Ames Appoints New Deputy Director Place at NASA” During His First All-Hands Address As Center Director
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA May 2006 Worden gives rousing address; predicts strong future for Ames “Ames is the template for the new ministrator of NASA, who hailed opportunities for Ames to play a vital NASA,” declared Simon P. (Pete) Worden as a “world-class scientist” and role in space exploration. military leader. “There are lots of Silicon Valley ven- Mark, who said he first met Worden ture philanthropists who want to part- 28 years ago when he was the secretary ner with us,” Worden ventured. He said of the Air Force and Worden was an Air in order to succeed, Ames will have to Force captain, described Worden as “a move quickly to implement new pro- bit of a philosopher.” grams and take on new ventures. “Actually, he's a zen master,” “I'm interested in seeing how we quipped Mark. He then presented can do things quickly,” Worden said. “If Worden with the Ames badge that he we do that, I think we can succeed in wore 30 years ago when he served as the space exploration.” center's third director. In addition to space exploration, NASA photo by Dominic Hart As Ames moves ahead to expand its Worden also said there are “real oppor- role in space exploration, Worden said tunities in aeronautics” and that he wants the focus of the center should remain on to expand the center's partnership with its scientific and technical expertise, the Department of Defense. while working with other partners in One such opportunity Worden said government, in the private sector and in he was interested in pursuing involved other nations. He said there are a lot of continued on page 2 Pete Worden declared Ames “the coolest Ames appoints new deputy director place at NASA” during his first all-hands address as center director. NASA Ames Research Center Di- NASA Administrator Michael Griffin on rector Simon “Pete” Worden announced April 21, 2006. Christensen assumed his on May 11 that he had named Marvin new duties on May 14. Worden, Ames' newly appointed 10th He has served as the acting center center director, during a well-received director for the past two and a half all-hands meeting on May 5. “In my months pending Worden's arrival from opinion, Ames is the coolest place at the University of Arizona, Tucson, where NASA.” he was a research professor of astronomy. Addressing a capacity audience gathered in the main auditorium for his "Chris has provided experienced first meeting with Ames employees, leadership as acting program manager Worden predicted a strong role for the of the Robotic Lunar Exploration Pro- center as NASA implements the Vision gram (RLEP) since coming to Ames in for Space Exploration. September 2005," said Worden. "In that “Mike Griffin has sent me here to NASA photo by Dominic Hart role, he has been instrumental in regain- expand the center, so there won't be any ing a true mission management role for job cuts,” Worden asserted to enthusias- continued on page 2 tic applause. Worden, who arrived at the center the day before, explained that his remarks contained his “preliminary thoughts” on the state of the center and On the Inside . that he would deliver a much more com- Newly appointed Ames Deputy Center Page 3 - Ames tests heat shield samples prehensive briefing to employees in a Director Marvin “Chris” Christensen is Page 5 - Ames spacecraft to look few weeks after he has settled into his looking forward to his new role. for valuable ice at Moon’s new job. A retired U.S. Air Force brigadier south pole general who worked as a research pro- “Chris” Christensen to serve as his Page 7 - ‘Federal employees at the Park’ fessor of astronomy at the University of deputy director. Page 9 - Ames celebrates Earth Day Arizona prior to coming to Ames, Worden was appointed NASA Page 12 - Ames’ emergency crews help Worden was introduced by Hans Mark, Ames Research Center director by pilot land safely. a former Ames director and deputy ad- www.nasa.gov Worden gives rousing address; predicts strong future for Ames continued from front page 'air launches' whereby rockets would be He called the agreement between Asked if he would be able to “restore dropped from the back of an airplane. Ames and Google Inc., a “neat idea” and prosperity” to Ames, Worden said he He suggested the procedure might be a said that he would like to work with the will do everything he can. Silicon Valley icon in space exploration. “I'm sure as heck going to try,” At the conclusion of his remarks, Worden said. “I'm going to fight as hard Worden received a standing ovation and as I can.” prolonged applause from the crowd. BY MIKE MEWHINNEY Ames appoints new deputy director continued from front page the center and in kicking off our efforts by building on our traditional areas of in the area of small satellites, which I excellence, expanding our business base think will be key to our future." and pursuing creative use of our facili- NASA photo by Dominic Hart Prior to coming to Ames, ties.” Hans Mark, left, a former Ames director and Christensen served as a senior manager Christensen succeeds Steven deputy administrator of NASA, presented at Lockheed Martin, and he also brings Zornetzer, who served as acting deputy Worden with the Ames badge that he wore 30 40 years of experience at NASA Head- center director in addition to his duties years ago when he served as the center's third director. quarters, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as deputy director for research since NASA field centers and the aerospace August 2005. “viable approach” for supplying the In- industry. “With Chris and Steve at the helm, ternational Space Station and also might “I am delighted that Pete Worden the center was able to navigate its way tie in to exploration. has demonstrated his confidence in me through turbulent times and we find Turning to the status of the Strato- by naming me as his deputy director,” ourselves closer to our goals as a result spheric Observatory for Infrared As- Christensen said. “I look forward to of their skill and dedication,” Worden tronomy (SOFIA), Worden voiced cau- working with him to strengthen Ames said. tious optimism. BY MIKE MEWHINNEY “I know there's a lot of concern about SOFIA here and I think there's a recogni- tion of how important it is at Headquar- ters,” Worden said. “I hope to get some New goals outlined for safety good news soon.” Worden also said the center's exper- and health Improvement tise in astrobiology, nanotechnology and The Executive Safety Committee causes of injury by adopting protec- robotics would serve it well in helping approved goals for improvement of tive measures in your daily activity. define Ames's role in space exploration. safety and health at Ames during 2006. The second centerwide goal is to “I have a vision that in a few de- cades when astronauts travel to another These goals include two new center- ‘update the interim control measures planet and walk into a space habitat, wide goals, continued commitment to for our x-files.’ No, this does not mean there will be a robot there with a martini the five Ames Safety Accountability we are restricting a certain television -- made with lunar material,” Worden Program (ASAP) metrics to ensure show, or that we've become the branch joked. superior safety performance, and, for of government that monitors para- He also touched on the Kepler the first time, a specific safety improve- normal phenomena. The center's x- project, calling the mission's search for ment goal within each directorate. files are a list of safety hazards, which other Earth-like planets “incredibly The first new goal is to “improve require specific financial arrange- neat,” and said it represented an area of awareness of injury and occupational ments for resolution, such as install- possible expansion for Ames, as would illness trends.” Examples of occupa- ing stair railings. Since the need does the center's research in near-Earth ob- jects and asteroids, which he jokingly tional injuries include slips, trips and not necessarily produce the necessary described as “the pet rocks of the uni- falls; back injuries and chemical funds to correct the safety hazard, in- verse.” splashes. terim control measures are instituted. Worden also predicted strong roles Occupational illnesses include Such an interim control measure can in information technology for Ames. “In- hearing loss and repetitive trauma vary, depending on need, from post- formation technology is the most pow- disorders such as carpal tunnel syn- ing a warning sign to closing a facility. erful factor in our lives,” Worden said. drome. You can expect to hear from Supervisors have been asked to re- “Space is about getting information and your supervisor about the center's view all the x-file issues in their orga- generating information.” monthly ‘Safety Snapshot’ of injuries nization and make sure the interim He said he wants to see Ames retain and illnesses in your bi-monthly safety control measure has been updated NASA Research Park and the airfield, calling them “incredibly valuable as- meetings. By being aware of signifi- within the past 12 months. sets” and he pledged to strongly advo- cant trends, you can avoid common BY PAUL DAVIS, SHELLEEN LOMAS, cate retaining them. AND STAN PHILLIPS Astrogram 2 May 2006 Ames shows media how CEV heat shield materials were tested During a recent visit to the center, The big disk will be attached to the base and Ames's Ernie Fretter made presen- local news media representatives of the cone-shaped CEV crew capsule.