A brief overview of the NASA program for managing scientific and technical information (STI) is given. The program's history and goals are discussed

Pinelli, Thomas E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

Introduction 
THOMAS E. PINELLI* 
Throughout most of its history, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) 
was known as the most important and productive aeronautical research establishment in 
the world. The task that NACA received from Congress was simple: to supervise and direct 
the scientific study of the problems of flight with a view to their practical solution (P.L. 
63-271).‘ Between its creation in 1915 and its change to the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) in 1958, the NACA published more than 16,000 technical reports 
which were sought out by aeronautical engineers both in the United States and abroad. 
Many of these reports are classics in the field of aeronautics and are stil l  used and & r e n d ,  
the data contained in these reports are essential to understanding the fundamentals of 
aeronautical research and design. 
The NACA developed a reputation for efficiency and effectiveness that was so widespread 
that it came to be viewed as something of a model for research and later as a model for 
implementing a program for federally funded civilian research and development (R&D). 
The NACA offered science, technology, and a system for coupling knowledge with people 
who would use it in the field. 
This system laid the foundation for the United States to dominate the world commercial 
transport sector. It is a part of the tradition that NASA inherited in 1958 from the NACA. 
Mindful of the importance of linking knowledge with the user, the National Aeronautics 
and Space Act of 1958 as passed by the 85th Congress specifically requires the NASA 
Administrator to “provide the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of infor- 
mation concerning its activities and the results thereof” (P.L. 85-568)? This stipulation 
serves as the agency’s charter to disseminate information. 
During its 31-year existence, NASA has landed men on the Moon, placed a Variety of 
satellites in orbit, sent probes to the fhr reaches of the solar system, helped keep the nation 
at the forefront of aeronautical research, collected untold amounts of data, and generated 
an incredible amount of information in the process. NASA has created a variety of programs 
to help manage its data and information and to comply with its congressional mandate. 
*Din?ct all correspondence to: %mas E. Pinelli, NASA Lungley Research Center, M5 I&%, Hompkm, Viqinia 
23665-5225. 
Government Information Quarterly, Volume 7, Number 2, pnges l23-l26. 
ISSN 0740.624x. 
-p NJfHYHINAUII t u M  e- 
2- 
PRECEDENG PAGE BLANK NOT FILMED 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19900019125 2020-03-19T21:46:05+00:00Z
124 GOVERNMENT INFORMATION QUARTERLY Vol. 7/No. 2h990 
These programs and strategies are the focus of this symposium issue of Government Znfor- 
mution Quarterly. 
In the lead article, Wallace 0. Keene, Assistant Associate Administrator for Information 
Resources Management, NASA Office of Management, discusses the complexity of manag- 
ing information in a mission agency such as NASA by detailing the legal and regulatory 
complexities associated with the agency’s primary product, scientific and technical infor- 
mation. Mindful that scientific and technical information (STI) is critical to the competitive 
position of the United States in the world community, Keene describes the infrastructure 
of information resources management: the organizational interfaces, the formal and infor- 
mal mechanisms associated with the production, transkr, and utilization of howledge within 
NASA, and some thoughts on the future. 
For years, NASA has been conducting programs that have contributed to the expansion 
of human knowledge of phenomena in space and have helped us understand more about 
our home planet, Earth. In the process, more than 6,000 gigabytes of digital data have been 
collected from NASA science missions. James L. Green of the National Space Science 
Data Center (NSSDC), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., provides 
a general overview of the agency’s approach to the management of these data and focuses 
on the new NSSDC online interactive systems that are used extensively over international 
computer network to access these data. 
The NASA STI Program is part of the NACA legacy. During the most active period of 
STI activities in the federal government, the NASA STI program came to represent some 
of the government’s most creative thinking and planning for information dissemination and 
management. Van A. Wente, recently retired as Director of the NASA Scientific and 
Technical Information Division, NASA Office of Management, presents an abbreviated 
history of the program and its organization. Knowledge acquisition, production, processing, 
dissemination, and evaluation are the focus of his presentation. He concludes with a discus- 
sion of the major policy issues hcing the program and some plans for the future. 
The dissemination of NASA STI is being transformed by the ongoing revolution in elec- 
tronic information and computer and information technologies. An overall strategy on the 
dissemination of NASA STI is needed if the potential of new electronic technologies is 
to be fully realized. Gladys A. Cotter, newly appointed Director, Scientific and Technical 
Information Division, NASA Office of Management, outlines the direction of the NASA 
STI Program for the 1990s and describes how these new technologies are and will be applied 
to make NASA STI more accessible and its dissemination more efficient and effective. 
Congress has charged NASA with the task of stimulating the widest possible use of the 
vast storehouse of technology developed from its aeronautical and space activities and pro- 
grams. NASA seeks to meet this responsibility through its technology utilization program. 
Lester J. Rose, recently retired as assistant head of the Technology Utilization and Appli- 
cations Office, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., describes the infrastruc- 
ture, operation, management, and evaluation of the program. The aim is to broaden and 
accelerate the technology transfer process and to gain thereby a substantial dividend on 
the national investment in aerospace research in the form of new products, new business, 
and new jobs. In nearly three decades of operation, more than 30,000 secondary applica- 
tions of NASA aerospace technology have emerged from this program. 
Since its creation in 1958, NASA has developed and maintains a special relationship with 
the country’s elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational institutions. To preserve 
lntroduction 125 
the role of the United States as a leader in aeronautical and space science and technology, 
NASA continues to do its part to promote scientific and technological literacy and to train 
and otherwise help prepare the cadre of students who will become tomorrow’s engineers 
and scientists. Science and engineering educators requixe specialized information, and Robert 
W. Brawn, Director of the Educational Affairs Division, NASA Office of External Rela- 
tions, lists the issues facing science and technology education; describes the content and 
diversity of the NASA educational programs that are designed to capture student’s interest 
in science, mathematics, and technology at an early age, and to maintain their interest 
throughout higher learning; and continues with a discussion of proposed changes and pro- 
gram improvements. He concludes with a focus on how NASA intends to help the nation 
produce the 36 percent increase in engineers and scientists that will be needed by the year 
2000. 
Open access to the results of scientific inquiry and discovery, the recognition of these 
as intellectual property, government funded R&D, and the need for government to withhold 
or restrict the flow of STI for reasons of national security and economic well-being have 
combined to create a number of legal issues and precedents. Robert F. Kempf, Associate 
General Counsel for Intellectual Property, NASA Office of General Counsel, looks at the 
legal implications and issues surrounding intellectual property such as patent rights, 
copyrights, and trade secrets. He details the dramatic changes in the law and federal govern- 
ment policy relating to intellectual property rights and the transfer and commercial use 
of federally funded technology that have occurred during the past decade. His thoughts 
for the future are based on more than 30 years experience in dealing with the issues. 
Ours is an open program. Since the early days of the U.S. space program, Americans 
and people from all nations have become fascinated by NASA’s numerous launches, un- 
precedented achievements, and breath-taking photography from outer space. In the course 
of these events, NASA has developed a variety of programs for working with the media 
and hence with the public. James W. McCulla, Director of Media Services, and James 
E Kukowski, Chief, Internal Communications, NASA Office of Communications, describe 
the various programs that are designed to communicate the results of NASA research, pro- 
grams, and related activities to the NASA community, the media, and the public. 
The growth of STI and federal STI systems is being guided by uncoordinated policies 
resulting in inefficiencies. Such being the case, the ability of STI systems to serve the needs 
of users would be questionable in spite of the fact that it is the responsibility of the federal 
government to promote prompt, effective, reliable, and systematic transfer of science and 
technology information. In the h a l  paper, this writer looks at some of the key issues and 
options relating to the management of federal STI and the challenges facing federal STI 
programs. 
In compliance with its congressional mandate of widest and most practicable dissemina- 
tion of information, NASA has created a variety of programs to meet this requirement. 
To facilitate and supplement the information presented in this issue, an appendix has been 
added that contains a listing of the types of products and services available from NASA 
information programs. A second appendix is a list of acronyms and abbreviations used 
in these articles. 
Two thoughts in closing: First, a publication such as this is an enormous undertaking 
that represents the untiring efforts of numerous individuals. We particularly thank the con- 
tributors; without their efforts there would be no publication. In addition, Wallace 0. Keene 
126 GOVERNMENT INFORMATION QUARTERLY Vol. 7/No. 2h990 
and Van A. Wente are recognized especially for their efforts in framing this issue. Second, 
if the readers of this issue finish with a better understanding of NASA and its approach 
to information management and dissemination, then we can take delight in knowing that 
our efforts have been put to good use and our mission has been accomplished. We hope 
this has been the case. 
NOTES AND REFERENCES 
1. nte Naval Appropriations Act, 1916 (P.L. 63-271). 
2. nte Nm'onal AeroMurics and Space Act of 1958 (P.L. 85-568). 


Introduction to National Aeronautics and Space Administration's scientific and technical information programs

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server