Thirty-Year JPL Veteran Daniel Mccleese Was Named The
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Jet NOVEMBER Propulsion 2006 Laboratory VOLUME 36 NUMBER 16 Thirty-year JPL veteran Daniel McCleese was Excellence named the Laboratory’s chief scientist in June. He discusses his new position and his views on Challenge JPL’s future in science. By Mark Whalen How’s the new assignment going so far? themselves conducting high-quality research. In this instance it is important that we give mission scien- I am really enjoying the position. It’s both challeng- tists the time they need to accomplish their individual ing and fun. research or post-docs to help them. I am dedicated to doing all that I can to facilitate all research on Lab, In your new role, are you a mentor, a leader, a as well as clearing the path of researchers so that the policymaker; is it some of or all of those things? very best work can be done with a minimum of hassle. What are your goals? My first effort in this area was to help make publica- My first priority in this period of changing NASA tion of research easier in this era of intense export priorities is to work with space scientists nationwide control. in support of a robust program of space research. The Another goal of mine as chief scientist is to have Vision for Space Exploration altered the agency’s em- the Lab rededicate itself to enabling JPL principal phasis in many areas, and some of the changes gener- investigators on flight instruments and competed ated deep concern within the research community. I missions. Over our history, we have contributed many believe that there are reasons to be optimistic, yet of the most significant spaceborne investigations yet there is much work to do if NASA’s robotic programs conceived. We have built and operated principal-inves- are to move forward robustly. First, we have in the tigator instruments and missions in solar system and past experienced difficult times in NASA’s research Earth science, astrophysics and heliophysics. The past programs, and the community has always bounced two decades have seen few JPL principal investigators back with outstanding feats in space exploration. I for planetary instruments, and no competed planetary am confident that the current situation will play out missions with a JPL principal investigator. We must in much the same way. Second, a strong voice for help the JPL scientists who have investigations in research is needed within the agency, one that is able mind that require new observations and measurement to speak in support of space science and its missions. techniques to ready themselves for these opportuni- Our longstanding and vigorous championing of space ties. It is also important that we attract young scien- science demonstrates that JPL can be counted on to tists in all disciplines of space science who want to be that voice advocating science and technology in take advantage of the enormous breadth and depth concert with the community. of JPL’s engineering talent. Many of the most senior Internal to JPL, my focus is on excellence in re- principal investigators at JPL came to the Lab for this search. Quality in cutting-edge research is critical to very reason. JPL’s future in many ways, some of which are not so obvious. For example, our researchers represent the In addition to JPL principal investigator roles, how Lab in committees and advisory groups charged with has the Lab been doing in competing for NASA setting the nation’s direction in space science. Today, missions and instruments? there is an especially significant role that JPL re- I did a study for the Executive Council before be- searchers play—that of leading strategic planning for coming the chief scientist in which I looked at JPL’s NASA’s programs of exploration. Only those scientists performance in flight competitions. The question was, who have gained the respect of their peers are asked are we gaining or losing ground? The answer is that by to serve in these critical capacities. In addition, when comparison with universities and other NASA centers, conducting missions for NASA, JPL depends upon we are doing well. Universities and centers, alike, project scientists and investigation scientists who are Continued on page 2 2 excellence Continued from page one instruments on planetary surfaces. Improvements in surface opera- niverse tions for science well beyond the skills of the Mars Exploration Rovers U rarely win more than a single instrument on a payload or more than have been developed through close cooperation between scientists and one science leadership role on a NASA mission. Over the 15 years technologists, a move closer to the sophistication of a true robotic field that I looked at, JPL did at least that well. In several instances we geologist. Equally exciting are developments in sensors for astrophysics developed and operated an instrument as a facility for the science and Earth science. For example, scientists depend upon innovations in community at large. These too are big wins for JPL. It is significant technology that improve detectors, which, in turn, depend upon close that opportunities to compete are far greater in number now than cooperation among researchers. For the astrophysicist, it is often the they were even five years ago, and the number of competitors has scientist with the best detector who gets the chance to develop an in- increased manyfold. Ultimately, if we are to continue to be successful strument to make a measurement in space. we must propose not only the best and most compelling investiga- tions, we must also demonstrate, through field and laboratory expe- How does JPL achieve external collaborations? rience, that the experimental approach will achieve its measurement objectives. I am a big fan of demonstrating measurement techniques, JPL has an amazingly diverse array of productive external collabora- as well as data interpretation skill, prior to entering a competition. tions. One that is managed by the offices of the chief scientist and chief These are traditional strengths for JPL. technologist is the Strategic University Research Partners Program. Through this program, the JPL director forms and supports alliances with universities that share with the Lab a wide range of institutional A tighter relationship is developing between JPL’s science and objectives. Currently, the program has nine university members. Joint technology communities. How is that going? research projects are the products of the program. JPL’s chief technologist, Paul Dimotakis, and I have developed an The most common and doubtlessly the most productive external col- excellent partnership. Since July we have been working together to laborations are those based upon the individual initiatives, where two or make the best use possible of the Lab’s discretionary funds—a pri- more researchers share a common interest. These collaborations num- mary and shared responsibility in our positions. Charles Elachi, in ber in the hundreds and include many international research projects. the first two years of his tenure, increased funding tenfold for inno- Collaborations with Caltech faculty and staff are typically based upon vative research within JPL. Paul and I work with the directorates and one-on-one contact between individuals. Caltech’s president, Jean-Lou divisions to use this precious institutional resource to bring innova- Chameau, and Charles Elachi and have emphasized the importance of tive concepts within reach of future applications. These investments these collaborations, including the growing number of JPL–Caltech help set the direction of the Lab’s future. It has been eye-opening for me to see the variety and range of new concepts brought forward by our scientists and technologists. It is also quite clear to me that two or three years of financial support can turn an innovative concept into an enabler for a flight mission. Discretionary funds also enable collaborations among technolo- gists and scientists that are very different from those typical of direct funding. Often, one or the other side of these partnerships has a “what if” or “can we” idea that needs startup funding—all supported concepts undergo thorough internal competitive review. A kickoff ef- fort is sometimes needed before such concepts are ready to compete in NASA-wide peer review. Downstream development and insertion of innovations that have benefited from early support can be less costly and more confidently adopted by users. We see this happen- ing as JPL stands at the forefront of developing and deploying in-situ “Improvements in surface operations for science well beyond the skills of the Mars Exploration Rovers have been developed through close cooperation between scientists and technologists, a move closer to the sophistication of a true robotic field geologist.” Photos by Dutch Slager/JPL Photolab Slager/JPL Dutch by Photos 3 joint appointments. Four faculty members now have joint appointments: Professors Andrew Lange, Tom Prince, Anthony Readhead and Jonas niverse U Zmuidzinas. “It is important that we attract young scientists You’re the principal investigator on the Mars Climate Sounder in- in all disciplines of space science who want to strument onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which after completing aerobraking began its observations on Sept. 24. How excited are you, considering that a similar instrument flew on the take advantage of the enormous breadth and ill-fated Mars Observer and Mars Climate Orbiter? Well, after 20 years of trying our investigation of the weather and cli- depth of JPL’s engineering talent. Many of the mate of Mars has begun. The instrument is performing flawlessly. That is not only thrilling for me personally, but it is also a long-awaited goal most senior principal investigators at JPL came for all the investigators here at JPL and in Britain who have worked on this experiment since 1986.