2026 PRESS/PHOTO INFORMATION
Press Release
RNASA Foundation honors Dr. Peggy Whitson and Stellar Winners
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
May 1, 2026
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, Lindseyrc99@gmail.com
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation presented the National Space Trophy (NST) to Dr. Peggy Whitson Vice President of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space, at the annual RNASA black-tie Space Awards Gala on April 24, 2026, at the Houston Hyatt Regency.
RNASA Foundation Chairman Rodolfo González welcomed guests to the gala, saying, "this year we celebrate and honor the accomplishments of NASA and Axiom Space Astronaut Peggy Whitson and all of the 2026 stellar award winners. 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 here from around the country."
The Clear Brook High School JROTC Color Guard presented the colors, followed by Danny Myers, who sang the National Anthem. Dr. Steven Laufer, Senior Pastor of River Oaks Baptist Church, provided the invocation.
After dinner, the program kicked off with a year-in-review film by Space City Films. Kristin Fisher, Emmy Award winning independent space journalist and CNN contributor, served as the emcee. In her opening remarks, Kristin said, "We're a moon fairing species once again. How good does that feel? I'm downright giddy to be here this year because I get to celebrate this moment with all of you." When speaking about the social buzz generated by the recent Artemis II mission, she remarked "That is what success looks like in 2026, when you're able to penetrate the mainstream in a moment when everyone is distracted by their phones. I want to thank everyone at NASA for making this mission so accessible...for giving the crew the bandwidth to do these unbelievable livestreams. It was the greatest reality TV show in the universe."
Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, was the featured speaker for the evening. He commented, "We're at a crossroads. We have reunited the world imagination. Now it's our responsibility to carry that momentum forward. We must build cultures where hierarchy takes a backseat to good ideas, where questioning assumptions is encouraged, where innovation isn't just reserved for the experienced but unlocked by the curious."
Stellar Awards were presented to 20 individuals and 7 teams. The Stellar Award winners were announced by NASA Astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, who then presented them with engraved marble trophies. The Stellar Awards were presented in Early Career, Mid-Career, Late Career, and Team categories.
Vanessa Wyche, Johnson Space Center Director, presented the prestigious National Space Trophy to Peggy Whitson. While introducing Whitson, Vanessa commented "her accomplishments have shaped the future of space exploration and set new standards for what is possible. Peggy remains a pioneering force in human space exploration today."
During her acceptance speech, Whitson remarked, "I'm often asked what is my superpower and I think my answer typically surprises people. It's not being an astronaut, it's not space walking, it's not being a biochemist, my superpower is building teams. It's the most important thing I've learned over the years. The best team is almost never the one with the most stars. The best team is where the people fit together, where their strength cover the gaps, where the personalities can withstand the bad days, where everyone knows what everyone is going to do. The way to survive change is not by being the best individual in the room but being part of a crew that can flex together as a team."
Michael López-Alegría, Axiom Space Chief Astronaut, presented an OMEGA Speedmaster watch to Whitson.
A portrait of Whitson 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: Aegis Aerospace Inc., Aerodyne Industries, The Aerospace Corporation, All Points Logistics, Amentum, ARES Corporation, ASRC Federal, Astrion, Axiom Space, Barrios Technology, Bastion Technologies Inc., Blue Origin, The Boeing Company, CACI, Deloitte, Draper, Firefly Aerospace, GeoControl Systems, Inc., Honeywell Aerospace, Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital, JES Tech, KBR, L3Harris Technologies, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, Mission Ops, MORI Associates, MRI Technologies, Nexus Solutions, Northrop Grumman, Oceaneering Space Systems, Odyssey Space Research LLC., OMEGA, PCI Productions LLC, Rothe, SAIC, Space Center Houston, SpaceX, Texas A&M Aerospace Human Systems Laboratory, TTTech North America, Inc., Voyager Technologies.
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 24, 2026, was recorded live, in its entirety, by Space City Films and is accessible on the website’s agenda page, www.rnasa.org/agenda.html.
Read the press release as a PDF.
Press Release
RNASA's 2026 Stellar Award Winners Announced
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
May 1, 2026
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, Lindseyrc99@gmail.com
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 24, 2026, 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 2026 Stellar Awards Evaluation Panel, Michael Coats, Kevin Chilton, Sandra Magnus, Charles Elachi, and Michael Hawes ranked the nominees based on which accomplishments have advanced U.S. space capabilities and hold the greatest promise of future capabilities.
Out of 138 nominations received, the Panel selected 20 individuals and 7 teams for recognition.
Prior to the evening's festivities, with coordination with Space Center Houston and the NASA External Relations Office, all nominees were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Johnson Space Center and a luncheon at the Great Wolf Lodge. Stellar Awards Committee Chair Rubik Sheth, RNASA Foundation Chair Rodolfo González, and former Space Center Rotary President John Branch welcomed the nominees at the luncheon, and Orion Program Manager, Howard Hu, provided a keynote discussion about Artemis II.
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.
The Stellar Award winners were announced at the RNASA evening gala on April 24, 2026 by astronaut Anne McClain and astronaut Nichole Ayers who presented them with engraved marble trophies. The winners in each of the four categories, Early Career, Mid Career, Late Career and Team are:
Early Career
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L to R: Anne McClain (presenting), Dr. Lawrence Barrett, Salome Pajon, Dr. Julia Briden, Dr. Ashwin P. Rao, Reeanna Brown, Nichole Ayers (presenting)
(RNASA photo, 2026)
Dr. Lawrence Barrett of Amentum - Exceptional technical leadership, innovation, and dedication to advancing NASA's mission across multiple programs and platforms.
Salome Pajon of United States Space Force - Exceptional leadership in accelerating a critical space program worth $9B, saving millions and securing a strategic advantage for decades to come.
Dr. Julia Briden of Amentum - Exceptional contributions to advanced mission design, GN&C systems, and software engineering supporting Artemis, Orion, and future planetary missions.
Dr. Ashwin P. Rao of United States Air Force - Outstanding development of disruptive test capabilities and revolutionary technologies for next-generation nuclear deterrence.
strong>Reeanna Brown of Lockheed Martin - Exemplary system safety leadership across critical Orion subsystems, identifying and mitigating high severity risks to significantly enhance crew safety and mission assurance.
Mid Career
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L to R: Nichole Ayers (presenting), Dr. Julie C. Smith, Krystal Puga, Branelle Rodriguez, Jodi Zareski, Forrest G. Vaughn, Julieta A. Ventura, Colin Sipe, Daniel Telisky, Debra A. O'Connell, Andrew Cooke, Anne McClain (presenting)
(RNASA photo, 2026)
Dr. Julie C. Smith of United States Space Force - Pioneering efforts in laser communications that have forged the foundation for today’s interconnected space architectures.
Krystal Puga of Northrop Grumman - Dynamic technical leadership in HALO, advancing human spaceflight and nurturing the next generation of engineers.
Branelle Rodriguez of NASA Johnson Space Center - Unparalleled leadership of Orion vehicle integration and problem resolution, resulting in successful spacecraft delivery for Artemis II
Jodi Zareski of Lockheed Martin - Exceptional systems leadership on OSIRIS-REx and OSIRIS-APEX, integrating complex subsystems and proactively resolving constraints to ensure sustained mission performance and science return.
Forrest G. Vaughn of L3Harris / Aerojet Rocketdyne Segment - Exceptional leadership in revolutionizing RS-25 turbopump manufacturing through the development of breakthrough 3D printing technology with dissolvable build supports, enabling production of previously impossible complex geometries while achieving significant cost savings and ensuring the future success of America's deep space exploration programs.
Julieta A. Ventura of Nexus Solutions - Significant contributions to flight hardware certification, failure analysis, and team development.
Colin Sipe of Lockheed Martin - Exemplary leadership and mission-advancing innovation in Orion ground operations, delivering safety-critical solutions that strengthened Lockheed Martin's human spaceflight programs.
Daniel Telisky of Amentum - Outstanding structural and mechanism expertise and guidance for the ISS, Orion, Dream Chaser and Axiom module commercial space station.
Debra A. O'Connell of KBR - Exceptional preparation of Boeing's Crew Flight Test mission and transformative leadership across ISS, Commercial Crew and Artemis programs.
Andrew Cooke of Axiom Space - Deep commitment to advancing human spaceflight through innovative legal strategies and global collaboration, laying the groundwork for a thriving commercial space economy.
Late Career
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L to R: Anne McClain (presenting), Grant Slusser, Dr. Madeleine L. Naudeau, Chris S. Strong, Jonathan L. Homan, Nichole Ayers (presenting). Not pictured: Matt Cox
(RNASA photo, 2026)
Grant Slusser of KBR - Unparalleled leadership and dedication in elevating mission success across more than one hundred Shuttle, ISS, Commercial Crew, and Artemis missions.
Dr. Madeleine L. Naudeau of United States Space Force - Groundbreaking achievements in advancing space communications and positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities for the United States.
Chris S. Strong of CACI International - Exceptional contributions as an outstanding human spaceflight spacecraft systems and flight software engineer.
Jonathan L. Homan of NASA Johnson Space Center - Exceptional dedication and technical excellence of high-risk large-scale vehicles and human-in-the-loop chamber tests.
Matt Cox of Lockheed Martin - Sustained technical leadership across Orion and multiple landmark NASA missions, overseeing systems and software development that has been foundational to Artemis and long-standing human and robotic spaceflight programs.
Team
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L to R: Nichole Ayers (presenting), Timothy Wright (Thermal Protection System Facility), Jennifer Rocca (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer Team), Jamie S. Womack (Materials and Processes Team), Tony Foti (Cygnus XL Northrop Grumman-23 Team), Jason Kim and Will Coogan (Blue Ghost Mission 1 Team), Christopher Hare (JSC Engineering Data and Information Integration Team), Alex J. Jordan (Artemis Vortex Issue Resolution Team), Anne McClain (presenting).
(RNASA photo, 2026)
Thermal Protection System Facility (TPSF) of Amentum - Outstanding accomplishment providing critical thermal protection systems for Shuttle, commercial, and Orion customers for over 40 years, protecting space vehicles and crews.
Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) Team of Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Successful development and launch of the SPHEREx mission.
Materials and Processes Team of NASA Johnson Space Center - Exceptional dedication, proactive problem-solving, and critical contributions to safeguarding the integrity of ISS modules and future space missions.
Cygnus XL Northrop Grumman-23 Team of Northrop Grumman - Exceptional achievement in advancing the launch schedule of the Cygnus XL NG-23 mission while delivering critical cargo to the International Space Station.
Blue Ghost Mission 1 Team of Firefly Aerospace
JSC Engineering Data and Information Integration (JEDII) Team of Amentum - Outstanding achievement modernizing and unifying NASA’s data infrastructure for managing the lifecycle of JSC engineering projects from cradle to grave. Artemis Vortex Issue Resolution Team (AVIRT) of The Boeing Company - Successful resolution of a significant Space Launch System (SLS) program in-flight anomaly, enabling the Artemis II mission Certification of Flight readiness for NASAs first manned flight to lunar orbit since the 1970s. 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 24, 2026, was recorded live, in its entirety, by Space City Films and is accessible on the website's agenda page, www.rnasa.org/agenda.html. Read the press release as a PDF. Rotary National Award for Space Achievement The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation Space Awards Gala will take on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Houston Hyatt Regency The RNASA Foundation was formed by the Space Center Rotary Club in 1985, to publicly recognize the unsung heroes of America's space program alongside the more well-known achievers. This year, the RNASA Foundation will present the 2026 National Space Trophy to Dr. Peggy Whitson, Vice President of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. Johnson Space Center Director, Vanessa Wyche, will present the prestigious award to Whitson. Kristin Fisher, Emmy Award winning independent space journalist and CNN contributor, will serve as Emcee and Axiom Space Chief Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, will present an OMEGA watch to Whitson at the closing of the program. Firefly Aerospace CEO, Jason Kim, will be the evening's featured speaker. 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. In addition to the National Space Trophy, stellar awards will be presented to individuals in early career, mid career, late career, and team categories. RNASA Chairman Rodolfo González said, "We received an impressive 135 stellar nominations this year, 38 government and 96 corporate, and 1 government/corporate joint team." The nominations came from Aegis Aerospace, Aerodyne Industries, Amentum, ASRC Federal, ASTRION, Axiom Space, Barrios Technology, Bastion Technologies, Blue Origin, The Boeing Company, CACI International, Inc., Firefly Aerospace, GeoControl Systems, Inc., Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, KBR, L3Harris, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, MRI Technologies, NASA Johnson Space Center, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Nexus, Northrop Grumman Corporation, SAIC, United States Air Force, and United States Space Force. 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 that will be presented by NASA Astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers. 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 2026 Stellar judges are Michael Coats, Kevin Chilton, Sandra Magnus, Charles Elachi, and Michael Hawes. 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 mounted 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 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 Danny Myers. Dr. Steven Laufer of the River Oaks Baptist Church will provide 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. Read the press release as a docx. Rotary National Award for Space AchievementPress Release
Rotary Gala Honors Heroes of Space
April 16, 2026
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, Lindseyrc99@gmail.comPress Release
Dr. Peggy Whitson, Vice President of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space, to receive the 2026 National Space Trophy
January 15, 2026
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, Lindseyrc99@gmail.com
Dr. Peggy Whitson, Vice President of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. (Axiom photo, 2025)
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Rodolfo González, president of the RNASA Foundation, said, "The RNASA Foundation is thrilled to host Dr. Whitson as the guest of honor at the 2026 Space Awards Gala. The annual gala is organized to recognize outstanding achievements in our field, and we look forward to celebrating Dr. Whitson's contributions to space discovery, exploration, and advancement."
Whitson was nominated for the award by Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche. Wyche commented on Whitson's achievements, saying, "Dr. Peggy Whitson's story is one of vision, perseverance, and unparalleled achievement. Her 695 days in space, her record-setting spacewalks, and her leadership at NASA stand as a legacy of excellence. Her continuing impact in commercial spaceflight, helping to usher in a new era of international participation and private exploration, ensures that her influence will resonate for generations to come."
"I am deeply grateful to receive the National Space Trophy and to Vanessa for this nomination," said Whitson. "This recognition reflects the dedication of countless pioneers who have advanced human space exploration. I am honored to be chosen as this year's awardee in their spirit - always reaching further and inspiring the next generation to dream boldly about our future in space."
With a background in biochemistry from Rice University, Whitson's remarkable career began in 1989 as a National Research Council Research Associate at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Before she was selected as an Astronaut, Whitson played a leading role in conducting the biomedical research critical to the future of human space exploration, including the impact of long-duration spaceflight on the human body.
Whitson was selected as an Astronaut candidate in 1996. After completing two years of training, Whitson's first flight came in June 2002 aboard STS-111 on Expedition 5. During her 184-day stay aboard the International Space Station, she was named the first NASA Science Officer and conducted dozens of investigations in microgravity sciences.
Beginning in 2003, Whitson served in numerous roles supporting the Astronaut Office, including Deputy Chief, NEEMO mission Commander, and Chief of the Station Operations Branch. In 2009, she was selected as the first female and first non-military Chief of the Astronaut Office, where she directed mission preparation and on-orbit support of ISS crews.
Whitson's second flight launched in October 2007 aboard the Soyuz TMA-11 on Expedition 16. As the first female Commander of the space station, she conducted life sciences and microgravity research that continues to shape the future of space exploration.
Whitson's final NASA flight came in November 2016 aboard Expedition 50/51/52, when she broke the record for cumulative time spent in space by an American astronaut - 675 days, surpassing the previous record of 534 days.
Whitson transitioned to the private sector in 2021 when she joined Axiom Space as the Vice President of Human Spaceflight. Her experience and leadership have offered a unique bridge between NASA and the emerging commercial space market. Since joining Axiom Space, she has commanded two commercial missions to the station, first aboard the Falcon 9 rocket on Axiom Mission 2 in 2023 and, again, in 2025 aboard the first flight of Crew Dragon Grace on Axiom Mission 4.
Whitson is the recipient of numerous honors, including the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Space Flight Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, Women in Space Science Award. She was recognized in the 2018 Time Magazine list of influential people, she was inducted into the International Air and Space Hall of Fame in 2018, and she was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 Women of 2017. Whitson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry from Iowa Wesleyan College and a Doctorate in Biochemistry from Rice University.
The RNASA Foundation invites members of the public and the aerospace community to attend the black-tie event on April 24, 2026, at the Houston Hyatt Regency, where Whitson will be presented with the National Space Trophy during the 38th annual RNASA Space Awards gala. Please visit rnasa.org to reserve your table, purchase tickets, or inquire about sponsorship opportunities. If you would like to reserve a room for the evening, please contact the Hyatt at 713-654-1234 and inquire about the RNASA group rate.
Read the press release as a PDF.