2011 Stellar Awards Winners
The 2011 RNASA Stellar Award winners in each of four categories were announced at the banquet on May 6, 2011 at the Houston Hyatt Regency hotel.
The 2011 nominations of 115 individuals and 36 teams were evaluated by former National Associate Administrator for Space Systems Development, Arnold D. Aldrich, and former National Space Trophy winners, Drs. Christopher C. Kraft Jr. and Glynn S. Lunney.
A list of all the Stellar Awards nominees was printed in the 2011 program book.
The 2011 Stellar Awards were presented by Astronauts Stephanie Wilson and Richard R. Arnold II.
2011 Early Career Stellar Award Winners
Eight awards were presented in the 2011 Early Career Category.
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Caption L to R: Arnold (presenting), Powell, Marando, Lawlor, Sipila, Higgs, Gonzalez, Klempner, Starn, and Wilson (presenting).
(NASA photo)
Michelle M. Gonzalez of ATK - Outstanding achievements on the deceleration system for Ares I and fast track qualification of the booster separation motors, enabling the advancement of human spaceflight.
Stephan Higgs of Oceaneering Space Systems - Outstanding leadership, unwavering attention to detail and exemplary work ethic in managing the mission support and crew training associated with extravehicular activity space hardware.
Dr. Scott L. Klempner of the United States Air Force - Exceptional leadership during the delivery and launch of Advanced Extremely High Frequency Flight 1 (AEHF-1) and contributions to the AEHF-1 orbital recovery plan following a major anomaly.
John H. Lawlor of Lockheed Martin - Technical excellence in the development of the Orion crew impact attenuation system to ensure crew safety and optimum performance.
Michael Marando of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne - Outstanding efforts to ensure safe flight of space shuttle main engines.
Lindsay A. Powell of The Boeing Company - Exceptional skill, professionalism and dedication on the Space Shuttle Program Ascent Loads Team.
Stephanie A. Sipila of NASA Johnson Space Center - Sustained leadership and superior efforts to support the future of the ISS through successful extravehicular activity.
Ryan P. Starn of L-3 Communications - Exceptional contributions to NASA Space Station Program regenerative life support system software reliability and robustness and development of innovative system software modeling augmenting independent verification and validation methods.
2011 Middle Career Stellar Award Winners
Ten awards were presented in the 2011 Middle Career Category.
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Caption L to R: Wilson (presenting), Connally for Head, Wassell, Galbraith, Reith, Jackson, Cain, Kimbell, Fitz, Greenwell, Wilson, and Arnold (presenting).
(NASA photo)
LeRoy E. Cain of NASA Johnson Space Center - Outstanding leadership as Chairman of the Space Shuttle Program Mission Management Team.
Randy J. Fitz of ATK - Personal dedication and accomplishments instrumental in the successful production of reusable solid rocket motor (RSRM) and RSRM vehicle energetic components and hardware.
James A. Galbraith of Oceaneering Space Systems - Unparalleled knowledge of human spacecraft materials and processes and related testing, analysis, investigation and approval for human rated spacecraft hardware.
Shawn M Greenwell of NASA Kennedy Space Center - Superior leadership and unmatched dedication to the Space Shuttle Program integrating a large multidiscipline launch team to ensure the safe and successful processing and launching of the space shuttle fleet.
Kenneth A. Head of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (Scott Connally of PWR accepted on Head's behalf.) - Exceptional support to the Space Shuttle Main Engine Program including technical knowledge of high pressure turbomachinery, turbine aerodynamics, secondary flow and thermal analysis.
Mark Jackson of Draper Laboratory - Excellence in the development and integration of guidance, navigation and control systems for the Orion crew vehicle.
Jennifer L. Kimball of United Space Alliance - Outstanding leadership of the U.S. and Russian Guidance, Navigation and Control Flight Control Teams supporting Space Station Flight Operations.
Timothy W. Reith of The Boeing Company - Outstanding leadership in addressing technical issues associated with space shuttle orbiter vehicle design and operations.
Dr. Edward J. Wassell of MEI Technologies Inc. - Superior contributions advancing micro electro-mechanical systems and detector fabrication processes resulting in positive impacts on quality, scientific data and leading edge innovation.
Martin J. Wilson of United Space Alliance - Leadership, technical expertise and innovation in the development of reusable thermal protection systems to support the Space Shuttle Program.
2011 Late Career Stellar Award Winners
Seven awards were presented in the 2011 Late Career Category.
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Caption L to R: Arnold (presenting), Dunham, Nalette, Ralston, Pawlikowski, Roberts, Bechtel, and Wilson (presenting). Greg Ray not pictured.
(NASA photo)
Edward W. Bechtel of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne - Outstanding technical leadership and insight in developing combustion device technologies and rocket engine components.
Michael J. Dunham of The Boeing Company - Exemplary leadership of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Stress, Loads, and Dynamics Team, enabling the Space Shuttle Program to fly safely and with confidence since returning to flight.
Timothy Nalette of Hamilton Sundstrand - Sustained advances in life support air revitalization technologies for the Human Spaceflight Program.
Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski of the United States Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory - Visionary leadership of defense space flight in service to the United States.
E. Cary Ralston of ATK - Extraordinary leadership and program management achievement in the execution of human space propulsion programs.
Gregory A. Ray of The Boeing Company - Exceptional technical expertise and leadership in positions of increasing responsibility in engineering and management for the Space Shuttle Team.
George Roberts of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne - Outstanding dedication, professionalism, and technical excellence in supporting human spaceflight for more than 45 years.
2011 Team Stellar Award Winners
Seven awards were presented in the 2011 Team Category.
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Caption L to R: Wilson (presenting), Minotaur-Orbital/Amorosi, Orion NASA-JSC/Corpenning, Regenerative-Boeing/Gentry, ISS Thermal-Boeing/Gonzales, Orion-Orbital/Rumford, Orion-LM/McNamara, Spitzer/Dodd, and Arnold (presenting).
(NASA photo)
International Space Station (ISS) Active System Thermal Resources and Operations team of The Boeing Company - Outstanding team effort supporting recovery from the external active thermal control system loop A pump failure on ISS. Lupe Gonzales accepted the award on behalf of the team.
Minotaur IV Launch Vehicle Team of Orbital Sciences Corporation - Succesful development and demonstration of a new low cost and flexible launch configuration of the Minotaur IV launch vehicle. Lou Amorosi accepted the award on behalf of the team.
Orion Launch Abort System Integrated Product Team of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company - Outstanding teamwork, leadership and technical excellence in the development of the state-of-the-art Orion launch abort system culminating in the flawless Pad Abort 1 flight test. Roger McNamara accepted the award on behalf of the team.
Orion Launch Abort System Team of Orbital Sciences Corporation - Exceptional dedication and technical excellence resulting in the successful design, development and test of the first full-scale abort system in the United States in more than 45 years. Tim Rumford accepted the award on behalf of the team.
Orion Pad Abort 1 Flight Test Team of NASA Johnson Space Center - Extraordinary performance in the conduct of the first full-scale integrated flight-test of the next generation crew escape launch abort system. Griff Corpenning accepted the award on behalf of the team.
Regenerative Enivronmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) Team of The Boeing Company - Leadership and technical excellence by the Regenerative ECLS Team resulting in the first on-orbit implementation of the fully regenerative ECLS system in the USOS (United States On-Orbit Segment) enabling six-person ISS crew capability necessary for full station utilization. Greg Gentry accepted the award on behalf of the team.
Spitzer Space Telescope Project Team of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Outstanding innovation, dedication, and technical excellence by the Spitzer Space Telescope Project Team enabling both engineering and scientific firsts from which the next generation of astrophysics missions will benefit. Suzanne Dodd accepted the award on behalf of the team.
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