G.R.A.A.
Goddard Retirees and Alumni Association
P.O. Box 163, Lanham, MD 20703-0163
| August 2009 | http://graa.gsfc.nasa.gov | 25th Year of Publication |
IMPORTANT DATES:
| August 11 | Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Reservations are required, so call Alberta Moran at 301-890-0544 no later than noon on Friday, August 7th. Please attend and welcome Dr. Claire Parkinson, Climatologist and Aqua (EOS PM) Project Scientist. The title of her presentation will be: “What Satellites are Contributing to Climate Change Studies,” which will include data from satellites such as Aqua and other Earth-observing missions. |
| September 8 | Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. |
| September 27 (Sunday) | Sign up for GRAA “Let’s Go to the Races Day” at Charlestown Races and Slots. Starting at 10:00 a.m. from the GSFC Visitor Center for the all-inclusive price of $75 per person payable at the time of reservation, the trip will include bus fare and driver tip; light refreshments on the bus, a bountiful brunch (including roast beef, ham, breakfast items, salads, veggies, desserts, breads, drinks); admission to the track; racing program and Barney Hoyt’s treasured handicaps; and return to GSFC after the last race, arriving back at the Visitor Center about 7:00 p.m. Reservations are limited, so sign up soon. Call Alberta at 301-890-0544 (or on her cell phone at 301-910-0177) for more information or to make reservations. |
| December 11 (Friday) | Mark the date for the annual “Magic of a Musical Christmas” trip to Lancaster, PA. Many members have participated in years past, and this year’s excursion is priced at only $99. Only 40 reservations are available, so sign up now or obtain additional information by contacting Alberta Moran at 301-890-0544. We’ll include more details in the September issue. |
COMMENTS FROM RON BROWNING, GRAA PRESIDENT: Eighteen NASA Academy interns and several of their Goddard mentors were GRAA’s guests at the July luncheon. Dave Rosage, NASA Academy Manager, provided a briefing of the overall program originally instituted by Dr. Jerry Soffen and has been ongoing since 1993. Marshall Space Flight Center and Glenn Research Center also participate. Twenty-four former interns are presently employed at GSFC and three others are CEOs of private companies. Goddard’s funding constraints were going to curtail the Academy Intern Program this year, but fortunately Dr. John Mather, Nobel Prize laureate, provided supplemental funds to keep the program intact.
Each NASA Academy intern described the work he/she is doing while at Goddard, where he/she attends school, and his/her major course of study. In addition, the interns work on a group project to research the feasibility of extra-solar missions beyond the moon and Mars. The project’s goal is to contribute to NASA outreach by inspiring children to undertake a science or engineering education. It is always a pleasure to meet with such bright and engaging students. Ron Muller took a group photo of the interns, which will be posted on our web site.
GODDARD’S 50th ANNIVERSARY: While there will be continued recognition of Goddard’s 50th Anniversary in bulletins and posters distributed on the Center during the remainder of 2009, the major celebratory events are over. Continuing activities, including interviews of long-term (over 40 years) current employees, can be viewed at GSFC’s web site (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard), so just click on Goddard Marks 50th Anniversary.
The 50th Anniversary has notably sparked interest in Goddard’s history. Ralph Shapiro suggested making known GRAA member quotes from the past. He has provided me the first of such quotes and I solicit other members to forward me (at arkabee@verizon.net or our Lanham address) more of what are considered significant and printable (I’m not sure new member Marty Davis will qualify) quotes from Goddard’s colorful past. For lack of a better term, for the time being we’ll call the blurb “Memories from Yesteryear” in upcoming newsletter issues.
REMEMBERING OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES:
James Glenn, of Falling Waters, WV, passed away on June 24th. He worked in the Operations Branch of the Communications Division. He was a manager and worked the consoles during the moon landing.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Bob Wigand reports that tax-deductible contributions were received from: Mary Adkins, John Bowerman, Charlie Boyle, Dave Douds, Bob Keefe, Bob Langley, Karl Peters, Clark Wardrip, and Charles White.
RECENT RETIREES: Frederick Ankerman, Susan R. Capretti, Martin Davis, Edward M. Gaddy, Craig D. Lucabaugh, Gail K. Regan, Nancy C. Rinker, Richard Strafella, Mark Turczyn, and Eric W. Young.
FROM THE GODDARD ARCHIVES – IT HAPPENED IN AUGUST: A Thor-Agena rocket launched Nimbus I, the first of a series of second-generation meteorological research and development satellites. It was designed as a stabilized, earth-oriented platform for the testing of advanced meteorological sensor systems and collecting meteorological data. A short second-stage burn resulted in an unplanned eccentric orbit. Otherwise, the spacecraft operated successfully for about a month, at which time the solar array became locked in position and resulted in inadequate power to continue operations.
SUPPORT GRAA: GRAA recently received its first check from Verizon due to a member signing up for Verizon FIOS, cable TV, Internet, and/or telephone phone service. If you’re considering Verizon (and you live in MD, DC, VA or WV), please place your order by calling 1-888-695-5299 and giving them GRAA Code 13142. Please do not hesitate to pass along this information to family members, friends, and colleagues.
GRAA BOARD MEMBER WINS LOTTERY: Board member Charlie Boyle entered a lottery and won the opportunity to attend the 40th Anniversary of the Lunar Landing celebration at the Air and Space Museum on July 19th. Some of his eyewitness observations of the affair include: “The three astronauts (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins) were all born in 1930 and were sharp, spry and exhibited no evidence of even Halfzeimers; Armstrong’s John Glenn Lecture was essentially a review of Dr. Goddard’s work; and a jovial Collins said he asked his daughter what she would have said had she been first on the moon.” Her answer: “Does this suit make me look fat?”
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH: You may have noticed that television has been inundated recently with talent shows. Ye Ed has heard there will be a program on this fall’s schedule featuring only retirees, so you may want to consider auditioning. For the moment, the show’s producers are calling it “American Idle!”
HELP OUT THE GRAA NEWSLETTER LABELERS: If you are within commuting distance of Goddard, please consider joining those members who label the newsletter each month. It takes less than 2 hours, so please call Marge Gustafson (301-776-7536 or mgustafson30@comcast.net) and let her know you’ll volunteer.