2008 PRESS/PHOTO INFORMATION
See the Agenda page for a complete list of speakers, and 2008 Winner page to read Cernan's profile.
8-20-08: The next gala will be held May 8, 2009 at the Houston Hyatt Regency.
5-20-08: Thanks to Space City Films, Neil deGrasse Tyson's speech at the banquet is available on YouTube. Read his profile on the Space Communicator Winners page.
5-01-08: Minor correction to 4-29-08 press release: Derek J. Hassman should be J. Derek Hassman. press release Word document. Capt. Cernan's profile as printed in the program is now online.
Selected photos of program participants and award recipients:
RNASA Chairman, Rodolfo Gonzáz. Download hi res copy. Photo credit: NASA.
Clear Lake High School Army JROTC and soloist Shari Wilkins. Download hi res copy. Photo credit: NASA.
RNASA emcee, Miles O'Brien. Download hi res copy. Photo credit: NASA.
Communicator Award Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and presenter Jeffrey Carr. Download hi res copy. Photo credit: NASA.
Space Communicator Award Winner, Neil dGrasse Tyson. Download hi res copy. Photo credit: NASA.
Trophy Presenter, Tom Short. Download hi res copy. Photo credit: NASA.
Emcee Miles O'Brien and National Space Trophy Winner Gene Cernan. Download hi res copy. Photo credit: NASA.
National Space Trophy Winner Gene Cernan. Download hi res copy. Photo credit: NASA.
Presenter of Omega Watch, Tom Stafford, and Gene Cernan. Download hi res copy. Photo credit: NASA.
Cover of 2008 program by artist Pat Rawlings. Download hi res photo of framed portrait that will be on display at Space Center Houston for the next year. Photo credit: RNASA.
Stellar Presenter, Astronaut Sunita Williams. Download hi res copy. Photo credit: NASA.
Stellar Presenter, Astronaut Leland Melvin. Download hi res copy. Photo credit: NASA.
Stellar Awards winners in all categories. Back row L to R: Williams (presenting), Knarr, Welsh, Harris, Finchum, Sweeney, Mulqueen, Martin, Francois, Romanofsky, Melvin (presenting). Front row: Liebman, Thomas, Peterson, Stuart, Laird, Parker, Pilet, Feeley, Nielson, Gunn-Gulkin. Not pictured: Kharmats, Lewis, Vane.
Click here to download a high resolution version of this photo.
Photo credit: NASA.
4-26-08: A list of the 2008 Stellar Awards winners announced at the banquet are posted on the Stellar Winners 2008 page. NASA photos of the Stellar winners are also posted on that page.
2-26-08: The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation has selected renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, PhD, to receive the 2008 Space Communicator Award. The citation reads, "in recognition of his immense contributions to the public's understanding of and appreciation for the importance of space exploration." Tyson is an astrophysicist and the Frederick P. Rose director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Read press release, Word document.
Additional biographical data on Dr. Tyson is available on his Web site.
1-30-08: The Board of Advisors of the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation selected Captain Eugene "Gene" Cernan, USN (Ret.) to receive its highest honor, the National Space Trophy for 2008. The award has been presented annually for the past 22 years to an individual who has excelled in furthering national goals in the field of space.
Captain Cernan's citation reads, "For outstanding achievements as an astronaut. Second American to walk in space (Gemini IX); crew member on second flight to the moon (Apollo X); and Commander of the last landing on the moon (Apollo XVII); and as an advocate for space exploration and education."
Cernan received his award at the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Houston on Friday, April 25, 2008. CNN Correspondent Miles O'Brien served as Master of Ceremonies. Tom Short, President of Anadarko Industries, presented the trophy to Captain Cernan. Speakers are listed on the 2008 agenda page.
Read press release, Word document.
Eugene Cernan's biography, Word document. This data is also posted on the 2008 winner page.
Eugene Cernan headshot, 300 dpi at 2.7 x 3.7 inches. Photo credit: NASA. (Cropped from S97-17473.)
Cernan headshot, 72 dpi. Photo credit: NASA. (Cropped from S97-17473.)
Gemini 9 mission patch, high resolution. Photo credit: NASA, S-66-28075.
Gemini 9 spacewalk, high resolution. Photo credit: NASA, S66-38515.
Gemini 9 splashdown, high resolution. Caption: Astronauts Thomas Stafford (right) and Eugene Cernan wave to the crowd aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp as they emerge from their Gemini 9 capsule. John C. Stonesifer (far right), with the Manned Spacecraft Center's Landing and Recovery Division, was on board to greet the astronauts. NASA, S66-34118.
Apollo 10 mission patch, high resolution. NASA.
Apollo 17 mission patch, high resolution. NASA.
Apollo 10 portrait, medium resolution. NASA, A10-69-32617.
Cernan during Apollo 17 EVA, medium resolution. NASA, AS17-140-21391.
Cernan salutes the flag during Apollo 17 EVA, medium resolution. NASA, A17-134-20380.
