NASA Group Achievement Award Presented to Francis Scobee

NASA Group Achievement Award Presented to Francis Scobee

The certificate was awarded for significant contributions to the successful completion of the Mated Vertical Ground Vibration Test Program through personal dedication, professional skill and enduring enthusiasm. The certificate is signed by Robert A. Frosch, NASA Administrator from 1977 to 1981. NASA conducts semi-annual Group Achievement Awards to promote recognition of group achievements. This prestigious NASA certificate is awarded to any combination of Government and/or non-Government individuals for an outstanding group accomplishment that has contributed substantially to NASA's mission.

The Mated Vertical Ground Vibration Test (MGVT) marked the first time that all of the Space Shuttle elements (the Orbiter, External Fuel Tank, and Solid Rocket Boosters) were mated together. The tests took place at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. The Space Shuttle Enterprise – the first Space Shuttle and essentially a test vehicle – was lifted up on a sling and placed inside the Dynamic Test Stand building, where it was mated to the Vertical Mate Ground Vibration Test tank, which in turn was attached to a set of inert Solid Rocket Boosters to form a complete Shuttle launch stack. Enterprise was then exposed to a punishing series of vibration tests, designed to simulate as closely as possible those experienced during the various phases of launch. These were completed in March 1979, and were a key part of proving the safety of the Shuttle, ready for the launch of the first spaceflight qualified Orbiter, Columbia, in April 1981.

Francis Richard "Dick" Scobee (19 May 1939 – 28 January 1986) was an American astronaut. He was killed commanding the Space Shuttle Challenger, which suffered catastrophic booster failure during launch of the STS-51L mission.