National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland/Wallops Island, Virginia

February 09, 2001

The Goddard News is published weekly by the Office of Public Affairs, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771

Table of Contents        

HETE-2 Achieves Operational Status

On February 2, 2001, the High Energy Transient Explorer-2 (HETE-2) satellite achieved operational status, along with its network of primary ground stations and its Burst Alert Network (BAN). Continued tuning of the instruments and spacecraft parameters will continue over the coming months during a few orbits each day. These activities should not impact the spacecraft’s basic operational status. In particular, the HETE Operations Team will strive to provide high up-time levels for burst detection during lunar dark periods, beginning the week of Feb. 20 so as to best support the community of ground-based optical observers.

HETE-2 was launched on Oct 9, 2000 from the Kwajalein Missile Range in the Marshall Islands. HETE-2 was deployed by an L-1011 aircraft and carried into orbit by a Hybrid Pegasus expendable launch vehicle. During its four years in operation, HETE-2 will embark upon a gamma ray burst fact-finding mission. In addition to detecting hundreds of bursts during its mission, it will provide detailed information on the location and light characteristics of many of these bursts.

One of the key factors of HETE-2 is its ability to obtain the precise location of a gamma ray burst within seconds. On the ground, a dedicated network of 12 listen-only burst alert stations relays the data control center located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From there, information is transmitted to the Gamma Ray Burst Coordinate Distribution Network at Goddard, which sends the information to other observatories world-wide in 10-20 seconds, significantly faster than previously possible. HETE-2 will allow astronomers to see a burst while it is still occurring and allow scientists to study its development at various wavelengths.

For more information on the HETE-2 mission, go to the project website at:  http://space.mit.edu/HETE/

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February Is African-American History Month

Goddard's presentations for African-American History Month 2001 promise to be interesting, insightful and, most of all, different from presentations of the past. EOPO/Code 120 continues to sponsor a variety of topic discussions for the whole Center and this year’s activities cross the spectrum of employee interests and concerns. This year's theme will focus on "Creating and Defining the African-American Community: Family, Church, Politics and Culture."  The following events are scheduled for next week:

Ms. Cessie Alfonso, A.C.S.W. Her presentation, "Entering the Mix: A Multicultural Society for European, African, Latino, Asian, Native and Multiracial Americans," will identify and discuss the dynamics affecting the development of a multiracial and multicultural society by highlighting present trends and future demographics. She will analyze theories of merit, race and cultural dominance.

This event will be Feb.15, in the bldg. 3 auditorium from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The Wallops Black History Club Annual Dinner, featuring Comedian, Kedar Ashaad. The EOPO has been looking for ways to share experiences and social time with our colleagues at Wallops. This may be an excellent opportunity for Goddard employees to drive down and share in the African-American History Month festivities. The Wallops Black History Club Annual Dinner will be from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Feb 17, in bldg. D-10/Wallops Gym. The cost is $20.00. For Tickets/Information: Karen Downing, 757 824 2163, Sandra Banks, 757 824 2526 or Rebecca Beach, 757 824 1559.

For a schedule of all Black History Month events, please visit the Equal Opportunities Program Office at: http://eeo.gsfc.nasa.gov/events.html#feb

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Richard Mushotzky to Present at Today's Scientific Colloquium

Richard Mushotzky, is today’s Scientific Colloquium speaker. His topic is "Resolving the X-Ray Background" and he will discuss how the first results from Chandra and XMM, powerful new X-ray telescopes, have allowed some "resolving" to almost all of the X-ray background into point sources

The colloquium is at 3:30 p.m. in the Building 3 auditorium. For information about the scientific colloquia, go to: http://scicolloq.gsfc.nasa.gov/

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Balloon Program Sets New Endurance Record

A NASA scientific balloon has broken the previous record flight time for a zero pressure balloon by 44 hours. The 29.47 million cubic foot balloon was launched on January 4 from McMurdo, Antarctica and had a total flight time of 644 hours, terminating January 31. The balloon carried a Submillimeter Astrophysics experiment (TopHat) for Dr. Edward Cheng, Code 685. The 500-pound TopHat experiment was on the top of the balloon and was a record for weight on the top of the balloon.

This recent campaign marked the second time in two years NASA and the National Scientific Balloon Facility, Palestine, Texas have supported two concurrent long duration balloon missions in Antarctica. The second flight launched Dec. 28, 2000, also was a 29.47 million cubic foot balloon carrying a cosmic ray astrophysics experiment for Drs. John Wefel and Greg Guzik, Louisiana State University, that mission flew for 385 hours.

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Dr. Jim Hansen Wins Heinz Award

The founder of Apple Computer Inc., a psychiatrist, an arms control advocate and two dance instructors are among the other of the Heinz Award recipients.

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HST to Receive Space Foundation Award

The Hubble Space Telescope Team has been selected by The Space Foundation to receive the 2001 Space Foundation Space Achievement Award.  The award will be presented on April 9 at 17^th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs.

This award is among the highest honors the Space Foundation bestows. As the recipient, the Hubble Team will be recognized for their outstanding achievements in space. During its almost 11years in space, HST has contributed significantly to the world’s understanding of the universe and our place in it. Previous winners included the American Astronautical Society and Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell.

Way to go Hubble Team!

For more information on The Space Foundation, check out their website at:  http://www.ussf.org/index.shtml

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NASA Selects Company to Provide Information Services

NASA selected ASRC Aerospace Corporation, Greenbelt, Md, to provide scientific and technical information services and related support for the Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI) located in Hanover, Md.

CASI supports the NASA-wide Scientific and Technical Information Program, located at NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.

The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract has a total estimated value of $29 million. It is a one-year contract with four option years. ASRC Aerospace will acquire, organize, disseminate and archive scientific and technical information, including database creation and maintenance.

The principal work will be performed off-site at the contractor-run facility in Hanover.

ASRC is a tribal-owned small disadvantaged business.

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"Getting Personal"  Web Site Shows Human Side of Space Station

Visit NASA's new "Personal Space" Web site and get up-close and personal with International Space Station team members like STS-98 astronaut Robert Curbeam.

Curbeam, called "Beamer" by his friends and crewmates launched Feb. 7 on the Space Shuttle to deliver the U.S. laboratory module called Destiny to the station. As a young child, Curbeam's goal was to design rockets. Now he rides rockets into space.

During STS-98, Curbeam will be part of the second crew to visit the now-inhabited space station. Wearing a 300-pound spacesuit 220 miles up, Curbeam will take a walk on the wild side, attaching the U.S. laboratory to the ever-growing station. The site allows visitors to walk in Curbeam's shoes and learn what inspired him to pursue his career path.

For more on the crew, go to: ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/2001/01-007.txt

To view "Personal Space" go to: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/snapshots.html

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NASA Exercises Delta II Contract Option for NOAA-N

NASA announced it is exercising a contract option for a Delta II vehicle to launch NOAA-N for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The spacecraft is currently planned for launch in January 2003, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. This firm-fixed- price option is covered under the NASA Medium Light (MED-LITE) launch service contract (NAS5-32933), awarded by the agency on Feb. 27, 1996, to McDonnell Douglas Corp. of Huntington Beach, Calif., a subsidiary of The Boeing Company.

NASA's total launch services budget for NOAA-N is approximately $56 million.

The goals of NOAA-N after its launch into polar orbit are to take images and measurements of the Earth's atmosphere, cloud cover and surface, as well as to monitor the proton and electron fluxes near the Earth. The satellite can store and transmit the data from its instruments. NOAA-N will also be capable of receiving, processing and re-transmitting data from free-floating balloons, buoys, and remote automatic- observation stations around the globe, as well as detecting and re-transmitting search-and-rescue distress signals.

NOAA-N is managed by the Polar Operational Environmental Satellite Program at Goddard and is a cooperative effort among NASA, NOAA, the United Kingdom and France. The launch service and launch management are the responsibility of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

STEP UP TO STAIRWAY SAFETY

Many falls occur on stairs and can lead to serious injuries. That’s why you need to remember the following tips whenever you go up or down a flight of stairs.

• Pay attention to where you’re going.
• Never run up or down stairs.
• Use the railing to hold on.
• Don’t carry anything that blocks your vision.
• Watch out for loose or worn flooring.
• Pick up any foreign object.
• Keep one hand free for support or to break a fall
• Report burned-out bulbs or poor lighting.

Government/Industry Data Exchange Program

The Center receives information from the Government / Industry Data Exchange

Program (GIDEP) concerning product recalls. In an effort to keep employees informed of recalls that may affect you at work and at home, Code 300 has created a GSFC Safe Alert Website. Once a month, information will be provided on product recalls that are received in the Systems Safety and Reliability Office. Read about important product recall information that can affect you and your family at http://ssro.gsfc.nasa.gov/Safety_Alerts/safealert.html

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GSFC Facilities Master Plan

Goddard is preparing a new Facilities Master Plan, which is a 20-year look ahead at our buildings, roadways, fences and land use. GSFC is fully aware that Soil Conservation Road (SCS) is an important travel route for our employees as well as our local community and therefore, is not proposing a road closure, but rather a rerouting of SCS Road. To learn more about the proposed plan, employees can read a summary fact sheet available via the Internal Goddard homepage at: http://internal.gsfc.nasa.gov

An employee colloquium on the facilities master plan is scheduled for this Spring. Look for announcements in Dateline, Goddard News and the internal web site.

For complete details, go to:  http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2001/elachi.html

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Faucet Replacement Project

In an effort to better serve the Center and save energy and water costs, the Facilities Management Division has replaced all existing restroom water faucets with new sensor operated faucets. This project was approved by Center management and will assist Goddard in meeting energy and water conservation goals. The Center will realize water cost savings due to the reduced run time of the faucet, the use of reduced flow aerators and water temperature control. An additional benefit is enhanced hygiene due to the inherent hands free operation of the faucet.

The new faucets operate with an electronic sensor and automatically run only when in use (e.g., washing hands, coffee cups, etc.). The water temperature of each faucet has been adjusted to a "luke warm" setting. The water may be cooler for a short period until hot water is delivered to the faucet. The Health Unit has indicated that washing with antibacterial soap is an effective means of cleaning and disinfecting hands regardless of water temperature.

The faucet replacement project was accomplished under the Pepco Energy Services Agreement, with no initial cost to the Government. The contractor will be reimbursed through water cost savings over a 7-year period. This innovative program promises improved functionality and long term savings. If you experience any problems with the new faucets, please call the Building Maintenance Service Desk at 6-5555 and we will dispatch FMD personnel to correct the problem.

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SOLARMAX Now Showing at the National Air and Space Museum

"SOLARMAX" is a breath-taking giant-screen adventure that explores man's quest throughout time for knowledge about the awesome vastness and mysterious power of the closest star. It premieres Feb 16, 2001 at the National Air and Space Museum IMAX® theater in Washington, D.C.

For the first time audiences will be able to look directly at the sun and see it in a way never seen before, through the eyes of the large-format film camera. The film uses images captured by the Solar and Heliospheric Observer (SOHO) to generate film images for the giant eight-story high IMAX® screen, providing audiences with a spectacular sense of actually being there.

For more information about the presentation and show times, go to: http://www.solarmovie.com

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See What NASA's Hubble Sees, WIth the Click of a Mouse

Each day, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope collects enough information and images to fill five encyclopedias. Now, anyone with access to a computer and the World Wide Web can see the most exciting pictures captured by the world's first space-based optical telescope.

A new web site, "Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe," highlights the unique contributions to astronomy by this tireless observatory. The exhibition was developed by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), Baltimore, Md, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution.

The new internet portal seeks to simulate the experience of visiting the Smithsonian exhibition, which is now touring the country. Support for developing this exhibition was provided by NASA and the Lockheed-Martin Corporation.

The web site shares many of the physical exhibition's features such as videos, a roadmap of how long the light from different objects in space takes to reach us here on Earth and virtual reality activities - which gives users a true hands-on experience of the orbiting observer.

STScI, which manages the science program for the Hubble Space Telescope and is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under contract with Goddard.

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and the European Space Agency.

To experience the new "Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe," visit: http://hstexhibit.stsci.edu

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Goddard in the News

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Nancy Lorraine Jensen Memorial Scholarship Fund

Applications are being sought from qualified Goddard employees and/or their dependents for the Nancy Lorraine Jensen Memorial Scholarship.

Dr. and Mrs. Arthur S. Jensen established the Nancy Lorraine Jensen Memorial Scholarship Fund in 1994 in memory of their remarkable daughter. Nancy distinguished herself at GSFC as an outstanding engineer. It is the wish of Dr. and Mrs. Jensen to encourage young women to enter the field of science and engineering by offering scholarships in her memory.

To be eligible for a scholarship an applicant from GSFC must;

1. be a current female employee of NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, or a daughter or granddaughter of a current employee,
2. be an American citizen not younger than 17 and not older than 35 years old,
3. be a full-time undergraduate who has completed at least one term of her studies majoring in chemistry, physics or engineering (chemical, electrical or mechanical).

For additional information call Ken Segal at 6-2895, or The Sons of Norway Foundation at 612-827-3611. Applications must be post marked not later than March 1, 2001.

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Scientific Colloquium

Who: Andrew Westphal, Universtiy of Calif., Berkeley

What: Will speak on "The Origin of Galactic cosmic Rays: New Results formt he Russian Space Station"

When/Where: Friday, Feb 16, bldg. 3 auditorium at 3:30 p.m.

For more info: http://lheawww.gsfc.nasa.gov/users/djt/colloq/

Who: Ms. C. Leslie Charles

What: Will combine practical ideas with a personal touch in speaking about achieving balance and peace of mind in a world where people are often in a hurry and in a huff. This six-time author will draw on her research and experience, referring to her latest book recently reviewed in USA Today, Why is Everyone So Cranky?

When/Where: Wed, Feb 21, bldg 3 auditorium at 10:00 a.m.

For more info: http://workforce.gsfc.nasa.gov/b2k.html

Who: Dr. Siegfried D. Schubert, Code 910.3

What: Will discuss, "Are droughts and floods predictable on seasonal and longer time scales?"

When/Where: Tuesday, Feb 20, bldg. 33, Bldg 33 Room C114

For more info: http://hyperion.gsfc.nasa.gov/Personnel/people/Newman,_Paul_A./lab_seminar_spr2001.html

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The presenters are asked to share experiences, tips for goal setting, plans for the future, obstacles and challenges that are a part of your career.

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 Upcoming Launches

If you would like to submit articles, make comments or ask questions concerning Goddard News for this week please address your email comment to:  Trusilla.Y.Steele.1@gsfc.nasa.gov