National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Volume 55 Number 6 July 2013 UP reaches altitude record By Jay Levine X-Press editor and Leslie Williams Dryden Public Affairs It was “up, up and away” June 21 when UP Aerospace Inc.’s SpaceLoft 7 suborbital rocket reached a record altitude for sounding rockets of 73.9 miles – more than 390,000 feet – after a NASA-funded launch from Spaceport America near Las Cruces, N.M. NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program, which is managed by Dryden, funded the flight to carry five space-technology experiments and two sets of student experiments aboard the suborbital sounding rocket. “We are very happy with the successful launch of SpaceLoft 7 and look forward to future flights with UP Aerospace,” said Ron Young, Flight Opportunities Program manager at NASA Dryden. The Flight Opportunities Program is part of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. NASA’s Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., manages the technology maturation and tracking for the program. The sub-orbital flight lasted nearly 15 minutes and provided a weightless environment for testing the experiments for 3.5 minutes. After a drag chute slowed the rocket’s descent and a parachute opened, the nose cone and payload bay landed as anticipated at a site about 320 miles downrange on the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The components were recovered and flown back to the launch site by an army helicopter within an hour of landing. At the launch site the payloads were removed from the nose cone and payload bay and returned to the researchers. “We successfully completed the flight and retrieved the section of the rocket carrying all the payloads,” said Dougal Maclise, NASA’s Flight Opportunities technology manager. “The payloads were removed from the rocket. We’re checking the data we collected to see how the flight went, and how the technologies functioned while they were in microgravity. We’ll report back in about four months.” The main objective of the Flight Opportunities Program is to aid the maturation of technology for future space and high-altitude missions that benefit NASA. Flying on suborbital launch vehicles in zero gravity, experimental technologies are briefly exposed to the space environment where these technologies are expected to operate. Researchers can then check their experiments to ensure they operated as expected. A second objective of the program is to foster the emerging commercial suborbital launch industry.

Altitude record, page 12 Contributed / Heriberto Ibarra www.nasa.gov/ X-Press July 2013 Dream Chaser welcomed By Alan Brown Dryden Public Affairs NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden visited Dryden May 22, taking the opportunity to see the Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser test vehicle that had arrived at the center a week earlier. Bolden, SNC’s Director of Flight Operations and former NASA astronaut Steve Lindsey and Patrick Stoliker, Dryden deputy director, outlined the coming ground and flight tests for the Dream Chaser to news media representatives gathered in a Dryden hangar. SNC is preparing the vehicle for tow, captive-carry and free-flight tests at Dryden. “I’m personally excited about having Dream Chaser here at Dryden,” Bolden told the assembled news media personnel, Sierra Nevada and NASA staff. “I can’t think of a better place to be testing a vehicle like this than bringing it ED13-0155-29 NASA/Tom Tschida right out here to the Edwards dry NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, left, Steve Lindsey, center, Director of Flight Operations for Sierra Nevada lake bed, which is very historic in its Corporation, and Dryden Deputy Director Patrick Stoliker, respond to reporter’s questions in front of Sierra Nevada’s own right,” he added. Dream Chaser flight test vehicle during a media briefing at Dryden. The testing is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program initiatives to develop safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from Dream Chaser tow tests go well the International Space Station and low-Earth orbit. It is one of three Sierra Nevada Corporation spacecraft being developed for that is putting its Dream Chaser role under the CCP program, the engineering test vehicle through others being Boeing’s CST-100 a series of ground tests at Dryden capsule and a crewed version of Space in preparation for upcoming Exploration Technologies’ (SpaceX) captive-carry and free-flight tests Dragon capsule. The Dream Chaser later this year. is the only one designed to make During two tow tests, a a soft airplane-style landing on a pickup truck pulled the Dream runway, similar to landings of the Chaser test vehicle on Dryden’s now-retired space shuttles. concrete taxiway to validate the “Ultimately, it’s going to be performance of the spacecraft’s commercial capabilities getting us to nose skid, brakes, tires and low-Earth orbit,” Bolden added. “I’m other systems. The company has really anxious to help Sierra Nevada, performed the tests at 10 and Boeing and SpaceX get on with the 20 mph and is working toward competition to determine who’s 40 and 60 mph tests in late July. going to carry our astronaut crews.” Range and taxi tow tests are The administrator notedstandard for winged vehicles that ED13-0164-64 NASA/Ken Ulbrich that if funding for NASA’s touch down on a runway to prove Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser test vehicle is towed down a Commercial Crew Program is cut, the overall spacecraft handling post-landing. Dryden taxiway to prepare for upcoming captive-carry and free-flight tests. Dream Chaser, page 12 X-Press July 2013 Stuber fondly remembered News By Jay Levine engineering. He was hired “He was proud to work for NASA X-Press editor at Dryden in January. and we were proud to have him,” A standing room He had a thirst for Richards said. at NASA only crowd of knowledge and to be Chris Kostyk said Stuber had, Dryden employees challenged that kept his “ability, potential and character and met June 17 to mentors busy during his would have been one of the best Sweet is remember Alex years as a student employee. engineers at the center.” Stuber, who was Tom Horn, chief of the Matt Moholt, a close friend described as an Aerostructures branch, said of Stuber, described him as “a new CIO exceptionally Stuber was always ready genuinely good person. He was Larry N. Sweet is NASA’s new capable engineer to help and take on new over so much that my kids would chief information officer. Sweet who had a great Alex Stuber challenges including a time ask, ‘Where’s Alex?’ if he wasn’t joined the agency in 1987 at the sense of humor and when, “he helped a mentor there.” Johnson Space Center, Houston, a brilliant smile. He died June 14 at with a complicated algorithm that Stuber’s family attended the where he served as supervisor age 25 from injuries he received in a was in a language he didn’t know. memorial including his dad Chuck, and manager for more than 26 traffic accident a day earlier. He strived for excellence with his mom Janet and his sister Andie. years. Since February 2007, Dryden Director David McBride humility and he learned from his Chuck Stuber thanked the Sweet has been Johnson’s said people are connected like kin mistakes.” Dryden community for the chief information officer and because of the center’s size and Stuber also was selected as a outpouring of love and support for information resources director. geography and “Alex made a big NASA Student Ambassador. In a the man who was not only his son, As NASA CIO, Sweet began impact on his family here.” profile on the Student Ambassador but also his best friend. leading the agency’s information Stuber’s Dryden career began Virtual Community, he said he “We are here to celebrate his life technology efforts and with a student internship through planned, “to encourage others to rather than focus on the events of capabilities on June 30. He is the Aeronautics Research Mission consider a career path (in NASA) the past several days. He was an responsible for ensuring NASA’s Directorate in 2009. He returned as that will benefit not only themselves, intelligent, fun kid and a good information assets match up an Undergraduate Student Research but also the country and the world. athlete. He was loving, caring, with federal policies, procedures Program student the next year and Encouraging the study of STEM personable and a passionate snow and legislation. then was selected as part of the (science, technology, engineering skier,” he said. As NASA’s top IT official, Pathways program the past several and mathematics) fields is essential The Stuber family had traveled Sweet also will manage a number years. He received a Dryden peer to continuing the technological together all over the U.S., Europe, of other major IT efforts, award in 2011 for his work. advances seen today, and it will be Japan and a recent graduation including the Information In December, Stuber completed integral in solving the problems present – a trek to climb Mount Technology Infrastructure his master’s degree in aerospace encountered in the future.” Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, Integration Program, or engineering from North Carolina Lance Richards, acting Education and an African wildlife safari. I3P, which consolidates and State University, the same university Office director, said Stuber was a The last words exchanged by integrates NASA’s IT services to where he earned undergraduate bright, hard-working guy with a father and son are the only ones that enable collaboration and reduce degrees in aerospace and mechanical beaming smile. matter, “I love you.” agency costs. Sweet began his career with NASA as a branch chief in the Center Operations Directorate. ISS science: learn the latest He moved to the Information As everyday ambassadors of science-group humanity: http://www.nasa.gov/ Resources Directorate, serving as NASA, employees need to know • Read the ISS Research and mission_pages/station/research/ office manager, division chief and and understand what’s happening Technology Web page: http:// benefits/ deputy director prior to being aboard the International Space www.nasa.gov/iss-science/ and the • Follow ISS research updates on selected as director. In addition, Station. Here’s six ways employees engaging ISS Research ‘A Lab Aloft’ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ISS_ Sweet completed a formal detail can keep track of the latest and Blog: http://go.usa.gov/atI Research and Facebook: https:// in 2002 as Johnson public affairs greatest science on the ISS: • Watch the ‘International Space www.facebook.com/ISS office deputy director and a • Employees can subscribe to the Station Research 101’ video lecture • Learn how to get research rotational assignment in 2005 ISS Program Science listserve, which on Satern, course No. JSC-AC- onto ISS, or how to refer those at NASA headquarters in the includes twice-weekly emails with ISSR101. It is designed for the interested: http://www.nasa.gov/ Institutions and Management compelling stories about important entire NASA team interested in mission_pages/station/research/ Office. ISS research. Listserve is available understanding the research and ops/research_information.html Sweet earned a visual to everyone, including external technology development conducted For further assistance, contact communications degree in 1978 audiences, at: https://lists.nasa. onboard the station. the ISS research helpline at 281- from Texas Lutheran University, gov/mailman/listinfo/iss-program- • Know the ISS research benefits for 244-6187. in Seguin, Texas. X-Press July 2013 SBLT-II flight series concludes By Gray Creech Dryden Public Affairs Dryden’s F-15B Research Testbed aircraft recently completed flying an experimental test fixture in partnership with Aerion Corporation of Reno, Nev. Called the Supersonic Boundary Layer Transition, Phase II, or SBLT- II, the experiment consisted of flying a small test airfoil, or wing section, attached underneath the F-15B. This allowed NASA and Aerion engineers to continue investigating the extent and robustness of natural laminar flow over the test section at supersonic speeds. Conducting the experiment in supersonic flight conditions with the F-15B enabled engineers to capture data in a real-world flight environment, allowing for more precise refining of supersonic natural laminar flow airfoil design. There were a total of 12 SBLT-II flights. “The objective of the flight series was to investigate the extent and robustness of smooth, or laminar, airflow over the specially-designed test ED13-0108-13 NASA/Tom Tschida airfoil,” said Brett Pauer, Dryden’s deputy High Speed Project manager. Dryden’s F-15B takes to the sky for an SBLT-II mission. “Then, researchers will work to better understand when imperfections in the airfoil’s surface cause the air to transition from laminar to rough, collected from the SBLT-II test fixture may help provide some of the data turbulent flow. The greater the extent of laminar airflow over a wing, the that might enable the design of supersonic aircraft in the future that have less aerodynamic drag there is, which reduces fuel consumption,” Pauer wings that produce laminar flow at supersonic cruise conditions. said. One of the goals of NASA’s High Speed Project, which utilizes the It is believed that significant laminar flow has never been achieved on F-15B and other high performance jets, is reducing the fuel consumption any production supersonic aircraft before, so this research and the data and increasing efficiency of future supersonic aircraft. Technologies tested aboard DC-8 Beth Hagenauer study will be flown in September Dryden Public Affairs on several NASA WB-57 flights NASA’s DC-8 airborne when up to 96 sondes per flight laboratory has flown Earth science will be automatically dispensed at missions for more than 25 years. high altitude. This research, which The converted jetliner recently includes flights on NASA’s P-3B carried several instruments testing flying laboratory, is leading up to new technologies that could aid installation on a NASA Global those missions, Global Positioning Hawk for the 2014 Hurricane and System accuracy and aviation Severe Storm Sentinel mission. safety, in years to come. A second technology study flown One such instrument is the on the DC-8 had two parts, the first High Definition Soundingof which is related to airline safety. System comprised of dropsondes The prime task was to demonstrate using long-range telemetry. The the real-time measurement of instrument was developed by radiation on aircraft, transmit it Yankee Environmental Systems to the ground via satellite link, ED12-0143-21 NASA/Lori Losey in western Massachusetts and incorporate the data into global NASA’s DC-8 recently flew technology that could prove valuable to future funded by the Navy, NOAA and a radiation models and distribute it science missions. Some of the instruments also have potential applications to Phase 1 Small Business Innovation to users – all within 15 minutes. increase Global Positioning System accuracy and aviation safety. Research grant through NASA’s Space Environmental Technologies Ames Research Center at Moffett is mapping radiation doses over flares for global aviation safety. longitude and latitude data as the Field, Calif. Eight soda-can sized Earth and at different altitudes. The Atmospheric & Space system made ionospheric, or upper sondes were dispensed during company, which received real-time Technology Research Associates of atmosphere, measurements. The flight, sending back data on data during portions of the DC-8 Boulder, Colo., producers of GPS company is exploring whether it pressure, temperature, humidity, flight, will provide a system for receivers, conducted the second is feasible to measure scintillation, winds and sea surface temperature. the commercial airline industry to part of this study. Company or GPS signal fluctuation, from an Next phase of the dropsonde monitor severe radiation from solar instrumentation collected airplane. X-Press July 2013 Upgrades increase capabilities By Sam Smith The gold room has been Dryden Public Affairs designated the control room Major renovations to the gold for the upcoming approach and and blue rooms may sound like landing flight tests of Sierra Nevada the grand re-opening of a popular Corporation’s Dream Chaser. The nightclub, but at Dryden it means Dream Chaser is intended to be an increased capability in flight a space-faring vehicle capable of operations and testing. airplane-style landing on a runway, The almost six-month overhaul similar to landings of the now- of Dryden’s MCC1 and MCC2 retired space shuttles. Mission Control Centers – known The recently refurbished blue at the center as the “blue” and room is set to host the F/A-18 “gold” rooms respectively for their No. 853 Launch Vehicle Adaptive color schemes – included replacing Control Experiment. The project hardware almost a decade old. With entails a look at the launch the demanding schedule the MCCs trajectory software for NASA’s face, this hardware upgrade had to ED13-0070-19 NASA/Tom Tschida Space Launch System. be planned in such a way to allow In addition to supporting one control room to be available The gold room is active during a flight of the Dryden Gulfstream G-III Dryden’s flight tests, the Western for scheduled research flights. All Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge flap. Aeronautical Test Range, which the 42 control room workstations, 26 MCCs are a part of, support Air in the blue room and 16 in the to the gold room along with some health and status of the vehicle in Force test flights. smaller gold room, were replaced. cosmetic changes. near real time and the MCC is the When both MCCs are up and “There is a lot more horsepower, For approximately $320,000, the place to do that.” running, it is seamless to researchers a lot more onboard storage,” said renovations increased the MCC The flight research center needs which room they use for research. Russell James, the range systems capabilities, enabling collection, two control rooms with nearly This permits necessary system engineering group lead. “All the processing and display of mission identical capabilities to maintain tests in the other. Data quality is networking is incredibly fast and data for all flight projects using the flexibility needed to support essential to the research and to robust compared to what it was.” the control rooms to progress with ongoing aeronautics projects. This protect resources and lives that a Additionally, upgrades were greater speed and reliability. flexibility was especially important failed flight test could endanger. made to the software, including “This is why Dryden is here,” during the upgrade. As one MCC Flight test data, according improvements in information James said. “We fly airplanes, and was down for renovations, the to MCC software engineering technology security. High to do so safely they (researchers) other was supporting flight research manager Jack Sheldon, “has to be definition video was also added want to be able to monitor the missions. right the first time, every time.” Dryden University What we do and how we do it By Sam Smith Larry Cliatt, an aerospace engineer Dryden Public Affairs and one of the three founders of The tuition is free, students do Dryden University. "We didn't ex- not have to buy books, and it's lo- pect 23 courses, but it speaks vol- cated in sunny Southern California. umes for how well we're doing." Dryden University is a series of More than 100 employees en- courses by and for Dryden em- rolled in those courses during the ployees. What began as a student first full session of the Dryden Uni- project for NASA's Foundations of versity. Operations engineer Ashley Influence, Relationships, Success, Parham enrolled in two different and Teamwork leadership develop- courses – Critical Conversations, ment program has evolved into an Conflict Management and Ad- ED13-0222-06 NASA/Ken Ulbrich ongoing institution at the center. vanced Communication Skills and The first full session began in May. Employees attend Yale University’s Work and Family Stress Toolkit as part of "We had a good turnout," said Dryden U, page 9 Dryden University, a series of courses by and for members of the Dryden family. X-Press July 2013 X-Press July 2013 Dryden tech sharpens the cutting edge

By Jay Levine X-Press editor and Gray Creech Good ideas are valuable Dryden public affairs No one can know for sure what the future will bring, but Dryden no matter what the area researchers think they have some You can’t look at a modern aircraft displayed examples of new ideas that can change the world, without seeing the imprint of NASA Center technology we are advocating or at least help to enable a brighter and Dryden. Director’s and any one of which may tomorrow. From lightweight materials, to Column change the world. Some of these promising aircraft shape, to aerodynamic The event showcased technologies include sensors surfaces at the end of the wing by David Dryden-developed innovation the diameter of a human hair, tip called winglets found on most McBride that has implications across validation of an unproven rocket transport and commercial aircraft the agency such as our fiber nozzle to help space vehicles get off to improve fuel economy, NASA and Dryden have optic sensing work. The advancements with fiber the ground, a new method to air made a difference. optics sensing could one day be common on a host launch satellites, and assisting with Something you can’t see that is common to of aviation, space and commercial products. In the overhaul of part of the national ED13-0156-69 NASA/ Ken Ulbrich modern aircraft is the digital flight controls used fact, Dryden’s fiber optic sensing work has moved air traffic control system. on most transport aircraft and proven by NASA from a technology development effort to one of Daniel Jones is working toward validating an altitude-compensating engine nozzle and validated in flight on a F-8 Digital Fly-By- implementation and validation. on a Dryden F-15 aircraft. Fiber optic sensors Wire aircraft flown here. Test methodologies and Not all of the ideas are new. Some concepts have Dryden fiber optics sensing work techniques proven at Dryden are used throughout theoretical merit, but didn’t have flight research data is out of this world. Dryden has the industry to make flight testing more efficient. to prove it. One such project is funded through the developed the fiber optics sensors, At a recent Technology Day, researchers shared Center Innovation Fund – an investigation by Al hardware and algorithms to a their work. Thanks to Earl Adams, Monika Bowers and his students of the Prandtl-D, a model technology readiness level that it is Dewald, Laura Fobel, Janeya Griffin, Sam Hull and flying wing glider. Prandtl-D is an acronym for the useful not only on Earth, but also David Voracek for the event that is the first of what Primary Research Aerodynamic Design to Lower for at least two space or near-space I expect will be many opportunities for Dryden Drag. The name also is a tribute to Ludwig Prandtl, vehicle projects. researchers to showcase their innovation. a German whose research is considered a foundation A Space Act Agreement with This work, which was a small representation of Virgin Galactic will have Dryden the overall technology effort going on center wide, Column, page 8 engineers and technicians heading up an effort to help the company throughout its trajectory. Glider Air-Launch. The concept ED13-0224-05 NASA/Tom Tschida by independent contractors indicate instrument the White Knight II At a recent Dryden technology is for a large transport aircraft that a performance gain of up to 50 vehicle to measure strain along the Allen Parker assists Andrew Haynes with the installation of fiber optic sensing event, Jones said, “It’s the right time to tow a relatively inexpensive percent may be realized by use of wings and center section. Use of system components on an experimental aircraft model. to do this project.” remotely or optionally piloted Budd’s towed-glider technique over fiber optic sensing technology could He might be right. Theglider to altitudes approaching vertical launch of a similar-sized help the company to make special Huntsville, Ala., on determining Compensating for altitude conceptual design work is underway 40,000 feet. The glider will carry a rocket from the ground. Engineers strain and deflection measurements how to integrate the fiber optic Helping a rocket get to space is as part of funding from the Game booster rocket capable of launching ED13-0014-29 NASA/Tom Tschida continue working trade-offs with while at the same time gaining sensors onto a rocket on which a the objective of another Dryden Changing Development Office. If payloads into low Earth orbit. launching the rocket either with confidence in the technology for fiber optic sensing system could be and Marshall partnership. The towed Glider Air-Launch concept is expected to get a boost from the towing of progress continues to be made the Gerald Budd, Dryden business the glider still in tow, or following possible future flight applications, ready for testing by the end of the Researchers from the two centers the proof-of-concept model, rear, by Dryden’s Remotely Operated Integrated Drone. project could be flying in 2015, he development and towed glider release from the tow aircraft. Either said Dryden researcher Allen year, Parker said. believe that an idea proposed said. Success of the project could project manager, is having the way, after the rocket has launched, Parker. “The fibers are capable of wide in the past can gain new life Trong T. Bui and Marshall principal The idea builds on research of ultimately lead to the incorporation NASA Model Shop build a proof- the glider will return independently Another application for the fiber temperature ranges. The system has by validation through flightinvestigator Joseph H. Ruf believe the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in of this technology in future launch of-concept model glider with of the tow aircraft to its base to be optics sensing technology is on an to operate from launch to space and research. If the predictions for the the dual-bell nozzle, which is a type the late 1940s and by Rocketdyne, systems worldwide. a 24-foot wingspan and a twin used again. effort funded by Kennedy Space stream data off for a few hours once concept can be proven in flight, of altitude-compensating nozzle, now known as Pratt & Whitney fuselage. The model is expected Budd maintains the Towed Center in Florida. The concept it is in space. The biggest challenge the technology could result in a could be an answer to reducing the Rocketdyne, in the early 1990s. The Launch system to fly later this year, towed aloft Glider Air Launch Concept has the is to use the technology on an is to survive the dynamic launch rocket with greater performance cost of getting to space. Research idea is for the nozzle flow to adjust Brute force of rocket engines by one of Dryden’s small DROID potential to realize the operational expendable launch vehicle. The environment. We have a few ideas that delivers a 5 percent increase on a flight test fixture under one with changes in ambient pressure might not be how future rockets – for Dryden Remotely Operated flexibility of a custom airplane, multi-center effort also relies on a and we are fortunate to work with in payload to low-Earth orbit. of Dryden’s F-15 airplanes could as the rocket ascends. The result depart from Earth’s surface. Integrated Drone – unmanned but without the price tag. The partnership Dryden is developing Marshall engineers, who do this Dryden principal investigator validate and verify the technology is greater integrated performance In fact, satellites could receive aircraft. with Marshall Space Center, day in and day out,” he added. Daniel S. Jones, Dryden researcher works as advertised. and better fuel usage for the rocket a boost to orbit from the Towed Recent feasibility analyses done Technology, page 8 X-Press July 2013 Technology... from page 7 Help for the Towed Glider Air-Launch vehicle initial research and development innovative is possible thanks to the Center Dryden’s Innovative Innovation Fund. The CIF is Partnerships Office, or IPO, funded through the NASA Office works to identify patentable of the Chief Technologist and each and licensable inventions and of the NASA field centers have help manage them. these funds to spark new ideas and From new technology encourage pursuit of promising reporting to receiving technologies. patents, members of the IPO office assist researchers Air traffic control to avoid inadvertent legal or Closer to Earth, Dryden is con- intellectual property missteps tributing to the next generation air that could endanger the ability traffic control system by helping to to protect the proposed center validate the Automatic Dependent innovations. Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B, Some of the ways IPO staff device, for unmanned aircraft. ED13-0156-60 NASA/Ken Ulbrich help is by classifying of tech- Dryden’s Ikhana aircraft, which nologies that require protec- Ricardo Arteaga demonstrates advantages of the Automatic Dependent is a Predator B, flew for the first tion, featuring new technolo- Surveillance-Broadcast at a recent Dryden Technology Day. time last March with ADS-B. gies, helping researchers gain It was the first time the system patents and recognizing inven- was flown on an unmanned more detailed and accurate infor- Global Positioning System, result tors’ achievements. aircraft as large as Ikhana – with mation to air traffic controllers, and in much greater accuracy in the Another element of the IPO a 66-foot wingspan, a takeoff will enable navigation by satellite in display of an aircraft’s position, is seeking ways to share de- weight of more than 10,000 addition to the current system of velocity and altitude. veloped technology widely to pounds, and a cruising altitude of ground radars. Validation and verification of assist in transitioning ideas – 40,000 feet. ADS-B is an aircraft Ground radars interact with ADS-B could lead to a future where whether the technology is pat- tracking technology that all transponders once every four to 12 mail and packages move from city- entable or not – from NASA planes operating in U.S. airspace seconds in order to get an aircraft’s to-city aboard unmanned aircraft to other government agencies must adopt by January 2020 to position, velocity and altitude. In systems, or UAS, flying in the same and the private sector. That comply with Federal Aviation contrast, the ADS-B constantly airspace as airliners, cargo planes, technology transfer can lead to Administration regulations. and automatically broadcasts business jets and private aircraft. further development and com- Current tracking devices aboard information every second to When it does, it is likely that the mercialization to benefit the aircraft are called transponders, but air traffic controllers. The more ADS-B technology developed and largest number of people. the ADS-B isn’t just a new-fangled frequent updates, coupled with flight tested at Dryden helped For more information call transponder. It provides much information updated through the make it possible. ext. 3368.

Column... from page 7 of modern aerodynamics. nation needs ideas. I want to see in a relatively low-cost, efficient Federal Aviation Administration The CIF is one way Dryden those seeds of technology from our series of flights is another way rules to fly supersonically over can pursue ideas or technologies people blossom and grow. Tech Dryden is helping to develop next populated areas. Current rules that we believe could have a ideas can lead to a capability for generation aircraft. With solid forbid such operation because of big impact. The Prandtl-D idea something new. Ultimately, we’d coordination and collaboration, the noise created by supersonic originated in 1932, but was not like to see those technologies in the this validation could be the path to aircraft. widely accepted because there marketplace. Just one could change seeing the next new X-Plane. When Innovation at Dryden is not wasn’t any flight data to validate the world of aviation. Charlie Bolden visited he said he limited to aeronautics. The the concept. Dryden’s Fabrication Another example is the concept saw the possibilities of a supersonic Center Innovation Fund also Branch built the glider that of towing a vehicle to altitude rather X-Plane and so do we. Langley is for anyone in any Dryden Bowers and his student assistants than using a rocket-based first stage Research Center in Hampton, organization that has an idea, used to change that. During for a Earth-to-orbit vehicle. Jerry Va., would have the lead on such which with a small investment recent flights, they obtained Budd is working on a 1/3-scale Twin a project, but Dryden would play could greatly lead to cost savings the first recorded evidence that Ventus glider to validate in flight the a prominent role in the flight or efficiencies. Your ideas are proverse yaw, created by thrust at aerodynamics of his Towed Glider research aspects, beginning with welcome anytime and the best of the wingtips, is possible. Air-Launch concept. the low-boom flights over select those will have high priority as I need, NASA needs and the Supersonic low-boom validation cities in an effort to help create new funds become available. X-Press July 2013 Dryden outreach team recognized Dryden Dryden Center researchers Director David McBride, left, publish recognizes the Dryden ARMD Dryden researchers have Outreach team captured the results of some that received the of the most dynamic research 2012 Associate at Dryden in technical Administrator publications. The publications Group Award. are listed by the month they From left are were released. McBride, Jay March Levine, Terri Lyon, Sean E. McMorrow Nils Larson, Steve and Roberta B. Sherrard Lighthill, Jim Less, collaborated on the, “Mission Lisa Mattox, Carla Information and Test Systems Thomas, Jim Ross, Summary of Accomplishments, Kevin Rohrer, Jim 2011,” NASA/TM-2013- Sokolik and Mary 216043. (H-3131) (TR/RG) Ann Harness. April ED13-0164-64 NASA/Ken Ulbrich Peter M. Suh and Dimitri N. Mavris co-authored, “Modal Dryden U... from page 5 Filtering for Control of Flexible Aircraft,” AIAA-2013- Yale University’s Work and Family vance your communication skills in cation. According to the center's 1741, presented at the 21st Stress Toolkit. your career," she added. "As an op- Deputy Director of Programs, Joel AIAA/ASME/AHS Adaptive She attended the first course dur- erations engineer, I am interacting Sitz, whom Cliatt called a champi- Structures Conference, Boston, ing Dryden University's pilot ses- with different people and multiple on of Dryden University, inclusion Mass., April 8-11, 2013. sion, which lasted about a month. branches on a daily basis.” is a key aspect of the program. She chose these courses to improve Working with people is a key "I think Dryden University reso- May her interpersonal and communica- skill needed by engineers who want nates with the Executive Leader- William L. Ko and Van tion skills, as well as to develop skills to make the move from technical ship Team," Sitz said. "It's a way Tran Fleischer, Method for for work-life balance. to managerial positions. However, to tell employees about what we do Estimating Operational Loads "The Conflict ManagementDryden University assists with em- and how we do it." on Slender Aerospace Structures course helps you understand your ployee retention as well. Dryden University is available Using Span-wisely Distributed personality and how people view "We are losing a lot of younger to all Dryden employees including Surface Strains, NASA/TP- you in different situations. The engineers," Cliatt said. "People from interns, contractors, and civil ser- 2013-216518. course also provides you with tools college get bored and want to do vants. A complete course catalog is and tips to resolve conflict, while more. Dryden University gives the available online at https://satern. working with others in your profes- ability for people to diversify and nasa.gov. Randleman, sional and personal lives," Parham get interested in the center outside For more information about said. of (their) cubicle." Dryden University, including en- "For new employees or employ- The courses provide a compre- rollment information, visit http:// 95, passes ees who have been at Dryden for hensive look at Dryden operations www1.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/ Winifred H. Randleman, a many years, I highly recommend across several disciplines, from en- xnet/organizations/human_re- former Dryden employee who this course to help you grow and ad- gineering to finance to communi- sources/dryden_university.html started as a library technician and later was a computer Whitlow to retire, Keegan to be AA programmer, died May 8. She was 95. Woodrow Whitlow, Jr., NASA’s operations, including human as a researcher at the Langley associate administrator for the capital management, headquarters Research Center in Hampton, She worked at Apollo Field Mission Support Directorate, will operations, agency operations, the Va. He also was director of the during World War II in Lancaster, retire Aug. 9. Following Whitlow’s NASA Shared Services Center, Critical Technologies Division in Calif., and at Dryden from 1963 retirement, Richard Keegan, strategic infrastructure, cross- the Office of Aeronautics at NASA until her retirement from NASA currently NASA’s associate deputy agency support, and construction Headquarters in Washington, in 1981. administrator, has agreed to assume and environmental compliance and deputy center director at the Services were May 18 at Joshua the mission support duties. restoration. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Whitlow is responsible for Whitlow’s long NASA career Memorial Park and Mortuary in most NASA management began in 1979, when he started Whitlow, page 12 Lancaster. X-Press July 2013 X-Press July 2013

Student programs... from page 10

Dan Frecka, Dominic Gonzales, William Gomez, Andrew Haynes, Janet Hoover, Samuel Kantor, Ethan Nieman, Ashley Prueitt, Sam Smith, Lee Southwood, Curtis Stump, Peter Suh, Jeff Requist and Nydia Wilkinson. Anthony Popelar is a recipient of Johanna Lucht Anthony Popelar the Minority University Student in development and broad exposure to Technology, or MUST, program. the nation’s aeronautics enterprise. The scholarship covers half of a The seven participating students are student’s tuition up to $10,000 Louis Edelman, Corbin Graham, for undergraduate students in Eric Gutierrez, Kristyn Kadala, engineering and technology in Benjamin Martins, Andrew Putch return for work at NASA centers and Nathan Suppandae. for each year in which they qualify. ED13-0208-3 NASA/Tom Tschida ED13-0208-4 NASA/Tom Tschida The Aerospace Education Research Participants are U.S citizens AERO Associates in row one, from left, are Nicholas Pontius, Cherie Day, Aeronautics Academy members, from left, include Benjamin Martins, Nathan and Operations, or AERO, Institute pursuing an undergraduate degree Amanda Garvis and Erika Fedorko. Second row, from left, are Joshua Brewster, Suppanade, Andrew Putch, Kristyn Kadala, Corbin Graham, Louis Edelman awards internships to students for in science, technology, engineering Nicholas Ross, Benjamin Sitz, Anthony Macpherson, Brandyn Ward, Adam and Eric Gutierrez. work assignments that are made or mathematics at a college or based on the needs of the center’s Lucas and Michael Strauch. university in the United States. branches or an internship for which ED13-0208-02 NASA/Tom Tschida They also are members of an they competed. AERO Associates are USRP students in the first row, from left, include Andrew Cox, Vijayalakshmi By Jay Levine graduate students with disabilities underrepresented group. X-Press editor who have strong backgrounds in those chosen for specific jobs, while Parthasarathy, Brooke Neufeld, Nancy Pinon and Charlecia Brownlee. In AERO Scholars, or Aeronautics The Science Teacher and Seventy-two students in 11 science and are pursuing technical the second row, from left are David McWilliams, Jonathan Tivald, Jacquelin Scholars, are students participating Researcher, or STAR, program programs are gaining valuable work Patton, Daniel Isokpunwu, Sarah Pearson, Grant Pickett, Evan Kaiser, careers. Johanna Lucht represents in work assignments as part of an provides opportunities to science experience at Dryden, while learning Student Samuel Sobul and Gary Bell. the program this summer. ARMD scholarship they have been teachers or researchers to work at to apply the theories to the practice The Aeronautics Academy offered awarded. Dryden. This year’s awardees include of their specialties. The program in by the Aeronautics Research Mission This year’s AERO Associates Carey Baxter, Beyln Brant, Emilio which they are participating lists Directorate, or ARMD, provides include Joshua Brewster, Cherie Cantu, Kirsten Fogg, Shawn Kirby, students alphabetically. programs college students opportunities for Day, Erika Fedorko, Amanda Garvis, Rebecca Salvemi and Steve Wilson. The Achieving Competence in intense training in aeronautics Lauren Hudson, Adam Lucas, Contractor Jacobs/Tybrin Corp. Computing, Engineering and Space that includes research, leadership Anthony Macpherson, Matthew works with Dryden’s technical Science, or ACCESS, program is McSavaney, Nicholas Pontius, branches to fill summer student designed for undergraduate and Learning on the job Student programs, page 11 Nicholas Ross, Benjamin Sitz, positions. Austin Eslingler and Billy Michael Strauch and Hovig Yaralian. Sitz currently are part of this program. The three AERO Scholars are The NASA Undergraduate Jacob Hall, Cody Karcher and John Student Research Project, or USRP, Schaefer. offers internship opportunities Three interns are participating for undergraduate science and in the Curriculum Improvements ED13-0200-1 NASA/Tom Tschida engineering students at all 10 NASA Partnership Award for the Integration centers and additional partner Pathways students include, from left to right, Stephanie Andrade, Sam Smith, of Research at Dryden. The program facilities. Daniel Frecka, Michael Daub, William Gomez, Andrew Haynes, Ryan is structured to assist two- and four- USRP students at Dryden include Alexin, Elizabeth Michell Feeney and Andrew Burrell. year minority serving institutions Gary Bell, Charlecia Brownlee, to strengthen science, technology, and mathematics. Selected for this replaces the Student Temporary Andrew Cox, Daniel Isokpunwu, engineering and mathematics, or program were Abraham Garcia, Employment Program, or STEP, Evan Kaiser, David McWilliams, STEM, and technical programs. Cristian Gonzalez and Victor and the Student Career Experience Brooke Neufeld, Vijayalakshmi Funding is used to integrate project Jimenez. Program, which was formerly Parthasarathy, Jacquelin Patton, management methodology to The NASA Pathways Program known as the Cooperative Sarah Pearson, Grant Pickett, Nancy add real world experiences with has been established at NASA Education Program. Pinon, Samuel Sobul and Jonathan theoretical knowledge to enhance during the past several years to NASA Pathways Intern Tivald. STEM and technical classes. The streamline familiar programs Employment Program students Dryden also supported a graduate aim is to increase the number of that have long been staples of the working at Dryden include Ryan student fellowship this summer. ED13-0208-05 NASA/Tom Tschida ED13-0208-8 NASA/Tom Tschida underrepresented and underserved student employment opportunities Alexin, Stephanie Andrade, Andrew Neil Dhingra was awarded with the The CIPAIR students include, from left to right, Victor Jimenez, Abraham AERO Scholars students include, from left to right, Cody Karcher, Jacob Hall students who attain degrees in programs. For example, the Burrell, Michael Josef Daub, Paul Harriet G. Jenkins Pre-Doctoral Garcia and Cristian Gonzalez and John Schaefer. science, technology engineering streamlined Pathways Program Dees, Elizabeth Michell Feeney, Fellowship. X-Press July 2013

Altitude record... from page 1 Noting that it was the first time DTM Technologies’ Diapason, migration and capture, achieved contracted to fly experiments at he had worked with UP Aerospace, the Space Technology Game- by very small thermal gradients. the boundaries of space to verify NASA Campaign Manager Paul Changing Development payload The particles range from 1that technologies work as expected De Leon said he arrived early vibration isolation system as micron down to 1/1000 of a in this environment. The other during launch preparations “to get well as two high school science micron. This range allows the six firms are Virgin Galactic, a good feeling for all the processes experiments funded by a New monitoring of combustion- Masten Space Systems, Near Space of assembling their rocket and Mexico Space Grant. generated pollution, the analysis Corporation, XCOR Aerospace, integrating our payloads into the ADS-B is a commercial off- of hostile environments, and the Whittinghill Aerospace and rocket.” the-shelf tracking device for use identification of atmosphericArmadillo Aerospace. Two days before launch, he said, in air traffic control and related contaminants. NASA manages the Flight the researchers did a final check of applications that the FAA is UP Aerospace SpaceLoft Opportunities manifest, matching their technology experiments and developing as part of the Next suborbital rockets are about 20 payloads with flights, and pays were allowed to physically mate their Generation Air Transportation feet long and can carry up to 110 for payload integration and flight payloads into the rocket before the System. Current plans will require pounds of payload. SpaceLoft 7 costs for the selected payloads. It is entire rocket was assembled. all aircraft and other flight vehicles was the firm’s 11th launch from intended that the other suborbital Payloads included the Federal operating within U.S. airspace to Spaceport America. flight vendors contracted by NASA Aviation Administration’s be equipped with ADS-B by 2020. Based in Denver, Colo., will provide flights after they have Automatic Dependent Surveillance- The Diapason is an instrument UP Aerospace Inc. is one of successfully flown their qualifying Broadcast, or ADS-B, the Italian that studies nano-particle seven companies NASA has vehicles.

Dream Chaser... from page 2 it would jeopardize the agency’s performance milestones with CCP, test staff, flew approach-and- at the center. congressionally approved programs which is facilitating commercial, landing simulations for the Dream “I couldn’t be prouder of the work for manned exploration of space U.S.-led development of spacecraft Chaser, addressed an employee that’s being done here at Dryden as beyond low Earth orbit. It would and rockets that can launch from town hall and was briefed by well as our other NASA centers,” also force NASA to keep spending American soil. center management on current Bolden said. “They do incredible large sums – currently more than “We think (Dream Chaser) is programs, projects and operations work out here.” $70 million per mission – to Russia the right answer for our nation,” to fly American astronauts to and said Lindsey. Although the Dream from the space station. Chaser is much smaller and lacks Whitlow... from page 9 “We have got to get Commercial the large cargo capacity of the Crew funded, or we’re going to be space shuttles in which he flew and held positions at the Glenn of the Year in Government, NASA paying the Russians forever,” Bolden five missions, Lindsey maintained Research Center in Cleveland Exceptional Service Honor Medal, maintained. “Without Commercial Sierra Nevada’s craft is “less before becoming center director. NASA Equal Opportunity Honor Crew, we probably won’t have complex, easier to operate, easier Whitlow’s training includes a Medal, the (British) Institution exploration.” to turn around and we think Bachelor and Master of Science, of Mechanical Engineers William The Dream Chaser Space System ultimately safer.” and a Ph.D. in aeronautics Sweet Smith Prize, Minorities in is based on NASA’s “Horizontal The Dream Chaser shared the and astronautics from the Research Science Scientist-of-the- Lander” HL-20 lifting body design limelight at the event with the Massachusetts Institute of Year Award, and National Society concept. The upcoming flight tests original and much smaller M2- Technology. He has received of Black Engineers Distinguished will provide data on the spacecraft’s F1 prototype lifting body, which numerous awards, including aerodynamic performance during pioneered wingless lifting body the Presidential Rank of Engineer of the Year Award. The subsonic approach and landing on flight in the 1960s at Dryden. Distinguished Executive, American Institute of Aeronautics a traditional runway. The tests are While at Dryden, Bolden also Presidential Rank of Meritorious and Astronautics elected him as a part of pre-negotiated, paid-for- met with SNC’s ground and flight- Executive, U.S. Black Engineer Fellow in 2010.

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