Space Vehicles Directorate members nominated for awards

  • Published
  • By Connie Rankin
  • Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  Two scientists here have been nominated by the U.S. Air Force for the 58th annual Arthur S. Flemming Awards for contributions to space research.

Capt. Stanley Straight and Dr. Greg Spanjers, Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate, distinguished themselves by exceptional performance as TacSat-3 spacecraft chief engineer and as program manager for the Demonstration and Science Experiments satellite and the Risk Reduction for Alternate Infrared Satellite System, respectively.

Sponsored by George Washington University, Washington, D.C., the Arthur S. Flemming Awards are presented in the categories of administration, applied science and mathematics, and science.

Submitted in the applied science and mathematics category, Captain Straight guided the $58 million responsive space demonstrator's development and design process. In addition, he transformed small satellite technology advancement and employment by applying systems engineering procedures, which reduced program cost and schedule by 50 percent. Captain Straight also worked closely with the warfighter to ensure TacSat-3, planned for launch in December, met critical operational and tactical requirements.

Leading a team of five government and 200 contract employees, Dr. Spanjers established a firm foundation for a DSX satellite that will examine the damaging effects of space radiation on electronics and other materials. In addition, it will investigate techniques to minimize the lethal impact of a high-altitude nuclear detonation on spacecraft operating in low-Earth orbit, between 124 and 1,240 miles above the planet's surface. Entered in the science category, Dr. Spanjers also decreased the spacecraft's complexity, resulting in reduced project risk and a one-year earlier launch date.

Due to his expertise and experience, the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif., requested Dr. Spanjers' supervision of an AFRL effort to provide risk reduction for the Alternate Infrared Satellite System. In the near term, missile warning will use the Defense Satellite Program and Space-Based Infrared Satellites systems from SMC.

AIRSS seeks to develop an advanced capability based full-earth staring approaches to missile detection from space. Dr. Spanjers' RR-AIRSS effort at AFRL will build the first two prototypes of these full-earth staring sensors, identify risks, quantify performance and seek to provide SMC with a low-risk acquisition path to an operational AIRSS system.

Recognizing outstanding federal employees who have at least three, but no more than 15 years of government service, the Arthur S. Flemming Award is named after an individual who accomplished seven decades of exemplary service to the federal government and higher education. During his distinguished career, Dr. Flemming held various positions including U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare secretary in the Eisenhower Administration, as well as chairman of both the U.S. Commission on Aging and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He also served as president of three universities. Due to unequaled dedication to his country, Dr. Flemming received two Presidential Medals of Freedom. President Eisenhower bestowed the first in 1957, and President Clinton presented the second in 1994.

Selections for the awards were announced during the second week of April.