February 2017 NASA Armstrong X-Press
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration Volume 59 Number 2 February 2017 Dream Chaser Spacecraft arrives for testing and flight tests By Leslie Williams Armstrong news chief Sierra Nevada Corporation delivered its Dream Chaser spacecraft Jan. 25 to NASA Armstrong. The spacecraft will undergo several months of testing at the center in preparation for its approach and landing flight on the Edwards Air Force Base’s runway 22L. The test series is part of a developmental space act agreement SNC has with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The upcoming test campaign will help SNC validate the aerodynamic properties, flight software and AFRC2017-0016-016 NASA/Ken Ulbrich control system performance of the Dream Chaser. The Dream Chaser is also Above, the Dream Chaser being prepared to deliver spacecraft arrives at cargo to the International Armstrong’s entrance. Space Station under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract beginning in 2019. At left, the Sierra Nevada The data that SNC gathers Corporation’s space vehicle from this test campaign will suspends in the center’s help influence and inform the former space shuttle hangar. final design of the cargo Dream Chaser, which will fly at least six cargo delivery missions to and from the space station by 2024. AFRC2017-0016-081 NASA/Ken Ulbrich www.nasa.gov/ X-Press February 2017 X-Press February 2017 Hines, director of programs, passes AVBOT honors McBride News By Jay Levine value was in reminding us of the im- By Jay Levine X-Press editor portance of applying it to our daily X-Press editor at NASA NASA Armstrong’s Director of lives. I imagine that a good part of his NASA Armstrong Center Direc- Programs Dennis O. Hines passed motivation was self-improvement, tor David McBride accepted the Feb. 1. He was 57. reminding himself to do what is Antelope Valley Board of Trade’s New system Hines joined Armstrong in June right. Since none of us will ever look Navigating Change Award at the 2008 as the Director of Programs, in the mirror at perfection, maybe 2017 Business Outlook Conference has 7 Earth- where he was responsible for advo- we can honor Dennis by reminding in Lancaster, California, Feb. 24. sized planets cacy, formulation and implementa- ourselves more often what we can do “David’s leadership has contrib- NASA’s Spitzer Space tion of flight projects, policy and to make our enterprise a better place uted to collaborations, support Telescope has revealed the first business management of the Cen- then actually doing it.” and partnerships throughout the known system of seven Earth- ter’s programs. Before Hines accepted his role as greater Antelope Valley including size planets around a single star. “One of the impressive things program director, he served more Armstrong and Air Force Plant 42,” Three of these planets are firmly that Dennis said recently deserves than two decades in a number of said Art Thompson, CEO of Sage located in the habitable zone, restating,” said Center Director Da- leadership positions and had a broad Cheshire Inc. in his nomination let- the area around the parent star vid McBride. “Dennis said, ‘Only base of program management expe- ter. He is also a former award recipi- where a rocky planet is most recently have I come to realize that rience with the U.S. Department of ent. likely to have liquid water. I need to do more, work harder, and Defense’s Missile Defense Agency “Our community has continued The discovery sets a new to reach out to more people so I can and the U.S. Air Force. to be the recipient of economic AFRC2017-0044-09 NASA/Lauren Hughes record for greatest number of pass on the lessons I have learned Hines served in many leadership benefits and global exposure NASA Armstrong Center Director David McBride accepts the Navigating habitable-zone planets found over my career.’ The foresight and positions at the Air Force Test Center Award, page 11 Change Award from Kelly Hanley, Antelope Valley Board of Trade president. around a single star outside recognition of the need for all of for more than 22 years. He first came the solar system. All of these us to help the next generation is an to the test center in 1981, where he ED12-0384-41 NASA/Tom Tschida seven planets could have liquid incredible attribute. Dennis will be was responsible for all stability and Dennis Hines, left, and Pat Stoliker talk with Armstrong staff members. water – key to life as we know missed at Armstrong.” control planning and conducting Parker earns recognition it – under the right atmospheric People who knew Hines said he Aeronautics Research director, learn.’” the joint Air Force-NASA Advanced Allen Parker, Armstrong research conditions, but the chances are was well liked and respected as one said Hines was a great mentor and Chuck Irving, associate director Fighter Technology Integrated engineer and Fiber Optics Sens- highest with the three in the of Armstrong’s strongest advocates. editor. of Armstrong’s Science Mission F-16 program. He completed his ing System team lead, received the habitable zone. “Dennis and I worked very closely “He took the time to recognize Directorate, knew Hines for nearly Air Force service as director of the Black Engineer of the Year Award “This discovery could be a together for nine years,” said Joel the potential in people, open up three decades. Program Management Directorate. (BEYA) for career achievement in significant piece in the puzzle of Sitz, acting director for programs. opportunities for them and mentor “His goal was always improv- Hines was a member of the Society government Feb. 13. finding habitable environments, “Dennis was a leader laser focused them,” Ginn said. “He wrote a ing products and people,” Irving of Flight Test Engineers and the “Allen Parker’s 25-year career places that are conducive to on the future of our Center. He Monday message on respect and said. “I always admired his op- American Institute of Aeronautics at NASA has made technological life,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, could instantly filter through chaos, he led by example stating, ‘We see timism and willingness to take and Astronautics. breakthroughs that had far-reaching associate administrator of apply courage to change, and the world through the lens of our a chance. His Monday messages He was married to Connie applications for our nation,” said the agency’s Science Mission make decisions with creativity and own experiences, and so each of were written toward that end. On Hines, who is Armstrong’s chief Roosevelt Johnson, deputy associ- Directorate in Washington. confidence. He was a friend and us interprets the same information the surface, the messages encour- of the Office of Internal Controls ate administrator for NASA’s Office “Answering the question ‘are we excellent mentor. I will miss his differently. To respect anotheraged us to apply time-tested atti- and Management Systems. He is of Education. “For over a decade, alone’ is a top science priority energy greatly. His aspiration will person’s opinion or idea means to tudes and approaches to producing survived by his daughters, Leslie Allen and his team developed a Fi- and finding so many planets live on at the center to make us a listen to the other person and try to better results. and Audrey; granddaughter, ber Optic Sensing System. It has a like these for the first time in the better place.” understand their point of view. You “The information in his messages Hayley; brother, Michael and sister, 1,000 fold improvement over con- habitable zone is a remarkable Starr Ginn, Armstrong’s deputy have to listen to understand and to was not new to most of us – the Susan. ventional sensing technologies and step forward toward that goal.” has already proven commercially At about 40 light-years (235 significant in other industries, with Photo courtesy of BEYA trillion miles) from Earth, the three major licenses to date.” Hurd, former program manager, passes Allen Parker received the Black Engneer of the Year Award. He is pictured with system of planets is relatively close Parker’s interests in science and wife Linda, from left, and daughters Chloe and Cambria. in the constellation Aquarius. Michele A. Hurd, a former and Asset Management Officesomeone who could. Supervisors shoddy work execution and roused electronics started when he was 12. Because the planets are located Armstrong program manager, and retired in August 2015 as described her as super productive, support to get it right and accurate. His mother believed in his “pipe While at Prairie View A&M, he Opportunity at NASA Headquar- outside of the solar system, these passed away Dec. 22. She was 59. Armstrong’s construction of very organized, data driven and Hurd was a very accomplished dream” to become an engineer for interviewed with another black en- ters in Washington, received BEYA’s planets are scientifically known She started as a contractor in facilities program manager. prepared power point presentations athlete and in high school played NASA, and those dreams solidi- gineer working for NASA, Charlie corporate promotion of education as exoplanets. July 1988 at Armstrong (formerly People who worked with Hurd with a passion. both badminton and volleyball. fied in 1980 when a tour of NASA’s Brown, which led to his internship. award. This exoplanet system is Dryden.) She began her civil service noted she loved birthday cake, often Co-workers said she had many She was the first woman to receive Johnson Space Center was led by “I fell in love with NASA in 1988,” The Black Engineer of the Year called TRAPPIST-1, named career in the Western Aeronautical had a Diet Coke in her hand, loved close friendships and was sensitive a volleyball scholarship to Florida then astronaut Charles Bolden, who said Parker, “and I’ve been here ever Award recognizes the outstanding for The Transiting Planets and Test Range as a computer repair animals and if she knew someone to others feelings that permeated State University.