NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Program Presents Honoree Awards to Johnson and White Sands Recipients

NASA plans to hold its next launch attempt for Artemis I on Nov. 16. As we lock eyes with the rocket in those final seconds before T-0, there will be a group of Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Honoree award recipients watching with bated breath right alongside us.

Each launch is a result of significant effort and collaboration across the agency. For SFA, launches are also an opportunity to honor the workforce for their dedication to safety and mission success. SFA’s Honoree award is one of the highest presented to NASA and industry. This award is given to employees for their dedication to quality work and flight safety. Award recipients are recognized at a major program event and receive a VIP tour of a space facility.

On Aug. 27, the SFA program presented Honoree awards to 96 recipients in the first Honoree event since the Orion Manual Uprighting Pneumatic System Test Honoree Event at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 2019. This year’s event was hosted in conjunction with NASA’s first Artemis I launch attempt.

Artemis I is the first integrated flight test in a series of increasingly complex missions. It will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration and demonstrate NASA’s commitment and capability to extend human existence to the Moon and beyond.

The award recipients attended the first launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center’s Banana Creek Launch Viewing site. Of the 96 recipients, 13 work across Johnson and the White Sands Test Facility (WSTF). The Johnson and WSTF recipients are employed in the areas of human resources, engineering, center operations, and project management.

Congratulations to the Johnson and WSTF 2022 SFA Honoree award recipients!

 
NASA’s Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is illuminated by spotlights atop the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B as preparations for launch continued Nov. 6, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credits: NASA/Joel Kowsky

From top left to bottom right: Dr. Yong-Il Yi, William Hartwell, Matthew Roper, Joshua Keeley, Erin Woods, Heather Kinney, Jessica Cordero, Donna Shafer, Joanna Opaskar, Grace Lauderdale, Rick Ybarra, Prashant Rao, Quyen Jones, John Keller, Kristen Breitenbach. Credits: NASA

Darrel Raines
NASA
Johnson Space Center

For his outstanding achievements as Orion Flight Software System Manager toward ensuring the quality and integrity of the Orion flight software by identifying and implementing innovative data analysis techniques, process improvements, and implementing strategies resulting in current and future cost savings.

Dr. Yong-Il Yi
NASA
Johnson Space Center

For his outstanding leadership chairing the Office of Strategic Infrastructure’s Regional Grounds Contract’s Requirements Development Team, and leading JSC’s Custodial Contract’s Source Evaluation Board, saving the government $1.3 million annually for the next five years.

Erin Woods
NASA
White Sands Test Facility

In recognition of exceptional support resulting in the successful performance of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle European Service Module propulsion subsystem qualification testing at the NASA White Sands Test Facility.

Grace Lauderdale
NASA
Johnson Space Center

For her leadership in the development of the Orion Mission Simulator in support of Artemis I Flight Control Team training.

Joanna Opaskar
SAIC
Johnson Space Center

For her exceptional contributions to the JSC Flight Safety Office suite of products, ensuring their quality and enhancing their value — improving NASA’s safety through effective and interactive communications.

John Keller
KBR
Johnson Space Center

For his outstanding integration support to the coordination of multiple parallel Human Landing System Program Certification Baseline Reviews, coordination efforts for the first Artemis Campaign Development Integrated Sync Review, and in the risk assessment for Artemis I cross-program waivers.

Joshua Keeley
NASA
Johnson Space Center

For the innovative improvements and integration of the Orion Flight Software into the Orion Life-Support Integration Facility, the primary facility for qualification testing of the integrated Orion Environmental Control and Life Support system critical for the first flight of the system and of the crew on Artemis II.

Kristen Breitenbach
NASA
Johnson Space Center

For her unprecedented support of three complex program offices, beginning with the International Space Station Program Office and recently adding the Gateway and Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Programs. Breitenbach’s agility, technical prowess, and ability to integrate the strategic, ground-level implementation of these programs have resulted in contributions far beyond expectations as the primary interface on all HR services.

Matthew Roper
NASA
Johnson Space Center

For exceptional leadership and key contributions in several key areas related to safety, quality, and cost avoidance in paving Orion's Path-to-the-Pad for Artemis I and enabling safe crewed flight for Artemis II and beyond.

Prashant Rao
Barrios Technology
Johnson Space Center

For outstanding contribution to the success of the Orion/Artemis Program by mechanical analysis and simulation of the complex Orion Side Hatch opening under environments ranging from launch pad to recovery at sea that significantly increased crew safety during egress under nominal and emergency conditions.

Quyen Jones
NASA
Johnson Space Center

For exemplary leadership and support across multiple major programs to facilitate cross-program integration, uphold high-quality work products, and ensure safe operations for Artemis I and future missions.  These efforts include the safe transport of the Orion Crew and Service Module stack aboard the Super Guppy, the development of the Orion Day-of-Launch load indicators, and ESM hardware risk assessments for future flights.

Rick Ybarra
NASA
Johnson Space Center

For developments of crew systems hardware to the Orion vehicle, contributing in areas of Government-Furnished Equipment prototype seat development, improvement of crew controls, mass reduction to the Orion vehicle, and adaption of the Shuttle Advanced Crew Escape Suit to work in the Orion vehicle, which has since been matured into the Orion Crew Survival Systems Suit.

William Hartwell
NASA
Johnson Space Center

For his superior leadership in upholding NASA's interest through his work with ESA (European Space Agency), representing the Orion Program and NASA, and executing successful negotiations on critical items, including the Orion ESM implementing agreements for Artemis III and Artemis IV and V.