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

February 2008

www.nasa.gov

David Morrison has been appointed interim director of the NASA Lunar 

Science Institute, based at Ames. A 

nationwide search for a permanent 

director is under way.

 A world-renowned planetary 

scientist, Morrison currently serves 

as senior scientist at the Ames-based 

NASA Astrobiology Institute. The 

Lunar Science Institute will be modeled after the Astrobiology Institute 

with teams across the nation working together to help lead the agency's 

research activities related to NASA's 

exploration goals. 

The Lunar Science Institute will 

fund interdisciplinary science and 

exploration research teams to conduct 

basic lunar science, as well as astronomical, solar and Earth science investigations that can be performed from 

the moon. Institute teams also will 

provide a quick-response capability in 

support of NASA's Exploration initiative. The new institute is scheduled to 

begin operations by March 1.

 "I am delighted that David 

Morrison has agreed to take on this 

challenge and responsibility. The 

NASA appoints interim Lunar Science Institute director

Science Mission Directorate is looking forward to working with him in 

the coming months," said Alan Stern, 

associate administrator of NASA's 

Science Mission Directorate, at NASA 

Headquarters.

Morrison, who obtained his Ph.D. 

in astronomy from Harvard University, has written more than 155 technical 

papers and published a dozen books. 

He has worked at Ames since 1988, as 

chief of the space science division and 

director of the space directorate at the 

center. 

Previously, Morrison was on the 

faculty of the University of Hawaii. 

He is the recipient of the Dryden 

Medal for Research of the American 

Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Sagan Medal of the American 

Astronomical Society for public communication, and the Klumpke-Roberts 

award of the Astronomical Society of 

the Pacific for contributions to science education. He also has received 

two NASA Outstanding Leadership 

medals and the Presidential Meritorious Rank.

Morrison is an Ames institution 

and a pillar of the planetary research 

David Morrison, recently appointed interim 

director of the NASA Lunar Science Institute 

at Ames.

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

by Michael Mewhinney

continued on page 6

continued on page 4

Sensitive detectors that may help 

find habitable planets orbiting distant 

stars as part of NASA’s Kepler Mission 

are undergoing tests at Ames.

Scheduled to launch in February 

2009, the Kepler Mission will measure 

tiny variations in the brightness of 

stars to find planets that pass in front 

of them during their orbits. During 

these passes, or “transits,” the planets will slightly decrease the star’s 

brightness. The detectors are similar to 

the image detectors found in a digital 

camera, but much more sensitive.

“This is a major milestone for the 

Kepler mission,” said David Koch, 

deputy principal investigator for 

the Kepler Mission. “We will use 

hardware identical to what we will 

be flying on Kepler in the test bed at 

NASA Ames conducts tests of Kepler mission image detectors by Michael Mewhinney

continued on page 2

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

Tests were conducted at Ames on the Kepler image detectors. The Kepler mission is scheduled to launch 

in February 2009 and will measure the variations in the brightness of stars in order to locate planets that 

pass in front of them during their orbits.

Page 2 - Space enthusiasts toss around

 innovative ideas at Ames thinkfest

Page 3 - NASA’s Ames enables commercial

 weightless aircraft flights

Page 3 - Junior engineers think big at

 Future City competition

Page 8 - Ongoing monthly events

Page 9 - Classifieds

On the Inside . . .
2 Astrogram February 2008

Ames. We will have the ability to create transits of a star so that we can see 

the change in the star’s brightness. By 

simulating transits, we will be able to 

demonstrate that the flight hardware 

will work,” Koch explained.

Kepler mission scientists will 

determine the frequency of Earthsize and larger planets in or near the 

habitable zone around other stars. Although hundreds of larger, Jupiter-like 

planets composed of gas already have 

been detected, Kepler mission scientists are seeking smaller planets where 

water, and perhaps, life, could exist.

“We expect to find dozens of 

planets in the habitable zone of 

solar-like stars that are terrestrial size, 

rocky planets, similar to Earth,” said 

William Borucki, Kepler’s science 

principal investigator. “We will learn 

whether Earths are common or rare in 

our galaxy.”

There will be 42 charge coupled 

devices (CCDs) used in the focal plane 

of the telescope during the actual 

mission. Together, the 42 CCDs make 

up a large array measuring about a 

foot square in Kepler’s telescope. This 

is the largest array of CCD detectors 

ever flown in space, Koch said.

In this month’s single string transit 

verification test at Ames, scientists 

will be testing only one CCD, measuring approximately one inch by two 

inches. Scientists will use a Kepler 

technology demonstration test bed 

to generate a star field, a pattern of 

stars, to represent that part of the sky 

where mission scientists will search for 

transits. The tests will verify the detectors’ ability to measure the tiny light 

intensity variations.

In space, the array of detectors will 

be covered with sapphire field-flattener lenses and use a telescope, which 

Borucki said will search a region of sky 

30,000 times larger than the Hubble 

Space Telescope is able to observe.

continued from front page

NASA Ames conducts tests of Kepler mission image detectors

Kepler is a NASA Discovery mission. NASA Ames is the home organization of the science principal investigator and is responsible for the ground 

system development, mission operations and science data analysis. Kepler 

mission development is managed by 

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 

Pasadena, Calif. Ball Aerospace & 

Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo., is 

responsible for developing the Kepler 

flight system.

For more information about the 

Kepler mission, visit: http://kepler.

nasa.gov/

NASA photo by Eric James

Before the buzz from their morning coffee had fully taken effect, they 

blinked their bleary eyes at laptop 

screens and tapped out e-mails and 

internet searches 

with sluggish 

fingers. As tea and 

coffee warmed their 

blood and upped 

their spirits, Ames 

Center Director S. 

Pete Worden and his 

senior advisor Jack 

Boyd stirred their 

minds with thoughts 

of space exploration 

and the settlement 

of the solar system 

while they swirled 

cream and sugar into 

their coffee.

Worden helped kick off the second 

Next Generation Exploration Conference, held at NASA’s Ames Research 

Space enthusiasts toss around innovative ideas at Ames thinkfest

Center, Feb. 12 through Feb. 15 by 

emphasizing that affordable space 

missions are happening around the 

world and that the key to their success 

is involving and exciting the private 

sector. The conference’s estimated 

100 attendees were young, up-andcoming space exploration innovators 

and entrepreneurs who hailed from a 

variety of backgrounds. They filled the 

conference center, over flowing onto 

patios and spilling into the lobby in 

enthusiastic round table discussions 

about groundbreaking 

approaches to designing the future of space 

exploration. 

The conference 

sandwiched presentations by officials from 

NASA Headquarters, 

including Gale Allen of 

the Strategic Integration and Management 

Office, and Doug Comstock of the Innovative 

Partnerships Program 

Office, between representatives of companies such as Odyssey Moon Limited and the Paragon 

Space Development Corporation. For 

by Rachel Pruce

continued on page 4

NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale visited 

the Bay Area on Feb. 19 to give the keynote speech at 

the Engage!2008 Procurement and Commerce Expo., 

held at the Fairmont Plaza, in San Jose, Calif. The 

event honored Ceil McCloy of ISSi Research, recipient of the National Association of Women Business 

Owners - Silicon Valley’s, “Public Policy Advocate 

of the Year Award 2008.”

Shana Dale visits Silicon Valley NASA photo by Dominic Hart

A hundred or so young space exploration innovators and explorers attended the 

recent second Next Generation Exploration Conference held at Ames.
3 Astrogram February 2008

Commercial, weightless flights 

were recently offered at Moffett Field, 

under the terms of an agreement with 

the Zero Gravity Corp, Las Vegas. Additional flights will be scheduled later 

this year.

“We’re delighted to have signed 

this historic agreement with ZEROG,” said Ames Center Director S. Pete 

Worden. “This will further NASA’s 

goal of pursuing mutually beneficial 

partnerships with the emerging commercial space sector.”

A Reimbursable Space Act Agreement between NASA’s Ames and 

the corporation, known as ZERO-G, 

allows the corporation to park its 

aircraft on the airfield while flight 

operations are being conducted and 

during scheduled flights. The agreement also calls for NASA and ZERO-G 

to develop research collaborations 

starting this fall.

During its flight operations at 

NASA’s Ames, ZERO-G will use a 

modified Boeing 727-200 aircraft, 

called G-Force One, and fly from the 

Moffett Field runway. Passengers 

aboard the aircraft will experience 

brief periods of the same weightlessness that astronauts encounter while 

orbiting the Earth, as well as the same 

gravity conditions they would experience on the moon and on Mars.

“We are honored to be able to 

fly from Moffett Field and allow our 

passenger the opportunity to fly like 

superman and float in midair just 

like NASA astronauts from an actual 

NASA center,” said Peter H. Diamandis, chairman of ZERO-G. ZERO-G 

was recently awarded a contract from 

NASA to conduct research and astronaut training.

While new to NASA’s Ames, this is 

not the first time that these weightless 

flights have taken place at a NASA 

center. In 2006, ZERO-G reached an 

agreement with NASA’s Kennedy 

Space Center, Fla., to use the space 

shuttle runway for similar weightless 

flights for the public. ZERO-G began 

operating weightless flights for the 

NASA’s Ames enables commercial weightless aircraft flights

public at Kennedy June 24, 2006, flying 

up to seven flights per week, up to a 

maximum of 280 flights a year.

As part of the agreement, the corporation will reimburse NASA for the 

use of the runway and support costs. 

The scheduling of ZERO-G flights 

at Moffett Field will not interfere with 

NASA missions, other resident federal 

agencies, or with airfield operations or 

by Michael Mewhinney other activities. All flights will be conducted during daylight hours, according to ZERO-G officials. The Boeing 

727-200 is a Stage 3 aircraft, which is 

one of the quietest aircraft in service.

For more information about 

ZERO-G, call 800-937-6480 or visit: 

http://www.GoZeroG.com

Junior engineers think big at 

Future City competition

Like giants in the lands of the 

Lilliputians, people wandered past 

miniature cities with thumb-wide 

streets, 18-inch-tall sky-scrapers, 

broccoli-sized trees and sipping-strawsized pipes. 

A menagerie of more than 300 

teachers, mentors, parents, grandparents, siblings, city planners, NASA scientists and curious locals attended the 

Northern California Regional National 

Engineers Week Future City Competition at NASA’s Ames on Jan. 26. 

Students arrived early before the 

competition was scheduled to begin 

dressed to impress in school uniforms, 

skirts, slacks, suits and sometimes 

matching hair ribbons. Like actors 

before for a live performance: some 

giggled nervously, some wiped damp 

palms on their pant legs and some 

mouthed their parts as they studied 

the lines of their presentation. 

Teams composed of two to three 

middle school students, accompanied 

by a teacher and engineer mentor, 

defended table-top models of what 

they believe a future city should look 

like to a panel of judges. In crowded 

tents, rooms and the Exploration 

Center, teams took their turn rotating 

their dream cities to center stage. The 

audience either listened intently to the 

by Rachel Pruce

continued on page 4

Numerous visitors attended the Northern California Regional National Engineers Week Future City 

Competition recently held at the center. Student participants in the competition created futuristic 

cities built out of recycled materials. 

NASA photo by Eric James
4 Astrogram February 2008

competition’s presentation or brimming with energy, wiggled and tapped 

their feet. 

In addition to the main competition, teams were eligible for “Special 

Awards,” such as the “Best Futuristic 

Transportation System,” the “Most Innovative Power Generation System,” 

and the NASA Special Award, which 

was presented to the Milpitas Christian School for their imaginary city, 

Taikai. 

One of many constraints students 

were given was to build their highly 

intricate models within a $100 budget. 

As a result, their creativity ran rampant and they built styrofoam buildings, water bottle reservoirs, CD case 

towers, windows made out of staples, 

egg carton farming centers and found 

many uses for toilet paper rolls. 

After every team had a chance 

to present their designs, survey the 

competition up-close and queue for 

pizza and pasta, the mood of the event 

became more lighthearted and gregarious. At that time, spirits were high 

and no one had yet been disqualified 

from being finalists at the National 

Future City Competition, to take place 

three weeks later in Washington, D.C.

Will Wright, inventor of SimCity3000, the software game students 

used to stoke their imaginative fires 

before actually building their cities, 

briefly spoke to the crowd of wideeyed aspiring engineers, designers and 

city planners.

After a full day at work, minds 

young and old, left the competition 

overflowing with bright ideas and 

inspiration.

To view images of the competition 

and its award winners, please visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/

continued from page 3

Junior engineers think big at Future City competition

multimedia/images/2008/Future_

City_Competition.html

continued from front page

community, having served as a scientist on NASA's Mariner, Voyager 

and Galileo missions," said Ames 

Center Director S. Pete Worden. "His 

experience at the NASA Astrobiology 

Institute and his communication and 

management skills are just the talents 

we need to ensure early success for the 

NASA Lunar Science Institute."

Before the arrival of a permanent 

director, Morrison will be responsible 

for completing the first call for institute proposals through a cooperative 

agreement announcement later this 

spring.

"Creating a new and innovative 

program in lunar science is an exiting prospect, which I am thrilled to 

take on," said Morrison. "I am confident that the formation of the NASA 

Lunar Science Institute will galvanize 

interdisciplinary research on the moon 

as the NASA Astrobiology Institute 

has done for the field of astrobiology, 

including developing international 

partnerships and training a new generation of lunar scientists."

 NASA announced its intent to 

establish a new lunar science institute 

in October 2007. The Lunar Science 

Institute will augment other, previously established, but smaller, focused 

lunar science investigations funded by 

NASA. Work performed by the institute will be conducted at a variety of 

NASA centers, universities and nonprofit organizations across the nation. 

Institute funding will be allocated 

based on competitive selection following scientific peer review.

Lunar Science Institute director appointed

NASA photo by Eric James

those interested in joining remotely, 

there was an opportunity to listen in 

by using the software “SecondLife,” 

where NASA’s CoLAB had created a 

virtual reality conference room with 

live streaming video projected onto 

screens. Using “SecondLife,” those 

off site were able to participate in 

discussions by sending questions and 

answers over instant messages.

The highlight of the conference 

occurred when the crowd of participants were treated to special guest 

appearances by STS-120 crewmemThe STS-122 launch of space shuttle 

Atlantis was broadcast live on Feb. 7, 2008, 

in the Exploration Center. Approximately 

100 people attended the viewing. Bo Bobko 

and John Allmen of Ames were interviewed 

by KGO-TV (ABC) and KTVU (FOX). 

Both stations aired segments about the 

launch on their 5 o’clock news casts and 

posted videos on their web sites. Atlantis 

landed safely on Feb. 20. 

Ames broadcasts STS-122 launch

NASA photo by Eric James

bers, commander Pamela 

Melroy and flight mission 

specialist Scott Parazynski, in their blue flight suits 

decorated with mission 

patches, as well as former 

NASA astronaut Buzz 

Aldrin. Collaborative 

group project presentations focused on entrepreneurial opportunities 

in lunar development to 

NASA’s senior management, wrapped up the 

successful conference.

Space enthusiasts toss around innovative ideas at Ames thinkfest

continued from page 2

NASA Astronaut 

Buzz Aldrin, a 

special guest at the 

second Next Generation Exploration 

Conference, held 

at NASA’s Ames 

Research Center, Feb. 

12 through Feb. 15.
5 Astrogram February 2008

Recently, the STS-120 astronaut 

crew shared a presentation of the 

STS-120 Post Flight Debrief before 

the Silver Snoopy and Space Flight 

Awareness (SFA) Team Award presentations were given.

 

The honorees were as follows:

2007 Silver Snoopy Awards

- David M. Driver

- Chun Tang

2007 SFA Team Awards

- Ames Research Center CFD

 Aerothermal Team

- Columbia User Service

 Support Team

- Space Shuttle Debris Transport Team

- Thermophysics Facilities Group

STS-120 crew members present Silver Snoopy Awards

On Feb. 5, employees at NASA’s 

Ames attended en-masse, a directors colloquium co-sponsored by the 

GREEN team, featuring a talk entitled, 

“Cradle to Cradle: A Celebration of 

Abundance,” by the renowned architect William McDonough, FAIA. 

McDonough has caught the attention of NASA administrator Michael 

Griffin (reportedly intrigued by Time 

Magazine’s recognition of him in 1999 

as “A Hero of the Planet”) and has 

been asked by NASA to present his 

ideas at all the major NASA centers.

In his introduction, Ames Associate Center Director for Institutions and 

Research Steven Zornetzer pointed 

out that, as a winner of three 

presidential awards, “William McDonough is a leader 

in thinking and feeling about 

sustainability.” 

 McDonough characterized 

our way of thinking about the 

environment and our relationship to it as being pessimistic 

and limited. Instead of minimizing damage by recycling, 

an attitude that he refers to 

as “eco-efficiency,” he advocates an exuberantly positive 

approach, in which “growth 

is good,” and in which the 

strategy becomes “eco-effectiveness.” We will be able to 

design for abundance when we design 

buildings like trees and cities like 

forests. Trees: the more abundantly 

they extend, the more effectively they 

provide shade, habitat, nutrients (oxygen) and beauty for their companion 

First lunar outpost on Earth: renowned architect speaks at Ames by Deborah ‘Robin’ Cr

Above: The Thermophysics Facilities 

Group from the Arc Jets, one of the 

group recipients of the 2007 Silver 

Snoopy Awards recently presented to 

them by the STS-120 astronaut crew 

(front row in blue). 

NASA photos by Dominic Hart

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

Renowned arthitect and recipient of three presidential 

awards William McDonough, recently spoke at the center.

organisms.

Through his firm, McDonough 

Braungart Design Chemistry, he is 

working with manufacturing companies to resolve the problem of waste 

generated by technology. He notes 

that the Chinese subtitle of his book 

Cradle to Cradle is “Design of the 

Circular Economy.” 

 Ames is underway in building 

the first substantial new facility on the 

campus in over 18 years, the Collaborative Support Facility, a 75,000 square 

foot office and conference center on 

the site of a 1939 Wind Tunnel, which 

is currently being demolished. The 

project is required by Federal directives to attain a LEED Silver rating. 

McDonough, who was given a 

tour of the site after the lecture, has 

graciously offered to contribute his 

thinking to the project, which is being designed by NASA’s On-Site A-E 

firm, DMJM H&N. In recognition that 

our future presence on the moon will 

require a sustainable, closed, biomechanical system, McDonough suggested that NASA consider this building 

the First Lunar Outpost on Earth.

Left: The STS-120 astronaut crew was 

at Ames for a post-flight debrief and to 

present awards at the Silver Snoopy 

Award ceremony held right after the 

debrief.
6 Astrogram February 2008

In early February, the NASA 

Ames Fire Department placed in 

service a new fire engine. Engine 4 

is the newest addition to the emergency response fleet, which has been 

in the planning stages for over four 

years. 

This rescue engine is a “state-ofthe-art” fire fighting vehicle and is 

very capable of supporting the emergency rescue and firefighting needs 

of this department and the NASA 

Ames community, according to fire 

department officials.

Engine 4 will respond to rescue 

emergencies, structural emergencies, 

as well as supporting aircraft rescue 

emergencies. It was built by Pierce 

Manufacturing Corporation in 2006 

and is equipped with a 400 horsepower Detroit Diesel engine, a 1,250 

gallon per minute water pump and a 

750 gallon water tank. 

NASA Ames fire department adds engine number four

Other features are a compressed 

air foam system, night scan telescoping light unit, and an on board hydraulic pump to power rescue tools 

such as the “Jaws of Life.”

by Steven Kelly

Recently, the NASA Ames Small 

Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 

and Small Business Technology 

Transfer (STTR) programs hosted an 

appreciation reception. The reception 

was held to honor all of the people 

whose hard work and dedication to 

the program make it a such a success 

each year at the Ames Exploration 

Center. Attendees included reviewers, 

COTRs, center management and Ames 

SBIR/STTR Program management 

and staff.

 The SBIR/STTR Program benefits 

many small businesses, including 

some that are local to the Ames area. 

One such local company is inXitu, Inc., 

based in Mountain View. The company has developed new X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) technology with over 

$640,000 awarded through NASA’s 

SBIR Program. The company’s 

Automated Sample Handling (ASH) 

system for planetary XRD instruments 

enables direct analysis of materials 

obtained from drills or rock crushers, 

by Candice Na

SBIR hosts appreciation reception for staff and partners

eliminating the need for extensive 

sample preparation. Some features 

of the ASH system have already been 

implemented in the CheMin instrument developed at Ames for the Mars 

Science Laboratory mission scheduled 

for 2009.

Combined, the SBIR and STTR 

programs fund approximately $15 

million worth of contracts managed 

by Ames. Research across all mission directorates is supported with 

72 Phase I, 56 Phase II and 7 Phase III 

contracts with Ames.

From the subtopic managers who 

develop solicitations, to the reviewers 

who spend hours pouring over the details of the proposals, the SBIR/STTR 

Program thanks you.

To learn more about the SBIR/

STTR Program and how it can help 

develop technology in your area at 

NASA, visit www.sbir.nasa.gov .

This state-of-the-art piece of 

equipment, coupled with the professional firefighting team, will be able 

to provide outstanding service to the 

community for years to come.

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

David Blake of Ames (front, center) and 

Philippe Sarrazin of inXitu, Inc., (standing, 

right) explain to Rich Pisarski (standing, left) and Richard Sanchez (standing, 

center) of the NASA Ames SBIR/STTR 

Program what the SBIR Program funding 

has done for the development of inXitu’s 

X-Ray Diffraction Analysis Device.

NASA photo by Dominic Hart

Fire Chief Steven Kelly (left, front) when he recently spoke at Moffett during the in-service 

ceremony about the capabilities and service the new fire Engine 4 will bring to the NASA Ames 

community. 
7 Astrogram February 2008

Albert Clarke, a pioneer in experimental research and development 

model making, passed away on Dec. 

28, 2007, at the age of 92. Clarke was 

hired at NACA, (now NASA Ames) in 

1940 and worked for 27 years, retiring 

from NASA in 1966. When Clarke first 

began his career with NACA, Ames 

was in its infancy and Clarke was one 

of the original four employees chosen 

to establish the first model shop. 

Clarke established his credentials 

as a first-class craftsman on a series 

of P-51 Mustang wind tunnel models 

(see photo on right). When the “space 

age” began, new technical challenges 

arose. To try to stay ahead of some of 

these technical demands, Clarke established a precision casting department 

in the model shop. 

Clarke developed a process for 

making low-cost molds for centrifugally casting ultra thin metal and 

plastic shapes. Because of the excesAlbert Clarke, NACA/NASA pioneer model maker

sive heating of model nose cones 

during testing at high mach numbers, 

the nose cones were seldom able to 

be reused. Clarke wrote an article in 

‘Product Engineering,’ a weekly trade 

publication for design engineers at 

the time, to share this new advanced 

process with outside industry. 

As a boy, he would spend hours 

making elaborate model airplanes and 

gliders, foregoing all other activities, 

even school work. After high school in 

Pittsburgh, Pa., Clarke got a job with 

Hearst Newspapers writing a syndicated column 

called ‘Junior Birdmen’ for 

model airplane enthusiasts. 

In 1937, he pulled 

up roots and traveled 

cross country with his 

older brother on their 

Indian motorcycle to Santa 

Monica, Calif. He attended 

Fletcher’s Aircraft School 

and landed a job with 

Lockheed at their Burbank plant building ‘real’ 

airplanes. 

After retiring, Clarke 

purchased an abandoned 

school house in the northern California town of Marshall. It 

opened on Lincoln’s birthday in 1876 

until it was closed in 1965. Clarke artfully restored it, incorporating all the 

original items that survived, including 

the chalk boards, preserved as they 

were on the last day of school. He 

developed a passion for woodturning. 

Many of his designs were strongly influenced by the beautiful ceramic pots 

of South West America Indians. 

His unique artworks have been 

purchased by collectors. One such collector, Irving Lipton in southern California, owns 10 of Clarke’s creations 

as part of his $3 million collection. One 

of Clarke’s woodturnings was picked 

as an ornament for the White House 

Christmas tree collection in 1994. His 

ebony sculpture called “Black Hole,” 

has been promised to the Oakland 

Museum’s collection. His unique style 

was featured in seven issues of ‘Woodturning Magazine’. 

Clarke will be missed by his loving 

daughter, Carol and son-in-law John 

Bergs, and the townspeople of Marshall, Calif.

Albert Clarke

Chuck Shepard was born Sept 1, 

1923, in Lincoln, Neb., and died Feb. 

13, 2008. He was an aerial photographer in the Pacific during WWII. He 

married Ione Knox in 1945 and they 

had five children. They later divorced. 

Shepard received his bachelor’s 

degree at University of Wisconsin 

Madison and masters degree from 

Case Western Reserve University, 

working at NACA Cleveland before 

transferring in 1961 to NASA Ames.

He retired from NASA the first 

time in 1972 and worked briefly in 

the private aerospace industry. He 

returned to Ames as a contractor 

through the early 1990s. 

Shepard celebrated the 40th anniversary of his Supersonic Constricted- Charles Ernest Shepard

In Memory of . . .

Charles Shepard, holder of supersonic constricted Arc jet co-patent

Arc Jet co-patent in 2004.

 He married Mary Frederick in 

1979. They enjoyed tennis at the 

Saratoga Country Club, backpacking, 

skiing and hot tubbing. He will be 

remembered for his warmth, generosity and sense of humor.

Survivors include his devoted wife 

Mary, his children (Ann Lanfri, Paul, 

Joan Rickard, Mark and Steven) and 

his step-children (Katherine Galarza, 

David Frederick, Jennifer Jourdain and 

Jonathan Frederick). He was beloved 

Poppo to 19 grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held 

at 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 29, 2008, in St. 

Jude’s Episcopal Church in Cupertino. 

Remembrances to the Alzheimer’s 

Association. 

Albert Clarke working on the P51 Mustang fighter aircraft 

model at Ames.
8 Astrogram February 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 January 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 - Jan. 31, 2008

 Civil Contractors

 Servants

 

 First aid cases 3 0

 Lost Workday cases 0 0

 Recordable cases 0 1

 Restricted duty days 0 1

 Above data are as of Jan. 31, 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 Nov), from 

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

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

ext. 4-2399.
9 Astrogram February 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

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) 430-697

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.

Miscellaneous

Wooden desk and chair sets (2) like new. For 

children (ages 3 - 11). $30 each. Call (408) 

425-8081.

‘95 Toyota Camry, emerald green exterior, 4 dr, 

5-speed manual transmission. 187,500 miles, 

great condition, runs smoothly, gives 26mpg, has 

recent smog certificate and complete maintenance records since 1995! $3,000. Anupa (650) 

862-2869.

‘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
10 Astrogram February 2008

The 2007 issue of NASA 

Spinoff is hot off the press and 

available for Ames employees. 

This annual publication documents the outcome of successful 

commercial partnerships from the 

NASA Innovative Partnerships 

Program. 

Spinoff 2007 highlights new 

products on the market in the 

areas of health and medicine; 

transportation; public safety; 

consumer goods, homes and 

recreation; environmental and 

agricultural resources; computer 

technology; and industrial productivity. 

As stated by NASA Deputy 

Administrator Shana Dale, 

“NASA’s science, aeronautics and 

space exploration drives inspiration, innovation and discovery, 

which in turn keep this nation 

at the forefront of technology 

advancements at a global level.”

This edition contains 39 

highlights of NASA derived 

technologies applied to commercial products, nine of the success 

The front cover of the NASA Spinoff 2007 issue. The cover photograph is of the International Space Station 

taken from the Space Shuttle Atlantis on June 19, 2007, at the end of STS-117 mission.

stories originated from Ames! 

To request a free copy of Spinoff 

2007, contact Dina Salazar at e-mail 

Terry Fong (above) and Matthew Deans of the Intelligent Robotics Group at Ames together 

recently held a director's colloquium at the center entitled, "Robotic Site Survey at Haughton 

Crater." They described the recently conducted field test at Haughton Crater in the Canadian 

Arctic. During July 2007, two NASA Ames K10 rovers performed detailed surveys of several 

simulated lunar outpost sites. The rovers carried ground-penetrating radar to map subsurface 

structure and a 3D scanning laser to map terrain topography. Fong is the lead and Deans the 

deputy lead of the NASA Ames Intelligent Robotics Group. 

Dina.A.Salazar@nasa.gov or call ext. 

4-5238. The full text is available for 

download at www.sti.nasa.gov/tto.

Haughton Crater tests discussedNASA photo by Eric James

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.

NASA Spinoff 2007 is hot off the press

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.