2022 PRESS/PHOTO INFORMATION
Press Release
RNASA's 2022 Stellar Awards Winners Announced
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
May 5, 2022
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, 281-480-2486, lindsey@baysidegraphics.net
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation honored the dedication of the space workers at the annual Space Awards Gala on Friday, April 29, 2022, 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 2022 Stellar Awards Evaluation Panel, Michael Coats, David Thompson, Dr. Sandra Magnus, Dr. Charles Elachi selected the winners based on which accomplishments have advanced U.S. space capabilities and hold the greatest promise of future capabilities.
Out of 111 nominations received, the Panel selected 18 individuals and 6 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 Bay Oaks Country Club. Stellar Awards Committee Chair Jennifer Devolites welcomed the nominees.
Eileen Collins was the featured speaker at the Stellar Awards Luncheon. Collins was the first woman to pilot a shuttle, serving on Discovery's STS-63 mission in 1995. Four years later in 1999, she became NASA's first female shuttle commander, leading Columbia on a mission to deploy the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. She was the recipient of RNASA's National Space Trophy in 2006.
Each nominee received 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. Each nominee also received a copy Eileen Collins' recent book "Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The story of the first American woman to command a space mission." All the Stellar nominees had their photo taken as they received a special commemorative certificate with a United States flag that was flown to the International Space Station aboard the SpaceX-14 flight berthed April 4 through May 5, 2018.
The Stellar Award winners were announced at the RNASA evening gala on April 29, 2022 by astronaut Randy Bresnik and astronaut Dr. Jessica Meir who presented them with engraved marble trophies. The winners in each of the four categories, Early Career, Mid Career, Late Career and Team are:
2022 Stellar Award Winners in the Early Career Category
Dr. Daniel J. Kim of NASA Johnson Space Center - Outstanding technical contributions in the field of non-metallic materials for characterization of polymeric spacecraft windows and novel approaches to lightweight and robust spacesuit structures.
Courtney E. Mario of Draper Laboratory - Exceptional technical knowledge in developing autonomous vision navigation systems, dedication, and collaborative skills enabling the successful OSIRIS-REx sample collection maneuver.
Matthew Richmond of Northrop Grumman - Exceptional leadership of multiple Cygnus missions from assembly to integration, test, and launch campaigns.
Timothy E. Sauerhoefer of Collins Aerospace - Exceptional manufacturing engineering performance and commitment to safety and operational excellence on the phase change heat exchanger and CO2 removal system for the Orion spacecraft.
Abigail E. Sherriff of Barrios Technology - Continuous exceptional leadership in developing and implementing systems and data integration solutions for the successful operation and improvement of human spaceflight initiatives.
Brenton S. Taft of Air Force Research Laboratory - Outstanding contributions to developing new spacecraft thermal technologies and capabilities.
Stellar Award Winners – Early Career. L to R: Randy Bresnik (presenting), Brenton S. Taft, Dr. Daniel J. Kim, Abigail E. Sherriff, Matthew Richmond, Timothy E. Sauerhoefer, Courtney E. Mario, Jessica Meir (presenting) (RNASA photo, 2022)
2022 Stellar Award Winners in the Mid Career Category
Paul M. Brower of Northrop Grumman - Outstanding leadership in human spaceflight, including successful operations of the Cygnus spacecraft for ISS Commercial Resupply Services and the operations development of the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module to Artemis Gateway.
Christoper C. Delnero of Lockheed Martin - Exceptional technical leadership and innovation architecting and delivering Thermal Control and Life Support Systems for Human Spaceflight beyond low Earth orbit.
Jennifer Deuling of United Launch Alliance - Masterful navigation of the Landsat 9 launch campaign, including integration of multiple secondary payloads which included a demonstration CubeSat dispenser.
Breeann Edris of Lockheed Martin - Exceptional technical leadership of Lockheed Martin's Commercial Civil Space Program.
Ana L. Lopez of NASA Johnson Space Center - Sustained excellence and ground-breaking achievements in NASA human space flight communications operations, avionics and software, and space station research.
Dr. Michael J. Starks of Air Force Research Laboratory - Outstanding contributions in developing high impact space environment capabilities that protect spacecraft from their environments.
Stellar Award Winners – Mid Career. L to R: Jessica Meir (presenting), Jennifer Deuling, Ana L. Lopez, Dr. Michael J. Starks, Paul M. Brower, Christopher C. Delnero, BreeAnn Edris, Randy Bresnik (presenting) (RNASA photo, 2022)
2022 Stellar Award Winners in the Late Career Category
Bonnie Hattersley of Aerospace Corp - Exemplary space systems expertise ensuring that our most vital national security space capabilities are delivered successfully.
Mark Riedel of ARES Corporation - Instrumental support in the development and implementation of modifications to NASA’s integration efforts supporting the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) H3 Exploration Transfer Vehicle (HTV-X) cargo vehicle and the Axiom Commercial Segment to the ISS.
Kenneth D. Ryan of Northrop Grumman - Profound expertise, insightful mentorship, and proven design solutions that have become the backbone for the avionics architectures of several Northrop Grumman commercial and human spaceflight spacecraft.
Steven Stich of NASA Kennedy Space Center - Exceptional leadership of the Commercial Crew Program leading to the highly successful SpaceX Demo-2, Crew-1, and Crew-2 missions to the ISS, restoring crewed launch capability from U.S. soil.
Karl A. Wefers of Aerojet Rocketdyne - Excellence in development and fielding of Human Space and Exploration Power Systems for 36 years.
Mark A. Zaffetti of Collins Aerospace - Lifetime of outstanding mechanical design contributions to Collins CSSS life support and thermal management hardware.
Stellar Award Winners – Late Career. L to R: Randy Bresnik (presenting), Bonnie Hattersley, Mark Riedel, Mark A. Zaffetti, Steven Stich, Jessica Meir (presenting). Not shown: Kenneth D. Ryan, Karl A. Wefers. (RNASA photo, 2022)
2022 Stellar Award Winners in the Team Category
Enterprise Engineering and Integration Team of United States Space Force - Outstanding engineering acumen in the development and fielding of classified strategic and tactical payloads for a $7.3 billion Secretary of Defense-directed satellite communications program.
Houston Support Group Multipurpose Laboratory Module Troubleshooting Team of NASA Johnson Space Center - Successful leadership in diagnosing a Multipurpose Laboratory Module catastrophic hazard, and technical integration efforts leading to a successful MLM docking in the face of adversity.
Hubble Side Swap Anomaly Team of Lockheed Martin - Extraordinary efforts in side-swapping and recovering science operations on the 31-year-old Hubble Space Telescope, enabling continued operations for further scientific discovery.
Innovation and Prototype Division of United States Space Force - Successful advancement of the Multi-Mission Satellite Operations Center Ground System Enterprise to the Experimental Prototype Command and Control system.
ISS Mission Evaluation Room Managers of The Boeing Company - Excellence in leading ISS real-time sustaining engineering operations.
ISS Reboost Team of Northrop Grumman - Successful development of U.S.-provided maneuver services to counteract gradual atmospheric drag on the ISS.
Stellar Award Winners – Team. L to R: Jessica Meir (presenting), Michael Campion (Houston Support Group Multipurpose Laboratory Module Troubleshooting Team), Maj. Travis Pond (Innovation and Prototype Division), Lucas Milgliorini (ISS Reboost Team), Morgan Van Arsdall (Hubble Side Swap Anomaly Team), Jennifer Hammond (ISS Mission Evaluation Room Managers), Randy Bresnik (presenting), Not shown: Enterprise Engineering and Integration Team (RNASA photo, 2022)
Visit http://www.rnasa.org/photos.html for images from the event.
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation's black-tie Gala on April 29, 2022, was recorded live, in its entirety, by Space City Films and is accessible on the website's agenda page, www.rnasa.org/agenda.html.
About the RNASA Foundation: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
Read the press release as a Word document.
Press Release
RNASA Foundation Honors Dr. Ellen Ochoa, Bill Ingalls, and Stellar Winners
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
May 5, 2022
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, 281-480-2486, lindsey@baysidegraphics.net
Sarah Cruddas, space journalist and international TV host served as the master of ceremonies. (RNASA photo, 2022)
See full size.
Steve Isakowitz, President and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation as the featured
speaker. (RNASA photo, 2022)
See full size.
Rob Navias (right), 2017 Space Communicator winner, presents the 2020/2022 Space Communicator trophy to photographer Bill Ingalls (left). (RNASA photo, 2022)
See full size.
Michael Coats (left) and Robert Cabana (right) present the 2020/2022 National Space Trophy to former JSC center Director, Ellen Ochoa (center). (RNASA photo, 2022)
See full size.
Lt. Gen. Thomas Stafford presents the OMEGA speedmaster watch to Dr. Ellen Ochoa. (RNASA photo, 2022)
See full size.
RNASA Foundation Chairman Rodolfo González welcomed the guests to gala, saying that "the RNASA Foundation recognizes achievement in space across the entire nation and across all sectors and we are incredibly honored to have so many visitors from around the country."
The Clear Lake High School JROTC Color Guard presented the colors, followed by Danny Myers, who sang the National Anthem. Reverend Preston Morgan, Senior Pastor at Clear Lake United Methodist Church, provided the invocation.
After dinner, the program kicked off with a year-in-review film by Space City Films. Sarah Cruddas, space journalist and international TV host served as the master of ceremonies. Sarah said, "the achievements in space since this gala was last held have demonstrated that we are capable of doing amazing things even when we face unprecedented adversity...while the world faced a pandemic space exploration did not stop, instead it rose to the occasion."
Steve Isakowitz, President and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation, was the featured speaker. He commented, "I've been invited to speak to you tonight about one of my favorite subjects - the momentous time we find ourselves at in space... I would venture that the changes today are the greatest since the founding days of the space program... it is often the small steps that lead us to giant leaps."
Rob Navias, Johnson Space Center Public Affairs Office Mission Commentator, considered "the voice of NASA," presented the Space Communicator Award to Bill Ingalls, senior NASA contract photographer. Capturing some of NASA's most spectacular moments through his camera lens, Bill commented "as much fun as it is, it is a huge responsibility to be the eyes of those who are not there so thank you for giving me that responsibility."
Stellar Awards were presented to 18 individuals and 6 teams. The Stellar Award winners were announced by NASA Astronauts Randy Bresnik, and Jessica Meir, who then presented them with engraved marble trophies. The Stellar Awards were presented in Early Career, Mid-Career, Late Career, and Team categories.
Michael Coats, former Johnson Space Center Director, and Robert Cabana, NASA Associate Administrator, presented the prestigious National Space Trophy to Dr. Ellen Ochoa. During her speech, Ochoa remarked "there's nothing that people can’t achieve when they work together for a common goal. To be part of that team for 30 years is the greatest possible reward and this recognition by my peers tonight is icing on the cake... It seems to me that in the last 2 years almost all the positive and exciting news in the world came from milestones achieved in human and robotic spaceflight. We get to make exciting discoveries that enrich people's lives, we develop new technologies that improve people's lives and by achieving astounding feats we change people's lives. And that last one, inspiration, is the hardest to measure but clearly the most significant. What could be more important than bringing hope, pride, or resolve to someone else’s life?"
Lt. Gen Thomas P. Stafford, USAF (Ret.), Gemini and Apollo astronaut, and the 1993 National Space Trophy winner, presented an OMEGA speedmaster watch to Ochoa.
SAIC donated the portrait of Ochoa 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: Aerojet Rocketdyne, The Aerospace Corp, Aegis Aerospace, All Points Logistics LLC, ARES Corporation, ASRC Federal, Barrios Technology, Bastion Technologies, Inc., The Boeing Company, Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI International, Collins Aerospace, Deloitte, Draper, Dynetics, ERC, Inc, Houston Support Group Multipurpose Laboratory Module Troubleshooting Team, Jacobs, KBR, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, Logical Innovations, Inc., Microsoft, MORI Associates, Inc., MRI Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Oceaneering International, Inc., Paragon Space Development Corp, SAIC, SpaceX, TTTech North America, United Launch Alliance, Vericon Technical Services, and Wellby.
Visit http://www.rnasa.org/photos.html for images from the event.
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation's black-tie Gala on April 29, 2022, was recorded live, in its entirety, by Space City Films and is accessible on the website's agenda page, www.rnasa.org/agenda.html.
About the RNASA Foundation: 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
Read the press release as a Word document.