NASA HONORS

Every year, NASA Honors are approved by the Administrator and presented to carefully selected individuals and groups who have contributed substantially to NASA's mission of space exploration, research, and public communication. IPAC teams and individuals have been honored in the following categories:

NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal - An award granted for a significant, specific accomplishment or substantial improvement in operations, efficiency, service, financial savings, science, or technology which contributes to the mission of NASA.

NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal - This award acknowledges individuals who have provided an exceptional scientific contribution toward achieving NASA's mission.

NASA Exceptional Service Medal - Awarded for significant, sustained performance characterized by unusual initiative or creative ability that clearly demonstrates substantial improvements or contributions in engineering, aeronautics, space flight, administration, support, or space-based endeavors that contribute to the NASA mission.

NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal -This award is presented to an individual whose outstanding leadership has had a pronounced effect upon NASA technical or administrative programs. This award may be given for an act of leadership or for sustained contributions based on an individual's effectiveness as a leader, the productivity of an individual's program, or demonstrated ability to develop the administrative of technical talents of other employees.

NASA Public Service Medal - An award granted to anyone who was not a Government employee when the service was performed. The award recognizes exceptional contributions to the mission of NASA.

NASA Group Achievement Award - This is a team award given to a group of Government employees or a group comprised of both Government employees and non-Government personnel for outstanding accomplishment through the coordination of many individual efforts which has contributed substantially to the NASA mission, with explicit consideration given to: 1) the quality of results and the level of impact on NASA programs or operations; 2) effective management of cost and schedule; 3) customer satisfaction; 4) team growth and capacity for future contribution; 5) development of innovative approaches, use of and contributions to lessons learned data banks, and/or success in responding to unforeseen crises.