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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

100 Years ofPowered Flight

As we celebrate the “Centennial of Flight,” let us remember the contributions ofthe Columbia STS-107 crew members.

Spinoff salutes the STS-107 crew who “dedicated their lives to pushing scientific challenges for all of us here on Earth. They dedicated themselves to that

objective and did it with a happy heart, willingly and with great enthusiasm...”

—NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, February 1, 2003

On the Cover:

From the first wind tunnel to the latest aircraft and spacecraft designs,the montage displays several of themany contributions made by NASAand its predecessor, NACA, duringthe “100 Years of Powered Flight.”

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationOffice of Aerospace Technology

Commercial Technology Division

Developed byPublications and Graphics DepartmentNASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)

Spinoff 2003

For sale by the U.S. Government Printing OfficeSuperintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328

ISBN 0-16-067895-1

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In this “Centennial of Flight” year, it is worth notingfor all the amazing progress the age of aviation andspace flight has made possible, our gains have not

come easily. Every step of the way, the technologicalbreakthroughs that have enabled people to fly around theworld and brave explorers to extend our horizons heav-enward, were the result of hard work, perseverance, anda willingness to overcome major setbacks.

On February 1, 2003, a terrible tragedy occurred whenthe NASA family, our Nation, and the world lost sevenremarkable individuals, the heroic crew of the SpaceShuttle Columbia.

NASA is now working hard to return to space flightoperations that are as safe as humanly possible. We arealso continuing to pursue our mission goals of under-standing and protecting the home planet, exploring theuniverse and searching for life, and inspiring the nextgeneration of explorers. We hope our unceasing effortsto pioneer the future will provide a fitting tribute to theColumbia seven.

This year, which marks NASA’s 45th year of con-ducting aeronautics and space research and exploration missions on behalf of the American public, is also note-worthy for some important advances:• Our Expedition crews onboard the International Space

Station continued to perform experiments on the orbit-ing facility spanning several scientific disciplines.From these experiments, scientists are: learning bettermethods of drug testing; developing models that pre-dict or explain the progress of disease; investigatinghow to use microbes to make antibiotics; determininghow to improve manufacturing processes; and study-ing changes in Earth climate, vegetation, and crops.

• We successfully launched our twin Mars ExplorationRovers, Spirit and Opportunity, which are now enroute for their January 2004 exploration of sites on theRed Planet where water may have once flowed freely.

• We celebrated the Nobel Prize in Physics awardedin December 2002 to astronomer RiccardoGiacconi for his groundbreaking NASA-sponsoredresearch in X-ray astronomy.

• We initiated the NASA Explorer School Program toprovide fifth through eighth grade-level educators,administrators, students, and their families the oppor-tunity to engage in sustained involvement withNASA’s research, discoveries, and missions. NASAalso began a program to recruit the first class of Educator Astronauts, who in addition to performingregular flight duties on multiple missions, will taketheir classrooms into space to directly engage millionsof school children in lessons about the wondersof science.

• We launched several satellites and instruments thatare helping scientists better understand the dynamicsof Earth’s climatic system and the possible causes andconsequences of global climate change.Fittingly for an Agency that holds dear its aviation

roots, we also continued to make significant invest-ments to improve the efficiency, safety, and security ofour Nation’s air transportation system. Spinoff 2003recognizes a number of exciting NASA aeronauticsresearch efforts that may well help revolutionize theway we travel in the future.

As always, this publication highlights NASA’sextensive efforts to promote the transfer of aerospacetechnology to the private sector. Every day, in anastounding variety of ways, American lives are affect-ed positively by our Nation’s investment in NASA.Such fields as agriculture, communications, computertechnology, environment and resources management,health and medicine, manufacturing, transportation,and climate modeling have benefited greatly fromNASA-derived technologies.

As the second century of flight gets underway, wewill strive mightily to continue providing tangible andsignificant benefits to the American public. For atNASA, we believe the sky and the heavens beyond arenot limits, but rather vital venues for exploration andtechnological progress.

Sean O’KeefeAdministratorNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

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NASA’s enduring contributions in aerospaceresearch and development trace their origin tothe Wright Brothers’ historic flight in December

1903. This year, we celebrate the 100th anniversary ofthat flight and almost 10 decades of the NationalAdvisory Committee for Aeronautics’ (NACA) andNASA’s spectacular accomplishments in space and hereon Earth. In 19l5, Congress established NACA “to super-vise and direct the scientific study of the problems of flight, with a view to their practical solution.”Congress could not anticipate at that time the futureimpact this legislation would have for every Americanand the global community.

Today, NASA continues to reach milestones in spaceexploration with the Hubble Telescope, Earth-observingsystems, the Space Shuttle, the Stardust spacecraft, theChandra X-Ray Observatory, the International SpaceStation, the Mars rovers, and experimental research air-craft—these are only a few of the many initiatives thathave grown out of NASA engineering know-how todrive the Agency’s missions. The technical expertisegained from these programs has transferred into partner-ships with academia, industry, and other Federal agen-cies, ensuring America stays capable and competitive.

With Spinoff 2003, we once again highlight the manypartnerships with U.S. companies that are fulfilling the

1958 Space Act stipulation that NASA’s vast body of sci-entific and technical knowledge also “benefit mankind.”This year’s issue showcases innovations such as thecochlear implant in health and medicine, a cockpitweather system in transportation, and a smoke mask ben-efiting public safety; many other products are featured inthese disciplines, as well as in the additional fields ofconsumer/home/recreation, environment and resourcesmanagement, computer technology, and industrial pro-ductivity/manufactacturing technology.

Also in this issue, we devote an entire section toNASA’s history in the field of flight and showcaseNASA’s newest enterprise dedicated to education. TheEducation Enterprise will provide unique teaching andlearning experiences for students and teachers at all lev-els in science, technology, engineering, and mathemat-ics. The Agency also is committed, as never before, toengaging parents and families through NASA’s educa-tional resources, content, and opportunities. NASA’s cat-alyst to intensify its focus on teaching and learningsprings from our mission statement: “to inspire the nextgeneration of explorers … as only NASA can.”

NASA has proven in the past that it is up to the taskand that it is ready for the future.

Introduction

Dr. Robert L. NorwoodDirector, Commercial Technology DivisionNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Dr. Adena Williams LostonAssociate Administrator for EducationNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

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Spinoff developments highlighted in this publication are based on informationprovided by secondary users of aerospace technology, individuals, and manufac-turing concerns who acknowledge that aerospace technology contributed wholly orin part to development of the product or process described. Publication herein doesnot constitute NASA endorsement of the product or process, nor confirmation ofmanufacturers’ performance claims related to the particular spinoff development.

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Table of Contents

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Partnership Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Health and Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Public Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Consumer/Home/Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Environment and Resources Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Computer Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Industrial Productivity/Manufacturing Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

One Hundred Years of Powered Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

The NASA Education Enterprise:Inspiring the Next Generation of Explorers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Partnership Successes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Technology Transfer Network and Affiliations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

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Each year, NASA makes breakthroughs in science and technologythat expand our knowledge of Earth and the universe. Throughthese advances, NASA extends partnership opportunities for

private industry to develop innovative products and services for theAmerican consumer. The following partnership benefits, which serve asNASA’s portal to the public, demonstrate the ways space research anddevelopment strengthen our economy and improve life here on Earth.

Benefits

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More and more people areputting away their eye-glasses and contact lenses

as a result of laser vision correction surgery. LASIK, the most widely performed version of this surgical pro-cedure, improves vision by reshapingthe cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, using an excimer laser. One excimer laser system, Alcon’sLADARVision® 4000, utilizes a laserradar (LADAR) eye tracking devicethat gives it unmatched precision.

During LASIK surgery, laserpulses must be accurately placed toreshape the cornea. A challenge tothis procedure is the patient’s con-stant eye movement. A person’s eyesmake small, involuntary movementsknown as saccadic movements about100 times per second. Since the sac-cadic movements will not stop dur-ing LASIK surgery, most excimerlaser systems use an eye trackingdevice that measures the movementsand guides the placement of thelaser beam.

The eye tracking device must beable to sample the eye’s position at arate of at least 1,000 times per secondto keep up with the saccadic move-ments. Eye tracking devices varygreatly in speed depending upon theirtype. The most commonly used video tracking systemsfollow eye movements between 60 to 250 times per sec-ond, meaning that they cannot keep up with saccadicmovements. Therefore, when the eye moves too far fromthe limits set by the eye surgeon, the surgeon must shutdown the laser beam and restart the surgery once thelaser is properly centered.

Sufficient speed is not a problem for Alcon’s patent-ed LADARTracker,™ a LADAR eye tracking devicethat measures eye movements at a rate of 4,000 times persecond, 4 times the perceived safety margin. TheLADARTracker also employs a closed-loop system,which keeps the device locked on the eye at all times.Eye movement information is continuously relayed tothe system, allowing the system to compensate for themovements. Video tracking systems, on the other hand,are open-loop systems that try to follow eye movementsrather than compensate for them. LADARVision is cur-rently the only excimer laser device that continually

monitors and tracks eye movement through the closed-loop system.

LADARVision’s eye tracking device stems from theLADAR technology originally developed through sever-al Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) con-tracts with NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the U.S.Department of Defense’s Ballistic Missile DefenseOffice (BMDO). In the 1980s, Johnson awardedAutonomous Technologies Corporation a Phase I SBIRcontract to develop technology for autonomous ren-dezvous and docking of space vehicles to service satel-lites. During Phase II of the Johnson SBIR contract,Autonomous Technologies developed a prototype rangeand velocity imaging LADAR to demonstrate technolo-gy that could be used for this purpose. LADAR was also

The Right Track for Vision Correction

LADARVision® is approved by the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration for the correction of nearsightedness, farsighted-ness, and astigmatism through LASIK surgery.

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used in military and NASA-sponsored research forapplications in strategic target tracking and weapons firing control.

Autonomous Technologies’ work for NASA in thearea of pointing and scanning laser beams aided thedevelopment of the eye tracking device and theLADARVision system. With its advances in LADAR,Autonomous Technologies decided to enter the excimerlaser business to develop a system for refractive surgery.In 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)granted Autonomous Technologies approval to marketits LADARVision system for the correction of nearsight-edness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Shortly after-wards, a subsidiary of Summit Technology, Inc., anindustry leader in ophthalmic excimer laser technology,merged with Autonomous Technologies, formingSummit Autonomous.

Alcon acquired Summit Autonomous and theLADARVision technology in May 2000, placing the FortWorth, Texas-based company at the forefront of refrac-tive surgical technology. The company’s LADARVision4000 made another breakthrough by combining the

benefits of the LADAR tracking device with a flying,small-spot laser beam. This small, narrow laser beam is0.8 millimeters wide, permitting a very precise, gradualcorneal shaping. The eye surgeon can closely calibratethe beam to remove the proper amount of corneal tissuefor correction of the refractive errors that cause visionproblems. The system has the only FDA-approved claimof improved accuracy in corneal shaping.

Eye surgeons across the country are utilizing theLADARVision 4000 for LASIK surgery. In October2002, Alcon’s LADARVision system, consisting of the LADARVision 4000 and the LADARWave wavefrontmeasurement device, became the first to gain FDA approval for wavefront-guided LASIK. The result-ing procedure, called CustomCornea, allows surgeons tomeasure and address visual distortions that previouslywent undetected. The precision of the tracking device andthe small spot beam make the LADARVision system thepremier equipment to deliver these precise treatments.

LADARVision® is a registered trademark of Alcon.LADARTracker™ is a trademark of Alcon.

During LASIK surgery, Alcon’sLADARTracker™ measures eyemovements at a rate of 4,000times per second. This is 4 timesthe perceived safety margin foran eye tracking device.

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While most parents would agree that playingvideos games is the antithesis of time wellspent for their children, recent advances

involving NASA biofeedback technology are prov-ing otherwise.

The same techniques used to measure brain activity inNASA pilots during flight simulation exercises are nowa part of a revolutionary video game system that is help-ing to improve overall mental awareness for Americansof all ages, including those who suffer from AttentionDeficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For years, sci-entists from NASA’s Langley Research Center haveresearched and developed various physiological methodsfor assessing sustained attention, engagement, aware-ness, and pilot stress in laboratory flight simulators. Suchtests are crucial to maintaining the focus of pilots, takinginto consideration that the task of flying a plane cansometimes be monotonous.

One of the most progressive physiological methods tospawn from Langley biofeedback research is known asExtended Attention Span Training (EAST). As a modifi-cation of biocybernetic technology used to increase themental engagement of pilots, EAST transcends conven-tional neurofeedback systems by taking the form of avideo game that responds to brain electrical activity andjoystick input.

Langley awarded CyberLearning Technology, LLC,of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, an exclusivelicense to transform the EAST technology into a fun andexciting video game platform that could safely improvebrain functioning for individuals with attention disor-ders, as well as those who endure high stress and anxiety.In 2003, CyberLearning Technology released theS.M.A.R.T. (Self Mastery and Regulation Training)BrainGames system, an interactive, at-home trainingtool that is completely compatible with off-the-shelfSony PlayStation® video games, including such populartitles as Gran Turismo,® Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater,™ andSpyro the Dragon.™ The S.M.A.R.T. BrainGames prod-uct uses electroencephalogram (EEG) neurofeedback tomake a video game respond to the activity of the player’sbody and brain. Signals from sensors attached to theplayer’s head and body are fed through a signal-processing unit, and then to a video game controller. Asthe player’s brainwaves come closer to an optimal stateof attention, the video game’s controller becomes easierto control. On the contrary, if a player becomes bored ordistracted, the brainwaves stray from the desired stress-free pattern, and controlling the game becomes more difficult. This encourages the player to continueproducing optimal patterns or signals to succeed at the game.

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A Real Attention-Getter

From flight simulation to brain stimulation: The S.M.A.R.T.BrainGames system uses electroencephalogram neurofeedbackto make a video game respond to the activity of the player’s bodyand brain.

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For example, if an individual is engaging ina race car game in which the goal is to post afast time to qualify for the next race, it isimportant for him or her to maintain bothspeed and control. As the user improves focus,the S.M.A.R.T. BrainGames system will allowfor faster speed and easier steering; if theuser’s focus wanders, the race car will loseground and not qualify. In essence, the brainacts as the “accelerator,” and the calmness actsas the “steering,” notes CyberLearningTechnology. In the case of ADHD, whererelentless distractions and/or impulsive behav-ior take over, the biofeedback technologybehind S.M.A.R.T. BrainGames has displayedgreat results in helping those with the disorderto concentrate and self-regulate.

Researchers from Langley and the EasternVirginia Medical School in Norfolk conducted a studyon the effectiveness of the video game biofeedback com-pared with traditional biofeedback treatments on 22 boysand girls between the ages of 9 and 14. In the test, sixPlayStation games were used; one-half of the childrenreceived traditional biofeedback training, and the otherhalf played the modified video games.

After forty 1-hour sessions, both groups showed signifi-cant improvements in everyday brain-wave patterns, as wellas in tests measuring attention span, impulsiveness, andhyperactivity. The key difference in the outcome, however,was motivation. According to Alan Pope, Ph.D., a psychol-ogist from Langley’s Crew/Vehicle Integration Branch andco-inventor of EAST, the video game group experiencedfewer no-shows for testing and no drop-outs. Additionally,Pope adds that the parents were more satisfied with theresults of the video game training, and the kids seemed tohave more fun. He is also quick to note that violent videogames are not recommended, but rather that car racing,skateboarding, and other skills-type games are best suited forthe interactive technology. By adapting to today’s most pop-ular video games, S.M.A.R.T. BrainGames fully preserveshigh-tech entertainment value, unlike previous biofeedbackmethods that had a propensity to be too repetitive and simplistic. These training methods typically employed “go-no-go” games, in which animation or computer graph-ics would move along a predetermined path, lacking inter-activity or user control over the game itself.

S.M.A.R.T. BrainGames’ motivating and mind-expanding capabilities are also helping to deflectparental criticism regarding the negative influences ofvideo games, such as their ability to keep children awayfrom their homework, or from outdoor playtime activi-

ties that are valuable to their social development(CyberLearning Technology’s clever answer to suchconcern is that it is now okay to tell kids to “go play yourvideo games before your homework”). More so, thegame system is a viable alternative to frontline medicinefor ADHD patients, such as the stimulant Ritalin.Although Ritalin treatment has had great success in con-trolling the symptoms of ADHD, physicians generallyagree that the drug is over-prescribed. CyberLearningTechnology stresses that the S.M.A.R.T. BrainGamesproduct should be viewed as an adjunct treatment tomedicine, not as a competitor.

Pope notes that this spinoff could have “spin-back”applications for NASA. The Agency has future plans touse the video game concept to train pilots to keep theirheart rates calm during emergencies, since a racing heartcan affect decision-making. Researchers are also plan-ning applications in attention management and peak-performance training in aviation.

CyberLearning Technology is working to introduceits product in other health-related sectors where biofeed-back training may have benefits. This could possiblyinclude a new type of therapy for aggressive drivingbehavior, otherwise known as “road rage.”

PlayStation® and Gran Turismo® are registered trademarks of SonyComputer Entertainment, Inc.Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater™ is a trademark of Activision, Inc.Spyro the Dragon™ is a trademark of Universal Interactive, Inc.

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Compatible with off-the-shelf Sony PlayStation® video games,the interactive, at-home video training tool fully preserves high-tech entertainment value, unlike previous biofeedback methodsthat had a propensity to be too repetitive and simplistic.

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Hearing Is Believing

Twenty-six years ago, Adam Kissiah delivered amedical wonder to the world that has resulted inrestored hearing for thousands of individuals, and

allowed thousands of others born deaf to perceive soundfor the very first time.

Driven by his own hearing problem and three failedcorrective surgeries, Kissiah started working in the mid-1970s on what would become known as the cochlearimplant, a surgically implantable device that provideshearing sensation to persons with severe-to-profoundhearing loss who receive little or no benefit from hearingaids. Uniquely, the cochlear implant concept was notbased on theories of medicine, as Kissiah had no medicalbackground whatsoever. Instead, he utilized the techni-cal expertise he learned while working as an electronicsinstrumentation engineer at NASA’s Kennedy SpaceCenter for the basis of his invention. This took place over3 years, when Kissiah would spend his lunch breaks andevenings in Kennedy’s technical library, studying theimpact of engineering principles on the inner ear.

Unlike a hearing aid, which just makes sounds loud-er, the cochlear implant selects speech signal informationand then produces a pattern of electrical pulses in apatient’s ear. A microphone picks up sounds and trans-mits them to a speech processor that converts them intodigital signals. Although it is impossible to make soundscompletely natural, because a mere 22 electrodes are

replacing the function of thousands of hair cells in a nor-mal hearing ear, the implant still serves as an excellentrehabilitative mechanism for hearing damage caused bydisease, drugs, trauma, or genetic inheritance.

In 1977, NASA helped Kissiah obtain a patent for thecochlear implant. Several years later, he sold the rights ofthe technology to a company named BIOSTIM, Inc., forcommercial development of the innovation. AlthoughBIOSTIM is no longer in business, numerous hearing aidmanufacturers have applied Kissiah’s patented conceptto their cochlear implant products. As the inventor him-self puts it, the cochlear implant “only works one way.”

It was not until just recently that Kissiah, nowretired, started receiving the long-overdue recognitionhe deserves for this remarkable finding. Kennedy’sawards liaison officer, Pam Bookman, who encouragesthe Center’s employees to report their significant contri-butions, submitted Kissiah for a Space Act Award whenshe found out his research was drawn from engineeringskills honed while with NASA. In 2002, he earned theprestigious award, which included a signed certificatefrom NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe and $21,000,the largest monetary award ever given to a single inven-tor in Kennedy’s history.

Perhaps just as rewarding was the opportunity forKissiah to meet fellow Space Act Award recipient AllanDianic, an ENSCO, Inc., employee who works with

The cochlear implantselects speech signalinformation, transmittedto it from a microphoneand speech processor,then produces a patternof electrical pulses in apatient’s ear.

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NASA’s Applied Meteorology Unit. Dianic’s 2-year-olddaughter, Victoria, regained full hearing after receiving acochlear implant just 2 months before the ceremony. Itwas discovered that Victoria was deaf when she was 9months old. Now, she can hear for the first time.

In April of 2003, Kissiah was officially inducted intothe Space Foundation’s U.S. Space Technology Hall ofFame for his invention. Administrator O’Keefe, formerastronaut Donald McMonagle, and former astronaut andNASA Administrator Vice Admiral Richard Truly wereon hand for the activities; Kennedy Director RoyBridges, a former astronaut and retired Air Force MajorGeneral, accepted the award on behalf of Kissiah andKennedy (Bridges has since been named director ofLangley Research Center). In the face of the latest atten-tion surrounding his technological development, Kissiahhas remained extremely humble about his role.

“Regardless of what level of participation I had, it is niceto know I contributed to making many lives better,”he noted.

The Cochlear Implant Association estimates over66,000 patients have received an implant, creating whatis today a $1.65 billion industry. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association further statesthat cochlear implantation consistently ranks among themost cost-effective medical procedures ever reported. In early 2002, popular radio talk show personality Rush Limbaugh revealed during a live broadcast that the“medical marvel” allowed him to hear his show again forthe first time since learning he was suffering from neartotal deafness several months earlier. Limbaugh told hisnearly 20 million listeners in October of 2001 that anautoimmune inner-ear disease caused him to lose 100-percent hearing in his left ear and 80-percent hear-ing in his right ear. Despite this damage, Limbaugh con-tinued his daily broadcasts, responding to callers withthe aid of a teleprompter and assistance from his staff.

Heather Whitestone McCallum, who became the firstdeaf woman to be crowned Miss America in 1995,received a cochlear implant in 2002 and is hearingsounds she never heard before, including the voices ofher children. Amy Ecklund, a longtime actress on the

daytime soap opera “Guiding Light” anddeaf since the age of 6, also regained herhearing with assistance from a cochlearimplant in 1999.

Sprung from the mind of an engineer,this medical miracle is a perfect exam-ple of how NASA knowledge is bound-less and can touch the lives of many inways unimaginable.

Adam Kissiah (right), a retired Kennedy Space Center engineer,shows a photo of Allan Dianic’s daughter, who has benefitedfrom a cochlear implant that Kissiah developed while at NASA.Dianic (left) is a software engineer with ENSCO, Inc., and amember of NASA’s Applied Meteorology Unit. Kissiah receivedan exceptional category NASA Space Act Award for his tech-nology breakthrough during a technology awards luncheon heldat Kennedy’s Visitor Complex Debus Center in 2002.

Kissiah’s induction into the SpaceFoundation’s U.S. Space Technology Hallof Fame. Left to right: former astronautDonald McMonagle, Kissiah, former astro-naut and NASA Administrator Vice AdmiralRichard Truly, and Space FoundationPresident and CEO Elliot Pulham.

Image courtesy of the Space Foundation. Photographer: Ernie Ferguson

What employee never takes a vacation or abreak, never calls in sick, works around theclock 365 days a year, has more than 3 million

hours of experience, and is qualified to work in dietaryservices, radiology and medical record departments,pharmacies, central supply, and laboratories? The answeris a competent, cost-effective robotic courier that enableshospitals to redirect staff to more valuable roles.

The HelpMate trackless robotic hospital courier wasdesigned by Transitions Research Corporation, a think-tank company formed in 1984. Over the course of 10years, Transitions Research Corporation received fund-ing for this developmental effort from NASA, throughseven Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)awards with Johnson Space Center. Notably, Johnsongranted the company Phase I and Phase II SBIR fundingin 1995 to support the conception of the two-armed,mobile, sensate research-robot, projected to allow devel-opment and demonstration of robotic support tasks forNASA on-orbit mechanisms.

In 1997, Transitions Research Corporation went pub-lic, and changed its name to HelpMate Robotics, Inc., toemphasize the one product by the same name that was tobe introduced to the commercial marketplace. Two yearslater, Pyxis Corporation, the San Diego, California-basedAutomation and Information Services division of

Cardinal Health, Inc., purchased the assets of HelpMateRobotics, Inc., subsequently acquiring the rights to theHelpMate robotic courier technology.

Known today as the Pyxis HelpMate® SecurePak(SP), the 4-foot-tall, 600-pound trackless robotic couri-er has evolved significantly from the original designblueprint. According to Cardinal Health, the PyxisHelpMate SP is the first system of its kind to navigateautonomously through hospitals and other medical facil-ities—including independently calling and using eleva-tors—without the use of external guidance systems suchas fixed tracks or guide wires. It offers an extremelyreliable and less expensive replacement for humancouriers, while allowing nursing and pharmacy staff andother skilled health care workers to spend less time run-ning errands and more time providing patient care.

The Pyxis HelpMate SP is battery-operated andemploys state-of-the-art technology, wireless radio, andproprietary software to guide it from point to point. Witha 200-pound payload and various lockable compart-ments for storage, the robotic courier is capable ofsmoothly transporting pharmaceuticals, laboratory spec-imens, equipment and supplies, meals, medical records,and radiology films back and forth between supportdepartments and nursing floors. In a laboratory setting, itdelivers test results back to clinicians in a timely manner,

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A Robot to Help Make the Rounds

The Pyxis HelpMate® SecurePak roboticcourier navigates autonomously throughoutmedical facilities, transporting pharmaceuti-cals, laboratory specimens, equipment, sup-plies, meals, medical records, and radiologyfilms between support departments andnursing floors.

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leading to more accurate diagnoses and treatments. Itsproven track record for seamless deliveries also helps toeliminate concerns regarding biohazard spills. In thepharmacy, the courier reduces delivery costs, increasesproductivity, and provides tighter security for medica-tions and supplies.

Pyxis HelpMate SP’s easy-to-use color touch screenentitles its human operators to send it to virtually anylocation in a hospital. Facilities using multiple courierscan centrally manage the robots through a monitoringsystem to determine location, status, and project desti-nation arrival times. Because they are equipped withradio antennas, the couriers are capable of communicat-ing with each other directly or via a radiofrequency Ethernet system.

The source of vision for the original HelpMate was a structured-light vision system,comprised of a camera thatsought out objects up toapproximately 8 feet in front of the robot. The camera differen-tiated between ob-stacles at different distances and alteredthe course of therobot to maneuveraround them. Twoinfrared strobe lights,

positioned 6 inches and 18 inches off of the floor, pro-vided planes of lights for the camera to detect theobjects in front of it. A laser scanner replaced the structured-light system in Pyxis HelpMate SP. The newlaser scanner provides a wider field of view (180º asopposed to 60º with the camera), finer resolution, andimproved reliability. Turn signals, emergency-stop buttons, and contact bumpers are also included as addedsafety mechanisms.

To date, nearly 100 Pyxis HelpMate units have beensold to hospitals within the United States. The technol-ogy presents hospitals and other medical organizationswith the financial options necessary to cost-effectively

align fiscal goals and strategies, especiallywhen faced with increased labor short-

ages, fluctuating patient census, andthe economic challenges that are

currently impacting the healthcare field.

HelpMate® is a registered trade-mark of Cardinal Health, Inc.

The robotic courier educesdelivery costs, increasesproductivity, and providestighter security for medica-tions and supplies.

Images courtesy of CardinalHealth, Inc.

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Proteins are the chemical building blocks fromwhich all human cells, organs, and tissues aremade. They also serve as the hormones, enzymes,

and antibodies that help the body fight off invadinggerms. Determining the structure of a protein enablesmedical researchers to create pharmaceuticals that willeither help or prevent a protein from doing its job.Through a process known as structure-based drugdesign, researchers use the knowledge of a protein’sstructure to develop new drugs to treat a variety of dis-eases. The predominate method of determining a pro-tein’s structure is by X-ray crystallography, whichinvolves growing protein crystals and exposing them toan X-ray beam to determine their atomic structure.

In order to rapidly and efficiently grow crystals, toolswere needed to automatically identify and analyze thegrowing process of protein crystals. To meet this need,

Diversified Scientific, Inc. (DSI), with the support of aSmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contractfrom NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, developedCrystalScore,™ the first automated image acquisition,analysis, and archiving system designed specifically forthe macromolecular crystal growing community. Itoffers automated hardware control, image and dataarchiving, image processing, a searchable database, andsurface plotting of experimental data. CrystalScore iscurrently being used by numerous pharmaceutical com-panies and academic and nonprofit research centers.DSI, located in Birmingham, Alabama, was awarded thepatent “Method for acquiring, storing, and analyzingcrystal images” on March 4, 2003.

Another DSI product made possible by MarshallSBIR funding is VaporPro,™ a unique, comprehensivesystem that allows for the automated control of vapor

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Protein Crystal Growth

The award-winning CrystalScore™ is an automated image acqui-sition, analysis, and archiving system for protein crystallization.

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diffusion for crystallization experiments. The productcontains complete hardware and user-friendly softwareand was awarded patent protection in June 2002. Itscutting-edge features include individual vapor diffu-sion profiles for each chamber, as well as automatedtime-lapse image acquisition, crystal detection, andliquid handling.

With a mission to make drug discovery easier, faster,and more affordable, DSI manufactures and marketsproducts based on the crystallography and structure-based drug design research conducted at the Universityof Alabama at Birmingham’s Center for BiophysicalSciences and Engineering (CBSE), a NASA CommercialSpace Center. Formed as a CBSE spinoff company in1995, DSI has received several SBIR contracts fromboth NASA and the National Institutes of Health todevelop products that support crystal growth for all crys-tallographic applications, including drug design and pro-tein engineering. The CBSE’s commercial research ismade possible through NASA’s Space ProductDevelopment Program, a partnership between NASA,academia, and U.S. industry.

CrystalScore™ and VaporPro™ are trademarks of DiversifiedScientific, Inc.

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VaporPro™ provides solutions for higher quality crystal growth.

From “man’s best friend” to the exotic mammalsand reptiles that grace the grounds of a zoo, recentimprovements in wellness and prevention care are

leading to longer and healthier lives for animals, as wellas fewer trips to the veterinary office.

The advent of in-office laboratory test systems has petlovers and animal enthusiasts resting easy, knowing thatthey are now able to seek medical care and laboratorywork, obtain results, and discuss treatment options fortheir animal companions all in just one 30-minute visit.Historically, veterinary practices would depend on theservices of external reference laboratories to processdiagnostic test results. With over 60,000 veterinariansrepresenting more than 30,000 veterinary clinics in theUnited States alone, outsourcing laboratory specimenshad a tendency to prolong the turnaround time forresults, aggravating clients who are anxiously awaitingfeedback from simple blood tests, or causing fear forothers who are facing emergency situations with littletime to spare.

Already a leading developer, manufacturer, and mar-keter of point-of-care blood analysis systems for use inhuman patient-care settings, Abaxis, Inc., of Union City,California, recognized a need for a similar system toaddress point-of-care diagnostics and other challengesconfronting the veterinary market. In crossing over toanimal care, Abaxis incorporated elements from its orig-inal human blood chemistry analysis system, conceivedfrom NASA research dating back to the late 1970s.

NASA had set out to develop a biochemical analyzerfor astronauts to accurately monitor their physiological

functions during missions onboard the orbiting Skylab IISpace Station. Because of the remote confines of outerspace, the analyzer had to be practical for space travel(existing mechanical blood analysis systems were far toolarge for spacecraft use and would not have functionedproperly in microgravity). Something compact yet pow-erful, reliable, easy to use, transportable, and completelyself-contained was the desired end result.

In conjunction with the Tennessee-based Oak RidgeNational Laboratory, NASA created an analyzer basedon the principals of centrifugal force. The resulting tech-nology successfully achieved separation of human bloodcells from plasma, giving NASA the capability to studyin-flight samples to gauge astronauts’ fluid and elec-trolyte balance, regulation of calcium metabolism, adrenal function, and carbohydrate, fat, and protein utilization, among other physiological tests. It waspatented and exclusively licensed to Abaxis in 1989 fordown-to-Earth applications in diagnostics.

Several years later, Abaxis opened the floodgates tonew markets and increased revenue opportunities withthe introduction of the VetScan® Chemistry Analyzer.According to Abaxis, the VetScan product is the firstbroad-menu clinical chemistry analyzer designed forpoint-of-care testing in any treatment setting, includingmobile environments, where veterinarians can operatethe analyzer from a car-lighter adapter.

VetScan provides veterinarians with the instant diag-nostic information they need for rapid treatment deci-sions, while the patient is still present. Even more, theanalyzer completely cuts out the need for follow-up callsand visits when results are not immediately available,and frees up staff for other clinical interventions. In situ-ations where anesthesia and surgery are required,VetScan test results can provide evidence of pre-existingconditions that could possibly lead to anesthetic compli-cations, thereby allowing the veterinarian to optimizeconditions prior to performing an invasive procedure andincrease the likelihood of a positive outcome.

The VetScan system consists of a 15-pound portableanalyzer and pre-configured reagent, or “rotor,” disksthat enable veterinarians to obtain a clear, comprehen-sive picture of a patient’s condition. The process beginsby adding approximately 100 microliters—or about twodrops—of whole blood, serum, or plasma to the reagentdisk’s central chamber (when whole blood is used, pre-analytical centrifugation and other time-consuming stepsare eliminated). Considering the small size of many pets,

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Express Testing Makes for More Effective Vet Visit

The VetScan® system consists of a 15-pound portable analyzerand pre-configured reagent, or “rotor,” disks that enable vet-erinarians to obtain a clear, comprehensive picture of apatient’s condition.

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the tiny sample required is a welcomed change for vet-erinarians and clients alike. The disk is then ready tobe inserted into the reagent drawer, and with less than2 minutes hands-on time, the VetScan analyzer doesthe rest.

When the disk is loaded into the analyzer, a series ofspinning rotations forces the blood sample into a secondchamber where cells separate from plasma. The rotationspeed changes, drawing the plasma out into tiny com-partments along the perimeter of the disk called cuvettes,which house different chemicals. As the chemicals inter-act with the plasma, reactions are translated into usefultest results for veterinarians.

In less than 15 minutes, a complete profile of resultsis ready to be interpreted. The analyzer’s built-in printertransmits easy-to-read results for immediate review andrecord-keeping. Accuracy is guaranteed throughVetScan’s “intelligent Quality Control” (iQC) process,which works nonstop during each run to monitor allaspects of testing, with hundreds of sophisticated auto-matic checks ranging from basic to complex.

Abaxis currently provides a full range of tests foralmost every species normally treated by veterinarians,including cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, and large animals,such as those in the equine and bovine families. Thelaunch of the Avian/Reptilian Profile rotor in June of

2002 has truly filled a market need. Veterinarians caringfor birds and exotic animals struggle with the ability tocollect an adequate blood sample for traditional bio-chemistry methods, the company asserts. Medical atten-tion is critical in cases with these animals because theyoften do not demonstrate symptoms, and therefore, arenot seen by a veterinarian until they are seriously ill.

“Every now and then a tool enters the veterinary pro-fession that revolutionizes the way we practice,” notesDon J. Harris, a highly revered doctor of veterinary med-icine at the Avian & Exotic Animal Medical Center inMiami, Florida. “The Abaxis VetScan is such a tool,especially when dealing with small patients and criticalsituations, as we often do in exotic animal practice. Thisdevice, more than any other in a very long time, has sig-nificantly elevated our diagnostic ability.”

The VetScan brand and Abaxis’ growth in the veteri-nary market are largely accountable for the company’s400-percent revenue spike in only 6 years, from just over$7 million in 1997 to more than $35 million in fiscal year2003. To date, the technology has been selected for useby nearly 4,000 veterinary hospitals offering in-clinictesting, and is distributed internationally through aEuropean office and various arrangements in Europe,Asia, and Latin America.

VetScan® is a registered trademark of Abaxis, Inc.

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VetScan® is designed for point-of-care testing in any treatmentsetting, including mobile environments, where veterinarians canoperate the analyzer from a car-lighter adapter. A full range oftests is available for almost every species normally treated byveterinarians, including cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, and large animals, such as those in the equine and bovine families.

Many people are familiar with the popular sci-ence fiction series Star Trek: The NextGeneration, a show featuring a blind character

named Geordi La Forge, whose visor-like glasses enablehim to see. What many people do not know is that aproduct very similar to Geordi’s glasses is available toassist people with vision conditions, and a NASA engi-neer’s expertise contributed to its development.

The JORDY™ (Joint Optical Reflective Display)device, designed and manufactured by a privately-heldmedical device company known as Enhanced Vision,enables people with low vision to read, write, and watchtelevision. Low vision, which includes macular degener-ation, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma, describes eyesight that is 20/70 or worse, and cannot be fully cor-rected with conventional glasses.

Unlike someone who is blind, a person with lowvision retains a small part of his or her useful sight.JORDY enables people to see using their remaining sightby magnifying objects up to 50 times and allowing themto change contrast, brightness, and display modes,depending on what works best for their low vision con-dition. With this device, people can see objects at anyrange, from up close to distant. It also provides the flex-ibility for the user to enjoy theatre, sporting events, andmore. JORDY functions as a portable display that isworn like a pair of glasses and as a fully functional desk-top video magnifier when placed on a docking stand.

JORDY was inspired by the Low VisionEnhancement System (LVES), a video headset devel-oped through a joint research project between NASA’sStennis Space Center, Johns Hopkins University, and theU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Worn like a pair ofgoggles, LVES contained two eye-level cameras, onewith an unmagnified wide-angle view and one with mag-nification capabilities. The system manipulated the camera images to compensate for a person’s low visionlimitations. Although the technology was licensed andmarketed by Visionics Corporation, LVES was onlycommercially available for a short time.

In an effort to bring a new and improved low visionheadset to the market, Enhanced Vision, of HuntingtonBeach, California, pursued the development of JORDY.With advances in smaller camera technology, the com-pany significantly increased the head-worn video magni-fier’s usability, effectiveness, and overall portability.Paul Mogan, an engineer at NASA’s Kennedy SpaceCenter, has enthusiastically helped Enhanced Visions’continuing efforts to improve JORDY by contributingideas and evaluating prototypes.

Legally blind since age 19 due to macular degenera-tion, Mogan began using the JORDY 1 in 1999. Withsuggestions for improving the product, he began corre-sponding with Enhanced Vision. For example, becauseslight head movements while wearing JORDY wouldcause the image to jump, Mogan recommended adding

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Improving Vision

The JORDY™ headset, when worn like a pair of glasses,enables people with low vision to see objects at any range.

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image stabilization to the product. He found the compa-ny happy to receive and implement his feedback. WhenEnhanced Vision developed JORDY 2, a lighter, smallerversion of the original device, Mogan again offered suggestions for refinements. One of the enhancementsnoted for JORDY 3 incorporates an even smaller, high-resolution camera that fits into small, discreet glassesthat weigh less than 2 ounces. Increased miniaturizationwill allow Mogan and others to wear JORDY comfort-ably for longer periods of time.

JORDY significantly improves the lives of peoplewith low vision by enabling them to pursue theirgoals. According to Mogan, “As an engineer, I’malways looking for the technologies that are going togive me the edge to keep up. The JORDY has done thismore than anything else on the market.” He particular-ly benefits from the product at work whenever hereads for extended periods of time or completes forms.By placing JORDY on a docking stand above a book,

Mogan reads magnified pages that are projected ontohis computer screen.

Aside from assisting at work, JORDY helps peopleregain their independence in other ways. The device,when plugged directly into a television set and used incombination with the headset, allows the visuallyimpaired to enjoy television. JORDY also enables peopleto participate in events, and to see the faces of family andfriends. For example, when U.S. speedskater CaseyFitzRandolph won a gold medal in the 2002 WinterOlympic Games, his grandfather was able to watch thehistoric moment from the stands using his JORDY.

An eye care professional or low vision specialist canbest determine JORDY’s suitability for a patient’s indi-vidual condition during a routine eye exam. EnhancedVision works with leading doctors throughout the UnitedStates and Canada. Its products are available in over 70countries worldwide.

JORDY™ is a trademark of Enhanced Vision.

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By placing JORDY™ on a docking stand above abook, a person with low vision can read magnifiedpages that are projected onto a computer screen.

Anew rehabilitative device promises to improvephysical therapy for patients working to regainthe ability to walk after facing traumatic

injuries or a degenerative illness. Produced by EnduroMedical Technology, of East Hartford, Connecticut,the Secure Ambulation Module (S.A.M.) creates a sta-ble and secure environment for patients as they standduring ambulation therapy.

S.A.M. is a wheeled walker with a unique harnessthat supports the patient’s body weight and controls thepatient’s pelvis without restricting hip movement.Electronic linear actuators raise and lower the harness,varying the weight placed on patients’ legs. Cable-compliant joints developed at NASA’s Goddard SpaceFlight Center provide S.A.M.’s key element. Consistingof connected cable segments, the joints dynamically con-nect to the harness, providing stability and shock absorp-tion while allowing for subtle twisting and cushioning.

The late James Kerley, a prominent Goddard SpaceFlight Center researcher, developed cable-compliant

mechanisms in the 1980s for use in sounding rocketassemblies and robotics. This innovative technology usesshort segments of cable to connect structural elements.Unlike rigid connections, the cable segments allowmovement in six directions and provide energy damping.

Kerley later worked with Goddard’s Wayne Eklundand Allen Crane to incorporate the cable-compliantmechanisms into a walker that supported the pelvis.Suffering from severe arthritis himself, Kerley knew thatalleviating the weight on the legs was an important partof pain management. The technology allowed the har-ness to control the pelvis, providing support and stabili-ty with compliance that mimicked the movement of thehip joint.

In June 2002, Kenneth Messier, president of EnduroMedical Technology, and Patrick Summers, senior vicepresident, licensed NASA’s cable-compliant technologyand walker in order to commercialize the product formedical purposes. The company incorporated the linearactuators into the NASA technology and developed the

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Striding Towards Better Physical Therapy

The Secure Ambulation Module creates a stableand secure environment for patients as they standduring ambulation therapy. The device increasesstaff efficiency, since a single therapist can bring apatient to a standing position.

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adjustable patient harness system, enabling it to intro-duce S.A.M. to the health care industry in March 2003.The product is marketed towards physical therapistsand other health professionals treating patients recover-ing from traumatic brain injury, stroke, spinal cordinjury, and hip or knee replacement. Patients livingwith severe arthritis, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis,Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease can alsobenefit from S.A.M.

Enduro expects its product to revolutionize physicaltherapy and restorative nursing. Messier explains, “Inthe past, patients needing ambulation therapy had to belifted to standing by one or more physical therapists, and

be able to prop themselves up using their arms.” As aresult, the patients risked falling and their therapistsrisked back injuries. S.A.M. provides patients with theopportunity to stand and walk in a safe and controlledenvironment without constant assistance from a thera-pist. The device reduces patient injuries from falls andincreases staff efficiency, since a single therapist canbring a patient to a standing position as well as workwith multiple patients at the same time.

While providing a safe environment for gait training,S.A.M. can also help improve a patient’s balance, coor-dination, and endurance. The device may enable patientsto have longer therapy sessions and more specializedtreatment. Some patients can begin ambulatory rehabili-tation sooner since they do not need to prop themselvesup with their arms to maintain an upright position.Freeing up the patient’s arms also allows the upperextremities to be properly positioned during therapy.

S.A.M. contains several features to make it userfriendly. The height and width adjustability accommo-dates patients weighing up to 500 pounds and rangingfrom 4 foot 6 inches to 6 foot 4 inches tall. The pelvicharness comes in various sizes and is padded withNASA-developed temper foam for comfort. Attachmentsfor an oxygen bottle, IV pole, and urinary drainage bagare included, as well as an additional upper-trunk har-ness to provide extra stability for patients with severebalance issues. The electronic linear actuators that adjustthe patient’s weight bearing can be controlled by thepatient or the therapist, and the device includes a digitalreadout of the adjustments. While patients can useS.A.M. to walk across a room or hallway, it can also beused with a treadmill.

Enduro expects the benefits of S.A.M. to be wide-spread. According to Messier, the company has shownS.A.M. to hundreds of physical therapists at more than60 facilities, and all of them indicated interest in utiliz-ing the device. Nona Minnifield Cheeks, chief of theTechnology Transfer Program at Goddard, states, “Thisis a great example of how the research essential for thesuccess of the Nation’s Space Program can have clear,tangible benefits in people’s daily lives here on Earth.”

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A unique harness on the wheeled walker supports the patient’sbody weight and controls the patient’s pelvis without restrictinghip movement.

Although dubbed “Little Joe” for its small-formatcharacteristics, a new wavefront sensor camerahas proved that it is far from coming up short

when paired with high-speed, low-noise applications.SciMeasure Analytical Systems, Inc., a provider of cam-eras and imaging accessories for use in biomedicalresearch and industrial inspection and quality control, is the eye behind Little Joe’s shutter, manufacturing and selling the modular, multi-purpose camera world-wide to advance fields such as astronomy, neurobiology,and cardiology.

In astronomy, Little Joe is used as a wave sensor toeliminate aberrations triggered by wavefront distor-tions that are known to plague this field with imagedegradation. Little Joe is also capable of correctingwavefront distortions in medical imaging applica-tions—such as measuring distortions in the humaneye—but its high frame rate, high quantum efficiency,and low readnoise properties are really what make thetechnology an elite member of its camera class. In turn,these properties allow Little Joe to visualize high speedphenomena by optimizing signal-to-noise ratio in light-limited conditions.

Little Joe was not always so little, though. Developedin cooperation with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratoryunder a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)contract, the wavefront sensor camera underwent radicalchanges from the time it was merely a concept to thetime it was ready to be presented as a commercial chargecoupled device (CCD) product. During Phase I of theSBIR contract, Atlanta, Georgia-based SciMeasureworked to adapt a design that would be cost effective, yetpowerful in promising efficiency and low-noise opera-tion (the signal generated from CCD cameras containsvarious noise components that can adversely affect performance). The Phase I camera, however, was essen-tially a rack of equipment that weighed several hundredpounds, generated roughly 600 watts of heat, and con-tained components that were imminently obsolete.

SciMeasure and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory weredetermined to make the camera design as independentas possible from the most critical components, whichturned out to be the CCD itself and the analog-to-digitalconverters that digitize the analog signals from theCCD. Further camera design projects during Phase I ledto considerable progress in versatility and modularity

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New Modular Camera No Ordinary Joe

SciMeasure Analytical Systems, Inc.’s “Little Joe” wavefront sensorcamera is finding increasing application in astronomy and medicine.

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of the technology. The next objective for SciMeasurewas to significantly reduce the mass, volume, andpower requirements.

The developments that took place in Phase II of theNASA SBIR project translated into a camera that was 95percent smaller, 92 percent lighter, and used 92.5 percentless power than its first-phase predecessor. Additionally,the camera was configured to run all available scientificCCDs, making it extremely versatile. To address specialneeds, the camera features an open architecture, allowingend-users to develop replacement or add-in modules.

NASA is using SciMeasure’s Little Joe WavefrontSensor Cameras to support the Jet PropulsionLaboratory/Palomar Observatory Adaptive Optics pro-gram, extending the abilities of the 200-inch HaleTelescope located at Palomar Mountain. The camerashave further been selected for the proposed CaliforniaExtremely Large Telescope (CELT), a joint University ofCalifornia and California Institute of Technology pro-gram aimed at building a 30-meter diameter telescope togenerate high-resolution images at short wavelengths.The light-gathering segmented mirror for this terrestrial-based telescope would consist of approximately 1,000individual mirrors. Future potential application of thecameras exist in the upcoming NASA interferometryexplorations, including the 2009 Space InterferometryMission, which will attempt to determine the positionsand distances of stars several hundred times more accu-rately than any previous program.

South of the stars, the wavefront sensor cameras arefinding increasing application at various biomedical andmedical research institutions. In late 2001, SciMeasuredelivered four commercial Little Joe cameras to

RedShirtImaging,™ LLC, of Fairfield, Connecticut, foruse in the company’s low-light NeuroCCD®-SM neural- and CardioCCD™-SM cardio-imaging systems.Renowned researchers from Yale University all the wayto Tokyo University in Japan are utilizing this high-speed, highly sensitive technology to capture the spreadof membrane potential and changes in calcium concen-tration in animal tissue under study. Membrane potentialis an important physiological parameter; propagatingmembrane potential waves is the method that nerve,muscle, and heart cells use to carry information from oneend to the other. Calcium concentration is another important parameter because calcium controls manyphysiological functions, including muscle contractionand communication between nerve cells.

The technology has shown to be imperative for neu-roscientists, who commonly perform studies that call forhigh-speed imaging of fluorescent dyes in the brain at rates of 1,000 to 5,000 frames per second.Cardiovascular scientists can also employ it to monitorabnormal conditions such as tachyarrhythmia.Synchronized operation of two cameras creates an extrafunctionality for those who would like to simultaneouslyrecord cardiac activity using two different dyes or fromtwo different sides of the heart.

With the ability to detect any fast, low-light eventwith exceptional resolution, Little Joe has demonstratedthat it is more than ready to measure up to the manypromising commercial applications ahead.

RedShirtImaging™ is a trademark of RedShirtImaging, LLC.NeuroCCD® is a registered trademark of RedShirtImaging, LLC.CardioCCD™ is a trademark of RedShirtImaging, LLC.

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These infrared images of Neptune were obtained by the JetPropulsion Laboratory/Palomar Observatory Hale Telescope. Byusing an adaptive optics system that incorporates technologyfound in “Little Joe,” the telescope was able to improve resolutionand capture a sharper shot of the planet.

Each year, health care costs for managing chroni-cally ill patients increase as the life expectancy ofAmericans continues to grow. To handle this situ-

ation, many hospitals, doctors’ practices, and home careproviders are turning to disease management, a systemof coordinated health care interventions and communica-tions, to improve outpatient care. By participating indaily monitoring programs, patients with congestiveheart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,diabetes, and other chronic conditions requiring signif-icant self-care are facing fewer emergency situationsand hospitalizations.

Cybernet Medical, a division of Ann Arbor,Michigan-based Cybernet Systems Corporation, is usingthe latest communications technology to augment theways health care professionals monitor and assesspatients with chronic diseases, while at the same timesimplifying the patients’ interaction with technology.Cybernet’s newest commercial product for this purposeevolved from research funded by NASA, the NationalInstitute of Mental Health, and the Advanced ResearchProjects Agency. The research focused on the physiolog-ical assessment of astronauts and soldiers, human per-formance evaluation, and human-computer interaction.

NASA’s Johnson Space Center granted CybernetSystems Phase I and Phase II Small BusinessInnovation Research (SBIR) contracts, building uponthe company’s previous SBIR work on multiple militaryand Federal Government development projects. The pur-pose of the NASA project was to enable remote physio-

logical monitoring of space crews. To accomplish this,Cybernet Systems built a miniature portable physiologi-cal monitoring device capable of collecting and analyz-ing a multitude of signals, including electrical brain signals, in real time to monitor astronauts on theInternational Space Station.

Cybernet’s device benefits NASA by immediatelycorrelating the complex interactions between cardiopul-monary, musculoskeletal, and neurovestibular systems ina reduced-gravity environment, leading to a better under-standing of the body as a system. In addition, it providesvaluable insight into physiological mechanisms, adapta-tion techniques, and individual responses that occur withexposure to altered gravity environments. This may leadto optimal countermeasure strategies for astronauts toeffectively readapt to Earth’s environment.

With statistics showing significant improvements inpatient outcomes through closer in-home monitoring,Cybernet saw an opportunity to commercialize the physiological measurement and analysis technology.After completing its SBIR work with Johnson in 1998,Cybernet adapted the technology for its MedStar™Disease Management Data Collection System, an affordable, widely deployable solution for improving in-home-patient chronic disease management. In July 2001, Cybernet Medical announced the generalavailability of the MedStar interface device and accom-panying data collection server, together called theMedStar System.

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Monitoring Outpatient Care

Cybernet Medical’s MedStar™Disease Management DataCollection System is an afford-able, widely deployable solutionfor improving in-home-patientchronic disease management.The system’s battery-poweredand portable interface device collects physiological data fromoff-the-shelf instruments.

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The battery-powered and portable MedStar interfacedevice collects physiological data from off-the-shelfinstruments regularly used at home by chronic-diseasepatients with high blood pressure, diabetes, congestiveheart failure, or respiratory conditions. These devicesinclude weight scales, blood pressure cuffs, and glucosemonitors. The MedStar device then securely transmitsthe data over a standard telephone line to the CybernetMedical collection server, located at a hospital or a dis-ease management company’s facility, for retrieval andanalysis. The process enables a health care team to imme-diately note changes in a patient’s condition and makeappropriate action recommendations—resulting in fewerpatient interventions and emergency hospitalizations.

Measuring 10 square inches and weighing less than apound, the patient-friendly MedStar device is small andlight and operates on standard AA batteries. Since apatient does not need a personal computer or Internetaccess to transmit MedStar’s collected data, the devicecan be immediately deployed by disease managementorganizations regardless of patient demographics.

MedStar’s built-in memory can save several hundredreadings, enabling patients on vacation or away from aphone line to continue to take their readings and uploadthe data when convenient.

Using a database management system, health careprofessionals can access the data through the Internet inorder to remotely manage their patients. Cybernet markets its own data management system, the MedStarWeb Server, to retrieve digitized physiological data froma data collection device, such as Cybernet’s MedStarData Collection Server, and uses it to populate a database. It then formats this information for display via a secure Web site, enabling physicians and diseasemanagement professionals to analyze changes in apatient’s condition. The result is improved patient out-comes and dramatically reduced costs associated withthe care of the chronically ill. The MedStar Web Serveris available as an addition to the MedStar System, whichis also compatible with other commercial database man-agement systems.

MedStar™ is a trademark of Cybernet Systems Corporation.

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The MedStar™ System consists of an interface device andaccompanying data collection server.

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A new information system is delivering real-timeweather reports to pilots where they need it themost—inside their aircraft cockpits. Codevel-

oped by NASA and ViGYAN, Inc., the WSI InFlight™Cockpit Weather System provides a continuous, satellite-based broadcast of weather information to a portable orpanel-mounted display inside the cockpit. With completecoverage and content for the continental United States atany altitude, the system is specifically designed for in-flight use.

Hampton, Virginia-based ViGYAN developed the sys-tem, originally called the Pilot Weather Advisor, throughNASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)program. In the early 1990s, Langley Research Centerawarded the company Phases I and II SBIR contracts todevelop an innovative concept for a graphical weatheradvisory system for pilots. Although the Pilot WeatherAdvisor showed great potential, ViGYAN discoveredthat the technology was ahead of its time. The systemcould not become a reality until the cockpit displaysand affordable satellite time needed to support itbecame available.

After investing its own money to keep the projectafloat, ViGYAN saw another opportunity to complete thesystem in 1997 as satellite costs dropped and new cock-pit multi-function displays appeared on the market. Aftermore than a decade of work, the company completed itsPilot Weather Advisor in February 2002 through a PhaseIII SBIR contract with Glenn Research Center’s Weather

Accident Prevention Project, which is part of NASA’sAviation Safety Program.

In April 2002, ViGYAN sold the Pilot WeatherAdvisor to WSI Corporation, of Billerica, Massachusetts.According to Keith Hoffler, a former ViGYAN employ-ee who joined WSI as part of the transaction, “Wethought about going it alone, but realized that combin-ing our leading-edge technology with the marketleader in aviation weather was the smartest way toensure success.” Less than a year later, WSI commer-cialized the technology as the WSI InFlight CockpitWeather System.

Gus Martzaklis, Weather Accident Prevention projectmanager at Glenn, states, “It’s gratifying to see NASA-sponsored aviation technologies, like graphical weatherdisplays and satellite data-link communications, cometogether over the last few years and finally make theirway into the marketplace.” The WSI InFlight systempromises to benefit aviation safety significantly.Martzaklis explains, “Weather contributes to about 30percent of all aviation accidents. Our research has shownwhen pilots have real-time, moving weather maps avail-able in the cockpit, they are able to make better, saferdecisions faster.” With its complete, uninterrupted signalreception, the WSI InFlight system provides a distinctadvantage over current ground-based, data-link systemsthat often have inconsistent signal coverage in large por-tions of the United States and at various altitudes.

InFlight Weather Forecasts at Your Fingertips

The WSI InFlight™ Cockpit WeatherSystem enables pilots to receive andview high-resolution weather informationright inside their aircraft cockpits.

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Pilots using the cockpit weather system receive themost accurate, up-to-date weather information with WSINOWrad® radar graphics, WSI’s flagship national radarmosaic. Updated every 5 minutes, this is the same radarthat WSI supplies to its sister companies, The WeatherChannel and weather.com, to provide forecasts. Equippedwith WSI’s special purpose antennas and receivers, pilotscan view the high-resolution weather information on avariety of panel-mounted, multi-function displays andportable devices, such as handheld personal digital assis-tants. WSI’s Pocket PC display option allows even thetightest paneled aircraft to utilize the system. After theinitial cost of the antenna and receiver, WSI offers flat-rate subscription plans for the service.

WSI InFlight is gaining increased recognition in theaviation community, as several key companies haveselected it for their products. UPS Aviation Technologiesis working to integrate the system into its MX20 multi-function display for commercial release this year.Rockwell Collins, a global company providing aviationelectronics for the world’s aircraft manufacturers, selected

WSI InFlight to provide weather briefings to aircraftequipped with Collins Pro Line 21 flight deck displays.Northstar Technologies is also integrating the systeminto its CT-1000 Flight Deck Organizer, which will bemarketed to Northstar’s growing electronic flight bagcustomer base.

In addition to improving aviation safety, the sametechnology in WSI InFlight is forming the foundation formarine and ground transportation applications. WSI iscurrently developing a boating weather service formariners that is similar to the cockpit weather service.The company will soon release WSI AtSea,™ which willprovide full-color radar, live buoy reports, and offshoreforecasts delivered in real time and integrated with aboat’s navigation systems. Whether in flight or at sea,WSI’s technology keeps people informed about ever-changing weather conditions that can impact their traveland safety.

WSI InFlight™ and WSI AtSea™ are trademarks of WSI Corporation.WSI NOWrad® is a registered trademark of WSI Corporation.

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Pilots can view accurate, up-to-dateweather information with WSI NOWrad®radar graphics on a variety of panel-mounted, multi-function displays andportable devices.

Throughout aviation history, a condition known ashypoxia has posed a risk to aircraft pilots, crewmembers, and passengers flying at high altitudes.

Hypoxia occurs when the human body is exposed to highaltitudes without protection. Defined as an insufficientsupply of oxygen to the body’s tissues, hypoxia affectsthe central nervous system and organs. Brain cells,which are extremely sensitive to oxygen deprivation, canbegin to die within 5 minutes after the oxygen supply hasbeen cut off. When hypoxia lasts for longer periods oftime, it can cause coma, seizures, and even brain death.Aircraft passengers exposed to either a slow, progressiveincrease in cabin altitude, or a sudden exposure to highcabin altitude, may show symptoms of inattentiveness,poor judgment, memory loss, and a decrease in motorcoordination. Pilots afflicted with hypoxia may not beable to acknowledge the situation or take correctiveaction, leading to aircraft accidents or crashes.

As a result of technology developed at NASA’sKennedy Space Center, pilots now have a hand-held per-

sonal safety device to warn them of potentially dangerousor deteriorating cabin pressure altitude conditions beforehypoxia becomes a threat. The Personal Cabin PressureAltitude Monitor and Warning System monitors cabinpressure to determine when supplemental oxygen shouldbe used according to Federal Aviation Regulations. Thedevice benefits both pressurized and nonpressurized air-craft operations—warning pressurized aircraft when therequired safe cabin pressure altitude is compromised, andreminding nonpressurized aircraft when supplementaloxygen is needed.

Jan Zysko, a NASA Applied Research andDevelopment engineer, invented the monitor to giveSpace Shuttle and International Space Station crewmembers an additional, independent notification of anydepressurization events. Two major incidents—theMIR/Progress collision in 1997 and the Payne Stewartaircraft accident in 1999—reinforced the need for sucha device. Zysko, a private pilot himself, also illustratedhis invention’s necessity in the private sector by citing a

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Putting Safety First in the Sky

The PCM 1000, a portable, hand-held deviceapproximately the size and weight of a personal pager, alerts pilots to possiblehypoxia-causing conditions through simulta-neous audio, vibratory, and visual warnings.

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significant number of hypoxia- and cabin pressure-related incidents contained in accident databases main-tained by the National Transportation Safety Board andFederal Aviation Administration (FAA).

As part of the NASA Technology Transfer Program,Kennedy awarded a patent license to Kelly Manufact-uring Company, of Grenola, Kansas, to commercializethe monitor. The company previewed the Personal CabinPressure Altitude Monitor and Warning System (PCM1000) at the Experimental Aircraft Association’sAirVenture OshKosh 2002 air show after making somemodifications and incorporating several new functions.The device was then introduced into the market at theSun ’n Fun air show in April 2003.

The PCM 1000 is a portable, hand-held, ruggedizeddevice that is approximately the size and weight of a per-sonal pager. It is a potentially life-saving device withsimultaneous audio, vibratory, and visual warnings thatalert the user to possible hypoxia-causing conditions. In

addition, a lighted digital display provides a text mes-sage of the warning and the condition causing the alarm.The display also features a low battery indicator. TheAltitude Alert Function allows the user to program in atarget altitude and a tolerance window to fit the flight sit-uation. This function can also serve as a hypoxia warn-ing system for those who may need an alert at altitudeslower than FAA regulations for oxygen use. While thePCM 1000 is not certified as, nor designed to be, a pri-mary indicator of aircraft altitude, it can serve as a viablealternative for determining altitude in an emergency sit-uation or as a check of instrument function.

According to Zysko, Kennedy’s innovation has sever-al other potential commercial uses. Applications beyondthe aviation and aerospace industries include scuba div-ing, skydiving, mountain climbing, meteorology, altitudechambers, and underwater habitats. In the meantime, air-craft pilots can enjoy the extra safety that the PCM 1000puts right in the palms of their hands.

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The PCM 1000’s lighted digital displayprovides a text message of the warningand the condition causing the alarm.

Smoke inhalation injury from the noxious productsof fire combustion accounts for as much as 80 per-cent of fire-related deaths in the United States.

Many of these deaths are preventable. Smoke Mask,Inc. (SMI), of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is work-ing to decrease these casualties with its line of lifesafety devices.

The SMI personal escape hood and the GuardianFiltration System provide respiratory protection thatenables people to escape from hazardous and unsafeconditions. The breathing filter technology utilized in theproducts is specifically designed to supply breathable airfor 20 minutes. In emergencies, 20 minutes can mean thedifference between life and death.

A patent license, acquired from NASA, allowed SMIto utilize a low-temperature oxidation catalyst in its pro-tective breathing filter. The catalyst, developed at

NASA’s Langley Research Center, converts carbonmonoxide to nontoxic carbon dioxide at room tempera-ture, as well as oxidizes formaldehyde fumes, carbondioxide, and water. Langley’s innovation was initiallydeveloped for research involving carbon dioxide lasers.In addition to benefiting SMI’s escape hood and other airfiltration devices, the catalyst promises to have applica-tions in the automobile and aircraft industries and severalother areas.

SMI products are designed for emergency use athome, work, and school, as well as for professional fire-fighting and rescue efforts. The personal escape hoodintegrates the company’s filter with a customized flame-retardant material, and features a clear front to enablevision, an exhalation valve to prevent carbon dioxidebuild-up, and a drawstring to ensure a tight fit. The hoodcan be put on in less than 10 seconds, and does notimpair hearing or communication. The product comesin both disposable and extended-use models, the latterof which utilizes replacement filters for longer periodsof protection.

The Guardian Filtration System is a device designedto fit a wide variety of self-contained breathing appara-tuses. While these breathing apparatuses supply the pri-mary air source for firefighters entering smoke-filled orcontaminated areas, mechanical failures, air leaks, or“out of air” situations can occur. In these emergencies,the Guardian unit can be quickly attached to the existingface shield. Requiring no additional parts, the unit is easyto apply and uses the same filter technology as theescape hood to provide breathable air for the firefighter.

Prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,SMI focused its efforts on devices that would protectusers from smoke and carbon monoxide, which have tra-ditionally been the lethal elements in a situation wherefire is the primary concern. However, with new threatsfacing the Nation, SMI is examining how its productscan address the concerns of biological, chemical, andnuclear attacks. The company is beginning to add newcapabilities to its products, seeking to produce the “ulti-mate personal escape hood.”

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Smoke Mask

The personal escape hood can be put on in less than10 seconds.

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Aunique sensor developed by ProVisionTechnologies, a NASA Commercial SpaceCenter housed by the Institute for Technology

Development, produces hyperspectral images with cutting-edge applications in food safety, skin health,forensics, and anti-terrorism activities. While hyperspec-tral imaging technology continues to make advanceswith ProVision Technologies, it has also been transferredto the commercial sector through a spinoff company,Photon Industries, Inc.

Funded by Marshall Space Flight Center’s SpaceProduct Development division, ProVision Technologiesoriginally created its hyperspectral sensor to supporthuman exploration and developments in space. By separating the visible and near-infrared portions of theelectromagnetic spectrum, the sensor captures reflectedenergy from the object it is imaging and splits this energy into more than 1,000 spectral components, orimages. The contiguous images can then be analyzedindividually or as a set to identify attributes about theobject that could not be easily seen otherwise.

For example, these images contain information thatmay be used to identify a wide range of terroristweapons, such as toxins and altered passports.ProVision Technologies conducted a pilot study usingthe sensor to image authentic and forged documents.The technology, which is nondestructive to the papersbeing analyzed, enabled experts to successfully identifythe difference between the inks used for the originalsversus the fakes. This advance can help authoritiesdetect counterfeit money, fake passports, and otheraltered documents being used by terrorists and illegalaliens entering the country.

The technology may also contribute to food safety.Certain molds that grow on grain and corn can createtoxins, contaminating food supplies and threatening pub-lic health. In order to protect the food supply, new and

more rapid methods for detecting these molds are neces-sary. A ProVision Technologies sensor test capturedimages of several molds grown by the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture. Initial results showed that hyperspectralimaging successfully identified molds grown on cornand agar, a gelling agent in food.

After obtaining a patent on its low-cost, portable,lightweight sensor, ProVision Technologies createdPhoton Industries, located at Stennis Space Center inMississippi, to commercialize the technology. PhotonIndustries’ relationship to ProVision Technologies givesit access to the hyperspectral technology that is the basisfor its product line and services. The company’s focus ison developing high-quality, low-cost turnkey hyperspec-tral imaging systems.

The VNIR 100 is Photon Industries’ first product in aseries of sensors that will span the spectrum from ultra-violet to thermal infrared to create hyperspectral images.The HyperVisual Image Analyzer,® a graphical userinterface-based software package that preprocesses thedata collected by the sensor, is included in the system,enabling the end-user to communicate with and controlthe VNIR 100. This software provides user-friendlytools, including a live preview, an escape function duringscanning, geometry control, camera controls, and animage display.

Photon Industries’ mission to evolve into being thetool maker of choice for a growing photonics market isaided by the company’s consulting and training services.Recognizing that hyperspectral imaging can present chal-lenges for both new and experienced users, the companyprovides assistance in addressing image acquisition andprocessing needs. These services aid customers in devel-oping specific applications for hyperspectral imaging.

HyperVisual Image Analyzer® is a registered trademark of ProVisionTechnologies.

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Images Revealing More Than a Thousand Words

The image shows two 50 dollar bills, one real and one counter-feit. The graph shows the spectral signatures measured from thepupil of President Ulysses S. Grant from both bills.

Emergency exit signs can be lifesavers,but only if they remain visible whenpeople need them. All too often,

power losses or poor visibility can render the signs ineffective. Luna TechnologiesInternational, Inc., of Kent, Washington, isshining new light on this safety issue. Thecompany’s LUNAplast™ product line illu-minates without the need for electricity,maintenance, or a power connection.LUNAplast, which benefited from tests con-ducted at Johnson Space Center, is so suc-cessful that NASA engineers selected it forthe emergency exit pathway indicators on theInternational Space Station (ISS).

Available as rigid plastic and acrylic sheet-ing or flexible vinyl rolls, LUNAplast is anenvironmentally friendly material available in a full lineof screen-printed emergency signs, directional markers,and international safety symbols. It can also be madeinto strips of various lengths and shapes for illuminatinghallways, walkways, and other indoor or outdoor areas.The material is durable, ultraviolet-stable, and fire- andweather-resistant.

Luna Technologies’ innovation is the result ofadvances in photoluminescent (PL) technology. PLmaterials contain inorganic phosphorescent pigmentsthat absorb almost any kind of light, which is re-emittedwhen darkness occurs. The effect, called an afterglow, isbright enough to provide a yellowish-green illuminationsuitable for guiding someone out of a darkened area,such as a stairwell. The nonelectrical and nonradioactiveglow is the brightest in the first few hours, but can beseen for days.

While commonly associated with “glow-in-the-dark”toys, PL technology has applications reaching far beyondthe children’s novelty toys that occasionally utilize it. PL lighting provides emergency exit systems for any set-ting in which safety is a concern, such as ships, hotels,manufacturing plants, office buildings, tunnels, andmines. As a nonelectric system, PL products provide abackup to standard electric emergency lighting systems.

The zinc sulphide (ZnS) compound used in moststandard PL products typically has a limited capacityfor storing light energy, causing the illumination to fadewithin 30 minutes. While many ZnS-based products areutilized in response to mandatory building and fire-safety codes, their limited illumination time curtailedwider voluntary use. LUNAplast changes that, as itemits light over 15 to 25 times brighter than standardPL products, for a significantly longer period of time.ZnS materials have illumination levels of 30 millican-dellas to start, before degrading to .032 millicandellas,

the lowest light threshold the human eye can perceive,in 3 to 6 hours. LUNAplast, on the other hand, delivers400 to 600 millicandellas in the initial phase, lasting upto 30 hours before degrading to .032 millicandellas.LUNAplast’s initial phase of illumination creates alevel of visibility comparable to that produced by a typ-ical electric exit sign.

Luna Technologies achieved this increase inLUNAplast’s performance by learning to use strontiumaluminate, a nonradioactive metal oxide compoundwith strong PL characteristics, as the raw material forthe technical manufacturing process, in conjunctionwith the company’s proprietary formulation and pro-cessing techniques. NASA also played a role in thematerial’s advancement. The NASA Johnson SpaceCenter Lighting Evaluation and Testing Facility testedLUNAplast in its search for a material to create theemergency placards required of the ISS crew memberpathway indication system. Luna Technologies tookthe data from Johnson’s tests to improve the product,leading to LUNAplast’s selection for the ISS emer-gency placards.

LUNAplast products were recently installed on thelower walls and floors of the Pentagon as part of the ren-ovation and reconstruction project that took place afterthe terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The supple-mental signs mark building evacuation routes to helppersonnel leave quickly in case conventional electric exitsigns lose power or are obscured by smoke, as was thecase on September 11 when people faced power loss,darkness, and thick smoke. LUNAplast markings onoffice floorboards also help guide people who must staylow to the ground to exit. Evacuation maps produced

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A Brighter Choice for Safety

LUNAplast™ EXIT signs illuminate without the need for electric-ity, maintenance, or a power connection.

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from the glowing material are attached to each door,helping people to follow the escape route. Strips ofLUNAplast outline door handles, and closet doors aremarked as not being exits.

Luna Technologies produces the LUNAplast 2500series, its benchmark product, as well as the new 5000Sun Series. Applications for these products are takingPL technology beyond being a back-up system for elec-trical emergency exit systems. The LUNAplast EXITsign meets the National Fire Protection Association’s101-Life Safety Code as a replacement for conventionalexit signs, and the Underwriters Laboratory (UL), Inc.,an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and

certification organization, lists the product in accordancewith its UL 924 standard. This can mean significant sav-ings for companies utilizing the new signs. According toEnvironmental Protection Agency statistics, installingthe LUNAplast EXIT signs instead of electric ones cansave a company $20,000 to $30,000 per year, basedupon 1,000 electric exit signs. The signs also reduce ini-tial hardware and installation costs, and provide envi-ronmental benefits from the reduced power consump-tion. Combining these savings with the product’s lifespan of at least 25 years truly gives Luna Technologies areason to glow.

LUNAplast™ is a trademark of Luna Technologies International, Inc.

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LUNAplast™ material can be made into strips for illuminatinghallways, stairwells, and emergency exits.

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In February of 1998, the U.S. Speedskating Team wascoming off of a performance that yielded a silvermedal and a bronze medal at the Winter Olympic

Games in Nagano, Japan. Determined to win the covet-ed gold medal, the skaters looked ahead, setting theirsights on a stronger showing at the 2002 Salt Lake City,Utah, games. As fate would have it, the “competitiveedge” the team would need to live out these dreamswould come compliments of the founder of a companyby the same name—in collaboration with NASA.

During the summer of 1999, Darryl Mitchell ofGoddard Space Flight Center’s Technology Commercia-lization Office (TCO) met with the U.S. OlympicCommittee at the official training facility in ColoradoSprings, Colorado, to offer assistance in transferringNASA technologies applicable to Olympic sports.Following the meeting with the Olympic committee,Mitchell was approached by U.S. Speedskating LongTrack Program Director Finn Halvorsen, who eagerlyvoiced his interest in working with NASA to identify ameans of improving performance for his team.According to Halvorsen, “If [NASA] can put a man onthe moon, surely they can help our skaters.”

The U.S. Speedskating organization was looking fornew ways to enhance skate technology to ensure that itsathletes are the first across the finish line. Areas of pos-sible improvement included reducing the weight of theskate by using new composite materials for the leatherboot, adjusting foot positioning for better functionality,and providing better glide and grip for the 1-millimeter-wide skate blade.

Taking these potential advancements into considera-tion, Mitchell and Halvorsen went to work uncoveringNASA technologies that could boost the U.S. team’s skat-ing capabilities. Mitchell received a crash course inspeedskating, and as a result, generated a lengthy list ofpromising NASA developments that could benefit thesport. From this list, he and his Goddard TCO partner, JoeFamiglietti, deliberated over whether a NASAmirror-polishing technique could possibly be adapted tothe athletes’ speedskates. The polishing technique, devel-oped by Jim Lyons, a 16-year optical engineering veteranof Goddard, was derived from the same principles used tocreate the optics for NASA’s science observatories, suchas the Hubble Space Telescope (highly polished opticsare required by NASA to obtain sharp, clear images in

A Gold Medal Finish

After bringing home a silver medal and a bronze medal in the1998 Winter Olympic Games, the U.S. Speedskating organiza-tion looked to NASA for new ways to enhance skate technologyand ensure that its athletes are the first across the finish line.

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space). Lyons, who left Goddard to start up his own opti-cal systems company, PROSystems, Inc., coined his tech-nique “aluminum super polishing.” He describes theprocess as one that allows the polishing of a bare alu-minum mirror to create a high-quality aluminum opticthat’s extremely lightweight and user-friendly.

Lyons and the Goddard TCO team quickly deter-mined that the aluminum super polishing technique wasnot suitable for speedskate enhancement. This discovery,however, was hardly a setback, as Lyons came throughwith an alternative polishing process. To gauge the effec-tiveness of the new procedure, Mitchell and Famigliettihanded Lyons a pair of speedskating blades to see if hecould put a shine on the actual edge of each blade. Lyonsnot only provided the shine, but created a polishing toolused in the blade-sharpening process that improvesglide. “For ice skating, the purpose is to reduce the sur-face roughness, and therefore, you reduce the coefficientof friction, which gives the skate an improved glide,”Lyons offers as an explanation for his polishing process.

The new process, which Lyons notes is an extensionof how speedskaters typically sharpen their blades,begins by securing a pair of skates in a jig. A sharpeningstone is run over the blades, followed by other sharpen-ing tools, each with a progressively finer roughness.During sharpening, a burr begins to form on the bladeedge. The burr is removed with a special stone, and theskate blades are ready for polishing.

To prepare the polishing tool, a combination of a pol-ishing compound and a standard lubricating oil is used.When injected through the ports of the tool, the fusionsaturates a polyethylene-impregnated felt pad at the bot-tom, which then comes in contact with the 1-millimeter-thick surface of the blade. The polishing tool is thenrubbed quickly and vigorously along the blade, takingjust 30 to 60 strokes to improve its edge. Lyons says that

the polishing compound, when combined with an abra-sive and the pressure applied to the blade, produces achemical reaction that works to remove surface ridgescalled “high peaks.” He adds that this rough-to-smoothrefurbishing procedure is “like comparing a gravel drive-way to a finely paved two-lane highway.”

The new polishing tool was subjected to a series ofglide tests at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee,Wisconsin, in September of 2001. Speedskates polishedwith the tool demonstrated an improvement of about 15percent in unassisted glide over conventionally sharp-ened skates—like those used in the Nagano Games.Despite the extraordinary results, work was still far fromover, and research continued over the next few months.

With the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics just 3 weeksaway, Lyons and the PROSystems polishing team final-ized a design that met their expectations, and set off to Salt Lake City to work with Halvorsen and the U.S.skaters. Speedskater Chris Witty, the winner of the onlytwo U.S. medals in Nagano, agreed to try the polishingtool. During the trial run, Witty immediately recognizeda difference, admitting to an unmistakable increase inspeed. On February 17, 2002, she used her newly-polished blades to skate the 1,000-meter race, and glidedto victory with a world-record time and a gold medal. Insubsequent races, American short- and long-track speed-skaters who used the polishing tool also shared a spotwith Witty on the winners’ podium.

Lyons has since started a second business calledCompetitive Edge Co., to continue development of thepolishing technology for use on skis and in other icesports like bobsledding, luge, and skeleton. The compa-ny is also investigating the possibility of making thejump from the ice rink to the race track with prospectiveapplications in NASCAR and Indy Car Racing.

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The polishing process, invented by formerGoddard Space Flight Center optical engineerJim Lyons, is an extension of how speedskaterstypically sharpen their blades. Following use of asharpening stone and other sharpening tools, thepolishing tool is rubbed quickly and vigorouslyalong a skate blade, taking just 30 to 60 strokesto improve its edge.

Part of NASA’s mission is to inspire the next gener-ation of explorers. NASA often reaches children—the inventors of tomorrow—through teachers,

reporters, exhibit designers, and other third-party enti-ties. Therefore, when Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative force behind the planning, design, and construc-tion of Disney parks and resorts around the world,approached NASA with the desire to put realism into itsMission: SPACE project, the Agency was happy to offerits insight.

Mission: SPACE, the newest attraction at Walt DisneyWorld’s Epcot theme park in Orlando, Florida, featurescutting-edge ride technology that gives guests the incred-ible sensation of lifting off and traveling through spaceon a mission to Mars. With input from current and for-mer NASA advisors, astronauts, and scientists, WaltDisney Imagineering developed the attraction to be thefirst ride system capable of taking the adventurousstraight up into simulated flight for a one-of-a-kindastronaut experience.

In 2001, Disney “Imagineers,” a name coined todescribe the group’s unique ability to fuse imaginationand engineering, sought advice from Johnson SpaceCenter’s Public Affairs Office to anchor the Mission:SPACE attraction with reality-based story elements. Theoffice arranged a tour of Johnson’s facility, giving theImagineers a chance to experience Mission Control andthe Advanced Space Suit Laboratory. Teleconferenceswere conducted between NASA researchers and theImagineers to discuss the challenges of stepping beyondthe lower Earth orbit.

With Mission: SPACE aiming to take guests on avirtual trip to Mars, the Imagineers also sought assis-tance from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) todetermine what the Red Planet might look like for land-ing passengers. JPL provided the Imagineers with satel-lite imagery of Mars and its terrain. In preparing todesign a spacecraft for the attraction, the Imagineerstalked with NASA engineers on the future of rocketpropulsion technology.

Stepping into the Mission: SPACE courtyard,Planetary Plaza, visitors are transported into the year2036. The plaza’s wall features inspirational quotationsfrom notable figures such as President John F. Kennedyand Columbia Shuttle pioneer Kalpana Chawla. In theattraction’s futuristic story line, many countries havejoined together to create the International Space TrainingCenter (ISTC), a 45,000-square-foot building featuring acurvilinear exterior that surrounds Planetary Plaza.

In the entrance of the ISTC’s Astronaut RecruitmentCenter, guests see the motto, “We choose to go!”, takenfrom one of President Kennedy’s speeches: “We chooseto go to the Moon…not because it is easy, but because itis hard.” In the Recruitment Center, visitors learn aboutastronaut training and see a model of the ISTC’s X-2Trainer, the futuristic spacecraft they will board toembark on their mission to Mars. While the X-2 is thecreation of Disney Imagineers, it is based on scientificfact and theory provided by scientists, engineers, andfuture-thinkers from NASA and private industry.

Inside the Space Simulation Lab, a 35-foot-tall grav-ity wheel slowly turns, containing exercise rooms,offices, work areas, and sleeping cubicles for spaceteams. Overhead, an authentic Apollo-era Lunar Rover,on loan from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, is on display as a symbol ofmankind’s first exploration of another planetary body. A model of the ISTC’s X-1 spacecraft (a precursor to the X-2) and a graphic of the X-2 with detailsexplaining the deep space shuttle’s functionality alsoadd to the attraction.

After leaving the Space Simulation Lab, aspiring“astronauts” pass through the Training OperationsRoom, where several large monitors show live videofeeds of ongoing ISTC training sessions. They are metby the dispatch officer in Team Dispatch, who assignsthem to teams of four people before they are sent into theReady Room. There, each person is given the role theywill assume during the mission—either commander,pilot, navigator, or engineer. The guests are reminded ofthe importance of training and teamwork before entering

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Blast-Off on Mission: SPACE

Mission: SPACE at WaltDisney World Resort in LakeBuena Vista, Florida, takesguests on a pulse-racingjourney to Mars.

Visitors become members of MissionControl when they engage in SpaceRace, a high-energy interactive gamethat explores the teamwork neededbetween Mission Control and astro-nauts in space missions.

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the Pre-Flight Briefing. This area was inspired by the“White Room” at Kennedy Space Center, where astro-nauts traditionally wait to board their spacecraft.

After a final briefing, each team member enters the X-2 trainer. Mission Control monitors the launchsequence as the capsule moves into launch position,pointed straight up toward the sky. When the countdownreaches zero, the unique and exhilarating ride experiencebegins. Passengers experience sensations similar to whatastronauts feel during liftoff, as they hear the roar of theengines and view computer-generated, photo-realisticimagery based on data taken from NASA’s Mars-orbiting satellites. According to Bob Zalk, Walt DisneyImagineer and coproducer of Mission: SPACE, “For thefirst time, we’ve combined a unique aerospace technolo-gy with classic Disney storytelling, amazing guests witha realistic, one-of-a-kind spaceflight experience.”During the ride, the team encounters challenges likethose of an astronaut. Each team member must performthe task associated with the role he or she accepted tosuccessfully complete the mission.

After the flight training mission, guests enter theAdvanced Training Lab, an interactive play area wherethey can further test their skills and find out what it takes

to be a part of Mission Control. In Mission: SPACERace, up to 60 people at a time can enroll in a trainingadventure where two teams, each made up of both astro-nauts and ground control personnel, race to complete asuccessful mission. Teams must work together to sendtheir rocket from Mars back to Earth. The area alsooffers Expedition: Mars, a simulated astronaut obstaclecourse with a joystick and jet-pack button to help guestsexplore the surface of the planet. JPL consulted on thegame’s imagery, creating a realistic Mars landscape.

Story Musgrave, a former NASA astronaut whosecareer in the Space Program spanned more than 30 years,served as an ongoing consultant on the Mission: SPACEproject. According to Musgrave, Disney’s new attractionis “a place where guests can imagine our future in spaceand their role in it, walking in the footsteps of heroes andbuilding on the wealth of technology we’ve developed to date.” Susan Bryan, Walt Disney Imagineer and co-producer of Mission: SPACE, states, “The realism of theexperience adds to its uniqueness. Mission: SPACE isvery much based in reality; it’s a mix of real science andthrill.” For NASA, the attraction serves as another sourceof inspiration for young minds, encouraging them to leadour country, and our world, into tomorrow.

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Inside the X-2 capsule, four participants become a team ofastronauts working together to fulfill their mission to Mars.During the adventure, which gives participants the sensa-tion of blasting off into space, everyone participates by usingjoysticks and buttons while viewing outer space through indi-vidual video screens.

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Pioneered by NASA to providepower for satellites andspacecraft, photovoltaics is a

viable source of energy used to lightover 1 million rural homes aroundthe world. Photovoltaic (PV) cellsdirectly convert sunlight into elec-tricity, without having to utilize lim-ited fossil fuel resources. PV energycontributes to improved air qualityand aids in the reduction of green-house gases that play a role in glob-al warming. For example, when itdisplaces coal-fired generation, acommon source of electricityamong power plants, harmful sul-fur dioxide and nitrous oxideemissions are eliminated.

Most homes running on PVenergy, however, employ simplistic lighting systemsthat are incapable of providing refrigeration. This can be especially troublesome for areas in which no conventional power source exists, including remoteautomated weather stations, forest stations, and ThirdWorld villages.

In the midst of developing battery-free, solar-poweredrefrigeration and air conditioning systems for habitats inspace, David Bergeron, the team leader for NASA’sAdvanced Refrigerator Technology Team at JohnsonSpace Center, acknowledged the need for a comparablesolar refrigerator that could operate in conjunction withthe simple lighting systems already in place on Earth.Bergeron, a 20-year veteran in the aerospace industry,founded the company Solus Refrigeration, Inc., in 1999to take the patented advanced refrigeration technologyhe codeveloped with his teammate, Johnson engineerMichael Ewert, to commercial markets. Now known asSunDanze Refrigeration, Inc., Bergeron’s company isproducing battery-free, PV refrigeration systems underlicense to NASA, and selling them globally.

Designed to function in arid to semi-arid regions withat least 5 sun-hours per day, the PV direct-drive, or “PVdirect,” SunDanzer™ solar refrigerator is a chest-typecabinet with a 105-liter (3.7 cubic feet) internal volume,a lockable top-opening door, a corrosion-resistant coatedsteel exterior, and a patented low-frost system. It usesthermal storage for cooling efficiency, with a direct con-nection between the vapor compression cooling systemand the PV module. This is accomplished by integratinga phase-change material into a well-insulated refrigeratorcabinet and developing a microprocessor-based controlsystem that permits the direct connection of a PV module

to a variable-speed compressor. The integration allowsfor peak power-point tracking and the elimination of bat-teries (thus, the environmental threat of improper batterydisposal is eliminated).

For the phase-change material, SunDanzer uses anontoxic, low-cost, water-based solution with exception-al freezing properties. The variable speed feature allowsthe compressor to operate longer during the day and bet-ter utilize the variable solar resource. A fixedspeed com-pressor, conversely, can only use about 50 percent of thesolar resource, and would not be able to begin cooling asearly in the morning or as late in the afternoon, when thesun is low and not shining directly on SunDanzer’s solarpanel. It would also waste power during solar noon,when the available power is more than the compressorneeds to run.

The solar refrigerator’s thermal storage material pro-vides 7 days of reserve cold storage, even in tropical cli-mates, or during extensive periods of cloudy weatherwhen sunlight is not available for energy production.Additionally, the unit is manufactured to run on as littleas 90 to 120 watts of rated PV power. The combinationof a super quiet compressor and fan ensure nearly silentoperation, while light indicators on the front of therefrigerator inform users of the status of the thermalreserve. For frequently cloudy regions or areas with lessthan 5 sun-hours per day, SunDanze Refrigeration offers

Keeping Cool With Solar-Powered Refrigeration

Designed to function in arid to semi-arid regions with at least 5sun-hours per day, the photovoltaic, direct-drive SunDanzer™solar refrigerator is a chest-type cabinet with a 105-liter internalvolume, a lockable top-opening door, a corrosion-resistant coat-ed steel exterior, and a patented low-frost system.

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highly efficient battery-powered refrigerators, as well asfreezers. These units run on 12 or 24 volts, direct current,and require a smaller PV or renewable energy system.

Prior to commercialization of the battery-free solarrefrigerator in October 2001, NASA installed the origi-nal prototype unit in a covered, outdoor location atJohnson in Houston, Texas. For almost 3 years, it wasused to store lunches and soft drinks, and was exposed tovarious experiments, including various defrosting tests.After undergoing several refinements to right the prob-lems encountered, the NASA unit achieved satisfacto-ry results, despite the hot, humid, coastal environmentof Houston.

NASA also issued grants to New Mexico StateUniversity and Texas Southern University that allowedstudents and faculty to perform further evaluations of thesolar refrigeration technology in a realistic field setting.Testing at New Mexico State included the installation ofa battery-free model that consistently cooled up to 6 gal-lons of drinking water per day, for a period of 15 days, inthe dry, desert-like city of Las Cruces. The TexasSouthern University tests verified that the solar refriger-ator could maintain refrigeration for over a week of con-tinuous overcast weather.

Besides residential homes and stores, applications forthe solar refrigerator include cabins, vacation houses,eco-friendly resorts, farms, medical clinics, and streetvendor carts. Johnson’s Ewert foresees an even widermarket with mass production, noting that approximately2 billion of Earth’s inhabitants do not have electricity.

SunDanzer™ is a trademark of SunDanze Refrigeration, Inc.

SunDanzer™ solar-powered refrigerators can keep contents coldfor 7 days, even during extensive periods of cloudy weather whensunlight is not available for energy production.

Environmental factors throughout a vineyardcan significantly influence the overall qualityof wine. Winegrowers have known for cen-

turies that grapes harvested from different areas of avineyard will produce wines with unique flavors.Affected by subtle differences in the physical char-acteristics of the vineyard such as microclimate,slope, water-holding capacity, and soil type, even aconstant varietal and rootstock of grapes will pro-duce wines with varying color, bouquet, body, andyield, depending upon their location.

Vineyards such as those located in California’sNapa Valley tend to be subdivided into relativelylarge fields or “blocks” that often encompass het-erogeneous physical conditions. Since growers typ-ically treat the entire block as a single “minimummanagement unit” for cultivation and harvest, map-ping and monitoring the variability within a block isa concern. Over the last decade, an increasing num-ber of vineyard managers have utilized digitalremote sensing and geographic information systems(GIS) to visualize the variability within theirblocks. With computer software designed to over-lay remotely sensed imagery with environmentaland agronomic geographic data on a map, GIShelps growers recognize and explain patterns thatmight not have been obvious otherwise. GIS canalso serve as a valuable archiving mechanism forfuture reference.

To further develop the use of image technology andGIS for vineyard management support, NASA’s EarthScience Enterprise partnered with the U.S. wine andcommercial remote sensing industries for a projectknown as the Viticultural Integration of NASATechnologies for Assessment of the GrapevineEnvironment (VINTAGE). With project investigatorsfrom NASA’s Ames Research Center, the CaliforniaState University at Monterey Bay, and the University ofMontana, several prototype products have been devel-oped to support agricultural decisions concerningcanopy management and irrigation practice. One keyVINTAGE aspect involved the evaluation of satellite andairborne multispectral imagery for delineation of sub-block management zones within a vineyard.

Researchers and vineyard managers analyzedimagery to divide individual vineyard blocks into zonesof differing vigor. Using the normalized difference veg-etation index (NDVI), a relative indicator of plantcanopy density, blocks were subdivided for harvestbased upon late-season vigor, resulting in more uniform-ly mature grapes, and improved quality of resulting winelots in many cases. NDVI, which is determined by ana-

lyzing red and infrared bands from multispectralimagery, has values ranging from -1.0 to +1.0. Highervalues indicate more active growth and productivity,while lower values indicate less active vegetation andnonvegetated surfaces. In the vineyard, these index val-ues translate to higher and lower vigor, a factor that fre-quently relates to fruit characteristics, and ultimately,wine quality. The applied research has shown the feasi-bility of using such imagery, combined with selectiveharvest, to move wine lots from lower quality (andvalue) designations to highest quality reserve programs.

Based on VINTAGE’s applied research, VESTRAResources, Inc., recently released a commercial prod-uct known as the Vineyard Block Uniformity Map.Working as a VINTAGE project partner, VESTRAemployed the ArcView™ 8.2 and ArcGIS™ SpatialAnalyst software from Environmental SystemsResearch Institute, Inc., to find the percent coefficient

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Mapping a Better Vintage

The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is a relativeindicator of plant vigor that can help vineyard managers to sub-divide a grape harvest for more uniformly mature grapes. In manycases, this improves the quality of the resulting wine lots.

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of variation (a standard statistical measure) for eachblock within a 1,000-acre vineyard based on NDVI. Theresult was a vineyard-level map quantifying block vari-ability, a helpful tool for crop managers.

VESTRA’s new map product has already been deliv-ered to several wineries. The maps can serve as an exec-utive summary, allowings managers at companies withlarge and widespread vineyard holdings to easily identi-fy blocks where new or revised management practicesmight need to be implemented. Providing a warning, themaps can indicate if a block shows variation over a cer-tain percent. When the Vineyard Block Uniformity Maps

are created in consecutive years, a change map can bedeveloped to quantify the increase or decrease in unifor-mity. They are thus a measurement of success, sincemanagers may use the change maps to determine theeffectiveness of mitigation practices. The first VineyardBlock Uniformity Maps were produced for the 2002growing season, and VESTRA anticipates adding changemaps to its 2003 commercial product line. Other proto-type products are under evaluation and may be availableto growers in the future.

Located in Redding, California, VESTRA is a collab-orator on the VINTAGE project along with the Robert

Mondavi Winery and the nonprofit BayArea Shared Information Consortium. Allproject partners have engaged in exten-sive industry outreach. VESTRA hasworked closely with vineyards and winer-ies in prestigious U.S. wine regions suchas California’s Napa Valley and SonomaCounty since 1995.

ArcView™ and ArcGIS™ are trademarks ofEnvironmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.

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The Vineyard Block Uniformity Map helpswinegrowers solve the problem of monitoringvariability within a vineyard block.

The Earth is ever-changing—above us, around us,and under our feet. Often there are explanationsfor the shifting behavior of our surroundings,

though in some cases, conclusions have not beenreached. Many environmental and cultural factors areproven contributors, including climate, natural disaster,erosion, toxic chemicals/pesticides, population growth,land development, sanitation, and urban water runoff. Anumber of factors may be avoidable to an extent, but atthe same time, others are inevitable.

To better understand the changing landscape, scien-tists, engineers, information brokers, and naturalresource specialists depend on aerial and satelliteimagery. This large community studies valuable datafrom digitized images taken from air and space to makeimportant land-management decisions aimed at preserv-ing essential resources and improving quality of life. Ascrucial as aerial and satellite imaging is to maintaining ahealthy global environment, it is an expensive and labor-intensive process that requires compiling and reviewingscores of images to accurately interpret the data.

With NASA on its side, Positive Systems, Inc., ofWhitefish, Montana, is veering away from the indus-try standards defined for producing and processingremotely sensed images. A top developer of imagingproducts for geographic information system (GIS) andcomputer-aided design (CAD) applications, PositiveSystems is bucking traditional imaging concepts with a cost-effective and time-saving software toolcalled Digital Images Made Easy (DIME®). Likepiecing a jigsaw puzzle together, DIME can integratea series of raw aerial or satellite snapshots into a sin-gle, seamless panoramic image, known as a “mosaic.”The “mosaicked” images serve as useful backdrops toGIS maps—which typically consist of line drawingscalled “vectors”—by allowing users to view a multi-dimensional map that provides substantially more geo-graphic information.

Positive Systems first started working with NASAin 1993 as a partner in Stennis Space Center’s EarthObservation Commercial Applications Program, andthen again in 1997 through the Center’s Scientific DataBuy Program. Both government/industry cooperative pro-grams had specific task orders relating to laboratory testingof the company’s Airborne Data Acquisition andRegistration (ADAR™) digital aerial photography systemfor verification and validation of system performance.

In 1997, Positive Systems also received technicalassistance on algorithm research for radiometric correc-tions, specifically to address bi-directional reflectancein aerial photography. This work was conducted under aSpace Act Agreement with Stennis, coordinated by theMontana State University TechLink Center, a NASA-funded technology transfer office in Bozeman,Montana. The prototype software developed under theagreement was subjected to rigorous testing and subse-quently deemed ready for commercialization under theDIME moniker.

Now marketed worldwide, DIME significantlyincreases the usefulness of satellite and aerial informa-tion by resolving major problems associated with digitalimagery. In addition to its mosaicking capabilities, thesoftware reconciles color differences between like fea-tures in neighboring images. Variations in colorsbetween images can occur naturally because of lens cur-vature, solar radiation, and differences in the anglebetween the sun and the aircraft, which constantlychanges as the aircraft flies over the target area and col-lects photographs. These variations make misinterpreta-tion of imagery features possible. To prevent this, DIMEcorrects for these internal and external effects and bal-ances the colors of the Earth’s features when multipleshots are combined into a single composite image.

Another common problem with digital imagery is thatthe images are flat, although the subject, the Earth, isround. This can lead to various flaws in pinpointing geo-graphic features. With DIME, users can establish preciselongitudinal and latitudinal locations to essentially “pin”the flat images to the round surface of the Earth.

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Digital Images on the Dime

Aerial imagery of the “Boneyard,” otherwise known as theAerospace Maintenance and Recovery Center, Davis-MonthanAir Force Base, Arizona. Twenty-eight raw digital photographs(right) were transformed into a single, georeferenced, color-balanced mosaic (next page) using DIME.®

Image courtesy of Positive Systems, Inc., (www.possys.com).

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The technology leverages existing geospatial datasources such as digital orthophotographs, ground controlpoints, and GIS/CAD vector data to achieve lower production costs. By incorporating automated feature-matching algorithms, DIME can quickly assess the necessary corrections to turn raw photographs intoorthorectified GIS- and CAD-ready images. Accordingto Positive Systems, recent third party research showedthat production with DIME is up to 75 percent fasterthan traditional methods.

The company is also maintaining low costs withDIME through its unique “pay-as-you-use” softwarepurchasing plan. On top of the pay-per-image benefits,the plan entitles users to buy unlimited copies of thesoftware and receive free upgrades, new releases, andenhanced functionality. The one-time charge per imagealso gives the consumers unlimited flexibility to gener-ate multiple outputs and edit as necessary.

To promote educational awareness of the Earth’schanging environment, Positive Systems has madearrangements with qualified universities and researchinstitutions to provide free image credits for researchprojects using DIME software. In exchange for the freecredits, the universities and institutions work with thecompany on a quarterly basis to provide written feed-back on the research and the results.

DIME is currently employed in over 50 aerial pho-tography, mapping, government, and university researchshops, allowing for better natural resource and forestrymanagement, environmental and wetlands monitoring,urban and agricultural planning, and farming. TobinInternational, Ltd., of Houston, Texas, purchased DIME

and integrated it into a processing method to create low-cost, second-generation orthophotos for use with itsproprietary image data management system. Tobin’smethod provides updated imagery and GIS data for the7,500-mile Tennessee Gas Pipeline, ensuring safe, effi-cient operations. The project presents the El PasoEnergy Company, also of Houston, with complete visu-al tools to quickly analyze any encroachments along thepipeline property.

A research team studying infestation patterns of sud-den oak death in California used DIME to provide clearindications of dead and dying trees by creating a georef-erenced, color-balanced mosaic from 172 separateimages. The goal of the ongoing research is to develop alandscape-based risk model of infection that can be test-ed and exported to other affected areas in the state. Inanother application involving the Golden State, the dataacquisition company, Aerial Information Systems,counted on DIME to help the California AvocadoCommission “get to the guacamole.” Avocado groves are prone to a root rot fungus that is spread through con-taminated soil. DIME aided in the low-cost digital conversion of aerial images by providing a mosaic thathelped Aerial Information Systems single out affectedand nonbearing trees from a large territory encompassingparts of five counties, ultimately leading to an overallimprovement in the classification of avocado invento-ries. The technology is additionally being used to mapillegal immigrant and smuggler trails along the UnitedStates-Mexico border.

For future releases of DIME, Positive Systemsintends to offer a new pricing structure allowing users topurchase a traditional, one-time-purchase, one-seat, sin-gle user copy of the software that does not require imagecredits for output. The company expects to offer an“Enterprise” multi-user license that does not requirepurchase of image credits, as well. This new pricingstructure will benefit “mega-users” by ultimately reduc-ing their output costs. The current, progressive “pay-as-you-use” plan will stay in place to continue to benefitsmaller users.

Expanding on the “Made Easy” aspect of the soft-ware, Positive Systems is anticipating an enhanced proj-ect set-up through “wizard-like” functionality, allowingusers who are unfamiliar with aerial imagery to initiatea project faster and easier, and implementation ofDigital Elevation Models and Inertial MeasurementUnit data to increase the speed and accuracy of georef-erencing capabilities.

DIME® is a registered trademark of Positive Systems, Inc.ADAR™ is a trademark of Positive Systems, Inc.

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Painting the interior or the exterior of a house canbe quite an arduous task, but few realize thatadding a fresh splash of color to the walls and sid-

ing of their homes can lead to reduced energy consump-tion and substantial savings on utility bills. Hy-TechThermal Solutions, LLC, of Melbourne, Florida, is pro-ducing a very complex blend of ceramic vacuum-filledrefractory products designed to minimize the path of hotair transfer through ceilings, walls, and roofs. The insu-lating ceramic technology blocks the transfer of heat out-ward when applied to paint on interior walls and ceil-ings, and prevents the transfer of heat inward when usedto paint exterior walls and roofs, effectively providingyear-round comfort in the home.

As a manufacturer and marketer of thermal solutionsfor residential, commercial, and industrial applications,Hy-Tech Thermal Solutions attributes its success to thehigh performance insulating ceramic microsphere origi-nally developed from NASA thermal research at AmesResearch Center. Shaped like a hollow ball so small thatit looks as if it is a single grain of flour to the naked eye(slightly thicker than a human hair), the microsphere isnoncombustible and fairly chemical-resistant, and has awall thickness about 1/10 of the sphere diameter, a com-pressive strength of about 4,000 pounds per square inch,and a softening point of about 1,800 ºC.

Hy-Tech Thermal Solutions improved upon theseproperties by removing all of the gas inside and creatinga vacuum. In effect, a “mini thermos bottle” is produced,acting as a barrier to heat by reflecting it away from theprotected surface. When these microspheres are com-bined with other materials, they enhance the thermalresistance of those materials.

In bulk, the tiny ceramic “beads” have the appearanceof a fine talcum powder. Their inert, nontoxic propertiesallow them to mix easily into any type of paint, coating,adhesive, masonry, or drywall finish. Additionally, theirroundness causes them to behave like ball bearings,rolling upon each other, and letting the coatings flowsmoothly. When applied like paint to a wall or roof, themicrosphere coating shrinks down tight and creates adense film of the vacuum cells. The resulting ceramiclayer improves fire resistance, protects from ultravioletrays, repels insects such as termites, and shields from thedestructive forces of nature.

Hy-Tech Thermal Solutions’ proximity to KennedySpace Center provides the company with the latestadvances in the fields of energy, chemistry, and environ-mental study. Its president, Al Abruzzese, worked forLockheed Corporation at the Cape Canaveral Air Stationin the late 1960s and early 1970s, as a missile teamsupervisor on nuclear submarines. This position kept

Abruzzese in close contact with the activities atKennedy. Years later, Abruzzese’s work as a paintingcontractor also kept him apprised of the Center’s opera-tions. It was during this time that he was exposed to newtechnologies such as specialized heat-resistant and cor-rosion-prevention coating systems.

For example, the insulating properties of SpaceShuttle tiles immediately came to mind and sparkedAbruzzese’s interest. He and a coworker asked them-selves if it would be possible to incorporate the heat-resistant properties of the ceramic tiles into a commer-cially available paint product, hence reduce the thermaltransfer of treated surfaces. The challenge was many-sided, but Abruzzese discovered that NASA resources,including the use of NASA and university laboratories,were readily available to permit him to conduct exten-sive research. He soon began to realize the viability ofhis idea, and pushed forward to overcome the obstacle offinding just the right combination of materials that wouldprovide adequate coverage, would not be too heavy ordelicate, could be sprayed, and would not have anadverse reaction with the paint itself.

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Home Insulation With the Stroke of a Brush

The insulating additive is available as a stand-alone product thatcan be mixed into store-bought paints, or as a pre-mixed appli-cation in a complete line of factory-blended interior, exterior,waterproofing, and roof coatings.

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By fusing NASA research with his own efforts,Abruzzese selected a variety of ceramics from around theworld to intermix and create the “Hy-Tech” InsulatingCeramic Additive he now markets. The Hy-TechInsulating Ceramic technology is available as a stand-alone product that can be mixed into store-bought paints,or as a pre-mixed application in a complete line of facto-ry-blended interior, exterior, waterproofing, and roofcoatings. All products are tested under the harsh condi-tions of Florida’s east coastal region, notorious for itsmildew, sulfide gas staining, and hurricane-driven rains.

Hy-Tech Thermal Solution paints and coatings can beused to coat steam pipes and fittings, metal buildings(rust prevention), cold storage facilities (walk-in coolersand freezers), delivery trucks, buses, mobile and modu-lar homes, and RVs and campers. Exterior coatings of the ceramic additive have been applied to trailershousing electronics at Federal aviation locations. Thecoatings reduce temperature, and thereby lessen the loadon the air-conditioning systems inside the trailers. Theyalso provide waterproof surfaces that cut down on mois-ture in the trailers, keeping the electronic components

better protected from the environment. Similar coatingsare utilized by the U.S. Forestry Service to insulate andcoat underground cables and irrigation systems. Theseapplications are especially effective in preventingrodents and other pests from gnawing through thecables and damaging the underground systems, ulti-mately averting costly repairs.

Abruzzese encourages homeowners to utilize ceramic-reinforced coatings on their roofing systems to signifi-cantly decrease heat inside the attic and home.According to him, “This simple measure can reduce air-conditioning costs significantly. If every home in theUnited States became just 10 percent more efficient, savings in utility costs would reach into the trillions.” Healso points out that the Hy-Tech Insulating Ceramicsextend the life of a paint coating, and make the paintedsurface more durable.

As NASA engineers work to improve the SpaceShuttle tiles, Abruzzese is watching closely to see hownew advancements in this area can continue to influencehis own field of work.

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tAfter a decade of facing storm destruction on Santa RosaIsland, Florida, Mark and Valerie Sigler were awarded a FederalEmergency Management Agency grant to build an energy-efficient, super storm-proof structure, utilizing the latest techno-logical innovations. When construction started on the “domehome” in 2002, the Siglers chose Hy-Tech Thermal Solutions’ceramic additives and coatings to maximize energy efficiency.

Remotely sensed imagery collected fromorbiting satellites and airborne plat-forms is playing a vital role in a society

driven by a constant need for information. Thevalue of these images rises even more whengeospatial features such as buildings, roads,and vegetation are automatically extracted andstored in a geographic information systems(GIS) database to support natural resource,urban, and military planning applications.

Monitoring changes in the Earth’s environ-ment from space has long been a primaryfocus for NASA, but now local, state, andFederal Government agencies, as well as pri-vate industry, are increasingly turning to com-mercial, high-resolution satellite imagery as asource of information to support GIS applica-tions. Nevertheless, a bottleneck exists in thisinformation flow from space that is associatedwith inflated labor costs and the time requiredto manually extract geospatial features fromdigital imagery.

Visual Learning Systems, Inc. (VLS), ofMissoula, Montana, has developed a commercial soft-ware application called Feature Analyst® to address thislogjam. Feature Analyst was conceived under a SmallBusiness Innovation Research (SBIR) contract withNASA’s Stennis Space Center, and through the MontanaState University TechLink Center, an organization fund-ed by NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense to linkregional companies with Federal laboratories for jointresearch and technology transfer. The software providesa paradigm shift to automated feature extraction, as it uti-lizes spectral, spatial, temporal, and ancillary informa-tion to model the feature extraction process; presents theability to remove clutter; incorporates advanced machinelearning techniques to supply unparalleled levels ofaccuracy; and includes an exceedingly simple interfacefor feature extraction.

Feature Analyst leverages the natural ability ofhumans to recognize objects in complex scenes, anddoes not require the user to explain the human-visualprocess in an algorithmic form. Since the system doesnot require programming knowledge, users with littlecomputational knowledge can effectively create auto-mated feature extraction (AFE) models for the tasksunder consideration. It offers three levels of automationwith its AFE models: the first creates a small training set,explicitly sets up the learning parameters (such as thespatial association settings), and produces an AFE modelthat is then applied to the remainder of the image; thesecond creates AFE models that can be shared and thenfine-tuned, with a few training examples, for a particular

feature extraction program; and the final level ofautomation involves batch classification, which catego-rizes imagery with an existing AFE model or set of mod-els. The latter level is considered “full automation,”where features are extracted without human interaction.

Other than extraction of single features, FeatureAnalyst offers many tools for easily creating multi-classextractions, including change detection, three-dimensional feature extraction, data fusion, unsuper-vised classification, and advanced clean-up and post-processing. With a wealth of options, a user cansegment an image into numerous classes, such as water,low- and high-vegetation, and structure.

The U.S. National Imagery and Mapping Agency andthe U.S. Forest Service have each completed extensivetesting and evaluation of the Feature Analyst with regardto the speed and accuracy of its extraction capabilities.The National Imagery and Mapping Agency concludedthat the evaluation of the Feature Analyst software showssubstantial benefits for the development of geospatialdata from imagery. In one particular assessment, theextraction of land cover and drainage features from com-mercial satellite imagery was performed approximatelyfive times faster with Feature Analyst than with a stan-dard manual extraction system. While the objective test-ing concentrated on relatively small scenes, a review ofthe Feature Analyst’s performance over larger regionssuggests that the potential time savings in a productionsetting could be as much as a factor of 100, depending onthe homogeneity of the region.

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Supporting the Growing Needs of the GIS Industry

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The U.S. Forest Service is currently using the pro-gram to map fires and distinguish between burned andunburned foliage, while the U.S. Border Patrol is using itto map trails along national borders. Other areas of utilization include environmental mapping for hazardouswaste and oil spill monitoring and cleanup, and trans-portation planning/asset management for airport run-ways, wetlands, roads, guard rails, and curbs.

In March of 2003, VLS and Environmental SystemsResearch Institute, Inc. (ESRI), a global leader in thedevelopment of commercial GIS software, signed astrategic agreement that allows ESRI to market and resell Feature Analyst. The pact focuses on solu-tions for defense and intelligence, homeland security,and environmental, educational, and local governmentGIS markets.

“Feature Analyst provides a very valuable solution for our users,” said Rich Turner, product manager ofESRI’s ArcGIS™ software. “Satellite imagery and high-resolution aerial photography are becoming more acces-sible, not to mention cheaper and more reliable. With a

product such as Feature Analyst, our users can betterleverage the benefits of imagery as a valuable source ofinformation during the construction and maintenance oftheir GIS databases.” Dr. David Opitz, the chief execu-tive officer of VLS, concurs, adding that the partnership“joins together the market leader in GIS with what isarguably the hottest new product in the remote sensingand GIS industries.”

Feature Analyst 3.2 for ArcGIS and another ESRIproduct, ArcView,™ includes the advanced featureextraction and image classification techniques devel-oped by VLS during the collaboration with NASA,and with additional research from the U.S. Departmentof Defense.

Feature Analyst is now helping NASA in its criticalmission to accelerate and automate the identification andclassification of features in digital satellite imagery tosupport its Earth Science Enterprise mission.

Feature Analyst® is a registered trademark of Visual LearningSystems, Inc.ArcGIS™ and ArcView™ are trademarks of Environmental SystemsResearch Institute, Inc.

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From image to map: Feature Analyst® extracts object-specific, land-cover, and land-use features from satel-lite and airborne imagery to support the fast-growingGIS industry.

If research has its way, an electrochemical devicecapable of converting energy into electricity and heatwill become the impetus behind the next generation

of automobiles, superseding the internal combustibleengine found under the hoods of vehicles that rule theroad today.

The thought of fuel cell technology being able toaccomplish such a feat may be dismissed as too futuris-tic by some, but the truth is that fuel cells have been inplay as a source of propulsion since the 1960s, whenNASA first used them to generate power onboard theGemini and Apollo spacecraft for extended space missions. Even more unknown is the fact that fuel cellswere and continue to be a source of drinking water forastronauts in orbit, since they produce pure water as a by-product.

NASA is recognized for providing fuel cell technol-ogy with the initial research and development it requiredfor safe, efficient use within other applications. Fuel cellshave garnered a great deal of attention as clean energyconverters, free of harmful emissions, since being adopt-ed by the Space Program. Along with automobile manu-facturers, universities, national laboratories, and privatecompanies of all sizes have tapped into this technology.

While the primary fuel source for a fuel cell is hydro-gen, there are several different types of fuel cells, eachhaving different energy conversion efficiencies. AlkalineFuel Cells (AFCs), which use a solution of potassiumhydroxide in water as their electrolyte, were one of thefirst classes of fuel cells developed and are still depend-ed upon during Space Shuttle missions. Phosphoric AcidFuel Cells (PAFCs), considered the most commerciallydeveloped fuel cells, are used in hospitals, hotels, andoffices, and as the means of propulsion for large vehiclessuch as buses. Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells(PEMFCs) are similar to PAFCs in that they are acid-based (although the acid is in the form of a protonexchange membrane), but they operate at lower temper-atures (about 170 ºF, compared to 370 ºF) and have ahigher power density.

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFCs) operate athigh temperatures (1,300 ºF) to achieve sufficient con-ductivity. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), like MCFCs,operate at high temperatures (2,000 ºF), but are moreideal for using waste heat to generate steam for spaceheating, industrial processing, or in a steam turbine tocreate more electricity. Lastly, Direct Methanol FuelCells (DMFCs) use methanol directly as a reducingagent to produce electrical energy, eliminating the need

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Putting Fuel Cells to the Test

Various modules representing Lynntech, Inc.’s product line of fuel cell test equipment.

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for a fuel processor, thus increasing the possibilities fora lighter, less expensive fuel cell engine.

Developers of the various fuel cell technologiesrequire advanced, fully automated, computer-controlledtest equipment to determine the performance of fuel cellcomponents, such as electrocatalysts, proton exchangemembranes, and bipolar plates, as well as fuel cellstacks and fuel cell power systems. Since 2001,Lynntech Industries, Ltd., an affiliate of College Station,Texas-based Lynntech, Inc., has been manufacturingand selling a complete range of fuel cell test systemsworldwide to satisfy customers’ demands in this rapidlygrowing market.

The fuel cell test equipment was invented byLynntech, Inc., in the early-to-mid 1990s, with fundingfor design, fabrication, and testing stemming from aPhase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)contract with NASA’s Glenn Research Center. Glennawarded the company the SBIR with the intent of utiliz-ing the resulting technology to strengthen NASA’sReusable Launch Vehicle and Space Power programs.First year commercial sales of the fuel cell test equip-ment were in excess of $750,000, verifying NASA’sexpense as a sound investment. The test system arisingfrom the work with Glenn has been patented byLynntech, Inc., and continues to be upgraded to meetcurrent standards.

Lynntech Industries’ testing system comes equippedwith software called FCPower,™ declared by the company as the most powerful and flexible program for

testing in the industry. FCPower enables plug-and-playrecognition of hardware, multiple levels of user control,complete automation of configuration and testing, cus-tomizable display, and data acquisition and exporting.Even more, the software incorporates safety features thatallow for combustible gas monitoring and automaticshutdown of instruments and fuel supply lines.

To match the requirements of individual fuel celldevelopers, Lynntech Industries adopted a modularapproach on designing the test equipment, enabling custom solutions with standard equipment. This entitlescustomers to select specific modules they may need forany given fuel cell application. Accordingly, LynntechIndustries provides a selection of “all-in-one” test sys-tems and function-specific modules. The components ofthe company’s fuel cell test system include an electronicloadbank; a reactant gas humidifier; gas mixing, handling, and metering systems; instrumentationinput/output; methanol and hydrogen test kits; tail gashandling; thermal management; and a cell voltage mon-itoring buffer board.

It remains uncertain when exactly the average con-sumer will be able to fully appreciate the impact thatfuel cells are making to preserve the environment, but Lynntech, Inc., and Lynntech Industries are in posi-tion to bring this moment of realization one step closerto reality.

FCPower™ is a trademark of Lynntech Industries, Ltd.

Flightweight™ is a trademark of Lynntech, Inc.

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A variety of fuel cell components, like theLynntech Flightweight™ Fuel Cell Stack shownhere, require top-of-the-line test equipment todetermine their performance.

DATASTAR, Inc., of Picayune, Mississippi, hastaken NASA’s award-winning Earth ResourcesLaboratory Applications Software (ELAS) pro-

gram and evolved it into a user-friendly desktop applica-tion and Internet service to perform processing, analysis,and manipulation of remotely sensed imagery data.

NASA’s Stennis Space Center developed ELAS in theearly 1980s to process satellite and airborne sensorimagery data of the Earth’s surface into readable andaccessible information. Since then, ELAS informationhas been applied worldwide to determine soil content,rainfall levels, and numerous other variances of topo-graphical information. However, end-users customarilyhad to depend on scientific or computer experts to provide the results, because the imaging processing sys-tem was intricate and labor intensive.

In 1992, Stennis’ Commercial Technology Programmade ELAS available to DATASTAR under the Freedomof Information Act, which allows federally developedtechnologies that are not patent protected to be transferredto U.S. companies. The company adapted the NASAtechnology into the DATASTAR Image ProcessingExploitation (DIPEx) program, making the ELAS pro-gram simpler and more accessible to general end-users.

DIPEx can separate and provide specifics of imagerydata, such as data classifications, false color composites,soils, corridor analysis, subsurface vegetation, dataenrichment, mosaics, and geographical information systems (GIS). The program has enhanced mappingcapabilities and colorized data for depth. Data generatedby DIPEx are compatible with all of the GIS softwarepackages on the market.

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Easy and Accessible Imaging Software

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DATASTAR offers the DIPEx Service DeliverySystem, a subscription service available over theInternet, to provide normalized geospatial data in theform of products. Upon opening an account, users caneither request a deliverable product from DATASTAR oraccess the data sets on their own computers. The imagesor maps that are created through DIPEx are dynamicallygenerated based on the layers and combinations of datachosen. Users simply click a button to add or subtract alayer of information, and create an information productor decision product. The system, structured to allow hun-dreds of people to access it simultaneously, is on a secureserver to protect its intellectual property and the person-al data of its subscribers.

DIPEx uniquely incorporates NASA’s ELAS into aformat usable on most of today’s popular systems, fromPCs to larger UNIX and LINUX servers. The companyalso added interface ability to standard file structure andsequel database structure for control. The dimensionalityof DIPEx internals assures that the software is currentwith leading-edge hardware offerings in the computerindustry. DIPEx expands the parameters of the originalELAS design, enabling it to address current local andregional database requirements. The product also has theability to read all of today’s high-resolution imagery.

End-users interested in spatial data, such as soil con-tent, rainfall levels, and other variances of topographicalinformation, but who do not have the time or expertise tomanipulate the data, will appreciate the convenience ofDIPEx. A particularly strong product attribute is the ability to manipulate both raster and vector data. Bycombining these two types of data, DIPEx performscomplex ad hoc queries of specific geographical areasunder the control of the investigator.

One of the largest applications of DIPEx data is prescription farming. DIPEx generates data for farm consultants to control field machinery that apply pesti-cides and water. By offering the service over the Internet,DATASTAR sees the product as a tremendous resourcefor consultants that work with farmers to maintain thehealth and yield of crops and land. As subscribers toDIPEx, crop consultants can access the program withspecific input parameters and create an information prod-uct about a tract of land. The consultant would then beable to make recommendations to the farmer regardingspecific soil nutrient additives, irrigation, or pest control.

From analyzing geographical data to determine rainfall levels to providing data that will improve crops, DIPEx presents information for researchers, sci-entists, and agriculturalists to better understand Earth’svaluable resources.

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These images are DIPEx-classified products generated fromdata acquired for a major U.S. timber management company.The objective was to “count” the number of trees in a young tim-ber stand. The DIPEx system can determine the regeneration ofa timber stand remotely, and determine the advocacy of replant-ing a stand. This process makes foresters more productive andaccurate in doing their work. The two images were generatedusing the DIPEx Parallelepiped and Point Cluster classifiers,respectively. Both classifiers agreed that there was a 44 percentstand of trees and recommended that the stands be replantedfor optimum return.

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ANASA-developed aerodynamic simulation toolis ensuring the safety of future space operationswhile providing designers and engineers with

an automated, highly accurate computer simulationsuite. Cart3D, co-winner of NASA’s 2002 Software ofthe Year award, is the result of over 10 years of researchand software development conducted by MichaelAftosmis and Dr. John Melton of Ames Research Centerand Professor Marsha Berger of the Courant Institute atNew York University.

Cart3D offers a revolutionary approach to computa-tional fluid dynamics (CFD), the computer simulation of how fluids and gases flow around an object of a particular design. By fusing technological advancementsin diverse fields such as mineralogy, computer graphics,computational geometry, and fluid dynamics, the soft-ware provides a new industrial geometry processing andfluid analysis capability with unsurpassed automationand efficiency.

Before the development of Cart3D, grid layouts usedto analyze the designs of airplanes and spacecraft need-ed to be hand-generated, requiring months or even yearsto produce complex models. Engineers develop thesegrids to calculate flow fields surrounding vehicles likethe Space Shuttle. Cart3D automates grid generation to aremarkable degree, reducing simulation time require-ments significantly. The software streamlines the conceptual and preliminary analysis of both new andexisting aerospace vehicles. The Cart3D packageincludes utilities for geometry import, surface modelingand intersection, mesh generation, and flow simulation.

Through a joint agreement with the AmesCommercial Technology Office, ANSYS, Inc., a globalinnovator of simulation software and technologiesdesigned to optimize product development processes,has integrated the Cart3D product into its ICEM CFDEngineering (an ANSYS subsidiary) product suite forcommercial distribution. The package includes severalnew features, including a graphical user interface foranalysis setup. It also incorporates the company’s technology for geometry acquisition, repair, and prepa-ration. Computer-aided design (CAD) geometry isdirectly imported with the company’s Direct CADInterfaces. Designers and engineers can automaticallyset up and run suites of simulations based on paramet-ric changes to CAD geometry models.

Today, several commercial users, NASA, and leadinguniversities such as the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, and StanfordUniversity, benefit from Cart3D’s capabilities. NorthropGrumman and Raytheon apply Cart3D to the analysisand conceptual design of military vehicles and commer-cial aircraft. Simulations generated by the program helpto identify and fix problems with transport aircraft andhelicopters. At Johnson Space Center, Cart3D simulatesvarious crew escape configurations for NASA’s SpaceLaunch Initiative program.

ANSYS intends to expand Cart3D’s applicationswell beyond traditional aerospace uses, to aerodynam-ic and fluid flow simulations in automotive, turbomachinery, electronics, and process industries.

Faster Aerodynamic Simulation With Cart3D

Cart3D automates thegrid layouts for air-craft and spacecraftdesign analysis.

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When NASA needed a real-time, online data-base system capable of tracking documenta-tion changes in its propulsion test facilities,

engineers at Stennis Space Center joined with ECTInternational, of Brookfield, Wisconsin, to create a solu-tion. Through NASA’s Dual-Use Program, ECT devel-oped Exdata, a software program that works within thecompany’s existing Promis•e® software. Exdata notonly satisfied NASA’s requirements, but also expandedECT’s commercial product line.

Promis•e, ECT’s primary product, is an intelligentsoftware program with specialized functions for design-ing and documenting electrical control systems. An add-on to AutoCAD® software, Promis•e generates controlsystem schematics, panel layouts, bills of material, wirelists, and terminal plans. The drawing functions includesymbol libraries, macros, and automatic line breaking.Primary Promis•e customers include manufacturingcompanies, utilities, and other organizations with com-plex processes to control.

NASA uses Promis•e to create drawings and schemat-ics at several Stennis test facilities. These facilities testthe Space Shuttle main engines, rocket propulsion sys-tems, and related rocket engine components, with eachtest typically having different measurement and controlsystem requirements. As a result, modifications need tobe made to accommodate changing test articles and datarequirements. Since the Promis•e software was limited to120 storage values with every schematic symbol, NASA

needed increased values to accurately and efficientlydocument all of the measurements, control systemchanges, upgrades, and data associated with each test.

In response to Stennis’ need, ECT developed Exdata,an external database program that expands storage capa-bility, automates the design process, and reduces turn-around time for test requirements. The program links aPromis•e schematic symbol with a second Microsoft®Access database file. This second external file greatlyincreases the amount of information available to a user,and allows direct access for adding additional data,structure, and programming. Changes to the data can bemade either in the database or on the drawing.

After collaborating with Stennis, ECT now sellsExdata as a part of its product family. Exdata’s mainbenefit allows customization of data storage and display.By creating custom forms in Access, users can manipu-late and display the information most important to them.For example, Exdata keeps maintenance information ona device to determine hours of usage and when the nextscheduled maintenance is required.

The level of customization that someone can achievewith Exdata is only limited by the functionality in Accessand the person’s own ability to apply that function. Withthis type of control, ECT’s Promis•e and Exdata softwareproducts are leading the way for faster, more efficientdesign solutions.

Promis•e® is a registered trademark of ECT International.AutoCAD® is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc.Microsoft® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Promising More Information

Exdata software links devicesin electrical drawing files toadditional information stored inan external database. Thesedata can be displayed in auser-friendly, graphical formatusing database forms.

Analyzing rocket engines is one of Marshall SpaceFlight Center’s specialties. When Marshall engi-neers lacked a software program flexible enough

to meet their needs for analyzing rocket engine fluidflow, they overcame the challenge by inventing theGeneralized Fluid System Simulation Program (GFSSP),which was named the co-winner of the NASA Softwareof the Year award in 2001.

Most rocket analysis tools are either engine or tur-bopump specific, and some can only analyze one specif-ic engine or perform one part of a test. Consequently,Marshall engineers often use multiple software tools andmodules to complete their work. Frequently, however,the different tools cannot communicate, causing road-blocks during analysis. The engineers needed a softwareprogram that could plug into virtually any scenario andbe operated with minimal training and computer-processing power. As a result, the Marshall developmentteam for GFSSP focused on flexibility when developingthe base code for the new software program.

NASA’s GFSSP has been extensively verified bycomparing its predictions with test data. The softwareuses a highly intuitive graphical user interface thatallows engineers to construct very complex models in avery short time and allows users to model and view theresults with a click of a mouse. With changing require-ments and needs, the software has evolved to GFSSPversion 3.0. This latest version contains a User

Subroutine module, making it possible to develop spe-cific applications of the code for various disciplines andcustomize those applications as needed. As a result,GFSSP has a wide variety of commercial applicationsin industries that require flow predictions in complexflow circuits.

Concepts NREC, Inc., of White River Junction,Vermont, incorporated GFSSP into its commerciallyavailable Cooled Turbine Airfoil Agile Design System(CTAADS). Specializing in all aspects of turbomachin-ery with applications ranging from aircraft engines toindustrial pumps, the company developed the product inconjunction with Harvard Thermal, Inc., of Harvard,Massachusetts, to significantly reduce the total time andcost for designing cooled turbine airfoils.

Gas turbines used for aircraft propulsion must operateat high temperatures for thermal efficiency and powerinput. However, these extreme temperatures can causethermal stresses within the turbine blade materials,necessitating that the blades be cooled by air extractedfrom the engine’s compressor for safe and efficient oper-ation. Since thermal efficiency decreases as a result ofthis extraction, engineers need to understand and opti-mize the cooling technique, operating conditions, andturbine blade geometry.

An increased understanding of the detailed hot-gas-flow physics within the turbine itself is necessary todesign a system that most efficiently cools the turbine

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Easier Analysis With Rocket Science

Turbine blades must be properlycooled for safe and efficient oper-ation. This first-stage turbineblade has its cooling holes anddrilled trailing edge highlighted.

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blades. Since blade life can be reduced by half if the tem-perature prediction is off by only 50 °F, it is crucial toaccurately predict the local heat-transfer coefficient, aswell as the local blade temperature, in order to preventlocal hot spots and increase turbine blade life.

CTAADS assists users in need of this information by providing a systematic, logical, and rapid three-dimensional (3-D) modeling approach to cooling-system design for cooled axial turbine vanes and blades.The product is a fully integrated suite of independentsoftware modules that supports the rapid generation of airfoil cooling-passage geometry and performs com-plete 3-D thermal analysis.

CTAADS’s internal cooling airflow module, whichgenerates and solves a one-dimensional fluid flow net-work representing the entire cooling configuration, isbuilt upon GFSSP. Users can construct the fluid flownetwork with a Concepts NREC-developed graphicaluser interface. The network is then transformed into acustomized input file for GFSSP, and the fluid networksolver is a significantly modified and customized versionof GFSSP.

The internal cooling airflow module gives users max-imum flexibility in defining the fluid flow network.Users can control how many sections are needed todefine each cooling passage. The fluid network solver iscapable of producing turbine airfoil cooling passage air-flow calculations requiring compressible flow with fric-tion, heat addition, and area change; pumping due toblade rotation; and choked flow. Concepts NREC alsoadded numerous resistance options specific to turbinecooling to GFSSP. All options have default correlationsfor total pressure loss and heat transfer coefficients.

Outside of the success Concepts NREC has foundwith utilizing GFSSP, other possible commercial appli-cations for the versatile software program include heat-ing ventilation and air conditioning systems, chemicalprocessing, gas processing, power plants, hydraulic con-trol circuits, and various types of fluid distribution sys-tems. Best of all, GFSSP is easy to learn, despite its rootsin rocket science. According to Marshall’s GFSSP teamleader Alok Majumdar, “A goal of ours was to makeGFSSP so that an undergraduate engineering student canquickly become proficient with the software.”

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The Cooled Turbine Airfoil Agile Design System provides a sys-tematic, logical, and rapid three-dimensional modeling approachfor designing cooled turbine airfoils.

Present advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are opening the doors to virtual classroom andtraining environments where students and trainees

are getting undivided attention with one-on-one computer-based instruction. Such new developments areeffectively alleviating concerns over long-standing edu-cational issues, such as student-teacher interaction and student-to-teacher ratios. Furthermore, high-levelresearch demonstrates that students who engage in learn-ing using AI-based Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS)generally perform better and learn faster, compared toclassroom-trained students.

With assistance from NASA’s Marshall Space FlightCenter, a new breed of ITS for technical training andcomplex problem-solving has hit the market to providestudents and trainees with the decision-making skillsnecessary to succeed to the next level. The Task TutorToolkit™ (T3), developed by Stottler Henke Associates,Inc., of San Mateo, California, is a generic tutoring sys-tem shell and scenario authoring tool that emulatesexpert instructors and lowers the cost and difficulty ofcreating scenario-based ITS for technical training.

The functionality of Stottler Henke Associates’ T3 farexceeds that of traditional computer-based training sys-tems, which test factual recall and narrow skills by

prompting students to answer multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions. The T3, on the contrary, lets studentsassess situations, generate solutions, make decisions, andcarry out actions in realistically complex scenarios. At thebeginning of each scenario, the T3 tutoring system pres-ents a briefing that describes the situation and the goalsthe students should pursue. Each scenario contains a solution template that specifies a partially-orderedsequence of action patterns that match correctsequences of student actions. During each scenario, thebuilt-in simulator notifies the tutoring system of eachstudent action. The T3 uses this information to evaluatethe student action by comparing it with the scenario’ssolution template and with error rules that detect incor-rect actions.

To prevent running into “dead-end” situations, stu-dents can request hints and ask questions by clicking onbuttons in the user window. Rather than just setting upstudents with the right answers to complete a scenario,the T3 simulator explains why the recommended actionsshould be taken. When students carry out a correct actionspecified by the solution template, the T3 awards themcredit for applying the principles linked to the action. Atthe end of each scenario, the tutoring system displays areport card that lists the principles the students success-fully—and unsuccessfully—demonstrated. These results

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A Tutor That’s Up to the Task

The T3 Authoring Tool lets instructors edit scenarios by demon-strating, generalizing, and annotating solution templates. Icons inthe left pane show actions organized into ordered and unorderedgroups. The right pane shows the attributes of the selectedaction, “Enable telemetry.”

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can be sent to a learning management system to recordthe students’ performance, knowledge, and skills.

The T3 is just as easy for instructors and subject mat-ter experts to operate. It consists of a set of Java™ soft-ware libraries and applications that let the user create thescenarios quickly and easily, without programming. Thesystem’s Simulator and Authoring Tool are used to cre-ate application-specific scenarios and lesson plans. TheSimulator hosts the correct sequence of actions for thescenario, and the Authoring Tool records these actions togenerate the initial solution template.

The tutoring technology was developed from 1997 to2002, under a Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR) contract with Marshall, to address NASA’s needfor rapid deployment of scenario-based tutoring systems.NASA utilized the toolkit to create the Remote PayloadOperations Tutor (RPOT), a system that lets scientistswho are new to space mission operations learn to monitor and control their experiments aboard theInternational Space Station, according to NASA’s exist-

ing payload regulations, guidelines, and procedures.RPOT combines simulations with automated tutoringcapabilities to provide hints and instructional feedbackto its students. The system makes it unnecessary forNASA to dedicate an instructor for each student duringthe simulation exercises.

NASA is exploring the possibility of using the toolkitfor onboard training of Space Station flight crews wherehuman instructors cannot be made easily available. Thiscould also serve a purpose in the pre-flight phase whenflight crews are traveling away from the high-fidelitytraining simulators.

Outside of NASA and the corporate and technicaltraining realm, the T3 may be used in educational settingsof all levels for math problem-solving and scientific lab-oratory procedures. The software could also be practicalfor students at technical institutes and trade schools thatteach equipment operations and maintenance.

Task Tutor Toolkit™ is a trademark of Stottler Henke Associates, Inc.Java™ is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

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The T3 Tutoring System window provides feedback and hints“on demand” to students during scenarios.

With more than 50 years of combined NASAexperience under the belts of TietronixSoftware, Inc.’s management team, commer-

cial partners from small businesses to Fortune 500 firmsare benefiting from the company’s landmark achieve-ments in delivering complex, mission-critical systemsfor NASA’s Space Shuttle and International SpaceStation (ISS) programs.

Recognized by the Houston Business Journal as oneof the “Top 25 Software Companies” in the high-techhotbed of Houston, Texas, Tietronix is a full-serviceprovider of custom software applications and advancedtechnology solutions. It partners with organizations tohelp them solve multifaceted business problems via newtechnology, resulting in increased revenues, productivi-ty, and profitability, and faster time-to-market. Tietronixwas founded in 1999 by Victor Tang, Michel Izygon,and Stuart Engelhardt, each having worked on thedevelopment of advanced software-based technologysolutions, relating to NASA. All three founders workedtogether at Johnson Space Center, where they developedspecialized software to help manipulate the robotic armof the Space Shuttle.

Tang, the president of Tietronix, is credited with iden-tifying and creating several software tools to support andfacilitate astronaut missions, including a flight schedul-ing automation system, an astronaut activity scheduler,and a robotics display onboard the Shuttle. Izygon, thecompany’s senior vice president and chief technologyofficer, spent 3 years as a program manager in a technol-ogy development contract with Johnson. His dutiesincluded management and development of a Web-basedelectronic workflow system aimed at facilitating and

automating the Space Center’s mission-critical process-es. Engelhardt, Tietronix’s vice president, developedsoftware for 5 years at Johnson, authoring variousonboard and ground-based mission support applicationsfor Shuttle crews.

Joining the three founders on the management team isFrank Hughes, Tietronix’s vice president of trainingproducts. Hughes was NASA’s Chief of Space FlightTraining, where he headed an organization responsiblefor all Shuttle and Space Station training. He investedmore than 33 years at NASA, assisting in the assemblyof all U.S. space missions since 1966. Another key management member is French astronaut Jean-LoupChrétien, recognized as the first Western European totravel in space, as well as the first non-American andnon-Soviet to walk in space. Chrétien leads Tietronix’sresearch and development efforts for a new division cov-ering civilian and military applications in the field ofoptical engineering. As the inventor of an optics-basedtechnology that dramatically improves visibility inextreme sunlight conditions (influenced by his total lossof sight due to sun exposure while in space and whilepiloting and landing airplanes), Chrétien is spearheadingthe conception of several prototype products that mayone day be used in airplanes, automobiles, and cameras.

Four years after establishment, Tietronix has grown toover 50 experienced engineers and project managers whoare dedicated to executing business strategies and apply-ing technologies developed for NASA to commercialmarkets. The company’s TieFlow eProcess software is aparadigm of its successful efforts to transfer technologyassociated with NASA. Essentially a second-generationworkflow system that extends from the founders’ work

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Software With Strong Ties to Space

As a workflow management tool,TieFlow eProcess can automate andsimplify any generic or industry-specific work process, helpingorganizations transform work ineffi-ciencies and internal operationsinvolving people, paper, and pro-cedures into a streamlined, well-organized, electronic-based process.

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at Johnson, TieFlow is a simple but powerful businessprocess improvement solution. It can automate and sim-plify any generic or industry-specific work process,helping organizations to transform work inefficienciesand internal operations involving people, paper, and procedures into a streamlined, well-organized, electronic-based process.

TieFlow increases business productivity by improv-ing process cycle times. The software can expeditegeneric processes in the areas of product design anddevelopment, purchase orders, expense reports, benefitsenrollment, budgeting, hiring, and sales. It can also shoreup vertical market processes such as claims processing,loan application and processing, health care administra-tion, contract management, and advertising agency traf-fic. The processes can be easily and rapidly captured ina graphical manner and enforced together with rules per-taining to assignments that need to be performed. Asidefrom boosting productivity, TieFlow also reduces organizational costs and errors.

TieFlow was developed with Small BusinessInnovation Research (SBIR) assistance from Johnson.The SBIR support entitles all Federal Government agen-cies to utilize the TieFlow software technology free ofcharge. Tietronix emphasizes that TieFlow is an out-standing workflow resource that could produce dramaticproductivity and cost improvements for all agencies, justas it has done and continues to do for NASA. The SpaceAgency is currently using the software throughout sever-al mission-critical offices, including the MissionOperations Directorate and the Flight Director’s Office,for worldwide participation of authorized users in NASAprocesses. At the Flight Director’s Office, TieFlowallows personnel to electronically submit and reviewchanges to the flight rules carried out during missions.

Outside of government, Tietronix secured a commer-cial contract to implement the TieFlow technology into avertical solution for the health care industry. The HomeCare Connect™ Web-based Point of Care Solutionworkflow tool was developed in cooperation with Inter-Active Healthcare, Inc., a leading home careagency in the southwest. With its simple Web interface,field professionals can collect and validate Outcome andAssessment Information Set (OASIS) and clinical datafrom the start of care through the time the patient is dis-charged, all without having to install any software. Thetool is also capable of working with any back-officeclaims processing and billing system, as well as captur-ing and transferring data from telemedicine equipment.

Tietronix also offers a Virtual Tour software productthat provides users with a “total immersion experience.”Unlike traditional interactive multimedia products, the

Virtual Tour technology creates a complete suspensionof disbelief that lets users travel freely through a virtualspace. For architects and engineers, the software can cre-ate extremely detailed virtual structures that they can“walk” through to head off any potential problems priorto starting a construction project. It is also ideal foremergency and operational facility training purposes,travel and tourism destinations, commercial and residen-tial real estate sales, and science teaching. The softwarehas been utilized to create a virtual interactive tour ofJohnson Space Center, a “fly-through” tour of the ISS,and a walk-through tour of the multi-story Hilton ClearLake Hotel in Houston, complete with automatic doorsand operational elevators.

Home Care Connect™ is a trademark of Tietronix Software, Inc.

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Using a laptop and the Internet, Home Care Connect™ enablesfield professionals to validate Outcome and AssessmentInformation Set and clinical data from the start of care throughthe time the patient is discharged, all without having to installany software.

In 1995, Carlos Jorquera left NASA’s JetPropulsion Laboratory (JPL) to focus onerasing the growing void between high-

performance cameras and the requisite soft-ware to capture and process the resultingdigital images. Since his departure fromNASA, Jorquera’s efforts have not only sat-isfied the private industry’s cravings forfaster, more flexible, and more favorablesoftware applications, but have blossomedinto a successful entrepreneurship that ismaking its mark with improvements infields such as medicine, weather forecast-ing, and X-ray inspection.

Formerly a JPL engineer who construct-ed imaging systems for spacecraft andground-based astronomy projects, Jorquera is thefounder and president of the three-person firm, BoulderImaging Inc., based in Louisville, Colorado. JoiningJorquera to round out the Boulder Imaging staff areChief Operations Engineer Susan Downey, who alsogained experience at JPL working on space-bound projects—including Galileo and the Hubble SpaceTelescope, and Vice President of Engineering andMachine Vision Specialist Jie Zhu Kulbida, who hasextensive industrial and research and development expe-rience within the private sector.

The Boulder Imaging team’s vast engineering talentshines through on its flagship imaging capture and pro-cessing software product, AcquireNow. As a ComponentObject Model (COM) component, AcquireNow providessoftware developers with the programmatic tools neces-sary to create software applications that can acquireimages from high data rate digital cameras and applyimage-processing algorithms to those images (COM is asoftware architecture developed by Microsoft® thatallows components made by different software vendorsto be combined into a variety of applications).Essentially, AcquireNow users can obtain images fromany camera, using any frame grabber board, without hav-ing to write any hardware-specific software.

The most important feature of AcquireNow is its abil-ity to perform sustained image acquisition from highframe rate and/or high-resolution digital cameras. Withthe correct pairing of camera and frame grabber hard-ware, and a dual peripheral component interconnect bussystem (an expansion slot for personal computers), thesoftware can acquire image data at rates exceeding 500megabytes per second. The technology also encompass-es powerful image-processing algorithms, includingaveraging, flat fielding, scaling, edge detection, blobanalysis, and display. Additionally, it uses multiplethreads of execution to allow image processing to occur

in one thread, while an acquisition thread is waiting fora frame to come in from the camera. This multi-threadedoption permits the software to take advantage of multiplecomputers, thus, increase performance on these systems.

The AcquireNow software package includes theAcquireNowClient stand-alone application, which can beused to obtain, display, and save images to disk. Thesource code for AcquireNowClient is also included, sothat customers may freely use it as a base for internal orcommercial applications.

In 2002, Advanced Imaging Technologies, Inc., ofPreston, Washington, licensed AcquireNow and embed-ded it in its Avera™ Breast Imaging System, which permits rapid assessment of breast tissue in real time,without the discomfort of compression or the risk ofharmful radiation. The Avera Breast Imaging Systemfeatures Advanced Imaging Technologies’ first commer-cial use of the company’s patented DiffractiveUltrasound innovation, a unique imaging technologybased on the principles of sound. Unlike conventionalultrasound that relies on sound’s reflective properties,Diffractive Ultrasound takes advantage of the diffractiveproperties to collect high-resolution images from soft tissue structures, such as the breast. AcquireNow isresponsible for capturing, processing, and depicting theimages clearly on a computer screen.

AcquireNow has also been instrumental in the detec-tion of ice crystals that form in high-altitude clouds.Boulder Imaging developed both the real-time process-ing system and the post-processing software forBoulder, Colorado-based Stratton Park EngineeringCompany (SPEC), Inc.’s Cloud Particle Imager, adevice that takes high-resolution digital images of cloud

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Image Acquisition in Real Time

AcquireNow is the software imaging engine within the Avera™Breast Imaging System.

Image courtesy of Advanced Imaging Technologies, Inc.

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particles and flew aboard NASA’s WB-57 aircraft during the Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers – Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE) mission.

SPEC’s Cloud Particle Imager is comprised of a high-speed camera that snaps extremely fast pictures of theparticles inside of a cloud as the plane flies through it.AcquireNow is used to detect the edges of ice particles inreal time, and determine what in an image is a particleand what is not. Sizing information for each ice particleidentified in the images is computed, and statisticalinformation is generated, tracking particle size distribu-tion over time. Researchers can then use this data tostudy the microscopic factors that influence cloudphysics, and ultimately, how clouds affect the atmos-phere’s temperature. The Cloud Particle Imager—alsopopular among international governments interested incloud research related to global climate change—is justone of seven SPEC products to incorporate theAcquireNow technology.

AcquireNow is also making its presence known onmanufacturing assembly lines, aiding in the quick detec-tion of faulty circuit boards and other machine parts.Agilent Technologies, of Palo Alto, California, pur-chased AcquireNow for use in its 5DX quality controlsystem, designed to detect structural defects through anX-ray source.

More recently, Boulder Imaging embarked on a proj-ect in which AcquireNow is being used to image the

conditions of highways. By linking the software with aglobal positioning system and a special camera that takesmultiple shots of a road surface at 50 miles per hour,AcquireNow can portray images of the road structure thatprove valuable to highway engineers.

The company notes that future applications for thesoftware may be seen in airports to expedite and enhancebaggage searches, in machine vision systems to read zipcodes on mailing labels, and in the entertainment indus-try for digital data storage.

Microsoft® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.Avera™ is a trademark of Advanced Imaging Technologies, Inc.

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Boulder Imaging Inc., developed boththe real-time processing system andthe post-processing software forStratton Park Engineering Company,Inc.’s Cloud Particle Imager (mountedon the underbelly of the Learjet).

AcquireNow is featured in uniAMS, a commercial product ofSamsung SDS America, used for measuring pavement conditions.

Image courtesy of Stratton Park Engineering Company, Inc.

Image courtesy of Samsung SDS America.

Licensed to over 1,500 customersworldwide, an advanced compu-tational fluid dynamics (CFD)

post-processor with a quick learningcurve is consistently providing engi-neering solutions, with just the rightbalance of visual insight and hard data.

FIELDVIEW™ is the premier prod-uct of JMSI, Inc., d.b.a. Intelligent Light,a woman-owned, small business found-ed in 1994 and located in Lyndhurst,New Jersey. In the early 1990s,Intelligent Light entered into a jointdevelopment contract with a research-based company to commercialize thepost-processing FIELDVIEW code. AsIntelligent Light established itself, itpurchased the exclusive rights to thecode, and structured its business solelyaround the software technology. As aresult, it is enjoying profits and growing at a rate of 25 to 30 percent per year.

Advancements made from the earliest commerciallaunch of FIELDVIEW, all the way up to the recentlyreleased versions 8 and 8.2 of the program, have beenbacked by research collaboration with NASA’s LangleyResearch Center, where some of the world’s most pro-gressive work in transient (also known as time-varying)CFD takes place. In 1994, Intelligent Light was con-tracted by Langley to develop tools for a special case ofaero-acoustic post-processing. The company successful-ly delivered a modified version of FIELDVIEW to aNASA contracting branch that performs numerical inte-gration of scalar functions over surfaces that are “swept”through time.

The following year, Langley awarded IntelligentLight a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)contract for advanced research into visualization tech-nology. The SBIR focused on developing sophisticatedtransient data-handling capabilities to be integrated intothe FIELDVIEW product. According to one Langleyresearcher who provided the data set during Phase I ofthe contract, the prototype demonstrated “an enablingtechnology that gives NASA a unique, affordable solu-tion to a very difficult post-processing problem.” ThePhase II follow-on effort expanded the scope of the newdata access and visualization technologies to unstruc-tured and hybrid grids, as well as analyses that combinefluid/structure interaction. The research and develop-ment resulting from both phases of the SBIR projectwas implemented into the software in 1996, alleviatingthe complications of handling very large transient orsteady-state data sets for all users.

To keep in step with technological progression in theCFD field, Intelligent Light once again teamed up withLangley in 1999 to create a next-generation platform thatwould permit design options to be evaluated with greaterspeed and efficiency. Going into the SBIR contract,Intelligent Light contended that CFD post-processingsoftware was either too visual, lacking the hard data fordecision-making, or too quantitative, with an overabun-dance of numbers that were poorly illustrated. This time,the SBIR focused on advanced data query techniques tothe extremely large data sets that were becoming com-mon in the CFD environment and, therefore, overbur-dening users by causing backlogs.

Intelligent Light’s SBIR work aimed to correct these problems and was eventually commercialized inFIELDVIEW 8. By working in conjunction with NASAand other top CFD authorities, the company was able todeliver a new form of integrated post-processingautomation, enabling users to quickly understand flowpatterns, automate quantitative analyses, and deliverconvincing, accurate presentations.

With FIELDVIEW 8, the company boasts a newadvanced programmability function called FVX™ thatlets users read data sets, create and manipulate surfaces,and perform complex quantitative post-processing tasksusing a real programming language. For example, FVXwas used to successfully calculate the shear stress

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Free-Flowing Solutions for CFD

FIELDVIEW™ 8’s advanced programmability function success-fully calculated the shear stress behavior on the blades of aKenics® static mixer, a tool that is widely used in the food andchemical industries for in-line blending of liquids.

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behavior on the blades of a Kenics® static mixer, a toolthat is widely used in the food and chemical industriesfor in-line blending of liquids. This information is oftennecessary when determining whether or not the mixingprocess will exceed the allowable maximum shear stressfor the materials being combined. The results generatedby FVX were plotted into a histogram indicating flowdirection and points where higher stress would degradethe materials.

The latest adaptation of FIELDVIEW, version 8.2 (aderivative of version 8 intended to address smaller scaleprocessing), features improved data set comparison,which permits easy visual and numerical comparisonbetween two or more data sets whose grids are topolog-ically similar. A “Dataset Comparison” mode in the soft-ware’s built-in CFD calculator allows for the creation offormulas that may reference quantities of more than onedata set. For example, an engineer can quickly plot thedifference in temperature at the outlet of differentdesigns. Another key upgrade is the addition of blendedtransparency, enabling users to create the highest qualityrepresentations and animations. Additionally, theenhanced 8.2 version offers many new capabilities tohelp designers and engineers produce better results inless time.

FIELDVIEW is widely used in the aerospace, auto-motive, defense, and manufacturing sectors. Lockheed

Martin, for example, has standardized on the technologyfor CFD post-processing needs. The company employsFIELDVIEW to design tactical aircraft systems, includ-ing F-16, F-22, and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. Boeingalso makes use of the software in both its commercialand defense sectors.

Firms such as Pratt & Whitney, General Electric,Rolls Royce, and Honeywell have adopted FIELDVIEWto design state-of-the-art gas turbine engines. Moreover,auto makers such as the Ford Motor Company, Honda,and Toyota utilize it in applications such as under-hoodcooling and airflow; cabin heating, venting, and air con-ditioning; powertrain design; glass fabrication; and paintroom design. Ford, among others, has entered into aworldwide corporate licensing agreement withIntelligent Light which provides for software licenses,training, and customization services.

In addition to Langley Research Center, FIELDVIEW is widely used at Ames and GlennResearch Centers, Johnson Space Center, and MarshallSpace Flight Center. Intelligent Light continues to workwith its largest customers, including NASA, to find newways to contend with the mountains of data resultingfrom CFD computations.

FIELDVIEW™ and FVX™ are trademarks of JMSI, Inc., d.b.a.Intelligent Light.Kenics® is a registered trademark of Chemineer, Inc.

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FIELDVIEW™ is used to design tactical aircraftsystems, including F-16, F-22, and F-35 JointStrike Fighters.

Engineers can solve aerospace design problemsfaster and more efficiently with a versatile soft-ware product that performs automated structural

analysis and sizing optimization. Collier ResearchCorporation’s HyperSizer® Structural Sizing Softwareis a design, analysis, and documentation tool thatincreases productivity and standardization for a designteam. Based on established aerospace structural meth-ods for strength, stability, and stiffness, HyperSizer canbe used all the way from the conceptual design to in-service support.

The software originated from NASA’s efforts to auto-mate its capability to perform aircraft strength analyses,structural sizing, and weight prediction and reduction.With a strategy to combine finite element analysis withan automated design procedure, NASA’s LangleyResearch Center led the development of a software codeknown as ST-SIZE from 1988 to 1995. Collier Researchemployees were principal developers of the code alongwith Langley researchers. The code evolved into one thatcould analyze the strength and stability of stiffened pan-els constructed of any material, including light-weight,fiber-reinforced composites.

After obtaining an exclusive NASA license for ST-SIZE in 1996, Hampton, Virginia-based CollierResearch combined the code with other company propri-etary software, taking it from the research level to thecommercial level with full documentation, training, andquick response support. Marketed as HyperSizer, thesoftware couples with commercial finite element analy-ses to enable system level performance assessments andweight predictions; conceptual and preliminary designoptimization of material selection/layup and structuralmember sizing; and structural failure analysis and auto-mated stress reports.

Continuing to advance HyperSizer by expanding itscapabilities and features, Collier Research began work-ing with NASA’s Glenn Research Center in 2001. Thegoal, initiated through several NASA contracts andgrants, was to integrate and commercialize theMicromechanics Analysis Code with GeneralizedMethod Cells (MAC/GMC) and the higher-order theoryfor functionally graded materials (HOTFGM). BothMAC/GMC and HOTFGM were developed collabora-tively with personnel at Glenn, the University ofVirginia, the Ohio Aerospace Institute, and Israel’s Tel-Aviv University.

MAC/GMC is a well-documented software packagefor the design and analysis of advanced composite mate-rials that accurately predicts the elastic and inelasticthermomechanical response of multiphased materialsincluding polymer-, ceramic-, and metal-matrix compos-ites. The software enables engineers and material scientists to design and analyze composite materials for a given application accurately and easily. The well-established generalized method of cells micromechanics theory provides the underlying analysis technology forMAC/GMC.

The HOTFGM theory and code are designed tomodel the thermal and mechanical response of struc-tures with arbitrary cross-sections composed of func-tionally graded materials. These new technologiesenable the HyperSizer analysis to localize beyond itstraditional stiffened panel and laminate ply scale.Equipped with the MAC/GMC and HOTFGM capabili-ties, HyperSizer can now design on the microscale, con-sidering the individual fiber and matrix phases, theirarrangements, and their likelihood to initiate failure ofthe global aerospace structure.

Through its efforts to commercialize HOTFGM andMAC/GMC, Collier Research now includes Hyper-FGM

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Efficient, Multi-Scale Designs Take Flight

Collier Research Corporation’s Hyper-FGM software package is a tool for thedesign and analysis of functionallygraded materials. It includes pre- andpost-processing through an intuitivegraphical user interface, along with theHOTFGM thermo-mechanical analy-sis engine.

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and Hyper-MAC as part of its product line. Hyper-FGMuses HOTFGM as its underlying analysis technologyand is a self-contained software package developed as atool for the design and analysis of functionally gradedmaterials (FGMs). It includes pre- and post-processingthrough an intuitive graphical user interface, along withthe HOTFGM thermo-mechanical analysis engine.

The Hyper-FGM interface builds on the well-established accuracy of the HOTFGM mechanicsmethodology, making HOTFGM available as a practicalcommercial product. After an FGM problem is specified,the HOTFGM-based analysis can be executed fromwithin Hyper-FGM, and the results are automaticallyloaded into the interface for viewing and post-process-ing. With its ease of use, Hyper-FGM provides aneffective alternative to the more user-intensiveapproach of modeling FGMs through finite elementanalysis packages.

Hyper-MAC is an add-on module for the HyperSizersoftware that combines the constituent buildup (forma-tion of repeating unit cell) and nonlinear analysis of the NASA-developed MAC/GMC with HyperSizer’sdata integrity, established laminate analysis methodolo-gy, and material property editing interface. The inclu-sion of micromechanics within HyperSizer creates a new distinction between material types: heteroge-neous and homogeneous. Homogeneous materials have no underlying micromechanics architecture

and are analyzed using only equivalent, or effective,properties. Heterogeneous materials have effectiveproperties that are calculated using a micromechanicsmodel given specified microscale constituent proper-ties and architecture. Consequently, Hyper-MACenables users to create and use new homogeneousmaterials based on micromechanics-generated effectiveproperties and to perform virtual experiment simula-tions to determine the effective response of heteroge-neous materials.

While targeted to the aerospace industry, the line ofHyperSizer products impacts a variety of additionalcommercial applications. In the transportation industry,HyperSizer’s cost-effective design capability with stiff-ened wall construction concepts makes it ideal fordesigning and analyzing rail cars, tractor trailers, dumptrucks, and shipping containers. HyperSizer can also beused for new and innovative designs for the marineindustry, ranging from scantlings of composite hull pan-els for high speed light craft to stiffened plate panels ofhull girders, side shells, and bottom structures. SinceHyperSizer can achieve the lightest weight for anymarine design, it benefits high-speed vessels such as pas-senger catamarans and rescue vehicles that are weightoptimized to obtain high speeds.

HyperSizer® is a registered trademark of Collier ResearchCorporation.

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Hyper-MAC, an add-on module for theHyperSizer® software, enables users tocreate and use new homogeneousmaterials based on micromechanics-generated effective properties.

Widely used for the modeling of gas flowsthrough the computation of the motion andcollisions of representative molecules, the

Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method has become the“gold standard” for producing research and engineeringpredictions in the field of rarified gas dynamics. DirectSimulation Monte Carlo was first introduced in the early1960s by Dr. Graeme Bird, a professor at the Universityof Sydney, Australia. It has since proved to be a valuabletool to the aerospace and defense industries in providingdesign and operational support data, as well as flightdata analysis.

In 2002, NASA brought to the forefront a softwareproduct that maintains the same basic physics formula-tion of Dr. Bird’s method, but provides effective modeling of complex, three-dimensional, “real” vehiclesimulations and parallel processing capabilities to handleadditional computational requirements, especially inareas where computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is notapplicable. NASA’s Direct Simulation Monte CarloAnalysis Code (DAC) software package is now consid-ered the Agency’s premier high-fidelity simulation toolfor predicting vehicle aerodynamics andaerothermodynamic environments in rari-fied, or low-density, gas flows.

Additionally, DAC was recognized asthe co-winner of the prestigious 2002NASA Software of the Year award, for itstime- and money-saving abilities. Becausetests to acquire information on the interac-tions of spacecraft and rarified environ-ments are difficult and expensive to perform, NASA believes DAC has thepotential to save millions of dollars.NASA also acknowledges that DAC iseasier to use and 100 times faster than the“standard process” software it replaced.

Developed by an engineering team inJohnson Space Flight Center’s Aero-science and Flight Mechanics Division,DAC models the flow of low-densitygases over flight surfaces. The accuratemodeling of these flows, for which exper-imental facilities are virtually nonexistent,is critical for the protection of valuableNASA assets, and for ensuring crew safety and overall mission success. The software supports numerous Johnson pro-grams, including the International SpaceStation (ISS), the X-38, and Space Shuttle servicing mis-sions to the Hubble Space Telescope. DAC is also in useat other field centers, to monitor the Mars Pathfinder,

Stardust, Genesis, X-33, X-37, Mars Global Surveyor,and Mars Odyssey vehicles.

More broadly, the DAC software serves as the bench-mark for predicting flowfields generated on orbit by theSpace Shuttle reaction control system thrusters, and theresultant impingement (effects of thruster firing whenone spacecraft approaches another) on the ISS. Use ofthe DAC code in predicting flowfields has led to signif-icant changes in docking procedures and venting operations. The technology is further used to provideinformation to help optimize and verify maneuvers of theMars-orbiting spacecraft after they were slowed byrepeatedly skimming through the planet’s atmosphere(“aerobraking”), instead of depending upon thrusters fordeceleration. This technique enabled the spacecraft to belighter, which in return reduced launch costs.

The generality incorporated into DAC has allowed forwidespread use of the software within the aerospacecommunity beyond NASA. The National MissileDefense embraced the technology for interception ofhostile missiles launched into the upper atmosphere,beyond the limits where traditional CFD methods would

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Monte Carlo Methodology Serves Up a Software Success

NASA’s Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Analysis Code serves asthe benchmark for predicting flowfields generated on orbit by theSpace Shuttle reaction control system thrusters, and the result-ant impingement on the International Space Station.

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be functional. Department of Defense contractors suchas Boeing and Raytheon employ the software to assesscandidate kinetic warheads for ballistic missile defensesystems. These contributions to missile defense arebelieved to bolster homeland security and provide citi-zens with an improved sense of safety.

DAC research is also prevalent at universities allacross the country. The University of Colorado wasfirst in utilizing DAC to analyze the rarified aerody-namics of a “wave rider” (a hypersonic vehicle thatglides on its own shockwave) using the method ofosculating cones. This method was developed at theUniversity of Colorado in the late 1980s, and is nowthe standard for wave rider design. The motivationbehind this research is the potential for using waveriders for aero-maneuvers in planetary atmospheres,particularly for aero-gravity assists. Such maneuverswere first proposed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory engi-neers approximately 15 years ago.

At the University of Maryland, DAC has been used toexplore various problems of direct relevance to NASAand the U.S. Air Force. One instance involves the behav-ior of a satellite in a so-called “dipping orbit,” whichincludes a low-altitude pass through the Earth’s upperatmosphere. Several proposed future space missions willfly dipping orbits to perform experiments in the upperatmosphere, including Goddard Space Flight Center’sGeospace Electrodynamic Connections mission.

Another project used DAC as a baseline to study theaerodynamic environment at the leading edge of a space-craft as it reenters from orbit. University faculty and stu-dents are currently exploring options for minimizing, oreven eliminating, the communications blackout period ofa reentering vehicle. Field experts believe that, throughcareful selection of the spacecraft geometry, the amountof high-temperature plasma surrounding a reenteringspacecraft can be dramatically reduced, permitting radiowaves to travel more easily from the spacecraft to ground control, and back. Overall, University ofMaryland researchers have found DAC to be extremelypowerful, computationally efficient, and very easy toinstall and use.

The unique flow-solvers adapted to DAC make thesoftware a good fit for other applications in which theobject within the flowfield is extremely small, such asmicro-electromechanical and nanotechnology devices.The software technology is also expected to make animpact in materials processing, including chemical vapordeposition and etching of thin films, and internal trans-port analysis of outgassing contaminants.

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The Raytheon Missile Systems Company used the software todevelop Standard Missile-3 Infrared Seekers for the MissileDefense Agency. The seekers successfully intercepted a test tar-get vehicle in January 2002, marking the first ship-launched bal-listic missile intercept.

System safety, an integral component in softwaredevelopment, often poses a challenge to engineersdesigning computer-based systems. While the

relaxed constraints on software design allow forincreased power and flexibility, this flexibility intro-duces more possibilities for error. As a result, systemengineers must identify the design constraints necessaryto maintain safety and ensure that the system and soft-ware design enforces them.

Safeware Engineering Corporation, of Seattle,Washington, provides the information, tools, and tech-niques to accomplish this task with its SpecificationTools and Requirements Methodology (SpecTRM).NASA assisted in developing this engineering toolset byawarding the company several Small BusinessInnovation Research (SBIR) contracts with AmesResearch Center and Langley Research Center. Thetechnology benefits NASA through its applications forSpace Station rendezvous and docking.

SpecTRM aids system and software engineers indeveloping specifications for large, complex safety-critical systems. The product enables engineers to finderrors early in development so that they can be fixedwith the lowest cost and impact on the system design.SpecTRM traces both the requirements and designrationale (including safety constraints) throughout thesystem design and documentation, allowing engineersto build required system properties into the designfrom the beginning, rather than emphasizing assess-ment at the end of the development process whenchanges are limited and costly.

Engineers ensure that software specifications possessdesired safety properties through manual inspection, for-mal analysis, simulation, and testing. SpecTRM providessupport for all of these activities. The simulation of spec-ifications in SpecTRM graphically illustrates the behav-ior of software from the requirements model, allowingthe software requirements to be tested and validatedbefore the costly process of generating design and code.SpecTRM’s specification slicing tool cuts through eventhe most complex systems to assist reviewers in validat-ing requirements by making the most important systembehavior stand out.

As a bridge among diverse groups of system, soft-ware, and safety engineers, SpecTRM facilitates com-munication and the coordinated design of componentsand interfaces. The product’s executable requirementsspecification language can be easily read and reviewedby all system engineering disciplines, helping to provideseamless transitions and mappings between the variousdevelopment and maintenance stages.

SpecTRM is based on proven research methods inflight management systems, air traffic control systems,and the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System.The tool ensures these methods and analyses are robust,user-friendly, and automated to the point that they can beused in an industrial setting, benefiting the aerospace andtransportation industries. SpecTRM can also be appliedto designs for automotive systems, defense systems, andmedical devices. Safeware Engineering Corporationoffers comprehensive consulting and training services tonew and existing SpecTRM users, helping customers tomeet their system specification and design needs.

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Building Safer Systems With SpecTRM

The Specification Tools and RequirementsMethodology provides the information, tools,and techniques engineers need to identifydesign constraints for system safety duringsoftware development.

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Anew class of computing architectures and pro-cessing systems, which use reconfigurable hard-ware, is creating a revolutionary approach

to implementing future spacecraft systems. With theincreasing complexity of electronic components, engi-neers must design next-generation spacecraft systemswith new technologies in both hardware and software.Derivation Systems, Inc., of Carlsbad, California, has been working through NASA’s Small BusinessInnovation Research (SBIR) program to develop keytechnologies in reconfigurable computing and Intellec-tual Property (IP) soft cores.

Founded in 1993, Derivation Systems has receivedseveral SBIR contracts from NASA’s Langley ResearchCenter and the U.S. Department of Defense Air ForceResearch Laboratories in support of its mission to devel-op hardware and software for high-assurance systems.Through these contracts, Derivation Systems begandeveloping leading-edge technology in formal verifica-tion, embedded Java,™ and reconfigurable computingfor its PF3100,™ Derivational Reasoning System(DRS™), FormalCORE IP,™ FormalCORE PCI/32,™FormalCORE DES,™ and LavaCORE™ ConfigurableJava Processor, which are designed for greater flexibili-ty and security on all space missions.

The PF3100 is an ultra high-density reconfigurablemodule using Xilinx® Virtex®-II Platform FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) in the rugged, com-pact, industry standard PC/104+ form factor. The moduleis a multi-function, single-inventory device. Hardwarealgorithms can be stored in on-board Flash memory ordownloaded from a host system to configure the modulefor a specific mission requirement. These algorithms canbe dynamically loaded onto the FPGAs to change thePF3100’s function.

Derivation Systems developed the DRS through a1994 Langley SBIR contract. The system allows an engineer to develop hardware algorithms using formalverification methods. Upon receiving a subsequent SBIRcontract with Langley, the company adapted DRS as theunderlying technology for its FormalCORE IP productline to develop a library of IP cores targeted to reconfig-urable hardware.

FormalCORE IP components are pre-defined, pre-verified system functions in the form of a netlist thatserves as building blocks for new designs. Design teamscan quickly incorporate these building blocks into theirdesigns while maintaining a high degree of assurancefrom formal verification tools. Engineers within thecomputer, networking, and semiconductor markets canmanipulate these pre-designed components to developreusable designs with reduced errors and design cycle

times, as well as reduced time-to-market for electronicproducts and systems.

The FormalCORE IP family includes FormalCOREPCI/32—a 32-bit/33Mhz PCI interface core, FormalCOREDES—an implementation of the DES encryption algo-rithm, and the LavaCORE Configurable JavaProcessor—a 32-bit processor that executes Java bytecode directly in hardware.

With the introduction of the PF3100 and itsFormalCORE IP technology, Derivation Systems haslaunched itself as a leading supplier of PC/104-basedFPGA boards and IP for the embedded systems market.The company ships its products to a variety of aerospace,government, telecommunications, and industrial cus-tomers. The PF3100 has been adopted to provide a com-prehensive solution to a broad range of applicationsincluding data acquisition, hyper-spectral imaging,engine control, three-dimensional bio-imaging, softwareradio, robotics, power conditioning, telecommunica-tions, and prototyping fault-tolerant bus architectures.

Derivation Systems’ customers include the U.S. AirForce, Northrop Grumman, Ericsson, General Dynamics,Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LockheedMartin Corporation, and NASA.

Java™ is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.PF3100,™ DRS,™ FormalCORE IP,™ FormalCORE PCI/32,™FormalCORE DES,™ and LavaCORE™ are trademarks ofDerivation Systems, Inc.Xilinx® and Virtex® are registered trademarks of Xilinx, Inc.

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Reconfigurable Hardware Adapts to Changing Mission Demands

Development of Derivation Systems, Inc.’s PF3100,™ an ultrahigh-density reconfigurable module, was supported in part by funding from Langley Research Center and Air ForceResearch Laboratories.

The same software controlling autonomous andcrew-assisted operations for the InternationalSpace Station (ISS) is enabling commercial enter-

prises to integrate and automate manual operations, alsoknown as decision logic, in real time across complex anddisparate networked applications, databases, servers, andother devices, all with quantifiable business benefits.

Auspice® Corporation, of Framingham, Massa-chusetts, developed the Auspice TLX® (The LogicalExtension) software platform to effectively mimic thehuman decision-making process. Auspice TLX auto-mates operations across extended enterprise systems,where any given infrastructure can include thousands ofcomputers, servers, switches, and modems that are con-nected, and therefore, dependent upon each other.

The concept behind the Auspice software spawnedfrom a computer program originally developed in 1981by Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Draper Laboratoryfor simulating tasks performed by astronauts aboard theSpace Shuttle. At the time, the Space Shuttle Programwas dependent upon paper-based procedures for itsmanned space missions, which typically averaged 2 weeks in duration. As the Shuttle Program progressed,NASA began increasing the length of manned missionsin preparation for a more permanent space habitat.Acknowledging the need to relinquish paper-based pro-cedures in favor of an electronic processing format toproperly monitor and manage the complexities of theselonger missions, NASA realized that Draper’s task-simulation software could be applied to its vision ofyear-round space occupancy.

In 1992, Draper was awarded a NASA contract tobuild User Interface Language software to enableautonomous operations of a multitude of functions onSpace Station Freedom (the station was redesigned in

1993 and converted into the international venture knowntoday as the ISS). The resulting software was certified byNASA and installed on the Space Station’s Commandand Control and Payload Control Processors, throughMarshall Space Flight Center and Johnson Space Center.

Known as Timeliner, the software was used for thefirst time aboard the ISS in June 2003 to autonomouslyactivate and control experiment payloads in theMicrogravity Science Glovebox, a sealed containerwith built-in gloves that provides a safe, enclosedworkspace for investigations conducted in the low-gravity environment. It is further anticipated to auto-mate other ISS procedural tasks typically performed byhuman operators—or those that execute a controlprocess—including vehicle control, performance ofpreflight and postflight subsystem checkout, and han-dling of failure detection and recovery. While DraperLaboratory additionally received a patent on Timelinerin 1998, the software was licensed to Auspice in 1997,for exclusive use in commercial markets.

“We took the baseline version Timeliner and com-mercialized it as TLX,” said Rick Berthold, Draper’s for-mer ISS Timeliner lead engineer who cofounded Auspiceand remains as its chief technical officer. “The originalTimeliner gave us the revolutionary English-like devel-opment language and an ultra-reliable runtime environ-ment. We greatly extended the utility of the language,added interconnectivity to networking devices, servers,databases, and application software, and built a limitlessdistributed execution environment that could process upto millions of simultaneous events.”

As a software platform, Auspice TLX uses theEnglish-like language Berthold referred to, calledMetaScript,™ to provide rapid development and scala-ble, real-time execution environments. The role of theTLX MetaScript is to marshal and coordinate the capa-

bilities of the disparate enterprise systems inorder to accomplish an activity or “mission.”The language was designed in an accessibleformat so that content experts who do notknow how to write computer programs canquickly build TLX applications, as well asanticipate and respond to events in realtime. Many of the functions provided bythe TLX MetaScript parallel those of ahuman operator for executing network and

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The Logical Extension

TLX® includes (1) a development environmentwith natural-language scripting and systems inter-face definitions for business logic, and (2) an exe-cution environment with execution engines plusdevice and target interface libraries and serversthat can carry out business logic on networkeddevices, applications, or databases.

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business operations. Just like a human operator, theTLX MetaScript provides a level of functional flexibili-ty that cannot be achieved using lower-level language-based software systems. Unlike human operators,though, the automated language reacts rapidly witherror-free repetition.

To the advantage of its users, Auspice TLX possessesan enormous library of pre-designed, industry standardinterfaces that are ready to plug MetaScript routines orcontrol commands into virtually any hardware device,database, or application program. Just as important isAuspice TLX’s ability to execute actions in real time. Byinstantly and continuously monitoring and correlatingevents and networks, the technology has total control inensuring accuracy within business operations. Forinstance, businesses employing Auspice TLX can expectto see major improvements in efficiencies associatedwith their billing systems, order entries, and customerservice. On the whole, the amalgamation of theMetaScript language, the interface collection, and thereal-time monitoring functionality makes the product anoptimum end-to-end business solution.

Auspice has so far focused on the broadband,telecommunications, and cable television industries.The company’s early success includes an array of“multi-service operator” customers, including ComcastCorporation, Cablevision Systems Corporation, andInsight Communications; and system integration part-ners, such as Computer SciencesCorporation. With millions of customerssubscribed to a growing list of cable-based multi-services like Internetaccess, telephony services, and video-on-demand, tremendous orchestration isneeded to facilitate these operations.When cable shuts down in one particu-lar area, for instance, cable companiesreceive hundreds to thousands of alertsto notify them of the problem. The disturbance can come from high up inthe network management system, or itcan be linked to one single household.Even so, it can take hours or sometimesdays to pinpoint and troubleshoot theroot cause.

The TLX product addresses manypervasive issues that plague serviceproviders’ operations. Broadband,telecommunications, and cable compa-nies use it to create applications that provide a real-time, holistic view of theiroperations—correlating millions ofevents and integrating service provision-

ing, customer care, field service operations, and thephysical network. The real-time integration and automa-tion feature, for example, will let broadband serviceproviders know exactly when and where they need tosend out a service technician—be it to an individual sub-scriber’s home or to a neighborhood or regional node,how to rectify a customer service problem with the touchof a single button, and how to prevent a performanceproblem from escalating into a full-blow service outage.

When the TLX-based application detects problemsthrough its real-time monitoring and correlating capabil-ities, a quick fix is on the way. The software not onlygives this “holistic view” to in-house network operationcenters (NOC) and customer service staff, it can deliverthe same information right to a service technician’s wire-less handheld computer out in the field. Auspice TLXcan also provide a geographic information systems linkso that a NOC or a dispatched field technician can mapout the exact location of a problem’s root cause. Withfeatures like these, Auspice’s customers have document-ed faster mean-time-to-repair, fewer repair “truck rolls,”and higher staff productivity.

In addition to using TLX to custom-build applica-tions for its customers, Auspice has released theOpsLogic™ Broadband Solution Suite, an integrated

service provider operations solution poweredby Auspice TLX. The product suite consists offive packaged-yet-customizable applications to

address the challenges of managing theprovisioning, reliability, and repair ofbroadband, telephony, high-speed data,video-on-demand, and other services.

While the broadband market stillremains fertile, Auspice contends thatmany new markets will open up forAuspice TLX and OpsLogic over thenext year. Meanwhile, the company willcontinue its efforts to bridge the gapbetween networks, business operations,and individual users in selected markets,just as Timeliner will work to bridge thegap between Earth and space for NASA.

Auspice® and Auspice TLX® are registeredtrademarks of Auspice Corporation. MetaScript™ and OpsLogic™ are trademarks ofAuspice Corporation.

TLX® sends real-time information and inter-active tools right to network operations centermanagers’ and customer service representa-tives’ desktops—even to field technicians’wireless handheld computers.

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Barrett Technology,® Inc., of Cambridge,Massachusetts, received the 2003 RoboticIndustries Association’s Joseph Engelberger

Award for Technology Leadership based on successfulcommercialization of its novel robotic manipulators.Designed for applications requiring superior adaptability,programmability, and dexterity, Barrett’s devices pro-vide state-of-the-art functionality and capability, as wellas product integration with existing technology. Thecutting-edge robotic manipulators originated throughcollaboration with NASA, the National ScienceFoundation, and the U.S. Air Force.

In the 1990s, NASA’s Johnson Space Center award-ed Barrett four Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR) contracts, leading the company to develop thefirst commercially available cable-driven robots.Today, the company supports two robotic manipulatorproduct lines: the Whole-Arm Manipulation System(WAM™) and its BH8-Series™ hands, both of whichreceived funding through SBIR contracts. During aPhase II SBIR contract with Johnson, Barrett designedthe EVA-Retriever WAM arm for NASA’s use as an

autonomous robot to recover crew or tools outside ofthe Space Station.

The WAM arm outperforms today’s conventionalrobots through its extraordinary dexterity, transparentdynamics, high bandwidth, zero backlash, and near-zerofriction. The device can reach around objects and claspthem, much like a person holding a large item betweenhis or her forearm and upper arm without compromisingthe use of hands for small items. Conventional roboticarms are strictly limited to the use of hand end-effectorsand therefore small payloads. The WAM arm is also dis-tinguished from other arms with its use of gear-free cabledrives to manipulate its joints.

Listed in the Millennium Edition of The GuinnessBook of World Records (2000) as the world’s mostadvanced robotic arm, the WAM arm closely resemblesits human counterpart. The arm consists of a shoulderthat operates on a gearless differential mechanism, anupper arm, a gear-free elbow, forearm, and wrist. Thisarrangement of joints coincides with the human shoulderand elbow, but with much greater range of motion. Likea person’s arm, but unlike any industrial robotic arm, the

Lending a Helping Hand

The WAM™ arm consists of a shoulder thatoperates on a gearless differential mechanism,an upper arm, a gear-free elbow, forearm, andwrist. This arrangement of joints coincides withthe human shoulder and elbow, but with muchgreater range of motion.

WAM arm is backdriveable, meaning that anycontact force along the arm or its hand isimmediately felt at the motors, supportinggraceful control of interactions with walls,objects, and even people. With a human-scale 3-foot reach, it is so quick that it cangrab a major-league fastball, yet so sensitivethat it responds to the gentlest touch.

Like the WAM arm, the BH8-262BarrettHand™ offers many benefits in dexteri-ty. A multi-fingered programmable grasper, theBarrettHand can pick up objects of differentsizes, shapes, and orientations. According tothe company, integrating this device with anyrobotic arm is fast and simple, and immediate-ly multiplies the value of any arm requiringflexible automation. The BarrettHand is com-pact and completely self-contained, weighingonly 1.18 kilograms (kg). The newest productin the series is the soon-to-be-released BH8-601 Wraptor,™ a large-capacity 7-kg, three-fingered system featuring enhanced dexterity, avision-camera mount, and user-accessible sen-sor support on all finger and palm surfaces. Inaddition to wrapping its fingers around anobject, the device can perform internal graspsby reaching its fingers inside of an object andthen spreading them open.

The WAM arm, BarrettHand, and Wraptorhave commercial applications ranging fromhuman-collaborative medical surgery to emer-gency response to chemical, biological, andnuclear materials. Barrett is also targeting markets suchas physical therapy, rehabilitation, assisted-living aids,metrology, short-run manufacturing, and entertainment.

WAM,™ BH8-Series,™ BarrettHand,™ Wraptor,™ and the BarrettTechnology® logomark are trademarks of Barrett Technology, Inc.

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The BarrettHand,™ a multi-fingered programmable grasper, canpick up objects of various shapes and sizes.

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Just as a pistol shrimp stuns its prey by quickly clos-ing its oversized claw to shoot out a shock-inducing,high-velocity jet of water, NanoMatrix, Inc., is send-

ing shockwaves throughout the nanotechnology worldwith a revolutionary, small-scale fabrication process thatuses powerful liquid jets to cut and shape objects.

Emanuel Barros, a former project engineer at NASA’sAmes Research Center, set out to form the Santa Cruz,California-based NanoMatrix firm and materialize themicro/nano cutting process partially inspired by thewater-spewing crustacean. Early on in his 6-year NASAcareer, Barros led the development of re-flown flighthardware for an award-winning Spacelab project called“NeuroLab.” This project, the sixteenth and finalSpacelab mission, focused on a series of experiments todetermine the effects of microgravity on the develop-ment of the mammalian nervous system.

In 1999, Barros transitioned into a project supportingthe development of International Space Station researchhardware, and was considered a nanotechnology expertamong many of his peers in the Life Sciences Division atAmes. Fully satisfied with his accomplishments atNASA, Barros departed Ames in 2002 to succeed innanoscale manufacturing as the chief technical officerand acting chief executive officer of NanoMatrix.

In addition to cutting and shaping, NanoMatrix’s pro-prietary machining services and equipment are capableof performing sub-micron etching, drilling, and welding,all with nanometer precision. “At the scale that we areworking, the jets use individual molecules to produce amachining effect,” Barros explains. The processes pio-neered by NanoMatrix are environmentally friendly,unlike semiconductor chip photolithography, whichmakes use of toxic chemicals. NanoMatrix employsmechanical methods, so no harsh chemicals are required.The processes are also extremely tolerant of contami-nants, so they can be used in environments with lessstringent cleanliness controls.

The company’s work represents an alternative method for developing and building small-scale elec-tronic, mechanical, and medical devices, among otherapplications. Until this technology became available,most small-scale fabrication processes were developedusing large-scale circuit tools like semiconductor-manufacturing equipment. While these larger-scale toolscontinue to evolve and enhance the size and yield of two-dimensional circuits, they do not always meet the needsof developers working in other application areas.Leading-edge semiconductor technologies use a limitedset of materials and are expensive, according toNanoMatrix. While they produce superb economies ofscale, these processes require very large run sizes to be

cost effective, the company adds. For this reason, microelectrical mechanical systems (MEMS) or nano-electrical mechanical systems (NEMS) are traditionallyproduced using older semiconductor technology. Con-versely, NanoMatrix’s processes offer flexible run sizes,as large volumes are not required to be cost effective.

With NanoMatrix’s liquid jet machining, significantopportunities abound in prototyping and creating small-er MEMS/NEMS devices. Furthermore, the processwidens the potential for use of new materials that cannotbe shaped or etched using semiconductor photolithogra-phy or e-beam procedures. To date, the company’sbiggest application involves film adhesion. NanoMatrixdeveloped a process for a client that allows its next gen-eration of films to adhere to a glass surface, such as awindow or a lens, without affecting the clarity or theamount of light that shines through. The process increas-es the surface area; other procedures that attempt tobroaden surface range will cause the glass to becomeopaque, and therefore useless, according to Barros.

Nanoscale Liquid Jets Shape New Line of Business

This laboratory apparatus was used to develop a process inwhich NanoMatrix’s high-velocity liquid jets helped adhere afamily of next-generation coatings to materials that would other-wise not adhere very well.

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NanoMatrix is also developing an inexpensiveprocess to prevent glare on windows and lenses. Thistoo, could be practical for computer, cell phone, and per-sonal digital assistant screens, which are often subjectedto strong sunlight that can obstruct displayed images andstrain users’ eyesight.

Farther down the road than the film adhesion processfor NanoMatrix—but not too far, says Barros—is thelikelihood of a first generation of nanotechnology-typemechanical machines that can be manufactured using ageneral-purpose rapid prototyping and/or productiontool. These tiny machines would incorporate designs thatcould be developed by NanoMatrix or any third partyusing the company’s tools. Such devices could be usedas “sensing dust” for collecting sensory data of all kinds,then transmitting the information to a central computer

for processing, which in turn, could benefit future spaceexploration, crime scene investigations, and field opera-tions for military personnel.

NanoMatrix is currently focusing its efforts on jointdevelopment projects with customers and business part-ners. “We have found that there are a number of compa-nies that cannot effectively build their next-generationproducts using the limited tool kit that is currently avail-able,” Barros notes. The projects include a variety ofMEMS, microfluidics, and optics companies that aredeveloping solutions to problems associated with fabri-cating devices with feature sizes often smaller than thewavelength of visible light. In addition, NanoMatrix isconstructing a general-purpose workstation for cus-tomers wishing to work independently on developmentand prototyping projects.

An “Atomic Force Microscope” micro-graph shows a nanometer-drilled holethat increases surface area for filmadhesion. The line graph represents aprofile of the hole, along the bisectinggreen line.

From the company that brought the world an inte-gral heating and cooling food service system afteroriginally developing it for NASA’s Apollo

Program, comes yet another orbital offshoot: a productthat can be as thin as paper and as strong as steel.

Nextel™ Ceramic Textiles and Composites from 3M Company offer space-age protection and innovativesolutions for “hot situations,” ranging from NASA toNASCAR. With superior thermal protection, Nextelfabrics, tape, and sleevings outperform other high-temperature textiles such as aramids, carbon, glass, andquartz, permitting engineers and manufacturers to han-dle applications up to 2,500 ºF (1,371 ºC). The stiffnessand strength of Nextel Continuous Ceramic Fibersmake them a great match for improving the rigidity ofaluminum in metal matrix composites. Moreover, thefibers demonstrate low shrinkage at operating tempera-tures, which allow for the manufacturing of a dimen-sionally stable product. These novel fibers also offerexcellent chemical resistance, low thermal conductivi-ty, thermal shock resistance, low porosity, and uniqueelectrical properties.

The origins of Nextel Ceramic Textiles andComposites reach all the way back to the early days ofthe Space Shuttle Program, when NASA scientists weretasked with improving high-temperature tiles and tex-

tiles to withstand the intense heat and pressures of reen-try. Through research and testing, the ceramic fibers thatare the framework for St. Paul, Minnesota-based 3M’sNextel technology proved to be suitable for use in thecomposition of the Shuttle’s underbelly tiles. As theSpace Shuttle Program progressed, the fibers were alsowoven into sleeving and fabric for use in gap fillers, flex-ible insulation blankets, heat shields, gaskets, and seals.

More recently, extensive testing by NASA researchersat the Marshall Space Flight Center and the JohnsonSpace Center demonstrated Nextel’s value as a vitalcomponent in the development of a strong, lightweightmeteoroid/space debris shield known as a “StuffedWhipple Shield.” This technology, which also encom-passes the nylon-like Kevlar® polymer from DuPont, iscurrently being used to safeguard the International SpaceStation and the RADARSAT spacecraft from inevitablecontact with space debris. The results from the hyperve-locity impact testing at Marshall and Johnson showedthat Nextel Ceramic Textiles and Composites improveshield performance, when compared to aluminum,because they are “better at shocking projectile frag-ments,” and sustain far less damage after an impact withthe debris.

3M and NASA’s contribution to improving upon con-ventional aluminum shielding methods is playing amajor role in protecting vehicles, payloads, and crewmembers by fending off the debris, which continues togenerate over time. According to recently publishedreports consistent with information offered by Johnson’sSpace Science Enterprise, space launches occurring overthe last 40 years have led to more than 23,000 observableobjects larger than 10 centimeters, 7,500 of which arestill in orbit. These reports also show that in 2000, therewere between 70,000 and 120,000 “on-orbit” debrisfragments (not attributed to launches, satellites, ormission-related objects) larger than 1 centimeter float-ing in space.

At the same time 3M was meeting NASA’s needs forthe development of lightweight textile materials, thecompany was introducing the Nextel technology to pri-vate industry. In commercial aviation, Nextel FlameStopping Dot Paper provides superior performance forfuselage burn-through protection. Private aircraft, suchas the team plane for the National BasketballAssociation’s Miami Heat, also rely on the flame-stopping technology.

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Solutions for Hot Situations

With superior thermal protection, the Nextel™ family of productsoutperforms other high-temperature textiles such as aramids,carbon, glass, and quartz.

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Despite its paper-thin characteristics, Nextel DotPaper withstands fire without burning or shrinking. Theunique “dots” help to maintain the paper’s integrity and flexibility. Testing at the Federal Aviation Admin-istration’s William J. Hughes Technical Center showsthat the Flame Stopping Dot Paper resists flame pene-tration for greater than 4 minutes at a temperature of2,000 ºF (1,093 ºC). In addition to fuselage burn-throughapplications, Nextel Dot Paper can be used for addedprotection in galleys, cockpits, cargo bays, firewalls, fire doors, ducting, insulators, gaskets, seals, and fire-resistant storage.

The petrochemical industry is using flexible tubeseals fabricated from Nextel Ceramic Textiles andComposites to save energy and improve control overhigh-temperature chemical processes. For example, theM.W. Kellogg Company, of Houston, Texas, adoptedNextel ceramic tape in the construction of a circulating-bed transport reactor. By choosing Nextel materials,M.W. Kellogg now offers refineries a cleaner form of gasproduction that creates less pollution and hazardouswaste than previous technologies.

When used in industrial furnaces, Nextel woven fab-rics can also serve as thermal barriers to separate differ-ent temperature zones while preventing particulate shedding. Nextel ceramic sleevings modeled after doorgaskets and seals developed for the Space Shuttle are usedto seal doors and other access panels on the furnaces.

The Nextel product also helps NASCAR teamsreduce the heat transfer from engine, exhaust, and tracksurface into the driver’s compartment. Race car driversroutinely face ambient cockpit temperatures of 115 ºF(46 ºC) or more and floorboard temperatures hot enough

to boil water. Lightweight Nextel Thermal Barrierseffectively block heat before it gets into the vehicle.Tested during the 1999 season on NASCAR WinstonCup and Craftsman Truck Series vehicles, the thermalbarriers are now used on Winston Cup, Busch GrandNational, and Craftsman Truck vehicles to reduce drivercompartment temperature by more than 70 ºF (21 ºC).

Nextel™ is a trademark of 3M Company.Kevlar® is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.

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Nextel™ Flame Stopping Dot Paper resists flame pen-etration for greater than 4 minutes at a temperature of2,000 °F.

Extensive testing by NASA researchers at the Marshall SpaceFlight Center and the Johnson Space Center demonstratedNextel’s™ value as a vital component in the development of astrong, lightweight meteoroid/space debris shield known as a“Stuffed Whipple Shield.”Images courtesy of 3M Company (www.3m.com).

For Sanders Design International, Inc., of Wilton,New Hampshire, every passing second betweenthe concept and realization of a product is essen-

tial to succeed in the rapid prototyping industry—whereamongst heavy competition, faster time-to-market meansmore business.

To separate itself from its rivals, Sanders Designaligned with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center todevelop what it considers to be the most accurate rapidprototyping machine for fabrication of extremely precisetooling prototypes. The company’s Rapid ToolMaker™System has revolutionized production of high quality,small-to-medium sized prototype patterns and toolingmolds with an exactness that surpasses that of computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) machining devices.

Created with funding and support from Marshallunder a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)contract, the Rapid ToolMaker is a dual-use technologywith applications in both commercial and military aero-space fields. The advanced technology provides costsavings in the design and manufacturing of automotive,electronic, and medical parts, as well as in other areasof consumer interest, such as jewelry and toys. Foraerospace applications, the Rapid ToolMaker enablesfabrication of high-quality turbine and compressorblades for jet engines on unmanned air vehicles, air-craft, and missiles.

The Rapid ToolMaker can generate numerous com-pound surface features not possible with CNC machines.For example, it can easily produce complex turbine-bladed disk (blisk) patterns, comprised of the hub,blades, and outer retaining rims, as a single unit. It canalso construct miniature air passages as small as 75microns to facilitate air cooling of critical airfoil sur-faces, with entrance and exit ports near or on the leadingand trailing edges of the blades, respectively. These pat-terns undergo direct investment casting to yield compos-ite metal turbine blades. Patterns fabricated on the RapidToolMaker enable future availability of replacement pat-terns for manufacturing operations, as well as long-termlogistic and maintenance support.

Designed for unattended operation, the RapidToolMaker is a freestanding unit that supports a computer-aided design (CAD) workstation environ-ment. It sequentially builds one layer at a time from astereolithography file or a Hewlett-Packard GraphicLanguage file; Microsoft® Windows®-based graphicaluser interface software provides direct use and editingof various other CAD file formats.

The system’s ink-jet deposition process for layeredfabrication of 3-dimensional prototypes improvesaccuracy and surface finish quality by a factor of 10,

compared with other rapid prototyping technologies,according to Sanders Design. A combination of buildand support material is deposited as low-viscosity“ink” by dual ink-jets, which glide over a build plat-form on a precision, computer-driven carriage. Thistechnique ensures layer uniformity, registration, andexact replication of a CAD design file. A solvent thenremoves the sacrificial support material without addi-tional post-processing. The completed prototype pattern is dimensionally accurate with a smoothsurface finish, and is used directly for metal castingor mold forming.

The technology has several automated features thatensure proper model construction and quality. Print headoperation is checked under program control by movingthe print head assembly to a validation station to monitorproper material flow. Heated material reservoirs hold thematerial for 100 hours of continuous operation, andreplenishment does not interrupt a job in process.Additionally, a controller monitors and directs alloperations under software control for the entire lengthof the fabrication.

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Prompt and Precise Prototyping

According to Sanders Design International, Inc., the RapidToolMaker™ is the most accurate free-form fabrication systemin the world. It enables rapid prototyping of precision tooling pat-terns for aerospace, medical, electronic, automotive, and con-sumer products direct from computer-aided design files usinglayered fabrication techniques and ink-jet deposition technology.

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The Rapid ToolMaker’s accolades include beingnamed the grand winner at the 1997 NASA-sponsored“Technology 2007” Conference in Boston, Massachu-setts, and winning the SBIR “Technology of the Year”Award from the Technology Utilization Foundation inthe same year.

Sanders Design is currently participating in Phase IIof a separate SBIR contract with NASA’s LangleyResearch Center to enhance the Rapid ToolMaker. The goal of this partnership is to fabricate ceramic

models with self-contained sensor conductors simultane-ously in a single unit, for wind tunnel testing that couldpotentially lead to advanced Space Shuttle design. Direct fabrication of ceramic parts has multiple benefits for pro-ducing low-cost precision devices that can withstandextremely harsh environments encountered in automo-tive and aerospace applications.

Rapid ToolMaker™ is a trademark of Sanders Design International, Inc.Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

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Bladed disks (blisks) and turbine blades forsmall- to full-scale jet engines are produced bythe Rapid ToolMaker™ system with unsur-passed fidelity, precision, accuracy, detail, sur-face finish, and repeatability for missile andcommercial airliner applications. Using a sacrifi-cial and dissolvable support material, the RTMcan repeatably produce any blisk design whichcannot be fabricated using traditional prototyp-ing, computer-numerically-controlled devices,or other special tooling methods.

The Rapid ToolMaker’s™ ability to position ink-jet dropletsto within ±5 microns enables fine-featured jewelry andother prototypes to be fabricated in a flawless manner.This diamond-studded earring prototype is shownexpanded six times through a jeweler’s eye loupe.

As researchers in the Space CommunicationsDivision of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in1992, Dr. Gerald Mearini, Dr. Isay Krainsky, and

Dr. James Dayton made a secondary electron emissiondiscovery that became the foundation for Mearini’s com-pany, GENVAC AeroSpace Corporation. Even afterMearini departed Glenn, then known as Lewis ResearchCenter, his contact with NASA remained strong as hewas awarded Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR) contracts to further develop his work.

Mearini’s work for NASA began with the investiga-tion of diamond as a material for the suppression of secondary electron emissions. The results of hisresearch were the opposite of what was expected—diamond proved to be an excellent emitter rather thanabsorber. Mearini, Krainsky, and Dayton discovered that laboratory-grown diamond films can produce up to 45 electrons from a single incident electron. Having builtan electron multiplier prototype at NASA, Mearinidecided to start his own company to develop diamondstructures usable in electron beam devices.

Mearini proposed and received Phase I SBIR fund-ing from Glenn to continue his work to prove dia-mond’s potential as a device material. Since then, hisCleveland, Ohio-based company has improved second-ary electron emissions from laboratory-grown diamondto produce greater than 60 electrons from a singleimpinging electron. Diamond produces 15 times moreelectrons than other materials used to amplify elec-trons, giving diamond the highest known secondaryelectron emission coefficient.

Companies making electron beam devices useGENVAC’s diamond product. GENVAC produceschemical vapor deposited diamond as a dynode forelectronic and electro-optical device components.Diamond dynodes allow manufacturers to makedevices considerably smaller, in addition to increasingtheir efficiency and reliability. Applications includeelectron beam amplification devices such as nightvision goggles and specialized sensors, field emissioncathodes for flat panel displays, and heat spreaders for thermal management.

In another field, a leading manufacturer and supplierof specialized electron tubes and electro-optic productsapplied GENVAC’s diamond to its dynodes for photomultiplier tubes (PMT) with medical applications.Beginning with the production of diamond-based PMTsin late 2000, the technology is leading the way for smaller, more efficient medical devices.

Dayton, who was Glenn’s Electron Beam TechnologyBranch Chief, retired from NASA in 1998 to becomeDirector of Technology at Hughes (now Boeing)Electron Dynamic Devices, in Torrance, California.After 3 years of commuting between Los Angeles andCleveland, he resigned from Boeing and joined GENVAC as Director of Technology in November 2001.

GENVAC continues to work with NASA through theSBIR program. The company was recently awarded aPhase I SBIR contract from NASA’s Jet PropulsionLaboratory to develop a diamond-based sub millimeterbackward wave oscillator. The company has also beenselected by Glenn to develop a diamond-based 60-Gigahertz miniature Traveling Wave Tube.

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Multiplying Electrons With Diamond

This image shows a diamond field emitter.Laboratory-grown diamond films can produceup to 45 electrons from a single incident electron, making them an excellent emitter.

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Heat conduction plays an important role in theefficiency and life span of electronic compo-nents. To keep electronic components running

efficiently and at a proper temperature, thermal manage-ment systems transfer heat generated from the compo-nents to thermal surfaces such as heat sinks, heat pipes,radiators, or heat spreaders. Thermal surfaces absorb theheat from the electrical components and dissipate it intothe environment, preventing overheating.

To ensure the best contact between electrical compo-nents and thermal surfaces, thermal interface materialsare applied. In addition to having high conductivity, idealthermal interface materials should be compliant to con-form to the components, increasing the surface contact.While many different types of interface materials existfor varying purposes, Energy Science Laboratories, Inc.(ESLI), of San Diego, California, proposed using carbonvelvets as thermal interface materials for general aero-space and electronics applications.

NASA’s Johnson Space Center granted ESLI a SmallBusiness Innovation Research (SBIR) contract todevelop thermal interface materials that are lightweightand compliant, and demonstrate high thermal conduc-tance even for nonflat surfaces. Through Phase II SBIRwork, ESLI created Vel-Therm® for the commercialmarket. Vel-Therm is a soft, carbon fiber velvet consist-ing of numerous high thermal conductivity carbon fibersanchored in a thin layer of adhesive. The velvets are fab-ricated by precision cutting continuous carbon fiber towsand electrostatically “flocking” the fibers into uncuredadhesive, using proprietary techniques.

Johnson granted ESLI a Phase III SBIR contract toevaluate its thermal interface material for applications onthe International Space Station (ISS). Avionics and bat-teries mounted externally on the ISS must be easilyreplaceable by astronauts or robotics. To serve ISSneeds, the components are packaged as orbital replace-able units (ORUs). These ORUs require thermal contactwith the ISS thermal control system to keep the compo-nent temperatures within required limits. The currentdesign of the ORU thermal interface consists of inter-leaving black-anodized aluminum fins which radiativelyexchange heat. Adding ESLI Vel-Therm to the fins of theORU improves thermal contact by replacing radiativewith conductive heat exchange. The removable ORUfins slide into place over the fins of the mating heat sinkmounted on the ISS.

Vel-Therm has commercial applications in the aero-space and electronics industries. It particularly benefitsapplications with large or uneven gaps or sliding inter-faces. Each fiber provides a thermal path from the elec-tronic component to the thermal surface. In addition tohaving high conductivity, the material makes intimatecontact with interfacing surfaces because of its highcompliance. Each fiber bends independently, allowingthe fibers to come into contact with both surfaces, evenwhen the surfaces are not parallel, flat, or smooth. Aminimal amount of pressure is required for intimate con-tact, precluding the need for heavy bolts or clampingmechanisms, and eliminating the necessity of flat,smooth mating surfaces.

Vel-Therm® is a registered trademark of Energy ScienceLaboratories, Inc.

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Conducting the Heat

This finned interface proto-type of an orbital replaceableunit for the InternationalSpace Station has Vel-Therm® applied to everyother fin slot.

Spectrometers, which are durable, lightweight, andcompact instruments, are a requirement for NASAdeep space science missions, especially as NASA

strives to conduct these missions with smaller spacecraft.NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) awarded theBrimrose Corporation of America a Small BusinessInnovation Research (SBIR) contract to develop acompact, rugged, near-infrared spectrometer for possiblefuture missions.

Spectrometers are of particular importance on NASAmissions because they help scientists to identify themake-up of a planet’s surface and analyze the moleculesin the atmosphere. Minerals and molecules emit light ofvarious colors. The light, identified as spectra, is diffi-cult to see, and spectrometers, which are essentially spe-cial cameras that collect the separate colors of light in anobject, allow scientists to identify the different materi-als. For example, spectrometers can help scientistsdetermine whether soil was created from lava flows orfrom meteorites.

Brimrose’s work for JPL led to a spectrometer thatcreated a significant breakthrough in optical spectrome-try. As a result, the Baltimore, Maryland-based compa-ny developed the commercially available Luminar 5030Mini Spectrometer. This innovation is a hand-held analytical instrument utilizing Brimrose’s high perform-ance Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter-Near Infrared tech-nology. The product delivers rapid, multi-componentanalysis for a wide variety of commercial applications,

making it a powerful new tool for quality control andprocess troubleshooting.

The Luminar 5030 can be applied to materials such aspowders, polymer pellets, paper goods, fruits and grains,liquids, and vines. The tool performs measurements formoisture, active ingredients, coating weight, and blendassays, as well as for fat, sugar, and protein. TheLuminar 5030 can be used for monitoring and controlprocesses in the chemical and petrochemical industry,the inspection of tablets and powder mix control in thepharmaceutical industry, and composition monitoring inthe food and beverage industry. For example, Brimrosemarkets the Luminar 5030 to wineries, enabling vintnersto analyze grapes prior to producing wine. The tool’sversatility extends from the laboratory to the productionfloor and field, providing nondestructive and contact/noncontact testing and inspection.

In the pharmaceutical industry, Brimrose’s opticalspectrometers have passed Good Manufacturing Practicerequirements for hardware and software, granting themFood and Drug Administration certification for drugmanufacturing by both AstraZeneca, of Wilmington,Delaware, and Pfizer, Inc., of New York, New York.AstraZeneca has chosen Brimrose systems as the onlyprocess control spectrometer to be used for manufactur-ing its pharmaceutical drugs.

Brimrose is continuing to partner with NASA throughthe SBIR program. The company is in the process ofdeveloping a space-qualified optical spectrometerintended for use onboard the land rover vehicles forinvestigating the surface and subsurface of Mars.

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A Closer Look at Quality Control

The Luminar 5030 Mini Spectrometer enables vintners toanalyze grapes prior to producing wine.

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NASA’s need for a more accurate way to collectdata from propulsion tests provided OmniTechnologies, of New Orleans, Louisiana, an

opportunity to codevelop and market the solution. TheFOTR-125, a redundant fiber-optic transceiver for theremote transfer of high-speed digital data, is benefitingNASA while also making a commercial impact.

Stennis Space Center, NASA’s field center for rocketpropulsion testing, has always faced the dilemma of col-lecting accurate data from the inherent hostile environ-ment of rocket engine tests. Two options were availablefor data collection: transmit the analog signals from atest stand to a safe location over long copper cables, risk-ing the signals becoming corrupt through the pickup ofelectromagnetic noise from the environment; or taperecord the analog signal on the test stand and transportthe tapes to a safe location for processing—a process thatwould require extra time to digitize the data. The idealsolution was to digitize the analog signal on the teststand and then immediately transmit this digital data forrecording in a safe location. To arrive at this solution,various technological and bandwidth constraints had tobe overcome.

Omni and NASA Test Operations at Stennis entered aDual-Use Agreement to develop the FOTR-125, a 125megabit-per-second fiber-optic transceiver that allowsaccurate digital recordings over a great distance. Thetransceiver’s fiber-optic link can be as long as 25 kilo-meters. This makes it much longer than the standardcoaxial link, which can be no longer than 50 meters.According to Joey Kirkpatrick, a NASA engineer andcodeveloper of the device, “Stennis needed a method toextend this transmission distance, and converting theexisting copper communications interface to fiber opticwas the obvious solution.” The FOTR-125 utilizes laserdiode transmitter modules and integrated receivers forthe optical interface. Two transmitters and two receiversare employed at each end of the link with automatic ormanual switchover to maximize the reliability of thecommunications link.

NASA uses the transceiver in Stennis’ High-SpeedData Acquisition System (HSDAS). The HSDAS con-sists of several identical systems installed on theCenter’s test stands to process all high-speed datarelated to its propulsion test programs. These trans-ceivers allow the recorder and HSDAS controls to belocated in the Test Control Center in a remote locationwhile the digitizer is located on the test stand. Using

the transceivers in the HSDAS provides a more reli-able, capable, and flexible high-frequency data systemthan previously achievable.

Several versions of the FOTR-125 have been devel-oped allowing additional flexibility. Both redundant andnonredundant versions are available, and the unit may be packaged either as a stand-alone unit or as a rack-mountable chassis unit supporting up to 10 transceiversoffering multiple channel capability. The rack-mountchassis also provides for a direct-current battery powersupply as a back-up power source. In addition, a daugh-ter card mounting on the FOTR-125 printed-circuitboard has been developed, which provides direct accessto the Transparent Asynchronous Transceiver Interface(TAXI)-encoded data stream. The FOTR TAXI interfaceis designed to work with Integrated System Consultants’Direct to Disk system or can be monitored directly witha differential parallel interface.

The Technology Transfer Office at Stennis grantedOmni an exclusive license to commercialize the FOTR-125. It is normally packaged as a stand-alonetransceiver with built-in power supplies, although otherform factors can be accommodated. Omni markets thedevice to facilities that perform extremely hazardoustesting, such as explosives, ordnance, nuclear, rocketengines, and some combustion turbine engines. For gov-ernment applications, the use of the transceivers atStennis will continue to grow as incremental upgrades tothe HSDAS take place.

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Remote Transmission at High Speed

Omni Technologies’ FOTR-125 is a redundant fiber-optictransceiver that remotely transfers high-speed digital data.

A leading manufacturer of noninvasive, infraredtemperature sensors, Exergen Corporationprides itself on delivering a highly accurate and

reliable product to exceed customers’ expectations. TheWatertown, Massachusetts-based company’s forte isdesigning custom infrared thermocouples (IRt/c’s) forprofessional and consumer use in a wide variety ofindustrial and medical applications. In 2002, NASA’sGlenn Research Center approached Exergen with a simple request to modify the company’s product line,reducing the size of its sensors. The outcome led to the development of a family of top-notch IRt/c devices that are pushing production line performance to record highs.

Glenn was seeking an infrared temperature sensorwith an extremely small head for a joint flywheelresearch project with the University of Texas’ Center forElectromechanics. Already having created the smallestinfrared temperature device available in one package (.5 inches in diameter and 1.45 inches in length),Exergen was up for the challenge. The company claimedthat making a shorter unit was easy; however, this wasnot the area Glenn was hoping to address. Engineers atthe NASA research center required a smaller diameter ofa quarter-inch for their project, half the size of Exergen’sexisting device. With funding and support from Glenn,Exergen prevailed in meeting the NASA specifications,and the patented IRt/c™ technology was born.

Exergen’s IRt/c is a self-powered sensor that matchesa thermocouple within specified temperature ranges and

provides a predictable and repeatable signal outside ofthis specified range. Possessing an extremely fast timeconstant, the infrared technology allows users to meas-ure product temperature without touching the product.The IRt/c uses a device called a thermopile to measuretemperature and generate current. Traditionally, thesedevices are not available in a size that would be compat-ible with the Exergen IRt/c, based on NASA’s quarter-inch specifications. After going through five circuitdesigns to find a thermopile that would suit the IRt/cdesign and match the signal needed for output, Exergenmaintains that it developed a model that totaled just 20percent of the volume of the previous smallest detectorin the world.

Following completion of the project with Glenn,Exergen continued development of the IRt/c for othercustomers, spinning off a new product line called themicro IRt/c. This latest development has broadenedapplications for industries that previously could not useinfrared thermometers due to size constraints. The firstcommercial use of the micro IRt/c involved an originalequipment manufacturer that makes laminating machin-ery consisting of heated rollers in very tight spots.Accurate temperature measurement for this applicationrequires close proximity to the heated rollers. With themicro IRt/c’s 50-millisecond time constant, the manu-facturer is able to gain closer access to the intended tem-perature targets for exact readings, thereby increasingproductivity and staying ahead of competition.

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Going Places No Infrared Temperature Devices Have Gone Before

Exergen Corporation’s noncontact IRt/c™ sensor(middle) measures tire temperature for the OlaNordell Racing Team’s top dragster. An accom-panying laser is used to measure ride height and traction.

Image courtesy of Ola Nordell MotorSports.

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All Exergen IRt/c sensors come hermetically sealedin a range of sizes and configurations, depending uponthe application. They are designed for years of trouble-free operation in the toughest environments. In fact,IRt/c sensors are so rugged, professional auto racingteams use them to measure critical temperature variablesduring competition. Such critical variables include tiretemperature, which directly affects tire adhesion andwear characteristics, and provides valuable data on theset-up and performance of the suspension. For example,excessive loading of a tire caused by out-of-tune suspen-sion will cause it to become considerably warmer thanthe vehicle’s other tires. Exergen IRt/c’s were displayedin action at the 2002 Race-A-Rama show in Springfield,Massachusetts. Dittman & Greer, Inc., an Exergen dis-tributor from Middletown, Connecticut, used the tech-nology to measure torque converter, tire, and track temperature throughout the event.

In a separate application, the infrared temperaturesensor is being utilized for avalanche warnings inSwitzerland. The IRt/c is mounted about 5 meters abovethe ground to measure the snow cover throughout themountainous regions of the country. The sensor is part ofa larger “snow-station” that records ambient tempera-ture, solar radiation, snow height, snow drift, wind flow,wetness, and ground and air motion.

With IRt/c, Exergen offers system solutions and tech-nical application support for any thermal process requir-ing precise temperature measurement or control. Morethan 300 models of noncontact infrared sensors areavailable to provide accurate, reliable, and cost-effectivetemperature measurements and control for the mostdemanding applications.

IRt/c™ is a trademark of Exergen Corporation.

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The IRt/c™ technology ismounted on a remote stationmonitoring snow cover onthe famous Matterhorn in theSwiss Alps.

While radar is typically used totrack large objects that are rela-tively far away, an Atlanta,

Georgia-based start-up company is usingthe technology in a counter-intuitive wayto track very small changes in displace-ment at close proximity.

Radatec, Inc., a designer, manufacturer,and implementer of sensor systems formonitoring combustion-zone componentsin turbine engines, was formed in 2001 tocommercialize the patented radio frequencyvibrometer technology from the GeorgiaInstitute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Inreadying the technology for the commer-cial market, Radatec received assistancefrom NASA’s Dryden Flight ResearchCenter in the form of Phase I and Phase IISmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grantstotaling over $650,000. The company’s Phase II submis-sion was ranked the number one SBIR proposal out ofDryden for 2002.

The SBIR contracts helped fund further develop-ment of Radatec’s proprietary, noncontact microwavesensor technology for monitoring complex heavymachinery used on aircraft and in power plants, such asgas and steam turbines. The ensuing hardware/softwaresystem can warn of impending problems before theybecome dangerous. According to Scott Billington, co-founder of Radatec and former research faculty atGeorgia Tech’s Manufacturing Research Center, thesensor gives the operators of heavy machinery thecapability to measure critical pieces of equipment inhostile environments where conventional sensor tech-nology cannot operate. “Our radar-based system willenable operators to more effectively schedule costlymaintenance and to run equipment longer. This willhelp reduce the cost of operating and maintaining thesesystems,” Billington elaborated.

Since vibration measurements are the most importantand informative indicator for accessing the health ofrotating machinery, Radatec’s sensor systems have foundtheir widest application in protecting the investment oflarge, critical rotating equipment. According to the com-pany, there are currently tens-of-thousands of turbines inuse for military and commercial aircraft, representingbillions of dollars of investment. Significant dollaramounts are spent maintaining the machinery, much ofwhich is consumed in preventative maintenance, inspec-tion, and replacing questionable parts. In power plants,more than 6,000 steam and gas turbines supplyAmerica’s power grid alone. With downtime costs of

$8,000 to $10,000 per hour and maintenance costs thattake up 15 percent of the total operating budget, this sec-tor represents an attractive opportunity for Radatec.

The invention has several key capabilities that pro-vide an advantage over existing sensor technologies. Itprovides very precise data regarding component healthwhile a turbine is in full-speed operation. Previously,operators were forced to remove a turbine from service,dismantle it, and inspect it to determine componenthealth. Moreover, the new sensor measures componentdeformations with 5-micron resolution, withstandstemperatures exceeding 2,500 ºF, is unaffected by inter-ference that disrupts other sensors, and accuratelyassesses vibrations deep within an engine that were pre-viously immeasurable.

In January 2003, Radatec proved just how advanta-geous its new sensor is. The company installed a sensorsystem at the Navy’s Patuxent River Naval PropulsionLaboratory in Patuxent River, Maryland, as part of a 6-month, head-to-head test of systems to measure thehealth of a turbine disk that holds turbine blades in place.The competing systems, installed by the DefenseAdvanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), consist-ed of capacitive, laser, and eddy current sensors. The tur-bine disk that was subjected to the test was pre-stressedwith defects and in operation for over 800 hours at1,200 ºF, and at speeds ranging from 1,500 rpm to18,000 rpm.

Radatec’s system performed favorably against thecompeting sensor systems in terms of data fidelity and

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New Sensor Gaining Interest on Industry Radar Screen

Radatec, Inc., Cofounder and President Scott Billington studieshis company’s noncontact microwave sensor. The patentedtechnology was commercialized by Radatec to monitor complexheavy machinery used on aircraft and in power plants.

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probe survivability. Due to its high bandwidth capability,the Radatec system was able to profile the blades withover 2,000 data points per blade, even at the maximumspeed of 18,000 rpm. These profiles enabled Radatec toaccurately monitor disk failures, based on blade geome-try changes over the course of the test.

From a reliability standpoint, Radatec was the onlysystem to complete the test with original equipment. Allcompeting systems required replacing components thatfailed due to exposure to the high temperature (one sys-tem required 14 sets of probes). Toward the end of thetest, the disk began to fragment, impacting all of the sen-sors. Radatec’s sensor absorbed the impact and contin-ued to operate, while the other sensors were completelydestroyed. Sustained functioning was due to the funda-mental nature of Radatec’s waveguide probe, which canbe constructed of very durable materials and requires nosensitive components for operation. DARPA has sincecontracted Radatec to install its system for upcomingtests located at the Patuxent laboratory and anothermajor turbine site.

A separate testing initiative demonstrated that theRadatec microwave sensor system would also benefit theautomotive industry, when used as a radar technique foractive suspension control. The purpose of a vehicle’ssuspension system is to isolate the shock and vibrationcaused by road and terrain irregularities from the mainbody of the vehicle, yet still provide the necessaryground contact to allow the vehicle to stay in control. Components in such suspension systems havetraditionally been passive springs and dampers. Activesuspension systems, on the other hand, are made up of

components that can alter their properties or add energyto the suspension. They were developed to increase per-formance and handling of the vehicle and the durabilityof the components, improve rider comfort, and allow forfaster speeds over irregular terrains.

Radatec’s radar vibration sensing technology is alsowell-suited for noncontact measurement of road/terrainsurfaces immediately ahead of a moving vehicle. Thismethod of sensing is unaffected by dust, debris, rain, orother obscurants, and can be mounted on a vehiclebehind a radio-transparent shield, out of harm’s way.

In potential future military applications, themicrowave sensor could improve the accuracy of fire-on-the-move when vehicles with moving weapons plat-forms are faced with rough terrain. When added to sucha vehicle, like a tank, the sensor technology would pro-vide information to predict the terrain about to beencountered and allow actions to be taken before theevent, rather than after.

Radatec is a part of the Georgia Tech’s VentureLabprogram, which assists faculty members in bringing university-based innovations to the commercial market-place. VentureLab provided early assistance toBillington and Cofounder Jon Geisheimer, who was afaculty member at the Georgia Tech Research Institutewhen the company was established. During this time, thefounders designed and built a laboratory prototype,which was the basis for their application to the NASASBIR program. A successful Phase I project led to fol-low-on Phase II funding, and both founders agree thatthe NASA SBIR awards “provided a true heartbeat forRadatec as an operating company.”

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Radatec’s sensor provides very precise dataregarding component health while a turbine is infull-speed operation.

Spanning over 4 decades, NASA’s bolt tensionmonitoring technology has benefited automakers,airplane builders, and other major manufacturers

that rely on the devices to evaluate the performance ofcomputerized torque wrenches and other assembly linemechanisms. In recent years, the advancement of ultra-sonic sensors has drastically eased this process forusers, ensuring that proper tension and torque are beingapplied to bolts and fasteners, with less time needed fordata analysis.

Langley Research Center’s Nondestructive EvaluationBranch is one of the latest NASA programs to incorpo-rate ultrasonic sensors within a bolt tension measurementinstrument. As a multi-disciplined research groupfocused on spacecraft and aerospace transportation safety, one of the branch’s many commitments includestransferring problem solutions to industry. In 1998, thebranch carried out this obligation in a licensing agree-ment with Micro Control, Inc., of West Bloomfield,Michigan. Micro Control, an automotive inspectioncompany, obtained the licenses to two Langley patents toprovide an improved-but-inexpensive means of ultra-sonic tension measurement.

Prior to the agreement, the company’s existing stan-dard product could measure up to four channels oftorque/tension (strain gauge-based), the angle ofbolt/fastener rotation, and other analog input channels,

but lacked the ultrasonic element and the ability to per-form all of these functions at the same time. By licensingNASA technology, Micro Control integrated the ultra-sonic measurement aspect into its standard product,which enabled it to measure bolt tension directly usingstandard fasteners, and acquired the knowledge to meas-ure torque/tension and angle rotation simultaneously.

The new MC900 Transient Recorder Analyzer pro-vides fastener engineers with a powerful tool for study-ing threaded fastener joint designs or dynamic analysisof nut-runner operations on the plant floor or in a labo-ratory environment. The biggest challenge for a fastenerengineer working in these areas is determining the clampforce between the two parts that are intended to be fas-tened together. In the past, the only information availableto the engineer was the bolt’s torque and angle of rotation.This required the engineer to establish a relationshipbetween torque and tension. Based on this relationship, adetermination could be made on the torque strategy thatwould be used in production.

The problem with this method, however, is that slightchanges in thread friction or bolt geometry from one boltto another can cause substantial errors between appliedtorque or rotation and the actual clamping force of thefastener. With the MC900 analyzer, data analysis andcollection becomes simplified for the engineer, therebydiminishing the challenge of the clamp force process.Engineers can use the tool to ultrasonically measure the

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Sensing the Tension

The MC900 Transient Recorder Analyzer isavailable in a portable laptop model (shownhere encased in aluminum), or a desktopmodel made from high-impact plastic.Standard specifications include four straingauge input channels, four high-level analoginput channels, and four digital input and out-put channels, among other features.

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clamping force of the bolted joint during productionwithout the need for specially fabricated bolts instru-mented with strain gauges.

According to Micro Control, conventional ultrasonictesting methods can only measure elongation/load, basedon the theoretical values and geometry of a bolt. Thoughin reality, the materials in the bolt rarely match exactly tothe published standard materials, and the geometricalcomplexities of the bolt make it difficult to decipheraccurate elongation. Additionally, the theoretical methodonly works in the elastic region of the bolt.

In contrast, MC900 allows for analyzation of the the-oretical values and geometry of the bolt; calibration of asample of bolts with a known load, using a load cell ortensile machine and then using the averaged results; orcalibration of each bolt individually by pulling the boltswith the tensile machine. An accurate relationshipbetween elongation and load is established, and the usercan witness the performance of the bolt beyond the elas-tic region, and into the plastic region.

For determining ultrasonic delays and strain in a bolt,MC900 employs Langley’s “pulsed phase-lock loop”technology. This system sends a toneburst through anultrasonic transducer, which transmits a series of high-frequency sound waves into a specimen (the NASA tech-nology utilizes just one frequency of sound waves, asopposed to the broad frequency spectrum occupied bytraditional ultrasonic tension measurements). The soundwaves’ echo is then received from the far end of the bolt,and the phase shift is computed by comparing the phaseof the returned signal with that of the original toneburst

as the bolt is tightened. To identify the specific cycle inthe return echo for elongation measurement, MC900applies pattern matching, keeping the reference echo inmemory for subjective comparison with the final echo.Each of the device’s four channels can be programmedas “pitch catch”—with transducers on both ends of thebolt, “pulse echo”—with a single transducer on one endof the bolt, or “multiple echo,” depending on the physi-cal properties of the bolts to be measured.

MC900’s powerful hardware/Microsoft® Windows®-based software combination comes fully loaded withuser options, including additional tuning filters toaccommodate different ultrasonic transducers, ID recog-nition for smart sensors, statistical and graphical analysisin real time, cross-plotting, automatic or manual calibra-tion, and unlimited recording time of data.

Micro Control also developed and patented a low-cost, reusable “glue on” ultrasonic tension sensor calleda UTensor™ that can be used in conjunction with theMC900 device to produce the accuracy and repeatabilityheavily needed in the automotive industry. By gluing theUTensor onto a fastener, the user can measure the pre-load, or relaxation point, after tightening a bolt.

Currently, “big three” automakers General MotorsCorporation, Ford Motor Company, and DaimlerChrysler,along with their suppliers and bolt manufacturers, areincorporating the MC900 and UTensor technology.

Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks of MicrosoftCorporation.UTensor™ is a trademark of Micro Control, Inc.

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Micro Control, Inc.’s UTensor,™ alow-cost, reusable “glue on” ultra-sonic tension sensor, providesdynamic reading of tension while abolt is being tightened.

By combining the first variety of X-ray tubes ever available with acarbon-based nanotube innovation

born just over a decade ago, AppliedNanotech, Inc., is helping to put the nanotechnology field on the map withpromising new advances aimed at revolu-tionizing medicine, television, and every-thing in between.

A subsidiary of SI Diamond Technology,Inc., Applied Nanotech, of Austin, Texas, iscreating a buzz among various technologyfirms and venture capital groups interestedin the company’s progressive research oncarbon-related field emission devices,including carbon nanotubes, filaments ofpure carbon less than one ten-thousandththe width of human hair. Since their discov-ery in 1991, carbon nanotubes have gainedconsiderable attention due to their uniquephysical properties. For example, a singleperfect carbon nanotube can range from 10to 100 times stronger than steel, per unitweight. Recent studies also indicate that thenanotubes may be the best heat-conductingmaterial in existence. These properties,combined with the ease of growing thinfilms or nanotubes by a variety of deposi-tion techniques, make the carbon-basedmaterial one of the most desirable for coldfield emission cathodes.

Even more, the carbon nanotube may just one day bethe choice composite used to bear the weight of NASA’sfantastic future space travel concept, the space elevator,which would serve as a low-energy, mass transportationsystem for space-bound personnel, satellites, and otherpayloads. Although development of a space elevatorcould take as many as 100 years to successfully accom-plish, NASA scientists are currently mulling over thepossibilities of using carbon nanotubes to produce theelevator’s long cable. This cable would be attached to apoint on the Earth’s equator, and extend into space, withits center of mass at geostationary Earth orbit.

Applied Nanotech is blending this next-generationtechnology of unparalleled strength and conductivitywith cold cathode X-ray tubes, which were first intro-duced in the late 19th century, only to vanish quicklywith the invention of a hot cathode called ductile tung-sten in 1910. With support from NASA’s Jet PropulsionLaboratory (JPL) under a Small Business InnovationResearch (SBIR) contract, Applied Nanotech was ableto bring cold cathode technology back to life with themindset to produce smaller and more energy-efficient

X-ray devices, especially ideal for applications requir-ing minimum power within harsh environments. NASAis considering replacing the standard hot cathodes usedon satellites with the carbon cold cathode technology asa source for low power electric propulsion thrusters.Applied Nanotech’s collaboration with JPL has allowedthe company to extend the applications of its cold cath-ode technology and enhance its licensing policies.

For its first commercial achievement involving car-bon cold cathodes, Applied Nanotech customized andsold the technology to Oxford Instruments plc—based inthe United Kingdom, with American offices in Concord,Massachusetts, and Clearwater, Florida—for use in thecompany’s Horizon600 self-contained, portable X-rayfluorescence spectrometer. The Horizon600’s uniquedigital cold cathode X-ray tube allows for pinpoint ther-apy in medical fields such as brachytherapy, in whichintra-coronary radiation is used to relieve blockages and

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Creating With Carbon

The Horizon600 hand-held spectrometer can perform analyseson 20 different chemical elements within seconds.

Image courtesy of Oxford Instruments plc.

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prevent restenosis in stents, and dentistry, all at a lowercost and greater safety than conventional methods, dueto the absence of radioactive isotopes. With its ability toperform analyses on a range of 20 different chemical ele-ments within seconds, the hand-held device is alsodesigned to detect asbestos, lead, and other dangerouscontaminants hidden within walls, floors, and ceilings.

The ergonomically designed Horizon600 instrumentfeatures a color touch screen display for ease of use, amulti-channel digital signal processor for quick, stableresults, and a built-in Microsoft® Windows® Pocket PCoperating system complete with analytical software andan SQL database for results storage. It runs on arechargeable, high power battery, allowing for extensiveoperation time, short “warm-up” for instant measure-ments, and overall low power consumption. In additionto Oxford Instruments, Applied Nanotech is supplyingcarbon nanotube cold cathodes to MediRad ofRa’anana, Israel, and a Japanese company, both ofwhich are leaders in developing new miniature X-raytubes for medical applications.

Through its SI Diamond parent, Applied Nanotechalso completed various SBIR projects with NASA’sGlenn Research Center and Johnson Space Center thathave influenced the company’s understanding of high-definition picture element tubes (PETs). Applied

Nanotech is now incorporating PETs, in conjunctionwith thin carbon films, in large, flat panel nanotube dis-plays for indoor and outdoor lighted advertising billboards. The company believes that these types of dis-plays will eventually take control of a market that ispresently pushing plasma and liquid crystal displays astop-of-the-line technologies.

The carbon-based lighted displays developed underSI Diamond will be applied to the forthcomingVERSAtile™ electronic billboard product line, which issimilar to the light-emitting diode (LED) displays seen inNew York’s Times Square, but at a quarter of the cost,according to the company. Unlike LED-based displays,however, SI Diamond’s are completely viewable indirect sunlight, even from a 45-degree angle.

Applied Nanotech recently licensed its PET technolo-gy to two Japanese corporations, one of which is imag-ing solutions specialist Canon, Inc., in an effort to com-mercialize a new breed of superior, high-resolution,large-format televisions, otherwise known as “slim walltelevisions.” Manufacturing is expected to take place by2004, with hopes that the technology will draw appealfrom the American market.

Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks of MicrosoftCorporation.VERSAtile™ is a trademark of SI Diamond Technology, Inc.

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A picture element tube possessing NASA-influenced carbon cold cathode technologydeveloped by Applied Nanotech, Inc. This full-color field emission display tube is 3 by 3 inchesand approximately 1 centimeter in depth, and canbe combined with many similar tubes to makebillboard-size displays.

To help ensure the safety of the Nation’s agingfleet of commercial aircraft, NASA’s LangleyResearch Center developed “scanning thermog-

raphy” technology that nondestructively inspects olderaircraft fuselage components. Scanning thermographyinvolves heating a component’s surface and subse-quently measuring the surface temperature, using aninfrared camera to identify structural defects such ascorrosion and disbonding. It is a completely noninva-sive and noncontacting process. Scans can detectdefects in conventional metals and plastics, as well asin bonded aluminum composites, plastic- and resin-based composites, and laminated structures. The appa-ratus used for scanning is highly portable and can coverthe surface of a test material up to six times faster thanconventional thermography.

NASA scientists affirm that the technology is aninvaluable asset to the airlines, detecting potentialdefects that can cause structural failure, such as that ofAloha Airlines Flight 243 in 1988. According to theNational Transportation Safety Board, the Aloha Airlinesaccident was caused by the structural separation of thepressurized fuselage skin. As a result of this separation,“an explosive decompression occurred, and a large por-tion of the airplane cabin structure…was lost.”

An extension of NASA’s scanning thermography nowoffers considerable value to the Nation’s utility compa-nies, as nondestructive inspection methods are becomingan increasingly attractive means of determining the con-dition of critical components. This would include powerand process plant machinery, roads and bridges, andbuilding structures.

In 1996, ThermTech Services, Inc., of Stuart, Florida,approached NASA in an effort to evaluate the technolo-gy for application in the power and process industries,where corrosion is of serious concern. ThermTechServices proceeded to develop the application forinspecting boiler waterwall tubing at fossil-fueledelectric-generating stations. In 1999, ThermTech pur-chased the rights to NASA’s patented technology anddeveloped the specialized equipment required to applythe inspecting method to power plant components.

The ThermTech robotic system using NASA technol-ogy has proved to be extremely successful and costeffective in performing detailed inspections of largestructures such as boiler waterwalls and abovegroundchemical storage tanks. It is capable of inspecting awaterwall, tank-wall, or other large surfaces at a rate ofapproximately 10 square feet per minute or faster. Theinspection results provide a computerized map of thewall thickness with high-resolution data equivalent tothat of existing inspection methods. Prior to the develop-ment of this technology, existing inspection methodswould only allow inspection of a limited area (less than10 percent) of the entire structure, because they are typ-ically either manually operated or mounted on small-scale robots. Now, with the development of the thermalline scanner, it is possible to inspect nearly 100 percentof the structure in approximately the same time it takesto perform the limited area inspection.

ThermTech Services’ system benefits the electric util-ity industry, saving utility customers millions of dollarsby reducing maintenance costs and downtime andimproving power plant reliability.

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Thermographic Inspections Save Skins and Prevent Blackouts

ThermTech Services, Inc.’s roboticcrawler scales the inside wall of aboiler at the Schuylkill GeneratingStation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.During the inspection, the initial callouts indicated 54 tubes in the super-heat furnace rear wall should beremoved. Upon removal, the 54tubes were subjected to a boroscopeexam, and the defects found by thecrawler were confirmed visually.

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A metrology instrument known as PhaseCam™supports a wide range of applications, from test-ing large optics to controlling factory produc-

tion processes. This dynamic interferometer systemenables precise measurement of three-dimensional sur-faces in the manufacturing industry, delivering speedand high-resolution accuracy in even the most challeng-ing environments.

PhaseCam originated from a prototype interferome-ter that was being developed by MetroLaser, Inc., in1999. During that time, Philip Stahl, a NASA engineerat Marshall Space Flight Center, learned of the technol-ogy while touring the company’s facility, and immedi-ately recognized its applicability to testing large astronomical mirrors and space optical systems.MetroLaser proposed building a system to NASA spec-ifications for testing large optics in a vibrating environ-ment. The technology would, among others, benefitNASA’s Advanced Mirror System Demonstrator proj-ect for the James Webb Space Telescope.

In January 2000, 4D Vision Technology, Inc., wasformed to commercialize the PhaseCam technology,with NASA becoming the firm’s first customer. Just 6months after NASA granted 4D Vision a contract, thecompany delivered its first PhaseCam system. Stahl stat-ed that the company “took a task that was thought to beimpossible and successfully accomplished it in less timeand for less money than any of its competitors.” As aresult of the company’s excellent work, NASA invited4D Vision to present its new product at Technology Days2001, an annual symposium held at Marshall to discussthe progress of various optics projects by NASA, con-tractors, and universities. This provided the company theopportunity to introduce PhaseCam to many potentialcustomers in the commercial marketplace. In 2002, 4DTechnology Corporation, of Tucson, Arizona, acquired4D Vision as part of its mission to become a world leaderin dynamic optical metrology products and services.

PhaseCam satisfies industry demands to produceaccurate measurements where vibration and motion areintrinsic components of the manufacturing process, andyield and throughput are paramount. With this product,vibrations, moving parts, air turbulence, and otherimpediments are no longer a serious barrier to interfero-metric testing. Unlike phase-shifting interferometers, the

system works by capturing data in a single frame, meas-uring data rates in tens of microseconds. By using a sin-gle camera to record four data frames at the exact sametime, PhaseCam eliminates critical alignment issues andsimplifies calibration. No matter how much vibration ispresent, all of the data represent the same instant in time.

Compact and reliable, PhaseCam enables users tomake interferometric measurements right on the factoryfloor. The system can be configured for many differentapplications, including mirror phasing, vacuum/cryo-genic testing, motion/modal analysis, and flow visuali-zation. Customers include leading aerospace and opticalmanufacturers such as Eastman Kodak Company, BallAerospace & Technologies Corporation, and theUniversity of Arizona Mirror Laboratory. NASA contin-ues to use the technology to test mirror technologies fornext-generation space telescopes. According to Stahl,“Not only did NASA get a great interferometer to enablethe testing of large mirrors, but the taxpayer receivedgreat value. I believe that this type of proactive invest-ment is an example of the government at its best.”

PhaseCam™ is a trademark of 4D Technology Corporation.

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Precise Measurement for Manufacturing

The original PhaseCam™ system tested a composite mirror forMarshall Space Flight Center.

Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) are critical ele-ments in optical processing systems used for imag-ing, displaying, data storage, communications, and

other applications. By taking advantage of the naturalproperties of light beams, the devices process informa-tion at speeds unattainable by human operators and mostmachines, with high-resolution results.

Boulder Nonlinear Systems, Inc., is one of the world’sforemost SLM manufacturers. Founded as a research anddevelopment firm by a group of University of Coloradoresearchers in 1988, Lafayette, Colorado-based BoulderNonlinear essentially grew out of a Small BusinessInnovation Research (SBIR) contract with the U.S.Department of Defense/Air Force a year earlier.Founders Steve Serati, the company’s current chairmanand chief technical officer, and Gary Sharp submitted anSBIR proposal to improve the sensitivity of coherentlight lidar systems using an optical technique to suppressspatial noise. Since winning that contract over 15 yearsago, Boulder Nonlinear has benefited from more than$10 million in SBIR funding, with many contracts com-ing from NASA’s Ames Research Center, Glenn

Research Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), andJohnson Space Center.

With vast government support through the SBIR program and a strong knowledge of optics and liquid crystals, Boulder Nonlinear was able to establishitself as a successful custom-manufacturing entity witha reputable SLM product. Its latest adaptation of government-influenced technology is the 512x512Multi-Level/Analog Liquid Crystal SLM. The highframe rate device, developed under SBIR contracts withAmes, Glenn, and JPL, modulates light in pure ampli-tude, pure phase, or coupled amplitude and phase. Toachieve the desired optical response, the 512x512 SLMcan be filled with either a Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal,best used for applications requiring very fast modulationalong the real-axis (i.e., amplitude only) or for purephase modulation of π/2 or less, or a Nematic LiquidCrystal, best used for pure phase modulation of 2π or forapplications not requiring pure real-axis modulation. All512x512 devices are custom designed to yield the maxi-mum modulation response at the desired wavelength.

Boulder Nonlinear also offers its customers an entry-level 256x256 SLM that delivers high-speed frame rates and sharp resolution for smaller, cost-effective

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Processing at the Speed of Light

Boulder Nonlinear Systems’ liquid crystalSpatial Light Modulators, available in avariety of resolutions, are ideal for opticalcorrelation, beam steering, telecommuni-cations, defense, and medical researchapplications. The grayscale image of thedragon was taken on a Ferroelectric LiquidCrystal 512x512 Spacial Light Modulator.

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applications. With help from Ames, the company is cur-rently working on commercializing a 1024x1024 SLM,the next addition to its highly regarded SLM productline. The company also markets a 1x4096 SLM thatreceived the prestigious Photonics Circle of ExcellenceAward as one of the 25 most innovative photonics prod-ucts introduced in 2000. The device is primarily used asan optical phased array (OPA) for nonmechanicallysteering a laser beam. Through a Phase II SBIR award,Langley Research Center is currently funding a next-generation OPA that will increase scanning speed, scan-ning range, and the active area.

Other applications for Boulder Nonlinear’s SLM lineinclude medical research, forensics, laser printing andscanning, holography, and laser beam steering (refrac-tive and diffractive). In medical research, BoulderNonlinear teamed up with a client to develop “lighttweezers,” a unique, noninvasive technology that can lift molecules or microscopic specimens without therisk of damage. In the forensics field, original equip-ment manufacturers have purchased the 512x512 SLMto build optical correlators to quickly analyze reams ofvisual evidence, such as fingerprints, to reveal known

suspects. The 512x512 SLM is crucial for high-speedprocessing so that forensic experts can compare aknown visual pattern to an unknown visual pattern intime-sensitive situations.

Look Dynamics, located in Longmont, Colorado,incorporated Boulder Nonlinear SLMs into its opticalcomputer product that uses light, rather than electrons, toprocess information such as satellite images of Earth andimages of the human body. Boulder Nonlinear states thatthe marriage of computer logic and liquid crystal beammanipulation “creates a new universe of possibilities formanipulating light to measure, analyze and inform.”Other commercial and government entities have countedon Boulder Nonlinear SLMs and liquid crystal compo-nents to replace prisms, detect bombs and track missiles(target recognition), store massive data sets on creditcards, link mobile stations to a broadband network, rec-ognize faces, and see objects in turbulent conditions.

In its latest SBIR venture with NASA, BoulderNonlinear is helping JPL develop SLM technology forsmall body exploration and Mars sample return mis-sions. The project may also lead to new means of loca-tion recognition for spacecraft docking and landing.

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Without touching: A molecule islifted by “light tweezers.” Thisunique technology, developedby Boulder Nonlinear Systemsin partnership with a client, isnoninvasive and eliminates therisk of contamination.

General Dynamics Decision Systems employeeshave played a role in supplying telemetry, track-ing, and control (TT&C) and other communica-

tions systems to NASA and the U.S. Department ofDefense for over 40 years. Providing integrated commu-nication systems and subsystems for nearly all mannedand unmanned U.S. space flights, the heritage of thisScottsdale, Arizona-based company includes S-bandtransceivers that enabled millions of Americans to seeNeil Armstrong and hear his prophetic words from theMoon in 1969. More recently, Decision Systems has col-laborated with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center todevelop transponders, wireless communications devicesthat pick up and automatically respond to an incomingsignal, for NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay SatelliteSystem (TDRSS).

Four generations of Decision Systems’ TDRSStransponders have been developed under Goddard’ssponsorship. The company’s Fourth Generation TDRSSUser Transponder (TDRSS IV) allows low-Earth-orbiting spacecraft to communicate continuously with asingle ground station at White Sands, New Mexico,through a constellation of geostationary relay satellitespositioned at key locations around the Earth. In additionto the communications of forward link control com-mands and return link telemetry data, the TDRSS IValso supports spacecraft orbit tracking through coherentturn-around of a pseudo-noise ranging code and two-way Doppler tracking.

Up until now, the highly successful relationshipbetween Goddard and Decision Systems had produced ahigh quality product used primarily for NASA-specificprograms. This changed when the National ScientificBalloon Facility (NSBF), in Palestine, Texas, turned to Decision Systems in need of a TT&C communica-

tions system for its high-altitude, long-duration balloonmission program.

Because many of the NSBF’s balloon missions areflown at the Earth’s poles, where commercial communi-cations services are not readily available, the continuouscommunications feature provided by NASA’s TDRSS isextremely important during a long mission. When theNSBF adopted the use of global positioning systemreceivers for balloon position tracking, Decision Systems concluded that a simpler, noncoherent transceiver couldprovide the NSBF with the necessary TDRSS communi-cations without the additional cost and complexity of acoherent transponder. The solution was to take the coredesign of the TDRSS IV Transponder, but remove theextra functionality that supported coherent turn-around.This would simplify the production effort, reduce the test-ing required, and result in a lower cost product withsmaller size, weight, and power consumption.

Once NSBF and Decision Systems agreed on a con-cept for this new product, known as the Multi-ModeTransceiver (MMT), the NSBF approached Goddard forapproval and funding. The expertise and cooperation ofGoddard engineers was critical during the test and eval-uation phase of the device’s production process, and thefirst MMT underwent TDRSS compatibility testing atGoddard before any of the commercial production unitscould be delivered.

With the new MMT’s reduced size, weight, powerconsumption, and cost, the advantages of TDRSS com-munications are now available for a variety of applica-tions outside of the traditional NASA spacecraft missions. With the MMT, the NASA system is nowaccessible to university satellite programs, small com-mercial Earth imaging programs, as well as Arctic andAntarctic science programs.

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Keeping Communication Continuous

The Multi-Mode Transceiver brings the advan-tages of NASA’s Tracking and Data RelaySatellite System to a variety of applications,including university satellite programs, smallcommercial Earth imaging programs, and Arcticand Antarctic science programs.

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When research staff at NASA’s Glenn ResearchCenter developed and patented StereoImaging Velocimetry (SIV), the world’s first

three-dimensional (3-D), full-field quantitative and qual-itative analysis tool to investigate flow velocities, exper-iments that were previously impossible became a reality.Seizing the opportunity to commercialize NASA’sbreakthrough invention, Digital Interface Systems (DIS),Inc., of North Olmsted, Ohio, acquired an exclusivelicense to market SIV, which has a range of applicationsfrom improving the aerodynamics of aircraft and auto-mobiles to avoiding “no flow” regions in artificial hearts.

NASA Glenn’s SIV is a safe, affordable means toobtain 3-D flow information from any transparent liquidthat can be seeded with tracer particles. Previously, accu-rate information of this type was very difficult to obtainand often required using dedicated laser-based measure-ment systems. Eliminating the need for lasers, SIV pro-vides an effectively nonintrusive measurement of 3-Dfluid velocities at many points and at high frame speedsusing two charge coupled device (CCD) video camerasand neural networked-based computational algorithms.It allows for the direct comparison of computed andexperimentally measured fluid flows, with no limitationon the fluid flow scale to be measured.

The five distinct steps in the SIV method includecamera calibration, centroid/overlap decomposition, par-ticle tracking, stereo matching, and 3-D analysis. TheCCD cameras are oriented at 90º with respect to eachother in order to observe a fluid experiment that has beenseeded with the small tracer particles. Each camerarecords two-dimensional (2-D) data of the particles’

motion in the observation volume. Users obtain the 3-Ddata by computationally combining the 2-D informationfrom both cameras. The SIV method incorporates a cam-era-calibration technique in which rotation and transla-tion of camera lenses and optical distortion generated in the lenses are taken into account using the accurate 2-D- to 3-D-mapping function.

SIV applies to diverse experiments such as the studyof multiphase flow, bubble nucleation and migration,pool combustion, and crystal growth. The technique suc-cessfully analyzed data from two Space Shuttle mis-sions. Several of NASA’s ground-based experiments arealso benefiting, as SIV is applied to the Agency’s micro-gravity program for fluid physics experiments.

In the commercial marketplace, SIV applies to indus-trial process optimization and the design of new prod-ucts. It helps companies to create more efficient heating,ventilating, and air conditioning systems, as well as qui-eter airflow within auto heating and cooling ducts. Thetechnology can assist with air flow studies around build-ings and the modeling of continuous casting operations.SIV has been used in the steel industry to quantify thecontinuous casting process, the vacuum cleaner industryto observe brushroll designs, and in the sporting goodsindustry to investigate the bat-ball impact phenomenonof softball bats.

SIV is available through DIS as an on-demand WorldWide Web deployable program or as a mini-compactdisc version, with robust, user-friendly, graphical userinterface enhancements that enable easy navigation ofthe tool.

Designing It Smart With SIV

This diagram shows a fluid experimentseeded with tracer particles. Two camerasare set up perpendicular to each other,recording two widely disparate views. Thetwo views are computationally combinedto obtain three-dimensional coordinates ofthe seed particles.

NASA is proud of its achievements, as well as those of its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, during the first century of powered flight. This year’s

“Centennial of Flight” celebration offers a unique opportunity forNASA’s 10 field centers to showcase the Agency’s historical and ongoing contributions to aeronautics. Through advanced scientificresearch and technology transfer, NASA continues to impact flightthrough improved safety, efficiency, and cost effectiveness.

One Hundred Years of Powered Flight

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This year, Centennial of Flight celebrationsacross the United States are marking thetremendous achievement of the Wright

brothers’ successful, powered, heavier-than-airflight on December 17, 1903. The vision andpersistence of these two men pioneered the wayfor explorers, inventors, and innovators to takeaeronautics from the beaches of Kitty Hawk,North Carolina, to the outer reaches of the solarsystem. Along this 100-year journey, NASA hasplayed a significant role in developing and sup-porting the technologies that have shaped theaviation industry.

NASA’s OriginNASA’s commitment to aeronautics technolo-

gy stems back to 1915 when Congress establishedthe National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics(NACA) through a rider to the NavalAppropriations Act. Much of what the United Statestakes for granted in aviation today was pioneered byNACA, which was transformed into NASA under theNational Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. NACAmade advancements and contributions to every fieldassociated with aeronautics, including the fledging fieldof spaceflight.

In the beginning, NACA concentrated on problemsrelated to military aviation, spurred by the onset ofWorld War I. NACA scientists and engineers, chargedwith the mission “to supervise and direct the scientificstudy of the problems of flight, with a view to their prac-tical solution,” developed a strong technical competence

and a commitment to collegial in-house research con-ducive to engineering innovation. When the war ended,NACA engineers turned their attention to solving a broadrange of problems in flight technology. At the firstNACA Aircraft Engineering Research Conference in1925, the U.S. Government promoted the transfer oftechnology and expertise to industry.

Establishing a Tradition of ExcellenceOver the years, NACA expanded to conduct its

research at three major research laboratories—theLangley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory establishedin 1917, the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory formed in1940, and the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory founded in 1941. NACA also maintained a small Wash-ington, DC, headquarters and two small test facilities.

One of the earliest landmark events for NACA was theformal dedication of the wind tunnel at NACA Langley,later renamed NASA Langley Research Center. This tun-nel was the first of many now-famous NACA/NASAwind tunnels, enabling engineers and scientists to devel-op advanced wind tunnel concepts to support aircraftdesign. In 1922, Langley’s Variable Density Wind Tunnel(VDT) employed high-pressure air to better simulateflight conditions with scale models. The VDT was themost advanced wind tunnel of its day, helping the UnitedStates become a leader in aeronautical research. Over thenext 10 years, NACA compiled research from the VDTthat culminated into NACA Report 160, which included agroundbreaking systematic study of airfoils and producedthe airfoil numbering system of today.

One Hundred Years of Powered Flight

The official seal for National Advisory Committee for Aeronauticsdepicts the first human-controlled, powered flight made by theWright brothers in December 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

In this photo taken on March 15, 1929, NACA staff membersconduct tests on airfoils in the Variable Density Tunnel. In 1985,the Variable Density Tunnel was declared a National HistoricLandmark.

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NACA continued to expand by starting the CowlingWind Tunnel research at Langley in 1928. The researchpaved the way for a series of component drag studies,helping NACA to develop a low-drag cowling for radialair-cooled aircraft engines. This breakthrough technologywas adopted by all aircraft manufacturers, as the cowlinggreatly reduced the drag that an exposed engine generat-ed, resulting in significant cost savings and increased air-craft speeds and range. The National AeronauticAssociation awarded NACA the Robert J. Collier Trophy,the most prestigious award for great achievement in aero-nautics and astronautics in America, for the low-drag

cowling. This would be the first of 19 Collier Trophies forNACA/NASA leading up to the present day.

Strategic Value in World War IIWhen NACA Langley’s Atmospheric Wind Tunnel

became operational in 1930, it produced a knowledgebase and essential design data relative not only to basicaircraft performance, but also to aircraft stability andcontrol, power effects, flying qualities, aerodynamicloads, and high-lift systems. While NACA’s research hadboth military and civil applications prior to the outbreakof World War II, its activity became almost exclusivelymilitary with stronger industry ties during the war.Dozens of corporate representatives visited Langley dur-ing this time to observe and assist in testing, as NACAfocused on refining and solving specific problems. Onemajor advance was the development of the laminar-flowairfoil to solve a turbulence problem at the wing trailingedge that was limiting aircraft performance.

Langley also helped to improve the performance ofexisting aircraft through tests in its full-scale tunnel and8-foot, high-speed tunnel. The 8-foot tunnel was unlikeany other in the world, giving the United States a strate-gic advantage in the war. The first tests in the tunnelevaluated the effects of machine gun and cannon fire on the lift and drag properties of wing panels. This ledengineers to check the effects of rivet heads, lappedjoints, slots, and other irregularities on drag. The testsdemonstrated drag penalties as high as 40 percent overaerodynamically smooth wings. As a result, aircraft man-ufacturers quickly switched to flush rivets and joints.

New high-speed propellers and engine cowlings alsoemerged from tests in Langley’s 8-foot tunnel, but thedevelopment of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning diverecovery flap provided tremendous proof of the wind

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Langley metal workers fabricated NACA cowlings for early testinstallations.

The 8-foot, high-speed wind tunnel atthe NACA Langley AeronauticalLaboratory provided the means for test-ing large models and some full scalecomponents at a simulated speed of500 miles per hour.

tunnel’s value. The P-38, a high-speed, twin-boomfighter that helped beat back the threat of Japanese Zero airplanes in the South Pacific, introduced a new dimen-sion to American fighters with its second engine. Themulti-engine configuration reduced the P-38 loss-rate toanti-aircraft gunfire during ground attack missions.

When the P-38 was first introduced into squadronservice in 1941, pilots were plagued by heavy buffetingduring high-speed dives. On several occasions, theirdives steepened and they could not pull out. Lockheed’stest pilot for the P-38, Ralph Virden, lost his life tryingto solve the dive problem. Shortly after Virden’s death,the Army asked NACA for help. Crucial tests were conducted using one-sixth scale models in the 8-foot tun-nel, indicating that above 475 miles per hour, the P-38’swings lost lift and the tail buffeted, causing a strong,downward pitching motion of the plane. Controls stiff-ened up, preventing the pilot from pulling the plane outof its dive. In addition, the buffeting could cause struc-tural failure, as it had in Virden’s case.

Langley’s solution to the P-38 dive problem was theaddition of a wedge-shaped dive recovery flap on thelower surface of the wings. Aerodynamic refinement ofthe dive recovery flap was continued in a coordinatedprogram between Lockheed engineers and NACA’snewly founded Ames Aeronautical Laboratory (laterrenamed NASA Ames Research Center) in MoffettField, California, in the latter’s 16-foot, high-speed tun-nel. The dive recovery flaps ultimately were incorporat-ed on the P-47 Thunderbolt, the A-26 Invader, and the P-59 Airacobra, America’s first jet aircraft.

Aviation Safety MeasuresRight from the start, the aviation

community was unanimous in itsdesire to develop systems and pro-cedures that would make flyingsafer. While NACA information onairflow over wing surfaces anddive flaps helped pilots retain con-trol over diving airplanes, NACAwas also asked to determine howair crews and aircraft could betterwithstand water impacts. NACAforwarded test results regarding theproblem to aircraft manufacturers,resulting in new designs thathelped save the lives of countlessair crews.

Another concern for aviationsafety was ice build-up on aircraft wings and propellers,which reduced lift and increased drag, leading to fatalcrashes. From 1936 into the mid-1940s, NACA createdThermal Ice Prevention Systems to investigate effectivecountermeasures to the problem of ice formation on air-craft. Ames, in particular, began to make strides in icingresearch. Prototypes of an Ames anti-icing system wereevaluated in the B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers duringWorld War II, while a substantive program on the C-46A Commando icing research aircraft led to the def-inition of icing system design criteria.

Ames’ icing work consisted of both research andextensive design of actual hardware installed on air-planes. In 1946, Lewis A. Rodert, a leading icingresearcher at Ames, received the Collier Trophy for thedevelopment of an efficient wing deicing system, whichpiped air heated by hot engine exhaust along the leading

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The Curtiss C-46A Commando icing research aircraft helpedAmes define icing system design criteria.

View of the 16-foot, high-speed wind tunnel at the NACA AmesAeronautical Laboratory in Moffett Field, California.

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edge of the wing. The system protected the lives of manypilots flying in dangerous weather conditions.

In addition to icing research, Ames worked on tran-sonic variable stability aircraft and flying qualities, sta-bility and control, and performance evaluations. Flightresearch at Ames progressed from idea development tostages of wind tunnel and ground-based simulator teststo analyses in its facilities. Collaborative efforts to use acombination of facilities led to more substantive results.The standardized system for rating an aircraft’s flyingqualities is perhaps the most important contribution ofthe evaluation programs and experiments conducted onthe variable stability aircraft at Ames. George Cooper,Ames’ Chief Test Pilot, developed the rating system toquantify the pilot’s judgment of an aircraft’s handlingand apply it to the stability and control design process.

Cooper’s approach forced a specific definition of thepilot’s task and performance standards. Further, itaccounted for the demands the aircraft placed on thepilot in accomplishing a given task to some specified

degree of precision. The Cooper Pilot Opinion RatingScale was initially published in 1957. After gaining several years of experience through applying the scale tomany flight and simulator experiments and through itsuse by the military services and aircraft industry, Coopermodified it in collaboration with Robert Harper of theCornell Aeronautical Laboratory in 1969. The Cooper-Harper Handling Qualities Rating Scale is one of theenduring contributions of Ames’ flying qualitiesresearch, as the scale remains the standard for measuringflying qualities to this day.

Picking up SpeedIn 1944, Ames’ 40- by 80-foot full-scale wind tunnel

became operational, allowing whole aircraft to be wind tunnel tested, as compared to models at low-flightspeeds. As World War II ended in 1945, NACA aerody-namicist Robert T. Jones developed the Swept WingConcept, which identified the importance of swept-backwings in efficiently achieving and maintaining high-speed flight. Jones verified the concept, designed to over-come shockwave effects at critical Mach numbers, inwind-tunnel experiments. To this day, Jones’ swept-backwings are used on almost all commercial jet airliners andmilitary craft.

High-speed flight research was often a collaborationbetween NACA and U.S. Army Air Forces. In the late1940s and throughout the 1950s, a succession of experi-mental aircraft was flown at Muroc Army Airfield (nowEdward’s Air Force Base) through NACA’s MurocFlight Test Unit, which would later become NASA’sDryden Flight Research Center. On November 14, 1947,the air-launched, rocket-powered X-1 aircraft broke thesound barrier. Chuck Yeager piloted the X-1 during thismonumental flight, ushering in the era of supersonicflight. Record flights by the military and NACA’s rocketplanes probed the characteristics of high-speed aerody-namics and stresses on aircraft structures. NACA’s JohnStack led the development of a supersonic wind tunnel,

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This mid-1950s photograph shows the Douglas D-558-2 and theNorth American F-86 Sabre chase aircraft in flight. Both aircraftdisplay early examples of swept wing airfoils.

The X-1 was the first piloted supersonic aircraft tobreak the sound barrier.

speeding the advent of operational supersonic aircraft.He shared the Collier Trophy in 1947 with Yeager andLawrence Bell for research determining the physicallaws affecting supersonic flight.

Meanwhile, NACA’s newly founded Aircraft EngineResearch Laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio—today’sNASA Glenn Research Center—was steadily translatingGerman documents on jet propulsion tests that quicklybecame basic references in the new field of gas turbineresearch. Italian and German professionals joined theirAmerican colleagues at Glenn to work on this newaspect of flight research. To cope with continuing prob-lems of how to cool turbine blades in the new turbojets,Glenn’s Ernst Eckert laid the basic foundation for heattransfer research as the laboratory examined this issue.

In 1944, Glenn also began testing ice protection sys-tems with the completion of its Icing Research Tunnel.Most ice protection technologies in use today were large-ly developed at this facility. In 1987, the AmericanSociety of Mechanical Engineers designated Glenn’stunnel an International Historic Mechanical EngineeringLandmark for its leading role in making aviation saferfor everyone.

Between 1950 and 1960, Glenn engineers pursuedthe development of an axial flow compressor for jetengines that improved efficiency by an order of magni-tude. This research became the basis of the modernhigh-bypass jet turbofan. The engineers also developednew ways to solve complex combustion, heat exchange,and supercharger problems. While engine research didnot receive much public attention at this time, Glenn’swork on Army aircraft contributed to one of the mili-

tary’s most successful airplanes—the Army’sBoeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a high-altitude,high-speed bomber.

In 1951, Langley’s Richard T. Whitcombdetermined the transonic “Area Rule,” whichexplains the physical rationale for transonic flowover an aircraft. This concept allows modernsupersonic aircraft to penetrate the sound barrierwith greatly reduced power, and is now used inall transonic and supersonic aircraft designs.Twenty years later, Whitcomb went on to devel-op the supercritical wing, which yields improvedcruise economy of approximately 18 percent bydelaying the drag increase at transonic speeds,delaying buffet onset, and increasing lift.Whitcomb’s concept is widely used on commer-

cial and military aircraft today.Another step in laying the groundwork for modern

aviation was NACA Report R1135, “Equations, Tables,and Charts for Compressible Flow.” Published in 1953,the report became a “bible” for compressible flow aero-dynamics. Also that year, the D-558-2 aircraft, flown byDryden’s Scott Crossfield, was the first aircraft to breakMach 2, or twice the speed of sound. The achievementculminated a joint Navy/NACA high-speed flightresearch program.

The Dawn of NASA NACA began researching flight beyond Earth’s

atmosphere in the early 1950s. Laboratories studied thepossible problems of space flight, while engineers dis-cussed aircraft that could reenter the atmosphere at ahigh rate of speed, producing a great amount of heat.Ames’ H. Julian Allen developed the “blunt nose princi-ple,” suggesting that a blunt shape would absorb only avery small fraction of the heat generated by an object’sreentry into the atmosphere. The principle was later significant to NASA’s Mercury capsule development.

NACA’s work also led to the creation of the rocket-propelled X-15 research airplanes, which helped verifytheories and wind tunnel predictions to take piloted flightto the edge of space. Over the course of a decade, the X-15 program embarked on a new frontier, exploring thepossibilities of a piloted, rocket-powered, air-launchedaircraft capable of speeds around five times that ofsound. The remarkable X-15—half plane, half rocket—bridged the gap between air and space flight, puttingDryden Flight Research Center on the map. Dryden’stesting of the program’s 199 flights produced invaluabledata on aerodynamic heating, high-temperature materi-als, reaction controls, and space suits.

In 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, thefirst man-made object to orbit the Earth, the United

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Glenn Research Center’s Icing Research Tunnel was establishedin 1944. The Altitude Tunnel is in the center background, thePropeller Motor Drive Housing is in the right background, and theAir Dryer and Cooling Tower is in the left background.

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States’ efforts to reach space intensified. On January 31,1958, a U.S. Army rocket team at the Redstone Arsenalin Huntsville, Alabama, led by Army Ballistic MissileAgency Technical Director Dr. Wernher von Braun,launched a four-stage Jupiter-C rocket from a Floridalaunch site. The rocket carried Explorer I, the Nation’s

first Earth-orbiting satellite, and marked the UnitedStates’ initial entry in the space race.

Following Explorer I, American leadership ques-tioned whether the emerging U.S. Space Program shouldbe administered by a military or civilian agency. Thedebate resulted in the creation of the NationalAeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a civil-ian organization, on October 1, 1958. When PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronauticsand Space Act of 1958, all NACA activities and facilitieswere folded into the newly formed NASA. NACA andother organizations from the Army and Navy became thenucleus of the new agency, which was tasked with bothaeronautics and astronautics responsibilities. WhileNASA’s major focus would be space research, aeronau-tics remains the first “A” in its name.

Emerging NASA Centers Shoot for the MoonPresident Eisenhower signed an executive order indi-

cating that personnel from the Development OperationsDivision of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency inHuntsville should transfer to NASA. Soon after, in 1960,the Marshall Space Flight Center was founded to providelaunch vehicles for NASA’s exploration of outer space.Dr. von Braun became director of the new center inHuntsville, as he and his rocket team expanded theJupiter C’s payload lifting capabilities, creating the JunoII space vehicle to launch various Earth satellites andspace probes.

During its first 5 years, NASA continued to expand itsfacilities. In 1959, Goddard Space Flight Center inGreenbelt, Maryland, was established as NASA’s first

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In the 8-foot, high-speed wind tunnel in April 1955, RichardWhitcomb examines a model designed in accordance with histransonic Area Rule.

As crew members secure the X-15 rocket-powered aircraft after a research flight, the B-52mothership used for launching this unique aircraftdoes a low fly-by overhead. Information gainedfrom the highly successful X-15 program con-tributed to the development of the Mercury,Gemini, and Apollo piloted spaceflight programs,and also the Space Shuttle Program.

space flight center. Under Goddard project management,the Explorer VI provided the world with its first image ofEarth from space. In 1961, Houston, Texas, became thesite of NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center, which wasrenamed Johnson Space Center in 1973 to honor the latePresident and Texas native, Lyndon B. Johnson.

NASA also announced its decision to build a nationalrocket test site in 1961, establishing theJohn C. Stennis Space Center in HancockCounty, Mississippi, 3 years later to test thefirst and second stages of the powerfulSaturn V rocket that Marshall developed forthe Apollo and Skylab Programs. On July 1,1962, the Marshall Launch Operations

Directorate came to Florida to initiate NASA’s LaunchOperations Center, later renamed the John F. KennedySpace Center. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managedby the California Institute of Technology, was alsofounded during the 1960s, leading NASA’s roboticexploration of the universe.

On July 20, 1969, U.S. astronauts walked on the Moon for the first time after the Apollo 11 crew waslaunched from Kennedy and safely transported byMarshall-developed rocket boosters that were tested andproven flight worthy at Stennis. Mission CommanderNeil Armstrong sent the message back to Johnson,“Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed!”With the completion of the Apollo Program in December1972, NASA journeyed forward to build new aeronauticachievements upon its groundbreaking accomplishment.

Advancing Towards Modern AviationWith the new frontier of space within its grasp, NASA

continued to improve aviation for Earth-bound purposes.Initiated in 1972, NASA’s Digital Fly-By-Wire (DFBW)flight research project, a joint effort between Dryden and Langley, validated the principal concepts of all-electronic flight control systems. On May 25, 1972,Dryden’s highly-modified F-8C DFBW research aircraft,with pilot Gary Krier at the controls, became the world’sfirst aircraft to fly completely dependent upon an elec-tronic flight control system. Soon after, electronic fly-by-wire systems replaced older hydraulic control systems, freeing designers to create safer, more maneu-verable, and more efficient aircraft.

NASA’s DFBW system is the forerunner of currentfly-by-wire systems used on the Space Shuttles and onmilitary and civil aircraft such as F/A-18 fighters andthe Boeing 777. Modern digital flight control systemsmake flying safer for both civil and military aircraft.Multiple computers “vote” instantaneously to choosethe correct control input for maneuvers requested by the

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The F-8C Digital Fly-By-Wire Control System wasfirst tested in 1972. The use of electrical andmechanical systems to replace hydraulic systemsfor aircraft control surface actuation was flight-tested. Today widely used by commercial airliners,the system allows for better maneuver control,smoother rides, and for military aircraft, a highercombat survivability.

The swing arms move away and a plume of smoke signals theliftoff of the Apollo 11 Saturn V Space vehicle and astronautsNeil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. fromKennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.

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pilot, who uses the traditional stick and rudder controlsin the cockpit. Digital systems make aircraft moremaneuverable because computers command more fre-quent adjustments than human pilots. For airliners,computerized flight controls ensure a smoother ride thana pilot alone could provide with stick and rudder con-trols. The DFBW research program, which spanned 13years, is considered one of the most significant and mostsuccessful NASA aeronautical programs since theinception of the Agency.

Beginning in 1974, NASA Langley’s 737 researchaircraft flight-tested a variety of large transport aircrafttechnologies, such as “glass cockpits,” airborne windshear detection, microwave landing systems, and head-up displays. After Langley pioneered the glass cockpitconcept in ground simulators and demonstration flights,Boeing developed the first glass cockpits for productionairliners. The success of the NASA-led glass cockpitwork is reflected in the total acceptance of the electron-ic flight displays that began with the introduction of theBoeing 767 in 1982. Both airlines and their passengersbenefited. Flight safety and efficiency were increasedwith improved pilot understanding of the airplane’s situ-ation relative to its environment.

Ames also led several innovative programs duringthe 1970s. The Center’s Quiet Short-Haul ResearchAircraft program developed and demonstrated tech-nologies necessary to support short-takeoff and high-liftcargo aircraft. The aircraft documented stable flight atlift levels three times those generated on conventionalaircraft and operated aboard an aircraft carrier withoutthe need for launch catapults or landing arresting gear.

Its technologies were employed on the AirForce’s C-17 Globemaster II.

NASA’s XV-15 tiltrotor research aircraftwas the first proof-of-concept vehicle builtentirely to Ames’ specifications. In 1976,the aircraft hovered for the first time. Twoyears later, it demonstrated conversion andforward flight as the first tilting rotor vehi-cle to solve the problems of “prop whirl.”Its success directly led to the Marines’ V-22Osprey development, as well as currentdevelopment of the Bell 609 civil tiltrotor.

In 1979, wing tip “winglets,” an inven-tion by Langley’s Richard Whitcomb, wereintroduced to improve vehicle aerodynam-ics and improve fuel efficiency. Applied atthe tips of an aircraft’s main wing, winglets

are seen on many of today’s advanced aircraft, as thetechnology is now universally accepted. In 1997, The Gulfstream V aircraft incorporated Whitcomb’ssupercritical wing characteristics and winglets to set 46world and national performance records. Other aircraftthat incorporate these innovations are the Boeing 777and the C-17.

Remotely Piloted VehiclesThe concept of using remotely piloted vehicles for

aeronautical testing and research was first introduced byNASA at the Dryden Flight Research Center in 1969 asa way of eliminating the need for a pilot on a high-riskflight project. Today, remotely piloted aircraft are impor-tant engineering tools for aeronautical researchers.Known as remotely piloted research vehicles (RPRVs),these aircraft help NASA improve flight safety, lowerflight test and development costs, and improve aircraftconstruction, materials, and systems.

Between 1979 and 1983, two RPRVs were flown inone of Dryden’s most successful research projects. Thevehicles, called Highly Maneuverable AircraftTechnology (HiMAT), were utilized to explore anddevelop high-performance design and structural tech-nologies that could be applied to future aircraft. The rear-mounted swept wings, digital flight control systems, andforward controllable canards gave the vehicles a turnradius twice as tight as conventional fighter aircraft. The RPRV concept was chosen for the program becausethe experimental technologies and high-risk maneuver-ability tests would have endangered pilots.

About 30 percent of the aircraft’s construction mate-rials were experimental composites such as fiberglassand graphite-epoxy, which allowed them to withstandhigh-force-of-gravity conditions. Knowledge gainedfrom the HiMAT program strongly influenced other

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The Boeing Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft.

advanced research, and these types of structural materi-als are now commonly incorporated on commercial andmilitary aircraft. The program produced considerabledata on integrated, computerized controls; design fea-tures such as aeroelastic tailoring, close-coupled canards,and winglets; the application of new composite materialsfor internal and external construction; a digital integrat-ed propulsion control system; and the interaction of thesethen-new technologies upon one another.

The Next Mode of Space TransportationA new chapter in NASA’s history started on January 5,

1972, when President Richard Nixon endorsed plans forthe Agency to build a new space vehicle. NASA’s SpaceShuttle, unlike earlier expendable rockets, was designedto be launched multiple times, serving to ferry payloadsand personnel to and from space. As the Space Shuttleconcept was being developed, NASA assigned areas ofprogram responsibility to its centers. Kennedy assumeddesign for ground support facilities and systems for theShuttle. Johnson led the Shuttle Program and wasresponsible for the design and procurement of theorbiter. Marshall was tasked with the design and pro-curement of the external propellant tank, the three mainengines of the orbiter, and the solid rocket boosters.

In May 1975, the first Space Shuttle Main Enginewas tested at Stennis. The main engines that boost theSpace Shuttle into low-Earth orbit were flight certifiedat Stennis on the same test stands used during theApollo Program. Columbia, the first orbiter scheduledfor space flight, was delivered to Kennedy in March1979, where it began flight processing for its firstlaunch on April 12, 1981. The partially reusable spacevehicle was the first flown aerodynamic, winged vehi-cle to reenter Earth’s atmosphere from space, employ-ing technologies developed over 30 years. By the end of1985, three more orbiters arrived at Kennedy:Challenger, Discovery, and Atlantis.

Aviation Advances in the 1980sNASA continued to make its mark on civilian flight

after the first Space Shuttle mission. When Ames demon-strated a head-up guidance display in a Boeing 727-100transport airline in the early 1980s, the aviation industrysubsequently adapted the technology and certified it forcivil transport operations. Riblets, another NASA devel-opment, also impacted commercial aviation during thistime. Invented by Langley, riblets are small, barely visible grooves that are placed on the surface of airplanes.The V-shaped grooves reduce aerodynamic drag, translat-ing into fuel reductions and significant savings for U.S.commercial airlines.

The Laminar Flow Control project that took place atDryden between 1986 and 1994 sought to provide similarbenefits. By developing active flow control over all speedregimes, the project produced laminar flow over 65 percent of the wing of an aircraft, reducing drag and pro-moting better fuel efficiency. NASA’s research to

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A close-up view of a Space Shuttle Main Engine during a testat Stennis Space Center shows how the engine is rotated toevaluate the performance of its components under simulatedflight conditions.

The Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology subscale researchvehicle, seen here during a research flight, was flown by DrydenFlight Research Center from 1979 to 1983. The aircraft demon-strated advanced fighter technologies that have been used in thedevelopment of many modern high performance military aircraft.

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improve laminar flow dates back to 1930when NACA photographed airflow turbu-lence in Langley’s Variable Density Tunnel.

From January 1981 through January1988, nearly 400 commercial airline trac-tion-related accidents occurred as aircraftran off the ends of runways or veered offshoulders. The resulting crew and passen-ger fatalities motivated the Landing andImpact Dynamics Branch at NASALangley to define runway surface mainte-nance requirements and minimum frictionlevel limits in adverse conditions. ItsSafety Grooving research program workedto reduce aircraft tire hydroplaning, theprimary cause of uncontrolled skiddingduring wet weather conditions. Theresearchers proved that cutting thin grooves across con-crete runways to create channels for draining excesswater reduces the risk of hydroplaning. As a result, hun-dreds of commercial airport runways around the worldhave been safety-grooved. The NASA programimproved aircraft tire friction performance in wet condi-tions by 200 to 300 percent, and countless lives havebeen saved as a result.

The airborne wind shear detection system that wasdeveloped and refined at Langley is another NASA tech-nology that contributes to aircraft landing safety. Windshear occurs when invisible bodies of air are traveling indifferent directions of each other at different speeds.Pilots experience severe difficulty in correcting changesin flight path during a wind shear disturbance, particu-larly while attempting to land. This invisible aviation

hazard is so dangerously unpredictable that about 26 air-craft crashed, resulting in over 500 fatalities between1964 and 1985.

After a Delta Airlines jetliner was brought down bywind shear near Dallas, Texas, in August 1985, it wasevident that something had to be done to provide pilotswith greater advance warning of wind shear situations.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NASALangley combined forces from 1986 to 1993 to developbetter wind shear detection capabilities for the airlinesand the military. The first challenge was to learn how tomodel and predict the phenomenon. Langley developed

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Langley Research Center’s Boeing 737 research aircraft is fittedwith a Doppler radar wind shear detection system that sends abeam well ahead of the airplane to detect microbursts.

Wind shear occurs when invisible bodies of airtravel in different directions of each other at differ-ent speeds. During wind shear disturbances, pilotsexperience severe difficulty maintaining their flightpath, particularly while attempting to land.

the F-factor metric that is now the standard fordetermining if the airflow ahead of an aircraft isdangerous wind shear.

The next step was to determine what sort of sen-sor would be the most effective in detecting thewind shear 10 seconds to 1 minute ahead of a fly-ing aircraft. Langley’s 737 flying laboratory,NASA 515, flew over 130 missions into severeweather situations, learning how to hunt the invis-ible hazards 2 to 3 miles ahead of the aircraft. Theresulting technological advances have enabledaircraft to read the speed and direction of invisi-ble particles of water vapor or dust in the windand provide pilots the necessary advance warningof wind shear conditions.

Doppler radar-based systems were developedbased on the Langley research and were commer-cially certified by several companies. The systemhad its maiden flight on Continental Airlines less than 2years after the Langley Wind Shear Program declared“mission accomplished” and concluded testing.

Safety Strategies in the 1990sFlying a small plane lost and surrounded by

unknown terrain can be a pilot’s greatest fear. Througha licensing agreement between JPL and private indus-try, JPL successfully applied synthetic aperture radarfor terrain mapping and Global Positioning Satellite(GPS) data to provide pilots with accurate location andlocal terrain information in any weather.

In 1994, the Technology Affiliates Program intro-duced the start-up company of Dubbs & Severino, Inc.,to JPL’s Dr. Nevin Bryant. Dubbs & Severino had anidea for mapping software to help private airplane pilots,inspired in part by the fatal crash of a pilot friend. Thepackage needed to be completely software-driven,instead of requiring expensive hardware, as was thenorm up to that time. Bryant’s Cartographic ApplicationsGroup at JPL had developed GeoTIFF, an architecturestandard providing geolocation tools for mapping appli-cations. GeoTIFF proved to be the crucial key thatDubbs & Severino needed to bring the idea to fruition.With JPL’s assistance, the company developed two low-cost software packages that enable pilots to use laptopsto detect and avoid hazardous terrain and find their loca-tion on maps.

In 1997, NASA created the Aviation Safety Program inresponse to a report from the White House Commissionon Aviation Safety and Security. Forming a partnership,NASA, the FAA, the aviation industry, and theDepartment of Defense set the program’s goal to developand demonstrate technologies that will contribute to areduction in the aviation fatal accident rate by a factor of

5 by the year 2007. Langley leads the program, with crit-ical involvement from Ames, Dryden, Goddard, andGlenn. The program’s research and technology objectivesaddress accidents involving hazardous weather, con-trolled flight into terrain, human error-caused accidentsand incidents, and mechanical or software malfunctions.

Working within these objectives, the Icing Branch atGlenn supported the development of a new aircraft iceprotection system by providing technical and testing sup-port and Small Business Innovation Research programfunding to Cox & Company, Inc., in 2001. The compa-ny’s innovation combines an anti-icing system with amechanical deicer developed by NASA called theElectro-Mechanical Expulsion Deicing System.Together, the two parts form an ice protection systemwell suited for airfoil leading edges, where ice contami-nation can degrade aerodynamic abilities. The systemhas the distinction of being the first aircraft ice protec-tion system to gain FAA approval for use on a new busi-ness jet in 40 years.

NASA and Aviation TodayNASA’s ongoing research projects contribute to all

aspects of aeronautics today. The Agency’s emergingtechnologies have the potential to open a whole new era in aviation, providing advances in air transportationsafety and efficiency, national defense, economicgrowth, and quality of life.

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Dubbs & Severino, Inc., creators of the low-cost software pack-ages TerrAvoid and Position Integrity, have designed six warningmodes to reflect the FAA categories of concern about safe flight.This image demonstrates how the software packages worktogether to provide pilots with enhanced situational awarenessthrough the use of six mutually supporting graphic windows.

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The mission of NASA’s Future Flight Central, a fullyinteractive air traffic control tower simulator located atthe Ames Research Center, is to provide a world-classsimulation research facility to improve the safety, effi-ciency, and cost-effectiveness of airport procedures,designs, and technologies. With NASA experts, airportstaff can plan new runways, test new ground traffic andtower communications procedures, validate air trafficplanning simulations, and perform cost-benefit studiesfor new airport requirements and designs.

NASA’s Intelligent Flight Control, another ongoingresearch project, developed a neural network technologyto help aircraft recover from a loss of control. Currentefforts continue to develop neural network technologiesthat can automatically compensate for damaged or mal-functioning aircraft.

NASA’s Environmental Research Aircraft and SensorTechnology (ERAST) project at Dryden serves as agateway into future aeronautics. Accomplishments suchas the solar-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)Helios prototype, which set an altitude record of 96,863feet in 2001, are leading the way for future unmannedhigh-altitude, long-duration, solar-powered aircraft. TheERAST project is also researching a fuel cell-basedpower system, taking a step toward a UAV that could besent on missions spanning months at a time.

For over 85 years, the aeronautical contributions ofNASA and its predecessor NACA have advanced thesafety, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of flight.NASA/NACA technology is on board every U.S. com-mercial and military aircraft flying today. From windshear detection and collision avoidance systems to aparachute that lowers an entire aircraft safely to theground, the aviation benefits derived from the work of

NASA/NACA scientists and engineers have impactedthe life of every U.S. citizen that has traveled by plane.Through its initiatives and programs, as well as partner-ships with the aviation industry, NASA continues tomake aeronautics a priority as the United States beginsthe journey into a second century of flight.

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NASA’s Future Flight Central, theworld’s first full-scale virtual airport con-trol tower, opened December 13, 1999at Ames Research Center in MoffettField, California. The two-story facility isdesigned to test ways to solve potentialair and ground traffic problems at com-mercial airports under realistic airportconditions and configurations.

Tests conducted at the Cox & Company Icing Wind Tunnelhelped solve the problem of removing ice from airfoils.

NASA’s challenging and exciting missions provide unique oppor-tunities for engaging and educating the public. Air travel, spaceflight, the exploration of the unknown, and the discovery of

new, mysterious, and beautiful things are all endeavors that hold anintrinsic fascination for people around the world. And the benefits—to NASA, the Nation, and the world—of engaging students and the public in our scientific and engineering adventures cannot be overstated.By stimulating people’s imaginations and creativity and by meaningfullycommunicating the significance of our discoveries and developments to them, we can help to improve the scientific and technological literacy of our society and draw new students into careers in science and engineering.

—NASA 2003 Strategic Plan

The NASA Education Enterprise:Inspiring the Next Generation of Explorers

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Inspiring our next generation of explorers, inven-tors, discoverers, technologists, scientists, mathemati-cians, and engineers is the cornerstone of the newEducation Enterprise.

For nearly 50 years, the men and women of NASAhave broken barriers to open new horizons ofopportunity. Our journeys in air, space, and labo-

ratories have enabled new understanding of our universe,safer and faster air travel, breakthroughs in health careand scientific research, and inspired humanity to reachfor new heights. While these achievements and the peo-ple behind them are unique, at their foundation they arelinked by a common denominator: education. None ofthe accomplishments we herald in our Nation’s history,our daily lives, or in our laboratories and research cen-ters would have been possible without quality educationand the people who help open the minds of those whodare to explore and dream.

Educators create horizons of opportunity in class-rooms every day. They prepare, inspire, excite, encour-age, and nurture the exploration for answers and newquestions. Educators are the adventurers in our midst andwithout them our journeys would not succeed. As wemove into our second century of flight, we must workwith all who touch the future to help prepare a new gen-eration of Americans to meet the growing challenges inscience, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

To meet this challenge, NASA has established theEducation Enterprise. Working collaboratively withNASA’s scientific and technical enterprises, theEducation Enterprise will ensure that education is anintegral component of every major NASA research anddevelopment mission. This enterprise will provideunique teaching and learning experiences, as only NASAcan, through the Agency’s research and flight capabili-ties. Students and educators will work with NASA anduniversity researchers and scientists to use real-time datato study the Earth, explore the universe, and conduct sci-entific investigations in the fields of aerospace andspace-based research.

NASA’s Education Enterprise will provide opportu-nities for students and educators to work with theAgency’s scientists and engineers to learn what it takesto develop the new technology required to understandour home planet, explore the universe, and to live andwork in space.

As we celebrate the accomplishments of the Nation’sfirst 100 years of flight, we look forward with great

anticipation to the next century of flight. The next gen-eration of explorers—the Explorers of the NewMillennium—must represent fully this Nation’s vibrantand rich diversity. NASA’s Education Enterprise willstrive to ensure that all children can explore their fullpotential as Americans. We will fully engage the under-represented and underserved communities of students,educators, and researchers. Furthermore, we will supportour Nation’s universities, colleges, and community col-leges by providing exciting research and internshipopportunities that “light the fire” and “fuel the passion”of young people, thereby creating a culture of learningand achievement in science, technology, engineering,and mathematics.

Welcome to NASA’s Education Enterprise. Workingtogether, we can “see learning in a whole new light.”

Dr. Adena Williams LostonAssociate Administrator for EducationNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Preface

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“Today, America has a serious shortage of youngpeople entering the fields of mathematics and science.This critical part of NASA’s mission is to inspire the nextgeneration of explorers so that our work can go on. Thiseducational mandate is an imperative.”

On April 12, 2002, NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe opened a new window to thefuture of space exploration with these words

in his “Pioneering the Future” address. Thus began the conceptual framework for structuring the newEducation Enterprise.

The Agency’s mission is to understand and protectour home planet; to explore the universe in search for life; and to inspire the next generation of explorers… as only NASA can. In adopting this mission, educa-tion became a core element and is now a vital part ofevery major NASA research and development mission.

NASA’s call to “inspire the next generation ofexplorers” is now resounding throughout the NASAcommunity and schools of all levels all around the coun-try. The goal is to capture student interest, nurture theirnatural curiosities, and intrigue their minds with new andexciting scientific research; as well as to provide educa-tors with the creative tools they need to improveAmerica’s scientific literacy. The future of NASA beginswith America’s youngest scholars. According toAdministrator O’Keefe’s address, if NASA does notmotivate the youngest generation now, “there is littleprospect this generation will choose to pursue scientificdisciplines later.”

Since embracing Administrator O’Keefe’s education-al mandate over a year ago, NASA has been fully devot-ed to broadening its roadmap to motivation. The effortshave generated a whole new showcase of thought-provoking and fun learning opportunities, through print-ed material, Web sites and Webcasts, robotics, rocketry,aerospace design contests, and various other resources… as only NASA can.

Administrator O’Keefe selected a highly experiencededucator and education administrator, Dr. AdenaWilliams Loston, in the fall of 2002, to lead the charge forNASA’s Education Enterprise. Dr. Loston’s mandatefrom Administrator O’Keefe is to stimulate interestamong students in science, technology, engineering, andmathematics study and careers by raising public aware-ness among educators, students, and parents about thevast array of NASA education programs and resourcesavailable. The mandate also calls for the engagement ofthese individuals in interactive educational activities thathighlight the discoveries and missions of NASA’s Offices

of Space Flight, Space Science, Aerospace Technology,Earth Science, and Biological and Physical Research.

In 2002 alone, NASA reached well over half a mil-lion educators, nearly two million students in grades K through 12, and almost 70,000 higher education stu-dents through direct, on-site activities and programs. Inaddition to those served by broad-based NASAEducation programs, the Agency also directly reachedover 17,000 minority students through its minority-targeted academies, scholarships, and initiatives.

Whirlybirds, Pigeons, and Bats, Oh My!In one particular endeavor to inspire the Nation’s

youth, NASA decided in 2002 to build on children’s fas-cination with flying vehicles. “Robin Whirlybird on HerRotorcraft Adventures,” an online, interactive children’sbook, is introducing kindergarteners through fourthgraders to the history, concepts, and research behindaeronautics and rotorcraft. Designed to have the look andfeel of a children’s book, the story revolves around ayoung girl named Robin who visits a NASA researchcenter where her mother works as an engineer. Duringher visit, Robin explores the concepts of aeronauticaldesign, the physics of flight, and the practical applicationof rotorcraft, also known as helicopters or runway-independent aircraft. The book incorporates interactiveelements on every page, a menu bar with various explo-ration buttons, and lesson plans aimed at strengtheninglanguage arts and vocabulary skills, making it a uniqueclassroom tool.

In a similar effort also launched last year, NASA’s“The Adventures of Amelia the Pigeon” project is teach-ing children how scientists use satellite imagery to better

The NASA Education Enterprise:Inspiring the Next Generation of Explorers

Designed to have the look and feel of a children’s book, “RobinWhirlybird on Her Rotorcraft Adventures” revolves around ayoung girl’s visit to a NASA research center where her motherworks as an engineer.

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understand the Earth’s environmental changes.The Web site acquaints young students (gradesK through four) with Earth science concepts,beginning with classifying objects by shape,color, and texture, building a foundation forinterpretation and understanding of remotesensing. The pigeon adventure—based in NewYork City, because of its size, diversity, andvisibility of prominent features in satelliteimagery—encourages the development of chil-dren’s inquiry skills, via online explorations,sequential storytelling, and hands-on investiga-tions. The story also features supplementalclassroom materials associated with NationalScience Education Standards. “Amelia thePigeon” is a result of Goddard Space FlightCenter’s Interactive Multimedia Adventuresfor Grade School Education Using Remote Sensing(IMAGERS) collaboration with the Department ofInterior’s United States Geological Survey, and followson the success of the “Echo the Bat” program, whichteaches children to understand light and the electromag-netic spectrum, as they apply to remote sensing.

New Series of Science BooksIn March of this year, NASA and Pearson Scott

Foresman, the leading pre-K through sixth grade educa-tion publisher, formally agreed to collaborate on elemen-tary and middle school science curricula. Under the termsof the partnership, Pearson Scott Foresman editors andauthors will draw upon NASA’s rich archival materialand extensive research in biological, physical, Earth, andspace sciences to create the Scott Foresman Scienceseries of books. NASA experts will review the content,and Pearson Scott Foresman will ensure the curriculareflect National Science Education Standards, as well asother specific targeted standards. Before the new series is published, specific lessons will be developed for students and teachers, following the steps that BarbaraMorgan, NASA’s first Educator Astronaut and a secondand third grade teacher, is taking in preparation for flightinto space.

AstronomyFurther helping students to reach for the stars, a new

NASA astronomy program is bringing together existingInternet technology and other tools to open the universeto those who would otherwise be denied the experiencedue to their physical or cognitive disabilities. The effort,funded by NASA through the Space Telescope ScienceInstitute (STScI) of Baltimore, involves the participationof the elementary school system in Howard County,

Maryland. Dr. Carol Grady, a National Optical Astron-omy Observatory researcher stationed at Goddard SpaceFlight Center, is the science lead for the program. Shebecame involved after her son, who has special needs,expressed an interest in her work with the Hubble SpaceTelescope on planet formation and stellar evolution. “Theadvances in astronomy over the last hundred years areone of humanity’s greatest cultural achievements, and Idid not want kids like my son to get the message thatactivities like this are not open to them,” said Grady. Theteam chose to target elementary-age students so that itcan deliver assistive technology to them before frustra-tion leads them to give up attempting to learn.

The wonders of the universe are also being brought to the fingertips of visually impaired students in a new book titled “Touch the Universe: A NASA BrailleBook of Astronomy.” The 64-page book presents colorimages of planets, nebulae, stars, and galaxies. Eachimage is embossed with lines, bumps, and other textures.The raised patterns translate colors, shapes, and otherintricate details of the cosmic objects, allowing the visu-ally impaired to feel what they cannot see. The bookincorporates Braille and large-print descriptions for eachof its 14 photographs to make it accessible to readers ofmost visual acuities. “Touch the Universe” takes thereader on a cosmic journey. It begins with an image ofthe Hubble Space Telescope orbiting Earth, and thentravels outward into the universe, showing objects suchas Jupiter, the Ring Nebula, and the Hubble Deep StarField North. The author, Noreen Grice, teamed with

Students in the fourth grade at Longfellow Elementary School,Columbia, Maryland, answer questions about the solar system,using a planetary model called an “orrery” that they painted afterviewing Hubble Space Telescope pictures.

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Bernhard Beck-Winchatz, an astronomer at DePaulUniversity in Chicago, to develop the book with a$10,000 Hubble Space Telescope grant for educationaloutreach. Students at the Colorado School for the Deafand Blind in Colorado Springs evaluated the early proto-type images for clarity and provided suggestions forimprovement prior to publication.

Space Day 2003Students of all ages gathered at various sites around

the world on May 1 to pay tribute to aerospace explo-ration and to celebrate the “Future of Flight.”Administrator O’Keefe and Senator John Glenn kickedoff the celebration with an opening ceremony at theSmithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum inWashington, DC. During the ceremony, student teamsand teachers around the country were recognized fortheir “stellar” future spacecraft designs. The “YoungOhio Engineers” from Grace Home School inWesterville, Ohio, was the team awarded with the bestoverall “Fly to the Future” design among fourth and fifthgraders. This five-student lineup designed a multi-functional X-76 Independence aircraft that could be usedfor various tasks, including commercial transport andmilitary use. The X-76 Independence contains manyinterchangeable parts (based on its mission), is poweredby a combination of turbo jet and scram jet engines thatchange modes based on altitude and speed, and has a ver-tical takeoff and landing system that enables it to be usedalmost anywhere.

In the “Planetary Explorers” challenge, “TeamJupiter” from the Franklin Magnet Middle School inChampaign, Illinois, took home the best overall awardamong sixth through eighth graders for their creation.Team Jupiter decided to go to Europa, one of the moonsof Jupiter, and conduct scientific experiments. Their

“CSSC-BAM V” vehicle featured a blended-wing bodydesign made from titanium alloy. It would use jet engineswhen flying on Earth or to near-Earth orbit, and plasmaengines in space. A team of snakebots—machines thatcan crawl, coil, climb, and grasp, just like serpents—each with its own unique task, manned the plane toexplore the surface of Europa upon arrival.

The celebration continued around the globe. In MorrisPlains, New Jersey, first graders at Mountview RoadSchool attempted to simulate dockings, manipulate toolsunder water, and eat food as if they were in a weightlessenvironment. In Crawfordville, Florida, students viewedspace videos, built small LEGO machines using NASAglove boxes they made, read space exploration books,and ate moon pies. At the Museum of Science in Boston,Massachusetts, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar SystemAmbassador Charlie Haffey spoke about the explorationof Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, which prompted students toconstruct scale models of the planets. Internationally,students from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, toured the world’slargest radio telescope that searches for life in distantgalaxies. In Pukekohe, South Auckland, New Zealand,students were treated to space awareness workshops fea-turing hands-on activities.

Over 500 schools worldwide participated in the“Student Signatures in Space” program to sign postersthat will be digitized and eventually flown on a SpaceShuttle mission. Established in 1997, Space Day is ded-icated to the extraordinary achievements, benefits, andopportunities in the exploration and use of space. NASAis one of more than 75 organizations that support theaward-winning educational initiative.

SEMAA: A Decade of Devotion to LearningOver the last 10 years, an innovative program man-

aged by the Office of Educational Programs at NASA’sGlenn Research Center has been inspiring a diverse stu-dent population in grades K through 12 to pursue careersin the fields of science, engineering, mathematics, andtechnology. The 10th anniversary celebration of the

Administrator Sean O’Keefe visits with students at Space Day2003—Celebrating the Future of Flight. Space Day, the annualtribute to aerospace exploration, invited young students to honorthe previous 100 years of aviation accomplishments at theSmithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum on May 1.

Photo credit NASA/Renee Bouchard

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Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and AerospaceAcademy (SEMAA) coincided with the annual NationalSEMAA Conference held in June in Cleveland, Ohio.Educators, students, parents, and administrators from all19 SEMAA sites across the country attended. The focusof the conference was to develop additional ways to cre-ate awareness and access to programs with similar pur-poses and to develop partnerships. SEMAA was born in1993 of then U.S. Congressman Louis Stokes’ concernabout the low level of academic achievement of theyoung students in his district and his urging for the creation of a unique program that would focus on math-ematics and science.

NASA Explorer SchoolsA new NASA education initiative has been designed

to provide customized, extended professional develop-ment for educators and unique NASA science and tech-nology learning experiences for students. The 3-yearNASA Explorer School (NES) program will align partic-ipating schools with NASA personnel and other partnersto develop and implement action plans for teachers andadministrators. The action plans will promote and sup-port the use of NASA materials and programs thataddress local needs in mathematics, science, and tech-nology. Fifty NES teams will be chosen from around thecountry. Each team will consist of three or four science,mathematics, or technology educators, an administrator,and a state supervisor, and will participate in an expense-paid week of intensive training at one of NASA’s 10 centers. Each team will also receive a $10,000 grant,intended to assist with the purchase of science and tech-nology tools to support implementation plans and bringcutting-edge technology to the classroom. The 2003 pilotyear focus is for grades five through eight.

Emmy Award-Winning Television ProgramsIn an effort to continue promotion of higher learning

through educational television programming, NASA isjoining forces with South Carolina EducationalTelevision (SCETV) to video-stream three educationaltelevision series to classrooms throughout SouthCarolina and across all other states. Developed byLangley Research Center’s Office of Education, theEmmy Award-winning shows “NASA Science Files”and “NASA Connect” are aimed at students rangingfrom grades 3 through 12; the third show, “NASA’sDestination Tomorrow,” is also an Emmy Award recipi-ent, but is designed for educators, parents, and life-longlearners. NASA is using SCETV facilities to broadcastthe three series nationwide. Approximately 18,000 SouthCarolina educators, representing about 500,000 students,are registered users of the programs.

WebcastsNASA Webcasts are also becoming more prevalent in

America’s schools. Ames Research Center’s “NASAQuest” Web site, a rich resource for educators, children,and space enthusiasts interested in meeting and learningabout the people who work for the Space Program, fea-tures a full calendar of audio/video Webcasts and live,interactive events. On any given day, students and otherscan log on and learn why a deep-sea submersible labora-tory stationed in the Florida Keys is helping NASAastronauts to prepare for long-term space travel; whyNASA is studying the Northern Lights phenomena toimprove satellite operations and space communications;and how a catalytic carburetor designed by NASA willhelp to reduce air pollution. NASA Quest also connectsschools with NASA staff through Web chats, forums, e-mail, informative biographies and journals, curriculumresources, and more.

In March, students from grades 5 through 12 exploredthe frozen landscapes of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains—from their desks. As virtual participants in two liveWebcasts, students nationwide joined scientists fromNASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-istration (NOAA), other Federal agencies, and manyuniversities as they studied the role of snow-cover on theEarth’s water and climate. Using skis, snowmobiles, air-craft, and satellites, scientists participating in the 2003NASA-NOAA Cold Land Processes Experiment studiedsnowpack from the ground, air, and space across thewinter and spring of this year to improve forecasts ofspringtime water supply and snowmelt floods. Throughinteraction, students gained an understanding of howremote sensing is used in Earth science research and how

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The NASA Connect team visited students at Andoya High School in Andenes, Norway, to tape an instructional video as part of its annual series of free standards-basedlearning programs.

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scientists verify data from airborne plat-forms and satellites hundreds of milesabove the planet.

Frozen ice was also the topic of a seriesof live Webcasts in April. Secondary andcollege classrooms were invited to partici-pate in the Internet broadcasts to explorethe frozen ice sheets of the North Pole andlearn how they play a role in warming theEarth. The actual research was carried outby NASA scientists and Native Americanstudents from the Bay Mills CommunityCollege in Brimley, Michigan. Together,the scientists and college students gathereddata about the nature and thickness of seaice in the Arctic and measured the concen-tration of aerosols and their specific proper-ties, such as size and absorption of sunlight (the amountof sunlight that aerosols absorb is important in helpingscientists better understand how they contribute to trap-ping heat in the atmosphere and warming the Earth). Thepurpose of involving the Bay Mills students was toinspire Native American students to seek out careers intechnology and science. Students watching theWebcasts from their classrooms had the opportunity todialogue with the scientists and the students in the field.

In May, an interactive Webcast gave students an earlylook at NASA’s plans to land two twin robotic geologistson Mars in January 2004. The hour-long “Countdown toMars” program, hosted by “Bill Nye the Science Guy,”invited 250 students to conduct science and engineeringexperiments based on those of the actual MarsExploration Rover mission. Viewers throughout NorthAmerica were able to interact via e-mail as the studentscarried out the experiments on camera. Jet PropulsionLaboratory’s Dr. Joy Crisp, the rovers’ project scientist,joined the program as one of its guests.

Another Webcast that took place in May offeredeighth graders from economically disadvantagedChicago-area schools the opportunity to see science inaction and be inspired by the International Space Stationcrew. The event, hosted by Chicago’s Adler Planetariumand Astronomy Museum, “connected” the students withExpedition Seven astronaut Ed Lu and cosmonaut YuriMalenchenko. The Space Station Webcast was just oneof many enabled by NASA’s Teaching in Space Program,managed by Johnson Space Center.

Snapshots From SpaceIn a case of long-distance learning, middle school

students from McNair Magnet School in Cocoa, Florida,were the latest participants in a NASA project that allowsyoungsters to take pictures of the Earth using a camera

on the International Space Station (ISS). The ISSEarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middleschool students) project, created in 1994 by Dr. SallyRide—America’s first woman astronaut, is helping scientists from Goddard Space Flight Center study theplanet’s changing surface. From April 29 to May 2, theMcNair Magnet students controlled the high-resolutiondigital camera operating on the Space Station’s Destinyscience module, via Internet connections. The studentsprofited by being involved in the process of real scientif-ic research and through their interaction with scientistsas they worked together on the analysis of researchimages. The next picture-taking mission is scheduled forNovember 2003, followed by four more in 2004.

Contests to Challenge the MindThe two twin robotic geologists being sent to Mars

now bear the names “Spirit” and “Opportunity,” thanksto a 9-year-old explorer-to-be. Sofi Collis, a third graderfrom Scottsdale, Arizona, wrote the winning essay in acontest to name the rovers. Collis’ essay was selectedfrom nearly 10,000 entries in the contest, sponsored byNASA and Denmark-based toymaker LEGO, Co., withcollaboration from the Planetary Society of Pasadena,California. Collis, who was born in Siberia and broughtto the United States through adoption, read her essay atthe name-unveiling ceremony in June at Kennedy SpaceCenter: “I used to live in an orphanage. It was dark andcold and lonely. At night, I looked up at the sparkly skyand felt better. I dreamed I could fly there. In America, Ican make all my dreams come true. Thank you for the‘Spirit’ and the ‘Opportunity.’”

An aerial image of Arizona and Utah, taken from theInternational Space Station by middle school students, viaInternet connections.

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Nobel laureate physicist Luis Alvarez and his coworkers proposed in 1980 a theory that an asteroid col-lided with the Earth about 65 million years ago, causing the extinction of the dinosaurs. The Earth hasexperienced catastrophic changes in its history that havechanged the course of biological evolution many times.Should disaster strike the Earth, a large space colony civilization can insure life’s survival and, if possible, suc-cor Earth, according to NASA scientists. The idea ofspace colonies is also a natural curiosity, because livingthings want to grow and expand, like weeds that growthrough cracks in sidewalks, and living creatures thatcrawl out of the oceans and colonize land. NASA notesthat the key advantage of space settlements is the abilityto build new land, rather than take it from someone else.This allows, but does not guarantee, a huge expansion ofhumanity without war or destruction of Earth’s biosphere.

NASA hosts an annual Space Settlement Contest,sponsored by the Fundamental Space Biology Program

at Ames Research Center, to encourage students todevelop the ideas and skills necessary to make orbitalcolonies a possibility. The contest challenges students ingrades 6 through 12 to investigate and then developdesigns for a permanent, relatively self-sufficient homethat cannot be based on a planet or a moon. TheFundamental Space Biology Program created a Web sitethat provides students access to a wealth of electronicresources to help in developing designs. The 2003 grandprize winners were two middle school students fromRomania. Horia Mihail Teodorescu and Lucian GabrielBahrin submitted the design for an orbital colony called“Teba 1.” The winning design was chosen by a panel ofNASA scientists from a field of 89 designs submitted by307 students from the United States, Austria, India,Japan, and Romania. The grand prize winners, alongwith the first-, second-, and third-place winners in theindividual and small group categories, were invited toAmes to present their designs, talk to NASA scientists,and tour the Fundamental Space Biology laboratories.

More creative problem-solving took place during the26th annual “Odyssey of the Mind World Finals,” held atIowa State University in May. Sponsored by NASA’sEarth Science Enterprise, the Odyssey contest tested theabilities of students of all ages from around the world to design, construct, and run three small vehicles totransport items from an orbit area to an assembly stationin “space.” The NASA problem opened with a three-dimensional representation of an Earth scene as viewedfrom space. Items affecting the problem, both real andimaginary, were added to the scenario, effecting a scenechange. The vehicles were powered in different ways:one carried its energy source, and two traveled on themomentum created by different sources. This problemwas one of five long-term challenges presented at thecontest. During the year, students were separated intofour divisions, based on age, and formed teams to solveone of the challenges. After developing their solutions,teams competed at state and regional levels, before mov-ing on to the World Finals.

Students are also receiving an educational “boost”through a variety of rocketry challenges. More than1,000 students from 100 high schools throughout theUnited States gathered in Virginia to compete in theinaugural Team America Rocketry Challenge, consid-ered the world’s largest model rocket contest. The event,held in conjunction with the national yearlong

Explorer-to-be Sofi Collis with a Mars Exploration Rover model.

A LEGO 1:1 scale model of the Mars Exploration Rover, shownon display at the World Space Congress in Houston, Texas, in October 2002. The rover model weighs 130 kilograms (290 pounds), is made from approximately 90,000 LEGO ele-ments, and took 650 man-hours to build.Image courtesy of The LEGO Company

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Centennial of Flight Celebration, offered student teamsawards worth $59,000. Boonsboro High School ofBoonsboro, Maryland, placed first in the contest. The top10 teams became eligible to submit proposals to partici-pate in the 2004 Student Launch Initiative at MarshallSpace Flight Center, where students build reusablelaunch vehicles carrying a science experiment payloadup to an altitude of 1 mile.

Elementary and high school students from five statesworked feverishly for 9 months across 2002 and 2003 toprepare their experiments for launch aboard a NASArocket to the upper limits of the Earth’s atmosphere. InJune, they saw their hard work pay off with the launch ofthe 20-foot-tall NASA sounding rocket from the WallopsFlight Facility in Virginia. The high school students’experiments focused on satellite communications, spec-tral imaging and analysis, and materials and fluids in a

high-stress environment, while the elementary students’experiments focused on static electricity. The flight, partof the NASA Student Involvement Program, exposed theexperiments to stresses 15 times Earth’s gravity.

In the realm of robotics, hundreds of students fromthe United States and Canada converged on Cleveland,Ohio, in March for the Buckeye Regional For Inspirationand Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST)Robotics Competition. Working side-by-side with pro-fessional engineers and technicians, the students took ahands-on approach to discover what real-world engi-neering is all about. The students were divided intoteams for a game called “Stack Attack,” in which theymaneuvered robots they built to detect and attack oppos-ing robots’ stacks of plastic containers. Participatingrobots were required to operate autonomously usingonboard sensors to seek out the containers. The studentswould then take control, commanding their robots toposition as many containers as they could on their side ofthe playing field and also stack them as high as possible.Although each team started out with the same parts kit tobuild its robot back in January, 64 unique robotic cre-ations were represented at the competition.

In another region, students gathered at Houston,Texas’ Reliant Park for the FIRST Robotics Lone StarCompetition. They too, participated in a game of StackAttack to determine the best functioning robots. The win-ners of the Cleveland and the Houston competitions—sponsored by Glenn Research Center and JohnsonResearch Center, respectively, in cooperation with localcorporations, educational institutions, and organiza-tions—and 21 other regional U.S. contests competed inthe FIRST Robotics Championship Competition in May.On a whole, NASA and its Robotic Education Projectsponsored 207 of the nearly 800 teams entered in the2003 FIRST competition. Regional and national awardswere presented to students for excellence in design,

Space Settlement Contest: Design submitted by students fromKadena Middle School in Okinawa, Japan (2002).

At the 2003 For Inspiration and Recognition ofScience and Technology (FIRST) RoboticsCompetition, students participated in a gamecalled “Stack Attack.”

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engineering innovation, control systems, demonstratedteam spirit, sportsmanship, and many other categories.

NASA’s Offices of Space Flight and AerospaceTechnology, through the NASA Quest program, spon-sored a separate robot-design initiative called theRobotic Helper Design Challenge. In May, the 2-montheducational activity brought students and NASA expertstogether for a live Webcast to review the progress of thestudents’ designs, intended to help astronauts living andworking on the ISS. Through the Webcast, the studentsengaged in a virtual tour of the ISS, learned about micro-gravity, and had questions about their designs answeredby NASA experts. An estimated 2,500 students in 100classrooms (representing 26 states and 7 countries) tookpart in the final design challenge. Entries included aSpace Pet Involving Kinetic Energy (SPIKE) robot thatuses propellers to steer itself while floating through low-gravity atmospheres (created by eighth graders atBarkalow Middle School in Freehold, New Jersey), and“Mr. Helper,” which comes equipped with a homingdevice so that it can return to its docking bay to recharge,and a large storage compartment for astronauts’ tools(created by fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students at the K.R. Smith Elementary School in San Jose, California).The inspiration for the design challenge was NASA’sprototype Personal Satellite Assistant, an astronaut-support tool devised to move and operate autonomouslyor by remote control in the microgravity environment ofthe Space Shuttle, ISS, or a future space vehicle.

Collegiate Research OpportunitiesStudents closing in on their undergraduate and post-

graduate degrees are really getting a taste of what it islike to work for NASA, through real-life research oppor-tunities. At North Carolina State University, studentsenrolled in an aerospace design class are helping NASAexpand the exploration of Mars’ surface. The team ofstudents and researchers designed a wind-powered roverthat can be blown, like a tumbleweed, across the surfaceof the Red Planet, for the purpose of collecting atmos-pheric geological samples. To create the TumbleweedEarth Demonstrator rover, the team studied LangleyResearch Center concepts, researched wind tunnel test-ing, and performed actual field-testing. The student-builtrover is expected to provide preliminary data that willinfluence future tumbleweed design concepts.

Three students working toward graduation andadvanced degrees are looking forward to adding the titleof “inventor” to their names. As participants in NASA’sUndergraduate Student Research Program throughMarshall Space Flight Center, Amanda LaZar, DaveBroderick, and Andrew Schnell have suggested innova-tions that soon could be used by the Space Program to

increase safety, facilitate inspection and maintenance ofdelicate equipment, and create lightweight structuresstrong enough to withstand the harsh environment ofEarth orbit.

LaZar, a mechanical engineering student at theUniversity of South Carolina on pace to graduate in2003, anticipates receiving a patent for finding a way toweld joints on the Space Shuttle External Tank that willboth improve safety and reduce repair costs. Broderick,an electrical engineering and computer science student atHartford University also on course to graduate in 2003,completed his first summer as an undergraduateresearcher at Marshall in 2002. He helped develop avision-based guidance system for a miniature robot,allowing technicians to make inspections and repairswithout having to dismantle the apparatus. Schnell, nowin his third year of the student research program afterhaving graduated magna cum laude from the GeorgiaInstitute of Technology in 2002, came up with a newmanufacturing process that uses balloon-like materialinflated with gas and filled with hardened foam to createbeams and other structures. Expected to be patented, ithas potential for both space and ground uses, such asspace solar power systems or sporting equipment. If usedin place of conventional space structure materials such as

A team of North Carolina State University students designed awind-powered rover that can be blown, like a tumbleweed,across Mars’ surface, to collect atmospheric geological samples.

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metal alloys, Schnell’s innovation could drastically cutpayload weights on the Space Shuttle, which currentlycost about $10,000 per pound to launch.

Each year, the Undergraduate Student ResearchProgram offers undergraduates across the Nation mentored research experiences at participating NASAcenters, through fall and summer sessions. NASA addi-tionally hosts the Graduate Student Researchers Programto award fellowships for graduate study leading toresearch-based masters or doctoral degrees in the fieldsof science, mathematics, and engineering.

Six students from the University of New Mexico,Oregon State University, Utah State University, and theUniversity of Utah are spending the summer of 2003monitoring the West Nile virus, studying satellite imagesto assess the potential for dangerous wildfires, andembarking on many other educational adventuresinvolving natural resources. Selected to receive trainingand complete internships in applied Earth science underthe “Develop” program, the students will lead investiga-tions by applying NASA technology to local concerns.Develop provides workforce growth and outreach tocommunities, enabling students to tap science to helpsolve real-world problems. The 10-week project beganin June at Ames Research Center. The primary objectiveof the West Nile virus study is to identify potential mos-quito habitats and correlate the data to human popula-tions at high-risk. For the wildfire task, the students aremapping and monitoring invasive and noxious plantspecies that act as fuel for wildfires.

Partnerships to Encourage and InspireDuring a week in May, NASA joined Career

Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD) atthe group’s annual meeting in Redmond, Washington.COSD is actively helping NASA find qualified studentswith disabilities who are pursuing mathematics, science, engineering, and technical degrees for employ-ment with the Agency. NASA also supports COSD byproviding outreach and assistance to Historically BlackColleges and Universities and Minority Institutions toencourage recruitment, development, and academicgrowth opportunities.

In the past year, NASA helped to launch a new education center to inspire and support socially and eco-nomically disadvantaged students in their quest for high-er learning. The NASA Center for Success in Math andScience, located on the Avondale, Arizona, campus ofEstrella Mountain Community College, was dedicatedby NASA astronaut Carlos Noriega and EstrellaPresident Homero Lopez. The center not only reachesout to local Hispanic students in metropolitan Phoenix, it

also engages Hispanic-Serving Institutions currently notinvolved in NASA programs, especially community col-leges. Through the center, NASA will provide educatorswith unique resources to create learning opportunitiesthat support educational excellence, encourage familyinvolvement, and establish links with local business andcommunity groups.

NASA recently launched its 2003 Summer HighSchool Apprenticeship Research Program (SHARP)after competitively selecting 340 high-achieving stu-dents representing nearly every state in the Nation andthe U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and St. Croix. In June,NASA SHARP participants, chosen from a pool of morethan 2,400 applicants, became apprentices to scientistsand engineers at NASA centers and universities aroundthe country. NASA SHARP is a synergistic, research-based program that focuses on NASA’s mission, facili-ties, human resources, and other programs. The effortadvances the Agency’s goal to involve underrepresentedstudents in academic, workplace, and social experiences,as well as research opportunities to support the educa-tional excellence of the Nation.

In another partnership, NASA and the Foothill-De Anza Community College District will facilitate thedevelopment of an academic center in NASA ResearchPark at Ames Research Center for first-generation col-lege students interested in science, technology, and engi-neering careers. The agreement will bring communitycollege students to classrooms and laboratories onsite atAmes. Since 1957, the Foothill-De Anza CommunityCollege District has responded to the needs of more than1 million Silicon Valley students.

Educator Astronaut and Earth Crew ProgramsIt is official: Teachers are more interested in

space than ever! NASA’s mailroom overflowed with

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Astronauts Barbara Morgan and Leland Melvin visit with students and teachers at the Hardy Middle School in Wash-ington, DC.

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applications from teachers who want to become membersof the permanent Astronaut Corps. NASA received over8,800 teacher nominations during the 3-month recruit-ment phase; even more, the Educator Astronaut Programoffice received over 1,600 applications. NASA willreview the applications and select Educator Astronautcandidates to begin training with the Astronaut Corps atJohnson Space Center. After graduation, new EducatorAstronauts will be eligible for a Space Shuttle flightassignment as fully trained Mission Specialists.

To promote the program and encourage students tonominate their teachers, astronaut Barbara Morgan andEducator Astronaut Program co-managers DebbieBrown and Leland Melvin (also an astronaut) visitedmany schools and organizations around the United Statesand in Puerto Rico. Melvin, for example, enlightenedteachers and students at schools, conferences, and com-munity centers such as Rome Free Academy, ProctorHigh School, and the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club &Community Center in New York; and Elliot MiddleSchool and the Vanguard Learning Center of Compton in California.

As a former National Football League player, Melvinwas on his way to stardom when his football career wascut short by an injury. He decided to pursue an alternativepassion, engineering, which led to his acceptance intoNASA’s permanent Astronaut Corps in 1998. He is takinghis story on the road to inspire students to follow theirdreams and always have a back-up plan. “To accomplishgreat things, you must not only dream, but also plan; andevery plan should contain options, like having a sparetire, just in case you get a flat,” Melvin said.

A recent survey conducted by the National ScienceTeachers Association indicated that more than 91 percentof science teachers should have a place aboard future

Space Shuttle flights, to bring the educational value ofthe missions to the classroom. Science teachers alsobelieve Educator Astronauts could spark student interestin science and mathematics careers, and serve as rolemodels to instill in students how these studies apply tothe real world.

Meanwhile, the next phase of engaging students,teachers, and parents to explore space took flight throughNASA’s Earth Crew activity. International participantsare welcomed and encouraged to join the Earth Crew,which currently consists of more than 23,000 U.S. andinternational members. The Web-based educational pro-gram features activities that enable students, educators,and parents to interact with astronauts, scientists, andengineers in projects and missions. New inspiring andeducational Earth Crew Missions became available onthe Educator Astronaut Web site in May.

With a charter like no other, NASA has led some of themost unique missions in the world. From traveling tolow-Earth orbit and walking on the Moon, to viewing thefarthest reaches of our solar system, NASA has continu-ally worked to share the discovery and adventure alongthe way. Each of these achievements is something thatonly NASA can do; therefore, the Agency is striving evenmore to share these experiences with inquisitive minds inorder to inspire and prepare them for future challenges.

NASA-sponsored education programs create apipeline that engages a diversity of students in the earli-est grades and encourages them to continue through college, graduate school, and postgraduate studies in sci-ence, mathematics, engineering, technology, and geogra-phy. NASA continues to develop and structure programsincorporating its resources and technologies to inspirethe next generation of explorers … as only NASA can.

Making way for future explorers: (from left toright) Dr. Clifford W. Houston, NASA DeputyAssociate Administrator for Education Programs;Peggy Steffen, Program Manager, NASAExplorer Schools Program; Dr. Shelley Canright,NASA Director of the Office of Technology &Products, Education Enterprise; and Dr. HuanNgo, Team Lead, Sheridan Magnet MiddleSchool, New Haven, Connecticut (NASAExplorer School). NASA astronaut Ed Lu (leftbackground) and Russian cosmonaut YuriMalenchenko (right background) join the NASAExplorer School officials via a live feed from theInternational Space Station.

NASA cultivates partnerships with private industry, academia, and othergovernment agencies to address the challenges that face our Nation. By contributing time, facilities, and technical expertise, NASA brings

the benefits of space down to Earth where it enriches the lives of the Americanpublic. The following pages are illustrative of the wealth of NASA success stories generated each year.

PartnershipSuccesses

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Each year, NASA research and developmentefforts contribute to a variety of successes.Through partnerships with industry and acade-

mia, NASA’s space-age technology improves all aspectsof society. While not every technology transfer activityresults in commercialization, these partnerships offerfar-reaching benefits to U.S. citizens. The followingexamples are just a few of the ways NASA is applyingits technology and resources to improve the quality oflife on Earth.

Traffic SafetyThis year, NASA and the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA) joined forces to, literal-ly, take vehicles out for a spin. The NHTSA currentlyemploys a consumer rating system that uses an engineer-ing formula to determine rollover resistance, but wantedto research new methods through NASA. Goddard SpaceFlight Center’s High Capacity Centrifuge, used to testspacecraft before they are sent into space, was exactlywhat was needed to spin up some unique and originalvehicle testing. Vehicles were positioned on the HighCapacity Centrifuge’s test platform, and spun until iner-tia and centrifugal force caused them to tip. A crash-testdummy was along for the ride in each vehicle to increasethe realism and accuracy of the test results. The HighCapacity Centrifuge is a big machine, more than 150 feetin diameter, filling an entire circular building. With twopowerful motors running at full tilt, the outer edge of thetest arm can reach speeds of more than 200 miles perhour, producing a force 30 times Earth’s gravity. At rest,the giant multi-ton arm sits on bearings so smooth justtwo or three people can push it around the room. NASAand the NHTSA expect this first-of-its-kind test will

enable them to gain valuable safety information aboutvehicles that move millions of Americans every day.

Environmental ConservationIn an effort to preserve Earth’s natural resources,

Goddard is the first Federal facility to heat its buildingswith landfill gas. By harnessing methane gas from anearby landfill and utilizing it to fire steam-producingboilers, Goddard is reducing emissions equivalent to tak-ing 35,000 cars off the road per year, or planting 47,000acres of trees, according to Barry Green, the Center’sEnergy Manager. On top of this, officials claim NASAwill save taxpayers more than $3.5 million over the nextdecade in fuel costs. A few years ago, Dallas-based ToroEnergy, Inc., approached NASA, offering landfill gas asa way to reduce fuel costs while helping to protect theenvironment. At no cost to the government, Toro Energybuilt a purification plant and a 5-mile pipeline from thePrince George’s County, Maryland-based Sandy HillLandfill to Goddard, and modified two boilers at theCenter. The Sandy Hill Landfill has collected about 5.2million tons of trash and is expected to generate landfillgas for at least 30 years; NASA plans to use the gas for10 to 20 years. The Environmental Landfill Agency’sLandfill Methane Outreach Program also providedexpertise to help complete this project.

Earth ScienceScientists at Goddard, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

(JPL), and Ames Research Center are working in con-junction with several universities to develop an advancedearthquake modeling system. QuakeSim will giveresearchers new insight into the physics of earthquakesusing state-of-the-art modeling, data manipulation, andpattern recognition technologies when it is completed in2004. Consisting of several simulation tools, QuakeSim

will generate new quake models thatresearchers anticipate will vastly improvefuture earthquake forecasting. According toQuakeSim principal investigator Dr. AndreaDonnellan, from JPL, the forecasts can beused by a variety of Federal and State agen-cies to develop decision support tools andhelp mitigate losses from large earthquakes.

Emergency ManagementA new emergency communication sys-

tem that aids first responders to natural or

Partnership Successes

A sports utility vehicle harnessed to NASA’s HighCapacity Centrifuge is being prepared for a spinto simulate the kinds of forces that might causethe vehicle to lose its stability and roll over.

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man-made disasters is currently being field tested by theMaryland Emergency Management Agency. Developedby Aeptec Microsystems, Inc., through funding fromGoddard’s Small Business Innovation Research pro-gram and the U.S. Federal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA), Earth Alert will make it easier forFEMA, fire departments, and other organizations totrack and communicate with emergency vehicles andstaff responding to disasters. Earth Alert combines glob-al positioning satellite communications with personaldigital assistants and cellular phone technology to effec-tively integrate, analyze, and disseminate informationfor emergency management. The technology employsseamless moveable maps and decision-making notifica-tion software while providing dispatchers with a real-time location of personnel from the field. It is envisionedthat Earth Alert-equipped pagers and fixed receiverslocated in schools, hospitals, businesses, and other facil-ities will be able to receive critical notifications of torna-does, floods, chemical spills, and other disasters. NASAholds the rights to distribute Earth Alerts to first respon-ders, while Aeptec is pursuing commercial applications.

Public SafetyFrom bombings and other homeland security threats,

to child abductions and verifying the “real” SaddamHussein, a video enhancement system developed atMarshall Space Flight Center is proving to be a valuablelaw enforcement tool. The technology known as VISAR(short for Video Image Stabilization and Registration)can turn dark, jittery images captured by home video,security systems, and video cameras mounted in police

cars into clearer, stable images. NASA scientists Dr. David Hathaway and Paul Meyer, who study violentexplosions on the Sun and examine hazardous weatherconditions on Earth, created VISAR to aid in their spaceprogram research. VISAR has been licensed commer-cially by Intergraph Corp., of Huntsville, Alabama, andincorporated into Video Analyst,™ a workstation thatcan stabilize and enhance video, brighten dark picturesand enlarge small sections of pictures to reveal cluesabout crimes. In a recent application, ABC News askedIntergraph to analyze video clips that aired on Iraqi tele-vision on March 20, 2003, apparently showing SaddamHussein. Officials wanted to verify if Hussein survived a U.S. air strike the previous day, or whether the videowas that of a body double. Using Video Analyst withVISAR, it took about 90 minutes to compare the ABCfootage to prior Iraqi television images of Hussein anddetermine—with 99 percent certainty—it was Hussein,according to Intergraph officials. Columbia accidentinvestigators also relied on VISAR to enhance videoimages of the Space Shuttle’s external tank as it shedinsulation during liftoff.

HealthIn the medical field, technology originally developed

to study the behavior of fluids in microgravity is nowbeing used to detect various eye problems earlier andmore accurately. Dr. Rafat Ansari, biofluid sensor sys-tems scientist at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, utilizedthe “built-for-space” fiber-optic probe, based on a tech-nique called dynamic light scattering, to detect cataractsand other eye diseases at the molecular level. The probe’s value in early cataract detection has alreadybeen demonstrated in clinical trials at the National EyeInstitute of the National Institutes of Health. Detectingcataracts at an early stage can help doctors find non-surgical cures for the disease. With the help of renownedeye researchers around the world, Ansari is testing theprobe as a noninvasive diagnostic measurement devicefor other eye diseases such as glaucoma and maculardegeneration. Ansari also uses the probe in tests to mon-itor diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

From public safety and health to environmental con-servation, NASA outreach efforts are keeping Americansin step with a world constantly affected by change, whilehelping to unravel the mysteries of the universe andworlds beyond. The intertwining of Earth and space sciences and the continuance of successful partnershiprelationships with industry and academia will yield infi-nite benefits for many years to come.

Video Analyst™ is a trademark of Intergraph Corp.

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Glenn Research Center’s Dr. Rafat Ansari developed this proto-type head-mounted eye disease monitoring system to detect eyecataracts and other eye diseases at the molecular level.

NASA’s Technology Transfer Network strives to ensure that theAgency’s research and development activities reach the widestpossible audience with the broadest impact. The network serves

as a resource of scientific and technical information with real-worldapplications for U.S. businesses interested in accessing, utilizing, andcommercializing NASA technology.

Technology TransferNetwork and Affiliations

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The NASA Technology Transfer Partnership pro-gram sponsors a number of organizations aroundthe country that are designed to assist U.S. busi-

nesses in accessing, utilizing, and commercializingNASA-funded research and technology. These organiza-tions work closely with the Technology Transfer Offices,located at each of the 10 NASA field centers, providinga full range of technology transfer and commercializa-tion services and assistance.

Technology Transfer NetworkThe National Technology Transfer Center

<http://www.nttc.edu>, located on the campus ofWheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, West Virginia,was established by Congress in 1989 to strengthenAmerican industry by providing access to more than $70 billion worth of federally funded research. By help-ing American companies use Federal technologies, theNTTC helps them manufacture products, create jobs, andfoster partnerships between Federal laboratories and theprivate sector, universities, innovators, and economicdevelopment organizations. From that mission, theNTTC has grown into a full-service technology com-mercialization center. In addition to providing access toFederal technology information, the NTTC providestechnology commercialization training; technologyassessment services that help guide industries in makingkey decisions regarding intellectual property and licens-ing; and assistance in finding strategic business partnersand electronic business development services.

The NTTC developed a leads management system forNASA that is the formal reporting and tracking systemfor partnerships being developed between NASA andU.S. industry. The leads system allows all members ofthe NASA Technology Commercialization Team to havean easy-to-use and effective tool to create and track leadsin order to bring them to partnerships. The NTTC alsoutilizes the expertise of nationally recognized technolo-gy management experts to create and offer technologycommercialization training. Course topics range fromthe basics of technology transfer to hands-on valuation,negotiation, and licensing. Courses are developed at the NTTC and around the country. In addition, onlinecourses, supporting publications, comprehensive soft-ware applications, and videotapes are also available.

NASA TechTracS <http://technology.nasa.gov>provides access to NASA’s technology inventory and numerous examples of the successful transfer ofNASA-sponsored technology for commercialization.TechFinder, the main feature of the Internet site, allowsusers to search technologies and success stories, as wellas submit requests for additional information. All NASAfield centers submit information to the TechTracS data-

base as a means of tracking technologies that have poten-tial for commercial development.

Since their inception in January 1992, the six NASA-sponsored Regional Technology Transfer Centers(RTTCs) have helped U.S. businesses investigate andutilize NASA and other federally funded technologiesfor companies seeking new products, improvements toexisting products, or solutions to technical problems.The RTTCs provide technical and business assistance toseveral thousand customers every year.

The network of RTTCs is divided as follows: FarWest (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, WA): The Far WestRegional Technology Transfer Center (FWRTTC)<http://www.usc.edu/dept/engineering/TTC/NASA>is an engineering research center within the School ofEngineering at the University of Southern California inLos Angeles. Using the Remote Information Service togenerate information from hundreds of Federal data-bases, FWRTTC staff work closely with businesses andentrepreneurs to identify opportunities, expertise, andother necessary resources. The FWRTTC enhances therelationships between NASA and the private sector byoffering many unique services, such as the NASA On-line Resource Workshop, NASA Tech Opps, and links tofunding and conference updates.

Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV): TheTechnology Commercialization Center (TeCC)<http://www.teccenter.org>, located in Newport News,Virginia, coordinates and assists in the transfer of mar-ketable technologies, primarily from Langley ResearchCenter, to private industry interested in developing andcommercializing new products.

Mid-Continent (AR, CO, IA, KS, MO, MT, ND, NE,NM, OK, SD, TX, UT, WY): The Mid-ContinentTechnology Transfer Center (MCTTC) <http://www.mcttc.com/>, under the direction of the Technology andEconomic Development Division of the TexasEngineering Service, is located in College Station,Texas. The MCTTC, which provides a link between pri-vate companies and Federal laboratories, reports directlyto the Johnson Space Center. The assistance focuses onhigh-tech and manufacturing companies that need toacquire and commercialize new technology.

Mid-West (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI): The GreatLakes Industrial Technology Center (GLITeC)<http://www.glitec.org>, managed by BattelleMemorial Institute, is located in Cleveland, Ohio.GLITeC works with industries primarily within its six-state region to acquire and use NASA technologyand expertise, especially at the Glenn Research Center.Each year, over 500 companies work with GLITeC and its affiliates to identify new market and product

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opportunities. Technology-based problem solving, prod-uct planning and development, and technology commer-cialization assistance are among the services provided.

Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT): TheCenter for Technology Commercialization (CTC)<http://www.ctc.org> is a nonprofit organization, basedin Westborough, Massachusetts. Covering New England,New York, and New Jersey, the CTC currently has eightsatellite offices that form strong relationships withNortheast industry. Operated by the CTC, the NASABusiness Outreach Office stimulates business amongregional contractors, NASA field centers, and NASAprime contractors.

Southeast (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN):The Southeast Regional Technology Transfer Center(SERTTC) <http://www.edi.gatech.edu/nasa> at theGeorgia Institute of Technology facilitates and coordi-nates private industry interests in the transfer and com-mercialization of technologies resulting from NASA’sspace and Earth science research. Assistance is alsoprovided in Small Business Innovation Research andSmall Business Technology Transfer applications, aswell as the establishment of connections to specializedresearch needs within NASA research and develop-ment centers nationwide.

NASA Incubator ProgramsTen NASA incubators are included within this net-

work of programs. They are designed to nurture new andemerging businesses with the potential to incorporatetechnology developed by NASA. They offer a wide vari-ety of business and technical support services to increasethe success of participating companies.

Ames Technology Commercialization Center(ATCC) <http://technology.arc.nasa.gov/small-business.html>, located in San Jose, California, pro-vides opportunities for start-up companies to utilizeNASA technologies. The center uses a laboratory-to-market approach that takes the technological output ofAmes’ laboratories and pairs that technology with appro-priate markets to create and foster new industry and jobs.The incubator helps businesses and entrepreneurs findNASA technology with commercial potential, then pro-vides access to a network of business experts in market-ing, sales, high-tech management and operations, financ-ing, and patent and corporate law. The ATCC also offerslow-cost office space and other start-up services.

BizTech <http://www.biztech.org>, of Huntsville,Alabama, is a small business incubator, offering partici-pating companies access to services at Marshall SpaceFlight Center laboratories for feasibility testing, proto-type fabrication, and advice on technology usage and

transfer. BizTech is sponsored by the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

The Emerging Technology Centers (ETC)<http://www.etcbaltimore.com>, located in Baltimore,Maryland, is one of the newest NASA-affiliated incuba-tors. Partnering institutions include the Goddard SpaceFlight Center and area universities and colleges.

The Florida/NASA Business Incubation Center(FNBIC) <http://www.trda.org/fnbic/> is a joint part-nership of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, BrevardCommunity College, and the Technological Researchand Development Authority. The mission of the FNBICis to increase the number of successful technology-basedsmall businesses originating in, developing in, or relo-cating to Brevard County. The FNBIC offers supportfacilities and programs to train and nurture new entre-preneurs in the establishment and operation of develop-ing ventures based on NASA technology.

The Hampton Roads Technology Incubator(HRTI) <http://www.hr-incubator.org> identifies andlicenses NASA Langley Research Center technologiesfor commercial use. The HRTI’s mission is to increasethe number of successful technology-based companiesoriginating in, developing in, or relocating to theHampton Roads area.

The Lewis Incubator for Technology (LIFT)<http://www.liftinc.org>, managed by EnterpriseDevelopment, Inc., provides outstanding resources fortechnology and support to businesses in the Ohio region.Its primary objectives are to create businesses and jobs inOhio and to increase the commercial value of NASAknowledge, technology, and expertise. LIFT offers awide range of services and facilities to the entrepreneurto increase the probability of business success.

The Mississippi Enterprise for Technology<http://www.mset.org> is sponsored by NASA and theMississippi University Consortium and Department ofEconomic and Community Development, as well as theprivate sector. The mission of the enterprise is to helpsmall businesses utilize the scientific knowledge andtechnical expertise at the Stennis Space Center. A signif-icant part of this effort is Stennis’ Commercial RemoteSensing Program, which was formed to commercializeremote sensing, geographic information systems, andrelated imaging technologies.

The NASA Commercialization Center (NCC)<http://www.nasaincubator.csupomona.edu>, run byCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona, is abusiness incubator dedicated to helping small businessesaccess and commercialize Jet Propulsion Laboratory andDryden Flight Research Center technologies.

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The UH-NASA Technology CommercializationIncubator <http://www.research.uh.edu> is a part-nership between NASA’s Johnson Space Center and theUniversity of Houston. The incubator is designed tohelp local small and mid-sized Texas businesses com-mercialize space technology. The University ofHouston houses the program and provides the commer-cialization and research expertise of its business andengineering faculties.

Other organizations devoted to the transfer of NASAtechnology are the Research Triangle Institute (RTI)<http://www.rti.org>, and the MSU TechLink Center<http://techlink.msu.montana.edu>.

RTI, located in Research Triangle Park, NorthCarolina, provides a range of technology managementservices to NASA. RTI performs technology assess-ments to determine applications and commercial potential of NASA technology, as well as market analysis, and commercialization and partnership devel-opment. RTI works closely with all of NASA’sTechnology Transfer Offices.

The MSU TechLink Center, located at MontanaState University-Bozeman, was established in 1997 tomatch the technology needs of client companies withresources throughout NASA and the Federal laboratorysystem. TechLink focuses on a five-state region thatincludes Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota,and Wyoming. Working closely with public, private, anduniversity programs, TechLink provides ongoing supportin the process of adapting, integrating, and commercial-izing NASA technology.

Affiliated Organizations, Services, and ProductsTo complement the specialized centers and programs

sponsored by the NASA Technology Transfer Partnershipprogram, affiliated organizations and services have beenformed to strengthen NASA’s commitment to U.S. busi-nesses. Private and public sector enterprises build uponNASA’s experience in technology transfer in order tohelp with the channeling of NASA technology into thecommercial marketplace.

The NASA Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR) program <http://www.sbir.nasa.gov> providesseed money to U.S. small businesses for developinginnovative concepts that meet NASA mission require-ments. Each year, NASA invites small businesses tooffer proposals in response to technical topics listed inthe annual SBIR program solicitation. The NASA fieldcenters negotiate and award the contracts, as well asmonitor the work.

NASA’s SBIR program is implemented in three phases:• Phase I is the opportunity to establish the feasibil-

ity and technical merit of a proposed innovation. Selected

competitively, NASA Phase I contracts last 6 months andmust remain under specific monetary limits.

• Phase II is the major research and developmenteffort, which continues the most promising of the PhaseI projects based on scientific and technical merit, resultsof Phase I, expected value to NASA, company capabili-ty, and commercial potential. Phase II places greateremphasis on the commercial value of the innovation. Thecontracts are usually in effect for a period of 24 monthsand again must not exceed specified monetary limits.

• Phase III is the process of completing the devel-opment of a product to make it commercially available.While the financial resources needed must be obtainedfrom sources other than the funding set aside for theSBIR, NASA may fund Phase III activities for follow-ondevelopment or for production of an innovation for itsown use.

The SBIR Management Office, located at theGoddard Space Flight Center, provides overall manage-ment and direction of the SBIR program.

The NASA Small Business Technology Transfer(STTR) program <http://www.sbir.nasa.gov> awardscontracts to small businesses for cooperative researchand development with a research institution through auniform, three-phase process. The goal of Congress inestablishing the STTR program was to transfer technol-ogy developed by universities and Federal laboratoriesto the marketplace through the entrepreneurship of asmall business.

Although modeled after the SBIR program, STTR isa separate activity and is separately funded. The STTRprogram differs from the SBIR program in that the fund-ing and technical scope is limited and participants mustbe teams of small businesses and research institutionsthat will conduct joint research.

The Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) forTechnology Transfer <http://www.federallabs.org>was organized in 1974 to promote and strengthen tech-nology transfer nationwide. More than 600 majorFederal laboratories and centers, including NASA, arecurrently members. The mission of the FLC is twofold:

• To promote and facilitate the rapid movement ofFederal laboratory research results and technologies intothe mainstream of the U.S. economy.

• To use a coordinated program that meets the tech-nology transfer support needs of FLC member labora-tories, agencies, and their potential partners in thetransfer process.

The National Robotics Engineering Consortium(NREC) <http://www.rec.ri.cmu.edu> is a cooperativeventure among NASA, the city of Pittsburgh, the State ofPennsylvania, and Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute.

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Its mission is to move NASA-funded robotics technologyto industry. Industrial partners join the NREC with thegoal of using technology to gain a greater market share,develop new niche markets, or create entirely new mar-kets within their area of expertise.

The road to technology commercialization beginswith the basic and applied research results from the workof scientists, engineers, and other technical and manage-ment personnel. The NASA Scientific and TechnicalInformation (STI) Program <http://www.sti.nasa. gov> provides the widest appropriate dissemina-tion of NASA’s research results. The STI Programacquires, processes, archives, announces, and dissemi-nates NASA’s internal—as well as worldwide—STI.

The NASA STI Program offers users such things as Internet access to its database of over three millionabstracts, online ordering of documents, and theNASA STI Help Desk for assistance in accessing STIresources and information. Free registration with theprogram is available through the NASA Center forAeroSpace Information.

For more than 3 decades, reporting to industry on anynew, commercially significant technologies developed inthe course of NASA research and development efforts

has been accomplished through the publication of NASATech Briefs <http://www.nasatech.com>.

The monthly magazine features innovations fromNASA, industry partners, and contractors that can beapplied to develop new or improved products and solveengineering or manufacturing problems. Authored by theengineers or scientists who performed the original work,the briefs cover a variety of disciplines, including com-puter software, mechanics, and life sciences. Most briefsoffer a free supplemental technical support package,which explains the technology in greater detail and pro-vides contact points for questions or licensing discussions.

Aerospace Technology Innovation <http://nctn.hq.nasa.gov/innovation/index.html> is published bi-monthly by the NASA Office of Aerospace Technology.Regular features include current news and opportunitiesin technology transfer and commercialization, aerospacetechnology and development, and innovative research.

NASA Spinoff <http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/spinoff.html> is an annual print and online publicationfeaturing current research and development efforts, theNASA Technology Transfer Partnership Program, andsuccessful commercial and industrial applications ofNASA technology.

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FY 2003 Technology Transfer Network

★ NASA Headquarters manages the Spinoff Program.

▲ Field Center Technology Transfer Offices repre-sent NASA’s technology sources and manage centerparticipation in technology transfer activities.

✖ National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC)provides national information, referral, and commercialization services for NASA and othergovernment laboratories.

● Regional Technology Transfer Centers (RTTC)provide rapid access to information, as well as technical and commercialization services.

■ Research Triangle Institute (RTI) provides a rangeof technology management services including technology assessment, valuation and marketing,market analysis, intellectual property audits, com-mercialization planning, and the development of partnerships.

The FY 2003 NASA Technology Transfer Net-work (NTTN) extends from coast to coast. Forspecific information concerning commercial

technology activities described below, contact theappropriate personnel at the facilities listed or go to theInternet at: <http://nctn.hq.nasa.gov>. Generalinquiries may be forwarded to the National TechnologyTransfer Center.

To publish your success about a product or serviceyou may have commercialized using NASA technolo-gy, assistance, or know-how, contact the NASA Centerfor AeroSpace Information or go to the Internet at:<http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/contributor.html>.

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★ NASA HeadquartersNational Aeronautics and Space Administration300 E Street, SWWashington, DC 20546NASA Spinoff Program ManagerJanelle TurnerPhone: (202) 358-0704Email: Janelle.B.Turner@nasa.gov

▲ FIELD CENTERSAmes Research CenterNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationMoffett Field, California 94035Chief, Technology Transfer Office: Carolina BlakePhone: (650) 604-1754Email: Carolina.M.Blake@nasa.gov

Dryden Flight Research CenterNational Aeronautics and Space Administration4800 Lilly Drive, Building 4839Edwards, California 93523-0273Chief, Public Affairs and Technology Transfer Office: Jennifer Baer-RiedhartPhone: (661) 276-3689Email: Jenny.L.Baer-Riedhart@nasa.gov

John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis FieldNational Aeronautics and Space Administration21000 Brookpark RoadCleveland, Ohio 44135Director, Technology Transfer Office: Larry ViternaPhone: (216) 433-3484Email: Larry.A.Viterna@nasa.gov

Goddard Space Flight CenterNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationGreenbelt, Maryland 20771Chief, Technology Transfer Office: Nona K. CheeksPhone: (301) 286-5810Email: Nona.K.Cheeks@nasa.gov

Jet Propulsion Laboratory4800 Oak Grove DrivePasadena, California 91109Manager, Technology Transfer Office: James K. WolfenbargerPhone: (818) 354-2577Email: James.K.Wolfenbarger@nasa.gov

Lyndon B. Johnson Space CenterNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationHouston, Texas 77058Director, Technology Transfer Office: Charlene E. GilbertPhone: (281) 483-0474Email: charlene.e.gilbert@nasa.gov

John F. Kennedy Space CenterNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationKennedy Space Center, Florida 32899Chief, Technology Programs and

Commercialization Office:James A. AlibertiPhone: (321) 867-6224Email: Jim.Aliberti@nasa.gov

Langley Research CenterNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationHampton, Virginia 23681-2199Director, Program Development and

Management Office: Richard T. BuonfigliPhone: (757) 864-2915Email: Richard.T.Buonfigli@nasa.gov

George C. Marshall Space Flight CenterNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationMarshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812Manager, Technology Transfer Office: Vernotto C. McMillanPhone: (256) 544-2615Email: Vernotto.C.McMillan@nasa.gov

John C. Stennis Space CenterNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationStennis Space Center, Mississippi 39529Manager, Technology Transfer Office: Robert C. BrucePhone: (228) 688-1646Email: Robert.C.Bruce@nasa.gov

✖ NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER (NTTC)

Wheeling Jesuit UniversityWheeling, West Virginia 26003Joseph Allen, PresidentPhone: (304) 243-2455Email: jallen@nttc.edu

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● REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTERS (RTTCs)

Far WestTechnology Transfer Center3716 South Hope Street, Suite 200Los Angeles, California 90007-4344Kenneth Dozier, DirectorPhone: (800) 642-2872Email: kdozier@mizar.usc.edu

Mid-AtlanticTechnology Commercialization Center12050 Jefferson Ave., Suite 340Newport News, Virginia 23606Duncan McIver, DirectorPhone: (757) 766-9200Email: dmciver@teccenter.org

Mid-ContinentTechnology Transfer CenterTexas Engineering Extension ServiceTechnology & Economic Development DivisionCollege Station, Texas 77840-7896Gary Sera, DirectorPhone: (979) 845-2907Email: gary.sera@teexmail.tamu.edu

Mid-WestGreat Lakes Industrial Technology Center (GLITeC)20445 Emerald Parkway Drive, SW, Suite 200Cleveland, Ohio 44135Marty Kress, PresidentPhone: (216) 898-6400Email: kressm@batelle.org

NortheastCenter for Technology Commercialization (CTC)1400 Computer DriveWestboro, Massachusetts 01581James P. Dunn, DirectorPhone: (508) 870-0042Email: jdunn@ctc.org

SoutheastTechnology Transfer Center (SERTTC)151 6th Street, 216 O’Keefe BuildingAtlanta, Georgia 30332David Bridges, DirectorPhone: (404) 894-6786Email: david.bridges@edi.gatech.edu

■ RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE (RTI)Technology Application Team3040 Cornwallis, P.O. Box 12194Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709-2194Dan Winfield, Executive DirectorPhone: (919) 541-6431Email: winfield@rti.org

NASA CENTER FOR AEROSPACE INFORMATIONSpinoff Project OfficeNASA Center for AeroSpace Information7121 Standard DriveHanover, Maryland 21076-1320Jutta Schmidt, Project ManagerPhone: (301) 621-0182Email: jschmidt@sti.nasa.gov

Michelle Birdsall, Writer/EditorJamie Janvier, Writer/EditorJohn Jones, Graphic DesignerDeborah Drumheller, Publications Specialist

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