Neil Armstrong Space Flight Achievement Award

The Neil Armstrong Space Flight Achievement Award is given annually for outstanding achievements as a crew, crew member or team.

Neil ArmstrongTM used with permission from the Purdue Research Foundation.

Award Criteria

Recipients:

  • 2025 – No Award Given
  • 2024 – Axiom Space Mission Services Team

In recognition of immense achievement and repeated excellence during successive missions to the International Space Station

Picture courtesy of AAS

  • 2023 – The OSIRIS-REx Flight Team

For exceptional performance and extraordinary perseverance in the successful return of sample from asteroid Bennu

Picture courtesy of NASA Science

  • 2022 – Inspiration 4

For the success of the first all-civilian astronaut crewed mission to orbit the earth

Picture courtesy of The Washington Post

  • 2021 – Human Exploration Development and Operations Office, Payload and Mission Operations Division

For their contributions to human spaceflight as the payload and science operations team for the International Space Station (ISS). This team has been responsible for the integrated science operations onboard ISS for over 20 years to the benefit of all humankind and the advancement of human exploration missions

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 2020 – Colonel (Retired) Douglas Hurley and Colonel Robert Behnken

For their contributions to human spaceflight as the crew of the first test flight of the new crewed SpaceX Dragon. This historic flight marked the return of human spaceflight to American soil and ushered in a new era in America’s space program

Picture courtesy of The New York Times

  • 2019 – Joseph M. Acaba and Richard Arnold II

For their work and engagement with the education community in completing the ‘Year of Education’ on the International Space Station

Picture courtesy of Flickr

  • 2018 – Parker Solar Probe Mission Team

For creative mission design and the application of rigorous program management and systems and subsystem engineering

Picture courtesy of Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

  • 2017 – No Award Given
  • 2016 – LRO Mission Team

For executing a stunning return to the Moon, mapping its surface in greater detail than ever before, pioneering new technology and processes in the accomplishment of planetary exploration, and imaging the Apollo landing sites after more than 40 years

Picture courtesy of NASA Science

  • 2015 – NASA New Horizons Team

In recognition of its outstanding a achievement in planning, preparing and executing a successful flyby of Pluto, completing reconnaissance of the classical Solar System and significantly advancing mankind’s understanding of the universe

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 2014 – Curiosity Mars Science Laboratory Team

For a stunning engineering, scientific and management achievement that is being followed by millions of people around the world

Picture courtesy of NASA Science

  • 2013 – Expedition 35 Crew: Chris Hadfield, Tom Marshburn, Roman Romanenko, Chris Cassidy, Pavel Vinogradov and Alexander Misurkin

In recognition of the highly successful Expedition 35 mission on the International Space Station. This expedition orchestrated a high level of space vehicle traffic, conducted two spacewalks, and conducted a wide variety of scientific research

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 2012 – Expedition 32 Crew: Gennady Padalka, Joe Acaba, Sergei Revin, Sunita Williams, Yuri Malenchenko and Akihiko Hoshide

In recognition of the highly successful Expedition 32 mission on the International Space Station. This Expedition crew orchestrated a high level of space vehicle traffic, conducted two spacewalks, and included a wide variety of scientific research.

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 2011 – STS-135 Crew: Christopher Ferguson, Douglas Hurley, Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim

In recognition of the highly successful STS-135 mission, the final Space Shuttle Mission, dedicated to the courageous men and women who have devoted their lives to the Space Shuttle Program and the pursuit of space exploration.

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 2010 – STS-131 Crew: Alan Poindexter, James P. Dutton Jr., Rick Mastracchio, Clayton Anderson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson and Naoko Yamazaki

For repairing and upgrading the Space Shuttle KU-Band Communication System and working to complete the International Space Station.

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 2009 – STS-125 Crew: Scott Altman, Gregory C. Johnson, Andrew Feustel, Michael Good, John Grunsfeld, Mike Massimino and Megan McArthur

In recognition of the outstanding accomplishments of the crew of the STS-125 mission to the Hubble Telescope, conducting five spacewalks during their mission to extend the life of the orbiting observatory. They successfully installed two new instruments and repaired two others, bringing them back to life, replaced gyroscopes and batteries, and added new thermal insulation panels to protect the orbiting observatory. The result is six working, complementary science instruments with capabilities beyond what was available and an extended operational lifespan until at least 2014.

Picture courtesy of NASA Science

  • 2008 – STS-120 Crew: Pamela A. Melroy, George D. Zamka, Stephanie D. Wilson, Daniel M. Tani, Douglas H. Wheelock, Scott E. Parazynski and Paolo Nespoli

For an outstanding demonstration of the importance of ingenuity and heroism in exploring space, as evidenced by the amazing repair of the torn space station solar array

  • 2007 – Wayne Hale and the STS-121 Flight Team and crew – Steven Lindsey, Mark Kelly, Michael Fossum, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson, Piers Sellers and Thomas Reiter

For flying a picture-perfect mission on Discovery in July 2006, the result of efforts by N. Wayne Hale and everyone in the shuttle program to reorder processes, improve systems, and instill a new sense of mission.

Picture courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum

  • 2006 – STS-114 Crew: Eileen Collins, James Kelly, Charles Camarda, Wendy Lawrence, Soichi Noguchi, Stephen Robinson and Andrew Thomas

For flying the United States’ first human mission into space since the Columbia accident on February 1, 2003.

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 2005 – Michael W. Melvill

For outstanding service as the pilot of SpaceShipOne in the first non-government rocket ship to succeed in flying to the edge of space.

Picture courtesy of Getty Images

  • 2004 – Yang Liwei

For making China’s first human flight into space and returning safely to Earth after 21 hours in orbit on October 15, 2003

Picture courtesy of Global Times

  • 2003 – STS-107 Crew: Richard D. Husband, William C. McCool, Kalpana Chawla, David M. Brown, Laurel Clark, Michael P. Anderson and Ilan Ramon (Posthumously)

In honor of the brave crew members of Shuttle Mission STS-107 – their accomplishments in life and their ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten

Picture courtesy of CNN

  • 2002 – STS-110 Crew: Michael J. Bloomfield, Stephen N. Frick, Rex J. Walheim, Ellen Ochoa, Lee M. Morin, Jerry L. Ross and Steven L. Smith

In recognition of flawless execution of the flight to deliver and install the first segment of the large external truss to the International Space Station, as well as the Mobile Transporter

 

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 2001 – Crew of Expedition One: William M. (Bill) Shepherd, Yuri Pavlovich Gidzenko and Sergei K. Krikalev

In recognition of the first crew aboard the International Space Station and the successful establishment of a permanent human presence in Earth’s orbit

Picture courtesy of Alamy

  • 2000 – STS-99 Crew: Dominic L.P. Gorie, Janet Lynn Kavandi, Kevin R. Kregel, Mamoru Mohri, Gerhard P.J. Thiele and Janice E. Voss

Picture courtesy of PICRYL

  • 1999 – STS-88 Crew: Robert D. Cabana, Nancy J. Currie, Sergei K. Krikalev, James H. Newman, Jerry L. Ross and Frederick W. Sturckow

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1998 – James Wetherbee, Mike Bloomfield, Scott Parazynski, Wendy Lawrence, Jean-Loup Chretien, Vladimir Titov, David Wolf and C.Michael Foale

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

  • 1997 – STS-79 Crew: William F. Readdy, Terrence W. Wilcutt, Thomas D. Akers, Jerome Apt, John E. Blaha, Carl E. Walz and Shannon W. Lucid

Picture curtesy of NASA

  • 1996 – STS-74 Crew: Kenneth D. Cameron, James D. Halsell, Chris Hadfield, Jerry L. Ross and William S. McArthur; STS-76 Crew – Kevin P. Chilton, Richard A. Searfoss, Ronald M. Sega, Michael R. Clifford, Linda M. Godwin and Shannon W. Lucid

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1995 – STS-63 Crew: James D. Wetherbee, Eileen M. Collins, Bernard A. Harris, Jr., C. Michael Foale, Janice Voss and Vladimir G. Titov; STS-71 Crew: Robert L. Gibson, Charles J. Precourt, Ellen S. Baker, Gregory J. Harbaugh and Bonnie J. Dunbar

Picture courtesy of NASA

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1994 – Frank L. Culbertson, Jr., William F. Readdy, James H. Newman, Daniel W. Bursch and Carl E. Walz

Picture courtesy of Flickr

  • 1993 – STS-49 Crew: Daniel C. Brandenstein, Kevin P. Chilton, Thomas D. Akers, Richard J. Hieb, Pierre J. Thuot, Kathryn D. Thornton and Bruce E. Melnick

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1992 – STS-37 Crew: Steven R. Nagel, Kenneth D. Cameron, Jerry L. Ross, Linda M. Godwin and Jerome Apt

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1991 – No award given
  • 1990 – STS-31 Crew: Loren J. Shriver, Charles Bolden, Steven A. Hawley, Bruce McCandless and Kathryn D. Sullivan

Picture courtesy of NASA Science

  • 1989 – STS-30 Crew: David Walker, Ronald Grabe, Mark Lee, Norman Thagard and Mary Cleave; STS-34 Crew – Don Williams, Michael McCulley, Shannon Lucid, Franklin Chang-Diaz and Ellen Baker

Picture courtesy of Mirage News

Picture courtesy of AmcericaSpace

  • 1988 – STS-26 Crew: Frederick Hauck,Richard Covey, John Lounge, David Hilmers and George Nelson

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1987 – No award given
  • 1986 – No award given
  • 1985 – STS-51F Crew: C. Gordon Fullerton, Roy D. Bridges, F. Story Musgrave, Anthony W. England, Karl G. Henize, Loren W. Acton and John David Bartoe

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1984 – STS-51A Crew: Frederick H. Hauck, David M. Walker, Joseph P. Allen, Anna L. Fisher and Dale A. Gardner

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1983 – STS-9 Crew: John W. Young, Brewster H. Shaw, Owen K. Garriott, Robert A. Parker, Byron Lichtenberg and Ulf Merbold

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1982 – STS-4 Crew: Thomas K. Mattingly and Henry W. Hartsfield; STS-5 Crew: Vance D. Brand, Robert R. Overmyer, Joseph P. Allen and Dr. William B. Lenoir

Picture courtesy of NASA

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1981 – STS-2 Crew: Joe H. Engle and Richard H. Truly; STS-3 Crew: Jack R. Lousma and C. Gordon Fullerton

Picture courtesy of This Day in Aviation

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1980 – STS-1 Crew: John Young and Robert L. Crippen

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1979 – No award given
  • 1978 – No award given
  • 1977 – Joe H. Engle, C. Gordon Fullerton, Fred W. Haise, Jr., and Richard H. Truly (ALT crew)

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1976 – Thomas P. Stafford, Vance D. Brand, and Donald K.Slayton

Picture courtesy of Space.com

  • 1975 – Gerald P. Carr, William R. Pogue, and Edward G. Gibson (Skylab 4 crew)

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1974 – Alan L. Bean, Owen K. Garriott, and Jack R. Lousma (Skylab 3 crew)

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1973 – Joseph P. Kerwin, Charles Conrad, Jr., and Paul J. Weitz (Skylab 2 crew)

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1972 – John W. Young, Thomas K. Mattingly, and Charles Duke, Jr.

Picture courtesy of the Amateur Astronomers Association

  • 1971 – Alan B. Shepard, Stuard Roosa, and Edgar D. Mitchell (Apollo 14 crew)

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1970 – James A. Lovell, Jr., John L. Swigert, Jr., and Fred Haise, Jr. (Apollo 13 crew)

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1969 – Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin, and Michael Collins

Picture courtesy of Navy Times

  • 1968 – William A. Anders, Frank Borman, and James A. Lovell, Jr.

Picture courtesy of The Atlantic

  • 1967 – Roger B. Chaffee, Virgil I. Grissom,and Edward H. White (Posthumously)

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1966 – Charles Conrad, Jr. and Richard F. Gordon, Jr.

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1965 – Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr., Walter M. Schirra, and Thomas P. Stafford

Picture courtesy of Almay

  • 1964 – Charles A. Lindbergh

Picture courtesy of Biography

  • 1963 – L. Gordon Cooper, Jr.

Picture courtesy of Briannica

  • 1962 – John H. Glenn

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1961 – Alan B. Shepard and Virgil I. Grissom

Picture courtesy of Flashbak

  • 1960 – No award given
  • 1959 – Scott Crossfield

Picture courtesy of NASA

  • 1958 – Iven C. Kincheloe, Jr.

Picture courtesy of Air Force Museum