Space Flight Award

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 the AAS.

Award Criteria

Recipients:

  • 2021 – Tory Bruno, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Launch Alliance. Under Tory Bruno’s leadership, United Launch Alliance (ULA) is shaping the future of space launch by making it more affordable and accessible. Over the past 30 years, Tory has managed and initiated critical defense and space launch programs that form the backbone of modern infrastructure and provide a foundation for the expansion of future space capabilities.
  • 2020 – Kathryn Lueders
  • 2019 – No Award Given
  • 2018 – Ann P. Over
  • 2017 – Peggy Whitson
  • 2016 – Robert Meyerson
  • 2015 – Stamatios M. “Tom” Krimigis
  • 2014 – Norman R. Augustine
  • 2013 – Charles F. Bolden, Jr.
  • 2012 – Michael T. Suffredini
  • 2011 – Space Shuttle Program
  • 2010 – William H. Gerstenmaier
  • 2009 – Glynn S. Lunney
  • 2008 – A. Thomas Young
  • 2007 – Charles J. Pellerin, Jr.
  • 2006 – Robert G. Hoey
  • 2005 – Charles Elachi
  • 2004 – Harold W. “Hal” Gehman, Jr.
  • 2003 – Sally K. Ride
  • 2002 – Roy S. Estess
  • 2001 – John Glenn
  • 2000 – Eileen M. Collins
  • 1999 – Neil A. Armstrong
  • 1998 – C. Michael Foale
  • 1997 – Shannon W. Lucid
  • 1996 – Edward C. Stone
  • 1995 – Daniel S. Goldin
  • 1994 – Carolyn L. Huntoon
  • 1993 – John W. Young
  • 1992 – Forrest S. McCartney
  • 1990 – Aaron Cohen
  • 1989 – John R. Casani
  • 1988 – Robert O. Aller
  • 1987 – James B. Odom
  • 1986 – Eugene F. Kranz
  • 1985 – Jesse W. Moore
  • 1984 – James M. Beggs
  • 1983 – George W. S. Abbey
  • 1982 – Chester M. Lee
  • 1981 – William R. Lucas
  • 1980 – Robert F. Thompson
  • 1979 – George W. Jeffs
  • 1978 – Walter C. Williams
  • 1977 – John F. Yardley
  • 1976 – Sigurd A. Sjoberg
  • 1975 – Maxime A. Faget and Walker E. Giberson
  • 1974 – William C. Schneider
  • 1973 – Rocco A. Petrone
  • 1972 – Charles W. Mathews
  • 1971 – Joseph G. Gavin, Jr.
  • 1970 – Edgar M. Cortright
  • 1969 – Christopher C. Kraft, Jr.
  • 1968 – George M. Low and George E. Mueller
  • 1967 – Kurt H. Debus and William H. Pickering
  • 1966 – Robert R. Gilruth
  • 1965 – Hugh L. Dryden (Posthumously)
  • 1964 – No Award Given
  • 1963 – No Award Given
  • 1962 – Charles Stark Draper
  • 1961 – Fred L. Whipple
  • 1960 – Homer E. Newell
  • 1959 – No Award Given
  • 1958 – James A. van Allen
  • 1957 – Wernher von Braun
  • 1956 – George W. Hoover
  • 1955 – Hermann Oberth