von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics Award Open for Nominations 10 November 2025 – 15 January 2026

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In 1975, the Institute changed the name of the von Kármán Lecture to the von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics. Honoring Theodore von Kármán, world famous authority on aerospace sciences, the von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics Award recognizes an individual who has performed notably and distinguished themself technically in the field of astronautics.

This lecture is held biennially (in even-numbered years) and is presented at the AIAA AVIATION Forum/ASCEND.

Deadlines:
Accepting Online Nominations: 10 November
Nomination Deadline: 15 January
Endorsement Letters Deadline: 1 February

Award Recipients

2024

  • Prof Dante S Lauretta
    University of Arizona, Tucson
    Awarded
    Award: 2024 AIAA von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics
    AIAA Citation: Lecture: “Unlocking the Secrets of Our Solar Systems History: The OSIRIS-REx Journey

2023

  • Prof Joseph Majdalani
    Auburn University
    Awarded
    Award: 2023 AIAA von Kármán Lectureship in Astronautics
    AIAA Citation: Celebrating a Century of Kármán’s Momentum-Integral and Space-Reductive Approaches: Applications in Rocketry and Beyond

2022

  • Prof Kathleen C Howell
    Purdue University
    Awarded
    Award: 2022 von Kármán Lectureship in Astronautics lecture
    AIAA Citation: LECTURE: “An Orbital Transportation Network to Support the Cislunar Space Enterprise”

2021

  • Dr David M Van Wie
    Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
    Awarded
    Award: 2021 AIAA von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics
    AIAA Citation: Multi-Domain Convergence of Space and Near-Space

2020

  • Dr Thomas Zurbuchen
    ETH Zurich
    Awarded
    Award: 2020 von Karman Lectureship in Astronautics
    AIAA Citation: NASAs Science Program: Civilization Class Science with Societal Benefits

2019

  • Mr Salvatore Bruno
    United Launch Alliance, LLC
    Awarded
    Award: Vision for a Self-Sustaining CisLunar Economy
    AIAA Citation: Vision for a Self-Sustaining CisLunar Economy

2018

  • Dr Christopher J Scolese
    NRO
    Awarded
    Award: Lecture Topic: “Strategies for Technology Infusion and Risk Mitigation at NASA”
    AIAA Citation: Lecture Topic: “Strategies for Technology Infusion and Risk Mitigation at NASA”

2017

  • Dr Samuel C.C. Ting
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    Award: “The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station: Unlocking the Secrets of the Cosmos.”
    AIAA Citation: “The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station: Unlocking the Secrets of the Cosmos.”

2016

  • Dr Vigor Yang
    Georgia Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Rethinking Space Propulsion: Enabling the Future of Space Transportation and Exploration”

2015

  • Dr Robert Q Fugate
    Arctelum LLC
    Awarded
    Award: -
    AIAA Citation: :Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics: A Revolution for Ground-Based Astronomy

2014

  • Dr Antonio L Elias
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Space Transportation: Past, Present, and . . . ??”

2013

  • Mr James H Crocker
    Retired
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “From Galileo to Hubble: Mankind’s Extraordinary Journey.”

2012

  • William H Gerstenmaier
    Space Exploration Technologies Corporation
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Global Outpost in Space: A Platform For Discovery...the International Space Station.”

2011

  • Dr Robert D Braun
    Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Mars Entry, Descent and Landing Technology Advancements”

2010

  • E.M. Collins
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Human Spaceflight Success in Space Science and Human Exploration.”

2009

  • Mr William W Saylor PE
    Saylor Solutions, Inc.
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Undergraduate Satellite and Rocket Design, Fabrication and Operations Program.”

2008

  • Dr Edward J. Weiler
    NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “The Scientific Legacy of NASA’s Great Observatories.”

2007

  • Prof Jean-Jacques Dordain
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Creating and Managing an Effective International Space Program in a Constrained Budgetary Environment

2006

  • Dr Paul D Spudis
    Lunar and Planetary Institute
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Moon: A New Destination for America

2005

  • Dr William F Ballhaus
    Aerospace Corp
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Visions and Directions in Military Space and Aerospace

2004

  • Dr G Scott Hubbard
    Stanford University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: NASA Mars Robotic Missions and Scientific Investigations.”

2003

  • Brewster H Shaw
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “International Space Station: Progress and Status”

2002

  • Prof Earl H Dowell
    Duke University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Nonlinear Aeroelasticity and Unsteady Aerodynamics.”

2001

  • Dr Roald Sagdeev
    University of Maryland
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “The Evolution of Soviet/Russian Space Program: Change of Paradigm”

2000

  • Dr John D Anderson
    Retired f/University of Maryland
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “History of High-Speed Flight and Its Technical Development”

1999

  • Dr Edward C Stone
    California Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Mars and the Search for Life Elsewhere.”

1998

  • GEN Thomas S Moorman Jr.
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “National Security Space: Its Roots and Vision”

1997

  • Dr John L Junkins
    Texas A&M University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Adventures on the Interface of Dynamics and Control”

1996

  • Dr Bradford W Parkinson
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “The Origins and Evolution of GPS”

1995

  • Eugene F Kranz
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Manned Space Operations: Mercury Through Space Station”

1994

  • Dr Arthur E Bryson
    Stanford University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Minimax Controller Design

1993

  • Lt Gen Jim A Abrahamson
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: “Progress and Policy Paradigms”

1992

  • Dr Hans Mark
    The University of Texas at Austin
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Defense Against ballistic Missiles

1991

  • John R Casani
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Countdown to the 21st Century in Planetary Exploration

1990

  • Mr. Alvin Seiff
    NASA Ames Research Ctr
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Entry Probe Experiments to Define the Atmospheres of Earth, Mars and Venus-Areview (AIAA 1990-765)

1989

  • Dr Richard H Battin
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Some Funny Things Happened on the Way to the Moon

1988

  • William H Phillips
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Flying Qualities From Early Airplanes To The Space Shuttle

1987

  • Dr Lew Allen Jr.
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Planetary Exploration: to Boldly Go--Or What?

1986

  • Dr Albert D Wheelon
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Rocky Road to Communication Satellites (AIAA 1986-293)

1985

  • Dr Eberhardt Rechtin
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Solar Wind and Beyond

1984

  • Mr. Aaron Cohen
    Texas A&M Univ
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Progress of Manned Space Flight- Apollo to Shuttle

1983

  • Mr. George W Jeffs
    Rockwell Intl Corp
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Space Shuttle Development

1982

  • Mr. Willis M Hawkins
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Aerospace Learning Process

1981

  • Dr Bruce C Murray
    California Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Exploring the Planets: Where Next?

1980

  • Daniel J Fink
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Earth Observations from Space - Issues and Perspectives

1979

  • Mr. Chris C Kraft
    University of Virginia
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Solar Power Satellite Concept- The Past Decade and the Next Decade

1978

  • Mr. Robert A Fuhrman
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Fleet Ballistic Missile System- Polaris to Trident

1977

  • Dr Joseph V Charyk
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Communication Satellites

1975

  • I Edward Garrick
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Aeroelasticity-Frontiers and Beyond (AIAA 1976-219)

1974

  • Harris M Schurmeier
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Planetary Exploration-Earth’s New Horizon (AIAA 1975-337)

1973

  • Dr Alan M Lovelace
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Advanced Composites

1972

  • Eugene Love
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Advanced technology and the Space Shuttle (AIAA 1973-31)

1971

  • Irmgard Flugge-Lotz
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Trends in the Field of Automatic Control in the Last Two Decades (AIAA 1971-1001)

1970

  • Dr Erik Mollo-Christensen
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Physics of Turbulent Phenomena

1969

  • Dr Courtland D Perkins
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Development of the Technology of Airplane Stability and Control

1968

  • William R Sears
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Aerodynamics, Noise and the Sonic Boom

1967

  • Lester Lees
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Viscous-Inviscid Flow Interactions at Subsonic and Supersonic Speeds

1966

  • Prof Nicholas J Hoff
    Stanford University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Thin Shells in Aerospace Structures

1965

  • Raymond L Bisplinghoff
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: New Horizons in Aeronautics

1964

  • Dr Arthur Kantrowitz
    Dartmouth College
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: The Impact of the New Physics of Gases on Space Flight