G.R.A.A.

                           Goddard Retirees and Alumni Association

                           P.O. Box 163, Lanham, MD  20703-0163

 

FEBRUARY 2008                                  http://graa.gsfc.nasa.gov                        24th Year of Publication

 

IMPORTANT DATES: 

February 12

Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m.  James Costrell, NASA’s Deputy Assistant Associate Administrator, Office of Space Communications and Navigation, will speak about the writing and publication of the history of GSFC’s tracking networks (see related announcement on the back page).  John Meagher will also speak briefly about volunteer opportunities for GRAA members with the Retired Scientists, Engineers and Technicians.  Reservations are required, so please call Alberta Moran at 301-937-7762 no later than noon on Friday, February 8th.

March 11

Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m.

 

COMMENTS FROM RON BROWNING, GRAA PRESIDENT:  Orlando Figueroa, GSFC’s Director of Applied Engineering and Technology, provided GRAA luncheon attendees in January with an excellent, detailed overview of the challenges facing Goddard in the near and distant future.  On the positive side, his directorate is now able to replace retirees with new hires, both fresh-outs and co-op engineers, to balance the workforce and meet program and technology demands.  Some of the challenges include:  1) new and changing requirements and priorities every six to twelve months; 2) major changes in the level and content of yearly budgets, including the recall of planned and received funding; 3) obtaining new programs and projects in competition with other NASA centers, US and international government organizations, and industry; and 4) development and execution of strategies to promote excellence in performance and safety in the civil service and contractor workforce.  He noted that 2008 is anticipated to provide a very busy launch schedule for Goddard missions.

 

Please note that our March luncheon will focus on the successful Vanguard I mission some 50 years ago.  Since many of Goddard’s pioneers came from the Naval Research Lab and were part of the Vanguard Project there, we believe that much of Goddard’s early history is tied to that heritage.  The early Explorers, Delta rocket, tracking and data acquisition network, and space science satellites all represent prime examples from that era.  Ron Muller is preparing a program using photographs and memories to help us relive the Vanguard days, and he welcomes anything you may want to share with luncheon attendees.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:  Bob Wigand reports that tax-deductible donations were received from the following members:  Bob Adams, Gus Alicea, John Bowerman, Ron Browning, Bill Case, Edith Dean, Dave Douds, Carroll Dudley,        Alphonso Eaton, Mike Fitzmaurice, Bob Halli, Dave Kayman, H. K. Lee, Jerry Longanecker, John Millman, Tom Page, George and Barbara Pieper, John Roeder, Ralph Ryder, and Bob Wigand.  GRAA’s account balance totaled $15,863.91 as of December 31, 2007, with no outstanding debts.  A financial report covering all transactions in 2007 was prepared using Quicken software for distribution to the Board of Directors.

                                                                                                                                               

GRAA NEWSLETTER MAILINGS:  If you no longer wish to receive GRAA mailings, please send a note to our Lanham address or an e-mail to Dave Moulton at davidlmoulton@comcast.net.  If you have moved or want to make corrections to the address on your mailing label, write to our Lanham address or send an e-mail to Strat Laios at stratlaios@comcast.net.  If you already receive your newsletter via e-mail, please let Strat know when your address changes.  If you do not yet receive the newsletter via e-mail, but are interested in doing so, let Strat know.

 

RECENT RETIREES:  Robert F. Adler, John E. Allen, Charles T. Arnold, Dennis I. Asato, John D. Baniszewski,      Anand K. Bhatia,  Theresa A. Bryant, Dorothy A. Burkholder, Robert F. Clark, Christopher J. Daly, Kenneth W. Davidson, Howard M. Eiserike, Anthony J. Gainsborough, David A. Glenar, Walter A. Goodale, Frank E. Hoge, Hilda H. Hrechun, William L. Jackson, Donald R. Langley, Yun-Chi Lu, Patricia A. Magruder, Lester A. McGonigal, James E. Mentall,    Henry L. Murray, Kim Nguyen-Viet, Dorothy C. Perkins, Elender J. Pouncy, Patricia A. Rader, Garrod D. Shaw,            Joyce G. Stephenson, Robert E. Streitmatter, and Joan F. Tarkington.

 

46^TH ROBERT H. GODDARD MEMORIAL SYMPOSIUM:  GRAA members may want to consider attending the annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium, March 4 – 6, sponsored by the American Astronautical Society (AAS) and supported by GSFC.  The theme of this year’s symposium is “Exploration to Commercialization: Going to Work in Space,” which will offer an excellent opportunity to be updated on NASA’s space program at its 50^th Anniversary.  The keynote speaker will be NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.  The retired/senior rate is $75, which includes all sessions and three receptions.  Luncheon tickets may be purchased separately for $40 each.  To check out the symposium program and register to attend, simply go to the AAS web site at http://www.astronautical.org or contact Michael Calabrese at 301-286-7287.

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH:  There is always one more imbecile than you initially counted on.

 

FROM THE GODDARD ARCHIVES - IT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY:

§   February 14, 1980:  Delta launched the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM).  SMM was the first use of a multi-modular spacecraft and carried several scientific instruments to provide new insights into the nature of solar flares.  A malfunction in the satellite in January 1981 cut short the original mission; however, SMM was rescued and repaired by a 1984 Space Shuttle Challenger mission.  The repair extended the useful lifetime of the mission to allow for better coverage of the solar activity cycle.  SMM re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and burned up on December 2, 1989.    

 

REMEMBERING OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES:

§         Ella H. Andrew, of Telford, PA, passed away on October 18^th.  Although she worked in various positions from 1964 until retirement in June 1986, she always considered herself a Computer Technician.  During most of her tenure at Goddard, she worked in the Computer Services Branch of the Administration Management Division. 

§         Elizabeth A. (Betty) Biscoe, of Vero Beach, FL, passed away on December 14^th.  She worked for several agencies during her government career and was an early employee of Goddard, retiring in 1969.

§         Robert E. Coady, of Havre de Grace, MD, passed away from pneumonia on September 5^th.  Although he served in numerous positions at Goddard, he was probably best known as a division chief with the Space Station Project. 

§         Joseph W. (Joe) Dunst, Jr., of Woodbine, MD, passed away on November 4^th.  He was an Account Administrator at Goddard and retired in 1986.  Joe was instrumental in the development of the NASA Federal Credit Union, where he served as Chairman of the Member Services Committee, Vice President, and as President from 1972 until 1983.

§         Catherine R. Lacey, of Westchester, PA, passed away on October 2^nd.  Before retirement, she worked as a Property Disposal Specialist in the Logistics Management Division.  Earlier in her career, she was a Secretary in the Projects Directorate and was also involved with MADD performances.

§         William P. (Bill) O’Leary, of Highland, MD, passed away from congestive heart failure of January 14^th.  A WWII veteran, he served overseas on Guam.  After a 10-year stint at the CIA and teaching for a year in Wheaton, he joined the Office of Public Affairs at Goddard in 1962.  He served as liaison to presidents, heads of state, celebrities, and to thousands of tourists over the years.  While Bill opted to retire in 1985, he was frequently brought back to Goddard to provide tours and educate visitors about NASA’s space program.

§         Gene A. Smith, of Silver Spring, MD, passed away on December 16^th from melanoma.  He worked at Goddard for 33 years as an Aerospace Engineer before retiring at the end of 1999.  He contributed to the development of a wide range of scientific satellites, and was serving at his retirement as the Ground Systems Manager of the EOSDIS Earth-observing satellites.  He was also a founding member of  MADD, performing, producing, and directing many shows while at Goddard.

§         Stephen M. Smysley, of Laurel, MD, passed away on November 7^th.  Although not a Goddard retiree, he was a GRAA member based on his active affiliation with the Orbital Club.

§         Jean W. Welker, of Laurel, MD, passed away from heart disease on December 5^th.  Still employed at Goddard, he was a Physicist  in the Science and Exploration Directorate at the time of his passing and specialized in examining climate patterns in Russia and Eastern Europe.

 

NASA TO PUBLISH HISTORY OF GODDARD’S TRACKING NETWORKS:  GRAA has received notification that NASA Headquarters is working on publishing the history of GSFC’s tracking networks.  If you desire a copy of this historical document, write a note to Strat Laios at our Lanham address or send an e-mail to him at stratlaios@comcast.net.

 

ROAD CLEANUP:  Late last December, a stalwart GRAA team (comprised of Ron Browning, Paul Rall, Ewald Schmidt, Bill Shields, and Bob Wigand) cleaned up litter along the roadways of Goddard’s eastern boundary.