NASA-Johns Hopkins Led Unprecedented Mission To Sun’s Corona

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) awards the annual prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America during the preceding year, and the 2025 award will be bestowed on the Parker Solar Probe Team.

The Team was led by NASA and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory who will receive the award on June 12, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

The Parker probe ventured deep into the Sun’s corona, achieving its closest approach on December 24, 2024, when it reached an altitude of just 3.83 million miles above the solar surface. This is seven times closer than any other probe has operated.

Amy Spowart, President and CEO of NAA said, “As the oldest national aviation organization in the U.S., the NAA's awards are the most prestigious and sought-after in the industry. The Collier Trophy is a recognition like no other, and the Parker Solar Probe Team's achievement in earning the 2024 Collier is an extraordinary example of determination, genius, and teamwork. It is our distinct honor to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable team that turned the impossible into reality.”

Parker also set a new record as the fastest human-made object in history with a peak speed of 430,000 mph, three times faster than anything previously.

Janet Petro, Acting Administrator of NASA said, "Congratulations to the entire Parker Solar Probe team for this well-earned recognition. This mission's trailblazing research is rewriting the textbooks on solar science by going to a place no human-made object has ever been and advancing NASA’s efforts to better understand our solar system and the Sun's influence, with lasting benefits for us all. As the first to touch the Sun and fastest human-made object ever built, Parker Solar Probe is a testament to human ingenuity and discovery."

NASA and the Hopkins APL led a team of scientists and technicians from 12 government, academic, and private sector partners.

Ralph Semmel, Director of the APL said, “This amazing team brought to life an incredibly difficult space science mission that had been studied, and determined to be impossible, for more than 60 years. They did so by solving numerous long-standing technology challenges and dramatically advancing our nation’s spaceflight capabilities.

“The Collier Trophy is well-earned recognition for this phenomenal group of innovators from NASA, APL, and our industry and research partners from across the nation.”

FMI:  naa.aero/