Summer 2011 - A Quarterly Publication

www.nasa.gov

I had the opportunity to see my first 

(and the last) space shuttle launch in 

person at the Kennedy Space Center last 

month. The opportunity came up suddenly, 

but I was delighted to go and support public affairs activities for Ames.

 On Wednesday, July 6, I drove from 

Orlando to the Kennedy Space Center, and 

any jet lag that I felt from the night before 

was immediately replaced with a surge of 

excitement when I saw the "Two Days Until 

Launch" sign. Television news satellite 

trucks were parked everywhere and the 

press center was teeming with reporters. 

 We watched Space Shuttle Weather 

Officer Kathy Winters say during a prelaunch news conference that there was 

only a 30 percent possibility STS-135 

would launch on Friday. I tried to stay 

optimistic.

 Meanwhile, the center was abuzz with 

activity. Sesame Street star Elmo made 

A personal perspective: Watching the launch

by Cathy Weselby

Lift off! Space shuttle Atlantis soars into history

This image, taken 

through the window 

of a Shuttle Training 

Aircraft, shows the final 

liftoff of space shuttle 

Atlantis as it ascended 

from Launch Pad 39A at 

Kennedy Space Center 

on the STS-135 mission, 

Friday, July 8, 2011. This 

was the final flight of the 

Space Shuttle Program, 

during which the STS135 crew delivered the 

Raffaello multipurpose 

logistics module containing supplies and spare 

parts for the International 

Space Station.

an appearance at the STS-135 Tweetup, 

much to the delight of the space "tweeps." 

Elmo asked NASA astronauts Mike Massimino and Doug Wheelock questions 

about space travel. The beloved mascot for 

the Solar Dynamics Observatory, Camilla 

SDO, was also seen rubbing shoulders 

with Elmo.

 The weather did not look promising 

one day before the launch. A heavy rain 

and thunderstorm hit the center around 

lunchtime and lightning stuck within a third 

of a mile from Launch Pad 39A. Technicians inspected the area for damage 

before the Rotating Service Structure could 

be rolled back from the shuttle as scheduled. At the end of Thursday, the weather 

forecast was still 30 percent for launch the 

next morning, but the forecast for filling the 

fuel tanks in the middle of the night was an 

80 percent "go."

Space shuttle Commander Chris 

Ferguson and his three crewmates went 

to the International Space Station after 

launching from NASA's Kennedy Space 

Center on Friday, July 8, 2011 on the final 

mission of NASA's space shuttle program.

"With today's final launch of the space 

shuttle we turn the page on a remarkable 

period in America's history in space, while 

beginning the next chapter in our nation's extraordinary story of exploration," 

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. 

"Tomorrow's destinations will inspire new 

generations of explorers, and the shuttle 

pioneers have made the next chapter of 

human spaceflight possible."

The STS-135 crew consisted of Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim. 

They delivered the Raffaello multi-purpose 

logistics module filled with more than 8,000 

pounds of supplies and spare parts to 

sustain space station operations after the 

shuttles are retired.

"The shuttle's always going to be a reflection to what a great nation can do when 

it dares to be bold and commits to follow 

through," Ferguson said shortly before 

liftoff. "We're not ending the journey today, 

we're completing a chapter of a journey 

that will never end."

NASA Ames sent a variety of life science experiments and technology demonstrations aboard the final space shuttle 

to better our understanding of how robots 

can help humans live and work in space 

and how spaceflight affects the human 

body, the growth of cells, yeast and plants. 

Future astronauts on long-term space missions in low-Earth orbit, to asteroids, other 

planets and beyond will rely on robots 

and need to understand how to prevent 

illnesses during space travel. 

STS-135 was the 135th shuttle flight, 

the 33rd flight for Atlantis and the 37th 

shuttle mission dedicated to station assembly and maintenance. 

Space shuttle Atllantis completed its 

12-day mission and landed safely on July 

21, 2011 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

continued on page 5

NASA photo by Dick Clark
3

Astrogram Summer 2011

2

Astrogram Summer 2011

A composite photo of STS-135 taken by Ames’ Louise Walker and J.T. Heineck who were 

funded by the Space Shuttle Program and prepared this image using fusion software to combine six simultaneously captured images they took of STS-135. Five images were taken at a 

different exposure setting, with a sixth taken in infrared, then all were composited to balance 

the brightness of the rocket engine output with the regular daylight levels at which the orbiter 

can be seen. A video version is also available.

The organizational culture and technical competence of NASA Ames remain, 

today, strongly influenced by its origins 

as a laboratory of the National Advisory 

Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Most 

simply, that means many people at NASA 

Ames focus on fundamental research, 

experimental validation, and nurturing 

disciplines needed for space exploration. 

This NACA influence also manifests 

itself in some notable organizational 

tendencies: an active interest in building 

partnerships, pride in being able to listen 

and define a problem, a belief in the value 

of intense peer review, a willingness to 

create standards, a distaste for theorizing 

without suggesting proof and, perhaps to 

its detriment, a lack of experience in large 

space project work. The NACA was at 

heart a way for engineers to reach some 

certainty that innovation would actually 

work. 

Likewise, the work Ames people did to 

make and keep the STS successful, also 

has its origins in the NACA, and in the 

legendary engineering genius of H. Julian 

“Harvey” Allen. In 1952, well before rockets had enough thrust to launch a payload 

into outer space, Allen set about figuring 

out how to return them safely to Earth. The 

problem of re-entry heating then was well 

anticipated, though each of the American military services had failed to solve 

the problem of warhead design by using 

denser metals in more sharply pointed 

cones. Allen made the atmosphere work 

for him, and advocated a blunt-body concept that has since defined the shape of 

all re-entry vehicles. 

Ames Legacy in Hypersonics and Aerothermodynamics

Allen, and his colleagues in the Ames 

High Speed Research Division, then 

expanded his theoretical insights into 

bluntness on ballistic vehicles to bluntness 

on lift-glide vehicles. They calculated the 

possible trajectories and performance 

advantages of lift-glide vehicles. And with 

their growing knowledge of hypersonic 

aerodynamics and experience with the 

X-15, they designed the M-2 as a prototype lifting body. 

Following successful glide tests of the 

lifting body prototypes in the mid-1960s, 

NASA embarked on a program to use the 

lift-glide shape as the key design feaNASA Ames’ legacy and its contributions to the Return to Flight

by Jack Boyd and Glenn Bugos ture of its reusable Space Transportat

System. 

Perhaps more important than their 

basic work on the aerodynamic shape and 

thermal expectations of a lifting body, Allen 

and his Ames colleagues—notably Alfred 

Eggers and Clarence Syvertson-- pioneered new experimental tools in aerothermodynamics. These brought experimental 

proof to the design of space capsules, and 

helped assure the safe return of astronauts 

to Earth. 

Beginning in the early 1950s, they created a series of ballistic ranges, culminating in the Hypervelocity Free-Flight Facility 

that created re-entry speeds and validated 

damping characteristics. They created 

a series of higher speed wind tunnels, 

culminating in the 3.5-foot hypersonic wind 

tunnel, that allowed them test larger models for longer times at speeds up to Mach 

7. And they created a series of arc jets, 

culminating in the 60 MW interaction heating facility, that allowed them to test large 

samples of thermal protection materials at 

sustained high temperatures. 

Well before spacecraft actually ventured into outer space, Ames had modeled 

the re-entry challenges in Earth-bound facilities. Ames developed all this theoretical 

and experimental expertise during its days 

as a NACA laboratory, expanded it quickly, 

during NASA’s Apollo era, then extended 

these capabilities to help in the development of the space shuttle. 

Start of the Space Shuttle Program

Following the formal launch of the 

Space Shuttle Program in 1971, NASA 

Ames people and facilities made many 

key contributions the shuttle’s design. 

More than half of all wind tunnel testing 

conducted for the shuttle, totalling 35,000 

hours of testing, was done at Ames, using 

all of Ames’ extraordinary collection of wind 

tunnels. 

Half of that testing was done in the 

3.5 foot hypersonic wind tunnel, which 

returned important results on shock-shock 

interactions within the stack configuration, 

the effects of split body flaps, and turbulent 

flows. In the larger wind tunnels, Ames 

tested the Boeing 747 ferry configuration, 

as well as the effectiveness of control surfaces at slower landing speeds. 

After the first flight of the shuttle, NASA 

continued to rely on Ames’ expertise to 

evaluate and hone the shuttle. NASA’s 

Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation facility 

opened in 1985, bringing together all of 

Ames’ expertise in computational fluid 

dynamics. The NAS very early began 

modeling the complex aerodynamics of the 

shuttle ascent stack. Ames human factors 

specialists modeled cockpit concepts in the 

Ames flight simulators, and then built the 

Vertical Motion Simulator to test their ideas 

about how such a vehicle could be landed. 

Perhaps the most important and persistent contribution of Ames to the shuttle 

program was the development of its reusable Thermal Protection System (TPS). 

In the early 1970s, Ames worked with 

Johnson Space Center to develop many 

candidates of TPS materials—including 

the baseline LI-900 tile system--and tested 

them to understand how to improve future 

generations of tiles.

In 1975, Ames scientists invented the 

black borosilicate glass coating called Reaction Cured Glass that now covers twothirds of the orbiter’s surface. They also 

invented a ceramic cloth to solve a difficult 

problem by filling the gaps between the 

tiles. Ames continued to conduct thermal 

protection research, increasingly to provide 

data to the shuttle program office. 

The Operational Space Shuttle

In the 1980s and 1990s, Ames’ support 

of the shuttle shifted. As NASA began to fly 

science missions aboard the shuttle, Ames 

life scientists began building experiment 

packages for its cargo bay. Astronauts 

continued to train in the Vertical Motion 

SImulator, but there was less basic research into cockpit design. More of Ames’ 

efforts shifted to supporting design of the 

Space Station, and technology development for the shuttle diminished. The Ames 

arc jets remained busy, but there was increasingly less basic research into material 

design and thermal environments. 

The Columbia accident occured, Ames 

work took another shift. The Columbia 

Accident Investigation Board used the 

Investigation Organizer Tool developed 

at Ames to track the massive amounts of 

data generated. Tina Panontin, who had 

earlier worked on the Shuttle Independent 

Assessment team, advocated use of the 

tool to determine the cause of the accident. 

During the months following the 

accident, NASA Ames set up a shuttle 

liaison office, much as it had in the 

early 1970s, this time led by John Allmen. 

Allmen helped JSC and the CAIB find 

Ames researchers to solve the puzzles 

identified by the investigation, and also 

helped Ames see the whole picture of the 

technical puzzles. Indeed, this is a cultural 

remnant of its NACA origins still active at 

Ames—an appreciation for honest peer 

review, for basic research in supporting 

technical decisions, for the art of problem 

definition, and innovation in experimental 

validation. 

NASA Ames Contribution to the Return 

To Flight

The Columbia Accident Investigation 

Report made two observations that shaped 

how NASA Ames would participate in 

the Return To Flight efforts leading to the 

launch of STS-114. First, the CAIB noted 

that the operation programs had generally 

lost touch with the research work done at 

the centers, and specifically noted that the 

shuttle mission team should have contacted Ames experts in thermal protection 

systems before clearing the Columbia for 

re-entry. Second, while NASA knew a fair 

amount about the thermal properties of the 

shuttle TPS, it knew less about its mechanical properties. 

Building upon Ames’ long-standing 

capabilities in computational fluid dynamics, Ames teams developed a model of the 

aerodynamics around the full ascent stack 

that was used to understand then modify 

the external tank. Using a combination of 

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and 

wind tunnel tests, Ames quickly generated 

loads data on the Protuberance Air Loads 

(PAL) Ramp prior to its removal. 

Stuart Rogers lead a team that developed Debris Transport Analysis (DTA) 

software and models. Rogers started with 

an “overflow” code developed at Ames and 

applied it to the entire flow field. With this 

model, they showed that shed foam would 

trim to a high drag configuration, and designed ballistic range tests to prove it. With 

Ames’ supercomputers on standby following the launch of the shuttle, this software 

allowed shuttle engineers to model what 

sort of impact damage might be done to 

the orbiter from debris shed during launch. 

One contribution driven by Ames was 

an effort to correlate arc jet data using 

CFD and calorimetry. JSC operated its 

own arc jet, which they used to certify 

TPS materials for use on the shuttle. The 

JSC and Ames arc jets environments 

differed, as did their testing methods, and 

both differed from the heat environment 

of actual re-entry. So that both arc jets 

could be used complementarily to improve 

TPS materials, or to test scenarios quickly 

during a shuttle flight, an Ames team led 

by David Driver developed DPPLR and 

Laura codes through which arc jet data 

could be correlated. Ames also developed 

an optical technique, called laser-induced 

florescence. 

As JSC declared interest in new ideas 

on how to repair the TPS in-space, Ames 

researchers issued a flood of ideas. James 

Reuter of Ames led the effort to create 

an in-flight repair capability. Ames was 

involved in developing an Orbiter Boom 

Sensor System (OBSS) to do a final check 

of the leading edge sensor system prior 

after separation from the Space Station, 

but before re-entry to the Earth. 

In addition to solving the problems 

identified by the CAIB, Allmen’s group also 

created a capability to solve unforeseen 

problems in real time. Ames real-time problem resolution capabilities were all at work 

with the second shuttle mission post-Columbia (STS-121). The Damage Assessment Team (DAT) used the DPLR code, 

which worked well because Ames CFD 

experts were available to help interpret the 

data. Debris impact models were quickly 

run and resolved, so the Ames team turned 

to writing the code needed for a thermal 

assessment of a gap filler issue. David 

Driver, who had led Ames efforts to refine 

the shuttle TPS, documented the thermal 

analysis program code and monitored the 

leading-edge sub-system check before 

shuttle re-entry. 

Following the Return to Flight, Ames 

kept its supercomputing facilities on alert 

to resolve and problems identified as the 

shuttles were in orbit. 
5

Astrogram Summer 2011

4

Astrogram Summer 2011

We packed everything for a one-way trip. Greenhouse,

deck of cards, extra socks. Belief, and disbelief. Memories:

Earthrise, gossamer, breathless blue and white. Family

photo albums. Our history: relentless, triumphant.

Solar engines. Maps, incomplete, in four dimensions.

Some small but affectionate pets. How lucky we are.

Are we there yet? Confined in all that space. Cameras, diary.

Wine aging variably in the elastic stretch of time.

Plastic tubes of dinner. Simulated gravity. Mount Fuji

in snow, Mount Fuji in summer. Scent of rain-soaked trees.

Radio-wave umbilicus, NASA’s fading reassurances.

But oh! The stars unwavering through unatmosphere.

By 2085, if microbes don’t starve us of oxygen, we’ll settle in

a new New World. Awaiting its discovery, we take

remedies for cabin-fever nerves. Envy the Mayflower’s

fresh air, Plymouth’s helpful natives. Discarded

refuse floats outside our portals, perfectly preserved.

The black and silent waking sleeping night.

The moon Io erupting. Bright Jupiter in veils of crystalline ammonia ice. Comets, dust belts, planets, their natural and adopted

satellites. All beautiful. Celestial real estate is frozen rugged

gaseous flaming storm-hidden red as our blood. Praise

the Creator of the Infinite Universe. We know there is someplace 

we can call home.

First published in Montserrat Review, 2001

Broadside Edition in honor of the Space Shuttle Program, 2011

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, 

demonstrated its unique capabilities 

recently as the airborne observatory 

chased down a rare opportunity to 

view an occultation of Pluto and a distant star. SOFIA was able to fly to the 

exact location where Pluto's shadow 

fell on Earth, allowing scientists the 

opportunity to learn more about the 

dwarf planet's atmosphere.

SOFIA took off from NASA 

Dryden's Aircraft Operations Facility, 

Palmdale, Calif., on the night of June 

22, 2011, flying 1,800 miles out over 

the Pacific Ocean to position itself 

for the occultation. There were some 

nail-biting moments during the night, 

however, because the precise position 

of Pluto could not be calculated until 

a couple of hours before the actual 

event. 

 Researchers from Lowell Obser- vatory used the telescope at the U.S. 

Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz., 

to take a number of photographs of 

Pluto and the occulting star. These 

data were passed to a group of scien- tists from MIT who calculated precisely 

where the shadow would fall on Earth. 

The MIT staff then contacted the 

SOFIA crew in-flight with news that the 

center of the shadow would cross 125 

miles north of the position on which 

the airborne observatory's flight plan 

had been based. After recalculating 

and filing a revised flight plan, SOFIA's 

flight crew and science team had to 

wait an anxious 20 minutes before 

receiving permission from air traffic 

control to alter the flight path accord- ingly. 

Ted Dunham of the Lowell Obser- vatory, also in Flagstaff, Ariz., led the 

team of scientists aboard SOFIA dur- ing the Pluto observations. "Because 

we were able to maneuver SOFIA so 

close to the center of the occultation 

we observed an extended, small, but 

distinct brightening near the middle of 

the occultation. This change will allow 

us to probe Pluto's atmosphere at 

lower altitudes than is usually possible 

with stellar occultations." 

Dunham is the principal investigator for the High-Speed Imaging 

Photometer for Occultation (HIPO), 

essentially an extremely fast and accurate electronic light meter. He was 

a member of the group that originally 

discovered Pluto's atmosphere by 

observing a stellar occultation from 

SOFIA's predecessor, the Kuiper Airborne Observatory, in 1988. Pluto itself 

was discovered at Lowell Observatory 

in 1930. 

 In addition, a team of German 

scientists from the German SOFIA 

Institute at the University of Stuttgart 

were on board to image Pluto using 

their newly designed Fast Diagnostic 

Camera (FDC). On this flight, the FDC 

served as a photometer to measure 

the drop in light as Pluto passed in 

front of the star.

 "We have already shown that 

SOFIA is a first-rank international facility for infrared astronomy research. 

This successful occultation observation adds substantially to SOFIA's 

ability to serve the world's scientific 

community," said Pamela Marcum, 

SOFIA successfully observes challenging Pluto occultation 

SOFIA project scientist. 

SOFIA is a joint project of NASA 

and the German Aerospace Center 

(DLR), and is based and managed at 

NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations 

Facility in Palmdale, Calif., for NASA's 

Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C. NASA's Ames Research 

Center in Moffett Field, Calif. manages the SOFIA science and mission 

operations in cooperation with the 

Universities Space Research Association headquartered in Columbia, Md., 

and the German SOFIA Institute (DSI) 

at the University of Stuttgart. 

Optical image of the June 23 Pluto occultation star field taken from AAS Press Officer Rick 

Fienberg's home observatory in New Hampshire. 

A personal perspective: Watching the shuttle launch

continued from front page

 On Friday, I was on the road by 4 a.m. 

from Orlando. I wasn't alone. An estimated 

crowd of one million people converged on 

Florida's Space Coast to get a glimpse of 

the last space shuttle launch. 

 More than a thousand members of 

the press were also on site, including 

high profile journalists such as Geraldo 

Rivera of FOX News' "Geraldo-At-Large" 

and John Oliver of Comedy Central's 

"The Daily Show." Astronauts were milling 

about and many television journalists were 

interviewing them about space travel. It 

was more exciting than being backstage at 

a rock concert.

 The overall mood that morning was 

optimistic despite the grim weather forecast. I kept one eye on the NASA television broadcast and one eye on the Florida 

weather radar. A threatening storm system 

seemed to hover over the Tampa area to 

the east, staying away from Cape Canaveral. 

As the hours and minutes counted 

down, it looked more and more optimistic 

that the launch would happen. We ran 

outside to the area next to the countdown 

clock and held our breath. At 11:29 a.m. 

EDT, against the odds, Atlantis soared to 

the heavens. It was a beautiful sight.

NASA has launched the free NASA 

App for AndroidTM, a new application designed for mobile devices that 

run the open source Android platform. 

The NASA App is available for free on 

Android MarketTM at: https://market.

android.com/details?id=gov.nasa

 "The NASA App for iPhone and 

iPad has been a phenomenal success 

with more than five million downloads 

so far," said Jerry Colen, NASA App 

project managerat at Ames. "Making 

a version of the NASA App for Android 

has been the number one request from 

users. We are delighted to fulfill this request and put NASA's amazing content 

into the hands of millions of Android 

users around the world."

 The NASA App for Android showcases a huge collection of NASA 

content, including images, videos 

on-demand, live streaming video from 

NASA Television, mission information, 

feature stories and breaking news. Users also can find sighting opportunities 

for the International Space Station and 

track the current positions of spacecraft currently orbiting Earth. App users 

also easily can share NASA content 

with their friends and followers on 

Facebook, Twitter or via e-mail.

 For more information about the 

NASA App for Android, visit: http://

www.nasa.gov/nasaapp 

by Rachel Hoo

NASA launches new 

app for Android

by Eve Sutt

Pilgrims, 2085

From Columbus’s first voyage across the Atlantic to the settlement of 

the Pilgrims in Massachusetts was 128 years. So I am guessing that in 

2085, 128 years after the launch of the first Sputnik, the private settlement of pilgrims all over the solar system will begin. 

-- Freeman Dyson, The Atlantic Monthly, November 1997

In celebration of all that Ames folks 

did to boost the shuttle program to 

such lofty heights, Ames will host a 

Shuttle Family Reunion on Tuesday, 

Aug. 9. The event will begin in the 

Syvertson Auditorium (N201) from 10 

a.m. to 11 a.m., with speeches reflecting what Ames contributed and accomplished during the Space Shuttle 

Ames to host Shuttle Family Reunion

Program’s remarkable 30-year 

history.

A barbeque sponsored by the 

Ames Exchange will take place 

from noon to 2 p.m. in Shenandoah 

Plaza. More than 700 students 

interning at Ames will present their 

posters featuring the work they 

accomplished this summer. 
7

Astrogram Summer 2011

6

Astrogram Summer 2011

In 1999, Massachusetts Institute of 

Technology (MIT) professor David Miller 

showed the movie, "Star Wars" to his students on their first day of class. Following 

the scene where Luke Skywalker spars 

with a floating droid "remote," Miller stood 

up and pointed: "I want you to build me 

some of those." So they did. With support from the Department of Defense 

and NASA, Miller's undergraduates 

built five volleyball-sized free-flying 

satellites called Synchronized Position 

Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental 

Satellites (SPHERES); three of which 

have been on the International Space 

Station since 2006. 

 "I love my job, because I get to use 

cutting-edge technologies to answer 

questions like: 'How can robots help 

humans live and work in space? What 

will happen when humans explore 

other worlds with robots by their side? 

Can we make this happen sooner, 

rather than later?'" said Terry Fong, director of the Intelligent Robotics Group 

at NASA Ames.

 To begin answering these questions, NASA is equipping the trio of 

SPHERES on the space station with a 

NexusTM S handset made by Samsung 

Electronics and powered by Google’s 

AndroidTM platform.

 Each SPHERE Satellite is selfcontained with power, propulsion, 

computing and navigation equipment. When Miller's team first designed 

the SPHERES, all of their potential uses 

couldn’t be imagined up front. So, the 

team built an "expansion port" into each 

satellite where additional sensors and appendages, such as cameras and wireless 

power transfer systems, could be added. 

This is how the Nexus S handset – the 

SPHERES' first smartphone upgrade – is 

going to be attached.

 "Because the SPHERES were originally designed for a different purpose, they 

need some upgrades to become remotely 

operated robots," said DW Wheeler, lead 

engineer in the Intelligent Robotics Group 

at Ames. "By connecting a smartphone, 

we can immediately make SPHERES 

more intelligent. With the smartphone, the 

SPHERES will have a built-in camera to 

take pictures and video, sensors to help 

conduct inspections, a powerful computing 

unit to make calculations, and a Wi-Fi connection that we will use to transfer data in 

real-time to the space station and mission 

control."

 Nexus S is the first commercial 

smartphone certified by NASA to fly on 

the space shuttle and to be cleared for 

use on the space station. The smartphone 

includes a four-inch touchscreen display, 

a 1-GHz processor, digital cameras, 

gyroscopes, accelerometers, proximity 

and light sensors, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 

networking, as well as 16 gigabytes of internal memory. And, as with an increasing 

number of smartphones, Nexus S uses the 

open-source Android platform.

 "Android is a very important feature 

for our team," said Mark Micire, a software 

engineer in the Intelligent Robotics Group. 

"The availability of the Android source code 

allows us to customize the smartphone to 

be used as a compact, low-cost, low-power 

computer, rather than just as a phone. And 

because the platform is open-source, we 

anticipate that the public will be able to 

develop Android software that can be used 

in our experiments. In the future, you are 

going see smartphones used for all sorts 

of embedded processing applications, from 

robotics to sensor networks and equipment 

control," Micire said.

 Since 2006, astronauts have conducted more than 25 experiments using 

SPHERES to test techniques to advance 

automated dockings, satellite servicing, 

spacecraft assembly and emergency 

repairs. So far, all the tests have used preprogrammed algorithms to achieve specific 

flight formations, but now researchers are 

preparing to control the SPHERES in realtime from ground control stations on Earth 

and from space.

 "Mission control can remotely 

operate the smartphone-enhanced 

SPHERES to perform inventory and 

environmental surveys on the ISS," 

said Fong. "That way, astronauts can 

spend more time performing science 

experiments and other work, instead of 

routine maintenance. In the long run, 

free-flying robots like SPHERES could 

also be used to inspect the exterior of 

the space station or future deep-space 

vehicles."

 According to Fong, robots like the 

smartphone-enhanced SPHERES and 

NASA's Robonaut 2 will provide some 

of the help of another crewmember; 

SPHERES' cameras can act as another 

set of eyes, while the Robotnaut 2 literally adds another set of hands to act as 

an assistant with small and bulky items 

alike. An added bonus is that robots do 

not require any additional life support.

 As with the Robonaut 2, all tests 

thus far have occurred in the safety of 

the space station’s interior. However, 

in the future, upgraded SPHERES may 

venture outside the space station as 

well.

 "The space station is just the first 

step to using remotely controlled robots 

to support human exploration," said Chris 

Moore, program executive in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA 

Headquarters in Washington. "Building 

on our experience in controlling robots 

on station, one day we'll be able to apply 

what we've learned and have humans and 

robots working together everywhere from 

Earth orbit, to the moon, asteroids, and 

Mars."

 This smartphone-enhanced 

SPHERES experiment is managed by the 

Intelligent Robotics Group at Ames with 

funding from the Enabling Technology Development and Demonstration Program in 

the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate.

 For more information about 

SPHERES, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/experiments/

SPHERES.html 

The force is strong with NASA’s Smartphone-powered satellite by Rachel Hoo

NASA’s Smartphone-powered satellite

Twenty systems engineers from 

across NASA graduated from the 

Systems Engineering Leadership Development Program (SELDP) in June 

2011. 

 The program’s graduation featured presentations by each SELDP 

participant to the NASA Engineering 

Management Board, a talk by Orbital 

Executive President and General 

Manager for Advanced Program, Dr. 

Antonio Elias, about the Pegasus 

rocket systems engineering story, and 

a visit from NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden.

 The graduation week marked the 

culmination of a yearlong program that 

provided participants with knowledge, 

skills, and experiences aimed at preparing them for the challenges of systems engineering leadership at NASA. 

Once participants completed baseline 

assessments to identify strengths and 

2011 Systems Engineering Leadership Development class honored

areas for development, they embarked 

on a year of learning, developing, and 

practicing the qualities of a systems 

engineering leader: creativity, curiosity, 

self-confidence, persistence, and an 

understanding of human dynamics. 

 The core of the SELDP experience was a hands-on developmental 

assignment at a new center. Participants took on systems engineering 

roles that expanded their experience 

base and challenged them to incorporate new knowledge and skills in an 

unfamiliar organizational setting. Paul 

De Leon, Ames Aerospace Systems 

Engineer, was assigned to Johnson 

Space Center and served as the 

assistant to the International Space 

Station Chief Engineer. 

 “NASA exists to reach new heights 

and reveal the unknown, so what we 

do and learn will benefit all mankind,” 

said Chief Engineer Mike Ryschkewitsch to the graduates. “What each 

of us do, no matter how small, it does 

make a difference. We are driven by 

being part of something bigger than 

ourselves and the opportunity to make 

a difference.”

 SELDP grew out of a need identified by NASA leadership and the 

Office of the Chief Engineer for an 

Agency-wide leadership development 

program that would help identify and 

accelerate the development of highpotential system engineers; with a 

focus on specific leadership behaviors 

and technical capabilities that are critical to success in the NASA context. 

Headed by Christine Williams of the 

NASA Academy of Program/Project 

and Engineering Leadership (APPEL), 

SELDP aims to develop and improve 

leadership skills and technical capabilities. 

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

On July 15, 2011, Ames 

officially renamed its Main 

Auditorium (N201) in memory 

of former Ames Center Director 

Clarence “Sy” Syvertson. 

Syvertson served as Ames 

Center Director from 1977 to 

1984 and passed away Sept. 

13, 2010. He began his 35-year 

career at Ames in 1948 and in 

addition to being Center Director, he also served as Ames’ 

Director of Astronautics and 

Deputy Director. 

Syvertson was instrumental in remodeling the auditorium 

and it is entirely fitting that it be 

named in his honor. A reception 

followed the dedication in the 

lobby of Building 200. 

Seen here from left to right 

are: Syvertson’s wife JoAnn; 

Ames Center Director S. Pete 

Worden; his daughter Lynn, 

and Jack Boyd, senior advisor 

to the center director.

Auditorium dedicated to Sy Syvertson 

NASA has released a new book for 

visually impaired people to experience 

the wonders of the moon.Called "Getting a Feel for Lunar Craters," the 17-

page book features Braille and tactile 

diagrams of the lunar surface, craters 

and peaks. 

The book was created and funded 

by NASA's Lunar Science Institute 

(NLSI), at Moffett Field. The author is 

David Hurd, a space science professor 

at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania 

in Edinboro, Pa.

"This book is one giant step for humankind, making lunar science visible 

through touch and sound," NLSI Director Yvonne Pendleton said. "NASA 

is committed to the development of 

resources to bring lunar science into 

the world of those who cannot see."

To obtain a free copy of "Getting 

a Feel for Lunar Craters," visit: http://

lunarscience.nasa.gov/tactile

NASA unveils 

wonders of moon 

to visually impaired

by Cathy Weselby
9

Astrogram Summer 2011

8

Astrogram Summer 2011

Scientists from NASA Ames joined a 

multi-institute team of researchers June 

17-27, 2011, to investigate carbon dioxide 

and methane gas emissions from a dry 

lake bed and neighboring environment in 

Railroad Valley, Nev. 

 The Railroad Valley Vicarious Calibration Campaign, a collaboration between 

the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency 

(JAXA), and NASA's Jet Propulsion 

Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, Calif., is an 

international, multi-year effort to calibrate 

space-based observations of carbon 

dioxide and methane collected by the 

Japanese Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), using ground and 

airborne data. 

The campaign is based at Railroad 

Valley, on a dry lake bed, or playa, about 

75 miles southwest of Ely, Nev. It involves 

more than 30 scientists and engineers 

from JAXA, the University of Wisconsin, 

Madison, Colorado State University, Fort 

Collins and JPL. 

The Ames team supported the effort by 

providing ground and airborne measurements of carbon dioxide and methane. 

In addition, for the first time this year, the 

Ames team also investigated local sources 

of halophiles organisms that live in evaporated ponds where there are extreme 

concentrations of salts. 

 "We are pleased to offer these 

observations to our Japanese and Jet 

Propulsion Laboratory colleagues in support of the important task of very precisely 

measuring greenhouse gases from space. 

We look forward to continuing to support 

the GOSAT team and the upcoming NASA 

Orbiting Carbon Observatory -2 (OCO2) mission," said Laura Iraci, an Earth 

science researcher from the Atmospheric 

Science Branch at Ames who planned and 

implemented the Ames effort. 

 During the campaign, the Ames 

team conducted a series of flights with 

an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), a 

modified Alpha Jet and a NASA ER-2 Earth 

resources aircraft, outfitted with AVIRIS, 

MASTER, and S-HIS instruments. NASA's 

ER-2 high-altitude aircraft flew over Railroad Valley carrying MASTER, AVIRIS and 

a digital camera system at an altitude of 

65,000 feet complementing data collected 

by the other two aircraft at lower altitudes. 

 The UAS, known as the Sensor 

Integrated Environmental Remote Research Aircraft (SIERRA), carried sensors 

to measure greenhouse gases and winds 

NASA flies greenhouse gas mission over Nevada salt flat 

and flew at altitudes 

of 100-2,500 feet 

above ground. 

The SIERRA flew 

two measurement 

missions: one to 

determine vertical 

profiles of carbon dioxide over the base 

camp on the playa, 

and measurements 

across the playa 

at low altitudes, 

and the second 

to map sources of 

natural and biogenic 

methane. SIERRA, 

which is operated 

out of Ames, flew 

from a public airstrip 

at Currant Ranch, 

Nev. 

The second 

aircraft, an Alpha 

Jet, owned and 

operated by H211, 

LLC, flew to the 

Railroad Valley site 

from Ames and made a downward spiral 

around the base camp site. The spiral had 

a top altitude of approximately 25,000 feet, 

a bottom altitude near 5,000 feet, and an 

approximate three mile radius. The vertical 

profile took approximately 20 minutes to 

complete. 

Ground observations showed what appeared to be bursts of carbon dioxide and 

methane from the soil of the salty lakebed. 

Preliminary tests suggest a possible surface, or subsurface, source for these gas 

emissions. These findings are important to 

both Earth and planetary scientists: greenhouse gases contribute to global warming, and recent scientific findings of Mars1 

surface suggest evidence that there were 

large bodies of salt water in the past. Both 

perspectives emphasize a need to further 

investigate these types of environments for 

past and present life. For example, methane has been reported in the atmosphere 

of Mars, and is known to be produced by 

microbial mats that are present in the most 

salty environments on Earth. 

To study the source of gas emissions, 

Chris McKay and Brad Bebout, space science researchers from Ames, led a team 

to observe biogenic and non-biogenic 

sources of methane in the Railroad Valley 

area. Using data loggers inserted near the 

surface and at depths of 20 and 30 cm to 

monitor the temperature and moisture of 

the soil, the space team collected soil and 

gas samples for further study in the laboratory. In addition, the SIERRA flew over 

potential methane sources on June 18 and 

21, while the ground-based team collected 

concurrently carbon dioxide observations 

on the ground June 21. 

 "Although there is a general understanding of the natural and anthropogenic 

sources and sinks of carbon dioxide and 

methane, their fluctuations must be better 

quantified to better forecast and mitigate 

global climate change. These measurements over the dry, salt flat will help us 

better measure the spatial distribution and 

heterogeneity of greenhouse gases," said 

Bebout. 

This work also is important to NASA's 

goals in Astrobiology. Methane has been 

reported on Mars and pinpointing sources 

and determining whether or not the methane is biogenic will also be important there. 

According to Bebout: "We can use 

Railroad Valley and other Mars analogue 

sites to help interpret methane data to be 

returned from upcoming Mars missions, 

including Mars Science Laboratory and the 

2016 ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter." 

by Ruth Dasso Marla

The Third Annual Braxton Open Golf Tournament was held 

June 17 at the Moffett Field Golf Course in recognition of the 

Juneteenth Celebration. It was sponsored by the the Ames 

African American Advisory Group.

NASA Ames scientists investigated carbon dioxide and methane emissions from various sites on a dry lake bed in Railroad Valley, Nev.

photo by Google

Third Annual Braxton Open Golf Tornament tees off 

NASA photos by Dominic Hart

On June 23, 2011, Dr. Waleed Abdalati, NASA’s chief scientist, 

presented an all hands interactive presentation at Ames entitled 

"Science to Inspire and Science to Serve: A Dialogue with NASA’s 

Chief Scientist." NASA’s investments in science began with the 

agency’s inception and have evolved into a complex portfolio spanning multiple disciplines and centers. Abdalati took a look at NASA’s 

past, present and future science portfolio in the context of shifting national and agency priorities. As the administrator’s primary advisor on 

science, and spokesperson for science at NASA, he shares insights 

and perspective from the vantage point of the agency’s top leaders. 

NASA Chief Scientist Waleed Abdalati visits Ames

NASA photo by Eric James
11

Astrogram Summer 2011

10

Astrogram Summer 2011

“Do you think you’re going to 

crash? Let’s see how it plays out,” said 

Christina Thompson, a volunteer parent for the Greene Scholars Program. 

Thompson was helping students create 

Air Traffic Control flight simulations 

recently at the Exploration Encounter 

Center at NASA’s Ames Research 

Center, Moffett Field, Calif.

NASA has an education goal to inspire and engage students in science, 

technology, engineering and math 

(STEM) content. As part of a neverending pursuit of this goal, NASA offers 

education programs throughout the 

summer to sustain elementary students’ interest in STEM. 

The Greene Scholars Program 

(GSP) has a similar goal. Focused 

on developing the academic gifts of 

African American students, its primary 

goal is to increase the success rates 

of their students in STEM course work 

and the number of students choosing 

STEM careers. For the first time, the 

organizations collaborated and NASA 

hosted GSP at its newly renovated 

learning facility this summer.

“We are very pleased to be here at 

Ames. Our program looks for hands-on 

math, science and technology experiences for our students,” said Gloria 

Whitaker-Daniels, director of Greene 

Scholars Program and a retired 

program engineering manager. “Our 

program is very successful. All of our 

students who complete this program 

go to college and 28 percent pursue 

STEM studies.”

The GSP is closing the achievement gap: Its academic achievement 

results show that all students who have 

completed the program pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). They also meet the University 

of California's 'A-G' requirements for 

college admission, and graduate from 

high school. These achievements are 

due in part to the families’ participation 

in the program.

According to Whitaker-Daniels, 

after students submit an application to attend GSP, their parents are 

interviewed to assess their technical 

expertise, including their organizational 

or hospitality skills. Once a skill is identified, the parent serves on one of 13 

committees, and also receives guidance in best practices and strategies 

for engaging and motivating their children. On average, parents volunteer 

50 hours per year, or about four hours 

per month. Parents are expected to 

perform specific roles in the organization until their scholar graduates from 

high school.

“We know our children are capable 

given the right resources,” said Whitaker-Daniels.”I have three children who 

have gone through the program; one 

daughter graduated with a degree in 

neuroscience, my second daughter is 

studying biomedical engineering, and 

my son is a senior in high school.”

In addition to the academic requirements, the program seeks 

opportunities that provide hands-on 

experiences, strengthens problemsolving skills, builds self-esteem 

and stimulates intellectual curiosity. 

NASA’s commitment to education, 

with its dedicated STEM education 

resource facilities, provides a golden 

opportunity for the program to fulfill its 

charter.

Throughout the week, students 

explored the various activities at NASA 

Ames Exploration Encounter Center, 

a supersonic wind tunnel that was 

converted into an education facility. Its 

many hand-on activities make math 

and science curriculum come alive for 

students who experience science in 

action and see how it relates to their 

lives.

Within the education facility, STEM 

subjects are divided into four handson stations: physics, flight, space and 

Earth. Each station has three physical 

activities. For example, the physics 

station demonstrates physics concepts, one of which is the gyro chair, 

where students learn how a gyroscope 

works.

“I liked the gyro chair the best. 

It’s cool how you hold a wheel, and 

it makes the chair spin in the same 

direction. The force of the wheel 

makes the chair move,” said Yazmeen 

Norwood, a student at John Sinnott 

Elementary School, Milpitas, Calif.

NASA provides golden opportunity to Greene Scholars

NASA hosted the Greene Scholar Program for the first time this summer at the Exploration 

Encounter Center, a supersonic wind tunnel converted into a learning facility.

by Ruth Dasso Marla

NASA photo: by Eric James

The flight station also teaches various science and math fundamentals. 

The principles of flight are illustrated 

using a small, mock-up wind tunnel, 

and the computer program, Air Traffic 

Control Smart Skies, allows students 

to become air traffic controllers by 

creating their own scenarios, based on 

mathematic principles, and watching 

the simulation play out. Students are 

taught the four forces of an airplane: 

weight, lift, thrust and drag.

“I heard people talk about air traffic 

control, but I had no idea what that 

meant. I thought a pilot just got into 

a plane and flew off. Playing the air 

traffic control simulation, put things in 

perspective. They tell pilots when they 

can take off and land and how high 

to fly,” said Norwood. She was one of 

many students who used math to solving problems.

“Now, try to remember what an air 

traffic controller does,” said Thompson. “I can guarantee you would lose 

your job (as an air traffic controller) 

using that nautical speed. Look at how 

many planes are in the air. What is going to happen?”

The Greene Scholars Program 

will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 

January. It was founded in 2002 by 

Debra Watkins, former president of the 

Santa Clara County Alliance of Black 

Educators, to help youth of African 

ancestry successfully complete higher 

STEM education and serve as positive 

role models and contributors to their 

communities. The program is named 

after Frank S. Greene Jr., a pioneer- continued on page 11

continued from page 10

NASA provides golden opportunity to Greene Scholars students

Ames employees celebrated the 

life of Dr. Baruch “Barry” Blumberg 

during a tribute and reception held 

June 21, 2011, in the Ames Exploration 

Center.

Blumberg was the first director 

of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, a 

Distinguished Scientist of the NASA 

Lunar Science Institute and winner of 

the 1976 Nobel Prize in Medicine for 

identifying the Hepatitis B virus and 

making “discoveries concerning new 

mechanisms for the origin and dissemination of infectious diseases.” 

Blumberg passed away April 5, 

2011, while visiting Ames as a featured 

speaker at the International Lunar 

Research Park Exploratory Workshop. 

He was 85.

Ames employees participated in 

an afternoon of remembrances and fellowship with Blumberg’s family, friends 

and colleagues to honor the legacy of a 

great man and our treasured friend. 

Ames honors Nobel Prize Winner Baruch Blumberg

NASA photo Dominic Hart

ing scientist who was one of the Bay 

Area’s first African American venture 

capitalists. As a long-term K-12 initiative, the Greene Scholars Program is 

designed to provide 21st century leaders with strong science/mathematics 

backgrounds coupled with innovation, 

entrepreneurial/leadership and problem solving skills.

“NASA Ames continues to support 

the nation’s education programs and 

educators by providing high quality 

programs, resources and facilities 

that are helping build the workforce of 

tomorrow,” said James Busby, acting 

education director at Ames.

For more information about the 

Greene Scholars Program, see:

http://www.greenescholars.org/

From left to right, at the Ames tribute to Baruch “Barry” Blumberg, Barry’s son, Noah Blumberg, 

Barry’s wife, Jean, and their daughter, Anne Blumberg. Noah and Anne are two of Barry’s four 

children.
13

Astrogram Summer 2011

12

Astrogram Summer 2011

The Ames Cat Network needs help finding 

homes for cats trapped at Moffett. They 

range from feral to abandoned/lost pets. 

Tested, altered and inoculated. Call Iris at 

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

interested in fostering or adopting a cat.

Ames Cat Network

Ames Ongoing Monthly Events Calendar

African American Advisory Group (AAAG) 

Mtg., every last Tuesday of each month, 12 - 1 

p.m., Bldg. N241, Rm 237. POC: Chair - Jim 

Busby, ext. 4-2792. 

Ames Amateur Radio Club, third Thurs., of 

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

N-255). POC: Michael Wright, KG6BFK, at 

ext. 4-6262. 

Ames Ballroom Dance Club, Classes on 

Tuesdays. Beginning classes meet at 5:15 

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

Held in Bldg. 944, the Rec. Center. POC: 

Helen Hwang at helen.hwang@nasa.gov, ext. 

4-1368.

Ames Bicycling Club, every third Wednesday 

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

Auditorium. For information on the club go 

to the website https://ames.clubexpress.com. 

POC: Julie Nottage at jnottage@mail.arc.

nasa.gov, ext. 4-3711. 

Ames Bowling League, Homestead Lanes 

Thursdays at 6:20 p.m. Need substitute bowlers. Sign up questions: Steve Howard at ext. 

4-4884.

Ames Child Care Center Board of Directors Mtg., every other Monday, 1 - 2:30 p.m., 

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

4-5411.

Ames Contractor Council Mtg., first Weds. of 

ea. month, 11 a.m., Bldg. N-200, Committee 

Room. POC: Elisa Taube (408) 541-2838.

Ames Federal Employees Union (AFEU) 

Mtg, third Wednesday ea. month, noon. Bldg. 

N-247, Rm. 109.. Guests welcome. Info at: 

http://www.afeu.org. POC: Paul K. Davis, ext. 

4-5916. 

The Hispanic Advisory Committee for 

Excellence (HACE) Mtg., first Thursday of 

each month, 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., Bldg. 

N-255, Rm. 101C. POC: Eric Kristich, ext. 

4-5137 and Mark Leon, ext. 4-6498.

Jetstream Toastmasters, Mondays, 12 p.m. 

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

Steiger, ext. 4-0195, tim.steiger@nasa.gov. 

Web: http://jetstream.freetoasthost.com

Ames Mac Support Group Mtg., third Tuesday 

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

N-262, Rm 180. POC: Tony ext. 4-0340.

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

on weekend mornings. POC: Mark Sumich, 

ext. 4-6193.

Moffett Aikido Club, Monday and Wednesday 

evenings, 6:30 p.m., Bldg. 944, across from 

former McDonalds. Aikido is a non-competitive, defensive martial art known as the “Way 

of Harmony.” POC: Diane Pereda (650) 575-

9070 or Robert Dean (650) 787-1007, email: 

mfaikido@aol.com

Native American Advisory Committee Mtg., 

fourth Tuesday each month, 12 noon - 1 

p.m., Bldg. 19, Rm 1096. POC: Mike Liu, ext. 

4-1132.

Ames Nimble Knitters Club, every Tuesday 

at 11:30 a.m., Bldg. N210/Rm 141. POC: 

Rosalyn Jung, knitfan2@yahoo.com or Diane 

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

nasa.gov

Ames Green Team (formerly the Green Ames 

Working Group) meetings are held the first 

Thursday of each month in N237, Room

101, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. For information, 

call Roger Ashbaugh, Ames Environmental 

Management Division, ext. 4-5602.

http://environmentalmanagement.arc.nasa.

gov/reports/eo-13514.html

Ames Sailing Club Mtg., second Thursday of 

each month (March through November), from 

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

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

4-4571.

Ames Safety Committee, third Thursday of 

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

Rm. 201. POC: John Livacich, jlivacich@

mail.arc.nasa.gov, ext. 4-3243 or Terry Reichert, treichert@mail.arc.nasa.gov, ext.-4-0375.

Ames emergency announcements

To hear the centerwide status recording, call (650) 604-9999 for information 

announcements and emergency instructions for Ames employees. You can 

also listen to 1700 KHz AM radio for the same information.

Exchange Information

Beyond Galileo Gift Shop N-235 in the 

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

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

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

Barcelona Café Bldg. 3, 6:30 a.m. to 

2 p.m., ext. 4-4948/Catering ext. 4-4948

See daily menus at: http://exchange.arc.

nasa.gov/cafe/menu.html 

Visitor Center Gift Shop (White Tent 

N-943-A, Tues-Fri, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat. 

- Sun, 12 - 4 p.m., ext. 4--5412

Remember to purchase your baby shower, birthday, 

holiday gifts at Ames’ two gift shops!

Information about products, services and opportunities provided to the employee and contractor community by the Ames Exchange Council. Visit the 

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

NASA Lodge (N-19) 603-7100

Closed for repairs, for updates visit http://amesexchange.arc.nasa.gov/swim/index.html

The pool is heated year round! The pool is currently 

available for lap swim, pool parties and special 

events. POC: Ryan Storms, Pool Manager (650) 

603-8025. Memberships: single memberships: 

$60/yr. Family memberships: $80/yr. After purchasing a membership, there is an entrance fee: daily 

entrance fee - $3/day or lap pass fee - $50 for 20 

uses. Platinum membership - $380/yr. (no daily 

fee). Special events: include military training, swim 

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

special events is $75/hr, or $50/hr for military.

Ames Swim Center (N-109) 603-8025

RV Lots Available Call to reserve a space 

at (650) 603-7100/01.

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

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

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

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

adult) 

Moffett Field Golf Club with ‘Tee minus 1’ 

Grill and Sports Bar. Catering available. 

Call (650) 603-8026. Extended Happy Hour 

Thursdays, $5 and $6 pitchers of beer starting 

at 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

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

Reservations for Chase Park call ext. 4-4948

Reservations for ARC Park call ext. 4-5969

The Ames Ombuds Office provides all civil servants, contractors and 

students at the center with a supplemental, confidential, and informal 

channel of communication to raise 

significant issues and concerns that 

they perceive could impact safety, 

organizational performance or mission 

success. 

The Ombuds is accountable for 

conducting informal inquiries, raising 

issues of concern to appropriate officials and redirecting matters not under 

the Ombuds’ realm to the appropriate 

office or organization with an existing 

administrative system, for example, 

the Inspector General, the Office of 

Equal Opportunity and Diversity, Ames 

Federal Employees Union, Procurement Ombuds, Chief Counsel and 

Human Resources. 

The Ombuds’ power rests on their 

reputation for confidentiality, fairness, 

objectivity, tact and respectful concern 

for the welfare of all individuals of the 

NASA community and for the wellbeing of the agency. 

John W. Boyd continues to serve 

as Ames Ombuds. Geoffrey Briggs 

is retiring from his position as the 

alternate Ames Ombuds and will be 

replaced by James Arnold. 

Arnold serves as Ames alternate 

Ombuds. His association with NASA 

spans five decades, split evenly 

between research and management 

roles. His technical experience is in 

aerothermodynamics, computational 

chemistry, thermal protection systems, 

arcjet testing, advanced life support 

and nanotechnology. Arnold retired 

as Chief of the Space Technology 

Division in 2002, and is currently 

conducting research for the Entry 

Systems and Technology Division.

The Ombuds office is located 

in Building 241, Room 137, Mail 

Stop 200-1A. John W. Boyd can 

be reached at (650) 604-5222 or 

john.w.Boyd@nasa.gov, and Jim 

Arnold can be reached at (650) 604-

5265 or james.o.arnold@nasa.gov . 

The Ombuds website is http://

insideames.arc.nasa.gov/life-ombudsoffice.php

Ombuds Office services available to Ames personnel

By Jack B

John Boyd, Ames Ombuds James Arnold, Alternate Ames Ombuds

Scientist honored for excellence 

in cryogenic research

Jeffrey R. Feller of Ames recently 

received the Cryogenic Society of 

America’s Award for Excellence 

in Cryogenic Research at the 

Cryogenic 

Engineering 

Conference 

in Spokane, 

WA.

 Feller 

(center) 

of Ames 

is shown 

receiving 

the CSA 

Award for 

Excellence 

in Cryogenic 

Research 

from Awards 

Committee 

Chair John 

Pfotenhauer 

(right) and CSA Executive Director 

Laurie Huget (left).

The award and honorarium are 

presented by the society for “research contributions in a particular 

area leading to a major scientific 

advance in the cryogenic field.” The 

nomination letters noted Feller’s significant contributions in the field of active cooling for cryogenic propellants, 

and his 

leadership 

in the field 

of zero boil 

off storage 

of hydrogen 

in space. 

 The 

award is 

unique, 

since the 

nomination 

and requisite two letters of support must 

come from 

individuals 

outside of 

the nominee’s institution. Feller’s nomination was submitted by the NASA’s 

Glenn Research Center and letters of 

support were received from both the 

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and 

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
14

Astrogram Summer 2011

The Ames Astrogram is an official publication of 

Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration.

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

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

You can reach the Astrogram Office at: astrogram 

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

3347. Astrogram Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/

ames/astrogram.

National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration

PLEASE RECYCLE

Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with vegetable-based ink.

FIRST-CLASS

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 85

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA

Ames Research Center

Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

Protective Services monthly activity

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

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

of June 2011 is shown below.

Security/Law Enforcement Activity

Fire Protection Activity

G. Jeffrey Taylor received the 

Shoemaker Distinguished Lunar Scientist Award during a ceremony at the 

Lunar Science Forum on July 19, 2011 

at NASA Ames. The award is given 

annually to a scientist who has significantly contributed to the field of lunar 

science. 

Taylor, a planetary science faculty 

member at the University of Hawaii, 

Honolulu, specializes in planetary 

volcanology, igneous processes and 

extraterrestrial materials. He uses a 

combination of petrology, geochemistry, field observations and remote 

sensing and theory to address problems in planetary science. Taylor was 

also awarded the Carl Sagan Medal 

for Excellence in Public Communication in Planetary Science in 2008. He 

received his PhD in Geology from Rice 

University.

For more information about the 

NASA Lunar Science Institute, visit: 

http://lunarscience.nasa.gov/

NASA honors 

lunar scientist

for research 

contributions

by Cathy Weselby

Astrogram NP-2011-08-01-ARC