The Science Directorate at NASA's Ames has honored three researchers, one each from astrophysics, Earth science and space biosciences, the agency said. Steve Howell, Samuel LeBlanc and Alyssa Villanueva were praised by NASA as examples of the inventive, technically skilled and cooperative approach it considers essential to exploration.
A gold medal follows instrument work
Howell was named the directorate's Astrophysics Star. According to NASA, his designs for astronomical instruments have sharpened the images produced by telescopes both in orbit and on the ground. The agency also cited his record of guiding science teams on many international space missions. Recognition has come from outside NASA as well: the Astronomical Society of the Pacific has recently given him its Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal, which honors a lifetime of major contributions to astronomy, NASA said.
Planning flights for airborne science
The Earth Science Star is LeBlanc, a research scientist with the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute who works in the Earth Science Division. NASA credited his leadership and fresh ideas with improving how Ames plans flights for the agency's airborne research campaigns. The agency says this work now makes Ames a leader in that specialty, both inside NASA and elsewhere, and helps missions stay economical while getting the most science out of each flight.
Testing an instrument bound for the Moon
Villanueva, an engineer at Blue Marble, received the Space Biosciences Star. She belongs to the team behind LEIA, the Lunar Explorer Instrument for space biology Applications. NASA described her as indispensable to every round of testing on the instrument, particularly in getting engineering validation tests ready and running them, and singled out her technical skill, commitment and unstinting help to colleagues.
Sources
- NASA (Public domain (US government work))
