Columbus lab

begins testing

at NBL.

Page 7

Carter heads up

Information

Office.

Page 2

The sky’s the

limit for JSC’s

Aircraft Ops.

Page 4

March 24, 2000

SPACE CENTERRoundupVOL. 39, NO. 6 LY N D O N B . J O H N S O N S P A C E C E N T E R , H O U S T O N , T E X A S

T ighter security procedures, implemented by NASA/ISD and OAO/ODIN, willsoon be in place for users requesting a JSC NT domain password reset. This isnecessary to comply with center security directives. As a result, starting April 3, 2000, all JSC NT domain users will be required to

supply a personal identification number (PIN) when they call the JSC ODIN HelpDesk to reset their JSC NT domain password.

All JSC NT domain users must go to the JSC NT domain PIN assignment Web page at https://pin.jsc.nasa.gov/ and enter a unique PIN, 4-50 characters.

JSC domain users need to establish new personal identification numberThis PIN will not expire and is locked after the initial creation. If a user forgets theirPIN, they can contact an ID representative at URL

http://www4.jsc.nasa.gov/infosys/cisco/id_coor/

who will call the JSC ODIN Help Desk.

For more information on this new JSC security requirement, see

http://www4.jsc.nasa.gov/infosys/ntpass/pin-intro.htm.

Stellar employees receive Rotary awardsYoung accepts National Space Trophy

J SC Associate Director (Technical) John Young,veteran of Gemini, Apollo and space shuttlemissions, received the National Space Trophy at aMarch 10 black-tie celebration at Space Center Houston.

Several JSC employees received Stellar Awardsfrom the non-profit Rotary National Award for SpaceAchievement Foundation, established in 1985 by theSpace Center Rotary Club to recognize individuals who

have made outstanding achievementsin space, creating a greater public

awareness of the benefits ofspace exploration.

Young was selected forthe NASA astronaut corps inSeptember 1962 afterserving 10 years in the U.S.Navy. He made a total of six

space flights, Gemini 3,Gemini 10, Apollo 10, Apollo 16

and STS-1, the first space shuttleflight aboard Columbia in April1981, and STS-9. From 1973 to1987, he served as

chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office andhelped plan 25 space shuttle missions. He later moved into space shuttle flightsafety, as well as new space shuttle andspace station development arenas. Inhis current position he oversees engi-neering and safety control for all centerprograms and activities.

Other award winners included JSCFlight Director Bob Castle Jr. whoreceived a Stellar Award for his out-standing leadership in the developmentof the flight control team operationsconcept and Russian interfaces tosupport the International Space Station.

JSC’s Kriss Kennedy was honored for his significantcontributions to the TransHab project, the design of theISS alternative crew quarters, and the Mars Combo-Lander project.

JSC’s Dr. Helen Lane earned a Stellar Award for heroutstanding scientific accomplishments in nutrition and

food science that have advanced theunderstanding and application of

nutritional concepts for life in spaceand on Earth.

Dr. Dave Williams received aStellar Award for his achievementsand leadership in neuro-science research and

excellent manage-ment of the Space

and Life SciencesDirectorate at JSC.

Also receiving aStellar Award was

JSC’s Mark Bowman of Wyle Labor-atories for his commitment to a workingU.S.-Russian partnership and his superiorperformance in integrating U.S. hardwareinto Russian space vehicles.

And JSC’s Dana Weigel, of BarriosTechnology, earned a Stellar Award for herdedication, professionalism, and technical excellence indeveloping the Extra-Vehicular Activity procedures andconducting crew training for the successful third HubbleSpace Telescope servicing mission.

Also receiving Stellar Awards were Del Freeman Jr. ofLangley Research Center, for outstanding technical andleadership contributions to the development ofadvanced space transportation systems; Dr. MartinWeisskopf, of Marshall Space Flight Center, for scientificexpertise, technical insight, leadership, and dedication

as project scientist for the Chandra X-ray Observatory;Lorin Blewett, of Boeing, for his expertise in stagedcombustion rocket engines and successful managementof the Space Shuttle Main Engine Development andFlight Operations Program; Larry Clark, of LockheedMartin, for pioneering efforts in developing in-situresource utilization technologies for use in reducing themass and cost of planetary exploration; Dave Cochran, ofKistler Aerospace, for exceptional level of professionalresponsibility and technical leadership as structuresmanager for the K-1 Fully Reusable Launch VehicleProgram; Jeff Kincaid, of Boeing, for engineeringleadership of the X-33 Linear Aerospike Rocket Engine

Development Program teams; Charlie Murphy,of United Space Alliance, for establishing the NASAShuttle Logistics Depot in Florida and for his leadership in transitioning it to United Space Alliance; and Dr. KittReinhardt, of the Air Force Research Laboratory, forsignificant contributions to reducing the cost andenhancing the capability of future space power systems.

Four teams received Stellar Awards: JSC’s X-38 Project Team, NASA’s Chandra X-Ray

Observatory Team, the Variable Specific ImpulseMagnetoplasma Rocket Team, and the StudentTracked Atmospheric Research Satellite for Heuristic International Networking Experiment Team.

Finally, a special award was given to honor the NASA KC-135 Reduced Gravity Student Flight

Opportunities Program for creating a unique andhighly innovative engineering and science educationinitiative which inspires andchallenges hundreds ofstudents and

teachers across theUnited States. ■

Bob Castle Jr.

Helen Lane

Kriss Kennedy

Dave Williams

George Abbey and John Young

2 March 24, 2000 SSPPAACCEE CCEENNTTEERR Roundup

1999 NASA Honor Awards Ceremony

Carter heads up Information Office

Carter most recently served as JSC’s

Deputy Information Technology Security

Manager, and in 1999, was named

Deputy Chief Information Officer.

“I look forward to improving JSC’s

business processes and increasing

effectiveness through the use of information

The NASA Honor Awards Ceremony was held on March 6 in theTeague Auditorium. More than 180 individuals and groups werenominated by center management and selected by the IncentiveAwards Board at NASA Headquarters to receive NASA’s highesthonorary awards. Congressman Tom DeLay’s opening remarks welcomedthe awardees in the filled-to-capacity auditorium.

Each recipient of a NASA medal was presented with a framedcertificate signed by NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin. Individualsselected to receive Group Achievement Awards on their teams’ behalfreceived framed certificates. Certificates for individual participants ofteams will be forwarded to the nominating organizations at a later date.

Following the ceremony, a reception was held in the lobby of theauditorium for award recipients and their guests.■

The following is a list of the honorees, some of whom may have received their awards at earlier ceremonies:

NASA Distinguished Service Medal

NASA Distinguished Public Service MedalDouglas C. Stone,

The Boeing Company

NASA Outstanding Leadership MedalWilliam G. Bastedo Jr.Aldo J. Bordano Jr.Robert E. Castle Jr.Edward T. Chimenti

James D. Drewry Jr.N. Wayne Hale Jr.George E. HydeRichard M. Linnehan, DVM

Brantley J. AdamsRandall W. AdamsS. Jean AlexanderLorraine Ossorio AndersonWilliam H. ArceneauxJeffrey J. ArendWilliam V. Bates Jr.William P. BaysVincent L. BerendJune A. BoeckelGail L. BoyesJohn M. Brennan Jr.Anthony J. ButinaJim D. CarrJean E. CarterYuan-Chyau Chang, Ph.D.John B. Charles, Ph.D.Jerry J. ClubbMable L. CobbsMichael G. ConleySusan L. CreasyThomas E. CreminsNancy J. Currie, Ph.D.John M. CurryDenis L. DahmsBernestine D. DickeyRichard DinkelChirold D. Epp, Ph.D.Richard W. FoxCynthia L. GarrenStephen G. GaylorWilliam H. Gerstenmaier

Mark S. GeyerEdward P. GonzalezClaude A. Graves Jr.David E. GreenthanerMichael C. GremillionGary P. GutkowskiLauri N. HansenSam N. Hardee Jr.Shelley A. HildenDaniel V. JacobsJames D. Johnston Jr.Thomas D. Jones, Ph.D.Michael W. Kearney IIIMaurice G. KennedyMike KinnanSergei K. KrikalevDennis A. KrossGerald K. LangfordJoseph K. LaRochelleKathleen C. LauriniWendy B. LawrenceJames C. LeBlancDavid M. LengyelMichelle P. LewisSteven W. LindseyCharles M. Lundquist IIIDonna J. MaysLarry B. McWhorterBrian K. MitchellStacey T. NakamuraJames H. Newman, Ph.D.Victoria A. Nisbet

James R. NiseJohn D. NorrisWilliam C. PanterScott E. Parazynski, M.D.Patrick S. PilolaStephen V. PorterDavid M. PruettSylvia G. RamirezJene A. RichartTheodore U. RoJudith L. Robinson, Ph.D.Henry A. Rotter Jr.Melanie W. Saunders, Ph.D.Brenda K. SchmalzJack W. SeylErnest E. Smith Jr.Jeannette M. SpeharJon S. SymesDipak C. Talapatra, Ph.D.Andrew S. W. Thomas, Ph.D.Dawn A. ThomasValin B. ThornKenneth O. ToddConnie Van Praet-CreminsBrenda L. Ward, Ph.D.Gary D. Wessels Sr.Jeffrey N. WilliamsDavid A. Wolf, M.D.Scott L. WolfLucy V. Yates

NASA Public Service Medal

NASA Exceptional Service Medal

NASA Exceptional Achievement MedalJeffrey W. BantleRandolph H. Brinkley Curtis L. Brown Jr.

Robert D. CabanaFranklin R. Chang-Díaz, Ph.D.Bonnie J. Dunbar, Ph.D.

Jay H. GreeneCharles J. PrecourtJerry L. Ross

Stephen K. Robinson, Ph.D.Richard A. SearfossTerrence W. Wilcutt

Francisco AlanisTimothy M. AmesBrian L. AndersonCharles D. ArdoinGregg J. BaumerBarry E. BoswellSusan H. BurnsPhillip S. CallenChi-Min ChangRickey D. CissomGary L. CoxJames D. Dagen

James D. DunnJefferson A. Dutton, Ph.D.Donna L. FenderMark V. GloriosoRichard L. HillBeth A. HumphriesCandace S. HuntRicardo A. MachinJohn P. McManamenCharles R. MillerLarry J. MoonJohn F. Muratore

Lisa P. PriceLeslie J. QuiochoRobert R. RiceJoyce M. RozewskiMichael J. SeeMark T. SeveranceMichael A. TiggesJohn K. TrainorLui WangJohn J. Zipay

Oleg I. Babkov, Ph.D., Rocket Space Cooperation-EnergiaKim T. Dismukes, Information Dynamics, Inc.Karen M. Engelauf, United Space AllianceBurke O. Fort, Texas Space Grant ConsortiumLeonid A. Gorshkov, Ph.D., Rocket Space Cooperation-EnergiaRoyce E. Mitchell, The Boeing CompanyWilliam R. Muehlberger, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin Jack G. Roach, Science Applications International CorporationJerry E. Siemers, The Boeing CompanyJared P. Squire, Ph.D., Yang Technologies, Inc.John B. Vollmer, The Boeing CompanyLouis S. Wheatcraft, Barrios Technology, Inc.John E. Wilson, Ph.D., Clear Creek Independent School DistrictMichael G. Wood, The Boeing Company

NASA Group Achievement AwardAutomated Transfer Vehicle Relocation Study Team

Canadian Space Agency ElementsIntegration Team

Composites Design, Testing, andManufacturing Team

Configuration Management Team

Extended Nose Landing Gear Team

Ground Systems Requirements Team

International Space Station Imagery Team

ISS Procedures Development andManagement Team

Logistics and Maintenance Team

Manifest Team

Neurolab Experiment Team

Russian-to-American Converter UnitIntegration Team

Shuttle Training Aircraft Multi-Function Electronic Display Sub-System Integration Team

Space Station International Partners Office

Station Program Implementation Plan Volume 1 Development Team

TransHab Development Team

Unity Hardware Stowage, Processing and Certification Team

Vehicle Integrated Performance andResource Management Team

Jean Carter

technology, and improving our overall

security posture,” said Carter.

Carter joined JSC as a cooperative

education student in 1984. She earned

a B.A. in mathematics in 1987, and an

M.B.A. in 1993 from the University of

Houston, Clear Lake. ■

With the challenges facing the advancement inInformation Technology, we will continue to findways to improve interoperability within the centeras well as across the agency in conjunction withassessing the security risks and needs of the center.

–Jean Carter

J ean E. (Jeanie) Carter is JSC’snew Chief Information Officer.She replaces Jack Garman whoretired in January after a distinguished

career at NASA of 33 years.

Carter has been a member of the

CIO office since its inception in 1994

and has served in a variety of

increasingly responsible division and

directorate staff positions while at JSC.

Over the last several years, she has led

JSC’s involvement in a number of

agency-wide Information Technology

standards and security efforts,

including leading the JSC penetration

test team and chairing the Human

Exploration and Development of Space

(HEDS) I/T Security Team (HITS).

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

March 24, 2000 3SSPPAACCEE CCEENNTTEERR Roundup

S cientists are one step closer in theirpursuit of food systems for the nextgeneration of space exploration. Inlate January, agriculturists in JSC’sAdvanced Life Support DevelopmentFacility harvested the first-ever crop ofchamber grown sweet potatoes, one of theAdvanced Life Support Program’scandidate crops.

The sweet potatoes are indistinguish-able from your common grocer’s pick butto the team that has been charged withinvestigating sustainable food solutions forlong-term space voyages of the future, theharvest represents sweet success.

“This represents a significant test, bothfor Tuskegee University and for NASA,”explained Dr. Dan Barta, NASAHorticulturist/Plant Physiologist. “Thisrecent test represents a large scale, closedatmosphere where we actually were able todo some things we were not able to dopreviously. In addition to yield, the rate ofphotosynthesis of the crop was character-ized. Plants can contribute to thepurification of air by producing oxygenand removing carbon dioxide. Based onthis test, we now have data to predict howmuch planted area would be required tomeet a person’s oxygen requirement.

Tuskegee University, a NASAUniversity Research Center, has beentantamount to the progress of the foodsystems development through its Centerfor Food and Environmental Systems forHuman Exploration of Space. URCs focuson a specific area of NASA interest and aresponsored by NASA’s Minority UniversityResearch and Education Program, theEqual Opportunity Programs, AerospaceTechnology, Life and MicrogravitySciences and Applications, Earth andSpace Science, and Space Flight.

“JSC provides the hands-on technicalcollaborations and management of theTuskegee URC,” said Lupita Armendariz,

manager of the MUREP at JSC.Dr. Desmond Mortley, associate

professor of Plant Science at TuskegeeUniversity, teamed with Barta and Dr. Keith Henderson, NASA plant scientist,to design and conduct the test. Dr. WalterHill, dean of the College of Agricultural,Environmental and Natural Sciences anddirector of the George Washington CarverAgricultural Experiment Station, recentlyvisited JSC plant growth facilities to inspectthe crop and return with experimentalmaterial for evaluation at Tuskegee. Hill wasaccompanied by Dr. Audrey Trotman, anenvironmental microbiologist who willexplore how sweet potatoes can be used inwaste recovery systems.

“We at Tuskegee University areabsolutely delighted about the yield of sweetpotatoes that was produced here at JSC,” said Hill. “It’s historical, it’sphenomenal and it’s going to make adifference in the program in the long term.”

The work with crop plants also includesthe development of highly fertile artificialsoils, defining the amount of waterrecycling that can be achieved by planttranspiration, as well as utilization ofresources recovered from solid wastes.

“Advanced life support systems are thenext step in long term space exploration –be it to Mars, back to the moon or even toan asteroid,” said Barta. “If a space habitaton another planets’ surface is ever going tobe self sufficient, then it needs to be able toproduce food from recycled products –that’s were plants come in.”

A secondary goal of these growth experi-ments is using the knowledge gained to helpfood production challenges here on Earth.

“This research is of critical importanceto many developing countries,” explainedHill. “Many children and families rely onthe sweet potato as a staple crop because ofits nutritional value. We can apply the datalearned carrying out objectives for

Sweet success for Advanced Life Support researchersplanetary exploration, to studies we areconcurrently running in parallel to helpimprove situations on Earth.”

The sweet potato crop, plantedSeptember 22, 1999, was hydroponicallygrown, that is, grown without soil using awater-based nutrition system. The cropwas grown in a gas-tight controlledenvironment chamber for 17 weeks andwas closely monitored.

However, instead of heading to theproduce counter like most potatoes, this cropis headed to the lab for analysis. A smallselection was dedicated to the food lab for‘sensory evaluation’ – yep, you got it, a tastetest. Researchers there sliced, diced andcooked the potatoes into various recipes, likesweet potato french fries, to gauge the tastevalue of the crop. The remainder of the cropwill be sent to other labs for such things as

nutritional analysis, where they’ll measureits various vitamin, protein, starch andcarotene levels, as well as a tissue analysisthat will reveal the mineral components ofthe produce such as calcium, nitrogen andmagnesium. Yet another sample will goback into another chamber for shelf lifestudies to help determine exactly how wellthe potatoes react to storage conditions.

“We need to examine how thisexperimental crop compares to commonfield grown potatoes,” explained Barta,the technical monitor for the Tuskegeeresearch work.

All early indications are promisingand the researchers are very pleased withthe success of this initial crop, whichyielded 125 pounds. ■

Photos available at: http://advlifesupport.jsc.nasa.gov/

NASA JSC Photo 2000-01213 by Benny Benavides

REAPING THE REWARDS – JSC with Tuskegee University recently harvested the first crop of chamber grown sweet potatoes, a process that may be needed for extended spacemissions. Shown here, left to right, Dr. Dan Barta, NASA; Dr. Don Henninger, NASA; Albert Behrend, NASA; Dr. Walter Hill, Tuskegee University; and Dr. Audrey Trotman;Tuskegee University, hold a tray of the chamber potatoes. A tray of “inedibles” (ground up leaves and roots) that will be investigated for resource recovery is in front.

E nthusiastic rodeo goers who visited thesprawling NASA exhibit at the Hous-ton Livestock Show and Rodeo weretreated to an out-of-this-world experiencethat had them kicking up their heels.

The show, which attracted record crowdsthis year, ran at the Astrodome complex fromFebruary 18 through March 5.

Located at an entrance to the packedAstrohall, the NASA exhibit drew hugecrowds daily, providing educational presen-tations and interactive displays for space

fans and anyone interested in learningabout the wonders of space exploration.The exhibit provided a fun way for peopleto learn about the nation’s space programand about JSC’s latest technologies and itscommunity outreach programs.

“We wanted visitors to the rodeo to geta little taste of what goes on at the JohnsonSpace Center,” said Louis Parker, JSCexhibits manager. “Hopefully, we haveenticed kids and their parents to comedown to JSC (for Open House) and check

C O M M U N I T Y N E W S

us out further. We do more than just flyspace shuttles.”

Highlights included in the exhibit werecomputer-simulated games, where visitorscould try their piloting skills in docking ashuttle to a space station, as well as demon-strations on what can happen if an astronautisn’t wearing a spacesuit. The main attrac-tion for children – and some adults – was apicture booth where participants could havetheir photo taken in a spacesuit.

JSC’s Space and Life Sciences Direc-

torate’s exhibit at the Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo showcased how space foodis packaged, the NASA bioreactor, vacuumchamber/life support activities, and the vir-tual astronaut Web site. Also, a team oftechnical experts was on hand to explainorbital debris and its impact to spacecraft.

Human Resources provided Web siteaccess to various programs offered throughthe employee development branch at JSC aswell as information for students wanting toobtain employment with NASA. ■

NASA Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo exhibit draws large crowds

4 March 24, 2000 RoundupSSPPAACCEE CCEENNTTEERR

Aircraft OperationsThe Wings of JSC’s Space Flight Readiness Program

Envision going to work each dayto an aircraft hangar, whereyour view is filled with sleek,glistening jets lined up forduty, and the sounds of theoffice aren’t so much telecons

and the clicking of keyboards, but rather,weather briefings, pilot reports and theroar of jet aircraft taking off in thebackground.

Sound exciting? It is! Those are thesights and sounds for the manyemployees who staff JSC’s AircraftOperations Division at Ellington Field.Combined, they ensure our astronautcorps maintain their flying proficiencyand that shuttle pilots and commandersare beyond prepared when it comes tolanding the orbiter.

There are 80 civil servants in AOD,ranging from simulation engineers andaircraft mechanics to quality inspectorsand documentation specialists, plus morethan 300 contractors from Dyncorp,Lockheed Martin and SAIC who ensureoperations run smoothly.

“We execute more than 15,000 planeoperations a year,” said NASA DivisionChief Bob Naughton who oversees theactivities at Ellington. “I am very proud ofour safety record. It takes the commitmentand professionalism of everyone out hereto maintain that level of safety.”

Naughton has a right to be proud.AOD has enjoyed more than 20 years ofinjury-free flight operations. “Theprofessionalism here is the highest you’llfind anywhere,” continued Naughton.“And I’d be willing to say it’s the bestflying operation in the world.”

Obviously, a workplace sprinkled withthe blue suits of astronauts and gleamingwhite jets seems a glamorous place to bebut, according to Naughton and thosewho work with him, it takes a lot of workto make it all happen.

Keeping 43 aircraft in top conditionand risk-free is a continuous cycle oftraining, inspection, upgrades,maintenance and documentation.

One example is NASA’s 31 T-38N“Talons” used to keep pilot andcommander astronauts proficient withaviation skills and to introduce newmission specialist astronauts, who mayhave no flight experience, to highperformance aircraft.

At any given time, about 24 T-38s areactively scheduled for flights todestinations throughout the U.S. Thisflight activity requires AOD staff tosupport 200 T-38 flights a week or 13,000flight hours per year.

Each jet gets a daily preflightinspection, plus a more comprehensive

inspection every 450 flying hours.

Every five years, the plane isdisassembled and checked for wear,corrosion or component replacement.

That is just the T-38s. AOD is alsoresponsible for the KC-135A, a

Gulfstream I (also known as NASA II),the Super Guppy, two Boeing 747smodified as Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, twoWB-57F high-altitude aircraft and fiveGulfstream II [four used for ShuttleTraining Aircraft (STA) andone serves as a spareSTA asset].

“We have to bemuch moreresourcefulnow,” said

Ace Beall, Flight Operations branchchief, who has been with the operationsince 1981. “The astronaut corps is fourtimes as large as it was when I began andwe have less financial resources. We have

to be much moreefficient.”

Beall overseesthe 22 instructor pilots for theabove aircraft,ensures theirproficiency ismaintained andtracks their flightrecords, trainingand flight currency.Although hisinstructor teamrepresents the“cream of thecrop,” all of whichare formermilitary pilotswith 3,000 - 5,000hours of flighttime, the constantupgrades of theNASA fleetdictate that thecrew receiveongoing training.

Safety is thedriving forcebehind thedivision’s success.“It’s a key elementin our operation,”said CharlieHayes, STAmanager. “Werecognize thatanything that goeswrong will get lotsof visibility, soour rules ofoperation havebeen developed toguarantee a safe

and effective training environment.”Hayes, a 30-year veteran of the

division, directs the STA activities. TheSTAs are modified to be high-fidelityshuttle simulators and allow pilot andcommander astronauts to train for the

unique approach andlanding scenarios

of the orbiter.Usually, anastronaut fliesa minimumof 500

landings beforeever flying the

orbiter itself.

“Normally, two STAs fly twice eachday, four days a week,” said Hayes.“Since many shuttle landing opportunitiesoccur at night, a significant portion of thetraining occurs after dark and onweekends to avoid conflicting withEdwards Air Force Base activities.”

Nine STA instructor pilots and eightflight simulation engineers assure the safeoperation of the aircraft, but Hayes sayssix simulation software engineers havethe difficult task of incorporating shuttlemodifications into the STA six monthsbefore launch so that the crew has anopportunity to train on their missionconfiguration.

“It is recognized that this training is amajor contributor to the successfullandings the shuttle program has enjoyedto date,” added Hayes. “We are intenselyaware of the importance of our jobs to thesuccess of shuttle missions.”

The STA is only one example of howNASA has customized commercialvehicles to help train astronauts forshuttle activities. Essentially all NASAaircraft are modified to some extent fortheir specific mission. For example, theSTAs, the Super Guppy, KC-135 andWB-57s are unique aircraft, flown onlyby NASA. That requires an immenseamount of specialized know-how andtechnical documentation to assure thatwork on the aircraft is done correctly andsafely. The quality assurance branch,headed by Harry Drottz, takes care of that.

“We want each individual that flies inone of our aircraft to feel they areclimbing into a piece of equipment thatwill get the job done and return themsafely,” said Drottz.

“For the STA alone, we have between6,000 and 7,000 documents,” said MartinLewis, document management projectmanager.

The maintenance team, the keystone ofAOD, relies heavily on this documentation.Under Al Manson’s leadership, it’s thisteam of 18 engineers and maintenanceofficers that keep the fleet in suchremarkable condition.

“Modifications to our T-38s havealtered the scope of our worksignificantly,” said Manson, branch chief.Manson’s branch maintains more 500,000engineering drawings for the variousaircraft. “This airplane is much differentthan the original and that being flown bythe Air Force. These changes have forcedus to become more independent. We canno longer depend on the Air Force for allof the engineering, documentation andlogistical support for this airplane.”

According to Manson, on a typicalday, 26 airplanes are prepared for flightand flown.

“Aviation is inherently exciting,” saidManson. “NASA aviation is even moreexciting than the norm because of ourprograms, our airplanes and the peoplewho fly them. Our job is to minimize anyunplanned excitement due to aircraft

maintenance or engineeringproblems for our

aviators.” ■

NASA JSC Photo JSC2000-04087

As part of the T-38 “launch team,”Tom Hager directs AstronautChris Hadfield and Instructor PilotMike Janus as they taxi to the run-way for a practice flight.

NASA JSC Photo JSC2000-04101

Bud Meins and Johnny LeMaster inspect the landing gear of a KC-135 as part of the preflight aircraft check. An average preflight examination for this plane takes an hour and a half.

March 24, 2000 5SSPPAACCEE CCEENNTTEERR Roundup

NASA JSC Photo JSC2000-04091

Nicole Stott, right, flight simulation engineer,uses the Advanced Validation Systems(AVaS) Simulator to test software andavionics upgrades for the Shuttle TrainingAircraft as Jack Woods, flight simulationengineer looks on.

NASA JSC Photo JSC2000-04087

Fred Berger, Dyncorp engine technician,inspects a T-38 J-85 engine.A day in the life

at Ellington Aircraft OpsSee what happens injust one month at AOD

▲ 500 aircraft parts are tested or repaired;

▲ 11 aircraft engines are over-hauled or repaired;

▲ 40 aircraft tires are changed;

▲ 250 personal equipmentarticles (parachutes, life rafts,oxygen masks or pressuresuits) are packed, tested oroverhauled;

▲ 50 engineering tasks (projects,work orders and MRBs) are in work;

▲ 14,500 logistical transactionsare conducted;

▲ 450 hours of training are com-pleted, including safety, techni-cal and administrative courses;

▲ Two or three T-38s undergoinspection including disassem-bly and removal of flight con-trols and engines, examinationof electrical systems andinspection for evidence of corrosion.

NASA JSC Photo JSC2000e04105

The document management team, including (from left to right) Marty Lewis, NASA manager,Mirella Barron, NASA and Gabriele Mathews, Dyncorp, is responsible for maintaining the morethan 7,000 documents required for NASA’s aircraft fleet.

NASA JSC Photo JSC2000e04106

Shown left to right, Rogelio “Roy” Torrez, NASA aerospace quality specialist, and Andre Davis,Dyncorp egress technician, inspect T-38 egress system.

NASA JSC Photo JSC2000-04091

David Mumme, NASA STA instructorpilot, runs through the cockpitpreflight checklist for the ShuttleTraining Aircraft.

NASA JSC Photo JSC2000-04104

Michelle “Shellye” Gore, SAIC, flightmanagement specialist, assists Charlotte“Charlie” Ober (lower right) as shechecks the daily flight schedule. Goreand Ober schedule 25 or more flights perweekday for all NASA aircrews.andmaintenance teams.

NASA JSC photos by James Blair

…it’s the best flying operation in the world.–NASA Division Chief Bob Naughton

6 March 24, 2000 SSPPAACCEE CCEENNTTEERR Roundup

Ripped straight from the pages ofold Space News Roundups, here’swhat happened at JSC on this date:

1 9 6 5ol. John H. Glenn Jr., America’s

first astronaut to orbit the Earth,

was sworn in as a consultant to

NASA February 26 by NASA Adminis-

trator James E. Webb.

Glenn, who retired from the Marine

Corps in January, will work with

Administrator Webb in various aspects

of NASA programs as his time and

interest allow, including participation in

conferences, appearances both in the

United States and overseas, and fol-

lowing up on developments underway.

1 9 7 5he first major structural compo-

nent of the space shuttle – the

orbiter payload bay – recently

completed by General Dynamics Con-

vair Division, was scheduled to arrive

at Rockwell-International Palmdale,

California, facility.

The payload bay, which forms the mid-

fuselage section of the orbiter space-

plane, is an aluminum structure 60 feet

long, 15 feet wide, 13 feet high and

weighs 13,500 pounds. The mid-fuse-

lage was officially accepted by NASA

last Friday.

The mid-fuselage was trucked from

San Diego to the Palmdale plant and

was scheduled to complete the 200

mile trip at 3 p.m. PDT Thursday.

1 9 9 0SC is now the permanent home

to a one-fourth structural scale

model orbiter designed and built

by Rockwell in 1974.

The highly detailed one-quarter size

orbiter was the first structural dynamic

test article of the shuttle ever built. It was

used from 1974 through 1978 to investi-

gate how well the dynamic loads of

launch and landing could be predicted.

Since 1978, the model had been in stor-

age at Rockwell in Downey, Calif.

The model arrived at JSC via the final

delivery by NASA’s Super Guppy, the

agency’s 25-foot diameter cargo aircraft

derived from a YC-97 tanker vehicle.

The model’s new home is now Bldg. 49

Vibration and Acoustic Test Facility

where it will be used by personnel from

the Structures and Mechanics Division to

predict more accurately the forces

payloads will experience

during launch and

landing.

J

T

C

Rippedfrom the

ROUNDUP

Nutrition intervention program : Six-week program includes lectures, a private consultationwith the dietitian and blood analysis to chart your progress. Program is open to all employees,contractors and spouses. For details call Tammie Shaw at x32980.

Defensive driving : One-day course is offered once a month at the Gilruth Center. Pre-registration required. Cost is $25. Call for next available class.

Stamp club : Meets every second and fourth Monday at 7 p.m. in Rm. 216.Weight safety : Required course for employees wishing to use the Gilruth weight room.

Pre-registration is required. Cost is $5. Annual weight room use fee is $90. The cost for additional family members is $50.

Exercise : Low-impact class meets from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Cost is $24 for eight weeks.

Step/bench aerobics : Low-impact cardiovascular workout. Classes meet from 5:15-6:15p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost is $32 for eight weeks. Kristen Taraszewski, instructor.

Yoga : Stretching class of low-impact exercises designed for people of all ages and abilitiesin a Westernized format. Meets Thursdays 5-6 p.m. Cost is $32 for eight weeks. Call Darrell Matula, instructor, at x38520 for more information.

Ballroom dancing : Classes meet Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. for beginner,8:30-9:30 p.m. for intermediate and 7:30-8:30 p.m. for advanced. Cost is $60 per couple.

Country and western dancing : Beginner class meets 7-8:30 p.m. Monday. Advanced class(must know basic steps to all dances) meets 8:30-10 p.m. Monday. Cost is $20 per couple.

Fitness program : Health-related fitness program includes a medical screening examinationand a 12-week individually prescribed exercise program. For details call Larry Wier at x30301.

Aikido : Martial arts class for men and women meets 5-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays.No special equipment or knowledge is needed to participate. Aikido teaches balance and controlto defend against an opponent without using strength or force. Beginning and advanced classesstart each month. Cost is $35 per month.

The following discount tickets are available at the Exchange StoresGeneral Cinema Theaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.50Sony Loew’s Theaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.50AMC Theaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.00Fiesta Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .adult . . .$20.50. . .child (under 48 inches) . . $17.25Astroworld Early Bird (use by June 18) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17.25Astroworld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 day . . .$21.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 day . . . $31.00Water World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12.00Moody Gardens (2 events) (does not include Aquarium Pyramid) . . . . . . . . . $10.75Moody Gardens (Aquarium only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9.25Sea World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .adult . . .$29.00 . . . .child (3-11 years) . . . $19.25Space Center Houston . . . . . . . adult . . $11.00 . . . . . child (age 4-11) . . . $7.25

(JSC civil service employees free.)Space Center Houston annual pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18.75Splash Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 day . . .$13.00 . . . . . . .Season Pass . . . $37.50Postage Stamps (book of 20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.60

Please bring your driver’s license to pay by personal check.

Exchange Store hoursMonday-FridayBldg. 3 7 a.m.-4 p.m.Bldg. 11 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

➤ All tickets are nonrefundable.

➤ Metro tokens and value cards

are available.

For additional information,

please callx35350.

Open from 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Contact the Gilruth Center at (281) 483-3345. http://www4.jsc.nasa.gov/ah/exceaa/Gilruth/Gilruth.htm

Sign up policy :All classes and athletic activitiesare on a first-come, first-servedbasis. Sign up in person at theGilruth Center and show a yellowGilruth or weight room badge.Classes tend to fill up two weeksin advance. Payment must bemade in full, cash or by check, at the time of registration. No registration will be taken by telephone. For moreinformation, call x33345

Gilruth badges : Required for use of the GilruthCenter. Employees, spouses,eligible dependents, NASAretirees and spouses may applyfor photo identification badgesfrom 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Cost is $10. Dependents must be between 16 and 23 years old.

Reaching out to the Moscow communityBy Carlos Fontanot

L ate last year, the Moscow TechnicalLiaison Office and the Public AffairsOffice in Moscow started an educa-tional program to reach out to the commu-nity with space and science presentations forschoolchildren of all ages.

MTLO and PAO representatives visitedMoscow Public High School 1223 onFebruary 23 as part of the Moscow OutreachProgram. The group was welcomed by theschool’s principal, Galina Timofeyeva, andassistant principal, Olga Kryukova, andescorted to the physics classroom to set upcomputer and projection equipment for thepresentation.

Shortly after 10 a.m., students started tofile in to the physics classroom curious aboutthe visitors, equipment and educationalmaterials being prepared. Before the bellrang to indicate the beginning of the class,the room had already filled with about 50tenth graders wondering what the visitorshad in store for them.

Because the Russian public school cur-riculum includes a foreign language startingin first grade, these 15-year-old high schoolstudents were proficient enough in Englishto understand the presentation without thehelp of an interpreter.

Aided by high-fidelity, photo-realisticcomputer graphics projected onto a large

screen, MTLO’s Nathan Moore discussedwhat it would take for a round trip to Mars,including new technologies for the vehicleand logistics systems, the complexities asso-ciated with the long travel time, the amountof supplies and propellants to make the trippossible, the need to grow food, and genera-tion of oxygen and water on the planetduring the stay. Physical characteristics ofMars were taken into account when illustrat-ing how future explorers would have to pre-pare for such a mission. The architecture ofthe base was discussed and illustrated withrotating computer models showing the inte-rior and exterior of the modules to be used.Using an inflated balloon a student hadbrought to class, Moore explained atmo-spheric pressure and what it would take tocontain it in the outpost.

Time went by quickly and the studentsseemed to enjoy their physics class, showinglots of interest and asking good questionsranging from the optimum number ofexplorers for a Mars expedition, or when thistype of mission could take place, to whatwould happen if suddenly Mars creatureswould appear.

Other topics like the International SpaceStation and the cooperation between the U.S.and Russia during the Phase One Programwere also briefly discussed.

To facilitate further research on the pre-sented topics, the students were given

bookmarks listing NASA Web sites. The stu-dents also received ISS lithographs, NASAlogo decals, and past mission emblems.

After the presentation, the school prin-cipal was very thankful and said that sheanxiously awaited the next NASA visit tothe school.

Two other schools in the Moscow areahave also been visited by NASA personnelas part of the Outreach Program. LastNovember, Astronaut Candidates LelandMelvin and Suni Williams kicked off theprogram with a visit to St. VladimirAcademy where they jointly talked toapproximately 35 high school students aboutastronaut training and what it takes tobecome an astronaut. Earlier this month,Moore modified his Mars presentation sothat second grade students at the AngloAmerican School were able to understandwhat it would take to travel to Mars andbuild an outpost on the planet. The 7-year-olds had been studying space for the lastmonth and were ready with very good ques-tions at the end of the one-hour presentation.

Several other schools in the Moscow areahave also expressed interest in a presenta-tion and arrangements are being made tovisit those schools. ■

Carlos Fontanot is on a one-yearassignment in Moscow for JSC’s

Public Affairs Office.

March 24, 2000 7SSPPAACCEE CCEENNTTEERR Roundup

By Keith Tischler

A rticles on camping and hikingfrequently address the importance oflogistics preparation with regard tosafety. Such examples typically includeadequate and appropriate clothing forfoul/extreme weather, water purity andavailability, food selection and sanitation,and evaluation of weather conditions beforedeparture. These hints are helpful for thebeginning camper and those with moderateexperience. However, as with many sports,backpackers/hikers with moderate experi-ence are at an even higher risk of puttingthemselves in jeopardy than many beginnersby continuing on as conditions deteriorate,primarily due to poor decision making.

Two such examples clearly demonstratethis subtle yet significant hazard. The firstreflects the risk to a group losing lessexperienced hikers as conditionsdeteriorate. This results in people“slipping through the cracks.” The secondexample illustrates a series of poordecisions leading to a bad situation,

analogous to the chain of poor decisionsresulting in aviation accidents.

In 1991, I joined a group of 30University of Wisconsin students for aspring break backpacking trip down intothe Grand Canyon. About two-thirds ofthe group were experienced wildernessbackpackers. The descent to the ColoradoRiver occurred in a single day, after whichwe set up camp. Several of the campers(primarily those less experienced) choseby exhaustion and preference to sleepunder the stars and not pitch a tent.

That night it rained, soaking theexposed hikers and gear with water justabove freezing. The descending snow linewas visible in the canyon and stoppedapproximately 500 feet away from thecampsite. Given the cold, wet gear andpotential for hypothermia, the group optedto move up to a less remote site and hikeout the following day. The authorencountered two less experienced hikerslagging behind and decided to remain inback with them as the other hikers seemedunaware of them.

After about five hours, the group hadpulled ahead with no sign of waiting for thetwo exhausted novices who were beginningto panic. We had plenty of gear, fuel, andfood, so I calmed the two hikers andconvinced them that, if exhaustion andnightfall necessitated, we could camp.Being fined for camping outside of adesignated campsite should not be aconcern given the circumstances.

Just after nightfall and 11 hours later, wehit the main trail and encountered oneperson walking back a quarter of a mile tosee if we were near. The group had set upcamp three hours earlier. No one hadbothered to keep track of the two leastexperienced hikers. The risk of fatality wasreal. That day eight mules had been lost offthe icy trail and two hikers had frozen todeath below the rim.

The second example occurred on ahiking trip in Yosemite Park, California, viaa ridge trail to El Capitan massif. Two otherexperienced hikers and I made a series ofpoor decisions driven by goal fixation. Thetrail to El Capitan was 12 miles one-way.

We left late and discovered the road to thetrailhead had been closed, adding four milesround-trip to the hike. We had brought asmall amount of water with us because weplanned to use a campsite well, but thatturned out to be inaccessible.

After a leisurely lunch break, wecontinued and at mile six could see ElCapitan, relatively close (by line of sightonly). Intentions to turn back fell away aswe could see our goal. We pressed on,running low on water but passing severalstreams we could drink out of if necessary.However, there was no way to treat thewater to avoid getting sick.

At 6 p.m., we reached the halfway point.We found our way back in the dark withgreat difficulty, finally breaking down anddrinking untreated stream water. Wereached the parked car at 1 a.m.

We were very lucky and escaped theexperience with no sickness and only sorefeet. It could have been much worse – thelesson being establish limits beforehandand stick to them regardless of thetemptation to modify your plans.■

Simple decisions, serious implications: Backpacking and extended hike concerns

NASA JSC Photo JSC2000-00602 by Robert Markowitz

ESA representatives visited the NBL as part of the design verification testing for the Columbus Laboratory (in back). Shown, fr om left, front, are: Raymond Aronoff (RJV), Ulrich Thomas (ESA), RenzoTurino (Alenia), Robert Adams (USA), Riccardo Bosca (Alenia), Pedro Duque (ESA astronaut), Andrew Manning (Lockheed Martin); ba ck: Scott Todd (RJV), June Huhn (NASA), Fernando Ramos (Boeing), Peter Granseuer (ESA), Simona Ferraris (Alenia), Gregor Woop (ESA), Bernard Clymans (ESA), Luca Agliati (Alenia), Han s Peter Leiseifer (ESA), Heather Mitchell (NASA). Not pictured: David Wade (RJV), Kevin Montgomery (Johnson Engineering), Christine Kovich (Lockheed Martin), and Frank Hartung (DASA).

Columbus Laboratory begins testing at Neutral Buoyancy LabAmockup of the European SpaceAgency’s Columbus Laboratory,one of the agency’s contributionsto the International Space Station,recently made a splash at the NeutralBuoyancy Laboratory. Although notslated for launch until 2004, the ISSintegration team conducted anExtravehicular Activity verification forthe module in January 2000, well inadvance of required tests.

The Columbus Laboratory is apressurized, habitable module that willbe attached to Node 2 of the stationduring assembly flight 1E. It isdesigned as a general-purposelaboratory which can support a varietyof user disciplines, including materialsand fluid sciences, life sciences, andtechnology development.

Alenia built hardware componentsfor the mockup last summer for testingin its pool. To save money, the JSCintegration team combined thathardware with a NASA-built Columbustrainer. Rothe Joint Venture had thetricky task of building the mockup andensuring it could be integrated with

Alenia’s hardware in the short timebefore testing began. According toRaymond Aronoff, RJV Engineering,new technology aided them with thefinished product.

“We were able to analyze the ‘as built’mock up using our laser tracking systemto compare that data against the CADdesign at Alenia,” said Aronoff. RJV isthe only company at JSC using thattechnology. “This allows us to knowexactly where there are any variances inthe design. If the crew has any concernsor hindrances during the testing, with justa little research, we can determine if theactual flight hardware will present thesame scenario, thus quickly sharinginformation and suggestions to thedesign group half way around the world.”

“The mockup has a dual use,”explained Heather Mitchell, technicalmanager for Columbus, EVA ProjectOffice. “It was built for verification testing,but will be used as an NBL trainer aswell. The module, and most of theoutfitting hardware such as the outerdebris shields and EVA aids are builtonce. We will use them again for flight

crew training. We will have to return theAlenia- built mockup hardware to Italy.Therefore, we will need to build thetraining versions of these componentsonce ESA has finalized the design ofthese components.”

It is unusual to have this level oftesting and crew procedures outlinedthis far in advance of a launch buthaving results early is very useful andwill help ESA prepare for Columbus’Critical Design Review this fall.

“Originally, we did not intend to come(to the NBL) because Alenia has its ownfacility,” said Bernard Clymans, seniorconfiguration and AIV systemsengineer, Module Projects Division,ESA. “However, when we examined thefeasibility of a real EVA test, we sawthat, because of its size, Alenia’s facilitywas not quite sufficient.”

Compared to Alenia’s facility, theNBL provides a more realisticconfiguration of the ISS including aspace station robotic manipulatorsystem mockup and higher fidelity EVAhardware, such as EVA suits, footrestraints and tools. Due to limited

space and support equipment at theAlenia facility, only a few unsuited diverscan participate in testing. However, thespacious NBL can host several full-suited crewmembers with their supportdivers as well as the possibility forAlenia guest divers to participate in real-time viewing of crew testing.

“At the NBL, we can test the inter-faces between the elements and usesuited crewmembers,” added UlrichThomas, ESA Columbus residentengineer and deputy launch packagemanager. “Neither of these benefitswould have been possible at Alenia’stest facility.”

For both the ESA and NASA teams,the test itself was very valuable and amodel of early program verificationtesting in the NBL on a multinationallevel.

“For us, it was very important from atask operations standpoint to verifywith our baseline,” said PeterGranseuer, COF Flight Operations,ESA. “Having the opportunity to runthese tests here has been verybeneficial and reassuring.” ■

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

8 March 24, 2000 SSPPAACCEE CCEENNTTEERR Roundup

The last time a government cannon boomed

across the shores of Lake Erie was during

the War of 1812, but a new laboratory at

Glenn Research Center is now experiment-

ing with ballistics of a different kind.

Building 49 houses Glenn’s new ballistic

impact facility. Its main features are a

40-foot-long gas gun that can eject projec-

tiles at speeds up to 1,500 feet per second

and a high-speed camera that can capture

2.5 million images per second.

One of the facility’s main tasks is testing

materials for aircraft engine housings.

During rare in-flight events, if the engine is

hit by hail or birds, the engine housing must

contain any fragments and withstand the

severe loads, or forces, that otherwise could

cause the engine to separate from the wing

of the airplane. Current engine housing

materials, usually high-strength metal alloys

and non-metal ballistic fabrics, do this job

very well but are very heavy.

The materials to be tested include inter-

metallic alloys, fiber-reinforced composites

and cloth-like polymers. New engine con-

cepts require materials that can withstand

higher temperatures and higher speed pro-

jectiles than current containment materials.

The data taken during these impact tests

will also be used to verify and improve the

accuracy of computer models that predict

material response to impacts. Manufactur-

ers can use these more accurate models to

shorten the time and reduce the cost of

bringing new designs to market.

NASA BRIEFS

NASA has announced the selection of an

investigation to be flown on the Gamma

Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST)

mission, planned for launch in 2005. In

addition to the flight investigation, NASA

selected four interdisciplinary scientist

investigations to broaden the scientific

expertise available to the project.

GLAST will explore the most energetic and

violent events in a quest for the ultimate

sources of energy in the universe. Objects

explored will include distant galaxies fueled

by super massive black holes at the center,

neutron stars and individual black holes,

remnants of stars that have ended their life

with an explosion (supernova), and many

others at the extremes of mass and energy.

The investigation selected by NASA is the

“GLAST Large Area Telescope Flight Inves-

tigation: A Particle-Astrophysics Partnership

to Explore the High-Energy Universe.” The

principal investigator is Professor Peter F.

Michelson of Stanford University. The four

interdisciplinary scientists selected and their

investigations are: Stephen Thorsett of the

University of California at Santa Cruz,

“Observations of Rotation Powered Pulsars

in Support of GLAST”; Professor Brenda

Dingus of the University of Wisconsin,

Madison, “GLAST: A GeV All-Sky Monitor

of Transient Phenomena”; Dr. Charles D.

Dermer of the U.S. Naval Research Labora-

tory, Washington, D.C., “Exploring the Non-

thermal Universe: Analysis and Modeling to

Maximize the Scientific Impact of GLAST”;

and Dr. Martin Pohl , Ruhr University,

Bochum, Germany, “Modeling the Diffuse

Galactic Gamma Ray Emission.”

NEW LAB READY TO TESTSUDDEN IMPACTS

GLAST INVESTIGATIONSELECTED

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDWEBSTER, TXPermit No. G27

The Roundup is an official publication of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center,Houston, Texas, and is published by the Public Affairs Office for all space center employees. The Roundup office is inBldg. 2, Rm. 181. The mail code is AP3. The main telephone number is x38648, and the fax is x32000. Electronic mailmessages may be directed to:

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .William Jeffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .william.p.jeffs@jsc.nasa.gov

Assistant Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nicole Cloutier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ncloutie@ems.jsc.nasa.gov

March 27Alzheimer’s support group meets : The Clear Lake

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group will meet at 7:30

p.m. in the first floor conference room, St. John Hospi-

tal West building, Nassau Bay. For more information

contact Nancy Malley at (281) 480-8917 or John

Gouveia (281) 280-8517.

March 29Spaceteam Toastmasters meet : Spaceteam

Toastmasters will meet at 11:30 a.m. March 29 and

April 5 and 12 at United Space Alliance, 600 Gemini.

For more information contact Patricia Blackwell at

(281) 280-6863.

March 30Communicators meet : The Clear Lake Communica-

tors, a Toastmasters International club, will meet March

30, April 6 and 13. Please note the new meeting loca-

tion at Wyle Laboratories, 1100 Hercules, Suite 305.

For more information contact Allen Prescott at

(281) 282-3281 or Richard Lehman at (281) 280-6557.

Radio Club meets : The JSC Amateur Radio Club

will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Piccadilly, 2465 Bay Area

Blvd. For more information contact Larry Dietrich at

x39198.

April 3NSBE meets : The National Society of Black Engineers will

meet at 6:30 p.m. at Texas Southern University, School of

Technology, Rm. 316. For more information contact Kimberly

Topps at (281) 280-2917.

April 4Quality Society meets : The Bay Area section of the

American Society for Quality will meet at 6 p.m. at the Ramada

King’s Inn on NASA Road 1. For more information contact Ann

Dorris at X38620.

OUT&ABOUT★

Danny Siner and Jim Newsome explain “glass cockpit” upgradesat an AIAA Lunch-n-Learn in February. Siner and Newsome, both NASAMulti-function Electronic Display Subsystem (MEDS) managers, presentedan overview of the MEDS being incorporated into space shuttles. MEDSreplaces older mechanical flight instruments and CRT displays with moreergonomic, easy-to-read display screens that can be customized for specificpilot preferences or phases of flight. MEDS has been installed in Atlantis andis ready to be flown in its inaugural space flight during STS-101 in April.

For more information on AIAA and its activities visit

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/aiaa.

Composite of NASA JSC Photos by Bill Stafford

Ames to sponsor NASA-wide data management workshop in April

O n April 18 and 19, 2000, Ames Research Center andOracle will jointly sponsor a data managementworkshop. The purpose of the workshop is to informand educate NASA and contractor project managers andresearchers from across the entire agency about the presentavailability and applicability of a wide range of commercial,off-the-shelf (COTS) database systems.

Yuri Gawdiak of the Computational Sciences Division(Code IC) of Ames says that the goal of the workshop is tocommunicate and share various data managementexperiences, tools, and lessons learned across the agency.Use of an appropriate COTS product can be much moreefficient and have a lower life-cycle cost than developingand updating needed software products from scratch on acase-by-case basis, according to Gawdiak.

Material covered at the workshop will includepresentations and a series of specific case studies covering adiversity of projects – from large to small, in variousdiscipline settings, and using different commerciallyavailable data management systems. While the workshop is

a NASA-internal informational meeting, attendance is opento all NASA employees and support service contractorsagencywide. Gawdiak sees this as the first in what may wellbe an ongoing series of Ames-sponsored workshopsdesigned to bring the NASA data management communitytogether to learn and share experiences.

The workshop will run from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each dayand will be held at the Oracle Headquarters CorporateVisitor Center at 500 Oracle Parkway in Redwood Shores,California (about 12 miles north of Ames Research Center).To register online please go to

http://ace.arc.nasa.gov/postdoc/t/group/members.ehtml?group_id=-759

and join the workshop group. For the latest information onthe workshop please go to

http://ace.arc.nasa.gov/postdoc/t/folder/main.ehtml?url_id=37952

CorrectionThe names of the secretaries who received the Bockting

Award and their pictures were transposed in the February 25Roundup.Katheleen Moser is shown on the left and PatriciaLeBlanc is on the right. We regret the error.

April 6Tech Symposium : AIAA’s Annual Technical Symposium, titled

“Pioneering A New Millennium of Technology and Discovery,” will

occur at the University of Houston April 6 and 7. For additional

information visit www.jsc.nasa.gov/aiaa/.

Warning System Test : The site-wide Employee Warning

System will perform its monthly audio test at noon. For more

information contact Bob Gaffney at x34249.

April 8Scholarship luncheon : The National Society for Black Engi-

neers hosts a scholarship luncheon at Brady’s Landing. For

details regarding applications, volunteering or attending the

luncheon, contact Stacey at dotsoni@hotmail.com.

April 9Westside NSS meets : The “Westside” group of the Clear Lake

area chapter of the National Space Society will meet at 2 p.m. at

Silicon Graphics, 11490 Westheimer, Suite 100. For information

contact Murray Clark at (281) 367-2227.