Right Around the Corner A Publication for the Baltimore/Washington Area from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center August 2003

Upcoming Launches – SCISAT and SIRTF

SCISATThe Canadian Space Agency's Scientific Satellite Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (SCISAT-1) is scheduled to launch on August 12, between 10:05 and 11:02 p.m. EDT.

An L-1011 jet aircraft departing from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Calif., will carry the Pegasus XL vehicle that will launch SCISAT-1. The L-1011 will drop the Pegasus, and its 330-pound spacecraft, over the Pacific Ocean at approximately 10:10 p.m. EDT. The SCISAT-1 mission will provide scientists with improved measurements of the chemical processes that control the distribution of ozone in Earth's atmosphere.

SIRTFThe Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) is scheduled for launch on August 23 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard a Delta II. SIRTF is the fourth and final element in NASA's family of orbiting "Great Observatories."

SIRTF will use infrared light to explore our vast universe. All objects in the universe with temperatures above absolute zero (-460 F) emit some infrared radiation, or heat. Infrared wavelengths lie beyond the red portion of the visible spectrum and are invisible to the human eye. Scientists rely on orbiting telescopes such as SIRTF to capture data on celestial objects and phenomena that are too dim, distant or cool to study using ground-based telescopes or by other astronomical techniques.

Goddard contributed to the mission by designing and building the InfraRed Array Camera, which will provide imaging capabilities at near- and mid-infrared wavelengths. For more information visit: http://sirtf.jpl.nasa.gov

New Financial Management Tools Unite NASA

NASA's business operations took a giant leap forward recently as all 10 NASA field centers began using the same system to pay bills and manage financial accounts.

The new system, part of NASA's Integrated Financial Management Program (IFMP) is one component of a major overhaul of the way the agency does business. The program is replacing duplicative legacy systems with new ones for common use across the agency.

"NASA is changing the way it does business," said Patrick Ciganer, program executive for IFMP. "The new system allows us to work with common tools toward common goals, not as 10 different centers with different ways of budgeting or managing their finances," he said.

"Under the new system, we'll be able to track our finances all the way from the overall agency budget down to the individual transaction level," Ciganer said. "We'll beproviding NASA managers with up-to-date information on where their programs stand financially, and they'll have the tools evaluate tradeoffs required in the program planning. We'll also be able to take a consistent look across programs," he said.

For information about the Integrated Financial Management Program on the Internet, visit: http://ifmp.nasa.gov/

Hoyer to Speak at Maryland Space Business Roundtable

Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) will be the keynotespeaker at this month’s Maryland Space Business Roundtable luncheon scheduled for Tuesday, August 26. The event will be held at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Maryland. For tickets and further information, please contact Ms. Alberta Moran at 301-937-7762.

A.V. Diaz Keynote Speaker at National Federation of the Blind Convention

Goddard Space Flight Center Director A.V. Diaz spoke of sharing a vision with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) at the annual NFB Convention in Louisville, Ky. His speech, delivered on July 1, emphasized that the two groups can work together with the common goal of decreasing the isolation that surrounds those who are blind, making the Universe more accessible to them.

The convention, held June 28-July 4, was the largest assembly of any organization of disabled people to meet this year. Over 3,000 people attended, coming from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and over 15 foreign countries. The convention is meant to allow the blind to speak to blind role models, to attend informative meetings and learn about current technological developments that are improving life for the blind.

Diaz’s invitation to be a keynote speaker has been just one step among many in the forging of a relationship between NASA and the NFB. In his speech, Diaz explained the inspiration he felt from watching blind students learn about astronomy at the unveiling of a Braille book, “Touch the Universe”. He observed blind youth experience Hubble Space Telescope images through raised line printing.

The NASA/NFB collaboration also seeks to facilitate the means that will lead to increased employment opportunities for the blind. This includes examining current resources available, looking at what NASA technologies could be adapted to assist the blind and finding ways to provide knowledge in a manner accessible to the blind.

“I believe that the time is right to re-double our efforts to seek ways to enable others, including the blind community, to benefit from the fruits of our exploration,” said Diaz.

NASA Takes REASoN-ABLE Approach to Earth Sciences

NASA has selected 41 proposals in response to the "Research, Education, and Applications Solutions Network," a cooperative agreement notice known as "REASoN."

The selected proposals will expedite the use of NASA Earth Science observational measurements, models and systems engineering capabilities. REASoN ensures scientists studying Earth System Science have access to the most accurate and complete key geophysical observation records. Solutions that serve society will emerge from the selected proposals to help us understand and protect our home planet, while inspiring our next generation of explorers.

"As NASA increases our efforts in the area of Earth System Science, it is vital we pursue new, innovative methods for making these tools available to the widest possible audience," said Dr. Ghassem Asrar, Associate Administrator, Office of Earth Sciences, NASA Headquarters, Washington.

A complete listing of selected proposals is available on the Internet at: http://research.hq.nasa.gov/code_y/dynamic.cfm?op_fy=2003

Goddard Space Flight Center will lead the effort to discover if comets supplied the raw material for the origin of life on Earth, and if they could do so for alien worlds, as part of its participation in NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) research.

NAI selected a team of scientists led by NASA Goddard for a five-year, multimillion-dollar research effort that will explore how organic molecules are created in interstellar clouds and delivered to planets as they form. The award is one of 12 new research awards announced by the Institute June 24.

"One of the most interesting questions is also among the deepest: Where did we come from? I'm honored to be leading a team of so many recognized experts that will help answer this question," said Goodard’s Dr. Michael Mumma who is the Principal Investigator for the NAI Goddard award.

SPACE CHATS at the Visitor Center

Space Chats is a series of free interactive presentations for the public, to inform attendees of the latest findings in space and Earth research at Goddard. The presentations are held each Thursday at 7:30pm and are given by Goddard scientists, researchers and program managers.

Ms. Lisa Mazzuca, HST operations servicing mission liaison, will discuss recent science and future plans for the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) on August 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Goddard Visitor Center. HST continues to provide unmatched imagery and scientific results as seen through its instruments' eyes. During its most recent servicing mission in March 2002, a new science instrument named Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) was installed. The initial science results, have impressed the world due to ACS's wide field and high resolution cameras. So what's next?...another servicing mission which includes two new instruments that will surpass even the best expectations of our current ones. To register for this free event, visit http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/ and click on “Space Chats”.

For more information you can call the Visitor Center at 301-286-9041 or 301-286-7031.