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OMBUDS PROGRAM ................. 3Brokers to ensure employeeissues are resolved

SAFETY AWARDS ......................... 7Outstanding support forworkplace safety recognized

NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK... 8Glenn employee selectedYoung Engineer of the Year

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH ... 9Employees share source ofinspiration for their career

Volume 6 Issue 3 March 2004

Remembering our fallen heroesBY S. JENISE VERIS

Continued on page 6

Photo by Marvin Smith

ASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe declared that the last Thursday in January beset aside every year as a Day of Remembrance across the Agency to honor theApollo I, Challenger, and Columbia crews, and all others who have given their livesin the cause of exploration and discovery.

The date was selected to recall all three anniversaries of the crew tragedies, whichall fall within the same calendar week. The Apollo I spacecraft fire occurred onJanuary 27, 1967; the Challenger launch explosion on January 28, 1986; andColumbia's explosion on February 1, 2003.

On January 29, this year's Day of Remembrance, Center Director Dr. Julian Earlsaddressed employees after joining Microgravity Science Division Chief JackSalzman, and Combustion Projects Branch Chief Ann Over, to place a wreath atthe base of the new astronaut memorial wall in the Lobby of the Visitor Center.

BY S. JENISE VERIS

ecent headlines and debates sur-rounding President Bush's vision for U.S.space exploration suggests the Presidentis seeing eye-to-eye with the NASAadministration on what is necessary tosecure long-term U.S. space leadership.But for the short term, the goal betweennow and October is to convinceCongress to share that vision.

NASA unveiled its budget request toCongress February 4 with the releaseof two companion documents: "FiscalYear 2005 Budget Estimates" and "TheVision for Space Exploration," a frameworkfor exploration of the solar systemand beyond.

NASA's budget: a reorganizationand redirection of purpose

R"NASA's FY2005 Budget of 16.8 billionreflects the President's vision, which is toadvance U.S. scientific, security, andeconomic interests through a robust spaceexploration program,"O'Keefe said. "It isfiscally responsible and consistent withthe Administration's goal of cutting thebudget deficit in half within the next5 years."

NASA's budget will increase by $1 billionover the next 5 years, by approximately5 percent per year over the next 3 years,and approximately 1 percent for thefollowing 2 years.

For now there is nothing definitive toreport on the allocation of funds andimplementation of the exploration visionacross the Agency.

"Ask the Director" premiers,see page 5

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NASA's budget

"The new Office of Exploration Systemsis developing a transition plan andconducting an assessment of thetechnologies that are required for theexploration initiative. The Center expectsto have more information in the July/August time frame," said AssociateDirector Robert Fails.

The development of new technologiesand systems for exploration will comeunder a new Enterprise, the Office ofExploration Systems. Highlights in thebudget include

• The additional $1 billion Bush plansto add to NASA's budget over the next5 years is the result of an $11 billionreduction for programs deferredor cancelled and the addition of$12 billion for space exploration-related programs and initiatives. About$6 billion comes from cancellation ofthe Space Launch Initiative, anumbrella for the Orbital Space Plane(OSP), Next Generation LaunchTechnology (NGLT), and Mission andScience Measurement/EnablingCapabilities and Technologies (MSM).

• $636 million for Human and RoboticsTechnology. This represents aninvestment in technologies andcapabilities that will make asustainable exploration programpossible.

• $428 million for Project Constellation,representing $6.6 billion over 5 years.This program replaces OSP in favor ofa new Crew Exploration Vehicle, whichwould be the first new U.S. humanspace flight vehicle since the 1980s.Glenn is prominent in the technologiesand capabilities needed for explor-ation, so it is anticipated that the newdirection will be positive.

• $438 million for Project Prometheus.NASA Comptroller Steve Isacowitzsaid, "Project Prometheus" is one ofthe highest activity priorities for theAgency. It has a central role in exploringother solar systems both from therobotic and human standpoint. Last

Continued from page 1

year, Prometheus developmentfocused on the initial demo of theJupiter Icy Moons Orbiter and now asa result of the vision, we're taking abroader look at Prometheus forapplication not only to robotics butalso human activity whether on thesurface or in propulsion. Glenn has aprominent role in this effort due toexpertise in space power andpropulsion to propel spacecraftbeyond Earth orbit.

• $20 million in new funding forCentennial Challenge. This is similarto the well-known private industry "XPrize." Prizes will be awarded toindividuals or teams who invest todevelop an innovative approach ornew technological capability thatfurthers the development ofaeronautics.

Another major change turns Aeronauticsinto an Enterprise to replace the Office ofAerospace Technology. The overallfinancing for aeronautics is approximately$900 million per year through FY2009.Center Director Earls said that thisdecision shows the Bush Administrationand Agency's commitment to aeronautics.However, the Center would have to be-come more efficient and more effectiveto maintain its obligations to FAA and theNation's aeronautics industry for projectslike public safety, quiet engine research,and aircraft engine fuel efficiency.

"We can't predict what is going to beneeded, but we know that one thing thatwill be needed is creativity,"Earls said."We will continue to do what Glenn doesbest, research that focuses on aero-propulsion technologies, aerospacepower, microgravity science, electricpropulsion, and communicationstechnologies." ◆

NASA Scholarship

The NASA CollegeScholarship Fund,Inc., a Texas non-profit corporation,

is accepting applications for the 2004–2005 school year. The fund wasestablished with a substantial andunsolicited gift from Pulitzer Prize-winningauthor James Michener, who held thepeople of NASA and their work in highesteem.

Now, in the 22nd year of the program, five$2,000 scholarships will be awarded toqualified dependents of NASA and formerNASA employees. These scholarships canbe renewed to receive a maximum of$8,000 over 6 calendar years. Applicantsmust be pursuing a course of study in ascience or engineering field that will leadto a recognized undergraduate degree atan accredited U.S. college or university.

Continued on page 3

Budget with approved exploration vision.

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NASA establishesOmbud Program

ASA Administrator Sean O'Keefeannounced the establishment of NASA'sOmbuds Program and Dallas Lauderdale,chief, of the Facilities Division, is Glenn'snew Ombudsman.

Acting in completeconfidentiality,theOmbud at eachcenter is empower-ed to listen to andact on NASA familymembers' concernsrelated to safety,o r g a n i z a t i o n a lperformance, andmission success.

The program was recommended by anAgencywide Action Team chaired byGoddard Space Flight Center Director AlDiaz, which applied the findings of theColumbia Accident Investigation Boardto other NASA operations. The team'sreport and recommendations, "ARenewed Commitment to Excellence,"was released in January.

When issues are brought to the Ombuds,they may conduct informal inquiries; seekto promote a mutually satisfactoryresolution of the issue or concern; or raiseissues directly with Center Directors andwith the Deputy Administrator at NASAHeadquarters. Each Ombud will serve toensure NASA becomes more accountableand results-oriented.

"Our Ombuds will be empowered toperform their duties independently and ina diligent and timely manner," saidO'Keefe. "The Ombuds are designed toserve as a safety valve when employeesfeel regular channels for raising issuesand concerns are not working effectively.

I congratulate all those who helpeddevelop this initiative, which will helpstrengthen NASA's commitment tosafety and mission success. When it comesto open and honest communications,we get it!" ◆

Headquarters news release

Crews named for 2004 space missions

ASA and its international partners assigned new crews to fly to the InternationalSpace Station this year. As Expedition 9, NASA astronaut Edward Michael "Mike" Finckeand Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka will be the next crew to live aboard thecomplex. NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao and Russian cosmonaut Salizhan S. Sharipov willserve as backup for Expedition 9 and as the prime crew for Expedition 10.

Fincke and Padalka have trained together as a crew since March 2002 and are set forlaunch April 18 on a 6-month mission. Padalka will serve as Expedition 9 commanderand Soyuz commander, and Fincke will be NASA's science officer and flight engineer.

USAF Lieutenant Colonel Fincke, a native of Emsworth, PA, will be making his first spaceflight. He has trained as a backup station crew member for two previous missions,Expeditions 4 and 5. Padalka will be making his second space flight, having completed198 days aboard Russia's Mir Space Station in February 1999. He also trained withFincke as a backup for Expedition 4.

Chiao and Sharipov are scheduled to launch in October. Chiao will serve as Expedition10 commander and NASA science officer, and Sharipov will serve as Soyuzcommander and flight engineer. Astronaut William S. McArthur, Jr., and cosmonautValery I. Tokarev will serve as the Expedition 10 backup crew.

The new assignments were proposed by Russia through the Multilateral CrewOperations Panel. The decision is still subject to internal review by each partner agency.NASA anticipates that process will be completed soon.

"Fortunately, the partnership has a pool of highly qualified crew members available,which gives us the flexibility to deal with unexpected circumstances,"Chief AstronautKent Rominger said. "After a very thorough evaluation by our partners, I'm confidentthat these assignments make the very best use of our crew resources and skills and willensure the flights' full success."

European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut Andre Kuipers will also launch aboard theSoyuz with Fincke and Padalka in April. He will spend about a week aboard the Stationconducting scientific experiments before returning to Earth with Expedition 8crewmembers Mike Foale and Alexander Kaleri. ◆

Fincke Padalka Chiao Sharipov

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Applications MUST be received at Johnson Space Center no later than March 22,2004. For additional information and application information and deadlines, you canaccess the online application information at http://jscpeople.jsc.nasa.gov/ncsf.htm.

Onsite, questions can be directed to Marie Borowski at 3–5582.

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Lauderdale

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FIRST Robotics Competition

A Call to Serve

Buckeye RegionalMarch 26–27, 2004

Cleveland State UniversityConvocation Center

"FIRST Frenzy"—the actual name of the FIRST (For theInspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)robotics competition this year—will begin each day at 9 a.m.with opening ceremonies and conclude on Friday by 4:30p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. The final award and recognitionceremony will immediately follow the competition onSaturday. Sixty teams from across the Midwest and Eastern

United States will compete for scholarships, prizes, and the opportunity to attend the FIRST national competition in Atlanta. For moreinformation, call Carol Galica (IDI/9200), 3–5112, or visit www.firstbuckeye.org

"It's time to act," was the message the Reverend Dr. Floyd Flake, presidentof Wilberforce University and former U.S. Congressman, shared at theannual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Equality Recognition Ceremony heldJanuary 21. Supported by statistics on the number of Ph.D.'s, militaryofficers, and medical doctors graduating from Historically Black Universitiesand Colleges (HBCU) cited earlier by Center Director Dr. Julian Earls, Flakediscussed efforts to expand this pool of talent beginning at youth. DirectorEarls touted the benefits of partnerships initiated through NASA's HBCUProgram, and joined Flake and Robert Romero, chief of Glenn's Office ofEqual Opportunity Programs, in congratulating 62 Glenn technical monitorshonored for their role in nurturing and overseeing HBCU students thatwill help produce research and products to meet NASA's mission needs.

Photo by Quentin Schwinn

Dr. Flake, center, enjoys a standing ovation flanked byDeputy Director Christiansen, left, and Center DirectorEarls, right.

The Glenn "Special" Children's Fund Committee would like to thank the Glenncommunity for generous donations received this past holiday season. As part of theircharter, the Committee considers children of Center employees first before makingdonations to area charities. This year's recipient is 3-year-old Julia Sankovic, daughter ofJohn (6712) and Patty Sankovic of Brecksville. The donations will enable Julia'scontinued progress toward independent mobility through Michigan-based TheraSuittherapy and a Hungarian-based intensive therapy program called Conductive Education,which is operated by the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Cleveland.Neither of these two cutting-edge therapies are covered by health insurance. The 2004Committee members are Timothy Hogan (7350), Helen Ceh (7000), Carol Stofka(0210), Herb Lawrence (7790), and Suzanne Aldrich (7330).

Thank You

Three-year-old Julia Sankovic learns how to standindependently at the Conductive Education Programhosted at United Cerebal Palsy of Cleveland.

Graphic courtesy of FIRST

Photo by John Sankovic

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LESA MEETING: LESA/IFPTE, Local 28, willhold its next monthly membershipmeeting on Wednesday, March 10, atnoon in the Employee Center, room 101.

FINANCIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOP:Century Federal Credit Union will host itsfirst in a series of financial educationworkshops entitled "Understanding YourCredit Score and Consolidating Your Debt,"on Friday, March 12, 8–9 a.m. in theEmployee Center, room 101. TonyConiglio, vice president in Lending,will be the speaker. For more information,contact Jeff Staats, jstaats@cenfedcu.org.

WOMEN IN AVIATION & HISTORY:Glenn's onsite Visitor Center (VC) will hosttwo sessions during the Saturday, March 20weekend program dedicated to the contri-butions of women in history. A member ofthe Women in Aviation History Museumwill give a presentation at 11 a.m. followedby the performing arts of the Women inHistory troupe at 1 p.m. For details, contactthe VC, 216–433–2000.

AFGE MEETING: AFGE Local 2182 willhold its next monthly membershipmeeting on Wednesday, April 7, at 5 p.m.at Denny's Restaurant, 25912 Lorain Road,North Olmsted. All members are encour-aged to attend.

• Save 30 to 70 percent off retail on items from "Jewelry is Fun," visiting theMain Cafeteria Alcove on Thursday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Wednesday, March 17, with our corned beef,cabbage, boiled potato, and carrots lunch special served in the Main andDEB Cafeterias from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• The Exchange Store will hold a special sale at the Plum Brook Station onThursday, March 18, and Friday, March 19, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.The sale will be held in the Engineering Building, room 123.

• Just in time for Easter! The Exchange will host an Olympia Candy SaleWednesday, March 31, and Thursday, April 1, in the Main CafeteriaAlcove from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Save 10 percent off retail on most items.

Exchange Corner

A: The Center has completed an assessment of the existing competencies and thoserequired for the future. That review identified five competency areas where our currentworkforce levels exceed our projected requirements. Those competencies areEngineering and Science Support, Propulsion Systems and Testing, Research andFacilities Planning, Advanced Experimentation and Testing Technologies, and AdvancedMaterials and Processing Science. We are in the process of preparing a buyout plan/request for these specific areas. The plan needs to be approved by Headquarters, theOffice of Personnel Management, and the Office of Management and Budget. Theplan includes a request for early-out authority. We are hoping that the plan will beapproved within the next 30 to 45 days. Additional information will be made availableas this process proceeds.

Q: "I am 29 and I am a civil servant who works for NASA. I know other "young" peoplewho are interested in working for NASA Glenn Research Center. We would like toknow if hiring will ever increase at NASA Glenn, or should they look elsewhere?"

Q: There exists a great deal of interest in theannouncement that the Center will be conducting abuyout. Employees in my area are asking severalquestions: When will the buyout details be announced,and will there be an early out associated with thebuyout at Glenn? If not, why not?

A: Based on the interest and feedback wereceive from our recruitment efforts atuniversities, colleges, and other targetedoutreach efforts, both locally and acrossthe United States, we know that there is adeep interest on the part of many to bepart of the NASA "family." However,hiring at NASA Glenn and at any of theCenters depends on programs, full-timeequivalents (FTE), and NASA's budget. Itcan vary from year to year. DuringFY2003, we had 77 new hires (34 percentof the new hires were recent collegegraduates). For FY2004, we are pro-jecting 40 full-time permanent hires.

Your interest in being a "recruiter" forNASA is commendable. We want thebest and brightest to join our NASAfamily and help the Agency inaccomplishing its unique mission.Continue to encourage students andothers to apply for advertised positionsthat can be found at the NASA Jobs Website: http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov. Inaddition, there is a wide variety of studentpositions in the Agency from summerintern to co-op positions, Federal CareerInternships, Presidential ManagementFellowships, and summer facultyopportunities, etc.

Submit your questions to the CenterDirector on the Web at "Ask the Director"by clicking the link under CorporateFocus.

This begins a series of Q&As to highlighttopics of Labwide interest queried via theDirector's new communication tool, "Askthe Director," now available on the WebIntraNet@Glenn (WING).

We wish to extend our sincere gratitudeto all in the Glenn community who offeredtheir prayers and kind words around thepassing of our mother, Mary Gaunter, inDecember. Your donations of flowersand contributions to the Ursuline nuns ofCleveland and to the St. Charles Schoolendowment are truly appreciated. Wethree, indeed our entire extended family,thank you for your support.

—Jim, Bill, and Dan Gauntner

"It's difficult to talk about those who made the ultimatesacrifice. But as we take this day to remember and listen tothe names of these 46 heroes and sheroes, it's a chance toturn the search light inward and ask if we have madeanything significant happen because we were here," saidDirector Earls. "For a name deserves to be rememberedonly in relationship to the effect its owner had upon thetimes. The only name that deserves reverence, whetherfamous or not, is attached to that person who, in greater orlesser degree, in accordance with his or her talent andopportunity, changed things for the better. These astronauts,test pilots, and other colleagues made many significantcontributions."

Acting Space Director Rudolph Saldana and SystemsManagement Office Chief Randall Furnas took turns readingnames from the list of NASA's 46 test pilots, astronauts,and support personnel who gave their lives to expandfrontiers in air and space. Thereafter, everyone bowedtheir heads for a moment of silence.

Those remembered at the ceremony included Howard C."Tick"Lilly, research pilot; Ryland S. Carter, research pilot;Eugene P. Townsend, research pilot; Herbert H. Hoover,research pilot; Rudolph D. Van Dyke, Jr., research pilot; William L. Alford, research pilot;Donovan R. Heinle, research pilot; Theodore C. Freeman, astronaut trainee; Charles A.Bassett II and Elliott M. See Jr., astronaut trainees; Joseph A. Walker, research pilot andastronaut; Crew of Apollo Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Edward H. White, and Roger B. Chaffee,astronauts; Clifton C. Williams, astronaut trainee; Michael J. Adams, astronaut; James.P. Riley, Frank J. Brasmer, Herbert V. Cross, Gaeton P. Faraone, James F. Remington,John W.Yusken, Philip R. Wilcox, Roy Adkins, C.A. Robinson, E. Forslow, and B.Sorenson, research pilots and scientists; David Barth, research pilot; Wendell W. Kelley,research pilot; Paul Coy, flight test engineer; and George Mead, designer; Richard E.Gray, research pilot; Crew of Space Shuttle Challenger Francis R. "Dick" Scobee,Michael J. Smith, Judy A. Resnik, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Gregory B. Jarvis,and S. Christa McAuliffe, astronauts; and Crew of Space Shuttle Columbia Rick D.Husband, William C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, David M. Brown,Laurel B. Clark, and Ilan Ramon, astronauts.

An equally poignant part of Glenn’s ceremony was the dedication of a new publicexhibit in memory of Columbia's STS–107 crew. The Combustion Module-2 (CM–2)Crew Trainer exhibit was unveiled by Glenn Deputy Director Richard Christiansen andOver, who served as the CM–2 program manager and oversaw the crew's groundtraining at Glenn.

"This is a replica of the actual flight systems that all the members of the STS–107 crewtrained on. They conducted over 80 experiments during the 16-day mission, includingthe three CM–2 experiments," said Over. "I know the STS–107 crew would appreciatethis [interactive display] because it exemplifies what they were all about: educating thepublic about the important science and experiments conducted in space. I encouragemy colleagues and friends, as well as the entire Glenn family, to be proud of the exhibitand bring your families to see it."

In closing remarks, Deputy Director Christiansen echoed Administrator O'Keefe'ssentiments on the risks inherent in space exploration, and repeated his pledge of missionsafety as the Agency’s number one priority.

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"These men and women have given theirlives in service to the Agency. There aremany things we do that are risky andsometimes deadly, but it's important toremain diligent in our work, and to watchout for one another."

Editor's note: All three crews were alsohonored on Mars through the recenttriumphs of NASA's rovers Spirit andOpportunity. Opportunity’s landing sitewas named Challenger Memorial Station,Spirit's landing site was named ColumbiaMemorial Station, and three hills visiblefrom Spirit's site were named for theApollo I crew. ◆

Continued from page 1

The interactive CM-2 exhibit features a combustion chamber, drawers, andcolorful buttons that enable visitors to perform some of the work that theastronauts performed with the Combustion Module. Actual space footage isplayed from the Laminar Soot Processes experiment. An STS-107 preflightmultimedia presentation can also be accessed in the Visitor Center’s “MissionSupport Center” console adjacent to the CM-2 Trainer.

Photo by Marv Smith

The NASA History office is pleasedto announce a new Web site devotedto the STS–107 (Columbia) mission.This site contains a wealth of photos,news releases, documents, timelines,related links, and other information.It also contains a great deal ofinformation about the ColumbiaAccident Investigation Board (CAIB)including the multiple volumes of itsreport.

URL: http://history.nasa.gov/columbia/index.html

New STS–107 HistoryWeb Site Now Available

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he families of the Space Shuttle Columbia STS–107 crew and NASAAdministrator Sean O'Keefe unveiled a monument commemoratingthe astronauts and their mission at Arlington National Cemetery,Arlington, VA, on February 2.

"This memorial will remind us of the dedication and sacrifice made bythose brave individuals willing to risk their own lives to furtherhumanity's knowledge about space exploration. Our obligation is toensure their loss was not in vain. We will return the Space Shuttleto flight as safely as humanly possible, and we will continue to leadhumanity into the unknown,"Adminstrator O'Keefe said.

In April, President Bush signed into law the Columbia Orbiter MemorialAct (PL 108–11). The Secretary of the Army, in consultation with NASAand Arlington National Cemetery, coordinated the design and creationof the memorial. The Vermont marble memorial is 66 inches tall and 48inches wide. It bears two bronze plaques portraying the Columbia’screw and the shoulder patch worn by the astronauts on their mission.The new memorial is located just a few feet from the one honoring thecrew of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Columbia Memorial Dedicatedat ArlingtonT

Caption: Sandy Anderson, wife of Columbia astronaut MichaelAnderson, looks at the memorial along with astronauts CarlosNoriega, left, and Steve Robinson, right.

Photo by Bill Ingalls

record 100 nominations were submitted to Glenn's Safety Office (GSO) for thisyear’s Safety Awards Recognition Program held in February. A "Special Recognition"award was presented to honor the valor of John Setlock (CWRU/5130) andStephen Sofie (QSS/5100) for their role in rescuing and administering first-aid careto an injured researcher until Glenn's First Responders arrived, following a laboratoryfire in building 106 in December. Glenn Safety Awards were established to recognize

individuals and organizationsfor their outstanding effortsto ensure that the Centerremains a safe workplace.

All nominees are recognizedfor exceptional efforts; thefollowing are 2003 SafetyAward recipients: PaulStarner (7310) won the"Outstanding Support of aCivil Servant award" for hissupport of the SecurityManagement and SafeguardsOffice as project manager ofthe Access Control Systemsfor installations Labwide;Belinda Seljan (IDI/7600)won the "OutstandingSupport of a ServiceContractor" (individual)

Committment to safety rewardedaward for her clerical support to Area 4and Process Systems Safety committeesand overall commitment to make safetywork at Glenn; the Logistics and TechnicalInformation Division won the"Outstanding Support of a Division/Organization" award for their partici-pation and implementation of GSOprocesses and support for GSO programsand publications; Call Henry, Inc., wonthe "Outstanding Support of a ServiceContractor" (group) award for the high-voltage crew's lost workday rate (zeroper 100 occurrences over a 2-year period);HCI, Terrace, and Triad won the"Outstading Support of a ServiceConstruction Contractor" award for nolost time accidents over a 4-year periodof construction of the $10-millionsewer system repair project, Phases 1,2,3, and 4; and Todd Strawser, JeanineHanzel, and James Gallagher (IDI/0620)won a "Outstanding Support Team Safety"award for their contributions toGSO's rollout of the Center's hazardsanalysis procedure. ◆

Photo by Marv Smith

Safety and Assurance Director Vernon "Bill" Wessel, centercongratulates Safety's Special Recognition Award winnersStephen Sofie, left and John Setlock.

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Mark Rokoff, a civil-geotechnical engineerwith URS Corporation, offered some tipsfor success in classroom presentationsduring the National Engineers Week(N.E.W.) Speaker Workshop hosted byGlenn’s Educational Programs Office:"You have to get close to your audience—get the names of the students beforeresponding to questions, be enthusiasticand intersperse some humor, but moreimportantly, get the message across thatyou like what you do; that you'repassionate about your work!"

Rokoff was one of three veteran speakersinvited to share their experiences for the"Key Points for School Presentations/Discussion Session." Glenn's Dr. DanielPaxson, aeronautics engineer, Controlsand Dynamics Technology Branch, gaveexamples of how he engages children ingrades K–6 with common, inexpensiveobjects to grasp the complexities of wind-tunnel testing and measurement. Dr.Sheila Bailey, electrical engineer,Photovoltaic and Space EnvironmentsBranch, presented her psychologicalapproach to career planning that engagesstudents in grades 9–12 to consider acareer in engineering above othervocations.

"Improving proficiency test scores is high-priority among area schools, so workshoptopics presented were targeted in

Dr. Bailey displays solar blanket used todazzle students about exciting projects inengineering.

Awakening young minds totechnical possibilities

response to teacher surveys thataccompanied requests for N.E.W.curriculum-enhancing resources andvisiting engineers," said Linda Little, N.E.W.program manager. "This year, we will send82 speakers, including non-NASAemployees; to fill 89 classroom requests."

EPO staff prepared and distributed N.E.W.packets, complete with speaker ideas andresources, student activities, and teacherhandouts for workshop participants, whowere also encouraged to stay for twoconcurrent breakout sessions to illustratehands-on activities and demonstrations.Session I, "Environmental/Earth Science

Hands-On Activities:Grades K–6" waspresented by MargeLehky, AerospaceEducation Servicesprogram specialist.Session II, "The Micro-gravity Demonstrator:Grades 8–12" waspresented by NancyHall, aerospace en-gineer and projectscientist, MicrogravityFluid Physics Branch,and Malcolm Robbie(ANLX/6724), designengineer. ◆

Nancy Hall assisted by Malcom Robbie demonstrates part of apresentation on Mars: measuring the planet's distance from Earth.

Photo by Jenise Veris

Photo by Jenise Veris

The Cleveland Area National EngineersWeek (N.E.W.) Committee presentedthe "Young Engi-neer of the Year"award to Glenn'sDr. Kathleen Tacinaat an awards recep-tion held at theGreat Lakes ScienceCenter, February27. Tacina was se-lected for her out-standing accomplishments in the fieldof aerospace engineering and ongoinginvolvement in the community.

A former NASA summer intern from 1993to 1995, Tacina became a member of theInlet Branch in the Turbomachinery andPropulsion Systems Division in 2001,where she performs pioneering researchtoward understanding the flow phenom-ena associated with the pulse detonationengine, a key to adapting this revolution-ary technology to advanced propulsionsystems.

Although still a relative newcomer her-self, Tacina has already demonstratedstrong leadership skills by mentoring aGlenn co-op and high school summerintern. The Brunswick native's leadershipalso extends to her community where shevolunteers as a tutor, science fair judge,and teacher to students with disabilitiesat her parish's religion school. She is alsoan active member of the American Insti-tute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, andToastmasters, an organization that helpsmembers to develop their communica-tion skills. Those skills have enabled Tacinato represent the engineering professionwith confidence.

Tacina earnsN.E.W. award

Dr. Tacina

Mark your calendarsfor

Glenn's Technology Showcaseand Open House onJune 11, 12, and 13.

BY S. JENISE VERIS

MARCH 2004

IWomen's History Month n recognition of Women's History Month, the second in a series of Heritage andAwareness month activities that will be featured in AeroSpace Frontiers, we polledseveral employees on this question:

What person or event inspired and/or empowered you to pursue a career in scienceand engineering, which up to the last decade was considered a nontraditional field forwomen?

Beth A. Cooper, acoustical engineer and manager of the AcousticalTest Services, Engineering Design and Analysis Division. I intendedto study music education in college, but my high school calculusteacher helped me to feel comfortable enough with math toconsider an interdisciplinary engineering curriculum in music andacoustics. My college advisor later convinced me to channel myinterest in acoustics into a career in mechanical engineering.

Dr. Paula J. Dempsey, mechanical engineer,Structure and Acoustics Division. The passage of Title IX prohibiteddiscrimination on the basis of gender in any federally-fundededucation program. This legislation allowed me to take an industrialarts course in mechanical drawing, instead of the traditionalhome economics course required for female junior high students.I was encouraged by the instructor to take additional draftingcourses and to apply to a mechanical engineering program.

Priscilla Diem, mechanical engineer and executive director of theGreat Lakes Industrial Technology Center, NASA's MidwestTechnology Transfer Center. I met Dr. Valerie Lyons, currentlychief of the Power and On-board Propulsion Technology Branch,in church one Sunday. She told me that she worked at NASA andcasually added—as an engineer. I was totally impressed! Valeriementored me by first arranging for interviews with (then branchchief) Stuart Fordyce and then, providing me a personal loanto go back to school.

Rebecca Johannsen, health physics technician for the ReactorDecommissioning Project at Plum Brook Station. My mom wasmy source of inspiration. She took on the challenge of goingback to school along with all her other responsibilities to becomea nurse in her forties. When I was unsure of pursuing a career inradiation protection, she taught me to believe in myself andfollow my dreams.

Women's HistoryMonth Event

Patty Hunt, director of Research,Hathaway Brown School,

Guest speakerThursday, March 25, 9:30 – 11:30 am,

Administration Auditorium

"Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility"is the 2004 National Women's HistoryMonth theme, andlocal teacher PattyHunt is a greatexample. Hunt,formerly a researchgeochemist at BritishPetroleum, switchedcareers to becomea science teacher atHathaway BrownSchool, where shehas become an exceptional role modelfor other young women. In 1998, Huntinitiated Hathaway Brown's StudentResearch Program, which has gainednational prominence as an outstandingprogram to enable high school girls toperform research at the most prestigiousinstitutions in the Cleveland area, includingGlenn Research Center.

The program will also feature the actingtroupe "Women in History," who will givea glimpse at historical events through theeyes of Underground Railroad conductorHarriet Tubman and Helen Keller'smentor, Annie Sullivan. Glenn FederalWomen’s Program awards will bepresented, and refreshments servedimmediately after the program, which issponsored by the Women's AdvisoryGroup.

Cooper

Dr. Dempsey

Diem

Johannsen

Hunt

On February 24, 2004, President GeorgeW. Bush signed the NASA WorkforceFlexibility Act into law. The bill, sponsoredby U.S. Senator George Voinovich, providesnew human resource flexibilites key to theAgency's future missions.

"We are very excited about our humancapital legislation. With a quarter of ourworkforce eligible to retire in the next fewyears, fewer students graduating withdegrees in science, engineering, mathmatics

and technology, and an increased demandfor technical talent, the flexibilities containedin this bill will give us additional tools toaddress the challenges of the 21st centuryand enhance our ability to recruit and retainthe exceptional talent that NASA’s missionrequires," said Vicki Novak, assistantadministrator for Human Resources atHeadquarters.

You will receive more detailed informationsoon through representatives at your

Center regardingthis legislation.Meanwhile, weencourage you tovisit our HumanCapital LegislationWeb site at http://nasapeople.nasa.gov/hclwp index.htm tolearn more about the specific provisions,what they may mean to you, and our plansfor implementing these new tools.

NASA Workforce Flexibility Act

9

StraubPierce

Glenn was the onlymultiple award winnerat the annual NASAProcurement TrainingConference awardsdinner. The three Glennemployees recognizedamong nine Agencyaward recipients in-cluded Ron Sepesi(0616) for Supervisor ofthe Year, for his outstanding support to branch customers, the Procurement Division,

Glenn, and the Agency; Tim Pierce (0612) for Contract Managerof the Year, for his outstanding support of the Next GenerationLaunch Technology Program, a major Agency initiative; and KurtStraub (0613) for Policy Person of the Year, for his dedication,initiative, analytical and problemsolving skills, and cooperationand leadership as a Glenn Core Financial Module Super User.

Dr. John Gayda (5150) photo was omitted as a member of the teamfor U.S. Patent No. 6,647,809, titled "The Dual Microstructure HeatProcess," published in the February 2004 issue of Aerospace Frontiers.

Sepesi

Guzik

Tadeusz Guzik, 79, who retired with 33 years of Government servicein 1979, recently died. Guzik served as a model fabrication managerfor the Fabrication Division.

George Repas, 65, who retired with 35 years of Government service,including 31 to NASA until 1995, recently died. Although he wasemployed as an aerospace engineer at the Lab and gave his all for theAgency, Repas also offered his boundless energy to the localcommunity.

Repas' name is listed on the National Wall of Honor at DullesInternational Airport, Reston, VA, for his contributions to the aerospace

industry, including design, fabrication, and installation of complexchemical propulsion test hardware, in addition to his engineeringassistance to the U.S. Department of Defense. He was one ofthe test engineers who brought fame to the Cleveland Center'sRocket Engine Test Facility, a historic monument that had to bedemolished last summer for Cleveland Hopkin’s Airportexpansion.

More recently, Repas supported Glenn's Space Combustionand Microgravity Test Engineering Branch as a part-timeemployee of QSS, an onsite contractor providing test engineservices, and mentored many of the new hires. He also consultedon the major renovation of Purdue University's Rocket Lab, a

one-of-a-kind-propulsion facility, to perform full-scale testing for NASA, the U.S. Air Forceand U.S. Army, and other Federal agencies and aerospace companies.

Perhaps Repas' friends will remember him most of all for the enthusiasm, creativity, andtalent that he lavished on the Center's Children's Holiday Show for more than 30 years. Heserved as organizer and chairperson, wrote plays, organized practices, encouraged otherparticipants, decorated sets, sang, and contributed all the other intangible things that wentinto creating magic and lifetime memories for Center employees, their families, and guests.

Repas

Dr. Zeng-Guang Yuan (NCMR/6700) andDr. Uday Hegde (NCMR/6711) recentlyreceived the American Institute of Aero-nautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Best PaperAward in the micro-gravity discipline fortheir paper entitled"Recent Advances inElectric Field Effectson Diffusion Flamesin a SphericallySymmetric System,"(AIAA 2003–0812)that was presented tothe 41st AerospaceSciences Meeting and Exhibit in Reno. Itdiscusses the interaction between electricfields and flames based on results obtainedfrom tests in NASA Glenn's 2.2-Second

Drop Tower. Thesetests demonstratedthat, contrary to thecommonly believednotion that flamesmove toward thenegative electrode,flames actually movetoward the positiveelectrode under cer-tain conditions. Yuan

and Hegde’s findings are intended to helpin devising new flame control methods andguidance for computer modeling.

Dr. Yuan

Dr. Hegde

Dr. Gayda

AeroSpace Frontiers is an official publication ofGlenn Research Center, National Aeronauticsand Space Administration. It is published thefirst Friday of each month by the Communityand Media Relations Office in the interest ofthe Glenn workforce, retirees, governmentofficials, business leaders, and the generalpublic. Its circulation is approximately 6700.

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

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

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

DEADLINES: News items and briefannouncements for publication in the Aprilissue must be received by noon, March 12.The deadline for the May issue isnoon, April 16. Submit contributionsto the ed i to r v ia e -ma i l ,doreen.zudell@grc.nasa.gov, fax 216–433–

8143, phone 216–433–5317 or 216–433–2888, orMS 3–11. Ideas for newsstories are welcome but willbe published as spaceallows. View us online athttp://AeroSpaceFrontiers.grc.nasa.gov.

10

11

a closer look at our colleaguesLisa E. Madden

Job Assignment: Senior information man-agement specialist with Lockheed Martin In-formation Technology, Macintosh softwaresupport.

Time at NASA (years of service): 6 years.

Describe your family: I am divorced with twogrown children. My daughter is a junior atNorthland College in Wisconsin. My son is 23and on his own since age 19. We are closeand enjoy vacationing together. They call meoften and, of course, whenever they needcomputer help. I have two brothers and onesister, all younger. They are now going through

the small children stage, and I can be the aunt who spoils the children! My motherdied when I was 3, but my dad remarried. He and my stepmom live in ParmaHeights.

Dream job: Developing software for Apple Computer, preferably on a laptopnear the ocean.

Most embarrassing moment: When my then 2-year-old son leaned over at anotherwise all-adult party to take a big bite out of the green pepper dip bowl, andall conversation stopped.

Social activities at Glenn: Secretary and newsletter editor for the Glenn MacintoshUser Group.

Hobbies/interests outside of NASA: I like to play in clay every chance I get! I ama potter and have a kiln at my home with a 1700-sq.-ft. basement for a studio. Ienjoy decorating my pottery, so it tends to be more on the dysfunctional side thana functional casserole would be. I am represented in two galleries on the west sideof Cleveland, plus do commission work (hand-painted tiles), and try to be inseveral art shows per year. Another hobby of mine is graphic design. I publishseveral books a year in a sort of vanity press. I do all the editing of manuscripts,design and layout of the text and covers, some inside artwork, and handle all salesvia my Web site and through an agent in England. I also enjoy sewing, knitting(have a knitting machine), working on computers, reading, and really anythingcreative.

Food temptations: Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate, what else is there?

Favorite Web site: http://junior.apk.net/~lisaeve, which is my Web site for thebooks I sell.

Louis Goldman, Turbomachinery andPropulsion Systems Division, retiredJanuary 3, 2004, with nearly 42 years ofservice to NASA.

John Kaminski, Facilities and TestInstallations Division, retired January 2,2004, with 33 years of Governmentservice including 25 to NASA.

William Klein, Engineering and TechnicalServices Division, retired June 28, 2003,with 39 years of NASA service.

William Nyerges, Educational ProgramsOffice, retired January 31, 2004, with 38years of Government service including21 to NASA.

Martin Pietrasz, Test Installations Division,retired January 3, 2004, with 37 years ofNASA service.

Richard Scheske, Jr., Facilities and TestEngineering Division, retired January 2,2004, with 43 years of Governmentservice including 39 to NASA.

Nancy Shaw, Microgravity ScienceDivision, retired January 3, 2004, with 25years of service to NASA.

Robert Solomon, Computer ServicesDivision, retired January 3, 2004, with 37years of service to NASA.

Scheske Ziemba

Goldman Kaminski

James S. Sovey, Power and On-boardPropulsion Technology Division, retiredJune 28, 2003, with 40 years of service toNASA.

Geraldine Ziemba, Aircraft OperationsOffice, retired January 3, 2004, with 34years of service to NASA.

MARCH 2004

Nyerges Shaw Solomon Sovey

12

Volume 6 Issue 3 March 2004

AeroSpace Frontiersis recyclable!

National Aeronautics andSpace Administration

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

Unoffical coworkers build camaraderie

It all started in 1996 with a kidnapping inPublishing Services.

A photocopy of five blindfolded Pez candydispensers belonging to Caroline Rist (IDI)—accompanied a ransom note: "ALL SAFE, WILLCONTACT SOON." After a series of ransomnotes that demanded cookies, Tweety Bird,Bugs Bunny, Batman, Kermit, and Garfieldwere returned home safely, and the culprit,Patty Figula (now JDDI), was apprehended.

"With that little drama, the Pez family took ona life of its own," explained Pat Webb, IDI/Publishing Services. As the current caretaker,Webb oversees a collection that has grown to111 dispensers.

While the Pez menagerie is impressive—withcharacters ranging from Muppets to Star Warsto Looney Toons—its uniqueness doesn’t stopthere. In 1997, Rist started a trend when shetook the dispensers on her Oregon vacation.A trip to Cedar Point, the Grand Canyon, andDisneyland soon followed for the Pez travelers,who caught rides inside suitcases and pursesof other employees.

Since those early adventures, the plastic figureshave traveled to such exotic locations as LasVegas, Greece, Hawaii, and Alaska. Along the

way, they have gone hiking,horseback riding, swimming,dancing, and rock climbing—theyhave even visited Santa—sharingthese experiences with their friendsback at Glenn.

"The neatest part about thephenomenon is that coworkers oftensend postcards and bring backphotographs of the Pez on the trips,which I preserve in a photo album,"Webb explained. "This has madefor great lunchtime chatter aboutour travels—through the perspectiveof these characters, and some prettycreative photographs."

These unofficial Glenn workers havetranscended branch, division, anddirectorate lines. Several employeesoutside Publishing Services havetaken the characters on trips as well.Their experiences are also includedin the album.

"Some people may think the Pezcollection is silly, but they have addeda dimension of camaraderie to ourgroup that is not easily duplicated,"Webb said.

Several members of the Pez family traveled with Jim Lucic(IDI/0620) to Las Vegas, Nevada.

BY DOREEN ZUDELL