Also Selected For Smithsonian Air And Space Honor

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) announced Wednesday at their annual Spring Awards Luncheon that The NASA/JPL Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Project Team will receive the 2012 Robert J. Collier Trophy “…in recognition of the extraordinary achievements of successfully landing Curiosity on Mars, advancing the nation’s technological and engineering capabilities, and significantly improving humanity’s understanding of ancient Martian habitable environments.”

The Collier Trophy is awarded annually "…for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year." The list of Collier winners represents a timeline of air and space achievements, marking major events in the history of flight.

“As every member of the Selection Committee can attest, this was the most competitive Collier Selection Process that we have experienced in many years,” said Walter Boyne, Chairman of NAA and Chairman of the Selection Committee. “Every nominee came to the committee with significant accomplishments and achievements during the year as well as energized and comprehensive presentations. The NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory should be very proud of this achievement.”

Jonathan Gaffney, President and CEO of NAA, managed the selection process. “We were honored to have an outstanding group of aviation and aerospace experts participate on our Selection Committee and, by their presence and interaction, certainly enhanced the significance and importance of the Collier Trophy. It was an extraordinary day seeing some of the remarkable work going on in aviation and aerospace.”

Other nominees for the 2012 Collier Trophy were:

• The Lockheed Martin Cargo Unmanned Aerial System
• The NASA/JPL Dawn Project Team
• The Gulfstream G650
• The United States Air Force MC-12 Project Liberty Team
• Felix Baumgartner and the Red Bull Stratos Team
• The NASA/JPL Voyager Interstellar Mission Project Team

The rover was also honored by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, earning the Trophy for Current Achievement. The award will be presented on April 24 at a black-tie dinner in Washington, D.C.
 
The Mars Science Laboratory Project built and operates the rover Curiosity, which has been investigating past and current environments in Mars' Gale Crater since its dramatic sky-crane landing seven months ago.

The trophies for current and lifetime achievement are the National Air and Space Museum's most prestigious awards. They recognize outstanding achievements in the fields of aerospace science and technology and their history.

(Curiosity image provided by NASA)

FMI: www.naa.aero, http://airandspace.si.edu/