National Air and Space Museum Trophy
# National Air and Space Museum Trophy

The National Air and Space Museum Trophy was established in 1985. The trophy presented to the winners is a miniature version of "The Web of Space," a sculpture by artist John Safer.

The National Air and Space Museum presents this trophy annually to recognize both past and present achievements involving the management or execution of a scientific or technological project, a distinguished career of service in air and space technology, or a significant contribution in chronicling the history of air and space technology.

The trophy was created for the National Air and Space Museum by John Safer of Washington, D.C., a well-known sculptor and banker. John Safer retired as chief executive officer of D.C. National Bank. The trophy became known as the Michael Collins Trophy in 2020.

## Recipients for Lifetime Achievements

* 2021 Gene Kranz
* 2020 Charles Elachi
* 2019 Charlie Bolden
* 2018 John R. Dailey
* 2017 Peter Theisinger
* 2016 James A. Lovell
* 2015 Stamatios Krimigis
* 2014 Norm Augustine
* 2013 Joe Sutter
* 2012 Burt Rutan
* 2011 George Mueller
* 2010 Christopher C. Kraft, Jr.
* 2009 John R. Casani and C. Gordon Fullerton
* 2008 Col. Joseph Kittinger
* 2007 Robert A. "Bob" Hoover
* 2006 James A. Van Allen
* 2005 Frank N. Piasecki
* 2004 Neil Armstrong
* 2003 (No Award) - In observance of the Centennial of Flight in 2003, the NASM did not award Trophy this year.
* 2002 Stanley Hiller Jr.
* 2001 Sen. John Glenn
* 2000 A. Scott Crossfield
* 1999 Dr. Simon Ramo
* 1998 Richard T. Whitcomb
* 1997 Anthony "Tony" LeVier
* 1996 Gen. Bernard A. Schriever, USAF (Ret.)
* 1995 Najeeb E. Halaby
* 1994 Dr. Michael H. Carr
* 1993 Olive Ann Beech
* 1992 Francis M. Rogallo
* 1991 Arthur E. Raymond
* 1990 Kelly Johnson and the SR-71 Design Team
* 1989 Edwin Land
* 1988 Harold Masursky
* 1987 John Steiner
* 1986 Sir Frank Whittle and Dr. Hans von Ohain
* 1985 Robert R. Gilruth

## Recipients for Current Achievement

* 2021 SpaceX and Crew Dragon Team
* 2020 Hubble Space Telescope Team
* 2019 LIGO Scientific Collaboration
* 2018 Shaesta Waiz of Dreams Soar Inc.
* 2017 Kenn Borek Air's South Pole Rescue Team
* 2016 NASA's New Horizons Mission Team
* 2015 Kepler Mission Team
* 2014 The Dawn Flight Team
* 2013 Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent and Landing team, led by Adam Steltzner
* 2012 The Cassini-Huygens Flight Team
* 2011 Michael Suffredini and the International Space Station Program Office
* 2010 Flight crew of US Airways Flight 1549: Chesley B. Sullenberger III, Jeffrey B. Skiles, Sheila Dail, Donna Dent and Doreen Welsh
* 2009 (no award)**
* 2008 Stardust Comet Sample Return Mission Team
* 2007 NASA STS-121 shuttle mission team
* 2006 Mars Exploration Rover Team
* 2005 Burt Rutan, Paul Allen, and the SpaceShipOne Team
* 2004 USAF/Lockheed Martin Milstar Team
* 2003 (no award)*
* 2002 Predator Development Team
* 2001 NEAR Mission Team
* 2000 The Chandra X-Ray Observatory Team
* 1999 The Breitling Orbiter 3 Team
* 1998 The Mars Pathfinder Team
* 1997 Dr. Shannon W. Lucid
* 1996 The Boeing 777 Civilian Airliner Development Team
* 1995 The X-31 International Test Team
* 1994 Patty Wagstaff
* 1993 Dr. Compton J. Tucker
* 1992 The Magellan Project Team
* 1991 John C. Mather and the Cosmic Background Explorer Team
* 1990 The Pegasus Launch Vehicle Team
* 1989 The Voyager Spacecraft Team
* 1988 Paul MacCready
* 1987 Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager
* 1986 John W. Young
* 1985 Astronauts Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D. and Capt. Bruce McCandless, USN
* In observance of the many centennial of flight celebrations in 2003, the museum did not award Trophies for that year. ** In 2009, there was no award for Current Achievement and two Lifetime Achievement Trophies were awarded.
