posted 10-15-2023 11:30 AM               

The Harry Kolcum award by the NSCFC was named in Kolcum's memory during the 1990's and presented annually by the NSCFC for outstanding reporters and public affair representatives in the space arena. Kolcum, a former news chief at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., went on to become the managing and senior editor of Aviation Week & Space Technology for 33 years.

Robert becomes the third recipient of the National Space Club's Kolcum award given to a cS community member. The first being presented to public relations specialist Nick Thomas of the KSCVC in 2018 and the next year to aerospace photo-journalist Ben Cooper.

The Florida Chapter of the National Space Club is a state chapter of the original NSC that had been founded on the same day when Sputnik 1 — Oct. 4, 1957 — became the world's first orbiting satellite by the Russians. The nationwide space club was formed to stimulate the exchange of ideas and information about aerospace and to promote the recognition of U.S. space goals and achievements.

posted 10-15-2023 11:45 AM               

The dinner on Friday night was terrific, not just because I received an award, but for the chance to hear from the other award winners. The National Space Club Florida Committee presented lifetime achievement awards to structural engineer Arthur Waite, who as director of aerospace projects at BRPH, oversaw modifications to Launch Complexes 39A and 39B, the Vehicle Assembly Building and other Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station facilities; and Billy Childers, who supported the Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs from Marshall Space Flight Center and Kennedy Space Center, helping to activate the test stands used to test the Apollo-era engines and working on the ventilation system for providing clean air to Apollo command module.

Other honorees included Teresa Annulis, who served as the test conductor for seven space shuttle launches and Patrick Adkins, who I had a pleasure of being seated with and who served as a quality assurance inspector for the space shuttle program from 1985 through its end in 2011.

As mentioned, Rebecca Burgman was also honored with the Kolcum award, and though she may not be a familiar name to many here on collectSPACE, if you have read any of my reporting on the activities at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex over the past several years, it has been because of the support I have received from her and her staff. She has even stood in as my photographer from time to time when I could not fly into Florida for an event. As I said on Friday night, I am honored to be honored alongside her.

A special thanks goes to Tim Gagnon, who upon hearing I was going to be honored, booked a seat for the dinner and was there to cheer me on. Tim, as I have already told directly, your support and friendship made the evening even more special.

My goal with collectSPACE has never been to win accolades, but being honored with an award that has been presented to so many of the space reporters who have shaped my own career is both humbling and very much appreciated.