NASA

• Background checks move to the forefront

  The Supreme Court has refused to stop federal investigations into the private lives of people who want to work at government installations _ even those who don\'t have security clearances and don\'t work on secret projects. Debra Roth explains what\'s going on here.

  Federal Drive

  January 27, 2011
• NASA to update IT security rules

  NASA is working on making cybersecurity a top priority.

  Technology

  January 24, 2011
• Agency Tip 4: Make new hires feel welcome

  Part of \"The Need for the Next Generation\" special report, NASA\'s Toni Dawsey explains how the space agency revamped its onboarding program for new hires.

  Hiring/Retention

  January 24, 2011
• NASA continues to reach new heights in collaboration

  NASA continues to push the envelope concerning its day-to-day use of video conferencing.

  All News

  January 11, 2011
• WikiLeaks reveal marketing as part of diplomacy

  The New York Times reports on U.S. diplomats\' efforts to market U.S. items, such as jets, to foreign countries, revealed by the WikiLeaks cables.

  Open Data/Transparency

  January 03, 2011
• Cloud computing tips from NASA’s Chris Kemp

  NASA’s Nebula Cloud Computing Platform has gotten a lot of attention from agencies looking to move into the cloud. Chris Kemp, the Chief Technology Officer for IT at NASA, spoke with Federal News Radio about his agency’s use of the cloud and how that has morphed over the years. Initially, the Nebula cloud was developed [...]

  Technology

  January 02, 2011
• NASA awards $2.5B IT contract to Hewlett-Packard

  NASA\'s Mike Sweigart gives details of the contract that replaces Lockheed Martin.

  Federal Drive

  December 30, 2010
• DoD, GSA tighten standards on contractor IDs

  New regulations published Thursday aim to make sure agencies reclaim vendor employees\' HSPD-12 cards when they\'re no longer needed to perform contract work.

  Defense

  December 30, 2010
• NASA satellite surveillance assists disaster relief

  WTOP\'s Kristi King talks to NASA\'s Jim Irons.

  Federal Drive

  December 29, 2010
• NASA explores new uses for video teleconferencing

  NASA is one of the federal pioneers of video teleconferencing systems (remember the first broadcasts from space?)…so it\'s no surprise that this agency\'s program managers continue to rely on video conference technology to meet its daily demands for high-quality audio and visual communication among diverse public and private sector communities. \"At NASA, teams at varied locations need a way to engage in timely, technical conversations and collaborate remotely to meet mission-critical goals,\" said NASA\'s Deputy Chief Information Officer Deborah Diaz. NASA -- both Headquarters and its major centers around the country -- uses video teleconferencing for everything from meetings, seminars, major international conferences and face-to-face meetings to quick conversations on pressing issues. The payoff is obvious: more cost-efficient and -effective operations, with savings on facilities as well as meeting planning and logistics. At an Open Government Summit hosted by NASA in the fall of 2010, nearly 60 percent of the participants used electronic tools to \"virtually attend\" the summit. Organizers faced twin challenges of being efficient but also inclusive, while juggling video streaming, cooperative note-taking, online teleconferencing and adapting conversational practices in the room, to bridge the gap between physical and virtual participants. What are they using? NASA Headquarters maintains video teleconferencing systems (ViTS) in multiple configurations, with equipment from vendors including Tandberg, Polycom and LifeSize. The typical ViTS stack includes the ViTS components themselves, additional recording units, PCs and in some cases SmartBoard capability. NASA is in the process of migrating all of its ViTS to have High Definition, digital sign control, and MP3 audio recording capabilities Latest capability improvements include Flash and Windows Media Video streaming via the Web. Users who have a small portable streaming system can view transmissions via computer from anywhere in the world. Some configurations offer MP3 recording capability that lets NASA burn CDs to distribute audio recordings; in others, NASA can use full audiovisual recording capability to capture entire events on Digital Video Disc (DVD) or Blu-Ray. NASA has begun implementing a Voice-Over-IP (VOIP) phone system, too. That will speed the delivery of IP-based desktop video conferencing as the agency phases out ISDN-based systems and will increase ViTS availability to NASA employees while reducing overall costs associated with equipment maintenance, operations, and logistics typical of larger ViTS facilities. \"Technology enables and supports one to thousands of conversations,\" said NASA\'s Chief Technology Officer for IT, Chris Kemp. \"We\'re finding that if we don\'t stand in the way of that conversation, incredible things can happen.\"

  Technology

  December 27, 2010
• Lessons from NASA’s Nebula cloud platform

  Chris Kemp, CTO for IT at NASA, joins host John Gilroy to discuss the agency\'s Nebula Cloud Platform. December 14, 2010

  Federal Tech Talk

  December 14, 2010
• NASA tasked with new cybersecurity reporting

  NASA has a mandate to manage computer risks in real time.

  Federal Drive

  December 13, 2010
• NASA’s ‘booth babe’ spreads the SEWP

  At one conference, the Government Contract Management Conference, we learn about plans for a NEW conference from NASA\'s Joanne Woytek.

  Federal Drive

  December 09, 2010
• NASA masters the science of social media

  It\'s not rocket science, but when it comes to social media, NASA is in its own stratosphere.

  Federal Drive

  November 29, 2010