of today and the reality of tomorrow. - nasa · it is difficult to say what is impossible, for the...

Goddard Space Flight Center1998 Annual ReportIt is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope

of today and the reality of tomorrow.

Robert H. Goddard

Fortieth AnniversaryPioneering the Future

NP-1999-01-004-GSFC

I am very pleased to provide this report outlining the events and accom-plishments of 1998. The past year’s announcements of achievements,new people, processes, and partners seem to be events that simply hap-pened overnight. Far from it. It was the culmination of everyone’s hardwork and determination. It was a year marked both by remarkableresults, as well as some disappointments and losses.

During the past year, I was struck by the Center’s will to succeed andbecome better than ever. I witnessed many organizations working withothers to develop and reinforce partnerships and involve more groups inour research and technology. Our impact on our various communitiesis the emphasis of this report: how we made a difference to science,engineering, the economic base, education in our schools, neighbor-hood, as well as to enrich our own experiences. This report highlightsresults from investigations; collaborations with special groups; theimpact of resources that flow to the country not only through industry,but also through higher education; and a look at our employees andtheir unique contributions.

I emphasized three themes in 1998. First was safety, with emphasis onthe work environment as well as mission-related factors. Second wasISO 9001, which served as a framework for process definition andreview. As part of reviewing our processes, we kicked off ProjectGoddard and initiated a fresh look at promotion practices; both areguides for the challenges of the next century. Finally was enhancedcommunication, with such activities as regularly held meetings withsupervisors, open email, and personal notes from me delivered in every-one’s electronic mailbox. These themes won’t disappear in 1999, ratherthey will be strengthened by the work accomplished to date.

We’ve encountered setbacks with launch delays and technical chal-lenges. But these issues fail to deter the steadfast regimen of employeesseeking excellence for the American taxpayer.

Message From the Director

Goddard as a Unique National Resource 3

Impact to Communities 7

Economic Impact 27

People at Work and In the Community 41

Goddard Awardees 45

Conclusion Inside Back Cover

Cover photo: Proof positive of a dramaticspace rescue, this image of the Sun wascaptured by the Extreme UltravioletImaging Telescope more than threemonths after contact was completely lostwith the Solar and HeliosphericObservatory. Recovery teams were able toreacquire control of the spacecraft andbegin the delicate task of switching on itsscientific instruments.

NASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual Report

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centertakes pride in its people, its state-of-the-artfacilities, laboratories, and capabilities aswell as its tradition to “be good” and “dogood” in what we do. The Center’s com-mitment to its value-centered missionstrengthens every project and endeavor.

Center of Excellence for ScientificResearch

Goddard Space Flight Center is NASA’sCenter of Excellence for Scientific

Research, giving Goddard a focusedAgencywide leadership

responsibility in this area.Goddard is charged with

being preeminentwithin the Agencywith respect to thehuman resources,facilities and othercritical capabilitiesassociated with sci-entific research.

Goddard must main-tain or increase the

Agency’s preeminentposition in scientific

research in line with NASA’sprogram requirements of the

Space Science and Earth ScienceEnterprises.

To support NASA’s Space ScienceEnterprise, Goddard leads the mission ofphysics and astronomy to create opportuni-ties for conducting research through abroad variety of flight opportunities.Goddard promotes the development ofadvanced technology designed to enhancescientific capabilities at an affordable cost.

Goddard as aUnique NationalResource

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In our explorations, we made El Niño a household word around theglobe. We know more about how the Earth lives, in the oceans andland, than ever before because of SeaWiFS. The Solar and HeliosphericObservatory (SOHO) is a dramatic story of a nearly lost spacecraftnursed back to full operational mode. SOHO’s track record of deliveringquality data about the Sun and space weather is nothing less thanextraordinary. The Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission revealed tallchimney clouds in Hurricane Bonnie, a view of a storm we’d neverexperienced. The Rossi XTE showed us how a new star can accelerateits rotation by pulling gas from a companion star.

In our local community, we awarded resources for incubator programsto build up application of NASA technology. We changed the way edu-cators provide instruction in classrooms, building on the use of ourinformation and quick access to the latest and greatest. And, despitesome tough starts, we are well on the road to a process that improveshow grants are awarded to higher education organizations.

These are only examples of the many, many contributions people madeduring the past year. There were some changes in key positions aswell. Bill Townsend was named Deputy Director and Mary Kicza,Associate Director. I named Nancy Abell as the Center’s ChiefFinancial Officer and asked Dan Krieger to join the Director’s staff forone year to help us focus on the diversity issues that came out of ourculture survey. The Goddard workforce continues to be the greatestasset of the Center. Our studies, reports, and findings will testify to thededication and commitment of our people to Robert H. Goddard’s quotefrom his 1904 high school speech: “The dream of yesterday is the hopeof today and reality of tomorrow.” He believed in that and so do we.

A.V. Diaz

In collaboration with our customers andpartners worldwide, Goddard seeksanswers about how the universe formed,what it is made of, how its componentsinteract, and how it evolves. The Centeralso contributes to the quest to learn howstars and planetary systems form andevolve. Goddard will take part in determin-ing the nature of the Sun’s interaction withits surroundings. Similarly, Goddard willwork with others to discover the propertiesof interplanetary space as well as theplasma environment of the planets.

To support NASA’s Earth ScienceEnterprise, Goddard leads the mission ofEarth system science and plays a majorrole in this new interdisciplinary field.Goddard works with its customers andpartners to identify and develop faster andat less cost the technology needs foradvanced Earth science sensors.

Research in this area will advance under-standing of the Earth as an environmentalsystem by determining how its compo-nents have developed, how they function,how they interact with one another, andhow they evolve on various times scales.This will enable scientists to quantify thepractical impacts that both natural andhuman activities will have on the Earth’sresources during the next decade and overthe next century.

Goddard is committed to the developmentand infusion of cutting-edge technology toincrease mission performance and capabili-ties while reducing the costs of performingscientific measurements from space. Toaccomplish this, Goddard provides Agencyleadership to advance next generationspacecraft, sensor, and instrument technol-ogy. This leadership will result in

ABOVE:Earth-orbiting satellites andglobal monitoring make itpossible to see conditionssuch as the extent of cloudcover and the temperature ofthe ocean's surface waters asthey are on the Earth today.

Employee Facts and Figures

Our workforce represents one of the country’s finest resources to enable discovery,either by researcher or student, an interested citizen or casual web surfer. The follow-ing offers some background data.

GSFC Civil Servants - 3,227 GSFC Contractors - 8,332

Civil Service Workforce Educational Mix:

Highest Degree Earned Degree # % of workforcePHD - 436 13.5%Masters - 601 18.6%Bachelors - 1,293 40.1%Associates - 117 3.6%No Degree - 780 24.2%

NASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual Report NASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual Report

advanced Earth observing satellites andspace science missions at reduced costs.

By creating and maintaining synergyamong the science, engineering, andproject management disciplines, Goddardwill ensure the maximum return on itstechnology investment.

As a Center of Excellence, Goddard plansand coordinates technological research anddevelopment both within the Center andwith external partners. The Center servesas a catalyst for forming teams among aca-demic, government, and commercial con-cerns to draw on the best capabilities ofeach. Goddard also transfers the technol-ogy that is developed to the private sectorto strengthen the national economy.

Strategic Implementation Plan

Goddard’s Strategic Implementation Planprovides a framework for decisions andactions and for the future direction of theCenter. The plan establishes a vision forthe Center, consistent with its Center ofExcellence and Missions roles and respon-sibilities, of revolutionizing knowledge ofthe Earth and the universe through scien-tific discovery from space to enhance lifeon Earth. The plan also sets forthGoddard’s values: Agility, Balance,Creativity, Dedication, Integrity, Respect,and Teamwork. These seven guiding prin-ciples determine the culture and set thecontext in which decisions are made.

Goddard’s Mission

Goddard’s mission is to enable discoverythrough leadership in Earth and spacescience. We serve the scientific commu-nity, inspire the nation, foster education,and stimulate economic growth. Wepartner with others to achieve NASA’s

goals, and we create technologies thatsupport and advance these endeavors totake full advantage of doing research inspace. We accomplish this through innova-tion in all that we do.

Centerwide Goals

Six Centerwide goals and supporting strate-gies guide Goddard and are linked with theNASA Strategic Plan, Enterprise Plans, andthe Agency Performance Plan to form theframework for the Center’s annual goals,performance targets, and actions.

Goal 1: To serve as a national resource fordiscovery in Earth and space science andtechnology development.

Goal 2: To be an international Center ofExcellence for research in Earth science,space science, and technology.

Goal 3: To enhance the Nation’s technolog-ical and scientific literacy by sharing theinformation and knowledge that result fromthe performance of Goddard’s mission.

Goal 4: To accomplish the Center’s missionthrough a vital and effective workforce.

Goal 5: To maintain and upgrade Goddard’score infrastructure, laboratory facilities, andequipment to preserve the Center’s preemi-nence as a national resource and Center ofExcellence.

Goal 6: To organize science, technology,flight mission, and business processes toachieve greater productivity.

Organizational Structure

The Goddard Space Flight Center started1998 under a reorganization structure thattook effect in later December of the previ-ous year. This reorganization was under-taken to better align the Center’sorganizational structure with the objectives

of the Goddard Strategic ImplementationPlan and to facilitate the transition to anenabling organization with increasedemphasis on technology and advancedsystem development. The organizationalchanges are outlined below.

Key changes include the establishmentof the Systems, Technology, andAdvanced Concepts Directorate and theApplied Engineering and TechnologyDirectorate. The Mission Operations andData Systems Directorate andEngineering Directorate were disestab-lished in their entirety, along with theAssurance Technologies Division withinthe Office of Flight Assurance, and theEngineering and Safety Division, andProgram and Mission ManagementDivision within the Suborbital Projectsand Operations Division. The employeesand functional responsibilities of theseformer Directorates and Divisions wereassigned to the Systems, Technology, andAdvanced Concepts Directorate; AppliedEngineering and Technology Directorate;

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ABOVE:A recent Hubble SpaceTelescope view using datataken with the NearInfrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer revealsUranus surrounded by itsfour major rings and by 10of its 17 known satellites.

Civil Servants by Skill Groups:Skill # % of workforceClerical - 247 7.6%Prof. Admin. - 783 24.3%Sci. & Eng. - 1,893 58.7%Technicians - 241 7.5%Wage Grade - 63 1.9%

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Flight Projects Directorate; theManagement Operations Directorate; ornew organizational elements within theSuborbital Projects and OperationsDirectorate.

Project Goddard

Goddard has begun to make a number ofchanges that are necessary for the Centerto realize its goals and to fulfill its missionand responsibilities. Project Goddard wasinitiated to respond to the GoddardEmployee Survey and the recommenda-tions provided by Goddard’s supervisorymanagement team. Its goals are to:

• Provide unified leadership to steer Goddardthrough the current period of change.

• Translate the Goddard StrategicImplementation Plan into lower level plans.

• Align the Center’s resources with its corebusiness base.

• Communicate these efforts so employees canunderstand why change is happening andhow they can participate.

When completed in the Spring of 1999,Project Goddard will describe a well under-stood future that fulfills Enterprise strategicplans and is endorsed by our customersand sponsors. Project Goddard will providea clear understanding of what must changeto achieve that future state and will offeran agreed upon set of actions to ensure theneeded changes occur.

ISO 9001

To help Goddard pull together mission,goals, procedures, and processes andensure its competitive edge, the Center isbuilding a Quality Management System fora Spring 1999 ISO 9001 certification. TheQuality Management System is a value-added approach to Goddard’s work and aneffective approach to continuous improve-ment of its processes. This effort is notsimply to meet a requirement for theCenter to have an ISO 9001 certificate butfor the continuing health and vibrancy ofGoddard as an organization and as a placeto work.

Results of Goddard’s space and Earth sci-ence investigations and technologicaladvances reach around the globe, impact-ing the research community, policy mak-ers, consumers of information, educators,and our neighbors. Our work is customer-focused across a variety of disciplines andinterests, seeking answers to age old puz-zles about the universe and the Earth.

Earth Science Community

The Earth’s dynamic system and all of itsinterrelated elements are the subject ofimportant scientific exploration at Goddard.Goddard scientists combine comprehensiveviews from Earth-observing satellites withscientific exploration on the Earth’ssurface. This combination helps scientistsunderstand the complex inter-workings ofthe Earth’s hydrosphere, biosphere, andatmosphere; the solid Earth; and its inte-rior. With increasing understanding of theEarth’s system, Goddard scientists are ableto evaluate many important phenomenaaffecting our planet. Research underway byGoddard scientists includes:

Land Cover Change and Land Use Change

Seasonal-to-Interannual Climate Variabilityand Prediction

Natural Hazards Research and Applications

Long-Term Climate Variability

Atmospheric Ozone

The ongoing goal of Goddard’s EarthScience Enterprise is to merge thesestudies into an integrated model of theEarth as a system. NASA works with uni-versity, government, and industry scien-tists to identify areas of Earth scienceresearch that will have substantial societalbenefits.

The Earth Observing System (EOS) is thecenterpiece of NASA’s Earth ScienceEnterprise. It consists of a science compo-nent and a data system component sup-porting a coordinated series ofpolar-orbiting and low-inclination satellitesfor long-term global observations of theland surface, biosphere, solid Earth, atmos-phere, and oceans. Major Earth sciencemissions will be launched in each of thenext four years: Landsat–7 and the firstEOS morning satellite (AM–1) in 1999; thefirst EOS afternoon satellite (PM–1) in2000; the Ice, Cloud and Land ElevationSatellite (ICEsat–1) in 2001; and the atmos-pheric chemistry mission (CHEM–1) in2002. These new missions will provide forthe first time a comprehensive set of datafor understanding the Earth as an inte-grated system, for implementing practicalapplications of satellite measurements, andfor improving predictive models of ourweather and climate.

EOS satellites and complementary interna-tional missions will fly over most of theEarth’s surface gathering data for a widerange of global and regional studies, suchas global changes in the atmosphere andland surfaces and regional assessments ofpollution and water resources. What wereonce studied as isolated events will beexamined as interconnected processesforming a comprehensive description ofEarth system dynamics.

SeaWiFS and TRMM —Watching the Earth’s Climate Unfold

For the first time, NASA scientists andresearchers around the world were able topredict and to watch unfold, a huge cli-matic event in full color and real time froma global perspective. For a continuous year,the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor

SystemsTechnology

and AdvancedConcepts

Suborbitaland UniversityClass ProjectOperations

FlightProjects

Office ofFlight

Assurance

ManagementOperations

SpaceSciences

EarthSciences

Office ofHuman

Resources

Office of theChief Financial

Officer

AppliedEngineering

andTechnology

AssociateDirector

Earth SciencePrograms

DirectorDeputy Director

Associate Director

NASAOffice ofInspectorGeneral

EqualEmployment

ProgramsOffice

Office ofPublicAffairs

Office of Chief

Counsel

Office ofUniversityPrograms

AssociateDirector

Space SciencePrograms

Impact toCommunities

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(SeaWiFS) collected dramatic images docu-menting the Earth’s dynamic biosphereand the amazing response of life to a verypowerful El Niño.

Launched on August 1, 1997, SeaWiFS isshedding light on the ebb and flow of lifeas it thrives and dies with the Earth’schanging seasons. SeaWiFS provides aunique capability to study both land andoceans by using a single sensor to monitorbiological changes globally.

Among the highlights of SeaWiFS’ first yearwere new insights into the impact that ElNiño climate events have on ocean life.While the 1997–98 El Niño essentially shutdown the highly productive ecosystem inthe equatorial Pacific Ocean, the followingLa Niña event resulted in unprecedentedphytoplankton blooms that spread acrossthe entire equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Adding to the mission’s value, SeaWiFS wasable to monitor a variety of natural disas-ters including fires in Florida, Mexico,Canada, Indonesia, and Russia; floods inChina; dust storms in the Sahara and GobiDeserts; and the progress of hurricanesBonnie and Danielle.

Unique approaches to calibrating theSeaWiFS sensor have made possible thegeneration of superior quality data prod-ucts in near-real time. Researchers aroundthe world easily can access this wealth ofinformation through the EOS DistributedActive Archive Center at Goddard whereon-line systems facilitate rapid and cost-effective data distribution.

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission(TRMM), a joint U.S.–Japanese mission,was launched by the Japanese NationalSpace Development Agency in 1997.TRMM’s first year in orbit has been highlysuccessful, producing data in quality andquantity even better than anticipated byGoddard scientists and Japanese col-leagues. TRMM includes the first space-borne rain radar and is the first satellitemission dedicated to measuring tropicaland subtropical rainfall through microwaveand visible and infrared sensors.

In August 1998, TRMM obtained com-pelling images of Hurricane Bonnieshowing a storm cloud towering like a sky-scraper, 18 km (11 miles) into the sky.Many scientists believe that towering cloud

structures areprobably precur-sors to hurricaneintensification.TRMM hasobserved morethan onehundred tropical

cyclones since its launch, enhancing scien-tists’ knowledge of cloud structures withintropical storms as the storms develop andrecede. By studying differences in the pat-terns of ocean and land-based storms,TRMM is providing scientists the mostdetailed information to date on theprocesses of powerful storms, leading tonew insights on how cyclones and hurri-canes affect global climate patterns.

TRMM’s complement of state-of-the-artinstruments includes a precipitation radar,microwave scanner, visible imager, anEarth radiation sensor, and a lightningimager. Together, theinstruments provideextremely accurate mea-surements of tropical

rain and lightning variability and distribu-tion and the balance of solar-absorbed andEarth-emitted radiation. Ultimately, datafrom TRMM will enhance our knowledgeof the vertical distribution of heating in theatmosphere and improve our understand-ing of worldwide atmospheric circulation.

Atmospheric Ozone Research

NASA and National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA) satel-lites showed the Antarctic ozone holecovered the largest expanse of territorysince its discovery in the early 1980s,reaching a record size of 27.3 millionsquare kilometers (10.5 million squaremiles). The measurements were obtainedusing the Total Ozone MappingSpectrometer (TOMS) instrument aboardNASA’s Earth Probe satellite and the SolarBackscatter Ultraviolet Instrument aboardthe NOAA–14 satellite.

BELOW:SeaWiFS color maps canmap subtle differences inEarth’s ocean color. The"color" of the North Poleprojection stronglydepends on how sunlightis reflected by free-floatingorganisms that containchlorophyll.

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ABOVE:The Sea-viewing WideField-of-view Sensor, thefirst ocean color missionto observe an El Niño-LaNiña cycle on a globalscale, shows the dramaticecological transition inthe equatorial Pacificfrom El Niño to La Niña.

Data derived from NOAA–12was used to generate this imageof sunlight glinting off HurricaneBonnie as it approaches theNorth Carolina coast.

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Missionobtained this image of Hurricane Bonnie.It shows a (cumulonimbus) storm cloud,towering like a sky scraper, 18 km(59,000 feet) into the sky from theeyewall.

SeaWiFS Captures El Niño - La Niña Transition in Equatorial Pacific

January 1998 Chlorophyll-a

July 1998 Chlorophyll-a


Scientists found that the increased size ofthe ozone hole is a direct result of unusu-ally cold stratospheric temperatures.However, scientists can not explain the lowtemperatures. The decrease in ozone couldresult in increased ultraviolet radiationexposure in southern Chile and Argentina.Another concern with an ozone hole of thissize is that ozone-depleted air will migrateinto mid-latitudes in the SouthernHemisphere.

The Goddard Institute for Space Studies(GISS) and Columbia University, New York,reported that larger levels of ozone deple-tion were observed over the Arctic than inany previous year on record. Modelssuggest that increasing greenhouse gases inthe atmosphere are one possible cause ofthe Arctic ozone losses. This is the firsttime that the interaction between ozonechemistry and the gradual buildup ofgreenhouse gases has been studied in aclimate model.

Although ozone levels around the globe areexpected to continue to decline over thenext several years, NASA is now findingthat the growth rates of ozone-depletingcompounds in the upper part of the atmos-phere is decreasing, indicating that interna-tional treaties to protect the ozone layerare working.

Airborne Laser Assessment ofCoastal Erosion

The periodic El Niño events have causeddevastating effects, and NASA has workedwith other Government agencies to assessthe damage. Several years ago, Goddard’sWallops Flight Facility, NOAA’s CoastalServices Center, and USGS’s Coastal andMarine Program jointly formulated a planto address the following questions:

What were the magnitudes and spatial pat-terns of beach and coastal cliff erosion alongrepresentative beaches characteristic of theentire West Coast of the United States?

How do these changes differ from what occursduring non-El Niño winters?

To what extent were elevated sea level andchanges in wave climate responsible forcoastal change?

A key element of the plan was to survey1,200 km (745 miles) of the West Coastboth prior to and following the El Niñoperiods using NASA’s Airborne TopographicMapper, a scanning airborne laser. Initialresults following this year’s El Niño showpatterns of erosion along the coast that arelikely caused by changes in wave actionduring El Niño years.

Regional Applications Center Project

The goal of the Regional ApplicationsCenter (RAC) program is to foster the self-supporting use of environmental and Earthresource data from satellites and othersources by regional institutions includingfederal, state and local government, uni-versities, consortia, and commercial com-panies. This involves collaboration withthese centers to transfer technology,science results, and data from Goddard tothe RAC in support of their own user base.

Each RAC has a specific remote sensingapplications focus that serves one or moreparticular needs for their geographicregion. Goddard provides technology, gov-ernment software, and data as well as sci-entific and technology implementationexpertise. RACs in turn provide feedbackon the use of the technology and data toNASA as input to further research andtechnology development efforts. RACs alsoact as commercialization agents. SeveralRACs currently are active in establishingnew companies and products.

Space Science CommunityThe Origins Initiative, a set of missions andenhancements to current programs,emerged from NASA’s Space ScienceEnterprise strategic planning that includedhundreds of scientists, engineers, educators,and communicators of science. They devel-oped science and technology “Roadmaps”for each of the four science “themes,”:Sun–Earth Connection, Structure andEvolution of the Universe, AstronomicalSearch for Origins, and Solar SystemExploration, around which the Agency’sOffice of Space Science is organized.

To support NASA’s Space ScienceEnterprise, Goddard leads the spacescience community in space-based physicsand astronomy.

The Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP)will measure temperature variations inmicrowave radiation from the Big Bang to

Regional Applications CentersUniversity of Southwestern Louisiana Florida International UniversityEastern Shore of Maryland TechnicalCenter of ExcellenceCayuga CountyUniversity of KansasUniversity of Maryland, BaltimoreCampusUniversity of Nebraska, LincolnRutgers University Clemson UniversityJames Madison UniversityUniversity of Puerto RicoUniversity of HawaiiBowling Green State UniversityU.S. Naval AcademyGoddard Space Flight Center

The NOAA–K (15) satellitewas launched successfullyMay 13 from VandenbergAir Force Base, Calif.NOAA–K is the latest in theadvanced TIROS–N series.The spacecraft will continuethe provision of a polar-orbiting platform to supportthe environmental monitor-ing instruments for imagingand measurement of theEarth’s atmosphere, itssurface, and cloud cover.Additionally, NOAA–K isthe first in the series tosupport dedicatedmicrowave instruments forthe generation of tempera-ture, moisture, surface, andhydrological products incloudy regions where visibleand infrared instrumentshave decreased capability.

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AVHRR Image of a Portion of the Kamchatka Peninsula

First NOAA–15 Image taken 13 May 1998 - 20:50 UTC

Data from the TOMSinstrument show the sizeof the region of depletedAntarctic ozone (shown inblue) extended to a record27.1 million sq. km (10.5million-sq. mi.). Regionswith higher levels of ozoneare shown in red.


obtain a wealth of informa-tion on the fundamentalnature of the cosmos. Forthe MAP project, 1998 wasa very productive year ofturning designs into flighthardware; nearly all flighthardware will be ready forintegration at Goddard by year’s end. Thefull MAP Observatory integration willoccur in 1999 and launch will be in 2000.

Constellation–X is a proposed mission tostudy a variety of powerful objects andevents, such as supermassive black holesand exploding stars, by making detailedobservations of the X-rays from them. TheConstellation–X program began funding atechnology program to develop the opticsand detectors required to enable themission.

The Gamma Ray Large Area SpaceTelescope (GLAST) will observe the mostviolent events in the universe withunprecedented detail. GLAST is in theNASA Office of Space Science StrategicPlan for a launch in 2005. This year theproject selected three teams to developtechnology needed for the mission.

Sun–Earth ConnectionThe thrust of space physics, the Sun–EarthConnection, is to observe and interpret thevariable radiations in the Earth’s spaceenvironment. Three “quests,” that shapethe efforts to understand the workings ofthe Sun and the nature and extent of itsinfluence on the Earth and other solarsystem bodies are:

How and why does the Sun vary?

How do the Earth and planets respond?

What are the implications for humanity?

Goddard spacecraft provide a powerfulnetwork for investigating many of thephysical processes that link the Sun andthe Earth. The continuation of these mis-sions represents an efficient and cost-effec-tive means of providing important newdata on the Sun’s influence on the Earth’smagnetosphere and upper atmosphere.

Solar and Heliospheric Observatory

In April 1998, NASA and European SpaceAgency scientists celebrated two years ofsuccessful operations of the Solar andHeliospheric Observatory (SOHO), and thetwo agencies decided to extend the missionto 2003. The extension would enable SOHOto observe intense solar activity, expectedwhen the count of sunspots rises to amaximum around the year 2000. It wouldremain the flagship of a multinational fleetof solar spacecraft.

However, the celebration was short lived.On June 24, ground controllers lost contactwith SOHO during maintenance opera-tions. In one of the most dramatic spacerescue efforts in NASA’s history, the space-craft was located using radar techniqueswith the 305-meter (990 ft) Arecibo, PuertoRico, radio telescope of the U.S. NationalAstronomy and Ionosphere Center as atransmitter and a 70-meter (228 ft) dish ofthe NASA Deep Space Network as a receiver.

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatoryfirst responded to radio transmissions onAugust 3, and telemetry was received on

August 8, telling controllers the conditionof the spacecraft and its instruments.

New, high-quality pictures of the Sun takenin October raised hopes that the missionwould soon be returned to scientific opera-tions and were the latest success for theteam during a complex, challenging recov-ery sequence.

Since then, engineers have successfullybrought all 12 scientific instruments backinto operation on the joint mission.

Prior to the interruption, instruments onSOHO had taken about two million imagesof the Sun, an activity representing over aterabyte (a trillion bytes) of data. The jointmission of the European Space Agency andNASA revolutionized solar science by itsspecial ability to observe simultaneouslythe interior and atmosphere of the Sun andparticles in the solar wind and the Sun’souter atmosphere.

SOHO observations have been the subjectof more than 200 papers submitted to refer-eed, scientific journals. Apart from discov-eries about flows of gas inside the Sun,giant “tornadoes” of hot, electricallycharged gas and clashing magnetic field-lines, SOHO also proved its worth as thechief watchdog for the Sun, giving earlywarning of eruptions that could affect theEarth.

Images from SOHO showed investigatorsfor the first time that solar flares produceseismic waves in the Sun’s interior thatresemble those created by earthquakes;captured a unique image of two cometsplunging into the Sun’s atmosphere fol-lowed by a probably unrelated, but dra-matic ejection of hot gas and magneticenergy known as a coronal mass ejection;and assisted eclipse expeditions from

Elements of the MicrowaveAnisotropy Probe undergocheckout at Goddard. MAP isa MIDEX class mission thatwill measure temperature dif-ferences, "anisotropy", in thecosmic microwave back-ground radiation.

BELOW:An instrument on board theSOHO solar observatorycaptures an image of twocomets arcing toward a fatalfiery encounter with theSun. The Sungrazer cometsapproach from below andhave visible tails.

ABOVE: Researchers at theU.S. National Astronomy andIonosphere Center in Arecibo,Puerto Rico, used the facility'sradio telescope to transmit asignal toward SOHO, whileNASA's Deep Space Networkin Goldstone, CA, acted as areceiver, locating the space-craft's echo and tracking itusing radar techniques.

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around the world in making key observa-tions of the Sun in ways impossible withground-based telescopes.

Advanced Composition Explorer

The first results from the Goddard-managed Advanced Composition Explorer(ACE) spacecraft are challenging thecurrent understanding of the accelerationof particles by explosions on the Sun.Researchers are using ACE to samplematter from explosive solar events, calledflares. By comparing the amounts of differ-ent elements found in solar cosmic rays,scientists can learn what events on the Sunare likely to have produced them, and howthose events accelerate cosmic ray parti-cles. Because the majority of the materialin the solar system is contained in the Sun,studying the solar composition can tellresearchers about the history and evolutionof the solar system.

Transition Region and CoronalExplorer

The first images from the Goddard builtand managed Transition Region andCoronal Explorer (TRACE) spacecraftrevealed activity in the solar atmosphere instunning clarity and included the first

detailed observations of a magnetic energyrelease, called a magnetic reconnection.This explosive release of vast amounts ofenergy is responsible for similar events onthe Sun, such as flares, that can cause com-munication and power system disruptionson Earth.

TRACE’s observations of solar flares inextreme ultraviolet light are yielding newdata on active phenomena on the Sun. Thefindings show that large-scale events canhappen very rapidly on the Sun. One flare,less than 320 km (200 mi) wide, was about88,500 km (55,000 mi) long. It appearedand vanished in just a few minutes. TRACEwas able to obtain unprecedented informa-tion on such explosions because it takeshighly detailed pictures at rapid rates overlong intervals.

Structure and Evolution ofthe UniverseThe Structure and Evolution of theUniverse theme embraces three fundamen-tal scientific quests:

To explain the structure of the universe andforecast our cosmic destiny.

To explore the cycles of matter and energy inthe evolving universe.

To examine the ultimate limits of gravity andenergy in the universe.

Some Goddard missions are beginning toaddress these campaigns.

Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer

The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE)discovered a super-dense star spinning atmore than 60 times per second. Thisexceptionally fast pulsar, investigatorsbelieve, could have been spinning as fast as

150 times per second or more when itformed some 4,000 years ago. Fasterpulsars were previously known, but all arethought to have rotated much more slowlywhen formed.

One of the Milky Way Galaxy’s largest starsmay in fact be a double star system,according to research by a team ofastronomers using RXTE. Unusual varia-tions in the intensity of X-rays emitted byhot gas near Eta Carinae are thought to becaused by the presence of a massive com-panion star in orbit around it. Eta Carinaeis an estimated 7,500 light years fromEarth in the southern sky.

RXTE scientists reported that a newly dis-covered star that is emitting rapid pulses ofX-rays may be the long-sought missing linkbetween old neutron stars that emit power-ful flashes of X-rays, and older, rapidlyspinning neutron stars that emit mainlyradio waves. The new-found star, a type ofso-called X-ray pulsar, has accelerated itsown rotation at the expense of a nearby“companion” star by pulling gas from thecompanion onto its surface in a processcalled accretion.

14 15

ABOVE: This image is a com-posite view of the total solareclipse using the ExtremeUltraviolet Imaging Telescopeon board the Solar andHeliospheric Observatoryspacecraft and a telescope onthe island of Aruba.

ACE

RIGHT: The high resolutionof the Transition Region andCoronal Explorer spacecraftreveals the fine structure inloops of plasma (hot, electri-cally charged gas) containedby strong magnetic fields.TRACE was launched intoorbit on Apr. 1, 1998 fromVandenberg AFB, Calif.

Recent optical and near IRobservations suggest that EtaCarinae may be two stars,not one! Scientists using theseimages and data fromNASA’s Rossi X-ray TimingExplorer spacecraft surmisethat the changes are becauseof the presence of a massive“companion” star in orbitaround Eta Carinae.

NASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual Report NASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual Report16 17

Compton Gamma Ray Observatory

Scientists assisted by the Compton GammaRay Observatory and the Hubble SpaceTelescope reported that a recently detectedcosmic gamma ray burst released severalhundred times more energy than a super-nova or exploding star. This immenseenergy release means that the observedgamma ray burst, and probably manyothers, are the most powerful explosionsthat have occurred in the universe since itscreation as a result of the Big Bang. For afew seconds, the burst was as luminous ingamma rays as the rest of the universe asseen from Earth. The burst took place in afaint galaxy about 12 billion light yearsfrom the Earth. The new discovery chal-lenges theories of the gamma ray burstprocess to account for such a great energyrelease in such a short time.

Search for Origins ProgramGoddard Space Flight Center is directingthe study effort for the Next GenerationSpace Telescope project and is responsiblefor the operation of the Hubble SpaceTelescope, an operating mission within theSearch for Origins theme. The intent of the“Origins” program is to search for clues tohelp scientists find our cosmic roots, fromthe formulation of galaxies, stars andplanets, to how did life originate on Earth,and is there life outside our solar system.

Over the course of the next two decades,the Origins program will use the bestminds in academia, industry, and NASA todevelop the technologies that will enableputting in space a succession of sophisti-cated telescopes each building on scientificand technological achievements of theprior missions. Augmented with ground-based observatories and research and

analysis, NASA’s Origins program will giveour civilization a better sense of the uni-verse around us and our place in it.

Next Generation Space Telescope

The Next Generation Space Telescope(NGST) will observe the first stars andgalaxies that formed after the Big Bang.The NGST partnership now includes ESA,the Canadian Space Agency, the SpaceTelescope Science Institute, and five NASAcenters. The first phase, mission conceptprocurement, will start in January 1999.NGST has started studies of four telescopemirror technologies, six instrument con-cepts, and five cryogenic actuators.Prospects are excellent for a launch in 2007

or 2008. This grand effort is embedded infundamental questions that have beenposed:

What is the shape of the universe?

How do galaxies evolve?

How do stars and planetary systems form andinteract?

What are the life cycles of matter in the uni-verse?

What is dark matter?

Answers to most of these questions involveobjects formed extremely early in thehistory of the universe. Such objects havetheir radiation greatly redshifted whenobserved in the current epoch, meaningthat observations are best performed in theinfrared portion of the spectrum. TheNGST will be capable of detecting radiationwhose wavelength lies in the range 0.6 to20 microns. Furthermore, the NGST mustbe able to see objects 400 times fainter thanthose currently studied with large ground-

based infrared telescopes or the currentgeneration of space-based infrared tele-scopes, and it must do so with the imagesharpness comparable to the Hubble SpaceTelescope.

NASA announced in 1998 that duties of theSpace Telescope Science Institute inBaltimore, Md., would be expanded toinclude the management of science opera-tions for the Next Generation SpaceTelescope. The Space Telescope ScienceInstitute, located at the Johns HopkinsUniversity, has been operating the scienceprogram for the Hubble telescope since1983.

Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) contin-ues to rewrite the astronomy book. Thisyear it has given astronomers their firstdirect look at what may be a protoplanetoutside our solar system—one apparentlythat has been ejected into deep space by itsparent stars. A protoplanet is a newbornplanet, which may still be hot from its for-mation. If the discovery, using Hubble’sNear Infrared Camera and Multi-ObjectSpectrometer, is confirmed, it will chal-lenge conventional theories about the birthand evolution of planets. Located within astar-forming region in the constellationTaurus, the object appears to lie at the endof a strange filament of light that suggestsit was flung away from the vicinity of anewly forming pair of stars. At a distance of450 light years, the same distance as thenewly formed stars, the candidate proto-planet would be ten thousand times lessluminous than the Sun. If the object is afew hundred thousand years old, the sameage as the newly formed star system in itsvicinity, then it is estimated to be 2–3times the mass of Jupiter.

The Next Generation Space Telescope Projectconducts an engineering model test deploymentof an inflatable sunshield. Inflatable and rigidiz-able structures potentially offer distinct advan-tages over existing mechanical structures.

BELOW: This Hubble SpaceTelescope near-infrared imageof newborn binary stars(image center) reveals a longthin nebula pointing toward afaint companion object(bottom left) which could bethe first extrasolar planet to beimaged directly. The candi-date protoplanet appears at adistance of 130 billion milesfrom the binary (1400 timesthe Earth's distance from theSun). The image was takenwith the Near InfraredCamera and Multi-ObjectSpectrometer.


Hubble also gave astronomers a ringsideseat to the beginning of a titanic collisionof an onrushing stellar shock wave with aneerie, glowing gas ring. The ring encirclesthe place where a stellar explosion, super-nova, was seen to occur in 1987. Thoughthe star’s self-destruction was first seennearly 12 years ago, astronomers are justbeginning to witness the shock wave fromthe eruption plowing into the light-yearwide ring. Activated by the 64-million kmper hour (40-million mile per hour) colli-sion, a 160-billion km diameter (100-billionmile diameter) knot of gas in a piece of thering has already begun to “light up” as itstemperature surges from a few thousanddegrees to 556,000 degrees Kelvin (1-million degrees Fahrenheit). The observa-tions where made with Goddard’s SpaceTelescope Imaging Spectrograph, installedon Hubble in February 1997.

Solar System Exploration Program

Why do we explore our solar system? Theanswer lies in the three “quests” that repre-sent the fundamental goals of the SolarSystem Exploration program.

To explain the formation and evolution of thesolar system and the Earth within it.

To seek the origins of life and its existencebeyond Earth.

To chart our destiny in the solar system.

Goddard is contributing to this programwith sophisticated instruments aboardspacecraft bound for distant planets.

Mars Global Surveyor

Goddard’s Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter(MOLA) instrument, a key experiment onthe Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, col-lected profiles of the Red Planet’s topogra-phy that contained unprecedented newinformation about the relief of the northpolar cap of Mars, as well as its surround-ing features, including the expansive northpolar sand seas.

These initial profiles have revealed anoften striking surface topology of canyonsand spiral troughs in the water and carbondioxide ice that can reach depths as greatas 3,600 feet below the surface.

In addition, MOLA obtained the first directmeasurements of cloud heights on Mars,

with clustered cloud features appearingmost prominently near the edge of thenorth polar cap. The clouds were detectedup to heights of 15 km (9.3 miles) abovethe surface and as low as a few hundredmeters (1,000 feet).

Another Goddard instrument on MarsGlobal Surveyor returned the first defini-tive information on the properties of Mars’magnetic field. Measurements from thespacecraft’s Magnetometer and ElectronReflectometer showed that Mars has strong,localized magnetic fields. These magneticfields would cause a compass needle onMars to point in wildly different directionsas an explorer traversed the surface fromthe location of one magnetized concentra-tion to another. The magnetized areas onMars could not form without the presenceof an overall global magnetic field that wasperhaps as strong as Earth’s is today.Because the internal dynamo that poweredthe global field is extinct, these local mag-netic fields act as fossils, preserving arecord of the geologic history and thermalevolution of Mars.

The Goddard-built Neutral MassSpectrometer was successfully launched toMars on board the Japanese Planet–Bspacecraft. The spectrometer will enablescientists to measure the chemical compo-sition in the upper atmosphere on Mars ona global scale, which has never been donebefore. The spacecraft is scheduled toarrive at the Red Planet in October 1999.

Enabling the ScienceCommunityFor Goddard to be recognized as a Centerof Excellence in Scientific Research, care-fully selected technologies for developmentand use on board spacecraft or for informa-

tional systems is critical. Key technologiesinclude: lightweight, adaptive, deployableand distributed optics; cryogenics; solidstate detectors; precision deployable struc-tures; formation flying and constellationmanagement; hyperspectral and passivemicrowave instruments; active lasersystems; automation; intelligent synthesisenvironment; ultrastable electro mechani-cal systems; extension of the Internet tospace; and advanced information systems.

Global Positioning System Advances

The Global Position System (GPS) is revolu-tionizing and revitalizing the space busi-ness from guidance systems of thesounding rocket tracking systems to theInternational Space Station crew returnvehicle. Goddard is creating the specializedGPS software and systems that are fuelingthis revolution and setting the course forthe next millennium’s space navigationsolutions.

Using spaceborne GPS and specialized algo-rithms developed at Goddard, a satellitewill soon be capable of navigating itself andmaking ground stations simpler and requir-ing fewer operators. And, by incorporatingother GPS-anchored features like onboardmaneuver planning and autonomous con-stellation control, a single ground stationoperator will eventually manage fleets ofsatellites in constellations around theEarth.

Nano-satellite TechnologyDevelopment

Goddard’s nano-satellite technology devel-opment effort will revolutionize the scien-tific investigations of key physicalprocesses explored by the space scienceand Earth science communities. Nano-satellites are disks, 304 mm (12 in) wide

"Picket fence" rendition ofsurface topography in theNorthern Hemisphere ofMars from the MarsOrbiter Laser Altimeter.The MOLA profile isapproximately 5000 km(3000 miles) long.

This deployer ship conceptshows how dozens of nano-satellites could be placed intospace using a single launchvehicle. This cross-sectionalview illustrates the smallsatellites stacked inside thepayload fairing of a Delta IIlaunch vehicle.


and 101 mm (4 in) thick, and weigh lessthan 10 kg (22 lbs), including the propel-lant mass. Each satellite will generateabout 5–10 watts total power for its opera-tions. On future NASA science missions, itis envisioned that tens to hundreds ofnano-satellites will fly in formation inorder to make simultaneous measurementsof an area of the sky. This approach givesscientists more precise data than a singlesatellite taking a single measurement. Forthe first time scientifically, simultaneousmeasurements in both space and time willbe resolved.

To maximize the number of satellites deliv-ered to space with one launch vehicle,Goddard plans to develop advanced tech-nology components to make future space-craft and their onboard instrumentscompact, lightweight, low power, low cost,and survivable in a space radiation envi-ronment over a 2-year mission lifetime.These technology components will bematured to a level from which they can bereadily adapted to specific science and

mission objectives in the onset of the nextcentury.

Ultra-Long Duration Balloon

Goddard’s Wallops Flight Facility has begunpreparation of a new unpiloted scientificballoon that will fly around the world inthe year 2000. The new super-pressureUltra-Long Duration Balloon is designed tostay afloat at altitudes reaching 36,000meters (120,000 feet) for up to 100 dayswith over a ton of scientific and supportequipment. This new technology presentssignificant opportunity to perform manytypes of research in space and Earthscience effectively and inexpensively.

University Class Explorers

NASA selected the first university ExplorerMissions, designed to provide frequentflight opportunities for highly focused andrelatively inexpensive science missionswhose total cost to NASA is limited to $13million. Goddard’s Wallops Flight Facilitymanages this program, which is targetedtowards space science missions.

Wallops Partnership

The Wallops Flight Facility took a majorstep in 1998 in its efforts to become a mul-tiagency national resource with the estab-lishment of a Partnership Charter. The

Sounding rockets provide sci-entists with an inexpensivemeans to gather data andconduct tests in a variety ofdisciplines including plasmaphysics, galactic astronomy,high energy astrophysics,solar physics, and micrograv-ity. The Suborbital FlightProgram was highly success-ful for the year. The SoundingRocket Program achieved asuccess rate of 100% conduct-ing flights from Puerto Rico;Norway; White Sands MissileRange, NM; and WallopsIsland. The Puerto RicoCampaign – Coqui Dos –included the establishment ofa temporary range and thesuccessful launching of eightrockets to study “spaceweather” in the equatorialregion. Meanwhile, theScientific Balloon Programchalked up an impressive 96%success rate with flights fromBrazil; Canada; Antarctica;Fairbanks, AK.; Ft. Sumner,NM; Palestine, TX.; andWallops Island. The two pro-grams conducted five flightsdedicated to experimentsdesigned and built by highschool or undergraduate stu-dents.

Providing cheaper access to space, the Ultra-Long Duration Balloon is being developed tofly one-ton payloads at the edge of Earth’satmosphere up to 100 days. Material testsmeasured the durability of candidate compos-ite films for the Ultra-Long Duration Balloon.

A major milestone for sup-porting commercial orbitalrocket activity at WallopsIsland was reached thisyear with the ribbon cuttingfor a Virginia Space FlightCenter launch pad. Thecommercial launch pad wascreated as a result of cooper-ation between the publicand private sectors – includ-ing NASA, theCommonwealth of Virginia,Old Dominion University,the Center for InnovativeTechnology, the VirginiaCommercial Space FlightAuthority and privateindustry. The launch padwill support a wide varietyof Expendable LaunchVehicles. The commercialspaceport, according to theCommonwealth, is expectedto bring a capital invest-ment of $60 million and 300new jobs to the EasternShore. (From L to R) U.S.Sen. Charles Robb (D-Va.),NASA Administrator DanGoldin, U.S. Sen. JohnWarner (R-Va.), U.S. Rep.Wayne T. Gilchrest (R-Md.-1st), Virginia Gov. JamesGilmore, U.S. Rep. TomDavis (R-Va.-11th), andVirginia Center forInnovative TechnologyPresident Dr. RobertTemplin, Jr.

tions. The TCO held Goddard’s SecondTechnology Showcase, open to the public,and the first Small Business InnovativeResearch showcase.

Goddard and the Houston AdvancedResearch Center developed jointly theAirborne Lidar Topographic MappingSystem through a partnership withTerraPoint LLC, a spinoff of the Fortune500 company Transamerica Corporation.

QuickRide

Goddard awarded an indefinitedelivery/indefinite quantity contractknown as “Quick Ride” to Final Analysis,Incorporated of Lanham, Md. The contractallows any NASA Center, along with othergovernment agencies, to procure excessspace onboard commercial satellites forthe purpose of accommodating variousEarth science, space science, and technol-ogy instrumentation payloads.

Communications

Goddard cut the ribbon on the GuamIsland tracking station that effectivelycompletes NASA’s vital communicationsand data-gathering support for NASAEarth-orbiting missions. The Guam stationprovides global, full-time and real-timecommunications support for NASA’s SpaceNetwork customers, including the SpaceShuttle, International Space Station, andHubble Space Telescope.

Institute for Advanced AerospaceConcepts

Goddard established, through theUniversities Space Research Association,the NASA Institute for AdvancedAerospace Concepts. The Institute willprovide an independent, open forum forthe analysis and definition of space and

senior partners include NASA, the U.S.Navy, and the Virginia Space Flight Center.Other agencies at Wallops include theNational Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration and the U.S. Coast Guard.The mission of the Partnership is to facili-tate execution of individual agency mis-sions; jointly establish shared services;ensure equitable distribution of businesscosts; and develop new business atWallops.

Transfer of Technology

Goddard facilitates the transfer of NASA’sresearch and technology into practicalapplications to benefit the American publicand to strengthen the American economythrough new product opportunities.

In 1998, NASA announced the award ofcooperative agreements to establish high-technology business incubators at threeNASA Centers. Goddard’s incubator, theEmerging Technology Center of theBaltimore Development Corporation, wasestablished in Canton, Md. The TechnologyCommercialization Office (TCO) partic-ipated in an array of prominent industryevents that created promising and produc-tive relationships with external organiza-


aeronautics advanced concepts. It willfocus on revolutionary concepts, in particu-lar, such as systems and architectures thatcan have a major impact on the future mis-sions of the NASA enterprises.

Outsourcing Desktop Initiative

Goddard led an Agencywide effort to fulfilla multibillion dollar contract to obtaindesktop computers and local communica-tions services. The contract, called theOutsourcing Desktop Initiative for NASA(ODIN), will deliver comprehensivedesktop computer, server, and intra-centercommunications services to NASA andNASA contractors. Other government agen-cies will be able to buy from the ODIN con-tractors through the General ServicesAdministration. Long-term savings over thelife of the contract could approach 25percent compared to existing procurementprocedures.

Center Education andOutreach

Formal Education

Goddard offered extensive experiences forteachers, students, schools, districts, andstate education agencies throughout thepast year. Approximately 300,000 individu-als were served.

Most significant were efforts to developfollow-up programs to sustain the short-term impact of Goddard programs, and todevelop systemic efforts that would movebeyond the individual who attended aNASA program and relate these experi-ences to the reform efforts of a school, district, or state.

Highlights to build a sustaining impactinclude:

• The Stevens Institute Distance MentoringProgram: this a joint initiative betweenGoddard and the Stevens Institute ofTechnology in Hoboken, New Jersey useddistance mentoring to pair GoddardHispanic engineers with science teachers.The goal of the program is to promote inter-action between the students and role modelsfrom within the Goddard professional com-munity.

• Laboratory for Atmospheres: a joint researchand academic program with HowardUniversity’s Center for the Study ofTerrestrial and Extraterrestrial Atmospheres,it is the first and only interdisciplinaryprogram at a Historically Black Colleges andUniversities institution offering M.S. andPh.D. degrees in the atmospheric sciences.

• Hubble Challenge: an engineering competi-tion for teachers and students to develop aqualifying round submission based on anengineering project. Ten qualifying teamscompeted at Goddard to solve a problemrelated to the Hubble Space Telescope. Judges

were the engineers who solved the secondservicing mission Hubble challenge.

• American Academy for the Advancement ofScience training effort: NASA employeesfrom across the Agency reviewed and devel-oped materials that are responsive to thenational science standards.

• The Maryland Ambassadors Program:teamed with Marshall Space Flight Centerand developed Earth and space sciencesinvestigations now available on the Internet.

• Urban teams education action plans: devel-oped an aerospace curriculum plan followedby an action plan supported by the Goddardeducation resources.

• Anne Beers Elementary School astronomyprogram: featured contact between thisWashington, D.C. school and staff atGoddard, culminating in an onsite summerprogram for school faculty members.

• Mentoring relationships: for teachers andstudents, to encourage stronger relationshipsbetween education facilities and Goddard,both at Greenbelt and Wallops.

Highlights to develop systemic impactinclude:

• The Connecticut/NASA EducationCollaborative: to bring together NASAresources in the state of Connecticut withthe State Department of Education, TalcottPlanetarium, Connecticut DiscoveryMuseum, Eastern Connecticut StateUniversity, and the Science Center ofConnecticut. Statewide training sessionswere related to NASA enterprise-relatedtopics.

• The Wallops Saturday Youth Program: toprovide hands-on science activities to high-risk, economically disadvantaged studentsone day each month. The goal is to motivate

and introduce children to the sciences andenhance their academic focus. Activitieshave included science experiments, motiva-tional lectures, field trips, and long-termprojects. Some of the science experimentsconsisted of electroplating, telegraphy, mag-netism, and energy sources.

• Maine Educator Team: to develop an actionplan with Goddard for Earth sciences.

• Material network: to disseminate NASAeducation materials and to train teachers onthe use of the curriculum support materialsin their classrooms through the EisenhowerNational Clearinghouse Access Centersthroughout Pennsylvania.

• The SUNBEAMS program: a collaborationwith D.C. middle schools and Goddard tobring teachers, students, and scientiststogether with the goal to enhance classroominstruction and learning outcomes.

Higher Education

NASA Academy

The NASA Academy, now in its 6th year,brought 23 senior undergraduate and grad-uate students from across the nation toGoddard to conduct cutting-edge researchand to gain exposure to NASA manage-ment and industry leaders. This programhas been replicated at three other NASAField Centers and has approximately 240worldwide alumni.

National Research Council ResidentResearch Associateship Program

The National Research Council ResidentResearch Associateship Program providesrecent doctoral scientists and engineers ofunusual promise and ability, or senior sci-entists and engineers, with temporary full-time residence at Goddard to perform

Students and teachersexamine their experimentsprior to the first flight of theSuborbital StudentExperiment Module in May1998 at the Wallops FlightFacility. Students from fourstates participated in theprogram to fly high schoolexperiments on a NASA sub-orbital rocket.

NASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual ReportNASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual Report24 25

independent research in collaboration withscientists and engineers to contribute tothe Center’s missions. There are over 50associates in residence at Goddard.

Graduate Student ResearchersProgram

The Graduate Student ResearchersProgram reaches a diverse group of U.S.graduate students whose research interestsare compatible with NASA’s programs inspace science and aerospace technology.Goddard sponsored over 40 students.

Informal Education andOutreach

National Park Service Partnership

Goddard and the National Park Service(NPS) successfully achieved its first year’splans to reach closer towards a mutual goalto improve public awareness and apprecia-tion of science. Goddard and the NPSshared expertise in data visualization anddisplays and potential use of remotesensing data for natural resource manage-ment, linked similar web site topics fromeach organization, developed interpretivestyles for technical and scientific informa-tion, participated in professional associationand community events, and shared trainingand experience opportunities to communi-cate to broad and diverse audiences.

This partnership strengthened and madericher each organization’s efforts in anelegant and powerful manner with visibleresults in the majority of the 370 NationalParks within 1 year. Visitors to the Parksbenefit from a fresh source of informationthat support Park Ranger interpretive pro-grams and, likewise, Goddard employeeshave learned from the NPS new communi-cation styles.

Flight Opportunities for Students

Goddard established a flight opportunitycomponent to NASA’s National StudentInvolvement Program. The flight opportu-nities include the Space ExperimentModule, a Space Shuttle based program,and the Suborbital Student ExperimentModule, a sounding rocket effort throughWallops. Students across the country willcompete and winners will be afforded asummer for flight readiness, followed byactual flight of their projects on either theSpace Shuttle or sounding rocket.

The first in a new class of inexpensive,student-built space missions funded byNASA, called the Student Nitric OxideExplorer, is investigating the effects ofenergy from both the Sun and the magne-tosphere on nitric oxide densities in theEarth’s upper atmosphere. This missionallows universities and graduate studentsto plan, build, and fly science satellites forlow-Earth orbit applications. The StudentNitric Oxide Explorer is the first of aprogram that is a precursor to theUniversity Explorer program.

Kids in Science and TechnologyCollaborative Forum

The Kids in Space Collaborative Forum isdesigned to create partnerships betweenboth public and private organizations withthe goal of inspiring children in scienceand math. The Collaborative Forum bringsservice providers and school officials in thearea together to give teachers access toeducational resources they do not have. Itspurpose is to create a regional alliancebetween children, educators, NASA, high-tech industry, and other federal agencies.The Collaborative will be a permanentgroup that will provide a list of mentors, aguide to available resources, assistance in

writing grant proposals, and connections tothe donors of equipment to teachers.

Achieving Competence inComputing, Engineering, and Space Science

The Achieving Competence in Computing,Engineering, and Space Science Program,jointly sponsored by NASA and theAmerican Association for the Advancementof Science, continues to serve as a modelprogram for students with disabilitiesstudying technical disciplines. Goddardmanages the program for the Agency, andplaced 23 college students with disabilitiesat five NASA Centers. This is the onlyprogram in the Agency targeted toward stu-dents with disabilities in technical disci-plines.

University of Maryland EasternShore/Wallops Flight Facility Bridge Program

The goal of this program is to improve theretention rate of engineering students inthe post-secondary school environment.Minority- and female-entering freshmen

couple classroom work with Wallops workexperiences to strengthen their skills inpursuit of a career in science, mathemat-ics, or engineering.

Minority University-SPaceInterdisciplinary Network

The Minority University-SPaceInterdisciplinary Network (MU-SPIN) trans-fers advanced computer networking tech-nologies to institutions predominantlyattended by racial or ethnic minorities atthe graduate, undergraduate, and pre-college levels who traditionally have beenunderrepresented in mathematics, science,engineering, and technology areas relatedto NASA’s mission.

MU-SPIN strengthens the science and engi-neering capabilities of MU-SPIN institu-tions to participate in competitive researchand education processes via computer net-works; and it develops training and educa-tion mechanisms to support, sustain andevolve the institutional network infrastruc-ture, generating a better prepared pool ofcandidates to contribute to NASA’s work-force diversity efforts.

Students from a middleschool in Prince George’sCounty present their solutionto resolve an actual problemwith some of the Hubble’sthermal blankets as part ofthe Hubble EngineeringCompetition.

Association (GCA) as a model and recog-nized the role of the GCA to share reportsand recommendations that are useful tosimilar organizations. In addition, the GCA,with Goddard personnel, developed a set ofguidelines to facilitate and speed theprocess to reach resolution regarding onsiteharassment and discrimination complaints.The GCA also hosted an annual quality andcontinuous improvement symposium toeducate industry and government onapproaches to overcome challenges. Thisyear’s session featured the innovative RapidSpacecraft Development contract and theNext Generation Space Telescope project.With guidance from its sister Greenbeltorganization, a similar effort is underway at

the Wallops Flight Facility.

A subgroup of the GCA is thePublic Affairs Consortium.

This group shares the goalsof the GCA, comes from thesame organizations, andfocuses on public informa-tion and communication to

ensure consistency and coor-dination of activities to target

audiences.


Business CommunityOur colleagues in industry and neighborsin the community have stepped up inclu-sion of more members and activities insupport of Goddard’s goals. These groupsbecome our customers as well.

Goddard Alliance

The Alliance was formed in 1996 as a non-profit, civic organization to illustrateGoddard Space Flight Center as a positiveeconomic and technology contributor tothe Greenbelt community. Members comefrom state and local government, localbusinesses, educational institutions, andthe Goddard contractor community. TheAlliance strives to achieve commu-nitywide support infrastruc-ture, provides a focal pointfor local industry, andencourages contractor-based centers of excel-lence. First andforemost, the Alliancenetworks with con-stituents and partnerorganizations with mutualinterests to increase exposureof the Center’s achievementswithin the community.

The Goddard Contractors’Association

This group provides a forum for theexchange of information between Centermanagement and the contractor commu-nity. During the past year, the Agencyselected the Goddard Contractors’

Goddard directly impacts local andnational economic health. The Centerspends its resources for required goodsand services and contributes directly tothe area’s economy by creating jobs, lead-ing to salaries that are re-spent in thecommunity. Dollars are spent on people,our Nation’s most important asset.

Contract Obligations

In accomplishing its mission, Goddardspends the greatest part of its resourcesthrough contracts acquiring various prod-ucts and services. The dollars obligated byGoddard significantly enhance businessdevelopment, job creation, and tax basesfor both the state and local economies. Intotal, the Center obligated over $2.5 billionon new and existing contracts in FY 1998;65% went to commercial firms, 22% to

EconomicImpact

educational institutions, 7% to non-profitorganizations, 5% to intragovernmental,and 1% outside the U.S. Geographically,these obligations and prime contractawards are issued to contractors nation-wide. Overall, Goddard processes morethan 40% of the agency’s contractualactions and 30% of the contractual obliga-tions.

Ultimately, the dollars obligated by theCenter are returned to the local andnational economies in the form of grossoutput, sales, the purchase of intermediategoods and services, and employee income.For every $1 that Goddard obligates, a totalof $2.09 in gross output of sales are gener-ated in the state of Maryland alone.1

Employment Impact

Goddard’s mission is supported by civilservant employees and onsite, contractor

employees. The Center has ahighly technical skill basewith the majority of the

workforce comprised of scien-tists and engineers.

Total salaries and benefits for allcivil servant employees for FY

1998 were $278 million. For everypayroll dollar generated by theCenter, $1.20 of additional income isgenerated statewide2.

Source: HQ Code HC BBD210CX(Format H) Report

Awards Outside U.S. - $462K

��

��No Award 0–100K 101K–1,000K

1,001K–10,000K 10,001K–100,000K

Over 100,000K

Total Prime ContractAwards - FY98

NASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual ReportNASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual Report

FY98

FY97

Company Number ofContracts Millions of Dollars Obligated

$12.8

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

*13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

*21

22

23

24

*25

4

1

3

7

4

5

12

11

8

7

9

14

15

10

28

18

17

59

23

13

26

29

27

22

25

McDonnell Douglas Corporation 3

AlliedSignal Technical Services 3

Lockheed Martin Corp. 30

TRW, Inc. 10

Hughes Aircraft Company 4

Hughes Information Technical Corporation 1

Ball Aerospace & Tech. Corporation 10

ITT Corporation 5

Hughes STX Corporation 15

Swales & Associates, Inc. 5

Santa Barbara Research Corporation 6

Space Systems Loral, Inc. 2

Jackson & Tull, Inc. 3

Aerojet General Corporation 4

Orbital Sciences Corporation 9

NSI Technology Services Corporation 1

Cortez III Service Corporation 1

Computer Sciences Corporation 14

Fairchild Space & Defense Corp. 1

Raytheon Service Company 1

Science Systems Applications 6

Unisys Corporation 1

General Sciences Corporation 4

Brown & Root Services Corporation 1

QSS Group, Inc. 3

Source: BBD210CX (Format H) Report

*8(a) Minority

$132.7

$107.0

$91.9

$57.3

$57.0

$51.8

$37.7

$36.9

$30.9

$27.4

$26.3

$20.9

$20.6

$20.0

$20.0

$15.9

$15.1

$14.8

$14.5

$14.4

$12.9

Millions of Dollars0 50 100 150 200 250

$236.6

$233.7

$230.5

Support to Small andDisadvantaged Business

Goddard continues its strong support tosmall, disadvantaged, and women-ownedbusiness firms. During FY 1998, the Centerobligated $236,377,000 on new awards and

FY98

FY97

Institutions Number ofContracts Millions of Dollars Obligated

Source: BBD210CX (Format H) Report

Excludes Purchases <25K

$48.8

$36.2

$24.9

$20.9

$20

$18.1

$17.3

$15.8

$15.2

$14.3

$13.3

$12.8

$11.5

$10.3

$10.0

$8.0

$7.9

$7.3

$5.9

$5.8

$5.4

$5.3

$5.3

$5.3

Millions of Dollars

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2

1

3

5

8

4

10

7

13

12

9

6

11

16

11

17

19

20

15

--

25

21

19

29

31

67

17

152

137

99

33

18

71

99

3

100

46

63

114

29

42

65

53

66

4

47

57

65

23

49

Johns Hopkins University

Assoc. of Universities for Res. in Astronomy

University of Colorado – Boulder

University of Maryland – College Park

University of California – Berkeley

Southwest Research Institute

New Mexico State University – Las Cruces

California Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Wheeling Jesuit College

University of Arizona

Universities Space Research

Columbia University

Smithsonian Institution

University of Alaska – Fairbanks

Stanford University

University of Washington

University of New Hampshire

University of California – San Diego

American Museum Natural History

University of Texas – Austin

University of California – Los Angeles

University of Wisconsin – Madison

University of Iowa

University of Hawaii

$64.7

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Distribution of awards to Small andDisadvantaged Businesses - FY98obligations

Distribution of procurements - FY98obligations

existing contracts with small, disadvantagedand women-owned business. Of these oblig-ations, 32% were set-aside exclusively forsmall businesses and 26% were awarded todisadvantaged small businesses in the SmallBusiness Administration’s 8(a) program.

Top 25 Business Contractors - FY98 Top 25 Nonprofit Institutions - FY98

28 29

Non In

Ou

Se

Non

Se


State

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouri

State

MontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingTOTAL

Source: BBD140CX (Fortmat F) Report Excludes Purchases <$25

Total ($K)

$ 5,11210,04219,883

1,389663,077108,227

4,1872,129

17,07820,608

6,0698,492

7698,072

59,2908,1232,3141,4972,6381,982

1,050,61546,57010,768

2,7311,4044,362

Total ($K)

$ 2,5202,237

71814,373

112,72613,22236,159

4,7913,0495,8741,9115,845

36,7942,8651,8712,1611,960

66,3524,032

48373,27511,88223,250

7,671565

$2,505,024

Geographical distribution summary - FY98Obligations by state - place of performance

30 NASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual Report 31

Goddard FY98 Budget ($M)

FY98 FY97 FY96

Earth Science 1,117.9 1,032.9 898.6Space Science 869.2 836.8 722.7Mission/Space Communications 265.0 396.2 431.7Other Programs 150.4 171.7 174.1R&PM 340.9 334.5 306.9

Subtotal Direct Appropriations 2,743.4 2,772.1 2,534.0Reimbursables 336.0 265.2 278.9Total 3,079.4 3,037.3 2,812.9

Reimbursables11%

Space Science28%

Earth Science33%

R&PM11%

Other Programs 5%

Mission/SpaceCommunications

9%

POP 98-1 — Total Center Summary (Civil Service & Contractor Support FTEs)

FY98

Earth Science 2,477.0Space Science 2,483.5 Mission/Space Communications 2,424.1Other Direct Programs 567.8Indirects 1,858.2

Total 9,810.6

Resources


Statement of Financial Position As of September 30, 1998

1998 1997

AssetsIntragovernmental Assets: (In Thousands of $) (In Thousands of $)

Fund Balance with Treasury (Note 2) $ 1,611,787 $ 1,767,059 Accounts Receivable, Net (Note 3) – Federal Claims 71,989 58,698Advances and Prepayments (Note 4) 3,435 3,142

Governmental Assets:

Accounts Receivable, Net (Note 3) – Non-federal Claims $ 7,994 $ 3,064Advances and Prepayments — —Operating Materials & Supplies, Net (Note 5) 206,425 4,900Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Note 6) 2,762,800 2,680,260Other Assets (Note 7) — 151,964

Total Assets $4,664,430 $4,669,087

LiabilitiesLiabilities Covered by Budgetary Resources:

Intragovernmental LiabilitiesAccounts Payable $ 80,924 $ 102,056Other Liabilities (Note 8) 21,469 (2,587)

Governmental LiabilitiesAccounts Payable 821,269 734,729Lease Liabilities 678 1,089Other Liabilities (Note 8) 6,632 12,683

Total Liabilities Covered by Budgetary Resources $ 930,972 $ 847,970

Liabilities Not Covered by Budgetary Resources:

Intragovernmental LiabilitiesOther Liabilities (Note 8) $ 2,092 $ 166

Governmental LiabilitiesOther Liabilities (Note 8) 29,876 27,342

Total Liabilities Not Covered by Budgetary Resources 31,968 27,508

Total Liabilities $962,940 $875,478

Net Position (Note 9): Balances:

Unexpended Appropriation $764,911 $985,318Invested Capital (Note 10) 2,968,547 2,836,035Cumulative Results of Operations — 301 Future Funding Requirements (31,968) (28,045)

Total Net Position $3,701,490 $3,793,609

Total Liabilities and Net Position $4,664,430 $4,669,087

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

33

Financial Statements


OVERVIEW OF FINANCIALSTATEMENTS

The Fiscal Year (FY) 98 Financial State-ments have been formulated to present thefinancial position and results of operationsof NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center(GSFC), pursuant to the requirements ofthe Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990and the Government Reform Act of 1994.These statements include Statement ofFinancial Position and Statement ofOperations and Changes in Net Position.The statements have been prepared fromthe official accounting and budgetaryrecords of GSFC (Basic Accounting Systemand Fiscal System) in accordance with theform and contents prescribed by the Officeof Management and Budget (OMB) Bulletin94-01.

The statements should be read with therealization that they reflect the componentof a sovereign entity; that liabilities notcovered by budgetary resources cannot beliquidated without the enactment of anappropriation; and that payment of allliabilities, other than contracts, can beabrogated by the sovereign entity.

There are nine appropriations included inGSFC’s Financial Statements. The currentappropriations are Human Space Flight(HSF), Science Aeronautics Technology(SAT), Mission Support (MS), Office ofInspector General (OIG), and Trust FundExpense (TFE). Actual expenses for allappropriations including government andnon-government reimbursable activitiesare reflected in the Financial Statementsfor FY98.


32



Notes to the Financial StatementsFor the Year Ended September 30, 1998

Summary of Accounting Policies and Operations – Note 1

Basis of Presentation

In accordance with NASA’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) directive that installations beginthe process of fulfilling the requirements legislated by the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990, regarding the preparation of subject to audit financial statements (beginning FY 1996), these statements were formulated from the books and records of GSFC in con-formity with form and content procedures specified in OMB Bulletin 94-01.

Reporting Entity

GSFC is one of nine NASA field centers established to assist NASA in its mission to providefor aeronautical and space activities. The financial management of NASA’s operations isthe responsibility of Center officials at all organizational levels. Ultimately, the FinancialManagement Division, Code 151, within the office of the Center’s CFO is responsible forsynthesizing, aggregating, and reporting accounting events to NASA Headquarters Code Band the Department of Treasury (for cash transactions), in accordance with Agencywidefinancial management regulations.

The GSFC overall accounting system consists of numerous feeder systems. Whencombined, they provide the basic information necessary to meet internal and externalfinancial reporting requirements in terms of funds control and accountability. Albeit, it isrecognized that the current systems does not meet OMB Circular A-127 requirements for asingle integrated financial system. NASA is moving to implementing a full-integrated finan-cial system. NASA contracted KPMG Peat Marwick to identify and modify an off-the-shelfaccounting package to accomplish this objective. Currently, Goddard is scheduled fordeployment in FY 2000.

The following nine direct appropriations require individual treatment and are distinctlyclassified in GSFC combined accounting and control systems:

(1) HSF – supports human space flight research and development activities for spaceflight, spacecraft control, and communications actions. This includes research, develop-ment, operations, services, maintenance, and construction of facilities, which encompassthe repair, rehabilitation, and modification of real and personal property.

(2) SAT – provides for the conduct and support of science, aeronautics, and technology.Research, development, operations, services, maintenance, and construction of facilities(repair, rehabilitation, and modification of real and personal property) also serve as by-products of this appropriation.

(3) MS – funds safety, reliability and quality assurance activities in support of Agencyprograms and space communication services for NASA programs. The appropriation alsoprovides budgetary resources for salaries, fringe benefits, and related expenses, whilesupporting research and construction of facilities.

(4) Space Flight Control and Data Communications (SFCDC) – provides for spaceflight, expendable launch vehicles, spacecraft control, and communication activities,

35NASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual Report

Statement of Operations and Changes in Net Position For the Year Ended September 30, 1998

1998 1997

Revenues and Financing Resources: (In Thousands of $) (In Thousands of $)

Appropriated Capital Used $2,935,655 $2,751,560Revenues from Sales of Goods & Services

To the Public 18,506 14,624Intragovernmental 356,355 303,102

Other Revenues and Financing Resources 13,420 356 Less: Receipts Transferred to Treasury (13,420) (356)

Total Revenues and Financing Resources: $3,310,516 $3,069,286

Expenses:Program or Operating Expenses:

Current Appropriations:Science Aeronautics and Technology $2,386,877 $2,108,756Human Space Flight 16,572 17,930Mission Support 534,017 603,797Office of Inspector General 8 12Trust Fund Expense 228 —

Noncurrent Appropriations:Space Flight Control and Data Communications (7,655) 4,751Research and Development 4,647 14,747Research and Program Management 35 (14) Construction of Facilities 1,227 1,295

Bad Debts and Writeoffs — 36Non-Government: Reimbursable Expenses 18,506 14,624Government: Reimbursable Expenses 356,355 303,102Total Expenses: $3,310,817 $3,069,036

Excess, (Shortage) of Revenues & Financing SourcesOver Total Expenses $ (301) $ 250

Changes in Net Position

Nonoperation Changes:Invested Capital $ 132,512 $ 77,011Unexpended Appropriations (220,407) 34,422Future Funding Requirements (3,923) (1,757)

Total Nonoperation Changes $ (91,818) $ 109,676

Excess, (Shortage) of Revenues & Financing SourcesOver Total Expenses (301) 250

Net Position, Beginning Balance $3,793,609 $3,683,683Net Position, Ending Balance $3,701,490 $3,793,609

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


34



Property, Plant, and Equipment (PP&E)

GSFC-owned Property, Plant, and Equipment (PP&E) may be held by the Center or itscontractors. Under the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), contractorsare responsible for control over and accountability for such property in their possession.The GSFC General Ledger is capable of classifying Government-held PP&E fromContractor-held PP&E.

Government regulation does not make a provision for depreciating PP&E under appropri-ated funding authority. However, in accordance with the User Charge Act and OMBCircular A-25, NASA is permitted to assess depreciation charges for the use of facilities andequipment, under the “full cost” concept, to non-government reimbursable customers. Inaddition, automated data processing software is treated as operating cost rather than capi-talized, in accordance with GAO Title II guidelines.

Equipment with a unit cost of $100,000 or more and a useful life of two years or more andwill not be consumed in an experiment, is capitalized. Capitalized cost includes unit cost,transportation, installation, and handling and storage cost. Real property such as land,buildings, and other structures and facilities, is capitalized when the asset value is $100,000or more. Effective in FY98, NASA raised the capitalization threshold for PP&E from $5,000to $100,000.

Land values are recorded at original acquisition cost and do not reflect current marketvalue or include cost of improvements. Buildings are also valued at acquisition cost,including the cost of capital improvements and fixed equipment required for functional useof the facility.

Government-owned/Contractor-held property includes GSFC real property, such as land,buildings, and structures, materials, plant equipment, space hardware, special tooling, andspecial test equipment. Contractors are directed to report annually (on NASA Form 1018)plant equipment costing $100,000 or more and having a useful life of two years and will notbe consumed in an experiment. In addition, this reporting includes capturing the other prop-erty categories mentioned above, regardless of the value (although most exceed $100,000),and is included in the Statement of Financial Position. This reporting is certified by thecontractor’s representative and reviewed by a government property administrator. Spacehardware work-in-progress represent the largest amount of assets owned by GSFC.

Revenues and Other Financing Sources

GSFC receives the majority of its funding through multiyear appropriations. These includethree-year appropriations for construction activities, two-year appropriations for opera-tional and space flight activities, and a single year appropriation for civil service payrolland travel. In addition to appropriated funds, the Center performs services for federal andnon-federal customers upon receipt of customers funding authority.


including operations, production services, related institutional activities, minor construc-tion, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and modifications. This appropriation wasrestructured and replaced in the FY 1995 NASA budget.

(5) Research and Development (R&D) – includes research and development of theaeronautics and space research, related institutional activities. This appropriation wasrestructured and replaced in the FY 1995 NASA budget.

(6) Research and Program Management (R&PM) – funds civil servant salaries,fringe benefits, training, travel, and related expenses to manage and conduct NASAprograms within GSFC. This appropriation was restructured and replaced in the FY 1995NASA budget.

(7) Construction of Facilities (Cof F) – provides budgetary resources for construc-tion, repair, rehabilitation and modification of facilities, minor construction of new facilitiesand additions to existing structures, and facility planning and design. This appropriationwas restructured and replaced in the FY 1995 NASA budget.

(8) OIG – funds necessary OIG salary, travel and related expenses required to conductaudits and investigations of Center activities.

(9) Trust Fund Expense (TFE) – expenses of all property and services procured forthe trust fund. This appropriation was new in FY 1998 NASA budget.

In addition to the direct appropriations, we receive funds from various federal and non-federal customers to perform aeronautical and space activities.

Basis of Accounting

GSFC accounts are maintained on an accrual basis (i.e., expenses are recorded whenincurred and revenue when earned). Expenses are classified in the accounts by appro-priation in accordance with the Agencywide coding structure, which sets forth a uniformclassification of financial activity that is used for planning, budgeting, accounting, andreporting. The expenses are further categorized in the General Ledger as operating or capi-talized expenditures.

Advances

GSFC distributes the majority of its funding used for the University Contracts and GrantsProgram by the method of Letter of Credit through the Health and Human Services (HHS)Payment Management System (PMS). HHS serves as an agent for the U.S. Treasury inprocessing the drawdown of funds (disbursements) from a pre-established balance set upby GSFC based on contract/grant awards. The established balance for each Universityconstitute advance payments. A smaller number of university contract/grant recipientsreceive advance payments on a quarterly basis via check payments through the U.S.Treasury system. In accordance with OMB Circular A-110, quarterly financial reporting oftransactions is provided by recipients on Federal Cash Transactions Reports (SF 272’s).Detailed monitoring, funds control (against outstanding obligations), and accountabilityrecords are maintained. In addition, audits by the Defense Contract Audit Agency andNASA’s OIG support this monitoring.


36


PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT – NOTE 6

Government-owned/Government-held 1998 1997 Change

Land $ 5,483 $ 3,351 $ 2,132Structures, Facilities & Leasehold Improvements 513,930 506,718 7,212Equipment 365,825 738,294 (372,469)Assets Under Capital Lease 12,911 12,911 - Work-in-Process 1,630,525 1,144,253 486,272Total $2,528,674 $2,405,527 $123,147

Government-owned/Contractor-held 1998 1997 Change

Structures, Facilities & Leasehold Improvements $ 14,833 $ 14,427 406Equipment 24,891 92,086 (67,195)Special Tooling 6,667 16,371 (9,704)Special Test Equipment 79,682 97,981 (18,299)Space Hardware 108,053 53,868 54,185Total $ 234,126 $ 274,733 $(40,607)

Grand Total $2,762,800 $2,680,260 $ 82,540

The variance amount of $2,132k in the land account resulted from sitework clearing. The varianceamount of Equipment accounts resulted from the new change in the capitalization of PP&E from$5k to 100k.

The variance amount of $486,272k in the Work-in-Process account resulted from an increase incost reporting from Goddard’s contractors.

See Note 1 for dissussion on Property, Plant, and Equipment .

OTHER ASSETS – NOTE 7

1998 1997 Change

Contractor-held Materials $— $151,964 $(151,964)

The variance shown above results from a change in the application of government accountingprinciples. The change requires classification of Contract-Held Materials as Operating Materialsand Supplies. Based on the correct application of goverment accounting principles, the amountresulted in a decrease of $151,964 to other assets and an increase to Operating Materials andSupplies.

These assets include Government-owned/Contractor-held materials.

OTHER LIABILITIES – NOTE 8

Liabilities Covered by Budgetary Resources: Current Non-Current Total

Intragovernmental Liabilities:Liabilities for Deposit and Suspense Funds $21,231 $ — $21,231Liabilities for Statistical Reimbursable Cost 238 — 238

Total $21,469 — $21,469Governmental Liabilities:

Liabilities for Deposit and Suspense Funds $ 6,627 — $ 6,627Liabilities for Statistical Reimbursable Cost 5 — 5

Total $ 6,632 — $ 6,632Total Liabilities Covered by Budgetary Resources $28,101 — $28,101



FUND BALANCES WITH TREASURY – NOTE 2

Obligated Unobligated Unobligated Available Available Restricted Total

Appropriated Funds $1,358,139 $243,155 $9,991 $1,611,285Deposit Funds for

Reimbursable Advances 502 — — 502 Total Funds Balance with

Treasury $1,358,641 $243,155 $9,991 $1,611,787

GSFC cash receipts and disbursements are processed by the U.S. Treasury. The funds with the U.S.Treasury include appropriated funds, trust funds, and deposited funds for advances received forreimbursable services.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE – NOTE 3

Entity Allowances for LossesAccounts Receivable on A/R & Int Net Amount Due

Intragovernmental $71,989 $ — $71,989Governmental 8,033 (39) 7,994Total Accounts Receivable $80,022 $ (39) $79,983

Accounts Receivable consist of amounts owed to GSFC by other Federal Agencies and amountsowed by the public. NASA establishes an allowance amount for reporting purposes based on ananalysis of outstanding receivable balances. Most receivables are due from other Federal Agen-cies for reimbursement of services. Non-federal customers provide advance payments which areplaced on deposit with the U.S. Treasury until services are performed.

ADVANCES AND PREPAYMENTS – NOTE 4

1998 1997 CHANGE

Intragovernmental $3,435 $3,142 $293

See Note 1 for dissussion on Advances and Prepayments.

OPERATING MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES – NOTE 5

1998 1997 CHANGE

Contractor-held Materials $201,127 $ — $201,127Stores Stock 5,253 4,854 399 Standby Stock 45 45 —Total Operating Materials and Supplies $206,425 $4,899 $201,526

The variance shown above results from a change in the application of government accountingprinciples. The change requires classification of Contract-held Materials as Operating Materialsand Supplies. Based on the correct application of goverment accounting principles, the amountresulted in an increase of $151,964 to Operating Materials and Supplies and a decrease in OtherAssets.

In accordance with Federal Accounting Standards Advisory promulgation, materials held by GSFC, which are repetitively procured, stored, and issued on the basis of recurring demand areconsidered Operating Material and Supplies.


38

Notes to the Statement of Financial PositionFor the Year Ended September 30, 1998


People At Workand In TheCommunity

A popular program atCommunity Day is the puppetshow that follows the exploitsof two NASA astronauts ontheir first trip into space.

Goddard employees recognize the need toshare their expertise with not only col-leagues, but also with nontraditionalaudiences. Volunteerism, distinctiveawards and recognition, and reachingtowards others to enhance the quality oflife represent the “beyond the gates” atti-tude that earns Goddard a leadership rep-utation.

Reaching the General Public

Community Day

The Goddard Visitor Center hosts twoCommunity Days a year for our families,neighbors, and interested public. Over10,000 visitors enjoy these special days;average annual attendance for Greenbeltand Wallops Visitor Centers is 100,000guests. Community Days differ with each

event because the Days are based onunique themes, such as Earth Week orAgency achievements.

Earth Science Gallery

“Build it and they will understand,” werethe words spoken at the ribbon cutting cer-emony for the Goddard Visitor Center’snew Earth Science Gallery. The gallery,built in partnership with the NationalOceanic and Atmospheric Administration,was developed to promote the education ofthe public about how we affect our envi-ronment and how the environment affectsus. The gallery includes a variety of inter-active displays and integrated web siteswith Earth science data.

Web Sites

Applying technology to deliver informa-tion, images, activities and interaction withscientists, Goddard built a Center web sitethat was accessed by millions of peopleover the year. Many Goddard-developedweb sites have earned recognition andawards, citations, and glowing feedbackfrom users.

Local Community Impact

Goddard and its employees are becomingmore visible throughout the local commu-nity. The Center works with local busi-nesses, state and federal agencies,chambers of commerce, and local electedofficials. Goddard is committed to becomethe best community neighbor it can be bysharing our expertise, resources, and mostimportantly ourselves. Whether it isthrough the Visitor Center or a Speaker’sBureau experience, the Traveling Exhibitsprogram, or everyday interaction with localcitizens, good community relations isimportant to the Center.


OTHER LIABILITIES – NOTE 8 Continued:

Liabilities Not Covered by Budgetary Resources: Current Non-Current

Intragovernmental LiabilitiesAccounts Payable for Closed Appropriation $ — $2,092 $ 2,092

Liabilities for Receipts Accounts — —Total $ — $2,092 $ 2,092

Governmental Liabilities:Accounts Payable for Closed Appropriation $ — $6,459 $ 6,459 Liabilities for Receipts AccountsUnfunded Annual Leave 23,414 3 23,417

Total $23,414 $6,462 $29,876Total Liabilities Not Covered

by Budgetary Resources $23,414 $8,554 $31,968

Grand Total $51,515 $8,554 $60,069

Accounts payable include amounts recorded for receipt of goods or services furnished to the Centerbut not disbursed. Additionally, throughout GSFC, cost is recognized and accrued based on informa-tion provided monthly by contractors on cost and performance reports (NASA Form 533, ContractorFinancial Management Report). The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) performs independentaudits on reported cost to ensure reliability of estimates. Also, further assurance is provided byGSFC resource analysts as a result of examining cost accruals generated from the NF 533's.

NET POSITION – NOTE 9Appropriated Funds

Unexpended AppropriationsUndelivered $511,765Unobligated:

Available 243,155 Unavailable 9,991

Invested Capital (Note 10) 2,968,547Cumulative Results of Operations —Future Funding Requirements (31,968)Total Net Position $3,701,490

INVESTED CAPITAL – NOTE 10

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT $2,762,800OPERATING MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES 206,425LESS LIABILITY FOR CAPITALIZED LEASES (678)INVESTED CAPITAL $2,968,547


40

NASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual Report 43

Center Management workedwith the Prince George’sEconomic DevelopmentCorporation (EDC) to estab-lish stronger business ties forthe purpose of commercializ-ing NASA technology andexpanding opportunities fordisadvantaged businesses inPrince George’s County. As aresult, Goddard endorsed theEDC’s application on behalf of PrinceGeorge’s County to become a FederalEmpowerment Zone. If successful, specialtax incentives designed to encourageinvestment, business expansion, and jobcreation will become available to theCounty.

Small Business Innovation Research

Goddard sponsored the first Small BusinessInnovation Research (SBIR) TechnologyExhibit. This event was held withGoddard’s Twenty-fifth Annual Small andSmall Disadvantaged Business Conferenceto provide counseling opportunities tosmall firms doing business with govern-ment and prime contractors. The SBIRexhibit showcased achievements byselected NASA SBIR companies currentlydoing business with Goddard.

Focus Groups

Center Director A.V. Diaz hosted a series ofCommunity Relations Focus Groups withlocal elected officials, neighboring stateand federal agencies, business organiza-tions, chambers of commerce, and localhomeowner’s associations. These meetingsallowed opportunities to share informationon Goddard’s missions and research and onnew business ties and partnerships.

Technology on Capitol Hill

Goddard scientists and engineers displayedstate-of-the-art technology at the 1998Technology Showcase on Capitol Hill.Exhibits from each of NASA’s four strategicenterprises were displayed at the invitationof Congressman Dana Rohrabacher,Chairman, Subcommittee on Space andAeronautics, Committee on Science.Goddard exhibits included Hubble SpaceTelescope, Next Generation SpaceTelescope, Nanosat, TechnologyCommercialization, Distributed ActiveArchive Center, and visualization andanalysis of Earth science data. Despite

NASA Administrator DanGoldin at the TechnologyDay on Capitol Hill.

NASA Goddard Space F l ight Center Annual Report42

busy schedules, over 20 members ofCongress and scores of Hill employeesvisited the demonstrations.

Earth Today

“Earth Today: A Digital View of ourDynamic Planet,” a new exhibit at theNational Air and Space Museum, is the firstexhibit to display global-scale Earth sciencedata sets collected daily by NASA, NOAA,the U.S. Navy, and the United StatesGeological Survey in near-real time.Current data of sea surface temperature,atmospheric clouds and water vapor con-centrations, land and ocean biospheres,and earthquakes are updated continuouslyand projected onto a large screen. A state-of-the-art graphics supercomputer automat-ically retrieves and formats the data for thenear real-time portion of the program.

Reaching Goddard Employees

Celebrate Goddard Day

Goddard celebrated its number oneresource, its people, in a day designed tocelebrate the diversity of people who makeGoddard such a unique place to work.Celebrate Goddard Day consisted of direc-torate displays of the contribution of

employee diversity to Goddard’s mission.Dr. Edwin Nichols and Lee Mun Wah gaveenlightening educational presentations onworkforce diversity. Approximately 5,000Goddard employees and their families tookpart in the day’s festivities.

The new Earth ScienceGallery at the Visitor Centerincludes a variety of interac-tive displays; integrated websites with Earth sciencedata.

Celebrate Goddard Day


1998 Moe I. Schneebaum MemorialAward

Dr. F. Landis Markley

1998 NASA Honor Awards

Distinguished Service Medal

Dr. John H. CampbellDr. Robert D. PriceDr. Thomas Flatley

Distinguished Public Service Medal

Dr. Nobuyoshi FugonoDonald A. Maclean (Retired)

Outstanding Leadership Medal

Richard D. BarneyMartin J. DonohoeThomas LaVignaDonald L. MargoliesDr. Charles R. McClainDr. Michael G. RyschkewitschDr. Joanne SimpsonJames G. Watzin

Public Service Medal

Mary C. ChiuJose A. GonzalezJ. Crane Simmons (Retired)Dr. Hervey S. Stockman

Exceptional Achievement Medal

W. James AdamsJudith N. BrunerDr. John E. ConnerneyDr. Gene FeldmanDr. John C. GerlachDr. Barry E. JacobsDr. Randy A. KimbleM. Bruce MilamThomas PaprockiBruce T. PhamGiulio Rosanova

The GSFC awards and recognitionprocess underwent a complete reengineer-ing process during 1998. The outcomewas the development of an awards sys-tem that allows for more employeeinvolvement and more agility and flexibil-ity in recognizing outstanding achieve-ment from the Center workforce.

In addition, many Goddard employeesreceive awards from prestigious organiza-tions worldwide. However, is difficult tokeep track of those employees who havereceived outside awards, so in order toavoid omissions, the following pages arethose Goddard employees who receivedeither Goddard or NASA awards during1998.

1998 Federal Executive BoardExcellence in Federal Career Award

Gold/Silver Finalists

Dr. David A. ContentJames B. HeaneyLinda Treece

Bronze Award Winners

John F. OsantowskiBenjamin C. Harris, Sr.Jacklyn C. MattsonKatherine A. Richardson

1998 John C. Lindsay Memorial Award

Dr. Jean H. Swank

1997 William Nordberg MemorialAward

Dr. Robert A. Langel, Retired


Technology Showcase

Goddard held its Technology Showcase toan expanded audience that includedemployees as well as members from indus-try, academia, and other government orga-nizations. Entitled “Advancing ScienceThrough Partnerships With Industry,” theshowcase was developed to illustrate thetechnology, expertise, and facilities that areof interest to other organizations. With over135 exhibits focusing on Goddard’s Earthand space science enterprises, this eventwas intended to exhibit our cutting-edgetechnologies.

GSFC Multi-Cultural Advisory Team

The GSFC Multi-Cultural Advisory Team ischartered to provide leadership in promot-ing the benefits of a multicultural workenvironment. Team members implementinitiatives that help to ensure that employ-ees feel valued, participate fully, and candevelop to their full potential in achievingthe Center’s mission. The team:

- Advocated and helped to establish a newparticipative Center-level awards andrecognition process, including the creationof a “Diversity Enhancement” Award.

- Analyzed Center Culture Survey vari-ances between minorities and non-minori-ties and formulated recommendations formanagement consideration.

- Chaired a team to develop recommenda-tions to raise awareness of diversity issues,effect organizational change, and institu-tionalize diversity as an integral part ofGoddard’s mission.

Center Director’s Colloquium

The Center Director’s Colloquia Series wasinitiated to afford opportunities to learnabout a wide range of management and

change-related issues. Prominent speakersfrom the public, private, and academicsectors spoke on topics, including howothers enhance creativity, communica-tions, and team effectiveness.

Goddard Employees WelfareAssociation

The Goddard Employees WelfareAssociation (GEWA) supports manyCenterwide activities for employeesthroughout the year. Some events thatGEWA supported in 1998 were:

Americans with Disabilities WeekCombined Federal CampaignAtrium Teas and PostersSafety Awareness DayTake Your Daughters to Work DayWomen’s Advisory CommitteeSummer Student ReceptionNew Employees WelcomeCelebrate Goddard DayFocus on the Future DayManagement, Scientific, and EngineeringColloquia

GoddardAwardees

Technology Showcase


Peggy JesterWarren J. MitchellDavid S. ParkerTeresa RobshawAlan SelserThomas ShafferSofia StachelEdward H. Venter

Space Flight Awareness LaunchHonorees

STS-89 Launch Honorees

Douglas J. BenderStephen D. HendryJohn KucelAngela M. ManifoldJimmie A. MartinMario MartinsJean McCloskeyRobert McCutcheonMark NeumannJames L. RattiganEve RothenbergMaria M. SoHollice ToomerJane WhetzelWilliam R. Williams

STS-91 Launch Honorees

Melissa L. BlizzardKevin K. CarmackJo-Ann ChernegaRobert CourtneyMary K. FallerCraig J. GrayMichael C. HoganBruce G. KamenCharlton R. HostetlerAnn M. NicholsonJoel P. SmithRichard A. StrafellaMarco A. ToralAlbert G. VernacchioYaromyr A. Zinkewych

Annual Goddard Safety Awards

Safety Honorable Mention Award

In recognition of timely response to aburning ballast in Building 23.

Stephen E. MonkSteven L. TrepanierSandra K. Vanderweit-Whit

In recognition of implementing their newprogram which significantly impacts thereduction of excess furniture that couldresult in safety hazards.

John W. Slagle, Jr.Terrence K. ButlerMichael A. Wedge

Contractor Safety Award

Mike MillerElizabeth A. AllenMILA Spaceflight Tracking & Data NetworkStation

Humanitarian Award

Phillip J. Nessler, Jr.Tsabikos A. PapadimitrisPhillip Z. Tapper

Safety Award of Merit

Robert P. DeDalis

Safety Award of Honor

John H. Henninger

Facilities Operations Manager Award

Quinton E. Baker


Erich F. StockerRichard C. TaglerThomas E. WilliamsDaniel D. WorthDr. Darrell F. Zimbelman

Exceptional Service Medal

LuAnn M. BindschadlerSandra K. BowdenSandra A. BuffalanoValorie A. BurrMichael A. CalabresePedro I. ColonDr. John H. Day, Jr.Dr. Richard R. FisherMartin E. FrederickMildred S. GarnerAbigail D. HarperBenjamin C. Harris, Sr.Phillip A. HollowayAndre D. JacksonThomas Keating, Jr.John T. Langmead, IIICarlos LopezNancy PattonDr. Arthur PolandCharles A. Renn, Jr.Richard I. Weiss (Retired)Paula L. Wood

Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal

Dr. Bruce E. Woodgate

Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal

John R. Kolasinski

Equal Employment Opportunity Medal

Dr. Theodore R. Gull

Group Achievement Award

Advanced Composition Explorer Team

Bowie State Outreach Team

Cassini Gas Chromatograph

Mass Spectrometer and Ion and NeutralMass Spectrometer Experiment Team

Cassini CIRS Instrument DevelopmentTeam

Comet Hale-Bopp NASA Sounding RocketCampaign Support Team

Global Geospace Science InvestigationsTeam

GOES-10 Solar Array Drive AssemblyAnomaly and Inverted Operation Group

Integrated Mission Design CenterDevelopment and Operations Team

Small Business Innovation ResearchProgram Team

30-Day Spacecraft Team and RapidSpacecraft Source Evaluation Board

Space Telescope Imaging SpectrographDevelopment Team

Travel Services Source Evaluation BoardTeam

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Team

Wallops Mission 2000 Implementation PlanDevelopment Team

Public Service Group Achievement Award

Ogden Logistics Services Mission SupportGroup

The Boeing Company – SpaceTransportation Division

1997 Presidential Rank RecipientsMeritorious Executive In SES

Dr. James E. HansenArthur F. ObenschainDr. Robert D. PriceDr. David E. Smith

1998 Space Flight Awareness SilverSnoopy Recipients

Daniel J. Duffy, Jr.Michael B. FeldmanGregory J. GouletGary Hendricks

Prepared for the Office of the Chief Financial Officer by the Office of Public Affairs

During 1998, the Goddard Space FlightCenter celebrated the achievements of theyear and the opportunities of the future.Our science research remains an excitingand vibrant component of what we are.Our capabilities to enhance excellent sci-ence from business practices to advancedtechnologies mark our commitment tolead others into the next century. And theinclusion of many people with diversebackgrounds and interests brings a richtexture of perspectives and talents that weenjoy with every passing year.

Goddard employees and customers lookforward to another year of busy activityin 1999, from flight projects to ISO certifi-cation, from the Goddard Safety Initiativeto continued communications with ourimportant communities in the sciences,education, neighborhood and with our-selves as a Center.

Conclusion

of today and the reality of tomorrow. - nasa · it is difficult to say what is impossible, for the...

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