Ames Science Stars of the Month May 2026

NASA Ames Science Directorate Stars of the Month: May 2026

The NASA Ames Science Directorate recognizes the outstanding contributions of (pictured left to right) Lora Jovanović, Tammy Moore, Frances Donovan, and Jaden Ta. Their commitment to the NASA mission represents the entrepreneurial spirit, technical expertise, and collaborative disposition needed to explore this world and beyond.

Space Science Star: Lora Jovanović

Lora Jovanović is a research scientist in the Astrophysics Branch for the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute. Lora is recognized for her major role in significantly increasing the number of experimental optical constant datasets available on the Optical Constants Database, from 297 to 533. These optical constants are critical input parameters for models used to interpret observational data returned from space missions (e.g. SPHEREx , Cassini, New Horizons, Juno).

Space Biosciences Star: Tammy Moore

Tammy Moore is the Space Biosciences Division’s Resource Analyst. Tammy is recognized for her leadership through major changes in budget guidelines and processes and for being a steady source of support for the whole division thanks to her expert knowledge and exceptional determination to help our scientists and engineers.

Space Biosciences Star: Frances Donovan

Frances Donovan is a scientist and project manager in the Space Biosciences Division. Frances
is recognized for her boundless dedication, resourcefulness, and persistence in serving as the
Science Directorate’s Contracting Officer’s Representative for the FILMSS-2 (Fully Integrated Lifecycle Mission Support Services) task, educating and supporting the task requestors, and inventing new approaches to significantly simplify task management.

Earth Science Star: Jaden Ta

Jaden Ta is a deputy project manager in the Earth Science Project Office in the Earth Science Division. Jaden is recognized for her valuable contributions to the Earth Venture Suborbital FarmFlux investigation. She is acknowledged for her leadership in developing the project’s Investigation Implementation Plan and for her strategic role in determining deployment locations for the research aircraft.

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Aaron McKinnon

NASA’s Dryden Aeronautical Test Range Supports Flight, Space Missions

NASA advances aeronautics and space technologies through experimental aircraft and flight research at the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Behind those efforts is the Dryden Aeronautical Test Range (DATR), which provides the communications, tracking, and data services that enable safe and effective missions.

For most NASA Armstrong research flights, the DATR supplies communications, radar, and telemetry. The range’s video capabilities can also capture ground footage as well as long-range coverage for flights. Modernization efforts started in the early 2020s expanded those capabilities and prepared the range to support efforts such as test flights of NASA’s X‑59 quiet supersonic research aircraft, as well as spaceflight communications.

“The DATR provides real‑time data, tracking, and situational awareness that help keep flight research safe and efficient,” said Tara McCoy, acting deputy director for DATR Mission Operations at NASA Armstrong. “The range also supports science missions, works with industry partners, and provides capabilities used for International Space Station operations.”

Ongoing upgrades include new very high frequency (VHF) ground antennas, updated electronic components, and software improvements for tracking the International Space Station and visiting spacecraft. NASA installed additional antennas to ensure backup coverage.

The range’s ability to processes and display real‑time radar, telemetry, and video data is critical for monitoring research flights, such as NASA’s Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) wing model. CATNLF, a scale-model wing attached under a NASA F-15B research jet, is designed to improve the smooth flow of air known as laminar flow, reducing drag and lowering fuel costs for future commercial aircraft.

The DATR also supports aircraft platforms that enable science missions, such as the ER-2 high-altitude aircraft and the C-20A aircraft.

Preparing for future flights

The range is developing multiple approaches to streamline and shorten the time it takes to process and validate raw flight data for researchers, saving time and resources.

“The faster we can get data to the project engineers to review, the faster they can determine whether certain test points need to be repeated, or future test points can be skipped,” said David Tow, DATR chief engineer. “We are working these efforts simultaneously because each one has the potential to drastically improve how long it takes to deliver post-processing data.”

One NASA approach is to automate and consolidate the data processing steps from five down to one. Another approach leverages an existing partnership with the U.S. Air Force to enable multiple computers to post-process data from separate missions simultaneously. The collaboration between the Air Force and DATR aims to reduce processing time for post-flight data from two hours to less than 30 minutes.

Supporting space station operations

The DATR is part of NASA’s safety and communications infrastructure that supports International Space Station missions. Its capabilities are used for backup communications and telemetry during launches, dockings, and reentries.

NASA Armstrong is one of only two ground stations in the United States capable of sending and receiving messages on all space station frequencies. The other is NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Armstrong has provided communications and radar tracking for the station since its first component launched in 1998 and continues to support commercial cargo and crew missions.

Advancing NASA’s mission

The range operates within NASA’s Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project in its Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate and remains positioned to support aeronautics, science, and International Space Station missions with communications, tracking, and data services.

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NASA Wallops to Host Public Information Session May 13

To facilitate discussion and information sharing on activities at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, a public information session is being held 4–6 p.m., Wednesday, May 13, at the NASA Wallops Visitor Center. 

During the event, NASA will have information booths on the status on the causeway bridge construction, updates on beach replenishment, and a representative from the GLOBE program. Federal and state health experts will be on hand to speak with the public on the PFAS health consultation report released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.  

The NASA Wallops Visitor Center is located on Virginia Route 175 about five miles from U.S. Route 13 and five miles from Chincoteague.

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Amy Barra

NASA Sets Coverage for SpaceX 34th Station Resupply Launch, Arrival

NASA and SpaceX are targeting 7:16 p.m. EDT Tuesday, May 12, for the next launch to deliver science, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station. This will be the 34th SpaceX commercial resupply services mission to the orbital outpost for NASA.

Carrying about 6,500 pounds of cargo, a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will lift off aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Dragon is scheduled to dock autonomously at about 9:50 a.m. Thursday, May 14, to the forward port of the station’s Harmony module.

Watch NASA’s launch and arrival coverage on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media.

In addition to cargo for the crew aboard the space station, Dragon will deliver several new experiments, including a project to determine how well Earth-based simulators mimic microgravity conditions, a bone scaffold made from wood that could produce new treatments for fragile bone conditions like osteoporosis, and equipment to evaluate how red blood cells and the spleen change in space to protect future astronauts. The Dragon spacecraft also will carry a new instrument to study charged particles around the Earth that can impact power grids and satellites, an investigation that could provide a fundamental understanding of how planets form, and an instrument designed to take highly accurate measurements of sunlight reflected by Earth and the Moon.

The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to remain at the space station until mid-June when it will depart the orbiting laboratory and return to Earth with time-sensitive research and cargo, ahead of splashing down off the coast of California.

NASA’s mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):

Monday, May 11

11 a.m.: Prelaunch media teleconference with the following participants:

• Bill Spetch, operations and integration manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program
• Dr. Liz Warren, deputy chief scientist, NASA’s International Space Station Program
• Lee Echerd, senior mission manger, Government and Commercial Mission Management, SpaceX
• Brian Cizek, launch weather officer, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron

Media who wish to participate by phone must request dial-in information by 10 a.m. on May 11, by emailing the NASA Kennedy newsroom at: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov.

Audio of the media teleconference will stream live on the agency’s YouTube channel.

Tuesday, May 12

7 p.m.: Launch coverage begins on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube.

Launch coverage also will be available on the NASA website, and will include live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 7 p.m., and proceed as countdown milestones occur.

On-demand streaming video on NASA+ and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468. Follow countdown coverage on NASA’s International Space Station blog for updates.

7:16 p.m.: Launch

Thursday, May 14

8:20 a.m.: Arrival coverage begins on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube.

9:50 a.m.: Docking

Attend launch virtually

Members of the public can register to attend this launch virtually. NASA’s virtual guest program for this mission also includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or changes, and a stamp for the NASA virtual guest passport following launch.

Watch, Engage on social media

Let people know you’re watching the mission on X, Facebook, and Instagram by following and tagging these accounts:

X: @NASA, @NASASpaceOps, @NASAKennedy, @Space_Station, @ISS_CASIS

Facebook: NASA, NASAKennedy, ISS, ISS National Lab

Instagram: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @ISS, @ISSNationalLab

Learn more about International Space Station operations and research at:

https://www.nasa.gov/station

-end-

Jimi Russell
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
james.j.russell@nasa.gov

Danielle Sempsrott / Leejay Lockhart
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
danielle.c.sempsrott@nasa.gov / leejay.lockhart@nasa.gov

Sandra Jones / Joseph Zakrzewski
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov / joseph.a.zakrzewskI@nasa.gov

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Gerelle Q. Dodson