National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Volume 55 Number 2 February 2013 Tomorrow’s tech today By Jay Levine by transferring the technology to X-Press editor and industry for commercialization. Alan Brown Work such as the automatic Dryden Public Affairs ground collision avoidance system Imagine hypersonic breakthroughs has applications that could have that enable future missions to Mars, broad appeal, Peck said. Concepts exponentially better sensors for for a self-driving car are one example aircraft and spacecraft that reduce where the technology could be weight and increase safety, and transferred to industry for use. control systems that automatically “Dryden will fly and test the react to flight conditions before technologies that will make the emergency situations arise. future possible,” he added. Dryden researchers can see that To make that future possible, future. NASA technology leads, Peck encouraged Dryden staff to including chief technologist Mason continue seeking partnerships with Peck, deputy chief technologist Jim industry, academia and other federal Adams and the center technologists ED13-0019-32 NASA/Tom Tschida agencies. council, recently toured the center Jerry Budd, left, shows off the 1/3-scale Twin Ventus glider center section that After his Dryden technology and its associated aircraft operations would be used to flight validate the aerodynamics of his Towed Glider Air- tour and an all-hands session with facility in nearby Palmdale. They Launch concept to NASA chief technologist Mason Peck, cemter, and deputy Dryden employees, Peck and Adams were introduced to Dryden chief technologist Jim Adams. Dryden’s technology chief David Voracek observes. visited some of NASA’s partners at researchers’ ideas that could have the Mojave Air and Space Port in major impacts on future aircraft and Mojave, Calif., including Firestar spacecraft systems. Technologies, Masten Flight Both Peck and the council were Systems and XCOR Aerospace. introduced to a range of Dryden Masten demonstrated their technologies including fiber-optic progress on developing a reusable sensor work, Space Launch System vertical-launch-and-landing sub- controls and adaptive controls orbital space access vehicle by technology. They also learned conducting a 60-second tethered about the Multi-Disciplinary test launch of its Xombie prototype Hypersonic Trajectory Analysis and vehicle, followed by a tour of the Optimization Research, an altitude follow-on Xaero-B vehicle now compensating engine nozzle and under development. flight research projects focused on At XCOR, Peck and his entourage enabling next-generation aircraft viewed a brief test firing of a tiny and spacecraft systems. rocket nozzle, and were briefed by Peck also spoke about Dryden’s ED13-0019-20 NASA/Tom Tschida XCOR president Jeff Greason about technology having impacts beyond the development of the Lynx sub- NASA that could “achieve a spark for Tony Chen, left, discusses the mechanical testing of the Flight Loads Laboratory’s other kinds of goods and services” upcoming Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator to Peck and Adams. Technology, page 7

www.nasa.gov/ X-Press February 2013 It was closer than we knew By Jay Levine X-Press editor The United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, commonly known as the Soviet Union dominated by Russia, battled for supremacy in space in the 1960s in a race that was much closer than people realized. The Soviet Union had the early lead with the first launch of the Sputnik 1 satellite on Oct. 4, 1957. Another milestone was reached when Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space and the first in orbit on April 12, 1961 in a Vostok spacecraft. The U.S., however, ultimately declared victory when U.S. astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. Even on the day the U.S. claimed victory, the outcome was not certain until American astronauts made it back safely from the surface of the moon, said NASA Chief Historian William Barry. Barry, who has been NASA’s chief historian since 2010, discussed how and why the Soviet Union lost the race to land a man on the moon during a Dryden colloquium presentation Jan. 31 Until the dissolution of the Soviet Union about two decades after the space race was decided, the level of the secret effort was unknown, Barry noted. There are three prevalent explanations as to how the Americans overcame the Soviets – there never was a race, the Soviets gave up or they tried but failed because of a combination of spending, poor leadership, and the death of chief designer Sergei Pavlovich Korolev in January 1966. Barry argued that the space race really started in 1964, not 1961. In January 1964, the flight of the first Block II Saturn I vehicle known as SA-5 gave the U.S. the capability to launch a larger payload than the Soviets for the first time. Then in May, detailed plans for the Apollo program were unveiled and the Gemini program was well under way. Gemini set new records with 10 flights. ED12-0331-10 NASA/Jim Ross However, the USSR pulled off another coup when Alexei Leonov in Above, William the Voskhod 2 became the first human to walk in space on March 18, Barry, NASA’s 1965. Then it seemed the Soviet effort stalled. Its next human flight came chief historian, two years later on April 23, 1967, but ended in tragedy when the new points out Soyuz 1 spacecraft crashed on landing, and Cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov features of the perished. The Soviet flight schedule suggests that they dropped out of the N-1 rocket. The race around the time of the change of leadership in 1964, Barry said. rocket was part Years passed and the first Soviet N-1 test launch, an effort started in of the Soviet 1964, came late in the game, on Feb. 21, 1969. The rocket exploded 69 Union’s entry seconds after liftoff. The Soviets tried again on July 3, 1969, but that one into the race with blew up just after liftoff and destroyed two launch pads. the U.S. to reach The N-1 destruction was a setback, but the space race wasn’t over until the surface of the moon first. the Soviet Luna 15 crashed on the moon about two hours before Armstrong and Aldrin lifted off from the surface in July 1969, he added. At left, N-1 “The Soviets lost the Moon Race largely because they started too late rockets are and tried to do too much at the same time. They were running, in the positioned on end, three major programs plus the parallel effort to develop the Soyuz launch pads. spacecraft they needed to make it all happen,” Barry said. “They expended massive amounts of effort and treasury and all for the Courtesy of William Barry same reasons we did – not to colonize outer space and have a long-term human space flight program, but to achieve a political goal of upstaging In that case, good engineering goes out the window and the effort is the other superpower,” he said. not sustainable beyond reaching the political goal. Regarding future The space race has lessons for space policy makers today. exploration of Mars, Barry hopes it evolves differently than a space race “Countries don’t spend a lot on space things unless they have a political with a superpower. purpose. It’s not done for scientific reasons, or engineering reasons, it’s “I hope we go to Mars for good reasons and not political reasons and we done for political reasons,” Barry argues. find a way to do it within budget and collaboratively,” he said. X-Press February 2013 Grunsfeld tours DAOF News John Grunsfeld, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and a former at NASA space shuttle astronaut, was brought up to date on the status of a variety of airborne science missions Asteroid flown on NASA aircraft during a recent tour of the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale. He to pass also was briefed on the upgrades to and upcoming astronomical science flights on the Stratospheric Earth Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. Small near-Earth asteroid SOFIA science mission 2012 DA14 will pass very close operations director Erick Young to Earth on Feb. 15. In fact, it of the Universities Space Research ED13-0008-16 NASA/Jim Ross will be so close that it will pass Association and SOFIA project John Grunsfeld, left, and a DSI telescope technician examine the framework inside the ring of geosynchro- scientist Pamela Marcum outlined supporting the 100-inch primary mirror in the telescope cavity of NASA’s SO- nous weather and communica- the next series of astrophysics flights FIA flying observatory. tions satellites. for the SOFIA observatory in 2013. It is anticipated when the as- SOFIA program manger Eddie campaigns by NASA’s ER-2 high- California that was flown from the teroid passes, it will be the clos- Zavala and aircraft manager Brent altitude aircraft, the DC-8 flying Dryden facility by an instrumented est to Earth of any object of its Cobleigh then detailed the upgrades laboratory, JPL’s UAVSAR synthetic P-3B Orion aircraft from NASA’s size. made to the observatory’s avionics aperture radar on a modified C-20A Wallops Flight Facility and a B200 NASA's Near-Earth Object and telescope control systems (G-III) and the autonomously King Air from NASA’s Langley Program Office can accurately during the past year. operated Global Hawks. He was also Research Center, both in Virginia, predict the asteroid's path and Grunsfeld was also briefed on updated on plans for the Discover- during the latter part of January there is no chance that the as- upcoming airborne Earth science AQ pollution study over central and early February. teroid might be on a collision course with Earth. Nevertheless, the flyby will Holm wins provide a unique opportunity for researchers to study a near- alumni award Earth object up close. The facts Gwen Holm, Dryden’s director about the safe flyby of Earth of mission support, received the N. by asteroid 2012 DA14 are de- Dale Wright Distinguished Alumni tailed at http://www.nasa.gov/ Award. The Romney Institute of topics/solarsystem/features/as- Public Management at Brigham teroidflyby.html. Young University chooses the recipient. “Holm embodies the personal Pitre passes and professional qualities expected John “J.P.” Pitre, a former of our graduates,” said David Hart, Dryden contract employee, died director of the Romney Institute. Feb. 3. He was 62. “We celebrate her dedication to Mr. Pitre was hired in the 1990s commitments as well as years of her as a member of the cable plant untiring public service.” team responsible for designing, Holm’s colleagues selected her for installing and maintaining the her commitment to high standards complex cabling and wiring of excellence and to service at work infrastructure at Dryden. That and in the community. cabling was later extended to the James McDonald, one of Holm’s DAOF and AERO campuses. former professors, spoke about his Photo courtesy of Gwen Holm Services for Mr. Pitre are former student at the recent award scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 16, ceremony. Gwen Holm and N. Dale Wright stand by the seascape he painted and gave to Holm following her acceptance of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the at 1pm at the Wayside Chapel in Award, page 8 Romney Institute of Public Management. Rosamond. X-Press February 2013 X-Press February 2013 NASA showcases Airborne Science By Jay Levine X-Press editor NASA uses ground, air and space assets to monitor the environment, develop models of the world’s climate and provide information for policymakers to make informed decisions. News and social media representatives learned about the agency’s overarching environmental mission and how NASA aircraft support that mission at the Airborne Science Showcase Jan. 25 at Dryden’s main campus and at the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale. Airborne Science enables scientists to answer questions that require the use of airborne platforms, said Randy Albertson, deputy program manager of NASA’s Airborne Science Program. Instruments on the aircraft help calibrate and validate satellite instruments, support new sensor development, initiate process studies and develop the next generation of ED13-0023-090 NASA/Tom Tschida scientists and engineers, Albertson Dryden ER-2 pilot Stu Broce talks to BBC radio about his missions. BBC personnel included Jon Stewart, at left, and said. Missions are flown all over the Bryan Darling behind the camera. Media and social media members were invited to the Airborne Science Showcase to world in partnership with industry, learn more about NASA’s environmental missions. universities or other government Allison Gatlin, center, agencies, he added. ED13-0023-010 NASA/Jim Ross a writer for the Airborne Science aircraft Antelope Valley Press in capabilities range from the high- Chris Naftel, Dryden Global Hawk project manager, talks to the social media attendees of the Airborne Science Showcase. The event introduced media and social Palmdale, interviews flying ER-2 and the unmanned media to Airborne Science missions, program and project managers, scientists, pilots and others who make the missions possible. Naftel said the Global Hawk is a good Jim Crawford of Global Hawk aircraft, to more science platform because it is capable of flying at altitudes up to 65,000 feet for up to 30 hours. It also can fly 12,500 miles without refueling. NASA’s Langley traditional aircraft like the B-200 Research Center, King Air, the C-20A (G-III) and Jucks, NASA’s Upper Atmosphere Radiation Sciences program The science could not be two aircraft over California’s San Va., and principal DC-8 flying laboratory. Aircraft Research program manager. manager, explained the NASA accomplished without the Joaquin Valley between Bakersfield investigator of the are based at different NASA centers Eric Jensen of Ames Research Earth Science Division seeks to instruments. Jim Crawford of and Fresno in January and February Deriving Information such as the WB-57 at Johnson Center, Moffett Field, Calif., determine if Earth’s systems are NASA’s Langley Research Center during the DISCOVER-AQ on Surface conditions Space Center in Houston, the principal investigator for the changing and if so, can that change and principal investigator of the mission, are enabling scientists to from Column and P-3B from Wallops Flight Facility, Airborne Tropical Tropopause be predicted. Measurements taken Deriving Information on Surface better understand how to measure Vertically Resolved Wallops, Va., a B-200 from Langley Experiment, said the multi- from aircraft, satellites and the conditions from Column and and forecast air quality globally. Observations Relevant Research Center, Hampton Va. and year science campaign seeks to ground are used to develop and Vertically Resolved Observations Those same instruments are intended to Air Quality, or a host of aircraft located at Dryden’s investigate unexplored regions of improve models that describe Relevant to Air Quality, or to improve the ability of satellites to DISCOVER-AQ, facilities at Edwards and Palmdale. the upper atmosphere and how its the entire Earth system, he DISCOVER-AQ, mission, said the consistently observe air quality in mission. Reporter Rachel Developing instruments and chemistry is changing Earth in a explained. Measurements are science instruments flown aboard the lowest part of the atmosphere, Azevedo walks down using those technologies to learn warming climate. The mission will taken from different climates NASA aircraft “are not off-the-shelf Crawford said. If scientists could the stairs as cameraman about atmospheric composition for give scientists the information they and conditions to determine the instruments. They are one-of-a-kind better observe pollution from Tony Rutanashoodech development of models to predict will need to better understand and atmospheric chemistry and under instruments developed over a career.” space, they would be able to make captures the action for future climate change is a valuable predict this phenomenon. what conditions can it become a Scientific instruments that are CBS 47 in Fresno, use of NASA aircraft, said Ken In addition, Hal Maring, NASA problem. Showcase, page 6 Calif. measuring air pollution from ED13-0023-039 NASA/Tom Tschida X-Press February 2013

Showcase... from page 5 better air quality forecasts and At left, John more accurately determine where McGrath, C-20 pollution is coming from and why project manager, emissions vary. talks to social media David Starr of Goddard Space members about Flight Center, PODEX mission the aircraft. To principal investigator, explained McGrath’s left is polarimetric measurements Yunling Lou, who from three instruments obtain is the Jet Propulsion information in a different way Laboratory’s from other research methods flying Unmanned Air aboard NASA’s ER-2. Vehicle Synthetic In addition to being briefed on Aperture Radar a half-dozen current or near-term program manager. science missions, event participants Lou explained the were able to see many of the aircraft function of the used in those missions. synthetic aperture For example, Chris Naftel, radar that flies in NASA Global Hawk project a pod (seen behind manager, explained that the Global Lou) located under Hawk Aircraft is ideally suited for the aircraft. environmental research because it is capable of flying 10 miles high at ED13-0023-039 NASA/Tom Tschida altitudes up to 65,000 feet for up to 30 hours. It also can fly 12,500 miles without refueling. Decisions can be made as the Global Hawk is flying about where to send it to maximize data collection with its complement of up to 12 science instruments. It also can transmit information as it is collected to scientists on the ground. A Global Hawk was used on the recent HS3 mission to essentially complete a “CAT scan of a hurricane,” Naftel explained. ED13-0023-071 NASA/Tom Tschida ED13-0023-075 NASA/Tom Tschida In addition, a B-200 aircraft is Top left, Environmental scientist used for validation and verification Glenn Sachse details the DISCOVER- of science instruments that might AQ air quality survey mission over one day fly on satellites, explained California’s San Joaquin Valley to Walter Klein, B-200 project reporter Tabitha Lipkin of Time manager. Delwyn Moller of the Jet Warner Cable News, Palmdale, aboard Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, NASA’s P-3B environmental science Calif., and AirSWOT principal aircraft. investigator, also was available. About 21 persons representing Top right, a representative of KNBC 14 news and documentary Channel 4 from Los Angeles interviews organizations and another 32 David Star, Polarimeter Definition social media followers of NASA Experiment principal investigator. participated in the Airborne Science Showcase. Twitter recorded more At left, David Diner, a multiangle than 1.4 million initial impressions spectropolarimetric imager principal about NASA Airborne Science investigator, shows Diana Izquierdo a activity from “tweets” posted by stereographic 3-D image taken from event participants that were then re- instruments onboard the ER-2. tweeted by their followers. ED13-0023-050 NASA/Tom Tschida X-Press February 2013 Research Concept could fly soon published By Gray Creech Dryden researchers work Dryden Public Affairs on some of the most dynamic Dryden is developing a novel projects at NASA. Technical rocket-launching technique called publications released in the Towed Glider Air-Launch December and January detail Concept that could significantly those projects. reduce the cost and improve the December efficiency of sending satellites into Daniel S. Jones, Syri J. orbit. Koelfgen, Marvin W. Barnes, The idea is to build a relatively Rachel J. McCauley, Terry M. inexpensive remotely or optionally Wall, Brian D. Reed, and C. piloted glider that will be towed to Miguel Duncan collaborated altitudes approaching 40,000 feet on the “Executive Summary of by a large transport aircraft. The Propulsion on the Orion Abort glider will carry a booster rocket Flight-Test Vehicles,” NASA/ capable of launching payloads into TM2012-216049. low Earth orbit. January Engineers continue working Percy J. Bobbitt, Domenic trade-offs with launching the rocket J. Maglieri, Daniel W. Banks, either with the glider still in tow, NASA illustration Michael A. Frederick, and or following release from the tow An artist rendering of the Towed Glider Air-Launch Concept shows the towed Aaron W. Fuchs co-authored, aircraft. Either way, after the rocket glider following a rocket launch. A tow aircraft is seen clearing the launch “Wind-Tunnel and Flight-Test has launched, the glider will return area. Results for the Measurements independently of the tow aircraft to by independent contractors indicate existing aircraft, such as Orbital of Flow Variables at Supersonic its base to be used again. that a performance gain of up to 40 Sciences’ Pegasus rockets that are Speeds Using Improved Wedge Gerald Budd, a NASA Dryden percent may be realized by use of launched from the firm’s modified and Conical Probes,” NASA/ business development and towed Budd’s towed-glider technique over L-1011 “Stargazer” launch aircraft. TM2012-216004. glider project manager, displayed vertical launch of a similar-sized Currently, a huge new custom- Edward A Haering, Larry a 24-foot wingspan, twin fuselage rocket from the ground. built carrier aircraft is under J. Cliatt II, Michael M. proof-of-concept model of the Additionally, air launch of rockets construction by Stratolaunch Delaney, Kenneth J. Plotkin, glider that was constructed in has the potential to lower the cost Systems, Inc. Domenic J. Maglieri, and NASA Dryden’s model shop of placing payloads to orbit through Budd maintains the Towed Jacob C. Brown collaborated during a presentation at the operational efficiencies that areGlider Air Launch Concept has the on “SCAMP: Rapid Focused Academy of Model Aeronautics’ simply not available through vertical potential to realize the operational Sonic Boom Waypoint Flight 15th Annual Expo in Ontario, ground launch, Budd explained. flexibility of a custom airplane, but Planning Methods, Execution, Calif., in mid-January. The model Cost savings may be as much as 25 without the price tag. and Results.” The meeting will fly later this year, towed aloft percent, based on recent Defense “It’s a real-estate problem,” said paper was presented at the by one of Dryden’s small DROID Advanced Research Projects Agency Budd. “You’re limited in what 51st AIAA Aerospace Sciences – for Dryden Remotely Operated studies. you can fit underneath an existing meeting including the New Integrated Drone – unmanned Historically, air-launched rockets aircraft. Launching off the top of Horizons Forum and Aerospace aircraft. have been carried and dropped Exposition in Grapevine, Texas, Recent feasibility analyses done Concept, page 8 from underneath modified, Jan. 7-10. Technology... from page 1 NSSC news The NASA Shared Services orbital space-access rocket plane on rocket fuel; small-scale rocket while Firestar has developed several Center quarterly publication, the for both space tourism and science nozzles and inexpensive rocket technical innovations to benefit NSSC News, is designed to provide missions. engines that burn environmentally NASA via the agency’s Small updates on NSSC activities and At Firestar, chief executive officer friendly mono-propellants. Business Innovative Research and contains information that NASA Greg Mungas detailed a variety Masten and XCOR are partners Small Business Technology Transfer employees need to know. of high-tech hardware the firm in NASA’s Flight Opportunities programs. It is available at www.nssc.nasa. has been developing with NASA Program, which has contracted with “When we invest in technology gov/customerservice. Click on the assistance, including a Volkswagen them to fly promising technologies it has a big impact on the nation,” newsletter icon for the latest issue. engine being converted to run on sub-orbital space-access vehicles, Peck added. X-Press February 2013

ED12-0384-15 NASA/Tom Tschida ED12-0384-17 NASA/Tom Tschida Mauricio Rivas recently accepted the NASA Group Achievement Award on Russell Leonardo represented the Dryden Information Technology Infrastructure behalf of the Ikhana Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast aircraft Integration program team when he accepted the NASA Group Achievement tracking system team from Dryden Center Director David McBride. Award recently from McBride.

Concept Award... from page 3 Fantini passes ... from page 7 “She had an enthusiasm for programs. Jay Fantini, a Dryden learning and was undaunted When accepting this award, mathematician and software a carrier aircraft is problematic with difficult material. It’s Holm shared her vision for public engineer, died Jan. 30. He was 52. from a safety perspective. Our very exciting to see how well service. Mr. Fantini began his career at approach allows for significant she’s doing in her profession,” “Public service is an honor Dryden as a Woodside Summit payloads to be carried aloft McDonald said. and a great responsibility — we contractor in the early 1990s. and launched from a purpose- Holm, who graduated with are stewards of taxpayer dollars,” NASA hired him in 1999. One built custom aircraft that is a master’s degree in public Holm said. “Our jobs may seem of his many contributions was in less expensive because of the administration in 1983, is thankless at times, but we should maintaining the computer coding simplicity of the airframe, having responsible for Dryden’s offices take great pride in the knowledge of the Flight Data Archival System. no propulsion system (engines, of acquisition, finance, facilities that we can make bad things good Jay authored a number of NASA fuel, etc.), on board,” Budd said. and protective services. Holm and good things better.” technical publications. He also co- Dryden and NASA’s Office was selected for senior executive The Romney Institute of Public authored The Coupled Exponential of the Chief Technologist are service in December 2000 and Management, which is part of and Development and Testing of funding the initial research and began serving as mission support Brigham Young University’s the Phase 0 Autonomous Formation development effort. Potential director in 2001. In 2005 and Marriott School of Management, Flight Research System. Department of Defense and 2010 she received the rank of was named in 1998 for three-term A memorial service is set for Feb. industry partnerships are being Meritorious Executive for her Michigan governor George W. 23 at 2 p.m. at Desert Vineyard explored. accomplishments in NASA Romney. Church in Lancaster.

National Aeronautics and The X-Press is published the first Friday of each month for civil servants, contractors and Space Administration retirees of the Dryden Flight Research Center. Dryden Flight Research Center P.O. Box 273 Address: P.O. Box 273, Building 4839 Edwards, CA 93523-0273 Edwards, CA 93523-0273 Official Business Phone: 661-276-3449 Penalty for Private Use, $300 FAX: 661-276-3566

Editor: Jay Levine, Tybrin, ext. 3459

Managing Editor: Steve Lighthill, NASA

Chief, Strategic Communications: Kevin Rohrer