NASA honors NASIC for disaster support Published July 7, 2009 By James Lunsford NASIC Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Three space launches and a trip of more than 6.6 million miles were recognized in a special flag presentation at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center June 10. The flag was presented by Mr. Michael Sarafin, a NASA flight director, to the men and women of National Air & Space Intelligence Center as a thank you for their previous support and ongoing role in national defense. The almost seven million mile journey started in 2003, following the tragic Columbia Shuttle disaster, when the shuttle broke apart on re-entry. NASA was desperate to learn what happened to the shuttle by analyzing debris, but with a debris field that spanned across the state of Texas, NASA needed help pinpointing search locations. They turned to NASIC for help. NASIC analysts deployed to Texas to use experimental imagery analysis techniques to help NASA find debris from the wreckage. In the basement of a local Texas Bank of America branch, NASIC individuals fielded advanced spectral analysis techniques against images collected from a re-modulated 1940's era NASA DC-3 aircraft. Each evening the NASIC team would meet with Mr. Sarafin, the NASA/NASIC liaison during this operation. They discussed successes and debris found from that day's search, made recommendations for the following day's operation and analyzed techniques on how to further refine the fledgling capability. The setup was far from the high-tech surrounding these analysts are trained to utilize, but the information they provided was a critical part of determining the cause of the shuttle disaster. In November of 2008, the journey to the flag presentation continued with a second space launch. As Mr. Sarafin, now NASA flight director, prepared to direct mission control for the STS-126 space mission on the Endeavour spacecraft, he was given the privilege of selecting something to be sent into space. He later said he had three main criteria for his choice. "I wanted my choice to represent people who served in government" Mr. Sarafin said. " I wanted to honor an organization with which NASA shares a similar mission, and I wanted to honor people for whom I had great respect and appreciation." NASIC's role in space intelligence and unique responsiveness following the Columbia Disaster made a NASIC flag his first choice. Following the safe return of the Endeavor shuttle, Mr. Sarafin made the special trip to NASIC to present the flag that had circled the globe many times, visited the international space station and traveled at speeds faster than a bullet. His visit included a briefing about the mission, the presentation of the flag and another gift from NASA: a plaque of the mission patch specifically designed for mission STS-126. Col D. Scott George, NASIC commander, said "the men and women of NASIC possess a diversity of expertise like no other place in the Air Force and intelligence community. Their skills are used daily for contributing to ground operations or planning future weapon systems." Col George concluded, "I am impressed, but not surprised, that when called upon to help NASA in the shadow of the Colombia tragedy, NASIC analysts not only met, but exceeded the challenge." The final stage of the journey occurred following the Endeavor launch. On May 19, the advanced spectral imagery concepts that were refined following the Columbia disaster were launched as part of a research and development satellite system. Ms. Peggy Grigsby, one of the key NASIC players in the debris recovery operation, worked tirelessly to further develop these advanced concepts for long-term use. For years, Ms. Grigsby worked with the Air Force Research Laboratories to further develop the technology. In recognition for her accomplishments, on the eve of her retirement, Peggy's name was one of the three names chosen to emblazon the nose of the Minotaur rocket that carried this new research and development system into space. Reflecting on the unique achievement Mr Rob Young, NASIC historian said "This was quite an honor for the center and Peggy as we take NASIC into space one more time."