National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Information Technology

Reuse of Software by Programs and Projects

Alfred T. MecumTechnology Manager, Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP) OfficeNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

p r e s e n t e d a tNASA PM Challenge ConferenceFebruary 9 - 1 0 , 2 0 0 9

Used with Permission

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program

Matching Technology Needswith Technology Capabilities

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

The IPP Role• Office at all 10 NASA Centers

• Facilitator

– Bring parties together (inside and outside)

– Bridge communication gaps

• Catalyst

– Implement new things = Change agent

– Create new partnerships

– Demonstrate new approaches and methods

• Identify ways to add value to Agency priorities and objectives

• Win-Win-Win

– NASA

– Our partners

– Taxpayer (i.e., public good)

The IPP Approach

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Dynamic Innovation Process

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

IPP Program ElementsInnovation Incubator

– Centennial Challenges

– FAST– Innovation

Transfusion– New Business

Models

Technology Infusion

– SBIR/STTR– Seed Fund

Partnership Development

– Technology Transfer

– Intellectual Property Management

– New Innovative Partnerships

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

What is Software?

Software as defined in NPD 2820.1C, NASA Software Policy, means computer programs, procedures, rules and associated documentation and data pertaining to the development and operation of a computer system. Software also includes COTS, GOTS, MOTS, embedded software, reuse, heritage, legacy, auto generated code, firmware, and open source software components. Executables, source code, and object code.

NPR 2210.1, External Release of NASA Software, excludes computer databases and software documentation as software.

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Why Is Software So Valuable?

Flexible

Core for one system, yet applicable to others

Applicable across missions with minimal additional development or modifications –sharing prevents “reinventing the wheel”Applicable in other areas: medical, transportation, electronics, robotics, manufacturing, etc.

Royalty revenue

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Example’s of Where Software is Being Used within NASA

• Flight projects

– Satellite command and control systems

– Science instruments

• Ground operations support

– Health and safety monitoring

• Science Data management

• Infrastructure Support (timecards, record keeping, etc.)

• Educational Outreach

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

How much software is developed at NASA?

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

FY09 Agency Reported Software

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

69

621

97

143

35 30 3514 9

142

13

130

257

346

158 160

127

69

22

Software NTRs

NTRs

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

GSFC Reported Software

4869

97

182

220

257

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

FY07 FY08 FY09

Software NTRs

NTRs

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

As a Software Inventor/Author…

• You should document new technology developed– Keep notebooks to prove inventorship

– Remember that software is intellectual property (IP)

– Report via eNTRe (http://entre.nasa.gov)

• You are responsible for protecting software IP from improper use– Always ensure that the appropriate agreement is in

place before disseminating and sharing it.

– When in doubt, contact the SRA

You should fully understand the implicationsof releasing your software

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Why File a Software NTR• It’s required (prior to publishing or presenting)• IPP must determine whether to pursue active tech

transfer• Patent counsel must determine ownership and file

patent application– Filing a patent application protects NASA’s rights to

the invention• Failure to file before disclosing

(publishing/presenting)– Prevents the ability to secure foreign patents– Starts 1-year clock (“stat bar”) for filing for

U.S. patent

• NTR needed for award eligibility

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Applicable NASA Requirements for Software

• Inventions Made By Government Employees, NPD 2091.1B

• NASA Software Policy, NPD 2820.1C

• External Software Release, NPR 2210.1A

• NASA Software Engineering Requirements, NPR 7150.2A

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Report Software Invention• New Technology Report (NTR) – NF1679

• Reporting the development of new technologies or innovations (including software) to NASA

• Required of NASA civil servants

• Required in most NASA contracts since 1966• §305 of 42 USC 2457 (Space Act)

• Large- business contractors

• For- profit organizations

– FAR clause 52.227-11 as modified by NASA FAR Supplement clause 1852.227-11

• Small business contractors

• Non- profit

• Colleges and universities

• NASA Policy Directive 2091.B [Each employee who makes an invention [whether or not the invention was made during working hours, was made with a contribution of Government resources (facilities, equipment, materials, funds, or information, or of the time or services of other Government employees on official duty), or bears a direct relationship to, or is made as a consequence of, the official duties of the employee] is required to submit to the Office of the General Counsel, or to the delegated Center Patent or Intellectual Property Counsel, a disclosure of such invention. Such disclosure should be made through the NASA electronic New TECHNOLOGY REPORTING (eNTRe) system available at http://invention.nasa.gov/.

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Tools: How Do I File an NTR?

First-time users must create an

account

•Online eNTRe system (http://entre.nasa.gov)

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

eNTRe: Software-Specific Info

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center18

A process employed at NASA Centers

Collecting information on newly developed software innovations

Assessing software for intra-agency and commercial potential

Determining proper release category

Software Release Process-NPR 2210.1A

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center19

Release Categories• U.S. government purpose release

– Project release - company's under government contract

– NASA release

– Interagency release – Airforce, NRO, NOAA, etc.

• General U.S. release only– Release of software for U.S. use only

• U.S. and foreign release– Software that has special benefits (health, safety, economics)

– Usual level sought for licensing purposes

• Open source release– Newest release category

– http://opensource.gsfc.nasa.gov/

• General public release– Broadest range of release

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center20

• Various reviews/assessments

– Technology Transfer (IPP Office)

– Patent Counsel

– Export Control

– IT Security

– Directorate Representative

• Approval rests with Software Release Authority (SRA)

Release Category Determined

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Software Release Process: IPP Office

Evaluates current and potential use of the

software – users, licensees, or other partners within and

outside NASA

Recommends category of release

If software has external potential …

Assists in establishing IP

protection

Determines appropriate vehicles for

collaborative/ licensing

agreements

Develops and implements

dissemination/marketing plan

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Software Usage Agreement (SUA)

• SRA processes SUA for signature

• Once SUA signed, inventor shares software Mechanism to disseminate software

• Protects user and access for strategic purposes and reuse– Ownership recognition

– Avoid infringement on authoring contractors

• Release category determines SUA terms, conditions

SUAs protect NASA’s interests

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Agency Hot Software: Most Frequently Requested (Fall 2009)

• Goddard Mission Services Evolution Center Suite (GMSEC) (GSFC)

• Spacewire (GSFC)

• ITOS (Integrated Test and Operations System) (GSFC)

• CFDP (CCSDS File Delivery Protocol (CFDP) Software Library) (GSFC)

• Copernicus (JSC)

• Earth Global Reference Atmospheric Model 2007 (MSFC)

• Mac/Linux TetrUSS CFD Software (LaRC)

• F-16XL Aircraft Simulation (DFRC)

• Windows Based 3D Scene Analysis Software (KSC)

• Man-machine Integration Design and Analysis System (MIDAS) Version 5.0 (ARC)

• Chimera Grid Tools (CGT) (ARC)

• Spatial Resolution Validation Tool (SSC)

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Software Reuse Examples

• Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) benefits from software reuse:

• Flexplan Mission Planning System– The use of Soft Algorithms, Flexplan provides a great deal of flexibility to support

changes in the mission quickly and easily, which will lower operation and maintenance costs throughout the mission. This flight proven tool is a highly configurable and can be efficiently configured for different missions.

• Space Link Extension Return Channel Frames(SLE-RCF)Software Library

– What it would have taken 5 people working 1 year to add and modify existing software, took 1 person working 3months to develop new software.

• Integrated Trending and Plotting System (ITPS) – ITPS uses inexpensive PCs, COTs and GOTs products to reduce mission

operations and sustaining engineering costs. Having access to the complete full-resolution mission telemetry data archive, reduces the time to perform telemetry analysis from up to 7 days to a few hours.

• Copernicus (JSC)• NASA centers and industry partners with NASA contracts save money by not having to

develop similar tools, due to the availability of Copernicus at no cost. 24

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Missed Opportunity• Premature disclosure to collaborators

– NTR for software was submitted but…

– Software shared with federal and commercial collaborators

• Before IP had been protected• No contractual vehicle in place for sharing of software without

compromising ownership

– GSFC could not obtain patent or royalties

– Only option: Open Source software• Limited commercial value, but can offer access to the innovator

for assistance in incorporation of software as an incentive for potential partners.

• Lesson Learned• Ensure Software Usage or other agreements in place before

sharing technology (even if NTR was filed)25

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Near Miss • Mathematical algorithm

– Inventor wasn’t going to report, but a colleague at another Center encouraged discussions with Patent Office

– Technology now patented and licensed

– Inventor received $30,000 from HQ for Invention of the Year

– Technology infused into NASA (RTF analysis)

– GSFC recognized as leading experts in data analysis for wave sensing

• Improves internal funding opportunities• Multiple external applications in medical,

structural, and communications

– Successfully licensed 26

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Recognition and Strategic Value of Software, Benefits

• Automatic Awards– Filing of patent application

• $1,000 for sole inventor; $500 each for multiple inventors

– Acceptance of software for release• $1,000 for sole inventor;

$500 each for multiple inventors

– Techs approved for publication in NASA Tech Briefs

• $350 per author

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Software of the Year Awards

• 2009 (ARC)- NASA World Wind Java (WWj) Software Development Kit (SDK) and Web MappingServices (WMS) Server, $25,000

• 2008 (GRC)- Optimal Trajectories by Implicit Simulation, Version 4 (OTIS4), $42,600

• 2007 CO-Winners

– (JPL)- Adaptive Modified Gerchberg-Saxton (MGS) Phase Retrieval, $23,600

– (ARC)- Data-Parallel Line Relaxation Code, $9,850

• 2006 (ARC)- Future ATM (Air Traffic Management) Concepts Evaluation Tool (FACET), $35,700

• 2005 CO-Winners

– (GSFC)- Land Information System V4.0, $43,400

– (JPL)- The Autonomous Sciencecraft Experiment (ASE), $43,000 28

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Software Reuse Resources

•GSFC Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) software reuse-

http://softwarereuse.nasa.gov/

•NASA GSFC Open Source- http://opensource.gsfc.nasa.gov

•GRC software repository- https://technology.grc.nasa.gov/software/

•ARC Open Source- http://opensource.arc.nasa.gov

•ARC Source Forge

– Ames has negotiated an agreement with Source Forge for NASA to

place NASA Open Source software on Source Forge.

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Software Release Authority Contacts

Ames Research CenterMartha Del Alto, 650-604-4865martha.e.delalto@nasa.govDryden Flight Research CenterStephanie Allison, 661-276-3321stephanie.n.allison@nasa.govGlenn Research CenterKaprice Harris, 216-433-5754 kaprice.harris@nasa.govGoddard Space Flight CenterNona K. Cheeks, 301-286-5810nona.k.cheeks@nasa.govJet Propulsion LaboratoryMark James, 818-354-8488mark.james-1@nasa.gov

Johnson Space CenterJane Fox, 281-483-4815jane.i.fox@nasa.govKennedy Space CenterRoger Liang, 321-861-2224roger.h.liang@nasa.govLangley Research CenterStuart Pendleton, 757-864-2943stuart.e.pendleton@nasa.govMarshall Space Flight CenterEvelyn Hill, 256-544-7117evelyn.hill@nasa.govStennis Space CenterJoseph Grant, 228-688-2103 joseph.grant@nasa.gov

NASA HeadquartersLinda Hong

linda.l.hong@nasa.gov30

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

IPP Office ContactsAmes Research CenterLisa Lockyerlisa.l.lockyer@nasa.govDryden Flight Research CenterRon Youngronald.m.young@nasa.govGlenn Research CenterKathleen Needhamkathleen.k.needham@nasa.govGoddard Space Flight CenterNona K. Cheeksnona.k.cheeks@nasa.govJet Propulsion LaboratoryAndrew Grayandrew.a.gray@nasa.gov

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Johnson Space CenterMichele Brekkemichele.brekke@nasa.govKennedy Space CenterDavid R. Makufkadavid.r.makufka@nasa.govLangley Research CenterElizabeth Plentovichelizabeth.b.plentovich@nasa.govMarshall Space Flight CenterJames Dowdyjim.dowdy@nasa.govStennis Space CenterRamona Pelletier Travis ramona.e.travis@nasa.gov

NASA HeadquartersDouglas A. Comstock

doug.comstock@nasa.gov

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Thank you for your time and attention

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