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For Release: March 14, 2003

Katherine K. Martin
Media Relations Office
216/433-2406
katherine.martin{at}nasa.gov

Manzo Wins Women in Engineering Award
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Michelle Manzo, a senior engineer in the Electrochemistry Branch at 
NASA's Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, recently received the first 
"Women in Engineering Achievement Award" sponsored by Design News 
magazine. This award was created to recognize a leading female 
engineer who is dedicated to improving the human condition.

The award and a $20,000 educational grant were given to Manzo at the 
Design News awards banquet in Chicago on Tuesday, March 4 to recognize 
her leadership in developing and ensuring the availability of long 
life batteries for NASA missions. Manzo chose the Ernest B. Yeager 
Center for Electrochemical Sciences at Case Western Reserve 
University, Cleveland, to receive the educational grant.

Manzo played a key role in ensuring that the Hubble Space Telescope 
(HST) flew with batteries that would provide a long life with minimal 
servicing.  Manzo was the only NASA member of a government and 
industry team formed to assess the risks associated with old and new 
battery chemistry options for servicing the HST. The new battery 
chemistry, recommended by the team, was used to replace standard 
batteries originally planned for the HST. The standard nickel-cadmium 
batteries would have required replacement within two or three years. 
Since the HST was deployed in space in 1990, the nickel-hydrogen 
batteries have not needed replacement and have required only minimal 
attention.

"Michelle's leadership efforts have demonstrated the powerful role 
model that she is to the engineering community and to young women who 
will certainly be encouraged to follow in her footsteps," said Dr. 
Valerie Lyons, division chief of Glenn's Power and On-Board Propulsion 
Technology Division.

In 1988, Manzo received an R&D 100 Award for a long cycle life
nickel-hydrogen cell battery and a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal 
in 1998. She has also worked on batteries used by the International 
Space Station and two of the Mars Observer missions.

Manzo received her bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics from
Anderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, W.Va. and a master's degree in
engineering science from The University of Toledo.

A print quality photo of Manzo is available at:
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/PAO/pressrel/2003/03-014addm.html

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