013

Inaugural 

Flight of 

Antares.

Jan

2014

First official cargo 

resupply services flight 

of Antares/Cygnus.

2015

SEPT

2013

Lunar Atmosphere and 

Dust Environment 

Explorer (LADEE) 

satellite is the first lunar 

launch from Wallops.

1985 1995 2005 2015

highest priority to uphold the agency’s reputation of scientific 

distinction and reliability.

• Foster effective collaboration among individuals, teams, and 

management within the center, across NASA, and externally. Goddard’s accomplishments result from these successful relationships 

as well as numerous strategic partnerships.

• Protect, support, and encourage employees by engaging, enabling, and empowering them in all of their efforts to safeguard 

the public trust. We maintain a world-class workforce dedicated

to the execution of NASA’s mission by:

 - Demonstrating confidence, fairness, honesty, and balanc

 - Providing opportunities for development and mobilit

 - Promoting diversity and inclusio

• Ensure the success of our missions by supporting and sustaining 

employee dedication, agility, creativity, and commitment to excellence at all levels in the organization.

• Promote transparency and accountability by actively sharing 

our results and activities with customers, stakeholders, and the 

public, as well as engaging communities who are the ultimate 

beneficiaries of our work.

• Support NASA’s other overarching approaches to finding new 

ways of doing business and investing in new technology.

51
52

CONNECTIONS

ACROSS THE 

UNIVERSE
53

IMPACT IN MEMORIAM ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS

IMPACT

As we celebrate our collective 

achievements, we also honor all 

of those who have contributed 

to Goddard that are no longer 

with us.

Your dedication and talent will 

never be forgotten.

*Active civil servants who passed 

during 2015 include:

ANGELITA KELLY

PETER MEDLEY

‡Contractors, former civil servants, 

and others whose passing occurred or was reported during Sep. 

2014 – Dec. 2015 include:

MARY ADKINS

AUGUSTIN (GUS) ALICEA

EARL ANGULO

VINCENT ARILLO

JOHN ARMIGER, JR

DAVID ATLAS

FAYE AUKERMAN

ALFRED BABECKI

JOSEPH BADEN

ZEB BARFIELD, SR

ROBERT BARNES

EVELYN BAUMANN

MOLLIE BERNATOWICZ

RONDA BISHOP

DANIEL BOWDEN

LOUISE BOZMAN

WILL BULLOCK

EMMETT BUNDICK

VALORIE BURR

MELVIN (MEL) CLARK

OLIVER CLARK

WILLIAM COLEMAN

THOMAS COLLINSON

BLANCHE CONNER

*NOTE: NASA does not have access to this information for former NASA civil servants. The 

report authors have been informally notified of such individuals who have been added to the 

list under contractors and others.

‡NASA does not have access to this data for contractors and others affiliated with Goddard. 

An earnest attempt was made to manually collect this information. However, the nature of 

the process could result in the list being incomplete.

Please email omissions to Shanessa Jackson (shanessa@nasa.gov) and copy Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith 

(mary.p.hrybyk-keith@nasa.gov) and Peter Hughes (peter.m.hughes@nasa.gov). The electronic version of 

this report will be updated accordingly. Updated 2.3.2016.

DONALD CONRAD

WARREN CROCKETT

MARSHALL CURTIS

RICKY DAUGHERTY

SEAN DAVIS

ANNE DAVIS

EDWARD DEVINE

ROBERT EAVES

EDWARD EISELE, JR

HOWARD ESTEP

DOUGLAS ESTES, JR

CHARLES FALKENHAN

ROBERT FARQUHAR

EDWARD FERN

THEODORE FERRARO

ORVILLE FLEMING, JR

DWIGHT FORTNA

HERBERT FULLER

INDALECIO GALICINAO

MICHELE (MICKEY) GARRETT

DONALD GIMPEL

HAROLD GOLDBERG

BETTY GROTON

KENNETH HALLAM

ROBERT HALLI, SR

RUDOLF HANEL

CAROLYN HANNA

BETTY JANE HAYDEN

RICHARD HICKS

OTTO HILDEBRAND

NOEL HINNERS

RUSSELL HOFFMAN

BARBARA HOLLAND

RICHARD HOLT

GEORGE HOPE

JACK HOWARD

DAN HUDSON

JANIE JOHNSON

WILLIAM JOHNSON

ALBERT KAMOSA

SAMUEL KELLER

LINDA LETELLIER

CHARLES LIPSETT

JOE LOPEZ

JAMES LYNCH

GEORGE MARECHEK, JR

SHERMIN MCCASLIN

LESLIE (LES) MEREDITH

DONALD MILLER

WILLIAM MISH, SR

GRAHAM MOORE

SEATON NORMAN

CARMEN PARSEN

BOB PATTERSON

VUK PERIC

WILLIAM POLAND, JR

LORREL POPP

HENRY PRICE, JR

ROBERT PRINCE

EARL QUIREY

WALTER RASKIN

RICHARD REEVES

HERBERT RICHARD

WILLIAM RICHARDSON

BURREE RICHARDSON

MICHAEL ROBERTO, JR

ANDREW ROLINSKI

NANCY MENGEL ROSENSWEIG

KAREN SHANNON

CLIFFORD SHORTER

MILTON SING

ROGER SMITH

DEAN SMITH

GEORGE STITT

ROBERT SULLIVAN

HELEN THAYER

OTTO THIELE

ROGER THOMAS

MARJORIE TOWNSEND

JOHN TRESANSKY

JAMES VETTE

JOHN VOLPE

CARL WAGENFUEHRER

KEN WATHAL

H. JOHN WOOD III

RICHARD WRIGHT
For more information, please visit our web site:

www.nasa.gov/goddard

NP-2015-12-370-GSFC

There can be no thought of finishing—for aiming 

at the stars, both literally and figuratively, is the 

work of generations—but no matter how much 

progress one makes, there is always the thrill of 

just beginning. – Robert H. Goddard