September 2006

www.nasa.gov

Page 2 - NASA ‘Earbot’ to help walker

 robots to keep their balance

Page 3 - Ames, partners show 

 lunar virtual reality system 

 to media

Page 5 - NASA licenses program, data 

 management software to

 industry

Page 7 - Upcoming events

Page 8 - Ongoing calendar

Page 9 - Classifieds

 

NASA Ames has made substantial 

progress in obtaining additional work 

to help prevent a reduction in force 

(RIF) and enable the center to thrive 

over the next few years, according 

to S. Pete Worden, director of NASA 

Ames Research Center.

“We have turned a major corner,” 

Worden told a capacity crowd gath- ered Sept. 7 in the main auditorium for 

an all-hands meeting to discuss the 

state of the center. “I’ve been here for 

four or five months now, and there has 

been incredible progress in workplace 

alignment at Ames. I believe we have 

work that will keep the center going.”

Worden said the agency “has 

been good to its word” to maintain 10 

healthy field centers and that over the 

past few months, there has been con- siderable thought about what Ames 

and the other field centers should be 

doing to implement the Vision. “The Vision for Space Exploration 

represents an impressive opportunity 

for the whole agency,” Worden said. 

He said that over the next four to six 

weeks, the center will strive to fill the 

new jobs with its civil servants.

To coordinate the effort, a new 

temporary Code D office will be 

organized to help fill the new jobs by 

matching the new positions with em- ployees’ skill levels. Worden said his 

goal is to get the jobs filled by early 

October. “We’re going to have to get 

busy,” he said.

Turning to other critical issues fac- ing the center, Worden said the em- battled Stratospheric Observatory for 

Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) program 

office would be moved from Ames to 

the Dryden Flight Research Center to 

complete the aircraft’s flight tests. A 

decision is expected sometime this 

winter whether the SOFIA science pro- gram will still be managed by Ames.

“We will be watched very closely 

over the next six months to see if 

we are good team players,” Worden 

said, adding that what really matters 

is the scientific return from the SOFIA 

program.

Worden also addressed the issue 

of small spacecraft, saying that the 

agency is now struggling with what 

role small spacecraft will play in future 

space missions. 

Nevertheless, Worden said he 

believes there will be a lot of good 

opportunities for Ames in the small 

spacecraft business, particularly from 

partnerships with other field centers, 

such as the Goddard Space Flight 

Center, and also with private industry.

He said he expects Ames to sign an agreement with Google Inc., in the 

near future to collaborate on Earth 

observation, and noted that Ames is 

currently negotiating with Loral Corp. 

to establish a small spacecraft integra- tion facility at Ames. He said there 

are several other ongoing talks with 

other potential partners that he was 

not at liberty to discuss at this time.

“We are in the Silicon Valley and 

we are noticed; people want to work 

with us,” Worden asserted. 

Over the next couple of years, Worden said the agency’s focus will 

be on building new spacecraft to 

return NASA to the moon and later 

on to Mars. “We’re going to have a 

Worden cites ‘incredible progress’ in Ames workforce alignment

continued on page 2

Ames Center Director S. Pete Worden addresses 

the audience at the recent all hands meeting citing 

that a new Code D will be organized to fill new 

positions with Ames’ employee skill levels to meet 

NASA’s goal with the Vision for Space Exploration.NASA photo by Tom Trower

On the Inside . . .

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 

(AIAA) held the Space 2006 annual conference at the San 

Jose Convention Center Sept. 19 to 21. NASA Ames cochaired the event, along with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. 

Air Force. Ames Center Director S. Pete Worden (right) 

spoke numerous times at the event. Students at the event 

(above) participated in the ‘Education Alley’ hands-on exhibits, which included robot and educational activities.

Ames co-hosts Space 2006 Conference

NASA photos by Dominic Hart
Astrogram September 2006



NASA scientists are develop- ing ‘Earbot,’ an artificial inner ear for 

legged, ‘walker’ robots that will help 

prevent them from toppling.

The prototype Earbot - golf ball- size, energy efficient and cushioned in 

a Styrofoam core - is made of special 

electronic sensor chips that can mimic 

the motion detection of the human 

inner ear. 

“We will process signals from the 

sensors in the Earbot in the same way 

that a human brain does to provide 

balance control,” said Xander Twom- bly, a scientist at NASA Ames.

A human inner ear has clusters of 

sensory hair cell receptors and nerve 

fibers within hollow areas that inter- connect like a system of tiny caves - a 

labyrinth - or a coiled, shell-like struc- ture - the cochlea. This system helps a 

person maintain stability and hear.

“(In Earbot) we are using tiny 

sensors that can sense direction of 

motion,” Twombly explained. Special 

chips -- micro-electro-mechanical sen- sors (MEMS) -- in the Earbot measure 

its acceleration and rotation. These 

sensors are similar to the organs in 

the human inner ear that measure the 

acceleration and rotation of the head.

Robotics researchers say there will 

be a much larger role for legged ro- bots in the future, according to Twom- bly. Earbot could have much broader 

use in these legged robots, controlling 

not only robot ‘eyes,’ but also far more 

complex robot ‘arms’ and ‘legs,’ Twom- bly ventured.

“A walking robot is able to move 

across dangerous and rocky terrain 

such as a hillside or inside a cave. We 

expect to be able to explore areas on 

this planet or other planets that would 

otherwise be inaccessible,” Twombly 

said.

The ability of a walking robot to explore difficult terrain not only will be 

dependent on Earbot balance control 

-- but also, more importantly -- will 

hinge on the robot’s general design. 

“Earbot will aid the control of an ap- propriately designed robot significantly, 

but it will not be the sole deciding 

factor about whether or not a robot 

can handle difficult terrain,” cautioned 

Twombly.

One scenario that scientists 

envision is a ‘mother,’ wheeled robot 

carrying one or more legged robots 

on its body. “The mother rover will 

drive through safe terrain to an area 

of interest that it cannot safely enter,” 

Twombly explained. “Then the mother 

will dispatch the legged robot or robots 

to explore the target area.”

Plans call for a cadre of students, 

using unique NASA testing facilities, to 

conduct tests of the Earbot. Research- ers later will install the device in an 

eight-legged ‘scorpion’ robot, which is 

about the size of a dog. The first task 

of the Earbot will be to stabilize a cam- era on the robot’s head when the robot 

is walking, much in the same way the 

human inner ear sensors stabilize the 

eyes in their sockets during walking 

and running. The stabilization results 

in a clear image of the world. These 

early tests will not evaluate Earbot as 

a total robot balance aid.

The Earbot research team con- sists of principal investigator Richard 

Boyle, a vestibular neurophysiologist; 

computer scientist Twombly; electrical 

engineer Tony Intravaia and robotic 

engineer Silvano Colombano.

few years in which they’ll expect us to 

build stuff that people are going to fly 

in,” he said, adding that Ames will play 

a major role in helping develop the 

new spacecraft.

However, after the new spacecraft 

are built, by 2011 or 2012, he said the 

agency’s focus will return to science. 

“The Vision for Space Exploration is 

going to open huge scientific opportu- nities,” Worden said.

Prior to his remarks, Worden 

presided over a ceremony to honor the 

members of the team that developed 

Worden cites ‘Incredible progress’

NASA ‘Earbot’ to help ‘walker’ robots keep their balance

by John Bluc

continued from front page

by Michael Mewhinney

NASA photo by Tom Trower

NASA’s ‘scorpion’ robot, in which researchers will 

install the ‘Earbot’, an artificial inner ear for legged 

‘walker’ robots. The Earbot will aid the control of the 

robot, helping to stabilize a camera on the robot’s 

head as the robot is walking across the terrain.

NASA photo by Tom Trower

Ames Center Director S. Pete Worden, fourth from left, presided over a ceremony before the All Hands on 

Sept. 7 to honor the members of the team that developed the software called the Future Air Traffic management Concepts Evaluation Tool, better known as FACET, that won NASA’s 2006 Software of the Year award.

the software called the Future Air Traf- fic management Concepts Evaluation 

Tool, better known as FACET, which 

won NASA’s 2006 Software of the 

Year award.

“I am really proud of these folks,” 

Worden said. “The FACET award is 

really a cool thing.” He said the award 

represents a “small measure of the 

reward” to people who do the agency’s 

business. “We have strutted our stuff 

and we’ll do even better,” Worden 

said.
 Astrogram September 2006

Experts from NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration and the nation’s airports gathered at Ames on Sept. 12 

and 13 for the 2006 NASA/Industry Airport Planning Workshop to discuss ways to improve future airports. During the two-day conference, keynote speakers and expert panelists discussed the challenges of planning for the 

future capacity needs of airports and how new technologies are providing solutions.

Future airport planning discussed at Ames

A small crowd of local reporters 

enthusiastically tried out a virtual reality moon racing system Aug. 31 in the 

Exploration Center just outside Ames’ 

main gate. Simulated moon racing images were projected on the big screen 

in the center. 

Ames, with VirtueArts Inc., and 

VirtuePlay Inc., both of Los Angeles, 

set up the moon-racing preview for 

news media. Earlier, Ames signed 

an agreement to collaborate with the 

companies for engineering and realtime simulation training in a variety 

of applications, including a dynamic 

learning system that allows users to 

virtually race lunar buggies on the 

moon in 3D.

Reporter Scott Budman of KNTVTV, NBC News, San Jose; Rob Fladeboe from KRON-TV, San Francisco; 

and Stefanie Olsen, CNETnews.com, 

San Francisco, attended the demonstration, broadcast or wrote stories. In 

addition, Mark Levenson, host of the 

syndicated Tech Close-ups cable TV 

show, made a half-hour program about 

the software. Federal Computer Week 

magazine printed an article about 

simulated lunar races, and KLIV-AM 

radio, San Jose, broadcast an interview with Mary Duda, CEO/president 

of VirtuePlay Inc.

“The Lunar Racing Championship 

not only provides immersion racing on 

a simulated lunar surface in virtual reality, it also creates a dynamic learning 

experience for the user,” Duda said. 

“Our goal is to transform education by 

immersing students in fun learning ex- periences.” The Lunar Racing Champi- onship simulation was developed from 

actual lunar mission footage derived 

from the 1998 Clementine mission. 

The software realistically simulates 

the moon’s gravity, one sixth of that on 

Earth.

“The technology used in this type 

of software can help advance future 

NASA exploration by providing realistic 

simulations of complex missions,” said 

Dan Rasky, an Ames senior scientist. 

“Immersion racing on the moon is the 

introduction to being on the moon,” 

Rasky added.

“The Lunar Racing Championship demonstration is a truly unique 

experience that combines the adrenaline-pumping immersion, with real 

low-gravity physics and the accurate 

terrain of the moon,” said Steve Henderson, senior vice president of sales 

for VirtueArts Inc.

During the simulated lunar races, 

drivers are seated in individual racing 

Ames, partners show lunar race virtual reality system to media

pods, complete with race car seats, 

force feedback steering wheels and 

gas and brake pedals. Highfidelity stereo, head-mounted 

displays with four-directional 

head-tracking devices enable 

drivers to look in any direction 

and see the racecourse, other 

racers and the lunar terrain 

in 3D.

Each lunar buggy is 

equipped with various thrusters to help maintain stability 

and traction, as well as jumps 

and bursts of speed. Each 

race lasts approximately five 

minutes and will take place in 

a variety of locations on the 

moon: Hadley Rille, Amund- sen Crater, Alpine Valley and 

the Tycho Crater.

The software also was 

demonstrated to the public at 

the AIAA Space 2006 Conference and Exposition, Sept. 

19-21 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center.

Duda said she envisions 

that students who participate 

in the lunar races will be inspired to build their own lunar 

robots. Following the AIAA conference, 

the corporation plans to offer an online 

version of the lunar race experience to 

students and schools throughout the 

country, and provide lunar buggy tool 

kits to assist the students to build their 

lunar racers. 

Under the terms of the three-year 

memorandum of understanding with 

VirtueArts Inc., and VirtuePlay Inc., 

NASA will collaborate with the two corporations in several areas of mutual 

interest, including engineering design 

tools, simulation and modeling tools, 

multi-disciplinary collaborative design 

tools, data visualization tools, multimedia outreach and education, logistics 

modeling and studies, mission planning, and human factors simulation 

studies.

by John Bluc

Local reporters and other visitors tried out the virtual reality moon 

racing system in the Exploration Center at Ames in late August. The 

racing images were projected onto the big screen located inside the 

Exploration Center. The moon-racing preview was set up by Ames, 

VirtueArts Inc., and VirtuePlay Inc., both from Los Angeles. The 

virtual system provides engineering and realtime simulation training, 

including a program that permits users to virtually race their lunar 

buggies on the moon.

NASA photo by Tom Trower NASA photo by Dominic Hart
Astrogram September 2006



It is estimated over 2,000 visitors came by the 

NASA booth at the 2006 Mountain View Arts 

and Wine Festival the weekend of Sept. 9 

and 10. Staff at the booth shared information 

about NASA. Visitors had an opportunity to 

have digital photos taken that made it appear 

that they were in spacesuits.

Since 1995, the Foundation for a 

College Education (FCE) has helped 

more than 200 underrepresented stu- dents prepare for college. By providing 

students and families in East Palo Alto 

with the tools they need to navigate 

the college admissions process, the 

FCE is influencing the entire community to believe higher education is within 

their reach.

The partnership between NASA 

Ames, the San Jose State University 

Foundation for a college education is recruiting volunteers

Foundation and the FCE during the 

past five years has enabled nearly a 

dozen of FCE’s students to get handson experience in laboratories, under 

the direction of renowned researchers. 

Several Ames employees have also 

served as mentors for these young 

men and women, starting in high 

school and continuing through college. 

Imagine having a hand in helping 

talented students attain their dream of 

attending college! 

Due to the increase in the number 

of students participating in the high 

school program, FCE is actively recruiting volunteers to work directly with 

students. Here are ways you can help:

• Mentors/college coaches - The 

college coach serves as an academic 

mentor for a small group of students. 

Coaches monitor students’ academic 

progress, advise them on academic 

issues and lend moral support as the 

students strive to achieve their goal of 

attending college.

• Tutors - Group tutors provide academic assistance in specific areas in 

a group setting. Group tutoring occurs 

on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 

p.m. to 8 p.m. FCE compiles a pool of 

group tutors that share responsibility 

of attending tutoring sessions. Group 

tutors alternate days and weeks. 

• Individual 1:1 tutors -- Academic 

tutors provide academic assistance 

in a specific subject area(s), while 

encouraging basic skills, study habits 

and self-confidence. Individual tutors 

work with an assigned student once or 

twice a week depending on the schedule of the student and tutor. 

Through your commitment, FCE’s 

students will be prepared to tackle 

life’s exciting challenges and will 

ultimately contribute significantly to our 

society with the education and skills 

they cultivate in college. 

For more information about how 

you can help, please contact Joyce 

Latu at: jlatu@collegefoundation.org, 

call (650) 322-5048 or visit us onoine 

at: www.collegefoundation.org

by Antoinette Battis

Visitors check out NASA info booth at local festival

Photos by Astrid Olson
 Astrogram September 2006

NASA and JumpStart Solutions are working together to bring software de- veloped for use in the nation’s space 

program directly to consumers and 

commercial markets.

Through a recently signed agree- ment, JumpStart Solutions, Cave 

Creek, Ariz., will license NASA’s 

Program Management Tool (PMT), 

Query Based Document Composition 

(QBDC), and NETMARK software. 

The Program Management Tool is a 

comprehensive, Web-enabled, busi- ness application tool. It is designed 

to monitor, disseminate and track the 

progress of research and development 

programs and to project milestones. 

The tool operates in conjunction with 

QBDC and NETMARK.

NETMARK is an information-ondemand framework that manages, 

stores and retrieves unstructured 

and/or semi-structured documents. 

QBDC is a tool that enables content 

or context searches, either simple or 

hierarchical, across a variety of dataNRP’s Tibion Corp. to accelerate bionic device development

and other customers.

“We recently granted a non-exclu- sive patent and copyright license to 

an Arizona company to develop new 

software based on the Program Man- agement Tool/NETMARK technology 

developed at NASA Ames,” said Mar- tha Del Alto, technology partnership 

manager at Ames. “This agreement 

represents a continuation of NASA’s 

commitment to transfer technology 

to the commercial marketplace,” she 

added.

JumpStart Solutions LLC is a technology company that licenses 

and commercializes select, well-de- veloped technologies sourced from 

federal government and university 

research centers.

Additional information about 

JumpStart Solutions is available at: 

http://www.jumpstart-solutions.com

bases. NETMARK is a revolutionary 

concept in information management. 

Along with PMT and QBDC, NET- MARK was invented and developed at 

NASA Ames.

“Using NASA’s PMT/NETMARK technologies as a platform, JumpStart 

Solutions has developed the PanOpti- ca product suite, which provides users 

with a comprehensive set of Webbased tools for project and portfolio 

management,” said Jim Goulka, chief 

executive officer of JumpStart Solu- tions. The company plans to integrate 

the NASA software into its PanOptica 

product suite. “PanOptica enables 

users at disparate locations to work 

collaboratively, using the latest Webbased communications technologies,” 

Goulka explained. JumpStart Solutions has indicated that it plans to integrate other technol- ogies with PMT/NETMARK to provide 

project portfolio management and 

knowledge document management 

capabilities for its industry, university 

NASA licenses program, data management software to industry

by Michael Mewhinney

by Diane Farrar

Tibion Corp. is a developer of bionic devices for those with 

loss of muscle function resulting from disease, injury, aging 

or surgery. Seen here with a prototype of their work are, left 

to right, Kern Bhugra, Tibion president and chief executive 

officer; Fred Zeise, Tibion hardware engineer; and Robert 

Horst, Tibion chief technology officer.

photo by Diane Farrar

Tibion Corp., a Silicon Valley developer of active orthotic devices 

based on bionic technologies, an- nounced Sept. 14 the initial closing 

of its $3.5 Million Series A financing. 

Tibion, based at NASA Research Park 

(NRP), said it will use the money to 

accelerate development of its bionic 

devices, particularly its “PowerKnee.” Tibion develops bionic devices for those with loss of muscle func- tion due to disease, injury, aging or 

surgery. Tibion’s products provide 

exo-skeleton assistance, resistance, 

and rehabilitation of muscle func- tion via a combination of patented, 

sensor-driven, actuator technologies, 

and advances in embedded computer 

systems and orthotic science. 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’s 

board of directors recently, which is 

now comprised of Steuart, Driscoll, 

Fogarty and the Tibion co-founders, 

CTO Robert Horst, PhD, and CEO 

Kern Bhugra. “Tom has an amazing record of medical device innovation and entre- preneurial accomplishments,” said 

Tibion CEO Kern Bhugra, “His insights 

will be enormously valuable to Tibion 

as we progress in the development 

and delivery of bionic medical de- vices.”

“Without imagination, innovation is not possible,” said 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.” Fogarty is an internationally recog- nized cardiovascular surgeon, inven- tor, entrepreneur and vintner involved 

with a wide spectrum of innovations in 

business and technology. The found- er/co-founder of over 33 companies, 

Fogarty has acquired over 100 surgi- cal patents, including the “industry 

standard” Fogarty balloon embolecto- my catheter. He has received, most 

significantly, the Jacobson Innovation 

Award of the American College of 

Surgeons and the 2000 LemelsonMIT prize for Invention and Innova- tion. Fogarty was inducted into the 

Inventors Hall of Fame in December 

2001.

 Fogarty, Steuart and Driscoll joined co-founders CTO Robert 

Horst, PhD, and CEO Kern Bhugra 

on the Tibion board of directors.

Tibion at NASA Research Park 

since early 2003, has won awards for 

its work in bionic medical device de- velopment 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. Horst and Bhugra have also made recent presentations 

sharing Tibion milestones including those at the IEEE conference in New 

York and the Dow Jones conference 

in Redwood City, Calif. For more information, contact 

Kern Bhugra at (650) 694-7384, or 

(408) 398-7214 or e-mail info@tibion.

com and on the Web at http://www.

tibion.com
Astrogram September 2006



NASA Ames Research Center was 

chosen from a pool of 250 applicants 

for California’s fourth annual Flex Your 

Power Awards. Flex Your Power 

is California’s statewide energy 

efficiency marketing and outreach 

campaign. 

Initiated in 2001, Flex Your 

Power is a partnership of California’s utilities, residents, businesses, institutions, government 

agencies and nonprofit organizations working to save energy. 

Specifically, NASA Ames 

won an energy efficiency honorable 

mention for energy efficiency improvements at the facility. Ames has saved 

NASA Ames wins energy efficiency award

by Stacy St. Lo

11.7 million kilowatt hours (kWh) annually since 2000 by introducing several 

energy-efficient technologies. 

Ames retrofitted lighting in more 

than 50 buildings by replacing T-12 

fluorescent lighting fixtures with more 

energy-efficient T-8 fluorescent lightOn Sept. 12, Ames’ Environmental 

Services Division hosted a commute 

alternatives fair to educate employees 

about the commuting choices avail- able. 

Alternatives to using gasonlinepowered vehicles grow increasingly 

important for the environment and our 

pocketbooks. 

According to a 2002 study by the 

U.S. Department of Energy, vehicles 

consumed 8.5 million barrels of oil per 

day, which constitutes 42.5 percent of 

total U.S. consumption. And, the 2000 

U.S. Census found that 78 percent of 

all trips to and from work are taken in 

single-passenger vehicles. Vehicle 

emissions are one of the leading contributors to global warming, which is 

the accelerated increase in the Earth’s 

surface temperature. 

As the exhibitors at the commute 

by Stacy St. Lo

alternatives fair demonstrated, there 

are many ways you can make a positive impact.

Local car dealerships offered hybrid test drives (and discounts) during 

the fair. Local transit agencies including SamTrans, CalTrain, Peninsula 

Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance, 511.

org Rideshare and the Valley Transportation Authority educated employees on the variety of public transportation options available. 

Ames’ Commute Alternatives Program provided shuttle bus schedules 

and Ames-specific information. The 

ing. Ames also upgraded the facility 

management control systems for, 

heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in 10 buildings, which 

has enabled better monitoring and 

control of these systems to mini- mize energy waste, and installed 10 

kilowatts of photovoltaic solar panels 

on two buildings to help offset grid 

provided electricity usage in these 

buildings.

By 2010, the facility aims to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide 

emissions by 30 percent from 1990 

levels.

Commute fair exhibitors demonstrate alternatives in transportation

The Foothill-De Anza Community College District Internship Program held its 3rd annual poster session on 

Sept. 14. This unique educational internship program is conducted as a cooperative effort between NASA 

Ames and the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. NASA internship positions are available in a wide 

range of settings that include private industry, and correspond to almost every college major. Student interns 

work directly with scientists, programmers, accountants, engineers, administrative assistants, Web developers and other professionals as they carry out or support research related to astrobiology, aviation operations 

systems, information technology, psychology, life sciences and space and Earth sciences.

Ames’ Bicycling Club, the Mountain 

View Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory 

Committee, the Silicon Valley Bicycle 

Coalition and Breathe California touted 

bicycling as a pollution-free alternative 

that also benefits health. 

DriveNeutral introduced the concept of purchasing alternative energy 

credits to offset carbon pollution from 

vehicles. The Environmental Division 

also hosted the ‘Just Hoof It’ pledge to 

encourage employees to walk or bike 

to meetings and lunch breaks while 

they are at Ames.

NASA photo by Tom Trower

NASA photo by Tom Trower Ames interns host poster session

Mikal Satchell from the 511.org Rideshare program 

discusses local transportation choices with an attendee at the Ames Commute Alternatives Fair.
 Astrogram September 2006

Upcoming special events . . .

The NASA Research Park 

Exploration Lecture Series presents 

‘The View from the Center of the 

Universe.’ This will be the next lec- ture in the ongoing NRP series. All 

Ames employees and their guests 

are invited.

Date: Oct. 25

Time: 7 p.m. Place: Eagle Room, Bldg. 943. 

Cosmologist Dr. Joel R. Pri- mack and writer/philosopher Nancy 

Abrams will discuss recent advanc- es in astronomy, show spectular 

new videos, and frame a compelling 

Safety Week celebrations are set for Oct. 3 - 5 promising an action-packed week, recognizing that your safety is vital to 

mission success. 

The Safety Week schedule is as follows:

Event: Date: Time: Location:

ASAP Awards Presentation Oct. 3 10:00 a.m. 201 Auditorium

COTR/Contract Site Managers Training Oct. 4 10:00 a.m. Bldg. 3 Ballroom

Fall Fun Run/Walk Oct. 4 11:45 a.m. De France (near N221)

Safety Street Fair and Ames

Exchange Council’s Chili cook-off Oct. 5 11:00 a.m. King Road

All-Hands Supervisor Presentation Oct. 5 2:00 a.m. Bldg. 3 Ballroom

The Safety Street Fair will take place on King Road from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. A variety of health and safety informational booths will be set up. Safety training will be given all week and the Kids’ Calendar Contest entries will be displayed in the Ames Café for your votes. 

All center employees are invited to attend. For more information, contact Jennifer Chan at ext 4-5602, or e-mail 

jschan@mail.arc.nasa.gov or Linda Vollenweider at ext 4-5007, or e-mail (lvollenweider@mail.arc.nasa.gov or visit the 

Web at http://q.arc.nasa.gov/qh/.

Astronomer Dale Cruikshank of 

NASA Ames will give a non-technical, 

illustrated talk on ‘The Planet Pluto: 

Maligned but Not Forgotten.’

This talk is part of the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures.

Date: Nov. 8

Time: 7 p.m.

Place: Smithwick Theater, 

 Foothill College,

 El Monte Road and 

 Freeway 280,

 in Los Altos Hills.

The event is free and open to the 

theory for understanding the universe 

and our role in it.

NRP ‘View from the Center of the Universe’ talk set

Ames Safety Week set for Oct. 3 to 5

Dr. Joel Primack and writer/philospher Nancy 

Abrams, both scheduled to speak at Ames on 

Oct. 25.

Silicon Valley astronomy lectures presents . . .

public. Parking on campus costs $2.

Call the series hot-line at (650) 

949-7888 for more information and 

driving directions. 

No background in science will be 

required for this talk.

Cruikshank is one of the world’s 

foremost authorities on the outer solar 

system. He and his colleagues discovered the ices that make up Pluto’s 

surface and evaporate to form its thin 

atmosphere. As a former amateur astronomer, he has a knack for explaining scientific ideas in simple, direct 

language.

The lecture is co-sponsored by:

* NASA Ames Research Center

* The Foothill College 

 Astronomy Program

* The SETI Institute

* The Astronomical Society 

 of the Pacific.
Astrogram September 2006



Ames Ongoing Monthly Events Calendar

 Safety Data 

 NASA-Ames Occupational

 Illness-Injury Data for 

 Calendar Year-to-Date 2006

 Jan. 1, 2006 – Aug. 31, 2006

 Civil Contractors

 Servants

 

 First aid cases 10 14

 Lost Worday cases 0 3

 Recordable cases 2 7

 Restricted duty days 0 0

 Above data are as of 08/31/06. May 

 be subject to slight adjustment in the 

 event of a new case or new inform-

 ation regarding an existing case. 

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. By-laws 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 Thursday (check Web site 

for meeting dates: http://accc.arc.nasa.gov), 

12 noon to 1:30 p.m., N-210, Rm. 205. POC: 

Cheryl Quinn, ext 4-5793.

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

POC: Doreen Cohen, ext. 4-5203.

Ames Diabetics (AAD), 1st & 3rd Weds, 12 

noon to 1 p.m., at Ames Mega Bites, Sun room. 

Support group discusses news affecting diabetics. POC: Bob Mohlenhoff, ext. 4-2523/email at: bmohlenhoff@mail.arc.nasa.gov.

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 (Feb 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.

Vice President visits Bay Area

Vice President Dick Cheney 

landed at Moffett on Sept. 15 for a 

visit to the Bay Area.

NASA photo by Dominic Hart
 Astrogram September 2006

Ames Classifieds Exchange Information

Beyond Galileo N-235 (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) 

ext. 4-6873

Ask about NASA customized gifts for special 

occasions. 

Mega Bites N-235 (6 a.m. to 2 p.m.) ext. 

4-5969

Visitor Center Gift Shop N-943 

(10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) ext. 4-5412

NASA logo merchandise, souvenirs, toys, gifts and 

educational items. 

Open 7 days a week, 7:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. Rates from 

$40 - $50.

Vacation Opportunities

Check web site for discounts to local attractions, 

http://exchange.arc.nasa.gov and click on tickets.

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-235, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) 

ext. 4-6873

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

Housing

Miscellaneous

Ames emergency 

announcements

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

instructions for Ames employees. You 

can also listen to 1700 KHz AM radio 

for the same information.

Ames Swim Center, 25 meter swimming pool 

open and heated year round. (80-82 degrees) Lap 

swim: Mon, Weds, Fri, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3-6 

Tues to Thurs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

Seasonal recreation swim; swim lessons. Locker 

rooms w/sauna and shower facility. Open to all 

civil servants and contractors. Location: Bldg. 109 

across the street from the tennis courts. Fees vary 

depending on activity. POC: Tana Windhorst, ext. 

3-8025; e-mail: tw4lsb@aol.com

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! 

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.

Wanted: 40-foot aluminum extension ladder. 

Call (408) 281-7011.

Drexel Heritage Bar Stools (4) in white washed 

finish. Exc. cond. Originally $2,400, asking $500.

Lorie (408) 377-7747

Room available for rent in house in mid town 

Palo Alto, with kitchen, laundry, and pool, $500 

plus $50 toward utils, for a quiet, neat, stable 

and conscientious person or couple. E-mail 

jims@eos.arc.nasa.gov; ham call wb6yoy.

Unfurnished room in house in San Jose, close to 

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

Available to quiet, mature, non-smoking female 

student or professional. Email :mbualat@stanfordalumni.org, or call (408) 578-9580.

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 July 2006 is shown 

below.

Protective Services 

monthly activity

Lake Tahoe Squaw Valley townhouse, 3bd/2baequipped, balcony view, horseback riding, hiking, 

biking, golf, river rafting, tennis, ice skating and 

more. Summer rates $100 per night, 2 night minimum. Call (650) 968-4155, e-mail DBMcKellar@

aol.com

Vacation rental, Bass Lake, 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, $1,000/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.
Astrogram September 2006

10

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.

Editor-in-Chief................................. Laura Lewis

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/news/astrogram/2006/06astrograms.

html

Ames Research Center

Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

The Ames Exchange sponsored an employee appreciation BBQ at the 

golf course at Moffett Field on Aug. 

30. The entire Ames community 

was invited to attend, to enjoy 

hamburgers, veggie burgers, 

baked beans, corn on the cob 

and more. 

The Ames Exchange gained full operational control of the 

entire golf facility from the Air 

Force on Aug. 1. The new en- thusiastic management team is 

guided by Algie Pulley Jr., pro- fessional golf course architect 

and operational consultant. Pulley designed and devel- oped the Chardonnay Club lo- cated in the Napa Valley. Long 

range plans at Moffett Field include 

green and tee reconstruction styled af- ter Chardonnay, as well as a new au- tomated irrigation system. Immediate 

plans call for cosmetic improvements 

Ames staff gathers at employee appreciation lunch

NASA photo by Tom Trower

NASA photos by Dominic Hart

Ames employees enjoying the employee appreciation BBQ 

sponsored by the Ames Exchange on Aug. 30. The lunch was 

held at the golf course at Moffett Field.

to the golf course through meandering 

mowing patterns and bunker renova- tion. Already available is a new fleet of state-of-the-art golf carts. The Golf Club at Moffett 

Field, as well as the fullservice bar and restaurant, 

is open from daybreak to 

dusk every day, includ- ing Mondays. Group golf 

outings are encouraged 

seven days a week as are 

special social and business 

functions oriented around 

breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

A new golf club is being organized, and diversified 

golf leagues will begin in September. 

Call the Pro Shop for more information 

at (650) 603-8026. 

Bigelow visits 

Ames ‘Mars yard’

In July, Robert Bigelow of Bigelow Corp., in a joint 

venture with NASA, sent ‘Genebox’ into orbit on a 

Russian rocket. Genebox, a shoebox-size payload, 

contains a miniature laboratory that in future missions will analyze how the near weightlessness of 

space affects genes in microscropic cells and other 

small life forms. Left to right: Terry Fong, Robert 

Schingler (both from Ames) and Bigelow with his 

staff assistant during their visit to the center on Aug. 

30. Bigelow visited Ames to observe the Ames rover 

maneuvers in the ‘Mars yard’ at the center.