JULY 2002

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ACROSS TIME AND SPACE ........ 7History timeline database willhighlight Glenn's contributionsto powered flight

DREAMS COME TRUE ................. 8Retiree Dr. R. Lynn Bondurant seesthe many rewards of mentoring

BEST NEW PRODUCTS ............... 9Glenn's technological advancesgarner NorTech Innovation Awards

Landis among scientists chosen for Mars mission

Glenn establishes biomedical consortium

Volume 4 Issue 7 July 2002

Continued on page 9

lenn's Dr. Geoffrey Landis, Photovol-taics and Space Environment EffectsBranch, is one of 28 scientists selected toparticipate in the 2003 Mars Exploration

Continued on page 2

Rover (MER) mission. The mission con-sists of two separate, though identical,rovers scheduled for launch in mid-2003and arrival at separate destinations onMars in early 2004.

NASA's William Folkner, MatthewGolombek, Timothy Parker, and AlbertYen from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory;Douglas Ming, Johnson Space Center;and Michael Smith, Goddard Space FlightCenter also are among the 28 represent-ing scientific institutions, universities,and corporations across 13 states in theUnited States and Germany.

The 28 were selected based on theirproposals, which were determined tooffer the best science among a total of 84proposals submitted in response to a De-cember 2001 NASA Mars ExplorationRover Announcement of Opportunity.Each of the new investigators will workwith the MER Program Office at NASA’sJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA,and will become full MER science team

members, joining previously selected sci-entists as part of the Athena science team.

“The breadth, scope, and creativity of thescientists selected is very encouraging,”said Dr. Ed Weiler, NASA associate ad-ministrator for Space Science, Head-quarters. “By directly participating inNASA’s next mission to the surface ofMars, they will help bring us closer to thelong-term objective of our Mars Explora-tion Program—understanding Mars as aplanet and determining whether life everexisted there.”

Landis has worked as a principal investi-gator and project scientist for three pre-vious Mars experiments. They includethe Materials Adherence Experiment, asolar cell experiment mounted on thesolar-powered robotic rover, Sojourner,that arrived on the surface of Mars July 4,1997, aboard Mars Pathfinder, as well ashis experience in designing equipment

ASA's goal of protecting astronauts' health during long-term space missions has ledto the planned infusion of $7.5 million into the Cleveland biomedical community overthe next 3 years.

Glenn, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, University Hospitals of Cleveland, and CaseWestern Reserve University signed an agreement on June 7 to establish the John GlennBiomedical Engineering Consortium. The consortium also includes the National Centerfor Microgravity Research on Fluids and Combustion, a partnership between CaseWestern Reserve University and the Universities Space Research Association. Usingan integrated, interdisciplinary approach, the consortium will combine member

Glenn news release

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Mars scientistsContinued from page 1

for the Dust Accumu-lation and RemovalTechnology and MarsArray Technology Ex-periment, two experi-ments that werescheduled to fly onthe cancelled Mars2001 Surveyor Landermission.

Landis said that he is looking forward tothe new opportunity. “I’ve looked overthe list of the other participating scien-tists and it is going to be a great challengeto work with such a renowned group ofpeople,“ he said. “I’m sure there will bea lot of work, but also a lot of fun.”

Landis proposed use of the MER instru-mentation to study the intensity andspatial and spectral distribution of solarenergy on the surface of Mars, and tocompare the measured values with vari-ous models of solar distribution. He willanalyze this data to determine the solarenergy incident on the surface of Mars,the performance of the solar arrays, andthe rate of dust deposition on the solarpanels. Phillip Jenkins (OAI), Photovolta-ics and Space Environment Effects, willbe collaborating on the data analysis.

The MER mission science will (1) studyrocks and soils for clues to past wateractivity; (2) investigate landing sites thathave a high probability of containingevidence of the action of liquid water; (3)determine the distribution and composi-tion of minerals, rocks, and soils surround-ing the landing sites; (4) determine thenature of local surface geologic pro-cesses; (5) calibrate and validate datafrom orbiting missions at each landingsite; and (6) study the geologic processesfor clues about the environmental condi-tions that existed when liquid water waspresent, and determine whether thoseenvironments were conducive for life. �

Landis

Hubble's infrared camera back in business

After more than 3 years of inactivity, and thanks to a newcryogenic refrigerator, the Hubble Space Telescope's Near Infra-red Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) nowprovides various breathtaking views of galaxies in several stagesof development. The first NICMOS test images demonstrate itspowerful new capability for making remarkable discoveriesunique to space-based near-infrared astronomy. The NICMOS'penetrating vision sliced through the edge-on dusty disk of agalaxy, NGC 4013, to peer all the way into the galaxy's core.Astronomers were surprised to see what appears to be an edge-on ring of stars, 720 lightyears across, encircling the nucleus.

Though such star rings are not uncommon in barred-spiral galaxies, only NICMOS hasthe resolution to see the ring buried deep inside an edge-on galaxy. Shifting its infraredvision to our stellar backyard, NICMOS peeled back the outer layers of the Cone neb-ula (also photographed by Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys in April) to see theunderlying dusty "bedrock" in this stellar "pillar of creation." Images and additionalinformation are available on the Web at http://hubblesite.org/go/news.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Applications Center

NASA officials have signed an agreement to explore development of a world-classcenter designed to investigate science and commercial applications of unmannedaerial vehicles (UAV's) equipped with high-resolution digital imaging systems. Duringa ceremony at Ames Research Center, officials from Ames, Dryden Flight ResearchCenter, Clark University (Worcester, MA), and the Girvan Institute, a nonprofit organi-zation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a UAV ApplicationsCenter in NASA Research Park at Ames. The charter of the new center is to conductcollaborative research and development, leading to enhanced scientific and commer-cial utilization of UAV's as high-resolution imaging platforms in national airspace.Images of the signing ceremony are available at http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/re-leases/2002/02images/coffee/coffee.html.

Space Station photo laboratory

The International Space Station will become a better place to take pictures of Earth forstudying the environment and weather, with the addition of a new Earth observatorymanufactured and tested at Marshall Space Flight Center. Recently shipped fromMarshall to Kennedy Space Center, the Window Observational Research Facility(WORF) is scheduled for launch in January 2003. WORF will help space station crewstake some of the best photographs ever snapped from an orbiting spacecraft byeliminating glare and allowing researchers to control their cameras and other equip-ment from the ground. Engineers at Marshall proposed a derivative of the EXPRESSexperiment rack already used on thespace station and were given the go-ahead. The WORF rack can hold a widevariety of experiments and provide themwith power, communications, data, cool-ing, fluids, and other utilities. For moreinformation, visit the web site at http://www.msfc .nasa.gov/news/news/releases/newsreleases.html.

Marshall engineer inspects WORF rack.2

Editor's Note: Glenn's Space Power Facilityat Plum Brook Station has played animportant role in the MER mission air baglanding testing for risk reduction, see http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/airbags01.html.

JULY 2002

STS–107 to carry Glenn-developed experiments

ommy Holloway, manager of the Inter-national Space Station Program Office atJohnson Space Center in Houston, re-tired on July 3. Holloway's deputy,William H. Gersten-maier, assumes theresponsibilities asprogram manager.

"Tommy's been a fix-ture with NASA fornearly 4 decades andhis contributions to theAgency's human spaceflight program and theJohnson Space Center are considerable,"said Frederick D. Gregory, associate ad-ministrator for Space Flight at Headquar-ters in Washington. "His leadershiphelped set the standards of safety andsuccess for our space shuttle and Interna-tional Space Station programs. I will misshim both personally and professionally."

Gregory added that he has great confi-dence in Gerstenmaier's abilities to as-sume the lead role. "Bill and Tommy haveworked side-by-side for years on a varietyof projects, so I expect this to be a smoothand seamless transition," said Gregory. �

Holloway retiresT

n American flag recovered from the debris in the days immediately followingthe terrorist attacks in New York was returned to the city during a special presentationon Flag Day, June 14. The American Museum of Natural History hosted the event at

the Rose Center for Earth and Space.

The tattered flag, recovered by the city's police depart-ment, was flown in December onboard the Space

Shuttle Endeavour during the STS–108 mission aspart of the Agency's Flags for Heroes and Families

campaign. The large American flag, along with othercommemorative badges and patches, were flown with

nearly 6,000 smaller American flags that were presentedto the victims' families in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.

NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe returned the items flown into orbit to New YorkMayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor George Pataki, and representatives from theNew York Police Department, the New York Fire Department, and the Port Authorityof New York and New Jersey.

The presentation also featured a commemorative message from the American mem-bers of the Expedition Four crew—Daniel Bursch and Carl Walz—who were carried intospace by Endeavour. Ellen Futter, president of the American Museum of NaturalHistory, provided opening remarks.

Items flown in memory of the victims at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania will bereturned as appropriate events can be identified and scheduled. Distribution of theAmerican flags for the survivors and families of the victims will be handled by the Cityof New York, the Department of Defense, American Airlines, and United Airlines. �

NASA returns World Trade Center flagflown onboard Space Shuttle Endeavour

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Holloway

any hearts at Glenn will lift whenSTS–107/Columbia heads into orbit onJuly 19. Special relationships developedbetween Glenn and the STS–107 astro-nauts when the entire crew visited Glennlast year to train on the CombustionModule–2 (CM–2), one of the highestpriority experiments on the mission.

CM–2 is one of several Glenn-developedexperiments to fly on the STS–107 mis-sion that will examine health and safetyissues that are relevant on Earth and inspace. The experiments are part of theNASA Enterprise on Biological and Physi-cal Research, with the objective of usingthe space environment as a laboratoryfor testing fundamental principlesof physics, chemistry, and biology. Threeexperiments that will be mounted sequen-tially on CM–2—Laminar Soot Processes,

Structures of Flame Balls at Low Lewis-number, and Water Mist Fire Suppres-sion—will focus on pollution control, fuelefficiency, and fire suppression.

While at Glenn, crew training focused onhow the astronauts could enhance thescience return by making physical adjust-ments on-orbit to the flames and camerasetting, if necessary, and by becomingfamiliar with actual hardware and soft-ware. The STS–107 crew includes ShuttleCommander Rick Husband; Pilot Will-iam McCool; Payload Commander MikeAnderson; Mission Specialists DavidBrown, Kalpana Chawla, and Laurel Clark;and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon.

The STS–107 mission will include threeadditional Glenn-managed experiments:the Space Acceleration Measurement

System Free Flyer, whichprovides real-timedata to managem i c r o g r a v i t yexperiment op-erations; theCritical Viscos-ity of Xenon-2,which is thefirst experi-ment to mea-sure shearthinning in a simple fluid; and the OrbitalAcceleration Research Experiment, whichmeasures low-frequency, low-magnitudeacceleration levels onboard the shuttle.�

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Editor's note: Visit www.spaceflight.nasa.govfor the latest details

Move it off

Mayor meets Pre-Apprentice students

Emergency response drill

Celebration of unityKeynote speaker Dr. David Namkoong focused on “Appreciation of Similarity and Diversity”at the Asian/Pacific Islander American Heritage recognition program held at Glenn on May

29. Namkoong, who is president ofthe Asian/Pacific American Federa-tion in Cleveland and a retired Glennengineer, briefly noted the practical-ity of embracing the concept of diver-sity to attract a new, more diverseworkforce to replace a shrinking whitemajority population. A cornucopia ofinformation, entertainment, and foodwas presented from the cultures ofChina, East India, Japan, Korea, Viet-nam, and Hawaii. Pictured is a unifiedchoir that led the audience in the an-them "We Shall Overcome."

City of Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell recently visited Glenn for a NASA/WIRE-Net Pre-Apprentice Machining Program Overview. The partnership conducts a full-time 32-week programthat trains economically disadvantaged individuals for careers in metalworking. It also includesparticipation by local organizations that are supported by the Empowerment Zone and/or workwith the targeted population. After Center Director Donald Campbell, Deputy Chief of theManufacturing Engineering Division Peter Murray, and Wire-Net Executive Director John Colmbriefed Mayor Campbell on the program, she interacted with students in the shop training area.Pictured, student Robert Major explains his work on the Bridgeport milling machine to MayorCampbell.

Employees recently gathered to celebrate the annual Movin’ and Winnin’ Weight Management Program,sponsored by the Fitness Center. Winning team members, Micro-Butts' Bob Corban (6700), Jim Free(6510), Marsha Nall, Diane Malarik, and Terry O’Malley (6724), and The New MilLEANiums' Bruni Cotto(IDI/7100), Jim Fleet (7250), Art Gedeon (retired), and Pat Gedeon (ACS/7160), tied for first place byexercising five times a week for 12 weeks and attaining weight loss/maintenance goals. Team captains Fleetand Malarik are pictured by food collected to represent the 662 pounds lost in the contest. The food wasdonated to the needy of Brook Park. The majority of participants in the program exercised 4.5 days perweek. On average, each participant lost 5.4 pounds.

Photo by Tom Jares

On May 21, Cuyahoga County tested an emergency response plan for hazardous materials atGlenn. This exercise involved emergency responders from the County’s west side and wascoordinated by the Cuyahoga County Local Emergency Planning Committee and the County’sDivision of Emergency Services. Glenn personnel, the Fairview Park and Brook Park FireDepartments, the West Shore HazardousMaterials Team, the Southwest EmergencyResponse Team, and Police EnforcementBureaus for the Southwest and West Shoreareas were principal participants. Pictured(left to right) is Fairview Park CouncilmanFred Gauthier and Mayor Eileen AnnPatton and Glenn's Luke Wilkins of theSafety Office, and Lori Rachul, Commu-nity and Media Relations Office.

Photo by Tom Jares

More than 550 people attended the IFMP(Integrated Financial Management Program)EXPO, which was held on May 1. Demonstra-tions and briefings were provided for ResumeManagement, Core Financial, Travel Manage-ment, The Learning Center, and Position De-scription Management. As a result of Glenn'sresounding success, other centers have mod-eled the EXPO format. On July 15, PositionDescription Management goes live. Pictured(seated) is Fran Pierce (0410), demonstratingto Lynn Wiersma and Monica Palivoda (6000)how to modify a position description.

IFMP EXPO

Photo by Doreen Zudell

Photo by Doreen Zudell Photo by Nancy Fullen

JULY 2002

Welcome aboard,Dr. Creedon

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he Associate Administrator for the Office of Aerospace Technology has a verydemanding job. The Office is responsible for aeronautics and associated spaceprograms, developing integrated long-term technology, establishing new commercialpartnerships, and maintaining core competencies at the field centers. I can think of noone more capable or deserving of this position than Dr. Jeremiah Creedon.

Dr. Creedon, who began his NASA career as an engineer at the Langley ResearchCenter in 1963, conducted and managed research related to aircraft control andinformation systems, avionics technology, and aircraft flight control systems. Before hetook the helm as director of the research laboratory in 1996, Dr. Creedon worked ina number of managerial positions at the branch, division, and directorate levels. These

experiences have provided him with first-hand knowledge of the daily operationsand challenges that field centers encoun-ter, especially those focused on aeronau-tics and aeropropulsion.

I have known Dr. Creedon for severalyears and have full confidence that wewill have an excellent relationship withhim.

The author of more than 30 technicalarticles, Dr. Creedon is a fellow of theAmerican Institute of Aeronautics andAstronautics and has twice receivedNASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal.His personal contributions and untiringcommitment to NASA and to the Nationmake him an outstanding choice to leadthe Aerospace Enterprise. �

DISABILITY AWARENESS MODULE:An Agencywide Disability Awarenesstraining module has been added to Sitefor Online Learning and Resources(SOLAR). The module covers three partsof the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Sec-tion 501 (rights of Federal employeeswith disabilities), Section 504 (programsand services conducted or funded bythe Federal Government), and Section508 (electronic and information technol-ogy). The module is easy to follow andgives lots of examples. It should takeapproximately 1 hour to complete. Thistraining is mandatory for all Glenn super-visors, and highly recommended for allGlenn employees. Supervisors are en-couraged to take this training beforethe end of the fiscal year, as anothermodule will be rolled out during FY03.Questions can be directed to Deb

Cotleur, Equal Opportunity DisabilityProgram manager, at 3–3904.

AUTHOR SPEAKS ON SPACE: Law-rence M. Krauss, author of The Physics ofStar Trek, Beyond Star Trek, and Atom,will give a lecture at Glenn on August 7 inthe DEB Aud. from 9 to 11 a.m. Thelecture, entitled "Space Exploration, TheNext Generation," is open to all civilservice and support service contractoremployees; however, priority will begiven to registered attendees. Interestedemployees should submit their namesthrough supervisory channels to theirStaff/Division Office training coordina-tor by July 8. The lecture is part of theEngineering Training Committee's Path-finder Visionary Speakers Program. Forinformation, contact Dr. Daniel Gloverat 3–2847 or Nona Akos at 3–8520.

Shoe FundGlenn's Shoe Fund, a 33-yeartradition that has helped make theschool year brighter and warmerfor needy children, will hold itsannual fundraiser drive July 8 to12. Donations will go to Shoesand Clothes For Kids, a local char-ity that provides hundreds ofthousands of pairs of shoes andclothing items to children in theCleveland area. Watch for flyersand envelopes on donating or callMarcia Bellamy at 3–7442.

R&T REPORT ONLINE: The 2001 Re-search & Technology Report is availablein hard copy and online at http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/RT/.

LESA MEETING: LESA/IFPTE, Local 28,will hold its monthly membership meet-ing on Wednesday, July 10, at noon inBldg. 15, Rm. 101.

2002 NASAHonor Awards Ceremony

August 2, 20021 to 3 p.m., DEB Auditorium

Keynote Speaker: General Lester L. Lyles, commander,Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

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OPSEC addresses hostile relations perations security (OPSEC) threatanalysis recognizes that intelligence ser-vices from hostile nations and severalfriendly countries collect leading-edgetechnology and industrial secrets by clas-sic spying and open-source information.

"OPSEC permits us to better protectourselves against terrorist attacks and ourinformation and technology from adver-saries or competitors,” explained DonaldOrnick, chief of Glenn’s Security Man-agement Office (SMO). “ThisAgencywide program allows us to per-form our mission while minimizing therelease of sensitive or potentially harmfulinformation to unintended recipients, in-cluding adversaries or foreign industrialcompetitors.”

Here are a few examples of how foreignintelligence services try to gain the edge:

� Some adversaries’ objectives havechanged from “win the war” to “win thecontract,” through the use of industrialespionage.

� Pricing and contract negotiation strat-egy, design data, and other “proprietaryinformation” are passed to the foreigncompetitor for real-time business use.

� Nations developing the ability to de-liver weapons of mass destruction couldadvance their programs with “obsolete”U.S. missile technology.

� Your home computer may be targetedby state-sponsored collectors and com-promised. Does your home computercontain unauthorized work-related infor-mation? Do you receive suspicious e-mail?

OPSEC does not mean that Glenn cannotconduct research and share the appropri-ate information with intended recipients,maintains Ornick.

“OPSEC is sometimes called an umbrellaprogram, which serves as an outer shield

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T he annual interest paid out from the Shannon Edwards Memorial Fund will augmentgrants supporting enrichment programs at North Ridgeville City Schools beginning Fall2002. This permanent endowment fund was jumpstarted last year by the generouscontributions of Glenn employees. Daryl (Thermal and Fluid Systems Design andAnalysis Branch) and Karen (Office of Acquisition) Edwards' daughter, Shannon, diedat the age of 10 from pneumonia complicated by Nemaline Rod Myopathy, a rareneuromuscular disease.

“NASA was a big part of Shannon’s life beginning from her infant years at Lewis LittleFolks, Inc., to participation in various annual programs including Take Our Children toWork Day, holiday shows, and other family-oriented events,” explained LindaMcMillen, Computational Environments Branch, a close friend of the Edwards andformer North Ridgeville School Board president. “The fund not only serves to keepShannon’s memory alive but also offers ongoing support to those programs that helpedto enrich her too-short life.”

The fund will help pay for an innovative Ohio Bicentennial Quilt project. The Edwardsalso donated additional funds at a recent North Ridgeville School Board meeting forseveral other programsbased on their benefit to thecurriculum, as well as whatwould have appealed toShannon. �

Employees support memorial fund

Pictured (left to right, stand-ing) are Karen Edwards,Deputy Director of Opera-tions Dr. Julian Earls, MaryannPawson, Office of Acquisition,and (seated) Shannon andRyan Edwards at Glenn's2000 Take Our Children toWork Day.

for all other operational or security pro-grams,” Ornick said. “Unclassified pro-grams and operations, plus informationsecurity, personnel security, physical se-curity, foreign visits and assignments,computer security, counterintelligenceand counterterrorism, and classified pro-grams are all part of OPSEC.”

SMO has initiated an OPSEC publicawareness campaign involving the de-velopment and implementation of a for-mal five-step OPSEC program. This willrequire the full participation of employ-

ees, who will be asked to assess theiroperations and implement sound OPSECpractices:1. Identify the threat: the spy, the indus-trial competitor, the “insider,” the terror-ist, and other criminals.2. Identify what we need to protect:What information is sensitive and why?3. Determine what is vulnerable and howit is vulnerable: Are there ways for unau-thorized persons to get information orto harm personnel or programs?4. Assess the risk: Can we take the risk ofloss, based on the threat, and the finan-cial and operational cost of protection?5. Apply countermeasures: Take actionto reduce risks that we are unwilling toaccept.

“You will be hearing more about OPSECin the future,” Ornick said. “Meanwhile,contact the SMO’s Paul Wells, 3–3152, ifyou have OPSEC questions.” �

Graphic by Kelly Shankland

JULY 2002

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KBY S. JENISE VERIS

There is a storm brewing inside the Photoluminescence Spectroscopy Laboratory ofBuilding 302 that is designed to spur the growth of microsystems, an emergingworldwide technological revolution predicted to be as big or even bigger than themicroelectronics revolution.

Scanning Tunneling Optical Resonance Microscopy (STORM) is a new technologydesigned and developed by Glenn, Rochester Institute of Technology, and OAIengineers in the Photovoltaic and Space Environmental Effects Branch to probe theoptoelectronic properties of nanoscale materials and devices that govern the electrical,optical, and mechanical behavior of a microsystem.

“A complete microsystem may contain a sensor, transducer, actuator, or MEMS device,the associated microelectronics or small computer chips, a power system, and neces-sary packaging,” explained Dr. Sheila Bailey, Photovoltaic and Space EnvironmentalEffects Branch. “We have developed a system that combines traditional scanningtunneling microscopy (STM) with optical spectroscopy provided by local fiber opticillumination to characterize the optoelectronic properties for each of its nanoscaleelements.”

Semiconducting optical properties can be investigated by spectroscopically illuminat-

Dr. Eva Lau (5410) makes sample ad-justments to STORM, which is housedin the Photoluminescence Spectros-copy Laboratory, Building 302.

Enhancing microsystems

ing the STM tip with modulated optical tonear-IR wavelengths using a tunable ringlaser and measuring the change in thetunneling current using a lock-in ampli-fier. STORM has the ability to determinethe optical band gap of these semicon-ductor materials, , , , , which will be key tofabricating an atomically tuned device.

Microsystems will add functionality; re-duce the size, weight, and cost; andprovide a host of enabling technologiesfor the scientific and commercial prod-ucts of the future.

eying in data from bits and pieces ofinformation forwarded from retirees aswell as from files resurrected from boxesstored across the Lab—this is the awe-some but enlightening task of GlennArchivist Bonnie Smith, (IDI) Logisticsand Technical Information Division(LTID).

Smith has been charged with craftingGlenn’s History Timeline Database aspart of the Center’s contribution to thecelebration of the Wright Brothers'Centennial of Flight in 2003. The pro-ject was conceived by Executive Officerfor Research and Technology SusanHennie as a unique marketing and refer-ence tool that highlights Glenn contri-butions to the history of powered flight.

“While the impetus for creating the

timeline was the Centennial ofFlight, the real beauty is that itcaptures history that we havenever comprehensively docu-mented and affords us the oppor-tunity to extract specific aspects of o u rtechnology to display on a commongraphic design at each Centennialof Flight venue,” Hennie said.

The timeline will be highlighted with pho-tographs and short films as well as text."Every record has been cross-referencedand substantiated to ensure an accurateand irrefutable reference is provided foranyone who uses it," Smith said.

Glenn senior scientists recently receivedan overview of the project. They havebeen invited to submit their input andcomments to add to the breadth of ma-

terial already available. Next, Hennie andSmith will roll out the timeline to Centermanagers prior to its unveiling.

“As a living document, the database willoffer Glenn employees the opportunityto critique and update the timeline for-ever,” Hennie added. "We are ensuringthat history never forgets that Glenn has,is, and will continue to play a substantialrole in the power to fly.”

If you have questions or suggestions,contact the Center archivist at (216) 433-5765 or Bonita.S.Smith@grc.nasa.gov. �

Centennial of Flight

Across time and space

Graphic by Terry Condrich

BY DOREEN B. ZUDELL

Bondurant helps dreams come true

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Retiree Spotlight

hen you reach out to help someone,you never know the full impact you willhave on that person,” said Dr. R. LynnBondurant.

Bondurant, who retired from Glenn asEducational Programs Officer in 1999with 19 years of NASA service, doesn’thave to wonder about the impact he hadon Mike Kersjes, a teacher in Grand Rap-ids, MI. In a recently released book en-titled A Smile as Big as the Moon: ATeacher, His Class and Their Unforget-table Journey, Kersjes praises Bondurantfor his help in sending the first group ofspecial education students to Space Campin Huntsville, AL.

Kersjes, besides being a football coach,taught special education at a Michiganhigh school during the 1980's. Seeing anadvertisement for Space Camp, he got anidea that his students could benefit fromgoing to the camp. However, most peopleweren’t receptive to sending children withspecial needs (such as Tourette syndrome,Down syndrome, dyslexia, eating disor-ders, and a variety of emotional prob-lems) to a camp designed for “bright”students. Fortunately, through faith andfortitude, Kersjes and his associate, RobinMcKinney, hooked up with some peoplewho agreed that, if given a chance, their

students could do as well as any others.One of those people was Glenn’s ownBondurant.

The book chronicles Kersjes struggle togain permission and prepare his class toattend Space Camp. An excerpt fromthe book explains the pivotal roleBondurant played in the journey:“Among the many people whosupported our venture, none was morevital or enthusiastic than Dr. R. LynnBondurant, who worked out of LewisResearch Center in Cleveland and was incharge of NASA education for the Mid-west. We had been referred to him byDr. Brown, who had assured us thatDr. Bondurant would not only provide uswith the curriculum material we neededbut that we would also find him to be anenormously likeable and generous man.Right on both counts.”

A longtime advocate of people withdisabilities, Bondurant enthusiasticallyembraced Kersjes dream, and, in addi-tion to curriculum material, began topro-vide guidance in the form of con-tacts and grant writing.

Bondurant explained that helping Kersjeswas not only a personal pleasure but alsopart of NASA ‘s educational philosophyto nurture and prepare young people forcareers in science, technology, engineer-

ing, and mathematics. “I wasfortunate to be at Lewis (Glenn)at a time when efforts to main-stream people with disabilitiesinto society was just beginning,”Bondurant said. “Also, aboutthe time I started working withMike, I had the first NASA filmcaptioned for the hearing im-paired by WGBH in Boston andseveral publications translatedinto Braille through the efforts ofJoe Nervi, who worked with meat the time.”

Dr. Bondurant

A Cleveland, OH, student at SpaceCamp in Huntsville, AL.

Kersjes said he values Bondurant’s sup-port then and today. “Lynn is truly mymentor—both professionally and person-ally. He is there to cheer me on andencourage me to persevere.”

Kersjes’ endeavors have moved on fromteaching to developing his nonprofit or-ganization, Space Is Special (SIS), inwhich Bondurant serves on the board.SIS is committed to motivating specialneeds and high-risk children to an interestin mathematics, science, and technologyby providing “hands-on/minds-on” learn-ing experiences. SIS has also created aunique partnership with Space Camp inHuntsville to offer programs and oppor-tunities to special needs children.

At present Kersjes is employed by theUniversity of California, Irvine at MarshallSpace Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, towork with students, including those fromOhio, to prepare protein growth experi-ments to fly onboard the InternationalSpace Station.

There is more on the horizon for Kersjesand his dream—in which Bondurant willbe a part. Disney is making a movie fromthe story that inspired his book. Movie-goers everywhere will see the story of oneof Glenn’s contributions that has im-pacted students with disabilities, andmaybe even a cameo by Bondurant.

In the meantime, there is no grass grow-ing under retiree Bondurant’s feet. Hecontinues to be involved in many educa-tional initiatives, including the develop-ment of a human space flight course forMichigan’s Virtual High School.

Said Bondurant, with a gleam in his eye,“I’m still trying to decide what I want todo when I grow up.” �

JULY 2002

9

Best new products recognized

echnologies developed at Glenn willresult in safer and less costly airplaneengines as well as more environmentallyfriendly materials for use in those en-gines. These technology advances, theNumerical Propulsion System Simulation(NPSS) and Environment Conscious Ce-ramics (Ecoceramics), received awards,along with others in Northeast Ohio, atthe 2002 NorTech Innovation Awardceremony on May 6.

NPSS is considered a world-class propul-sion system simulation tool that providesthe U.S. aerospace industry with unprec-edented capability and ease of use. Anemerging U.S. standard for aerospacesimulations, it was designed and is main-tained with the full interaction of everymajor aircraft engine manufacturer in theworld. This software tool will reduce thecost and risk associated with advancedpropulsion system development. The re-duced risk translates into increased safety

for aeronautics and the human explora-tion of space.

Gregory Follen, Cynthia Naiman, BretNaylor (ISI), Computing and Inter-disciplinary Systems Office, and ThomasLavelle, Propulsion Systems AnalysisOffice, worked with a team of 39 otherengineers from Glenn and 14 otherorganizations in the development of thissimulation tool.

Ecoceramics technology uses processesand materials that minimize harmful ef-fects on the environment. The startingmaterials are renewable resources andenvironmental wastes, such as naturalwood, sawdust, or cellulosic fibers. Theshaped preforms from these cellulosicmaterials are pyrolyzed and infiltratedwith various non-oxide and oxide-basedmaterials to form ceramics with differentcomposition and densities. The process,resulting in lighter, less costly ceramicsthat can operate at high temperatures, isimportant in the development of more

efficient airplane engines. Dr. MrityunjaySingh, QSS/Materials Division, devel-oped the manufacturing process.

NorTech Innovation Awards, formerlyknown as the EDI Innovation Awards,are named for the Northeast Ohio Tech-nology (NorTech) Coalition, the tech-nology affiliate of Cleveland Tomorrow.The awards honor innovators and com-panies for creating some of the best newproducts in Northeast Ohio.

The awards program is sponsored byKey Bank, Ernst & Young, Squire Sanders& Dempsey LLP, the Ohio Departmentof Development, and Case Western Re-serve University’s Weatherhead Schoolof Management and its subsidiary Enter-prise Development, Inc. �

TGlenn news release

Naiman Dr. Singh

Consortium will focus on safe human habitation in space

Continued from page 1

Representatives of member institutionssigning the consortium agreement are, leftto right, Donald Campbell, NASA Glenn; Dr.Huntington Willard, University Hospitals ofCleveland; Dr. Richard Rudick, ClevelandClinic Foundation; Dr. Patrick Crago, CaseWestern Reserve University; and Dr. SimonOstrach, National Center for MicrogravityResearch.

organizations' unique skills, capabilities,and facilities to achieve commonresearch goals involving human health inspace as well as on Earth.

The research will leverage NASA's state-of-the-art knowledge and expertise in theareas of fluid physics and sensor technol-ogy together with the other consortiummembers' world-class capabilities in bio-medical research and health care to

mitigate risks to astronaut health in long-term space flight.

Conducting research to enable safe andproductive human habitation of space isa major goal of NASA's Office of Biologi-cal and Physical Research (OBPR), whichsponsors this research. Mary Kicza, asso-ciate administrator heading OBPR, elabo-rates, "Long-term space flight exposeshuman beings to physiological and psy-chological health risks from radiation, re-

duced gravity,and isolationand requiresthe ability toprovide crewmedical careremotely."

One of thehighlights ofthe signingwas AstronautDr. ShannonLucid, now

chief scientist for NASA, who spoke toattendees.

Center Director Donald Campbell ex-plained, "The John Glenn Biomedical En-gineering Research Consortium reflectsnot only Glenn's commitment to improv-ing long-term human space flight, but alsoits impact on the Greater Cleveland com-munity by introducing new technologiesapplicable to medical products for use byphysicians and their patients."

More information on the John Glenn Bio-medical Engineering Consortium can befound at http://microgravity.grc.nasa.gov/grcbio/bec.html. �

DEADLINES: News items and brief announcementsfor publication in the August issue must be receivedby noon, Friday, July 12. The deadline for theSeptember issue is noon, Friday, August 9. Submitcontributions to the editor via E-maildoreen.zudell@grc.nasa.gov, fax 216–433–8143,phone 216– 433–5317 or 216–433–2888, or M.S.3–11. Ideas for news stories are welcome but will bepublished as space allows.

Editor.............................................Doreen B. Zudell InDyne, Inc.

Assistant Editor..................................S. Jenise Veris InDyne, Inc.

Managing Editor.................................Lori J. Rachul

AeroSpace Frontiers is an official publication of GlennResearch Center, National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration. It is published the first Friday of eachmonth by the Community and Media RelationsOffice in the interest of the Glenn workforce,retirees, government officials, business leaders, andthe general public. Its circulation is approximately6700.

On behalf of my brothers (two of the five,Jack and Don, have worked at GRC) andmy sisters, I would like to thank all ourfriends at GRC for your generosity andexpression of sympathy at the time of ourmother's death. Thank you for the beauti-ful flowers, prayers, and cards. I wish togive a special thanks to all those GRCfriends who participated in the leavedonation program. I was overwhelmedwith the support you gave me. Your dona-tion of time allowed me to honor mymother's wish to die peacefully at home.

—Mary Zeller, John Zeller, retiredDon Zeller, CSU contractor

I truly appreciate the many expressions ofconcern from my caring GRC friends dueto my layoff earlier this year. I will treasurethe generous gifts recently received fromthe members of the Speakers Bureau.Most importantly, I am grateful for thefriendships that developed over manyyears. Thank you for the opportunity tohave been associated with such a respon-sive NASA Speakers Bureau. It has beenmy privilege working with you.

—Patricia Hannan

Three Glenn employees were recently named Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Honor-ees. The SFA is a NASA-managed motivational program that ensures that all employeesinvolved in human space flight are aware of their role in promoting astronaut safety andmission success. The SFA Award is presented to employees for their dedication toquality work and flight safety. The three honorees traveled to Kennedy Space Center,where they attended a reception held in their honor. They include Helen Brown, ZIN/Microgravity Science Division, who served as an integration engineer for the SpaceAcceleration Measurement System (SAMS) project for 10 years and was responsiblefor delivering SAMS systems to Kennedy for deployment on the space shuttle andInternational Space Station. She coordinated space shuttle and space station crewtraining, development of crew procedures, creation of agreement documentation,verification of systems, and certification of flight systems. Steve O’Donnell, TestInstallations Division, was recognized for his contributions to the Extensional RheologyExperiment, which was critical in achieving the experiment launch schedule. O'Donnell'swork included design, fabrication, and extensive travel to the launch site in NewMexico. Because of his knowledge and dedication, O’Donnell was chosen to lead thetechnical support for the Shear Extensional Rheology Experiment, scheduled to launchin February 2004. Glenn Williams Glenn Williams Glenn Williams Glenn Williams Glenn Williams, Instrumenta-tion and Data Systems Branch, has been anintegral part of the engineering team that devel-oped and flew the Combustion Module (CM)on STS–83 and (CM–1) STS–94 and have com-pleted preparations for CM–2 on the upcom-ing flight of STS–107. During CM–1, Williamswas the lead for the image processing neededto process critical science. He was namedavionics lead for CM–2, responsible for signifi-cant upgrades to the CM–1 hardware.

Lester

10O'Donnell Williams

FEB awards recognize serviceK

StauberMcLaughlin

aren McLaughlin, Accounting andReports Branch, and LLLLLaurel Stauber,,,,,Commercial Technology Office, wereamong the 16 Glenn civil servants hon-ored with the Federal Executive BoardWings of Excellence Award on April 30(but inadvertently omitted from theAeroSpace Frontiers, June 2002).

McLaughlin was recognized for her tech-nical knowledge as team lead for thegeneral ledger and property accountingat Glenn where she consistently exceededperformance requirements to completeimplementation of the NASA-wide CoreFinancial Project. Her rapport with staffand dedication to accurate reporting

notably improved public confidence inAgency stewardship.....

Stauber was recognized for her excep-tional professional and interpersonal skillsas a marketing specialist who effectivelymarketed Glenn technologies and moti-vated personnel to participate in thetechnology transfer process throughpublications, awards, and partnershipopportunities, which have brought no-toriety to Glenn and initiated productcommercialization. Her enthusiasmalso extends to membership in the Speak-ers Bureau and participation as a sci-ence fair judge. �

Mary Lester has been named Deputy Chief, Logistics and TechnicalInformation Division. Lester has served in a number of high-profileorganizations during her 22-year career at Glenn, including SpaceStation, Launch Vehicles, and, most recently, as the Executive Of-ficer for the Space Directorate. She earned a bachelor's degree fromMiami University and a master's from Baldwin Wallace College.Throughout her career, she has demonstrated outstanding leader-ship and interpersonal skills.

Job Assignment: I'm a BTAS, Inc., employee supporting the Community and Media Relations Office asExhibits manager for the Visitor Center.Time at Glenn: This is my 7th year at Glenn. Previously, I worked for the Yuma Proving Grounds inYuma, AZ, for 14 years.Hometown: I was born in Cleveland and currently reside in Brunswick.Describe your family: I married a very special woman, Kimberly Mordaunt (who works in Glenn'sOrganization Development and Training Office) on April 19, 2002. We live in Brunswick with my 11-year-old son, Ricky. The three of us own a Sheltie named Lady and Sun Conjure (parrot family) namedFruitloops. We also have a garden pond with 14 assorted fish and 2 bullfrogs. My daughter, Janene,

her husband Chris, and my 1-year old grandson, Austin, live in Yuma.Career alternative: ChefFavorite food: I enjoy all seafood.Favorite music: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s (all types).Favorite web site: www.ZDNET.comFavorite movie: It’s a Wonderful Life is one of my all-time favorites. I also really enjoy thrillers, mysteries, and action movies.Person you most admire: My late grandfather.Activities when away from Glenn: I love working on my home and my yard. I coach my son’s baseball and football teams. Iam currently enrolled as a full-time student working on a master's degree in information technology.

a closer look at our colleaguesSyretta Stewart

Richard Manco

Job Assignment: I'm a grants/contract specialist in the Space Systems and Grants Branch, Office ofAcquisition.Time at Glenn: I've worked here for 14 years.Hometown: I was born, raised, and still live in Akron.Describe your family: I have a very large family. My husband, Emmitt, is a retiree of the Chrysler Plantin Twinsburg.Favorite food: I like Southern and Oriental cuisine.Favorite music: I enjoy Jazz, R&B, and Hip-Hop.Favorite web site: www.golfchannel.com and www.usatoday.comFavorite movie or play: My favorite play is A Gathering of Old Men. My favorite movies are Little Big Man

and Unforgiven.Activities when away from Glenn: I enjoy golfing, spending time with my grandchildren, and playing video games—in thatorder.What do you see as an area of expertise to be proud of at Glenn: When I left my previous position of 20 years to come toGlenn (then Lewis), I was very apprehensive. People thought I was crazy. However, because of the educational andpromotional opportunities here at Glenn, and the many special friends and acquaintances I have come to know, I have neverregretted the move. In the area of administration and technology, Glenn always seems to be on the cutting edge.

11

Eugene Tomasch, 83, who retired fromGlenn in 1984 with 38 years of Federalservice, followed by several years foronsite contractors, recently died.Tomasch dedicated his career to theCenter's Photo Laboratory, now knownas the Imaging Technology Center. Heworked as the lead process camera

operator and played a key role at Glennwhen the Photo Lab tested the first

ACTI Process Camera(which included aunique microproces-sor) in the country.Tomasch was respect-ed and loved by manypeople in and outsideof the Photo Lab.

Tomasch

Exchange CornerSidewalk sale: Thursday and Friday,July 18 and 19, 11 a.m. to. 2 p.m., asidewalk sale will be held on the patioof Bldg. 15. There will be great buyson Exchange Store closeout items. Ahot dog and Pepsi lunch special willbe served on the patio both daysduring the sale.

12

Volume 4 Issue 7 July 2002

AeroSpace Frontiersis recyclable!

National Aeronautics andSpace Administration

John H. Glenn Research CenterLewis Field21000 Brookpark RoadCleveland, Ohio 44135

BY S. JENISE VERIS

T

NSIP: Learning by doing

he annual infusion of new ideas sub-mitted to the NASA Student InvolvementProgram (NSIP) from schools in Glenn’sregion continues to be a source of prideto the Office of Educational Programs(OEP). Seventeen schools across five ofthe six states in the region participated inthe national program that engages theimagination of students K–12 in experi-ments and design challenges linkeddirectly to NASA’s exciting missions ofexploration and discovery.

“Working with NSIP this year was par-ticularly inspiring because it’s the first yearkindergartners received recognition,” saidSue Gott, OEP, Glenn’s NSIP chairper-son. “It’s important to plant seeds ofopportunity with our youth today, if theyare going to grow into our scientists andengineers of tomorrow.”

The six categories of competition includedAerospace Technology EngineeringChallenge, My Planet Earth: Study OurAmazing and Beautiful Planet, My PlanetEarth, Design a Mission to Mars: Explorethe Red Planet, Watching Earth Change,Science & Technology Journalism: Share

NASA’s Story of Discovery andInvention, and Space FlightOpportunities.....

The Glenbrook North HighSchool, Northbrook, IL, team ofJoel Fenner, Alex Braden,Stanley Von Medvey, and NickGuggemos was one of seven winners inthe Space Flight Ops Sub-Orbital categoryselected to receive an all-expense-paidtrip to Student Flight Week at NASAWallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island,VA, in June. They were accompanied bytheir teacher, Lynne Zielinski, to meetand work with NASA scientists and engi-neers prior to the launch of their experi-ment, Environment 2.0, on a NASA Sound-ing Rocket.

Glenbrook accounted for five of the eightfinalists in the Space Flight Ops categoryfrom the Glenn region, in addition toParma Senior High School, Parma, OH;Pepin Area School, Pepin, WI; and aparent-led team from Minneapolis, MN.

A national winner is selected from sevenNASA centers' first-place middle school

winning teams for each competition cat-egory. These national winners will attendSpace Camp this summer. All secondand third place winners received medals.

NSIP is designed by scientists and educa-tors to support the National Standards forscience, mathematics, technology, andgeography. The goals defined for eachcategory align with National EducationStandards to enhance learning opportu-nities and aid the development of skills—science inquiry, computer and Internetskills, teamwork, communications, etc.—that will benefit student participantsthroughout their lifetime. �

Mission to Mars winners: left to right, Phil Koch,Matt Mitcheltree, and Ryan Fitzgerald of Kensing-ton Intermediate School, Rocky River, OH.

Photo by Sue Gott