Space Station Team Earns Rotary Award

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (5/6/02) -- The Aerospace Corporation has received a Rotary Stellar Award for leadership and technical expertise instrumental in the development of the International Space Station's science window and Window Observational Research Facility.

The window -- of the highest optical quality ever flown on a crewed spacecraft -- was launched last year, and the research facility will be installed in early 2003, together forming a world-class Earth-science research facility in the space station's laboratory module "Destiny."

Four Aerospace team members -- Dr. Eric Hall, Dr. Karen Scott, Dr. Michael Vanik, and Dave Warren -- were recognized for their efforts.

Personnel from The Boeing Company, NASA's Johnson Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center, Science Applications International Corporation, and the University of Arizona were also recognized as part of the award-winning team.

Scott, an optical scientist who played a leadership role in the project, accepted a plaque and marble trophy on behalf of The Aerospace Corporation at a Rotary luncheon and dinner held in Houston on March 8.

The Stellar Awards, sponsored by the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation, were established to recognize outstanding individuals and teams from industry and government who have made significant contributions to the future of the nation's space program.