National Academies Press: OpenBook

Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research (2010)

Chapter: Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee

« Previous: Appendix C: Subcommittee Members
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×

D
Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
SEPTEMBER 9-10, 2009

Center Overview, Nancy Abell, Associate Director


GSFC Institutional Planning Overview

  • Center Planning Overview, Nancy Abell

  • Facilities Planning and Budgets, Braulio Ramon, Facilities Planning Office Head

  • Technical Equipment Budgets, Karen Flynn, Engineering Deputy Director for Planning and Business Management

Science and Exploration Directorate Planning Overview

  • Science Goals and Objectives, Peter Hildebrand, Sciences and Exploration Deputy Director

  • Directorate Planning Overview, Mitch Brown, Sciences and Exploration Deputy Director for Planning and Business Management

Overview and Tour of New Exploration and Sciences Building

  • Facility Overview, Dave Larsen, Facilities Project Manager

  • General Astrophysics and Solar System Exploration Laboratory Under Construction

Laboratories in Earth Systems Sciences Building

  • Facility Overview, Jack Richards, Facilities Operations Manager

  • Cloud Physics and Wind Lidar Laboratories, David Starr, Mathew McGill, and Bruce Gentry

  • Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, Paul Mahaffy and Jen Eigenbrode

Laboratories in Building 2

  • Facility Overview, Curtis Odell

  • Astrobiology Laboratory, Jason Dworkin and Danny Glavin

  • X-ray Laboratory, Keith Gendreau

Detector Development Laboratory

  • Facility and Technology Development Overview, Rich Barney, Instrument Systems and Technology Division Chief

Committee Discussion with GSFC Scientists

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×

GLENN RESEARCH CENTER
OCTOBER 15-16, 2009

Presentations
  • Status of Institutional Support Infrastructure (high-pressure air, electrical power, steam, etc.) for the Laboratories and Facilities, Rickey Shyne, Director of Facilities and Test

  • Status of Test Instrumentation (data acquisition, data reduction, measurement instruments, calibration support, etc.) Support in the Laboratories, Rickey Shyne, Director of Facilities and Test

  • Laboratory Support Staffing: Adequacy, Future Outlook, etc., Jih-Fen Lei, Director of Research and Technology

  • Center Perspective of Headquarter’s Support of TRL 1-3 Research, Jih-Fen Lei, Director of Research and Technology

Group Touring the Aeronautics Facilities
  • Instrumentation and Controls

    • SiC Crystal Growth Facilities

    • Clean Room; Optical Instrumentation

  • Engine Component Research Laboratories

    • Engine Acoustic Research Plus PIV

  • ATP Facilities Supporting Low-TRL Research

    • Icing Research Tunnel

    • Icing Physics Flow Laboratory

  • Burner Rig Facilities

    • Medium-Pressure Flame Tube Combustion Facility

  • Engine Laboratories

    • Single-Stage Compressor Facility

  • Engine Component Research Laboratories

    • Supersonic Research in the 15 cm × 15 cm Supersonic Wind Tunnel Facility (SSWT)

  • Instrumentation and Controls

    • Actuator Characterization for Control Rig

  • Materials and Nanotechnology Laboratory

    • High-Temperature Mass Spectrometry

    • Nanotube Laboratory

  • Materials Laboratory

    • Laser Test Rig

    • Polymer Composite Processing Laboratory

  • Structures Laboratory

    • Benchmark and Mechanical Testing

  • Fuel Research Laboratories

    • Alternative Fuels Laboratory

    • Biofuel Green Laboratory

  • ATP Facilities Supporting Low-TRL Research

    • 10×10 SSWT Hypersonics CCE Testing

  • Engine Laboratories

    • Active Flow Control

  • Meetings with the Scientists and Researchers

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×
Group Touring Space Facilities
  • Research Combustion Laboratory

    • Creek Road Cryogenics Complex

  • Power Research Laboratories

    • Photovoltaics Research

    • Nanotechnology/Quantum Dot

    • Energy Storage

  • Smaller Space Simulation Facilities

    • Electric Propulsion

  • Ballistic Impact Facility

  • Advanced Metallics Branch Facilities

  • 5.2-Second Zero Gravity Facility

  • 2.2-Second Drop Tower

  • Fire Detection/Combustion Diagnostics

  • Combustion Research Laboratory

  • Human Research Vision Laboratory

  • Biophotonics Research Laboratory, Including Two-Photon, Cell and Tissue Culture

  • Tribology and Space Mechanisms Facilities

  • Space Environment Simulation

    • Lunar Dust Simulation

    • Particulate Characterization/Separation Laboratories

    • In Situ Resource Utilization Facilities O2 Extraction Reactor Studies

  • Telescience Support Center

  • Space Communication Laboratory

    • Antenna Test Facility

  • Meeting with the Scientists and Researchers

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER, HAMPTON, VIRGINIA
OCTOBER 21-22, 2009

Presentations
  • Institutional Support Infrastructure, George Finelli, Director, Center Operations

  • Test Instrumentation, Allen Kilgore, Deputy Director, Ground Facilities and Testing

  • Center Support Staff, Charlie Harris, LaRC Director, Research and Technology

  • Center Perspective on TRL 1-3 Research, Charlie Harris

Tours
  • Measurement Sciences and Acoustics

  • Jet Noise Laboratory, Charlotte Whitfield, Head, Aeroacoustics Branch

  • Small Anechoic Laboratory, Charlotte Whitfield

  • Nondestructive Evaluation Sciences Laboratory, Bill Winfree, Head, Nondestructive Evaluation Sciences Branch

  • Laser/Lidar Research, Chris Edwards, Head, Laser Remote Sensing Branch

  • Safety-Critical Avionics Systems

  • High Intensity Radiation Facility, Sandra Koppen, Electromagnetic and Sensors Branch

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×

AirSTAR and Mobile Operations System, Roger Bailey

Safety-Critical Avionics Systems Branch

Systems and Airframe Failure Emulation, Roger Bailey

Testing and Integration (SAFETi) Laboratory

Structures and Materials

Polymers and Composites Laboratory, Mia Siochi, Head, Advanced Materials and Processing Branch

Light Alloy Laboratory, Mia Siochi

Materials Research Laboratory, Johnathan Ransom, Head, Durability, Damage Tolerance and Reliability Branch

Structures and Materials Laboratory, David Brewer, Head, Structural Mechanics and Concepts Branch

Aerodynamics and Hypersonics

Basic Aerodynamics Research Tunnel, Luther Jenkins, Flow Physics Control Branch

Supersonic Low Disturbance Wind Tunnel Catherine McGinley, Flow Physics Control Branch

20-Inch Supersonic Wind Tunnel, Catherine McGinley

20-Inch Mach-6 Tunnel, Ron Merski Head, Aerothermodynamics Branch

Liner Technology Facility, Charlotte Whitfield

Compressor Station, Allen Kilgore

8-Ft High Temperature Tunnel, Steve Harvin, Supersonic/Hypersonic Testing Branch

Hypersonic Air Breathing Propulsion Branch, David Witte

Aerodynamics and Flight Dynamics

14 × 22 Foot Subsonic Tunnel, Frank Quinto, Head, Subsonic/Transonic Testing Branch

Rich Wahls, Assistant Head, Configuration Aerodynamics Branch

Flight Dynamics Experimental Techniques Laboratory, Gautam Shah, Flight Dynamics Branch

Crew Systems and Aviation Operations

Air Traffic Operations Laboratory, Lisa Rippy, Head, Crew Systems and Aviation Operations Branch

Cockpit Motion Facility, Victoria Chung, Head, Simulation Development and Analysis Branch

Large Wind Tunnels

31-Inch Mach 10 Tunnel, Ron Merski, Mike Difulvio

National Transonic Facility, Allen Kilgore, Rich Wahls

Fabrication and Metals Technology Development Laboratory, Rick Hopson, Head, Metals Applications Technology Branch

Landing and Impact Research Facility, Lisa Jones, Head, Structures Testing Branch

Scientist Interviews

AMES RESEARCH CENTER
NOVEMBER 9-10, 2009 (AERO GROUP)

Welcome—Pete Worden, Director, and Steve Zornetzer, Associate Director


Center Presentation

Tour
  • Air Traffic Management Laboratory, Thomas Davis, Chief, Aviation Systems

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×
  • Crew Vehicle Systems Research Facility, John Kanishege

  • Integrated Vehicle Health Management, Ashok Srivastava and Scott Poll

  • Integrated Intelligent Flight Deck, Jessica Nowinski

  • Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, Rabindra Mehta and J.T Heineck, J. Bell

  • Thermal Protection Materials Research Laboratories, Matt Gasch

  • Arc Jet Tour Aero-Leg, G. Raiche

  • Hyper-velocity Free-Range Aerodynamic Facilities

  • Nanotechnology Laboratory, Harry Partridge and Meyyapan Jing Li

  • Discussions with Scientists

JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
NOVEMBER 9-10, 2009 (SPACE GROUP)

Welcome: Paul Dimotakis

Presentations
  • Status of institutional support infrastructure

  • Status of test instrumentation

  • Laboratory support staffing – adequacy, future outlook, etc.

  • Center perspective of Headquarters’ support of TRL 1-3 research

Tour
  • Microdevices Laboratory

  • Formation Flying Laboratory

  • In-situ (Rover) Laboratory

  • Electric Propulsion Laboratory

  • Mars Yard

  • Superconducting Bolometer Laboratory

  • Fundamental Physics/Technology Laboratory

  • Chemical Kinetics and Photochemistry Laboratories

  • Interferometry Laboratory

  • Isotope Cosmochemistry Laboratory

  • Precision Deployable Aperture Systems Laboratory

  • Libs-Raman Bunker Laboratories

  • Discussions with Researchers

AMES RESEARCH CENTER
DECEMBER 2-3, 2009 (SPACE GROUP)

Welcome: Steve Zornetze, Associate Director


Center Presentation, Carol Carroll, Deputy Director, Science

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×
Tour
  • Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy Observatory and Laboratory, Tom Roelig, SOFIA Deputy Project Scientist

  • Laboratory Astrophysics Overview, Jesse Bregman, Chief, Astrophysics Branch

  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Clusters Laboratory, Louis Allamandola

  • PAH Infrared Properties Laboratory, Andy Mattioda

  • Ices and Organics Laboratory, Scott Sandford

  • Ultraviolet-Visible Laboratory/Cosmic Simulation Chamber, Farid Salama

  • Lunar Dust Mitigation Laboratory, Farid Salama

  • Ames Coronagraph Laboratory, Ruslan Belikov

  • IR Detector Laboratory, Robert McMurray and Craig McCreight

  • Laboratory Astrobiology Overview, Dave Des Marais, PI, Ames NASA Astrobiology Institute Team

  • Bio-geochemistry Laboratory, Linda Jahnke

  • Planetary Mineralogy Laboratory, David Blake

  • Space Biosciences, Debra Reiss-Bubenheim, Assistant Division Chief, Space Biosciences

  • Bio-fuels Laboratory, Chad Paavola

  • BioVisualization, Imaging and Simulation Technology Center, Richard Boyle and Katya Popova

  • Bone and Signaling Laboratory, Ruth Globus and Eduardo Almeida

  • Small Model Organisms Laboratory, Sharmila Bhattacharya

  • TPS Ablator Laboratory, Matt Gasch and Jeff Figone

  • Intelligent Systems, David Korsmeyer, Chief, Intelligent Systems Division

  • Advanced Diagnostic and Prognostic Test Laboratory, Ann Patterson-Hine, Kai Goebel

  • Researcher Questions and Answers

MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
DECEMBER 10, 2009

Overview, Les Johnson, Deputy Manager, Advanced Concepts Office

Tour
  • National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC), John Davis, Space Science Office Manager, Science and Missions Systems Office

    • X-Ray Telescope and Miniaturized Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope, Jessica Gaskin, Science and Mission Systems Office

    • Dusty Plasma Laboratory, Mian Abbas, Science and Mission Systems Office

  • Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, Ralph Carruth, Manager, Materials and Processes Laboratory

    • Electrostatic Levitator, Jan Rogers, Electrostatic Levitation Facility, Materials and Processes Laboratory

    • Innovative Materials Characterization, Jan Rogers

  • Advanced Technology Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), Bob Bagdigian, Branch Chief for ECLSS Development, Science and Mission Systems Office

    • Methane Plasma Pyrolysis, Morgan Abney, Space Systems Department

    • Bosch CO2 Reduction, Morgan Abney

  • Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, Ralph Carruth

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×
  • High Temperature Silicon Carbide Grid, Martin Volz, Failure Analysis and Metallurgy Branch

  • International Space Station Materials Science, Ching-Hua Su, Failure Analysis and Metallurgy Branch

  • Microfabrication Laboratory, Mike Watson, Chief, Integrated Systems Health Management and Sensors Branch

    • Magneto Optical Trap, Mike Watson

    • Microfabrication Laboratory, Angela Shields, Spacecraft and Vehicle Department

    • Microfabrication Integrated Optics Laboratory, Angela Shields

  • Materials Research and Technologies Facility, Ralph Carruth

    • In Situ Resource Utilization, Laurel Karr, Materials Test Branch

    • Ionic Liquids, Steve Paley, Nonmetallic Materials Branch

    • Microwave Water Extraction, Ed Ethridge, Engineering Directorate

  • Propulsion Research and Development Laboratory (PRDL), Harold Gerrish, Propulsion Systems Department

    • Solar Thermal Propulsion

    • High Power Plasma Laboratory

    • Nuclear Thermal Rocket Element Environmental Simulator Nuclear Fuel Simulator

    • Chemical Synthesis Laboratory

    • Simulated Fission Laboratory with Antimatter Trap

  • Meeting with Researchers

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×
Page 83
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×
Page 84
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×
Page 85
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×
Page 86
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×
Page 87
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×
Page 88
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Laboratories and Facilities Visited by the Committee." National Research Council. 2010. Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12903.
×
Page 89
Next: Appendix E: Biographies of the Committee Members »
Capabilities for the Future: An Assessment of NASA Laboratories for Basic Research Get This Book
×
Buy Paperback | $41.00 Buy Ebook | $32.99
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

Over the past 5 years or more, there has been a steady and significant decrease in NASA's laboratory capabilities, including equipment, maintenance, and facility upgrades. This adversely affects the support of NASA's scientists, who rely on these capabilities, as well as NASA's ability to make the basic scientific and technical contributions that others depend on for programs of national importance. The fundamental research community at NASA has been severely impacted by the budget reductions that are responsible for this decrease in laboratory capabilities, and as a result NASA's ability to support even NASA's future goals is in serious jeopardy.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    Switch between the Original Pages, where you can read the report as it appeared in print, and Text Pages for the web version, where you can highlight and search the text.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  9. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!