VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 10 • OCTOBER 2021

Hall of Fame 

Welcomes

Third Class

Page 4–5

Futuristic Concept 

Explores Titan

Page 5

 Taking a Summer 

Social Break

Page 6–7 Taming the 

Sonic Boom

Pages 2–3
AeroSpace Frontiers

is an official publication of Glenn Research 

Center, National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration. It is published the second 

Friday of each month by the Office of 

Communications in the interest of the 

Glenn workforce, retirees, government 

officials, business leaders, and the general 

public. 

Submit short articles and calendar items 

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

Editor: Doreen B. Zudell, ATS, 

 216–433–5317

Assistant Editor: Adam Schabel, ATS, 

 216–433–2888

Design: Rhys Sampson, ATS

Managing Editor: Kelly R. DiFrancesco

Circulation: Angela Williams, ATS, 

 216–433–8921

Weather Safety

Recent events such as Hurricane 

Ida and the wildfires in the western 

U.S. remind us that we’re quickly 

approaching the winter weather 

season in northeast Ohio. Winter 

storms can bring snow, sleet, and 

freezing rain, resulting in traffic 

accidents due to slippery roads as 

well as slips, trips, and falls whether 

working on-site or at telework 

locations. Please be mindful of 

weather hazards for your safety. 

The National Weather Service has 

excellent reference resources at 

https://www.weather.gov/safety/

winter. Also, regularly check 

Today@Glenn for any weatherrelated notices throughout the 

winter weather season.

Glenn Works to Tame 

the BOOM

NASA engineers are hoping to lift the ban on commercial supersonic flight over 

land by replacing the piercing sonic boom with a quieter sonic “thump.” 

In September, Glenn researchers began a test of NASA’s X–59 Quiet 

SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) airplane in the 8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind 

Tunnel (8x6 SWT) as part of the Commercial Supersonic Technology project. 

Using a small model—measuring about a foot and a half in length—this 

test will produce pressure, or “shock wave,” data to compare with computer 

modeling and better predict actual sonic thumps during flights. 

A sonic boom is created when shock waves come together as an object 

travels through the air faster than the speed of sound. Sonic booms generate 

enormous amounts of sound energy, about 110 decibels, similar to an 

explosion or a thunderclap to the human ear. 

“With the X–59, we want to demonstrate that we can reduce the annoying 

sonic booms to something much quieter, referred to as ‘sonic thumps,’” said 

John Wolter, Inlets and Nozzles Branch, and lead researcher on the X–59 sonic 

boom test. “The goal is to provide noise and community response data to 

regulators, which could result in new rules for supersonic flight over land. We 

DIRECTOR’S

SAFETY CORNER

GRC-2021-C-02755 Photos by Quentin Schwinn

HX5 Sierra employees Chris Yager, left, Mitchell Ahaus, right, and Emily Wetzig, 

back, check the X–59 sonic boom model position in the 8x6 SWT.
hope to show that we don’t just have a design that is quieter, 

but that we also have the tools to predict the noise of future 

designs. The sonic boom test will be our chance to test the 

accuracy of our predictions.” 

Wolter said extra effort went into readying the 8x6 SWT, as 

this is the first test performed in the solid-wall test section 

of this tunnel in its 72-year history. “We will be hosting 

researchers from NASA’s Ames and Langley,” he added. 

“It’s a real team effort.”

Clayton Meyers, Aeronautics Mission Office, and deputy 

project manager, Commercial Supersonic Technology 

Project, said this is the team’s opportunity to get data at 

such low sound levels. “It all comes down to our ability to 

measure the ‘thump’.” 

In the spring of 2021, members of a multi-center X–59 

team evaluated an air data probe in Glenn’s 8x6 SWT. The 

probe is installed at the tip of the aircraft’s nose and is used 

to measure key flight parameters, as well as the aircraft’s 

altitude while flying. The probe was subjected to various 

flight conditions, including runs at takeoff, transonic, and 

supersonic speeds, to fine-tune and verify successful 

hardware and software operation. 

This is the last opportunity Glenn will have for subscale 

testing before the full-scale aircraft—measuring 99.7 

feet long with a wingspan of 29.5 feet—begins to fly 

next year. NASA and Lockheed Martin will conduct initial 

flight tests to prove the aircraft is safe to operate and its 

performance is robust. Then NASA will demonstrate that 

the quiet supersonic technology works as designed, before 

transitioning to the community overflight phase. 

After this series of testing, the model will go to Tokyo for 

additional verification testing by the Japan Aerospace 

Exploration Agency. 

By Doreen B. Zudell

OCTOBER 2021

3

On the Cover: 

Back to front, Joe Dussling (seated), Kyle Wiatrak 

(Jacobs Technology), and Antonio Grandinetti 

(HX5 Sierra) verify X–59 sonic boom model 

attitude in the 8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind 

Tunnel and check the COBRA data program in 

the process. 

GRC-2021-C-02744

Photo by Quentin Schwinn

GRC-2021-C-02732

The X–59 sonic boom model is in the sting configuration with the 14-inch pressure rail mounted on the ceiling of the 8x6 SWT test section. 

GRC-2021-C-02747

HX5 Sierra employees Kevin Joyce, left, and Dan Albertini clean and prepare the X–59 sonic 

boom model for testing after a model change. 
4

As part of Glenn’s 80th Anniversary celebration, the center 

welcomed the third class of inductees into the NASA Glenn 

Research Center Hall of Fame. On Sept. 20, Center Director 

Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis announced the names of 10 individuals 

who have contributed greatly to our center’s success and 

inspire others through their character and embodiment of the 

NASA spirit. 

“This third class of inductees has led the center in pushing 

boundaries and breaking barriers,” said Pérez-Davis. “The 

2021 inductees are an excellent addition to this distinguished 

group of leaders and pioneers who continue to inspire us 

today.”

Six years ago, the center began a new tradition for 

celebrating our past by establishing the NASA Glenn Hall of 

Fame. This institution recognizes the pioneers, trailblazers, 

and champions who built exemplary careers and made a 

significant contribution to NASA’s success. 

Bruce Banks—Glenn’s most patented researcher and 

champion of technology transfer.

Olga Gonzalez-Sanabria—Leader in battery research and 

project management and the center’s first Latina senior 

executive.

Dr. Henry Kosmahl—Pioneer of traveling wave tube 

technology whose work led to the center’s emergence as a 

leader in space communications. He passed away in 2011.

Dr. Patricia O’Donnell—Leader in high-energy propellants, 

energy conversion, and batteries, and Glenn’s first patented 

female inventor.

Tony Powell—Innovator of silicon carbide applications that 

resulted in a multimillion-dollar industry with aeropropulsion, 

power generation, and space applications.

Bobby Sanders—Advanced nozzle and inlet research

fundamental to the development of many subsequent highspeed inlet designs. He passed away in 2020.

John Sloop—Grandfather of Glenn’s rocket propulsion 

expertise and leading advocate for liquid hydrogen as a 

propellant for upper stage rockets such as Saturn and Centaur. 

He passed away in 1992.

Frank Spurlock—Developer of the launch vehicle trajectory 

optimization program used to launch over 60 preeminent 

NASA missions. He passed away in 2014.

Jesse Strickland—Influential architect who modernized our 

approach to facility planning and design. He passed away in 

2011.

Erwin (Erv) Zaretsky—Internationally recognized expert in 

tribology and bearings research.

The first induction ceremony in 2015 included six individuals 

and one group of researchers and was held in celebration of 

the 100th anniversary of the National Advisory Committee for 

Aeronautics. In 2016, the second class of inductees entered 

the Hall of Fame as part of NASA Glenn’s 75th anniversary 

celebration and included nine honorees.

Glenn’s History Officer Anne Mills coordinated the selection 

process in which current employees nominate candidates 

who have either retired or resigned from the center. Inductees 

were then chosen by committee. A ceremony for the recent 

inductees will take place in 2022. 

To learn more about past honorees and details about the 80th 

Anniversary class members and view a special video, visit the 

Glenn Hall of Fame website at https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/

glenn-history/hall-of-fame/. 

2021 Inductees

Glenn Announces Third Class 
Science and technology advancements start with big ideas 

and creativity. NASA Glenn researchers have imagined a new, 

early-stage concept for a lander to Saturn’s moon Titan. The 

team is exploring technologies capable of collecting surface 

samples and returning them to Earth for laboratory analysis.

The team’s futuristic idea was selected for a $125,000 NASA 

Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program grant to begin 

studying the concept’s feasibility.

“NIAC is one way the agency fosters ‘wild’ ideas that require 

a decade or more of development but could eventually lead 

to revolutionary innovations that contribute to new and 

exciting missions,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, the associate 

administrator for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate. 

“The missions of today were ‘wild’ ideas years ago.”

The scientists and engineers working on the Titan sample 

return concept are part of Glenn’s Compass Lab. Previously, 

the group envisioned a submarine that would explore the 

shores and depths of Titan’s methane seas.

Why Titan? Titan can help us understand the origins of the 

solar system.

OCTOBER 2021

5

Banks Gonzalez-Sanabria Dr. Kosmahl Dr. O’Donnell Powell

Sanders Sloop Spurlock Strickland Zaretsky

“Titan is an amazing world,” said Geoffrey Landis, the science 

lead investigator for Compass. “It is covered in organic 

compounds protected with a thick nitrogen atmosphere and 

has liquid natural gas seas the size and depth of Earth’s Great 

Lakes on its surface. Beneath its crust, Titan is an ocean 

world, with a second ocean of liquid water hidden deep below 

the surface.”

To learn more about this early-stage concept for a lander to 

Saturn’s moon Titan, visit https://go.nasa.gov/3eI3JA1. 

Futuristic Concept to Explore Titan

of Inductees Into Hall of Fame
6

Virtual Summer Social Brings

Employees Together 

Glenn’s workforce came together virtually for a fun-filled 

day of activities and comradery during the Summer Social 

on Aug. 19. The event kicked off with a virtual welcome 

presentation by Center Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis, 

Deputy Director Susan Motil, and Associate Director Larry 

Sivic, which was followed by appreciation videos for the 

workforce from senior managers.

The latter half of the kickoff presentation featured a 

prerecorded, interactive cooking demonstration by 

Cleveland Clinic chef Jim Perko. Hundreds of employees 

tuned in to learn Perko’s healthy meal ideas and grilling tips. 

Following the cooking demonstration, the popular virtual 

Vehicle Show returned for the second consecutive year and 

featured the addition of radio-controlled (RC) vehicles. 

Prior to the event, employees submitted photos for a Let It 

Glide Challenge and a Show Us Your Green Thumb photo 

contest. Attendees voted for their favorite glider and green 

thumb photo during the event. Online games and activities 

featuring several trivia contests rounded out the day.

“The goal of the virtual Summer Social was to thank 

employees and interns for all of their hard work and 

dedication during a challenging year,” said Seth Harbaugh, 

Center Operations Directorate deputy and event champion. 

“The event was a great success thanks to the planning 

committee who worked hard to make it happen.”

By Adam Schabel

GRC-2021-C-02523

GRC-2021-C-02461

Photo by Jef Janis

GRC-2021-C-02727

Let It Glide winner: Craig Weeks

GRC-2021-C-02728

Show Us Your Green Thumb winner: Jack Weigand

Vehicle Show People’s Choice and Antique Categories 

winner: Mark Huml

Emcee and NextGen Ambassador

Gretchen Morales-Valle introduced senior managers.
OCTOBER 2021

7

Online Activity Winners

80th Anniversary Trivia

Karen Weiland, 19/20 Questions

NASA Acronym Trivia

Danielle Reinhardt, 18/20 Questions

Star Trek Trivia, Group Team Battle

Research and Engineering Directorate

Star Wars Trivia, Group Team Battle

Research and Engineering Directorate

OCTOBER 2021

GRC-2021-C-02461

GRC-2021-C-02537

GRC-2021-C-02512

Photo by Jef Janis

Photo by Imaging Technology Center

Photo by Jef Janis

Senior Leaders, left to right: Sivic, Dr. Pérez-Davis, and Motil welcome the 

workforce to the Summer Social.

The 2021 Glenn Virtual Summer Social Planning Team.

Chef Perko, left, prepares a dish with Glenn’s Madison Weiss, 

center, and Ru-Ching Chen.

GRC-2021-C-02515

Vehicle Show RC Category winner: Daniel Raible
8

NEWS AND EVENTS

Breaking Barriers in the Workplace

NASA Women Participate in

STEM Ask Me Anything 

How do we advance gender diversity in STEM fields and 

equality for women in the workplace? Dr. Hala Annabi, 

associate professor, University of Washington, addressed this 

topic during Women’s Equality Day Observance on Aug. 26. 

Hosted by Glenn’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity 

and the Women’s Advisory Group, the virtual presentation 

celebrated the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the 

Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. Annabi 

discussed the lack of gender diversity in STEM fields, social 

and structured barriers women experience in the workplace, 

and interventions to advance career equity for women. 

In honor of Women’s Equality Day on Aug. 26, the Agency 

Recruitment Team hosted an Ask Me Anything Q&A on 

LinkedIn. Three NASA women engineers and scientists 

answered questions from the public about what it’s like 

to work in STEM at NASA. This session featured Glenn’s 

Mary Lobo, director of the Office of Technology Incubation 

and Innovation; and Dr. Dionne Hernandez-Lugo, chief 

technologist, Human Exploration and Operations Mission 

Directorate; along with NASA Goddard’s Mikayla Huffman, 

intern, Office of STEM Engagement. They answered 

questions in the comments section of LinkedIn’s pinned post, 

which indicated a wide interest in the careers of Women in 

STEM.

Lobo Dr. Hernandez-Lugo Huffman
Promotions

Jevec Dr. Wang

Jacob Jevec has been selected chief, Program and Project Integration 

Office for the Space Flight Systems Directorate. He has been serving as 

acting chief of the office on detail since February 2021. Prior to his detail, 

Jevec served as deputy chief of the Resource Analysis Division in the Office 

of the Chief Financial Officer.

Dr. Xiao-Yen Wang has been selected chief, Propulsion Systems Analysis 

Branch, Propulsion Division for the Research and Engineering Directorate. 

She recently served as acting chief for the branch. Prior to that detail, 

Wang supported both space and aeronautics NASA projects and programs 

as a recognized expert in both system-level and detailed modeling for 

thermal and propulsion fluid/cryogenic systems.

OCTOBER 2021

9

Interactive Aerospace Exhibit Comes to GLSC

Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) recently opened “Above 

and Beyond,” an interactive traveling aerospace exhibition 

developed in partnership with NASA and the Smithsonian 

National Air and Space Museum. Within the exhibition, guests 

can step into a simulated space elevator that takes them to 

the edge of the universe; design and test a supersonic jet to 

face off in a virtual high-speed flying competition; experience 

a flight simulation with motion-sensing technology to get a 

sense of what it’s like to fly like a bird; and discover concepts 

for future aircraft. The exhibit runs through Jan. 2, 2022. 

For more information about the exhibit and how to reserve 

tickets, visit: https://greatscience.com/explore/exhibits/

above-and-beyond.

“Above and Beyond” interactive exhibit highlights the guest experience.

Glenn Helps Fill Food Banks

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s 

virtual Feds Feed Families campaign!

Due to your efforts and generosity, NASA raised 

157,958 pounds of food, with approximately 200 pounds 

contributed by Glenn toward the NASA total. Every year 

federal agencies are invited to participate in the Feds 

Feed Families campaign. Feds Feed Families is a volunteer 

food drive that encourages employees from all federal 

departments and agencies to give in-kind contributions—

food, services, and time—to food banks and pantries of 

their choice.

GRC-2021-CN-00058 Photo courtesy of Evergreen

Exhibitions/Great Lakes Science Center
10

Steven Fedor, Office of Technology and Incubation, retired Sept. 30, 2021, with 40 years 

of NASA service.

Retirement

More Than a Memory

Finnegan von Deak

Fedor

Patrick M. Finnegan, 87, a 1990 retiree with 33 years of federal service and an Air Force 

veteran, died July 12. After retirement, Finnegan returned to Glenn as a support service 

contractor for 10 years before concluding his career. He evaluated power system concepts 

for the early space station designs and briefly headed the Solar Dynamic Power System 

Branch. Finnegan participated in the Strategic Planning Working Group that developed the 

center’s first strategic plan. He received a Group Achievement Award (1981).

Thomas C. von Deak, 67, a 2018 retiree with over 20 years of NASA service, died July 

30. He worked on both the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) Program 

and the Space Communications and Navigation Program. He authored several reports on 

satellite communications networks and received an ACTS Experiments Development Team 

group award (1992).

Rusmisel’s Testing Helped Advance Fuel Technology

Rusmisel

Kurt Rusmisel, 48, research laboratory mechanic and work lead for Jacobs/TFOME in the Facilities Testing 

Division, died Aug. 12. 

During his 13 1⁄2 years at NASA, Rusmisel worked on various projects, including seal projects for turbine 

engines. He also tested sealing capabilities of various ball valves in a simulated lunar dust environment, 

performed destruction testing for the ballistics lab on aircraft carbon fiber fan shrouds, performed emission/

particulate testing of alternative fuels, and applied different nozzles and injectors to atomize the fuel. This 

testing was accomplished with the aid of lasers.

“Kurt was liked by many people, and he will be greatly missed,” said Paul Butterfield, supervisor and friend.

2021 Combined Federal Campaign

Celebrating 60 Years of Giving

Now through Jan. 15, 2022

Chair: Tonya Mitchell

Help us meet our goal of $275,000

To donate, visit ohiocfc.org
OCTOBER 2021

11

NASA Glenn Employees: For more calendar information,

visit https://wing.grc.nasa.gov/event-calendar/.

Deadline for the next calendar

section is Wednesday, Oct. 13,

noon. News and feature stories 

require additional time.

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 11–11:45 

a.m., the Library will present “GRC 

Celebrates National Archives Day.” Bob 

Arrighi, Glenn archivist, will highlight 

artifacts from our history and archives 

collection. Join our celebration!

Check Today@Glenn for the link. 

POC: robin.n.pertz@nasa.gov

INFORMATION CAFÉ

Emergency Management Office staff 

will conduct a mass notification voice 

test at building 87 on Wednesday,

Nov. 3, at Lewis Field. An audible 

siren test will be conducted on the 

“all clear” tone on Saturday, Nov. 6.

POC: allen.r.turner@nasa.gov

OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING

The Space Serenity Al-Anon group meets 

the second Tuesday of each month. The 

next meeting is Oct. 12, 1–2 p.m. This 

is a fellowship that offers a program of 

support and recovery for the families 

and friends of alcoholics, whether or not 

the alcoholic recognizes the existence 

of a drinking problem or seeks help. 

Please contact Glenn’s partner at NASA 

Johnson to join this meeting in Teams 

(jsc-employeeassistanceprogram@mail.

nasa.gov) or call 281–483–6130.

SPACE SERENITY AL-ANON

Do You Know This Person?

Glenn’s Logistics and Technical Information Division needs your 

help identifying people, places, and research from archived 

images. If you recognize a photo placed here, email GRC-ITC@

mail.nasa.gov.

To ensure your email reaches the right individuals, please enter 

“DYKTP” into the subject line. Although we cannot respond to 

individual emails, please know your participation is appreciated!

GRC–1988–C–01140

GRC–1990–C–05130

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which focuses

on promoting the importance of cybersecurity across our nation and 

ensuring all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and 

more secure online.

Virtual Event: Wednesday, Oct. 13 

Topic: SolarWinds Cyberattack 2020

Guest Speaker: Branko Bokan, Department 

 of Homeland Security 

NASA centers will also be hosting various virtual 

events throughout the month. Details are available 

on both Today@Glenn and the Cybersecurity 

Awareness area of Glenn’s Office of Chief 

Information Officer website.

.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Graphic by Elyse Sawka
National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

John H. Glenn Research Center 

Lewis Field

21000 Brookpark Road 

Cleveland, Ohio 44135

Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility

3597 E. Scheid Road

Sandusky, Ohio 44870

www.nasa.gov

Read AeroSpace Frontiers online at https://www.nasa.gov/glenn/aerospacefrontiers.

Emergency and Inclement Weather Lines 

Lewis Field: 216–433–9328 (WEAT) 

Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility: 419–621–3333

Connect With Glenn

GRC-2004-C-00972 Photo by Marvin Smith

The center played a key role in NASA’s Return to Flight effort following the February 

2003 loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia. This 2004 photo shows Matt Melis, 

Structural Mechanics Branch, calibrating a high-speed stereo imaging system to 

capture a space shuttle orbiter leading-edge thermal protection panel deformation as 

it undergoes ballistic impact testing.

Celebrating 80 Years

Looking Back Through the Decades

NASA Glenn was originally established in 1941 as the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory (AERL), part of the 

National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The laboratory became a national resource for innovations in 

aircraft engine technology that transformed commercial and military propulsion systems. 

Over the decades, NASA’s Cleveland-based scientists and engineers advanced technology in both aviation and space 

exploration, propelling the U.S. into a leading role in the aerospace industry.

The Next Chapter in Human 

Spaceflight: 2000–2010

The 2003 introduction of the Vision 

for Space Exploration revived NASA’s 

human space exploration program. 

Glenn was given responsibility for 

several aspects of the effort, including 

the Crew Exploration Vehicle. The 

center also contributed to the Return 

to Flight effort following the Columbia 

space shuttle accident.