Awarded For Accomplishments In Spaceflight, Related Fields

The National Space Club announced what is says are the aerospace industry's premier awards Tuesday. Awardees (listed, below) will be recognized by their colleagues from across government, industry and academia at the prestigious 53rd annual Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner, to be held this year on Friday, March 12th at the Hilton Washington. Awards are presented to a number of outstanding individuals for accomplishments in spaceflight, engineering, science, management and education.

The principle award, the Robert H. Goddard Trophy, will be presented to Mr. Norman R. Augustine (pictured, below), Retired Chairman and CEO, Lockheed Martin Corp., former member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. He was voted the individual who as made a significant contribution to U.S. leadership in the field of rocketry and astronautics. During 2009, Mr. Augustine presided over the Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee, charged with developing options to ensure the development of a human spaceflight program worthy of a great nation.

The Goddard Scholarship will be awarded to Ms. Ashley Korzun, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, for her continued education in the development of entry, descent and landing technologies for advanced planetary exploration.

The Dr. Joseph Charyk Award will be jointly presented to Mr. Edward Mahen, Director, Advanced Mission Group, Advanced Systems Technology Group and Dr. Pedro Rustan, Director, Mission Support Directorate, National Reconnaissance Office, for distinguishing themselves by their outstanding contribution to intelligence collection and ability to deliver innovative capabilities to solve our nation's most challenging intelligence problems.

The NOAA David Johnson Award will be presented to Dr. Molly Brown, Physical Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, for her substantial and innovative contributions to the use of remote sensing to address agricultural production in the developing world and in demonstrating its operational value in assessing food security in the most vulnerable communities.

The Olin E. Teague Memorial Award will be presented to Ms. Julia Huynh, a student at Montgomery Blair High School for her development and testing of the upper stage of the 2-stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) for the x-ray microcalorimeters on the upcoming Astro-H Mission. Astro-H is the sixth in the series of X-ray astronomy missions developed by ISAS/JAXA. Astro-H entered Phase B in April 2008 with a launch date of 2013 on the Japanese H-IIA launch vehicle.
 
The Space Educator Award will be presented to Ms. Rachael Manzer, Science Coach, Suffield Public Schools, Suffield, CT, for her work in inspiring, educating and developing the next generation of students in space science through creative programs, competitions and extensive participation of her students in NASA space education programs and in other space education programs.

The Astronautics Engineer Award will be presented to Mr. John Shannon, Manager, Space Shuttle Program, NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, for his outstanding personal leadership as manager of the Space Shuttle program, leading the program through a crucial time in the history of human spaceflight. He is cited for his exceptional decision making, organizational skills, and demonstration of leadership critical to the success of the six Shuttle missions flown in 2009.

The Nelson P. Jackson Award for outstanding contributions to the missile, aircraft and/or space field will be presented to the Wideband Global SATCOM System team for outstanding dedication, ingenuity and technical excellence in the design, development, and initial operations of the first transformational satellite constellation that provides wideband communications to US and allied forces.

The Press Award will be presented to Mr. Miles O'Brien, member of NASA Advisory Council and broadcast news journalist, for epitomizing space journalism by reporting complex news in relatable terms expressing a lifelong passion for aviation, space and technology. He remains on the cutting edge of space news via SpaceflightNow.com and This Week in Space with Miles O'Brien.
 
The Eagle Manned Mission Award will be presented to Mr. Robert Ess, Ares 1-X Mission Manager, NASA, Constellation Program Office for leadership of the Ares 1-X team, culminating in the successful initial test flight of the nation's first new human-rated launch system in thirty years.

Ares 1X Launch NASA TV

The General Bernard Schriever Award will be presented to Lt Col Michael Rokaw, USAF, Commander, Advanced Capabilities Squadron, Space and Missile Center, Air Force Space Command for his excellence in military space operations and acquisition.
 
The Goddard Dinner is held each year to celebrate the anniversary of the first successful flight by Dr. Goddard of a liquid-fueled rocket. This black tie event brings together 2,000 members of the government, industry and educational space community.

FMI: www.spaceclub.org