ASRC Aerospace Wins Florida Space Business Award

In a continuing effort to recognize the outstanding contributions of Florida’s space-related businesses, the Florida Space Authority (FSA) presented the first annual Florida Space Business Award to ASRC Aerospace on Thursday, March 16, 2006. This award recognizes ASRC Aerospace as an industry leader whose exceptional technological achievements have earned the company particular distinction. Twenty-five companies with significant space-related business operations in Florida participated in the competition.
ASRC Aerospace has demonstrated excellence in three key areas, which are acknowledged by this award. First, ASRC Aerospace has been instrumental in the development of breakthrough space technologies. Over the last 3 years, ASRC has produced 143 NASA New Technology Reports (NTRs), each representing a new technology that has been discovered and applied to solve technical challenges at Kennedy Space Center by our workforce. Some of these technologies include a Space-Based Telemetry and Range Safety (STARS) System, a Millimeter Wave Imaging System, a Self-Healing Wire Insulation Technique, Development of Gas-Sensing Tape Materials, and Prototyping of an Electrostatic Surface Cleaning Technique. Second, ASRC Aerospace has played a key role in the success of space exploration and development programs. As part of the Return-to-Flight (RTF) team, ASRC Aerospace has been a vital asset to the Space Shuttle Program participating on projects such as the Orbiter Thermal Control System, the Ground Camera Ascent Imaging System, the Non-Destructive Evaluation, and the Pad Infrared Heating System. Finally, ASRC is aggressively supporting the development of Florida’s space business workforce in not only conventional, but also in unique, unusual, and innovative ways. Some of these projects include the founding of the Spaceport Research and Technology Institute (SRTI) in conjunction with the University of Central Florida (UCF) and 30 other university partners, establishing the Spaceport Research and Technology Fund (SRTF), providing educational benefits to employees to pursue advanced degrees, sponsoring the Titusville High School FIRST robotics team, routinely sponsoring the mentor-protégé partnerships and cooperative opportunities for worthy college students, sponsoring a student team from Ireland in their investigation of cryogenic sciences at KSC, and providing numerous science fair judges and math and science tutors.
Lt. Governor Toni Jennings presented the Award to ASRC Aerospace at the Florida Space Day reception in Tallahassee. ASRC Aerospace also received a proclamation and congratulatory letter from the Governor in addition to a trophy. Other notable attendees at this ceremony will included Silas Baker, FSA board member and former Director of Launch Operations for the Atlas Program and Jim Banke, the Space Foundation Vice President of Florida Operations, both members of the award selection committee. Other award selection committee members included Michael Cipollaro, Executive Director of Rollins College Entrepreneurship Center; Hugh Harris, former NASA Director of Public Affairs, and former NASA Director of Engineering for the Shuttle Program Jim Rose.