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A group of special USA employees was selected as Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Honorees for their outstanding contributions to the safety and mission success of the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs.

Several SFA honoree events held in conjunction with the STS-122 launch attempt in December acknowledged the achievements of individuals from all NASA centers. USA’s 31 honorees represent many areas of expertise in USA and subcontractor operations at Kennedy Space Center, Johnson Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center and Dryden Flight Research Facility. These USA employees have more than 480 years of combined experience in America’s human space flight program.

Dennis Knutson of the JSC Flight Director and Integration Office, George Atkins of Main Propulsion System Engineering at KSC and Jon Reyna of Quality Assurance in Flight Crew Equipment at JSC were chosen for their outstanding efforts in ensuring that essential in-flight systems operate safely.

A Lead Quality Inspector, Reyna led in developing Quality Assurance requirements to verify that much of the onboard electronic equipment, such as laptop computers and cabling, are ready for flight.

“I not only make sure our equipment is operating properly,” Reyna said, “I have the responsibility to make sure we work safely and that our flight crews fly safely.”

Several SFA honorees were selected for ensuring that critical flight data systems operate properly, including Gloria Bink of Systems Requirements and Integration at MSFC, Donald Kierstead of Guidance Navigation and Control System Software Verification at JSC and Scot Burzawa of Record and Playback System Department at KSC.

Burzawa was recognized for his performance as a member of the programming staff in his department.

“My primary role is processing all types of vehicle telemetry,” Burzawa said. “Obviously, flight safety requires that we make sure the data we are processing is correct.”

Joseph Krampert of Orbiter Mid-body Operations at KSC, Terry Dunn of Extravehicular Activity Hardware and Design Engineering at JSC and Darcie Luther of Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) Test Engineering and Operations at KSC ensure crucial flight hardware is properly checked out to support Shuttle missions.

Luther was recognized for her skills and contributions to improving the safety, reliability and flight performance of the SRB electrical and avionics subsystems.

“I work in the cable shop at the ARF (Assembly and Refurbishment Facility),” Luther said. “While fabricating cables for the SRBs, I always make sure I follow the OMIs (Operations Maintenance Instructions) and work standards to ensure my work is good to go before we launch.”

Several SFA Honorees were recognized for their efforts in supporting computer systems, making sure the components in their area of responsibility are safe during Shuttle missions, including Joan Haas of Business and Management Integration at MSFC, Marcus Baldini of Launch Processing System Applications Software at KSC and Scott Nemeth of the Ascent-Descent Team at JSC.

Nemeth, a lead software engineer in the Ascent-Descent Flight Design, developed innovative software for simulations of mission-specific trajectories.

“Utilizing my background in aerospace engineering, I develop simulation software for both the Space Shuttle program and for Constellation,” Nemeth said. “The software is then used primarily for training and analysis.”

Also recognized for their efforts on behalf of Space Shuttle and ISS safety and mission assurance at JSC were Franklin Beck, Training Operations and Planning; Edwin Benson, Computer Processing; Li-Min Chang, User Application; John Connaly, Hardware Systems and Requirements; Rita Crosswhite, General Procurement; Rex Frazier, Facility Integration; Lloyd Hoffmann, Offsite Repair Lab and Fabrication; David Simmons, Flight Software Application Tools; and Larry Wagster, Orbiter Launch Site Integration.

Others honored at KSC were Martin Born, SRB Nondestructive Evaluation Operations; Lorraine Champagne, Site Integration; Karl Fichtl, Rotation Processing and Surge Facility; Glenn Giordano, Special Power; Troy Guise, Pad Electrical Integrated Network Control System and Hazard Warning System Engineering; Michael Hughes, Safety and Health – Florida; Ramona Nottage, Strategic Sourcing; and Joann Weible, Launch Processing System Application Software Project Integration.