National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Volume 62 Number 3 April 2020

AFRC2020-0058-032 NASA/Carla Thomas NASA Armstrong engineer Mike Buttigieg works on an oxygen hood system prototype worn by Dr. Daniel Khodabakhsh from the Antelope Valley Hospital. The hood is designed to help coronavirus patients who don’t yet need a ventilator, but who are experiencing breathing troubles. The hood forces oxygen into patients with mild coronavirus symptoms, minimizing the likelihood that the patient will need to use a ventilator. Lending a hand Center assists community COVID-19 response

www.nasa.gov/ Return to center plans begin, page 2 X-Press April 2020 Successful partnership By Teresa Whiting next week at TSC’s Faith Facility in NASA Armstrong Public Affairs Mojave. NASA Armstrong has joined “I’ve been inspired by the forces with an Antelope Valley teamwork shown by the Antelope task force to build medical devices Valley task force in response to the to help patients with coronavirus. challenge of COVID-19. Now more Armstrong partnered with than ever, it is crucial that we share Antelope Valley Hospital, knowledge, skills and collaborate,” Lancaster, , said Virgin Galactic CEO George The Spaceship Company and Whitesides. “By producing several Antelope Valley College to innovative health solutions for develop innovative ideas to solve regional hospitals over a few possible shortages of critical weeks, we are protecting health medical equipment. care workers on the front lines “NASA is more than scientists, while improving patient care. It is engineers and explorers. We truly showing the best of American are neighbors and members of public-private cooperation.” AFRC2020-0059-024 NASA/Carla Thomas communities across the country,” The device, developed byNASA engineer Mike Buttigieg works on the Aerospace Valley Positive Pres- said NASA Administrator Jim NASA engineer Mike Buttigieg, sure Helmet, a device successfully tested by Antelope Valley Hospital doctors. Bridenstine. “In a time like this, is an oxygen hood for COVID-19 The Spaceship Company and Armstrong began producing 500 helmets and it’s critical that we contribute the patients exhibiting minor submitted a request April 22 for FDA emergency use authorization. vast expertise of our workforce symptoms and will minimize the to do all we can to help our need for those patients to use Technologist David Voracek. Parker said. “In doing so, the neighbors, our communities and ventilators. The device functions NASA engineer Allen Parker health provider can freely work the nation.” like a continuous positive airway and this team at Armstrong around the patient outside the This task force is working pressure (CPAP) machine to designed a canopy that protects canopy with minimal risk.” closely with medical professionals force oxygen into a patient’s low- health care workers by safely The ingenuity and teamwork at the hospital to provide functioning lungs. covering COVID-19 patients displayed by NASA employees, alternative solutions to needed “We looked across our center’s while still allowing health care along with their task force equipment that is not available expertise in innovation, engineering, providers access to the patients to partners while in quarantine, for a large-scale emergency. design and fabrication of unique provide care. may help in prepare for future One of their first efforts was to systems, to bring NASA knowledge “The patient will be located emergencies that affect the nation. build a prototype oxygen hood and people together to collaborate inside this canopy where aerosol Learn more about NASA’s efforts that has now proven to work for on solving the needs and challenges viral contaminants will be to aid in the national response to the doctors at the hospital. The brought about by the COVID-19 vacuumed out through a viral COVID-19 at https://www.nasa. production of 500 will begin situation,” said Armstrong Chief filter located within the canopy,” gov/coronavirus. Preliminary return to center plans begin By Jay Levine chiefs, project managers and watching out for complacency. for an extended period, including X-Press editor other supervisors focused on “Employee health is the center’s employees with high risk family The Armstrong Executivewhat they should consider as top priority and the guiding members or other high-risk Leadership Team is developing they begin detailed planning for principle for planning our return persons in their care. High-risk preliminary plans for when it is resuming on center work. to the center is having employees personnel who want to return safe to begin bringing groups of One of the central themes was continue to telework as much as to the center may be able to employees back to the center. all employees need to remain possible,” Graham said. “This is get conditional approval based Glenn Graham, Armstrong’s flexible and vigilant with respect to ensure social distancing and to on additional mitigations and Safety and Mission Assurance to COVID-19 mitigation minimize close contact between depending on their place of work director, and Dr. Dwight Peake, measures. Other key takeaways employees.” Additionally, he asked and type of work. Armstrong’s chief medical officer included the importance of supervisors to tell their people “if The decision to return to and flight surgeon, discussed sharing best practices among you feel sick, don’t come to work, Armstrong will include federal, safety and medical activities branches, warning each other and if you start to feel sick at work state and agency guidance plus during an Armstrong Center about close calls and practices to go home.” local threat conditions. People Management Board (CMB) April that don’t work well, holding High-risk populations should 22. The meeting with branch each other accountable and expect to continue teleworking Preliminary plans, page 3 X-Press April 2020

Preliminary plans... from page 2 should expect a risk-based, News phased approach to re-entering Armstrong in accordance with the at NASA agency’s pandemic framework. For example, as the center moves from Stage 4 back to Stage 3, then Stage 2 and more and more Hubble groups of employees will gradually be allowed onto the center and now 30 the remaining employees will continue to telework. Thirty years ago, on April 24, Before any project work 1990, Hubble was carried aloft resumes at Armstrong there are from NASA’s Kennedy Space a series of actions needed. It will Center in Florida aboard the take about a week for facilities, space shuttle Discovery, along with a five-astronaut crew. information technology, safety NASA/Bill Werner and security personnel to come Deployed into Earth orbit a in to prepare the center. Work social distancing criteria can be met. NASA elevated every center day later, the telescope opened includes items such as flushing If not, they will need to determine to Stage 2 March 14, when the a new eye onto the cosmos that water lines, checking heating, other ways to keep their employees agency strongly encouraged has been transformative for ventilation and air conditioning safe, like limiting the number of employees to telework. NASA our civilization. systems, cleaning facilities, people at one time in labs and leadership decided to move to Hubble is revolutionizing making sure networks are up and offices, rearranging furniture orStage 3 March 17, which dictated modern astronomy, not only running and conducting grounds mandating mask usage. Each one mandatory telework and allowed for scientists, but also by taking maintenance. of these options presents challenges, only mission essential personnel the public on a wondrous Also, the center will ensure and for this reason people can to access Armstrong. The center journey of exploration and adequate personal protective expect a mix of on-site and off-site moved to Stage 4 March 24, which discovery. Hubble’s never- equipment (PPE) and cleaning work to continue through the end remains in effect, due to rising ending, breathtaking celestial and sanitizing supplies are of the fiscal year, Graham said. number of COVID-19 cases in snapshots provide a visual available. Finally, there will have After the presentation, Graham the area and to comply with local, shorthand for Hubble’s top to be adequate COVID-19 and Peake answered questions state and federal guidelines. scientific achievements. Unlike testing capability available before posed by the supervisors and they NASA’s Ames Research Center any space telescope before work resumes. reiterated that this set of challenges in California and Marshall Space it, Hubble made astronomy Supervisors were asked at the is uncharted territory. For that Center in Alabama were the first relevant, engaging and CMB to survey work areas before reason, people should expect local two centers to go to Stage 3 after accessible for people of all ages. their employees arrive to confirm guidance to change often based on employees at those centers tested Hubble’s top accomplish- PPE availability and ensure that conditions and lessons learned. positive for COVID-19. ments include measuring the expansion and acceleration rate of the universe; finding 3 former center employees pass that black holes are common among galaxies; characterizing Three former center employees the center at age 19. On his first for phone and computer network the atmospheres of planets recently passed. day he met Connie, who also had infrastructure. around other stars; monitoring started her first day as an intern People who knew him said he weather changes on planets John Bosworth in Human Resources. They were had an exemplary work ethic, was across our solar system; John Bosworth, a former center married for 32 years. loyal, had a gentle nature, and was and looking back in time aerospace engineer, passed April Friends said he represented the cheerful, respectful and funny. across 97% of the universe 22. He was 59. best of the best and was kind, to chronicle the birth and Bosworth worked at the center patient and calm. Bernadine Herrick evolution of stars and galaxies. for 36 years and was a key part of Bernadine Herrick, who worked Hubble has yielded to date the success of the forward swept Gregory Cole at the center for 11 years, passed 1.4 million observations and wing X-29, the international X-31 Gregory Cole, who worked at Feb. 19. She was 77. provided data that astronomers enhanced fighter maneuverability Armstrong for decades, passed Herrick had worked for NASA around the world have used demonstrator and Intelligent Flight Feb. 15. He was 53. for 20 years, including the last to write more than 17,000 Controls flight research. He also Cole began work for the NASA part of her career in Code A for peer-reviewed scientific enjoyed mentoring new engineers. Armstrong Cable Plant team in Acquisitions. publications. Bosworth began an internship at 2000, where he was responsible She loved to camp and travel. X-Press April 2020 The Range DATR assists with NASA space communications and nothing flies at Armstrong without it

Above, the Triplex 7M telemetry antenna at far right and the two radars to the left are a few of the assets of the Dryden Aeronautical Test Range at NASA Armstrong. Below, Jeff Koenig and Carlos Torres at NASA Armstrong prepare to support communications with the International and the scheduled for a rendezvous later that day.

AFRC2020-0025-10 NASA/Lauren Hughes

By Jay Levine supplies to space by privately X-Press editor owned crew vehicles, periodically As the number of flights asks for DATR assistance in radar increase to the International tracking spacecraft to confirm Space Station from commercial location. If DATR is requested, the spaceships delivering U.S. range also is able to provide radar astronauts and supplies and tracking support for landings. Russian Soyuz flights continue, In addition to supporting NASA Armstrong is enhancing the space station and spacecraft its abilities to be ready to help. scheduled to visit there, the range The center’s Drydenis involved in every flight from Aeronautical Test Range (DATR) Armstrong. That responsibility has for decades provided backup has led to enhancements to communications for the space the DATR’s infrastructure to station and the Russian Soyuz prepare for the next generation of spacecraft that currently takes experimental aircraft, such as the U.S. astronauts to and from the anticipated X-59 Quiet SuperSonic space station, said Tracy Ackeret, Technology (QueSST) aircraft. AFRC2019-0235-12 NASA/Lauren Hughes chief of range operations. International Space Station was success and crew safety, Ackeret said. NASA’s Commercial Crew Soyuz support launched in 1998. The DATR’s Upgrades continue to the Very High Development program, which The range began spaceprimary responsibility is for frequency (VHF) communications aims to transport U.S. and communications involvement communications infrastructure that backup the primary Space international astronauts and when the first component of the that has enhanced the station’s Network, which includes the X-Press April 2020 Tracking and Data Relay Satellites, and communicates with the Russian Soyuz spacecraft when it is out of range of Russia NASA’s VHF ground stations provide two-way, audio only communications and transmit over two frequencies, one for emergency communications with the station (VHF1) and the other (VHF2) for communicating with the Soyuz. Russia has its own VHF network. Working in combination, the NASA and Russian networks provide VHF communications on every orbit of the space station. NASA’s upgrades to VHF network ground antennas, currently underway, involve improvements to numerous electronic components and installation of new software AFRC2019-0130-01 NASA/Lauren Hughes for tracking the space station and Soyuz. Additionally, new Above, the Dryden Aeronautical Test Range staff at NASA Armstrong monitor all aircraft flights from the center as well as antennas at the ground stations, supporting the International Space Station and Russian Soyuz missions. Sitting from left to right are Bailey Cook, Lucio able to operate at VHF1 and Ortiz, Matt Kearns, Sonja Belcher, John Batchelor, Jeff Koenig, Will Peters, Russ Franz, Zack Springer and Mike Webb. VHF2 simultaneously, will add Standing left to right are Joy Bland, Doug Boston, April Norcross, Randy Torres, Robert Racicot, Jesus Vazquez, Jim Ab- redundancy to the network so ercromby, Steve Simison, Tracy Ackeret, Chris Birkinbine, Darryl Burkes, Joe Innis, Bruce Lipe, Pat Ray, Kevin Knut- that if one system fails, the other son, Greg Strombo, Bart Rusnak, Tim Burt, Al Guajardo, Feras, Abu-Issa and Hector Rodriquez. Below, Jesus Vazquez, system will be able to take over Zach Springer and Sonja Belcher, from left, are at stations in the Mobile Operations Facility 5 at NASA Armstrong. immediately, Ackeret explained. On most Soyuz missions the check with NASA’s Johnson Space spacecraft begins orbit over the off once the crew safely made it spacecraft docks with the space Center in Houston about three Western U.S. Russia is responsible to the space station, he explained station before exiting Russia’s VHF hours after the process begins. for providing VHF communications that was not the case in March network coverage, as is the return NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility over Asia and Europe. 2014 when communication was to Earth. However, on missions in Virginia, which is operated by Richard Batchelor, lost with Soyuz. An anomaly was requiring the Soyuz additional NASA’s Goddard Space Flight communications technician, said discovered with the Soyuz rocket’s orbits to rendezvous with the Center in Maryland, provides the range’s assets are available for 10 software failed to make the orbital space station, the NASA network emergency communications first minutes every 90 minutes, or the burns to allow it to dock with the stands by to provide emergency as the Soyuz orbits over the Eastern amount of time it takes a spacecraft space station. communication. U.S. and then responsibilities to make one orbit of the Earth. In that case NASA was asked are passed to Armstrong as the Although Armstrong was called to assist in determining the Soyuz How they prepare location and establish a two-way When the center is called up, communications link between such as Oct. 25 when NASA Moscow and the Soyuz to continue astronaut Jessica Weir and two working the challenge as the others launched in a Soyuz for the spacecraft’s orbit entered the Western six-hour trip to the space station, Hemisphere. Armstrong established the range team went to work. communications between Moscow Jovany Bautista raised the and the Soyuz, which resulted in a DATR three-story high antenna plan that safely brought the crew to and set in motion the 18-page the space station. readiness checklist. The next set of items included powering up and X-59 support checking systems and tracking DATR engineers are working on software in the communications interfaces with the onboard flight control room at the DATR test instrumentation system that Aeronautical Tracking Facility. The preparations include a voice AFRC2019-0130-12 NASA/Lauren Hughes Range, page 8 X-Press April 2020

By Matt Kamlet NASA Armstrong Public Affairs Recent ground testing on NASA’s first all-electric X-plane, the X-57 Maxwell, successfully demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to transmit its telemetry signal, allowing the team the capability to track mission-critical data during flight. This data will be received on the ground during X-57’s flight tests, where it will be monitored in real time by the project team during flight operations and recorded for post-flight analysis to measure X-57’s success in meeting its objectives, as NASA seeks to help set certification standards for future electric aircraft. Completion of this round of tests, which took place at NASA Armstrong, marked continued progress on X-57’s functional AFRC2020-0038-11 NASA/Ken Ulbrich ground testing phase – a necessary Telemetry testing begins on the X-57 Maxwell, NASA’s first all-electric X-plane, as the operations crew at NASA step toward taxi and flight tests. Armstrong records the results. Telemetry testing is a critical phase in X-57’s functional test series. In addition to con- “We are doing telemetry testing firming the ability of the X-57 aircraft to transmit speed, altitude, direction and location to teams on the ground, to confirm that we will be able telemetry testing also confirms the ability to transmit mission-critical-data, such as voltage, power consumption and to monitor data on the ground structural integrity. X-57’s goal is to help set certification standards for emerging electric aircraft markets. during future flights,” said X-57 Deputy Operations Engineering Lead Kirsten Boogaard. “It is important to make sure that X-57 test strong everything works on the ground before we begin flight testing, transmit sensor information first to ensure the safety of the such as cruise motor traction bus flight and also to ensure that our voltage, current, and propeller mission data will be received by speed so that the electric aircraft’s the control room during flights.” performance can be assessed.” This mission data will help Telemetry testing was NASA researchers validate conducted by establishing a whether X-57, which is a Radio Frequency (RF) link converted Tecnam P2006T between the aircraft and the aircraft, successfully meets its downlink equipment of a NASA “design drivers” – technical telemetry van. The X-57’s two challenges to drive lessons learned antennas, a top and a bottom and best practices. These design antenna, were tested together first drivers include demonstration of in the flight configuration, and an increase in energy efficiency, then each antenna individually. zero in-flight carbon emissions The transmitter was operated and flight that is much quieter for NASA Langley/Advanced Concepts Lab, AMA, Inc by an avionics technician in communities on the ground. the X-57 cockpit, based on The success of X-57’s ability This artist’s concept image shows NASA’s first all-electric X-plane, the X-57 instructions from the test to meet these objectives will be Maxwell, in its final configuration, flying in cruise mode over NASA -Arm conductor. The instrumentation measured by comparing data strong. engineer and telemetry from the electric aircraft’s future “This is important research to see if we’re reaching our flight technician monitored the flight tests to the performance data to monitor during flight. conditions,” said X-57 Flight downlink signal in the van and of a baseline, combustion-driven We need to be able to track the Systems Lead Yohan Lin. “At the P2006T aircraft. X-57’s position, speed and altitude same time, the system needs to Mission, page 8 X-Press April 2020 First flight is a success Elvia Valenzuela NASA Armstrong Public Affairs NASA’s first flight of its Systems Integration and Operationalization (SIO) demonstration activities happened April 3 with its partner General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GAASI). The SIO flights are a partnership of the Federal Aviation Administration, GA- ASI and other industry partners to conduct demonstrations of potential commercial applications using different sizes of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). SIO aims to help accelerate the safe integration of UAS for commercial applications into the national airspace by tackling key challenges that currently prevent routine UAS operations. GA-ASI’s SkyGuardian flew for Photo courtesy of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc./Ted Carlson nine hours from its Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility near Above, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. flew its SkyGuardian unmanned aircraft to conduct a NASA Palmdale to Yuma, Arizona, while Systems Integration and Operationalization demonstration activity on April 3. Below, another view of the flight. operated by a remote pilot based at Gray Butte. Data was collected canal infrastructure, agriculture from a GA-ASI-developed Detect monitoring and topological and Avoid (DAA) system to surveys, as well as wildfire and flood provide situational awareness of monitoring. air traffic near the SkyGuardian. “NASA’s goal to help accelerate The DAA system includes routine UAS operations into the a Traffic Alert and Collision national airspace has moved one Avoidance System (TCAS II) step closer with this successful used in manned aircraft that fly flight demo,” said Mauricio Rivas, in civil airspace and an air-to-air, NASA Armstrong UAS integration Due Regard Radar to detect and in the NAS project manager. “Our track nearby aircraft, which may efforts with General Atomics and not have active transponders. In our other SIO industry partners will the future the DAA system, will help commercial UAS move closer Photo courtesy of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc./Ted Carlson allow the remote pilot to “see” toward certification.” and navigate around airborne NASA’s role in SIO is to leverage standards that have been informed SIO demonstration activity traffic just like an airborne pilot. its years of experience in Detect by years of NASA research later on this year. All flight The flight demonstratedand Avoid (DAA) and Command under the Unmanned Aircraft demonstrations will be at altitudes ways in which SkyGuardian and Control (C2) research to Systems (UAS) Integration in the above 500 feet. can be used for a variety of facilitate discussions, provide National Airspace System (NAS) NASA plans to document best commercial and public services technical information, and weigh Project. DAA and C2 are key practices and lessons learned from applications using its onboard in all along the way as technology systems needed to enable the safe the SIO activity and provide it sensors. Services featured in the and policy evolve and mature. The integration of UAS into the NAS. to the UAS community to help SIO flight included inspections goal is to work with industry to SIO’s other industry partners facilitate industry wide progress of hundreds of miles of rail, help incentivize the creation of C2 are Bell and American Aerospace. toward routine commercial power line, communication and and DAA systems that are based on Both have plans to perform their unmanned aircraft operations. X-Press April 2020

Range... from page 5 will permit the range to manage ground control room that unique telemetry and video has supported Unmanned Kevin Knut- data formats that are new to the Aircraft Systems Integration son sits at a center, said Darryl Burkes, Range into the National Airspace station in the Engineering branch chief. These System flight tests, will be main Blue formats are new to the center and modified to support X-59 Control Room are needed when the X-59 begins ground tests at Lockheed at NASA flight testing at Armstrong. Martin. Armstrong. The new capabilities will permit ground processing of data Additional upgrades acquired by flight test equipment Range cameras on the during the Low Boom Flight ground, long-range optics Demonstration, he said. That and ramp area cameras includes real time telemetry data have been updated to high and video. definition. As a result, a new AFRC2019-0130-11 NASA/Lauren Hughes Also included are modifications video switch was required and equipment for telemetry to send that video from multiple items as new UHF/VHF radios The C-band antenna and voice coverage of ground locations to where it needs it to go. in our comm facility,” Ackeret enhancements are a response to operations at Building 703 Another key upgrade is a new said. “The ones we had were 40 changes in bandwidth availability in Palmdale. That equipment mission control system, which is a and 45 years old. Updating the and the range’s efforts to take will support early flights of telemetry processing system. The video router is in progress, putting advantage to newly available the experimental aircraft at enhancements will help the center a high def camera on one of our aeronautical bandwidth. The range Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, meet customer requirements well radars, the new video switch and will continue to upgrade and also located in Palmdale. into the future. modifying antennas to accept modify to meet customer needs. In addition, Mobile Operation “We have spent millions updating C-band telemetry are going to “We are ready to fly when they Facility 5, which is a mobile all of the systems including such enhance our capabilities.” want to fly,” Ackeret said.

Mission... from page 6 was able to confirm that the data looked at the bandwidth and center specifications,” said Lin. “The next coming together over multiple messages were being received as frequency of the signal pattern to step will be functional testing of areas for the X-plane and was a expected. determine if the system is operating the cruise motors at high voltage big step in leading toward taxi and Among the data monitored within the bounds of the allocated and we’ll be monitoring certain flight tests. throughout the tests, the X-57 frequency range. critical parameters using this “One of the best parts of our team specifically looked at The testing indicated no major telemetry system.” recent testing was getting an RF power. This measurement anomalies in the X-plane’s ability As X-57 Operations Engineering opportunity for all of our discipline allowed engineers to observe to transmit data. Lead Michael Quinton points out, engineers and technicians to come the signal strength of the overall “This checkout verifies thatthis functional ground testing together, and support a single, real- transmission. The team also we are operating at the right phase was indicative of things time event.”

The X-Press is published the first Friday of National Aeronautics and each month for civil servants, contractors Space Administration and retirees of the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center. NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Address: P.O. Box 273, P.O. Box 273 Building 4800, MS 1422 Edwards, California, 93523-0273 Edwards, California, 93523-0273 Phone: 661-276-3449 Official Business FAX: 661-276-3167 Penalty for Private Use, $300 Editor: Jay Levine, Logical Innovations, ext. 3459

Managing Editor: Steve Lighthill, NASA

Chief, Strategic Communications: Kevin Rohrer, NASA