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Silver S. Letter 09
Silver S. Letter 09
Space Administration
December 10,2009
Dear Dan:
This letter is to express our personal thanks for your outstanding support to our space programs in
your position as a System Safety Engineer identifying and resolving safety hazards for Shuttle
Flights, Automated Transfer Vehicle (A TV), Soyuz and Progress. You identified a flight safety
issue for STS-123 (1J/ A) that could have jeopardized the mission while also working flights
13 A. 1 and IE. You detected an issue with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) expanding
diameter fasteners indicating a lack of redundancy for bolt jamming for removal/installation.
Also you took on the additional role of characterizing numerous CSA mechanisms to ensure all
safety requirements were met associated with extravehicular activity loads, structures, bolt
redundancy, tie-downs and Mission Operations Directorate operational control agreements.
Shortly before flight, you identified an issue with a late-in-flow analysis indicating a fault
tolerance violation associated with Dextre being stowed on the payload and on-orbit replaceable
unit accommodation.
We in the flight end of the business know that success in our space endeavors is measured by the
performance of individuals like you. The exceptional manner in which you have carried out your
responsibilities exceeds normal requirements and demonstrates pride in your work.
As a symbol of appreciation, please accept the astronauts' personal award for professional
excellence, the Silver Snoopy. We hope you will wear it with deserved pride, knowing that it is
given only to those individuals whom we regard as the best in their respective professions. Your
Silver Snoopy was flown on STS-122.
NASA Astronaut