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: GRRA’s guests at the July Luncheon were ten interns and their mentors from the Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate (Code 500) and the Sciences and Exploration Directorate (Code 600), as selected by Dr. David Rosage of the Office of Education Programs. As has occurred over many years, dialog with bright college interns is a highlight for attendees. The interns participated in a Q&A session and briefly described their summer work assignments. They are Engineering or Physics majors, noted the schools they attend (University of Oklahoma, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland, Macalester College, and University of Wisconsin), and described their most significant learning experience to date. Based on a request from Dr. Rosage and the interns, GRAA members Dick Baker, Ron Barasch, Ron Felice, Arlin Krueger, and Ron Muller spoke about Goddard’s early years and how personal experiences they encountered impacted their careers.

During the six-year period from April 1960 through April 1966, many major launch vehicle, space science, meteorological and communications satellites conceived and developed during Goddard’s early years were launched and put into operation. Now, 50+ years later, it seems an opportune time to remember and recognize those programs and what was accomplished by the teams of dedicated personnel who were able to bring such successful science and engineering achievements to fruition. Many GRAA members were very much a part of Explorers, Delta, Syncom, OSO, Nimbus, OGO, ESSA, OAO or ATS design, development, management, scientific discoveries or operations. I request you share your memories and stories related to these (and perhaps other) programs and their results. When space allows, we will include your recollections in future newsletters. Please send your stories to me via e-mail at arkabee@verizon.net or regular mail to my attention at GRAA, P.O. Box 163, Lanham, MD 20703-0163.

FROM THE GODDARD ARCHIVES - IT HAPPENED IN AUGUST:
August 16, 1984: A Delta rocket launched the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers (AMPTE), also known as Explorer 65. It was a joint US, British and German mission which launched and operated three spacecraft to explore the magnetosphere during the period 1984 to 1986. The US provided the Charge Composition Explorer (CCE), designed to detect lithium and barium tracer ions released from the Ion Release Module (IRM), built by Germany, and the United Kingdom Subsatellite (UKS), which used thrusters to keep station near the IRM to provide two-point local measurements.

RECENT RETIREES: John C. Gerlach, Diane B. Henderson, Katherine Krokos-Miller, Stephen J. Talabac, and Barbara A. Vargo.

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH: Light travels faster than sound. This no doubt explains why some people appear quite bright until you hear them speak.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Bob Wigand reports tax-deductible contributions were received from the following: Robert Adams, Richard Allenby, James Baker, Edward Bielecki, Gretchen Burton, John Callan, James Costrell, Enid (Mrs. Arthur) Chandler, Clarence Dove, Allen Frenzel, Walter Gates, James Heppner, John Kiebler, Robert Langley, John Lesko, Harley Mann, Charles Mason, Perry Mason, Wilma MacDonald, Patrick Melia, Jan Owings, William Rice, John Roeder, Christopher Scherer, William Schoene, Joseph Schulman, Steven Smith, William Townsend, Roberta Valonis, Ralph Welsh, Vernon Weyers, Robert R. Wilson, and Mary Ann Wrigley (in memory of her beloved husband, Frank).

REMEMBERING OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES:

•  Philip J. Crossfield, of Silver Spring, MD, passed away at age 96 on June 21^st. He was an Aeronautical Engineer and worked on the Nimbus satellite project.

•  John W. Morton, of North Royalton, OH, passed away on July 19^th. A Mathematician, he was a member of NASA’s Project Mercury Team and later worked on technical developments associated with the Network Control Center. Upon leaving Goddard, he worked for private contractors and at his death was Vice President of ASRC Aerospace at Glenn Research Center.

•  Ruth D. Moss, of Mitchellville, MD, passed away on July 3^rd. She was a Visual Information Specialist and worked on graphic arts for science publications.

•  Francis A. O’Grady, of Laurel, MD, passed away on June 11^th, his 87^th birthday. He was a Civil Engineer and retired as a branch head in the then Facilities Engineering Division.

•  Robert W. Ross, of Bowie, MD, passed away on June 20^th. He was an Engineering Physicist first recruited into the Instrumentation Branch of the Sciences Directorate in 1963 by then Branch Chief George Ludwig. Among his many and varied instrument-related assignments, he was Systems Engineer for the EGRET instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) and later served as Systems Manager for CGRO through its launch in 1991. He then served as Instrument Systems Manager for the GOES Project from 1992 until he retired in 2007.

NETWORKS DIVISION REUNION PLANNED FOR KSC : First announced in the June newsletter, member George Karras has been busy planning a reunion at KSC/Cape Canaveral from October 30^th through November 1^st for Networks-affiliated personnel from former Code 500 divisions. Tour participants should plan for a three-night hotel stay with the following draft itinerary: 1) first day arrival, with an evening get-together in the hotel; 2) second day bus tour and presentations provided by KSC, with an evening buffet in the hotel; and third day open for personal touring, with another get-together and buffet send-off in the hotel. If interested, please contact George Karras as soon as possible (preferably no later than August 15^th) via e-mail at gjkarras@cfl.rr.com or telephone at 321-446-3410/321-868-2960. He will furnish additional details of this great opportunity to mingle with Networks-affiliated colleagues and their family members. If you know of Networks-affiliated contractor personnel who may be interested in the trip, do not hesitate to pass along this information.

ENHANCED VIDEO OF APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING : Members are encouraged to take a trip down memory lane by watching a 17-minute video of the Apollo 11 moon landing at https://vimeo.com/34066647.