(L to R) Astronaut Sunita Williams, Lead Forecaster Tim Garner and Johnson Space center Director Mike Coats (Photo: NASA)
(Sept. 4, 2008) NOAA National Weather Service Spaceflight Meteorology Group (SMG) Lead Forecaster Tim Garner is the latest recipient of NASA's prestigious "Silver Snoopy" award. NASA astronauts present Silver Snoopy awards to employees who make "contributions toward enhancing the probability of mission success". Only one percent of employees earn Silver Snoopy awards.
Tim Garner was recognized for his expertise in weather forecasting, meteorological decision support, instrumentation, interactive systems and statistical analysis; making him the "go to" person for many spaceflight weather issues at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
He was also cited for making a difficult and accurate forecast for the landing of the Space Shuttle Endeavor in March, 2008. The last-minute forecast update for "GO" landing weather conditions resulted in a safe landing at Kennedy Space Center on a very challenging and dynamic weather day.
Astronaut Sunita Williams and JSC Center Director Mike Coats presented Tim Garner with the Silver Snoopy pin, a certificate and a letter of commendation.
Meanwhile, SMG Lead Forecaster Richard LaFosse has been selected as a Space Flight Awareness Honoree for the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis in October. This award is one of the highest available to employees of the NASA, industry and International Partner space flight team. In recognition of his outstanding service to the Space Shuttle program, LaFosse and a guest will be on hand to view the launch, receive a VIP tour of the Kennedy Space Center and attend a reception in his honor.
With a target launch date of October 8, 2008, the Atlantis mission (STS-125) will be the fourth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. The 11 day mission will include five spacewalks to make repairs and upgrades designed to add at least five more years to Hubble�s research capability. Launched in 1990, the Hubble Telescope has circled the Earth 97,000 times providing thousands of astronomers with spectacular views of the stars and distant galaxies, unhindered by the Earth�s atmosphere.
NWS Spaceflight Meteorology Group information is available at: www.srh.noaa.gov/smg.
SMG Meteorologist-in-Charge Frank Brody (left) and Richard LaFosse display NASA letter designating LaFosse as a Space Flight Awareness Honoree (Photo: SMG)