By Bob Granath
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida
As an innovative leader in Earth science, NASA encourages its people to find ways to enhance the environment. Earlier this year, Gloria Sylvia saw such an opportunity when water pipes were being replaced in front of the gate to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Her efforts to plant a small garden recently were rewarded with the Kennedy Space Center’s Catch an Environmentalist Award.
NASA VAB Operations Manager Jim Bolton liked the improvements so much he nominated Sylvia and the F-Gate Garden Team for the recognition honoring their efforts to add plants and grass. The F-Gate includes a small building in which security monitors, such as Sylvia, provide access at the entrance of the facility.
“Gloria is one of the access control monitors here at F-Gate and she took the initiative,” he said during a ceremony at the garden. “As the repair workers were finishing the water pipe project, she purchased a few plants on her own, placed them out there with some mulch.”
One of the largest buildings in the world, the VAB originally was constructed to support stacking of the Apollo Saturn V rockets that took American astronauts to the moon. The facility later was refurbished to support the 30-year Space Shuttle Program.
NASA now is modifying the facility to accommodate the Space Launch System advanced heavy-lift rocket which will provide a new capability for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. As employees come and go through the F-Gate each day, the idea of making the access more attractive quickly caught on and others wanted to help.
“People started walking by thinking, ‘what a cool idea,’ ” Bolton said. “Quite a few individuals started contributing to the effort.”
In addition to the grass sod, plants and mulch, a pair of iconic plastic pink flamingos and a small garden gnome have been included.
“Ralph Gregory, with Jacobs Technology VAB Operations, bought the gnome,” said Sylvia, who works in Security with Jacobs. “The gnome had been painted to appear to be wearing an Air Force uniform, I repainted it a bit and made the uniform into an astronaut flight suit.”
She also noted that water is captured from the air conditioner on the side of the F-Gate building and recycled.
“We put the condensation in a watering can to irrigate the plants and new grass sod,” she said.
Jacobs Vice President Andy Allen, who is general manager of the Test and Operations Support Contract team at Kennedy, congratulated the team effort for initiative, cooperation and pride.
“This kind of esprit should be honored and it is certainly appreciated,” said Allen, a former NASA astronaut. “Thanks for coming up with the idea. It looks great.”
Frank Kline, NASA’s Sustainability Program technical lead at Kennedy, explains that the Catch an Environmentalist Award recognizes individuals and teams that have notably contributed to environmental stewardship at the spaceport.
“Some time ago, the NASA Environmental Office came up with the idea of recognizing ecological efforts that benefit the space center,” Kline said as he presented the award plaque. “We think the garden is a great idea and we appreciate all the work.”
The Catch an Environmentalist Award recognizes performance in several categories: Education and Awareness, Energy Conservation/Renewable Energy, Fuel, Efficiency/Renewable Fuels, Historic/Archeological Preservations, Natural Resources/Habitat Conservation, Sustainable Design/Construction, Sustainable Environment Management Systems (SEMS), Sustainable Operations, Use of Environmentally Preferable or Recycled-Content Products, Waste Prevention/Reduction/Recycling and Water Conservation.
Any Kennedy employee may recommend someone for the Catch an Environmentalist Award by going to http://go.nasa.gov/QKqSO2 to nominate an individual or team.
“NASA at Kennedy is at the forefront of sustainability actions for the nation,” Kline said. “This recognition effort is an example of taking the lead in honoring those who make the space center and the Earth a better place to live.”