GRAA NEWSLETTER
P.O. Box 1184, Greenbelt, MD 20768-1184

IMPORTANT DATES

COMMENTS FROM RON BROWNING, GRAA PRESIDENT: Our November luncheon with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden was well worth the wait since he had to postpone his talk, initially scheduled for the June luncheon, due to his having to attend a meeting at the White House. Seventy-five members and guests had an opportunity to meet and get to know him. Charlie began his talk by describing his path from second string quarterback (he said he could not pass well) on his father-coached high school team; to the US Naval Academy (USNA); to US Marine Corps (USMC) pilot training; to being a test pilot; to being an astronaut and Shuttle Commander; back to active duty in USMC command positions; and to being named NASA Administrator. With the exception of the USNA, each succeeding step was not part of his original plan. He emphasized Goddard’s pre-eminent space and Earth science exploration endeavors and praised Center Director Chris Scolese. He then went on to talk about Mars human exploration and landing as being possible by the 2030s and the technical challenges to overcome (e.g., human exposure to radiation, long-term closed loop life support system, and how to land 20 metric tons on Mars). The medical studies of the Kelly astronaut twins (Scott on orbit for a year and Mark on the ground) are the most extensive conducted to date. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) satellite, Goddard’s first interplanetary mission, is providing data on what is happening to the atmosphere of Mars and the effects of there being no magnetosphere. The Orion crew vehicle had a successful two-orbit test in December 2014, but funding constraints have slowed its progress. Both Boeing and Space-X are within a year of taking US astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). In the meantime, we are paying Russia $500M for one US crew to train and be transported to the ISS. The James Webb Space Telescope is in a critical integration and test phase and on schedule for a 2018 launch. If anyone you know wants to be an astronaut, a call will be going out in January 2016. During the last call, 6300 people applied and eight were selected. Administrator Bolden closed by soliciting GRAA members to become NASA ambassadors in our communities by describing our experiences and successes and encouraging inspiration and imagination to younger generations.

This is our last newsletter for 2015 and the first for 2016. We have had a very successful year, with outstanding speakers, informative newsletters, and increased attendance at luncheons. This has been possible due to the hard work and dedication of our Board of Directors and all the volunteers who make us a smooth running organization. I especially want to thank everyone who sent in tax-deductible donations this year, especially with the 2016 Membership Directory on the horizon for distribution next spring.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer Jackie Gasch received tax-deductible contributions from the following: Mary Albritton-Endres, James Barrowman, Joseph Bredekamp, Frank Carr (in memory of John Boeckel), David Coolidge, Stanley Corwin, James Costrell, David Douds, Patricia Fitzenreiter, Michael Fitzmaurice, Ray Hartenstein (in memory of Charles Trevathan), Ellen Herring, Eugene Humphrey, James Keene, Donald Lewis, Ivan Mason, Anthony Miller, Joseph Novello, Karl Peters, David Pfenning, Henry Plotkin, Colleen Quinn-House, Donald Righter, George Smith (in memory of Virginia Smith), Frank Snow, Aaron Temkin, William Townsend, Thomas Underwood, and Ralph Welsh, Jr.

RECENT RETIREES: Tracy L. Baker, Patricia A. Ellis, Jeremy Karsh, William B. Monosmith, and Craig C. Weikel.

THOUGHT FOR DECEMBER AND JANUARY: The trouble with bucket seats is that not everyone has the same size bucket.

REMEMBERING OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES:

• Augustin “Gus” Alicea, of Alexandria, VA, passed away on November 28^th. He was an Electrical/Mechanical Engineer at Goddard who initially worked in the Office of Tracking & Data Systems in the early 1960s and in later years moved to the Tracking & Data Systems Directorate and later still to the Networks Directorate.
• John H. Armiger, Jr., of Parkville, MD, passed away on November 2^nd. He was an Engineer at Goddard who initially worked in the Office of Technical Services in the early 1960s and in later years moved to the Systems Reliability Directorate and later still to the Engineering Directorate.
• David Atlas, of Silver Spring, MD, passed away on November 10^th. Dr. Atlas was an acclaimed Meteorologist who in 1977 founded and served as Head of the Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences in Goddard’s Earth Sciences Directorate. Although he officially retired in 1984, he continued to serve as a consultant and/or visiting scientist at Goddard for an additional 20+ years.
• Mollie Lucille Bernatowicz, of Greenbelt, MD, passed away on October 25^th. She was a Financial Analyst at Goddard who initially worked in the early 1960s in the Financial Management Division of the Office of Administration, which in later years changed to the Administration & Management Directorate.
• Robert W. Farquhar, of Burke, VA, passed away on October 18^th. Dr. Farquhar was an Aeronautical Engineer at Goddard and worked in the Trajectory Analysis & Geodynamics Division of the Mission & Data Operations Directorate and later in the Flight Dynamics Division of the Mission Operations & Data Systems Directorate.
• Dwight L. Fortna, of Silver Spring, MD, passed away on October 13^th. He was a Test Engineer at Goddard who initially worked in the Office of Tracking & Data Systems in the early 1960s and in later years moved to the Tracking and Data Systems Directorate. In the early 1970s he headed the Test & Evaluation Division of the Systems Reliability Directorate and in the 1980s he worked in the Office of Flight Assurance.
• Albert M. Kamosa, of New Port Richey, FL, passed away on September 17^th. He transferred from the National Security Agency in the late 1980s to become a Security Specialist in the Goddard Security Office.
• Shermin E. McCaslin, of Cutler, ME, passed away on November 18^th. Having previously worked as a Flight Controller for the Federal Aviation Administration, he moved to Goddard in the early 1980s to work as a Network Controller in the Networks Operations Division of the Networks Directorate.
• Donald L. Miller, of Elkridge, MD, passed away on October 29^th. He was an Engineer at Goddard who initially started working in the mid-1960s in the Technology Directorate. In the 1970s he worked in the Space Applications & Technology Directorate. In the 1980s he served as Special Assistant to the Director in the Engineering Directorate. During his career he served as project manager for several flight missions.
• William H. Mish, Sr., of Gambrills, MD, passed away on October 27^th. He was a Mechanical Engineer at Goddard who initially started working in the early 1960s in the Office of Tracking & Data Systems. In later years, he moved to the Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics in the Space & Earth Sciences Directorate to become Head of the Information Analysis & Display Office.
• Nancy Mengel Rosensweig, of Denver, CO, passed away on September 1^st. She was a Public Affairs Specialist who served as Editor of the Goddard News in the Office of Public Affairs Public in the Administration and Management Directorate.
• Helen V. Thayer, of Columbia, PA, passed away on November 23^rd. She was a Financial Analyst at Goddard and, over time, worked in the Office for Administration, Office of Tracking & Data Systems, and Office of the Director, Networks Directorate.
• James I. Vette, of Mount Airy, MD, passed away on October 26^th. Dr. Vette was a Physicist who served his stint at Goddard as Director of the National Space Science Data Center in the Space Sciences Directorate.