Receive Silver Snoopy Awards
By ELAINE GAUSE
Langley Research Center
Astronaut Robert Curbeam Jr., a veteran of two Space Shuttle flights,
visited Langley Research Center on Nov. 10 to honor five employees with
Silver Snoopy awards for significant contributions to the space program.
Silver Snoopys recognize outstanding performance contributing to flight
safety and mission success. Fewer than one percent of the space program
workforce receive the award annually. Each awardee is presented a sterling
silver Snoopy lapel pin that has flown on a Space Shuttle mission, plus
a certificate of appreciation and commendation letter, both signed by
- Karen L. Bibb,
aerospace engineer in the Research & Technology Directorate, along
with fellow aerothermodynamicists, planned, implemented, and performed
comprehensive, unique, ultra fast-paced experimental/computational studies
to provide critical path hypersonic aerodynamic/aeroheating information
essential for determination of the causes of failure immediately following
the loss of Columbia (STS-107).
- Edwin L. Fasanella,
aerospace engineer in the Research & Technology Directorate, led
Langleys team conducting studies of foam impact into the Shuttle
Orbiter wing as part of the Agencys Return to Flight Program.
Fasanella used LS-DYNA to predict 0.2-lb. foam impact damage on various
locations of the Shuttle wing leading edge, reinforced-carbon-carbon
panel 9 and validated the performance of an improved foam, which is
a candidate for retrofitting on the orbiter external tank.
- Thomas J. Horvath,
aerospace engineer in the Research & Technology Directorate, planned,
implemented and performed, in a comprehensive ultra fast-paced manner,
all experimental ground-based hypersonic aeroheating studies for the
Columbia accident investigation. The huge volumes of essential information
he provided were paramount to the success of the investigation.
- Thomas R. Levin,
engineering technician in the Systems Engineering Directorate, played
an exceptional role in the development and thermal-vacuum environmental
qualification testing of numerous Langley spaceflight experiments, including:
Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE); Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment
(LITE); Mid-deck Active Control Experiment (MACE) system components,
the Gas Permeable Polymer Materials (GPPM) C-RIM and related electronics;
Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites (MAPS-on-Mir) experiment
and thermal control system; Evaluation of Space Environment and Effects
on Materials (ESEM); and Materials International Space Station Experiment
- Karen H. Lyle,
aerospace engineer in the Research & Technology Directorate, provided
technical guidance, results, and information about the response of the
Shuttle wing leading edge to debris impacts directly impacting the Shuttle
Curbeam also visited the Virginia Air & Space Center on Nov. 10 to
share stories about his journeys to space with students from Gloucester,
Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Elaine Gause works in the Public Outreach Office at Langley Research
Silver Snoopy Awardees (left to right) Thomas Horvath, Research &
Technology Directorate; Karen Lyle, Research & Technology Directorate;
Thomas Levin, Systems Engineering Directorate; Karen Bibb, Research &
Technology Directorate; and Edwin Fasanella, Research & Technology
Directorate received their awards from Astronaut Robert Curbeam after
a presentation on his two Space Shuttle flights.
by Jeff Caplan