von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics Award Open for Nominations 10 November 2025 – 15 January 2026
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
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Prof Dante S LaurettaUniversity of Arizona, TucsonAwardedAward: 2024 AIAA von Kármán Lecture in AstronauticsAIAA Citation: Lecture: “Unlocking the Secrets of Our Solar System's History: The OSIRIS-REx Journey"
2023
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Prof Joseph MajdalaniAuburn UniversityAwardedAward: 2023 AIAA von Kármán Lectureship in AstronauticsAIAA Citation: "Celebrating a Century of Kármán’s Momentum-Integral and Space-Reductive Approaches: Applications in Rocketry and Beyond"
2022
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Prof Kathleen C HowellPurdue UniversityAwardedAward: 2022 von Kármán Lectureship in Astronautics lectureAIAA Citation: LECTURE: “An Orbital Transportation Network to Support the Cislunar Space Enterprise”
2021
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Dr David M Van WieThe Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryAwardedAward: 2021 AIAA von Kármán Lecture in AstronauticsAIAA Citation: Multi-Domain Convergence of Space and Near-Space
2020
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Dr Thomas ZurbuchenNASAAwardedAward: 2020 von Karman Lectureship in AstronauticsAIAA Citation: NASA's Science Program: Civilization Class Science with Societal Benefits
2019
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Mr Salvatore BrunoUnited Launch AllianceAwardedAward: Vision for a Self-Sustaining CisLunar EconomyAIAA Citation: Vision for a Self-Sustaining CisLunar Economy
2018
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Christopher J ScoleseNASA HeadquartersAwardedAward: 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
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Dr Samuel C.C. TingMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyAwardedAward: “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
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Dr Vigor YangGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAwardedAIAA Citation: "Rethinking Space Propulsion: Enabling the Future of Space Transportation and Exploration”
2015
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Dr Robert Q FugateArctelum LLCAwardedAward: -AIAA Citation: :Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics: A Revolution for Ground-Based Astronomy
2014
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Dr Antonio L EliasOrbital ATKAwardedAIAA Citation: “Space Transportation: Past, Present, and . . . ??”
2013
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Mr James H CrockerAwardedAIAA Citation: “From Galileo to Hubble: Mankind’s Extraordinary Journey.”
2012
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William H GerstenmaierNASAAwardedAIAA Citation: “Global Outpost in Space: A Platform For Discovery...the International Space Station.”
2011
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Dr Robert D BraunAwardedAIAA Citation: “Mars Entry, Descent and Landing Technology Advancements”
2010
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E.M. CollinsAwardedAIAA Citation: “Human Spaceflight Success in Space Science and Human Exploration.”
2009
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Mr William W Saylor PEUS Air Force AcademyAwardedAIAA Citation: “Undergraduate Satellite and Rocket Design, Fabrication and Operations Program.”
2008
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Dr Edward J. WeilerNASA-Goddard Space Flight CenterAwardedAIAA Citation: “The Scientific Legacy of NASA’s Great Observatories.”
2007
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Prof Jean-Jacques DordainEuropean Space AgencyAwardedAIAA Citation: "Creating and Managing an Effective International Space Program in a Constrained Budgetary Environment"
2006
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Dr Paul D SpudisLunar and Planetary InstituteAwardedAIAA Citation: "The Moon: A New Destination for America"
2005
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Dr William F BallhausAerospace CorpAwardedAIAA Citation: "Visions and Directions in Military Space and Aerospace"
2004
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G Scott HubbardStanford UniversityAwardedAIAA Citation: NASA Mars Robotic Missions and Scientific Investigations.”
2003
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Brewster H ShawAwardedAIAA Citation: “International Space Station: Progress and Status”
2002
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Prof Earl H DowellDuke UniversityAwardedAIAA Citation: “Nonlinear Aeroelasticity and Unsteady Aerodynamics.”
2001
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Dr Roald SagdeevUniversity of MarylandAwardedAIAA Citation: “The Evolution of Soviet/Russian Space Program: Change of Paradigm”
2000
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Dr John D AndersonRetired f/University of MarylandAwardedAIAA Citation: “History of High-Speed Flight and Its Technical Development”
1999
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Dr Edward C StoneCalifornia Institute of TechnologyAwardedAIAA Citation: “Mars and the Search for Life Elsewhere.”
1998
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GEN Thomas S Moorman Jr.AwardedAIAA Citation: “National Security Space: Its Roots and Vision”
1997
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Dr John L JunkinsTexas A&M UniversityAwardedAIAA Citation: “Adventures on the Interface of Dynamics and Control”
1996
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Dr Bradford W ParkinsonAwardedAIAA Citation: “The Origins and Evolution of GPS”
1995
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Eugene F KranzAwardedAIAA Citation: “Manned Space Operations: Mercury Through Space Station”
1994
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Dr Arthur E BrysonStanford UniversityAwardedAIAA Citation: "Minimax Controller Design"
1993
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Lt Gen Jim A AbrahamsonAwardedAIAA Citation: “Progress and Policy Paradigms”
1992
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Dr Hans MarkThe University of Texas at AustinAwardedAIAA Citation: "Defense Against ballistic Missiles"
1991
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John R CasaniAwardedAIAA Citation: "Countdown to the 21st Century in Planetary Exploration"
1990
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Mr. Alvin SeiffNASA Ames Research CtrAwardedAIAA Citation: "Entry Probe Experiments to Define the Atmospheres of Earth, Mars and Venus-Areview" (AIAA 1990-765)
1989
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Dr Richard H BattinMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyAwardedAIAA Citation: "Some Funny Things Happened on the Way to the Moon"
1988
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William H PhillipsAwardedAIAA Citation: "Flying Qualities From Early Airplanes To The Space Shuttle"
1987
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Dr Lew Allen Jr.AwardedAIAA Citation: "Planetary Exploration: to Boldly Go--Or What?"
1986
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Dr Albert D WheelonAwardedAIAA Citation: "The Rocky Road to Communication Satellites" (AIAA 1986-293)
1985
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Dr Eberhardt RechtinAwardedAIAA Citation: "The Solar Wind and Beyond"
1984
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Mr. Aaron CohenTexas A&M UnivAwarded-CoRecipientsAIAA Citation: "Progress of Manned Space Flight- Apollo to Shuttle"
1983
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Mr. George W JeffsRockwell Int'l CorpAwardedAIAA Citation: "Space Shuttle Development"
1982
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Mr. Willis M HawkinsAwardedAIAA Citation: "The Aerospace Learning Process"
1981
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Dr Bruce C MurrayCalifornia Institute of TechnologyAwardedAIAA Citation: "Exploring the Planets: Where Next?"
1980
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Daniel J FinkAwardedAIAA Citation: "Earth Observations from Space - Issues and Perspectives"
1979
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Mr. Chris C KraftUniversity of VirginiaAwardedAIAA Citation: "The Solar Power Satellite Concept- The Past Decade and the Next Decade"
1978
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Mr. Robert A FuhrmanAwardedAIAA Citation: "The Fleet Ballistic Missile System- Polaris to Trident"
1977
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Dr Joseph V CharykAwardedAIAA Citation: "Communication Satellites"
1975
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I Edward GarrickAwardedAIAA Citation: "Aeroelasticity-Frontiers and Beyond" (AIAA 1976-219)
1974
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Harris M SchurmeierAwardedAIAA Citation: "Planetary Exploration-Earth’s New Horizon" (AIAA 1975-337)
1973
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Dr Alan M LovelaceAwardedAIAA Citation: "Advanced Composites"
1972
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Eugene LoveAwardedAIAA Citation: "Advanced technology and the Space Shuttle" (AIAA 1973-31)
1971
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Irmgard Flugge-LotzAwardedAIAA Citation: "Trends in the Field of Automatic Control in the Last Two Decades" (AIAA 1971-1001)
1970
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Dr Erik Mollo-ChristensenAwardedAIAA Citation: "The Physics of Turbulent Phenomena"
1969
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Dr Courtland D PerkinsAwardedAIAA Citation: "The Development of the Technology of Airplane Stability and Control"
1968
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William R SearsAwardedAIAA Citation: "Aerodynamics, Noise and the Sonic Boom"
1967
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Lester LeesAwardedAIAA Citation: "Viscous-Inviscid Flow Interactions at Subsonic and Supersonic Speeds"
1966
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Prof Nicholas J HoffStanford UniversityAwardedAIAA Citation: "Thin Shells in Aerospace Structures"
1965
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Raymond L BisplinghoffAwardedAIAA Citation: "New Horizons in Aeronautics"
1964
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Dr Arthur KantrowitzDartmouth CollegeAwardedAIAA Citation: "The Impact of the New Physics of Gases on Space Flight"