April 2007

www.nasa.gov

Page 2- ‘Image Fusion’ to aid doctors 

 examine astronauts’ hearts in space

Page 3 - NASA Studies Life’s Limits in

 China’s Extreme Deserts

Page 10 - Ames Ongoing Events

Page 11 - Ames Classifieds

On the Inside . . .

NASA scientists have discovered 

evidence that a mysterious red glow, 

seen throughout the Milky Way and 

other galaxies but never on Earth, 

radiates from extremely fine dust clusNASA finds evidence for new molecular structure in space

ters that cause the glow by combining 

molecular forces that oppose each 

other.

Researchers theorize 

that the red glow, called 

the Extended Red Emission (ERE), is due to a very 

unusual form of charged 

molecular clusters. Measured in billionths of a 

meter (billionths of a yard), 

these tiny clusters are made 

of carbon-rich molecules 

called polycyclic aromatic 

hydrocarbons (PAHs) that 

are chicken-wire shaped. 

Astronomers have been 

unable to explain the red 

glow for more than 30 

years, even though PAHs 

were implicated. The highly 

luminescent source material 

requires very harsh ultraviolet radiation, a radiation field so strong that 

most known polyatomic interstellar 

molecules would be destroyed. NASA 

Ames has been a leader in the study 

of PAHs under the direction of Ames’ 

Astrochemistry Laboratory led by Dr. 

Louis Allamandola.

“We have been studying polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules 

(PAHs) in the laboratory at NASA 

Ames Research Center for a long 

time, and although I had results that 

strongly supported the idea that PAHs 

had something to do with the ERE, 

the experimental results made it clear 

that if PAHs were involved, they were 

continued on page 2

On April 13, and extending into the early hours of April 

14, NASA Ames hosted a major celebration, Yuri’s Night 

in Hanger 211. This event was a celebration of space 

exploration in a unique convergence of artists, scientists, 

astronauts, performers and musicians and held in commemoration of humankind’s first venture into space by 

Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Ames Center Director 

S. Pete Worden welcomed the crowd and also spoke about 

the Vision for Space Exploration. The evening began with 

perspectives from pioneering space traveler Anousheh 

Anasari and Ames’ Chris McKay, world renowned expert 

in astrobiology and terraformation. The hanger and 

adjoining tarmac were filled with cutting-edge interactive 

technology and science demonstrations, including innovations from the world of robotics, engineering, chemistry 

and astronomy, presented by NASA and Bay Area scientists and engineers.

Thousands celebrate Yuri’s Night at NASA Ames

NASA photo by Eric James

Proto-planetary nebula, the ‘red rectangle,’ taken by the Hubble 

Telescope. Original color photo shows the red glow, called the 

Extended Red Emission.

NASA photo
 Astrogram April 2007

present in some as-yet unknown 

exotic form,” said Murthy Gudipati 

of the University of Maryland and 

Ames, who recently joined NASA’s 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory after many 

years of close collaboration with Allamandola.

“These types of highly reactive 

species are simply not readily accessible for laboratory study, but need 

very special conditions,” added 

Gudipati. Through a combined effort 

of laboratory and theoretical chemistry 

calculations, the current advance in 

knowledge was made.

Using advanced computational 

methods, scientists found that the red 

glow is indeed carried by unusual 

clusters of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules. Highly developed 

tests confirm the presence of opposing 

properties within each cluster; they 

are charged and highly reactive, yet 

simultaneously, they have a stable, 

closed-shell electron configuration as 

by Ruth Dasso Marlai

continued from front page

Practicing medicine on trips to the 

moon will be harder than on Earth, 

because spaceships will be far away, 

and few doctors will be aboard.

NASA Ames scientists are studying ways to improve space medicine to tackle space travel’s medical 

challenges. One effort is to develop 

‘Image Fusion’ to aid doctors examine astronauts’ hearts in space

‘image fusion.’ In this process, clear, 

sharp x-rays and other high-resolution, scanned images of astronauts 

taken on Earth will be combined with 

less sharp sonograms taken onboard 

spacecraft to enhance those images. 

These improved images will enable 

doctors to better see the condition of 

major organs in astronauts. 

Sonogram scanners use non-invasive sound waves to take pictures of 

organs and features inside the body. 

Doctors also use sonograms to view 

and monitor unborn babies. Because 

sonogram scanners often are lighter 

and use less power than other kinds 

of scanners, they are better suited for 

space travel.

“We want to be able detect any 

changes (in astronaut) organ structure 

and function during spaceflight,” said 

Richard Boyle, an Ames scientist and 

neurology expert. Neurologists study 

the nervous system and potential neurological medical problems.

“This would allow us to provide 

early intervention to resolve medical (problems) before they become 

more serious. There will be very 

limited diagnostic tools available to 

the astronauts, and this image fusion 

may provide a way to help astronauts 

maintain their health,” Boyle said.

Small space crews probably will 

include only one or two medical doctors. Though potentially thousands of 

doctors and other specialists on Earth 

also will be on call to help crewmembers during spaceflight, home-planet 

medical specialists and their massive 

equipment will be far from spaceships 

or astronauts walking on the moon.

“In order to investigate any potential changes that may occur during long-term space travel, we have 

selected the human heart and kidneys 

as our initial study subjects,” Boyle 

observed. 

According to Xander Twombly, a 

colleague of Boyle’s, “We’re working 

on development of a digital model of 

the human heart and kidneys. This 

is a computer model of the heart that 

can be used to predict changes in heart 

function under different gravitational 

conditions,” Twombly explained.

“We’ll be using computerized 

tomography, commonly known as 

CT scans -- which are 3-D x-rays - to 

take pictures of the beating heart on 

Earth prior to spaceflight,” explained 

Twombly. “These x-rays provide 

continued on page 6

NASA finds evidence for new molecular structure in space

does any stable molecule on Earth.

Recent advances in theoretical 

techniques made it possible to tackle 

this problem computationally.

“Significant difficulties involved in 

the modeling of charge transfer within 

large molecular systems required 

an entirely new approach,” said Dr. 

Timothy Lee, astrochemist and chief 

of the Space Science and Astrobiology 

Division at Ames.

“Once we convinced ourselves 

that our new approach could handle 

these strange particles, I was able to 

simulate the detailed emission process 

on molecular systems much larger 

than any that had been done before,” 

said Young Min Rhee, postdoctoral 

fellow at the University of California, 

Berkeley, and the lead author of the 

paper published last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of 

Sciences. “Our simulation shows that 

this type of charged PAH cluster can 

account for the ERE while satisfying 

the physical requirements necessary to 

survive the harsh interstellar conditions” continued Rhee.

According to scientists, this research has important implications in 

other areas as well, including combustion processes and exotic nanomaterials. For instance, the formation 

of soot particles produced by diesel 

and jet engine combustion is not well 

understood. Self-forming PAH clusters 

may be the key step to understanding this process. Evidence suggests 

there is closed-shell charged PAH 

ions in flames, and the highly robust 

yet unusual closed-shell PAH clusters 

described here may be the soot nucleation sites in flames, a result that has 

been long anticipated.

For more information, please visit: 

http://spacescience.arc.nasa.gov/

redglow/

These preliminary ‘image fusion’ picture of the 

human heart were taken from a movie generated at 

Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, Salinas, Calif.

photo courtesy Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital
 Astrogram April 2007

Searching for clues to the potential for life on Mars, NASA scientists 

recently explored microbial communities in some of the world’s oldest, 

driest and most remote 

deserts, in China’s northwest region, and found 

evidence suggesting that 

conditions there may be 

similar to those in certain 

regions of Mars.

This is the first comprehensive study of microbial ecosystems in the 

extreme deserts of China. 

Scientists looked for 

microbial life and tried 

to determine climate’s 

effect on the distribution, 

diversity and abundance 

of that life in extreme 

conditions. Results of this 

study were published 

recently in the Journal of 

Geophysical Research.

“Our findings showed 

that numerous sources of water, such 

as rainfall and snowmelt, characterized how microbial life existed in its 

environment,” said Chris McKay, 

NASA studies life’s limits in China’s extreme deserts

the principal investigator at Ames. 

“Rainfall amounts primarily dictated 

the type of microbial ecosystems we 

found across sites, but the effects of 

temperature, humidity and light created a gradient of soil water conditions suitable for life as well,” added 

McKay.

In December 2006, NASA published satellite images from the Mars 

Global Surveyor mission that showed 

periodically changing gullies on the 

surface of Mars. Although 

no one knows for sure how 

the martian gullies were 

formed, some scientists 

hypothesize that they may 

be the result of surfacing 

groundwater or melting of 

ice in the martian subsurface.

According to McKay, 

single-celled organisms can 

exist only if there is enough 

water, which determines 

life’s limits. To study the 

possibilities of microbial life 

on Mars, scientists went to 

the most arid, Mars-like environments they could find 

on Earth, the dry valleys 

of Antarctica, the Atacama 

Desert of Chile, and now 

northwestern China.

Scientists who are interested in 

Mars and its environmental conditions have been studying microbial 

continued on page 5

A memorial service to honor Ames security guard Johnny Green was held 

the morning of March 21, 2007 at Ames on the parade grounds inside 

the Shenandoah Historic District. More than 1,129 Ames personnel and 

guests and family members, including Johnny Green’s daughter Cynthia 

Green, center photo, attended the event. Bob Dolci, chief, Protective 

Services, top left, spoke during the memorial service, as well as many 

others who were inspired by Johnny. As a reminder, the ‘Johnny G. Green 

Memorial Fund’ has been set up at the Golden Bay Federal Credit Union. 

For those who wish, donations can be sent to Golden Bay Federal Credit 

Union, P.O. Box 1449, Mountain View, CA 94042-1449.

Huge crowd turns out for Johnny Green memorial at Ames

Tian Shan central Asia Environmental sensors monitor climate conditions year-round 

at the Sorkuli study site in the Qaidam Basin, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. 

photo by Kimberley Warren-Rhodes

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

NASA photo by Eric James
 Astrogram April 2007

Nathalie Cabrol, a NASA Ames/

SETI Carl Sagan Center scientist who 

specializes in planetary geology, is one 

of the key figures in a new book by 

Lee Gutkind entitled ‘Almost Human, 

Making Robots Think.’

Gutkind spent the past six years 

watching and recording various 

research and experiments at places 

like NASA and the Robotics Institute 

at Carnegie Mellon that are striving to 

produce an autonomous robot some 

day in the future.

Cabrol, who has a whole chapter 

named after her in the book, is a petite 

French woman with short, tousled 

hair and a comfortable demeanor. 

She shares an office at Ames with 

her husband, Edmond Grin, who is 

a geologist and hydrologist. When 

asked to share her personal interests 

and current projects in the robotics 

field, Cabrol happily obliged with the 

following interview. 

 “There is never a typical day,” 

Cabrol said. “ These are the kinds of 

words we never use, ‘typical day’ and 

‘work.’ Because this is not what it’s 

about, it’s about passion and it’s about 

imagination and vision.”

Cabrol, who has traversed some 

NASA/SETI scientist featured in new book about robots

by Karen Hags

of the most desolate places on Earth 

in the name of research, puts in long 

hours to make her dreams a reality. 

Exploring how robots can explore 

Mars or other inhospitable areas for 

humans is just a facet of 

her talents.

But even when in 

the office, she doesn’t 

consider her 12 hours or 

more a day “work.”

“I have my husband 

here with me, so I don’t 

have to call home and 

say, ‘Hey, I’m going to 

be late.’ And, we share 

the same passion so it’s 

easy,” she says in an 

upbeat tone. 

Cabrol’s schedule is 

extremely busy, as she is 

currently a science team 

member on the Mars Exploration Team and the 

principle investigator of 

the High Lakes Project 

among other assignments and travel obligations. The High Lakes 

Project involves exploring high-altitude lakes in 

the Andes because of the 

similarities these areas 

might have to ancient 

Martian lakes. 

Additionally, Cabrol 

will be continuing her 

work in the Atacama 

dessert in Chile, this time studying 

the formation of spherules, because 

this type of research is analogous to 

the rover Opportunity exploring the 

Meridian site on Mars. 

Both the High Lakes Project and 

the Atacama assignment demand 

strenuous activity, and the fact that 

Cabrol currently enjoys both hiking 

and diving isn’t a coincidence. 

“I was not a mountaineer but my 

husband was the one teaching me that, 

on the other hand I am a diver...These 

are skills that I developed over time 

and am putting them to use here,” she 

said. For practice, she and her husband take training trips to the Sierra’s 

and also spend time at Lassen National Park, as well as hiking Mt. Shasta 

and Mt. Whitney.

In the future, Cabrol hopes to 

characterize new and extreme environments that will support life. “One 

thing I really like to look at is both 

sides of the coin. Some ecosystems 

are disappearing because of climate 

change but others are being created...” 

she said. She would also like to stay 

involved in the robotic exploration of 

Mars, and is especially excited about 

the Mars Science Lab taking place in 

2009. 

Nathalie Cabrol is seen here diving in the Catalina Islands, Calif. She 

was there with her team in August 2006 to train and test the pure 

oxygen CODE rebreather (the black breathing apparatus that she is 

wearing in the photo.) This is the system that she took three months 

later to the Licancabur volcano to dive in the summit lake.

photo by 2006 High-Lakes Project, NAI/SETI CSC/NASA Ames
 Astrogram April 2007

by Nancy Dorig

FutureFlight Central simulates new airport . . . before it is built

In a first-of-its kind, Ames’ FutureFlight Central conducted human-inthe-loop simulations in March 2007 

of a future airport. The airport will 

be called the Ivanpah Valley Airport 

located near Las Vegas, Nev. 

The Ivanpah Valley Airfield Alternative Analysis (IVAAAN) Project 

goal was to evaluate two airport layout alternatives. FutureFlight Central 

measured airport efficiency, flexibility, 

and safety of surface operations under 

various flow directions, traffic levels, 

and visibility conditions.

The simulations enabled planners 

to look well beyond the normal time 

frame for such studies to see where 

the human-operated design reaches its 

limit as an integrated system. To do 

this, they “stressed” the airport surface 

operation above currently anticipated 

peak traffic. “The simulation helped 

Clark Country planners determine 

which airfield configuration can more 

efficiently accommodate a continuous 

and demanding flow of traffic,” said 

Betty Silva, IVAAAN Project manager. 

The results of the simulation will 

provide input to the Environmental 

Impact Statement.

The simulation project was the first 

to benefit from the recent visual system enhancements which upgraded 

the image generation computers and 

display projectors. 

McCarran International Airport 

(LAS) in Las Vegas, Nev. is the sixth 

busiest airport in the nation. LAS 

is expected to reach its capacity of 

about 55 million passengers a year in 

Images captured from Ivanpah graphical database in FutureFlight Central.

Dusk at future Ivanpah Valley Airport as envisioned 

in FutureFlight Central.

ecosystems in the deserts of Earth for 

years, focusing on blue-green algae, 

or cyanobacteria. The bacteria’s green 

color indicates they are capable of 

photosynthesis, the principal process 

by which organisms produce organic 

matter from inorganic matter.

According to scientists, microbial 

photosynthesis can occur within and 

under rocks in the desert. If the rock 

is porous, like sandstone, then cyanobacteria can live within its pores 

or crevices, where water can be held. 

More commonly, cyanobacteria are 

found under translucent rocks, such as 

quartzite, where light can penetrate, 

allowing photosynthesis to occur.

To broaden understanding of 

the dynamic physical environments 

that allow for microbial survival, 

McKay’s research team traveled to 

China’s extreme northwest region in 

the spring of 2006 for data collecting 

and analyses. Field locations -- including Tokesun, Ruoqiang and Sorkuli 

-- were selected based on contrasting 

temperatures and amounts of regional 

rainfall.

Tokesun contains the lowest point 

in China, approximately 500 feet (152 

m.) below sea level. It was selected because it is hot and dry. Ruoqiang runs 

parallel to the southern edge of the 

Taklimakan Desert and is hot and wet.

Sorkuli is a high-altitude desert, 

ranging between 8,200 feet and 9,840 

feet (2500 m. to 3000 m.) that is situated along the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. 

Climate conditions there vary due to 

changes in altitude and landscape. It 

has two types of environments: cold 

and dry, and cold and wet.

“Through a comparison of similar 

available climate data for other deserts, we conclude that from a microbial physiological standpoint, although 

the Atacama Desert represents the 

driest environment recorded, and the 

Dry Valleys in Antarctica represent the 

coldest desert conditions, the high-altitude deserts in the Qinghai-Tibetan 

Plateau represent the coldest and driest conditions recorded on Earth,” said 

McKay.

This research was funded under 

the NASA Astrobiology Science and 

Technology for Exploring Planets 

program and a joint NASA - National 

Science Foundation program, called 

Life in Extreme Environments.

continued from page 3

NASA study in China’s extreme deserts

by Ruth Dasso Marlai

by 2015. The proposed airport, 

located on a 6000-acre dry lakebed 

in the Ivanpah Valley, will help 

alleviate congestion at LAS which 

can no longer expand because of 

housing and commercial development 

that surrounds it. The new airport is 

scheduled to open 2017, servicing 6 

million passengers per year.

NASA photos
 Astrogram April 2007

much higher-resolution pictures of the 

heart than an ultrasound scanner can 

provide. We’ll take ultrasounds (of 

the heart) on the Earth as well, before 

spaceflight, and then we’ll combine 

the ultrasound and the CT images 

to make an enhanced picture of the 

heart,” Twombly explained.

According to researchers, they are 

using the power of computers to tie 

x-ray details to lower-resolution ultrasound scans, so that when ultrasounds 

are taken during space travel, they 

will be sharper and show more detail.

“We’re also practicing nuclear 

medicine to view muscles at work in 

the heart,” said Boyle. Scientists use 

nuclear medicine to view processes in 

living organisms by injecting radioactive substances that muscles use 

during movement. The radioactivity 

is detected by charged coupled device 

(CCD) sensors to produce 3-D images. 

Consumer digital cameras also use 

CCDs to capture images.

NASA has teamed up with doctors to develop image fusion for 

sonograms. Collaborations also aid in 

the spin-off of new technologies, like 

image fusion.

“Our collaboration is with Salinas 

Valley Memorial Healthcare System 

(SVMHS), down the road from us in 

Salinas, Calif.,” Boyle noted. “We have 

a Space Act Agreement with them. 

They provide all the imaging and 

medical expertise, and NASA provides the computer science know-how 

and systems to develop image fusion 

technology. Our group has had close interac- tions with SVMHS Sam Downing, 

President/CEO, the doctors and staff 

at Salinas for at least eight years to 

develop a wide variety of medical 

imaging technologies,” Boyle added. 

Dr. Richard Villalobos is the principal 

investigator at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital working with Boyle and 

Twombly. Talking about spin-offs, 

Boyle said, “This could also be used 

for remote medical diagnostic imaging. This means scientists working 

in an Antarctic station could provide 

continuous ultrasound images of their 

vital organs to medical doctors to 

monitor future medical problems,” he 

continued.

“In Third World telemedicine, 

you can bring a patient to a clinic, 

and a technician can use ultrasound 

to record a patient’s organ and how it 

changes over time,” Boyle explained. 

Doctors at a distant hospital could 

Scientists also want to learn how 

the space environment affects the 

human body during spaceflight, and 

when astronauts are exploring the 

moon. “The imaging data then would 

be combined with a computerized 

model of the human body,” Boyle said. 

The two scientists say these models 

commonly show blood flow within the 

heart, muscle movements and kidney function. The new data from the 

enhanced ultrasound will add more 

detail to these models.

According to Boyle, if the image 

fusion techniques were validated with 

ground-based studies, the next step 

would be to conduct tests in space. 

Subjects would be scanned with many 

kinds of imaging technologies, such 

as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 

positron emission tomography (PET) 

and single photon-emission computer 

tomography (SPECT) to construct a 

‘multi-dimensional model’ of individuals before space missions. During 

flight, new ultrasound images would 

be taken, transmitted back to Earth 

and merged with the subjects’ computerized models. Researchers would 

fuse these images with ultrasound im- ages of each astronaut’s organs. “One of the things (we would like to do is) to have some images taken 

during the launch when the astronauts 

are subjected to high-g loads, to see 

whether or not we can capture any 

short-duration effects on the human 

body. Another phase of interest is 

when the human body travels from 

several gravities to a state of nearweightlessness in orbit,” Boyle added. 

During these flights, the human body 

needs to adapt to the new, microgravity space environment, according to 

the scientists.

“This research, that will combine 

the information obtained from initial 

CT images with follow-up ultrasound 

images in an individual, holds great 

promise for protecting the health of 

astronauts on exploration missions 

to other planets. More importantly, 

this may be a big help to patients and 

doctors here on Earth for following 

medical conditions, since the patient 

would receive lower radiation doses, 

the ultrasound would be easier to get 

for the patient, and may cost less,” 

said Dr. Victor Schneider, senior medical advisor in the Office of the Chief 

Health and Medical Officer, NASA 

Headquarters, Washington.

continued from page 2 

‘Image Fusion’ to aid doctors examine astronauts’ hearts in space

by John Blu

then evaluate these enhanced ultrasound images remotely to track 

patient progress, according to Boyle.

“The key thing here is that right 

now, doctors can use ultrasound and 

telemedicine to evaluate patients, but 

the ability to enhance the ultrasound 

image with the previously recorded 

CT scan of the patient is not available, and that’s the whole purpose of 

our development work,” Twombly 

explained. “A lot of our research is to validate 

if this technique can accurately rep- resent organs’ conditions with these 

CT-like images,” Twombly observed. 

During the validation process, scien- tists use ultrasound to take images of 

human organs during centrifuge rides, 

and during microgravity flights on 

airplanes that fly big loops to create 

short periods of weightlessness - and 

various gravity conditions. 

“This will test our ability to predict 

what happens to organs during different gravity conditions from microgravity to several gravities (Gs),” 

Boyle said. “If we were to pursue the 

telemedicine question . . . following 

a person with ultrasound after only 

a single CT scan at the outset, then 

we would need to take CT scans on 

a medical schedule and compare our 

ability to predict future CT scans 

(using just ultrasound). But we have 

no plan at this time to do that,” Boyle 

said.

Richard Boyle, director, Bio-Visualization, 

Imaging and Simulation Technology Center 

(BioVIS) at Ames, is currently working on 

‘Image Fusion’ technology. 

NASA photo
 Astrogram April 2007

The Ames Diversity Implementation Plan was rolled out on Nov. 6, 

2006. Soon after, as one of the most 

culturally diverse organizations at 

the center, Code C management conducted an 

informal survey of its 

employees to get a better 

understanding of the level 

of support provided to 

Code C staff in the area of 

diversity.

 The overall results of 

the survey indicated that 

Code C was on the right 

track with regard to promoting cultural diversity. 

Nevertheless, the leadership team established additional goals to promote 

diversity and diversity 

awareness. These goals 

are: 

Demonstrate management commitment to 

employees by developing 

strategies and providing 

resources that will increase 

the value of diversity within Code C; 

promote inclusion and ensure that 

diversity awareness is integrated into 

Code C activities and decision making; improve employee access to 

Code C sets up Employee Diversity Board

career opportunities through training 

and mentoring to create viable candidates for higher-level positions; and 

support improvements to the working 

environment by ensuring success of 

diversity initiatives.

To identify methods for meeting these goals, a Code C Employee 

Diversity Board was established. The by Darlene Gr

The Ames Code C Employee Diversity Board - From left to right sitting: Paula 

Harris, Terrence Montgomery, Denise Snow, Nguyen Trang, Shirley Prosper, 

Earnestine Parker, Rose King and Darlene Gross; From left, standing: Ron Liang 

and Paul Agnew, not available for photo Behnaz Mohammad Beigi.

photo by Pepsi Phounrath

purpose of the board is to draft an 

annual Code C diversity action plan 

and to provide advice to the Code C 

management team on diversity topics. 

Board membership is made 

up of volunteers from across 

the organization and includes 

representation from diverse 

cultures, backgrounds, 

genders, experiences, etc., 

and roles within the organization. Members of the 

board have an opportunity to 

establish ongoing, long-range 

processes for organizational 

change to ensure continued 

awareness and promotion of 

diversity initiatives within 

Code C.

In March, the Employee 

Diversity Board completed 

development of the first Code 

C diversity action plan. This 

plan identifies actions to be 

taken within the directorate 

to meet diversity goals. The 

board meets regularly (including the chief financial officer) and continues to provide advice 

on diversity topics as well as track the 

accomplishment of the action items 

identified in the plan.

Dr. Tsuyoshi Goka, who was a 

major contributor to the NASA Ames 

Air Traffic Management (ATM) mission area since 1993 and has worked in 

various capacities at Ames since 1972 

died on March 9. He most recently 

served as a senior researcher on the 

UCSC/UARC contract.

Goka had a long and distinguished 

career spanning 40 years. During his 

career, he pursued his love of aerospace research, applying automatic 

control system theories to aircraft/

spacecraft navigation, guidance, flight 

control, flight testing and Air Traffic 

Control (ATC) and Air Traffic Management (ATM) areas. 

The technical projects that Goka 

has managed and supported include a 

Tsuyoshi Goka, senior researcher at Ames, passes away

wide spectrum of aeronautical guidance and control systems that form the 

basis for the modern ATC and ATM 

infrastructure. 

 In the early 1980s, he was a cofounder of Seagull Technology, Inc., 

a high tech company specializing in 

advanced flight controls and ATM 

technologies. He ultimately returned 

to Ames in the mid-1980s to pursue 

his great love of technical research, 

working as a contractor, following the 

work through three employers (Sterling Software, Raytheon and finally 

UCSC/UARC).

Goka will be greatly missed by his 

colleagues in the Aeronautics Directorate and many others throughout the 

Ames community. Dr. Tsuyoshi Goka

NASA photo
 Astrogram April 2007

The course consists of a 12-hour 

presentation followed by a 4-hour 

work shop and will be held in Bldg. 

N-943 conference room, on May 1 and 

Upcoming events . . .

NASA Science Technology conference set for June 19

Mentor Graphics Corporation, 

a technology leader in Electronics 

Design Automation, will be hosting 

this year’s workshop in Santa Barbara, 

Calif., May 2 - 4, 2007. Visit this year 

Ninth NASA-ESA Workshop on Product Data Exchange 2007 set

workshop Web site at www.mentor.

com/nasa-pde for more information 

and to register. 

Contact co-chairs George Siebes, 

e-mail Georg.Siebes@jpl.nasa.gov, 

or Farrokh Shoar, e-mail Farrokh.

F.Shoar@jpl.nasa.gov, if you have 

questions concerning the workshop.

Construction Safety Best Practices Course scheduled

The NASA Science Mission Directorate is pleased to announce the first 

annual NASA Science Technology 

Conference (NSTC2007) June 19 - 21, 

2007, in College Park, Md. 

NSTC2007 will showcase a wide 

array of technology research and 

development related to NASA’s 

science endeavors: remote sensing 

instruments, platforms, components, 

power systems, propulsion systems, 

advanced information systems, sensor 

web technologies, communications, 

automation, modeling and high-per2, 2007, in Bldg. 943 at Ames. 

Civil servants and contractors 

engaged in facility construction are 

encouraged to attend. Point of contact 

UC Santa Cruz classes will be held 

in NASA Research Park beginning 

June 25, 2007.

Special features include: Open enrollment - no formal admission to UC 

required; obtain UC credit and transcript through UC Santa Cruz; classes 

are 5-unit UCSC classes; and you can 

UC Santa Cruz Summer Session classes at Silicon Valley Center

transfer your credit to other colleges 

and universities.

This is designed for community 

college students transferring to UC or 

other four-year universities; students 

from any UC campus who are in Silicon Valley this summer; and students 

from any other college or university; 

and community members interested in 

university-level coursework.

Courses will be offered in economics, engineering, environmental studies, linguistics and psychology.

For more Information, visit: 

http://summer.ucsc.edu click on 

‘UCSC @ Silicon Valley’

is Clarence Smith of Facilities Engineering Branch at ext. 4-6895.

formance computing. There is no fee 

for this conference but registration is 

required. 

Log on to: http://esto.nasa.

gov/conferences/nstc2007/ for more 

information and to register.

Recently, the center has experienced several costly incidents attributed to small wild animals infiltrating 

electrical substations and infrastructure. These incidents have led to damaged equipment and consequently, to 

delays in mission. The mishap investigation found that squirrels, in particular, have increased in population 

due largely to the availability of food 

found in the dumpsters. By assisting 

in the simple task of keeping the lids 

closed, you will help the Center to 

Remember to please keep garbage dumpster lids closed

reduce the squirrel population around 

our facilities, and prevent these costly 

accidents. 

Skunks, feral cats, and crows that 

are also attracted to garbage may prey 

on threatened and endangered species, 

placing Ames at risk of violating the 

Endangered Species Act. Pigeons can 

pose a threat to aviation safety, and 

rats to human health and safety. 

When wildlife become pests, 

abatement may be needed which may 

be controversial and draw unwanted 

attention to Ames. For these several 

reasons, the Environmental Services 

Division is coordinating with Facilities Maintenance and Logistics to 

assist Ames in securing dumpsters 

that are wildlife resistant. In the 

meantime, please close dumpster 

lids. Federal, state and local regulations require that Ames keep the lids 

closed, 40 CFR 243.200, 14 CCR, Section 17312, SCC B11-189(c). Call the 

Environmental Services Division at 

ext. 4-5602 for more information.
 Astrogram April 2007

Tier Level 4 - Individual awards

Randal Hobbs

Tier Level 3 - Team awards

VMS Safety Webbing 

Implementation Team

Lloyd Greaves 

Barry Sullivan

Ames Fleet Management Team

Tony Calvo 

Frank Navarette

Hugh Dawson 

Sheldon San Augustin

Upwt Blade Change Team

Jay Montgomery

Harry Brown

Joesph Cruz 

Daniel Cruz

Victor Cruz 

Jimmie Porter

Jerry Robinson

Nestor Rostrand

Richard Townsend

Dale Tuttle

Jim Prunty 

Dan Kalcic

Tier Level 3 - Individual awards

Andy Gonzales

Terry Lusby

Ames Safety Awards Program (ASAP) II 2006

Under the Ames Safety Awards 

Program (ASAP) II, Ames recognized 

90 employees for their outstanding 

accomplishments in improving health 

and safety during the 2006 calendar 

year. If you know of a deserving 

individual or group, you can help the 

center recognize their contribution by 

nominating them. 

To have your nomination considered for the next Ames Safety Awards 

period, it must be submitted by May 

15, 2007. The second nomination period will end on Aug. 30, 2007. 

Barbara Jo Navarro

Jacqueline Nelson

Tier Level 2 - Team awards

Code C Safety Committee:

Shirley Prosper

Brent Bertsch

Fran Johasson 

Delphina Turner

Mari Matsueda

Adrian Smith

Ernestine Parker

Gina Fox

Joseph Shields 

Behnaz Beighi

Phyllis Reutzel

Arc Jet Fire Investigative Team

Kent Stednitz 

Hanna Danfoura

Mark Washington

Tier Level 2 - Individual awards

Joseph Perez 

Douglas Wardwell

Rho Christensen

Leslie Bebout

Ann Sullivan 

Nicola Windmueller

Bob Lopez 

Stephen Ord

Wardell Lovett

Tier Level 1 - Team awards

Arc Jet Complex Team

Joe Hartman 

Scott Eddlemon

Vince Meglio 

Robert Finnie

Larry Hemstreet

Bill Peneff

Bob Wong 

Jim Joyce

Frank Hui 

Imelda Terrazas-Salinas

Dan Rendon 

Jeanne Dominguez

Francis Mcintosh

Leo Cruz

Joey Fogart 

Duy Nguyen

Rommel Mollorca

Christine Heindel

Florentino Dator

Ben Reduta

Enrique Carballo

Jose Santos

Jeff Mach 

Roy Arakaki

Van Nguyen 

Thien-Ly Vu

Peter Race 

Cesar Acosta

JP Wiens 

Matt Gilbert

Jonathan Lawton

Charina Camangon

Alex Saura 

Eddy Tamez

N203 Office Remodeling Team

Mahyar Holeman

Majorie Domen

Michelle Kolman

Fay Farrow

Donna Washington

Frank Yang

Earnestine Parker

Tier Level 1 - Individual awards

Julie Nottage 

Wenhong (Wendy) Fan

Kevin Richardson

Each of these employees and teams 

was nominated by their colleagues for 

their outstanding actions and accomplishments in improving health and 

safety conditions at Ames. 
10 Astrogram April 2007

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

 Safety Data 

 NASA-Ames Occupational

 Illness-Injury Data for 

 Calendar Year-to-Date 2007

 Jan. 1, 2007 – March 31, 2007

 Civil Contractors

 Servants

 

 First aid cases 3 4

 Lost Workday cases 0 0

 Recordable cases 0 0

 Restricted duty days 0 0

 Above data are as of 03/31/07. May 

 be subject to slight adjustment in the 

 event of a new case or new inform-

 ation regarding an existing case. 

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 March 2007 is shown below.

Protective Services monthly activity

Ames Amateur Radio Club, third Thursday 

of each 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 3rd Wednesday 

of the month. The meeting location is Building 19, Conference Room 1083 and the meeting 

time is 12 noon - 1 p.m. Contact Julie Nottage 

at jnottage@mail.arc.nasa.gov, ext. 4-3711. Bylaws of Ames Bicycling Club can be found at 

http://zen.arc.nasa.gov; the link is right under 

the picture.

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 Tuesday in N-229/Rm 117 

from 12 - 1:30 p.m. POC: Julie Schonfeld, ext. 

4-6504.

Ames Contractor Council Mtg, first Wednesday each month, 11 a.m., N-200, Committee 

Room. POC: Chris Johnson, ext. (650) 938-

8017.

Ames Federal Employees Union (AFEU) Mtg, 

third Wednesday of ea. month, 12 p.m. to 1 

p.m., Bldg. 221, Rm 104. Guests welcome. 

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

Mosher, ext. 4-4055.

Ames Mac Support Group Mtg, third Tuesday 

of ea. month, 11:30 a.m.to 1 p.m., Bldg. N262, 

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.

Ames Sailing Club Mtg, second Thursday of 

ea. month (March through Nov), from 12:00 

p.m. -1:00 p.m. in Bldg. N-262, Rm 100. URL: 

http://sail.arc.nasa.gov/. POC: Becky Hooey, 

ext. 4-2399.

Environmental Forum, first Thursday every 

other month, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Bldg. 

218/2nd floor training room. URL: http://q/

qe/events/EHSseries/ POC: Stacy St. Louis 

at ext. 4-6810.

The Hispanic Advisory Committee for Excellence (HACE) Mtg, first Thurs of month in 

N255 room 101C from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. 

POC: Eric Kristich at ext. 4-5137 and Mark 

Leon at ext. 4-6498.

Jetstream Toastmasters, Mondays, 12 p.m. to 

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

ext. 4-1397, mhayashi@mail.arc.nasa.gov, Web: 

http://jetstream.freetoasthost.com

Native American Advisory Committee Mtg, 

fourth Tues each month, 12 noon to 1 p.m., 

Bldg. 19, Rm 1096. POC: Mike Liu at ext. 

4-1132.
11 Astrogram April 2007

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. 

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

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 the 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. 

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! 

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 

in 24 hour security bldg. overlooking Washington 

Square Park, $2,000/wk or $3,000/mo. negotiable. 

Call (650) 349-0238.

Paris/France: Fully furnished studio, 5th Arr, Latin 

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

negotiable. Call (650) 349-0238.

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

Maui luxury oceanfront resort one-bedroom condo 

available one week. Rents for $345/night now, 

$495/night in the summer. We will rent to an Ames 

family for $1,750 for the week. See the condo at 

http://www.starwoodvo.com/resorts/villafeatures.

jsp?resortID=12 Call (650) 572-8877 for availabilty 

and questions.

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.

RV Lots Available Call to reserve a 

space at (650) 603-7100/01.

 Civilian/Contrators, $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.

Housing

Carpool

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.

Console piano with bench, $450. Elegant, 

plays well, due for tuning. Buyer must pick up 

(Mountain View). 57” wide, 38” high, 24” deep. 

Dan (650) 967-8849.

Looking to share days with another child at the 

NASA Ames Child Care Center. Our child is 

currently 21 months and is on the waiting list.

If interested, please call (408) 394-7114.

Oakland/Ames Carpool: opening in a carpool 

that generally leaves 880/Hegenberger at 7:15 

a.m./leaves Ames at 5 p.m. Share driving/nosmoking. Sylvia ext. 4-2646, e-mail smjohnson@

mail.arc.nasa.gov or Mike ext. 4-5496, e-mail 

mwilson@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Miscellaneous

Unfurnished room in house in San Jose, close to 

light rail and Caltrain. $525 incl. utils. and WiFi. 

Available to quiet, mature, non-smoking student 

or professional. E-mail mbualat@stanfordalumni.org or call (408)460-7532.
12 Astrogram April 200

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

The Ames Astrogram is an official publication of 

Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration.

Managing Editor..............................Ann Sullivan

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/centers/ames/astrogram/2007/07astrograms.html

Ames Research Center

Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

On May 17, thousands from all 

over the Bay Area will put their car 

keys aside, grab their helmets and 

hop on their bicycles and ride to 

work. Join in and experience bicycle 

commuting as a healthy, cheaper and 

environmentally friendly way to get 

to work. Events hosted by the Ames 

Bicycle Club in May:

• May 10 - The Ames Bicycle 

Club will host a talk by Silicon Valley 

Bicycle Coalition about commuting 

bicycle skills, from noon to 1:30 p.m., 

in Bldg. N245 auditorium. Learn to 

ride safely in traffic and on multi-use 

trails and learn the tips and tricks to 

getting to work or running errands 

by bike.

• May 17 - Stop by the Ames Bicycle Club ‘energizer station,’ across 

from Bldg. N239 guard shack, from 

6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. to pick up treats 

and gifts from local 

merchants.

Last year, NASA 

Ames research center 

had six teams entered in the Team 

Bike Challenge. The 

challenge encourages 

bicycle commuters to 

join their friends, colleagues and anyone 

else in commuting 

by bike during the 

month of May. Participants in the challenge form teams of 

two to five individuals who then think of 

a creative name for 

themselves, sign up and log the days 

they bicycle on a personalized calendar at 511.org. Teams do not have 

to ride together and each individual 

member earns a point every day he 

or she uses a bike for transportation 

purposes. 

Teams around the bay compete 

Grab your helmet - May is National Bike Month!

with each other for points to win 

a grand prize of a bike rack to be 

placed in a public space of choice. 

Each individual of the winning team 

member will also receives a Timbuk2 

bag filled with goodies! Reduce the 

use of a car, hop on your bike and 

go! For more information, contact 

contact Julie Nottage at e-mail jnottage@mail.arc.nasa.gov