Awards
Space Foundation annually honors outstanding individuals and organizations for achievements in space exploration, advocacy, education, innovation and accomplishment. Award presentations, held throughout Space Symposium, highlight the best of the best in the industry.
General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award
The General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Space Foundation. It is presented annually in honor of Space Foundation's late, long-time chairman, retired U.S. Air Force General James E. Hill, at a special event held during the Space Symposium. The award recognizes outstanding individuals who have distinguished themselves through lifetime contributions to the welfare or betterment of humankind through the exploration, development and use of space, or the use of space technology, information, themes or resources in academic, cultural, industrial or other pursuits of broad benefit to humanity. Nominations are solicited throughout the space industry worldwide, with the Space Foundation's Board of Directors selecting the honoree.
Nominations are closed for 2021. Nominations will be accepted again beginning in the fall of 2022.
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Hill Award Process and Criteria.pdf 524 KB
Recipients
| 2022 | Joanne Maguire |
| 2021 | Patti Grace Smith |
| 2020 | Eugene F. “Gene” Kranz |
| 2019 | Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, USAF (Ret.). |
| 2018 | Christopher Columbus "Chris" Kraft, Jr. |
| 2017 | Piers J. Sellers, OBE, Ph.D. |
| 2016 | VADM Richard H. Truly, USN (Ret.) |
| 2015 | Jean-Jacques Dordain |
| 2014 | A. Thomas Young |
| 2013 | Neil A. Armstrong and Sally K. Ride, Ph.D. |
| 2012 | Gen. Thomas S. Moorman, Jr., USAF (Ret.) |
| 2011 | Charles Elachi, Ph.D. |
| 2010 | CAPT John Young, USN (Ret.) |
| 2009 | The Honorable Peter B. Teets |
| 2008 | Hans Mark, Ph.D. |
| 2007 | Simon Ramo, Ph.D. |
| 2006 | Buzz Aldrin, Ph.D. |
| 2005 | The Honorable Edward C. Aldridge, Jr. |
| 2004 | Gen. Bernard A. Schriever, USAF (Ret.) |
| 2003 | CAPT James A. Lovell, Jr., USN (Ret.) |
| 2002 | Norman R. Augustine |
John L. "Jack" Swigert, Jr., Award for Space Exploration
Space Foundation was founded in 1983, in part to honor the memory and accomplishments of astronaut John L. "Jack" Swigert, Jr. A Colorado native, Swigert served with retired U.S. Navy Captain James A. Lovell, Jr., and Fred Haise on the legendary Apollo 13 lunar mission, which was aborted after the perilous rupture of an oxygen tank en route to the Moon. People around the world watched as NASA overcame tremendous odds to return the crew safely to Earth. Space Foundation created the Jack Swigert Award for Space Exploration in 2004 in tribute to his enduring legacy of space exploration. The Jack Swigert Award is presented annually at Space Symposium.
| 2022 | NASA and the University of Arizona OSIRIS-REx team |
| 2021 | NASA JPL Mars Ingenuity Helicopter Team |
| 2020 | NASA JPL InSight-Mars Cube One |
| 2019 | NASA Dawn Mission |
| 2018 | Cassini Mission Team |
| 2017 | No award |
| 2016 | Pluto New Horizons Exploration Team |
| 2015 | Rosetta Comet Exploration Team |
| 2014 | No award |
| 2013 | NASA Mars Science Laboratory Mission Team |
| 2012 | NASA Kepler Mission |
| 2011 | No award |
| 2010 | The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) Mission Team |
| 2009 | NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander Team |
| 2008 | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency |
| 2007 | The California Institute of Technology |
| 2006 | NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
| 2005 | NASA's Mars Exploration Team from JPL NASA Mars Science Laboratory Mission Team |
Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award
Space Foundation, in conjunction with the Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), annually presents the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award to recognize outstanding contributions to creative and innovative use of technology in education by K-12 educators or district-level education personnel.
The award, which is named after Mercury Astronaut Alan Shepard, honors an educator who has demonstrated a commitment to inspiring students' interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award is presented annually at the Space Symposium.
Recipients
| 2020 | Kaci Heins |
| 2019 | Jill Gilford |
| 2018 | Diego Martinez |
| 2017 | Ashlie Blackstone Smith |
| 2016 | Margaret Rhule Baguio |
| 2015 | June Scobee Rodgers, Ph.D. |
| 2014 | Lynne F. Zielinski |
| 2013 | Daniel R. Newmyer |
| 2012 | Dr. Cynthia D. Waters |
| 2011 | James E. Richmond |
| 2010 | Allen V. Robnett |
| 2009 | Ricardo V. Soria |
| 2008 | Kevin L. Simmons |
| 2007 | Luther W. Richardson |
| 2006 | Kathy R. Brandon |
| 2005 | Ronald F. Dantowitz |
| 2004 | Charles Geach |
| 2003 | Brian Copes |
| 2002 | Thomas F. Hunt, Frank E. Waller |
| 2001 | Lori Byrne |
Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award
Each year, Space Foundation presents the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award in memory of the late Douglas S. Morrow, renowned Academy Award-winning writer and producer, space advocate and former Space Foundation Board Member, to an individual or organization who has made significant contributions to the public awareness of space programs. The Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award is presented annually at Space Symposium.
Recipients
| 2022 | Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and SpaceX |
| 2021 | Bill Ingalls |
| 2020 | Smithsonian Institution’s National Air & Space Museum (NASM) |
| 2019 | National Space Council and its Chair, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence |
| 2018 | Margot Lee Shetterly |
| 2017 | DigitalGlobe and The Associated Press |
| 2016 | Andy Weir, author |
| 2015 | NASA/Industry EFT-1 Team |
| 2014 | Col. Chris Hadfield (Ret.), former Canadian astronaut |
| 2013 | Bill Nye, CEO, The Planetary Society |
| 2012 | NASA Social Media Team |
| 2011 | Jay Barbree, NBC News; Marcia Dunn, The Associated Press; William Harwood, CBS News |
| 2010 | Leonard Nimoy, actor and director |
| 2009 | Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist |
| 2008 | Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts |
| 2007 | Col. Eileen M. Collins, USAF (Ret.), former NASA astronaut |
| 2006 | Tom Hanks, actor and director |
| 2005 | The Ansari X-Prize Foundation |
| 2004 | LIFE Magazine |
| 2003 | Robert T. McCall, artist |
| 2002 | Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett Roddenberry |
| 2001 | Popular Science Magazine |
| 2000 | Space Awareness Alliance |
| 1999 | The Crew of the Space Shuttle Mission STS-95 |
| 1998 | NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
| 1997 | The Cable News Network (CNN) |
| 1996 | The Apollo 13 Movie Team |
| 1995 | Discovery Communication, Inc. |
Space Achievement Award
Space Foundation's Space Achievement Award recognizes individuals or organizations that have demonstrated attainment, breakthrough space technology or program or product success representing critical milestones in the evolution of space exploration and development. The Space Achievement Award is presented annually at Space Symposium.
Recipients
| 2022 | International Astronautical Federation |
| 2021 | U.S. Space Force (USSF) |
| 2020 | International Space Station Partners |
| 2019 | Peter Wilhelm, former Director, Naval Center for Space Technology
Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company |
| 2018 | Space Security and Defense Program |
| 2017 | 2017 Year in Space Mission of Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko |
| 2016 | SpaceX |
| 2015 | X-37B OTV Team |
| 2014 | U.S. Air Force GPS Team |
| 2013 | NOAA |
| 2012 | Junichiro Kawaguchi, Ph.D., JAXA |
| 2011 | JSpaceX and Telecom sans Frontieres |
| 2010 | Hubble Space Telescope Repair Mission Team |
| 2009 | China's Shenzhou 7 Manned Space Flight Team |
| 2008 | United States Air Force |
| 2007 | Bigelow Aerospace |
| 2006 | The U.S. Titan Launch Vehicle Team: Lockheed Martin, United States Air Force, The Aerospace Corporation, NASA |
| 2005 | The Inertial Upper Stage Team: The Boeing Company, United States Air Force, The Aerospace Corporation, NASA |
| 2004 | Ariane 4 Launch Team |
| 2003 | U.S. Air Force, Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Company Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Teams |
| 2002 | NASA/Industry Galileo Space Probe Team and the men and women of United States Space Command and its component organizations |
| 2001 | Hubble Space Telescope Team |
| 2000 | Sea Launch |
| 1999 | NASA-Boeing International Space Station Team |
| 1998 | Gen. Thomas S. Moorman, Jr., USAF (Ret.) |
| 1997 | CAPT James A Lovell, Jr., USN (Ret.) |
| 1996 | American Astronautical Society |
| 1995 | Air University |
Space Technology Hall of Fame®
The Space Technology Hall of Fame® honors those who transform technology originally developed for space exploration into products that help improve the quality of life here on Earth. Induction into the Space Technology Hall of Fame® affords space innovators much deserved recognition, increases public awareness and encourages further innovation. The Space Foundation established the Space Technology Hall of Fame® in 1988 to increase public awareness of the benefits that result from space exploration programs and to encourage further innovation. Additional information about the Space Technology Hall of Fame®, including a complete list of inducted technologies, is available at www.SpaceTechHallofFame.org.
About Nomination and Judging
Each year, the Space Technology Hall of Fame® solicits nominations from the industry and the public. After a thorough review process that establishes whether the technologies did, indeed, have their origins in space exploration and/or research, the qualifying technologies are reviewed and ranked by a distinguished panel of judges. The inducted technologies, individuals and organizations will be honored at a special reception and dinner during the Space Symposium.
Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame™
The Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame is a Space Foundation program created to honor the astronauts, aerospace executives, government officials, scholars and other public and private sector leaders who have contributed most significantly to Colorado’s space economy as one of the most important in the nation and world.
The award is presented to individuals who have personal or professional contributions in the space arena that span a decade or more, and who have lived or worked in Colorado to a significant extent.
Honorees are determined by a solicitation of nominations and review by a volunteer selection committee recruited each year by the Space Foundation. Honorees are inducted into the Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame at an invitation-only gala dinner, to be held in Denver each autumn. Proceeds from the gala benefit Space Foundation education and outreach programs. More information is available at: www.spacefoundation.org/colorado-space-heroes-hall-of-fame/.
Honorees
| 2020 | George H. Born, Ph.D. |
| 2020 | Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.) |
| 2020 | G. Thomas Marsh |
| 2018 | Norman R. Augustine |
| 2018 | Col. James Benson "Jim" Irwin, USAF (Ret.), (Posthumous Award) |
| 2018 | Dr. Merri J. Sanchez |
| 2016 | Alan Stern, Ph.D. |
| 2016 | The Honorable Peter B. Teets |
| 2016 | General James V. Hartinger, USAF (Ret.) (Posthumous Award) |
| 2016 | Ronald M. Sega, Ph.D. |
Athena Education Award
Established in 2021, the Athena Education Award recognizes the spirit, leadership and commitment of a steadfast partner to Space Foundation’s global education mission. The award honors their support in providing educational programs that build STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) engagement and allow the space leaders of tomorrow to take their part in the ever-expanding global space economy.
