National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationGoddard Space Flight Center

Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia Volume XX-00 Number: 45 November 20, 2000

Inside Wallops

NASA has established a neworganization, the NASA Office ofSecurity Management and Safeguards,to focus and advance the agency�sefforts in all aspects of NASA security.

The new office will formulate policyfor and ensure the effectiveness ofNASA�s primary security objectives: toprotect the agency�s employees(including on-site contractors) andvisitors, as well as its critical nationalassets, vital information and physicalproperty. The new organization, whichreports directly to NASAAdministrator Daniel S. Goldin, willserve as the single point of focus onsecurity matters for the agency and alsowill represent NASA at the nationallevel on security policy.

�The creation of this officedemonstrates, once again, our steadfastcommitment to safety overall and alsoto properly safeguard the pricelesshuman, intellectual and physical assetsentrusted to us by the people of theUnited States,� noted Goldin.

The establishment of the office resultsin part from assessments requested byGoldin to ensure the effectiveness ofNASA�s security programs in light ofconstantly evolving security and safetychallenges.

John D. Schumacher, AssociateAdministrator for External Relations,will continue in his current capacityand also serve as acting director of thenew office while a search to fill theposition permanently is conducted.

New Office of SecurityManagement andSafeguards Established

Additional security measures implemented on Oct. 13, 2000, in response toincreased tensions in the Middle East, which included the terrorist bombing ofthe U.S.S. Cole in Yemen, have been lifted in accordance with guidance receivedfrom NASA Headquarters.

Although we have returned to what we refer to as ThreatCon Normal, employeesshould continue to:

a conspicuously display their NASA/GSFC badge at all times while on Centerproperty. Refer to GSFC Announcement #00-47, Subject: MandatoryDisplay of NASA/GSFC Identification Badge, dated Oct. 31, 2000.

a have their NASA/GSFC picture badge (as well as photo identification foremployees who have temporary badges) ready to display to security offic-ers at access gates.

a report any suspicious individuals, packages, or activity to their servicingSecurity Office.

a secure rooms and storage areas when not in use.

We appreciate your cooperation and patience during the past month of heightenedsecurity awareness and vigilance.

A message from Center Director, Al Diaz:

A Silicon Valley start-up company hasobtained a license to develop, produceand market an innovative diagnosticdevice for early breast cancer detectionbased on technology originallydeveloped by NASA researchers.

San Jose-based BioLuminate, Inc. plansto develop a commercial version of the�Smart Surgical Probe� developed atNASA�s Ames Research Center.

The probe is a small disposable needlewith multiple sensors. It has thepotential to enable physicians todiagnose tumors without surgery,dramatically reducing the number ofbreast biopsies that women undergoannually.

�This device is being developed tomake real-time, detailed interpretations

of breast tissue at the tipof the needle,� saidRobert Mah, the Amesscientist who inventedthe technology. �Theinstrument may allowhealth care providers tomake expert, accuratediagnoses as well as to

suggest proper, individualizedtreatment, even in remote areas,� he said.

�Every week in the United States,almost 18,000 surgical breast biopsiesare performed on women withsuspicious breast lesions,� explainedBioLuminate Chief Executive OfficerRichard Hular.

Surgical Probe Follow-on to Fight Breast Cancer�By taking the NASA Smart Probe anddeveloping it further, BioLuminatehopes to be able to produce a real-time-measurement instrument that willreduce the need for surgery. If we aresuccessful, the probe will significantlyimprove women�s health care and couldpotentially reduce annual health carecosts,� said Hular.

Further development of the smartsurgical probe is focused ondistinguishing cancer tissue types andobtaining real-time measurements.

�The probe uses special neural netsoftware developed at Ames that learnsfrom experience. This enables theinstrument to detect the physiologicsigns of cancer and may predict itsprogress,� explained Mah.

The breast cancer tool is being developedin collaboration with StanfordUniversity School of Medicine,Stanford, CA.

It is a spin-off from a computerizedrobotic brain surgery �assistant�previously developed by Mah andStanford neurosurgeon Dr. RussellAndrews.

The larger brain surgery device is asimple robot that can �learn� thephysical characteristics of the brain. Itsoon may give surgeons finer controlof surgical instruments during delicatebrain operations.

Students are exploring the stars with aclick of a computer mouse thanks to aspecial hands-on, interactive NASAeducation program.

Telescopes In Education allowseducators and students around theworld to remotely control research-quality telescopes and charge-coupleddevice cameras located at the MountWilson Observatory in California. Allthey need is a computer modem andspecial astronomy software.

Telescopes In Education is sponsoredby NASA�s High PerformanceComputing and CommunicationsLearning Technologies Program, theOffice of Space Science, and the Officeof Human Resources and Education.

Information on the program is availableat: http://tie.jpl.nasa.gov/

NASA Program HelpsStudents Reach for the Stars

Happy Thanksgiving

Inside Wallops is an official publication ofGoddard Space Flight Center and is publishedby the Wallops Office of Public Affairs,Extension 1584, in the interest of Wallopsemployees.

Editor Betty FlowersPrinting Printing Management Office

http://www.wff.nasa.gov

Novemberis

NativeAmericanHeritage

Month

C Fund Falls From LeadAnother losing month in Octoberbrought the Thrift Savings Plan�scommon stock (C) fund down to a 6.01percent return in the latest 12-monthrolling count, the lowest of the threeexisting TSP funds.

The C fund, which long has been thehighest-returning of the three TSPchoices in those aggregate counts,dropped 0.4 percent in October whilethe bond (F) fund gained 0.66 percentfor a 12-month return of 7.36 percent.

The C fund has had seven losingmonths during the period. Thegovernment securities (G) fund,meanwhile, gained 0.51 percent inOctober for a 12-month return of 6.51percent.

From FEDweekNov. 15 Issue

One day guest membership and $10 offmembership coupons to Sam�s Club areavailable in the Exchange. Thecoupons expire Jan. 31, 2001.

Exchange News

Wallops Flight Facility recycles severalitems which you may inadvertantly bethrowing in the trash.

Dumpsters for scrap metal are locatedin the salvage yard and behind BuildingF-10. Cardboard dumpsters are locatedat the Post Office and behind Receiving.Wooden pallets are collected in thesalvage yard. White paper is collectedin each office.

Aluminum cans arecollected in most buildingsby the Black History Club.Plastic bags are collected

in the lobby of the Cafeteria. Packagingpeanuts and bubble wrap can be recycledat Shipping.

The following items cannot be thrownin the trash: non-food liquids, batteries,florescent lightbulbs, solvent or oily rags,pressurized gas cylinders, asbestos orother hazardous materials. If you needto dispose of any of these items or havequestions contact the Wallops Environ-mental Office at extension 1718.

Do Your Part For America --Recycle

West Nile VirusThe District of Columbia and Delmarvahave experienced a great deal ofpublicity concerning the West NileVirus. Currently no cases of the virushave been reported on the Greenbelt orWallops campuses.

Descriptions of the virus and its effectshave been published in localnewspapers, broadcast over radio andtelevision stations. If you needadditional information on the virus,contact the Health Unit, 1266 or referto the Center for Disease Control at 1-800-311-3435.

Documentation indicates a significantnumber of bird deaths in thepopulations of American crows, bluejays and raptors. Domestic geese havebeen reportedly dying from West NileVirus infection, however, the extent towhich the virus may be present in wildducks or geese is unknown. If you finda dead bird, DO NOT TOUCH IT.Notify the appropriate points of contactlisted below:

At Wallops Flight Facility, call theEnvironmental Office at x1718.

At home in Virginia, call the AccomackCounty Environmental Health Depart-ment, 757-824-6211, or the NorthamptonCounty Environmental Services at 757-442-6228.

If at home in Maryland, call theMaryland Hotline at 1-888-584-3110.

You can reduce the risk of becominginfected with the West Nile Virus byfollowing these steps:

- Stay indoors at dawn, dusk and earlyevening.

- Wear long-sleeved shirts and pantswhen outdoors.

- Apply an insect repellent to clothingand exposed skin.

- Prevent standing, stagnant water fromaccumulating outside your home.

- Dispose of cans and containers thathave collected on your property, anddrill holes in the bottom of them.

- Clean roof gutters at least annually.

- Empty wading pools when not in use,turn over wheelbarrows, and refreshbirdbaths

Use landscaping to eliminate standingwater on your property.

1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo50,000 miles. Very Good ConditionCall (757) 824-4599 after 5 p.m.

For Sale

The Office of Human Resources (OHR)will be holding an open house forWallops Civil Service employees from11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 30,in the Building F-3.

The purpose of the open house is forHuman Resources staff to meet Wallopscivil service employees and provideinformation on OHR programs andservices.

Areas to be covered include laborrelations, personnel profiles, leave andfamily work life programs, training andacademic programs, employee express,recruitment and staffing, awards,employee assistance, organizationaldevelopment services and careermanagement programs.

If you have any questions call SheriBrown at 66-2374 or Donna Swann at66-2172.

The next edition ofInside Wallops will be Dec.4

with Wallops� own Bob Tittle

November 29 at 6:30 p.m. inBuilding F-3Get a team together or just show up andmeet new people and form a team.Challenge your office mates! Challengethe next-door building occupants!Name those tunes from the 50�s, 60�s,and 70�s. Bring back memories ofwhere you were in 1956! 1964! 1974!

Prizes for the winning team!

Name That Tune!