NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik poses with Space Flight Awareness Honoree Award recipients during the agency’s 2025 Space Flight Awareness Awards ceremony on Monday, March 10, 2025, in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The Space Flight Awareness Program, managed by NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, recognizes NASA employees and contractors for significant contributions to mission success and flight safety in the human spaceflight program.

NASA astronaut and Artemis II crew member Victor Glover stands with Honoree Award recipients from NASA’s Stennis Space Center following presentation of the awards during NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Program ceremony on May 4 in Orlando, Florida. Recipients (and their companies), along with ceremony presenters were: (left to right) NASA Stennis Associate Director Rodney McKellip, Shelly Lunsford (SaiTech Inc.), Odie Ladner (Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3 Harris Technologies company), Rachel Deschamp (Alutiiq Essential Services), Peyton Pinson (NASA), Jack Conley (NASA), Ronnie Good (NASA), and Glover.

Representatives of NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Program are shown at the Thad Cochran Test Stand (B-1/B-2) on Sept. 25. The Space Flight Awareness program manager and working group had its annual meeting this year at NASA’s Stennis Space Center to review plans for 2025. NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Program recognizes outstanding job performances and contributions by civil servants and contract employees and focuses on excellence in quality and safety in support of human space flight.

NASA astronaut Kayla Barron presents Tracy Osborne with the Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Silver Snoopy award Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA astronaut Kayla Barron presents Tracy Osborne with the Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Silver Snoopy award Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

2013 Space Flight Awareness Awards-Silver Snoopy Awards

NASA astronauts Stephanie Wilson and Victor Glover pose with recipients of the Silver Snoopy award after the ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. From left to right, those photographed include Wilson; Marcos Otero-Cruz, Defense Contract Management Agency; Mark Burton, Jacobs Technology; Kevin Vega, NASA Engineering; John Posey, NASA Engineering; Miles Ashley, NASA Engineering; Jamie Szafran, NASA Engineering; Paul Kuracz, NASA Engineering; Wilson Zheng, Jacobs Technology; Mark Dykstra, Defense Contract Management Agency; Elizabeth Cook, Safety and Mission Assurance; Dean Kendall, Jacobs Technology; Connie Lehan, NASA Engineering; Paul Janes, Jacobs Technology; Glover; and in front, Salim Nasser, NASA Engineering. The Silver Snoopy is part of NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Program, which recognizes outstanding job performances and contributions by civil servants and contract employees. It focuses on excellence in quality and safety in support of human spaceflight.

NASA Stennis Director John Bailey welcomes employees and guests to the Silver Snoopy Award ceremony on Aug. 21 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Program recognizes outstanding job performances and contributions by civil servants and contract employees. It focuses on excellence in quality and safety in support of human spaceflight.

Tessa Keating is a public affairs specialist in the Office of Communications at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Keating plans onsite logistics, serves as a protocol officer, and coordinates the Space Flight Awareness Program for NASA Stennis and the NASA Shared Services Center.

NASA Space Flight Awareness Backup Lead for Goddard Space Flight Center, Amelia Haymes, provides remarks after NASA astronauts Don Pettit and Nick Hague presented NASA Range Operations Contract Engineer Manager at Wallops Flight Facility, Joseph Jimmerson, with a Silver Snoopy award, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Pettit and Hague served as part of Expedition 72 onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Space Flight Awareness Backup Lead for Goddard Space Flight Center, Amelia Haymes, provides remarks before NASA astronauts Don Pettit and Nick Hague present NASA Range Operations Contract Engineer Manager at Wallops Flight Facility, Joseph Jimmerson, with a Silver Snoopy award, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Pettit and Hague served as part of Expedition 72 onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Boeing Astronaut Liaison & Space Flight Awareness Program Manager Megan Donaldson points out NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test Starliner spacecraft docked at the International Space Station during a call with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams before it’s uncrewed landing, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is scheduled to land at White Sands Missile Range’s Space Harbor later today, Mountain Time (Sept. 7 Eastern Time). Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

iss069e008378 (May 2, 2023) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Woody Hoburg tests one of the space station’s Astrobee robots for Zero Robotics, a student competition to write software to control the free-flying robots. The program promotes teamwork and awareness of space career opportunities and students learn about artificial intelligence, systems engineering, and human-robot collaboration.

Isidro Reyna, NASA Headquarters Space Flight Awareness Program Manager gives introductions during an Expedition 71 postflight event, Monday, March 3, 2025, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Jeanette Epps, Michael Barratt, and Tracy Dyson served as part of Expedition 71 aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Space Flight Awareness Program Manager, Strategic Integration and Management Division, Space Operations Mission Directorate, Isidro Reyna, introduces the Expedition 72 crew, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, during an employee engagement event at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Don Pettit served as part of Expedition 72 onboard the orbiting laboratory. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

The 2019 National Disability Awareness Month program was held in Marshall Space Flight Center's P110 conference room with guest speaker and former NASA Scientist Kantis Simmons. Master of Ceremonies was Matt McSaveney and the National Anthem was performed by MSFC student intern Andrea Brown. Additional remarks were presented by MSFC Associate Director Steve Miley. Additional songs were performed by Georgia Aplin, Cassidie Gorig' Worrell, Danay Jackson, Charli Grace Strawn from the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. Former NASA scientist Kantis Simmons, an author and speaker, addresses NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center team members Oct. 29 during the National Disability Awareness Month presentation, “The Right Talent, Right Now.” Simmons’ humorous discussion focused on growing up with a birth defect and overcoming the self-doubts that can bring. “Quit looking at what you don’t have and think about all the amazing things you do have,” Simmons said.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts, from left to right, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei participate in an employee engagement event, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

Associate Administrator for Space Operations Kathryn Lueders delivers opening remarks during an employee engagement event with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts, from left to right, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei participate in an employee engagement event, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

Director of Strategic Integration & Management Division Dr. Alotta Taylor delivers opening remarks during an employee engagement event with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts, from left to right, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei participate in an employee engagement event, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts, from left to right, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei participate in an employee engagement event, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts, from left to right, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei participate in an employee engagement event, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts, from left to right, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei participate in an employee engagement event, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts, from left to right, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei participate in an employee engagement event, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts, from left to right, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei participate in an employee engagement event, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

Associate Administrator for Space Operations Kathryn Lueders delivers opening remarks during an employee engagement event with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts, from left to right, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei participate in an employee engagement event, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts, from left to right, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei participate in an employee engagement event, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts, from left to right, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei participate in an employee engagement event, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts, from left to right, Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and Mark Vande Hei participate in an employee engagement event, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

The 2017 Disabilities Awareness Month Program was presented at Marshall Space Flight Center's Morris Auditorium with guest speaker Tamika Catchings. Ms. Catchings is a retired WNBA player who spent her entire career with the Indiana Fever. She was the first recipient of ESPN’s Humanitarian Award in 2015. In 2016, Tamika became the first female recipient of the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award. In 2016, Tamika released her autobiography, "Catch A Star," which became a New York Times best seller. She is also a world-renowned motivational and keynote speaker.

The 2017 Disabilities Awareness Month Program was presented at Marshall Space Flight Center's Morris Auditorium with guest speaker Tamika Catchings. Ms. Catchings is a retired WNBA player who spent her entire career with the Indiana Fever. She was the first recipient of ESPN’s Humanitarian Award in 2015. In 2016, Tamika became the first female recipient of the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award. In 2016, Tamika released her autobiography, "Catch A Star," which became a New York Times best seller. She is also a world-renowned motivational and keynote speaker.

The 2017 Disabilities Awareness Month Program was presented at Marshall Space Flight Center's Morris Auditorium with guest speaker Tamika Catchings. Ms. Catchings is a retired WNBA player who spent her entire career with the Indiana Fever. She was the first recipient of ESPN’s Humanitarian Award in 2015. In 2016, Tamika became the first female recipient of the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award. In 2016, Tamika released her autobiography, "Catch A Star," which became a New York Times best seller. She is also a world-renowned motivational and keynote speaker.

The 2017 Disabilities Awareness Month Program was presented at Marshall Space Flight Center's Morris Auditorium with guest speaker Tamika Catchings. Ms. Catchings is a retired WNBA player who spent her entire career with the Indiana Fever. She was the first recipient of ESPN’s Humanitarian Award in 2015. In 2016, Tamika became the first female recipient of the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award. In 2016, Tamika released her autobiography, "Catch A Star," which became a New York Times best seller. She is also a world-renowned motivational and keynote speaker.

The 2017 Disabilities Awareness Month Program was presented at Marshall Space Flight Center's Morris Auditorium with guest speaker Tamika Catchings. Ms. Catchings is a retired WNBA player who spent her entire career with the Indiana Fever. She was the first recipient of ESPN’s Humanitarian Award in 2015. In 2016, Tamika became the first female recipient of the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award. In 2016, Tamika released her autobiography, "Catch A Star," which became a New York Times best seller. She is also a world-renowned motivational and keynote speaker.

S81-39418 (10 Nov. 1981) --- Aware that astronaut Richard H. Truly, pictured, would be difficult to reach on his 44th birthday Nov. 12, pupils at Carver-Jones Elementary School in Baytown, Texas made certain the STS-2 pilot got his birthday card early. Some art pupils of Shirley Dynum got together and decided that they?d like to custom-make Truly a nice remembrance for a day expected to be filled with remembrances. Nov. 12 is also the date for launch of NASA?s second space shuttle flight in the space shuttle Columbia, with astronauts Truly and Joe H. Engle, commander, at the flight deck. In fact, only moments after this photo was taken, the two departed from JSC to Ellington Air Force Base from which they took T-38 flights to the launch facility in Florida. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio discusses the highlights of the Expedition 38 mission to the International Space Station with the audience at a post-flight presentation. The Space Flight Awareness Program hosted Mastracchio's presentation for employees in the KSC Training Auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. An Expedition 38/39 crew member, Mastracchio launched to the station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 6, 2013, and returned to Earth on May 13, 2014, after 188 days in space. Following Mastracchio's remarks, employees were given the opportunity to ask questions and to meet him in person. To read Mastracchio's biography, visit http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mastracc.html. For more information on Expedition 38, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition38. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA Kennedy Space Center Director and former astronaut Bob Cabana, right, introduces astronaut Rick Mastracchio to the audience at a post-flight presentation on the Expedition 38 mission to the International Space Station. The Space Flight Awareness Program hosted Mastracchio's presentation for employees in the KSC Training Auditorium. An Expedition 38/39 crew member, Mastracchio launched to the station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 6, 2013, and returned to Earth on May 13, 2014, after 188 days in space. Following Mastracchio's remarks, employees were given the opportunity to ask questions and to meet him in person. To read Mastracchio's biography, visit http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mastracc.html. For more information on Expedition 38, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition38. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio makes his opening remarks to the audience at a post-flight presentation on the Expedition 38 mission to the International Space Station. The Space Flight Awareness Program hosted Mastracchio's presentation for employees in the KSC Training Auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. An Expedition 38/39 crew member, Mastracchio launched to the station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 6, 2013, and returned to Earth on May 13, 2014, after 188 days in space. Following Mastracchio's remarks, employees were given the opportunity to ask questions and to meet him in person. To read Mastracchio's biography, visit http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mastracc.html. For more information on Expedition 38, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition38. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA Kennedy Space Center Director and former astronaut Bob Cabana, right, welcomes astronaut Rick Mastracchio to the center for a post-flight presentation on the Expedition 38 mission to the International Space Station. The Space Flight Awareness Program hosted Mastracchio's presentation for employees in the KSC Training Auditorium. An Expedition 38/39 crew member, Mastracchio launched to the station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 6, 2013, and returned to Earth on May 13, 2014, after 188 days in space. Following Mastracchio's remarks, employees were given the opportunity to ask questions and to meet him in person. To read Mastracchio's biography, visit http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mastracc.html. For more information on Expedition 38, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition38. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA Kennedy Space Center Director and former astronaut Bob Cabana, left, greets astronaut Rick Mastracchio before the start of a post-flight presentation on the Expedition 38 mission to the International Space Station. The Space Flight Awareness Program hosted Mastracchio's presentation for employees in the KSC Training Auditorium. An Expedition 38/39 crew member, Mastracchio launched to the station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 6, 2013, and returned to Earth on May 13, 2014, after 188 days in space. Following Mastracchio's remarks, employees were given the opportunity to ask questions and to meet him in person. To read Mastracchio's biography, visit http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mastracc.html. For more information on Expedition 38, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition38. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA Kennedy Space Center Director and former astronaut Bob Cabana, right, introduces astronaut Rick Mastracchio to the audience at a post-flight presentation on the Expedition 38 mission to the International Space Station. The Space Flight Awareness Program hosted Mastracchio's presentation for employees in the KSC Training Auditorium. An Expedition 38/39 crew member, Mastracchio launched to the station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 6, 2013, and returned to Earth on May 13, 2014, after 188 days in space. Following Mastracchio's remarks, employees were given the opportunity to ask questions and to meet him in person. To read Mastracchio's biography, visit http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mastracc.html. For more information on Expedition 38, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition38. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

During a break in the Crew Equipment Interface Test (CEIT), the STS-95 crew gathers with United Space Alliance (USA) personnel and their families. From left are Pilot Steven W. Lindsey; Payload Specialist John H. Glenn Jr., a senator from Ohio; Pedro Duque, with the European Space Agency (ESA); Mission Specialist Stephen K. Robinson, Ph.D.; Chiaki Mukai, with the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA); Mission Commander Curtis L. Brown Jr. (with arm raised); Mission Specialist Scott E. Parazynski, M.D.; Jim Furr, USA National Space Flight Awareness representative; Jack King, USA Public Affairs; Bob Sieck, KSC director of Shuttle Processing; and Ed Adamek, USA vice president and associate program manager for Ground Operations at KSC

Alotta Taylor, program manager for NASA’s Space Flight Awareness program at NASA Headquarters, welcomes Space Operations and Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate employees to a presentation by SpaceX Crew-1 NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington. Hopkins, Glover, Walker, and Noguchi launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

In this Spacelab-1 mission onboard photograph, astronaut Byron Lichtenberg performs a drop experiment, one of the Vestibular Experiments in Space investigations. The experiment examined spinal reflexes to determine whether they changed in microgravity. In Earth's environment, the otoliths signal the muscles to prepare for jolts associated with falling. During the flight, the normal reflex between the otoliths and the muscles was partially inhibited early in flight, declined further as the flight progressed, and returned to normal immediately after landing, suggesting that the brain ignored or reinterpreted otolith signals during space flight. Crewmembers reported a lack of awareness of position and location of feet, difficulty in maintaining balance, and a perception that falls were more sudden, faster, and harder than similar drops experienced in preflight. Crewmembers experienced illusions as they performed prescribed movement tests. When crew members viewed various targets and then pointed at them while blindfolded, their perception of target location and position of their own limbs was inaccurate in flight compared with similar tests on the ground. The Spacelab-1 was a multidisciplinary mission; that is, investigations were performed in several different fields of scientific research. The overall goal of the mission was to verify Spacelab performance through a variety of scientific experiments. The Spacelab-1 was launched aboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia for the STS-9 mission on November 28, 1983. The Marshall Space Flight Center had management responsibilities for the mission.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Lockheed Martin representatives explain some of the activities they are working on for safe Return to Flight of the Space Shuttle. The exhibit was one of many presented to KSC employees during Spaceport Super Safety and Health Day. Vendors’ exhibits were set up in the parking areas outside the Vehicle Assembly Building and the OandC Building. The day-long event also featured presentations by guest speakers Dr. Pamela Peeke, Navy Com. Stephen E. Iwanowicz, NASA’s Dr. Kristine Calderon and Olympic-great Bruce Jenner. Super Safety and Health Day was initiated at KSC in 1998 to increase awareness of the importance of safety and health among the government and contractor workforce. The theme for this year’s event was “Safety and Health: A Winning Combination.”

Maryland School for the Blind student Andrea Washington, left, and Kenneth Silberman, an engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, use their sense of touch on a model of the Ares I-X rocket during a visit to NASA Headquarters in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. Seven students from the Maryland School for the Blind visited NASA and participated in activities to learn about NASA'smission, functions, and careers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

NASA Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot addresses a standing room-only crowd at the March 20 National Space Club Huntsville breakfast. Lightfoot, who recently announced he will be retiring from the agency on April 30, praised NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and spoke about where the agency is headed over the next two decades. “I get to be nostalgic now, as I leave the Agency. This work was going on before I got here, and it’s going to keep going on after I leave,” said Lightfoot. “In this nation where we hear a lot about what we can't do, NASA is a demonstration of what this nation can do. The Space Launch System rocket is taking shape right here at Marshall. The passion our team has on our exploration journey is second to none and there seems to be a sense of urgency to get to that first launch. Exploration gives us hope for the future, and brings today's generation on board to forge its own path to the next great milestones for humanity.” National Space Club Huntsville's mission is to promote the awareness of civilian and military applications for rocketry and astronautics. Participation in its events helps raise money for scholarships and STEM engagement in the community.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, Ron Woods (left) shows members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (group 17) an Apollo-style space suit and how it differs from the current suits. The class is taking part in training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, VAB, SSPF, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, the crew headquarters, as well as the SSME Processing Facility. The U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF), members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (group 17) are shown future components of the International Space Station, such as the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module at right. The class is taking part in training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, VAB, SSME Processing Facility, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, the crew headquarters, as well as the SSPF. The U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center, members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (Group 17) take part in fire training. The class is taking part in training activities, including a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, VAB, SSPF, SSME Processing Facility, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, and the crew quarters. The U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On their tour of KSC, members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (group 17) stop at the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Processing Facility for a close up look at a main shuttle engine. The class is taking part in training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, VAB, SSPF, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, the crew headquarters, as well as the SSME Processing Facility. The U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center, members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (Group 17) watch as candidate Clayton C. Anderson practices using firefighting equipment during fire training. The class is at KSC for training activities, including a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, VAB, SSPF, SSME Processing Facility, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, and the crew quarters. The other U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center, members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (Group 17) watch as candidate Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.) practices using firefighting equipment during fire training. The class is at KSC for training activities, including a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, VAB, SSPF, SSME Processing Facility, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, and the crew quarters. The other U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center, members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (Group 17) watch a demonstration as part of fire training. The class is taking part in training activities, including a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, VAB, SSPF, SSME Processing Facility, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, and the crew quarters. The U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center, members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (Group 17) watch as candidate Sunita L. Williams practices using firefighting equipment during fire training. The class is at KSC for training activities, including a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, VAB, SSPF, SSME Processing Facility, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, and the crew quarters. The other U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center, members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (Group 17) watch as candidate Alan G. Poindexter practices using firefighting equipment during fire training. The class is at KSC for training activities, including a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, VAB, SSPF, SSME Processing Facility, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, and the crew quarters. The other U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

In the Orbiter Processing Facility, 1998 astronaut candidates (ASCAN) Barbara R. Morgan, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.) and Bjarni V. Tryggvason look at the hardware exhibits, such as the engine actuator on the table. Tryggvason is with the Canadian Space Agency. The 1998 ASCAN class is at KSC for training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, SSME Processing Facility, VAB, SSPF, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center and the crew headquarters. Other U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the other international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, and Marcos Pontes

Members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (group 17) look at the aft of a Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) (right). The class is at KSC for training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, VAB, SSPF, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, the crew headquarters, as well as the SSME Processing Facility. The U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Apollo/Saturn V Center, some of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (group 17) take a close look at the Saturn V rocket on display. The U.S. candidates include Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and international candidates Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes. The class is at KSC for training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, SSME Processing Facility, VAB, SSPF, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center and the crew headquarters

Members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (group 17) learn about the use of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Processing Facility. At left is one of the main shuttle engines. The class is at KSC for training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, VAB, SSPF, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, the crew headquarters, as well as the SSME Processing Facility. The U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

The 1998 astronaut candidate class (group 17) gather in the Space Shuttle Main Engine Processing (SSMEP) Facility. In the foreground is one of the main shuttle engines. The class is at KSC for training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, SSME Processing Facility, VAB, SSPF, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center and the crew headquarters. The U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Apollo/Saturn V Center, some of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (group 17) line up for a photo while standing under the engines of the Saturn V rocket on display. The U.S. candidates include Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and international candidates Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes. The class is at KSC for training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, SSME Processing Facility, VAB, SSPF, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center and the crew headquarters

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Apollo/Saturn V Center, some of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (group 17) line up for a photo during a tour of facilities at KSC. The U.S. candidates include Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and international candidates Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes. The class is at KSC for training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, SSME Processing Facility, VAB, SSPF, launch pads, SLF and the crew headquarters

In the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, Larry Osheim (right), who is with United Space Alliance, shows members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (group 17) a sample of Felt Reusable Surface Insulation (FRSI) blankets used on the orbiters. The class is at KSC for training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, SSME Processing Facility, VAB, SSPF, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center and the crew headquarters. The U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Some of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (group 17) take a close look at displays in the Apollo/Saturn V Center at KSC. The U.S. candidates include Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and international candidates Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes. The class is at KSC for training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, SSME Processing Facility, VAB, SSPF, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center and the crew headquarters

At Cape Canaveral Air Station, members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (Group 17) pose in front of what remains of the launch tower at Launch Complex 34 during a tour of the station's facilities. During the Apollo Program, Launch Complex 34 was the site of the first Saturn I and Saturn IB launches, as well as the tragic fire in which the Apollo I astronauts lost their lives. The class is at Kennedy Space Center taking part in training activities, including a flight awareness program, as well as touring the OPF, VAB, SSPF, SSME Processing Facility, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, and the crew quarters. The U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

At Cape Canaveral Air Station, members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (Group 17) pose in front of the Project Mercury monument at Launch Complex 14 during a tour of the station's facilities. This 13-foot-high astronomical symbol for the planet Mercury was constructed by General Dynamics, the Atlas airframe contractor, and dedicated in 1964 in honor of those who flew in the Mercury 7 capsule. The class is at Kennedy Space Center taking part in training activities, including a flight awareness program, as well as touring the OPF, VAB, SSPF, SSME Processing Facility, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center, and the crew quarters. The U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes

GPM &quot;Let it Snow&quot; Photo Contest Winners The Global Precipitation Measurement mission is happy to announce the top ten winners of the &quot;Let It Snow&quot; photo competition. Thank you to everyone who submitted their best pictures of winter. From January 7th through February 4th 2013, over 1,000 photos were submitted via Flickr and Instagram (see the Flickr submissions here: <a href="http://bit.ly/VVEubh" rel="nofollow">bit.ly/VVEubh</a>). We loved all of your entries and thoroughly appreciate your participation. About this image: Kulusuk Icebergs, by Andrew Bossi Location: On approach to the airstrip at Kulusuk, Greenland, located on the east coast. The flight departed out of Reykjavík, Iceland. How this Photo Was Taken: &quot;My write-up of the day covers things in decent detail. Basically my vacation was focused on Scandinavia and hadn't even considered Greenland, but while traveling around Iceland I'd become aware that day trips were offered and I leapt at the opportunity. This approach was my first sight of Greenland. While I've seen plenty of glaciers and mountains, I'd never seen anything like this - it started with endless fields of ice amid the deep blue sea, and some minutes later a wall of frozen rock rose up from the horizon. I'd never seen anything so beautiful. I think my camera's shutter was snapping almost endlessly right up until we landed. The landing itself was an experience, as our tiny plane descended between the mountains -- rockfaces just outside each window -- and set down on a gravel runway.&quot; About Photographer Steven Sandner: More info about this photo: <a href="http://intentionallylost.blogspot.com/2011/06/gl-kulusuk.htm" rel="nofollow">intentionallylost.blogspot.com/2011/06/gl-kulusuk.htm</a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisbossi/">www.flickr.com/photos/thisisbossi/</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/thisisbossi" rel="nofollow">twitter.com/thisisbossi</a> <b><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/MP_Photo_Guidelines.html" rel="nofollow">NASA image use policy.</a></b> <b><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html" rel="nofollow">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a></b> enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. <b>Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/NASA_GoddardPix" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a></b> <b>Like us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greenbelt-MD/NASA-Goddard/395013845897?ref=tsd" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a></b> <b>Find us on <a href="http://instagram.com/nasagoddard?vm=grid" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a></b>