National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland/Wallops Island, Virginia
June 23, 2000
The Goddard News is published weekly by the Office of Public Affairs, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Engineers at Kennedy Space Center are preparing NASA's newest tracking and data relay satellite for next week's launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Technicians fueled the spacecraft the week of June 9. After being moved to the launch pad, TDRS-H was mated to an Atlas IIA launch vehicle June 17. According to Lyle Tiffany, Deputy/Resources for the TDRS project office at Goddard, the spacecraft performed very well throughout the launch site processing flow and we are looking forward to a successful launch. The satellite is scheduled to lift off June 29 at 8:38 a.m. EDT during a 40 minute launch window.
Representing just under five years of development and flight-proven hardware from past programs, TDRS-H will effectively double the capacity of data transmissions. A pair of innovative, 15-foot diameter flexible graphite mesh antenna reflectors will simultaneously transmit and receive at S-band and either Ku- or Ka-band, providing dual independent two-way communication support.
During it's planned 11-year lifetime, TDRS-H will support several NASA missions such as the Space Shuttle, Hubble Space Telescope, TERRA, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission and Earth Observing System, and provide future support to the International Space Station.
An emplyee viewing of the TDRS-H launch on NASA TV will be in the bldg. 3 auditorium, beginning at 8:00 a.m.
For more information about the spacecraft and its capabilities, go to: http://tdrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/Tdrsproject/
For more information about the new spacecraft and its mission, go to: http://tdrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/Tdrsproject/
The arrival from the Sun of billion-ton electrified-gas clouds that cause severe space storms can now be predicted to within a half-day, a great improvement over the best previous estimates of two to five days.
Scientists at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, have created a model that reliably predicts how much time it takes for these clouds, called Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) to traverse the gulf between the Sun and the Earth, based on their initial speed from the Sun and their interaction with the solar wind.
The new model uses recent observations from the European Space Agency/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and the NASA WIND spacecraft. The model has been validated and made more accurate using historical observations from the Helios-1 (Germany/NASA), the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (NASA), and the Space Test Program P78-1 (United States Air Force) spacecraft.
For the complete press release, visit: http://pao.gsfc.nasa.gov/gsfc/spacesci/solarexp/cme.htm
New Images Suggest Present-Day Sources of Liquid Water on Mars
In what could turn out to be a landmark discovery in the history of Mars exploration, imaging scientists using data from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft have recently observed features that suggest there may be current sources of liquid water at or near the surface of the red planet.
The new images show the smallest features ever observed from martian orbit -- the size of an SUV. NASA scientists compare the features to those left by flash floods on Earth.
"We see features that look like gullies formed by flowing water and the deposits of soil and rocks transported by these flows. The features appear to be so young that they might be forming today. We think we are seeing evidence of a ground water supply, similar to an aquifer," said Dr. Michael Malin, principal
investigator for the Mars Orbiter Camera on the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft at Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS), San Diego, CA. "These are new landforms that have never been seen before on Mars."
For the complete press release, visit: http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/ftp/pub/PAO/Releases/2000/H00-99.htm
Special AMS Journals Dedicated to Dr. Joanne Simpson
Goddard's research scientist, Dr. Joanne Simpson, will be have two separate Journals from the American Meteorological Society dedicated to her this fall. Special Issues of the Journal of Applied Meteorology and the Journal of Climate will be dedicated to Dr. Simpson in recognition of her profound contributions to the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM); the field of tropical meteorology; and to her wholehearted commitment to science and all those who make such efforts possible.
The launch of TRMM in November of 1997 made it possible for quantitative measurements of tropical rainfall to be obtained on a continuing basis over the entire global tropics. This possibility represents one of the highest points in Dr. Joanne Simpson's 50 years in meteorology.
The original project scientist for TRMM, Simpson began work on tropical clouds and tropical weather systems under Herbert Riehl at Chicago. Joanne was part of the pioneering work done at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the 1950s and 1960s in the Caribbean. With Woodcock, Bunker and later Charnock, Joanne helped establish the foundation for the first cumulus cloud models. These field measurements included the earliest successful attempts at making airborne flux measurements of heat, moisture and momentum as well as establishing the essential features of the structure of surface, mixed and cloud layers over the tropical oceans.
With Herbert Riehl, she saw deep convection in the equatorial trough as a source of heating in the tropical atmosphere. She applied the concepts of moist convective fueling to the understanding of hurricanes and ultimately to the driving of the global atmosphere. Her insistence in maintaining a firm grip upon the reality of weather while simultaneously developing quantitative models of the complex processes she was attempting to understand uniquely prepared her to take up the reins to lead the satellite-based Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission.
Submitted by John Theon in 1984 as a proposal to NASA Headquarters, from a team of Goddard investigators (consisting of Gerry North, Tom Wilheit and Otto Thiele), the proposal was embraced by Japan's Communications Laboratory (under the direction of Dr. Fugono). The joint U.S.-Japan effort came to fruition with the successful launch of the TRMM satellite in the early morning of November 28th from Tanegashima, Japan.
Joanne served as the TRMM project scientist from August 1986 until the launch of the satellite. Her tremendous effort during this period was crucial for insuring that the mission stayed on track and that science, data and engineering components worked harmoniously. Much work remains to be done to realize the full potential of the TRMM data. This Special Issue of the Journal of Applied Meteorology begins this process and is dedicated to Dr. Joanne Simpson in recognition of her profound contributions to TRMM, the field of tropical meteorology and to her wholehearted commitment to science and all those who make such efforts possible.
Goddard Scientists and Engineers Participate in Detector Meeting
When the Office of Space Science brings together scientists and engineers for a Space Detector Meeting June 26-29 at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Goddard scientists and engineers will be prominently featured.
There will be 24 civil servants participating and several participants from National Research Council, University Space Research Associations, Hughes Systems Corp., Global Science and Technology, and Fairchild Space and Defense Corp.
Participants will present the current and future state of the art space detector technologies and suggest priorities in detector development. Advances in detectors have played a central role in the development of astrophysics. Detectors and technology are critical to most NASA missions. The criticality of detectors leads NASA and its partners to explore which detectors can be built to space standards with existing technologies, which technologies need to be extended to improve performance and which technologies require further development. The meeting is designed to be of interest to detector developers and technologists as well as to scientists who may propose future science missions.
For more information on the space detector meeting, check out the following website: http://www.stsci.edu/stsci/meetings/space_detectors/
Goddard's
Environmental Services - Wildlife Management of Deer
The increasing deer population has eaten (or browsed) the under story of the forest area and has kept the forest from regenerating. There are very few forest trees that survive beyond the small size class category to eventually replenish old growth trees, and there is virtually no shrub layer. This is a loss of habitat for small mammals and songbirds. New trees planted around the Center have to be protected from deer rubbing to allow survival and ornamental plants and shrubs have to be fenced to prevent the deer from consuming them. The threat and occurrences of auto collisions are present, along with the threat of tick-borne diseases.
There are four deer treatment stations on the West Campus. The treatment stations hold corn and allow it to drop. The deer are enticed by the corn to feed and when they move their heads to the feeder on the corn, it forces the deer to rub on rollers containing permethrin which is then applied on their coat. The permethrin kills off adult ticks, and breaks the lifecycle of the ticks. Goddard's wildlife management is working with researchers to be able to move this project to the East Campus.
For the complete information about the wildlife management of deer, visit: http://gsfc-artemis.gsfc.nasa.gov/205/deer.htm
If it seems a little more crowded than usual in the cafeterias at lunchtime these days, it may be because Goddard is home to over 300 students involved in 14 summer programs affiliated with the Equal Opportunity Programs Office. The purpose of the various programs is quite diverse. However, the ultimate goal is to expand the pool of candidates from underrepresented groups in the fields of mathematics, science and engineering.
Over 70 students spend 10 weeks at Goddard on summer internships. The interns gain exposure to NASA and the types of projects that are carried out at Goddard Space Flight Center, along with valuable work experience.
Some of Goddard's summer programs are designed to provide academic reinforcement to students who are about to begin their freshman year in college and are interested in pursuing a career in math, science, or engineering.
For information about the programs, please visit: http://eeo.gsfc.nasa.gov/outreach.htm
Goddard Plays
Host to Gates' Millennium Scholar
Gates Millennium Scholar, Brandy Rutledge is at Goddard for 10 weeks under the mentoring of Paul Houser, Code 974.
Rutledge is pursuing a doctorate in biostatistics from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is originally from Chatham, Va., and has received her bachelor's of science degree in Applied Mathematics from Norfolk State University.
"I am very excited to have been accepted in the program, not only because of being a part of the inaugural students, but this also gave me the opportunity to be one of four, out of the 4,000 chosen scholars, to personally meet Bill and Melinda Gates and to give a speech which was taken from my initial acceptance letter."
The Gates Millennium Scholars Program seeks to increase the number of African-Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Americans and Hispanic Americans enrolling in and completing undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Individuals with academic promise, unmet financial need and demonstrated leadership are eligible for renewable awards.
At the undergraduate level, individuals enrolling or already enrolled in any discipline or area of study are eligible. At the graduate level, individuals applying to or already enrolled in science, mathematics, engineering, education or library science degree programs are eligible. The United Negro College Fund administers the program in partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the American Indian College Fund.
The Gates Millennium Scholars Program is under the Bill (Gates) and Melinda Foundation. Their foundation is aimed at expanding access and opportunity to higher education to those citizens who will help reflect the diverse society in which we live. They look for strategic opportunities to extend the benefits of modern science and technology to people around the world, especially where poverty serves as an obstacle to participating in these benefits.
To view the program, in which Rutledge took part, visit: http://webcast.mediaondemand.com/gatesfoundation/20000608/
To learn more about the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, visit: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/
Congratulations to Recipients of Goddard Quarterly Honor Awards
On June 20 the Quarterly Honor Awards were presented to following Goddard employees.Outstanding Teamwork |
|
| Interagency NPOSESS Preparatory Project Team/456 | Rapid II Burn Team/456 |
| Quality and Process Improvement | |
| Darrell J. Gretz/553 | John Leon/740.2 |
| Customer Service Excellence | |
| Steven T. Kramer/214.1 | Jeffrey A. Smith/583 |
| Richard D. Claffy/303 | Carletta I. Missouri/740 |
| MAP Maneuver Team/572 | |
| Institutional Support - Programmatic | |
| Pamela I. Trance/410 | Paula M. Everson/415 |
| EOSDIS Trans-Pacific Network (ETPN)Team/423 | |
| Secretarial and Clerical Excellence | |
| Virginia M. Thompson/150 | Michelle L. Standiford/410.2 |
| Deborah K. Hamby/420 | Maggie Hagen/441 |
For more information about the MEC project: http://metroeast_climate.ciesin.columbia.edu
The GISS web site regarding their contribution to the National Assessment is: http://www.giss.nasa.gov/projects/metroeast/
The web site for public comment on the draft National Assessment report is: http://www.gcrio.org/NationalAssessment/
Goddard researcher Ross Nelson (Code 923) was featured in front-page stories in the Delaware State News and the News Journal (Wilmington) concerning his project to collect Airborne Laser Data over the state of Delaware. Nelson is developing and using this inexpensive, portable airborne laser system to inventory Delaware. Approximately half the State has been surveyed with the remaining data to be collected at the end of this month. Nelson met with reporters at the Sussex County Airport in Georgetown, Del., during a refueling stop to discuss the project. The research was also featured in an Associated Press article, and appeared in the Easton (Md.) Democrat, USA Today and the Farm Chronicle.
Prince George's County is considering whether to establish an express bus
service from the local Metrorail stations (New Carrollton and Greenbelt) to GSFC and is
trying to find out the interest here at GSFC. They need to know how many people are
interested and from which stations. If you're interested, call Mike Taylor at extension
6-2607 by June 30, 2000.
Lyme Disease Vaccine Available from the Health Unit
The Health Unit at GSFC is offering free Lyme Disease vaccine for all GSFC civil servants. The Lyme Disease vaccine program consists of three injections - the second follows one month after the first, and the third is given usually one year after the first. For those interested in beginning the Lyme vaccine series, the initial dose ideally should be given before the end of March to enable you to have a chance to develop adequate immunity before the beginning of the deer tick season. Experience to date with antibody responses in a variety of immunization schedules indicates that substantial immunity results from receiving the third dose as early as six months after the first. Thus, even if you did not start your Lyme immunizations before the end of March this year, you could receive the first two doses between now and September, and get the third dose next March so that you would have adequate immunity for the spring of 2001.
If you begin your immunization series now, you should recognize the very real possibility that you may not develop adequate protective immunity for the 2000 tick season. If you have never received the Lyme vaccine, you should call the Health Unit on 6-6666 to set up a consultation with one of the doctors to discuss the pros and cons of receiving the vaccine. Once you have received your initial dose, you may come by the health unit at any time to receive the other two doses without an appointment. Please visit the following website for more information about the vaccine: http://www.wff.nasa.gov/~healthline/lyme.htm
MAD Presents "2000 Evening of One-Act Plays"
Who: MAD's Spring Drama Show, "2000 Evening of One-Act Plays"
What: "The Trysting Place," written by Booth Tarkington, is being directed by Karen Cannon. This is a fast-paced farce about three couples attempting to find a place to meet for a rendezvous in a large resort hotel. "Sorry, Wrong Number," written by Lucille Fletcher is being directed by Ted Ying. This is a thriller about a woman with a disability who overhears a conversation about a planned murder. Also on the program are, "Errman", directed by Karen Baver, "House of Wonders," directed by Cathy Tennyson, and "Living in a Hershey Bar," directed by Stephen Yednock
Where/When: Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17 at 8 p.m. in the Bldg. 8 auditorium.
Cost: Tickets are $6 in advance $7 at the door.
For more information: Sales Manager Abby Crowley at (301) 345-2663
Lunchtime Concert
Who: The jazz quartet "On the Rocks"
What: Will entertain the Goddard community with free concert
When/Where: On Thursday, July 6, at 12 noon, outside the Bldg. 21 Cafeteria. They will perform a variety of music representing different flavors of the jazz idiom including standard, latin, contemporary, and original compositions. The quartet features bassist Paul Arnold, Code 922, guitarist John McCloskey, Code 565, trumpeter Paul Weiss, Code 400 and drummer Heather Borsum.
NASA Day at King's Dominion (July 29, 2000)
Tickets are now on sale at the GEWA Store for a great package deal on a fun day at Paramount's King's Dominion. This family-oriented activity, sponsored by GEWA, features all-day admission to the theme park, an all-you-can-eat buffet lunch (served 12 noon - 1:30 p.m.) of fried chicken, burgers, hot dogs, pasta salad, fresh fruit, ice cream, sodas, and iced tea. The cost per person through COB July 20 is only $22 (ages 13 & up), $17 (ages 3-12), and free under age 3. Ticket costs jump $5 each if purchased after July 20, and no tickets will be sold after July 28.
25th Annual Software Engineering Workshop
The Software Engineering Laboratory (SEL) is pleased to announce its Call For Papers for the 25th Annual Software Engineering Workshop (SEW25), which will be held on November 28 - 30, 2000, at Goddard. The SEW is sponsored by the NASA/GSFC SEL, in conjunction with the University of Maryland and Computer Sciences Corporation.
Topics of particular interest include:
Empirical Validation of Software Engineering-Related Technology in Practice
S/W Engineering Techniques
COTS
Product Line Architectures
Human Computer Interaction
In keeping with our theme, we are especially interested in the software applications and lessons learned at NASA
The deadline for submitting abstracts to Code 581 (jboger@csc.com ) is September 1, 2000. Visit our website at http://sel.gsfc.nasa.gov
Upcoming Launches
For a schedule of launches coming up in the next few months, check out: http://pao.gsfc.nasa.gov/gsfc/newsroom/flash/flash.htm
Press Releases from the past week can be found here: Hot Topics