Winners are being recognized for significant achievements across the full spectrum of space science and exploration.
The American Astronautical Society (AAS) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2018 awards. AAS presents several annual awards bestowed for meritorious accomplishments during the previous year or not previously honored by AAS award recognition.
“AAS is excited to honor these individuals and programs for their remarkable achievements and accomplishments,” said Jim Way, AAS Executive Director. “Their work is truly deserving of recognition and we at AAS thank and congratulate all of the winners who have each advanced space flight and exploration.”
The awards and winners for 2018 are as follows:
- Neil Armstrong Space Flight Achievement Award – Parker Solar Probe Mission Team, for “creative mission design and the application of rigorous program management and systems and subsystem engineering.” This award is given annually for outstanding achievements as a crew, crew member, or team. (The Armstrong award will be presented on March 21 at the 2019 Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium taking place March 19-21, Silver Spring MD.)
- Dirk Brouwer Award – Dr. Martin W. Lo for “seminal contributions in nonlinear astrodynamics and dynamical astronomy and the using of dynamical systems theory and low energy trajectories to space mission design.” This award honors significant technical contributions to space flight mechanics and astrodynamics and recognizes Dirk Brouwer’s outstanding role in celestial mechanics and his widespread influence on workers in space flight and astrodynamics. (The Brouwer Award will be presented at the 2019 AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference taking place August 11-15 in Portland, ME.)
- Earth Science and Applications Award – Dr. Nazzareno Diodato for “promotion of interdisciplinarity in earth science and offering creative solutions to important international research despite the challenges of a remote workplace.” This award was established to recognize an outstanding achievement in Earth or Environmental Sciences.
- John F. Kennedy Astronautics Award – George Salazar for his “passion surrounding education and dedication as a NASA outreach ambassador, inspiring students of all ages and helping this country grow the next generation of passionate engineers.” This award was established in honor of the late President, who launched our space program in 1961 with the famous statement that “we should land men on the moon and return them safely in this decade.” This public service award is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution by promoting the Nation’s space programs for the exploration and utilization of outer space. (The award will be presented at the 2019 Wernher von Braun Memorial Symposium taking place September 10-12 in Huntsville, AL.)
- Patti Grace Smith Award – Casey Waggy for her “technical leadership across high-profile civil, commercial, and national defense programs at Ball Aerospace, and for dedication to expanding opportunities for women through volunteerism and mentoring.” The Patti Grace Smith Award recognizes the late Patti Grace Smith’s commitment to the development of young professionals. The award will be presented at the 2019 Wernher von Braun Memorial Symposium taking place September 10-12 in Huntsville, AL.)
- Space Flight Award – Ann P. Over for “extraordinary achievements and contributions to the advancement of space flight and space exploration over the course of her 35-year career.” The Space Flight Award is given annually to the person whose outstanding efforts and achievements have contributed most significantly to the advancement of space flight and space exploration. The Space Flight Award is the highest award bestowed by AAS. (The Space Flight award will be presented on March 21 at the 2019 Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium taking place March 19-21, Silver Spring MD.)
- Space Life Sciences Award – Dr. Millard Reschke for “exceptional scientific leadership and diplomacy in the study of space flight on human health and performance.” This award recognizes outstanding results in two broad categories of research: a) results of space life sciences research on the ISS or elsewhere that benefit humanity overall (e.g., medicine, genomics, etc.) and b) discoveries of importance to conducting the human exploration of space (e.g., effects of zero g and mitigation strategies. (The Space Life Sciences Award will be presented at the inaugural John H. Glenn Memorial Symposium taking place July 10-12 in Cleveland, OH.)
Full awards information is available at astronautical.org/awards.