AIAA to Recognize Achievement in Several Fields
The American Institute of
Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will present five awards for
key contributions to space science and technology during the AIAA
SPACE 2008 Conference & Exposition, to be held September 9-11
at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, Calif. The
awards will be presented at the conference's awards luncheon at
noon on Wednesday, September 10, 2008.
Elon Musk, CEO and chief technology officer, SpaceX, Hawthorne,
Calif., will receive the AIAA George Low Space Transportation
Award, which is presented for a timely outstanding contribution to
the field of space transportation. Musk will be recognized for his
outstanding contribution to the development of commercial space
transportation systems using innovative low-cost approaches.
Michael A'Hearn, professor of astronomy at the University of
Maryland, College Park, Md., will receive the AIAA Space Science
Award, which is presented to an individual for demonstrated
leadership of innovative scientific investigations associated with
space science missions. A'Hearn will be recognized for his
leadership of the "Deep Impact" mission, which delivered the first
man-made object to impact the nucleus of a comet and study its
composition.
The TacSat-2 Spacecraft Team will receive the AIAA Space Systems
Award, which is presented to recognize outstanding achievements in
the architecture, analysis, design and implementation of space
systems. The team will be recognized for 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. The award will be accepted by Henry "Lad"
Curtis, team leader, Microsat Systems, Inc., Littleton, Colo., Neal
Peck, program manager, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air
Force Base, N.M., and Daron Bromaghim, program manager, Air Force
Research Laboratory, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Douglas Mudgway of Sonoma, Calif., will receive the AIAA History
Manuscript Award for his work entitled "William H. Pickering,
America's Deep Space Pioneer." The award is presented for the best
historical manuscript dealing with the science, technology, and/or
impact of aeronautics and astronautics on society.
Michel Griffin (pictured above), administrator, NASA,
Washington, D.C., and James French, JRF Engineering Services, Fort
Collins, Colo., will receive the AIAA Summerfield Book Award for
their book, "Space Vehicle Design, Second Edition." The award is
presented to the author(s) of the best book recently published by
AIAA.
Each honoree will receive an engraved medal, a certificate of
citation, and a rosette pin.
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