2017 PRESS/PHOTO INFORMATION
Press Release
RNASA's 2017 Stellar Awards Winners Announced
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
May 1, 2017
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, 281-723-5683, lindsey@baysidegraphics.net
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation honored the dedication of the space workers at their annual awards banquet on Friday, April 28, 2017, by presenting the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Stellar Awards.
Every year, the aerospace community anxiously awaits the announcement of the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Stellar Award winners.
The 2017 Stellar Awards Evaluation Panel, Dr. Glynn Lunney, Arnold Aldrich, Colonel Eileen Collins, and Michael Coats selected the winners based on which accomplishments hold the greatest promise for furthering future activities in space and how well they meet the goal of recognizing heroes of the space program.
Out of 149 nominations received, the panel selected 25 individuals and 7 teams for recognition.
Prior to the evening's festivities, all nominees were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Johnson Space Center and a luncheon at the Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook. Stellar Awards Committee Chair Jennifer Devolites welcomed the nominees and then said, "You are here because you are excellent." She asked the nominees to consider using their excellence to provide leadership to others, take on mentoring, and to also take risks and get outside of their comfort zones with regard to what they already do well.
Colonel Jeffrey Williams was the featured speaker at the Stellar Awards Luncheon. His spaceflight experience includes four missions. His first flight was aboard Atlantis on STS-101 in 2000 where he served as the flight engineer and lead spacewalker. Williams would serve as Flight Engineer on three more missions including Expeditions 13 (March 2006), 21/22 (September 2009) and 47/48 (March 2016) all of which launched aboard the Russian Soyuz from Kazakhstan. During his 534 days in space, Williams conducted five spacewalks and contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science.
Each nominee received a Fisher Space Pen donated by the company as well as a copy of the book "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly. The Fisher Space Pen was originally carried by the astronauts of the Apollo moon missions and is still used on manned space flights to this day. They are precision assembled, hand tested, and guaranteed to perform underwater, at any angle including upside down, in extreme temperatures, and of course in zero gravity.
All the Stellar nominees had their photo taken as they received a special commemorative certificate with a United States flag that was flown in space.
The Stellar Award winners were announced at the RNASA evening gala on April 28, 2017 by Astronaut Dr. Kjell Lindgren and Astronaut Dr. Kate Rubins who presented them with engraved marble trophies donated by Orbital ATK. The winners in each of the four categories, Early Career, Mid Career, Late Career and Team are:
2017 Stellar Award Winners in the Early Career Category
Chelsea Shepherd of SGT - Outstanding dedication, leadership, and support to assembly and maintenance operations for the ISS.
Joey Edgar of Oceaneering Space Systems - Outstanding technical knowledge, unwavering attention to detail and exemplary work ethic in contributing to the development of extravehicular activity spaceflight hardware.
Russell Vela of U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory - Exceptional technical expertise in solving significant radar engineering challenges to support space vehicle design and major ground based radio telescope upgrades.
Peter Masi of Jacobs - Exceptional contributions which enable our continuous presence in low earth orbit aboard the ISS and are shaping our capability to extend human exploration to Mars and beyond.
Sarah L. Wallace of NASA Johnson Space Center - championing of a game-changing biomolecule sequencer that was successfully demonstrated as a scientific tool on the ISS.
Christopher Eby of SpaceX - Outstanding technical contributions and leadership overseeing the Commercial Crew space suit qualification milestone.
Jason Shapiro of Aerojet Rocketdyne - Outstanding leadership in testing of large rockets from the Antares AJ-26 to the Orion jettison motor.
2017 Stellar Award Winners in the Mid-Career Category
Kenneth J. Anderle of Jacobs - Exemplary service to JSC and the James Webb Space Telescope in promoting the advancement of space exploration.
Richard R. Beckman of the United States Air Force - Exceptional program management and technical and programmatic problem solving leading to numerous successful classified military operations and GPS capabilities for a billion users worldwide.
Kenneth Utley of The Boeing Company - Sustained superior performance in electrical wiring design and wiring installation for human spaceflight applications.
Jeffrey C. Bemis of Orbital ATK - Outstanding leadership of the Orion Launch Abort Attitude Control Motor in reconstituting the team and guiding it though a successful critical design review.
Robert A. Mase of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Outstanding management of exceptionally successful projects exploring the solar system.
Carolyn Overmyer of Lockheed Martin - Technical excellence in managing the design and development of the Orion service module.
Charles V. Seal III of Aerojet Rocketdyne - Invaluable contributions towards the 100% mission success of the Delta IV vehicle and RS-68 rocket engine through leadership, mentorship, technical excellence, and innovation.
Ronald K. Baccus of NASA Johnson Space Center - Outstanding leadership of the Orion heatshield block bond verification effort.
Gary Lai of Blue Origin - Outstanding leadership of the New Shepard technical team, which performed five launches and landings of the same booster in one year.
2017 Stellar Award Winners in the Late Career Category
Mark Ferguson of Orbital ATK - Exceptional technical and program management of the pressurized cargo module of Cygnus.
Kenneth O. Todd of NASA Johnson Space Center - Exceptional accomplishments in expertly and successfully leading day-to-day ISS operations.
John B. Vollmer of The Boeing Company - Outstanding dedication and leadership on ISS, supporting NASA's mission to explore space and expand scientific research.
Jeffrey R. Davis of NASA Johnson Space Center - Exceptional career innovations and collaborative leadership as Director of NASA's Human Health & Performance Directorate, greatly impacting agency strategic goals.
Michael A. Melgares of Jacobs - Exceptional technical and team leadership during an accomplished career from Apollo to Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Orion.
Dale Cloud of UTC Aerospace Systems - Exceptional technical skill and leadership in engineering for the development of systems and components for both human and unmanned space.
Kamal S. Ghaffarian of Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. - Visionary serial entrepreneur dedicated to creating companies that operate with the highest level of integrity, promote employee well-being, and deliver the best technical solutions to their customers.
Marc D. Rayman of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Extraordinary and uniquely creative work to explore the solar system and open the frontiers of space to even more ambitious missions to follow.
Scott R. McIntyre of The Boeing Company - Exceptional leadership, sustained excellent performance, and dedication to the advancement of human spaceflight programs.
2017 Stellar Award Winners in the Team Category
New Shepard Team of Blue Origin - Outstanding accomplishment in performing the first landing of a vertical-launch rocket in history, and then four subsequent launches and landings in 2016. Accepting for the team was Steve Hobart.
Dawn Flight Team of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Outstanding achievement exploring some of the last uncharted worlds in the inner solar system in a unique mission that reveals new insights about the dawn of the solar system. Accepting for the team was Marc Rayman.
Falcon 9 Team of SpaceX - Exceptional history of innovative and high quality spacecraft and launch vehicle designs for NASA, industry, and other government organizations. Accepting for the team was Jon Edwards.
Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) 35 Recovery Team of UTC Aerospace Systems - Outstanding rapid performance to recover EVA capability on ISS after the US EVA 35 water in helmet incident. Accepting for the team was Robert Rossato.
Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF Team of the United States Air Force - Successful acquisition, development, and delivery of 12 GPS space vehicles to orbit, ensuring gold-standard positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities to over 2.7 million military personnel, one billion civilian users, and 57 Allied nations worldwide. Accepting for the team was Lt. Col. Brian Vesey.
ISS Oxygen Generator Assembly (OGA) Recovery Team of The Boeing Company - Successful resolution of complex and emerging issues resulting from the Oxygen Generator Assembly recovery that threatened ISS oxygen generation capability and potential ISS de-crew or delayed Soyuz launch due to depleted oxygen supplies. Accepting for the team was Steven Van Keuren.
Next Generation Cygnus Design Team of Orbital ATK - Outstanding technical leadership and teamwork in the design and implementation of the next generation Cygnus Spacecraft, resulting in increased capability, reliability, and science utilization for the ISS. Accepting for the team was Keith Davies.
Visit http://www.rnasa.org/photos.html for images from the event. Individual photos of each nominee and winner are available upon request.
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation's black tie Gala on April 28, 2017, was recorded live, in its entirety, by Space City Films and will air on NASA TV on Tuesday May 2, at 3 pm and 7 pm CDT. NASA TV is carried by DirecTV, Dish Network, TVRO, several cable providers, and http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv.
About RNASA: The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation was founded by the Space Center Rotary Club of Houston, Texas in 1985 to organize and coordinate an annual event to recognize outstanding achievements in space and create greater public awareness of the benefits of space exploration. The nonprofit Foundation presents the National Space Trophy and Stellar Awards each year. See http://www.rnasa.org for more information.
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Press Release
RNASA Foundation Honors Dr. John Grunsfeld
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
May 1, 2017
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, 281-723-5683, lindsey@baysidegraphics.net
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation presented the 2017 National Space Trophy (NST) to Dr. John Grunsfeld, former NASA Associate Administrator of the Science Mission Directorate, at the RNASA 31st annual Gala on April 28, 2017 at the Houston Hyatt Regency.
RNASA Foundation Chairman Rodolfo González welcomed the guests to RNASA's 31st annual gala, saying that "RNASA's mission is to encourage, recognize, honor and celebrate U.S. space achievements from across the entire country and across all sectors."
The Clear Brook High School JROTC Color Guard presented the colors, followed by members of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Girl Chorus, who sang the National Anthem, and Reverend Madella Williams, Senior Pastor of Taylor Lake Christian Church, gave the invocation.
The RNASA program kicked off with a year-in-review film by Space City Films. Miles O'Brien, former CNN correspondent and current science correspondent for PBSNewsHour served as the emcee. Miles said, "John is a national treasure, who helped make this country great, long before that was a campign slogan, and we thank him for that, and I'm proud that I've got to know him along the way."
Jeff Carr, Griffin Communications Group President, presented the 2017 Space Communicator Award to Rob Navias, Johnson Space Center Public Affairs Office Mission Commentator, saying that Navias' "...gift for sharing the human space flight experience are absolutely second to none. His impact on public awareness and understanding of human space flight are immeasurable." In his acceptance remarks, Navias said, "Incredibly, my career has spanned the highest of human triumph, and the depths of human failure, the cheers and the tears of human endeavor. It is called the sublime symmetry of history. But whether triumph or tragedy, it all came down to communicating the news. Relaying the information to the media and to the public in very clear, unambiguous words."
Stellar Awards were presented to 25 individuals and 7 teams. The Stellar Award winners were announced by NASA Astronaut Kjell Lindren, and NASA Astronaut Kate Rubins, who then presented them with engraved marble trophies donated by Orbital ATK. The Stellar Awards were presented in Early Career, Mid-Career, Late Career, and Team categories.
Astronaut Peggy Whitson, from ISS Expedition 51, who spoke from onboard International Space Station, sent a congratulatory message to Grunsfeld, telling him "as an astrophysicist, an astronaut, and a senior leader, you helped unlock the mysteries of space and champion the best that science and engineering, working together, can achieve."
Michael Griffin, former NASA Administrator and recipient of the 2009 National Space Trophy, presented the prestigious 2017 Rotary National Award for Space Achievement NST Award to Dr. John Grunsfeld. In his introductory comments, Griffin said "...if in John's career he had done nothing but succored the Hubble Space Telescope in its many hours of need, he would still be worthy of tonight's recognition, but he has done so much more. I think it is safe to say we would not have a future Mars program today without John's efforts as head of the Science Mission Directorate." Accepting the NST, Grunsfeld said, "I'm optimistic and excited about our future in space and on Earth. Thank you for your attention, thank you for awarding me the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement. I'm truly honored and humbled."
Lt. Gen Thomas P. Stafford, USAF (Ret.), Gemini and Apollo astronaut, and the 1993 National Space Trophy winner, presented an OMEGA speedmaster watch to Grunsfeld, saying "congratulations on the National Space Award John. Outstanding career as an astronaut, then later on associate administrator of NASA, you've done so much."
TASC donated the portrait of Grunsfeld by Pat Rawlings, which was on display at the gala and used as the cover of the souvenir program. The portrait will become part of the National Space Trophy display at Space Center Houston for one year.
RNASA Chairman Rodolfo González concluded the evening by thanking the Foundation's corporate sponsors whose support and achievements made the event possible: a.i. solutions, Inc., Aerojet Rocketdyne, The Aerospace Corp, ARES Corporation, Barrios Technology, Bastion Technologies, Inc., Blue Origin, The Boeing Company, Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI International, Caltech/JPL, Fisher Space Pen, Jacobs, KBRwyle, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, MEI Technologies, Inc., Millennium Engineering & Integration Company, MORI Associates, Inc., MRI Technologies , Oceaneering International, Inc., OMEGA, Orbital ATK, SAIC, SGT, Inc., SpaceX, Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., TASC, University of Houston-Clear Lake, UTC Aerospace Systems, Vericon Technical Services.
Visit http://www.rnasa.org/photos.html for images from the event. Individual photos of each nominee and winner are available upon request.
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation's black tie Gala on April 28, 2017, was recorded live, in its entirety, by Space City Films and will air on NASA TV on Tuesday May 2, at 3 pm and 7 pm CDT. NASA TV is carried by DirecTV, Dish Network, TVRO, several cable providers, and http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv.
About RNASA: The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation was founded by the Space Center Rotary Club of Houston, Texas in 1985 to organize and coordinate an annual event to recognize outstanding achievements in space and create greater public awareness of the benefits of space exploration. The nonprofit Foundation presents the National Space Trophy and Stellar Awards each year. See http://www.rnasa.org for more information.
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Press Release
Rotary Space Awards Gala Honors Heroes of the Space Program
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
March 30, 2017
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, 281-723-5683, lindsey@baysidegraphics.net
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation will recognize people in the space industry at their annual space awardsgala on Friday, April 28, 2017, at the Houston Hyatt Regency.
The RNASA Foundation was formed by the Space Center Rotary Club in 1985, to publicly recognize the heroes of America's space program. This year, the RNASA Foundation will present the 2017 National Space Trophy, to Dr. John Grunsfeld, NASA Associate Administrator of the Science Mission Directorate.
Former NASA Administrator, Dr. Michael Griffin, will present the prestigious award to Dr. Grunsfeld, who was nominated by Dr. Matt Mountain, President of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. The National Space Trophy honoree is selected each year by the RNASA Foundation's Board of Advisors. This board represents a Who's Who of government and corporate aerospace leaders, including former Trophy and Space Communicator Award recipients.
The 2017 Space Communicator Award will be presented to Johnson Space Center Public Affairs Office (PAO) Mission Commentator, Rob Navias. RNASA Advisor and Griffin Communications Group President Jeffrey Carr will present the award to Navias.
Miles O'Brien will serve as Emcee and Gemini/Apollo Astronaut Lt. Gen. Thomas Stafford, USAF (Ret.), will present an OMEGA watch to Grunsfeld at the closing of the program.
In addition to the National Space Trophy, and Space Communicator Award, stellar awards will be presented to people in early career, mid career, late career, and team categories. RNASA Chairman Rodolfo González said, "We received an impressive 149 stellar nominations this year, 38 government and 111 corporate." The nominations came from a.i. solutions, Inc., Aerojet Rocketdyne, Blue Origin, The Boeing Company, CACI, Jacobs, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, NASA Glenn Research Center, NASA Headquarters, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center, NASA Kennedy Space Center, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Oceaneering Space Systems, Orbital ATK, SAIC, Schafer Corporation, SpaceX, Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc., United States Air Force, USAF Air Force Research Laboratory, and UTC Aerospace Systems.
Of all the nominations, only a few Stellar awards are given, and are announced the evening of the banquet. The winners will receive engraved marble trophies generously sponsored by Orbital ATK. The trophies will be presented by NASA Astronauts Dr. Kjell Lindgren and Dr. Kathleen Rubins.
The RNASA Stellar Awards Evaluation Panel ranks the nominations received from industry and government in all categories, based on whose accomplishments hold the greatest promise for furthering activities in space and the extent to which the nominee meets the goal of recognizing "unsung heroes". The 2017 Stellar judges are Dr. Glynn S. Lunney, Arnold D. Aldrich, Colonel Eileen Collins, USAF (Ret.), and Michael L. Coats.
The Stellar Award nominees and team representatives will enjoy a behind-the- scenes tour of the Johnson Space Center and a luncheon where all are recognized with framed certificates and a Fisher Space Pen donated by the company. The Fisher Space Pen was originally carried by the astronauts of the Apollo moon missions and is still used on manned space flights to this day. They are precision assembled, hand tested, and guaranteed to perform underwater, at any angle including upside down, in extreme temperatures, and of course in zero gravity. The keynote speaker at the luncheon will be Colonel Jeffrey Williams.
The Stellar Awards Committee Chairman Jennifer Devolites, RNASA Foundation Chairman Rodolfo González, RNASA Committee member Duane Ross, and Space Center Rotary Club President Darryl Smith will also address the nominees at the Stellar Awards luncheon.
The reception begins at 6 p.m., and the program starts at 7 p.m with a welcome by RNASA Chairman Rodolfo González. Following will be a presentation of the colors by Clear Brook High School Army JROTC, accompanied with the national anthem sung by Members of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Girls Chorus. Rev. Madella Williams, Senior Pastor, Taylor Lake Christian Church, will do the invocation. After dinner, the awards ceremony will kick off with a multimedia show summarizing the year's space events produced by Space City Films.
The RNASA Foundation invites members of the public and the aerospace community to attend the black-tie event. Individual tickets are $300, and corporate tables range from $2,000 to $5,000. Please use http://www.rnasa.org/tables.html to reserve your table for the RNASA Banquet, and for information about sponsorships and tickets. To reserve a hotel room, please use http://www.rnasa.org/houston.html at the Houston Hyatt Regency.
About RNASA: The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation was founded by the Space Center Rotary Club of Houston, Texas in 1985 to organize and coordinate an annual event to recognize outstanding achievements in space and create greater public awareness of the benefits of space exploration. The nonprofit Foundation presents the National Space Trophy and Stellar Awards each year.
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Press Release
Rob Navias to receive RNASA's 2017 Space Communicator Award
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
February 6, 2017
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, 281-723-5683, lindsey@baysidegraphics.net
Long known as the iconic voice of Mission Control, Navias covered every shuttle mission from the maiden launch of Columbia in April 1981 to Atlantis' final voyage in July 2011, either as a member of the news media or as a NASA employee.
Colonel Chris Hadfield, former Canadian Space Agency Astronaut, who nominated Navias said, "Rob IS the voice of NASA - authoritative, prepared, distinctive, calm and stylish. He has brought space flight to the world for over 25 years."
Navias started as a network broadcast radio correspondent in 1972 based in San Francisco with the Associated Press Radio Network. It was there that he got his first taste of the space beat when he reported on the voyage of Pioneer 11, a robotic space probe that studied the asteroid belt and the rings of Saturn. In 1977, he covered the test flights for the space shuttle Enterprise at Edwards Air Force Base in California. While in San Francisco with AP, Navias also covered such stories as the Patricia Hearst kidnapping and trial from 1974-1976, and the People's Temple mass suicides in Guyana and the City Hall assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978, as well as the Voyager missions from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
He moved on to the United Press International (UPI) Radio Network in 1982 where he served as a Capitol Hill correspondent in Washington D.C. while continuing to cover all space shuttle missions at the Kennedy Space Center. Over the next ten years with UPI he crisscrossed the country to cover high profile stories such as the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and Hurricane Andrew in Miami. Navias was at the Kennedy Space Center on the air when the Challenger tragically exploded 73 seconds after liftoff in 1986. He concluded his media career in 1992 as a correspondent for the CBS Radio Network based in Miami, all the while continuing his coverage of NASA and the space shuttle program.
His career with NASA began in 1993. He was recruited to work in the Office of Public Affairs at the Johnson Space Center where he not only managed the flow of information via radio and TV but he did so with unmatched clarity.
In addition to coverage of the space shuttle, Navias has been the lead for Public Affairs operations involving Russian launch and landing operations of U.S. astronauts and international partner crewmembers for the past two decades. Having spent considerable time in Moscow and in Kazakhstan, Navias has been to the launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan for Soyuz and other International Space Station element launches and preparatory meetings over a hundred times and has ridden Russian military helicopters to Soyuz landing sites in Kazakhstan dozens of times to recover space station crewmembers.
Hadfield wrote, "Rob has spent countless hours studying and preparing for dozens of shuttle launches, landings, space walks, and in flight interviews so he can then properly report to his listeners. His iconic voice has offered informed, well-researched facts for decades. Known for his eloquent style, Navias was often the lead commentator for shuttle missions but it was Atlantis' final mission in 2011 that was particularly poignant. Upon Atlantis' landing Navias said: "having fired the imagination of a generation, a ship like no other, its place in history secured, the Space Shuttle pulls into port for the last time - its voyage at an end."
When asked to reflect on his career and what spurred his interest in space, Navias recounts receiving a transistor radio from his father in in 1961. Using that radio, he listened intently when Yuri Gagarin was the first person to be launched into space and again when Alan Shepard flew aboard Freedom 7. The space program had hooked another young American!
Navias said of his award, "This is an enormous honor, not only to be nominated by those who forged a part of the history of human spaceflight, but to represent a communications industry whose solemn obligation is to report the news, educate the media and the public and to share the wonderment of humankind's most incredible journey."
The RNASA Space Communicator Award was created in 1997 in honor of KTRK, Houston Channel 13 space reporter and long-time RNASA Advisor Stephen Gauvain who was tragically killed in a car accident in 1996. The award is presented to an individual or team that makes exceptional contributions to public understanding and appreciation of space exploration The previous recipients of the award are: William Harwood of CBS; Miles O'Brien, formerly of CNN; Elliot Pulham of the Space Foundation; the NASA-Contractor Communications team that responded to the Columbia accident; Mark Carreau, formerly of the Houston Chronicle; Neil deGrasse Tyson of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Veronica McGregor, Manager of News and Social Media at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, former Canadian Space Agency astronaut, author, and musician Chris A. Hadfield, and Bill Nye (the science guy) CEO of the Planetary Society.
Navias will be honored with the 2017 Space Communicator Award at RNASA's 31st annual National Space Trophy Banquet on April 28, 2017, at the Houston Hyatt Regency. Dr. John M. Grunsfeld, former Associate Administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C., will receive the 2017 National Space Trophy.
The RNASA Foundation invites members of the public and the aerospace community to attend the black-tie event on April 28, 2017, at the Houston Hyatt Regency. Please visit http://www.rnasa.org/tables.html to reserve your table for the RNASA Banquet and find information about sponsorships and tickets. To reserve a room at the Houston Hyatt Regency, please visit http://www.rnasa.org/houston.html or call 713-654-1234 and request the RNASA group rate. The RNASA website is http://www.rnasa.org/.
About RNASA: The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation was founded by the Space Center Rotary Club of Houston, Texas in 1985 to organize and coordinate an annual event to recognize outstanding achievements in space and create greater public awareness of the benefits of space exploration. The nonprofit Foundation presents the National Space Trophy and Stellar Awards each year.
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Press Release
Dr. John Grunsfeld, Associate Administrator of the Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, to receive the 2017 National Space Trophy
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
January 23, 2017
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, 281-723-5683, lindsey@baysidegraphics.net
Rodolfo González, President of the RNASA Foundation said, "The RNASA Board of Advisors made an excellent pick for the 2017 National Space Trophy and the RNASA Foundation looks forward to recognizing Dr. Grunsfeld as the guest of honor at the RNASA Space Award Gala."
Dr. Grunsfeld was nominated for the award by Dr. Matt Mountain, President of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. Dr. Mountain remarked, "One of Grunsfeld's unique strengths is his ability to demonstrate the relevance and excitement of spaceflight by bringing together the scientific community, NASA's international partners, Congress, the Administration, with NASA's Science, Human Spaceflight, Technology and Aeronautics programs. His unique experience as an astronaut, a teacher, scientist, and senior leader at NASA has enabled him to make unique contributions to all of NASA's activities."
Grunsfeld said, "I am honored and humbled to be awarded this distinguished recognition for my contributions to science and space exploration. The quest to unravel the mysteries of the Universe and to extend human presence beyond planet Earth has propelled me for most of my life, in part inspired by previous trophy winners. I have been successful only as a member of the extraordinary teams with whom I've shared this journey of discovery, and I regard this honor as a team award."
Dr. Grunsfeld earned his bachelor of science degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1980. He went on to earn a master of science degree in 1984 and a doctor of philosophy degree in physics in 1988 from the University of Chicago. After serving as a Senior Research Fellow at the California Institute of Technology from 1989-1992, he was selected by NASA to join the astronaut training program in March of 1992.
Dr. Grunsfeld's first flight was aboard STS-67 in March 1995. He and the crew were tasked with conducting round-the-clock observations of the ultraviolet universe using three telescopes in the payload bay.
Grunsfeld served as flight engineer during his second flight on STS-81 which docked with Russia's space station Mir and exchanged U.S. astronauts living aboard the International Space Station. It was during this mission that John had a little fun with Tom and Ray Magliozzi, hosts of Car Talk, NPR's call in radio show. During his flight home aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, John called in and described some trouble he was experiencing with his "government vehicle" explaining that it had excellent acceleration but runs extremely rough for 2 minutes, quieter for six and a half, at which point the engine stalls. The hosts didn't take long to figure out that the caller was John Grunsfeld.
Grunsfeld flew on three more shuttle missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope. The first was on STS-103 in December 1999 in which he performed two space walks. Upon his return home from this successful mission, John was asked to lead the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Branch and led the development spacewalk training courses for astronauts that are still used today.
STS-109 came next in March 2002 where John served as Payload Commander. It was after this mission that he spent time serving as NASA's chief scientist in Washington D.C. helping develop President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration following the tragic loss of Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. His final mission was aboard STS-125 in May of 2009. This time, he served as the lead spacewalker on a mission to perform a major renovation on Hubble which had been in orbit for 19 years. All told, Grunsfeld has logged five missions, eight space walks, and 58 days in space. He was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2015.
Affectionately known as the "Hubble Repairman", John's contributions have extended well beyond his missions to space. In 2010, John left NASA to take on a role as Deputy Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. It was here that Dr. Grunsfeld helped prepare the institute for their joint efforts with NASA to develop the James Webb Telescope which will be launched in 2018.
After returning to NASA in 2012 as Associate Administrator for Science, Grunsfeld managed more than 100 missions including the Curiosity Mars rover landing, the new Horizons Pluto flyby and the Deep Space Climate Observatory. These and dozens of other projects have laid the foundation to understand how our own planet is changing while inspiring a whole new generation of explorers.
Beyond space, Dr. Grunsfeld enjoys mountaineering. In 2000 he appeared on the PBS NOVA show "Deadly Ascent" when he climbed Denali, the highest peak in North America. He and companion, Dr. Howard Donner were researching the effects of body temperature at high altitudes. He was forced to turn back at 17,200 feet but later led a NASA team to the top of Denali in 2004. John also enjoys flying, sailing, bicycling, and music. He is married and has two children.
The RNASA Foundation invites members of the public and the aerospace community to attend the black-tie event on April 28, 2017, at the Houston Hyatt Regency, where Dr. John Grunsfeld will be recognized with the National Space Trophy. This year will be RNASA's 31st annual National Space Trophy Banquet. Please visit http://www.rnasa.org/tables.html to reserve your table for the RNASA Banquet and find information about sponsorships and tickets. To reserve a room at the Houston Hyatt Regency, please visit http://www.rnasa.org/houston.html or call 713-654-1234 and request the RNASA group rate.
About RNASA: The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation was founded by the Space Center Rotary Club of Houston, Texas, in 1985 to organize and coordinate an annual event to recognize outstanding achievements in space and create greater public awareness of the benefits of space exploration. The nonprofit Foundation presents the National Space Trophy and Stellar Awards each year. The RNASA website is http://www.rnasa.org/.
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