G.R.A.A.

                           Goddard Retirees and Alumni Association

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

SEPTEMBER 2007                         http://graa.gsfc.nasa.gov                         23rd Year of Publication

IMPORTANT DATES: 

COMMENTS FROM RON BROWNING, GRAA PRESIDENT:  Although we were unable to host this year’s class of NASA Academy interns at our August luncheon because they graduated the previous week, the Academy staff presented a review of this year’s activities.  David Rosage, Program Manager of the NASA Academy and Robotics Academy, introduced Dr. Vigdor Teplitz, Chief of the Office of Higher Education; Dr. Joseph DiRienzi, Dean of the Academy; and this year’s two program coordinators, Diana Trujillo and Tiffany Russell.  Luncheon attendees were able to view video presentations of the activities conducted by the 18 research assistants and 27 robotics assistants during this summer’s 10-week session.  The research assistants each supported a Goddard Principal Investigator (PI), and the robotics assistants were organized into teams supporting robotics development.

We like to recognize Goddard missions in the archives section of the newsletter to acknowledge retiree contributions to the many successes Goddard has achieved over the years.  I was recently reminded that Goddard scientists have also had notable successes as PI’s on other NASA missions.  Please note a major milestone was passed on August 20^th (the date Voyager-2 was launched in 1977) and another major milestone will pass on September 5^th (the date Voyager-1 was launched in 1977).  The twin Voyager spacecraft carried two Goddard instruments.  Dr. Rudolf Hanel was PI for the infrared instrument and    Dr. Norman Ness was PI for the magnetometer instrument.  The Voyager spacecraft are still providing useful scientific data thirty years later, although they are 100-plus astronomical units from Earth (which translates to billions and billions of miles from the sun).  Goddard has co-investigators who are still working on data received from the Voyager satellites.  Congratulations to Rudy, Norm, and the entire Goddard Voyager Team.

There was a recent shuffling of management assignments at Goddard and NASA Headquarters (HQ).  Christopher Scolese became Associate Administrator (third in command within the NASA management hierarchy).  Michael Ryschkewitsch replaced him as Chief Engineer at HQ and Arthur (Rick) Obenschain became Goddard’s Deputy Center Director.

The drought this summer has caused a significant shortage of blue crabs and, as a result, a sharp increase in price.  Therefore, we will not be able to host a Crab Feast this year, but hope the situation will improve during next year’s crab harvest season.  

TREASURER’S REPORT:  Bob Wigand reports tax-deductible donations were received from the following: Mary Adkins, Bill Bangs, Howard and Bernice Caulk, Phil Cressy, Dave Douds, John Kraft, Alex Lawrence, Jerry Madden, Ernest Mosher, Alton (Buddy) Payne, Guido Porreca, Andy Smith, Bill and Eleanor Thompson, Jack Townsend, and Barbara Walton.

GRAA MEMBER RECEIVES HONOR:  The University of New Mexico has selected GRAA member Saj Durrani as a Distinguished Engineering Alumus (one of five such alumni to be recognized this year).  Saj received his Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the university in 1962.  After receiving his doctoral degree, he worked for General Electric, then taught for a while, and then worked with industry (RCA Space Center, Comsat, and Operations Research) before joining Goddard in 1974.  He no doubt never really left teaching, as he taught Ye Ed a thing or two when he quickly picked up on a couple of typos in the August newsletter.  Congratulations, Saj, on being selected for the distinguished honor. 

GILBERT MEAD:  A CELEBRATION:  Celebrate the life of Gilbert Mead, one of the most prolific arts philanthropists in Washington, who sadly passed away on May 29^th.  The celebration is a Millennium Stage production and will be held in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 17^th.  This special tribute, for which there is no charge, will feature Washington area actors and musicians in an “evening” of song, dance, and fond memories.

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH:  For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program. 

LETTERS, WE GET LETTERS:

§   Mary Adkins wrote, “Thanks for continuing to send the newsletter.”

§   Alton (Buddy) Payne wrote, “I enjoy reading the GRAA newsletter.  I hope the accompanying check will enable you to continue this excellent service.”

§   William Thompson wrote, “Thanks for the newsletter.  We enjoy receiving and reading it.  Enclosed is a check to help with the postage costs.  We spent a week with Al Gillin in May.  He’s doing okay and keeping busy.”

§   Barbara Walton wrote, “Thanks to all the GRAA volunteers.  Keep up the good work.  It is helpful to have tax-exempt status.”

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, let Strat Laios 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.

FROM THE GODDARD ARCHIVES - IT HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER:

§   September 9, 1980:  Delta launched GOES-D, the sixth in a series of NASA-developed, NOAA-operated, geosynchronous and operational spacecraft.  The spin-stabilized spacecraft carried (1) a visible infrared spin scan radiometer atmospheric sounder to provide high-quality day/night cloud cover data, to take radiance-derived temperatures of the earth/atmosphere system, and to determine atmospheric temperature and water vapor content at various levels; (2) a meteorological data collection and transmission system to relay processed data from central weather facilities to APT-equipped regional stations and to collect and retransmit data from remotely located earth-based platforms; and (3) a space environment monitor system to measure proton, electron, and solar X-ray fluxes and magnetic fields.

REMEMBERING OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES:

§         Jack Evans, of Rock Hill, SC, passed away from Parkinson’s disease on August 16^th.  He was a Mechanical Engineer at Goddard for 25 years.  After retiring in 1985, he moved to Florida and worked as a consultant at Kennedy Space Center.

§         Charles T. Force, former NASA Associate Administrator for Space Communications, passed away on August 9^th from a blood clot while at an Indiana restaurant.  He joined NASA in 1965 as director of the Guam Tracking Station (used in support of the lunar landings) and in later years helped develop, construct and deploy the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.

GEWA/GODDARD SOFTBALL CLUB FISHING TRIP:  On October 5^th, GRAA members are invited to participate in a fishing expedition on the 110-foot Atlantis about 10-25 miles offshore from Brielle, NJ.  The price of $90.00 per person includes bus transportation (leaving from the Goddard Visitor Center at 1:00 a.m. and returning at 9:00 p.m. the same day), charter boat fee, bait, beverages and ice.  Fishing rods are available for $5.00 extra.  There are items you need to bring with you.  Fish vying to be hooked could include black sea bass, porgies, ling, bluefish and fluke (summer flounder).  For reservations or additional information, contact Kenneth Dearth at 301-286-3003 or kenneth.w.dearth@nasa.gov.

GEWA’S 16^th ANNUAL FALL CRAFTS FAIR:  For information about registering (the deadline is September 19^th) to exhibit your crafts at this annual event, contact Rebecca Elliott at 301-286-8956 or rebecca.a.elliott@nasa.gov.