Spring-Summer 2008 - Kennedy Space Center Technology Transfer ...

National Aeronautics and Space Administrationvolume 1, number 1 | s p r i n g/s u m m e r 2008KSC NewsWeather to LaunchJohn Madura leads NASA’s WeatherOffice at Kennedy Space Center. Histeam excels at transitioning research intooperations. Read “Innovator Insights”to learn the secrets of their success intechnology transfer.in this issue:2 | Letter from the Chief3 | NTR CornerTraining4 | Innovator Insights6 | Partnership Seed Fund7 | ICB History8 | Awardstech transferphoto credit: Tom Farrar

about the ipp officeLetter from the ChiefAs NASA strives to achieve its space exploration, science, andother mission goals, developing and applying innovative technologywill be essential to our success as an Agency. Through theformation of strategic technology partnerships, NASA can achieve itsmission goals more effectively by combining NASA’s resources withthose of our partners. The Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP)fosters the development of these innovative technology partnershipsamong NASA, U.S. industry, academia, and other governmental organizationsto benefit Agency programs and projects and to benefitthe nation as a whole.David MakufkaFacilitating partnerships is just one aspect of technology transferand one of the many responsibilities of the IPP Office at KSC.Therefore, we’re launching Kennedy Tech Transfer News to help keep you informed of thenew and innovative technologies being developed at the Kennedy Space Center and to highlightthe successes that KSC has had in forming partnerships, transferring technology, andwinning awards for technological innovations. Kennedy Tech Transfer News also providesinformation on programs, resources and opportunities that are available to assist you informing technology partnerships, collaborating with external partners, and benefiting fromyour own innovations.Our office brokers partnerships with companies and research institutions, and we help secureNASA’s intellectual property. We manage the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) andSmall Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs for Kennedy that stimulate technologicalinnovation in the private sector, increase the commercial application of those research results,and encourage the participation of socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. Wealso manage the Space Act Awards program and are the conduit into NASA Tech Briefs andSpinoff magazines.Technology transfer is avital part of Kennedy SpaceCenter’s mission. Your innovationsand expertise arenational assets that can beused not only to achieveNASA’s space program goals,but also to develop newproducts and processes thatbenefit industries around theworld.Our door is open and ourstaff is ready to help. Let’swork together for evengreater success. nDavid MakufkaChiefInnovative PartnershipsProgramJim Nichols and Pasquale Ferrari (seated). Jeff Kohler, Janice Lomness, David Makufka,Joni Richards, Jennifer Van Pelt, Lewis Parrish, and Carol Dunn (standing).2Kennedy Space Center | volume 1, number 1 | spring/summer 2008

NTR Corner: SMART Softwaretechnology title:System MaintenanceAutomated RepairTasksinventors: JosephSchuh, Nadean King,Elkin Norena, BrentMitchell, Louis Locklear,Martin Belson,Mary Jo Al-Shihabi,and Derek Hardincase no.:KSC-12909ntr cornerFrom left to right: Louis Locklear, Nadean King, Elkin Norena, Brent Mitchell, Derek Hardin,Mary Jo Al-Shihabi, and Joseph Schuh. Not pictured: Martin Belson.Photo credit: Regina Mitchell-RyallWhat it is: Originally developed specifically for spacecraft, this interactive decisionanalysis software system allows for uniform evaluation and repair of discrepancies.SMART captures the thought processes and tacit knowledge involved in decisionanalysis and provides the data and repair information in a user-friendly automatedsystem.What makes it better: SMART improves the technical accuracy, safety and timelydelivery of repair procedures for a given discrepancy. Unlike existing manualsystems, which are time-consuming, difficult to update, and subject to typos,transpositions, and personal preferences, and do not always render consistentoutputs, SMART minimizes many types of errors and creates a knowledge base ofuniform engineering repair processes.How it might be used: Flexibly designed, SMART can be used by various engineeringgroups and work authorization and disposition platforms. The software can easilybe tailored to the individual system’s needs by the users. SMART has successfullycaptured the interconnecting hardware corporate knowledge of the Orbiter ElectricalEngineering (OEL) group and is the first tool developed that links the hardwarespecification requirements with the actual “how to” repair methods, sequences, andequipment.Tech transfer status: Nonprovisional patent application filed; license undernegotiation. nRegister now for the July 14th training sessionIntroduction to NASA Technology TransferMonday, July 14 • 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.Technology transfer benefits you as well as NASA. This overview course teaches civilservants and contractors the ins and outs of technology transfer, including Kennedyspecificpractices. You will learn how to work with Kennedy’s Innovative PartnershipsProgram Office, understand the various mechanisms used to partner with organizations,and identify factors that accelerate the transfer of technology.trainingOffered in the KLI Building. Choose morning or afternoon session. For details, pleasecall Carol Dunn at (321) 867-6384. To register, visit https://satern.nasa.gov. Registration ison a first-come, first-served basis. nvolume 1, number 1 | spring/summer 2008 | Innovative Partnerships Program3

innovator insightsThe only forecasting the Weather Office does is topredict continued success in transitioning researchinto operations. John Madura, M.S.; Frank Merceret, Ph.D.;and Jennifer Ward, M.S., share the secrets of their successin technology transition.From left to right: Joe Barrett, Frank Merceret (seated), Bill Bauman, WinnieCrawford, and Leela Watson.What does the Weather Office do?Let’s start with what we don’t do: We don’tforecast weather; we don’t make go/no-gocalls at launch countdowns.At the Weather Office, we help engineersand operators design requirements that makesense, and we make sure those requirementsare correctly and effectively communicatedto people responsible for meeting them. Wehave Agency-wide responsibility for operationalweather support for launches and landingsof NASA manned spacecraft and launchesof NASA expendable launch vehicles. Weensure that all engineering studies, designproposals, anomaly analyses, and groundprocessing and launch commit criteriaproperly consider atmospheric impacts. Wealso coordinate all weather research anddevelopment funded through Kennedy SpaceCenter, including on- and off-site contractors,universities, and private corporations.The Weather Office was established in thelate 1980s after studies showed that 50percent of all launch scrubs were due toweather. Our office coordinates all of theweather research and puts it into operations.John Madura manages the office. He is ameteorologist, formerly the Commander ofthe Air Force’s 45th Weather Squadron. FrankMerceret, an atmospheric physicist, came inStorm clouds blanket the sky over the Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Control Center.Half of all launch scrubs are due to weather, and lightning is a big contributor.KSC Weather Officeto lead the Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU)when it was created in 1991. Jennifer Wardjoined in 2001 and is becoming our lightningsensor expert. The three of us, along withour civilian contractors, form the WeatherOffice team.What is the AMU and how does it work?The AMU develops and evaluates weathertechnology and then transitions it into operations.The unit is operated by one of ourcontractors and managed by the KSC WeatherOffice. The AMU has a reputation for producinghigh-value products on time and on budget.Before the AMU was created, researcherswould develop something and throw it overthe fence to the operators, and it might taketwo Ph.D.s and an engineer to make it work.Because the operators didn’t have the time orexpertise to make the technology work, theinnovations weren’t being used. We needed away to transition technology from the lab tothe shop floor and get it working. That’s whatthe AMU does.How do you measure your success?Our processes have been showcased in theNavy’s database of Best Manufacturing Practices,and our work is frequently publishedin peer-reviewed journals. We have receivedawards from NASA and the National WeatherAssociation for sustained excellence intransitioning technology to operations. Mostimportant, what we have developed is beingused on the operations floor.4Kennedy Space Center | volume 1, number 1 | spring/summer 2008

From left toright: JenniferWard, JohnMadura,and FrankMerceretSecond, we continuously involve ourcustomers in the planning and execution ofour work. This includes quarterly detailedtechnical reports on the progress of eachtask, followed by a teleconference to discussthe reports with all the stakeholders.You’ve been strikingly successful in transitioninginnovations to operations. How do you do it?We have a structure in place to give ourcustomers what they want. NASA, the AirForce, and the National Weather Service (akey player in the Shuttle landing forecastsdone by the Spaceflight Meteorology Groupin Houston) negotiated a tri-Agency agreement,and all three are involved in managingthe AMU. Technology transition is a cooperativeeffort of all the stakeholders.The people who will use our products submitproposals on how they would like to employour resources. Once a year, we meet face-tofacewith them to prioritize the proposals andcome up with the projects that will do themost people the most good.What makes your approach work so well?Two things. First, we are co-located withour customers. The Air Force providesspace, utilities and equipment for the AMUnext door to the Range Weather Operationsforecasters. There can be a cultural gapbetween scientists and operational forecasters.Sometimes it’s as if they speak differentlanguages. Having daily face-to-face access toone another, knowing each other’s abilitiesand limitations, breaks down communicationbarriers. We know each other personally andprofessionally. With daily contact, we canmake small corrections along the way. Havingthat human basis to form our relationship is abetter way to build our team.How does the IPP Office help?For divisions that don’t have the closerela tion ships with their customers that theWeather Office has, the IPP Office can bean intermediary between what the customerneeds and what the researchers produce.Building those relationships is a process thatcan be taught, and the IPP Office is ideal forthat.We use the IPP office to submit informationfor the Space Act Awards. We want to recognizethe people who do good work. IPP alsomakes sure that information about our productsis sent along to NASA Tech Briefs.The IPP Office has been very helpful insetting up research partnerships. Althoughmost of our technology transition is handledthrough the AMU, the KSC Weather Officesupports a significant amount of researchthrough other organizations, such as universities,other government agencies and theprivate sector. We see the IPP Office as afacilitator to put us in contact with resources.For instance, IPP connected us to a doctoralstudent at Florida State University researchinglightning cessation. At our Center, peopleare outside hauling toxins and explosives,moving expensive hardware, operatingcranes, lifting payloads, and maintainingfacilities. We can’t expose that operation tolightning. One of our biggest problems isdetermining when to shut down operationsif lightning is expected and when it is safe toresume work. If we issue false alarms or keepthe warnings out too long, it can cost millionsof dollars in idled manpower.Any advice for your colleagues?Communicate with your customer. Maximizeyour resources through partnerships. Makeuse of the IPP Office’s help. nKENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA.,August 30, 1983 —A powerfulelectrical storm created aneerie tapestry of light near SpaceShuttle Launch Complex 39-A inthe hours preceding the launch ofSTS-8 at 2:32 a.m. that day. Thedriving rains and dazzling lightningdisplay ceased after this photographwas taken by Sam Waltonof United Press Inter national, andthe launch proceeded.volume 1, number 1 | spring/summer 2008 | Innovative Partnerships Program5

For the past two years, the IPP at NASA Headquartershas used the Partnership Seed Fund to address barriersand initiate cost-shared, joint-development partnerships.These partnerships are designed to increasethe range of technology solutions available to NASA,broaden NASA’s technology portfolio, improve costavoidance, accelerate development and maturation oftechnologies, and create a larger pool of qualified commercialproviders.IPP’s Seed Fund provides “bridge funding” that enableslarger partnership and development efforts. It alsoencourages the leveraging of funding, resources, andexpertise from the non-NASA partners as well as NASAprograms, projects, and Centers. For example, thePartner Technology/Focus Project Goals/BenefitspartnershipsIPP Partnership Seed Fund2007 Seed Fund projects based at KSC (see table below)are pooling together $6.2 million in funding. More than20%—$1.4 million—was provided by IPP’s Seed Fund,while the non-NASA partners chipped in $1.7 million. Theother half ($3.1 million) came from NASA programs.KSC’s IPP Office coordinates and advises the proposalefforts for Seed Fund projects, and partners can includegovernment agencies, small and large businesses, universities,and other NASA Centers. More information aboutthe next Partnership Seed Fund is scheduled to appear inthe Fall/Winter issue of Kennedy Tech Transfer News. Orcontact Janice Lomness, Innovative Partnerships Manager(867-1539; Janice.K.Lomness@nasa.gov). nDEM Solutions Electrodynamic and mechanical Simulate granular materials, from dust to gravel, to reduce fieldforces to DEM softwaretesting.Hawaii Office of Lunar analog field demonstration Field test ETDP, ISRU and HRS technologies at a realisticAerospace Development of exploration technologies lunar-analog site to reduce mission risk, cost and time.and University of HawaiiPPG Industries and Rapid assessment of a smart, Select and develop materials that release corrosion-inhibitors onUniversity of Texas environmentally friendly coating demand to prevent corrosion at launch pads.Health Science CenterSierra Lobo Inc. Liquid to gaseous helium Develop and test a high-pressure liquid helium pump to replacepump skidaging helium tube bank trailers.United Launch Alliance Deployable sun shield Create a device to support extended cryogenic storage, savingtime and money, as well as to accelerate development ofspace-based deployable structures.2006 Seed Fund SuccessAlthough IPP’s Partnership Seed Fundprogram is a relatively new initiative,it is already demonstrating its value to NASA.For example, a 2006 project involving KSC andSierra Lobo is contributing to the Lunar Landerand Earth Departure Stage vehicles and may beused by the Ares I program.NASA contractor Sierra Lobo had invented Cryo-Tracker ® as ahigh-tech “gas gauge” for cryogenic fluids. Its mass gauging system(MGS) accurately measures cryogenic liquid mass and temperaturein tanks that are more than 60 feet tall. However, to be applied toNASA programs, this technology required testing for flight readiness.IPP’s Seed Fund provided the opportunity to develop FlightSystem Verification Plans for each of the major units of theCryo-Tracker MGS. In addition, the partnership enabled thermalmodeling for the sensing element as well as progress in convertingthe electronics to flight avionics.Watch future issues of Kennedy Tech TransferNews for more about how IPP partnershipsadd value to NASA. n6Kennedy Space Center | volume 1, number 1 | spring/summer 2008

ICB HistoryNASA’s Inventions andContributions Board(ICB) and Space Act AwardsProgram are practicallyunknown outside of NASA’sscientific community. Yet theirhistory is a microcosm ofNASA’s own history and extensivetechnological achievement.The ICB reviews waivers of titleto inventions by NASA contractorsand gives monetary awards.Created by the Space Act of1958, the ICB is an inno vativeand historical concept that haschronicled NASA’s challengesand innovation.As a senator, former President Johnson drafted the National Aeronautical Space Act of 1958 establishing NASA.As vice president, he chaired the National Aeronautics and Space Council. As president, he renamed LOC andStation No. 1 of the Atlantic Missile Range the John F. Kennedy Space Center.historyA visionary Congress recognized that if NASA was toachieve it chartered purpose, “the preservation of the roleof the United States as a leader in aeronautical and spacescience and technology,” then incentives must be givento the agency’s scientists, engineers, and technologists tocreate technologies needed by the fledgling space program.Today, these contributors are honored with awardsfor (1) innovations reported in NASA Tech Briefs ($350per author), (2) software approved for release ($1,000Q A&Q: Eureka! I’ve invented something.Now what do I do?A: File a New Technology Report (NTR) using theonline eNTRe system (http://entre.nasa.gov).• Reporting new technologies is requiredof NASA civil servants under NASA PolicyDirective 2091.A and by contractors throughtheir contractual agreements.• It is important that you file the required NTRforms before publishing or presenting yourresults publicly. Premature public disclosurecan compromise NASA’s position in terms ofpatenting your invention.• An NTR is required to make your technologyeligible for awards.• If you need assistance in completing theNTR, contact Kennedy’s Innovative PartnershipsProgram Office (Technology.Transfer@ksc.nasa.gov).for a sole author, $500 each for multiple authors), or (3)inventions that have been approved for patent applications($1,000 for a sole inventor, $500 each for multipleinventors). In addition to these more “automatic” awards,the ICB recognizes significant scientific and technicalcontributions with Space Act Awards. These “BoardAction” awards can range up to $100,000. (For more onICB awards, see page 8.)The latest ICB annual report highlights the Robot Cable-Compliant Device that Enduro has developed into awalker called the Secure Ambulation Module used to helpinjured soldiers at the Walter Reed Medical Center. Thatsame device was used in space in NASA Space Technology5 Mission, which measures the magnetosphere anddemonstrates miniaturized technology for future nanosatellitweconstellation missions.Each of NASA’s 10 centers has become a part of thehistory documenting the technological achievements ofNASA’s past and paving the way for the future. The ICBacts as a repository of NASA’s valuable technologies,which continue to have a tremendous impact on the U.S.economy. The 2003 ICB annual report estimated that theextraordinary impact of just a few of these cases on theU.S. economy and world commerce was documented atover $200 billion, and the aggregate of all 98,000 awardsgranted in the board’s 50-year existence is conservativelyestimated to have contributed over half a trillion dollarsin wealth to the economy with technology that willchange how we work and live.At a recent Space Act Awards Luncheon honoringi nventors at the Kennedy Space Center, ICB director TonyMaturo reiterated the importance of the inventors: “Youare really the fiber that makes NASA what it is today andwhat it will be tomorrow.” nvolume 1, number 1 | spring/summer 2008 | Innovative Partnerships Program7

awardsTech Transfer AwardsOctober 1, 2007, to March 31, 2008Board Action: 7Clamshell Sleeving Cutterby James Hart †Smart Sensor Architecturein Support of IntelligentSystem Health Managementby Carlos Mata † ,Angel Lucena, RebeccaOostdyk † , Jose PerottiSelf-Validating Thermocoupleby Carlos Mata † , PeterVokrot † , Jose Perotti, CarlosZavala † , Bradley Burns † ,and Josephine SantiagoMonte Carlo Simulationto Estimate the Likelihoodof Direct Lightning Strikesby Carlos Mata † and PedroMedelius †Electrostatic Precipitatorthat Operates in Pure GN2Environments by CharlesBuhler † , Carlos Calle, MindyRitz † , Robert Cox † , and SidClements †Volume-Averaged HeightIntegrated Radar Reflectivityby Monte Bateman † ,James Dye † , E. Krider † ,Sharon Lewis † , DouglasMach † , John Madura,Michael McAleenan † ,Todd McNamara † , FrankMerceret, Johnny Weems † ,John Willett † , Ann Koons † ,Dennis Boccippio, andHugh ChristianAutomated MetrologyProcesses by JeffreyCheatham †Kennedy Tech Transfer Newshttp://technology.ksc.nasa.govchief: David Makufka(321) 867-6227David.R.Makufka@nasa.goveditor: Carol Dunn(321) 867-6381carol.a.dunn@nasa.govKennedy Tech Transfer Newsis the semiannual magazineof the Innovative PartnershipsProgram Office atNASA Kennedy SpaceCenter in Cape Canaveral,Florida. This magazinePatentApplication: 3seeks to inform and educatecivil servant and contractorpersonnel at Kennedy aboutactively parti ci pating inachieving NASA’s technologytransfer goals:• Filing required New TechnologyReports on eNTRe(http://entre.nasa.gov)• Pursuing partnerships toaccelerate R&D• Finding new applicationsfor space-programtechnology†ContractorCommunicating Systemwith Adaptive Noise Suppressionby David Kozel † ,Richard Birr † , and JamesDevaultCorrosion Prevention ofCold Rolled Steel UsingWater Dispersible LignosulfonicAcid Doped Polyanilineby Tito Viswanathan †Improved Thermal Reactivityof Hydrogen SensingPigments in ManufacturedPolymer Composites byLuke Roberson, Trent Smith,Martha Williams, LaNetraTate, and Janine CaptainSoftwareRelease: 7Change ManagementExpress by GeorgeBerry † , Joanne Breen † , GailFischer † , Charles Harnden † ,Patricia Karpinski † , andClaudia Mears †Action ManagementExpress by George Berry † ,Charles Harnden † , PatriciaKarpinski † , and ClaudiaMears †LabVIEW Vision DevelopmentModule Region ofInterest Selection Tool byChristopher Immer †Microwave Scanning BeamLanding System NearField Signal Processor byStephen Simmons † andMarshall Scott Jr. †Personal Computer GroundOperations Aerospace Language2 by Brian Bateman † ,Jason Kapusta † , MelvinAyala † , Dana Sorensen † ,Michael Popovich † , andJames Mikell †CaTS—A Carrier TrackingSystem by David Ben-Arieh † and Kyle Grabill †Web-based ChangeRequest Management byJohn O’Brien †Tech Brief: 6Hydrogen Peroxide Concentratorby Clyde ParrishTime Domain ReflectometryUsing a Time-VaryingPulse Width by AngelLucena, Pedro Medelius † ,Pamela Mullinex, CarlosMata † , PoTien Huang,Carlos Zavala † , JosephineSantiago, and John Lane †Core Technical CapabilityLaboratory ManagementSystem by Linda Shaykhian,Curtis Dugger, andLaurie GriffinAuto-Generated SemanticProcessing Services byRodney Davis † and GregHupf †• Identifying innovativefunding sources• Communicating partnershipopportunities viaconferences, workshops,papers, presentations,and other outreach efforts• Seeking recognition byapplying for technologyrelatedawardsPlease send suggestionsor feedback about KennedyTech Transfer News to theeditor.Exploration SystemsMission DirectorateDistributed ObserverNetwork by Michael Conroy,Rebecca Mazzone, WilliamLittle, David Mann † , PriscillaElfrey, Kevin Mabiev † ,Thomas Cuddy † , MarioLounder mon † , StephenSpiker † , Don Whiteside † ,Frank McArthur † , Tate Srey † ,and Dennis Bonilla †Incremental/Spiral DevelopmentLife Cycle SimulationModel for SoftwareDevelopment Projects byCarolyn Mizell, CharlesCurley † , and UmanathNayak † nICB AwardsMany awards are available to NASAresearchers, as managed by the Inventionsand Contributions Board (ICB):• Space Act Board Awards are bestowedfor technologies with significant scientificand technical contributions. Value: Up to$100,000• Patent Application Awards recognize thefiling of a full (i.e., nonprovisional) patentapplication. Value: $500 (more than oneinventor) or $1,000 (sole inventor)• Software Release Awards are given whena software program has been approvedfor some form of public release. Value:$500 (more than one inventor) or $1,000(sole inventor)• Tech Brief Awards are given for technologiesapproved for publication in NASATech Briefs. Value: $350To be eligible for any of these awards,inno vations must have a New TechnologyReport on file. For the Space Act BoardAward, NASA Form 1329 also must becompleted.IPPO can help with the award applicationproc ess. For more information, contactthe Award Liaison Officer: Carol Dunn(867-6381; carol.a.dunn@nasa.gov).8www.nasa.govNP-2008-5-059-KSCvolume 1, number 1 | spring/summer 2008 | Kennedy Tech Transfer News