 |
IMAX CINEMATOGRAPHER JAMES NEIHOUSE AWARDED NASA'S HIGHEST ASTRONAUT HONOR, THE SILVER SNOOPY James Neihouse, now working on first-ever IMAX 3D film from space, honored for more than 10 years of training astronauts to be filmmakers
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON, TX (July 10, 2001) - NASA astronauts showed their appreciation for more than 20 years of IMAX space films, by awarding James Neihouse, one of the company's top cinematographers, the prestigious "Silver Snoopy" medal. Neihouse was honored "for the many years of superlative support he has given -- and continues to give America's space program."
Neihouse received the coveted "Silver Snoopy" at Johnson Space Center, where he is currently working on the newest IMAX epic adventure film, SPACE STATION, the story of the on-orbit construction of the International Space Station. The film, sponsored by Lockheed Martin Corporation, is the first-ever IMAX 3D film from space. Commander Bill Shepherd, one of the first astronauts to live onboard the International Space Station, and Mission Specialist Marsha Ivins (STS-98) - both astronauts who serve as filmmakers and stars of SPACE STATION - presented the award.
To bring the true excitement and mystery of space to millions of moviegoers around the world, Neihouse has spent the last 10 years producing space films for IMAX Corporation. During that time, he has trained scores of astronauts to be filmmakers. In presenting him the "Silver Snoopy", Astronaut Ivins said: "You have helped to create the most dramatic and realistic space films anywhere in the world," and "your intimate familiarity with the IMAX® 3D camera system has allowed us to train in minimal time with what has to be the most complete and well thought-out training plan of any Space Station system. The brilliance of any footage we return to Earth is a direct reflection on the training you have given us."
"Through your films," continued Commander Shepherd, "you have helped to provide the world a window into the exploration of space, from both the technical and the human side, giving NASA the most successful and awesome outreach of any venue."
The "Silver Snoopy" award originated in 1968 to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the success of manned space flight missions. It is presented to individuals whose job performance is oriented to flight safety or mission success, and whose efforts are of such an outstanding nature as to distinguish them in their particular areresponsibility. To date, 971 individuals, or less than one percent of those eligible to receive the award, have been honored with the "Silver Snoopy." Recognized as the "astronaut's personal award," the "Silver Snoopy" award is a meaningful link between the astronaut corps and members of NASA and industry work teams.
Astronaut Snoopy was drawn by the late Charles Schultz, originator of the "Peanuts" cartoon strip and avid supporter of space flight, as a mascot for NASA's manned space flight program. Each "Silver Snoopy" award is flown aboard a Space Shuttle. The pin presented to Neihouse was flown on STS-98.
Neihouse and his colleagues, IMAX Producer Toni Myers and IMAX Co-founder Graeme Ferguson, have been training astronauts and cosmonauts to be filmmakers for almost two decades. For SPACE STATION, they trained 25 astronauts to use two new IMAX 3D cameras, specifically built for the rigors and particulars of space travel. Daily departures to SPACE STATION from IMAX theatres worldwide begin in spring 2002.
IMAX Corporation, in cooperation with the NASA has made five films in space: Hail Columbia, The Dream Is Alive, Blue Planet, Destiny in Space and Mission To MIR. The last four films were made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin Corporation.
|