September 2012
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration Volume 54 Number 10 September 7, 2012 Global Hawks to fly HS3 By Beth Hagenauer and collect data for a longer period Dryden Public Affairs of time. NASA’s Hurricane and Severe Waiting at Wallops will be a Storm Sentinel, or HS3, mission mobile ground control center, will be a complex one for the pilots mobile payload operations center flying NASA’s Global Hawk aircraft and Ku-band satellite dish – all from the ground. The mission, set necessary for operation of the high- to begin this month, will be the altitude and long-endurance aircraft. first deployment for the unmanned Scientists, maintenance personnel aircraft away from their regular and three pilots will support flights base of operations at Dryden. In from Wallops. addition, the pilots will be operating During take off and landing of the aircraft from two locations on the Global Hawk, the aircraft must opposite coasts. be in line-of-sight communications After the upload of specialized with the pilot. The pilots deployed science equipment is complete, the to Wallops will manage this activity two Global Hawks will fly from one from the Global Hawk Mobile coast of the United States to another NASA/Tony Landis photo Operations Facility, handing off over sparsely populated areas and operation of the aircraft to Dryden open water to reach NASA’s Wallops Mission manager Matt Graham, left, and pilots Tom Miller, center, and Phil after reaching an altitude of Flight Facility in Virginia. Hall of NOAA monitor the Global Hawk prior to take off. approximately 30,000 feet. NASA Wallops was selected as Additional pilots sitting in the target than those from NASA a deployment site because the area Atlantic where hurricanes begin Dryden’s Global Hawk Operations of scientific interest is the Atlantic to form. Flights from the U.S. Dryden and allow the aircraft to Ocean, especially the eastern East Coast take less transit time to travel further out over the Atlantic HS3, page 8 X-48C makes first flight By Gray Creech Neil Dryden Public Affairs Armstrong The remotely piloted X-48C aircraft successfully coverage flew for the first time on Aug. 7, 2012. The aircraft, designed by the Boeing Co. and inside built by Cranfield Aerospace Ltd. of the United Kingdom, is flying again in partnership with NASA. The new X-48C model, which was formerly the X-48B Blended Wing Body aircraft, was modified to evaluate the low-speed stability and control of a low-noise version of a notional, future Hybrid Wing ED12 0255-51 NASA/Carla Thomas photo X-48C, page 7 The X-48C concludes a successful first flight at Dryden. www.nasa.gov/ X-Press September 7, 2012 Dryden receives NASA awards The NASA Honor Awards Aug. data acquisition and processing 23 recognized 26 outstanding system called WINGS. Dryden employees with medals and • Michael E. Yettaw was recognized six project teams received group for exceptional technology achievement awards. innovation in the field of ground- Center Director David McBride based space communications and and Robert M. Lightfoot Jr., acting flight termination systems. NASA associate administrator, presented the medals and awards. Exceptional Achievement The winners are listed below. Medal • Russell R. Leonardo received his Distinguished Service Medal medal for outstanding achievements Robert R. Meyer was recognized as Dryden center integration lead for meritorious service to the agency for the NASA IT Infrastructure and the nation through significant Integration Program. contributions in the advancement • Bradley Flick was recognized for of aeronautics and science. outstanding service to NASA through his leadership of the GLORY Mishap Outstanding Leadership Medal Investigation Board. ED12 0286-07 NASA/Tom Tschida photo • Glenn A. Bever received his Exceptional Administrative medal for outstanding technical Robert M. Lightfoot Jr., NASA acting associate administrator, right, and managerial leadership as the congratulates retired Dryden engineer and manager Robert R. “Bob” Meyer Achievement Medal deputy director of Research and and prepares to give him the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. Dryden • Sirell D. Lane received her medal Engineering at NASA Dryden. center director David McBride prepares to give Meyer the framed certificate. for exceptional administrative • Thomas J. Horn was recognized mission support and initiative in for exceptional leadership of serving as a role model. • Rosalia Toberman was recognized foreign travel coordination, small the Critical Change Project • Gary B. Cosentino received his for outstanding contributions in acquisition, IT coordination, and Management core team resulting in medal for exceptional performance, enabling Dryden’s projects and mission logistics support. new project management methods dedication, and teamwork in programs to advance science and • Afreekia S. Stillwater was using the Theory of Constraints supporting Operations Engineering technology through flight. recognized for exceptional principles. and leading special category support to the SOFIA Program in • Stephen C. Jensen received his programs including X-45A, X-48, Exceptional Public Service establishing new office procedures medal for exceptional leadership as Phantom Ray and DROID. Medal and other process improvements the Stratospheric Observatory for • Dennis M. DaCruz was • Dr. Eric E. Becklin received his that contributed to program success. Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, recognized for exceptional success in medal for excellence as a pioneer Program chief engineer. creating innovative IT solutions at in the infrared astronomy field Early Career Achievement • John W. Kelly was recognized NASA Dryden, the Dryden Aircraft and providing key leadership Medal for outstanding leadership in Operations Facility, and the AERO for the scientific success of the •Larry J. Cliatt II received his the formulation and execution Institute. Stratospheric Observatory for medal for exceptional initiative of NASA’s Flight Opportunities • George H. Grimshaw received Infrared Astronomy. and commitment to exploring the Program. his medal for outstanding • William R. Werner was barriers of supersonic flight over • Timothy R. Moes received his sustained support and significant recognized for exceptional land, and enthusiastic dedication to medal for exemplary leadership contributions to NASA’s Space leadership, dedication, and NASA’s mission. of the G-III UAVSAR Project, Shuttle Program. responsiveness in operating and • Michael A. Hill was recognized which has resulted in extraordinary • Joseph S. Lopko was recognized developing Dryden’s facility for outstanding innovative scientific progress with new uses for for exceptional work as a master systems over 19 years, enabling contributions to NASA Dryden synthetic aperture radar for national craftsman in the field of strain gage extraordinary mission success. simulation capability resulting benefit. and thermal sensor application. in significant cost savings and • Hernan D. Posada received Exceptional Engineering substantial improvements of key Exceptional Service Medal his medal for exceptional service Achievement simulation equipment. • Dr. Trong T. Bui was recognized in developing and implementing • Robert Downing received his • Loyd R. Hook received his medal for exceptional engineering and unmanned aircraft systems at medal for exceptional system for outstanding achievement in technical leadership, unwavering NASA Dryden, setting the example design and management of the advancing digital terrain mapping dedication to mentorship, research for other agencies and industry to development and implementation and skill development, and for follow. of Dryden’s mission control centers NASA Awards, page 8 X-Press September 7, 2012 E-85 fuel now available News New E-85 fuel dispensers needed to fill the gas tanks of Dryden’s fleet of flexible fuel vehicles are now at NASA available at the Dryden Fuel Station. E-85 is a gasoline-ethanol blend containing 51 percent to 83 percent Space voice ethanol, depending on geography NASA’s Mars Curiosity has and the season. debuted the first recorded human The E-85 fuel dispensers are used voice that traveled from Earth to just like those of diesel or unleaded another planet and back. fuel. Instructions are posted on the NASA Administrator Charles pedestal of the Fuel Force keypad. Bolden noted the difficulty To begin the program, Kay & of landing a rover on Mars, Associates employees have placed an congratulated NASA employees E-85 decal on the gas tank door of and the agency’s commercial and all NASA leased E-85-compatible government partners, and said vehicles. The decal, which may Photo courtesy of Jay Levine curiosity is what drives humans to explore in a message radioed to the be removed in the future, is a E-85 fuel is now available. Cars able to use it are marked with yellow stickers. temporary reminder that people rover on Mars and back to NASA’s can pump E-85 and/or unleaded Flexible fuel vehicles, or FFVs, ethanol-compatible fuel system and Deep Space Network on Earth. fuel into the vehicle. The fuels are have an internal combustion engine powertrain calibration, FFVs are “Curiosity will bring benefits compatible and can be mixed in the and are capable of operating on similar to their conventional gasoline to Earth and inspire a new tank. Kay & Associates encourages gasoline, E-85, or a mixture of the counterparts. The only difference generation of scientists and the use of E-85 whenever possible. two. is that the fuel economy is lower explorers, as it