Image above: NASA's Exceptional Bravery Medal, left. The Vertical Assembly Building, right, was one of several buildings at Michoud damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Credit: NASA

NASA to honour Katrina heroes

NASA is awarding 38 workers at the Michoud Assembly Facility the Exceptional Bravery Medal, for their efforts in protect-ing valuable space flight hardware during Hurricane Katrina.

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin N3RA, will present the awards on January 5 at a ceremony at Michoud.

The NASA and Lockheed Martin workers volunteered to stay at the facility east of New Orleans, where space shuttle external fuel tanks are built and processed. Their efforts were critical not only to NASA's Space Shuttle Program, but also to the future of human space flight.

Michoud's unique manufacturing facilities figure prominently in America's Vision for Space Exploration, since derivatives of the external tank are part of the design for the next generation spacecraft