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

March 2008

www.nasa.gov

continued on page 2

A scientist at Ames is one of 24 

researchers selected to join the Lunar 

Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission to explore and measure geological features on the moon’s surface. 

NASA’s Ames scientist selected

for return to moon science team by Robin Croft Scheduled for launch later this year,

the mission represents NASA’s first 

step toward returning humans to the 

moon.

Ross Beyer, a SETI Institute employee who works at Ames, will join 

the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter 

Camera (LROC) team to help develop 

high-resolution imaging and topography to explore the lunar terrain for 

future landing sites. Beyer will help 

plan stereo observations and build 

topographic models in order to study 

the geologic history of the moon.

“I haven’t seen the reviews of my 

proposal yet,” Beyer said, “but I assume that I was selected because I can 

provide a variety of mission operations and science expertise to the team, 

helping out with both the exploration 

and science portions of the mission.”

The orbiter will conduct a one-year 

primary mission exploring the moon, 

continued on page 4

NASA photo by Eric James

Cynthia Green poses with a plaque dedicated to her father, beloved Ames security guard Johnny Green, who 

passed away unexpectedly in March 2007. At a ceremony held March 10, 2008, Johnny was remembered as a 

special human being who deeply touched the lives of everyone who knew him. Tributes were offered by Ames 

Center Director S. Pete Worden, Ames' Chief of Security Ken Silverman, and Bill Blood, the chief executive 

officer of SecTek, Inc., Johnny’s employer. The almost 100 attendees also included daughter Monica and former 

wife Marion. Lemonade made from the very-prolific tree planted for Johnny was served at the event. The plaque 

was designed by Heather Cetera of SecTek. It can be seen on the side of the guard shack as one enters at the 

Arnold Avenue entrance to NASA Ames in front of Bldg. 200. 

Dedication ceremony honors Johnny Green

Huge crowds expected to turn out for Yuri’s Night 2008 by Jessica Cull

On April 12, 2008, approximately 

8,000 people are expected to attend the 

second Yuri’s Night Bay Area event in 

Hangar 211, at NASA’s Ames. 

From 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. the next 

morning, the event will be a 12-hour 

festival of science, music, space and 

technology following a theme of 

“Radical Technology for a Sustainable 

Future.” 

Yuri’s Night is a celebration of 

space exploration--and mankind’s 

curiosity, scientific ingenuity, technical 

achievement and spirit of collaboration that have made it all possible. 

Each year, in over 120 places worldwide, Yuri’s Night commemorates 

mankind’s first venture into space by 

Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on 

April 12, 1961, and the launch of the 

first space shuttle by NASA 20 years 

later. 

This year, during NASA’s 50th 

anniversary, attendees will join astronauts, artists, scientists, engineers, and 

musicians to pay tribute to our global 

space heritage and to celebrate how 

much more is waiting to be discovered.

As with the first Yuri’s Night, 

nearly all of the content and scheduling of the event are being planned, 

and carried out by creative teams from 

the San Francisco Bay Area. Dozens of 

volunteers are contributing thousands 

of hours of work to expand and refine 

the unique atmosphere of last year’s 

event. 

Page 2 - NASA taps astronomy community

 to help search for lunar water

Page 3 - Meyya Meyyappan receives 2008 

 IEEE Judith A. Resnik award

Page 5 - Despite no landing gear, small 

 airplane lands safely at Moffett

Page 10 - Ongoing monthly events

Page 11 - Classifieds

On the Inside . . .
2 Astrogram March 2008

NASA taps astronomy community to help search for lunar water

by Jonas Dino

News media were invited to 

attend a briefing Feb. 29 at Ames 

about the Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing Satellite, known as 

LCROSS, and the mission’s participatory emphasis.

The briefing was part of the 

LCROSS Astronomer Workshop, 

which focused on collaboration 

among NASA experts and professional astronomers on techniques for 

observing the debris plume that will 

be created when LCROSS hits the 

surface of the moon in early 2009. 

The objective of the mission is to 

detect possible water on the moon. 

Future mission activities engaged 

the amateur astronomy community, students and the public using 

ground-based and space-based 

telescopes.

LCROSS is scheduled to launch 

with the Lunar Reconnaissance 

Orbiter, known as LRO, aboard an 

taking measurements to identify future robotic and human landing sites. 

In addition, it will study lunar resources and how the moon’s environment will affect humans. The mission 

also will involve a spacecraft called 

the Lunar Crater Observation and 

Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), which will 

impact the lunar south pole to search 

for evidence of frozen polar water. 

Instrument teams will define the 

science goals for the second year or 

what is deemed the extended science 

phase of the mission during its second 

year. In addition to achieving its exploration objectives, the LRO spacecraft is expected to return high quality scientific data, such as day-night 

temperature maps, a global mapping 

system, high resolution color imaging 

and detailed global topography that 

will greatly expand our understanding 

of the moon.

NASA received a total of 55 

proposals in response to a NASA 

Research Announcement released in 

2007. A peer review panel and NASA 

Planetary Science Division Research 

and Analysis Program scientists evaluated the proposals. Selection criteria 

included intrinsic merit, relevance, 

responsiveness to planetary science 

goals and objectives, as well as cost. 

Scientists will be fully or partially 

funded, depending on their research 

work and scope of activities. NASA 

will provide funding to U.S. scientists for up to three years depending 

on satisfactory progress, continued 

relevance to the NASA objectives and 

availability of funds. 

The LRO spacecraft is being built 

and tested at NASA’s Goddard Space 

Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and 

includes six instruments and a technology demonstration.

LCROSS will take several months 

to reach the moon. That mission will 

search for water astronauts could use 

at a future lunar outpost. The sensing spacecraft will impact the moon 

near its south pole early in 2009. Ames 

manages the mission.

The orbiter and sensing satellite 

will launch together aboard an Atlas V 

rocket in late 2008. The orbiter’s trip 

to the moon will take approximately 

four days. Once in its final orbit, a 

circular polar orbit approximately 31 

miles above the moon, spacecraft instruments will map the moon’s surface 

at high resolution, study its radiation 

field and map its gravity field.

In a study published in 2007, the 

National Academy of Sciences concluded that the science conducted on 

the moon is of high value. NASA’s 

Science Directorate will help coordinate and expand a number of in-depth 

research efforts in lunar science and 

other fields that can benefit from 

human and robotic missions to the 

moon. The lunar orbiter’s science 

mission phase is one of many of the 

science directorate’s activities that 

support moon exploration.

NASA’s Ames scientist selected for return to moon team

continued from front page

Atlas V rocket from Cape 

Canaveral, Fla., in late 2008.

After launch, the 

LCROSS shepherding 

spacecraft and the Atlas V’s 

Centaur upper stage rocket 

will fly by the moon and enter an elongated Earth orbit 

to position themselves for a 

rapid descent into a permanently shadowed crater near 

the moon’s south pole.

On final approach, the 

instrument-laden spacecraft 

and the upper stage will 

separate. They will hit the 

lunar surface about four 

minutes apart. The spacecraft 

will fly through the Centaur 

debris plume and collect 

data before its own impact. 

The LCROSS impacts are 

expected to be visible from 

Earth using 10-to-12 inch 

and larger telescopes.

Artist’s depiction of the Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing 

Satellite (LCROSS) enroute to the moon. The LCROSS Astronomer workshoop was held recently at Ames to discuss techniques 

for observing the debris plume that will be created as a result of 

LCROSS hitting the surface of the mon in early 2009.
3 Astrogram March 2008

The Institute of Electrical and 

Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) has 

named Meyya Meyyappan, director 

of the Center for Nanotechnology 

at Ames, as the recipient of its 2008 

Judith A. Resnik Award, recognizing 

his contributions and leadership in 

the emerging field of nanotechnology, particularly carbon nanotubes 

and their applications in sensors, 

instrumentation and nanodevices 

in both aerospace and industrial 

applications. 

The IEEE is the world’s leading professional association for the 

advancement of technology. Sponsored by the IEEE Aerospace and 

Electronic Systems, IEEE Control 

Systems and IEEE Engineering in 

NASA photo by Tom Trower

Meyya Meyyappan receives 2008 IEEE Judith A. Resnik award

Medicine and Biology Societies, the 

award recognizes Meyyappan for 

the development of nanoscience and 

technology in aerospace applications and leadership in nanotechnology. The award was presented 

to Meyyappan in March at the 2008 

IEEE Aerospace Conference in Big 

Sky, Mont. 

Meyyappan helped found the 

Center for Nanotechnology in 

1991. The center is considered the 

strongest nanotechnology research 

laboratory of any of the federal laboratories, and through his efforts, has 

become one for the largest and most 

creative in U.S. government.

Meyya Meyyappan, director of the Center for 

Nanotechnology at Ames, is the recent recipient 

of the 2008 Institute of Electrical and Electronics, Inc. award for his contributions and leadership in the field of nanotechnology.

H. Julian Allen Award presented at Ames for best technical paper by Stephanie langhof

The 2007 H. Julian Allen Award 

for best technical paper was awarded to Max Bernstein, Scott Sandford, 

Louis Allamandola, Seb Gillette, 

Simon Clemett and Richard Zare for 

their paper entitled, "UV Irradiation 

of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ices: Production of Alcohols, 

Quinones, and Ethers."

The paper describes the first 

study of the irradiation chemistry of 

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 

(PAHs) in realistic interstellar ice analogs, showing that such processing 

drives both oxidation and reduction 

reactions that create a diversity of 

functionalized PAHs of astrochemical and astrobiological significance. 

The research was enabled by 

combining the unique capabilities 

of the Astrochemistry Lab at Ames 

with the world-class laser laboratory 

at Stanford University. Since this 

paper was published in Science in 

1999, it has received over 120 citations. This paper was selected from 

a group of six excellent scientific 

articles. The winning authors share a 

$10,000 honorarium.

 The H. Julian Allen Award 

presentation was given on Jan. 10 

by Max Bernstein, Scott Sandford, 

and Louis Allamandola of the Ames 

Space Sciences Division, and Profesphoto by Jennifer Heldmann

Shown from left to right for the recent H. Julian Allen Award presentations are: Ames Center 

Director S. Pete Worden; Scott Sandford, Space Sciences Division; Richard Zare, Stanford University; Max Bernstein, NASA Headquarters; and Louis Allamandola, Space Sciences Division.

sor Richard Zare of Stanford University. In the spirit of promoting 

technical excellence at the center, the 

center intends to award this prize 

on an annual basis. The 2008 call for 

nominations will go out soon via 

centerwide announcement.
4 Astrogram March 2008

continued from front page

NASA photo by Eric James

Ames hosted Yuri’s Night in Hanger 211 in April 2007. Thousands attended the unique celebration of 

space exploration in a unique gathering of artists, scientists, astronauts, performers and musicians, held 

in commemoration of humankind’s first venture into space by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

In addition to interactive demonstrations from 20 NASA projects, 10 

NASA Research Park partners and 

other technology companies, there will 

be more than 30 art installations and 

20 musical acts. Featured will be music 

ranging from the electronic sounds of 

Amon Tobin, to Telstar, featuring Phil 

Lesh of the Grateful Dead. Also, live 

aerialists, dancers, stilters, media artists, and aerobatic aircraft are scheduled to perform throughout the day 

and night. 

Participants also will hear discussions on topics such as space exploration, sustainability and the future of 

humanity for the Festival of Ideas. 

The integration and alternation of inspiring technical speakers with musical acts will fill four stages throughout 

the celebration. Will Wright, creator 

of SimCity, SimEarth, The Sims, 

and many other games, will discuss 

SPORE, his new game involving life, 

evolution and exploration. 

Astrobiologist Jonathan Trent, 

leader of the NASA GREEN team 

conducting green technology research, 

and Saul Griffith, founder of Makani 

Power, will discuss technology needed 

for a sustainable future. Astronauts 

and representatives from the Long 

Now Foundation also will participate 

in the celebration.

Tickets are on sale at a discounted 

price of $20 each by the NASA Ames 

Exchange for NASA employees. 

Tickets also are available online at full 

price on www.yurisnightbayarea.net 

for the general public. Limited VIP 

tickets are available online for $200.

 As a federal facility, controlled 

drugs and weapons are prohibited. 

Anyone caught with a prohibited item 

will be subject to applicable federal 

laws and penalties. 

Yuri’s Night was founded in 2001 

by members of the Space Generation 

Advisory Council, in support of the 

United Nations Programme on Space 

Application. The council is a nongovernmental organization representing youth, students and young space 

professionals. 

The council was conceived at the 

Third United Nations Conference on 

the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of 

Space in Vienna in 1999, and has permanent observer status in the United 

Nations Committee on the Peaceful 

Uses of Outer Space. 

Yuri’s Night is one of the council’s 

largest projects, with synchronized 

The following is a statement 

from Alan Stern, NASA associate 

administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at Headquarters in 

Washington, regarding the death of 

Arthur C. Clarke:

"Arthur Clarke was a gifted 

writer of science and science fiction, 

and an unparalleled visionary of the 

future, inspiring countless young 

NASA statement following death of 

famed writer Arthur C. Clarke

Huge crowds expected to turn out for Yuri’s Night 2008

celebrations happening in dozens of 

countries each year since 2001. Yuri’s 

Night attracts considerable media attention.

Information and tickets are available on-line at http://bayarea.yurisnight.net/ For more information on 

YNBA, contact info@yurisnightbayarea.net. 

Editor’s Note: Arthur C. Clark 

passed away on March 19, 2008.

people throughout the middle and 

later 20th century with his hopeful 

vision of how spaceflight would 

transform societies, economies, and 

humankind itself. 

"Although his personal odyssey 

here on Earth is now over, his vision 

lives on through his writing; he will 

be sorely missed."
5 Astrogram March 2008 NASA photo by Eric James

Michelle Elam, director, African 

and African American Studies at 

Stanford University, spoke recently at 

Ames about “Race and the Post Civil 

Rights Era.” 

Her visit was sponsored by the 

African American Advisory Group 

as part of the 2008 African American 

History events at Ames. 

Elam serves as the director of 

Undergraduate Studies and associate professor in English at Stanford 

University. She was a Hewlett Fellow 

at Stanford’s Research Institute of 

Comparative Studies in Race and 

Ethnicity in 2002-03, and twice the 

recipient of the St. Clair Drake Outstanding Teaching Award at Stanford 

(2004, 2006). 

She is a recent recipient of the 

2007 Ford Foundation Research 

Stanford professor discusses race and post civil rights

Michelle Elam, director, African and African 

American Studies at Stanford University, spoke 

recently at Ames about “Race and the Post Civil 

Rights Era.”

Grant. Her courses and research 

interests span the 19th - 21st centuries. Elam is well-known in her field 

of study both locally and abroad for 

her work in African American literary history and culture, mixed race 

literary and theory, multiculturalism 

and civil rights. 

Elam’s publications include 

numerous books, articles, and 

review essays, which include “Race, 

Work, and Desire in American 

Literature” and “Identities in Education-Reprinted.” 

Elam has given presentations 

through the Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) and radio live talk shows. 

This month, she was a guest panelist 

at the Harvard Law School and the 

Kennedy School of Government. 

Thanks to the skill of its experienced pilot, good weather conditions 

and no doubt a dash of good luck, a 

small, privately-owned aircraft landed 

safely at Moffett Federal Airfield earlier this month without the use of any 

of its landing gear.

The drama began about 4 p.m. on 

Tuesday, March 4, when the pilot of 

a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza 

enroute from Hayward, Calif., to San 

Carlos Airport where the aircraft is 

based, notified air traffic controllers 

that the left landing gear was stuck.

Unable to lower the left wheel for 

a normal landing, the pilot requested 

emergency assistance. Air traffic controllers diverted the aircraft to Moffett 

Field, where the two runways are longer and less congested than the single 

runway at San Carlos Airport, and 

alerted airfield personnel to prepare 

for an emergency landing. 

To lessen the chance of a fire, air 

traffic controllers ordered the pilot 

to continue circling the airfield to 

burn off excess fuel from its 74-gallon capacity tank. Meanwhile, on the 

Despite no landing gear, small airplane lands safely at Moffett

ground below an extensive contingent 

of emergency personnel and vehicles 

were quickly assembled to deal with 

the emergency landing.

Under the command of Battalion 

Chief Robert Wilson, Moffett Fire 

Department dispatched two aircraft 

fire fighting vehicles containing 

approximately 4,000 gallons of fire 

retardant, and one rescue fire engine 

to the runway. Two American Medical Response ambulances were also 

standing by to transport any injured 

occupants of the airplane to a nearby 

hospital if necessary. Also on hand 

were also several security and airfield 

ground support personnel to provide 

assistance if needed. 

After about an hour of circling the 

airfield, Moffett Field Fire Chief Steve 

Kelly decided it was time to bring 

the aircraft down for an emergency 

landing while it was still daylight. 

At approximately 5:15 p.m., the pilot 

cautiously began his descent towards 

the runway.

As the crippled aircraft slowly approached the runway, the pilot, who 

had used up all but about 30 gallons 

of his remaining fuel, throttled back to 

slow the plane down as much as possible without stalling. A few anxious 

minutes later, the small plane gently 

touched down on the concrete runway, 

and skidded along the concrete for 

several hundred feet before coming to 

a stop.

Neither the pilot, a 57-year-old 

resident of nearby Atherton, nor his 

passenger, a friend who works at 

United Airlines, were injured. Both 

immediately jumped out of the aircraft 

and signaled that they were both okay, 

prompting a huge sigh of relief from 

worried onlookers.

“It’s the safest way to land this 

aircraft in a situation like this,” said 

Ames Fire Chief Steve Kelly, who had 

recommended the belly-landing.

A large crane also was summoned 

to lift the crippled aircraft aboard a 

flatbed truck to be towed away for repairs following the successful landing. 

All in all, a fitting conclusion to 

what could have been a much more 

serious accident.

by Michael Mewhinne
6 Astrogram March 2008

Over the years, NASA’s Ames 

Research Center’s Peter Jenniskens 

has enthusiastically raised his hand 

to point out meteors streaking across 

a starry sky. In February, he raised 

his right hand to the stars and stripes 

of the American flag and proudly 

became a U.S. citizen. 

 “It feels like the natural progression of a long journey,” Jenniskens 

said about becoming an American. “I 

found a home, my wife and my identity as a researcher here.”

 Only a few years ago, Jenniskens’ 

wings were clipped and he was 

grounded from flying in a mission to 

observe a meteor shower due to his 

status as a permanent resident. 

“My line of work is impacted by 

global and national events,” Jenniskens explained. “After the 2001 

World Trade Center attacks, new rules 

required that I have permission to fly 

aboard an Air Force aircraft because I 

was a foreign national. Mission management could not make my arrangements in time. Instead, I observed the 

November 2001 Leonid shower from 

the ground, while Ames Astrobiology Academy students operated my 

cameras on the aircraft. Fortunately, 

the mission was a great success, and 

Astronomy magazine recognized it 

as the ‘astronomy news story of the 

year.”

 Jenniskens was born in a small 

countryside town in a southern province of the Netherlands. As a young 

man, he took a nervous leap and left 

his home to study astronomy in a 

large city at Leiden University in the 

Netherlands. While there, he formed 

friendships with amateur astronomers 

in the newly founded Dutch Meteor 

Society and completed his Ph.D. in 

1992. 

Jenniskens first came to the United 

States in 1993 at the invitation of David Blake of NASA’s Ames Exobiology 

Branch. For the next two years, Jenniskens worked as Blake’s research associate studying the structural properties of ice with an electron microscope. 

Working together, they discovered the 

frost on interstellar grains has a frothy 

“high-density” form, while the ice in 

comets is usually in a very viscous 

liquid form.

Jenniskens continued his pursuit 

of understanding the dynamics of 

meteoroid streams and the physics of 

meteors at the SETI Institute, where he 

The star spangled adventures of Ames astromer Peter Jenniskens

enjoys working as part of a team, 

finding that observation campaigns with fellow astronomers 

lend the best results. 

 In 2006, Jenniskens wrote a 

book on meteor showers, Meteor 

Showers and their Parent Comets 

(Cambridge University Press). 

He currently serves as chair of 

the International Astronomical 

Union Task Group on Meteor 

Shower Nomenclature, where he 

works to organize the naming 

of meteor showers and establish 

which showers are authentic 

astronomical events.

 Now that he is a U.S. citizen, 

Jenniskens expects to be able 

to participate freely in airborne 

meteor observation campaigns 

around the world, such the 

Quadrantid meteor shower 

earlier this year, where Jenniskens and a team of scientists 

and meteor astronomers had an 

unobstructed view to observe nearly 

1,000 meteors from the comfy, warm 

environment of a Gulfstream V jet flying high above the winter clouds and 

storms. 

 Jenniskens often travels to be at 

the right place at the right time to 

observe unique meteor outbursts or 

spacecraft re-entries, such as the recent 

Stardust Sample Return Capsule entry, 

which resulted in significant scientific 

NASA photo by Eric James

NASA’s Ames astronomer and researcher Peter Jenniskens 

rccently became a U.S. citizen, enabling him to participate 

freely in airborne meteor observations.

by Rachel Pr

data, unique videos and his second 

nomination for Astronomy magazine’s 

"astronomy news story of the year.” 

 Jenniskens will continue to take to 

the skies and to witness and observe 

Nature’s own fireworks. 

 “I finally accepted what my 

friends in the Netherlands were already thinking: that I had turned into 

an American with a bad Dutch accent,” he said with a chuckle. 

Recently, employees at Ames sat in the aisles of the 

Space Sciences auditorium in order to hear former CIA 

Director Jim Woolsey espouse his theory that U.S. 

dependence on foreign oil is financially supporting Al 

Qaeda terrorist training camps in Pakistan. Woolsey 

addressed the Ames audience at the director’s colloquium and stated his position that if the U.S. develops 

alternative energy and fuels, it will stop its indirect 

support of states that are known to sponsor terrorism. 

Woolsey mentioned that innovations in batteries, and 

by using fuels such as ethanol, could enable the nation 

to wean itself from relying heavily on petroleum. 

Woolsey has a long history of public service. He was 

the director of the CIA from 1993 to 1995 and served 

as the Under Secretary of the Navy from 1977 to 

1979. Woolsey currently is a vice president of Booz 

Allen Hamilton and serves on the National Commission on Energy Safety. The Directors Colloquium is 

co-sponsored by the GREEN team. The next monthly 

forum will be held in April.

Former CIA director discusses, “Energy, 

Security and the Long War of the 21st Century” NASA photo by Dominic Hart

Former CIA director Jim Woolsey spoke at 

Ames about using alternative energy and fuel 

use.
7 Astrogram March 2008

NASA is replacing its legacy systems for equipment management and 

property disposal management with 

the new Integrated Asset Management 

(IAM) Property, Plant and Equipment 

(PP&E) system in May 2008. 

In an effort to facilitate increased 

awareness and understanding of the 

new system, the center’s IAM project 

manager and the Business Readiness 

Team are currently conducting one-onone briefings with center management 

in preparation for the upcoming IAM 

implementation 

 The new system is focused on the 

accountability, valuation and tracking 

of assets, and personal property that 

is either NASA-owned, NASA-held or 

NASA-owned/contractor-held. The 

new system provides an integrated 

capability that enables greater tracking 

and visibility of assets for logistics and 

bridges the gap between finance and 

logistics. 

The new system also will provide 

streamlined accounting processes and 

enable easier cost management for 

the agency. Most importantly, it will 

help NASA achieve greater financial 

reporting. 

New tracking system will provide streamlined processing by Eric Kri

 The system will be integrated 

with the existing SAP Core Financial 

System for full accounting integration 

and will include three primary components: asset management for tracking 

capital assets; equipment management for tracking property and equipment; and disposal management for 

disposition of excess property.

 The system will include a userfriendly, web-based interface called NPROP for the general NASA community’s use in managing their property 

and equipment. The agency will 

soon be releasing web-based training 

for N-PROP on SATERN. 

 For more information, visit the 

Ames IAM PP&E web site at http://

iamppe.arc.nasa.gov/.

From left to right: 

Herman Santos, Eric 

Kristich (Ames IAM 

Project Manager), and 

John Reiss discuss the 

agency’s new IAM 

Property, Plant & 

Equipment Project 

which is scheduled to 

go live in May 2008.

Aeronautics research at Ames supports 10 projects within three Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate 

programs and spans a broad range of 

technical disciplines. To insure that 

by Cheryl Quinn and Leslye Mogf

Aeronautical technical seminars help disseminate knowledge

NASA’s rich base of in-house technical knowledge and expertise is shared 

across disciplines, Ames Director of 

Aeronautics Tom Edwards created the 

Aeronautics Technical Seminar (ATS) series. “I wanted 

to develop a platform for the 

exchange of relevant technical 

information and data within 

the directorate,” he said, following a recent seminar. 

The value of Edwards’ approach is illustrated by Richard Coppenbarger’s February 

seminar, “Accommodating 

Efficient Arrival Operations 

in Constrained Airspace.” 

Coppenbarger’s research supports the Airspace Systems 

Program, which is developing 

technologies critical to the 

operation of the air transportation system of 2025. Coppenbarger’s team developed 

a system to enable “tailored 

arrivals,” which minimize fuel burn 

and reduce aircraft noise and emisRichard Coppenbarger speaking recently at the center during 

an aeronautical technical seminar series talk. His research 

addresses one of the key challenges for the Next Generation Air 

Transportation System: to allow aircraft to fly efficient descents 

under all traffic conditions.

NASA photo by Eric James

sions. Using the combined capabilities 

of NASA-developed tools, the Traffic Management Advisor and the En 

Route Decent Advisor, this research is 

an example of how existing and new 

technologies can be combined to develop innovative solutions for difficult 

problems.

 Since its inception in 2007, the ATS 

series has become a recognized forum 

for a diverse range of speakers and 

topics, and has hosted presentations 

from other Ames directorates and 

the Federal Aviation Administration. 

The seminars also provide speakers 

drawn from industry and academia 

for the center director’s colloquia. 

Recent speakers have included Paul 

Bevilaqua, Douglas Shane and George 

Donohue. After one year, the seminars 

continue to provide valuable opportunities for aeronautics researchers to 

share their work.
8 Astrogram March 2008

Much-loved Ames friend and 

colleague Chris Gong passed away 

on Feb. 18, 2008. She will always be 

remembered for her kindness, generosity, terrific sense of humor and 

courageous spirit. Her bright smile, 

sense of adventure, and positive outlook, which shone even throughout 

her six-year ordeal with breast cancer, 

inspired everyone who knew her. 

 Joining Ames as an intern in 1986, 

Chris’ programming skills and artistic 

talent fit well with the scientific visualization field. Her abilities and teamwork soon earned a full-time job with 

the Flow Analysis Toolkit (FAST) team, 

which won NASA’s 1996 Software of 

the Year award. 

As a FAST expert, Chris worked 

with scientists to create awe-inspiring 

images and videos to communicate the 

results of their research, and explained 

the importance of agency work to 

many VIPs and visitors to the NASA 

Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) 

facility. 

Later, as NAS Publications and 

Media team lead, she worked with 

her group to create stellar multimedia products, infusing a sense of fun 

and adventure into everything she 

touched. Chris earned many awards 

during 20-plus years with NASA, 

including a 2004 Ames Honor Award 

Christine Naomi Gong -- artist and friend

In memory of . . .

and a 2005 Exceptional Service Medal. 

She had a remarkable ability to connect with all kinds of people, and 

hosted numerous morale-boosting 

events for division staff.

 Born in Honolulu on Feb. 23, 1949, 

Chris moved with her mother Molly, 

and father, artist Jerry Okimoto, to 

Manhattan at age six. She graduated 

from Queens College with a Master of 

Fine Arts degree, and met her beloved 

husband Bill on the tennis court; they 

were devoted to each other for 33 

years. Chris’ pride in their son Matt 

was evident through her many stories 

about him and photos in her beautiful 

scrapbooks. 

 Her family requests that donations 

made in Chris’ name go to a cancer 

organization of choice. A memorial 

service will be held on March 29 at 10 

a.m., at the Alameda Family Funeral 

and Cremation, in Saratoga.

photo by Bill Gong

Christine Naomi Gong

Scarboro describes benefits of Environmental Management System

The Executive Order 

13423 “Strengthening 

Federal Environmental, 

Energy and Transportation Management" requires 

federal agencies to lead by 

example in advancing the 

nation’s energy, security 

and environmental performance by achieving goals 

related to vehicles, petroleum conservation, alternative fuel use, energy efficiency, greenhouse gases, 

renewable power, building 

performance, water conservation, procurement and 

pollution prevention. The 

order requires an Environmental Management 

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

John Scarboro, ISSi senior engineer, shown during his presentation 

at the center, describing the Environmental Management System.

System (EMS) approach to meet these 

goals.

EMS is a tool that allows Ames 

to manage environmental risks. By 

implementing the EMS, Ames is able 

to sustain its operations more cost 

effectively and more efficiently in 

support of NASA’s overall mission. 

Thus, research efforts can run more 

smoothly with fewer interruptions 

due to regulatory issues. 

John Scarboro, senior engineer, 

ISSi, spoke at the center in February 

during a seminar about the elements 

of the EMS program and explained 

how Ames employees can benefit from 

the EMS.
9 Astrogram March 2008

Donating blood couldn't be easier 

for Ames employees, especially as we 

can simply swing by the Moffett Training and Conference Center, Building 

3, when Stanford Blood Center holds 

its quarterly blood drive. We’re able 

to go during work hours and then get 

right back to our desk in less than an 

hour.

As so many of Ames employees do 

every three months, I decided to give 

back to the community and beyond 

in this way at the latest blood drive 

held here on March 7. Knowing that 

a single blood donation can save as 

many as four patients makes it worthwhile.

To start the process, I began by 

scheduling an appointment online 

(http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu using NASA Ames code, NAS1245.) This 

takes about two minutes to do. You 

can also just walk in without making 

an appointment. I received a confirmation e-mail with the appointment 

date and time. One can also view their 

donation history online and get results 

from blood donations, including their 

cholesterol levels.

On the day of the blood drive, I 

went to Building 3, signed in and filled 

in a short questionnaire. A health 

technician then took me to a private 

booth to go over the answers. This 

short interview determines whether 

or not a person will be able to give 

blood. Only 39 percent of the general 

population are eligible to donate. Because blood is a living tissue that is 

"transplanted" into other humans, the 

FDA imposed restrictions on those 

who may donate. One such restriction 

is that you can't donate if you've spent 

a cumulative total of three months or 

more in the United Kingdom from 

1980 through 1996, or a cumulative 

total of five years from 1980 to present in Europe. Since I moved to the 

by Astrid Ol

Giving the gift of life, only takes an hour or less at Ames

United States from England in 1979, I 

wouldn't be able to donate blood.

Once the technician determined I 

was eligible to donate my blood, she 

proceeded to take 

my blood pressure, temperature, 

pulse and perform 

a hemoglobin test, 

which is a simple 

pin prick to a finger 

of one's choice. 

This is done to 

determine that the hemoglobin levels 

are within a pre-determined normal 

range. The pin prick just stings for a 

second. Actually, it's quite nice to have 

all of this done, just for one's own personal information, especially the blood 

pressure reading. After all of this is 

done, (it only takes about 10 minutes), 

I was whisked away to a lawn chairtype of seat and sat down to relax as 

as nurse started to take my 

blood donation. It was sort 

of like a mini vacation, with 

the nurses checking on me to 

make sure I was still relaxed 

and doing fine. I hadn't even 

noticed when she inserted 

the needle, and I don't like 

needles! I met many others 

from Ames and my division 

who were there as well, so 

that makes it more pleasant. This part of the actual 

donating process took about 

15 minutes.

Once I gave my pint of blood, I 

was asked to hold up your arm for a 

few minutes. They put on an armband 

bandage and then I was off to the 

"canteen." This is in the same room, 

but consists of a long table where I sat 

for 15 minutes (they write the time 

you can be dismissed on your juice 

cup that they give you along with 

juice and cookies.) You're given these 

things to help rejuvenate your system. That's basically the process in a 

nutshell! And pretty much painless. 

Once you've donated the blood, 

your system immediately replaces 

the donated volume. As an interesting side note, an average-sized man 

has about 12 pints of blood and an 

average-sized woman about nine 

pints. One can safely donate up to six 

times in a year.

So, if you've been contemplating donating, then please consider 

it. Blood supplies are in constant 

shortage and the need for blood does 

continue to climb. Again, I don't like 

needles, but it is hardly noticeable and 

the benefits that others receive who 

really need the blood outweigh the 

minimal amount of discomfort that is 

experienced. 

Blood donations are priceless to 

the recipients and so important to their 

well-being and recovery. Besides the 

benefits to the recipients of the blood 

donations, there are several for the 

donor as well. I've also donated platelets, which is a type of donation called 

apheresis. Apheresis takes a little longer than a regular blood donation, but 

allows donors to give specific components needed by patients. Patients 

undergoing cancer therapy and those 

with leukemia, do not have enough 

platelets, because their bone marrow 

has been damaged by disease or rigorous cancer treatment. Essentially, it is 

truly about helping those whose lives 

are depending on it and is very much 

so the gift that keeps on giving. So, 

consider giving along with so many 

that already donate here at Ames. It 

is truly a good feeling to help those 

whose lives are literally depending on 

the donations.

Stanford Blood Center is a private, 

nonprofit community agency that was 

established in 1978. It has been serving 

the Bay Area for more than 23 years. 

The center supplies more than 35,000 

pints of blood and blood components 

a year to five hospitals to help an estimated 105,000 patients. It also must 

collect 400 pints of blood a day to meet 

the need of area patients. 

For more information about donating blood, call Stanford Blood Center 

at 1-888-723-7831 or go to http://

bloodcenter.stanford.edu. The next 

blood drive at the center is June 17, 

from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The last 

two dates this year are Sept. 9 and 

Dec. 17. Each of these are currently 

scheduled to be held in building 3. For 

questions about your eligibility, you 

can contact the Stanford Blood Center 

Resource Nurse at (650) 725-9968.
10 Astrogram March 2008

Ames emergency 

announcements

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

instructions for Ames employees. You 

can also listen to 1700 KHz AM radio 

for the same information.

Ames Ongoing Monthly Events Calendar

Security/Law Enforcement Activity

Fire Protection Activity

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

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

of February 2008 is shown below.

Protective Services monthly activity

 Safety Data 

 NASA-Ames Occupational

 Illness-Injury Data for 

 Calendar Year-to-Date 2008

 Jan. 1, 2008 - Feb. 29, 2008

 Civil Contractors

 Servants

 

 First aid cases 4 0

 Lost Workday cases 0 0

 Recordable cases 0 2

 Restricted duty days 0 2

 Above data are as of Feb. 29, 2008. 

 May be subject to slight adjustment in

 the event of a new case or new informa- 

 tion regarding an existing case.

Ames Amateur Radio Club, third Thurs., of 

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

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

Ames Ballroom Dance Club, Classes on 

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

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

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

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

Ames Bicycling Club, every third Wednesday 

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

Auditorium. POC: Julie Nottage at jnottage@

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

Ames Bowling League, Homestead Lanes on 

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

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

4-1132. 

Ames Child Care Center Board of Directors 

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

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

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

Environmental Forum, first Thursday every 

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

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

Ames Federal Employees Union (AFEU) Mtg, 

First Wednesday of November (7th), noon. 

First Wednesday of December (5th), noon. 

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

Wednesday each month, same location. Guests 

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

Paul K. Davis, ext. 4-5916. 

The Hispanic Advisory Committee for 

Excellence (HACE) Mtg., first Thursday of each 

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

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

Leon, ext. 4-6498.

Jetstream Toastmasters, Mondays, 12 p.m. 

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

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

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

Ames Mac Support Group Mtg., third Tuesday 

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

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

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

on weekend mornings. POC: Mark Sumich, 

ext. 4-6193.

Native American Advisory Committee Mtg., 

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

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

Ames Nimble Knitters Club, every Tuesday 

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

Rosalyn Jung, knitfan2@yahoo.com or Diane 

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

nasa.gov

Ames Safety Committee, third Thursday of 

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

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

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

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

Ames Sailing Club Mtg., second Thursday of 

each month (March through November), from 

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

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

ext. 4-4571.
11 Astrogram March 2008

The Ames Cat Network needs help finding 

homes for cats trapped at Moffett. They 

range from feral to abandoned/lost pets. 

Tested, altered and inoculated. Call Iris at 

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

interested in fostering or adopting a cat.

Ames Cat Network

Looking for a professional female roommate 

to share beautiful, spacious, 2bd/2ba condominium in downtown Mountain View. Located 

a block from Castro, close to all restaurants and 

shops, library, Caltrain station, Stevens Creek 

Trail, and HWY 101, 85 and 237. Bedroom for 

rent is bright, airy, w/2 large bay windows and 

bathrm. In-unit W/D. Garage parking. Avail. 

April 1. I am a professional female, easy-going, 

considerate and responsible. N/S or drugs. 

$1,100 per month. E-mail jingmei.liang@gmail.

com

Ames Classifieds Exchange Information

Beyond Galileo Gift Shop N-235 in 

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

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

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

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

Visitor Center Gift Shop N-943 

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

NASA logo merchandise, souvenirs, toys, gifts and 

educational items. 

Ongoing Vacation Opportunities

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

community by the Ames Exchange Council. Visit 

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

NASA Lodge (N-19) 603-7100

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

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

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

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

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

special events. POC -Chana Langley, Pool Manager 

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

purchasing a membership, there is an entrance fee: 

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

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

fee). Special events: include military training, swim 

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

special events is $50/hr.

Ames Swim Center (N-109) 603-8025

Ads for the next issue should be sent to astrogram@

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

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

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

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

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

material received, we are unable to verify the accuracy 

of the statements made in the ads. Caveat emptor! 

RV Lots Available Call to reserve a 

space at (650) 603-7100/01.

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

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

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

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

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

adult) 

Moffett Field Golf Club with ‘Tee minus 

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

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

of slopes, close to lifts. Per night: $250, plus $145 

cleaning fee. Two night minimum. Includes linens, 

propane fireplace, fully equipped. Call (650) 968-

4155, DBMcKellar@aol.com.

Bass Lake vacation rental, 4 mls south of Yosemite. 

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

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

(650) 390-9668.

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

in canyon setting. Fully eqpd kitchen. Access to 

priv. beach. Tub in patio gdn. Halfway between 

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

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

(650) 328-4427.

Pine Mountain Lake vacation home. Access to golf, 

tennis, lake, swimming, horseback riding, walk 

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

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

Incline Village, Forest Pines, Lake Tahoe condo, 3 

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

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

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

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

ACruiseStore.com $135/night spring and fall, 

$173/night summer and winter (holidays higher) 

plus $125 cleaning fee and 12 percent Nevada 

room tax. Charlie (650) 743-8990.

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

apt. in 24 hour security fbldg. overlooking

Washington Square Park, $1,000/week or

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

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

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

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

Santa Cruz townhouse, 2 bedrooms plus study, 

2 baths, decks, totally furnished, 3 blocks from 

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

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

8476 (C).

Lake Tahoe cabin rental in Agate Bay, North Shore. 

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

deck, sleeps 10. Closest skiing is Northstar, Alpine 

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

week. Call (408) 867-4656.

Florida west coast vacation in St. Petersburg, 

beautiful 2bd/2ba condo, fully equipped kitchen 

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

Beach, monthly or 2 week minimum rentals only. 

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

Monterey Bay vacation rental at Pajaro Dunes, 20 

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

with distinctive architecture. Beautiful ocean and 

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

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

cleaning by the maid service when you depart. 

Call (408) 252-7260.

South Lake Tahoe large cabin surrounded by 

protected forest, 8 miles from Stateline Sleeps 12 

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

Matt (408) 482-5286

South Lake Tahoe cozy home backs up to large 

open meadow, 1 mile from Heavenly Valley. Sleeps 

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

482-5286.

Car Pool

‘06 Lincoln Towncar, light French silk clear coat, 

4 dr, back-up sensors, 6 cd changer, 5,900 miles. 

Orig. $45,000. Like new. Asking $31,000. John 

(408) 245-6926 . 

Transportation

Looking for car pool from Newman (or 

Los Banos) 2 - 3 days a week. Call (408)

394-5606 (cell) or ext. 4-4773 (work).

Room for rent w/priv. bath with large tub and 

shower (in 2 bd/2 ba condo). Month to month, 

$750 per month. Deposit $750. 12-foot-by-12-

foot room, closet organizer, built in shelves, 

cable and phone jack in room. Laundry and 

kitchen use. 15 min from NASA. Quiet neighborhood. Close to 680/880/101 hwys. Pool/

hot tub/weight room on site. I have parakeets. 

Would like a mature renter. No pets, no drugs, 

non smoker. No couples. Please provide credit 

report. If interested please call (650) 255-1977. 

Housing
12 Astrogram March 2008

Don Norman of Northwestern 

University and well-known author 

and long-term aviation safety research 

collaborator with NASA’s Ames, recently spoke at the center on the topic 

of his published book, "The Design 

of Future Things: Cautious Cars and 

Cantankerous Kitchens." 

The book discusses the increasing role that automation plays in such 

everyday places as the home, and 

automobile. According to Norman, 

“Everyday products are getting more 

intelligent and more demanding. Not 

only do they tell us what routes to 

take when we drive, but also how to 

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

Panel discusses Unmanned Aircraft System Access to national airspace

Automation plays increasing role in everyday life NASA photo by Eric James

Don Norman, author and long-term aviation 

safety researcher, spoke at Ames about his book, 

“The Design of Future Things: Cautious Cars 

and Cantankerous Kitchens.”

NASA Deputy Administrator’s, 

Shana Dale’s corner on InsideNASA 

this month features an article entitled, 

"The Water Security Corporation.” 

The feature describes how the 

Microbial Check Valve, originally developed by NASA's Marshall Space 

Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., used 

to convert water into potable water 

for astronauts on the space shuttle 

What’s on InsideNASA . . .

and the International Space Station, 

is now being used in rural areas of 

the United States and in developing 

countries around the world to produce drinkable water.

For more information visit: 

http://insidenasa.nasa.gov/portal/

binary/gov.nasa.insidenasa.StoriesRSSFeedServlet

The Silicon Valley Chapter of the 

Association for Unmanned Vehicle 

Systems International along with the 

IEEE-Robotics and Automation Society, American Institute of Aeronautics 

and Astronautics and the Association 

of Old Crows, recently sponsored a 

panel discussion at Ames recently 

about Unmanned Aircraft System Access to the National Airspace. 

Some of the key discussed were 

that the potential market for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is considerable. According to the panelists, 

the number of applications involving 

the national air space is large, and the 

lack of response for helping companies 

get UAS access to the air space is hindering considerable economic opportunity for United States companies. 

The UAV panel, left to right, Laurence Newcome, Rori Marston, Glenn 

Witt and Jeff Bauer answer questions at the end of the event.

Panelists also noted 

that foreign companies are working more 

with UASs and that the 

United States is falling 

behind. Panelists also 

noted that many businesses are frustrated 

with the slow response 

to regulations, some 

of which are driving 

companies out of the 

market. 

Panelists suggested that local companies combine 

money and resources in order to make 

a concerted response to the lack of 

unmanned aircraft systems.

Approximately 80 people attended 

the discussion with presentations 

that are available on the chapter Yahoo 

group: auvsisiliconvalley. 

Those interested in affiliating with 

the chapter should look to join this 

group and visit the web site at http://

www.auvsisiliconvalley.org).

drive. If they don't like our driving, 

they are starting to take control. These 

well-intended devices fail the test of 

proper social interaction, sometimes 

amusingly, but possibly tragically. 

There is a way to build systems to 

maximize utility and pleasure while 

minimizing the dangers and frustrations.” Norman is co-founder of the 

Nielsen Norman Group, and is a 

former vice president of the Advanced 

Technology Group at Apple Computer. He is well known for his books 

including "The Design of Everyday 

Things" and "Emotional Design." The 

Human Systems Integration Division 

sponsored the presentation.

The Ames Astrogram is an official publication of 

Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration.

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

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

You can reach the Astrogram Office at: astrogram@

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

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

ames/astrogram.

Astrogram deadlines

Please submit articles, calendar and 

classified advertisements to astrogram@mail.arc.nasa.gov no later than 

the 10th of each month. If this falls on 

a weekend or holiday, then the following business day becomes the deadline. For Astrogram questions, contact 

Astrid Olson at the aforementioned 

e-mail address or ext. 4-3347.