G.R.A.A.

Goddard Retirees and Alumni Association

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

JULY 2005 http://graa.gsfc.nasa.gov 21^st Year of Publication

IMPORTANT DATES:

July 12	Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Dr. Ed Weiler, Center Director, will speak on the topic: “Search for Life in the Universe and Goddard’s Role in It.” Reservations are required, so please call Alberta Moran at 301-937-7762 no later than noon on Friday, July 8.
August 9	Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Please join us to welcome our guests, the 2005 Class of NASA Interns, whom we expect will provide some enlightening anecdotes from their internships.
September 13	Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Jerry Longanecker will speak on the topic: “Awareness, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Prostate Cancer.”
September 29 – October 3	Trip to the Country Music Capital of Branson, MO, for $875 per person. Contact Alberta Moran to sign up or to obtain details about the trip.
October 11	Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m.
Early December	Holiday shopping trip and music theater event in Lancaster, PA (date not yet established). Contact Alberta Moran for details.
August 2006	Something to look forward to! GRAA Travel (Alberta Moran) is planning a cruise and land tour in Alaska. Details will be published in future issues.

COMMENTS FROM RON BROWNING, GRAA PRESIDENT: Gil Colon, Goddard’s Associate for the Sun – Earth Connections Program, presented an exciting and insightful review of the Sun – Earth Programs and how they are examining:

- The many ways the Sun is variable and not presently well understood;

- How we are frequently affected on Earth by the Sun and its dynamic nature; and

- The forms of the Sun’s variance and how they impact us through radiation (including sunlight), Solar Wind and the energetic particles in the Solar Wind.

The Sun’s forces and attributes affect our use of fuel; benefit, shelter and personal protection from the Sun’s rays and energetic particles; routes by transportation systems, such as airlines and ships; and our weather.

Although detailed, Gil’s presentation was extremely easy to understand because he made it clear and went out of his way to define acronyms (often the bane of NASAese) and clarify technical terms. Clearly, his programs are researching natural forces that affect each one of us in many ways!

For more information about the technical and scientific progress of the multiple Sun – Earth programs, check out news of its key missions: TIMED (launched on December 7, 2001); STEREO (target launch readiness date [TLRD) of February 2006; Solar-B (TLRD of September 2006); MSS (TLRD of January 2010 currently under review); GEC (TLRD currently under review for 2015); and MC (TLRD currently under review). The program web site (http://stp.gsfc.nasa.gov/missions/stp.missions.htm) will provide you with the specific mission names, latest date changes, and other related information.

FROM THE GODDARD ARCHIVES-IT HAPPENED IN JULY:

- Jul 10, 1962: Thor-Delta launched Telstar 1, the first privately built communications satellite.

- Jul 16, 1982: Delta launched Landsat-4, the first Landsat to employ a thematic mapper.

- Jul 3, 1992: Scout launched SAMPEX (Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer), the first in the small Explorer series to study cosmic rays.

TIMELY LUNCHEON RESERVATIONS A MUST: It is important to make timely reservations to attend the GRAA Luncheons for both food preparation and security purposes. We’ll do our part by distributing the newsletter earlier than in the past. We ask that you do your part by contacting Alberta Moran by noon on the Friday prior to the luncheon (the second Tuesday of each month except December).

ENVELOPE STUFFERS FOR JUNE: George Abid, Marion Ditson, Marge Gustafson, Barbara Hamilton, Rose McChesney, Elaine Montgomery, Dave Moulton, Hugh O’Donnell, Eloise Tarter, Roland Van Allen, and Bob Wigand.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer Bob Wigand reports that donations were received from the following retirees: JoAnn Clark, Jim Heppner, Walt Raskin, Robert Russey, John Wolff, and Chuck Woodyard.

GRAA NEWSLETTER MAILINGS: If you no longer wish to receive GRAA mailings, please forward a note to our Seabrook address or an e-mail to Dave Moulton at davidlmoulton@comcast.net. If you have moved or want to correct the mailing address we use for you, please write to our Seabrook address or send an e-mail to Strat Laios at stratlaios@comcast.net.

REMEMBERING OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES:

- Norman Peterson of Owings, MD, passed away in May. He worked on the Delta Program during his career at the Center.

- Kenneth E. Purcell of Owings, MD, passed away on September 10, 2004.

E-MAIL ADDRESS UPDATES: Robert Chaplick (rgchaplick@comcast.net); Meridel Jellifer (mjspeedy@earthlink.net); Ray Mazur (rsmazur@comcast.net); and Walter Sullivan, Jr. (sullyandjudy@yahoo.com).

ROAD CLEANUP: Bob Wigand reports that five volunteers (Ron Browning, Hal Maurer, Elaine Montgomery, Paul Rall, and Bob Wigand) collected eight bags of trash (plus an auto tire, jumper cables, and a broken baby chair) from the stretch of Good Luck Road adjacent to the Center.

RETIREMENT FAREWELL: Vince Salomonson, former Director of Earth Sciences, has retired and will be feted at a farewell dinner at the Barney and Bea Recreation Center on Thursday, July 14, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 and may be obtained by contacting Lori Winter at 301-614-5634 no later than July 8.

SPECIAL TOUR OPPORTUNITY: Reference our announcement in the June issue, if you are interested in participating in the free tour of the Washington Post’s College Park Print Plant on July 12 (10 to 11:00 a.m.), contact Jody Fillmann via e-mail at jody@closecall.com or telephone at 301-577-5905.

GSFC RETIREE RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD: As reported in the June issue, GSFC retiree Tom Taylor received the 2005 Big Brother of the Year Award from the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization at its national convention on June 10 in Washington, DC. The trip to Washington with David Gessel, his little brother, included a visit with President Bush along with his Big Sisters counterpart, Linda Nelson of Montana and her little sister, Patty Jo Keatts. During the private meeting at the White House, which lasted more than 20 minutes, President Bush passed along this sage advice to the young mentorees: “Aim high, think big, have a back-up plan, and remember to reach back and help someone else when you get to the top.” In a press release, Judy Vredenburgh, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, wrote, “The award celebrates the joy and magic that our volunteers share with their ‘littles’ and that the ceremony is the one time during the year that our entire organization comes together to recognize these outstanding individuals. Hearing their stories is a joy.”

LETTERS, WE GET LETTERS:

- JoAnn Clark wrote, “Here’s a donation to GRAA. I surely enjoy the newsletter.”

- Dolores Fash (wife of Frank Fash) wrote, “Thank you for the time and energy spent in getting the newsletter to me.”

- Loren Linstrom wrote, “Thanks to all the people who have made GRAA what it is today.”

- Walter Raskin wrote, “It’s been such a long time since I was at Goddard that it seems to me that it must have been shortly after the second Ice Age. But I enjoy reading the newsletter. Enclosed is a small contribution – please keep it coming!”

GEWA FISHING TRIP TO BRIELLE, NEW JERSEY: Are you interested in an excursion to fish the wrecks about 10 to 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey? If so, GEWA has scheduled a trip just for you on July 22! The bus will leave the Visitor Center at 1:00 a.m. (you can sleep on the way), and returns at 9:00 p.m. You will have the opportunity to fish for Black Sea Bass, Porgies, Ling, Bluefish, and Fluke (Summer Flounder). GEWA has chartered the 110-foot Atlantis fishing boat for the entire day and has limited the boat to 30 percent capacity (50 fishermen/women). The trip costs $85.00, which includes bus transportation, charter boat fee, bait and ice. If interested in this adventure, contact Kenneth Dearth via e-mail at Kenneth.W.Dearth@nasa.gov or telephone at 301-286-3003 to determine if tickets are still available and/or ask for more information.

GEWA EXCHANGE STORE: We expect you might want to show your support for the marvelous Washington Nationals. They are definitely the newest game in town and arguably offer the best sports venue in the Washington environs. The Exchange Store has received a shipment of Nationals baseball caps in a variety of colors and sizes for both adults and children. The adult size comes in red, black, white, dark blue, and light blue. All have a white “W” on the front. Although in limited supply, all colors except for the light blue are also available with “DC” on the front. The youth size caps are available in black, red, white and dark blue, with either the “W” or “DC” on the front.

Would you like to shed some “light” at those dark camp-outs, or “glow” along with the competing fireflies at your summer cookouts? Then check out the “Funlight” light sticks at the Exchange Store. GEWA has received these light sticks in a variety of colors. They are available in blue, orange, purple, black, white, and red. They’re safe, non-toxic, easy to use, and glow for six to eight hours. Pick up some up light sticks and “add a little color” to your next backyard party or camping trip.

Remember the Cheddar Cheese Sticks or the Chocolate Sweet Sticks from a few years ago. Well, they’re back at the Exchange Store. That’s right, the Cheddar Cheese Sticks and Dutch Chocolate Sweet Sticks have returned. Along with them comes the new flavor of Java Cinnamon Sweet Sticks. What better way could there be to enjoy a cup of coffee than with some of these specialty items from Macy’s?

While driving through Virginia, have you ever tried Route 11? That’s not the Route 11 through Luray, but the Potato Chip of the same name. These chips are cooked in a special way that gives them a unique flavor all their own. They’ve just been added to the Exchange Store’s collection of gourmet chips to provide you a variety of tastes. Pick up a bag and try them. Bet you can’t eat just one!

Are you tired of the normal “ding dong” of your doorbell? Then why not try GE’s wireless door chime, which is battery-operated, easy to install, available in your choice of either the usual ring or the famous eight-note Westminster chime sound, and comes with complete installation instructions.