Contact:

Susan M. Hendrix
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
(Phone: 301/286-7745)

October 05, 2004 - Release 04-060

HUBBLE MANAGER PART OF TEAM TO RECEIVE IAA AWARD

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center employee Frank Cepollina is one 25 people selected to receive the International Academy of Astronautics' (IAA) 2004 Laurels for Team Achievement Award.

"This award was possible due to the endless team spirit and 'can do' attitude of the Hubble team," said Cepollina, Deputy Associate Director for HST Development at Goddard. "It is very gratifying for me to work such a talented and dedicated group of folks."

The IAA Laurels for Team Achievement award was presented to the Hubble Space Telescope Team October 3 in Vancouver. In part, the citation reads, "From its spectacular launch and dramatic repair and upgrades to its regular revelations about our Universe, Hubble has captured the public's imagination and provided the scientific community with a tool of unprecedented discovery…."

This NASA employee received his bachelor's from the University of Santa Clara in 1959 and began working for NASA in 1963. Cepollina's involvement with the Hubble Space Telescope dates back to the mid-1970s when he contributed to the observatory's modular instrument design, as well as its scientific command and control subsystem. For more than 20 years, he has led the development of new science instruments and replacement hardware that enable Hubble to remain on the cutting edge of technology.

Cepollina's professional accomplishments have also led to numerous medical, manufacturing, and educational spin-off technologies, including a device that can detect breast cancer, Hubble-type optics that are being used to produce smaller, faster computer chips, and free, interactive educational software.

This energetic Hubble manager is married to wife Ann, and has two grown sons, John and Joseph, a daughter Julie, and a deceased daughter Paula.

When Cepollina is not busy looking for ways to improve Hubble's eye on the universe, the Annandale, Va. resident can be found at home tinkering with model 0-gage railroads. "I've found great satisfaction in this hobby for more than 40 years," Cepollina said. "And it's a nice escape from the daily grind."

Theodore Von Karmen founded the IAA in 1960 by during the 11th International Astronautical Congress in Stockholm, Sweden. Its main focus is to foster development of astronautics for peaceful purposes, recognize individuals who distinguish themselves in a related branch of science or technology, provide a program whereby members can contribute to international endeavors, and cooperate in the advancement of aerospace science.

Previous IAA Laurels for Team Achievement Awardees include the Russian Mir Space Station team; the U.S. Space Shuttle team; and the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory team.

For more information about NASA and the Hubble Space Telescope, visit: www.nasa.gov