History Manuscript Award Open for Nominations 10 February 2025 – 1 June 2025

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The History Manuscript Award is presented for the best historical manuscript dealing with the science, technology, and/or impact of aeronautics and astronautics on society. The purpose of the award is to provide professional recognition to an author who makes a major and original contribution to the history of aeronautics or astronautics.

This annual award is generally presented at the AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition (AIAA SciTech Forum), but may be presented at the Forum which matches the focus of the selected manuscript.

Deadlines:
Accepting Online Nominations: 10 February
Nomination Deadline: 1 June
Endorsement Letters Deadline: 1 July

AIAA Publications Awards Nomination Form 

Award Recipients

2024

  • Aaron M Bateman
    Awarded
    Award: 2024 AIAA History Manuscript Award
    AIAA Citation: Book: A Space Renaissance: The Strategic Defense Initiative and the Arms Race

2023

  • Dr Cathleen Susan Lewis
    Awarded
    Award: 2023 AIAA History Manuscript Award
    AIAA Citation: Manuscript: Cosmonaut: A Cultural History

2020

  • Mr. Stephen J Garber
    NASA Headquarters
    Awarded
    Award: “Untethering Spaceflight: A History of U.S. Space Exploration Policy 1999-2004”
    AIAA Citation: Presented at 2020 AIAA SciTech
  • Glen R Asner
    Awarded
    Award: “Untethering Spaceflight: A History of U.S. Space Exploration Policy 1999-2004”
    AIAA Citation: Presented at 2020 AIAA SciTech

2019

  • Anthony Chong
    Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems
    Awarded
    Award: Flying Wings & Radical Things: Northrop’s Secret Aerospace Projects & Concepts 1939-1994
    AIAA Citation: Flying Wings & Radical Things: Northrop’s Secret Aerospace Projects & Concepts 1939-1994

2018

  • Mrs. Amy P Kaminski
    White House
    Awarded
    Award: Sharing the Shuttle with America: NASA and Public Engagement After Apollo
    AIAA Citation: Sharing the Shuttle with America: NASA and Public Engagement After Apollo

2017

  • Dr Layne Karafantis
    Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Fort he book, Under Control: Constructing the Nerve Centers of the Cold War

2016

  • Dr Alexander C MacDonald
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For the manuscript: The Long Space Age: An Economic Perspective on the History of the American Space Exploration

2015

  • Frederick A Johnsen
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Sweeping Forward

2014

  • Lawrence R Benson
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Quieting the Boom

2013

  • Bruce Larrimer
    Larrimer Associates
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Thinking Obliquely: Robert T. Jones, His Oblique Wing and Its Legacy

2012

  • R. Cargill Hall
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Ace of Chaos: Frank G. Tinker and the Air War In Spain.”

2011

  • Dr Roger D Launius
    Launius Historical Services
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Coming Home: Reentry and Recovery from Space.”

2007

  • Dr Thor Hogan
    The Rand Corporation
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Mars Wars

2006

  • Mr. John D Hunley
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “The Development of Propulsion Technology for U.S. Space-Launch Vehicles.”

2005

  • Mr. Mark D Bowles
    Tech Pro
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “The Reactor in the Garden: NASA’s Nuclear Frontier at Plumbrook Station”

2004

  • Mr. Mark D Bowles
    Tech Pro
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Celestial Fire: The Centaur Upper Stage Rocket, 1958-2002”

2003

  • Dr Roger D Launius
    Launius Historical Services
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Base Camp to the Stars: The Space Station in the Twentieth Century

2001

  • Mr. Stephen P Waring
    The University of Alabama
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Power to Explore: A History of Marshall Space Flight Center, 1960-1990”
  • Andrew J Dunar
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Power to Explore: A History of Marshall Space Flight Center, 1960-1990”
  • Lt Col Dik A Daso, PhD
    National Air & Space Museum
    Awarded
    Award: 2001 AIAA History Manuscript Award

1999

  • Dr Deborah G Douglas
    Massachusettes Institute of Technology
    Awarded

1998

  • Asif Siddiqi
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Early Years of Space Exploration in the Soviet Union

1997

  • Joseph N Tartarewicz
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Exploring the Solar System: The History of Planetary Geosciences Since Galieo

1995

  • Mr. Michael J Neufeld
    National Air & Space Museum
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Rocket and the Reich

1994

  • E Ralph Rundell
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Hunt for Warrior’s Wings

1993

  • Donald C Elder
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: From Behind the Eight-Ball: The Story of Echo I

1987

  • Fred E Weick
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Growing up with Flight: The Memoirs of Aeronautical Engineering Fred E. Weick, Volume I
  • Mr James R Hansen
    Auburn University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Growing up with Flight: The Memoirs of Aeronautical Engineering Fred E. Weick, Volume I

1984

  • Dr Scott Pace
    Space Policy Institute
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Engineering Design and Political Choice: The Space Shuttle 1969-1972

1981

  • E J W Gregory
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Radio Takes Flight

1980

  • Richard Hirsh
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Science, Technology, and Public Policy: The Case of X-Ray Astronomy, 1959-1972

1979

  • Dr Roger E Bilstein
    University of Houston-Clear Lake
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Stages to Space: A Technological History of the Apollo/Saturn Launch Vehicles

1978

  • Dr Edward C Ezell
    Smithsonian Institution
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Vikings Search for Landing Sites on Mars

1977

  • Dr Tom D Crouch
    National Air & Space Museum
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: To Ride the Fractious Horse: The American Aeronautical Community and the Problem of Heavier-Than-Air Flight, 1875-1905

1975

  • Dr Richard P Hallion
    Fellow AIAA, Fellow RAeS, Fellow RHistS
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Legacy of Flight: The Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the promotion of aeronautics and the formative era of American aviation

1973

  • William M Leary Jr.
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Dragon’s Wings: The China National Aviation Corporation and the Development of Commercial Aviation in China

1972

  • Mr. Richard K Smith
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: First Across - U.S. Navy Trans-Atlantic Flight of 1919

1971

  • Richard C. Lukas
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Eagles East: The Army Air Force and the Soviet Union

1969

  • Milton Lomask
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: A History of Project Vanguard
  • Constance McLaughlin Green
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: A History of Project Vanguard