Letter from the Director - NASA · Future Plans Implementing Strategies ... away in the constellation Sagittarius. 1 Ames Research Center in NASA Vision and Mission. The past decade

iAmes Research Center2004 Implementation Plan

Ames Research Center in NASAVision and Mission

Supporting NASA Themes and Goals

Current Capabilities

Future Plans

Implementing Strategies

Letter from the Director

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Appendix: For More Information—82

(cover) This image shows

an "end on" view of a

simulated carbon

nanotube that is being

compressed—the spheres

represent carbon atoms,

and they are colored

according to their

potential energy. Carbon

nanotubes are of great

interest to nanotech-

nologists at Ames and

elsewhere, since they have

very useful mechanical

and electrical properties.

Space Science Enterprise

Earth Science Enterprise

Biological and Physical Research Enterprise

Education Enterprise

Space Flight Enterprise

Aerospace Technology Enterprise

Ames Core Capabilities

Ames Workforce

Ames Real Property

Ames Campus Research Facilities

Future Research Activities

Building the Future Workforce

Future of Ames Property

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Table of Contents

Letter From theDirector

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Ames Research Center boasts a proud historyof innovation and discovery that spans more than60 years. Today, at the beginning of the 21st Cen-tury, we face new challenges and new opportu-nities. Our responses will define us as an institu-tion. We will measure ourselves by our creativ-ity, innovation, and dedication to The NASAVision. We will succeed through our uniquestrengths and capabilities.

The NASA vision that inspires us “To improvelife here” blossoms at Ames. Our research projectsaccelerate the development of tools and proce-dures to improve aviation safety, security, andair traffic management for today and exploreadvanced concepts for transforming the nationalairspace system of tomorrow. In addition, ourinformation technologists provide the high-endcomputational capability to model the complex-ity of global climate change—a major impact onour everyday lives.

The NASA Vision asks us “To extend life to there.”Here, too, Ames advances the horizon. Our lifesciences research enables an understanding of theeffects of the space environment on living sys-tems, while human-centered computing providesavenues for working in a robotic-assisted uni-verse. Such studies pave the way to prolongedspace missions.

Perhaps most audaciously, the NASA Vision chal-lenges us “To find life beyond.” Here too, Ames isin the vanguard. Seeking answers to some of life’s

most fundamental questions, the Astrobiologyscientists and NASA Astrobiology Institute cen-tered at Ames ask: How does life begin and evolve?Is there life elsewhere in the Universe? What is thefuture of life on Earth and beyond? Ames createdthe interdisciplinary field of Astrobiology lessthan a decade ago and today leads more than700 scientists across the Agency and around theworld in pursuing investigations focused on thesefundamental questions. Through biotechnology,information technology, and nanotechnology,researchers are developing both the basic knowl-edge and the applications to create new sensorsand capabilities to allow autonomous spacecraft,and ultimately humans, to seek out life wher-ever it might reside.

Finally, the new education mission challenges usto inspire a new generation of scientists, engineersand explorers in ever more creative and effectiveways. Once again, Ames rises to the task with adaring new vision for the 21st Century: The NASAResearch Park will open the Center’s gates toacademia and industry as never before with a col-lege-like campus and a commitment to partner-ship in the heart of Silicon Valley. Ames and itspartners will soon begin developing 213 acres onMoffett Field into a world-class laboratory andeducational facility. Here research scientists andstudents will conduct collaborative research anddevelopment in today’s most promising and ad-venturous fields: Astrobiology, biotechnology,information technology, and nanotechnology.

This exciting new chapter in the history of AmesResearch Center promises to get even better. Iencourage you to read about it in these pages.

G. Scott HubbardDirector, NASA Ames Research Center

This image shows a bubbly ocean of glowing

hydrogen gas and small amounts of other elements

such as oxygen and sulfur. The photograph, taken

by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, captures a

small region within M17, a hotbed of star

formation. M17, also known as the Omega or

Swan Nebula, is located about 5,500 light-years

away in the constellation Sagittarius.

1

AmesResearchCenter inNASA Visionand Mission

The past decade brought changes that com-pelled the Center to reinvent itself. The researchcenter that once maintained the world’s largestand most powerful wind tunnels and foremostexperts in aerodynamics today seeks innovativebreakthroughs in a 21st Century arena. Ames’pioneering research in information technology,biotechnology, and nanotechnology will enabledevelopment of innovative sensors to probeEarth, other planets, and other solar systems, anddramatically increase the ability to communicatelarge volumes of information across space. Itcould also lead to stronger materials, ultrasmallelectronic devices, and new space missions withlower-weight components requiring less powerand fuel. With leading-edge capabilities in high-end computing, Ames can fully exploit these emerg-ing technologies and interdisciplinary research,which many see as the most likely source of break-through technologies in the coming decades.

Ames Research Center in Ames Research Center stands at the epicenterof the most prolific and prosperous cluster of hightechnology businesses, universities, and researchlaboratories in the world. With an annual bud-get of more than $700 million and a workforceof more than 3,000 civil service and contractoremployees, Ames is internationally recognized asa pre-eminent research institution with an en-during research culture. Innovative design con-cepts and breakthrough technologies developedhere over the last 60 years are legendary. Theyinclude the blunt body concept, the first man-made object to leave the Solar System (Pioneer),the supersonic area rule, hypersonic ranges, arcjets, the chemical origins of life, computationalfluid dynamics, massively parallel computing, airtraffic management, airborne science, explora-tion of the outer planets, infrared astronomy, andthe discovery of water on the moon.

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Ames supports NASA’s new vision and missionpriorities across the Enterprises. As NASA’s leadcenter for Astrobiology, Ames is opening newpathways of exploration and discovery withinvestigations into the origin, evolution, distri-bution, and destiny of life in the universe. TheStratospheric Observatory for Infrared As-tronomy (SOFIA) and the Kepler missions willprovide scientists with powerful tools to unlockmysteries of the universe. The Center’s work inEarth science and Astrobiology helps publicpolicy makers understand global ecosystems andenvironmental change.

Ames’ research and development in air trafficmanagement and aviation safety and securityaddress an urgent national need to improve thecapacity, efficiency, safety, and security of thenational airspace system.

Using unique capabilities and tools in thermal pro-tection systems, Ames will further the design ofnext generation reusable launch vehicles to reducethe high cost of space travel and increase safety.

The NASA Research Park will focus the Center’sresources on advancing NASA’s research lead-ership, facilitating science and technologyeducation, and creating a unique communityof researchers, students, and educators who will“inspire the next generation of explorers.”

These and many other Ames Research Centercontributions to the Agency’s vision and missionrepresent the bricks along many paths that willlead to future missions—some of which are im-possible today. NASA’s vision is bold. TheCenter’s capability is strong. Ames will continueto build upon its legacy of accomplishment andservice to NASA and the nation.

NASA Vision and Mission

Ames Research Center2004 Implementation Plan

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SupportingNASAThemesand Goals

The following sections discuss Ames Research Center’s role in supporting NASA themes and

goals, as defined in the NASA 2003 Strategic Plan. Discussion extends to Ames programs,

projects, and research and development activities.

Supporting NASAThemes and Goals

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8 Ames Research Center2004 Implementation Plan

Understand Earth's system and apply Earth system-science to improve the prediction of climate, weather, and natural hazards.

Enable a safer, more secure, efficient, and environmentally friendly air transportation system.

Explore the fundamental principles of physics, chemistry, and biology through research in the unique natural laboratory of space.

Explore the solar system and the universe beyond, understand the origin and evolution of life, and search for evidence of life elsewhere.

Create a more secure world and improve the quality of life by investing in technology and collaborating with other agencies, industry, and academia.

Enable revolutionary capabilities through new technology.

Inspire and motivate students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Engage the public in shaping and sharing the experience of exploration and discovery.

Ensure the provision of space access and improve it by increasing safety, reliability, and affordability.

Extend the duration and boundaries of human space flight to create new opportunities for exploration and discovery.

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1Understandand protectour home

planet

Color and Symbol Key:

NASAMISSIONS NASA GOALS

Ames Research Center Alignment with the NASA 2003 Strategic Plan Crosswalk

Inspire thenext

generation ofexplorers

En

ablin

gG

oal

s

Explore theuniverse andsearch for life

NASA Goals and Themes MatrixAll elements of NASA work together to achieve Agency goals, a real demonstration of our One NASAphilosophy. The Agency goals are listed below, and all themes are listed by Enterprise. Elements of thematrix indicate each theme’s primary and supporting contributions. Themes with primary contributions

9Supporting NASAThemes and Goals

Space Science

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sion

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Ed.AeroTech

EarthScience

AerospaceTechnology

SpaceFlight

Biological &PhysicalResearch

White Dot = AmesSupporting

Contribution

Black Dot = AmesPrimary

Contribution

Light Blue = NASASupporting

Contribution

Dark Blue = NASAPrimary

Contribution

NASA ENTERPRISES

NAS

A TH

EMES

have at least one objective for which they are accountable. Themes with supporting contributions areaccountable through performance measures in the performance plan that is the Integrated Budget andPerformance Document.


NASA’s Space Science

Enterprise has five themes.

Ames supports three of them:

Solar System Exploration,

Mars Exploration, and

Astronomical Search for Origins.

Solar SystemExploration ThemeSolar SystemExploration Theme

S P A C ES C I E N C EE N T E R P R I S E

Solar System Exploration ThemeNASA’s Solar System Exploration Theme challenges its scientists to take on immense technological challenges

in an effort to answer fundamental questions about the origin of the solar system. NASA scientists respond with

enormous drive, investment, and focus—then quietly achieve the extraordinary: sending robotic vehicles across

vast distances in space; furnishing them with power for propulsion, data acquisition, and communication;

placing them in orbit around, or onto, distant and unfamiliar planets or other stellar bodies; ensuring that the

vehicles survive and function in hostile environments; and acquiring and transmitting data throughout the

lifetime of the vehicle.

Future NASA missions will demand still greater accomplishments in power and propulsion systems, telecommu-

nications; entry, descent and landing systems; and mobility, autonomy, and science instrumentation.

11Solar System Exploration Theme

SPACE SCIENCE ENTERPRISE

Ames Projects Supporting the SolarSystem Exploration Theme

Ames supports the Solar System ExplorationTheme principally through the Astrobiology andSpace Research and Aerospace directorates, respon-sible for research, product development, and servicesto support the space community in astrobiology andrelated areas of Earth, space, and life sciences. Fourdivisions in these two directorates focus on the SolarSystem Exploration Theme:

• Space Science Division

• Space Projects Division

• Aerospace Technology Division

• Space Transportation Projects Office

Space Science Division

The Space Science Division seeks to understandthe origins and evolution of stars and planetarysystems. With a total science and mission capa-bility unmatched by any other NASA center ornational laboratory, the division is a leader inthe emerging discipline of astrobiology, the studyof life in the universe and the chemical and physi-cal forces and adaptations that influence its origin,evolution, and destiny. A multidisciplinary teamof astronomers, astrophysicists, chemists, micro-biologists, physicists, and planetary scientists

supports the division, which focuses on thefollowing areas:

• Astrophysics: Researchers study the physicaland chemical properties of astronomical phenom-ena by observing theirradiation at infrared(and ultraviolet) wave-lengths, beyond therange of visible light.

• Planetary Systems:Researchers acquirenew, fundamentalknowledge about theorigins of stars andplanetary systemsand life itself, com-prising an integralpart of NASA’s focuson astrobiology.

• Exobiology:Researchers study the history, distribution,and chemistry of biogenic elements in thesolar system; prebiotic chemical evolution andthe origin of life; and the history of Earth’searly biosphere as recorded in microorganismsand ancient rocks.—Supports NASA Goals 5,6, and 7

Space Projects Division

Ames Space Projects Division provides project-management support to midsize space and airborneastronomy missions costing $500 million or lessto develop. Areas of expertise include:

• Bioresearch engineering

• Systems development

• Advanced projects

• Sensors and instrumentation

The division designs, fabricates, and validates se-lected sensors, instruments, and test beds. Dur-ing development, the division oversees contractspecifications and contract management, typicallyutilizing a prime or systems integration aerospace

(above) Ames scientists

study carbonate globules

from meteorite ALH84001

that may hold clues to the

potential for primitive life

on early Mars.

(left column) Tholin,

in situ, showing optical

properties similar to those

of Saturn’s satellite Rhea,

is used for the study of

icy bodies in the outer

solar system.


contractor to design, build, and test spacecraftand other hardware.

The division supports development of mission sci-ence requirements, using in-house analysis capa-bilities (e.g., mechanical, thermal, and optics) tofunction as a “smart customer.” In the operationsphase of nonhuman missions, the division performsscience operations and data collection.

Currently providing support to the Space StationBiological Research Project, the SOFIA Project, andthe Kepler missions, the division also leads projectsoutside the Space Projects Division. The divisionis currently seeking new missions to test the bound-aries and expand the limits of space exploration.—Supports NASA Goal 5

Space Technology Division and SpaceTransportation Projects Office

Past explorations of planetary systems via probessuch as the Galileo Probe to Jupiter and Venus haveresulted in unparalleled successes, due principally

to the successful design and implementation ofthermal protection systems that protect the probesfrom immense heat generated during the entryphase. For example, the Galileo Probe encounteredentry heating conditions equivalent to those on thetip of an intercontinental ballistic missile travelingthrough the center of a thermonuclear explosion.

Ames provides a combination of expertise and fa-cilities in thermal protection systems. With ad-vanced material development and characterization,thermal protection systems environment model-ing, development of advanced simulation and mea-surement techniques, and arc-jet testing, Amescontinues to make valuable contributions in thiscritical area.

Ames also provides unique engineering expertiseand critical facilities for future missions. The SpaceTransportation Projects Office and the SpaceProjects Division work together to apply thermalprotection system technologies to specific missionsdeveloped in the Space Technology Division, pro-viding project management and system engineeringsupport during the mission design phase.

The Space Technology Division is currently study-ing thermal protection needs for probe missions toTitan and Neptune under NASA’s In-Space Pro-pulsion Program. Thermal protection system de-sign studies are in progress at Ames in support ofplanetary missions recommended by the NationalResearch Council’s Planetary Decadal Survey andadopted by NASA’s Office of Space Science underthe New Frontier Missions. Ames will also sup-port future missions to Venus and Jupiter as wellas Lunar and Comet sample return missions.—Supports NASA Goal 5

Mars Exploration Rover

Aeroshell: Backshell

computational fluid

dynamics simulation

performed at Ames.

13Mars Exploration Theme


Ames Activities Supporting the MarsExploration Theme

Ames supports the Mars Exploration Themethrough the Ames Center for Mars Exploration andprojects in NASA’s Computing, Information, andCommunications Technology Program. Ames alsocontributes support through collaborative researchwith other NASA centers responsible for planningand executing Mars exploration missions.

Center for Mars Exploration

The Ames Center for Mars Exploration seeks toestablish collaborations with the Jet PropulsionLaboratory and Johnson Space Center to developexploration technologies for future Mars missions.The center currently supports the Haughton-MarsProject, an international interdisciplinary field re-search project centered on the scientific study ofthe Haughton impact structure and surroundingterrain on Devon Island in the Canadian HighArctic. The Center for Mars Exploration also pro-vides unique, Web-based, Mars mission informa-tion and concept maps, links to other MarsWebsites, as well as videos, images, and a wealth ofother information. The center is a joint activitysupported by the Ames Astrobiology and SpaceResearch Directorate and the Ames InformationSystems Directorate.—Supports NASA Goal 5

Mars Exploration ThemeMarsoweb

Marsoweb is an interactive Website to assist theMars science community in the selection of land-ing sites that are both safe and directly relevant tothe search for evidence of past or present life onMars. The Center for Mars Exploration created theWebsite in collaboration with the ExploratoryComputing Environments Group of Ames’ Ad-vanced Supercomputing Division. The effortmakes vast quantities of data from past and on-going Mars missions readily available along withsoftware tools that aid in the extraction and thecorrelation of different types of information—e.g.,surface morphology and mineral compositionwith topography and surface roughness.

Mars Exploration ThemeThe Mars Exploration Theme seeks to discover evidence of possible life on Mars—past or present. Mars missions

focus on investigating the current environment to uncover the geologic and climate history of the planet with an aim

toward learning which locales on Mars are most likely to preserve evidence of past or present life. Scientists hope to

discover if the Martian climate was once “warm and wet” and learn more about conditions in the crust beneath the

surface where Mars may store large quantities of water ice.


The Mars science community used Marsoweb ex-tensively in preparing for NASA’s 2003 Mars Ex-plorer Rover missions. The Website allows visualnavigation of candidate landing sites and maps ofdata, including high-resolution images, topo-graphic data, and various kinds of spectral data.Data are mainly from orbital missions, includingViking Orbiters 1 and 2, the Mars Global Surveyor,and, most recently, Odyssey. Virtual Reality Mod-eling Language (a language used to create interac-tive, three-dimensional worlds on the Web) allowsthe user to roam the data in three dimensions.—Supports NASA Goals 6, 7, and 9

Haughton-Mars Project

The NASA Haughton-Mars Project is an interna-tional interdisciplinary field research project cen-tered on the scientific study of the Haughtonimpact structure and surrounding terrain on De-von Island in the Canadian High Arctic. Viewedas a terrestrial analog for Mars, the rocky polardesert setting, geologic features, and biological at-tributes of the site offer unique insights into thepossible evolution of Mars. Scientists hope to un-derstand in particular the history of water and pastclimates on Mars as well as the possibilities for lifein extreme environments. The project also supports

a parallel exploration program aimed at develop-ing new technologies, strategies, human factors ex-perience, and field-based operational knowledge forplanning robotic and human exploration of theMoon, Mars, and other planets.—Supports NASAGoals 5, 6, and 7

2003 Mars Exploration Rovers Mission Support

A number of technologies developed in the Com-putational Sciences Division at Ames ResearchCenter are providing major support for groundoperations at Jet Propulsion Laboratory MissionControl during the Mars Exploration Rovers mis-sion. These technologies represent an innovativecombination of information technology andhuman-centered computing expertise. The resultof this effort is a suite of tools specifically designedto meet the complex operational challenges facedby the multiple teams of science and engineeringpersonnel involved in maintaining and directingthe twin Mars Exploration Rovers.

• The MERBoard represents a new class of com-puting platform: the collaborative computer.Scientists and engineers can use the large inter-active work surface to view their data, annotateit, then share it with team members. It providessimultaneous access to information within themission operations area, and real-time collabo-ration via remote access and control.

• The Mars Exploration Rover Collaborative In-formation Portal is a Web-based informationmanagement and retrieval system that will help240 engineers and scientists collaborate andoversee the actions of two rovers in two differ-ent time zones on Mars during cruise and sur-face operations. The portal will provide missionoperations and science teams with rapid andintuitive access to a broad range of science dataand mission status and planning information viaa user-customizable web portal.

• The Mixed Initiative Activity Planning Genera-tor is a ground-based decision support systemfor Mars Exploration Rovers operations and sci-ence personnel. It is used to build and refine anactivity plan as part of the critical tactical up-

A SETI researcher work-

ing with the Planetary

Systems Branch, in the

Hamilton Sunstrand suit

mockup at work in the

Haughton Crater.

15Mars Exploration Theme


link process. The system takes into account vari-ous factors, including mission and flight rulesand the intent of the science user in rapidly gen-erating a feasible plan.

• Viz is a three-dimensional terrain modeling andmapping tool that will give mission scientists andengineers eyes on Mars. The software-based tooluses images from stereo cameras on board the roverto construct a photo-realistic, three-dimensionalmodel of the Martian environment. A 20-minutecommunication time delay between Earth andMars rules out real-time viewing of the rover’ssurroundings. Viz provides a virtual reality simu-lation of Mars that allows scientists and roveroperators to interactively explore the remote en-vironment and plan experiments. Viz was devel-oped for the 1999 Mars Polar Lander missionand is a descendant of the Ames-developedMarsMap visualization tool, which was used dur-ing the 1997 Mars Pathfinder mission.—SupportsNASA Goals 6, 7, and 9

Enabling Technologies for Future SolarSystem Missions

Researchers in the Intelligent Systems Project un-der NASA’s Computing, Information and Com-munications Technology Program are advancingthe state of the art in autonomous robotics andintelligent vehicle systems in order to meet tech-nological challenges posed by future NASA mis-sions. Key research areas include the following:

• Autonomous instrument placement on board theMars Science Laboratory, a NASA mission thatwill send two robotic landers to Mars in 2009to prowl the Martian surface for evidence of past

life. Each rover will be equipped with an expan-sive instrument suite and must be able to searchthe Martian surface independently of NASAmission control. Ames researchers have success-fully demonstrated single-cycle autonomous tar-get selection, location, approach and instrumentplacement with the K9 rover, a six-wheeled, so-lar-powered rover developed and tested at Amesthat is modeled after the Field Integrated De-sign and Operations (FIDO) rover developedat the Jet Propulsion Laboratory four years ago.

• Fault detection, identification and recovery for arobotic craft in the proposed Surface Atmo-sphere Geochemistry Experiment mission toVenus. Survival of a robotic craft in the harshVenusian environment requires extremely robustonboard fault detection, identification and re-covery capabilities. Ames researchers have beendeveloping such capabilities and demonstratedan early version aboard the Deep Space 1 space-craft in 1999.

• Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter. Ames representativesare participating in initial planning for NASA’sJupiter Icy Moons Orbiter mission that proposesto orbit three planet-sized moons of Jupiter (Cal-listo, Ganymede, and Europa) that may harborvast oceans beneath their icy surfaces. The mis-sion will launch in 2012 or later. Ames is pro-viding expertise in information technologies thatcould support mission requirements.

• Evolutionary design of an X-Band antenna forNASA’s Space Technology 5 Mission. Ames re-searchers in revolutionary and adaptive algorithmsrecently demonstrated the evolutionary design ofan X-band antenna for NASA’s Space Technol-ogy 5 spacecraft currently scheduled for deploy-ment in 2004. The mission consists of threesmall satellites that will take science measure-ments in Earth’s magnetosphere. The antennaevolved to meet mission requirements, mostnotably the combination of wide bandwidthfor a circularly polarized wave.—SupportsNASA Goal 5

(left column) A three-

dimensional Virtual

Reality Modeling

Language scene of terrain

in the Melas Chasma

region on Mars. This tool

is a component of the

Mars Web interface

developed at Ames.

Ames Projects Supporting theAstronomical Origins Theme

Ames provides primary support to the Astronomi-cal Search for Origins Theme via the following:

• SOFIA Project

• Kepler Missions

SOFIA

Sometime in 2005, in a clear, dry region on thevery edge of space, a modified Boeing 747 SP willturn a massive 2.5-meter telescope to glimpse theinfrared radiation emanating from planets, stars,and the center of our galaxy—perhaps even fromdistant galaxies. Flying at more than 41,000 feet,well above 99 percent of the Earth’s interferingwater vapor, scientists aboard the world’s largestairborne observatory will enjoy a view of the uni-verse unmatched by any telescope on the ground.Her name is SOFIA—the Stratospheric Observa-tory for Infrared Astronomy—and scientists willuse her German-made, 2.5-meter, optical, infra-red, submillimeter telescope to make advanced as-tronomical observations at stratospheric altitudesfor the next 20 years or more.

The Ames SOFIA Project Office manages the pro-gram for NASA and provides technical oversightin systems engineering, optics, electronics, aero-


Astronomical Search forOrigins Theme

Astronomical Search for Origins ThemeNASA’s Astronomical Search for Origins Theme fosters research that seeks to answer two broad questions

related to life on Earth as we know it: How did we get here and are we alone? The answers lie in an understand-

ing of how galaxies, stars, and planetary systems formed in the early universe. Research scientists must determine

whether planetary systems and Earth-like planets are typical companions of average stars and if life beyond

Earth is a rare (possibly nonexistent) occurrence, or if it is robust and has spread throughout the galaxy. Research

in support of this theme aims to study the early universe, find planets around other stars, and search for life

beyond Earth.

17Astronomical Search for Origins Theme


dynamics, and operations. The office also coor-dinates activities with a consortium of three com-panies in the Federal Republic of Germany.SOFIA will reside at Ames.—Supports NASAGoals 5, 6, and 7

Kepler Missions

Kepler missions are funded by NASA Headquarters’Discovery Program, which seeks to discover hab-itable planets orbiting other solar-like stars. Sched-uled for launch in 2007, the mission will use aspecially designed, wide-field-of-view telescopecalled a photometer to monitor the brightness ofmore than 100,000 stars in the Cygnus constella-tion. Investigations over a period of four or moreyears will look for a telltale signature of planetary“transits”: When a planet orbiting another starpasses in front of it, a small change in the bright-ness of the star will occur. Three or more suchchanges, or transits—with consistent period,brightness change, and duration—will provide rig-orous evidence of a planet, which could be as smallas Earth. Ames is developing the mission with theJet Propulsion Laboratory and will complete sys-tem requirements review and preliminary designreview by the end of 2004.—Supports NASA Goals5, 6, and 7

(above) SOFIA during

an initial configuration

test flight.

NASA Astrobiology Institute

NASA founded the NASA Astrobiology Institutein 1998 as a virtual organization to forge partner-ships between NASA and university teams, labo-ratories, and other NASA centers as a new approachto interdisciplinary, collaborative science. The or-ganization represents a partnership between NASAand competitively selected teams to promote, con-duct, and lead integrated, multidisciplinary astro-biology research. These and other partnerships helptrain researchers in astrobiology and perform edu-cation and public outreach.

Lead teams involve researchers from multiple dis-ciplines and usually include members from a va-riety of geographically distributed institutions.Members collaborate with one another, both inperson and virtually, using communication andcollaboration tools supplied by the institute.NASA supports lead teams through 5-year coop-erative agreements with Ames Research Center.The virtual institute’s director and administrativestaff reside at NASA Ames Research Center.—Supports NASA Goals 5, 6, and 7

(left column) Artist’s

concept of the Kepler

telescope in space.


E A R T HS C I E N C EE N T E R P R I S E

Earth ScienceApplications ThemeNASA’s Earth Science Applications Theme takes the

science, data, and models of the Agency’s Earth System

Science programs to the next logical step—for use in

making policy decisions and implementing manage-

ment decisions associated with policy. The theme aims

to provide solutions to issues in 12 areas of national

applications (e.g., weather-prediction models, terrain

databases for aviation, etc.) by inserting NASA science,

models, and data into the decision support systems of

our partner federal agencies.

NASA’s Earth Science

Enterprise has two themes:

Earth System Science and

Earth Science Applications.

Ames contributes to both.

Earth SystemScience Theme

Earth ScienceApplications Theme

Earth SystemScience Theme

Earth ScienceApplications Theme

Earth SystemScience ThemeNASA’s Earth System Science Theme deploys and op-

erates the first constellation of Earth-observing satel-

lites, airborne platforms, and in-situ stations that will

reveal interactions among Earth’s continents, atmosphere,

oceans, ice, and life. Resulting data and information

enable researchers to understand the causes and conse-

quences of global change, and to predict future states.

Such information is useful to government policymakers,

businesses, and citizens interested in factors affecting

quality and sustainability of life on Earth.

19Earth Science Applications Theme

EARTH SCIENCE ENTERPRISE

Ames Research Supporting the EarthSystem Science and Earth ScienceApplications Themes

Ames supports the Agency’s Earth System Scienceand Earth Science Applications themes through theEarth Science Division of the Astrobiology andSpace Research Directorate and the NAS SystemsDivision of the Information Sciences and Technol-ogy Directorate. Additional support comes fromresearch in the Ames Intelligent Systems Projectunder NASA’s Computing, Information, and Com-munications Technology Program.

Earth Science Research Division

The Ames Earth Science Research Division con-ducts research in Earth science and astrobiology,focusing on scientific issues associated with globalchange, particularly atmospheric and ecosystemscience and biosphere/atmosphere interaction. The

division performs basic and applied research inatmospheric chemistry and dynamics, atmosphericphysics, and ecosystem science and technology.It also develops instrumentation and leads orcontributes to major airborne science missionsin collaboration with scientists and ministriesaround the world. The division aims to:

• Design, formulate, and perform experimentalmeasurements, remote sensing, in-situ dataanalyses, and computer simulations of atmo-

spheric and ecosystem processes, and study theexchanges between the biosphere and the at-mosphere, using both airborne and satellitesensor data

• Conceive and develop advanced instrumentationto satisfy the measurement requirements of theEarth science enterprise and related enterprises,emphasizing both airborne and selected space-craft sensors

• Provide the scientific understanding and themethods needed to apply remote-sensing andgeographic data analyses to the study of infec-tious diseases, and the associated models for riskanalysis of disease transmission in the varioushuman populations

• Transfer scientific knowledge and technology toU.S. commercial and private interests, national andinternational governmental agencies and ministries,other disciplines, and educational institutions

• Provide science mission management and sci-ence leadership in NASA science programs andother agencies

• Provide science leadership in the developmentof uninhabited aerial vehicles as a regular alter-native for airborne science

—Supports NASA Goals 1, 3, 6, and 7

(above) The Scaled

Composites' Proteus

aircraft was one of six

employed during the

CRYSTAL-FACE

experiment to study

cirrus clouds.

(left column) Ames

conducts earth-observing

investigations that collect

data required to validate

the algorithms that mimic

geophysical parameters

from orbital data. This

information improves

the Earth weather

predictive capabilities.

NASA Advanced SupercomputingSystems Division

The NASA Advanced Supercomputing SystemsDivision conducts computer science research in com-putational technologies, programming methodolo-gies, and algorithm development. Research focuseson discovering and addressing scientific requirementsfor performance and developing and applying opti-mization methodologies to applications in orderto make use of emerging high performancetechnology. Key research areas include:

• Thorough evaluation of high-end computingoptions that satisfy NASA mission requirementsfor capacity and capability

• Determination of high-end computing architec-ture characteristics to optimally support missionproduction requirements

• Identification of obstacles blocking scientistsfrom achieving high-end-computing-enabledgrand challenge objectives with milestones oc-curring through 2010

• Selection, use, andaccess to high-endcomputing systems formaximum benefit tomission applications

• Performance of fo-cused computer scienceand engineering researchwith high-end comput-ing vendors in order toinfluence future archi-tectures and adaptationof mission requirementsto product design—Supports NASA Goal 1

Biospheric Forecasting Research:Terrestrial Observation and Prediction System

Ames researchers in the Intelligent Systems Projectof NASA’S Computing, Information, and Com-munications Technology Program are conductingresearch in support of the Terrestrial Observationand Prediction System, a data assimilation system

that integrates satellite data, surface weather ob-servations, and weather/climate forecasts with aterrestrial ecosystem model. The research focuseson biospheric forecasting and automated data un-derstanding and seeks to:

• Improve prediction capabilities for 1) under-standing the impacts of climate and weathervariation on the biosphere, and 2) quantify-ing biospheric feedback to the climate andweather models.

• Prototype ecological decision support systemsto improve the quality of the biosphere by rap-idly integrating NASA satellite data with dataand capabilities from collaborating stakeholderagencies (the USDA Forest Service and NationalOceanic and Atmospheric Administration), in-dustry, and academia to predict natural hazards(e.g., fire and floods).

• Enable revolutionary capabilities in the genera-tion of real-time Earth science data products(e.g., evapo-transpiration) and forecast futureconditions through novel technologies in plan-ning, scheduling, and automated data under-standing.—Supports NASA Goals 1 and 3


Image obtained from the Earth Observing System (EOS),

a series of satellites for monitoring maritime meteorological

conditions, atmospheric ozone, gases that promote global

warming, and other global environmental changes.

(below) This wide-view

aerial image of a wildfire

overlaid on a map was

generated as part of the

First Response Experiment

designed by Ames, the U.S.

Forest Service, the State of

California, and General

Atomics. The First

Response Experiment

used remotely piloted

aircraft, remote sensors,

and advanced information

technology to send over-

the-horizon pictures and

data to firefighters over

the Internet in near real

time, enabling firefighters

to react more quickly

and effectively.

21Biological Sciences Research Theme

BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL RESEARCH ENTERPRISE

Ames Programs Supporting theBiological Sciences Research Theme

Humans in space lose bone mass at different rates,according to the location of the bone in the body—e.g., weight-bearing bones lose mass faster. Re-searchers in NASA’s Fundamental Space BiologyProgram, which is implemented at Ames ResearchCenter, are studying all aspects of bone loss—fromthe cellular level to integrated animal response.Such knowledge could help identify risks that as-tronauts face and lead to new medical treatmentsfor bone loss among the elderly. This research isjust one of many investigations at Ames focusedon acquiring knowledge to enable flight crews toleave Earth, perform their tasks, and return to Earthwithout adverse health effects.

Ames programs, projects, and research organiza-tions supporting the Biological Sciences ResearchTheme include the following:

• Space Station Biological Research Project

• Biomolecular Physics and Chemistry Program

• Biomolecular Systems Research Program

• Life Sciences Research Division

• Human Factors Research and Technology Division

NASA’s Biological and

Physical Research Enterprise

has three themes. Ames

supports one of them:

Biological Sciences Research.

Biological SciencesResearch ThemeBiological SciencesResearch Theme

B I O L O G I C A L& P H Y S I C A LR E S E A R C HE N T E R P R I S E

Biological Sciences Research ThemeNASA’s Biological Sciences Research Theme fosters strategic research required to support the development of

procedures and technologies that will keep flight crews safe, healthy, and efficient during prolonged space mis-

sions. The Ames Life Sciences Division in the Astrobiology and Space Research Directorate conducts fundamen-

tal research in support of this theme. Studies focus on understanding how microbioles, cells, plants, and animals

respond to the gravity spectrum—from hypergravity to microgravity. Projects supporting this theme also develop

new technologies to improve space flight life-support systems.


Fundamental Space Biology Program

The Fundamental Space Biology Program isNASA’s Agencywide program for the study of fun-damental biological processes through spaceflightand ground-based research. Implemented at AmesResearch Center by the Ames FundamentalSpace Biology Research Integration Organiza-tion, this program provides scientists with theopportunity to examine how gravity and other spaceenvironmental factors affect the fundamentalmechanisms of life. Ames is responsible for theSpace Station Biological Research Project.

Space Station Biological Research Project

The Space Station Biological Research Project willprovide an integrated suite of gravitational labora-tory equipment for use in conducting world-classbiological research on board the International SpaceStation. Responsibilities include the design, devel-opment, test, verification, and on-orbit validation

of flight hardware and software, including multiplehabitats to support a variety of biological speci-mens; a centrifuge with a selectable rotation rateto house specimens at a variety of gravity levels; aholding rack to house specimen habitats atmicrogravity; and a fully equipped workstation/glove box. The gravitational laboratory will alsoinclude microscopes, freezers, and other researchequipment supplied by NASA’s foreign partnersto conduct experimental procedures.—SupportsNASA Goals 4, 6, 7, and 9

Use of the Biomass Production System on the

International Space Station.

(top right column)

Training is conducted at

Ames in the mock-up of

the Space Station

Centrifuge Facility.

(above) The Ames Life

Sciences Division’s

acceleration facilities

human-powered centrifuge.

23Biological Sciences Research Theme

BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL RESEARCH ENTERPRISE

Biomolecular Physics and Chemistry Program

The Biomolecular Physics and Chemistry Programis collaborating with the National Cancer Instituteto advance the development of technologies andtools that will make it possible to detect, diagnose,and treat disease and injury far faster and with mini-mal invasion than ever before. Ames leads theAgency’s efforts to develop and apply such tools andtechnologies at the molecular scale. The programfocuses on applications that support the develop-ment of new sensors to diagnose and treat injury,illness, and emerging pathologies in astronauts dur-ing long-duration space missions. Additionalapplications will focus on monitoring spacecraftand habitat environments and on remotely sensingsigns of life in space-exploration missions.

Three key technologies form the cornerstones ofthe program:

• Physical-sciences technologies (includingnanotechnology)

• Information technology

• Biotechnology

The program will conduct basic research, developbreakthrough technologies, and deliver prototypeadvanced biomolecular micro- and nanosystemsand related technologies for the detection, imag-ing, recognition, and monitoring of biological sig-natures and processes at the molecular level.—Supports NASA Goals 4, 6, 7, and 9

Biomolecular Systems Research Program

The Ames Biomolecular Systems Research Programfocuses on developing molecular-level technologiesto monitor cellular signals and processes with ap-plications to crew health, safety, basic biology re-search, life detection, planetary protection, andnanotechnology. The Biomolecular Systems Re-search Program and the National Cancer Institutecosponsor a joint research program entitled Fun-damental Technologies for the Development ofBiomolecular Sensors. The goal of this program isto develop biomolecular sensors that will revolu-tionize the practice of medicine on Earth and inspace.—Supports NASA Goals 4, 6, 7, and 9

C. elegans: A commonly

found nematode which is

used in ground research

and space flight studies.

(left column) Cell

Culture Unit (CCU)

chambers. The unit is

being developed to

support basic research on

board the International

Space Station using

animal cells, plant cells,

microbial cells, small

swimming aquatic cells,

and tissues.


Life Sciences Research Division

The Life Sciences Division at Ames ResearchCenter seeks to understand how extended spaceflight affects the fundamental physiology of livingsystems. The work is vital in developing counter-measures to the effects of long-term space flightand directly supports the Biological ResearchTheme. Research activities include:

• Development and implementation of flightexperiments on board the Space Shuttle, In-ternational Space Station, and other unmannedorbiting vehicles

• Development and operation of technology re-quired to perform life sciences research on theground and in space

• Technology transfer

• Education for the improvement of the quality oflife on Earth

—Supports NASA Goals 4, 6, 7, and 9

Human Factors Research and Technology Division

The Human Factors Research and TechnologyDivision at Ames Research Center supports anumber of research projects funded by the Of-fice of Biological and Physical Research. Theseprojects focus on extending human capabilitiesin space by advancing knowledge of humanperformance during space missions, and devel-oping tools, technologies, and countermeasuresfor safe and effective space operations. Researchfocuses on human performance measurementand modeling, including work on such topics asspatial disorientation, perceptual adaptation inmicrogravity environments, psycho-physiologicalmodeling, oculometrics, visual perception, fatiguecountermeasures, cross-cultural and gender influ-ences on team performance, and design of spatialauditory displays.—Supports NASA Goals 4, 6,and 9

(below) Development

and testing of plant

chambers for the

European Modular

Cultivation System

prototype.

(right column) Spatial

auditory displays (three-

dimensional audio) can

enhance aerospace safety

by presenting localized

sound through a pilot’s

headset to increase speech

intelligibility and

situational awareness.

25Education Programs Theme

EDUCATION ENTERPRISE

EducationPrograms Theme

Ames Programs and Activities Supportingthe Education Programs Theme

Ames ardently supports NASA’s Education Pro-grams Theme through an assortment of programs,projects, products, on- and off-site educationalexperiences, and other activities that have vastlyincreased the magnitude, diversity, and technicalexcellence of its outreach over the last four years(1999–2003). Each Ames research directorate sup-ports ongoing educational outreach with inspiringcontent, technology and programs. Ames contin-ues to enhance NASA’s education and outreachagenda through programs and services for educa-tors and students. Ames produces award-winningmultimedia products, such as AstroVenture andVirtual Skies, provides hands-on experiences forthousands of middle school students through theAmes Aerospace Encounter, provides transforma-tive experiences for hundreds of students who workat Ames each year, and delivers unique teachingtools through hundreds of educator workshops andservices.—Supports NASA Goals 6 and 7

NASA’s Education

Enterprise has one theme.

Ames contributes to it:

Education Programs.

(left) While attending a

Director’s Breakfast at

Ames, winners of the 2002

Santa Clara Valley Science

& Engineering Fair, and

the San Francisco Bay

Area Science Fair, view an

Advanced Life Support

plant growth chamber on

their guided tour.

Education Programs ThemeNASA’s Education Programs Theme develops programs, products, and services to inspire and motivate students

from the full spectrum of the U.S. population to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathemat-

ics, including minority students and those from low-income families. NASA executes its national education agenda

through NASA Headquarters and NASA field centers, including NASA Ames Research Center.

E D U C A T I O NE N T E R P R I S E


NASA’s Space Flight

Enterprise has three

themes. Ames contributes

to one of them: Space

Shuttle Program.

Space ShuttleProgram Theme

Ames Projects Supporting the SpaceShuttle Program Theme

Ames has provided support to the Space ShuttleProgram Theme since the inception of the SpaceShuttle in the 1970s, contributing expertise inmany key areas, in particular the development ofthe Space Shuttle thermal protection system. Inaddition, NASA and others have developed dra-matic improvements in user-interface and cock-pit-display technologies in the years since NASAdesigned the first Space Shuttle in 1981.

Ames programs and research activities support-ing the Space Shuttle Program Theme include:

• Thermal Protection Systems

• Space Shuttle Cockpit Upgrade Project

S P A C EF L I G H TE N T E R P R I S E

Space Shuttle Program ThemeThe Space Shuttle Program Theme promotes research and development required to provide human access

to space and the International Space Station.

27Space Shuttle Program Theme

SPACE FLIGHT ENTERPRISE

Thermal Protection Systems

Ames Research Center contributed to developmentof the original Space Shuttle thermal protectionsystem. Today, Ames is committed to NASA’s Imple-mentation Plan for Return to Flight and Beyondand supports thermal protection system improve-ments. Key contributions include development andcharacterization of advanced materials, environmentmodeling of thermal protection systems, develop-ment of advanced simulation and measurement tech-niques, and arc-jet testing.—Supports NASA Goals8 and 9

Space Shuttle Cockpit Upgrade Project

The Human Factors Research and TechnologyDivision at Ames Research Center is contributingto the redesign of several Space Shuttle cockpit dis-plays and has taken a leading role in evaluatingcockpit displays and procedures. The Ames Infor-mation Sciences and Technology Directorate willcontinue to support the Space Shuttle CockpitUpgrade Project with expertise in cockpit displaydesign and testing, enhanced caution and warn-ing architectures, user interface with intelligentsystems, and other human-factors research.—Supports NASA Goals 8 and 9

(above) Thermal

protection system test.

(left) The Intelligent

Spacecraft Interface

Systems (ISIS)

Laboratory develops

techniques to improve

the interface between

crew members and next-

generation spacecraft.


NASA’s Aerospace

Technology Enterprise has

four themes. Ames

supports all of them:

Aeronautics Technology,

Space Launch Initiative,

Mission and Science

Measurement Technology,

and Innovative Technology

Transfer Partnerships.

AeronauticsTechnologyTheme

AeronauticsTechnologyTheme

Agency’s aeronautics investments. The theme fosters

research and development focused on increasing the

safety, security, efficiency, and environmental friend-

liness of air transportation. Research areas include

adaptive controls, new collaborative design and de-

velopment tools, air traffic management technologies

for new automation tools, and advanced concepts of

operations, among others.

Ames Research Supporting theAeronautics Technology Theme

Ames is an expert in the air transportation systemand next-generation air traffic management tech-nologies. Ames researchers have conducted researchin air traffic control since the mid-1980s. NASA’slong association with the Federal Aviation Admin-istration permits special insight into the challengesassociated with ever-increasing demands on thenation’s air transportation system. At Ames, thesechallenges take on special significance as the na-tion enters the 21st century when air transporta-tion operations could change remarkably. Ames’in-depth knowledge of the national airspace and

Ames’ FutureFlight Central is a highly sophisticated simulation facility that will emulate

Level 5 air traffic control towers and the busiest airports.

A E R O S P A C ET E C H N O LO G YE N T E R P R I S E

Pioneering technological advances over

the past 45 years by NASA and others

have revolutionized aviation. Consider

the following:

• Aviation safety has improved tenfold.

• Fuel efficiency has doubled.

• The cost of air transportation has de-creased by 50 percent.

• Aircraft noise levels have decreased byan order of magnitude.

However, the need for fast, safe, and

efficient air transportation will continue

to increase. To keep pace with demand, the air trans-

portation system and air traffic management system

must continue to improve and adapt. In pursuit of

that aim, NASA’s Aeronautics Theme holds a unique

role within NASA as the sole administrator of the

Aeronautics Technology Theme

29Aeronautics Technology Theme

AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE

air traffic management, together with the Center’sunique aviation simulation facilities and corecapabilities in human factors and informationtechnology, will keep it at the forefront ofNASA’s aviation research and development.

Nine Ames research projects support the Aeronau-tics Theme: six from the Airspace Systems Programand three from the Aviation Safety and SecurityProgram. Both programs are managed at NASAHeadquarters. A strategic research and develop-ment activity in NASA’s Computing, Information,and Communications Technology Program is alsobased at Ames.

Ames Projects in NASA’s AirspaceSystems Program

The following Ames projects support the Aeronau-tics Technology Theme:

• Advanced Air Transportation Technologies Project

• Efficient Aircraft Spacing Project (new in 2004)

• Efficient Flight Path Management Project (newin 2004)

• Virtual Airspace Modeling and Simulation Project

• Strategic Airspace Usage Project (new in 2004)

• Human Measures and Performance Project

Advanced Air Transportation TechnologiesProject

The Advanced Air Transportation TechnologiesProject aims to improve the capacity of transportaircraft operations at and between major airportsand improve the efficiency of traffic flow in the na-tional airspace. The project is developing decisionsupport tools to help air traffic controllers, airlinedispatchers, and pilots improve the air traffic man-agement and control processes from gate to gate.The project is also developing flight deck andground-based tools to support “free-flight opera-tions,” a concept in which flight crews, air trafficservice providers, and airline flight dispatchers col-laborate and utilize distributed decision-making toincrease system capacity and enable airline prefer-ences, while meeting air traffic management require-

ments. To support these decisions and avoid poten-tial problems, pilots and ground control personnelneed new, automated, decision support systems. Inits final phase, the project will assess and validateproject objectives. The project runs through 2004.Adapting and integrating the tools into the air trans-portation system will be the responsibility of the Fed-eral Aviation Administration and industry.—Supports NASA Goals 2, 3, 6, and 7

Efficient Aircraft Spacing Project (New in 2004)

The Efficient Aircraft Spacing Project will focuson efficient operation of individual aircraft withinthe National Airspace System. The project will ex-plore medium- and far-term National AirspaceSystem concepts that employ innovations in air/ground information management and responsibili-ties. The goal is to enable increased safety and ca-pacity in the terminal area through new, interna-tionally agreed-upon standards for wake-vortexoperations. Products will include: 1) validated tech-nologies and procedures for managing autonomousair/ground traffic, and 2) wake-alleviation feasibil-ity assessment.—Supports NASA Goals 2, 3, 6, and 7

Cockpit Displays of

Traffic Information

(CDTI) present 3-D

situational traffic

awareness information

to the flight crew to aid

decision making.


Efficient Flight Path Management Project(New in 2004)

The Efficient Flight Path Management Project willfocus on the coordination of aircraft operationswithin the National Airspace System. The goal isto develop integrated air traffic management deci-sion support tools and advanced traffic manage-ment concepts to facilitate the modernization ofthe National Airspace System. The project will re-fine and mature technologies defined in the Ad-vanced Air Transportation System TechnologiesProject, focusing on interoperability of tools andtheir integration with more distributed traffic man-agement concepts. Products will include: 1) a col-laborative traffic management tool (e.g., regionalmetering, departure/arrival integration, and airlinecollaboration), and 2) an advanced routing tool(e.g., tactical, controller-side conflict probe).—Supports NASA Goals 2, 3, 6, and 7

Virtual Airspace Modeling and SimulationProject

The Virtual Airspace Modeling and SimulationProject will identify new operational concepts forthe National Airspace System in the 2020timeframe. The project also aims to develop andbenchmark a set of analytical models for conduct-ing detailed assessments of the potential opera-tional benefits associated with the new concepts,

identify associated risks and limits, and establisha simulation environment in which specific real-time (human-in-the-loop) assessments supportnon-real-time system-level assessments. Theproject will also generate technology roadmapsfor selected concepts addressing research paths,technical risks, and potential challenges for in-troducing concepts into the National AirspaceSystem. The project currently plans to maintainmodeling and simulation capability to evaluatemodifications to existing air traffic managementsystems and new operational concepts.—SupportsNASA Goals 2 and 3

Strategic Airspace Usage Project (New in 2004)

The Strategic Airspace Usage Project will focus onthe efficient operation of the National Airspace Sys-tem as an overall nation-wide system with globalinteraction. The goal is to develop strategic plan-ning tools for air traffic control system commandcenters and aircraft operation centers. The projectwill also integrate assessment capability functionsinto the Federal Aviation Administration traffic-flow-management architecture. Products will in-clude: 1) a system-wide evaluation and planningtool, and 2) technology to manage surface trafficand coordinate departure operations with nationaltraffic-flow-management objectives.—SupportsNASA Goals 2, 3, 6, and 7

(above) Controller using

Center/TRACON

Automation System

(CTAS) tools to plan an

efficient arrival flow into

a busy terminal area.

(right column) The use

of text-based, Data Link

messages may alter the

traditional roles of

controller-pilot

communications.

31Aeronautics Technology Theme


Human Measures and Performance Project

Reformulated in 2004 from the former AirspaceOperations Systems Project, the Human Measuresand Performance Project will focus on human in-teraction—both with other humans in the systemand with the aircraft or other machines—and theperformance and reliability in the design of com-plex airspace systems. The project will take advan-tage of Ames core capabilities in human factors,air traffic management, information systems, air-borne systems, and crew station design and inte-gration to 1) identify, develop, and verify advancedtechnology concepts, methods, and procedures;2) transfer the results to industry or other govern-ment agencies for application; and 3) contributefacilities and expertise to industry and other gov-ernment agencies for cooperative technology ef-forts.—Supports NASA Goals 2, 3, 6, and 7

Ames Projects in NASA’s Aviation Safety andSecurity Program

The following Ames projects in the AviationSafety and Security Program, which is based atNASA Headquarters, support the AeronauticsTechnology Theme:

• Aviation System Monitoring and ModelingProject

• System-Wide Accident-Prevention Project

• Aircraft and Systems Vulnerability MitigationProject (New in 2004)

Aviation System Monitoring and ModelingProject

The Aviation System Monitoring and ModelingProject provides aviation decision-makers withtools to help identify and correct conditions thatcould lead to aviation safety-related accidents orincidents. The project seeks to: 1) develop tools toextract, integrate, and display reliable informationfrom large, dispersed heterogeneous databases withwhich experts can gain insight into the performanceand safety of the airspace system; 2) develop meth-odologies and tools to enable efficient monitoringof the airspace system by routinely processing largemasses of both anecdotal and recorded data; 3) as-sist and encourage stakeholders to use the tools foroperational evaluation, for continuous evolution-ary development, and as a basis for sharing infor-mation among stakeholders; and 4) develop fast-time simulations incorporating human-perfor-mance models that enable reliable predictions ofsystem-wide effects (including operator workloadsand propensity for errors) of proposed technologi-cal or procedural changes.—Supports NASA Goals2 and 3

System-Wide Accident-Prevention Project

The System-Wide Accident-Prevention Projectconducts research on aviation safety issues associ-ated with human error, procedural noncompliance,

(below) Flight simulation

scenarios are studied to

investigate the cognitive

demands of concurrent

task management in the

cockpit and to develop

methods to reduce flight

crew error.

(left column) Human

performance of complex

cognitive tasks may be

studied and evaluated

through the collection of

oculometric data.


maintenance, and training. Taking advantage ofAmes Research Center’s expertise in human-fac-tors research, the project focuses on mitigatinghuman error as a contributing factor in aviationaccidents and incidents. Research focuses on thefollowing: 1) understanding and predicting thehuman-error link in a chain of events; 2) under-standing and mitigating potential root causes ofincidents and accidents intrinsic to aircraft main-tenance and inspection operations; 3) understand-ing and mitigating root causes arising from crewerror; and 4) applying crosscutting human-factorsexpertise and research to mitigate potential humanerror.—Supports NASA Goals 2 and 3

Aircraft and Systems Vulnerability MitigationProject (New in 2004)

Ames Research Center’s Aircraft and SystemsVulnerability Mitigation Project will develop tech-nologies and human factors research products tohelp prevent security threats and increase the resil-iency of the air transportation system. Researcherswill employ a multilayered approach to minimizerisk in the system by limiting vulnerabilities, pre-venting the exploitation of unavoidable vulnerabili-ties, and mitigating the consequences of hostile acts.

Activities will seek to: 1) enhance the effectivenessof passenger and baggage screening; 2) enable air-craft to fly with degraded control systems; 3) detectaircraft that are deviating significantly from filedflight plans, and assist in responding appropriately;4) collect, analyze, and disseminate security incidentinformation; and 5) utilize advanced data-miningand knowledge-discovery processes to identify vul-nerabilities and assess novel threat scenarios.—Supports NASA Goals 2 and 3

Ames Strategic Research in NASA’sComputing, Information, and CommunicationsTechnology Program

A new era of adaptive/intelligent control systemsand health monitoring and diagnostic technolo-gies are being developed at Ames to maximize thesurvivability of vehicles, to the extent possible, inthe presence of failures or damage that mightotherwise result in a catastrophic event. NASA’sComputing, Information, and CommunicationsTechnology Program funds information technol-ogy strategic research in intelligent controls anddiagnostics focused on the following areas:

• Adaptive flight control systems that automati-cally compensate for a broad spectrum of unan-ticipated damage or failures

• Health monitoring and diagnostics technologies todetect and isolate flight critical component malfunc-tions and extend component/subsystem life

• Outer-loop methods to intelligently maneu-ver a vehicle under nominal and off-nominalconditions

—Supports NASA Goals 2 and 3

33Space Launch Initiative Theme


Ames Research Supporting the SpaceLaunch Initiative Theme

Ames is taking advantage of its expertise in thermalprotection systems and information technologyto support the Next-Generation Launch Tech-nology Program and the Orbital Space Plane.

Next-Generation Launch Technology Program

Ames supports the Next-Generation Launch Tech-nology Program in the following areas:

• Integrated vehicle health management: Ames re-searchers will focus on the collection and pro-cessing of information about the health of aNext-Generation Launch Technology systemthroughout every phase of operation (preflight,in-flight, postflight). Such information will en-able vehicle crews, maintenance personnel, andautomated ground systems to make informeddecisions concerning the safe operation and useof a space vehicle.

Space LaunchInitiative ThemeSpace LaunchInitiative Theme

An artist’s concept of the X-37 in the space shuttle cargo hold area.

Space Launch Initiative ThemeNASA’s Space Launch Initiative Theme is currently focused on the Agency’s high-

est space transportation priorities: 1) designing and developing the nation’s first

Orbital Space Plane, a new capability that will provide crew rescue from the

International Space Station by 2008, followed by routine crew and cargo transport

to and from the Space Station by 2011; and 2) maintaining technology invest-

ments in space transportation launch technologies through the Next-Generation

Launch Technology Program, which is aggressively pursuing a new space vehicle

and flight technologies that will expand the nation’s presence in space and allow

people and businesses to routinely travel and work in Earth orbit and beyond.

Research and technology development focuses on engines and propulsion systems,

hardware, and integrated launch systems.

• Crew cockpit technology and human-factors re-search: Ames will contribute to the develop-ment of an advanced crew system design forvehicle health monitoring and health mainte-nance in spacecraft equipped with integratedvehicle health management and other advancedtechnologies.

• Systems studies and tool development for systemsstudies: Ames will take advantage of its core ca-pability in information technology to supportsystems studies of advanced space transporta-tion systems. Ames will also lead the way in de-veloping the first “smart systems” for intelligentspace vehicles.

• Thermal protection systems: Ames also contrib-utes its unique expertise in thermal protectionsystems to the program, focusing on new mate-rials and systems; rapid design tools for ther-mal-protection-systems sizing; and general sup-port of industry-led teams developing next-gen-eration vehicles.—Supports NASA Goals 6, 7,and 8


Orbital Space Plane

Ames supports the Orbital Space Plane Programin the following areas:

• Thermal protection system: Ames researchers willprovide expertise in developing the thermal pro-tection system for the Orbital Space Plane. De-velopment of a more robust system with reducedoperational needs is a key requirement.

• Wing leading edge thermal protection system forX-37 research aircraft: The Ames team is work-ing with the X-37 project office to develop thethermal protection system for the wing leadingedge of the X-37, a NASA testbed for airframe,propulsion, and operation technologies for ap-plication in reusable launch vehicles. Tasks in-clude maturation of a new thermal-protection-system material, characterization of the thermal-protection-system environment, and qualifica-tion testing of the material for the flight-testprogram.—Supports NASA Goals 6, 7, and 8

On September 28, 2000, the SHARP (Slender Hypervelocity Aerothermodynamic

Research Probe) -B2 mission demonstrated the performance of 1-mm radius Ultra-High

Temperature Ceramic (UHTC) leading edges at Mach numbers greater than 22 and altitudes

greater than 43 km. The thermal materials tested may lead to a radical new concept in

aerospace vehicle design and performance.

(right column) An artist’s

concept of the experimental

X-37 re-entering Earth's

atmosphere after comple-

tion of its on-orbit mission.

35Mission and Science Measurement Technology Theme


Ames Research Supporting theMission and Science MeasurementTechnology Theme

NASA missions generate challenges that test thelimits in science and engineering. Innovative solu-tions may lie in new concepts derived from thefusion of expertise in information technology; hu-man-centered and high-end computing; autonomy,risk, and knowledge management; biotechnology;and nanotechnology. Such cross-disciplinary re-search will become central to the development offuture mission operations and science objectives.

Ames supports the Mission and Science Measure-ment Technology Theme through seven Amesresearch projects and activities: three projects inNASA’s Computing, Information, and Commu-nications Technology Program; two projects andtwo research activities in NASA’s Engineering forComplex Systems Program. Both programs areat NASA Headquarters. Ames also supports theCenter for Nanotechnology.

This image depicts the electronic structure of a synthetic analog of

nitrogenase, which converts atmospheric dinitrogen (N2) into

biologically available form. Designing a fully functional synthetic

nitrogenase would revolutionize agriculture and the economy on Earth,

as well as provide a fundamental enabling technology for Mars.

Mission and ScienceMeasurementTechnology Theme

Mission and ScienceMeasurementTechnology Theme

Mission and ScienceMeasurement TechnologyThemeThe Mission and Science Measurement Technology Theme is responsible

for developing crosscutting technology for a variety of aviation and space

applications, including communications, power and propulsion systems,

micro-devices and instruments, information technology, nanotechnology,

and biotechnology. Such advances hold the key to a new era in aviation

and allow space missions to expand our knowledge of Earth and the uni-

verse. Research currently focuses on developing advanced science instru-

ments, sensors, communications, autonomy, and data-analysis technolo-

gies for applications in aerospace, space flight, and medicine.

Ames Projects in NASA’s Computing, Information,and Communications Technology Program

The following Ames projects support the Missionand Science Measurement Technology Theme:

• Information Technology Strategic Research Project

• Intelligent Systems Project

• Computing, Networking, and InformationSystems Project

Information Technology Strategic ResearchProject

Future NASA missions will require new and dra-matically different technologies, including newmaterials; smaller, lighter-weight devices that con-sume less power; highly reliable software; andreconfigurable computing and information tech-nologies. The Information Technology StrategicResearch Project functions as a “technology incu-bator” for such technologies. The project identi-fies, explores, develops, and verifies high-risk, high-payoff, long-range technologies, and then trans-fers them to NASA missions. The project’s researchportfolio currently includes development and as-sembly of nanoscale components; intelligent adap-tive, immersive, multimodal control of aerospacevehicles; automated development and verificationof high-confidence software; adaptive and fault-tolerant systems; and new models of computing.Focus areas include: 1) intelligent controls and di-

agnostics, 2) evolvablesystems, 3) automatedsoftware engineeringtechnologies, 4) bionano-technology, and 5) revo-lutionary computingalgorithms.—SupportsNASA Goals 9 and 10

Intelligent Systems Project

The Intelligent Systems Project seeks to enablesmarter, more adaptive systems and tools that willwork collaboratively with humans in a goal-directedmanner to achieve NASA mission and science goals.Meeting those goals will require advanced com-puter science and information technology capabili-ties associated with system intelligence. Such tech-nologies do not exist today and will not grow outof the current government or public information

technology research and development laboratories.The project focuses on research and technologiesfor automated reasoning, human-centered comput-ing, and intelligent data understanding.—SupportsNASA Goals 9 and 10

Computing, Networking, and InformationSystems Project

The Computing, Networking, and InformationSystems Project seeks to provide NASA scientistsand engineers with seamless access to ground-basedand mobile distributed computing, information, andknowledge to enable NASA missions in aerospace,Earth science, and space science. Research focuseson technology development that will enable newparadigms of problem-solving and communicationusing methods that do not require specialized knowl-edge of underlying hardware, software, or informa-tion resources. Such technology will allow NASAscientists and engineers to focus on science, missioncontrol, or new concept development rather than


(right column) The

Intelligent Systems Project

focuses on automated

reasoning, human-centered

computing and intelligent

data understanding.

(below) Ames is studying

new materials; smaller,

lighter-weight devices

that consume less power;

highly reliable software;

and reconfigurable

computing and information

technologies.

37

on how to use specialized hardware, software, andinformation resources. Required technologies in-clude advanced computing and networking test beds,grid middleware to interconnect hardware resources,information management systems, and applicationenvironments that support the distribution ofmultidisciplinary applications operating acrossNASA’s assets.—Supports NASA Goals 9 and 10

Ames Center for Nanotechnology

The Center for Nanotechnology at Ames, heavilysupported by the Computing, Information, andCommunications Technology Program, focuses onexperimental research and development of nano-and bio-technologies and on creating a modelingand simulation environment. Nanotechnology isthe creation of materials, devices, and systemsthrough the control of matter on the nanometerscale. (A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.)Scientists say nanotechnology could lead to changesin almost everything from computers and medi-cine to automobiles and spacecraft.

Such changes could have profound implications forfuture NASA programs in aeronautics andspace. Nanotechnology could result in stronger ma-terials, ultra-small electronic devices, ultra-sensitivesensors, and ultimately, intelligent space-craft. Developments in bio-nanotechnologies willdramatically reduce the weight and improve thecapabilities of future aerospace systems.

The center also performs research in computationalelectronics, computational optoelectronics, andcomputational modeling of processes encounteredin nanofabrication and microelectronics manufac-turing. More than 50 Ames research scientists andtechnicians support the Center for Nanotechnology,which aims to develop novel concepts innanotechnology for application to NASA’s futureneeds. Focus areas include electronics, computing,sensors, and advanced miniaturization. Researchersalso focus on developing a highly integrated andintelligent simulation environment. Such an envi-ronment will help speed development and valida-tion of future-generation electronic devices andmaterials.—Supports NASA Goals 9 and 10

Ames Projects and Activities in NASA’sEngineering for Complex Systems Program

The following Ames projects and research activi-ties are part of the Engineering for Complex Sys-tems Program based at NASA Headquarters, andsupport the Mission and Science MeasurementTechnology Theme:

• Resilient Systems and Operations Project

• Knowledge Engineering for Safety and SuccessProject

• Investigation Methods and Tools Research

• Core Risk Research

Resilient Systems and Operations Project

The Resilient Systems and Operations Project seeksto enable revolutionary technologies for the nextgeneration of resilient space flight systems. Theproject is developing software engineering tools andadaptive control technologies to help mitigate riskin the design, build, test, and operations life-cyclephases. Products will include: 1) intelligent andadaptive flight-control systems, including avionicsand propulsion system control; 2) mature, mobile,robotic environmental-monitoring systems capableof interacting with both humans and avionics soft-ware as an aid in improving environmental fault

The image above shows

an interneuron from the

terminal abdominal

ganglion of a cricket.

This three-dimensional

hybrid digital/analog

computational device

"reads" a sensory neural

map and encodes complex

details of airflow into a

sequence of action

potentials—essentially

a bitstream.

Mission and Science Measurement Technology Theme


detection, isolation,and recovery, and en-hancing crew produc-tivity; 3) test beds, casestudies, and tools toidentify and character-ize risk precursors insoftware systems; and4) an intelligent soft-ware engineering toolsuite with softwarealgorithms, processes,and development pro-cedures to improvesoftware integrity andreliability.—SupportsNASA Goals 6, 7, 9,and 10

Knowledge Engineering for Safety and SuccessProject

The Knowledge Engineering for Safety and Suc-cess Project focuses on 1) human and organizationalrisk management and 2) risk-advised engineeringinformation management. Research activities in-clude: 1) analysis and modeling of risk precursorsrelated to team and organizational factors; 2) de-sign, deployment, and evaluation of decision sup-port technologies to mitigate organizational riskfactors; and 3) design of architectures, tools, andsimulation capabilities for “virtual iron bird” tech-nologies—model-based simulations of vehicles thatsupport effective risk management and coordina-tion. Research and development of virtual iron birdtechnologies focuses on the following:

• The Digital Shuttle, a joint collaboration withNASA Johnson Space Center to create a digitalrepresentation of the Space Shuttle that is com-prehensive, usable, efficient, and risk-aware. Thework involves laser scanning of the orbiters tocreate valid geometric models, digitization of en-gineering drawings, and development of an on-tology to organize vehicle information.

• Shuttle Wire Integrity Research, a close collabo-ration with NASA’s Johnson Space Center andKennedy Space Center to develop innovative

non-intrusive methods for wire inspection anddetection of subtle faults as well as software toolsfor wire risk assessment and test management.The Digital Shuttle and Shuttle Wiring Integ-rity Research tasks operate under a Memoran-dum of Understanding with the Space ShuttleProgram Office.

• SimStation, a collaboration with NASA’s LangleyResearch Center and Johnson Space Center thatseeks to develop an integrated framework formodeling, simulation, and visualization of theInternational Space Station. SimStation willprovide a “quick-look” tool for the InternationalSpace Station systems engineering team to usefor initial analyses and trade space exploration.—Supports NASA Goal 10

Investigation Methods and Tools

Investigation Methods and Tools will develop1) taxonomies and frameworks to enable compre-hensive, comparative analyses and trending in mis-hap and anomaly reporting data for space trans-portation and exploration missions; 2) informa-tion, organization, analysis, and visualization toolsto facilitate and manage the distributed investiga-tion processes; and 3) accident and causal modelsfor emerging complex systems accidents. Part ofthe System Reasoning and Risk ManagementProject led by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory,this Ames activity focuses on researching and de-veloping tools and technology to better understand,characterize, and manage mission and systemrisk.—Supports NASA Goals 6, 7, 9, and 10

Core Risk Research

The Core Risk Research activity focuses on fun-damental research in 1) model-based hazard analy-sis, 2) complexity measures, 3) risk characteriza-tion and visualization, and 4) risk-based designand optimization.

This Ames activity is also part of the System Rea-soning and Risk Management Project led byNASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.—SupportsNASA Goals 6, 7, 9, and 10


(above) The Personal

Satellite Assistant is a

small astronaut support

device designed to assist

astronauts who are living

and working aboard the

Space Shuttle, Space

Station, and during

future space exploration

missions.

39Innovative Technology Transfer Partnerships Theme


InnovativeTechnologyTransferPartnershipsTheme

Ames Activities Supporting theInnovative Technology TransferPartnerships Theme

Ames contributes to the theme through the AmesOffice of Technology Transfer Partnerships.

Ames Office of Technology Transfer Partnerships

Ames Research Center’s Office of TechnologyTransfer Partnerships supports the Innovative Tech-nology Transfer Partnerships Theme through theuse of common tools and procedures that include:assessing NASA mission-related technical needs andprojects; identifying crosscutting technology devel-oped for one NASA program or project that canmeet the needs of other NASA programs orprojects; identifying technology developed by othergovernment agencies, academia, and industry thatcan meet NASA mission-related technical needs;and identifying and pursuing opportunities tomatch NASA mission-related technology require-ments with industry capabilities. If such matchesare identified, the office will facilitate the develop-ment of NASA mission-related technology throughjoint-development partnerships with industry andacademia in order to reduce NASA’s technologylife-cycle costs and accelerate development.These types of partnerships also help transfer

Ames Earth Sciences research activity using a Solar-powered Pathfinder Plus Unmanned

Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with a Clark University multispectral camera imaging Hawaiian

coffee fields in an effort to optimize the harvest of the richest coffee beans.

Innovative Technology TransferPartnerships ThemeNASA’s Innovative Technology Transfer Partnerships Theme fosters the formation

of partnerships with industry and academia in order to develop new technology that

supports NASA programs. It also promotes the commercialization and transfer of

NASA technology to U.S. industry. In 2004, NASA will introduce the Enterprise

Engine to create innovative partnerships with individual nonaerospace firms and

venture capitalists who will support NASA’s new technology mission.

NASA mission-related technology into the pri-vate sector to maximize the return on NASA’stechnology investment for the benefit of the U.S.taxpayer. The office also facilitates all Space ActAgreements for Ames. Every year Ames enters intohundreds of partnerships to bring significant valueto the Enterprises.

Other responsibilities at Ames include managementand coordination of the following: TechnologyCommercialization Program, Technology TransferPartnerships Program, Small Business InnovativeResearch Program, the NASA Small Business Op-portunity Initiative, Small Business TechnologyTransfer Research Program, Far West RegionalTechnology Transfer Center, Girvan Institute ofTechnology, Ames Research Center Small BusinessTechnical Advisory, Software Release Authority,New Technology Reporting, Ames Research CenterTechnology Inventory, and Ames Research CenterAgreements Archiving.


(above) The DeBakey Heart Pump, a NASA research collaboration, has resulted in a

lifesaving heart pump for patients awaiting heart transplants.

(right) The Smart Surgical

Probe is a small disposable

needle with multiple

sensors that can

simultaneously measure

multiple physiological

parameters within a breast

tumor. This process is a

major advancement in the

state of the art of breast

cancer detection. The

probe, developed at Ames

in partnership with

Stanford University

School of Medicine, was

patented and licensed.

41

Consolidated SupercomputingManagement Office

NASA’s Consolidated Supercomputing Manage-ment Office (CoSMO) provides managementfor the production supercomputing servicesacross the Agency. Ames is one of seven NASACoSMO sites to host a variety of the fastestsupercomputers available that satisfy NASA’sproduction, research and development, and se-cure computing requirements. Resources in-clude parallel vector processors, scalableparallel processors, and clustered test beds.—Supports NASA Goals 1–10

Chapman, an SGI Origin 3000 supercomputer housed in the NASA Advanced

Supercomputing (NAS) building, is currently the only 1,024-processor single-

image, shared-memory system in existence, with one operating system and a single

address space. Chapman has 128 gigabytes of main memory, 2 terabytes of disk

storage, and will become a major component of NASA’s Information Power Grid.

The machine is named for Dr. Dean Chapman, who served as the Director of

Astronautics at Ames Research Center and earlier developed heat protection

systems for the Space Shuttle and other space vehicles.

43

CurrentCapabilities


The following sections discuss the Ames Research Center core capabilities and

workforce demographics. The section concludes with a description of the Center’s

real property and research facilities.

45


(above) Pilot brain wave activity is monitored in the Crew Vehicle System Research

Facility’s Boeing 747-400 Simulator during a study to determine fatigue, sleep loss, and

circadian rhythm disruption during long- and extra-long-haul flights. Fatigue is

measured during flight simulations to discover better ways to counter the adverse effects

of fatigue on flight crews.

Ames Core Capability: Airspace Systems

Ames leads the Agency in airspace systems, a cross-disciplinary area that leverages Ames’ expertise inair transportation management and human factorsto enable revolutionary improvement and modern-ization of the national airspace system. Ames ap-plied this expertise to pioneer “human-centered au-tomation,” a new approach to air traffic controlthat combines the skill of controllers with new com-puter-generated advisories. Research and develop-ment in the field led to the development of a set oftools to help air traffic controllers manage increas-ingly busy aircraft traffic at large airports. The FAAselected the new software tools—called the Cen-ter-TRACON Automation System (CTAS)—asthe future automation system for airport terminals.

Research Facilities

• Crew Vehicle Systems Research Facility

• Vertical Motion Simulator

• FutureFlight Central

• Human Factors Research Laboratories

Workforce Competencies

• Air Traffic Systems

• Fundamental Human Factors Research

• Human Factors Engineering

• Advanced Analysis and Design Method Development

• Crew Systems and Aviation Operations

• Advanced Experimentation and Testing Technologies

Ames Core Capability: Applied AerospaceInformation Technology

Aerospace and information technologies convergein this arena where researchers seek to reduce thetime it takes to design new aerospace vehicles. Re-search projects are developing aerospace vehicle de-sign tools that integrate the design system withperformance analysis and high-accuracy computa-tional and wind tunnel performance testing. TheseAmes-developed systems have demonstrated order-of-magnitude improvements in the time requiredto develop and validate a successful design. Research

Ames CoreCapabilitiesAmes Research Center’s expertise and facilitiessupport NASA missions and goals across the En-terprises. They literally span the universe: frommanaging the design and construction of theworld’s largest airborne astronomy observatory(SOFIA) to collaborating with the National Can-cer Institute to develop a nanoelectronic-based bi-opsy sampler that promises to provide results inseconds instead of weeks. The collective value ofthe Center’s core capabilities epitomizes “world-class.” The following section describes these corecapabilities. Each capability also references oneor more NASA competencies as defined in theNASA Workforce Competency Dictionary.

47Current Capabilities

also focuses on developing neural-based adaptiveflight control technology capable of handling sys-tems failure and other off-nominal conditions.

Research Facilities

• Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

• Flight Systems Research Laboratory

• Virtual Reality Laboratory





• NASA Advanced Supercomputing Facility

• Automation Sciences Research Laboratories

• Human Performance Research Laboratories


• Sensors and Data Acquisition

• Avionics

• Control Systems, Guidance and Navigation

• Communication Networks and Engineering

• Computer Systems and Engineering

• Software Engineering

• Data Acquisition, Management and Storage

• Neural Networks and Systems

• Intelligent/Adaptive Systems

• Mathematical Modeling and Analysis

• Data Visualization

• Aerospace Systems Concept Development andTechnology Assessment

• Advanced Analysis and Design Method Development

• Flight Dynamics

• Applied Aerodynamics

• Aeroelasticity

• Aerodynamics

• Thermal Systems

• Thermal Structures

• Advanced Experimentation and Testing Technologies

• Simulation/Flight Research Systems

Ames Core Capability: Astrobiology

Ames leads the Agency in Astrobiology research, amultidisciplinary field that combines the physicaland biological sciences to address fundamentalquestions of the universe. Researchers conduct ba-sic research, participate in flight missions, developscience and technology requirements for currentand future flight missions relevant to astrobiologyresearch, and perform education and public outreachto inform and inspire the public. The Ames-hostedNASA Astrobiology Institute serves as a primaryvehicle for these and other activities, bringingscience and technology communities together toidentify Astrobiology research priorities and trans-late them into NASA missions, programs, and tech-nology challenges. This “virtual institute” representsa partnership between NASA and competitivelyselected teams across the U.S. to promote and leadintegrated multidisciplinary astrobiology research.

Research Facilities

• Cryogenics Laboratory

• Image Processing Library

• High Resolution Spectroscopy Facility

(left) An Ames scientist peers

into a fermenter growing

"extremophiles" (organisms

that grow in near-boiling

sulfuric acid) as part of a

study that seeks to

understand the biochemical

adaptations that allow these

organisms and other life

forms to thrive in extreme

conditions--a fundamentally

important issue in Astro-

biology and the search for

life beyond Earth. The study

is also using proteins from

extremophiles to create

nanostructures. The proteins

self-assemble into robust

ordered arrays. The goal is to

demonstrate that proteins

can be used in nanotech-

nology to create nanoscale

sensors and other devices.

• Center for Bioinformatics

• Two electron microscopy laboratories

• Nanotechnology/Genome Sequencing Laboratory

• Nanotechnology/Advanced Life Support Laboratory


• Cryogenics Engineering

• Cell and Molecular Biology

• Developmental Biology

• Fundamental Physics

• Biology and Biochemistry of Ecosystems

• Space Physics

• Astronomy and Astrophysics

• Planetary Science

• Astrobiology

• Remote Sensing Technologies

• Detector Systems

Ames Core Capability: High PerformanceComputing

Ames Research Center ranks among the world’spioneering developers of supercomputing systemsfor scientific and engineering applications. Inno-vations in parallel computing, mass storage systems,and wide area networking have enabled order-of-magnitude leaps in many areas of scientific researchand technology development.

Research Equipment and Facilities

• NASA Advanced Supercomputing Facility

• Parallel and Clustered Test Bed Environment

• Next Generation Internet Test Bed Facility

• Aeronet (aerospace network)

• Information Power Grid Computing Environment

• Nanotechnology Laboratory


• Communication Networks and Engineering


• Network Systems and Technology


• Data Acquisition, Management and Storage

• Neural Networks and Systems




Ames Core Capability: Human Factors

Ames Research Center leads the Agency in humanfactors research, which focuses on human perfor-mance, technology design, and human-computerinteraction. Research findings are enhancing thedesign of advanced automation in air traffic man-agement and cockpit displays from general aviationaircraft to the Space Shuttle. Airlines rely on Ameshuman factors studies to increase safety, efficiency,and cost-effectiveness in maintenance, efficiency, andtraining, both in flight and on the ground.

Research Facilities






• Fundamental Human Factors Research

• Human Factors Engineering


The NASA Advanced

Supercomputer Facility

is the testbed for the

Agency effort to develop,

demonstrate, and

implement a distributed

heterogeneous computing

capability that will link

NASA’s vast computing

resources together to

create an intelligent,

large-scale, and adaptive

computational system.

Ames Core Capability: Intelligent Systems

Ames Research Center’s earlier innovations in arti-ficial intelligence for application in spacecraft andspace flight operations evolved over the years into acore capability in intelligent systems, which todayenables Mars rovers to scour the Martian surfaceindependently of mission control and helps groundsupport teams work more efficiently. Ames willcontinue to leverage its expertise in intelligent sys-tems to achieve advances in automated softwaredevelopment, automated planning and scheduling,collaborative reasoning, data mining, and datamanagement analysis and visualization.

Research Facilities

• Automation Sciences Research Laboratories

• Human Performance Research Laboratories

• Marscape Test Facility


• Robotics




Ames Core Capability: Life and BiologicalSciences

Ames has contributed its expertise and facilitiesto NASA missions since the 1960s with researchin fundamental physiology and biology that helpsmaintain human health on Earth and supportsthe development of countermeasures to the ef-fects of long-term space flight.

Research Facilities

• Centrifuges for gravitational research

• Biological Visualization Imaging and Simulation(BioVIS) Technology Center

• Central Clinical Laboratory

• Electron microscope laboratories

• Microbiological Clean Room

• International Space Station ScienceOperations Center


• Cell and Molecular Biology

• Developmental Biology

• Neural Biology

• Biomedical Research

• Biomedical Engineering

• Space Medicine

• Environmental Control and Life Support Systems

• Habitability and Environmental Factors

Ames Core Capability: Nanotechnology

Ames initiated investigations in nanotechnology in1996 and today leads the Agency in fundamental re-search that seeks to create materials, devices, and sys-tems through the control of matter on the nano-meter (one-billionth of a meter) scale. Ames lever-ages this core capability to support its Center forNanotechnology and conducts experimental research

49

Caption

Robotic technologies on

board the six-wheeled,

solar-powered K9 rover

undergo testing at the

Marscape test facility,

which is designed to

resemble the terrain on

Mars. Scientists hope to

utilize new “smart robot”

technologies during

NASA’s Mars Science

Laboratory mission

anticipated in 2009.

Ames developed the K-9

avionics, instrumentation,

and autonomy software.


and development in nano- and bio-technologies,modeling and simulation, computational electronics,computational optoelectronics, and computationalmodeling of processes encountered in nanofabricationand microelectronics manufacturing.

Research Equipment and Facilities

• Two chemical vapor deposition reactors fornanotube growth

• Plasma chemical vapor deposition reactor fornanotube growth

• Two atomic force microscopes

• Biology support facilities

• Parametric analyzer, 4-point probe systems

• Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transforminfrared spectroscopy

• Sputtering and lithography facilities

• Clean room

• Generic microsystems microarrayer and scanner

• Pyrosequencer

• Nanopore gene sequencing set-up


• Nanoscience

• Nanotechnology

• Bioengineering





Ames Core Capability: Space TransportationTechnology/Thermal Protection Systems

Ames Research Center’s history of innovation inthermal protection systems began in the 1950s withthe development of the blunt body concept forreentry vehicles and continues to the present day.Ames later pioneered development of the thermalprotection system that made the Space Shuttle theworld’s first reusable launch vehicle. Unlike heatshields on Apollo and other capsules designed toablate while entering the atmosphere, the Ames-developed black borosilicate coating—called reac-tion-cured glass—rejects radiated heat withoutmelting. The new class of NASA hypersonic andreusable launch vehicles developed in the 1990s—e.g., X-33, X-34, and X-38—all depended on Ameswork in thermal protection. Ames’ innovations inthermal protection also protected the Mars Pathfinderand Stardust asteroid return missions. The Centercurrently contributes its expertise in thermal protec-tion systems in support of NASA’s ImplementationPlan for Return to Flight and Beyond.

Research Facilities

• Arc Jet Complex and Testing Facilities

• Ballistic Range Complex


• Chemistry/Chemical Engineering

• Advanced Materials and Processing Science

• Materials Engineering

• Thermal Systems

• Thermal Structures

• Aerothermodynamics


(below) Mockup of the

Centrifuge Accommodation

Module (CAM), a

pressurized laboratory for

conducting life science

research on board the

International Space

Station. The actual CAM

is scheduled for delivery

by the Space Shuttle in

2007 and will be equipped

with the Life Sciences

Glovebox, Centrifuge

Rotor, habitat holding

racks, a freezer rack, and

stowage racks.

Doctorate23%

Masters25%

Bachelors31%

Associates4%

No Degree17%

Education Levels

51

Education is a core value at Ames. As a result, Amescontinues to lead the Agency in the percentage ofemployees with advanced degrees, i.e., 48% of allAmes employees and 70% of all scientific and engi-neering personnel hold masters or doctorate degrees.

The Center encourages all employees to continuetheir professional development through an arrayof fellowships and academic study. The continu-ing education opportunities include college coursestaught on-site and at NASA Research Park, as wellas full-time graduate study. Having several world-class universities from which to choose, e.g., theUniversity of California campuses at San Francisco,Berkeley, and Santa Cruz, along with StanfordUniversity and Carnegie Mellon University, is asubstantial incentive to join the Ames workforce.

Science andEngineering

60%

Administrative25%

Clerical5%

Technician9%

Occupation Categories

Ames WorkforceThe workforce is the most valuable asset at AmesResearch Center. Every effort is made to providean environment that is fully supportive of profes-sional and personal needs. The Ames reputationfor technical excellence has long allowed the Cen-ter to recruit and retain a highly educatedworkforce. The roles and missions of the Centerprovide scientific challenges that are highly attrac-tive to people with advanced degrees and peoplewho wish to continue their academic pursuits. Thestate-of-the-art research and development environ-ment, which provides fertile ground for scientificand engineering advancements, is an effective re-cruitment tool, which resonates with gifted re-searchers and innovators.

Ames is strongly proactive in creating a high qual-ity of life for its workforce. Ames offers an on-site child care center, health and fitness centers,commuter subsidies, flexible work schedules,work-at-home opportunities, and professionalgrowth and recognition. The work environmentat Ames is typically described as collegiate, col-laborative, innovative, and creative. The workforceis given great independence in accomplishing theCenter’s missions.


Ames recognizes that collaboration withacademia, private industry, and other governmentagencies, as well as international organizations,fosters professional growth. Ames fully supportsthese collaborations as well as attendance at tech-nical conferences where our scientists and engi-neers are often invited speakers.

The average age of Ames employees is 48.7 years,which reflects the professional maturity of the staff.The average Ames employee is at the height of hisor her professional career, typically recognized asan expert or technical advisor in one or more highlyspecialized areas. In recent years, hiring plans fo-cused on recruiting mid-career employees who wereable to immediately contribute to the Ames pro-grams at a professionally competent level. This wasan effective staffing philosophy at a time whenAmes was realigning itself to meet changing missions.


It was critical to attract experienced personnel. Theaverage age of employees hired in the last five yearsis 42.4. In this same period, Ames has experiencedan attrition rate of 4%.

In addition to technical excellence, Ames placesan aggressive emphasis on having a diverseworkforce. Currently women and/or members ofa targeted minority group comprise 47% of theworkforce. As a fundamental tenet, Ames embracesa harassment-free and prejudice-free work environ-ment that promotes the benefits of diversity andcultural synergy.

On average, Ames supervisors provide direction andsupport to 10.4 employees. This level of supervisoryoversight is appropriate for a large organization witha wide diversity of programmatic functions, rangingfrom multidisciplinary scientific research, engineer-ing, and development in emerging technologyfields, to design and operation of unique researchand development facilities.

Civil Service45%

Students and Others8%

Contractors47%

Ames Workforce

Moffett Complex

A part of Ames Re-search Center since1994, the formerMoffett Field NavalAir Station adjoins theAmes campus and con-sists of 140 buildingscomprising more than1.5 million square feet.The Moffett Complexincludes areas and fa-cilities previously usedby the military for air-field support, barracks, maintenance, motor pools,and storage. Twenty-two buildings are historicallysignificant. The 952-acre Moffett Federal Airfieldis essential to NASA’s continuing aerospace researchand development. Plans are under way to integrateMoffett Field and the adjoining Ames campus intoa world-class, shared-use research, development,and educational resource in association with gov-ernment, industry and academia.

Camp Parks

Located in Pleasanton, California, Camp Parks servesas a long-term storage facility co-located at the U.S.Army Reserve’s Camp Parks Facility. Ames is explor-ing alternatives for relocating the warehouse func-tion from Camp Parks to Moffett Field.

Crow’s Landing Flight Facility

NASA obtained the 1,500-acre Crow’s LandingFlight Facility in 1994 with the transfer of MoffettField Naval Air Station. In 1999, Congress directedNASA to convey the property, which is located inPatterson, California, to Stanislaus County. Ameswill transfer the property following completion ofenvironmental remediation by the U.S. Navy.

53

Ames Real PropertyAmes Research Center’s real property consists of301 facilities and structures spread over 1,864 acreswith 2,718,000 square feet of usable space with anestimated replacement value of more than $3 billion.Most of the Center’s civil service staff and contractorswork on the original 448-acre Ames campus, whichexpanded in 1994 following the U.S. Navy’s decom-mission and transfer of the adjacent Moffett FieldNaval Air Station to NASA. However, an ambi-tious development project is underway to trans-form the original Ames campus and the formerMoffett Field Naval Air Station into an integrated,dynamic research and educational community inthe center of Silicon Valley.

Ames offsets some of the operational costs of run-ning the former Navy facilities through partner-ships with the California Air National Guard, U.S.Army Reserve, the Federal Emergency Manage-ment Agency, and other Department of Defenseorganizations and federal agencies. Ames ResearchCenter currently maintains four sites:

• Ames Research Center (pre-1994 campus)

• Moffett Complex (formerly Moffett FieldNaval Air Station)

• Camp Parks

• Crow’s Landing Flight Facility

Ames Campus

The Ames campus physical plant consists of manyunique and specialized research facilities essentialto supporting NASA mission requirements: flightsimulators, wind tunnels, arc jets, advanced com-puting facilities, and a range of laboratories. Thecampus also contains support facilities essential toCenter operations: office buildings, warehouses,maintenance facilities, and recreational facilities.The campus contains approximately 1.4 millionsquare feet of research and development space, mostconstructed between 1940 and 1963.


• The Vertical Motion Simulation Complex is com-prised of several laboratory systems: the Verti-cal Motion Simulator, interchangeable simula-tor cockpits, embedded computing systems,graphics systems, real-time software systems, andother specialized subsystems.

• FutureFlight Central is a premier technicaldesign studio for 21st century airport opera-tions and planning. The facility provides a360-degree, high fidelity, visual simulationof a current or future airport, and a function-ally accurate physical and software replicationof a current or future tower or operations cen-ter. The facility allows research and operationsstaff working with NASA to plan new runwayconfigurations, test new ground traffic and towercommunication procedures, and validate air traf-fic plans using remarkably accurate “human-in-the-loop” simulation.

Wind Tunnel Facilities

Ames currently operates two premier wind tunnelswith a broad range of proven testing capabilities:

• The 11-Foot Transonic Wind Tunnel is a closedcircuit, single return, variable density, continu-ous flow wind tunnel capable of a Mach num-ber range of 0.40 to 1.40 and a pressure rangeof 0.5 to 2.25 atmospheres.

• The 9- by 7-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel is aclosed circuit, single return, variable density,continuous flow wind tunnel capable of a Machnumber range of 1.50 to 2.55 and a pressurerange of 0.3 to 2.0 atmospheres.

These tunnels comprise the Ames Unitary PlanWind Tunnel Complex, which utilizes a singledrive set of drive motors and two large axial-flowcompressors to power both wind tunnels. Recentfacility modernization efforts have enhanced dataquality and testing productivity. Customers in NASA,industry, academia, the Department of Defense,and other government agencies use the facilities.


(below) Studies have

shown that human error

contributes 60% to 80% of

all aviation accidents and

incidents. The Advanced

Concepts Flight Simulator

(shown) works with a

simulated air traffic

control system to allow

scientists to study how

errors are made. This

human factors research

also studies the effects of

automation, advanced

instrumentation, and

other factors, such as

fatigue, on human

performance in aircraft.

Ames CampusResearch FacilitiesThe following section describes major researchfacilities at Ames used to support NASA missionrequirements. A listing of other facilities follows.

Aviation Simulator Facilities

Ames operates three aviation simulator facilities:the Crew Vehicle Systems Research Facility, theVertical Motion Simulation Complex, and Future-Flight Central.

• The Crew Vehicle Systems Research Facility servesas a unique national research tool for studyingbasic human factors issues critical to develop-ing an understanding of the mechanisms andenvironmental factors that can lead to humanerror in the national aviation system. The facil-ity includes two full-mission flight simulators:a Boeing 747-400 and an Advanced ConceptsFlight Simulator.

55

The Center initiated closure of the National Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex and 12-Foot PressureWind Tunnel in May 2003, citing budget issues.NFAC is comprised of the 40- by 80-Foot and80- by 120-Foot Subsonic Wind Tunnels, both thelargest in the world. Discussion is under way todevelop a fiscally viable solution to keep these windtunnels operational. If Ames does not bring thefacilities back on-line by the end of 2004, they willclose permanently.

Thermal Protection System Facilities

The Thermal Protection Simulation Facilities labo-ratory conducts research, development, and quali-fication of materials suitable for heat shield appli-cations and for materials and structures studies ofvehicles entering planetary atmospheres at highvelocity. The following arc jets and other uniquefacilities support the design, testing, and verifica-tion of thermal protection systems for NASA mis-sions in solar system exploration.

• The Arc Jet Testing Complex is used to verifythermal protection system design and has beenused to test every NASA probe mission. It iscomprised of the Aerodynamic Heating Facility,the Interaction Heating Facility, and the PanelTest Facility.

• The Vertical Gun Range allows scientists to studythe impact of a comet on a planetary surfaceand to design, develop, and verify instrumentsfor future missions.

• The Ballistic Range Complex is a unique nationalfacility that enables the study of heating andaerodynamic effects on projectiles flying at veryhigh speed conditions and gas composition simi-lar to those encountered during entry.

• The Electric Arc Shock Tunnel Facility is used tobuild and verify physics-based simulation mod-els for use in predicting temperature and radia-tion behind the shock wave generated by theprobes during entry.

(left column) A model of

an FA-18 aircraft undergoes

testing in the 11-foot

transonic wind tunnel.

The Aerodynamic Heating Facility is a hypersonic wind tunnel where

Ames researchers develop and refine reentry thermal protection systems

for the Space Shuttle and other reusable launch vehicle programs.

Future work will support the X-37 and Orbital Space Plane.


Stratospheric Observatory for InfraredAstronomy (SOFIA)

SOFIA is a Boeing 747SP aircraft currently un-dergoing modification by NASA and the GermanAerospace Center to accommodate a 2.5-meter re-flecting telescope. Scheduled for completion in2004, SOFIA will be the largest airborne observa-tory in the world and will make observations thatare impossible for even the largest and highest ofground-based telescopes.

High-End Computing Resources

Ames Research Center leads the country in the re-search, development, and delivery of revolution-ary, high-end computing services and technologies.

The NASA Advanced Supercomputing Facility (for-merly the Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation Fa-cility) houses the high-speed processors, mass stor-age systems, and network interfaces Ames uses toprovide supercomputing resources to NASA sci-entists throughout the Agency. The facility alsocontains computing resources used to conduct re-search and development of new, integrated highperformance computing environments—e.g., theNASA Information Power Grid, a network of highperformance computers, data storage devices, sci-entific instruments, and advanced user interfacesintended to foster collaboration and sharing of sci-entific results among NASA researchers.

Other Ames Research Facilities

Additional Ames research, education, and supportfacilities include the following:

Life Sciences Facilities

• Center for Gravitational Research, including:

– Human Powered Centrifuge

– 20 g Human Rated Centrifuge

– 24 ft Centrifuge

– 8 ft Centrifuge (International SpaceStation analog)

– 30 ft Programmable Acceleration Sled

– Hypergravity Facility for Cell Culture

– Vestibular Research Facility (multiaxis)

– Life Sciences Flight Integration andResearch High Bay

• Biological Visualization Imaging and Simulation(BioVIS) Technology Center

Space Projects

• Cryogenics Laboratory

Air Transportation System Automation Facilities

• Air Traffic Management Automation Laboratory

Human Factors Research Laboratories

• Advanced Displays and Spatial Perception Laboratory

• Advanced Flight Deck Display Laboratory

• Applied Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory

• Aviation Operations Laboratory

• Cognition Laboratory

• Crew Factors Laboratory

• Distributed Decision-Making Laboratory

• Fatigue Research and Countermeasures Laboratory

• Human Centered Systems Laboratory

• Intelligent Spacecraft Interface Systems Laboratory

• Professional Pilot Training Laboratory

• Psychophysiological Laboratory

• Vision Laboratory

Earth Science

• Airborne Sensor Calibration Facility

Education

• Ames Aerospace Encounter

• Educator Resource Center

Other

• Hypervelocity Free-Flight Facility

• Systems Development Facility

• Automation Sciences Research Facility

• Balance Calibration Laboratory

• Hypersonic Free Flight Aerodynamic Facility

• Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

• High Pressure Air System

• Steam Vacuum System


57

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has snapped a panoramic portrait of a

vast, sculpted landscape of gas and dust where thousands of stars are

being born. This fertile star-forming region, called the 30 Doradus

Nebula, has a sparkling stellar centerpiece: the most spectacular cluster

of massive stars in our cosmic neighborhood of about 25 galaxies. The

mosaic picture shows that ultraviolet radiation and high-speed material

unleashed by the stars in the cluster, called R136 [the large blue blob

left of center], are weaving a tapestry of creation and destruction,

triggering the collapse of looming gas and dust clouds and forming

pillar-like structures that are incubators for nascent stars.

59

Future Plans

The following sections discuss Ames Research

Center’s plans to prepare its workforce and infra-

structure to meet the Agency’s future requirements.

The first section identifies key areas of research and

development Ames will undertake over the next ten

years in support of the NASA Strategic Enterprises.

The final sections describe the Center’s future plans

for workforce and property.

Future Plans

61

Ames will continue to lead the Agency in accelerat-ing the development of selected tools and technolo-gies for air traffic management for use in improvingthe capacity and reliability of the current system.The Center will also continue its efforts to facilitatetheir implementation by the FAA and industry.

Ames will provide foundational research andlong-term exploratory investigations for the airtransportation system of the future. Ames willlead the effort to develop advanced concepts andan airspace system modeling and simulation en-vironment to assess these promising technolo-gies and concepts. The Center will also developtransformational concepts for increasing airspacesystem capacity and technology road maps forenabling them.

Space Launch Initiative Theme

Major research and development over the nextten years at Ames Research Center will supportthe development and demonstration of a safe,affordable, and reliable crewed space vehicle foraccessing and returning from the InternationalSpace Station. Ames will focus on the researchand development of thermal protection systemsand other critical access-to-space technologiesthat will benefit NASA, the Department of Defense,and other government agencies.

Ames will also develop technologies to collect andprocess information about the health of a next-generation launch technology system throughoutevery phase of operation (preflight, in-flight, post-flight). Such information will enable vehicle crews,maintenance personnel, and automated groundsystems to make informed decisions concerning theoperation and use of a space vehicle.


Aerospace TechnologyEnterpriseNASA’s Aerospace Technology Enterprise is re-sponsible for providing technology leadership inthe pursuit of long- and near-term technology so-lutions to advance NASA missions and goals. Asthe Institutional Program Office for Ames ResearchCenter, the Enterprise sets the agenda for much ofthe Center’s research and development. The fol-lowing section highlights key areas of research anddevelopment Ames Research Center will supportover the next decade.

Aeronautics Technology Theme

Mission success begins with safety, and Ames willcontinue to leverage its expertise in human factorsanalysis, experimentation, and modeling to makedramatic improvements in the safety, security, andefficiency of the nation’s airspace. The Center willalso increase research and development on toolsand techniques for reducing aviation hazards andproactively managing risk.

Future Research Activities

Mission and Science MeasurementTechnology Theme

Future NASA missions will need new technologiesdramatically different from those in current usetoday. In response to that need, Ames will research,demonstrate, and infuse advanced computing, in-formation, and communications technologies toallow NASA to accomplish missions with greatermission assurance, for less cost, and with increasedscience return. Ames will focus on human-machineinterfaces, knowledge discovery, terrestrial-spacecommunications interfacing, software verificationand validation tools, and embedded informationsystems, including nanoscale systems. During thenext ten years, Ames will build on advances innanotechnology material sciences to enable morecost-effective fabrication of nanoscale structures,sensors, and electronic components.

Innovative Technology TransferPartnerships Theme

The Ames Office of Technology Transfer Partner-ships will provide significant support in the capture,protection, promotion, and management of intel-lectual property in support of NASA missions. Theoffice will continue to support NASA’s Small Busi-ness Innovation Research Program, the SmallBusiness Technology Transfer Program, and theNASA Alliance for Small Business Opportunity Ini-tiative. The office will also coordinate Space ActAwards activities with the NASA Inventions andContributions Board.

The Ames Office of Technology Transfer Partnershipswill continue to leverage partnerships betweenNASA and U.S. industry, academia, other govern-ment agencies, and the venture capital communityfor innovative technology development.

Space ScienceEnterprise

Solar System Exploration Theme

Ames will continue to support the design of theInterplanetary Communications and Sensor Net-work, a “network of networks” with connectingnodes between near-Earth systems and deep spacesystems across the solar system that will providehigh-rate, continuous coverage for space missions.

Mars Exploration Theme

Ames will lead the effort over the next 10 years todesign the space Internet. The Center will designand develop technologies and architectures to enableintelligent, autonomous communication anytime,anywhere with end-to-end information delivery fromspace directly to users.

Ames will continue scientific, technology, and hu-man factors research in the Haughton-Mars Projectover the next decade. Science projects will investi-gate Arctic ground-ice phenomena, impact geology,paleolake studies, and valley formation. Technologystudies will take advantage of the isolated, hostile

63Future Plans

terrain of the Haughton complex to test the vi-ability of new technologies for both robotic andeventual human exploration. Technologies includecommunication networks, autonomous aerial ve-hicles with take-off and landing capability,telepresence control of robots through both line-of-sight and satellite links, and, in time, habitatdesigns. Human factors studies will begin in earnestwhen NASA is ready to prepare for long-termhuman missions beyond Earth orbit.

The Center will expand Marsoweb datasets to in-clude those from NASA’s 2005 Mars Reconnais-sance Orbiter and, when available, the EuropeanSpace Agency’s Mars Express. The Website is evolv-ing toward one that permits users to “mine” theglobal Mars dataset for scientific purposes otherthan landing-site selection. Marsoweb could be-come a powerful tool for public education andoutreach. Ames will soon launch an education andpublic outreach version of Marsoweb at the AmesVisitor Center.

Astronomical Search for Origins Theme

Ames will initiate science operations on boardSOFIA in 2005 and will open a new era in astronomy.The airborne observatory will provide a uniqueplatform to investigate the following:

• Interstellar cloud physics and star formation inour galaxy

• Protoplanetary disks and planet formation innearby star systems

• Origin and evolution of biogenic atoms, mol-ecules, and solids

• Composition and structure of comets and plan-etary atmospheres and rings

• Star formation, dynamics, and chemical contentof other galaxies

• The dynamic activity in the center of theMilky Way

• Ultraluminous infrared galaxies as a key com-ponent of the early universe

SOFIA will provide important contributions tothe development of new observational techniquesand instrumentations and in the education ofyoung scientists and teachers in the discipline ofinfrared astronomy.

The Center will complete system requirements re-view and preliminary design review for the KeplerMission by the end of 2004. Scheduled to launchin 2007, the mission will survey the extended solarneighborhood to detect and characterize hundredsof terrestrial and larger planets. Results from thismission will allow scientists to place our Solar Sys-tem within the continuum of planetary systems inthe Galaxy. Ames will conduct flight operationsthrough 2011. An educational program that be-gan in 2002 will also continue through 2011.

Earth Science EnterpriseEarth System Science Theme

Ames will optimize code for global climate mod-eling on the Ames-operated 1,024-processor SGIOrigin 3800 supercomputer. Its unique architec-ture has increased the number of simulated climatedays from 900 daily to more than 2,900 a day.


Ames will continue to support Earth observationmissions. The missions will carry more than 200different instruments, providing measurements ofmany environmental change parameters. Ames andother NASA scientists will improve communica-tion between various mission planners by usingautomated scheduling technology to coordinatesatellite imaging and manage the increasing vol-ume of scientific data produced during the mis-sions. A science team will design algorithms forintegrating new observation requests with an Earthobservation satellite constellation’s existing opera-tions plan, then integrate science observation sched-uling technology developed at Ames with an Au-tomated Mission Planning and Scheduling systemdeveloped at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.Finally, the team will develop a technology planfor coordinated science planning for multiple mis-sions and an enhanced automated tool for coordi-nated science planning of future missions.

Earth Science Applications Theme

Ames will continue to utilize uninhabited aerial ve-hicles in the detection of fires, commercial crop in-festations, and environmental health monitoring.

Biological and PhysicalResearch EnterpriseBiological Sciences Research Theme

The Space Station Biological Research Project isexpected to complete development of the Space Sta-tion Biological Research Facility in 2008. Scienceoperations with this hardware will commence in2005 and continue through 2020 or longer. In theinterim, Ames will develop Small Payloads as partof the sortie activities supporting the InternationalSpace Station. Future efforts also look toward theuse of unmanned free flyers to conduct both physi-cal and biological experiments. In another area,Ames will develop an intelligent virtual model ofthe International Space Station to help NASAmonitor and operate the International Space Sta-tion, train astronauts, and support fault detection,isolation, and recovery. Ames will also conductground research in biological models to supporthuman exploration of space beyond low Earthorbit and increase our understanding of theeffects of microgravity on biological systems.

65Future Plans

Space Flight EnterpriseSpace Shuttle Program Theme

Ames will develop new approaches to human-computer interaction on board the Space Shuttle.Future research is expected to focus on the bestways to configure virtual environments to enhancehuman performance of complex tasks.


Education EnterpriseEducation Programs Theme

Ames will strengthen its ties to local communitycolleges in the next decade by increasing the num-ber of faculty fellowship programs and student in-ternships. Ames will support efforts to integratethe science, technology, engineering, and math-ematics curriculum between the University of Cali-fornia, California State University, and Californiacommunity college systems. Ames will bring edu-cation institutions with high minority representa-tion into the NASA Research Park.

Ames will continue to serve as the Agency’s leadfor education in 10 western states by providinggreater access to Ames programs, products, and ser-vices. Ames will significantly strengthen its con-nections to science centers, museums, planetari-ums, scouting groups, and other organizations thatserve educators and students.

Ames will also contribute significant support toNASA Explorer Schools, Educator Astronaut Pro-grams, Explorer Institutes, Scholarship for Service,and other Agency education initiatives.

67Future Plans

Third, the Center will develop management mecha-nisms to sustain competencies in a full cost envi-ronment. Ames will work to ensure that full costaccounting, budgeting, and management practicessupport the Center’s ability to maintain the rightworkforce for the future.

Finally—and most significantly—Ames willcontinue to develop innovative partnershipsand collaborative opportunities with industry,academia, and other government agencies. Thenew NASA Research Park and the UniversityAffiliated Research Center demonstrate theCenter’s commitment to such collaborations aspowerful mechanisms for fostering innovationin science and engineering.

The evolution from traditional aeronautics tonew research fields requires an ongoing effort torebalance scientific and engineering competencieswithin the Center’s portfolio. For example, infor-mation technology, physical and cybersecurity,workforce management, and cost analysis will be-come increasingly critical as the Agency evolves tomeet 21st Century management and technicalchallenges. To keep pace, Ames Research Centerwill focus on two things: maintaining key com-petencies, and maximizing collaboration with in-dustry, academia, and other government partners.

The Center will take a four-pronged approach tomeet the challenge. First, the Center is identifyingworkforce strengths and weaknesses—assessingcompetencies, evaluating requirements, analyzinggaps, and developing a plan with hiring targets,competency priorities, and a rationale based on theAgency’s new competency management system.Ames will use it to maintain visibility intoworkforce skills and expertise over time in tandemwith developing requirements for future missionand program requirements.

Second, the Center is proactively reshaping itsworkforce—restructuring jobs and organizations,retraining employees, fostering continuing educa-tion and professional development, and recruitingand hiring new employees in key competencies.Ames is also using targeted assignments and reassign-ments, more term appointments and temporaryemployees, a full suite of retirement incentives, anddetailing employees to special short-term assign-ments to balance skill sets. To offset retirementsover the next decade, the Center will hire entry-level employees. The Center is evaluating com-petitive sourcing opportunities.

Building the Future Workforce

University Affiliated Research Center

Ames Research Center is currently establishing aunique, hybrid, research center model consistingof a lean, civil service-based, core research centertightly coupled with a University Affiliated Re-search Center (UARC). The UARC will improvecompetitively sourced research by attracting andretaining the best research talent and enabling amore rapid refresh of researchers to meet evolvingmission needs. The UARC directly supports thePresident’s Management Agenda and is a key ele-ment of the Agency’s Human Capital Plan.

The UARC encompasses both a research and aneducational mission through a close collaborationbetween an established university system or non-profit and a NASA research center.

The Ames Research Center UARC will focus oncollaborative, multidisciplinary research and sci-ence that supports NASA’s long-term mission re-quirements. Program activities will range from fun-damental investigations through development andfield-testing of prototype systems demonstratingnew science and technological advances. UARCcore competencies will include information tech-nology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, aerospaceoperations, astrobiology, fundamental space biol-ogy, and computer science.

The UARC will also provide educational interac-tion between university faculty, students, and Amesresearchers to develop future human resources intechnology and science. The UARC will managean on-site “teaching hospital” type of environmentin the core technology and science disciplines. Thiseducational environment will apprentice graduatestudents with experienced NASA and UARC re-searchers working on complex mission problemsand will benefit the entire Agency through the con-tinuing education of the NASA workforce.

The close collaboration enables the Ames UARCto meet demanding, time-critical mission require-ments. Under the UARC, an established univer-sity or nonprofit can expand its participation fromfundamental research traditionally performed un-der grants and cooperative agreements to includemission-driven research under task order contracts.The UARC also enables Ames to utilize civil ser-vants more effectively in performing their inherentlygovernmental role in research.

The Ames UARC is a cornerstone in the Center’sstrategy to deliver multidisciplinary research re-sponsive to the Agency’s missions in partnershipwith academia and industry.


A research assistant observing a culture of C. elegans grown

in an ADvanced SEParations (ADSEP) cassette bag.

C. elegans is a nematode that is being developed by the

Small Payloads Team at Ames Research Center as a model

specimen to be studied in a space environment.

document to the 2002 Final Programmatic Envi-ronmental Impact Statement, the plan describesNASA’s preferred plan for integrating the originalAmes campus with the Moffett Complex. TheNASA Research Park is the centerpiece of the NASAAmes Development Plan.

NASA Research ParkAmes Research Center's boldest plan for the futurewill integrate the Ames campus and part of theMoffett Complex into the NASA Research Park, adynamic federal laboratory and shared-use centerfor research and learning that will fundamentallychange the way the Center works and plays.

69

Artist’s concept drawing

of the planned NASA

Research Park.

Future Plans

Ames Research Center began shifting its missionover the past 10 years away from aeronautics re-search and today maintains considerable expertisein information technology, biotechnology, andnanotechnology. Research and development inthese emerging fields will require an enhancedinfrastructure. The 2002 NASA Ames DevelopmentPlan provides a strategic framework and set of pro-posals to guide the use, renovation, management,and development of Ames Research Center landand facilities for the next 15 years. The plan gar-nered an award for federal leadership—the 2003General Services Administration AchievementAward for Real Property Innovation. A companion

Future of Ames Property

Government, academia, industry, and nonprofitgroups will partner with NASA to conduct collabo-rative research and development in astrobiology,biotechnology, high performance computing, andnanotechnology. NASA Research Park will alsoenable educational programming in science, tech-nology, engineering, and math. The collaborativeventure is based on the premise that innovationin science and research requires cross-fertilizationof ideas across related disciplines by public andprivate enterprises and many levels of academia.

Ames has already attracted some of the country’sfinest universities and colleges to the research parkand signed a long-term lease in 2003 with CarnegieMellon University for the first building in theuniversity's west coast campus. Other planning part-ners include the University of California at SantaCruz; San Jose State University; the Foothill De AnzaCommunity College District; the National Centerfor Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, andMath; the National Association for Equal Oppor-tunity in Higher Education; and the California Airand Space Educational Foundation.

The plan divides the Center's property into fourareas: the Ames campus (234 acres); NASA ResearchPark (213 acres); Bay View (95 acres), and Eastside/Airfield (952 acres).

The NASA Research Park and Bay View develop-ment will result in a total of 4.5 million square feetof renovated and new buildings. The NASA ResearchPark will feature a town center with green open space,outdoor seating, tree-lined streets, and bicycle paths,and a linked system of parks, plazas, and pathways.Some visiting scholars and others engaged in col-laborative research, development, and education willeven live on campus in new housing specially builtfor short-term use. Plans call for construction ofmore than 1000 apartments and townhouses. Part-ners will finance the renovation and construction ofbuildings and facilities for their own use.

Moffett Federal Airfield will continue to serve as alimited-use airfield primarily in support of SOFIAand other Agency or partner aerospace research anddevelopment activities.

Supporting NASA’s Master Planning Process

Plans are under way to develop the next Ames Re-search Center Master Plan, a 20-year set of propos-als and general guidelines to help decision-makersand planners make informed investment decisionsabout future facilities, land, and road use. Currentlyscheduled for delivery to NASA Headquarters in2006, the plan will function as a “living document,”with regular updates performed with the aid of ageographic information system currently in use forthe Center’s facilities engineering and maintenanceplanning. Extending its use to the master plan,Ames will use the geographic information systemto capture, store, analyze, and display informationabout the Center’s buildings, land, and roads accordingto location.

The master plan will take into account a range ofongoing Agencywide issues and anticipated trendsthat impact facilities and land use, including reducedmaintenance budgets, anticipated research growthareas, and increased security requirements. The planwill propose demolition of underutilized facilities,construction of new, lower maintenance facilities,and enhanced-use leasing opportunities for privatesector companies doing business with NASA.

Renovation by Replacement

Ames plans are to fund demolition projects in con-junction with new construction. Plans call for con-struction of one new office building in 2005, withoccupancy planned for late 2006. Ames will relo-cate occupants from three other Ames buildingsslated for demolition, demolish those structures, andconstruct a new facility on one of the sites. The roll-ing plan will continue through the next decade. Theinitiative will reduce the backlog of maintenance,repair, and deferred maintenance; reduce energy con-sumption; improve space utilization; and improvethe NASA revitalization rate.


71

Resembling the puffs of smoke and sparks

from a summer fireworks display in this

image from NASA's Hubble Space

Telescope, these delicate filaments are

actually sheets of debris from a stellar

explosion in a neighboring galaxy. Hubble's

target was a supernova remnant, denoted

LMC N 49, within the Large Magellanic

Cloud, a nearby, small companion galaxy to

the Milky Way visible from the southern

hemisphere. This filamentary material will

eventually be recycled into building new

generations of stars in the LMC. Our own

Sun and planets are constructed from

similar debris of supernovae that exploded

in the Milky Way billions of years ago.

Resembling the puffs of smoke and sparks

from a summer fireworks display in this

image from NASA's Hubble Space

Telescope, these delicate filaments are

actually sheets of debris from a stellar

explosion in a neighboring galaxy. Hubble's

target was a supernova remnant, denoted

LMC N 49, within the Large Magellanic

Cloud, a nearby, small companion galaxy to

the Milky Way visible from the southern

hemisphere. This filamentary material will

eventually be recycled into building new

generations of stars in the LMC. Our own

Sun and planets are constructed from

similar debris of supernovae that exploded

in the Milky Way billions of years ago.

Amid a backdrop of far-off

galaxies, the majestic dusty

spiral NGC 3370 looms in

the foreground in this

NASA Hubble Space

Telescope image.

Observations taken with

the Advanced Camera for

Surveys show intricate

spiral arm structure spotted

with hot areas of new star

formation. But this galaxy

is more than just a pretty

face. Nearly 10 years earlier,

NGC 3370, located in the

constellation Leo, hosted a

bright exploding star.

73

ImplementingStrategies

ImplementingStrategiesThis section summarizes details of the Center’s management and planning activities relative to NASA’s

“Implementing Strategies,” an Agencywide set of goals and performance objectives for improving manage-

ment and program performance.

Implementing Sound Management andPlanning Practices

“NASA must ensure that all of its activities arebased on a foundation of sound planning andmanagement practices. These practices are criti-cal to NASA’s achievement of its goals and aresimilar to the management strategies followed byall well-run organizations.

The five Implementing Strategies outlined in thissection describe an ongoing framework underwhich NASA conducts its business. Each strategy

has at least one objective that represents thenear-term improvements to which NASA is com-mitted. The responsibility for each objective isassigned to a specific NASA office or offices.Under that guidance, the entire Agency will adoptand practice these strategies to reach the objective.This common management framework will ensurethat all of NASA is working together to achieve itsMission as safely and efficiently as possible.”– 2003 NASA Strategic Plan

75

• Use the NASA Competency Management System toidentify current workforce competencies and futuregaps.

• Implement the strategies set forth in the NASA HumanCapital Implementation Plan.

• Use Ames Human Capital Plan to identify the compe-tencies required to support the Ames Strategic Planand methods needed to reshape the workforce.

• Increase freshout hiring in critical competenciesshowing high near-term retirement projections.

• Actively participate in the NASA Corporate RecruitmentInitiative.

• Use a recruitment firm to assist in the identification ofdiversity candidates for key positions.

• Use human resource flexibilities, including newlegislative initiatives, to attract and retain top talent,especially in critical competency areas.

• Strengthen leadership and management programs toprovide training and support to Ames supervisors anddevelop strong candidates for future managementpositions.

• Recognize high performance with appropriatemonetary and honorary awards.

• Strengthen relationship and interactions among humanresources, equal opportunity, education, and budgetorganizations to facilitate an integrated and synergisticapproach to tactical workforce planning.

• Strengthen relationships with Minority ServingInstitutions, community advocacy groups, andprofessional organizations for recruitment.

• Recruit at colleges and universities with large concen-trations of minority students.

• Provide funding for programs and other activitiessponsored by Special Emphasis Advisory Committees.

• Continue formulating the Ames Acquisition StrategyPlanning Initiative, to facilitate development of effectiveacquisition strategies.

• Continue integrating small-disadvantaged businesses,and small and women-owned businesses, togetherwith minority universities into the competitive basefrom which NASA can purchase goods and services.

• Utilize the SAP Core Financial module, the WebTADSTime and Attendance system, and Gelco’s TravelManager to ensure timely, accurate and efficientfinancial processing and reporting.

• Participate in the development of agency follow-onsystems, including Asset Management and theContract modules of IFM.

• Participate in the transition to the e-Governmentpayroll and travel systems.

Obj. IS-1.1 Attract and maintain a workforce that isrepresentative of the Nation’s diversity and includes thecompetencies that NASA needs to deliver the sustainedlevels of high performance that the Agency’s challeng-ing Mission requires.

Obj. IS-1.2 Define and adopt procedures to improvethe competitive acquisition of programs, services, andassets to benefit the NASA Mission and the Americantaxpayer.

Obj. IS-1.3 Improve and streamline the NASA financialmanagement system to enhance accuracy, timeliness,and accountability.

IS-1: Achieve management and institutional excellence comparable to NASA’s technical excellence.


• Develop sound financial processes and use IFM CoreFinancial and interfacing modules to contribute to theachievement of an unqualified opinion for theAgency’s financial statements.

• Develop financial and resources reports to supportthe implementation of Full Cost management andperformance measurement.

• Support the development and implementation of theNASA Shared Services Center/Finance to streamlinefinancial processes and improve service.

• Provide full cost, financial, resources, and systemstraining to program, research and business supportpersonnel.

• Support NASA programs through the utilization ofcost estimation and analysis tools.

• Implement the IFM Budget Formulation module tostreamline and enhance the budget formulationprocess and the analysis of financial performance.

• Develop and provide effective and timely decisionsupport reporting to Agency and center stakeholders.

• Strategically evaluate the organizational structure ofthe Office of the CFO to support full cost, perfor-mance management, and changing business.

• Participate in the Agency Editorial Board and continueto provide Mission-related content to support theNASAwide Internet Portal.

• Redesign the internal portal, ARCweb, to increaseinformation distribution, collaboration, and to provideproductivity tools and capabilities.

• Update and maintain Ames Real Property Master Planand Space Utilization Plan.

• Update Ames Real Property Investment Plans forfocus areas and unique facilities.

• Implement the Integrated Asset Management systemto improve property user validation and tracking.

Obj. IS-1.4 Unify the processes for strategic andbudget planning, budget reporting, and performanceplanning and reporting.

Obj. IS-1.5 Beginning in early 2003, provide anintegrated and user-friendly NASAwide Internet portalthat will provide improved public access to NASAMission results and other products, improved visibilityinto NASA plans and programs, and enhanced communi-cation among NASA employees and contractors.

Obj. IS-1.6 Improve the institutional management ofcapital assets to ensure that NASA’s real property,personal property, processes, and systems aresustained and optimized to support NASA’s missionsand the capabilities required for today and tomorrow.

77ImplementingStrategies

IS-1 continued

• Maintain leadership role as the Agency CompetencyCenter for Information Technology Security, whichincludes: Agency-level ITS policy, ITS initiatives projectmanagement, and IT security advanced technologyevaluations and demonstrations.

• Deploy and operate IFMP IT systems to providereliable, integrated administrative services.

• Implement a managed, secure campuswide wirelessnetwork infrastructure.

• Deploy general encrypted data storage capabilities forAmes users.

• Participate in the One NASA e-mail pilot demonstra-tion, evaluating the application service provider modelfor service delivery of integrated e-mail, voice mail,calendaring, and file sharing.

• Outsource desktop acquisition, support and manage-ment, improving our service delivery model and addingthe capability of automated software distribution.

• Contribute IT security architecture design expertise andsteering committee membership to the NASA Commu-nications and Computing Center for the design andimplementation of the One NASA wide area networkservice.

• Upgrade the legacy video infrastructure to supportdigital video to facilitate best possible presentation ofAmes science and research video content.

• Deliver new Ames external web site, consistent withthe NASA portal concept, to provide better representa-tion of Ames projects and research to the public.

Obj. IS-2.1 By 2005 provide all NASA operations withsecure, highly reliable, interoperable informationsystems.

Obj. IS-2.2 By 2005 enable NASA people to communi-cate across an integrated, low-cost informationtechnology infrastructure.

Obj. IS-2.3 By 2005 design and operate a One NASAnetwork to improve organizational interactions andfoster improved collaboration and sharing of accumu-lated NASA knowledge assets.

Obj. IS-3.1 Implement collaborative engineeringcapabilities and integrated design solutions to reducethe lifecycle cost and technical, cost, and schedule riskof major programs.

IS-2: Demonstrate NASA leadership in the use of information technologies.


Obj. IS-2.4 By 2005 establish systems to deliversuperior information services to consumers, educators,students, researchers, and the general public, as well asto Government agencies, NASA contractors andsuppliers, and other businesses.

IS-3: Enhance NASA’s core engineering, management, and science capabilities and processes toensure safety and mission success, increase performance and reduce cost.

• Establish training programs that promote systemsmanagement tools and their effective implementationin cost estimating, earned value management, systemsengineering, and program/project management.

• Provide the Project Starter Kit, a resource for program/project managers to use as an initial set of tools, aides,information sources, and guides to support thesuccessful execution of their programs and projects.

• Deploy and provide training on cost estimating toolsand scheduling tools for performing systemsengineering, cost analysis, and project planning.

• Provide cost estimating and earned value manage-ment consulting services.


Obj. IS-3.2 Apply methods and technologies to ensurethat designs are safe and have a high likelihood forsuccess.

Obj. IS-3.3 Improve our systems engineering capabilityand ensure that all NASA programs follow systemsengineering best practices throughout their life cycles.

Obj. IS-3.4 Establish a process management approachthat can be tailored to the needs of all projects andprograms based on safety, scope, complexity, cost, andacceptable risk.

Obj. IS-3.5 Use peer review to ensure that NASA’sscientific research is of the highest quality.

• Provide training on Risk Based Acquisition Managementpractices.

• Provide collaborative knowledge sharing forums.

• Provide systems analysis throughout the design processto identify and effectively control safety and missionrisks according to the Ames System Safety, Reliability,and Quality Management Manual.

• Provide independent assessment of program and projectsystems engineering practices and performance.

• Deploy systems engineering tools and best practicesacross program and project community.

• Capture and disseminate systems engineering lessonslearned from past and current projects.

• Support the NASA Systems Engineering Working Groupand the Project Management Working Group.

• Integrate systems engineering professional developmentactivity with Ames program/project managementdevelopment program.

• Provide “best practices” systems engineering work-shops and forums.

• Use the NPG 7120.5 compliance matrix and program/project planning document to provide consistentapplication of project management planning activities.

• Provide the Ames Project Starter Kit to new programsand projects.

• Provide sample plans for systems engineering, riskmanagement, and program/project management.

• Provide cost estimating and earned value managementconsulting services for programs and projects.

• Provide monthly reviews of all major Ames projects bythe Ames Project Management Council.

• Encourage Project Management Working Group toidentify and implement improvements to projectmanagement at Ames.

• Use the Ames System Safety, Reliability and QualityManagement Manual to define a tailorable approach toprogram/project risk assessment and risk management.

• Use the Ames Environmental Management System toset priorities, objectives, and targets based onfrequency and severity of impacts to safety and health,natural and cultural resources, cost, mission, reputa-tion and stakeholder relationships, and legal andregulatory compliance.

• Continue research funding based on Research andTechnology Objective and Plans (RTOP) submissionsand proposals to NASA Research Announcements (NRA)which are approved based on peer review and passingscores.

• Continue basing research metrics on grant approvals(RTOPS, NRAs) and on publications in peer reviewedjournals.

IS-3 continued

• Provide occupational safety guidance and oversight ofall Center activities, including equipment, system, andfacility operations and maintenance, through the AmesVPP Star Program.

• Participate in the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force andcoordinate with the Department of Defense and othergovernment intelligence organizations, to receivetimely and relevant threat information.

• Maintain a high level of training for Ames security/lawenforcement officers.

• Coordinate closely with the U.S. Marshal and the U.S.Attorney’s Office to ensure adequate federal lawenforcement first response capabilities as most ofAmes is under federal exclusive legislative jurisdiction.

• Work closely with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’sOffice to ensure adequate law enforcement response toincidents where they have jurisdiction.

• Utilize training opportunities with local law enforcementin areas such as use of arrest authority and firearms.

• Work closely with the NASA IG on investigations withinthe IG’s jurisdiction.

• Maintain training levels for the Ames EmergencyOperations Center and coordinate with the CA Office ofEmergency Services and local fire departments toprovide first response to and/or recovery from a threator other incident.

• Coordinate with the Air National Guard 129th RescueWing to maintain the Ames Fire Department andmutual aid relationships with local fire departments toensure first response capabilities.

• Provide support to Ames Information TechnologySecurity group.

• Provide timely and efficient personnel securityscreening, background checks, clearances, etc.

• Provide training to ensure information, especiallyclassified information, is properly maintained.

• Ensure compliance with export laws and regulationsthrough Export Compliance Working Groups and otheroutreach and training.

• Coordinate with Ames organizations and HQ tomaintain a list of mission essential facilities andequipment.

• Maintain trained security force with arrest authority topatrol and guard Ames critical facilities.

• Invest in up-to-date physical and technical securitysystems, such as alarm, camera, and card-key accesssystems.

• Maintain perimeter security officers at exterior gatesleading into all Ames property as well as the interiorgates leading into the Ames campus.

Obj. IS-4.1 Prevent injuries from occurring during thecourse of NASA activities on NASA facilities or in theuse of NASA equipment.

Obj. IS-4.2 Work closely with other Governmentagencies and local authorities to identify and try toremove all security threats to NASA people, facilities,and information.

Obj. IS-4.3 Protect NASA’s physical assets fromdamage or theft.

IS-4: Ensure that all NASA work environments, on Earth and in space, are safe, healthy, environmentallysound, and secure.


• Maintain accreditation of the Ames healthcareprogram at the JCAHCO level, which has the highesthealthcare standards.

• Ergonomically assess employee work environmentsto improve any conditions that may negatively impactthe health of the employees.

• Comply with NPD 8500.1 and meet all California stateand local environmental regulations.

• Implement programs to reduce toxic chemical use,minimize hazardous waste, respond effectively tohazardous materials spills and releases, and clean upsoil and groundwater contamination according to theAmes Environmental Procedures and Guidelines.

Obj. IS-4.4 Eliminate the incidence of occupationalhealth problems for the NASA workforce.

Obj. IS-4.5 Eliminate environmental incidents, toxicchemical use, hazardous waste, and environmentalliability at all NASA sites.


IS-4 continued

• Provide independent assessment of programs andprojects and provide the results to decision makers.

• Provide tools and training to programs and projects.

• Consult with programs and projects to establish bestpractices.

• Recommend tools for program and project manage-ment and systems engineering.

• Continue to collect lessons learned from past andcurrent projects.

• Utilize the Academy of Program & Project Leadership’sPerformance Enhancement Support Services toprovide decision-making mentoring and coachingconsulting services to Ames program and projectmanagers.

• Provide lessons learned forums on decision-makingand cultural and organizational issues.

• Provide cost estimating and earned value managementconsulting services for the programs and projects.

• Participate in the Earned Value Management FocalPoint Council to establish cost estimating standardsand practices.

• Promote the use of cost estimating software tools.

• Provide training and expert assistance in cost analysisand estimating.

• Provide comprehensive program/project managementdevelopment and training programs, to includeeducation, work experience learning; mentoring, andknowledge-sharing activities.

Obj. IS-5.1 Provide tools, techniques, and expertise thatwill enable all elements of the Agency to make well-informed decisions on matters of critical Missionimportance.

Obj. IS-5.2 Improve processes for cost estimation andthe management of major NASA projects and pro-grams.

IS-5: Manage risk and cost to ensure success and provide the greatest value to the American public.


AAerospace Technology 2004 Strategic Planhttp://ifmp.nasa.gov/codeb/budget2004/17-Aeronautics.pdf

Aerospace Technology Themehttp://www.aerospace.nasa.gov/themes/at.htm

Advanced Air Transportation Technologies Project (AATT)http://www.asc.nasa.gov/aatt/

Airspace Systems Programhttp://www.asc.nasa.gov/

Ames Aerospace Encounterhttp://encounter.arc.nasa.gov/

Ames Bio-Visualization Imaging and Simulation(BioVIS) Technology Centerhttp://www.nasamedicalimaging.com/pdf/SPIE-02-2002/01SmithJD_SPIE02.pdf

Ames Commercial Technology Officehttp://technology.arc.nasa.gov/homepage.html

Ames Educator Resources/Workshopshttp://education.arc.nasa.gov/pages/edresources.html

Ames Office of Educationhttp://education.arc.nasa.gov/

Ames Simulation Laboratorieshttp://www.simlabs.arc.nasa.gov/http://www.simlabs.arc.nasa.gov/http://www.ctas.arc.nasa.gov/

Astrobiology and Space Research Directoratehttp://space.arc.nasa.gov/

Astrobiology Institutehttp://nai.arc.nasa.gov/

Astrobiology Magazinehttp://astrobiology.arc.nasa.gov/

Aura Atmospheric Chemistryhttp://eos-aura.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Aviation Safety Web Siteshttp://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/hqlibrary/pathfinders/avsfty.htm

BBiological Sciences Research Themehttp://ifmp.nasa.gov/codeb/budget2004/14-Biological_Sciences_Research.pdf

Biomolecular Sensor Developmenthttp://nasa-nci.arc.nasa.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=nasanci.NCIobject

CCenter for Nanotechnologyhttp://www.ipt.arc.nasa.gov/index.html

Computing, Information, and CommunicationsTechnology (CICT) Programhttp://www.cict.nasa.gov/

http://www.cict.nasa.gov/Public/assets/pdf/CICT_Brochure.pdf

Center for Mars Exploration (CMEX)http://cmex/CMEX/index.html

Center TRACON Automation System (CTAS)http://www.ctas.arc.nasa.gov/

Center for Gravitational Biology Researchhttp://lifesci.arc.nasa.gov/cgbr/cgbr.html

Computational Sciences Divisionhttp://ic.arc.nasa.gov/

EEarth Science Mission Planninghttp://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/releases/2003/03_20AR.html

GGIS for NASA Facilities Managementhttp://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/spring02articles/gisfornasa.html

HHaughton-Mars Projecthttp://www.arctic-mars.org/team/2002/lee.html

Human Factors Research and Technology Divisionhttp://human-factors.arc.nasa.gov/

Human Factors Research in Space Shuttle Cockpit Upgradehttp://human-factors.arc.nasa.gov/web/research/factsheets/pdfs/McCann_cockpit_displays.pdf

IInnovative Technology Transfer Partnerships Themehttp://www.aerospace.nasa.gov/themes/ittp.htm

Information Sciences and Technology Directoratehttp://infotech.arc.nasa.gov/index_flash.html

Appendix: For More Information—

KKepler Missionhttp://www.kepler.arc.nasa.gov/.

LLife Sciences Divisionhttp://lifesci.arc.nasa.gov/

MMars Exploration Programhttp://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/

Marsowebhttp://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/

Minority University Research and Education Programhttp://eo.arc.nasa.gov/murep/murep%20mission.htm

Mission and Science Measurement Technology Themehttp://www.aerospace.nasa.gov/themes/msm.htm

NNASA Aerospace Education Services Programhttp://www.okstate.edu/aesp/AESP.html

NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) Divisionhttp://www.nas.nasa.gov/

NASA Ames Research Centerhttp://www.arc.nasa.gov/index.html

NASA Ames Research Center Mission Overviewhttp://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/factsheets/FS-020102-ARC.html

NASA Ames Wind Tunnelshttp://windtunnels.arc.nasa.gov/

NASA Central Operation of Resources for Educators(CORE)http://core.nasa.gov/

NASA Earth System Science Enterprise 2004 Planhttp://ifmp.nasa.gov/codeb/budget2004/10-Earth_Science.pdf

NASA Educator Resource Centershttp://spacelink.nasa.gov/ercn/

NASA Innovative Technology Transfer Partnerships Themehttp://www.aerospace.nasa.gov

NASA Mission and Science Measurement Themehttp://www.aero-space.nasa.gov/themes/msm.htm

NASA Office of Biological and Physical Researchhttp://spaceresearch.nasa.gov/research_projects/themes.html

NASA Office of Space Flighthttp://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/

NASA Research Parkhttp://researchpark.arc.nasa.gov/

NASA Solar System Exploration Themehttp://solarsystem.nasa.gov/index.cfm

NASA Wind Tunnels Historyhttp://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-440/contents.htm

NASA Workforcehttp://nasapeople.nasa.gov/workforce/default.htm

SSlender Hypervelocity Aerothermodynamic Research Probehttp://www.montana.edu/wwwmsgc/Text/Sharp.html

Space Launch Initiative Themehttp://www.aerospace.nasa.gov/themes/sli.htm

Space Launch Initiative Newshttp://www.slinews.com/

Space Projects Divisionhttp://spaceprojects.arc.nasa.gov/Space_Projects/Index.html

Space Science Themeshttp://spacescience.nasa.gov/admin/themes.htm

Space Shuttle Programhttp://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/index.html

Space Station Biological Research Program (SSBRP)http://brp.arc.nasa.gov/

SOFIAhttp://www.sofia.arc.nasa.gov/

TThe President’s Management Agendahttp://www.fgipc.org/02_Federal_CIO_Council/Resource/48_Presidents_Management_Agenda.htm#sourcing

Thermal Protection Materials and Systems Branchhttp://asm.arc.nasa.gov/asmlinks.shtml#references

VVirtual Airspace Modeling and Simulation Project (VAMS)http://www.asc.nasa.gov/vams/

XX-37 Reusable Launch Vehicle Test Bedhttp://std.msfc.nasa.gov/tech/x37.html

83Appendix: For More Information—

This picture from the NASA Hubble Space Telescope’s Advanced Camera for Surveys dramatically demonstrates the reverberation of light throughspace caused by an unusual stellar outburst in January 2002. A burst of light from the bizarre star is spreading into space and reflecting off ofsurrounding shells of dust to reveal a spectacular, multicolored bull’s eye.

The red star at the center of the eyeball-like feature is an unusual erupting supergiant called V838 Monocerotis, located about 20,000 light-yearsaway in the winter constellation Monoceros (the Unicorn). During its outburst the star brightened to more than 600,000 times our Sun’sluminosity. From May to December 2002, the circular feature expanded to slightly larger than the angular size of Jupiter on the sky. For severalmore years it will continue to expand as reflected light arrives from more distant portions of the nebula.

Documents

Letter from the Director - NASA · Future Plans Implementing Strategies ... away in the constellation Sagittarius. 1 Ames Research Center in NASA Vision and Mission. The past decade