National Aeronautics and Space Administration Inspiration

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

sp

ino

ff2007

Inspiration Innovation Discovery Future

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

On the Cover: Photograph of the International Space Station taken from the Space Shuttle Atlantis on June 19 2007, at the end of STS-117. The mission delivered the second and third starboard truss segments (S3/S4) and another pair of solar arrays to the station.

Innovative Partnerships Program

� Table of Contents Spinoff 2007

Table of Contents

5 Foreword

7 Introduction

8 ExecutiveSummary

18 NASATechnologiesBenefitingSociety

HealthandMedicine

Circulation-EnhancingDeviceImprovesCPR........................................................................................................ 22 NoninvasiveTestDetectsCardiovascularDisease................................................................................................... 26 SchedulingAccessoryAssistsPatientswithCognitiveDisorders.............................................................................. 30 NeurospinalScreeningEvaluatesNerveFunction.................................................................................................. 32 Hand-HeldInstrumentFightsAcne,TopsOver-the-CounterMarket.................................................................... 34 MultispectralImagingBroadensCellularAnalysis................................................................................................... 36

HierarchicalSegmentationEnhancesDiagnosticImaging....................................................................................... 40

Transportation

ComprehensiveSoftwareEasesAirTrafficManagement......................................................................................... 44 ModelingToolAdvancesRotorcraftDesign........................................................................................................... 46 AirDataReportImprovesFlightSafety.................................................................................................................. 48 AdvancedAirfoilsBoostHelicopterPerformance.................................................................................................... 50 DeicingSystemProtectsGeneralAviationAircraft.................................................................................................. 52

PublicSafety

Chemical-SensingCablesDetectPotentialThreats................................................................................................. 56 InfraredImagingSharpensViewinCriticalSituations............................................................................................ 58 PlantsCleanAirandWaterforIndoorEnvironments............................................................................................. 60

Consumer,Home,andRecreation

CorrosiveGasRestoresArtwork,PromisesMyriadApplications............................................................................. 64 DetailedGlobesEnhanceEducationandRecreation............................................................................................... 66 FoodSupplementReducesFat,ImprovesFlavor..................................................................................................... 70 AdditiveTransformsPaintintoInsulation.............................................................................................................. 72 NewLubricantsProtectMachinesandtheEnvironment....................................................................................... 74

Spinoff 2007 Table of Contents �

EnvironmentalandAgriculturalResources

AdvancedSystemsMap,Monitor,andManageEarth’sResources........................................................................... 80 SensorNetworkProvidesEnvironmentalData....................................................................................................... 82 VoltageControllerSavesEnergy,ProlongsLifeofMotors...................................................................................... 86

TreatmentPreventsCorrosioninSteelandConcreteStructures............................................................................. 88

ComputerTechnology

OpticsProgramSimplifiesAnalysisandDesign...................................................................................................... 92 DesignApplicationTranslates2-DGraphicsto3-DSurfaces................................................................................. 94 HybridModelingImprovesHealthandPerformanceMonitoring........................................................................... 98 SoftwareSharingEnablesSmarterContentManagement...................................................................................... 100 EngineeringSoftwareSuiteValidatesSystemDesign............................................................................................ 102

IndustrialProductivity

Open-LatticeCompositeDesignStrengthensStructures....................................................................................... 106 Ultra-SensitivePhotoreceiverBoostsDataTransmission....................................................................................... 108 MicroMachiningEnhancesPrecisionFabrication............................................................................................... 110 PortableHyperspectralImagingBroadensSensingHorizons................................................................................. 112 HypersonicCompositesResistExtremeHeatandStress....................................................................................... 114 ComputationalModelingDevelopsUltra-HardSteel........................................................................................... 116 Thin,Light,FlexibleHeatersSaveTimeandEnergy............................................................................................. 117 NovelNanotubeManufacturingStreamlinesProduction...................................................................................... 118 ‘NASAInventionoftheYear’ControlsNoiseandVibration................................................................................ 120

ThermoelectricDevicesAdvanceThermalManagement....................................................................................... 122

124 ResearchandOperations

142EducationNews

150PartnershipNews

162 InnovativePartnershipsProgram

WhileNASAdoesnotmanufacture,marketorsellcommercialproducts,manycommercialproductsarederivedfromNASAtechnology.ManyNASA-originatedtechnologiesareadaptedbyprivateindustryforusebyconsumerslikeyou.Spinoffdevelopmentshighlightedinthispublicationarebasedoninformationprovided by individual and private industry users of NASA-originated aerospace technology whoacknowledgethatsuchtechnologycontributedwhollyorinparttodevelopmentoftheproductorprocessdescribed.NASAcannotacceptresponsibilityorliabilityforthemisinterpretationormisrepresentationoftheenclosedinformationprovidedbythesethirdpartyusers.PublicationhereindoesnotconstituteNASAendorsementoftheproductorprocess,norconfirmationofmanufacturers’performanceclaimsrelatedtoanyparticularspinoffdevelopment.

Spinoff 2007 Foreword �

Foreword

In our increasingly competitive global economy,strategicU.S.leadershipinaeronauticsresearchandspaceexplorationisacriticalcomponentofAmerica’s

strengthandvitality.Throughour focusedwork, themenandwomenofNASAarededicatedtoexpandingcivilization’sexplorationandscientifichorizonsintheairandinspaceandtobringingtheinnersolarsystemintoour sphereof commerce. I amproud to lead anagencythatdrawsontheexplorationimperativefoundinthehumansoultostokethefiresofinspirationandinnovationinourcitizenry.

The vibrancy of NASA’s work can be seen in ourcurrentactivities,ongoingplansforthefuture,andinter-nationalrecognitionofourachievements.

In2007,duringthespaceshuttle’s25thanniversaryyear,threeshuttlemissionsadvancedconstructionworkontheInternationalSpaceStation,addingsignificantlytothecapabilitiesofthisorbitingresearchoutpostandsettingthestageforcontinuedexpansionofthestation’ssizeandresearchcapabilities.WealsoannouncedplansforafifthshuttleservicingmissiontotheHubbleSpaceTelescope,nowslatedfor2008,toextendandimprovethetelescope’scapabilitiesthrough2013.

Lookingforward,NASAtookmajorstepstorealizethenationalgoalofestablishingapermanentbaseonthe lunar surface by 2024 in cooperation with manyspace-faringnations.InAugust2006,weselectedaprimecontractortobuildtheOrioncrewexplorationvehicle,America’snexthuman-ratedspacecraft,tobeoperationalby2015.Lastfall,ournext-generationlaunchvehicle,theAresI,successfullycompleteditssystemsrequirementreview.InDecember,NASAunveiledaninitialGlobalExplorationStrategyandlunararchitecturewhichdetailshowsustained lunarexplorationwill advance science,commerce, and technology development and help usprepareforlaterjourneystoMarsandotherdestinations.

Throughouttheyear,NASAorbitingspacecraftandroverscontinuedtoexpandourunderstandingoftheRedPlanetandlaythegroundworkforfuturesurfacemissions.

Also,NASAlaunchedtheNewHorizonsspacecrafttoPlutoandtwinSTEREOspacecraftthatproducethree-dimensional views of the Sun; recovered comet andinterstellardustparticles from the successfulStardustmission; and through our Cassini mission, possiblydiscoveredevidenceofliquidwaterreservoirsthateruptinYellowstone-likegeysersonSaturn’smoonEnceladus.

Closertohome,NASA’sEarthscienceteamlaunchedthe CloudSat and CALIPSO spacecraft to study therolethatcloudsandaerosolsplayinregulatingEarth’sweather,climate,andairquality.Andwerestructuredouraeronauticsresearchportfoliotoreturntolong-term,cutting-edge,fundamentalresearchrequiredtoenablethenextgenerationairtransportationsystemandtosupportourfuturespacemissions.

Finally, the entire NASA community cheered theawardinginDecemberofthe2006NobelPrizeinPhysicstoDr.JohnC.Mather,seniorastrophysicistandseniorproject scientist at theGoddardSpaceFlightCenter.Mather,thefirstNASAcivil-servantemployeetowintheNobelPrize,washonoredalongwithGeorgeSmootoftheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeleyforthe“discoveryof theblackbody formandanisotropyof the cosmicmicrowavebackgroundradiation.”MathercoordinatedthescienceworkofNASA’sCosmicBackgroundExplorersatellite, launched in1989,whichhelpedvalidate theBigBangtheoryoftheoriginoftheuniverse.

Fundamental scientificaccomplishments like thoseofDr.MatherandhiscolleaguesremindusthatthereisnoabsoluterequirementthatNASAproducetangible,practicalbenefitsforthepublicineverythingwedo.Itisahappybyproductofourwork,however,thatmanyof NASA’s missions and activities power innovationthatcreatesnewjobs,newmarkets,andnewtechnolo-gies.ConsistentwithourAgency’scharter,Spinoff 2007highlightsNASA’sworkto“research,develop,verify,andtransferadvancedaeronautics,space,andrelatedtech-nologies.”AmongtheusefulNASA-derivedtechnologies

featuredinSpinoff 2007alreadyreceivingprominentuseinthecommercialandpublicsectorsare:

• Arevolutionarymethodthatmakesthemanufactureof carbon nanotubes safer and less expensive forresearchersnowcreatingnext-generationelectronics.

• NASA-developedairtrafficmanagementsoftwaretoolsthatarehelpingtostreamlinetheflowofcommercialflightsacrosstheentireNationalAirspaceSystem.

• Anew,commercial,all-naturalnutritionalfatreplace-mentandflavorenhancementproductdesignedwithhelpfromNASA’sastronautnutritionprogramthatisnowmakingeverydayfoodshealthier.

IoftencompareourNation’sinvestmentinspaceasbeingequivalenttoanindividualusingasmallproportionoftheirretirementaccountforastockthatcontainstheprospectofhighriskandhighreward.GreatnationssuchastheUnitedStatescanaffordtokeeptheireyesontheheavensandinvestintheirlong-termfuture,evenastheyaddressthepublic’smoreday-to-dayconcerns.Fromsuchvisionemanatesthehopeofcontinuedleapsofprogressthatwillsignificantlyenhanceourmateriallivesandliftourcollectivespirits.

MichaelD.Griffin

Administrator

NationalAeronauticsand SpaceAdministration

Spinoff(spin´ôf´)-noun.

1. AcommercializedproductincorporatingNASAtechnologyor“knowhow”whichbenefitsthepublic.Qualifyingtechnologiesinclude:

ProductsorprocessesdesignedforNASAuse,toNASAspecifications,andthencommercialized.

ComponentsorprocessesinvolvingNASAtechnologyincorporatedintoacommercialproduct, employedinthemanufacturingofaproduct,orusedtomodifythedesignofanexistingproduct.

ProductsorprocessestowhichNASAlaboratorypersonnelmadesignificantcontributions, includingtheuseofNASAfacilitiesfortestingpurposes.

Successfulentrepreneurialendeavorsbyex-NASAemployeeswhosetechnicalexpertisewas developedwhileemployedbyNASA.

ProductsorprocessescommercializedastheresultofaNASApatentlicenseorwaiver.

CommercialproductsorprocessesdevelopedasaresultoftheSmallBusinessInnovation ResearchorSmallBusinessTechnologyTransferprograms.

2. NASA’spremierannualpublication,featuringsuccessfullycommercializedNASAtechnologies.

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IntroductionDouglasA.Comstock

Director

InnovativePartnershipsProgram

Spinoff 2007 Introduction �

As NASA approaches its 50th anniversary, wereflectonaproudhistoryofachievementsthathavepushedbackboundariesandopenednew

frontiersforallhumanityintheexplorationofoursolarsystemandourunderstandingoftheuniverseandourplaceinit.Newtechnologieshavearisenduringthisjour-ney,developedofnecessityandspurredbytheinnovativespiritthatanswersthecallofdoingtheimpossible.Inthewakeofahalf-centuryofadvancement,myriadtechnolo-gies—withoutwhichthelimitsofaeronauticsandspacecouldnothavebeenchallenged—havefoundotheruses.Fromthemundanetothesublime,thesetechnologieshavebecomepartofthefabricofoureverydaylife,driv-inginnovation,helpingtheeconomy,andaddingtothequalityoflifenotonlyintheUnitedStates,butaroundtheworld.This31st editionofSpinoff continues theannualtraditionofdocumentingafewofthesehappybyproductsbyshowcasingnumeroustechnologiesthathavebeenderivedfromsuchdiverseprojectsaslaunch-ing space shuttles, developing the next generation ofhelicopters,andanalyzingimagesfromMarsprobes,allofwhicharenowputtouseinourhospitals,homes,andcommunities.

NASA’s core conviction has long been that spaceexplorationisalensthatservestosharplyfocusthedevel-opmentofkeytechnologiesinawaythatsimplywouldnotoccurwithouttherigorousscientificdemandsthatarise fromseeking toaccomplish thenear-impossible.Fundamentally,wehelptocreatenewtechnologiestomeetour challenging aeronautics andSpaceProgramgoals,andonceproven, these technologiesoftenhavebeendemonstratedtohaveamultitudeofproductiveusesinsociety.Makingthesesometimessurprisingconnec-tionsandtransferringNASA’stechnologiestothepublicisanimportantfocusofNASA’sInnovativePartnershipsProgram(IPP).

IPPalsoseekssolutionstosomeofNASA’spressingtechnicalchallengesbyfundingSmallBusinessInnovationResearchandSmallBusinessTechnologyTransferprojects,

seekingcost-shared,technology-developmentpartnershipsthroughtheIPPSeedFund,andtappingintonewsourcesof innovationthroughNASA’sCentennialChallengesprizeprogram.Inseekinginnovativepartnerships,IPPismovingtechnologyintwodirections—bothintoandoutofNASA.IPPachievestheseobjectivesthroughanation-widenetworkofofficesacrossNASA’s10fieldcenters.

AsadirectresultoftheNationalAeronauticsandSpaceActof1958andtheensuingTechnologyUtilizationActof1962,NASAbegantopublishSpinoff.Since1976,thiswidelyreadandhighlyanticipatedannualhasfeaturedlife-savingadvances inhealthcare,cutting-edgesafetyinnovationsfortheaeronauticsindustry,cost-savingman-ufacturingmethods,groundbreakingecologicaladvances,andamultitudeofconsumergoodsthatchangesthewaywelive.EachissueincludesdozensofarticleshighlightinghowtheseproductsemergedfromNASA’sinvestmentinaeronauticsandspacetechnologytohowtheyarehelpingrealpeopleineverydaylife,aswellashelpingtomain-tainthepositionoftheUnitedStatesastheworldleaderin advanced technologies. Spinoff 2007 features suchachievementsas:• Anetworkofenvironmentalsensorsbasedondevices

wornbyastronautsinspaceandnowprovidinghealthworkersinurbancenterswithup-to-dateinformationaboutwaterqualityanddiseaseoutbreakinformationfromremote,hard-to-reachareas

• A simple and affordable system fordoctors touseultrasoundtoperformadvanced,noninvasiveheartmonitoringbasedonsoftwaredesignedtointerpretspacecraftimagery

• AnecologicallyfriendlyoiladditiveoriginallydesignedforthespaceshuttlecrawlersatKennedySpaceCenter,awildliferefuge

Spinoffalsofeaturessuchaward-winningtechnologiesas:

• TheMacro-FiberComposite,named“NASAInven-tionoftheYear”for2007,isaninnovative,low-cost

devicedesignedtocontrolvibration,noise,anddeflec-tionsincompositestructuralbeamsandpanels,nowusedinover120differentproducts,includingsportinggoods,automobiles,aircraft,andspacecraft.

• Aportablehyperspectraldevicedesignedtoanalyzedifferencesinradiatedenergyandmonitortempera-tureandclimatechangeandnowusedworldwideinthemedical,foodsafety,forensics,counter-terrorism,andmilitarymarketshasbeeninductedintotheSpaceTechnologyHallofFame.

• Two additional NASA technologies previouslyincludedinSpinoffwerealsoinductedintotheSpaceTechnologyHallofFamethisyear.EmulsifiedZero-ValentIron(Spinoff2005)cleansupcontaminatedgroundwater,andtheMicrobialCheckValve(Spinoff2006) provides clean drinking water in locationsaroundtheglobe.

AswelookforwardtoNASA’snext50years,boundar-ieswillbepushedevenfurther.Futureachievementswillbeenabledbynewtechnologies—manyperhapsnotevenimaginedtoday.Fiftyyearsago,wecouldnotforeseethatheartdiseasewouldonedaybedetectedearlyandwithnodiscomfort,usingtechnologydevelopedtoanalyzeimagesfromMarsprobes.Sotoday,wecannotpredictthetechnologiesoftomorroworthespinoffstheywillleaveintheirwake.Butastheexamplesin Spinoff2007attest,weknowtheywillbethere,andwewillbelookingforthem.

Executive Summary

In accordance with congressional mandates cited in the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 19�8

and the Technology Utilization Act of 196�, NASA was directed to encourage greater use of the Agency’s

knowledge by providing a link between the NASA research community and those who might use the

research for commercial or industrial products. For more than 40 years, NASA has nurtured partnerships

with the private sector to facilitate the transfer of NASA-developed technologies. The benefits of these

partnerships have reached throughout the economy and around the globe, as the resulting commercial

products contributed to the development of services and technologies in the fields of health and

medicine, transportation, public safety, consumer goods, environmental resources, computer technology,

and industry. Since 19�6, NASA Spinoff has profiled more than 1,�00 of the most compelling of these

technologies, annually highlighting the best and brightest of partnerships and innovations. Building on

this dynamic history, NASA partnerships with the private sector continue to seek avenues by which

technological achievements and innovations gleaned among the stars can be brought down to benefit

our lives on Earth.

10 Spinoff 2007

Health and MedicineCirculation-EnhancingDeviceImprovesCPRNASAstudiesoncardiovascularresponsesandfluidshifts inthebodyledtocollaborationwithAdvancedCirculatorySystemsInc.,todeveloptheResQPODCirculatoryEnhancer.This impedance thresholddevice improvesthestandardofcareprovidedtopatientswitha variety of clinical conditions due to lowbloodflow.page 22

NoninvasiveTestDetectsCardiovascularDiseaseNASA-developedVideoImagingCommun-ication and Retrieval software laid thegroundworkforaprojectseekingtouseimag-ing technology to analyzeX-ray images ofsofttissue.Thesamemethodologyappliedtoultrasoundimageryresultedinanoninvasivediagnosticsystemwiththeabilitytoaccuratelypredicthearthealth.page 26

SchedulingAccessoryAssistsPatientswithCognitiveDisordersNASA research and funding of RecomTechnologies Inc.onartificially intelligentplanningreactionmodelsledtothedevelop-mentofatooltohelpindividualssufferingfromvariousformsandlevelsofbrainimpair-ment.AttentionControlSystems Inc.wasfoundedtomarketthefinisheddevice,calledthe Planning and Execution Assistant andTrainer.page 30

NeurospinalScreeningEvaluatesNerveFunctionNASA-fundedresearchinsurfaceelectromy-ography to measure the muscle activity ofastronautswascontinuedbytheChiropracticLeadership Alliance to identify additionalapplications, resulting in the InsightSubluxationStation,aneurospinalscreeningand evaluation system.The system,whichcanbeusedoninfants,children,andadults,isreadilycompatiblewithmostchiropracticoffices and cleared by the U.S. Food andDrugAdministration(FDA). page 32

Hand-HeldInstrumentFightsAcne,TopsOver-the-CounterMarketNASA’sSpaceAllianceTechnologyOutreachProgram(SATOP)supportedTyrellInc.inredesigningaheatingelementforahand-heldacne-fightingdevice.Theproduct,Zeno,nowthehighestsellingover-the-countermedicaldevice for acne treatment, was named the“SATOPTexas,SuccessStoryoftheYear”in2006,Allure’s2005“BestofBeauty,”MarieClaire’s “10 Best Gadgets for Girls,” andPopularScience’s2005“BestofWhat’sNew.”AvariationforuseintreatingherpeticlesionsiscurrentlyundergoingFDAtrials.page 34

MultispectralImagingBroadensCellularAnalysisANASASmallBusinessInnovationResearch(SBIR)programhelpedAmnisCorporationdevelopitsImageStreamsystemtoproducesensitivefluorescenceimagesofcellsinflow,allowinguserstoviewwholecellsratherthanjustonesectionofacell.ImageStreamisalsobuilt for other applications, including cellsignaling and pathway analysis; classifica-tionandcharacterizationofperipheralbloodmononuclearcellpopulations;quantitativemorphology; apoptosis (cell death) assays;geneexpressionanalysis;analysisofcellcon-jugates;moleculardistribution;andreceptormappinganddistribution.page 36

HierarchicalSegmentationEnhancesDiagnosticImagingNASA’sRecursiveHierachicalSegmenting(RHSEG) software, two pattern-matchingprograms,andthreedata-miningandedge-detectionprogramswerelicensedbyBartronMedical ImagingLLC(BMI)tocreate theMed-SegimagingsystemtoanalyzeCATandPETscans,MRI,ultrasound,digitizedX-rays,digitized mammographies, dental X-rays,softtissueanalyses,movingobjectanalyses,and soft-tissue slides.BMI andNASAaredevelopinga3-DversionofRHSEGtopro-ducepixel-levelviewsofatumororlesion,and identify plaque build-up in arteriesand density levels of microcalcification inmammographies.page 40

Executive Summary

NASASpinoff highlightstheAgency’smostsignificantresearchanddevelopmentactivitiesandthesuccessfultransferofNASAtechnology,showcasingthecutting-edgeresearchbeingdonebytheNation’stoptechnologistsandthepracticalbenefitsthatcomebackdowntoEarthintheformoftangibleproductsthatmakeourlivesbetter.Thebenefitsfeaturedinthisyear’sissueinclude:

Spinoff 2007 11

TransportationComprehensiveSoftwareEasesAirTrafficManagementNASA’s Future Air Traffic ManagementConceptsEvaluationTool,developedforairtrafficcontrolcenterstoimprovethesafetyandefficiencyoftheNationalAirspaceSystemsoftware,waslicensedbyFlightExplorerInc.The software now offers automatic alertsof events such as weather conditions andpotentialairportdelays,andreal-timeflightcoverageoverCanada,theUnitedKingdom,NewZealand,andsectionsoftheAtlanticandPacificOceans.FlightExplorerInc.recentlyformedseveralpartnershipstoexpandcover-ageworldwide.page 44

ModelingToolAdvancesRotorcraftDesignSBIRcontractshelpedContinuumDynamicsInc.developtheComprehensiveHierarchicalAeromechanicsRotorcraftModel(CHARM)tool for studying helicopter and tiltrotorunsteady free wake modeling, includingdistributedandintegratedloadsandperfor-manceprediction.CHARMhasbeenusedtomodelabroadspectrumofrotorcraftattri-butes,includingperformance,bladeloading,blade-vortexinteractionnoise,airflowfields,andhubloads,andiscurrentlyinusebyallmajorrotorcraftmanufacturers,NASA,theU.S.Army,andtheU.S.Navy.page 46

AirDataReportImprovesFlightSafetySagem Avionics Inc. licensed two NASA-developedsoftwaresystems:MorningReport,designedtodetectatypicalitieswithoutpre-definedparameters,andtheAviationDataIntegration System, which integrates datafromdisparate sources into the flightdataanalysis process. These were incorporatedintoitsflightoperationsmonitoringsystemdesigned to supportanyaircraftand flightdata recorders. The new system considerstechnicalevolutionsandneeds,andeachair-linecanperformspecifictreatmentsandbuilditsownflightdataanalysissystem.page 48

AdvancedAirfoilsBoostHelicopterPerformanceCarsonHelicoptersInc.licensedtheNASA-developed Langley RC4 series of airfoilstodevelopareplacementmainrotorbladefor Sikorsky S-61 helicopters. The result-ing design allows the helicopters to carryheavierloadsandflyfasterandfarther,andthemainrotorbladeshavetwicethepreviousservicelife.Inaerialfirefighting,theperfor-mance-boostingairfoilshavehelpedtheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture’sForestServicecontrolthespreadofwildfires.page 50

DeicingSystemProtectsGeneralAviationAircraftKelly Aerospace Thermal Systems LLCcollaboratedwithNASAscientistsondeicingtechnology with assistance from the SBIRprogram.Newandpreviousworkcombinedin thedevelopmentof a lightweight, easy-to-install,andreliablewingandtaildeicingsystemcalledThermawing,aDC-poweredairconditionerforsingle-engineaircraftcalledThermacool,andhigh-outputalternatorstorunthemboth.page 52

Public SafetyChemical-SensingCablesDetectPotentialThreatsSBIR contracts helped Intelligent OpticalSystems Inc. (IOS)developmoisture- andpH-sensitive sensors todetect corrosionorpre-corrosive conditions before significantstructuraldamageoccurs.Thecompanysub-sequentlyworkedwiththeU.S.DepartmentofDefensetocontinuedevelopmentofthesensorsfordetectingchemicalwarfareagents.IOShas also sold the technology tomajorautomotiveandaerospacecompanies,whoarefindingavarietyofusesforthedevices.page 56

InfraredImagingSharpensViewinCriticalSituationsInnovative Engineering and ConsultingInfraredSystems receivedNASAassistanceto develop commercial infrared imagingsystemsthatbetterdifferentiatetheintensityofheatsources.TheresearchresultedintheNightStalkIR and IntrudIR Alert Systems,nowbeingusedabroad to locatepersonnelstrandedinemergencysituationsandprotecthigh-valueoperations.Thecompanyisalsoapplying its thermal imaging techniques tomedicalandpharmaceuticalproducts.page 58

1� Spinoff 2007

PlantsCleanAirandWaterforIndoorEnvironmentsResearchbegunatNASAhasbeencontinuedandmadepublicly availablebyWolvertonEnvironmentalServices Inc., includinguseofplantstoimproveindoorairqualityandcleanwastewater.WolvertonEnvironmentalisworkingwith SyracuseUniversity to tieplant-basedfilters intoHVACsystems,hasbeguntoassesstheabilityofitsEcoPlanterproducttoremoveformaldehydefrominteriorenvironments,andisintalkswithdesignersof the new Stennis Space Center Visitor’sComplexaboutusingitsdesignsforindoorair-qualityfilters.page 60

Consumer, Home, and RecreationCorrosiveGasRestoresArtwork,PromisesMyriadApplicationsNASAresearchoncorrosionandlong-dura-tioncoatingsledtoalternateapplicationsofatomicoxygen.Atomicoxygenwasfoundtoremoveorganiccompoundshighincarbon(suchas soot) from fire-damagedartworkswithoutalteringthepaintcolor,andhasbeentestedonoilpaintings,acrylics,watercolors,andink.Atomicoxygen’suniquecharacter-isticofoxidizingprimarilyhydrogen,carbon,andhydrocarbonpolymersatsurfacelevelshas also been applied to the detection ofdocumentforgeriesandremovalofbacterialcontaminantsfromsurgicalimplants.page 64

DetailedGlobesEnhanceEducationandRecreationUsingNASAimagesandNOAAdata,OrbisWorld Globes designs and produces themostvisuallyauthenticreplicasofEarthevercreated—EarthBalls—in many sizes thatdepictEarthasitisseenfromspace,completewith atmospheric cloud cover. Thoughthecloudcoverhasbeen reduced tomakethe landforms more visible, Orbis globesare otherwise meteorologically accurate.Applications include educational purposesfrompreschoolstouniversities,games,anddisplaysatconferences,tradeshows,festivals,concerts,andparades.page 66

FoodSupplementReducesFat,ImprovesFlavorNASAhelpedDiversifiedServicesCorpora-tiondevelop anutritional fat replacementandflavorenhancementproduct.Thenow-commercialized substitute, Nutrigras, isprimarilyintendedforuseasapartialreplace-mentforanimalfatinbeefpattiesandotherhigh-fatmeatproducts,andcanalsobeusedinsoups,sauces,bakeryitems,anddesserts.Nutrigrascostslessthanthefooditreplaces,and helps manufacturers reduce materialcosts. In precooked products, Nutrigrascan increasemoisturecontentand therebyincreaseproductyield.page 70

AdditiveTransformsPaintintoInsulationNASAengineersassistedTechTradersInc.indevelopinglow-cost,highlyeffectivecoat-ings and paints that create useful thermalreflectanceandaresafeandnon-toxic.Theproduct,Insuladd,isapowdermadeupofinertgas-filledceramicmicrospheresthatismixedintoordinarypaint,allowingthepainttoactlikealayerofinsulation.Applicationsincludefeedstoragesilos,poultryhatcheries,andonmilitaryvehiclesandships.page 72

NewLubricantsProtectMachinesandtheEnvironmentNASA spurred Sun Coast Chemicals todevelopaneffectiveandenvironmentallysafelubricant for the shuttle-bearing launcherplatform.TheresultantX-1RCrawlerTrackLubeisbiodegradableandhigh-performance.Sensing many market opportunities, SunCoast Chemicals introduced Train TrackLubricant, Penetrating Spray Lubricant,andBiodegradableHydraulicFluid; a gunlubricant/cleanerandafishingrodandreellubricant;andrecently,theX-1RCorporationwaslaunchedtofoldthehigh-performance,environmentally safebenefits intoa lineofautomotiveandracingproducts.page 74

Environmental and Agricultural ResourcesAdvancedSystemsMap,Monitor,andManageEarth’sResourcesANASASmallBusinessTechnologyTransfercontract developed a hyperspectral crop-imaging project to enhance airbornehyperspectral sensingandground-truthingmeans for crop inspection.SpecTIRLLC,recognized for innovative sensor design,on-demand hyperspectral data collection,and image-generatingproducts, integratedthehyperspectraldatawithLIDARsystemsandothercommercialtechnologies.Areasofapplication include precision farming andirrigation;oil,gas,andmineralexploration;pollution and contamination monitoring;wetlandandforestrycharacterization;waterqualityassessment;andsubmergedaquaticvegetationmapping.page 80

Spinoff 2007 1�

SensorNetworkProvidesEnvironmentalDataTheNationalBiocomputationCenter,formedthroughapartnershipbetweenNASAandtheStanfordUniversitySchoolofMedicine,focuseson telemedicine.Researchers thereformed Intelesense Technologies to applytelemedicine sensors to integrated globalmonitoringsystemstobetterunderstandlinksbetweentheenvironmentandpeople,moni-tornatural resources,predictandadapt toenvironmentalchanges,provideforsustain-abledevelopment,andreducetheimpactsandprovideeffectiveresponsetonaturaldisasters.Currentprojectsincludetrackingemerginginfectiousdiseasessuchasavianinfluenza.page 82

VoltageControllerSavesEnergy,ProlongsLifeofMotorsNASA voltage controller technology waslicensedbyPowerEfficiencyCorporation,improved,andmarketedasthePerformanceControllerandthePowerEfficiencyenergy-savingsoftstart.Softstartgraduallyintroducespowertoamotor,thuseliminatingtheharshmechanicalstressesofadevicegoingfromadormantstatetofullactivity;preventsitfromrunningtoohot;andincreasesthemotor’slifetime. Common applications includemixers, grinders, granulators, conveyors,crushers,stampingpresses,injectionmolders,elevators,andescalators.page 86

TreatmentPreventsCorrosioninSteelandConcreteStructuresA NASA-developed electromigrationtechniquetopreventcorrosioninrebarwascombined with Surtreat Holding LLC’schemical anti-corrosive solution. NASAfollowedthiseffectivematchwitha liquidgalvanic coating for reinforced concrete,applications for which include bridge andbuilding infrastructures, piers and docks,parking garages, cooling towers, andpipelines. Surtreat’s Total PerformanceSystem,anaturalcomplimenttothecoating,providesdiagnostictestingandsiteanalysis,manufactures and prescribes site-specificsolutions, controls material application,andverifiesperformancethroughfollow-uptestingandanalysis.page 88

Computer TechnologyOpticsProgramSimplifiesAnalysisandDesignNASA engineers partnered with MidéTechnologyCorporationthroughanSBIRcontracttodesigntheDisturbance-Optics-Controls-StructuresToolbox,asoftwaresuiteforperformingintegratedmodelingformulti-disciplinaryanalysisanddesign.Thetoolboxis being sold commercially by NightskySystemsInc.,aspinoffcompanyformedbyMidé,tocontractorsdevelopinglargespace-basedoptical systems, includingLockheedMartinCorporation,TheBoeingCompany,and Northrop Grumman Corporation, aswellascompaniesprovidingtechnicalauditservices,likeGeneralDynamicsCorporation.page 92

DesignApplicationTranslates 2-DGraphicsto3-DSurfacesNASA developed a flattening process totranslate surfacegeometryof amodel toa2-Dtemplate.FabricImagesInc.,specializingintheprintingandmanufacturingoffabrictensionarchitecturefortheretail,museum,andexhibit/tradeshowcommunities,utilizessoftwarederived fromNASA’s to translate2-Dgraphicsfor3-Dsurfacespriortoprintproduction.Benefitsofthisprocessinclude11.5 percent time savings per project,less material wasted, and the ability toimproveupongraphictechniquesandoffernewdesignservices.page 94

HybridModelingImprovesHealthandPerformanceMonitoringA NASA SBIR contract helped ScientificMonitoringInc.createasimplifiedhealth-monitoringapproachforflightvehiclesandequipment. I-Trend, the resulting prod-uct, compares equipment performance todesign predictions, to detect deteriorationor impending failure before operation isimpacted.I-Trendalsocharacterizeshealthorperformancealarmsthatresultin“nofaultfound”falsealarms.Severalcommercialavia-tionprogramsuseI-Trendtechnology,andtheU.S.AirForcetappedScientificMonito-ring to develop next-generation enginehealth-managementsoftware.page 98

14 Spinoff 2007

SoftwareSharingEnablesSmarterContentManagementNASAestablishedatechnologypartnershipwithXeroxCorporationtodevelophigh-techknowledgemanagementsystemsandprovidenew tools and applications that supportthe Vision for Space Exploration. Thefirst result of the partnership was the NXKnowledge Network, which combinesNetmark(NASA-createdpracticaldatabasecontentmanagementsoftware)withcomple-mentarysoftwarefromXerox’sglobalresearchcenters and DocuShare. NX KnowledgeNetworkwastestedattheNASAAstrobiologyInstitute,andiswidelyusedatseveralNASAfieldcenters.page 100

EngineeringSoftwareSuiteValidatesSystemDesignFiveNASASBIRcontractshelpedEDAptiveComputingInc.developtheEDAstarengi-neeringsoftwaretoolsuite.ResultingsoftwareincludedSyscape,usedtocaptureexecutablespecificationsofmulti-disciplinarysystems,andVectorGen,usedtoautomaticallygener-ate tests toensure system implementationsmeetspecifications.InitialcommercializationforEDAstar includedmilitary anddefenseapplications,industrygiantsliketheLockheedMartin Corporation, Science ApplicationsInternationalCorporation,andBallAerospaceand Technologies Corporation, as well asNASAfieldcenters.page 102

Industrial ProductivityOpen-LatticeCompositeDesignStrengthensStructuresIsoTruss,alightweightandefficientalterna-tive to monocoque composite structures,developedthroughaseriesofNASA-fundedprojects,isgarneringglobalattentionduetoitsbeing lightweight; asmuchas12 timesstrongerthansteel;inexpensivetomanufac-ture,transport,andinstall;low-maintenance;and fully recyclable.Expectedapplicationsinclude utility poles and meteorologicaltowers, concrete structures, sign supports,prostheses,irrigationequipment,andsport-inggoods.page 106

Ultra-SensitivePhotoreceiverBoostsDataTransmissionEpitaxialTechnologiesLLCwasawardedaNASASBIR contract to address advancedsensor needs. The resulting photoreceiveris capable of single proton sensitivity andis smaller, lighter, and requires lesspowerthan itspredecessor.The receiveroperatesinseveralwavelengthranges;willallowdataratetransmissionsintheterabitrange;andwillenhanceEarth-basedmissionsforremotesensingofcropsandothernaturalresources.Widespreadmilitaryandcivilianapplicationsareanticipated.page 108

MicroMachiningEnhancesPrecisionFabricationTwoNASASBIRcontractshelpedCreareInc.developanammoniaevaporatorforthermalmanagementsystems.Foundedtocommer-cializethiswork,MikrosTechnologiesInc.developed advanced micro-electrical dis-chargemachiningtoproducetinyholes inthe evaporator. This technique was usedto fabricatemicro-nozzlearray systems forindustrial inkjetprintingsystems.Mikros,nowtheworldleaderinfabricatingstainlesssteelmicro-nozzles,wasawardedtwoNASASBIRcontractstoadvancemicro-fabricationandhigh-performancethermalmanagementtechnologies.page 110

PortableHyperspectralImagingBroadensSensingHorizonsPhotonIndustriesInc.,aspinoffofNASAandtheInstitute forTechnologyDevelopmentdedicatedtodevelopinghyperspectralimag-ing technologies, was purchased by LextelIntelligence Systems LLC. Lextel addednew features and expanded the applicabil-ity of the hyperspectral imaging systems,makingadvancesinsize,usability,andcost.Thecompanynowoffersasuiteofturnkeyhyperspectralimagingsystems,basedontheoriginalNASAgroundwork,usedworldwideforawidevarietyofapplicationsincludingmedical,military,forensics,andfoodsafety.page 112

Spinoff 2007 1�

HypersonicCompositesResistExtremeHeatandStressResearch contracts with NASA helpedMaterials and Electrochemical ResearchCorporation(MER)developtechnologiesforhypersonicflights, includingacoatingthatpassed simulatedMach10 conditions andcarbon-carbon(C-C)compositecomponents.TheC-Ccompositesareverylightweightandexceptionallystrong,evenatveryhightem-peratures.MERformedFrontierMaterialsCorporationtointroducethesematerialstothecommercialmarkets.Thecompositeshavebeenusedinindustrialheatingapplications,intheautomotiveandaerospaceindustries,inglassmanufacturing,andonsemiconductors.page 114

ComputationalModelingDevelopsUltra-HardSteelQuesTek Innovations LLC developed acarburized, martensitic gear steel with anultra-hardcaseusingproprietarycomputa-tionaldesignmethodology.NASAresearchersconductedspurgear fatiguetestingfor thecompanywithaspiralbevelorfacegeartestrig,whichrevealedthatQuesTek’sgearsteeloutperformsthecurrentstate-of-the-artalloysusedforaviationgearsincontactfatiguebyalmost300percent.Usesforthisnewclassofsteelarelimitlessinareasneedingexceptionalstrengthforhigh-throughputapplications.page 116

Thin,Light,FlexibleHeatersSaveTimeandEnergyEGC Enterprises Inc. used NASA’s IcingResearchTunnel todevelopthermoelectricthin-film heater technology to address in-flighticingonaircraftwings.WorkingwithNASAresearchersandtheoriginalequipmentmanufacturersofaircraftparts,thecompanydevelopedtheQ•FoilRapidResponseThin-FilmHeater.Theproductmeetsallcriteriaforin-flightuseandpromisesabroadrangeofapplications,includingcookinggriddles,smallcabinetheaters,andseverallaboratoryuses.page 117

NovelNanotubeManufacturingStreamlinesProductionTheNASAInnovativePartnershipsProgrampromotedaNASA-developedprocessforcre-atingnanotubes,andIdahoSpaceMaterialsInc.(ISM)appliedforanonexclusivelicenseforthesingle-walledcarbonnanotubemanu-facturingtechnology.ISMcommercializeditsproducts,andtheinexpensive,robustnano-tubesarenowbeingusedtocreatethenextgenerationofcompositepolymers,metals,andceramics.Researchersarealsoexaminingwaystousethesematerialsinmyriadtechnologies,including transistors, fuel cells, televisions,supercapacitors,catalysts,andadvancedcom-positematerials.page 118

‘NASAInventionoftheYear’ControlsNoiseandVibrationNASA’sMacro-FiberComposite (MFC) isdesignedtocontrolvibration,noise,anddeflec-tionsincompositestructuralbeamsandpanels.SmartMaterialCorporationlicensedtheMFCtechnology to add it to their line of com-merciallyproducedactuators,andtodatehassoldMFCstoover120customers,includingVolkswagen,Toyota,Honda,BMW,GeneralElectric, and the tennis company, HEAD.Consumerapplicationsalreadyonthemarketincludeaudiospeakers,phonographcartridges,microphones,andproductsrequiringvibrationcontrolsuchassportsequipment.page 120

ThermoelectricDevicesAdvanceThermalManagementUnitedStatesThermoelectricConsortiumInc.(USTC),inworkingtointegratethebenefitsofthermoelectricdevicesinitslineofthermalmanagement solutions, has found NASAtechnicalresearchtobeavaluableresource.In cooperationwithNASA,USTCbuilt agasemissionsanalyzer(GEA)forcombustionresearchwhichprecipitatedhydrocarbonpar-ticles,preventingcontaminationthatwouldhinder precise rocket fuel analysis. USTCworkhassinceprovidedthermalsolutionsforcomputer,radar,laser,microwave,andothersystems.page 122

Satellites and Imaging Technology

Space Telescopes and Deep Space Exploration

International Space Station

Consumer, Home, and Recreation

Restoresartworkpage 64

Enhanceseducationandrecreationpage 66

Reducesfatwhileimprovingflavorpage 70

Transformspaintintoinsulationpage 72

Protectsmachinesandtheenvironmentpage 74

Health and Medicine

ImprovesCPRpage 22

Detectscardiovasculardiseasepage 26

Assistspatientswithcognitivedisorderspage 30

Evaluatesnervefunctionpage 32

Fightsacnepage 34

Broadenscellularanalysispage 36

EnhancesdiagnosticImagingpage 40

NASA Technologies Enhance Our Lives

InnovativetechnologiesfromNASA’sspaceandaeronauticsmissions(above)transferasbenefitstomanysectorsofsociety(below).

EachbenefitfeaturedinSpinoff2007islistedwithaniconthatcorrespondstothemissionfromwhichthetechnologyoriginated.

Public Safety

Detectspotentialthreatspage 56

Sharpensviewsincriticalsituationspage 58

Cleansairandwaterforindoorenvironmentspage 60

Transportation

Easesairtrafficmanagementpage 44

Advancesrotorcraftdesignpage 46

Improvesflightsafetypage 48

Boostshelicopterperformancepage 50

Protectsgeneralaviationaircraftpage 52

Astronaut Life Support Aeronautics ResearchSpace Transportation

Industrial Productivity

Strengthensstructurespage 106

Boostsdatatransmissionpage 108

Enhancesprecisionfabricationpage 110

Broadenssensinghorizonspage 112

Resistsextremeheatandstresspage 114

Developsultra-hardsteelpage 116

Savestimeandenergypage 117

Streamlinesproductionpage 118

Controlsnoiseandvibrationpage 120

Advancesthermalmanagementpage 122

Computer Technology

Simplifiesanalysisanddesignpage 92

Translates2-Dgraphicsto3-Dsurfacespage 94

Improveshealthandperformancemonitoringpage 98

Enablessmartercontentmanagementpage 100

Validatessystemdesignpage 102

Environmental and Agricultural Resources

Maps,monitors,andmanagesEarth’sresourcespage 80

Providesenvironmentaldatapage 82

Savesenergyandprolongsmotorlifepage 86

Preventscorrosioninsteelandconcretestructurespage 88

NASA Technologies Benefiting Society

The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 19�8 required that NASA disseminate its information to the public, and the Technology Utilization Act of 196� formalized the process through which the Agency was to accomplish this task. Today, NASA continues to seek industry partnerships to develop technologies that apply to NASA mission needs, provide direct societal benefits, and contribute to competitiveness in global markets. As part of NASA’s mission, the Agency facilitates the transfer and commercialization of NASA-sponsored research and technology. These efforts not only support NASA, they enhance the quality of life in our hospitals, homes, and communities.

Health and Medicine

NASAresearchdrivesinnovationthatimproveshealthcare.Thetechnologiesfeaturedinthissection:

Improve CPR

Detect cardiovascular disease

Assist patients with cognitive disorders

Evaluate nerve function

Fight acne

Broaden cellular analysis

Enhance diagnostic imaging

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�� Health and Medicine Spinoff 2007

OriginatingTechnology/NASAContribution

Ever stand up too quickly from a sitting orlying position and feel dizzy or disorientedfor a brief moment? The downward push of

Earth’sgravitynaturallycausesbloodtosettleinthelower areas of the human body, and occasionally,withaquickmovement—suchasrisingswiftlyfromachair—thebodyisnotabletoadjustfastenoughtodeliveranadequatesupplyofbloodtotheupperpartsof thebodyand thebrain.This sudden, temporarydropinbloodpressureiswhatcausesbrieffeelingsoflightheadednessuponstanding.Inessence,whentheheartpumpsbloodtodifferentpartsofthebody,itisworkingagainstthephysicalphenomenonofgravityinitseffortstosendblooduptothebrain.

Inmorecasesthannot,thebodyisabletomakethenecessaryadjustmentstoensureproperbloodflowandpressuretothebrain;butwhenthedisorientationlastsalongtimeand/orbecomechronic,individualsmayhaveaconditioncalledorthostaticintolerance.AccordingtotheAmericanJournalofPhysiology–HeartandCirculatoryPhysiology,anestimated500,000Americansareaffectedbyorthostaticintolerance.Symptomsrangefromocca-sional fainting,blurry vision, andpainordiscomfortin theheadandtheneck, to tiredness,weakness,andalackofconcentration.Thoughresearchindicatesthatthe condition is not life-threatening, it could impactthequalityoflifeandcontributetofallsthatresultinseri-ousinjuries.

The condition is a prominent concern for NASA,since astronauts have to readjust to the gravitationalenvironment of Earth after spending days in theweightlessness of space.NASA’sExplorationSystemsMissionDirectoratehasfoundthatroughly20percentofastronautscomingoffofshort-durationspaceflightsexperiencedifficultymaintainingproperbloodpressurewhenmovingfromlyingdowntoeithersittingorstandingduringthefirstfewdaysbackonEarth.Thedifficulties

areevenmoresevereforastronautscomingoffoflong-durationmissions,accordingtothemissiondirectorate,as83percentofthesecrewmembersexperiencesomedegreeofthecondition.

Cardiovascular experts at NASA have found thatthe blood that normally settles in the lower regionsofthebodyisinsteadpulledtotheupperbodyinthemicrogravity environment of space. Blood volume issubsequently reduced as some cardiovascular reflexesareno longerbeingused, and lessblood flows to thelegs.Additionally,themusclesweaken,especiallyinthelowerportionofthebody,becausetheyarenotworking(contracting)ashardastheyusuallydo.Thisisnotsomuch a concern for the astronauts while they are inspace,sincetheactionoffloatingaroundtakestheplaceofputtingcenter-of-gravitypressureontheirlegs.(Theydoexercisestrenuouslywhileinmicrogravity,though,tokeeptheirmusclesandcirculatorysystemsconditioned,thuspreparingtheirbodiesforthereturntogravityasbest they can.) When they return to Earth’s gravity,however,morebloodreturnstothelegs.Sincethereisalowervolumeofblood,theflowthatissupposedtobetravelingtothebraincanbeinsufficient.Thatiswhenorthostaticintolerancecansetin.

NASA has conducted and sponsored a wealth ofstudiestocountertheeffectsoforthostaticintolerance,especiallysincetheconditioncouldpreventanastronautfrom exiting a landed spacecraft in the event of anemergency.InonestudyconductedbyJohnsonSpaceCenter’sCardiovascularLaboratory,astronautsinorbittestedtheefficacyofadrugcalledmidodrinethathassuccessfullyreducedorthostaticintoleranceinpatientsonEarth.Theearlyresultswerepromising,butfurthertestingwillbeconductedbythelaboratorybeforemoreconclusiveresultscanbedetermined.Inanotherstudy,thelaboratoryisusingacontrolledtilttestonEarthtoreplicatethebody’sresponsestoashiftfromrecliningtosittingorstanding.

AtAmesResearchCenter, researchers areutilizingNASA’s20-Gartificialgravitycentrifugemachineinapilotstudyoncardiovascularresponsesandfluidshiftsin thebody.A separateAmes study is evaluating thepossibility of expanding astronauts’ plasma volumes(thefluidpartoftheblood,minusthebloodcells),asapreventativemeasure.

Circulation-Enhancing Device Improves CPR

The ResQPOD is an impedance threshold device used to enhance circulation during CPR. It could be used to increase circulation for astronauts as their bodies initially adjust to a return to gravity from the weightlessness of space.

Spinoff 2007 Health and Medicine ��

InNASA-sponsoredresearchatVanderbiltUniversity,researchershavesuccessfullyidentifiedageneticcausefororthostatic intolerance.The findingsmarked the firsttimeageneticdefecthadbeenlinkedtoadisorderoftheautonomicimmunesystem,accordingtothediscoverers,andcouldeventuallyleadtonewdrugsandtreatmentsforthecondition.

AtKennedySpaceCenter, a collaborative researcheffortwiththeU.S.Armyandprivateindustryhasyieldedanimportantapplicationforanew,non-invasivemedicaldevicecalledResQPODthatisnowavailableforastro-nautsreturningfromspace.Inhelpingtoreacquainttheastronautswiththefeelingofgravity,ResQPODquicklyandeffectivelyincreasesthecirculationofbloodflowtothebrain.Thisdeviceisalsoavailabletothepublicasameanstoenhancecirculationforbreathingpatientssuf-feringfromorthostaticintoleranceandfornon-breathingpatientssufferingcardiacarrestorotherhigh-riskclinicalconditionsattributedtolowbloodpressure.

Partnership

AdvancedCirculatorySystemsInc.,ofMinneapolis,collaboratedwithKennedyandtheU.S.ArmyInstituteofSurgicalResearchformorethan5yearstodevelopResQPOD.DonDoerr,anengineeratKennedy,ledthetestinganddevelopmenteffort;Dr.VictorConvertinooftheInstituteofSurgicalResearch(andaformerNASAscientistatKennedy)alsoplayedaninstrumentalroleindevelopingthetechnology.

Multipleclinicalstudieswereconductedduringtheresearch effort, including six published studies. Thepublishedworksdemonstrate thatResQPODoffersasignificant improvement in cardiacoutput andbloodflowtothebrainandinpreventingshockintheeventofconsiderablebloodloss,whencomparedtoconven-tionalresuscitation.AccordingtoAdvancedCirculatorySystems,data fromtheNASAstudiesplayedamajorrole in the company obtaining U.S. Food and DrugAdministration501Kclearanceforthedevice.

The ResQPOD increases circulation in states of low blood pressure. When used on patients in cardiac arrest, the ResQPOD harnesses the chest wall recoil after each compression to generate a small but critical vacuum within the chest. This vacuum enhances blood flow back to the heart and results in a marked increase in blood flow out of the heart with each subsequent chest compression.

http://www.advancedcirculatory.com/

�4 Health and Medicine Spinoff 2007

The ResQPOD doubles blood flow

back to the heart.

CPR delivers approximately 1� percent of normal blood flow to the heart.

During the decompression (release) phase of CPR, an increase in negative pressure in the thoracic cavity results in drawing more blood back into the chest, providing greater venous return to the heart.

Dr.KeithLurie,chiefmedicalofficeratAdvancedCirculatorySystemsandaprimarymemberofthecollab-orativeresearcheffort,said,“Thethree-waypartnershipbetweenNASA,private industry, and theU.S.ArmyInstituteofSurgicalResearchisreallyamodelforhoworganizationscanworktogethertobenefitbothgovern-mentprogramsandcivilians.”

In2006,Dr.SmithJohnston,theleadflightsurgeonforNASA’s space shuttlemissions, addedResQPODto the list of medical equipment that is available forreturningastronautcrews.Thedevicewasonhandforthe landing of Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-115) onSeptember21,2006.

“We’re excited that our devices were available tothemedicalteam[fortheSTS-115mission]andlookforwardtocontinuedcollaborationwithNASAtoassist

its efforts to safeguard thehealthof the astronauts,”addedLurie.

ProductOutcome

ManufacturedcommerciallybyAdvancedCirculatorySystems and distributed by Sylmar, California-basedTri-animHealthServicesInc.,theResQPODcirculatoryenhancerimprovesuponthestandardofcareforpatientswithavarietyofclinicalconditionsassociatedwithlowblood flow. Advanced Circulatory Systems’ primarycommercialfocus,though,isonnon-breathingpatientswhocanbenefitfromenhancedcirculation,suchasthoseexperiencingcardiacarrest.

AccordingtotheAmericanHeartAssociation,about900Americansfallvictimtosuddencardiacarresteveryday,withapproximately95percentdyingbeforetheyreachthehospital.Thisiswhycardiopulmonaryresus-

citation(CPR)canmeanthedifferencebetweenlifeanddeath,as increasingbloodflowtotheheartandbrainuntiltheheartcanberestartediscriticaltoimprovingsurvivalrateswithnormalneurologicalfunctioning.

ResQPODisanAmericanHeartAssociation-ratedClassIIaimpedancethresholddevice,meaningthatitisthehighestrecommended“adjunct”intheassociation’slatest guidelines for CPR. As a Class IIa impedancethresholddevice,italsocarriesahigherrecommendationthananymedicationusedtoboostcirculationinadultssufferingcardiacarrest,accordingtotheseguidelines.

ThedeviceisaboutthesizeofafistandcanbeaffixedtoeitherafacemaskoranendotrachealbreathingtubeduringCPR.ItenhancestheintrathoracicvacuumthatformsinthechestduringthechestrecoilphaseofCPRby temporarily sealingoff theairwaybetweenbreathsandpreventingunnecessaryairfromenteringthechest


as 50percent.AtCypressCreekEmergencyMedicalServices(EMS),alargemedicalcareorganizationserv-ingmorethan400,000residentsinthegreaterHoustonarea,ResQPODhasbecomeastandardofcare.Overallresuscitation rates climbed tonearly50percent sincetheorganizationbegandeploying thedevice in2005,boostinghospitaladmissionratesfrom26percenttoanastounding38percent.

“Theseresultsaregratifying,andweapplaudtheentireCypress Creek EMS organization for their advancedemergencymedicalservicecareandtheirabilitytoturnaroundthedismalstatisticsthatsurroundcardiacarrest,”notedAdvancedCirculatorySystems’Lurie.

Initssecondarycommercialapplications,AdvancedCirculatorySystemsisofferingResQPODtoimprovecir-culationinpatientssufferingfromorthostaticintoleranceandgenerallowbloodpressure.Thesesecondaryusesalso

(timing-assist lightson thedevicewillaid the rescuerinventilatingthepatientataproperrate).Thevacuumthatiscreatedpullsbloodbacktotheheart,doublingtheamountofbloodthatispulledbackbyconventionalmouth-to-mouth/chestcompressionCPR,accordingtoclinicalstudies,whichalsoshowthatbloodflowtothebrain is increasedby50percent. Insustainingproperblood flow to theheart and to thebrain,ResQPODincreasesthelikelihoodofsurvivalanddecreasesthelike-lihoodofneurologicaldisorders.

ResQPODisbeingusedbyemergencymedicaltech-niciansincitiesallaroundthecountry,includingBoston,Houston,Indianapolis,Miami,andOklahomaCity,aswellasHartford,Connecticut;KansasCity,Missouri;Raleigh,NorthCarolina;andToledo,Ohio. In somecities,ithasreportedlyincreasedthenumberofcardiacarrestpatientsdeliveredalivetothehospitalbyasmuch

applytoindividualswhoundergodialysistreatmentsandmayexperienceadropinbloodpressure,aswellasthosewhogointoshockafterseverebloodloss.

Outsideofthetraditionalhospitalsetting,thecom-pany is investigatingthebeneficial impactResQPODcouldhaveonwoundedsoldiersinthebattlefieldwhomayhavelostagreatdealofbloodandareindangerofgoingintoshock.

AdvancedCirculatorySystemsisalsoharnessingthephysiologicalprinciplesdiscoveredduring its researchcollaborationwithNASAtodevelopanotherpromis-ingtechnology:anintrathoracicpressureregulatorforpatientsrequiringventilationassistancebecausetheyaretoosicktobreatheontheirown.v

ResQPOD®isaregisteredtrademarkofAdvancedCirculatorySystemsInc.

CPR delivers approximately �� percent of normal blood flow to the brain.

The ResQPOD delivers more than �0 percent

of normal blood flow to the brain.

Improved venous return results in increased cardiac output during the subsequent compression phase of CPR, providing greater blood flow to the brain.



Fordecadesnow,NASAhasbeensendingspacecraftthroughoutthegalaxy.Onceinthecosmos,thesecraftsuseadvancedcameras tocreate imagesof

cornersandcrevicesofouruniverseneverbeforeseenandthentransmitthesepicturesbacktolaboratoriesonEarth,wheregovernmentscientiststhenaskthemselves:What exactly are we looking at?

ThatquestionisansweredatNASA’sJetPropulsionLaboratory(JPL) intheImageProcessingLaboratory,foundedin1966toreceiveandmakesenseofspacecraftimagery.There,NASA-inventedVICAR(VideoImageCommunicationandRetrieval)softwarehas,throughtheyears,laidthegroundworkforunderstandingimagesofallkinds.Theoriginalsoftware,createdbyaJPLteamofthree,RobertNathan,FredBillingsley,andRobertSelzer,isinuseeventothisday,althoughwithgreateraccuracyandeffectivenessduetodecadesofadvancements.

TheimagingdivisionatJPLhasgrownincreasinglysophisticatedovertheyears,developingnewprocessesandtechnologiestohandleincreasinglycomplexacquisitionsfromeachNASAspacemission,fromtheVoyagerimagesofSaturnandJupiter taken in the1970s, to thenewimagerycapturedbytheMarsReconnaissanceOrbiterinlate2006thatsuggestswaterstillflowsonMars,openingthepossibilitythattheRedPlanetcouldperhapssupportsomeformsoflife.

Partnership

Selzer,fromtheoriginalVICARteam,hasmadetheNASAimagingtechnologyhislife’swork,spending46yearsasaNASAemployeeandcontinuingtoworkonitsadvancementevenafterhisretirementfromJPL.SelzerreceivedmanyNASAawardsfortechnicalachievement,includingtheprestigiousTechnologyandApplicationProgramExceptionalAchievementMedal.

During the last15yearsofhis career as agovern-mentscientist,he,asheadoftheJPLBiomedicalImage

ProcessingLaboratory,wasworkingonusingtheimagingtechnologyforhealthcarediagnosis.

TheprojectbeganwhentheimagingteamdevelopedtheideaofusingtheVICARsoftwaretoanalyzeX-rayimagesofsofttissue.Typically,theX-rayisineffectivewhenusedtoanalyzesofttissues,thoughtheresearcherswerecurioustoseeiftheimagingsoftwarecouldbroadentheapplicationofthisreadilyavailablediagnosticproce-dure.Theresultswereinteresting,buttoomuchqualitywaslostintransferringthepicturesintoadigitalformatforanalysis.Still,theideaseemedfeasible,so,withseveralgrantsfromNASA,thetestingcontinued.

Selzer’sJPLteam,partneringwithscientistsfromtheUniversityofSouthernCaliforniaunderthedirectionof the late Dr. David Blankenhorn and Dr. HowardHodis,directoroftheAtherosclerosisResearchUnitattheschool’sKeckSchoolofMedicine,begantoimageX-raysofarteries.WithmarginalsuccessusingX-rays,theycameupontheideaofusingthesamemethodologybutapplyingittoultrasoundimagery,whichwasalreadydigitallyformatted.Thenewapproachprovedsuccessfulforassessingamountsofplaquebuildupandarterialwallthickness,directpredictorsofheartdisease.

Testing continued, and the team, buoyed by itssuccesses,beganlookingforoutsidefundingandmethods

Noninvasive Test Detects Cardiovascular Disease

Images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter suggest that liquid water has flowed on Mars within the past 6 years. These pictures were analyzed and clarified with imaging software technologies from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.


ofdistribution.Atthispoint,GaryF.Thompsonenteredthepicture.

Thompsonhasahistoryofheartdiseaseinhisfamily.Thefirstmaleinmanygenerationstolivepastage50,andthelastlivingmaleinhisfamilyline,Thompsoncomesfromalonglineofactive,athleticmenwho,withnopriorsymptoms,sufferedfatalheart-relatedevents.Alifelongathletewhohadboxed in theNewYorkCityGoldenGlovestournamentinhisyouthandranhisfirstmarathonin1975,Thompsonwasunderstandablyconcerned,butfeelingconfident,whenheapproachedhis50thbirthday.Hehadthefamilyhistoryworkingagainsthim,buthewasalsoinprimeshape.Tocelebratehishalf-centurymark,heplannedtorunthreemarathons:LosAngeles,NewYork,andBoston,andheunderwentabatteryofmedicaltests,allofwhichconfirmedthathewasinperfecthealth,withoutanysignsofcardiovasculardisease.

Sevendaysafterhisbirthday,ThompsonrantheLosAngelesmarathon.Atthe15thmile,hestartedexperienc-ingbackpain.Bythe20thmile,itbecamesoexcruciating,thathestoppedrunningandsoughtthehelpofapoliceofficerwhowasmonitoringtherace.Later,atthehospi-tal,doctorsconfirmedthathehadsufferedamoderateheartattackandlost48percentofhisheartmuscle.Themodern medical testing, he realized, had failed him.LuckilyforThompson,comparedtomostmenhisage,forhimtohave52percentofhisheartworkingwastheequivalentof127percent,becausehewassoathletic.

Monthslater,atdinnerwithDavidBaltimore,thenpresident of the California Institute of Technology(Caltech), Thompson asked whether there were anynew heart-related breakthroughs from the esteemeduniversityandwassurprisedtohearthatthereactuallywas,indeed,anewtechnology,butthatithadbeendevel-opedatJPL.Itwasanoninvasivediagnosticsystemwiththeabilitytoaccuratelypredicthearthealth.BaltimoreofferedtosetupanappointmentforThompsonattheUniversityofSouthernCaliforniahospitalwherethisnew

methodwasbeingtested,butThompsondeclinedtheprivilegedtreatment.

Instead,hewentinonhisown,unannounced,andwithoutrevealinghisfamilyhistoryorrecentheartattack.Thompson,who,despite the recent event,gaveeveryimpressionofgreathealth,metwithatechnician,whoaskedhimto loosenhiscollarandthenperformedanultrasoundscanoneithersideofhisneck,thelocationofthecarotidarteries.Whentheresultswerein,thetech-niciantoldThompsonthatheneededtomeetwiththedoctorimmediately.ThetestshowedthatThompsonhad

thethickestarterywallsoftheover3,000otherpeopletested,adirectindicatorthathewasindangerofaheartattackorstroke.

Thompsonwasimpressed.Thisnewdevicehadman-agedtodowhatalloftheothertestshadfailedtodo:givehimanaccuratereadingofhishearthealth.Thompson,ahard-charging entrepreneur,metwith the research-ersSelzerandHodisandtoldthemthattheyneededtogetthistechnologyintothehandsofphysicians.Theyagreed.Thompsondevelopedabusinessplan,securedanexclusivelicensefortheJPL-developedtechnologyfrom

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty material collects along the walls of arteries. This fatty material thickens, hardens, and may eventually block the arteries.


Caltech,andinvestedhisownmoneytostartMedicalTechnologiesInternationalInc.(MTI),locatedinPalmDesert,California.Selzer,afterretiringfromJPL,joinedinandnowservesasthecompany’schiefengineer.

ProductOutcome

MTI licensed 14 research institutions around theworldforpre-U.S.FoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)clearance,research-onlyuseoftheanalysissoftwareandthenincorporatedfeedbackfromthesegroupsintothenewclinicalproductitwasdeveloping.ItpatentedthenewdevelopmentsandthensubmittedthetechnologytoarigorousreviewprocessattheFDA,whichclearedthe

deviceforpublicuse.MTIalsofiledwiththeAmericanMedicalAssociationtohavethedevicegivenadedicatedCurrentProceduralTechnology(CPT)codeforinsurancepurposes,thusencouragingmoredoctorstoofferthistesttopatients.

The patented software is being used in MTI’sArterioVision,acarotidintima-mediathickness(CIMT)testthatusesultrasoundimage-capturingandanalysissoftwaretononinvasivelyidentifytheriskforthemajorcauseofheartattackandstrokes:atherosclerosis.

The term atherosclerosis comes from Greek, withatheromeaningagruelorpaste(plaque)andsclerosismeaninghardness.Itisjustthat,abuildupofcholesterol

and fatty substances in the arteries, combined witharterialhardening.Theresultisthatbloodflowthroughtheheartisrestricted,hamperingoxygensupply.Heartattacksoccurwhentheheartdoesnotgetthenecessaryoxygen,andstrokesaretheresultofoxygennotreachingthebrain.Atherosclerosis,referredtobytheAmericanHeartAssociation(AHA)asthe“silentkiller,”initiallyhas no discernable symptoms until one or more ofthe arteries becomes so congested that these major,sometimesfatal,problemsoccur.TheAHAestimatesthattwooutofthreeunexpectedcardiacdeathsoccurwithoutpriorsymptoms.

Infact,astronautEdwardWhite,thefirstastronauttoeverperformaspacewalk,andoneofthethreespacepioneerstodieduringtheApollolaunchpadtragedyin1967,wasthoughtbymosttobeinperfecthealth,havingsuccessfullypassedalloftherigorousastronauttesting.Anautopsydirectlyaftertheaccident,though,revealedthathehadextremethickeningofthearteriesandshowedmostsignsofheartdisease.Withthisparticulardisease,though,ashasbeenmentionedpreviously,oftentheonlysymptomsareeitherheartattackorstroke.

ArterioVisionprovidesadirectmeasurementofathero-sclerosisbeforeitcausesthese“symptoms”bysafelyandpainlesslymeasuringthethicknessofthefirsttwolayersofthecarotidarterywallusinganultrasoundprocedureandadvancedimage-analysissoftware.Thecarotidartery,locatedonbothsidesoftheneck,isthelargestarterythatisnearthesurfaceoftheskin.Itsuppliesbloodtothebrain,anditcanthereforebeexaminednoninvasively.ArterioVisionessentiallyperformsaskinsurfaceimaging“biopsy”toexaminethearterialwall.

ArterioVision is the only CIMT tool on the market that offers a predictive report for physicians and patients. It explains the significance of test results using a proprietary database and JPL-developed algorithms and can extrapolate to show percentile of risk.

http://www.i-mti.com/

http://www.i-mti.com/

Spinoff 2007 Health and Medicine �9

As evidenced by the battery of tests Thompsonunderwent before his heart attack, diagnostic toolsfor atherosclerosis screening are far from advanced.Atherosclerosis begins in the abdomen and ascendstotheheartandthecarotidarteries.Adiagnostictoolfor examining it in theabdomen is thecomputerizedtomography(CT)scan,butCTcomeswithacertainlevelofriskandatagreatfinancialcost.Unlikeultrasound,whichissafeenoughthatitisusedonunbornbabies,CTscansrelyonradiationtoproduceresults.Whilethisprocedureisstillnewenoughthattherisksarerelativelyunknown,theNationalToxicologyProgram,adivisionoftheU.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,has recently declared X-rays carcinogenic. Similarly,researchersatColumbiaUniversityhaveestimatedthatradiationfora full-bodyscan isroughlyequivalenttothesameamountofradiationexposureexperiencedbypeoplewithin1.5milesoftheatomicbombsdroppedonNagasakiandHiroshima.Inotherterms,itisroughlyequivalenttotheradiationfrom200chestX-rays.Asanaddeddisadvantage,X-raymachinesandtheproductionofradiationcostagreatdealofmoney.

TheNASA-basedtechnologyhasnoneoftheseprob-lems.Itposesnorisks,anditisrelativelyinexpensive.Theimagingtechnologycandistinguishbetween256differentshadesofgrayanddifferentiatenuancesatasub-pixellevelofinterpolation,makingitthemostaccurateinthisfield,anditiscompatiblewithallexistingultrasoundmachines,makingitmorereadilyaccessibletophysicians.

While ArterioVision is not the only FDA-clearedCIMTtoolonthemarket,itistheonlyonethatoffersapredictivereportforthephysicianandpatient.ItexplainsthesignificanceoftestresultsusingaproprietarydatabaseandJPL-developedalgorithms,andcanextrapolatetoshowpercentileofrisk.

Oneparticularfeatureofthereportistherevelationofarterialage.Itcanshowthepatientthatwhilehemaybe50yearsold,hisarteriesmaybetheequivalentofpatients75 years old. This real-world number is something

patientscanidentifywithandhelpspromotecompliancewithdrugtherapiesandotherformsoftreatment—oneofthemostdifficultaspectsofpreventingandtreatingheartdisease.Physiciansoftenlamentthattheystresstheimportanceoflifestylechangestotheirpatients,butsinceheartdiseasedoesnotinitiallycomewithsymptoms,butinsteadwithpotentiallyfatalevents,itisoftendifficulttoimpressuponthepatientstheurgencyoftakingcareoftheirhearts.TheArterioVisionpatientreportprovidesasignificantwarningsignandgivesconcreteexamples.

Thereportthenbecomespartofaserialexamination.Atherosclerosis can be reversed with strategies like

exercise,dietchange,weightloss,smokingcessation,andcholesterol-loweringmedication;andthepatientcansee,afterimplementinganewstrategy,ifthatoneisworking.

Currently,thetechnologyisinall50states,andinmanycountriesthroughouttheworld.MTIiscontinuingtopushthislife-savingtechnologyandisrapidlyexpand-ingitssalesforceinanefforttoliveuptoitscompanycredo,“MakingaPositiveDifferenceEveryDay.”v

ArterioVision™isatrademarkofMedicalTechnologiesInternationalInc.

ArterioVision is a CIMT test that uses ultrasound image-capturing and analysis software to noninvasively identify the risk for the major cause of heart attack and strokes: atherosclerosis.



Neuropsychologyisthestudyofhowthebrainrelates tobehavior, emotion, and cognition.Clinicalneuropsychologistsevaluatethebehav-

ioraleffectsofneurologicalanddevelopmentaldisordersstemmingfrombraininjury,strokes,multiplesclerosis,Alzheimer’sdisease,andParkinson’sdisease.MillionsofAmericansarecurrentlylivingwiththesecognitivedisor-ders,includingagrowingnumberofveteransreturningfromIraqwithbraininjuries.Thedisordersoftenresultincognitiveimpairmentswhichmakeitdifficulttoplandailyactivitiesandstayontask,affectingindependence,qualityoflife,andemployment.

Intheearly1990s,RichardLevinson,aNASAcon-tractorandseniorresearcherinAmesResearchCenter’sArtificialIntelligenceResearchBranchandAutonomousSystemsGroup,tookthescienceinanentirelydifferentdirectionwhenhefoldeditintohisNASAwork.

Levinson,whohadpreviouslyreceivedaSpaceActAwardforcontributingtothedevelopmentofaprototypeautonomousthermalcontrolsystemfortheInternationalSpaceStation,initiallylearnedaboutneuropsychologyaccidentally.Movingintoanewapartmentin1986,hereceivedaneuropsychologycourseprograminthemailthatwasactuallyintendedforthepreviousoccupant.ThetopicintriguedLevinson,andthepursuittolearnmorewason.

As Levinson learned about emerging neuropsy-chological models of human planning, he continuedresearchingcomputermodelsofautomaticplanning.Acentralconcernforbothfieldsisthatplansoftenchangewhensurprisesoccur.Neuropyschologistsstudyhowthisintegratedplanningandexecutionbreaksdownastheresultofcognitive impairment,buttheydonotknowexactlyhowplanningoccursinthebrain.Ontheotherside,computerscientistscanbuildaplanningsystem,buthavealimitedunderstandingofhowtointegrateplan-ningwithexecutionmonitoringanderrorrecovery.

Levinsonstudiedtheneuropsychologyofhumanplan-ningandappliedthisknowledgetohisNASAresearchinordertoincreaseautonomyforspacecraftandrobots.Sincespacecraftandrobotsoperateinuncertaincondi-tions,theycannotbepreprogrammedforeveryactivity,so there are times that they must be responsible fortheirown“health”andsafety.Further,asNASA’smis-sionsgrowmorecomplex,sodoestheAgency’sneedformachinesthatcanexhibitahigherdegreeofindependenceandexecuteimprovisedactionsinnovelsituationswherepreprogrammedcommandswillnotwork.

In1995,Levinsonpublishedpeer-reviewedresearchpapersincomputerscienceandneuropsychologyjournals,describinganartificiallyintelligentplanningandreactionmodelfoundedonneuropsychologicaltheoriesofhumanbehavior.Thisplanningandreactionmodelwasbasedonthefunctioningofthehumanbrain’sfrontallobes,whichplayapartinmemory,motorskills,planning,decisionmaking,andsocialization,amongotherfunctions.

Levinson has since received three patents for thetechnology,pertainingtoactivityplanningandcueingmethodswithexecutionmonitoringanderrorcorrection.

WhileLevinsonandNASAcontinueto investigatethisadvancedcomputermodelforfuturemissions,thetechnologyhasalreadymadeitsterrestrialdebutintheformofapowerfulcueingandschedulingaidtohelppeoplewithawide rangeof cognitive, attention,anddevelopmentaldisorders.

Partnership

Levinson received initial funding fromNASAandhiscontractingcompany,RecomTechnologiesInc.,ofRoseville,California,toresearchthecommercialpotentialofhisartificiallyintelligentplanningreactionmodeltoserve as a tool for helping individuals suffering fromvariousformsandlevelsofbrainimpairment.In1993,thechiefofAmes’ArtificialIntelligenceResearchBranchsuggested that Levinson contact Santa Clara ValleyMedical Center, which hosts a nationally acclaimed

rehabilitation and research center that specializes inbraininjuries,toseeifthehospitalwasinterestedinaresearchcollaboration.Levinsonheededtheadviceandfound a valuable partner in the medical center. Thispartnership led to furtherdevelopmentofLevinson’stechnologyandfundingtosupportclinicalresearchfromtheU.S.DepartmentofEducation’sNationalInstituteonDisabilityandRehabilitationResearch.

In1996,LevinsonfoundedAttentionControlSystemsInc., in Mountain View, California, to produce andmarketthisNASAspinoffcreation.

ProductOutcome

Attention Control Systems now offers peoplewith memory, attention, and cognitive disorders acomputerized,personalplanningdevice tohelp themstayontaskbyovercominglimitationsinplanningandfulfilling theirdaily schedules.Thedevice, called thePlanningandExecutionAssistantandTrainer,orPEAT,isapocket-sizedPDA,completewithagraphicaldisplay,touchscreencontrols,anelectroniccalendar,anaddressbook,andabuilt-inphone.ThefunctionalityofPEAT,however,transcendsthatofaregularPDAschedulingdevice. PEAT cues users to start or stop scheduledactivities,monitorstheirprogress,andadjustsschedulesasnecessaryinresponsetodelaysorcalendarchanges.ItusestheautomaticplanningmodeldevelopedforNASAtomakeautomaticadjustments todailyplanswhenasituationchanges.MostPDAsystemslackthisflexibility,requiring their users to manually re-plan and updatescheduledatawhenchangesoccur.

Whiledailyroutineactivitiescomenaturallytomost,individuals with memory, attention, and cognitiveimpairmentmaystruggle toremember that theyhavetoperformcertaintasks.Thosewithsevereimpairmenttothepointwhereindependentlivingisachallengeareaffectedmost,astheymaynotonlyforgettoperformtasks,butforgethowtoperformthem.

Scheduling Accessory Assists Patients with Cognitive Disorders

http://www.brainaid.com/

http://www.brainaid.com/


Whetherindividualsaremildlyorseverelyimpaired,PEAT makes it easier for them to get through theirplannedschedulesbyprovidingcuesfortaskcompletionandadjustingforunplannedscheduleconflicts.PEATcanautomaticallyshiftflexibletasksthatdonotrequirean exact start time in order to keep the prioritized,scheduledeventsontrack.Forexample,anindividualusingPEATwakesuptoapreplanneddaythatconsistsofhavingbreakfastwith a familymember from9:30to10:30, followedbystoppingat thebank,andthenseeinga12:00matineeshowwithafriend(theindividualreceivescuesfromPEATtoinformhim/herofallofthesescheduled tasks).This agendawaspreprogrammed intheuser’sdevice(eitherprogrammedbytheuserorbyacaregiver,dependingonthedegreeofimpairment),withbreakfastandthemoviebeingthetop-priorityscheduledtasks,andthebanktripbeingasecondary,unscheduledroutinetask.

Noteverythinggoesasplanned,however.Itturnsoutthatbreakfasttakeslongerthanthescheduledhour,sotheuserdoesnothavetimetostopatthebankbeforethemovie.Sincethebanktripdidnotrequireanexactstarttime,itisataskthatPEATcanautomaticallyshifttoanotheravailable time.Thisway, the task, thoughdelayed,isnotignoredandwillnotbeforgotten,andtheindividual’sprioritytasks—breakfastandthemovie—arenotinterrupted.

TheautomaticcuesthatPEATdeliverstoitsuserstostartandstopactivitiescanbeintheformofcustomizedvoicerecordings,sounds,andpictures;extralargetextandpictureshelpuserswithvisualandmotorproblems.Cueingcontinuesuntiltheuserresponds.Additionally,userscanprogramcustomizedscripts(activitysequences)forbreakinglargetasksintomultiple,smalltasks.Thisfeature is especiallyhelpful forhighly impaireduserswhomayfinddifficultycompletingtaskssuchasgettingdressedinthemorningorfixingthemselvesameal.

PEAT’sCueCarddisplayprovidesacountdowntimeruntilthenextscheduledeventandcuestheusertostart

or stop at the scheduled time.Highly impairedusersmaybelockedintothisCueCardsection,whichmeanstheywillonlyseeremindersforoneeventatatime.Thismodekeeps the reminders simpleanddoesnotcreateunwarrantedconfusionfortheseusers.Otheruserswithlessimpairmentmayhavetheoptiontooverridecuesbystartingandstoppingthemearly,andcandelay, skip,reschedule,oraltogethercancelthecues.Thedevicekeepsa logofallof theseactions, sothat thecaregiversandfamilymemberscanevaluatehowwellauserisadaptingtothetechnologyandaccomplishingreal-worldtasks.Fortheuser,theaccomplishmentsboostindependenceandconfidence,anddiminishescostofcare.

“PEATcanbesimplifiedbyhidingfeaturessothathighly impaired users will use a system with far lessfeaturesthanhigher-functioningusers,”statedLevinson.“Westartoffsimplewitheachuserandaddoptionsovertime.Insomecases,acaregiverortherapistsetsupthescheduleandtheusermustonlyrespondtocues,whilePEATmonitorstheirprogressandautomaticallyadjuststhescheduleasnecessary,”headded.

PEAT is sold as a complete system that includessoftware, hardware, documentation, and technicalsupport.InadditiontotheflagshipPocketPEATdevice,there is PEAT Phone: software that runs on cellularphones;PCPEAT:softwarethatrunsondesktopandlaptopPCs,wherethelargerscreenandkeyboardmaybeusedtoconfigurethesystem,enterdata,trainusers,andbackupdata;andPEATLink:softwarethatlinksthePocketPEATdevicetoPCPEATforsoftwarecopyinganddatatransfer.

PEATiscurrentlyprovidingplanningandexecutionassistancetopatientsatDepartmentofRehabilitationfacilitiesin25states,SantaClaraValleyMedicalCenter,the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Palo AltoHealthCareSystem,andtoschooldistrictsandassistivetechnologycenters.

AtthePaloAltohospital’sPolytraumaRehabilitationCenter, Dr. Harriet Zeiner, lead clinical neuropsy-chologist,hasdevelopedtreatmentprotocolsfortroopsreturningfromoverseaswithmildtraumaticbraininjuriesfromimprovisedexplosivedevices,aswellasforsoldierswithpost-traumaticstressdisorder.Zeiner’streatmentsincludeusingthePEATdeviceasamemoryprosthesis.

Meanwhile, clinical studies of PEAT continueat Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Levinson alsoforeseesthetechnologyhefirstdevelopedforautonomousrobotic planning to have “spin-in” application forNASA’sastronauts.v

PEAT™isatrademarkofAttentionControlSystemsInc.

PEAT is a powerful cueing and scheduling aid to help people with a wide range of cognitive, attention, and developmental disorders.

Scheduling Accessory Assists Patients with Cognitive Disorders

�� Health and Medicine Spinoff 2007


When in the zero-gravity environment ofspace,anastronautrealizesquicklythatmostmotionsrequiresignificantlylesseffort,and

thebodyadjustsitselftothenewenvironmentsothatasimpleactlikeputtinginacontactlensdoesnotresultinasharppokeintheeyeorclappingofhandsdoesnotshat-terfingers.Thisadaptabilityisusefulandnecessarywhileinorbit,andthebodyquicklybecomesaccustomedtothezero-gravityconditionsofspaceflight,butwithouttheeverydayweightofgravitythatweoftentakeforgrantedprovidingresistance,muscletissuetendstoatrophy.Infact,aspacetraveleroftenexperiencesafeelingofheavi-ness,ofanadditionalweightonthebody,uponreturningfromspace.Theconditionissimilartothedegenerationofmuscleseeninbedriddenpatientsandtheelderly.

Naturally, NASA is invested in researching thisphenomenonandhasundertakenmanystudiestowardunderstandingthishazardandfindingmethodsbywhichitcanbecombated.OneofthetoolsemployedbytheSpaceAgency is surfaceelectromyography(SEMG),anoninvasivemethodforanalyzingandrecordingthecon-ditionsofmuscleswhileatrestandinuse.SEMGuses,asthenameimplies,surfaceelectrodestomonitorandgraphmuscleactivity.

Partnership

NASA funded a study in which researchers fromBostonUniversity and theMassachusetts InstituteofTechnologyusedSEMGtomeasurethemuscleactivityofastronautsduringstrenuousactivitiesdirectlybeforeandafterspaceshuttlemissions.Theresearch,doneattheNeuroMuscularResearchCenteratBostonUniversityunderthedirectionofengineerLeeBrody,resultedinthedesignandimplementationoftwoexperimentalproto-cols.Todetermineandmapchangesinmusclesofshuttleastronauts,theteamdesignedaprotocoltomeasuresig-nalsfromalegmuscleduringaseriesofexercises.

Fortheotherproject,theteamdesignedameasurementtechniqueandaccompanyingsoftwaretotestdifferentdesignsfortheglovesastronautswouldwearduringspacewalks.Theglovesastronautswereusingpreviouslyledtoextremehandandforearmfatiguewhiletheyconductedrepairsandothertasksthatrequiredprecisionhanduse.Thenewerglovesalleviatetheseconditions.

SincecompletingtheNASA-fundedresearchprojects,Brodyhasfoundadditionalapplicationsforthemethodsandtechniqueshelearnedduringtheexperiments.HeisnowthechiefengineerfortheChiropracticLeadershipAlliance(CLA),ofMahwah,NewJersey,aprofessionalorganizationservingthechiropracticcommunity.

ProductOutcome

FoundedbyDrs.PatrickGentempoandChristopherKent,theCLAisdedicatedtoadvancingthestudyandpracticeofchiropracticmedicine.Itsspaceexperiment-basedtechnologyiscalledtheInsightSubluxationStationand is aneurospinal screening and evaluation systembasedontheNASAresearchconductedbyBrodyandtheSEMGmethodology.WhilemanychiropracticgroupsuseSEMG,thisistheonlysystememployingtheuniqueNASAtechnology. In fact, theCLAhasevensecuredexclusive certification for theproductwith theSpaceFoundation, a nonprofit organization that promotesawarenessandadvancementofspace-relatedresearchandexploration.Evenmore,thetechnology,availableworld-wide,istheonlychiropracticdeviceofitsnaturewhoseapplications,protocols,indications,andnormativedatahaveallbeenpublishedinpeer-reviewedliteratureandaretaughtatcertifiedchiropracticuniversitiesandcolleges.

Inthehumanbody,thecentralnervoussystemiscom-posedofthreeparts:thebrain,thespinalcord,andthenerves.Stress(whetherphysical,psychological,orphysi-ological)inanyoftheseareascanaffecttheothersandthrowthewholesystemoff,oftenresultinginbackpain.Theroleofthechiropractoristorepairdisruptionstothespineandexplaintopatientstheconnectionsbetween

Neurospinal Screening Evaluates Nerve Function

The Insight Subluxation Station allows chiropractors to create visual representations of abnormal nerve functions.

http://www.subluxation.com

http://www.subluxation.com


thepartsofnervesandbackpain.Towardthisend,chi-ropractorsemployawidevarietyofdiagnostictestsandtechniquestoexaminethespineandnervoussystem,butfindingclearevidenceofnervedisruptioncan,nonethe-less,provedifficult.

Chiropractorsusetheirhands,checkingthemusclesand spinal alignment, and they can take X-rays ofvertebraeandanalyzespinaldegeneration,butitisstilldifficulttoquantifytheamountofnervedisruption.Justasimportant,itisalsodifficultforchiropractorstocheckthe resultsof various typesof treatment.The InsightSubluxationStationaddressesthatshortfall.

TheInsightSubluxationStationemploysascanningdevice that measures differences in skin temperatureandthesensitivityofparaspinaltissueandassessesrangeofmotion,variationsinheartrate,andtheamountof

tensionofparaspinalmuscleactivity.Itthen,throughuniquesoftware,createsvisualrepresentationsofabnor-malnervefunctions.

Thesevisualrepresentationsallowchiropractors,forthefirsttime,tobeabletoactuallyseedisruptionsinnervefunctioning.Thecolor-codedgraphsallowchiro-practorstodeterminewhatmethodsofcarewillbebesttopursue,andalsoallowcaregiverstofollow-upbyassessingtheeffectivenessofthechosentreatment.Furthermore,the computer-generated charts show patients exactlywhere the nerve dysfunction exists, which helps thepatientunderstandthereasoningbehinddifferenttreat-mentmethods.

Achartalsohelpswithpatientretention.Sincethereportusuallyvalidatesthepatient’sconcerns,heorsheismorelikelytofeelassuredthatthetreatmentisbasedonsomethingotherthanmanualpokingandprodding,anduponreturn,knowsthatavisualreportofprogresswillbereceived.

Thesystem,whichhassettingsthatallowittobeusedoninfants,children,andadults,isreadilycompatiblewithmostchiropracticofficesandclearedbytheU.S.FoodandDrugAdministration.Itusesastandardelectrical

powersourceandfeaturesUSBcommunicationtechnol-ogytoallowittointerfacequicklyandeffectivelywithotherdevices.Thesoftware iscompliantwithFederalstandards setby theHealthInsurancePortabilityandAccountabilityAct(HIPAA),aninitiativetoregulateandstandardizeelectronichealthcareinformationexchange.

TheCLAhascreateda4-daytrainingprogramforchiropractorswhopurchasetheInsightscanningdevice.WhatGentemporeferstoasasortof“bootcamp”forchiropractors, the training session, called the TotalSolutionspackage,teacheschiropractorsnotonlyhowtousethedevice,buthowtogetthemostoutoftheirchiropracticpractices.v

InsightSubluxationStation™andTotalSolution™aretrademarksoftheChiropracticLeadershipAlliance.

The Insight Algometer (above) is a hand-held device that accurately measures the sensitivity of paraspinal tissues. Tender areas discovered by palpation can be quantified, and progress can be graphically displayed throughout a course of care.

The Insight Inclinometer (left) performs a standard two-point range-of-motion (ROM) assessment. The inclinometry protocol evaluates end-point ROM as compared to normative data, which then provides the percentage of impairment. The Pulse Wave Profiler (above) measures heart rate variability, the beat-to-beat variation in heart rate. This natural rise and fall of heart rate is caused by several physiologic phenomena, including breathing and autonomic nervous system activity. Chiropractors use this measurement to get a window into how the autonomic nervous system modulates heart rate in the baseline or resting state.



When the U.S. Congress created NASA in1958, it sought to ensure that theNationsawreturnsonitsinvestmentsinaerospace

research.It,therefore,wroteprovisionsintotheSpaceActAgreementthatformedtheAgencyrequiringthatNASAshareitstechnologicaladvancesandengineeringexpertisewiththeAmericanpublic.Sincethattime,theNASAsci-entificprowessthatsendspeopleandequipmentupintospacehasalsocomebackdowntoEarth,intheformofproductsandprocessesthatmakeeverydaylifebetterallaroundtheglobe.

Throughavarietyofmethods,industrycanworkwiththeSpaceAgencytoaccess thecutting-edgeresourcesand advanced technologies created as a result of theNation’s investment in space.For companies thatdonotneedNASA-developedtechnologyoradvancedtestfacilities but still want to leverage some of the brainpowerofNASA’sengineering teams to solveadesignproblemintheirproduct,NASAfundstheSpaceAllianceTechnologyOutreachProgram,morecommonlyreferredtoas“SATOP.”

SATOP,administeredbyBayAreaHoustonEconomicPartnership,isacooperativeprogrambetweenFlorida,NewMexico,NewYork,andTexas.Itbringstogethermorethan55spacecompanies,universities,colleges,andNASAcenterstomaketheexpertisegarneredthroughtheNation’sinvestmentinspaceexplorationavailabletosmallbusinesses.SATOPfindsprofessionalswithintheseorganizationswhovolunteertheirtimeandexpertiseinsolvingvariousdesignandengineeringchallenges.

AnytypeofsmallbusinessisencouragedtosubmitatechnicalchallengetoSATOP.IfSATOPisabletoassist,thesmallbusinessisprovidedwithupto40hoursoffreetechnicalassistancefromascientistorengineer intheSpaceProgram.

Partnership

Tyrell Inc., a Houston-based medical technolo-gies company,wasable toaccess engineering supportforaproblemwithredesigningaheatingelementforahand-held acne-fightingdevice.Thedevicewasbornofnecessity,whenTyrellfounderRobertConrad,now

the company’s chief operating officer, was workingatabiologicaltestingfirm.Oneoftheexperimentshewasconductinginvolvedworkingwithproteins,whichincludedgrowingbacterialcolonies,shockingthemwithheattokillthebacteria,andthenextractingtheproteins.Conrad, who had been plagued with adult acne andwas looking for a solution, recalledwhile conductingtheseexperimentsthatacneitselfiscausedbythebacteria,P. acnes,andwonderedaboutthepossibilityofshockingpimpleswithheat.

Athomeinhisgarage,hebeganexperimentingwithtimeand temperaturecurves todevelopadevice thatwouldshockandkillacne-causingbacteria.Hebuiltaworkingprototypeandwascontent tostopthereandkeepthedeviceforpersonaluse.Familyandfriends,how-ever,tookinterestinthedevice,andeachwantedone.Conradsawtheobviousmarketpotentialandtheneedthatpeople,likehim,hadforthisdevice.

Whiletheprototypeprovedfeasible,thedesignstillneededsometweaking;thedevicewascumbersomeandexpensivetoproduce.ConradwasintroducedtoSATOPthroughtheHoustonTechnologyCenter,alocaltechnol-ogybusinessacceleratorwithaSpaceActAgreementwithNASA’sJohnsonSpaceCenter.

Conrad presented the acne-clearing device andexplainedthathewantedanewheatingelementdesignthatwouldberesistanttooilsandacids,withacylindricalshapethatwouldbe0.0312inchindiameterandwouldprovidetemperaturefeedbackthroughresistancechange.Inaddition,theheaterneededtorunonnomorethan5volts,consumeapproximately5wattsduringoperation,and,mostimportantly,becostcompetitive.

SATOP directed Conrad to Allen J. Saad, of TheBoeingCompany,aprincipaldesignengineeratKennedySpaceCenter.Saadassessedthedesignandmadeseveralmajorcontributions.Hewasabletogivethecompanyengineering advice toward designing a new elementthatreducedthecostoftheheatingelementfromabout$80 each to just 10 cents,making theproductmore

Hand-Held Instrument Fights Acne, Tops Over-the-Counter Market

Zeno is a hand-held, portable electronic medical device that is clinically proven to make pimples disappear fast. In fact, for treating acne pimples, it is the most scientifically advanced and effective device available without a prescription. It applies a precisely controlled heat dose directly to the pimple through a metal pad. One treatment lasts �.� minutes.

http://www.spacetechsolutions.com/

http://www.spacetechsolutions.com/

http://www.myzeno.com


marketable. Shortly aftermeetingwithSaad,Conradwas able to implement thedesignmodificationsandtaketheproducttomarket.Itisnowthehighestsellingover-the-countermedical deviceforthetreatmentofacne.

In 2006, the product,dubbed Zeno, was namedthe“SATOPTexasSuccessStoryof theYear.”Conradhadpositivethingstosayaboutthepartnershipaswell:“WithoutthehelpIreceivedfromSATOP,theproductwouldlikelystillbeinmygarage.Instead,wenowhavethreeoffices,andsalesareskyrocketing.”

Thecompanyhasexpandedgreatly,withoffices inHoustonandSeattle, andamanufacturing facility inPenang,Malaysia, that country’sonlyU.S.FoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)-approvedfacility.

ProductOutcome

AccordingtoTyrell,nearly90millionpeopleintheUnitedStatesspendmorethan$2billionayearonacnetreatments,withlimitedresultsandsometimessignificantsideeffects.Itsover-the-counterdevice,Zeno,hasbeenclearedby theFDA,and isonthemarket toofferaneffectivesolutiontothiswidespreadproblem.

ZenoemploysproprietaryClearPointtechnologytoprovidereliefofmildtomoderateinflammatoryacne.Itdeliversapreciselycontrolledlow-leveldosageofheattotheblemish,causingthebacteriaattherootofmorethan90percentofacnetoself-destruct.Theheatistheexacttemperatureneededtokillthebacteriawhilestillbeingbelowthepointatwhichhealthyskinwouldbedamaged, and an internalmicroprocessor continuallymodulatesthetemperaturetomatchtheheatabsorptionoftheindividualuser.Replaceabletreatmenttipsensurethermalefficiencyoverthelifeoftheproduct.

Zeno spot-treats acne. Clinical trials showed that90 percent of blemishes treated with Zeno faded ordisappearedwithin24to48hours.Overthecourseof12to24hours,theuserappliesthedevicetotheaffectedareafortwoorthreetreatmentcyclesof2.5minuteseach.Thatisusuallyallthatittakes,thoughitcanalsostillbesafelyusedinconjunctionwithotheracnetreatments,includingover-the-counterandprescriptionmedications.

Withinitsfirstyearonthemarket,Zenowascitedbyvariouspublicationsforseveralawards,includingAllure’s2005“BestofBeauty,”MarieClaire’s“10BestGadgetsforGirls,”andPopularScience’s2005“BestofWhat’s

New.”Itisavailableinthreemodels:Zeno,ZenoPro,andZenoMD.

AvariationoftheZenoforuseintreatingherpeticlesionssuchascoldsores,bykillingthevirusthatcausesthem,iscurrentlyundergoingFDAtrials.v

Zeno®andClearPoint™aretrademarksofTyrellInc.

Two to three �.�-minute treatments spread over �4 hours are sufficient for most pimples. Often, only one treatment is needed.



Howdoeslifebeginandevolve?Doeslifeexistelsewhereintheuniverse?WhatisthefutureoflifeonEarthandbeyond?

Thesequestionshavelingeredformanyyears,andwestilldonotfullyknowtheanswerstothem.NASA,how-ever,initseffortstosustainlifehereonourhomeplanetandchartacourseforhumanstoexploretheMoon,Mars,andbeyond, isgoing tonewdepths tobetteraddressthem—deepbeneaththeoceansurface.

Inthefloorsofouroceansareholesthatspewhot,gaseous,mineral-richliquidsfromthedeep,subsurfacemagmabelow.Scientists fromNASA’sAdvancedLifeSupportGroupatAmesResearchCenterarehopingthattheseholes,calledhydrothermalvents,maynotonlyhelpthemunlockthesecretsofthedeep,buthelpthemlearnifexoticlifeformsexistonotherplanetarybodies,includ-ingMarsandJupiter’smoonEuropa.

Becausehydrothermalventsarethousandsofmetersunderwater,theyarenotexposedtosunlight.Withoutsunlight,theremaybeabioticlifeforms—lifeformsthatexistdevoidofphotosyntheticinputordecompositionoforganicmaterials—inornearthesevents.NASAscientistshypothesizethatthedeepsubsurfaceofEarthcouldbehometoorganismsthatexistsolelyonchemicalenergythatisgeneratedfromtheoff-gassingmagmabelowtheoceanfloor.Theyfurtherhopethatthisextremeunder-groundenvironmentcouldprovideinsightintowhethersimilarlifeformsexistelsewhereintheuniverse,inenvi-ronmentsthatarefarremovedfromtheSunandthereforealsorequireothersourcesofenergy.Forexample,scien-tistshavetargetedEuropabecauseofitsthickicecrustsandthemountingevidencethatpointstotherebeinganice-coveredoceanthatcouldpotentiallyharborsimilarhydrothermalvents.

Totesttheirhypothesis,theAdvancedLifeSupportGroupscientistshavebuiltalife-detectioninstrumentcalled Medusa to collect, store, and analyze sample

organisms fromeruptinghydrothermalvents.For thesample analyses,Medusa is equippedwith a spectral-analysischemicalsensorthatusesaprocesscalledflow

cytometry to examine the natural glow of light, orfluorescence,emittedfromanyofthesamplescollectedasoceanwaterflowsthroughtheinstrument.Whenthescientistsretrievethesamples,theyinjectadyeintothemthatinteractswiththefluorescenceandemitscolorstorevealtheirchemicalcomposition.

Medusahasalreadybeendeployedseveral timestostudyhydrothermalvents,andscientistswillcontinuetosendtheinstrumenttothebottomoftheoceaninanefforttovalidatetheirtheory.NASAalsoplanstotesttheinstrumentinotherextremeenvironmentsofEarthinitscontinuingquesttoseekunknownlifeforms.Meanwhile,scientistsareworkingtoapplythespectral-analysiscapa-bilitiesofMedusa’s chemical sensor toother areasofresearch,especiallyinstudyingtheeffectsofgravityandcosmicradiationonhumancells topossiblycreateanenhancedsystemformonitoringthebiologicaleffectsofspacetravelonastronauts.

Partnership

TodeveloptheadvancedflowcytometryprocessthatisatthecruxofMedusaandmayonedaybepartofanadvanced astronauthealth-monitoring system,NASAsoughtthehelpofprivateindustry.TheAgencyissuedasolicitationthroughtheSmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR)programatAmestofindapartnerfortheproject.Specifically,NASAneededapartner thatcouldproduceahigh-speedflowcytometryprocesstocontinuouslymonitorcells foranomaliesandbacteriagrowth.Thesystemwouldideallybeabletoimagecellswithhigh-fluorescencesensitivityandwouldbetolerantofwidevariations in sample concentrationandothercharacteristicsbyhavingawidedepthoffield,allowingcellstobekeptinfocusregardlessofwheretheyhappenedtobeintheflowstream.

Flowcytometry isapowerful technique,but ithasseverallimitationsthathinderitsuseforNASAprojects.Mostcommercialflowcytometerscannotimagecellslikeamicroscope.Instead,theymeasureonlythetotalamount

Multispectral Imaging Broadens Cellular Analysis

It is possible that beneath Europa’s surface ice, there is a layer of water, kept liquid by tidally generated heat. If so, it would be the only place in the solar system besides Earth where liquid water exists in significant quantities.


offluorescenceemittedbyeachcell.Becausetheydonothavetheabilitytodeterminewhereinthecellthesignaliscomingfrom,theirapplicationsincellbiologyaremainly

limitedtomeasuringthetotalquantitiesofspecificmol-eculesinoronthecell.Afewflowcytometrysystemscanproduceimagesofcellsinflowusingtransmittedlight,

butthesesystemslackthesensitivitynecessarytoimagefaintfluorescence.

Flowcytometersalsogenerallyrequirethatcellsflowthroughthecenterofatightlyfocusedlaserbeam,whichcanmakethemvulnerabletomisalignment.Designsthat

NASA’s Medusa instrument inside the submergence vehicle Alvin’s instrumentation basket in preparation for launch.

The submergence vehicle Alvin as it is about to dive to the bottom of the ocean. Released from the mothership, the Research Vessel Atlantis (operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, of Woods Hole, Massachusetts) with the diver standing on top.


arelesssensitivetomisalignmenttendtosacrificefluores-cencesensitivity.

Many flowcytometry systemsarealso just toobigand impractical forNASA’spurposes,especially sincethey incorporatepressurized fluidvessels thatemploy

gravityandhighpressuretodrivethesamplethroughthesystem.

AmnisCorporation, aSeattle-basedbiotechnologycompany,developedatechnologycalledImageStreamforproducingsensitivefluorescenceimagesofcellsinflow,

andhappenedtobeseekingwaystogetwholecellsintofocusinordertoincreasetheusefulnessofitssystemsforresearchapplications.Thecompanyhadseveralideasforhowtoachieveanextendeddepthoffield,allofwhichrequiredaleveloffundingthatwasjustnotinitsbudget.WhenAmnisheardabouttheSBIRsolicitation,however,therealizationcamethatitcouldbetheperfectopportu-nitytoreapthefundingnecessarytodevelopextendeddepth-of-fieldtechnology.ThecompanyrespondedtotheSBIRsolicitationandproposedtoevaluateseveralmeth-odsofextendingthedepthoffieldforitsImageStreamsystem,pickthebestmethod,andimplementitasanupgradetoitscommercialproducts.Thiswouldallowuserstoviewwholecellsatthesametime,ratherthanjustonesectionofeachcell.

Through Phase I and II SBIR contracts, Amesprovided Amnis the funding the company neededto develop this extended functionality. For NASA,theresultinghigh-speedimageflowcytometryprocessmadeitswayintoMedusaandhasthepotentialtobenefitspaceflighthealthmonitoring.Onthecommercialend,Amnis has implemented the process into its flagshipproduct,ImageStream.

ProductOutcome

ImageStreamcombineshigh-resolutionmicroscopyand flow cytometry in a single instrument, givingresearchersthepowertoconductquantitativeanalysesofindividualcellsandcellpopulationsatthesametime,inthesameexperiment.IncorporatingtheextendeddepthoffielddevelopedduringtheSBIRproject,ImageStreamisdesignedtoprovidemultispectral imagesof rapidlymoving objects (in flow) with very high sensitivity,producingupto6differentmicroscopicimagesofeachcellflowingthroughtheinstrument,atarateof15,000

Screen shot of Amnis Corporation’s IDEAS data analysis software showing the detection of cells in division.

http://www.amnis.com


cellsperminute.Itcapturestheimagesathighspeedswith a built-in, charge coupled device camera thatelectronicallytracksthemotionofcells.Asophisticatedauto-focussystemcontinuallyoptimizesimagequality.

Gettingawholecellintofocusisvitalformanydif-ferenttypesofcellularanalyses,especiallyforatechniqueknownasfluorescenceinsituhybridization(FISH).FISHinvolves the binding of engineered genetic probes tospecificgenesorotherDNAsequenceswithincells.ThegeneticprobesconsistofashortpieceofDNAattachedtoafluorescentmolecule.TheDNApartfindsandbindstoitscomplementaryDNAsequence(s)withinthecell’sgenomeand the fluorescentmolecule signals that thebindinghastakenplace,producingasmallspotoflightwithinthecell.Bydetectingandcountingthese“FISH”spots,aclinicianoraresearcherconductingananalysiscantell,forinstance,ifapatienthasextracopiesofageneorachromosome,whetherthereisdamagetotheirgenes,orwhethertheyhavelostgeneticmaterial—allofwhichareveryusefulfordetectingcancerandbirthdefects.

FISHanalysisisprimarilyamanualprocess.Cliniciansandresearchershavetostarethroughmicroscopes,adjust-ing the focusknobuntil they findall theFISHspotswithinagivencell.Whentheydofindthespots,theyhavetomanuallycountthem(forabout50cellsperdiagnostictest,onaverage).AccordingtoAmnis,thismethodologyhasseveralproblems:thetestisslowandexpensive,thecountingissubjectiveandpronetoerror,and,unlessageneticabnormalityispresentinatleast10percentofthe cells analyzed, researcherswillnot likely catch it.Automatedmicroscopysystemshavebeenappliedtotheproblem,buttheyareforcedtotakemultipleimagesofeachcellatdifferentfocussettingstoensurethatallFISHspotsaredetected,slowingthetestandreducingtheeco-nomicadvantageofautomation,accordingtoAmnis.

Priortotheincorporationoftheextendeddepth-of-field technology into the ImageStream system, itwascommonforoneormoreFISHspotswithinacell tobeoutof focusas thecellpassedthroughthesystem.

Byenhancingthedepthof field,AmnishasupgradedImageStream to accurately detect and count FISHspotsthroughanautomatedprocessthateliminatesthesubjectivityassociatedwithmanualcountingandcanbeperformedonthousandsofcellsperminute.Thishelpsdrivedownthecostof testingbyeliminatingmanuallabor,reducingthetimeneededtoperformthetest,andincreasingaccuracytoeliminateretestsandfalseresults.Amnisrecentlyannouncedtheavailabilityofthisnew,high-throughputprocess.

ImageStreamisalsobuiltformanyotherapplications,including cell signaling and pathway analysis;classificationandcharacterizationofperipheralbloodmononuclearcellpopulations;quantitativemorphology;apoptosis (celldeath)assays;geneexpressionanalysis;analysisofcellconjugates;moleculardistribution;andreceptormappinganddistribution.Theseapplicationsarepracticalforadvancedresearchinthefieldsofhematology,immunology,andoncology.

Asanadd-onoption,ImageStreamuserscanpairtheinstrumentwithAmnis’statisticalimage-analysissoftwarepackage,IDEAS.Thisstatisticalanalysistoolisextremelyrobust,asitprovidesmorethan200featuresforeverycellanalyzed.Thesefeaturescanbeusedbycliniciansandresearcherstogeneratehistogramsandscatterplotsforgraphicalidentificationandrepresentationofcellsandcellpopulationsbasedoncharacteristicslikefluorescenceintensity,size,shape,texture,probedistributionhetero-geneity,andco-localizationofmultipleprobes.v

ImageStream®andIDEAS®areregisteredtrademarksofAmnisCorporation.

Extended depth-of-field (EDF) image of FISH probes dispersed in the nucleus along the optic axis or in close proximity in the lateral direction. EDF improves image presentation by removing focus-induced variation.

40 Health and Medicine Spinoff 2007


Developed by Dr. James Tilton, a computerengineerwithGoddardSpaceFlightCenter’sComputationalandInformationSciencesand

TechnologyOffice,HierarchicalSegmentation(HSEG)softwareallowsforadvancedimageanalysis.Thesoftwareorganizesanimage’spixelsintoregionsbasedontheirspectralsimilarity,soratherthanfocusingonindividualpixels,HSEGfocusesonimageregions—andhowtheychangefromacoarse-to-fineperspective.Theseregions(segmentations)areatseverallevelsofdetail(hierarchies)

inwhichthecoarsersegmentationscanbeproducedfromthefiner-resolutionsegmentationsbyselectivemergingofregions.Inaddition,thesegmentationhierarchiesprovideanalysiscluesthroughthebehavioroftheimageregioncharacteristicsoverseverallevelsofsegmentationdetail.Thus,byenablingregion-basedanalysis,thesegmentationhierarchiesorganizeimagedatainamannerthatmakesanimage’sinformationcontentmoreaccessible.

WithinNASA,HSEGwasusedtoidentifyandextractmagnetospheric radio-echo and natural plasma-wavesignalscapturedbytheRadioPlasmaImageraboardthe

ImagerforMagnetopause-to-AuroraGlobalExploration(IMAGE)spacecraft,whichwaslaunchedinMarch2000,andaftercompletingits2-yearprimarymission,waslostinspaceafterafull5.8yearsofexploration.

ToadvancetheusabilityoftheHSEG,TiltonalsodevelopedRecursiveHierarchicalSegmenting(RHSEG)Pre-processingSoftware,whichsignificantlyimprovestheextractionofpatternsfromcomplexdatasets.Optimizedfor speedandaccuracy, thepatent-pendingalgorithmthat fuels the softwareprovides theuserwithprecisecontrolforselectingthedesiredlevelofdetailfromthehierarchyofresults.Thesoftwareallowstheusertogroupnon-spatiallyadjacentregionsforflexibilitywithawiderangeofimageanddatatypes,providingaccurategraphicrepresentationofimagerydatawithminimaldistortionandafineresolutionofdetail.

AlthoughoriginallydevelopedforNASA’s remote-sensingapplications,HSEGhasprovenitsvalueinotherrealmsaswell.AlsooriginallydesignedforremoteEarthsensing,theRHSEGPre-processingSoftwareisbroadlyapplicableforavarietyofuses,frommedicalimagingtodatamining,anditisnowcapableofthree-dimensional(3-D)dataanalysis,acapabilityNASAisintheprocessofpatenting.

Hierarchical Segmentation Enhances Diagnostic Imaging

Rather than working on the usual pixel-by-pixel basis, the RHSEG automatically organizes pixels into regions hierarchically, based on their spectral similarity. Looking at these regions, as opposed to individual pixels, allows the user to isolate specific features that are impossible to distinguish by other methods. Thus, the RHSEG provides a more reliable and accurate understanding of the image.

Spinoff 2007 Health and Medicine 41

Partnership

BartronMedicalImagingLLC(BMI),ofNewHaven,Connecticut,gainedanonexclusivelicensefromGoddardSpace Flight Center to use the RHSEG software inmedicalimaging.

Inordertomanagetheimagedata,BMIalsolicensedtwopattern-matchingsoftwareprogramsfromNASA’sJetPropulsionLaboratorythatwereusedinimageanalysisandthreedata-miningandedge-detectionprogramsfromKennedySpaceCenter.TheKennedyimagingtechnolo-giesarecurrentlyinuseatNASAtoidentifyandtrackforeignobjectdebrisduringspaceshuttleliftoff,andintheCableandLineInspectionMechanismusedtotesttheshuttle’semergencyescapesystem.

Inaddition,BMImadeNASAhistorybybeingthefirstcompanytopartnerwiththeSpaceAgencythroughaCooperativeResearchandDevelopmentAgreement(CRADA). This agreement, for development of the3-DversionofRHSEG,grants(inadvance)apartiallyexclusive license for the resulting technology patentswithin BMI’s fields of use (i.e., the diagnosis andtreatmentofbreastcancer,cervicalcancer,braincancer,heartdisease,osteoporosis,andperiodontaldiseases).

ProductOutcome

WithU.S.FoodandDrugAdministrationclearance,BMIwillsellitsMed-Segimagingsystemwiththe2-DversionoftheRHSEGsoftware,licensedfromNASAin2002andfeaturedinSpinoff2004.Thedeviceisintendedtoanalyzemedicalimageryfromcomputedtomography(CTorCAT)scans,positronemissiontomography(PET)scans,magneticresonanceimaging(MRI),ultrasound,digitizedX-rays,digitizedmammographies,dentalX-rays,softtissueanalyses,andmovingobjectanalyses;thetechnologyisalsoequippedtoevaluatesoft-tissueslidessuchasPapsmearsforthediagnosesandmanagementofdiseases.TheadvancedimagesegmentationsproducedbytheRHSEGsoftwareallowtheMed-Segsystemtobring

outdetails in these testsnotpreviously seenwith thenakedeye.Thisallowsforquickandaccuratediagnosisofdiseases.Additionally,unlikesomeotherimage-analysisdevices,Med-Segdoesnotmanipulatetheimage,sowhatthephysicianseesistrulywhatisthere,providingtruerimagesthanmanyotherimagingtechniques.

TheMed-Segsystemrevealsimagepropertiesnotseenwithevenup-to-dateimageenhancementtechniques.Itisavailablewithacustomdata-miningserver;acomputa-tionalengine;andanobject-orienteddatabasetomanagedata,models,andresults,andaccessBMI’sHierarchicalImageSegmentationBeowulfCluster,anonlineproblem-solvingnetwork.

By extending the software’s capabilities to threedimensions,BMI’sdevicemaybeabletoproduceapixel-levelviewofallsidesofatumororlesion.Whilecurrent

technology can produce 3-D imagery, the RHSEGsoftwarewillbeabletosegmentanimageinwaysthatmore clearly define problem areas. For example, the3-DversionofMed-Segmaybeable to identifyveryearlybuildupofsoftplaquewithinthearteriesoridentifydensitylevelsofmicrocalcificationinmammographies,allowingphysicianstodiagnosemalignantbreasttumorswell before they would normally be seen. In brainimages,thephysiciansusingMed-Segwillalsobeabletomake earlier diagnoses of tumors or arteriovenousmalformations.v

Med-Seg™isatrademarkofBartronMedicalImagingLLC.

The RHSEG software presents its results in a straightforward format consisting of a hierarchical set of image segmentations in either two or three spatial dimensions. This hierarchical presentation of results allows the user to choose the segmentation(s) of interest and to perform additional analyses.

http://www.bartron.ws/

Transportation

NASAtechnologiesenhancewaysthatwetravel.Thebenefitsfeaturedinthissection:

Ease air traffic management

Advance rotorcraft design

Improve flight safety

Boost helicopter performance

Protect general aviation aircraft

•

•

•

•

•

44 Transportation Spinoff 2007


Gridlock, bottlenecks, bumper-to-bumperjams—weallgetcaught incongestionatonetimeoranother,astherigorsofroadtrafficare

aninevitablepartoflife.Sometimeswedoourbesttogetahead,takingadvantageoftheslightestopeninginthenextlane,inanticipationthatitismovingquickerthanthesnail’spaceofourcurrentposition.Othertimes,wejustpatientlyrideitout,optingtositbackandgetcomfortable, fully surrendering to the seaof cars andtrucksahead.

Andthentherearethetimesthat,inalldesperation,welookupintothesky,seeallofthatavailablespace,andaskourselveswhen the future is going tobestowuponusthefantasticgiftofflyingcarsthatwouldhelpopenthingsupandletusbypassallofthecongestionontheground.

Airspace,however, isnotmuchdifferentthanroadspace, in termsof congestion.Asmuch aswe like tothinkthatthereisclear,blueskyasfarastheeyecansee,thetruthofthematteristhat,withthousandsofplanesflyingoverheadintheUnitedStatesatanygiventime,therecansometimesbe justasmanytrafficanddelayproblemsassociatedwithairtravelastherecanbewithgroundtravel.

Tokeepahandleonthecomplexflowofaircraft,theUnitedStatesdependsonatightlyrunairtrafficcontrolsystem.Air trafficcontrolcentersaroundthecountrywork tohelpaircraftmaintain safedistanceswhile inflight,aswellasduringtakeoffsandlandings,topreventaccidents.Inaddition,airtrafficcontrolcentersworktokeepin-flightpilotsinformedofchangingweathercondi-tionsthatmayimpacttheirflightpaths.Essentially,theairtrafficcontrolcenters’mainobjectivesaretomaximizesafetyandminimizedelaysintheairandatU.S.airportsandairfields.

TohelpairtrafficcontrolcentersimprovethesafetyandtheefficiencyoftheNationalAirspaceSystem(the

termusedfortheoverallenvironmentinwhichaircraftoperatethroughouttheUnitedStates),AmesResearchCenterdevelopedsoftwarecalledtheFutureAirTrafficManagementConceptsEvaluationTool(FACET).Withpowerfulmodelingandsimulationcapabilities,FACETcan swiftly generate thousands of aircraft trajectories(asmanyas15,000onasinglecomputer)thatcanhelpto streamline the flow of air traffic across the entireNationalAirspaceSystem.Actual air trafficdata andweatherinformationareutilizedtoevaluateanaircraft’sflight-planrouteandpredictitstrajectoriesfortheclimb,cruise,anddescentphases.Thedynamicsforheading(thedirectiontheaircraftnoseispointing)andairspeedarealsomodeledbytheFACETsoftware,whileperformanceparameterssuchasclimb/descentratesandspeedsandcruisespeedscanalsobeobtainedfromdatatables.Theresultingtrajectoriesandtrafficflowdataarepresentedina3-Dgraphicaluserinterface.

FACETisoneofthemanyairtrafficmanagementsoft-waretoolsdevelopedatAmesaspartofNASA’sAirspaceSystemsProgram,whichaimstosatisfytheNation’splansforanext-generationairspacesystem.Ithasthedistinc-tion,however,ofbeingthewinningsoftwareinNASA’s2006“SoftwareoftheYear”competition.

Partnership

In2005,Ames licensedFACETtoFlightExplorerInc.,forintegrationwithitsFlightExplorerversion6.0softwaresystem.AccordingtotheMcLean,Virginia-basedcompany,itistheworld’sleadingproviderofreal-timeglobalflighttrackinginformation,reporting,anddisplayproducts. Itsclients includeover80percentofmajorNorthAmericanairlinesand22ofthetop30regionalairlines.Italsoprovidesahostoffreeservices,includingonlineflighttracking,airportinformationtools,anddailyairtravelreports.

The primary FACET features incorporated in theFlightExplorer softwaresystemalertairspaceusers toforecasteddemandandcapacityimbalances.Byhaving

advanced access to this information, dispatchers cananticipate congested sectors (airspace) and delays atairportsanddecideiftheyneedtorerouteflights.Overall,theFACETdevelopersatAmesassertthatairspaceuserscanuse this information todevelop enhanced flight-routingstrategiesthatsavefuel,preserveairlineschedules,andreducepassengerdelaysandmissedconnections.

ProductOutcome

FACETisnowafullyintegratedfeatureintheFlightExplorerProfessionalEdition(version7.0).FlightExplorerProfessionalisaflight-trackingandmanagement-decisionsupport tool that the aviation community canuse toimproveoperationalefficiencyandbusinessperformance.ItincorporatesNASA’sFACETtechnologytographicallydepict airports and air sectors that are approachingcapacityorareovercapacity.FACETprovidesacountofthetotalnumberofarrivalsanddeparturesatairportsevery 15minutes, plus a count of aircraft flying andaircraftanticipatedtobeflyingwithinagivensectorevery15minutes—allwhilecalculatingloadingpredictionsandweatherconditions—tohelpkeepflightsonschedule.Dataisderivedfrompostedflightplans,andinformationpertainingtoairportsandsectorsiscolor-coded,basedoncapacity.Forinstance,ifanairportisatlessthan80-percentcapacity,itismarkedgreen;ifitisatgreaterthanorequalto80-percentcapacity,itismarkedyellow;ifitisat100-percentcapacity,itismarkedred.Green,yellow,andredcolorcodesalsoapplyforthecapacityofsectors.

FlightExplorerProfessionaloffersendusersaplethoraof other benefits, including ease of operation. As acomputer-based,graphicalaircraftsituationdisplay, itusesastandardInternetconnectiontosecurelystreamreal-timeaircraftandweatherinformationfromtheFlightExplorerInc.datacentertotheuser,every10seconds.The information the data center collects is retrievedfrom radar, satellite, and other tracking mechanismsprovidedby theFederalAviationAdministrationandotheraviationsources.

Comprehensive Software Eases Air Traffic Management

http://www.flightexplorer.com

http://www.flightexplorer.com

Spinoff 2007 Transportation 4�

Thesoftware’sFlightAlertSystemgeneratesautomaticalertstoinformusersofimportantevents,betterpreparingthemforweatherconditionsandpotentialairportdelays.Areal-timelogofanysignificanteventsoccurringduringflightoratanairportisrecordedandcanbeexportedtoadatabaseforanalysis.Fortheweatheralerts,FlightExplorer depends on the NEXRAD (next generationradar)weather-surveillancesatellitetodisplayforecastsce-narios6hoursaheadoftime.Graphicaloverlaysarealsobuiltinsothatuserscanviewreal-timemapscontaininglayersofinformationontopofeachother,suchasairtrafficpatternsontopofregionalweatherconditions.

WhenaskedaboutthevisionfortheFlightExplorersoftware,JimKelly,FlightExplorerInc.’schiefexecutive

officer,said,“It’sprettysimple.Startwiththeaircraftsituationdisplayasacornerstonefordisplayandmessag-ingservices,makesureitisthebestouttherebylisteningtocustomers,andpartnerwiththosewillingtohelpadaptandimproveit.”

Evidently,thecustomersagree:“NothingcomparestothecomprehensivefeaturesetandeaseofuseofFlightExplorerProfessional,”notedCaseyBarr,ownerservicesmanagerforRegalAviation,aprivatejetservicebasedinDallas.

“WeutilizeFlightExplorerProfessionalinbothourdailyoperationandanalysis.Itallowsouroperationalmanagerstounderstandandthenreacttosituationsinrealtime,”statedChristopherForshier,oftheSystems

Operations Coordination Center at Houston-basedContinentalAirlines.

Flight Explorer Professional also provides inter-national, real-time flight coverage over Canada, theUnited Kingdom, New Zealand, and sections ofthe Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In addition, FlightExplorerInc.hasbroadenedcoveragebypartneringwithHoneywell International Inc.’s Global Data Center,BlueSkyNetwork,SkyConnectLLC,SITA,ARINCIncorporated,LatitudeTechnologiesCorporation,andWingspeedCorporation,totracktheiraircraftanywhereintheworld.v

FlightExplorer®andFlightExplorerProfessional®areregisteredtrademarks,andFlightAlert™isatrademarkofFlightExplorerInc.

The Future Air Traffic Management Concepts Evaluation Tool (FACET), developed at Ames Research Center, was selected as NASA’s �006 “Software of the Year.” FACET is a flexible software tool that provides powerful simulation capabilities and can rapidly generate thousands of aircraft trajectories to enable efficient planning of traffic flows at the national level.



Oftentimes,whenpeoplethinkofNASA,theythinkofspacetravel.Thefirst“A”inNASA,however,isfor“Aeronautics,”andtheAgency

hasalwaysheldasoneofitstenetstoexplore,define,andsolveissuesinaircraftdesign.JustasoftenasNASAisassociatedwithspacetravel,whenpeoplehearaeronau-tics,theyoftenthinkofairplanes,butpartofNASA’saeronauticsprogramisoneofthemostadvancedrotor-craftdesignandtestprogramsintheworld.

LocatedatAmesResearchCenter,theAeromechanicsBranchoftheFlightVehicleResearchandTechnologyDivisionconductstheoreticalandexperimentalresearchin support of the U.S. helicopter industry and theU.S. Department of Defense. At this research site,engineersstudyallaspectsoftherotorcraftthatdirectlyinfluence the vehicle’s performance, structural anddynamic responses, external acoustics, vibration, andaeroelasticstability.

Theyusemodernwindtunnelsandadvancedcompu-tationalmethodologiestocalculatefluiddynamicsandperformmultidisciplinary, comprehensive analyses inthequesttofurtherunderstandthecompleterotorcraft’soperatingenvironmentandtodevelopanalyticalmodelsto predict aerodynamic, aeroacoustic, and dynamicbehavior.Theexperimentalresearchalsoseekstoobtainaccuratedatatovalidatetheseanalyses,investigatephe-nomena currently beyond predictive capability, andachieverapidsolutionstoflightvehicleproblems.

Partnership

Founded in 1979, Continuum Dynamics Inc.(CDI),ofEwing,NewJersey, specializes inadvancedengineeringservices,includingfluiddynamicmodelingandanalysisforaeronauticsresearch.Itsclientsincludegovernmentagencies,aswellastheaerospace,nuclear,andpharmaceuticalindustries,andithasbeenpartneringwithNASAsinceitsinception.

ThecompanyhasconvertedyearsofNASA-fundedresearchefforts intoavarietyofcommercialproducts.For example, 1987 and1992NASASmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants on helicopterwakemodelingresultedinsoftwarecodeusedinabladeredesignprogramforCarsonHelicopters,ofPerkasie,Pennsylvania,thatsimultaneouslyincreasedthepayloadof its Sikorsky S-61helicopter by2,000pounds andincreasedcruisespeedsat10,000feetby15knots.

Follow-ondevelopmentofthissamerotorcraftmodel,basedon1999and2002NASASBIRwork, resultedina$24millionrevenueincreaseforSikorskyAircraftCorporation,ofStratford,Connecticut,aspartofthecompany’srotordesignefforts.

Altogether, the companyhas completed anumberofSBIRprojectswithNASA,includingearlyrotorcraftworkdonethroughLangleyResearchCenter,butmorerecently,outofAmes.

This rotorcraft model software code, marketed byCDIastheComprehensiveHierarchicalAeromechanicsRotorcraft Model (CHARM), is a tool for studyinghelicopterand tiltrotorunsteady freewakemodeling,includingdistributedandintegratedloads,andperfor-manceprediction.

ProductOutcome

UndercontinuousdevelopmentatCDIformorethan25years,CHARManalyzesthecompleteaerodynamicsanddynamicsofrotorcraftingeneralflightconditions.CHARM has been used to model a broad spectrumof rotorcraft attributes, includingperformance,bladeloading,blade-vortexinteractionnoise,airflowfields,andhubloads.Thehighlyaccuratesoftwareiscurrentlyinusebyallmajorrotorcraftmanufacturers,NASA,theU.S.Army,andtheU.S.Navy.

Available as a stand-aloneproductor adaptable toexisting simulator and analysis systems, this softwarecodeiswellsuitedforperforminganalysisonadvancedaerodynamicdesignaswellasforresearchonnewdesigns.

Modeling Tool Advances Rotorcraft Design

CHARM is a computer software product that models the complete aerodynamics and dynamics of rotorcraft in general flight conditions.

CHARM represents the culmination of over �� years of continuous development of rotorcraft modeling technologies at Continuum Dynamics Inc., and incorporates landmark technical achievements from a variety of NASA, U.S. Department of Defense, and company-sponsored initiatives.

http://www.continuum-dynamics.com/

Spinoff 2007 Transportation 4�

Thesoftwareincludesextensive3-Dgraphicscapabilitiesthatallowhighlydetailedvisualizationoftherotor/wakemotionandwake/surface interaction.Easytouseandreliable,CHARMplugsdirectlyintoalternaterotorcraftanalysisorflightsimulationsoftware.

CHARMincorporatesoneofthemostadvancedwakemodelscurrentlyavailable,combiningafull-span,freelydistorting,constantvorticitycontourwakemodelandan

analyticaltipvortexroll-upmodeltoprovideaccuratewakesimulation.Withoutthesoftware,designerswouldhavetoguesstheproperempiricalconstantsinordertoapproximatewakecharacteristics.

AccordingtoCDI,thenewfastvortexandfastpaneltechnologies implementedwithinCHARMprovideagreatadvancementincomputationalperformancewhencompared to existingpanel codes currently available.

Thisincreasedperformanceallowsthedesignertoexplorehigh-risktechnologies,expanddesignparameterranges,andevaluatecriticalcomponentsatalevelofdetailneverbeforepossible.

According to CDI, CHARM features the mostadvancedfreevortexwakemodelcurrentlyavailablethatdirectlycomputeswakeroll-upandvortexcorepropertiesfromfirstprinciples.Inaddition,noempiricalconstantsarerequired,whichisadistinctadvantagefordesignworkandmodeling transientmaneuvering flight forwhichwakecharacteristicsarecontinuallychanging.Thesoft-warecodehasalsobeencoupledwithacousticpredictionsoftwaretoprovidefastpredictionofrotorloadingandthicknessnoise.

CHARM’sliftingsurfacebladeaerodynamicsmodelis well suited for analysis of complex tip shapes andother3-Deffects,anditscoupledwake/panelcalculationisunique—incorporatingstate-of-the-artfastvortexandfastpanelmethodstoallowfullycoupledrotor/wake/air-framesolutions.

Most recently, the softwarehasbeen incorporatedintoajointCDI-Armystudyforincorporationintoflightsimulationsoftwaretopracticelandingrotorcraftinsandyordustyconditions.Knownasbrownout,theeffectofsand,dust,anddebriskickedupbyahelicopterduringtakeoffandlandingcantemporarilyblindapilot,aswellasdamagemovingparts.Thesimulatorisdesignedtoidentify,characterize,andevaluatebrownoutconditionsforgeneralaircraft,wind,groundtopology,andflightmaneuvers.Thestudyseekstoimprovepilottrainingforthesedangerousconditions,helpinmissionplanning,decreasedamagetorotorcraftcomponents,andimprovesensortechnologiesmostaffectedbytheseconditions.v

CHARM is available for licensing as a stand-alone analysis program or as a module that couples directly into existing flight simulation or analysis software.



Aviationisoneofthesafestmeansoftransporta-tion,butaviationsafetyprofessionalsalwaysworktomakeitsafer.Whenflightsoperateoutsideof

thenorm,analystsperkup,astheseflightsareperhapsalsooperatingoutsidetherealmofsafety.Theseout-of-the-ordinaryflights,oratypicalities,are,therefore,theonesthatneedtobestudied,andthisiswhereNASAstepsin.

Traditionally,safetyanalystscomparedatatopresetparameterstodeterminetheexistenceofatypicalevents,but a newly developed NASA program could pointanalysts to issues which might otherwise have beenunforeseen if the analysts had only been looking forthesepredeterminedevents.ThefundamentaldifferencebetweenNASA’smethodologyandtraditionalexceedancedetectionoriginatesfromtheconceptofdetectingatypi-calitieswithoutanypredefinedparameters.

This is thebasicconceptbehindNASA’sMorningReportsoftwarecreatedatAmesResearchCenter.Itisnottheonlysoftwareofitskind;rather,itaimstoaddresssomeoftheshortcomingsoftraditionalsafetysystems.Thesoftwareaggregateslargevolumesofflightdataandthenusesanadvancedcluster-based,data-miningtech-niquetofindtheunexpectedortheabnormal,withoutneedingtheusertopre-defineanyevents.Simplyput,itspotsdeviationsandhighlightsthemforanalysis.

ThesoftwarewasdesignedatAmesunderthespon-sorshipof theAviationSafetyProgram in theNASAAeronauticsResearchMissionDirectorate,whichseekstomakeaviationsaferbydevelopingadvancedtoolsthatfindlatentsafetyissuesfromlargesourcesofflightdigitalandoperationaldatasources.

Sinceitsinceptionin1999,theNASAteamhascollab-oratedwithaircarriersandvendorsofflightoperationalqualityassurance(FOQA)software,awidelyusedtoolthatseekstoprovideairlinemanagerswithinformationthatwillenablethemtobetterunderstandriskstoflightoperationandhowtothenmanagetheserisks.

The focusonFOQA software led todevelopmentoftheMorningReporttool.Thetool,createdwiththeassistanceofthePacificNorthwestNationalLaboratory,providesflightanalystswithadailymorningreportofatypicalflights,displayedwiththeabilitytoplotthoseparametersagainstwhatistypicalforthatphaseofflightandparticularairport.

TheMorningReporttoolusesmultivariatestatisticalalgorithmstoanalyzelargeamountsofdatafromairlineflightsovernightandthengeneratesanintuitivelystruc-

turedreporteachmorning.Itcombinesthesepowerfulalgorithmsforanalysiswithuser-intuitivesoftware,allow-inguserstoisolateandunderstanddetailsunderlyinganyportionofanygivenflight.Itistheonlytechnologyofitskindthatprovidesboththeglobaloverviewaswellastheabilitytoviewthesmallestdetailsofanyflight.

Partnership

In 2004, Sagem Avionics Inc. entered a licensingagreementwithNASAforthecommercializationofthe

Air Data Report Improves Flight Safety

Sagem Avionics incorporated NASA’s Morning Report tool into its AGS comprehensive flight operations monitoring system, which processes all available data from aircraft recorders and provides customized reports.

http://www.sagemavionics.com

Spinoff 2007 Transportation 49

MorningReportsoftware.Thecompany,basedinGrandPrairie,Texas, also licensed theNASAAviationDataIntegrationSystem(ADIS) tool,whichallows for theintegrationofdatafromdisparatesourcesintotheflightdataanalysisprocess.

SagemAvionicshasbeenprovidingaeronauticalequip-mentforflighttesting,aswellasacquisition,management,recording,andanalysisofflightdataforover5decades.Infact,SagemAvionics’AnalysisGroundStation(AGS)wasthefirstcommerciallyproducedFOQAanalysistool.Similarly,itisthefirstandonlyanalysissoftwarethathasincorporatedtheNASAMorningReporttechnology.

ProductOutcome

Sagem Avionics’ AGS product, incorporating theMorningReporttool,processesandanalyzesavailabledatafromaircraftrecordersandthenproduceseasy-to-read,configurable,customizedreports.Theautomatedsystemispowerfulenoughtoprocessverylargevolumesofdataquicklyandaccurately,tohelpusersdetectirregu-larordivergentpractices,technicalflaws,andproblemsthat might develop when aircraft operate outside ofnormalprocedures.

InadditiontotheMorningReporttechnology,theAGS system also provides automatic, statistical, andmanualanalysisof flightdata.Theautomaticanalysisprocessesallavailabledatafromaircraftrecordersandprovidescustomizedreportsofdailyeventswithclassifica-tionlevels.Sinceitisautomated,thesystematicrereadingofrecordeddataminimizesrepetitivedailytasks,anditupdatesitsflightandeventdatabaseregularly,makingitselfmoreknowledgeableandeffectiveeachday.

Alleventsdetectedinthecourseoftheautomaticanal-ysisarestoredintheAGSdatabaseforstatisticalanalysis,allowinguserstoproducepredefinedreportsorcreatenewonestodetectpatternsandtrends.Thesereportscanbeautomaticallyedited,published,andexportedinvariousformats,includingHyperTextMarkupLanguage(HTML)ande-mail.

Themanualanalysisfeatureincludesalloftheneces-sarycomponentsforaccurateinvestigationsofanyspecificflight,allowinganalyststozeroinonthoseflightsoperat-ingoutsideofthenorm.Itdisplaysengineeringvaluesinseveralformats(tables,curves,graphiccharts,andgenericcockpitinstrumentrepresentation),makingitidealforinvestigatingawiderangeoftheseisolatedevents.

The fast and user-friendly AGS system manageslargevolumesandawidevarietyofinputdata,butalsomonitorsthemediaqualitywhilecontrollingtheentiredataflow.Theentireanalysisprocessrequireslessthan3 seconds per flight hour and has been designed forcompatibilitywiththestandardpersonalcomputer.Thecompletesystemisintegratedintoauniqueprogramwithastandardizedandhomogeneoususerinterface.

TheAGSturnkeysystemisplug-and-play,withallcomponents integrateddirectly intothesystem.Users

have access todecoding frames for aircraftparameterconversioninengineeringunits;proceduresetsforthecustomer fleet and dedicated to flight operation andengineeringmaintenanceanalysis;andpredefinedstatisticreportsforperiodicanalysisoffleetactivity.

Tobettermeetcustomerrequirements,Sagemdevel-opedtheoriginalAGSincollaborationwithairlines,sothatthesystemtakesintoaccounttheirtechnicalevolu-tionsandneeds.Thankstoitsmodulararchitecture,AGScanbeusedbyallcarriers,fromthesmallesttothelargest.Eachairlineisabletoeasilyperformspecifictreatmentsandtobuilditsownflightdataanalysissystem.Further,theAGSisdesignedtosupportanyaircraftandflightdatarecorders.v

The Morning Report tool automatically identifies statistically extreme flights to airline FOQA analysts. The new software may help analysts identify the precursors of incidents or accidents.

�0 Transportation Spinoff 2007


AdvancedrotorcraftairfoilsdevelopedbyU.S.ArmyengineersworkingwithNASA’sLangleyResearchCenterwerepartoftheArmy’srisk

reduction program for the LHX (Light HelicopterExperimental),theforerunneroftheComancheheli-copter.Thehelicopter’sairfoilsweredesignedaspartoftheArmy’sbasicresearchprogramandweretested

inthe6-by28-inchTransonicTunnelandtheLow-TurbulencePressureTunnelatLangley.Whiletheseairfoils did not get applied to the Boeing-SikorskyComancherotor,theydidadvancethestateoftheartforrotorcraftairfoils.

Theimprovedbladeofferedsignificantlygreaterliftcapabilities,lessdrag,andlesspitch(alternatingliftanddescentofthenoseandtailofanaircraftduringflight)

thanitspredecessorandotherconventionalblades,whencomparedduringhigh-speedflight-performancetesting.

The Langley airfoil design, technically known asRC4,hasmanagedto“liftoff”andfindmuchsuccessinotherapplications.

Partnership

CarsonHelicopters Inc. licensed theLangleyRC4seriesofairfoilsin1993—2yearsaftertheComancheproject commenced—and began development of areplacement main rotor blade for their helicopters.ThenewCarsoncompositemainrotorbladesdidnotreceivefullFederalAviationAdministrationcertificationuntil2003.Regardless, itwaswellworththewait forFrankCarson,presidentofthePerkasie,Pennsylvania-based company and a longtime helicopter pilot anddesigner.“TheNASALangleyairfoilisoneofthebestairfoilsintheworld.Almostnoonerealizeshowgooditis.It’sbetterthanmostanyoneelsehasyettocomeupwith.”

ProductOutcome

CarsonHelicoptersprovidesauniquearrayofservicesthatrequirehaulingheavy loads.Theseservicesrangefrom airlifting external cargo, suppressing wildfires,and carrying out emergency rescues, to performinghigh-rise rooftop installations, pouring concrete, anderectingsteelstructuresandpowerlinesinareasground-based cranes cannot access (soft grounds and swampareas, environmentally protected areas, and elevated/mountainterrain).

Thecompany’sentirefleetofSikorskyS-61helicop-tershasbeenrebuilttoincludeLangley’spatentedairfoildesignonthemainrotor.Asaresultofthisretooling,thehelicoptersarenowabletocarryanadditional2,000pounds (11,000pounds total), fly17milesperhourfaster,andtravel70milesfartheronthesamefuelload.Additionally,thefivebladesonanS-61mainrotoraremadefromadvancedcompositematerialsthatgivethema

Advanced Airfoils Boost Helicopter Performance

The NASA-developed rotorcraft airfoils permit greater lift and lower pitching-moments than other rotorcraft airfoils—ideal for heavy lifting operations.

http://www.carsonhelicopters.com

Spinoff 2007 Transportation �1

20,000-hourservicelife—doublethatoftheconventionalmetalS-61blades’ life—whichultimately reduces thecompany’soperatingmaintenancecosts.

In2003,CarsonHelicopterssignedacontractwithDucommunAeroStructuresInc.,tohavetheGardena,California-basedfirmmanufacturethecompositebladesforCarsonHelicopterstosell.Thecommercialbladesaredue to flyonaU.S.PresidentialVH-3helicopterinlate2007,aspartoftheVH-3DLiftImprovementProgram sponsored by the U.S. Naval Air SystemsCommand. Overseas, a customized set of blades isbeingtestedforpotentialuseonaBritishSeaKingRoyalNavyhelicopter.

Inaerialfirefighting,theperformance-boostingair-foilshaveallowedforamajormodificationtobemadetoaSikorskyS-61chopper, inordertohelptheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture’sForestServicecontrolthe

spreadofwildfires.Becausetheairfoilspermitheavierliftingthaneverbefore,CarsonHelicopterswasabletoinstallanoversizedbellytankonitsS-61FireKing(or,asthecompanylikestocallit,the“SwissArmyknifeofhelicopters”).Withthismodification,theFireKingistheonlyType1helicopter(theheaviesttypeofhelicopter,basedonascaleofType1toType3)thatcancarryupto

15firefightersandhold1,000gallonsofwaterinitsbellytankatthesametime.What’smore,thehelicopterhasan8,000-poundonboardcargocapacity.TherearecurrentlyeightFireKingsflyingwiththecompositebladesandthe1,000-gallonbellytank.v

The advanced airfoils, as applied to the main rotor of an S-61 helicopter, greatly increase the lifting capacity, operational envelope, and forward flight speed of the helicopter.

�� Transportation Spinoff 2007


Iceaccumulationisaserioussafetyhazardforaircraft.Thepresenceoficeonairplanesurfacespreventstheevenflowofair,whichincreasesdragandreduces

lift.Iceonwingsisespeciallydangerousduringtakeoff,whenasheetoficethethicknessofacompactdisccanreduceliftby25percentormore.Iceaccumulatedonthetailofanaircraft(aspotoftenoutofthepilot’ssight)canthrowoffaplane’sbalanceandforcethecrafttopitchdownward,aphenomenonknownasatailstall.

TheIcingBranchatNASA’sGlennResearchCenterworksusingtheCenter’sIcingResearchTunnelandIcingResearchAircraft,aDeHavillandTwinOttertwin-engineturbopropaircraft, toresearchmethodsforevaluatingandsimulatingthegrowthoficeonaircraft,theeffectsthaticemayhaveonaircraftinflight,andthedevelop-ment and effectiveness of various ice protection anddetectionsystems.

Typically, ice is removed from general aviationcraftwitheither“weepingwing”liquiddeicingsystemsor inflatable rubberbladders,calledpneumaticboots,installedalongthewings.Bothofthesemethodshavedrawbacks,includingthefinite,limitedeffectivenessoftheliquiddeicersandtheaddedweightandpowerusageoftheboots.CollaborativeresearchatGlennfocusedonusingexpandedgraphitefoilheatingelementtechnol-ogytoeffectivelyreplacethesestandardmethodswithamethodthatwasusuallylimitedtouseonjetswithheatedwingsandleadingedgesurfaces.Thesuper-thingraph-ite,whichcoversalargesurfaceareawithoutsignificantweightpenaltiesandheatsquicklytomeltice,provedaviablesolution,andthisnewsafetyequipmenthasnowbeenmadeavailabletotheaerospacecommunity.

Partnership

KellyAerospaceThermalSystemsLLC,ofWilloughby,Ohio,isadivisionofMontgomery,Alabama-basedKellyAerospaceInc.,aleadingsubsystemsuppliertogeneral

aviationequipmentmanufacturersandaftermarketcus-tomers.TheOhio-baseddesignanddevelopmentbranchworkedwithresearchersatGlennonthedeicingtechnol-ogywithassistancefromtheSmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR)program.

KellyAerospaceacquiredNorthcoastTechnologiesLtd., a Cleveland-based firm that had similarly donegraphite foilheatingelementworkwithNASAunderanSBIRcontract.Throughitsresearch,NorthcoasthaddevelopedtheThermawingsystem,alightweight,easy-to-install, reliablewingand taildeicing system.KellyAerospace engineers combined their experienceswith

thoseoftheNorthcoastengineers,andnowcontinuetoadvancethiswork.

ProductOutcome

TheNASA-fundedresearchhasresultedinahandfulofnewproductsandapplications,includingthecertifica-tionandintegrationofathermoelectricdeicingsystem,DC-poweredairconditioningforsingle-engineaircraft,andhigh-outputalternatorstorunthemboth.

MarketedasThermawing,theaircraftdeicingsystememploysaflexible,electricallyconductivegraphitefoil

Deicing System Protects General Aviation Aircraft

With NASA assistance, Kelly Aerospace has developed lightweight heating elements capable of keeping ice from forming on airplane wings.

http://www.kellyaerospace.com

Spinoff 2007 Transportation ��

thatheatsquicklyforinstantaneousrisesintemperaturewhenneeded.Ithasanultra-thinlaminateconstructionthatallowsforlowweightpenalties.Withthissystem,usersareabletoretrofitanaircraftwithbetween100-and150-ampalternatorsproducing50to80voltswithnegligibleweightaddition.Thisreliableanti-icinganddeicing system allows pilots to safely fly through iceencountersandprovidespilotsofsingle-engineaircrafttheheatedwingtechnologyusuallyreservedforlarger,jet-poweredcraft.

Itissimpletoapplyandrequiresfarlesswattagethanstandardelectricalmetalheatingsystems.Thethinlami-natesystemisappliedlikeatape,anditwillbondtoanysurfaceofanaircraftwhereicingmightbecomeaproblem.Thelaminatecontainstheflexible,expandedgraphitefoilthatservesasanelectricalandheatconductinglayer,thatworksaseffectivelyasmultipleheatconductinglayersandlayersofelectricalinsulation.Energycanbecontrolledacross thesystem,so thatcertainzonescanbeheatedaccordingtoneed,anenergy-savingmeasure.

The Thermawing system is currently certified foruse as airfoil protection on Columbia 350 and 400single-engine aircraft, aswell as theBeechcraftBaronB55.KellyAerospaceiscontinuingtodevelopsystemsforotheraircraft.

The company has also developed Thermacool, aninnovativeelectricairconditioningsystemalsoforuseonsingle-engine,generalaviationaircraft.Thetypicalmethodforcoolingtheseaircraftusesastandardautomo-bileairconditionercompressor,typicallyrunningoffofacombinationofbeltshookedtotheengineandelectricmotors,whichdrewtoomuchenergyfortheirusetobepracticalwhileonthegroundoridling.Airconditioninginthecabinwasavailable,then,onlywhentheaircraftwasairborne.KellyAerospaceaddressedthiswithanewcompressor,whoserotarypumpdesignrunsoffanenergy-efficient,brushlessDCmotor.Thisnowallowspilotstobegincoolingtheplanebeforetheengineevenstarts.

Weighinglessthan14pounds,thetotalsystemdrawsonly50amps.Thesmallcompressorcanbeattachedjustaboutanywherewithin theaircraft, and it isvirtuallymaintenance free. Kelly Aerospace has been grantedSupplementalTypeCertificates(STCs)fromtheFederalAviationAdministrationforuseoftherevolutionaryaircompressoronCessna182modelsP,Q, andR, andCessna172modelsRandSsingle-engineaircraft.ItiscurrentlydevelopingacustomizedkitforthePiperPA-32CherokeeSix,andmoreSTCsareintheworks.

Toassist in runningboth theThermawingdeicingsystem and the Thermacool air conditioning system,

KellyAerospacehasdesignedanalternator capableofcreatingampleelectricity,aswellastheothercomplexelectronicsonthecraft,whethertheplaneisairborneoridlingontheground.

Recently,KellyAerospaceThermalSystemsenteredintoanagreementwithRedmond,Oregon-basedRDDEnterprisesLLC,adeveloperofsafetyandperformancesystemsfortheexperimentalaircraftmarket.Thepartner-shipwillallowKellyAerospace’sthermaldeicingsystemstobewidelyavailableinthismarket.v

Thermawing™andThermacool™aretrademarksofKellyAerospaceInc.

Ice forming on an aircraft can pose serious risks. The Icing Branch at Glenn Research Center seeks to minimize these hazards by creating technologies that detect and prevent icing.

Public Safety

NASAmakesourworldsafer.Thetechnologiesfeaturedinthissection:

Detect potential threats

Sharpen views in critical situations

Clean air and water for indoor environments

•

•

•

�6 Public Safety Spinoff 2007


As fleets of aircraft age, corrosion of metalpartsbecomesaveryrealeconomicandsafetyconcern.Corrosiveagentslikemoisture,salt,and

industrialfluids—andeveninternalproblems,likeleaksandcondensation—wearawayand,especiallyovertimeandrepeatedexposure,begintocorrodeaircraft.

Costsofrepairs,whichofteninvolvereplacingentirepanels,downtimeforfleetcraft,andthepotentiallossofuseofavehicleallcontributetotheeconomicconcerns.IntheUnitedStatesalone,thisisamultibilliondollarproblem.Intermsofsafety,corrosioncanbesowide-spreadastocauseproblemswiththestructuralintegrityofthecraft,butitcanalsobejustasdangerouswhenlocalized,likeeatingawayatelectricalwiresorrustingawayatcruciallandinggearcomponents.

NASAisinvestedinthedevelopmentofnewmaterialsandmaterialcoatingstoretardandpreventcorrosion,butitisalsoresearchingmethodsformonitoringcorrosiononexistingaircraft.

Partnership

Moisture can lead to corrosion in an aircraft, andaltered pH can indicate that corrosion is occurring.Intelligent Optical Systems Inc. (IOS), of Torrance,California, completedPhase I and IISmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contractswithNASA’sLangleyResearchCentertodevelopmoisture-andpH-sensitive sensors to detect corrosion or pre-corrosiveconditions.Asopposedtotypicalinspectionequipment,likeultrasoundorX-rayimaging,thistechniquecanwarnofpotentiallydangerousconditionsbefore significantstructuraldamageoccurs.Thisnewtypeofsensorusesaspeciallymanufacturedopticalfiberwhoseentirelengthischemicallysensitive,changingcolorinresponsetocontactwithitstarget.Thesesensorfibers,embeddeddirectlyinaluminum“lapjoints,”havedetectedthelocation—towithin 2 centimeters—and alkalinity of potentiallycorrosivemoistureincursions.

ProductOutcome

AftercompletingtheworkwithNASA,thecompanyreceivedfundingthroughaDefenseAdvancedResearchProjectsAgency(DARPA)PhaseIIISBIRtodevelopthesensorsfurtherfordetectingchemicalwarfareagents.ThesensorsprovedjustassuccessfulatlocatingandidentifyingspecificchemicalsastheyhadbeenatdetectingmoistureandpHlevels.ThenextstageofdevelopmentinvolvedworkingwiththeU.S.DepartmentofDefense(DoD)tofine-tunethesensorsfordetectingpotentialthreats,suchastoxicindustrialcompoundsandnerveagents.ThroughtheDoDcontract,thecompanyhassetupbetatestinginmajormetropolitanareas.

Inadditiontotheworkwithgovernmentagencies,Intelligent Optical Systems has sold the chemically

sensitive fiber optic cables to major automotive andaerospacecompanies,whoarefindingavarietyofusesfor thedevices, from theoriginal corrosive-conditionmonitoringtoaidingexperimentationwithnontraditionalpowersources.

Commercially marketed under the brand nameDICAST(DistributedIntrinsicChemicalAgentSensingandTransmission),theseuniquecontinuous-cablefiberoptic chemical sensors use a glass core coatedwith apermeableindicator-dopedcladdingtoachievechemicalsensitivity over their entire length. These fiber opticcablescanbeverylong,providinganeconomicalmeansofdetectingchemicalreleaseinlargefacilities.Theycanbeusedininexpensivealarmsystems,whichalerttheusertoachangeinthechemicalenvironmentanywherealongthecable,or indistance-resolvedoptical timedomainreflectometry systems to provide detailed profiles ofchemicalconcentrationversuslength.

Witha10-secondresponsetime,theDICASTcablesareabletodetectagentsusedinchemicalwarfare,suchashydrogencyanideandthenerveagentssomanandsarin,

Chemical-Sensing Cables Detect Potential Threats

The DICAST system combines patented fiber optic cables that are chemically sensitive over their entire length, with an advanced network architecture for large-scale protection of critical assets.

The sensor cables can be deployed in inexpensive alarm systems, which alert the user to a change in the chemical environment anywhere along the cable, or in sophisticated distance-resolved systems to provide detailed profiles of chemical concentration versus length.

http://www.intopsys.com

Spinoff 2007 Public Safety ��

aswellaschlorine,hydrogensulfide,andotherindustrialcompounds.Theyarecurrentlydesignedtooperateinindoorenvironmentsandare intrinsically sensitive toselect, individualchemicals.Whenanyareaalongthelengthofacableisexposedtothetargetchemical,thecablecolorchanges,andaproprietaryoptoelectricsystemdetectsthechangeinlightandalertstheuser.Thecableissheathedinanair-permeablecasing,whichprovidesruggedprotectionagainstshearstress.

UsesfortheDICASTcablesaboundinsecurityandindustrial applications. They can be used to protectbuildingsandstructures,likesubwaystations,automotivetunnels,high-riseofficebuildings,arenas,andconventioncenters,whenemployedinventilationducts,stairwells,oreveninlargeopenspaces.Thereductionincomplexityandincreasedsecurityprovidedbythesecontinuous-cablechemicaldetectionsensorsmaketheDICASTsystemanidealchoicefortheseapplications.Asinglecablerunningthroughamainreturnairduct,forexample,isamorecosteffectiveandefficientmethodforchemicaldetectionthantheinstallationofpointsensorsineachroom’sinlettothatduct.

Inadditiontotheiralarmandprotectioncapabilities,the cables are also ideal for collecting profiles ofchemical agents after an incident and formonitoringdecontamination.Bysettingupagridofcablesoveracontaminated area, response and clean-up crews cangenerateanaccuratepictureofthetypes,location,andconcentrationofhazardouschemicals.

Similarly, theDICASTcables can alsobeused toeffectivelysecureaperimeterorboundary,withasinglesensorcablereplacingdozensofpointsensorswithaneffectiveness thatcouldonlyberivaledbyplacingthepointsensorsside-by-sidealongthelengthoftheentireperimeter. Possible locations that could benefit fromthis application include airbases, ports, high-profile

governmentinstallations,andfacilitiesthateitherstoreordestroy chemicalwarfare agents.According to thecompany,thecablescouldalsobeusedtocreatearingofprotectionaroundlargeoutdoorgatherings.

Industrial applications, in addition to the originaluses of moisture and corrosion detection in aircraft,includedetectionofnon-lethalchemicals,suchasleaksinlong-haulwaterorpetrochemicalpipelines,pipes,andfluidtransferlines,andinrefineriesandotherindustrialfacilities.Themoistureandcorrosiondetection,thoughoriginallydevelopedforaircraftapplications,canalsobeappliedtoshipsandotherstructures,andcanevenbeusedtodetectsaltandmoisturepermeationinconcrete.v

DICAST®isaregisteredtrademarkofIntelligentOpticalSystemsInc.

DICAST cable systems can be used on aircraft for passenger cabin protection.

DICAST chemical-sensing fiber optic cables provide complete indoor and outdoor protection for large facilities.

The cable systems can be used for building and structure protection, such as in ventilation ducts, stairwells, and large open spaces in subways, high-rise buildings, arenas, convention centers, and automotive tunnels.

�8 Public Safety Spinoff 2007


TheMicrogravityCombustionSciencegroupatNASA’sGlennResearchCenterstudieshowfireand combustible liquids and gasses behave in

low-gravityconditions.Thisgroup,currentlyworkingaspartoftheLifeSupportandHabitationBranchundertheExplorationSystemsMissionDirectorate,conductsthisresearchwithacarefuleyetowardfireprevention,detec-tion,andsuppression,inordertoestablishthehighestpossiblesafetymarginsforspace-boundmaterials.

Overtheyears,thegrouphasestablishedthatmanymaterialsburnverydifferentlyinmicrogravitythantheydoonEarth.Forexample,attemptingtostompoutaflameinmicrogravitycouldpossiblyacceleratecombus-tion, at least temporarily (becauseanairflow isbeingcreated that did not exist before). Other interestingfindingsindicatethatmicrogravityfirescanspreadfasterupstreamthandownstream,oppositeofthebehavioroffirespreadingonEarth,andthatfireisactuallyweakerinmicrogravity.Asamatteroffact,theweakestflamesevergeneratedweredonesoinspace.Duringthe“StructureofFlameBallsatLowLewis-number”(SOFBALL)experi-mentaltrialsconductedduringmissionsSTS-83(April1997),STS-94(July1997),andSTS-107(January2003),flames were generated in space with power as low as1watt—about50timesweakerthanacandleflame.

Thisisnottosaythatfireissaferinspace,though.FireoutbreakonaspacecraftisjustasdangerousasanyfiresituationonEarth,orarguablyevenmoredanger-ous,giventheinabilityofastronautstoevacuate.Forthisreason,theabilitytodetectsubtlevariationsintempera-tureinacomplexandvariedthermalbackgroundcouldproveinvaluableinaspacecraft.

Partnership

InnovativeEngineeringandConsulting(IEC)InfraredSystemsisaleadingdeveloperofthermalimagingsystemsand night vision equipment. The Cleveland-based

company was founded in 1999 by two microgravitycombustionscienceresearchersfromtheNationalCenterforSpaceExplorationResearch,anacademicresearchorganizationlocatedonsiteatGlenn.Inspinningofftheirnewbusinessventure, the tworesearchersutilizedtheengineeringknow-howtheydevelopedinmeasuringhigh-temperatureflamesforNASAspaceflightexperiments.

Severalyearsafteropeningforbusiness,IECInfraredSystems received a Glenn Alliance for TechnologyExchange(GATE)awardworth$100,000,halfofwhichwasintheformofadditionalNASAassistancefornewproductdevelopment.TheGATEawardwasestablishedbyGlenn,theOhioAerospaceInstitute,andtheBattelleMemorialInstitutetoassistsmallOhio-basedcompaniesinterestedincollaboratingwithNASAtoadvancetheirproductsandprocesses.

IECInfraredSystemsusedthefundsearmarkedforNASA assistance to work with electrical and opticalengineersfromGlenn’sDiagnosticsandDataSystemsBranchon thedevelopmentof a commercial infraredimaging system that could differentiate the intensityofheat sourcesbetter thanothercommercial systems.Firefighters,forexample,couldusetheproposedtechnol-ogytomakeclearerdistinctionsbetweentheintenseheatofafireandthelower-levelthermalsignaturesofhumanbodiesinfire-basedsearchandrescuesituationswheredarkness,smoke,orfogcanobscuretheirvision.

ProductOutcome

ThefirsthandNASAknowledgeandthe follow-upfundingandtechnicalsupport fromtheGATEawardwerethecatalystsforIECInfraredSystemstoevolvefromastart-upventuretoamultimilliondollarbusinesswithastaffofmorethan30scientists,engineers,andtechniciansspanningawiderangeofengineeringfields.Today,thecompanyoffers twomajor thermal imaging solutionsthat stem directly from its vast NASA experience:NightStalkIRand IntrudIRAlert (“IR” for infrared).Thesetwoimagingsystemshavefoundwidespreaduse

in emergency first-responder, facility security, andmilitaryapplications.

With advanced imaging capabilities, proprietarysignalprocessingandelectronics,andatough,ruggedexterior,NightStalkIRoffersoptimaldaytime/nighttimesurveillanceinallweatherconditions.Featuresincludealow-lightcamerawithlensoptionsrangingfrom50to180millimeters(withoutthe“halo”effectcommonlyseeninsomeimagers),full360-degreerotationwithpanandtilt,handcontrollerandPCsoftwarecontrol,fixedormobile(vehicle) mounting, and onscreen positional displayof imagingdirectionandothertacticaldata.Optionalfeatures include fiber optic and wireless capabilities,an image-intensified camera that further enhancesnighttimeimaginginthevisualspectrum,andGlobalPositioning System/compass/laser range systems thatprovide the precise location of observed targets forincreasedtacticalawareness.

IntrudIR Alert is an intrusion-detection systemdesignedtooperatewithmultipleNightStalkIRthermalimagers. This software-based system allows a singleoperatortocommandandcontroltheseimagersovera

Infrared Imaging Sharpens View in Critical Situations

IEC Infrared Systems’ Thermal/Visual Imaging Systems product line features a suite of thermal imaging devices that are used in a wide range of applications.

http://www.iecinfrared.com

Spinoff 2007 Public Safety �9

broadarea,formaximumtacticalandsituationalawarenessandearlywarningofintrusions.Featuresincludetargettracking,basedoneitherthermalsignaturesormotiondetection (or a combination of both), continuousautomatictrackingofthesetargets,anddigitalcapturingofstillimagesorshortvideoclips,eitheroncommandorinresponsetoalarms.InadditiontobeingcompatiblewithNightStalkIR,IntrudIRAlertcanbeintegratedintolargersecuritynetworks.

AccordingtoIECInfraredSystems,NightStalkIRandIntrudIRAlertarebeingusedintheUnitedStatesandabroadtohelplocatepersonnelstrandedinemergencysituations,defendsoldiersonthebattlefieldabroad,and

This software-based system allows a single operator to command and control these devices over a broad area, for maximum tactical and situational awareness and early warning of intrusions.

Modern infrared imaging devices allow users to see through smoke and fog, as well as in total darkness. They have widespread use in military, facility security, and emergency first-responder applications.

protecthigh-valuefacilitiesandoperations.Thecompanyisalsoapplyingitsadvancedthermalimagingtechniquesto medical and pharmaceutical product developmentwithaCleveland-basedpharmaceuticalcompany.Thiscooperative effortwas enabledby aNASASpaceActAgreement,asGlenncontinuestoencourageIECInfraredSystems’foundingpartnerstoexplorenewproductideasbasedonthetechniquesdevelopedduringtheirtenureatNASA.Forthefounders,theirworkwithNASAandtheirrelatedcommercialendeavorshavegivenawholenewmeaningto“playingwithfire.”v

NightStalkIR™andIntrudIRAlert™aretrademarksofInnovativeEngineeringandConsultingInfraredSystems.

60 Public Safety Spinoff 2007


AlthoughoneofNASA’sgoalsistosendpeopletothefarreachesofouruniverse,itisstillwellknownthatpeopleneedEarth.Weunderstand

thathumankind’sexistencereliesonitscomplexrela-tionshipwiththisplanet’senvironment—inparticular,theregenerativequalitiesofEarth’secosystems.

In the late 1960s, B.C. “Bill” Wolverton was anenvironmentalscientistworkingwiththeU.S.militarytocleanuptheenvironmentalmessesleftbybiologicalwarfarecenters.AtatestcenterinFlorida,hewasheadingafacilitythatdiscoveredthatswampplantswereactuallyeliminatingAgentOrange,whichhadenteredthelocalwatersthroughgovernmenttestingnearEglinAirForceBase.Afterthissuccess,hewantedtocontinuethislineofresearchandmovedtowhatwasatthetimecalledtheMississippiTestFacility,butisnowknownasNASA’sStennisSpaceCenter.

HewasfundedbytheSpaceAgencytoresearchtheenvironment’snaturalabilitiestocleanitselfaspartofwhatisnowStennis’EnvironmentalAssuranceProgram.The goals were to clean the Center of chemicals leftbehind through wastes and to supply information toNASAengineersaboutclosed-environment“eco”sup-port that may prove helpful in designing sustainablelivingenvironmentsforlong-termhabitationofspace.AtertiarygoalwastoprovideusabletechnologiestoNASA’sTechnologyUtilizationProgram,essentiallymakingtheresearchavailabletotheAmericanpublic.

ThefirststepforWolverton’sresearchwastocontinuetheremediationworkhehadstartedwiththemilitary.HewastaskedwithusingplantstocleanwastewaterattheNASACenter.Tothisday,Wolverton’sdesign,whichreplacesatraditionalsepticsystemwithwaterhyacinths,isstillinuse.Hisresearchthenturnedtousingplantstoimproveairquality.

In 1973, NASA scientists identified 107 volatileorganiccompounds(VOCs)intheairinsidetheSkylab

space station. Synthetic materials, like those used toconstructSkylab,giveofflowlevelsofchemicals.Thiseffect,knownasoff-gassing,spreadstheVOCs,suchasformaldehyde,benzene,andtrichloroethylene,allknownirritantsandpotentialcarcinogens.Whenthesechemicalsaretrappedwithoutcirculation,aswasthecasewiththeSkylab,theinhabitantsmaybecomeill,astheairtheybreatheisnotgiventhenaturalscrubbingbyEarth’scom-plexecosystem.

AroundthesametimethatWolvertonwasconductinghisresearchintoVOCs,theUnitedStatesfounditselfinanenergycrisis.Inresponse,buildersbeganmakinghousesandofficesmoreenergyefficient.Oneofthebestwaystodothiswastomakethebuildingsasairtightaspossible.Whilekeeping temperature-controlledair inplace,thisapproachreducedcirculation.Combinedwiththemodernuseofsyntheticmaterials,thiscontributedtowhatbecameknownasSickBuildingSyndrome,wheretoxinsfoundinsyntheticmaterialsbecomeconcentratedinsidesealedbuildings,makingpeoplefeelsick.

The solution Wolverton sought was not to makeindoor environments less energy efficientor tomove

awayfromtheconvenienceofsyntheticmaterials;rather,theplanwastofindasolutionthatrestorespersonalenvi-ronments.Theanswer,accordingtoaNASAreportlaterpublishedbyWolvertonin1989,isthat“Ifmanistomoveintoclosedenvironments,onEarthorinspace,hemusttakealongnature’slifesupportsystem.”Plants.

OneoftheNASAexperimentstestingthissolutionwas the BioHome, an early experiment in what theAgencycalled“closedecological lifesupportsystems.”The BioHome, a tightly sealed building constructedentirelyofsyntheticmaterials,wasdesignedassuitableforonepersontolivein,withagreatdealoftheinterioroccupiedbyhouseplants.Beforethehouseplantswereadded,though,anyoneenteringthenewlyconstructedfacilitywouldexperienceburningeyesandrespiratorydifficulties, two of the most common symptoms ofSickBuildingSyndrome.Oncetheplantswere intro-duced to the environment, analysis of the air qualityindicatedthatmostoftheVOCshadbeenremoved,andthesymptomsdisappeared.

Partnership

Afterservingover30yearsasagovernmentscientist,Wolvertonretiredfromcivilservicebutcontinuedhiswork inairandwaterqualitybyfoundingWolvertonEnvironmentalServicesInc.Thecompany,based justdowntheroadfromStennisinPicayune,Mississippi,isanenvironmentalconsultingfirmthatgivescustomersaccesstoWolverton’sdecadesofcutting-edgebioreme-diationresearch.

ProductOutcome

WolvertonpublishedhisfindingsaboutusingplantstoimproveindoorairqualityindozensoftechnicalpaperswhilewiththeSpaceAgencyandasasimpleconsumer-friendlybook,“HowtoGrowFreshAir:50HouseplantsThatPurifyYourHomeorOffice.”Init,heexplains,ineasy-to-understandterms,howplantsemitwatervaporthatcreatesapumpingactiontopullcontaminatedair

Plants Clean Air and Water for Indoor Environments

The BioHome at NASA’s Stennis Space Center was 4� feet long, 16 feet wide, and used common indoor house plants as living air purifiers.

http://www.wolvertonenvironmental.com

http://www.wolvertonenvironmental.com

Spinoff 2007 Public Safety 61

downaroundaplant’sroots,whereitisthenconvertedintofoodfortheplant.Hethengoesontoexplainwhichplantsandvarietiesremovethemosttoxins,aswellastorateeachplantforthelevelofmaintenanceitrequires.Thebookhasnowbeen translated into12 languagesandhasbeenontheshelvesofbookstoresfornearly10years.Wolvertonhasalsopublishedacompanionbook,“Growing Clean Water: Nature’s Solution to WaterPollution,”whichexplainshowplantscancleanwastewater.

AnotheroneofWolverton’sdiscoveries is that themoreairthatisallowedtocirculatethroughtherootsoftheplants,themoreeffectivetheyareatcleaningpollutedair.To takeadvantageof this science,WolvertonhasteamedwiththeJapanesecompany,ActreeCorporation,todevelopwhattheJapanesefirmismarketingastheEcoPlanter.Usinghigh-efficiencycarbonfiltersandaroot-levelcirculationsystem, thepotallows theplanttoremoveapproximately200timesmoreVOCsthanasingletraditionally-pottedplantcanremove.

Thecompanyhasrecentlybeguntoassesstheabil-ityoftheEcoPlantertoremoveformaldehydefromthemanytraveltrailersfurnishedbytheFederalEmergencyManagementAgencytovictimsofHurricaneKatrina.The interiors of the trailers make heavy use of par-ticleboard,whichoff-gassesformaldehyde.Manyofthetrailershavebeen found to exceed the recommendedlevelsofformaldehydeforhumansafety.InitialtestsoftheEcoPlanterhavebeenveryencouraging,butothertestingisstillneeded.

Researchhasalsosuggestedthatplantsplayapsycho-logicalroleinwelfare,andthatpeopleactuallyrecoverfromillnessfasterinthepresenceofplants.Wolverton’scompany isworkingwithanother Japanesecompany,TakenakaGardenAfforestationInc.,ofTokyo,todesignecologygardens.Thesearecarefullydesignedgardensthathelpremovethetoxinsfromtheairinhospitals,aswellasprovidethehealingpresenceofthefoliage.

Onthehomefront, inapartnershipwithSyracuseUniversity,WolvertonEnvironmentalisengineeringsys-temsconsistingofmodularwickingfilterstiedintoductworkandwater supplies,essentially tyingplant-basedfilters into heating, ventilation, and air conditioning(HVAC) systems. This whole-building approach hasrecently been licensed by Wolverton to PhytofilterTechnologiesInc.,ofSaratogaSprings,NewYork,whichiscurrentlyconstructingaprototypeofasystemthatis

intendedtocleanthewaterandaircirculationsystemsofentirebuildingsusingthenaturalabilitiesofplants.ThedesignincludesunitsthatarebuiltintoexistingHVACunits.Theplantscanbeplacedthroughoutbuildings,inatriums,orinroofgardensandthenhookedintothebuilding’sHVACunitsthroughforced-airfilters.

WolvertonEnvironmentalisalsointalkswithdesign-ersofthenewStennisVisitor’sCenter,whoareinterestedinusingitsdesignsforindoorair-qualityfilters.v

Wolverton Environmental Services Inc. designed this sustainable ecosystem to show how a building’s circulation system and a rooftop garden could work in tandem to clean indoor air.

Consumer, Home, and Recreation

NASAresearchimprovesourqualityoflife.Thetechnologiesfeaturedinthissection:

Restore artwork

Enhance education and recreation

Reduce fat while improving flavor

Transform paint into insulation

Protect machines and the environment

•

•

•

•

•

64 Consumer, Home, and Recreation Spinoff 2007


Shortwavelengthsolarradiationinthespaceenvi-ronmentjustoutsideoftheEarth’satmosphereproduces atomic oxygen. This gas reacts with

spacecraftpolymers,causinggradualoxidative thin-ningoftheprotectivelayersoforbitingobjects, likesatellitesandtheInternationalSpaceStation,whichmaintainlow-Earthorbitdirectlyintheareawherethecorrosivegasismostpresent.

To combat this destructive gas, NASA engineersdevelopedlong-durationcoatingsthatareresistanttotheeffectsofitsproblematicpresence.Tovalidatetheeffec-tivenessofthecoatings,NASAhadtwooptions:Eithersendthematerials intoorbit fortesting,whichwouldinvolvethecostoflaunchesandseverelylimitaccesstotheexperiments,orrecreatetheatmosphericconditionshereonEarth.NASAchosethelatter,andtheElectro-PhysicsBranchatGlennResearchCenterconstructedgroundfacilitiestotestthedurabilityofdifferentmaterialsbyintroducingthemtoarecreatedformofthecorrosivespacegas.

The experimentswere successful, and the coatingsarecurrentlyusedon the InternationalSpaceStation.Intheexperimentation,though,thescientistsdiscoveredseveraladditional interestingapplicationsfortheirtestfacilities and beneficial uses for atomic oxygen hereonEarth.

Partnership

LedbyGlenn’sBruceBanksandSharonRutledge,theElectro-Physicsresearchersbecamefamiliarwithatomicoxygen’sunique characteristicofoxidizinghydrogen,carbon, and hydrocarbon polymers at surface levels.While destructive to spacecraft polymers constructedwiththosematerials,atomicoxygen’sselectivitycould,theyrealized,alsobeappliedininstanceswheresomeonewantedjustthoseelementsremoved.Overthepastfewyearssincetheymadethisrealization,Banksandhisteam

havepartneredwithseveralchurchesandmuseumstorestorefire-damagedorvandalizedartworks,andwithaninternationalforensicsorganizationtodevelopnewmethodsfordetectingforgeddocuments,aswellashavingdevelopedamethodforusingatomicoxygentoremovebacterialcontaminantsfromsurgicalimplants.

ProductOutcome

Atomicoxygenisabletoremoveorganiccompoundshigh in carbon (mostly soot) from fire-damagedartworkswithoutcausingashift inthepaintcolor. Itwasfirsttestedonoilpaintings.In1989,anarsonfireatSt. Alban Episcopal Church, in Cleveland, nearlydestroyed a painting of Mary Magdalene. Althoughthepaintwasblisteredandcharred,after230hoursof

atomicoxygentreatmentandareapplicationofvarnish,itwasonceagainrecognizableasaworkofart.In2002,afireatSt.StanislausChurch,againinCleveland,lefttwopaintingswithsootdamagethattheatomicoxygenprocesswasabletoremove.

Buoyedbythesuccesseswithoilpaints,theteamalsoappliedtherestorationtechniquetoacrylics,watercolors,andink.Aslongasthepaintswereprimarilysynthetic,theresultswerepromising.Theydiscoveredthough,thatsomeorganicacrylicsandink,inparticular,requiredlessexposuresothattheatomicoxygenwouldnotbegintowearawayatthemediumitself.Thispotentialliabilityhasbeenusedadvantageously,however,ininstancesofgraffiti removal.Experimentsshowedthat,byusingapencil-thinbeamofatomicoxygen,theteamwasabletoremovemostinksexceptblackpermanentmarker.

At Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Art, wherean Andy Warhol painting, “Bathtub,” was kissed bya lipstick-wearing vandal, the technique successfullyremovedtheoffendingpinkmarkwithaportableatomicoxygengun.Theprocesslightenedaspotofpaint,buta conservatorwas easily able tomatch the spot, thusrestoringthepainting.

Thesuccesseswiththeart restorationprocesswerewell-publicized, and Lynda Taylor-Hartwick of theIndependent Association of Questioned DocumentExaminers Inc. (IAQDE), amultinational, nonprofitprofessionalorganizationdedicatedtotheartofforensicanalysisofdocuments,readabouttheeffectsofatomicoxygenoninkandbecamecuriousaboutpossibleapplica-tionsforthisprocessinthefieldofforgerydetection.Shefoundthatitcanassistdocumentanalyzersindetermin-ingif,forexample,checksorwillshavebeenaltered.

Atomicoxygenoxidationof inkmaycause alteredpenmarkstolookdifferentlythantheoriginalmarks.Itcanhelpexaminersdiscriminatebetweentwodifferentinks,becausedifferentinksmayoxidizeatdifferentrates,showingdocumentexaminersanysignsof tampering.Usefulness,however,isnotlimitedtoinstanceswherethe

Corrosive Gas Restores Artwork, Promises Myriad Applications

The Atomic Oxygen Exposure Facility in operation at Glenn Research Center has been used for the removal of smoke damage and aged varnish from the surface of paintings and for cleaning organic contaminants from surfaces of materials.

Spinoff 2007 Consumer, Home, and Recreation 6�

inksareofdifferentmanufacture.Atomicoxygen,whichoxidizes and removesorganicmaterialsby convertingthemintogasses,worksgradually.Thus,thicklayersofcarbonororganicmaterialstakelongertoremovethanthinlayers.Theendsofpenstrokestendtohavemuchthickerinkdepositsthantherestoftheline,enablingtheuseofatomicoxygenexposuretodeterminewhichlinesweredrawnfirst,whichstrokesweremadeasonefluidmovement,andwhichoverlappedstrokeshavebeenaddedatalaterdate,aclearindicationthatadocumenthasbeenaltered.

Themosttellingsign,though,isthelayeringofinkthatoccurswhensomeonewritesoveraletterornumbertoalterit.Take,forexample,theclassiccaseofmodifyingareportcardtoturnanFintoaBbeforeshowingtheparents.Tocompletethisfeat,thebelatedlyconcerned

studentwouldconnectthelinesatthetopoftheFwithacurvedstroke,makingitmoresimilartotheletterP,andthenfinishthejobbyloopinginthebase,thusraisingthegradetoaB.Inordertomakethejoblookgood,though,thestrokesmustconnecttotheoriginalletter,evenover-lapalittletomakeitlookuniform.Itistheoverlapping,aminisculeamountoflayering,thatatomicoxygencanerodeinordertoexposethealteration.

Whilemostparentsmaynotgotheextentofacquiringaportableatomicoxygenguntocheckareportcard,theapplicationbecomesmorerelevantforapplicationslikedeterminingcheckfraudoralteredwills.JustasanFcanbecomeaB,a1canbecomea9ora3canbecomean8,whichcouldhavepotentiallysignificantfinancialimplica-tionsininstancesoffraud.

It isnot justpaintand ink that theGlennteamisexperimenting on, though. The gas has biomedicalapplications as well. Atomic oxygen technology canbeusedtodecontaminateorthopedicsurgicalhipandkneeimplantspriortosurgery.Asaresultofhandling,fabrication, andexposure to air, the surfacesof theseimplants are often contaminated with endotoxins(naturallyoccurringcompoundsfoundwithinbacteria)and other biologically active contaminants. Suchcontaminants contribute to inflammation,which canleadtojointloosening,pain,andeventhenecessitytoremove the implant.Previously, therewasnoknownchemicalprocesswhichfullyremovedtheseinflammatoryendotoxins without damaging the implants. Atomicoxygen,however,canoxidizeendotoxinsandanyotherorganic contaminants to convert them into harmlessgasses,leavingacontaminant-freesurface.

The inventors have patented this application foratomicoxygenandbelieve itcould leadtosignificantreductioninhealthcarecostsforthemorethan2.8mil-lionpeoplewhoreceiveorthopedicimplantsannually.Theyalsobelievethatitpromisesincreasedfunctionallifeofimplants,aswellasareductionofinflammationandtheassociatedjointpainthatpatientsexperience.

Additional collaborative research between theClevelandClinicFoundationandtheGlennteamintotheterrestrialusesofatomicoxygenshowsthatthisgas’srougheningofsurfacesevenimprovescelladhesion,whichisimportantforthedevelopmentofnewdrugs.

Whilethisapplicationisstillinitstestingstages,theothersareavailableforuse.Thepatentforatomicoxygenartrestorationisnowinthepublicdomain.Useofthetechnologyfordocumentalterationdetectionwasneverpatented,andit,too,isavailableinthepublicdomain.Apatentwas licensed for the removal of biologicallyactivecomponents fromsurgical implants,andGlenniscurrently in talkswithacompany that sellsplasmatreatingequipment.vParishioners at St. Alban Church, in Cleveland, thought this painting of Mary Magdalene was ruined after an arson fire destroyed

much of the property. The same corrosive attributes of atomic oxygen that eat away at spacecraft were able to remove the layers of soot and smoke that covered the painting.



Earthfromspace—swirlingwispsofwhiteagainstabackdropofdeepazure,punctuatedwithbrownandgreenswatchesofland,alletchedononeorb

surroundedbyblackspace,floating,seeminglyisolated,butteemingwithhumanityandotherformsoflife.Itisaniconicimage,firstcapturedNovember10,1967,bytheApplicationsTechnologySatellite(ATS)-3,anunmannedcraftconductingpayloadexperimentsandexaminingthespaceenvironment.Sincethen,astronautsandspacecrafthavesentbackhundredsofpicturesofEarth,andeachonehashadthesamebreathtakingeffect.

Seeingourhomeplanetfromspaceisoneofthoseself-reflectiveexperiences,likeseeingyourselfinapicture,orhearingyourvoiceontape.Ittellsyousomethingaboutyourselffromoutsideofyourself.Itisanexperiencethatchangesyourunderstandingoftheworldandyourplaceinit.

This phenomenon is best illustrated by the wordsofspacetravelerswho,uponreachingorbit,havegazedbackatEarthandfelttheprofoundimpactofviewingtheplanetinitsentirety.

FrankBorman,Apollo8commander,said,“TheviewoftheEarthfromtheMoonfascinatedme—asmalldisk,240,000milesaway. . . . Ragingnationalistic interests,famines,wars,pestilencedon’tshowfromthatdistance.”

Another veteranof theApollo8mission,WilliamAnders,hadthistosay:“WecameallthiswaytoexploretheMoon,andthemostimportantthingisthatwedis-coveredtheEarth.”

NeilArmstrong,thefirstpersontostepfootontheMoon,describedthefeelingofperspectiveheexperiencedwhenstaringoutattheEarthfromthespacecraftwindow:“Itsuddenlystruckmethatthattinypea,prettyandblue,wastheEarth.Iputupmythumbandshutoneeye,andmythumbblottedouttheplanetEarth.Ididn’tfeellikeagiant.Ifeltvery,verysmall.”

AlanShepard,commanderoftheApollo14mission,the eighthmannedmission to theMoon, said of theexperienceofseeingthehomeplanetinitsentirety,“Ifsomebodyhadsaidbeforetheflight,‘AreyougoingtogetcarriedawaylookingattheEarthfromtheMoon?’Iwouldhavesaid,‘No,noway.’ButyetwhenIfirstlookedbackattheEarth,standingontheMoon,Icried.”

Apollo 15 astronaut, James Irwin, said of theexperience,“Aswegotfurtherandfurtheraway,it[theEarth]diminishedinsize.Finally it shranktothesizeofamarble,themostbeautifulyoucanimagine.That

beautiful,warm,livingobjectlookedsofragile,sodelicate,thatifyoutoucheditwithafingeritwouldcrumbleandfallapart.Seeingthishastochangeaman.”

Astronaut Alfred Worden, another of the originalApollocrew,andpilotoftheApollo15mission,saidofhisexperience,“NowIknowwhyI’mhere.NotforacloserlookattheMoon,buttolookbackatourhome,theEarth.”

Yearslater,spaceshuttleastronautsarestillfindingtheviewofEarthfromspaceahumblingandprofoundexpe-rience.DonLind,astronautaboardtheSTS-51Bmission

This 16-foot-diameter, pedestal-mounted, rotating globe was featured at the �006 Wirefly X-Prize Cup in Las Cruces, New Mexico. This exposition of personal space flight is a “celebration of forward-looking technology, space exploration, and education,” attracting thousands of people every October.

Detailed Globes Enhance Education and Recreation

Spinoff 2007 Consumer, Home, and Recreation 6�

said,“ThinkaboutthepictureoftheEarthcomingupoverthehorizonoftheMoon,whichIcallthepictureofthecentury.EverycrewthatwenttotheMoontookthatsamepicture.Itisprobablyasmovingasanythinginreorientingpeople’sideatothewholeworldconcept.”

Theexperiencewasperhapsbestillustrated,however,bySultanbinSalmanbinAbdulazizAlSaud,aSaudiArabian payload specialist aboard STS-51G, a spaceshuttle mission comprised of American, French, andSaudiastronauts,whenhesaid,“Thefirstdayorso,weallpointedtoourcountries.Thethirdorfourthday,wewerepointingtoourcontinents.Bythefifthday,wewereawareofonlyoneEarth.”

Partnership

In1985,inspiredbythepictureshehadseenoftheEarth from space,Eric J.Morris foundeda companydevotedtodesigningandproducingphotorealisticrepli-casofourplanet.Thecompany,OrbisWorldGlobes,islocatedinEastsound,Washington,andcreatesinflatableglobesinmanysizesthatdepictEarthasitisseenfromspace,completewithatmosphericcloudcover.

Utilizingavailabletechnologyofthemid-1980s,theoriginalEarthBalldesignwasderived fromanartist’scompilationofNASAphotographsandNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA)weathersatel-litefaxes.Overthefollowing2decades,as3-Dimagingsoftware,morepowerfulcomputers,andsuperwideinkjetprintersbecamereadilyavailable,Orbisemployedtheseevolvingcapabilitiestodeveloplargerandmoreaccurateworldglobes.Applyingproprietarycartographicsoftwaretotransformflat-mapimageryintomultiplegores(2-Dtaperedsections)forcreatingsphericalglobes,OrbisnowdesignsandproducesthemostvisuallyauthenticreplicasofEarthevercreated.

NASAtooknoticeofOrbisglobesandemployeda16-inch-diameter EarthBall for an educational filmit made aboard the STS-45 shuttle mission. “TheAtmosphere Below,” shot during the 9-day mission

aboardAtlantis in1992, featuresastronautsusingtheEarthBalltoexplainhowscientistsusetheuniquevantagepointofspacetostudytheEarth’satmosphere.

Orbis later collaboratedwithNASA to create twogiant world globes for display at the 2002 OlympicWinter Games in Salt Lake City. Creating the two16-foot-diameter Earth globes with NASA involvedupdatingthelower-resolutionimagerythecompanyhadbeenusingwithmoredetailed,recentsatelliteimagery.ThisimagerywastakenbyNASA’sModerateResolutionImaging Spectroradiometer satellite, combined with

observationsofAntarcticamadebyNOAA’sAdvancedVeryHighResolutionRadiometersensor.

Though the cloud cover has been slightly reducedinorderformostofthelandformstobevisible,Orbisglobes areotherwisemeteorologically accurate. In theNorthernHemisphere,it isfall,andit isspringintheSouthernHemisphere.

ThesatelliteimagenowprintedonallOrbisglobesdisplays1-kilometerresolution,whichmeansthateachpixelinthedigitalimagerepresents1squarekilometeroftheplanet’ssurface.Itis21,600by43,200pixelsin

This 6-foot-diameter rotating Orbis globe is installed in the Children’s Wing Atrium of Northland Church in Longwood, Florida.

http://www.earthball.com


size.AccordingtoOrbis,whilespecificportionsoftheEarthhavebeenimagedwithhigherdetail,asof2002,thesatelliteimageituseswasthemostdetailedcompositeimageoftheentireworldinexistence.

NASA’snewBlueMarble:NextGenerationsatelliteimagerynowprovidesevenhigher500-meterresolution,whichOrbisisplanningtoutilizeforgiant(30-footplus)diameterworldglobes.

OrbisalsodevelopedtheexclusiveNightGlowCitiesfeature,enablingEarthBallstodisplaytheworld’scitiesastheglobesrevolvefromdaylightintonight.UsinglightemissionsdatafromU.S.DepartmentofDefensesatel-lites,citylightsareidentifiedwithphotoluminescentink,fluorescingbrightlyunderblackultravioletlight,addinganewdimensionofauthenticitytotheseworldreplicas.

ProductOutcome

Orbisinflatableglobesareavailableinsizesfrom1to100feetindiameter,withthemostcommonbeingthestandard16-inchand1-meterdiameterEarthBalls.Thesesmallerglobesareidealforeducationalpurposesandhavebeenusedeverywhere frompreschools touniversities.Theycomewitha20-pagebookof facts, games, andsuggestedactivities,includingagameofindoorclassroomvolleyball.Theyhavebeensoldinthousandsofgiftshops,toystores,museumshops,andspecialtystores.

Over 100 Orbis world globes from 2 to 20 feetin diameter have been custom-built for a variety ofdisplay purposes. They have been used as temporaryexhibitsatnumerousevents,suchasconferences,tradeshows,festivals,concerts,andparades.Forthesetypesof purposes, the company maintains a fleet of rentalglobes ranging from3 to16 feet indiameter.Globesofvarioussizeshavebeenexhibitedatnumerousevents

This un-retouched photograph of a 4-foot-diameter Orbis globe features the world’s cities fluorescing under black ultraviolet light. It was printed on special blackout digital fabric with the city lights added using ultraviolet-sensitive fluorescent paint.

Spinoff 2007 Consumer, Home, and Recreation 69

worldwide.Lastyear,a16-foot-diameterOrbisglobewasexhibitedattheUnitedNations’WorldUrbanForum,inVancouver,Canada;theSpace2006conference,inSanJose,California;andtheX-PrizeCupPersonalSpaceflightExposition,inLasCruces,NewMexico.

GiantOrbisglobeshavebeenputonpermanentdis-playatschools,churches,museums,libraries,andavarietyof other locations.Orbis recently installed a10-foot-diameter,internallyilluminated,rotatingglobeintheedu-cationcenteratWashington’sFairchildAirForceBase;an8-foot-diameterrotatingworldglobeattheentrancetothenewEvolvingPlanetexhibitinChicago’sFieldMuseum;andanother8-foot-diameterrotatingworldglobewithNightGlowCitiesinthenewRipley’sBelieveItorNot!museuminNewYorkCity’sTimesSquare.

Orbis globes can be mounted on floor pedestals,suspended overhead, filled with helium and tethered

intheair,orevendeployedasremote-controlledflying“EarthBlimps.”Smallelectricmotorsenabletheglobestoslowlyrotateontheiraxes,asdoestherealEarth.Internalillumination,customgraphics,andmanyotheroptionsarealsoavailable.

Twenty-two years ago, Eric J. Morris mused, “IfonlyotherscouldseeEarthastheastronautsobserveit,

perhapstheywouldbesimilarlyinspired.”ConsideringthesuccessofOrbisWorldGlobes,peopleofallagesarebeinginspiredeverydaytoappreciateourwondrousplanet,Earth.v

Eric J. Morris, founder and chief cartographer of Orbis World Globes with a 4-foot-diameter cloud-free globe with the imprinted logo of the Instituto Nacional De Technica Aerospacial (National Institute of Aerospace Technology) in Spain.

This 10-foot-diameter Orbis globe is being carried in a peace march in Seattle, Washington, in March �00�. Orbis globes have been a magnet for spectators and cameras in numerous parades, performances, and rallies around the world. (The gold building in the background is the Experience Music Project designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.)

�0 Consumer, Home, and Recreation Spinoff 2007


During the Mercury missions, astronauts ateterriblefood:freeze-driedpowdersandsemi-liquids in aluminum tubes. Decades later,

though,astronautsnowhavemealspreparedbycelebritychefs and access to everyday items like shrimp cock-tail, stir-fried chicken, and fettuccine alfredo. Whiletheculinaryselectionhas improved,thedevelopersofthesegourmetdelightsarestillfacedwithanumberofchallenges.

Spacefoods,whichcanbeavailableinrehydratable,thermostabilized,irradiated,andnaturalforms,aretestedfortheirnutritionalvalue,appealtothesenses,storability,andpackaging.Thefoodsarealsotestedtoensurethattheyarelowinweightandmass,requirelittleenergytoprepareforeating,haveaminimumof9monthsshelflifeforshuttlemissionsand1yearforuseontheInternationalSpaceStation(ISS),andarestoredatroomtemperature.

Additionalchallengesincludetheneedtodevelopfoodsandequipmentthattakeupverylittlespace,areeasytooperateandclean,andrequireminimalwateruse,whilealsocreatingminimalairpollutionandodors,whichcanbehazardoustothehealthandwell-beingofastronauts.Thefoodsmustbecrumb-freetoeliminateexcessfloat-ingparticles.Spacefoodsmustalsobefreeofpathogenicmicrobesandcreateminimumwasteandmess.

Finally, space foodshave to taste good,while stillmanagingtobehealthy.Towardthiseffort,NASAtestinghelped in thedevelopmentofa revolutionarynewfatsubstitutethatcutscaloriesandextendsshelflife.

Partnership

TheNASAGlennGarrettMorganCommercializationInitiative(GMCI)isaprogramforsmall,minority-owned,andwoman-ownedbusinessesthatcanbenefitfromaccesstoNASAresources.GMCIprovidesservicesthatenable

companies to grow and strengthen their business byleveragingNASAtechnology,expertise,andprograms.

DiversifiedServicesCorporation,aminority-ownedbusiness based out of Cleveland, Ohio, was able totakeadvantageof thisNASAprogramfor technologyacquisitionanddevelopment,andforintroductionstopotentialcustomersandstrategicpartners,suchastheNASAFoodTechnologyCommercialSpaceCenter,atIowaStateUniversity(thecenterclosedDecember31,2005), for taste tests and performance studies. Freshground beef (90-percent lean) was used to preparehamburgerpattiesformulatedwithorwithout10-percentfat substitute. Hamburger patties without the addedfatsubstituteservedasthecontrolineachexperiment.Pattieswereweighedforevaluationofcookingyield,andthencookedtoaninternaltemperatureof72°C.Thecookedproductwithorwithoutfatsubstitutewasrapidlycooled,andthensubjectedtofreezedryingorirradiationinretortpouches toNASAspecifications.Changes involatileprofileduringstorage,andsensorypropertiesweredetermined.Additionof10-percentfatsubstitutedidnotinfluencethesensorycharacteristicsoftheready-to-eathamburgerbeefpattiesordramaticallychangeitsvolatileprofileafter30-daystorage.

WiththeGMCIassistance,thecompanydevelopedandcommercializedanewnutritionalfatreplacementandflavorenhancementproductithadlicensedfromtheU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureandisnowmarketingitthroughitssubsidiary,H.F.FoodTechnologiesInc.

ProductOutcome

TheNutrigrasfatsubstituteisavailableforcommercialapplicationsandhelpstosatisfythebody’sdesireforthetasteandmouthfeeloffattyfoods,eventhoughthebodydoesnotactuallyneedthesefoods—infact,manypeopleneedfewerhigh-fatfoodsintheirdiets.Withobesityonthevergeofoutweighingsmokingasthenumberonecauseofpreventabledeath,theCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionareshowingrapidrisesintheprevalenceof

Food Supplement Reduces Fat, Improves Flavor

Diversified Services Corporation developed and commercialized a new nutritional fat replacement and flavor enhancement product with assistance from NASA.

http://www.heritagefare.com/nutrigras/index.html

Spinoff 2007 Consumer, Home, and Recreation �1

childrenatsevereweightlevels;andwhiletheAmericandietcontinuestobereliantonlargequantitiesofhigh-fatfoods,nutritionistsaresearchingforsolutions.

Nutrigrasisonesuchsolution.Itisastableemulsionof9-percentvegetableoiland62-percentwaterthathasbeenformedbyturbidexcesssteamjetcookingandmadestablewithmicroencapsulationinastarchsolutionthatholdstheemulsionsteady.Itisavailableinliquid,gel,ordryformandcanbeeasilycustomizedtothespecificneedsofthefoodmanufacturer.Whenconstituted,itlooksandtastesjustlikerealfat,butitissignificantlyhealthier.

Itisprimarilyintendedforuseasapartialreplacementforanimalfatinbeefpattiesandothernormallyhigh-fatmeatproducts,butcanalsobeusedinsoups,sauces,bakeryitems,anddesserts.

Nutrigrasisintendedtobeusedasadirect,pound-for-pound replacement of fat, and since it is only9-percentfat,itispossibletoproduceproductsthathave90-percent less fat than their full-fat counterparts. Itcontains80-percentfewercaloriespergramthanfat.

In addition to the nutritional benefits, the fatreplacementhasaddedindustrialbenefits.First,itcostslessthanthefooditreplacesandcanhelpmanufacturersreducematerialcosts.Secondly,inprecookedproducts,Nutrigrascanincreasemoisturecontent,whichincreasesproductyield.Forexample,inresearchoncookedbeef,theNutrigras-enhancedproductshrank10-percentlessthanthebeefthathadnotreceivedtheadditive.

It is healthy, has wide-spread applicability, and ismore cost effective than using full-fat products; butreally,howdoesittaste?Thatisthebigbreakthrough.WithNutrigras,thefinishedproductismoremoistandtender.QuantitativeconsumertestingconductedbythecompanyindicatedthatabeefpattymadewithNutrigraswas actually preferred to the full-fat beef patty. TheuniquestructureofNutrigrasallowsforimprovedflavordelivery.TheconstructionofNutrigrasisreceptivetotheadditionofflavorsthatcanbecarriedandthenreleasedina“burst”whenconsumed.Thiscanbepositionedasapointofdifferenceforfoodmanufacturers.

The company has been working on a number ofspecificapplications,withtheprimaryfocusonbeef,pork,chicken,andturkey.Workhasalsobeendonetoenhancetheperformanceofvariousbakedgoods,icecreams,icecreamnovelties,soups,sauces,andsaladdressings.

Developmentworkandtestinghasbeencompletedon beef patties. In beef, optimal results have beenobtained when converting 80/20 ground beef (80-percentleanmeat/20-percentfat)to80/15/5(80-percentleanmeat/15-percentNutrigras/5-percentfat.)Producttesting is currently underway on pork sausage andchicken, andone customer is currentlyworkingonaturkeyenhancement.

Nutrigrascanbeusedtoaddflavorstoavarietyofbakedgoods,resultinginreducedfatandcalorieswhileenhancing flavor.Moreover,preliminary researchhasindicatedthepotentialforproductstabilitybenefitsfromNutrigras.Bakedgoodsareleftmoister,bettertasting,andtheresultantproductcontainslessfatandfewercalories.

Ice cream can be made with less heavy cream byreplacingaportionofthecreamwithNutrigras.Overallcostsarereduced(creamismorecostlythanNutrigras),and the flavor profile is enhanced and improved. Inaddition, unique flavors can be obtained throughcustomizedformulations.Nutrigrascanactasastabilizerandreducetheuseofextraneousgumsandemulsifiersthatareexpensiveandclutterproductlabels.Nutrigrashasalsodemonstratedtheabilitytoreducethenegativefreeze/thawcharacteristicsofconventionalicecream.

Additionally, soups canbe flavor enhanced,bettertasting,andhaveimprovedmouthfeel.Low-fatsaucesandsaladdressingscanbeimprovedinsimilarfashions.

ThecompanyhasbeenabletorepaythehelpprovidedbyNASAbycontributingtotheSpaceAgency’sastronautdiet.TheNutrigrasfatsubstitutecanbeusedasaflavorenhancerandshelf-lifeextenderforuseontheISS.v

Nutrigras™isatrademarkofH.F.FoodTechnologiesInc.

The Nutrigras food supplement creates food that is more moist, more tender, and more flavorful than its full-fat counterpart, and 1 pound of the supplement replaces 1 pound of animal fat.

�� Consumer, Home, and Recreation Spinoff 2007


Theheatgeneratedbywindresistanceandengineexhaustduringthelaunchofaspaceshuttleispotentiallydamagingtothecasingsonthesolid

rocketboosters,whichprovideover two-thirdsof theinitialthrustneededtopropelthespacecraftintoorbit.To protect this important equipment, in the 1980s,engineersatMarshallSpaceFlightCenterdevelopedaspray-oninsulatingprocessthatwasappliedtotheboost-ers’forwardassembly,systemstunnelcovers,andaftskirt.Theprocessinvolvedmixingninechemicalsintoanadhe-sive,andthen,actingquicklyduringa5-hourwindow,applyingthematerial.Thematerialswerecostly,andiftheapplicationwasinterruptedornotcompletedwithinthe5-hourwindow,thebatchwaslost.Inadditiontothisdrawback,thestrengthofthematerialwasdifficulttoregulate,soitoftenchippedoffduringflightandsplash-down,whenthereusableboostersaredroppedintothesea.Addingtothedownside,twoofthenineingredientswereharmfultotheenvironment.

ThroughaSpaceActAgreementin1993,Marshallpartnered with the United Technologies subsidiary,USBI,ofHuntsville,Alabama,todevelopanalternativetotheold insulatingspray.UsingMarshall-developedconvergentspraytechnology,theyatomizedepoxyanddifferent fillermaterials to create an environmentallyfriendly ablative insulation material. The material,Marshall Convergent Coating-1 (MCC-1) consistedof8-percenthollowsphericalglass,9-percentcork,and83-percentepoxy,materialsthatweremixedatthetimeofapplication,atthepointofreleasefromaspraygun,whicheliminatedtheproblemofbatchesbeingruinedfrominterruptionsanddelays.Theinsulatingpaintwasfirstflighttestedin1996ontheSTS-79mission,andwassosuccessfulthatithasbeenemployedonallsubse-quentshuttleflights,withvirtuallynoobservedmissingorchippedpaintonthespentboostersduringpost-flightinspections.

Partnership

DavidPage,founderofTechTradersInc.,ofMerrittIsland,Florida,wantedassistancedevelopingcoatingsand paints that create a useful thermal reflectance.After readinganarticle in the localpaper advertisingNASAtechnicalassistanceavailabletosmallbusiness,he

contactedMarshall’sTechnologyUtilizationOffice,nowtheTechnologyTransferprogramoffice,adivisionofthatCenter’sInnovativePartnershipsProgram.

ThefolksatMarshalldirectedPagetoKennedySpaceCenter,whereheteamedupwithagroupofengineersfrom USBI who were developing a roof coating outof recycled car tires that would be applied using theMarshall-developedconvergentspraytechnology.Thehardestproblemtheyfacedwascreatingalow-cost,yethighlyeffective,productthatwassafeandnon-toxic.PagehadaccesstopublishedNASAinformationregardingtheheat-reflectingtileusedonthespaceshuttle.Helearnedthatthecoatingonthetiledoes98percentofthework.Itappearedthatifhewasabletoincorporatethiscomposi-tionintothepaint,thenhehadasolutionthatwouldbesafe,economical,andeffective.

Pagehadanopen lineof communicationbetweenthe engineers at Marshall and USBI. After a year ofcollaborationaswellasadditionaltestingwithDr.HeinzPoppendiekof theSanDiego-basedGeoscienceLtd.,a research and development firm specializing in heattransfer, fluidflow,masstransfer,micrometeorology,biophysics, engineering design, system fabrication,productevaluation,and themeasurementof thermal,mechanical,andfluidproperties,Pagefeltthathehadaproductreadyformarket.

ProductOutcome

Insuladdisapowderadditivethatcanbemixedintoordinaryinteriororexteriorpaint,makingthatpaintactlikealayerofinsulation.Thecompanyrecommendstwocoatsforoptimalprotection.Thematerialisalsoavailableinapre-mixedform.

ThesecretbehindInsuladdistheuniqueproprietyprocessthatappliesacoatingtothemicroscopicinertgas-filledceramicmicrospheresthatmakeupInsuladd.Whenthepaintdries,theseformtheradiantheatbarrier,

Additive Transforms Paint into Insulation

Insuladd is an insulating paint additive that can be mixed with all interior and exterior paint.

http://www.insuladd.com

Spinoff 2007 Consumer, Home, and Recreation ��

turning the ordinaryhousepaint intoheat-reflectingthermal paint. The insulating materials reduce heattransferbyreflectingheatawayfromthepaintedsurfacebyformingaheat-blockingradiantbarrieronthesurfacethatispainted.

AccordingtoTechTraders,theproductworkswithalltypesofpaintsandcoatingsandwillnotchangethecoveragerate,application,oradhesionofthepaint.Itcanbeusedonwalls,roofs,ceilings,air-conditioningducts,steampipesandfittings,andisparticularlywell-suitedforuseonmetalbuildings,coldstoragefacilitiessuchaswalk-incoolersandfreezers,andmobileormodularhomes.

Inaddition to the targetmarketof residential andcommercialbuildings,customershavefoundavarietyofotherusefulapplicationsforthisinsulatingadditive.Forexample,PurinaFeedsusestheInsuladdE-Coat,aninsulatingwallpaintandroofpaintthatisa100-percentacrylicproductcontainingtheceramicpaintadditive,topaintfeedstoragesilostohelppreventfeedspoilage.ThepoultryindustryusesInsuladdtoreducethesummerheatandwintercoldeffectsontheclimateofhatcher-ies.Samsungusestheceramicpaintadditiveonmilitaryvehicles,andHyundaiCorporation’sshipbuildingdivi-sionusesInsuladdonitsships.

TechTradershascontinueditsconnectiontotheaero-spacecommunitybyrecentlyprovidingLockheedMartinCorporationwithoneofitsthermalproductsforuseontheF-22Raptor.Thedesignersofthehigh-techfighterjetwereabletouseoneoftheinsulatingpaintsontheoutsideofanelectricalswitchboxthatwasoverheatingduetooutsideheatsources.v

Insuladd®isaregisteredtrademarkofTheInsuladdCompany.

The insulating materials reduce heat transfer by reflecting heat away from the painted surface by forming a heat-blocking radiant barrier on the surface.

According to Tech Traders Inc., its insulating paint additive can make homes, businesses, warehouses, ships, and other structures more energy efficient.



The Mobile Launcher Platform at NASA’sKennedy Space Center is a two-story steelstructurethatprovidesatransportablelaunch

base for the space shuttle. The main body of theplatformis160feetlong,135feetwide,and25feethigh.Whencompletelyunloaded,theplatformweighsabout 8 million pounds. When it is carrying theweightofanunfueledspaceshuttle, itweighsabout11millionpounds.

TotransportafullyassembledspaceshuttleandtheMobileLauncherPlatformfromtheVehicleAssemblyBuildingtothelaunchpad,NASAusesavehicleitcallsacrawler.Thecrawleris131feetlong,114feetwide,and20feethigh(aboutthesizeofabaseballdiamond),andfeatureseighttracksfittedwith7.5-by1.5-footshoesthathelprollthemassivevehicleanditspayloadalong.

Backin1994,NASAsoughtanewtypeoflubricantthatwouldbesafefortheenvironmentandwouldhelp“greasethewheels”bymakingthemeticulous1mileperhour,3-miletrekoftheshuttle-bearinglauncherplat-formtothelaunchpadaneasierprocess.Tosatisfytheenvironmentalrequirement,thelubricanthadtobebio-degradable.Thiswasespeciallyimportant,sinceKennedyisawildliferefuge.Toaccountforthesizeandtheweightofthespaceshuttle/platformcombination,aswellasthetortoise-likepaceand thedistancebeing traveled, thelubricanthadtosustainalongoperatinglifewhileinuse.Inaddition,ithadtoprovidecompleteprotectionfromthecorrosivesandandtheheatthatareapartofeverydaylifeatKennedy.

Partnership

WiththehelpofLockheedMartinSpaceOperations—thecontractorforlaunchoperationsatKennedy—andprivateindustry,theSpaceAgencyrealizedthatanewkindoflubecouldgoalongwaytoprotecttheenvironmentaswellastheintegrityofaspaceshuttlemission.

Todevelopa special lubricant thatcouldmeet thestringentrequirementsforshuttletransport,NASAandLockheedMartinSpaceOperationslookedtoSunCoastChemicalsofDaytonaInc.(nowknownasTheX-1RCorporation).Foundedin1989,SunCoastChemicalshadestablishedashiningreputationamongsttheracingcircuitformanufacturingeffectivelubricantsthatwerehelping drivers and pit crews overcome engine andtransmissionproblemsrelatedtoheatandweardamage.

Lockheed Martin Space Operations asked Sun CoastChemicalstoformulateanadvanced,environmentallyfriendlyspraylubricanttoreplacethestandardlubricantusedduring transport,andthecompanyacceptedthechallenge.Itbroughtateamofresearchers,consultants,and production personnel to Kennedy to discuss asolutionwithNASAandLockheedMartinpersonnel.

Inamatterofweeks,SunCoastChemicalsproducedthesolution.Thisnewbiodegradable,high-performance

New Lubricants Protect Machines and the Environment

When they were built, Kennedy Space Center’s crawlers were the largest tracked vehicles ever made. The two crawlers, previously used to move the assembled Apollo/Saturn spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad, are now used for transporting the space shuttles.

http://www.x1r.com

http://www.x1r.com


lubricant, coined theX-1RCrawlerTrackLube, firstsucceededintrialtestsandthensucceededwhenapplieddirectlytothecrawler.

ProductOutcome

In1996,thecompanydeterminedtherewasamarketforthisnewdevelopment.Duringthistime,itintroducedthreeproductsthatwerederivativesofthebaseformula-tionitdevelopedfortheNASAapplication:TrainTrackLubricant,whichwasusedtosolvewearproblemsfortheFloridaPowerCorporation’srailroadsystem;PenetratingSprayLubricant,whichhasbeenappliedforrustpreven-tion,looseningcorrodedbolts,andlubricatingjointsandhinges;andBiodegradableHydraulicFluid,whichhasanoxidationlifeof10,000hoursandhasbeenusedwidelyinprocessingplants,aswellasinsugar,pulpandpaper,marine,mining,sawmill,andheavyconstructionindus-tries(Spinoff1996).

SunCoastChemicalshitthegroundrunning,quicklyaddingagunlubricant/cleanerandafishingrodandreellubricanttoitsenvironmentallyfriendlyproductportfolio(Spinoff 1997).Now,adecadelater,ithasbroughtbrandnewNASAoffshootproducts to themarketunder itsbrandnewcompanyname.

The X-1R Corporation, of Daytona, Florida, hasfolded the high-performance, environmentally safebenefits into a full line of standard automotive andspecially formulated racing products. At the top ofthislineistheX-1REngineTreatmentConcentrate,aformulathattreatsenginecylinderwalls,bearings,cams,rings,andvalveguides.Itcreatesamolecularbondwithferrousmetal,which leads toadramatic reduction infrictionandwear.Italsoprotectsagainsttheharshmetal-to-metalcontactthatcommonlyoccursduringcoldstarts.Otherbenefitsofthisproductareincreasedenginelifeandhorsepower,improvedfueleconomy,andreducedenginenoiseandoperatingtemperatures.

Thecompany’sX-1RPlumCrazygreaseisalong-life,multipurposegreasewithexceptionalwaterresistance.It

isdurableenoughforbothload-bearingandhigh-speedautomotiveapplicationsacrossawidetemperaturerange(-30°Fto500°F),andis,accordingtothecompany,aleadingproductinsuspensionandopenandclosedbear-ingprotection,basedonextensivetestingagainstsevere

heatcycles,dirt,sand,mud,andwater.Otherbenefitsincluderustprotectionandreducedwear,drag,andfric-tion,all leadingtoreduceddowntimeandanincreaseinthelifeofwheelbearingsandotherautomotiveparts.PlumCrazyisconsideredacalciumsulfonatecomplex

The X-1R lubricants developed originally for use on the crawlers now provide consumers with superior lubricating qualities in environmentally safe, long-lasting products.


grease,aformulationrecognizedbytheNationalGreaseLubrication Institute as “an excellent technology forgreaseapplicationswhereheat,water,andhigh-orshock-loadsexist.”

Formulatedfordiesel-poweredvehicles,X-1RDieselFuelConcentratewithCetaneBoostercontainsavarietyofproprietaryingredientsthatTheX-1RCorporationsaid helps: clean injectors; improve Cetane ratings;improvefueleconomy;decreaseblack,white,andstart-upsmoking;reducecarbonmonoxide,nitrogenoxide,andhydrocarbonemissions;eliminateengineknocking;andfightcorrosion.(ACetaneratingisameasureofthecombustionqualityofdieselfuel,withahighernumberrepresentingimprovedqualityandperformance.)

Created specifically for racing differentials andtransmissions, X-1R Synthetic Gear Fluid is super-resistanttohightemperaturesandcontainsextraordinaryfriction-modifyingperformance features,accordingtothecompany.Lowerinternalfrictionmeanslesswearandloweroperationtemperatures.Theendresultislonger,trouble-free operation. X-1R Synthetic Gear Fluid iscompatiblewithmostmanualtransmissionsandrear-endcomponents,includingquickchangerear-ends.

Anothersyntheticproduct,theX-1RAirToolLube,isspeciallyformulatedforallpiston-typeandrotaryairtools,aswellasinlineoilsystemsandanypneumaticairtoolthatrequiresanoillubricant.Itcontainsinhibitorsthatattackmoistureandothercontaminantsthatmaypreventairtoolsfromachievingmaximumperformance.

Onthewhole,theentireX-1RautomotiveproductlinehasstooduptorigoroustestingbygroupssuchastheAmericanSocietyofMechanicalEngineers(NewYork),theDepartmentofMechanicalEngineeringatOaklandUniversity (Rochester, Michigan), Morgan-McClureMotorsports(Abingdon,Virginia),theSwedishNationalTestingandResearchInstitute(Boras,Sweden),andtheNationalPowerCorporation(QuezonCity,Philippines).

InDawsonville,Georgia,ElliottRacingisbuildingsomeofthefastestracingenginesinthecountry.Formed Penn Synthetic Reel Oil, Precision Reel Grease, and Rod & Reel Cleaner now protect against corrosion and rust.


bybrothersDanandErnieElliott(ErnieisrecognizedforbuildingwinningenginesforNASCAR’sWinstonCup),thegrouprecentlyusedX-1Rracingformulawhiletestinganenginewithadynamometer—amachinethatmeasurestorqueandrotationalspeedtodetermineenginepower.

“Itwasunbelievable,”saidDanElliottwhenspeakingoftheresults.“We’veworkedfor2weekstogain2horse-power,andherewejustpouredtheX-1Rin,andpickedup8horsepower.But,besidesthehorsepower,youarepickingupfuelmileage,andthatplayssuchacriticalrolealso,becauseracesarewonandlostonfuelmileage.Whatabonus!”

Fully aware that not everybody is an automotivemechanicoranenginebuilder,TheX-1RCorporationmarkets“handypacks”forsimplejobsaroundthehouse.Consisting of multipurpose, multiuse lubricant andgrease,thesehandypacksstopsqueaks,reducefriction,

protectagainstrustandcorrosion,freeupstuckparts,andrepelmoisture.Theyareidealfordoors,garagedoors,locks,windows,hinges,washingmachines,ceilingfans,electricshavers,exerciseequipment,shoptools,andlawnequipment,amongmanyotheritems.

In 2003, The X-1R Corporation teamed up withPhiladelphia-based PENN Tackle ManufacturingCompany,aleadingmanufactureroffishingtacklesince1932,tojointlydevelopandmarketalineofadvancedlubricationproductsforsaltwaterandfreshwateranglers,underthefamiliarPENNname.PENNPrecisionReelGrease,SyntheticReelOil,andRod&ReelCleanerarenowprovidingoptimumlubricationforlongercastingandsmootherretrieval,plusprotectionagainstcorrosionandrust.

“The challenge was formulating the products forthemarineenvironment, forboth freshand saltwaterapplications,” said Edwin “E.T.” Longo, executivedirectorof specialprojectsdevelopmentatTheX-1RCorporation.“Mostmarineequipmentissubjectedtoavarietyofextremeconditions,suchasprolongedexposureto the sunandthecorrosivenatureof saltandwater.The lubricants we developed for NASA had to meetthesamestringentdemands,sowewereabletodevelopproductsforPENNthatarefarsuperiortoanythingonthemarkettoday.”

Followingrigoroustestingovera2-yearspan,PENNcommittedtousingthespeciallydesignedX-1RgreaseasthePENNPrecisionReelGreaseinearly2006.Itisnowappliedtoallreelsleavingthecompany’sfactory.

Thedecisioncameafterextensiveresearchtoidentifythebestpossibleoption.“Weremovedtheplate,whichhouses thegearsandbearings, fromanumberof965InternationalBaitcasterreels.Ateamofengineerscleanedthemandcoatedeachonewithadifferentgreaseoutofaselectionoffivewell-knownpotentials,thenweputthemthroughatorturetest,”saidBrentKane,PENN’snationalsalesmanager.

“Torture includedrepeateddunk-and-drycycles insaltwaterbaths,saltwaterspraytests,andlongdayson

theroofinthepunishingsummersun,”Kanecontinued.“Wewantedtoputanacceleratedlifespanonthereels.”

AccordingtoKane,thetestsubjectcoatedwiththeX-1R formulation that would eventually become thePENNPrecisionReelGreasewastheonlyonetowith-standthetest.Henotedthatevaporatedwaterleftsaltcrystalsemulsifyingintheothertestsubjectsthatledto“extreme,holes-eaten-through-metalcorrosion.”AsfortheX-1R-coatedreelplate,Kanenoteditoperatedjustlikenew.“Thepiniondroppedinandout,anditengagedperfectly.X-1R’sPENNPrecisionReelGreasedisplaceswater and will not emulsify with saltwater, so therewerenocorrosionproblemsaftergettingitsubmerged,”heconcluded.

ThePrecisionReelGrease,SyntheticReelOil,andRod&ReelCleaner arepartof the co-branded labelbelongingtoPENNandTheX-1RCorporation,andareavailableatawidearrayoflocalbaitandtackleshopsandatlargeoutdoorequipmentretailchains,includingWal-Mart,Cabela’s,SportsAuthority,Dick’sSportingGoods,SportChalet,Big5SportingGoods,Modell’sSporting Goods, Gart Sports, Academy Sports +Outdoors,GanderMountain,G.I.Joe’sInc.,Boater’sWorld,BassProShops,andWestMarine.TheitemsarealsoavailablethroughtheArmyandAirForceExchangeService,whichprovidesmerchandiseandservicestoactiveduty,guard,andreservemembers,militaryretirees,andfamilymembers.

These three fishing products, as well as all otherX-1RadvancedlubricantsmanufacturedbyTheX-1RCorporation,havebeenofficiallyrecognizedbytheSpaceCertificationProgram,whichismanagedbytheSpaceFoundationincooperationwithNASA.Thecompanywasalsohonoredas the34th inductee into theSpaceFoundation’sSpaceTechnologyHallofFamein2000.v

X-1R®isaregisteredtrademarkofTheX-1RCorporation.

Penn Synthetic Reel Oil, Precision Reel Grease, and Rod & Reel Cleaner are now providing optimum lubrication for longer casting and smoother retrieval.

Environmental and Agricultural Resources

NASA’sresearchhelpssustaintheEarthanditsresources.Thetechnologiesfeaturedinthissection:

Map, monitor, and manage Earth’s resources

Provide environmental data

Save energy and prolong motor life

Prevent corrosion in steel and concrete structures

•

•

•

•

80 Environmental and Agricultural Resources Spinoff 2007


A“revolutioninremotesensing”tookplaceinthemid-1980s,whenDr.AlexanderF.H.GoetzandhiscolleaguesattheJetPropulsionLaboratory

developedapowerfulinstrumentcalledAVIRIS(AirborneVisibleInfraRedImagingSpectrometer),accordingtoDr.NicholasShort,authorofNASA’sonlineRemoteSensingTutorial.AVIRISextendedthecapabilitiesofground-based spectrometers, enabling the spectrum-detectinginstrumentstobeusedintheaironmovingplatforms.

In the early era of remote sensing, limitations intechnologypreventedspectrometersfrombeingusedonmovingplatformsmountedonaircraftandspacecraft.Essentially,thehighspeedsofamovingvehicledidnotallowspectrometerssufficienttimetoaccuratelyfocusonsamplefeaturesoftheEarthoratmospherictargets(watervapor,cloudproperties,aerosols,andabsorbinggasses).AllofthischangedwithAVIRIS.Theairbornespectrometerhelpedtoopenthedoorforaremotesensingimagingmethod known as hyperspectral imaging, accordingtoShort.

Hyperspectralimagingyieldscontinuousspectralsig-naturesthatarecapturedinhigh-spectralresolution;thissurpassesmultispectralimagingmethodsthatcollectdataatslowerratesandinlow-spectralresolution.Thecon-tinuousspectralsignatures,orspectral“curves,”measurereflectancefromtheground,water,ortheatmosphere,inthewavelengthregionrespondingtosolarillumination.ThemethodisespeciallyusefulforclassifyingmaterialtypesontheEarth’ssurfaceinfinedetail,suchasrock-formingminerals,soil,vegetation,andwater.

Twodecadesafteritsdevelopment,AVIRIScontin-uestoflyonaircrafttoday.Theairborneinstrumentisidentifying,measuring,andmonitoringconstituentsoftheEarth’ssurfaceandatmosphereinordertofacilitateadvancementsinthefieldsofoceanography,limnology(thestudyoflakes,ponds,andstreams),snowhydrol-ogy, environmental science, geology, volcanology,

soilandlandmanagement,atmosphericandaerosolstud-ies,andagriculture.

Meanwhile,evenhigherabovetheEarth,NASAalsohasahyperspectralinstrumentcalledHyperiononboardtheEarthObserving-1satellite.Launchedin2000,Hy-perionisprovidingawholenewclassofEarth-observationdataforimprovedEarthsurfacecharacterization.

Beginning with AVIRIS and continuing withHyperion,hyperspectralimageryishelpingtobroadenNASA’sunderstandingof thenatural andman-madeinfluencesthatcontributetotheever-changingEarth.

Partnership

A service-disabled veteran-owned small businessconcern,SpecTIRLLCisrecognizedforinnovativesensordesign,on-demandhyperspectraldata collection, andimage-generatingproductsforbusiness,academia,andnationalandinternationalgovernments.WilliamBernard,SpecTIR’svicepresidentofbusinessdevelopment,hasbroughtawealthofNASA-relatedresearchexperiencetothecompanyinthepastfewyears.

Prior to joiningSpecTIR,Bernardwas theprinci-pal investigator on a NASA-sponsored hyperspectral

Advanced Systems Map, Monitor, and Manage Earth’s ResourcesThe SpecTIR VNIR sensor system is a compact, commercial-off-the-shelf system suitable for use on light and unmanned aircraft. It has a spatial resolution from 0.� to � meters, with a spectral range of approximately 4�0 to 1,000 nanometers.

http://www.spectir.com

Spinoff 2007 Environmental and Agricultural Resources 81

crop-imagingproject.Thisproject,madepossiblethroughaSmall Business Technology Transfer (STTR)contractwithGoddardSpaceFlightCenter,aimedtoenhanceairborne hyperspectral sensing and ground-truthingmeansforcropinspectionintheMid-AtlanticregionoftheUnitedStates.WithGoddard’ssupportandaccesstoawealthoftheCenter’shyperspectralresources,Bernardandhisresearchteamestablishedaprogramtocollectcropimageryfromanaerial-mountedhyperspectralsensorandtocorrelatethisimagerywithground-truthedfielddatatofurtherdefinecropclassificationsandcreatespectralsignaturedatalibraries.

Bernardsoughttomakethespectral librariescom-merciallyavailableasameansofassessingcropproblemsinnear real time.According tohis initialproposal toGoddard,earlydetectionofcropproblemsdirectlyaffectsthecostoftreatmentaswellascropyieldsinaseason.Furthermore,theproposalstatedthatthedataresultingfromthisprogramcouldhelpalleviateboththeenviron-mentalandeconomicissuestiedtotheuseofpesticides,herbicides,andfertilizerinproximitytotheChesapeakeBaywatershed,whichstretchesacrosssixMid-AtlanticStates, including Maryland’s Eastern Shore, whereBernard’sresearchtookplace.

UndertheNASA-supportedprogram,Bernardcol-lectedseveralseasons’worthofcropdatafromaDuPontagriculturalresearchfarminDelawareandfromanoilspill intidalwetlandsinVirginia.Theseefforts lastedseveralyearsandresultedinprogresstowardcommercialapplicationsforhyperspectraldata.

Today, Bernard and this team of researchers haveappliedtheknowledgeandtechniquesgeneratedfromtheirNASA-supportedhyperspectralresearchtocommer-cialagricultural/environmentalproductsandapplicationswithSpecTIR.

ProductOutcome

Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, with additionaloffices inEaston,Maryland;Manassas,Virginia; and

Santa Barbara, California, SpecTIR has carved outmanynichemarketsforitsairbornehyperspectraldataproducts.Areasofapplicationincludeprecisionfarmingandirrigation;oil,gas,andmineralexploration;pollutionand contamination monitoring; wetland and forestrycharacterization;waterqualityassessment;andsubmergedaquaticvegetationmapping.

According to thecompany,manyof its clients areenvironmentalmanagementfirmsandagriculturalgroupsthatrequirebroad-locationsurveysandbasemappingthat cannot be characterized by traditional mappingtechnologies.Inenvironmentalmonitoring,hyperspectralanalysiscanuncoverdetrimentalsoilerosion,aswellasnatural oil seeps and unnatural, man-made oil spillsthat are polluting natural resources. In farming, theapplicationofwater,pesticides,orfertilizercanbetailoredtotheneedsofcrops,basedonconditionsexposedinhyperspectralimagery.

SpecTIR’s “HyperSpecTIR” suite of hyperspectralinstrumentsincorporatevisibleandnearinfrared(VNIR)andshortwavelengthinfrared(SWIR)sensorstocapturebroad,detailedimagery.Thebenefitofthedual-sensorapproachincludesagreaterinsightintothespectralandspatialcontentofascenethatisoftennotpossiblefromsingle sources of imagery, according to SpecTIR. Inagriculture,forinstance,anytwoplantscanappearsimilarto the casualobserver,buthyperspectral imagery canrevealimportantspectralandspatialdifferencesthatotherimage sources cannot, such as chemical composition.Thespatialaccuracyoftheimageryproductsconformstoacceptedinternationalmappingstandardsandcanbeincorporatedintocommonlyusedanalysispackages.

The SpecTIR VNIR sensor system has a spatialresolutionfrom0.5to5meters,withaspectralrangeof approximately 450 to 1,000 nanometers. It is acommercial-off-the-shelfsystemthatcanbecombinedwithground-truthingmechanismsorotherdatasetstomeetclient-specifiedclassifications.ThecompactsizeoftheVNIRsystemmakesitsuitableforuseonlightandunmannedaircraft.

The SpecTIR SWIR sensor system has a spatialresolutionof1.31meters at1,000metersof altitudeand a spectral range of 970 to 2,450 nanometers.Thespectralresolutionandnumberofspectralchannelsisuser-selectableduring collectionswith amaximumnumberof254 spectralwavelengthbands. (Thehighnumberofbandsallowsfordetectionofminutevariationsinspectralsignatures.)

Today,SpecTIRhasbroughtitsNASAconnectionfullcircle,asitcontinuestomaintainarelationshipwithGoddardthroughprogramsattheUniversityofMarylandinCollegePark,Maryland,andattheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculturecampusinBeltsville,Maryland.Additionally,workcontinuesontheintegrationofhyperspectraldatawith laser imagingdetectionandrangingsystemsandothercommercial-off-the-shelftechnologies.v

Hyperspectral data has many uses in agricultural applications, including for precision farming, irrigation, assessing crop health, disease monitoring, and determining soil diversity.

8� Environmental and Agricultural Resources Spinoff 2007


TheNationalBiocomputationCenter isa jointpartnership between the Stanford UniversitySchoolofMedicine’sDepartmentofSurgeryand

NASA’sAmesResearchCenter.Foundedin1997,thegoaloftheBiocomputationCenterhasbeentodevelopadvancedtechnologiesformedicine.Researchersatthiscenterapply3-Dimagingandvisualizationtechnologiesfor biomedical and educational purposes, as well assupport NASA’s mission for human exploration anddevelopment of space. It is the test bed for much ofNASA’sadvancedtelemedicineresearch.

Telemedicine,theremotedeliveryofmedicalcare,isimportanttotheSpaceAgency,becauseoftentimesthosewhoareinneedofclinicalcareandmonitoringareasfarawayastheInternationalSpaceStation(ISS),orbit-ingroughly240milesabovetheEarth.ResearchersontheISSoftenhavebackgroundsinaeronautics,physics,geology,andengineering,andareexpectedtoconductawidevarietyofexperimentsinthesefields,aswellasperformsophisticatedrepairsandconstructionprojects.Whiletheseastronautsarealwayswellskilledandcapable,whattheyareusuallynot,aremedicaldoctors.Evenifacrewmemberwereadoctor,though,thestrictequipmentweightrestrictionsandtightquartersaboardtheorbitinglaboratorywouldpreventthestationfromsupportingaclinicfullofmedicaltestingequipment.Theapproachoftelemedicine,then,aimstogiveastronautsinspaceaccesstoafullrangeofmedicalexpertiseandtests,whileleavingbulkyequipmentandlargemedicalstaffsontheground.

WithastronauthealthbeingatoppriorityoftheSpaceAgency,astronautsmanningtheISSyear-round,planstosetupapermanentresearchstationontheMoon(about238,900 miles away), and eventual travel to Mars (awhopping46,500,000milesaway),itbecomesclearthatNASAhasagreatdealinvestedinlearninghowtomoni-torastronauthealthandprovideemergencycare,whilekeepingthemedicalsupportfacilitiesandcrewsonEarth.

ThesetechniquesandtechnologiesdevelopedforspacetravelalsohaveapplicationshereonEarth,wheresomeareasaresoremotethattheymayseemaseasilyaccessibleastheMoon.

Toward these efforts, a team of researchers at thejointresearchcenterdevelopedapersonalphysiologicalmonitoringdevice calledLifeguard.Thedevice is anunobtrusive,easy-to-wearsystemoflightweight,ruggedmedical sensors. It is capableof loggingphysiologicaldata,aswellaswirelesslytransmittingit toaportablebase stationcomputer fordisplaypurposesor furtherprocessing. The system was extensively tested for

monitoring people in remote locations performinghigh-riskactivities, includingmountainclimbers,andastronauts trainingunderwater at theNASAExtremeEnvironment Mission Operations facility in Florida.The system proved successful and generated a greatdealofinterestinthemedicalcommunity,forathletictraining,forfirstresponders,andformilitaryfielduse.Interestingly,though,thefirstcommercialapplicationofthetechnologyisforenvironmentalmonitoring.

Partnership

Inearly2005,researchersat theNationalBiocom-putationCenterformedaspinoffcompany,IntelesenseTechnologies,toprovideintegratedglobalmonitoringsystems,using the sensorsdevelopedat thecenter formonitoringastronauthealthinspace.Oneofninecom-paniestospinoff fromworkconductedatthecenter,Intelesenseusesthemonitoringsystemstohelpresearch-ersunderstandhowenvironmentsandpeoplearelinked,inordertomonitorandprotectnaturalresources,predictandadapttoenvironmentalchanges,andprovideforsus-tainabledevelopment,aswellastoreducethecostsandimpactsofnaturaldisastersandprovideaneffectiveandintelligentresponsetosuchdisasters.

Dr. Kevin Montgomery, technical director at thecenterandchiefexecutiveofficerofIntelesense,hasahistoryofdevelopingsystemsforimageprocessing,3-Dreconstruction,visualization,andsimulationofbiomedi-calimagingdataforspace-relatedresearchatAmes.Onthe company’s team, Dr. Carsten Mundt, the chieftechnology officer, is also actively engaged in severalNASA-related studies,mostly indevelopingvital signmonitoringsystemsforastronautsandmicrosatellites.MontgomeryhasyetanotherNASAconnectiononhisIntelesense team inValerieBarker,whoworkedwith

Sensor Network Provides Environmental Data

Intelesense Technologies provides global integrated monitoring products and services for environmental, public health, and other data.

http://www.intelesense.net

http://www.intelesense.net

Spinoff 2007 Environmental and Agricultural Resources 8�

Amesin2002,designingfree-flyersatellitesforbiologicalresearchinspace.

The company’s corporateoffices are inHonolulu,andithasresearchanddevelopmentofficesinMilpitas,California,aswellasfieldofficeswithcollaborativepart-nersindeploymentzonesworldwide.Montgomery,whoalsoholdsapositionasanadjunctassociateprofessorattheUniversityofHawaii’sJohnA.BurnsSchoolofMedicine,whereheworkswithotherresearchersdevelop-ingsurgicalsimulators,wasvisitingtheislanduniversitywhentheideaforthecompanygelled.

HewasvisitingtheHawaiianschoolandmetwithDr.KennethKaneshiroandMichaelKidooftheCenterfor Conservation Research and Training, a researchprogramwithinthePacificBiosciencesResearchCenterat theUniversityofHawaiiatManoa thatwasestab-lishedtoaddresstherapidextinctionofvariousspeciesuniquetotheislands.WhileexplainingtheworkdoneindevelopingLifeguard,Montgomeryhadtherealizationthatthetechnologycouldalsobeusedforenvironmen-tal monitoring. Kaneshiro and Kido invited him toaworkshoponenvironmentalsensing,atwhichhehadaremarkableexperience.

Participantsoftheworkshopwereflownbyhelicopterto what Montgomery describes as “one of the mostpristine,unspoiled,biodiverse,untraveled,remotepartsoftheislandofKauai,whereonlyahandfulofhumanshavebeenoverthepasthundredyears.

“Afterthehelicoptertookoff,”herecalls,“leavingusall there, the indescribableuniqueness impresseduponmethe importanceofpreservingandprotectingplaceslikethese.”

He took this newfound excitement back to theNASA/Stanford lab, where he insisted that Mundtaccompanyhimonthenexttripback.Bothresearcherswereimpressedwiththemagnificenceoftheunspoiledareaandagreedthatthewirelesssensornetworkscouldbeusedtohelpinitsconservation.

AsMontgomeryexplains,“Theneedexistseverywhereto understand the interrelationships of humans withtheirenvironmentand,inordertodothat,weneedtoacquireandintegrateinformationfrommanysourcesandvisualizeandunderstanditinintuitiveways—that’swhatIntelesenseisallabout.”

ProductOutcome

Employingnetworksofwirelesssensorsforair,water,weather,andimagery,andthenintegratingthesensorinformationwithotherdatasources,Intelesensehelpsclients better understand interrelationships in awidevarietyofareas,includingenvironmentalpreservation,monitoring waterborne illnesses, detecting infectiousdiseases, and providing remote health care. Currentprojects range from protecting the environment, totrackingemerginginfectiousdiseaseslikeavianinfluenza(birdflu),andtohelpingpeoplefromaroundtheworldconnectandinteractwitheachothertobetterunderstandtheirenvironmentandthemselves.

The companydoes this bydeploying aworldwidewireless sensornetwork thatcommunicatesdata fromanywhere in theworld,and then integrateswithdatafromothersourcesautomatically.Theaggregateddatais then turned into real-time advanced, informativegraphicaldisplays.

The company developed three technologies toaccomplishthecollection,sharing,andpresentationoftheaggregateddata.

ThefirstcomponentistheInteleCell,asmall,remotelydeployable,wireless, securedataacquisitionplatform.GlobalPositioningSystem(GPS)-enabled,theruggeddeviceinterfaceswithavarietyofsensortypes,suchasthosethatmonitorwater,weather,air,andsoil,aswellasimageryandbiosensors.Theultra-low-powerdeviceisruggedenoughtobeleftunattendedinharshregionsfordatacollection,butitisalsosmallenoughtobeusedasahand-heldgeographicinformationsystemdeviceordatalogger.Runningoffofabatterysustainedbysolarpower

and several sleepmodes, the remotely programmableInteleCell addresses the challenges of deploying real-world, long-range,unattendednetworks in areas thatareoftendifficulttoaccess.ItwasdesignedbyMundtandBarkerandisadirectresultoftheirNASAworkonmicrosatellites.Infact,accordingtoMontgomery,“TheInteleCellisessentiallyamicrosatelliteontheground—withsensors,radiotelemetry,andself-powered.”

MultipleInteleCellsformthesecondcomponent,aself-organizingInteleNet,aglobal,wirelesssensornetworkthatprovidesuserswithadvancedgraphicsandanalysiscapabilities.TheInteleNetiscapableofcollectingdata

Sensor Network Provides Environmental Data

Using NASA-developed technology, Intelesense makes rugged, wireless sensor devices for air, water, weather, and imagery that communicate their data over the Internet from anywhere in the world, integrate with data from many other sources automatically, and provide real-time advanced analysis and intelligent, collaborative visualization.


frommanysensorsandsendingthisinformationtousersovertheInternet,providingreal-timeaccesstosensordata.Thedatacanthenbeintegratedwithinformationfromavarietyofother sources, suchaspublichealthrecordsorhistoricalclimatedata,providinguserswithamorecompletepictureoftheareabeinganalyzed.

Thethird technology, InteleView, isan interactive3-Dprogramthatallowstheusertoaccessthesecure,real-timedatafromaroundtheworld.BuiltupontheNASAWorldWindsoftwareplatform,itprovidesanintuitiveinterfacethathelpsusersnavigatemultiple,diversedatasetsanddisplaythedatainmeaningfulways.

Altogether,thethree-componentsystemcanbeusedforavarietyofapplications,including,butnotlimitedto:weathermonitoring,waterandairqualitymonitoring,bio-telemetry,imageandaudiocapture,fielddatacollection,earthquakemonitoring,tsunamiwarning,buoynetworks,emergencytelemedicine,anddisasterresponse.

WiththecompanyheadquartersinHonolulu,muchof its initial testing of the network technology tookplaceinthatregion,ontheislandofKauai.Anaveragerainfall ofover460 inchesper yearmakesKauaioneofthewettestplacesontheplanet.Thisrainfallrushesthroughsteep-walledgorgesfrom5,148feetatthetopof

theisland’sextinctvolcano,MountWaialeale (Hawaiian for “ripplingwaters”) to the sea farbelow.Thisarea, with its lush vegetation andcascadingwaterfalls, is asbeautifulasitisinaccessible.Withnocellularcoverage, and much of the areaonly accessible via helicopter, itproved the perfect test bed forthe radio frequency-based, self-poweredelectronicsensorsdependentuponline-of-sighttransmissionandsolarpower.

TheKauai test zonewas in theLimahuliValley,which,accordingtotheancientHawaiianmethodoflanddivision,consistsof fourahupua’a:Waipi’o, Lumahai, Wainiha, andHaena(anahupua’aisastripoflandthat extends from a mountain to

thesea).Inhabitantsoftheseareaslivedoffofthelandanddevelopedadeep-feltappreciationforit,aholisticunderstandingoftheinterconnectednessofterrestrial,freshwater,andmarineecosystemsthatsupportedthem.Thesewell-preservedtractsweretheideallocationtotestthenetwork’suseasanenvironmentalmonitoringsystem,notjustasextreme,worst-casescenariosofterrainandclimate,butalsobecausetheyneededtobemonitoredandmaintainedintheirpurestates.

ThenetworkwascomprisedofaseriesofInteleCells:sensorcomputersconnectedtoaradiofrequencymodule,alargebatteryandenclosedinaruggedizedcase,withstrong,weatherproofexternalconnectorsfortheanten-nas,solarpanels,andsensor.Theunitswerestrategicallyplacedthroughoutthecanyons,thenlefttogathertheirdataandsendittothecentralbasestation,viarepeaters,wherethesecuredatawerethensenttoacentralserverovertheInternet.Again,theareahadtobeaccessedbyhelicopter,asthecanyonwallsaretoosteepforhikingtobeaviableoption.Thehelicopterhoveredataridgetop,andtheresearchershadtojumpoutinordertogainaccesstothisultra-remotearea.

Thesensorsweredeployedtomonitorwaterqualityparametersinthestreams,streamdepthandflow,weather,andrainfall,amongotherfactors.Thesensorsalsopro-videdlivevideoandphotographicimagery.Despitetheobstaclespresentedbytheharshenvironment,thesensornetworkwasasuccess,anditisstillinplacetoday.Infact,thecompanyhasevenaddedaprototypesystemfortrackingtwoferalgoatswearingGPScollars.

IntelesensehassincespreaditsoperationtootherpartsofKauai,recentlyestablishingasiteaspartofaconserva-tionandeducationaloutreachprojectincollaborationwiththeNationalTropicalBotanicalGardenatLawai.

Elsewhere in Hawaii, another network has beenestablished for use by Maui Land and PineappleCompanyInc., foruse inagriculturalmonitoringandpreservation in a managed land region. On Oahu,thecompanyhasestablishedasmallurbantestsiteatthe

One innovation from Intelesense Technologies is a network of integrated water, weather, and other sensors with GPS localization over a custom wireless voice/data network with secure uplink to an Internet-based GIS Web site.


UniversityofHawaiicampusinManoaforresearchandeducationalpurposes.

Thissystemis,accordingtoJaneHerrington,programdirector for theNationalScienceFoundation’sOfficeof Experimental Program to Stimulate CompetitiveResearch, “themost advanced environmental sensingnetworkinexistence,”butthetimespentontheislandsofHawaiitaughtthefoundersofIntelesensemorethanjust how to monitor and improve the environment.Duringthetimeontheislands,thecompanyhaslearnedtoembraceaseriesoftraditionalHawaiianvalues:kokua,kuleana,pono,lokahi,malama,andhikino(respectively:helping, responsibility, doing the right thing, unity,

takingcareofthelandandeachother,andenthusiasm).The Intelesense team, seeing the interconnectednessbetweenthenativepeopleandtheland,realizedthatitisnotjustpeopleaffectingtheirenvironments,buttheenvironmentsaffectingpeople.Withthatunderstanding,combinedwiththecommitmenttoharnesstheirabilitiesforhelpingpeopleconnectwiththeirenvironmentsandeachother,thecompanysteereditstechnologytowardmonitoringtheinterconnectivitybetweenenvironmentsandpublichealth.

Environmental factors andpublichealth areofteninextricably linked, and waterborne illnesses affectmillions of people worldwide, especially in remote,undeveloped areas likeVietnam,where, according totheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgram (UNDP),80percentofhumanillnessinruralareasiscausedbywaterbornediseaseorpollution,and32millionpeople(about36percentofVietnam’spopulationof90mil-lion)donothaveaccesstocleanwater.AccordingtotheUNDP,worldwide,thesituationissimilarlyappalling,with5millionpeopledyingeveryyearduetowaterborneillness,andwaterborneillnessisimplicatedin60percentofinfantmortalities.

As part of a collaboration with the University ofHawaii, theU.S.DepartmentofHealth andHumanServices,theU.S.ArmyMedicalResearchandMaterielCommand’sTelemedicineandAdvancedTechnologyResearchCenter, theVietnameseAcademyofScienceandTechnology,andtheHanoiSchoolofPublicHealth,Intelesensedeployedanadvancedsystemofenvironmen-talmonitoringsensorsthatwillbeintegratedwithpublichealthdatatoresearchhowwaterborneillnessesform.

Intelesenserealizedtheimportanceofbeingabletolinkenvironmentalfactorswithpublichealthdata.AsMontgomeryexplains,“Ifwecouldshowthathumansandtheirenvironmentsarelinkedinthisway,oursystemcouldhave abig impacton theworldbymonitoringdrinking water supplies and producing alerts, thus

potentially impacting lots of people and preventingwaterborneillness.”

Thissystem,whichisalsotrackingothermajorpublichealthconcernslikeavianinfluenza,integratesdatafromanetworkofwidelydeployedsensorswithdailypublichealthinformation,providinggovernments,publichealthworkers,andresearcherswithreal-timestatisticsonemerg-inginfectiousdiseases.Thistimelyinformationwouldallowforrapidassessmentandinterventionintheeventofanoutbreak.

IntelesensehasalsosetupshopinEthiopia,oneoftheharshest,driestregionsoftheworldandthethirdmostpopulatednationinAfrica.There,thecompanyisdevelopinganetworkforcommunicatingpublichealthinformationfrom126remotemedicalclinicsto5corre-spondinghospitals.Thesensorsconnectalltheseplayerswitharobust,wirelessinfrastructure,inanareawherethereisnoreliablecellularortelecommunicationsnet-work,andevenpowersuppliesareunreliable.

TheInteleCellsensorsdesignedforthisdeploymentinterfacewithPDAsensorsthatprovidepatientinfor-mation, interact with radio frequency identificationtagsonmedicalandbloodproductpackages,andalsoprovidereal-time,two-way,self-poweredvideotelecom-munication.Theyarepartofalarge-scaleantiretroviral(ARV)study,forwhichpatientsreceivingtreatmentareregularlymonitoredatclinics, and the information isthencollected,reviewed,andanalyzedatthehospitals.Thehospitalscanuse this systemto track suppliesofARVdrugsandensurethatsufficientsuppliesareinareaswhere thedrugsarecurrentlymostneeded,aswellasconductvirtualtrainingclasses.Withtheseclasses,doc-torsathospitalscantelementorclinicstaffandspreadthemedicalexpertisefromhospitalstotheremotevillages.LikeinVietnam,thisEthiopiannetworkwillalsobeusedtotrackthespreadofbirdflu.

IntelesenseiscurrentlyplanningfuturedeploymentsinotherareasofthePacific,includingPalau,Palmyra,andOkinawa;andinThailand.v

Intelesense Technologies produces inexpensive, real-time, field-deployable systems for environmental monitoring that integrate data from many sources (including public health data) and provide for easy analysis and intelligent, collaborative display.



Inthelate1970s,FrankNola,anengineeratNASA’sMarshallSpaceFlightCenter,hadanideaforreduc-ingenergywasteinsmallinductionmotors.Theidea,

amethodtoelectronicallyadjustthevoltageinaccordancewiththemotor’sload,waspatentedin1984.ThevoltagecontrollershavebecomeknownasNoladevices,andtheyarestillasusefultodayastheyweremorethan20yearsago,astheycanbeappliedanywhereanACinductionmotorisbeingusedataconstantspeedbutwithavari-ableload.Thesehavetheabilitytosaveoperatorsagreatdealofenergywhenthemotorislightlyloaded,whichtranslatesintosavingsincostandresources.

Partnership

ArecentreportbytheEnergyInformationAdmin-istrationsuggeststhatbetween2003and2030,worldwideelectricityconsumptionwilldouble.Combinethatwithrising energy prices and concern over damage to theenvironmentcausedbyenergycreation,andtheideaforabusiness thathelpsconserveelectrical energymakesperfectsense.ThiswasthethinkingofPowerEfficiencyCorporation,ofLasVegas,whenitlicensedNASA’svolt-agecontrollertechnologyfromMarshallin1985.Thecompanyhasmanagedinthefollowingyearstomakepatented improvements to the technology and createthousandsofthesedevices,marketingthemthroughouttheworldasthePerformanceControllerandthePowerEfficiencyenergy-savingsoftstart.

Thesoftstartfunctionalitygraduallyintroducespowertothemotor,thuseliminatingtheharsh,violentmechani-calstressesofhavingthedevicegofromadormantstatetooneoffullactivity.Thispreventsitfromrunningtoohotandincreasesthemotor’slifetime.

ProductOutcome

Accordingtothecompany,electricmotorsconsumeabout aquarterof all electricityused in the country.

PowerEfficiency’senergy-savingsoftstartemployselec-triccircuitstomonitorpoweruseandmotorworkload,matchingtheamountofpowertotheworkload.

Thedevicecansenseifthemotorislightlyloadedoridling,which iswhenthemotor is leastefficient,andthen ramps thepowerusagedownwhilemaintainingthemotorataconstantspeed.Thisfeaturecanreducepowerconsumptionbyupto40percentwhenthemotorislightlyloaded.Thisisagreatadvantageforanymotorthatroutinelyrunsundervariableloads.

Escalatorsandelevatorswithmotor-generator(MG)setsareprimeexamplesofthetypesofmachinerythatbenefitfromenergysavingsthedeviceprovides.Take,forexample,anescalator:Sometimesitisfullofpeople;sometimes it may have a single passenger; and othertimesitmaybeempty.Themotorinsidetheescalatormustbelargeenoughtohandlethemaximumpossibleload—afullescalator—butthatrarelyhappens.Whentheescalatorhasfewpassengers,themotordrivingitislightlyloadedandwastingenergy.ThiswasteofenergyisaddressedbythePowerEfficiencyenergy-savingsoftstart,asitsensestheloadandinstructsthemotortousejusttherightamountofenergy(usuallymuchless)forthejob.

Theproductcanpayforitselfthroughthereductioninelectricity.AccordingtoPowerEfficiency,theproductoftenpays for itselfwithin3years,dependingon thedutycycleofthemotorandtheprevailingpowerrates.Inmanyinstances,thepurchaseriseligibleforutilityrebatesfortheenvironmentalprotectionitprovides.

CommonapplicationsofPowerEfficiency’ssoftstartincludemixers,grinders,granulators,conveyors,crush-ers,stampingpresses,injectionmolders,elevatorswithMGsets,andescalators.Thedevicehasbeenretrofittedontoequipmentatmajordepartmentstorechains,hotels,airports,universities,andforvariousmanufacturers.ThetechnologyhasbeenincorporatedintoproductsPowerEfficiencyCorporationmakesonaprivatelabelbasisforothermanufacturers.Forexample,Rockford, Illinois-based,RapidGranulator,aninternationalmanufacturerofgranulatorsfortheplasticsindustry,usesthedeviceunderthenameEnergyPro.

Voltage Controller Saves Energy, Prolongs Life of Motors

The energy-saving soft start allocates power in direct proportion to the motor’s required workload, eliminating wasted electricity. Power Efficiency Corporation’s core technology is based on patented improvements to NASA technology.

http://www.powerefficiencycorp.com

http://www.powerefficiencycorp.com


KONE Inc. markets the voltage controller as theEcoStart.KONE,whichhas itsU.S.headquarters inMoline,Illinois,isoneoftheworld’slargestelevatorandescalatormanufacturers.KONEwasfoundedin1910andhasabout29,000employeesin800servicecentersin40countries.

DirectcustomersofPowerEfficiencyCorporation’senergy-saving soft start include Seattle-TacomaInternational Airport and Honolulu InternationalAirport,aswellastheTorontoandAnchorageairports.In airports, the devices often control escalators andmovingwalkways.ThedevicecanalsobefoundinstalledattheStateUniversityofNewYork’sFashionInstituteofTechnology,TheGeorgeWashingtonUniversity,inWashington,DC, and indepartment stores likeSaksFifthAvenueandMays.

The company has also partnered with several LasVegas neighbors, large casinos whose escalators andelevators ferrymillionsof tourists per year, 24hoursperday.ThecompanyiscontinuingtoexpandintothehospitalityindustryinLasVegas,acitynotoriousforitspowerusage.

Power Efficiency Corporation is also looking intodeveloping products that make electric motors moreefficientforhomeapplianceslikeairconditioners,clothesdryers,andrefrigerators,threeofthelargestelectricityconsumersinmosthomes.v

EnergyPro™isatrademarkofRapidGranulator.

EcoStart™isatrademarkofKONEInc.

Power Efficiency Corporation develops and markets advanced energy-saving technologies for electric motors, based on its licensed NASA technology. Its products include a motor efficiency controller designed to increase the efficiency of lightly loaded electric motors in escalators, elevators, grinders, granulators, mixers, saws, and stamping presses.



NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is located onprimebeachfrontpropertyalongtheAtlanticcoast of Florida on Cape Canaveral. While

beautiful, this regionpresents several challenges, liketemperamentalcoastalweather, lightning storms,andsalty,corrosive,seabreezesassaultingequipmentandtheCenter’slaunchpads.Theconstantbarrageofsaltywatersubjectsfacilitystructurestoatypeofweatheringcalledspalling,acommonformofcorrosion seen inporousbuildingmaterialssuchasbrick,naturalstone,tiles,andconcrete.Inspalling,watercarriesdissolvedsaltthroughthebuildingmaterial,whereitthencrystallizesnearthesurfaceasthewaterevaporates.Asthesaltcrystalsexpand,thiscreatesstresseswhichbreakawaychips,orspall,fromthesurface,causingunsightlyandstructuraldamage.

The potential for corrosion heightens as concretestructuresage,becauseovertimeconcretelosesitsacidity,orpH.Whenitstartsout,pouredconcretehasahighpHvalue,between11and13,whichhelpstoinhibitcorro-sion.Overtime,though,thisvaluedrops,andwhenthepHvaluedipsintothe8to9range,thereispotentialforcorrosionofthesteelreinforcingbars,orrebar,causingfurtherstructuralconcerns.

In the mid-1990s, to protect the rebar, NASAdevelopedanelectromigrationtechniquethatsendscorro-sion-inhibitingionsintorebartopreventrust,corrosion,andseparationfromthesurroundingconcrete.Anounceofpreventionisworthapoundofcure,andwiththehelpofFlorida’sTechnologicalResearchandDevelopmentAuthority,anindependentstateagencythatpartneredwith Kennedy on technology transfer initiatives, theCenterbeganworkingwithSurtreatHoldingLLC,ofPittsburgh,Pennsylvania,acompanythathaddevelopedachemicaloptiontofightstructuralcorrosionin1997.Surtreat’smethodwastoapplyitsanti-corrosivesolutionproduct,TPS-II,tothesurfaceofacorrodingconcrete

slab,whereitwouldthenseepthroughtotherebar,coat-ingitandpreventingfurthercorrosion.

CombiningSurtreat’sTPS-IIwithelectromigrationfitwellintheKennedydual-useprogram,partofNASA’stechnologytransferandcommercializationeffort.ThecooperativeeffortinvolvedSurtreatprovidingNASAwiththecorrosion-inhibitingchemicalandconcretetestslabs,alongwithtechnicalsupportasneeded.Kennedypro-videdtestingspecificationsandprocedures,thenpreparedtheconcretewiththeSurtreatchemicalandcarriedoutanenvironmentalevaluationofthetreatment.Kennedy’smaterials scientists reviewed the applicability of thechemicaltreatmenttotheelectromigrationprocessanddeterminedthatitwasaneffectiveandenvironmentallyfriendlymatch,suitableforuseattheNASAfacility.

Tenyears later,NASA is stillusing this combinedapproach to fight concrete corrosion, and it has also

developedanewtechnologythatitbelieveswillfurtheradvancetheseefforts.Thetechnologyisaliquidgalvaniccoating, applied to the outer surface of reinforcedconcrete,toprotecttheembeddedrebarfromcorrosion.The coating contains oneof several types ofmetallicparticles—magnesium, zinc, or indium. An electricalcurrent established between metallic particles in theappliedcoatingandthesurfaceofthesteelrebarproducescathodicprotectionof therebar.Thecurrent forcesaflowofelectronsfromthecoating(anode)totherebaralong a separatemetallic connection.This surplus ofelectronsattherebar(cathode)preventsthelossofmetalions thatwouldnormallyoccuraspartof thenaturalcorrosionprocess.Thetechnology,madeofinexpensive,commercially available ingredients, canbe applied totheoutsidesurfaceof reinforcedconcrete (most rebarcorrosion prevention must be applied directly to therebar)andwithaconventionalbrushorspray,eliminatingtheneedforexpensive,specializedlabor.

ThisnewtechnologyiscurrentlyinuseatKennedy,butNASAalsosawtheimmediatebenefitsthatcouldbegainedbytransferringthistechnologytotheprivatesector,wheredecayandcorrosionofconcretestructurescostsbillionsofdollarsperyear.

Partnership

Tenyears after its initialpartnership,SurtreathaspartneredwithNASAagainbylicensingthenewliquidgalvaniccoatingtechnologyandhasalreadyputittouse.Itsfirsttest, inearly2007,wascompletedattheU.S.ArmyNahaPort,inOkinawa,Japan,acoastalfacilitybuiltduringtheKoreanWarandsubjecttomuchofthesameenvironmentalstressorsasthosefoundatKennedy.

Treatment Prevents Corrosion in Steel and Concrete Structures

The Surtreat coating is environmentally friendly and lasts 10 years or more, reducing maintenance costs over the lifetime of the structure.

http://www.surtreat.com

Spinoff 2007 Environmental and Agricultural Resources 89

ProductOutcome

TheNASA-developedcoatingmaybeusedtopreventcorrosion of steel in concrete in several applications,includinghighwayandbridgeinfrastructures,piersanddocks,concretebalconiesandceilings,parkinggarages,coolingtowers,andpipelines,tonamejustafew.

Surtreatistheidealpartnertobringthistechnologyto thepublic, as thecompanyhasaproven recordofprovidingfull-service,innovative,andtechnicalsolutionsfortherestorationandpreventionofdeteriorationandcorrosioninsteel-reinforcedconcretestructures.TheirTotalPerformanceSystemprovidesdiagnostic testingandsiteanalysis to identifythescopeofproblemsforeachproject,manufacturesandprescribessite-specificsolutions, controls material application, and verifiesperformancethroughfollow-uptestingandanalysis.

Thecoatinglasts10yearsormore,reducingmainte-nancecostsoverthelifetimeofthestructure;andtestinghasproventhatthetreatmentyieldsreductionsinrebarcorrosionpotential,waterpenetration,chemicalreactiv-ity,andwater-solublechloride,whilegeneratingincreasesinhardness,flexuralstrength,andpHlevels.Thetreat-mentalsoprovidesresistancetochloridepenetrationandproblemsassociatedwith freezingand thawingof theporousstructures.

Surtreat treatments are environmentally friendly,andthecompanyfocusesonpreventingandminimizingadverse environmental impacts by identifying andcontrollingpotentialenvironmentalrisksinadvance.Thesolutionsusedarewater-solubleandenvironmentallysafe,andintestinghaveshownnoeffectontheturbidity,pH,ordissolvedoxygencontent levels inwater.Surtreat’sformulationsbondinorganiccompoundstostructures,

wheretheybecomepartofthesteelandconcretematrixindefinitely.Itleavesnoresidues,coatings,ormaterialsthatcouldpotentiallyharmhumans,animals, fish,ortheenvironment.v

TotalPerformanceSystem™isatrademarkofSurtreatInternational.

This parking structure was suffering from water and deicing salt infiltration, causing a number of corrosion-related problems throughout the structure. The Surtreat chemicals migrated over � inches below the surface, halting corrosion.

Surtreat uses topically applied, chemically reactive, migrating formulations unique to each project.

Computer Technology

NASA’sworkinadvancedcomputinghasledtomanyinnovations.Thetechnologiesfeaturedinthissection:

Simplify analysis and design

Translate �-D graphics to �-D surfaces

Improve health and performance monitoring

Enable smarter content management

Validate system design

•

•

•

•

•

9� Computer Technology Spinoff 2007


Future spaceborne astronomy missions willrequire telescopes with increasingly greaterpower,drivingthedimensionsoftheopticsand

theirhousingstructurestosignificantlygreatersizes.Theincreasedsizeofthestructuresreducesthedynamic

frequencies of theoptical system, to thepointwheredisturbancefrequenciesandstructuralmodessignificantlyinteract.Atthesametime,therequirementsondynamicstabilitytoachievetherequiredopticalperformancearesignificantly tighter than for anything thathas flown

before,and,therefore,thesensitivitytodynamiceffectsis correspondingly high. Finally, the physical size oftheoptical instrumentsmakesfullyintegratedsystem-level testing extremelyproblematic.Notonly are thesystemstoolargetotestinanyexistingenvironmentalchambers,theyaresusceptibletogravityloadingeffectsandsuspensioncouplingthatwillsignificantlychangethedynamics.Validationofthelargedesignsmustthenrestonacombinationofanalysisandsystemtests.

Techniques for system tests include using FiniteElements (FE) and FE model updating tools, systemidentification, and using various other tools forperformingopticalanalyses.Thesetechniques,however,donotprovideforanalysisofcross-disciplinaryresults.Therefore, the conventional approach is todevelop arequirement budget that assigns error allocations toeachofthemodelingteams.Thisapproachisextremelylimitinginthatitdoesnotallowrequirementstobefreelytraded among subsystems. NASA, intent on sendinglarger,morepowerfulopticsintospace,resolvedtofindabetterwaytotestthem.

Partnership

EngineersatGoddardSpaceFlightCenterpartneredwithsoftwareexpertsatMidéTechnologyCorporation,ofMedford,Massachusetts,througha Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracttodesignanewanalysissystem.

The result of the two-phase contract was theDisturbance-Optics-Controls-Structures (DOCS)Toolbox, a software suite for performing integratedmodelingformultidisciplinaryanalysisanddesign.TheToolboxallowsthedefinitionofsubsystem/componentmodels, including structural models, control systemmodels,opticalsensitivities,anddisturbancemodels.Thecomponentmodelsareautomaticallycoupledtogetherto create amathematicmodelof a completephysicalprocess,usingtechniquesthatmaximizethenumericalconditioning,whilemaintainingmodelingaccuracy.

Thecodehasbeenvalidatedandappliedtothefollow-ingNASAastronomyprojectsandfacilities:theTerrestrialPlanet Finder Structurally Connected InterferometerTestbed (TPF-SCIT), the Terrestrial Planet FinderCoronagraph(TPF-C),theJamesWebbSpaceTelescope,andtheSolarDynamicsObservatory.

ProductOutcome

Thepurposeof theDOCSToolbox is to integratevariousdisciplinemodels intoacoupledprocessmathmodel that can thenpredict systemperformance as afunctionofsubsystemdesignparameters.TheToolboxaccepts as input thedisciplinemodels froma varietyof currently available discipline modeling tools. TheToolbox then connects the discipline models andappliesnumericalconditioningalgorithmsto improvethenumericalaccuracy,whilestillmaintainingmodel

Optics Program Simplifies Analysis and Design

One of many segments of the mirror assembly being tested for the James Webb Space Telescope project at the X-Ray Calibration Facility at Marshall Space Flight Center. Marshall is supporting Goddard Space Flight Center in developing the telescope by taking numerous measurements to predict its future performance.

The James Webb Space Telescope is a large, infrared-optimized telescope, scheduled for launch in �01�. It will find the first galaxies that formed in the early universe, connecting the Big Bang theory to our own Milky Way galaxy.

http://www.mide.com

Spinoff 2007 Computer Technology 9�

accuracy. It performs the analysis and redesign in agraphicalframeworkthatallowstheusertodefineandsolvetheanalysisproblem,anditthendocumentsresultsinapoint-and-clickenvironment.

Thesystemcanbeoptimizedforperformance;designparameterscanbetraded;parameteruncertaintiescanbe propagated through the math model to developerrorboundsonsystempredictions;andthemodelcanbeupdated,basedoncomponent,subsystem,orsystem-leveldata.

The Toolbox allows the definition of processparametersasexplicitfunctionsofthecoupledmodel,furtherenablingtheexactdefinitionofsensitivities.Italsoincludesanumberoffunctionsthatanalyzethecoupledsystemmodelandprovideforredesign,including:criticalparameter analysis that formally identifies thedesignvariables that have the highest influence on systemperformance, risk, and cost; optimization of designobjective functions subject to constraints on designvariables;formalsystemtradingusinganisoperformance

methodology(adesignconceptthatseekstocreatethebest-fitconcept) thatmapsout thenon-uniquesetofdesignparametersthatmeetrequirements;uncertaintyanalysis for computing errors bound to performancepredictions and identifying criticaluncertainties; andmodelupdatingtorenewcomponentmathmodelsusingmeasurementdata.

Thesoftwarehasmyriadbenefits,includingtheabilitytoautomaticallycouplethedisciplinemodelstocreateasystemmathmodel.Thisprovidesacompletedescriptionofthephysicalprocessintermsofallcomponentdesignvariables.Theautomaticcouplingreducesmanualeffort,eliminatesthechanceforusererror,andautomaticallychecksunitcompatibilitybetweencomponents.

Thesoftwaretoolprovidesasetof“canned”routinesfordefiningparameterdependenciesontypicalstructuralparameters,aswellasasetoftechniquesforidentifyingcriticaldesignparameters.

Theuniqueformulationoftheparameter-dependentmathmodelenablesthedesignertoformulatemanyprob-lemsasformaloptimizationanalyses,whereotheranalysistechniqueswouldhaveallowedonlytheevaluationandcomparisonofalimitedsetofdesignpoints.

TheproductisbeingsoldcommerciallybyNightskySystems Inc., of Raleigh, North Carolina, a spinoffcompanythatwasformedbyMidéspecificallytomarkettheDOCSToolbox.

Commercial applications include use by any con-tractorsdeveloping large space-basedoptical systems,includingLockheedMartinCorporation,TheBoeingCompany, and Northrup Grumman Corporation, aswellascompaniesprovidingtechnicalauditservices,likeGeneralDynamicsCorporation.v

DOCS®ToolboxisaregisteredtrademarkofNightskySystemsInc.

A Marshall Space Flight Center employee is inspecting one of the mirror assemblies for flaws.

94 Computer Technology Spinoff 2007


When it comes to solving some of NASA’smost challenging technical problems, themathematical minds that make up the

Computational Sciences Branch at NASA’s GlennResearchCenterarereadyandwaitingtocrunchsomenumbers.Calculatingcomplexalgorithmsandmathemat-icalequationslikeit’schild’splay,thegrouphasworkedoutmanytechnicalissuesforNASAovertheyears.

Bruce Auer was a member of the ComputationalSciencesBranchfor43yearsuntilheretiredin2005.Whenhestartedin1962,heworkedonawidevarietyofproblemsinthefieldsofaeronauticsandspacetechnology.Akey componentofhis jobwasdeveloping complexalgorithms that contributed to solving mathematicalproblems and modeling chemical and physicalphenomena.Earlyon,theprojectsrangedfromsolvingdifficultheatequationsforrocketnozzletechnologyusedtopreventnozzlesfromburningupwithmultiplerestarts,tostudyingcutting-edgeturbulentflowtheories.

Inthelate1980s,Glennstarteddevelopingtechnolo-gies fordesigningandmanufacturingcarbongraphitecompositeturbopropfanbladesandturbofaninletfanblades, ranging in size from2.5 inches to 30 inches.(Glennspecializesinthedevelopmentofjetengineandturbomachinery technology.) Some of these projectsrequiredmakinghollowbladeswith internalpassagestodampenjetenginenoise.Severalyearslater,in1994,Auer’sgroupwascalledonforhelpwhenoneoftheseprojects,ajointGlenn-Pratt&Whitneyexperimentalturbopropfanbladeproject,wasnotgoingasexpected,because the experimental blades being designed andmanufactured atGlennwere failing tomeetPratt&Whitney’sspecificationsduringtesting.

Thetechnicalshortcomingsexperiencedinthisjointprojectweretracedtothree-dimensional(3-D)-to-two-dimensional (2-D) commercial flattening software,whichwasnotabletoaccuratelyflattena3-Dsurface

intoa2-Dsurface.Flattening softwareof thisnatureisrequired,becausethefanbladewasbeingmadefrom50to250separate2-Dcarbongraphitecompositesheets,or plies, that were cut and stacked in a mold whereheatandpressurewasappliedtocreateasolidcarbongraphiteblade.

According to Auer, to determine any one 2-Dpattern,firsta3-Dsurfaceinternaltothebladehadtobecomputed.Then,this3-Dsurfacehadtobeflattenedintoitscorresponding2-Dpattern.WhentheGlennengineers

makingthefanbladescouldnotfindacommercialvendorwhocouldsupplyaccurate3-D-to-2-Dsoftware, theycametoAuerforasolution.Specifically,theengineersaskedAuer towritea3-D-to-2-Dflatteningprogramthatcouldaccuratelyflattenany3-Dplyinternaltoabladewhoseexternalsurfaceshadcomplex,continuouslychangingdoublecurvatures.

Auerwent toworkonwritinganoptimized,3-D-to-2-D blade-flattening software program that couldaddressthefanbladeengineers’needs.Bytakingseveral

Design Application Translates 2-D Graphics to 3-D Surfaces

One of the technical challenges faced by the Computational Sciences Group at Glenn Research Center was creating software that was able to accurately flatten a �-D surface into a �-D surface.


mathematicalalgorithmsandweavingthemtogetherwith“tightlogic,”hecameupwithasolution:aprogramthatcouldhandleany3-Dsurfacefedintoit.

Auerconsideredtheoutcometobebothsimpleandsophisticatedforflattening.Itcouldbeusedineitheraverystraightforwardoradvancedmanner,dependingontheuserandhisorherrequirementsandapplications.Hestatedthattheadvantagesoftheprogramarethatitishighlyaccurate,fast,androbust.Furthermore,henotedthatitcanaddressstretchingandshrinkingissues,whichareinherentinsomemanufacturingprocesses.

The software program was successfully put to useindesigningandmanufacturingbladesfortheGlenn-Pratt&Whitneyjointproject,aswellasinseveralotherblade-manufacturingprojects fromotherdepartmentswithinGlennovertheyears.Allofthegreatresultswereaddingupand,in2002,severalbladeengineersrecom-mendedthatAuerseekcommercialapplicationsforhissoftwareprogram.

Auer agreed with this assessment, so he pursuedcommercialization of his software through Glenn’sCommercialTechnologyOffice.Thisofficeacceptedhisproposalandarrangedforhissoftwareprogramtobefea-turedintheMarch2002issueofNASA Tech Briefs,thusgivingitexposuretotheoutsideengineeringcommunity.

Partnership

Inthespringof2005,JosephSettipaniwascomb-ingtheInternet inaneffort totrackdownasoftwareprogram that couldhelpwith the flatteningof fabricsurfaces and, therefore, help the company cut downproduction time and limit the waste of materials.DuringhisInternetsearch,hecameacrossinformationonAuer’s software foroptimal flatteningof fanbladepatterns. After several correspondences with Auer,SettipanirecognizedthepotentialfortheNASAsoftwaretobolsterhisElgin, Illinois-basedFabric Images Inc.fabric-designprocess.

AdditionalInternetresearchbroughtSettipanitotheGreatLakesIndustrialTechnologyCenter(GLITeC),whichworkswithregionalcompaniestoacquireanduseNASAtechnologyandexpertise,especiallyfromGlenn.AmeetingwasarrangedbetweenSettipaniandAuer.

For the meeting, Auer visited the Fabric Imagesmanufacturingplantandlearnedallaboutthecompany’sdesignandmanufacturingprocesses.AuersawthevaluethathissoftwarecouldbringtoFabricImagesanddeter-minedthatthecompanywasagreatfitasacommercial

partner.GLITeCsubsequentlyfacilitatedanagreementthatwouldentitlethecompanytoutilizetheNASAsoft-warecodeasaresourceforitscommercialapplications.

ProductOutcome

Fabric Images specializes in the printing andmanufacturingoffabrictensionarchitecturefortheretail,museum,andexhibit/tradeshowmarkets.Thecompanyhasthedifficulttaskofcorrectlydesigning2-Dgraphicsfor3-Dsurfaces.Since thedisplays itassembles serve

Fabric Images Inc. has the difficult task of designing the graphics for complex displays before it can see the actual, complete, �-D displays come together.

http://www.fabricimages.com


ona3-Dsurface,repositioninganddistortionof2-Dgraphicsisnecessary.Whenprintedfabricgraphicsarenotrepositionedand/ornotdistortedfor3-Dconstruction,fabriciswastedandmoneyislostinhavingtoinitiategraphiclayoutsandanotherproductionrun.

FabricImagesdevelopeda2-Dtemplatepattern-basedproductionprocesswiththeuseoftheNASAtechnologyasaresource.Thiseliminatedanentirestepfromtheactual fabric sewing/construction process, creatingan 11.5-percent time savings per project. Additionalbenefitsincludedlessmaterialwastedandtheabilityto

asadvertisementsforitsclients,thereisthenecessityofmakingsurethewordsandlogosarevisuallycorrectonthe3-Dsurfaces.

The goal in the design process is to achieve 2-Dtemplate-basedproduction,basedonthecorresponding3-D surface geometry. The advantages of template-basedproductionaremany,buttherearemanyvariablesinvolvedthatcomplicatetheprocess,aswell.Inordertocontrolvariablesduringactualproduction,FabricImages

nowreliesonanovelandreliableflatteningprocessbasedontheNASAsoftware.

FabricImages’fabric-flatteningdesignprocessbeginswiththemodelingofa3-Dsurfacebasedoncomputer-aideddesignspecifications.Thesurfacegeometryofthe3-Dmodelisutilizedintheformationofa2-Dtemplate,similar to NASA’s flattening process. This templateorpatternisthenappliedinthedevelopmentofa2-Dgraphiclayout.Toachievethedesiredvisualgraphiclook

NASA helped overcome the unique design challenges of creating �-D designs out of �-D materials.

Fabric Images Inc. impresses its clients with intricate and innovative displays and designs.


improveupongraphictechniquesand,thus,offernewdesignservices.

Today, Fabric Images is wowing its business-to-businesspartnersandend-userclientswithintricateand innovativedisplaysanddesigns,using theNASAtechnology. Partners include Exhibitgroup/Giltspur(end-userclient:TACAir,adivisionofTrumanArnoldCompanies Inc.), Jack Morton Worldwide (end-userclient:Nickelodeon),aswellas3DExhibitsInc.,andMGDesignAssociatesCorp.

AlthoughthefullpotentialofAuer’s“flatteningmathengine”hasyet tobe fully realizedbyFabric Images,MarcoAlvarez, the company’spresident,believes thefutureoftemplate-basedproductionwillbebright.

“The3-D-to-2-Dtemplateshavegivenustoolstotakeourproductiontoanewlevelofefficiency.Theyhavealsoopenedanewavenueofbusinessinprovidinggraph-icsfordifficult,amorphicshapes,”statedAlvarez.v

Since the displays Fabric Images Inc. assembles primarily serve as advertisements for its clients, there is the necessity of making sure the words and logos are visually correct on the �-D surfaces.



Scientistsandengineershavelongusedcomputerstomodelphysicalsystems.Physicalmodelingisamajorpartofdesignanddevelopmentprocesses,

as well as failure analysis. At NASA, scientists andengineersrelyheavilyonphysicalmodelingtoevaluatetheoverallhealthandperformanceofallmission-relatedflightvehicles.

Hidden in the architecture of flight vehicles arecomputerstocontrolandmonitortheirhealthandper-formance.Earlyversionsofthesecomputerslackedtheabilitytoevaluatealloftheoperatingandenvironmentalconditions,whichisimportanttofullyunderstandtheresponse of the equipment. Furthermore, traditionalphysicalmodelingmethodsnecessitatedsignificantcom-putingpower,makingtheprocessfairlycomplicated.

NASAscientistsandengineersneededasimplified,butmore complete, understandingof thehealth andperformanceofflightvehiclesduringtheiroperationinnear-realtime.Thecomparisonwouldallowtheuserstounderstandiftheequipmentwasperformingasexpected.

Partnership

ScientificMonitoring Inc. specializes in conditionmonitoringandequipmenthealthsoftwareandservicesforawiderangeofequipmentapplications.NASA’sDrydenFlightResearchCenterawardedtheScottsdale,Arizona-basedcompanyaPhaseISmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract tocreateanew, simplifiedhealth-monitoringapproach for someof theAgency’sflightvehiclesandflightequipment.ThemainobjectiveoftheSBIRprojectwastocreateasimplesoftware-basedmodelthatusedtheprinciplesofphysics,butdidnotrequirelargeamountsofdataorcomputingresourcestomakeaccurateassessmentsinatimelyfashion.

Duringtheproject,ScientificMonitoringdevelopedahybridphysicalmodelconceptthatprovidedastructuredapproachtosimplifyingcomplexdesignmodelsforuse

inhealthmonitoring.Themodelingapproachusedasimplifiedanalyticalmodelandaclassicaldataanalysistechnique to assess the performance of a piece of

equipmentanddetermineifitwaswithinanexpectedrangefortheenvironmentalandoperatingconditions.Itallowedtheoutputorperformanceoftheequipmenttobecomparedtowhatthedesignmodelspredicted,sothatdeteriorationorimpendingfailurecouldbedetectedbefore therewouldbe an impacton the equipment’soperationalcapability.

Thehybridphysicalmodelwassuccessful,asitmadehealthandperformanceanalysesofcomplicatedequip-mentpossibleinnear-realorrealtimeforrapiddiagnosis.ScientificMonitoringquicklyrealizeditsresultingsoft-warehadbroadapplicationformanyindustriesbeyondtheaerospacesector.Medicalhealthmonitoring,security,andfinancialtransactions,forexample,areotherareasofapplicationthecompanythoughtmightbefittingforitsnewdevelopment,sinceeachcontainsanunderlyingphysicalbasisorcharacterizedrelationshipwhichcanbeusedtoensurethatthebehaviororperformanceiswithinexpectationsfortheoperationalconditions.

ProductOutcome

Marking the successful completion of the NASA-funded researchproject—and subsequentmaturationofthemodelfromU.S.AirForcefunding—ScientificMonitoring released a commercial health- and per-formance-monitoring softwareproduct, basedon theoriginalmodelingtechnology itdevelopedforNASA.ThecompanycallsthesoftwareI-Trendforitsintelligenttrending,diagnostic,andprognosticcapabilities.

Hybrid Modeling Improves Health and Performance Monitoring

I-Trend comes with a configurable interface, and easy-to-use back-end analysis tools to simplify Six Sigma analysis of equipment health and performance. Control charts, regression fit charts, usage charts, and many other tools provide information in an easily recognizable format.

http://www.scientificmonitoring.com

Spinoff 2007 Computer Technology 99

I-Trend uses the hybrid physical model to bettercharacterizethenatureofhealthorperformancealarmsthatresultin“nofaultfound”falsealarms.Additionally,the use of physical principles helps I-Trend identifyproblemssooner.AccordingtoScientificMonitoring,I-Trend represents the state of the art in condition-monitoringsoftware.Itispartofthecompany’scompleteICEMS (Intelligent Condition-based EquipmentManagement System) suite of software targeted forcustomerswhohaveimportantequipmentandrequireaccuratemonitoringandadvancedalerting. I-Trend’s

advancedalertingmoduleprovidesforecastcapabilitiesthatallowmaintenanceformanytypesofproblemstobescheduledandplannedinaproactiveway,eliminatingreactivebehaviorthatoccurswhenalarmbellssound.

I-Trend comes with a configurable interface andeasy-to-useanalysistoolstosimplifySixSigmaanalysisofequipmenthealthandperformance.(SixSigmaisahighlystructuredprocess-improvementmethodologythatutilizesdataandstatisticalanalysistogaugeandenhancea company’s operational performance, practices, andsystems.Itidentifies,prevents,andeliminatesdefectsin

manufacturingandinservice-relatedprocesses.)I-TrendcanbeusedasaWebapplication,orspecificinterfacescan be tailored to allow it to operate with existingapplications.ItisbuiltinaJavaJ2EEframeworkwithXML(eXtensibleMarkupLanguage)interfacestoallowplatformportability.Controlcharts,regressionfitcharts,usagecharts,andmanyotherchartsandtoolsprovideinformationinaneasilyunderstoodgraphicalformat.

I-Trend technology is currently in use in severalcommercialaviationprograms,andtheU.S.AirForcerecently tapped Scientific Monitoring to developnext-generationenginehealth-managementsoftwareformonitoringitsfleetof jetengines.Asforthemedical,security, and financial applications that ScientificMonitoring envisioned upon completing the NASA-fundedproject,theyjustmightcometofruitiononeday.

“The benefits of the hybrid modeling technologyused inI-Trendforequipmentmonitoringareclear,”saidDr.LinkJaw,presidentandchiefexecutiveofficerofScientificMonitoring.“It’sthepotentialuseinnon-equipmentapplicationswhichwefindintriguing.Itcouldeasilyevolvetoallowpeopletomonitortheirownhealthandphysicalperformance.”

After development of the I-Trend software, thecompany continued the original NASA work, thistime under a Phase III SBIR contract with a jointNASA-Pratt&Whitneyaviationsecurityprogramonpropulsion-controlled aircraft under missile-damagedaircraftconditions.v

I-Trend™andICEMS™aretrademarksofScientificMonitoringInc.

SixSigma®/SMisaregisteredtrademarkandservicemarkofMotorolaInc.

Java™isatrademarkofSunMicrosystemsInc.

I-Trend is a Web-based condition-monitoring application specifically developed for analysis, trending, and alert functions on a wide range of equipment types.



AsNASA’sleadingorganizationforinformationsciences, the Intelligent Systems Division atAmes Research Center conducts world-class

computational research to enable out-of-this-worldcapabilities.Inparticular, thisdivisionisdedicatedtoushering in a new era of autonomous spacecraft androboticexploration,aswellasextendingabilitiesinspacethroughhuman-computerinteractionsanddataanalysis.

In addition to supporting NASA’s missions, theIntelligentSystemsDivision is focusedonsupportingnationalneedsby findingpractical uses onEarth forits space-driven technologies. Like many of NASA’sbranches,itaccomplishesthisgoalthroughpartnershipswithprivateindustry,collaborativeresearchinitiativeswith academia, and resource sharingwithotherU.S.Governmentagencies.

Oneofthedivision’slatestspace-basedtechnologiesthathasprovenpracticalforterrestrialuseisadatabasestorage software system called Netmark. Offering anextensible, clientless, schema-less, information-on-demandframeworkformanaging,storing,andretrievingunstructured and/or semi-structured documents,NetmarkwascreatedtohelpNASAscientistsqueryandorganizecomplexresearchdocuments.Netmarkutilizesahybridapproachtodatabasemanagementbycombiningobject-oriented data creation with relational models,usingSQL(StructuredQueryLanguage)queries.Thisenables efficientkeyword searches that cover abroadrange of content, context, and relationship conceptsamongdocuments.Furthermore, itprovidesa single-format,virtualdatabaseviewofmultipleheterogeneousdatasourceswithoutuser-supplieddatabasecode.

AllofthesefeaturesmakeNetmarkapowerfultoolformanagingandaccessingNASA’senormousstockofcomplex,constantlychangingunstructuredandsemi-structured data, as well as an open-source enterprisecapableofbearingboundlesscommercialbenefits.

Partnership

In2004,NASA,throughAmes,establishedatech-nologypartnershipwithXeroxCorporation, inwhichtheworld’slargestdocumentmanagementcompanyishelpingtheSpaceAgencydevelophigh-techknowledgemanagement systems, while providing new tools andapplicationsthatsupporttheVisionforSpaceExploration.Inreturn,NASAisprovidingresearchanddevelopmentassistancetoXeroxsothattheStamford,Connecticut-basedcompanycanprogressitsproductline.

“This joint venture combines the best softwaretechnology from NASA and Xerox,” said G. ScottHubbard,directorofAmesfrom2002to2006,followingthe announcement of the partnership. “Since bothpartnersbringnewtechnologytotheproject,wewillgetnewtoolstailoredspecificallyforNASAneedsinaverycost-effectiveway.”

ThefirstresultofthetechnologypartnershipwasanewsystemcalledtheNXKnowledgeNetwork(basedonXeroxDocuShareCPX).CreatedspecificallyforNASA’spurposes, this systemcombines theNetmark contentmanagementsoftwarecreatedbytheIntelligentSystemsDivision with complementary software from Xerox’sglobalresearchcentersandDocuShare.Initspilotstages,theNXKnowledgeNetworkwas testedat theNASAAstrobiology Institute,where researchersused itonadistributedbasisacrossseveraluniversities tosortandanalyzedata.Currently,itiswidelyusedfordocumentmanagementatAmes,LangleyResearchCenter,withintheMissionOperationsDirectorateat JohnsonSpaceCenter,andattheJetPropulsionLaboratory,formission-relatedtasks.TheseapplicationsareultimatelyhelpingNASAtomanageprojectrisk,investigatemishaps,andanalyzeanomalies.

ProductOutcome

The research and development support Xerox hasreceivedthusfarthroughthejointtechnologypartnership

withAmeshas allowed the company to integrate theinformation-on-demandorganizationalelementsoftheNX Knowledge Network/Netmark software into itscommercially availableDocuShare enterprise contentmanagement(ECM)solution.

AccordingtoXerox,DocuSharedeliversdocumentandcontentmanagementtoanorganization’sknowledgeworkersinaflexible,easilydeployed,Web-basedsoftwareapplication.Thecompanynotedthattheseworkersareaccustomedtohandlingvastamountsofdiversebusinesscontentaspartofroutineoperations,andarefrequentlyasked to engage in impromptu activities to generatepaperandelectronicdocuments,aswellasdiscussionsande-mails,fromavarietyofcontentresources.WithDocuShare,theorganizationgivesknowledgeworkersthenecessarytoolsettounlockinformationstoredthrough-outtheenterprise,beitine-mailsystems,filingcabinets,ornetworkdrives.Workerscanthenbringthesediversecontenttypestogetherinasearchable,indexedrepository,enablingoptimal information flowandrapid turnkeysolutionsthatcantranslateintoreducedcostsandriskfortheorganization.

Theenterprisemanagementtoolalsoenhancesorga-nizationalcollaborationandinformationsharingthroughdocument routing and review and Web-publishingabilities.Therearealsomultiplelevelsofsecuritybuiltin,includingpasswordmanagementandpasswordrulesenforcement,toprotectcontentasnecessary.

AccordingtoXerox, thecore technologysimplifiesdeployments and reduces information technologycomplexity,eveninthefaceofthetypicalheterogeneousmix of databases, servers, directory services, andstoragesystemsprevalentintoday’senterprises.Unlikecompetitivecontentmanagementproducts,Xeroxadds,DocuShare is entirely Web-based, so it works acrossmultipleoperatingsystemsandcanintegratewithpopularinfrastructuredatabasesandInternetbrowsers.Essentially,this enables DocuShare to support a mix-and-matchenterprisecontent infrastructureandscale fromsmall

Software Sharing Enables Smarter Content Management

http://www.xerox.com

Spinoff 2007 Computer Technology 101

installationstolargeinstallations(involvingthousandsofusers)withoutextensivereplanningorinfrastructureoverhaulsbythecustomers.

InJanuary2006,the4.0.1versionoftheDocuSharesoftware was named “Best Document Manager” inInfoWorldmagazine’s “2006Technologyof theYearAwards.”Laterintheyear,XeroxunveiledDocuShare5.0andDocuShareCPX,twoECMsoftwareproductsbuilt on a single technology platform. According toXerox,organizationscanuseoneorbothapplicationsto

handletheircontentanddocumentmanagementneeds,suchasfinancialrecordkeepingordisclosure-relatedgov-ernmentregulations.

XeroxDocuShare,nowatversion6.0,wascreatedtomeettherequirementforbasic,widespreadcontentmanagement that can scale across an organization,whereasDocuShareCPX6.0providesmoreadvancedECM features required for high-end, process-centriccontentapplications.DocuShareCPXoffersanewcon-tentassimilationandreusefeature—generatedfromthe

technologypartnershipwithAmes—thatallowsXML(eXtensible Markup Language)-based content withindocumentstoberepurposedforfutureuse.ThefeatureiscalledXDB(eXtensibleDatabase).Xeroxstatedthatthisfeatureletsworkersorganizeandmanagesemi-structureddata,suchasbusinessformsortemplates,byleveragingexistinguserinterfacesincommonlyusedapplications,suchasMicrosoftWord,Excel,andPowerPoint.Withversion6.0,Xeroxshipsout-of-the-boxapplicationsthatmaketheXDBcontentaggregationandsummarizationcapabilitiesreadilyavailableinWordandExceltemplates,withoutsophisticatedprogramming.

“Withourdualproductstrategy,Xeroxischallengingthecurrententerprisecontentmanagementparadigm,”saidDavidSmith,vicepresidentandgeneralmanageroftheXeroxDocuShareBusinessUnit.“Wegivecustomerstheflexibilitytomixandmatchbothtypesofcontentmanagementsolutionsononeeasy-to-useplatform.”

Thisflexibilityaccommodateseducational,financial,healthcare,legalservice,andgovernmentorganizations,among many others. In education, for example, ithelpsfacultyandstaffsearchandstorestudentrecords,instructionalguidelines,andprogramcertifications,aswell asdistribute coursematerials for traditional andinteractivee-learninginitiatives.Additionally,inhealthcare, it enables organizations to engage in documentmanagementandquicklyretrieveitemssuchaspatientcharts,signedconsentforms,laboratoryresults,X-rays,caregivernotes, and clinical policies.DocuShare alsoprovidesthekeycapabilitiesforhealthcareorganizationsto ensure that any potential document managementsolutions support compliance with procedural andregulatory standards and requirements, such as thosesetbyTheJointCommissionandtheHealthInsurancePortabilityandAccountabilityAct.v

DocuShare®isaregisteredtrademarkofXeroxCorporation.

Microsoft®,Word®,Excel®,andPowerPoint®areregisteredtrade-marksofMicrosoftCorporation.

Xerox DocuShare CPX allows users to leverage the content that fuels transactional business functions—contracts, invoices, applications, and forms—more effectively and with greater flexibility than ever before.

10� Computer Technology Spinoff 2007


Designerrorsarecostly.Whenitcomestocreat-ingcomplexsystemsforaerospacedesignandtesting system readiness, engineering system

requirementsmustbeclearlydefined,andthesesystemsneedtobetestedtoensureaccuracy,consistency,andsafety.Testingasystem,however,canrequireasmuchas50to70percentofthetotaldesigncycletime.Theabilitytoidentifypotentialproblemsearlyinthedesigncycle saves timeandexpense,while still ensuring safeandreliablesystems.ThistypeofresearchisofinterestnotonlytotheNASAAmesResearchCenter’sRobustSoftwareEngineeringgroup,buttogovernmentagenciesandindustry,anysectorswhichbuildcritical,expensivesystems,suchascontrolsoftwareforanaircraftortheU.S.BallisticMissileDefenseSystem’scommandandcontrolsystem.

Partnership

To date, more than $6.5 million of governmentfunding has been dedicated to the development ofEDAptiveComputingInc.’s(ECI)EDAstarengineeringsoftware tool suite. NASA’s Ames Research Centerprovided a significant share of this funding, througha total of five Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)contracts(threePhaseIcontractsandtwoPhaseII contracts). This backing from Ames allowed theCenterville,Ohio-based company to generate criticalcomponentsofthesoftwaretoolsuite,namelySyscapeandVectorGen.

Syscapeisaplatform-portable,customizablesystemdesigneditorthatutilizesahierarchicalblockdiagramstructure, multiple design views, and user-definedplug-ins tocaptureexecutablespecificationsofmulti-disciplinarysystems.Theseexecutablespecificationscanbeusedtoanalyzeconceptsandrequirements;balancerisk and performance trade-offs among the varioussubsystems;developsystemandsubsystemspecifications;

andapplyformal,mathematicallyrigoroustechniquestoensuresafety,accuracy,andconsistency.Oncecreated,executable specifications can be used in conjunctionwith VectorGen to automatically generate tests toensure system implementations meet specifications.According to the company, the VectorGen tests

considerably reduce the time and effort required tovalidateimplementationofcomponents,therebyensuringtheirsafeandreliableoperation.

ThemultiagencySBIRsupporthas furtherallowedthecompanytoexpandoperationsfrom5coreemployeesin2000to15employeesin2007.Additionally,in2004,

Engineering Software Suite Validates System Design

With graphical editing tools, EDAstar-based solutions can be used to rapidly create high-level, high-confidence design concepts.

http://www.edaptive.com


EDAptiveComputingreceiveda$45,000commercial-izationassistanceawardfromtheNASAGlennGarrettMorganCommercializationInitiativetosupportmarket-ing,planning,andawarenesseffortsinthedefenseandaerospaceindustries.

ProductOutcome

EDAstar is ECI’s unique solution to completelycaptureandvalidatesystemdesignrequirements.Withgraphical editing tools, EDAstar-based solutions canbe used to rapidly create high-level, high-confidencedesignconceptswithautomaticallygeneratedtestsinafractionofthetimeneededbycurrentmethods.Further,EDAstarcanbeusedforsimulatingrequirements,assess-ingrisks,andcheckingtheirconsistencyandcorrectnessbeforeexpensivemistakesaremadeinsystemdesignanddevelopment.

In addition, EDAstar-generated tests, monitoring,andassertionscanbeusedtoverifyandvalidateadesignor implementation against its specification. EDAstarcomplementsandbridgesgapsinexistingcommercial-off-the-shelf(COTS)tool-baseddesignflows,fittinginthedesignflowbetweentoolstocapturerequirementsand tools tocreatedetailed specificationsanddesign.Furthermore,EDAstar tools andmodels canbeusedas the frameworkand semanticglue, respectively, forintegratingmultidisciplinarymodels,tools,andmethodsformodelingandsimulatingamultidisciplinarysystemofsystems.

EDAshield,anadditionalproductofferingfromECI,canbeusedtodiagnose,predict,andcorrecterrorsafterasystemhasbeendeployedusingEDAstar-createdmodels.EDAshieldisacollectionofmethodsandreusablesoft-wareandhardwareassetsforsystemsecurityandcanbeusedtoassuretrustworthiness,aswellasgenerateanti-tamper logictoprotecthardwareandsoftwareagainstreverseengineering.

Initial commercialization for theEDAstarproductincludedapplicationbya largeprimecontractor in a

militarysetting,plustheawardofa5-yearU.S.NavalAirSystemsCommanddeliveryordercontractwithaceilingofover$45million,entitled“Competent/COTSUpgradeRecertification Environment.” Customers includevariousbrancheswithintheU.S.DepartmentofDefense,industrygiantsliketheLockheedMartinCorporation,

Science Applications International Corporation, andBallAerospaceandTechnologiesCorporation,aswellasNASA’sLangleyandGlennResearchCenters.v

EDAstar™,EDAshield™,andSyscape™aretrademarksofEDAptiveComputingInc.

EDAstar can be used for simulating requirements, assessing risks, and checking their consistency and correctness before expensive mistakes are made in the system design and development.

Industrial Productivity

NASAtechnologiesaidindustry.Thebenefitsfeaturedinthissection:

Strengthen structures

Boost data transmission

Enhance precision fabrication

Broaden sensing horizons

Resist extreme heat and stress

Develop ultra-hard steel

Save time and energy

Streamline production

Control noise and vibration

Advance thermal management

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

106 Industrial Productivity and Manufacturing Technology Spinoff 2007


NASA has invested considerable time andenergy working with academia and privateindustrytodevelopnewcompositestructures

thatarecapableofstandinguptotheextremecondi-tionsofspace.Overtime,suchtechnologyhasevolvedfromtraditionalmonocoquedesigns,inwhichtheskinofametalstructureabsorbsthemajorityofstressthestructureissubjectedto,tomorecomplex,geometricdesignsthatnotonlyofferstrengthtocounteractstressloads,butalsoaddflexibility.

With an eye to next-generation space-deployablestructures,NASAiscontinuingtoidentifyadvancedcom-positematerialsanddesignsthatcouldeventuallybecomethemainstayoffuturemissions,beitintheframeworkofadvancedspacecraftorintheformofextraterrestrialoutpostsconstructedforlong-termspacehabitation.

OneofthestructuresinwhichNASAhasmadeaninvestmentistheIsoTrussgridstructure,anextensionofatwo-dimensional“isogrid”conceptoriginallydevelopedatMcDonnellDouglasAstronauticsCompany,undercon-tracttoNASA’sMarshallSpaceFlightCenterintheearly1970s.IsoTrussisalightweightandefficientalternativetomonocoquecompositestructures,andcanbeproducedinamannerthatinvolvesfairlysimpletechniques.

Partnership

Intheearly1990s,NASA’sLangleyResearchCenterhelped fund a 7-year research project that led to thedevelopmentofIsoTruss.DavidJensen,aprofessorofcivilengineeringatUtah’sBrighamYoungUniversity(BYU)anddirectoroftheschool’sCenterforAdvancedStructuralComposites, inventedthe technology,withassistance from several graduate students and furtherfundingfromtheNationalScienceFoundationandtheFederalHighwayAdministration.

Passionateaboutaerospace,JensenoriginallythoughtthatthiswouldbetheareainwhichIsoTrusswouldattain

themostsuccess.ThesupporthereceivedfromNASAwas fordevelopmentof space applications, includingevaluationofaproposedsolarsailthatcouldpropelacraftthroughspacebyharnessingsolarflux.Accordingtohim,averylightweightstructurewouldberequiredtostretchthesolarsailout,becauseofthehighcostsassociatedwithlaunchingmassintospace.

BYUinkedalicensingagreementwithspacesuitandsoftmaterialsdeveloperILCDoverLPinFebruary2002toevaluateuseofJensen’spatentedIsoTrusstechnologyon NASA’s conceptual solar sail-driven spacecraft.Though the project never came to fruition, JensencontinuestoexploreaerospaceapplicationsbasedonhisinitialsupportfromNASAtocreatethetechnology.

ProductOutcome

BYUhaslicensedtheIsoTrusstechnologyforuseintheUnitedStates,China,andJapan;negotiationsareinprocessforotherpartsoftheworld.

Thetechnologyisgarneringglobalattention,becauseit is extremely lightweight and as much as 12 timesstrongerthansteel(dependingontheapplication).Itistypicallyconstructedofcarbonand/orfiberglassfilamentsthatareinterwoveninanopen-latticedesign—longitudi-nalandhelicalreinforcementmembersformingtrianglesandpyramids that distribute stresses. (The “iso” and“truss”inIsoTrussrepresenttheisoscelestrianglesthattrussthepyramidsthatultimatelygivethestructureitsstrengthandstiffness.)AccordingtoJensen,thebreak-throughisnotthecompositematerialsusedtofabricatethestructure—asanyfiberandresincombinationcanbe used—but the three-dimensional, spider web-likestructuraldesignitself,sinceiteliminatestheweightofcomparablestructures,suchassolidwoodandtubularmetalpoles.Inessence,a90-poundIsoTrusscompositestructurecouldreplacea1,000-poundsteelpoleandstilloffertheequivalentstrength.

AnIsoTrussstructurecanbebuiltinmanydifferentgeometricconfigurationsandpossessesmanydifferent

geometricvariablessothatitcanbeoptimallytailoredformyriadapplications.Theopen-latticedesignenablesavarietyofstandardandinnovativeconnections,whileofferingsignificantresistancetocolumnbuckling.

Therearemanycostandenvironmentaladvantagesto IsoTruss, too: It is less expensive to manufacture,

Open-Lattice Composite Design Strengthens Structures

The IsoTruss technology delivers superior structural solutions that are lighter, stronger, and more efficient than traditional fiber-reinforced composites, metal, or wood.

Spinoff 2007 Industrial Productivity and Manufacturing Technology 10�

transport,andinstallthanwoodorsteel;thereislittle-to-nomaintenanceneeded,asitdoesnotrust,corrode,orrot;itisimpervioustoinsectandwoodpeckerdamage;itiseasytorepairandeasytoreplace,ifnecessary;itdoesnotcontainhazardousortoxicchemicals;anditcanbemadefromfullyrecyclablematerials.Whenusedasutilitypoles,IsoTrussstructurescanserveasanenvironmentallyfriendlyalternativetowoodenpoles,whicharetreatedwithchemicalpreservativesthatcouldpotentiallyharmthegroundandwatersupplies.

Furthermore, an IsoTruss structureoffers superiorwindresistance.Becauseofitsopen-latticedesign,winddragistypicallyreducedby30percent,ascomparedtoatraditionalwoodenpole.ThismeansthatanIsoTrusspoleismuchlesssusceptibletobreakingorfallingwhensubjectedtohighwinds—anotherreasonwhyitisagoodmatchforutility-relatedapplications.

IsoTruss utility pole applications are still on thehorizon, albeitwithplentyofpotential.According toa Wall Street Journal article from 2000, the UnitedStates alone requires approximately 4 million newutilitypoleseachyearjusttoreplacerottingwoodpoles,while rapidly developing Third World countries stillconstructingtheirpowerandcommunicationsdistributionsystemswillrequirehundredsofmillionsofpolesoverthenextdecade.

Meanwhile,IsoTrusshastakenoffintheformofmete-orologicaltowers.IsoTrussStructuresInc.,aUtah-basedlicenseeofthetechnology,issellingandinstallingmeteo-rologicaltowersthatare270-feethighandone-tenththeweightofsteel,pluslessexpensivetomanufactureandeasiertoinstallthansteeltowers.Thesetalltowersaredesignedtohandleharshweatherconditions,includingradialiceloadsupto1/2-inchthickandstrongwindsupto90milesperhour.

ThemeteorologicaltowershavebeenfittedwithwindinstrumentationandinstallednearthemouthofSpanishForkCanyon,Utah;inArizonaandNewYork;andonU.S.AirForcebases,wheretheyaremonitoringmeteo-

rologicalconditionsinpreparationfortheinstallationoflargewindturbinesthatgenerateelectricityfromwindpower.Sincewindcharacteristicsvarywithheight,thesetowersprovidemoreaccuratewindspeedandmeteoro-logicalmeasurements,enablingbetterpredictionofthepotentiallong-termenergyefficiencyoftallwindturbinetowers.AttheSpanishForksite,forexample,testsarebeingconductedtoevaluatetheeconomicandenergy-savingeffectsofthetower.

IsoTrussstructurescanalsobeemployedaspreassem-bled,three-dimensional,corrosion-resistantreinforcement

forconcretestructuresandasstandalonestructuralcol-umns.Theywererecentlyusedastilt-upwallbracesinconstructing the South Towne Exposition Center, inSandy,Utah.Atthissite,ittookjusttwoworkerstoinstallthesewallbraces (one toholdabrace inpositionandonetoinstalltheanchor),asopposedtothefiveworkersrequiredtoinstalltheneighboringsteelbraces(fourtoholdandonetoinstall).

IsoTruss is also being considered for use incommunication towers, military structures, freewaysign support structures, medical prostheses, farmingandirrigationequipment,vehicleandaircraftparts,andsportinggoodsequipment.

IsoTrussStructuresInc.andATKThiokolPropulsionhaveagreedtocollaborateontheanalysisanddistributionof composite lattice structures for commercial andmilitaryproducts.Thepactwillenablethetwocompaniestoprovideapplication-specific solutions tocustomersin themilitary, international aerospace industry, andcommercial markets that rely on high-performance,lightweightstructures.

Intherealmofsports,thereisoneuniqueapplicationthatmayeventuallyseethelightofdayasacommercialproduct.UnderthetutelageofJensen,agroupofBYUengineering students used the intertwining IsoTrusscompositematerials(carbonfiberandKevlar,inthiscase)toconstructamountainbike.Thelongitudinalframetubesweredesignedtoresistallaxialandbendingloads,whileotherIsoTrusspartswereusedtosupporttransversesheerandtorsionloads.Aclearsheathingwasplacedoversomeofthetubestoprotectthemfromthedirtandmudthatcankickupduringaride.Thestudentsinvolvedwiththeprojectaretoutingthebikeframetobelighter,moreaerodynamic,andlessbreakablethanmanytop-of-the-linecarbonfiberframes.v

IsoTruss®isaregisteredtrademarkofBrighamYoungUniversity.

Kevlar®isaregisteredtrademarkofE.I.DuPontdeNemoursandCompany.

Civil Engineering students at Brigham Young University built an ultra-strong, super-light mountain bike using carbon fiber IsoTrusses instead of regular cylindrical tubes.

www.isotruss.org



InJune2006,NASAscientistsusedextensivedatatransmittedfromtheChandraX-rayObservatorydeepspacetelescopetoprovethatupto25percent

ofthelightilluminatingtheuniversecomesfromthe“massivecrushofmattersuccumbingtotheextremegravityofblackholes.”

Sixmonthslater,inDecember,theMarsExplorationRover,Opportunity,photographedpatternsinthelay-eringofcrater-wallcliffsonMarsthataretheclearest

evidenceofancientsanddunestherobothasrecordedsincearrivingontheRedPlanetin2004.

Inhelpingtounravelmysteriessuchasthese,NASAdependsonadvanced,ultra-sensitivephotoreceiversandphotodetectorstoprovidehigh-dataratecommunicationsandpinpoint image-detection and -recognition capa-bilities,respectively,fromgreatdistancesspanningtheuniverse.Theseparticularpartsarenowbeingmanufac-turedwithmoresensitivitythaneverbefore,soNASA,instayingaheadofthecurve,isseekingnothingbutthebest

whenitcomestochoosingtechnologiesthatcontributetothesuccessofitsmissions.

Partnership

In2003,EpitaxialTechnologiesLLCwasawardedaSmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR)contractfromGoddardSpaceFlightCentertohelpNASAaddressitsneedforadvancedsensorcomponentsandsystemsfordeepspaceandMarsmissions.ABaltimore-basedmanufacturer and supplier of highly differentiatedsensor components for the aerospace, defense, andtelecommunicationsindustries,EpitaxialTechnologieshadpreviouslydevelopedanultra-sensitivephotoreceiverfor the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Department ofDefense’sDefenseAdvancedResearchProjectsAgency(DARPA).Accordingtothecompany,thisphotoreceiverwasbasedonthemonolithicintegrationofphotodiodedetectors,opticalamplifiers,andelectronicamplifiersonasinglechip;possessedalevelofsensitivityhigherthancompetingsensors;andcouldtransmitanextremelyhighrateofdatafromextremelyfardistances.

FortheNASASBIRproject,EpitaxialTechnologiesproposeddevelopinganevenbetter-performingversionofthisphotoreciever,whichthecompanyalreadyconsideredtobethebestofitskindatthetime.WithsupportfromGoddard,thecompanydevisedatechnologythatismoresensitive(capableofsinglephotonsensitivity),smallerinsize,lighterweight,andrequireslesspowerthanitspredecessor.Theresultingtechnologyisintendedtoboostdata rate transmissionswell into the terabit range forfuturespacemissions.Inaddition,ithasthepotentialforuseinNASA’sEarth-basedmissionsforremotesensingofcropsandothernaturalresources.

Ultra-Sensitive Photoreceiver Boosts Data TransmissionBlack holes grow by drawing gas from nearby objects such as stars into an accretion disk, a structure formed when material (usually gas) is being transferred from one celestial object to another.

http://www.epiwafers.com

Spinoff 2007 Industrial Productivity and Manufacturing Technology 109

ProductOutcome

EpitaxialTechnologies’newmonolithicphotoreceiverismakinga statementonEarthwithawide rangeofcommercial applications. It possesses the ability tooperate in several wavelength ranges for fiber opticcommunications,lawenforcement(radar),commerciallaserrangefindingandimaging,andquantumencryptionandcomputing.Italsohasapplicationsforfluorescenceand phosphorescence detection in chemical andbiochemicalassays.

Forfiberopticcommunications,thereisgreatpotentialfortheultra-sensitivephotoreceivertoboostmanymilitaryandcivilianapplications.Althoughcomponentsforhigh-speedtransceiversarewidelyavailable,theycanbeeithertooexpensive,ortheirbandwidthanddistancecapabilitiescanbeinadequate,claimsEpitaxialTechnologies.Insharpcontrast,thecompanysaysitsphotoreceiverhelpsreducethecostoffiberopticsystemsandhelpsenablehigherbandwidthandlongerdistancecapabilitiessuitableforfiberopticnetworking,especiallyinmetropolitanopticalnetworksandlong-haulcommunications.

ThereisalsogreatpotentialforEpitaxialTechnologies’photoreceiver in military and civilian active laserimagingandfree-spacelasercommunication.Thesetwoapplications focuson the transmissionof laserenergythrough the atmosphere.During these transmissions,many problems related to signal reception andinterferencecanoccur,affectingfunctionssuchaslaserpointing,tracking,andspeckle(lightpatternsresultingfromthereflectionofcoherentlightatroughsurfaces),aswellasinformationprocessing.Typically,electronicamplificationof the receivedoptical signal is appliedtoalleviatetheseproblems;however,thisapproachcancreatemorenoise.EpitaxialTechnologies’answertothisistoapplyopticalamplificationtechniquesatthechiplevel to increase signal strengthwithminimumnoiseamplificationand,thus,increasethetransmissiondistanceandovercomeatmosphericattenuation.

EpitaxialTechnologiesisalsointhebusinessofdevel-opingothertypesof low-cost,ultra-sensitivedetectioncomponents,soitisalwaysseekingopportunitiestofur-therdevelophigh-performancetelecommunicationsandimagingapplications.In2006,thecompanywasagain

A NASA-funded research project helped Epitaxial Technologies LLC to commercialize its avalanche photodiode and photon counting sensor technologies. Pictured here is a receiver chip.

Top end of a lens for a detector/receiver package.

selectedtoparticipateintheNASASBIRprogramwithGoddard.Thistime,thecompanyisdevelopingmono-lithic,time-delayphotodiodearraysforNASAsatellitetrackingandvehicledocking,withtheintenttospinoffanothertechnologywithterrestrialbenefits.v



InPresidentRonaldReagan’s1984StateoftheUnionaddress,heannouncedplansforaU.S.spacestation,theequivalentoftheRussianspacestation,Mir.This

announcementsetoffaflurryofcongressionalfundingdebates, and itwasnotuntil1988 that thePresidentannouncedthataconsensushadbeenreachedandtheprojectwouldgoforward.Theprojectwasnamed“SpaceStationFreedom.”

Itwastobeapermanentlymanned,Earth-orbitingoutpostthatcouldserveasarepairshopfortheshuttlefleet, amicrogravity laboratory, anobservationpointforastronomers,andanassemblystationforspacecraftheading even farther into space. The project cameto an end,unrealized, in1990,when itwas revealedthat thedesignwasoverbudget,overweight,andhadbeensocomplicatedandcompromisedbythepoliticaldebatesandbudgetrestrictionsthatitcouldnolongerberealized.

AlthoughFreedomnevermadeitpastthedesignstages,the science, andmany aspectsof theoriginal designs,made their way onto the International Space Station(ISS),whosefirstcomponentwaslaunchedin1998.Forinstance, several advanced thermal systems developedforcoolingeverythingfrombatterycomponentstocrewcabinsoriginallydesignedforSpaceStationFreedomarestillinuseontheISS.

These thermal systems, while more advanced andspecializedthanmostusedonEarth,likemanyterrestrialrefrigerators,employevaporativeammoniaastheircool-ant.Tocreatethissimplerefrigerant,heatisappliedtoamixtureofwaterandammoniauntilthesolutionreachestheboilingpointoftheammonia.Theboilingsolutionthenflowstoanotherchamber,wheretheammoniagasseparatesfromthewater.Thegasfloatsupwardstoacon-denser,whereaseriesoffinsandcoilscoolit,allowingittocondensebackintoaliquid.Theliquidammoniathenflowstoanevaporator,whereitismixedwithhydrogen

gas,and,whenitevaporates,producescoldtemperatures.Havingfulfilleditsrefrigeratingpurposes,theammonia,alongwiththehydrogen,mixesagainwith thewater.Thissolutionreleasesthehydrogengas,whereitreturnstoawaittheammoniagas,asthecyclecontinues.

Eventhoughthissameseriesofchemicalreactionsisusedinspace-boundrefrigeratorsasinterrestrialversions,thespace-boundcoolersmusthaveonemajordifference:theymustbesignificantlysmaller.Refrigeratorsarenoto-riouslyheavy,andweightisalwaysapayloadconcernforspace-boundequipment,sotheSpaceAgencyneededtoengineersmarter,moreefficientthermalsystems.

Partnership

Inthe1980s,throughtwoSmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contractswithJohnsonSpaceCenter,Dr.JavierValenzuelaworkedonaprojecttodevelopanammoniaevaporatorforthermalmanagementsystemsaboardFreedom.Atthetime,hewasservingastheprin-cipalinvestigatorforthesecontractswhileworkingwithCreareInc.,ofHanover,NewHampshire.

In1991,ValenzuelaformedMikrosTechnologiesInc.,basedinClaremont,NewHampshire,tocommercializetheworkhehaddoneunder theNASAcontracts. In

Micro Machining Enhances Precision Fabrication

Artist’s concept of the Space Station Freedom, a design that led to many of the technologies currently aboard the International Space Station.

http://www.mikrostechnologies.com


2001,thecompanywasawardedtwoSBIRresearchcon-tractsfromGoddardSpaceFlightCenterandis,tothisday,activelyengagedinadvancingmicro-fabricationandhigh-performancethermalmanagementtechnologies.

ProductOutcome

ThetechniqueValenzueladevelopedwasanadvancedformofmicro-electricaldischargemachining (micro-EDM)tomaketinyholesintheammoniaevaporator.Theevaporatorreliedondropletimpingementcoolingtoachievehighheatfluxandlowthermalresistance.Manythousandsof smallnozzleswere required to“print”athinlayerofammoniaoverthesurfaceoftheevaporator.However,notechnologyexistedatthattimeforthefabri-cationofsuitablyshapedmicro-nozzlesinmetals.Mikros’micro-EDMtechnologywasdevelopedtomeetthisneed.Micro-EDMisanerosionprocess, inwhichelectricaldischargesbetweentwoelectrodes(oneonthetool,andtheotherontheconductiveworksurface)machineverysmallholes,channels,andcavities.

Micro-EDMcancutcomplexshapesintoavarietyofconductivematerials,regardlessofthematerial’shardness,evenhardmaterialssuchassteelsandcarbides.Itcanalsobeusedonmaterialslikeferritesandsilicon,whichhavethetendencytocrackorbecomebrittlewhenexposedtotraditional(macro)EDM.

AllEDMhastheadditionaladvantageofnoncontactmachining.Themethod,whichreliesonagapbetweenthetoolandworksurfaceforthedischargingofthespark,allowstheprocesstotakeplacewithnopressurebeingplacedonthematerial.Thismeansthatmicro-EDMcanbeusedonverythinandveryfragilesurfaces,andevenoncurvedsurfaces,withoutdamagingthem.

Mikroshashadgreatsuccessapplyingthismethodtothefabricationofmicro-nozzlearraysystemsforindustrialinkjetprintingsystems.Thecompanyiscurrentlytheworldleaderinfabricationofstainlesssteelmicro-nozzlesforthismarket.Itroutinelyfabricatesnozzlearrayswithhundredsoreventhousandsofshapednozzleswithdiam-

involvedwithGoddardthroughtheSBIRcontractstodevelopahigh-heatfluxcapillaryevaporatorforuseinloopheatpipesorcapillarypumpedloops.v

Breadboard and test station of Mikros’ High-Heat Flux Evaporator for the Phase II NASA SBIR project.

etersrangingfrom30to80microns.Themicro-nozzlearraysaremachinedinthin, free-standingfoils,oronfoilsthatarediffusionbondedtothickersubstrateswithcomplexinternalflowpassages.

The company has continued its relationship withtheSpaceAgency,too.Itsotherdivision,inadditiontomicro-EDM,isthermalsystems,whichiscurrentlystill

11� Industrial Productivity and Manufacturing Technology Spinoff 2007


Allobjectsreflectacertainamountofenergy,evenifitisjusttheelectromagneticenergycreatedbythemovementofelectricallychargedmolecules.

Measurementsofthesereflectedenergies,calledspectra,canbeusedtocreateimagesofobserveditemsandcanthusservetoidentifyobjectsandsubstances.Tocreateaspectralimage,theintensityoftheenergyanobjectisreflectingismeasuredatdifferentwavelengths,andthenthesemeasurementsareassignedcolors.

These imagescanbesimple,astheyoftenarewithbroadbandormultispectralimaging,inwhichanimagemayconsistofveryfewmeasurements.Anexampleofthiswouldbethetypeofpicturescreatedbyinfraredor“nightvision”equipment.Thisbroadbandmultispectralimag-ingcanbeveryhelpfulinshowingdifferencesinenergybeingradiatedandisoftenemployedbyNASAsatellitestomonitortemperatureandclimatechanges.

Imagesthatarecreatedwithhundredstothousandsofspectra,hyperspectralimages,allowformoresubtlefeaturestobeshown,includingthedistinctionbetweennaturalandman-madeobjects.Hyperspectralimagingisidealforadvancedlaboratoryuses,biomedicalimaging,forensics,counter-terrorism,skinhealth,foodsafety,andEarthimaging.

Engineers at NASA’s Stennis Space Center workwiththeInstituteforTechnologyDevelopment(ITD),anonprofitresearchcompanylocatedonsiteatStennis,todevelopnewhyperspectralimagingtechnologies.ITDhasbeenattheforefrontofimagingtechnologiessinceitopenednearly20yearsago,revolutionizingthefieldsofhigh-resolutionimagingandmeasurementtechnology,withafocusontransferringthisnewfoundtechnologytoindustry.Recentworkledtoreducedsensorsizes,elimi-nationoftheneedforeitherthesensorortargettobeinmotioninordertoobtainimages,andthedevelopmentofaportablehyperspectralimagingdeviceapplicableforawidevarietyofuses.

Partnership

The portable device created by the NASA-ITDpartnershipwaslicensed,andin2003,anewspinoffcom-pany,PhotonIndustriesInc.,wasformed.In2005,ITDanditsstart-upbroughtthetechnologyandbusinessplantotheWorldTechnologiesVentureCapitalExposition,heldthatyearinTexas,whereitwasdiscoveredbyLextelIntelligenceSystemsLLC,of Jackson,Mississippi. InNovember2005,Lextelpurchasedthecompanyanditscutting-edgeNASAtechnology.

Theacquisitionwasagreatboonforthetechnology,asitnowhadaccesstoworldwidemarketing,andlater

thatyear, itwas inducted into theSpaceTechnologyHallofFame,createdbytheSpaceFoundation,incoop-erationwithNASA,toincreasepublicawarenessofthebenefitsthatresultfromspaceexplorationprogramsandtoencouragefurtherinnovation.

ProductOutcome

Sincetheacquisition,inadditiontowinningawards,Lextel has also added new features to and expandedtheapplicabilityofthehyperspectralimagingsystems.Ithasmadeadvancesinthesize,usability,andcostofthe instruments. The company now offers a suite ofturnkey hyperspectral imaging systems based on the

Portable Hyperspectral Imaging Broadens Sensing Horizons

Lextel Intelligence Systems LLC made advances in the size, usability, and cost of the NASA-developed portable hyperspectral imaging instruments. The company now offers a suite of turnkey hyperspectral imaging systems based on the original NASA groundwork.

http://www.lextelcorp.com

http://www.lextelcorp.com


originalNASAgroundwork.Itcurrentlyhasfourlinesofhyperspectralimagingproducts:theEagleEyeVNIR100E, theEagleEyeSWIR100E, theEagleEyeSWIR200E,andtheEagleEyeUV100E.

TheEagleEyeVNIR100Espansthespectrumfromthevisibletoinfrared,measuringthereflectedenergyofthetargetathundredsofnarrowwavelengths.Itincorpo-ratesapatentedline-scanningtechniquethateliminatestheneedforrelativemovementbetweenthetargetandthesensor,whicheliminatestheneedforliquidcrystaltunablefilters,whichsufferfromrelativelylowthrough-put.TheEagleEyeusesaprism-gratingprismtoseparateincominglightintocomponentwavelengths,amethodthatloseslessenergyandis,therefore,especiallyusefulinsituationswherehighsignal-to-noiseratiosareimportant.EachimagecreatedbytheVNIR100Econtainsacom-pletereflectancespectrumfrom400to1,000nanometersforeverypictureelementintheimage.

Thenextproduct inLextel’s suiteofhyperspectralimaging instruments is the EagleEye SWIR 100E.

Eachimagecreatedbythisdevicecontainsacompletereflectancespectrumfrom900to1,700nanometersforeverypictureelementintheimage.

ThethirdproductinthesuiteistheEagleEyeSWIR200E. Each image created by this device contains acomplete reflectance spectrum from 1,000 to 2,500nanometersforeverypictureelementintheimage.

Lextel’sfourthproductistheEagleEyeUV100E,aninstrumentthatwillspanthespectrumfromultraviolettothermal infrared.Withthis instrument, the imagescontainacompletereflectancespectrumfrom200to400nanometersforeverypictureelementintheimage.

LextelhasdistributorsforthesehyperspectralimaginginstrumentsintheUnitedStates,Canada,Europe,China,Japan,andIsrael.Theyarecurrentlyusedworldwideforawidevarietyofapplicationsincludingmedical,military,forensics,andfoodsafety,tonamejustafew.

InMarch2006,LextelenteredintoanagreementwithITDandNASAtocontinuetoimproveuponthealreadyadvancedsensingsystems.Thethreeentitiesarecurrentlyworking on methods for incorporating hyperspectralfluorescenceintotheinstruments.

In November 2006, Lextel also entered into anagreementwithHeadwallPhotonicsInc.,ofFitchburg,Massachusetts, to build a product line based on theconvex grating reflective spectrograph design. Thiswillallowtheworldwidecustomerbasetohaveachoicebetween prism-grating prism systems or reflective-basedsystems.Therewillalsobeworkbetweenthetwogroups to incorporate their microspectrographs intoLextel’snextgenerationsystem,TheMicroIntelligentImagingSystem.v

Lextel Intelligence Systems LLC has distributors for its hyperspectral imaging instruments all throughout the world. They are currently used for a wide variety of applications including medical, military, forensics, and food safety uses.

Microscope slide examined using a hyperspectral imaging instrument.



OnOctober14,1947,CaptainCharles“Chuck”Yeagermadehistorywhenhebecamethefirstpilotinanofficiallydocumentedflighttoever

breakthesoundbarrier.FlyingaBellXS-1testjetovertheMohaveDesert,Yeagerhitapproximately700milesperhour,whenaloudboomthunderedacrossthebarrenlandscape as he crossed from subsonic to supersonicspeeds.Thesonicboom,akintothewakeoftheplane’sshockwavesintheair,occurredatMach1—thespeedofsound(namedafterErnstMach,anAustrianphysicistwhoseworkfocusedontheDopplereffectandacoustics).

This eventually led to the famous 3-hour trans-AtlanticflightsoftheConcorde,travelingatMach2,andthedevelopmentoffighterjets,whichbeganroutinelycrossingthesoundbarrier—theeraofsupersonicflight.AtNASA,however,aerospaceengineerswantedtogofaster—hypersonicorMach5;fivetimesthespeedofsound.Theycontinuedtopushthelimitsofspeed,set-tingaworldrecordinOctober1967,whichheldfor35yearsatMach6.7,intheNASA-designedX-15aircraft.

Nevercontenttorestonitslaurels,theSpaceAgencywantedtogoevenfaster.NASAbegantheX-43Aproject,

thepurposeofwhichwastogoMach10.The“X”inthename,as inX-1andX-15,signifies that theseareexperimentalaircraft,notintendedformassproduction,butbuiltsolelyforflightresearch,andthe43indicatesthatitwasthe43rdsuchaircraft.

Themajorexperimentalfeatureofthisparticularair-craftwasascramjetengine,whichkicksinataboutMach6.Inanormaljetengine,bladescompresstheair,butinthescramjet,thecombustionofhydrogenfuelinastreamofairiscompressedbythehighspeedoftheaircraftitself.ToachieveMach10,theX-43AwasfirstcarriedupintotheairattachedtoaB-52andthen“jumpstarted”withaPegasusrocket.

Itwasamultiyearexperimentandinvolvedbuildingthree testvehicles.The first twoweremeant to reachspeedsofuptoMach7,andthethirdwasreachingfordoubledigits:Mach10.NASAhopedthatthesethreeunmannedcraftswouldallowaerospaceengineerstofur-theradvanceunderstandingofhypersonicflightandthatthelessonslearnedcouldbeappliedtoincreasepayloadcapacityforfuturevehicles,includinghypersonicaircraftandreusablespacelaunchers.

Tullahoma,Tennessee-basedATK-GASLbuilt theX-43A and its engine, while the Huntington Beach,California-basedBoeingCompany’sPhantomWorksdesigned the thermalprotectionandonboard system.Thebooster, amodifiedPegasus rocket,wasbuiltbyOrbitalSciencesCorporationatthecompany’sfacilityinChandler,Arizona.TheprogramwasjointlymanagedbyNASA’sDrydenFlightResearchCenterandLangleyResearchCenter.

ThefirstX-43AdroppedfromtheB-52carrierair-craftonJune2,2001andspunoutofcontrolwhentheboosterrocketfailedtooperateproperly.Itwasdestroyed

andallowedtofallintotheocean.Thesecondtestvehiclelaunchwasasuccess,makingtheX-43Athefastestfree-flying,air-breathingaircraftintheworld.OnNovember16, 2004, NASA launched the third X-43A scramjetaircraft,whichreachedrecord-breakingspeedsnearMach9.8atanaltitudeofaround110,000feet.TheaircraftstillholdstheGuinnessWorldRecord.

Partnership

Through research contractswithNASA,MaterialsandElectrochemicalResearchCorporation(MER),ofTucson,Arizona,contributedanumberoftechnologiestotheserecord-breakingflights.Overthecourseof6years,MERcompletedPhaseII Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)contractswithGoddardSpaceFlightCenter, Langley Research Center, the Jet PropulsionLaboratory,JohnsonSpaceCenter,andMarshallSpaceFlightCenter.BypartneringwithNASAthroughthesecontracts,MERdevelopeda coating that successfully

Hypersonic Composites Resist Extreme Heat and Stress

The X-4�A flights were the first actual flight tests of an aircraft powered by a scramjet engine capable of operating at hypersonic speeds (above Mach �, or five times the speed of sound).

The first X-4�A hypersonic research aircraft and its modified Pegasus booster rocket were carried aloft by NASA’s B-�� carrier aircraft from Dryden Flight Research Center on June �, �001, for the first of three high-speed free flight attempts.

http://www.mercorp.com/mercorp/

http://www.mercorp.com/mercorp/


passed testing at simulatedMach10 conditions, andprovidedseveralcarbon-carbon(C-C)compositecompo-nentsfortheflights.

MERcreatedalloftheleadingedgesfortheX-43AtestvehiclesatDryden.Consideredthemostcriticalpartsofthisexperimentalcraft,theleadingedgeshadseveralspecificrequirements.Asthevehicle’sspeedincreased,sodidheatandthermalload,approaching4,000°F,wellabovethetemperaturestheshuttleisexposedtoduring

reentry.Inadditiontobeingveryheatresistant,thecoat-inghadtobeverylightweightandthin,astheaircraftwasdesignedtoveryprecisespecificationsandcouldnotaffordtohaveabulkycoating.

Intotal,11C-Cleadingedgeswerecreatedforthenose, the chines (the areaswhere thebodymeets thewing),theverticals,and2horizontals.ThesepartsweremadewithP-30Xgraphitefibers,usingaliquidmatrixprocess.Averyhighprocesstemperaturewasutilizedto

renderthehigh-thermalconductivity.ThepartswerefirstprocessedintheformofaC-Cbillet,andthenmachinedto NASA specifications. Oxidation protection wasachievedbyadualchemicalvaporreactionandchemicalvapordepositionprocess.

ProductOutcome

Totakeadvantageofcommercializingthesespecializedcomposites,MERpatenteditsC-Ccompositeprocessandthenformedaspinoffcompany,FrontierMaterialsCorporation(FMC),inTucson,Arizona.FMCisusingthepatentinconjunctionwithlow-costPAN(polyacry-lonitrile)-basedfiberstointroducethesematerialstothecommercialmarkets.

TheC-Ccomposites are very lightweight, yet stillhavegreatstrengthandstiffness,evenatveryhightem-peratures.They canbeproducedwith either low- orhigh-thermalconductivity,andwhengraphitized,theyhave superiorelectricalconductivity.Evenwithallofthesecharacteristics,thecarboncompositesarestillrela-tivelyinexpensive.

Thecompositeshavebeenusedinindustrialheatingapplications,theautomotiveandaerospaceindustries,aswellasinglassmanufacturingandonsemiconductors.C-Ccompositeshavebeenused in industrialheatingfixturesintheformofstructuralflatpanels,structuralmembersforpanelsupport,andfornutsandbolts.Inthe automotive industry, the composites have beenuseful forenginecomponents,brakes,cylinder liners,andpanels.Aerospaceapplicationshaveincludedmissilebodies, leading edges, and structured components.Applicationsalsoincludetransfercomponentsforglassmanufacturingandstructuralmembersforcarriersupportinsemiconductorprocessing.v

MER’s carbon-carbon composites are very lightweight, yet still have great strength and stiffness, even at very high temperatures.



GlennResearchCenter’sMechanicalComponentsBranchroutinelyconductsresearchontransmis-sions and gearing for advanced gas turbines,

promotingtheirsafety,weightreduction,andreliability.TheMechanicalComponentsBranchisstaffedbybothNASAandU.S.ArmyResearchLaboratoryemployees,andtheresearchprogramisdesignedandexecutedtomeettheneedsofbothorganizations.Theresearchershavedevelopedaworld-classsetofinstrumentsandtestdevices,includingaspiralbevelorfacegeartestrigfortestingthermalbehavior,surfacefatigue,strain,vibration,andnoise;afull-scale,500-horsepowerhelicoptermain-rotortransmissiontestingstand;agearrigthatallowsfundamentalstudiesofthedynamicbehaviorofgearsys-temsandgearnoise;andahigh-speedhelicalgeartestforanalyzingthermalbehaviorforrotorcraft.ThesearejustafewexamplesofthehighlyspecializedequipmenttheresearchersattheMechanicalComponentsBranchhaveattheirdisposal.

Since 1972, the branch’s spur gear fatigue rig hasset the standard for gear surface fatigue experiments,enablingdevelopmentofrobust,efficient,andsafegasturbinesandrotorcraft.Thetestrigprovidesacceleratedfatigue life testing for standard spur gears at speedsof up to 10,000 rotations per minute, and enablesengineers to investigate the effects of materials, heattreat,shotpeen,lubricants,aswellasotherfactors,onthegear’sperformance.

Partnership

QuesTekInnovationsLLC,basedinEvanston,Illinois,isaninnovativematerialssolutionscompanythatdesignsanddevelopsnewmaterialsinlessthan50percentofthetimeandatlessthan30percentofthecostoftraditionalempiricalmethods.

QuesTek provides unique materials solutions to avarietyofcustomersbyusingitspowerfulmechanistic

computational models to design steels and alloys tocustomer requirements. The company’s methodologyuniquelyallowsfordesigntrade-offs,suchassteelsopti-mallybalanced for strength, toughness, andcorrosionresistance.Employing computationalmaterialsdesigntechniques, QuesTek uses fundamental thermody-namicandkineticdatatopredictalloymicrostructures;incontrast to traditional empirical—trial anderror—approaches.

QuesTekrecentlydevelopedacarburized,martensiticgearsteelwithanultra-hardcaseusingitscomputationaldesignmethodology,butneededtoverifysurfacefatigue,lifecycleperformance,andoverallreliability.

TheBattelleMemorialInstitute,anonprofitglobalscience and technology enterprise that develops andcommercializes technology and manages laboratories

forcustomers,introducedthecompanytoresearchersatGlenn’sMechanicalComponentsBranchandfacilitatedapartnershipallowingresearchersattheNASACentertoconductspurgearfatiguetestingforthecompany.

TestingrevealedthatQuesTek’sgearsteeloutperformsthecurrentstate-of-the-artalloysusedforaviationgearsincontactfatiguebyalmost300percent.Thistestinggeneratednecessarydatatodemonstratethesuperiorityoftheultra-hardcasealloyandquantifiedthecontactfatiguebenefitattainableusingQuesTek’smaterial.However,bendingfatiguetestingdemonstratedthatthebendingfatiguecapabilityofthenewsteelwassomewhatlessthanthecapabilityofthecurrentstate-of-the-artalloysusedforaviationgears.Thetestdatahasprovidedguidanceforengineerstoselectthebestcombinationofpropertiestosatisfytherequirementsofagivenapplication.

ProductOutcome

WiththeconfidenceandcredibilityprovidedbytheNASAtesting,QuesTekiscommercializingtwonewsteelalloys.These alloys combinemaximumcasehardnesswith a tough,ductile core,promotinghighwear andcontactfatiguelifeandoffera20-percentincrease(ormore)ingearenduranceinhigh-powerdensityaerospacetransmissionsystems.

Usesforthisnewclassofsteelarelimitlessinareasneeding exceptional strength for high-throughputapplications.Thematerialisalreadybeingusedinracingmarkets.Forinstance,QuesTek’sC61materialwasthepowerbehind theClass1600champion in lastyear’sBaja1000off-roadrace.Asidefromracing,thishigh-performancematerialisintestingforheavyequipmentgearing and in oil/gas gearing applications. NASA isinterestedinthematerialsforuseindevelopingverticaltakeoff and landing vehicles, based on conventionalrotorcraft but with the speed and high-altitudeperformanceofturbopropellers.Advancementsingeardesignandreliabilitymakepossiblethedevelopmentofthesehighlyspecializedvehicles.v

Computational Modeling Develops Ultra-Hard Steel

Uses for this new class of steel are limitless in areas needing exceptional strength for high-throughput applications.

http://www.questek.com



Iceaccumulationisaserioussafetyhazardforaircraft.Thepresenceoficeonairplanesurfacespreventstheevenflowofair,whichincreasesdragandreduceslift.

Iceonwingsisespeciallydangerousduringtakeoff,whenasheetoficethethicknessofacompactdisccanreduceliftby25percentormore.Iceaccumulatedonthetailofanaircraft(aspotoftenoutofthepilot’ssight)canthrowoffaplane’sbalanceandforcethecrafttopitchdownward,aphenomenonknownasatailstall.

TheIcingBranchatNASA’sGlennResearchCenterusestheCenter’sIcingResearchTunnel(IRT)andIcingResearchAircraft,aDeHavillandTwinOttertwin-engineturbopropaircraft, to researchmethods forevaluatingandsimulatingthegrowthoficeonaircraft,theeffectsthaticemayhaveonaircraftinflight,andthedevelop-ment and effectiveness of various ice protection anddetectionsystems.

Partnership

EGC Enterprises Inc. (EGC), of Chardon, Ohio,usedtheIRTtodevelopthermoelectricthin-filmheatertechnologytoaddressin-flighticingonaircraftwings.Working with researchers at Glenn and the originalequipmentmanufacturersofaircraftparts,thecompanytested various thin, flexible, durable, lightweight,andefficientheatersanddevelopedathin-filmheatertechnology that theydiscoveredcanbeused inmanyapplications, in addition to being an effective deicerforaircraft.

ProductOutcome

TheresultofthisresearchwasthedevelopmentofanewthermoelectricheaterthecompanyhasdubbedtheQ•FoilRapidResponseThin-FilmHeater,orQ•Foil,forshort.Theproductmeetsallcriteriaforin-flightuseandpromisesgreatadvancesinthin-film,rapidresponse

heatertechnologyforabroadrangeofindustrialapplications.Primaryadvantages include time savings,increasedefficiency,andimprovedtemperatureuniformity.

EGCmakes theheatersoutofthin layers of varying materialsthat are bonded to form heaterlaminates. The inner layer, madeofaflexiblegraphitefoil(marketedseparatelybyEGCasThermaFoil),iselectro-thermallyconductiveand

typically laminated between a heat-conducting outerlayer,andaprotectiveinsulatinglayer.Theinnerlayerprovidesfullelectricalconductivity,eliminatingtheneedfor wire elements, metal etchings or heat-conductivefibers.Inadditiontobeingreadilyavailableandrelativelyinexpensive,thegraphitefoilisenergyefficient.

BecauseQ•Foilconductsheatwellandcancoveralargearea,littleenergyisneededforittoraisethesurfacetemperaturetothenecessarydegree,anditiscapableofheatincreasesasrapidas100°Fpersecondifneeded,which can translate into savings in time or energy.Designerscanconfigureittoheatanitemmorequicklyortoheatanitemtothesametemperatureasotherheat-erswould,whileexpendinglessenergy.

NotonlydoesQ•Foilworkquicklyandefficiently,itisalsoprecise,controllabletowithin3°F.Ifitisbeingusedforanapplicationthatrequiresdifferenttemperaturezones,Q•Foilcanalsobeconfiguredtoaccommodatethiswithinthesameheatingcoil.

While theproduct isavailable inavarietyof sizes,ranging from 1 square inch to 100-foot lengths, thecompanynotesthatitismostefficientoverlargespaces,asthisallowstheusertogetthemostadvantageofitsuniquecost-andenergy-savingproperties.Thin-filmflexibilityallows it tobemountedtoavarietyofobjects,anditmaintainsflexibilitythroughafullrangeoftemperatures.The company has services to assist customers withdeterminingtherightdimensionsanddesignstheywillrequireforaspecificjob.

Inadditiontowingdeicing,EGChasbegunlookingat thematerial’susefulness for applications includingcooking griddles, small cabinet heaters, and severallaboratoryuses.v

Q•Foil™isatrademark,andThermaFoil®isaregisteredtrademarkofEGCEnterprisesInc.

Thin, Light, Flexible Heaters Save Time and Energy

Developed in conjunction with NASA for in-flight aircraft deicing, Q•Foil heaters are now available for a broad range of applications from as small as a single square inch to as large as several square feet, and provide extremely rapid thermal response and even heating for a wide array of temperature ranges.

http://www.egc-ent.com/html



Nanotubesaresheetsofgraphite,oneatomthick,rolledintoseamlesscylinders,withanexteriordiameter in the range of nanometers. For a

senseofperspective,ifyouweretosplitahumanhairinto50,000independentstrands,ananotubewouldbeaboutthesizeofoneofthosestrands.

Whatwouldsomeonedowithanythingthatsmall?These nanostructures have novel qualities that makethemuniquelyqualifiedforaplethoraofuses,includingapplicationsinelectronics,optics,andotherscientificandindustrialfields.

Thesethin,hollowtubeshaveremarkablestrength,especiallyconsideringtheirmicroscopicsize.Strongerthansteel,nanotubestrandscanbeusedtoformextremelystrong, yet lightweight, materials. They are efficientconductorsofheat(abletowithstandtemperaturesupto2,000°Cintheabsenceofoxygen)andalsopossessuniqueelectricalproperties.Nanotubescanbemanufacturedsothattheyconductelectricityaswellascopper,butcanalsobemadetofunctionassemiconductors(abletoswitchfromconductingelectricitytoinsulatingfromit),makingthemquitevaluableintheproductionofminiaturizedelectroniccomponents.

Althoughscientistshavebeenawareofthesenanostruc-turessincetheirdiscoveryin1991byJapanesephysicistDr.SumioIijima,practicalusehasbeenthwartedbythehighcosts,complexity,andevendangerofmanufactur-ingthem.AgroupofresearchersatGoddardSpaceFlightCenter,ledbyDr.JeannetteB.Benavides,however,devel-opedamanufacturingprocessforsingle-walledcarbonnanotubes(SWCNTs)thatovercomestheseobstacles.

Typicalmethods forcreating thesenanostructures,whetherchemicalvapordeposition,laserablation,micro-wave,orhigh-pressurecarbonmonoxideconversion,usemetalcatalyststoencouragethecarbontogrowintothetubeshape,asopposedtocappingandsealing.TheNASAprocessusesheliumarcweldingtovaporizeanamorphous

carbonrodandthenformnanotubesbydepositingthevaporontoawater-cooledcarboncathode,whichthenyieldsbundles,orropes,ofsingle-wallednanotubesatarateof2gramsperhourusingasinglesetup.

The NASA-developed process eliminates the costsassociatedwiththeuseofmetalcatalysts,includingthecost of product purification, resulting in a relativelyinexpensive,high-quality,verypureendproduct.Theprocessemploysanarcwelder,aheliumpurge,anicewaterbath,andbasicprocessingexperience.Thissignificantlysimplifiespreviouscomplex,dangerousmanufacturing

processes, which required expensive equipment likevacuum chambers, dangerous gasses, and extensivetechnicalknowledge.

While managing to be less expensive, safer, andsimpler,theprocessalsoincreasesthequalityofthenano-tubes.Sincenometalcatalystisused,nometalparticlesneedtoberemovedfromtheproduct.Theeliminationofthesemetalimpuritiesincreasesthetemperatureatwhichthematerialswilldegradeandeliminatesanydamagethatmayhavebeencausedbypurificationprocessesusedtoremovemetalresidue.

Novel Nanotube Manufacturing Streamlines Production

NASA’s single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) manufacturing process eliminates the costs associated with the use of metal catalysts, including the cost of product purification. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced significantly for high-quality, very pure SWCNTs.


Partnership

In2003,BenavidesfiledaNewTechnologyReportatGoddard,bringingherinventiontotheattentionofthe Center’s Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP)office, which acknowledged the role this productionprocesscouldplay inmakingcarbonnanotubesmoreaccessible.TheIPPofficestartedtheprocessoffindingcommercialpartners.

Togetthiscutting-edgeprocessintothehandsofthepublic,Goddard’sIPPofficepromotedthetechnologyinprint,online,andatindustryconferences.In2005,thetechnologycapturedtheinterestofWayneWhitt,an entrepreneur interested in forming an advancedmaterials corporation, but who was in search of aninnovation that would help his company stand outfrom the crowd. Shortly after learning about theSWCNTmanufacturingtechnology,WhittappliedforanonexclusivelicenseandformedtheBoise-basedIdahoSpaceMaterialsInc.(ISM).

ProductOutcome

Once the license was granted, ISM then workedwithBenavidesandtheUniversityofIdaho’sElectronMicroscopyCentertoexamineandimproveuponvari-ablesinthemanufacturingprocess,ultimatelyenhancingtheprocessbyincreasingyieldandproductioncapacity.Oncetheprocesswastweaked,ISMwasreadytocom-mercialize its products, and the inexpensive, robustnanotubesarenow in thehandsof the scientistswhowillcreatethenextgenerationofcompositepolymers,metals,andceramicsthatwillimpactthewaywelive.Infact,researchersareexaminingwaysforthesenewfoundmaterialstobeusedinthemanufactureoftransistorsandfuelcells,largescreentelevisions,ultra-sensitivesensors,high-resolutionatomicforcemicroscopyprobes,super-capacitors,transparentconductingfilms,drugcarriers,catalysts,andadvancedcompositematerials,tonamejustafew.

InAugust2006,ISMunveileditsnewlineofsingle-wallednanotubeswithnometalcatalystunderthenameNOMEC1556.Theadvancedmaterialscompanyhashadtremendoussuccesswithitsnewproduct,andhasnearlytripledinsize.

ThetransferofthisNASAtechnologyhasalsobeenbeneficial to NASA, as widespread use of the Space

Unlike most current methods—which require expensive equipment (e.g., vacuum chamber), dangerous gasses, and extensive technical knowledge to operate—NASA’s simple SWCNT manufacturing process needs only an arc welder, a helium purge, an ice water bath, and basic processing experience.

Agency’spatentedtechnologywillproducerevenuethatNASAcanreinvestinadditionalresearch,anditnowhasareliablesourcefromwhichtoobtainhigh-quality,low-costSWCNTsforuseinitsresearchandmissions.v

http://www.idahospace.com

http://www.idahospace.com


Originating Technology/NASA Contribution

Developed at NASA’s Langley Research Center, the Macro-Fiber Composite (MFC) is an innovative, low-cost piezoelectric device

designed for controlling vibration, noise, and deflections in composite structural beams and panels. It was created for use on helicopter blades and airplane wings as well as for the shaping of aerospace structures at NASA.

The MFC is an actuator in the form of a thin patch, almost like a 3- by 2-inch bandage comprised of piezoelectric fibers, an epoxy matrix, and polyimide electrodes, and is also called a piezocomposite. If one applies a voltage to the MFC it will stretch, and if attached to a structure it will cause the surface to bend. The major advantages of a piezofiber composite actuator are higher performance, flexibility, and durability, compared to a traditional piezoceramic actuator.

MFCs consist of rectangular piezoceramic rods sandwiched between layers of adhesive film containing tiny electrodes that transfer a voltage directly to and from ribbon-shaped rods that are no thicker than a few tenths of a millimeter. These miniscule actuators are roughly equivalent to human muscles—flexing, stretching, and returning to their original position when electricity is applied.

Because any external mechanical deformation of an MFC package produces a charge on the electrodes pro-portional to the deflection, its compression or stretching also enables the MFC to be used as a self-powered sensor. Defects within structures can therefore be detected, or small amounts of energy can be collected and stored for later use.

The MFC’s combination of small size, durability, flexibility, and versatility allows it to be integrated—along with highly efficient electronic control systems—into a wide range of products. Potential applications include sonar; range-measuring and fish-finding equipment; directional-force and fingerprint sensors; flow meters; and

vibration/noise control in aircraft and automobiles. Since its original development in 1999, the MFC has been used in government and industrial applications ranging from vibration reduction to structural health monitoring.

NASA has used MFC piezocomposites for alleviating tail buffeting in aircraft, controlling unsteady aerodynamics and noise on helicopter rotor blades, and actively reducing vibrations in large deployable spacecraft structures. The MFC has been used as a sensor for impedance-based health monitoring of launch tower structures at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, for strain feedback sensing and control in industrial arc welding

equipment, in an STS-123 experiment, in solar sail technology, and in ultra-lightweight inflatable structures.

The MFC has been internationally recognized for its innovative design, receiving two prestigious “R&D 100” awards in 2000, including the “R&D Editor’s Choice” award as one of the 100 most significant technical prod-ucts of the year. The MFC was also the recipient of the International Forum’s prestigious “iF Gold” award, in Germany, for design excellence in 2004. In March 2007, the MFC was awarded the title of “NASA Invention of the Year.”

‘NASA Invention of the Year’ Controls Noise and Vibration

TheMacro-FiberComposite’sflatprofileanduseasasensorandanactuatorallowsforuseincriticalortightareaswhereothertechnologieswithlargervolumetricprofilescannotbeused.

Spinoff 2007 Industrial Productivity and Manufacturing Technology 1�1

Partnership

Smart Material Corporation, of Sarasota, Florida,specializesinthedevelopmentofpiezocompositecompo-nents.ThecompanylicensedtheMFCtechnologyfromLangleyin2002,andthenaddedittotheirlineofcom-merciallyproducedactuators.

It now combines the Langley MFC’s piezoelectricproperties with the robustness and conformability ofplasticstoradicallyextendthespectrumofcommercialapplications.

ANASApartnershipgivesasmallcompanyaccesstoresearchandtechnologiesthatallowittocompetewithlargercorporations.AccordingtoThomasDaue,withSmartMaterialCorporation,“Forasmallbusiness,itisalmostnotpossibleanymoretospendthemoneyforbasicresearch inhigh techproducts.Licensing technologyfromtheleadingresearchfacilitiesinthiscountryisaverycosteffectivewaytobecomeaplayerinanewtechnologyfield.Manydevelopmentsreadyforlicensingatgovern-ment-ownedfacilitieshavealreadyreachedtheproofofconceptstatus,whichwouldoftencostasmallbusinessorstart-upmillionsofdollars.”

SmartMaterialCorporationisnowmarketingMFCsinternationally,withthemajorityofapplicationsintheUnitedStatesdirectedatFederalgovernmentresearchprojectsordefense-relatedgovernment contracts.Forexample,SmartMaterialCorporationcurrentlysellsthematerialstoLangley,NASA’sJetPropulsionLaboratory,andMarshallSpaceFlightCenter,wheretheyareusedasstraingaugesensors,aswellastotheU.S.AirForceandtheU.S.Army.

ProductOutcome

Todate,SmartMaterialCorporationhassoldMFCstoover120customers,includingsuchindustrygiantsasVolkswagen,Toyota,Honda,BMW,GeneralElectric,andthetenniscompany,HEAD.Thecompanyalsoesti-

matesthatitscustomershavefiledatleast100patentsfortheiruniqueusesofthetechnology.

SmartMaterialCorporation’smainmanufacturingfacilitiesarelocatedinDresden,Germany,inthevicinityoftheFraunhoferInstituteforCeramicTechnologiesandSinteredMaterials,oneoftheworld’sleadingresearchinstitutesinthefieldofadvancedceramics.DresdenisalsothecenteroftheGermansemiconductorindustry,and soprovides crucial interdisciplinary resources forfurther MFC refinement. In addition to its Sarasotafacility,thecompanyalsohassalesofficesinDresdenandinTokyo,Japan.

Thecompany’sproductportfoliohasgrowntoincludepiezoceramicfibersandfibercomposites,piezoceramic

actuators and sensors, and test equipment for theseproducts. It alsooffers a compact, lightweightpowersystemforMFCtestingandvalidation.

SmartMaterialCorporationbelievesthatsolid-stateactuator systems, including piezoceramics, will havehealthycommercialgrowth in thecomingyears,withincreasingpenetrationinindustrial,medical,automotive,defense,andconsumermarkets.Consumerapplicationsalreadyonthemarket includepiezoelectricsystemsaspartofaudiospeakers,phonographcartridgesandmicro-phones, and recreationalproducts requiringvibrationcontrol,suchasskis,snowboards,baseballbats,hockeysticks,andtennisracquets.v

When compared to standard piezoelectric systems, the MFC is much more durable and provides increased unidirectional control. Furthermore, the MFC is designed to be readily integrated into a system as an add-on component or integrated during manufacture.

http://www.smart-material.com

1�� Industrial Productivity and Manufacturing Technology Spinoff 2007


When NASA programs need the ultimatereliabilitytopowerdeepspaceprobes,theyrepeatedlyselectthermoelectric(TE)devices

as a system component. TE devices heat, cool, andgenerate electricitywhena temperaturedifferential isprovidedbetweenthetwomodulefaces.UsingradioactiveisotopePlutonium238andTEdevicestoconvertwasteheatintoelectricity,NASAhasdependedonradioisotopethermoelectricgenerators(RTGs)in25U.S.missionssince1961.

NASAreliedonRTGslaunchedinApollomissionstotheMoon,theVikingmissionstoMars,andthePioneer,Voyager,Ulysses,Galileo,andCassinimissionstotheoutersolarsystem.Morethan30yearsfromitslaunch,andwellbeyondtheorbitofPluto, theRTGsonthePioneer10spacecraftcontinuetooperate.

AprojectlikethePioneer10RTGisanexampleoftherigorousstandardsimposedbyNASAproductspecifica-tionsandlong-lifeapplicationsthathavebeenknowntovalidatetheuniquecharacteristicsofTEdevices.LiketheRTGasasystem,theTEdeviceasacomponentexhibitsresilientcharacteristics.Notonlydotheyhaveprovenlong-lifeperformancereliability,theyalsooperateinavacuum,withstandrigorousvibration,andarerelativelyinsensitivetoradiationandotherenvironmentalfactors.

Withconfidence,TEdeviceswereintegratedintoamyriadofnicheapplicationsbycommercialenterprise.In the1960s, therewasa smallhandfulofTEdevicemanufacturers;inresponsetowideproductutilization,todayTEdevicesarereadilyavailable,manufacturedbycompaniesaroundtheworld.

Withthelegacyofreliabilitydocumentedbysuccess-fulNASAprojectuse,therehasbeenaproliferationofcommercializedproductsusingTEdevices, and thesecomponentshavebeenused inpacemakers, underseadefense and communication systems, and in Arcticweatherstations.Whereconventionalcompressorand

chemicalcoolingmethodsareimpractical,TEdevicescanbeswitchedfromcoolerstoheatersandoperateoverabroadrangeofpower,whilealsoabletobemoretem-peratureprecisewithintighttolerancesthantraditionalsystems. These qualities make TE devices perfect forintegrationinawidearrayoftemperaturecontrolappli-cationslikeminiatureinfrareddetectors,circuitsincruisemissilesandaircraft,lasers,bloodanalyzers,sensors,airconditioners,refrigerators,andsemiconductorcontrols.

Partnership

NASAapplicationofTEdevicesandrelative tech-nologieswas influential in theproductsdevelopedbyJimKerner,chiefexecutiveofficerandpresidentoftheChico,California-basedUnitedStatesThermoelectricConsortiumInc.(USTC).Sincethedebutofhis firstthermoelectricproductprograms in1983,Kernerhasbuiltanoutstandinginternationalteamof individualswhohavedesignedanddeliveredsignificantTEdeviceproductsolutions,andthecompanycontinuestogrowinthearenaofthermalmanagementtechnologiesimple-mentedinmilitary,aerospace,industrial,andconsumerproductareas.

Kernerhasorganizedseveralcompaniesinresearch,development,andmanufactureofnumerousthermoelec-tric-basedproducts,includingmicroprocessorvalidationtools,high-puritywaterdeliverysystems,portablerefrig-erator/warmerunits,andprecisiontemperaturecontrol(PTC)chambers. In1988,Spinoff featured thewaterdeliverysystemandacustomizedPTCchamberdeliv-ered toAmesResearchCenter, called thePortabator,whichwasmanufacturedinsupportofNASASpaceLifeSciencesProjects.

IncooperationwithNASALewisResearchCenter,nowGlennResearchCenter,USTCbuiltagasemissionsanalyzer(GEA)forthatCenter’scombustionresearchlaboratory.AswiththePTCproductline,theGEAinte-gratedTEdevicesinthedesign;aspecificationoriginatedbyNASA.ThisGEAprecipitatedhydrocarbonparticles,

preventing contamination that would hinder preciserocket fuelanalysis. Inaddition toprovidingproductdevelopmentopportunities,affiliationwiththeNASAIndustrialApplicationCenterandTechnologyTransferprogramshavebeenusefulresearchtoolsforthecompa-ny’ssubsequentproductdevelopmentprograms.

USTC continues to integrate the benefits of TEdevicesinitscurrentlineofthermalmanagementsolu-tionsandhasfoundtheaccessibilityofNASAtechnicalresearchtobeavaluable,sustainableresourcethathascontinuedtobenefitandpositivelyinfluenceitsproductdesignandmanufacturing.

Thermoelectric Devices Advance Thermal Management

United States Thermoelectric Consortium Inc. (USTC) has experienced great success in the development of thermal management devices based on micro-technologies, like this Rack Integrated Thermal Management System.

www.ustechcon.com

www.ustechcon.com

Spinoff 2007 Industrial Productivity and Manufacturing Technology 1��

ProductOutcome

TEdevicesareanimportantelement intheprecisetemperaturecontroloftheUSTCtestvalidationtoolsfor thermal management in the semiconductor andinformationtechnologyindustry.AUSTCThermalToolSystemcanpreciselycontrolthetemperatureofaheat-generateddeviceupto100W/cm2intherangeof-30to120°C.

AmongtheUSTCThermalToolSystemproductsaretheIntegratedThermalManagementSystem(ITMS),HybridAirThermalManagementSystem(HATMS),RackIntegratedThermalManagementSystem(RITMS),Temperature Control System (TCS), and ThermalHeads(TH).IntegratingcoolingmodulesandtheTCS

inoneenclosurewithliquidasworkingfluid,combinedwithTH,theITMSexecutestemperaturecontroltaskswithoutothercomponents.Usingairascoolingmedia,theHATMSexecutesthetaskslikeITMS.TheRITMSincludesasmartTCSunitwhichautomaticallyadjustsparameters for temperaturecontrol,withanultra-lownoiselevelandlowpowerconsumption.TheTCSisastandardtemperaturecontrolunit,andtheTHdissipateheatfromaheat-generateddevice,likeacomputer.TheRITMS or TCS, combined with a chiller (or a heatexchanger)andTH,provideastandardwaytocontrolthetemperatureanddissipateheatonelectroniccomponentsforproductionvalidationtests.

The USTC research and design team uses patent-pending dimple, pin-fin, microchannel and microjetstructurestodevelopanddesignheatdissipationdevicesonthemini-scalelevel,whichnotonlyguaranteehighperformanceofproducts,butalsoscaledevicesizefrom1centimeterto10centimeters.

The smart TCS unit in RITMS for temperaturecontrol simplifies theoperationof thedevice.USTCprovides choices for cooling media (liquid, air, andchilledliquid),high-powerlevel,high-temperaturerange,fast-temperatureresponse,scalablesize,remotecontrol,lownoise,highly reliable, lowmaintenance, andeasyoperation. USTC also creates, develops, and deliverssolutionsforcustomthermalmanagementrequirements.

TheUSTCteamhasbeenconstantlyinnovatingwiththelatestrelevanttechnologiestoprovidethebestthermalsolutionsforcomputer,processor,chipset,board,drawer,server,andrackchallenges,aswellasotherthermalman-agementareaslikelaser,microwave,radar,backupenergystorage,andthermo-stabilizationsystems.

Since1997,USTCsolutionshavebeenintegratedintomicroprocessor tests, validationprocesses, anddesigndebugging,andhavebeendeployedtoallmajordevelop-mentcentersintheUnitedStatesandabroad,includingtoChina,theUnitedKingdom,Israel,India,Malaysia,andthePhilippines.

Kerner organized USTC with a vision to build aworld-classteamofexpertstodealwithMoore’sLaw:asprocessor speed increases,powerandheatwill alsoincrease,andatacertainpoint,processorscannotcon-tinuetooperatewithincreasedspeedsunlessthermalsaremanaged.Auniqueteamofscientistsandengineersareorganizedtofocusonresearchanddesign,aswellastheapplicationofnewtechnologiesinthermalmanagement.

TheUSTC team includes15Ph.D. scientists andotherspecialistswithcoreexpertiseinthermalmanage-ment,amplifiedbyawidespectrumofexperienceinareasincludingthermophysics,aeroandfluiddynamics,porousmaterials,capillarystructures,microchannels,andrefrig-erationsystems.USTChasreceivedover30U.S.-andforeign-issuedpatentsandpendingpatentapplicationsonnewmethodsanddevices.v

USTCThermalToolSystem™,IntegratedThermalManagementSystem™,HybridAirThermalManagementSystem™,RackIntegratedThermalManagementSystem™,andTemperatureControlSystem™aretrademarksofUnitedStatesThermoelectricConsortiumInc.

USTC is an experienced provider of fully integrated, turnkey thermal management solutions designed to meet stringent user requirements.

USTC has received over �0 U.S.- and foreign-issued patents and has patent applications pending on new methods and devices.

Research and Operations

Pushing back boundaries in aeronautics and space exploration relies upon the ongoing research activities and operational support led by the four Mission Directorates: Science, Exploration Systems, Aeronautics Research, and Space Operations. These efforts are conducted at each of NASA’s 10 field centers.

1�6 Research and Operations Spinoff 2007

NASA’s fourMissionDirectorates support theAgency’smissionstoresumethehumanexplo-rationoftheMoonandonwardtoMars.

TheScienceMissionDirectorateengagestheNation’ssciencecommunity,sponsorsscientificresearch,anddevelopsanddeployssatellitesandprobesincollabora-tionwithNASA’spartnersaroundtheworldtoanswerfundamentalquestionsrequiringtheviewfromandintospace.

TheExplorationSystemsMissionDirectoratedevel-opsthesystemsthatwillenableNASAtoembarkonarobustspaceexplorationprogramthatwilladvancetheNation’sscientific,security,andeconomicinterests.

The Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate cements NASA’s role as the leading governmentorganization foraeronautical research,withworld-class capabilitybuilt on a traditionof expertise inaeronauticalengineeringanditscoreresearchareas,includingaerodynamics,aeroacoustics,materialsandstructures,propulsion,dynamicsandcontrol,sensorandactuatortechnologies,advancedcomputationalandmathematicaltechniques,andexperimentalmea-surementtechniques.

TheSpaceOperationsMissionDirectorateprovidesleadershipandmanagementofNASAspaceopera-tions related tohumanexploration in andbeyondlow-Earthorbit.ThisincludestheSpaceShuttleandInternationalSpaceStationprograms.Thedirectorateisalsoresponsibleforlaunchservicesandspacecom-municationsinsupportofbothhumanandroboticexploration.

Science Mission Directorate

The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) seeks tounderstandtheorigins,evolution,anddestinyoftheuni-verse,andthephenomenathatshapeit.SMDalsoworksto increaseourunderstandingofthesolarsystem,the

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Sun,andtheEarth,andthenatureoflifeintheuniverseandwhatkindsoflifemayexistbeyondEarth.

NASA’sCassiniDiscoversPotentialLiquidWateronEnceladus

NASA’sCassinispacecraftmayhavefoundevidenceofliquid-waterreservoirsthateruptinYellowstone-likegeysersonSaturn’smoonEnceladus.Therareoccurrenceofliquidwatersonearthesurfaceraisesmanynewques-tionsaboutthemysteriousmoon.

High-resolutionCassiniimagesshowedicyjetsandtoweringplumesejectinglargequantitiesofparticlesathighspeed.Scientistsexaminedseveralmodelstoexplaintheprocess.They ruledout the idea theparticles areproducedorblownoffthesurfacebyvaporcreatedwhenwarmwatericeconvertstoagas.Instead,scientistshavefoundevidenceforamuchmoreexcitingpossibility.Thejetsmightbeeruptingfromnear-surfacepocketsofliquidwaterabove32°F,likecoldversionsoftheOldFaithfulgeyserinYellowstoneNationalPark.

Othermoons inthesolarsystemhave liquid-wateroceanscoveredbykilometersoficycrust.What’sdifferenthereisthatpocketsofliquidwatermaybenomorethantensofmetersbelowthesurface.

Scientistsstillhavemanyquestions.WhyisEnceladussoactive?AreothersitesonEnceladusactive?Mightthisactivityhavebeencontinuousenoughoverthemoon’shistoryforlifetohavehadachancetotakeholdinthemoon’sinterior?Inthespringof2008,scientistswillgetanotherchancetolookatEnceladuswhenCassiniflieswithin350kilometers(approximately220miles).

TheCassini-HuygensmissionisacooperativeprojectofNASA,theEuropeanSpaceAgency,andtheItalianSpaceAgency.NASA’sJetPropulsionLaboratory(JPL),a division of the California Institute of Technology,managestheCassini-HuygensmissionforNASA’sScienceMissionDirectorate.TheCassiniorbiterwasdesigned,developed,andassembledatJPL.

NASAImagesSuggestWaterStillFlowsinBriefSpurtsonMars

NASAphotographsrevealedbrightnewdepositsseenintwogulliesonMarsthatsuggestwatercarriedsedimentthroughthemsometimeduringthepast6years.TheseobservationsgivethestrongestevidencetodatethatwaterstillflowsoccasionallyonthesurfaceofMars.

Liquidwater,asopposedtothewatericeandwatervaporknowntoexistonMars,isconsiderednecessaryforlife.Thenewfindingsheightenintrigueaboutthepoten-

Research and Operations

The ice jets of Enceladus send particles streaming into space hundreds of kilometers above the south pole of this spectacularly active moon. Some of the particles escape to form the diffuse E ring around Saturn. This color-coded image was processed to enhance faint signals, making the contours and extent of the fainter, larger-scale component of the plume easier to see.

Spinoff 2007 Research and Operations 1��

tialformicrobiallifeonMars.TheMarsOrbiterCameraonNASA’sMarsGlobalSurveyorprovidedthenewevi-denceofthedepositsinimagestakenin2004and2005.

“The shapesof thesedeposits arewhatyouwouldexpect to see if the material were carried by flowingwater,” said Michael Malin of Malin Space ScienceSystems,SanDiego. “Theyhave finger-likebranchesat thedownhill endandeasilydiverted around smallobstacles.”MalinisprincipalinvestigatorforthecameraandleadauthorofareportaboutthefindingspublishedinthejournalScience.

TheatmosphereofMarsissothinandthetemperaturesocoldthatliquidwatercannotpersistatthesurface.Itwouldrapidlyevaporateorfreeze.Researchersproposethat water could remain liquid long enough, afterbreakingoutfromanundergroundsource,tocarrydebrisdownslopebeforetotallyfreezing.Thetwofreshdepositsareeachseveralhundredmeterslong.

Thelighttoneofthedepositscouldbefromsurfacefrostcontinuouslyreplenishedby icewithinthebodyofthedeposit.Anotherpossibilityisasaltycrust,whichwouldbeasignofwater’seffectsinconcentratingthe

salts.Ifthedepositshadresultedfromdrydustslippingdowntheslope,theywouldlikelybedark,basedonthedarktonesofdustfreshlydisturbedbyrovertracks,dustdevils,andfreshcratersonMars.

The Mars Global Surveyor has discovered tens ofthousandsofgulliesonslopesinsidecratersandotherdepressionsonMars.Mostgulliesareatlatitudesof30°orhigher.Malinandhisteamfirstreportedthediscoveryofthegulliesin2000.Tolookforchangesthatmightindicate present-day flow of water, his camera teamrepeatedly imagedhundredsof the sites.Onepair ofimagesshowedagullythatappearedaftermid-2002.Thatsitewasonasanddune,andthegully-cuttingprocesswasinterpretedasadryflowofsand.

The announcement is the first to reveal newlydepositedmaterialapparentlycarriedbyfluidsafterearlierimagingof the same gullies.The two sites are insidecratersintheTerraSirenumandtheCentauriMontesregionsofsouthernMars.

“Thesefreshdepositssuggestthatatsomeplacesandtimes on present-day Mars, liquid water is emergingfrombeneaththegroundandbrieflyflowingdowntheslopes.Thispossibilityraisesquestionsabouthowthewaterwouldstaymeltedbelowground,howwidespreaditmightbe, andwhether there’s abelow-groundwethabitatconducivetolife.Futuremissionsmayprovidetheanswers,”saidMalin.

Besides looking forchanges ingullies, theorbiter’scamera team assessed the rate at which new impactcratersappear.Thecameraphotographedapproximately98percentofMarsin1999andapproximately30percentoftheplanetwasphotographedagainin2006.Thenewerimagesshow20freshimpactcratersrangingindiameterfrom7feetto486feetthatwerenotpresentapproximately7 years earlier.These results have important implica-tionsfordeterminingtheagesoffeaturesonthesurfaceofMars.Theseresultsalsoapproximatelymatchpredic-tionsandimplythatMartianterrainwithfewcratersistrulyyoung.

NASA photographs have revealed bright new deposits seen in two gullies on Mars that suggest water carried sediment through them sometime during the past 6 years.


MarsGlobalSurveyorbeganorbitingMarsin1997.Thespacecraftisresponsibleformanyimportantdiscoveries.NASAdeclaredearly in2007that the spacecraft isnolongeroperating.

Pluto-BoundNewHorizonsProvidesNewLookatJupiterSystem

NASA’sNewHorizonsspacecraftprovidednewdataon the Jupiter system, stunning scientistswithnever-before-seenperspectivesofthegiantplanet’satmosphere,rings,moons,andmagnetosphere.

ThesenewviewsincludetheclosestlookyetattheLittle Red Spot storm churning materials throughJupiter’scloudtops;detailedimagesofsmallsatellitesherdingdustandbouldersthroughJupiter’sfaintrings;andvolcaniceruptionsandcirculargroovesontheplanet’slargestmoons.

NewHorizonscametowithin1.4millionmilesofJupiteronFebruary28,2007,usingtheplanet’sgravitytotrim3yearsfromitstraveltimetoPluto.Forseveralweeksbeforeandafterthisclosestapproach,thepiano-sizedroboticprobetrainedits7camerasandsensorsonJupiterandits4largestmoons,storingdatafromnearly700observationsonitsdigitalrecordersandgraduallysendingthatinformationbacktoEarth.Nearlyalloftheexpected34gigabitsofdatahascomebacksofar,radioedtoNASA’slargestantennasovermorethan600millionmiles.ThisactivityconfirmedthesuccessfultestingoftheinstrumentsandoperatingsoftwarethespacecraftwilluseatPluto.

Asidefromsettingupthe2015arrivalatPluto,theJupiterflybywasastresstestofNASA’sspacecraftandteam,andbothpassedwithveryhighmarks.

Imagesincludethefirstclose-upscansoftheLittleRedSpot,Jupiter’ssecond-largeststorm,whichformedwhenthreesmallerstormsmergedduringthepastdecade.Thestorm,abouthalfthesizeofJupiter’slargerGreatRed Spot and about 70 percent of Earth’s diameter,beganturningredaboutayearbeforeNewHorizonsflew

pastit.Scientistswillsearchforcluesabouthowthesesystemsformandwhytheychangecolorsintheircloseobservationsofmaterialsspinningwithinandaroundthenascentstorm.

Underarangeoflightingandviewingangles,NewHorizonsalsograbbed theclearest images everof thetenuousJovianringsystem.Inthem,scientistsspottedaseriesofunexpectedarcsandclumpsofdust,indicativeof a recent impact into the ring by a small object.MoviesmadefromNewHorizonsimagesalsoprovideanunprecedentedlookatringdynamics,withthetinyinnermoonsMetisandAdrasteaappearingtoshepherdthematerialsaroundtherings.

Of Jupiter’s four largest moons, the team focusedmuchattentiononvolcanic Io, themost geologically

activebodyinthesolarsystem.NewHorizons’camerascapturedpocketsofbright,glowinglavascatteredacrossthesurface;dozensofsmall,glowingspotsofgas;andseveralfortuitousviewsofasunlitumbrella-shapeddustplume rising 200 miles into space from the volcanoTvashtar,thebestimagesyetofagianteruptionfromthetorturedvolcanicmoon.

Thetimingandlocationofthespacecraft’strajectoryalsoallowedittospymanyofthemysterious,circulartroughscarvedontotheicymoonEuropa.Dataonthesize,depth,anddistributionofthesetroughs,discoveredbytheJupiter-orbitingGalileomission,willhelpscien-tistsdeterminethethicknessoftheiceshellthatcoversEuropa’sglobalocean.

Already the fastest spacecraft ever launched, NewHorizonsreachedJupiter13monthsafterliftingofffromCapeCanaveralAirForceStation,inJanuary2006.Theflybyadded9,000milesperhour,pushingNewHorizonspast50,000milesperhourandsettingupaPlutoflybyinJuly2015.

ThenumberofobservationsatJupiterwastwicethatofthoseplannedatPluto.NewHorizonsmademostoftheseobservationsduringthespacecraft’sclosestapproachtotheplanet,whichwasguidedbymorethan40,000separatecommandsintheonboardcomputer.

NewHorizons is the firstmission inNASA’sNewFrontiersProgramofmedium-classspacecraftexplora-tionprojects.AlanStern,theScienceMissionDirectorateassociate administrator and New Horizons principalinvestigator,leadsthemissionandscienceteam;theJohnsHopkinsUniversityAppliedPhysicsLaboratorymanagesthemission forNASA’sScienceMissionDirectorate.The mission team also includes Ball Aerospace andTechnologies Corporation, The Boeing Company,KinetXInc.,LockheedMartinCorporation,StanfordUniversity,UniversityofColoradoatBoulder,theU.S.DepartmentofEnergy,andanumberofotherfirms,uni-versitypartners,andNASAcenters,includingJPLandGoddardSpaceFlightCenter.

Image of the planet Jupiter’s moon, Io, as seen by the New Horizons spacecraft. A plume from a huge volcanic eruption can be seen at the north pole.

Spinoff 2007 Research and Operations 1�9

NASAFindsDirectProofofDarkMatter

Darkmatterandnormalmatterhavebeenwrenchedapartbythetremendouscollisionoftwolargeclustersofgalaxies.Thediscovery,usingNASA’sChandraX-rayObservatoryandothertelescopes,givesdirectevidencefortheexistenceofdarkmatter.

Thisisthemostenergeticcosmicevent,besidestheBigBang,thatweknowabout.Theseobservationsprovidedthestrongestevidenceyetthatmostofthematterinthe

universeisdark.Despiteconsiderableevidencefordarkmatter,somescientistshaveproposedalternativetheoriesforgravitywhereitisstrongeronintergalacticscalesthanpredictedbyNewtonandEinstein,removingtheneedfordarkmatter.However,suchtheoriescannotexplaintheobservedeffectsofthiscollision.

Ingalaxyclusters,thenormalmatter,liketheatomsthatmakeupthestars,planets,andeverythingonEarth,isprimarilyintheformofhotgasandstars.Themass

of thehotgasbetweenthegalaxies is fargreater thanthemassofthestarsinallofthegalaxies.Thisnormalmatterisboundintheclusterbythegravityofanevengreatermassofdarkmatter.Withoutdarkmatter,whichisinvisibleandcanonlybedetectedthroughitsgravity,thefast-movinggalaxiesandthehotgaswouldquicklyflyapart.

Theteamthatmadethisdiscoverywasgrantedmorethan100hoursontheChandratelescopetoobservethegalaxycluster1E0657-56.Theclusterisalsoknownasthebulletcluster,becauseitcontainsaspectacularbullet-shapedcloudof100-million-degreegas.TheX-rayimageshowsthebulletshapeisduetoawindproducedbythehigh-speedcollisionofasmallerclusterwithalargerone.

InadditiontotheChandraobservation,theHubbleSpace Telescope, the European Organization forAstronomicalResearch in theSouthernHemisphere’sVeryLargeTelescope, and theMagellanoptical tele-scopeswereusedtodeterminethelocationofthemassintheclusters.Thiswasdonebymeasuringtheeffectofgravitational lensing, where gravity from the clustersdistortslightfrombackgroundgalaxiesaspredictedbyEinstein’stheoryofgeneralrelativity.

Thehotgas in this collisionwas slowedbyadragforce,similartoairresistance.Incontrast,thedarkmatterwasnotslowedbytheimpact,becauseitdoesnotinteractdirectlywithitselforthegasexceptthroughgravity.Thisproducedtheseparationofthedarkandnormalmatterseeninthedata.Ifhotgaswasthemostmassivecom-ponentintheclusters,asproposedbyalternativegravitytheories, suchaseparationwouldnothavebeenseen.Instead,darkmatterisrequired.

Thisisthetypeofresultthatfuturetheorieswillhavetotakeintoaccount.Aswemoveforwardtounderstandthe true nature of dark matter, this new result willbe impossible to ignore. It also gives scientists moreconfidencethattheNewtoniangravity,familiaronEarthandinthesolarsystem,alsoworksonthehugescalesofgalaxyclusters.

Dark matter and normal matter have been wrenched apart by the tremendous collision of two large clusters of galaxies. The discovery, using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes, gives direct evidence for the existence of dark matter.


NASAResearchRevealsClimateWarmingReducesOceanFoodSupply

In a recentNASA study, scientists concluded thatwhenEarth’sclimatewarms,thereisareductionintheocean’sprimaryfoodsupply.Thisposesapotentialthreattofisheriesandecosystems.BycomparingnearlyadecadeofglobaloceansatellitedatawithseveralrecordsofEarth’schangingclimate,scientistsfoundthatwheneverclimatetemperatureswarmed,marineplantlifeintheformofmicroscopicphytoplanktondeclined.Wheneverclimatetemperatures cooled, marine plant life became morevigorousorproductive.Theresultsprovideapreview

ofwhatcouldhappentooceanbiologyinthefutureifEarth’sclimatewarmsastheresultofincreasinglevelsofgreenhousegassesintheatmosphere.

Phytoplanktoniscomposedofmicroscopicplantslivingintheuppersunlit layeroftheocean.It isresponsibleforapproximately the sameamountofphotosynthesiseach year as all land plants combined. Changes inphytoplankton growth and photosynthesis influencefisheryyields,marinebirdpopulations,andtheamountofcarbondioxidetheoceansremovefromtheatmosphere.

“Risinglevelsofcarbondioxideintheatmosphereplayabigpartinglobalwarming,”saidleadauthorMichaelBehrenfeld,ofOregonStateUniversity,Corvallis.“This

studyshowsthatastheclimatewarms,phytoplanktongrowthratesgodownandalongwiththemtheamountof carbon dioxide these ocean plants consume. Thatallowscarbondioxidetoaccumulatemorerapidlyintheatmosphere,whichwouldproducemorewarming.”

ThefindingswerefromaNASA-fundedanalysisofdata fromtheSea-viewingWideField-of-viewSensor(SeaWiFS) instrument on the OrbView-2 spacecraft,launched in 1997. SeaWiFS is jointly operated byGeoEYE,ofDulles,Virginia,andNASA.

The uninterrupted 9-year record shows in greatdetail theupsanddownsofmarinebiologicalactivityorproductivityfrommonthtomonthandyeartoyear.Capturedat thestartof thisdatarecordwasamajor,rapidreboundinoceanbiologicalactivityafteramajorElNiñoevent.ElNiñoandLaNiñaaremajorwarmingandcoolingevents,respectively,thatoccurapproximatelyevery3to7yearsintheeasternPacificOceanandareknowntochangeweatherpatternsaroundtheworld.

Scientists made their discovery by comparing theSeaWiFSrecordoftheriseandfallofglobaloceanplantlifetodifferentmeasuresofrecentglobalclimatechange.Theclimaterecordsincludedseveralfactorsthatdirectlyaffectoceanconditions,suchaschangesinseasurfacetem-peratureandsurfacewinds.Theresultssupportcomputermodelpredictionsofwhatcouldhappentotheworld’soceansastheresultofprolongedfutureclimatewarming.

Oceanplantgrowthincreasedfrom1997to1999astheclimatecooledduringoneofthestrongestElNiñotoLaNiñatransitionsonrecord.Since1999,theclimatehasbeeninaperiodofwarmingthathasseenthehealthofoceanplantsdiminish.

Thenewstudyalsoexplainswhyachangeinclimateproducesthiseffectonoceanplantlife.Whentheclimatewarms,thetemperatureoftheupperoceanalsoincreases,makingit“lighter”thanthedensercoldwaterbeneathit.Thisresultsinalayeringor“stratification”ofoceanwatersthatcreatesaneffectivebarrierbetweenthesurfacelayerandthenutrientsbelow,cuttingoffphytoplankton’sfood

Scientists now have nearly a decade’s worth of data showing the cycle of plant life in the Earth’s oceans. From space, the “ocean color” satellites measure the ocean’s biology as plant productivity. In this visualization, high plant productivity is represented in green, while areas of low productivity remain blue.


supply.ThescientistsconfirmedthiseffectbycomparingrecordsofoceansurfacewaterdensitywiththeSeaWiFSbiologicaldata.

NASASpacecraftMakeFirst3-DImagesofSun

NASA’stwinSolarTerrestrialRelationsObservatory(STEREO)spacecraftmadethefirstthree-dimensionalimagesoftheSun.Thenewviewwillgreatlyaidscientists’abilitytounderstandsolarphysicsandtherebyimprovespaceweatherforecasting.

“TheimprovementwithSTEREO’s3-DviewislikegoingfromaregularX-raytoa3-DCT[computerizedtomography]scaninthemedicalfield,”saidDr.MichaelKaiser,STEREOprojectscientistatGoddard.

TheSTEREOspacecraftwerelaunchedOctober25,2006.OnJanuary21,2007,theycompletedaseriesofcomplexmaneuvers, includingflyingbytheMoon,topositionthespacecraftintheirmissionorbits.ThetwoobservatoriesarenoworbitingtheSun,oneslightlyaheadofEarthandoneslightlybehind,separatingfromeachotherbyapproximately45°peryear.Justastheslightoffsetbetweenaperson’seyesprovidesdepthperception,theseparationof thesespacecraftallow3-DimagesoftheSun.

Violentsolarweatheroriginates intheSun’satmo-sphere, or corona, and can disrupt satellites, radiocommunication,andpowergridsonEarth.Thecoronaresembles wispy smoke plumes, which flow outwardalongtheSun’stangledmagneticfields.Itisdifficultforscientiststotellwhichstructuresareinfrontandwhicharebehind.

WithSTEREO’s3-Dimagery,scientistswillbeabletodiscernwherematterandenergy flows in the solaratmospheremuchmorepreciselythanwiththe2-Dviewsavailablebefore.

STEREO’sdepthperceptionalsowillhelpimprovespaceweatherforecasts.Ofparticularconcernisadestruc-tivetypeofsolareruptioncalledacoronalmassejection

(CME).CMEsareeruptionsofelectricallychargedgas,calledplasma,fromtheSun’satmosphere.ACMEcloudcancontainbillionsoftonsofplasmaandmoveatamil-lionmilesperhour.

TheCMEcloudis lacedwithmagneticfields,andCMEsdirectedtowardEarthsmashintoitsmagneticfield. If the CME magnetic fields have the properorientation,theydumpenergyandparticlesintoEarth’smagneticfield,causingmagneticstormsthatcanover-loadpower lineequipmentandradiationstormsthatdisruptsatellites.

Satellite andutilityoperators can takeprecautionstominimizeCMEdamage,buttheyneedanaccurateforecast of when the CME will arrive. To do this,forecastersneedtoknowthelocationofthefrontoftheCMEcloud.STEREOwillallowscientiststoaccuratelydeterminethislocation.KnowingwherethefrontoftheCMEcloudiswillimproveestimatesofthearrivaltimefromwithinadayorsotojustafewhours.STEREOalsowillhelpforecastersestimatehowseveretheresultingmagneticstormwillbe.

“In addition to the STEREO perspective of solarfeatures,STEREO,forthefirsttime,willallowimagingofthesolardisturbancestheentirewayfromtheSuntotheEarth.Presently,scientistsareonlyabletomodelthisregioninthedark,fromonlyonepictureofsolardistur-bancesleavingtheSunandreachingonlyafractionoftheSun-Earthdistance,”saidDr.MadhulikaGuhathakurta,aSTEREOprogramscientistatNASAHeadquarters.

STEREO’sfirst3-DimagesarebeingprovidedbyJPL.STEREOisthethirdmissioninNASA’sSolarTerrestrialProbes program within NASA’s Science MissionDirectorate. The Goddard Science and ExplorationDirectorate manages the mission, instruments, andsciencecenter.TheJohnsHopkinsUniversityAppliedPhysics Laboratory designed and built the spacecraftandisresponsibleformissionoperations.TheSTEREOimaging and particle detecting instruments weredesignedandbuiltbyscientificinstitutionsintheUnitedStates,UnitedKingdom,France,Germany,Belgium,Netherlands,andSwitzerland.

PioneeringNASASpacecraftMark 30YearsofFlight

NASA’stwovenerableVoyagerspacecraftarecelebrat-ing3decadesofflightastheyheadtowardinterstellarspace; Voyager 2 launched on August 20, 1977, andVoyager1launchedonSeptember5,1977.Theirongoingodysseysmarkanunprecedentedandhistoric accom-plishment,astheycontinuetoreturninformationfromdistancesmorethan3timesfartherawaythanPluto.

Voyager1iscurrentlythefarthest-traveledhuman-made object, at a distance of about 9.7 billion miles(15.5billion kilometers) from the Sun.Voyager 2 isabout7.8billionmiles(12.5billionkilometers)fromtheSun.Originallydesignedasa4-yearmissiontoJupiterandSaturn,theVoyagertourswereextendedbecauseoftheir successful achievements and a rare planetaryalignment.Thetwo-planetmissioneventuallybecamea four-planet grand tour, and after completing that

NASA’s STEREO satellites have provided the first �-D images of the Sun.

1�� Research and Operations Spinoff 2007

extendedmission,thetwospacecraftbeganthetaskofexploringtheouterheliosphere.

Duringtheirfirstdozenyearsofflight,theVoyagersmadedetailedexplorationsofJupiter,Saturn,andtheirmoons,andconductedthefirstexplorationsofUranusandNeptune.TheVoyagersreturnednever-before-seenimages and scientific data, making fundamental dis-coveriesabouttheouterplanetsandtheirmoons.The

spacecraftrevealedJupiter’sturbulentatmosphere,whichincludesdozensofinteractinghurricane-likestormsys-tems,anderuptingvolcanoesonJupiter’smoon,Io.TheyalsoshowedwavesandfinestructureinSaturn’sicyringsfromthetugofnearbymoons.

“TheVoyagermissionhasopenedupoursolarsysteminawaynotpossiblebeforetheSpaceAge,”saidEdwardStone,VoyagerprojectscientistattheCaliforniaInstitute

ofTechnology.“ItrevealedourneighborsintheoutersolarsystemandshowedushowmuchthereistolearnandhowdiversethebodiesarethatsharethesolarsystemwithourownplanetEarth.”

InDecember2004,Voyager1venturedintothesolarsystem’sfinalfrontier.Calledtheheliosheath,thistur-bulentarea,approximately8.7billionmiles(14billionkilometers)fromtheSun,iswherethesolarwindslowsasitcrashesintothethingasthatfillsthespacebetweenstars.Voyager2couldreachthisboundaryinlate2007,puttingbothVoyagersontheirfinallegtowardinterstel-larspace.

EachVoyagerlogsapproximately1millionmilesperdayandcarriesfivescienceinstrumentsthatstudythesolarwind,energeticparticles,magneticfields,andradiowavesastheycruisethroughthisunexploredregionofdeepspace.WhilethespacecraftarenowtoofarfromtheSuntousesolarpower,theirlong-livedradioisotopether-moelectricgeneratorsprovidethenecessarypoweroflessthan300watts(theamountofpowerneededtolightupabrightlightbulb).TheVoyagerscallhomeviaNASA’sDeepSpaceNetwork,asystemofantennasaroundtheworld.ThespacecraftaresodistantthatcommandsfromEarth,travelingatlightspeed,take14hoursone-waytoreachVoyager1and12hourstoreachVoyager2.

“Thecontinuedoperationofthesespacecraftandtheflowofdatatothescientistsisatestamenttotheskillsanddedicationofthesmalloperationsteam,”saidEdMassey,Voyager project manager at NASA’s Jet PropulsionLaboratory.Masseyoverseesa teamofnearlyadozenpeopleintheday-to-dayVoyagerspacecraftoperations.

Voyager 1 passed the Saturnian system in November 1980; 9 months later, Voyager � passed through this same system. The ensuing scientific discoveries were unprecedented with regards to the rings around Saturn and its satellite’s chemical makeup. Pictured are: Saturn (shown with rings), Dione (forefront), Tethys and Mimas (lower right), Enceladus and Rhea (upper left) and Titan in distant orbit (upper right).


EachoftheVoyagerscarriesagoldenrecordthatisatimecapsulewithgreetings,images,andsoundsfromEarth.TherecordsalsohavedirectionsonhowtofindEarthshouldthespacecraftberecovered.

NASA’slatestouterplanetexplorationmissionisNewHorizons,whichisnowwellpastJupiterandheadedforahistoricexplorationofthePlutosysteminJuly2015.

Exploration Systems Mission Directorate

TheExplorationSystemsMissionDirectoratedevel-opsthelaunchsystems,vehicles,andothercapabilitiesthatwillcarryhumansintospaceandultimatelyenableexploration of the Moon and Mars, including theservicingof the InternationalSpaceStation followingtheretirementofthespaceshuttlein2010.

GlobalExplorationStrategy

DrivenbytheVisionforSpaceExplorationandguidedbytheNASAAuthorizationActof2005,theUnitedStateswilltakethenextstepsinhumanspaceexplorationwiththoughtfulpreparationandglobalpartnership.NASAistacklingthechallengingquestionsofhow,why,andwhentheUnitedStateswillreturntotheMoon.Todate,NASAhasworkedwithmorethan1,000peoplearoundtheworldtocraftaninitialstrategy.NASAhassoughtperspectivesonexplorationstrategyfrom13internationalspaceagencies,aswellasU.S.entitiesincludingthespaceindustry,academia,andothergovernmentorganizations.TheAgencyissuedarequestforinformationandheldinternational meetings, teleconferences, and bilateralexchanges. From the process, NASA characterized 6strategicthemesandprioritized188objectivesthatweresynthesizedfrom800potentialstrategicobjectives.

Thestrategicthemesandobjectivesrepresentthedriv-ingforcebehindNASA’scurrentplansforhumanandroboticexplorationonthe lunarsurface.Thestrategicthemessubstantiatetheanswerstothequestion,“WhyarewegoingtotheMoon?”Theobjectivesaddressthe

question,“Whatdowehopetoaccomplishwhenwegetthere?”Thesixthemesare:

• ExplorationPreparation:PrepareforfuturehumanandroboticmissionstoMarsandotherdestinations.

• Scientific Knowledge: Pursue scientific activitiesaddressingfundamentalquestionsaboutEarth, thesolarsystem,theuniverse,andourplaceinthem.

• Human Civilization: Extend human presenceinspace.

• Economic Expansion: Expand Earth’s economicsphere and conduct activities with benefits to lifeonEarth.

• GlobalPartnerships:Strengthenexistingpartnershipsandcreatenewones.

• PublicEngagement:Engage,inspire,andeducatethepublic.

Fromthese6 themes,NASAderived25categoriesoflunarobjectives.Thecategoriesare:astronomyandastrophysics; commerce; commercial opportunities;communication;crewactivitysupport;Earthobserva-tion; environmental characterization; environmentalhazardmitigation;generalinfrastructure;geology;globalpartnership;guidance,navigation,andcontrol;helio-physics; historic preservation; human health; lifesupportandhabitat;lunarresourceutilization;materialsscience;operationalenvironmentalmonitoring;opera-tionstestandverification;power;programexecution;public engagement and inspiration; surface mobility;andtransportation.

LunarArchitecturePlan

Concurrently in2006,NASAchartered theLunarArchitectureTeam,toplayakeyroleinthecontinualdevelopment and implementation of the globalexplorationstrategy.Thecomprehensiveeffortincludescontributionsfrommorethan200representativesfrom

NASAfieldcenters.TheLunarArchitectureTeamcharterdirectstheteamtoaccomplishfourkeytasks:1)Developa baseline architecture for robotic and human lunarmissionsthatcanbetraceddirectlytospecificobjectives;2)formulateaconceptofoperationsforplannedlunarmissions;3)developindividualrequirementsthatwillbe incorporated intoNASA’sexplorationarchitecturerequirementsdocument;and4)assessfunctionalneeds

This artist’s concept shows a lunar lander docked with an Orion crew vehicle while in orbit around the Moon. The Orion capsule will remain empty while the astronauts descend in the lunar lander to explore the Moon’s surface.


and analyze required technologies. The architecturerepresentsNASA’scurrentplanforreturningtotheMoonusingbothroboticandhumanmissions.Thearchitecturewillevolvethroughfuturestudiesandfurtherrefinementoftherequirements.

Through comprehensive and thorough analysis,theLunarArchitectureTeamdraftedabaseline lunararchitecturerootedinthestrategicthemesandobjectivesas articulated in the team’s charter. The documentpresentsasummaryofthebaselinearchitecture.Phase2LunarArchitectureTeamactivities in2007 includemorespecificlunararchitectureelementtradestudiesandrefinementoflevelone,orfundamental,requirements.

The Lunar Architecture Team analyzed two basicapproaches tohuman lunarexploration.Onewas thelunar sortie, which employs distinct short-durationhumanmissionstooneormorelunarlocationsbeforeanybuildupofapermanentoutpost.Theteamconcludedthatbuildinganoutpostfirstwillbetteraddresstheentire

portfolioofstrategicthemesandobjectivesandenablemanyscientificobjectives.

The“outpostfirst”approachfocusesonasinglelunarsite.Incrementalbuildupofanoutpostwouldbeginwiththefirstmissionofthehumanlunarcampaign,andeachsubsequentmissionwouldaddtotheusefulinfrastruc-ture.Inacompletedoutpost,crewscouldliveandworkontheMoonin6-monthrotations.Theyalsocouldmakefrequentandincreasinglydistanttripsawayfromtheout-posttoexplore,conductfieldexperiments,andanalyzescientificdatawithahighlevelofcomfortandsafety.

Inkeepingwiththestrategicthemesandobjectives,alunaroutpostwouldextendhumancivilizationandserveasatestbedforfuturemissionstoMarsandotherdesti-nations.Thoughtfulsiteselectioncouldhelpastronautsonfuturemissionsutilizelocalresources,apotentially

critical component of human missions to Mars. Anoutpost also enablesmany science-oriented activities.ALunarArchitectureTeamreviewofabout72scienceobjectivesconcludedthatmorethanhalfcouldbesub-stantiallyaccomplishedwithin7yearsofinitiatingtheplannedarchitecture.Whenoutpost-basedscienceandroboticsortiesareaddedtothecurrentarchitecture,morethan90percentoftheratedscientificobjectivesidentifiedbytheglobalstrategyprocesscouldbeaddressed.

Constructionofanoutpostwouldnotprecludesortiemissionstootherlunarlocations.Alanderwithextrafuelcellscouldtransporttwoexplorersandasubstantialsci-encepayloadtootherlunarsites.

TheMoonmayharbornaturalresourcesthatcouldenable crews to “live off the land” and even preparefor trips to Mars and other destinations. The rocky

A lander could transport explorers and a scientific payload to other lunar sites.

Incremental build up of an outpost would begin with the first mission of the human lunar campaign and each subsequent mission would add to the useful infrastructure.


lunarsurfacelayer,calledregolith,isapotentialsourceofoxygen,for instance.Thepoles, inparticular,offerconcentrationsofhydrogenandpossiblywaterice.

Inconsideringwheretosituateanoutpost,theLunarArchitecture Team determined that a polar locationwouldbeanaccessible,simpleplacetooperateandofferedadvantagessuchasnaturalresourcesandthepotentialfor interesting science.Thepoles are less constrainedbylightingandorbitalphasingconsiderations,provid-ingmorelaunchopportunities.Certainpolarlocationsaremoretemperature-stableandhaveshorterperiodsofdarkness,reducingpowerandthermalsystemrequire-ments. Use of solar power would allow explorersto quickly and inexpensively develop the ability for

extendedstays.Polarlocationsoffergreatpotentialformeetingscienceobjectives.WeknowlessaboutthepolesthanotherareasoftheMoon,andtheyoffertheuniquefeatureofcold,darkcraters.

AccordingtotheLunarArchitectureTeam,thebestunderstoodareaneartheSouthPoleoftheMoonisneartherimoftheShackletoncrater.TheareaisroughlythesamesizeastheNationalMallinWashington,D.C.Itissunlitabout80percentofthetimeduringthesouthernlunarwinterandevenlongerduringthesouthernlunarsummer.Anoutpostneartheedgeoffersaccesstoanareaofpermanentdarknessinsidethecrater,achancetomeetsometopscienceobjectives,andthepossibilityofarichsourceofwaterice.Forallthesereasons,Shackletoncrater

servesasadeparturepointforplanningpurposes.NASAwillselectafinaloutpostlocationlater,basedonanalysesofscientificdatagatheredbyrobotprobes.

Inorder toprovide sustainedhumanpresenceandserveasa steppingstone for the futureexplorationofMars, the lunar outpost must employ long-durationsystems and enable autonomous and robust surfaceoperations. Routine exploration beyond the outpostsite,reliablecommunication,teleoperationandsystemautonomy,andrelianceonlive-off-the-landresourceswillbecrucial.Thearchitectureallowsastronautstoreturnsignificantquantitiesoflunarsamples.Theoutpostdesignwillaccommodatesitesotherthanthepoles.

It will take a significant effort over many years to build up the complete lunar outpost where humans can live and work on a continuous basis.

On the Moon, NASA astronauts will pursue a variety of scientific activities.


In preparation for human exploration of Mars,activities at the lunar outpost must enable a betterunderstanding of the long-term physiological effectsof living and working on another planetary body.Astronautswillstayhealthyandproductivethroughtheuseofpreventivemedicine; telemedicine and traumacare;exerciseregimensandnutritioncountermeasures;radiationprotection andmitigation; and researchonboneloss,cardiovascularandcardiopulmonaryfunction,musculoskeletalstatus,andneurologicalfunction.

Within the lunar architecture, NASA will pursuescientificactivitiescorrespondingtotheglobalexplorationstrategic theme that addresses fundamental questionsabout Earth, the solar system, the universe, and ourplace in them. Potential geoscience activities include

investigationofthelayerednatureandformationprocessofthe lunar regolith and study of lunar volatiles. Fieldoperationswillincludeuseofteleoperatedroboticexplorersand the ability to perform preliminary chemical andmineralogical analyses on geologic samples. ThegeoscienceactivitiesperformedontheMoonwillhelpprovidetheequipmentandtechniquesthatwillenabletheefficient geologic exploration of Mars and otherdestinations in the solar system. In addition, theknowledgegainedonthebasicgeologicprocesses,suchasmeteoriticimpactandvolcanism,willhelpscientistsbetterunderstandhowtheseprocessesoccurthroughoutthesolarsystem.NASAcanalsopursueothersciencesuchasspacephysicsandastronomyunderthisarchitecture.ThesciencethatispursuedwillbeunderthepurviewandselectionprocessesofNASA’sScienceMissionDirectorate.

Inthespiritofglobalparticipation,NASAhasadoptedanopenarchitectureapproachtolunarsurfaceinfrastructureandactivitiesthatencourageexternalinvolvement(suchasuseofthemetricsystem).

NASA also seeks to conduct lunar exploration inaway thatengages, inspires,andeducates thegeneralpublic.Thearchitectureincludesallocationsforpayloadsspecificallydesignedtosupportpublicinterest,includinganetworkofcameras.Non-governmentalorganizationswillbeabletocontrolsomeofthesecameras.

Itwilltakeasignificanteffortovermanyyearstobuildupthecompletelunaroutpostwherehumanscanliveandworkonacontinuousbasis.Infact,muchworkremainstobedonebeforeastronautscanevenset footonthelunarsurface.YearsbeforehumanscansuccessfullyreturntothesurfaceoftheMoon,thewaymustbeprepared.TheLunarReconnaissanceOrbiter(LRO)andtheLunarCraterObservationandSensingSatellite(LCROSS)willcollectessentialinformationaboutthefuturesiteoftheoutpost.TheLROandtheLCROSSwilllaunchtogetherfromtheKennedySpaceCenterinlate2008.TheLROwillorbittheMoonforatleastoneyear,creatinghigh-resolutionmapsofthelunarterrain,seekingideallanding

sitesbyidentifyinghazards,andcharacterizingthether-mal,lighting,andradiationenvironmentoftheMoon.

MissionplannersintendfortheLCROSStoimpactthesurfaceoftheMooninacrateratoneofthepolesinanattempttomeasurewaterthatmaybefrozeninthelunarsoil.Thewater-seekingsatelliteandtheLRO’sEarthdeparturestageboosterwillstriketheMoon’sSouthPoleinJanuary2009.AstheorbiterapproachestheMoon,the Earth departure stage will separate and impact acrater,creatinga2.2-million-poundplume.Thesatellite,a shepherding spacecraft,will fly through theplume,using instrumentation toexamine thecloud for signsofwaterandothercompounds.Attheendofitsmission,thesatellite itselfwillbecomean impactor,creatingasecondplumevisible to lunar-orbiting spacecraft andEarth-basedobservatories.

LunarLaunchStrategies

NASAplanstoreturnhumanstotheMoonnolaterthan2020.This journeyhas alreadybegun,with thedevelopmentofanewspaceship.Buildingonthebestof past and present technology, NASA is creating a21st-centuryexplorationsystemthatwillbeaffordable,reliable,versatile,andsafe.

Thecenterpieceofthissystemisthenewspacecraft,Orion,designedtocarryfourastronautstoandfromtheMoon,deliveruptosixcrewmembersandsuppliestotheInternationalSpaceStation,andsupportfuturemissionstoMars.Coupledwithanewlunarlander,Orionwillsend twice as many astronauts to the lunar surfaceasApollo and allow them to stay longer,with initialmissionslasting4to7days.WhileApollowaslimitedtolandingsalongtheMoon’sequator,thislunarlanderwillcarryenoughpropellant to landanywhereontheMoon’ssurface.

Once a lunar outpost is established, crews couldremainonthesurfaceforupto6months.Orionwillautonomouslyoperateforupto6monthsinlunarorbit,standingbytoreturnhumanexplorerstoEarth.

The LRO is the first in a series of missions to the Moon, planned for launch in late �008 and orbiting for at least 1 year.


The launch system that will get the crew off thegroundbuildsonpowerful,reliablepropulsionelements.AstronautswilllaunchontheAresIrocketmadeupofafive-segmentshuttlesolidrocketbooster,withasecondstagepoweredbyaJ-2Xengine,basedonenginesusedontheApolloSaturnVrockets.

Asecond,heavy-liftrocket,theAresV,willusethefive-segmentsolidrocketboostersandfiveliquid-fueled

RS-68enginestoputupto125metrictonsinorbit—slightlymorethantheweightofashuttleorbiter.ThisversatilesystemwillbecapableofsupportinglunarandMarsmissions.

Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

The Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate(ARMD) generates the revolutionary concepts, tech-nologies, and capabilities needed to advance aircraftandairspacesystems.ARMD’sprogramsfacilitatesafer,moreefficient,andmoreenvironmentally friendlyairtransportationsystems.Inaddition,ARMD’sresearchwillcontinuetoplayavitalroleinNASA’shumanandroboticspaceactivities.

AeronauticsOverview

NASAhasbeenattheforefrontofaeronauticsresearchformorethan9decades.In1915,theUnitedStatesfacedacriticalneedtolearneverythingitcould,asfastasitcould,aboutthescienceofflight.Inresponsetothisneed,PresidentWoodrowWilsoncreatedtheNationalAdvisoryCommitteeforAeronautics(NACA).ThroughtwoWorldWars,NACAresearchcontributedtothedesignanddevel-opmentofeveryAmericanaircraftinboththecommercialandmilitarysector.In1958,NACA’saeronauticsworkwastransferredtothenewlyformedNationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration,NASA.

Today, theARMDefforts aredirected toward thetransformationoftheNation’sairtransportationsystem,anddevelopingtheknowledge,tools,andtechnologiestosupportfutureairandspacevehicles.ThethreemajorprogramswithinARMDthatcarryoutthisresearcharethe Fundamental Aeronautics Program, the AviationSafetyProgram,andtheAirspaceSystemsProgram.

ARMD’sfocusisoncutting-edge,foundationalresearchintraditionalaeronauticaldisciplines,aswellasinemergingfieldswithpromisingapplicationtoaeronautics.ARMDisinvestinginresearchforthelong-terminareasthatare

appropriatetoNASA’suniquecapabilities,andtomeetingitscharterofaddressingnationalneedsandbenefitingthepublicgood.TheDirectorate isadvancingthescienceof aeronautics as a resource to theNation, aswell asadvancingtechnologies,tools,andsystemconceptsthatcanbedrawnuponbycivilianandmilitarycommunitiesandothergovernmentagencies.

Beingcommittedtodevelopingtoolsandtechnologiescan help transform how air transportation systemsoperate,hownewaircraftaredesignedandmanufactured,andhowtheNation’sairtransportationsystemcanreachunparalleledlevelsofsafety,capacity,andefficiency.

AdvancedComposites

Recent efforts under NASA’s Small BusinessInnovativeResearch (SBIR)programhave shown thetechnicalfeasibilityandpotentialbenefitsofadvancedcompositematerials/structurestechnologiesindemandingaircraftapplications.NASA’sGlennResearchCenteranditsindustryanduniversitypartnershavedemonstratedthefeasibilityoftwoadvancedcompositetechnologiesfor future jet engine fan casing/containment systemapplicationswith thepotential for 25- to40-percentweight reductionsandequalorbetterperformanceasmeasuredbystructuralanddamagetoleranceparameters.

The first technology, which uses fiber preformbraidingandresintransfermoldingprocesses,hasbeendemonstrated in subsystem and engine level testingandisonapathforcommercialenginecertificationbytwoenginemanufacturers,withentryintocommercialserviceexpectedtooccurinthenextyearortwo.Thistechnology has been developed by A&P TechnologyInc.,underNASASBIRPhaseI,II,andIIIcontractsandalsowithadditionalinvestmentfromARMD’sAviationSafetyProgram.

Thesecondtechnology,whichusesfiber-reinforced-foamcorepreformwinding/stitchingandresinvacuuminfusion molding processes, is in an earlier stage ofdevelopmentbuthasbeendemonstratedinlabandrig

A concept image shows the Ares I crew launch vehicle during ascent. Ares I is an in-line, two-stage rocket configuration topped by the Orion crew exploration vehicle and launch abort system. The Ares I first stage is a single, five-segment reusable solid rocket booster, derived from the space shuttle. Its upper stage is powered by a J-�X engine. Ares I will carry the Orion with its crews of up to six astronauts to Earth orbit.


level testing. This technology has been developed byWebCoreTechnologiesInc.,underSBIRPhaseIandIIcontractswithadditionalinvestmentfromtheAviationSafetyProgram.

Besides the immediate commercial transition ofthese two new advanced composites technologies forjet engine fan casings/containment system structures,bothA&PTechnologyandWebCoreTechnologiesarepursuingpossiblespinoffapplicationsinothereconomicmarketsectors.

AlternativeFuels

NASA’saeronauticsprogramshavealonghistoryofpursuingtechnologydirectedatincreasingtheefficiencyofmodernaircraftandreducingemissions.Inthe1970sand1980s,when the cost of foreignoil dramaticallyincreasedandthecountryfacedthepossibilityof fuelcosting$2pergallon(equivalenttoabout$5pergallonincurrentyeardollars),NASAbegantoaggressivelyfundprograms to reduce fuel consumption. Research and

technologydevelopmentprogramsfocusedonlightweightcompositematerials toenablemuch lighterairframes.Advanced propulsion programs were also created toimprovetheefficiencyofexistinggasturbineengines,andtoexplorenewconceptssuchasanadvanced,high-speedturbopropeller.

Today, the future of aviation is facing multiplechallenges.Currentprojectionsshowthatairtravelwillincreasebyafactoroftwotothreesometimeinthenextdecade,withaproportionalincreaseinfueldemand.Thelatterwilloccuratatimewhentheworlddemandforoilwillsharplyincrease,makingU.S.dependenceonforeign

oilamoreseriousissuethantoday.Similarly,ifnothingisdone,emissionsfromaircraftwillalsoincreasebyafactoroftwotothree,includingbothnitrogenoxides(NOx)andcarbondioxide(CO2).Today,aircraftonlycontributeabout3percentofCO2emissionswithnosignificantimpactontheenvironment.Thoughthepercentagemayremainsmallinthefuture,thetotalamountofaircraft-emittedCO2willincreasewiththevolumeofairtravel.

To address these issues, NASA’s FundamentalAeronauticsProgramconductsresearchintoalternativefuels that are available fromdomestic resources (e.g.,agricultural products and coal) and thatproduce less

A jet engine fan casing constructed of advanced composite technologies created by Glenn Research Center and its industry and university partners.

Alternative fuels include synthetic, bio-derived renewables, and more challenging fuels such as hydrogen.


potentially harmful emissions. One approach is theFischer-TropschprocessdevelopedbyGermanscientistsinthe1920s.Today,itisstilloneofthemorepromisingprocesses to produce fuels from non-petroleum rawmaterials. In theUnitedStates, the process has beenusedtoproduceethanolfromcorn,aswellasgaseousandliquidfuelfromcoal.However,thereisnoprocess,feedstock,orfinalproductthatbestmeetstheaviationrequirementsforefficiency,lowemissions,andcost.

This isone focusofNASA’sSubsonicFixedWingProject. In addition to conducting in-house research,NASAwillengagebothindustryandacademiatoresearchanddevelopbetterproductionprocessesandfuelsthatcanbebasedondomesticfeedstock.NASAalsoconductsresearchonadvancedcombustionprocessesandcontrolstooptimizethebenefitofalternativefuels.Thisincludesdefiningthechemicalkineticsandcharacterizationofthealternativefuels,andrunningtheminsmalllabsbeforetestingonengines.

Ifthisworkissuccessful,ithasthepotentialtogener-atesignificantcommercialopportunitiesthatcanextendwellbeyond the aviationcommunity.NASAwillnotproduce new fuels, nor will the Federal government,ingeneral.Theknowledge and capability toproducealternativefuelswillresideintheprivatesector,includingtheengineeringexpertiseandmanufacturinginfrastructuretosupportlargescaleproduction.Someofthiseconomicspinoff will be realized by existing large-scale energyproviders. However, as with any new technologicaldevelopment,newplayersalsoemerge—bothsmallandlarge.Further,thebasictechnologyforalternativeavia-tionfuelsislikelytoapplytoothermarketsaswell.Infact,thebroaderthegeneralmarketsforthetechnologyandfuelproducts, the lowerthecostsandgreater thebenefitstotheaviationcommunity.

Space Operations Mission Directorate

The Space Operations Mission Directorate pro-vides NASA with leadership and management of the

Agency’sspaceoperationsrelatedtohumanexplorationinandbeyondlow-Earthorbit.SpaceOperationsalsooversees low-level requirements development, policy,and programmatic oversight. Current explorationactivitiesinlow-EarthorbitincludethespaceshuttleandInternationalSpaceStationprograms.ThedirectorateissimilarlyresponsibleforAgencyleadershipandmanage-mentofNASAspaceoperationsrelatedtolaunchservices,spacetransportation,andspacecommunicationsinsup-portofbothhumanandroboticexplorationprograms.Itsmainchallengesinclude:completingassemblyoftheISS;utilizing,operating,andsustainingtheISS;commercialspacelaunchacquisition;futurespacecommunicationsarchitecture; and transition from the space shuttle tofuturelaunchvehicles.

OpeningaNewChapterinSpaceExploration

Future NASA astronauts who land on the Moonwillowe their success inpart to themenandwomenoftheU.S.GulfCoast,whoarealreadyatworkonthenextgenerationofspacetravel.StennisSpaceCenter,inMississippi, andNASA’sMichoudAssemblyFacility,in New Orleans, both will have critical roles in theConstellationProgram,whichaimstolandastronautsontheMoonbytheendofthenextdecade.

Stennisbrokeground for anewrocket engine teststandthatwillprovidealtitudetestingfortheJ-2Xengine.TheenginewillpowertheupperstagesofNASA’sAresIandAresVrockets.NASADeputyAdministratorShanaDalewasjoinedbyMississippiGovernorHaleyBarbour,U.S.SenatorThadCochran,U.S.SenatorTrentLott,andU.S.RepresentativeGeneTaylorforthelandmarkoccasion. Also participating were NASA AssociateAdministratorforExplorationSystemsScottHorowitz,andStennisCenterDirectorRichardGilbrech,namedtosucceedHorowitzinOctober2007.Pratt&WhitneyRocketdynepresidentJimMasertookpartaswell.

“Groundbreakingsareaboutnewbeginnings,” saidDale.“ThefirststandwaserectedatStennistotesttheSaturnVrocketoftheApolloProgram.Testingofthespaceshuttleenginesbeganhereinthemid1970s.Andtoday,we’rebreakinggroundforanewteststand,forthenewspacecraftofaneweraofexploration.”TheAresIandAresVrocketsarebeingdevelopedaspartofNASA’sConstellation Program. Constellation spacecraft willbeused to sendastronauts to the InternationalSpaceStation(ISS),returnhumanstotheMoon,andeventuallyjourneytoMars.

This engineer’s concept drawing of the A-� Test Stand shows the �00-foot-tall structure’s open steel frame and large exhaust diffuser.

140 Research and Operations Spinoff 2007

“Thisisourgeneration’sturn,ourtimetogototheMoon,”saidGilbrech.“Oneofthekeystepsisbuild-ingtheA-3teststand.TheJ-2Xenginehasauniquesetoftestrequirements.ThebestwaytomeetthemiswiththeA-3.”

TheA-3standwillbea300-foot-tall,opensteelframestructurelocatedsouthoftheexistingA-1teststand.Its19-acresiteinStennis’AComplexwillincludeatestcon-trolcenter,propellantbargedocks,andaccessroadways.Theteststandwillallowengineerstosimulateconditionsatdifferentaltitudesbygeneratingsteamtoreducepres-sureinthetestcell.TestingontheA-3standisscheduledtobegininlate2010.

“TheengineswillbeassembledhereatStennis,thensubjectedtorigorous,experttesting,”Dalesaid.“Afterthat,thoseenginesandtherocketstheywillpowerwilltraveltoCapeCanaveral.Thenthefinishedspacecraftwillliftoff,headedforanewdestinationandaneweraofexploration.”

NASAReportDetailsEducationConceptforInternationalSpaceStationNationalLaboratory

The2005NASAAuthorizationActdesignatedtheU.S.segmentoftheISSasanationallaboratoryanddirectedNASAtodevelopaplanto“increasetheutilizationoftheISSbyotherFederalentitiesandtheprivatesector….”AstheNation’snewestnationallaboratory,theISSwillfurther strengthen relationships among NASA, otherFederalentities,andprivatesectorleadersinthepursuitofnationalpriorities for the advancementof science,technology, engineering, and mathematics. The ISSNationalLaboratorywill alsoopennewpaths for theexplorationandeconomicdevelopmentofspace.

TheISSrepresentsauniqueandhighlyvisiblenationalassetwithsurpluscapacityavailableforawidespec-trumofapplications.

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Thenational laboratoryconcept is anopportunitytoexpandtheU.S.economyinspace-basedresearch,applications,andoperations.

NASAwillcontinue tocover thecostofoperatingandmaintainingtheISS,andishighlymotivatedtoworkwithotheragenciesandorganizationstopursueapplications.

A task force representing seven Federal agencies,includingNASA,theNationalScienceFoundation,andtheDepartmentofEducation,hasdevelopedastrategy

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forusing the ISSNationalLaboratory as a venue forfurther inspiringteachersandstudents intheareasofscience,technology,engineering,andmathematics.Thetaskforce’seducationdevelopmentconceptlooksatwaystousethespacestation’sU.S.segmenttosupportfutureprojects and develop partnerships for education pay-loads,orexperiments,withotherFederalagencies.Someideasincludeestablishinganeducationworkinggroupwithrepresentatives fromFederalagenciesresponsibleforsoliciting,selecting,andsubmittingeducationpay-

The International Space Station, against the blackness of space and Earth’s horizon, at the end of STS-11�’s mission on June 19, �00�.

Spinoff 2007 Research and Operations 141

loads;linkingeducationactivitieswithongoingscienceinvestigations;anddevelopingapayloadrackfilledwitheducation-relatedmaterialsandequipment.

For more than 6 years, students have successfullyconductedclassroomversionsofstationexperimentsandlearnedabouttheweightlessnessofspacethroughon-orbitdemonstrationsbycrewmembers.The“InternationalSpaceStationNationalLaboratoryEducationConceptDevelopment Report” is the first phase in planningexpandededucationaluseofthespacestationbymultipleorganizationsaspartofthedesignationoftheISSasanationallaboratory.

OperationDarkDune

On Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy SpaceCenter,theSpaceShuttleEndeavoursatbathedinglow-inglight,silhouettingthevehicleagainstthedarknightskyovertheseasidecomplex.Anawesomesceneinanidylliclocation,andastrikingcounterpointtothenestingseaturtlesandtheirnewlyhatchedbabiesonthenearbyshore.Duringtheirsummernestingseason,theseturtlesemergefromtheoceanalongthepristinebeachwithin200yardsofthespaceshuttlelaunchpads.Thelightema-natingfromthepadscandetertheadultsfromcomingashoretolaytheireggsanddisorientthehatchlingsastheyemergefromtheirnestsandheadtowardthemoonlitsea.Tohelppreservethebalanceofitsnaturalsurroundings,Kennedy’senvironmentalmanagementsystemhasasoneofitsgoalstominimizecontrollableimpactstowildlife,includingthenestingseaturtles.

Whiletheirheightnormallyprovidesanecessarybufferbetweenthe launchpadsandtheshoreline,thedunesalongFlorida’sSpaceCoasthavebeenseverelyerodedinsomespotsbyhurricanes,particularlyduringthe2004season.Thatyear, theSpaceCenterwas impactedbytwohurricanesjust3weeksapart,andwhilesomedunerestorationwascompleted,andmoreisplanned,somestop-gapmeasureswereneededuntilthenestingseasonendsatthebeginningofNovember.

Entersomeinventiveindividualswithanovelidea:Usewhattheyhaveonhandtohelpblockthelaunchpadlights,sothenestingprocesscancontinueundisturbed.Asthosechargedwithhelpingtoprotecttheenvironmentalbalancedebatedhowtoshieldthebeachfromthelights,DougScheidt,ofDynamacCorporation,Kennedy’slifesciencessupportcontractor,hadthisidea:Usefreighttrainboxcarstoshadethedunes.Admittedlyaproverbialshotinthedark,freighttraincarsareabouttherightheighttoshadethedunesinthemostseverelyerodedspots,andsincetheSpaceCenterhasaraillinethatparallelsthe

beach,itwasaviablesolutionthatwouldalsoavoidthepitfallsinherentintryingtoerectsometypeoftemporarybarriersthatwouldrequirepermitsandfunding.

Uniquely bringing together employees from boththeoperations and environmental sidesofKennedy’smanagementteam,therailcarideatookshape.Thecarswerebigenoughandmobile,andsomescheduledtoberemovedfromservicewereconvenientlyparkedjustafewmilesawayfromthelaunchpads.Thesolutionwasideal—quick,easy,andcheap—andtheprojectthathadbeen affectionately dubbed “Operation Dark Dune”strategically relocated 25 railcars to their temporaryseasidelocation.

“AsaformerenvironmentalprotectionspecialistatKennedy,Irealizehowfinealineitisbetweenouropera-tionsandtheprotectionofournaturalresources,”saidPropellantsMobileEquipmentManagerGailVillanueva,whoisinchargeoftherailcars.“IwashappyIwasinapositiontohelpout,althoughtherequestwasunique,tosaytheleast.”

TherelationshipbetweenspaceexplorationandnaturegoesbackasfarastheSpaceProgram’srootsintheregion.WhentheKennedySpaceCenterwascarvedoutalongthevastcoastalarea,itsfirstdirector,KurtH.Debus,arrangedforalargeportionoftheCentertobedesig-natedasawildliferefuge.KnownastheMerrittIslandWildlifeRefuge,itnowencompasses140,000acresandismanagedbytheU.S.DepartmentoftheInterior’sFishandWildlifeService.KennedyalsoborderstheCanaveralNationalSeashore,whichprovidesanimportantnestingareafortheseaturtles.

IfinnovativethinkersattheSpaceCentercancon-tinuetocomeupwithcreativesolutionslikeOperationDarkDune,theCenter’sdedicationtothedelicatebal-ancebetweennatureandspaceexplorationwillcontinuetoflourish.v

Atlantis and a turtle race out to Pad �9B for mission STS-81.

Education News

NASA’s missions to space are the result of scientific expertise and technical excellence, qualities that are dependent on sound educational backgrounds. NASA gives back to the educational community in order to groom the next generation of explorers.

144 Education News Spinoff 2007

NASASetsSightsontheNextGenerationofExplorers

NASA’sEducationOfficehasreleasedanewframe-workfortheacademiccommunitytopreparethenextgenerationofexplorersandinnovators.

TheNASAEducationStrategicCoordinationFrameworkhighlightsAgencycontent,people,andfacilitiesasthefoundationforsponsorededucationalopportunities,whiledevelopingnewnon-traditionalpartnerships.

“NASA’seducationframeworkcontinuesourinvest-mentinstudents,educators,andqualityprogramsinordertoengageandprepareourfuturescientists,engineers,andtechnicians.The exciting and compellingNASAmis-sionstrulyinspirethenextgeneration,”saidDr.JoyceWinterton,assistantadministratorforeducation.

TheframeworkidentifiesthreeprioritiesforNASAtoworkwithacademia,industry,andinformaleducatorsto foster increased studies in science, technology,engineering, and mathematics. NASA’s educationprioritiesincludestrengtheningtheNation’sworkforce,attractingandretainingstudents,andengagingAmericainNASA’smissions.

AnotherkeyelementoftheneweducationframeworkistoinvolvepartnersandestablishstrategicalliancestoworkwithNASAtoinspireandengagetheNation’syouth.

TheAgencystrivestoreachstudentsateverylevelinthe educational system.NASA remains committed toengagingandretainingunderrepresentedandunderservedcommunitiesofstudents,educators,andresearchersinitseducationprograms.

NASAPartnersinAmericanIndianScienceandEngineeringEducation

NASAandtheAmericanIndianHigherEducationConsortium(AIHEC)announcedthelaunchoftheNASAAIHECSummerResearchExperienceProgram.Thepro-gramisastrategicapproachtoinspiringyoungAmericanIndianstopursuecareersinscienceandengineering.

Sixtyparticipantsrepresenting14tribalcollegesanduniversitiestookpartintheprogramat7NASAcentersthissummer.Participantswereassignedtoresearchandengineeringteamsexploringrobotics,3-Ddesign,geo-spatialdataanalysis, andastrobiology,while fosteringlong-termrelationshipswiththeirresearchmentorsatthefieldcenters.

“AmericanIndiansareveryunderrepresentedinthefieldsofscienceandengineering,”saidDr.GeraldGipp,executivedirectorofAIHEC.“TheprogramisacriticalsteptowardchangingthatequationbyencouragingyoungAmericanIndianstopursuecareersinscienceandengi-neeringwhilealsobuildingawelcomingenvironmentthatnurturestheircareerpath.”

Tribalcollegeswithstudentsandfacultyparticipatingintheprogramincluded:BlackfeetCommunityCollege,Browning, Montana; College of Menominee Nation,Keshena,Wisconsin;CrownpointInstituteofTechnology,Crownpoint,NewMexico;DinéCollege,Tsaile,Arizona;Haskell IndianNationsUniversity,Lawrence,Kansas;Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College, Baraga,Michigan; Leech Lake Tribal College, Cass Lake,Minnesota; Little Priest Tribal College, Winnebago,Nebraska; Northwest Indian College, Bellingham,Washington;OglalaLakotaCollege,Kyle,SouthDakota;SalishKootenaiCollege,Pablo,Montana;SouthwesternIndianPolytechnicInstitute,Albuquerque,NewMexico;TohonoO’odhamCommunityCollege,Sells,Arizona;and United Tribes Technical College, Bismarck,NorthDakota.

NASAandHoneywellWinTopAwardforScienceEducationInitiative

NASAandHoneywellInternationalInc.’sjointscienceeducationeffort“FMALive!”wasrecognizedasthetopcommunityoutreachprogramintheUnitedStatesduringthe recentPromotionalMarketingAssociation’s2006ReggieAwards.

TheassociationawardsannuallyidentifyandhonorthebestintegratedU.S.marketingprograms.The“FMALive!”programreceiveda“GoldReggie”awardinthe“Cause/CommunityOutreach”category.

TheprogramispartofanationalpartnershipbetweenNASAandHoneywellHometownSolutions.Theeffortengagesmiddleschoolstudentsinthewondersofscience,technology,andmaththroughinnovativeprogramsandbyhighlightingtherelevanceofnaturalsciencesencoun-teredduringtheirdailylives.

“FMALive!”wasnamedforSirIsaacNewton’ssecondlawofmotion(force=mass×acceleration).Theprogramuses interactive science demonstrations, professionalactors,originalsongs,andmusicvideostoteachmiddleschoolstudentsNewton’sthreelawsofmotionandtheuniversallawofgravity.

Thisinteractiveprogramaddressescriticalcurriculumobjectives tohelpstudentsunderstandtheNewtonianconcepts and to improve their performance in thesciences. Created in 2004, the program has traveled23,000miles,visiting153schoolsin32states,reachingmore than73,000 students.Theprogram’sWeb site,www.fmalive.com,providesclassroomlessonplansandothereducationalmaterialformathandsciencestudies.

During each performance, students, teachers, andadministratorsinteractwiththreeprofessionalactorsonstageinfrontofaliveaudiencetoexperienceNewton’slawsfirsthand.AlargeVELCROwallisusedtodemon-strate inertia;go-cartsdrivenacrossthestage illustrateactionandreaction;andwrestlingandahugesoccerballshowthatforceisdeterminedbymassmultipliedbyaccel-eration.AllthreeofNewton’slawsaredemonstratedwhenafuturistichoverchaircollideswithagiganticcreampie.

NASAKids’ClubWebSiteIsEntertainingandEducational

TheNASAKids’ClubWebsitefeaturesanimated,col-orful,entertaining,andeducationalactivitiesforchildreninkindergartenthroughfourthgrade.

Education News

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html

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people. Through a Space Act Agreement, NASA’sOfficeofEducationandtheSpaceOperationsMissionDirectoratewillcollaboratewithAOLtocreateaseriesofliveWebcastsforits“KOLExpeditions:NASAEarthCrewMission”site.

Tokickoffthisnewpartnership,AOL’skid’sonlineservice,KOL,presentedaWebcastduringNationalSpaceDayatNASA’sGoddardSpaceFlightCenter.

Duringtheshow,studentshadan“outofthisworld”opportunitytotalkwiththeExpedition13crewmembersaboardtheInternationalSpaceStation.Expedition13commanderPavelVinogradovand flightengineer JeffWilliamsbegan their6-monthmissionon the stationMarch 31, 2006. Additional Web cast participantsincluded NASA astronauts Paul Richards and RickyArnold,andGoddard’schiefscientist,JamesGarvin.

“We’rethrilledtopartnerwithNASAaspartofourKOLExpeditionsprogram,enablingmillionsofkidstodiscovernewfrontiersbyinteractingwithNASAscientistsandastronauts,”saidMarkStevens,KOLeducationdirec-torandgeneralmanagerofAOL@SCHOOL.

KOLExpeditionsisanewsitedesignedtoprovidekids,parents,andteacherswithaplatformtomakelearningfunthroughinteractivemissions,videocontent,andotherspecialactivities.TheNASA/AOLstationWebcast,thesecondinitiativeonthesite,laysthegroundworkforwhatwillbeaseriesaboutspaceexploration.

The site also features educational materials andinteractiveactivitiestoinspireelementary-agedkidstoexploretheworldofscienceandspace.

NationalSpaceDay,sponsoredbyLockheedMartinCorporation,startedin1997asagrassrootseducationalinitiativetobeheldeachyearinearlyMay.ThegoalofSpaceDayistousetheexcitementofspaceexplorationtoencouragestudents’interestinscience,technology,engi-neering,andmathematics.

Hundredsof thousandsof teachersandmillionsofstudentshaveparticipated inSpaceDay events in21countries.Theprogram,whichissupportedbymorethan

Interactive games on the site teach children aboutexploringspace,buildingandlaunchingrockets,keepingairplanesonschedule,andhowcometstravelthroughthesolarsystem.Thesiteislocatedatwww.nasa.gov/kidsclub.

Thesiteservesadualpurpose.Childrencanplaygamesathomeforentertainment,andeducatorscanuseitasafunwaytoreachstudentsintheclassroom,thelibrary,duringafter-schoolprograms,oranywherechildrenandcomputersaretogether.

NASA’s Educational Technology Services teamat the Marshall Space Flight Center, in Huntsville,Alabama, developed and maintains Kids’ Club. Thesitewasdesignedinaccordancewiththe2004NationalEducationTechnologyPlan, “Toward aNewGoldenAge inAmericanEducation.”Throughthe interactivesite,contentisalignedwitheducationalstandardsthatarecustomizedtostudents’individualneedsandinterests.

NASAandAOLTeamUptoGiveKidsaVirtualRideintoSpace

NASA and AOL have joined forces to bring theexcitementandadventureofspaceexplorationtoyoung

70officialpartnerinstitutions,hasbeenhonoredwiththeSpaceFoundation’sEducationAchievementAward.

NASALaunchesNewEducationInitiativeforMinorityInstitutions

NASAkickedoff anew initiativewith theUnitedNegroCollegeFundSpecialProgramsCorporationthisyear.TheinitiativewillgiveresearchersandstudentsfromminorityinstitutionsdirectaccesstoNASAfacilities,sci-entists,andcapabilities.

Fundedbya$3.5milliongrantfromNASA,thecor-porationwillestablishtheNASAScienceandTechnologyInstituteforMinorityInstitutions.TheinstitutewillbeintheNASAResearchParkatAmesResearchCenter.

Focused on science, technology, engineering,and mathematics, the institute will bring togetherthe talent and expertise of historically black collegesand universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribalcollegesanduniversities,andotherminorityinstitutionsthroughresearch-basedfellowships,internships,co-ops,andgrants.

“IamtrulydelightedthatNASAispartneringwiththecorporationtoestablishthisrevolutionarynewinstitute,”saidS.PeteWorden,directorofAmes.“Thisjointven-turewillgiveminoritystudentsandresearchersaccesstoNASAandtheopportunitytocollaboratewithresearchersinthesurroundingcommunityofuniversities,high-techresearch,anddevelopmentcompanies.”

Thegoalof the initiative is toprovideprofessionaldevelopmentthatwillpreparefaculty,students,research-ers,visionaries,andentrepreneurstobecomehighlyskilledscienceandtechnologyleadersandmanagers,andtocom-peteinthenationalandglobalworkforce.

“Theestablishmentofthisinstitutetrulydemonstratesand highlights NASA’s continuing commitment topromoting science, technology, engineering, andmathematicsexcellenceintheminorityhighereducationcommunity,”saidAaronR.Andrews,presidentandCEOofthecorporation.

NASA partnerships are working to teach kids about space exploration through interactive and entertaining Web sites.


AStellarEducator...

EducatorAstronautandMissionSpecialistBarbaraMorganmadeher first spaceflight inAugust2007onSTS-118.EducatorAstronautsareK-12teacherswhoareselectedbyNASAtobecomefullyqualifiedastronauts,andwillhelpNASAdevelopnewwaystoconnectspaceexploration with the classroom and inspire the nextgenerationofexplorers.Theyalsohavethetaskofusingtheirout-of-this-worldexperiencestohelpotherteachersexcitestudentsaboutscience,technology,engineering,andmathematics.

BarbaraMorganbeganher26-year teachingcareerin 1974on theFlathead IndianReservation atArleeElementarySchoolinArlee,Montana,whereshetaughtremedialreadingandmath.ShewasselectedasthebackupcandidatefortheNASATeacherinSpaceProgramonJuly19,1985,trainingatJohnsonSpaceCenterwithChristaMcAuliffeandtheChallengercrew.

FollowingtheChallengeraccident,MorganassumedthedutiesofTeacherinSpaceDesignee,includingworkingwithNASAasaspeakervisitingeducationalorganizationsthroughout the country, educational consulting and

curriculumdesign,andservingontheNationalScienceFoundation’s Federal Task Force for Women andMinoritiesinScienceandEngineering.Inthefallof1986,she resumedher teaching career, teaching second andthirdgradesatMcCall-DonnellyElementarySchool,inMcCall,Idaho,whilecontinuingtoworkwithNASA’sEducationDivisionintheOfficeofHumanResourcesandEducation.

In1988, studentsatMcCall-DonnellyElementarytookpart in theNASAOrbiter-NamingProject, sug-gesting aname forNASA’snewestorbiter.Littledidtheyknow,theywerehelpingtonametheveryshuttlethat would one day carry one of their teachers intospace.McCall-Donnellywasoneofmore than6,000U.S.schoolsthatparticipatedinthecompetition,andthe school’s submission, “Endeavour,” was the mostpopularentry.

MorganwasselectedbyNASAasamissionspecialistin1998,andagainreportedtoJohnson.Followingthecompletionof2yearsof trainingandevaluation, sheserved in the InternationalSpaceStationOperations,Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM), and RoboticsbranchesoftheAstronautOffice.ShewasassignedtothecrewofSTS-118asamissionspecialist,oneoftheroboticsoperatorsresponsibleforcontrollingtheshuttle’sCanadian-builtroboticarmandthestation’sroboticarmduringspacewalksandotheractivities.

Endeavour’s first flight inmorethan4years,STS-118workedwiththeExpedition15crewtocontinueconstructionoftheInternationalSpaceStationwiththeadditionoftheStarboard5truss.Thecrewconductedfour spacewalks,which included the truss installation

Barbara Morgan became the first teacher in space when she flew on the STS-118 mission. The crew members of STS-118 included (from the left) mission specialists Richard A. (Rick) Mastracchio, Barbara R. Morgan, pilot Charles O. Hobaugh, commander Scott J. Kelly, and mission specialists Tracy E. Caldwell, Canadian Space Agency’s Dafydd R. (Dave) Williams, and Alvin Drew, Jr.

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andreplacementofanattitudecontrolgyroscope,beforesafelyreturningonAugust21,2007.STS-118wasthe119thspaceshuttleflightandthe22ndshuttlemissiontovisitthestation.

Whenaskedbyastudentduringher time inspacewhichofheroccupationsshepreferred,Morgan’sresponseencapsulatedtheenthusiasmandidealismthathasmarkedhertimebothasaneducatorandastronaut,saying,“DoIhavetochooseone,orcanIdoboth,please?Actually,bothareexcellentjobs,andthey’rebothvery,verysimilar.Bothyou’reexploring,you’relearning,you’rediscover-ing,andyou’resharing.Andtheonlydifferencereallytomeisthatasanastronautyoudothatinspace,andasa

teacheryougettodothatwithstudents.Andthey’rebothwonderfuljobs.Ihighlyrecommendboth.”

…andaStellarStudent

The45thRobertH.GoddardMemorialSymposiumheldMarch20-21,2007,drewattentiontosignificantmilestones,events,missionsandprojectsunderwayatNASA,andtheeventhighlightedpotentialfutureNASAleadersinthestudentpostersessions.Studentsusedthesessionstosharetheirresearchandcontributionsasmem-bersoftheNASAteam,andwhileeachstudentdisplayedexemplary knowledge and potential, one high-schoolsenior’sinspiredeffortsexemplifiedthetypeofaccom-

plishmentsthatcanpropelanationtoexploretheMoon,Mars,andbeyond.

AnnaCyganowskishowedadriven,proactivenaturecertaintopropelhertogreatheightsofachievement.InherapplicationtotheHighSchoolInternshipProject(HIP) sponsored by Goddard Space Flight Center,Cyganowskiindicatedaninterestbothinroboticsandthefiniteresearchareaofmetalwhiskersanddendrites—peskymetalfilamentsthatgrowoncircuitboardsandareoftentheculpritofexpensiveelectricalshortsinsatellites,pacemakers,andothercriticalelectronicequipment.

AstheHIPdurationisonly7weeks,studentstradi-tionallyreceiveasingleassignment.CyganowskiwassettosupporttheNASARoboticsAcademy,butshe,inherpursuittoobtainasvaluableanexperienceaspossible,wantedmore.Shesoughtoutandwasgrantedpermis-siontopursueasecondinternshipassignmentinmetalwhiskersanddendrites,andaftercoordinationwithHIP’smanager,hermentorintheNASARoboticsAcademy,and the world-renowned researchers, Dr. HenningLeideckerandJayBrusse,heridealinternshipwasset.

Cyganowski continued her investigation of metalwhiskersanddendriteswellpasttheendofherinspira-tionalandbeneficialexperiencewiththeNASARoboticsAcademy. Her passion for science and engineeringhas stimulated interest in technology among otherstudentsatherhighschool,stirredinterestinthelocalcommunityandamongprofessionalscientists,andgar-nerednotableaccolades:

• At the 2007 Goddard Symposium Poster Session,Cyganowski was one of two high school studentsselectedtopresent.Aspartofherresearch,shedocu-mented findings through photographs and videos,whichtheParts,Packaging,andAssemblyTechnologiesOfficeatGoddardnowusestoillustratethedifferencebetweenmetalwhiskersandmetaldendrites.

• Among1,705entrantstotheIntelScienceTalentSearch2007competition—whichconsidersitself“America's

Astronaut Barbara R. Morgan, STS-118 mission specialist, smiles for the camera while working on the middeck of Space Shuttle Endeavour during Flight Day Two activities.


oldestandmostprestigioushighschoolsciencecom-petition”andthe“JuniorNobelPrize”—Cyganowskiwasnamedoneofthreehundredsemifinalistsforherproject,“NickelCadmiumBatteries:AMediumfortheStudyofMetalWhiskersandDendrites.”Theachieve-mentearnedheranawardof$1,000andanadditional$1,000forherhighschool,NotreDamePreparatory

School,inTowson,Maryland,tofundfutureprogramsforexemplarystudents.

• The 2007 National Space Club Scholars Programawarded Cyganowski the coveted Olin E. TeagueMemorialScholarshipfor2007.

• BaltimoreCountyexecutiveJimSmithdeclaredFeb.5,2007,“AnnaCyganowskiDay.”

Whilebusywithnumerousotheractivities,Cyganowskimaintainsafocusonheracademicsandfuturecareer,andheraccomplishmentshavealreadycontributedtoNASAscienceandtheAgency’sfuture.

NASA’sNewestExplorers

NASAwelcomed25newNASAExplorerSchoolteamsonMay11,2007,inapartnershiptoinspirestudentsinscience, technology, engineering, andmathematics.A“pipeline”strategicinitiative,ExplorerSchoolspromoteandsupporttheincorporationofNASAcontentandpro-gramsintoscience,technology,andmathematicscurriculainclassroomgradesfourthroughnineacrosstheUnitedStates.Targetingunderservedpopulationsindiversegeo-graphiclocations,NASAExplorerSchoolsbringtogethereducators,administrators,students,andfamiliesinsus-tainedinvolvementwithNASA’seducationprogramsandprovideuniqueopportunitiesdesignedtoengageandedu-catethefuturescientistswhomaysomedayhelpadvanceU.S.scientificintereststhroughspaceexploration.

Tocompeteeffectivelyfortheminds,imaginations,andcareerambitionsofAmerica’syoungpeople,NASAfocusesonengagingandretainingstudentsineducationaleffortsthatencouragethepursuitofdisciplinescriticaltoNASA’sfuturemissions.Studentsengageinresearch,problemsolving,anddesignchallengesrelatingtoNASA’smissions,whichinvolvestheminthestudyofscience,technology, engineering, and mathematics. Activitiesencouragetheuseofscientifictoolsandmethods,andchallengesaregrade-specific, supportingnational andstatestandards.Inaddition,in-flightopportunitiesandcompetitionsprovideaccesstouniqueNASAresourcesandpersonnel.

Tobegintheformalpartnership,ateamcomposedoffull-timeteachersandaschooladministratorattendsa1-weekprofessionaldevelopmentworkshopat theirrespectiveNASAcenterthatprovidesopportunitiestobeginintegrationofNASAcontentintoexistingschoolcurricula.Teamsdevelopandimplementa3-yearaction

The formation of copper dendrites, from the report “Nickel Cadmium Batteries: A Medium for the Study of Metal Whiskers and Dendrites” by Anna Cyganowski, Jay Brusse, and Dr. Henning Leidecker.

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plantoaddresslocalchallengesinscience,technology,andmathematics education, and representatives fromNASAcentershelpkickofftheprogramwithpresenta-tionsattheschools intheirregionduringthecomingschoolyear.

Currently, 200 teams are involved in the project,representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia,PuertoRico, and theU.S.Virgin Islands.Agrant toeachschoolsupportsthepurchaseoftechnologytools,onlineservices,andin-servicesupportfortheintegrationoftechnologyapplicationstoengagestudentsinscienceand mathematics investigations. Selected schools areeligible to receive up to $17,500 during the 3-yearpartnership,andtheprojectalsoprovideseducatorsand

studentswithcontent-specificactivitiesthatcanbeusedinmanylocalandstatecurriculatoexcitestudentsaboutscienceandmath.TheNASAExplorerSchoolsincludesNASAresources;science,technology,andmathematicsinvestigations;collaborativetools;andopportunitiestosharestudentandschoolprogramresults.v

VELCRO®isaregisteredtrademarkofVelcroIndustriesB.V.

Student programs provide opportunities for active participation in research, problem solving, and design challenges relating to NASA’s missions.

Professional development workshops for teams of teachers and school administrators begin the integration of NASA content into existing school curricula.

Partnership News

NASA cultivates non-commercial relationships with private industry, academia, and other government agencies to bring its science back down to Earth. By contributing time, facilities, and a wealth of technical expertise, NASA enriches the lives of people everywhere with these successful partnerships.

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The Innovative Partnerships Program aims toprovideleveragedtechnologyforNASA’smis-siondirectorates,programs,andprojectsthrough

investmentsandtechnologypartnershipswithindustry,academia,governmentagencies,andnationallaboratories.Thefollowingstorieshighlightsomeoftheexceptionalresultsofthesemanypartnerships.

NASAReceivesAwardforExcellenceinTechnologyTransfer

NASA was honored March 1, 2007, for suc-cessfully conducting a broad range of technologytransfer activities. The International Marketplaceand Conference for Business Development throughTechnology Transfer (IPTEC), of St. Albans,England, presented the award to NASA during itsconferenceinCannes,France.DougComstock,NASA’sdirectoroftheInnovativePartnershipsProgram,acceptedtheawardonbehalfoftheAgency.

“Whenwecollectivelyengageinspaceexploration,we investnotonly in the successfulnavigationof theunknownbutalsotheinnovationsthatimproveourveryqualityofdailylife,”saidShanaDale,NASA’sdeputyadministrator.“Wecongratulateourprogram’saccom-plishmentsofcontributingtothehigh-qualitytechnologytransfersthatbenefitexplorationwhilecomplimentingAmericanindustry’sabilitytoprovidebenefitsforourentiresociety.”

Duringitsannualconference,IPTECpresentsthreeawards,oneeachtothepublic,private,andacademicsec-tors.IPTEC’sadvisoryboard,comprisedofrepresentativesfromcorporationssuchastheGeneralElectricCompany,MicrosoftCorporation,andEricssonInc.,recommendedtherecipientsoftheawards.AttheIPTECconference,manyoftheworld’sleadingexpertsintechnologytransferdiscussthelatestcorporateandgovernmenttechnologytransfer strategiesand learnabout successful licensingprogramsandpractices.

“ThisisanimportantrecognitionforNASA,becausewe take seriously the transferof technology fromouruniquespaceandaeronauticsmissionsintoproductivesocietaluse,”saidComstock.

NASAandUniversitiesJointoFightDiabetes

ANASAimageprocessingtechnologyusedtoexploreorbitalimagesofEarthanddistantworldsisbeingmodi-fiedfordiabetesresearch.

ScientistsatTheGeorgeWashingtonUniversityandCornellUniversityhelpedmodifythetechnology,whichhasgreatlyincreasedthespeedoftheresearch.“NASAtechnologycombinedwithourmodificationshasprovided

uswithnew tools for fightingdiabetes,” saidMurrayLoew,directoroftheBiomedicalEngineeringprogramandprofessorofengineeringatTheGeorgeWashingtonUniversity’sSchoolofEngineeringandAppliedScience.

Diabetesafflictsmorethan20millionAmericans.Itiscausedbythebody’sinabilitytoregulateglucose,asugarthatcellsuseforenergy.Thehormoneinsulinregulatesbloodglucose levelsbyunlocking the interiorofcellsandallowingglucoseinthebloodtopassthroughthecellwall.Insulinismanufacturedinbetacellsinthepan-creas.Microscopicstructurescalledgranulescarryinsulintowardthewallofthebetacells,whereitissecretedinresponsetoglucoselevelsintheblood.

Twotypesofdiabetesexist.InTypeIdiabetes,pan-creatic cells aredestroyed. InType IIdiabetes, eitherpancreaticcellsdonotsecreteenoughinsulin,orcellsinthebodylosetheirresponsivenesstoinsulin,orbothproblemshappenatonce.Bothtypesofdiabetescauseglucosetobuildupinthebloodinsteadofbeingdeliv-eredtotheinteriorofcells,whereitisneededorwouldbestored.Potentialeffectsincludecoma,heartdisease,kidney damage, nerve damage, blindness, and lossoflimbs.

Intheresearch,theteamanalyzedelectronphotomi-crographs(imagesfromanelectronmicroscope)ofbetacellsfromrats.

TheoriginalNASAtechnologyhelpsscientiststoclas-sifypictureelements(pixels)andidentifydifferenttypesoflandforms,geology,andvegetation.Inthelaboratory,ithasbeenadaptedtoidentifybiologicalstructures,theinsulin granules, in electron photomicrographs. Theresearchteamobservedthenumber,size,andpositionofinsulingranulesinthebetacellsinresponsetoglucose.

“Previously,theanalysisofeachelectronmicrographtookanassistantseveralhourstocomplete.Now,withtheimageprocessingsoftware,wecanautomaticallyana-lyzeseveraldozenelectronmicrographsovernight,”saidTimMcClanahan,ascientistatNASA’sGoddardSpaceFlightCenter.

Partnership News

Photomicrograph of a sliced rat beta cell that has been processed with the modified NASA imaging technology. Insulin granules are the dark black spots surrounded by a white area called a halo. Large cells have hundreds of insulin granules. The colored borders around the granules are labels added to identify them and classify how they appear.

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“Weplanonanextensivecollaborationinthefuture.Thepotentialforthisresearchisexcellent,”saidGeoffreySharp,adiabetesexpertintheDepartmentofMolecularMedicineatCornellUniversity.TheteamhassubmittedproposalstotheNationalInstitutesofHealth(NIH)andtheAmericanDiabetesAssociationto furthervalidatethetechnologywithadditionaldataandtoextendtheworktoidentifyandcharacterizeothermicroscopiccel-lularstructures.

TheresearchisbeingfundedbyGoddard’spart-timegraduatestudyprogram,NIH,andtheJuvenileDiabetesResearchFoundationInternational.

NASAExplainsPuzzlingImpactofPollutedSkiesonClimate

NASAscientistshavedeterminedthattheformationofcloudsisaffectedbythelightnessordarknessofairpollutionparticles.ThisalsoimpactsEarth’sclimate.

InabreakthroughstudypublishedintheonlineeditionofScience,scientistsexplainwhyaerosols—tinyparticlessuspendedinairpollutionandsmoke—sometimesstopcloudsfromformingand,inothercases,increasecloudcover.Cloudsnotonlydeliverwateraroundtheglobe,theyalsohelpregulatehowmuchoftheSun’swarmththeplanetholds.ThecapacityofairpollutiontoabsorbenergyfromtheSunisthekey.

“When the overall mixture of aerosol particles inpollutionabsorbsmoresunlight,itismoreeffectiveatpreventingcloudsfromforming.Whenpollutantaerosolsarelighterincolorandabsorblessenergy,theyhavetheoppositeeffectandactuallyhelpcloudstoform,”saidGoddard’sLorraineRemer.Remerworkedcloselywiththestudy’s leadauthor,thelateYoramKaufman,alsoofGoddard,onpreviousresearchintothisperplexing“aerosoleffect.”

Theeffectoftheplanet’sconstantlychangingcloudcoverhaslongbeenaproblemforclimatescientists.Howcloudschangeinresponsetogreenhouse-gaswarmingandairpollutionwillhaveamajorimpactonfutureclimate.

Usingthisnewunderstandingofhowaerosolpollu-tioninfluencescloudcover,Kaufmanandco-authorIlanKoren,ofIsrael’sWeizmannInstituteofScience,estimatetheimpactworldwidecouldbeasmuchasa5-percentnetincreaseincloudcover.Inpollutedareas,thesecloudchangescanchangetheavailabilityof freshwaterandregionaltemperatures.

In previous research by the authors, the oppositeeffectsthataerosolshaveoncloudswereseenindifferentpartsoftheworldusingdatafromNASAsatellites.These

observationsalone,however,couldnotconfirmthattheaerosolsthemselveswerecausingthecloudstochange.

Totacklethisproblem,KaufmanandKorenassembledamassivedatabaseofglobalobservationsthatstronglysuggestsitisthedarkness(absorbssunlight)orbright-ness(reflectssunlight)ofaerosolpollutionthatcausespollutiontoactasacloudkilleroracloudmaker.ThesemesasurementswereculledfromtheNASA-sponsoredAerosolRoboticNetwork(AERONET)ofground-basedinstrumentsatnearly200sitesworldwide.

Nomatterwhereintheworldthemeasurementsweretakenorinwhatseason,scientistssawthesamepattern.Therewerelotsofcloudswhenlight-reflectingpollutionfilledtheair,butmanyfewercloudswererecordedinthepresenceoflight-absorbingaerosols.

NASA’ssatellites,computermodels,andtechnologywillcontinuetoadvancetheunderstandingofhowaerosolpollutionaffectstheEarth’sclimate.NASA’s“A-Train”offormation-flyingsatellites,nowwiththecloud-piercinginstrumentsonboardtheCloudSatandCALIPSOspace-crafts,ishelpingtoanswerchallengingquestionssuchastheroleofcloudsinglobalwarmingandtheinfluenceofaerosolsonrainfallandhurricanes.

NASAAssistsSearchforIvory-BilledWoodpecker

Unlike its more famous cartoon cousin, WoodyWoodpecker,theivory-billedwoodpeckeristhoughttobeextinct,orsomostexpertshavebelievedforoverhalfacentury.

Recently, though, scientists from NASA and theUniversityofMarylandlaunchedaprojectto identifypossibleareaswherethewoodpecker,oneofthelargestandmostregalspecies,mightbeliving.Findingthesehabitatareaswillguidefuturesearchesforthebirdandhelpdetermineifitisreallyextinctorhasmaintainedanelusiveexistence.

Thequestionofwhetherthespeciesstillexistsstartedwhenakayakerreportedspottingthewoodpeckeralong

Clouds help regulate the Earth’s climate by reflecting sunlight into space, thus cooling the surface. When cloud patterns change, they modify the Earth’s energy balance in turn, and temperatures on the Earth’s surface.

1�4 Partnership News Spinoff 2007

Arkansas’CacheRiverin2004.Thatsightingspawnedanintensivesearchforthespeciesbywildlifeconservation-ists,birdwatchers,fieldbiologists,andothers.

InJune2006,aresearchaircraftflewoverdeltaregionsofthelowerMississippiRivertotrackpossibleareasofhabitatsuitablefortheivory-billedwoodpecker,aprojectsupportedbytheU.S.FishandWildlifeServiceandtheU.S.GeologicalSurvey.

Scientists from Goddard and the University ofMarylandusedNASA’sLaserVegetationImagingSensor

(LVIS)onboardtheaircraft.TheinstrumentuseslasersthatsendpulsesofenergytotheEarth’ssurface.Photonsof light from the lasers bounce off leaves, branches,andthegroundandreflectbacktotheinstrument.Byanalyzingthesereturnedsignals,scientistsreceiveadirectmeasurementoftheheightoftheforest’sleaf-coveredtreetops,thegroundlevelbelow,andeverythinginbetween.

“LVISisaidingthissearcheffortfarbeyondwhatair-craftphotosorsatelliteimagescanprovideinthewayofjustatwo-dimensionalrenderingofwhat’sbelow,”saidWoodyTurner,programscientistatNASAHeadquarters.“The laser technology gives us the third dimension,enablingustobetterassessthecomplexvegetationstruc-turetheplanefliesover.”Theflightsarethelateststepinaneffortspanningover2yearstofindabsoluteevidencethatabirdoncethoughtextinctcontinuestosurvive.

“We’retryingtounderstandtheenvironmentwherethesebirdsliveorusedtolive,usingLVIS-plottedfea-tureslikethicknessofthegroundvegetationandtree-leafdensity,incombinationwithotherfactorslikeclosenesstowaterandageoftheforest,todeterminewherewemightfindthem,”saidTurner.

“Through numerous studies, we have shown theeffectivenessofthedatageneratedbythissensorformanyscientificuses,includingcarbonremoval,fireprediction,andhabitatidentification,”saidLVISprojectresearcherRalph Dubayah, a professor in the University ofMaryland’sDepartmentofGeography.“LidartechnologylikeLVISmeasurestheverticalstructureofthetreesandground,settingitapartfromotherremote-sensingsystemsthatprovidedetailedhorizontalinformationthattellsuslittleaboutwhetheragreenpatchofforest isshortortall,forexample.Whenidentifyinghabitats,theverticalstructureofthevegetationisofparamountimportancetomanyspecies,includingabirdliketheivory-bill.”

Thereportedsightingoftheivory-billedwoodpeckerinspired a year-long search by more than 50 expertsworkingtogetheraspartoftheBigWoodsConservationPartnership, led by Cornell University’s Cornell

LaboratoryofOrnithologyandtheNatureConservancy.Researchershave followed reported sightings across ahugeswathoftheSoutheasternUnitedStates,includingtheGulfCoast,Alabama,andFlorida.

InApril2005, that teampublishedareport in thejournalSciencethatatleastonemaleivory-billstillsur-vived.However,somescientistshavechallengedwhetheritreallywastheivory-billedwoodpeckerthatwasspotted.TheNASA-UniversityofMarylandprojectisdesignedtoprovidedetailedhabitatinformationthatsearchteamswilluseforexpandedeffortstofindnewevidenceaboutthepossiblesurvivalofthebird.

Theprojectalsohasabroaderapplication,accordingto Goddard’s Bryan Blair, principal investigator fortheproject.“Thisfieldcampaignispartofanefforttodevelopapproachesthatbringtogethermanytypesofremote-sensingdataformonitoringwildlifehabitat.”

The research team previously used NASA’s LVISto studywildlifehabitats inold-growth forests in theWesternUnitedStatesandinrainforestsabroad.

NASAStudySolvesOceanPlantMystery

ANASA-sponsoredstudyshowsthatbyusinganewtechnique,scientistscandeterminewhatlimitsthegrowthofoceanalgae,orphytoplankton,andhowthisaffectsEarth’sclimate.

Phytoplanktonisamicroscopicoceanplantandanimportantpartoftheoceanfoodchain.Byknowingwhatlimitsitsgrowth,scientistscanbetterunderstandhowecosystemsrespondtoclimatechange.

The study focusedonphytoplankton in the tropi-calPacificOcean.It isanareaoftheoceanthatplaysa particularly important role in regulating atmo-sphericcarbondioxideandtheworld’sclimate,inthatit is the largest natural source of carbon dioxide totheatmosphere.

“We concluded that nitrogen is the primary ele-mentmissing for algaegrowthandphotosynthesis inthe northern portion of the tropical Pacific, while it

Artist’s rendering of the ivory-billed woodpecker. If the bird does exist, NASA’s Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor could help find it.

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was iron thatwasmost lackingeverywhereelse,” saidMichael J.Behrenfeld, anoceanplant ecologist fromOregonStateUniversity.

Scientists determined that when phytoplanktonis stressed from lack of iron, it appears greener, orhealthier,thanitreallyis.Normally,greenerplantsaregrowingfasterthanlessgreenplants.Whenironislack-ing,enhancedgreennessdoesnotmeanphytoplanktonisgrowingbetter;itisactuallyunderstressandunhealthy.

“Becausewedidn’t knowabout this effect of ironstressonthegreennessofalgaeorphytoplanktonbefore,wehavealwaysassumedthatequallygreenwaterswere

equallyproductive,”Behrenfeld said. “Wenowknowthisisnotthecaseandthatwehavetotreatareaslackingirondifferently.”

For the tropical Pacific, correction for this “iron-effect”decreasesestimatesofhowmuchcarbonoceanplants photosynthesize for the region by roughly2 billion tons. This figure represents a tremendousamountofcarbonthatremainsintheatmospherethatscientistspreviouslythoughtwasbeingremoved.

Theresultsofthisstudyallowscientistsusingcom-putermodelstorecreatethemovementofcarbonaroundtheworldmuchmore accurately.Resourcemanagers

willbecomemoreknowledgeableaboutwherecarbonisgoingandtheimpactofrecreational,industrial,orcom-mercialprocessesthatuseorproducecarbon.Researchersbetterunderstand theEarth as an ecosystemandcanincorporatethesefindingsinfuturemodeling,analysis,andpredictions.

WhilesatellitedatafromNASA’sSea-viewingWideField-of-viewSensor(SeaWiFS)playedanimportantpartinthestudy,therealcornerstoneofthediscoverywasship-basedmeasurementsoffluorescence.

Fluorescenceoccurswhenplantsabsorbsunlightandsomeofthatenergyisgivenbackoffagainasredlight.Scientistslookedatapproximately140,000measurements

This image depicts amounts of plant life on Earth. On land, the dark greens show where there is abundant vegetation, and the tan colors show relatively sparse plant cover. In the ocean, red, yellow, and green areas show higher levels of phytoplankton, and these are regions of the ocean that are the most productive over time, while blue and purple areas show where there is very little phytoplankton.

Satellite picture of phytoplankton bloom off Grand Banks, southeast of Newfoundland, using the OrbView-�/SeaWiFS.


offluorescencemadefrom1994to2006along36,040milesofshiptracks.Theyfoundthatphytoplanktongivesoffmuchmorefluorescencewhentheplantsdonothavesufficientiron.Itisthissignaltheyusedtofingerprintwhatpartsoftheoceanareiron-stressedandwhatpartsarenitrogen-stressed.

Itisimportantthatscientistsunderstandhowoceanplantsbehave,becauseallplantsplayacriticalrole inmaintaining a healthy planet. Plants annually absorbbillionsoftonsofcarbondioxidefromtheatmospherethroughphotosynthesisandusethiscarbontocreatethefoodthatnearlyallotherorganismsonEarthdependonforlife.

Nutrients that make ocean plants thrive, such asnitrogenandphosphates,mostlycome fromthedeeppartsoftheocean,whenwaterismixedbythewind.Ironalsocancomefromdustblowingintheair.

Approximatelyhalfof thephotosynthesisonEarthoccursintheoceans,andoceanandlandplantssharethesamebasicrequirementsforphotosynthesisandgrowth.Theserequirementsincludewater,light,andnutrients.When these threeareabundant,plantsareabundant;whenanyoneofthemismissing,plantssuffer.

NASAandGoogletoBringSpaceExplorationDowntoEarth

NASA’sAmesResearchCenterandGoogleInc.havesignedaSpaceActAgreementthatformallyestablishesarelationshiptoworktogetheronavarietyofchalleng-ing technical problems ranging from large-scale datamanagementandmassivelydistributedcomputing, tohuman-computerinterfaces.

Asthefirstinaseriesofjointcollaborations,Googleand Ames will focus on making NASA’s most usefulinformationavailableontheInternet.Real-timeweathervisualizationandforecasting,high-resolution3-DmapsoftheMoonandMars,aswellasreal-timetrackingoftheInternationalSpaceStationandthespaceshuttlewillbeexploredinthefuture.

“This agreement between NASA and Google willsoonalloweveryAmericantoexperienceavirtualflightoverthesurfaceoftheMoonorthroughthecanyonsofMars,”saidMichaelGriffin,NASAadministrator.“ThisinnovativecombinationofinformationtechnologyandspacesciencewillmakeNASA’sspaceexplorationworkaccessibletoeveryone,”addedGriffin.

“PartneringwithNASAmadeperfectsenseforGoogle,asithasawealthoftechnicalexpertiseanddatathatwillbeofgreatusetoGoogleaswelooktotacklemanycom-putingissuesonbehalfofourusers,”saidEricSchmidt,chiefexecutiveofficerofGoogle.“We’repleasedtomoveforwardtocollaborateonavarietyoftechnicalchallengesthroughthesigningoftheSpaceActAgreement.”

Recently,teamsfromNASAandGooglemettodis-cussthemanychallengingcomputerscienceproblems

facingbothorganizationsandpossiblejointeffortsthatcouldhelpaddressthem.

NASAandGoogleintendtocollaborateinavarietyofareas,includingincorporatingAgencydatasetsintheGoogleEarthmappingservice,focusingonuserstudiesandcognitivemodelingforhuman-computerinteraction,andonsciencedatasearchingutilizingavarietyofGooglefeaturesandproducts.

“Our collaboration with Google will demonstratethattheprivateandpublicsectorscanaccomplishgreatthingstogether,”saidS.PeteWorden,Amescenterdirec-tor.“IwantNASAAmestoestablishpartnershipswiththeprivatesectorthatwillencourageinnovation,whileadvancingtheVisionforSpaceExplorationandcommer-cialinterests,”Wordenadded.

“NASAhascollectedandprocessedmoreinformationaboutourplanetanduniversethananyotherentityin

The partnership between NASA and Google Inc. will provide the public with access to much of NASA’s information, including weather visualization and forecasting, high-resolution �-D maps of the Moon and Mars, as well as real-time tracking of the International Space Station and the space shuttle.


thehistoryofhumanity,”saidChrisC.Kemp,directorofstrategicbusinessdevelopmentatAmes.“Eventhoughthisinformationwascollectedforthebenefitofeveryone,andmuchisinthepublicdomain,thevastmajorityofthisinformationisscatteredanddifficultfornon-expertstoaccessandtounderstand.

“We’veworkedhardoverthepastyeartoimplementanagreementthatenablesNASAandGoogletoworkcloselytogetheronawiderangeofinnovativecollabo-rations,”saidKemp.“WearebringingtogethersomeofthebestresearchscientistsandengineerstoformteamstomakemoreofNASA’svastinformationaccessible.”

NASAandGooglealsoarefinalizingdetailsforaddi-tionalcollaborationsthatincludejointresearch,products,facilities,education,andmissions.

SpunkySatelliteYieldsNobelPrizeforNASAScientist

Intheearly1970s,ayoungNASAscientisthadacrazyidea tobuilda strange-lookingmicrowave satellite totesttheBigBangtheory.Aftermuchstressandmanyfalsestarts,hissatellitefinallylaunchedin1989andby1990foundnearlyirrefutableevidencetosupporttheBigBangtheory.

OnOctober3,2006, theNobelPrizeCommitteeannouncedthatthisscientist,JohnMather,ofGoddard,wouldreceivethe2006NobelPrizeinPhysics.Hesharestheprizewithlong-timecolleague,GeorgeSmoot,oftheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy’sLawrenceBerkeleyNationalLaboratory,inBerkeley,California.

Untilfairlyrecently,verylittlewasknownabouttheoriginoftheuniverse.Onetheory,calledtheBigBang,statedinthesimplestoftermsthat,longago,somethinghappened, and about a billion years later stars andgalaxiesappeared.JohnMatherhelpedfillinthepieces.ThesatellitemissionheledwastheCosmicBackgroundExplorer(COBE).

Asearlyas1974,MatherwasdeterminedtobuildasatellitethatcouldfindevidencefortheBigBangand

how stars and galaxies formed. The Big Bang theorygrewoutofEinstein’stheoryofgeneralrelativityandwasdevelopedbyaJesuitpriestnamedGeorgesLemaîtreandothersinthe1920s.

The first striking evidence for the Big Bang camebetween1963and1965,whenArnoPenziasandRobertWilson, of Bell Laboratories, stumbled upon someannoyingmicrowavestaticinterferingwiththeirradioexperiment.Thatinterference,responsibleforasizableamountofstaticseenonyourtelevisionset,turnedouttoberemnantradiationfromthebirthoftheuniverse13.8billionyearsago.PenziasandWilsonwonthe1978NobelPrizeinPhysicsforthisdiscovery.

MatherandSmootgreatlyadvancedthefieldbypre-ciselymeasuringthetemperatureandspectrumofthiscosmicmicrowavebackground,theafterglowoftheBigBangthathascooledconsiderablybutstilllingerswithustoday.Ifoureyescoulddetectmicrowaves,wewouldseetheentireskybathedinthislight.

Thetemperaturetheymeasuredwas2.375+/−0.06degreesKelvin,oraboutminus455degreesFahrenheit.Moreimportant,MatherandSmootfoundslighttem-perature fluctuations within this near uniform light,whichphysicistStephenHawking,independentoftheCOBEteam,called“themostimportantdiscoveryofthecentury,ifnotofalltime.”

Why the hyperbole? The temperature variations(about10partspermillion)makelifepossible.Withoutthem,nostarsorgalaxiesorplanetswouldhaveformed.These variations—a littlemoreheat here, a little lessthere—pointedtodensitydifferences,regionswithalittlemorematteranda little lessmatter.Throughgravity,overthecourseofbillionsofyears—inacosmictakeonthe“richgetricher”idea—thosedenserandwarmerpock-etsattractedmorematterandheat,whichultimatelygaverisetothestars,galaxies,andhierarchicalstructureweseetoday.

ThesimplestmodeloftheBigBangcannotexplainwhy stars formed, but the tweaked model for whichMatherandSmootfoundevidencecan.

WhenMatherpresentedachartofthefirst9minutesofCOBEdata at the 1990meetingof theAmericanAstronomicalSocietyinWashington,D.C.,hereceived

The images were created from the COBE DMR data products. Each image has been histogram equalized, giving a non-linear relation between color value and temperature.


astandingovation.ScientistssawinstantlyhowwelltheCOBEdatamatchedthetemperaturemappredictedbytheory.Rarelyinscienceisamatchbetweenobservationandtheorysoprecise.ThemomentstillgivesMathergoosebumpstoday,hesaid.

UnliketheHubbleSpaceTelescope,COBEdidnotmakeopticalimagesofstarsandplanets,whichreadilycapturethepublic’simagination.Assuch,COBEneverbecameahouseholdnamebeforeitsmissionendedin1994,yet its legacy is theNobelPrize, the first tobeawardedtoaNASAscientist.

COBEcarriedthreeinstruments.Thefirst,theFarInfraredAbsoluteSpectrophotometer(FIRAS),measuredthetemperatureandspectrumofthecosmicmicrowavebackground.Mather,theCOBEmissionprojectscientist,wastheFIRASprincipalinvestigator,andRichardShafer,alsoofGoddard,wasthedeputyprincipalinvestigator.

Thesecondinstrument,theDifferentialMicrowaveRadiometer (DMR),measured the temperaturevaria-tions,calledanisotropy.GeorgeSmootwastheDMRprincipalinvestigator,andCharlesL.Bennett,thenatGoddardandnowatJohnsHopkinsUniversity,wasthedeputyprincipalinvestigator.

Thethirdinstrument,theDiffuseInfraredBackgroundExperiment(DIRBE),measuredthecosmicinfraredback-ground,the“coresample”oftheuniverse,containingthecumulativeemissionsofstarsandgalaxiesdatingbacktotheepochoffirstlighthundredsofmillionsofyearsaftertheBigBang.Theresultwassurprising:Theuniversehasproducedtwiceasmuchlightashadbeenthought,andhiddenitfromview.Apreviouslyunknownpopulationofgalaxiesmadethislight.MichaelHauser,thenatGoddardandnowattheSpaceTelescopeScienceInstitute,wastheDIRBEprincipalinvestigator.TomKelsall,ofGoddard,wasthedeputyprincipalinvestigator.

NASA’s Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe,nowinorbit,buildsontheCOBElegacy,exploringinfargreaterdetailthetemperaturevariationstheCOBEdis-covered—quitepossiblythestuffoffutureNobelPrizes.

InAugust2006,MatherandtheCOBEteamwonthe2006GruberCosmologyPrize,alsofortheBigBangdiscoveries.Alongwiththescientistsmentionedabove,therecipientsofthisawardincludethemembersoftheCOBEScienceWorkingGroup:EliDwek,S.HarveyMoseley, Robert F. Silverberg, and Nancy Boggess(retired), of Goddard; Edward Cheng, formerly withGoddard andnowpresidentofConceptualAnalyticsLLC;SamuelGulkisandMichaelA.Janssen,ofNASA’sJetPropulsionLaboratory(JPL);RainerWeiss,oftheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology;StephanMeyer,oftheUniversityofChicago;PhilipLubin,oftheUniversityof California, Santa Barbara; Edward Wright, of theUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngeles;ThomasMurdock,ofFrontierTechnologyInc.;andtheestateofthelateDavidT.Wilkinson,ofPrincetonUniversity.

NASAProbestheSourcesoftheWorld’sTinyPollutants

Pinpointingpollutantsourcesisanimportantpartoftheongoingbattletoimproveairqualityandtounder-standitsimpactonclimate.ScientistsusingNASAdatarecentlytrackedthepathanddistributionofaerosols—tinyparticlessuspendedintheair—tolinktheirregionoforiginandsourcetypewiththeirtendenciestowarmorcooltheatmosphere.

ByalteringtheamountofsolarenergythatreachestheEarth’ssurface,aerosolsinfluencebothregionalandglobalclimate,buttheirimpactisdifficulttomeasure,becausemostonlystayairborneforaboutaweek,whilegreenhouse gasses can persist in the atmosphere fordecades. In a new study, researchers investigated thesourcesofaerosolsandhowdifferenttypesofaerosolsinfluenceclimate.

“Thisstudyoffersdetailsontheaerosolsourceregionsand emission source types that policy makers couldtargettomosteffectivelycombatclimatechange,”saidDorothyKoch,leadauthorandanatmosphericscientist

atColumbiaUniversityandNASA’sGoddardInstituteforSpaceStudies(GISS),inNewYork.

UsingaGISScomputermodelthatincludesavarietyofdatagatheredbyNASAandotherU.S.satellites,theresearcherssimulatedrealisticaerosolconcentrationsofimportantaerosoltypesintheatmosphereandstudiedtheamountoflightandheattheyabsorbandreflectoverseveralregionsaroundtheglobe.

Eachareahasauniquemixofnaturalandpollutantaerosolsourcesthatproducesdifferenttypesofaerosolsandcausescomplexclimateeffects.The industryandpower sectors are particularly important in NorthAmerica and Europe and produce large amounts ofsulfur dioxide, while Asia has higher emissions fromresidentialsources,whichproducerelativelymorecarbon-containingaerosols.

“Computer model simulations showed that blackcarbonintheArctic,apotentiallyimportantdriverinclimatechange,derivesitslargestportionfromSoutheastAsian residential sources,” said Koch. “According tocurrentmodelestimates,theresidentialsectorappearstohaveasubstantialpotentialtocauseclimatewarmingand,therefore,couldpotentiallybetargetedtocountertheeffectsofglobalwarming.”

Blackcarbonabsorbs sunlight,warming theatmo-sphere just as dark pavement absorbs more sunlightandbecomeshotterthanlightpavement.Ithasalargeinfluence on global climate, because winds transportapproximatelyhalfoftheblackcarbonaerosolsproducedinimportantaerosolsourceregionslikeAsiaandSouthAfricatootherpartsoftheworld.Whenloftedabovepre-cipitatingclouds,theseaerosolscanremainairborneforrelativelylongerperiods.Someoftheseaerosolsarecar-riedtothePolarRegions,wheretheysettleonthesurfaceoficeorsnow,absorbsunlight,andboostmelting.

Mostparticles,especiallysulfatesproducedfromthesulfurdioxideemissionsoffactoriesandpowerplants,arelight-coloredandtendtocooltheatmospherebyreflect-ingsunlightormakingcloudsmorereflective.Computer

Spinoff 2007 Partnership News 1�9

modelsimulationssuggestthiseffectisespeciallyheight-enedoverpartsoftheNorthernHemisphere,includingtheCentralUnitedStates.Thestudyfound,however,thatsulfurdioxideemissionsinSoutheastAsiaandEuropehaveasmaller impactonclimatebecauseatmosphericconditionsinthoseareasarenotasefficientatturningtheemissionsintosulfateparticles.

“Thisresearchisonlythefirststepinconsideringtheimpactsofaerosolsfromdifferentsectorsonclimate,”saidKoch.“Aerosolshaveothereffects,likealteringcloudcharacteristicsthatinfluenceprecipitationandclimate.”

NASASatellitesUnearthAntarctic‘PlumbingSystem’andCluestoLeaks

Imaginepeeringdownfromaboardanairplaneflyingat35,000feetandspottingchangesinthethicknessofa

paperbackbookonapicnicblanketinNewYorkCity’sCentralPark.Ifyoubelievethisimpossible,NASAsatel-litesaredoingtheequivalentofjustthat.Fromnearly400milesabovetheEarth,satelliteshavedetectedsubtlerisesandfallsinthesurfaceoffast-movingicestreamsontheAntarcticicesheet,acapabilitythatalsooffersscientistsanextraordinaryviewofinterconnectedwaterwaysdeepbelowthatsurface.

“NASA’ssatellite instrumentsaresosensitivewe’reabletomeasurefromspacechangesintheicesheet’ssur-faceelevationofamere3feet,”saidRobertBindschadler,chiefscientistoftheHydrosphericandBiosphericSciencesLaboratoryatGoddardandco-authorofarelatedstudypublishedintheFebruary16,2007,issueofScience.

Withtheaidofthesatellites,BindschadlerandateamofscientistsledbyresearchgeophysicistHelenFricker,

oftheScrippsInstitutionofOceanography,inLaJolla,California,revealedanewthree-dimensionallookatanextensivenetworkofwaterwaysbeneath an active icestreamthatactslikeanaturalplumbingsystem,aswellascluestohowleaksinthesystemimpacttheworld’slargesticesheetandsealevel.Theyalsodocumented,forthefirsttime,changesintheheightoftheicesheet’ssurfaceasproofthatthelakesandchannelsnearlyhalfamileofsolidicebelowfilledandemptied.

“This exciting discovery of large lakes exchangingwaterundertheicesheet’ssurfacehasradicallyalteredourviewofwhat’shappeningatthebaseoftheicesheetandhowicemovesinthatenvironment,”saidBindschadler.

Fricker,Bindschadler,andothersspottedintriguingdischargesofwaterfromthelakesintotheocean.Theirresearchhasalsodeliverednewinsightsintohowmuch

This pair of images from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on NASA’s Aura satellite shows smoke measurements over Alaska and western Canada on August 1�, �00� (left) and August �1, �00� (right). Increasing amounts of smoke are shown as an aerosol index with shades of blue (little or no smoke) to dull red (thick smoke).

Because Antarctica holds about 90 percent of the world’s ice and �0 percent of the world’s reservoir of fresh water, leaks under the ice sheet influence sea level and ice melt worldwide.

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waterleaksfromthesewaterways,howfrequently,andhowmanyconnecttotheocean.BecauseAntarcticaholdsabout90percentoftheworld’siceand70percentoftheworld’sreservoiroffreshwater,leaksinthissysteminflu-encesealevelandicemeltworldwide.

Theresearchteamcombinedimagesfromaninstru-mentaboardNASA’sTerraandAquasatellitesanddatafromNASA’sIce,Cloud,andLandElevationSatellite(ICESat) tounveil a first-everviewof changes in theelevationoftheicysurfaceaboveasubglacial lakethesizeofLakeOntariothattookplaceovera3-yearperiod.Thosechangessuggestthatthelakedrainedandthatitswaterrelocatedelsewhere.

Tothenakedeye,thesurfaceoftheicesheetisverycoldandstable,butthebaseofanyofitsicestreamsiswarm,enablingwatermeltedfromthebasalicetoflow,fillingthesystem’s“pipes”andlubricatingflowoftheoverlyingice.Thesewaterwaysactasavehicleforwatertomoveandchangeitsinfluenceontheicemovement,afactorthatdeterminesicesheetgrowthordecay.

“There’sanurgencytolearningmoreabouticesheetswhen you note that sea level rises and falls in directresponsetochangesinthatice,”saidFricker.“Withthisinmind,NASA’sICESat,Terra,Aqua,andothersatel-litesareprovidingavitalpublicservice.”

NASADataHelpsPinpointWildfireThreats

NASAdatafromEarthobservationsatellitesishelpingbuildthecapabilitytodeterminewhenandwherewild-firesmayoccurbyprovidingdetailsonplantconditions.

Whileinformationfromsophisticatedsatellitesandinstrumentshaverecentlyallowedscientiststoquicklydeterminetheexactlocationofwildfiresandtomonitortheirmovement, thisgeoscienceresearchoffersa steptowardpredictingtheirdevelopmentandcouldcomple-ment data from National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration(NOAA)weathersatellitesusedtohelpcalculatefirepotentialacrossmuchoftheUnitedStates.

BystudyingshrublandspronetowildfireinsouthernCalifornia,scientistsfoundthatNASAEarthobservationsaccuratelydetectedandmappedtwokeyfactors:plantmoistureandfuelcondition—orgreenness—definedastheproportionoflivetodeadplantmaterial.Moisturelevelsandfuelcondition,combinedwiththeweather,playamajorroleintheignition,rateofspread,andinten-sityofwildfires.

“Thisrepresentsanadvanceinourabilitytopredictwildfiresusingdatafromrecentlylaunchedinstruments,”said lead author Dar Roberts, of the University ofCalifornia,SantaBarbara.“Wehavecomealongwayin just thepast5 to10years and continue togathermuch better data on the variables critical in wildfiredevelopmentandspread.”

To findouthowwellNASAsatellitescoulddetectthese factors, researchers first sampled live fuelmois-ture, a criticalmeasure for assessing firedanger, fromseveraldifferentplantspeciesinsitesacrossLosAngelesCounty.Theground-baseddata, collectedby theLosAngelesCountyFireDepartmentovera5-yearperiod,were then compared to greenness and moisture mea-sures from NASA’s Moderate Resolution ImagingSpectroradiometer (MODIS) and Airborne Visible/InfraredImagingSpec-trometer(AVIRIS)instruments.Thespace-baseddatawereoftencloselylinkedtothefieldmeasurements,suggestingtheinstrumentscanbeusedtodeterminewhenconditionsarefavorableforwildfires.

“Improving the role of satellite data in wildfireprediction and monitoring through efforts like theseis critical, since traditional field sampling is limitedbyhighcosts, and thenumberand frequencyof sitesyoucansample,”saidRoberts.“Thisnewdataontherelativegreennessofalandscapealsoallowsustoseehowconditionsarechangingcomparedtothepast.”

Thesatellitedataworkedbestonlandscapeswhereoneplanttypewasdominant.Theamountofvegetationcoverinanareaanditsgrowthratealsoinfluencethereliabilityofsatellitedataforwildfireprediction.

Thestudyalsofoundthatinareaswherebranchesanddeadfoliageoftenhelpspreadfires,changesinthepropor-tionofgreenvegetationtootherplantsmayalsoindicatelocationsofpotentialfires,especiallyaftermoisturevaluesfallbelowacritical level.Theproportionofgreennessdeterminesthemannerinwhichplantsabsorbandscattersunlightandplaysamajorroleinmoistureretention.

Althoughscientistshavelongrecognizedtheimpor-tanceofmoistureconditions inwildfiredevelopment,thisresearchsuggeststhatothervariablesmaybejustassignificant.“Whilelivefuelmoisturevaluesarecriticalinthedevelopmentofwildfires,it’sclearlynotthelastword.Evenifvegetationisextremelydry,thereareanumberofotherfactorsthatinfluencewhetherafirewilldevelopandhowquicklyitspreads,includingtheratiooflivetodeadfoliage,planttype,seasonalprecipitation,andweatherconditions,”saidRoberts.

Asresearcherscontinuetobetterunderstandwildfiredevelopment,theyarealsocreatingfire-spreadcomputer

The MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this photo-like image and fire detections, which are marked with red dots. Some of the fire detections appear only as “hotspots,” places where MODIS detected unusually high temperatures, while other fires are producing obvious smoke plumes.

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models thatusewindspeedanddirectionforecasts todeterminewherefireswilltravel.Andinthenearfuture,scientistswill likelybeabletomapfireseveritytogetanindicationoftheoverallimpactofawildfireonthelandscapeandenvironment, including theamountofcarbondioxidereleasedintotheatmosphere.Asthedatarecordfromrecentsatellitescontinuestogrow,scientistswillalsobeabletobettertrackhistoricalchangesthatmightmodifyfiredangertoprovidebetterinformationfordecisionmakers.

TwoNASATechnologiesInductedintotheSpaceTechnologyHallofFame

OnApril12,2007,twowater treatmenttechnolo-giesdevelopedatNASAwereinductedintotheSpaceFoundation’sSpaceTechnologyHallofFame.JohnsonSpaceCenterreceivedthehonorforitsdevelopmentoftheMicrobialCheckValveusedinwaterpurification,andKennedySpaceCenterwasrecognizedforthedevelop-mentofEmulsifiedZero-ValentIron(EZVI)technologyusedtocleancontaminatedgroundwater.Bothtech-nologieswerefeaturedinSpinoff2006,andtheEZVItechnologywasalsorecognizedasNASA’s“GovernmentInventionoftheYear”and“CommercialInventionoftheYear”in2005.

DevelopedatJohnsontoprovidemicrobialcontrolfordrinkingwatersystemsforthespaceshuttleandtheInternationalSpaceStation,theMicrobialCheckValveis now an integral component in water purificationsystemsinruralareasanddevelopingcountriesaroundtheworld.JohnsonengineersjoinedtheWaterSecurityCorporation,ofSparks,Nevada,andUmpquaResearchCompany,ofMyrtleCreek,Oregon,as inductees fordeveloping the technology. Retired NASA employeeRichardSauerreceivedanindividualawardforhisworkontheMicrobialCheckValvewhilehewasthemanagerofShuttleWaterQualityatJohnson.

The EZVI technology is a cost-effective technol-ogyusedtocleangroundwatercontaminatedbydense

chemicalcompounds.EngineersatKennedydevelopedthe technology to addresspollution fromchlorinatedsolventsusedtocleanApollorocketcomponents.TheenvironmentallyfriendlyEZVIusesironparticlesinanoilandwaterbasethatneutralizesthetoxicchemicals.This technology isnowusedatbothgovernmentandprivateindustrycleanupsites.

Dr.JacquelineW.Quinn,environmentalengineer,and Kathleen B. Brooks, materials scientist, receivedindividual awards for their work at Kennedy on theEZVI.WestonSolutions,ofWestChester,Pennsylvania;GeoSyntec,ofGuelph,Ontario;andtheUniversityofCentralFlorida,Orlandowerealsoinductedfordevelop-ingthetechnology.

Michele Brekke, director of Johnson’s InnovativePartnerships Program office, and Dr. David Bartine,directorofAppliedTechnologyatKennedy,accepted

theawardsonbehalfofNASAattheSpaceTechnologyHall of Fame dinner, the closing event of the SpaceFoundation’s4-dayNationalSpaceSymposiumheldinColoradoSprings,Colorado.

TheNationalSpaceSymposiumisthepremiereventfortheSpaceFoundation,anationalnonprofitorgani-zationfoundedin1983andheadquarteredinColoradoSprings.Theorganizationisaleaderinspaceawarenessactivities,tradeassociationservices,researchandanalysisfortheglobalspaceindustry,andeducationalenterprises.Since1988,theSpaceFoundation’sSpaceTechnologyHall of Fame, managed in cooperation with NASA,hashonored54technologies,aswellastheinnovatingorganizations and individualswho transformed spacetechnologyintocommercialproductsthatimprovelifehereonEarth.v

Google™andGoogleEarth™aretrademarksofGoogleInc.

Johnson Space Center’s Michelle Brekke at the Space Technology Hall of Fame awards dinner with William B. Tutt, chairman emeritus of the Space Foundation (left) and Astronaut John Herrington (right), currently director of the Center for Space Studies at the University of Colorado.

The Innovative Partnerships Program creates partnerships with industry, academia, and other sources to develop and transfer technology in support of national priorities and NASA’s missions. The programs and activities resulting from the partnerships engage innovators and enterprises to fulfill NASA’s mission needs and promote the potential of NASA technology.

164 Innovative Partnerships Program Spinoff 2007

The Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP)providesneededtechnologyandcapabilitiestoNASA’smissiondirectorates,programs,andproj-

ectsthroughinvestmentsandpartnershipswithindustry,academia,governmentagencies,andnationallaboratories.IPPhasofficesateachofNASA’s10fieldcenters,andelementsthatinclude:TechnologyInfusion,whichman-agestheSmallBusinessInnovationResearch(SBIR)andSmallBusinessTechnologyTransfer(STTR)programsandtheIPPSeedFund;theInnovationIncubator,whichincludestheCentennialChallengesandneweffortswiththeemergingcommercialspacesector;andPartnership

TocomplementthespecializedcentersandprogramssponsoredbytheIPP,affiliatedorganizationsandserviceshavebeenformedtostrengthenNASA’scommitmenttoU.S.businessesandbuilduponNASA’sexperienceintechnologytransfer.

The NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)program<http://www.sbir.nasa.gov>providesseedmoneytosmallU.S.businessestodevelopinnovativeconceptsthatmeetNASAmissionrequirements.Eachyear,NASAinvitessmallbusinessestoofferproposalsin

Development,whichincludesintellectualpropertyman-agementandtechnologytransfer.In2006,IPPfacilitatedmanypartnershipsandagreements:

Over200partnershipswiththeprivatesector,FederalandStategovernments,academia,andotherentities

Over50licenseagreementswithprivateentitiesforuseofNASA-developedtechnologies

Reportingofmorethan750newNASAtechnologies

Morethan400agreementsforcommercialapplicationofNASAsoftware

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http://www.sbir.nasa.gov

Spinoff 2007 Innovative Partnerships Program 16�

responsetotechnicaltopicslistedintheannualSBIR-STTR Program Solicitation. The NASA field centersnegotiate and award the contracts, and thenmonitorthework.

NASA’s SBIR program is implemented in threephases:

Phase Iistheopportunitytoestablishthefeasibilityandtechnicalmeritofaproposedinnovation.Selectedcompetitively,NASAPhaseIcontractslast6monthsandmustremainunderspecificmonetarylimits.

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Phase IIisthemajorresearchanddevelopmenteffortwhichcontinuesthemostpromisingofthePhaseIprojectsbasedonscientificandtechnicalmerit,resultsofPhaseI,expectedvaluetoNASA,companycapabil-ity,andcommercialpotential.PhaseIIplacesgreateremphasisonthecommercialvalueoftheinnovation.Thecontractsareusuallyineffectforaperiodof24monthsandagainmustnotexceedspecifiedmonetarylimits.

Phase IIIistheprocessofcompletingthedevelop-mentofaproducttomakeitcommerciallyavailable.WhilethefinancialresourcesneededmustbeobtainedfromsourcesotherthanthefundingsetasidefortheSBIR,NASAmayfundPhaseIIIactivitiesforfollow-ondevelopmentorforproductionofaninnovationforitsownuse.

TheSBIRManagementOffice,locatedattheGoddardSpaceFlightCenter,providesoverallmanagementanddirectionoftheSBIRprogram.

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The NASA Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)program<http://www.sbir.nasa.gov>awardscontractstosmallbusinessesforcooperativeresearchanddevelopmentwitharesearchinstitutionthroughauniform,three-phaseprocess.ThegoalofCongressinestablishingtheSTTRprogramwastotransfertechnologydevelopedbyuniversitiesandFederallaboratoriestothemarketplacethroughtheentrepreneurshipofasmallbusiness.

AlthoughmodeledaftertheSBIRprogram,STTRisaseparateactivityandisseparatelyfunded.TheSTTRprogramdiffersfromtheSBIRprograminthatthefund-ingandtechnicalscopeislimitedandparticipantsmustbeteamsofsmallbusinessesandresearchinstitutionsthatwillconductjointresearch.

SBIR/STTR Hallmarks of Success Videosareshortvideosaboutsuccessfulcompaniesthathaveparticipatedin the SBIR and STTR programs. Available online<http://sbir.nasa.gov/SBIR/successvideo.html>,many

Small businesses develop technologies in response to specific NASA mission-driven needs, as presented in the �00� NASA SBIR-STTR Program Solicitation.

The Lunar Lander Challenge, one of NASA’s Centennial Challenges, is designed to accelerate technology developments supporting the commercial creation of a vehicle capable of ferrying cargo or humans back and forth between lunar orbit and the lunar surface.

http://www.sbir.nasa.gov

http://sbir.nasa.gov/SBIR/successvideo.html


ofthesevideosalsofeatureproductsthathavebeenfea-turedinthepagesofSpinoff.

AsanotherareaofemphasisforTechnologyInfusion,theIPPestablishedtheSeed Fundwiththefollowingobjectives:

TosupportNASAMissionDirectorateprogram/proj-ecttechnologyneeds

Toprovide“bridge”fundingtocentersinsupportofMissionDirectorateprograms

To promote partnerships and cost sharing withMissionDirectorateprogramsandindustry

Leverageresourceswithgreaterreturnoninvestment

TheSeedFundissuedacallfor1-yearproposalsthatwerescientifically/technicallyfeasible,withrelevanceandvaluetoNASAMissionDirectorateprogramsandthatleveraged the strengthsandcapabilitiesofanexternalpartner.

InsupportoftheIPP’sInnovationIncubatorelement,Centennial Challenges<http://centennialchallenges.nasa.gov/> is NASA’s program of prize contests tostimulate innovationandcompetition in solar systemexplorationandongoingNASAmissionareas.Bymakingawardsbasedonactualachievements,insteadofproposals,CentennialChallengesseeksnovelsolutionstoNASA’smissionchallengesfromnontraditionalsourcesofinnova-tioninacademia,industry,andthepublic.

TocomplementtheIPP’sPartnershipDevelopmentefforts, the National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) <http://www.nttc.edu> links U.S. industrywithFederallaboratoriesanduniversitiesthathavethetechnologies,thefacilities,andtheworld-classresearchersthatindustryneedstomaximizeproductdevelopmentopportunities.TheNTTChasworkedwithNASAsince1989,providingtheservicesandcapabilitiesneededtomeetthechangingneedsofNASAformanagingintel-lectualpropertyandcreatingtechnologypartnerships.

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The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Tech-nology Transfer (FLC)<http://www.federallabs.org>wasorganized in1974and formally charteredby theFederalTechnologyTransferActof1986topromoteandstrengthentechnologytransfernationwide.Morethan700majorFederal laboratoriesandcenters, includingNASA,arecurrentlymembers.ThemissionoftheFLCistwofold:

To promote and facilitate the rapid movement ofFederal laboratoryresearchresultsandtechnologiesfrom Federal research laboratories into themainstreamU.S.economybyfosteringpartnerships

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andcollaborationwiththeprivatesector,academia,economic development organizations, and otherentitiesengagedintechnologydevelopment.

Touseacoordinatedprogramthatmeetsthetech-nology transfer support needs of FLC memberlaboratories,agencies,andtheirpotentialpartnersinthetransferprocess.

Theroadtotechnologycommercializationbeginswiththebasicandappliedresearchresultsfromtheworkofscientists,engineers,andother technicalandmanage-mentpersonnel.TheNASAScientific and Technical Information (STI)program<http://www.sti.nasa.gov>

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On May �, �00�, Peter Homer, of Southwest Harbor, Maine, won $�00,000 from NASA for his entry in the Astronaut Glove Challenge, one of NASA’s seven Centennial Challenges.

http://centennialchallenges.nasa.gov/

http://centennialchallenges.nasa.gov/

http://www.nttc.edu

http://www.federallabs.org

http://www.sti.nasa.gov

Spinoff 2007 Innovative Partnerships Program 16�

andanalysisfortheglobalspaceindustry,andeducationalenterprisesthatbringspaceintotheclassroom.

WorkingcloselywithNASA’sInnovativePartnershipsProgramofficesandpublicinformationoffices,theSpaceFoundationeachyearrecognizesindividuals,organiza-tions,andcompaniesthatdevelopinnovativeproductsbasedonspacetechnology.ThesehonoreesareenshrinedintheSpace Technology Hall of Fame<http://www.spacetechhalloffame.org>. The ever-growing list ofinductees showcases the significantcontributions thatspacetechnologyhasmadetoimprovethequalityoflifeforeveryonearoundtheworld.

Formorethan3decades,NASA Tech Briefs<http://www.nasatech.com>has reported to industryonanynew,commerciallysignificanttechnologiesdevelopedinthecourseofNASAresearchanddevelopmentefforts.

The monthly magazine features innovations fromNASA, industry partners, and contractors that canbe applied to develop new or improved productsand solve engineering or manufacturing problems.Authoredbytheengineersorscientistswhoperformedtheoriginalwork,thebriefscoveravarietyofdisciplines,includingcomputer software,mechanics, and life sci-ences.Mostbriefsoffer a free supplemental technicalsupportpackage,whichexplainsthetechnologyingreaterdetailandprovidescontactpointsforquestionsorlicens-ingdiscussions.

Technology Innovation <http://www.ipp.nasa.gov/innovation>ispublishedquarterlybytheInnovativePartnershipsProgram.Regularfeaturesincludecurrentnewsandopportunitiesintechnologytransferandcom-mercialization,andinnovativeresearchanddevelopment.

NASA Spinoff <http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto> isanannualprintandonlinepublication featuringsuc-cessfulcommercialandindustrialapplicationsofNASAtechnology,currentresearchanddevelopmentefforts,andthelatestdevelopmentsfromtheNASAInnovativePartnershipsProgram.v

Technology Innovation is one of NASA’s magazines for business and technology, published by the Innovative Partnerships Program.

providesthewidestappropriatedisseminationofNASA’sresearchresults.TheSTIprogramacquires,processes,archives, announces, and disseminates NASA’s inter-nal—aswellasworldwide—STI.

TheNASASTIprogramoffersusersInternetaccesstoitsdatabaseofover3.9millioncitations,aswellasmanyinfulltext;onlineorderingofdocuments;andtheNASASTI Help Desk ([email protected]) for assistance inaccessingSTIresourcesandinformation.FreeregistrationwiththeprogramisavailableforqualifiedusersthroughtheNASACenterforAeroSpaceInformation.

TheNASA Technology Tracking System (NTTS) <http://technology.nasa.gov> provides access toNASA’stechnologyinventoryandnumerousexamplesofthesuccessfultransferofNASA-sponsoredtechnology.TechFinder,themainfeatureoftheInternetsite,allowsuserstosearchtechnologiesandsuccessstories,aswellassubmitrequestsforadditionalinformation.

The Space Foundation <http://www.spacefoun dation.org>isanational,nonprofitorganizationthatvig-orouslyadvancescivil,commercial,andnationalsecurityspaceendeavorsandinspires,enables,andpropelstomor-row’sexplorers.TheSpaceFoundationisaleaderinspaceawarenessactivities, tradeassociationservices, research

http://www.spacetechhalloffame.org

http://www.spacetechhalloffame.org

http://www.nasatech.com

http://www.nasatech.com

http://www.ipp.nasa.gov/innovation

http://www.ipp.nasa.gov/innovation

http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto

http://technology.nasa.gov

http://www.spacefoundation.org

http://www.spacefoundation.org


NASA Innovative Partnerships Program Network Directory

The2007NASAInnovativePartnershipsProgram(IPP)networkextendsfromcoasttocoast.Forspecificinformationconcerningtechnologypartneringactivities,contacttheappropriatepersonnelatthefacilitieslistedorvisittheWebsite:<http://www.ipp.nasa.gov>.Generalinquiriesmaybe

forwardedtotheSpinoffProgramOfficeat<[email protected]>.TopublishastoryaboutaproductorserviceyouhavecommercializedusingNASAtechnology,assis-

tance,orknow-how,contacttheNASACenterforAeroSpaceInformation,orvisit:<http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/contributor.html>.

★ NASA HeadquartersmanagestheSpinoffProgram.

▲ Innovative Partnerships Program OfficesateachofNASA’s10fieldcentersrepresentNASA’stechnologysourcesandmanagecenterparticipationintechnologytransferactivities.

■ Allied OrganizationssupportNASA’sIPPobjectives.

ARC — Ames Research CenterCASI — NASA Center for AeroSpace InformationDFRC — Dryden Flight Research CenterFLC — Federal Laboratory ConsortiumGRC — Glenn Research CenterGSFC — Goddard Space Flight CenterHQ — NASA HeadquartersJPL — Jet Propulsion Laboratory

JSC — Johnson Space CenterKSC — Kennedy Space CenterLaRC — Langley Research CenterMSFC— Marshall Space Flight CenterNTTC — National Technology Transfer CenterSF — Space FoundationSPC/Fuentek — Systems Planning Corporation/FuentekSSC — Stennis Space Center

ARC

DFRC

GRC

GSFC

NASAHQ

JPL

JSCKSC

LaRC

SSC

SPC

MSFC

NTTC

SF

CASI

Fuentek

FLC

Spinoff 2007 Innovative Partnerships Program 169

★ NASA HeadquartersNational Aeronautics and Space Administration 300 E Street, SWWashington, DC 20546NASA Spinoff Publication Manager:Janelle TurnerPhone: (202) 358-0704E-mail: [email protected]

▲ Field CentersAmes Research CenterNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationMoffett Field, California 94035Chief, Technology Partnerships Division:Lisa LockyerPhone: (650) 604-1754E-mail: [email protected]

Dryden Flight Research CenterNational Aeronautics and Space Administration4800 Lilly Drive, Building 4839Edwards, California 93523-0273Chief, Technology Transfer Partnerships Office: Greg Poteat Phone: (661) 276-3872E-mail: [email protected]

Glenn Research CenterNational Aeronautics and Space Administration 21000 Brookpark Road Cleveland, Ohio 44135 Director, Technology Transfer and Partnership Office:Kathleen Needham Phone: (216) 433-2802 E-mail: [email protected]

Goddard Space Flight Center National Aeronautics and Space Administration Greenbelt, Maryland 20771Chief, Office of Technology Transfer:Nona K. CheeksPhone: (301) 286-5810E-mail: [email protected]

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryNational Aeronautics and Space Administration 4800 Oak Grove DrivePasadena, California 91109 Manager, Commercial Program Office:James K. WolfenbargerPhone: (818) 354-3821E-mail: [email protected]

Johnson Space CenterNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationHouston, Texas 77058 Director, Technology Transfer Office: Michele Brekke Phone: (281) 483-4614 E-mail: [email protected]

Kennedy Space Center National Aeronautics and Space Administration Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899 Acting Chief, Innovative Partnerships Program Office:David R. MakufkaPhone: (321) 867-6227E-mail: [email protected]

Langley Research Center National Aeronautics and Space Administration Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199Deputy Director, Advanced Planning & Partnerships Office:Marty WaszakPhone: (757) 864-4015E-mail: [email protected]

Marshall Space Flight CenterNational Aeronautics and Space Administration Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812Acting Director, Technology Transfer Office:James DowdyPhone: (256) 544-7604 E-mail: [email protected]

Stennis Space Center National Aeronautics and Space Administration Stennis Space Center, Mississippi 39529Manager, Innovative Partnerships Program Office:Ramona Pelletier Travis Phone: (228) 688-3832E-mail: [email protected]

■ Allied OrganizationsNational Technology Transfer Center (NTTC)Wheeling Jesuit University Wheeling, West Virginia 26003 Darwin Molnar, Vice PresidentPhone: (800) 678-6882 E-mail: [email protected]

Systems Planning Corporation1000 Wilson BlvdJames M. Kudla, Vice President, Corporate Communications Phone: (703) 351-8238 E-mail: [email protected], Virginia 22209Fuentek, LLC85 Goldfinch LaneApex, North Carolina 27523Laura A. Schoppe, DirectorPhone: (919) 303-5874E-mail: [email protected]

Space Foundation310 S. 14th StreetColorado Springs, Colorado 80904Kevin Cook, Director, Space Technology AwarenessPhone: (719) 576-8000E-mail: [email protected]

Federal Laboratory Consortium300 E Street, SWWashington, DC 20546John Emond, Collaboration Program ManagerPhone: (202) 358-1686E-mail: [email protected]

NASA Center for AeroSpace InformationSpinoff Project Office NASA Center for AeroSpace Information 7115 Standard Drive Hanover, Maryland 21076-1320

Daniel Lockney, Editor/Writer Phone: (301) 621-0224 E-mail: [email protected]

Gareth Williams, Editor/Writer Phone: (301) 621-0223 E-mail: [email protected]

John Jones, Graphic Designer

Deborah Drumheller, Publications Specialist

mailto:[email protected]


















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