Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia Volume XIX-97 Number 14 June 2, 1997

National Aeronautics andSpace Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center Inside Wallops

Wallops researchers participated invarying projects in May which maylead to a better understanding ofEarth’s processes.

One project focused on the mappingof Greenland’s ice sheets. The otherinvolved tracking storms, includingthose that produced deadly tornadoeswhich swept through Texas May 27.

In a joint program with researchersfrom Texas A&M., Wallops personnel,led by Dr. John Gerlach (Code 972)and Jim Pafford (CSC), are involvedin an experiment to gather data onthe dynamics of storms. This datawill be used to learn more aboutconvective storms so as to helpinterpret data received from theTropical Rainfall Measuring Mission(TRMM) satellite scheduled forlaunch later this year.

The Wallops TOGA C-band weatherradar is installed at Lake Sommerville,about 30 miles south of Bryan, TX.Working in conjunction with a radarlocated at Texas A&M, CollegeStation, researchers are able to lookat storms from two different directions,giving them a three dimensional viewof the winds within rain storm cells,according to Gerlach.

Wallops Researchers Study Earth DynamicsThe storm which produced the

devastating tornado that passed throughJarrell, TX, came within approx-imately 75 miles of the TOGA andTexas A&M radar. Wallops contractorDavid Walker (NYMA) was operatingthe TOGA during the storms.

According to Dr. Mike Biggerstaff,co-investigator from Texas A&M, thedeadly storms which passed throughthe state were at the outer range ofthe radar's field-of-view, which maylimit what analysis may be conducted.

Meanwhile, the Wallops P-3Baircraft returned May 29 from a four-week mapping mission in Iceland andGreenland.

In Iceland, topographical mappingof the area that was impacted by theFall 1996 volcanic eruption on theNorth Atlantic Island was completedby the Wallops team led by BillKrabill (Code 972).

In Greenland, Wallops researchersrepeated baseline measurements ofice sheet elevations. Any changes inthese measurements will yield valuabledata on the potential effects of globalclimate change.

Massage therapist Barbara Dolch (left) provides stress relief to a Wallopsemployee as others contemplate a turn on the chair during Focus On OurFuture Day, May 21. The day’s activities included seminars, exhibits anddemonstrations to help employees plan for and deal with change. The planningcommittee thanks everyone who helped plan the day and those who participatedin the various activities.Photo by Tom Burton

Two sounding rocket missions anda scientific balloon mission wererecently conducted from three separatelocations in the United States.

A NASA Terrier-Orion soundingrocket serving as a target vehicle fora U.S. Army project was successfullylaunched May 23 from WallopsIsland. Bruce Scott (Code 823) wasthe project manager.

A cosmic and heliospherics payloadfor New Mexico State University wassuccessfully launched May 24 fromFt. Sumner, NM. The payload wasflown on a 39.57 million cubic footballoon. The balloon was successful,however, the experiment instrumen-tation failed during ascent. Thepayload was recovered. The principalinvestigator was Dr. Steven Stochaj.

A Black Brant IX sounding rocketcarrying a radio astronomy payloadwas successfully launched May 29from the White Sands Missile Range,NM. The objective of the NearInfrared Telescope Experiment wasto image an edge-on spiral galaxy toprobe a possible extended emissioncomponent associated with cool, low-mass stars. The payload was recovered.The principal investigator was Dr.Andrew Lange from the CaliforniaInstitute of Technology, and theproject manager was Dave Moltedo(Code 823).

Suborbital MissionsConducted

A briefing on the new AppliedEngineering and Technology Directorate(AETD) and Systems, Technologyand Advanced Concepts Directorate(STAAC) will be given for Code 800and 972 Civil Service personnel fromnoon to 2 p.m., June 5, in Blg. D-10.

Brian Keegan, AETD designatedDirector, and Orlando Figueroa,STAAC designated Director, willdiscuss the status of their respectiveorganizations as a follow-on to JoeRothenberg’s March 17 Update onProject Goddard presentation.

Following the status reports, separatepresentations will be given con-currently by Chiefs of the centers inthe AETD at various informationbooths. These presentations willprovide information on the organ-izational structure and give employeesan opportunity to share ideas aboutthe information presented.

STAAC, AETDBriefing Set

Inside Wallops is an official publicationof Goddard Space Flight Center and ispublished by the Wallops Office of PublicAffairs, Extension 1584 or 1579, in theinterest of Wallops employees

Editor Keith KoehlerAssistant Editor Betty FlowersPhotography Optical SectionPrinting Printing Management Office

Holland Bell Retires

After 35 years of governmentservice, Holland T. Bell retiredeffective May 2, 1997, as DeputyDirector, Suborbital Projects andOperations Directorate.

Arnold Torres, Director of Sub-orbital Projects and Operations, said,"Holland provided exemplary serviceand leadership to not only Wallops,but also to the Goddard Space FlightCenter and the Agency as a whole.He is recognized for his expertise indata acquisition systems. Thisknowledge and the leadership he hasprovided Wallops will be missed. Iwish him success in his futureendeavors."

Following graduation in 1962 fromVirginia Military Institute with aBachelor of Science degree in electri-cal engineering, Bell came to Wallopsand worked in the Telemetry SystemsSection until 1989. During thatperiod, he served two years of militaryservice as a commissioned officerassigned to Wallops and was respon-sible for designing telemetry systemsfor range tracking systems, satellitepayloads and sounding rocket pay-loads.

Bell was awarded the NASAExceptional Service Medal in 1986.He was named head, Data AcquisitionBranch in 1989 with responsibilityfor operation and maintenance of allradar, telecommunications and opticalsystems.

In 1991, Bell was appointedTechnical Assistant to the SuborbitalProjects and Operations Directorateand in 1993 was appointed Chief,Engineering Division.

Bell was appointed Acting DeputyDirector of Suborbital Projects andOperations Directorate in April 1995until he assumed the position ofDeputy Director in May 1995. Heserved on various teams sponsoredby NASA Headquarters to reviewways of reducing overall operationalcost for the Agency.

His many friends and co-workerswish him a long and happy retirement.

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Awards Ceremony was held May29, 1997. Congratulations to the following NASA Wallops employees whoreceived awards.

Exception Achievement Award.....................David Burkhead, Code 821Claudia Fulk, Code 821Gene Furness, Code 821Drew Green, Code 822

Community Service Award............................Wannamaker Lawrence, Code 233

Group Achievement Award............................Wallops Range Control Center Software Support TeamADEOS Automation Team

Wallops Employees Receive Goddard Awards

June 7 and 21 - A model rocket launch will be held at 1 p.m. Models ofvarying types and sizes are launched, including models of NASA launchvehicles. Model rocketeers are invited to bring their own rockets. The launchwill be canceled if it is raining or if winds exceed 18 mph.

Space suit demonstrations will be held each Sunday in June at 1 p.m.During this 20 minute program, the audience will learn why space suits arenecessary in space and how they protect astronauts. Following the presentation,children can participate in a special hands-on space suit activity during whicheach child can create their own “space helmet.” Both the demonstration andchildren’s hands-on activity are free.

Puppet shows are conducted each Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2p.m. Join puppet astronauts and Sam the Monkey for a fun and informativelook at Space. Children of all ages will enjoy this free presentation.

70's Night

June 6

Building F-3, 8 p.m.DJ and Refreshments

$5 per person

Steak and Shrimp Dinner

June 14

$15 per personAdvance Ticket Sales Only

Call x1133, x1483

Blood DriveJune 17

8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.Contact Linda Layton

x1561

NASA Visitor Center June Events

6 p.m.Building F-3