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Monday, March 30, 2015

Fwd: [nasa-jsc-retirees-list] FW: NASA news and JSC Today - Monday, March 30, 2015



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Begin forwarded message:

From: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Date: March 30, 2015 at 8:28:39 AM CDT
To: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Subject: [nasa-jsc-retirees-list] FW: NASA news and  JSC Today - Monday, March 30, 2015
Reply-To: larry.j.moon@nasa.gov

JSC Today - Monday, March 30, 2015

Hope you can join us this Thursday for our monthly NASA retirees luncheon at Hibachi Grill on Bay Area Blvd. at 11:30. 

 

We believe there will be a NAL first Thursday talk at the Gilrith Alamo room too but not sure who is the speaker at 2:30   ,,,if we get details will pass along

 

 

 

LEADING THE NEWS

• Astronaut Scott Kelley Begins Nearly Year-Long Mission On Board ISS.

NASA NEWS

• NASA Chooses Option B For Asteroid Redirection Mission.

• Wallops Rocket Launch Scrubbed.

• NASA Technology Discovers How Much Snow Pack California Has.

• NASA Examines Rocky Mountain Snowmelt.

• Aurorasaurus Project Recruits Observers To Help NASA Track Auroras.

HUMAN EXPLORATION AND OPERATIONS

• Russia-US Discussing Successor To ISS.

• Wilmore Describes Experience On ISS.

• Marks Lefty By Curiosity, Phoenix Fading.

• SETI Research Director Favors Broadcasting Internet To Space.

Astronaut Scott Kelley Begins Nearly Year-Long Mission On Board ISS.

ABC World News (3/27, story 14, 1:45, Muir, 5.84M) declared Astronaut Scott Kelley the "Person of the Week" on its Friday broadcast for agreeing to spend "almost an entire year," in space. "NASA will now study them with nearly identical genetic makeup to show what a year in space does to one brother and obviously not the other. What space does to the human body. The idea being, one day, missions to Mars might take even longer than a year."

        The CBS Evening News (3/27, story 11, 0:25, Pelley, 5.08M) reported, "A Russian spacecraft headed to the space station. American Scott Kelly and Russian Mikhail Kornienko will spend almost a year there to test how humans react to long space missions. Scott's twin, Mark Kelly, will do the same experiments on earth to provide a comparison." NBC Nightly News (3/27, story 6, 2:15, Holt, 7.86M) reported, "The longest space mission ever undertaken by NASA achieved liftoff this afternoon in Kazakhstan. On board Astronaut Scott Kelly flashed, who a flashed a thumbs up, as he embarks on nearly a full year in orbit." And "with Mark staying on Earth and Scott in space, NASA has two guinea pigs for a controlled experiment on the long-term physical effects of space." ABC World News (3/28, story 11, 0:25, Vega, 5.84M) on Saturday evening reported, "It's all systems go for NASA's Scott Kelly, the first American astronaut to spend a whole year in orbit. He's off to a solid start. He and his Russian crew mate linked up with their new home, the International Space Station."NBC Nightly News (3/28, story 11, 0:25, Alexander, 7.86M) reported, "The view from high above it all is a Soyuz spacecraft docked with the International Space Station."

      

        Chicago Schools Partner On Studying Effects On Gastrointestinal Bacteria. The Chicago Tribune (3/27, Firozi, 2.32M) reports that researchers at "Northwestern, University of Illinois at Chicago and Rush University Medical School have partnered to study how a year in space can affect human health." There are also nine other groups studying the effects. The Chicago schools "will focus on how bacteria can affect gastrointestinal health" and the effect of sleep cycles. The AP (3/28) carries a story based on that in the Tribune.

        Blog Coverage. Road Warrior Voices (3/28) comments on the differential in aging on Earth and at the space station due to its great speed and the lower gravity on the station. More coverage describing the launch and mission appeared at Universe Today (3/27, Kremer, 19K), The Verge (3/30, 876K), and Mashable (3/28, Daileda, 1.8M).

NASA Chooses Option B For Asteroid Redirection Mission.

The Florida Today (3/27, Dean, 178K) reports on the decision by NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot to send a spacecraft to an asteroid and retrieve a boulder from it and put it into orbit around the moon. Lightfoot explained the attraction of the chosen option, "I'm going to have multiple targets when I get there, is what it boils down to." Current plans are to launch the spacecraft in 2020.

        KOFY-TV San Francisco (3/28, 9:16 p.m. PDT, 10K) reports comically, "If your resume lists skills such as wielding a lasso and piloting a spaceship, NASA has an opening for you." It explains that the plan would allow NASA "to test the moon's orbit as a place to park future spacecraft for interplanetary missions."

        The Spaceflight Insider (3/28, Skocik) reports that NASA concluded that Option B would cost $100 million more than Option A, towing an entire asteroid into lunar orbit. Lightfoot said that the mission "will provide an initial demonstration of several spaceflight capabilities we will need to send astronauts deeper into space, and eventually, to Mars."

        Gizmag (3/28, Szondy, 64K) also reports the news.

        Caltech Space Challenge Takes Up Similar Problem. The Pasadena (CA) Star-News (3/27, Vuong, 87K) reports on the 2015 Caltech Space Challenge, with 32 international students participating as two teams tasked with designing "a mission where astronauts would land on an asteroid both to mine for resources and to demonstrate how the raw materials could be used."

Wallops Rocket Launch Scrubbed.

WAVY-TV Norfolk, VA (3/28, 11:15 p.m. EDT, 47K) reports, "NASA had to postpone rocket launch this morning because of high winds and seas at the Wallops Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore. The terrier-improved Malemute rocket carries experiments from students at Virginia Tech. NASA has not said when they will try again. But, due to the weather, it will be Tuesday at the earliest." WVEC-TV Hampton Roads, VA (3/28, 11:14 p.m. EDT, 19K) and WVBT-TV Virginia Beach, VA (3/28, 10:16 p.m. EDT, 25K) also provided coverage on the scrubbed rocket launch at the Wallops Flight Facility.

NASA Technology Discovers How Much Snow Pack California Has.

NBC Nightly News (3/27, story 8, 2:15, Holt, 7.86M) reported that California Governor Jerry Brown "signed a $1.1 billion relief package to address the" state's drought. NBC (Dryer) added, "NASA is using cutting edge technology, including lasers and a spectrometer, to measure snow depth in remote locations and determine how quickly it will melt." Tom Painter, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: "What we're headed for now is also simply knowing how much water there is in the mountain snow pack. That's something we've never actually known."

NASA Examines Rocky Mountain Snowmelt.

The Summit County (CO) Citizens Voice (3/27, 506) reports on NASA's research into Rocky Mountain snow levels, being led by Dorothy Hall of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Generally they found that snowmelt came earlier in most places during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, and there was "less change after 2000."

Aurorasaurus Project Recruits Observers To Help NASA Track Auroras.

Gizmodo (3/29, Stone, 1.04M) reports on the "Aurorasaurus" project started by NASA this year so that people could tweet what they saw of the aurora borealis "to help NASA construct a detailed global map of the event."

Russia-US Discussing Successor To ISS.

NBC News (3/29, Boyle, 2.71M) reports that apparently, Russian and American "space officials are talking...about building a new space station" after the existing one expires in 2024. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Russian Federal Space Agency director Igor Komarov were discussing the matter in Kazakhstan where they were for Friday's launch.

        Alabama Live (3/28, Roop, 502K) said that "reports were flying" but appeared to be "a little iffy."

        AFP (3/30) reports that Komarov said that the current station "will operate until 2024," and "could be extended."

        Yet, Space News (3/29, Subscription Publication, 481) reports that while NASA "welcomed" the Russian proposal, it "indicated there were no firm plans."

Wilmore Describes Experience On ISS.

The AP (3/28) reports that Tennessee astronaut Barry Wilmore in describing his experience aboard the International Space Station said that he was "most surprised by the mental gymnastics of working in zero-gravity." He said, "You lose stuff. Things float away. You have to think about every single thing that you're doing at every moment."

Marks Lefty By Curiosity, Phoenix Fading.

The New Scientist (3/27, Aron, 11K) reports that the "scorch marks left by the Curiosity rover and Phoenix lander" on the surface of Mars as fading and should disappear completely in about 2 and one-half years.

SETI Research Director Favors Broadcasting Internet To Space.

Seth Shostak, director of the Center for SETI Research at the SETI Institute, writes in an op-ed in the New York Times (3/28, Shostak, Subscription Publication, 9.97M) about SETI, "the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence," that it has been passive to date, but some scientists have suggested a more active approach "by deliberately transmitting our own messages." The suggestion has created "a storm of controversy," because some believe that "advertising our existence could be a mortal threat to the planet." The reason for the concern is the discovery that there are "tens of billions of habitable planets" in our galaxy. That has also led to suggestions that any message sent should be more representative or more valuable than a pop song or a commercial jingle. Shostak says that given the slowness of communications, we should "offer the aliens Big Data." He also says that not broadcasting would not work as advanced aliens could pick up our TV and radio signals.

 

 

 

 

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Year in Space Begins With Soyuz Launch

 

 

   Headlines

  1. Attention International Travelers

Prior to taking government property and/or technical information outside the United States, international travelers are required to obtain advance approval from an authorized export compliance official via your organization's Export Control Representative (ECR). This includes: memory devices, RSA tokens, phones and laptops, as well as data, emails and other information on such devices. To allow adequate review and approval time, the organization's ECRs will assist travelers with their request using the JSC Export Records Database (ERDB). Such requests should be received by the ECR at least 10 working days before your travel date. The ERDB record will reflect a "concurrence" for all government property and/or technical data the travelers intend on taking. It is recommended that travelers also carry a copy of a Composite Report of the approved request (obtainable from the ERDB). Please see JWI 2190.1D for additional information.

Ari Blum x33431

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  1. 4th Annual OCIO's NASA T&I Labs Challenge Project

Attention JSC civil servants:

The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) is pleased to announce that the Fourth Annual Technology & Innovations (T&I) Labs Challenge (formally "IT Labs") is now open. For new proposals this year, we have introduced a two-step approach for project submissions. The first step will be a one-page application with a few details on the project you are proposing. The one-page application will be submitted via the T&I Labs website and revealed to all after the deadline. A key change in this year's project challenge call will be to combine, and not fund, duplicate projects on the same topic. Past project leaders are encouraged to apply if their project has merit to reach production, although anyone can propose advancing a past effort if your business unit is interested in championing it. Phase 2 and above projects will require co-sponsorship and contributing funds from a business unit champion.

R. Travis Kantz 281-792-7885 https://labs.nasa.gov/SitePages/Challenge_Project_Call.aspx

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  1. Java 8 Upgrade Begins March 31

Beginning Tuesday, March 31, Java 8 will be installed on ACES computers during the Tuesday night patching window. There may be changes in the security prompts you encounter after Java 8 is installed, but it should introduce no computer or application functionality differences.

Tuesday evening, leave your computer powered on, logged off and connected to the NASA network to be automatically updated with no user interaction.

Mac users running a Windows 7 Virtual Machine (VM) should remain logged into the Mac, connected to the NASA network, and should leave the Windows VM at the login prompt. If you have a laptop and take it home, reconnect to the NASA network to receive the update.

Computers not in the above states will receive Java 8 the next time the computer connects to the NASA network.

For assistance, contact the Enterprise Service Desk at 1-877-677-2123, Option 2.

JSC IRD Outreach x46367 http://ird.jsc.nasa.gov/Lists/wIReD%20in%20The%20Latest%20IRD%20News/Lat...

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  1. Section 508 Proposed Changes – Have Your Say

The Access Board has released for public comment a proposed rule updating accessibility requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) in the federal sector covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

These proposed revisions and updates are intended to ensure ICT covered by the respective statutes is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. This "at-a-glance" accessible PDF gives an overview of the proposed rule.

Let your voice be heard by contributing your written comments here for JSC. Click "Add new item," complete the information and click save.

JSC comments are due by March 31. 

If you have problems accessing or using this SharePoint site, please forward your comments directly to Herb Babineaux, JSC Section 508 coordinator.

JSC IRD Outreach x34263 https://projects.jsc.nasa.gov/I3P/IRDDataCall/SiteAssets/RFC%20Section%2...

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   Organizations/Social

  1. What Do You Wish You Knew Then That You Know Now?

Have a special interest in bringing in and retaining the next generation at JSC?

Come on out as Emerge holds its March monthly meeting! We'll be discussing onboarding experiences and breaking into focus groups, which is intended to spark creative discussion about how our onboarding process here at JSC can be improved.

Your input is highly valued and will be used to guide our discussion, so please take a few minutes to fill out our onboarding survey: Emerge Onboarding Survey

Come be a part of something that will benefit our current and future hires.

Event Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2015   Event Start Time:12:00 PM   Event End Time:1:00 PM
Event Location: Bldg 12/Rm 200

Add to Calendar

Elena C. Buhay 281-792-7976 https://collaboration.ndc.nasa.gov/iierg/emerge/SitePages/Home.aspx

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  1. Tick Tock Chili Cookers and Chili Lovers

Registration fees go up on April 3 for teams looking to enter the April 11 37th Annual JSC FOD Chili Cook-off. Chili lovers, get your tickets from team captains or a Starport Gift Shop. Chili will be ready at noon, and $7 gets you all the chili you can eat and all the drinks you care to enjoy. Spread the word!

Event Date: Saturday, April 11, 2015   Event Start Time:8:00 AM   Event End Time:5:00 PM
Event Location: Gilruth Complex

Add to Calendar

Elmer Johnson x32084 http://external.jsc.nasa.gov/events/chili/

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  1. Aliens vs Astronauts 5.05K - Friday w/ Food Trucks

There is still time to register for Starport's Aliens vs. Astronauts 5.05K (3.14 miles)—A BATTLE TO DETERMINE THE ULTIMATE LIFE FORM!

Race participants will register as either an alien or astronaut, with times for each species being averaged to crown the fastest life form in the universe. Gather your alien and astronaut friends and family! This 5.05K race is open to the public.

Food trucks will arrive at the Gilruth Center at the conclusion of the race.

    • Date/Time: April 4 at 9 a.m.
    • Where: Race begins at the Gilruth Center and runs through JSC
    • Prizes: Overall male and female; first-, second- and third-place finishers in each age category
    • Registration Fee: $30 (with a portion of proceeds going to the NASA Exchange Scholarship Program)

For more information and online registration, visit the Starport website. Signups are available online and at the Gilruth Center.

Event Date: Saturday, April 4, 2015   Event Start Time:9:00 AM   Event End Time:2:00 PM
Event Location: Gilruth Center

Add to Calendar

Steve Schade x30304 https://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/en/events/aliens-vs-astronauts

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  1. Integrating Perspectives for Innovation

Design + Engineering, Integrating Perspectives for Innovation  

The Human Systems Integration Employee Resource Group is proud to host Industrial Design Society of America Chair Austen Angell for a lecture on the integration of design and engineering for innovation. Formerly the director of Design Research and Innovation at Intel and the vice president of Design at Logic Technologies, Austen now serves as creative director at Modern Edge, working in the fields of wearables, mobile, medical and specialty vehicles for the world's top companies. Please join us for an engaging presentation and discussion.

Event Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2015   Event Start Time:11:30 AM   Event End Time:12:30 PM
Event Location: 1/620

Add to Calendar

Jame Taylor x34339 http://collaboration.jsc.nasa.gov/iierg/HSI/SitePages/Home.aspx

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  1. Open a New Door with Toastmasters

As April approaches, it's time to open a new door.

Toastmasters can help you unlock your communication, leadership, interpersonal and time-management skills and open a new door to the next level in your personal goals and your career.

Space Explorers Toastmasters meets weekly on-site here at JSC. Members are encouraging and look forward to helping you improve your communication, organization and leadership skills in a supportive setting.

Join us and learn more about Toastmasters—Where Leaders are Made.

Space Explorers Toastmasters meetings are from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Building 30A, Room 1010.

    • Friday, April 3
    • Thursday, April 9
    • Friday, April 17
    • Thursday, April 23

Jaumarro A. Cuffee x34883

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  1. Beginners Ballroom Dance: March 31 and April 2

Do you feel like you have two left feet? Well, Starport has the perfect program for you: Beginners Ballroom Dance! This eight-week class introduces you to the various types of ballroom dance. Students will learn the secrets of a good lead and following, as well as the ability to identify the beat of the music. This class is easy, and we have fun as we learn. JSC friends and family are welcome.

Regular Registration:

    • $110 per couple (March 28 to April 2)

Two class sessions available:

    • Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. - starting March 31
    • Thursdays from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. - starting April 2

All classes are taught in the Gilruth Center's dance studio (Group Ex studio).

Shericka Phillips x35563 https://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/en/programs/recreation-programs/ballroom-d...

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   Jobs and Training

  1. APPEL - Risk Managament 1 - May 5

This course provides an introduction to both the Risk Informed Decision Making and Continuous Risk Management in the context of the policies and recommended practices that guide their application.

This course is designed for NASA's technical workforce, including systems engineers and project personnel who seek to develop the competencies required to succeed as a leader of a project team, functional team or small project.

This course is available for self-registration in SATERN until Thursday, April 2, and is open to civil servants and contractors.

Date: Tuesday, May 5

Location: Building 12, Room 152

Zeeaa Quadri x39723 https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHED...

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  1. Guidance, Navigation & Control: May 11-15

This course will help you understand the principles of navigation by inertial, celestial and radio (including GPS) methods; the principles of guidance and control of 6-DOF motion; the characteristics and noise models of sensors; and the dynamic behavior of controlled and guided systems.

This course is designed for engineers and scientists involved in the design or evaluation of guidance, navigation and control systems.

This course is available for self-registration in SATERN and is open to civil servants and contractors.

Dates: Monday through Friday, May 11 to 15

Location: Building 12, Room 134

Zeeaa Quadri x39723 https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHED...

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  1. Facility Manager Training

The Safety Learning Center invites you to attend an eight-hour Facility Managers' training, which provides JSC Facility Managers insight into the requirements for accomplishing their functions.

    • Includes training on facility management, safety, hazard identification and mitigation, legal, security, energy conservation, health and environmental aspects.
    • Attendees of this course must also register in SATERN for a half-day Fire Warden training. * Others who need Fire Warden training can register through the normal process. 

Date/Time: April 1 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Safety Learning Center, Building 20, Room 205/206

Registration via SATERN required:

https://satern.nasa.gov/learning/user/deeplink_redirect.jsp?linkId=SCHEDULED_...

Aundrail Hill x37264

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  1. Job Opportunities

Where do I find job opportunities?

Both internal Competitive Placement Plan and external JSC job announcements are posted on the Human Resources (HR) portal and USAJOBS website. Through the HR portal, civil servants can view summaries of all the agency jobs that are currently open at: https://hr.nasa.gov/portal/server.pt/community/employees_home/239/job_opportu...

To help you navigate to JSC vacancies, use the filter drop-down menu and select "JSC HR." The "Jobs" link will direct you to the USAJOBS website for the complete announcement and the ability to apply online.

Lateral reassignment and rotation opportunities have now moved to NASA Employee Talent Search (NETS). These opportunities do not possess known promotion potential.

If you have questions about any JSC job vacancies or reassignment opportunities, please call your HR representative.

Brandy Braunsdorf x30476

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   Community

  1. Want to JS(C) a Movie?

NASA would like your help in planning outdoor movie nights here at JSC! Click on the link below and complete the questionnaire to provide your feedback on what you would like to see for a fun, family movie night.

Please respond by April 8.

Crawford Jones 281-792-8481 http://strategicplan.jsc.nasa.gov/surveys.ashx/1/JSC Movie Night Survey

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  1. Co-op Housing Committee Seeks New Rental Property

Do you have an extra room in your house that you would be willing to rent to a co-op or intern? Need a roommate? Need a house sitter for an extended period of time? Co-ops and interns at JSC rely on the housing committee to provide quality, affordable housing during their work tours at JSC. If you would like to submit your property for the housing board, please fill out this form. Property eligibility will be determined by the housing committee.

Anna Seils x35068

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JSC Today is compiled periodically as a service to JSC employees on an as-submitted basis. Any JSC organization or employee may submit articles.

Disclaimer: Accuracy and content of these notes are the responsibility of the submitters.

 

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