2024 AAS Award Winners Announcement
Each year we give credit where credit is due by recognizing the outstanding accomplishments and inspiring leaders that fuel the motivation for space exploration. With no shortage of achievement, the aerospace industry is full of feats worthy of recognition and the American Astronautical Society aims to honor those with a slate of AAS awards. It is our pleasure to announce the winners of the 2024 AAS Awards and shed light on the success of our colleagues. Congratulations to these winners:
Advancement of International Cooperation Award
Eric Maier is recognized for exceptional achievement establishing the first major cooperative activity between NASA and the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.
Neil Armstrong Space Flight Achievement Award
Axiom Private Astronaut Mission is recognized for immense achievement and repeated excellence during successive missions to the International Space Station.
Ordway Award
Eric Jones is recognized for the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, an exceptional, comprehensive, and accessible online multimedia resource for detailed study of the first human explorations of the Moon.
Patti Grace Smith Award
Kenneth Smith is recognized for unwavering pursuit of innovation, leadership, and technical excellence in both human space exploration and satellite development furthering NASA’s Commercial Crew and Moon to Mars Programs.
Sally Ride Excellence in Education Award
Suzanne Weaver Smith is recognized for fostering innovative and student-centered partnerships between academia and industry for four decades.
Space Entrepreneurship Award
Jeffrey Parker is recognized for significant accomplishments as an astrodynamics entrepreneur and the co-founding and continued leadership of Advanced Space.
Space Flight Award
Sean Mulligan is recognized for extraordinary contributions to space launch capacities and transforming the launch industry in Virginia.
Space Life Sciences Award
Benjamin D. Levine, M.D. is recognized for exceptional scientific leadership to ensure human health and performance for the benefit of space flight.
Space Technology Award
Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding (HERMeS) Team is recognized for the development of high specific impulse, long-life Hall thruster technology enabling propulsion for future exploration missions.
The 2025 AAS awards cycle is open throughout the year. To learn more about our various awards, visit the awards nomination site here, or click the individual award names above.