www.nasa.gov www.researchpark.arc.nasa.gov 

NASA Ames Research Center and Google have signed a Space 

Act Agreement to work together on a variety of challenging technical problems ranging from large-scale data management and 

massively distributed computing, to human-computer interfaces.

As the first in a series of joint collaborations, Google and Ames 

will focus on making the most useful of NASA’s information 

available on the Internet. Real-time weather visualization and 

forecasting, high-resolution 3-D maps of the moon and Mars, 

real-time tracking of the International Space Station and the 

space shuttle will be explored in the future.

“This agreement between NASA and Google will soon allow every 

American to experience a virtual flight over the surface of the moon or 

through the canyons of Mars,” said NASA Administrator Michael 

Griffin at Headquarters in Washington. “This innovative combination 

of information technology and space science will make NASA’s space 

exploration work accessible to everyone,” added Griffin.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

A publication of NASA Research Park Winter 2007

NRP Post

continued on page 6

NASA and Google Sign Formal Agreement

Left to right: Chris C. Kemp, Ames Director of Business Development; 

S. Pete Worden, Ames Center Director; Tiffany Montague, Google Director 

of New Business Development; and Dr. Dan Clancy, Google Engineering 

Director at the Ames Exploration Center reception December 15, 2006,

announcing the signing of the Ames and Google Space Act Agreement. NRP Partner Changene Granted Patent

NASA Research Park partner Changene, Inc. was granted patent # 7,163,795 on January 17, 2007 by the U.S. Patent and 

Trademark Office (PTO) for the discovery of nacrein from 

Pinctada margaritifera, a black pearl oyster found in the South 

Pacific Ocean. 

Nacrein is a naturally occurring biological molecule that 

regulates calcium crystals 

during pearl formation. The 

mechanism of building 

biominerals in shells is similar 

to bone formation in humans. 

Studies show that nacreous 

substances extracted from 

Pinctada species demonstrated significant osteogenic 

(bone forming) activities in 

mammalian models. 

Image of Nacrein 3D structure provided by Changene and Ames Advanced Supercomputing Division.

CREST Evolves from Space Technology Center

The new Center for Robotic Exploration and Space Technologies 

(CREST), in Bldg. 583C, NASA Research Park, is a consortium 

of local and national academic institutions working with government and industry on robotic and space-related mission development, technology advancement and educational opportunities.

CREST evolved in 2006 from the Space Technology Center 

(STC), formerly comprised of San Jose State University, Santa 

Clara University, Stanford University and California Polytechnic 

State University.

“Our objective is to provide low-cost, high-risk technology and mission 

solutions that can serve as pathfinders for NASA’s core business” said 

Professor Christopher Kitts of Santa Clara University, director of 

CREST. “We have provided critical mission design and operations 

support to Genebox and GeneSat, and we’re now participating as 

members of the NASA PharmaSat team and working on many other 

space missions.”

continued on page 6

continued on page 8
NRP Post

www.nasa.gov

 NASA Research Park partner Apprion, the pioneer of managed industrial-strength wireless solutions for manufacturers, 

has been recognized as a top provider of “machine-to-machine 

technologies” in the marketplace by M2M magazine.

“This year’s M2M 100 directory provides a snapshot of an emerging 

market and identifies the companies with the greatest impact on its direction. Companies are delivering solutions that make it easier to adopt 

machine-to-machine communications and realize the technology’s enormous 

business value,” says Michael Jarosik, editor of M2M magazine.

As an “M2M 100” company this year, Apprion joins a number 

of distinguished world-class, private and public companies, 

such as General Electric, BT Group PLC, IBM, Accenture, 

Motorola, Texas Instruments, SAP, Siemens, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Motorola, Qualcomm, and Savi Technology, 

among others.

Apprion Receives Trade Accolade

Dec 14, 2006 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ 

NASA Research Park Exploration Lecture Series

Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir

Planetary scientist and veteran shuttle astronaut 

Tom Jones will discuss his new book, “Sky 

Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir,” which details his 

experiences as mission specialist and payload 

commander aboard four space shuttle flights. 

For more info visit:

www.researchpark.arc.nasa.gov

Tuesday, March 13, 2007 7 p.m.

Bldg. 943 Eagle Room

FREE Open to the public

FIRST CLASS

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

NASA

PERMIT NO. 85

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA

NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER

MAIL STOP 204-2

MOFFETT FIELD, CA 94035-1000

Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300

www.nasa.gov

Photo of Tom Jones

NASA Research Park Exploration Lecture Series

Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

7p.m. Bldg. 943 Eagle Room

FREE Open to the public 

The NRP Exploration Lecture Series presents 

Astronaut/Author Tom Jones @ 7 pm on March 

13 in the Eagle Room, Bldg. 943, outside the

Main Gate. Veteran shuttle astronaut Jones, 

author of “SkyWalking: An Astronaut’s Memoir,” 

will talk about his experiences as mission specialist and payload commander aboard four 

space shuttle flights, and will sign copies of his 

book after the lecture. The NRP Exploration 

Lecture Series’ mission is to inspire the explorer in everyone. 

NRP Exploration Lecture

Astronaut Tom Jones

NRP Welcomes New Tenant 

Mars Institute Dr. Pascal Lee, Building 19 - February 1, 2007

“We have currently leased 98% of available space at NRP. We continue 

to receive inquiries and are challenged by this lack of space. Prospective partners are being screened for programmatic compatibility, and we 

look forward to working with existing and new partners to expand the 

programmatic partnership.” 

Mejghan Haider, NRP Chief

QTech Launches Voice-activated Memory Solution 

January 30, 2007 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/

NRP partner QTech Inc. recently launched ‘reQall(TM)’, 

its flagship voice-based tool that helps you remember. The 

company received a DEMOgod award at the conference in 

Palm Desert, CA. The prestigious award is presented to 

select companies that clearly articulate the significance of their 

debuting technology despite the pressures of a jaded audience, 

a make-or-break level of expectation, and a six-minute count 

down clock. 

“QTech is pioneering the next wave of voice-based technologies for all communication devices,” said Dr. N. Rao Machiraju, QTech chairman and 

CEO. “We are passionate about providing our customers with the very 

best memory tools to augment their work and lifestyle. reQall will impact 

the way people remember their tasks and events in the future, enabling 

much greater flexibility and productivity in their work and personal life.”

The company announced also that Don Norman, industry veteran and product design guru, has joined QTech’s management 

team as chief mentor. The team includes N. Rao Machiraju, 

Sunil Vemuri, Jacky Mallet and Debra Miller. QTech’s U.S. 

headquarters is at NASA Research Park, Moffett Field, CA. 

Acting as a virtual personal assistant, reQall enables users to 

easily record and conveniently retrieve reminders and notes 

based on contextual preferences. reQall is patent-pending 

software technology using a combination of voice interface 

and speech-recognition technology to record, log and retrieve 

tasks, meetings and voice notes. The reQall service can be 

used via any phone by calling a toll-free number, and does not 

require any software downloads. 

Unlike solutions that simply record voice messages, reQall 

offers contextually relevant date and time-based memory assistance. The interactive voice response system leverages any 

communication device, ie. mobile phones, smart phones, land 

lines, desktops, laptops or an IP softphone such as Skype.
NRP Post

www.researchpark.arc.nasa.gov

NASA Ames Partnership Office 

presents Technology Showcase

The NASA Technology Showcase will be held 

on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 from  - 4:30 p.m.

in Bldg. 3, the Moffett Training and Conference 

Center. The Technology Showcase is a great 

opportunity for NRP partners to network with the 

Ames and Silicon Valley communities.

Sponsored by Ames Partnerships Office, the 

Technology Showcase will provide an opportunity for NASA partners to exhibit and discuss 

their business ideas and technology with Silicon 

Valley decision-makers, and showcase their 

NASA partnerships and NRP presence. 

In addition to the exhibits, selected partners in 

cutting-edge areas such as intelligent robots, 

space commercialization and voice-activated 

and wireless communications will give brief 

presentations.

Center Director Pete Worden will deliver an 

opening address, and Partnerships Office 

Director Michael Marlaire will give an overview 

of the Ames Partnership Office.

Space Portral Update

“Space Portal has been busy,” said Ames scientist Dr. Dan Rasky. 

“We negotiated six tasks to support the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Program Office at Johnson Space Center, Houston, 

TX. We established two reimbursable Space Act Agreements, and we are 

working on two others for COTS partner technical support, with Rocketplane Kistler, Oklahoma City, OK, and SpaceX, Los Angeles, CA. 

Ocean Engineering and Paragon are supporting SpaceX,” he said.

Commercial space travel firms SpaceX and Rocketplane Kistler 

were awarded in August 2006 and will share $500 million COTS 

funding from NASA Headquarters to help develop transportation systems to support the International Space Station. The 

NASA COTS program goal is to help new space transportation 

firms develop vehicles for low cost transportation to Earth 

orbit for both government and private customers, crucial for 

expanded commercial space activities and permanent bases on 

the moon and Mars.

Space Portal also facilitated an agreement between Virtue Arts and 

Hewlett Packard for the development of a space simulation capability. “The Lunar Racing Challenge is a 3-D immersion video gaming 

experience, with accurate views of the surface of the moon, as well as 

star constellations and earth-rise, almost like Star Trek’s Holodeck - that 

makes you feel like you are on the moon,” said Rasky.

Virtue Arts, who developed the Lunar Racing Challenge, 

exhibited their product in collaboration with Hewlett Packard 

at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV. 

Planning is underway for installation of a seat in the Space 

Portal, Bldg. 555 in NASA Research Park.

“Every day a commercial space travel entrepreneur comes through our 

doors,” said Dan Coughlin, an engineer from Marshall Space Flight 

Center, Huntsville, AL now based at Space Portal. Dan, a SLOAN 

Fellow, is on loan to Virgin Galactic, and is fast-tracking Sir Richard 

Branson’s Spaceship 2 venture.

Spaceship 2 plans prototype flights in 2008 and commercial 

suborbital rides (65 miles altitude) in 2009, at $200,000 a trip, 

initially from the Mojave Spaceport. The high-flying customers 

are in line -- more than 100 tickets have been sold. In January 

Dan was ordering the pressure suits from Texas that space 

tourists will wear in the early stages of Spaceship 2 flights.

Spaceship 2 is built by Burt Rutan’s Scaled Composites in the 

Mojave Desert. Spaceship 1, the 2004 winner of the $10 million Ansari X Prize for two consecutive successful flights to 62 

miles (100 km) altitude, also was built by Scaled Composites.

Space Portal, Building 555, Nasa Research Park
NRP Post

www.nasa.gov

Carnegie Mellon West Launches 

Masters in Software Management

by CMU West staff 

Carnegie Mellon West has launched a new Masters in Software Management degree program, offered on a part-time 

basis at our NASA Research Park campus in Mountain View, 

CA. This new program is specifically designed for computer 

scientists and engineers who are seeking greater responsibility 

in roles such as program manager, product manager, director 

of software development, and senior management positions 

in software-intensive organizations.

UCSC Expands Academic Program at NRP

by UCSC staff

UCSC has recently expanded its academic program offerings 

at the UCSC Silicon Valley Campus in NASA Research Park at 

Ames Research Center.

“We are bringing these programs together at our Silicon Valley Campus 

to take advantage of the potential academic and research synergies of these 

related fields of study,” said UCSC’s Connie Miley, Senior Administrative Manager. 

In addition to the graduate-level certificate program in 

Knowledge Services and Enterprise Management (KSEM), 

the University of California, Santa Cruz’s Baskin School of 

Engineering now also offers a Master’s of Science in Computer Engineering with specialization in Network Engineering 

(MSNE) program at the UCSC Silicon Valley Campus.

These programs provide the specialized skills and knowledge 

needed to address the information technology challenges faced 

by Silicon Valley’s high-tech industries.

Connie Miley, Senior Administrative 

Manager, UCSC-Silicon Valley Center, 

is a great asset to UCSC-Silicon Valley 

Center. 

CMU West Campus, NASA Research Park Bldg. 23

If you need a better understanding of how software businesses 

work, how products are defined, created, and implemented; 

and are looking to improve your communication, teamwork, 

managerial, and business skills, then you should explore 

Carnegie Mellon West’s new MS in Software Management 

degree program.

Join us at our Spring Information Sessions to learn more about 

our part-time MS in Software Engineering and MS in Software 

Management programs. All sessions are held 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. 

at Carnegie Mellon West, NASA Research Park, Building 23, 

First Floor, Moffett Field, CA. Refreshments will be served.

Session dates are: Tuesday, February 20, Thursday, March 8, 

Thursday, March 22, Tuesday, April 3, Tuesday, April 17, Tuesday, May 1 and Tuesday, May 15

Meet current students, faculty, and alumni, and learn how you 

can advance your career with one of the strongest brand names 

in software engineering education. For questions or to register 

for these events, contact Sylvia Leong, Associate Director for 

Admissions, at admissions@west.cmu.edu, at (650) 335-2808 

or by email sylvia.leong@west.cmu.edu. Check out our website 

at http://west.cmu.edu for more news, events, and the latest 

announcements.

The MSNE program (www.soe.ucsc.edu/programs/msne) is 

designed to educate engineers and technical professionals to 

enter and practice in the highly specialized field of network 

engineering.

The KSEM program (www.soe.ucsc.edu/programs/ksem) 

focuses on building the skills and knowledge required to design 

and manage technology-based enterprises. By synthesizing 

the ideas from traditional fields such as computer science, 

economics, and business management, KSEM studies the 

use of information technology to successfully compete in the 

Information Economy. For more information please contact 

Connie Miley at Connie.Miley@ADM.UCSC.edu or stop by 

her office in Bldg. 19, Room 2074.
NRP Post

www.researchpark.arc.nasa.gov

NASA Research Park partner United Negro College Fund 

Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP) announces the 

release of our new, integrated registration and resume system 

at http://www.uncfsp.org/register.

Each year UNCFSP provides hundreds of thousands of dollars to support underserved and underrepresented populations, 

including minority institutions, faculty, and students.

Our new registration and resume system is your portal to these 

opportunities, including: scholarships, fellowships, internships, 

grants, research awards, employment, contract work, professional development and other opportunities.

By registering and providing your resume, you will receive the 

following: automatic notification about open opportunities that 

match your level and interests, facilitated application process 

for any/all open opportunities, notification about professional 

development and other opportunities and a quarterly newsletter.

Go to http://www.uncfsp.org/register now! We currently 

have multiple open opportunities, and more are coming soon! 

Winter/Spring is our main recruitment time for workforce development awards, including fellowships and internships. We 

strongly encourage ALL students, faculty, and professionals to 

sign up now! Questions? Please contact us at registration@

uncfsp.org.

Opportunity Knocks at UNCFSP Online Registration

by UNCFSP staff

Carnegie Mellon West and UC Berkeley Host 

April Conference on the New Software Industry

by CMU West staff

Software backed by commodity hardware will shape the future 

of business. Predicting and designing its course over the next 

ten years is a challenge requiring deep understanding and 

imagination. The build-out of the internet and mobile technology are giving rise to new service delivery models, while open 

source and globalization are changing how we create software. 

What kind of software to produce, how to produce it, and how 

to deliver its value will be very different in the future. 

On April 30th, 2007, CMU West, UC Berkeley’s Haas School 

of Business, and the University of California’s Center for 

Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society 

(CITRIS) will bring thought leaders from academia and industry together to explore the future of the software industry.

The 1-day conference to be held at CMU West, NASA Research 

Park, is sponsored by creators and consumers of software who 

are invited to join us for provocative discussions. 

Participants will leave with a clearer road map of the changing 

software industry, and how to exploit emerging opportunities. 

This unique conference will offer a conceptual framework 

for the software industry, a vector pointing to the future, and 

pointers to the best opportunities. 

For more information, contact CMU’s Associate Dean of 

Professional Development, Diane Dimeff, at (650) 335-2813 

or diane.dimeff@west.cmu.edu.

Screen shot from UNCFSP Website. The deadline for the summer internship at NASA Ames is February 15th, 2007. Interns will work with and be

mentored by NASA scientists and researchers.

Left to right: D. Barrese, NRP; R. Maines, Maines Associates; 

M. Haider, Chief NRP; B. Lopez, NRP; and B. Kajiyama, 

Photozig Inc. Photo Courtesy of Photozig. Inc.

NRP Holiday Party at Tee-1
NRP Post

www.nasa.gov

CREST reorganized to signify an expansion in scope and 

membership, which now includes more than a dozen members 

from Silicon Valley and the U.S. A formal Memorandum of 

Understanding is in development with Santa Clara, Stanford, and 

San Jose State Universities, Ohlone College, Cal Poly SLO, and 

discussions are being held with UCSC, Mills College and the National Hispanic University. Nationally CREST has partnerships 

in development with Northeastern, Washington, Montana State 

and Iowa State Universities, and Kentucky and the Mid-Atlantic 

Institute for Space and Technology.

CREST’s new scope includes a range of robotic missions and 

technologies: marine robotics, land rover clusters, UAV platforms 

and instruments, in addition to small satellite development and 

operations utilizing innovative, low-cost design strategies and 

streamlined development processes. Research specialties include 

autonomous reasoning for tele-robotic systems, multi-robot systems, composable design (“plug and play” missions) and Earth 

Sciences applications. CREST will continue to provide student 

education and workforce training via educational programs in 

robotics, aerospace and spacecraft for K-12 through graduate 

research.

CREST entered into a new partnership with the NASA Space Portal 

in mid-2006. “CREST offers some very exciting possibilities for 

the commercial sector, while achieving NASA’s strategic goals,” said 

Greg Schmidt, Space Portal co-founder and NASA lead for the CREST 

partnership. Elements to this partnership include the CREST/Space 

Portal Development Laboratory focusing on such goals as development of 

re-entry systems for small satellites, and the graduate level Entrepreneurial 

Space certificate offered jointly with Santa Clara University.

“Partnering with NASA made perfect sense for Google. NASA has a 

wealth of technical expertise and data that will be of great use to Google 

as we look to tackle many computing issues on behalf of our users,” said 

Eric Schmidt, chief executive officer of Google.

Teams from NASA and Google met recently to discuss many 

challenging computer science problems facing both organizations and possible joint collaborations. NASA and Google 

will incorporate agency data sets in Google Earth, focusing on 

user studies and cognitive modeling for human computer interaction, and science data search utilizing a variety of Google 

features and products.

“Our collaboration with Google will demonstrate that the private and 

public sectors can accomplish great things together,” said S. Pete Worden, 

Ames Center Director.

 “I want NASA Ames to establish partnerships with the private sector 

that encourage innovation, while advancing the Vision for Space Exploration and commercial interests. We are making maximum use of our 

mandate to work with the private sector and expanding our collaborations. 

Currently we have over 50 partners in NASA Research Park.”

“NASA has collected and processed more information about our planet 

and universe than any other entity in the history of humanity,” said Chris 

C. Kemp, Director of Strategic Business Development at Ames. “Even 

though this information was collected for the benefit of everyone, and much 

is in the public domain, the vast majority of this information is scattered 

and difficult for non-experts to access and to understand.”

“We’ve worked hard to implement an agreement that enables NASA and 

Google to work closely together on a range of innovative collaborations,” 

said Kemp. “We are bringing together some of the best research scientists 

and engineers to form teams to make more of NASA’s vast information 

accessible.”

NASA and Google also are finalizing details for additional 

collaborations that include joint research, products, facilities, 

education and missions.

Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of 

people around the world with information every day. Google 

is headquartered close to Ames in Silicon Valley with offices 

through the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Google

continued from front page

CREST

continued from front page

GeneSat-1 payload assembly. Launched past Dec, GeneSat-1 is orbitin

Earth and is expected to re-enter the atmosphere and burn up before the 

end of 2007. The GeneSat-1 spacecraft will soon be handed to Santa Clara

University for use as a training tool for future aerospace engineers.
NRP Post

www.researchpark.arc.nasa.gov

Photozig Commercial Release 

Dec 25, 2006 /PRLEAP.COM/ 

Photozig, Inc., located at the NASA Research Park, announced 

December 25 the commercial release of the Photozig(R) Albums v1.0 product line, the easy and fast solution to organize 

and share digital photos and short movies with efficient web 

connectivity.

“You can easily find that special picture with quick search, tag photos, 

categorize albums, view digital photos in different ways, exchange full 

resolution images through the internet, drag/drop images from a web 

browser to your computer, and much more,” said Bruno Kajiyama, CEO 

of Photozig. 

Photozig Albums software transfers photos and movie clips 

from digital cameras, organizes them in the computer, creates 

slideshows with photos, movies, and music, generates personalized screensavers, emails photos to friends, and includes free 

online photo albums.

Photozig Albums Express product is offered free of charge 

for a limited time, including built-in free photo editing software, free slideshow software, and photo organizer software. 

Photozig Albums DeLuxe and Premium products will be sold 

through RegNow, a Digital River, Inc. company (NASDAQ:

DRIV). Users can download photo software at www.photozig.

com and unleash the possibilities of the best digital camera 

technology. For info contact: info@photozig.com.

Advanced Wireless Communications at NRP 

“NRP Partner Advanced Wireless Communications (AWC) Inc. 

designs and maintains metro (municipal) scale and enterprise wireless 

networks, and provides automated solutions for many labor intensive 

processes - directly improving overall operational efficiency,” said Zack 

Pereyo, AWC Chief Technology Officer. AWC optimizes and maintains portions of Google’s Mountain View network, has been awarded 

contracts on a national scale and has worked with many California 

public safety agencies.

“We are very interested in developing our relationship with NASA to 

further the development of wireless sensor and control networks,” said 

CEO Andrew Gold. “Particularly for NASA, we are interested in 

increasing dataflow capacity for operations conducted on the moon and 

Mars in support of the government and the emerging commercial space 

industry.”

“Our software development department is growing and we are now developing centralized management software for wireless networks, security 

equipment and their peripherals,” said AWC Jeff Ottinger. “This 

software can extend the life and capabilities of legacy systems and is 

being utilized on large enterprise networks.”

NASA Research Park (NRP) partner, Advanced Wireless Communication 

(AWC) Inc. AWC team members are, left to right, Jeff Ottinger, Zachary Pereyo, Brian Trumbull, Mike Blankenship, Andrew Gold and Dusty 

Rhoades. The AWC team designs and maintains metro scale (citi-wide) 

wireless networks.

continued on page 9

Agenda set for Planetary Defense Conference

Ames Research Center Director Pete Worden will give the keynote address at the March 5-8 Planetary Defense Conference 

in Washington, D.C.

NASA Research Park is represented at the conference by NRP 

Partner Richard Davies of the Western Disaster Center. Rich 

has been invited to present a follow-up to his discussion at 

the 2004 Planetary Defense Conference concerning how the 

“disaster management community” can and should interface 

with the “planetary defense community.”

Dr. David Morrison, Ames Chief Scientist for Astrobiology, 

will lead one of the sessions. For more information: 

http://www.aero.org/news/newsitems/planetdefense1-29-07.html
NRP Post

 www.nasa.gov

“Tom has an amazing record of medical device innovation and entrepreneurial accomplishments,” said Tibion CEO Kern Bhugra, “Without 

imagination, innovation is not possible,” said Dr. Fogarty. “Tibion’s 

innovative technologies and products are geared to improve the quality of 

life for the mobility-impaired. I look forward to collaborating with Tibion 

to realize these imaginative products.”

Dr. Thomas J. Fogarty is an internationally recognized cardiovascular surgeon, inventor, entrepreneur and vintner involved 

with a wide spectrum of innovations in business and technology. The founder/co-founder of over 33 companies, Fogarty 

has acquired over 100 surgical patents, including the “industry 

standard” Fogarty balloon embolectomy catheter. He has received the Jacobson Innovation Award of the American College 

of Surgeons and the 2000 Lemelson-MIT prize for Invention 

and Innovation. Fogarty was inducted into the Inventors Hall of 

Fame in December 2001.

Tibion, at NASA Research Park since early 2003, has won awards 

for its work in bionic medical device development from the 

American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging. 

Tibion is broadly recognized as leading the development of bionic 

technologies and products for those with impaired mobility. 

Tibion Accelerates PowerKnee Development

NRP Partner Tibion Corporation, a Silicon Valley developer 

of active orthotic devices based on bionic technologies, announced last fall the initial closing of its $3.5 million series A 

venture capital financing. Tibion, based at NASA Research 

Park, is using the money to accelerate development of its 

bionic devices, particularly its “PowerKnee.”

Tibion develops bionic devices for those with loss of muscle 

function due to disease, injury, aging or surgery. Tibion’s 

products provide exo-skeleton assistance, resistance and rehabilitation of muscle function via a combination of patented, 

sensor-driven, actuator technologies and advances in embedded computer systems and orthotic science.

“The PowerKnee helps reduce muscle atrophy by providing active muscle 

assistance and resistance. For potential NASA applications, these features 

will be beneficial in a micro-gravity environment, where muscle atrophy can 

be severe, as well as upon returning from space to help rebuild muscle 

mass,” said Tibion CEO Kern Bhugra. “Tibion became involved with 

NASA in the early development stages due to NASA’s interest in such 

devices,” he added.

Oakland-based Claremont Creek Ventures led the financing 

round with participation from Los Gatos-based Saratoga 

Ventures. In connection with the funding, John Steuart and 

Ted Driscoll from Claremont Creek Ventures will serve on the 

company’s board. Medical device luminary Thomas J. Fogarty, 

M.D., also joined Tibion founders Robert Horst, Ph.d., and 

Kern Bhugra, on Tibion’s Board of Directors.

Left to right: Tibion co-founders Robert Horst, Ph.d., Chief Technology 

Officer, and Kern Bhugra, Chief Executive Officer, with the “Power Knee” 

prototype.

Changene

continued from front page

“Changene is investigating nacrein for space missions as a countermeasure 

for bone mass loss in the microgravity environment,” said Frank Chang, 

Changene CEO. “In space many bones that aid movement on Earth are 

not subjected to the same stresses as they were on Earth. Over time, calcium 

normally stored in the bones breaks down and is released into the bloodstream, causing a decrease in bone density, or bone mass,” says Chang.

This bone loss begins in the first few days in space at an average 

rate of 1.6 percent per month. This drop in density, known as 

disuse osteoporosis, leaves bones weak and less able to support 

the body’s weight and movement upon return to Earth, putting 

the astronaut at a higher risk of fracture. 

Osteoporosis and low bone density are also major health concerns for the world’s aging population. Datamonitor, a leading 

consulting firm in London, forecasts osteoporosis market sales 

would reach $10.4 billion for consumers in 2010. 

Changene collaborated with NASA Ames Research Center’s 

Advanced Supercomputing Division for ongoing studies, applying molecular dynamic simulation on the nacrein molecule 

and deciphering its tertiary structure. 
NRP Post

www.researchpark.arc.nasa.gov

AWC is in discussion with the Ames Exploration Technology 

Directorate, Code T, and Center Operations Directorate, 

Code J. A space act agreement for “Rapid Deployment of 

High Speed Wireless Communication” is being drafted. 

This agreement could enable: 

Engineering/technology tests with Code TI, Intelligent 

Systems Division, with rovers in the Mars yard

Field tests with rovers and humans in diverse terrains such 

as Haughton Crater, Canada; or the Mojave, CA, Utah or 

Arizona deserts

Demonstration of state-of-the-art emergency communication services for Ames, DART, and other emergency 

service organizations

According to AWC Project Manager for NASA Mike Blankenship, AWC could also work with USGS thru Code JT, Applied 

Information Technology Division, to replace antiquated wireless microwave systems with state of the art radio transmitters 

in volcanoes. “The USGS infrastructure is vulnerable to alignment issues because their beam width is very narrow. Our 

beam width is wider, more tolerant to wind loads and other 

disturbances,” he said. Blankenship could work with code 

JT to upgrade the USGS and Stanford capital assets located at 

Ames. He recently coordinated the installation of WiFi at the 

Moffett Field Golf Course Tee-1 Clubhouse, in less than 2 1⁄2 

hours and at AWC cost.

“We specialize in surveillance systems coupled with wireless technology 

transport, and want to apply technology in ways never before seen,” said 

Pereyo. “We are certified to install surveillance networks that can handle 

any number of new or legacy cameras, recognize license plates for stolen 

cars or amber alerts, and also provide automated monitoring.” 

“Our centralized management software allows users to access security 

equipment and monitor it through one unified interface,” said Ottinger.

“Most of our work is now terrestrial-based and often focuses on 

emergency communications,” said AWC Brian Trumbull. “Wireless 

communication systems are extremely effective in overcoming catastrophic 

events. We can provide immediate response and deploy communication 

systems rapidly to prevent communication breakdowns like those that 

occurred during Hurricane Katrina,” he added.

“We are growing astronomically,” said Trumbull. Since arriving at the 

NASA Research Park September 2006 we have doubled our number of 

employees and have made NRP our headquarters. “Advanced Wireless 

has been well received by NRP. 

Advanced Wireless

continued from page 7

We find it appealing to be surrounded by brilliant companies and brilliant 

people in Silicon Valley’s technology sector. By surrounding ourselves 

with elite groups within the technology industry, we can tap into superior 

resources,” Gold said.

“We are interested in working to develop and deploy wireless technology 

to support FEMA and Homeland Security. We would like to provide 

equipment and test protocols to support all such organizations. We forecast 

continued growth, expecting to have more than 25 engineers and IT skilled 

employees by the middle of 2007. We are always in search of talented 

individuals to assist us in developing advanced solutions,” Gold said.

AWC, Inc. was founded in 2005 in Monterey, CA as a spin off 

from another high technology networking company. 

“We now have wi-fi at the Tee-1 Golf Course 

Clubhouse, thanks to NASA Research Park 

Partner Advanced Wireless Communications,” 

said Terry Del Vecchio, Ames Exchange 

Operations Manager. AWC Project Manager 

Mike Blankenship coordinated the installation 

in less than 2 1⁄2 hours and we are thrilled. 

“This is just the first of what we hope to be 

many mutually beneficial agreements with 

the NASA community,” said AWC CEO 

Andrew Gold. 
NRP Post

10 www.nasa.go

Upcoming Events 

End of February 

NRP Customer Satisfaction Survey 

to Partners

March 5-8

Planetary Defense Conference in Washington DC

March 13 

The NRP Exploration Lecture Series presents Astronaut/

Author Tom Jones, 7 p.m., Eagle Room, Bldg. 943.

March 29

NASA Research Park Partner Meeting

1p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Eagle Room, Bldg 943.

April 24

NASA Technology Showcase, sponsored by the NASA Ames 

Partnership Office, features NRP partners’ presentations and 

exhibits, 1p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Moffett Field Conference and 

Education Center, Bldg. 3. 

Other News

NRP partners with Hangar 1 Badges are welcome to the 

Ames Research Center campus from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. M-F 

for lunch at Mega Bites Cafeteria. Please join us. 

NRP Partners have an option to contract janitorial service 

independently of services offered through the NASA lease. 

For more information, contact Roger at Platinum Facilities 

Service, (408) 998-9004, email: roger@platinumfacilityservices.com

Company Benefits:

* Easy to work with 

* Same day response time 

* Trustworthy workers 

* Cost effective 

* Offers out-of-scope services free as needed 

 (i.e. carpet cleaning, floor waxing)

Scope of cleaning: 

(M/W/F) - Dusting, garbage, vacuum, dishes, mopping, 

kitchen cleaning, dishwasher, counter cleaning 

(T/Th) - Garbage, kitchen cleaning, window closing

Tee-1 Bar & Grill Specials at the Moffet Field Golf Course:

* Monday Night Football includes $2 hot dogs, $1 pitchers 

 of beer and free popcorn. 5p.m. - 9p.m. 

* Wednesday Margarita Happy Hour includes $3 margaritas, 

 $1 off all beer, appetizers and hot dogs. 4p.m. - 6p.m.

* M/W/Th night specials

* Breakfast served daily with wifi and cappuccino 

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Diane Farrar

Layout and Design . . . . . . . . . . . Brandy Dettmer

NRP Post deadlines

Please submit articles to nrppost@mail.arc.nasa.gov

on or before May 15, 2007 for the next issue.

Phone: (650) 604-2NRP

Email: researchpark@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Website: www.researchpark.arc.nasa.gov

NASA Ames Partnership Office at Space 2006

The Value Proposition for Space Conference was held 

Sept. 2006 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center.

NASA Research Park, Diane Farrar

Technology Partnerships - Polly Claassen, Planners Collaborative; Lisa Williams