Eight NASA Stennis Space Center (SSC) employees were honored Nov. 9 with a personal achievement award given to space program workers by the Astronaut Corps, the “Silver Snoopy.”
Among the recipients was NASA’s Gerry Meeks of Diamondhead, Miss.
Other Silver Snoopy recipients included Jacobs Sverdrup’s Russell Daines of Mandeville, La.; and The Boeing Co.’s Jim Dearman of Carriere, Miss.; Danny Wheat of the Pine Grove (Miss.) community; Al Pittman of Picayune, Miss.; Frank Duleba of McNeill, Miss.; Donnie Walters of DeLisle, Miss.; and Prentice “Whitey” Carte of Long Beach, Miss.
The Silver Snoopy Award, initiated 34 years ago, recognizes individuals for professional dedication and outstanding efforts that greatly enhance the safety and success of human space flight missions.
Of all the Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Awards, the Silver Snoopy best symbolizes the intent and spirit of Space Flight Awareness. An astronaut always presents the Silver Snoopy because it is the astronauts’ own award for outstanding performance, contributing to flight safety and mission success. Less than 1 percent of the space program work force receives it annually.
The purpose of the SFA program is to ensure that every employee involved in human space flight is aware of the importance of their role in promoting astronaut safety and mission success in the critical, challenging task of flying humans in the hostile environment of space.
Each honoree received a silver pin flown on a Space Shuttle mission and a letter of commendation and certificate, both signed by NASA Astronaut Pam Melroy, who presented the awards. While at SSC, Melroy also addressed SSC employees about the Vision for Space Exploration. She also talked to members of the local media about NASA’s steppingstone approach to exploring Earth, the Moon, Mars and beyond and about how space impacts our lives.
Melroy, a New York native, became an astronaut in March 1995 after serving as a co-pilot, aircraft commander and instructor pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Melroy served as pilot on two Space Shuttle flights (STS-92 in 2000 and STS-112 in 2002), and has logged over 562 hours in space.
Related Multimedia :
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+ https://www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/news/newsreleases/2004/STS-04-120-cptn1.html
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