Mission Statement
To ensure that each and every employee
involved in human space flight is aware of the importance of their
role in promoting astronaut safety and mission success in the
critical, challenging task of flying humans in the hostile environment
of space by communicating and educating the Government/industry
workforce about human space flight.
Introduction
The Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Program
is a NASA managed motivational program with invited representation
from the Office of Space Flight Field Centers, other NASA Field
Centers, and contractors having major responsibilities for human
space flight mission success. This Program meets the NASA requirement
for contractors to participate in a NASA motivational Program.
Program Purpose:
The purpose of the Space Flight Awareness
(SFA) Plan is to establish annual SFA Program goals and objectives
to:
- Ensure every employee involved in human
space flight is aware of the importance of their role in promoting
safety, quality and mission success.
- Increase awareness of the Human Space Flight Program accomplishments,
milestones and objectives with a focus on safety and mission
success.
- Conduct events and products that motivate and recognize the
workforce, and enhance employee morale.
- Function as an internal communications team to disseminate
key educational, program/management safety, quality, and mission
success messages and themes.
Program
Background:
The
SFA Program (previously known as the MFA Program) became a formal
program following the Mercury and Gemini Programs, when NASA took
steps to infuse the space program with a renewed and strengthened
consciousness of quality and flight safety. As NASA human space
flight programs grew, NASA centers were requested to expand their
assistance to government agencies and contractors in enhancing
employee motivation. SFA soon became the watchword of the human
space program.
As
it grew in stature, the SFA Program played an integral and increasingly
forceful role in the Apollo, Skylab, and Apollo-Soyuz projects.
By the time the Space Shuttle was flying, the program had begun
to promote its goals through various motivational vehicles: Awards,
films, publications, posters, and an array of pins, buttons, banners,
and decals.
Today
as we continue with the Space Shuttle Program and begin the tremendous
task, along with our international partners, of assembling the
International Space Station, those motivational elements, especially
the SFA awards, distinguish a vigorous, effective program for
involving employees in the production of quality space hardware,
software, and services.
