Goddard Astronautics Award

About award

The Goddard Astronautics Award is the highest honor AIAA bestows for notable achievements in the field of astronautics.

List of award recipients

2022, Dr Kyle T Alfriend, “For extraordinary contributions and advancements in the fields of orbital mechanics and space situational awareness.”
2021, GEN Ellen M Pawlikowski, “For outstanding and notable contributions to the U.S. Air Force, the field of astronautics, and the aerospace and defense community.”
2020, Mr Robert D Cabana, For significant leadership and reinvention of the Kennedy Space Center into the world’s preeminent multiuser spaceport supporting government and commercial access to space
2019, Dr John L Junkins, For advances in aerospace research and education, for creating an institute for promoting scientific excellence, and for enabling contributions in spacecraft navigation, dynamics, and control, For advances in aerospace research and education, for creating an institute for promoting scientific excellence, and for enabling contributions in spacecraft navigation, dynamics, and control
2018, Ms. Gwynne E Shotwell, “For extraordinary leadership and vision in the field of space exploration and groundbreaking contributions to aerospace technology”, “For extraordinary leadership and vision in the field of space exploration and groundbreaking contributions to aerospace technology”
2017, William H Gerstenmaier, For leadership of America’s space flight program, commitment to international space cooperation, and inspiration of a new generation of space explorers.
2016, Dr Wanda M Austin, For extraordinary leadership, vision, inspiration, and contributions to the nation’s space programs.
2015, Prof Jean-Jacques Dordain, For outstanding vision and leadership in space exploration particularly during the past eleven years as Director General of the European Space Agency.
2014, Dr Glynn S Lunney, “For over 50 years of outstanding contributions to America’s manned space program from Project Mercury to the Space Shuttle and Space Station.”
2013, Dr William F Ballhaus, For significant leadership in the advancement of the nation's launch and space programs.
2012, David W Thompson, For 3 decades of contributions and innovations leading to expansion of knowledge of the earth and space to improve nation’s security and to enable success in commercial space.
2011, Dr Edward C Stone, “For inspiring leadership in education, space exploration, and space science over an innovative career, especially with the Voyager and Advanced Composition Explorer missions.”
2010, Mr. Peter B Teets, For four decades of contributions to manned and unmanned access to space and significant contributions to the world’s aerospace community.
2009, Lt Gen Michael A Hamel, For exemplary leadership, pioneering vision, and outstanding service in advancing the field of aeronautics and national security space.
2008, Dr Charles Elachi, For outstanding engineering and scientific contributions to synthetic aperture radar technology and extraordinary leadership in American space science.
2007, Dr Michael D Griffin, For notable achievements in the field of astronautics, especially technical contributions to space vehicle design and leadership in national and international space programs.
2006, Dr Bradford W Parkinson, For outstanding leadership in the development of the Global Positioning System, which has had an extraordinary impact on the world’s population.
2005, John R Casani, For decades of decisive technical and managerial leadership of major projects that have greatly enhanced our knowledge of the solar system.
2004, HON Edward C Aldridge, For four decades of extraordinary achievement managing military and civil space projects, overseeing military acquisition, and leading AIAA and its charitable foundation
2003, Mr. George W Jeffs, For skilled leadership and engineering prowess as one of the chief architects of America’s space achievements, including the Apollo Command and Service Modules, Space Shuttle, NAVSTAR, and Strategic Defense programs
2002, Mr. A. Thomas Young, In recognition of a career of outstanding leadership in aerospace and for his dedication to the preservation of scientific contribution the exploration of space
2001, Dr Ivan A Getting, For a lifetime of contributions to the nation’s national security and space programs, and for leadership in founding and guiding The Aerospace Corporation during its first seventeen years.”
1999, Peter G Wilhelm, For extraordinary engineering astute leadership, and zealous dedication to excellence in responding to the needs and advancing the technology of the United States Space Program
1998, Mr. Jimmie D Hill, For outstanding leadership resulting in the successful design, development, acquisition, and operation of classified space systems of the highest importance to the security of this nation
1997, Dr Albert D Wheelon, For unique technical contributions to and management-leadership of the nation’s intelligence and civilian space programs
1996, Mr. Aaron Cohen, For exceptional leadership in the advancement of the United States Space Program; for significant contributions to the manned space flight program, and for notable achievements in the field of astronautics
1995, Dr Lew Allen Jr., For distinguished contributions to the nation’s advancement in space and aeronautics, by public service in national defense and by leadership of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
1994, Dr Joseph H Rothenberg, For leadership of the Hubble Space Telescope’s First Servicing Mission, which restored the Hubble Space Telescope to its full operational and scientific capability
1993, Dr Malcolm R Currie, For exemplary contributions to the advancement of astronautics through pioneering work in critical technologies and through distinguished public service and industrial leadership of advancements which transformed astronautics for the benefit of mankind
1992, Mr. James W Plummer, For sustained contributions to space technology and to innovative national security space systems
1991, Dr Eberhardt Rechtin, For sustained excellence inconception, systems architecture, engineering and management systems for scientific and national security programs
1990, Mr. Richard Hugo Truly Jr., For extraordinary leadership in the recertification of the nation's space transportation system and for substantiating, before the highest levels of government, the goal of human exploration of nearby solar-system bodies in the decades ahead
1989, Dr Alan M Lovelace, For outstanding contributions to the field of aerospace technology and, in particular, for his leadership government and industry in helping the United States achieve assured access to space through government and commercial launch services
1988, Mr. Norman R Augustine, For outstanding contributions to aeronautics and astronautics technology, and for leadership in military aerospace programs
1987, Dr John L McLucas, For outstanding contributions to the American aerospace effort and to international aerospace cooperation
1986, Dr George E Solomon, For outstanding contributions to aeronautics and astronautics programs and reentry systems development
1985, Dr Frederic C Oder, For contributions over three decades to the pioneering development and successful operation of over 200 civil and military satellite systems
1984, Krafft Ehricke, For more than forty years of practical and visionary contributions to astronautics
1983, Dr George E Mueller, For outstanding contributions to, and personal leadership of, the U.S. manned space program, starting with the flight of Gemini and continuing through to the Apollo Moon landing and the establishment of a reusable Space Transportation System
1982, Mr. John F Yardley, In recognition of significant contributions to the development of the Space Shuttle and its successful and historic first mission
1981, Peter T Burr, For significant contributions to the successful development and operation of NASA's Solar Maximum Mission and for the scientific achievement made possible through the most comprehensive studies of solar flares ever conducted.
1981, Kenneth J Frost, For significant contributions to the successful development and operation of NASA's Solar Maximum Mission and for the scientific achievement made possible through the most comprehensive studies of solar flares ever conducted.
1980, Mr. Robert J Parks, For outstanding achievements and inspired leadership in his direction at JPL of flight projects from Mariner 2 to Voyager
1979, Dr Maxime A Faget, For outstanding contribution to the design and development of manned spaceflight from Mercury to Apollo, to the Space Shuttle Transportation System, and for his exceptional abilities and enduring leadership that has advanced this Nation's supremacy in space.
1978, Dr Joseph V Charyk, For outstanding contributions to the development of satellite communications systems, and his leadership in their operational application to international, domestic, and maritime service
1977, James S. Martin, For brilliant leadership of the Viking Project to land an instrumented, automated spacecraft on the planet Mars; his direction, and personification, of a powerful and dedicated team from government, universities and industry in achieving the first comprehensive on-site investigation to the atmosphere and surface characteristics of Mars, and for the successful accomplishment of one of the great steps in the history of astronautics, in keeping with the Robert H Goddard pioneering tradition.
1975, Dr Edward W Price, Gordon Holbrook, and Mr. George Rosen, For original contributions and leadership in the development of solid rocket propulsion with emphasis on combustion technology
1974, Paul D Castenholz, For significant contributions to the development of practical Lox-Hydrogen rocket engines which have played an essential role in the nation's space program and in the advancement of space technology
1974, Mr. Richard C Mulready and John Sloop, For significant contributions to the development of practical Lox-Hydrogen rocket engines which have played an essential role in the nation's space program and in the advancement of space technology
1973, Edward S Taylor, For continuous and successful contributions to the advancement of the art and science of air-breathing propulsion over a period of forty-five years as designer, inventor, researcher, teacher, advisor and as founder and leader of a major educational and research center of aircraft engine activity
1972, Mr. Brian Brimelow, Mr. Gary A Plourde and Howard E Schumacher, For their brilliant and successful program of testing and analysis that provided the first comprehensive understanding of the nature of inlet turbulence induced compressor stalls
1970, Mr. Gerhard Neumann, For pioneering achievements in the development of high performance aircraft gas turbine engines, including the invention to the variable stator compressor system that is making possible and entire generation of both subsonic and supersonic engines and for leadership in fostering the development and production of the high bypass turbofan
1969, Perry W Pratt and Stanley G Hooker, For their independent and sustained major contributions, each in his own country, to the development of the aircraft gas turbine; and for their imagination, competence and persistence which have made these engines outstanding in human transportation
1968, Donald C Berkey, Ernest C Simpson, and James E Worsham, For an outstanding contribution to aircraft propulsion through development of the high-bypass-ration turbofan engine
1967, Mr. Robert O Bullock, Irving A Johnson, and Mr. Seymour Lieblein, For long term and contributions in the field of compressor research and design culminating in the development of the transonic compressor with directly resultant significant advancement in the state of the art of aircraft jet propulsion
1966, A. W Blackman, Dr Hans P Von Ohain, and George D. Lewis, For their contributions to the understanding to the phenomenon of combustion instability and for their recognition of acoustical liners as a method of suppressing such instabilities in turbojet afterburners and rocket engines.
1965, Sir Frank Whittle, For imagination, skill, persistence, and courage in pioneering the gas turbine as a jet propulsion aircraft engine thus revolutionizing military and commercial aviation for all time
1962, Dr R. R Gilruth, for outstanding work in liquid propellant rockets
1961, Wernher von Braun
1960, Theodore von Karman
1958, Richard B Canright
1957, Dr Thomas F Dixon
1956, Chandler C Ross
1955, Mr. Edward N Hall
1954, A M O Smith, for outstanding work in liquid propellant rockets
1952, Richard W Porter
1951, CAPT Robert C Truax, Truax Engineering Inc
1950, Lovell Lawrence Jr.
1949, Calvin M Bolster
1948, John Shesta