G.R.A.A.
Goddard Retirees and Alumni Association
P.O. Box 163, Lanham, MD 20703-0163

IMPORTANT DATES

COMMENTS FROM RON BROWNING, GRAA PRESIDENT: We hosted several Goddard interns and their mentors at the GRAA Luncheon in July, which is always a treat. We get to mingle with and hear from these bright young students. Although Goddard cancelled the NASA Academy Program this year, Dr. Dave Rosage brought a representative group of interns from the more than 500 Goddard interns brought to the Center this year. Fortunately, each participating intern was accompanied by his/her mentor, giving luncheon attendees positive insight into the two-way mentor/intern process. Several of the interns had multiyear experiences at the Center. Academically, they ranged from freshmen in high school to seniors in college. After each intern and mentor spoke, Dave Rosage asked members to describe their experiences at Goddard, so we opened up the microphone and regaled them with stories for the next hour.

As you have no doubt heard of late in the news, NASA, like most other governmental entities, is vulnerable this year to Congressional budget cuts and program cancellations. Currently, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been targeted for possible cancellation. Assuming you support the JWST, we urge you to write to your congressperson.

HELPING GRAA'S BOTTOM LINE : Once or twice a year we encourage you to make a tax-deductible contribution to help GRAA’s treasury remain viable. In the absence of dues, we’ll gladly accept whatever amount you consider a fair offering in exchange for keeping posted on Goddard-specific news and events.

WHITE SANDS COMPLEX (WSC) KEEPS SHUTTLE AND GROUND CONTROL IN TOUCH : WSC facility outside Las Cruces, NM, has kept communications flowing between astronauts and their command center in Houston throughout the life of the Space Shuttle Program. In addition, communications and data are constantly streaming between the WSC and the International Space Station, Hubble Space Telescope, and other clients. For more details about WSC, check out a recent newspaper article at http://lcsun-news.com/ci_18493188.

RECENT RETIREE: Donna L. Lynch

TREASURER'S REPORT: Bob Wigand reports tax-deductible contributions were received from the following members: Dave Douds, Paul Feinberg, Pat McClain, Herb Mitnick, Ralph Mollerick, Ron Muller, and Carl Roberts.

DEFINITELY NOT YOUR FATHER’S BUICK: A 360-degree view of the Shuttle Discovery crew cabin flight deck can be seen at http://360vr.com/2011/06/22-discovery-flight-deck-opf_6236/index.html. This may be the last time it can be viewed before being stuffed and mounted at the Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. Once on the web site, move your cursor around to see what the cabin’s ceiling looks like.

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH: The worst problem with retirement is that you’re never treated to vacation days.

REMEMBERING OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES:

•  Robert T. (Bob) Barnes, of Silver Spring, MD (formerly of Bowie, MD), passed away on July 10^th at age 96. A WWII veteran, he was an Electrical Engineer who worked for the Manned Flight Directorate (which later became the Networks Directorate) on numerous projects and wrote many technical reports, including those involved with concepts that ultimately resulted in the success of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.

•  Maurice E. Bowes, Jr., of Westminster, MD, passed away on January 16^th. He was an Electrical Engineer at Goddard who worked on numerous projects associated with the Manned Space Flight Directorate (which later became the Networks Directorate).

•  Albert G. Opp, of Alexandria, VA, passed away on June 27^th from esophageal cancer. He served as a Geophysicist at Goddard from 1963 to 1987 and then spent an additional decade as a contractor.

•  Carl A. (Skip) Reber, of Annapolis, MD (formerly of Silver Spring, MD), passed away on July 7^th. As an Aerospace Physicist, his career at Goddard spanned from 1960 to 2006. Among numerous assignments he held while at Goddard, he was assigned to the Earth-Sun Exploration Division (Code 610), but actually worked in the Earth Science Data Information Systems Project Office (Code 423). One passion during his free time was working on and racing sports cars.

FROM THE GODDARD ARCHIVES - IT HAPPENED IN AUGUST:
August 16, 1961: This month marks the 50^th Anniversary of the launch of Explorer 12 (aka: NASA S-3, Explorer Particles Explorer-A) from a Thor-Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, FL. This was the second Explorer spacecraft designed, assembled, and tested at Goddard. Explorer 12 was the first in a series of four satellites designed to study the behavior of energetic particles near the Earth. The fully-integrated back-up for this spacecraft can be seen in the Space Science exhibition station of the Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

MEMBER SECOND CAREERS/SIDELINES : We’ve initiated a new newsletter item that will appear occasionally to highlight a member’s second career/sideline. You are encouraged to send Dave Moulton a note to our Lanham, MD, address or e-mail (davidlmoulton@comcast.net) about an interesting venture you’re involved with that is unrelated to your Goddard career. When space allows, we’ll include a brief item about your pursuit in a future issue.

This month we showcase John Langmead of Catonsville, MD. At Goddard, John was a Financial Manager who worked on numerous projects during his career. He was ordained a Deacon in the Catholic Church in 1999 and for more than five years served on the staff of St. William of York Parish in Baltimore as Director of Religious Education. He was installed in the position of Pastoral Life Director at St. Rita Parish in Baltimore (Dundalk) in early 2006 and still enjoys and cherishes every moment of his service to parishioners. For details on his responsibilities, check out the article he authored for The Deacon’s Call, a newsletter published by the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which can be found at http://www.archbalt.org/clergy-religious/deacons/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=26632.

NEWSLETTER VIA E-MAIL : If you already receive the newsletter by e-mail, please remember to notify Strat Laios (stratlaios@verizon.net) or send a note to our Lanham address when you change your e-mail address.