Space Systems Award Open for Nominations 10 November 2024 – 15 January 2025

Award Recipients

2024

• Dr Elena Y Adams
  Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

  Awarded-CoRecipients

  Award: 2024 AIAA Space Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in the development and operation of the DART spacecraft, completing humanity's first in-space demonstration of planetary defense technology.
• Dr Elizabeth A. Congdon
  Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

  Awarded-CoRecipients

  Award: 2024 AIAA Space Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in the development and operation of the DART spacecraft, completing humanity's first in-space demonstration of planetary defense technology.
• Mr. Geffrey Ottman
  The John Hopkins University

  Awarded-CoRecipients

  Award: 2024 AIAA Space Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in the development and operation of the DART spacecraft, completing humanity's first in-space demonstration of planetary defense technology.
• Mr Evan J Smith
  Johns Hopkins University

  Awarded-CoRecipients

  Award: 2024 AIAA Space Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in the development and operation of the DART spacecraft, completing humanity's first in-space demonstration of planetary defense technology.

2022

• Mars2020 Sampling and Caching System (SCS) Team
  Mars2020 Sampling and Caching System (SCS) Team

  Awarded

  Award: 2022 AIAA Space Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: “For the design and flight operation of the scientific acquisition system that became the foundation of Mars Sample Return.”

2021

• Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Team
  Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Team

  Awarded

  Award: 2021 AIAA Space Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: “For the design and flight test validation of the first helicopter designed for flight at Mars.”

2020

• InSight Flight Team-NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  InSight Flight Team-NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory

  Awarded

  Award: 2020 AIAA Space Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: "For excellence in development and operations of the InSight mission to Mars, the first mission to explore the deep interior of Mars."

2019

• Mr Jess M Sponable
  Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science, Technology, and Engineering

  Awarded

  Award: 2019 Space Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: For unique and extraordinary leadership in providing the pathway for the evolution of the United States military launch capability towards robust and affordable reusable space systems.”

2018

• Dr Marc D Rayman
  Jet Propulsion Laboratory

  Awarded

  Award: 2018 Space Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: "For accomplishing a unique interplanetary mission to orbit and explore two alien worlds, Ceres and Vesta, displaying exceptional space engineering with a rich scientific return.”

2017

• Rick Nybakken
  Jet Propulsion Laboratory

  Awarded

  Award: For exceptional achievement in the development and implementation of the Juno Mission, resulting in groundbreaking data that is revolutionizing our understanding of Jupiter.

  AIAA Citation: For exceptional achievement in the development and implementation of the Juno Mission, resulting in groundbreaking data that is revolutionizing our understanding of Jupiter.

2016

• Cygnus Program, Orbital ATK
  Cygnus Program, Orbital ATK

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For innovations and service to the global space community for delivering commercial cargo to the International Space Station.

2015

• Herschel and Planck Project Team
  Herschel and Planck Project Team

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding scientific achievements recognized by worldwide scientific community and for the outstanding technical performances of the two satellites.

2014

• Mr Michael D Trela
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: “In recognition of your leadership and the Skybox Satellite Team for the innovative development of a low-cost hi-performance earth imaging satellite.”

2012

• Disaster Monitoring Constellation
  Disaster Monitoring Constellation

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For being an unprecedented example of international cooperation in the application of space systems to the mitigation of human suffering.

2011

• Tactical Satellite-3 (TacSat-3) Team, Space Based Hyperspectral Imaging
  Tactical Satellite-3 (TacSat-3) Team, Space Based Hyperspectral Imaging

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For demonstrated hyperspectral imaging capability in a small satellite design, significantly expanding the frontiers of U.S. national space capability.

2010

• STPSat-1 Team
  STPSat-1 Team

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: To recognize the government-led multi-contractor team for the successful design, development, integration, and on-orbit tests of technologies and mission operations supporting critical USAF and USN missions.

2009

• Indian Space Research Organization
  Indian Space Research Organization

  Awarded

  Award: -

  AIAA Citation: To outstanding accomplishments in the design, development, launch and operation of India’s first scientific mission, Chandrayaan-1, operating beyond earth’s orbit.

2008

• TacSat-2 Spacecraft Team
  TacSat-2 Spacecraft Team

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: To recognize the success of the first Operationally Responsive Space demonstration mission and for establishing novel space capabilities for the nation and ground-breaking component technologies through 14 successful payloads/experiments.

2007

• XSS-11 Team
  XSS-11 Team

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: To recognize this government-led, multi-contractor team for the successful design, development, integration, and on-orbit tests of numerous first time technologies and mission operations techniques supporting critical USAF missions.

2006

• NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Program
  NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Program

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For developing the Earth Observing System, consisting of a series of earth-observing satellites, an advanced data system, and teams of scientists that represent the first global environmental monitoring system.

2005

• Mr Craig R Dean
  Land Engineering Agency

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: - For Combined Efforts in Co-Chairing the 2005 AIAA Region VII-Australia Student Paper Competition and Organizing the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) AIAA Student Branch

2004

• Dr James R Wertz
  Microcosm Inc

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For the first earth/sun/moon autonomous navigation system on the TAOS mission, the first fully-autonomous, on-board orbit control system on the UoSat-12 mission, and for creating the Scorpius launch vehicle program.

2003

• AFRL-Boeing XSS-10 Team
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding performance of the team during design, implementation, test, and operations, including the space flight test of advanced maneuvering and proximity operations of the XSS-10 Micro-Satellite.

2002

• Deep Space One Team
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For the outstanding performance of the team during design, implementation, test, operations, and extended mission including space flight test of 12 important, high-risk technologies.

2001

• NASA NASA-Boeing-Industry-Int`l Par
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For its extraordinary efforts to design, develop, assemble and operate the International Space Station (ISS).

2000

• CHANDRA X-Ray Observation Team
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: NASA/MSFC, the Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and TRW are recognized for successfully designing, building, launching, deploying and operating Chandra, the world’s most capable X-ray observatory.

1999

• LANDSAT Team
  Awarded

1998

• CAPT Frank L Culbertson
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For the effective leadership and management of Phase I Shuttle MIR joint space operations resulting in establishment of a significant co-operative effort in space by International Partners

1997

• Mr. Ronald D Symmes
  Hughes Space and Communications Company

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of outstanding leadership in the design, development, and orbit operation of the HS-601 communications satellite product line, the most widely purchased spacecraft in space flight history

1996

• Mr. Robert G Minor
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of outstanding contributions to the design, development, and flight of the International Docking System that successfully united the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir

1995

• Pierre J Madon
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For sustained leadership in space systems including development on INTELSAT-VI satellite space shuttle rescue mission, communications satellite systems and Ariane launch vehicles

1994

• SpaceHab Team
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in the design and implementation of the SPACEHAB Space Research Laboratory furthering the goals of commercial use of space for science and technology.

1993

• Donald A Krueger
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership and achievement in future space systems architecture through development and flight of cutting-edge spacecraft avionics: fiber-optics data system, 80386/7i processor and solid state memory

1992

• Dr John A Jamieson
  Awarded-CoRecipients
• Mr. Edward E Noneman
  T R W Inc

  Awarded-CoRecipients
• Mr. Robert L Walquist
  Awarded-CoRecipients
• Victor White
  Awarded-CoRecipients

1990

• W. Ray Hook
  Retired f/NASA Langley

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership and contributions in the areas of Space Station and space transportation systems requirements and technology needs, which have had significant impact on the Nation’s Space Program

1989

• Mr. Arnold D Aldrich
  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For your diligent safety review and extensive system-wide technical upgrade for improved mission success and your commitment to getting the NSTS back in operation as demonstrated by the successful return to space and landing of STS-26
• Robert L Crippen
  Retired f/Thiokol

  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For your diligent safety review and extensive system-wide technical upgrade for improved mission success and your commitment to getting the NSTS back in operation as demonstrated by the successful return to space and landing of STS-26
• Mr. Richard Hugo Truly Jr.
  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For your diligent safety review and extensive system-wide technical upgrade for improved mission success and your commitment to getting the NSTS back in operation as demonstrated by the successful return to space and landing of STS-26

1988

• John Dassoulas
  Awarded-CoRecipients
• Dr Michael D Griffin
  Schafer Corporation

  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in the architecture, analysis, design, and implementation of the highly complex SDIO Delta 180/Vector Sum Program that successfully demonstrated the first space ICBM Boost Phase Intercept Mission
• COL Michael J Rendine
  Assured Space Access Technologies, Inc.

  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in the architecture, analysis, design, and implementation of the highly complex SDIO Delta 180/Vector Sum Program that successfully demonstrated the first space ICBM Boost Phase Intercept Mission

1984

• Richard H Kohrs
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his outstanding contributions in system management of the flight and ground system integration activities resulting in the development of an operational national space transportation system.

1983

• Mr. Seymour Z Rubenstein
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For significant personal contributions tot he advancement of astronautics in the design and development of Space Shuttle avionics architecture; and his major systems management and engineering contributions to the unique Space Shuttle Orbiter

1982

• Angelo Gustaferro
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievements and contributions to the design and implementation of a variety of spacecraft and launch vehicle systems, as well as managerial excellence in the concept, development, and advocacy of planetary space programs

1981

• Krafft Ehricke
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in the field of space systems analysis and design, culminating in his monumental work the Extra-terrestrial Imperative

1980

• Charles F Hall
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement and technical leadership as manager of projects that have sent Pioneer spacecraft to explore the solar system and encounter Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn.

1979

• John R Casani
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For personal contributions as the principal architect and system designer of the Galileo Project, a pioneering attempt at planetary exploration

1978

• Wernher von Braun
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For skillful engineering, bold vision and inspirational leadership of our efforts in reaching the moon beyond

1977

• Mr. Walter O Lowrie
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For eminent program and technical leadership in successfully designing, developing, and landing two sophisticated Viking spacecraft on the planed Mars. This outstanding achievement in spacecraft systems analysis, design and implementation yielded the most complex spacecraft ever developed in the free world

1975

• Caldwell C Johnson Jr.
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For original design concepts and outstanding inventions that have advance spacecraft design technology and contributed significantly to the extraordinary achievements made by the United States in manned space flight

1974

• Harold Lassen
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For conceptual design of spin stabilized Pioneer 6-9 Interplanetary Spacecraft and Pioneer 10 and 11 Jupiter Spacecraft using high-gain antennas and communications link for attitude reference

1973

• Dr Harold A Rosen
  Boeing

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions in the development of satellite communication systems which have ranged from the pioneering invention of the spin stabilized synchronous orbit spacecraft concept and his continued leadership in developing and putting into service most of the presently used commercial communications satellite systems around the world

1972

• Dr Thomas J Kelly
  US Army

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding individual contribution tot he successful design, development, production and operation of the Lunar Module

1971

• Anthony Iorillo
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For the invention of the Gyrostat stabilized spacecraft which formed the basic stabilization and configuration for the successful Tactical Communication Satellite, Intelsat IV, and a series of other satellites now in design and production

1970

• Dr Maxime A Faget
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership and technical ability which resulted in conception and design of this Nation’s first manned spacecraft, the Mercury capsule system

1969

• Otto E Bartoe Jr.
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For the concept and preliminary design of Orbiting Solar Observatory spacecraft configuration and control systems, the first embodiment of the spin-despin design.