Crosslink Summer 2001 Contributors

A Perfect Start to the Operation

Steven R. Strom was recently hired as the corporate archivist for Aerospace. He has a background in both archive sciences and historical editing and publishing. Strom holds an M.A. in American history from Boston College. Prior to coming to Aerospace, he headed the Architectural Archive at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center in Houston, Texas. Strom grew up in a neighborhood adjacent to the Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake City, Texas, and has had a lifelong interest in space history (steven.r.strom@aero.org).

Building Space Instruments

Lynn M. Friesen, Director, Space Instrumentation Department, leads the development of scientific instruments and data-processing efforts associated with ground, airborne, and space-based research programs. She received the Aerospace President's Award in 1989, along with John Hackwell, for the development of a novel imaging restoration algorithm. She holds a B.S. in information and computer science from the University of California, Irvine, and has been with Aerospace since 1971 (lynn.m.friesen@aero.org). Dan J. Mabry, Associate Director, Space Instrumentation Department, has been developing flight hardware and embedded software since 1988. He holds an M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in computer science from the University of California at Los Angeles. Mabry has been with Aerospace since 1981 (dan.mabry@aero.org).

Delta Star

Frederick Simmons has supported BMDO in a number of its programs since its inception (as SDIO) in 1983, primarily dealing with target and background phenomenology. He joined Aerospace in 1971 to work in the Defense Support Program and several DARPA research studies. He holds a Ph.D. in aerospace science from the University of Michigan (frederick.s.simmons@aero.org). Peter Bythrow (inset) is Chief Scientist, Central Measurements and Signatures Intelligence Office of the Defense Intelligence Agency. In his previous position at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, he was coinvestigator for a number of space experiments and developed sensor technologies for space surveillance and missile detection. He holds a Ph.D. in space physics from the University of Texas, Dallas (dibytpf@dia.ic.gov).

TSX-5: Another Step Forward

Michael L. La Grassa, Senior Project Engineer, Space Test and Experimentation Directorate, leads system engineering efforts in support of satellite acquisition and integration for Space Test Program missions. He worked closely with the contractor and the Air Force Program Office in resolving technical issues on the TSX-5 program. He holds an M.S. in electrical engineering from California State University, Fullerton, and has been with Aerospace since 1986 (michael.l.lagrassa@aero.org). James R. Farmin, Project Engineer, is a member of the Mission Design and Operations team within the Space Test and Experimentation Directorate. He has worked on Space Test Program missions in various capacities for eight years. He holds a B.S. in physics from the University of Idaho and is currently working on a Ph.D. at the University of New Mexico. He has been with Aerospace since 1999 (james.farmin@kirtland.af.mil).

Protecting Space Systems from Lightning

Left to right: Alexander F. Rivera, Director, Electrical and Electronic Systems Department, has 20 years of experience studying electromagnetic effects on electronics. Recently, he did an extensive study on the risk posed by lightning to satellites in processing facilities. He holds an M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of California at Los Angeles and has been with Aerospace since 1991 (alexander.f.rivera@aero.org). Harry C. Koons, Distinguished Scientist, Space Sciences Department, is an expert on spacecraft surface and internal charging and triboelectric charging of launch vehicles. A member of the joint U.S. Air Force/NASA Lightning Advisory Panel, he has conducted experiments on electrostatic discharges on spacecraft caused by the space environment. He holds a Ph.D. in geology and geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has been with Aerospace since 1968 (hkoons@aero.org). Richard L. Walterscheid, Space Sciences Department, leads research in upper-atmosphere dynamics, air-glow phenomenology, and toxic transport and diffusion. He received the Aerospace President's Award in 1986 for work in the variability and structure of atmospheric phenomena affecting space systems. He holds a Ph.D. in atmospheric science from the University of California at Los Angeles, served as a weather officer in the Air Force, and has been with Aerospace since 1979 with concurrent positions in the UCLA department of Atmospheric Sciences (richard.walterscheid@aero.org). Richard Briët, Electrical and Electronic Systems Department, leads research on the design of lightning propagation and protection systems for ground installations. Former manager of the Survivability and Vulnerability Section, he has published numerous articles on lightning and related subjects and made many presentations at conferences in the United States and Europe. Briët holds a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Utah and has been with Aerospace since 1985 (richard.briet@aero.org).