February 2007 Ames’ transformation called ‘amazing’ by center management NASA Ames is beginning to show (TSP) remains critical to the agency, overall NASA budget. Its successes strength and its future looks optimis- and Ames’ excellence in aeronautics include gaining national attention for and information technology is unsur- Earth sciences, and funding the Global passed, said Christensen. Precipitation Measurement Mission as “By making our programs more a new start. He reported that the Hub- relevant, our institution is moving to ble Space Telescope will be serviced in the next state of ‘readiness,’ he noted. 2008, and five Themis microsatellites “Our workforce is becoming realigned are still expected to launch. to take on meaningful work, and the Christensen pointed out that restructured organization is beginning although Ames lost the Stratospheric to optimize operational efficiencies.” Observatory for Infrared Astronomy Turning to mission directorate (SOFIA) to Dryden for flight tests ear- funding issues, he said the Science lier this year, negotiations are under- Mission Directorate’s (SMD) budget way at Headquarters to allow Ames represents about 31 percent of the continued on page 7 NASA Moon-Impactor mission NASA photo by Dominic Hart passes major review NASA’s drive to return astronauts Ames Deputy Center Director Marvin “Chris” The mission is valued at $79 million, Christensen addresses the audience during the to the moon and later probe deeper excluding launch costs. The mission recent all-hands meeting in February. into space achieved a key milestone will help NASA gain a new foothold tic, according to Ames’ Deputy Direc- tor Marvin “Chris” Christensen. The agency’s FY08 budget shows a 3.1 percent increase, a clear mandate of administration support of NASA, he said, despite the difficult political climate. NASA Ames’ forecast holds recently when agency officials ap- on the moon and prepare for new jour- the promise of many new opportuni- proved critical elements of a moon neys to Mars and beyond. ties, Christensen assured a apacity impact mission scheduled to launch The confirmation review autho- crowd gathered Feb. 7 in the main in October 2008. NASA’s unmanned rized continuation of the lunar impac- auditorium for an all-hands meet- Lunar Crater Observation and Sens- tor project and set its cost and sched- ing to discuss the state of the center. ing Satellite, known as LCROSS, will ule. Another mission milestone, the The Innovative Partnerships Program strike the moon near its south pole in critical design review, is scheduled for and the Small Business Innovative January 2009. It will search for water continued on page 3 Research program “are going strong,” and other materials that astronauts and Ames is recognized for its new could use at a future lunar outpost. role as the small satellite lead and its Scott Horowitz, associate admin- On the Inside . ‘space portal’ entrepreneurship, he istrator of the agency’s Exploration Page 2 - Diving Safety Office could aid both said. Systems Mission Directorate, led Earth and space sciences “People should be proud to work a confirmation review panel that Page 3 - Ames people volunteer to help in at NASA Ames Research Center,” recently approved the detailed plans, search for missing sailor Christensen said. “Due to a lot of hard instrument suite, budget and risk fac- Page 5 - Gilena Monroe selected as ‘Most work by a number of dedicated peo- tor analysis for the satellite. Promising in Government’ ple, it’s an extremely strong center.” NASA Ames Research Center, Mof- Page 10 - Ames Ongoing Events The thermal support program fett Field, Calif., manages the mission. Page 11 - Classifieds www.nasa.gov Diving Safety Office could aid both Earth and space sciences As NASA goes forward in the at Ames. This office operates under NASA Ames-affiliated scientific diving Vision for Space Exploration, research guidelines established by the Ameri- is conducted in a manner that will remains an ever-present element in can Academy of Underwater Scientists maximize protection of the scientific defining the world around us. Within (AAUS) and provides full technical diver while allowing efficiency of support for the de- observation and a means of collect- velopment of diving ing data that are available through no protocols, diver train- other means, in a safe manner. The ing and certification office has proven that it provides a and field support as level of recognized structure and com- required. petency that allows research teams to To facilitate the interact with national and internation- research community, al marine research organizations. a full range of diver Projects currently being supported training is available. include the Remote Sensing and Classes range from Spectral Analysis of Coral Reef Health general certifications and Biodiversity and the Astrobiology to tailored, specific High Lakes Project. skill classes such as In summary, the Diving Safety deep water and high- Office has captured unique local talent altitude diving. Safety to allow Ames researchers and affili- NASA Ames and University of Puerto Rico divers taking a spectral classes range from ates to expand their potential research measurement with a handheld spectroradiometer. diver-rescue training programs to support exploration to the development of initiatives and emerging earth sciences the past six months, exploration was emergency rescue plans. All of these programs. The capabilities the office conducted to determine the biodi- become vital elements in assuring provides may not only support and versity of high-altitude lakes and in safe and greatest available access to promote the Earth sciences programs coral reefs to determine bio-health and nature’s aquatic laboratories. but could play a lead role in support- diversity. Just as astronauts work un- The Diving Safety Office also ing water analog activities to more derwater to practice their EVA proce- includes certified divers and boat op- fully understand future activities in dures, researchers work underwater as erators who are available to research the microgravity and 1/3 gravity a laboratory for data gathering. projects to reduce training time and environments of exploration. Conducting aquatic research is funding to develop unique skills with- For additional information, contact only possible through learning the in the project. In addition, the office the Ames Diving Safety Office at ext. techniques of skilled and safe div- has an inventory of diving equipment 4-3408 or at e-mail the author at Ran- ing. With this in mind, the talents and small portable boats that can be [email protected] of personnel came forward for the made available to the researcher. BY RANDALL BERTHOLD establishment of a Diving Safety Office The office will assure that all Worden recognizes ‘Morning Report’ for Space Act Award The Aviation System Monitor- by each aircraft in an airline’s fleet Board Award was distributed among ing and Modeling (ASMM) Project during a selected period of time. It the inventors. Morning Report has team was recognized by Ames Center then brings all of the flights that were been commercialized within the Director S. Pete Worden in January deemed atypical in a multivariate airline industry and a patent is for receiving a second Space Act statistical analysis, with respect to pending. It has been recognized by Award from the NASA Inventions the main body of comparable flight the aviation industry as a significant and Contributions Board for the in- data, to the safety analyst’s attention. contribution to the achievement of vention and commercialization of the ASMM project team members present proactive management of safety Morning Report Atypicality Tool For at the ceremony included Dr. Irving risk by demonstrating its capability Analysis of Aircraft Flight Data. Statler and retired United Airlines to identify unexpected, operation- Morning Report automatically Captains Robert E. Lawrence and ally significant events or trends that analyzes the flight data recorded Robert E. Lynch. The cash Space Act could compromise aviation safety. Astrogram February 2007 Ames’ staff volunteers to help search for missing sailor In search of renowned computer engineer Jim Gray and his 40-foot sailboat, missing in the Pacific Ocean, outside San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, a NASA high-flying ER-2 aircraft, similar to a U-2, took off from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Cen- ter, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in the morning of Friday, Feb. 2. This flight was also a required pilot-proficiency flight. The airplane carried a 16-megapixel digital camera that took near-infrared and visible light images, which can show details in easy-to-spot ‘false colors’. Gray had been en route to the Farallon Islands to scatter his moth- er’s ashes. He was reported missing Lockheed’s ER-2 high altitude research aircraft in flight, similar to the ER-2 that recently aided in the Sunday, Jan.28, by his wife. The Coast search for renowned computer engineer Jim Gray and his 40-foot sailboat. Guard had stopped its search Thurs- day, Feb. 1. Organizers at NASA Ames wor- tracks three miles apart extending to to Dryden, an F-18 jet carried the ried that the search area could be about 30 miles off the coast from about imaging data (on tapes and discs) mostly cloud-covered, but the weather Carmel to Pt. Reyes, Calif. The camera from Dryden, north to NASA Ames. was better than expected, though there took pictures at 29-second intervals Imaging experts at NASA Ames was some cloud cover. Water could be except when the aircraft was over geospatially registered and processed seen between the clouds. clouds that covered roughly 50 percent the images. Then volunteers began The pilot, David Wright of Dryden, of the area searched. Also, a video to examine hundreds of images and flew the aircraft at about 50,000 feet, camera in the nose of the ER-2 ran all hours of video in search of the missing lower than normal, to get a better view the time to help pinpoint locations.