The NASA Ames Science Directorate has recognized four outstanding employees as its Stars of the Month for May 2026, highlighting their significant contributions to advancing the agency’s missions in space and Earth science.
Space Science Advances with New Optical Data
Lora Jovanović, a research scientist in the Astrophysics Branch at the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, was honored for expanding the Optical Constants Database. She increased the number of experimental optical constant datasets from 297 to 533. These datasets are essential for accurately modeling and interpreting observational data from space missions such as SPHEREx, Cassini, New Horizons, and Juno.
Leadership in Space Biosciences Budget and Contract Management
Two recipients from the Space Biosciences Division—Tammy Moore and Frances Donovan—were recognized for their leadership and innovation. Tammy Moore, a Resource Analyst, led the division through significant changes in budget guidelines and processes. She was praised for her expert knowledge and reliable support to scientists and engineers across the division.
Frances Donovan, a scientist and project manager, serves as the Contracting Officer’s Representative for the FILMSS-2 (Fully Integrated Lifecycle Mission Support Services) task. She was acknowledged for her dedication and ingenuity in educating task requestors and streamlining task management through new approaches.
Contributions to Earth Science Missions
Jaden Ta, deputy project manager in the Earth Science Project Office, received recognition for her strategic role in the Earth Venture Suborbital FarmFlux investigation. Her leadership in developing the Investigation Implementation Plan and selecting deployment locations for research aircraft enhanced the project’s success in Earth system science.
Sources
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