2016 Stellar Awards Winners
The 2016 RNASA Stellar Award winners in each of four categories were announced at the banquet on April 29, 2016 at the Houston Hyatt Regency hotel.
The 137 nominations were evaluated by former National Associate Administrator for Space Systems Development, Arnold D. Aldrich, and former National Space Trophy winners, Dr. Glynn S. Lunney, Col. Eileen Collins, USAF (Ret.), and Capt. Michael L. Coats, USN (Ret.).
A list of all the Stellar Awards nominees was printed in the 2016 program book.
The 2016 Stellar Awards were presented by Astronauts Rex J. Walheim and Stephanie Wilson.
2016 Early Career Stellar Award Winners
Six awards were presented in the 2016 Early Career Category.
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L to R: Rex Walheim (presenting), Kiril Dontchev, Dr. Brien Flewelling, Alan Kim, Sarah Baldwin, Anthony Cook, Stephanie Wilson (presenting). Not Pictured: Cora Traecy (NASA photo, 2016)
Sarah Baldwin of Aerojet Rocketdyne - Outstanding leadership, technical excellence, and innovation in flight operations contributing to the 100% mission success of the rs-68 rocket engine.
Alan Kim of The Boeing Company - Engineering excellence in solving difficult stress analysis challenges for SLS.
Dr. Brien Flewelling of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory - Outstanding contributions to image processing and computer vision applied to advanced space object detection, tracking, identification, and characterization.
Cora Traecy of UTC Aerospace Systems - Outstanding management effectiveness in support of the eatcs, eclss and regenerative eclss on-board the international space station.
Kiril Dontchev of SpaceX - Recognized for exceptional leadership overseeing the pad abort test of the crew dragon spacecraft's integrated launch abort system.
Anthony Cook of The Boeing Company - Outstanding leadership and technical contributions to development, implementation, and delivery of new iss nitrogen/oxygen resupply system compatible with multiple launch systems
2016 Middle Career Stellar Award Winners
Eight awards were presented in the 2016 Middle Career Category.
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L to R: Stephanie Wilson (presenting), Paul Connolly, Lorraine Prokop, Anthony DiCello, Bruce Sommer, Leslie Robertson, Shelia Sharp, Rex Walheim (presenting). Not Pictured: Judith Blackwell-Thompson, Lt. Col. Christian Elenbaum (NASA photo, 2016)
Leslie Robertson of The Boeing Company - Outstanding technical knowledge and ingenuity in development and deployment of compiler, patch and review tools for the iss program, including training and support across iss software development teams.
Bruce Sommer of Lockheed Martin - Outstanding human spaceflight contributions for improving iss and orion mpcv crew safety and ensuring mission success.
Judith Blackwell-Thompson of NASA Kennedy Space Center - Exemplary leadership and sustained contributions to manned space flight launch planning and execution.
Anthony Dicello of The Boeing Company - Exceptional leadership contributions of the development of the first two international docking adapters which will adapt the international space station for docking by the next generation of commercial crew transportation systems.
Lorraine Prokop of NASA Johnson Space Center - Pioneering contributions to aerospace software engineering, including significant advances in human spaceflight software affordability.
Paul Connolly of Pratt & Whitney - Outstanding contributions to understanding the ORSC cycle and its operation in the rd-180 rocket engine.
Lt. Col. Christian Elenbaum of U.S. Air Force - Exceptional contributions to space based infrared systems program reducing satellite production costs over one billion dollars.
Sheila Sharp of The Boeing Company - Outstanding accomplishments in the leadership, mentorship and development of critical teams in the definition, design and integration of program requirements and resolution resulting in program progress, compliance and overall performance.
2016 Late Career Stellar Award Winners
Five awards were presented in the 2016 Late Career Category.
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L to R: Rex Walheim (presenting), George Dickey Arndt, Laurence Price, Dr. Geoffrey Landis, Mark Craig, Robert Brazier, Stephanie Wilson (presenting) (NASA photo, 2016)
Mark Craig of SAIC - Outstanding career of service to nasa dedicated to improving the value of human space exploration spanning apollo, space shuttle, space station and beyond.
Dr. Geoffrey Landis of NASA Glenn Research Center - Exceptional technical achievements and leadership in developing photovoltaic power systems and advanced concepts in support of NASA missions.
Lawrence Price of Lockheed Martin - Outstanding leadership and international collaboration to take the orion program from development to space flight vehicles for NASA's human exploration missions.
George Dickey Arndt of NASA Johnson Space Center - Outstanding dedication to exceptional electromagnetic technology development utilizing collaborations from within and outside the agency.
Robert Brazier of Aerojet Rocketdyne - Invaluable contributions and leadership in the production of liquid rocket propulsion in support of the advancement of America's space programs.
2016 Team Stellar Award Winners
Seven awards were presented in the 2016 Team Category.
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L to R: Rex Walheim (presenting), Andrew Zarechnak (OA-4 Return to Flight Team of Orbital ATK), Seth Lacy, Corey Duncan (Automated Navigation and Guidance Experiment for Local Space Program Team), Debbie Sharp (ISS Hardware Recovery Team), Carolyn Gernux (Fan/Pump/Separator Bearing Corrosion Anomaly Resolution Team), Yasmin Ali (Pendulum Team), Janine Cuevas (EFT-1/Orion Aerojet Rocketdyne Propulsion Team), Brian Jones (Orion EM-1 Critical Design Review Team), Stephanie Wilson (presenting) (NASA photo, 2016)
EFT-1/Orion Propulsion Team of Aerojet Rocketdyne - Outstanding team dedication and attention to detail during development, production, flight readiness, and flight, resulting in significant achievement on orion eft-1 and paving the way for advanced future space activities. Award accepted by Janine Cuevas.
Pendulum Team of NASA Johnson Space Center - Outstanding team effort in mitigating the orion pendulum motion anomaly. Award accepted by Yasmin Ali.
Fan/Pump/Separator Bearing Corrosion Anomaly Resolution Team of UTC Aerospace Systems - Outstanding achievement in preparation for and execution of a contingency eva to eliminate an ammonia leak that jepordized the international space station. Award accepted by Carolyn Gernux.
International Space Station Hardware Recovery Team for Launch on HTV-5 of The Boeing Company - Quickly accelerating manufacture and test of hardware, and rebuilding several critical hardware items for on-time delivery to meet the htv-5 launch, support on-orbit operations, and support crew health and safety. Award accepted by Debbie Sharp.
Automated Navigation and Guidance Experiment for Local Space (Angels) Program Team of U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory - Outstanding team achievement in evolving the air force's ability to responsively perform space situation awareness missions. Award accepted by Corey Duncan.
OA-4 Return to Flight Team of Orbital ATK - Outstanding technical and management excellence in providing timely reinstatement of cygnus cargo resupply services to the iss. Award accepted by Andrew Zarechnak.
Orion EM-1 Critical Design Review Team of Lockheed Martin - Excellence in preparation, execution and follow through of the orion exploration mission critical design review that resulted in nasa's authorization to proceed to spacecraft production. Award accepted by Brian Jones.
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