nasa performance reportage—four times as many science missions per year. the following are...
TRANSCRIPT
FY1999NASA Performance Report
MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
NASA had a momentous year in Fiscal Year (FY) 1999. We met 81 percent of our performance targets andour successes far outweighed our failures. The context of our FY 1999 performance must be evaluated againstthe challenges that we undertook to answer fundamental questions, develop and apply new technologies, andfocus on scientific research.
As a Research and Development Agency, we have struggled with the challenge of establishing annual goalswhich are both realistic and still accurately represent both the longer time horizons required for our effortsto come to fruition and the difficult tasks that we have set for ourselves. If we were able to accomplish all ofour annual goals, we would have set the bar too low. I believe that we set the bar at an appropriate place forFY 1999.
Predicting the output or outcome of a research and development activity in any given fiscal year is a challenge.We will contiue to work on those tasks that were not accomplished by the end of the reporting period. In fact,a number of them have already been completed as we go to press with this report. We will provide an updateof our progress towards that end with our next report.
I thank both the NASA Advisory Council (NAC) and the Inspector General for their independent evalua-tions. The NAC played an invaluable role in providing qualitative evaluation of our performance, goingbeyond the question of whether we met specific targets to help put our progress into a broader perspective.The results of both of these independent evaluations have been incorporated into this report.
We have learned a number of lessons during the first full year of implementing the Government Performanceand Results Act. Many of these lessons have been incorporated in our planning for FY 2001, and I believethat our approach to measuring and reporting progress will continue to evolve as we gain more experience inimplementing this mandate.
Daniel S. GoldinNASA Administrator
i
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
iii
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Space Science Enterprise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Earth Science Enterprise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Human Exploration and Development of Space Enterprise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Aero-Space Technology Enterprise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Manage Strategically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Provide Aerospace Products and Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Generate Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Communicate Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
NASA Advisory Council (NAC) Assessment of FY 1999 Performance Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
List of Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Table of Contents
1
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
The mission of the National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration (NASA) is to focus on scientificresearch and the development and application ofnew cutting-edge technologies. We seek to answerfundamental questions that have challenged humani-ty for centuries.
Recent years have seen NASA carry out its missionwhile downsizing and reducing its budget. NASAhas successfully reduced its workforce from a highof nearly 25,000 in fiscal year (FY) 1991 to approx-imately 18,500 at the end of FY 1999. In constantFY 1999 dollars, NASA’s budget has decreased 22percent within the same period. Even with theseresource limitations, NASA still managed to meet81 percent of its performance targets for FY 1999.The figure is even more remarkable given thatNASA is a research and development agency, with amission of regularly doing things that have neverbeen done before.
Although we have not met every performance target,our successes far outweigh the failures. For the past 7 years, we have cut the cost of missions by two-thirds, have cut the time it takes to developspacecraft by 40 percent, and are launching—on aver-age—four times as many science missions per year.
The following are highlights of a handful of success-es that met NASA’s FY 1999 performance targets:
■ Hubble Illuminates Universe’s Rate ofExpansion—After 3 years of painstaking meas-urement, Hubble Space Telescope scientists haverevised the value for how fast the universe isexpanding, increasing the accuracy of the meas-urement. The rate of expansion, called theHubble constant, is essential to determining theage and size of the universe. Measuring theHubble constant was one of the three majorgoals for the telescope when it was launched in1990. Performance target achieved: “Measure theHubble Constant within an accuracy of 10 per-cent,” page 8.
■ The International Space Station Era Begins—The construction of the International Space
Station (ISS), one of the largest engineeringproject humans have ever undertaken, began inDecember 1998 when the Space ShuttleEndeavour and its crew of six joined the U.S.Unity node to the Russian-built Zarya module.Six months later, the Space Shuttle Discoverycrew traveled 4 million miles in orbit and per-formed spacewalks during its mission to theISS. Shuttle Commander Kent Rominger per-formed the first Shuttle docking with the ISS,and the crew transferred more than 3,600 pounds of supplies-ranging from foodand clothes to laptop computers-readying theorbiting outpost for its first crew of inhabitantslater this year. Performance targets achieved:“Deploy and activate the Russian-built FGB(Functional Cargo Block) as the early propulsionand control module” and “Deploy and activate thefirst U.S.-built element, Unity (Node 1) to pro-vide docking locations and attach ports,” page 38.
■ Landsat 7 Earth Mapping Spacecraft—InApril, NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise success-fully launched Landsat 7, a follow-on mappingspacecraft that will provide the Governmentand industry with the latest space views of ourEarth. This information can be used in agricul-tural planning, urban planning, disaster relief,and a plethora of other commercial applica-tions. Performance target achieved: “Begin torefresh the global archive of 30-meter resolutiondata,” page 16.
■ Synthetic Vision—Limited visibility is thegreatest factor in most fatal aircraft accidents.NASA’s Langley Research Center entered intoagreements with eight industry teams to worktoward the creation of Synthetic Vision, a virtu-al-reality display system for cockpits, offeringpilots an electronic picture of what is outsidetheir windows, no matter the weather or time ofday. Performance target achieved: “Identify thecontributing causes to be addressed . . . for theaviation safety areas of controlled flight into terrain, runway incursion and loss of control,”page 48.
Introduction
2
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Background
NASA is a Federal research and engineering agencythat accomplishes most of its space, aeronautics,science, and technology programs through nineField Centers and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory,which is a Federally Funded Research andDevelopment Center (Figure 1). In FY 1999,NASA received budget authority (New ObligationsAuthority, or NOA) of approximately $13.65 mil-lion (Figure 2) and maintained a civil service work-force (Full-Time Equivalent, or FTE) of approxi-mately 18,500 (Figure 3).
NASA’s program and support activities are guided bya strategic planning process and strategic manage-ment systems that are documented in the NASAStrategic Management Handbook, dated October1996 and the 1998 NASA Strategic Plan With 1999Interim Adjustments (NASA Policy Directive1000.1a). Note that an updated version of theNASA Strategic Management Handbook will beavailable in March 2000. NASA’s vision and missionstatements have been extracted from our StrategicPlan and are displayed below.
AdministratorA
InspectorGeneral
Small andDisadvantaged
BusinessUtilization
KLife and
MicrogravitySciences andApplications
U
SpaceFlight
M
Aero-SpaceTechnology
R
SpaceScience
S
EarthScience
Y
* Jet PropulsionLaboratory
Lyndon B. JohnsonSpace Center
John F. KennedySpace Center
George C. MarshallSpace Flight Center
John C. StennisSpace Center
Ames ResearchCenter
Dryden FlightResearch Center
Langley ResearchCenter
John H. GlennResearch Center
at Lewis Field
ChiefFinancialOfficer
BGeneralCounsel
G EqualOpportunityPrograms
EExternalRelations
ILegislative
Affairs
L HumanResources and
Education
F
HeadquartersOperations
CPolicy and
Plans
ZManagement
Systems
J Safetyand MissionAssurance
Q
Public AffairsP
ProcurementH
Aerospace SafetyAdvisory Panel
NASA AdvisoryPanel
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
* JPL is a Federally Funded Researchand Development Center
Figure 1. Organization Chart
3
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
NASA Vision Statement
NASA is an investment in America’s future. As explor-ers, pioneers, and innovators, we boldly expand fron-tiers in air and space to inspire and serve America andto benefit the quality of life on Earth.
NASA Mission Statement
■ To advance and communicate scientific knowl-edge and understanding of Earth, the solar system,and the universe and use the environment of spacefor research
■ To advance human exploration, use, and develop-ment of space
■ To research, develop, verify, and transfer advancedaeronautics, space, and related technologies
NASA’s Strategic Management Structure
NASA manages its program activities through fourprimary Strategic Enterprises:
■ Space Science■ Earth Science■ Human Exploration and Development of Space
(HEDS)■ Aero-Space Technology
In addition to these Strategic Enterprises, NASAdelivers its products and services to customersthrough four processes that cut across all NASAorganizations. These Crosscutting Processes are:
■ Mange Strategically■ Provide Aerospace Products and Capabilities■ Generate Knowledge■ Communicate Knowledge
NASA’s Approach to Performance PlanImplementation
As an organization with broad objectives and aproject orientation, NASA has historically found itnecessary to measure its performance against short-and long-term goals. NASA’s progress on flightprojects is both easy to measure and highly visible.Public attention is drawn quickly to program suc-cesses and program failures. Press conferences onthe scientific results and program technical statusare commonplace. The technical measurement ofprogress is a management imperative because of theheavy emphasis on development programs and,within the programs, specific projects. Flight pro-grams such as the ISS compile thousands uponthousands of performance metrics on developmentand fabrication milestones and cost performance.The process of identifying, monitoring, and validat-ing performance on these output measures is essen-tially “business as usual.”
NASA’s standard management review processes pro-vide regular and appropriate forums for internalreporting on and the review of project and program
NO
A $
M
15,000
14,500
14,000
13,500
13,000 FY91 FY92 FY93 FY94 FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
NASA Budget 14,015 14,316 14,309 14,568 13,853 13,885 13,709 13,648 13,653
FY00*
13,601
*Actuals through FY99, FY00 projected
Figure 2. NASA Budget
20,000
25,000
15,000
1000
500
0 FY91 FY92 FY93 FY94
*Actuals through FY99, FY00 projected
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
Personnel FTE 24,167 24,536 24,906 23,873 22,355 21,128 20,070 19,109 18,469
FY00*
18,623
Figure 3. Personnel FTE
4
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
performance data. The recent streamlining of Agency processes provide confidence that new datacollection and oversight processes need not be createdfor compliance with the Government Performanceand Results Act (GPRA). Our mission-oriented orga-nizational structure and established managementprocesses are well suited to the assessment of this typeof performance evaluation.
However, GPRA requires a heavier focus on outcomemetrics rather than NASA’s typical input and outputmetrics. As with other Federal agencies engaged in sci-ence and technology, NASA has difficulty in quantify-ing outcomes and, especially, relating current outcomesto current fiscal expenditures. This is particularly thecase because NASA development programs are multi-year in character. In some cases, the past expendituresbegan more than a decade ago, such as the HubbleSpace Telescope, that entered into development in themid-1970’s. More recently, NASA has focused onprograms and projects with much shorter develop-ment periods, on the order of 3 to 5 years. Yet, thescience outcomes depend on scientists analyzing theinformation gathered in the years after launch.
The stated objectives of NASA’s programs are longterm in character. This is exemplified by considering aSpace Science Enterprise performance objective: to“solve the mysteries of the universe.” Annual perform-ance evaluations assess whether appropriate progress isbeing made, perhaps actually solving individual “mys-teries” to the satisfaction of the scientific communityor providing additional insights to the eventual solu-tion of other mysteries. The assessment processrequires a multifaceted judgment that takes intoaccount the nature of the challenge of solving themystery, the level of resources available to be applied,and the actual scientific achievements of the past year.
To assist us in making a connection between our spe-cific annual performance measures and a set of longerrange goals and desired outcomes, we are also makinguse of external reviews with our customers, stakehold-ers, other agencies, and, specifically, the NASAAdvisory Council (NAC). The NAC’s independentassessment provides expert opinion that evaluates theprogress reported against the quantitative output
measures in the context of safety, quality, high per-formance, and appropriate risk. The NAC’s assess-ment of our overall progress in meeting the objectivesdocumented in both our Strategic Plan and ourPerformance Plan is provided as one of the sections inthis report.
Summary of Performance in Fiscal Year 1999
NASA had a momentous year in 1999. The scope ofour achievements extended from new safety technolo-gies for terrestrial airport runways to an independentconfirmation of the existence of extrasolar planets.Our activities addressed concerns ranging from theenvironmental to the cosmological. A number ofthese events were planned and identified as perform-ance measures in NASA’s FY 1999 Performance Plan,such as the refinement of the estimate for the expan-sion rate of the universe, the stunning images record-ed by the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the provi-sion of a global map of Mars.
Other events were as unanticipated as they were wel-come, such as capturing the first optical images of oneof the most powerful explosions in the universe—agamma-ray burst—just as it was occurring. Theseexciting events and the scientific outcomes that willresult from them truly do justify America’s investmentin NASA and the future.
Other unanticipated events were not so welcome.NASA did not anticipate the delays in initiating theflight testing of the X-34, the extended examinationof the wiring in the Space Shuttle fleet, or delays inthe launch of Terra, the flagship of the EarthObserving System. These events precluded our abilityto deliver all of the performance targets planned forthe fiscal year. These unexpected occurrences alsoillustrate the importance of balancing the imperativeto establish and deliver technically difficult challengeswith the imperative to assure safety and quality.
Although there were some disappointments, 81 per-cent, or 117 of the 145, performance targets werefully achieved by September 1999. NASA plans to
5
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
continue working toward the completion of 20 ofthe 28 targets that were not achieved. While it ispossible that NASA may fully achieve all 20 targetsby the end of FY 2000, there are no guarantees thatall technical challenges contributing to the original“underperformance” will be fully resolved by thattime. NASA is, nonetheless, enthusiastic about thepotential to achieve 95 percent of the planned activi-ties by the end of the next fiscal year.
The evaluation of our unachieved performance targetshas enabled us to characterize them in the followingmanner and to put them into the context of what wasachieved in these broad categories (Figure 4).
The largest number of unachieved targets was theresult of launch delays. Of the eight launch-dependent targets that were not achieved, six weretied to the delay associated with the launch of Terra.Terra was launched December 18, 1999, and it is
anticipated that the data collections planned for FY1999 will be accomplished in FY 2000.
Other targets were written to deliver specific per-formance levels for FY 1999. Having not realizedthose levels within the fiscal year, no recovery is pos-sible. Realizing on-time launches for 85 percent ofthe Space Shuttle missions is one example of thistype of binary target wherein NASA either did ordid not perform to those levels. In this example,NASA feels strongly that its “Safety First” philoso-phy is the right approach to the successful operationof the Shuttle orbiter fleet. In several other instances,our performance levels were “close” but not exactly
the stated performance level,such as realizing a 97-percentyield on the target of providing monthly missionstatus updates of a specificset of missions.
The performance on theremainder of the unachievedtargets is discussed in the following sections of this report.
Survey of Required Elements for thePerformance Report
The balance of this report is organized by StrategicEnterprise or Crosscutting Process and addresses thestrategic goals and objectives that were supported byFY 1999 performance measures. Each section:
1. Compares actual performance against the projected performance
2. Explains the reason for not meeting targets that are missed
3. Provides plans for meeting the targets inthe future
4. Assesses the impact of FY 1999 performance on future targets, where appropriate
5. Provides supporting information on any pro-gram evaluations conducted during the year
Planned Unachieved Achieved FY 2000Targets Targets Targets Potential
Development Activities 10 2 8 1Launch Dependency 13 8 5 6Technology Development 21 4 17 3Operations/Data Capture 20 2 18 2Analysis/Publication 35 3 32 4Education/Outreach 17 3 14 2Commercialization 6 2 4 2Other 23 4 19 0
Total 145 28 117 20
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Development Activities
Number of targets
Targets achieved Total Targets
Launch Dependency
Technology Development
Operations/Data Capture
Analysis/Publication
Education/Outreach
Commercialization
Other
Figure 4. FY 1999 Performance Targets
“In the Beginning NothingBecame Everything,”acrylic by Paul Hudson. Inhis painting, the artistdepicts the birth of theuniverse, the Big Bang.
7
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Strategic Goals and Objectives
The goals of the Space Science Enterprise goals are:
• To advance and share fundamental scientificunderstanding of the cosmos, including chart-ing the evolution of the universe, from originsto destiny, and understanding its galaxies, stars,planets, and life
• To support the exploration and use of space forhuman enterprise
• To advance the state of allied technologies
The fundamental science goal of the Space ScienceEnterprise is addressed through several componentobjectives: to solve mysteries of the universe, toexplore the solar system, to discover planets aroundother stars, and to search for life beyond Earth. Tosupport the human exploration program, theEnterprise uses robotic spacecraft to return reconnais-sance information both about characteristics of theplanets and other possible human destinations andabout space radiation hazards to astronauts. Thus,there are a total of eight Enterprise objectives: four inscientific research, one in education and public out-reach, two in support of human exploration, and anoverarching one for technology development.
To gauge progress across this spectrum of activities,the Enterprise has established 27 specific project andprogram performance targets. In addition, broad sci-entific progress has been assessed against 19 scienceobjectives detailed in the Space Science EnterpriseStrategic Plan.
In FY 1999, the Enterpriseobtained significant resultsin many areas. For example,the Origins program com-pleted a major milestone byusing the Hubble SpaceTelescope to derive a greatlyimproved value for theHubble constant, H0 (therate at which the universe isexpanding). The extension
of the flagship Galileo mission to the Galileo Europamission resulted in the capture of fascinating imagesof the surface of Europa, a moon of Jupiter. Whenthese images are combined with earlier images ofEuropa, a strong circumstantial case is evolving foran ocean of liquid water below the surface ice cruston Europa. After the Europa series, the spacecraftcontinued for additional closeups of Io, Jupiter’s vol-canic innermost moon (Figure 5).
In the technology area, the Deep Space 1 missionsuccessfully demonstrated all 12 of its advancedtechnology systems, including the first demonstra-tion of an ion drive for primary propulsion. Thesuccessful demonstration in space opens the door foreach of the validated components to be incorporatedinto future science missions, resulting in lower cost,better performance, or both.
The Enterprise made significant progress in the edu-cation and public outreach area as its wide-rangingand systematic approach to sharing mission andresearch results began to reach maturity. All newflight programs now have funded components foroutreach, and the national space science network forcollecting and disseminating educational materials isnow in place. These steps lay the groundwork for anexpanded realization of the benefits of space scienceexpenditures in American society.
Performance Measures
The Space Science Enterprise successfully completed24 of the 27 performance targets that were plannedfor FY 1999. With respect to the three remainingtargets, the testing of the metrology components inthe Micro-Arcsecond Metrology Testbed should becompleted in FY 2000, and an additional ren-dezvous opportunity for the Near Earth AsteroidRendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft in February 2000may enable the Enterprise to successfully completethe two unachieved NEAR targets as well. Theannual performance against each of the 27 targets isdiscussed below.
Figure 5. Masubi-Plume on Io
Space Science Enterprise
8
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Goal: Chart the evolution of the universe, from ori-gins to destiny, and understand its galaxies, stars,planets, and life
Objective: Solve mysteries of the universe
Space Science Enterprise spacecraft will chart the evolu-tion of the universe and enhance our understanding ofgalaxies, stars, and planets. The performance target was to:
■ Successfully launch seven spacecraft, within 10 percent of budget, on average.
Target achieved: Including the Chandra X-rayObservatory, seven spacecraft have been successfullydeveloped and launched with a 3.8-percent averageoverrun.
The Hubble Space Telescope continued its observationsof the universe. Hubble completed a 3-year researchproject to determine the expansion rate of the universe(the Hubble constant), which determines the age of theuniverse. The performance target was to:
■ Measure the Hubble constant within an accura-cy of about 10 percent, as compared to previousmeasurements that differ among themselves bya factor of two.
Target achieved: The key project to measure the Hubbleconstant by observing brightvariable stars (Cepheids) in othergalaxies was successfully com-pleted (Figure 6). The result, anexpansion rate of 70 kilometersper second per megaparsec withaccuracy of 10 percent, was pub-licly announced in late May1999 and will appear in the ref-ereed professional literature.
The Chandra X-ray Observatory (formerly called theAdvanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility) recorded imagesand spectra of the Milky Way and other galaxies. Theperformance targets were to:
■ Record 25 images and spectra at a resolutionof better than an arcsecond, five to ten timessharper than images gathered earlier by theEinstein Observatory.
■ Record data on approximately 12 compactstellar objects with a sensitivity 50 timesgreater than the Einstein Observatory.
Targets achieved: Chandra was successfully launchedon July 23, 1999, and science operations havebegun. Both objectives have been met, with thesensitivity of the observatory exceeding expecta-tions (Figure 7).
The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) waslaunched in December 1995. RXTE is measuringrapid fluctuations of x-rays from cosmic sources andconducting experiments to test the GeneralRelativity Theory. The performance target was to:
■ Observe physical phenomena 25,000 timescloser to the event horizon of black holesthan permitted with optical wavelengthmeasurements.
Target achieved: In achieving the target, RXTE hasobserved stellar-mass black hole candidates in thegalaxy (for example, Cyg X-1 and XTE J1550-56)on time scales down to a few microseconds, probingthe in-fall of matter across the event horizon.
Figure 6. Hubble Diagram for Cepheids
Figure 7. Chandra Supernova Remnant
9
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Objective: Explore the solar system
The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) missionprovides high-precision measurements of the shapeand composition of the asteroid Eros, increasing ourunderstanding of the early history of such bodies andthe solar system. The performance targets were to:
■ Orbit Eros closer than 50 kilometers, 20–30 times closer than previous asteroidflybys.
■ Measure the shape of Eros to an accuracy of 1 kilometer or better, about 10 times betterthan previous measurements, and measure theasteroid’s mass to an accuracy of 20 percent.
■ Complete the first direct compositionalmeasurements of an asteroid.
Targets partially achieved: One of the three targetswas successfully completed. The spacecraft failed toachieve orbit during its first encounter in FY 1999,but is functioning well; orbital mechanics permitteda second attempt for the rendezvous, which was suc-cessfully executed on February 14, 2000. The shapeof the asteroid was measured during the flyby to anaccuracy of 600 meters, better than the previousground-based shape model (3-kilometer accuracy).Per a recent Science article, the mass is now knownto an accuracy of 25 percent. Composition mappingand a better mass estimate await further data nowthat NEAR is in orbit.
The Lunar Prospector, launched in 1998, wasdesigned to provide a complete geochemical map ofthe lunar surface. Research returns also expandknowledge of the early history of the Moon. Theperformance targets were to:
■ Map the 75 to 80 percent of the Moon’s sur-face not accessible during the Apollo mis-sions conducted from 1969 to 1972.
■ Provide definitive measurements of the weaklunar magnetic field.
Targets achieved: Prospector mapped 100 percent ofthe Moon from a 100-kilometer orbit and at higherresolution from a 30-kilometer orbit (Figure 8).
Definitive measurements of the magnetic field havebeen completed and published. An add-on experi-ment featuring a deliberate deorbit of the spacecraftinto a polar region to attempt direct detection ofpossible lunar ice deposits through ground-basedobservations did not yield positive results.
The Transition Region and Coronal Explorer(TRACE) observed energy propagation from solardisturbances beginning at the bottom of the visiblesolar atmosphere into the corona high above. Theobservations were made at both high spatial resolu-tion (a few arcseconds) and high time resolution (afew seconds). The analysis of these data shouldimprove the understanding of solar activity andenhance the ability to predict its occurrence andeffects in interplanetary space and on Earth. Theperformance target was to:
■ Provide these data with spatial resolution fivetimes better than were collected from theYohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope.
Target achieved: The target was fully met. The space-craft is functioning well and continuing to obtaindata; TRACE’s spatial resolution is 1 square arcseccompared to the Yohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope’s 5-square-arcsec pixels (Figure 9). Time resolution isalso improved. The results have been published andbriefed to various organizations.
Figure 8. The Lunar Prospector
10
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Objective: Discover planets around other stars
NASA was to connect the twin 10-meter telescopesat the Keck Observatory in Hawaii into an 85-meter-baseline interferometer. This system should provide acapability to directly detect hot planets with Jupiter-size masses and characterize clouds of dust and gasespermeating other planetary systems. The perform-ance target was to:
■ Assemble and lab-test the interferometerbeam combiner. This state-of-the-art systemwill approximately double observational effi-ciency by using a new approach to fringedetection.
Target achieved: The combiner system has beenassembled, and the approach has been demonstratedin the laboratory.
Objective: Search for life beyond Earth
The Galileo spacecraft will continue to conductinvestigations of Jupiter’s moon Europa, expandingthe understanding of its history. Data collected willhelp determine the presence and state of water, a cen-tral consideration in understanding the possibility oflife on the moon. The performance targets were to:
■ Successfully complete and receive scientific datafrom at least 8 of 10 planned data-takingencounters with Europa.
■ Bring the total mapping coverage to about 1 percent of the surface at about 30-meter resolu-tion, and multispectral coverage distributed over50 percent of the surface at lower resolution.
Targets achieved: The eight required Europa data-taking flybys were successfully completed.Approximately 0.7 percent of the surface of Europahas been covered at 30-meter resolution, but over 90 percent has been covered at lower resolution(Figure 10). The spacecraft is still in operation, andthe findings from an additional encounter werereleased in January 2000.
NASA has established a new Astrobiology Instituteto promote the publication of interdisciplinaryresearch, demonstrate investigator interactions, andfoster effective public education and outreach onresearch on life in the universe. To stimulate andfacilitate multidisciplinary research, the institute fea-tures an innovative virtual organizational structure.In FY 1999, NASA was to select the participatingorganizations and the institute’s director. The per-formance target was to:
■ Initiate institute operations by linking up to8 institutions and engaging approximately 50 investigators.
Figure 9. An Example of TRACE’s Better Spatial Resolution
Figure 10. Europa—Ancient Impact Basin
11
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Target achieved: Eleven member institutions haveestablished video and whiteboard conferencing capa-bilities, a director has been named, and more than 70 investigators are engaged in research.
Goal: Obtain scientific information in support ofhuman exploration through robotic missions
Objective: Investigate the composition, evolution,and resources on Mars, the Moon, and small bodies
Results from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) willprovide a greater understanding of Martian geologicalprocesses. The MGS will also provide data to deter-mine whether or not water-related minerals are presenton the surface. In addition to their immediate scientif-ic interest, MGS data will provide information onpotential landing sites for missions of human explo-ration at a later time. The performance targets were to:
■ Achieve the final science orbit.■ Measure the topography with 10-meter preci-
sion, about 100 times more accurate than pre-vious measurements.
■ Provide high-resolution 1.5-meter imagingdata, 10 times more detailed than the bestimaging from the 1976 Viking mission.
■ Provide the first thermal infrared spectrometryof the planet.
Targets achieved: The finalscience orbit has beenachieved. Topographic meas-urements are being collectedwith a precision better than 1 meter, superior to therequired performance. Theglobal composite view chal-lenges our perspective on theformulation of major featuresof Mars. Imaging continuesat 1.5-meter resolution,including some evidence thatliquid water may once haveexisted on the planet, andlarge numbers of thermalinfrared spectra are beingacquired (Figure 11).
Magnetic field data suggest that Mars may once havehad a dynamo similar to Earth’s. This suggests a moreEarth-like early Mars and a possibly significant role forwater in the early evolution of Mars (Figure 12).
Objective: Improve the reliability of space weather forecasting
During FY 1999, the Sun was to approach the mostactive part of its 11-year cycle. Observations of solaractivity were to be conducted with a series of NASAspacecraft, including Polar, Wind, the InterplanetaryMonitoring Platform-8 (IMP-8), and the AdvancedComposition Explorer (ACE). Data also were to be col-lected from instruments on two Japanese spacecraft,Geotail and Yohkoh. Information from these missionswill help characterize solar emissions and will promotethe development of predictive tools to manage theeffects of solar activity on Earth. Research on solaractivity also contributes to designs for human interplan-etary exploration. The performance target was be to:
■ Achieve complete coverage (maximum andminimum) of the solar cycle, an increase from35 percent.
Target achieved: The space physics fleet continues tofunction and collect valuable data as projected. Inaddition to data obtained from the spacecraft identi-fied above, we are also obtaining valuable data fromthe Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)spacecraft, a joint project of the European SpaceAgency and NASA, which had been feared lost.
Figure 11. Mars GlobalSurveyor Image of NanediVallis—Possible Evidence ofSustained Water Flow
Figure 12. Newsweek Cover of MarsOrbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA)
12
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Solar maximum occurs over the next 1 to 2 years(Figure 13). A new technique (based on S-shaped mark-ings in the lower solar corona) has been discovered thatenables us to make more reliable predictions for coronalmass ejections. SOHO instruments have been used topredict Earth-bound ejections over 80 percent of thesolar surface 3 days in advance of their arrival at Earth.
Goal: Develop new critical technologies to enable innovative and less costly mission andresearch concepts
Objective: Develop innovative technologies forEnterprise missions and external customers
The New Millennium program (NMP) will developand validate innovative technologies and capabilitiesthat will be required for space science missions plannedfor the next decade. The performance target was to:
■ Demonstrate an electric ion propulsion systemwith specific impulse 10 times greater thanchemical propulsion systems.
Target achieved: All 12 candidate technologies on theDeep Space 1 mission were successfully validated inflight. The ion drive demonstration was fully suc-cessful. As of September 30, 1999, the engine hadoperated more than 3,156 hours (the objective wasat least 200 hours) and expended only 18 kilogramsof xenon propellant to achieve a velocity change ofmore than 1 kilometer per second, demonstrating atechnology that enables missions to shorten bothcruise time and propellant weight. Furthermore, theRemote Agent autonomous control software, whichwon the NASA Software of the Year award, was fully
successful. The spacecraft successfully flew by aster-oid Braille in July 1999 and is on track to encounterasteroid 1992 KD in July 2000.
The Micro-Arcsecond Metrology Testbed will demon-strate an improvement in positioning accuracy of opticalsurfaces. This accuracy is important for the developmentof high-performance interferometers. The performancetarget was to:
■ Demonstrate an improvement in measurementprecision for optical path lengths in laser lightto the 100-picometer (million-millionths of ameter) range.
Target partially achieved: The assembly of the Micro-Arcsecond Metrology Testbed vacuum facility was com-pleted, but the testing of metrology components wasnot completed by the end of FY 1999. The demonstra-tion will be completed in FY 2000.
The Mars 98 Lander was to demonstrate technologies toreduce mass and power consumption and increase instru-ment reach and dexterity. The performance target was to:
■ Demonstrate an advanced robotic manipulatorwith an order of magnitude performanceimprovement compared to the manipulatorused on Viking in 1976.
Target achieved: Despite the later failure of the MarsPolar Lander to land successfully, the manipulator sys-tem passed acceptance tests prior to launch. Thedemonstration target successfully met was to demon-strate the same reach as the Viking manipulator, butwith one-fifth of the mass, one-half of the power, anddouble the dexterity.
Goal: Contribute measurably to achieving the sci-ence, mathematics, and technology education goalsof our Nation, and share widely the excitement andinspiration of our missions and discoveries
Objective: Incorporate education and enhanced pub-lic understanding of science as integral components ofspace science missions and research
Figure 13. SOHO Images Showing Changes inSolar Activity
13
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Space science missions and research programs makea unique contribution to education and the publicunderstanding of science. Providing a steady returnof discoveries and new knowledge contributes to theaccomplishment of this objective. The performancetargets were to:
■ Account for 4 percent of the 150 “mostimportant science stories” in the annualreview by Science News.
■ Account for no less than 25 percent of totalcontributions to the college textbookAstronomy: From the Earth to the Universe.
■ Each new Space Science Enterprise missioninitiated in FY 1999 will have a funded edu-cation and outreach program.
■ The Space Science Enterprise will completean organized network of contacts by the endof FY 1999 to work with educators and spacescientists to formulate and implement spacescience education and outreach programs.This network will be available to every Statein the United States.
Targets achieved: The most recent Science News statis-tics available indicate that 5 percent of the top 150 science stories were based on space science. A24-page supplement to the college textbook waspublished in 1999; combining the portion of thenew material based on NASA’s space science pro-gram with the previous analysis of the most recentedition of the textbook, the new total contributionis 31 percent. Each mission initiated in FY 1999 hada funded education and outreach program, and theEnterprise outreach contact network is now in place.A representative activity of the program was the elec-tronic field trip “Live from the Sun,” which reachedup to 2 million teachers and students
Space Science Advisory CommitteeEvaluation
The Space Science Advisory Committee (SSAC) wasasked to evaluate the Enterprise’s advance towardnear-term science objectives in the 1997 SpaceScience Enterprise Strategic Plan, in addition to the
evaluation of the FY 1999 performance targets andobjectives discussed in the NASA Advisory Councilchapter of this report.
The Enterprise conducted a self-assessment that wasamended and approved by the SSAC. Progress in 16 of 19 research objective areas was assessed as fullysatisfactory (“Green”). In three areas, progress wasnot fully up to expectations:
• “Test the General Theory of Relativity”—TheGravity Probe B mission is experiencing techni-cal, schedule, and budget problems, which are currently being analyzed for impacts andsolutions.
• “Characterize the history, current environment,and resources of Mars, especially the accessibili-ty of water”—The Mars Climate Observer waslost on orbit insertion. A failure review has beenconducted with recommendations for improve-ments to general mission operations. The MarsPolar Lander and Deep Space 2 missions werelater lost, and failure reviews have been con-vened. However, other research continues toutilize data from the Mars Global Surveyor.
• “Observe the evolution of galaxies and theintergalactic medium”—The Wide-fieldInfrared Explorer (WIRE) mission experienceda catastrophic failure, and the prime sciencemission was lost. The spacecraft is now beingused for engineering testbed experiments andcollecting some secondary, but useful, data sets.
Validation and Verification in the SpaceScience Enterprise
The Space Science Enterprise holds each of the pro-gram and project managers fully accountable for theaccuracy of the performance information that is dulyreported through the normal management andreporting processes. A review of the progress againsteach of the targets has been incorporated into man-agement reviews at all levels within the SpaceScience Enterprise organizations.
“Amazon Rivers,” batik on silkby Mary Edna Fraser. Thispainting depicts NASA’s effortsto better understand our envi-ronment. The work aims tohonor Earth’s fragility and per-haps conveys a peaceful envi-ronmental communicationlinking humankind.
15
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Strategic Goals and Objectives
The Earth Science Enterprise mission is to under-stand the total Earth system and the effects of natu-ral and human-induced changes on the global envi-ronment. The goals and objectives are as follows:
• Expand scientific knowledge of the Earth system using NASA’s unique capabilities fromthe vantage points of space, aircraft, and in situ platforms:• Understand the causes and consequences of
land-cover/land-use change• Predict seasonal-to-interannual climate
variations• Identify natural hazards, processes, and miti-
gation strategies• Detect long-term climate change, causes, and
impacts• Understand the causes of variation in atmos-
pheric ozone concentration and distribution
• Disseminate information about the Earth system:• Implement open, distributed, and responsive
data system architectures• Increase public understanding of Earth sys-
tem science through education and outreach
• Enable the productive use of Earth ScienceEnterprise science and technology in the publicand private sectors:• Develop and transfer advanced remote-
sensing technology• Extend the use of Earth Science Enterprise
research to national, State, and local applica-tions
• Support the development of a robust com-mercial remote-sensing industry
• Make major scientific contributions tonational and international environmentalassessments
Programs of the Enterprise advance the new disci-pline of Earth system science, with a near-termemphasis on global climate change.
Performance Measures
Of 35 targets, 25 were fully achieved. Of the remainingtargets, seven were deferred to FY 2000 because of cir-cumstances beyond our control—for example, the recer-tification of the commercially procured launch vehiclefor the Terra spacecraft and issues related to Russian par-ticipation with the third Stratospheric Aerosol and GasExperiment (SAGE III) mission. For six of thesedeferred targets, other activity is noted that partiallyrecovers the science objectives. Two targets were not fullyachieved because data analysis and publications laggedbehind schedule. One target was not fully achieved,although progress toward the objective was significant;the Enterprise involved 7,767 Global Learning andObservations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE)schools while the target had been set at 8,000.
Goal: Expand scientific knowledge by characteriz-ing the Earth system
FY 1999 was a year of substantial scientific accom-plishment in our understanding of the major ele-ments that comprise the Earth system.
Over the oceans, the Earth Science Enterprise:
• Reduced the uncertainty in global rainfall overthe tropics by one-half helping, improve theprediction of both short-term weather and theglobal availability of fresh water
• Produced near-daily ocean color maps that helpus understand the role of oceans in removingcarbon dioxide from theatmosphere
• Documented the waxing andwaning of El Niño, enablingseasonal climate prediction(Figure 14)
• Resumed the global measure-ment of winds at the oceansurface to improve short-termweather prediction and theglobal tracking of major hur-ricanes and tropical storms
Figure 14. EL Niño Documentation
Earth Science Enterprise
16
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Over the ice caps, the Enterprise:
• Determined the thinning and thickening ratesfor the Greenland ice sheet
• Provided the first detailed radar mosaic ofAntarctica (Figure 15)
• Provided daily observations of the polar regionsfrom space
Over the land, the Enterprise:
• Produced the first satellite-derived assessmentsof global forest cover
• Began refreshing the global archive of 30-meterland-cover data
• Conducted an international field experiment inthe Amazon region to help understand the roleof vegetation on Earth in removing carbondioxide from the atmosphere
In solid Earth studies, the Enterprise:
• With the U.S. Geological Survey, measured sur-face displacement, a precursor to earthquakes,in the Los Angeles basin
In the atmosphere, the Enterprise:
• Continued to measure concentrations of bothozone and ozone-depleting substances and assessthe recovery of upper ozone correlation
• Implemented a 17-year data record of aerosolsand cloud properties toward predicting annual-to-decadal climate variations
Objective: Understand the causes and conse-quences of land-cover/land-use change
The carbon cycle is one of the major Earth systemprocesses influencing global climate. In this area,NASA’s contributions are monitoring land-coverchanges and measuring terrestrial and ocean biologi-cal processes to estimate carbon uptake, therebymodeling their role in the global carbon cycle.Important unknowns in the carbon cycle are season-al rates of carbon storage in the ocean caused by theactivity of phytoplankton, which can be monitoredfrom space. The performance targets were to:
■ Begin to refresh the global archive of 30-meter land imagery from Landsat 7, twoto three times per year. A single globalarchive has not been constructed since thelate 1970’s. Landsat 7 also includes a 15-meter panchromatic band, for the study ofecosystems disturbance.
Target achieved: Earth science began refreshing theglobal archive of 30-meter land imagery after theLandsat 7 satellite was launched on April 15, 1999.Mission Operations is acquiring 90,000 scenes peryear. High-quality data distribution began on August23, 1999, and a public announcement was made onAugust 30, 1999. Seasonal image collection torefresh the global archive began in July 1999, andmore than 50,000 acquisitions were archived. Therehas been one global acquisition and a partial refreshin FY 1999. A rate of two to three global terrestrialacquisitions a year will be achieved after a full yearof operation.
■ Begin to collect near-daily global measure-ments of the terrestrial biosphere (an index ofterrestrial photosynthetic processes fromwhich calculations of carbon uptake are made)from instruments on the Earth ObservingSystem (EOS) Terra (AM-1) spacecraft.
Figure 15. First Detailed Radar Map of Antarctica
17
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Target not achieved: This was deferred to FY 2000because of the delay in the Terra launch. Otheractivity occurred to partially recover science objec-tives. The Moderate Resolution ImagingSpectrometer (MODIS) instrument was tested andintegrated on the spacecraft. The achievement of thistarget in FY 2000 is anticipated with the successfullaunch of Terra in December 1999. The continuingavailability of the Advanced Very High ResolutionRadiometer (AVHRR) terrestrial biosphere datastream has enabled daily global measurements of theterrestrial biosphere. Recent work applying new con-tinuous classifiers to the AVHRR data have pro-duced the first satellite-derived global data productsof the percentage of tree cover. These data havealready been used to improve estimates of global car-bon stocks in forests. However, the AVHRR data arenot of the resolution or quality that will be achievedwith MODIS.
■ Collect near-daily global measurements ofocean color (an index of ocean productivityfrom which calculations of ocean update ofcarbon are made).
Target not achieved: Data collection was deferred toFY 2000. The achievement of this target in FY 2000is anticipated with the successful launch of Terra inDecember 1999. The launch of MODIS on Terrawill increase the global coverage of ocean color toevery 2 to 3 days, increasing coverage nearly four-fold, adding new information about primary pro-ductivity, and improving statistics on variability. Thecontinued purchase of Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) data has somewhat mitigatedthe impact of the Terra delay. ORBIMAGE is
distributing SeaWiFS data to the science communitythrough a commercial data buy. The SeaWiFS proj-ect has been routinely producing 8-day global mapsof ocean color since September 1997 (Figure 16).
Objective: Predict seasonal-to-interannual climate variations
In FY 1999, the Earth Science Enterprise continuedto invest in observations, research, data analysis, andmodeling in this area. The Tropical RainfallMeasuring Mission (TRMM), launched in 1997,continued to gather information on rainfall in thetropics, where two-thirds of global precipitation falls.This is the key to understanding Earth’s hydrologicalcycle, one of the three major processes drivingEarth’s climate and the global heat balance thatdrives seasonal change. The performance targetswere to:
■ Begin the second of a 3-year sequence ofinstantaneous measurements of rainfall ratesand monthly accumulations in the globaltropics. This will be the first-ever measure-ment of global tropical rainfall. Currentuncertainty in global tropical rainfall esti-mates is 50 percent; TRMM data will reducethis uncertainty to 10 percent, an 80-percentimprovement.
Target achieved: The second year of this 3-yearsequence of measurements was accomplished, andthe data are available for NASA-selected TRMMand affiliated investigators on the TRMM Data andInformation System (TSDIS). TRMM data areavailable to the general public through the EOSData and Information System (EOSDIS) at theGoddard Space Flight Center and Langley ResearchCenter Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAAC).Based on these measurements, the uncertainties asso-ciated with knowledge of global distribution of trop-ical rainfall was decreased from 50 percent to 25 percent on the way to 10 percent by FY 2001,the end of nominal mission life.
Figure 16. A Global Map of Ocean Color
18
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
■ Begin the measurement of sea-surface windspeed and direction at a spatial resolution of25-kilometer resolution over at least 90 per-cent of the ice-free global oceans every 2 days. This represents a resolution increaseof a factor of two and a 15-percent increasein coverage over previous measurements.Data from this mission will be used toimprove the short-term weather forecasts.
Target achieved: The target was achieved with thelaunch of the Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT)spacecraft, which joins TRMM and the OceanTopography Experiment/Poseidon (TOPEX/Poseidon)to form a powerful suite of space-based observationalassets to track phenomena such as El Niño and LaNiña. QuikSCAT data are now available on the WorldWide Web from the Physical Oceanography DAAC atthe Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Resolution in theQuikSCAT standard product increased by a factor oftwo over the NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT)—from50 to 25 kilometers—and QuikSCAT demonstrated a15-percent increase in daily coverage of ocean areas(non-ice), from 77 percent for NSCAT to 93 percentfor QuikSCAT.
Objective: Identify natural hazards, processes, and mitigation strategies for floods, droughts, and volcanoes
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, wild-fires, floods, storms, and other severe events threatenthe lives and property of thousands of humans eachyear. Economic losses from natural disasters are esti-mated to average approximately $50 billion per yearin the United States and approximately $440 billionper year worldwide. Such losses will continue to riseas society continues to move into and build in high-risk areas such as coastlines. Other factors, such asclimatic variations causing changes in the magnitudeand frequency of some natural events, will affect themagnitude of losses from natural disasters (Figures17 and 18). Highlights for the year include:
• The Southern California Integrated GlobalPositioning System Network was expanded tomore than 150 of 250 planned continuously oper-
ating stations. An analysis of the current stationsand interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR) data have identified high rates of shorteningin northern metropolitan Los Angeles, adding to ahigher risk of earthquakes in this particular region.
• Interferometric SAR data have been used to identi-fy and model the emplacement and movement ofmagma within active volcanoes, including Mt.Etna in Italy and Mammoth Mountain inCalifornia. This has provided insights into theinternal workings of the volcanoes as well as assess-ments of their state of activity.
• Data from the ESA Remote Sensing Satellite(ERS), Canada’s RADARSAT, the GeostationaryOperational Environmental Satellite (GOES),AVHRR, and Landsat have been used to observe,study, and monitor floods worldwide. These dataand studies are being used to assess the vulnerabilityof society and infrastructure as well as the possibleenvironmental impacts of devastating flood events.
• A new understanding of volumetric erosion ratesfor volcanic islands and topographic changes at ice-capped volcanoes in the Cascade Range inWashington has been gained.
Figure 17. Before Hurricane Floyd in North Carolina
Figure 18. After Hurricane Floyd in North Carolina
19
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
The performance targets were to:
■ Provide instruments sufficient to create thefirst digital topographic map of 80 percent ofEarth’s land surface between 60°N and 56°S.The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission(SRTM) will be launch-ready by the end ofFY 1999.
Target achieved: The SRTM instrument was devel-oped to create a near-global high-resolution digitalelevation topographic map of the world. The SRTMwas delivered to Kennedy Space Center, tested, inte-grated on Endeavour, and launched in February2000. The data set obtained from SRTM will allowscientists in Federal, State, and local agencies andacademia to study the terrain for basic research, suchas ecology, geology, geodynamics, hydrology, andatmospheric modeling, as well as applications, suchas urban and infrastructure planning and disastermanagement.
■ Use the Global Positioning System (GPS)array in Southern California to monitorcrustal deformation on a daily basis withcentimeter precision, and initiate the installa-tion of the next 100 stations. The data willbe archived at JPL and run in models, withresults given to the California Seismic SafetyCommission and the Federal EmergencyManagement Agency to be used for earth-quake warning.
Target achieved: The GPS array in SouthernCalifornia is recording and transmitting data on adaily basis, and JPL, Scripps, and other universitiesand public and private institutions are analyzing thedata. Data and solutions for site velocities and timeseries of site positions are available on the Internet.The scientific results have been reported at confer-ences. A scientific paper on early SouthernCalifornia Integrated GPS Network (SCIGN) databy Argus, the JPL analysis group, was published inGeology and cited in the press and on television. Onehundred sites were drilled during FY 1999, and thenext 100 sites will begin in early FY 2000. Federal,State, and local agencies and companies will use
these data to study ground deformation related toearthquakes and to continually assess the vulnerabili-ty and risk of earthquakes to the region.
■ Data received from GPS receivers in low-Earth orbit will also be used to test improvedalgorithms for measuring atmosphere tem-perature. The data will serve as the futureprototype for improving short-term weatherforecasts globally. The data will be archivedat JPL, and the results will be published inscience literature.
Target partially achieved: The results have not yetbeen published; however, the Ørsted spacecraft isproviding limited precision GPS data that JPL is ana-lyzing. The first significant data sets arrived at JPL inlate September 1999. Power limitations on the twospacecraft currently limit GPS acquisitions to approx-imately 6 out of every 27 hours on Ørsted and 8 outof every 48 hours on Sunsat. This will improve some-what as the orbit sun angles improve. Improved algo-rithms were tested to deal with data for measuringatmospheric temperature, and there were some subtleimprovements over the basic retrieval algorithms usedin GPS/metrology variables.
Objective: Detect long-term climate change, causes, and impacts
In FY 1999, information on global and regionalstudies of temperature and precipitation drivers wascollected to measure the solar radiation reachingEarth. Clouds and aerosols (suspended particles inthe atmosphere, such as dust, sulfate, and smoke)determine the fate of this radiation in the atmos-phere and impact Earth’s energy balance. The cur-rent uncertainty in Earth’s radiation balance is about15 W/m2 (watts per meter squared) monthly meanover 100- by 100-kilometer areas. Instruments onTerra are designed to substantially reduce this uncer-tainty. Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS)climate model studies have indicated the possibleimportance of stratospheric ozone processes for sur-face climate change, and thus the need for includingthe upper atmosphere in climate models. The per-formance targets were to:
20
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
■ Begin to conduct daily observations of cloudproperties such as extent, height, opticalthickness, and particle size.
Target not achieved: This was deferred to FY 2000because of the launch vehicle recertification thatpushed the Terra launch into FY 2000. Other activi-ties occurred to partially recover science objectives.The Earth Science Enterprise instruments to achievethis target were tested and ready for flight at the endof FY 1999. The instruments will obtain data on“Beta” cloud products and will be released to theDAAC’s approximately 3 months after acquisition,and “science quality” cloud products will be available24 to 30 months after acquisition. However, workhas continued to meet this science objective. Underthe International Satellite Cloud ClimatologyProject (ISCCP), a 17-year data set of cloud proper-ties is nearing completion, with initial ISCCP cloudproducts available and being used through theLangley Research Center DAAC. In addition, clouddata products from the third First ISCCP RegionalExperiment (FIRE III) Arctic cloud experiment conducted in 1998 are available through the Langley DAAC.
■ Map aerosol formation, distribution, andsinks over the land and oceans.
Target not achieved: Mapping was deferred to FY2000. Other activities occurred to partially recoverscience objectives. The Earth Science Enterpriseinstruments to achieve this target are tested andready for flight. However, the Terra launch wasdelayed until FY 2000 because of launch vehiclerecertification. The instruments will obtain data on“Beta” release of aerosol products and will providedata to the DAAC’s approximately 6 months afteracquisition; “science quality” aerosol products avail-able 24 months after acquisition. The GlobalAerosol Climatology Project (GACP) is producinginitial climatologies of aerosol optical thickness andparticle size parameter using satellite measurementsand transport model calculations. Analyses of fieldexperiment measurements have been completed,data products are available from the Langley DAAC,and science results are in publication in special issues
of the Journal of Geophysical Research. The results ofAERONET analyses (aerosol optical thickness andsize parameter) are available on the World WideWeb for use in scientific research within 24 hours of acquisition.
■ Achieve significant reduction in the uncer-tainty in components of Earth’s radiationbalance (that is, improved angular modelsleading to an estimated error reduction inregional-scale monthly-average net radiationof about 50 percent).
Target not achieved: This was deferred to FY 2000because of the delay in the Terra launch. Otheractivities occurred to partially recover science objec-tives. Terra’s Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant EnergySystem (CERES) instrument was tested and readyfor flight at the end of FY 1999. The instrumentwill obtain data on the “Beta” release of radiationflux products, which will be released to the LangleyDAAC approximately 3 months after acquisition.Angular models based on measured CERES data willbe available 24 months after launch. Reprocessed,reduced uncertainty radiation flux data will be avail-able 30 months after launch. The Earth RadiationBudget Experiment (ERBE) processing project iscompleting a 15-year radiation budget data set usingmeasurements from the wide-field-of-view instru-ment on the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite(ERBS). Early portions of this data set are availablefrom the Langley DAAC, which has also receivedthe “Beta”-level release of the CERES data fromTRMM. The science assessment of these data is in progress.
Objective: Understand the causes of variation inozone concentrations and distribution in theupper and lower atmosphere
Fulfilling its congressional mandate for upper atmos-phere and ozone research, The Earth ScienceEnterprise has acquired a 20-year data set on ozoneconcentration and distribution. The Enterprise con-tinues to explore the chemical processes of ozonedestruction and replenishment in the stratosphereand is beginning to probe the complex chemistry of
21
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
the troposphere, which is the lower portion of theatmosphere in which we live. The Enterprise employsthis capability to make essential contributions to inter-national scientific assessments of ozone by the WorldMeteorological Organization (WMO). NASA’s contri-butions in this area are to develop and operate space-,airborne-, and ground-based instruments that willmap the fluctuations in ozone and related constituentgases and trace elements in the atmosphere. In addi-tion, NASA has a focused research and modelingeffort in this area. The performance targets were to:
■ Use new retrieval methods to collect and ana-lyze three new data products, including surfaceultraviolet radiation, tropospheric aerosols,and, in certain regions, tropospheric columns.Together with Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet(SBUV)/2 data, there will now be a continuous20-year data set for total ozone that will meas-ure the ultimate effectiveness of the MontrealProtocol on substances that deplete the ozonelayer. These data are also useful in routing air-craft around areas of concentrated volcanicdust. These new and extended data productswill be made available on the Total OzoneMapping Spectrometer (TOMS) web site fordissemination and access to a broader commu-nity than to just NASA-sponsored scientists.
Target achieved: (a) New retrieval methods exist andare producing three new data products, includingsurface ultraviolet, tropospheric ozone columnamounts, and ultraviolet-absorbing troposphericaerosols. These products are now available; however,further refinements are continually made. (b)Progress has been made on understanding SBUV/2characteristics. Improvements to the calibration cor-rection, the nonlinearity corrections for thePhotomultiplier Tube, and understanding the instru-ment’s orbital hysteresis are complete, and reanalysisis taking place. The reanalysis was applied to theintercalibration and gap filling of the TOMS data.This re-analysis has revealed seasonal features thatrequire further investigation prior to the final releaseof the new 20-year data set. (c) Data products areavailable on the TOMS web site.
■ Improve the collection and analysis of meas-urements provided by SAGE II. Theseimprovements include: lunar occultationcapability allowing for new nitrogen trioxide(NO3) and chlorine dioxide (OClO) measure-ments; additional wavelength sampling, pro-viding direct measurements and the ability toretrieve aerosols throughout the troposphere;and appreciably higher spectral resolution,allowing significantly improved distributionsof water vapor and ozone in the upper tropo-sphere and lower stratosphere. This repre-sents approximately a two-thirds reduction inerror in near-tropopause water vapor meas-urements, as well as the extension of ozonemeasurements into the midtroposphere with10- to 15-percent errors. Such data were notavailable before.
Target not achieved: This was deferred to FY 2000.Completing this target depends on the spacecraftlaunch, which slipped to FY 2000 because of thedelay of Russian implementation. The SAGE IIIinstrument is complete and will be integrated on theMeteor 3M spacecraft in FY 2000. Another activityoccurred to partially recover science objectives. TheEarth Science Enterprise purchased Polar Ozone andAerosol Measurement (POAM) data through thedata buy program, which helps fill the gap forstratospheric ozone and aerosol profiles caused bythe SAGE III launch delay.
■ Initiate the full Southern HemisphereAdditional Ozonesonde network to obtainthe first-ever climatology of the upper tro-pospheric ozone in the tropics.
Target achieved: The implementation of the networkis complete.
■ Continue the detailed multi-aircraft study oftroposphere chemistry over the tropicalPacific Ocean, especially the contribution ofthe long-range transport of air from SouthAmerica and Africa to otherwise unpollutedareas. Complete the field measurementsphase of the Pacific Exploratory Mission
22
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
(PEM)-Tropics B (rainy season) with animproved payload that has resulted from aninitiative to develop a smaller, lighter pay-load with equal or better performance thanPEM-Tropics A (dry season). The results willbe fully analyzed and published.
Target partially achieved: PEM-Tropics field operations were completed in April 1999. The datawere released to public archives in December 1999.Data analysis and publication will be completed inFY 2000.
■ Measure surface levels of chlorine- andbromine-containing chemical compoundsaddressed under the Montreal Protocol todocument the decreasing concentrations ofthe regulated compounds and the rising con-centrations of their replacements to quantifythe decrease in total halogen abundance inthe lower atmosphere. The data will be pro-vided to researchers supporting the WMOassessment process.
Target achieved: The analyses were incorporated inthe United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP)/WMO “Assessment of Ozone Depletion1998” Monitoring Project Report #44, which wascompleted in FY 1999 and has been distributedinternationally.
Objective: General Earth Science performancemeasure—Successfully launch spacecraft
In addition to launching spacecraft, work continuedon the development of numerous spacecraft andinstruments scheduled for launch in future years. Thedevelopment of the Vegetation Canopy Lidar (VCL),EOS Aqua (PM), EOS Chemistry, Gravity Recoveryand Climate Experiment (GRACE), Jason-1, andICESat missions continued in FY 1999. Work wasinitiated on the Solar/Stellar Irradiance ComparisonExperiment (SOLSTICE), Pathfinder Instrumentsfor Cloud and Aerosol Spacebourne Observations/Climatologie Etendue des Nuages et des Aerosols(PICASSO-CENA), CloudSat, Triana, andQuikTOMS.
■ Successfully launch three spacecraft, within10 percent of budget on average.
Target not achieved: The Enterprise successfully com-pleted the Landsat 7 and QuikSCAT launches.Landsat 7 will build on the heritage of the Landsatprogram in building a 3-decade-long record of ter-restrial ecosystems and their change. The Terralaunch, originally planned for FY 1999, took placeon December 18, 1999.
Goal: Disseminate information about the Earth system
The Earth Science Enterprise is fulfilling its commitment to make its Earth observation datawidely available for research and education. Almost1,300,000 distinct users obtained 5.2 million dataproducts during the year. The Enterprise sponsored350 workshops to train more than 11,000 teachersin the use of Earth science concepts and teachingtools, and it awarded 50 new fellowships to maintainsupport for 150 graduate students at U.S. universi-ties annually to train the next generation of Earth scientists.
Objective: Improve the dissemination of EarthScience Enterprise research results
The dissemination of information resulting fromEarth Science Enterprise research is accomplishedthrough EOSDIS. Distribution systems have beenimproved and new methods have been developed toplace data in the hands of Enterprise customers in atimely manner through open, distributed, andresponsive data system architectures. EOSDIS isnow poised and ready to support Terra, Aqua, andother Earth science missions. The performance tar-gets were to:
■ Make Earth science data on land-surfacecharacteristics, ocean-surface conditions, andclimate available to users within 5 days.
Target achieved: EOSDIS has been routinely provid-ing Earth science data products to end users within5 days of receipt or production of the requested data
23
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
product. These products consist of data from cur-rently operating space assets, including precipitationmeasurements and observations of tropical stormsfrom TRMM, ocean productivity measurementsfrom SeaWiFS, the detection of ocean-surface heightchanges used to predict El Niño occurrence andstrength from TOPEX/Poseidon, and sea ice motionand Antarctic mapping from Canada’s RADARSAT.The data provided also include measurements ofstratospheric trace chemicals from the UpperAtmospheric Research Satellite (UARS), Antarcticozone hole measurements from TOMS, land-useand land-cover data from the heritage Landsat mis-sions, and measurements of Earth and solar radia-tion from ERBE.
■ Increase the volume of data archived by 10 percent compared to FY 1997 (126 terabytes).
Target achieved: As of the end of FY 1999, the EOSDIS archive volume was 284 terabytes. TheEOSDIS archive volume for FY 1999 will haveincreased by at least 125 percent since FY 1997,greatly exceeding our objective of a 10-percentgrowth in the archive volume (Figure 19). TheLandsat 7 archive at the Earth ResourcesObservation System (EROS) Data Center DAAChas accumulated nearly 17 terabytes (more than30,000 Landsat 7 images) in the 4 months since theinstrument was turned on in July 1999.
■ Increase the number of distinct customers by20 percent compared to FY 1997 (699,000distinct customers).
Target achieved: For FY 1999, 1,233,666 distinctusers drew data from the DAAC’s. This is a 77-percent increase over the 699,000 distinct usersaccessing the system in FY 1997, far exceeding theobjective of increasing the number of users by 20 percent (Figure 20). The number of distinct usersis expected to continue to grow through FY 2000 asEOSDIS realizes the widespread interest anddemand for data products from the Terra mission.
■ Increase products delivered from theDistributed Active Archive Centers by 10 percent compared to FY 1997 (3,171,000 data products).
Target achieved: During FY 1999, the EOSDISDAAC’s delivered 5,783,425 media or electronicallydelivered data products. Data product deliveriesshowed an 82-percent increase over the FY 1997 figure of 3,171,000, well over our target of a 10-percent increase over 1997 (Figure 21). Thislarge increase was achieved despite the delay of Terra launch. The large increase can be explainedprimarily by the growth in World Wide Web delivery mechanisms.
FY97 FY98 FY99
150 126
184
284
200
250
300
100
50
0
Figure 19. Data Volume by DAAC’s
FY97 FY98 FY99
699000
10490191233666
200000
400000
600000
800000
100000012000001400000
0
Figure 20. Number of DAAC Users
FY97 FY98 FY99
3171000
5783425
2000000
4000000
6000000
8000000
0
4511353
Figure 21. Data Products
24
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Objective: Increase public understanding of Earthsystem science through education and outreach
Earth Science Enterprise missions and research pro-grams make a unique contribution to education andthe public understanding of Earth science. Just asthe Enterprise has led the development of the newinterdisciplinary field of Earth system science, so hasit played a leadership role in infusing the Earth sys-tem science content into Earth science education.The performance targets were to:
■ Award 50 new graduate student/educationresearch grants and 20 early career postdoc-toral fellowships in Earth science.
Target achieved: The Earth Science Enterprise award-ed 50 new graduate student fellowships and 17 earlycareer research grants during FY 1999. The fellow-ships and grants train the next generation of Earthscientists and engineers, contributing to a workforceof interdisciplinary scientists to address the study ofEarth as a system. These scientists and engineers willuse remote-sensing knowledge and data in practicalfields related to Earth and environmental sciences, aswell as the effects of natural and human-inducedchanges on the global environment.
■ Conduct at least 300 workshops to trainteachers in the use of Earth ScienceEnterprise education products.
Target achieved: The Earth Science Enterprise conducted 350 workshops for approximately 11,373 teachers during FY 1999. The teachers useEarth system science concepts and applications inlesson plans and classroom activities to educate stu-dents about the effects of Earth science on the envi-ronment. State education systems infuse Earth sys-tem science approaches and program content intotheir State curriculum infrastructure. Educators usemission science and applications data to design newEarth system science-related courses to train the nextgeneration of scientists, engineers, and educators inEarth system environmental science.
■ Increase the number of schools participatingin GLOBE to 8,000 from 5,900 in FY 1998,a 35-percent increase. Increase the number of participating countries to 72 from 70 inFY 1998.
Target partially achieved: A total of 7,767 schoolsparticipated in GLOBE activities, a 29-percentincrease from the 5,900 schools participating in1998, and 84 countries participated, a 20-percentincrease from the 70 countries participating in 1998.
Goal: Enable the productive use of Earth scienceand technology in the public and private sectors
The Earth Science Enterprise is making sure its dataand associated information and knowledge lead topractical solutions for business and local govern-ments. The Enterprise established 29 partnerships ofvarious types to develop applications of Earthremote-sensing data for agriculture, natural resourcesmanagement, urban and regional planning, and dis-aster mitigation. More than 100 partnerships with avariety of commercial firms help them use remote-sensing data to develop or improve their productsand services. Enterprise researchers contributed to
98 99 target 99 actual
5900
8000 7787
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
0
Figure 22. GLOBE Schools
98 99 target 99 actual
7072
84
65
7075
80
8590
60
Figure 23. GLOBE Countries
25
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
four national and international scientific assessmentsof the environment to provide policymakers with anobjective basis for decisionmaking.
Objective: Develop and transfer advanced remote-sensing technology
In collaboration with partners in industry and acade-mia, the Earth Science Enterprise has developed anddemonstrated new technologies of value to remote-sensing research. These technologies are the key toreducing by 30 percent the per-mission cost of post-2002 satellite missions compared to the EOSfirst series. The Enterprise’s advanced technologydevelopment will also accelerate the growth of theU.S. remote-sensing industry by demonstratingsmaller, more capable sensors. The performance tar-gets were to:
■ Demonstrate a new capability to double thecalibration quality for moderate-resolutionland imagery.
Target achieved: The MODIS preflight instrument wastested and integrated on the Terra spacecraft. Theprelaunch calibration and characterization of MODISprotoflight instrument confirmed significant improve-ments in absolute calibration accuracy of moderate-resolution land imagery. The intercalibration activitiescarried out by MODIS teams in cooperation with theNational Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) established an absolute radiometric accuracy ofbetter than 5 percent, which is consistent with the tar-get of doubling the calibration quality.
■ Transfer at least one technology developmentto a commercial entity for operational use.
Target achieved: As a result of the investment in oursensors and detectors technology development,Fibertek is now investing in nonpressurized laserdesigns that are less prone to failure and improve thecompany’s profitability. In a second example of tech-nology transfer, we are in the process of negotiatinga Space Act partnership with Swales to transfer theSMEX Lite Spacecraft Architecture and related tech-nologies. This was an open competition that Swales
won. The purpose of this technology transfer partner-ship is to transfer the SMEX Lite SpacecraftArchitecture to a U.S. private-sector company. It isintended that private companies, as a result of thistransfer, will have the capability to design, fabricate,and operate spacecraft based on this architecture.
■ Advance at least 25 percent of funded instru-ment technology developments oneTechnology Readiness Level (TRL) to enablefuture science missions and reduce their total cost.
Target achieved: We advanced 26 percent of fundedinstrument technology developments oneTechnology Readiness Level (TRL)—that is, 7 of 27 incubator Principal Investigators have advancedone TRL this year.
Objective: Extend the use of Earth ScienceEnterprise research for national, State, and local applications
The Earth Science Enterprise has initiated an extensiveand varied dialog with State and local governmentorganizations to identify their concerns that can beaddressed with geospatial information resulting fromEnterprise programs. We have created a variety ofmechanisms by which partnerships of end users andscientists are brought together to create new solutionsfor local challenges in agriculture, natural resourcemanagement, disaster mitigation, and regional plan-ning. The performance targets were to:
■ Establish at least five new Regional EarthScience Applications Centers.
Target achieved: The Earth Science Enterprise selectednine proposals that were integrated into sevenRegional Earth Science Applications Centers(RESAC). The RESAC’s will produce and apply prod-ucts derived from remotely sensed data to problems ofregional significance and conduct region-specificassessments. Teams of universities, government agen-cies, and commercial partners will develop self-sufficient centers that make newly developed productsavailable to a wide user community.
26
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
■ Establish at least eight new projects, with theU.S. Department of Agriculture, in the areasof vegetation mapping and monitoring, riskand damage assessment, and resource man-agement and precision agriculture.
Target achieved: The Earth Science Enterprise andthe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) jointlyinitiated 13 new projects to develop and demon-strate original and improved applications. The EarthScience Applications Research Program and USDAwill also partner on three pilot projects leveragingthe existing Land Grant and Space Grant networksinto a cooperative NASA Earth ScienceEnterprise/USDA Cooperative Extension ServiceStrategic Alliance in Geospatial InformationTechnology. This alliance will use remote-sensing,Geographic Information System (GIS), and GPStechnology to improve the traditional universityextension activities for farmers.
■ Complete solicitation for at least seven coop-erative agreements with State and local gov-ernments in land-use planning, land capabil-ity analysis, critical areas management, andwater resources management.
Target achieved: The Earth Science Enterprise estab-lished 11 agreements (4 cooperative agreements and 7 grants) with State and local governments. Theseprojects involve approximately 20 State agencies, 15 regional/county-level agencies, and 12 States. Theresearch conducted is generally led by university sci-entists partnering with regional, State, and localagency partners to develop improved resource man-agement techniques. These demonstration projectswill foster a shift from using Enterprise data andinformation for basic science to operational resourcemanagement.
Objective: Support the development of a robustcommercial remote-sensing industry
NASA has been successful and committed to provid-ing technical assistance and advice to companiesdeveloping the commercial remote-sensing marketopportunities. The Commercial Remote Sensing
Program is responsive to its mission and the remote-sensing industry through implementing programsthat include the Earth Observations CommercialApplications Program (EOCAP), Affiliated ResearchCenters, and the Science Data Purchase. The per-formance target was to:
■ Establish at least 75 commercial partnershipsin “value-added” remote-sensing productdevelopment, an increase from 37 (100 per-cent) over FY 1997.
Target achieved: More than 100 partnerships wereestablished in FY 1999 in the areas of education,environmental quality, food and fiber, health andsafety, natural hazards, natural resources, and urbaninfrastructure. These partnerships will demonstratehow tangible services and products that will benefitsociety could be generated. Examples range frommaximizing the capacity of waste disposal sites toassisting homeowners, civil defense, and insurancecompanies to lessen the loss of property caused bywildfires.
Objective: Make major scientific contributions to national and international environmental assessments
Because of the nature of the discipline, it is vital thatEarth Science Enterprise research be conductedthrough cooperation and partnerships with otheragencies and with other countries. The Enterprisehas continued to contribute scientific knowledgeand observations and modeling results to nationaland international scientific environmental assess-ments. The performance targets were to make signif-icant contributions to two national and two interna-tional scientific assessments, including:
■ Atmospheric Effects of Aviation, in collabo-ration with the Federal AviationAdministration. The contributed modelresults of the climate effects of measured air-craft emissions will be provided to theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC).
27
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Target achieved: The assessment has been completedand published.
■ U.S. regional/national assessment(s) in part-nership with U.S. Global Climate ResearchProgram (USGCRP) agencies.
Target achieved: The Earth Science Enterprise spon-sored a Native Lands/Native Peoples workshop inNew Mexico on climate change impacts specific tothe Native Lands. Results from this and three otherEnterprise-sponsored global change assessments (inthe Southeast, Southwest, and Upper Plains Statesregions) contributed to the understanding andimpacts of climate variations on regional-specificnatural resources and provided information to theFederal Advisory Committee for the Report toCongress on the National Assessments scheduled forcompletion in mid–FY 2000. The Enterprise alsocontributed to planning documents for the post-2000 USGCRP assessment activities.
■ Make significant contributions to the WorldMeteorological Organization (WMO) OzoneAssessment by providing a lead chapterauthor and most of the global-scale data.
Target achieved: The Earth Science Enterprise pro-vided global-scale data for WMO’s “ScientificAssessment of Ozone Depletion: 1998, WorldMeteorological Organization, Global OzoneResearch and Monitoring Project Report No. 44,”which was published in late FY 1999.
■ Provide a lead chapter author, global-scaledata, and researchers to the IPCC AssessmentReport, sponsored by United NationsEnvironment Programme and WMO.
Target achieved: One of the NASA-sponsored scien-tists authored Chapter 4, “Atmospheric Chemistryand Radiative Trace Gases,” of the report, and otherNASA-sponsored researchers also contributed to thisand other chapters of the report. The first draft willbe reviewed by agencies and the scientific communi-ty during early FY 2000, and three working groupassessments and an overview are scheduled for com-pletion and release by early FY 2001.
Earth Science Data Validation andVerification
The Earth Science Enterprise holds each of the pro-gram and project managers fully accountable for theaccuracy of the performance information that is dulyreported through the normal management andreporting processes. A review of the progress againsteach of the targets has been incorporated into man-agement reviews at all levels within the EarthScience Enterprise organizations.
“Working in Space,” oil byLinda Draper shows astronautsperforming extravehicularactivities (EVA) around theShuttle’s cargo bay area.
29
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Strategic Goals and Objectives
The Human Exploration and Development of Space(HEDS) Enterprise seeks to expand the frontiers ofspace and knowledge by exploring, using, andenabling the development of space for human enter-prise. HEDS pursues the following long-term goals toachieve this mission:
• Explore the role of gravity in physical, chemical,and biological processes
• Continue to open and develop the space frontier
• Prepare to conduct human missions of exploration
• Aggressively seek investment from the private sector
In FY 1999, HEDS began assembling theInternational Space Station (ISS). The U.S. owned,Russian-built Zarya Functional Cargo Block was deliv-ered to orbit in November 1998, and the U.S.-builtUnity Node followed 2 weeks later. At the close of fis-cal year 1999, the ISS was approaching 10 months ofservice with most on-orbit systems operating at orabove design specifications. On the ground, the pro-gram continued to deliver all major flight hardware tothe launch site at Kennedy Space Center.
HEDS supported four Space Shuttle launches in FY1999 while accomplishing several important improve-ment milestones for the Shuttle fleet. STS-95 carried apressurized module for conducting laboratory researchas its primary payload. STS-88 delivered the UnityNode of the ISS to orbit, and STS-96 delivered sup-plies and conducted a checkout of the ISS in orbit.Finally, STS-93 launched and deployed the ChandraX-ray Observatory, the heaviest payload in the historyof the Space Shuttle program.
HEDS released five NASA Research Announcements(NRA) and built its investigator community to 872 investigations (a 9-percent increase over 1998) aspart of continuing preparations for ISS utilization. Inaddition to regular releases of NRA’s, HEDS is break-ing new ground by selecting research in BiologicallyInspired Technology through a dedicated NRA
(Figure 24). As noted above, FY 1999 included theflight of STS-95, a Space Shuttle research mission to conduct research in the life and microgravity sci-ences, including some exploratory research on agingand space flight. HEDS researchers convened to con-duct a 1-year postflight review of results from theNeurolab Space Shuttle mission, and preparations con-tinued for STS-107, the next major Space Shuttleresearch opportunity.
HEDS researchers in the life and microgravity sciencesreceived 40 patents and published more than 1,900 articles in peer-reviewed journals in FY 1998(FY 1999 statistics are currently being tabulated).Commercial interest in life and microgravity researchremained strong as cash and in-kind investments bythe private sector increased to over $50 million withsubstantial commercial participation on STS-95.
HEDS completed a Critical Design Review of experi-ments planned for the Space Science Enterprise’s Mars2001 Lander mission and released an NRA to solicitproposals for future landers in 2003 and 2005.
Figure 24. Examples of Biology-Inspired Technology Research—Micromachined Hair Cell Sensors (top) and Biomolecular Motors (bottom)
Human Exploration and Development of Space Enterprise
30
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Performance Measures
HEDS met 32 of its 37 performance targets by theend of FY 1999. Of the five targets not achieved,three were partially achieved. It is anticipated thattwo will be completed by the end of FY 2000. Athird resulted from remanifesting the launch of theWindow Observation Research Facility from the firstto the second utilization flight. The final target, an85-percent on-time launch record, was not achievedbecause of the priority placed on safety.
Goal: Explore the role of gravity in physical,chemical, and biological processes
Objective: Enable the research community to usegravity as an experimental variable
HEDS seeks to take advantage of the microgravityenvironment to pursue research questions in biology,chemistry, physics, and technology. Microgravityenables groundbreaking new research in systemsranging from cells to flames. In FY 1999, the HEDSOffice of Life and Microgravity Sciences andApplications (OLMSA) concentrated on takingadvantage of available opportunities during ISSassembly to develop and prepare the scientific community for the era of ISS research. Despite diffi-cult budget constraints, HEDS has increased thenumber of investigations it supports by 9 percentwithout significantly reducing the average size ofgrants awarded.
All scientific research within HEDS is selectedthrough an open and competitive peer reviewprocess. The health of our research community isindicated by strong responses to NASA researchannouncements leading to selection rates of about20 percent of proposals received. As noted above,HEDS researchers published more than 1,900 arti-cles in peer-reviewed journals in FY 1998. A similarlevel of publication is expected for FY 1999.Funding for OLMSA was $214 million in FY 1998,so the gross ratio of budget to publications wasabout $113,000 per publication (Figure 25).
HEDS researchers produced a number of importantfindings in FY 1999. Among the highlights in thephysical sciences are new findings in fluid physicsbased on a colloidal system of hard spheres used tomodel materials structures. When carried to orbit, thisclassic model system has displayed new and unantici-pated properties, and these findings may lead to a better understanding of materials formation. In micro-gravity, the system shows a dendritic growth patternthat is similar to growth patterns of crystals in solidify-ing metal on Earth. Because these growth patterns playa major role in determining properties such as strengthand flexibility in metals, new models for predictingand describing this process may lead to improvedindustrial processes and higher quality products.
In biotechnology, researchers have documented thesurprisingly strong effect that gravity has on theexpression of genes. An experiment produced substan-tial and unexpected differences in gene expressionbetween flight and ground cell culture samples.
As recent events on the Russian Mir space station haveshown, spacecraft fire safety is critical for long-duration space flight. Spacecraft fire safety data wereverified through cooperative U.S.-Russian Mir experi-ments. The flammability of selected U.S.-suppliedplastic materials was tested under microgravity conditions in a Russian-supplied combustion tunneloperated on the Mir Orbital Station. The data werecompared to reference testing of the flammability, heatrelease, thermal properties, and combustion productsof identical materials in ground laboratories at boththe Russian Keldysh Research Center and the NASAJohnson Space Center’s White Sands Test Facility.
Figure 25. Journal Covers Featuring FY 1999 HEDS Research
31
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
In summary, HEDS continues to develop an out-standing science research community for the ISS,while at the same time taking advantage of availableresearch opportunities to conduct an outstandingprogram of peer-reviewed research. Specific targetsand results are reported below with references andabstracts as appropriate. Please note that moreresults of interest obtained by commercialresearchers are reported under another HEDS goal:“Aggressively seek investment from the private sec-tor.” The performance targets were to:
■ Support an expanded research program ofapproximately 800 investigations, an increaseof approximately 9 percent over FY 1998.
Target achieved: The HEDS Enterprise supported872 investigations.
■ Publish 90 percent of FY 1998 scienceresearch progress in the annual OLMSA LifeSciences and Microgravity Research ProgramTask Bibliographies and make it available onthe Internet.
Target achieved: Of FY 1998 research tasks, 97 per-cent are described in current progress reports postedon the Internet.
■ Establish a National Center for EvolutionaryBiology with participation of at least 5 research institutions and engaging at least20 investigators.
Target partially achieved: FY 1999 activities have metthe intent of the FY 1999 performance target.Evolutionary Biology proposals were solicited in the98-HEDS-02 NRA as part of the GravitationalBiology and Ecology program’s annual call forresearch proposals. A total of 20 proposals werereceived for review in FY 1999. Nine proposals wereselected for funding. The 9 proposals engage 6 insti-tutions and involve the participation of 14 investiga-tors. On August 3, 1999, an initial meeting of thenine Principal Investigators was held to discussforming a consortium among the funded investiga-tions. The selection of proposals for funding was
based on the quality of proposals received. The deci-sion was made to fund only proposals that were ofsufficient quality to enhance this activity.
■ Publish a report of comparison of three dif-ferent biological models to understand theinfluence of gravity on the nervous system.
Target achieved: The influence of gravity on the nerv-ous system was studied in three biological models onthe Neurolab mission (STS-90, April 17–May 3,1998) with data analysis, interpretation, and prepara-tion of reports ongoing during FY 1999. The threemodels were (1) human central and peripheral nerv-ous systems, (2) central nervous system of young andadult rodents, and (3) vestibular nerve of the teleosttoadfish, opsanus tau. One publication has appeared inprint. Other publications are in process. The prelimi-nary results were presented by the investigators at theNational Academy of Sciences during the NeurolabOne-year Postflight Symposium (April 14–16, 1999)and were recently published in Current Opinion inNeurobiology (S.M. Highstein and B. Cohen, 1999,vol. 9: pp. 495–499). Abstracts of results presented atthe 29th annual Society for Neuroscience meeting(October 23–28, 1999) included:
• N.L. Hayes and R.S. Nowakowski,UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.Cell proliferation, nucleotide metabolism, and celldeath in the developing telencephalon are affectedby space flight. (abstract #102.17)
• C.A. Fuller, D.M. Murakami, T.M. Hoban-Higgins, P.M. Fuller, and D.E. Woolley,University of California, Davis. Effects of spaceflight on the regulation of the rat circadian tim-ing system. (abstract #349.13)
• M.D. Temple, K.S. Kosik, and O. Steward,University of Virginia and Harvard University.Spatial navigation and memory of place in ani-mals that develop in microgravity. (abstract #649.10)
• J.J. Knierim, B.L. McNaughton, and G.R. Poe,University of Texas–Houston Medical Schooland University of Arizona. Three-dimensionalspatial selectivity of hippocampal neurons dur-ing space flight. (abstract #864.18)
32
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
■ Publish a report defining the time courseadaptations in the balance system to alteredgravitational environments.
Target achieved: Numerous publications haveappeared during FY 1999 that summarize the resultsof experiments conducted during short-duration (upto 16 days) or long-duration (up to 188 days) spaceflight. Key findings include:
• Studies found that the recovery of sensorimotorpostural control after orbital space flight inShuttle crewmembers strongly implicates dis-rupted processing of otolith inputs as the sourceof postural instability upon return from orbitalflight. (J Vestibular Res (1999): in press)
• Investigators quantified significant multivariatechanges in multijoint coordination in astronautsafter space flight, consistent with reweighting ofvestibular inputs and changes in control strategyin a multivariable control system. (J Biomech 31(1998): 883–889)
• In an extensive review of published results,investigators have determined that correct trans-duction and integration of signals from all sen-sory systems is essential to maintaining stablevision, postural and locomotor control, and eye-hand coordination as components of spatial ori-entation. (Brain Res Rev 28 (1998): 102–117).
■ Document Mir data lessons learned to facili-tate ISS biomedical and countermeasureresearch.
Target achieved: Lessons learned are documented inthe “Report of Medical Operations Summit Meetingon NASA/Mir Program From August 4–5, 1998.”Payloads utilization lessons learned have been docu-mented in the Phase 1 Lessons-Learned Databaseand applied in the implementation of theBiomedical Research and Countermeasures programISS payloads. NRA solicitation/selections have beenadjusted based on lessons learned, incorporating les-sons learned in payload utilization, support planningand experiment manifesting, and technology devel-opment of experiments.
Numerous publications in the areas of nutrition,metabolism, musculoskeletal physiology, and behav-ior/performance have appeared during FY 1998summarizing the results of experiments conductedduring Shuttle-Mir experiments (up to 188 days).Published and yet-to-be-published lessons learnedhave been incorporated in all aspects of theBiomedical Research and Countermeasures program.Key findings include the following:
• Investigators determined that energy intake,weight, and protein synthesis were decreasedduring flight, suggesting the need for dietarystrategies for long-duration space flight. (Am J Physiol 276 (1999): E1014–21)
• Investigators found that during flight, subjectslost up to 250 milligrams of bone calcium perday and regained bone calcium at a slower rateof about 100 milligrams per day for up to 3 months after landing. (Amer J Physiol-RegInteg & Comp Physiol 46 (1999): R1–R10)
• Investigators reviewed endocrine data fromSkylab on and related them to body composi-tion. They suggest that a combination of meas-ures, including exercise, diet, and drugs, isrequired to ensure muscle health for extendedspace flight. (Nutr Res 18 (1998): 1923–1934)
• Investigators documented psychiatric issues(adjustment and psychosomatic reactions, asthe-nia, mood and thought disorders, and postmis-sion personality changes and family problems)during long-duration flight. (Aviat Space &Environm Med 69 (1998): 1211–1216)
■ Document Mir data lessons learned to facili-tate ISS research in fundamental biology andregenerative life support.
Target achieved: Fundamental biology experiments inthe following discipline areas were conducted as partof the Phase 1 NASA/Mir program: avian develop-mental biology, plant biology, circadian rhythmresearch, and radiation monitoring:
• The Mir experience clearly demonstrated theneed for measurement and/or control of ethyl-ene during future plant experiments.
33
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
• Mir in-flight data must be considered in thedesign of flight hardware for a plant experimentto be successful.
• New methods of fixation and or better fixativesare needed for future avian experiments.
FY 1999 activities have met the intent of the FY 1999performance target. Ethylene removal equipment isbeing incorporated into the design of plant hardwarein development. The Gravitational Biology andEcology program office has signed an agreement withthe ISS environmental monitoring group to analyzegas sampled on the ISS for ethylene content through-out the assembly process and to distribute those data.Developmental prototypes of plant growth and aviandevelopment hardware are being flown to test thedesign of critical subsystems, including soil moisturedistribution systems in the plant growth unit and eggfixation systems in the avian development unit. Bothof these hardware developers have consultants withPhase 1 experience working on their projects.Personnel with Phase 1 experience have also beenplaced in key positions involved in ISS planning toensure that Mir lessons learned are considered as wedevelop experiments for the ISS.
■ Analyze Mir data to achieve a 3-year jump-start for cell culture and protein crystal growthresearch and document analyses and lessonslearned.
Target achieved: The NASA-Mir program served as atestbed for the ISS biotechnology research facility andresearch approaches. Several problems were identifiedand documented via lessons learned. If these problemsand procedures had not been identified until the ISS,the flight hardware and facility would have to havebeen returned to Earth, redesigned, and redeployed,wasting a large amount of valuable research time onthe ISS. These hardware redesigns, coupled withchanges in research procedures, could have resulted insignificant delays in implementing this research.
The Biotechnology Cell Science program was able toassess the impact of the space environment on dataacquisition and storage. The results are contained in aseries of Phase 1 reports. The operation of cell science
hardware in long-duration space flight resulted innumerous modifications for bubble control and thedevelopment of a new (patent pending) bioreactor thatenables routine bubble management.
In preparation for protein crystal growth on the ISS,the Mir program served as an important provingground to develop passive crystal growth techniquesthat required minimal crew involvement and an earlyopportunity to verify long-duration performance. Datafrom the experiments that were performed on Mir hasbeen invaluable in contributing toward the optimizingof solution conditions and controlling configurationsof units for selected proteins and precipitants. Thesedata are critical to the successful and timely planningfor later experiments on the ISS program.
A summary of this work in the Mir Phase 1 report canbe found on the World Wide Web athttp://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/olmsa/iss/Phase1.pdf.
■ Document Mir radiation research data to facilitate ISS extravehicular activity (EVA)planning.
Target achieved: Using the tissue equivalent proportional counter (TEPC), NASA researchers wereable to improve models for predicting the radiation environment on orbit. Specific findingsinclude the following:
• The drift rate of the South Atlantic Anomaly (anarea of higher radiation exposure) was established.
• A relationship with galactic cosmic radiation doserate with deceleration potential was developedthat provides future estimates of absorbed doserate to ±15 percent.
• The trapped particle dose rate is quadraticallyrelated to the atmospheric density estimated near-ly a year earlier.
Recent findings have been reported at the 3rd Phase 1Workshop in Huntsville, Alabama (November 1998),the First Biennial Space Biomedical InvestigatorsWorkshop in Houston (January 1999), and theAnnual Radiation Health Investigator’s Workshop inUpton, New York (April 1999).
34
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
■ Improve predictive capabilities of soot process-es by at least 50 percent through analysis ofMSL-1 data, and publish results in peer-reviewed open literature.
Target achieved: The following peer-reviewed publica-tions report improved predictive capability in excess of50 percent:
• Xu, Lin, and Faeth. Combustion and Flame 115(1998): 195–209
• Lin, Faeth, Sunderland, Urban, and Yuan.Combustion and Flame 116 (1999): 415–431
• Urban, Yuan, Sunderland, Linteris, Voss, Lin,Dai, Sun and Faeth, AIAA Journal 36 (1998):1346–1360
Researchers focused on two submodels: rate of sootgrowth and predicted flame shape. The prediction ofthe rate of soot growth depends on validating a specificmechanism, the so-called hydrogen-abstraction/carbon-addition (HACA) mechanism. Prior to this work, sub-models using this HACA mechanism underpredictedsoot growth rates by as much as a factor of 3. From theLaminar Soot Processes Experiment on the firstMicrogravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) and its asso-ciated ground-based program, new exemplary data wereobtained that enabled the model of the HACA mecha-nism to be sharply corrected. Rather than a factor of 3 underprediction, the submodel is now within approximately plus or minus 25 percent. Thisconstitutes better than the goal of a 50-percentimprovement in our ability to predict flame-associatedsoot levels. With the second submodel, we now obtainsuccessful prediction of the flame shapes of closed-tipflames in still air to within 10 percent—a necessary steptoward the establishment of a robust state relationship.
■ Use MSL-1 results to eliminate one of the threeprimary fluid flow regimes from considerationby casting engineers, and publish this result inpeer-reviewed literature. Casting engineers mayuse this information to improve metal castingprocesses in industry.
Target achieved: As a result of experiments on MSL-1, it has unequivocally been shown that there
are no fluid flow effects on the nucleation of solidsfrom the melt in the flow regime where liquid flowsare laminar. Hence, the performance target wasachieved. Two papers addressing the fluid effectshave been published in peer-reviewed journals:
• W.H. Hofmeister, R.J. Bayuzick, R. Hyers, andG. Trapaga. “Cavitation-induced Nucleation ofZirconium in Low Earth Orbit,” Appl Phys Lett74(18) (1999)
• C.M. Morton, W.H. Hofmeister, R.J. Bayuzick,A.J. Rulison, and J.L. Watkins. “The Kinetics ofSolid Nucleation in Zirconium,” Acta Mater46(17) (1998)
■ Use data obtained by fluid physics experi-ments on suspensions of colloidal particleson MSL-1 to answer fundamental questionsin condensed matter physics regarding thetransition between liquid and solid phases,and publish data on the transition from liq-uids to solids and the results in peer-reviewed open literature.
Target achieved: Hard sphere colloidal systems areused as a model for studying the structure of andtransition between liquids, crystals, and glasses. The MSL-1 investigations seek to obtain a complete understanding of the transition betweenliquid and solid phases in hard sphere colloidal dis-persions. The investigations answer the followingfundamental questions:
1. How does gravity affect nucleation and growthof the crystals?
Gravity significantly affects nucleation, growth,and ripening (development) of colloidal crystals.Colloidal crystals grown in the microgravityenvironment show an initially predominant ran-dom hexagonal closed packed (rhcp) structure,but face centered cubic (fcc) structures emergeat long times. In normal gravity, they start outas a mixture of fcc and rhcp. Theory predictsfcc as the preferred structure; the MSL-1 low-gravity experiments have provided anunique validation.
35
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
2. How does the viscosity of the material changeacross the transitions from fluid to crystal to glass?
MSL-1 data show that the shear modulus of thecrystalline phases conforms to expectations fromcomputer simulations.
3. What is the rigidity of the crystalline phase?
The dynamics of crystal growth displays manyfeatures expected from theory, with evidence ofsimultaneous growth and coarsening as well asdendritic growth. Dendritic growth is rarelyobserved in Earth’s gravitational environmentbecause buoyancy-driven settling destroys the
weak dendritic struc-ture. The morphology(type of structure) ofthe crystalline phasedetermines the struc-tural properties of thematerial. Microgravity,therefore, provided a truly unique windowto study such structureand instabilities givingrise to them (Figure 26).
The following papers that appear in the peer reviewedliterature report the findings described above:
• C.T. Lant, A.E. Smart, D.S. Cannell, W.V.Meyer, and M.P. Doherty. “Physics of HardSpheres Experiment: A General Purpose LightScattering Instrument,” Applied Optics 36(1997): 7501–7507 (appeared on the cover ofApplied Optics)
• W.B. Russell, J. Zhu, M. Li, R. Rogers, W.V.Meyer, R.H. Ottewill, Crew Space ShuttleColumbia, and P.M. Chaikin. “Crystallization ofHard Sphere Colloids in Microgravity,” Nature387 (1997): 883–885
• W.B. Russell, J. Zhu, R. Rogers, W.V. Meyer, and P.M. Chaikin. “Dendritic Growth of Hard Sphere Crystals,” Langmuir 13 (1997):
3871–3881
• W.B. Russell and A.P. Gast. “Simple Ordering inComplex Fluids,” Physics Today (December 1998):24–30 (appeared on the cover of Physics Today)
• W.B. Russell, S.-E. Phan, M. Li, J. Zhu, P.M.Chaikin, and C.T. Lant. “Linear Viscoelasticity ofHard Sphere Colloidal Crystals from ResonanceDetected with Dynamic Light Scattering,”Physical Review 60 (1999): 1988–1998
Goal: Continue to open and develop the spacefrontier; develop and assemble the ISS and utilize itto advance scientific, exploration, engineering, andcommercial activities; and provide safe and afford-able human access to space
Objective: Improve Space Shuttle program opera-tions by safely flying the manifest and aggressivelypursuing a systems upgrade program
The Space Shuttle program provided outstanding cus-tomer support to four Space Shuttle missions andaccomplished several high-visibility milestones for theShuttle Upgrade program during the FY 1999 timeperiod. The four missions were:
• The STS-95 flight was launched on October 29,1998, and successfully completed an 8-day, 21-hour mission. Some mission records included:the first flight of three Block IIA main engines,the first flight test using space-to-space communi-cations, the second flight of the SuperLightweight Tank, and Senator John Glenn’s firstSpace Shuttle mission as the oldest astronaut tofly at 77 years and 4 months. Payloads included aSPACEHAB double module and the release andcapture of a SPARTAN payload.
• The second mission of FY 1999 was STS-88, thefirst U.S. launch of ISS hardware, the UnityNode. The mission was launched on December 4,1998, and successfully completed an 11-day, 19-hour mission. The crew deployed the ISSUnity Node and mated it to the Russian launchedZarya module.
• The third mission of FY 1999 was STS-96, a 9-day, 19-hour supply and checkout mission to the ISS, launched on May 27, 1999 (Figure 27).All mission objectives were successfully completed.
Figure 26. Colloidal Crystals in 1g(left) and in Space (right)
36
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
• The last mission of FY 1999 was STS-93, thelaunch and deployment of NASA’s third GreatObservatory, the Chandra X-ray Observatory(Figure 28). This launch occurred on July 23,1999. Chandra was designed to observe x-rays fromhigh-energy regions of the universe, such as hot gasin the remnants of exploded stars. This nearly50,000-pound payload was the heaviest payloadever launched by a Space Shuttle. This mission wasalso the first flight of a female commander, EileenCollins. The mission successfully completed all ofits objectives during the 4-day, 22-hour flight.
During STS-93 mission ascent, a voltage drop in themain engine controller digital computer unit wasobserved. The backup unit immediately came on line,and the mission proceeded without incident. Duringpostflight inspection, it was determined that a short cir-cuit had occurred between an exposed wire and a screwhead. This situation resulted in a thorough inspection andrepair, where required, for all the Space Shuttle orbiters.
During FY 1999, the Space Shuttle Upgrade programaccomplished many significant improvement milestonesfor the Shuttle fleet. Among the most notable accom-plishments were:
• The delivery of OV-104 (Atlantis) to KennedySpace Center following its Orbiter MaintenanceDown Period. During this time, the orbiter wasupgraded with a “glass” cockpit. This orbiter isscheduled to fly early in calendar year 2000.
• The continued development of the Checkout andLaunch Control System, now scheduled for com-pletion in November 2002. This new system,designed and being built “in-house,” will replaceShuttle control room systems with state-of-the-artcommercial equipment and software, therebyassuring that sound, safe and efficient practices andprocesses are in-place for privatized/commercializedlaunch site processing.
• The continued development of the high-pressurefuel turbopump. In FY 1999, the problems withhousing cracks and vibration anomalies wereresolved, and the program is now into certificationtesting and on track for first flight in mid FY 2000.
■ Achieve seven or fewer flight anomalies per mission.
Target achieved: We observed an average orbiter in-flight anomaly rate of 4.75 (Figure 29)
■ Achieve 85 percent on-time, successfullaunches (excluding the risk of weather).
Target not achieved: We observed a 67-percent on-time launch rate (Figure 30).
Figure 27. STS-96 Launch
Figure 28. Chandra X-rayObservatory
20181614121086420
FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
6.75 5.25 5.75 4.75IFA Goal for2000 & 2001
Ave
rage
IFA
s pe
r F
light
Figure 29. Shuttle Anomalies
.
100
80
60
40
20
0FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
67
On-Time Launch Goalfor 2000 & 2001
89 80
67
Per
cent
Figure 30. Shuttle On-Time Launch Rate
37
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Launch scrubs/delays were called to assure a safelaunch and the successful completion of the mission.So, while NASA failed to meet this specific perform-ance target, the Agency did meet the requirements andintent of the strategic objective, which is to fly eachmission safely. The specific scrub history for FY 1999,excluding weather-related scrubs, is summarized below:
STS-95 No technical/operations scrubsSTS-88 One scrub for anomaly resolution of an
unexpected master alarm associated with hydraulic system 1
STS-96 No technical/operations scrubsSTS-93 One scrub, which resulted from an anom-
alous report of hydrogen concentration inthe aft compartment exceeding launchcommit criteria
■ Achieve a 13-month flight manifest prepara-tion time.
Target achieved: NASA achieved a 12-month flightpreparation cycle (manifest template) (Figure 31).
■ Achieve a 60-percent increase in predictedreliability of the Space Shuttle over 1995.
Target achieved: We achieved a 60-percent increase inpredicted reliability of the Space Shuttle over 1995—from 1/262 to 1/438 (median probability on ascent).These figures are calculated using a personal comput-er-based software tool known as the Quantitative RiskAssessment System (QRAS) for conducting quantita-tive risk assessment, together with a quantified Space
Shuttle risk model. The combination of QRAS andthe Shuttle risk model can be used to calculate thechange in the probability of catastrophic failure of theSpace Shuttle as the result of Shuttle upgrades. Thisprocess was used to calculate the probabilities of loss ofthe vehicle as the result of the various Space ShuttleMain Engine upgrades shown in Figure 32.
An evaluation of these models was conducted, with areport filed in January 2000. The Office of Safety andMission Assurance is currently evaluating the reportand continues to improve the models.
Objective: Deploy and operate the ISS forresearch, engineering, and exploration activities
FY 1999 was a proud andsuccessful year for the ISSprogram. The U.S.-owned,Russian-built ZaryaFunctional Cargo Block(FGB) was successfullylaunched and delivered toorbit on November 20,1998. The U.S.-built Unity
Node was launched 2 weeks later and mated withZarya on December 6, 1998 (Figure 33). NASA alsocompleted the first ISS logistics mission, in May 1999,delivering almost 2 tons of supplies and equipmentthat will be needed to operate and live on the ISS. Atthe close of fiscal year 1999, the on-orbit vehicle wasapproaching 10 months of service with most on-orbit
15
10
5
0FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99 FY00 FY01
Mon
ths
Flight Preparation (FDRD)
Cargo Intergration Duration (CIR)
14
9.5
13.5
9
12
8 8
12 Flight Prep. Goal
Figure 31. Shuttle Flight Preparation Time
fl II1995
1/262
High-pressure Oxidizer Turbopump
High-pressure Fuel Turbopump
Main Combustion Chamber
OtherShuttle
OtherShuttle
OtherShuttle
OtherShuttle
OtherSSME
OtherSSME
OtherSSME
OtherSSME
HPOTP
HPOTPHPOTP HPOTP
HPFTP
HPFTPHPFTP
HPFTP
MCC
MCC
MCCMCC
1/335
1/438 1/483
BlK I BlK IIA1998
BlK II2000
Pro
babi
lity
of L
oss
of V
ehic
le D
urin
g A
scen
t
0
1
2
3
4
Figure 32. Shuttle Reliability
Figure 33. Zarya Mated With Unity
38
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
systems operating at or above design specifications. TheISS program had also successfully demonstrated its leadmission management responsibility, continuing theexcellent level of cooperation between the United Statesand Russia established during the Shuttle-Mir program.While launching and maintaining on-orbit operations,the program continued to deliver all major flight hard-ware through Assembly Flight 8A, except for the Airlock,to the launch site at Kennedy Space Center. At the closeof the fiscal year, the ISS prime contractor had complet-ed over 86 percent of contracted tasks. The Canadian-built Space Station Remote Manipulator System(SSRMS) and two Italian-built Multi-Purpose LogisticsModels (MPLM) have also be delivered to Kennedy. Theprogram completed the early phases of the Multi-Element Integrated Test (MEIT) with several ISS ele-ments to successfully demonstrate overall hardware andsoftware compatibility. The Russian Service Module andLogistics Flight 2A.2 are at their respective launch sites inpreparation for launch during calendar year 2000.
Although tremendous progress was made during FY1999, several ongoing issues continued to constrain theprogram. Difficulties with the U.S. Laboratory Moduledevelopment schedule, coupled with delays to theRussian Service Module caused by recent failures of theProton launch system, have delayed planned assemblyand expedition flights. ISS contingency planningincludes near-term plans to augment Russian propul-sion and logistics capabilities with the Space Shuttle andthe preparation of the Interim Control Module forlaunch-on-need reboost and attitude control. Long-termplans include Shuttle orbiter modifications for addition-al reboost capability, the development of a permanentU.S. propulsion module, and the provision of six-crewreturn capability. The performance targets were to:
■ Deploy and activate the Russian-built FGB(Functional Cargo Block) as the early propulsion and control module.
Target achieved: The U.S.-owned, Russian-built Zarya(FGB) was launched from theBaikonur Cosmodrome on
November 20, 1998. With its successful deliveryinto orbit, Zarya was activated to checkout the earlyISS on-orbit systems capabilities (Figure 34).
■ Deploy and activate the first U.S.-built ele-ment, Unity (Node 1), to provide dockinglocations and attach ports.
Target achieved: Unity was launched from KennedySpace Center on December 3, 1998. It was success-fully delivered to orbit and docked and mated withZarya on December 6, 1998. After 10 months ofoperations in orbit, most systems are continuing tooperate at or above the design prediction. The com-munications systems among Houston, Moscow, andthe on-orbit vehicle are functioning well (Figure 35).
■ Initiate full-scale Multi-Element IntegrationTesting (MEIT) for elements in the first fourlaunch packages.
Target achieved: Several MEIT test configurations forelements in the first four launch packages (includingthe U.S. Laboratory Module, the Canadian SSRMS,the first truss segments, and photovoltaic arrays andradiators) were initiated and completed betweenMay and August 1999. While some regression test-ing remains, the tests demonstrated excellent overallhardware and software compatibility while identify-ing areas requiring additional work prior to flight.
Figure 34. FGB
Figure 35. Zarya-Unity Mating
39
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
■ Deliver the U.S. laboratory module to thelaunch site in preparation for MEIT.
Target achieved: The Laboratory Module was deliv-ered to Kennedy Space Center during November1998. It was successfully included in MEIT test con-figurations, which were initiated and completedbetween May and August 1999 (Figure 36).
■ Conduct physical integration of the Z1 Trusslaunch package and initiate MEIT.
Target achieved: The Z1Truss completed itsphysical integrationduring early calendaryear 1999. It was suc-cessfully included inMEIT tests and initiat-ed and completedbetween May and June 1999.
■ Initiate preparations for the launch of the first EXPRESS rack with five payloadson 7A.1
Target achieved: The first two EXPRESS (Expedite theProcessing of Experiments to Space Station) racks arecompleting their Fabrication/Assembly/Integrationschedule milestones. The two EXPRESS racks arescheduled for delivery to Kennedy Space during early
calendar year 2000. Both of the first two EXPRESSracks have been accelerated to launch on 6A. Sevenpayloads are currently baselined to launch with theEXPRESS racks.
■ Initiate preparations for the launch of thefirst rack of the Human Research Facility(HRF-1) and the Window ObservationResearch Facility (WORF-1) on the firstUtilization Flight (UF-1).
Target partially achieved: The first rack of theHuman Research Facility (HRF-1) has completed itsdelta Critical Design Review (CDR). The flight rackwas delivered to Johnson Space Center, and integra-tion and testing are under way. HRF-1 has beenaccelerated to launch on 5A.1. While continuing inits early design and development phases, theWORF-1 has been remanifested to launch on UF-2.It has completed its Systems Requirements Reviewand Preliminary Design Review. During FY 2000, itwill complete the Critical Design Review and initi-ate manufacturing/assembly. The WORF-1 will bedelivered to Kennedy Space Center in mid-2001 tosupport a launch on UF-2, 4 months later than orig-inally planned. This reprioritization will not requireadditional resources and will not affect the deliveryschedules for other research facilities.
Objective: Ensure the health, safety, and perform-ance of space flight crews
HEDS programs in Biomedical Research andCountermeasures (BR&C) and Advanced HumanSupport Technology produced important scientificand technology research results to improve thehealth safety and performance of space flight crews.Thirty investigator-initiated research proposals (26 new and 4 renewals) were chosen through NRA98-HEDS-02. Proposals cover all discipline elementsof the BR&C program: Physiology, Behavior andPerformance, Environmental, Operational andClinical, and Radiation Health research.
In collaboration with the National Institute on Aging,experiments exploring the parallels between the physi-ological changes associated with aging and space flight
Figure 36. U.S. Laboratory Module
Figure 37. Z1 Truss
40
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
were successfully flown on the STS-95 research mis-sion (Figure 38). Seven biomedical experiments(including a test of potassium citrate as a countermea-
sure to kidney stone forma-tion in space flight) wereselected for the STS-107research mission, scheduledfor 2001. During FY 1999,BR&C flight investigationsplanned for the early ISS began a rapid develop-ment phase to enable theirflight in the FY 1999–2001timeframe.
As part of a continuing effort in the application ofNASA technologies to telemedicine, a VirtualCollaborative Clinic was held at NASA Ames ResearchCenter on May 4, 1999. Physicians and technical staff atmultiple remote sites interacted in real time with three-dimensional visualizations of patient-specific data usingnext-generation high-bandwidth networks. Participantswere from the Cleveland Clinic, NASA’s GlennResearch Center, the Northern Navajo Medical Service
Center in Shiprock, NewMexico, Stanford University;Salinas Valley MemorialHospital, the University ofCalifornia at Santa Cruz, andNASA’s Ames ResearchCenter. Medical visualiza-tions were a stereo recon-struction from a CT scan ofa heart with a graft, stereodynamic reconstructions(beating heart) of echocardio-grams with Doppler effects,and three-dimensional virtualjaw surgery using ourCyberScalpel for irregular-shaped or round bones andorgans (Figure 39).
The successful flight of the Electronic Nose FlightExperiment on STS-95 represents a major step for-ward in advanced sensor design. The electronic nosecombines an array of conducting polymers with neural
net computer technology to detect a broad array ofchemicals in the air while consuming only minimalpower and volume. The Space Shuttle flight test of aminiature quadrapole mass spectrometer to detect spe-cific chemicals is currently manifested for STS-98 (ISSflight 5A) in April 2000.
HEDS partnered with industry to create a FoodTechnology Commercial Space Center, which will per-form research that could lead to better food for astro-nauts and safer, more nutritious packaged foods foreveryone. The performance targets were to:
■ Complete the development of countermea-sure research protocols, and begin testing a minimum of three countermeasures intend-ed to protect bone, muscle, and physicalwork capacity.
Target achieved: Testing began for three countermea-sures, including bisphosphonates, resistive exercise, andpotassium citrate. Bed-rest simulation studies are inprogress to evaluate the efficacy of bisphosphonates onthe prevention of bone loss. Bed-rest simulation stud-ies are also in progress to evaluate the efficacy of resis-tive exercise in preventing bone loss. A treadmill withvibration isolation and stabilization designed for theISS was evaluated during Shuttle mission STS-81(Figure 40). The treadmill flight article has been deliv-ered to Kennedy Space in preparation for launch onflight 2A.2. The first trainer has been delivered, andthe components for the other trainers and backupflight units have been obtained and will be assembledin FY 2000. A flight experiment was selected for STS-107 to test efficacy of potassium citrate for reduc-ing risk to astronauts of kidney stone formation
Figure 38. An Exercise Guide by theNational Institute on Aging and NASAWith John Glenn on the Cover
Figure 39. Virtual Reconstructions of theHeart (top) and Jaw Surgery (bottom)
Figure 40. Astronauts Test the Treadmill on Atlantis During STS-81
41
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
■ Perform component and subsystem groundtests without humans in the loop to demon-strate advanced technologies, including thebiological water processor, and flight test anew electronic “nose” sensor on a chip.
Target achieved: Numerous components and subsys-tems have been tested to date. Technologies tested inNASA ground-based facilities in FY 1999 includepacked-bed and membrane biological water processors,air evaporation phase separation, reverse osmosis,vapor-phase catalytic ammonia removal, incineration,and supercritical water oxidation. The ImmobilizedMicrogravity Microbial Water Production Processor iscurrently undergoing shakedown testing preparatory toflight. Flight test of NASA’s electronic nose was con-ducted successfully on STS-95 in October 1998. Theelectronic nose combines an array of conducting poly-mers with neural net computer technology to detect abroad array of chemicals in the air while consumingonly minimal power and volume.
Goal: Prepare to conduct human missions ofexploration
Objective: In partnership with the Space ScienceEnterprise, carry out an integrated program ofrobotic exploration of the solar system to character-ize the potential for human exploration and devel-opment
During FY 1999, the HEDS Enterprise pursuedfuture human exploration beyond Earth orbit bypartnering with the Space Science Enterprise in car-rying out collaborative robotic exploration in sup-port of future human exploration and development.This included participation on the planning teamfor the Space Science Enterprise’s Mars SurveyorProgram. HEDS selected two investigations forinclusion on the Mars Surveyor Program 2001Lander mission and conducted a workshop to devel-op recommendations for research areas for a similarmission in 2003. In addition, HEDS pursuedadvanced technology planning and innovative mis-sion studies to make more affordable human explo-ration missions possible in the future.
An additional key step has been the development of anew strategic plan for HEDS that embodies a numberof innovative programmatic approaches to this criticalchallenge. A central theme is partnering with the SpaceScience Enterprise. HEDS is preparing for humanexploration through robotic exploration missions con-ducted in collaboration with the Space ScienceEnterprise and others. A second theme is the defini-tion of revolutionary concepts and the development ofbreakthrough technologies to make future explorationsafer, more affordable, and more effective. HEDS isdefining innovative human exploration approachesand planning for future investments in the develop-ment of high-leverage technologies to enable safe,effective, and affordable human/robotic exploration,including extending significantly scientific discoveryon missions of exploration through the integrated useof human and machine capabilities.
HEDS is planning for the future conduct of engineer-ing and human health research on the ISS to enableexploration beyond Earth orbit. Using ISS andground-based research and development, HEDS isplanning to develop capabilities common to bothexploration and the commercial development of spacethrough private-sector and international partnerships.Finally, HEDS is working to engage and involve thepublic in the excitement and the benefits of—and insetting the goals for—the exploration and develop-ment of space. The performance targets were to:
■ Initiate a collaborative program to design anddevelop radiation and soil/dust measuringdevices.
Target achieved: HEDS selected two PrincipalInvestigators to develop and build scientific instru-ments to characterize the radiation environment andsoil/dust environments through a joint Office of SpaceScience/OLMSA Announcement of Opportunity, uti-lizing the OLMSA peer review process. The develop-ment and integration of these instruments into the2001 Lander have been coordinated with the MarsSurveyor Project Office at the Jet PropulsionLaboratory. A Critical Design Review for these experi-ments was conducted in April 1999.
42
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
■ Plan for the demonstration of in situ propel-lant production.
Target achieved: The target was achieved through theplanning and implementation of a Mars In-SituPropellant (MIP) experiment that will be carried onthe Mars Surveyor Program’s Mars 2001 Lander.HEDS completed a Critical Design Review for theintegrated system in May 1999. Qualification testingis under way.
Objective: Explore and invest in enabling cross-cutting technology and studies that can affordablyopen up the frontiers for human space explorationwhere there is a compelling rationale for humaninvolvement
The performance target was to:
■ Evaluate options and define the explorationtechnology investment plan.
Target achieved: This target was achieved through thedefinition of Design Reference Mission (DRM)options for several potential targets, including detailedstudies for Mars (DRM 3.0) and initial studies ofother options (for example, Libration Points, Moon,and Asteroids). In addition, technology roadmaps forexploration were refined and preliminary planningcompleted (and presented to the Office ofManagement and Budget) for a FY 2001 HEDSTechnology/Commercialization Initiative to addressexploration and commercial development of spacetechnology needs.
Goal: Aggressively seek investment from the privatesector, increase the affordability of space operationsthrough privatization and commercialization, andshare HEDS knowledge, technologies, and assetsthat promise to enhance the quality of life on Earth
Objective: Promote investments in commercial assetsas pathfinders in ISS commercial operations andreduce the cost of Space Shuttle operations throughprivatization, eventual commercialization, and fly-ing payloads
FY 1999 included substantial progress toward promot-ing commercial investment on the ISS. HEDS devel-oped policy recommendations leading to a WhiteHouse legislative initiative to establish an ISSCommercial Demonstration Program. Congress subse-quently enacted the initiative in modified form.Pursuant to this initiative, HEDS is developing aProvisional Pricing Policy for ISS resources availablethrough the Commercial Demonstration Program. Aseries of commercial offers received in FY 1999 are invarious stages of negotiation. NASA expects toannounce the first three commercial projects within theSpace Station Commercial Development Program in FY2000. The Space Shuttle program continued to makegreat strides to privatize operations under the UnitedSpace Alliance Space Flight Operations Contract.Because of this effort, in FY 1999, the Space Shuttleprogram continued to safely reduce personnel levels.The Space Shuttle civil service workforce decreased from1973 to 1884. The performance target was to:
■ Complete the development of a commercial-ization plan for the ISS and Space Shuttle inpartnership with the research and commer-cial investment communities, and define andrecommend policy and legislative changes.
Target partially achieved: The CommercialDevelopment Plan for the ISS was completed anddelivered to Congress during November 1998. AWhite House legislative initiative to establish the“International Space Station CommercialDemonstration Program” to establish a pricing policyfor the ISS was submitted to Congress during July1999. Several additional policy and legislative propos-als in are final draft. The development of a SpaceShuttle commercialization plan has been delayed.George Washington University is assisting NASA withthe development of a detailed plan. The expectedcompletion is now March 2000.
Objective: Reduce space communications and opera-tions costs through privatization and eventual com-mercialization
NASA’s space, deep space, and ground networks suc-cessfully supported all NASA flight missions and
43
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
numerous commercial, foreign, and other Governmentagency missions. Included were the first U.S. launch ofISS hardware (the Unity Node), NASA’s third GreatObservatory (the Chandra X-ray Observatory), theMars Polar Lander, Stardust, Cassini Venus and Earthencounters, and Galilean moon encounters. The net-works provided data delivery for all customers inexcess of 98 percent. Other significant activitiesincluded the transition to a Consolidated SpaceOperations Contract (CSOC), the initiation of DeepSpace Network (DSN) service upgrade to Ka-bandcapability, the completion of DSN 26-meter automa-tion, the initiation of a Mars communications infra-structure phase A study, the completion of an upgradeto the Space Network Control Center, the negotiationof co-primary status for a unified S-band spectrum,and the initial acquisition of commercial ground net-work services.
The CSOC phase-in was completed between Octoberand December 1998 with the transition of nine legacycontracts at Goddard Space Flight Center, JohnsonSpace Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, KennedySpace Center, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory onschedule with no significant problems. Cost perform-ance is on track, customer operations are meeting pro-ficiency targets, and workforce reductions are beingeffected consistent with the plan. This contract isexpected to save taxpayers approximately $1.4 billionover 10 years. The performance targets were to:
■ Reduce space communications operations costsby 30 to 35 percent compared to the 1996budget, through a consolidated space commu-nications contract to meet established budgettargets.
Target achieved: Space communications costs have been reduced by 32 percent, compared to the FY 1996 budget.
■ Develop options and recommendations tocommercialize space communications.
Target not achieved: NASA developed initial optionsand recommendations to commercialize space com-munications. The final Space Operations and
Management Commercialization Plan will be submit-ted to Congress during FY 2000. The plan willinclude fully developed options and recommendationsto commercialize space communications.
Objective: Foster consortia of industry, academia,and government; leverage funding, resources, andexpertise to identify and develop space commercialopportunities
The HEDS Space Product Development programworks in partnership with industry through 14 Commercial Space Centers representing more than100 affiliated companies and institutions. The pro-gram facilitates access to space for commercially spon-sored research to bring the opportunities for newadvances, technological understanding, products, andjobs. Some highlights of this work, as reported by theCommercial Space Centers, include:
• The production of the antibiotic actinomycinD—used in conjunction with cancer treat-ments—by microorganisms was 75 percent high-er in microgravity than in comparable groundcontrol experiments, providing Bristol-MyersSquibb, an industry partner of BioServe, withnew insights that may improve ground-based production.
• Technology for creating high-temperature super-conducting wires (which will reduce the size oftransformers, increase efficiency, and make themmore environmentally friendly by eliminating theneed for oil cooling) using oxide thin films hasbeen licensed by Metal Oxide Technologies fromthe Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center, which devel-oped the technology in cooperation with theTexas Center for Superconductivity. A pilot plantfor producing high-temperature superconductingwires for use in power line transformers is expect-ed to be operational by 2001.
• A gene transfer experiment by Rapigen, LLC, andits partners showed that microgravity provided atleast a tenfold increase in the successful transfer oftraits to soybean seedlings over ground-based 0.1-percent success rates—an especially importantpoint given that the U.S. Department ofAgriculture estimates that more than 70 percent
44
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
of the soybeans planted in the Untied States are ofgenetically engineered varieties. This research wassupported by the AstrocultureTM project of theWisconsin Center for Automation and Robotics.
The performance targets were to:
■ Increase non-NASA investment (cash and in-kind) in space research from $35 million in FY1996 to at least $50 million in FY 1999, a 40-percent increase.
Target achieved: Total non-NASA cash and in-kindinvestment, as reported by HEDS Commercial SpaceCenters, was $51.2 million for FY 1999.
■ Establish a new food technology CommercialSpace Center.
Target achieved: The Food Technology CommercialSpace Center was competed and awarded to Iowa StateUniversity. Corporate partners include Kraft Foods,Maytag, and Pioneer. The center’s metrics include com-mercial success, committed funds from commercialpartners, educational grants, and research grants. Theaward is documented in the NASA Headquarters PressRelease C99-b, available on line at ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/contract/1999/c99-b.txt.
Objective: Involve our Nation’s citizens in the adven-ture of exploring space and transfer knowledge andtechnologies to enhance the quality of life on Earth
During FY 1999, HEDS continued to sponsor a varietyof programs and initiatives that support the Agency’sEducation Plan and that are in line with the NationalEducation Goals to improve math and science literacy.Particularly noteworthy is the development of the firstHEDS Education Implementation Plan by the HEDSIntegrated Communication Team. Specific educationprojects, such as EarthKam and the Shuttle AmateurRadio Experiment (SAREX), directly involve students inShuttle flights. Students (K–12) had the opportunity toparticipate with researchers in the analysis and interpre-tation of research data. HEDS also developed and oper-ated an online project called Space Team Online. Thisproject focuses on the people behind the scenes who
make the Shuttle fly, and it uses the Internet to connectprimarily K–12 students with NASA’s Shuttle team.
HEDS initiated the Window on the Universe program.This initiative establishes a national network of 15 underserved communities committed to sustainablecommunitywide science, mathematics, and technologyeducation. The program will use human space flightand the space sciences to engage entire communities,facilitating sustainable intracommunity linkages amongschool districts; museums, science centers, and planetari-ums; K–13 educators; local area researchers and amateurastronomers; business and civic organizations; and thepublic at large. The Stellar program, which seeks to uselife sciences research to enhance teaching materials andcurriculum, entered its fifth year, producing a 4-weeksummer workshop, a third CD–ROM for high schoolstudents, and internet Stellar lessons.
HEDS supported several targeted conferences andevents in 1999, including the National ScienceTeachers Association, the National Biology TeachersAssociation, and the National Council of Teachers ofMathematics. Also, three collaborative efforts were ini-tiated with museums in FY 1999. Star Station OneInstitute, a nonprofit organization of 61 U.S. science-technology centers, focused on ISS outreach andworked with OLMSA life sciences to develop a seriesof Garfield images illustrating facts about space physi-ology. These images were translated into web products,a poster, and black-and-white coloring book imagesfor use in classrooms. In addition, the Life SciencesMuseum Partners Network was established in 1999, tobring a small group of museums/science-technologycenters together with NASA life sciences. A thirdmuseum partnership called “Science by Mail” was cre-ated with the Boston Museum of Science for whichthousands of kits were distributed in FY 1999. Theperformance targets were to:
■ Initiate a curriculum development program, inpartnership with the International TechnologyEducation Association (ITEA), for gravity-related educational modules for national distri-bution that meet the current National ScienceTeachers Association (NSTA) NationalStandards for Science for Grades K–12 and the
45
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
ITEA National Standards for TechnologyEducation to be published June 1999.
Target achieved: Eight K–12 educational modules (twomodules per grade grouping of K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and9–12) titled “Microgravity: Earth and Space” have beendeveloped by the NASA/ITEA curricula writing teamand reviewed by NASA scientists and engineers, alongwith field testing by various technology teachers/schoolsaround the country. The expected publication date forthe modules was the fall of 1999. Although the ITEA hasnot published its National Standards for TechnologyEducation, originally planned for release in March 1999,its technology “standards framework and standard areas”were utilized in the development of the modules in lieu ofthe specific technology education standards to meet thepublishing timeframe. The reader can review the resultsthrough a review of http://www.iteawww.org/iteawww/B2i.html (documents ITEA and NASA Microgravityeducation grant) and of Microgravity: Earth and Space—K–12 Activity Guide for Teaches and Students in TechnologyEducation, Science, and Mathematics.
■ Expand the microgravity research programWorld Wide Web–based digital image archiveestablished in 1998 by 50 percent.
Target achieved: The Microgravity Research ProgramOffice digital image archive was established in January1998 with 200 images. The archive is a fully text search-able web-based database, available to the general public.The image gallery contained 300 images and associateddescriptions at the end of FY 1999. The MicrogravityResearch Program Office internal and external cus-tomers have access to the digital image archive througha public web site at http://microgravity.nasa.gov/MGImages/UTILS/search.mg1.cgi.
■ Conduct at least two demonstrations of theapplicability of the “TelemedicineInstrumentation Pack” for health care deliv-ery to remote areas.
Target achieved: Two demonstrations of theTelemedicine Instrumentation Pack (TIP) were made in1999—one in Montana and one in Corpus Christi,Texas. The performance was optimal in both cases.
The TIP was developed as an initial package of medicalequipment for remote environments where trainedmedical care and facilities would be very limited or nonexistent. In addition to application during spacemissions, the TIP is being developed for commercialapplication on Earth.
■ Demonstrate the application of laser lightscattering technology for the early detectionof eye-tissue damage from diabetes; publishresults in peer-reviewed open literature.
Target achieved: Two talks were given at the NASA-JDF-NIDDK Diabetic Retinopathy Workshop heldin Washington, D.C., on March 30–31, 1999, andtwo papers were published in the Journal of DiabetesTechnology & Therapeutics in 1999, which describethe use of this technique for diabetes diagnosis.Additional details on the workshop can be found atthe Research Triangle Institute web site athttp://www.rti.org/technology/.
As part of the Microgravity Research Program, recentadvances in dynamic light scattering instrumentationdeveloped under the fluid physics program at GlennResearch Center have made available extremely sensitiveand compact fiber optic probes. These new-generationprobes are found to detect a growing cataract at themolecular level—that is, several orders of magnitudeearlier than the current clinical capabilities. These probesare also being applied to study the effects of diabetes onvitreous collagen cross-linking and aggregation of fibrilsinto larger than normal “bundles” of parallel collagenfibrils in the vitreous. We are also using these probes tostudy the light scattered from a diabetic cornea.
HEDS Data Validation and Verification
The HEDS Enterprise holds each of the programand project managers fully accountable for the accuracy of the performance information that is duly reported through the normal management and reporting processes. A review of the progressagainst each of the targets has been incorporatedinto management reviews at all levels within theHEDS organizations.
Seventy-five years of aerospaceaccomplishments are depicted inthis montage illustration by artistFred Otnes, commemorating thecreation of the National AdvisoryCommittee for Aeronautics(NACA) in 1915 and its successoragency, the National Aeronauticsand Space Administration(NASA), in 1958.
47
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
The Aero-Space Technology Enterprise pioneers theidentification, development, verification, transfer,application, and commercialization of high-payoffaeronautics and space transportation technologies.The Enterprise plays a key role in maintaining a safeand efficient national aviation system and an afford-able, reliable space transportation system. TheEnterprise directly supports national policy in bothaeronautics and space as directed in the “President’sGoals for a National Partnership in Aeronautics andResearch Technology,” the National Space Policy,and the National Space Transportation Policy.
Strategic Goals and Objectives
The Enterprise has four strategic goals:
• Enable U.S. leadership in global aviationthrough safer, cleaner, quieter, and more afford-able air travel
• Revolutionize air travel and the way in whichaircraft are designed, built, and operated
• Enable the full commercial potential of spaceand expansion of space research and exploration
• Enable, as appropriate, on a national basis,world-class aerospace research and developmentservices, including facilities and expertise, andproactively transfer cutting-edge technologies insupport of industry and U.S. Governmentresearch and development
Each of the Enterprise goals has one or more specif-ic objectives to further define and shape the tech-nology needs and accompanying investments. Theoutcome-focused nature of the objectives project apreferred end-state within the air and space trans-portation systems. The achievement of these objec-tives requires a multiyear investment in research,technology development, and both ground andflight verification tests to reflect this multiyear pathto achievement. Performance targets establishedannually to measure progress toward each objectiveinherently cover a wide spectrum of impact, rangingfrom early investigative research to final technologyverification activities.
Performance Measures
In FY 1999, the Enterprise set 17 performance tar-gets to measure progress toward 8 specific objectives.The Enterprise met or exceeded 12 of these targets,with the remaining 5 assessed as “not fully accom-plished.” With respect to the latter, two were com-pleted by the end of the calendar year, with theremaining three projected to be met during FY2000. The following material provides a detailed dis-cussion of FY 1999 performance against each of thegoals, objectives, and targets.
Goal: Enable U.S. leadership in global aviationthrough safer, cleaner, quieter, and more afford-able air travel
The first Aero-Space Technology goal addresses thecrucial challenges facing the air transportation sys-tem: safety, environmental concerns, and capacity.NASA, working in close cooperation with theFederal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry,is strongly committed to the safety of the travelingpublic, the protection of the environment, andaccessible, capable air transportation.
Although the specific targets established for FY 1999focused on safety and air quality, progress also contin-ued in the areas of community noise reduction, airportcapacity improvements (including airport demonstra-tions with both Dallas-Ft. Worth and Minneapolis-St.Paul), and technology to reduce the weight and cost offuture aircraft through the application of advancedcomposite materials. Highlights of performance foreach target of the FY 1999 plan follow.
Objective: Contribute to aviation safety by reduc-ing the aircraft accident rate
The performance targets were to:
■ Characterize the Super-cooled LargeDroplets (SLD) icing environment, deter-mine its effects on aircraft performance, andacquire and publish data to improve SLDforecasting confidence.
Aero-Space Technology Enterprise
48
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Target partially achieved: Under the AviationOperations Systems Program, Glenn ResearchCenter’s Twin Otter Icing Research Aircraft complet-ed flight tests for the 1998–99 winter icing seasonwith high-fidelity icing cloud instrumentationmounted underside its wing (Figure 41). In combi-nation with instrumentation comparison testingfrom the Glenn’s Icing Research Tunnel conductedin November 1998, this database provides enhancedknowledge of ice formation processes. The programdid not anticipate the wealth of data gathered; there-fore, reduction and analysis were only 70 percentcomplete at the end of the fiscal year. The remainderwas completed by the end of the calendar year. Bothactivities were a cooperative effort with AtmosphericEnvironmental Services (AES) of Canada and theFAA to improve understanding of severe icing haz-ard and thus enhance aviation safety.
■ Identify the contributing causes to beaddressed, potential solutions using currentcapabilities, and gaps that require technologysolutions for the aviation safety areas of con-trolled flight into terrain, runway incursion,and loss of control.
Target achieved: Over 30 percent of all fatal accidentsworldwide are categorized as controlled flight intoterrain (CFIT) accidents, in which a functioning air-craft collides with terrain or obstacles that the flightcrew were unable to see (Figure 42). As part of theAirframe Systems Program, several underlying causesof CFIT were identified, and 13 2- to 3-year con-tracts were awarded to develop and demonstrateapproaches for fully operational and certifiable syn-thetic vision (7 awards) and health management
(6 awards) systems. The preparation for flight evalu-ation of a crew-centered synthetic vision display wasalso completed, as was a study of synthetic visionapplicability to general aviation aircraft.
Objective: Contribute to environmental compati-bility by reducing aircraft emissions
The performance target was to:
■ Demonstrate an advanced turbine-enginecombustor that will achieve up to a 50-percent reduction of oxides of nitrogenemissions based on the 1996 InternationalCivil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard.
Target achieved: As part ofthe Advanced SubsonicTechnology Program, alow-emission combustorwas demonstrated on aPratt & Whitney 4000development engine(Figure 43). The low-emis-sion combustion conceptutilizes initially rich front-
end combustion followed by air-quench and leancombustion. The engine was operated over the nor-mal operating envelope with both conventional andlow-sulfur fuel, and it included limited combustoroperability and durability assessments. The resultsincluded reductions in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) lev-els during landing and takeoff cycle (below the 50-percent 1996 ICAO regulation), reductions incarbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon levels(below regulation), and comparable reductions incruise NOx emissions (40 percent).
Figure 41. Twin Otter Icing Research Aircraft
Figure 42. Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)
Figure 43. Low-EmissionCombustor
49
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Goal: Revolutionize air travel and the way inwhich aircraft are designed, built, and operated
The second Enterprise goal represents an invest-ment in technology that could revolutionize airtransportation as we know it today. Significantpotential exists to greatly reduce “doorstep-to-destination” travel time from higher speed commer-cial transports for overseas travel, as well as direct“point-to-point” personal aircraft for shorter domes-tic trips. New design tools to reduce engineeringcycle time and costs, as well as experimental aircraftfor exploring new concepts and complementing lab-oratory research, are also integral elements of thisinvestment. The Enterprise had many excitingaccomplishments in support of this goal during FY1999, as described below.
Objective: Advance high-speed travel by enablingthe development of the High Speed CivilTransport
The performance target was to:
■ Produce a complete vehicle system configuration document that includes theimpact of technology validation efforts from1990 through 1999. This document will support the evaluation of technology selection decisions for a future High SpeedCivil Transport.
Target achieved: A new com-plete vehicle system wasdeveloped that reflected theimpacts of the High SpeedResearch program technologyvalidation efforts and updat-ed technology projections(Figure 44). The technology
configuration met or exceeded all of the originalprogram goals, most notably the takeoff noise goal,which was met despite a significant increase in strin-gency over the duration of the program. The vehiclemaximum takeoff gross weight met the program-defined limit for economic viability, and it also metthe travel time objective of the high-speed travel
goal. The program goal of a 20-percent ticket sur-charge was nearly met, although still above the zerosurcharge element of the high-speed travel goal.
Objective: Revitalize general aviation
The performance target was to:
■ Conclude preflight ground testing of thegeneral aviation piston and turbofan engines.
Target not achieved: Although slowed by technicalproblems, progress continued during FY 1999 inNASA’s cooperative efforts with industry to developadvanced engine technology for general aviation air-craft. Both the advanced internal combustion engineand the small gas turbine engine completed assemblyand initial performance and operability testing (Figure45). Design modifications to correct problems uncov-ered during the ground-based tests were completedand incorporated in their respective rebuilds. Testingis scheduled to resume in early 2000. Confidenceremains high that at least one of the engines can bedemonstrated on experimental aircraft at the Summer2000 Oshkosh Fly-In in Wisconsin.
Objective: Develop next-generation experimental aircraft
The performance targets were to:
■ Complete low-altitude flights of an RPA(Remotely Piloted Aircraft) with a wingspangreater than 200 feet, suitable for flight to100,000 feet in altitude once outfitted withhigh-performance solar cells.
Target achieved: The Flight Research Program com-pleted the first low-altitude flight of a Helios
Figure 44. High SpeedResearch
Figure 45. General Aviation Engines
50
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
prototype in September 1999. The flight demonstra-tion included a battery-powered RPA with awingspan greater than 245 feet, suitable for flight to100,000 feet in altitude or a duration of 100 hoursonce outfitted with high-performance solar cells(Figure 46). Based on the excellent results from theseflights, the procurement of advanced solar cells willbe initiated during 2000.
■ Conduct Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)flight demonstrations to validate the capabili-ty for science missions of greater than 4 hoursduration in remote deployments to areas suchas the polar regions above 55,000 feet.
Target achieved: In July 1999, the Flight ResearchProgram conducted an RPA flight demonstration of the General Atomics Altus vehicle at Edwards Air Force Base (Figure 47). The purpose of thedemonstration was to validate RPA technology for use in science missions with a duration of greater than 4 hours, deployed to areas such as thepolar regions above 55,000 feet. The flight demon-stration was a success and further increases designconfidence in the application of RPA’s as sciencemeasurement platforms.
Objective: Develop next-generation design tools
The performance targets were to:
■ Demonstrate up to a 200-fold improvementover the 1992 baseline (reduce from 3,200 hours to 15) in the time to solutionfor a full combustor simulation on NASA’sNational Propulsion System Simulationadvanced applications on computational test-beds that can be increased to sustainedteraFLOPS capability.
Target achieved: InSeptember 1998, the HighPerformance Computingand CommunicationsProgram achieved a 200:1 reduction in turn-around time (3,174 hours
on the Intel Paragon computer or 13 hours on theSilicon Graphics Origin 2000 computer) on a fullcombustor simulation from compressor exit to tur-bine inlet. In June 1999, the reduction turnaroundtime improved to 307:1 and, by year end, was at320:1—10 hours on the Silicon Graphics Origin2000 (Figure 48). This improvement in the NationalCombustor Code will contribute to a significantreduction in aircraft engine combustor design timeand cost by reducing the need for combustor rigtesting by one-third, resulting in a savings estimatedat $2 million. This will also aid in accomplishing thenational goal to reduce aircraft engine emissions.
Figure 46. Helios RPA
Figure 47. Altus RPA
Figure 48. ComputerSimulation
51
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
■ Demonstrate communication testbeds withup to 500-fold improvement over the 1996baseline (increase from 300 kilobits per sec-ond to 150 megabits per second) in end-to-end performance.
Target achieved: With the use of IP Multicast tech-nology, satellite communications, and Internet 2partnerships, the testbeds demonstrated an advancedhigh-fidelity three-dimensional imaging and interac-tive virtual environment to simultaneously reviewmedical images remotely in real time with an aggre-gate bandwidth of 175 megabits per second to reachgeographically diverse end sites.
Goal: Enable the full commercial potential of spaceand expansion of space research and exploration
The X-33 and X-34 advanced technology demon-strators are a part of NASA’s ongoing efforts to pavethe way for commercial development of reusablelaunch vehicles that will dramatically reduce costand increase the reliability of space transportation.Progress toward initial flight tests of both vehiclescontinued during FY 1999, but both efforts wereaffected by events as described below.
Objective: Revolutionize space launch capabilities
The performance targets were to:
■ Continue the X-33 vehicle assembly inpreparation for flight testing
Target achieved: Testing of the first development of theAerospike Engine for the X-33 began during FY 1999at Stennis Space Center. The second and third engines,the flight engines for the X-33, were scheduled foracceptance tests at Stennis near the end of the calendaryear (Figure 49). Unfortunately, the liquid hydrogentank for the vehicle experienced a delamination (sepa-ration of the tank’s skin from its honeycomb structure)following pressure and structural load testing atMarshall Space Flight Center in early November 1999.An evaluation of the latter and an assessment of itsimpact to the program were initiated in December andwill continue into early 2000.
■ Complete vehicle assembly, and begin flighttesting of the X-34.
Target not achieved: Although slowed by hardwaredelivery problems and the resolution of environmen-tal concerns at the White Sands Test Facility,progress toward the first flight of the X-34 contin-ued during FY 1999 (Figure 50). Hot-fire testing ofthe Fastrac engine was initiated at Stennis, and theassembly of the first powered flight vehicle (A-2)continued. The replanned program includes themodification of vehicle A-1 (used for captive-carrytesting with the L-1011 launch aircraft), as anunpowered test asset for testing at White Sands,with powered testing (using vehicle A-2) moved toDryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air ForceBase. Program replanning also includes a change inengine test sites from Stennis to Rocketdyne’s facilityin California. The first unpowered flight of theassembled X-34 is now scheduled for April 2000.
Figure 49. X-33 Testing
Figure 50. Two Views of the X-34
52
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Goal: Enable, as appropriate, on a national basis,world-class aerospace research and developmentservices, including facilities and expertise, andproactively transfer cutting-edge technologies insupport of industry and U.S. Governmentresearch and development
A unique aspect of the Aero-Space TechnologyEnterprise is that it is entirely dependent on externalorganizations to implement its technology productsand services. This supplier-customer relationshipmakes it critical that the Enterprise solicit feedbackfrom the user community to fully gauge its perform-ance. The following objectives and FY 1999 perform-ance targets embody this emphasis on the customer,including the Enterprise’s education outreach efforts.
Objective: Provide world-class aerospace researchand development services, facilities, and expertise
The performance targets were to:
■ Complete 90 percent of Enterprise-controlledmilestones within 3 months of schedule.
Target not achieved: Each Enterprise program usesmeasurable, customer-negotiated product and servicedeliverables to track annual performance against plans,including specific success criteria. This metric aggre-gates performance of all individual program milestonesto provide a composite indicator of progress toward the10 objectives of the Enterprise’s 3 technology goals.The Enterprise completed 84 percent of its planned FY1999 deliverables within the 3-month metric; 6 per-cent were completed 4 to 6 months late (Figure 51).
■ Achieve a facility utilization customer satis-faction rating of 95 percent of respondents at“5” or better and 80 percent at “8” or betterbased on exit interviews.
Target achieved: One of the major services providedto its customers by the Enterprise is access to NASA’scritical research and development facilities, such aswind tunnels. Each of the four NASA ResearchCenters (Ames, Dryden, Langley, and Glenn) con-ducts exit interviews at selected facilities. This metricaggregates the interview results to provide an overallindicator of customer satisfaction relative to theEnterprise research and development services goal.Facility-by-facility data are available and used toimprove customer satisfaction. The Enterprise metricis to have 80 percent of facility exit interview respon-dents rate satisfaction with aeronautics facilities (on ascale of 1 to 10) at “8” or above and 95 percent ratefacilities at “5” or above. For FY 1999, the Enterpriseexceeded both goals, scoring 90 percent and 100 per-cent, respectively (Figure 52).
■ Complete the Triennial Customer SatisfactionSurvey, and achieve an improvement from 30percent to 35 percent in “highly satisfied”ratings from Enterprise customers.
Target achieved: The Enterprise serves a range of cus-tomers, including the aviation and related industries,the academic community, nonaviation industries,and other Government agencies (such as theDepartment of Defense and the FAA). This measure
FY97 FY98 FY99
9694929088868482807876
Target: 90%
82
84
94
Per
cent
with
in 3
mon
ths
of s
ched
ule
Figure 51. Enterprise Milestones Completed
FY97 FY98 FY99
100
105
95
90
85
80
75
86
100
Per
cent
age
of R
espo
ndan
ts
100 100
84
90
Eight or aboveFive or above
Figure 52. Facility Utilization Satisfaction
53
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
provides direct feedback from users and partners onthe level of satisfaction with NASA technology activ-ities supporting the 10 objectives of the Enterprise’s3 technology goals, but also with respect to theresearch and development services goal. The metricis to consistently improve the percentage of respon-dents that rate the Enterprise at “8” or above (on ascale of 1 to 10), with 90 percent rating theEnterprise at “5” or above. Based on the latest sur-vey, the Enterprise improved on the “8” and aboverating (from 30 to 35 percent), with the “5” andabove rating approaching 90 percent (Figure 53).
■ Transfer at least 10 new technologies andprocesses to industry during the fiscal year.
Target achieved: Twelve new technologies andprocesses were transferred to industry and otherGovernment agencies during FY 1999:
• Super-cooled liquid droplet ice formation process• Crack detection technologies leading to two
commercial nondestructive evaluation instru-ments for aircraft inspection
• Combustion technology with 50-percent reduc-tion in NOx
• Stitching fabrication process for advanced com-posites with 20-percent cost reduction
• Four new high-temperature materials developedduring the High Speed Research Program—oneairframe and three propulsion
• RPA technology for 4-hour duration over55,000 feet altitude
• Computational technology with 200-foldreduction in time to solution
• Communication technology with 500-foldimprovement in end-to-end performance
■ Establish an Aeronautics Education Laboratoryin at least three new sites in the United States.
Target achieved: Eight new sites were established in FY1999: Wayne County Community College (Detroit,Michigan); Sinclair Community College (Dayton,Ohio); Cuyahoga Community College (Cleveland,Ohio); Virginia Air & Space Center (Hampton,Virginia); York College (Jamaica, New York); FengerAcademy (Chicago, Illinois); Harris-Stowe StateCollege (St. Louis, Missouri); and Warren CountyHigh School (Warrenton, North Carolina).
■ For all new program activities initiated in FY1999, develop an education outreach plan,which includes and results in an educationalproduct. This product shall be consistentwith current educational standards and useprogram content to demonstrate or enhancethe learning objectives.
Target not achieved: The plan will be completed inFY 2000, although one educational product was cre-ated during FY 1999.
Aero-Space Technology Enterprise DataValidation and Verification
With the exception of the survey and education out-reach targets, the data used to substantiate actualperformance originated at the NASA Field Centersresponsible for program implementation. The datawere verified by senior officials at those FieldCenters and also during the periodic Enterprisereview process at NASA Headquarters, including theNASA Program Management Council on selectedprograms and projects. The above assessment wasalso reviewed by the Aero-Space TechnologyCommittee of the NASA Advisory Council.
FY97 FY98 FY99
1009080706050403020100
21
76
Per
cent
age
of R
espo
ndan
ts
86 87
3035
Eight or BetterFive or Better
Figure 53. Triennial Survey of Customer Satisfaction
“Emergence,” acrylic on canvas byDan Namingha. The artist com-bined his Indian heritage, theHopitewa spirituality and mysti-cism, with today’s technology.
55
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
This Crosscutting Process ensures that the Agencycarries out its responsibilities effectively and safelyand that management allocates resources to supportNASA’s strategic goals and objectives. NASA madesubstantial progress in FY 1999 toward aligning theAgency’s management decisions and resource allo-cations with national policies and statutes, Agencyplans, and budget guidelines. This progress isreflected in (a) the improved alignment of ourhuman, physical, and financial resources with cus-tomer requirements; (b) the improved effectivenessand efficiency in our acquisitions processes byusing techniques and management to enhance con-tractor innovation and performance; and (c) improvements in our information technologycapability and services.
Goal: Provide a basis for the Agency to carry out its responsibilities effectively and safely, and enable management to make critical deci-sions regarding implementation activities andresource allocations that are consistent with thegoals, objectives, and strategies contained inNASA’s Strategic, Implementation, andPerformance Plans
Objective: Optimize investment strategies and systems to align human, physical, and financialresources with customer requirements, whileensuring compliance with applicable statutes and regulations
Of the six targets established for this objective,NASA met four targets, exceeded one target, andfailed to meet the sixth target. The performance tar-gets were to:
■ Reduce the civil service workforce to below19,000.
Target achieved: Actual Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)usage for FY 1999 was 18,469 (Figure 54). The FY1999 target was met through attrition.
■ Maintain a diverse NASA workforce throughdownsizing efforts.
Target achieved: In FY 1999, NASA maintained adiverse workforce. Since 1992, the percentages ofminorities, women, and individuals with targeteddisabilities have increased, while the total workforcesize decreased from 24,536 to 18,469 (Figure 55).
■ Reduce the number of Agency lost workdays(from occupational injury or illness) by 5 percent from the FY 1994–96 3-year average.
Target achieved: NASA’s FY 1994–96 injury rate was0.36 lost time injuries per 200,000 work hours. A 5-percent-per-year reduction from this rate yields anFY 1999 goal of 0.31 lost time injuries per 200,000work hours. NASA’s actual FY 1999 rate was 0.19 losttime injuries per 200,000 work hours (Figure 56).
20,000
25,000
15,000
1000
500
0 FY91 FY92 FY93 FY94
*Actuals through FY99, FY00 projected
FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
Personnel FTE 24,167 24,536 24,906 23,873 22,355 21,128 20,070 19,109 18,469
FY00*
18,623
Figure 54. Personnel FTE
0.05.0
10.015.020.025.030.035.0
Minority Female Individuals with TargetedDisabilities
18.416.7
19.7 20.6 21.2
30.1 31.0 31.5 32.131.6
0.9 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.1Per
cent
age
of W
orkf
orce
FY94FY92 FY96 FY98 FY99
Figure 55. Workforce Diversity
Manage Strategically
56
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
■ Achieve a 5-percent increase in physicalresource costs avoided through alternativeinvestment strategies in environmental andfacilities operations.
Target achieved: The Office of Management Systemsachieved a cost avoidance of $128.09 million (Figure57). The FY 1999 target was exceeded by 163 per-cent, as a result of cost avoidance realized throughthe use of alternative investment strategies.Indicators of improved facilities engineering, envi-ronmental management, and logistics managementare validated by analyses of data (and comparisonsagainst benchmarks) obtained from Field Centerreports, the NASA Environmental Tracking Systemdatabase (which contains information on activities atField Centers related to pollution prevention, energyconservation, and recycling activities), and AnnualPersonal Property Reports.
■ Achieve 70 percent or more of the resources authority available to cost within the fiscal year.
Target achieved: NASA successfully met the target tocost at least 70 percent of the resources available tocost, achieving a cost record of 82 percent againstour annual plan (Figure 58). This target providesNASA with a measure of the effective utilization ofthe financial resources made available to us and indi-cates that NASA is not allowing a disproportionalpercentage of the resources to lie unutilized.
■ Complete system validation of the IntegratedFinancial Management Program, and com-plete system implementation at Marshall andDryden
Target not achieved: Validation testing of the deliv-ered system from KPMG revealed substantially moredefects that anticipated. This resulted in instituting amore comprehensive program of software testingand remediation than planned. In addition, keyresources needed for the Marshall and Drydenimplementations were tied up with software remedi-ation. These two events combined have resulted in a12-month slip in schedule. NASA is now reassessingthe contractor’s ability to carry out implementation.
Objective: Improve effectiveness and efficiency ofAgency acquisitions through the increased use oftechniques and management that enhance con-tractor innovations and performance
NASA has met the three targets. The performancetargets were to:
■ Increase Performance Based Contract (PBC)obligations to 80 percent of funds availablefor PBC (funds available exclude grants,cooperative agreements, actions less than
Incidents counted per NPG 8621
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
0.20
0.300.40
0.50NASA Lost TimeInjury Rate per200,000 Workhours
Goal-5% Per YearReduction From1994—1996 Average
1994—1996 Average
0.100.00In
cide
nts
per
200,
000
Wor
khou
rs
Figure 56. Lost Time Injury Rates
0
50
100
46.4544.24
178.2
48.77
128.09150
200
$M C
osts
Avo
ided
Plan Actual
Figure 57. Cost Avoidance
601994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
6570758085
Per
cent
age
Actual Perscent costed of available to cost Planned Costing of Available Resources
Figure 58. Available Resources Costed
57
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
$100,000, the Small Business InnovationResearch and Small Business TechnologyTransfer programs, Federally FundedResearch and Development Centers,intragovernmental agreements, and contracts with foreign governments or international organizations).
Target achieved: NASA obligated 81 percent of thefunds that were available for PBC’s (Figure 59).Indicators of progress in meeting the targets are veri-fied through the Financial and Contractual Status(FACS) system, which contains data from acquisi-tions activities at all Centers. NASA Headquartersalso periodically examines a sampling of contracts todetermine whether they meet the definition of a“performance based contract.”
Procurement surveys conducted after the data werereported have identified issues with the FACS systemdata that potentially could result in a variance of 2 percent against the data reported for FY 1999
■ Achieve at least the congressionally mandated8-percent goal for annual funding to small dis-advantaged businesses (including prime andsubcontracts to small disadvantaged businesses,Historically Black Colleges and Universities,other minority educational institutions, andwomen-owned small businesses).
Target achieved: NASA funding for small disadvantagedbusinesses was 16.1 percent in FY 1999, the highestlevel achieved to date (Figure 60). Data are reportedfrom both the NASA Centers (using SF 278 and SF281) and the prime contractors (using SF 295).
■ Enhance contract management throughimproved systems and information for moni-toring and through an emphasis on the train-ing of procurement personnel, and revisemetrics to assess the overall health of theprocurement function
Target achieved: The target has been met by theOffice of Procurement through the implementationof a revised set of procurement metrics to assess thehealth of the function. A final metrics report wasissued in November 1998, and the Office ofProcurement regularly collects resultant data andprepares reports.
■ Enhance contract management throughimproved systems and information for moni-toring by implementing a strategy for evalu-ating the efficacy of procurement operations.
Target achieved: The revised strategy has been imple-mented through a combination of Headquarters-ledprocurement surveys, periodic Center self-assessments, and periodic ISO audits. A revised self-assessment guide was issued in November 1998,and each Center has submitted an initial sample self-assessment to Headquarters for review.Headquarters procurement management surveyteams review Centers triennially and validate theircontract management activities. The Centersreviewed in FY 1999 were Goddard Space FlightCenter, the NASA Management Office at the JetPropulsion Laboratory, Kennedy Space Center, andAmes Research Center.
100908070605040302010
0FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99
Figure 59. PBC Obligations
1816141210
86420
FY94 FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99 FY00
Per
cent
Actual SDB funding Minimum SDB funding goal
Figure 60. Percentage of Funds to Small Disadvantaged Businesses
58
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Objective: Improve information technology capa-bilities and services
NASA has made significant progress toward improv-ing information technology capability and services,as is indicated by our achievement of the two tar-gets. The performance targets were to:
■ Improve information technology infrastruc-ture service delivery to provide increasedcapability and efficiency while maintaining a customer rating of “satisfactory” and holding costs per resource unit to the FY 1998 baseline.
Target achieved: NASA met its target performancefor both customer satisfaction and operational effi-ciency in FY 1999. Performance for both factors isdetermined through the measurement ofAgencywide services provided through both theNASA ADP Consolidation Center (NACC) and theNASA Integrated Service Network (NISN). ForNACC, the customer satisfaction baseline was sub-stantially exceeded, and the cost of NACC supportdropped dramatically because of technologyenhancements (Figure 61). For NISN, customer sat-isfaction remained at or above baseline levels, whilethe cost of NISN support rose slightly because of theaddition of a significant number of additional inter-national circuits (Figure 62).
■ Complete the remediation of mission-criticalsystems by March 1999, consistent withGovernmentwide guidance for the Year 2000.
Target achieved: NASA completed 100 percent ofthe mission-critical remediation by March 1999(Figure 63).
Based on Average 598 MIPS CapacityCost Performance Goal Met
$3,000.00FY 1998
4thQuarter
FY 19991th
Quarter
FY 19992th
Quarter
FY 19993rd
Quarter
FY 19994th
Quarter
FY 1999Averager
$3,500.00
$4,000.00
$4,500.00
$5,000.00
$5,500.00
$6,000.00
$/M
IP/Q
uart
er
NACC
NACC Baseline
Figure 61. NACC Unit Cost Metric
$1.00
$0.90
$0.80
$0.70
$0.60
$0.50
$0.40
$0.30
$0.20
$0.10
$0.00FY 1998
4thQuarter
FY 19991th
Quarter
FY 19992th
Quarter
FY 19993rd
Quarter
FY 19994th
Quarter
FY 1999Averager
$/K
bps/
Mon
th
NISN
NISN Baseline
Figure 62. NISN Unit Cost Metric
100% Mission Critical Systems Complete 99% Non Mission Critical Systems Complete100% Business Continuity and Contingency Plans Complete$67M Total Estimated Y2K Costs (FY1996—FY2000)
100
80
60
40
20
0
May
199
7
Aug
199
7
Nov
199
7
Feb
199
8
May
199
8
Aug
199
8
Nov
1998
Feb
199
9
May
199
9
PlannedActuals
Figure 63. NASA Is Year 2000 Ready
59
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
This Crosscutting Process is the means by whichNASA’s Strategic Enterprises and their Centers deliv-er systems (ground, aeronautics, and space), tech-nologies, data, and operational services to NASAcustomers. Through the use of Agency facilities, cus-tomers can conduct research, explore and developspace, and improve life on Earth. This process isconducted by and enables NASA’s four StrategicEnterprises and their Centers to deliver products andservices to customers more effectively and efficiently.In FY 1999, NASA demonstrated successful per-formance for each of the four objectives of theProvide Aerospace Products and Capabilities process,as supported by the targets.
Goal: Enable NASA’s Strategic Enterprises andtheir Centers to deliver products and services to customers more effectively and efficientlywhile extending the technology, research, and science benefits broadly to the public and com-mercial sectors
Objective: Reduce the cost and development timeto deliver products and operational services
NASA’s role in the advancement of research andtechnology is conducted through the constructionand operation of facilities such as telescopes, satel-lites, and ground-based laboratories and test facilities.In FY 1999, NASA’s performance for this objectivewas successful. The performance targets were:
■ Meet schedule and cost commitments bykeeping the development and upgrade ofmajor scientific facilities and capital assetswithin 110 percent of cost and schedule esti-mates, on average.
Target achieved: Costs for the development andupgrade of major scientific facilities and capitalassets were an average of 110 percent of cost esti-mates. Schedules for the development and upgradeof major scientific facilities and capital assets werean average of 110 percent of schedule estimates(Figure 64).
■ Reduce the 5-year average spacecraft cost forSpace Science and Earth Science Enterprisemissions to $200 million from $590 million.
Target not achieved: The 5-year average spacecraftcost for Space Science and Earth Science Enterprisemissions was reduced from $590 million to $210 million (Figure 65). Although the specific target was not achieved, the reduction in averagespacecraft cost was significant. The reduction of the5-year average spacecraft cost for Space Science andEarth Science Enterprise missions from $590 millionto $210 million demonstrates the significantprogress made by NASA in this area. This progressrepresents a decrease to less than half the previousaverage spacecraft cost.
100cost schedule
102
104
106
108
110
112
Per
cent
of B
asel
ine
Est
imat
e
NASA GPRA target
Figure 64. NASA Cost and Schedule Performance
FY 90-94 FY 95-99
$590
$210
Figure 65. Five-Year Average Earth and Space Science Spacecraft Cost
Provide Aerospace Products and Capabilities
60
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
■ Reduce the 5-year average spacecraft develop-ment time for Space Science and EarthScience Enterprise missions to 5 years, 2 months from 8 years, 3 months.
Target achieved: For FY 1999, the 5-year averagespacecraft development time for Space Science andEarth Science Enterprise missions was reduced from8 years, 3 months to 5 years, 0 months (Figure 66).The performance target for spacecraft developmenttime was achieved. The reduction of the 5-year aver-age spacecraft development time for Space Scienceand Earth Science Enterprise missions from 8 years,3 months to 5 years clearly demonstrates the signifi-cant progress made by NASA in this measurementarea. This represents a twofold decrease in the aver-age spacecraft development time.
Objective: Improve and maintain NASA’s engi-neering capability
NASA’s performance in this area was successful. Theperformance targets for space and ground facilitiesthat deliver engineering data and engineering toolsand skills were both met. The performance targetswere to:
■ Set up process to determine, on average, theoperating time of NASA’s spacecraft andground facilities lost to unscheduled down-time, and establish a baseline in FY 1999.
Target achieved: All Enterprise processes to determinethe average operating time lost to unscheduleddowntime were developed. Using data provided forFY 1999, the baseline was established. It was foundthat on average, 5.6 percent of scheduled operatingtime was lost to unscheduled downtime. The Agencygoal is to have less than 10 percent of operating timelost to the unscheduled downtime, on average.
■ Set up a process to improve engineeringskills and tools within the Agency.
Target partially achieved: NASA has established theCollaborative Engineering Environment and futureengineering tools and skills development as part ofIntelligent Synthesis Environment (ISE) program.Objectives and metrics were defined, and both adraft Program Commitment Agreement andProgram Plan were completed. Internal programapproval for the ISE was delayed because of nonad-vocate review recommendations and additional com-munication required with NASA stakeholders. It isanticipated that the extant issues with the ISE pro-gram will be resolved in FY 2000 and that the FY2000 performance target will be accomplished, asplanned. The systems engineering core capabilitiesassessment is in process, and a skill mix adjustmentmay be required to meet future missions.
Objective: Capture and preserve engineering andtechnological process knowledge to continuouslyimprove NASA’s program/project management
The performance target was to:
■ Set up process in FY 1999 to capture a set ofbest practices/lessons learned from each pro-gram, including at least one from each of thefour Provide Aerospace Products andCapabilities subprocesses, commensuratewith current program status.
Target achieved: The process to provide and managethe Provide Aerospace Products and Capabilitiesprocess knowledge has been developed. The Agency’sLessons Learned Information System was modifiedto manage the Provide Aerospace Products and
FY 90-94 FY 95-99
8
5
Figure 66. Five-Year Average Earth and Space Science SpacecraftDevelopment Time
61
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
Capabilities process knowledge lessons learned andbest practices. Enterprises are to provide inputsbeginning in FY 2000.
Objective: Focus on integrated technology plan-ning and development in cooperation with com-mercial industry and other NASA partners andcustomers
The performance targets were to:
■ Set up a data collection process to determinethe amount of leveraging of the research and development budget with activities ofother organizations, and establish a baselinein FY 1999.
Target achieved: The process for collecting these datahas been established and used to capture the extentof the technology (research and development) budg-et leveraging in FY 1999. Currently available FY1999 data provide a preliminary baseline: NASAinvested a total of $59.5 million in 55 formal jointactivities with other Government agencies.
This metric is intended to measure NASA’s invest-ment in technology research and development withactivities of other organizations. For purposes ofestablishing the baseline, data corresponding toactivities formally documented with otherGovernment agencies were collected. The data forthis metric are collected as part of the TechnologyInventory that is administered by the ChiefTechnologist. Subsequent to the completion of FY1999, this function has been transferred to the
Office of Aero-Space Technology. The database isupdated on an annual basis. The inputs are validatedby at least one level of management at the Centersand subsequently by Enterprise representatives atNASA Headquarters.
■ Set up a process to determine the percentageof the Agency’s research and developmentbudget dedicated to commercial partner-ships, and establish a baseline.
Target achieved: This process was completed duringFY 1999. Using data input by the NASA Centersduring FY 1999, the baseline was defined. TheAgency contributed 13.9 percent of its research anddevelopment investment to commercial partnerships.The Agency goal is to have 10 to 20 percent of thedollar value of the total research and developmentprogram involved in commercial partnerships.
The Office of Aero-Space Technology’s CommercialTechnology Division administers this metric’s collec-tion and reporting via NASA TechTracS, theAgencywide commercial technology managementinformation system. An Agencywide team called theNASA Commercial Technology Management Team,which consists of the heads of each Center’sCommercial Technology Office and a representativefrom each Enterprise, supports the CommercialTechnology Division. Langley Research Center leadsa NASA TechTracS subteam. Each CommercialTechnology Office ensures that appropriate and validpartnership data are entered into NASA TechTracSin a timely fashion.
63
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
NASA provides new scientific and technologicalknowledge gained from exploring the Earth system,the solar system, and the universe beyond, and fromconducting the necessary supporting research anddevelopment. The Generate Knowledge CrosscuttingProcess ensures that this information is shared withscientists, engineers, and technologists in industry, aca-demia, and other organizations. In addition, naturalresource managers, policymakers, and educators bene-fit from this process. The goals of the GenerateKnowledge process are to extend the boundaries ofknowledge of science, technology, and engineering, tocapture new knowledge in useful and transferablemedia, and to share new knowledge with customers.
The Generate Knowledge process is conducted byNASA’s four scientific research enterprises: the SpaceScience Enterprise, the Earth Science Enterprise, andthe Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences andApplications within the Human Exploration andDevelopment of Space Enterprise (OLMSA/HEDS),and the Aero-Space Technology Enterprise. Theprocess does not include research of a proprietaryindustrial nature or research whose conduct or dissem-ination is limited for reasons of national security.
The process goal is supported by two primary objec-tives. Three performance targets were established forthe FY 99 Performance Plan.
Goal: Extend the boundaries of knowledge of sci-ence, technology, and engineering, capture newknowledge in useful and transferable media, andshare new knowledge with customers
Objective: Select research projects through peer-reviewed and merit-based competition
The performance target was to:
■ Submit 80 percent of Agency research proj-ects to peer-reviewed processes. Proposalssubmitted to NASA for funding will beselected through a merit-based competitiveprocess. (Codes S, U, and Y)
Target achieved: NASA selected 82 percent of its researchthrough peer-reviewed processes.
Objective: Provide information to the public anddata to researchers
The performance objectives were to:
■ Provide monthly updates for all missionsand, where possible, on a weekly basis.(Codes R, S, U, and Y)
Target not achieved: NASA projects supplied monthlymission communications for 97 percent of the proj-ects identified for this performance target.
■ Make available for researchers fully calibrat-ed, verified, and validated science data prod-ucts within 1 year of acquisition. (Codes R,S, U, and Y)
Target not achieved: NASA released 93 percent of thetargeted science data products within 1 year.
Enterprise $ of Research Percentage $ ConformingConforming
Space Science R&A $176 million 98% $173 millionSpace Science DA $211 million 96% $203 millionSpace Science Tech.* $198 million 33% $ 66 millionEarth Science $155 million 90% $140 millionOLMSA $218 million 97% $211 millionTotal $958 million 82% $793 million
*These figures represent only technology research applicable to multiple objectives.Technology development activities that support only a single program or project are not included.Note: Other peer-reviewed research, part of Provide Aerospace Products andCapabilities, among others, is not incorporated above.
Enterprise No. of Projects No. Conforming
Space Science R&A 26 25Earth Science 11 11OLMSA 1 1Aero-Space Technology 0 0Total 38 37
Enterprise No. of Projects No. Conforming
Space Science 20 18Earth Science 6 6OLMSA 3 3Aero-Space Technology 1 1Total 30 28
Generate Knowledge
65
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
During the past 4 decades, the results of NASA’s sci-entific activities and discoveries have proven to beextremely important to the American people and tothe world. NASA has a unique charter in the SpaceAct of 1958 to “provide for the widest practicableand appropriate dissemination of information con-cerning its activities and the results thereof.” NASAuses the Communicate Knowledge process toincrease understanding of science and technology,advance its broad application, and inspire achieve-ment and innovation. The process augments thetransfer of technology that is performed within thenormal course of conducting research, performingmissions, and executing overall the Agency’s pro-grams and projects. Communicate Knowledge is aprocess that ensures that the knowledge derivedfrom the public’s investment is presented and trans-mitted to meet the specific needs and interests of thepublic, educators, and NASA’s constituency groups.
The goal of this process is to ensure that NASA’scustomers receive the information derived from theAgency’s research and technology developmentefforts that they want, when they want it, for as longas they want it. Based on our performance in theareas of providing education, transferring technolo-gy, assisting customers in locating and using techni-cal information, and providing a historical contextfor NASA’s activities and achievements, we believethat the Agency has had a significant impact oncommunicating NASA-generated knowledge. All ofthe performance metrics were achieved or exceeded.Children, industry, and the public in general nowhave easier access to more relevant information thanthey have ever had in the past.
The goal was achieved through the efforts of manypeople and organizations, and NASA’s progresstoward the goal was measured by a series of perform-ance targets that are categorized by two objectives:
1. Highlight existing and identify new opportuni-ties for NASA’s customers, including the public,the academic community, and the Nation’s stu-dents, to directly participate in space researchand discovery
2. Improve the external constituent communities’knowledge, understanding, and use of theresults and opportunities associated withNASA’s programs
Goal: Ensure that NASA’s customers receive theinformation derived from NASA’s research effortsthat they want, in the format they want, for aslong as they want it
Objective: Highlight existing and identify newopportunities for NASA’s customers, including thepublic, the academic community, and the Nation’sstudents, to directly participate in space researchand discovery
To make people more aware and informed aboutNASA’s activities, the Agency has been making a con-centrated effort to reach out to students of all agesand to publicize specific technical achievements. Incooperation with educational associations for mathe-matics, science technology, and geography and sciencecenters, more and more educators are being intro-duced each year to the latest science and engineeringat NASA. The teachers are from all grade levels areexpected to take back their newly acquired knowledgefrom NASA to their classrooms. Each of the Agency’s10 Centers conducts educational programs.
In addition to educational programs, the NASACenters use the Internet to make the latest techno-logical developments available to the public. Forexample, the recently enhanced NASA Tech Briefsweb site is available to download Technical SupportPackages, which provide in-depth information onthe innovations described in the NASA Tech Briefspublications. NASA also uses the online edition ofAerospace Technology Innovation—the public’s sourcefor current information on NASA projects andopportunities in the areas of technology transfer andcommercialization, aerospace technology develop-ment, and the commercial development of space.
Spinoff is yet another publication produced annually,featuring the successful commercial and industrialapplications of NASA technology. Users can browsethe 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 editions or go to
Communicate Knowledge
66
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
the Spinoff Home Page to submit their desired appli-cation of NASA technology, as well as search thedatabase for leads. Another avenue for the public to“shop” for technology is by searching the NASATechTracS system to find technology that is availablefor transfer, licensing, and commercialization. TheAgency’s search service scans across all of the NASACommercial Technology sites to discover advancedtechnologies and commercialization opportunities.The performance targets were to:
■ Increase the number of educators who partic-ipate annually in NEWEST/NEWMAST (theprograms have been combined and are beingcalled NEW—NASA’s Education Workshops)to 500 from 400 in FY 1998.
Target achieved: There were 500 educators participat-ing in NASA’s Education Workshops (NEW) in FY1999 (Figure 67). In grades K–12, 250 educatorswere chosen on a national competition basis, and 250educators were selected on a State and regional basisin workshops managed by each of the NASA Centers.
■ Increase the number of students reachedthrough the NEWEST/NEWMAST (NEW)program to 42,000 students from 33,600 inFY 1998.
Target achieved: The program reached 42,250 stu-dents and achieved this metric for FY 1999 througha contracted arrangement with a national teachersassociation (Figure 68). The number of studentsreached is determined in the following way:
262 educators in grades K–6 interfacing with 25 stu-dents per educator and 238 educators in grades7–12 interfacing with 150 students each (262 x 25 +238 x 150 = 42,250). These numbers are providedby the National Science Teachers Association and arestill valid estimates.
■ Maintain the participation level inAgencywide educational programs at morethan 1 million teachers and students.
Target achieved: There were 3,702,645 individualswho participated in the NASA educational pro-grams, based on actual head counts.
■ Increase new technology opportunities from19,600 to 19,700. These will be made avail-able to the public through the TechTracSdatabase and will be measured by monitoringa controlled data field that indicates thenumber of new technologies communicatedto the public.
Target achieved: In FY 1999, 409 new technologieswere actually released to the public via theTechTracS system, clearly exceeding this target.However, because of the age of some of the technol-ogy listings in the system, 1,918 items wereremoved. The items that were removed continue tobe available to the public via NASA’s Scientific andTechnical Information (STI) archive that is main-tained by NASA’s Center for Aerospace Information
0
200
400
600
400
FY98 Actuals FY99 PLAN FY99 Actuals
500 500
Figure 67. Number of Educators in NEW
33,600
42,000 42,250
05,000
10,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,00040,00045,000
FY98 Actuals FY99 PLAN FY99 Actual
Figure 68. Number of Students Reached Through NEW
67
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
(CASI). In May 1999, the TechTracS system record-ed 19,869 items, exceeding the metric. At the end ofFY 1999, the system only contained 18,091 items.
Objective: Improve the external constituent com-munities’ knowledge, understanding, and use ofthe results and opportunities associated withNASA’s programs
In our efforts to enhance the external communities’knowledge of NASA’s programs and all the results ofinvestments in the Agency, we have focused on a his-toric perspective and on enhancing our STI database.
In FY 1999, we reached our goal in historical publi-cations that provide the public with a comprehensiveunderstanding of the Agency’s socioeconomic, tech-nical, and scientific contribution from aeronauticsand space. The public and the technical communityhave access to the Agency’s documents, taped oralhistory interviews, biographical files, and muchmore. NASA also achieved its goal of sponsoring aspecial symposium—one of an ongoing program ofevents on current topics of historic significance.
This STI program acquires, processes, archives, anddisseminates information for the scientific commu-nity. The information records basic and appliedresearch results from the efforts of scientists andengineers. The material is available on paper, film,multimedia, and electronic format. This programproduces technical and conference reports, technicaltranslations, and special publications. In addition,periodic bibliographies, which range from technical,medical, and aeronautical subjects to NASA spaceflight video and NASA patents, are developed.
NASA’s STI program reached, and in some casesexceeded, its performance targets in FY 1999.During this reporting period, record numbers ofdocuments and bibliographic/citation records wereadded to the database, which is available online viathe Internet. The performance targets were to:
■ Produce 10 new historical publicationschronicling and placing NASA’s activities andachievements in perspective for the American
public, and sponsor or cosponsor one majorscholarly conference.
Target achieved: The following 11 publications and aCD–ROM were produced in FY 1999:
1. Braslow, Albert L. A History of Suction-TypeLaminar-Flow Control with Emphasis on FlightResearch (Monographs in Aerospace History, No.13, June 1999)
2. Bromberg, Joan Lisa. NASA and the SpaceIndustry (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UniversityPress, April 1999)
3. Heppenheimer, T.A. The Space Shuttle Decision:NASA’s Quest for a Reusable Space Vehicle (NASASP-4221, May 1999)
4. Hunley, J.D. Editor. Toward Mach 2: The DouglasD-558 Program (NASA SP-4222, June 1999)
5. Launius, Roger D. Editor. Innovation and theDevelopment of Flight (College Station, TX: TexasA&M University Press, April 1999)
6. Logsdon, John M., General Editor, with RogerD. Launius, David H. Onkst, and Stephen J.Garber. Exploring the Unknown: SelectedDocuments in the History of the U.S. Civil SpaceProgram, Volume III: Using Space (NASA SP-4407, November 1998)
7. Logsdon, John M. Moderator. Managing theMoon Program: Lessons Learned from Project Apollo(Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 14, July1999)
8. Perminov, V.G. The Difficult Road to Mars: ABrief History of Mars Exploration in the SovietUnion (Monographs in Aerospace History, No.15, July 1999)
9. Rumerman, Judy A. Compiler. NASA HistoricalData Book, Volume V: NASA Launch Systems,Space Transportation, Human Spaceflight, andSpace Science 1979–1988 (NASA SP-4012, June1999)
10. Tucker, Tom. Touchdown: The Development ofPropulsion Controlled Aircraft at NASA Dryden(Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 16,September 1999)
11. Wallace, Lane E. Dreams, Hopes, Realities: NASA’sGoddard Space Flight Center, The First Forty Years(NASA SP-4312, March 1999)
68
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
12. Garber, Stephen E. Compiler. RememberingApollo 11: The 30th Anniversary Data ArchiveCD–ROM (June 1999).
Concerning the requirement for sponsoring orcosponsoring one major scholarly conference, theAgency achieved this requirement by hosting “SpaceExploration at the Millennium: In Remembrance ofCarl Sagan,” a symposium cosponsored by NASA onMarch 24, 1999, at American University inWashington, D.C. The symposium featured presen-tations by Buzz Aldrin, Yvonne Cagle, AndrewChaikin, Franklin Chang-Díaz, Hugh Downs, AnnDruyan, Timothy Ferris, Don Herbert, HomerHickam, Ted Koppel, Bill Nye, Robert Pickardo,Ned Potter, Kim Stanley Robinson, Donna Shirley,Kathy Sullivan, and Jill Tarter, among others. Thissymposium offered a retrospective on one of thiscentury’s crowning accomplishments: the genesis ofspace exploration. It included panel discussions,numerous exhibits and displays, and small sessionmeetings with several panelists. It proved to beexceptionally popular. Total attendance was morethan 1,800 people, including school groups andmany students from American University. The sym-posium was broadcast live on NASA TV and simul-cast on MS/NBC, CBS Interactive, broadcast.com,and several other web-based media outlets. Reportsfrom all of the major daily newspapers and newsmagazines were quite positive. Local television cover-age was also impressive. Since the symposium,numerous people have asked the NASA HistoryDivision where they may obtain tapes of the sympo-sium or a transcript of proceedings. Accordingly, 6-hour-long videotape of the symposium is nowavailable from CASI.
■ Acquire 10,550 NASA-sponsored, -funded,and/or -generated report documents for theAmerican scientific community and public,
publish 26 issues of an electronic currentawareness product to announce additions tothe NASA STI database, and add 24,400 bib-liographic/citation records to the onlineNASA STI database describing scientific andtechnical publications available to theAmerican public.
Target achieved: There were 30,938 citations acquiredand input into STI database, as confirmed by per-formance monitoring of the contract for databaseinputs. The target was exceeded with the help of afocused thrust to leverage help from NASA organiza-tions beyond the STI program. Twenty-six issues ofelectronic current awareness products were publishedand distributed. All issues were produced eitherahead of schedule or on time. Also, 128,727 biblio-graphic/citation records added. This metric wasexceeded because of a new focus on and approach tolocating and adding commercially available sourcesand data buys in addition to exchange agreements.
In addition to the accomplishments described above,the Agency has also exceeded this target through theuse of the national media. One example of StrategicEnterprise use of the media can be found in NASA’sconsiderable efforts to increase the public’s awarenessof our Earth Science Enterprise activities. In 1999,the Earth Science Enterprise increased the numberof annual national news releases threefold, providingat least one major national news story a month, con-tributing supporting video footage and animationthat brought home the relevance of Earth ScienceEnterprise research to the American people.Examples of such news stories were the continuingstudies of annual weather phenomena such as ElNiño and La Niña, the monitoring of the globalozone situation, the use of satellite technologies forprecision farming, and contributions to monitoringhurricane activities.
NASA Advisory Council (NAC) Assessment of
FY 1999 Performance Plan
70
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
71
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
72
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
73
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
74
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
75
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
76
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
NA
C E
valu
atio
n o
f A
ST
E F
Y99
Per
form
ance
29.4
%33
.3%
47.1
%
55.6
%
23.5
%
11.1
%
0.0%
10.0
%
20.0
%
30.0
%
40.0
%
50.0
%
60.0
%
70.0
%
80.0
%
90.0
%
100.
0%
OA
T T
arge
tsO
AT
Obj
ectiv
es
Red
Per
fY
ello
wP
erf
Gre
en P
erf
Blu
e P
erf
NO
Rat
ing
77
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
NA
C E
valu
atio
n o
f H
ED
S F
Y 9
9 P
erfo
rman
ce
2.7%
22.2
%
10.8
%
73.0
%
66.7
%
10.8
%11
.1%
2.7%
0.0%
10.0
%
20.0
%
30.0
%
40.0
%
50.0
%
60.0
%
70.0
%
80.0
%
90.0
%
100.
0%
HE
DS
Tar
gets
HE
DS
Obj
ectiv
es
Red
Per
fY
ello
wP
erf
Gre
en P
erf
Blu
e P
erf
NO
Rat
ing
78
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
NA
C E
valu
atio
n o
f S
SE
FY
99 P
erfo
rman
ce
14.8
%12
.5%
5.3%
70.4
%
87.5
%
73.7
%
14.8
%21
.1%
0%10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
SS
E T
arge
tsS
SE
Obj
ectiv
esS
SA
C E
valu
atio
n of
Nea
r te
rmsc
ienc
e ob
ject
ives
Red
Per
f
Yel
low
Per
f
Gre
en P
erf
Blu
e P
erf
NO
Rat
ing
79
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
NA
C E
valu
atio
n o
f E
SE
FY
99
Per
form
ance
41.7
%40
.0%
16.7
%17
.1%
41.7
%42
.9%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
ES
E O
bjec
tives
ES
E T
arge
ts
Red
Per
f
Yel
low
Per
f
Gre
en P
erf
Blu
e P
erf
NO
Rat
ing
80
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
NA
C E
valu
atio
n o
f F
Y 9
9 C
rosc
utt
ing
Fu
nct
ion
s P
erfo
rman
ce
17.2
%
75.9
%
100.
0%
3.4%
3.4%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Cro
sscu
tting
Pro
cess
Tar
gets
Cro
sscu
tting
Pro
cess
Obj
ectiv
es
Red
Per
f
Yel
low
Per
f
Gre
en P
erf
Blu
e P
erf
NO
Rat
ing
A
ACE Advanced Composition ExplorerADP automated data processingAES Atmospheric Environmental Services (of Canada)AIAA American Institute of Aeronautics and AstronauticsAVHRR Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer
B
BR&C Biomedical Research and Countermeasures (HEDS program)
C
CASI Center for Aerospace InformationCDR Critical Design ReviewCERES Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy SystemCFIT controlled flight into terrainCSOC Consolidated Space Operations Contract
D
DA Data AnalysisDAAC Distributed Active Archive CenterDRM Design Reference MissionDSN Deep Space Network
E
EOCAP Earth Observations Commercial Applications ProgramEOS Earth Observing SystemEOSDIS EOS Data and Information SystemERBE Earth Radiation Budget ExperimentERBS Earth Radiation Budget SatelliteEROS Earth Resources Observation SystemERS ESA Remote Sensing SatelliteESA European Space AgencyEVA extravehicular activityEXPRESS Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station
F
FAA Federal Aviation AdministrationFACS Financial and Contractual Statusfcc face centered cubic
81
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
List of Acronyms
FGB Functional Cargo Block (Russian acronym)FIRE First ISCCP Regional ExperimentFTE Full-Time EquivalentFY fiscal year
G
GACP Global Aerosol Climatology ProjectGIS Geographic Information SystemGISS Goddard Institute for Space StudiesGLOBE Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the EnvironmentGOES Geostationary Operational Environmental SatelliteGPRA Government Performance and Results ActGPS Global Positioning SystemGRACE Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
H
HACA hydrogen-abstraction/carbon-additionHEDS Human Exploration and Development of Space (Enterprise)HPFTP High-pressure Fuel TurbopumpHPOTP High-pressure Oxidizer TurbopumpHRF Human Research Facility
I
ICAO International Civil Aviation OrganizationICESat Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation SatelliteIMP Interplanetary Monitoring PlatformIPCC International Panel on Climate ChangeISCCP International Satellite Cloud Climatology ProjectISE Intelligent Synthesis EnvironmentISO International Organization for StandardizationISS International Space StationITEA International Technology Education Association
J
JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory
M
MEIT Multi-Element Integrated TestMGS Mars Global SurveyorMIP Mars In-Situ Propellant
82
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging SpectrometerMOLA Mars Orbiter Laser AltimeterMPLM Multi-Purpose Logistics ModelMSL Microgravity Science Laboratory
N
NAC NASA Advisory CouncilNACA National Advisory Committee for AeronauticsNACC NASA ADP Consolidation CenterNASA National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNEAR Near Earth Asteroid RendezvousNEW NASA’s Education WorkshopsNISN NASA Integrated Service NetworkNIST National Institute of Standards and TechnologyNMP New Millennium programNOA New Obligations AuthorityNO3 nitrogen trioxideNOx oxides of nitrogenNRA NASA Research AnnouncementNSCAT NASA ScatterometerNSTA National Science Teachers Association
O
OClO chlorine dioxideOLMSA Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and ApplicationsOV Orbiter Vehicle
P
PBC Performance Based ContractPEM Pacific Exploratory MissionPICASSO- Pathfinder Instruments for Cloud and Aerosol Spacebourne Observations/
CENA Climatologie Etendue des Nuages et des AerosolsPOAM Polar Ozone and Aerosol Measurement
Q
QRAS Quantitative Risk Assessment SystemQuikSCAT Quick Scatterometer
R
R&A Research and AnalysisRESAC Regional Earth Science Applications Center
83
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
rhcp random hexagonal closed packedRPA Remotely Piloted AircraftRXTE Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
S
SAGE Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas ExperimentSAR Synthetic Aperture RadarSAREX Shuttle Amateur Radio ExperimentSBUV Solar Backscatter UltravioletSCIGN Southern California Integrated GPS NetworkSeaWiFS Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view SensorSF Standard FormSLD Super-cooled Large DropletsSMEX Small ExplorerSOHO Solar and Heliospheric ObservatorySOLSTICE Solar/Stellar Irradiance Comparison ExperimentSP Special PublicationSPARTAN Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for AstronomySRTM Shuttle Radar Topography MissionSSAC Space Science Advisory CommitteeSSME Space Shuttle Main EngineSSRMS Space Station Remote Manipulator SystemSTI Scientific and Technical Information (program)STS Space Transportation System
T
TEPC tissue equivalent proportional counterTIP Telemedicine Instrumentation PackTOMS Total Ozone Mapping SpectrometerTOPEX Ocean Topography ExperimentTRACE Transition Region and Coronal ExplorerTRL Technology Readiness LevelTRMM Tropical Rainfall Measuring MissionTSDIS TRMM Data and Information System
U
UARS Upper Atmospheric Research SatelliteUF Utilization FlightUNEP United Nations Environment ProgrammeUSDA U.S. Department of AgricultureUSGCRP U.S. Global Climate Research Program
84
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
V
VCL Vegetation Canopy Lidar
W
WIRE Wide-field Infrared ExplorerWMO World Meteorological OrganizationWORF Window Observation Research Facility
Y
Y2K Year 2000
85
FY
19
99
P
er
fo
rm
an
ce
R
ep
or
t
100
0
National Aeronautics and Space Administration