GIFTS FROM SPACE; SHUTTLE WORKERS PRESENTED FLAG, PINS FROM SPACE.

Byline: John Sanders Staff Writer

Nearly 400 people gathered Wednesday at the Palmdale Reusable Space System facility as astronaut Bob Cabana presented to employees a flag that was flown aboard the space shuttle Endeavour.

Cabana also bestowed two ``Silver Snoopy'' awards to individuals recognized for outstanding work at the RSS Assembly Integration and Test Facility.

``You deliver an outstanding product,'' Cabana told the crowd. ``I just can't tell you how great it is and how proud I am to take your hardware into space.''

Cabana presented the Snoopys to employees Patrick Facciola and Audrey Garcia for their outstanding contributions to the space flight program.

The award is a small silver pin depicting Snoopy, the lovable aeronautic dog of ``Peanuts'' fame. Cabana, a Naval Academy graduate who earned the 1996 Daughters of the American Revolution Award for the top Marine to complete naval flight training, said that the pins had gone to space with him.

``That's pretty cool, because only being here four years, it's like going to the top,'' said Facciola, a mechanic. ``Everybody here helped me. They're all good workers. Teammwork really helps - you can't do it without teammwork.''

Cabana said that just one percent of the work force receives this prestigious award.

``I'm ready to cry. It's very exciting. I didn't expect it. It's a great honor,'' said Garcia, who has worked with the company for nearly 25 years. He is is team leader of the electrical shop.

The flag, which reads ``Endeavour,'' was the fourth in a series flown in space. The flag was on board from Dec. 4 to 15, 1998. The mission mated the United States-built node Unity with the Russian Zarya functional cargo block. Two crew members performed three space walks to connect umbilicals, and attached tools in the assembly of the station.

This completes a series of flags presented to the Palmdale plant. The others were flags flown on the Columbia, Atlantis and Discovery.

``You guys have got to be really proud of what you do,'' Cabana said. ``And I'm thankful for the effort that you do.''

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo: (1 -- color in AV only) Astronaut Robert Cabana, center, presents a flag flown aboard the shuttle Endeavour, to shuttle workers Stan Albrecht, left, and Mark Johnstone.

(2 -- color in AV only) Astronaut Bob Cabana presented ``Silver Snoopys'' to two shuttle workers for outstanding work.

(3) Nearly 400 people attended a ceremony at which astronaut Bob Cabana presented a flag that was flown aboard the space shuttle.

(4 -- ran in AV only) Astronaut Bob Cabana praised shuttle workers and presented two with ``Silver Snoopy'' pins that had flown with him in space.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer