National Air and Space Museum Trophy facts for kids

The National Air and Space Museum Trophy is a special award given out every year. It was first created in 1985. The trophy itself is a smaller version of a cool sculpture called "The Web of Space," made by an artist named John Safer.

The National Air and Space Museum gives this trophy to celebrate amazing achievements in air and space. It honors people who have done great things like:

• Managing big science or technology projects.
• Having a long and important career in air and space.
• Helping to record the history of flying and space travel.

The trophy was designed by John Safer, who was a sculptor and a banker from Washington, D.C.. He used to be the head of D.C. National Bank. In 2020, the trophy got a new name: the Michael Collins Trophy. This was done to honor Michael Collins, a famous astronaut.

Who Receives the Trophy?

The National Air and Space Museum Trophy is given in two main categories: for lifetime achievements and for current achievements.

Honoring Lifetime Achievements

This award goes to people who have had a huge impact on air and space over their entire careers. They are recognized for their long-term dedication and contributions.

• 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) - The museum did not give out this trophy in 2003. This was because it was the 100th anniversary of flight, and there were many other celebrations happening.
• 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

Recognizing Current Achievements

This award celebrates recent and important accomplishments in air and space technology.

• 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) - There was no award for Current Achievement in 2009. Instead, two Lifetime Achievement Trophies were given out that year.
• 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) - The museum did not give out this trophy in 2003. This was because it was the 100th anniversary of flight, and there were many other celebrations happening.
• 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