NASA Space Flight Awareness Program Recognizes Langley Employees

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May 11, 2011, 05:07 ET

HAMPTON, Va., May 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For outstanding support of human space flight, NASA's Space Flight Awareness program recently recognized six employees at NASA's Langley Research Center.

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In recognition of their contributions, the honorees traveled to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a tour and to participate in activities in conjunction with the scheduled launch of space shuttle Endeavour on the STS-134 mission to the International Space Station.

Honored were NASA's Audra Bullock, Richard Chattin, Steven Harris, Byron Meadows, Pamela Throckmorton, and Norman Knight of ATK Space Systems, Inc.

A key contributor to the Sensor Testing for Orion Relative Navigation Risk Mitigation (STORRM) project -- a sensor and laser technology that would make it easier for space vehicles to dock to the International Space Station -- Bullock led a team of engineers and technicians to build prototype flight and flight hardware in accordance to space shuttle and NASA standards.

As lead laser engineer for STORRM, Meadows' background in laser design and optical engineering contributed to establishing the system requirements of the performance of the Vision Navigation System. This will be used during the technology's docking demonstration on STS-134.

Harris provided engineering management and leadership in the development of the Ares I-X rocket. The flight of the Ares I-X provided NASA with data that will be used to improve the design and safety of the next generation of American spaceflight vehicles that could again take humans beyond low-Earth orbit.

Chattin is a lead engineering technician and laser tracker specialist in the Advanced Fabrication and Processes Section. He provided support for the Ares I-X and all flight test articles fabricated at NASA Langley. In addition to supporting his own organization, he also assists the Quality Assurance Branch and the Safety and Mission Assurance Office.

Knight was cited for technical leadership, expertise and achievements in the understanding and risk assessment of the stringer cracking in shuttle external tank ET-137. He provided support to the External Tank Project and the Marshall Space Flight Center's engineering organizations.

With business management, procurement and financial expertise, Throckmorton helped the NASA Engineering and Safety Center, based at Langley, perform independent testing, analysis, and assessments of NASA's highest-risk projects. She served as the lead analyst for the Composite Crew Module project and supported other human space flight activities, including technical assessments for the International Space Station, space shuttle, and the Human Exploration Framework Team.

NASA's Space Flight Awareness Program recognizes outstanding job performance and contributions by civil service and contract employees throughout the year and focuses on excellence in quality and safety in support of human space flight.

The Honoree Award is one of the highest honors presented to employees for their dedication to quality work and flight safety. Recipients must have contributed beyond their normal work requirements toward achieving a particular human space flight program goal; contributed to a major cost savings; been instrumental in developing material that increases reliability, efficiency or performance; assisted in operational improvements; or been a key player in developing a beneficial process improvement.

For more information about NASA Space Flight Awareness, visit:

http://sfa.nasa.gov/index.cfm

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SOURCE NASA